On 4th March 1997, Barry Shaw and Goeff Lightfoot ( two very experienced birders) actually did have a Red Grouse at Adswood. So your bikers might not be mistaken. But if it's true - where are they coming from - 15 miles from any grouse country!
__________________
Judith Smith
__________________________________
Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
It's high time that this log featured more reports from the Stockport area; so here's a start.
There was a Blackcap sining weakly from hawthorns on Tenement Lane, Adswood, yesterday afternoon.
A Buzzard was using the strong breeze to hover Kestrel-like over the rough ground at the back of the tip. It alighted in a shrub: a scarce record for this site.
Four Snipe were flushed, while a single Lapwing was seen in the same area.
One of the local motorbike riders stopped to tell me that he has disturbed two or three birds over the past week that 'look like the bird on the Famous Grouse' label. Wise money is probably on Pheasant, though this certainly merits further investigation.
There were four Chiffchaff singing around Mirrlees fields yesterday morning, and a Treecreeper was seen again close to Woodsmoor Station. There is still no sign of Willow Warbler yet.
