If you walk off the path at the Vale Farm field and head up to the former railway embankment where those benches are, I've seen a Sparrowhawk there around where the pylon is, and then today on the path that brings you out on Craig Road. Presumably it likes that spot, with all the finches and thrushes about, if it's the same bird. I was really chuffed with it today, got such a great view of the bird when it reared up in front of me.
I'm sure you'll see it mate, I'm not an expert at this at all.
Paul Rafferty said
Mon Dec 9 8:52 PM, 2013
Well I never knew that was Garlic Bend. I'm still very much an amateur at this but I walk my dogs down there all the time and never see the numbers you are seeing. I think I'm the only person never to see the sparrowhawks around. I will keep an eye on your posts for more information!
Over the weekend saw: Song thrush Redwing Approx 20 long-tailed tits All at Vale Road Farm
Grey heron Grey Wagtail (I think - was very quick but colour and behaviour consistent with it) Goosanders (pair) Blue/Great Tits All around Garlic Bend/ Burnage Rugby Club Loads of Canada Geese
Any help welcome!!
-- Edited by Raff on Monday 9th of December 2013 09:13:38 PM
Simon Gough said
Mon Dec 9 5:04 PM, 2013
1400-1545
Cheadle Bridge 1 Goosander fem 1 Pink-footed Goose feeding with about 30 Canadas 1 Goldcrest in the trees on the Garlic Bend (now I know its called that!)
Railway Embankment and walk back to Heaton Mersey Park 200 Redwing approx. 1 Fieldfare (there were probably more but I didn't clock any directly) 1 Sparrowhawk fem
Quite amusingly, I saw the Sparrowhawk twice flashing through the trees and had only narrowed down to Juv or Female. As I walked down the path with trees on both sides I thought 'well I guess I won't find out', at which point it flew right at me from dead ahead, and then with maybe 10 feet to spare banked up right in front of me before flying off. So I got a lovely view of the bird after all! Quite exciting for a Monday afternoon...Anyone else made eye contact with a raptor today?
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Monday 9th of December 2013 05:12:12 PM
JamieDunning said
Wed Dec 4 3:16 PM, 2013
2 (3?) pairs of common Merganser this afternoon M60-Fletcher Moss. 2 Little grebe, 400+ Redwing feeding on the berries around the Golfcourse.
J
Chris Harper said
Wed Dec 4 8:42 AM, 2013
2 Teal this morning by Patch Island. 2 Little Grebe 7 Grey Heron
Chris Harper said
Tue Dec 3 10:30 PM, 2013
The garlic bend is the big meander between the weir and rugby pitch in heaton mersey. Lots of wild garlic in spring.
Simon Gough said
Tue Dec 3 9:57 PM, 2013
Hi Chris,
Where (what) is the "garlic bend"? Its not a term I've heard before.
Chris Harper said
Tue Dec 3 8:28 PM, 2013
2 Little Grebe 2 pair of Goosander 8 Grey Heron 10 Redwing Mistle Thrush Song Thrush in song
Chris Harper said
Wed Nov 27 9:57 AM, 2013
2 little grebe Sparrowhawk
Chris Harper said
Tue Nov 26 8:57 PM, 2013
Kingfisher by playing field at 7.30
Chris Harper said
Tue Nov 26 4:54 AM, 2013
Woodcock flushed from small pond behind garlic bend at 4.30 this evening. Little Grebe by weir
Chris Harper said
Wed Nov 20 7:03 PM, 2013
2 Little grebe again this am Goosander Bullfinch
Jon Beckett said
Tue Nov 19 5:40 PM, 2013
On Saturday morning there were 6 grey herons sat together on the river bank opposite the playing fields. Flew off together towards Abney Hall and perched on a pylon halfway.
Chris Harper said
Tue Nov 19 4:48 PM, 2013
2 Little Grebe near weir Kingfisher Goosander 4 Grey Heron Goldcrest
Chris Harper said
Tue Nov 12 4:54 PM, 2013
Kingfisher near Parrs Wood playing fields. 3 Goosander Bullfinch 7 Grey Heron Goldcrest Pied Wagtail
Chris Harper said
Tue Nov 5 7:54 PM, 2013
Kingfisher just downstream from Geoff's bridge at 7.30 this morning. Also: 5 Grey heron Grey Wagtail
Simon Gough said
Sun Oct 27 12:40 AM, 2013
Enjoyable walk from Heaton Mersey to Stenner Woods this afternoon. Of note for me: 2 Goldfinch Jay Sparrowhawk Cormorant 2 Common Gulls amongst 20 odd BH Gulls 2 Grey Heron all between the M60 and Burnage Rugby Club 2 Goosander 1 each side of Cheadle Bridge, female Stockport side, I think juv Didsbury side Cormorant Jay Grey Heron Mistle Thrush 3 Goldfinch all around Millgate Fields Grey Heron 2 Ring Necked Parakeet in the woods
Feeling virtuous for staying in GM...
Chris Porter said
Sun Oct 13 5:07 PM, 2013
Thanks for the replies. Simon's Bridge is further downstream than Geoff's Bridge. It's just beyond Millgate Fields and Fletcher Moss if traveling from Stockport to Didsbury, and crosses over to Didsbury Golf Course.
Chris Harper said
Sun Oct 13 12:49 AM, 2013
Geoffs and simons bridge probably same? Plaque dedicates it to geoff so I assumed that's the name? Seems fitting?
Tony Darby said
Sun Oct 13 12:07 AM, 2013
Hi Chris,
Geoff's Bridge is between the M60 bridge and Stockport centre. It crosses over to Cheadle Heath and is also known as the Green Bridge.
John Rayner said
Sat Oct 12 11:35 PM, 2013
Chris Porter wrote:
3 female Goosander close to Simon's Bridge yesterday morning (11th Oct), plus 7-8 Ring-necked Parakeets flying over.
Chris - could you tell me where Geoff's Bridge is please? (sorry, tried searching online but only finding references to it on this forum...)
And whilst we are at it ... where is Simon's Bridge?
Cheers, John
Chris Porter said
Sat Oct 12 11:30 PM, 2013
3 female Goosander close to Simon's Bridge yesterday morning (11th Oct), plus 7-8 Ring-necked Parakeets flying over.
Chris - could you tell me where Geoff's Bridge is please? (sorry, tried searching online but only finding references to it on this forum...)
Chris Harper said
Tue Oct 8 3:17 PM, 2013
At least 1 Kingfisher between M60 and Geoff's bridges at 7.25 9 Grey Heron Bullfinch
Chris Harper said
Mon Oct 7 3:19 PM, 2013
Kingfisher just upstream from Geoff's bridge. 4 Goosander by Patch Island 6 Grey Heron
Chris Harper said
Tue Oct 1 3:22 PM, 2013
Goosander at 7.25 2 Grey Heron Grey Wagtail Chiffchaff Cormorant
Chris Harper said
Mon Sep 23 8:45 PM, 2013
Kingfisher under M60 bridge at 7.20 this morning. 2 Grey Heron Bullfinch
Chris Greene said
Sat Sep 21 2:14 PM, 2013
Late post for yesterday ,20/09/13 @ 14:00.... As seen from Dunhelm Mill car park, St.Mary's Way , Stockport....whilst waiting for my shopping missus! Up to seven sand martins and two house martins, feeding up over the river. Singles of Grey Wagtail and Dipper ,feeding directly under St.Mary's Way Bridge, ( It helps to be tall to see over the wall at far end of the car park, ) Cheers Chris
Chris Harper said
Wed Sep 18 5:00 PM, 2013
3 Goosander 4 Chiffchaff 50+ mixed feeding flock of Swallow/ House Martin 5 Grey Heron 2 Jay Cormorant Bullfinch
Chris Harper said
Tue Sep 10 3:22 PM, 2013
Female Goosander Mute Swan Chiffchaff 5 Grey wagtail 2 Cormorant 2 Grey Heron Many Canada Geese and Mallard Sparrowhawk over town centre
Jon Beckett said
Thu Aug 1 9:28 PM, 2013
Heard a Green Woodpecker by the angling pond at the back of the farm this morning. Buzzard was being harrassed by magpies close by and saw either that or another by the meadow pond. Common Whitethroat Juvenile Blackcap Juvenile black headed gull on playing fields Large numbers of goldfinch and canada geese Grey wagtail 2 grey heron Other usuals
Jon Beckett said
Tue Jul 16 7:26 PM, 2013
Saw the family of Goosander just after you last evening slightly further down stream. And they were all below the weir at 11.30 this morning, good fun watching them.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jul 16 2:30 AM, 2013
Fascinating scene at 4.30 ish by weir, with female Goosander above it in the river, seemingly teaching the 3 young to swim/dive in the rapid flows below the weir.
They were coping very well it seemed.
Chris Harper said
Mon Jul 15 3:52 PM, 2013
Goosander with 3 fast growing young
Common Whitethroat
3 Chiffchaff
15 Sand Martin
50+ Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls on golf course
40 Goldfinch
3 Grey Heron
Chris Harper said
Mon Jul 8 3:15 PM, 2013
7.10-7.30:
Female Goosander
Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Grey Heron
4 Swallow
14 Sand Martin
15 Swift
3 Mallard
Chris Harper said
Wed Jul 3 1:38 AM, 2013
Eclipse Drake and female Goosander up from Geoff's Bridge at 3.30pm. Still 100's of aerial feeders too.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jul 2 3:20 PM, 2013
7.10-7.30:
Female Goosander with 3 young(Cheadle Bridge) 40+ Swift 30+ Sand Martin 4House Martin 3 Swallow 5 Bullfinch 4 Blackcap 4 Chiffchaff 2 Grey Heron
Jon Beckett said
Thu Jun 27 8:27 PM, 2013
12-12.45
Family of 4 Reed Bunting on meadow pond, also 2 Common Whitethroat. Elsewhere, large numbers of Swift/Swallow/Sand Martin Female Goosander with 3 young 2 Cormorant Heron Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail Still not seen Kingfisher this year
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 25 3:50 PM, 2013
7.10-7.30:
3 Blackcap 3 Common Whitethroat Willow Warbler 6 Chiffchaff Grey Wagtail Cormorant Grey Heron 4 Swallow 7 Sand Martin
Tony Darby said
Sun Jun 23 2:36 AM, 2013
Mersey Vale, Heaton Mersey. Great views of a Kingfisher at the meadow pond towards Burnage R.C. I was as close as 2m away when we first became aware of each other. It flew about 10m away and continued looking for lunch, rather than flying off, so I was able to continue watching it for a good 15 mins before I moved on.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 18 3:26 PM, 2013
7-7.15:
3 Common Whitethroat Blackcap Willow Warbler Chiffchaff 4 Swallow 6 Sand Martin 2 Grey Heron Cormorant Grey Wagtail
Chris Harper said
Mon Jun 10 3:53 PM, 2013
7-7.15
Dipper 7 Sand Martin 5 Swift 2 Bullfinch Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff 2 Blackcap 4 Grey Wagtail Grey Heron Cormorant
Tony Darby said
Sun Jun 9 12:51 AM, 2013
Lovely sight of a Goosander with 9 small chicks below the weir at Vale Road. They continued moving downstream; the adult looking very alert while the chicks were dabbling away in the shallows. Also a Kingfisher in the same area.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 4 6:10 PM, 2013
7 Blackcap this morning 3 Chiffchaff 2 Common Whitethroat 4 Swallow
Chris Harper said
Mon Jun 3 4:28 PM, 2013
7-7.20: Drake Goosander Reed Bunting 5 Blackcap 40+ Swift 15 Sand Martin 4 Swallow Grey Wagtail with young Cormorant
Chris Harper said
Mon May 20 3:17 PM, 2013
A lovely morning(For birding!)
7-7.25 Highlights:
At least 8 Chiffchaff 2 Common Whitethroat 2 Blackcap 2 Willow Warbler 2 Stock Dove Dipper 2 Bullfinch 50+ Swift 10 Sand Martin 4 House Martin 5 Swallow Drake Goosander Great Spotted Woodpecker
Chris Harper said
Mon May 13 3:57 PM, 2013
This am 7.10-7.25: 3 Common Whitethroat 3 Blackcap Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Grey Wagtail 8 Swallow 8 Sand Martin
Plus usuals.
Tony Darby said
Wed May 8 9:16 PM, 2013
Drake Mandarin Duck seen in the garlic bend/sewage outfall area at 1.00pm.
Tony Darby said
Tue May 7 7:33 PM, 2013
Goosander with 2 chicks on her back cruising downstream by Burnage RC. It's good that they're breeding in the area but only 2 remaining from the original brood is a poor success rate. Good to bump into the Becketts, senior and junior.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Tuesday 7th of May 2013 08:52:00 PM
Chris Harper said
Wed May 1 6:13 PM, 2013
Similar to yesterday, minus Reed Bunting. In addition Pheasant Drake Goosander Swallows Sparrowhawk
I'm sure you'll see it mate, I'm not an expert at this at all.
Over the weekend saw:
Song thrush
Redwing
Approx 20 long-tailed tits
All at Vale Road Farm
Grey heron
Grey Wagtail (I think - was very quick but colour and behaviour consistent with it)
Goosanders (pair)
Blue/Great Tits
All around Garlic Bend/ Burnage Rugby Club
Loads of Canada Geese
Any help welcome!!
-- Edited by Raff on Monday 9th of December 2013 09:13:38 PM
Cheadle Bridge
1 Goosander fem
1 Pink-footed Goose feeding with about 30 Canadas
1 Goldcrest in the trees on the Garlic Bend (now I know its called that!)
Vale Road Farm
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Heron
Railway Embankment and walk back to Heaton Mersey Park
200 Redwing approx.
1 Fieldfare (there were probably more but I didn't clock any directly)
1 Sparrowhawk fem
Quite amusingly, I saw the Sparrowhawk twice flashing through the trees and had only narrowed down to Juv or Female. As I walked down the path with trees on both sides I thought 'well I guess I won't find out', at which point it flew right at me from dead ahead, and then with maybe 10 feet to spare banked up right in front of me before flying off. So I got a lovely view of the bird after all! Quite exciting for a Monday afternoon...Anyone else made eye contact with a raptor today?
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Monday 9th of December 2013 05:12:12 PM
2 Little grebe,
400+ Redwing feeding on the berries around the Golfcourse.
J
2 Little Grebe
7 Grey Heron
Where (what) is the "garlic bend"? Its not a term I've heard before.
2 pair of Goosander
8 Grey Heron
10 Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Song Thrush in song
Sparrowhawk
Little Grebe by weir
Goosander
Bullfinch
Kingfisher
Goosander
4 Grey Heron
Goldcrest
3 Goosander
Bullfinch
7 Grey Heron
Goldcrest
Pied Wagtail
Also:
5 Grey heron
Grey Wagtail
Of note for me:
2 Goldfinch
Jay
Sparrowhawk
Cormorant
2 Common Gulls amongst 20 odd BH Gulls
2 Grey Heron
all between the M60 and Burnage Rugby Club
2 Goosander
1 each side of Cheadle Bridge, female Stockport side, I think juv Didsbury side
Cormorant
Jay
Grey Heron
Mistle Thrush
3 Goldfinch
all around Millgate Fields
Grey Heron
2 Ring Necked Parakeet
in the woods
Feeling virtuous for staying in GM...
Geoff's Bridge is between the M60 bridge and Stockport centre. It crosses over to Cheadle Heath
and is also known as the Green Bridge.
And whilst we are at it ... where is Simon's Bridge?
Cheers, John
Chris - could you tell me where Geoff's Bridge is please? (sorry, tried searching online but only finding references to it on this forum...)
9 Grey Heron
Bullfinch
4 Goosander by Patch Island
6 Grey Heron
2 Grey Heron
Grey Wagtail
Chiffchaff
Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
Bullfinch
As seen from Dunhelm Mill car park, St.Mary's Way , Stockport....whilst waiting for my shopping missus!
Up to seven sand martins and two house martins, feeding up over the river.
Singles of Grey Wagtail and Dipper ,feeding directly under St.Mary's Way Bridge, ( It helps to be tall to see over the wall at far end of the car park, )
Cheers Chris
4 Chiffchaff
50+ mixed feeding flock of Swallow/ House Martin
5 Grey Heron
2 Jay
Cormorant
Bullfinch
Mute Swan
Chiffchaff
5 Grey wagtail
2 Cormorant
2 Grey Heron
Many Canada Geese and Mallard
Sparrowhawk over town centre
Buzzard was being harrassed by magpies close by and saw either that or another by the meadow pond.
Common Whitethroat
Juvenile Blackcap
Juvenile black headed gull on playing fields
Large numbers of goldfinch and canada geese
Grey wagtail
2 grey heron
Other usuals
They were coping very well it seemed.
Common Whitethroat
3 Chiffchaff
15 Sand Martin
50+ Black Headed and Lesser Black Backed Gulls on golf course
40 Goldfinch
3 Grey Heron
Female Goosander
Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Grey Heron
4 Swallow
14 Sand Martin
15 Swift
3 Mallard
Still 100's of aerial feeders too.
Female Goosander with 3 young(Cheadle Bridge)
40+ Swift
30+ Sand Martin
4House Martin
3 Swallow
5 Bullfinch
4 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaff
2 Grey Heron
Family of 4 Reed Bunting on meadow pond, also 2 Common Whitethroat.
Elsewhere, large numbers of Swift/Swallow/Sand Martin
Female Goosander with 3 young
2 Cormorant
Heron
Grey Wagtail and Pied Wagtail
Still not seen Kingfisher this year
3 Blackcap
3 Common Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
Cormorant
Grey Heron
4 Swallow
7 Sand Martin
Great views of a Kingfisher at the meadow pond towards Burnage R.C.
I was as close as 2m away when we first became aware of each other. It flew about 10m away and continued looking for
lunch, rather than flying off, so I was able to continue watching it for a good 15 mins before I moved on.
3 Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
4 Swallow
6 Sand Martin
2 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Grey Wagtail
Dipper
7 Sand Martin
5 Swift
2 Bullfinch
Willow Warbler
2 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
4 Grey Wagtail
Grey Heron
Cormorant
They continued moving downstream; the adult looking very alert while the chicks were dabbling away in
the shallows. Also a Kingfisher in the same area.
3 Chiffchaff
2 Common Whitethroat
4 Swallow
Drake Goosander
Reed Bunting
5 Blackcap
40+ Swift
15 Sand Martin
4 Swallow
Grey Wagtail with young
Cormorant
7-7.25 Highlights:
At least 8 Chiffchaff
2 Common Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
2 Stock Dove
Dipper
2 Bullfinch
50+ Swift
10 Sand Martin
4 House Martin
5 Swallow
Drake Goosander
Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Common Whitethroat
3 Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Grey Wagtail
8 Swallow
8 Sand Martin
Plus usuals.
It's good that they're breeding in the area but only 2 remaining from the original brood
is a poor success rate.
Good to bump into the Becketts, senior and junior.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Tuesday 7th of May 2013 08:52:00 PM
In addition
Pheasant
Drake Goosander
Swallows
Sparrowhawk
Dipper pair
Reed Bunting (Patch Island)
Lapwing
3 Bullfinch
4 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
2 Grey Heron
3 Sand Martin
Whitethroat singing yesterday 4.30pm