The first Cuckoo of the year returning to Dove Stone,  probably from sub-Saharan overwintering grounds,  was heard on May 4th.  This will be the male giving the 'cuckoo' call.  Since then we've heard regular calling from around the plantations behind Bradbury's Farm; yesterday was our first sighting however below Whimberry Rocks where a Cuckoo was seen being mobbed by Meadow Pipits - thanks once more to Jamie…

We've just had one of our woodland art walks ( courtesy of the good folk at the local Woodend Artists collective ) where we follow a trail through Dove Stone's woods,  collecting a small number of leaves from a number of trees such as Sycamore,  Alder,  Birch,  Rowan & Oak ( as an aside,  apparently oaks can support 400+ species of invertebrates - amazing ),  to name just a few of the broadleaf trees at Dove Stone.  From…

Emperor moths Saturnia pavonia are stunningly beautiful and it was great to hear that one had been found at Dove Stone over the weekend - thanks to Jamie for that.  Emperors inhabit a range of habitats but are most often associated with heathland and moorland so Dove Stone is an area with the right habitat.   That said,  although widespread Emperors aren't common. 

Male emperors are day flying with the larger,  slightly…

Great to hear the first Cuckoo of the year from Dove Stone this morning.  And amazing to think of this bird's journey from its overwintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa.  Cuckoos are a red listed bird in rapid decline.  Take a look at this link for info on just how much this species has declined:  http://blx1.bto.org/birdtrends/species.jsp?year=2011&s=cucko

For more info on Cuckoos and the BTOs satellite tracking…

What's about this week at Dove Stone so far:  at the moment we're liking the activity up at Binn Green.  This morning lots of Siskins with Lesser Redpolls,  Brambling as well as regulars Goldfinch,  Greenfinch,  Coal,  Blue, Long tailed and Great Tit and Black Pheasants.  Jays are also around regularly at Binn Green at the moment.  They really are spectacular looking birds.

Elsewhere around Dove Stone recent sightings…

A quick update with news that Common Sandpipers were heard at Dove Stone on Sunday - quite often they'll give a three-note call as they fly.  They've also been seen earlier this week,  with the most recent sightings being on Friday around Yeoman Hey and Greenfield reservoirs.  Common Sandpipers are summer visitors to Dove Stone.  They'll be here to around July and August with any young birds staying a bit later, 

If you're thinking coming to Dove Stone anytime soon here's what's been seen recently.  Wheatears have now returned - have a look for them around hillsides up from Chew Brook onwards.  In the same area look out for Stonechat and Reed Buntings.  Along the way there's lots of Willow Warblers to be heard.  I was watching a Willow Warbler yesterday and the light was catching it in such a way that it appeared q…

A quick post on what's about at Dove Stone.  Thursday saw our first Swallows returning to Dove Stone seen flying in the field next to the main carpark and along the main reservoir bank on Friday.  Willow warblers and Chiffchaff are also around the estate,  arriving a couple of weeks ago.  Up at Binn Green there have been recent sightings of Brambling and Lesser Redpoll as well as plenty of Siskins,  Greenfinch,  Goldfinch…

BioBlitz:  a mass survey ( often,  but not always ) over 24 hours to identify and record as much wildlife as possible

Dove Stone's BioBitz is back this year on the evening of Friday 6th July and throughout Saturday 7th July. 

Not sure what a BioBlitz is all about ?  Check out our short video from last year's BioBlitz: http://www.bnhc.org.uk/home/bioblitz/national-bioblitz/thenorth/dovestone.html]

Interested in volunteering…

A quick update on what's about at Dove Stone.  Up at the Binn Green feeding zone there's plenty of action with large groups of Siskins as well as regulars Goldfinch,  Greenfinch and lots of Great,  Blue,  Coal and Long tailed tits.  Also in the Binn Green area there have been recent sightings of Buzzard,  Sparrowhawk,  Raven and Crossbill.  Elsewhere around Dove Stone look out for Oystercatcher on Dove Stone res,  Chiffchaff,  Mistle…

A quick update on what's around and about at the moment. 

Up at Binn Green there have been good views of large flocks of Siskin still as well as Lesser Redpoll - it's been absolutely buzzing up there.  Frequent views of Great Spotted Woodpecker and  Treecreeper as well as of our regular finches and tits. 

Elsewhere around Dove Stone there have been recent sightings of Dipper,  Grey Wagtail,  Stonechat,  Goldcrest, 

So,  Dove Stone and the RSPB aren't all about birds,  right ? Right. 

The European Cave Spider ( Meta menardi ).  A first for Dove Stone's records.  And this spider has only been recorded around 400 times since 1800.  The thinking is that it's probably under recorded in general due to its preferred habitat. 

This is a spider that lives exclusively in permanently dark, damp habitats:  you won't find it occupying…

Watching wildlife is always an exciting experience,  particularly when you seen something up close:   for me this weekend at Dove Stone it was watching Treecreeper.  It's a bird I've seen often but I was still blown away at how beautiful this small bird is.  The colours of the feathers on its back are really beautiful.  But you have to look close.  You could just not see how stunning this bird is,  as we do so often with…

A quick update on what's out and about this month so far.  

This week at Binn Green we've seen Crossbills feeding on the Larch cones.  Good one.   In fact,  the whole area around Binn Green has been absolutely buzzing so it's worth checking out.  On and around the feeders at Binn Green we've had recent sightings of a group of six Bramblings,  Lesser Redpoll,  large numbers of Siskins,  Great Spotted Woodpecker, 

A quick post before tonight just to say that we're still going ahead with this evening.  A little bit of snow here but nothing settling - yet ! The Met Office are forecasting for clear skies this evening - but not until a little later...

Not long to go now.  The snow arrived sometime in the early hours of this morning.  However,  not that much has fallen really so we should be okay for tonight.  And the Met Office are now forecasting clear skies from 9pm;  this is good ! Last night cleared around that time too and it was quite good.

Update coming later in the day...

This Friday sees Dove Stone first astronomy night.  We originally chose this week in which to do this as the Geminids meteor shower peaks tonight.  It's not a good year for them this year as the peak coincides with the moon being quite full,  which obviously impacts upon visibility.

Back to Friday night - despite this hopefully we might still some of the Geminids shower.  There's quite a lot of other things going on…

A quick mention of our latest guided walk. 

This Sunday we'll be taking a walk through some of Dove Stone's woods and up to Binn Green to have a look at our feeding area.  Not only is it a really fantastic area from which to watch birds such as Great spotted woodpeckers,  Goldfinch,  Nuthatch and,  lately,  Bullfinch feeding from our seed and peanut feeders it's also a great spot from which to see birds such as Siskins…

Sunday gave us great views of a flock of over twenty Crossbills feeding on a Larch just past Ashway Gap.  It's the first time that we've seen Crossbills on this side of Dove Stone;  so far the best place to see Crossbills has been at Binn Green. 

At Ashway Gap itself there were two male Bullfinches on the feeders there. 

Also over the weekend at Binn Green there were sightings of Siskin,  Sparrowhawk,  Wren, 

Dove Stone looks absolutely stunning this morning.  A quick update ahead of our ' Autumn Migrants ' guided walk tomorrow ( Sunday ).  This morning at Binn Green there have been sightings of Great spotted woodpecker,   Jay,  Bullfinch,  Siskin,  Goldcrest,  Raven and Treecreeper.  Seen elsewhere around Dove Stone there's also been sightings of Sparrowhawk and a flock of Lesser Redpoll.  Recent sightings throughout the…

This Sunday we have the second of our guided bird id walks that follows on from September’s walk in which we looked at bird song and behaviour.  This time round we’ll be taking a particular look at winter migrants to Dove Stone. 

Fieldfares have just started to arrive at Dove Stone.  We’ve had recent sightings just last Saturday of groups of around thirty to forty Fieldfare in the trees and fields behind…

This Sunday sees the next of our guided walks from this season's Autumn walks programme.  If you'd like a copy of the full programme then come and find us at the RSPB information point at the top of Dove Stone's main carpark.  We also have a guided walks mailing list - please ask us for more details.  Back to this Sunday:  a 4 mile,  3 hour jaunt through woodland, along the banks of Yeoman Hey reservoir and up to…

A quick update on recent sightings at Dove Stone.  On one of our regular guided walks yesterday,  this time up to Chew Reservoir,   there were sightings of quite a few Meadow pippits,  Wheatear,  Sparrowhawk and House martins all seen from the Chew path.  Up on the tops there were Red grouse and although we couldn't confirm for sure there was a very small bird of prey spotted which we think could have been a Hobby.   On the way…

This Sunday we have a fungi foray ( full details on the events pages on this site ) with Dave Winnard from Manchester Mushrooms.  Check out Dave's site:  www.manchestermushrooms.co.uk . 

At the moment there are plenty of really stunning Fly agaric ( Amanita muscaria ) at Dove Stone as well as plenty of Amethyst deceiver ( Laccaria amethystea ) and Blackening waxcap ( Hygrocybe conica ) amongst others.  Last year's foray…

A great bat talk and walk last night with thanks to Steve Parker from the South Lancs Bat Group for a entertaining and informative talk on these remarkable mammals and to all who set out despite the weather - it actually turned out to be a warm,  still night with the rain holding off.  You can read more of the work that South Lancs Bat Group does here http://www.slbg.org.uk/

A highlight of the evening was finally seeing…