Summer Migrants

This years migration is well under way. I've made several visits to one of my favourite places nearby in the Goyt Valley, and I've not been disappointed. Pied Flycatchers, Redstarts and Tree Pipits are back where they belong and I've had fun trying to locate them, with varying degrees of success. So far, I have only located one or two male Pied Flycatchers. The females are always a little later, so I will have to go back to find them. I've also only found a couple of male Redstarts, but they are great little birds, and add so much colour and vibrancy to any day. Tree Pipits are not so colourful, but they make up for that with their song. All in all, the woodlands have a lot more sound and colour at the moment, and it's most welcome 😀

You can see my latest wanderings here: 

Pied Flycatcher (male)

Common Redstart

Tree Pipit

Summer Migrants

It's that time again! I popped to one of my favourite places last week on the hunt for some of our Summer migrants, and I was delighted to be able to catch up with a few of them. The numbers are still a bit thin on the ground, but I'm hoping that it is still early in the season and that more will follow. Pied Flycatchers were the first to be located in their usual spot, but only two males around at the moment and no sign of the females. 

One or two Redstarts were singing and then finally located feeding along a wall. A Tree Pipit was also singing and parachuting down to it's favoured tree, and it's song echoed across the valley. Willow Warblers were singing everywhere and were by far the most common migrant in song. Lovely to have them all back and hopefully I will be catching up with them many more times before they once again depart our shores.

Pied Flycatcher

Common Redstart

Willow Warbler

Tree Pipit

Reasons to be Outside

Early Summer was great for welcoming back our migrant birds. Areas of the Peak District in particular for me are a great place to go and find them. On a warm June morning you should be able to pick out the calls of Common Redstart, Tree Pipit, Common Sandpiper and Pied Flycatcher. Of course, that does require you to be in the right area, and it's not always guaranteed. They can be there, and just not singing or calling. Or more commonly they're spending their time at the top of the canopy looking for insects. Add in the fact that the leaves are now out to make it even more difficult to spot. It does mean that I spend more time out looking than I would normally, especially if I've not been successful. Not that I'm complaining. Outdoors is when I like to be most.

Male Common Redstart

Tree Pipit

Willow Warbler with food for the young

The Goyt Valley in Spring

I grabbed just over an hour today in the Goyt Valley. I've said it many times, but this is my favourite place to go birding near to me. I could waste so much time here just wandering around, listening and observing.
I had a few target birds for my year list today, and I got them all not long after leaving the car. Knowing where to look is a great help, and I've looked for these birds for many years now. They rarely let me down. A real bonus though was a fly over Osprey! I really was not expecting to see one, but what a thrill it was! Followed closely by a calling Cuckoo.

First up was a Common Redstart. I could hear one singing within a few minutes and tracked it down quickly. Sat upon a dead branch in full view.

While I was looking around I could see some small birds up in the canopy and a familiar call. A pair of Siskins. I was pleased about this as they had avoided my year list in 2018, and so far this. So it was good to get them on the 2019 list.

The Tree Pipits are great to watch and listen to. They parachute down and let everyone know they are around. Thankfully that makes it easy to spot them and then photograph.


I spent some time watching them feeding on the ground, and this one even burst into a bit of song for me.

Goyt Valley

This is a look back to the Spring when there was a lot of activity in the Goyt Valley. One of my favourite places to visit at this time. So much going on and so much to see. It is quite the opposite in the autumn and winter when it can be very bleak and devoid of anything. It's still a lovely place to walk though.
This particular evening there were a few bits and bobs around. The usual Canada Geese were calling from the bank side of Errwood Reservoir and the odd Red Grouse could be heard every so often.

Song Thrush on the dry stone wall.

A Tree Pipit in its usual lofty position.

A Willow Warbler in amongst the fresh new leaves

Tree Pipit

Tree Pipits put on a great show in the Spring time. Singing loudly and proudly as they display at the tops of trees with some parachuting thrown in for good measure. These birds winter in Africa and Southern Asia, so they'll soon be off on their travels. Hopefully this one I found in the Goyt Valley will have had a successful breeding season.

Unfortunately, the day I saw this bird there was little sunlight, so the colours don't really do them justice.

Look as those long hind claws, although not as long as the Meadow Pipits.

Macclesfield Forest

The last day of my two week summer holiday started off as a stunningly bright and calm morning. I made my way to Macclesfield Forest to make the most of it. I wasn't disappointed, with plenty of activity and plenty of peace and quiet.
In terms of birds, I picked out a Spotted Flycatcher early on, then a Chiffchaff singing in the near distance. Quite late for these, but the sun seems to spur them on. I said earlier in the year that I get tired of the Chiffchaff song, but knowing that they will soon depart, made this one a little special.
The Whinchats were still around from the other day, along with plenty of Meadow Pipits and a Tree Pipit. I also got startled by a Roe Deer while I was sat out of view. It broke a twig as it stood up out of the long grass. The air was blue for a moment. A lovely animal though and fantastically wild.

Spotted Flycatcher

Tree Pipit

Great Spotted Woodpecker

The Roe Deer that scared me just a little.

 

My, what big ears you have?