Brushes Valley, past Higher Swineshaw, and an hour around the moor above Irontongue Hill.
5 male Wheatear arrived at Higher Swineshaw dam late morning c 50 Meadow Pipits displaying everywhere, particularly around the top of the moor 2 Snipe flying together around the moor at Boar Flat were a nice sight 1 Buzzard over the moor between Irontongue Hill and Hoarstone Edge 1 pair of Reed Bunting, on territory by Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. More males singing. 3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir Chiffchaff singing at Walkerwood Dam 1 pair of Grey Wagtails in Walkerwood overflow
1 drake Wigeon on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Possibly accompanied by a female, but too distant, and the water too choppy to be sure. 1 redhead Goosander 12 Mallard 3 pairs of Canada Geese displaying 1 pair of Stonechat 1 Buzzard over Swineshaw Moor 2 Curlew over Boar Flat
Dry, bright conditions, but a wander around the moor was aborted due to the biting wind rendering it difficult to stand upright.
3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redheads) on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 12 Meadow Pipits 3 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut 1 male Kestrel at Lower Swineshaw 1 Buzzard over Hollingworthall Moor 4 Curlew, in the air together, over Lower Swineshaw 1 Chiffchaff singing near Brushes Cottages
4 Curlew flying around the top two reservoirs 3 Goosander (1 male, 2 redhead) on Higher Swineshaw 9 Mallard 6 Canada Geese Several Meadow Pipits displaying in driving sleet
1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 12+ Reed Bunting, with a couple of males singing on territory. Still a lot of small flocks flying around the moor, though. 1 pair of Stonechat Curlew displaying over Boar Flat, and above Lower Swineshaw. Fantastic to see and hear. 15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying 20+ Red Grouse, the gamekeeper doing a good job on the moor. 1 Lesser Redpoll over Turf Pits Several Skylark singing around Lees Hill, and a single at Turf Pits
Lower down
1 Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming 1 pair of Grey Wagtails in the overflow at Walkerwood
The length of the valley, including one of my infrequent forays into the wet woodland SBI below Walkerwood Dam.
1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Lower Swineshaw
1 Curlew calling, being harassed by two Carrion Crows 1 pair of Kestrel 10 Reed Bunting 5 Lesser Redpoll A flock of 100+ Jackdaws and c 40 Carrion Crows around Pack Saddle 1 Meadow Pipit
In the valley bottom
1 Chiffchaff singing near Millbrook Dam 2 Goldcrest 1 female Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 pair of Coal Tits
From Walkerwood Dam, up to Wild Bank Hill, past the trig point, and onto Hollingworth Hall Moor, in bright conditions, in contrast to the murk enveloping Manchester to the west.
A full tour of Wild Bank, with three species in mind, and satisfyingly, all seen.
1 pair of Little Owls 1 pair of Stonechat At least 8 Lapwing, some displaying, in fields to the north of Moorside Farm. 15+ Meadow Pipits, some displaying 6 singing Skylark 4 Lesser Redpoll 1 Coal Tit on the moor 5 Dunnock singing around the rifle ranges
3 Curlew in the same area as Roger had them last night Pair of Goosander on Lower Swineshaw Reservoir Reed Bunting starting to sing Several Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut
A couple of visits to Brushes Valley, early morning and mid-afternoon.
Around Lower Swineshaw scout hut
3 Lesser Redpoll, my first of the year higher up the valley. 2 Chaffinch singing 3 Goldfinch 4 Reed Bunting, all female, with three together 1 pair of Stonechat
1 pair of Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 1 Kestrel over Harridge 1 Buzzard over Swineshaw Moor 21 Carrion Crows around Pack Saddle. Ominous for the arriving Curlew. Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages 1 Lesser Redpoll calling around Walkerwood Dam 1 Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow
1 Curlew flying around the reservoir, then landed in the fields above Lower Swineshaw Reservoir. My first of the year in the valley, following Roger and Paul's sighting over the hill on Wednesday. 2 Greylag Geese landing at the far end of the reservoir was a surprise. Immediately confronted by the local Canada Geese. 8 singing Skylark around the SK0099 Boar Flat recording area. 1 pair of Stonechat Several Reed Bunting calling, not singing yet. Plenty of Lapwing displaying on the far side of Ogden Brook, in Derbyshire. None on the GM side. 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard
Ravens tumbling over both ends of the valley on Thursday morning Woodcock still coming out of the woods at dusk Been doing a systematic count of singing Mistle Thrush at dawn throughout the week. Nine around Walkerwood Reservoir, and a further four as far as Lower Swineshaw scout hut. Only the country park to do, if anyone wants to take over? Single Willow Tit at Walkerwood
6 Skylark around Higher Swineshaw and Lees Hill, a couple singing. My first of the year up here, signalling the end of winter. 2 Stonechat, the male way down the clough at Higher Bank - took some finding. The female was moving along the fencing around Lees Hill. 7 Reed Bunting 1 Lesser Redpoll over Boar Flat, from the direction of Chew, down the valley. 1 Raven cronking around Lees Hill and Higher Swineshaw 1 Grey Wagtail in Higher Swineshaw overflow. 10 Mallard on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 Woodcock flew from Millbrook, into the woods above the gamekeeper's cottage, at 6.50 4 Siskin flew down the valley, and into the country park, my first here this winter Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush singing 15 Redwing flew over from Harridge, into the trees by the reservoir 2 Moorhen 13 Canada Geese
Same area, mid-morning, yesterday
1 Willow Tit 6 Chaffinch, in full song, along the reservoir edge 1 Raven 1 Buzzard
1 Woodcock flew back from the fields around Cote Farm, over the reservoir, and into Cock Wood, at 7am 3 Song Thrush singing around the dam 2 Mistle Thrush singing 1 Tawny Owl calling from Cock Wood. There have been a pair hooting and calling from this area, before dawn, for the past couple of weeks. 14 Canada Geese on the reservoir Moorhen calling
From Walkerwood Dam, up past the rifle ranges, then up onto Wild Bank Moor, as far as Shaw Farm, on a beautiful, frosty morning.
Wild Bank Hill - always quiet at this time of year, but an unbeatable view in these conditions.
One pair of Stonechat had moved down from the frozen moor, into the fields below Shaw Farm, accompanied by four Meadow Pipits. 1 Little Owl 5 Red Grouse
Flaxfield
2 Fieldfare picking over the fields at Flaxfield Farm 1 Mistle Thrush 2 Bullfinch
Walkerwood
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the reservoir, being hassled by six Black-headed Gulls 1 Moorhen in the overflow 1 Jay
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw and Lees Hill.
2 pairs of Stonechat, one feeding around the Higher Bank side of Lees Hill. The other pair were feeding in the more usual area of Higher Swineshaw dam. 1 Kestrel over Pack Saddle, another on a wire by Walkerwood Reservoir 1 Buzzard over Swallows Wood / Arnfield area 1 Pied Wagtail followed me almost into the newsagents on Brushes Road
From Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, and onto the moor at Turf Pits.
1 Common Snipe on the moor at Turf Pits 2 Ravens over Irontongue Hill 10+ Reed Bunting, including six mobbing the Ravens 1 Pied Wagtail at Walkerwood 1 Grey Wagtail at Walkerwood 1 Willow Tit on the feeder Several Bullfinch Several noisy Jays, both in the woods on Harridge, and around Walkerwood A little singing going on this morning, Great Tits, Mistle Thrush, and Blackbirds, giving the place a lift.
Walkerwood to Lower Swineshaw, before giving up due to heavy snow flurries rendering everything wet
1 Kestrel over the scout hut A few Reed Bunting calling at Lower Swineshaw 1 Willow Tit on the feeder at Walkerwood Several Bullfinch on the feeder, plus the usuals 1 Cormorant fishing at Walkerwood, presumably without a permit. That should please Carrbrook Angling Club, who have just leased angling rights from UU.
1 pair of Stonechat, the second year running that a pair have overwintered at this site. There is also a pair around Higher Swineshaw and Lees Hill. 7 Meadow Pipits, moving together around the moor, plus one calling around the rifle ranges 2 Fieldfare feeding in the fields A flock of 6 Bullfinch in the scrub behind Range House
Flaxfield Farm
12 Fieldfare feeding in the fields 2 Mistle Thrush
3 Tawny Owls - a pair calling and hooting at the Walkerwood Dam side of Cock Wood, and another flew from a telegraph pole on my way back along Brushes Road, and into the country park.
An hour spent wandering around the Swineshaws on a beautiful winter's morning.
The main point of interest was a mixed group flying around the heather and dead bracken in the clough to the west of Higher Swineshaw dam, consisting of: One pair of Stonechat 8+ Reed Bunting 6 Dunnock, one doing a bit of singing And a Wren attempting to move them all on! A Raven was cronking at Higher Swineshaw, but not seen Another 8+ Reed Bunting were around the scout hut, and several Dunnock
Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, and around Lees Hill, in shifting, freezing fog. Clear one minute, pea soup the next.
1 pair of Stonechat at Lees Hill 1 Buzzard flushed out of the bracken Several Reed Bunting calling - none seen today Plenty of Red Grouse flying around A skein of Pink-footed Geese flew east over Lees Hill at 9.00am, invisible due to the fog. 1 Willow Tit at Walkerwood Several groups of Jays flying around the woods on the way up the valley
A desperately quiet walk, from Walkerwood Dam, the length of Brushes Valley, in good conditions, apart from mist at the top end.
The only thing of any real note was a flock of approximately 30 Fieldfare feeding in the fields and on berries above Walkerwood Dam, the first sizeable number I've seen on the ground this autumn. c 6 Redwing The usual noisy Mistle Thrush Kestrel on a telegraph pole on Brushes Road, flew off towards the ranges
Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, in good conditions
Good numbers of Reed Bunting higher up the valley. About 10, in ones and twos around the scout hut, and along the path up to Higher Swineshaw dam. There was also a mobile flock of about 30 flying around the bushes on the far side of Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, with around 10 noisy Bullfinch with them. A single Meadow Pipit calling from the rough grass at the scout hut c 10 Dunnock, most calling from the moor, with 4 moving through the trees at the scout hut together Male Sparrowhawk on a fence post near Higher Swineshaw dam 2 Mistle Thrush at the scout hut, one singing
Around the Walkerwood feeder
The usual Willow Tit, calling loudly as I filled the feeder 6+ Bullfinch, including one singing Several Chaffinch 6+ Jays 10+ Long-tailed Tits
From Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, then up onto the moor at Turf Pits. The weather steadily worsened, then closed in, with driving drizzle forcing me off the moor, as everything was either soaked, or fogged up. Mild for the time of year, though
The highlight was 4 Whooper Swans on Walkerwood Reservoir at first light. Three adults and a first winter bird. They had left by the time I came back down after 10.00am. 2 Moorhen on the reservoir, also 1 Willow Tit on the Walkerwood feeder Several Lesser Redpoll also heard around Walkerwood, my first for a while Pair of Stonechat at Higher Swineshaw Couple of Reed Bunting calling from the moor
1 pair of Stonechat, the first sighting here of a pair together for a month. It also means that I have recorded this species at this site, at an altitude of 300m, in every month of 2016. 1 Dipper in the overflow 2 Ravens 1 Buzzard Several Reed Bunting Dunnock and Wren calling from the bracken Several Jays on the way up the valley
Walkerwood
c 10 Redwing 1 Song Thrush 1 Mistle Thrush 10+ Blackbirds
A pair of Tawny Owls have been calling from Cock Wood this week, before dawn.
I also had very good views of a Woodcock flying back to roost at 7.25. It flew from the direction of the ranges, over Walkerwood Dam, then did a couple of circuits of the treetops, before dropping into the brambley undergrowth in the field in front of me.
2 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Raven A few Reed Bunting calling 20+ Red Grouse
Walkerwood area
30 Redwing 1 Fieldfare 1 Mistle Thrush having a "rattle off" with the Fieldfare 10+ Blackbirds 1 Willow Tit Other usual Tit species Several Bullfinch Several Chaffinch 15 Goldfinch 1 Moorhen in the overflow 41 Canada Geese on the reservoir 1 Nuthatch around Brushes Cottages
Redwing always seem to be the first birds calling overhead before it gets light, but this morning sounded like a steady movement of large numbers down the Valley 2 Tawny Owls calling; one from the area of the gamekeeper's cottage, the other from the Cock Wood side of Walkerwood Reservoir. 1 Woodcock flying over Walkerwood Dam from the direction of the fields below Range House, towards the woods on Harridge. Is it just me, or is this a good autumn for this species locally? Usually I have one or two fleeting glimpses each winter, but I'm seeing them almost every time I'm out at dawn or dusk, with good views of them flying around.
4 Woodcock, my highest count of the Autumn, around Lower Swineshaw scout hut.
One flew out of the small wood at the scout hut, across the moor. The other three came up from the woods lower down, and flew towards the fields on the opposite side of the valley.
1 Woodcock flying back to roost 1 Tawny Owl calling from Brushes Cottages at 7.15. One called at the same time yesterday from Cock Wood, the first I have heard for a while. 38 Canada Geese on the reservoir.
2 Woodcock flew up from the direction of Harridge Woods, over the moor by the scout hut. They appeared to be interacting with each other, flying around and squeaking, before flying off and over Lower Swineshaw Reservoir . I am not an expert on this species, so I have no idea what that signifies?
Earlier today there was a flock of around 50 Redwing moving south through Walkerwood, and another dozen or so in the hawthorns. The only other notable sighting was a solitary Reed Bunting high up in the heather on Irontongue Hill.
3 Stonechat. One pair were on the fencing, in the sunshine, on the Higher Bank side of Lees Hill, an unusual sighting for this area. The other was a now solitary female in the more usual area of Higher Swineshaw. The male seems to have disappeared of late. Overwintering birds of this species seem to do so as a pair. It will be interesting to see whether this female hangs on up here if the male has gone. c 30 Reed Bunting. Ones and twos around Higher Swineshaw and Lees Hill, with a flock of c 20 in the trees around the scout hut. 1 Buzzard at Higher Swineshaw
Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw. Very windy at the top, keeping everything down.
1 Willow Tit at Walkerwood 1 Nuthatch at Brushes Cottages c 20 Long-tailed Tits 39 Canada Geese on Walkerwood Reservoir c 30 Redwing around the scout hut 35 Black-headed Gulls and c 50 Starlings in the fields at Flaxfield
4.50pm
1 Woodcock flew up from the woods, over the scout hut, and Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, landing in the fields above the reservoir.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 24th of November 2016 10:03:20 PM
4 Whooper Swans flew in and circled Walkerwood reservoir several times at 16.00 hrs ... I thought they were going to land at the top end but they rose at the last minute and carried on up the valley.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Walkerwood Dam to Higher Swineshaw, with the areas above Lower Swineshaw covered 'neath a blanket of snow.
Higher Swineshaw
1 Common Snipe in the overflow 16 Reed Bunting. Very visible today, due to the snow cover, perched on fences, and the few trees remaining on the moor 2 Stonechat 15 Red Grouse 2 Goldfinch
Walkerwood area
6+ Jays 2 Redwing 1 Song Thrush 10+ Blackbirds 1 Willow Tit Bullfinch and Chaffinch on the feeder
A quick look at the fields at Flaxfield
14 Redwing 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush Several Blackbirds
2 Woodcock flying back from the direction of Cote Farm, into the trees Tawny Owl calling from the area of the gamekeeper's cottage A lot of Redwing calling overhead, with a couple on the dam when it eventually became light
Dipper singing in the overflow of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir Male and female Stonechat, feeding in separate areas today 12+ Reed Bunting 6 Dunnock in the bracken with the Reed Bunting 6+ Wrens, including a couple singing 2 Meadow Pipits 2 Ravens
Walkerwood Dam
38 Canada Geese 16 Mallard 1 drake Mandarin 1 Moorhen 1 Cormorant 1 Willow Tit on the feeder 10+ Jays