When I was down there on Monday, there were four lapwings, so hopes for at least one population expanding (magpies, crows, ravens, jackdaws, herons, buzzards, humans not withstanding).
Raven 3 over Little Wood Chiffchaff 6 Buzzard 2 Snipe 9 Lapwing 3 (1 appears to be sitting in Broadheys [aka Pylon Field] defending nest against marauding Jackdaws)
Male Blackcap in full song near Peak Forest Canal. Also 3 Lapwing, Common Snipe, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, 2 Mandarin Duck in trees, 2 Mistle Thrush, Goldcrest.
Hi Andy, good to know the Dabchick are back. they used to be seen quite a lot but the EA cut the overhanging vegetation all the way along the river on both sides a good few years ago now and that was the end of that! I see Ravens quite a lot these days but I haven't seen the Buzzards for a couple of weeks now.
A pleasant stroll to the Goyt bridge, where I saw a pair of ravens up river over Marple Dale; 4 goosander (1 m), 1 cormorant, and a dabchick (first here for well over 15 years at a guess) were on the river itself. Also usual woodland stuff like bullfinch, nuthatches and buzzard. Spring felt closer.
just an update on the breeding success of a pair of lapwing in Broadheys this summer. For the first time in over twenty years a single pair of lapwing had four young but I think only three survived as towards the end of the fledging period I only ever saw three young. I am putting the success of this down to the introduction of the scrape that went in three years ago as the parents and young were always around this area.
I have to say though I was less than impressed with the fool who found the nest photographed it and then advertised the fact on social media! lets hope he doesn't trespass again next year if we are lucky enough to have this pair return.
Two Ravens flew over the horse fields on the far side of the Goyt just before midday, one of them pausing briefly at the top of a pylon. Only a single finch in a 1+ hour circuit: a Goldfinch.
lets hope we don't lose any more of this valuable habit as it sounds like it is already having a substantial effect. the pond is also a fantastic breeding site for Frog, Toad, Smooth, Palmate and Great Crested Newts, so if it gets filled in this will be a massive loss to Chadkirk.
Hiya John .... this needs reporting, possibly "Natural England" would be a good place to start.
Great crested and Palmate newts are a European protected species. The animals, their eggs and their breeding sites and resting places are protected by law.
Too much of this filling in goes on without notice and by then it's to late.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Saturday 27th of February 2016 06:13:52 PM
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
lets hope we don't lose any more of this valuable habit as it sounds like it is already having a substantial effect. the pond is also a fantastic breeding site for Frog, Toad, Smooth, Palmate and Great Crested Newts, so if it gets filled in this will be a massive loss to Chadkirk.
Waterside and adjacent scrub vegetation on the Charkirk Industrial Estate pool has been stripped and the whole area covered with wood chippings. In the small area left untouched were 11 Snipe and a Grey Heron.
Elsewhere singles of Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch and Goldcrest. 4 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Redwings feeding in Pylon Field.
I've just been looking back at spring so far, and I forgot that I saw a raven on 11th April near Marple locks which was flying low towards Chadkirk. I would be pretty confident in saying that they were not just a roaming party otherwise they would have gone with the adult birds to find food. As it was they just sat quietly in the woods for about half an hour waiting for their return and you could easily have walked right past them. Obviously most people would have had their attention drawn to them once they did return as there is no mistaking them once the calls start up!
Can't remember the exact details, but someone pointed out a photo of a juvenile Raven in the Stockport area to me recently - think it may have been posted on i-spot. It puzzled me at the time but something else cropped up and I forgot about it. Andy's post just reminded me - guess they have bred in the area?
I didn't expect much, but found a family party of 4 ravens on site which provided much entertainment. I was last here about 6 weeks ago so I guess they could have bred in the area (anyone know?). Food was being brought to the two fully fledged youngsters, and on one occasion a buzzard tried to hijack it. Brilliant! I had to look around me to make sure I was still in Chadkirk! Also about: chiffchaff, grey wagtails in two spots, a pair of lapwing, stock doves, including at least 6 in Marple Dale just over the bridge, and various other things. Ravens though! What a bird!
There are plans to create a 'right of way' bridle path for horse riding around the edges of the fields adjacent to the brook and also around part of 'Coronation Field, which is the wild flower meadow.
I believe this will take up around 1/2 - 3/4 hectare of land, which is either UK BAP habitat (this lowland pasture is unique in the Stockport area) or, in the case of Coronation Field, an SBI.
The costs to build the bridle path will be in the region of 20K to 35K. As the cost of creating the Coronation Field wild flower meadow in the first place was around 10K one may justifiably question whether this is the best use of assets.
If you wish to object to this plan the person to write to is Hazel Lees at hazel.lees@stockport.gov.uk
Alternatively you may wish to attend the public meeting, which is to be held at Woodley Civic Hall at 18.00 on 8th December.
This afternoon 13:00-14:30.... Red letter day for Chadkirk Highlights..... Single Lapwing near scrape on Broadheys Field 2 Buzzards over Kirk Wood, constantly harrassed by Crows, 2 Stock Doves, Grey Heron on Mill Pond, no sign of any Snipe though, 2 pairs of Mallard on Broadheys scrape, 1 ringed, and 1 unringed Dipper, on stream behind main car park, Grey Wagtail over, Plus plenty of the usual tits,finches and Corvids etc.
Cheers Chris
P.S. First Daffodils of the year, flowering in the Walled Garden.
-- Edited by Chris Greene on Thursday 31st of January 2013 03:18:40 PM
Today,13:00-14:00....highlights.... 2 Goldcrests,one near main car park,the other near top car park, Grey Heron on mill pond, 2 M,and 3F Goosander upstream of new bridge Good numbers of Robins and Nuthatches around,plus plenty of usuals.
I went in search on the Green Woodpecker but no sign of one.
Birds seen included:
2 Dipper. One showing well for 20 minutes from the Green Bridge 2 Grey Wagtail 2 Pied Wagtail 2 Kingfisher 6 Robin 4 Wren 2 Dunnock Flock of Chaffinch 2 Greenfinch 10 blackbird 2 Nuthatch 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard drumming 1 Goosander 1 Sparrowhawk Plenty of Jackdaw 6 Jay
-- Edited by Vicky Sumner on Friday 26th of October 2012 02:43:55 PM
Quick visit today, mainly to see the new bridge, but a few nice birds around. Sparrowhawk with prey Nuthatch Kestrel Chiffchaff Swallow Goldfinches 4 Mallard Grey Heron
I was at the Chadkirk festival on Sunday. The well had been 'dressed' but I doubt if that has anything to do with it. I do like the new pathways that have been built though, and the new bridge over the Goyt is great and will enable us birders to cover a wider area more conveniently from there.