Walked over from Rammy to Ranges via Irwell and Reddisher and Two Brooks between 1200 and 1630..Felt like spring today but not too much about. Best being..
1 x Tawny Owl in Reddisher calling away claiming territory at 1330 in the afternoon sunshine!
1 x Stock Dove (heard) Ranges
2 x Raven Harckles Hill
2 x Kestrel on the Ranges
1 x Grey Heron Hawkshaw Lodge


Rob Archer

Saw the (probably)same buzzard on same afternoon. First i`ve seen in two brooks.Saw one about two months ago near Quarlton.

Good days walk from Rammy down the Irwell, Holcombe, Reddisher, Ranges. Two Brooks, Hawkshaw and back between 1000 and 1545hrs saw the following.
3 x Dipper( Irwell,Two Brooks, Carr Bank Lodge)
Several good sizes tit flocks with one including 1 Willow Tit seen near Woodhey School
Good regular numbers of Bullfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch and Greenfinch
3 x Goldcrest near Woodhey
2 x Nuthatch Irwell
2 x Great Spotted Woodpecker Two Brooks
1 x Green Woodpecker Two Brooks
2 x Grey Heron Irwell/Two Brooks
1 x Cormorant over Rammy
6 x Goosander 2m 4f
1 x Little Grebe on Hawkshaw Lodge
2 x f Sparrowhawk. 1 near Woodhey. 1 on south side of Ranges
1 x Woodcock flew off footpath on south of ranges(7th of the year for me. Best ever)

Rob Archer.

Bit of a wander about the moors( between 1000 and 1515hrs) on a dull damp misty day. Not too much about really, the best being:
m & f Peregrine flying due south together above Walmersly Road at 1045hrs. Perhaps the Elton bird was one of them?
2 x f Sparrowhawk. One in Deeply vale about 1200hrs and one above woodland near Snape Hill, Nangreaves about 1300hrs
1 x Kestrel in Deeply vale
Ashworth Moor Res looked totally frozen over still through the mist
104 Canada Geese in a field in Deeply Vale
1 x Grey Heron
3 x Treecreeper really close up near Nuttall Park. Great views
1 x Dipper singing away on the Irwell
1 x Red grouse in the heather close to Holcombe Tower.

Rob Archer

Birds seen around the moors and mostly frozen Irwell the last few days... 23 Goosander,5 Moorhen, lots of BH Gulls, 2 1st winter Common Gulls by the wier in the centre of town, imm Cormorant, lots of Mallard, 1 Woodcock, 1 Snipe,c 20 Fieldfare,3 Redwing, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 GS Woodpecker, regular Jay, Bullfinch,Goldfinch, Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch,4 Nuthatch,1 m Sparrowhawk, 2 Ravens and 8 Red Grouse by Holcombe Tower ..Not seen the Kingfishers on the Old Mill Lodges for a few days now so hope they have not perished..Merry Crimbo to all

Another stunning but very cold day..Minus 4 at 1200hrs in my back yard.. No wind and a dull silence around the moors and Irwell Valley.The Irwell is well frozen in many places!..It must be tough going for the wildlife just now.. Todays highlights on a 4 hour walk.. Peregrine looking untroubled by it all, 1 Kestrel,2 Jay,2 Raven by the quarry, lots of Jackdaw flying south all day,many LBB and Herring Gulls also flying south am, 1 Moorhen, Lots of Mallard, 12 Goosander, only 3 Dipper( usually double that) 2 Snipe, c75 Fieldfare,c30 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, many Blackbird, 3 Heron, regular Dunnock Wren Robin, 6 Brambling,4 Chaffinch,4 Bullfinch,regular Goldfinch,3 Nuthatch, small numbers in tit flocks, certainly seeing less LT Tits than a few weeks ago,3 GS Woodpecker
Rob Archer