Was a Kingfisher on the river this morning, by sewage outlet. 4 Goosander also. 12 Pied Wagtail by Cheadle Bridge, and a Swan(preumably Mute, but distance away and no bins) on the golf course flood.
Still pretty spectacular floods around Parrs Wood field and the nearby golf club. Flocks of 1000+ gulls around, mainly BHG and Common. Buzzard harassing them on Mon, Sparrowhawk this morning. Max 12 Grey Heron along bank and flood edges. Also 4 Bullfinches am. Fieldfare. 6 Goosander. Little Grebes seem to have chosen a safer spot. Chris H
Female Goldeneye this morning near Cheadle Bridge. Also Little Grebe still, as well as yesterday. Teal yesterday too, just downstream from M60 bridge. Chris H
2 Little Grebes by weir all week early on(7.40), but gone by my commute back. Max 8 Goosanders, 4 drakes. Nice dawn choruses this week, mainly Song Thrushes and Robins together, but a few Mistles and Great Tits joining in. Chris H
3 Goldeneye upstream from Cheadle Bridge at 3.15(1 Drake) Also Kestrel by Pyramid 5 Goosander Possible flock of 30+ Waxwing over past pyramid.Starling sized,but bouncy flight, less tightly packed, unfortunately didn't call. A distance from me, but they were heading towards Geoff's bridge(about 3.30) Chris H
Little Grebe this morning under pedestrian bridge by pyramid. Lapwings still around on embankment by rugby club (hounded by female Sparrowhawk Tue). Many Goosanders, Moorhens and Cormorants.
Add to Chris's list Kingfisher fishing (sucessfully) at M way bridge with heron here as well. Flock of 20+ mistle thrush at rugby club and Kestrel nearby. 5 cormorant on pylon. Flock of 12 Goldfinch and several flocks of long tailed tits. As Chris said loads of moorhen. Co
I didn't see as many goosander (8) and failed to see grebe as well. The lapwing were around again today on rugby club side where the sun had melted the snow. Thrushes also coming down in same area.
Also saw pair of Mallard diving like tufted. Not seen this before but have a vague memory that this may have been discussed on the forum before.
2 pale Common Buzzards at 3.15. 15 Goosander. Little Grebe just up from M60 bridge. 3 lapwings Tue, one on North bank of Mersey approachable to a few meters. loads of Moorhen
Dipper this morning just down from salmon weir 4 Little Grebes, 2 above weir, 2 near playing fields 8 Goosander, 2 drakes Plenty of Grey Herons and Moorhen Chris H
a productive Mersey this morning. 2 Little Grebe by Salmon Weir. Kingfisher by playing fields. 2 Kestrel(pyramid and Cheadle Bridge) 8 Goosander (2 Drakes, 2 half moulted drakes) Bullfinches and redwings near Salmon Weir. GS Woodpecker in Poplars by rugby pitch. Cheers Chris H
Had ride into Stockport to look for waxwings, sadly finding none, then back along river.
Highlights were Buzzard being mobbed by crows at Mersey Vale farm and 9 (poss 10) Goosanders 2 Males 7 females on River again near farm. Later saw 3 more, 1 male 2 female in flight but couldn't discount them being from same group although heading towards where had seen them.
thanks for the clarification Chris, I think I know the one you mean (the bridge by Yew Street "Industrial" estate that crosses to the Gorsey Bank / Cheadle Heath area)
Doh! Burnage, sorry. Geoff's bridge is the new one replacing the older delapidated one that crosses just upstream of the M60 bridge. Used to be a housing estate there, but no longer. May have had another name? Is dedicated to Geoff .... now, I believe. Chris H
Chris, I live in the area and would like to ask for some clarification.
Can you tell me where "Geoff's bridge" is located ?
Also, you mention Broughton Rugby - Presumably you do not mean Broughton Park Rugby (Chorlton) or Broughton Rugby (Salford)
So, I'm guessing that you mean BURNAGE Rugby Club (in Heaton Mersey), on the banks of the river Mersey (where you can hire a canoe !). Kingfisher formally bred (and may still do) at the nearby weir.
Dipper still in area Mon( by Cheadle Bridge), but not since. Buzzard Mon and Tue mobbed by Kestrel and crows/woodpigeons/gulls Bullfinches becoming more visible At least 3 Goosander showing gleaming white in the wings now Kingfisher downstrem of Geoff's bridge on Fri Redwings increasing in numbers, too. Chris H
A lovely sound greeted my cycle back from work on Thursday. By the Broughton Rugby portage point I heard a very unfamiliar sound, lovely fluty song very unfamiliar. Stopped for a look, and there was a dipper producing it (I thought they only went 'zit'). It was also there on Friday, and around the island there(Patch island). Winter territory setting up perhaps? I'll keep my eyes peeled. Buzzard too on Thursday, and Kestrel. A few redhead Goosanders showing white parts, juvenilles moulting to adult males i assume? Chris H
A bit more action this week as the river subsided. Male kestrel all week. Plenty of Herons, Cormorants and Moorhen. Goosanders peaked at 8, still all Redheads. First Little Grebe of the season this morning by 'salmon' weir. Kingfisher by Geoff's bridge on a couple of days. Plenty of Gulls still around the playing fields. Roving flocks increasing in size, and an 8 strong Mistle Thrush group around playing fields. Cheers Chris H
Hi lites last week were 2 Greater Black Backs on Parrs Wood playing fields on Thu morning, with 20 LBB and many Black Headed and a few Common. Buzzard being mobbed by crows on Wed. Plenty of Grey Herons, Cormorants and pristine Canada Geese about. Maximum 7 Goosander, all redheads still. Juv Bullfinch. At least 3 Chiff Chaffs still singing away. Regular Kestrel and Sparrowhawks, Kestrel nearer pyramid. House Martins still over farm opp. Parrs Wood, a few Swallows over. Chris H
Back to the daily commute. Last weeks hi-lites: Kingfisher, Goosanders daily(7 maximum, all redheads), juv Moorhens, Kestrel, Stock Dove, Grey Herons(max 6 together), nice gull flocks mainly Blach Headed, also Lesser Blacks and Common, a few Swallows, many House Martins (no Sand), Grey Wagtail family, Bullfinches and Mistle Thrushes. Chris H
Walk by the river today produced the first kingfisher i have seen in ages. Also:
4 (poss 6 didn't see them all together) Goosander. At least 6 grey wagtail 20+ long tailed tits Magpie Grey heron Black headed gull Mallard Moorhen Chiffchaff Crow
Suprisingly no swallows or martins.
-- Edited by Paul Dewey on Wednesday 1st of September 2010 08:16:08 PM
2 Peregrines over the centre of Stockport this afternoon(3.20), doing food pass. Directly above viaduct,one then flew up river, the other down. Female Sparrowhawk also near pyramid.
Reed Buntings still there, male singing away. Many gulls still at Parr's Wood fields GS Woodpecker near Geoff's bridge Chiff Chaff, Whitethroat and Blackcap all in same bush next to sewage works. 2 Stock Doves on horse fields with many Wood Pigeons(young too) Sand Martins drinking from a very low river. Chris H
1st Kingfisher on the Mersey since the winter this morning around Parrs Wood playing fields. Reed Bunting still there, singing Lsr Whitethroat, with plenty of Blackcaps, Chiffies and Whitethroat. Pied and grey wagtails very busy, as are Sand Martins. Mistle thrush family usually on the playing fields. GS Woody in the mature trees there. 8 Grey Herons, inc. 3 juv today. Chris H
Lesser Whitethroat this morning singing from virtually underneath pylon between rugby pitch and 'salmon' weir. Where the Trans Pennine forks to either follow river bend or to cut it off. Also Blackcap and Chiff Chaff there, with a Willow warbler over the river. Chris H
Still a good number of birds last week. A few Stock Doves around trees along Parrs Wood playing fields. Reed Bunting pair near pond by rugby club-breeding?? Kestrel hunting opp. playing fields Good numbers of Whitehroat and Chiff Chaff. Blackcap and Bullfinch seemingly calling from same bush near pyramid. Lots of Sand Martins and Swifts, a few House Martins. Chris H
Loads of birds this morning: Male Reed Bunting was the highlight, in scrub near meander downstream of weir with salmon sculpture. Also Bullfinch with nesting material, blackcap and whitethroat, 14 Lesser Black Backs on Burnage Rugby field, Coot, lots of Sand Martins and Swift, Grey Wagtails, Mallards with Young, Canada's with young, afew Grey Herons too. Chris H