Stalybridge country park- Brushes

David Walsh · Status: Offline

RE: Stalybridge country park- Brushes

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 6th July 2013, 7.00 - 9.15am

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

Highlight of the morning was a grasshopper warbler reeling in the marsh grass in the field next to Brushes Road. First I have seen (or heard) in this area for 14 months. It was perched obligingly (and unusually for this species) on the top of the tallest thistle in the bog. I watched it for a good half hour, the thought being, I don't know how long it may be until I see the next one. So much for the early start!!

Also:

1 m reed bunting, very vocal
3 whitethroat
4 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff
10+ goldfinch
10+ dunnock
30+ meadow pipit
1 m chaffinch
10+ blackbird
1 song thrush
2 robin
15+ swallows
3 swift

In the gorse

1 pair stonechat
1 m linnet
3 willow warbler
6 dunnock
10+ meadow pipit

plus jackdaw, carrion crow, woodpigeon, magpie, starling

Grasshopper warbler still reeling away, audible on the way back down Brushes Road, at 9.30am

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 4th July 2013, 7.00 - 8.00pm

Around the Rifle Ranges

Quick walk around tonight, with the following notable:

Male reed bunting singing away in same tree by the stream as this morning - a full 20 mins before we left
Male stonechat only flying around gorse
Pair of bullfinch flew out of gorse over towards Flaxfield Farm
Kestrel drifted over horizon from Hobson Moor side, then back again

Plus the usual common species

-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 4th of July 2013 09:18:15 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 4th July 2013, 8.00 - 9.15am.

In the field next to Brushes Road.

1 m reed bunting
4 whitethroat, including 2 juvenile
4 goldfinch
10 dunnock including juveniles
2 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff in country park
6+ blackbirds
20+ meadow pipit
2 swallow

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

1 pair of stonechat
1 m whitethroat plus 1 juvenile
6 swallow
5 swift
1 m linnet
2 willow warbler
6 dunnock
3 goldfinch
1 robin

plus woodpigeon, magpies, jackdaw, carrion crow

-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 4th of July 2013 12:50:28 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 1st July 2013, 7.15 - 8.45pm

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

100+ jackdaw up from trees at rear of Range House over to country park
20+ meadow pipit
10+ blackbird
2 dunnock
5 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff
1 robin
1 great tit
3 goldfinch
6 swift
3 swallow

In the gorse

1 pair stonechat
2 dunnock
2 willow warbler
10 meadow pipit
1 f pheasant
10 swift
6 swallow

plus carrion crow, magpies, woodpigeon, starlings

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 29th June 2013, 7.45 - 9.00am.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges, breezy, cool, and quiet.

30+ meadow pipit
2 m whitethroat, including one with juvenile
1 juv stonechat
6 blackbirds
6 willow warbler
3 goldfinch
1 m bullfinch
3 dunnock
1 wren
3 swift
3 swallow
1 robin
4 black-headed gulls over, towards reservoir

plus magpies, jackdaw, carrion crow, woodpigeon, starlings

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 27th June, 8.15 - 9.30am

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

1 family group of 6 whitethroat, including 4 well developed youngsters, plus 3 other males. This species seems to have had a good season this year in this area.
40+ meadow pipit - another species having a bumper year. There seem to be 4 or 5 birds flying up every 20 yards or so.
1 f stonechat
2 robin
12 great tits, including 2 groups of 3 and 4 fledglings
1 m bullfinch
11 goldfinch, including young
1 buzzard
1 m kestrel
4 willow warbler
4 dunnock
1 song thrush
1 jay
6 swallows
4 swift
6 blackbird

plus jackdaw, starling, carrion crow, woodpigeon, magpies

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 18th June, 7.30 - 9.00pm

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

30+ meadow pipit
1 m reed bunting in boggy scrub behind Range House
2 m whitethroat
15+ willow warbler
2 robin
10+ blackbird
1 song thrush
2 dunnock

In the gorse

1 pair of bullfinch
3 willow warbler
1 dunnock
10+ meadow pipit

Along Brushes Road, side of country park

willow warbler, chiffchaff, whitethroat, blackcap singing
2 song thrush
3 blackbird
1 dunnock
1 robin

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 15th June, 8.15 - 9.45am.

A cold, wet, blustery morning, keeping things quiet. Annoyingly, you could see the sun shining on Manchester and the airport to the west.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

6 swift
3 swallow
20+ meadow pipit
10 goldfinch, including one family group of 6 feeding on thistles
1 greenfinch
1 robin
2 m chaffinch
5 blackbirds
15+ starlings together in field
2 willow warbler
1 buzzard over, from Flaxfield Farm towards Hobson Moor, prompting curlew alarm calls as it disappeared over the horizon
1 curlew over, towards Brushes Valley
1 kestrel hunting in field next to Brushes Road

In the gorse.

1 pair of stonechat
1 m linnet
1 m bullfinch
2 dunnock
2 willow warbler
1 blackbird

plus usual magpies, carrion crow, jackdaw, woodpigeon

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 10th June 2013, 7.15 - 8.45pm

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

20+ meadow pipit, including young
10+ starlings
8 swift
2 swallow
3 willow warbler
4 blackbirds
1 song thrush
magpies, woodpigeon, jackdaw

In the gorse

1 pair of stonechat
2 pairs of linnet
1 pair of whitethroat, plus young
2 dunnock
1 willow warbler
plus meadow pipit
bullfinch heard, not seen

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

9-12.30 around Walkerwood Reservoir-rifle ranges-a little 'beyond'.

Stonechat-pair
4+ Lesser Redpoll
2 Linnet
Reed Bunting
12+ Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaff
5 Bullfinch
Common Whitethroat
20+ Meadow Pipit
Cormorant
Plus many 'commoner' species

Roe Deer
Unidentified 'buzzing' bird far side of Walkerwood Dam, little like a Grasshopper Warbler, but not continuous. Didn't show.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 9th June 2013, 8.30 - 10.00am.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

pair of stonechat
pair of bullfinch
1 m linnet
1 wren
20+ meadow pipit
2 dunnock
3 willow warbler
6 blackbird
20+ jackdaw
3 carrion crow
10 swift
2 swallow
plus magpies, woodpigeon

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Late morning visit to Walkerwood area

Willow Warbler - still several birds singing
Chiffchaff - 2 singing
Blackcap - 1 singing
Whitethroat - 1 singing
Garden Warbler - late arrival this year
Lesser Redpoll - plentiful in the area
2+ Jay
Grey Wagtail collecting food
Plenty of birds generally collecting food

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 8th June 2013, 7.30 - 10.00am.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

2 great tit
8 willow warbler, including one pair
4 dunnock
1 wren
2 robin
10+ male blackbirds, 6 female, 10+ juvenile
30 + jackdaw, tearing moss from field, presumably for nesting? + more overhead
10 + carrion crow
10+ magpies
30 + meadow pipit
6 swift
3 swallows
2m chaffinch
6 starling
1 black-headed gull following tractor at Flaxfield Farm

In the gorse

1 pair of stonechat
1 pair of bullfinch
1 pair of linnet, the female with a beakful of feathers and down, plus one other male
4 dunnock, including 2 juvenile
4 willow warblers
6 meadow pipit

Back along Brushes Road, edge of country park
2 chiffchaff
2 willow warbler
1 wren
1 great tit with 2 fledglings
1 chaffinch
2 m, 1f blackbird

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Fri June 7th. 08.00 hrs.

Cuckoo calling on T'harridge ..... nearer to Carrbrook end.

Roger.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 4th June 2013, 7.30 - 9.15pm.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

Pair of stonechat still in the gorse, but much quieter and less visible than on previous days
2 male linnet putting on a display, singing in the evening sunshine
1 male bullfinch very active flying amongst gorse and young birch. There was another bird in the bushes with him, which may have been a female, but didn't get a positive view.
1 male chaffinch
3 willow warblers
1 dunnock
40+ jackdaw, including over 30 together in field
20+ meadow pipit
2 blackbird
6 starling

Back along Brushes Road.

2 chiffchaff
3 willow warbler
1 long-tailed tit
4 blackbird
1 song thrush
1 male chaffinch

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Evening visit with Simon Ghilks

A distant Cuckoo was perched on trees and fence posts high on the moor above Walkerwood Reservoir being mobbed relentlessly by Meadow Pipits
Also Whitethroat and Linnet present and both singing
Simon was also fairly sure he had a juvenile Stonechat, which annoyingly dropped from a fence and didn't reappear

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 3rd June 2013, 7.30 - 8.30pm

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges

Pair of stonechat still "clinking" away in the gorse, very visible flitting around
20+ meadow pipit
6 swallows
6 blackbird
2 willow warbler
1 chaffinch
2 swift
Heard a very distant cuckoo, but couldn't pinpoint direction. However, Karen's earlier post may shed some light.

Plus the usual common species heard

-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 4th of June 2013 07:35:14 AM

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Sunday 2nd June. 04.45 - 06.30 hrs.

What a difference a bit of decent weather makes.

Hobby over.
Buzzard over.
Stonechat pair.

Roger.

-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 2nd of June 2013 07:36:09 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 2nd June 2013, 8.45 - 10am

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

Not much dawdling this morning, due to being accompanied by 2 impatient adult offspring on walk. Therefore more species heard than seen.

But: The pair of stonechat are still present in the gorse and heather along from the ranges - very active and vocal, and the male again seemed to be disappearing into the gorse with food. The female was busy flitting from tree to fence post.

Plus 1 song thrush
1 goldfinch
1 greenfinch
10+ meadow pipit
4 blackbird
2 dunnock
1 chiffchaff
2 willow warbler
2 swallow
plus plenty of jackdaw, carrion crow, magpies, woodpigeon

Also, a newly fledged blue tit fluttered out of a bush and was running around the grass verge near Huddersfield Road

A lot of the the usual species calling and singing from the country park, but no time to explore!

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 1st June 2013, 8.30 - 9.15am.

Around Brushes rifle ranges.

Pair of stonechat feeding in the heather, about 100 yards down the slope from the gorse, where they were on the previous 2 nights.
2 m whitethroat
6 willow warbler
10+ blackbird
2 dunnock
20+ meadow pipit
10+ starling
1 robin
4 swallows around Flaxfield Farm

Back along Brushes Road, edge of country park.

2 greenfinch
3 chiffchaff
4 willow warbler
4 blackbird
2 song thrush
4 house sparrows, including young
2 swift
10+ starling

plus carrion crow, jackdaw, magpies and woodpigeon

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Friday 31st May 2013, 8.15 - 9.30pm.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges.

The pair of stonechat were still present tonight, flitting between the gorse, heather, and fence posts, and calling constantly. Towards the end of my stay, at around 9.15, the male seemed to be flying low into the gorse with food, before reappearing and calling with the female from the bush tops. A fine half hour's entertainment.

Plenty (20+) of meadow pipit about, both flying and singing, as well as at some young birds scurrying through the heather.

also,

10+ jackdaw
6 blackbirds, many carrying food into bushes
3 carrion crow
4 magpies
pair of pheasant
3 dunnock
6 woodpigeon
2 willow warbler

plus willow warbler, chiffchaff, blackbird, robin, and song thrush calling from the country park.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 30th May 2013, 7.45 - 8.45pm.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges:

Tonight's highlight was a pair of stonechat calling to each other, the male on top of a gorse bush, the female flitting around the heather. Sat and watched them for 20 minutes in the evening sunshine.

Fairly quiet otherwise

30+ jackdaw in the field next to Brushes Road
3 meadow pipit
6 magpies
10+ carrion crow
10+ woodpigeon
2 collared doves
skylark calling from the moor
2 willow warbler
1 chiffchaff
2 blackbird

Plus:

willow warbler
chiffchaff
whitethroat
song thrush
blackbird
robin, all calling from the country park

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 31st of May 2013 01:53:45 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 31st of May 2013 11:46:01 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 27th May 2013, 8.45 - 9.15am

Around Brushes rifle ranges:

Blustery conditions seemed to be keeping things quiet this morning, compared to the activity of the past couple of mornings.

2 male whitethroat in field adjacent to Brushes Road
3 willow warbler
2 chiffchaff calling
6 meadow pipit
2 blue tits
10 jackdaw
2 magpies
6 woodpigeon
6 carrion crow
2 blackbird
1 buzzard, chased over towards Hobson Moor by a carrion crow
1 f mallard with at least 8 ducklings on Walkerwood dam (a distant view from the moor)
4 Canada geese on reservoir
1 male chaffinch singing in country park

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 26th May 2013, 7.30 - 9.15am

Main feature this morning was the number of male whitethroat singing and displaying, often in places not usually populated by them. 2 in separate areas of the field adjacent to Brushes Road, 2 in the scrub behind Range House, and 3 in the country park next to Brushes Road. They seem to be here in good numbers this year.

Also:

Around the rifle ranges:

6 blackbird
20 plus jackdaw
20 plus starling
20 plus meadow pipit
4 dunnock
2 blue tit
6 willow warbler, including the new birch growth on the moor
skylark singing on the moor
6 swallow
6 carrion crow
1 jay

Along Brushes Road:

4 blackbird
4 willow warbler
2 chiffchaff calling
1 robin
2 song thrush
1 blue tit
1 dunnock
4 goldfinch

plus magpies and woodpigeon aplenty

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 25th May, 7.45 - 9.30am

Around the rifle ranges:

6 swallows
4 swifts
2 goldfinch plus 4 fledglings
20 plus meadow pipits - including fledglings
3 dunnock
6 plus willow warblers, both behind ranges and in new birch growth on moor
1 male whitethroat displaying behind Range House
2 blue tit
1 great tit
2 robin
10 plus blackbirds, including young
1 kestrel
1 male wheatear in field next to Brushes Road
10 plus carrion crow
20 plus jackdaw
30 plus starling including young
1 cormorant drying its wings atop electricity pylon at Cote Farm

Along Brushes Road/ Country Park

3 Chiffchaff calling, one seen
5 willow warbler calling
1 male whitethroat
blackcap calling from park
2 blue tit
6 magpies
1 robin
5 blackbird
2 song thrush, plus more singing
one pair chaffinch

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Plenty of action today with lots of birds collecting food

Brushes Road/Walkerwood area

At least 3 Whitethroat singing
Willow Warbler - well into double figures with birds singing and also a couple of pairs
Chiffchaff - plenty
Blackcap - plenty
3 Jay including one "anting"
At least 2 Raven
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel, one of which engaged in aerial combat with a Raven
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker including one drumming

Lee Griffiths · Status: Offline

from brushes to brushes reservoir 1 till 3.15

raven 2
common buzzard 2
common sandpiper 1
willow warbler 15+
chiffchaff 4
lesser redpoll 2
grey wagtail 2
treecreeper 1
goldcrest 1
coal tit 2
blue tit 10+
great tit 3
long tailed tit 2
goldfinch 4
bullfinch 2
chaffinch 5
greenfinch 1
wren 10+
song thrush 1
mistle thrush 3
great spotted woodpecker 1
robin 10 +
blackbird 10+
dunnock 2
jay 1
nuthatch 1

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Late report for 4/5/13

Brushes to Higher Swineshaw

Common Sandpiper - at least 2 pairs
Red Grouse - 4 birds seen and another 2 heard
Lesser Redpoll - Good numbers of this species ranging from the country park to Higher Swineshaw, birds seen displaying in the country park area
Willow Warbler - at least a dozen birds singing
Chiffchaff - 3 in the country park
Raven

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 5th of May 2013 09:19:00 PM

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Area between Walkerwood and Oakgates, this morning

Highlights

3+ Blackcap
10+ Willow Warbler
6+ Chiffchaff
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4+ Lesser Redpoll
2 Buzzard
Raven
2 Swallow
2 Red Grouse on hill above Walkerwood Res

Lots of common species about also

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Roger Baker 3 wrote:

Well done Rob ....... makes all the hours I've spent freezing on that dam-head scanning for one on migration seem well worthwhile.

Sorry Roger,
as I said I was quite shocked myself and I got in touch with Ian last night as I was doubting myself but that's what it was. In all the excitement I forgot to post that I heard a male Tawny Owl too-woo-ing from Cock Wood about 4pm. Obviously on the scout for a too-wit. :)

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Well done Rob ....... makes all the hours I've spent freezing on that dam-head scanning for one on migration seem well worthwhile. furious

Roger.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Saturday 3.15 - 4.30pm mainly around the Cock Wood Reservoir.

2 Willow Warblers.
1 male Blackcap.
1 Cormorant on the reservoir edge.
1 Curlew overhead.

I was watching 3 Buzzards circling quite high overhead, another bird of prey flew over but at a lower height than the Buzzards, in the direction of the 2 Swineshaw reservoirs. An Osprey passing through would you believe, I had to pinch myself, I really didn't expect to see one of these here.

Stuart Pike · Status: Offline

Short walk upto ranges about 6 pm - 2 female wheatear, 2 or 3 willow warbler, 1 skylark and a fox of note

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Fri 26th April. 07.00hrs - 09.00 hrs.

Rifle Ranges & Wild Bank.

Swallow. 4 around Range House stable block.
Willow Warbler. 3.
Meadow Pipits. 40+
Wheatear. 2 male. Possibly same bird but I doubt it.
Skylark. 3 singing.
Cormorant swimming on Walkerwood Reservoir.

Roger.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Swineshaw Moor area
2 Red Grouse
1 Linnet
4 Meadow Pipit
1 Kestrel

otherwise very quiet

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Monday 8th April. 12.30 - 13.30 hrs.

Walk from Walkerwood Res to Higher Swineshaw Res. Very quiet.

2 Siskin.
1 Red Grouse.
Buzzard heard but not seen around top of Brushes Res.

Roger.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

An Osprey was at Arnfield Reservoir (in Derbyshire) for about 20 minutes this pm and was seen to fly N over Hobson Moor towards Brushes at 5pm.

Info thanks to Rob Adderley/Bill Underwood

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 24th February 2013, 7.15 - 8.45am.

Around the Rifle Ranges.

Green Woodpecker in tree behind Flaxfield Farm
2 Dunnock
1m, 1f Blackbird
2 Jay
1 m Bullfinch
2 Great Tit
2 Blue Tit
2 Red Grouse, up on the moor

In the country park, Brushes Road edge.

1 m Great Spotted Woodpecker
12 Long Tailed Tit
5 Blue Tit
6 Great Tit
1 Coal Tit
3 Robin
4m, 3f Chaffinch
1f Brambling, being chased by Chaffinches
6 Goldfinch
2 Greenfinch
6 Blackbird
1 Song Thrush

In a tree on Brushes Road, opposite houses

1 f Great Spotted Woodpecker, which after a few minutes flew back into country park.

Ashley Edwards · Status: Offline

Quick walk this AM.

Plenty of:
Goldfinch
Blue tit
Great tit
Wren
Chaffinch
Long tailed tit

Also male Bullfinch calling from tree just into the park, another two up near the dam.

One female goosander on dam with two black headed gulls.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Ashley Edwards wrote:

Is there a page for the Swineshaw reservoirs and the nearby moors or does it fall under this thread?

4goosander (2m 2f) on Brushes Dam with 2 Common Gulls and several black headed gulls

Ashley, I normally use this thread for my sightings in the Swineshaw area.

Ashley Edwards · Status: Offline

Is there a page for the Swineshaw reservoirs and the nearby moors or does it fall under this thread?

4goosander (2m 2f) on Brushes Dam with 2 Common Gulls and several black headed gulls

Ashley Edwards · Status: Offline

Walked up through brushes country park past all Swineshaw reservoirs and up to the top of Wild Bank Moor.

Brushes
Greenfinch x8
Goldfinch x3
Jay x2
Long tailed tit x3
Coal tit x2
Plus numerous usual odds and sods
(Bullfinch calling just as I was leaving towards the road after completing the loop back down through the park)

Swineshaw and tops
Raven x1
Peregrine x1 (heading down the valley at speed)
Buzzard x1
Bullfinch heard but not seen in last of woods before moorland.

-- Edited by Ashley Edwards on Thursday 24th of January 2013 01:08:55 PM

Stuart Pike · Status: Offline

Walk this morning for hour and a half before snow - started 09:30 - skirted round bottom edge of the moor, past rifle ranges then around Walkerwood Resevoir and through Stalybridge Country Park.

Highlights:-

Green Woodpecker in woods at far end Walkerwood
Great Spotted Woodpecker near Rifle Ranges
Pair of Bullfinches
Nuthatch

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 24th November , 9am, around Brushes Rifle Ranges,

1 green woodpecker flew from gorse bushes next to ranges, across to hedgerow at Flaxfield Farm

also

1 kestrel
3 jays
6 magpies
1 great tit
3 meadow pipit
2 robin (1 juvenile)
1 dunnock
3 house sparrows
2 blackbird
2 goldfinch
10 jackdaw
1 red grouse
heard a great spotted woodpecker drumming in country park

-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 24th of November 2012 11:35:39 AM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 22nd November 2012, 9.30am.

Walking the dogs yesterday morning I saw a large bird, smaller than a buzzard, but a lot bigger than a sparrowhawk, flying with regular wingbeats low across the rough grass in the field between Brushes Road and Range House, in the direction of Huddersfield Road.

A couple of minutes later it flew back across the field below me and across Brushes Road and over the country park. All this time meadow pipits were making a lot of noise but didn't fly up.

Unfortunately the light wasn't too good and I didn't have my binoculars, and all I made out were grey upper wings with distinctive black tips.

The bird that comes to mind is a male hen harrier, but I haven't seen one before, and haven't heard of any reports anywhere in this area .

I wondered whether anyone else has seen anything fitting this description around the Stalybridge/Hollingworth/Tintwistle areas?

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Sunday 14th Oct. 16.45 - 17.30 hrs.

Walkerwood.

Plenty of Jays active in the Oaks but also counted 16 singles high up flying determinedly South.

Roger

Thomas and Bill Jones · Status: Offline

I was parked on huddersfield rd near the junction with brushes road at the time.
The raptor was flying away from the country park in the direction of mottram, and definitely wasn't a buzzard.

i think i'll have to file it under 'ones that got away' - the moral - ALWAYS keep bins the car...!

thanks for the info anyway
cheers, T

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Hiya Billy .... When you say "over Brushes" do you mean Walkerwood (the bottom Reservoir) or over the valley itself.

The reason I ask is with it being such a large area.

I've called up half a dozen times in the last 10 days and just sat on the dam-head scanning the valley but not seen much of anything, been really quiet, only to be expected this time of year.

There was an Osprey knocking about Walkerwood for a few days about 4 years ago according to a couple of the worm-drowners that I know so I thought there was a fair chance of the Arnfield bird paying a visit.

Roger.

Thomas and Bill Jones · Status: Offline

Did anyone see an unusual (non-Buzzard) raptor over Brushes at about 7pm yesterday (monday 3rd)?
It flew off in the direction of Mottram. Looked osprey-like to me, but i hadn't got the bins, so it has to go down as one that got away, unless anyone else saw it too??