Today I recorded my first Willow Tit at this site, which might actually be a new location for this species, as I can't find any other records online. If anyone has any info please let me know:) coordinates of encounter are 53.614737, -2.331919 which can be viewed in Google Maps if anyone is interested.
Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs, and Blackcaps all in full song now!
Twenty years ago travelling down to Devon and Cornwall for the holidays, I'd expect to see my first buzzard from the M5 around Bristol. Yesterday, I watched a buzzard attempting to feed on a dead sheep in a field at the north end of the Kirklees Valley. It was mobbed by a gang of crows and magpies and eventually give up, flying off up the valley. Buzzards are now a regular sight north of Bury in the Tottington and Ramsbottom areas up to Holcombe Moor although I am not sure if these are established territories with breeding pairs. Even 5 years ago this was a rare occurence. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could say the same about Red Kites in a few years time.
A very good view of a woodcock flying low and NW over Old Kays Park at the north end of the Kirklees Valley. Only my second sighting here to add to one flushed from a dense copse a few years ago.
A bit of a walk to the Punkim Fest at Tottington with the family walk around back of Brandleshulme Old Hall (Good View of Medievil Cruck Barn) Bird Refuge and old Railway Several lodges not seen before enroute Two Buzzards, Kestrel, Grey Wagtail, Long Tailed Tits, Goosander, Bullfinch Nuthatch Treecreper and usuals Area has quite a lot to offer and not well watched
You're right Ian. I also live close to the Kirklees Valley and dippers nested there this year and last year. I watched parents taking food into a nest beneath the tangled roots of a tree which overhangs a very secluded, steep sided part of the valley. I also witnessed, sadly, a grey heron struggling for 15 minutes to swallow one of the juveniles which it had caught at the weir, just below the wild bird hospital. Up to five years ago, kingfishers also nested in a clay banking near where the new housing development is on the site of Kirklees Mill. But the whole banking collapsed after a storm and I haven't found any signs of nesting since.
I live close to the Kirklees Valley trail and know it very well. I covered it for the Bird Atlas survey. Dipper are present from Hawkshaw all along the Kirklees valley towards Bury. They breed - I have seen a number of juveniles over the years. There are also kingfisher but I am not sure if they breed there. Grey and pied wagtail do breed regularly. The goosander are regular winter visitors to Island Lodge and the other lodges in the valley - up to 20 mostly females but the odd male from time to time.
Kirklees Valley trail is a new Local Nature Reserve in Bury. It is between Tottington and Brandlesholme Road following the old Helmshore railway line up to Greenmount. There is also however extensive woodland, heathland, old lodges, fast running streams and pasture along its length that is accessible and part of the park. Access is along its route from various paths. The railway path is made up those in the woods less so. This puts Burrs to shame. Sightings 15 Goosander on a large lodge Treecreeper Nuthatch heard, pied wagtail green finch gold finch heron and all the usual. Looked good for Dipper as well. Well worth a more detailed visit.
