A good look around most parts of the wood and lodges. Of note
-1 Dipper near a popular spot -1 Kingfisher heard calling -1 Teal (a surprise, since I rarely record them anywhere near the lodges) - 2 Grey Wagtail - 2 Bullfinch - 1 Goosander (redhead)
plus usuals- 27 species in all. Have barely seen or heard a Parakeet here, this month.
Not much in the way of Migrants in the past few weeks aside from a few flyover Oystercatchers and some Buzzard movement. I couldn't re-find the one or two Willow Warblers that were around last week
- 1 Kestrel - 1 Buzzard (though 2 have been displaying over the woods over the last 2 weeks) - c5 singing Chiffchaff - 3 singing Blackcap - Goldcrest - 2 Kingfisher displaying - 2 Stock Dove Displaying - 3+ singing Coal Tit - 6 Nuthatch
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Monday 12th of April 2021 11:51:59 PM
Peace and quiet disturbed once again by motorbikes being ridden through the stretch of woods that runs alongside the M60. GMP dragging their feet in response, as per usual.
- 37 Canada Geese (down from the usual 70-80) - c50 Black-headed Gull (down from a peak of c200 during the cold spell) - 1 Herring Gull - 2 Greylag Geese which have suddenly appeared - 1 Kingfisher - 1 Grey Wagtail heard
A few singing Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Song Thrush.
Fairly quiet and for the first time in a couple of months, no Bullfinches heard calling, no Goosanders on the Lodges and no sign of the Kingfisher.
- 1 Buzzard overheard, chased off by a pair of Herring Gull - 1 Common Gull - 7 Mute Swan, including the first sign of one of the resident pairs building a nest, after last year's incident with yobs and a paving stone - 3 Coal Tit singing - 2 singing chaffinch - singing Goldcrest - 2 briefly singing Greenfinch
There's a good thick layer of ice now on most of the lodges, so nowhere the the local Kingfishers to hunt. The Ice has caused the majority of the Tufted Duck and Goosander to move out, but it did bring in more Gulls, though nothing unusual
- 1 Kestrel - first I've seen here this year - 1 Tufted Duck (down from the usual 20) - 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 6 Common Gulls - 2 Herring Gull - 200 to 250 Black-headed Gulls - 7 Mute Swan including 1 of the local juvenilles displaying to a recent arrival - 1 Goosander on the River Irk - 1 Grey Wagtail - 2 or 3 calling Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 of which were chasing each other and drumming a little - 5 Coal Tit singing - 4 Nuthatch singing - 6+ Bullfinch - 1 Chaffinch singing - 2 or 3 calling Ring-necked Parakeet
Locally I've also seen a small flock of Siskin, singing Treecreeper and Greenfinchnd a Buzzard (which now seems to prefer hunting over Blackley Golf Course)
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Friday 12th of February 2021 01:38:38 PM
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Friday 12th of February 2021 01:38:57 PM
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Friday 12th of February 2021 01:39:30 PM
- 7 Goosanders (2m, 5 redhead) spread across the lodges - 1 Herring Gull amongst the Black-headed Gull - 1 Gadwall (first time I've logged one being present in 10+ years) - 2+ Ring-necked Parakeet coming in to roost
- Kingfisher being seen regularly around Big Lodge by other walkers and local photographers ... but not by me
I have been made aware of an opportunity for people to get involved in a project called Bringing the Irk to Life. The project is hoping to improve the whole of the River irk Catchment and wants to engage with people who work and play in the catchment. The link below takes you to a page where you can read more about the project and feed in any knowledge you might have about the river and its wildlife. I have also posted this in the General Discussion section.
This morning birds included 11 Goosander on Perch Pond 28 Tufted Duck 2 Cormorant 1 Woodcock near Boardman Brook 3 Ring-Necked Parakeet near the edge of the woodland SW of the hall 3 Nuthatch 7 Goldcrest
Not much sign of any Winter visitors sticking around, however
- pr Dipper on Boardman Brook, well away from usual locations on the Irk - 4 Goosander. a pair on 'Sandy Lake and 2 Redheads on Big Lodge - Jay - 2 Cormorants around, having been absent now for some months
Walk back from Heaton Park along the Irk past Saisburys and through Rhodes. Of Interest
- 1 Dipper singing on stretch of the Irk that passes under the M60 - 1+ Grey Wagtail - 1 Kingfisher - 1 Redhead Goosander on the Irk
Rhodes Lodges Very quiet at the moment with few Gulls. There was a male Wigeon briefly at the beginning of the month and up to six redheaded Goosander, but no sign of either today
- pair of Swallow flew low over Big Lodge and took a drink or two
Sat 4th Apr: (7:15 - 8:35) - Nice and clear but cool, gradually becoming overcast.
After 2 weeks of being confined to the house and garden, it was nice to get out and about. Nothing radically, aside from finally adding Blackcap to my yearlist
- 1 Dipper - near probably nest site, but I have only seen 1 bird in the area this year - 1 Raven being driven off by some angry Crows - 2 singing Blackcap - 3 singing Chiffchaff - 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - flying around and making a lot of noice. Presumably some sort of territorial dispute - 2 Black-headed Gull still - Pair of Mute Swans preparing a nest on one of the lodges, while the pair on the 'Duck Pond' tried to encourage the last of last year's offspring to find somewhere else to live - 3 Grey Wagtail including one pair feeding together
- lots of other species singing. 35 species in all.
Mon 2nd Mar: (13:00 - 15:15) - Mild but changeable - from blue skies to hailstorms
Around the Lodges: - 1m Goosander - 4 Mute Swan - c30 Tufted Duck - c50 Canada Goose - c70 BH Gull - 1 Cormorant + a second flying overhead - 1 Dipper seen briefly on the River Irk
Around the Woods: - 1 Grey Wagtail - 2+ Siskin - 2-3 calling Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 singing Song Thrush - c12 Long-tailed Tit - 1 calling Bullfinch - 1 Buzzard getting mobbed over the woods - though a better placed observer reported a pair - Lots of Blue ane Great Tits singing
Fairly quiet in mild condition, although some of the Lodges were largely covered in Ice.
Highlights: - 1 Treecreeper (first I have seen here this year) - c6 Bullfinch - c3 Grey Wagtail - 5 Goosander (1 male and 4 redhead) - all on the 'duck pond' - 6+ Jay all foraging and calling loudly
Also 3 or 4 Swift feeding over Alkrington. 3 screaming birds seen flying low over some of the older houses on Friday 25th. There are usually a few more than this around, but I've seen very few anywhere this year.
Tue 28th May (06:30 09:00): A good walk round the wider area. However, Still didnt have time to check every nook and cranny. 35 Species in all, which is a fairly consist number for my visits this year, but still havent seen Treecreeper or Sparrowhawk here this year. Most Interesting sightings: 1 Common Whitethroat I suspect some of the scrubby areas towards Rhodes holds more 1 Dipper seen on the Irk 1 singing Chiffchaff 5 singing Blackcap 1 singing Willow Warbler (down from 3 last month) 4+ Nuthatch pair feeding young 2 singing Goldcrest 1 Kestrel Very few waterbirds, mainly Canada Geese and just a single Gull over the area. Still 20+ singing Robin, Wren and Blackbirds plus a good number of singing Song Thrush. Havent been able to prove that the Tawny Owls have bred this year.
Pleased to see that the water levels have dropped on the River Irk and that Rochdale council have quickly repaired paths washed away only a few weeks ago. The amount of plastic waste that has been left in amongst the riverside vegetation is unfortunately quite an eyesore. As expected, I found 0 Willow Tits, but did manage to locate
Mild and bright morning with a fairly clear sky. Lots of activity amongst the resident birds.
Highlights - 1 Kingfisher - around the edge of one of the larger lodges - 5 redhead Goosander and a single male - up to 4 Bullfinch calling - 2 to 4 Ring-necked Parakeet - 3+ Nuthatch - 3+ Coal Tit singing - 2 Buzzard - soaring and displaying over the Wood - 2 or 3 Raven - seen flying in the direction of Heaton Park - 1 drumming and 1+ calling Great Spotted Woodpecker
Highlights - 1 Kingfisher - before the snow and ice came along - 5 redhead Goosander, but only 1 on the 31st - 1 Grey Wagtail on the River Irk - up to 4 Bullfinch - 4 Greenfinch - 2 Ring-necked Parakeet - 4+ Nuthatch - 4+ Coal Tit
Fri 28th Dec Have made sever further visits of varying lengths, but today's was probably the most productive - and included a patch tick for me in the form of a Goldeneye
Highlights: - Fem/juv Goldeneye on Log number 2 - 3 Coal Tit - 9 Goosander (1m, 8 red-head) - 3+ Nuthatch - Bullfinch (calling) - 3 Song Thrush (singing) - 4+ Ring-necked Parakeet - Great Spotted Woodpecker (calling)
Fri 21st Dec First visit in a while without my sister and dog, so had the time to do a more thorough visit of the area. 33 Species is probably the best that I've managed here this year and even so, some expected species (such as RN Parakeets) were not encountered.
Friday 14th Apr First visit in a while, in drizzly conditions. Not a great deal around, but a few migrants:
1 or 2 singing Willow Warblers - the first that Ive heard here for a few years 5 singing Chiffchaff 2 or 3 singing Blackcap 1 Grey Wagtail 4+ calling Nuthatch 2 Coal Tit 1 Mistle Thrush c4 Ring-necked Parakeet
Usual ducks and waterfowl, but none of the expected Great Crested Grebes and no sign of any Dipper.
Friday 17th Feb: Quick Walk around with my sister and the dog - 3 Grey Wagtails (1 + 1 pair) - 3 Goosander (Pair + 1 redhead) + usual ducks and Geese - 1 Common Gull - 1 1W Herring Gull - c60 Black-headed Gull
- c6 singing Song Thrush + plenty of singing Robins, Wrens & Dunnocks
Elsewhere around Alkrington: 1 Goldcrest and 1 singing male Bullfinch.
Another Kingfisher reported by my sister - once again seen along the stretch of the Irk between the Lodges and the M60 Motorway bridge (along the back of Rhodes).
Also, while walking the dog with my sister along the Irk, we both heard, on at least 2 occasions a very loud and convincingly Bittern-like 'Boom' sound, although there is little in the way of reedbed or suitable habitat in the area. We searched the other side (wood side) of the Irk, but found nothing. Very odd.
Given the bright weather, there was a fair amount of activity - certainly more than I had anticipated at this time of the year.
Rhodes Lodges: Very little - 1 Grey Heron - 1 male Tufted Duck - 1 Black-headed Gull plus the usual Mallard, Canada Geese, Coot and Moorhen. No sign of any Dippers, although my brother reported 1 on Sunday.
Alkrington Woods: - 1 male Bullfinch - c5 Singing Blackcap + 1 female - 4 singing Chiffchaff - 4 sining Coal Tit + a small family of birds - c4 calling Nuthatch - c6 Song Thrush (mostly singers) - 3 Swift - 2 Swallow - 2 pairs of Jay plus usuals - 36 species in all.
Another 3 hrs yomping around the woods, lodges and surrounding area with slightly better results than at Easter.
- 1 Buzzard circling high and calling
- 1-2 Grey Wagtail
- c6 Chiffchaff
- 7 Blackcap
- 5 Willow Warbler
- 2 Nuthatch
29 species in all, but only Coot with young.
Around Midnight, calling Tawny Owl from mature trees on Hall Drive