plenty of tits of all sorts general finch flocks, including a few redpoll dipper seen in the strean in the woods and 2 stonechat on the wall by the gate where you first enter the reserve were a very welcome sight as i was leaving
1 Common Snipe on the muddy margins of a very low Arnfield resr. in the same area that the Bonelli's was found. 100+ Fieldfare with a few Redwing mixed in moving around the resr. Small flock of Redpoll.
Finally got the W Bonelli's Warbler (4th trip down there). It was moving along the trees on the shore line just past the green bridge (not quite as far down as the rowan - where I was sat staking out for a good hour). As per earlier sightings it didnt sing or call but it came up close.
Also saw: 2 Siskins Willow warblers, Chiffchaffs 1 Garden warbler 1 kestrel (f) 3 Wrens 1 Kingfisher (heard) Plenty of the usual suspects
Shame it didnt cross the border for a few mancunain flies!
The Western Bonelli's warbler was still present at Arnfield Reservoir this afternoon. I managed to see it briefly at 16:30, in a rowan tree approximately 200 yards southwest of the bridge. Certainly didn't give itself away easily though, staying completely silent while I was watching it.
Also this afternoon, 8-10 crossbills over, 1 kingfisher, 2 garden warblers, and plenty of chiff chaffs and willow warblers taking advantage of the enormous number of flying insects about.
Went down for another look but it wasnt there. I met the guy who was first to spot it and he hadnt seen it all day either.
The highlights:
Siskins Chaffinches Bullfinches Goldfinches KINGFISHER (seen perched on a branch from the little bridge next to reservoir) Dipper (juvenile) Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Grey Wagtail
After dipping on the Western Bonelli's last week I decided another effort was required so I shot down there this morning with John Barber for company.
Got there for about 10.15 and after a bit of searching and studying every little bird that moved we decided it would be more efficient to split up. John took the path above the bench and I went on the opposite side of the stream.
About 100 yards up from the bridge I came across several birds feeding in a tree about 30 yards in front of me and one in particular showed promise. After a few moments it showed itself but it was a Garden Warbler. Just as I was going to move though the Bonelli's popped up in a closer tree in front of me at a range of only about 25 feet and gave great views for about 45 seconds before flitting away. Another lifer!!
Shortly after, it gave a few short bursts of song from near the bridge area before once again disappearing.
Other birds seen:
Willow warbler Garden Warbler Nuthatch Siskin Coal Tit Great Tit Blue Tit
Had chance to re-visit site after hearing song only on previous.
All quiet until 08.00 hrs then Bonellis sang......... located in a large Aspen..... worked it feeding from top to bottom for a good 5 minutes giving good views, not shy at all.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Heard several times around 1.30 after not having been seen for 2 hours then seen flitting about in willows on left viewed from bridge then flew right revealing pure White belly. Now all sheltering from rain
After the briefest of views on thursday, returned again this afternoon for another look for the Western Bonelli's Warbler.
At first no luck but did see Siskins, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Grey Wagtails and loads of Goldfinch. Also 5 Crossbills overhead.
Heading back to the car at 17.30 heard the Bonelli's Warbler singing in the shrubby trees next to the kissing gate and eventually got sight of the bird for a good 2 minutes from the main path just before the kissing gate where it was sat quietly on a branch in the tree giving really good views. After another short burst of song it then flew off out of sight and I went home happy.
Friday, 8th July 2011 - 10.35 to 15.30 - Sunshine and heavy showers
Good but brief views of the Bonelli's between 10.50 and 11.30 ish from the path on the north eastern side of the reservoir - thereafter not a peep. I have still not heard it call or sing despite three visits this week
Nice to meet and chat to the forum members present including the Boss
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 8th of July 2011 10:48:17 PM
Western Bonelli's Warbler singing for about five mins and showing reasonably well at 06.30, towards top of bush near bench, this morning then moved to bushes, still singing, to right with dead sapling and then towards the bridge eventually
Western Bonelli's Warbler still present this afternoon up to 18:45. I had several brief views of it as it moved through the vegetation, but it also sang quite regularly, allowing us brief snippets of its distinctive sound. I would say slightly Wood Warblerish.
It tends to favour the area around the footbridge in the NE corner of the resr. A lifer for me, only 15 minutes from home.
Went over to Arnfield Reservoir early in the hope of picking up the Bonelli's song but apart from a brief trill at 06.45 nothing doing. The bird was still present in the same Willows where we saw it yesterday evening.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 4th of July 2011 10:49:52 AM
Western Bonelli's Warbler still present at 19.00 although not singing - good views eventually in the trees adjacent to the bench on the Western side of Arnfield Reservoir. A life-time first for both John Barber and myself.
A Red Kite went over at about 18.30. Nice to chat to the forum members we met.
Male Western Bonelli's Warbler present today, singing constantly for its second day.
I was told about it last night but unfortunately it couldn't be confirmed then but what a find and at this time of year too! Full marks to the finder who apparently deserves such awards for perseverance at ths site (which I can well believe up there!).
Shame it couldn;t have chosen the other site of the border in which to set up territory though...
Absolutely Mike - Common Scoter I had good views in reasonable light. They were resting all the time I was there (30 mins) and when i left so didn't see them in flight. He was totally black no white at all with small yellow to bill and she was very clear grey cheeks and neck and paler underside primaries when she 'stretched' - he didn't bother!
Bottoms reservoir this morning - male & female Scoter and a couple of Sandpipers up and down.
Just over the dam wall on Valehouse 10 very early mallard ducklings staying extremely close to mum!
Arnfield farm, Arnfield low moor, higher bank, middle bank, lower bank into Swallows wood and back up to the farm, not sure where the county boundary is but since I started out and finished in Derbyshire I put it all under out of county.
Arnfield Farm
2 wren 3 Robin
Arnfield Low Moor
1 Kestrel several Meadow pipts 2 skylark
Higher Bank
3 buzzard mobbed by corvids 20 jackdaw 6 Carrion Crow
Swallows Wood
Lots of great and blue tits, a couple of coal tit 2 Nuthatch 2 blackbirds Great Spotted woodpecker drumming Redpoll and siskin in the larch trees Goldfinch Chaffinch
On the pond
10 mallard 2 coot 2 moorhen 2 canada Geese
Fields nr the airshaft
40+ Curlew 10 Lapwings 2 rook 12 Starlings
-- Edited by Mike Price on Saturday 19th of March 2011 04:05:45 PM
Lesser Redpolls seem to be a permanent feature at Torside car park. Every time I go they're there! All in all in just the car park area I saw: L Redpolls Siskins Chaffinches Goldfinches LT Tits Blue Tits Great Tits Coal Tits Mallard! ...? eating the seeds that the redpolls were dropping on them!!
But no butty van today so no bacon sandwich and cup of tea!
18 Redpoll. 2 Siskin. 2 Goldfinch. 8 Chaffinch. Blue, Great & Coal Tits. These were best counts on the feeders.......... plenty more birds in the vicinity early but began to disperse as more cars began to arrive.
1 Jay.
Dam Head.
17 Canada Geese. 1 Cormorant. 5 Oystercatcher over. Buzzard soaring then landed in trees other side of Woodhead Road.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 27th of February 2011 04:55:02 PM
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
a walk up the longdendale trail, up deepclough and back via windy harbour farm. among the usual we saw a little owl in the fields above bottoms reservoir (a good place to see these lovely birds) brown hare also here. A buzzard perched on a fence post, giving good views near windy harbour, then a sparrowhawk over the cemetry.
A stroll around torside reservoir this morning, on the feeders at torside carpark we saw a redpoll, g.s. woodpecker and the usual variety of tits. 30ish siskin were feeding on the alder trees at the road crossing the longdendale trail , near the boarding kennels , we also saw 5 bullfinch in this area,two female three male. also seen goldcrest on the crowden side of torside in the conifers,along with L.T.tits. a mistle thrush was defending his hawthorn against a handfull of redwing, with limited success.No ducks of anykind on the still mainly frozen water.
a short walk with Ann, and my dogs on a misty wet longdendale trail produced not to much ,but we put some seed out and it was quickly attracting various tits , bullfinch, chaffinch, and a lovely female reed bunting.also seen g.s. woodpecker and goldfinch
Awalk around the torside reservoir this morning produced great views of a flock of up to 40 siskin feeding on alder , hundreds of redwing flying around , we must have had 150 flying up out of the "tree for life" park at torside. lots of fieldfare around.other birds include.... tits:- blue great coal long tail. siskin gold crest buzzard goldfinch bullfinch carrion crow redwing fieldfare blackheaded gull dunnock song thrush pheasants cormorant woodpigeon nuthatch jay magpie chaffinch
Wonderful weather, you cant beat an autumn morning, cold but sunny , a walk up the longdendale trail with my wife and her new busnells fieldfare (17) long tailed tit rook redwing jackdaw woodpigeon goldfinch pinkfooted goose 50+ headind northeast (08.55) jay pheasant magpie carrion crow robin canada goose mallard chaffinch wren blackbird sparrowhawk dipper coal tit dunnock blue tit bullfinch house sparrow
On my walk to work, wich takes me down to the river Etherow(Hadfield) i was treated to a solitary fieldfare flying over me chattering away, dipper on the river , heron, and a flock of tits , blue ,great , coal and longtail, then a buzzard over.
Castle hill and surrounds , AM. amongst the usual , we saw redwings over , a single , then three, then five. We witnessed a sparrow hawk(Male) unsuccesfully trying to take a jay it was mobbed by another jay and corrion crows and magpie , it gave up.
hi mike , did noyt notice if the chick was ringed we have been up again this morning and the bird was still there, and the mother was about 100 yards away, so we did not get to close and stayed for a very short while, Regards Bill
A walk in bankswood before work with my dogs, i was drawn to the commotion of alarm calls, from various birds, on closer inspection, i discovered a tawny owl which must have just left the nest , the little chap was sat about 25ft up and still looked quite downy.
A walk up the longdendale trail yesterday produce the usual birds ,but a little owl added a bit of cheer onthe bitterly cold morning,this morning a walk around castle hill and on to betten hill produced nuthatch2,great spotted woodpecker , twite up in the quarry4, a wheatear on betten hill farm
Bankswood park today, saw vthe first blackcap of the year, a male singing. Swallows everywhere, no sign of house martins yet , betten hill farm is always good for martin. one lapwing on top`o`t` hill farm, used to be loads round here, how times change..