Everything but the Waxwing after nearly 2 hours around the area.
I parked up and sure enough the WAXWING had turned up.
Are you following me around Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rob, or am I following you? :)
Arrived at 10.45 and only one other birder there. After ten minutes it flew in giving great views and moving around the garden a fair bit. Had a walk round the lodges missing out on the Kingfisher but had the bonus of a Peregrine on the M6 at Standish and a pair of Buzzard over the M65 back in East Lancs.
Certainly seems like we're picking the same places Mark. One lady in the park that lived 2 doors up on the side street reported she had 2 Waxwings in her Silver Birch this morning. She also told us she'd just seen a Water Rail near the park feeders but I missed out on it. Just remembered I had a Grey Wagtail though!
Everything but the Waxwing after nearly 2 hours around the area.
I parked up and sure enough the WAXWING had turned up.
Are you following me around Greater Manchester and Lancashire Rob, or am I following you? :)
Arrived at 10.45 and only one other birder there. After ten minutes it flew in giving great views and moving around the garden a fair bit. Had a walk round the lodges missing out on the Kingfisher but had the bonus of a Peregrine on the M6 at Standish and a pair of Buzzard over the M65 back in East Lancs.
also Coal and Willow Tit on feeder in the garden by the entrance, Kingfisher on the top lodge, singing Goldcrest .
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 15th of February 2015 06:08:42 PM
Thanks Ian, I'm glad you've posted that as I had a Willow Tit on the garden feeder too but another birder said it wasn't, so I was doubting myself then but I was sure it was a Willow Tit.
Everything but the Waxwing after nearly 2 hours around the area.
At the garden feeders... Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Long-tailed Tit Robin Blackbird Collared Dove
Same birds almost at park feeders except to add a Nuthatch and 2 Moorhen
1 Sparrowhawk through the park 2 Buzzard over Lots of usuals around the lake
Got in the car and started to pull out of the car park and I could see some people pointing up into one of the park trees. I parked up and sure enough the WAXWING had turned up. Perched on top of the tree for a while then made its way down to the apple feeding tree. It gave extensive good viewing. The nextdoor neighbours of the chosen garden were out too watching the bird. Quality viewing that stopped me dashing up to Shard Bridge on the Fylde for Tundra Bean and Barnacle Goose. So on way to Lunt to see what's on offer.
Great to see the waxwing this morning at about 8.50. I know it's been mentioned already but it's amazing that in a non influx year this single bird has chosen to come back to the same garden as previous years
Watched the Waxwing feeding on the "apple tree" early afternoon - amazing how this lone bird from the big 2013 group found its way back to this Orrell garden especially in a winter when there have been so few seen in this country Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 14th of February 2015 04:23:44 PM
Might go for this tomorrow Sid. I presume that was the group that lingered on well after the winter. There was an absolute shed load of them over at Arnott Cresent in Moss Side from around November 2012. I watched them a few times as I just happened to be delivering in the City Centre nearby. -- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 14th of February 2015 06:59:23 PM
Yes Rob I believe that some of that group were still around in May.
If you are going tomorrow be aware that the A577 from J26 on the M6 is closed and a diversion through Skelmeresdale is needed.
Watched the Waxwing feeding on the "apple tree" early afternoon - amazing how this lone bird from the big 2013 group found its way back to this Orrell garden especially in a winter when there have been so few seen in this country
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 14th of February 2015 04:23:44 PM
My sentiments exactly as regards one bird on its own returning to the exact same place two years later Karl
Watched the Waxwing feeding on the "apple tree" early afternoon - amazing how this lone bird from the big 2013 group found its way back to this Orrell garden especially in a winter when there have been so few seen in this country
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 14th of February 2015 04:23:44 PM
Might go for this tomorrow Sid. I presume that was the group that lingered on well after the winter. There was an absolute shed load of them over at Arnott Cresent in Moss Side from around November 2012. I watched them a few times as I just happened to be delivering in the City Centre nearby.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 14th of February 2015 06:59:23 PM
Watched the Waxwing feeding on the "apple tree" early afternoon - amazing how this lone bird from the big 2013 group found its way back to this Orrell garden especially in a winter when there have been so few seen in this country
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 14th of February 2015 04:23:44 PM
Whilst the Waxwing has been present on and off most of today, may I remind visiting birders and photographers yet again NOT to park along the street please, but instead to use the water park car park.
Whilst the effect of parking along the road may be perceived as having minimal impact, its accumulative effect day after day by those visiting does have a significant impact for residents and traffic using the road.
Saw the Waxwing first thing this morning, watched on my own for an hour as it fed on the apples opposite the walk-in entrance to the park a small way past the entrance to the car park. Whilst there I mentioned Ians request to 2 lots of visiting birders who had parked on the street and both moved their cars to the car park. To be fair to them the requests have been on here rather than the info networks (up until today) so they never knew of this request. The car park is free, has lots of room and is only a few yards away from where the Waxwing is on the apples. I also asked RBA Pagers to put out that visitors should park in the car park & then walk to the bird, which they have done in every message since I rang it in around 10am this morning. Peter & Ian are good enough to keep all birders updated so the least we can do is respect the resident's wishes
Just for extra info the bird is in the garden opposite the park just after Lodge Road turns into Greenslate Road, you can't miss all the feeders and numerous halved apples in the tree in this garden This is at approx grid ref SD531035.
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Thursday 12th of February 2015 05:13:25 PM
Waxwing still showing well when I left @15-10 Other birds seen kingfisher,blue tit,great tit,goldfinch,bullfinch,chaffinch,greenfinch,dunnock,robin,wren,treecreeper,wren,blackbird,moorhen,mallard,coot,Canada goose,blackmheaded gull,pied wagtail, no sign of mandarin,
-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Thursday 12th of February 2015 04:58:18 PM
Whilst the Waxwing has been present on and off most of today, may I remind visiting birders and photographers yet again NOT to park along the street please, but instead to use the water park car park.
Whilst the effect of parking along the road may be perceived as having minimal impact, its accumulative effect day after day by those visiting does have a significant impact for residents and traffic using the road.
Wigan RSPB midweek outing. On arrival Waxwing feeding on apple in front garden then after a short walk around the water park it was preening in trees opp while 20-30 yards away trees were being cut down. Also seen 1 Water Rail Mandarin (m) associating with Mallards Grey Wagtail At and around area of feeding station Chaffinch Nuthatch Great Spotted Woodpecker Greenfinch 8 Robins 9 Blackbirds Blue,Great and Long Tailed Tits 2 Song Thrush 5 Dunnocks
One Waxwing still present in the garden of the house opposite the water park at 3.30pm today. It spent some time earlier in the day in trees opposite the house in the water park itself.
Waxwing present again this morning in the same garden.
Please park only in the water park car park (not in the street) and note, it's bin collection day today so the bird will be disturbed at some point this morning.
Make Blackcap also present in the garden too this morning.
The Waxwing was still present in the front garden of the house by the entrance to the water park by 4pm today.
Any visiting birders or photographers should of course bear in mind they are viewing into the houses of residents and so should be very considerate about the time of day they are there, length of time they spend there and of viewing when residents are obviously at home. If in doubt, please move along .
The current bird is an adult female and was ringed in this current garden by the occupier on 23rd February 2013, as a first winter female. Absolutely remarkable!!!
Late news for Saturday (7th) when a fine adult Waxwing spent a short time at the garden fruit feeders of a house next to the water park. Should the bird return news will be released via this thread.
This afternoon Highlights were Drake Mandarin Duck - on upper reservoir associating with group of 12 Mallard. Water Rail - in the undergrowth near the feeding station.
Very wet 5-6.30pm:
1 Kingfisher,
1 Grey Heron,
5 Great Crested Grebe,
4 Moorhen, 3 Coot, plus Mallard, Carrion Crow, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Canada Geese (all flew off west) and a Muscovy Duck.
Very quiet on the passerine front probably due to the inclement weather!
Late post for yesterday afternoon Kingfisher flew low over the upper reservoir and landed on the island. 4 Great crested Grebe 24 Canada Geese Mistle Thrush, Blackbird, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Robin, Wren, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon.
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 12th of October 2014 10:22:01 PM
10-11am today Pair of Great crested Grebe with 4 young 10 Canada Geese Bullfinch,Chaffinch, Greenfinch,Blue Tit, Great Tit,Coal Tit at the feeders. Chiffchaff (singing!) and several Willow Warblers calling. Large party of at least 20 Long tailed Tits.
2-3pm today Lower reservoir:- 2 Grey Wagtail Upper reservoir:- Pair of Great crested Grebe with 2 young Feeders:- Nuthatch - 2 Long tailed Tit - several Greenfinch - several Goldfinch - several Chaffinch - several Blue Tit Great Tit Dunnock Wren Other locations:- Magpie, Jay, Pied Wagtail,Robin,Blackbird
2-4pm today Great crested Grebe 1 Mallard 25 Canada Goose 10 Black headed Gull c50 Coot 6 Moorhen 8 Wood pigeon Collared Dove Magpie Jay Carrion Crow Blackbird Robin Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail 1 -not a common bird here anymore Chaffinch Greenfinch Blue Tit Great Tit Dunnock
100+ Starlings, extremely vocal, high in trees above the feeding station. At the feeders:- Chaffinch Greenfinch Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit No Brambling which was my target bird. I haven't seen any in the Park this winter unlike last year when there were at least 5. On the water:- 30 Black headed Gull 25 Mallard 10 Coot 23 Canada Geese 1 Great crested Grebe Elsewhere:- Robin Wren Blackbird Mistle Thrush Jay Magpie Goldfinch Collared Dove Wood Pigeon Jackdaw Pied Wagtail.
couple of hours this afternoon hoping for brambling as i've seen them here past 2/3 years but no luck.
1 yellowhammer, plenty of chaffinch, greenfinch, blue and great tit on feeders, 1 coal tit,7-8 robin, good flock of goldfinch in alders could only actually see 15 but could here probably treble that, plenty of wood pigeon, mistle thrush, meadow pipit and pied wagtail feeding in ploughed field, only mallard, canada goose, black headed gulls, moorhen and coot on the water.
Friday 8th: Kingfisher on lakes, 1 immature Cormorant and a pair of Mute Swan on upper lake, a German-ringed Black-Headed Gull which is a returning bird from last winter