A leucistic blackbird in a garden today where I was working, been there for two years apparently,
Rob Creek said
Thu May 5 7:33 PM, 2016
- Male Blackcap singing and then showing briefly this morning around 9ish (and last night around 6pm) in the bushes lining our works yard railings in Reddish.
Also last night... - Willow Warbler 1 singing and moving around - Chiffchaff 1 same circumstances - Robin 1 - Dunnock 1
Scott robinson said
Thu May 5 5:30 PM, 2016
Common Tern on Canal just after Leigh Bridge going towards Mather Lane fishing.
Scott robinson said
Wed May 4 1:35 PM, 2016
Two House Martin back on territory around Clifton Street, Leigh.
Nick Hilton said
Sat Apr 30 8:46 AM, 2016
Ring Necked Parakeet flying over Dane Road, Sale at 0730 this morning.
A Wheatear and singing Skylark in the field behind the nursery on Bradley Lane (Jct 7 M60, Sale) at 0800.
Doc Brewster said
Thu Apr 28 9:41 AM, 2016
Andy Isherwood wrote:
Strange sight this morning of a cockatiel mobbing an imm Lesser Black Backed Gull for about a mile along the East lancs between Mossley Common and Ellenbrook. It then turned back and headed from where it came!
Road Rage
Interesting observation though, I have seen several Cockatiels in the wild in the past, used to see the occasional Budgerigar too but not so much recently.
Andy Isherwood said
Thu Apr 28 9:01 AM, 2016
Strange sight this morning of a cockatiel mobbing an imm Lesser Black Backed Gull for about a mile along the East lancs between Mossley Common and Ellenbrook. It then turned back and headed from where it came!
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Thu Apr 28 7:05 AM, 2016
Male Mallard on Hyde Rd Gorton next to the butterfly Garden, lying down in the snow.
Adam Jones said
Wed Apr 27 11:58 AM, 2016
Cheadle Hulme station this morning:
Singing birds included: Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Wren. Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail also in attendance.
Kristian Wade said
Fri Apr 22 6:01 PM, 2016
Flooded fields off Engine Lane near Tyldesley today:
bolton house road horse fields at bickershaw,- 50+ wood pigeon, 30+ starling, 4 pied wagtail and 2 blackbird all feeding in horse field.
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 11 8:14 PM, 2016
On break in the wagon when a Swallow came gliding lazily over the works yard in Reddish approx 2.30pm this afternoon. It seemed to have long tail streamers, and it's flight habit too had me reaching for my bins but it was definitely just a Swallow!
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sat Apr 9 10:13 PM, 2016
One of those brilliant birding moments on the patch I watch around Knott / Crime Lanes outside of Ashton this afternoon; had a beautiful front on view of a male sparrowhawk perched up watching a patch of field behind me, when I heard a psip! from behind me, looked, and around 30 meadow pipit had risen together out of the grass; sparrowhawk shot over my shoulder into their midst, where it was promptly thwarted by a tumbling lapwing. Fabulous action.
Also around the same area, 2 lesser redpoll, 1 swallow, several displaying lapwing and a single snipe.
Dennis atherton said
Sat Apr 9 5:24 PM, 2016
Sat in my mum's making a cuppa in Atherton watching the Goldfinch feeding and a male Redstart dropped in for a minute. Brilliant
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 9th of April 2016 05:26:10 PM
Scott robinson said
Sun Apr 3 10:46 AM, 2016
Late post for yesterday teatime,
Sparrowhawk plucking kill in field just after Worsley Garden Centre turn off.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Thu Mar 31 7:13 PM, 2016
Sparrowhawk flying low and slow over my Chorlton back yard; heading SW.
Put up two feeders from my backyard on monday into the street tree , Burliegh rd , Stretford (I'll have to take any flack chucked my way because I couldn't stand hardly any birds is singing on the road). Today's sightings (Tues) - Great Tit 2 . Blue Tit 2 . Chaffinch 1 m . frequently dropping down through the beech hedge to feed on the ground . Blackbird 2 m,f . on the ground. Goldfinch 10. Greenfinch 3. Robin 1 . And a squirrel curled up in the tree in St . Peters crt. got a poke ! On my backyard feeders - Goldfinch 11.
David Walsh said
Mon Mar 28 11:29 PM, 2016
A couple of leucistic Jackdaws today:
3.15pm - one of the Stalybridge regulars, with white primaries on either wing, at Copley service station, Huddersfield Road.
6.30pm - one flying over Manchester Road, Chorlton, with white feathering to its body, seen when I was leaving the Marble Beer House. Come to think of it, I could have started a new thread this weekend - "Birds seen or heard on entering or leaving pubs"
phillipskelly said
Sat Mar 26 5:31 PM, 2016
Goldfinch and Greenfinch were still turning up on Thursday in the tree where the feeders used to be at Burleigh rd. Stretford. With no food available for them , I decided to put up 3 feeders (taken from my backyard )outside the front window of my terraced house and hoped they might recognise them and come across the road and use them. By Saturday no takers, (but some were using a feeder rigged up in my backyard since Thursday) so I put the feeders back in the yard. Still annoyed , I placed some seed in the fork of the original street tree and they were straight on it. A neighbour saw this and he put up a feeder in the same tree overhanging the road so the seed won't fall on the pavement. Unfortunately the Pigeon clean-up crew will end up getting squashed....He said he'll move it later. Birds seen using the tree today - Goldfinch x 10 (fighting over 4 places on the feeder ). Greenfinch x 4 (using the food in the fork). Blackbird x 1m (singing in the beech hedge below ). A female Blackbird was seen taking bread left by passers-by into the same hedge earlier in the week.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Saturday 26th of March 2016 05:42:29 PM
Tony Darby said
Wed Mar 23 11:05 PM, 2016
The only thing to do Phil is to relocate your feeders to your back yard. I've got feeders in my back yard and the finches and sparrows had no problem finding them. I've even got a couple of Woodpigeons that come in and clear up any spillage.
phillipskelly said
Wed Mar 23 10:57 PM, 2016
St. Peters crt. Feeders were put up in my small backyard at 5.45pm (which I can only see from a cold upstairs back bedroom ). I went into the yard at 6pm and 2 goldfinch were sat on the telephone wires above . They'll soon find the food but won't be in the same numbers as before . And the "backwall gang" of cats will also keep numbers down . I feel reet Naffed Off ! .....as does the elderly lady who's flat was right opposite the feeders and who really loved to watch the birds from her window.
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Mar 23 8:07 PM, 2016
phillipskelly wrote:
This is the last post for St.Peters Crt.bird feeders, Burleigh rd , Stretford. A resident said he wanted them moved because he" didn't want his kids playing with their football in bird muck." Not much point in argueing too much because I don't live there..... they would probably be removed or I'd get a letter from the housing association. Sightings today - Blackbird 1 . (giving alarm calls at 3.45am and singing by 6am) 3pm, 30 mins after removing feeders ..... Mixed flock of Goldfinch and Greenfinch x 32 bobbing around the branches where the feeders were. (The Greenfinch were still squabbling.... over who's branch it was)
Thanks to Tony Darby, Tim Wilcox and Steve Burke for all their help filling the feeders when I was unable , due to being on crutches for 5 weeks.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 23rd of March 2016 07:26:50 PM
Shame Phil Have you moved then?
phillipskelly said
Wed Mar 23 7:18 PM, 2016
This is the last post for St.Peters Crt.bird feeders, Burleigh rd , Stretford. A resident said he wanted them moved because he" didn't want his kids playing with their football in bird muck." Not much point in argueing too much because I don't live there..... they would probably be removed or I'd get a letter from the housing association. Sightings today - Blackbird 1 . (giving alarm calls at 3.45am and singing by 6am) 3pm, 30 mins after removing feeders ..... Mixed flock of Goldfinch and Greenfinch x 32 bobbing around the branches where the feeders were. (The Greenfinch were still squabbling.... over who's branch it was)
Thanks to Tony Darby, Tim Wilcox and Steve Burke for all their help filling
the feeders when I was unable , due to being on crutches for 5 weeks.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 23rd of March 2016 07:26:50 PM
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Fri Mar 18 6:30 PM, 2016
Cormorant over Stockport Bus station @ 16:00 this afternoon, heading East.
Mark Whalley said
Fri Mar 18 12:24 PM, 2016
The Anti-pigeon net on Sale Town hall has claimed an unfortunate victim in the form a Pied Wagtail.
Michael Harrison said
Thu Mar 17 6:05 PM, 2016
Male and Female Mandarin Ducks at Dean Wood, Orrell. @ 6pm
Firstly in stream then the dogs spooked them up onto a tree.
Scott robinson said
Thu Mar 17 5:05 PM, 2016
Working in didsbury today, sorry Ian if this is in wrong place, didn't no were to post it.
2 Grey Wagtail on house roof we are working on and at least 3 Mistle Thrush over. Jay and Buzzard seen also.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Mar 15 10:21 PM, 2016
Late post: 1 Oystercatcher flew west over the M60 Barton Bridge yesterday evening at approx 17.20 - just above lamp-post height!
Chris Harper said
Tue Mar 15 7:27 PM, 2016
Chiffchaff singing in Didsbury Park at 4.15
Scott robinson said
Tue Mar 15 2:19 PM, 2016
2 Lesser Blacked Backed Gulls and a Common Gull in Horse paddock of Nel Pan Lane, Leigh.
Rob Creek said
Tue Mar 15 9:46 AM, 2016
On the rooftop of Manchester Carer's Centre near Albion Works, Pollard St, Ancoats. Bit ironic that there's quite a few Pigeons around and sat near the very thing that's been put there to scare them off, the fake Peregrine!
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Mar 13 7:37 PM, 2016
church yard in Bickershaw lane very busy this afternoon, 6 blackbird, 1 mistle thrush, 14 starling, 6 house sparrow, 3 collared dove, 2 wood pigeon, 1 robin singing at top note, several blue and great tit all in quite a small area,
Rob Creek said
Fri Mar 11 5:10 PM, 2016
Redgate Recycling approx 2.30pm today
Of note... Lesser Black-backed Gull at least 12 adults Black-headed Gulls approx 100 Pied Wagtail 2 Kestrel sat on a post further up Redgate Lane near British Car Auctions
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 11th of March 2016 07:58:09 PM
simon ghilks said
Fri Mar 11 10:20 AM, 2016
11th March 2016
A rather odd sight of a Canada Goose stood on the edge of one of the corner towers of the 4 storey mill opposite Asda in Ashton-u-Lyne. Maybe it has some Barnacle Goose genes in it and is prospecting a nest site.
Andy Isherwood said
Thu Mar 10 9:58 AM, 2016
2 Goldcrest feeding in bushes and grass by side of M60 slip road at Sale this morning
Andy Isherwood said
Wed Mar 9 11:34 AM, 2016
2 Jay over M60 near Irlam junction this morning
Shannon Llewellyn said
Wed Mar 9 10:02 AM, 2016
Grey heron flying down Oxford Road this morning; around the Uni campus, heading in the direction of town, seen disappearing off over the Aquatic Centre.
Joel Tragen said
Tue Mar 8 11:12 PM, 2016
I was upset to see a car sped by st werburgh's tram stop with a black headed gull loaded in its grill.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Tuesday 8th of March 2016 11:12:21 PM
Scott robinson said
Tue Mar 8 4:09 PM, 2016
Two Curlew over Lowton By-Pass early this morning.
phillipskelly said
Tue Mar 8 12:31 PM, 2016
St.Peters Crt.feeders, Burliegh rd, Stretford. Chaffinch 3 ( 2m +1f) . House Sparrow 4 (2m +2f). Greenfinch 11. Goldfinch 8. Robin 1. Blue Tit 2. Blackbird 1 (m).
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 7 3:40 PM, 2016
2.50pm this afternoon Driving on M60 between Middleton and Blackley a female Sparrowhawk came flying low to the floor on the hard shoulder in pursuit of a Pigeon, caught it causing a cloud of feathers, and then the Pigeon must've still had enough strength to drag her into the grassy embankment, I checked my wing mirror when I'd just gone passed and I saw her rear up and pounce down so I'm presuming she seemed to have the upper hand.
Within a few seconds approaching the Blackley junction 2 Common Buzzards were circling very low over the side of the motorway embankment.
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 7 3:22 PM, 2016
This morning approx 10.25am
Grey Wagtail flitting around outside Delicatesse-di-Bruno in Beswick where the end of Bank Street meets Ashton New Road
phillipskelly said
Sun Mar 6 3:09 PM, 2016
Saturday 05.03.16 St.Perers crt feeders,Burliegh rd,Stretford. Nothing like the amount of birds coming from the birch trees at Greatstone Appartments to the feeders. Greenfinch 14. Goldfinch 8. Chaffinch 2. (m+f) House Sparrow 2. Blue tit 2. Today Sunday 06.03.16 Similar amount of birds and species. It's good to see the chaffinch pair back again and also the 2 male House Sparrow. Also present are 2 Wood pigeon, several feral pigeon and a Collard Dove. Ps. Sue next door has just told me that she might have seen a Goldcrest in the beech hedge as I'm writing this .
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sat Mar 5 8:38 PM, 2016
Pair of stonechat around the stables I ride at, off Knott Lane outside of Ashton.
Reed bunting, bullfinch, nuthatch, meadow pipit, lapwing, kestrel and sparrowhawk also around the various habitats nearby.
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Mar 4 11:57 AM, 2016
mistle thrush constantly chasing blackbirds away from rowan berries on bickershaw lane this morning,
phillipskelly said
Fri Mar 4 10:59 AM, 2016
St.Peters Crt. and adjacent Greatstone apartments, Burliegh rd Stretford. Mixed flock of Goldfinch /Greenfinch x 80 .....in Birch trees in the carpark of Greatstone apps.and St.Vincent feeders (apps 20 metres away from feeders ) at 9am this morning.. 60 birds in birch trees , and 20 around feeders. I've put up an extra 4 port feeder(that makes 5 ) from my backyard when I filled them after the birds had left temporarily. Returning birds only numbered 50 with 17 Greenfinch again dominating the feeders. Also present - Blue tit 1 . Chaffinch 1 . Starling 1. heard somewhere nearby.
Bernard McGurrin said
Thu Mar 3 12:19 PM, 2016
male blackcap in church grounds at Bickershaw lane this morning,
phillipskelly said
Wed Mar 2 3:35 PM, 2016
St.Peters Court feeders, Burleigh rd, Stretford. The feeders have been dominated by Greenfinch today with 13 on and around the feeders today . Also present - Goldfinch 8 . Blue tit 2. Wren 1. (Which came within 2 ft.of the feeders but then went "walk about" like a treecreeper up the main trunk of the Sorbus tree to the top then flew down and dissapeared. Ps. Squirrel escorted off-site twice.
phillipskelly said
Tue Mar 1 1:29 PM, 2016
St. Peters Court feeders , Burleigh rd Stretford. Greenfinch 11 . Goldfinch 12 . Blue tit 2 . I've not seen the Collard Doves recently but the ferral pigeons are "hoovering up " the dropped sunflower hearts very quickly from the grass below . Also not seen any house sparrows either. Ps . Put up some bird boxes (they're quite high up) for Gorse Hill Volunteers at Ravenswood rd. Rest Gardens opp.Tesco , Chester rd . Stretford . and spotted at least one (sounded like more than one) Goldcrest
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 01:32:04 PM
Also last night...
- Willow Warbler 1 singing and moving around
- Chiffchaff 1 same circumstances
- Robin 1
- Dunnock 1
A Wheatear and singing Skylark in the field behind the nursery on Bradley Lane (Jct 7 M60, Sale) at 0800.
Road Rage
Interesting observation though, I have seen several Cockatiels in the wild in the past, used to see the occasional Budgerigar too but not so much recently.
Singing birds included: Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Wren.
Goldfinch and Pied Wagtail also in attendance.
1 Redshank
1 Little Ringed Plover
2-3 Lapwing
3 Mallard
3 Canada Geese
10+ Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
5+ Willow Warbler
1 Chiffchaff
2 Grey Heron
2 Kestrel
Several Skylark heard
It seemed to have long tail streamers, and it's flight habit too had me reaching for my bins but it was definitely just a Swallow!
Also around the same area, 2 lesser redpoll, 1 swallow, several displaying lapwing and a single snipe.
Sat in my mum's making a cuppa in Atherton watching the Goldfinch feeding and a male Redstart dropped in for a minute. Brilliant
-- Edited by Dennis atherton on Saturday 9th of April 2016 05:26:10 PM
Sparrowhawk plucking kill in field just after Worsley Garden Centre turn off.
M60 Anti-Clockwise - 1 mile before Jct 13 (Swinton / Worsley) exit road - 2 Buzzards
Today's sightings (Tues) -
Great Tit 2 .
Blue Tit 2 .
Chaffinch 1 m . frequently dropping down through the beech hedge to feed on the ground .
Blackbird 2 m,f . on the ground.
Goldfinch 10.
Greenfinch 3.
Robin 1 .
And a squirrel curled up in the tree in St . Peters crt. got a poke !
On my backyard feeders -
Goldfinch 11.
3.15pm - one of the Stalybridge regulars, with white primaries on either wing, at Copley service station, Huddersfield Road.
6.30pm - one flying over Manchester Road, Chorlton, with white feathering to its body, seen when I was leaving the Marble Beer House. Come to think of it, I could have started a new thread this weekend - "Birds seen or heard on entering or leaving pubs"
With no food available for them , I decided to put up 3 feeders (taken from my backyard )outside the front window of my terraced house and hoped they might recognise them and come across the road and use them.
By Saturday no takers, (but some were using a feeder rigged up in my backyard since Thursday) so I put the feeders back in the yard.
Still annoyed , I placed some seed in the fork of the original street tree and they were straight on it.
A neighbour saw this and he put up a feeder in the same tree overhanging the road so the seed won't fall on the pavement. Unfortunately the Pigeon clean-up crew will end up getting squashed....He said he'll move it later.
Birds seen using the tree today -
Goldfinch x 10 (fighting over 4 places on the feeder ).
Greenfinch x 4 (using the food in the fork).
Blackbird x 1m (singing in the beech hedge below ).
A female Blackbird was seen taking bread left by passers-by into the same hedge earlier in the week.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Saturday 26th of March 2016 05:42:29 PM
I've got feeders in my back yard and the finches and sparrows had no problem finding them. I've even got a couple of Woodpigeons that come
in and clear up any spillage.
I went into the yard at 6pm and 2 goldfinch were sat on the telephone wires above . They'll soon find the food but won't be in the same numbers as before . And the "backwall gang" of cats will also keep numbers down .
I feel reet Naffed Off ! .....as does the elderly lady who's flat was right opposite the feeders and who really loved to watch the birds from her window.
Shame Phil Have you moved then?
A resident said he wanted them moved because he" didn't want his kids playing with their football in bird muck."
Not much point in argueing too much because I don't live there..... they would probably be removed or I'd get a letter from the housing association.
Sightings today -
Blackbird 1 . (giving alarm calls at 3.45am and singing by 6am)
3pm, 30 mins after removing feeders .....
Mixed flock of Goldfinch and Greenfinch x 32 bobbing around the branches where the feeders were.
(The Greenfinch were still squabbling.... over who's branch it was)
Thanks to Tony Darby, Tim Wilcox and Steve Burke for all their help filling the feeders when I was unable , due to being on crutches for 5 weeks.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 23rd of March 2016 07:26:50 PM
The Anti-pigeon net on Sale Town hall has claimed an unfortunate victim in the form a Pied Wagtail.
2 Grey Wagtail on house roof we are working on and at least 3 Mistle Thrush over.
Jay and Buzzard seen also.
1 Oystercatcher flew west over the M60 Barton Bridge yesterday evening at approx 17.20 - just above lamp-post height!
Chiffchaff singing in Didsbury Park at 4.15
Bit ironic that there's quite a few Pigeons around and sat near the very thing that's been put there to scare them off, the fake Peregrine!
Of note...
Lesser Black-backed Gull at least 12 adults
Black-headed Gulls approx 100
Pied Wagtail 2
Kestrel sat on a post further up Redgate Lane near British Car Auctions
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 11th of March 2016 07:58:09 PM
A rather odd sight of a Canada Goose stood on the edge of one of the corner towers of the 4 storey mill opposite Asda in Ashton-u-Lyne. Maybe it has some Barnacle Goose genes in it and is prospecting a nest site.
-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Tuesday 8th of March 2016 11:12:21 PM
Chaffinch 3 ( 2m +1f) .
House Sparrow 4 (2m +2f).
Greenfinch 11.
Goldfinch 8.
Robin 1.
Blue Tit 2.
Blackbird 1 (m).
Driving on M60 between Middleton and Blackley a female Sparrowhawk came flying low to the floor on the hard shoulder in pursuit of a Pigeon, caught it causing a cloud of feathers, and then the Pigeon must've still had enough strength to drag her into the grassy embankment, I checked my wing mirror when I'd just gone passed and I saw her rear up and pounce down so I'm presuming she seemed to have the upper hand.
Within a few seconds approaching the Blackley junction 2 Common Buzzards were circling very low over the side of the motorway embankment.
Grey Wagtail flitting around outside Delicatesse-di-Bruno in Beswick where the end of Bank Street meets Ashton New Road
St.Perers crt feeders,Burliegh rd,Stretford.
Nothing like the amount of birds coming from the birch trees at Greatstone Appartments to the feeders.
Greenfinch 14.
Goldfinch 8.
Chaffinch 2. (m+f)
House Sparrow 2.
Blue tit 2.
Today Sunday 06.03.16
Similar amount of birds and species.
It's good to see the chaffinch pair back again and also the 2 male House Sparrow.
Also present are 2 Wood pigeon, several feral pigeon and a Collard Dove.
Ps. Sue next door has just told me that she might have seen a Goldcrest in the beech hedge as I'm writing this .
Reed bunting, bullfinch, nuthatch, meadow pipit, lapwing, kestrel and sparrowhawk also around the various habitats nearby.
Mixed flock of Goldfinch /Greenfinch x 80 .....in Birch trees in the carpark of Greatstone apps.and St.Vincent feeders (apps 20 metres away from feeders ) at 9am this morning..
60 birds in birch trees , and 20 around feeders.
I've put up an extra 4 port feeder(that makes 5 ) from my backyard when I filled them after the birds had left temporarily.
Returning birds only numbered 50 with 17 Greenfinch again dominating the feeders.
Also present -
Blue tit 1 .
Chaffinch 1 .
Starling 1. heard somewhere nearby.
The feeders have been dominated by Greenfinch today with 13 on and around the feeders today .
Also present -
Goldfinch 8 .
Blue tit 2.
Wren 1. (Which came within 2 ft.of the feeders but then went "walk about" like a treecreeper up the main trunk of the Sorbus tree to the top then flew down and dissapeared.
Ps. Squirrel escorted off-site twice.
Greenfinch 11 .
Goldfinch 12 .
Blue tit 2 .
I've not seen the Collard Doves recently but the ferral pigeons are "hoovering up " the dropped sunflower hearts very quickly from the grass below .
Also not seen any house sparrows either.
Ps . Put up some bird boxes (they're quite high up) for Gorse Hill Volunteers at Ravenswood rd. Rest Gardens opp.Tesco , Chester rd . Stretford . and spotted at least one (sounded like more than one) Goldcrest
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 1st of March 2016 01:32:04 PM