Had a number of Redwing here today together with Bullfinch stripping a white berried tree. Also Siskin, into double figures, but couldn't get a decent count.
Also Stock Dove, Parakeets and usual tit species
bernard hooley said
Thu Nov 18 9:50 AM, 2021
A walk around Stenner woods and along the Mersey. Goldfinch x 4 Feral Pigeon x 10 Starling x 6 Carrion Crow x 8 Raven x 1 Wood Pigeon x 7 Blackbird x 5 Ring Necked Parakeet x 14 Nuthatch x 6 Lesser Black Backed Gull x 1 Black Headed Gull 14 Goosander x 1 (F) Mallard x 9 Herring Gull x 2 Long Tailed Tit x 20+ in a single flock Chaffinch x 2 Robin x 5 Blue Tit x 3 Grey Heron x 1 Moorhen x 1 Stock Dove x 2 Coal Tit x 2
Simon Gough said
Sat Jun 19 1:10 PM, 2021
Plenty of singing and fledged juvenile birds today around the meadows and the flood scheme channel by the river
Singers of Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat
Fledged Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Great Tit
Pete Hines said
Wed Mar 17 1:42 PM, 2021
Chiffchaff 1 singing Millgate Fields
alanhill said
Sat Dec 19 4:50 PM, 2020
A friend mailed me this morning to say that she had seen a male goosander guarding a dead female near Simon's Bridge. It looked as if the female was caught on something, but she wasn't sure and that may not have been the cause of death.
Does something like this need to be reported? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.
James Richardson said
Tue May 26 9:34 AM, 2020
A hobby flew NW over Millgate fields yesterday evening at about 7.
Mike Crawley said
Thu Apr 9 4:49 PM, 2020
Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing in hedgerows between the Mersey and Old Bedians Rugby Club.
Goosander flew downstream from the river near Parrswood School playing field and over the Manchester Road bridge. Re-found further towards Northeden near Milgate Fields but flushed no back up river by an irresponsible dog owner.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of April 2020 06:04:24 PM
Pete Hines said
Wed Mar 11 3:20 PM, 2020
Stonechat 2 Stock Dove 18 https://ebird.org/checklist/S65679717
2 Stonechats at edge of big bramble patch in hay field
Tony Darby said
Thu Feb 27 7:11 PM, 2020
3 Stonechats now in the hay field. I think there've been 3 around for a while but It's the first time I've seen them together.
Pete Hines said
Thu Jan 23 2:40 PM, 2020
Stonechat 2 still present Snipe 1
35 sp https://ebird.org/checklist/S63694333
bernard hooley said
Thu Jan 16 10:46 AM, 2020
First visit of the year to this beautiful place yesterday. At the feeders: Robin x6 Starling x 2 Feral Pigeon x3 Magpie x 2 Wood Pigeon x 3 Ring Necked Parakeet x 1 Great Tit x 12 Blue tit x 2 Coal tit x 1 Nuthatch x 1 Stenner Woods: Robin x 3 Carrion Crow x 4 Magpie x 4 Wood Pigeon x 6 Ring Necked Parakeet x 12 Great tit x 4 Blue Tit x 4 Moorhen x 1 Blackbird x 4 On the swollen river Canada goose x 4 Grey Heron x 1 Mallard x 2 Herring gull x 1 Black Headed Gull x 6
Tony Darby said
Mon Jan 13 3:43 PM, 2020
A flock of 20+ Siskins have been in the park and the edge of Stenner Woods for a few days now. Stonechats still in the hayfield today, totally ignoring us and the dogs.
Simon Gough said
Sun Jan 12 4:21 PM, 2020
2 Stonechat still around lunchtime today
Pete Hines said
Tue Jan 7 5:35 PM, 2020
Stonechat - 2 still present this afternoon Stock Dove 9
21 ring-necked parakeets including the blue one, photo attached. 1 whitethroat 2 reed buntings 1 buzzard 2 kestrels, male with kill. Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs 1 vocal tawny owl, eventually seen.
22 ring-necked parakeets 1 sand martin 1 common buzzard 1-2 kingfisher on river 2 grey wagtails 4 jays 3 stock doves 2 reed buntings 1 great spotted woodpecker Several blackcaps & Chiffchaffs singing. 7 redwings
steven burke said
Wed Feb 6 9:16 PM, 2019
afternoon visit
38 ring-necked parakeets seen including the blue one, 13 seen in trees near the rugby posts, a flock 23 & 2 flew over heading north & the ones in the trees flew off to join them, there certainly was more than 13 there but hard to see through the trees. obviously all going to roost elsewhere. 1 buzzard 2 grey heron 1 great spotted woodpecker 2 chaffinch 2 stock dove 1 mistle thrush several song thrushes singing.
Tony Darby said
Mon Dec 10 5:22 PM, 2018
A female/juv. Mandarin was on the river today, associating with a small group of Mallards.
Tony Darby said
Sun May 20 10:32 PM, 2018
Sedge Warbler on the northern half of the hayfield at Millgate Fields. Lots of song and display flights, so not difficult to find.
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 28 12:33 PM, 2018
8.00-10.30 around the wet meadows by Stenner Woods and the flood basin area running away alongside Millgate Lane
29 species, highlights:
1 Lesser Whitethroat in a massive hawthorn bank between the two meadows 5 Bullfinch, very active 2-4 Reed Bunting - I thought 2 pairs but could have been 1 mobile pair 1 Blackcap singing 3+ Chiffchaff singing 1 Stock Dove
The Lesser Whitethroat was nice but only seen very briefly. I expected to see plenty of Blackcaps but only found 1 and it was very wet so perhaps no surprise that there were no Whitethroats
Charles Coutts said
Mon Apr 9 6:14 PM, 2018
5 Buzzard
6 Ring Necked Parakeet
8 Bullfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Plus loads of common species,Highlights were finding where a Treecreeper had set up nest behind bark on a tree,
and a Blue Tit taking food into a Bat Box
bernard hooley said
Mon Apr 9 6:06 PM, 2018
Around the park, Stenner Woods and the River Mersey. Birds seen. Willow Warbler x2 Starling x5 Carrion Crow x3 Wood Pigeon x7 Blackbird x7 Wren x1 Robin x9 Magpie x6 Great Tit x8 Dunnock x2 Long Tailed Tit x4 Blue Tit x3 Jay x1 Mistle Thrush x1 Jackdaw x10 Mallard x8 Canada Goose x2 Treecreeper x1 Common Buzzard x2 Coal Tit x1 Black Headed Gull x6 Cormorant x2
Davd Coupe said
Mon Feb 26 7:16 PM, 2018
Black-headed Gull - 20
Goosander - 7
Mallard - 12
Little Grebe - 3
Pied Wagtail -1
Grey Wagtail -1
on the river between Simon's bridge and Northenden
Ring-necked Parakeet - 5
in the trees on Stenner Lane
Davd Coupe said
Sat Feb 17 10:10 AM, 2018
Great Spotted woodpecker -1
Goosander -1
Redwing - 10ish
Cormorant - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Yesterday 12.00am near the Waterside Hotel
-- Edited by Davd Coupe on Saturday 17th of February 2018 10:11:02 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 14 3:53 PM, 2018
Originally posted today by David Coupe:
On the River Mersey between Fletcher Moss and Heaton Mersey 11.00 am
Dipper -2
Goossander - 2
Moorhen - 2
Cormorant - 2
Davd Coupe said
Sun Feb 11 1:05 PM, 2018
3-Goosander
2-Little Grebe
20-Canada Geese
12-Mallard
12- Black-headed Gulls
on the river Friday 9/1/18 11-00am
-- Edited by Davd Coupe on Sunday 11th of February 2018 01:06:00 PM
bernard hooley said
Thu Jan 11 8:41 PM, 2018
Fletcher Moss ,Stenner Woods ,River Mersey . Birds seen. Starling -6 Blackbird -9 Magpie -8 Carrion Crow -7 Black Headed Gull 10 Wood Pigeon -9 Dunnock -4 Great Tit -6 Robin -6 Blue Tit -6 Long Tailed Tit -4 Coai Tit -1 Black Headed Gull -1 Ring Necked Parakeet -7 Mallard -2 Grey Heron -1 Mistle Thrush -2 Goldfinch -3 Redwing -3 Wren -1 Nuthatch -1 Chaffinch -3
bernard hooley said
Wed Nov 1 8:53 AM, 2017
Fletcher Moss,Stenner Woods and the River Mersey Starling 5 Dunnock 1 Magpie 6 Blue Tit 8 Feral Pigeon 10 Carrion Crow 8 House Sparrow 2 Robin 6 Wood Pigeon 3 Chaffinch 2 Great Tit 10 Mallard 7 Ring Necked Parakeet 5 Wren 2 Goosander (f) 1 Black Headed Gull 11 Jay 2 Goldcrest 2 Song Thrush 1 Nuthatch 1
steven burke said
Sat Jun 3 11:35 PM, 2017
Hobby low over millgate fields this evening. 3 blackcap 2 whitethroat 2 Chiffchaff Several swifts & house Martins around 3 sand martin 1 swallow
Chris Chandler said
Sat May 13 8:20 PM, 2017
This evening 7-8pm
Grasshopper warbler still reeling on millgate fields. Showed eventually, but required some patience.
This morning with Tony Darby the Lesser Whitethroat was singing loudly in the hedge between the two parts of Millgate Fields and showed briefly a few times
steven burke said
Thu May 4 11:18 PM, 2017
Grasshopper warbler present this evening but only reeled a few times briefly & was not seen. A lesser whitethroat was a bit more vocal nearby but was still unable to view it in the shrub it was in. 1 swift & 1 swallow over.
Simon Gough said
Wed May 3 7:28 PM, 2017
Grasshopper Warbler still present this evening. Very elusive, reeling from the ground, and also going quiet intermittently as a male Kestrel hunted the field.
Pete Hines said
Mon May 1 4:16 PM, 2017
Grasshopper Warbler still at Millgate Fields this afternoon
(see link below for a video)
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Apr 30 1:54 PM, 2017
With Tony Darby. Grasshopper Warbler still reeling and showing extremely well on Millgate Fields this afternoon
Chris Sutton said
Sat Apr 29 9:59 PM, 2017
Grasshopper Warbler heard reeling today in the Stenner Woods area grasslands. One possibly two birds but mobile. Chris
bernard hooley said
Wed Apr 12 11:08 AM, 2017
Post for yesterday.Walked around the park ,then through Stenner woods and along the Mersey. The following birds were seen. Blackbird 7 magpie 5 Feral Pigeon 20 Wren 1 Wood Pigeon 14 Robin 11 Blue Tit4 Bullfinch 1 Great Tit 2 Carrion Crow 6 Mallard 12 Grey Heron 1 Nuthatch 2 Ring Necked Parakeet 2 Chaffinch 3 Black Headed Gull 3 Canada Goose 2 Coot 2
Simon Gough said
Tue Feb 21 11:26 AM, 2017
Stenner Woods Sunday 19th Feb 15.00-16.30
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 - active and calling Nuthatch 4-5 - again lots of activity Song Thrush singing Goosander 3 - 2 nice males and female on the river, some squabbling Grey Heron - on the flooded meadow
Plus plenty of vocal usuals
As ever, the habitat aches for some 'better' birds, but a Sunday afternoon shows perfectly why only the more human-tolerant birds seem to be there. Still a brilliant site in urban Manchester though.
alanhill said
Tue Feb 14 9:11 PM, 2017
Stenner Woods
Buzzard seen several times in the early morning (8.00 - 8.30) in Stenner Woods. It must be a favourite roosting spot.
alanhill said
Mon Jan 9 7:07 PM, 2017
Two little grebes on the river near Simon's Bridge this afternoon. Haven't seen them on this stretch of the river before, could be the same ones seen further up-river near Cheadle weir.
Simon Gough said
Sun Dec 4 4:12 PM, 2016
I had a nice walk around the woods 11.00-13.00 with my niece Grace, who is nine. In between prodding mud and icy puddles with sticks we saw 4 Teal, a Nuthatch, a Ring-necked Parakeet, a Grey Heron, a Great Tit, a Kestrel being chased by a Crow and a few Magpies. I also noticed a Treecreeper, Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker but these were a bit less obvious for her to see. Some brilliant fungi in there too. Despite being typically busy with 'normals', birds were showing well and in bright sunshine it was a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.
Tony Darby said
Thu May 5 2:53 PM, 2016
Lesser Whitethroat in bushes west of the Millgate Lane sluice. Very skulking, so heard only.
JamieDunning said
Wed Apr 6 7:50 PM, 2016
alanhill wrote:
Re Simon Gough's post, I am convinced that the Parakeets have had an impact on the Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Stenner Woods and other local areas. Is it that they are taking over their nest holes? Jamie Dunning will know the answer. Where are you Jamie?
I'm sitting very quietly
As some of you will know, I did attempt, a few years ago now, to put up some boxes in that hope the Parakeet would use them and we could glean something from those nets records. After all, our parakeets are a limited, closed population, and persuading them to use a box (where we can access them) over a nest hole (where we can't) seemed like the obvious answer, we also metal ringed a few. The literature on them does have an example of Rose-ringed Parakeet having a direct impact on another species, although it isn't one of the Woodpeckers, It's Nuthatch [on the continent]. I did also compare some data (from the GMBRG and BTO) one afternoon, but there just isn't enough to infer anything like that in Manchester at the minute. The main threat therefore is posed to other secondary cavity nesting species, and in particular I'd bet, those which are specialists that do not nest colonially (That's Nuthatch and Starling to some extent around us?).
It's an interesting idea that they may put off other birds with their presence in an area, although being colonial, I would think the woodpecker will just move elsewhere with the parakeet population what it is currently.
I'll see you all in the discussion thread?
Simon Gough said
Wed Apr 6 12:11 PM, 2016
Good discussion this one, I wasn't trying to suggest that there was direct competition for nest-holes, my point was more about the way the Ring-necked Parakeets occupy the area by the Boardwalk and whether they could 'dominate' a territory in the first place. My supposition was that if a Woodpecker wasn't comfortable in the area it wouldn't get as far as excavating a hole, in favour of moving somewhere else. I think I've read that this can occur between Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, correct me if I'm wrong of course.
I have seen less Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Stenner Woods this year than in both the last 2, and also nearby in the wood by Priestnall Fields in Heaton Mersey, where last year there was at least a pair. Both areas are occupied by Ring-necked Parakeets. They are not scientific studies by any means but I didn't think the Great Spotted Woodpecker was in decline, so where are they? As a kind of control, I have seen less than usual near my office in Wythenshawe, so maybe it is all a coincidence. Last year and the year before there were at least 3 pairs within half a mile of my office in 3 separate little woods, and this year I've only seen 1 pair. Again not scientific but of some anecdotal value perhaps?
Tim gets out locally much more than me, due to not having a job anymore, the lucky swine, so he will probably have more information to hand than me in any case.
Had a number of Redwing here today together with Bullfinch stripping a white berried tree. Also Siskin, into double figures, but couldn't get a decent count.
Also Stock Dove, Parakeets and usual tit species
Goldfinch x 4
Feral Pigeon x 10
Starling x 6
Carrion Crow x 8
Raven x 1
Wood Pigeon x 7
Blackbird x 5
Ring Necked Parakeet x 14
Nuthatch x 6
Lesser Black Backed Gull x 1
Black Headed Gull 14
Goosander x 1 (F)
Mallard x 9
Herring Gull x 2
Long Tailed Tit x 20+ in a single flock
Chaffinch x 2
Robin x 5
Blue Tit x 3
Grey Heron x 1
Moorhen x 1
Stock Dove x 2
Coal Tit x 2
Singers of Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat
Fledged Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Robin, Long-tailed Tit, Blackcap, Great Tit
A friend mailed me this morning to say that she had seen a male goosander guarding a dead female near Simon's Bridge. It looked as if the female was caught on something, but she wasn't sure and that may not have been the cause of death.
Does something like this need to be reported? Any advice would be welcome. Thanks.
Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing in hedgerows between the Mersey and Old Bedians Rugby Club.
Goosander flew downstream from the river near Parrswood School playing field and over the Manchester Road bridge. Re-found further towards Northeden near Milgate Fields but flushed no back up river by an irresponsible dog owner.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of April 2020 06:04:24 PM
Stock Dove 18
https://ebird.org/checklist/S65679717
seen them together.
Snipe 1
35 sp https://ebird.org/checklist/S63694333
At the feeders:
Robin x6
Starling x 2
Feral Pigeon x3
Magpie x 2
Wood Pigeon x 3
Ring Necked Parakeet x 1
Great Tit x 12
Blue tit x 2
Coal tit x 1
Nuthatch x 1
Stenner Woods:
Robin x 3
Carrion Crow x 4
Magpie x 4
Wood Pigeon x 6
Ring Necked Parakeet x 12
Great tit x 4
Blue Tit x 4
Moorhen x 1
Blackbird x 4
On the swollen river
Canada goose x 4
Grey Heron x 1
Mallard x 2
Herring gull x 1
Black Headed Gull x 6
Stonechats still in the hayfield today, totally ignoring us and the dogs.
Stock Dove 9
Perched up high on grass stalks, a site tick for me..
c30 Ring-necked Parakeets apparently leaving a roost this morning.
Great Spotted Woodpecker
51 ring-necked parakeets
80+ redwings
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
2 grey heron
2 chaffinch
1 grey wagtail
3 pied wagtails
21 ring-necked parakeets including the blue one, photo attached.
1 whitethroat
2 reed buntings
1 buzzard
2 kestrels, male with kill.
Blackcaps & Chiffchaffs
1 vocal tawny owl, eventually seen.
22 ring-necked parakeets
1 sand martin
1 common buzzard
1-2 kingfisher on river
2 grey wagtails
4 jays
3 stock doves
2 reed buntings
1 great spotted woodpecker
Several blackcaps & Chiffchaffs singing.
7 redwings
38 ring-necked parakeets seen including the blue one, 13 seen in trees near the rugby posts, a flock 23 & 2 flew over heading north & the ones in the trees flew off to join them, there certainly was more than 13 there but hard to see through the trees. obviously all going to roost elsewhere.
1 buzzard
2 grey heron
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 chaffinch
2 stock dove
1 mistle thrush
several song thrushes singing.
Lots of song and display flights, so not difficult to find.
29 species, highlights:
1 Lesser Whitethroat in a massive hawthorn bank between the two meadows
5 Bullfinch, very active
2-4 Reed Bunting - I thought 2 pairs but could have been 1 mobile pair
1 Blackcap singing
3+ Chiffchaff singing
1 Stock Dove
The Lesser Whitethroat was nice but only seen very briefly. I expected to see plenty of Blackcaps but only found 1 and it was very wet so perhaps no surprise that there were no Whitethroats
5 Buzzard
6 Ring Necked Parakeet
8 Bullfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Plus loads of common species,Highlights were finding where a Treecreeper had set up nest behind bark on a tree,
and a Blue Tit taking food into a Bat Box
Willow Warbler x2
Starling x5
Carrion Crow x3
Wood Pigeon x7
Blackbird x7
Wren x1
Robin x9
Magpie x6
Great Tit x8
Dunnock x2
Long Tailed Tit x4
Blue Tit x3
Jay x1
Mistle Thrush x1
Jackdaw x10
Mallard x8
Canada Goose x2
Treecreeper x1
Common Buzzard x2
Coal Tit x1
Black Headed Gull x6
Cormorant x2
Black-headed Gull - 20
Goosander - 7
Mallard - 12
Little Grebe - 3
Pied Wagtail -1
Grey Wagtail -1
on the river between Simon's bridge and Northenden
Ring-necked Parakeet - 5
in the trees on Stenner Lane
Great Spotted woodpecker -1
Goosander -1
Redwing - 10ish
Cormorant - 1
Grey Heron - 1
Yesterday 12.00am near the Waterside Hotel
-- Edited by Davd Coupe on Saturday 17th of February 2018 10:11:02 AM
Originally posted today by David Coupe:
On the River Mersey between Fletcher Moss and Heaton Mersey 11.00 am
Dipper -2
Goossander - 2
Moorhen - 2
Cormorant - 2
3-Goosander
2-Little Grebe
20-Canada Geese
12-Mallard
12- Black-headed Gulls
on the river Friday 9/1/18 11-00am
-- Edited by Davd Coupe on Sunday 11th of February 2018 01:06:00 PM
Starling -6
Blackbird -9
Magpie -8
Carrion Crow -7
Black Headed Gull 10
Wood Pigeon -9
Dunnock -4
Great Tit -6
Robin -6
Blue Tit -6
Long Tailed Tit -4
Coai Tit -1
Black Headed Gull -1
Ring Necked Parakeet -7
Mallard -2
Grey Heron -1
Mistle Thrush -2
Goldfinch -3
Redwing -3
Wren -1
Nuthatch -1
Chaffinch -3
Starling 5
Dunnock 1
Magpie 6
Blue Tit 8
Feral Pigeon 10
Carrion Crow 8
House Sparrow 2
Robin 6
Wood Pigeon 3
Chaffinch 2
Great Tit 10
Mallard 7
Ring Necked Parakeet 5
Wren 2
Goosander (f) 1
Black Headed Gull 11
Jay 2
Goldcrest 2
Song Thrush 1
Nuthatch 1
3 blackcap
2 whitethroat
2 Chiffchaff
Several swifts & house Martins around
3 sand martin
1 swallow
Grasshopper warbler still reeling on millgate fields. Showed eventually, but required some patience.
No sedge warbler or lesser whitethroat for me.
3 Chiffchaff
1 Whitethroat
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
3 Reed Bunting
7-8 Swift
Grasshopper Warbler and a Sedge Warbler today at Millgate Fields
lesser whitethroat & grasshopper warbler were both very vocal & showed really well in millgate fields.
1 willow warbler
2 chiffchaff
2 blackcap
1 whitethroat
3 bullfinch
8+ reed bunting
1 ring-necked parakeet, more heard
5 swift
7 swallow
4 sand martin
A lesser whitethroat was a bit more vocal nearby but was still unable to view it in the shrub it was in.
1 swift & 1 swallow over.
(see link below for a video)
Chris
The following birds were seen.
Blackbird 7
magpie 5
Feral Pigeon 20
Wren 1
Wood Pigeon 14
Robin 11
Blue Tit4
Bullfinch 1
Great Tit 2
Carrion Crow 6
Mallard 12
Grey Heron 1
Nuthatch 2
Ring Necked Parakeet 2
Chaffinch 3
Black Headed Gull 3
Canada Goose 2
Coot 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 - active and calling
Nuthatch 4-5 - again lots of activity
Song Thrush singing
Goosander 3 - 2 nice males and female on the river, some squabbling
Grey Heron - on the flooded meadow
Plus plenty of vocal usuals
As ever, the habitat aches for some 'better' birds, but a Sunday afternoon shows perfectly why only the more human-tolerant birds seem to be there. Still a brilliant site in urban Manchester though.
Stenner Woods
Buzzard seen several times in the early morning (8.00 - 8.30) in Stenner Woods. It must be a favourite roosting spot.
Two little grebes on the river near Simon's Bridge this afternoon. Haven't seen them on this stretch of the river before, could be the same ones seen further up-river near Cheadle weir.
I'm sitting very quietly
As some of you will know, I did attempt, a few years ago now, to put up some boxes in that hope the Parakeet would use them and we could glean something from those nets records.
After all, our parakeets are a limited, closed population, and persuading them to use a box (where we can access them) over a nest hole (where we can't) seemed like the obvious answer, we also metal ringed a few.
The literature on them does have an example of Rose-ringed Parakeet having a direct impact on another species, although it isn't one of the Woodpeckers, It's Nuthatch [on the continent]. I did also compare some data (from the GMBRG and BTO) one afternoon, but there just isn't enough to infer anything like that in Manchester at the minute.
The main threat therefore is posed to other secondary cavity nesting species, and in particular I'd bet, those which are specialists that do not nest colonially (That's Nuthatch and Starling to some extent around us?).
It's an interesting idea that they may put off other birds with their presence in an area, although being colonial, I would think the woodpecker will just move elsewhere with the parakeet population what it is currently.
I'll see you all in the discussion thread?
I have seen less Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Stenner Woods this year than in both the last 2, and also nearby in the wood by Priestnall Fields in Heaton Mersey, where last year there was at least a pair. Both areas are occupied by Ring-necked Parakeets. They are not scientific studies by any means but I didn't think the Great Spotted Woodpecker was in decline, so where are they? As a kind of control, I have seen less than usual near my office in Wythenshawe, so maybe it is all a coincidence. Last year and the year before there were at least 3 pairs within half a mile of my office in 3 separate little woods, and this year I've only seen 1 pair. Again not scientific but of some anecdotal value perhaps?
Tim gets out locally much more than me, due to not having a job anymore, the lucky swine, so he will probably have more information to hand than me in any case.