Street tree feeders, Burleigh rd. Stretford -
Steve Burke arrived yesterday and filled the empty feeders (cheers Steve) and soon after one or two birds arrived but it was beginning to go dark .
This morning at 8.30 am i noticed only 5 goldfinch on them , later 4 greenfinch turned up .
At 2.30pm there was -
8 Goldfinch.
4 Greenfinch .
2 Blue Tit .
5 House Sparrow .
6 Feral Pigeon (cleaning up the pavement ) .
1 Blackbird after berries on the adjacent Sorbus tree.
Also c 70 feral pigeons over ( from the numerous take - aways nearby).
And 2 Lesser Black-back Gulls which scavenge the playground at the junior school on the corner.

Burleigh road, Street tree feeders, Stretford -
Arrived back home from hospital after a Minor operation on my right foot on Saturday, so for the next 6-8 weeks I'll be on crutches and won't be able to fill the feeders .
Steve Burke has offered to help when he can (what a star) and the Gorse Hill Volunteer Group have offered also , but if anybody is passing and wishes to help give a knock at no.7.
There's been lots of birds turning up this morning but the feeders are empty , but 2 Blue Tit have been able to pick off the last few seeds without any competition from the Green and Goldfinch's, while 6 House Sparrow have been sat on top of the beech hedge under the feeders occasionally checking them out.
Up to 13 House Sparrow have been seen on the beech hedge lately which good to see as they've been a bit scarce up to now.
Also heard but not seen are a couple of Pied Wagtail which are usually seen around the long puddle adjacent the tree.

Back working Taxi's till February, Few things seen today

1 Sparrowhawk seen over Wigan Road, Leigh heading over to Bickershaw rucks.
1 Kestrel hunting over the old ground of Leigh Centurions.
2 Redwing on Walmsley Road, Leigh
Pied Wagtails everywhere including group of 14 around BJ bingos and JRS taxis car park.

Few things this morning whilst walking to the gym,

2 Mistle Thrush and a single Redwing feeding on Berries in a Back garden off Kirkhall Lane, Leigh.
8 Long Tailed tits were in a tree just off St Helens road, Leigh.
Pied Wagtails seem to be everywhere all over Leigh town centre at the minute.

tawny owl calling on bickershaw lane from 23-10 until 23-45 last night

Two singing mistle thrush and a pied wagtail around the university campus on Oxford Road this morning (as well as the usual magpies, great tits and blue tits).

Gorton Park just off Hyde Rd.
A massive gathering of Gulls this morning (probably a few 100) including lots of large Gulls too.

Just a quick glance from the wagon which was in slow rolling traffic around 9.30am, so not much chance to ID them all I'm afraid. Someone was walking their dog and feeding them all which was drawing them all in.

There were however lots of Lesser Black-backed adults, lots of Black-headed Gulls, the vast majority seemingly being juvenile / young large Gulls.

Following on from below, at least four very vocal and active mistle thrush just down the road from Chris's sightings, at Manchester Uni on Oxford Road, as I walked into work this morning. Also a snatch of song heard later on.

5 mistle thrush flying back and forth taking berries from a couple of trees in Birley Fields MMU campus in Hulme, next to the footbridge over Princess Road. No sign of any winter migrants there yet, though fieldfare and redwing have visited in previous years.

Passed both Redgate Recycling and Gorton Park (opposite Showcase) this morning whilst in the wagon on way into town.

There is a large numbers of Gulls building at Gorton Park, as there is at Redgate too!
Mainly seem to be consisting of...
-Black-headed Gulls
-Lesser Black-backed Gulls
-Herring Gulls
-lots of younger individuals of the large Gulls

...also this morning, for the 2nd morning in a row, I was astonished to see a Curlew feeding in Gorton Park not far from the Gulls. I had to look twice, but that's what it was. It was there yesterday but I didn't post it because I thought I must have it wrong, apparently not!

Only a matter of time before another rarity turns up here again I think.

2 adult Herring Gulls have just flown in as I'm leaving Redgate Recycling

Redgate Recycling, Gorton.

Gull numbers seem to be building nicely recently but I don't always get the chance to stop due to timed deliveries etc but just managed 15 mins this lunchtime.

Black-headed Gulls - estimate of around 80-100
Lesser Black-backed Gulls - around 10 adults
Juvenile / various age (large) Gulls - presumably LB-b's around 30-40
Goldfinch - 3
Dunnock - 1
Carrion Crow - 2
Magpie -1
Starling - lots around the rubbish mound and the yard

Buzzard flew over M56 this morning.

37 Lapwing in field just off M56, Manchester bound this morning.

flooded horse fieldon bickershaw lane, 4 mallard, 2 gadwall and c80 black headed gull.

1 great black backed gull and c60 starling over bickershaw lane nr school @14-45

Birds in Stretford - wet mooch around this morning walking through Gorse hill park first - Great Spotted Woodpecker x2 over.
Next Lancashire Cricket Club - Mistle Thrush x4 on the wicket .
Then on the way back via Trafford Town Hall gardens - Starling flock x c 50 . and a Goldfinch flock - c 40 with them .
( enquired if they had a added a Natural Roof when they built the new £20 m extension - NO was the answer .... Shame because
they have a long section of Phragmites planted adj. the carpark).
Back at Burleigh road , Street tree feeders - Goldfinch and Greenfinch x 52 on and around the feeders .
Blue Tit x 2 .
House Sparrow x 3.
( With so many finches about I put another feeder up )
Also Starling x25 turned up briefly to feed on the adj. Sorbus Intermediate berries.

Burleigh Rd. Street tree feeders, Stretford.
More than 20 Gold and Greenfinch (mainly goldfinch ) as usual on and around the feeders this morning.
Also a quick visit from the grey squirrel but it soon left because of my new squirrel Resistant feeder , but that's another story on other wildlife . Happy days ! .

yesterday morning 9.10am 1 chiffchaff at old Trafford tram stop.

this morning 9.30am 1 male bullfinch around the old trafford metrolink depot.

4 Grey Wagtails and 3 Pied Wagtails all together (having a couple of disputes) on factory roof opposite our Reddish depot around 10am this morning.

Also...
- 1 Robin picking titbits from around the wooden pallets in the yard, sometimes comes in the warehouse and doesn't bother about people or the forklift truck.
- a Goldcrest heard in the bushes/scrubland at the side of depot yard, briefly seen as a silhouette moving around

Forgot to post on Friday morning...
A Chiffchaff singing in the same area of works yard. More short bursts of Chiffchaffing rather than a lengthy song. Presuming this is for territorial reasons.

c60 jackdaw in trees at church yard in bickershaw lane pre roost before heading off towards pennington roost

Sparrowhawk over my road in Chorlton, near the park, around 8.20 this morning; mistle thrush also around, and a goldcrest later on in the morning.

Later 26 fieldfare (my first of the autumn) and 13 lapwing around the scrubland off Knott and Crime Lane, Ashton (near Daisy Nook).

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Saturday 31st of October 2015 08:08:57 PM

Whilst on a Halloween ghost walk around Uppermill, a heron was feeding on a lawn next to the library in pitch black. Illuminated by torches didn't seem to phase it as it fed on snails attracted by the damp grass.

22/10/15 Heaton Moor, Stockport. Male Sparrowhawk attacking what appeared to be another bird of prey in Thornfield Park, however, when said victim managed to escape into the fenced tennis courts, I discovered it was a male woodcock, which sadly died a short time later. Not sure how far it had come, as the nearest wooded marshy areas are at least half a mile away.

Male Sparrowhawk back on same perch as before . Showing really well facing the highway this time... time for a close - up photo from my armchair.
(No finches present.)

The feeders were not empty at1.15 pm today (or yesterday ) but I did see a lot of birds leaving the tree. It was a good chance to fill them.
Having done this , I waited for the finches to return. ...which they did , but not for long.
After a while up to 40 Gold and Greenfinch were seen in and around the tree but not on the feeders!
The usual Feral Pigeons were panicking from time to time causing the finches to panic and leave...or so I thought ?
WRONG ! A Sparrowhawk was sat 2 foot away from the feeders !!!
It remained there for one and half hours with plenty of finches coming and going but not feeding .
The Sparrowhawk was not bothered in the least by passing cars or people walking 7foot below it going to and from the nearby Co-Op.

Quick visit to Redgate Recycling for 15 mins now before a flying visit to Cornwall this afternoon with best mate until Sunday.

- a Jay has just flown over the main tip again for the 2nd day in a row.
- Black-headed Gulls - 4
- Lesser Black-backed Gulls - few young birds flying around
- Carrion Crow 1
- Dunnock 1
- House Sparrow 1
- Starling - 3 or 4 flying around

Stuck in heavy traffic during rush hour this morning on Hyde Rd outside Redgate Recycling.
Didn't move for at least a few minutes and saw...

-Black-headed Gulls - 10 on 384 building
-Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 1 adult, 2 possible 3rd W (well developed but with pink legs) also on 384 building
-few Juvenile Gulls - couldn't safely ID them, also on 384 building
-Jay 1 flyover
-Magpie 1 on fence near the rubbish mound
-Starling - small group flying around

Just landed home @12-15 am tawny owl calling from bickershaw lane,

-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Thursday 8th of October 2015 12:27:03 AM

3.20pm - currently parked up on break at Redgate Recycling in Gorton.
There was a large Hawk circling high over Hyde Rd a couple of minutes ago that looked surprisingly Goshawk-like, large version of a Sparrowhawk, which I'm not saying it wasn't, just looked massive and too robust.

Approx 50 or so Gulls were put up, mainly Black-headed but quite a few of the large Gulls too. Some have gone and the rest have only just settled on the 384 Building again.

The Hawk has drifted off in the direction of Beswick or possibly Openshaw so a heads up to anyone in that area.

Also a couple over Romiley at 10.30 pm last night.

Could hear the odd Redwing lisping over East Didsbury last night between 9-11pm

Flock of noisy geese over bickershaw lane @23-20 last night sounded like Canada geese buti was half asleep

A Tawny Owl flew across the M60 near Denton in the gloom this evening.

1 Kingfisher along the Bridgwater Canal, Broadheath this afternoon at 16.10.

around St.Pats rugby ground in wigan whilst watching gransdson play- buzzard overhead, 6 pied wagtail, 2 willow warbler, muscovey duck on canal.

tawny owl calling in bickershaw lane @02-47 this morning.

Burleigh Rd, street tree feeders,Stretford.
Young goldfinch still turning up in the tree begging food also a young blue tit begging. Greenfinch juveniles are turning up in good numbers as well .
The pedigree Burmese cat has also been present - sat right under the feeders . I got me CAT- apult out but didn't launch a missile as it's been keeping the squirrels away. "I thought l'd let it lye!"

Late post for Wednesday 16th.

Redgate Recycling in Gorton approx 2pm - 2.45pm

-Black-headed Gulls - lots of them
-Lesser Black-backed Gulls - couple of adults, quite a few juv and what I think were 2nd winter and 3rd winter birds around too, some had grey inner primaries, some had more brownish inners.
-Starling - approx 100+
-Carrion Crows
-Magpies
-Pied Wagtail - 1

Couldn't find a suitable thread for this sighting so here is probably the best place.

This afternoon approx 3pm.
Pulled off the M60 to get fuel at Tesco in Prestwich. I could hear some commotion above me but fairly low and there was a gang of Carrion Crows with a couple of Jackdaws mobbing what appeared to be and is likely to be a huge Common Buzzard.
The thing that confused me a little along with the size of the Buzzard (it was massive with large wings and long primaries) is that it had jesses hanging down or at least some kind of strapping.
No escapes reported today of any kind?


Just incase anyone is wondering, I tried to get binos but it kept circling out of view over the trees and coming back into view further down.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 12th of September 2015 11:35:21 PM

A large movement of 200+ House Martins southbound over Swinton for a 5 minute period midday today.

Muscovey duçk on Leeds Liverpool canal at ince just behind
St.Pats rugby ground in Wigan

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of September 2015 09:25:24 PM

Burleigh rd, Stretford , street tree feeders . . . . . . . . Got out of bed this morning 7.30am - still raining - had a look at my back- yard feeders from the back bedroom. . . . . . At least 9 Goldfinch present , which meant the street feeders were empty so checked from the front bedroom . . Yep totally empty but about 20 Goldfinch feeding on dropped seed on the pavement below. And Yep ! I went back to bed. . . . . Filled the feeders at 10am (still raining ) and still heard young Goldfinch begging for food, later saw a young Greenfinch doing the same. . Its good to see them still being produced into September . Ps. The young Greenfinch was begging right next to a feeder and took at least 10 regurgitated sunflower seeds from the parent bird.

Burleigh rd, street tree feeders . . . . . . . Lots of young Gold and Greenfinch on the feeders lately . (Mainly goldfinch ) . . . . Sunflower seed being used has gone over 1kg/day. . . I recycle dropped seed now because feral pigeons don't come around very often because feral cats are waiting in ambush.. . . . . . A squirrel turned up last week (1st in a month) so I launched an ice- cube at it with my new £2.99 Aldi catapult as it sat feeding on the pavement. . . I just missed it but when it ran off it was pounced on by a pedigree cat behind a wall. . . It got away with its tail intact :@. Maybe cats are not the enemy ? As with lots of things in nature there's always a trade - off .

Group of 20+ house martin over my back yard just, the first time I've seen them in Chorlton itself; also a single swift.

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Monday 17th of August 2015 07:48:05 PM

Burleigh road street tree feeders , Stretford . . . . . . Armchair birding from 10am to 11.45am . . . . . . . Again nice to see lots of new young at the feeders both Green and Goldfinch , ( with a young goldfinch begging from its parent elsewhere in the tree ). A Blue Tit was present for a short while but no House Sparrow seen. Seed level has gone well below half way so looks like i'm going to get wet after all .

Willow Warbler on the move south in a garden half way between Pennington Flash and Bickershaw Rucks this morning

Over the last couple of days, we have noticed loads of gulls in the sky, far mare than usual, also a number of bats, possibly about 10, at about 5pm, so really during the day.

We put it down to flying ants, of which there have been plenty this week.