Saturday 27th May 9am

2 Red Kites drifted over Standing Stone towards the Cat and Fiddle.
Below Standing Stone were singles of Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher.
Dipper and Grey Wagtail in the area too.
Curlews were constantly calling from the hills.

7 mile walk today around Teggs nose and Macclesfield forest:

lots of Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcap, 2x Redstart (m&f), 10x Swallow, 1x Tree pipit and a Hobby over the top of Teggs Nose.

Driving back from Buxton yesterday I noticed a gathering of 30+ Golden Plover in the high fields adjacent to the north edge of Macclesfield Forest.

Driving back from Buxton yesterday I noticed a gathering of 30+ Golden Plover in the high fields adjacent to the north edge of Macclesfield Forest.

Wasn't out birding yesterday (26/02) per se as I was leading a walk (including a blind person so 90% of my time was looking at the floor - credit to them, they heard the crossbills first!) from Standing Stone to Langley to Trentabank then Shutlingsloe and back to Standing Stone but was one of those places "right place, right time" for interesting local birds.

Two Crossbills were calling and displayed well as we passed through the clearing West of Forest Chapel. A Mandarin showed on Trentabank. My first Red Grouse of the year flew in front of me on the re path North of Shutlingsloe.

For a none birding day that isn't a bad score I reckon!

 

-- Edited by Andy Slee on Sunday 27th of February 2022 05:25:45 PM

Hiking today with the good lady between Walker Barn & Macclesfield Forest when we suddenly came across a male Ring Ouzel on a wall. It flew down the field and joined up with a further four Ouzels, at least four of the five were males, possibly all. A very welcome distraction. Also a female Wheatear in an adjacent field.

10.30-13.30

Bottoms Reervoir : 2 Mandarin drakes in pursuit of a single female, and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

Ridgegate Reservoir : 11 Cormorants and 1 Little Grebe. 9 Fieldfares on a tree by the Leathers Smithy pub.

Trentabank Reservoir : 6 Little Grebes. A Great Spotted Woodpecker rested on top of a nearby spruce.

Standing Stones : 4 highly vocal Ravens, whilst a single Cormorant flew over heading SE, plus 1 Kestrel.

Clough Brook : 1 Dipper.




-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 20th of October 2020 10:24:49 AM

Late report of our visit, Tom Jones and I, to the Standing Stone car park, Fri 13th Mar, 11:15 to 13:00. Shortly after arrival met local patcher Chris who decided to take the south west path, we headed along the path north.
Our loop back to the car park was 2 -3 Km through the forest, mostly looking upward, at Chaffinch. On arrival back at the car park, a couple we had met on our walk, had returned earlier to see a pair of Crossbills close to
the car park, and back towards the entrance. However, they quickly alerted us to a male on the tree above the car park west fenceline ( perhaps 10-15 yards) closely inspecting the lichen on the branches. Chris returned shortly
after to catch it's departure, having had distant views on his route.

Thoroughly enjoyable trip, both folk and bird wise

-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Saturday 14th of March 2020 12:26:36 PM

-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Saturday 14th of March 2020 01:25:54 PM

200+ mixed flock of Chaffinches & Bramblings flying in in successive waves and onto the floor beneath the conifers in the Standing Stone area on Sunday afternoon. There were many fallen pine cones so I'm guessing that's what they were after. Didn't seem too bothered by my presence as I was sheltering from a sudden downpour.

-- Edited by Paul Flackett on Tuesday 10th of March 2020 12:03:55 AM

09.30-13.00

Standing Stones area : 1 male Merlin flying low across the hillside sheep pasture. Also here, 1 male Kestrel, 4 Goldcrests and 2 Coal Tits.

Trentabank Reservoir : 1 Chiffchaff and 4 Goldcrests in a flock of Long Tailed and Blue Tits. 2 Buzzards.

Ridgegate Reservoir area : 1 Kingfisher (By the sluice), 4 Little Grebes and 4 Tufted Ducks.

Bottoms Reservoir : 2 Great Crested Grebes.

The water level on Trentabank Reservoir is extremely low with several stone walls revealed, 12 Mallard and a single Tufted Duck were the only waterfowl there.

By contrast Ridgegate Reservoir appears full. As nearly always in autumn Jays were seen in profusion.

09.00-15.00

Teggs Nose CP

Searched the woodland for a couple of hours but no sign of either Redstart or Pied Flycatcher.

On the plus side, a Tawny Owl gave great views as it was chased around the woods by a couple of Mistle Thrushes and a pair of Blackbirds.

A pair Mandarin Ducks (M+F), sat in a large oak tree. Also seen around the woodland were 3 Goldcrests, 1 Garden Warbler, 3 Bullfinches,

1 Treecreeper, whilst a couple of Swifts flew over.

Willow Warblers were plentiful, some in small groups, numerous birds were in song, whilst one individual which was carrying nesting material was not happy

about the interlopers and tried to chase them away, even though it's beak was packed with dried grass.

Teggs Nose Reservoir :

1m Goosander and around a dozen Swallows.

Bottoms Reservoir :

1m Goosander, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper, a pair of Great crested Grebes and a feral Snow Goose that has paired with a Canada Goose.

Ridgegate Reservoir :

At last I found a single male Pied Flycatcher in woodland near the reservoir, together with 3 more Bullfinches.

Only a few Mallard were on the water whilst passing Cormorants hesitated and did'nt land, perhaps the dozen anglers there put them off.

Trentabank Reservoir :

A displaying pair of Great Crested Grebes.

Standing Stones :

7 Mistle Thrushes and a single Song Thrush were on a nearby sheep pasture, whilst 1 Swift hurried North.

Male mandarin on Teggs Nose Reservoir this afternoon. First time I've ever seen anything of interest on it! A few chiffchaffs and willow warblers in the wood plus a blackcap. ~6 swallows over Bottom Reservoir.

10.00-14.00

Bottoms Reservoir

1f Goosander, 4 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Common Gull, 4 Ravens and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Ridgegate Reservoir

1m Pochard, 4 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 3 Cormorants, 2 Ravens and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Trentabank Reservoir

2m+3f Goosanders, 3 Little Grebes, 6 Tufted Ducks and 1 Buzzard.

Standing Stones

No birds were to be seen around this part of the forest, not even in the cleared areas, with just a few crows on adjacent pastures.

Although a group of around 60 large gulls were amongst the sheep on pasture near Clough Brook.

They appeared to be mainly adult Herring, although a few Lesser Black Back and Common Gulls were with them.

Also near Clough Brook, 2 Buzzards were sat on fence posts, and there was an obvious size difference between them, probably male and female.

12.00 near visitor center

Wood warbler 1 singing

Redstart 1 singing

Pied flycatcher 2 singing

Great to find this trio here - used to be very regular, not so much recently

Teggs Nose woods:
1 Male Pied Flycatcher early this morning.
1 Raven over
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Many Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs
Madarin duck on Bottoms reservoir.

Danebower:
Male Ring Ouzel singing from the top of the chimney.
Lots of Wheatear and Meadow Pipits.


-- Edited by Adam Jones on Wednesday 20th of April 2016 10:43:45 PM

Teggs Nose woods:
Lots of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaff.
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming.

Standing Stone:
Again lots of Willow Warblers
4 Song Thrush
5 Siskins

Wildboarclough:
1 Dipper

Danebower:
2 Ring Ouzels
6 Wheatear

-- Edited by Adam Jones on Wednesday 13th of April 2016 09:57:06 PM

Below Standing Stone car park:
1 Dipper
1 Pheasant
1 Curlew heard

Danebower:
Lots of Lapwings in the fields before Danebower
Red Grouse constantly bubbling away
1 Skylark
1 Raven
Curlews calling

Cat & Fiddle:
9 Ravens over high towards Derbyshire
1 Stonechat (male) fence post hopping near to Derbyshire Bridge car park.

Just over the border in Derbyshire on Axe Edge moor, Golden Plover heard calling but not seen.

Sunday 27th September 8.30-10.30
Teggs Nose Reservoir:
1 Goosander female
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Pied Wagtail

Trentabank Reservoir:
7 Little Grebes
1 Mandarin
1 Cormorant
Nuthatch

Standing Stones:
2 Bullfinch
12 Goldcrest
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Swallows heading South
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Kestrel
Lots of Meadow Pipits

10.30-1 yesterday around the Crag Inn pub near Wildboarclough, up Shutlingsloe and back:
10+ Spotted Flycatcher, including 4 juveniles
3 Common Redstart
6 Willow Warbler
Peregrine Falcon
4 Kestrel
2 Raven
3 Goldcrest
Pheasant
3 Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Stock Dove
Meadow Pipit
Dipper
10 Mistle Thrush
30+ Rook

Also a rather stunning Giant Tachinid Fly

10.30-13.00

Bottoms Reservoir

6 Tufted Ducks. Lots of House Martins and Swifts, with just a few Swallows, and no Sand Martins, flying low over the water.
There used to be a large patch of Amphibious Bistort and Water Lillies at the Eastern end of the reservoir, since this has now gone, so too have the Little Grebes,
which were once guaranteed here.

Ridgegate Reservoir

5 Great Crested Grebes plus 1m & 1f Mandarin Ducks.

In the dell behind the reservoir were 2 Grey Wagtails, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a singing Chiffchaff.

Trentabank Reservoir

17 Canada Geese, 20 Cormorants and a Nuthatch that was doing an odd display flight between the overhanging trees.

I could'nt count the birds in the heronry, as most of the colony is hidden, but a newly fledged heron emerged and flew over the reservoir.

The young bird tried several times to land in a large tree, before giving up, looking very clumsy, it eventually disappeared back into the heronry.

A large flock of Swallows fed off the surface of the reservoir.

Standing Stones

2 singing male Blackcaps and 1 Grey Heron.

With Phil Oddy. Male Pied Flycatcher showing well in the wood next to the car park between Bottom and Teggs Nose reservoirs. Great-spotted Woodpecker, nest-building nearby. Further into the wood along the path, Redstart singing but stayed elusive. Plenty of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. A walk up the path next to the Waterworks looking for further Redstart proved fruitless, but, we had the unusual sight of a male Mandarin flying through the trees.

A quick look at Trentabank reservoir where there were 2 drake Mandarins, a pair of Tufted Ducks, a single Great Crested Grebe. The Cormorant colony had 22 nests occupied, while the Heronry had 7. A couple of Barn Swallows flew through.

A drive up to Standing Stones car park gave more Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and Crossbills (heard only). I stopped at 3 different places through Wildboarclough, hoping for Dipper, which is usually nailed on here, but, was unlucky this time.

A quick scoot round the area.
No Redstarts or Pied Flys seen yet.

Teggs Nose woods:
2 Treecreepers
2 Nuthatch
4 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Standing Stone area:
3 Siskins
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff

Saturday 23rd August 2pm

Standing Stone:
1 Common Buzzard
2 Raven over

Clough House:
1 Dipper
Dozens of Swallows
1 Kestrel

Wildboarclough:
1 Dipper

Trentabank Reservoir:
18 Cormorants
3 Grey Heron
2 Little Grebes
Coots, Tufteds and Mallards

Bottoms Reservoir:
1 Grey Heron
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Great Crested Grebe
8 Mallards
1 Green Woodpecker (heard only)

Sunday 3rd August 5.30-8.00pm

Teggs Nose reservoir:
4 Grey Wagtails
2 Redstarts

Standing Stone area:
5 Spotted Flycatchers (3 Juveniles)
3 Kestrels
2 Meadow Pipits