Late post for yesterday dinner time (Forgot to post as phone battery died whilst I was working)
Redgate Recycling ... Lots of Gulls everywhere including around the refuse site and swarming in the air over the 384 building right the way down to over BCA (car auctions) and showcase cinemas. Tried to count but was impossible due to nature of their behaviour but a rough estimate would suggest around 200 birds. Mainly seemed to be Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, including adults and juveniles but I was unable to scan closely for anything else, apologies!
phillipskelly said
Fri Aug 7 10:44 AM, 2015
Street tree feeder - Burleigh rd , Stretford . . . . . . After watching lots of young Gold and Greenfinch fighting over places on the feeder with adult finches , I reinstated the other feeder.
So far they're using 1kg of sunflower hearts a day , with a large amount ending up on the pavement .
Usually dropped seed is hoovered up by feral pigeons but not many about lately. . . I had to get the brush out this morning and "Do a Bit " .
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Aug 2 6:56 PM, 2015
house martin seen taking food to nest in bickershaw lane, and also in twist lane leigh,
Shannon Llewellyn said
Tue Jul 28 7:15 PM, 2015
Sparrowhawk flying over my back yard in Chorlton, heading SW, in the general direction of Hardy's Farm.
Dennis atherton said
Tue Jul 28 3:37 PM, 2015
Mega local bird today nr Crows nest farm off Radcliffe road little lever. Green woodpecker in the field with the horses nr the Caravan sales park today at 3.15 feeding on the floor in the same field as horses. A first for me locally
Rob Creek said
Tue Jul 28 1:44 PM, 2015
Redgate Recycling early pm today.
Despite heavy rain, the Gulls were not deterred. A group of approx 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls present, approx half and half clean immaculate adults and juveniles around the refuse heap and the 384 building. Also around 10 Black-headed Gulls of various ages, including a few adults. -Starlings -Woodpigeons -Magpies
Bernard McGurrin said
Mon Jul 27 1:54 PM, 2015
Whilst driving through lower ince a sparrowhawk was being harassed by starlings,
Rob Creek said
Sat Jul 25 5:28 PM, 2015
Whitethroat singing away in the shrubbery on the edge of our works yard in Reddish yesterday afternoon and this morning approx 9am
phillipskelly said
Sat Jul 25 2:33 PM, 2015
Burleigh road , Stretford .
Street tree feeders . . .. . . - lots of young Greenfinch turning up as well a new young Goldfinch following adult birds to the feeder , but not many House Sparrow . . . This may be down to the amount of competition with the Gold and Greenfinch since I changed back to the sunflower hearts from the robin seed which the other finches did'nt prefer. . . I should reinstate the other feeder really .
gary mills said
Wed Jul 22 3:33 PM, 2015
Barn owl seen 3.45hrs this morning hunting M60 between Simister and Middleton.
Rob Creek said
Wed Jul 22 2:05 PM, 2015
Redgate Recycling this lunchtime...
Not stopped off here since the departure of the winter group of mixed Gulls earlier in the year, today however there is a notable group of Gulls including... -Black-headed Gulls approx 25-30 seemingly adults or 1st summer (no juv) -Lesser Black-backed Gulls approx 15-20 all adults bar 1 juv -Herring Gulls 3 adults
Scott robinson said
Fri Jul 17 9:16 PM, 2015
Plenty Swift around Maple Crescent, Leigh this evening.
phillipskelly said
Sat Jul 11 3:04 PM, 2015
Having got sunflower seed from quality save Urmston (Stretford and Trafford park empty) on thursday I changed the robin seed over. It was so full of dust no wonder most birds avoided it . . . . . There are more New young Gold and Greenfinch visiting the feeder today as well as adult birds including the blue tits . . . I was at Gronnant on friday so did'nt see what used the feeder yesterday but It was empty by this morning - suprising how fast the word gets around about a food source in the avian world, especiall with parents feeding young and not being involved in flock behaviour . Unless they follow un- attached non breeders who are forming loose flocks. . . .
Or probably they just check out a known source over and over :-S .
phillipskelly said
Wed Jul 8 8:42 AM, 2015
Burleigh rd , Stretford . . .
Street tree feeder. . . . . . . . .
Finally got to sleep gone 4am,
Woke up and looked at the time on my moby. . . . 08.07am (yippee 4hrs sleep).
Went downstairs looked at my watch . . . 6.07am . . WHAT? - I must have seen the date not the time ! . . . . . .looks like it's gonna be another Burleigh rd. birdwatching day (yawn ! ).
From the front door it looked like one of those very good,very bad days . . . . . . 1st the bad - No green or goldfinch about they're just not interested in robin food. . . . .
2nd the Good . . No Green or Goldfinch gives the House Sparrows a better chance to access the seed , also the Blue Tits . . . . .
Straight away 2 clumsy young sparrows tried to perch , 1 landing on it's parents back , the other gave up after several attempts but was fed by a parent.
Similar story with a young Blue Tit . . . When it finally landed it did'nt quite know how to pick the seed out but soon adapted to it's new food source. . . . . . .
So there's been at least 4 x adult and 2 x young House sparrows . Plus 2 x (tatty) adult Blue tit and at least 1 x young . . . . Also a squirrel has just arrived and left un- fed due to oily feeder. . . Probably gone to next doors garden. . . . . . Better go now feeling a bit sleepy. (Ps. No 1kg sunflower seed bags at Quality Save again on Tuesday - did'nt know about the Trafford Pk. outlet . . Cheers Steve ) . . . . "SNZzzzzzzz ! "
Steve Scrimgeour said
Tue Jul 7 8:54 AM, 2015
Phil,
We have found Quality Save in either Urmston or at Trafford Retail Park, selling bird feed at reasonable prices, not sure if there is one in Stretford though....
Cheers Steve
phillipskelly said
Mon Jul 6 1:13 PM, 2015
At Asda Trafford Park earlier . . .
Two cheeky Starling inside the main entrance , picking bits off the carpet and dodging peoples feet . . . .I literally had to Kick them both out through the main door for their own safety.
Back at Burleigh rd , street tree feeder. . . . . . .
Could'nt get hold of any sunflower hearts at a decent price, so filled the feeder with Robin Food as I've done in the past - same result . . . Goldfinch won't entertain it and check every port then leave and the Greenfinch chuck most of it away. There are 3 on it now , but they're just swapping places with each other thinking "someones getting the good stuff ! ". (It'll have to do till tomorrow ) . . . .
Ps. House sparrow and Blue tit having no problems with it !
phillipskelly said
Sun Jul 5 9:18 PM, 2015
Street tree feeder , Burleigh rd, Stretford.. . . . . . Green and Goldfinch with a couple of House Sparrow and Blue Tit hammering the last of the seed in the feeder tonight . . . . . . The Greenfinch are always fighting over the food supply as are the Goldfinch both young and adult birds.. . Its good to see both sets of young holding their own and not being bullied off, especially as the seed was running out.. . .
At 8.10pm as I was trying to cadge some spare seed off Sue next door . . a Sparrowhawk did a pass over the feeder, an adjacent tree then did a 180 degree turn and finnished off with a pass over a lamp post (pigeon hot-spot) and our heads.. . It did'nt catch owt. Sue has also been watching a lot of young Goldfinch on my back-yard feeders and the phone wires above them.
Nice one Sue ! (I can only see them from a back bedroom )
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 3 11:14 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Scott Robinson:
At least 20+ Swifts currently zooming around Maple Crescent, Westleigh.
phillipskelly said
Thu Jul 2 11:37 AM, 2015
Street tree feeders , Burleigh rd, Stretford .. . . . . Another young Goldfinch in the tree , begging and being fed. . . That makes 3 up to now - not very good . . . .
It returned with a parent and sat on the feeder still begging for some food with no success , it left un-fed with the parent .
Then the gardening firm arrived to cut the hedge . . . They took a minimal amount of growth off then went.
Thanks lads see you in September ! (glad I did'nt pay for that poor effort ) .
phillipskelly said
Wed Jul 1 12:17 PM, 2015
Street tree feeders , Burleigh rd , Stretford.
1 x young Goldfinch .(not seen one since 05.06.15) plus several adults .
Several young Greenfinch on the the feeder as well as adult birds. . . Ps. went to gym last night and the usual chaffinch was singing it's head off at 8.15pm on Kingsway stretford. . . I got back for 10pm with lots of swift screaming high above Burleigh rd . (So high I could'nt see em)
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 27 12:18 PM, 2015
Sparrowhawk over the Inspire Church / converted flats, cafe etc on Stockport Rd, Levenshulme approx 10.30am
Roger Baker 3 said
Fri Jun 26 4:31 PM, 2015
Left puregym at 9pm last night ...................................................................
Phil, sounds a bit drastic ? Just how big is this Burleigh rd Squirrel ?? Roger.
phillipskelly said
Fri Jun 26 1:01 PM, 2015
Left puregym at 9pm last night and heard the Grey wagtail calling again outside the Chester rd. entrance to Stretford Mall, so had a look. I walked up to an adult 4 ft. away collecting food . Then went to see where a juvenile was calling from resulting in a dive- bomb attack from the adult bird, so I left sharpish !
Crossing Kingsway I heard the usual Chaffinch singing away .
Bernard McGurrin said
Fri Jun 26 10:13 AM, 2015
stuck in traffic, Liverpool road Hindley @ 08-40 song thrush and 2 pied wagtail foraging under trees and bushes.
Neil Ferguson said
Sat Jun 20 6:48 PM, 2015
Around 4pm this afternoon sitting on the metal fence adjacent to the cashpoint machines at Morrisons in Ince Wigan.
A pair of Linnets - I know I couldn't believe it either.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 19 3:48 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Nigel Troup:
There has been a Whitethroat singing from the patch of disused land on the corner of Devonshire Road South and the A6 in Ardwick, on most mornings this week, today included.
phillipskelly said
Mon Jun 15 4:57 PM, 2015
Burleigh rd , Stretford .
Street tree feeders . . . . . . .
Greenfinch x 10 inc. 5 juveniles .
Goldfinch x 6 but no juveniles seen since one on 05.06.15. . . . . Woodpigeon x 2. eating the cherries off the tree (which end up all over my car roof ).
Starling x 2 inc. one juvenile doing the same.
Unfortunately
a pedigree cat (possibly a Burmese) was seen with a blue tit in its mouth coming from the beech hedge adjacent the tree. This was chased down the street by my next - door neighbour , but it dispareared in garden. . . . It's now been put on the Wanted List with the squirel .. . . . My squirter is at the ready as is a bucket of water from next door.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Jun 8 9:57 PM, 2015
At last! A House Martin over Irlam feeding with c.20 Swift at 19.40 this evening.
phillipskelly said
Sat Jun 6 6:45 PM, 2015
Street tree feeders , Burleigh rd, Stretford . . . .
The first young Goldfinch was present yesterday (fri 05.06.15) but only one.. . .
At least 3 x young Greenfinch and 2x young House Sparrow, together with other adult finches.. . .
No young Goldfinch today though.
phillipskelly said
Tue Jun 2 12:20 PM, 2015
Burleigh rd, Stretford - street tree feeders . . . . Several young Greenfinch using feeders today.
No young Goldfinch yet .
Lots of adult finches about as well as robins and tits. There has been a big increase in seed eaten over the last two days - almost back to 1kg /day .
The Squirrel turned up after its recent holiday . So it had to be delt with as usual . . .
or so I thought :@ ! (Story to follow in Other Wildlife . ( No subscription required ).
Steven Nelson said
Sun May 31 6:17 PM, 2015
I've not seen a single House Martin in Irlam this year!
Bernard McGurrin said
Sat May 30 6:27 PM, 2015
House martins taking food to nest on Bickershaw Lane
Scott robinson said
Fri May 29 9:30 PM, 2015
Wellington street, Bury
Working on removing asbestos from old paper mills in Bury right next to River Irwell and for the last 5 days I have seen numerous Grey Wagtails some actually on the Irwell itself on exposed pebble areas and some flying over also today was a pair of Goosanders and a Kingfisher seen.
phillipskelly said
Fri May 29 4:30 PM, 2015
Burleigh rd. street tree feeders. Stretford -
1st Female house sparrow seen feeding 2 begging young brought to the feeders at the moment 4.10 pm. No Greenfinch or Goldfinch young feeding yet.
A pair of adult robins have been feeding on the fat block occasionally, and another visitor has been a smart male chaffinch trying to get some sunflower hearts which gets quickly moved on by the greenfinch .
phillipskelly said
Fri May 29 4:28 PM, 2015
Burleigh rd. street tree feeders. Stretford -
1st Female house sparrow seen feeding 2 begging young brought to the feeders at the moment 4.10 pm. No Greenfinch or Goldfinch young feeding yet.
A pair of adult robins have been feeding on the fat block occasionally, and another visitor has been a smart male chaffinch trying to get some sunflower hearts which gets quickly moved on by the greenfinch .
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun May 10 7:59 AM, 2015
2 Swift over Mauldeth Rd, Withington
Steve Scrimgeour said
Fri May 8 10:06 AM, 2015
Hobby flew across the open ground opposite the Paper Mill at Carrington yesterday 1245ish , heading the direction of the Ship Canal...
gary mills said
Thu May 7 8:40 PM, 2015
A family of newly fledged Long Tailed Tits were on the nearby golf course yesterday evening. Does anyone else think this might be slightly early fledging as most Blue Tits and other members of the Tit family are still laying or on eggs.
Adam Jones said
Thu May 7 7:58 AM, 2015
Having only seen 2 so far this year, I was delighted to see 30+ Swifts by Junction 24 of the M60, by the banks of Audenshaw Reservoir.
Steven Nelson said
Mon May 4 9:22 PM, 2015
At last! - a single Swift over Irlam at 19.00. They seem to have been a long time coming to this part of the world this year!
gary mills said
Mon May 4 9:14 PM, 2015
Single swift over Houghton lane, Swinton midday today
Chris Harper said
Mon May 4 2:42 PM, 2015
Single Swift over Morrisons in Bredbury, Stockport at 11.30. Going fast North.
John Doherty said
Fri Apr 24 7:18 PM, 2015
Probable swift over Frederick rd Salford heading north, looked likely on flight pattern but naked eye spot and brief
Chris Harper said
Thu Apr 23 7:19 PM, 2015
House Martin over Bosden Farm estate today at 5.45
Rob Creek said
Tue Apr 21 10:40 AM, 2015
1 House Martin currently flying round near small ASDA on Reddish Lane, Reddish, Stockport
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Apr 20 10:11 PM, 2015
A Blackcap was singing close to the Abraham Moss tram stop this afternoon.
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 20 8:16 PM, 2015
Sandfold Lane (no vehicle access) ... the path between Station Road Reddish and Levenshulme Waste Disposal Site off Mount Road.
This is right near work depot and the odd occasion if I've finished my deliveries I take my break back at work. The following sightings were last Monday 13th April in half an hour but to be honest we see quite a few birds around the works yard a lot of the time. Lots of sightings of Chiffchaff (sometimes right up close and had 5 or 6 in close proximity last week) 2 Willow Warbler Goldfinch Greenfinch Chaffinch Robin Dunnock Wren Few Pied Wagtail On the concealed fishing lake... Tufted Duck Canada Geese Mute Swan
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 20 8:14 AM, 2015
Willow Warbler in grounds of Siemens on Princess Parkway , West Didsbury at 7.30
Bernard McGurrin said
Sun Apr 19 12:41 PM, 2015
1 house martin seen on bickershaw lane 6-30 yesterday evening first of year for me, 2 seen this morning.
phillipskelly said
Fri Apr 17 4:37 PM, 2015
Street tree feeders Burleigh rd. Stretford -
Bird numbers have been dropping off slightly over the last month, but seemed to have decreased rapidly this week.(suppose they're doing what they do at this time of year)
Even the house sparrows are a bit sparce.
Had a Chaffinch turn up a couple of times 2 week ago. Today a white pigeon arrived at the base of the tree with pink feet and beak , but black eyes , so not albino and fed on Quavers and Ringos (with the other pigeons) in preferrance to bread already dropped by passers - bye .
Won't be long before we see some new birds on the block .
(Forgot to post as phone battery died whilst I was working)
Redgate Recycling ...
Lots of Gulls everywhere including around the refuse site and swarming in the air over the 384 building right the way down to over BCA (car auctions) and showcase cinemas.
Tried to count but was impossible due to nature of their behaviour but a rough estimate would suggest around 200 birds.
Mainly seemed to be Black-headed, Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls, including adults and juveniles but I was unable to scan closely for anything else, apologies!
Despite heavy rain, the Gulls were not deterred. A group of approx 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls present, approx half and half clean immaculate adults and juveniles around the refuse heap and the 384 building.
Also around 10 Black-headed Gulls of various ages, including a few adults.
-Starlings
-Woodpigeons
-Magpies
Not stopped off here since the departure of the winter group of mixed Gulls earlier in the year, today however there is a notable group of Gulls including...
-Black-headed Gulls approx 25-30 seemingly adults or 1st summer (no juv)
-Lesser Black-backed Gulls approx 15-20 all adults bar 1 juv
-Herring Gulls 3 adults
We have found Quality Save in either Urmston or at Trafford Retail Park, selling bird feed at reasonable prices, not sure if there is one in Stretford though....
Cheers Steve
At least 20+ Swifts currently zooming around Maple Crescent, Westleigh.
...................................................................
Phil, sounds a bit drastic ? Just how big is this Burleigh rd Squirrel ??
Roger.
A pair of Linnets - I know I couldn't believe it either.
There has been a Whitethroat singing from the patch of disused land on the corner of Devonshire Road South and the A6 in Ardwick, on most mornings this week, today included.
Working on removing asbestos from old paper mills in Bury right next to River Irwell and for the last 5 days I have seen numerous Grey Wagtails some actually on the Irwell itself on exposed pebble areas and some flying over also today was a pair of Goosanders and a Kingfisher seen.
This is right near work depot and the odd occasion if I've finished my deliveries I take my break back at work. The following sightings were last Monday 13th April in half an hour but to be honest we see quite a few birds around the works yard a lot of the time.
Lots of sightings of Chiffchaff
(sometimes right up close and had 5 or 6 in close proximity last week)
2 Willow Warbler
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Robin
Dunnock
Wren
Few Pied Wagtail
On the concealed fishing lake...
Tufted Duck
Canada Geese
Mute Swan