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

With the threat of rain and rank, damp , burgeoning vegetation plastering us with moisture Paul Beard led us along the relatively dry lanes of the ” Brackenfield loop ”  instead of taking to the fields .

The 10 participants encountered 48 species of bird .Warblers skulked in the bushes, Great Spotted Woodpeckers seemed to be everywhere ,and in the vicinity of Brackenfield Green several  clouds of Linnets took to the air from behind Nether Farm .

Great Crested Grebe , Little Grebe, Cormorant , Grey Heron ,  Greylag Goose , Canada Goose , Mallard , Tufted Duck , Teal , Buzzard , Pheasant , Coot , Moorhen , Lapwing , Herring Gull, Lesser Black- backed Gull, Black-headed Gull , Common Tern , Wood Pigeon , Little Owl , Great Spotted Woodpecker , Swift,  Swallow , House Martin , Pied Wagtail ,  Magpie , Carrion Crow , Rook , Coal Tit , Blue Tit , Great Tit , Nuthatch ,Wren , Dunnock ,  Robin, Song Thrush , Blackbird , Blackcap , Chiffchaff, Whitethroat , Starling , Greenfinch , Chaffinch , Bullfinch, Goldfinch , Linnet , Reed Bunting , House Sparrow .

Butterflies were few  , just Green-veined White and Small White recorded

Jennifer Johnson

Dull and damp turned to blue and sunny  as John Parlby led 14 of us on a delightful circular route , passing Brackenfield Church and flower filled meadows to the Amber. Here a vote was taken to continue our progress  past stone properties near the dam wall and along South Hill Lane with views over the reservoir below  .

56 species were encountered including 2 of owl delighting us all, not least the incredible camouflage of a Little Owl hiding in the crevice of a tree .

Little Grebe , Great Crested Grebe , Cormorant, Grey Heron , Mute Swan , Greylag Goose , Canada Goose , Mallard , Pochard , Tufted Duck , Buzzard , Kestrel , Pheasant , Moorhen , Coot , Oystercatcher , Lapwing , Black – Headed Gull , Lesser Black-backed Gull , Common Tern , Wood Pigeon , Stock Dove , Barn Owl , Little Owl , Great Spotted Woodpecker ,Swift , Sand Martin , Swallow , Grey Wagtail , Pied Wagtail , Wren , Dunnock , Robin , Song Thrush , Mistle Thrush , Blackbird , Whitethroat , Blackcap , Chiffchaff , Willow Warbler , Goldcrest , Long-tailed Tit , Blue Tit , Coal Tit , Great Tit , Jay , Magpie , Jackdaw , Carrion Crow , House Sparrow , Chaffinch , Greenfinch , Goldfinch , Yellowhammer , Reed Bunting , Nuthatch

The guided walk held on 2nd. June was led by Keith Turton and John Parlby.

With a very bad weather forecast it was of no surprise that only 7 people took part.

After a brief discussion we decided to go ahead with the walk. We walked down to Chapel Bay and on past Stretton Handley school to Woolley village. Here with the skies darkening we headed back to the reservoir. For the last 30 minutes we had the threatened rain, but not too bad fortunately. Species seen were;

Mandarin 1 female with 4 young, Buzzard, Song Thrush, Jay, Magpie, Blackcap, Crow, Collared Dove, Bullfinch,Dunnock, Starling, Canada Goose, Mallard, Great Tit, Swallow,

Greylag Goose, Cormorant, Tufted Duck, Goldcrest, Goldfinch, Coot, Mute Swan,

Great crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Pheasant, Oystercatcher, Blackbird,

Chiff Chaff, Lapwing, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon, House Sparrow, Robin, House Martin, Wren, Jackdaw.