Harrop Edge, around Paddock Farm, and the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
1 pair of Stonechat around Paddock Farm 20+ Redwing feeding on holly, in the almost complete absence of any other berries locally At least one Fieldfare mixed in 6 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush c 20 Blackbirds 1 Goldcrest Flock of 6 Bullfinch 6 Chaffinch 1 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1 Raven 2 Pied Wagtails 4 House Sparrows A flock of c80 Starlings feeding in the fields around Paddock Farm c 200 Canada Geese in the fields towards Hyde Road, Mottram At least 3 Rook feeding behind Cheetham Fold Farm, with Jackdaws and Carrion Crows
Attempted to count Magpies - 74
In the woods at Lower Roe Cross
1 male Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Nuthatch Small mixed feeding flock, with several Goldcrest and Coal Tits
2 Coot were the only sign of life on the pond 5 Cormorant were perched together on a pylon 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Nuthatch Couple of Mistle Thrush, and lots of Blackbirds
Huddersfield Road
As I was leaving the house, at 8.00am, a Sparrowhawk overhead was being noisily mobbed by two Black-headed Gulls
Harrop Edge, Stalybridge, taking in Harrop Edge Road, Paddock Farm, and down to Edge Lane, via the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
Harrop Edge Road - particularly lively, for a change.
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 6 Redwing 20+ Blackbirds, seemed to be everywhere. 6 Bullfinch 4 Goldfinch 3 Dunnock 6+ Wren A flock of mixed Tits containing at least 16 Long-tailed Tits 1 Kestrel 1 Pied Wagtail
Around Paddock Farm.
2 Stonechat (male and female), catching flies. 4 Red-legged Partridge 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Pied Wagtail 2 Goldfinch A couple of Skylark heard calling, but not seen
In the woods.
1 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Small flock of mixed Tits, containing mainly Coal Tits
Edge Lane.
1 Buzzard 1 Grey Heron c 30 House Sparrows around the houses
1 female Stonechat was moving around the rough fields above Paddock Farm 10+ Goldfinch 2 Linnet over 2 Bullfinch 1 female Sparrowhawk 3 Raven, 2 over Gallows Clough, the other over Edge Lane 2 Chiffchaff 5 Pied Wagtails 15+ Meadow Pipits 1 Jay 15+ Robins, very much in evidence this morning, two of which were chasing the Stonechat.
On the way home, a Buzzard drifted around from Matley, over Mottram Road, and was harassed by two Carrion Crows. Eventually, another raptor came into view very high up, and joined in. My best guess would be a Peregrine, but it was too distant to be sure.
Around Harrop Edge. Quiet, in very gusty conditions.
The main entertainment was watching two Nuthatches, in the shelter of the woods. They were constantly to and fro an old nest hole, presumably stashing seeds. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 10 Meadow Pipit 6 Goldfinch 1 Linnet
Plenty of Canada Geese, Black-headed Gulls, Woodpigeon, and corvids around the fields, but not much else.
Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Millbrook, before the rain.
1 Whinchat, feeding in a field of beet, at Shireclough 5 Stonechat, a pair and three well grown juveniles, one already with well developed male plumage. 1 Buzzard over Buckton Vale 1 Kestrel 4 Swallows 10+ Meadow Pipits 10 Goldfinch 2 Greenfinch 1 Lesser Redpoll over 1 Jay 1 Chiffchaff 3 Dunnock
Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Millbrook, in cold, heavy drizzle.
2 Stonechat, a female and well grown juvenile, in the area of this year's nest site. 22 Mistle Thrush flew over from Millbrook towards Cowbury Dale 30+ Meadow Pipits, moving around in small flocks 20+ Goldfinch 1 Buzzard 8 Swallows
Harrop Edge, Stalybridge, taking in the woods at Lower Roe Cross.
2 Ravens 1 male Kestrel 1 female Sparrowhawk, having a real go at the Kestrel 1 Buzzard A flock of 7 juvenile Linnet 15+ Goldfinch 25+ Meadow Pipits 2 Jay 1 Song Thrush 3 Chiffchaff 2 Willow Warblers 3 Swallows 94 Black-headed Gulls feeding in the fields
In the woods.
3 Nuthatch Several Goldcrest 6 Long-tailed Tits 2 Coal Tits, one storing food Great and Blue Tits Bullfinch calling 2 Chiffchaff 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
28 Linnet around Paddock Farm, mainly juveniles. c 30 Goldfinch feeding in the fields towards Hattersley roundabout. c 20 Meadow Pipits moving through south in threes and fours. 8 Swallows 2 House Martins 1 Pied Wagtail over 2 Ravens, constantly hassled by Jackdaws 1 Willow Warbler 1 Chiffchaff singing 1 Coal Tit c 70 Black-headed Gulls feeding in the fields towards the A57 c 160 Canada Geese in the same fields 6 House Sparrows
1 Buzzard 1 Little Owl 1 female Kestrel 1 female Sparrowhawk. 1 Raven, being harassed by Jackdaws. 2 Pied Wagtails c 50 Swallows feeding over towards Roe Cross 200+ Canada Geese feeding in the fields between Harrop Edge and the A57 Jackdaws and Woodpigeon in abundance.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 7th of September 2017 04:29:09 PM
A female Sparrowhawk was patrolling the fences around Shireclough so, other than noisy corvids, not a lot showing. No sign of the Stonechat, the last sighting of which was of a male carrying food on 6th August (my last visit). 1 Kestrel 1 Little Owl 6 Mistle Thrush, including five together 40 Goldfinch 2 Coal Tit 12+ Swallows, including fledglings being fed on wires
Kestrel. 3. M + F + Juvenile. Goldfinch. 7. Meadow Pipit. 40+. Beginning to flock together. Two main groups counted 17 & 13. Song Thrush. House Sparrow .... small colony down near the stables.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Pennne Bridleway, between Shireclough and Higher Hyde Green
The highlight was the discovery of a pair of Stonechat, with at least one juvenile, in what, for me, is a new territory. I have only ever seen a single male of this species in this area, on 5th March this year. That makes seven pairs, that I know of, in my recording area in Stalybridge, which comprises The Pennine Bridleway, Brushes Valley, and Wild Bank Hill.
Other sightings:
1 Little Owl 4 Buzzards, 3 over Harridge, and one calling over Buckton Quarry 2 Kestrel, one over Harridge, one over Buckton Moor 1 Peregrine, seen off by the Kestrel over Harridge 10+ Swallows 1 Swift 2 Lapwing Goldfinch Greenfinch Lesser Redpoll over
The route follows the Pennine Bridleway, from Brushes Cottages to Harridge Hall, and from Lower Hyde Green, down Besom Lane, past Millbrook Dam, and into the valley bottom. The post could just as easily be in the "Brushes" thread, being split between the two.
Highlights.
2 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Cormorant 1 Common Sandpiper, amazingly, the first time recorded in this BBS square. Fortunately they have been alarm calling for the past couple of weeks, and can be heard at some distance. 1 Lapwing 1 Cuckoo 20 Swift 23 Swallows 39 House Martins 3 Chiffchaff 12 Willow Warblers 4 Blackcap 2 Whitethroat 6 Song Thrush 6 Mistle Thrush 27 House Sparrows 20 Collared Dove 17 Linnet 5 Lesser Redpoll 15 Greenfinch, recorded in nine out of the ten transect sections; more than any other species. 12 Goldfinch 8 Chaffinch
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.
Pennine Bridleway, from Carrbrook to Brushes, and back.
2 Linnet, a male singing, and a female feeding in the fields. My first of the year at any of the area's upland breeding sites. 2 Willow Warblers singing at Shireclough. Also my first of the year. 4 Lapwing visible in the fields at the Carrbrook end, and one in Millbrook, below Higher Hyde Green. Both sites being harassed by gulls and crows. 2 Greenfinch singing 3 Chaffinch singing 1 pair of Mistle Thrush 5 Meadow Pipits 1 Skylark singing 1 drake Mandarin following a pair of Mallard around a field at Millbrook 1 Raven over, towards Buckton Moor