Gropper absent all this past weekend - maybe he's headed up to Castleshaw?

Another Spotted Flycatcher found whilst searching the neighbourhood

Steve

Iain Johnson wrote:

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Rest assured Steve, I have emailed Ian

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Yes, my mistake. It seems I am only human afterall, allegedly...

I hope that's not the Gropper which has appeared on Iain's Tameside list - 'cos it's definitely in Oldham!

Cheers, Steve

Grasshopper Warbler found in Greenfield near Mossley border on Saturday morning. Still reeling away on Sunday. A first for Oldham (and GM) for me

Steve

i had an early walk on sat (6am)heard 9 different chiff chaffs and 6 different willow warblers from greenfield to the mossley border also 2 different green woodpeckers yaffling lovely morning

walk round greenfield and royal george -2 long tail tits,5 swallow (first of year) 1 dipper ,1 chiff chaff (heard) plus usual suspects.

-- Edited by stuartherring on Monday 5th of April 2010 07:09:23 PM

Finally glimpsed the Greenfield Water Rail that everyone except me has been watching for weeks. Let's hope it stays until next weekend so we can put a spot on the map for the new breeding birds atlas

Steve

Have sent you a PM, Stuart.

Must have just missed you, Stuart. Went to check Dipper nests & Heronry myself on Sunday morning.

Heronry bigger than ever as new trees are being colonised, though some of the older nest trees are being abandoned - possibly due to Cormorant droppings rotting the branches?

Your possible Chiffchaff confirmed - 1 heard, 2 seen. Heard the green Woodpecker as well - impossible not to really!

Steve

Travelling down Oldham road near the farm at Lydgate, I saw a Little Owl on a fence post. This is the second time I've seen one there (looked as if it was the same fence post too) so I wonder if it's a favourite spot.

FREIZLAND 4 LONG TAIL TITS,2 BULLFINCH M&F,4 CORMORANT NEAR HERONRY EARLY AM ,,ROYAL GEORGE 1 (M) 5 (F) GOOSANDER 1 LITTLE GREBE,,HOME 3 GOLDFINCH,2 DUNNOCK ,1 TREECREEPER 1ST FOR A WHILE

goosander 3 pairs,1 bullfinch male,2 heron ,various gulls on royal george partialy frozen

stuartherring wrote:

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nice male redpoll with the goldfinches on the nyjer this morning got some good photo,s then accidently wiped my memory card clean not happy

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you can download free salvage software which will gather any files which haven't been written over - when you format a memory card it just gives the hardware permission to overwrite what's on there, it doesn't actually delete anything until you take more pictures...


-- Edited by Paul Cliff on Sunday 24th of January 2010 10:06:22 AM

Snowy stroll around Greenfield yesterday:

rather distressing sight of a Sparrowhawk trying to kill a Lapwing which must have been injured already. I'd already found a dead Greenfinch in my garden!

Plenty of other birds in the vicinity of the sewage works: Snipe, Grey Wagtail, 20+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Dipper, 3 Goosander. Also a Cormorant perched on a tree in the heronry.

Little Grebe with a small fish at the Manns. 4 Redwing and a Nuthatch by Royal George Lodge.

Steve

cracking greater spotted woodpecker on suet balls this morning 1st time in garden

edit: sorry wrong topic

-- Edited by James Minchin on Saturday 14th of November 2009 05:40:53 PM

male goosander on royal george 1.45 pm

greenfield 3 bullfinches, loads of long tail tits, 1 goldcrest . onto royal george 1 little grebe and loads more long tail tits plus kingfisher heard also female sparrrowhawk flyover

-- Edited by stuartherring on Wednesday 11th of November 2009 10:40:06 AM

Thanks Tony,

but it's not the river where the ducks have disappeared - it's the mill lodge which used to have the variety of species (never in big numbers). It does seem to be the diving ducks which have gone (not that we've ever had many dabblers round here). The lodge is not fished (by humans, that is) as often as it used to be. I have seen Mink here in the past and wonder if that's the problem? I'm not aware of anything that could have affected the water quality - for better or worse.

Cheers, Steve

Sunday morning 8.11.09

back at The Manns, Well-i-Hole Farm and Royal George lodge:

Male Wigeon still present with Mallards. Little Grebe skulking (often with just the top of its head above water), Kingfisher. Cormorant. Dipper singing on river.

2 Canada Goose bodies suggest that the local Fox population isn't going hungry!

Steve

Following the days of incessant precipitation, I thought it worth checking out the flooded fields at Well-i-hole Farm, Greenfield. Rewarded with a cracking drake WIGEON (pretty scarce round here) in the Mallard flock by the pond at The Manns.

This area (which I count for WeBS) has declined in the diversity of its wildfowl over the past few years. Tufted and Coot used to be regular (occasionally breeding), one or two Pochard used to overwinter, Teal and Goldeneye used to drop in now and then and I even had a male Ruddy Duck once. The canal nearby once produced a pair of Garganey! These days there is nothing but Mallard, Canada Geese, Moorhen and, if your'e lucky, Goosander. Can any locals explain this?

Steve

01/10/2009 - A good walk around the area south of Dovestones Res. and part way up the Chew Valley from 10.30am-3pm revealed:

1 Crossbill (found by Dave Winnard, flew over the plantation SW of the res.)
3 Red Grouse (up the Chew Valley)
1 Dipper (up the Chew Valley)
2 Ravens
4+ Siskins
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
7 Jays
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch
3+ Goldcrests
1 Pheasant
2 Mistle Thrushes
5 Pied Wagtails
10+ Meadow Pipits
2 Stonechats (up the Chew Valley)
c30 Mallards
13 Black-headed Gulls

no sign of any Crossbills at the Binn Green plantation

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 1st of October 2009 09:33:11 AM

Apart from a small visitors centre at the main car park which as I understand will be more akin to a rangers office (not a shop, cafe etc).

Most of the residents of Sadleworth will not see any difference as the majority of the work will be on the surrounding moorland to resore it to its former glory

The people who are kicking up a fuss do not even venture in these areas, and as Steve points out, the only people you meet on the moors are walkers and not local residents of Sadleworth.

As I know several people who are against the RSPB "taking over" (as they see it)- it is definatley a case of "wanting your cake and eating it!"

They like their "local shops and services", but without tourism and day visitors, many of these would be unable to survive.

I'm afraid I was otherwise engaged last night and couldn't make the meeting.

Riggers is right about there being some strange people in Saddleworth (and plenty of other places!). A lot of local people make their money from the tourists and then moan about them! If you've ever been to Dovestone on a sunny weekend you will realise you couldn't fit more people in if you tried - unless you drain the main reservoir and turn it into a car park!

I don't think it can be turned into another Minsmere and that is certainly not the RSPB's intention. It's never been a great place for birds unless you are willing to do a great deal of foot-slogging and have patience - not qualities I normally associate with a "typical" RSPB reserve visitor who wants to open a hide window and see it all there in front of you. Don't get me wrong - I enjoy doing that from time to time, and I also enjoy a nice caff like at Minsmere or Old Moor.

I just hope that the RSPB don't feel that they have to have "flagship" birds for the site and start importing Red Kites and Ospreys!

Steve