At least the 3 male ring ouzels still present this p.m., although I'm not entirely sure they are inside the county boundary. Also, not inside Greater Manchester, I saw my first 'local' swallow of '21, and four buzzards. 2 tree sparrows were in April cottage garden, and c125 golden plover were up where others have seen them recently (but cannot be seen unless they get airborn). 2 x curlew flew from 'our' side and landed by the 'Derbyshire pond' where they remained until I left.
3 wheatears,2 near upper layby. Number of lapwing,skylarks and meadow pipits. Moorhen on pond. 3 kestrels near Picking Rods footpath. About 25 golden plover.a distance on field right of picking rods,walking uphill. Curlew flying parallel to Gun Road,further down from footpath. Also chaffinches,goldfinches,chiffchaffs and rook near Clough End.
Highlights from tonight Golden Plover at least 250-300 up past picking rods something put them all up otherwise I wouldn't have seen them, 2 Stonechat in quarry. Raven 2 Fieldfare 175 Northern Wheatear 2 Chiffchaff 1
A couple of visits over the weekend, early doors Friday and this afternoon 1:30pm - 3:30pm (first of the year !).
Lapwings and Sylarks in good numbers on the fields along Gun Road and the Picking Rods. 2 Oystercatchers by the upper quarry pool. First Swallow of the year flew close by me and skimmed the water as I sat by the lower quarry pool. 2 Common Gull amongst a flock of Black-Headded Gulls around Cloughend valley. Curlew (heard only). Reed Bunting.
Identical day to Andy's yesterday, except for Golden Plover 50 up near picking rods with 2 in the field with the pool, Lapwing 125 from Ernocroft Road across to picking rods. Ray
Quite birdy really, especially compared to my previous (unrecorded) visit. Best were; Pair of stonechat in sheep field SE of quarry, 30 golden plover (may not have entered County, were in field next to the kennels, but flew off whilst someone was talking to me), 65 lapwing (at least), 3 raven (2+1), curlew heard only, many small flocks of starling, but one group of c150 seen mixed with 20+ fieldfare and a few redwing. Given the number of prey items on view, it was surprising that not a single raptor was seen (except for the fact that we are on the edge of the Peak District NP, of course)!
Not the true 'moor' area (if anything actually qualifies as that these days), I did what I call the 'Ernocroft Circuit', which is the area bounded by the Glossop Rd and Ernocroft Lane (but including Larkhill feeders). Highlights were c80 redwings nr Sunhill Farm, at least 4 teal (3 m) on small pond in same area, 1 snipe overhead called as I watched these, c20 meadow pipits nr Larkhill, 2 tree sparrows & 1 reed bunting amongst feeder mob, 2 kestrels, the odd fieldfare and sundry other usuals.
A stop off on the way home from work today, 32 species, highlights:
Stock Dove 6 Lapwing 47 Common Gull 53 Cormorant 1 Fieldfare 15 Redwing 3 Tree Sparrow 2 Greenfinch 22 - the most I have seen in years Goldfinch 15 Reed Bunting 3
10.30-12.15. Crisp snow underfoot. In no particular order notable birds were:
Tawny Owl Reed Bunting 8 (single flock) Stonechat 3 (pair below quarry and single in SBI field to the SE) Snipe 8 (2 above quarry and flock of 6 flying around Brownlow) Tree Sparrow 2 (on Brownlow feeders) Greenfinch 10 (on Brownlow feeders) Fieldfare 14 Bullfinch 4 Nuthatch 1 Goldfinch 15 Buzzard 1
Very few birds around today but Golden Plover was heard 2x (not seen) Starling flock of c80 Snipe 1
Low numbers may be, in part, due to the Manchester 17 trail bike event aptly called Boxing Day Madness. This takes place annually in the quarry area and with participants (over 70 this year), marshals, spectators etc it attracts over 100 people. I am amazed that this is allowed in Stockport Borough (Tier 3) but it appears that as long as an ACU permit is obtained it can go ahead.
The results of the event are displayed on the internet but apart from the Covid implications the habitat destruction is brutal. This year a new area of scrub above the pool has been cleared prior to the event. Hundreds of marker flags were put out and before/after photos attached.
Cheers, John
I was wondering what had happened on my arrival this afternoon John! wasn't sure if it was the farmer doing some environmental clearance until I saw some tyre marks! Ray
Very few birds around today but Golden Plover was heard 2x (not seen) Starling flock of c80 Snipe 1
Low numbers may be, in part, due to the Manchester 17 trail bike event aptly called Boxing Day Madness. This takes place annually in the quarry area and with participants (over 70 this year), marshals, spectators etc it attracts over 100 people. I am amazed that this is allowed in Stockport Borough (Tier 3) but it appears that as long as an ACU permit is obtained it can go ahead.
The results of the event are displayed on the internet but apart from the Covid implications the habitat destruction is brutal. This year a new area of scrub above the pool has been cleared prior to the event. Hundreds of marker flags were put out and before/after photos attached.
Pink footed Goose 260 E. in a single skein
Stonechat 3 (m, f above quarry. 1st w. below quarry)
Meadow Pipit 7
Greenfinch flock of 15 (Brownlow)
Snipe 1
Kestrel 1
Long-tailed Tit 12
Starling c120
Mixed flock of Common and Black-headed Gulls c100
On the last few hawthorn berries:
Fieldfare 4, Redwing 4, Mistle Thrush 2, Blackbird 2
Cheers, John.
Afternoon walk in the cold wind and rain showers yesterday (Sunday).
Few birds on show but a sudden spell of bright sunshine illuminated a (female?) Peregrine which flew towards us and no more than 30-40 feet above our head. A great moment.
9am - 10:30am this morning, chilly but calm with low cloud.
Quite a bit of activity compared to my last few visits.
The highlight being a large flock of Fieldfares around the quarry, estimated at 50-60 minimum with the odd Redwing and Mistle Thrush thrown in. They were in the boulder field when I arrived but then re-located to some hawthorns in the field just south of the quarry, and still around when the rain started and I left around 10:30am. A group of Starlings had also joined the flock.
Up at the kennels the Thrush activity continued, with numbers of Redwing and Miustle Thrush in the area. Also a Finch flock containing around 30-40 birds contained Goldfinch and Greenfinch.
Also:
1 Grey Heron (Quarry pool Gun Road) 1 Kestrel 2 Jay Long-tailed Tit flock (lower quarry pool)
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese around 10 minutes apart heading NNE.
Cheers, Steve.
-- Edited by Stephen Fuentes on Saturday 17th of October 2020 11:35:39 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 17th of October 2020 11:49:33 AM
a flock of 9 ravens, which was pretty good for up here in recent times. The majority of them could be seen later over Cown Edge buzzing a buzzard. One of the original 9 appeared to fly back South almost as soon as it arrived.
I counted 6 stonechat. 3 snipe, jay, great spotted woodpecker (which flew over the quarry), lots of lapwings but no count as they were either down in the distance, or scattered all over the place when they flushed a couple of times, sparrowhawk, kestrel and a single swallow flew strongly South as I got back to the car. Not too exciting, but who cared on such a fine afternoon?
Late post for Monday 21st, just in case people think we miss out on all the action. A hobby was over the quarry at c2.40 p.m. First noticed when 125 lapwing rose above the ridge in panic, an odd starling was within the flock and then the hobby was spotted in the midst of all this. It appeared to pick off a couple of insects, but then turned West and saw the flock of swallows I'd passed earlier (c30), and zoomed off towards them like an arrow. I agree with John that there could have been 3 whinchats, but I could never see them all at the same time.
Saw whinchats and wheatears at new place and pair of stonechats and one young at quarry.Also saw two kestrels,a buzzard,jey,heron,chaffinch and meadow pipits and a heron.
It may be August but distinctly autumnal today at Ludworth.
7 Ravens were notable (A pair followed by flock of 5)
The chat flock is still near the quarry. Whinchat (ad +juv), Stonechat (m, f, 3 juvs) plus the attendant Whitethroat.
Another Stonechat along Picking Rods path.
Blackcap and Willow Warblers calling.
Reed Buntings (2)
Kestrels (fem + juv)
c50 Meadow Pipits
c200 Starlings
Cheers John