22/04/2012 - No further sign of Ring Ouzel. Very quiet otherwise:
9 Black-headed Gulls - all sub-adults of various plumages, attracted in by the flash-floods across the fields 4 Swallows - two pairs back on territory 2 Willow Warblers - downed migrants
1 Ring Ouzel - still present in the area described previously. This was the 6th species of thrush in the field this morning as 3 Blackbirds, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 2 Song Thrushes, 1 Redwing and 1 Fieldfare also hopped around on the ground!
2 Canada Geese 1 Herring Gull - 2nd summer, landed briefly before flying off West 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Grasshopper Warbler 1 Linnet
Unlucky Adam. Neither me or Phil saw it this evening either. With the rain I can't imagine it had left but it seems to go to roost early as it wasn't seen the previous evening. Also about:
1 Grasshopper Warbler - reeling in field to the east of Thorley Lane at dusk. 2 Redwings - late migrants
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 19th of April 2012 08:54:13 PM
Access via stile opposite Tyleyard Cottage off Roaring Gate Lane. Go into field, bear right to the opening to the next field with the long pond on the left and gorse bushes on right (Fallen tree at long pond ).
1 Ring Ouzel - male still present in sheep field off Roaring Gate Lane by the long pond. Access fields through stile, west of Roaring Gate Lane and view fields to the north through gaps in hedge. At one point it came into the field accessed immediately off the road however.
3 Canada Geese 1 Moorhen 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Swallow - back on territory 2 Meadow Pipits - over N 2 Grasshopper Warblers - first of the year here, reeling in the Newall Green fields 16 Blackcaps - 11 males, 5 females 7 Chiffchaffs 1 Willow Warbler 2 Reed Buntings - male and female
No sign of the Ring Ouzel at 5.45pm this evening during a check of the area with Henry Cook.
Did manage good views of the bird at around 12.30pm during my lunch hour and thanks to Henry for kindly picking me up from work as my Mrs was using the car.
Gorgeous male Ring Ouzel still present at 13:15. A lunchtime lifer for me ! (Only been birding 'proper' for 2 years...)
Many, many thanks to Henry Cook (the original finder) who helped point me in the right direction. Also, great to finally meet Sid Ashton. I'm sure all our paths will cross again soon!
Also present were 5 Mistle Thrush and a single Swallow.
If you are thinking of trying for this, your best bet is to park in the layby on Roaring Gate Lane, then walk back up the road (towards Thornley Lane) to where there is a farm and a small cottage. On your right there will be a stile. Go over the stile and then walk up the right hand perimeter side of the field to just beyond where there is a gap into the next field on your right. There is a hedge that runs between the two fields on your right hand side and the bird has been flying to and from each of the fields either side of this hedge (one of which is the one that borders Roaring Gate Lane). One has sheep in, the other doesn't. Hopefully, this will make more sense when you get there!
18/04/2012 - 1 Ring Ouzel, male, in sheep field to the West of Roaring Gate Lane this morning. Also a steady passage of Swallows through N+NE with 10+ seen. 4 Lapwings still.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 18th of April 2012 11:29:39 AM
Nice one one the LRP - is that a first for the patch? Mike.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
1 Grey Heron 2 Canada Geese 4 Lapwings - territory has changed fields, hopefully more successful in this new area 3 Blackcaps - singing males 8 Chiffchaffs - c40 Carrion Crows - gathering in the sheep fields...
1 Blackcap - singing male 6 Chiffchaffs 2 Canada Geese 2 Kestrels - mating c20 Meadow Pipits - slight increase in viz-mig this morning but conditions still too clear and settled for better numbers 2 Redpolls sp - over E
Nice one Phil. Good numbers back. I popped out onto the Davenport Green fields briefly and had a couple more out there plus 2 Skylarks, 5 Meadow Pipits, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 abla Wagtail overhead. 2 Lapwings were amongst the sheep.
21/03/2012 - sightings from the garden and Davenport Green sheep fields:
1 Brambling - female in the garden 1 alba Wagtail - over NE 1 Grey Wagtail - over S 1 Meadow Pipit - over N 1 Lapwing 1 Teal 1 Raven 1 Chiffchaff 7+ Buzzards - numbers reducing slightly now as territories get claimed and defended. Lots of stooping, mewing and kettling observed.
1 Teal 5 Lapwings 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - flew east 5 Meadow Pipits - over heading North 4 alba Wagtails 1 Chiffchaff - still just the one, and unusually not singing constantly 2 Lesser Redpolls
1 Grey Heron 4 Teals 4 Buzzards 2 Kestrels 3 Lapwings - 2 males, 1 female 1 Curlew - over NE 1 Wheatear - first of the year here 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Raven
well, the buzzards were far enough away to be in Gtr Manc airspace. The Curlew is definitely a Cheshire rogue, although I suspect the same bird. I was very pleased to have seen it none the less!
I am off to find the Cheshire forum and make them aware in the thread entitled 'Ashley'
Crcikey. I've never thought about that. I was 200 yards from my house and my phone number starts 0161. I'm not sure if Ashley is Gtr Manc or not, now you mention it. I'm in between Ashley and Hale Barns, nr the airport tunnels on the Altrincham Rd.
and you'll think I'm just making this up but I saw a single curlew being chased by crows today in a field just off Back Lane in Ashley. Never seen one of those round here. It was also very vocally active - must have been the same one!
Hi Henry, I was out on a walk today just on Mill Lane, Ashley and spotted about 7 or 8 circling buzzards all together far in the distance but over in your direction I did wonder what was going on!
1 Chiffchaff - beats the patch record by a day 11 Meadow Pipits - heading north in ones and twos 9 Buzzards - many courtship and territorial battles going on, never seen this many involved in previous years 2 Kestrels 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Lapwing
The River Bollin forms the county boundary for all of the stretch between Hale Barns and Dunham Massey. Near Sunbank Wood Mill Lane crosses the Bollin and therefore is partly in GM. It's a close call but that means Ashley and the back road to the airport tunnels lies in Cheshire.
Maybe there's a direct flight line between Ashley and Hale Barns Stuart! Thanks.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 17th of March 2012 09:10:26 PM
09/03/2012 - 1 male Lapwing back on territory today off Ash Lane. Also 1 Canada Goose in the fields. 2 Lesser Redpolls and 7+ Siskins were in birches along Shay Lane.
01/03/2012 - The soaring temperatures today sent a mighty 10 Buzzards into the airspace over my garden together in a thermalling kettle. Much displaying, calling and near-vertical stoops seen, presumably all local birds therefore. Can't beat big numbers of BoP, fantastic.
26/02/2012 - Things felt decidedly spring-like this morning due to wader passage, returning wildfowl and most songbirds living up their collective name. The following were noted:
2 Canada Geese - back on territory 1 Curlew - landed in the D.G. sheep fields briefly 1 Common Snipe - flew over 2 Kestrels - on last years nest tree 5 Stock Doves - a pair at last years nest tree c230 Redwings - some singing in the hedgerows 1 Skylark - over, heading NE 2 Lesser Redpolls - been few and far between this winter
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 26th of February 2012 10:48:01 AM