Egret species flew over me at work on Crown Point in direction of Audenshaw Reservoirs. Feel like it was cattle egret because of yellow beak but may be wrong
Absolutely shed loads of Gulls high over Mums garden late afternoon. A mixture of Black-headed and large Gulls. Probably c250 Gulls just in the immediate area, but I walked to the front of the house and you could see that they stretched over a fair distance towards Denton roundabout, over the Golf Club, and back down Manchester Rd towards Debdale so I cant possibly put a reliable figure to the number of birds. Then as I was stood watching the spectacle it became apparent what they were doing, I suddenly slapped my hand on the back of my neck.
Almost forgot - around 50 Common Swift were feeding over the house around late teatime. Initially only around 10 birds then the number increased quickly, looked as though theyd come from Audy Res direction, they were there for around 5 minutes before disappearing towards Debdale.
Sun 2nd June - Common Buzzard over Mums house in Dane Bank being harassed by a large Gull - Chiffchaff singing just beyond back garden - 2 Blackcap singing locally too - 4 Ring-necked Parakeets over during the afternoon
My brother has had a pair of Bullfinches on his garden feeders the last 3 days
- 3 Swan sp. over Mums Dane Bank garden as if flying directly away from Audy Res. I was too slow to get bins on them so theyll go down as Mute, unless anybody has had 3 late Whoopers locally today.
1 Common Swift reported to me again early morning in Dane Bank from my best pal Stephen Ellison. I drove through the area shortly after and there was 4 swirling round so possibly 5 in the area.
Also.. - Blackcap, Chiffchaff & Willow Warbler singing in immediate area of the Swifts - 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over Mums Dane Bank garden - Blackcap & Chiffchaff singing nearby to the garden - Coal Tit pair visiting the garden
One other bird of note.. Lucas was with me at his Nannas, I was in the greenhouse and heard a call so I immediately said to him Parakeet with that squeaky screech but as the bird flew over Lucas shouted there it is Dad but it doesnt look like a Parakeet, and he was right, it wasnt. It was a Falcon, then when it called again I thought thats a Hobby. Pretty sure thats what it was and it stayed on course for Audy Res, so Im hoping someone may have had one up there this afternoon!
- After having a Willow Warbler in nextdoors garden a few weeks ago, one was singing on and off early week but no sound since. - 2 Chiffchaff singing regularly in and around mums back garden - Blackcap singing regularly too
Perhaps more interesting was my best pal text me on Monday morning to let me know there was a Common Swift over Anson Rd but its seemingly passed through as theres been no sign since. They get quite a few breeding in that part of Dane Bank.
Mon 8th April Lots of birds in and around Mums back garden
- Willow Warbler in nextdoor neighbours garden early morning, doing a spot of flycatching from their shed roof - Chiffchaff in nextdoor but one garden opposite way - Coal Tit on feeders - Great Tit on feeders - Male Greenfinch - Song Thrush - Robin - Dunnock - Blackbird pair - Jackdaw pair
Tonight - in the last 30 minutes, a mad few seconds!
- Osprey quite low over the Windmill Pub, Dane Bank, flying in general direction of Audy Res. - Tawny Owl seconds later also over the Windmill but into the estate.
Bit surprised to see both birds, not seen a Tawny Owl in Dane Bank for ages, and as for the Osprey I always thought they were mainly daytime flyers (with exceptions for migration circumstances)
- Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing literally just beyond Mums garden boundary in Dane Bank on Saturday and Sunday. - Ring-necked Parakeet over Hulme Rd yesterday teatime
- and almost forgot, my brother had 21 Parakeets in his Dane Bank garden couple weeks ago.
- Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing literally just beyond Mums garden boundary in Dane Bank on Saturday and Sunday. - Ring-necked Parakeet over Hulme Rd yesterday teatime
Blue Tits fledged this morning in mums Dane Bank garden. One poking its head out of the box, one on the floor under the feeders, and one on the Baux bush. More were still in the box as both parents were still visiting constantly with food and you could hear the chicks.
I dont know how many were in the brood but Ive checked the box this evening and its empty, hopefully theyre all doing ok. That battered old box seemingly served them well.
Few months ago I got a new bird box and was going to put it up on the back of the kitchen to replace the one thats now falling to bits. I got sidetracked and didnt do it. Then some weeks back I noticed a Blue Tit eyeing up the box and eventually saw 2 birds going in and out with moss, webs, grassy materials, etc. It went quiet for a bit with presumably the male making the odd journey and returning with food for her, then this last week theyve both been in and out with caterpillars every 20-30 seconds all day long and the chicks screaming their heads off. Glad I didnt change the box after all but it may not last over the winter. Well see!
- Grey Wagtail calling outside Mums house at teatime. I looked up and it just landed on her roof, then it flew onto the roof opposite, then came flying back but did that hovering that they sometimes do. Bird was still heard calling somewhere nearby about 30 mins later but couldnt see it.
Update from my brother yesterday afternoon about his garden feeders activity. He sent me an iPhone image of a Chaffinch pair then his text described what else had been.
- 2 Lesser Redpolls (again) - few Ring-necked Parakeets - Goldfinches - Greenfinches - Robin - Blue Tits - Great Tits - plus the usuals
Mums garden feeders early doors had - 2 Jackdaws - Blackbirds - Robin - Dunnock - few Long-tailed Tits thru
Xmas Eve. Dropped prezzies off at brothers house mid-afternoon.
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over and 2 more in tree in back garden then this morning (Xmas Day) he said there was 30+ Goldfinches around the feeders with more in the trees waiting to come down.
My brother counted 30 Goldfinch together on his garden feeders today and he said there was roughly another 30 or so in the tree nearby, probably because they couldnt get on the feeders!
My brother phoned me during halftime of the match to say he thought he had a Brambling on his Dane Bank garden feeders in amongst 30 or so Goldfinch. It certainly was! A couple of his iPhone images attached.
- Raven fairly low over Mums Dane Bank garden 11.20am, looked to be on a direct flight path from Audy Res. - Blackcap singing in garden immediately after 1st shower earlier on
Friday - 9 Ring-necked Parakeets on feeders then flying to the trees at the back of the garden to feed young birds. Saturday - 10 on feeders and feeding young in back trees.
Possibly birds from Reddish Vale just over half a mile away unless theyve bred in those trees unnoticed.
Blackcap singing again this morning in a neighbouring garden, and a Chiffchaff singing in one of the hedgerows at Denton Golf club, Manchester Rd, Dane Bank.
Saturday 19th June Spent a lot of time in the garden (Dane Bank) today with Lucas.
- 1 Blackcap singing in neighbouring garden - Coal Tit pair visiting feeders regularly - Blackbird pair doing the same and sometimes venturing closer, theyve done this in years gone by when theyve got chicks so Im assuming they have