Thursday 11th August 2016, 10.30 - 11.45am

Higher Swineshaw, in poor conditions

1 juvenile Dipper feeding in the overflow
2 juvenile Grey Wagtails
1 pair of Stonechat plus juveniles
1 Linnet
1 Raven cronking through the gloom
Mallard with 4 well grown young
Many Meadow Pipits
Willow Warblers singing
1 adult and 1 juvenile Pied Wagtail on Lower Swineshaw dam

Earlier this week on Wild Bank Hill

Pair of Stonechat
1 Peregrine
1 Kestrel
Several Lesser Redpoll
5 Red Grouse, female plus youngsters
Little Owl

Friday 5th August 2016, 6.30 - 7.15am

Walkerwood Dam

1 juvenile Cormorant
1 juvenile Moorhen
1 juvenile Kestrel
Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers singing, and a lot of Willow Warblers calling around the valley this week
Several Lesser Redpoll
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Pied Wagtail
Family groups of Jays

Good views of a juvenile Tawny Owl after dark last night, hunger calling in the woods by Brushes Reservoir

Thursday 28th July 2016, 7.30 - 10.30am

Around Higher Swineshaw and Irontongue Hill

The main point of interest was the sight and sound of 2 immature Dippers together in Higher Swineshaw overflow. I had an adult for the first time ever on a couple of occasions in spring, but nothing during the breeding season, and these will be dispersal birds.
3 juvenile Grey Wagtails
12+ Willow Warblers, including groups of juveniles chasing around the bracken. One male singing.
A few Swift moving down the valley
Plenty of food carrying Meadow Pipits
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrels
Several Reed Bunting
3 Linnet
Several Lesser Redpoll - there have been a few juveniles calling from the bracken over the past couple of weeks. The birds breed lower down the valley, at Lower Swineshaw.
2 Goldfinch feeding on thistles
Good numbers of juvenile Wren and Dunnock on the moor
A flock of c 40 Woodpigeon high overhead, flying south

Lower down:

1 Kestrel over Harridge
c 10 House Martins quickly through Walkerwood
2 Swallows feeding 4 youngsters at Walkerwood Dam
1 juvenile Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow

Friday 22nd July 2016, 9.30 - 11.00pm.

2 Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir at dusk. After dark, one bird flew noisily down the valley, and seemed to alight around the area of Lower Swineshaw dam.

Juvenile Tawny Owl hunger calling from around the scout hut

A few sightings from the past few days

Wild Bank Hill

Good numbers of Linnet. At least 6 singing males
Male Whitethroat in a usual territory high up on the moor
9 juvenile Mistle Thrush feeding together
Male Stonechat
Lesser Redpoll in birch growth at both sides of the moor
Family of Swallows around Flaxfield

Higher Swineshaw

2 Common Sandpiper still on the reservoir this evening
Plenty of Linnet, Reed Bunting, and Dunnock singing
1 Buzzard
Couple of Chiffchaff singing in the valley
A few family groups of Jays, one parent feeding youngsters bilberries at Walkerwood
2 Blackcap singing at Walkerwood

Sunday 10th July 2016, 10.30am - 12.00pm

Higher Swineshaw, towards Turf Pits

3 Buzzards together
1 Kestrel flew up from the moor and saw off one of the Buzzards
3 juvenile Pied Wagtails
1 immature male Stonechat
Several Linnet around, a couple of singing males
Several Reed Bunting singing, one male seen carrying food to a nest site
Several Blackbirds flying around with food
Juvenile Red Grouse skulking in the bracken

Several Swallows around Walkerwood
23 Canada Geese have been on Walkerwood Reservoir for a fortnight
1 pair of Canada Geese with five well grown young on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

A few sightings from several visits to the top of the valley over the past few days

Common Sandpiper still on the top two reservoirs; two on Lower Swineshaw on Tuesday evening, and two at Higher Swineshaw this afternoon. They will be gone in the next week or so, signalling the beginning of the end of summer in the valley, at the end of a great breeding season, with breeding confirmed on all four reservoirs.
1 adult Pied Wagtail with 3 juveniles at Higher Swineshaw
Decent numbers of Swift over the moors and reservoirs
Family parties of Linnet, plus singing males around Higher and Lower Swineshaw
8 singing Reed Bunting this afternoon at Higher Swineshaw, plus a couple at Lower Swineshaw
Buzzard over Boar Flat
Couple of juvenile Stonechat
Good numbers of Meadow Pipits throughout the area, a mix of birds carrying food, displaying, and juveniles. Counted 35 on Higher Swineshaw dam wall alone on Wednesday morning.

Tuesday 28th June 2016, 10.00 - 11.00pm

Brushes Valley

3 male Tawny Owls, plus a couple of juveniles chasing around

Saturday 25th June 2016, 7.30 - 11.00am

From Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, and Irontongue Hill

1 Red Kite drifted north over Boar Flat and Swineshaw Moor at 9.00am
1 Buzzard
10 Common Sandpiper
Lesser Redpoll adult and youngsters at Brushes Cottages
10+ Reed Bunting, plenty of singing males, and one male with 3 fledglings
6+ Linnet, including a pair taking food into a nest site
Several Skylark singing over Boar Flat
Pied Wagtail at Higher Swineshaw

Thursday 2nd June 2016, 9.30 - 11.30am

Walkerwood Dam and a pleasant wander around the country park

7 singing Blackcap
4 Willow Warblers, one collecting flies
4 Chiffchaff
5 Chaffinch
2 Goldfinch
1 Pied Wagtail
2 male Great Spotted Woodpeckers, at either side of the country park
10+ Long-tailed Tits, including a family group
1 Peregrine over
Several Swift, Swallows, and House Martins feeding

Tuesday 24th May 2016, evening up to 10.30pm

The length and breadth of Brushes Valley. Very windy again on the tops.

Female Sparrowhawk spooking the blackbirds on Harridge
Pair of Linnet at Higher Swineshaw
Cuckoo singing from Harridge Woods at dusk
4 Tawny Owls hooting on both sides of Brushes Reservoir after dark, plus a female being chased through the woods by noisy Blackbirds
Common Sandpiper at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Skylark calling on Pack Saddle
Juvenile Song Thrush trying and failing to smash open a banded snail on the tarmac

Thursday 19th May 2016, 10.30 - 11.45am

Walkerwood Dam, and a leisurely wander around the rifle ranges, on a warm morning.

The highlight for me was watching a newly fledged Grey Wagtail being fed flies by the male parent
3 Whitethroat singing
2 Blackcap singing
Lesser Redpoll
Linnet
Willow Warblers
Chiffchaff
Couple of Jay

Thursday 12th May 2016, 10.00am - 12.15pm

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, still an incredibly strong wind from the north east, keeping everything down.

An Osprey flew straight through over Higher Swineshaw at 11.30, more or less due north.
6+ Reed Bunting, including an agitated pair around a nest site
Pair of Common Sandpiper flying around Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Curlew calling from Swineshaw Moor
My first Whitethroat of the year, singing in Brushes Valley
Several Blackcap singing
10+ Lesser Redpoll
1 Swallow battling against the wind at Higher Swineshaw

David Walsh wrote:

---

Andy Bissitt wrote:

---

 

David Walsh wrote:

---

Saturday 7th May 2016, 6.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood Dam to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and Lees Hill

A promising morning was somewhat spoiled by a cold, strong north-easterly wind, making it difficult to stand still at the top of the valley, and keeping things quiet

David,

Not sure you've got a compass with you!! The wind has been a south-easterly for over 50% of the day so far (only 11% from the north-east). Source Buxton Weather Live. It is a bit too breezy for birding though.

 

 

---

 

---

 

Andy,

When I'm in Brushes Valley, I don't need a compass. Whatever the national wind direction (and before I set out, I checked the BBC weather, which gave the wind as from due east), the wind was howling from Swineshaw Moor, straight across Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. I know because I had to shelter behind the dam wall at one point. Good job I checked the forecast, otherwise I'd have left the bob hat and gloves at home!!

I was out for five hours, so in Brushes Valley, the wind must have been in the north-east for at least 20.83% of the day, by my reckoning

---

David,

Local conditions can dictate on days like this, I realise. The wind was probably from the NE for a time, but it would have struggled to reach 21 - 22 degrees or more (as it did) if it had blown from that direction for most of the time. Let's just hope something good blows in overnight, from wherever it might be.

 

Andy

 

David Walsh wrote:

---

Saturday 7th May 2016, 6.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood Dam to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir and Lees Hill

A promising morning was somewhat spoiled by a cold, strong north-easterly wind, making it difficult to stand still at the top of the valley, and keeping things quiet

David,

Not sure you've got a compass with you!! The wind has been a south-easterly for over 50% of the day so far (only 11% from the north-east). Source Buxton Weather Live. It is a bit too breezy for birding though.

 

 

---

 

Thursday 5th May 2016, 9.00 - 11.00am

The plan for the morning was to have a good rummage around Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, but heavy earth moving equipment was constantly trundling up and down the valley. I opted instead to linger in the woods at the north east corner of Walkerwood Reservoir, an area I usually walk quickly past, and was rewarded with some gems. Nothing unusual, just nature at work, in warm sunshine.

1 newly fledged Song Thrush, with an agitated parent in tow
6+ Song Thrush in total
3 Treecreepers, including a pair together, both carrying food
12+ Blackbirds
12+ Robins
8+ Mistle Thrush
Some individuals of all of the above species seen carrying food
3 singing Blackcap, with two males sparring
Many Willow Warblers performing a wing-shivering display, and one collecting nest material
3 Chiffchaff singing
12+ Chaffinch
7 Goldfinch
4 Greenfinch, 2 singing
6+ Lesser Redpoll
6+ Bullfinch
Male and female Buzzard over Harridge
A female Sparrowhawk caught and ate a Mistle Thrush low down on Harridge
A single Swallow around the gamekeeper's cottage
Common Sandpiper on Brushes and Walkerwood Reservoirs

Monday 2nd May 2016, 9.00 - 11.00am

Walkerwood area, up to Brushes Cottages

Cuckoo singing strongly from Cock Wood
Pair of Common Sandpiper
Male Kestrel over Harridge
Blue Tits carrying moss into two nest boxes
2 male Blackcap singing around Walkerwood overflow

Saturday 30th April 2016, 6.30 - 11.00am

Walkerwood Dam to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir

1 pair of Treecreepers at Brushes Cottages
20+ singing Willow Warblers up to the scout hut
3 Chiffchaff
4 Lesser Redpoll

Around the Swineshaws

6 Common Sandpipers in very close proximity at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, with a lot of vocal chasing going on. My highest count of adults at this site.
6 Linnet, with 5 singing males looking resplendent against the snowy backdrop
c 20 Swallows feeding over Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
3 Curlew
3 Reed Bunting
1 Stonechat



-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 30th of April 2016 02:41:03 PM

Tuesday 26th April 2016, 7.30pm until dusk.

A wander through the Country Park, and up to Brushes Reservoir

4 Blackcap, 2 singing males, and a pair displaying
3 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warblers
2 Chaffinch
1 Song Thrush

Walkerwood area

6 Song Thrush, including two pairs carrying food
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
2 Moorhen
Pairs of Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood and Brushes Reservoirs

4 male Tawny Owls calling in Brushes Valley

Thursday 21st April 2016, 8.00 - 11.00am

From Walkerwood Dam, up onto Wild Bank Hill, in glorious sunshine.

Highlight for me was the very early fledging in the area, of a family of Stonechat. I have watched the pair throughout the winters I, and was hopeful of an early brood, given the generally mild conditions. I was rewarded this morning with the sight of both parents carrying food to the fledglings. Mornings like this make up for all the cold and miserable blanks throughout the winter months. For me, breeding birds are what it's all about.

Other sightings:

5 Wheatear, including one singing
3 Lapwing (2 next to Hollingworthall Moor)
2 singing Linnet
2 Lesser Redpoll
13 singing Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff singing
4 Skylark singing
20+ Meadow Pipits
4 Red Grouse
1 Mistle Thrush
2 Dunnock

Also, a family of 1 adult and 3 newly fledged Jays at Walkerwood. My attention was first drawn by a "clacking" sound, which was being made by the youngsters' beaks, as they begged for food. I've not witnessed this before. Probably never paid enough attention.

Monday 18th April 2016, 6.45 - 7.30am

Walkerwood Reservoir

2 Common Sandpiper
1 Cormorant
1 drake Gadwall
12 Mallard
1 pair of Grey Wagtails
1 pair of Pied Wagtails
1 pair of Moorhen
Several Jays moving noisily around

Saturday 16th April 2016, 6.45 - 11.30am

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, with an hour and a half around at Middle Bank

1 Common Sandpiper at Walkerwood, my first of the year, and a day later than last year
8 Reed Bunting, mainly around Higher Swineshaw. A couple of males singing, and a pair
8 Wheatear, mainly males, including a group of six feeding together on Higher Swineshaw dam banking
1 Linnet singing at Higher Swineshaw
2 Curlew at Higher Swineshaw, more over Pack Saddle
1 Peregrine over Higher Swineshaw
20+ Meadow Pipits
Skylark singing over Boar Flat

Thursday 14th April 2015, 7.30 - 11.00am, either side of an hour at Middle Bank

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw

21 Willow Warblers singing
4 Chiffchaff singing
3 Lesser Redpoll
10+ Chaffinch singing, plus three young birds chasing around after a male. Seems extremely early for breeding Chaffinch?
2 Coal Tits
2 Reed Bunting at Higher Swineshaw

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 15th of April 2016 10:54:55 AM

Saturday 9th April 2016, 7.30 - 11.30am

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw and around Lees Hill

6 Linnet above Lower Swineshaw, 2 males singing, first for me here this year. Good to hear.
4+ Curlew calling above Lower Swineshaw
c 6 Willow Warblers singing along the valley, including at Higher Swineshaw
Several Chiffchaff singing
6 Lesser Redpoll, at Brushes Cottages and the scout hut
1 pair of Stonechat at Higher Swineshaw
1 Coot on Walkerwood Reservoir. The first I have ever seen here.
Raven over Lees Hill