Following on from our initial blog on the Saddleworth fire last week, here is a quick update from our wardening team:

The Saddleworth fire, which started on neighbouring grouse moor and spread onto Dove Stone has damaged approximately 200 hectares (around 300 football pitches) of land. Fortunately, the blaze did not reach the main areas of blanket bog that we've been restoring on the higher plateau, although an area…

We’ve understandably had a lot of concern for the wildlife and moorland habitat here at Dove Stone following the blaze in Saddleworth that has made national headlines this week. Here, our Site Manager Dave O'Hara gives an update on what we know at the moment: 

Our dedicated site team have been busy assisting with the logistics of getting equipment to the fire crews. As you can imagine, the moorland terrain and…

A scorching day seemed to keep visitor numbers down at Dove Stone but a peregrine was active this morning at Ashway Gap and other sightings included swallow, jackdaw, robin, meadow pipit, goldfinch, siskin, blue tit, wood pigeon, chaffinch, black headed gull, pheasant, mallard, dunnock and common sandpiper.

A great summer’s day at Dove Stone showing the site off to its best. The peregrines put in intermittent appearances at Ashway Gap and other visitors included goldfinch, grey wagtail, swallow, pied wagtail, jackdaw, meadow pipit, blackbird, robin, chaffinch, mallard, mistle thrush, black-headed gull and chaffinch.

Good lengthy views of a peregrine at Ashway Gap together with swallow, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, goldfinch, blackbird, wren, robin, chaffinch, jackdaw, mallard, mistle thrush and oystercatcher.

A fleeting glimpse of a peregrine at Ashway Gap, together with pied wagtail, meadow pipit, blackcap, blackbird, robin, chaffinch, chiffchaff, jackdaw, swallow, jay, canada geese, mallard, heron and buzzard.

A glorious day at Dove stone started with the welcoming call of a cuckoo near the main car park. Other visitors included pied wagtail, lapwing, mistle thrush, song thrush, blackbird, robin, dunnock, grey heron, reed bunting, chaffinch, willow warbler, meadow pipit, jackdaw, crow, wood pigeon, common sandpiper and a peregrine.

Great views of the two peregrines at Ashway Gap today. Other sightings include swallow, curlew, buzzard, a pair of great spotted woodpecker, lapwing, greylag, nuthatch, blackbird, mistle thrush, meadow pipit, robin, chaffinch, great tit and mallard.

Today’s visitors at Dove Stone included curlew, peregrine, coal tit, great tit, nuthatch, jackdaw, swallow, pied wagtail, chaffinch, robin, willow warbler, jay, house martin, canada geese, mallard and grey wagtail.

Also there are reports of a cuckoo calling this morning in the sailing club area.

A very wet day at Dove Stone more suited to mallards and amphibians! Still the following put in an appearance - great spotted woodpecker (2), goldfinch, chaffinch, nuthatch, robin, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, pied wagtail, curlew, mistle thrush, meadow pipit, crow, jackdaw and several swallows around the dam wall near the main car park.

A cuckoo was reported calling earlier this week too.

Another glorious day at Dove Stone with visitors including greenfinch, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, goldfinch, nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, chaffinch, blackbird, curlew, willow warbler, dipper, pied wagtail, kestrel and a couple of sightings of peregrine near Ashway Gap.

A gloomy day at Dove Stone saw coal tit, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, robin, chaffinch, jay, quite a few siskin, jackdaw, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, meadow pipit, song thrush and curlew.

Other reported sightings over the last few days included bullfinch, common sandpiper and ring ouzel.

The highlight of today was the visit of an Osprey over Yeoman Hey reservoir which was noted late morning and spent at least a couple of hours circling around. What a treat.

Other visitors included a large flock of meadow pipits, jackdaws, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, blackbird, robin, chaffinch, coal tit, blue tit, black headed gulls, mallard and canada geese.

There was a lot of peregrine activity at Ashway Gap today but no ravens which had been seen on the quarry earlier in the week.

Other sightings included kestrel, magpie, blue tit, great tit, black headed gulls, mallard and canada geese.

Another lovely day at Dove Sone with sightings of great tit, coal tit, blue tit, chaffinch, mistle thrush, black headed gull, solitary cormorant, kestrel, goldfinch, robin, blackbird, siskin, raven and a peregrine.

A gloriously sunny but cold day at Dove Stone attracted jackdaw, mistle thrush, a solitary oystercatcher, black headed gull, nuthatch, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, goldfinch, robin, siskin, kestrel and peregrine.

A glorious winter’s day at Dove Stone to see a pair of raven searching along the ridge above Chew Brook and a kestrel carrying his lunch across the path.

Other visitors included robin, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, long tailed tit, black headed gulls, a large flock of jackdaw and a smaller flock of rook.

The highlight of today was watching a pair of raven investigating the rock face above Ashway Gap only to be interrupted and chased off by one of the peregrines.

Other sightings included a kestrel, blue tit, great tit, a flock of about 12 long tailed tit, mistle thrush, blackbird, robin, dunnock and siskin.

Sightings of mountain hares are still being reported, particularly on the track up to Chew Reservoir.

Its a bit cold, wet and windy with snow due, but before the weather turned too wintry, I went up onto the bog around Chew reservoir on wednesday, which is around 1500 ft asl, to do some Lichen surveying. Thanks to Kate for a lift up with the volunteer work party!

When all else , like insects particularly, are not around, Lichens are still showing well and worth a look at - and we have some nice communities developing…

A beautiful Autumn day at Dove Stone was enjoyed by many visitors with the opportunity to see great aerial displays by a pair of peregrine and a kestrel. Other highlights included stonechat at Celebration Wood, goldcrest in Pennyworth Wood and a dipper at Ashway Gap.

A glorious day at Dove Stone and once the feeders were topped up we attracted a nuthatch, goldcrest, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, long tailed tit, blackbird, chaffinch, dunnock, goldfinch, robin, treecreeper, siskin and a Jay.

Down at Ashway Gap one of the peregrines put in a fleeting appearance and there were good views of a kestrel hunting.

Today’s visitors at Binn Green included coal tit, great tit, blue tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, robin, blackbird, a solitary siskin, treecreeper and nuthatch.

Down at Ashway Gap were 2 kestrels, grey wagtail, pheasant and a pair of magpie.

A recent visit to Dovestone showed that there are lots on insects  to see still, mainly feeding on the last flowers .

However, the Fungi main season has now started - there are a few Waxcaps in the meadows, such as Snowy and Parrot, while in the woods many species can be found.

Pine woods are showing well, with  Conifer Tuft (photo), which isn't too common - a relative of Sulphur Tuft, which can also be seen.

Pine…

Re-introduction of the feeders at Binn Green this week brought a welcome return of large numbers of woodland birds. Visitors included lots of siskin, coal tits, great tit, blue tit, chaffinch, goldfinch, greenfinch, robin, blackbird, great spotted woodpecker and nuthatch.

Down at Ashway Gap was a kestrel, grey wagtail, red grouse and a pair of stonechat.

As summer ends, breeding bird surveys this spring give us new evidence that our restoration of blanket bog is helping breeding wading birds.

We only fully survey the moorland every 5 years, and carry out a sample survey annually, but this year, aided by extra coverage thanks to Gareth's  'WREN' volunteers, and surveys as part of the RSPB's Curlew Trial Management project, 90% of the blanket bog habitat, and close to 80…