On and around my Stretford backyard feeders. Yesterday (Sunday 28.08.22). Hardly anything at all throughout the day except one or two juvenile Goldfinch, until 17:30 then, Goldfinch - 47. Greenfinch - 1.
Today at 07:15 . Goldfinch - c 84 (counted 64 as they flew in then about another 20 dropped in).
Forgot to mention that recently fledged young were being fed by parents on both days.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 29th of August 2022 01:32:50 PM
Lez Fairclough said
Sun Aug 28 11:03 PM, 2022
At 2pm yesterday from my Leigh back garden there were 4 Buzzards high above, 2 Juvenile Peregrines chasing one another & across the Bridgewater Canal a Kestrel hunting.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 28 10:08 PM, 2022
Two Hobby flew in from the north over my Astley garden at 3:45 today. They remained for just over 10 minutes putting on a great show circling and actively hunting over the fields and area over Morley’s Hall before heading off south.
The Long-tailed Tit flock moved through the garden on a couple of occasions, still numbering high teens and now also carrying at least 3 Coal Tits and Chiffchaff.
phillipskelly said
Sat Aug 27 12:55 PM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders at 06:30 - 07:00 this morning. Goldfinch - 47 largest count , then smaller numbers of between 20 and 30 birds. Blue -tit - 2. Plus lots of ferral pigeons below the feeders until 07:00 when everything disappeard suddenly and didn't reappear.
Lez Fairclough said
Wed Aug 24 10:09 PM, 2022
A big surprise this afternoon was a Kingfisher that sped through the rear of the garden heading towards Bedford Brook.
Also 2 Ravens cronking high over mid afternoon, but no sightings for over 2 weeks now of the Ring-Neck Parakeet.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 23 7:57 PM, 2022
Willow Tit through my Astley garden this afternoon, with a large Long-tailed Tit flock.
Steven Nelson said
Sat Aug 20 10:39 AM, 2022
2 noisy Ravens low over my Irlam garden just now heading SW
pete berry said
Fri Aug 19 4:39 PM, 2022
Just sat in back garden enjoying a brew and an adult Hobby slowly flew over the garden,looked to be in hunting mode.
phillipskelly said
Fri Aug 19 3:47 PM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders at 06:30
Goldfinch - 36 including a recently fledged youngster being fed above the feeders on the BT wires.
I've also noticed quite a few juveniles at the feeders showing a little Black around the head with others showing a Orange/Red colour on the Forehead (but not both colours together).
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 19th of August 2022 03:48:32 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 16 7:55 PM, 2022
A total of 86 House Sparrows very noisily came into roost in the large bamboo in my Astley garden from 18:45 to 19:10 this evening, a new highest count!
phillipskelly said
Tue Aug 16 9:36 AM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders:
Monday (cooler). Goldfinch - 17 max. (there's been only one or two birds, mainly juveniles visiting the feeders since the hot weather began ).
Today (even cooler) at 6:40 - 7:10am. Goldfinch - c40 max. plus smaller charms of 10's and 20's. Lesser Black-back gull - 4 over. Blue -tit - 2 adult. Cormorant - 1 in the distance from the Quays. Plus a possible Sparrowhawk about as all the pigeons/goldfinch launched into the sky and disapeard for a while.
fredford said
Mon Aug 15 7:37 PM, 2022
Bury . Apols . Post , below , should have been spotted flycatcher.....
fredford said
Mon Aug 15 11:03 AM, 2022
Bury . In the night , Tawny landed right in front of the wildlife camera and looked directly into it whilst it pecked at something on the ground . Disappeared in twenty seconds . No clues remained . Just now two juvenile pied flycatchers had a very busy ten minutes around the dead cedar , constantly harried by goldfinch and tits . Off they went....
Steven Nelson said
Sun Aug 14 6:40 PM, 2022
Hobby circling over my Irlam garden this early evening
Richard Thew said
Sun Aug 14 3:48 PM, 2022
I could only spend limited time in my Radcliffe garden yesterday evening, but I timed well.
I heard a commotion with the House martins overhead and when I looked up, a hobby flew towards them at speed. The chase was only brief, but this is now a garden first for me, even though it was not actually in the garden so to speak, but directly above.
Other news: We've had another successful brood of Robins breeding in our garden last month, and we currently have young dunnocks that their parents have brought in. The sparrows have also done well, as they seem to reside in the garden most of the time now, getting tamer each year!
Ta!
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Aug 11 6:18 PM, 2022
A Nuthatch has been around in recent days.
Yesterday I heard a Lesser Black-backed Gull calling in an alarmed manner. On investigation a Buzzard was soaring at low altitude. I watched it fly south pursued by the Gull.
phillipskelly said
Thu Aug 11 11:54 AM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders at 6am.
Goldfinch - 30 max. including lots of juveniles, a couple being fed.
On our road three doors down were 4 Lesser Black-back gulls causing a right old racket, squabbling over some dropped food. They were followed by a Magpie and several pigeons,all after the crumbs.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Aug 9 7:58 PM, 2022
Adult Common Gull over my Irlam garden this evening
phillipskelly said
Tue Aug 9 11:59 AM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders at 06:30. Goldfinch - c40 inc. lots of juveniles, one of which was showing a "darkish" head pattern while other juv's were being fed. (At 11:30 no birds and not much seed eaten). Dunnock - 1 picking up bits of sunflower hearts. Starlings - 1 over. Lesser Black-back gull - 2 over.
Lez Fairclough said
Mon Aug 8 10:48 PM, 2022
Around midday about 50 Starlings mostly juveniles constantly swaying & circling above then dropping into bushes to the right rear of the garden - as if they were practicing for the autumn murmurations!
7 Ring-necked Parakeet over our Openshaw garden, South at 7:10pm
Steven Nelson said
Mon Aug 1 11:32 AM, 2022
4 Ravens just flew NW over my Irlam garden
fredford said
Sun Jul 31 8:49 PM, 2022
Report on past two weeks . Bury . Simultaneous fldging of two clutches of wrens , from opposite ends of the garden . Busybusy . Two juvenile , great spotted woodpeckers on the feeders . Second or third tranche of goldfinches and blue tits . Song thrush singing his heart out , so perhaps second clutch . First sight of herring gull landing , very briefly . Handful of greenfinch . Highlight is a squadron of happy , chirpin , quarrelin house sparrows , who visit , every day ! No idea where they nest but a welcome addition to the garden .
steven burke said
Sat Jul 30 6:40 PM, 2022
1 adult goldcrest feeding a juvenile in my old Trafford garden early afternoon whilst doing a bit of gardening, both so close to me that I could of reached out & touched them, very nice 1 Swallow over
phillipskelly said
Sat Jul 30 12:38 PM, 2022
Yesterday morning at 6:30am on and above (BT wires) my Stretford backyard feeders :
Goldfinch - 47 ( at one time, inc. quite a few juveniles). Greenfinch - 4 (1 adult+1juv both left then 2 other juveniles turned up). Dunnock - 2 juv seperate sightings , but my neighbour has also seen 2 juv together. Lesser Black-back gull - 6 over. Magpie - 2.
At 5:40pm. Goldfinch - c40.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Jul 29 8:39 PM, 2022
One, and almost certainly two chiffchaffs visited my garden with the tit flock this evening. Goodbye Summer.
steven burke said
Fri Jul 29 12:08 PM, 2022
A hobby again over my old Trafford garden this morning at 10 am, whizzed through at first then came back circling overhead with a prey item, eventually drifted off north west towards Salford quays. Not the best photos attached
Stretford backyard feeders at 8am. Goldfinch - 29 inc. lots of young. Greenfinch - 1 juvenile again.
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Mon Jul 25 9:50 AM, 2022
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeet, over my Openshaw garden at 09:41 this am heading West
Lez Fairclough said
Sat Jul 23 11:32 PM, 2022
After a 4 month absence (probably due to the breeding season) the 2 Ravens re-appeared on Leigh Spinners Mill today with their usual cronking & milling around.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 23 9:05 AM, 2022
originally posted today by Barry Brett:
Cumberland Rd Urmston.7.30 am opened curtains to be greeted by Red Kite circling over houses opposite for good 10 minutes.
phillipskelly said
Fri Jul 22 11:49 AM, 2022
This morning from 6:45 to 7:45 am ,on and around my Stretford backyard feeders.
Goldfinch - 46 (on the BT wires above feeders). Greenfinch - 2 ( 1ad +1juv) at 7:30am. Carrion crow. - 5 nearby. Lesser Black-back gull - 5 over. Cormorant - 1 distant. Lots of ferral pigeons as usual under the feeders.
phillipskelly said
Thu Jul 21 11:49 AM, 2022
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders this morning at 6am. Cold and overcast.
Goldfinch - 30+ (only been getting around 10 since the hot weather). At 6:30am I was refilling the feeders , when I looked up I saw 45 Goldfinch above me on the telephone wires ! I watched the flock go and return several times but it never got to 45 again just 20's or 30's up to 7am. There were always juveniles in the flock including 3 that were pestering a single parent for food. I've also noticed lately that some juvenile Goldfinch are starting to " colour up" around the eyes now. Other birds seen were -
Cormorant - 1 over (probably from Salford Quays). Lesser Black-back gull 6 . Wood pigeon - 1 nearby. And on two occasions this month there's been a adult Greenfinch and a juvenile Great tit turning up together with the Goldfinches , both site rarities.
pete berry said
Tue Jul 19 8:01 PM, 2022
A calling Curlew flying over the garden tonight,also a party of 8 juvenile Swallows,hopefully the result of successful breeding from the nearby farm. 3 House Martins over and several Swifts feeding above the trees at bottom of garden.
paul shaw said
Mon Jul 18 9:54 PM, 2022
The local birds to my Bredbury garden seem to have had a good breeding season, in the last month I have seen 13 different species of juvenile bird coming to my garden feeders including Blue, Great and Coal tit, Robin , Dunnock, Goldfinch, Starling, Blackbird, Magpie, Great Spotted Woodpecker House Sparrow, Collarded Dove and Goldcrest, most of them with their parents feeding them apart from the Collarded Dove and Goldcrest, also heard juvenile Tawny Owls but not managed to see any yet.
Steven Nelson said
Sun Jul 17 10:27 PM, 2022
A Tawny Owl has just flown over my Irlam garden
steven burke said
Sat Jul 16 8:56 PM, 2022
Hobby over my old Trafford garden this evening from 7.55pm lingered around for a good 8 minutes getting some grief from the local Swifts, eventually drifed off over chorlton.
A vocal Willow Tit moved along the hedge at the end of the garden in Tyldesley this morning
Samglennie said
Sat Jul 16 12:57 AM, 2022
Whilst at a friends garden in stretford/chorlton, a peregrine falcon flew over NW towards firswood tramstop. Must be the same bird that i saw in area on monday
Lez Fairclough said
Wed Jul 13 12:41 AM, 2022
Just after midnight 13th July a very loud Tawny Owl calling to a juvenile from next door neighbours TV aerial with the juvenile
returning a 'scratchy' begging call - a very enjoyable 20 minutes for me, but equally frustrating time for anyone trying to sleep
in these sultry conditions if they've got their windows open!
Samglennie said
Mon Jul 11 9:46 PM, 2022
Peregrine falcon flew NW over my old trafford garden at 21:38 (garden tick!). Also female sparrowhawk yesterday
pete berry said
Sun Jul 10 2:23 PM, 2022
Adult Mediterranean Gull low over the garden this afternoon, and yesterday a Common Tern over the garden heading towards the canal. A few Swifts drifting about and 3 Swallows feeding over the trees at the bottom of the garden were the only other birds of note.
pete berry said
Thu Jun 23 7:18 PM, 2022
2 Oystercatchers over the garden this evening.
Lez Fairclough said
Sat Jun 11 6:54 PM, 2022
Hall House Woods, Leigh.
Nice to hear a Cuckoo from my back garden briefly calling in the nearby woods at midday today.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Saturday 11th of June 2022 06:56:15 PM
pete berry said
Fri Jun 10 7:59 PM, 2022
A very obliging Sparrowhawk landed on next doors greenhouse, picture taken on my phone it was so close.
A few year ticks for the garden in the last few days up near Gorse Hall, Dukinfield.
Siskin pair, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Collared Dove.
Young Bullfinch, Coal Tit and Nuthatch also adding to the enjoyment.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 7 9:27 PM, 2022
Originally posted on June 6th by Geoff Butler:
One of the better features of the nearby academy is the large part of the grounds which was left uncultivated, planted with trees and shrubs and borders our Harwood Bolton garden This has led to a large increase in the number of bird species both resident and transitory visiting the garden. This year we have recorded 27 different species Starling, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Jay, Wren, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Blackcap, Siskin, Robin, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon and hope there will be more. Of special note at present - a male Blackcap, which has been visiting our fat ball feeder for some time, this morning unusually left with a beak full of fat so hopefully it has found a mate and our pair of resident Tawny Owls which are becoming easier to see and photograph due to the lighter evenings. The male is rufous whilst the female is more chocolate and grey.
Rob Thorpe said
Mon Jun 6 4:57 PM, 2022
90+ Swift overhead at 13:20
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 6th of June 2022 04:59:05 PM
Yesterday (Sunday 28.08.22).
Hardly anything at all throughout the day except one or two juvenile Goldfinch, until 17:30 then,
Goldfinch - 47.
Greenfinch - 1.
Today at 07:15 .
Goldfinch - c 84 (counted 64 as they flew in then about another 20 dropped in). Forgot to mention that recently fledged young were being fed by parents on both days.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Monday 29th of August 2022 01:32:50 PM
At 2pm yesterday from my Leigh back garden there were 4 Buzzards high above, 2 Juvenile Peregrines chasing one another & across the Bridgewater Canal a Kestrel hunting.
Two Hobby flew in from the north over my Astley garden at 3:45 today. They remained for just over 10 minutes putting on a great show circling and actively hunting over the fields and area over Morley’s Hall before heading off south.
The Long-tailed Tit flock moved through the garden on a couple of occasions, still numbering high teens and now also carrying at least 3 Coal Tits and Chiffchaff.
Goldfinch - 47 largest count , then smaller numbers of between 20 and 30 birds.
Blue -tit - 2.
Plus lots of ferral pigeons below the feeders until 07:00 when everything disappeard suddenly and didn't reappear.
A big surprise this afternoon was a Kingfisher that sped through the rear of the garden heading towards Bedford Brook.
Also 2 Ravens cronking high over mid afternoon, but no sightings for over 2 weeks now of the Ring-Neck Parakeet.
Willow Tit through my Astley garden this afternoon, with a large Long-tailed Tit flock.
Goldfinch - 36 including a recently fledged youngster being fed above the feeders on the BT wires.
I've also noticed quite a few juveniles at the feeders showing a little Black around the head with others showing a Orange/Red colour on the Forehead (but not both colours together).
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Friday 19th of August 2022 03:48:32 PM
A total of 86 House Sparrows very noisily came into roost in the large bamboo in my Astley garden from 18:45 to 19:10 this evening, a new highest count!
Monday (cooler).
Goldfinch - 17 max. (there's been only one or two birds, mainly juveniles visiting the feeders since the hot weather began ).
Today (even cooler) at 6:40 - 7:10am.
Goldfinch - c40 max. plus smaller charms of 10's and 20's.
Lesser Black-back gull - 4 over.
Blue -tit - 2 adult.
Cormorant - 1 in the distance from the Quays.
Plus a possible Sparrowhawk about as all the pigeons/goldfinch launched into the sky and disapeard for a while.
Bury . In the night , Tawny landed right in front of the wildlife camera and looked directly into it whilst it pecked at something on the ground . Disappeared in twenty seconds . No clues remained .
Just now two juvenile pied flycatchers had a very busy ten minutes around the dead cedar , constantly harried by goldfinch and tits . Off they went....
I heard a commotion with the House martins overhead and when I looked up, a hobby flew towards them at speed. The chase was only brief, but this is now a garden first for me, even though it was not actually in the garden so to speak, but directly above.
Other news: We've had another successful brood of Robins breeding in our garden last month, and we currently have young dunnocks that their parents have brought in. The sparrows have also done well, as they seem to reside in the garden most of the time now, getting tamer each year!
Ta!
Yesterday I heard a Lesser Black-backed Gull calling in an alarmed manner. On investigation a Buzzard was soaring at low altitude. I watched it fly south pursued by the Gull.
Goldfinch - 30 max. including lots of juveniles, a couple being fed.
On our road three doors down were 4 Lesser Black-back gulls causing a right old racket, squabbling over some dropped food. They were followed by a Magpie and several pigeons,all after the crumbs.
Goldfinch - c40 inc. lots of juveniles, one of which was showing a "darkish" head pattern while other juv's were being fed.
(At 11:30 no birds and not much seed eaten).
Dunnock - 1 picking up bits of sunflower hearts.
Starlings - 1 over.
Lesser Black-back gull - 2 over.
Around midday about 50 Starlings mostly juveniles constantly swaying & circling above then dropping into bushes to the right rear of the garden - as if they were practicing for the autumn murmurations!
7 Ring-necked Parakeet over our Openshaw garden, South at 7:10pm
Highlight is a squadron of happy , chirpin , quarrelin house sparrows , who visit , every day ! No idea where they nest but a welcome addition to the garden .
1 Swallow over
Goldfinch - 47 ( at one time, inc. quite a few juveniles).
Greenfinch - 4 (1 adult+1juv both left then 2 other juveniles turned up).
Dunnock - 2 juv seperate sightings , but my neighbour has also seen 2 juv together.
Lesser Black-back gull - 6 over.
Magpie - 2.
At 5:40pm.
Goldfinch - c40.
One, and almost certainly two chiffchaffs visited my garden with the tit flock this evening. Goodbye Summer.
Not the best photos attached
Goldfinch - 29 inc. lots of young.
Greenfinch - 1 juvenile again.
A pair of Ring-necked Parakeet, over my Openshaw garden at 09:41 this am heading West
After a 4 month absence (probably due to the breeding season) the 2 Ravens re-appeared on Leigh Spinners Mill today with their usual cronking & milling around.
originally posted today by Barry Brett:
Cumberland Rd Urmston.7.30 am opened curtains to be greeted by Red Kite circling over houses opposite for good 10 minutes.
Goldfinch - 46 (on the BT wires above feeders).
Greenfinch - 2 ( 1ad +1juv) at 7:30am.
Carrion crow. - 5 nearby.
Lesser Black-back gull - 5 over.
Cormorant - 1 distant.
Lots of ferral pigeons as usual under the feeders.
Cold and overcast.
Goldfinch - 30+ (only been getting around 10 since the hot weather).
At 6:30am I was refilling the feeders , when I looked up I saw 45 Goldfinch above me on the telephone wires !
I watched the flock go and return several times but it never got to 45 again just 20's or 30's up to 7am.
There were always juveniles in the flock including 3 that were pestering a single parent for food.
I've also noticed lately that some juvenile Goldfinch are starting to " colour up" around the eyes now.
Other birds seen were -
Cormorant - 1 over (probably from Salford Quays).
Lesser Black-back gull 6 .
Wood pigeon - 1 nearby.
And on two occasions this month there's been a adult Greenfinch and a juvenile Great tit turning up
together with the Goldfinches , both site rarities.
Whilst at a friends garden in stretford/chorlton, a peregrine falcon flew over NW towards firswood tramstop. Must be the same bird that i saw in area on monday
Just after midnight 13th July a very loud Tawny Owl calling to a juvenile from next door neighbours TV aerial with the juvenile
returning a 'scratchy' begging call - a very enjoyable 20 minutes for me, but equally frustrating time for anyone trying to sleep
in these sultry conditions if they've got their windows open!
Peregrine falcon flew NW over my old trafford garden at 21:38 (garden tick!). Also female sparrowhawk yesterday
Hall House Woods, Leigh.
Nice to hear a Cuckoo from my back garden briefly calling in the nearby woods at midday today.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Saturday 11th of June 2022 06:56:15 PM
A few year ticks for the garden in the last few days up near Gorse Hall, Dukinfield.
Siskin pair, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Collared Dove.
Young Bullfinch, Coal Tit and Nuthatch also adding to the enjoyment.
Originally posted on June 6th by Geoff Butler:
One of the better features of the nearby academy is the large part of the grounds which was left uncultivated, planted with trees and shrubs and borders our Harwood Bolton garden This has led to a large increase in the number of bird species both resident and transitory visiting the garden. This year we have recorded 27 different species Starling, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, House Sparrow, Dunnock, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Jay, Wren, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Tawny Owl, Chiffchaff, Carrion Crow, Blackcap, Siskin, Robin, Long tailed Tit, Magpie, Collared Dove, Wood Pigeon and hope there will be more. Of special note at present - a male Blackcap, which has been visiting our fat ball feeder for some time, this morning unusually left with a beak full of fat so hopefully it has found a mate and our pair of resident Tawny Owls which are becoming easier to see and photograph due to the lighter evenings. The male is rufous whilst the female is more chocolate and grey.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 6th of June 2022 04:59:05 PM
6 Swift over @09:37