Aswell as the birds on the football reservoir Nigel has mentioned below I also saw a Treecreeper in the trees on Moscow Road East yesterday morning, the first one I've seen around here in 5 years of living opposite the ground! Jo
Middle reser 100% iced, the other two about 80%. Nonetheless, there was a drake Goosander and a Cormorant on the one near the football ground and three Greylag Geese with all the commoner waterfowl on the large one.
Brambling seem more widespread than usual in the area this year, but Alexandra Park, a past site, held none that I could find.
Excellent I'm in the process of buying a house in this area, and one of the things that swung it was the chance of a good deal of back-door birding. Love the heron that occupies one of little islands on Reservoir 1. Bet the fishermen aren't so enamoured!
After two months of being on the reservoir by itself a second Great Crested Grebe has arrived today to join the first, and they are now busy nest building - lovely to see so let's hope the second stays around!
3pm - they have started their courtship and weed dancing!
-- Edited by Jo Gebbett on Saturday 9th of April 2011 03:33:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 9th of April 2011 05:16:11 PM
11:30 to 12:00
In addition to the many Canada Geese and Mallards :-
At least 3 pairs of Coots on nests (on eastern reservoir)
6 Moorhen
Pair if Carrion Crows
Wrens singing from undergrowth along embankment footpath
Great and Blue Tits in surrounding trees where there are many nest boxes but no sign of occupancy (yet)
No sign of over wintering Great Crested Grebe
In scrubland further along the end of Moscow Rd East:-
Chiffchaff singing
Several pairs of Blackbirds
Many House Sparrows chattering away
Dunnock seen and others heard singing
In park on northern side of middle reservoir Nuthatch calling
Robins, singing Chaffinch, more Great and Blue Tits, and Dunnocks
Everywhere, Woodpigeons and the obligatory Magpies.
Rick.
En route to County v Macc: 3 redhead Goosander on middle reservoir; 1 Heron by easternmost resrvoir.
On departure: all Goosander still present; 1 Great Crested Grebe on easternmost; 25 Collared Doves in the roost (close to where the footway joins Moscow Road); c50 Waxwings over Stockholm Road.
As always this year, the brief bit of birding was so much better than the 90 miserable minutes of football.
7 Waxwing flew over from north (same waxies seen at Bakewell St car park).
Great Crested Grebe on eastern most reservoir, with a few Canadas and Mallard.
Disruption by tree felling activity and shredding at western reservoir - but still 70 Canadas, the Greylag , Mallard, Coot and Moorhen on the water. Only a few Collared Dove and Blue Tits in other trees away from the noise of the shredders.
There were three Goosander on the end water (behind the football ground) this evening. A pair of Great Crested Grebes has also returned.
At the other end, near the entrance to Alexandra Park, there was a flock of about 20 strangely confident Redwing feeding in the leaf litter between the feet of children and dog walkers. They seemed quite unbothered by approach to three or four yards. You learn to look after yourself on Edgeley.
