9 swifts currently screeching around over the woodbank avenue area of Bredbury, this is the first time I have seen them here this year.

3pm today,

Common Crane, seen at altitude (roughly overhead Morrison's Bredbury) flying from North to South in the direction of Goyt valley/Offerton area. It didn't look as though it might be stopping anytime soon judging by its height.

A lifer for me.


Cheers,

Steve F.

Chiffchaff in song briefly early afternoon.

A Raven over again NW at 13.08pm.

Adult Hobby showed well hawking through a hatching of flying ants at c 6pm before flying east over the electricity substation.

An OSPREY circled for c10 mins at 7.15am this morning before drifting slowly NE.

A White Wagtail this evening with Pieds in the field adjacent to Pear Mill.

No sign of the Black Redstart for me, between 5-45 to 6-30 tonight but did see a pair of Wheatear.

A single Swift over south early am.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Chris Harper wrote:

---

The whole reason to feed garden birds is surely to attract the odd predator, the most spectacular sight in any garden, and well worth the money I reckon.

---

The whole reason ? I can't speak for others Chris but I do it mainly to provide the birds I feed with an easy meal (which at certain times of the year could be the difference between life and death) and of course provide myself with some nice easy birding. Attracting predators is not high on my own agenda

---

I have to say, the local birds wouldn't have got through our wet spring without supplementary feeding this year.
On the subject of predators though, I have to ask, does this include the worst garden predator of all, the so-called domestic cat? Not at all spectacular in my opinion! Enough said, I think

The whole reason to feed garden birds is surely to attract the odd predator, the most spectacular sight in any garden, and well worth the money I reckon.

2 Swifts over south this evening.

Glad you posted this Robert.

Think I saw one flying over Hyde towards Werneth Low this morning around 7-30.

I was driving along Stockport Rd towards Gee Cross .......... unfortunately wasn't safe to pull up ...... kicked myself all day.

Roger

A Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs singing this morning by Pear Mill. Other birds included Kingfisher, Dipper, Mandarin and a prob Lesser Spotted Woodpecker(heard only).

Walking up Bents Lane this morning with the family, my 7 year old daughter suddenly shouted "there's a bird". I looked under a tiny bit of hedge right by the main road, and was astonished to find a male Sparrowhawk, 5 feet away, tucking into its latest catch (a pigeon judging by the feathers). We stood and watched it for at least 5 minutes as it enjoyed its meal, completely unphased by our presence. Eventually it was us that decided to move on, not the bird, and we left him to his breakfast, having spent a wonderful few minutes admiring this bird at such close quarters. Although my 5 year old son thought it was "boring". I must work on him a little bit harder.

Cheers,

Steve.