15 March: 3 Waxwings by the Bramhall Moor Lane entrance to Stepping Hill hospital this afternoon.
Cheers, John
David Pierce said
Tue Dec 26 12:47 PM, 2023
Four goosanders (2m, 2f) in the pond opposite the northern end of Threaphurst Lane at mid-day.
John Rayner said
Tue Dec 12 2:33 PM, 2023
Red Kite circling over Hazelwood Rd/Braemar Rd junction. Harrassed by a Carrion Crow and drifted away over Torkington Park.
Cheers John.
Rob Creek said
Sun Nov 19 10:02 AM, 2023
Thurs 16th Nov
- 1 Little Egret in field just after the split at the Rising Sun, en-route to Disley
David Pierce said
Mon Mar 13 11:29 AM, 2023
Two little egrets in the field by the Clarendon/Brinkburn road junction as I drove past just now
paul shaw said
Mon Feb 13 8:38 PM, 2023
Amazed to see 2 Little Egret flying over carpetright in the direction of Poynton at 5.20 this evening.
David Pierce said
Tue Jan 3 12:59 PM, 2023
A little egret in the horse field on Threaphurst Lane along with a flock of redwings and a couple of pied wagtails. A mixed flock of starlings and redwings (in the hundreds I estimate) in the field east of the Middlewood Way where Torkington Lane does a 90 degree turn and a young swan seems to have taken up residence in the small pond opposite the end of Threaphurst. It's been there a few weeks now.
John Rayner said
Thu Dec 29 11:35 AM, 2022
A Little Egret in Torkington Park. Feeding on small flood in field below hall.
There was a GREAT WHITE EGRET this afternoon in a cow pasture between the Racecourse Estate and Hazel Grove Golf Course approach road. Present for at least an hour then flew south.
Cheers, John
Rob Creek said
Fri Jun 10 5:32 PM, 2022
Thurs 9th June
Stuck in traffic on A6 between Royal Oak and Middlewood Way Thursday afternoon. Lesser Whitethroat singing away in the hedgerow.
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 12 11:40 AM, 2022
My first Chiffchaff of the year singing on Middlewood Way.
11th March: 1 Little Egret again in horse field off Threaphurst Lane (but not there this morning)
Cheers, John
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 5 4:35 PM, 2022
Another 2 Little Egrets in the stream by the approach road to Hazel Grove Golf Course. The original 2 are still in the horse field off Threaphurst Lane at 16.30 so 4 in the Hazel Grove area today.
Chers, John.
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 5 2:35 PM, 2022
David Pierce wrote:
Little egret in a muddy horse field next to Threaphurst Lane this morning.
Now 2 Little Egrets in horse field off Threaphurst Lane. Field 200yds on right coming from Torkington Road.
Cheers John
David Pierce said
Sat Mar 5 2:10 PM, 2022
Little egret in a muddy horse field next to Threaphurst Lane this morning.
John Rayner said
Sun Jan 24 4:23 PM, 2021
I had just stepped out of the house for a walk and a Little Egret flew over. About 20 yards off being a garden tick.
2 Ring-necked Parakeets at Torkington Primary School entrance.
Cheers, John.
Mark Shaw said
Mon Jan 18 9:34 PM, 2021
Hello from a new member
Took a walk from Norbury Hollow over the fields back towards the new A555
Nice to see a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a flock of approx 50-75 Redwing
Fountain Pool held 1 Little Grebe and 1 Coot c60 Woodpigeon flock 1 Goldcrest 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Nuthatches 3 Bullfinches 6 Redwings
Cheers John
Ted Ralph said
Tue Jan 12 12:41 PM, 2021
3 x Little Egrets over five ways area this morning at 8am headed towards golf club direction.
-- Edited by Ted Ralph on Tuesday 12th of January 2021 12:41:57 PM
John Rayner said
Mon Jan 11 8:58 AM, 2021
10th Jan
Another walk over Hazel Grove golf course. A big surprise on the small fountain pool was a drake Shoveler. I dont see many of these around my area and this is the first duck, apart from Mallard, that I have ever seen on this pool. A Goldcrest was the next best bird.
On a walk near home flushed a Tawny Owl and a Woodcock.
Cheers John.
John Rayner said
Thu Dec 31 3:57 PM, 2020
A Rough-legged Buzzard was reported yesterday at Doodfield. Location given as Hazel Grove although it is nearer Hawk Green or High Lane.
Anyway, as it is less than a mile from my house I just had to check it out this morning. Fairly meagre number of species seen (no raptors) but the highlight was a flushed Jack Snipe on Hazel Grove Golf Course.
Happy New Year, John
John Rayner said
Mon May 11 5:59 PM, 2020
A new 'exercise' bird today (included under Hazel Grove for list consistency, although it was just over the border at Poynton Pool).
Skimming the water with Swallows were half a dozen House Martins (#54).
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sun May 3 6:02 PM, 2020
First new bird for a while on my walking exercise list. Over some rough ground left by the construction of the A555, at the junction of the A6, a Lapwing appeared to be defending territory against a Carrion Crow. Thats #53.
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 29 6:38 PM, 2020
Very late news for 26th April:
I have omitted to mention a Whitethroat in song on Stockport Golf Course. That's number 52 on the exercise list.
Other birds on the golf courses included 7 Swallows, daily Buzzard sightings (including display), 2-3 pairs of Bullfinches, loads of Chiffchaffs but very few Willow Warblers (and the couple I have seen Soon move on), Nuthatches are always calling and Mandarins seem to have moved in this year.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sat Apr 25 11:52 PM, 2020
Late news for 24th April:
The exercise walk took us onto Stockport Golf Course and then back via Broad Oak Farm, where 3 Swallows chased around. Numerous Chiffchaffs but still no local Willow Warblers, they seem to prefer slightly higher elevations. Best though, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and showed well in a Hawthorn hedge. That's number 51 on my walking from home exercise list.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sun Apr 19 4:02 PM, 2020
#
I should have been on my monthly outing with pals Mark Rigby, Mike Chorley, Karen Foulkes and Mike Ausberger. So we decided to do a virtual trip and pool the sightings from our various regular walks. Mine was the usual walk with Ann over Hazel Grove golf course where, in the heat of the mid-day sun, I totalled a miserable 24 species.
Cheers John.
Oldham Birders virtual trip:
Coal Tit Goldfinch Starling Jackdaw Dunnock Blue Tit Blackbird House Sparrow Robin Nuthatch Great tit Mistle Thrush Carrion Crow Wren Greenfinch Chiffchaff Long-tailed Tit Feral Pigeon Mallard Moorhen Little Grebe Buzzard Stock Dove Pied Wagtail
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 19th of April 2020 07:24:34 PM
John Rayner said
Sat Apr 18 4:36 PM, 2020
The walk today was quite birdy but nothing new. A male Goldcrest was in full open crown display to the female, always spectacular. A pair of Kestrels mated noisily, GSWoodpeckers drummed, lots of Nuthatches and Song Thrushes plus a Stock Dove singing. Also a Little Grebe again, I only see one bird each time now so presume the female is on a nest. A Mandarin flew by and a showy Willow Warbler was at full blast just a few feet overhead..
Cheers John
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of April 2020 05:13:26 PM
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 15 5:17 PM, 2020
We have been doing our daily afternoon walks but nothing new until today, when a pristine-plumaged male Bullfinch alighted in front of me. (#50). We tend to dismiss just how spectacular they are.
Cheers John.
John Rayner said
Mon Apr 13 5:10 PM, 2020
No new birds today but plenty in song. The pick were 7 Song Thrushes. Also 4 Nuthatches, 2 Buzzards, 3 Blackcaps, 2 Jays, numerous Chiffchaffs.
Cheers John.
John Rayner said
Sun Apr 12 5:21 PM, 2020
A Grey Wagtail was feeding in a local brook. That was #49 (I miscounted when reporting my Green Woodpecker)
Cheers, John
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 10 4:11 PM, 2020
Our walk today took us over Stockport Golf Course. A Goldcrest, a pair of displaying Buzzards, 5 Meadow Pipits, 2 Coots and lots of Orange Tips were the highlights. Not sure about the whites I saw. Female Orange Tips or GV Whites? Still no Willow Warbler.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 10th of April 2020 04:12:11 PM
John Rayner said
Thu Apr 9 4:26 PM, 2020
The afternoon walk started pretty low key again. Across Hazel Grove Golf Course and back down the lanes. Best sightings were 3 Greenfinches, Buzzard and another male Mandarin - then I struck gold as a Green Woodpecker flew by (#49). My first local sighting this year. Another Swallow on the way home rounded it off.
Cheers John.
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 8 4:33 PM, 2020
The early afternoon walk over Stockport golf course was quite productive 3 Stock Doves 12 Mipits Singles of Buzzard and Coot.
Then 3 additions to the exercise list: A Goldcrest in a stand of conifers (#45). Walking back through Broad Oak Farm there was a nice Swallow (#46) on the wires, all the way from Africa to find its way onto my list. Finally near home I saw my first Blackcap of the year singing away (#47).
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Tue Apr 7 6:23 PM, 2020
Not a lot going on over HG golf course this afternoon, but a pleasant walk anyway. (Forgot to add 3 Stock Doves from yesterday).
7 singing Chiffchaffs. Singles of Buzzard, Little Grebe, Mistle Thrush, a few Nuthatches calling but the best bird was a Treecreeper.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Mon Apr 6 8:50 PM, 2020
Our walk gave us a total of 11 Chiffchaffs, 9 singing males and a pair in silent courtship display. Best of the rest was Little Grebe and male Mandarin. Walking off the GC and back down the lane I flushed a male Pheasant (#44) behind me at very close range, scared the bejazus out of me.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 6th of April 2020 08:55:21 PM
andrew chapman said
Mon Apr 6 7:13 PM, 2020
06.04.20 16:40 - Swallow sat on telegraph wire on the A6 near the Middlewood trail lifted the spirits driving home from work.
My first this year, we can always rely on birds to keep our pecker up during lockdown I guess.
Andy
-- Edited by andrew chapman on Monday 6th of April 2020 07:31:47 PM
John Rayner said
Sun Apr 5 8:51 PM, 2020
On the whole our walk today was quiet. Wrong time of day really, from 14.10-15.20.
A Mandarin flew across the GC and at a farm fishing pond were a lovely pair of Canada Geese (#43). (Now theres a string of words I never thought I would write). But it represented #43 on the Lockdown Exercise List.
If the numpties continue to flout the guidelines this list may soon become redundant
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 5th of April 2020 08:52:40 PM
John Rayner said
Sat Apr 4 4:49 PM, 2020
Another day, another walk, another new bird for the exercise list.
Meadow Pipit (#42) Also: 7 singing Chiffchaffs
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 3 4:43 PM, 2020
Same circuit as yesterday down Torkington Rd - Threaphurt Lane - Hazel Grove Golf Course produced a couple of new birds for the exercise list.
3 Herring Gulls feeding in a pasture (40). A small flock of foraging Starlings had in attendance a Song Thrush collecting food for young (41)
Also: 5 singing Chiffchaffs 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (2pairs)
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Thu Apr 2 11:37 PM, 2020
2nd April: Approx 21.20-22.00.
Another spell in the garden with fleece and brew. What sounded like a single Common Scoter flew over calling at 21.35.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Thu Apr 2 4:50 PM, 2020
2nd April:
Our walk this afternoon took us down Torkington Road and Threaphurst Lane before turning onto Hazel Grove Golf Course. Much the same species as yesterday but I was pleased to see 4 Redwings (#39) with a Mistle Thrush in a horse field. An addition to my 'Exercise List'.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 1 10:22 PM, 2020
After Ian's Manchester Birding 'of interest' Alert I went into the garden and within a few minutes heard a small flock of Common Scoter giving their distinctive 'pew' calls.
Cheers John.
John Rayner said
Wed Apr 1 9:43 PM, 2020
1st April: We have been out for about a 1 hour's constitutional each afternoon. Walking from home and easily dodging people, either over Hazel Grove or Stockport Golf Courses. Today it was over HGGC and I logged a total of 23 species. Nothing special but most notable were...
A pair of Mandarins on the lawn of the house on the corner of Threaphurst Lane 2 Little Grebes on the fountain pond 4 Mistle Thrushes 2 singing Chiffchaffs 3 Nuthatches, a Buzzard circling low and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sun Mar 29 4:00 PM, 2020
29th March. Usual route over Hazel Grove Golf Course:
3 Singing Chiffchaffs 3 Buzzards in the air together 2 Chaffinches 1 Kestrel hunting 2 Nuthatches 2 Mistle Thrushes
New for the patch lock down list 36. Chaffinch 37. Kestrel
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 29th of March 2020 04:36:05 PM
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 28 5:03 PM, 2020
Walked a different circuit today around Stockport Golf Club on my exercise outing. Best bits were 2 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards, 2 or 3 singing Chiffchaffs and a few LBB Gulls circling. Mallards and a pair of Goosanders were on the moat at Broadoak Farm (and a feral pigeon for the list. Glad I've got that out if the way )
33. Mallard 34. Goosander 35. Feral Pigeon
John Rayner said
Fri Mar 27 6:02 PM, 2020
The usual circuit over the golf course this afternoon. I found a pair of Mandarins in a tiny brook then another single male, then yet another male on a golf course pool. A Jay perched up nicely and 2 Buzzards circled overhead. Watched a Great Spot drumming away and a total of 4 singing Chiffchaff today.
31. Jay 32. Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 27th of March 2020 06:05:59 PM
Cheers, John
Cheers, John
Four goosanders (2m, 2f) in the pond opposite the northern end of Threaphurst Lane at mid-day.
Cheers John.
- 1 Little Egret in field just after the split at the Rising Sun, en-route to Disley
Two little egrets in the field by the Clarendon/Brinkburn road junction as I drove past just now
A little egret in the horse field on Threaphurst Lane along with a flock of redwings and a couple of pied wagtails. A mixed flock of starlings and redwings (in the hundreds I estimate) in the field east of the Middlewood Way where Torkington Lane does a 90 degree turn and a young swan seems to have taken up residence in the small pond opposite the end of Threaphurst. It's been there a few weeks now.
Cheers, John
Stuck in traffic on A6 between Royal Oak and Middlewood Way Thursday afternoon.
Lesser Whitethroat singing away in the hedgerow.
11th March: 1 Little Egret again in horse field off Threaphurst Lane (but not there this morning)
Cheers, John
Chers, John.
Now 2 Little Egrets in horse field off Threaphurst Lane. Field 200yds on right coming from Torkington Road.
Cheers John
Little egret in a muddy horse field next to Threaphurst Lane this morning.
2 Ring-necked Parakeets at Torkington Primary School entrance.
Cheers, John.
Hello from a new member
Took a walk from Norbury Hollow over the fields back towards the new A555
Nice to see a pair of Mistle Thrushes and a flock of approx 50-75 Redwing
Hazel Grove golf course (again) in freezing fog.
1 Woodcock flushed
5 Mandarin (2m, 3f)
1 Goosander over
2 Goldcrests
3 Bullfinches
6 Long-tailed Tits
The frost provided some excellent photographic opportunities with the heavily frosted spiders webs the most impressive.
Cheers John
Jay 6
Moorhen 7
Coot 1
LBB Gull 23 (single flock NW)
Jackdaw c400 (single flock SW)
Nuthatch 1
Cheers John.
Fountain Pool held 1 Little Grebe and 1 Coot
c60 Woodpigeon flock
1 Goldcrest
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Nuthatches
3 Bullfinches
6 Redwings
Cheers John
3 x Little Egrets over five ways area this morning at 8am headed towards golf club direction.
-- Edited by Ted Ralph on Tuesday 12th of January 2021 12:41:57 PM
Another walk over Hazel Grove golf course. A big surprise on the small fountain pool was a drake Shoveler. I dont see many of these around my area and this is the first duck, apart from Mallard, that I have ever seen on this pool. A Goldcrest was the next best bird.
Cheers, John
Little Egret - flew up from the stream by the approach road (Occupiers Lane?) into a nearby tree.
Tawny Owl - off footpath near railway tunnels mobbed by Magpies and Jays. Some way away from the bird seen on the 5th and presumed a second bird.
Grey Heron on fountain pool had half the upper mandible broken off
Attached photo taken with a shakily held phone up to 8x binoculars.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Saturday 9th of January 2021 06:08:20 PM
On a walk near home flushed a Tawny Owl and a Woodcock.
Cheers John.
Anyway, as it is less than a mile from my house I just had to check it out this morning. Fairly meagre number of species seen (no raptors) but the highlight was a flushed Jack Snipe on Hazel Grove Golf Course.
Happy New Year, John
Skimming the water with Swallows were half a dozen House Martins (#54).
Cheers John
I have omitted to mention a Whitethroat in song on Stockport Golf Course. That's number 52 on the exercise list.
Other birds on the golf courses included 7 Swallows, daily Buzzard sightings (including display), 2-3 pairs of Bullfinches, loads of Chiffchaffs but very few Willow Warblers (and the couple I have seen Soon move on), Nuthatches are always calling and Mandarins seem to have moved in this year.
Cheers John
The exercise walk took us onto Stockport Golf Course and then back via Broad Oak Farm, where 3 Swallows chased around. Numerous Chiffchaffs but still no local Willow Warblers, they seem to prefer slightly higher elevations. Best though, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and showed well in a Hawthorn hedge. That's number 51 on my walking from home exercise list.
Cheers John
I should have been on my monthly outing with pals Mark Rigby, Mike Chorley, Karen Foulkes and Mike Ausberger. So we decided to do a virtual trip and pool the sightings from our various regular walks. Mine was the usual walk with Ann over Hazel Grove golf course where, in the heat of the mid-day sun, I totalled a miserable 24 species.
Cheers John.
Oldham Birders virtual trip:
Coal Tit
Goldfinch
Starling
Jackdaw
Dunnock
Blue Tit
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Robin
Nuthatch
Great tit
Mistle Thrush
Carrion Crow
Wren
Greenfinch
Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit
Feral Pigeon
Mallard
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Buzzard
Stock Dove
Pied Wagtail
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 19th of April 2020 07:24:34 PM
The walk today was quite birdy but nothing new. A male Goldcrest was in full open crown display to the female, always spectacular. A pair of Kestrels mated noisily, GSWoodpeckers drummed, lots of Nuthatches and Song Thrushes plus a Stock Dove singing. Also a Little Grebe again, I only see one bird each time now so presume the female is on a nest. A Mandarin flew by and a showy Willow Warbler was at full blast just a few feet overhead..
Cheers John
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of April 2020 05:13:26 PM
Cheers John.
Cheers, John
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 10th of April 2020 04:12:11 PM
Cheers John.
3 Stock Doves
12 Mipits
Singles of Buzzard and Coot.
Then 3 additions to the exercise list:
A Goldcrest in a stand of conifers (#45).
Walking back through Broad Oak Farm there was a nice Swallow (#46) on the wires, all the way from Africa to find its way onto my list.
Finally near home I saw my first Blackcap of the year singing away (#47).
Cheers John
Not a lot going on over HG golf course this afternoon, but a pleasant walk anyway. (Forgot to add 3 Stock Doves from yesterday).
7 singing Chiffchaffs. Singles of Buzzard, Little Grebe, Mistle Thrush, a few Nuthatches calling but the best bird was a Treecreeper.
Cheers John
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 6th of April 2020 08:55:21 PM
06.04.20 16:40 - Swallow sat on telegraph wire on the A6 near the Middlewood trail lifted the spirits driving home from work.
My first this year, we can always rely on birds to keep our pecker up during lockdown I guess.
Andy
-- Edited by andrew chapman on Monday 6th of April 2020 07:31:47 PM
On the whole our walk today was quiet. Wrong time of day really, from 14.10-15.20.
A Mandarin flew across the GC and at a farm fishing pond were a lovely pair of Canada Geese (#43). (Now theres a string of words I never thought I would write). But it represented #43 on the Lockdown Exercise List.
If the numpties continue to flout the guidelines this list may soon become redundant
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 5th of April 2020 08:52:40 PM
Meadow Pipit (#42)
Also: 7 singing Chiffchaffs
Cheers John
3 Herring Gulls feeding in a pasture (40).
A small flock of foraging Starlings had in attendance a Song Thrush collecting food for young (41)
Also:
5 singing Chiffchaffs
4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (2pairs)
Cheers John
Another spell in the garden with fleece and brew. What sounded like a single Common Scoter flew over calling at 21.35.
Cheers John
Our walk this afternoon took us down Torkington Road and Threaphurst Lane before turning onto Hazel Grove Golf Course.
Much the same species as yesterday but I was pleased to see 4 Redwings (#39) with a Mistle Thrush in a horse field. An addition to my 'Exercise List'.
Cheers John
Cheers John.
A pair of Mandarins on the lawn of the house on the corner of Threaphurst Lane
2 Little Grebes on the fountain pond
4 Mistle Thrushes
2 singing Chiffchaffs
3 Nuthatches, a Buzzard circling low and Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Cheers John
3 Singing Chiffchaffs
3 Buzzards in the air together
2 Chaffinches
1 Kestrel hunting
2 Nuthatches
2 Mistle Thrushes
New for the patch lock down list
36. Chaffinch
37. Kestrel
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 29th of March 2020 04:36:05 PM
Best bits were 2 Stock Doves, 2 Buzzards, 2 or 3 singing Chiffchaffs and a few LBB Gulls circling. Mallards and a pair of Goosanders were on the moat at Broadoak Farm (and a feral pigeon for the list. Glad I've got that out if the way )
33. Mallard
34. Goosander
35. Feral Pigeon
31. Jay
32. Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Cheers John.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Friday 27th of March 2020 06:05:59 PM