Mild

Mill Ponds
------------

Cracking close up views of the Water Rail this morning
1m Mandarin
3 Cormorant
19 Tufted Duck
1m Goldeneye
1 Great Crested Grebe
21 Coot
62 Canada Geese
9 Goosander
1m Kestrel

Ross Lave Lane
--------------------

6 House Sparrows

Horse Close Wood to Mill Ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 Jay
17 Teal
2 Goosander

Mill Pools

The male Goldeneye was back today but flew off (west) at 8.15.
Gadwall (pair)
Mandarin (m)
Pochard (m)
Goosander (4m, 2f)
Mute Swan (2ad, 3 juv)
GS Woodpecker over

Two good sightings of the Water Rail which was pottering around the inflow at the north corner of the top pool until flushed by a dog walker.

Cheers, John

Hi Tony,

Good to meet up. I didn't see anything else.

Found the feeding station, but not the Arctic Redpoll feeding there ;).

Look forwrd to reading your reports.

Best wishes,


Tom

Cool but bright

Mill Ponds
------------

128 Canada Geese
25 Tufted Duck
29 Coots
14 Goosander
6 Cormorant
35 Black Headed Gulls
1 Common Gull 1stw

Ross Lave Lane
--------------------

1 Peregrine over south

River Tame
--------------

3 Teal

A brief walk around the ponds with Dan Mossman produced 3 Gadwall (2m,1f) a real rarity for this location.

Cold, cloudy

Mill Ponds
------------

31 Coot
1 Goosander
10 Canada Geese
9 Tufted Duck
5 Moorhen
1 Heron
1 Kestrel
23 Black Headed Gull

Horse Close Wood to Wetland Area via River Tame and boardwalk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

No sign of Wigeon this morning
3 Teal
c200 Redwing
15 Fieldfare

Work progressing nicely on wetland area, a number of ponds have been created and are full of water already! Digging continuing. Please note some footpaths are closed whilst work is in progress.

Wonder if the Wigeon I saw yesterday swam up via Stockport and on to the Tame? Probably be in Dukinfield tomorrow.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 8th of February 2012 09:25:52 PM

Strangely less ice than yesterday. Cold -3c.

Mill ponds
------------

90% Frozen

109 Canada Geese
42 Coots
57 Mallard
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Heron
8 Common Gull (Adult)
3 Lesser Black Backed (2 Adult 1 First Winter)
161 Black Headed Gull

Ross Lave Lane
--------------------

12 House Sparrow
4 Greenfinch
Feeding station starting to attract attention from Blue Tits, Robins, Dunnocks and the odd Chaffinch

Horse Close Wood to Mill ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Nuthatch
6 Teal
1 Buzzard
c200 Redwing
15 Fieldfare
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Jay

News hot off the press!

New Wetland Reddish Vale Country Park

Work commencing on the 7th February 2012 (depending on water levels on the river)

Stockport Council is working in partnership with the Environment Agency to create a new wetland area in Reddish Vale Country Park.

The project will greatly enhance the biodiversity of the area for amphibians and wading birds. The wetlands area will consist of three new ponds, reedbeds and shallow seasonal wet areas located on a former reservoir which was drained a number of years ago.

The project aims to create a 0.6 hectare area of reedbed and wetland which will have regional importance for migratory birds.

Exciting news, who knows maybe i'll be adding Bittern to my patch list in the future. My only worry is the amount of disturbance the site will get from dogs etc We shall have to wait and see how the site develops.

Sightings today....(No Bittern of course)..

Mill Ponds
------------

127 Canada Geese
29 Tufted Duck
3 Moorhen
23 Coot
106 Mallard
5 Goosander
2 Pochard
164 Black Headed Gulls
7 Common Gulls

Ross Lave Lane
--------------------

8 House Sparrows

Horse Close Wood to Mill Ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Chaffinch
2 Dipper
6 Teal
6 Pied Wagtail
1 Buzzard
c200 Redwing
15 Fieldfare
90 Starlings
1 Heron

Nick, it was a curried one actually!

Cold, cloudy.

Mill Ponds
------------

120 Canada Geese
28 Tufted Duck
4 Moorhen
28 Coot
1 Little Grebe
12 Goosander
2 Pochard
2 Herons

Ross Lave Lane to Hyde Hall Farm
-------------------------------------------

2 Mistle Thrush
1 Kestrel
2 Greenfinch

Horse Close wood to mill ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 Teal (R.Tame)
27 Fieldfare
1 Carrion Crow with lots of white in both wings

Cool, light breeze

Mill Ponds
------------

32 Coot
30 Tufted Duck
78 Canada Geese
8 Goosander
2 Pochard
1 Kestrel F

Ross Lave Lane to Hyde Hall Farm
-------------------------------------------

36 Redwing
1 Chaffinch

(I have set up a feeding area on Ross Lave Lane on the right hand side just beyond the motorway but before the Hyde Hall, it consists of a Fray Bentos tin nailed on a post and a scattering of apples and seed on the ground below. Not hi-tech I know but it might just work! Feel free to add to it, I shall visit as often as I can to keep it stocked.)

Horse Close Woods to Mill Ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2 Jay
1 Stock dove
6 Teal and 2 Goosander (R. Tame)
c.75 Black Headed Gull
1 Buzzard

(The head warden told me that work begins on a new wetland area on 7th February, some pools and a number of scrapes are to be created and an area will be planted with Phragmites-sounds interesting!)

Mild but another windy one

Mill Ponds
------------

26 Tufted Duck
31 Coot
2 Moorhen
96 Canada Geese
68 Mallard
8 goosander
2 Heron
2 Pochard
4 Cormorant
Best of all 1 Water Rail - Stonking views, thanks Mr Rayner!

Ross Lave Lane
--------------------

c.390 Black Headed Gull - Again picked through the flock but no surprises.
1 Sparrowhawk F

Horse Close Wood to Mill Ponds via River Tame and boardwalk
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

85 Redwing

Mild, light breeze

Mill Ponds
------------

50% Frozen despite the temperature

96 Canada Geese
37 Coot
11 Tufted Duck
3 Moorhen
5 Mute Swan 2 Ad 3 Imm
5 Goosander 2 M 3 F
1 Pochard M
2 Grey Heron
36 Black Headed Gulls
1 Common Gull

Horse Close Wood to Mill Ponds via Boardwalk
----------------------------------------------------------

2 Coal Tit
20 Teal 9M 11F
1 Jay

Frosty, winds calm

Mill Ponds
------------
75% frozen

39 Coot
35 Tufted Duck
5 Mute Swan 2 Ad 3 Imm
4 Goosander M
1 Grey Heron
1 Cormorant
153 Black Headed Gull
1 Common Gull
8 Canada Geese
1 Bullfinch M

Ross Lave Lane to Hyde Hall Farm
-------------------------------------------

1 Buzzard
5 House Sparrow

Horse Close Wood to Mill ponds via boardwalk
----------------------------------------------------------

2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
9 Teal
1 Bullfinch F
C. 130 Redwing
4 Fieldfare
1 Mistle thrush

Light Frost, Wind Calm

Mill ponds
------------

4 Goosander 3M 1F
29 Tufted Duck
c.60 Canada Geese
2 Pochard M+F
5 Mute Swan 2ad 3imm
9 Collared Dove

Ross Lave Lane to Hyde Hall Farm
-------------------------------------------

c.120 Redwing
5 House Sparrow
8 Long Tailed Tit

Horse Close Wood to Mill Ponds via boardwalk
----------------------------------------------------------

1 Coal tit
2 Nuthatch
5 Teal
2 Bullfinch M+F
4 Pied Wagtail
2 Goosander M+F
C.40 Black Headed Gull

Mill Ponds (15.15 - dusk)

Best was a very vocal Water Rail which was squealing repeatedly at the top end of 1st Mill Pond but flashed its white undertail coverts ever so briefly.

1 Kingfisher (4 sightings all presumed to be the same individual)
3 Goosander (m, 2f)
1 Shoveler (m)
2 Grey Herons
5 Mute Swans (2 ad, 3 juv)
c18 Tufted Duck
9 Collared Doves (in what looked like the beginnings of a roost)

Cheers, John

19.11.11. Nice weather, not many birds

Mill ponds
------------

1F Pochard

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm
-----------------------------------

1 Song Thrush
10 Redwing
1 Stock Dove
1 Siskin

Hyde Hall Farm to Mill Ponds via Boardwalk
------------------------------------------------------

2 Teal
1 Goosander
1 Kingfisher
1 Siskin
1 Mistle Thrush

Horse Close Wood
------------------------------------------------------
Nuthatch
Coal Tit

On several occasions now, driving to and from work along the M60, just South of the Denton Roundabout, I have seen a flock of around 40-50 Lapwings (my best guess estimate while driving at 70mph, but could be more) heading across the motorway from the industrial estate on the East side and into the Reddish Vale area.

Cheers,

Steve.

Sunday 25th September

Mill Ponds to Hyde Hall Farm
-----------------------------------

1 Sparrowhawk
1 Dodgy Barnacle grazing on fields with Canada Geese

7th September 2011

Oh my gosh what a morning, spent most of the time sheltering from the monsoon. Only birds of note were 2 Grey Wagtails by the main Mill Pond. I did not see any Shearwaters or Petrels either John

25/07/11

Mill Ponds
------------

2 Adult Mute Swans with 3 Cygnets
2 Adult Great Crested Grebes with 2 well grown young

Bridleway to Hyde hall Farm
-----------------------------------

1 Buzzard
3 Lapwings

Hyde Hall Farm to Mill Ponds via Boardwalk
------------------------------------------------------

1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Grasshopper warbler (Heard only of course!)

Cool but Sunny morning

Hyde Hall Farm to Mill Ponds via Boardwalk

1 Dipper (juv)
1F Goosander
1M Reed Bunting

Sunny morning

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm

1 Skylark
4 Lapwing
4 Swallow

Hyde Hall Farm to Mill Ponds via Boardwalk

Goosander 2M 3F
1 Heron
1 Kestrel M

Cloudy at first brightening later

Mill Ponds

2 Heron
2 Great Crested Grebe

Bridleway to Hyde Hall Farm

1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Common Whitethroat
4 Swallows
3 Lapwings
2 Stock Dove
4 Swallows

Hyde Hall Farm via Boardwalk to Mill Ponds

1 Grasshopper Warbler (Heard only)
1 Reed Bunting
3 Goosander on river
Common Sandpiper (Heard only)
Plenty of Common Whitethroats on return to Mill Ponds