With Lee Griffiths ..... an hour on Walkerwood dam-head. In glorious sunshine, certainly brought the raptors out to play.
5 possibly 6 Buzzard were riding the thermals over Th'Harridge for virtually the full hour. One of the Buzzard was harrassed by a pair of Raven for a while until a Peregrine put in an appearance chasing the Raven off.
Sparrowhawk. Kestrel.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
1 grey heron flying from Brushes Road towards Wild Bank 1 green woodpecker flying over the country park towards Walkerwood 17 meadow pipits plus two small groups of 6-8 over south 4 blackbirds 30+ woodpigeons together in treetops at southern end of Flaxfield 12+ robins, calling everywhere 4 greenfinch 3 goldfinch 1 wren 1 great tit 1 blue tit 1 willow warbler singing
Quick walk for a weekend, past Rifle Ranges to the near edge of Flaxfield.
1 buzzard over Harridge 1 female kestrel hunting over Wild Bank 2 jays 50+ woodpigeon, including a flock of c20 flying south 1 song thrush in hawthorn tree 1 female blackbird 2 great tits 3 blue tits 2 willow warblers 1 greenfinch 1 chaffinch 3 goldfinch 6 robins 6 meadow pipits - lowest count for a while 1 f pheasant c50 Canada Geese on Walkerwood Reservoir
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 5th of October 2013 10:43:40 AM
To Flaxfield and back past the Rifle Ranges, a bright, warm morning.
1 female kestrel patrolling around Flaxfield from telegraph pole 22 meadow pipits, flying up from rough grass and heather 8 meadow pipits flying south 1 green woodpecker at southern end of Flaxfield, hopping around field towards Gallowsclough 2 blue tits 3 long-tailed tits 2 willow warblers 1 chiffchaff singing in country park 2 linnet over 6 robins mix of jackdaws, woodpigeon, carrion crows, magpies, and black-headed gulls in ploughed field
Walk beginning at dusk and ending in the dark to Flaxfield and back past ranges
2 little owls at Flaxfield - one calling from usual area of hawthorn, and one responding from trees further along footpath towards Gallowsclough. Only ever seen/heard solitary bird in this area before.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 1st of October 2013 10:50:50 PM
I was going to suggest that maybe the corpses had been left there baited with poison and maybe the predators had clocked that fact. But coming across that youngster dispels that theory. Unless theres poison put down for them I really dont know what it could be. Seems an unusual way to die for a wild animal unless they had eaten something poisonous. I dont even know if ragwort once eaten would be harmful.
Maybe a more enlightened forum member could shed some light onto this subject.
The heads and faces of the corpses I've seen haven't shown any obvious signs, but what is odd to me is the fact that they can be lying in the open for days and nothing seems to feed on them. There are buzzards, foxes, and plenty of other species which you would think would be glad of a bit of carrion, but they remain more or less intact.
I came across a youngster in its death throes two weeks ago, twitching and squeaking, and assumed that I must have disturbed a predator that had just attacked it, because it wasn't there on the outward leg of my journey, but the corpse was in the same position, intact, the following morning. There are hundreds of rabbits around Wild Bank and Flaxfield at present - they also seem to have had a bumper year - so I suppose you would expect more deaths with a larger population, if the death rate is the same?
It just seems to have been more noticable in the last couple of weeks.
Do the rabbits look like they have had myxomatosis? When I lived across the valley in Heyrod we had an outbreak (more likely an introduction) and lost most the rabbits locally. Hell of alot of gamekeeper activity goes on around here undetected that I hear about through certain sources but noone willing to speak up.
Brushes Rifle Ranges and Flaxfield - blustery and cool. Nothing out of the ordinary today.
23 meadow pipits flying out of heather and grass 10 pied wagtail over 30 Canada geese over east 30+ black-headed gulls in ploughed field behind Mottram Old Road 30+ jackdaws and a few carrion crows in same field 10+ robins 1 wren 2 blue tits feeding on elderberries, being chased by:- 1 willow warbler 1 chiffchaff singing behind Range House 2 great tits 1 male blackbird feeding on rowan 1 red grouse on Wild Bank Moor
No raptors seen for a couple of weeks now, but a worrying number of rabbits lying around, with no apparent cause of death.
Up past rifle ranges to Flaxfield. In darkness on way back down.
Another quiet evening with not a lot about. Been a quiet fortnight, in fact.
1 little owl in a hawthorn tree at Flaxfield. First sighting for over 2 weeks, but always perches in hawthorn trees, and within a 100 yard radius. Never seen it in any other tree, only the odd time on a fence post or on top of a drystone wall. Started moving around from tree to tree as dusk fell, preening itself.
Also:
6 meadow pipits 2 jays 4 robins 2 great tits 2 blue tits 1 blackbird 1 willow warbler
1 buzzard higher up valley over Harridge Woods 1 kestrel over Wild Bank 1 male stonechat at Flaxfield Farm 1 juv/female stonechat at Wild Bank 2 willow warbler singing 1 chiffchaff singing 3 robins 6 meadow pipit 4 swallows hawking around Brushes Road 2 dunnock
Heavy rain quietened everything down
-- Edited by David Walsh on Monday 16th of September 2013 03:25:24 PM
2 buzzards high up on Wild Bank Moor 1 peregrine flying from the south, skirting Wild Bank and continued up towards the Swineshaws 1 female kestrel hunting from a hawthorn next to Brushes Road 12+ robins - stopped counting - they seemed to be everywhere! I never tire of watching and listening to them, though. 2 wrens 1 pair of stonechat at Flaxfield. No sign of young today, but they were a long way off, almost at the farm itself. 7 goldfinch 1 male whitethroat at Flaxfield 2 willow warblers singing 16 meadow pipit 3 juv house sparrows 4 juv pheasants at Flaxfield Farm
Quick dogwalk before dusk, to Flaxfield and back past the Rifle Ranges
1 female kestrel hunting over Brushes Road 1 little owl in hawthorn at Flaxfield 12 swallows feeding over Brushes Road 12+ meadow pipit 50+ jackdaws to roost over Flaxfield
robin, wren, willow warbler, blue and great tits calling
Up past the Rifle Ranges, to Wild Bank and Flaxfield
Plenty of meadow pipits on the move in the sunshine: 30+ on Wild Bank Moor 15 around the fields at Flaxfield Farm
3 swallows hawking around the moor, another 10 flying south over Flaxfield 4 house martins over south 6 willow warblers 1 chiffchaff singing 1 male whitethroat singing on top of bramble 6 greenfinch, including juveniles 6 robins 1 dunnock 1 little owl in usual spot 2 jays 2 ravens, over from the south, across valley, and over Carrbrook 2 buzzards hunting together, low over Harridge Pike 2 black-headed gull in field at Flaxfield Farm
A cold, grey morning, but thankfully dry following yesterday's deluge.
1 pair of stonechat with one young juvenile seen, at the Ranges end of Flaxfield Farm, on the way home, around 8.45.
1 male whinchat in autumn plumage, on the fence posts at Flaxfield Farm, receiving a lot of attention from the male stonechat, but not budging far from perch, other than down to the grass and back up.
1 other very young stonechat seen crouched in the gorse on the outward journey, around 8.00am. Could hear a faint adult call from higher up the gorse, so this could have been the same family group as above, making their way down the hill.
30+ meadow pipits, some moving through in small groups 3 adult swallows, plus 3 very young looking juveniles perched on fence awaiting food 5 willow warblers bullfinch heard, not seen 3 great tits 3 blue tits 1 dunnock 5 robin
Oddly enough, no birds of prey this morning, but a lot of the time was spent following the chats.
30+ meadow pipits, mainly on Wild Bank Moor 2 swallows over the country park, 3 over the moor 1 male reed bunting in field adjacent to Brushes Road, being chased from tree to tree by a robin 16 robins - singing, calling, and showing everywhere! 1 willow warbler 1 chiffchaff 1 dunnock 3 blue tits 1 greenfinch
A little late setting out, and light fading fast at far end of Flaxfield, so not much about
1 female kestrel over fields by Brushes Road 1 little owl overlooking Sidebottom Fold direction, hopping around hawthorn at dusk 6+ robins 2 willow warbler 6+ meadow pipits 2 swallows only
Interesting to read Karen's earlier Mistle Thrush posts. At dusk, around 20 birds flew from a distant pylon with thrush-like flight, but they were too far off and silhouetted against the western sky, so couldn't positively identify them.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 3rd of September 2013 11:53:07 PM
Quick walk past Rifle Ranges to Flaxfield and back.
1 buzzard over top of Brushes Valley 2 kestrel over from Lees Hill direction 20+ swallows feeding at eastern end of Flaxfield towards Mottram Rise 6 meadow pipit 1 juv dunnock 2 robin 1 wren 1 stonechat heard but not seen
Onto Wild Bank Moor then down, past Flaxfield and the Rifle Ranges.
A cold, blustery morning, getting colder and windier as the walk went on. Other than the odd bumble bee, few insects flying. Not much noise coming from the country park either, so I decided, armed with a springer spaniel and a stout pair of walking shoes, to do a tour of the moor counting meadow pipits, seeing as there was very little else to see!!
6 in the grassy field next to Brushes Road 50+ in an area of rocky outcrop with a mix of heather and rough grass, overlooking Walkerwood reservoir 20+ on the moor in an area of regrowth, with short heather (6-9 inches tall) following the fires of 2006 3 at the same altitude in a much greater area of older and taller heather interspersed with thick sphagnum cover There were none in any of fields of Flaxfield Farm, where they have gathered of late
Believe it or not, that was the highlight of the morning, other than the following kestrel activity: 1 female kestrel over Flaxfield and Brushes Road 1 single bird over from Hobson Moor then back again 2 birds low over Wild Bank "practice hunting" in similar fashion to yesterday's buzzards, landing frequently in the heather. Quite distant so couldn't age or sex, but would guess at either one adult and juvenile, or two juveniles, from the behaviour.
Only 1 swallow flying briefly around Flaxfield Farm buildings 2 goldfinch 1 willow warbler 2 robin 1 wren 2 great tit
Quite a refreshing walk, though, and kestrels are always good to watch. Look on the bright side!
20+ swallows feeding together from the country park, around the low moor, and over Flaxfield. Also, a dozen or so swallows still resident around the farm buildings, with 5 juveniles sitting on the wires awaiting food from the foraging adults.
A lot of kestrel activity this morning - 1 female patrolling Brushes Road and Flaxfield areas all morning from a perch on a pylon near the farm.
Another pair of kestrels drifted over from Hollingworth direction plus one other bird about a quarter of a mile or so away towards Gallowsclough. May have been a group of 3, but they all drifted over and out of sight towards Hobson Moor. 2 sighted again later in the morning.
A family group of 4 buzzards over Cock Knarr from Lees Hill, appearing to be playing rather than hunting, flying around each other and landing regularly high up on the moor. After 20 minutes of this they drifted down towards Flaxfield before turning and soaring back over towards Lees Hill.
Also:
1 little owl in its regular spot at Flaxfield, watching the world go by 40+ meadow pipit, especially around the low moor near Flaxfield Farm 2 m , 1 f pheasant 9 robin 6 great tit 5 willow warbler 3 jay 1 wren
a small mixed flock of juvenile tits consisting of: 4 blue tit 4 great tit 1 coal tit - not seen any adults in the area for months
Quick dogwalk this morning through country park to Walkerwood Dam, then back along Brushes Road
Very quiet, only items of note being:
8 sand martins feeding over the reservoir. Headed off south after 20 minutes
30+ swallows feeding throughout route. A lot of juveniles mixed in, including 7 perched on telephone wires opposite houses, waiting patiently (but noisily) for the regular return with food of adults. Seemed very young, and were very dependent. A lot of food being brought back.
The overnight rain had cleared leaving things soggy but warm - perfect for midges! Other than swallows and meadow pipits, a very quiet morning.
Large numbers of meadow pipit on the move - counted over 50 on Wild Bank Moor and one field at the farm alone. 30+ swallows around the trees next to Faxfield Farm - others around the low moor 1 male stonechat and 1 juvenile 3 whitethroat 8 willow warbler 1 m chaffinch 4 robin 1 wren 1 jay 1 m, 2 f pheasant 4 goldfinch 1 grey heron on pumping station at Walkerwood dam 1 female kestrel patrolling the fence posts and low trees around the ranges
Thankfully, a change of wind direction has diverted the Stockport stink of yesterday, to leave a stunning morning over Tameside. A lot of species seem to be preparing to be on the move today.
40+ meadow pipits, including over 30 flying around fields and hedges of the farm. Not an area they are usually seen. 30+ swallows, including 23 perched on telegraph wire at the farm 2 wheatear, again in low fields, not seen this far down the hill since May 1 whitethroat 1 pair of stonechat 7 great tit 6 blue tit 1 little owl, roosting in hawthorn - great views. Didn't budge all morning 1 tawny owl calling from country park at 7.15 3 dunnock 3 robin plus 2 juvenile 1 wren 1 song thrush 3 willow warbler No sign of the redstart since Tuesday - presumably moved through.
Back along Brushes Road, edge of country park
1 long-tailed tit plus 3 juveniles 3 willow warbler 2 blue tit plus 5 juvenile 4 great tit 2 juv chaffinch 15 goldfinch 3 robin plus 1 juvenile 3 blackbirds
Last night there was a lot of gull activity all over Stalybridge, from Brushes Valley to the town, and over Ashton too. Over 150, mainly lesser black-backed. I wondered whether it was linked to the fire at Bredbury??? Quiet again this morning.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of August 2013 11:26:27 AM
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 22nd of August 2013 01:56:24 PM
1 female and 1 juvenile redstart, flycatching again male stonechat on fence near farmyard 2 jay 1 kestrel 5 robin 1 little owl in same tree as Sunday, then saw it twice more within 100 yard area, approaching dusk. 1 swallow 1 willow warbler 2 great tit
I've been wracking my brains (??), checking my diaries and previous posts.
Think I can honestly say the only hirundine I have ever seen in the area have been Swallows.
I could also make the same statement for Greenfield except for my post Aug 18/8/2011 (as Karen mentions passing through) when I counted over 120 House Martins going over Tanners Mill yard in 30 minutes, still going strong when I had to leave.
I've never seen another up there since !
Roger.
PS. My last sighting of Sand Martin round Stalybridge was 11th Aug and I have been looking (a pleasant alternative to doing any work ).
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
A great evening's entertainment. Today and yesterday have been as good as Saturday was bad. Once again, the pick of the action was in the hedges of Flaxfield Farm. In fact, the same hedge as yesterday!!
1 female and 1 juvenile redstart. A fantastic sight catching flies, with their tails glowing in the evening sunshine. 1 pair of stonechat, 2 juveniles seen tonight. The male has started making a noise again, after a quiet couple of weeks 1 m whitethroat 1 willow warbler 1 robin 10 swallows 1 m pheasant
All of the above (apart from the swallows, obviously) in the same hedge
Also,
2 kestrel hunting over Flaxfield and Wild Bank 3 meadow pipit 3 kestrel at dusk over the field next to Brushes Road, probably including the 2 from earlier on the moor. One caught a rodent and fed in a willow tree
I had a regular couple of pairs of house martins along Brushes Road earlier this year, but the last time I saw them was the morning before the trees were cleared for the new housing at the top of Brushes Road last month. Strange that??
As you will have noticed from the posts from the last couple of days, the action has shifted 100 yards down from the gorse into the field at Flaxfield Farm.
The redstart tonight were a big bonus. Like you said to Ashley, these are the days you remember, and make the miserable mornings like Saturday worthwhile. Are you due a visit to Flaxfield soon?
David
-- Edited by David Walsh on Monday 19th of August 2013 10:34:35 PM
Monday 19th August 2013, 6.45 - 7.15am, early morning dogwalk
On the walk up Brushes Road, there were about a dozen or so birds flying around the trees over Harridge Avenue in the Copley direction. My first instinct was Sand Martin, but unfortunately, it being a work day, and this being an "on the lead all the way" dogwalk, I didn't have my binoculars with me to confirm. The nearest I've seen sand martin to here is at Stalybridge railway station, from the Bayley Street colony, a mile away.
Has anyone else (Roger) seen any around this area?
I have seen Sand Martins on a couple of occasions over Walkerwood Res this year, but only two birds. I have not noticed any in previous years here. It is quite possible that they are passing through this area and it is also feasible that birds will travel here to feed. I have also noticed birds in the Tameside area are using less traditional nest sites!
Monday 19th August 2013, 6.45 - 7.15am, early morning dogwalk
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker picking insects off a telegraph pole on Huddersfield Road
On the walk up Brushes Road, there were about a dozen or so birds flying around the trees over Harridge Avenue in the Copley direction. My first instinct was Sand Martin, but unfortunately, it being a work day, and this being an "on the lead all the way" dogwalk, I didn't have my binoculars with me to confirm. The nearest I've seen sand martin to here is at Stalybridge railway station, from the Bayley Street colony, a mile away.
Has anyone else (Roger) seen any around this area?
The reason the woodpecker sighting isn't sexed or aged is also due my failing eyesight. In the garden at the time sorting out poultry, and only had silhouette view about 30 yards away, again without binoculars.
A lot of this morning's action was around Flaxfield Farm
1 female kestrel flying around the walls and hedges swooping down at rabbits, before alighting on a telegraph pole next to the farm, being unsuccessfully mobbed by magpies
1 little owl in tall hawthorn hedge - didn't move in over an hour 1 pair of stonechat with 3 juveniles (3 and a half weeks old), again in hedges of farm. 1 juv robin following adult stonechats around?? 26 lesser black-backed gulls over south (one group) 2 black-headed gulls around fields 6 swallow 1 robin 10 meadow pipit 5 willow warbler
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 18th of August 2013 01:30:26 PM
Weather breezy, overcast, with a few light rain showers, keeping everything quiet.
Unusually low numbers of meadow pipit and willow warbler, and not much else!
The highlights, such as they were:
1 male kestrel flew from Walkerwood Reservoir, through the country park, over to Flaxfield Farm, then along the Wild Bank side of the valley as far as Cock Knarr, when it was joined by a second bird. Both circled a couple of times before heading over the hill in the direction of Tintwistle.
1 well grown juvenile stonechat, flying around hedge between Flaxfield Farm and the gorse another stonechat heard higher up the hill in the gorse 1 skylark on Wild Bank Moor 4 swallows
I said it was a quiet morning! Nice to see the young stonechat again, though.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 17th of August 2013 10:53:25 AM
1 female kestrel over from Hobson Moor and back again 16 meadow pipit robins - 1 with faecal sac, 1 adult with fledgling, 2 adults, 2 juveniles together 2 whitethroat, plus 2 separate males with 1 juv each 5 willow warbler 1 swallow 1 grey wagtail at Flaxfield Farm 1 male pheasant 1 bullfinch over in Cock Wood
6 lesser black-backed gulls flying south. Small groups have been flying south all week
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 11th of August 2013 11:27:38 AM
-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 11th of August 2013 11:35:34 AM
This morning was notable more for species that were absent than those present. The skies have been devoid of swift for a couple of days, of house martins for a fortnight, and the pair of stonechat that have raised two broods since the end of May haven't been heard of since Sunday, presumably moved on.
Field above Brushes Road, and fringes of Stalybridge Country Park.
1 female reed bunting with 1 juvenile 20+ meadow pipit 2 swallow 4 willow warbler, including one very yellow specimen 2 robin + 2 juvenile 4 whitethroat, including juveniles flock of more than 20 goldfinch, mainly juveniles
Rifle ranges/ Flaxfield area
5 willow warbler, including another very yellow individual 15 meadow pipit 2 robin 2 juv blue tit 2 juv great tit 2 swallow stonechat heard only, not seen (again) 4 juv whitethroat also counted more than 30 lesser black-backed gull moving steadily southwards, with a few black-headed gull mixed in
1 pair of reed bunting 3 willow warbler 1 robin + 1 juv 1 juv dunnock 2 whitethroat 30+ goldfinch in one flock flying around the area, including many juveniles 6 swallows 20+ meadow pipit including juveniles
Around the rifle ranges/ Flaxfield area
stonechat only heard today, further up Wild Bank Hill in gorse 1 lesser redpoll 6 whitethroat, including juveniles 1 robin + 1 juv 5 willow warbler 2 swallows 1 f blackbird + 3 other juveniles 30+ meadow pipit 1 dunnock
1 buzzard soaring higher up the valley towards the Swineshaws
1 pair of stonechat 1 whitethroat 2 willow warbler 6 swallow 40+ goldfinch 2 greenfinch 2 juv blue tit 15+ meadow pipit 6 swift 2 robin 6 blackbird 1 song thrush 2 linnet over 1 very ragged male kestrel with a "forked" tail hunting from Wild Bank to Hobson Moor
Walk up to the Rifle Ranges and back, shortened due to torrential rain just as we got to the gorse. Moor above 800ft enshrouded in cloud, visibility poor.
6 swallow 1 m stonechat flock of at least 40 goldfinch, mainly juveniles, feeding on thistles 4 linnet 4 greenfinch 2 robin 1 sparrowhawk, from the country park, flying slowly over to Harridge Woods, up the valley and over the top 2 whitethroat 3 willow warbler 3 blue tit 10+ meadow pipits
Walking quickly past the scene of increasing devastation at the top of Brushes Road. Trees flattened already in an area of approx 100m square, and continuing apace. When the builders finish there is an eerie silence where last week the air was filled with the sounds of warblers, finches, and thrush. On Monday evening, one bewildered robin calling was the only sound.
In the lone hawthorn tree opposite the building site - 2 very agitated pairs of jay, flying from the tree, towards the site, and back, presumably flushed from their roosts. Not seen jay out in the open since spring - in the summer they seem to confine themselves to the shelter of the trees.
But moving quickly onto the sightings in the walk up to and around the Ranges:
1 pair of stonechat 1 male reed bunting 7 linnet, including young family of 4 whitethroat 10+ willow warblers, including young 10+ blackbird, including young 20+ goldfinch, including young 20+ swallow, including young 7 black-headed gulls at Flaxfield Farm 1 greenfinch 1 mistle thrush 3 dunnock 20+ meadow pipit 1 grey heron flying from country park to the canal at Micklehurst 2 blue tit
plus the usual magpies, jackdaw, carrion crow, woodpigeon
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 25th of July 2013 12:49:21 PM
Not exactly a bird sighting, but sad to report that the builders seem to have finally arrived on the land at the top of Brushes Road, opposite the last of the houses. Men in white shirts and smart shoes spilling out of over-sized cars and plodding through the long grass this morning. All the trees up to Brushes Rangers football pitch are to be levelled, trees that this year have produced fledged willow warbler and whitethroat, among others, and provide regular sightings of great spotted woodpeckers. Also one of the largest colonies of six-spot burnet moths I have ever seen.
Apparently the large field to the east of the rough track is next on the list, currently home to a pair of reed bunting.
1 female reed bunting 1 pair stonechat 8 linnet, including young 15+ goldfinch, including young 1 greenfinch 4 dunnock 20+ swallow - a lot of juveniles seem to have taken to the air this week 2 house martin 1 blue tit 3 great tit 30+ meadow pipit
Most striking feature this morning was the absence of whitethroat
Grey heron flew over Huddersfield Road towards Brushes 1 pair stonechat 1 juv stonechat, independent 1 m reed bunting 10+ linnet, including young, very active 15+ goldfinch, including young, many feeding on thistles in marsh grass 8 whitethroat, including young 2 greenfinch 2 robin 6 dunnock 10 swallows 2 house martin 10+ swift 4 willow warbler chiffchaff singing in country park 1 lapwing over from Hobson Moor towards Heyrod 30+ meadow pipit
1 kestrel hunting over Harridge 1 m whitethroat chaffinch singing in country park 3 willow warbler 6 song thrush 4 swallow 6 swift 1 greenfinch 2 dunnock 20+ meadow pipit
In the gorse
1 pair stonechat 1 f lesser redpoll, plus at least 2 others heard. Never seen them here before - but plenty of birch trees now in the gorse, following the moorland fires of 2006. 2 dunnock 1 whitethroat 6 meadow pipit linnet over 2 swallow
<blockquote><b>Bill Beckwith wrote:</b><hr>
<p style="font-style: italics">Sorry for my ignorance but where are the Brushes rifle ranges?Are they near the top path you get on after a scramble from the woods the other side of Walkerwood reservoir,leading to Mottram Old Road?</p>
<hr></blockquote><p></p>
I think you've got it Bill...
If you go up Brushes Road towards the reservoir, take any of the footpaths on your right heading towards Mottram Old Road. The rifle ranges are at the back of Copley leading up to the moor edge. Always an interesting area - except when you have been asked to survey the area for Nightjars and you know that they were last seen there over 50 years ago!
1 female reed bunting - male heard but not seen
1 pair stonechat - they seemed to be watching me rather than other way round, following me along path. Very vocal.
male linnet in gorse, only 3 youngsters spotted today, but vegetation dense
2 other m linnet
4 whitethroat
6 willow warbler, including fledglings in bushes on land about to be built upon, opposite houses at top of Brushes Road
15+ goldfinch, flocking around thistle heads, a lot of youngsters
2 greenfinch
2 robin
30+ meadow pipit
10+ swallow
10+ swift
4 house martins
young blue tit and great tit
4 dunnock
10+ blackbirds
chiffchaff singing in country park
plus usual common sightings
Didn't linger long today, so less numbers spotted than usual. Too hot for the dogs.
Sorry for my ignorance but where are the Brushes rifle ranges?Are they near the top path you get on after a scramble from the woods the other side of Walkerwood reservoir,leading to Mottram Old Road?