Passed by Harridge on the way to Alphin pike this morning around 10am
c20 lapwing
2 stonechat
3 buzzards
1 ring ouzel
2 Jays
Saw a pair of starlings mating which has to be one of the funniest and most endearing things Ive seen in a long time
Couple of Willow Warbler having a sing-off mid afternoon just below the Rifle Ranges. Redpoll the other highlight in the birch wood a little further on.
Blustery walk this morning over Harridge and up past higher swineshaw
3 lapwing
2 buzzard
8 chiffchaff
4 Reed bunting
4 goosander on lower swineshaw
1 kestrel
3 buzzard
3 Jays
Wednesday 9.30 am onwards
Round Harridge and across towards Alphin then back through Upper Swineshaw and down to the country park
5 lapwing in the field on the left towards Harridge
4 buzzards hunting on the top of Harridge
5 goosander on higher swineshaw
4 Reed bunting
1 kestrel perched ready to hunt
1 peregrine over higher swineshaw
Walk up to higher swineshaw this eve 6.15
6 geeenfinch
20+ pheasant
4 goosander
1 cormorant
3 song thrush
3 kestrel
1 common buzzard
1 grouse
2 Reed bunting
Walk round Harridge up to swineshaw and back behind gamekeeper 9.45 this morning
3 lapwing in the field on the left up towards Harridge
9 greenfinch
5 buzzards
3 kestrel
3 gsw
Lots of pheasant today
Walk mon 29th up through the country park to upper swineshaw and back from 6pm
2 gsw in the country park
2 kestrel
2 buzzards
Several song thrush near brushes res
2 tawny owls calling
Walk up to higher swineshaw around 10 am -
2 common buzzard
2 kestrel
4 goosander (thanks for the heads up David!)
2 bullfinch in country park
2 Jays
1 great spotted woodpecker
Up to top of Harridge in a brisk E wind no binoculars (if only to demonstrate that it was exercise not leisure!), but birds still included: Woodcock (in dry gully heading NW towards the top) Meadow pipit Red grouse (including low down below pennine bridleway on far side) Grey wagtail Red-legged partridge Pheasant Grey heron (over) Raven Jay Lapwing
Walk up Harridge and around to Alphin yesterday in the rain - first buzzard of the year hunting. 3 bullfinch, at least 10 long tailed tits all darting through the trees. 6 chaffinch, 2 great spotted woodpecker. 4 Jays.
Lots of walks over the past weeks Wednesday 13th Lots of grouse/pheasants up Harridge Upper swineshaw was bitter and just a few robins to keep me company. Walkerwood/brushes by the cottages 2 nuthatch 3 great spotted woodpecker 1 bullfinch 2 long tailed tits In the country park 2 great spotted woodpecker 3 bullfinch 4 long tailed tits 5 coal tits
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of January 2021 04:46:38 PM
Higher I went the more snow underfoot with a bit of ice.
Coal, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tit. Mistle Thrush and Blackbird Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Bullfinch Wren and Robin A few pheasants Lots of Magpies, some crows, and that was about it.
Buzzard 2 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush 2 mixed tit flocks; Nuthatch and Treecreeper with the flock down by Walkerwood Reservoir, Goldcrest with the flock up by the Scout Hut. Great Spotted Woodpecker
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 20th of December 2020 01:29:20 PM
Walked a few times up to higher swineshaw in the past few weeks - best sights have been
2 rooks near brushes reservoir, very imposing and lovely to watch
14 Jays I counted in one walk - this time of year is great for Jays
1 wren
Walks up to wild bank have been a bit quieter recently.
3 kestrel
1 hobby
2 wrens
Lots of game birds amongst the Heathers
Bit of a blustery walk today around wild bank and up to the trig point. A wheatear was the best sighting of the morning. A couple of kestrel trying to hunt.
Walk up near the farms and to Hobson moor and back around 10.30am
3 kestrel
5 Chiffchaff
1 buzzard being pestered by a hobby (I think!)
Lots of juvenile goldfinch near the quarry
2 jays near swallows wood
Six Oystercatchers flew from an easterly direction, circled Walkerwood Reservoir, and carried on westward, at 7.25am. Four returned a couple of minutes later and dropped onto Brushes Dam, obviously realising this was Tamesides premiere wader site.
-- Edited by David Walsh on Wednesday 10th of June 2020 07:57:07 AM
Stalybridge Country Park, top half, by Brushes Road, without seeing another soul. Like the good old days.
1 Goldcrest with 2 fledglings 9 singing Blackcap, and a couple seen food carrying 6 singing Willow Warblers, plus some with food 7 singing Chiffchaff, again a couple collecting insects 4 singing Wren, plus some juveniles buzzing around, and one adult carrying nesting material 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, an adult plus two juveniles together, but in separate area Nuthatch calling Pair of Bullfinch Couple of Lesser Redpoll over Pair of Swift over 4 singing Song Thrush
Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbirds and Mistle Thrush all seen carrying food Pair of Grey Wagtail on Walkerwood Reservoir 2 Cormorant also on Walkerwood Whitethroat singing in the gorse on the northern side of Walkerwood