A little egret in the horse field on Threaphurst Lane along with a flock of redwings and a couple of pied wagtails. A mixed flock of starlings and redwings (in the hundreds I estimate) in the field east of the Middlewood Way where Torkington Lane does a 90 degree turn and a young swan seems to have taken up residence in the small pond opposite the end of Threaphurst. It's been there a few weeks now.
There was a GREAT WHITE EGRET this afternoon in a cow pasture between the Racecourse Estate and Hazel Grove Golf Course approach road. Present for at least an hour then flew south.
Another 2 Little Egrets in the stream by the approach road to Hazel Grove Golf Course. The original 2 are still in the horse field off Threaphurst Lane at 16.30 so 4 in the Hazel Grove area today.
Another walk over Hazel Grove golf course. A big surprise on the small fountain pool was a drake Shoveler. I dont see many of these around my area and this is the first duck, apart from Mallard, that I have ever seen on this pool. A Goldcrest was the next best bird.
A Rough-legged Buzzard was reported yesterday at Doodfield. Location given as Hazel Grove although it is nearer Hawk Green or High Lane.
Anyway, as it is less than a mile from my house I just had to check it out this morning. Fairly meagre number of species seen (no raptors) but the highlight was a flushed Jack Snipe on Hazel Grove Golf Course.
First new bird for a while on my walking exercise list. Over some rough ground left by the construction of the A555, at the junction of the A6, a Lapwing appeared to be defending territory against a Carrion Crow. Thats #53.
I have omitted to mention a Whitethroat in song on Stockport Golf Course. That's number 52 on the exercise list.
Other birds on the golf courses included 7 Swallows, daily Buzzard sightings (including display), 2-3 pairs of Bullfinches, loads of Chiffchaffs but very few Willow Warblers (and the couple I have seen Soon move on), Nuthatches are always calling and Mandarins seem to have moved in this year.
The exercise walk took us onto Stockport Golf Course and then back via Broad Oak Farm, where 3 Swallows chased around. Numerous Chiffchaffs but still no local Willow Warblers, they seem to prefer slightly higher elevations. Best though, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and showed well in a Hawthorn hedge. That's number 51 on my walking from home exercise list.
I should have been on my monthly outing with pals Mark Rigby, Mike Chorley, Karen Foulkes and Mike Ausberger. So we decided to do a virtual trip and pool the sightings from our various regular walks. Mine was the usual walk with Ann over Hazel Grove golf course where, in the heat of the mid-day sun, I totalled a miserable 24 species.
Cheers John.
Oldham Birders virtual trip:
Coal Tit Goldfinch Starling Jackdaw Dunnock Blue Tit Blackbird House Sparrow Robin Nuthatch Great tit Mistle Thrush Carrion Crow Wren Greenfinch Chiffchaff Long-tailed Tit Feral Pigeon Mallard Moorhen Little Grebe Buzzard Stock Dove Pied Wagtail
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 19th of April 2020 07:24:34 PM
The walk today was quite birdy but nothing new. A male Goldcrest was in full open crown display to the female, always spectacular. A pair of Kestrels mated noisily, GSWoodpeckers drummed, lots of Nuthatches and Song Thrushes plus a Stock Dove singing. Also a Little Grebe again, I only see one bird each time now so presume the female is on a nest. A Mandarin flew by and a showy Willow Warbler was at full blast just a few feet overhead..
Cheers John
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of April 2020 05:13:26 PM
We have been doing our daily afternoon walks but nothing new until today, when a pristine-plumaged male Bullfinch alighted in front of me. (#50). We tend to dismiss just how spectacular they are.
No new birds today but plenty in song. The pick were 7 Song Thrushes. Also 4 Nuthatches, 2 Buzzards, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, numerous Chiffchaffs.
Cheers John.
Our walk today took us over Stockport Golf Course. A Goldcrest, a pair of displaying Buzzards, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Coots and lots of Orange Tips were the highlights. Not sure about the whites I saw. Female Orange Tips or GV Whites? Still no Willow Warbler.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 10th of April 2020 04:12:11 PM
The afternoon walk started pretty low key again. Across Hazel Grove Golf Course and back down the lanes. Best sightings were 3 Greenfinches, Buzzard and another male Mandarin - then I struck gold as a Green Woodpecker flew by (#49). My first local sighting this year. Another Swallow on the way home rounded it off.
The early afternoon walk over Stockport golf course was quite productive 3 Stock Doves 12 Mipits Singles of Buzzard and Coot.
Then 3 additions to the exercise list: A Goldcrest in a stand of conifers (#45). Walking back through Broad Oak Farm there was a nice Swallow (#46) on the wires, all the way from Africa to find its way onto my list. Finally near home I saw my first Blackcap of the year singing away (#47).
Our walk gave us a total of 11 Chiffchaffs, 9 singing males and a pair in silent courtship display. Best of the rest was Little Grebe and male Mandarin. Walking off the GC and back down the lane I flushed a male Pheasant (#44) behind me at very close range, scared the bejazus out of me.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 6th of April 2020 08:55:21 PM
On the whole our walk today was quiet. Wrong time of day really, from 14.10-15.20.
A Mandarin flew across the GC and at a farm fishing pond were a lovely pair of Canada Geese (#43). (Now theres a string of words I never thought I would write). But it represented #43 on the Lockdown Exercise List.
If the numpties continue to flout the guidelines this list may soon become redundant
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 5th of April 2020 08:52:40 PM
Our walk this afternoon took us down Torkington Road and Threaphurst Lane before turning onto Hazel Grove Golf Course. Much the same species as yesterday but I was pleased to see 4 Redwings (#39) with a Mistle Thrush in a horse field. An addition to my 'Exercise List'.
After Ian's Manchester Birding 'of interest' Alert I went into the garden and within a few minutes heard a small flock of Common Scoter giving their distinctive 'pew' calls.
1st April: We have been out for about a 1 hour's constitutional each afternoon. Walking from home and easily dodging people, either over Hazel Grove or Stockport Golf Courses. Today it was over HGGC and I logged a total of 23 species. Nothing special but most notable were...
A pair of Mandarins on the lawn of the house on the corner of Threaphurst Lane 2 Little Grebes on the fountain pond 4 Mistle Thrushes 2 singing Chiffchaffs 3 Nuthatches, a Buzzard circling low and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Walked a different circuit today around Stockport Golf Club on my exercise outing. Best bits were 2 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards, 2 or 3 singing Chiffchaffs and a few LBB Gulls circling. Mallards and a pair of Goosanders were on the moat at Broadoak Farm (and a feral pigeon for the list. Glad I've got that out if the way )
The usual circuit over the golf course this afternoon. I found a pair of Mandarins in a tiny brook then another single male, then yet another male on a golf course pool. A Jay perched up nicely and 2 Buzzards circled overhead. Watched a Great Spot drumming away and a total of 4 singing Chiffchaff today.
31. Jay 32. Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 27th of March 2020 06:05:59 PM