This glorious balmy morning was bound to swell numbers of participants and so 21 of us set out for Highoredish with Paul Beard , our leader ,  to the fore. We were not the only ones abroad in the sunshine , every ivy patch yielding it’s nectar to a host of flies and wasps .Comma , Red Admiral and possibly a Painted Lady were also on the wing .

Birding aside it was a day for lingering to admire the autumn colours in the undulating landscape , spotting fungi in the wet grass ( at least a dozen species ) , and viewing  distant church spires and landmarks on reaching our destination . 

As usual the initial reaction was ” there’s not much about ” but the tally rose as did we !!  Buzzards circling below us near Clattercotes , flights of migrant Redwings and Fieldfares , and a flock of approximately 18 Yellowhammers were perhaps the highlights . The species count for the main walk was 32 boosted to 40 as a couple of folk diverted to the hide and another couple ambled along the West bank for a spell at the end . 

Great Crested Grebe , Cormorant, Grey Heron , Mallard, Teal, Shoveler , Tufted Duck hybrid, Buzzard, Kestrel , Pheasant , Moorhen , Lapwing ,Common Snipe , Black-headed Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Stock Dove , Pied Wagtail ,Wren ,Dunnock , Robin ,Fieldfare, Redwing,  Blackbird , Long-tailed Tit , Blue Tit , Great tit , Coal Tit , Nuthatch , Jay , Magpie , Jackdaw , Rook , Carrion Crow , House Sparrow , Starling ,Bullfinch ,Chaffinch , Goldfinch , Yellowhammer ,  

Plants still in flower : Ivy, Daisy,  Water – lily , Shepherd’s purse , Mouse-ear Chickweed, Bramble , Hogweed, Betony, Harebell, White and Red Clover , Herb Robert, Scabious , Dandelion , Hawkbit , Buttercup, Gorse .

Jennifer Johnson

A select party of 3 intrepid birders joined  leader Jeff Davies ( normally backmarker and whipper-in ) , on this blustery, finger-chilling and sometimes wet October walk . Assembling first in the  shelter of the hide the species list soon climbed , as  the usual tits and finches were at the feeders and several duck species , Snipe and Lapwings were  on  the shore.

It was decided to  head for Chapel Bay first in the hope of seeing Pintail and Goldeneye that were reputedly present . These remained elusive but we did spot a colourful Mandarin Duck amonst the Mallards and Teal from the North Car Park .We then retraced our footsteps and strolled along towards the Carr Pond area where black clouds were looming once again   !!

By the time we got back, although not a long jaunt , 43 species had been seen , a lone Buzzard circling  at the last concluding an enjoyable morning .

Great Crested Grebe , Little Grebe , Cormorant , Grey Heron , Mallard , Teal , Tufted Duck ,  Shoveler , Wigeon , Mandarin  Duck , Canada Goose , Greylag Goose , Mute Swan , Buzzard , Nuthatch , Moorhen , Coot , Lapwng , Common Snipe ,  Lesser Black-backed Gull , Yellow -legged Gull , Black- headed Gull , Woodpigeon , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Rook , Carrion Crow , Jackdaw , Magpie , Jay , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Long-tailed Tit , Wren , Blackbird , Mistle Thrush , Robin , Dunnock , Pied Wagtail, Goldfinch , Chaffinch , Greenfinch , Bullfinch , Reed Bunting .

Jennifer Johnson

A sharp shower sent some of the 16 of us scurrying back to raid  car boots for  rainwear. It continued dull and muggy but we had returned before more persistent drizzle set in .

At first it  appeared that few birds were abroad , only 18 species having been recorded by the time we paused at  St. Mark’s Church, Handley where John Parlby told the tale of the erection of the Osprey platform nearby . Things looked up as we passed through Woolley Moor via Beresford Lane and Temperance Hill . It was here  we heard  that a Black Tern was over the reservoir , speeding  our progress in the hope of seeing it !!  Along with this and the bushes adjacent to the car park being alive with warblers  that our total  for the day was boosted to a satisfactory 42 species .

Other excitement was caused by the sighting of a Purple Hairstreak butterfly at the top of an Ash , and the discovery of several football-sized Puff-balls , one of which found a good home in a plastic bag to be fried in butter  later !!

Thanks to Paul Beard for leading once again .

Great Crested Grebe , Little Grebe ,Cormorant, Grey Heron , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Canada Goose , Mute Swan , Buzzard, Nuthatch , Moorhen , Coot , Lesser Black -backed Gull , Black-headed Gull , Black Tern , Woodpigeon , Stock Dove , Collared Dove ,Great Spotted Woodpecker, Swallow , House Martin , Rook, Carrion Crow , Jackdaw , Magpie , Jay , Blue Tit , Long – tailed Tit , Wren , Blackbird , Robin , Blackcap , Whitethroat , Chiffchaff , Dunnock , Pied Wagtail ,Starling , Goldfinch , Greenfinch , Chaffinch , Reed Bunting ,House Sparrow .

Jennifer Johnson