That's the one Craig. Don't take the first right (signposted Dove Stone) but carry on up the hill and it's the next turn on the right that isn't a private road. Don't worry you can't miss it.

If you didn't get Red Grouse up on Horwich Moors you'll get plenty up here

JamieDunning wrote:

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They're almost annual over the moor there!

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Almost annual Jamie? 2011 was first record since the Uppermill bird in 1990.

cheers mark, how far is it aprox from binn green car park, did you view the birds from the tarmac pull in, thanks, brian.

Parking suggestions would be good too please!

Rough-legged Buzzard on Featherbed Moss at 15:20 today.

Info thanks to Gary Crowder via Mark Rigby

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD

Walking along Moor Edge Road from Mossley to Greenfield this morning I was descending the path to Warlow Brook when a large bird of prey flew down from the moor. As it passed in front of me I said to myself "Buzzard" but as it flew below me and banked over I could see the tail was white with a dark tip. It was only a five second view before it disappeared behind the shoulder of the hill, but surely it was a Rough-legged? I retraced my steps to get a better view down the valley but it had gone.

Continued the walk and above Tanners Mill another Buzzard appeared high in the sky. I got my bins on it but it was just a silhouette and then a Peregrine cruised into view and the Buzzard disappeared quickly.

I returned along the same route, and as I was approaching White Lee Farm along Intake Lane, the first Buzzard reappeared descending from the moor again right in front of me. This time I had a longer view and got the bird in my bins. The tail was very white and the tip black. Upper body and wings were mainly dark brown with some feathers looking silvery grey in the bright sunshine. The bird rose briefly to give a view of the underwing pattern. Apart from the dark primary tips it seemed very pale apart from the carpal patches which were very dark - much more contrasting than any Common Buzzard.

The bird continued to fly down low over Greenfield village where I lost sight of it.

Checking my field guides, the tail pattern would suggest it was a juvenile.

Steve Suttill wrote:

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Tanner's Lodge: absolutely no waterbirds (probably as a result of the large number of anglers)
.........................................................................................

I had a look round on Tues (2nd) afternoon ...... there was no sign of life then either Steve ...... nor any anglers.

Roger.

First WeBS counts of the "winter"

Tanner's Lodge: absolutely no waterbirds (probably as a result of the large number of anglers) though Chiffchaffs singing and Red Grouse very vocal on the nearby moor.

Royal George Lodge:

49 Canada Geese
24 Mallard
1 Coot
6 Moorhen
2 Mute Swan
8 Black-headed Gulls

+ Dipper (unringed) on river

Mon 25th Aug. 15.30 hrs.

4 Swallows flying around Dysarts.

Roger.

Greenbridge Lane, around lunchtime. Pair of grey wagtails feeding by stream

Friezland Lane, afternoon/evening.
Family party of long tailed tits - young recently fledged, judging by behaviour.
Swifts, swallows, house martins.
Finches - if I hear a finch and see it, it is almost always a goldfinch. I'm hearing lots of chaffinches at the moment, and the occasional greenfinch, but I rarely see either. They must be singing from the trees - in heavy leaf, of course - whereas the goldfinches seem to perch on the wires and poles to sing.
Garden warbler.
The usual wood pigeons and jackdaws, of course...

Yesterday... dipper in the stream at Greenbridge Lane. I thought they went higher up in summer ?

Morning - Springfield Farm area (bottom of Friezland Lane) - goldfinch, pied wagtail, swallows.

Afternoon - another unsuccessful ring ouzel spotting expedition....

5 Ring Ouzel above the farmhouse on walls below Pots and Pans at 0615hrs

4 Wheatear, looks to have been a clear out overnight.
3 Pied Wagtail
Curlew
Kestrel
2 Mallard

15th April, 5.30 - 7.30 pm. "Circular" route: Friezland Lane, Intake Lane, Hey Top, Waterside, Manchester Road.

Red grouse, curlew (heard), meadow pipit, skylark, wren, lapwing, pheasant, crow, jackdaw, wood pigeon, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, robin, starling, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, jay, great spotted woodpecker (heard), dunnock.

Two Jays together in gardens opposite Clarence pub today, 4pm

First willow warbler behind greenfield bowling club this morning also heron over

This morning's WeBS counts at Royal George Lodge:

47 Canada Geese
12 Mallard
7 Tufted Duck (5 males)
6 Coot
5 Moorhen
2 Mute Swan

informed by a local walking his dog that the Swans were introduced by the property developer (Wiggett) as a present for his wife

Morning walk.

Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tt
Long Tailed Tit
Goldcrest
Dunnock
Blackbird
Robin Never seen so many, looks promising for the forth coming breeding season
Wren
Nuthatch Heard only
Moorhen
1 Coot on Royal George
2 Tufted Duck
Mallard
2 Mute Swan
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
1 Siskin
Jackdaw
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Jay
Heron
Dipper
1 Little Grebe
4 Pairs Grey Wagtail

Liz Headon wrote:

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Lower part of Friezland Lane, above Robert Scott's mill.

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Thanks Liz - you learn something new every day!

These local names can be confusing. Friezland for instance. On the map Friezland is the area on the other side of Manchester Road to Bockin, but Friezland Church is near Royal George Mill, quite some distance away. And Boarshurst Band Club is in Friezland not Boarshurst!

Hi Liz

where is Bockin? Don't know the name.

Cheers

Having noted earlier in the week that there were occupied nests in the heronry, thought I'd go and see how they had fared after the recent gales.

As I strolled up to Greenfield I passed several uprooted trees but the herons' nests seem to have survived almost untouched, despite their exposed position, and four pairs seem well established. A young Cormorant was also present.

There were 10 Goosanders (3 adult males) and an unringed Dipper on the river by the sewage works. One Brambling with a small Chaffinch flock at the Old Station House, along with one male Siskin, one Goldcrest and a pair of Bullfinch along with the usuals.

At the confluence of the Tame and Chew Brook it was obvious that a lot of sediment was being washed down Chew Brook, presumably from the adjacent house building site. I can't see Dippers being able to feed in such murky water...

Royal George Lodge had 2 Mute Swans, 4 Coot and 1 Little Grebe.

-- Edited by Steve Suttill on Friday 14th of February 2014 01:22:51 PM

Tipped off about a flock of 370 Fieldfares that Dave Sanderson had found on his Winter Thrush Survey, I headed off to Mt. Pleasant Farm, between Manchester Rd. and Intake Lane.

There were still over 250 Fieldfare present with around 100 Starlings in the field. Several Red Grouse were calling from the slopes of Alphin to the south. Also Brown Hare.

Then, after a few snow flakes - it started to rain

Weds 22nd Jan. 14.30 hrs.

Royal George Lodge.

2 Mute Swan.
2 Coot.
Goosander (red-head).

The Manns.

4 Moorhen.
2 Coot.
c 134 Canada Geese in the field.
c 300+ Black-headed Gulls in the field over towards Boarhurst.

The short "Church Length" of canal had 23 Mallard drakes and 2 ducks.

Roger.

This morning's WeBS count at Royal George lodge:

2 Mute Swans, 7 Goosander (3 drakes), 2 Little Grebe, 5 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 1 Heron, 19 Mallard and 19 Black-headed Gulls - but only 11 Canada Geese.

Dipper singing on river.