Late lunchtime walk with Lucas in much the same area as below.
Of note... - Blackcap + Chiffchaff singing from the allotments - More Blackcap seen and heard in Highfield Woods - Chiffchaff heard only - 1 male Greenfinch - Long-tailed Tit family again
Sightings are getting a bit sameish from this area, let me know if it gets a bit boring!
Busy on the Saturday as it was my sons 1st birthday so took him on a nice long walk through Highfield CP and surrounds, pretty much same areas as below.
- 11 Blackcap possibly more (3m / 1f type together) - 2 Chiffchaff - 2 Jay - 1 Song Thrush - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard - 1 Kestrel over Barlow Rd
2 walks today in virtually same area as below. Warm but strong winds meant you could mainly hear the leaves on the trees and bushes blowing about but there was a few times it subsided to listen to the birdsong. It died down later though.
Lunchtime. - 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over the Golf Course area - 1 Lesser Whitethroat heard - 1 pr Blackcap seen, more heard - 1 Chiffchaff seen, another heard
Evening. - 3 singing Garden Warbler (2 seen) - 1 Common Whitethroat heard - couldnt see it - 2m Blackcap seen, more heard - 3 Chiffchaff heard, 1 seen - 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over the woods clearing - Long-tailed Tit family group of 7 then 3 moving around
Took Lucas for a mid-evening walk in roughly the same area as yesterday, Nelstrop Road North bridleway passing Houldsworth golf club and then into the woods at Highfield CP in Levenshulme.
Of note... - 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing near golf club again, not seen - 1 Garden Warbler heard then appeared briefly along main path - 2m then 1m+1f Blackcap, more heard - 2 Chiffchaff, 1 seen - 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over - lots of Wren and Song Thrush activity
Took Lucas for another long walk late lunchtime, doing part of the Loop near Levenshulme as per yesterday, then through Highfield CP woods near Fallowfield Brook and then back down Broom Lane.
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over Z-bends (Nelstrop Rd N / Longford Rd) - 1 pr Blackcap annoyed at a Woodpigeon on a nest (More Blackcap seen and heard) - Great Spotted Woodpecker heard - 2 Chiffchaff heard - numerous Song Thrush, some in full song - Long-tailed Tits moving through
Plenty of other usuals seen, and similar to Debdale in that the Wildlife certainly appears to be a lot closer to you.
Best thread I think, Levenshulme area of the Loop.
Took Lucas for a walk yesterday teatime along Nelstrop Rd North (the path at the Z bends at bottom of Longford Rd) through the woods between Highfield CP and Houldsworth Golf club, then back again and up a different path towards the bridge on Longford Rd.
Surrounded by birds including... - 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing near golf club - 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - numerous Blackcaps - 2 Chiffchaff - Song Thrush - lots of usual woodland birds
...and then on the way back, a Grey Squirrel was barking in a Sycamore Tree along the path, as I moved round to get a better view of what was causing the alarm I could see a familiar dark shape hidden in the foliage. Tawny Owl.
5 Redwing by Houldsworth golf course this morning, with others calling en route. Chiffchaff also. At least 2 Ring necked Parakeets at very close range on the apple tree by St. Werburgh's Road tram stop.
Lesser Whitethroat still blasting out it's song and showing occasionally from track near Wright Robinson School from Boothsdale Crescent at 07.15 this morning.
Also en route were at least 15 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ring Necked Parakeet, 4 Bullfinch, 70+ Swift.
Nice to hear Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat all in song together at the start between Boothsdale Crescent and Wright Robinson School at 16.45 today.
Also 2 Goldcrest and 2 Ring Necked Parakeet en route .
Not, strictly speaking, on the Fallowfield loop, but we had a cycle out to the secret lake in Levenshulme, and there is a family of great crested grebes - one adult and two juveniles - the today. Also, what I thought was a very large swift swooped low through the trees by the lake and then flew upwards. I think it may have been a hobby.
Up to 7 Blackcap en route now, with a few stunning males in the sunshine. best between bridge 13 and 14 in North Reddish. 7 Sand Martin over towards Debdale Reservoir. 5 Chiffchaff. Herring Gull in levenshulme.
5 Bullfinch.
5 ring Necked Parakeet, plus a small Parakeet/Parrot with a pale/sky blue belly near Whalley Range High School. Any thoughts welcome.
Chris, I seen on a couple of occasions a budgerigar flying around old trafford on Saturday !
Up to 7 Blackcap en route now, with a few stunning males in the sunshine. best between bridge 13 and 14 in North Reddish. 7 Sand Martin over towards Debdale Reservoir. 5 Chiffchaff. Herring Gull in levenshulme.
5 Bullfinch.
5 ring Necked Parakeet, plus a small Parakeet/Parrot with a pale/sky blue belly near Whalley Range High School. Any thoughts welcome.
This mornings highlights were 13 Chiffchaff en route, 2 Blackcap, Ring Necked Parakeet, Bullfinch by bridge 12, a Kestrel over Princess Road. 07.20-07.50
As this is such a long route, stretching from Audenshaw to Chorlton, I think it deserves its own thread. There are basically 30 bridges on the cycle/walking route, from bridge 30 at St Werburg's Road tram stop in Chorlton, back to the start just West of Audenshaw Reservoirs. I cycle it at least a few times a week, and it has some decent habitat, with scrub, mature trees, Gorton Cemetry, Houldsworth Golf Course, and Highfields Country Park en route.
I've put sightings previously on the Fallowfield or 'Odds and Sods' lists, but think this will pinpoint any sightings a little better.
Best of today was a Blackcap by the tram stop, 7 Chiffchaff at various points, 5 Ring Necked Parakeet by Whalley Range High School, and 4 Bullfinch at bridge 25.