An afternoon stroll around Fenns and Stanneybrook Park yielded:
a couple of blackcaps singing, two chiffchaffs, a willow warbler and... two or three whitethroats. Also, a pair tufted duck were on the artificial pond nearest the park.
Other wildlife on the relevant section of the forum.
cuckoo has been singing for past hour off and on. Tracked him down to a copse at the back of jep wood adjacent to the main farm track. Seen once in flight, flying back to his copse from fields over the brow of the hill. Hope he is able to attract a lady over the noise of the traffic in the valley.
Pair of ring-necked parakeets flew northwards over New Hey County School at about 8:30 this morning. Almost exactly a year since I saw my first and last ones in Milnrow.
After not seeing a swift over Th' Haugh since the 9th August, I naturally assumed that all the local ones had long gone. However, I was very surprised and pleased to see one hawking over neighbourhood this afternoon, with the house martins.
A pleasant evening stroll, from Th' Haugh, taking in Top o' th' Hill, Cow Heys and the hill-fields above Bethany Lane, yielded:
Plenty of swallows, house martins and a few swifts, stock dove, whitethroat, skylarks and meadow pipits still in song and displaying, reed bunting, several linnets, couple of goldcrests, chiffchaff and a..... ....couple of willow warblers still in song.
An evening circular ramble, from Th' Haugh, taking in Two Bridges, Coronation Lodge, Jubilee Bends, Bone Heys and Top o' th' Hill yielded:
dipper, on Piethorne Brook, chiffchaff, by Coronation Lodge, blackcap, near Jubilee, willow warbler, below Bone Heys, Kestrel, above Slences, grey partridge (at last...first of year), by Bone Heys and.... lots of swallows and martins, plus a few swifts.
Three swifts back over Th' Haugh this morning, my first returners of 2015. Also, two raven over, heading west and two blackcaps and a willow warbler singing in the neighbourhood.
A cuckoo flew over New Hey County Primary School this morning, towards St Thomas' Church. I would say that this is my first in Milnrow and New Hey, for nigh on 25 years. I was so pleased, it almost took my mind off the next five years.
Regards, Chris J - B
-- Edited by C Brown on Friday 8th of May 2015 07:02:20 PM
First returning house martin was back over Th' Haugh, New Hey, this afternoon. This is my second earliest returner, after a bird returned on the 13th in 2007.
A pair of peregrines were flying around and landing upon the Ellenrod (the home of the World's largest working steam mill engines) chimney at about 15:00 this aft'. There is a substantial rim near the top that they were landing on, though whether or not this is wide enough and/or horizontal enough to facilitate nesting is another matter.
A bit of a buzzard-fest in the old Township of Butterworth today. First were two over Junction 21, then later on three circling over a field where muck-spreading was taking place, near Th' Haugh. Also, at about 17:15, my first singing blackbird of the year was giving it full pelt in the garden. Always a seasonal highlight of the year.
A first for the old Township of Butterworth (Milnrow and New Hey), this morning, in the gaudy form of two ring-necked parakeets calling loudly, flying over New Hey County School. They headed in the direction of the bottom end of Cedar Lane.
Just got in before the heavens opened from a local evening stroll, taking in Th' Haugh, Two Bridges Road, Coronation Lodge, Jubilee and Top o' th' Hill and saw/heard the following:
willow warblers (Th' Haugh and Coronation) whitethroat (Th' Haugh) coot (Coronation) blackcap (Coronation) two dippers (near Jubilee) kestrel (Top o' th' Hill) also lots of swallows house martins and swifts.
First local house martin back over Th' Haugh, New Hey this morning. The average return date is the 22nd. Also, a blackcap singing from the direction of Peppermint Bridge.
Male merlin causing upset with the local hirundines over the Haugh late this afternoon. There is currently a steady trickle of meadow pipits leaving the adjacent uplands and it was probably following these.
Whitethroat singing on the mooredge, at the top of Wickenhall, in heather and wimberry this evening. The altitude here is 310m plus. Presumably the same bird was at this location in spring 2012 too. Also a few meadow pipits and a skylark about.
Regards, C. Jepson-Brown
-- Edited by C Brown on Tuesday 21st of May 2013 08:49:22 PM
At last, two swifts over th' Haugh, New Hey, this evening. Having lived in this area for the past ten years, by far, this is their latest ever return. The 5th being the average date.
This evening, sedge warbler and reed bunting at Fenns Pond (top of Ashfield Lane, Ladyhouse) and reeling grasshopper warbler in the rush beds nearby, at the top of Shepherd's Brew. Also a few linnets about and a couple of swallows.
Regards, Chris Jepson-Brown
-- Edited by C Brown on Friday 26th of April 2013 08:31:37 PM
After no nests in 2010 and 2011, there appears to be a single rooks nest in the rookery on Kiln Lane. I didn't get the greatest views of the two corvids sat by it as I was going past, but I think they were rooks rather than carrion crows. Also, the blackcap that sang for much of last summer in th' Haugh, New Hey returned a few days back (if it is the same one that is). As of today, the local house martins here have yet to retun as well.
Regards, C. B
-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 26th of April 2012 11:48:59 AM
