Good Goldfinch action going on at Dove Stone currently.  They're such stunning birds.  Look out for them particularly feeding on the thistle heads at the start of the Chew Road.  Elsewhere around Dove Stone there have been recent sightings of groups of Mistle thrush,  juvenile Wheatear,  Meadow pippit,  Red grouse,  Stonechat,  Great spotted woodpecker and Dipper.

This Sunday 11th September as part of our Autumn season of…

Around and about at Dove Stone recently have been sightings of Fox moth caterpillars on the path up from Chew Brook.

The caterpillars have been in their early instar where they are yet to moult,  which they'll do when basically they've grown too large for their skin.  This could be the first of a number of moults.  With the Fox moth there’s quite a difference between early instars and  late instars with late instars…

Join us on a walk to take a look at the RSPB’s blanket bog restoration work and see how we’re regenerating essential habitat that is home to moorland wildlife such as Merlin,  Golden plover,  Short-eared owl and Mountain hare.  Along the way we’ll be talking about how our partnership work with United Utilities contributes to improving local water quality and about the effects of our carbon footprint.

Seen yesterday at the feeding station next to the main car were Greenfinch,  Goldfinch,  Great tit,  Nuthatch and Lesser redpoll.  Elsewhere around Dove Stone there have been recent sightings of Oystercatcher,  Common sandpiper,  Reed bunting,  Buzzard,  Swallow,  Meadow pippit,  Grey wagtail and Mistle thrush.  

This beautiful moth was one that we found at Dove Stone last week.  For those who're into their moths we'll be having a moth trap night on Sunday June 5th. Full details of where and when on the events pages soon...

A quick update with recent sightings around Dove Stone:  Wheatear,  Common sandpiper,  Swallow,  Grey wagtail, Curlew,  Oystercatcher,  Pied Flycatcher,  Great spotted woodpecker,  Treecreeper,  Nuthatch,  Linnet,  Willow warbler and Peregrine - an update on the Peregrines to follow soon. . .

Bog beacon's an uncommon fungi but you can find it at Dove Stone. 

Appropriately named,  small and matchstick-like,  you'll find it in boggy areas on leaf litter and pine needles.  Now is the best time.

 Many thanks to Dave Winnard from Manchester Mushrooms for the great photo.  More soon...

Taking a walk up the Chew access road at Dove Stone in the recent snow I could clearly see that I wasn’t the first to have done so that day.  Other tracks had been made,  though we’re talking four rather than two legged.  I am,  of course,  talking about Mountain hares.

The Mountain hare ( Family Leporidae, Rabbits and Hares ) is also known as the White hare, Scottish hare and Blue hare.  Unlike the Brown hare…

Dove Stone is looking fantastic in the snow but the snow isn't really conducive to tree dressing.  In fact,  the snow has dressed our trees for us. So sadly tomorrow's event is cancelled.  We will reschedule this event.  Perhaps in the spring,  so watch this space . . .

A walk round Dove Stone yesterday saw knee high and above snow drifts up the Chew Road with sightings of Curlew and large groups of Grouse plus a few…

A posting this week on trees,  at the start of National Tree Week.  During this week there’ll be plenty of events around,  many of which will,  of course,  involve planting trees. 

Here at Dove Stone we wanted to do something slightly different;  it seemed like a good idea to celebrate National Tree Week and the tradition of Tree Dressing day together.   So,  this Saturday you’ll find us planting climbers such as Ivy…

A brief Dove Stone update.  Plenty of Goldfinches and Greenfinches to be seen today as well as Coal,  Great and Blue Tits - all to be seen at both of Dove Stone's feeding stations in the main car park and at the top car park,  Binn Green.  Also seen today were a small group of Long Tailed Tits.  Recent sightings of groups of Fieldfare that are still around and about too.   A good look today too at a Mistle thrush who became…

A really fine day at Dove Stone with terrific mid-afternoon light.

At Binn Green we've had recent sightings of plenty of Coal, Great and Blue tits to be seen as well as Nuthatch,  Treecreeper and Great Spotted Woodpecker.  Nuthatch are also still visiting the feeding station at Dove Stone’s main car park,  along with Goldfinch and Greenfinch.

Also around and about is Britain’s smallest bird.  Yep,  it’s the…

Although a little late in the season with frosts starting to occur,  Saturday’s fungi foray with Dave Winnard from Manchester Mushrooms (http://www.manchesterwildlife.com/Manchester_Wildlife/Manchester_Mushrooms.html) gave us a record of sixty different types of fungi at Dove Stone.  Slightly earlier in the season and the figure could easily be far greater. 

Amongst the different species we found were Amethyst Deceiver…

There's been some really amazing and beautiful fungi at Dove Stone recently. 

I did post to the blog on fungi in September the year ( http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/groups/dovestone/blog/archive/2010/09.aspxhis ) but wanted to come back to it to post some more photos. Some fungi such as the Snowy waxcap are remarkably delicate looking.  They really do pay looking closely.  A bit like watching birds,  really.   

This Saturda…

Autumnwatch viewers might have seen an interesting piece on the programme this week by a sound recordist who was recording the song of the Dipper ( and the bird’s sub-song;  basically a bit of a practice for the year ahead when song really comes into its own ).   Here's a link to their song ( as well as some more info on Dippers and breeding ): http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/d/dipper/index.aspx.

Whilst setting up the public information desk this morning I saw my first migrant Fieldfares of the season. Unmistakeable with their grey heads and backs, there were just three or four birds at first with a couple of Redwing as companions, easily confirmed through the spotting scope. Then one or two more, very timid and obviously nervous of the unfamiliar sounds of car engines and dog barks. They were feeding in open ground…

On Sunday 7th November I will making my third attempt to lead the Yeoman Hey walk I hoped to do on the 26th September and 3rd October. On both the previous days the weather was so bad that it would have been impossible to see anything or even carry out the briefest conversation about the area or its wildlife! Although we will getting towards the back end of Autumn by the 7th, there should be lots to see as the winter visitor numbers…

A Cormorant diving on Yeoman Hey reservoir.  Disappearing on some dives for over a minute before resurfacing in a new spot.  Yeoman Hey,  the first of the four reservoirs at Dove Stone,  built in 1880,  is,  so I’ve read,  sixty five feet at its deepest.  Accounts of how deep Cormorants dive seem to be variable – between twenty and thirty feet. 

On a walk along the ridge looking down over Dove Stone a female Wheatear…

Last week I posted an entry on the Kestrel.  Since then the RSPB has published its Safeguarding Species report.  The report identifies the top one hundred bird species in the UK that most need help to maintain their conservation status.  Forty of these species have been prioritised for immediate conservation action.  Amongst the forty species the Kestrel has been identified as needing research to identify the causes of…

 Take twenty-five people,  throw in a few spades and five thousand plug plants in a field.  Four days ( and a bit of hard digging ) later Dove Stone has a new flower rich grassland.  

As mentioned,  creating a wildflower grassland is a lot of hard work so many thanks to both the Barclay’s Bank team from Salford for giving a day of their time to help out with the planting and for supporting activities like this in local communities…

A particular mention this week goes to the Kestrel.  Kestrels are regularly seen around Dove Stone.  This summer has given great views of a family of five Kestrels frequently over Alderman’s Brow as well as some good views of Kestrels from Ashway Gap. 

One of the Kestrels we’ve viewed during this time has been distinctive due to having noticeable feathers missing.  Kestrels’ moult lasts all year and takes place…

Fungi have such great names.  There’s Amthyst Deceiver and the Destroying Angel,  The Blusher and Devil’s Bolete.  Then there’s Hare’s Ear and Elfcups.  Fungi are also rich in associated myth and folklore,  the best known probably being fungi circles being taken as evidence of fairy rings.

Fungi are equally fascinating for their variety of shapes,  colours,  textures and habitat.  From cap and stem fungi…

The last two weeks since I last posted to the blog have seen changes in the woodlands at Dove Stone.  The yellows and oranges are really noticeable amongst the usual green of the trees now.  Autumn is really here. 

We've also seen in this time an end to the Peregrine watch at Ashway Gap. 

A big thank you to the many people who have visited the Peregrine watch and supported the RSPB.  Personally speaking,  part of what has…