1 Lesser Whitethroat (showing well, for a Lesser Whitethroat- calling continuously and very mobile. Didn't seem put off by the heavy showers) 2 Common Whitethroat (on the opposite side of the river) 3 Blackcap (2m, 1f) 1 Willow Warbler 5 Chiffchaff 2 Bullfinch 2 Greenfinch 1 Reed Bunting (male - still surprised when I see them in this area for some reason) 1 Willow Tit Flock of Long-tailed Tits 1 Goosander (f) Various hirundines
5+ chiffchaff 6 blackcap 1 lesser whitethroat (close to Jackson's Boat bridge; very active and showy) 1 whitethroat 6 greenfinch 4 bullfinch 4 song thrush 1 jay 1 swift (first of the year) 1 lesser black-backed gull over 1 herring gull over 1 cormorant over 1 kestrel 2 buzzard
River and surrounding habitats:
2 willow warbler 1 sand martin 1 house martin 4+ swallow 1 grey wagtail 1 cormorant 1 buzzard
Lesser Whitethroat - location as previous posts. Seems to sing actively in the morning but quiet in the afternoon. Whitethroat, blackcap, willow warbler, chiffchaff, reed warbler - in same area Noticable influx of hirundines - over the River Mersey
Lesser Whitethroat (2) - one in location described below, other another 50 yards up the path in a hawthorn under the next set of tall Silver Birch. Both very vocal and showing well. Whitethroat (2) on banks of the Mersey Plenty of Chiffchaff and Blackcap but did not hear any Willow Warbler.
Lesser Whitethroat - singing and showing well on Hardy Farm. Circa 30-50 yards from Jacksons Boat bridge along the path towards the pump station / football club. Showing in a hawthorn below the tall clump of silver birch trees on the right - but moving to each side of the path (i.e. into the orchard area). Thanks to local birder Justin for initially locating the bird. Chris
A few hours spent here in the morning and early afternoon; nice to meet Michael, too. :)
16 chiffchaff (most singing) 12 blackcap (most singing, males and females) 1 or 2 whitethroat (first of the year, in the same place as Michael) 3 treecreeper 2 nuthatch (one heard only) 2 greenfinch 3 chaffinch 2 bullfinch 2 house martin (first of the year) 4 song thrush 4 jay 1 stock dove (around the hay crop field) 2 ring-necked parakeet 4 grey heron 1 black-headed gull 1 or 2 kestrel
Plenty of the usuals, with blue tit and dunnock seen with nesting material, and a pair of long-tailed tit taking food to a nest site.
Countless Chiffchaff's singing 1 Willow warbler (great views and lots of singing) Pair of Willow tit Pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Jay Pair of Bullfinch 3 Grey Heron 1 Reed Bunting Lots of Song thrush 2 Ring necked parakeet
1 Blackcap M (seen twice and singing the second time) 2 Great Spotted woodpeckers lots of Jay Song Thrushes 1 Bullfinch M Water rail (Heard) lots of chiffchaff 1 Kestrel 2 Goldcrest 1 Buzzard 1 Mute swan over 2 Reed bunting M
Plus lots of the usuals
Also great to meet Jamie, who while we were chatting heard a Willow tit singing.
Ah, well thank you for alerting me to a rarer sighting than I expected. I spend so much time in different places, that I forget what is common and uncommon in different areas sometimes.
I had one in central Ladybarn calling from a tree one evening 5 or 6 years ago, so they must disperse through sites they aren't often recorded on. My girlfriend also claimed to have seen one of the green line in fallowfield last year. I noticed that here was also oe reported at Dove Stone a few days ago - that's another site that they turn up on form time to time but do not stay.
I've had overwintering Green Woodpecker on Barlow Tip 10 years ago but none in the Mersey valley since. They are uncommon GM birds at best so good work there
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 3rd of April 2016 11:51:58 PM
Is it? For the Ees in particular or Manchester area as a whole? I heard it calling near the Car park next to the school which back on to the old cow field.
2 Willow Tit, seen and calling for a positive i.d A lot of Jays Green Woodpecker at least 1 Water Rail (Heard) Lots of chiffchaffs 1 Heron 2 Buzzard 3 Pheasant 2 Bullfinch (Pair) 1 goldcrest 2 Reed buntings
Lots of the usuals...
Eugene.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 4th of April 2016 10:06:06 PM
Chiffchaff x2 - one heard and seen, one heard only. Close together in the thicket between Ivygreen meadow and the small playing field. First this year for me.
Rather quiet round here this morning (7-9am), if you discount the jays, magpies and carrion crows.
Walked through the wood by Chorlton Brook. Nice little group of goldfinches (6-ish) feeding in the undergrowth with a single siskin in tow.
Glimpse of a gadwall male on the dipping pond of all places. He disappeared down the far leg of the pond so not sure if he was alone. Then two buzzards circling low directly overhead.
Pair of mute swan on the embankment pond by Hawthorn Lane - fairly unusual. Also the two resident moorhen pootling about.
Day spent all around the Mersey Valley area here from about 9 - 12
4 goldcrest 3 chiffchaff 1 singing coal tit (heard only) 2 willow tit 1 treecreeper Goldfinch, greenfinch & chaffinch, with bullfinch heard only. 2 reed bunting (another singing by the dry weir) 3 song thrush (2 singing) 1 singing mistle thrush (heard only) 13 jay (including 5 quarrelsome individuals together; I don't know what the collective noun for jays is, but it should be a 'screech'.) 4 ring-necked parakeet 2 water rail heard at the meadow pond 1 cormorant over 2 grey heron 1 sparrowhawk (two sightings, presumed same bird) Multiple buzzard sightings, but never of more than one together All the usuals
2 (at least) grey wagtail on the river
Hardy Farm orchard:
1 bullfinch seen, and others seen 2 reed bunting (around the edges) 1 woodcock flushed; very brief blurry view as it shot off. 2 buzzard around the clearing behind the wood
1 Kingfisher flying up the river and stopping to fish 2 Reed Bunting 2 Willow tits 5 Greenfinch 2 Sparrowhawks 1 Kestrel 2 Buzzards 1 Goosander flying down the river 2 Song thrush 4 Grey wagtails
Pheasant calling again around 11:00 from Hardy Farm Buzzard 2x Sparrowhawk high over towards the Mersey. Greenfinch everywhere!!!! 1x Reed Bunting in the old Horse Paddock ( where the Short Eared Owl was in winter).
Earlier this morning. Interesting group at Hawthorn Lane pond. 1 coot 2 Moorhen 1 reed bunting (m) 1 grey heron on the bank 2 male mallard Canada goose pair 1 gadwall male Sparrowhawk leisurely fly over the river into the woods on the Broad Ees Dole side. Elsewhere: Ring-necked parakeet pair - bonding behaviour 2 redwing - is it getting a bit late for visitors?
Not too late Michael. In my last post for Newchurch Common you will see that I had 200 Fieldfares & 30 Redwings still, and I expect to record them for a bit yet I'd swap a few for a Ring-necked Parakeet though
Listen out for Redwings singing. I had one singing at the Ees last year and a flock at Dunham Massey last week held several birds in song
Yep, I've had some singing at Newchurch, none of the ones in the big flocks (drowned out by 200 chacking Fieldfares!!) but isolated pairs have started doing this in the last couple of weeks, great to hear
Earlier this morning. Interesting group at Hawthorn Lane pond. 1 coot 2 Moorhen 1 reed bunting (m) 1 grey heron on the bank 2 male mallard Canada goose pair 1 gadwall male Sparrowhawk leisurely fly over the river into the woods on the Broad Ees Dole side. Elsewhere: Ring-necked parakeet pair - bonding behaviour 2 redwing - is it getting a bit late for visitors?
Not too late Michael. In my last post for Newchurch Common you will see that I had 200 Fieldfares & 30 Redwings still, and I expect to record them for a bit yet I'd swap a few for a Ring-necked Parakeet though
Listen out for Redwings singing. I had one singing at the Ees last year and a flock at Dunham Massey last week held several birds in song
Earlier this morning. Interesting group at Hawthorn Lane pond. 1 coot 2 Moorhen 1 reed bunting (m) 1 grey heron on the bank 2 male mallard Canada goose pair 1 gadwall male Sparrowhawk leisurely fly over the river into the woods on the Broad Ees Dole side. Elsewhere: Ring-necked parakeet pair - bonding behaviour 2 redwing - is it getting a bit late for visitors?
Not too late Michael. In my last post for Newchurch Common you will see that I had 200 Fieldfares & 30 Redwings still, and I expect to record them for a bit yet I'd swap a few for a Ring-necked Parakeet though
Earlier this morning. Interesting group at Hawthorn Lane pond.
1 coot
2 Moorhen
1 reed bunting (m)
1 grey heron on the bank
2 male mallard
Canada goose pair
1 gadwall male
Sparrowhawk leisurely fly over the river into the woods on the Broad Ees Dole side.
Elsewhere:
Ring-necked parakeet pair - bonding behaviour
2 redwing - is it getting a bit late for visitors?
Extended early morning walk today on a rare Tuesday off work.
Fairly quiet around the meadow pond but:
2 male reed bunting in smart breeding colour
Buzzard flew down into the middle trees
1 Ring-necked parakeet (an everyday sight on the Ees this year)
Lone male goosander on the river and a pair further downstream.
A pair of mallard on Chorlton Brook wouldn't normally raise comment but these two were 10 feet up a willow tree. That's a new one on me.
Cylce from sale water park to chorlton water park early am highlights: 4 grey herons, 1 on the dry weir, 2 flying out of the woods next to chorlton brook and 1 flying off sale golf course. a pair of mistle and song thrush feeding together on the path.
2 oystercatchers flew from the direction of chorlton water park & headed kind of in the direction of sale water park at 5.20pm. also in the area 2-3 buzzard, 1 ring-necked parakeet, 1 jay, 16 redwing.
3 goldcrest 1 treecreeper 2 coal tit 1 chaffinch 3 goldfinch 4 greenfinch 8 bullfinch (others heard) 3 reed bunting 2 grey wagtail (under bridge where brook meets river) 2 song thrush 2 mistle thrush 8 jay 1 water rail heard briefly at the meadow pond 23 common gull on the playing fields before the dry weir 3 ring-necked parakeet 4 grey heron around the heronry, two pair bonding. 1 kestrel 2 buzzard Plenty of the usuals (lots of wren to be heard, particularly)
1 pied wagtail, 3 jay, and 3 goosander (over, heading towards Sale Water Park) around the river
Couple of walks across the meadows today. Highlights;
Kingfisher (1) - along Chorlton Brook - regular sightings this week Stock Dove (2) - Hardy Farm - unusual for this site Sparrowhawk (1) Kestrel (2) Buzzard (2-4) Reed Bunting - at least 3-4 pairs around hardy farm playing fields Ring Necked Parakeet (2) Note - earlier in the week had 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming (7am) Goldcrest
A quick trip around the Ees on my bike 4:30-5 - highlights; Willow Tit (2-3) Herons on nest and noisy Pheasant (1) Crow - one carrying a blackbird sized egg which it carefully buried and covered with grass on the meadow field. Fox (3)
Walk along the river from Jacksons Boat to the Tram Bridge at Stretford. Very quiet. Of note; Grey Wagtail (2) - along the edge of the river Skylark (1) - flushed by dog walkers on Stretford Ees - not a regular sighting in this area Goosander (1) Cormorant (1) Buzzard (1) Kestrel (1) Ring necked parakeet - heard
Other sighting of note in the last few weeks; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 drumming near the cobbled road, and one on hardy farm - Sunday 14th early. Also Pair of kestrel in display flight over the cow field. Widgeon on river (1m) at junction with Chorlton brook - Not a regular bird on these parts.
Lots of Robins and Blackbirds 2 Coal tit 4 Great spotted woodpecker 3 Goldcrest 2 Ring necked parakeets 1 Jay Lots of blue and great tits 1 Treecreeper 1 Heron 1 Siskin 3 lesser Redpoll small flock of Goldfinch 1 Kestrel 1 Songthrush 1 Redwing
Between the Ees and Chorlton WP 4 Buzzards together, 2 pairs. Most i've seen at once in the area
Pair Kestrels Pair of Buzzards, circling for some time, also 1 earlier in the afternoon. 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Would have got a great photo, had I not have forgotten my memory card) 2 Jay 1 Bullfinch, M 3 Lesser redpoll (First for me at the ees) 2 Coal tits Lots of blue tits, great tits, robins, Blackbirds Chaffinch
Sightings mostly from the morning until early afternoon:
1 goldcrest 1 treecreeper 1 willow tit 5 goldfinch 3 greenfinch 11 bullfinch Long-tailed tit, blue tit and great tit in good numbers 3 song thrush 3 jay 24 magpie in one small area of the old cow field alone 1 great spotted woodpecker (with another heard) 3 ring-necked parakeet (also around the old cow field) 3+ common gull over 2 cormorant over 1 grey heron 1 kestrel 1 buzzard
On and around the river:
2 pied wagtail 1 little grebe 2 goosander (flying SE along the river's course)
A couple of hours in the persistent rain around the meadow pond, dipping pond and environs (1:15-3:00).
Willow Tit (3) - brief views Great spotted woodpecker (1) Treecreeper (2) Nuthatch (1) Goldcrest (9) Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Chaffinch, robin, wren etc Buzzard (2) likely to be the same bird coming out of the trees on the meadow pond area Sparrowhawk (1) nearly took my hat off as it pursued Goldfinch flock on way home Song thrush (6) Bullfinch (3) Cormorant, Grey Herons (4), and Gulls movement to SWP over No sight or sound of Water Rail. Big Jackdaw roost starting to build.