maybe this,ll help the crossbills were on the same level of ground over to the left as you reach the first set of steps,but you can go down and back up when you see them from the road below,dave from bury gave us the wood warblers location as follows down the first steps through 1 stone stile, cross the road through a wooden gate follow the path till your overlooking the resi.(spell check)and it was flirting about in the pine trees.also worth noting the crossbills were silent and busy feeding I thought i was watching two or three till they all took to the air,and it was early 7ish 8ish when we saw them.best of luck

wearing clogs is good for your feet Geoff
p.s. if any hillbillys need any help in our flatlands use your mobile before the banjo,s get yer

Thinking of making the trip there one night this week.

Whereabouts is the Wood Warbler now???

Also are the Crossbills mainly around the Car Park still??

Cheers

Phil

Sunday 09.30 - 13.00

Binn Green car park to eastern end of Greenfield Reservoir.

No sight or sound of Wood Warbler where it had been previously.

flock of Crossbills in trees near car park (too mobile for my limited counting abilities)
Swift
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Canada Goose
Grey Wagtail
Curlew
Pheasant
Willow Warbler
Buzzard
Carrion Crow
Pied Wagtail
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Wren
Stonechat
Dipper
Common Sandpiper

Also got some photos of the Small Heath butterfly that Judith mentioned.

binn green car park ,well 100 yrds down the path 12 crossbills and quite a bit further along 1 very showy wood warbler giving givin it,s all.Very nice spot and 2 more lifers for me ,nice to meet steve sutill .

cheers geoff

Still at least 20 Crossbills feeding in conifers just to the left of the lower carpark this pm.

10th June 7.30 - 10.45 am.

Can only re-iterate previous comments on this post - a really terrific mornings birdwatching and walking - and for those who don't know the area - even if you had no birds to look at and enjoy, the scenery is really stunning!

The Wood Warbler was still putting on a terrific (if rather desperate!) display - it repeatedly gave its butterfly/bat-like display flight and gave both versions of its songs. The "spinning coin" version was heard most frequently - with the Wren like flourish at the end - that other observers have already noted. The other song - the "piu" sounding note repeated 5 or 6 times was also tried out but less frequently.

A flighty, vocal flock of c25 Crossbills were highly visible/audible in flight but much harder to pin down whilst feeding - although eventually a few of both males and females were seen briefly feeding on larch cones.

Managed to record 33 species in total - not getting that far away from the car park. Siskins and Lesser Redpolls heard/seen. Both the pair of Treecreepers were seen carrying food and a Jay had found its own way of obtaining food - by raiding an overflowing litter bin! Raising it's young on junk food no doubt!

Cheers,

Bill.



-- Edited by Bill Myerscough at 18:34, 2008-06-10

Had a brilliant morning at Binn Green/Yeoman Hey Res - met only nice people no weirdos. Found the Wood Warbler right at the start 0615 and it was still singing at 11.00. Had two separate groups of Crossbills 7 or 8 females and young in the plantation and then what appeared to be one each of male, female both adult and young in the car park area near the bench these 4 birds were spooked by something/someone and a flock of about 10 - 12 birds flew off. There was also a Redpoll in the same larch. Also had Spotted Flycatcher at the bottom of the lane on the left near the end of the dam wall. Further along Grey Wags and Red legged Partridge and a Common Sandpiper that some walkers spooked.

Met Tim Wilcox and his mate Tony - nice to meet you guys - hope that you found the Wood Warbler.

28 CROSSBILLS late am,with a very flighty flock of 13 (containing 1 male) around Binn Green,also Lesser Redpoll and Siskin here. Another flock of 15 (containing 7 males) in Bill O' Jack's plantation by Yeoman Hey Resevoir viewed from the road.

geoff my atoz is in the car, but the carp park is marked iirc.

SE 017 044

there you go tim.

What is the grid ref for Binn Green? I can't seem to find it on my OS maps

Don't think you were out of order Kath, as the bird seems obviously unpaired. I would hesitate before posting sightings of rare (in our area) breeding birds though.

The Wood Warbler certainly brightened my day!

Steve

Glad to see the more savoury topic of bird watching has returned(although as a female birder I appreciate the warning).
Having seen Riggers account of "a spotted fly in hte dovestones area", i have thought whether i put too much directional info on regarding the Wood Warbler.??

With that in mind, there is a Pied Fly and Tree Pipit reported in the area on Friday (from a reliable source)

Gary Marland wrote:

---

Too wet for any unsavoury characters I suspect.

---

probably at home with their wives and families!

03.00 - 04.15. Had another attempt for the Crossbills this afternoon and, after a 45 minute wait, found a group feeding quietly in the Larch by the inscibed bench (just off the car park). Through the scope I had a minimum of 2 males (inc. 1 extremely bright individual), 1 female and 2 juveniles.

The Wood Warbler had moved further down the footpath towards the reservoir (just past the 3rd wooden gate).

No unsavoury people or incidents.

Cheers, John

17 Crossbills just below the Binn Green car park this a.m., later several on the opp side of reservoir, but 2 flew back towards Binn Green.
Minimum 6 Redpolls in area
1 Buzzard over

Wary of the reports of dodgy behaviour, as I got my gear out of the back of my car, I heard male voice sayig "I'll be ready for you in a moment pal"!!!!!
Before I had chance to test the strength of my scope against his head I realised, much to my relief that it was an old bloke with his wife, just setting off hill-walking and he was just messing around posing, as he thought my scope was a camera. Thankfully it was busy with normal folk today

On a similar note. I googled Entwistle Reservoir a while back and the first site on the list was a "Dogging" site. They use the picnic area at night apparently. Worryingly, the picnic tables at Penny Flash were also mentioned.

There were letters in the Bolton News a couple of months ago about unsavoury gentlemen hanging around the toilets at Barrow Bridge too.

I used to think this sort of thing was a bit of a myth but it seems to be more common than i thought.

Guess we have to be carefull, especially walking around with bins, scopes and cameras

spent the afternoon up there with melanie.

incredible afternoon's birding. a flock of 16 crossbills within minutes of arriving - they circled twice so we both got 3 attempts at the count.

a couple of hours later 2 males and 2 females appeared and then to top it off - 2 adults and two juveniles. fantastic.

have tried some pics on my phone through my scope, will see if i have anything shortly.

we didn't see another bird all afternoon.

all scoped from the rocky knoll above the car park.

Hi Paul, no idea whether they would or not but at least they would be aware of it occuring I guess and could manybe launch a sting operation! Same with the National park Rangers as they have patrols, especially at weekends.

BTW - Wood Warbler present again this morning but no Crossbill or weirdos! Info from my mate!!

Paul, have you reported this to the police or national park rangers? Personally I think you should and hopefully put an end to this kind of behaviour. The car park is very popular with runners, walkers and families.

went up yesterday late afternoon.

3 stunningly bright lesser redpoll and 5 equally bright siskin - no crossbills.

had an extremely unsavoury experience on the grassy rocky bit behind the toilets whilst scouting for the crossbills.

a man in his mid 30's came and sat on the rocks behind me for 10 minutes or so, i naively assumed he was enjoying the view. he then passed me went under the fence and stood leaning on a tree. next time i glanced over he was masturbating whilst staring over at me. this is the middle of the afternoon, ffs.

it would seem the car park is being used by others who aren't interested in it's natural beauty or wildlife - be aware and be careful.

The Wood Warbler was right overhead (photo'd) this afternoon and was song flighting as it desperately sang for a mate. The shivery-trill song seems to me to end with a bit of Wren mimicry. Also a couple of Siskin and Redpoll singing plus Grey Wagtail at the inlet. Sadly no Crossbills.

On Saddleworth Moor 2 Red Grouse, 3 Golden Plover and a Dunlin.

Cheers, John

No sign of crossbills this morning

As well as the Wood Warbler at Bin Green,(Oldham Tick)

1 Spotted Flycatcher in the Dove Stones area(another Oldham tick-I sound like Mr"million list" Woosey now)