Stalybridge country park- Brushes

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

RE: Stalybridge country park- Brushes

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Chris Harper wrote:

Larsson trap with Crow inside. Are these allowed?

I queried this cage, Chris, and apparently, because of its size, it is classed as an aviary. It was locked last week, to prevent any crows entering. The crow has been there for several weeks, and this area is seldom visited by the public (how did you find it.) wink

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw and over top to Millbrook and via Pennine Bridleway back to Walkerwood 08.20-11.00

Similar to David. Cuckoo calling amidst gunshots above gamekeepers cottage, 2 Blackcap, 14 Willow Warbler with some carrying nesting material, 2 Chiffchaff, Common Whitethroat displaying, 5 Red Grouse, 1+ Curlew, Swallow, Stonechat, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Kestrel, Common Buzzard, 12 Meadow Pipit, 5 Lapwing.

Larsson trap with Crow inside. Are these allowed? Image attached

Cuckoo still there on return at 11.

-- Edited by Chris Harper on Monday 6th of May 2019 09:10:51 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 6th May 2019, 9.30 - 11.30am

From Walkerwood Dam, to Flaxfield, then a wander around the Rifle Ranges.

6 singing Whitethroat, my best count for a number of years, at Walkerwood, Range House, and Flaxfield
1 Garden Warbler
1 Reed Bunting singing by Brushes Road
3 newly fledged Grey Wagtails were with the male parent at Walkerwood
Pair of Common Sandpiper at Walkerwood
Cuckoo singing above the gamekeepers cottage, where its been all week

Over the last few days.

Many pairs of Long-tailed Tits carrying food into nest sites throughout the area
Blackbirds, Song and Mistle Thrush doing likewise
Two pairs of Stonechat, at Harridge Moor, and Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Several pairs of Linnet around Higher Swineshaw
Grey Wagtail singing at Higher Swineshaw. It had me going for a minute; it isnt a species I hear singing often.
2 pairs of Common Sandpiper at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Whitethroat singing at Lower Swineshaw
9 singing Blackcap in Brushes Valley, between Walkerwood and Lower Swineshaw Scout Hut

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 2nd May 2019, 8.30 - 11.30am.

Walkerwood to Higher Swineshaw, then back across Harridge Moor, in poor conditions. Cold, windy, and wet.

5 Curlew up at a pair of Raven; 3 over Swineshaw Moor, and 2 over Lees Hill and Pack Saddle
2 Raven
3 Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
21 singing Willow Warblers
3 singing Blackcap in Brushes SBI
3 singing Chiffchaff in the same area
Pair of Nuthatch in and out of one of our boxes in Brushes Valley
Cuckoo singing above the gamekeepers cottage
Pair of Chaffinch seen mating
1 male Stonechat
Plenty of Red Grouse
Linnet singing at Lower Swineshaw Reservoir

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 1st May 2019, 6.15 - 7.20am.

Stalybridge Country Park.

8 Blackcap. 6 singing males. One, with a female, was actually singing whilst carrying a beak full of nesting material. Also one skulking male alarm calling.
6 singing Chiffchaff
6 singing Willow Warblers
1 Nuthatch
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Family party of Dunnock

1 Whitethroat singing at the southern end of Walkerwood Dam, for the third day running.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 30th April 2019, evening.

The highlight was a Hobby hawking insects over Harridge Moor.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 29th April 2019, evening.

My first Cuckoo of the year, singing in the woods on the Harridge side of the valley.

One pair of Stonechat, high up on Harridge Moor, the male doing a spot of singing.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 24th April 2019, 6.15 - 7.30am.

Stalybridge Country Park. Very windy.

All Warblers are singing males.

10 Willow Warblers
7 Chiffchaff
3 Blackcap
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
1 singing Song Thrush

Tuesday evening.

Walkerwood Reservoir.

1 pair of Common Sandpiper
1 drake Mandarin

Brushes Reservoir.

1 pair of Common Sandpiper

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 22nd April 2019.

A singing Whitethroat in the country park, my first of the year, heard on my way back down Brushes Road, was the highlight of a quiet morning, bird-wise.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 20th April 2019, 6.30 - 10.30am.

From Walkerwood Dam, up past the Rifle Ranges, to Wild Bank Hill, Hobson Moor, and back.

2 Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the same area as last night
38 singing Willow Warblers
2 Chiffchaff singing
10 singing Wrens
11 singing Dunnock
4 Wheatear on Wild Bank
4 Lesser Redpoll (at least)
1 pair of Linnet
10+ Skylark
30+ Meadow Pipits
2 Curlew
1 Lapwing calling from the fields to the rear of Shaw Moor Farm

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Friday 19th April 2019, 7.00 - 10.45am.

From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then as far as Irontongue Hill.

5 Common Sandpiper: 1 on Walkerwood, 1 on Lower Swineshaw, and 3 on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
Two pairs of Tufted Duck on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 pair of Pied Wagtail at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, and at Walkerwood
1 Curlew on Boar Flat
1 male Wheatear picking through the dust of Swineshaw Moor
4 Reed Bunting around Higher Swineshaw
31 singing Willow Warblers
4 singing Blackcap
6 singing Chiffchaff
1 Treecreeper
2 Nuthatch
4 Lesser Redpoll around the scout hut
2 Swallows, one around the gamekeepers cottage, the other flying over Higher Swineshaw Reservoir
1 Buzzard over the valley
50+ Meadow Pipits around the top of the site

Evening visit, 7.30 - 9.00pm

2 Common Sandpiper on Walkerwood Reservoir
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from a regular area in the fields between Brushes Road and the rifle ranges

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 17th April 2019, 6.30pm.

1 male Ring Ouzel in the same area as the three this morning, just below the Bridleway above Cote Farm

In the same fields:

3 Mistle Thrush
2 Song Thrush
6 Blackbirds

6+ Lesser Redpoll in the hedgerows

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 17th April 2019, 6.45 - 7.30am.

Walkerwood Dam and Cote Farm.

1 Common Sandpiper back on Walkerwood Reservoir, on a fairly typical arrival date. Usually around the 16th. Suddenly feels like summer.
3 Ring Ouzel in the fields at Cote Farm. All flew off towards Wild Bank at 7.10.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 10th April 2019, 6.30 - 7.15am.

Stalybridge Country Park.

Similar to yesterday, but seems to have been an influx of Blackcaps.

4 Blackcap, 3 singing males, one with a female in tow
5 Chiffchaff
2 Song Thrush
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming
Pair of Coal Tits
Long-tailed Tits
Several Lesser Redpoll
Bullfinch feeding on tree buds
Several noisy Jays

Male Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 9th April 2019, 6.30 - 7.15am

Stalybridge Country Park, in a strong easterly wind.

5 singing Chiffchaff
1 singing Blackcap, my first of the year
2 Nuthatch calling, in separate areas

First Willow Warbler of the year for me yesterday, singing by Walkerwood Dam.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 6th April 2019, 6.30 - 10.45am.

A complete circuit of Brushes Valley, starting and ending at Walkerwood Dam, taking in the rifle ranges, Wild Bank trig point, Hollingworthall Moor, Pack Saddle, Higher Swineshaw, then back down the valley to Walkerwood, in cold, windy conditions for the most part.

The most satisfying sightings were of two returning male Stonechat, at Lower Swineshaw Reservoir, and at Shaw Moor, the latter being a traditional territory which seemed to be abandoned last year.

20+ singing Skylark, mainly on Hollingworthall Moor and Wild Bank
2 male Reed Bunting at Wild Bank, one singing
1 Curlew flew over Wild Bank, and more heard from Hollingworthall Moor, in the direction of Middle Bank
Several Lesser Redpoll around the birch growth on Wild Bank
7 singing Dunnock at Wild Bank
Several Redwing making a racket at Flaxfield
6 Bullfinch at Flaxfield

Otherwise very quiet, not surprisingly, given the conditions.

A pair of Tawny Owls hooting and calling from the trees around the gamekeepers cottage at 8.45pm

-- Edited by David Walsh on Sunday 7th of April 2019 06:18:36 AM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 3rd April 2019, 6.45 - 8.30am.

Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, in cold, murky conditions.

1 Ring Ouzel, another (or maybe the same) male, in the same area as seen by Chris on Monday, in the trees around Lower Swineshaw scout hut.
1 Mistle Thrush, singing, becoming very agitated at the presence of the Ouzel.
2 Jays
Chaffinch singing
Lesser Redpoll over
Chiffchaff singing at the scout hut
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming at Brushes Cottages

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Ring Ouzel at 19.30 this evening by the dam wall at Lower Swineshaw reservoir. Also in the area were 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Kestrel, 2 Red Legged Partridge, Curlew calling, Red Grouse, Tawny Owl, 2 Goosander over.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 28th March 2019, 9.00 - 10.30am.

Harridge Moor.

A pair of Stonechat were the target birds for the morning, at a traditional territory, the male positively glowing in the morning sunshine. My first sighting here since November.
15+ Meadow Pipits, many displaying
A couple of Skylark singing further up the moor
4 Wrens singing
Female Sparrowhawk over

5 Chiffchaff singing along the northern side of Walkerwood Reservoir.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 26th March 2019, 9.15 - 11.30am.

A circular route, up Brushes Valley to Higher Swineshaw Dam, across Turf Pits to Carrbrook, then along the Bridleway back to Brushes Cottages.

Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

9 Goosander (2 males), was my highest ever count here
1 Greylag Goose dropped noisily onto the reservoir, much to the chagrin of the resident Canadas.

Turf Pits, in a strong, cold wind.

2 female Wheatear moving around the bare peat and grouse butts
3 Lapwing visible today

Lower down the valley, Jays were much in evidence, with groups of up to ten birds moving noisily around, in what Bill Myerscough once described to me as spring gatherings.
Anyone interested in this behaviour should read Bills excellent post from 6th April 2012, on the Alkrington Woods and Rhodes Lodge thread. I am still struggling with apostrophes and quotation marks on the iPad, so apologies for any perceived grammatical errors. Everything is in order until I hit SUBMIT POST

-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 26th of March 2019 05:44:19 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 23rd March 2019, 6.30 - 10.00am.

Brushes Valley, then up onto the moor between Higher Swineshaw and Carrbrook. Most of the morning spent around Turf Pits.

Turf Pits.

1 Golden Plover
8 Lapwing, including two sitting
1 female Wheatear, around the Grouse butts. My first of the year.
4 Goosander on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. One drake.
2 singing Reed Bunting
4 Skylark
1 Curlew
1 Buzzard
25+ Red Grouse
30+ Meadow Pipits

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Friday 22nd March 2019.

A Tawny Owl again active around Walkerwood Dam, around 7.00pm, in decent light.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 21st March 2019, 8.30pm.

A Tawny Owl was feeding from a telegraph pole, on Toads making their way to Walkerwood Reservoir.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 21st March 2019, 10.30am - 12.00pm

Stalybridge Country Park.

5 Chiffchaff singing, my first of the year.
20+ Lesser Redpoll, including a mobile flock of 15 birds
10+ Goldfinch
2 Chaffinch
2 singing Song Thrush
1 singing Mistle Thrush
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, one drumming.
2 Nuthatch on the feeders

Last night, at dusk, a pair of Goosander were on Walkerwood Reservoir

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Inbetween hail and gale in the lower woodland below Walkerwood Reservoir were 2 Lesser Redpoll and a Sparrowhawk between 1 and 2 pm.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 9th March 2019, 7.00 - 9.30am.

From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, to the far end of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir. Rain turned into driving sleet around Higher Swineshaw, necessitating an earlier than planned descent.

Around Higher Swineshaw.

1 Curlew flying around the reservoir, struggling through the wind and rain
1 Peregrine over Harridge Moor
1 Grey Heron over north
1 pair of Pied Wagtails

Walkerwood Reservoir.

1 pair of Goosander
1 pair of Grey Wagtails in the overflow
1 pair of Pied Wagtails along the dam

Brushes Valley, 5.45 - 7.15pm.

1 pair of Tawny Owls in the woods in the valley bottom, between Brushes and Lower Swineshaw Reservoirs
2 Woodcock over

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 3rd March 2019, 9.00 - 11.00am.

In two hours of constant rain, from Walkerwood Dam to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, the only thing of any note whatsoever was a drake Mandarin swimming with several Mallard on Walkerwood Reservoir.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Friday 1st March 2019, 9.30 - 11.30am.

Brushes Rifle Ranges and Wild Bank.

Main point of interest was 9 Lesser Redpoll flying around the areas of birch growth.

No sign of any Stonechat this morning, despite an hour and a half mooching around a large area of the moor above Walkerwood. Other than Red Grouse, a single Meadow Pipit, a Robin, and a couple of singing Dunnock were the only birds on the moor.

Other sightings:

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in the country park
Nuthatch calling, and one on the feeders
Female Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 1st of March 2019 02:53:54 PM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 26th February 2019, 6.30 - 8.30am.

Brushes Valley, as far as Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

Higher Swineshaw

The highlight was my first Curlew of the year, calling briefly above Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
3 Reed Bunting, one singing
10 Red Grouse
Pair of Pied Wagtails
7 Song Thrush singing, the length of the valley
3 Mistle Thrush singing

Pair of Goosander on Walkerwood Reservoir

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 25th February 2019, 9.00 - 11.00am.

From Walkerwood Dam, past the rifle ranges, and concentrating on Flaxfield this morning.

Flaxfield

3 Song Thrush, singing
3 Mistle Thrush, one singing
5 Redwing
4 Chaffinch, 2 singing
6 Bullfinch
1 Lesser Redpoll
2 Red-legged Partridge
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming

A Stonechat was again in the same area of Moor, overlooking Walkerwood Reservoir, this time the male. Ive yet to see both male and female together

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 24th February 2018, 7.00 - 10.00am

From Range House, through Flaxfield, up onto Hobson Moor, over the trig point, then dropping back down towards Walkerwood Reservoir.

Flaxfield.

4 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing
4 Song Thrush, 2 singing
1 Skylark calling
1 Dunnock singing
6 Chaffinch, 3 singing
1 Bullfinch
1 Pied Wagtail
10 Pheasant

Wild Bank.

8 Skylark, 7 singing
6 singing Dunnock
3 Meadow Pipits
5 Red Grouse
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Coal Tits
1 female Stonechat, in the same area, overlooking Walkerwood Reservoir, as the male I had last week. No sign of a male today, despite a good half hour lingering.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Friday 22nd February 2019, 6.30 - 7.30am.

A quick circuit of the Country Park, excluding the wet valley bottom.

6 singing Song Thrush, making at least 17 singing males, between the houses at Brushes Road, and the locked gate below the gamekeepers cottage, counted this week
2 Mistle Thrush also singing

1 female Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow
2 Jays battling for dominance of the feeders with a grey squirrel

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 20th February 2019, 6.30 - 7.30am.

Around Walkerwood.

At least 11 Song Thrush singing, all around Walkerwood Reservoir, provided a pleasant soundtrack to the light rain this morning.

1 Grey Wagtail picking along the Dam was my first sighting for some time.

-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 20th of February 2019 07:52:48 AM

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 19th February 2019, 6.30 - 7.30am.

A redhead Goosander roosted on Walkerwood Reservoir, flying off at first light
Kestrel hunting low down on Harridge, flew off towards the rifle ranges

Last night at 8.00pm, a pair of Tawny Owls were calling from the woods below Walkerwood Dam.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 18th February 2019, 9.30 - 11.00am.

Around Brushes Rifle Ranges and Wiild Bank.

Highlights were:

The biggest surprise was a smart male Stonechat in full breeding plumage, moving around the hillside overlooking Walkerwood Reservoir.
3 Meadow Pipits
1 pair of Mistle Thrush, another singing at Flaxfield
1 Dunnock singing in the gorse, which has now been overgrown with birch trees
1 Song Thrush in the same area
1 Lesser Redpoll

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 16th February 2019, 9.15 - 11.30am.

Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, then back across Harridge Moor.

3 Goosander on Walkerwood Reservoir, a drake and two redheads, one of which looked like an immature male.
1 Lesser Redpoll at the scout hut

Higher Swineshaw

1 Buzzard
1 Grey Wagtail
A Dipper and a Peregrine were also reported earlier, but not seen by me
Plenty of Red Grouse, many paired off

Nothing at all on Harridge Moor

Brushes Valley, 8.00pm

Pair of Tawny Owls calling from the woods in the valley bottom, below Lower Swineshaw Reservoir
Also a Moorhen flying around Walkerwood Reservoir calling, at 8.45pm

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 10th February 2019, 9.30 - 11.30am.

Brushes Valley, from Walkerwood Dam, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

3 Raven; 2 mobbing a Buzzard over Wild Bank, the other at Higher Swineshaw
1 Buzzard
4 Red Grouse
1 Goosander over south
Several Nuthatch calling along the valley
Plenty of Great, Blue, and Coal Tits calling
Several Long-tailed Tits

Otherwise, still very quiet

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 9th February, 3.30pm

Walkerwood Reservoir.

1 pair of Goosander

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 6th February 2019, 6.30 - 7.30am

Brushes Valley

1 Woodcock over the old quarry at 7.01am

Song Thrush, Mistle Thrush, and Dunnock singing by 7.15.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 23rd January 2019, 6.45 - 7.30am.

Walkerwood area, on a pleasant, if freezing, moonlit morning.

3 Tawny Owls, all in the Cock Wood area. One pair hooting and calling near to Walkerwood Dam, another male hooting tentatively further towards Brushes Reservoir. Yesterday morning, a croaky male was hooting from the country park.

1 Woodcock over from Millbrook direction, towards Brushes Cottages, at 7.17am.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Lower car park to Walkerwood dam from 10-11 this morning

3 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Red Grouse, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, 3 Bullfinch, Common Buzzard, 3 Greenfinch were the highlights.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 29th December 2018, after dark.

A pair of Tawny Owls were hooting and calling in the trees in the valley bottom, between Lower Swineshaw and Brushes Reservoir, at 7.00pm

The only thing of any note this morning, from Walkerwood Dam, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, was two Cormorant on Walkerwood.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 27th December 2018.

1 Woodcock over Walkerwood Reservoir, from Harridge to Wild Bank, at 4.33pm

An hours wander around the country park this morning yielded little of note, other than 4 Goldcrest in with a mixed Tit flock.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Thursday 20th December 2018, 9.00 - 11.30am.

First visit for the English Winter Bird Survey, from Brushes Cottages, along the Bridleway to the Carrbrook border, then back along Besom Lane, into the valley bottom.

1 Buzzard, being harassed by Jackdaw for most of the time, calling loudly.
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
1 Raven
81 Jackdaw
2 Carrion Crows
26 Magpies
7 Jays
23 Fieldfare
16 Redwing
12 Blackbirds
4 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
29 Woodpigeon
2 Collared Doves
2 Great Tit (?!?!)
15 Blue Tits
8 Long-tailed Tits
28 House Sparrows
4 Dunnock
4 Meadow Pipits
13 Starlings
2 Wren
8 Goldfinch
2 Chaffinch
1 Greenfinch
3 Bullfinch
10 Robins
5 Mallard
1 Farm Duck
2 Moorhen
11 Pheasants
6 Red-legged Partridge
37 Black-headed Gulls

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 15th December 2018, 8.30 - 11.00am.

From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then back across Harridge Moor, in brisk, chilly conditions (to say the least hmm

)

1 Willow Tit on the feeders at Walkerwood. On Thursday morning, I heard one calling, with a mixed finch and tit flock, deeper into the country park, around half a mile away from the area of the feeders, where I usually see it. I have still only ever seen a single bird, four and a half years since my initial sighting.

Higher Swineshaw and Harridge Moor

1 Woodcock was flushed (unfortunately, given the subzero conditions), from beneath a pylon on the very top of the moor, at 10.00am.
1 Raven over, towards Carrbrook
1 Kestrel over Swineshaw Moor
4 Red Grouse flushed from Harridge Moor, flew dramatically, high over Brushes Reservoir, onto Cock Knarr, Wild Bank

1 Buzzard calling from Cock Knarr
2 Jays
A flock of 8 Redwing flew over Lower Swineshaw, towards Harridge
1 Goldcrest
2 Nuthatch

And very little else.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 12th December 2018, 6.40 - 7.30am.

Walkerwood area.

1 Woodcock over the feeders, from the direction of the country park, into Cock Wood, at 7.22am
Tawny Owls hooting and calling from Cock Wood, the Country Park, and the trees lining the northern side of Walkerwood Reservoir. Difficult to put a number on them, as they are mobile. I would estimate one male in the Country Park, and up to four around Walkerwood, two males with different songs, and two females heard more or less simultaneously.
A lot of Redwing overhead most mornings, well before it is light.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 4th December 2018, 6.40 - 7.30am.

Walkerwood Area.

1 Woodcock over the southern end of Walkerwood Dam, from the direction of the country park, towards Cock Wood, at 7.15.
3 Tawny Owls. Two birds hooting - in the country park, and at Cock Wood; the third calling from the trees on the northern side of the reservoir.
26 Canada Geese on the reservoir.

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 27th November 2018, 6.40 - 7.30am.

Along Walkerwood Reservoir.

2 Woodcock, at 7.06 and 7.10am. Both flew from the direction of Millbrook, one over the reservoir to Cock Wood, the second into the trees on the north side of Walkerwood Reservoir.
1 Tawny Owl hooting from Cock Wood

David Walsh · Status: Offline

Saturday 24th November 2018, 6.30 - 9.30am.

From Walkerwood Dam, up Brushes Valley, and to the far end of Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.

3 Woodcock. Birds have been returning to roost at 7.00am this week, so I timed this morning to be in Brushes SBI at this hour, because on a working day, I havent enough time to get back from this far up the valley. I was rewarded with two birds flying from Walkerwood direction at 7.00, into the woods, and another at 7.05, from Lower Swineshaw, into Brushes quarry. Since the autumn influx, I have recorded them all along the valley, from the country park, as far as Lower Swineshaw.

I should have called it a day there and then. The rest of the morning was deathly, with an icy, buffeting wind from Lower Swineshaw upwards cancelling the planned return across Harridge Moor.

Higher Swineshaw.

1 Grey Wagtail
10 Red Grouse (it is a Grouse moor!)
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Blackbird

Back at Walkerwood in daylight.

A flock of c150 Fieldfare and c30 Redwing moving around, at one point chasing a pair of Kestrels, accompanied by several noisy Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush singing
Several Nuthatch
1 Willow Tit on the feeders, calling loudly this week