Glad you saw them David. Was the private lane further on from where we stopped?

For more on Little owls see my post on Goyt Valley Nature Reserve forum
Hope of use
Chris H

hi Chris,

it was good to meet you as well, it's always nice to meet new people who are interested in birds and wildlife.

see you soon,

JR

I went down again, and met David from this site. We saw 9 snipe just to the left of the big ruts.
Then we went to GVLNR and saw fieldfare/redwings, but no little owl.

Which tree Chris, the ones behind where the old car is car parked at the rear corner as you approach, or another tree?

hi Phil,

for obvious reasons i can't get embroiled in the CWT thing but i think Judith has one or two good points with her posting.

you would be most welcome as a volunteer at Chadkirk. why don't you try to collar me next time your down and we can have a chat about what goes on, how you can get involved and from there you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it's for you.

JR

Some years ago, when the Greater Manchester Wildlife Working Group still operated (when Anne GreatRex was the head of GMEU), everyone was similarly fed up with CWT and it was suggested Greater Manchester had its own Wildlife Trust. CWT knew how much of their revenue came from Stockport, Trafford and Tameside and were seriously worried.
We should perhaps be asking ourselves in GM if we are being well-served by LWT and CWT...

Andy Bissitt wrote:
As you say John, the waders (if any are attracted) will be on passage. I'd much prefer the emphasis being on sedentary farmland birds as this is after all farmland. I wonder if I'm the only contributor to these boards who remembers tree sparrows and grey partridges that used to frequent the area along the Goyt valley? Any progress is an improvement of course, so good luck with it all.

Andy

hi Andy,

i know people who remember seeing grey partridges at Chadkirk but not tree sparrow. i did look into the possibility of a tree sparrow introduction scheme a few years ago but apparently the nearest collony is too far away (mallor moor) and so it was deemed not a good project.

i am suprised however that i don't get linnet and yellow hammer at Chadkirk with both species being so local ie in and around middle farm and again little owls are so close (waterside farm) and yet still no sightings at chadkirkm, very strange.

on another note it's nice to get some possitive comments for a change as most people do not see the 'big' picture and i have had quite a few disgruntaled regular visitors who do not seem to understand that when trying to re-claim a neglected woodland unfortunatelly you have to cut down trees! hopefully though in the years to come when the understory and shrub layer start to develop people will begin to see the benefits for wildlife that have been created.

i seem to have gone off on another rant sorry about that! anyway just before i go Phil and Nigel have asked a question each, firstly Phil you have hit the nail on the head with regards to the CWT who do coincidentally manage the reserve at etherow. you are right however in your assumption that the CWT are not very active in our area. if you are wanting to volunteer however both Chadkirk and Etherow have volunteers working on site. i would say that ECP probably dose more what you would call conservation work on a regular basis whereas my volunteers do some of everything. ECP meet on a wednesday morning each week. Chadkirk is at weekends.

Nigel to answer your wife question Chadkirk House is the 'new' (1748) extention to the farm and the gabel end can be seen as you are walking up to the chapel.

Many Thanks for all your possitive comments,

JR

I took my bike out this afternoon to celebrate snowlessness (let us hope that this is not just a temporary respite). I included Chadkirk in my circuit and stopped for a quick scan over the pylon field. Something put the crows and pigeons up, and allowed me some in flight views of the Stock Doves, and a better idea of their numbers - I'd say that there were at least 20 present. I managed to find some Snipe this time: five feeding in the marshy area about 50 yards from the gate.

I carried on over the track that follows the line of the Goyt to Bredbury. I couldn't see any Mandarin Ducks this time. The river is still high, though nothing like last week. There were a couple of Herons in the fields below Goyt Hall Farm, and a Little Owl in the tree next to it. A Meadow Pipit flew over.

Two Buzzards on the ground in the field before Bredbury Hall looked as though they were wandering around with their hands in their pockets with no intention of doing anything that might bother anyone. A flock of about 30 Canada Geese did not seem too worried.

John Rowland wrote:

---

hi Anthony, just to answer your question. the boxes in the fields have been put in primarilly for Barn Owls which have been seen in the area last year. to the best of my knowledge the boxes have not been visited by anything including kestrels!

the tawny owl nest at the back of the farm and very often bring the owllets down around the farm building which is fantastic as they watch you as much as you watch them Great. please keep scanning the two boxes in the fields and let me know if you are lucky enough to see anything ivestigating them. i also have two tawny owl boxes to go up which will be done when the arborists come back to finnish the tree work.

hi john, glad you asked that! i have just applied for a grant to have 9 ponds dug in three of the fieilds and in 'Pylon' field there will be a large scrape dug out adjacent to the lay bye on Vale Road. you can alway see snipe from the gate there if you scan the slightly flooded area which coincidentally is the site for the scrape.

as well as the snipe i'm hoping it will attract other wader species (even if it's only on passage) as well and maybe if i can keep the grass short enough in the run up to breeding season a nesting pair of lapwing, fingers crossed.

As you say John, the waders (if any are attracted) will be on passage. I'd much prefer the emphasis being on sedentary farmland birds as this is after all farmland. I wonder if I'm the only contributor to these boards who remembers tree sparrows and grey partridges that used to frequent the area along the Goyt valley? Any progress is an improvement of course, so good luck with it all.

Andy


cheers, jr

---

Agree with Nigel, that i've always found it frustrating that a place the size of Stockport does seem to be short on prime nature reserves, so its good to hear of some development in the area.
Always had the impression that the town & surrounding area were a bit of a 'no mans land' when i comes to nature conservation.
Although officially within the boundary of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust, its my own opinion that very little seems to be covered by them this far north, maybe someone could prove me wrong, as i would love to be able to volunteer to do some conservation work locally, but the opportunities seem very limited.

Rant over !

Thanks for your answer John and of course I'll let you know if I see anything of interest.

Great news about the ponds.
Actually it's made my day and I feel quite excited about the prospect...I've often thought that a small wetland area would work well at Chadkirk and fingers crossed you get the grant.
Please let us know how you get on with that.

Anthony

John Rowland wrote:

---

... just applied for a grant to have 9 ponds dug in three of the fieilds and in 'Pylon' field there will be a large scrape dug out adjacent to the lay bye on Vale Road.



Excellent! I hope your application is successful.

You are correct, you can see some flooded bits in Broad Heys from the farm road. No waders today but 2 Dipper and 1 Grey Wagtail on the brook.

Cheers, John

John Rowland wrote:

---

hi john,

... all the tree work that is currently being undertaken in Kirk and Little woods is part of the woodland management plan...

---

Thanks for that detailed explanation John.

Whilst we are on the subject of habitat management is there any chance of creating an area for waders etc in the middle of the field with the pylon (forgot it's real name), which could be viewed from a footpath. I have had good counts of Snipe on the overgrown Chadkirk Mill pool opposite this field and during the recent cold spell watched Snipe, Lapwing and Canada Geese dropping in to what is obviously a small open area. Unfortunately this open area is not visible from any path. I'm not asking for anything grand - just a bit of viewable mud

Cheers, John

hi john,

glad you asked that. all the tree work that is currently being undertaken in Kirk and Little woods is part of the woodland management plan. the trees that are earmarked for felling or taking the tops out to leave as standing dead wood are mainly sycamore.

the aim is to reduce the number of this invasive and dominant tree species and to open up the woodland floor so that a proper ground layer can develop. i have a lot of whips to be planted in the cleared areas including hazel, silver birch, rowan and oak which will be more beneficial to wildlife and create a less dense tree canopy which will enable the ground flora and bramble thickets to thrive.

the crown lifting along the brook is achieving several things including clearing the footpath of branches which were over hanging and a possible risk of poking peoples in the eyes, and it will also open up the brook and bankings which in turn should thicken the vegetation up and provide more opportunities for nesting site for birds. the hedge should also benefit from the extra light and should thicken up also.

two previous years fellings have left the previously bare earth bankings with a flush of wild flowers (yellow pimpernel, fox gloves, bluebells to name but a few) and soft rush. all this new ground flora along with the lying dead timber is providing food and shelter for a variety of invertibrates, fungi and of course bird nestting sites. small rodents also benefit from this and a healthy invert and mammal population supports a healthy bird population (the small mammal population helps my resident tawny owls produce young every year).

hope this helps a little.

jr

Hi Nigel, glad your impressed with the name, and as you rightly say Chadkirk, Green Flag Site, Conservation Area, Local Nature Reserve and Accredited Country Park is a bit of a mouthful and a bit difficult to get on a sign! Any way i'm glad you managed a quick walk around my 'Grand' site.

You would have stood a better chance of seeing Dipper if you had gone from the car park heading north along the brook as i saw dippers every day last week whilst crown lifting the adjacent trees. This is due in the main to the fact that you quite rightly point out that when the river is in spate they do along with the Kingfishers use the tributarys more.

I've been seeing the Stock Doves for about three years now and are offten over looked by many bird watchers who asume they are feral pigeons.

JR

Sad to have missed the little egret. Earlier in the week, there were 7 goosander on the Goyt above the weir. They disappeared when the river started to freeze over, presumably the same ones seen downstream later. There were also 6 teal on the Goyt,
and a reed bunting near the car park.

Albert

No Little Egret in early morning search but 3 Dippers on the brook and 1 Snipe in Pylon Field.

Cheers, John

Sounds as thought you parked past the kennels on what is now know as Goyt Valley Local Valley Nature Reserve Rob.

You can get a car or two on the left at the entrance to the kennels, or on the left immediately off the lane by the bridge, but not in the snow you will not get out. We pushed a car yesterday there.

You can park in the Chadkirk car park on Vale Road(1st right over the bridge after the crossing - but not in the snow as the barrier is down)

Geoff

Had a quick detour around on morning of 7 Jan, no sign of the Egret, but did flush a Snipe which was in the Brook (does it have a name?). It arked(spelling?) around the field and landed back in the brook downstream near the car park, just as I got it in the bins, away it flew again, this time over the wood across the main road.
Warmed up in the Garden Centre, and as I was having a pot of tea, 2 more Snipe flew off East towards the High School.
Dipper, Grey Wagtail and Song Thrush also in the Brook
Back at work now(boo, hiss!), so might post again in a few months time.
Chris H

lovely "meander" today. Blue sky, snow everywhere. We went down Chadkirk, and across into Goyt Valley LNR to the river bridge and then to Goyt Hall Farm and back by the stream to the Chapel.

We did not see the Egret, but had a snack at the garden centre with a guy who had seen it in the stream and taken some photos.

On the stream was a dipper and a grey wagtail, with buzzards flying overhead.
Robin
great tit
longtailed tit
blackbirds
snipe
lapwing in the pylon field among some canada geese.
Song and mistle thrush

Little Egret still present 14.00 - 15.00

In the small dip in Pylon Field were 8 Canada Geese, 1 Lapwing and at least 1 Snipe. Treecreeper by Chadkirk Kennels and 15 or so Mandarin on the river.

Cheers, John

The Little Egret was in the usual brook close to the car park between 10.00 and 11.00 and I had my camera with me this time. During the hour it was flushed frequently by dog walkers but soon returned each time. It was feeding successfully by foot paddling and I watched it catch small fish on two occasions.

Also on the brook were 2 Dippers and 1 Grey Wagtail. 8 Snipe landed in deep snow in Pylon Field and disappeared - there appears to be a very small open patch in the middle of this field. On the River Goyt 3 Goosander and a Kingfisher.

Cheers, John

I did Geoff, not brilliant pictures I'm affraid and not a patch on Rob's from yesterday...I'm hoping he'll hang around for a few more days so I can have another go.

11am
Little Egret showing well still in water filled ditch in 'Pylon Field' as well as 5 Oystercatcher and a dozen or so Lapwing.
Oystercatchers were seen off by Lapwing and headed towards the river.
Egret was seen off by Lapwing a short time later and settled in the brook where I watched him fish rather sucessfully for about 10 minutes before he headed off back to the Pylon Field.

Heady days at Chadkirk...Not use to all this excitement around here!

Oh and just to round things off...

A dozen or so Redwing in woods near Bredbury Hall.

Anthony


-- Edited by Anthony Dixon on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 03:27:11 PM