Tuesday 29th June 7.15-8.00

Not much to report tonight.

c30 Lapwings together on the runway
1 Song Thrush
1 Chiff Chaff
2 Swallows
6 Swift
1 Skylark
30 Sand Martins

Pretty quiet.

Had a good look around Old Hall Farm today but no sign of the Stonechat.

A Lapwing was performing a distraction display with a buzzard perched in the tree above. Sensibly the chicks didn't show.

(Emperor Dragonfly at the bridge over the Dane).

Cheers, John

Sunday 27th June 7.15-8.30pm

Another good spell here.

1 juvenile Common Buzzard
2 Tree Sparrows
2 Swallows
c40 Sand Martins
2 Linnets
1 Pied Wagtail
6 Lapwings
2 Skylark
4 Magpies
1 Chaffinch
c100 Starlings in one flock
Chiff Chaff (heard)

Saturday 26th June 12.15-1.15pm

A warm afternoon with very little activity either on the aeredrome or in the fields opposite.

8 Lapwings in flight
2 Swallows
3 Goldfinch
1 Kestrel
1 Stonehchat (Juvenile) (Many thanks to Anthony Dixon for identiying for me from my photos) This is a first for me anywhere.

This site never ceases to amaze me with its wide range of bird life.

Sunday 20th June 1.30-3.30pm

2 Common Buzzard
1 Nuthatch
2 Jay
2 Grey Heron
2 Linnets
1 Skylark
2 Goldfinch
3 Wrens
1 Chiff chaff (heard but not seen)
1 Chaffinch (heard but not seen)
Many swallows, Swifts and Lapwings
The Sand Martins seem to have fledged and are merrily flying around.

Saturday 19th June 4.00-5.00

A great afternoon.
3 Curlew
2 Red Legged Partridge (a first for me)
2 Common Buzzard
2 Linnet
1 Jay
2 Goldfinch
1 Chaffinch
Chiff Chaff (heard)
Skylark (heard)
Many Sand Martins and Lapwings
1 Hare and 1 fox


-- Edited by Adam Jones on Sunday 20th of June 2010 06:22:18 PM

It might only be a rumour, but it is no doubt founded in the truth. You only had to read what the leader of the council said after the SEMMMS link road was approved last year. This isn't word for word, but it ran something like 'and the best thing about the road is we won't have to move anyone out of their homes to build it, it will only run through fields'. Of course he didn't mention woods, hedges, ponds and things like that, but the gist of his message was clear, nothing green will stand in the way of progress. Progress towards what I'm not sure. All the other acts of 'progress' in recent times do not seem to have brought us to a land of prosperity.

Adam, I wouldn't get too excited yet, this is (as I said) a rumour.
The rumour sprang from talks held between the consortium trying to buy Stockport County, who have been "promised" funds (in the election build up !) by Stockport MBC and included Cheshire Sports (who own Sale Sharks).

Its value is as an emergency airstrip for Manchester Airport in the case of a disaster there, I understand.

Any development like this would be a disaster for the wildlife in the area, with another important habitat just ripped away. The only answer I have is to turn it into a nature reserve, but I think Stockport Council already have their future income streams from Council Tax, business rates etc penciled in.
I am sure BAE could sell this land to whoever they see fit, so I don't understand how Stockport Council are having such a big say in the issue. Is the land not privately owned by BAE? I can only assume not.

In the meantime, I aim to enjoy this piece of unspoilt England with it's rich tapestry of wildlife for as long as I am allowed.

..on the subject of Woodford aerodrome, I had heard a rumour that it was to become a substantial housing development, with accompanying schools, etc. Also that a sports complex (like the Leigh Sports Village) was also proposed. All subject to BAE systems moving on and planning consent of couse.

Sunday 13th June 1.15-2.15

A pretty quiet and cloudy afternoon. Not much activity to report.
The highlight being a pair of Buzzards circling a family of Great Tits as they headed from the safety of a wooded area to a relatively unsafe hawthorn bush. After five minutes or so the Buzzards gave up and went searching elsewhere. A lucky escape, and I hope they've learnt their lesson.

Was just thinking the same, whilst watching Springwatch, the other night,
its all getting a bit predictable with the usual 'safe seats' of Norfolk & Dorset.

Stockport doesn't have 'green credentials'. A few years ago I asked one of my local councillors what the council had achieved in that direction in recent years; his reply was that they had changed all the light bulbs in the Town Hall. I asked a similar question of the MP for Hazel Grove Andrew Stunnel; he brushed it aside with 'In Westminster a motorway was regarded a a road which joined two SSSIs'. Eh???
These people are dangerous!!! I have been toying with lobbying the MP for Brighton Pavilion.
I'd like to see 'Springwatch' move from Norfolk to Stockport; perhaps the experts can show us what we are missing.

Thanks Andy, will definately have a read of that,
with all this talk of new hotels, football stadia etc, Stockport seems to have forgotten all about its 'green credentials'.
They're quickly becoming a mini Manchester with little or no thought for the environment other than supplying another wheelie bin.

To all you Woodford devotees.

I received a letter from Stockport Council on Saturday morning advising of the publication of their 'Core Strategy' which sets out to guide future development and change in the Borough up to 2026. After listing the main documents which are now available for viewing and comment, an additional note was referred to which sets out the latest position in relation to Woodford Aerodrome. The title of the document is enough to strike terror into the heart of anyone with a conservation leaning. It's called 'Area of Opportunity'. I do not expect these 'opportunities' to abound with talk of how friendly Stockport Council will be towards wildlife at the site.

Anyone who wishes to read and comment on the proposals should go to the Council's website or visit a local library. You have until 19th July to make representations.

Saturday 5th June 6.30-7.15pm

2 singing Skylarks
4 Pied Wagtail
2 Buzzards (1 circling, the other perched)
c20 Lapwings
c30 Sand Martins
6 Swallows
2 Linnets
1 Goldfinch
6 Great Tit

Friday 4th June 7.30-8.15pm

After some heavy rain the birds seemed to come to life vocally.
I saw and heard two Skylarks over the runway and also heard a Curlew in the same direction although did not see it.

1 Grey Heron, which flew from the river up to a perch in a tree.
1 Buzzard.
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker drilling.
1 Greenfinch
2 Goldfinch
The usual numbers of Lapwings, Sand Martins, Swallows and Swifts.

John I am very jealous. Firstly of the Kite end then the cold beer. I shall be popping over there tonight in hope more than anything else, but also to keep an eye on the general activity. Congratulations to you.

Cheers Adam

Birding at it's best?

Cycled to the Davenport Arms, Woodford this lunch time to meet up with some old work mates. A pint of 4-4-2 bitter in one hand and a chicken sandwich in the other when, at 1.30, yet another 'buzzard' drifted by. The forked tail was obvious to the naked eye but I happened to be carrying my bins in a backpack for just such an eventuality and was amazed to confirm a Red Kite.

A first for Greater Manchester, Stockport Borough, SJ98 and my 'under my own steam' eco list.

It was in view for a 2-3 minutes as it slowly drifted east over Woodford Aerodrome in the general direction of Lyme Park.

Carlsberg don't do birding excursions, but if they did .....

Cheers, John

Red Kite drifted over east at 1:30 today over the Davenport Arms pub!

Info thanks to John Rayner

Friday 28th 7.15-8.00pm

A cold grey evening but still some activity.

1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Heron
5 Linnets
A very large flock of noisy starlings (c100) on the ground feeding.
1 Pheasant
2 Goldfinches
20 Lapwings
17 Sand Martins
1 Mistle Thrush

Looking forward to seeing what the weekend throws up


-- Edited by Adam Jones on Friday 28th of May 2010 10:08:00 PM

Thursday 27th 7.30-8.30pm

Quite an active time, with lots of birds in song and criss crossing the fields.
Here's what was around this evening:

23 Lapwings
2 Linnets
6 Goldfinch
2 Chaffinch
6 Swallow
17 Sand Martins
1 Skylark
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Magpie
1 Whitethroat (heard but not seen)

Sunday 23rd May 7.15am-8.30am

A Common Buzzard was sat in a tree for a good twenty minutes preening itself and genereally surveying the landscape.
A pair of Mistle Thrushes were busy gathering nesting material. A third flew by them briefly.
A Grey Heron flew low accross the ploughed fields towards Addlington.
A Whitethroat was singing and showing very well.
I managed to get some photos of all those above and will endeavour to upload them onto the site soon.

Adam

Saturday 22nd May 6pm-7pm

A Greater Spotted Woodpecker seen once again flying off towards the woods in the direction of Addlington.
A pair of Mistle Thrushes seen.
Many Lapwings and Sand Martins and the usual finches, otherwise very quiet

Visited last night 19th May 7.15-8.15.

I must warn that this is certainly not as exciting as Abram Flashes at the moment, but still very enjoyable.
A Greater Spotted Woodpecker seen here for the first time by me. It flew onto a fence post by the green bridge and then off into a tree overhanging the river.
A Grey Heron flew over low towards Church Lane.
A Buzzard was squawking away while sat in a tree.
A single Mistle Thrush sat on a fence post for some time before getting spooked.
A Nuthatch seems to be quite active around the end of Church Lane and has been seen now a few evenings on the trot

1 Wheatear foraging with a Pied Wagtail on the top ploughed field.
1 Skylark singing but not showing over the aerodrome side.
1 Grey Heron flew over the river followed shortly afterwards by a Comorant.
Several Greenfinches and Goldfinches at the church end of Old Hall Lane.
A Whitethroat singing and showing further down Old Hall Lane.
A Nuthatch chipping away at a tree on Church Lane.
The usual numbers of Lapwings, Sand Martins and Swallows.

A very active day.

A Greenfinch and 2 Goldfinches on Old Hall Lane along with a Kestrel high in a tree. The Chiff Chaff is still singing along here too. I'd say nearly two dozen Lapwings over the ploughed field and the same number of Sand Martins. A Grey Heron took off from the river Dean. A pair of Wheatear sat on a wire fence by the bridge before dropping down to the grass to forage.
A Skylark was singing high over head on the runway side. How it stayed there I don't know as the wind was so strong today. Where has the sun gone?

Hi Adam,

I think your mystery birds are probably linnets, there are a few pairs in the area.

Cheers, John

Around half a dozen Lapwings on the ploughed field opposite the runway at AVRO this afternoon. A Pied Wagtail was sat on a fence post by the green bridge but no sign of the Yellow Wagtail or Sand Martins. A Skylark was heard but not seen. A Chiff Chaff was heard on Old Hall Lane near the houses half way down.
I also saw a pair of sparrow sized birds foraging in the field near some broken bricks. I know that they weren't sparrows as the female seemed to have a pinkish tummy and both had greyish heads. Not really sure what they were, although my mind is telling me a Bunting of some kind. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I also forgot to post that I saw a Treecreeper on a tree in the front garden of a house heading down towards the Dean Water Hotel on Saturday. I was quite gobsmacked as I watched it probe it's way up and around the tree as I stood barely 5 yards away from it. A beatuiful little bird.

Adam

ADSKI wrote:

---

2 Buzzard circling over the Woodford aerodrome and 1 on the ground for some time.
2 Skylark and 1 Curlew again on the side of the aerodrome.
1 Pheasant in the field of Old Hall Lane
3 Greenfinches flew from the hedge on Church Lane.
Otherwise very quiet.

Cheers
Adam

---

Hi Adam,

Nice to know someone else is looking in this area. Try the footpath that runs by Old Hall Farm down to the green bridge over the River Dean (gated at the bridge at the moment but it is a footpath). These fields have recently been ploughed and look quite good for the odd migrant. There are plenty of Sand Martins on the Dean and I've had good numbers of Wheatear and 1 Yellow Wagtail over here.

Cheers, John

2 Buzzard circling over the Woodford aerodrome and 1 on the ground for some time.
2 Skylark and 1 Curlew again on the side of the aerodrome.
1 Pheasant in the field of Old Hall Lane
3 Greenfinches flew from the hedge on Church Lane.
Otherwise very quiet.

Cheers
Adam

A good morning for migrants with 3 Yellow Wagtails (2 Cheshire, 1 Stockport), 7 Wheatear (increase from 2 yesterday) and 12 Sand Martins. A pair of Goosander flew along the R. Dane. Singles of Stock Dove, Red-legged Partridge & Buzzard.

Cheers, John

Little change. Wheatears have moved on. All the usual stuff plus 1 Red-legged Partridge and 2 Oystercatcher.

Cheers, John

6th April

1 Greylag (Vicarage Pool)
4 Oystercatchers (pair Vicarage Pool and pair Church Lane Flood)
2 Northern Wheatear (both bright males, Old Hall Farm)
7 Stock Doves (OHF)
c80 Fieldfare (OHF)
3 Linnets (OHF)
1 Sand Martin (R Dean)

Cheers, John

The Vicarage - pool and surrounding fields

Oystercatchers (pair - copulating)
Fieldfare 42
Redwing 3


Church Lane Flood

Another pair of Oystercatchers
Meadow Pipit 14

Cheers, John

Old Hall Lane area

1 Wheatear on airfield
15 Lapwing
2 Shoveler (nr The Vicarage)
128 Fieldfare NW

2 Little-ringed Plovers on an ephemeral flood within the Woodford Areodrome perimeter fence eventually carried on their migration into Greater Manchester (and Stockport Borough )

Cheers, John

Old Hall Lane

25-30 Fieldfare
Skylark singing (on aerodrome)
3 Curlew (on aerodrome)
2 Red-legged Partridge (field by Old Hall Farm)

Cheers, John

A pair of Shoveler had returned to a field flood near 'The Vicarage' - on the left heading towards The Deanwater. Cheers, John