Sedge warbler (12.30) singing in scrub on edge of meadow near where paths split close to pylon and garlic bend.
Also willow warbler, chiffchaff, swallow, sand martin, grey wagtail.
Inspired by previous post, I had a walk along mersey (10 -12.30) and picked up half a dozen new birds for the year. Sightings included:
Sand Martin Swallow House Martin Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail Common Sandpiper (this was on stony section of river nr horse paddock approx 10.30, couldn't see it later when walked home). Goosander (a pair, possibly 2) Dipper Chiffchaff Willow warbler (2 singing birds on high section of old railway near bench and burning from I assume another arson attempt) Blackcap Sparrowhawk Woodpigeon Lapwing Lesser black backed gull Mistle thrush Carrion crow Magpie Mallard Blue, Great and Long-tailed tit Wren Robin
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 15 2:56 PM, 2013
Busy morning 7-7.25
18 Sand Martin near viaduct 8 Swallow through Dipper Pair Goosander Hunting Peregrine Falcon 7 Chiffchaff Singing Blackcap and Willow Warbler from sewage works 2 Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail
chrisgilbane said
Mon Apr 15 1:52 AM, 2013
I finally saw the dipper today at cheadle bridge. And, more importantly the first swallows of the year flying high over the Galleon.
Tony Darby said
Tue Apr 9 1:21 AM, 2013
Cheadle Bridge. The Dipper pair seem well established again. Hopefully the weather will be kinder this year than last, when they were flooded out by high river levels due to the excess of rain throughout the Summer.
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Sat Mar 30 3:08 AM, 2013
29th March 2013 - Cheadle Heath - River Mersey - Abney Hall, Stockport, Cheshire - A full circular walk lasting from 7am until 9am with 35 birds seen and 4 extras heard making a total of 39 species. The list was:- Magpie; House Sparrow; Carrion Crow; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Starling; Blackbird; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Feral Pigeon; Goldfinch; Song Thrush; Chiffchaff; Long Tailed Tit; Grey Wagtail; Black Headed Gull; Mallard; Buzzard; Canada Goose; Greenfinch; Robin; Chaffinch; Wren; Dunnock; Lapwing; Goosander (*6); Pied Wagtail; Fieldfare; Mistle Thrush; Kestrel; Dipper (A pair nest building); Coot; Mute Swan; Moorhen; Redwing + on call Nuthatch; Pheasant; Jay and Bullfinch.
Taken from Dairy Sightings at www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
Fungalpunk Dave
John Rayner said
Fri Mar 29 10:29 PM, 2013
7 Goosander today (4m, 3f) and a pair of Grey Wagtails
Cheers, John
Paul Dewey said
Fri Mar 29 12:52 AM, 2013
Earlier today (10 - 11 ish) had a look for dipper and stonechat. Saw 2 dipper, one of which has a metal leg ring. Also had a brief and very unsatisfactory view of stonechat as it flew from field over my head and dropped down and out of sight over the river.
Also 3 buzzard over horse field 6 Lapwing, accross river from rugby club 6 goosander, 4 drake. Mistle thrush was only thrush species I saw. pied wagtail grey wagtail
Jon Beckett said
Wed Mar 27 8:26 PM, 2013
11am-12. 2 Dippers at Cheadle Bridge c80 Waxwings flying upstream from Cheadle Bridge Large flock of Black Headed Gulls on playing field 8 Lapwing over from river opposite Burnage rugby club Numerous Mistle Thrush and Redwing 4 Goosander 3 Pied Wagtail, and 4 Grey Wagtail Horse field- 12 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and the highlight a male Stonechat by the hay bale (along with dead fox )
Chris Harper said
Wed Mar 27 12:38 AM, 2013
Little Grebe up from Geoff's Bridge. Fieldfare in Horse field and on Parrs Wood playing fields(40 total) 3.20 pm
Chris Harper said
Tue Mar 26 3:17 PM, 2013
3 Meadow Pipit around Patch Island Dipper Cheadle Bridge 10 Goosander(6 Drake) Grey Wagtail Pied Wagtail
Plus the 'usuals' this morning 7.30
Chris Harper said
Tue Mar 26 3:23 AM, 2013
Mixed flock of 50 Fieldfare/Redwing in horse field 8 Goosander(6 Drake) Goldcrest Bullfinch
Jon Beckett said
Sun Mar 24 5:46 PM, 2013
Dipper at Cheadle Bridge now 10.45
Chris Harper said
Mon Mar 18 3:56 PM, 2013
20 Fieldfare over Parrs Wood playing fields Goosander pair Bullfinch Cock Pheasant Grey Wagtail
Mike Crawley said
Sun Mar 17 3:12 PM, 2013
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Poplars along the river bank at Burnage Rugby Club at the start of yesterday's parkrun (approx 09:05)
-- Edited by Mike Crawley on Sunday 17th of March 2013 03:13:06 PM
Chris Harper said
Wed Mar 13 8:19 PM, 2013
25 Fieldfare this morning by Parrs Wood fields 6 Goosander 4 Bullfinch
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Mar 10 6:46 PM, 2013
Medium sized flock Redwings & Fieldfare near church - 100 ish
at least 2 pairs of Parakeets in Stenner Woods
Only Canada Geese and Mallards on the Mersey.
Chris Harper said
Mon Mar 4 4:18 PM, 2013
200 + mixed Redwing and Fieldfare flock on rugby pitch 6 Goosander(4 Drake) 6 Bullfinch Grey and Pied Wagtail Plus lots of activity from the 'usuals'.
Paul Dewey said
Wed Feb 27 10:51 PM, 2013
1st winter mute swan on river near motorway bridge. A site first for me.
Also pair of goosander.
Chris Harper said
Tue Feb 5 4:22 PM, 2013
Peregrine this morning around rugby pitch, dodging blizzards.
Paul Dewey said
Thu Jan 31 9:19 PM, 2013
Not too many birds about in the high wind.
Best bird was a drake widgeon, roosting with mallards on bank next to old bridge, opposite vale farm field. Drake goosander here also.
200+ gulls, they were quite mobile, so not a good count, 10's of common gull among BH gulls. There were 2 herring gulls of golf course next to rugby club. This winter is first I can recall seeing this species around heatons.
The above count down of yesterday when there were 270+ gulls, at least 25 being common and a single LBB.
single stock dove
5 grey heron, for under hedge in field opp rugby club.
Some thrushes about but failed to get reasonable view.
Paul Dewey said
Fri Jan 25 3:24 AM, 2013
A few nice birds today, mainly near rugby club.
Stonechat - this first for me on this site, bird was on far bank near stiles next to parrs wood playing field. Would not have seen it but for it calling. Very hard to see when on ground but good views when perching on low vegatation.
Also in field over river c32 lapwings, largest group I have ever seen here, 50-60 redwing, jackdaw, crows, BH and common gulls, wood pigeon and 2 stock dove. Exact numbers were difficult as farmer muck spreading, so birds moved frequently, but clearly enjoying what was being spread.
19 Fieldfare and 1 mistle thrush on playing field.
2 pairs goosander on river nr vale farm, also little grebe here.
4 bullfinch (3 male) nr pylon pond. Chaffinch, goldfinch and tits here also
Paul Dewey said
Thu Jan 17 5:24 AM, 2013
Had 10 mins nr rugby club at 1.30
Fieldfare Redwing Mistle thrush Starling
Had best views in a while of fieldfare as were only just across river. Lots more of the above species in field with pylon.
68 gulls on Parrs wood playing fields, 20 of which were common gull, the remainder BH gull.
Chris Harper said
Thu Jan 17 2:35 AM, 2013
6 Fieldfare on way home at 3.30ish
Chris Harper said
Wed Jan 16 5:27 PM, 2013
2 Little Grebes this morning Goosander 2 foxes cavorting on golf course mink too
John Rayner said
Mon Jan 7 5:01 AM, 2013
As Waxwings had been seen at Mersey Vale at 13.00 both yesterday and Friday I tried the same time today. No Waxwings!
Best were male and 2 female Goosanders on the Mersey, 5 Bullfinches and a total of 10 Grey Herons roosting on pylons.
Cheers John.
Mike Crawley said
Sat Jan 5 6:50 PM, 2013
no sign of any Waxwing this morning between 8 and 8:30 just been back, ticked John Rayner, but still no sign at 10:30
Mike Crawley said
Sat Jan 5 6:38 AM, 2013
thanks Alan, I know exactly where you mean
alanhill said
Sat Jan 5 3:43 AM, 2013
If you go up river towards Stockport from the weir you pass a field of horses on your left, then come across the remains of an old railway bridge. Just beyond that Stockport Counciil have established a pond with a dipping platform under a pylon. That is where I saw the waxwings, using a tall poplar to the west of the pond as a base and flying to and fro to feed (mainly on rose-hips).
Mike Crawley said
Sat Jan 5 1:29 AM, 2013
I know there are only a few pylons along there but there are a lot more pools since the wet weather bit. The pool/pylon - is that towards Stockport from the farm/weir ??
alanhill said
Fri Jan 4 11:00 PM, 2013
Quite a bit of bird activity this morning (Friday 4th). 14 Wawings around lunchtime in Mersey Vale Nature Park, in Poplar near 'pool under the pylon' and flying backwards and forwards to feed mainly on near-by rose-hips and some haw berries. Large mixed flock of Redwings, Fieldfares and Mistle Thrushes in field to south of river opposite school playing fields. One male and two female goosanders on the river. Five Herons roosting on pylon in the same field as Redwings, and more up river. Bullfinches near the pylon pool. Briefly heard a Woodpecker near the Rugby Club, and wondered if it could be the lesser spotted woodpecker reported a few days ago.
Alan Hill
Vicky Harper said
Mon Dec 24 5:22 AM, 2012
Mike Crawley wrote:
some Great (ho ho Ian) answers folks I wasn't suggesting that it couldn't be from Abney Hall, just curious about the distance they may wander. the "seemed to come from over the river in the general direction of Abney Hall" comment kinda nails it - a great find however it arrived
I was wondering the same. I've heard a male calling from my house but wondered if the same bird would venture over to Didsbury/Reddish.
Mike Crawley said
Sun Dec 23 8:48 PM, 2012
some Great (ho ho Ian) answers folks I wasn't suggesting that it couldn't be from Abney Hall, just curious about the distance they may wander. the "seemed to come from over the river in the general direction of Abney Hall" comment kinda nails it - a great find however it arrived
Vicky Harper said
Sun Dec 23 5:21 AM, 2012
Could it be the one from Pole Bank wood/Reddish Vale they're not too far away?
Jon Beckett said
Sun Dec 23 12:41 AM, 2012
It seemed to come from over the river in the general direction of Abney Hall. I just can't see it being from anywhere else.
Tony Darby said
Sat Dec 22 8:57 PM, 2012
It's less than half a mile from the river to Abney Hall as the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker flies, so not such a big trip after all. Still a good find nonetheless.
John Rayner said
Sat Dec 22 8:42 PM, 2012
Mike Crawley wrote:
It must be about a mile (across motorway, railway, open fields and river), which would be a big movement for a Lesser spot. .
Hi Mike,
I think I remember reading that Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have unusually large winter territories, so perhaps Abney Hall isn't too far?
Cheers, John
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Dec 22 8:38 PM, 2012
They (Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers) occasionally turn up well away from known breeding locations, in areas where individuals must have crossed large wide open spaces and travelled a considerable distance to get there (fairly recent examples being Pennington Flash and Astley Moss) which I don't think is particularly unusual, especially considering many such individuals may go unnoticed anyway.
Oh, and there's no such thing as Greater (Spotted Woodpecker)
Mike Crawley said
Sat Dec 22 8:30 PM, 2012
Henry Cook wrote:
Nice find Jon. Perhaps it's one of the Abney Hall Park birds.
an interesting thought. It must be about a mile (across motorway, railway, open fields and river), which would be a big movement for a Lesser spot. I guess it could have moved through the hedges along Manchester Road but that still leaves a few hundred metres of motorway. Anyone got any info on the willingness of this species crossing open spaces ?? There is suitable woodland behind the rugby club/golf course, although in all the times I've meandered through there I've never seen a Lesser Spot (seen Greater there though).
Precious little to report from there this morning... even after the rain eased off to stair rods.
Jon Beckett said
Fri Dec 21 11:40 PM, 2012
Yes most probably. Was a male by the way, with the red crown. Surprised by how small they are having never seen one before, just a huge stroke of luck to see it and get such close views.
Henry Cook said
Fri Dec 21 11:18 PM, 2012
Nice find Jon. Perhaps it's one of the Abney Hall Park birds.
Jon Beckett said
Fri Dec 21 10:31 PM, 2012
An exciting first for me today at 1.20pm. Was looking at a mixed flock of 30 fieldfares and redwings through my bins on the school playing fields halfway between the golf course and cheadle bridge. A small bird flew past me onto a tree no more than 5 yards away. Turned out to be a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker . Got fantastic views for about 3 minutes before it flew into trees further towards cheadle bridge. Phoned my dad but unfortunately we couldn't manage to relocate it by the time he arrived. Also saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay and numerous mistle thrushes.
Chris Harper said
Thu Dec 6 4:25 PM, 2012
Little Grebe 2 Goosander Grey Heron Stunning sunrise.
Chris Harper said
Fri Nov 23 8:19 PM, 2012
First 'full song' Song Thrush singing away this morning. 3 Goosander 7 Grey Heron Sparrowhawk
Chris Harper said
Wed Nov 14 4:37 PM, 2012
Busy this morning: 2 little Grebe 2 Goosander 6 Redwing Grey Wagtail 100+ Goldfinch Plus usuals.
4 Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Lapwing
2 Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Cormorant
30+ mixed Goldfinch/Greenfinch flock
Dipper - 2
Grey Wagtail - 1
Swallow - 6
Rick.
5 Blackcap
12 Sand Martin
2 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff (1 nesting material)
Singing Whitethroat
2 Drake Goosander
2 Grey Heron
Cormorant
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Some birds I saw today
Chiffchaff
willow warbler
pheasant
kestrel
grey heron
goosander
grey wagtail
blackcap
greenfinch
goldfinch
Blackcap
15 sand Martin
Swallow
8 Chiffchaff
Pheasant
Drake Goosander
Moorhen
2 Bullfinch
3 lapwing(opp patch island)
Inspired by previous post, I had a walk along mersey (10 -12.30) and picked up half a dozen new birds for the year. Sightings included:
Sand Martin
Swallow
House Martin
Pied Wagtail
Grey Wagtail
Common Sandpiper (this was on stony section of river nr horse paddock approx 10.30, couldn't see it later when walked home).
Goosander (a pair, possibly 2)
Dipper
Chiffchaff
Willow warbler (2 singing birds on high section of old railway near bench and burning from I assume another arson attempt)
Blackcap
Sparrowhawk
Woodpigeon
Lapwing
Lesser black backed gull
Mistle thrush
Carrion crow
Magpie
Mallard
Blue, Great and Long-tailed tit
Wren
Robin
18 Sand Martin near viaduct
8 Swallow through
Dipper
Pair Goosander
Hunting Peregrine Falcon
7 Chiffchaff
Singing Blackcap and Willow Warbler from sewage works
2 Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
The Dipper pair seem well established again. Hopefully the weather will be kinder this
year than last, when they were flooded out by high river levels due to the excess of
rain throughout the Summer.
Taken from Dairy Sightings at www.fungalpunknature.co.uk
Fungalpunk Dave
Cheers, John
Earlier today (10 - 11 ish) had a look for dipper and stonechat. Saw 2 dipper, one of which has a metal leg ring. Also had a brief and very unsatisfactory view of stonechat as it flew from field over my head and dropped down and out of sight over the river.
Also 3 buzzard over horse field
6 Lapwing, accross river from rugby club
6 goosander, 4 drake.
Mistle thrush was only thrush species I saw.
pied wagtail
grey wagtail
2 Dippers at Cheadle Bridge
c80 Waxwings flying upstream from Cheadle Bridge
Large flock of Black Headed Gulls on playing field
8 Lapwing over from river opposite Burnage rugby club
Numerous Mistle Thrush and Redwing
4 Goosander
3 Pied Wagtail, and 4 Grey Wagtail
Horse field- 12 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush and the highlight a male Stonechat by the hay bale (along with dead fox )
Fieldfare in Horse field and on Parrs Wood playing fields(40 total)
3.20 pm
Dipper Cheadle Bridge
10 Goosander(6 Drake)
Grey Wagtail
Pied Wagtail
Plus the 'usuals' this morning 7.30
8 Goosander(6 Drake)
Goldcrest
Bullfinch
Goosander pair
Bullfinch
Cock Pheasant
Grey Wagtail
-- Edited by Mike Crawley on Sunday 17th of March 2013 03:13:06 PM
6 Goosander
4 Bullfinch
at least 2 pairs of Parakeets in Stenner Woods
Only Canada Geese and Mallards on the Mersey.
6 Goosander(4 Drake)
6 Bullfinch
Grey and Pied Wagtail
Plus lots of activity from the 'usuals'.
1st winter mute swan on river near motorway bridge. A site first for me.
Also pair of goosander.
Not too many birds about in the high wind.
Best bird was a drake widgeon, roosting with mallards on bank next to old bridge, opposite vale farm field. Drake goosander here also.
200+ gulls, they were quite mobile, so not a good count, 10's of common gull among BH gulls. There were 2 herring gulls of golf course next to rugby club. This winter is first I can recall seeing this species around heatons.
The above count down of yesterday when there were 270+ gulls, at least 25 being common and a single LBB.
single stock dove
5 grey heron, for under hedge in field opp rugby club.
Some thrushes about but failed to get reasonable view.
A few nice birds today, mainly near rugby club.
Stonechat - this first for me on this site, bird was on far bank near stiles next to parrs wood playing field. Would not have seen it but for it calling. Very hard to see when on ground but good views when perching on low vegatation.
Also in field over river c32 lapwings, largest group I have ever seen here, 50-60 redwing, jackdaw, crows, BH and common gulls, wood pigeon and 2 stock dove. Exact numbers were difficult as farmer muck spreading, so birds moved frequently, but clearly enjoying what was being spread.
19 Fieldfare and 1 mistle thrush on playing field.
2 pairs goosander on river nr vale farm, also little grebe here.
4 bullfinch (3 male) nr pylon pond. Chaffinch, goldfinch and tits here also
Had 10 mins nr rugby club at 1.30
Fieldfare
Redwing
Mistle thrush
Starling
Had best views in a while of fieldfare as were only just across river. Lots more of the above species in field with pylon.
Grey Heron (3 on pylon)
Goosander (2 pairs)
Grey wagtail
Pied wagtail
68 gulls on Parrs wood playing fields, 20 of which were common gull, the remainder BH gull.
Goosander
2 foxes cavorting on golf course
mink too
Best were male and 2 female Goosanders on the Mersey, 5 Bullfinches and a total of 10 Grey Herons roosting on pylons.
Cheers John.
just been back, ticked John Rayner, but still no sign at 10:30
The pool/pylon - is that towards Stockport from the farm/weir ??
Alan Hill
I was wondering the same. I've heard a male calling from my house but wondered if the same bird would venture over to Didsbury/Reddish.
I wasn't suggesting that it couldn't be from Abney Hall, just curious about the distance they may wander.
the "seemed to come from over the river in the general direction of Abney Hall" comment kinda nails it - a great find however it arrived
so not such a big trip after all.
Still a good find nonetheless.
Hi Mike,
I think I remember reading that Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers have unusually large winter territories, so perhaps Abney Hall isn't too far?
Cheers, John
Oh, and there's no such thing as Greater (Spotted Woodpecker)
an interesting thought.
It must be about a mile (across motorway, railway, open fields and river), which would be a big movement for a Lesser spot. I guess it could have moved through the hedges along Manchester Road but that still leaves a few hundred metres of motorway. Anyone got any info on the willingness of this species crossing open spaces ??
There is suitable woodland behind the rugby club/golf course, although in all the times I've meandered through there I've never seen a Lesser Spot (seen Greater there though).
Precious little to report from there this morning... even after the rain eased off to stair rods.
Was looking at a mixed flock of 30 fieldfares and redwings through my bins on the school playing fields halfway between the golf course and cheadle bridge. A small bird flew past me onto a tree no more than 5 yards away. Turned out to be a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker . Got fantastic views for about 3 minutes before it flew into trees further towards cheadle bridge. Phoned my dad but unfortunately we couldn't manage to relocate it by the time he arrived.
Also saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Jay and numerous mistle thrushes.
2 Goosander
Grey Heron
Stunning sunrise.
3 Goosander
7 Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
2 little Grebe
2 Goosander
6 Redwing
Grey Wagtail
100+ Goldfinch
Plus usuals.