Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was showing again at 17:30 in the top of a large tree close by the small wildlife pond in the area described in the previous post. What a great find Jon.
Can someone try and formally submit this excellent sighting then please?
Far too much good stuff going to waste on this forum already and this record is a cracker.
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker at 2pm. My Dad has seen it twice in the last two weeks in the same spot and I managed to see it today for a good minute. Also saw a male Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, numerous Nuthatches, 2 Treecreepers, 5 Parakeets and a Sparrowhawk amusingly being chased by two Goldfinches.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 23rd of April 2013 05:19:25 PM
Has a parrot flock been spotted around Fletcher Moss of late? Have just had a description (from a non-birder) of a flock of about 30 fairly large birds briefly landing on an oak tree in her garden near the park - apparently they were greyish and fairly big, with red round the eye and green on the head. Unfortunately, no pics were taken. Can only think they must have been the Ring-necks.
**PS Further detail included a 'trilling' sound and 'mohicans', so they must have been Waxwings - the green colour noted must have been a trick of poor light***
-- Edited by Ollie Wright on Monday 22nd of April 2013 07:10:35 PM
Peregrine, male over Stenners yesterday afternoon. & 6 Rose-rings also 70+ Fieldfare over, sounded like it may have had a few Redwing in the flock (picked up on sonogram)
-- Edited by JamieDunning on Tuesday 19th of March 2013 10:44:43 AM
Went to see if could see any parakeets today (around 12pm) and saw two groups, one of three (didn't check sexes) and a second of two birds, which were a pair. Both groups were investigating tree holes, and the female of the pair did enter hole and was doing some excavation or cleaning as bits were seen to be coming out. The male just sat on guard.
Chiffchaff still busy feeding and showing well in the flooded area of the field towards Simons Bridge, in amongst the 12 Pied Wagtails present this morning.
I've had a few visits over the Christmas period, but this morning produced a pleasant surprise. Whilst trying to count the 11 Pied Wagtails in the flooded meadow, I found a Chiffchaff feeding on the ground alongside them. I hope the Winter stays mild enough for it to survive, and that it hangs around the area. The usual woodland/ meadow species seen, although Meadow Pipit and Snipe have been absent so far this Winter. Watching a Kingfisher catching small fish at the boardwalk pond was a bonus, and there are now three pairs of Ring-necked Parakeets in the area preparing for Spring.
Also including Millgate Fields and along the Mersey 9.30am 3 Goosander (1m,2f) 200+ BH Gulls across the river on flooded golf course 1 Heron 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Nuthatch 1 GS Woodpecker 5 Rose Ringed Parakeets 3 Redwing 2 Teal 1 Kestrel (m) 1 Sparrowhawk 3 Jays feeding on crab apples 2 Bullfinch (m,f,) 15 Goldfinch
Scarlet Elf cups beginning to emerge in Stenner Woods Jelly Ear Plenty of Mistletoe minus berries in Stenner Woods, around St James Church and Parsonage Gardens 1 Fox along hedgeline in Millgate Fields
Note: very wet - long stretches of the main footpaths are under several inches of water.
-- Edited by Ian Keith on Sunday 23rd of December 2012 06:29:48 PM
A flock of 100+ Goldfinch with several Siskin mixed in, feeding on Alders. Bullfinch, Chaffinch, and Greenfinch also present with Redwing, Nuthatch and mixed tit flocks in the area. The arrival of a Sparrowhawk stirred things up nicely, enabling me to count the Goldfinches as they relocated. The usual half dozen Ring-necked Parakeets loafing around.
15/06/2012 - 2-4pm, torrential rain spells interspersed with drizzle:
4 Ring-necked Parakeets - looked to be an adult and 3 juveniles (short tails, white bill base) 4 House Martins 9 Swifts 1 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch 1 Jay - a stranded, soggy youngster on the ground, I offered it a worm but it sqwaked in disgust signalling an angry adult to swoop in and feed it itself! 1 Coal Tit 3 Chiffchaffs 2 Blackcaps 1 Common Whitethroat 2 Bullfinches 1 Reed Bunting
The Great Spotted Woodpecker brood fledged prior to Sunday morning, and the Nuthatches must have fledged between then and this morning. No sign of the Nuthatch family but did catch up with a juvenile GSWoodpecker being fed by the adult female.
Tony
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of May 2012 05:55:54 PM
A trip to Millgate fields to take some nice pictures of my parents dogs soon turned into nothing but a birding trip. Sightings between 12:30 - 14:00 included:
But the highlight was 1 woodcock flying straight past us as we walked through stenner woods on the way back to the car. An unexpected surprise that rounded off a really nice walk!
This morning, 8.30 to 11.00 Highlights 6 Ring-necked Parakeets + the Amazon 2 Treecreepers 2 Nuthatches 4 Redwings 4 Mistle Thrushes 3 Song Thrushes 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Jays 2 Chiffchaffs, 1 heard as well as seen 10 Meadow Pipits 1 Reed Bunting 2 Goosander Plus all the usual Finches, Blackbirds, Starlings,Tits, etc. And Robins galore Tony
Hi Alan, yes you did see Meadow Pipits on the hayfield, in Winter there are usually a few around. You can also flush the odd Snipe in that area. By the way Alan, on Sunday morning, there was a Redwing flock feeding in the cow field numbering 100 - 130. They're still around.. Cheers Tony
Redwings now numbering 100+ this morning 10 Goldfinch 1 Jay 1 Treecreeper 3 Ring-necked Parakeets inc. the one with no tail feathers c100 Pink-footed Geese low over
Fletcher Moss/Stenner Woods this morning. 3 Wrens 2 Mistle Thrushes 1 Nuthatch A flock of c12 Long-tailed Tits c20 Redwings 1 Grey Wagtail Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming 60 Fieldfare over S. 5 Ring-necked Parakeets. Not trying for a 2nd brood as per previous post; the f. was in this year's G S Woodpecker's nest hole doing some excavation work whilst the m. looked on....which is how things should be
Millgate Fields & River, afternoon. More Fieldfare, probably same bunch as earlier A flock of c20 Goldfinches 1 Goldcrest 1 Heron 2 Bullfinch 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail. Both species perched on same boulder at times 2 r/h Goosanders
Stenner Woods on my usual Sat. morning dog walk. 2 Great-spotted Woodpeckers, one drumming. A pair of Nuthatches. 1 Jay 6 Ring-necked Parakeets in total: 3 flew off N, 1 was heard only and 2, M and F, were at a new nest hole. They seem to be trying for a late 2nd brood
02/06/2011 - Lower numbers of birds than usual but many were keeping low and around nests still, so easy to pass by. Some of the sightings from this morning included:
Counting Warblers along the river inc. Millgate Fields, Stenner Woods and Fletcher Moss, either side of a trip around CWP Highlights:
15 Blackcaps inc. 1 f 9 Chiffchaffs 1 Whitethroat 1 Reed Bunting 1 G.S. Woodpecker 1 Treecreeper 3 Ring-necked Parakeets + the Orange Winged Amazon 1 Heron(grey) 3 Moorhen +23 Starlings feeding on the cow field @ Millgate Fields .......see 'Where have all the Starlings gone?' thread Cheers Tony
Shower dodging along the river from Millgate Lane overflow to Millgate Fields and Fletcher
Moss
Highlights were:
8 Goosander in 4 groups: 2 pairs, 1 single M and a group with 2F and 1M
6 Chiffchaffs
2 Blackcaps, first of the year
1 Reed Bunting
1 Nuthatch
1 Treecreeper
1 Mistle Thrush, usually a feisty pair here, so maybe one on nest
2 Song Thrush
Also, a pair of Blue Tits have hijacked one of the bat boxes for a nest.
19/02/2011 - Checked the gull flocks with Phil Owen a couple of times during the day but the Med Gull couldn't be relocated. Otherwise, things seen included:
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull c400 Black-headed Gulls 1 Jay 53 Carrion Crows 1 Goldcrest 3 Treecreepers 4 Bullfinches 2 Ringed Teal - probably the recent Fog Lane pair
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 19th of February 2011 05:13:51 PM
18/02/2011 - 2-3pm, wander around Millgate Fields, along the Mersey and back through Fletcher Moss Park. Much of the park severley flooded, this attracted in a good assemblage of gulls:
1 Med Gull - adult in summer plumage on flooded Rugby Pitch 2 Herring Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull c100 Common Gulls c600 Black-headed Gulls 2 Ring-necked Parakeets - looking rather at home in the wet willows area 1 Grey Wagtail 7 Coots 9 Canada Geese 2 Mistle Thrushes 10 Redwings 1 Nuthatch 1 Goldcrest 2 Treecreepers
First time Ive properly birded fletcher moss and surrounding area, well worth a visit.
River Mersey: 2 Whitethroat 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail Several Swallow, particularly around flood basin 1 Sand Martin
Also...
1 GSW Drumming in Stenner Woods Several Jay - most of which were being mobbed by one thing or another At least 8 Reed Buntings (males) singing in Millgate Fields withing the space of about 100 metres 1 Sedge Warbler - Millgate Fields 2 Bullfinch 2 Mistle Thrush
goldcrest whilst shooting in the park this morning. for a few moments whilst locating the bird i was hoping it might be a 20 pointer in the tourny, but (sadly) gold and not fire!
Green Woodpecker - 2: 1 behind allotments at end of Ford Lane & 1 at edge of Stenner wood G.S.Woodpecker - 2: 1 Stenner Wood & 1 by Millgate fields Meadow Pipit - 2 Chiffchaff - 3 Goosander - 1 rh by Simon's bridge Reed Bunting - 2 males singing by Millgate fields Cormorant - 1 over east