Had an hour down at Golf Road this morning looking for the Ravens. Took my scope but getting a clear view of the nest was difficult, best place was the car park at the back of the football ground.
While I was there had two sightings of what was possibly the same bird, first view was when it landed low down on the mast for a short time and the second was when it visited the nest briefly.
I suspect that if the nest site has been occupied this year fledging will be complete, but it would be interesting to see how long the birds show interest in the tower.
Just been out in the rain to check out the report of a Raven's nest near to Altrincham football ground, that I heard about from my neighbour who had been down that way earlier and noticed this "big, black bird" and heard the "cronking".
The nest is almost at the top of the telecoms mast at the end of Golf Road, Hale. A bit late and wet and didn't see any activity so I didn't hang around but will hopefully be able to have another look tomorrow.
I guess this is the same nest reported on the Timperley thread by Mike D. but this would be a Hale record for me and so it's staying in Hale, sorry Mike
First chance i've had to follow up this report, more out of curiosity than anything. Not surprisingly, i didn't see a Waxwing - the berrires have all gone from the tree leaving just the stalks. Interesting spot though, right on the top of the hill, wouldn't be surprised if it's good for a bit of vis-migging, from a local point of view.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Just seen a Waxwing report on Twitter (WaxwingsUK) for 24th Nov on Melrose Cres., Hale, Mcr - house number 37 i think.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Ring Necked Parakeet heard from Nursery Ave., Hale this afternoon.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Sunflower hearts in my feeder are attracting bullfinches, goldfinches and a nuthatch to my garden in Hale Barns. Had a garden warbler last month which seemed to be nesting but sadly moved on. Song was wonderful though!
Late post for yesterday Sat 23.05.15 - -
Afternoon mooch from Rossmill ln. via Barrow ln, Bentley bank to Bankhall ln. -
Spotted Flycatcher x 1 seen +1 other heard.
Yellow wagtail 1. Chiffchaff x 4.
Great spotted Woodpecker x5 (1seen feeding young ).
Kestrel x 1 .
Lots of Chaffinch about but did'nt hear any willow warbler or nuthatch .
After putting the kitchen scraps on the lawn earlier this afternoon the garden was suddenly awash with Black headed Gulls possibly 20-25 swooping down taking the various goodies - never seen this before. Quite exciting actually, good stuff this gulling
For the first time in weeks we had one of our Bullfinch pairs back in the garden this afternoon. Nice to see them still around and competing for food on the feeders which were doing great take-away business today
The first House sparrows since last May were a very welccome sight along with a few Starlings which have also become increasingly scarce. Clear skies over the weekend meant a good deal of gazing into space between being water-pistolled. A stooping peregrine to the NE on Sunday evening brought a flash of activity followed by a Lapwing coasting over - not so exciting but the first for the garden.
We have a pair of Long-tailed Tits in the final stages of construction their elaborate domed nest in a neighbour's shrub that we can observe quite clearly from our house.
Plenty of garden activity over the holiday. Highest counts include Bullfinch 8 (5m 3f), Redpoll 11, including one probable mealy, a female blackcap from 31 Dec still present. Winter thrushes were common around xmas but scarcer around new year. Interestingly not a single goldfinch over the period, nor any goldcrests.
Only four bullfinches for me - 3 males and a female. 3 redpoll this weekend plus several redwing and a fieldfare. Like you Sid, lots of chaffinches but there haven't been any goldfinches now for several weeks.
Garden watching today produced single Goldfinch, several Greenfinch, lots of Chaffinch and 5 Bullfinch (3 male, 2 female) as well as Blue, Great & Coal Tits, Robin and a couple of Nuthatch on the feeders. Jay, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, and Magpie all in evidence. No Lesser Redpoll as yet.
The 5 Bullfinch at one time were a bit of a bonus - not unusual for warmer days but we have only had one male and one female on a regular basis lately.
Must admit this garden watching has a certain attraction on a day like today - think I'll just have another cup of coffee and a mince pie
Single Redpoll on Sunday along with four bullfinches and 10+ chaffinches. No sign of any goldfinches or greenfinches for two or three weeks now. Lots of Redwings in the area and a few Fieldfare over too
I think it's about this time of the year the ants get airborne, though the weather isn't helping this year. At the end of July last year I had a Hobby in with the swifts and black headed gulls
The ants can be magnets for allsorts of birds as you have seen Sid. It happens every year around this time as Black Ants take to the wing to mate. In my garden i've noted Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps becoming conspicuous as they try and make the most of the short-lived bounty, so the ants can attract some unusual garden species as well. Flocks of gulls also take advantage from time to time, in large flocks. A wonderful spectacle of summer. Henry.
Doing a bit of gardening this afternoon - well it has to be done sometime - when we disturbed an ant's nest. Can't say that I know a lot about ants, specially those with wings but these guys flew up in a swarm (if that's the right word). Shortly afterwards 6 or 7 Swifts appeared and gave us a wonderful low level flying display
I guess it was just coincidence that the Swifts were just flying by at the right time but nice to see them so close in our garden when this time next week they'll be on their way to warmer climes.
Yes Henry it was strange - last had them in the garden on April 18th - so suppose they could be locals but nevertheless still seemed odd to see them on 1st July and in temperatures such as we have had today.
Must have been strange to see them in mid-summer Sid! Wonder if they've bred nearby? I had one fly over the garden here the other day, might be some movement of the species going on. Henry.
Noticed a very white bird on our sunflower hearts this morning - I was too slow to get a decent view but it reappeared this evening and it was an almost white (leucistic?) Goldfinch. The only colour present was some yellow from the folded wings and some grey flecks in the otherwise white plumage. Its bill and legs appeared pale and it was with two other Goldfinch - amazing. Anyone else come across such a bird of the species?
Two Swifts very high over the bowling green in Hale earlier this morning - then another two, perhaps the same ones over my garden later. As far as I could see, not a white chin patch between them unfortunately