The Mellor Society

Wildlife in Mellor

Watching birds from a garden in Mellor is a rewarding experience. The variety of species that can be seen over the course of a year would probably surprise many people. Our garden in Mellor has certain advantages that others might not such as fairly long reaching views on some sides and an adjacent field but the greatest assistance to compiling a long list of garden birds is living in Mellor itself.

Mellor has a great position surrounded by arable farmland, pockets of woodland, small streams, some relatively uncultivated land and is on the edge of moorland. There are larger bodies of water close by in Roman lakes and Etherow park and the valley running east-west from the Pennines acts as a possible vector for migration.

Since 2005, 54 different species have been logged as garden birds in our garden. To be clear, this definition of a garden bird is one that is seen in , over or from one's own garden. One could add also being heard from the garden.

Starting with the more obvious and familiar, the top 10 garden birds as recorded in the 2009 RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch event have all been seen in the garden and they are: House Sparrow, Starling ,Blackbird , Blue Tit, Chaffinch, Woodpigeon,Collared Dove, Great Tit, Robin and Long Tailed Tit.

Further down the RSPB list and regular visitors to the garden at all times of the year are Hedgesparrow, Goldfinch, Greenfinch,Bullfinch, Coal Tit and Wren. The thrush family of which the Blackbird is the most well known is further represented by the Song and Mistle Thrushes.

The crow family is well established in Mellor with Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Rook and an army of Jackdaws. Pied wagtails are occasional but the fast flowing local streams are home to Grey Wagtails which are often heard above. Woodland birds are frequently seen and include Treecreeper, Nuthatch and  the Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Spring brings the first summer visitors of Chiff Chaff and Willow Warbler with Curlews bubbling their strange cries over the higher fields. The House Martin is usually the first of the hirundines to arrive, although in decreasing numbers it seems, followed by the Swallow and the Swift. In spring into Summer  Lapwings and occasionally Golden Plovers will be seen overhead and in the fields.

As the seasons change and Autumn arrives , skeins of Pink foot Geese can often be seen flying westwards as part of their winter migration.These can be distinguished from the ever present Canada Geese by their calls and usually the larger numbers of Pink Foot Geese in the flocks. Into winter proper brings two further Thrushes from Scandinavia, the Fieldfare and the Redwing. A couple of times a Snipe has been found lurking in the wet field by the garden wall. As opportunities on the coast to feed diminish, flocks of Black Headed Gulls will be seen, often with a Common Gull or Lesser Black backed Gull for company. very  occasionally a Cormorant can be seen overhead perhaps making it's way to a larger body of water such as Audenshaw reservoirs.

Regular sightings of Grey Heron and Mallard are made all the year round, with Pheasants boldly exploring the garden in the winter months in search of food.

The most commonl Bird of Prey locally here is the Sparrowhawk which can bring a swift end for many an unwary songbird not paying sufficient attention around the hedges. Kestrels are often seen above and in the adjacent field. The Common Buzzard now seems to be on the increase with several known nesting sites in the borough and can often be seen high above avoiding persecution by crows.

In the depths of winter, during the long nights the Tawny Owl makes itself heard with its "Kvik Kvik" mating call to perhaps attract a mate and add another tick for the Mellor birder !

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