goyt valley nr buxton

[peter hill]

going out now to start this thread will report on what ive seen

[cheshirebirder]

Was up there myself today for an extensive walk with the wife. Apart from many willow warblers , the only migrants I picked up were 2 tree pipits in song between the main res. and the woodland walk.

[peter hill]

no migrents either today ,only things of note were 3 nuthatchs and a greater spotted woodpecker oh and 5 red deer but they all live there

[peter hill]

Had a long enjoyable walk today. Managed to see some migrants; 2 swallows, 3 sandpipers, 2 pied flycatchers, 4 tree pipits also heard 3 chiffchaffs but didn't manage to see them. Other birds of note, Tawny Owl, 3 greater spotted woodpeckers, 3 tree creepers, 5 nuthatches, grey wagtail, 3 ravens, 1 buzzard, 2 kestrels, 5 curlews and 1 mistle thrush. Took a photo of a tree pipit.

[peter hill]

also dodgy snap of owl

[peter hill]

Out again today more pied flys female aswell this time also 4 redstarts and further down the valley 1 woodwarbler 1 dipper and a bat fly about in the sunshine

[peter hill]

Went a short walk up the Goyt Valley today, starting at Hillbridge. Saw Pied Flycatcher and Wood Warbler, Dipper and Grey Wagtail. Plenty of chiff chaffs and willow warblers. Further up the valley, encountered what appeared to be a cream capped willow warbler. Have put it on the ID page to see if anyone knows what it is. 2 Common sandpipers at Errwood Reservoir plus some more pied flycatchers. Missed the Redsdtarts which had been there earlier. Over to Dane Boller to see the Wheatears and Ring Ousels. The Rousels were around but didn't see them. Curlew and Kestrel seen coming back by the Goyt Valley, a good day.

[peter hill]

Nothing much about today but did see a couple of pied flys and 2 sparrow hawks doing a circling display flight ,only out for a hour and a half hoping to do a long walk friday as long as its not raining to hard :-O

[peter hill]

out this morning around errwood res 2 common sandpipers then i heard a cuckoo walked half a mile up hill to get a snap of it for it to fly off when i was 40 yrds away anway its the first one ive seen this year, later i saw anther first for this year a spotted fly chatcher also managed a snap of a young jay not the best photo but they are very shy ;)

[JimMorris]

Peter, I'm off to the Goyt valley tomorrow. I've been to Lathkill before and seen Dippers there but not a lot more. As the Goyt is a large area what part of it would you recommend for birding and photography. Thanks.
Jim.

[peter hill]

I recommend Errwood really. Drive down to the reservoir, across the dam and park up on the right at the top of the hill. If you're there early you would be able to park in Errwood Hall car park which is further up towards Derbyshire Bridge, just before the one way system. If you walk along the road, up the side of the reservoir and cross the bridge, when you come to the car park, turn right and walk upwards towards the hall, until you come to another track, follow that track left keeping an eye out for tree pipits, redstarts, pied flycatchers and willow warblers. Follow this track until it meets up with the road again, cross the road, go through a gate and go onto a river walk up the valley. Follow this path, also possibilities of pied flycatchers, it was on this path I saw the spotted yesterday. Greater spotted woodpeckers frequent this area and there is also a possibility of tawny owls. Check the river for grey wagtails. This path eventually leads back to the road, it may be worth following the road up for a mile or so where you could see red grouse and possibly birds of prey. It depends how far you want to walk. If you are thinking of going very early tomorrow, there is a led walk by a Derbyshire Ranger from Derbyshire Bridge car park at 6 -9.45am. A dawn chorus walk which is about 5 miles, which I will be attending. good Luck and good birding.

[notatwitcher!]

And if you go out via the one-way to Derbyshire Bridge - evenings, there are short-eared owls at least as well as the grouse and kestrel - and possible other raptors. Thats 1st left after the DB car park and around/on the bend/over the tops. Possibly from a morning walk as well. Odd Curlew and Lapwing etc.

Mike

[JimMorris]

Thank you very much folks for the info. Shame I can't be there before 10.00am. I've just had a look on Google Earth and I am sure I've been along Errwood Res before.

Peter = If you see a Swift Royal camper van parked in the car park just past the bridge give us a knock and have a cuppa.

Mike = Thanks for the additional info.
Jim.

[peter hill]

Thanks for the offer of a cuppa, but I'd finished the dawn chorus walk at 10.00 and the ranger had arranged for us to partake of a bacon butty and coffee at The Cat and Fiddle. Had a great walk, saw 3 golden plover, cuckoo, pied flycatcher, tree pipit, common sandpiper, red grouse, buzzard, hobby, raven, nuthatch, spotted flycatcher, dipper and grey wagtail. After our breakfast, we headed over to Carsington Water - saw a Garganey which was very nice. Also found a female Scaup (see Derbyshire thread for photos).

[peter hill]

PS forgot to ask how did your day go:t:

[peter hill]

Another couple of hours in the valley today very quite not much about today , me and my wife saw 1 redstart 1 pied fly 1 tree pipet 1 misle thrush 1 common sand and not much else met 4 other birders they saw the same or less , the birds seemed to be hiden ,mybe its the rain :-C

[peter hill]

Another longer walk out today saw 2 kingfishers a 3 dippers ln the valley before fernilee res once at errwood 2 common sands 3 stone chats above the res 3 kestrals no sign of the cuckoo or the pied flys the leaf cover is making it hard , 2 siskins on the way back and a greater spotted woodpecker ;)

[peter hill]

Bit of a change today caught bus to buxton walked back via burbage derbyshire bridge the reses and the valley ,nice suprise to see 2 linnet climbing out of burbage not a rare bird but not seen any for a while the ususal medow pipets and curlew, lapwing 2 stone chats a red bunting and a dipper on the infant goyt . riverside walk 2 redstarts and 2 spotted flys and 2 raven , top end of errwood common sand a few willow warblers and a blackcap below fernilee res 2 more dippers 2 jays and a kingfisher by the river just before taxel :eat:

[peter hill]

Been to norfolk for a week, back now saw this spotted fly feeding above the goyt in whaley bridge near the white hart

[peter hill]

Another enjoyable walk in the valley yesterday ,was dropped of near the cat and fiddle 2nd highest pub in england after seeing a few wheatears and lapwings took the road down came upon a family of stonechats and a couple of grey wagtails before reaching the woods , was hoping for a pied flycatcher and managed 1 just past the old quarry hear a couple of redstarts and a cuckoo caught up with the redstart a bit farther down then managed to see the cuckoo in flight throw in a couple of treepipets half a dozen curlews a nuthatch 3 skylarks and 3 kestrals a misle thrush and a few more common birds and a hot sunny day what more could you want ps 2 people from dorset told me they had seen a pair of winchat near the cat and fiddle :t:

[peter hill]

Did not manage to get out in the goyt valley this weekend as we went to anglesy we called in at conway rspb on the way for coffee and cakes in the new cafe a1 , not a great deal of birds about some blacktailed godwits little egrets and shell ducks oh and about a dozen curlew On to anglesy and south stack we saw a few choughs loads of guilimots and razerbills a copuple of fulmars and stonechats and 3 puffins and as we were leaving a hooded crow the first we have seen in wales , and early morning walk i pick up a couple of gannets a wheatear and 3 more choughs We later went to hollyhead country park and saw a couple of ravens by the breakwater and 2 whitethroats on the low bushs nearby back to south stack to see the rock living birds again then on to cemlin bay for the te rns we got 3 types common artic and sandwitch ,then to finsh the weekend we called back at conway and saw a black swan here is a fat whitethroat

[peter hill]

Had another enjoyable day out in the valley. Lots of chicks about. Nuthatches, pied flycatchers, curlews and red grouse. Adult birds seen; grey wagtail, dipper, common sandpiper, greater spotted woodpecker, stonechat, buzzard, kestrels and various other common birds. Finally managed to catch up with a pair of Whinchats on the road between Derbyshire Bridge and the Cat & Fiddle.

[notatwitcher!]

Peter, also on 13th on way out of Derbyshire Bridge on the left turn, had a Short-eared fly across just in front of the bonnet and then circle again. Meadow Pipit on stone on right. Also Grouse chicks around and a single Golden Plover on Axe Edge Moor

But point is met a guy up the road who said Ring Ouzel (nesting?) at the chimney near Dane Head on the Congleton Road. Have had a look but not seen although Wheatear family around. Have you heard anything?

Mike

[peter hill]

yes wheatears around the dane head chimney and ringed ouzels but the ouzels are soon spoked and can be hard to see if you sit down on the banks keep out of sight the wheatears will be seen as they fly about , there are short eared owls but im not saying were on the internet you dont know who is looking at these posts baby nuthatch then unwanted guest

[peter hill]

spotted fly still showing over bridge by the white hart in whaley bridge photo from a couple of days ago

[notatwitcher!]

Peter, PM'ed you, Mike

[peter hill]

had a short walk in the valley on saturdaynothing much of intrest 2 buzzards 2 kestrals and 5 ravens on long hill on the way to the walk

[peter hill]

went over to old moor yorkshire on sunday about 50 types of bird good day out also broomhill flash saw spoonbill at old moor photo on the yorkshire thread small vid on youtube spoonbill at old moor

[peter hill]

back in the valley today heard the flapping of wings started to turn round expecting a flock of canada geese but suprize it was 5 mute swans the first i have seen on errwood ever Also saw pied fly spotted fly raven misle thrush grey wagtail stone chat golden plover red grouse common sandpiper jay and 7 or 8 kestrals and some posing meadow pipets

[notatwitcher!]

Saw them mutes also yesterday on way back from Whaley, Peter - was also a bit surprised!. Still haven't seen the Ouzel on the Dane yet though.

Mike

[peter hill]

not seen them this year only been their twiceheres 1 from last year

[peter hill]

another long walk in the valley bus to buxton walked back over burbage then down valley back to whaley bridge Quite a few common birds at the start of the walk but as i left buxton numbers lessened a few meadow pipets a reed bunting a grey wag tail then nothing for half a mile or so next sighting was a mistle thrush my attention was then drawn to a group of birds in a small tree to my left theese turned out to be whinchats 1 adult and 2 young warblers seem scare today willow seen chif chaff heard no sign of any flycatchers four or 5 kestral s no buzzards By the side of fernilee res a group of treecreepers mixed with the chaffinchs and a few siskins flitting in the tree tops below the res blackcap heard but not seen then masses of swallows and house martins a 100 or so of each the day was finished of by 4 dippers heres 1 of the little guys

[peter hill]

Out again today for an early long walk nothing much about at first as it was to early before 5 oclock saw a kingfisher and a dipper on the way up the river goyt nothing much on fernilee res 6 canada geese and a few mallards on the climb up to errwood dam i saw a tawney owl about 25yrds away ,nice . Went up the other side of errwood today for a change just a few chaffys and great tits on the feeders saw a blackcap at the top end apart from that just a few kestrals tyhe bird were quite today the veiws were good

[neilmc]

That's a super area, thanks for publicising it. Was a good walk when I didn't have a car, I'd get the bus to Buxton then Burbage and walk up to the tops then all the way down via the reservoirs to Whaley Bridge.i

[peter hill]

fist trip down the valley for a long time trips to scotland suffolk and few trips to yorshire have got in the way, not realy expecting much as most of the summer birds have left did see quite a few meadow pipets and a suprizing amount of red grouse <at leest 20> there were a couple of mixed flocks of longtailed tits goldcreasts and coaltits and the odd chaffinch 1 kestral and while watching a flock of coal they started to become very distered alerting me to a sparrow hawk but the bird of the day was a peregrine seen much higher at the start of the walk no clues as theese are not realy welcome on grouse moors;)

[peter hill]

went out for a long walk on wednesday from Combs reservoir then over the hills to Errwood then back down the valley. A few mallards and a couple of tuffted ducks were the only thing showing on Combs then a heron and at the top end a greater spotted woodpecker. 2 bullfinches on the trees on the road out of Combs brightened the morning up.
A kestrel posed for a while on some overhead cables just before Whitehall. A couple of meadow pipits and stonechats flitted about on the posts just before reaching Long Hill. The only thing I could see on Errwood Reservoir was 1 cormorant and numerous waves. Turning down onto Fernilee Reservoir 3 noisy Jays flew alongside then disappeared into the big trees. Half way down I spotted a flock of siskins, I would think about 20 - 25. On descending the dam I saw what could be my last housemartins of the year, a small flock of about 6. The rest of the trip down the valley was pretty uneventful except for 2 mistle thrushes.

[peter hill]

Walked from Combs Reservoir this morning over towards the Goyt Valley. Birds of note around the reservoir were lesser black backed gull, greater crested grebe, greater spotted woodpecker and at the top end a male teal. On the road out of Combs village a tree on the left hand side held a collection of mistle thrushes and redwings. Just before leaving the road a mixed flock of blue tits, long tailed tits and great tits also held a bullfinch. Quite a few chaffinches showing this morning but as yet no sign of bramblings. Descending into the valley through the drizzly rain I spotted a couple of jays and the walk down the far side of the Errwood reservoir turned up a very posey kestrel which I managed to photograph. The walk through the wooded area didn't really turn up much apart from a treecreeper and sawcouple of meadow pipits. Followed the road up to Derbyshire Bridge car park and then a track over the moors to drop down to Burbage. Saw 4 red grouse en route. Made my way down to the heart of Buxton via the Pavillion Gardens and was pleased to see a couple of little grebes on the boating lake.

[peter hill]

Another shorter walk today from coombs res over the tops to whaley bridge by the valley ,nothing much about today but i was walking at quite a pace because of the forcast for heavy rain and gales still a few redwings about and 4 or 5 jays but the star of today was this dipper

[peter hill]

Another shorter yesterday did not even make the goyt valley as really bad weather was forcast ,just walked around coombs res then back to whaley bridge via eccles rd first birds of note was the flocks of fieldfares and redwings quite a few flocks with 20+ in each flock the usual mallards a tuffty 2 greater creasted grebes a kingfisher and big group of canada geese normal stuff for here was supprized to see a woodcock down below the dam but would not go there again as the mud was so bad it came over my wellies The walk over eccles rd was uneventfull ecept for a kestral and a flock of starlings http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2hABKSaZ1c

[peter hill]

A LONG WALK today in misty rain wind and more rain managed to see 30 speices of bird mostly common ones but a few more interesting ones ,set of from coombs res walked to the topend and over the tops as i was dropping on to the buxton rd i saw 3 grey partridges ducked behind a walk to get my camara out when i heard a grunting sound a raven flying over i waited till it had gone looked over the wall the birds had gone Went down to errwood res and saw a flock of what i thought were siskins ,checked them for redpolls only to find they were all redpolls, saw 2 red deer in a rain storm on the moors and later 8 red grouse finshed the walk in buxton very damp

[Bananafishbones]

Pete

Love your Kestrel from October

Dave

[peter hill]

Thanks bfb it was a case of good light close bird and mainly luck :t:

[Bananafishbones]

Hi Pete
Ah... Although I am new to birding and especially bird photography I reckon most pics need all 3, light, tameness (inquisitive), luck!!

Still a great shot!!

I was out at 3 shire heads today, came from the Knar (Cut thorn hill side) to watch a pair of Kestrels that never let me down when I visit them. However this time their were 3, Possible Juvenile, one was hunting on one side of the valley, while the other 2 were playing catch me if you can on the otherside of the valley.
Didnt get anywhere near enough in the wind, cloud and drizzle to get pics but fun to watch in the cold!!

Did see 6 birds fly from a tree and into some long grass in the middle of a meadow, caught a glimpse of one and it was slate grey (pigeon coloured) but had the look of a pipit (quite upright in the neck and head), didnt get a pic but now back at home confussed as what it could have been, may go back tomorrow to find out, hope for some sun.

Regards

Dave

[peter hill]

Out again today very windy not many birds about same walk as last time quite a few redwings and fieldfares ,2 bullfinchs 12 redgrouse and another catchup with the small redpoll flock managed a couple of ropey snaps before they were fightened off

[peter hill]

Went off patch today to old moor rspb good day , plentey of birds teal widgeon, shovllers,gooseanders , sparrowhawk ,greenwoodpecker ,kingfisher ,bullfinchs,and a few others then on to broomhill flash where we saw a greensandpiper goldcreast from old moor

[peter hill]

Back on patch today same walk as the last 2 but quite a bit in the slushy snow after yesterdays rain only birds of note around coombs were 2 male bullfinches and about 200 canada geese the geese were of note because they dont normally get that many its normally about 50 or so ,saw 3 ravens on leaving coombs village and a nuthatch nothing over the hill apart from a kestral , in the woods just before the dam of errwood there was a copuple of goldcreasts and 2 treecreepers ,a greywagtail on the damwall and higher upthe valley a greater spotted woodpecker Got a bit of a shock to see a big bird flying low over the moors that scared 3 red grouse closer inspection reveled it to be a grey heron snap of a snowy errwood

[peter hill]

Out again today afer a long lay off last walk was xmas day nothing much to report from that walk ,today was better ,coombs res was iced over exept for a couple of patches managed a kingfisher at the top end and a first for me at coombs a dipper common in the goyt but this was a suprise here 2 bullfinches and a goldcreast on the trees at the point just before the road runs out nothing of interest on the moor section A small flock of redwing just below errwood dam a greater creasted grebe on the res and a short eared owl in the distance quite a few red grouse on the decent to burbage and a little grebe in the gardens lake in buxton o:D

[notatwitcher!]

Peter, had a walk round Erwood area today, saw nothing small at all, but there were 2 cormorant, 2 heron and 3 canada on the edge or near on the headland bit between the inlets south end opposite thw dam, left of the river. Not major obvously, but we've never seen heron there before, few gulls, and a crow. Pretty grey day though.

Mike

[peter hill]

was my day for a long walk again today started at combs. again lots of mallards but this time a wigeon was amongst them. The road out of Combs had 3 Nuthatches feeding in the trees to the left. There was a mistle thrush amongst the sheep. 2 bullfinches at the top end of the res and 4 where the road becomes a path. A stonechat at withen leach and a couple of kestrels and 2 ravens just before whitehall. a flock of fieldfares as the path dropped on to long hill. decided to walk long hill side of errwood today. glad i did, lots of coal tits blue tits and chaffys on the feeders near the top end then as notatwitcher said 2 herons and 2 cormorants. 1 of the cormorants had a white head, as if it were wearing a bonnet and had a white patch on its flank, it also had a black tuft on its crown. Could this be breeding plumage? or possibly a continental bird? The usual red grouse at various places on the moor and dropping into Burbage. Tufted ducks, coots, moorhen and a little grebe on the Gardens lake. CB and Mandarin on Serpentine.o:)

[peter hill]

oops photo of cormorant

[notatwitcher!]

That's interesting , good picture. From a combination of Collins and the BWPi it looks like an early breeding, season race: silensis (apparently from a google, possible originally from RSPB, an east european migrant). Going on the amount of white on head indicating older male, silensis, while the white thighpatch is apparenty breeding plumage, often lost by early June. I'm not be the best birder but not bad on the computer!

Cheers, Mike

[eagle33]

That's interesting , good picture. From a combination of Collins and the BWPi it looks like an early breeding, season race: silensis (apparently from a google, possible originally from RSPB, an east european migrant). Going on the amount of white on head indicating older male, silensis, while the white thighpatch is apparenty breeding plumage, often lost by early June. I'm not be the best birder but not bad on the computer!

Cheers, Mike

looks like an old carbo cormorant uk breeder. see http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=69216&d=1168891803

[notatwitcher!]

Oh all right , not found/seen that differentiation. While the angle looks a marginally greater than the carbo diagram, its certainly not obtuse. Maybe I'm not that good on the computer either! ;-

Mike

[eagle33]

Oh all right , not found/seen that differentiation. While the angle looks a marginally greater than the carbo diagram, its certainly not obtuse. Maybe I'm not that good on the computer either! ;-

Mike

all races of species are a nightmare, always subtle. maybe stick it on id forum see what the experts think?

[notatwitcher!]

For a change went around Macc .Forest today. From the heronry viewing layby on the Trentabank Res. we had 1 Little grebe, 1 Goldeneye and . . 8+ Goosander at least 6 drake and 2 females bit distant beyond the heronry and then swam into arm behind.

Chuffed ,went to the Leather's for lunch and then round the Ridgegate, - Little G. again Coot etc., Tufted and few Pochard, 1 Heron. Saw the Goosander again on way back over.

Something else again not seen there . . .

Mike

[peter hill]

went out walking again today the coombs then valley via burbage to buxton ,grim sort of day still plenty of snow on the tops ,coombs was frozen apart from 2 small patches nothing much on there but i did see a snipe on the bank feeding in the mud then 1 goosander in flight even the black headed gulls were in short supply Then walked over the tops in the rain visablty was down to 50yrds so nothing seen till i reached errwoodanther goosander in flight ,then a group of 5 at the top end of the res 4 flyover ravens and about 25 red grouse were all i saw till i reached buxton outskirts then picked up some of the common birds in the town and gardens nice to see the little grebe on the gardens lake ,a long day with rain and a bit of snow on the tops :smoke:

[peter hill]

Out again yesterday after quite a long break, weather slightly milder but wet and foggy. Same walk as the previous couple, managed to pick out a common gull at Combs amongst the black headeds, also 4 greater crested grebes. Nice to see the return of 3 or 4 lapwings to the boggy reedy fields surrounding the reservoir. Apart from mallards there was nothing else. A couple of bullfinches on the trees climbing out of Combs vilage. From then on the fog got progressively worse and visibility was down to 50 or 60 yards so not much to see. Just before reaching Errwood Dam I heard the distant call of a curlew and later on saw it fly over. The first I've seen in the valley this year. A good sign of the coming Spring. On the Dam wall a grey wagtail was singing as though Spring had sprung! But the weather had other ideas. The restof the walk was completed in heavy, horizontal drizzle and apart from a couple of red grouse there was nothing much of note. The odd sighting of the walk was 2 and a half frogs. One seen hopping across the road, one sat still in the middle of the road and the half was just some back legs on a path, maybe, possibly, I had disturbed somethings dinnertime.

[peter hill]

Just a short walk today down the goyt through whaley bridge park spotted 2 greywagtails then on to todbrook res nothing much about a few black headed gulls and a greater creasted greabe then a flock of common gulls landed about 20 plus after the res went towards taxel and saw around 50 redwings on a path from macclesfield rd to taxel then i went down by the church on to long hill and back to whaley nothing much about rollon the warmer wheather ,the best looking bird of the day was seen on my feeders just afer i arrived home this siskin

[Clive A]

Soon be time for some good stuff up there Peter..Pied Fly,Wood Warbler,Redstart,Tree Pipit etc. Looking forward to a visit April/May.

[peter hill]

clive early may seems the best time any earlyer and the birds might not be there <cold winter > any later and there is more leaf cover making it harder best of luck :t:

[peter hill]

With the promise of a lovely day, I thought I'd do one of my long walks. setting off from Combs Res at 7am I started the day off by seeing 2 greater spotted woodpeckers, 1 was drumming. Leaving the peckers behind I set off by the side of the res and saw a couple of Greater Crested Grebes and a hundred or so Canada Geese. Nothing much else on the reservoir apart from a few mallards and a couple of coots. The climb out of Combs village saw the visibility deteriorating. By the time I reached the higher ground the mist was making it difficult to see the meadow pipits that were calling. As I approached the roman road I could hear the calls of the curlews and l;ater saw them feeding in one of the boggy fields I crossed. These were also joined by a flock of lapwings. Just before reaching Errwood dam a carrion crow was seen mobbing a buzzard. The walk along the road turned up a couple of Mistle thrushes and a couple of fly over ravens. Also I spotted a grey wagtail. Much further up the valley, I stopped for a coffee and met a guy who was feeding the birds by putting out peanuts and seeds on a tree stump. I captured nuthatches,coal tit and blue tit after he'd gone (with my camera). Progressing farther on I was pleased to see 2 dippers on the infant Goyt. Then it was up and over the tops to Buxton via Burbage edge, the only distraction being a few red grouse. A look round the Pavillion Gardens threw up the usual tufted ducks but nothing of note.

[peter hill]

Went out for a shorter walk yesterday from errwood down the valley to home set off from errwood at 10 past 6 tawny owl calling from the woods near the boat club <hear but not seen > light fading fast along fernilee res dropping down for this dam hear another tawny and latter saw it high in a tree its call was answered by another that i did not see a few 100yrds furher on my attention was drawn to a noise in the sky and there was my first valley woodcock of 2009 after that it got to dark to see much could still hear the odd song thrush Just got back from a strool in whaley bridge park no birds of intrest but a bat was flying about in the sunshine by the river B (:

[peter hill]

out again today this time a bit warmer 4 or 5 grebes cruising on coombs and a number of song thrushes in full song a couple of fly over herons the usual lapwings and coal long great and blue tits ,walking out of coombs i saw 2 greater spotted woodpeckers and just before the high ground 2 buzzards soaring in the sunshine An odd looking bird decending into the reeds gave its id away by the long beak my first snipe this year on the hills <they are a common bird on the resses in winter but much harder to see away from water >,a couple of wagtails on errwood dam pied and grey the top end produced a nuthatch and another G S woodpecker ,oh forgot to metion the meadow pipets curlews and skylarks of witch there were quite a few An odd looking buzzard was quartring the top end of the valley <maybee just a pale common but it did not act like one flying low over the ground landing on the ground landed in a tree for 3 or 4 minutes this might no seem strange but the buuzzards i have seen in the valley do not do this they fly high and dont very often land > over the moors the normal red grouse and more pipets no sign of warblers yet or swallows cant be that long now ps also saw a peregrine on the walk not saying were also been told of an attack on a peregrine nest imfo a bit sketchy:C

[mosschops]

Hi All,
Spent a few hours walking the upper valley this morning. Fairly quiet but nice views of a Golden Plover, my first Swallow of the year, lods of Mipits, Grouse etc. Then on to the Danebower area where i had Peregrine, Wheatear and Ring Ouzel.

Jason

[peter hill]

Glad you had a good day in the upper valley sould not be long till the flycatchers arrive now <19 april 2007 23rd april 2008 > wont be walking the valley for a while as im going to try for the shrike at cutthroat bridge friday and have got a norfolk trip planned good luck to anyone watching in the valley area and can they make there results know here ta :t:

[hampers]

Had a couple of hours at the upper end of the valley last night. Wonderful views of SEO hunting and being mobbed by Curlew (and I'd not taken my camera). Good numbers of very visible Grouse on the moors, with many Meadow Pipits. No sign of the Ring Ouzels in the quarry, but Wheatear and many Meadow Pipits present (did have RO there on Saturday evening).

Phil

[BarneyL]

Visited here today heading south on the path east of the Errwood Reservoir. Didn't get too far (the wife is recovering from a cold and wasn't up for a long walk) so settled down at a nice spot where there's a bench and someone has hung a load of bird feeders from a nearby tree. Got to see an army of Chaffinches, Great, Blue and Coal Tits, a Grey Wagtail and a Reed Bunting all stopping by to feed. There was a single Grebe out on the reservoir along with a bunch of Mallards, Canada Geese and a few Curlews. Also a Willow Warbler (I think didn't stay still for quite long enough to be 100% on that one) on the way back to the car. Also caught a picture of this chap below.

[peter hill]

Another walk in the valley but this time in the lower valley from whaley bridge up nice morning frosty start but the sun warmed up the air and all thoughts of cold were forgoten when i saw my first pied fly catcher of the year a stunning male later i saw this one

[Clive A]

Nice to see the Pied Flycatchers back, no Redstart/Tree Pipit yet I take it? Had a Redstart near me yesterday, so any time soon Peter.

[peter hill]

Ater spending sunday at leighton moss in the sunshine and seeing my first osprey of the year its back down to earth with a bump , got a lift to buxton and walk over burbage moors with rain threatening got derbyshire bridge to meet the first showers then it got harder for the next few hours plenty of meadow pipets on the moors but red grouse only heard .The tree pipets are back saw 3 just before errwood displaying also the common sandpipers are back there were 3 at the top end of the res and about 4 or so on fernilee <its hard to tell as keep flying of and then back >2 male 1 female pied flycatcher above the res and 4 male 2 female below fernilee res 1 suspected redstart but could not be definet < the swallows are back as with most places > also saw 2 house martins a sparrow hawk just below errwood dam but no kestrals Did not see a dipper till was nearly home, snap of tree pipet in the fading light

[peter hill]

Out in the valley again today ,would have liked to do the ranger led walk but was short of time so walked up the valley from home cuckoo heard in taxel very breifly sandpipers on fernilee and errwood met up with the walk they had seen pied flycatchers a redstart but had also heard a grasshopper warbler ,heard another cuckoo somewhere near errwood hall, blackcap and curlews willow warblers and a couple of jays also seen One of the sandpipers running along the bank of fernilee

[peter hill]

Have been told that 4 winchats have been seen at the top end of the valley not seen them myself since last year B (:

[peter hill]

Had another longish walk in the valley today ,from home <whaley bridge> within the first mile i had seen kingfisher and dipper ticked off buzzard and blackcap in the second mile ,then swifts and swallows near fernilee dam grey wagtail and mistle thrush were seen near errwood dam pied flycatcher tree creeper and tree pipet were seen above errwood <cuckoo heard this time much farther up the valley> On the way back caught up with a curlew and another pied fly then went through hillbridge wood the bluebells there :t: are looking good at the moment

[peter hill]

Out walking yesterday from home to about a mile past errwood , much better day than of late finaly saw redstarts 3 of them by the side of fernilee res 3 or 4 pied flycatchers in the woods above errwood more tree pipets and common sandpipers ,still not managed a spotted fly catcher in the valley but saw one today at the top end of todbrook res in whaley bridge a slightly better snap of a tree pipet in the sun

[peter hill]

Out in the valley again today almost the same birds seen as yesterday but did manage to hear the grasshopper warbler and to see a common lizard whitch are not that common in the valley it had lost its tail the tail was about 4feet away and still wriggleing

[peter hill]

Out again this morning from home to try and get a snap of the spotted fly catcher at the top end of todbrook res in the wind and rain i think i got one could not see it very well against the dark sky so i think this is a spotted fly not 100%

[Nick G]

We visited for the first time on thursday and had some lovely weather. We walked from Whaley Bridge station to Buxton station from late morning til about 8pm and saw:

Redstart - male between Whaley Bridge and Fernilee reservoir
Dipper - including juvenile
Kingfisher
Pied flycatcher - 5 mostly around Erwood reservoir
Siskin along river path
6 common sandpipers around the reservoir
Tawny owl heard calling at south end of Park Wood
Lots of nuthatches and treecreepers
Red grouse - 6
Grasshopper warbler - one at SK018728 in the evening
Curlew, linnet and stonechat on the moor

This area makes for a really beautiful and interesting walk as we saw 62 species in all.

[Cheshire Birder]

This area makes for a really beautiful and interesting walk as we saw 62 species in all.

An impressive range and number of species. Just shows how many different habitats are available in the area.

[peter hill]

you did really well to see 62 diffrent birds on your walk well past my best for that walk saw 38 myself today but it was a bit of a flyer walked from home and caught the 10.15 am bus form buxton back home still a great walk and managed to see a tawny owl at errwood a cuckoo above errwood in the pines <first one seen this year > also a goldcreast in buxton first one for a while managed a snap of the cuckoo on the top of a waving pine tree before it flew off

[peter hill]

Out this morning for a short walk across taxel moor and back by todbrook res super morning but nothing of note bird wise but i did see a couple of brown hares below the moor basking in the sunshine and 2 painted lady butterflys on the resevoir dam ps saw another spotted fly catcher fly above the goyt in whaley bridge just downstream from the white hart pub on market street <same place as last years > when i went to buy a paper :t:

[peter hill]

spotted fly still nr white hart can you spot it on shot taken with fuji 31fd without the scope

[Bananafishbones]

You certainly can Peter!!

Havent got one this year :(

Dave

[Cheshire Birder]

They seem to be very scarce in cheshire this year. Went to several traditional sites in SE cheshire last weekend and found none. :-C

[Bananafishbones]

Had a lovely walk around the goyt area today, from Derbyshire bridge carpark (Nr Cat & Fiddle), through to Errwood reservoir. Fantastic scenery and weather

Saw the following: Dozens of Meadow pipits, Goldfinch 3, Willow Warbler 5 but heard dozens more, Kestrel 2, Swallow 2, Wren 4, Chaffinch 10+, Pheasant 3, Treecreeper 2, Redstart 3m (Lifer for me), Pied Flycatcher 2, Grey Wagtail 3, Common Sandpiper2, Buzzard2, Blue tit, Woodpigeon, Nuthatch, Robin, Spotted flycatcher (year tick), Carrion Crow, Stonechat male

Dave

[peter hill]

Another early start to try and catch the redstarts they seem to avoid my camara saw most of the same birds as B F B but no sign of the spotted flys heard the grasshopper warbler again but did not pursue it for fear of disturance managed a shot of the redstart today ,top of tree towards the sun B (:

[Cheshire Birder]

nice shot of the bird in full song

[peter hill]

Out again today with the prospect of a bad forcast i set of up the valley from home not many birds about but plenty of orchids in the valley below the old water tretment works and lots of butterflys finaly managed to catch up with a spotted fly in the valley on the path towards errwood hall from the far car park a couple of young curlew at the top end of the res made me think they may be wimbrell for a few moments <smaller than a curlew shorter beaks > but no such luck 4 commmarnt were sunning themselves aswell on the same bank also managed to see 2 common lizards sun bathing on wooden path bridges Not sure of the butterfly the spot is a bit blurred and the lizard looks in the family way on 2 thoughs thebutterfly could eveen be a moth

[Cheshire Birder]

Peter,

I think the butterfly may be a small skipper but if you post it on the moths/butterflies threads, i'm sure you'll get a definitive answer.

CB

[peter hill]

saw my first local green woodpecker of the year yesterday at taxel just above the goyt valley no photo <heres one from 2 weeks ago in suffolk > B (:

[Cheshire Birder]

nice pic peter.

CB

[peter hill]

Out again for another long walk in the valley. Not really expecting much as the birding at this time of year can be difficult. Managed to hear but not see the green woodpecker just below the water treatment works. 2 nice red headed goosander were cruising the far bank on Fernilee reservoir. Plucky grey wagtail on the building below Errwood dam, brightened the morning.
Lots of walkers/dog walkers about. One errant dog managed to flush a woodcock from behind the Errwood Hall carpark. Further up the valley 3 Ravens flew about for 10 minutes or so, then disappeared off east. Only other birds of note were 5 or 6 red grouse (they made it through the glorious 12th). Pleasant day, ended in Buxton with a stroll through the pavillion gardens. Found a particularly pleasing wild flower meadow on Serpentine Walk.B (:

[peter hill]

Out walking in the valley again today not a lot about but met a guy that said he had seen a lesser spotted woodpecker , saw 2 ravens 3 kestrals a couple of grey wagtails heard a few red grouse and on the moors above derbyshire bridge a wheatear i though they had gone from the valley for this year but there is still at leest one hanging around although it was distant

[peter hill]

Another long walk in the valley still not a lot to report quite a few jays about with a family group alongside ferniee res , still a few swallows and house martins but most seem to be moving through heard a tawny owl been harressed by jays behind the yatch club , more meadow pipets about in small flocks , most interesting sight was 11 or 12 red grouse in formation flight over the moors just below the cat and fiddle road Another suprise was a dipper on the surpintine in buxton first i have seen there this walk was yesterday nad a nice suprise today while throwing bread to the trout in the goyt bottom of garden 2 kingfishers flew past :-O

[peter hill]

out for a wshort walk today and saw 3 youg red legged partridge in taxel i know this is not a rare bird <i saw 10 of them together at broomhill flash on sunday > but these are the first ones i have seen localy, they are speading :t:

[peter hill]

Another first this time my first buzzard from home from the front door 4 buzzards flying high over

[peter hill]

Out for a walk today this time from coombs res over the tops into goyt vally by errwood then up to pym chair then back by wingather rocks taxel moor and back into valley at taxel then home . The walk got off to a nice start with lots of blue tits and great tits in the trees by the res ,then a flock of canadas also lots of mallards ,then it got interesting 2 birds took off with the mallards that were smaller and darker they flew together and i noticed one had a reddish patch through is eye from back to frount off the head they were quite distant but i could see this on one of the birds as they flew away checked out the collins bird guide the nearest i could find was common scoter but they dont have the red on them mystery . On the way out of coombs was sprized to see 14 swallows on power lines the rest of the walk was uneventfull a couple of small flocks of goldfinchs oh and a late golden plover going somewere in a hurry a couple of buzzards a kestrals rounded off the day anyone want to hazzard a guess at the mystery birds i have no idea :eek!:

[peter hill]

About 40 pinkfooted geese flew over whaley bridge today flying north east towards the lancshire coast no photo but heres one from old moor rspb on sunday

[peter hill]

I repeated last mondays walk but instead of heading home i carried on up the valley to derbyshire bridge then over the old pack horse route to buxton Nothing much on the res apart from mallards and a fly over of 70 or so canadas lots of black birds at the top end looking up to the hills i saw what i thought were redwings and lo and behold there was a flock of 50+ redwings roosting and feeding on the berry trees my fist local redwings before reaching long hill <the buxton road > i came upon a small flock of field fares approx 6 The rest of the trip went normal appart from a moment when a red grouse flew in a panic across the road closly followed by another then a raptor broke the skyline heartbeat starts to climb before i realise its a buzzard The nuber of medow pipets is down this week the swallows have gone and the tits seem to be flocking up all sighn that winter is just around the corner :smoke:

[hampers]

Had a trip up Goyt Valley today, fairly quiet on bird front, amazing colours of trees though. Well worth a visit. Then moved onto the Axe Edge road, after a diversion due to road closure, and had an extremely (for me) late wheatear. Could well have been a Greenland species. Made my day.

Phil

[peter hill]

Just a very short walk today started out from home then followed the goyt into whaley bridge park <the goyt runs past my garden > 100yrds downsteam of my house i saw a gooseander on the river would have been a good garden tick tryed to get a shot of it but it flew off followed it downstream still no luck ,decieded to try taxel see if i could spot any bramblings as i had seen a possible yesterday but the wheather was so bad i could not tell walked up by the church plenty of redwings and a greater spotted woodpecker and a few chaffinchs but no bramblings ,has any being seen localy ? then across to todbrook res another gooseander on the res and a flock of blackheaded gulls not much else back along the goyt towards home a flash of blue was a kingfisher flying away at speed then another gooseander mybe the first one never seem to see them much in summer but they seem to apear in winter heres a panicy shot with the fuji 31