2 Woodcock flew up together from the woods, over Lower Swineshaw scout hut, and out towards Lees Hill at 17.05. My first record since June, presumably recently arrived migrants. Impossible to tell, obviously. Tawny Owl calling from the woods above Brushes Reservoir.
This morning, 9.30 - 11.30am, Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw.
2 Dipper, one at Brushes Reservoir, the other at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
Around the Swineshaws.
10 Reed Bunting, the majority around Lower Swineshaw 1 Raven 1 Meadow Pipit 3 Red Grouse 1 Grey Wagtail in Higher Swineshaw overflow 3 Redwing at the scout hut A flock of 7 Bullfinch below the scout hut
No Fieldfare seen today, but there have been good numbers this week, including a flock of approximately 90 moving around the area of Cote Farm and the Bridleway at Millbrook, as well as passage birds, and a couple at Flaxfield. Redwing numbers have been much lower.
55 Fieldfare - 9, 3, and 25 west, and 18 moving around the hawthorns of Cote Farm 100 Woodpigeon over west in one flock, with another 30+ around the area Mandarin drake back on Walkerwood Reservoir
Fieldfare, 90 west, 100 north, and 7 circling higher up Brushes Valley, looking as if to land. Redwing, 45 west 1 Buzzard over the valley Pied Wagtail on the Dam
Yesterday morning, 2 Sparrowhawks were together over Wild Bank
Around Cote Farm, between Walkerwood Dam and Besom Lane.
23 Fieldfare south at 11.30 3 Redwing feeding on hawthorn berries, before flying off south A group of 11 Redwing and 4 Fieldfare were perched on a pylon, before flying off towards Carrbrook 7 Blackbirds 1 Mistle Thrush 10+ Jays carrying acorns. There seemed to be a bird permanently flying over for the whole hour and a half. 18 Magpies 25 Black-headed Gulls in the fields 6 Pheasant
Conditions were horrendous from Lower Swineshaw upwards. Drizzle and hill fog, with visibility down to twenty yards in places.
An unprecedented three Dippers recorded in the valley. One in the overflow at Walkerwood, one at the far end of Brushes Reservoir, and one at Higher Swineshaw Reservoir.
Other than the usual population of Reed Bunting, mostly heard only, the only other item of note was a group of 15 or so finches, at Lower Swineshaw, with a couple of Lesser Redpoll, and at least one Siskin.
4 Stonechat - 1 at Lower Swineshaw, and 3 together at Higher Swineshaw, which appear to be the remnants of a family group, being a pair and a first year bird. 3 Buzzard - 2 displaying over the woods, and a third at Higher Swineshaw 1 Kestrel at Higher Swineshaw 10+ Reed Bunting (not time to attempt a full count) 1 Cormorant circling over the valley Many Jays noisily collecting acorns 12+ Bullfinch 5 Meadow Pipits
A single Tawny Owl has been calling around dawn, from Cock Wood, for the past fortnight. This morning, the first hooting was heard from Cock Wood, with another mobile bird calling from the trees along the northern edge of the reservoir.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Tuesday 15th of October 2019 07:13:46 PM
21 Reed Bunting 3 Stonechat 10 Meadow Pipits 1 Kestrel 7 Skylark, in a single flock 1 Dipper, singing in Higher Swineshaw overflow
Bullfinch calling all along the valley, mainly juveniles 6 Lesser Redpoll at Lower Swineshaw scout hut 1 Raven over the valley 12+ Long-tailed Tits 12 Goldfinch in a single flock Several Jays stashing acorns
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw, then Irontongue.
Lower Swineshaw
c25 Redwing and c6 Fieldfare flew north (?) out of the trees at the scout hut 9 Mistle Thrush followed them, noisily 3 Chiffchaff, two singing
Higher Swineshaw
2 Dipper were a very unusual sighting for this site 1 Cormorant 10+ Reed Bunting 20+ Meadow Pipits A flock of approximately 20 Blue and Long-tailed Tits flew across Boar Flat, landing briefly in the bracken at Higher Swineshaw Dam, then made off down the valley 1 Raven 1 Pied Wagtail
Irontongue.
A flock of approximately 80 Goldfinch feeding on the moor 2 Reed Bunting 10+ Meadow Pipits
1 Kestrel hunting from a pylon 1 Buzzard 1 Raven c 20 Meadow Pipits, up in the air each time the Kestrel left the pylon 4 Swallows 5 Mistle Thrush on one pylon 3 Pied Wagtail
Walkerwood Reservoir.
1 Mandarin drake yesterday was the first sighting for months 1 Cormorant 8 Mallard 17 Canada Geese yesterday was the highest count of autumn so far 1 Grey Wagtail
Country Park.
10 Chiffchaff 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Several Goldcrest 1 Song Thrush
9 Grey Wagtail in Higher Swineshaw overflow was unusual 7 Stonechat - 2 around Higher Swineshaw, and 5 at Swineshaw Brook, Boar Flat. 10+ Reed Bunting 40+ Meadow Pipits 6 Swallow and 6 House Martin through 1 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1 Sparrowhawk at Lower Swineshaw
13 Chiffchaff, one singing 2 Blackcap 2 Nuthatch 26 Robin (tried a full count today) 1 Wren 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 House Martin overhead Several Long-tailed Tits
Walkerwood.
1 Cormorant 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Chiffchaff 1 Blackcap Nuthatch on the feeders 4 Bullfinch
Around Brushes football pitch.
4 Chiffchaff feeding amongst Knotweed flowers 45 Starling 2 Buzzard over Wild Bank
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, and around Lees Hill.
2 Wheatear, one at Higher Swineshaw Dam, the other between Lees Hill and Boar Flat. 2 juvenile Stonechat between Irontongue and Boar Flat 1 Raven over the valley Skylark heard only, flying down the valley
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw Reservoir, Turf Pits, and the eastern slopes of Harridge Pike.
7 Stonechat, in three separate areas c 20 Skylark, mainly on the grassy slopes of Harridge Pike c 30 Reed Bunting at Higher Swineshaw 100+ Meadow Pipits 6 Chiffchaff 12 Red Grouse
10 Chiffchaff, one singing 4 Lesser Redpoll 6 Swallow overhead 4 Nuthatch 6+ Long-tailed Tits, in a small mixed tit flock 1 Buzzard over Brushes Valley 1 Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow
A very quick up and down the valley, as far as Higher Swineshaw Reservoir - quiet.
Three Raven very noisily around the top end of the valley, and Harridge. It appeared that two birds were trying to see off a third. 2 Siskin flew down the valley, calling 3 Chiffchaff along Brushes Valley Only a couple of Reed Bunting calling at Higher Swineshaw. No sign of the juvenile flock today. Several Nuthatch calling, including around the scout hut at Lower Swineshaw, and on the Walkerwood feeders 1 Buzzard over Harridge, being harassed by around 30 hirundines 1 Cormorant on Walkerwood Reservoir
8 Chiffchaff, one singing 5 Blackcap, including two juveniles feeding on elderberries 1 Willow Warbler 2 Nuthatch 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, one briefly drumming 3 Chaffinch 23 Great Tits 12 Blue Tits 2 Long-tailed Tits 2 Wren 14 Robins 2 House Martins 1 Grey Wagtail in Walkerwood overflow 2 Blackbirds
An excellent morning, providing a stark contrast to the past few weeks, when you could have been forgiven for thinking that the upper part of the valley and surrounding moorland had been sterilised.
A lot of activity early on, in the bracken surrounding Higher Swineshaw Reservoir produced:
1 Whinchat 4+ Willow Warblers 1 Whitethroat 1 juvenile Blackcap 18+ Reed Bunting, mainly juveniles. They suddenly seem to have started flocking together, rather than skulking in the bracken. 30+ Meadow Pipits 1 pair of Stonechat with at least three juveniles 5 Red Grouse 1 Kestrel
A Wheatear flew low south west over the very top of the moor at Turf Pits
Also plenty of action in the trees around Lower Swineshaw on the way down:
At least one Spotted Flycatcher 6+ Willow Warblers 1 Whitethroat 6+ Long-tailed Tits 1 Treecreeper 1 juvenile Mistle Thrush
Many Nuthatch calling in the woods
1 Sparrowhawk sat on the wall of Brushes Cottages, eyeing up the feeders.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Saturday 24th of August 2019 02:40:31 PM
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw and Irontongue Hill. Very blustery conditions.
Higher Swineshaw and Irontongue.
A Peregrine made a couple of unsuccessful stoops at Meadow Pipits, before heading off over Irontongue Hill, towards Mossley. Female Stonechat at Irontongue 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel c12 Swallows over Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 2 Reed Bunting 10+ Meadow Pipits
3 Kestrels over Harridge Plenty of Bullfinch around Walkerwood
Pair of Stonechat with 4 juveniles 1 male Whitethroat
2 Chiffchaff in Brushes Valley 1 female Sparrowhawk around Cock Wood 2 immature Grey Wagtails on Brushes Reservoir j 2 Cormorant on Walkerwood Reservoir
Brushes Valley, to Higher Swineshaw and Irontongue Hill.
2 juvenile Wheatear flew onto the Boar Flat side of Swineshaw Brook, from the north east. They were constantly harassed by juvenile Stonechat and Reed Bunting. By the time I left, they had made their way as far as Higher Swineshaw Dam. 7 juvenile Stonechat, of varying ages 10+ Reed Bunting, mainly juveniles 10+ Willow Warblers, including some very yellow youngsters 2 Kestrel 3 Swift over Harridge Moor 10+ Meadow Pipits, including a couple carrying butterflies back to nest sites
Maybe not the right place for this but there was a common sandpiper in the spillway at Buckton Vale Reservoir at 13:30 today.
It is close enough, John, (and frighteningly close to Mossley, whose border runs along the north western by-wash of the reservoir), though I usually post sightings from here in the Stalybridge, Ashton, and Dukinfield thread. I think the reservoir you mean is Cowbury Reservoir, which used to supply Buckton Vale Print and Dye Works. The valley, woods, and reservoir itself is another local area that promises much, but delivers very little. There were actually a pair of Common Sandpiper on the reservoir during the breeding season this year, along with Pied and Grey Wagtails, and very little else.
1 Common Sandpiper around the dam and northern shore. Also heard by another observer yesterday evening. 1 Kingfisher in the overflow channel - presumably the same bird as on Walkerwood this morning
1 singing Stonechat, and 5 separate, well grown juveniles. On Saturday up to ten juveniles were in the area 3 Common Sandpiper on the reservoir 1 adult Pied Wagtail with three well grown juveniles 3 Mistle Thrush picking through the newly mown dam banking 2 Lesser Redpoll 1 Whitethroat still singing Several Willow Warblers Several Reed Bunting
Harridge Moor.
40+ Meadow Pipits, including many juveniles 1 male Linnet 15+ Wren, again with many newly fledged birds, buzzing around the bracken.
5 Oystercatchers flew west at 8.35, calling. At least 4 Common Sandpiper on Higher Swineshaw Reservoir 6+ Treecreepers, including one feeding juveniles. They have been much in evidence this week, throughout the area. Nuthatch calling Male Stonechat with young at Higher Swineshaw Whitethroat singing at Higher Swineshaw Plenty of Reed Bunting around Higher Swineshaw, including singing males, and several juveniles 1 Buzzard I picked up a Peregrine way up above Swineshaw Moor, which then came hurtling down, crashing into the bracken, feet away from me, before appearing several minutes later carrying off a kill.
Juvenile Dipper in the spillway between Brushes and Walkerwood Reservoirs. A very occasional record for the valley. Always post breeding. 1 Mallard with seven ducklings in the same spillway. Not had many Mallard broods on all four Reservoirs this year. Juvenile Robins everywhere Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin, and Wrens carrying food.
19 Willow Warblers, several feeding youngsters 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling in the boggy area behind Range House 1 Chiffchaff singing 1 female Reed Bunting 20+ Meadow Pipits 6+ Lesser Redpoll 2 pairs of Linnet on Wild Bank, both visiting nest sites, with one female seen removing a faecal sac
9 Mistle Thrush feeding on Higher Swineshaw dam banking Pair of Stonechat carrying food Willow Warbler fledging begging food from an adult at Lower Swineshaw scout hut. Many other adults seen carrying food Male Cuckoo singing on Swineshaw Moor, then seen flying back across the moor, then down the valley
BTO BBS Survey, late visit for SJ9899, Thursday 6th June 2019.
The most notable sighting was of a pair of Goldcrest in the valley bottom. The only other record of this species for this BBS square was of a single bird in the area of the Gamekeeper's Cottage on 25th May 2007. Other notables are the low numbers of Robin, Magpies, and Woodpigeon recorded on the day, but that is the nature of these snapshot surveys.
For anyone interested, the full list is as follows: