A wander around Mottram Moor between 07:40 and 09:00 to look for the Hoopoe reported on birdguides was fruitless this morning. However birds seen included Kestrel, 16 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch.
My first local Swallow this year. One overhead whilst walking down Well Row, Broadbottom this am. A slow Spring locally with no Blackcaps, Willow Warblers around yet with only Chiffchaffs abundant.
Jackdaws seem to have increased further with around 50 in the trees in the little park across from the post office and similar numbers around the railway viaduct and Hague Rocks.
Down to the river, up round the unsurfaced road to the top of and then down through Great Wood:
Treecreeper seen, a few Nuthatch heard. Goldcrest singing. Dipper flew upstream near the blue footbridge, calling.
Also a charm of Goldfinches by the mill site near Lymefield.
There was a bird of prey circling up above Great Wood but I'm too poor at raptors to know what it was. Looked too pale and uniformly-coloured (underneath) and too small for a Buzzard. Also appeared to have a notched tail though wasn't sure that this wasn't just that it was a bit ragged!
Always good to air these things in public forums from time to time as well, just to remind people that its still going on and to keep their eyes open for things.
Anything suspicious should be reported to the police and/or the RSPB/RSPCA becareful if you suspect poisoning, some poisons can be absorbed through the skin, with that in mind if you find a dead animal close to what may be a poison bait it is best not to touch it, if you can safely cover them over and take a careful note of where and if possible photographs that would be the best course of action.
I have sent you a PM as well Roger
Cheers
Mike
Mike,
re C... My thoughts were that if they had wanted to kill the bird would have used a poisoned bait.
It just struck me as a very amateurish attempt at capture by bird-liming which would have meant that the culprit was probably still in the vicinity to check his bait.
All in the past now but it is a clear example of what you lads & ladies (and the rest of us) are up against in these isolated sites, even in these supposedly "enlightened" times.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Hi Roger,
a) I think the chicks laid out was a clear two fingers to the nest watch scheme and the groups involved.
b) I might be wrong but I think this is the second time a camp has suddenly appeared under the site of a goshawk nest, I fear that nothing was accidental about it, and to be honest the noise the birds would of been making would leave them in no doubt they were causing disturbance.
c) My thoughts were that once the talons of a bird were tangled with glue and string it wouldn't be able to hunt any more causing it to die of starvation.
Roger Baker 3 wrote:
Glad you mentioned the Sorby Breck group, I've been trying their link last couple of days, to no avail. A few things have always puzzled me about the Derwent Valley Goshawk incidents.
a) the laying out of the dead chicks with their cut off rings.... I think sick vandalism, someone sadistically gloating ?
b) the barbeque/party under the nesting tree was believed to have caused desertion was (hopefully) done in ignorance........ it was this incident that set off my re-thinking about public secrecy.......... surely if they had known ??
c)not sure if this was Sorby Breck, the sticky squirrel bait........ both the RSPB and police concluded that someone was trying to kill the birds. To my way of thinking, someone was trying to take one of the adults alive (with glue & twine) as well as the chicks.
Sorry to digress.
As I said before I don't pretend to know any answers but plenty of food for thought.
Roger
Had no internet for 24 hrs so not sure where to start.
1) Think a case of crossed wires here Rob, I was referring to sightings, not nest sites. As Ian says, if it flys over your house, get it on here....... quick !!
2) Mike, I honestly don't know the answer to these questions.
You and I both know that the biggest problem we have on these moors is persecution, but as you say proving it is another matter.
We only have a few footpaths to work on, they have acres upon acre of wilderness and I'm sure a lot more secrets than we have.
I still think that making "the man in the street" more aware helps a lot.
The biggest clue is what should be there definately isn't
Each case needs to be treated on its merits as your Short Eared Owls were..... I'm sure that they benefited.
Glad you mentioned the Sorby Breck group, I've been trying their link last couple of days, to no avail. A few things have always puzzled me about the Derwent Valley Goshawk incidents.
a) the laying out of the dead chicks with their cut off rings.... I think sick vandalism, someone sadistically gloating ?
b) the barbeque/party under the nesting tree was believed to have caused desertion was (hopefully) done in ignorance........ it was this incident that set off my re-thinking about public secrecy.......... surely if they had known ??
c)not sure if this was Sorby Breck, the sticky squirrel bait........ both the RSPB and police concluded that someone was trying to kill the birds. To my way of thinking, someone was trying to take one of the adults alive (with glue & twine) as well as the chicks.
Sorry to digress.
As I said before I don't pretend to know any answers but plenty of food for thought.
Roger
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Apologies. I wont post any sightings of them in this area in future. I just saw a separate thread called 'Red Kites' and assumed you could report them.
I fear that many people don't realise the level of persecution that occurs, there is clear evidence that birds of prey fair far less well in areas where game shooting is undertaken. Proving it is very difficult but the limited numbers and lack of some species in areas where food and excellent breeding habitat are available, are a clear indication that something is wrong. Unfortunately the link from Sorby Breck Ringing Group that held the pdf report about last years peak nest watch appears not to be working I will however link the summary.
"The Upper Derwent Valley has brilliant habitats in which to see birds of prey. The survey monitored early breeding of Peregrines, Goshawk and Buzzard with up to 14 sites established. The resultant success produced just four Goshawk chicks from 2 sites, three of which were found dead after fledging, lying side by side with their BTO rings removed In addition no Ravens were observed to breed in 2010."
Similary the longdendale valley had the majority of the buzzard sites fail mysteriously at an early stage and established Merlin sites are failing year on year with the apparent disappearance of adult birds.
Whilst situations like this exist I think it is best if all raptor sightings in area's that are linked with game shooting are kept off public forums
-- Edited by Mike Price on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 01:15:57 PM
I was under the impression that this site was also to celebrate the birds we see so that other birders can enjoy the same experiences we do. Also, are Red Kites really that rare nowadays - maybe in Greater Manchester they are, but I regularly drive up to North Yorkshire to see family and on the way up I often see as many as three Kites at once - in the areas where they are very succesfully being re-introduced (as far as I can see) and they seem to be spreading rapidly. I completely agree with protecting species from the threat of egg thieves and the like but where do you draw the line? I suppose thats the golden question?
Unfortunately Roger, we have no way of knowing who is viewing an open forum and what their intentions are, even sites that are well watched one year might not be so well watched in subsequent years.
It's very hard to monitor or keep watch on such large and remote areas, and given the lack of success locally for many raptor species, it is not really suprising that sightings are kept fairly quiet, I do think that the birding grapevine does work quite well though.
Previously I have posted on here about breeding short eared owls which were attracting unwelcome attention from some quarters and I do believe that the number of people that were regularly showing up to watch them at such an easily accessible place may well of contributed to their success (it's so very difficult to measure that though).
As Ian says their need is greater than ours and although I can expect to miss some local birds due to this I can accept that and it does give me a good reason to make sure I am out and about as often as possible, both to increase my chances of discovering them myself and my chances of bumping into someone who might tell me about them.
Roger Baker 3 wrote:
Mike, to my way of thinking this only makes the the problem worse.
The more publicity the Birds of Prey get the better, makes the locals more aware and proud of what they've got.
All persecution problems need reporting.
Roger.
I'm afraid raptors need protection and that usually means suppression with very good reason, not just in the east of the county either. The pressure from egg/chick thiefs plus persecution is extremely high and unless 24 hour protection could be afforded (which it simply can't) no matter how many proud locals are aware they would always be under serious threat. I know the local birders in these areas keep a close eye on things and if rarities like Red Kites passing through have to be suppressed so's not to draw attention then I feel that's entirely right.
To that extent, I openly admit to purposefully suppressing certain sightings from this forum (and other birders) with justifiable reason. Their need is greater than ours
Mike, to my way of thinking this only makes the the problem worse.
The more publicity the Birds of Prey get the better, makes the locals more aware and proud of what they've got.
All persecution problems need reporting.
Roger.
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
To be fair to the locals, raptor sitings are kept fairly quiet due to the problems the area has with persecution of birds of prey.
Roger Baker 3 wrote:
Re Kite.
Good to hear this Rob.
Had heard rumours about them a few times, that is why I keep coming up Mottram/Hollingworth/Broadbottom for a mooch round.
A Torside dog walker I know mentioned he had seen them them over twelve month ago.
The rumours I picked up were of sightings around Hollingworth & Tintwistle , been mentioned for quite a while but I think it gets hushed up by the locals with them hoping for the Swallows Wood by-pass.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Friday 1st of April 2011 04:24:30 PM-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Friday 1st of April 2011 04:30:55 PM
Good to hear this Rob. Had heard rumours about them a few times, that is why I keep coming up Mottram/Hollingworth/Broadbottom for a mooch round.
A Torside dog walker I know mentioned he had seen them them over twelve month ago.
The rumours I picked up were of sightings around Hollingworth & Tintwistle , been mentioned for quite a while but I think it gets hushed up by the locals with them hoping for the Swallows Wood by-pass.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Friday 1st of April 2011 04:24:30 PM
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Friday 1st of April 2011 04:30:55 PM
__________________
Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Last Tuesday 22nd March
Red Kite over the river Etherow - a first one Ive ever seen in Broadbottom - a good sign that their re-introduction programmes are paying off.
I will keep you posted if I see it again
Rob
Explored some of the farmland around the Mottram/ Broadbottom area this morning, starting at Mottram Moor and taking a circular walk via Broadbottom.
The highlights were: 1 sparrowhawk 1 willow warbler 1 chiffchaff (both the warblers were feeding in the same well stocked garden at different times) loads of Jays - lost count 20 swallows all told 1 House Martin 1 Sand Martin 5 Meadow Pipit Nuthatch - in the well stocked garden! Treecreeper
Other birds included: Robin Wren Blackbird Magpie Jackdaw Goldfinch Chaffinch - 1 Carrion Crow Jackdaw Wood Pigeon blue tit great tit coal tit mallard - 3 dunnock house sparrow pied wagtail
-- Edited by Iain Johnson on Saturday 25th of September 2010 08:26:50 PM
2) Mike, I honestly don't know the answer to these questions.
You and I both know that the biggest problem we have on these moors is persecution, but as you say proving it is another matter.
We only have a few footpaths to work on, they have acres upon acre of wilderness and I'm sure a lot more secrets than we have.
I still think that making "the man in the street" more aware helps a lot.
The biggest clue is what should be there definately isn't
Each case needs to be treated on its merits as your Short Eared Owls were..... I'm sure that they benefited.
Glad you mentioned the Sorby Breck group, I've been trying their link last couple of days, to no avail. A few things have always puzzled me about the Derwent Valley Goshawk incidents.
a) the laying out of the dead chicks with their cut off rings.... I think sick vandalism, someone sadistically gloating ?
b) the barbeque/party under the nesting tree was believed to have caused desertion was (hopefully) done in ignorance........ it was this incident that set off my re-thinking about public secrecy.......... surely if they had known ??
c)not sure if this was Sorby Breck, the sticky squirrel bait........ both the RSPB and police concluded that someone was trying to kill the birds. To my way of thinking, someone was trying to take one of the adults alive (with glue & twine) as well as the chicks.
Sorry to digress.
As I said before I don't pretend to know any answers but plenty of food for thought.
Roger
Probably best not to post raptor sightings. They are still fairly rare.