Chew Reservoir is in Oldham, GM, You should enjoy it up there .... be like mid-winter but with midges ... so don't forget your wooly hat, gloves and insect repellant !!
Roger.
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
It needs to come South Pete ... and slightly East.
To get a better idea go on Google Earth maps and put in SK13 1HP (Arnfield Moor) then zoom in and out of the triangle formed by Woodhead / Crowden - Greenfield - Mottram-in-Longdendale ...... when you zoom in the county border between GM and Derbyshire is Ogden Brook ... so where it would cross that is anybodys guess ?
Or best place to view from ???? ...... you pays your money and takes your chance.
By the way the big dark patch above Stalybridge and Mossley is where our beloved moor was burned out .... still pees me off just looking at it.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Monday 10th of August 2020 05:13:23 PM
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Bearded vulture reported has North of a628 this afternoon, must be close to the gm border now
Actually the A628 is the same general area the bird has been in for the last couple of weeks, looking at the map on Birdguides it's been much closer to the county border than that, unfortunately,still a chance it'll drift a bit further north ,fingers crossed.
Viewing from east of Chew Reservoir a Red Kite went NW (arriving from over the Crowden area) around 11:40, circling and drifting over the Laddow Moss-Blindstones Moss area, then continued roughly towards Dovestones Reservoir
That same Red Kite was also seen from Alex Lees garden in Padfield, along with Marsh Harrier and Bearded Vulture
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Viewing from east of Chew Reservoir a Red Kite went NW (arriving from over the Crowden area) around 11:40, circling and drifting over the Laddow Moss-Blindstones Moss area, then continued roughly towards Dovestones Reservoir
The last couple of nights the Bearded Vulture has roosted within the Dove Stone reserve boundary (though back across the valley tonight). Seen flying over Laddow Rocks at times so very close to a Greater Manchester tick!
Bit of a 'Mad Dogs and Englishmen' visit today 10.45 - 17.00. Not the day I'd planned to visit but delayed deliveries and necessary repairs put paid to earlier attempts. Greenfield Station-Chew Valley Road (part closed for resurfacing)- brook-side path from Tanner's- Dove Stone car park - Club Field- Binn Green- Ashway Gap- 'Bradbury's Plantation' - the old railway track- Chew Road - Chew res - Chew Road - the old paper dump - the ice cream van(!) and back to Greenfield Station for the bus home. Chew Road was still a bit of a pull despite avoiding the 1 in 1 start but there was a nice easterly to lean on going up and pushing me back down.
Jackdaw large flock(50+) over toward Whamton and several around main carpark Blue Tit - several heard contact calling Long-tailed Tit- Brook and edges of Club Field Swift 2 min Greenfield Black-headed Gull -on raft - Dove Stone - uncounted Lesser Black-Backed Gull - on raft Dove Stone 1 Willow Wabler - contact calls at several points inc old paper dump Pheasant 6 Binn Green(1) Ashway Gap in down flow (3) Chew Road (2) all juvenile/female except 1 bird on Chew Road Coal Tit 3 Binn Green bottom of steps Redpoll - several heard in flight but not seen Binn Green Crossbill -1 flew over Binn Green calling Goldfinch- heard in larches Binn Green 2 more by Sailing club and below crags Jay heard Binn Green and near Tanner's Meadow Pipit - various areas Kestrel male top of Chew Valley Wheatear 3 2 female/immature fly-catching from guard rails on Chew Road near small quarry at top, third seen lower down Chew Road on descent Red Kite 1 over Chew res approx 3 p.m. circled a few times, then off over the valley towards Indian's Head (Oldham tick) Swallow 4 2 over Dove Stone res, 1 over Chew res, 1 heading down Chew valley as I was Sand Martin 2 over Chew Res with Swallow Canada Goose 6 on Chew Res (that I could pick out) uncounted on Dove Stone Mallard 2 old paper dump pond, uncounted on Dove Stone Wren several heard in different areas of bracken Robin 1 partial-adult plumage Dove Stone car park Song Thrush 1 near glamping site Carrion Crow 2 over Greenfield Station.
Not a sightings post, but RSPB Dovestone have, via their Twitter account, requested visitors stay away. Does not go into specifics, but suggests that the number of visitors is having a negative effect on wildlife. More vaguely, it also suggests that the recent influx of visitors is ruining the area for locals. I would have thought that the same could be said for a number of areas.
Well both the main carpark and the carpark at Binn Green were open when we arrived at 6:25AM this morning, though we noticed that the entrance to the main carpark was manned, when we left 2 hours later.
6:30 - 9:00 AM - Lovely clear, bright, dry and still conditions.
Binn Green: The feeders were not stocked, so there wasn't much around save for a few finches and singing Chaffinch, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Song Thrush.
Binn Green to Greenfield Brook - c12 singing Willow Warblers - a couple of calling Siskins - 3 Curlew - juv Stonechat - 1 Common Sandpiper - 1 Dipper - 6+ Grey Wagtails including some juvenilles - c10 Meadow Pipit - 1 possible Ring Ouzel (not seen clearly enough to ID) - 2 Reed Bunting. + usual supporting cast of Woodpigeons, Mallards etc
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 30th of May 2020 05:11:43 PM
Main car park blocked off FULL, drove on to Binn Green FULL, lay-bys were busy, and traffic police had issued plenty of tickets on cars that were parked on the road, on both sides. We tried main car park again and got in, busy but social distancing wasnt a problem due to size of the park, wide paths etc.
Of note... - Plenty of Willow Warbler singing, couple seen - few Blackcap singing - Chiffchaff singing - distant Cuckoo singing - few Lapwing flying around
Well both the main carpark and the carpark at Binn Green were open when we arrived at 6:25AM this morning, though we noticed that the entrance to the main carpark was manned, when we left 2 hours later.
6:30 - 8:20AM - Lovely clear, bright, dry and still conditions.
Binn Green: The feeders were not stocked, but someone had put some feed on one of the Bird Tables, which was being consumed by some Chaffinch and Coal Tit, otherwise that area was fairly quiet. - 2 Coal Tit - Pheasant - 1 singing Willow Warbler. - distant and quiet singing Cuckoo
Dovestone Reservoir It was a pretty quiet walk round in terms of encountering other humans and most of the occupants of the cars in the main carpark at least, appeared to b heading off to walk over the moors. Plenty of singing Willow Warbler and a few other species - c12 Willow Warbler - 3 Blackcap singing - 2 singing Chiffchaff - 1 Swallow around the main dam - 1 Common Sandpiper on the main Dam - c6 Pied Wagtail - Song Thrush - c4 Mistle Thrush - Reed Bunting - Bullfinch - c6 Meadow Pipit (1 displaying) - c6 Lapwing displaying (uphill towards the farm from the sailing Club) - 1 or maybe 2 singing Cuckoo in the plantations uphill from the sailing club - although nothing showed itself
Lots of Chaffinch, Mallard and the usual corvids plus a few Gulls, Cormorants
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 25th of May 2020 01:42:00 PM
A visit this morning to a very misty Dovestones. But did manage to spot a couple of birds of interest as the fog cleared.
3 Whooper swans (I think) dropped in on the reservoir and an odd looking wagtail (see below) - can anyone let me know what it is.
Hi Andrea! Fantastic sighting. Would it be alright if we posted your photos on the RSPB DoveStone twitter and social media? with credit to you of course.
Chew Reservoir and surrounding moor. Cold and overcast.
2 Golden Plover 1 Dunlin 2 pairs of Curlew 1 pair of Common Sandpiper 1 pair of Wheatear Grey Wagtail at a nest site Pair of Pied Wagtails Plenty of Skylark singing
Chew Valley path.
7 singing Reed Bunting 2 Cuckoo Two pairs of Stonechat, one pair feeding at least three very young fledglings 7 singing Willow Warblers 3 singing Blackcap 1 singing Song Thrush 2 Curlew Dipper feeding young in the brook
Lower down.
Pair of Common Sandpiper on Dovestone Reservoir Another Cuckoo singing Spotted Flycatcher
A promising site, ruined for me by its ease of access, resulting in a theme park atmosphere. Nevertheless, a satisfying morning, until the crowds appeared after 9am
1 nuthatch 5 siskin 1 lesser redpoll (another over from path leading to res) Goldfinch, greenfinch, chaffinch 1 bullfinch 1 song thrush 1 jay 1 great spotted woodpecker heard drumming
A quick look at the Binn Green Feeders had just Coal Tit and Pheasant showing, but on our return, it was a little more interesting with
- 3+ Great Tit - c4 Chaffinch - 1+ Brambling and - c6 Siskin
adding to the Pheasants and Mallards making the most of the seed on the ground under the feeders
Along past Yeoman Hay and Greenfield Reservoirs and then up the valley at the end (Is this still Greater Manchester), there were no Dippers but we did see - 2m Wheater - 1m Stonechat - c6 Meadow Pipit - 1 Grey Wagtail - 1 Buzzard - 2 Canada Geese - 1 Grey Heron
and heard quite a few Coal Tits, Goldfinch etc and a single Willow Warbler.
Usual suspects included Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Goldfinch, Chaffinch (many singing), Dunnock, Blackbird, Black-headed Gulls, Mallards, Canada Geese.
Plus: Female Goosander on Yeoman Hey, Male Reed Bunting singing, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Raven, Grey Wagtails in the spillway, several Skylarks singing on the hill.
-- Edited by James Minchin on Monday 25th of February 2019 01:44:44 AM
-- Edited by James Minchin on Monday 25th of February 2019 01:45:27 AM
Sun 10th Feb: (12:00 - 14:00 ish) Chilly walk in changeable conditions that ranged from being fairly clear and bright to driving sleet and hail. Generally very quiet around the woodlands and on the hillsides, so not a lot to see birdwise.
- 1 Buzzard over the hillsides - 1 Dipper - Channel around Greenfield Reservoir - 1 Pied Wagtail - further along the same channel as the Dipper
Around here today; very windy, so little in evidence, but still a glorious place to wander around. Very atmospheric at the top with the smattering of snow (where the only bird to show itself at all was a single meadow pipit); it was fresh up there, to say the least! Also of note:
Couple of siskin amongst a reasonably sized goldfinch flock in the Life for a Life wood Dipper in the outflow channel adjacent to Yeoman Hey and on Chew Brook Grey wagtail over near Ashway Gap Red grouse heard calling along Chew Brook valley Kestrel near Life for a Life wood and again at Ashway Gap
Wed 26th Dec First visit in ages and the place was busy with both families walking off Christmas excess and blokes with guns laying waste to the local Pheasant population.
Stayed away from the shooting and just walked from Binn Green around Dovestones Reservoir. Plenty of Woodpigeon taking flight but not a lot else.
- 3 Mistle Thrush, inc 1 singing male - 6+ Siskin - mainly at Binn Green - 10+ Coal Tit at Binn Green with some Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and a few other tits - 100+ Black-headed Gull - small Falcon flying low over the hillside of the east side of Yeoman Hay Reservoir. It was flying low above the vegetation and I wanted to say Merlin rather than Kestrel, but I didn't see it long enough to be saying one or the other.
50 Fieldfare flew west over Dovestones Reservoir this afternoon before heading north over Yeoman Hey Reservoir 5 Red-Legged Partridge around Yeoman Hey Reservoir
Very enjoyable, if very wet, day spent around here today. Didn't head up Chew Valley path today, so Binn Green (which was almost silent, just a couple of coal tit here), Yeoman Hey, Ashway Gap, and various plantations through to the sailing club:
1 goldcrest 2 chiffchaff 2 blackcap 6+ spotted flycatcher (family group, adults carrying food) 3 treecreeper 4 nuthatch 2+ lesser redpoll 6+ siskin (others unidentified in mixed flock) 10+ swallow 7 pied wagtail 2 grey wagtail 1 dipper 1 jay 1 raven 1 or 2 grey heron 4 - 6 kestrel 1 peregrine (extremely briefly, sped through high as I was watching a kestrel) 1 buzzard
What was surely a sparrowhawk trying to take a woodpigeon at Binn Green, too.
There wasn't much obviously around but I managed 35 species. Highlights were a juvenile Cuckoo and Spotted Flycatcher. Of note were masses of fledged Meadow Pipits, I also had my best ever view of a Red Grouse which popped up about 10 feet from me, and rather than flying away stared back and then trotted off.
A very late Cuckoo calling from the bottom of Chew Valley path At least six Reed Bunting territories, with one male seen carrying food 4 Stonechat, a male and three youngsters 5 Golden Plover, showing well out on the moor Common Sandpiper on the reservoir 2 Grey Heron over 5 Lesser Redpoll 6 Goldfinch 3 Willow Warblers singing 1 Dipper 4 Pied Wagtails
Then back down, fighting my way through the crowds at Dovestone
1 Spotted Flycatcher 1 alarm calling Common Sandpiper 1 Grey Wagtail 6 Swallows, two parents feeding four fledglings on a wire
6 Curlew 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull on the shoreline, causing great alarm amongst the Curlew 4 Dunlin 2 Buzzards, towards Hoarstone Edge, and Blindstones Moss One pair of Common Sandpiper Pair of Pied Wagtail 2 Skylark singing Mallard with 8 ducklings 1 Kestrel
Long-tailed Tits, Nuthatch collecting food and a Grey Heron along the Brook from The Clarence to the turning to the cottages on Broadbent Lane.
3 Cuckoos in the sheep field by the cottages - all grey birds. Not sure if it was two males trying to court a female or a female trying to see off a courting pair. A male called and flew into one of the hawthorns near the lane as I turned onto it from the footpath by the cottages. While I was failing to digi-bin it a female's bubbling call came from the left, back towards the plantation and the bird flew off. Shortly afterwards a bird flew into a distant tree, there was more cuckoo-ing and bubbling then one bird followed another across to a stone wall where they were joined by the third bird. At that point two birds flew right to a dead tree where one perched normally, with the second bird behind it, facing the opposite way with wings drooped and tail cocked. As I was moving to try to get a better place for a photo the third bird again flew over and two of the birds disappeared behind the sycamores to the right of the track. The remaining bird eventually flew uphill to the southern end of the plantation and cuckoo-ed from there. I'm pretty sure that when the third bird first got involved I'd heard bubbling calls in the direction from which it came, which makes me think the two birds flying behind the sycamore were female.
Also along this stretch 2 male Pheasants, 4 juvenile Mistle Thrushes, a male Sparrowhawk and 9 Lapwings in the fields above Tanner's Business Centre.
Made my way through the obstacle course of the conifer plantation to check on the Bog Beacon. Good showing in its' primary location but only a few specimens in the second spot.
Juvenile Song Thrush in Chew Piece Plantation. Meadow Pipits, Chaffinches, Wood Pigeons, Great Tits and Blackbirds also seen. Several Willow Warblers and 1 ChiffChaff heard.
Followed the old railway bed up Chew Valley, crossing over to the road to head up to Chew Reservoir. 4 or 5 Red Grouse advised against this but I stuck to it and added a male Ring Ouzel, 2 Common Buzzards and a pair of Teal in the stream bed at the top, which probably explains the single duckling piping away several small waterfalls down stream.
The Teal relocated to the reservoir, joining 2 Canada Geese, 2 Curlews, another Cuckoo, male Grey and Pied Wagtails and a Lesser Black-backed Gull. A Golden Plover and a Wren were heard but not seen. On the way down the only bird of interest between the reservoir and Charnel Clough was a sun-bathing Red Grouse. Lower down the old paper dump had 15 Mallard (4 M 1F 10 ducklings) 10 Teal (1 M 1F 8 ducklings) 1 Magpie and 1 Willow Warbler. A male Cuckoo was still calling somewhere around the conifers as I headed back for the bus.
Yeah he was up here filming the breeding waders for Springwatch, with the wardens and site manager. I said hello briefly, but wasnât able to make it up top that day sadly.