Sunday Morning Common Crane over field F4 flying North North east at 10.05. Large Chaffinch flock 250 to 300 birds with approximately 30 Brambling on F4, very mobile as disturbed by dog walkers. 100 plus skylark fields F4 and F12. Lapwing 14 Oystercatcher 1 Herring Gull 10 over Black headed Gull 160+ Buzzard 2
James Walsh said
Sat Feb 16 2:47 AM, 2013
2+ Waxwings at junction of Carrington Lane & Banky Lane @ 1035 on hedgerow near the traffic lights
Richard Would said
Fri Feb 15 1:38 PM, 2013
Had a bit of a walk today between 11:00-13:00ish, around field 4 area and the Old Orchard. Very little activity round the orchard, the Woodpigeon flock wasn't present and the finch flock wasn't over the back by the orchard. There was a sizeable finch flock along the main track, where it crosses the MUFC road, on the few hawthorns between fields 4 and 13. Plenty of Bramblings with the Chaffinches. I counted 15 Bramblings on one bush and that was only a small part of the flock. I would guess there must be at least 40-50 among the Chaffinches there. One or two were starting to go towards summer plumage, getting very black on the head. One Peregrine on a pylon in field 12. Other than that, a few Goldfinches, 3/4 Buzzards, a Kestrel, 3/4 Yellowhammers, 2 Pheasants, big (50+) flock of Skylarks in the stubble on field 12 and a flock of about 20 Redwings in Firs Wood.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Friday 15th of February 2013 01:41:00 PM
-- Edited by Richard Would on Friday 15th of February 2013 02:00:08 PM
Joey Eccles said
Sun Feb 10 11:26 PM, 2013
Late post for a visit between 2 and 4.30pm yesterday
The huge finch flock was still there in field 4, although I found it almost impossible to get any sort of estimate on numbers of the birds. 2 bramblings however alighted in some of the trees along the main track, offering fantastic views. Also: A pair of peregrines were posted on different pylons offering great viewing, with the female at one point diving through a flock of woddpigeons. Male and female kestrel Female Sparrowhawk At least 1 buzzard seen, though two could be heard at once c.125 Linnet were in the field behind Sinderland Brook Grey wagtail on the brook itself The sewage works held 3 Gadwall (2m, 1f) And a flock of 30 teal were circling the flooded woodland, with many more heard. 15 lapwing over.
Rob Smallwood said
Mon Feb 4 2:28 AM, 2013
Amazed that this flock hasn't attracted a Merlin yet....
Henry Cook said
Mon Feb 4 1:28 AM, 2013
03/02/2013 - Field 4 with Mike Duckham this morning - monster finch flock still in evidence, very hard to count and there could well be many more than estimated actually present:
Little Owl perched on telegraph wires along Dunham Rd this evening at 5.05pm near junction with Gorsey Lane
John Doherty said
Mon Jan 21 11:32 PM, 2013
Two hours on Moss this morning - it was like the Siberian Steppe with practically a blizzard coming down. Most of the finds were in fields 1 and 2 -
3-5 Bramblings (path between 1 and 2) Loads of Chaffinches, some Greenfinches, Goldfinches, at least 1 Bullfinch M/ more heard, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Linnet, 20+ Reed Buntings
Then over to the Sewage Works, completely frozen and no birds - a bonus was seeing a Redwing just beyond, and a married pair of Teals on the stream near the tip.
A walk then to the Crematorium and the farmland, and back down the canal to Atlantic Retail Park -
3 Grey Partridges; 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Buzzards (two being mobbed by Crows) Lapwings.
sid ashton said
Mon Jan 21 4:45 AM, 2013
Had an hour or so on the Moss this afternoon - spent some time checking Bramblings on the hedge that runs into field 2 from the orchard. I counted 22 individuals. Did the circuit of field 4 but as it was getting late didn't hang around so didn't see much else except a couple of brass monkeys looking for a welder
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Jan 21 2:43 AM, 2013
Nice to bump into Mr.Heaton whilst wandering around with Tony Darby 10.00-12.30 (we didn't see that loan Corn Bunting Paul).
Brambling 9 around f2/F1 with: Chaffinch 200 Siskin 2 Greenfinch 2 Goldfinch 1 Yellowhammer 4 Reed Bunting 12 Cormorant 2 over Woodpigeon 1000 - winter flocks are so wonderful! Buzzard 2 another 4 Brambling in the Old Orchard with another 50 Chaffinch No Linnets! Where have they gone?
Get down to Carrington Moss before it gets built on! One of my favourite places anywhere
Ian Woosey said
Sun Jan 20 10:35 PM, 2013
Paul Heaton wrote:
Dont understand why people sit and watch winterwatch, when they could go out and see nature live in 3D
Keep getting out.
I sit and watch "Winterwatch" at 8pm of an evening. There aint much wildlife to see at that time of neet..........unless you know of a secret Pine Marten hide locally ?
Keep staying in.
Paul Heaton said
Sun Jan 20 8:51 PM, 2013
Finch flock still on moss, but flighty today due to walkers etc, Brambling, Chaffinch, Siskin, etc Corn Bunting and Very large Woodpigeon flock.
Dont understand why people sit and watch winterwatch, when they could go out and see nature live in 3D
Keep getting out.
Nev Wright said
Sat Jan 19 8:27 PM, 2013
10.25-11.35 circuit around f4
50+ Meadow pipit feeding in snowy grass f 13
Large finch flock around orchard and f4; chaffinch, reed bunting, goldfinch, linnet, bullfinch...and at least 16 Brambling counted!
Kestrel looking a bit fluffed up!
Willow Tit x2
Ian Campbell said
Sat Jan 12 8:42 PM, 2013
Visited this a.m. 250+ Chaffinch in NE corner of field 4 near mufc barrier was amazing and at least 3 Brambling amongst them, also Buzzard being annoyed by a Raven. Cheers Ian
Richard Would said
Thu Jan 10 9:07 PM, 2013
These flocks in NE corner of f4 and the Orchard still there today, masses of Woodpigeons in the Orchard and I also counted between 6 and 8 Bramblings among the Chaffinch flock, together with a number of Linnets, Greenfinches and the odd Goldfinch. I had no scope, only binoculars, and it was misty and murky, so I couldn't really count things properly, there may have been more Bramblings, they certainly seemed easy to find.
Two Peregrines on adjacent pylons, the two pylons closest to the track at the North end of f12, which was nice. No Buzzards which seemed odd, couple of Kestrels which seemed very reluctant to fly in the conditions.
Bit of a finchfest at the Sale corner of the Moss, more Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a few Redwings etc.
John Williams said
Thu Jan 10 2:37 AM, 2013
11.30-14.30
Masses of Chaffinches on stubble and in the birches on the NE corner of F4, with them were 8 Bramblings plus a few Greenfinches and Goldfinches.
Also several big flocks of Chaffinches in the Ash trees bordering F2. Huge numbers of Woodpigeon around the Old Orchard, and perched in the midst of them a Buzzard.
When the raptor moved though so did the Woodpigeon, sharpish. I've seen a Buzzard attack Woodpigeon here before, with a dive that would shame a Peregrine.
Another Buzzard flying over F1, a Peregrine flying over too, plus a Sparrowhawk near the MUFC barrier.
The bushes on the South side of F1 never fail to produce birds, on my last visit they were full of Fieldfares, today masses of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.
There were 50+ Reed Buntings, 24 emerged from a single clump of bramble, and 30 Yellowhammers.
The hedgerow by F8 produced another 9 Reed Buntings, 2 Redwings, 2 Bullfinches and a Fieldfare (The only one seen throughout).
The few bushes on the North side of F25 produced lots more Chaffinches, 8 Reed Buntings and 6 more Yellowhammers. A flock of 45 Starlings flushed from F2.
A single Common Gull with Black Heads flying over F4, 2 Willow Tits and 2 Treecreepers in the birches on the road to the MUFC complex.
Ann Ribbands said
Sat Jan 5 12:33 AM, 2013
Transpennine trail from Broadheath to the Rope & Anchor - 2 buzzards, 1 kestrel, 1 siskin, 100 redwing (f49) and highlight of the afternoon, 16+ yellowhammer with a few reedbuntings in the low hedge at f128. Blackmoss wood was eerily quiet - often a good finch flock here but nothing today.
Henry Cook said
Wed Jan 2 2:20 AM, 2013
01/01/2013 - 8.30-11.00 - from Altrincham ETW I walked to field4 and back via birchmoss covert, also stops at field 32, whitehouse farm, black moss lane and dunham massey village. Some of the largest flocks i've seen on the moss:
c40 Pink-footed Geese - flying E over Ashton-upon-Mersey 2 Kestrels 2 Sparrowhawks 1 Harris's Hawk - well dodgy but a nice bird 2 Grey Partridges - took ages to find some, f115 2 Stock Doves - f32 800+ Woodpigeons - f32 and f115 2 Lapwings - f36 4 Meadow Pipits - f16 2 Skylarks - f36 c200 Redwings - f15 and f4 c300 Fieldfares - split evenly between f15 and dunham massey village c200 Starlings - dunham massey village 1 Willow Tit - swiss cottage 2 Ravens - f5, chasing a Sparrowhawk, later probably the same birds over Dunham Massey NT 2 Tree Sparrow - Dunham Massey Village 9 Bullfinches - a couple of flocks moving about c400 Chaffinches - f15 and f4 c150 Linnets - f4 9 Bramblings - f4 and f15 3 Yellowhammers - f5 2 Corn Buntings - f15, proved tough to pick out amongst the mega finch flock
no Little Owls despite checking a few territories
Jeff Clarke said
Wed Dec 26 10:44 PM, 2012
Three hours walking across north side of the Moss before the rain started. Generally disappointing number and variety of birds, but motorcycles all over the place didn't help. Little worth reporting until I reached the United training ground area where the highlights were: Willow tit - Swiss Cottage Farm Brambling - at least 4 in with large Chaffing flock Fields 13 and 15. Barn Owl seen twice flying over training ground. Also Harris Hawk in old orchard Field 3.
Nev Wright said
Tue Dec 18 3:27 AM, 2012
Good to see you again Tim, hope it wasn't too dark by the time you made it home! ...also add One snipe in f4 flushed by dog-walker ...and the Harris Hawk perched on telegraph poles on north of f2....wasn't bothered by me in the slightest....jessies present on both legs.
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Dec 17 4:07 PM, 2012
Sunday 2.00 - 3.30pm
f7 Linnets 100 in hedgerow
f4 and Silver Birch trees along road: Willow Tit 2 Treecreeper 1 possibly 2 Long-tailed Tit 20 Commuting between the field and the trees: Chaffinch 300 and a further 100 f2 Linnet 100 Brambling 4 seen well but probably at least twice that number
f13 Starlings 300 and a further 500 in one tree alongside f2 f2 Woodpigeon 100 f28 small mixed flock of 20 Reed Bunting and 10 Yellowhammer with 10 Chaffinch Kestrel
Nice to see Nev Wright again also making a late visit
John Doherty said
Thu Dec 13 1:53 AM, 2012
It's a bit of a creepy place to be on your own on a winter's evening - I had a look at the back of F4 myself tonight - highlight was the memorable sunset. Birdwise, 200 Finches were in the trees, but poor light and lack of time prevented me from finding Brambling - definite Chaffinch (dominant) and several Goldfinch
Consolation was a F Bulfinch along the training ground fence.
Nev Wright said
Wed Dec 12 3:53 AM, 2012
Oh, that sounds better (I suppose it must work?!)....but what about the guys with baggage and dogs!
tim woodburn said
Tue Dec 11 7:20 PM, 2012
the gunshots you are hearing are gas guns used to keep the pigeons off the young rape plants
-- Edited by tim woodburn on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 07:21:03 PM
Nev Wright said
Mon Dec 10 12:47 AM, 2012
Two afternoon visits yesterday and today;
Good to meet Phil Kelly & Tim Wilcox yesterday... 7 Brambling this afternoon hedges on south of f4, 2 yesterday, mixed with Chaffinch Also large flocks of Linnet, Starling and Chaffinch generally
Other highlights; 3 families of Long-tailed Tit, with Goldcrest, Willow Tit (3) and Treecreeper tagging along Fieldfare (33+) enjoying the proceeds from the ploughed field, south f13
Lowlights; Numerous gunshots about, and at least 2 groups of armed individuals
Tim Wilcox said
Thu Dec 6 11:12 PM, 2012
John Doherty wrote:
Super footage - 'they' reckon it's going to be an invasion year this year for Brambling - I heard the info second-hand and from what source the person got it from I think it was BBC somewhere - I have yet to see 1 - that will change soon!
Well it was mentioned on Autumnwatch by Chris Packham...
John Doherty said
Thu Dec 6 9:59 PM, 2012
Super footage - 'they' reckon it's going to be an invasion year this year for Brambling - I heard the info second-hand and from what source the person got it from I think it was BBC somewhere - I have yet to see 1 - that will change soon!
Pete Hines said
Wed Dec 5 7:36 PM, 2012
11 Brambling together in the same tree adjacent to F4. I suspect there are many many more. Some footage
Crow 6+ Jackdaw 1 Jay 1 GtSpotted Woodpecker 1 Reed Bunting 1 Missel Thrush 2 Skylark 5 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 1 Harris Hawk 1 Long-tailed Tits, Blue and Great Tits. Black-headed Gulls Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens,etc.
John Williams said
Mon Dec 3 6:14 PM, 2012
11-00-14.30
The big Chaffinch flock was still nervously flitting around Field 4, every now and then some would fly into the birches bordering the Shell reserve, and vice versa.
It was impossible to count the flock, they did'nt settle for long enough. I did pick out 3 Bramblings amongst them though, plus a couple of Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches.
A couple of mixed tit flocks moving through these birches too, one contained a Treecreeper, the first I've seen here.
The most memorable thing throughout the walk across the moss was the sheer numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings. I counted 80 Fieldfares gathered together on 3 Hawthorne bushes.
I did'nt even attempt to count the Redwings as many were in the centre of the bushes hidden by a mass of Fieldfares and berries. There were at least 4 big flocks of thrushes moving around the
moss, mainly Fieldfares, and when these flocks combined, due to disturbance by dog walkers and buzzards, it went dark "literally". A single flock of 1800 Starlings were gathered on the "wires"
between Fields 2 and 4, plus in the nearby trees. Amongst the mass of thrushes in the hawthornes between Fields 11 and 2 were a flock of 6 Yellowhammers, with 2 more by Field 1.
Also on the moss, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk (diving through the Chaffinch flock), 4 Reed Buntings and 1000+ Woodpigeon. A single flock of 135 Lapwing flying over the MUFC centre.
This site is GM's own avarian Serengeti.
-- Edited by John Williams on Monday 3rd of December 2012 06:29:17 PM
Doc Brewster said
Mon Dec 3 5:52 AM, 2012
Tim Wilcox wrote:
This morning with Tony Darby 10.15 - 13.00
f4/f13 A stunning flock of finches numbering about 1000 composed of: Chaffinch 700 Linnets 300 (counted quite well when we caught up with them on the way back and they were on their own) Goldfinch small numbers Greenfinch small numbers -- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:47:46 PM
I have had reports of that finch flock too, Tim, from local observers. They had heard of Brambling being seen in the flock, I take it you had none today? Or at least none in the bits of the flock that you managed to scan - numbers like that are murder to check through!!
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Dec 2 11:26 PM, 2012
Doc Brewster wrote:
Tim Wilcox wrote:
This morning with Tony Darby 10.15 - 13.00
f4/f13 A stunning flock of finches numbering about 1000 composed of: Chaffinch 700 Linnets 300 (counted quite well when we caught up with them on the way back and they were on their own) Goldfinch small numbers Greenfinch small numbers -- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:47:46 PM
I have had reports of that finch flock too, Tim, from local observers. They had heard of Brambling being seen in the flock, I take it you had none today? Or at least none in the bits of the flock that you managed to scan - numbers like that are murder to check through!!
Hi Doc We later had a couple of hundred of the Chaffinches close in off the concrete road and of course scanned and scanned for Brambling till our feet and hands froze off but no luck today. We assumed some had to be out there somewhere...
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 3rd of December 2012 07:30:57 AM
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Dec 2 4:44 PM, 2012
This morning with Tony Darby 10.15 - 13.00
f4/f13 A stunning flock of finches numbering about 1000 composed of: Chaffinch 700 Linnets 300 (counted quite well when we caught up with them on the way back and they were on their own) Goldfinch small numbers Greenfinch small numbers
f12 Starlings 300 pursued by the Harris Hawk
Road to the training ground: Redwings 30 (and around 50 more scattered in small parties around the moss) Tit flock: Willow Tit 2 Treecreeper 1 Long-tailed Tits 20 Blue Tit 2 Great Tit 2
f2 Woodpigeon 500
f26 Fieldfare 20 (around 20 more in small groups around the moss) Buzzard 4 in fields 1/10/8 f1 Bullfinch 1m
Sinderland Green Wood Siskin 11 in trees above Sinderland Brook
Isherwood Road Kestrel 1
A surprising lack of corvids in any number
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:47:46 PM
Doc Brewster said
Thu Nov 29 1:29 AM, 2012
Excellent Ian, the roost size at Marbury CP has definitely declined from 10 years ago sadly, but still decent numbers at both Marbury CP and now at Neummans Flash as the reed beds have matured there
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 29 1:12 AM, 2012
At least a few really nice four figure flocks in the county at the moment Paul
Doc Brewster said
Thu Nov 29 1:08 AM, 2012
Given the plight of Starlings & the decline in this species that is excellent news
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 28 11:53 PM, 2012
Still a flock of approximately 2000 Starling on new power lines and in adjacent fields.
f3/Old Orchard - some birds seen here the same as on the corner of f2-4 A staggering 12 species of bird in the berry-laden hedge at the same time! Like something from a Ladybird Book of country birds Blue Tit 1 Great Tit 1 Fieldfare 10 Redwing 50 Goldfinch 1 Greenfinch 1 BRAMBLING female 1 Yellowhammer 4 Reed Bunting 2 Wren 1 Blackbrid 2 Jay 2
f2 Woodpigeon 400 Harris Hawk on the silver lagged Shell refinery main pipe
f1 Reed Bunting 5 Yellowhammer 5 Robin 1
f11-f28 Kestrel flew and perched on Telegraph pole f28
f32 covey of Grey Partridge 4 at end of Dark Lane
Sinderland Road Buzzard f33 Pied Wagtail 2 On Birch Farm feeders: Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Great Tit 1 Blue Tit 1
f5 Swiss Cottage Farm Sparrowhawk
end of Isherwood Road near the barrier Mistle Thrush 1 Willow Tit 1
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:06:26 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:09:44 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:10:29 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:12:51 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:13:33 PM
Tony Darby said
Tue Oct 30 12:58 AM, 2012
Small passerine numbers definitely up since I was last here about 3 weeks ago.
In the f8/f9 and f1/f10 areas there were good numbers of Chaffinch, Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer, 100 + maybe. Also a few Fieldfare mixed in. A flock of 100 Redwings in trees at the end of Dark Lane near the disused railway line. A single Stonechat f13. 1Buzzard and mixed corvid flock (Crows and Jackdaws) C250 f8 Wood Pigeons C300 f2 2 Buzzards f2 Also a Harris Hawk with jesses perched up next to one of the Buzzards at the corner of the old orchard overlooking f2. It was calling a lot, and finally flew off towards the works, causing panic amongst the pigeons. Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, and noticeably large numbers of Blackbirds on hawthorns throughout the area.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 22 4:32 AM, 2012
Sightings for yesterday: -
Long-tailed Tit a flock of c25 Willow Tit 1 Goldfinch 70 (including a flock of c50) Redwing 8 Bullfinch 2 Mistle Thrush 2 Skylark 10 Kestrel 2 Grey Partridge 6 in field 10 Buzzard 2 Greenfinch 2 Yellowhammer 30 (c20 in hedges of fields 1/10) Reed Bunting 30 (c20 in hedges of fields 1/10)
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Mon Oct 15 5:19 PM, 2012
Sunday, October 14,pm. Walk from Isherwood Road to ETW.
Buzzard 4 Sparrowhawk 1 Yellowhammer 1 Chiffchaff 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Mixed Tit flock of Gt/LT/Blue Tits, 1Treecreeper, 2 Willow Tit and 1 Coal Tit. Jay 1 Mistle Thrush 2
At least it was a nice afternoon.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 15th of October 2012 07:25:50 PM
Jon Stevenson said
Wed Oct 10 8:19 PM, 2012
Yesterday afternoon between 2pm and 3:30pm:
c. 6 Reed Buntings, appropriately enough in the bulrush patch in f1 3 Yellowhammers in the bushes along the track between f13 and f4 4 grey partridge in f13 4 mistle thrush f5 2 skylarks f5
And wood pigeons everywhere, but especially f11 (c. 500).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 11th of October 2012 12:30:56 AM
Paul Heaton said
Sun Oct 7 12:14 AM, 2012
Peregrine was seen over field 1,excellent light today for birding, highlights for me were a couple of swallows, 2 Wigeon, and a Pink -footed goose.
Keep Birding
Richard Would said
Sat Oct 6 11:02 PM, 2012
Had a walk round the Northern end this afternoon, plenty of Buzzards (at least 10), 4/5 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, 3 Jays, few Yellowhammers, quite a few Goldfinches etc.
Just missed a Peregrine apparently, round field 10 area
Steven Nelson said
Thu Oct 4 9:37 PM, 2012
2 female Goosander together at 8.05am this morning on Sinderland Brook by the farm (forgot name!) at f30 was a bit of a surprise. It doesn't seem wide enough or deep enough here to hold many sizeable fish?
Also 4 Swallow over heading south
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 4th of October 2012 09:42:58 PM
Had a look round Sinderland yesterday afternoon and no sign of them. Met a couple of other chaps from the forum, who had just finished looking for them without success, and I did no better.
Beautiful weather, perhaps they took the opportunity to get going.
Plenty of Buzzards in evidence, at least 6/7 probably more, 3 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, few Swallows.
Common Crane over field F4 flying North North east at 10.05.
Large Chaffinch flock 250 to 300 birds with approximately 30 Brambling on F4, very mobile as disturbed by dog walkers.
100 plus skylark fields F4 and F12.
Lapwing 14
Oystercatcher 1
Herring Gull 10 over
Black headed Gull 160+
Buzzard 2
Other than that, a few Goldfinches, 3/4 Buzzards, a Kestrel, 3/4 Yellowhammers, 2 Pheasants, big (50+) flock of Skylarks in the stubble on field 12 and a flock of about 20 Redwings in Firs Wood.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Friday 15th of February 2013 01:41:00 PM
-- Edited by Richard Would on Friday 15th of February 2013 02:00:08 PM
The huge finch flock was still there in field 4, although I found it almost impossible to get any sort of estimate on numbers of the birds.
2 bramblings however alighted in some of the trees along the main track, offering fantastic views.
Also:
A pair of peregrines were posted on different pylons offering great viewing, with the female at one point diving through a flock of woddpigeons.
Male and female kestrel
Female Sparrowhawk
At least 1 buzzard seen, though two could be heard at once
c.125 Linnet were in the field behind Sinderland Brook
Grey wagtail on the brook itself
The sewage works held 3 Gadwall (2m, 1f)
And a flock of 30 teal were circling the flooded woodland, with many more heard.
15 lapwing over.
500+ Chaffinches
40+ Bramblings
150+ Linnets
1 Greenfinch
1 Bullfinch
1 Reed Bunting
20+ Skylarks
c100 Fieldfares - f15
c40 Redwings
1000+ Woodpigeons - f2
1 Willow Tit - old orchard
14 Long-tailed Tits
1 Buzzard
2 Grey Partridges
8 Lapwings
3 Stock Doves
200+ Woodpigeons
9 Fieldfares
4 Redwings
1 Tree Sparrow
Most of the finds were in fields 1 and 2 -
3-5 Bramblings (path between 1 and 2)
Loads of Chaffinches, some Greenfinches, Goldfinches, at least 1 Bullfinch M/ more heard, 1 Yellowhammer, 1 Linnet, 20+ Reed Buntings
Then over to the Sewage Works, completely frozen and no birds - a bonus was seeing a Redwing just beyond, and a married pair of Teals on the stream near the tip.
A walk then to the Crematorium and the farmland, and back down the canal to Atlantic Retail Park -
3 Grey Partridges; 1 Meadow Pipit, 3 Buzzards (two being mobbed by Crows) Lapwings.
Brambling 9 around f2/F1 with:
Chaffinch 200
Siskin 2
Greenfinch 2
Goldfinch 1
Yellowhammer 4
Reed Bunting 12
Cormorant 2 over
Woodpigeon 1000 - winter flocks are so wonderful!
Buzzard 2
another 4 Brambling in the Old Orchard with another 50 Chaffinch
No Linnets! Where have they gone?
Get down to Carrington Moss before it gets built on! One of my favourite places anywhere
I sit and watch "Winterwatch" at 8pm of an evening. There aint much wildlife to see at that time of neet..........unless you know of a secret Pine Marten hide locally ?
Keep staying in.
Brambling, Chaffinch, Siskin, etc Corn Bunting and Very large Woodpigeon flock.
Dont understand why people sit and watch winterwatch, when they could go out and see nature live in 3D
Keep getting out.
50+ Meadow pipit feeding in snowy grass f 13
Large finch flock around orchard and f4; chaffinch, reed bunting, goldfinch, linnet, bullfinch...and at least 16 Brambling counted!
Kestrel looking a bit fluffed up!
Willow Tit x2
Cheers Ian
Two Peregrines on adjacent pylons, the two pylons closest to the track at the North end of f12, which was nice. No Buzzards which seemed odd, couple of Kestrels which seemed very reluctant to fly in the conditions.
Bit of a finchfest at the Sale corner of the Moss, more Chaffinches, Bullfinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches and a few Redwings etc.
Masses of Chaffinches on stubble and in the birches on the NE corner of F4, with them were 8 Bramblings plus a few Greenfinches and Goldfinches.
Also several big flocks of Chaffinches in the Ash trees bordering F2. Huge numbers of Woodpigeon around the Old Orchard, and perched in the midst of them a Buzzard.
When the raptor moved though so did the Woodpigeon, sharpish. I've seen a Buzzard attack Woodpigeon here before, with a dive that would shame a Peregrine.
Another Buzzard flying over F1, a Peregrine flying over too, plus a Sparrowhawk near the MUFC barrier.
The bushes on the South side of F1 never fail to produce birds, on my last visit they were full of Fieldfares, today masses of Reed Buntings and Yellowhammers.
There were 50+ Reed Buntings, 24 emerged from a single clump of bramble, and 30 Yellowhammers.
The hedgerow by F8 produced another 9 Reed Buntings, 2 Redwings, 2 Bullfinches and a Fieldfare (The only one seen throughout).
The few bushes on the North side of F25 produced lots more Chaffinches, 8 Reed Buntings and 6 more Yellowhammers. A flock of 45 Starlings flushed from F2.
A single Common Gull with Black Heads flying over F4, 2 Willow Tits and 2 Treecreepers in the birches on the road to the MUFC complex.
c40 Pink-footed Geese - flying E over Ashton-upon-Mersey
2 Kestrels
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Harris's Hawk - well dodgy but a nice bird
2 Grey Partridges - took ages to find some, f115
2 Stock Doves - f32
800+ Woodpigeons - f32 and f115
2 Lapwings - f36
4 Meadow Pipits - f16
2 Skylarks - f36
c200 Redwings - f15 and f4
c300 Fieldfares - split evenly between f15 and dunham massey village
c200 Starlings - dunham massey village
1 Willow Tit - swiss cottage
2 Ravens - f5, chasing a Sparrowhawk, later probably the same birds over Dunham Massey NT
2 Tree Sparrow - Dunham Massey Village
9 Bullfinches - a couple of flocks moving about
c400 Chaffinches - f15 and f4
c150 Linnets - f4
9 Bramblings - f4 and f15
3 Yellowhammers - f5
2 Corn Buntings - f15, proved tough to pick out amongst the mega finch flock
no Little Owls despite checking a few territories
Willow tit - Swiss Cottage Farm
Brambling - at least 4 in with large Chaffing flock Fields 13 and 15.
Barn Owl seen twice flying over training ground.
Also Harris Hawk in old orchard Field 3.
...also add
One snipe in f4 flushed by dog-walker
...and the Harris Hawk perched on telegraph poles on north of f2....wasn't bothered by me in the slightest....jessies present on both legs.
f7 Linnets 100 in hedgerow
f4 and Silver Birch trees along road:
Willow Tit 2
Treecreeper 1 possibly 2
Long-tailed Tit 20
Commuting between the field and the trees:
Chaffinch 300 and a further 100 f2
Linnet 100
Brambling 4 seen well but probably at least twice that number
f13 Starlings 300 and a further 500 in one tree alongside f2
f2 Woodpigeon 100
f28 small mixed flock of 20 Reed Bunting and 10 Yellowhammer with 10 Chaffinch
Kestrel
Nice to see Nev Wright again also making a late visit
Consolation was a F Bulfinch along the training ground fence.
-- Edited by tim woodburn on Tuesday 11th of December 2012 07:21:03 PM
Good to meet Phil Kelly & Tim Wilcox yesterday...
7 Brambling this afternoon hedges on south of f4, 2 yesterday, mixed with Chaffinch
Also large flocks of Linnet, Starling and Chaffinch generally
Other highlights;
3 families of Long-tailed Tit, with Goldcrest, Willow Tit (3) and Treecreeper tagging along
Fieldfare (33+) enjoying the proceeds from the ploughed field, south f13
Lowlights;
Numerous gunshots about, and at least 2 groups of armed individuals
Well it was mentioned on Autumnwatch by Chris Packham...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-ytYANEUqQ&feature=plcp
also
20 Pink-footed Geese flying north at 15.05
1 Kestrel
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 5th of December 2012 07:44:25 PM
Rough guestimates as follows.
Finches: 500+ mainly Chaffinches but plenty of Linnets. Also Yellowhammers 10+,
Goldfinches 10+, Greenfinches 5+, Bullfinches 5 and Brambling 1.
Woodpigeon 500+
Starling 400+
Fieldfare/Redwing 300+
Crow 6+
Jackdaw 1
Jay 1
GtSpotted Woodpecker 1
Reed Bunting 1
Missel Thrush 2
Skylark 5
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 1
Harris Hawk 1
Long-tailed Tits, Blue and Great Tits.
Black-headed Gulls
Blackbirds, Robins, Wrens,etc.
The big Chaffinch flock was still nervously flitting around Field 4, every now and then some would fly into the birches bordering the Shell reserve, and vice versa.
It was impossible to count the flock, they did'nt settle for long enough. I did pick out 3 Bramblings amongst them though, plus a couple of Greenfinches and 3 Goldfinches.
A couple of mixed tit flocks moving through these birches too, one contained a Treecreeper, the first I've seen here.
The most memorable thing throughout the walk across the moss was the sheer numbers of Fieldfares and Redwings. I counted 80 Fieldfares gathered together on 3 Hawthorne bushes.
I did'nt even attempt to count the Redwings as many were in the centre of the bushes hidden by a mass of Fieldfares and berries. There were at least 4 big flocks of thrushes moving around the
moss, mainly Fieldfares, and when these flocks combined, due to disturbance by dog walkers and buzzards, it went dark "literally". A single flock of 1800 Starlings were gathered on the "wires"
between Fields 2 and 4, plus in the nearby trees. Amongst the mass of thrushes in the hawthornes between Fields 11 and 2 were a flock of 6 Yellowhammers, with 2 more by Field 1.
Also on the moss, 4 Buzzards, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk (diving through the Chaffinch flock), 4 Reed Buntings and 1000+ Woodpigeon. A single flock of 135 Lapwing flying over the MUFC centre.
This site is GM's own avarian Serengeti.
-- Edited by John Williams on Monday 3rd of December 2012 06:29:17 PM
I have had reports of that finch flock too, Tim, from local observers. They had heard of Brambling being seen in the flock, I take it you had none today? Or at least none in the bits of the flock that you managed to scan - numbers like that are murder to check through!!
Hi Doc We later had a couple of hundred of the Chaffinches close in off the concrete road and of course scanned and scanned for Brambling till our feet and hands froze off but no luck today. We assumed some had to be out there somewhere...
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 3rd of December 2012 07:30:57 AM
f4/f13 A stunning flock of finches numbering about 1000 composed of:
Chaffinch 700
Linnets 300 (counted quite well when we caught up with them on the way back and they were on their own)
Goldfinch small numbers
Greenfinch small numbers
f12 Starlings 300 pursued by the Harris Hawk
Road to the training ground:
Redwings 30 (and around 50 more scattered in small parties around the moss)
Tit flock:
Willow Tit 2
Treecreeper 1
Long-tailed Tits 20
Blue Tit 2
Great Tit 2
f2 Woodpigeon 500
f26 Fieldfare 20 (around 20 more in small groups around the moss)
Buzzard 4 in fields 1/10/8
f1 Bullfinch 1m
f25 Reed Bunting 8
Yellowhammer 2
Starling 50
Skylark 20
Sinderland Green Wood
Siskin 11 in trees above Sinderland Brook
Isherwood Road
Kestrel 1
A surprising lack of corvids in any number
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 2nd of December 2012 04:47:46 PM
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
F90 = 35 Goldfinch & 15 Fieldfare
F42 = 55 Lapwing
f13
Skylark 20
f12-3 ditch
Stonechat f
f12-4
Peregrine 2
Buzzard 1
Raven 1 over
f2-4 corner
Linnets 20
Reed Bunting 2
Yellowhammer 2
Jay 1
Goldfinch 6
Chaffinch 12
f3/Old Orchard - some birds seen here the same as on the corner of f2-4
A staggering 12 species of bird in the berry-laden hedge at the same time! Like something from a Ladybird Book of country birds
Blue Tit 1
Great Tit 1
Fieldfare 10
Redwing 50
Goldfinch 1
Greenfinch 1
BRAMBLING female 1
Yellowhammer 4
Reed Bunting 2
Wren 1
Blackbrid 2
Jay 2
f2
Woodpigeon 400
Harris Hawk on the silver lagged Shell refinery main pipe
f1
Reed Bunting 5
Yellowhammer 5
Robin 1
f11-f28
Kestrel flew and perched on Telegraph pole f28
f32
covey of Grey Partridge 4 at end of Dark Lane
Sinderland Road
Buzzard f33
Pied Wagtail 2
On Birch Farm feeders:
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Great Tit 1
Blue Tit 1
f5 Swiss Cottage Farm
Sparrowhawk
end of Isherwood Road near the barrier
Mistle Thrush 1
Willow Tit 1
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:06:26 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:09:44 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:10:29 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:12:51 PM
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 4th of November 2012 06:13:33 PM
In the f8/f9 and f1/f10 areas there were good numbers of Chaffinch, Reed Bunting
and Yellowhammer, 100 + maybe. Also a few Fieldfare mixed in.
A flock of 100 Redwings in trees at the end of Dark Lane near the disused railway line.
A single Stonechat f13.
1Buzzard and mixed corvid flock (Crows and Jackdaws) C250 f8
Wood Pigeons C300 f2
2 Buzzards f2
Also a Harris Hawk with jesses perched up next to one of the Buzzards at the corner of the
old orchard overlooking f2. It was calling a lot, and finally flew off towards the works, causing
panic amongst the pigeons.
Long-tailed Tits, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, and noticeably large numbers of Blackbirds on hawthorns
throughout the area.
Long-tailed Tit a flock of c25
Willow Tit 1
Goldfinch 70 (including a flock of c50)
Redwing 8
Bullfinch 2
Mistle Thrush 2
Skylark 10
Kestrel 2
Grey Partridge 6 in field 10
Buzzard 2
Greenfinch 2
Yellowhammer 30 (c20 in hedges of fields 1/10)
Reed Bunting 30 (c20 in hedges of fields 1/10)
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
Buzzard 4
Sparrowhawk 1
Yellowhammer 1
Chiffchaff 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Mixed Tit flock of Gt/LT/Blue Tits, 1Treecreeper, 2 Willow Tit and 1 Coal Tit.
Jay 1
Mistle Thrush 2
At least it was a nice afternoon.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 15th of October 2012 07:25:50 PM
c. 6 Reed Buntings, appropriately enough in the bulrush patch in f1
3 Yellowhammers in the bushes along the track between f13 and f4
4 grey partridge in f13
4 mistle thrush f5
2 skylarks f5
And wood pigeons everywhere, but especially f11 (c. 500).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 11th of October 2012 12:30:56 AM
Keep Birding
Had a walk round the Northern end this afternoon, plenty of Buzzards (at least 10), 4/5 Kestrels, Sparrowhawk, 3 Jays, few Yellowhammers, quite a few Goldfinches etc.
Just missed a Peregrine apparently, round field 10 area
Also 4 Swallow over heading south
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 4th of October 2012 09:42:58 PM
Swallow 4
Buzzard 4
Kestrel 1m 1f
Sparrowhawk 1f
Chiffchaff 1
Goldfinch 20+
Jackdaw 50+
Woodpigeons
Stock Doves
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 1
and no Yellowhammers.
Looks like the Hobbies may have departed...
Had a look round Sinderland yesterday afternoon and no sign of them.
Met a couple of other chaps from the forum, who had just finished looking for them without success, and I did no better.
Beautiful weather, perhaps they took the opportunity to get going.
Plenty of Buzzards in evidence, at least 6/7 probably more, 3 Kestrels, 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 3 Jays, few Swallows.