21/5 - Common Redstarts - singing males present again - but still no sightings of any females! C'mon "girls" what's keeping you from getting here? Stopped off somewhere in the Mediterranean for a bit of impromptu on-migration shopping? Couldn't quite get to grips with that sat-nav gadget thingy that your Aunt Sally and Uncle Bob bought for you as a Christmas present and you've ended up crash-landing in a totally unsuitable ditch on the outskirts of Greater London, rather than arriving here on-time to find totally suitable habitat on the outskirts of Greater Manchester? Or maybe you're just a little late back from the featherdressers after having had your feathers styled? Well, just take a quick look in the mirror and ask yourself was it worth it - you've ended up looking just like that curly-haired bloke out of Simply Red(start) anyway! What do you mean, you need to be "persuaded" to come to Piethorne? OK here goes - how about a choice of handsome and eager "lads" all just dying to meet you. Also, a picturesque valley in which to spend your summer holidays and raise your young. The only downside? - now that would be me gawping at you through binoculars all summer long and monitoring your every move - mind you, there are those who might welcome their very own personal minder or should that be stalker! So hurry up "girls" and get yourselves over to Piethorne as quick as you can and give the "lads" some company and also bring a big, big smile to a local patch birdwatchers face!
(With apologies to those offended by my continued use of shallow, sexist stereotypes in this post and of course to all fans of that curly-haired bloke out of Simply Redstart, that I might have upset!)
Exit J21 of M62 - off the slip road roundabout turn right and head towards Shaw and New Ney. In New Hey village take Huddersfield Road which heads up through village and up onto moors - first turning on the left after the village peters out will take you down to a small car park just below Ogden Reservoir. Go across the embankment at western end of Ogden Res - up some stone steps, turn right and follow path in front of conifer plantation. The path will fork at end - left up through trees and right up a slope past an old farm ruin. Follow the right hand path - there is a steep sided valley just to the left of this path with sycamore and oak trees which snakes up onto the moors - 2 males should be singing in here. Good luck! Can you please update this post if you come across anything?
A quite remarkable tally of 4 singing male Common Redstarts singing beautifully and showing well in the lower valley this morning (18/5). All that's needed now are 4 females!
2 singing male Common Redstarts again this afternoon (17/5). Also a very brief burst of what sounded like the song of a male Pied Flycatcher - although this bird could not be found!!
Also present - plenty of singing Willow Warblers, 2 Blackcaps, 1 Garden Warbler, a Grey Partridge called.
Late afternoon - a Whimbrel was heard and then seen in the upper valley - possibly a first sighting for this species at this location?
3 singing male Common Redstarts in the valley this morning - a most unusual, possibly unprecedented occurence here! - was a passage of this species taking place?
Also present - 4 Common Sandpiper, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Chiffchaff.
Robin, Greenfinch and Stonechat were all seen with young.
