Afternoon Visit

17 Robin

5 Chiffchaff...one 'in song'

2 Coal Tit

16 Mallard

7 Buzzard in a 'Kettle' + 2 more about the Woodland

1 Swallow

14 Jackdaw.

Afternoon Visit

1 Nuthatch

1 Chiffchaff in song

2 Siskin

1 Yellowhammer

24 Long-Tailed Tit

27 Robin

32 Jackdaw.

010920 Midday Visit

14 Chiffchaff

2 Blackcap

7 Robin

2 Raven

5 Swallow

6 Jackdaw

4 Carrion Crow

1 Buzzard

2 Coal Tit

3 Siskin.

PM amble...little about

3 Whitethroat in song

4 Willow Warbler in song

3 Blackcap in song

1 Kestrel

4 Swift

7 House Martin

2 Swallow.

 

 

3 Chiffchaff in song

5 Blackcap in song

8 Willow Warbler in song

1 Garden Warbler in song

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

5 Carrion Crow

13 Woodpigeon

3 Jackdaw

4 Mallard

2 Swift

1 Swallow

1 House Martin

2 Tufted Duck...pair

1 Cormorant

2 Kestrel

8 Blackbird in song

13 Goldfinch

1 Buzzard.

Late Record for 030620

8 Blackcap in song

5 Willow Warbler in song

4 Swallow

7 Chiffchaff in song

5 Whitethroat in song

9 Blackbird in song

1 Mallard female with 2 young

7 Jackdaw

8 Lesser Black-Backed Gull

2 Jay

16 Woodpigeon

2 Oystercatcher

7 Carrion Crow

4 Song Thrush in song

2 Kestrel

1 Willow Tit...suspect a family party.

I was asked to do a summary of this site for the Great Manchester Wetland Area as they were trying to gain as much local knowledge for this project

I have wandered this site as part of my Mossland 'Patch'...it needs a lot of legwork to get this substantial patch covered but slowly-slowly it offers such gems as this...a quiet and understated site but it can offer a good selection of Dragonflies/Butterflies and an acceptable number of birds...groups I have taken round in mid-summer always enjoy it and the real bonus is it hasn't a carpark directly on site...a walk from the very accommodating Bents Garden Centre Car Park or a journey along the Timberland Trail on Foot in the south is required..

This is my summary for the GMWA...

 

Windy Bank Wood

 

Now heres a hidden gem within the landscapeif you want a wander that has quiet on its side then here it is...this backwater that you can drive to with ease thanks to the indulgence of the Bents Garden Centre who allow free parking when you visit this forestry Commission site.

 

Well that is the driving over with now begin the walk to the site which in truth is part of the enjoyment to be gained from your first (of many Im sure) visits.

 

Take a simple foot right of way routecross the Glaze---dont forget to look for Banded Demoiselle Dragonflies in early summer as they flit about the banks of the Glaze---and move over to the site along a track that is mainly traffic freeonly access is to a farm which is on the edge of the site.

 

A spring/early summer visit gives stands of wildflowers/butterflies/dragonflies to try and name whilst such summer visiting birds such as the Willow Warbler and Blackcap will serenade you from the cleverly imagined tree plantations which complement the more mature trees that were already on the site before the Forestry Commission bought this jewel for our tranquil enjoyment.

 

The site in winter can give flocks of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll with the chance of an encounter with a Tawny Owl which may appear if you are alerted to its daytime roost by a mixed flock of birds chastising it before it retreats to cover.

 

A positive peaceful tranquil backwater that waits patiently for your quiet-time visits.

 

Dave

 

PS you can also access the site by following along some of the route of the Timberland Trail...see you didnt realise HOW MUCH this GMWA holds now did you!

 

Today (130520) as Nick said the long awaited Garden Warbler finally gave up its song...

 

Cycle round this morning was relatively quiet but its a fabulous looking site with loads of potential. Highlights included:

4 Bullfinch

3 Willow Warbler

2 Chiffchaff

4 Blackcap

5 Whitethroat 

Today:

1 Garden Warbler

1 Nuthatch

1 family party of Willow Tit

Info thanks to Dave Steel

Two Willow Tits present today.

Info thanks to Dave Steel

walk this am with granddaughter & dog

several swallows across fields
several of : Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat.
1 Grasshopper warbler reeling
Pair Song thrush
1 Male Bullfinch
Several Robins, Chaffinch & Blackbirds
1 Goldcrest
A few Blue & Great tits around
1 Jay
1 Meadowpipit
Pair of Sparrowhawks - displaying

This morning:
2 Chiffchaff - singing
2 Buzzards
6 Lapwing
Plenty of : Blue & Great tit, Blackbirds, Robins & Wrens
5 Singing Songthrush
4 Chaffinch
40 Redwing
Pair Canada geese

Also 1 dead Canada goose, been shot & breasts removed 

Walk around this am with the dog:

2 Jays
2 Lapwing
Plenty Woodpigeon
Several Great & Blue Tit
12 Goldfinch
50 Redwing
2 Mistle thrush
Several Blackbirds
2 Bullfinch
1 Goldcrest
1 Nuthatch
6 Robins

morning dog walk:

numerous Chiffchaff
numerous Blue, Great & Long tailed tit
2 Coal Tit
2 Goldcrest
2 Jay
1 Common Buzzard
2 Swallow
1 Goosander (f) on river glaze
Several Magpies & common crow
Several Chaffinch
Numerous Robins & Wrens
1 Willow warbler
2 Grey Wagtail
Several Goldfinch
1 Great Spotted woodpecker
Nuthatch (heard only)

25TH March on a guided dog walk

Pair of Buzzards -displaying

A couple of hours around Windy Bank Woods and footpaths this morning - a bit of a try-out as I haven't often counted round there before. Quite a good variety nothing massively unusual today. Woodland areas appeared relatively quiet.

Great Tit 14
Long Tailed Tit 4
Blackbird 7
Robin 11
Blue Tit 8
Goldfinch 2 (more heard)
Chaffinch 10
Wren 9
Dunnock 7
Mistle Thrush 4
Song Thrush 6
Starling 11
Reed Bunting 1
Jay 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming
Jackdaw 1
Grey Heron 2
Canada Goose 3
Mallard 21
Goosander 2m 2f (on the river Glaze)
Teal 8 - same
Moorhen 2
Common Buzzard 4
Yelowhammer 1m
Bullfinch 1m
Redwing - big flock singing in a stand of trees - approx 100
Pheasant 1
Black Headed Gull 10 feeding on fields, several more in the air over
Lapwing 2
plus woodpigeon, carrion crow, magpie not counted.

Late Post for Yesterday:

Highlight was a female Grey Wagtail on the Glaze.

Not much else about. The only other things of note were a Jay, 10 Long-Tailed Tits and a Song Thrush doing an excellent impression of a siren. If it wasn't for the fact that I was in the middle of the woods I may have been tempted to look around for a police car!

This morning:

Green Woodpecker -- heard only

Lots of Jays
1 Kestrel
Flock of Longtailed tits
Several Blue & great tits around the site.
4 Goldfinch
Chaffinch heard only around the site
several Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds
Nuthatch - heard only

half hour before work midmorning, Jennets Lane as far as river Glaze bridge only

4 Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow
1 male Mandarin on river bank, Mallard, Canada Goose
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff
70+ Starling
Swift, Swallow, Sand Martin
Stock Dove, Woodpigeon
Magpie, Carion Crow , Jackdaw
Blackbird, Song Thrush
Robin,Dunnock
Goldfinch,Greenfinch
Blue Tit, Great Tit

Early morning 0730 till 1000

34 Redwing
17 Feildfare
6 House sparrow
3 Tree sparrow
5 Redpoll
2 Bullfinch
All the tits including Blue,Great,Long tailed and Coal
Plenty Robin and Blackbird
Also plenty Corvids and Woodpigeon
3 Chaffinch
2 Dunnock
1 Wren
2 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Jay
23 Lapwing over
2 Reed bunting
Not much on Glaze apart from a couple of Mallards and a Swan

A family walk 0945-11am to beat the incoming rain!

Impressive white Robin (presumably leucistic) seen on the pavement next to the Forresters Arms pub - very light plumage and a hint of a light orange breast. Never seen one quite like that before.

Otherwise on the approach track and around the walk itself:

Jackdaw ++
Carrion Crow ++
Jay - 1
Starlings - 2 small flocks
Black Headed Gulls

Lapwing - a highly mobile flock of about 80
Goldfinch - nice charm of 20
Great Tits
Blue Tits
Blackbirds
Little Grebe - 1 pair on the River Glaze
Grey Heron 1
Collared Dove 1
Woodpigeon +++
Long Tailed Tit 2

Peregrine - 1
Kestrel - 2
Common Buzzard - 2


Reckoned that was pretty good for a non-serious expedition!

1.00 - 2.45 highlights,

Garden Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Common Whitethroat
Linnet
Swift 20+
Swallow
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Buzzard

Very windy weather made sighting difficult
3 Little Grebe on Glaze north of bridge on Jennetts Lane
A couple of buzzards, sparrowhawk, Goldcrest mixed in a flock of Long tailed tits, several bullfinch and a small flock of 10 redwing the highlights

A probable Yellow Browed Warbler this afternoon at SJ368284 397476,in the trees near the pond in a mixed flock of Blue Tits,Goldcrests and Long Tailed Tits.I initially heard a di-syllabic warbler type call,which to me sounded just like a Y.B.Warbler,and as I searched the flock I got one brief view of a bird with a pronounced pale wing bar.Unfortunately the flock moved off through the back of the trees away from the pond and I didn't get another view of the bird,however I'm 99.9% certain that it was a Yellow Browed.
Please remember if visiting this site not to park on the private approach roads to the woods,either park on Jennets Lane or at Bents Garden Centre.