Dipper flying fast down river Bollin at the bottom of Rossmill Lane on the 7th of May in the afternoon! My daughter has seen dipper many times this year! Does the fact that it is still here mean it might be breeding?
Approx 140 Goldfinch feeding this morning among Thistle in fields on north side of Shay Lane, briefly marauded by a female Sparrowhawk. Other birds recorded along public footpaths there included 17 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 4 Goldcrest, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker
29/03/2013 - No sign of the Stonechat but an Oystercatcher flew over this morning. No summer migrants back yet and only a trickle of Mipits, heading south!
2 Canada Geese 2 Teals 3 Moorhens 10 Golden Plovers - only my second site record 3 Common Snipes 1 Stock Dove c30 Meadow Pipits - forced down by the horrible weather
20/03/2013 - 4 Stock Doves around today including 2 in the garden for a while. Loads of Redwings (150+) in song this afternoon mixed in with Siskins and Goldfinches. The only other birds of interest were both male and female Reed Buntings back in their small reedmace-filled marl pit.
19/03/2013 - A relitively good showing from waterbirds locally with 1 Moorhen, 4 Teals, 4 Mallards, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Cormorant seen. Overhead, a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits kept up the interest despite the lack of summer migrants yet.
No further murmurs from the probable Lesser Spotted Woodpecker despite much listening and looking.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 09:09:29 PM
11/03/2013 - 5 Lapwings had returned to their breeding site this morning although the frozen ground meant they couldn't feed, let alone think about breeding just yet!
01/03/2013 - 6 Teals and 4 Mallards were fresh in this morning. The former just passing through but the latter will hopefully stick around and make the most of the myriad of marl pits for breeding in. Also 2 Common Snipe.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Friday 1st of March 2013 04:32:27 PM
21/02/2013 - 204 Redwings feeding in a single field, the highest count this winter. The return of cold weather hasn't stopped the feeling of spring in the air with the first Treecreepers of the year singing from a clump of conifers with Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Great Spotted Woodpecker all chirping in.
20/05/2013 - 3 Canada Geese arrived today and were disputing territories, a sure sign of spring on it's way. Also 1 Brambling amongst finch and winter thrush flock in the fields off Buttery House Lane.
15/02/2013 - Plenty of signs of spring in the air this morning. Most resident species now singing plus Collared Doves, Woodpigeons, Blue Tits, Mistle Thrushes, Starlings and Magpies nest building. Also about were:
25/01/2013 - Quite suprised to see a Common Snipe in the fields today given the frozen ground and snow, must be struggling in this weather. Really quiet otherwise, one of the quietest walks i've ever had with just a few Redwings and no other passerines!
19/01/2013 - The last few cold days has brought more Magpies into the roost with a record 151 tonight, again this is a minimum as I couldn't see all angles of approach.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 19th of January 2013 04:58:27 PM
23 Waxwings - flew from Newall Green towards Hale Barns at 4pm. 118 Magpies - into the roost, likely an underestimate 6 Carrion Crows 1 Jay 14 Redwings 4 Blackbirds 1 Song Thrush 9 Bullfinches
12/01/2013 - 7.30am-4.30pm: A productive day with many thanks to Jason Atkinson who conducted a ringing session in the garden. Ringing totals:
31 Blue Tits - just 2 recaptures of birds rung earlier in the day 15 Great Tits 8 Long-tailed Tits - plus 2 recaptures 5 Coal Tits 6 Robins - plus 1 recapture 1 Dunnock 2 Treecreepers 1 Goldcrest - male 2 Lesser Redpolls - males
Other species recorded:
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 Common Gulls c40 Black-headed Gulls 1 Green Woodpecker - heard 2 Fieldfares 16 Redwings - 5 flew from roost at dawn 1 Raven - over c30 Magpies - heading towards roost at dusk 1 Pied Wagtail - over c20 Goldfinches 11 Greenfinches c30 Lesser Redpolls c30 Siskins 3 Bullfinches 1 Linnet - over, garden tick
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 12th of January 2013 09:29:39 PM
06/01/2013 - 2 Ravens perched on pylons this morning. The cronking could be heard over a 1km away across the other side of the fields. Also a flight of 7 Herring Gulls over, heading towards the Rostherne Roost at 4pm.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 6th of January 2013 04:11:14 PM
05/01/2013 - A wonderful spring feel to the morning with a glimmer of sun and full of bird song. My first singing Blackbird and Coal Tit of the year heard amongst the other species reported back on 31/12/12.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 5th of January 2013 04:47:35 PM
2 Mistle Thrushes 3 Song Thrushes 1 Great Tit 3 Robins - have been singing all winter but their song is changing, becoming more varied and powerful 2 Nuthatches
3 Ring-necked Parakeets - flew east at 11.20am, first record for the area 1 Green Woodpecker - female still present 200m along Buttery House Lane c140 Redwings - highest count this winter 2 Ravens - nice to see as not been around for a fair while, flew into Scot's Pines in Piggy Wood
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 27th of December 2012 03:59:22 PM
23/12/2012 - 8-10am, better weather for a change, plus some decent flocks around and about:
c60 Pink-footed Geese - flew SE then switched NE over Timperley c220 Black-headed Gulls 2 Stock Doves - been elusive this winter c90 Starlings c40 Redwings c30 Goldfinches 1 Linnet - flew over
11/12/2012 - The Green Woodpecker is still present in the sheep fields north of Shay Lane. It looks to be a female. Also 6 Siskins still in Alders along Shay Lane. V.quiet otherwise, even the Redwings have departed in the freezing weather.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 11:31:32 AM
28/11/2012 - 11am-12pm - influx of winter visitors today with the arrival of cold weather:
2+ Pink-footed Geese - heard only, could have been many, many more 20+ Blackbirds 5 Song Thrushes 13 Redwings 6 Pied Wagtails 2 Common Snipes 1 Stock Dove c40 Greenfinches and Goldfinches - roving flock
12/11/12 - 22 Waxwings flew south over Shay Lane heading towards Hale Barns village at 3.45pm. Some berry-bearing trees over there I will check out tomorrow.