Had a bit of a day around my local area today (well not too far) Initially went to see the redwing to try and photograph them.
Had plenty of sightings of them in phillips Park cemetery a flock of approx 30-40 were foraging on the floor but they are so nervous as soon as you approach even at a distance there off. So no photos Several individual Mistle thrush Usual Magpies and Crows Approx 6-8 Long tail tits. Great tit Blue tit
On way home stopped at the large puddle thats behind Sharps just off the roundabout and a large number of Lapwing 20-30 spooked again by gulls, however went back a bit later gulls had disappeared and they settled in the distance. No Golden Plover
A nice selection of Gulls this morning in Victoria Mill Park with no fewer than four species present!
30+ Black Headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull 1 Common Gull (looked like a juvenile) Also my first record of Herring Gull in this area (a fourth winter bird)
Also in the area
Mistle Thrush (singing) 4 Goldfinch Mallard (pr) on the canal 20+ Canada Geese
and the usual selection of Carrion Crows and Magpies
29/1/13 Kestrel flew over Bradford Road
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Wednesday 30th of January 2013 06:32:04 PM
Following my parents sighting of fieldfare in Phillips park cemetery I thought I'd go and check them out myself.
Unfortunately all we had was a pretty large flock which were a bit out of range to identify (very poor eyesight) even with binoculars however got some photos decent enough for identification purposes. To find when i got home were a flock of around 35-45 Redwing. This is a first ever sighting for me so I'm well pleased.
Showed the photos to my parents who are adamant these weren't the birds they saw so its possible there are also fieldfare here too.
Lots of individual Mistle thrush Magpie Crows 6 or so long tail tits
There are lots of nest boxes up on here so must be a good spot for birding ?
Also went on hunt for the Lapwing and Golden plover. No success today :0(
A pair of Goosander this morning, seen on the canal from the bridge on Varley Street. Looked as if they were under the office window, but typically were not there when I got up to the office!
Thanks Steve, just had a look but im not familiar with the area mentioned however noticed in Andrews post previous to yours re sightings near the bakery on grimshaw lane which im going to check out.
Steve Suttill wrote:
Collette Collier wrote:
Just picking up on this thread, I've seen the odd lapwing for over a year around Newton Heath miles Platting, eventually saw 6 pairs on Sunday on the old sharps building on Oldham rd, just as you turn left at the lights. Heading towards Oldham not manchester.
Hi Collette
have you seen the thread on Roof-roosting Lapwings and Golden Plover?
Just picking up on this thread, I've seen the odd lapwing for over a year around Newton Heath miles Platting, eventually saw 6 pairs on Sunday on the old sharps building on Oldham rd, just as you turn left at the lights. Heading towards Oldham not manchester.
Hi Collette
have you seen the thread on Roof-roosting Lapwings and Golden Plover?
It may just be coincidental but 3 lapwing passed over lord north street in newton heath yesterday (late lunchtime), they appeared to come from the direction of oldham road (miles platting). These are the first i have seen around these parts for at least a year. There used to be a decent sized flock of golden plover and lapwings on the brown field site where the new bakery has been built (off grimshaw and briscoe lane - newton heath).
Just picking up on this thread, I've seen the odd lapwing for over a year around Newton Heath miles Platting, eventually saw 6 pairs on Sunday on the old sharps building on Oldham rd, just as you turn left at the lights. Heading towards Oldham not manchester.
Made a point of driving that way to and from work and see them there in various numbers. So assume this is a regular spot for them. Got a couple of great photos on Sunday but they got spooked by a gull.
Hoping to get more photos so going to take my camera with me this next week or so
This morning a group of 50+ gulls was feeding on some bread on Varley Street. The group included at least 5 Common Gulls of different ages with the remainder Black Headed Gulls.
A red head Goosander was on the canal, visible from the office, as I was about to leave work this afternoon
Superb views of a female Kingfisher this morning from the office window. She stayed around for at least ten minutes, putting on a superb display, hovering over the canal briefly and perching under the window and I think everybody in the office who wanted to see a Kingfisher managed to see one! A brilliant and showy bird
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 10th of January 2013 01:32:12 PM
2 Cormorant flew along the line of the canal and veered off roughly in the direction of the city centre 2 Blackbird (pair) Grey Wagtail 6+ Long Tailed Tit plus 2 Blue Tit
1615
A pair of Goosander seemed to fly from the canal, circled a couple of times and then flew off towards the city centre
Back to work today and back to the wonderful birdlife of the "Platting"!
Song Thrush singing from top of tree on Oldham Road Distant Mistle Thrush (heard only) Charm of 20 Goldfinch 2 Canada Geese flew towards the "grazing field" and more could be heard towards Victoria Mill Park 5+ Magpie House Sparrows present (heard only) Good numbers of Black Headed Gulls and Lesser Black Backed Gulls were flying over the area 2 Carrion Crow 2 Robin singing
See from the office 2 Mallard 2 Woodpigeon
This evening, as I left work, both Blackbird and Wren were singing
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 3rd of January 2013 06:32:13 PM
10+ Long Tailed Tit viewed from the office on the opposite side of the canal. As I was showing these to a colleague a Kingfisher flashed by. My colleague was delighted as it was the first time he had ever seen a Kingfisher.
1 Grey Wagtail flew from the roof of the mill onto the canal towpath and back again 2 Goosander flew past the office window late pm, presumably to roost
This morning
A pair of Goosander were on the canal visible from the office window
2 Grey Wagtail near Victoria Mill late afternoon 40+ Starling on church roof on Varley Street 20+ Pied Wagtail flew across Bradford Road behind Bradford Inn
3 Grey Wagtail viewed from office window on canal towpath this morning. Also 8 Goldfinch by swimming baths and a small mixed tit flock consisting of at least 5 Long Tailed, 3 Great and 2 Blue.
The last week has seen Pied Wagtails arriving in small numbers on the waterlogged grassy areas where the Canada Geese like to feed.
Fewer Mistle Thrushes around this year
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 27th of September 2012 06:26:31 PM
A disorientated Meadow Pipit was flying around near Queensbury Court this morning. It then seemed to gain height and fly away, although I'm not sure which direction it finally went.
Family party of Greenfinch (at least 2 juveniles ) along the Rochdale Canal this morning. Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Grey Wagtail too. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in trees alongside the canal too but not sure where the boundary between Miles Platting and Newton Heath is!
Coming down Oldham Road on the bus I saw what looked like the silhouette of a hunting raptor on scrubland near the railway line and carwash, I'm sure it was a hunting Kestrel but didn't see it it was against the sun, looked hovering and large enough. Karen saw one a month back local so probably the same one. Think he was trying to get a good few of the action at the Etihad
The original Willow Warbler seemed to have passed through, not long after I originally saw it. A bird has been singing in suitable habitat most days this week.
Blackcap singing earlier in the week, still to see one in the area.