News archive

July 2017

Wednesday, 26 July 2017

Black Swans

Black Swans

In answer to the question asked on the sightings page - there are small feral populations of Black Swans that have built up in North Wales and North West England over recent years. They attempted to breed at Marbury CP a few years ago and are seen regularly at RSPB Burton Mere Wetlands. My first encounters with them were at various places in North Wales about 10 years ago.
Has anyone actually seen the Redesmere bird fly? I'm just wondering if it may have been grounded through injury and then left behind?
Also it is well worth making the trip to East Leake (near Loughborough) to see the marvelous Bee-eater colony. I still can't believe I could watch them less than 70 miles from my house! The RSPB are managing the car parking and access to the site.

Friday, 14 July 2017

Barn owl looking over its shoulder

July 2017 - Wildlife Sightings

Please report your wildlife sightings seen within approximately a one hour drive of Macclesfield together with a clear subject image if available to:
birdrecords@macclesfieldrspb.org.uk
(NB! - image is not essential)

25 July 2017, 3pm
A female hen harrier - seen from the top of Kerridge Ridge circling over Rainow. We watched it for quite a few minutes until it did a 45 degree stoop at speed flying in the Macclesfield direction from quite a height until it dropped out of sight.
Kate Buchanan

24 July 2017 13.40 - Holmes Chapel - in the wood north of Twemlow Viaduct SJ772681
Female pied flycatcher. From the viaduct I took the footpath north up the valley side towards Twemlow Green. Where the path draws alongside the wood I went into the small slopey clearing on the left just across the stream. It was in the top of the young plantation there.
John Spottiswood

22 July pm.
Black swan still at Redesmere. Has anyone any information on how the bird comes to be there?
Stuart and Leonie Poole

Have seen a grey heron early morning around the car park at Wilmslow Carrs area 11and 14 July 2016.
Edward Clark

14 July - Macclesfield
Hobby (two sightings, might have been the same bird).
David Tolliday

08 July - Macclesfield
Four barn owls at different locations (visit http://www.parentshaped.co.uk/2017/07/17/barn-owl-ringing/ to view the ringing of barn owls from the Macclesfield Big Bird Box Build project) .
David Tolliday

09 July 2017, 15.00 - Poynton Pool.
Two great crested grebe
Rebecca Robertson

04 July
Seventeen Common Scoter landing at Astbury Mere today - awesome site.
Steve Seal

02/03 July - Redesmere, Siddington
Several house martins, several swallows, one grey wagtail, one pied wagtail, one chaffinch, one robin, one great tit, many mute swans, many mallards, five coots and one moorhen,one black swan (still there) and five black headed gulls .
Laura Howard

02 July River Dean, Albert Road Bollington
little egret
Observer - Steve McCoskery

01 July am Prestbury sewage works area along the Bollin - just the usual culprits:
grey heron
grey wagtail - 3 incl 1 juv
blackcap 3 incl 2 singing males
chiffchaff (h)
raven - 2 overflying
kingfisher - 3
reed bunting - 1 male
lapwing
Observer - Steve McCoskery