05/04/2010 - From 5.00-6.30pm in addition to Phil's sightings from this morning:
2 Willow Warblers 2 Curlews (flew up from one of the large sheep fields and disappeared westwards) 3 Cormorants (flew towards Rostherne) c140 Woodpigeons 6 Stock Doves 1 Reed Bunting
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 5th of April 2010 06:49:44 PM
31/03/2010 - The monstrous weather still hasn't abated but a quick walk this morning revealed the continued presence of the Little Grebe plus 2 Canada Geese on the sheep fields. Otherwise, just a single Stock Dove a lingering Redwing of note.
P.s. 2 Oystercatchers flew through the fields going west at 11am.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 31st of March 2010 12:02:43 PM
Whilst out checking my moth trap this evening a couple of resident and migrant birds were audible:
Tawny Owl Rook (heard distantly from the roost along Brooks Drive) Redwings plus a probable Little Ringed Plover (I'm not great with wader calls but it was too high pitched for a Ringed Plover)
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Friday 26th of March 2010 09:31:30 PM
26/03/2010 - Things are most definitely hotting up now (metaphorically):
2 Northern Wheatears (M+F briefly on the sheep fields north of Shay Lane but flew off north in the strong breeze) 7 Chiffchaffs (5 singing on the Newall Green fields) 5 Meadow Pipits 1 Pied/White Wagtail 16 Lesser Redpolls 4 Lapwings c40 Redwings (moving through in largish flocks still) 100+ Woodpigeons
After hearing it call nearby for a bit, a Tawny Owl flew through the garden this evening in less than good conditions for hunting owls, with the rain lashing down.
23/03/2010 - 4 Chiffchaffs back on territory this morning. Que mornings of wonderful, endless "chiff-chiff-chaff, chaff-chaff-chiff, chiff-chaff-choff"!
Walk round the whole patch area including Brooks Drive this morning 7.15am-9.30am with foggy conditions early on.
No summer arrivals as yet but of note were:-
Grey Heron (2) Reed Bunting (Male in Marl Pit) Mallard (2) Buzzard Large flock of Redwings and Fieldfares Skylark (1 probable over) Great Spotted Woodpecker (5) including 3 together chasing each other round a tree Treecreeper (2) Nuthatch (2) Stock Dove (2) Pheasant (Female)
16/03/2010 - A different Lesser Black-backed Gull (3w) was present today amongst 44 Crows on the sheep fields. 2 Moorhens, 1 Buzzard, 4 Stock Doves and 2 migrating Fieldfares were also seen.
15/03/2010 - Bit of movement this morning with a Grey Wagtail and Lesser Black-backed Gull over. 2 Canada Geese winging it towards Rostherne were the only other sightings of note in a short walk.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 15th of March 2010 08:28:29 AM
13/03/2010 - 1 male Brambling in the garden this morning. Quite flighty but nice to see in this generally quiet winter for the species. 3 Stock Doves, 12 Mallards, 1 Kestrel present in the Newall Green fields this morning.
12/03/2010 - 2 Common Snipes were back in the large Marl Pit in the fields north of Shay Lane this morning, probably migrants as the wintering birds left before the cold snap. Walk was a bit quiet and then had to be curtailed as about 300 sheep, many complete with horns, decided to charge en masse! Nice.
Sorry Phil, I hadn't finished editing the post . I can't see Perergine being a problem for you though, they're obvious enough in the city centre ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I know Ian, I've seen 'em a good few times there, but it saves me the hassle!!!
The answer (as far as this website is concerned anyway, you can make your own minds up elsewhere ) is on the borough listing thread on the discussions forum.
I think this area maybe subject of debate to be honest, but really if you are seriously doing some local patching, then it makes sense to only record species within the given area??
Take my local patch and Crowland Hill as a perfect example, on a clear day, you can see for absolutely miles and therefore a bird could be 'scoped from there that has never set foot in the County, so this would give a somewhat false list for the County?
Over to you Ian!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 6th of March 2010 11:23:24 PM
I personally would say you have to be in your patch boundary to count it as a patch tick. As long as you are there it doesn't matter where the bird is, i scoped a Goldeneye a mile away !
cheers jason
ps. had peregrine in 2008 perched on a lamp post at Manchester Airport. Possibly the same bird.
Great to see the Peregrine today, a great local bird for the patch.
Just a quick question regarding the Borough list, although I was technically stood in Trafford when I saw the bird, I did then see it fly from Trafford into Manchester.
Does this count towards the Manchester Borough list???
I wasn't sure if the person or the bird have to be in Manchester at the time of the sighting and secondly I don't want to cheat!!!
Wandering the fields with Phil Owen this evening, we spotted a bird ayonder perched high on a pylon. Whitish breast, dark cap, upright stance, we both turned to each other and both calmly exclaimed, PEREGRINE! After repositioning a touch closer, we were treated to great views for several minutes after which it flew off towards Newall Green's sports fields. It rose slowly but powerfully, before plummeting so so fast towards terra firma before being lost behind trees and hedges. What a treat, and another first for the patch.
06/03/2010 - 2 Teals were on the pool just north of Piggy Wood this morning, probably the same pair as a few days back. Also 1 Lapwing, 10 Jays, and a Meadow Pipit over. Several species seen courting or nest building in the area including Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Blackbird (taking mud from the garden pond), Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Dunnock.
A Buzzard circling overhead at noon, reached such an altitude that it become tricky to see with the naked eye. It took full advantage of the first decent thermals this year. Thrushes still present today in good numbers but the finch gathering seems to be just a pre-roost thing. No sign of them during the middle of the day today. 2 Stock Doves were taking a close look at Piggy Wood over towards Newall Green with a Grey Heron and Moorhen also in the area. Garden sightings included 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Treecreepers and a singing Goldcrest, all nice distractions whilst doing some opportunistic DIY
I bumped into a good size bird flock late on this afternoon which had at least 150 Greenfinches in it. Also in this one impressively sized assemblage were 8 Chaffinches, 35 Fieldfares, 41 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Mistle Thrush but couldn't bring out a Brambling out of the bag. Also around the fields north of Shay Lane were:
2 Teals (1m, 1f in the large marl pit) 3 Mallards 1 Moorhen 1 Grey Heron 2 Kestrels 42 Magpies (all moving towards the Newall Green roost)
Very quiet on the patch this morning with only a Grey Heron on the pond at Crowland Hill and a pair of Mallards and a Buzzard at Davenport Green fields being the only birds worthy of note.