Liam, I spent almost every day of 13 out of the last 14 years at Chorlton WP as a warden there and have never in that time nor have I in birding there since April 1977 have I ever recorded them there.

They used to be around Chorlton Ees from mid 70's to 80's (?) then dissapeared and it's just in recent years they seem to be making a comeback, probably with birds dispersing more widely in the winter, perhaps from Carrington Moss moving up along the Mersey Valley (?).

Since this forum began in 2006 in think there have been only three postings for Willow Tit on the Chorlton WP thread.

Gervase Cooke wrote:

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Re Willow/Marsh Tits

Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.

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Hi Gervase,

This article might be of interest

http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/categories/articleitem.asp?cate=23&topic=119&item=486

A more recent separation feature (claimed to be definitive) is a pale spot on the base of the upper mandible of a Marsh Tit.

http://www.britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Willow-Marsh-Tits.pdf

I've never been able to see this in the field myself although I have tried. But I've just looked at a couple of this website's gallery photos of Willow Tit and they both show a pale spot - presumably a trick of the light (or perhaps it's not as good a feature as supposed)

Cheers, John

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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---

No Marsh Tits recorded at Barlow Tip I'm afraid, not for the past 20 years at least, though they are often misidentified.

You may need to buy a new bird guide too Gervase, as 'hammering their food with their bills' is one of the worst/most incorrect identification features I've ever heard for seperating those two tits .

---

Thanks Ian, Yes my memory was that it was Willows that had been reported on Barlow tip. But when I saw this pair on the Ees I thought it too good to be true so plumped for Marsh.

It is a very old guide of my parents that said that about the hammering. I've certainly never seen it written elsewhere.

Great to have all this chat about it as I'd often wondered.

Now I just ned to see theme again so I can hone my id skills. What to look for, darker cheeks? Longer black nape? Cap glossiness???

Anyway. Lifer for me then. And on my local patch. Ace. Not only that they were such a pretty sight and so close. That area next to the Reed Bed in the meadows is a an amazing spot.

Cheers

Gervase

On the subject of Willow Tits where are the best places in the Chorlton WP/ Barlow Tip area to see them and at what time of year?

I've never seen one in the area and would really like to add the species to my Chorlton WP list. I visit regularly so maybe I'm just overlooking them. Any help would be really appreciated.

Also the birds at Leighton are definitely Marsh Tits but I agree that "hammering food with their bills" is a weird clinching feature.

Cheers, Liam

Gervase Cooke wrote:

---

Re Willow/Marsh Tits

That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.

Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.

I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.

I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.

Gervase

---

No Marsh Tits recorded at Barlow Tip I'm afraid, not for the past 20 years at least, though they are often misidentified.

You may need to buy a new bird guide too Gervase, as 'hammering their food with their bills' is one of the worst/most incorrect identification features I've ever heard for seperating those two tits .

Gervase Cooke wrote:

---

Re Willow/Marsh Tits

That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.

Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.

I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.

I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.

Gervase

---

As Ian says Gervase, they'll almost certainly be Willow Tits.

Marsh Tits are extremely rare now in Greater Manchester compared to say 20-30 years ago.

Willow Tits are localised in Greater Manchester in such areas as Wigan Flashes, Pennington and Carrington amongst others but the Mersey Valley also has a small population and I have seen them at Sale Water Park and on Barlow Tip at Chorlton.

I would be amazed if they weren't Willow Tits to be honest.

Cheers

Phil

Re Willow/Marsh Tits

That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.

Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.

I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.

I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.

Gervase

Willow Tit must be classed as a resident here now with the increased number of sightings of late.

Had a look early afternoon, only
4 singing Reed Warbler + others
4 singing Sedge Warbler + others

They'll be Willow Tits Gervase as Marsh Tit is a pretty extreme county rarity nowadays.

6-9am walk Ivy green-Meadow-Reedbed-River-SWP and back over Jacksons Boat.

Blackcap & Common Whitethroat both in numbers everywhere!
Couldn't hear the Lesser Whitethroat at the Brook Bridge .

In the meadow:
3 Sedge Warblers
So many Reed Buntings
Heard 1 Gropper faintly by the reedbed but it stopped before we approached. First time I've heard one this year. Yet to see one.
Pair of what I assume to be Marsh Tits busy in an elder next to the reedbed. Not quite sharp enough to tell the diff between Marsh and Willow tit and there was no call/song. So assumption based on abundance. First in Greater Manchester for me. Lovely.
3 Reed Warblers being very obliging by flying up into the willows on the island. Got some great views.
Bullfinch (m)

River
Cormorant
Young Heron next to nest with 2 adults in

Broad Dole Ees
Little Grebe
3 Lapwing plus 4 chicks
Tufty Pair
Juv Heron
Coot + chicks

SWP
GCG

Other notables

More Greenfinches
4+ Chiffchaff

Ivy Green / Chorlton Brook

Lesser Whitethroat 1 - singing near first bridge over brook from Bowling Green
Common Whitethroat 3 singing
Chiffchaff 2 singing
Blackcap 5 (3m 2f)
Willow Warbler 1
Reed Warbler 1 singing from Meadow Pond
Heron 6
Jays 3
Magpie 4
Carrion Crow 2
Swallow 3

Gervase Cooke wrote:

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Red Kite flying high of my house just east of Longford park!

10.20am Saturday

---

Excellent record Gervase!

It's also worth checking any Kite sightings for Black Kite at this moment in time, as there appears to be a mini influx of this species into the UK.

Red Kite flying high of my house just east of Longford park!

10.20am Saturday

1 Willow Tit singing from Lombardy Poplars along the cobbled road
3 Sedge Warbler in song
2 Reed Warbler in song
5 Common Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
Blackcap
3 House Martin
3 Swallow
3 Swift
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
2 Bullfinch
7 Reed Bunting
1 Sparrowhawk - Ivy Green

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 14th of May 2012 01:46:22 PM

a brief cycle past around 1.45 for 20 mins...

2 sedge warblers,1 seen singing from tall reeds another heard only.
2 reed warblers,heard only in the reed beds.
5 whitethroats
4 reed buntings
2 swifts
plenty off singing blackcaps.

also there was 1 wheatear on hardy farm around 1.30pm.

several parties of Swifts overhead
handful of Swallows

2 or 3 Reed Warblers in the reedbed.
1 Sedge Warbler keeping low in the grass
Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff very vocal

plenty of Reed Buntings

Forgot to mention 3 Greenfinches (2 males singing) getting to be a regular thing again which is nice.
g

An early morning walk through the ees down the river to Barlow tip and kenworthy from 6.30-9 am Saturday 5th May

2 Reed warblers heard in the beds
Beautiful Sedgie seen singing in the meadow very near to the reeds
Blackcaps everywhere
7+ Whitethroats along the way, very active
1 Chiffchaff seen a few heard
1 Willow Warbler heard
Several Reed Buntings on the meadow

Couple of Swallows on the river and CWP

Heard a blackbird doing a very passable version of a police siren near the golf course before barlow tip. Strangeset thing. Would like to post up the vid I took of the sound. Is youtube the only way?

Other usual suspects. Stunning walk. So lucky to have this patch.

Quick late morning visit:

1 Reed Warbler singing in reedbed.
2 Common Whitethroats
2 Reed Buntings

Reed Warbler heard chuntering away very quietly and very occasionally at the
reed bed this afternoon. No sight nor sound of Sedge or Grasshopper Warblers
for me here or at CWP, although some to**er riding round Kenworthy Fields
on a trail bike didn't help matters.

7-9pm

1 sedge warbler, heard only
4 whitethroats
6 blackcaps
2 chiffchaffs
3 swifts
5 swallows
6 reed buntings
1 snipe
3 bullfinches
4 jays
1 kestrel
2 chaffinches
1 great spotted woodpecker,heard only
plenty off singing song thrushes.

7.30am-8.30am:

6 Common Whitethroats
2 Willow Warbers
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Reed Buntings
2 Bullfinches
2 Lapwings
1 Swallow (over River)
1 Great-Spotted Woodpecker
1 Moorhen
1 Goldcrest
1 Pheasant
1 Grey Heron
Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs amongst others

7.15-9pm.

went in search again for whitethroats,still no luck
but very happy with what i did see down here tonight..

1 swift (first for the year)
1 grasshopper warbler (first for the year)
1 willow tit
2 great spotted woodpeckers
3 blackcaps
2 chiffchaffs
1 kingfisher,flew over the reed pool at 7.25 & headed towards sale water park.
4 reed buntings

a pleasure to meet phil owen,henry cook & tony coatsworth,was it about 40 mins before we got a good sight off the little blighter

again no signs off any owls seen or heard on my cycle back home

Nice walk down River Mersey with Henry Cook and Tony Coatsworth to Chorlton Ees.

1 Swift (1st of the year)
1 Grasshopper Warbler (reeling and eventually tracked down)
2 Reed Buntings
Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs

Nice to meet Steven Burke.

1 Common Whitethroat near pond at 12.20pm.

came down here tonight to try find the whitethroat arrived just after 7pm til 7.50pm but no signs off any whitethroats on the bright side as i was watching 6 sand martins heading over towards sale water park and noticed something else higher up,was thinking gulls but no it turned out to be 3 terns heading in a north westerly direction at 7.16pm.they looked to off had long tail streamers so possibly arctic but they were high up, maybe gone straight over or possibly ended up at pennington flash !

also another 4,6 & 3 sand martins over towards sale water park whilst stood around.
5 song thrushes
1 willow warbler
2 chiffchaffs
2 reed buntings
all singing
1 goosander (male ) over

steven burke wrote:

---

no signs off any other migrants here, yet !

---

There was Whitethroat in the field close to the reed bed this morning Steve.
Showing well with song flight included

Also, occupied nests at the heronry now up to 11.

1 goosander (f) on river
1 grey wagtail on river
2 bullfinches
2 reed buntings
8 jays
3 grey herons
blackcaps, willow warblers, chiffchaffs & song thrushes all around,all in song

no signs off any other migrants here, yet !

8-10am

1 great spotted woodpecker
1 swallow,over river
1 goosander m over
3 sparrowhawks 2f 1m
11 blackcaps 8m 3f
8 chiffchaffs
1 willow warbler
4 willow tits
2 bullfinches
6 jays
3 reed buntings
6 song thrushes
5 meadow pipits
2 pied wagtails

Flooded fields at about 7:15pm this evening:=

2 Common Sandpiper

Then, while cycling back in direction of Jackson's Boat:-

Superb view of a perched Buzzard, from maybe about 20 feet, in trees at the bottom of the Ivy Green wood.

this evening,with all the birds singing

3 blackcaps 2m 1f
1 chiffchaff
1 willow tit
8 song thrushes
6 reed buntings
1 great spotted woodpecker

no owls seen or heard on my back home from 8.30pm

this afternoon/evening...

as petes previous post 7 visibly occupied nests (10 grey herons present)
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 lesser redpolls
1 blackcap
4 chiffchaffs
2 reed buntings
2 jays
plus usual birds around.

Pretty quiet at the heronry mid afternoon, with only 7 visibly occupied nests. Numbers are well down on previous years
5 Chiffchaff in song
1 male Reed Bunting at Brookburn School pond

Ivy Green

1 Blackcap in song (1 was singing in my garden on 24th, plus resident pair of Goldcrest)
4 Chiffchaff in song

8 Heron nests occupied today

Birds on 5 nests in the Heronry this afternoon
Not much else about

Late post for last Sunday 15th Jan. Walking through Chorlton/ville

A Nuthatch on a roadside cherry tree on Claude Rd
A Siskin singing from an alder on St. Clements Rd
A Goldcrest singing from a yew tree in my garden on Edge Lane

A walk with Steve Bletcher late morning, highlights....

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
At least 30 Redwing and 2 Mistle Thrush
1 Siskin

Thursday 15.12.11

Cow field -

Grey Heron 1
Jay 2
Goldcrest 3 (2 adjacent to the heronry and 1 in the heronry )
Long-tailed Tit 7
Willow Tit. 1 (by heronry)

Turn moss-

Common Gull
c 170 Black-beaded Gull
c 20 Goldfinch

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

A Quick walk around the Ees this afternoon produced
Buzzard
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Wren
Robin
Goldfinch
L/T tit
Blue tit
Great tit
Willow tit (first for me in Chorlton)
Carrion crow
Magpie
Jay

Late news

A Short-eared Owl alighted from the ground at Hardy Farm on Thurday 22nd Sept

info from Copland Smith

Cuckoo singing yesterday 12.00 at Hardy Farm from the strip of trees between the old orchard and the cattle field, heard from the pumping station.

info from Copland Smith

18/4
1 Gropper
2 Reed Warblers
1 fresh Sand Martin hole in approx same area as previous years.

The Mersey Valley wardens tell me that the burning is an annual event by (they believe) the same individual. He starts and finishes at the same time each year (roughly early March to early April as I recollect). Although they think they know who it is, they haven't managed to catch him at yet. I was asked to keep my eyes open so I invite anyone else passing that way to do the same.

pw

had a walk to here from longford park.
1 whitethroat next to large reedbed. first for the year
lots off blackcaps,chiffchaff and willow warblers
1 goosander (over)
3 swallows
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 reed bunting
2 bullfinch
1 great spotted woodpecker
2 jays
2 pheasants
plenty off goldfinch,greenfinch, blue/great & long tailed tits

Gervase Cooke wrote:

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Who burned the meadow by the reed bed again? Smells like it just happened. I was there a couple of weeks ago and it was fine then.

---

I think last year it was some weirdo with a flamethrower

Stunning morning stroll

Willow Warbler Singing by the river.

Great views of f Sparrowhawk soaring.

Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs everywhere.

Swallow heading north overhead.

Who burned the meadow by the reed bed again? Smells like it just happened. I was there a couple of weeks ago and it was fine then.

Re: Whitethroat

It would be early if so Roger and particularly so for our county but anything's possible.

Stroll round the ees and over to Broad Dole yesterday. What a stunner.

Lost count of singing chiff chaffs. Thought I heard a Whitethroat too (is that possible?)

7 pairs of Gadwall on Broad dole
and 2 pairs of shoveller

5 herons feeding. Things are hotting up in the Heronry.

A gentle stroll around Chorlton Ees to Sale WP and Bradd Ees Dole with Tony Darby once the rain had stopped this pm

Heron nests now 16 confirmed and one probably under construction. Also Goldcrest singing here

11th March sightings from Michael Seal info via Liz Saxby MV info warden

male Stonechat
2 Buzzard