We have discovered a rare - nationally scarce -  Hoverfly - Callicera rufa - at Dovestone.

But it wasn't luck (well a bit) as this was planned. How?

The wardens have felled a lot of Conifers to create new habitat and a path through an old dark plantation - Pennyworth Wood.

It was realised this was an opportunity to create some new habitats for birds, insects and fungi - so following guidance from The Malloch Socie…

An improving day at Dove stone  saw the visit of wren, pied wagtail, meadow pipit, goldfinch, stonechat, crow, wood pigeon and kestrel. 3 were seen on the eastern side of Dovestone reservoir and we were treated to one of them with its prey on the wall across from the picnic area at Ashway Gap.

Additional excitement with the sighting of an egret near the sailing club.

 At Ashway Gap there was sadly no sign of the peregrines but some good views of a kestrel and a buzzard. Additionally we were treated to repeated visits of a jay and pied wagtail, together with upwards of 20 goldfinch, swallows, blackbird, chaffinch and a great spotted woodpecker.

Following completion of the path through Pennyworth Woods the wardens and volunteers have made a new path and viewing point next to the feeding…

A pleasant dry day at Dove Stone saw Great Tit, Coal Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Song thrush, Wood pigeon, Jackdaw, Treecreeper, Wren, Meadow Pipit, Pheasant, Mallard, Canada Geese, Black headed gulls, Cormorant, Pied Wagtail, Swallows and a pair of Oystercatchers near the sailing club.

Quite a damp day at Dove Stone saw the following birds at Binn Green - Wren, robin, wood pigeon, crow and a song thrush battering a snail.

Down at Ashway Gap we had a jackdaw, sandpiper, chaffinch, pied wagtail, grey wagtail, mallard, jay, meadow pipit and several swallows keeping the midge numbers down.

A family of canada geese and mallard were on Dove Stone with a solitary cormorant on Yeoman Hey.

On Friday night we got the old moth trap again, this time at Ashway Gap.

The weather seemed fine during the day, but unfortunately took a turn for the worse with a heavy soaking drizzle which made things a bit trickier! Nevertheless we set up under the large Beech tree and had reasonable success.

Highlights included 2 Small Elephant Hawkmoths, one of which nearly hitched a ride home! A pristine looking Ghost Moth (which…

What could best be described as an atmospheric day at Dove Stone saw a variety visitors including willow warbler, jackdaw, blue tit, blackbird, meadow pipit, dunnock, swallow, goldfinch, common sandpiper, blackcap, spotted flycatcher and jay. Activity in and around Pennyworth Wood has increased noticeably following the works there.

The peregrine was seen close to the old nest site.

Curlew and cuckoo were heard from…

A glorious day at Dove Stone today with the following sightings: chaffinch, great tit, Jay, dunnock, robin, blackbird, song thrush, meadow pipit, wren, pied wagtail, mallard, a family of canada geese, black headed gull, pheasant, wood pigeon, and several sightings of the peregrine near the nest site.

Additional reports of spotted flycatcher and blackcap in Pennyworth Wood.

On the subject of Pennyworth Wood, the wardens…

After a cold and damp start the day brightened at Ashway Gap and the following were seen:

goldfinch, dunnock, wren, common sandpiper, willow warbler, meadow pipit, red legged partridge, pheasant, chaffinch, mallard, Canada geese, grey wagtail, pied wagtail, blue tit, robin and blackbird.

Also a ring ouzel was spotted near to the sailing club.

Binn Green’s visitors included chaffinch, willow warbler, dunnock, song thrush, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, robin, woodpigeon, pheasant and song thrush.

Down at Ashway Gap were meadow pipit, pied wagtail, wren, a pair of dippers, canada geese (with 5 goslings) and mallard.  

A damp overcast day at Binn Green included the following visitors - chaffinch, dunnock, song thrush, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, robin, great spotted woodpecker, woodpigeon, pheasant and mallard.

Down at Ashway Gap were meadow pipit, a pair of grey wagtails, a pair of stonechat, a dipper, canada geese, mallard and finally one of the peregrines.  

Visitors at Binn Green today included goldfinch, chaffinch, siskin, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, robin, wren, great spotted woodpecker,woodpigeon and lots of pheasants.

Down at Ashway Gap were meadow pipit and a pair of pied wagtails. There have been recent reports of wheatear and a ring ouzel there too.

A glorious day at Dove Stone to see chaffinch, robin, blackbird, siskin, goldfinch, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker at Binn Green.

Around Ashway Gap were pied wagtail and Canada geese with reports of a wheatear.

Both peregrines were seen too.

Sadly no re-appearance of the red kite which was spotted yesterday.

A cold, wet day at Binn Green saw visitors including song thrush, goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, siskin, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, robin, dunnock, woodpigeon and lots of pheasants.

Friday’s sightings at Binn Green included siskin, goldfinch, brambling, chaffinch, robin, blackbird, blue tit, great tit, coal tit, long tailed tit and great spotted woodpecker.

Around Ashway Gap were a pair of song thrush, pied wagtail and canada geese.

Two separate reports of good sightings of mountain hare on the road up to Chew reservoir.

A fairly dull day was brightened by the appearance of a pair of peregrines around the old nest sites. They appeared mid afternoon and produced good views for some time.

Earlier in the day we were treated to a passing flock of lapwing (approximately 30) over Dove Stone - with particularly good views from the new catering van!

Plenty of black headed gulls and jackdaw evident there too and a solitary mistle thrush.

Up…

The winter so far has been fairly benign, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some interesting sightings!

In recent weeks, a lovely male Pochard made an appearance on Dovestone Reservoir, spotted by our fantastic volunteer Ken Gartside who also managed to get a shot of the bird. (makes a change from the usual Mallards!)

. (Ken Gartside)

A flock of around 10 Reed Buntings, mixed with Greenfinch and Goldfinch…

A bright chilly day today at Binn Green – but once the feeders were topped up we attracted a nuthatch, brambling, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, robin, treecreeper, siskin and a mistle thrush.

Down at Ashway Gap we had good lengthy views of one of the peregrines.

16 months in...!

Time certainly flies when you’re busy with the first 16 months of my time on the project has flown by. A great deal has already been achieved with still a lot of planting work to do, but we are well on target to have completed what was promised to the funders (WREN) by this time.

During this year, I have also spent a great deal of time looking for Sphagnum sources across the UK. Clearly we have…

Lots of activity at the feeding station at a cold but bright Binn Green today. Visitors included chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, coal tit, blue tit, great tit, a pair of brambling, siskin, treecreeper, robin, blackbird, magpie, woodpigeon and great spotted woodpecker.

ps  Don't forget to join in the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend to add your own local sightings if you can.

A lovely day at Binn Green saw a range of visitors including goldfinch, chaffinch, greenfinch, great spotted woodpecker, siskin, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, treecreeper, robin, wren and a male bullfinch.

Here are Friday’s sightings at Dove Stone

A quiet dark day today at Binn Green – but once the feeders were topped up we managed to attract brambling, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, magpie, robin, treecreeper, siskin and a wren.

There were some welcome new visitors today at Binn Green – particularly a pair of brambling and a female bullfinch. In addition we had a great spotted woodpecker, great tit, coal tit, blue tit, blackbird, chaffinch, greenfinch, goldfinch, magpie, robin and a wren.

Down at Ashway Gap were mallard, crows, woodpigeon, black headed gulls and pheasant.

As the days are getting shorter the feeders at Binn Green are…