John Rowland the Manager of the Country Estate spotted a little egret this afternoon. I caught up with him soon after and we had a good view of it in the Pylon field, and then in the stream by the car park. Also saw quite a few snipe again, and a couple of lapwing and a mistle thrush. John said there had been loads of redwing in the woods as well.
-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 08:25:56 PM
I slithered down to the valley, but not a lot doing. robins,great tit,blackbirds,mistle thrush,flying cormorant, and a couple of snipe visible in the usual place,from the gate overlooking the pylon field.
You are a brave lad JohnAssume you drove to the car park? I thought of walking down from the village, but the paths are so bad in Romiley, that I would have had no bones left to break by the time I got down the valley. I cannot believe how bad it is underfoot.
Quick walk at lunchtime along the Goyt from Marple Dale to Chadkirk, curtailed somewhat by driving snow.
Tawny Owl roosting & mobbed by a couple of Rooks, on the walk down to the farm. Flock of approx 8 Longtailed Tits. Male & Female Goosander at the Chadkirk bend
A little more activity yesterday (wed) after a very quiet couple of months.
Heron on small pond in field by the weir gate dipper on the stones to the right just down from the weir. Tree Creeper on tree just over the wall at the rear of the Chapel. Few tits of various sort
Went for a walk with the view of photographing the Meadow Pipits I'd seen at the weekend...No sign today, but a very fine replacement in the form of a Stonechat.
The female Dipper was colour ringed this morning as follows:- right tarsus Light green over BTO metal, left tarsus dark pink. The bird fledged in 2008
Would just like to thank you again Tony for allowing me to photograph the ringing of this beautiful bird this morning. I have sent Ian some photographs of the Dipper, so he may put them on the site.
Apart from that Dipper, there was another one with a siver BTO ring by the dam on the river. 2 Grey Wagtail at the same location. c15 Redwing 2 GS Woodpecker 4 Song Thrush chasing each other Plenty of Dunnock in the hedgerows and all the usuals.
Goosander on River Goyt Great Spotted Woodpecker Jay Mistle Thrush Song Thrush Great Tit Blue Tit Long-tailed Tit Nuthatch Robin Dunnock Chaffinch Greenfinch Blackbird Mallard Woodpigeon Magpie Carrion Crow
I will be there at 11 am this morning with my scope if anyone is about?
Geoff
Edit:-
The Snipe were still there, but a lot harder to see today - even at 40x. I know the dog walkers quite well now, and one could not see them even though there were in the middle of the scope. I am glad of all the teaching I get from the lead of "we three"
I parked my car on the trading estate car park close to the fence that seperates it from the 'mill pond' the other day and when I returned, with my camera equipment, a security bloke who was picking up litter said "You're not thinking of going on that wasteland are you?" I explained that I was returning to my car and asked him if there was anything on there? He seemed to take an age to answer and just said "No, but it used to be a nice place before they filled it in" As I got to my car, I saw a Heron taking off on the land.
Similar expeirence to the one John had the other week and I got the feeling that there is definatly some interesting wildlife in there (you can certainly hear plenty of activity), but alas we're not welcome to take a look...More than likely paranoia over health and safety.
Got a phone call from John the Manager this morning to say there were at least 5 Snipe. I did not pick the message up until 12.45, but went down and managed to see three.
Just past the car park opposite the "lay-by" is a large field with a pond/flood water near the hedge
If you stand at the fence opposite the prominent dark green "plant" and go to the back ot the water and slightly left you should see them(if thet are still there)
Thanks for the Dipper sightings. Guessing I would suggest that the ringed bird is one of ours and is a dispersing female. The white ring on right tarsus sounds like a shiny BTO metal ring; those of us involved in the project find the colour rings difficult to interpret. How on earth do people involved in long tailed tit colour ringing, yes they do exist, get on?! Some time in the next couple of months we will attempt to mist net the ringed bird and colour ring it. If we are successful we will post the details on this threasd
Tony, on closer inspection of the photographs I took today, the ring is indeed metalic. Good luck with your ringing.
Thanks for the Dipper sightings. Guessing I would suggest that the ringed bird is one of ours and is a dispersing female. The white ring on right tarsus sounds like a shiny BTO metal ring; those of us involved in the project find the colour rings difficult to interpret. How on earth do people involved in long tailed tit colour ringing, yes they do exist, get on?! Some time in the next couple of months we will attempt to mist net the ringed bird and colour ring it. If we are successful we will post the details on this threasd
Nature favours the foolish Well done John, I have yet to see a Dipper on the stream. Seen Grey Wags, especially where it comes in from under the road, but to see all three
I went down this afternoon minus bins!! and thought I saw a pair of Lapwings on the ground ,but could not verify. Anyone else seen an down there this year?
Better today Heron in large field and one cross the weir. Goldcrest in tree behind the "Water Station" at the weir Cormorant Robins LongTailed Tits Blue Tits Great Tits Blackbirds Grey Wagtail on at the Inlet on the small stream by the road
Where have all the birds gone? - probably too cold
Yesterday produced 1 Heron in the large field and two Robins, and today just 3 Robins and a couple of Great/Blue Tits on the RSPB Feeders and a Blackbird.. Even the man who had just filled the feeders said there was nothing doing.
Hi Anthony, It was far to far away for a newcomer like me to recognize, but it did feel like a Buzzard. Yes, I see the kestrel fairly often. Don't know how often you get down there, but I could be available most afternoons Mon-Thurs, and Sat/Sun pm if needs be, and we could meet ?
I can walk there in 15/20 mins, so don't really need a lot of notice, other than availability.
Geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 23:41, 2008-11-26
Hi Geoff, I usually get down there on a Saturday or Sunday Morning and a couple of evenings a week in the summer. I don't think I'll make it there this weekend, but more than likely the week after. I'll give you a shout next week and perhaps we could meet up there.
Hi Anthony, It was far to far away for a newcomer like me to recognize, but it did feel like a Buzzard. Yes, I see the kestrel fairly often. Don't know how often you get down there, but I could be available most afternoons Mon-Thurs, and Sat/Sun pm if needs be, and we could meet ?
I can walk there in 15/20 mins, so don't really need a lot of notice, other than availability.
4 Robin Gtr.SW flying Kingfisher Song Thrush Blackbird Gt.Tit Mallard Bird of prey of some sort, on the dead tree at the front of the woods across the weir
Geoff, I'm guessing the bird of prey you saw would have been a buzzard...Up to three of them have been roosting in that dead tree in the last few months. There is plenty of Kestrel activity in the area also.
I was down there Saturday and there was a beautiful looking Jay in the field next to the car park by Otterspool road...
4 Robin Gtr.SW flying Kingfisher Song Thrush Blackbird Gt.Tit Mallard Bird of prey of some sort, on the dead tree at the front of the woods across the weir
Just walking down the road last night, and spotted a Mandarin in the field. Had a good look. It was stood up. so had a really good view.it then flew to a pool in the next field. Guess it was one of the "Etherow contingent"
Geoff
As an aside, today at my brothers house near Warrington, we were treated to a tree creeper climbing up the oak tree in his garden.