14 Goosander 2 Grey Wagtail 40+ House Martin 4 Chiffchaff 2 Grey Heron
Chris Harper said
Wed Sep 10 11:06 AM, 2014
Goosander Grey Wagtail 2 Chiffchaff
Chris Harper said
Tue Sep 9 8:20 AM, 2014
3 House Martins 3 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons 3 Chiffchaff Bullfinch 100+ Black Headed Gulls on playing field
Chris Harper said
Mon Sep 8 8:13 AM, 2014
Kingfisher upstream from Geoff's Bridge Grey Heron Grey Wagtail 2 Chiffchaff Jay
Paul Rafferty said
Sat Aug 23 9:57 PM, 2014
Plenty of willow warblers and blue tits around late morning today. Also a great spotted woodpecker across the river from where the fish used to be.
Nigel Troup said
Tue Aug 19 9:51 PM, 2014
Four Swifts over Cheadle Bridge at 6:10 pm on Monday 18th August.
Paul Rafferty said
Tue Jul 29 2:01 PM, 2014
Pretty sure I saw a mink across the river from Parrs Wood playing fields last night about 5.30. On the plus side I later saw a kingfisher flying low above the water at garlic bend.
Paul Dewey said
Mon Jul 21 1:26 PM, 2014
Had 6 Grey heron Kingfisher 8+ Swallow Sand martin (to quick for me to count) A single Swift two groups of youg Blackcap, that were still being fed by the parents and a very brief view of Kingfisher
-- Edited by Paul Dewey on Monday 21st of July 2014 01:27:23 PM
Chris Harper said
Wed Jul 9 8:46 AM, 2014
Site first for me with a Garden Warbler between Garlic Bend and weir this am. Also 30+ Sand Martin 7 Swallow 6 Swift Grey Wagtail Blackcap 4 Grey Heron Cormorant
Chris Harper said
Tue Jul 8 8:32 AM, 2014
Goosander with young Grey Wagtail 3 Grey Heron Bullfinch Blackcap Chiffchaff 30 Swift 40 Sand Martin Cormorant
Chris Harper said
Mon Jul 7 8:39 AM, 2014
Peregrine Falcon over town centre towards Lower Bredbury Reed Bunting Common Whitethroat Blackcap Chiffchaff 30 House Martin 3 Grey Heron Cormorant Grey Wagtail 100+ gull flock, Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed.
Simon Gough said
Mon Jun 30 11:43 AM, 2014
Quick walk down the river on Saturday heading to Stockport, half a dozen House Martins mingling with the Sand Martins by the Rugby Club. First time I've seen them there to complete the 'set of 4' so to speak.
Chris Harper said
Mon Jun 30 8:21 AM, 2014
Goosander (Female with young) Mandarin(Female with young) (Both these birds were together just upstream of Patch Island in almost a crech situation?) Grey Wagtail 3 Blackcap 2 Common Whitethroat Chiffchaff 30 Sand Martin 6 Swallow
Paul Rafferty said
Sun Jun 29 4:58 PM, 2014
2 grey wagtails 3 pied wagtails C50 sandmartins Swallows Swifts Cormorant Grey heron Goldfinch Chaffinch 3 greenfinch Blue tit Song thrush Blackcaps and chiffchaffs heard but not seen Watched 2 buzzards circling for ages from bench at patch island before they finally came down beyond the trees.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 24 10:42 PM, 2014
Peregrine Falcon Reed Bunting 2 stock dove 7 grey wagtail Great spotted Woodpecker 30 sand martin 8 Swallow Blackcap Willow warbler Chiffchaff
Chris Harper said
Wed Jun 18 8:43 AM, 2014
30 Sand Martin Grey Wagtail 2 Willow Warbler 4 Blackcap Chiffchaff Common Whitethroat 2 Bullfinch 2 Grey Heron Cormorant Canada Geese with 4 young Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 10 9:02 AM, 2014
25 Sand Martin Swallow 2 Grey Wagtail 4 Grey Heron Willow Warbler 3 Chiffchaff Common Whitethroat 2 Blackcap 20 Lesser Black Backed Gull 2 Black Headed Gull 3 Mistle Thrush
Forgot cormorant over. Whitethroat was courtesy of Steve Smith who it was great to meet.
Paul Rafferty said
Fri Jun 6 7:51 PM, 2014
Family of Canada geese with 4 chicks
Young grey heron
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Greenfinch (f)
Long tailed tits
Sand martins
Whitethroat
Reed buntings at pond
2 Reed Bunting Common Whitethroat 2 Blackcap 2 Willow Warbler 3 Bullfinch 5 Swift 7 Swallow 20 Sand Martin 3 Grey Heron Cormorant 2 Grey Wagtail
Chris Harper said
Mon May 19 8:44 AM, 2014
Common Whitethroat Blackcap Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Bullfinch 20 Sand Martin 7 Swallow Cormorant
Chris Harper said
Tue May 13 12:08 PM, 2014
Much the same as yesterday, although Sparrowhawk in addition.(First I've seen in a long while) 4 Bullfinch Land around sewage works always looks good, Willow Warbler singing mostly from there. Not sure if you're allowed there or not.
Simon Gough said
Mon May 12 8:18 PM, 2014
Pleasant walk down the river between 1715 and 1945. The water is a foot or more higher than last week, so bang goes the Common Sandpiper but I wanted to see my first GM Swifts of the year and there were 7 together over the Craig Rd industrial estate then I saw them and a few more over the sewage works on the other side of the river.
Birds much the same as Chris below, but I saw the female Sparrowhawk over Vale Farm and a couple of Cormorant in addition. I think I saw 4 Whitethroat in the usual hedgerow spot, there were at least 3 singing from perches and/or doing the display songflight. I met Steve from this thread while I was stood there watching them, nice to meet you mate. Spent a wistful hour just on that spot watching a combination of Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat bombing around and generally doing what comes naturally. Hard to believe it was stair-rod rain at lunchtime!
We were discussing the far bank; it looks like juicy birding territory. Has anyone got a clue if there is a way to access over there?
Chris Harper said
Mon May 12 9:36 AM, 2014
River quite high at the minute, still some nice birds: 3 Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail 2 Bullfinch 30 Sand Martin 5 Swift 3 Swallow Chiffchaff Common Whitethroat 2 Blackcap Willow Warbler Grey heron
Ian Keith said
Fri May 9 8:08 PM, 2014
Great to see (and hear) circa 200 Swifts plus 40 House Martins over the River Mersey at Millgate Fields, Didbury. Also 3 Grey Wags and 2 Goosanders
Chris Harper said
Tue May 6 8:48 AM, 2014
15 Swift by playing fields 4 Blackcap 2 Willow Warbler 2 Common Whitethroat 2 Chiffchaff 40+ Sand Martin 2 Grey Heron
Simon Gough said
Mon May 5 5:21 PM, 2014
From the rugby club to the embankment behind the horse paddock and back 1130-1430: Rugby Club Sand Martin 20+ Grey Wagtail 4 Common Sandpiper
Garlic bend Greenfinch Whitethroat perched singing (male then?)
Vale Farm Greenfinch Sand Martin 10+ Whitethroat Bullfinch m and f Swallow 10+ plus usuals
The Common Sandpiper is a brilliant bird for this patch, well happy with that. Maybe it will stick around. The Sand Martins are sublime to watch. Convinced there's some interesting warblers there for me too, didn't pick a very bright time to go for a look though, too many people about in the middle of the day
Chris Harper said
Thu May 1 9:36 AM, 2014
Highlights of Tue and Wed commutes: Kingfisher up from M60 bridge 4 Goosander 30+ Sand Martin 4 Swallow 2 Willow Warbler Whitethroat 4 Blackcap 3 Chiffchaff Stock Dove Grey Wagtail Great Spotted Woodpecker Grey Heron 2 Cormorant 2 Bullfinch
Paul Rafferty said
Mon Apr 28 11:15 AM, 2014
Few highlights from the weekend:
Best showing of a blackcap so far this year c30 sand martins (pretty sure I saw a single swallow amongst them at one stage) 2 cormorants Several chiffchaffs 2 goosander Grey heron Moorhen Heard woodpecker but didn't see it Lots of goldfinch, chaffinch, great tits, robins etc.
-- Edited by Paul Rafferty on Monday 28th of April 2014 11:18:25 AM
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 28 8:18 AM, 2014
1 Common Sandpiper by Patch Island Common Whitethroat displaying on Garlic Bend 2 Bullfinch 2 Blackcap Willow Warbler 2 Goosander 4 Chiffchaff 25 Sand Martin
chrisgilbane said
Sun Apr 27 6:25 PM, 2014
Notable things this weekend seen whilst jogging (hence not a better report with other things)
1 x Kingfisher by the M60 bridge. Perched on a branch and flew off upstream towards Stockport 1 x Blackcap by wild garlic bend 2 x Heron
Jon Beckett said
Fri Apr 25 12:51 PM, 2014
11am Close up view of a pair of reed bunting on the meadow pond. 2 whitethroat further along the path. Lots of the other usuals.
Pair of mandarin seen downstream from cheadle bridge yesterday afternoon.
Pick of the day 2 Mandarin Duck (1 male, 1 female) on the opposite side of the river from the bend with wild garlic, just down from the outflow. Also 20+ Sand Martin on the opposite side of the river from Burnage Rugby Club - lots of birds going in and out of the nest holes. Other than that:
Great tit - 4 Chiffchaff - many calling, at least 6 Jay - 1 Male Goosander Willow Warbler (heard calling, not seen) Carrion Crow - 6 Swallow - 3 Grey Wagtail - 4 (2 pairs) Bullfinch - 2 Goldfinch - 2 Chaffinch - 1 Wren - 2 Blackcap (male) - 1
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 21st of April 2014 08:31:57 PM
chrisgilbane said
Sun Apr 20 4:22 PM, 2014
whilst staggering back from a run/jog noticed 3 swallows over the horse field just down from the craig road estate
Steve Smith said
Mon Apr 7 8:30 PM, 2014
1st Willow Warbler yesterday (6th), singing on the sewage farm side between the fish and garlic bend.
Roy King said
Sat Apr 5 11:50 AM, 2014
Just up the road here in Withington we have a busy pair of Sparrowhawks. 1 colourful male and a beautiful very large female. I live on Palatine Road and last year witnessed a male ripping a poor pigeon to bits, this year I have witnessed 4 killings on my road facing lawn. 2 by the female and 2 by the male. Buses and humans passing by does not seem to bother them. It seems that by switching their diet to pigeons they have a great food source so look out for a growing population.
-- Edited by Roy King on Saturday 5th of April 2014 11:53:56 AM
-- Edited by Roy King on Saturday 5th of April 2014 11:54:22 AM
Paul Rafferty said
Fri Apr 4 9:06 PM, 2014
Lovely walk this evening. Great tits, chaffinches, goldfinches, lots of chiffchaffs, pied wagtail, lovely grey wagtail, sand Martin, 2 female goosanders. But the highlight of all, at long last a kingfisher flying around me at garlic bend. Could hear a second one too but only saw one at a time. Very happy.
Paul Rafferty said
Thu Apr 3 7:41 PM, 2014
At least 6 sand martins over the field opposite the rugby club.
Chris Harper said
Thu Apr 3 10:29 AM, 2014
At least 16 Sand Martin at 3.30 yesterday afternoon.
Paul Rafferty said
Thu Apr 3 6:55 AM, 2014
Thanks Alan. I think I know the bridge but I've not been that far down for some time.
alanhill said
Wed Apr 2 3:22 PM, 2014
Simon's Bridge is not in the Stockport to East Didsbury section of the Mersey. It is near Didsbury Golf Club, half way between Didsbury and Northenden.
Visited today and also yesterday following post of Mandarin
15/10
5 Mandarin
3 teal
Goosander
Mallard
3 Grey Heron
Grey wagtail
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
16/10
Teal
Cormorant
2 (poss 3) Goosander
Mallard
4 Grey Heron
Grey wagtail
Pied wagtail
4 Mandarin
Kingfisher(Patch Island)
4 Goosander
Grey Wagtail
Grey Heron
4 Mandarin
1+Kingfisher
7 Goosander
2 Grey Wagtail
Sparrowhawk
Stock Dove
3 Grey Wagtail
5 Goosander
2 Chiffchaff
Cock Pheasant
3 Mistle Thrush
3 Grey Heron
5 Goosander
4 Grey Wagtail
Grey Heron
Cormorant
5 Mistle Thrush
14 Goosander
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Grey Heron
3 Chiffchaff
Moorhen
2 Grey Wagtail
40+ House Martin
4 Chiffchaff
2 Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
2 Chiffchaff
3 Cormorants
2 Grey Herons
3 Chiffchaff
Bullfinch
100+ Black Headed Gulls on playing field
Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
2 Chiffchaff
Jay
Kingfisher
8+ Swallow
Sand martin (to quick for me to count)
A single Swift
two groups of youg Blackcap, that were still being fed by the parents
and a very brief view of Kingfisher
-- Edited by Paul Dewey on Monday 21st of July 2014 01:27:23 PM
Also 30+ Sand Martin
7 Swallow
6 Swift
Grey Wagtail
Blackcap
4 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Grey Wagtail
3 Grey Heron
Bullfinch
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
30 Swift
40 Sand Martin
Cormorant
Reed Bunting
Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
30 House Martin
3 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Grey Wagtail
100+ gull flock, Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed.
Mandarin(Female with young)
(Both these birds were together just upstream of Patch Island in almost a crech situation?)
Grey Wagtail
3 Blackcap
2 Common Whitethroat
Chiffchaff
30 Sand Martin
6 Swallow
3 pied wagtails
C50 sandmartins
Swallows
Swifts
Cormorant
Grey heron
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
3 greenfinch
Blue tit
Song thrush
Blackcaps and chiffchaffs heard but not seen
Watched 2 buzzards circling for ages from bench at patch island before they finally came down beyond the trees.
Reed Bunting
2 stock dove
7 grey wagtail
Great spotted Woodpecker
30 sand martin
8 Swallow
Blackcap
Willow warbler
Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
2 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Common Whitethroat
2 Bullfinch
2 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Canada Geese with 4 young
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Swallow
2 Grey Wagtail
4 Grey Heron
Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
Common Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
20 Lesser Black Backed Gull
2 Black Headed Gull
3 Mistle Thrush
All from 7.10-7.25 am
6 Lesser Black Backed Gull
4 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
8 Swallow
18 Sand Martin
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Sparrowhawk
3+ Grey Heron
Bullfinch
Common Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
3 Bullfinch
5 Swift
7 Swallow
20 Sand Martin
3 Grey Heron
Cormorant
2 Grey Wagtail
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Bullfinch
20 Sand Martin
7 Swallow
Cormorant
4 Bullfinch
Land around sewage works always looks good, Willow Warbler singing mostly from there.
Not sure if you're allowed there or not.
Birds much the same as Chris below, but I saw the female Sparrowhawk over Vale Farm and a couple of Cormorant in addition. I think I saw 4 Whitethroat in the usual hedgerow spot, there were at least 3 singing from perches and/or doing the display songflight. I met Steve from this thread while I was stood there watching them, nice to meet you mate. Spent a wistful hour just on that spot watching a combination of Goldfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat bombing around and generally doing what comes naturally. Hard to believe it was stair-rod rain at lunchtime!
We were discussing the far bank; it looks like juicy birding territory. Has anyone got a clue if there is a way to access over there?
3 Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
2 Bullfinch
30 Sand Martin
5 Swift
3 Swallow
Chiffchaff
Common Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Grey heron
4 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Common Whitethroat
2 Chiffchaff
40+ Sand Martin
2 Grey Heron
Rugby Club
Sand Martin 20+
Grey Wagtail 4
Common Sandpiper
Garlic bend
Greenfinch
Whitethroat perched singing (male then?)
Vale Farm
Greenfinch
Sand Martin 10+
Whitethroat
Bullfinch m and f
Swallow 10+
plus usuals
The Common Sandpiper is a brilliant bird for this patch, well happy with that. Maybe it will stick around. The Sand Martins are sublime to watch. Convinced there's some interesting warblers there for me too, didn't pick a very bright time to go for a look though, too many people about in the middle of the day
Kingfisher up from M60 bridge
4 Goosander
30+ Sand Martin
4 Swallow
2 Willow Warbler
Whitethroat
4 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Stock Dove
Grey Wagtail
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Grey Heron
2 Cormorant
2 Bullfinch
Best showing of a blackcap so far this year
c30 sand martins (pretty sure I saw a single swallow amongst them at one stage)
2 cormorants
Several chiffchaffs
2 goosander
Grey heron
Moorhen
Heard woodpecker but didn't see it
Lots of goldfinch, chaffinch, great tits, robins etc.
-- Edited by Paul Rafferty on Monday 28th of April 2014 11:18:25 AM
Common Whitethroat displaying on Garlic Bend
2 Bullfinch
2 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
2 Goosander
4 Chiffchaff
25 Sand Martin
1 x Kingfisher by the M60 bridge. Perched on a branch and flew off upstream towards Stockport
1 x Blackcap by wild garlic bend
2 x Heron
Close up view of a pair of reed bunting on the meadow pond.
2 whitethroat further along the path.
Lots of the other usuals.
Pair of mandarin seen downstream from cheadle bridge yesterday afternoon.
34 Sand Martin
6 Chiffchaff
7 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Goosander
Grey Wagtail
2 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Mistle Thrush
Nuthatch
Great tit - 4
Chiffchaff - many calling, at least 6
Jay - 1
Male Goosander
Willow Warbler (heard calling, not seen)
Carrion Crow - 6
Swallow - 3
Grey Wagtail - 4 (2 pairs)
Bullfinch - 2
Goldfinch - 2
Chaffinch - 1
Wren - 2
Blackcap (male) - 1
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 21st of April 2014 08:31:57 PM
I live on Palatine Road and last year witnessed a male ripping a poor pigeon to bits, this year I have witnessed 4 killings on my road facing lawn. 2 by the female and 2 by the male. Buses and humans passing by does not seem to bother them. It seems that by switching their diet to pigeons they have a great food source so look out for a growing population.
-- Edited by Roy King on Saturday 5th of April 2014 11:53:56 AM
-- Edited by Roy King on Saturday 5th of April 2014 11:54:22 AM