10.45-11.50

3 Dipper, Kingfisher, 6 Ring Necked Parakeet, 8 Redwing, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Goosander, 5 Goldcrest, Kestrel, Grey Heron, 2 Grey Wagtail, 6 Nuthatch, 2 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Greenfinch, 2 Bullfinch 

Possible Green Woodpecker heard distantly.

Visited this afternoon on family walk. Bumped into guy looking for baby tawny owl.
On way back to car (on path through woods) was a jay that then mobbed a very young owl, high up in trees, looked possibly the tawny owl.


-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Saturday 9th of May 2020 10:19:39 PM

-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Saturday 9th of May 2020 10:20:16 PM

09.30-11 this morning:

2+Dipper, 6 Mandarin Duck, 3 Little Grebe, Mute Swan, Goosander, 2 Teal, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Redwing, 5 Nuthatch, 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Jay.

Kingfisher
8 Mandarin Duck
5 Goosander
Common Whitethroat
5 Bullfinch
3 Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler

Late post for Saturday 14th Feb

An hour or so visit mid pm after work

Canada Geese - 56 in pasture behind Watson St. Nurseries/Garden Ctr
(More flying in as I left though so numbers increased)
Mallard feeding with the Canada's
Black-headed Gulls - around 50 or so circling above
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 tailing the B-h Gulls
Plenty of Woodpigeon
Big numbers of Jackdaw over - a few 100 at least
Plenty of Magpie and Carrion Crow

Plenty of smaller birds...
Blackbird
Robin
Goldfinch
Greenfinch - heard only, couldn't locate
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Long-tailed Tit - small group moving through
Wren
Dunnock
...and the highlight was 2 pairs of Goldcrest both of which I located by call, 1pair moving through the shrubbery on the right hand side as the path bares left away from the nurseries, and another pair further up in the bushes to the left of the path before the river. They can be very obliging and inquisitive when they want to be.

A pm tacho break after delivering in Hyde.

Just a 100yd stretch along Watson St. near the nurseries.

Approx 85 Canada Geese - in field behind nurseries
20 or so Mallard
Black-headed Gull - around 50 (all Gulls at snowy pool in field centre)
Common Gull - 2
Lesser Black-backed - 1 (the only Gull there with bright yellow legs)
Sparrowhawk - 1 (put the Gulls up)
Woodpigeon - plenty around
Carrion Crow - 2
Magpies - plenty around

Smaller birds...
Robin - 3
Great Tit - 2
Blue Tit - 1
Dunnock - 1
Goldfinch - 2
Blackbird - 3

2 redwing
9 Chiffchaff
6 bullfinch
Dipper
5 nuthatch
2 great spotted woodpecker
6 grey wagtail
10 jay
Drake goosander

Pretty quiet for Thrush survey this am 8.30-10.00, but some decent sightings:

2 Dipper

6 Bullfinch

5 Redwing

Common Buzzard

1+ Sparrowhawk

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Jay

Goldcrest

Nuthatch

November's winter thrush survey highlights 7.45-9:

4 Redwing
24 Blackbird
2 Mistle and Song Thrush

Also:
Bullfinch
4 Rook
1+ Tawny Owl
3 Goosander(2 Drake)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail
Cormorant
2 Nuthatch

Male and female Tawny Owl calling at 7am

Tawny Owl flew over Peak Forest canal at 7am this morning at the 'top' of the Dale.
Also Chiffchaff

between woodend lane bridge towards haughton dale lots of
great spotted woodpeckers
long tailed tits
large bird of prey, buzzard? flying high over gower hey wood

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 30th of May 2013 09:58:00 PM

An hour down at the Dale and upto the canal at Woodley today produced:

Plenty of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Nuthatch
3 Treecreeper
Grey Wagtail
Canada geese with 23 Gosling amongst them being fiercely guarded from magpies
1 drake Mandarin
Usual tit species
12 Goldfinch
3 Bullfinch
Stock Dove
Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush

Opposite Mill Pond Road area (Woodley)

Kingfisher
Blackcap
Goldfinch
lots of house sparrows coming down to bathe
Caught a glimpse of a bird with a red tail and rump flying into a low bush but didn't get a close enough view as it flew away. Waited around in case it showed it self but was out of luck.

Well said Vicky, I too think Ian does do a fantastic job sifting through all the posts and so forth, if something needs to be edited or questioned then he has done it for a reason! Don't worry about misidentifying the Wood Warbler, sometimes common species show a little variation or oddity that can suddenly turn it into something else, we all make misidentifications, and I've had to edit some of my posts after seeking advice or species confirmation from Ian. I'm still learning now after 41 years of birdwatching.

Ian as for your comment ... people think you're a newbie crushing ogre ... well I certainly don't! and those that do I wouldn't worry about. People have to understand it is part of your job to question, or to say yes/no to an ID or a sighting. If someone thinks they have something new and its backed up or is likely to be that due to other circumstances then brilliant, if it turns out that it isn't that species for whatever the reason, then so be it, what's the alternative...don't say anything and let them keep thinking they've seen something they haven't?

Even with a photo, we can all get it wrong sometimes, as I have done I hold my hands up, and to back that point up you have supplied everybody that takes part with photos for the Mystery Bird section, and we don't all get them right, even with a photo! Keep doing what you have to do for this site in my view!!!

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I asked another birder who agreed that the bird on my video was a wood warbler. I then asked a member of the forum to take a look. they agreed it looked like a wood warbler as the birds belly was very white contrasting against the yellow throat and neck. The song gave it away though as a willow warbler. Sorry i didn't alter the post sooner but don't have internet at the moment.

Ian I'd never worry about you or anyone else for that matter editing my post or offering advice. Believe me I know i've got a lot to learn as this post shows. i've had nothing but fantastic advice from everyone on this forum. I've learnt so much since joining and hope I continue to do so although I've got a long way to go. I think you do a fantastic job and really appreciate the time and hard work you put in.

Vicky

No it hasn't escaped my attention Jase and earlier today I was informed that the bird has been re-identified as a Willow Warbler; however I had asked the original observer to post this update so I don't appear to be the newbie crushing ogre that many seem to think I am. As you've stepped in at this point though I feel its only fair I reply

The Pink-footed Goose is a resident bird though.

Vicky Sumner wrote:

---

Possible WOOD WARBLER at the edge of the woods to the back of Broomstairs nurseries. Bright yellow throat and Chest, dark eye stripe, white breast and under feathers, larger than a willow warbler. I managed to get a video of it as it was singing warbler style at the top of a bush for at least 5 minutes.

Checked out my video and compared it to you tube videos and %100 sure its a wood warbler.

pink-footed goose with canadas

-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Tuesday 23rd of April 2013 09:32:46 AM

---

Has this escaped everybody's attention? Singing Wood Warbler in Denton.
I am currently working in Newbury so can't get there to check it out but would be if I was at home.
Oh? And a Pink-footed Goose.

Cheers
Jason

Quick walk 9 - 10 am

plenty of Chiffchaff and willow warbler
1 male Blackcap

2 lads tearing up and down on scramblers!! Is there a law against people riding motorbikes in a nature reserve?

8.00 - 10.00

Birds of note

7 Willow warbler
12 Chiffchaff
1 Lesser Redpoll
Pair of Blackcap
1 Swallow
Greenfinch
Great Spotted woodpecker
Sparrowhawk
Pair of Mandarin
Male Goosander
Heron
Cormorant
2 Stock dove

Thanks. It could have possibly been. It was low down perched on a branch at the bottom of a bush. It could have been my eyes and the light playing tricks but it appeared to have yellow contrasting against it's black head. I'm away this weekend so will try to get down next week to see if it's still around

Cheers

Vicky

A walk from Apethorn lane to Broomstairs farm 7am - 11

50+ Redwing
3 Chiffchaff
4 Great spotted woodpecker
1 Lesser spotted woodpecker calling.
Stock dove
4 Siskin
4 Treecreeper
3 Nuthatch
Little grebe
Pair of Goosander
Teal
3 Lapwing
Brent goose
2 Snipe
7 Meadow Pipit
Kingfisher
Dipper
2 Jay
Buzzard calling

A small Bunting i didn't recognise. Dark head like a reed Bunting but had a yellow tinge. Im not confident enough to say Ht was anything rare but had difficulty identifying it. I only managed to get a glimpse for a few seconds before it flew off.

-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Thursday 4th of April 2013 11:47:09 PM

Apethorn Lane- Broomstairs 8.15-10.30

Highlights:
2 Snipe
5 Meadow Pipit
2+ Chiffchaff (one to within 3 feet)
Siskin
Lapwing
10 Redwing, some in song
Common Buzzard
Kingfisher
2 Stock Dove
5+ Nuthatch
Treecreeper
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Bullfinch
4 Teal

No sign of Brent Goose

1-3 pm
Kingfisher
2 Treecreeper
Nuthatch
3 Common Buzzard
1+ Sparrowhawk, starting display
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Little Grebe
Stock Dove
3 Goldcrest
Plus good activity with more 'usual' species.

A very cold walk checking out all flocks of Canada Geese enroute. Nothing unusual spotted amongst them. 85 Canada grazing next to Broomstairs stables.

Birds of note:

Kingfisher (flying upstream at the back of the water treatment plant on mill Lane)
Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail
Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, numerous charms of Goldfinch
Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal tit
Goldcrest
16 Redwing + 3 Fieldfare
2 Buzzard. One calling approx 20/30ft above.
3 Pair of Siskin