Chorlton ees

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

RE: Chorlton ees

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Walk along the river from Jacksons Boat to the Tram Bridge at Stretford. Very quiet.
Of note;
Grey Wagtail (2) - along the edge of the river
Skylark (1) - flushed by dog walkers on Stretford Ees - not a regular sighting in this area
Goosander (1)
Cormorant (1)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)
Ring necked parakeet - heard

Other sighting of note in the last few weeks;
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 drumming near the cobbled road, and one on hardy farm - Sunday 14th early. Also Pair of kestrel in display flight over the cow field.
Widgeon on river (1m) at junction with Chorlton brook - Not a regular bird on these parts.

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Lots of Robins and Blackbirds
2 Coal tit
4 Great spotted woodpecker
3 Goldcrest
2 Ring necked parakeets
1 Jay
Lots of blue and great tits
1 Treecreeper
1 Heron
1 Siskin
3 lesser Redpoll
small flock of Goldfinch
1 Kestrel
1 Songthrush
1 Redwing

Between the Ees and Chorlton WP
4 Buzzards together, 2 pairs. Most i've seen at once in the area

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

2 Willow tit one ringed

Treecreeper, Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, small flock of Redwing, and Herons nesting.

Keep Birding

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Pair Kestrels
Pair of Buzzards, circling for some time, also 1 earlier in the afternoon.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Would have got a great photo, had I not have forgotten my memory card)
2 Jay
1 Bullfinch, M
3 Lesser redpoll (First for me at the ees)
2 Coal tits
Lots of blue tits, great tits, robins, Blackbirds
Chaffinch

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Sightings mostly from the morning until early afternoon:

1 goldcrest
1 treecreeper
1 willow tit
5 goldfinch
3 greenfinch
11 bullfinch
Long-tailed tit, blue tit and great tit in good numbers
3 song thrush
3 jay
24 magpie in one small area of the old cow field alone
1 great spotted woodpecker (with another heard)
3 ring-necked parakeet (also around the old cow field)
3+ common gull over
2 cormorant over
1 grey heron
1 kestrel
1 buzzard

On and around the river:

2 pied wagtail
1 little grebe
2 goosander (flying SE along the river's course)

Hardy farm orchard:

1 goldcrest
1 coal tit
3+ goldfinch
1 chaffinch
2 bullfinch

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

A couple of hours in the persistent rain around the meadow pond, dipping pond and environs (1:15-3:00).

Willow Tit (3) - brief views
Great spotted woodpecker (1)
Treecreeper (2)
Nuthatch (1)
Goldcrest (9)
Great tit, Blue tit, Long tailed tit, Chaffinch, robin, wren etc
Buzzard (2) likely to be the same bird coming out of the trees on the meadow pond area
Sparrowhawk (1) nearly took my hat off as it pursued Goldfinch flock on way home
Song thrush (6)
Bullfinch (3)
Cormorant, Grey Herons (4), and Gulls movement to SWP over
No sight or sound of Water Rail.
Big Jackdaw roost starting to build.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

First chance I've had for a proper day's birding since new year, so seemed polite for it to be on my local patch:

1 goldcrest
1 treecreeper
2 coal tit (both in song)
8 siskin
3 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
1 bullfinch
Long-tailed tit, dunnock, wren, great tit (many in song), etc
c25 jackdaw
2 great spotted woodpecker
12 lapwing over
16 common gull over
1 cormorant over
1 water rail heard at the meadow pond
2 mute swan over
1 grey heron
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk

Hardy Farm orchard:

1 willow tit heard only
8 bullfinch
1 goldfinch
Small long-tailed tit flock

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Nice long Jaunt around Chorlton Ees and Sale WP this pm.

Chorlton Ees:
1 Nuthatch
1 redwing
2 Heron
2 Jays heard calling
Blue and Great tits
2 Kestrels
Long tailed tit flocks

Sale WP and Broad Ees dole:
Numerous BH gulls
c15 Cormorant
2 Greater Black Backwd gulls
1 Common Gull
c10 Great Crested Grebes
7 Little Grebe
1 Goldeneye
c10 Tufted Duck
c15 Pochard
8 herons

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Yesterday morning 7.50am - 10am:

2 Kestrels
1 Treecreeper
4 Bullfinch
15+ Canada geese
3 Song thrush
5 Long tailed tit
10+ Great Tit
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Pied Wagtail

Plus all the rest of the usuals

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Along the river from Chorlton wp to old cows field.
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Little Grebe
Cheers Joel

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Today between 2.30-4pm

Sale Water Park:
4 Cormorant
5 Gadwall
c25 Mute Swan
c10 Great Crested Grebe
c10 Long tailed tit
1 F Chaffinch
1 Goldfinch
1 Grey Heron
1 Little Grebe

Chorlton Ees
c500 Jackdaw
1 Kestrel
1 Jay
2 Wren
2 Bullfinch
10+ Blackbirds
Numerous Magpies

https://www.flickr.com/photos/137776620@N05/

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Woodcock (1)
My daily circuit a bit later than usual - c.2pm a woodcock flew over Hardy Lane playing fields from the direction of the sewage pump station then over the new tram bridge towards the golf course and Barlow Tip. Other birds of note: Redwing and Mistle Thrush feeding on the enclosed playing field, hunting sparrowhawk and ring neck parakeet over, 3 x reed bunting.

JamieDunning · Status: Offline

Myself & Steve Burke flushed a Skylark from the edge of 'Cow field' this PM - Not a bird I see on the ees often.

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

5 Grey Wagtail
Small flock of Goldfinch
Buzzard
Kestrel
Jay
Beautiful pair of Bullfinch male and female
Best on for the PM was a Treecreeper! Always enjoy seeing these

Thanks,
Eugene

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

Thanks for the update fellas. I was there for about an hour earlier, nothing much to report. flock of about 30-40 fieldfares, much increased from the other day! a buzzard and a kestrel, 1 great spotted woodpecker and 1 Goosander on the river.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Yes that was me. Well it was nice to meet you and hopefully I see you around sometime.

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

Hi Joel,

I was on the cobbles for a little while but on the higher path the majority of the time. I think we might have spoken actually, I think it might have been you who mentioned to Chris and I that you'd been seeing an owl on the ground in the same spot a few times. This was while we were on the cobbled path. Were you on your bike? Not unlike the owls as it turned out hmm

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Simon Gough wrote:

I spent all afternoon there on Saturday with no luck along with numerous other folk. We were speculating that the fireworks display at the school on the Friday night might have sent the Owls on their way.

-- Edited by Simon Gough on Friday 13th of November 2015 09:11:36 AM

Ever since I Monday the 2nd I had a feeling the fireworks show would scare them off. And then when it came to Saturday and then Sunday with out them being seen i thought it might have been the fireworks show, but looks like had the same idea. It's ashame they didn't stay longer or move over to Stretford ees where (hopefully) the fireworks wouldn't have scared them. I spent a bit of time there on Saturday and Sunday. Simon were you watching from the cobbled road or the higher path?

Simon Gough · Status: Offline

I spent all afternoon there on Saturday with no luck along with numerous other folk. We were speculating that the fireworks display at the school on the Friday night might have sent the Owls on their way.

-- Edited by Simon Gough on Friday 13th of November 2015 09:11:36 AM

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

Eugene - the last sighting of the Short-eared Owl I am aware of was at dusk last Friday. I have been past the field various times since and had no sightings .... so suspect they may have moved on. But that doesn't mean we stop looking !. Chris

Eugene Dillon-Hooper · Status: Offline

First time to Chorlton Ees, but I will be frequenting often from now on! I'm fairly new to the area, although not Manchester. I was wondering if anyone knew if the Short Eared Owls were likely to still be around? Nothing to be seen from them today!

What I did see however:

2 Bullfinch

10 Siskin

20+ Goldfinch

1 Jay

3 Kestrels (at once) I saw more, put i presumed it was the same ones coming round again.

1 Buzzard

Small flock of around 8 Fieldfare

Then plenty of all the usual suspects. Robin, Blackbird, magpie, jackdaw etc.

All seen between 12-3pm

To note, I was down between the metro link and Chorlton WP 4 or 5 days ago and saw:

2 Gadwall

1 Goosander

1 Kestrel

4 Greywagtail

2 Great Crested Grebe

Thanks,

Eugene

Chris Knight · Status: Offline

Good to meet you earlier Chris (I was the one in the green hat), sadly owls continued not to materialise through waiting a little longer, just more persistent rain. Only things to add: half a dozen siskins and a goosander on the river.

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

I made a couple of brief visits on both Saturday and Sunday and did not see the Short-eared Owl. Spoke to a few other birders and they had not seen it either.
Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard around ....Pink Footed Geese over.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Originally posted yesterday by Eugene Dillon-Hooper:

2 Gadwall

1 Goosander

1 Goldcrest

1 Kestrel

4 Grey Wagtail

2 Ring-necked Parakeet

2 Great Crested Grebe

Plenty of Goldfinch and Greenfinch and the rest of the usual suspects.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Deliveries in Chorlton enabled me to do a spot of birding around 2.30 - 3.15pm

No sign of any Short-eared Owls whilst I was present, but I did get some good views of a Simon Gough and a Chris Chandler.

Birds of note besides the usual stream of Jackdaw over were...
2 Jay
1 Common Buzzard (flew up off the ground again into the trees surrounded by Magpies)
1 Blackbird
1 Robin
1 singing Wren
21 Goldfinch (group of 13 then 8 flying around)

...and one particular group of birds near the cobbled footpath and moving through the trees consisted of
16 (at the very least) Long-tailed Tit
2 Treecreeper
2 Siskin
3 Chaffinch
2 Blue Tit
1 Great Tit
1 Goldcrest

Also a Bullfinch heard again but couldn't locate it

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 7th of November 2015 05:03:58 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Rob Creek wrote:

2nd Short-eared Owl has just flown up, 1st Owl flew out of the field being pursued by no less than 5 Magpies.

Nice to see Chris Sutton again.

Other birds...
Long-tailed Tit at least 7
Bullfinch heard only
Blue Tit

When I left Chris 5 minutes ago, the Short-eared Owl was perched on top of the dead tree in the middle of the cow-field in what we both described as spectacular light that was seen over the tree line surrounding the field.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

2nd Short-eared Owl has just flown up, 1st Owl flew out of the field being pursued by no less than 5 Magpies.

Nice to see Chris Sutton again.

Other birds...
Long-tailed Tit at least 7
Bullfinch heard only
Blue Tit
and a Common Buzzard flew up from the long grass into the hedge
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 6th of November 2015 04:47:58 PM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 6th of November 2015 07:08:47 PM

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

1 x Short-eared Owl currently present 3.55pm flying round in the rain and being harassed by at least 4 Magpies

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

9:00 - 9:45 am - no sign of Short Eared Owl
4:00 - 4:40 pm - Short-eared Owl showed briefly at c 4:35 gaining height and disappeared out towards Hardy Farm area.
Sparrowhawk x 1
Kestrel x 1
Buzzard x 1
Goosander x 1 over
Jackdaws are gathering in number as they prepare for roost.

Copland Smith · Status: Offline

By the way, I did see a shortie on the Ees (on Huntfield, SJ812927) in late September 2012.

Excerpt from The Walker's Calendar

Walking across Hunt Field, I trigger
a hen pheasant into low, cackling flight.
Before loping off, the old fox stares.
A pale owl springs from the earth, bigger
than I expect. Short-eared prefer day to night.
I run to where she landed.
Nothing there.

Copland Smith · Status: Offline

Having missed the owl(s) on 5 previous visits, sometimes by minutes, I determined to stay longer today. I was by the Cowfield from 8:58 to 12:35 but saw none. Thanks to Chris, Andy, Dave, Barry & Judith for the chats that kept me almost sane.

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

pete berry wrote:
25/30 years ago Short Eared Owls were everywhere in winter between Chorlton Ees all the way down to Chorlton Water Park and over on Kenworthy Fields,it was impossible to have a couple of hours birding down there without seeing a few Short Eareds and at Millgate Fields adjacent to Stenner Woods at Didsbury we had a peak count of 13 Short Eareds one winter !!! Maybe we're in for a bumper winter,although doubt if numbers will approach what they were then as the habitat has matured and there is less places for the birds to feed.

The main problem in more recent years is the increase in disturbance by dog walkers, cyclists, increased popularity to the public etc, due to the creation of surfaced trails through grasslands. Vast areas of rough grassland have also been lost to tree planting. The old cow fields (at Chorlton and Stretford Ees) are the least disturbed in the valley as they are fenced off to the public. You wouldn't recognise the place now Pete.

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 4th of November 2015 11:39:30 PM

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 4th of November 2015 11:50:04 PM

Tony Darby · Status: Offline

2 Short-eared Owls at 11.00 am.
One was in the old cow field as usual, and the other was hunting in the rough field next to the model aircraft field on the Sale Water Park side of the river.
This second bird was also being pursued by two Ring-necked Parakeets.... not something you see everyday.

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Just the one Short-eared Owl this morning. No sign from 7.15am to 8.20am when it flew in from the direction of Jackson's Boat and was immediately mobbed by a Sparrowhawk.

steven burke · Status: Offline

Gervase Cooke wrote:

steven burke wrote:
l a short-eared owl came flying over the trees from jacksons boat direction & confused me & tony darby & another chap thinking there might be 2 around I didn't actually stay around
I think that other chap was me Steven. Not sure which was you and which Tony.
I felt lucky to catch a site of this spectacular bird in my lunch break. Glad to have it confirmed Joel that there were two. Seemed very odd that the bird that people had seen go down in the middle of the field had somehow crept off unnoticed and then come flying in again over the trees. They must have been on the ground very close to each other.
Hope to go down again tomorrow to get another look. Great to meet folk. So many birders about. Thanks for the spot Tony or Steve.

nice to meet you then Gervase, tony was to your right & I was far right.

no worries joel, the young lad along the river showed me a video on his phone & had a ring from a shag on his bins.

pete berry · Status: Offline

25/30 years ago Short Eared Owls were everywhere in winter between Chorlton Ees all the way down to Chorlton Water Park and over on Kenworthy Fields,it was impossible to have a couple of hours birding down there without seeing a few Short Eareds and at Millgate Fields adjacent to Stenner Woods at Didsbury we had a peak count of 13 Short Eareds one winter !!! Maybe we're in for a bumper winter,although doubt if numbers will approach what they were then as the habitat has matured and there is less places for the birds to feed.

.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Gervase Cooke wrote:

steven burke wrote:
l a short-eared owl came flying over the trees from jacksons boat direction & confused me & tony darby & another chap thinking there might be 2 around I didn't actually stay around
I think that other chap was me Steven. Not sure which was you and which Tony.
I felt lucky to catch a site of this spectacular bird in my lunch break. Glad to have it confirmed Joel that there were two. Seemed very odd that the bird that people had seen go down in the middle of the field had somehow crept off unnoticed and then come flying in again over the trees. They must have been on the ground very close to each other.
Hope to go down again tomorrow to get another look. Great to meet folk. So many birders about. Thanks for the spot Tony or Steve.

No problem guys just happy to help. It was stunning watching the one quartering the field then the other one suddenly pop up, I thought I would have to go to the Wirral to see that. Don't think it was me Steven but must have just missed you as I left the field side at 4:17.

Gervase Cooke · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:
l a short-eared owl came flying over the trees from jacksons boat direction & confused me & tony darby & another chap thinking there might be 2 around I didn't actually stay around

I think that other chap was me Steven. Not sure which was you and which Tony.

I felt lucky to catch a site of this spectacular bird in my lunch break. Glad to have it confirmed Joel that there were two. Seemed very odd that the bird that people had seen go down in the middle of the field had somehow crept off unnoticed and then come flying in again over the trees. They must have been on the ground very close to each other.

Hope to go down again tomorrow to get another look. Great to meet folk. So many birders about. Thanks for the spot Tony or Steve.

steven burke · Status: Offline

had a couple of visits today firstly around 11.40am when the short-eared owl showed for several minutes & landed in the tree before going to ground, but for an hour & a half at least it never showed until a short-eared owl came flying over the trees from jacksons boat direction & confused me & tony darby & another chap hmm

thinking there might be 2 around I didn't actually stay around much longer to find out but it turns out that there was, great stuff smile

I came back around 4.20pm & nothing was showing as there was a fox in the field but around 5 ish a short-eared owl came in high from over the river & trees circled around a while getting some harassment from some crows & eventually came down & landed in the tree before going to ground. I still never seen 2 owls together whilst there though, never mind.

was that you joel who I was speaking to along the river near jacksons boat ?

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Yesterday.
From 4 till 5:30
Managed to pick the owl up through all the fog, flew over our heads and perched on the dead tree.
Nice to meet Tim Wilcox and Chris Sutton.
Today.
From 3 till 4:15
Arrived to hear the owl was showing well on the floor from the path which leads to the river, higher than the cobbled road. It then flew up and started gliding around the field. Suddenly a second short eared owl popped up from the long grass and had a go at the other shorted eared owl. They then continued to quarter the field separately until one landed down near the back and the other near the front. At which point we showed a 2 nice ladies the nearer one but then the second one started quartering the field which they enjoyed very much, it then landed at the back and I showed them the nearer one. It then anden it the dead tree for a bit then flew extremely high and flew around the field and then flew quite speedily to the field and started quartering the fields again.
Nice to meet Jim Caulfield, Chris Sutton, Len and one other who I didn't manage to catch his name. Great to finally out some names to faces.

Jim Caulfield · Status: Offline

14:30 - 15:25 Tues 3 Nov

Stunning views of the Short-eared Owl this afternoon, first on the ground, then slowly moving around the favoured field for 25 minutes, occasionally dropping to ground, and rising immediately.

Even nicer to meet Chris Sutton, Joel Tragen, and Len amongst others, all enjoying the spectacle - a lovely afternoon !

-- Edited by Jim Caulfield on Tuesday 3rd of November 2015 05:22:02 PM

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Nice to meet you Chris, great views of the short eared owl then it stayed more or less low at the back of the field, constantly harangued by at least two magpies.

Sparrowhawk/s were around, heard only.

Chris Sutton · Status: Offline

8 - 8:30am - Short-eared Owl showing well on the cow field with good close views from the cobbled road. Chris

Chris Porter · Status: Offline

Thank you to Phil for letting me and others use his scope when the Short-eared owl was barely visible on the ground, as well as to the chaps who first pointed it out when I arrived. Through my binoculars I was waiting for a clump of grass to take off for a good 10 minutes...

Great to see it finally take to the air as Phil describes, a real joy to see.

phillipskelly · Status: Offline

Short-eared owl seen hunting for 20 min from 12. 15pm today using most of the cowfield up to it's boundaries and coming very close to the cobbled road giving great views .

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Also 6+ Siskin over yesterday

I haven't seen so many birders down here since the Great Grey Shrike back in January 1981 !

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 1st Nov - mid afternoon until dark.

Good to see Simon Gough on site briefly, then Gary Edwards, and then spend the rest of the visit with Steve Burke and Chris Sutton.

- Short-eared Owl seen briefly a couple of times as it made quick low swoops and seemingly caught something as it didn't resurface for ages. Probably had enough of the Magpie harassment too. Then in low light it did show well hunting, quartering over a lot of the field, then right back against the trees, eventually round the back of the trees and out of sight. Not seen again as it was almost dark.

Other birds of note...
- Kestrel 1 in tree right above our heads, didn't move for over an hour
- Jay 1
- Jackdaw lots over, and some Carrion Crow
- Blackbird 6
- Mistle Thrush 2
- Redwing lots over
- Kingfisher 1 flying fast across the field and over the path (and back again later on)

- Treecreepee (heard only)
- Long-tailed Tit (heard only) sounded like a small party moving through
- Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only)
- Wader-type call heard above, like a high pitch peep or whistle, couldn't see it

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 2nd of November 2015 09:55:16 AM

Barry Brett · Status: Offline

Cheers should have introduced myself.(Barry)
Enjoy birding but not skilled like a lot of birders.
Hope those who took pictures get good results.
Cool bird to see close to home.Hope still around tomorrow
taking Grandsons.

David Morris · Status: Offline

Thanks to the gentleman who let those of us who were there at 10am (when it was perching on the tree) get some great views through his scope- didn't catch your name! Nice to meet a few more users there today.