Heron Lane:

WILLOW TIT refound after an absence of 6 weeks . Located in flight as it descended from the Oldham border on Midge Hill. Followed it to a hawthorn by the railway bridge over the lane where it was feeding on the ripest berries. Good views as it flitted from one hawthorn to the next, only losing it when it descended into the brambles.

Also, c80 Pinkfeet over heading E/NE. Redwings and Fieldfares over in dribs and drabs heading SW and good numbers of Woodpigeon heading the same way.

28th Oct. 14.45 - 16.00 hrs.

Heyheads (Kershaw Hey).

Not actually sure if I was in Mossley or Stalybridge, very borderline ?

Picked out a couple of Goldcrest mixed in with the roving tit flocks.

Roger.

Following a suggestion by Roger Baker, tried out a new route this morning.

From Top Mossley over Luzley Road: 200+ Pinkfeet over heading SE and a Little Owl found while scanning a small clump of trees for thrushes

Then down an extremely steep, wet and muddy path (thanks Roger - will get even sometime!) along the Mossley boundary to the edge of the Cliffs SBI:
Sparrowhawk and Kestrel, about 10 Redwing, Gt Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, pair Bullfinch, wandering tit flock, etc.

Back along the canal (very quiet).

Two Dippers on River Tame behind Woodend Mill at 16:30.

Ashley Edwards wrote:

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Where abouts is Heron Lane? I can't seem to find it on any maps?

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If you head out of Bottom Mossley along Manchester Road, towards Greenfield, Heron Lane is on the left, before the river, and Roaches Lock. Good luck

Heron Lane:

No sign of the Willow Tit since the 18th.

Chiffchaffs have been present on every visit for the past 3 weeks or so, though they don't actually breed at this site. This morning two were present - one singing and one just making contact calls.

A flock of 12 Swallows which has been present, hawking for insects, for the past few days had gone this morning. Presumably last night's frost has made them see sense...

Well done Steve on two excellent local patch finds. You are right,Sept 18th is an early date for Jack Snipe in GM. In fact there are only 20 September records in the database going back to 1993. Unfortunately, you can't claim the prize for the earliest ever, there are a few records that beat yours.

• Hope Carr NR - 1st to 13th Sep 1999
  
• Doffcocker Lodge - 8th Sep 1993
  
• Worthington Lakes 14th and 16th Sep 1996
  
• Castleshaw Resrs - 17th Sept 2005
  

The Willow Tit is intriguing and makes you wonder about the status of this species in the east of the county, given other sightings in Tameside and Oldham this year. In the early 1980's there was of course a significant population extending from Stockport north into Tameside and Oldham. We had assumed these birds had long since disappeared and none were recorded for Bird Atlas 2007-11 in the east, apart from a single at Hollingworth Lake in 2008 and 2009. However, perhaps there are still one or two pairs waiting to be discovered in the area.

WILLOW TIT - a Mossley first for me

Searching the trees along Heron Lane this morning in the hope of a migrant flycatcher or similar, I found very little of interest apart from a flyover Raven. Turning back, resigned to a count of the resident Bullfinches, there it was feeding on a bramble amongst the Rowans. After allowing a good, close up, view, it disappeared into the undergrowth and I could only follow it by its two note call. It re-emerged briefly at the top of a Rowan before once again hiding away.

Late visit to BBS square (Top Mossley/Hartshead Pike) this morning:

Willow Warbler numbers have picked up and one was seen carrying food to a nest - Whitethroats also.

What few Lapwings there were on the early visit have all gone - surely any young can't have fledged by now, or can they?

Jackdaws still outnumbering all other species added together!

Little Owl seen on walk home.

Grey wagtail, Dipper along canal between New Bridge and Woodend Mill. Second sighting of Dipper on this stretch.

along the Greenfield end of the old railway bridleway: my first Blackcap of the year + 2 singing Chiffchaffs.

Slightly better results for this morning's Winter Thrush Survey:

7 Fieldfare perched on overhead wires.
4 Blackbirds (all male)
2 Mistle Thrush (male of the pair singing very loudly)

Also, 2 escaped Guineafowl in the dentist's car park on Stockport Road!

This morning's Winter Thrush Survey: 12 Fieldfare perched on overhead wires. 5 Blackbirds - most feeding on the few remaining Hawthorn berries.

Also seen: pair Bullfinch, Dipper and Kingfisher.

John,

I assume you are referring to Stamford Golf Course in Stalybridge? If so, I also flushed a woodcock, from our garden in Huddersfield Road, half a mile from the golf course, yesterday morning. Definitely a garden first!

2 buzzards, 1 sparrowhawk, about 70 fieldfare and a green woodpecker heard for the first time this year on Stamford Golf course.

c 120 Pink-footed Geese over Mossley at 0820 this morning heading S/SE

Gull noises above Mossley station this morning made me look up to see a Black-headed Gull doing battle with a medium-sized bird of prey. No bins but it was almost certainly a Hobby

0805-0830 Two laps of Mossley cemetary produced no wryneck :(

The guy who found the bird had to go out to work and didn't find it on returning home. He will phone me if it is refound and I'll post here. The golf course might be worth checking.

In 2006 a Wryneck hung around Shell, Carrington, for five days and the previous year one spent three days in Horwich...

WRYNECK reported from a BTO member's garden in Queensway, Mossley at 09.45 this morning.

At least 3 Willow Warblers singing on Heron Lane.

First Swallow of year for me.

3 Waxwings in ash tree on Manchester Road (nr Warmco) this morning at 8.00

This month's Winter Thrush Survey visit:

Just 4 Blackbirds and 1 singing Mistle Thrush.

The Buzzard is back It was being harassed by a Crow by Midge Hill and flew off over Royal George Mill.

Dipper activity suggests that they may be on eggs.

That's a great spot for Dippers, Roger.

I used to do a Waterways survey there every year and the cascade under the bridge seems to mark the boundary of two Dipper territories, so fights are regular.

Also a cracking spot for Grey Wagtails in the breeding season.

Have replied to your message about the colour ring - if it is blue it's a well-travelled bird!