Adult Mediterranean Gull just flown over Astley Green back garden ,possibly heading to Pennington Flash .
pete berry said
Wed Jun 9 4:40 PM, 2021
The singing Chiffchaff which has been present since 13/4 still singing away,also a Blackcap still in occasional song. On the feeders still numbers of Goldfinch and occasional Greenfinch, plus regular visits of Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat blocks. Several sightings of a Sparrowhawk carrying prey,must be nesting nearby and the Kestrel still hunting the fields behind the house. Plenty of Swifts over,but only the occasional House Martin and Swallow, numbers of hirundines over the house are the lowest I've ever seen.
phillipskelly said
Wed Jun 9 1:39 PM, 2021
Two adult Blue tit ( one quite tatty) collecting greenfly from my rose bushes today in my Stretford terrace front garden.
phillipskelly said
Mon Jun 7 11:33 AM, 2021
The first young Goldfinch of the summer with a parent on my Stretford backyard feeders 11:30 am today.
dave broome said
Sat Jun 5 10:13 PM, 2021
There have only been modest numbers of Swift feeding over our estate near to Mosley Common this year - they nest on estates just to the north and south of us. Early evening today, as some heavy cloud drifted in from the SW and the breeze picked up there was a noticeable amount of Swift activity. A minimum of 30 birds were feeding, some rising to an impressive height over the ridge at Parr Brow, where there was probably an updraft and they were almost dots even through binoculars. Late afternoon a pair were mating on the wing high over the back of the house. A Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were also up and about late afternoon.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jun 5 9:06 PM, 2021
Starling numbers in my Astley garden and field behind hit their highest of 87 this afternoon, with many juveniles.
fredford said
Fri Jun 4 5:40 AM, 2021
Bury . Two nuthatch fledglings on the feeders . Hoorah !
phillipskelly said
Wed Jun 2 5:36 PM, 2021
On my Stretford backyard feeders this morning only 3 Goldfinch seen, then a Magpie appeared on the backyard gate with a large piece of dried out bread which it took to an almost empty water tray. It then dropped the bread into the traye and left it until it was soft then ate it ... Clever bird. Still getting visits from m, f and juv Blackbird in the front garden.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 1 10:10 PM, 2021
A Peregrine over my Astley garden this morning, heading south toward Astley/Bedord Moss, brought the raptor species total over the past two days to five!
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 31 7:07 PM, 2021
And now a Common Tern leisurely east along the canal just south of my Astley Garden. Note to self, sit out and drink more beer…
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 31 6:49 PM, 2021
Amazing views of an adult Hobby over my Astley garden just now. Enjoying a beer with the family in the garden when it flew over the fields just behind the house sending the local House Martins and Swifts scattering, but not content with giving us those views it then circled over the house not more than 80 feet high before heading back over the fields and eventually shooting off south over the East Lancs Road towards Morleys. Brilliant!
dave broome said
Sat May 29 9:17 AM, 2021
A Lesser Whitethroat sang in our garden near Tyldesley yesterday. What is presumably the same bird has been roving up and down hedgerows and the brook in the general vicinity for over a week, until yesterday it moved along the hedge which passes through our garden. A singing Common Whitethroat was new in yesterday along the brook near the garden and still present today. A recently-fledged Rook from St Johns church was being fed by a parent in a Sycamore close to the garden
fredford said
Tue May 25 9:03 AM, 2021
Bury . Moorhens have disappeared . One greenfinch fledgling being fed at the feeders , at long last . Hurrah !
fredford said
Fri May 21 12:59 PM, 2021
Bury . First couple of swifts over . Pair moorhens mating on lawn . One male greenfinch on feeders .
Isaac Heath said
Thu May 20 8:33 PM, 2021
Millbrook - never usually get Starlings in the garden - but the past few days we have had juveniles along with mum and dad feeding them which has been lovely to watch. They are eating me out of mealworms but they really are lovely birds to watch.
We have also had a male siskin on the feeders for the past few days, which is a first for us.
2 goldfinch today - this time last year i was inundated with them, but seem to be far lower in numbers this year so far.
A blue tit fledgling also seems to be getting braver in the garden and is exploring it more and more. It seems to have taken a liking to our sunroom doors!
fredford said
Thu May 20 6:00 PM, 2021
Bury . Newly - fledged mistle thrushes on the lawn , two or three . See them throughout the day around the garden . Two pairs bullfinches feeding below the feeders . One greenfinch . Moorhen continues to visit the ponds . Great tit very busy feeding chicks in a box . Beautiful , cock pheasant still present , though minus his two hens .
Lez Fairclough said
Sun May 16 9:56 PM, 2021
A couple of Red-Legged Partridge have been in my daughters front garden in Highfield Wigan today but visiting different gardens all through the past week - a bit random for a generally farmland bird!
Got my first fledgling starling sat on my feeders calling loudly to be fed by its parent.. basically being a sparrowhawk magnet!
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 10 1:12 PM, 2021
Lez Fairclough wrote:
6pm yesterday Sat 8th May driving past the Golf range at Astley what appeared to be 2 Whimbrel flew quite low over my car heading North - maybe the same two hanging around that you saw today Ian?
Always possible Lez
Karen Foulkes said
Mon May 10 12:21 PM, 2021
Working from home today
A male Siskin made visited the feeders earlier, also male Bullfinch
I've been watching a Wren nest building over weekend, I don't think there's any moss left in the garden now!
Also a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders on Saturday
Lez Fairclough said
Sun May 9 11:34 PM, 2021
6pm yesterday Sat 8th May driving past the Golf range at Astley what appeared to be 2 Whimbrel flew quite low over my car heading North - maybe the same two hanging around that you saw today Ian?
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 9 3:45 PM, 2021
Two Whimbrel NW over my Astley garden around 3:15pm today, typically vocal as they went over.
Karen Foulkes said
Thu May 6 4:48 PM, 2021
A Great Spotted Woodpecker visited the garden early afternoon today. It briefly alighted on the fat balls and then realised I was watching it and made a quick getaway.
Also a Song Thrush has been a frequent visitor to the garden this breeding season.
Richard Thew said
Thu May 6 10:21 AM, 2021
A Willow warbler was singing at the back of my Radcliffe garden yesterday.
It's interesting to note that I have seen myself how the birds learn from each other.
As posted previously, I've been giving some of my garden birds food from the hand, and they have very clever ways to get your attention.
The Great tit was the first to be inventive and what he does; - First, he checks first to see if anyone is in the kitchen by peering through the window, and then he goes and sits on the back door handle where you can see his movements through the door window. If you ignore him, he will tap on the glass.
The coal tit has cottoned onto this and is often present when the great tit turns up. If on his own, he will hover close to the glass (exactly what the great tit started to do before him) and more recently, sits on the door handle. The great tit even knows when I come home as he always greets me in the front.
A second coal tit and a female house sparrow has been watching the others grab food from the hand, and therefore, have themselves realised it's safe to grab food themselves. A Dunnock often shows when this activity is going on as I have flicked him a few and has learnt how and when to get a bit before the sparrows snatch them.
It's one thing to read this (and simular things from books), but when you see how these events unfold before your eyes over the days and weeks, you get to appreciate how clever they actually are and how they also pickup habbits from one another.
Ta!
steven burke said
Thu May 6 9:51 AM, 2021
First resident swift of the year over my old Trafford garden this morning, checking out its nest site in the neighbouring houses, by far the latest ever
fredford said
Thu May 6 8:18 AM, 2021
Bury . First siskin on feeders . Yay !
phillipskelly said
Wed May 5 8:14 PM, 2021
On my Stretford backyard feeders the other day were - Goldfinch - 15. Front terraced garden - Multiple visits from the male and female adult Blackbird and single visits from a single juvenile (don't know if it's one of two or the only survivor) which was attacked by a Magpie unsuccessfully. Ferral and Wood pigeon plus a Squirrel also in attendance unti the "squirter" is in action !
dave broome said
Wed May 5 6:43 PM, 2021
12 Starling feeding on our lawn today near Tyldesley, a House Martin over home this evening is the first I have seen on the estate this year
Karen Foulkes said
Sun May 2 3:58 PM, 2021
A pair of Bullfinch visited the garden this afternoon, their first visit for a while.
Richard Thew said
Sun May 2 9:19 AM, 2021
Saw a drake Goosander fly over my Radcliffe garden this morning, and minutes later, a what appeared to be a 1st Summer drake Red breasted merganser flew over towards Elton .
It was only for a breif few seconds but two key things especially stood out: it lacked the sharp border between the head and body, and had a part breast patch that is classic on drake mergansers. Everything else about it (though breif it was)"was consistent with the identification as noted above and couldn't be anything else.
Ta!
Andy Bissitt said
Sat May 1 8:34 PM, 2021
Same(?) male siskin on feeder again this p.m. Say's it all about the current weather really.
Richard Thew said
Thu Apr 29 6:46 PM, 2021
I'm so over the moon this afternoon, as 30 mins before work, two Siskin came on my bird feeders at my Radcliffe garden.
They seem to hang around with the Goldfinch and Greenfinch. And this time they stayed long enough to get a couple of pictures, though I had to do so with a few extra challenges so as not to frighten them. They were still coming here when I got back home too.
Other news.
These birds will now come on my hand for food:
Great tit x3 Blue tit Coal tit House sparrow Robin
Superb near-adult male siskin just on feeder with two goldfinches.
phillipskelly said
Wed Apr 28 1:22 PM, 2021
Today in my Stretford front terrace garden a male Blackbird was still collecting food and a Dunnock was seen with a juvenile following it to (and from) the crushed fatballs. And on Sunday 25.04.21 I saw 2 juvenile Blackbirds with adults visiting the garden.
Andy Bissitt said
Tue Apr 27 8:54 PM, 2021
It may have been the frostiest April for 60 years, but it has not stopped the house sparrows from producing the earliest fledglings I can recall; 2 were begging for food from the adult male outside my kitchen window at tea time (my food was procured a little easier)!
phillipskelly said
Sun Apr 25 11:25 AM, 2021
My Stretford backyard feeders have only had a few Goldfinch visiting them in the last week. In the front terraced garden theres been - Wood pigeon quietly moved on. Magpie : : :. : Squirrel ( squirted with water).
But both Blackbird have been taking crushed fatballs and dried mealworms to the young across the road. On Thursday the male was seen feeding a juvenile in my garden. On Friday a juvenile was seen in the garden feeding itself with both parents present. The female also brought a juvenile to the water trough and it waited until she drank then followed the example. I think at least 2 juveniles have survived the local cats. Also present - A pair of Dunnock and at least one robin continuosly using the food and water.
Peter Nolan Woolley said
Sun Apr 25 10:15 AM, 2021
Pair of Robin this morning checking out the nesting box. Fingers crossed.
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Apr 22 8:40 PM, 2021
Arrived home from a field trip at 4:45 p.m. and was amazed to see the stock dove (of 2 months ago) back on my front garden!! Will they be the next woodpigeon?
pete berry said
Thu Apr 22 5:35 PM, 2021
A couple of Siskins on the feeders today,first ones for ages. Also a few Redpoll still coming into garden together with the usual mob of Goldfinch and a few Greenfinch. A Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat blocks with the usual array of Great,Nlue and Long Tailed Tits. The Chiffchaff still singing away,presume it must be on territory as it's been around for a couple of weeks.
2 ravens over my old Trafford garden this morning around 10.30am.
Andy Bissitt said
Wed Apr 21 8:36 PM, 2021
Remarkably, still seeing two redpoll as of today. Mind you, I've generally brought my feeders in by now. Bullfinches still popping in as well.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 20 3:53 PM, 2021
Willow Warbler and Blackcap (possibly two of the latter) heard from my Astley garden today.
fredford said
Sat Apr 17 5:37 PM, 2021
Bury . Moorhen now a daily visitor to pond , yesterday alongside the grey heron . Carrion crows seem to be feeding chicks with the amount they carry off . Six or seven lesser redpolls every day . Calling oyster catcher , over . Female blackbird taking mud and vegetation from pond for her nest in ivy . Two , pair I hope , of immaculate song thrushes examining various areas . He serenaded us early this morning . Many goldfinch on feeders . Treecreeper not seen for several days . Hopeful that the daily pied wagtails nest here .
Richard Thew said
Sat Apr 17 10:28 AM, 2021
Not seen or heard my Lesser redpolls in my Radcliffe garden this morning, so it maybe that they have finally moved on?? This would sound about right as last week the max that came to visit was 3, and yesterday only heard 1. So the 16th April is now by far the longest staying redpolls I've ever had in my garden.
Other news:
A House sparrow was singing on the rooftop, with a breif inspection inside a hole. Too early to tell if anything comes of this as the roof gets very hot in the sun. And speaking of sparrows, my hand tame one turned up yesterday, so I'm thrilled it's still around.
The coal tits landed breifly on my hand, but a cheeky Starling is getting very bold and tame and is going to make throwing food to some of the blue and great tits tricky.
That's my report for now.
Ta!
phillipskelly said
Fri Apr 16 12:56 PM, 2021
Stretford front terraced garden.
I've just seen a Goldfinch come to my bay window... hover then take something from the top left corner (probably a caught moth or bay window spider) then fly across the road to a tree opposite and pull it apart. Just a few Goldfinch visiting the backyard feeders today , seed going down very slowly.
phillipskelly said
Thu Apr 15 11:22 AM, 2021
In my Stretford terraced house front garden yesterday , my neighbour was watching the two blackbirds constantly carrying food out across the road to young seen moving about in a beech hedge . Also about were several cats which were chased off. Cats were also seen in my garden .... Time to load the "Squirrel Squirters" and wait for high noon !
Ps. backyard feeders hardly visited yesterday and this morning.
steven burke said
Thu Apr 15 10:23 AM, 2021
Tawny owl heard calling outside the front of my old Trafford House last night at 11.30pm. Despite still hearing it after opening the window I could not see it.
fredford said
Wed Apr 14 7:20 AM, 2021
Bury . Male reed bunting joined the usual crew , yesterday ,feeding from the ground .
Adult Mediterranean Gull just flown over Astley Green back garden ,possibly heading to Pennington Flash .
On the feeders still numbers of Goldfinch and occasional Greenfinch, plus regular visits of Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat blocks.
Several sightings of a Sparrowhawk carrying prey,must be nesting nearby and the Kestrel still hunting the fields behind the house. Plenty of Swifts over,but only the occasional House Martin and Swallow, numbers of hirundines over the house are the lowest I've ever seen.
Two adult Blue tit ( one quite tatty) collecting greenfly from my rose bushes today in my Stretford terrace front garden.
A Buzzard and a Sparrowhawk were also up and about late afternoon.
Starling numbers in my Astley garden and field behind hit their highest of 87 this afternoon, with many juveniles.
It then dropped the bread into the traye and left it until it was soft then ate it ... Clever bird.
Still getting visits from m, f and juv Blackbird in the front garden.
A Peregrine over my Astley garden this morning, heading south toward Astley/Bedord Moss, brought the raptor species total over the past two days to five!
And now a Common Tern leisurely east along the canal just south of my Astley Garden. Note to self, sit out and drink more beer…
Amazing views of an adult Hobby over my Astley garden just now. Enjoying a beer with the family in the garden when it flew over the fields just behind the house sending the local House Martins and Swifts scattering, but not content with giving us those views it then circled over the house not more than 80 feet high before heading back over the fields and eventually shooting off south over the East Lancs Road towards Morleys. Brilliant!
A recently-fledged Rook from St Johns church was being fed by a parent in a Sycamore close to the garden
Millbrook - never usually get Starlings in the garden - but the past few days we have had juveniles along with mum and dad feeding them which has been lovely to watch. They are eating me out of mealworms but they really are lovely birds to watch.
We have also had a male siskin on the feeders for the past few days, which is a first for us.
2 goldfinch today - this time last year i was inundated with them, but seem to be far lower in numbers this year so far.
A blue tit fledgling also seems to be getting braver in the garden and is exploring it more and more. It seems to have taken a liking to our sunroom doors!
A couple of Red-Legged Partridge have been in my daughters front garden in Highfield Wigan today but visiting different gardens all through the past week - a bit random for a generally farmland bird!
Just had a Raven on top of our very tall conifer, a first for our Hale garden.
Possibly one of the birds from the telecoms tower at the end of Golf Road, behind Alty's football ground as per the Hale thread.
Got my first fledgling starling sat on my feeders calling loudly to be fed by its parents.. basically being a sparrowhawk magnet!
Got my first fledgling starling sat on my feeders calling loudly to be fed by its parent.. basically being a sparrowhawk magnet!
Always possible Lez
A male Siskin made visited the feeders earlier, also male Bullfinch
I've been watching a Wren nest building over weekend, I don't think there's any moss left in the garden now!
Also a female Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the feeders on Saturday
6pm yesterday Sat 8th May driving past the Golf range at Astley what appeared to be 2 Whimbrel flew quite low over my car heading North - maybe the same two hanging around that you saw today Ian?
Two Whimbrel NW over my Astley garden around 3:15pm today, typically vocal as they went over.
Also a Song Thrush has been a frequent visitor to the garden this breeding season.
It's interesting to note that I have seen myself how the birds learn from each other.
As posted previously, I've been giving some of my garden birds food from the hand, and they have very clever ways to get your attention.
The Great tit was the first to be inventive and what he does; - First, he checks first to see if anyone is in the kitchen by peering through the window, and then he goes and sits on the back door handle where you can see his movements through the door window. If you ignore him, he will tap on the glass.
The coal tit has cottoned onto this and is often present when the great tit turns up. If on his own, he will hover close to the glass (exactly what the great tit started to do before him) and more recently, sits on the door handle. The great tit even knows when I come home as he always greets me in the front.
A second coal tit and a female house sparrow has been watching the others grab food from the hand, and therefore, have themselves realised it's safe to grab food themselves. A Dunnock often shows when this activity is going on as I have flicked him a few and has learnt how and when to get a bit before the sparrows snatch them.
It's one thing to read this (and simular things from books), but when you see how these events unfold before your eyes over the days and weeks, you get to appreciate how clever they actually are and how they also pickup habbits from one another.
Ta!
Goldfinch - 15.
Front terraced garden -
Multiple visits from the male and female adult Blackbird and single visits from a single juvenile (don't know if it's one of two or the only survivor) which was attacked by a Magpie unsuccessfully.
Ferral and Wood pigeon plus a Squirrel also in attendance unti the "squirter" is in action !
It was only for a breif few seconds but two key things especially stood out: it lacked the sharp border between the head and body, and had a part breast patch that is classic on drake mergansers. Everything else about it (though breif it was)"was consistent with the identification as noted above and couldn't be anything else.
Ta!
Same(?) male siskin on feeder again this p.m. Say's it all about the current weather really.
They seem to hang around with the Goldfinch and Greenfinch. And this time they stayed long enough to get a couple of pictures, though I had to do so with a few extra challenges so as not to frighten them. They were still coming here when I got back home too.
Other news.
These birds will now come on my hand for food:
Great tit x3
Blue tit
Coal tit
House sparrow
Robin
Ta!
Superb near-adult male siskin just on feeder with two goldfinches.
And on Sunday 25.04.21 I saw 2 juvenile Blackbirds with adults visiting the garden.
It may have been the frostiest April for 60 years, but it has not stopped the house sparrows from producing the earliest fledglings I can recall; 2 were begging for food from the adult male outside my kitchen window at tea time (my food was procured a little easier)!
In the front terraced garden theres been -
Wood pigeon quietly moved on.
Magpie : : :. :
Squirrel ( squirted with water).
But both Blackbird have been taking crushed fatballs and dried mealworms to the young across the road.
On Thursday the male was seen feeding a juvenile in my garden.
On Friday a juvenile was seen in the garden feeding itself with both parents present.
The female also brought a juvenile to the water trough and it waited until she drank then followed the example.
I think at least 2 juveniles have survived the local cats.
Also present -
A pair of Dunnock and at least one robin continuosly using the food and water.
Pair of Robin this morning checking out the nesting box. Fingers crossed.
Arrived home from a field trip at 4:45 p.m. and was amazed to see the stock dove (of 2 months ago) back on my front garden!! Will they be the next woodpigeon?
A Great Spotted Woodpecker on the fat blocks with the usual array of Great,Nlue and Long Tailed Tits.
The Chiffchaff still singing away,presume it must be on territory as it's been around for a couple of weeks.
Remarkably, still seeing two redpoll as of today. Mind you, I've generally brought my feeders in by now. Bullfinches still popping in as well.
Willow Warbler and Blackcap (possibly two of the latter) heard from my Astley garden today.
Other news:
A House sparrow was singing on the rooftop, with a breif inspection inside a hole. Too early to tell if anything comes of this as the roof gets very hot in the sun. And speaking of sparrows, my hand tame one turned up yesterday, so I'm thrilled it's still around.
The coal tits landed breifly on my hand, but a cheeky Starling is getting very bold and tame and is going to make throwing food to some of the blue and great tits tricky.
That's my report for now.
Ta!
I've just seen a Goldfinch come to my bay window... hover then take something from the top left corner (probably a caught moth or bay window spider) then fly across the road to a tree opposite and pull it apart.
Just a few Goldfinch visiting the backyard feeders today , seed going down very slowly.
Also about were several cats which were chased off.
Cats were also seen in my garden .... Time to load the
"Squirrel Squirters" and wait for high noon !
Ps. backyard feeders hardly visited yesterday and this morning.
Despite still hearing it after opening the window I could not see it.