David Walsh wrote:

---

Monday 1st May 2017, 5.45pm

Blackcap singing in the trees around Broadhurst Transport, opposite the entrance to Stalybridge Railway Station.

---

Blackcap singing for the third week, opposite Stalybridge railway station.

Thursday 10th May 2017, 9.00 - 10.30am

Pennine Bridleway, between Carrbrook and Millbrook.

6 Lapwing, including one well grown juvenile, which seems a poor return from at least four nests at the end of March. The adults were permanently alarm calling, harassed by gulls and corvids. There has been some control of the Lesser Black-backed Gulls , Crows, and Magpies, but not much can be done with the Black-headed Gulls. To add to the Lapwings' woes, the field has been ploughed and tilled in the past month, so that the youngster is wandering around on bare earth.

1 Whitethroat singing
3 Willow Warblers
15 Goldfinch
3 Greenfinch
5 Chaffinch
6 Linnet
4 Swallows
1 Swift
1 Buzzard over Harridge

8 Sand Martins this afternoon over the Tame in Dukinfield
Chiffchaff and Blackcap also in the area

19th April. 15.00 - 16.30 hrs.
Harrop Edge. Stalybridge.
Willow Warbler.
Chiffchaff.
Rook (1) mixed in with the Carrion Crow & Jackdaw.
Swallow. (4)
Mistle Thrush collecting food.
Goldfinch.
Linnet. (1)

Roger.

-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Wednesday 19th of April 2017 06:30:37 PM

River Tame, Dukinfield - late afternoon

Chiffchaff singing and flycatching in one of the riverside trees

Kingfisher flew downstream carrying a small fish

Thursday 30th March. 14.00 hrs.

Stalybridge. R. Tame. Bayley Street bridge.

12+ Sand Martin. Think fresh in as I checked Mon & Tues with no joy.
Grey Wagtail. Pair M & F.


Harrop Edge. 14.30.

Still in the grip of winter up here !!!

Pied Wagtail. 1.
Carrion Crow. 6.
Jackdaw. 100+

Roger.

First swallow of the year for me over Standrick Hill, Heyrod. 27/03 @ 11:30

Sunday 26th March 2017, 10.30 - 11.30am

Pennine Bridleway, Harridge, Carrbrook end.

At least 6 Lapwing, a couple of birds sitting, with a lot of harassment from Carrion Crows
1 pair of Greenfinch, collecting nest material
1 pair of Mistle Thrush
2 Chaffinch singing
1 Pied Wagtail
3 Meadow Pipit

Late post from this morning.

Osprey flying north easterly over ashton town centre at 7.50 this morning.

Chiffchaff calling today at 1.15 at the back of Stamford Park boating lake in Tameside hospital lower car park.

Sunday 5th March 2017, 8.30 - 10.00am

Pennine Bridleway, Harridge.

1 male Stonechat, along the fence wires at the moor edge, was a surprise, the first I have ever seen here. I am no expert on Stonechat, but this site always appears to offer suitable habitat, and looks similar to the adjacent Wild Bank Hill, which has at least one pair of breeding Stonechat each year. At the moment, that part of the population which migrated will be returning to their breeding grounds, and this bird may simply be moving through. It will be interesting to see if it does stay and find a mate.

6 Lapwing in the fields below the Bridleway, some displaying
1 Skylark
3 Red Grouse
1 Greenfinch singing
3 Chaffinch singing
1 pair of Goldfinch

Tuesday 21st February 2017, 8.30 - 10.00am

Pennine Bridleway, Carrbrook to Millbrook

5 Lapwing, back on territory, the object of the morning's exercise.
1 Little Owl
1 Kestrel
7 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing
4 Dunnock, 2 singing
3 Chaffinch singing
1 Greenfinch singing
12 Canada Geese feeding in the fields
4 Long-tailed Tits

Tuesday 14th Feb. 14.00 - 16.15 hrs.

Harrop Edge. Stalybridge. Very quiet.

c 66 Woodpigeon feeding in field.
Kestrel (m) ..... watched it hunting on and off for an hour .. dropped a few times .. eventually successful and flew to dine on top of an old telegraph pole next to motorway.
Small flock of House Sparrow .. nice to see and hear these chirping away round the farm.
Goldfinch.

Roger.

Thursday 9th Feb. 14.00 - 16.15 hrs.

Harrop Edge. Stalybridge.

Has been virtually devoid of life up here for past 8 weeks.

Rook. c 28 feeding in field.
Goldfinch. Three small charms. 7 + 11 + 15
Song Thrush. 1
Redwing. 5
Buzzard.
Lapwing. Flock of 60+ were flying about .... finally settled in a field round the back of the "Rising Moon" public house.

Roger.

-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Friday 10th of February 2017 03:34:15 PM

Monday 30th Jan. 14.30 hrs.

Printworks Rd. Heyrod. Stalybridge.

Canada Goose. 19 .... With a Barnacle Goose in tow .. this was a major shock to my system when it steamed into view .. Stalybridge Mega, even in plastic form !
Goosander. 2 M&F.
Mallard. 4.
Coot. 2
Moorhen. 1

Roger.

Small flock, about 12 Redwings in King Georges park this am.

Sunday 8th Jan. 13.45 hrs.

Printworks Rd. Heyrod. Stalybridge.

Goosander. 2 Drakes.
Mallard. 5.
Heron. 1.

Roger.

Monday 2nd January 2016, 8.30 - 10.30am

Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Brushes, and back.

2 Buzzards, one perched up in the fields, the other, a ragged, pale bird, with white on the base of its tail, was hunting low over the moor. Both definitely Common Buzzard, though. The pale bird is a fairly regular sighting around the Swineshaws.
1 Little Owl
12 immature / female Pheasant feeding in the fields
4 Mistle Thrush
2 Fieldfare
6 Redwing
3 Goldfinch
6 Red Grouse on the moor

A Peregrine flew low over the rooftops on Crescent Road in Dukinfield just after first light this morning

22/11/2016 Dukinfield Park

1 female Blackcap was on top of a berry laden tree where 5 or 6 Blackbirds and 3 Mistle Thrush have been feeding. 10 minutes later a Male Blackcap popped up in our garden briefly.

Wednesday 16th November 2016, 8.00am

Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod

5 Goosander (3 male, 2 redheads) A lot of noise and a little what looked like aggression, particularly from the redheads.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 16th of November 2016 03:48:24 PM

Friday 11th November 2016

Printworks Road Pond, Heyrod, 8.00am.

7 Goosander (4male, 3 redhead)

First sighting of the winter was on Tuesday of this week. This is my highest count of the week.

A Peregrine with prey flew onto Ashton Parish Church today.

Sightings from yesterday

2 Rook - Ashton station car park

2 redhead Goosander - River Tame, Dukinfield

Two Rook on a lamp post between Gala Bingo and the tram stop in Ashton Town Centre this morning.

Grey Heron on Tame in Dukinfield this evening