Stockbridge NR

 Saturday 31st May a.m.

After a spell of rainy & windy weather a dry day starting off at 14°C, I decided to go to the BOG Members Stockbridge Nature Reserve.  Here from the hide there was a pair of Moorhen with three chicks and there were good numbers of juvenile birds such as House Sparrow, Goldfinch & Gt Tit.  A pair of Bullfinch came to the feeders, a couple of Swifts flew over and a Pheasant made an appearance.  Others were Reed Bunting, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Canada & BH Gull.   

Pheasant

Bullfinch

Dunnock

Goldfinch

juvenile Goldfinch

juvenile House Sparrow

Moorhen feeding chick

Reed Bunting 

BH Gull

Stockbridge NR 31/5/2025

Going Cuckoo on Harden Moor

 Tuesday 20th May a.m.

A bright sunny morning with a temperature of 8°C, I was soon drawn to the call of a Cuckoo and headed off in it's direction.  Then I saw the bird in a distant tree then a second Cuckoo dive bomed it and the two male birds continued the squabble for the next fifteen minutes.   It was fascinating to watch them each vieng to for the same branch and dominate the other bird the squabble only ended when a Buzzard flew over.  Other birds seen were Skylark, Sand Martin, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Meadow Pipit and Linnet.

 

Cuckoo

Two Cuckoo's squabbling 

Cuckoo on Harden Moor 20/5/2025

Goit Stock Woods

Monday 19th May a.m.

A cloudy morning as I set off for a walk with a temperature of 11°C towards Hallas Bridge and through Goit Stock Wood to the holiday home park at Harden.  As I walked alongside Hallas Beck four Dippers were seen and a Grey Heron, others were Swift, Swallow, Starling and Pheasant. 

Dipper

 

Grey Heron

Dipper, Hallas Beck 19/5/2025

Hewenden & Doe Park Reservoirs

 Thursday 15th May a.m.

A bit cloudier & Cooler this morning starting off at 8°C as I headed off to Hewenden Reservoir.   Here there were Swifts, House Martins, Sand Martins, Swallows, Pied Wagtail, Oystercatchers and Canadas.  Then I headed off to Doe Park Reservoir seeing a couple of Stock Doves on the way, at the Res there was a Grey Heron on the jetty and a pair of Canadas had some young goslings.  A couple of LBB Gulls flew over, others in the area were Pheasant, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat & Willow Warbler.  Then I had a pleasant walk home.

Grey Heron

Canadas

Swift

Whitethroat 

Willow Warbler

LBB Gull

Oystercatcher 

Pheasant 

Plenty Shore showing at Doe Park Res

Doe Park Res 15/5/2025

Harden Moor

 Tuesday 13th May a.m.

Sunny again starting at 12 °C seeing a variety of birds most of them briefly as they took cover as I walked round.  The Sand Martins were in their usual area, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat,  Willow Warbler & Garden Warber were all seen singing.  A Cuckoo flew past me on a couple of occasions being mobbed by other birds, a Song Thrush and a Robin were also singing. A Kestrel was first seen perched in a tree and later moving around and stopping to hover as it looked for breakfast. 

Kestrel

 

Willow Warbler 

Song Thrush

Robin

Chiffchaff 

Blackcap 

Kestrel over Harden Moor 13/5/2025