On the overhead wires that run parallel to the river opposite Jacksons boat (on the hardy farm side). Got a good look at one which was joined by another shortly before they headed off back towards Chorlton WP
Pete Hines said
Thu Aug 19 4:51 PM, 2010
Where abouts were the Whinchats Luke ?
Luke Brown said
Thu Aug 19 2:51 PM, 2010
Walk from Chorlton WP to Sale WP and back between 8am and 1pm today.
River Mersey - 2 or 3 House Martins in with 60+ Swallows - 2 Whinchat - 5+ Willow Warbler - 1 singing Goldcrest
Broad Ees Dole - 1 Lapwing - 4 Little Grebe - 1 Sparrowhawk
Pete Hines said
Sat Aug 7 10:12 PM, 2010
1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew across and over the Merseybank Estate at 09.22. I was watching a Mink on the river from the bailey bridge at the time (less than 5 minutes after Ian Keith had passed with hiis dog) and heard it calling. There can't be many places in the North West where you can record these two species simultaneously!.
Pete Hines said
Tue Aug 3 7:42 PM, 2010
1 Common Sandpiper a few Swifts, Swallows and House Martins moving through Sparrowhawk
Pete Hines said
Tue Jul 27 8:36 PM, 2010
2 immature Kingfishers together yesterday and two sightings of an adult today (including on rocks on the bank of the Mersey)
brandon mulhern said
Thu Jul 22 5:49 PM, 2010
Pete Hines wrote:
On Wednesday 14th the Shameless crew were filming scenes here for the next series. One scene shows a car in the lake, and snaps were in Tuesadys M.E.N. and yesterdays Sun newspapers. Just to put any minds at rest, the crew assure MV that no pullutants were discharged from the vehicle (there have been several enquiries from concerned anglers apparently).
Some good news is there are now 3 Coot broods and the G/C Grebes have two chicks.
Now I'm off to the Jockey
I could just see you with a walkon part Pete as the disgruntled warden with head in hands!!!
Pete Hines said
Thu Jul 22 3:00 PM, 2010
On Wednesday 14th the Shameless crew were filming scenes here for the next series. One scene shows a car in the lake, and snaps were in Tuesadys M.E.N. and yesterdays Sun newspapers. Just to put any minds at rest, the crew assure MV that no pullutants were discharged from the vehicle (there have been several enquiries from concerned anglers apparently).
Some good news is there are now 3 Coot broods and the G/C Grebes have two chicks.
Now I'm off to the Jockey
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Jul 18 10:40 AM, 2010
Pretty quiet in between showers.
Grey Wagtail on Mersey.
Male Sparrowhawk carrying prey heading north over golf course.
Young Reed Warblers being fed by 'dipping pond'
Pete Hines said
Tue Jul 13 8:23 PM, 2010
1 Common Tern briefly late morning
Pete Hines said
Tue Jul 6 7:37 PM, 2010
1 Common Sandpiper 2 Kingfisher
Graham Smith said
Mon Jul 5 6:40 PM, 2010
Quick walk yesterday bit windy very little till we hit the dipping pond plenty of long tailed tits in the trees and then a bull finch sat for a minute over the back of the pond
Pete Hines said
Wed Jun 30 8:37 PM, 2010
2 pairs of Reed Warbler carrying food in the bay, plus 1 still in song in small patch of reeds at the south side (near the sensory garden0 since 16th June at least. 1 Grasshopper Warbler at Barlow Tip 24th June (John Harten) 1 Kingfisher sighted three times this week 8 Tufted Mute Swan blue darvic FC4 visited on 9th June
Oscar Coutts said
Tue Jun 29 7:13 PM, 2010
On Lake 2 G C Grebe 2 Coot + 2 youngters
Around Lake 2 Chiffchaff 2 Whitethroat 4 Jay
Kenworthy wood Chiffchaff Goldcrest Sparrowhawk Jay + lots of Wrens,Robins,Magpies, Unusually No Gold or Chaffinches.
Chris Harper said
Tue Jun 29 3:36 PM, 2010
Reed Warbler singing and showing well near 'sensory garden'. Sparrowhawk over Tufted Duck Chris H
Luke Brown said
Thu Jun 3 5:19 PM, 2010
03/06/10
1 Sparrowhawk over Kenworthy 2 Goldcrest singing near river 2 Reed Warbler 2 Reed Bunting 2 Pheasant Lots of Swallows and Swifts over river
Ian Keith said
Sat May 29 12:07 PM, 2010
Hundreds of low flying Swifts around CWP and Kenworthy early morning taking advantage of all the insects attracted to the flowering hawthorn. Conditions ideal for a Hobby to drop by :) Good display of circa 20 low flying Swallows skimming the river in front of the Substation. The darker of the 2 Kenworthy Buzzards seen on a daily basis throughout the past couple of weeks, the larger paler bird seen occasionly mainly early mornings. 1 Kingfisher reported again very early morning by local fisherman. Circa 140 Jackdaws into roost last night at Chorlton Cricket Club. A very public House Martin colony above Barnardo's on Palatine Rd, Northendon.
pete berry said
Wed May 19 7:09 PM, 2010
Hobby north over the lake at 6.10pm(per Pete Hines)
Luke Brown said
Wed May 19 5:36 PM, 2010
1 Reed Bunting 1 GSW 2 Mute Swans A few young birds around today - 2 Gosling as well as a couple of fledgling parties of Long Tailed Tits. Plenty of Swifts and Swallows around.
Phil Owen said
Mon May 17 12:43 AM, 2010
Quick evening visit with dog:
3 Willow Warblers Several Whitethroats and Blackcaps 1 Chiffchaff 1 Black-Headed Gull (over) 1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull (over) 1 Buzzard 2 Bullfinch 1 Male Pheasant which scared the living daylights out of me (putting it politely) as I flushed it 1 Reed Bunting Lots of Swallows and Swifts No sign of the Mandarin
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 17th of May 2010 12:45:10 AM
Ian Keith said
Sat May 15 10:35 PM, 2010
Kenworthy
Noticeable increase in amount of activity over past couple of weeks since the footpath and habitat destruction works behind the Orchard finished.
Hopefully they'll leave the Gropper Hill side alone!
8.15pm 1 Gropper reeling 3 Song Thrush (5 Pipistelle foraging, 7 Noctules over the Mersey)
late morning 2 Sedge Warbler 2 Male Reed Buntings 2 GSW 7 Swift 12 Swallow 4 Whitethroat displaying 3 Bullfinch (further 2 in Orchard eating Dandelion heads) 3 Blackcap 2 Dunnock (very noticeable decline this Spring) 5 Blackbird 3 Jay 1 Buzzard
No sign of Tawny this evening but male heard on Thursday. Likewise female Kestrel regularly hunting over fields apart from today.
-- Edited by Ian Keith on Saturday 15th of May 2010 10:36:29 PM
Luke Brown said
Sat May 15 9:07 PM, 2010
1 Reed Warbler - Reedbed, been there a few days.
Rick Donkin said
Wed May 12 6:54 PM, 2010
Wed 12th 11.30 to 14.00
2 busy LT Tit in small reed bed at eastern end of lake with elusive but noisy Sedge Warbler.
8 Swift and 10 Swallow mainly over the River and 2 Whitethroat on the far bank by the Sub-Station. The outer edge of Barlow Tip produced 1 Lesser Whitethroat in full song, Greenfinch, Chaffinch LT Tit and Blue Tit, but further into the centre was strangely quite. Only 1 singing Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and several Blackcap immediatley evident.
After walking around for a while; 2 Reed Bunting, at least 6 more Whitethroat and finally a pair of Stonechat were spotted.
Drake Mandarin still present with Coot, Canada Geese (1 pair with 3 goslings), Mallard, 3 Gt Crested Grebe, 3 Tufties and Moorhen on the main water.
Rick
Phil Owen said
Tue May 11 10:32 PM, 2010
I won't try and claim the Willow Tit as self-found as although I sucessfully identified the bird, it was my niece Lydia who did actually say "what's this Uncle Phil??"
A great Manchester Bird and a first for me at Chorlton WP!!
Henry Cook said
Tue May 11 8:53 PM, 2010
Phil Owen had a Willow Tit on Barlow Tip this evening. Also Reed Warbler still present.
Henry Cook said
Tue May 11 6:12 PM, 2010
11/05/2010 - 2pm:
1 Mandarin (drake showing well with the other feral ducks!) 1 Reed Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 2 Great Crested Grebes 3 Tufted Ducks 10+ Swifts 4 Sand Martins (on the river) 1 House Martin 20+ Swallows 2 Reed Buntings (Barlow Tip) 4 Bullfinches (Barlow Tip)
Pete Hines said
Mon May 10 8:04 PM, 2010
drake Mandarin, also present yesterday Reed Warbler
Luke Brown said
Mon May 10 1:26 PM, 2010
Can anyone point me in the right direction for Lesser Whitethroat in the area? Its probably the only one of the warblers around that I've seen and heard nothing of so far this year. Wheres the best place?
Joey Eccles said
Sun May 9 4:08 PM, 2010
1 lesser whitethroat this am
Luke Brown said
Sun May 9 12:31 PM, 2010
Walk round WP & tip 7.00 - 8.30
1 Reed Warbler - in reedbed closest to visitor centre 1 Heron 5+ Collared Dove 1 Reed Bunting 5 Swallow 3 Swift Lots of usual warblers, no gropper though 4 Goosander on River (2m 2f) 1 GSW
Unfortunately when we stopped to look at the first goslings of the year, a crow seized the opportunity to take one for breakfast!
Gervase Cooke said
Tue May 4 8:43 PM, 2010
Stroll round the Ees at lunchtime
Couple of Whitethroat
3 Reed Buntings
After much patience saw one of two male Reed Warblers singing in the Reed bed
Heard two Sedgees round the back doing passable blackbird alarm call imitations but didn't see
Heard plenty of Chiffchaff and Black Caps
3 Herons flying over
sand martins on the river
No Gropper yet at last years spot at the meadow cross road
Neil McCall said
Mon May 3 9:30 PM, 2010
19.00-20.00
Buzzard and Whitethroat on Kenworthy Fields
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows over the lake, also one Sand Martin
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon May 3 2:29 PM, 2010
Reed Warbler with a very half-hearted song, in the reedbed.
Took ages to see it, to get that Manchester borough 'tick' !
Phil Owen said
Sun May 2 10:37 PM, 2010
Loads of Swallows, Sand Martins, Swifts and House Martins catching insects over the Mersey at Chorlton WP this afternoon.
A really good opportunity to teach my new birding niece the differences of each species so much that I sat her down on the bank and we played a game of "name that bird".
Tim Wilcox said
Sat May 1 8:52 PM, 2010
8.10 - 12.30
Tree Pipit present to 12 noon - still around on return from Chorlton Ees Chiffchaff 4 Willow Warbler 5 Whitethroat 9 Heron 4 over tip Bullfinch 8 incl. female carrying nesting material Gropper 1 Swallow 1 Swifts 10
Nice to meet Tony Coatsworth on the way back
Ian Keith said
Sat May 1 7:28 PM, 2010
Tip@1.30pm 1 Gropper reeling 14 Whitethroat 1 Lesser Whitethroat circa 11 Blackcap incl. 4 females 9 Chiff Chaff 8 Willow Warbler 6 Jays 1 female Kestrel (no sign of the male since Feb) circa 120 Swift screaming very high above tip until splitting off into 2 seperate groups 3 Bullfinch 6 Goldfinch 7 Greenfinch 0 Tripit
Flutterbys: 7 Peacock butterflies 15 Orange Tips
Kenworthy @8.30am 2 Buzzards 9 Whitethroat 5 Blackcap 6 Chiff Chaff 3 Willow Warbler Despite the cold-ish Winter plenty of LT Tits 3 Song Thrush 1 Mistle Thrush 2 GSW 7 Swallow 3 Swift
Tony Coatsworth said
Sat May 1 7:16 PM, 2010
1 Tree Pipit 11- 12 today - very flighty though
stevethehydra said
Sat May 1 2:21 AM, 2010
The weird little hybrid goose at Chorlton WP seems to have paired up with a (rather smaller than average) Canada last couple of times i've been there. (Notable perhaps because every other time, it was ostracised and occasionally bullied by all the Canadas...)
Re Wheatears, i saw 3 on Hough End playing fields (just the other side of Southern Cemetery from CWP) about 2 weeks ago - definitely the first time i've seen any within a town/city and probably the first time below about 300m altitude.
Luke Brown said
Fri Apr 30 11:40 AM, 2010
0600 - 0730
1 Tree Pipit - same location as previously mentioned by Pete 1 Gropper - reeling on tip, spotted briefly before dropping into undergrowth 1 Cormorant 2 Black headed gull 2 LBB Gull 7+ Bullfinch Several Whitethroat / Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff / Blackcap 2 Reed Bunting 4 Swallow + 3 more hirundines which were too quick for me to identify Greenfinch / Goldfinch / Chaffinch
Phil Owen said
Thu Apr 29 9:06 PM, 2010
A single lap of Chorlton Water Park in the rain with the dog 7.45pm-8.15pm:
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Thursday 29th of April 2010 09:07:09 PM
Pete Hines said
Thu Apr 29 12:04 AM, 2010
Wed 28th April 20.00-20.15
1 Tree Pipit showed well 20.15, probably others still on a quick vist
I only went up there to bury a G/C Grebe, a victim of fishing line (very smelly & we don't have a freezer)
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 29th of April 2010 12:05:37 AM
Rick Donkin said
Tue Apr 27 11:43 PM, 2010
Visit on Tue 27th 14.30 to 18.30
Barlow Tip Many Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat (including one individual carrying an extraordinarily long piece of dry grass to its nesting site). Plenty of LT Tits - one pair nest building and mating several times. 2, possibly 3 Tree Pipits (2 seen together and one separately - performing a parachute display near the area described by Pete Hines. 1 female Northern Wheatear. Several Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Bullfinch. 3 Song Thrush. 2 Jay. Magpies, C Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Blue and Great Tit everywhere. Overhead; Single Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron (on 3 occasions) and Cormorant. Male Pheasant. No sight nor sound of Grasshopper Warbler.
Rick.
Luke Brown said
Tue Apr 27 10:48 AM, 2010
0800 - 0930
No sign of the tree pipits, searched all over the tip to no avail. Nice morning though with plenty around...
1 Buzzard seen off by 2 Jays Pair of Pheasant managing to evade a fox Pair of Sparrowhawk circling overhead Several Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff / Blackcap / Whitethroat including pair of displaying WW. 1 Gropper reeling briefly (tip) but no sight of it 2 Swallow 3 Reed Bunting (2m 1f) 5+ Song Thrush
Pete Hines said
Mon Apr 26 8:59 PM, 2010
I relocated the Tripits about 09.30 in the usual favoured location for them here. The highest and flattest area away from the main paths. From the NW end of the WP 'Bullfinch corner' take the path up the slope and carry striaght on where the paths cross and follow a desire line (fox run) through the grassland. They forage on the ground between the two Blackthorn spinneys and fly up into the trees. In the past birds have stayed for a few days, but they are only passing through.
2 Swift
I have just received some new walking guide maps for some MV sites which I will forward to Ian, so check the MV Site Guide on the home page.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 26th of April 2010 09:00:58 PM
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 26th of April 2010 09:04:17 PM
Ollie Wright said
Mon Apr 26 8:38 PM, 2010
5 - 7pm
Reed bed and environs
2 x Reed Warbler Whitethroat Reed Bunting Blackcap Grasshopper Warbler reeling, so loud I thought I must have been stood on top of it, but I couldn't spot it!
Barlow Tip
Grasshopper Warbler reeling Blackcap Chiffchaff Tree Pipit
Gorgeous evening.
Luke Brown said
Mon Apr 26 8:28 PM, 2010
Ian Keith wrote:
Luke Brown wrote:
Does anyone know whether these tree pipits are likely to stick around for any length of time? Interesting to see they have stopped for a bit. Also, can anyone give me any locations in particular for a look at gropper? I've stood listening to them a couple of times on the tip and kenworthy, but they are eluding me.
Cheers, Luke
If you follow the path up from the NW corner of CWP on the r-h side just after the bramble there's a load of fresh grass/sedge growing from where it was burnt out a few weeks ago. On Saturday the Tree Pipits were feeding in this area and perching up in a birch tree on the left of the path. Pete will have more up to date info. The gropper was on top of the hill about 50yds west of the methane plant reeling away at 8.30am. Still there early evening when I took the dog out. No sign of any at Kenworthy this year apart from 1 very faint, distant reeling a few weeks ago. Normally Chorlton Eees is also a reliable spot but the best areas were burnt out a few weeks ago so perhaps not this year. If you can't make early morning try 30 mins before dusk.
Thanks for the info, having missed out on Gropper last year I really wouldn't mind getting a good look this time round. Probably won't be able to go up until weekend so I'll just keep an eye on the forum with regards to the tree pipits - would be a nice addition to the ever growing mersey valley list though.
Ian Keith said
Mon Apr 26 7:26 PM, 2010
Luke Brown wrote:
Does anyone know whether these tree pipits are likely to stick around for any length of time? Interesting to see they have stopped for a bit. Also, can anyone give me any locations in particular for a look at gropper? I've stood listening to them a couple of times on the tip and kenworthy, but they are eluding me.
Cheers, Luke
If you follow the path up from the NW corner of CWP on the r-h side just after the bramble there's a load of fresh grass/sedge growing from where it was burnt out a few weeks ago. On Saturday the Tree Pipits were feeding in this area and perching up in a birch tree on the left of the path. Pete will have more up to date info. The gropper was on top of the hill about 50yds west of the methane plant reeling away at 8.30am. Still there early evening when I took the dog out. No sign of any at Kenworthy this year apart from 1 very faint, distant reeling a few weeks ago. Normally Chorlton Eees is also a reliable spot but the best areas were burnt out a few weeks ago so perhaps not this year. If you can't make early morning try 30 mins before dusk.
Luke Brown said
Mon Apr 26 6:52 PM, 2010
Does anyone know whether these tree pipits are likely to stick around for any length of time? Interesting to see they have stopped for a bit. Also, can anyone give me any locations in particular for a look at gropper? I've stood listening to them a couple of times on the tip and kenworthy, but they are eluding me.
Cheers, Luke
Phil Owen said
Mon Apr 26 5:39 PM, 2010
3 Tree Pipit still showing well on Barlow Tip this afternoon, thanks to Pete Hines for putting me onto the exact location.
Also present:
Willow Warbler Chiffchaff Whitethroat Reed Bunting Swallow 2 Mute Swan 2 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk (all gliding in the air together)
Peacock, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Small White, Green Veined White and Speckled Wood Butterflies also around.
Chorlton WP
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 pair GCG with 3 juveniles
River Mersey
- 2 or 3 House Martins in with 60+ Swallows
- 2 Whinchat
- 5+ Willow Warbler
- 1 singing Goldcrest
Broad Ees Dole
- 1 Lapwing
- 4 Little Grebe
- 1 Sparrowhawk
a few Swifts, Swallows and House Martins moving through
Sparrowhawk
I could just see you with a walkon part Pete as the disgruntled warden with head in hands!!!
Some good news is there are now 3 Coot broods and the G/C Grebes have two chicks.
Now I'm off to the Jockey
Grey Wagtail on Mersey.
Male Sparrowhawk carrying prey heading north over golf course.
Young Reed Warblers being fed by 'dipping pond'
2 Kingfisher
1 Grasshopper Warbler at Barlow Tip 24th June (John Harten)
1 Kingfisher sighted three times this week
8 Tufted
Mute Swan blue darvic FC4 visited on 9th June
2 G C Grebe
2 Coot + 2 youngters
Around Lake
2 Chiffchaff
2 Whitethroat
4 Jay
Kenworthy wood
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Sparrowhawk
Jay
+ lots of Wrens,Robins,Magpies,
Unusually No Gold or Chaffinches.
Sparrowhawk over
Tufted Duck
Chris H
1 Sparrowhawk over Kenworthy
2 Goldcrest singing near river
2 Reed Warbler
2 Reed Bunting
2 Pheasant
Lots of Swallows and Swifts over river
Good display of circa 20 low flying Swallows skimming the river in front of the Substation.
The darker of the 2 Kenworthy Buzzards seen on a daily basis throughout the past couple of weeks, the larger paler bird seen occasionly mainly early mornings.
1 Kingfisher reported again very early morning by local fisherman.
Circa 140 Jackdaws into roost last night at Chorlton Cricket Club.
A very public House Martin colony above Barnardo's on Palatine Rd, Northendon.
1 GSW
2 Mute Swans
A few young birds around today - 2 Gosling as well as a couple of fledgling parties of Long Tailed Tits.
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows around.
3 Willow Warblers
Several Whitethroats and Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaff
1 Black-Headed Gull (over)
1 Lesser Black-Backed Gull (over)
1 Buzzard
2 Bullfinch
1 Male Pheasant which scared the living daylights out of me (putting it politely) as I flushed it
1 Reed Bunting
Lots of Swallows and Swifts
No sign of the Mandarin
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 17th of May 2010 12:45:10 AM
Noticeable increase in amount of activity over past couple of weeks since the footpath and habitat destruction works behind the Orchard finished.
Hopefully they'll leave the Gropper Hill side alone!
8.15pm 1 Gropper reeling
3 Song Thrush
(5 Pipistelle foraging, 7 Noctules over the Mersey)
late morning
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Male Reed Buntings
2 GSW
7 Swift
12 Swallow
4 Whitethroat displaying
3 Bullfinch (further 2 in Orchard eating Dandelion heads)
3 Blackcap
2 Dunnock (very noticeable decline this Spring)
5 Blackbird
3 Jay
1 Buzzard
No sign of Tawny this evening but male heard on Thursday. Likewise female Kestrel regularly hunting over fields apart from today.
-- Edited by Ian Keith on Saturday 15th of May 2010 10:36:29 PM
2 busy LT Tit in small reed bed at eastern end of lake with elusive but noisy Sedge Warbler.
8 Swift and 10 Swallow mainly over the River and 2 Whitethroat on the far bank by the Sub-Station.
The outer edge of Barlow Tip produced 1 Lesser Whitethroat in full song, Greenfinch, Chaffinch LT Tit and Blue Tit, but further into the centre was strangely quite. Only 1 singing Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler and several Blackcap immediatley evident.
After walking around for a while; 2 Reed Bunting, at least 6 more Whitethroat and finally a pair of Stonechat were spotted.
Drake Mandarin still present with Coot, Canada Geese (1 pair with 3 goslings), Mallard, 3 Gt Crested Grebe, 3 Tufties and Moorhen on the main water.
Rick
A great Manchester Bird and a first for me at Chorlton WP!!
1 Mandarin (drake showing well with the other feral ducks!)
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Great Crested Grebes
3 Tufted Ducks
10+ Swifts
4 Sand Martins (on the river)
1 House Martin
20+ Swallows
2 Reed Buntings (Barlow Tip)
4 Bullfinches (Barlow Tip)
Reed Warbler
1 Reed Warbler - in reedbed closest to visitor centre
1 Heron
5+ Collared Dove
1 Reed Bunting
5 Swallow
3 Swift
Lots of usual warblers, no gropper though
4 Goosander on River (2m 2f)
1 GSW
Unfortunately when we stopped to look at the first goslings of the year, a crow seized the opportunity to take one for breakfast!
Couple of Whitethroat
3 Reed Buntings
After much patience saw one of two male Reed Warblers singing in the Reed bed
Heard two Sedgees round the back doing passable blackbird alarm call imitations but didn't see
Heard plenty of Chiffchaff and Black Caps
3 Herons flying over
sand martins on the river
No Gropper yet at last years spot at the meadow cross road
Buzzard and Whitethroat on Kenworthy Fields
Plenty of Swifts and Swallows over the lake, also one Sand Martin
Took ages to see it, to get that Manchester borough 'tick' !
A really good opportunity to teach my new birding niece the differences of each species so much that I sat her down on the bank and we played a game of "name that bird".
Tree Pipit present to 12 noon - still around on return from Chorlton Ees
Chiffchaff 4
Willow Warbler 5
Whitethroat 9
Heron 4 over tip
Bullfinch 8 incl. female carrying nesting material
Gropper 1
Swallow 1
Swifts 10
Nice to meet Tony Coatsworth on the way back
1 Gropper reeling
14 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat
circa 11 Blackcap incl. 4 females
9 Chiff Chaff
8 Willow Warbler
6 Jays
1 female Kestrel (no sign of the male since Feb)
circa 120 Swift screaming very high above tip until splitting off into 2 seperate groups
3 Bullfinch
6 Goldfinch
7 Greenfinch
0 Tripit
Flutterbys:
7 Peacock butterflies
15 Orange Tips
Kenworthy @8.30am
2 Buzzards
9 Whitethroat
5 Blackcap
6 Chiff Chaff
3 Willow Warbler
Despite the cold-ish Winter plenty of LT Tits
3 Song Thrush
1 Mistle Thrush
2 GSW
7 Swallow
3 Swift
Re Wheatears, i saw 3 on Hough End playing fields (just the other side of Southern Cemetery from CWP) about 2 weeks ago - definitely the first time i've seen any within a town/city and probably the first time below about 300m altitude.
1 Tree Pipit - same location as previously mentioned by Pete
1 Gropper - reeling on tip, spotted briefly before dropping into undergrowth
1 Cormorant
2 Black headed gull
2 LBB Gull
7+ Bullfinch
Several Whitethroat / Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff / Blackcap
2 Reed Bunting
4 Swallow + 3 more hirundines which were too quick for me to identify
Greenfinch / Goldfinch / Chaffinch
2 Blackcaps
1 Chiffchaff
30+ Swallows
6 Swifts
2 Great-Crested Grebes
+ usuals
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Thursday 29th of April 2010 09:07:09 PM
1 Tree Pipit showed well 20.15, probably others still on a quick vist
I only went up there to bury a G/C Grebe, a victim of fishing line (very smelly & we don't have a freezer)
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 29th of April 2010 12:05:37 AM
Barlow Tip
Many Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat (including one individual carrying an extraordinarily long piece of dry grass to its nesting site).
Plenty of LT Tits - one pair nest building and mating several times.
2, possibly 3 Tree Pipits (2 seen together and one separately - performing a parachute display near the area described by Pete Hines.
1 female Northern Wheatear.
Several Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch and Bullfinch.
3 Song Thrush.
2 Jay.
Magpies, C Crow, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Blue and Great Tit everywhere.
Overhead; Single Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Grey Heron (on 3 occasions) and Cormorant.
Male Pheasant.
No sight nor sound of Grasshopper Warbler.
Rick.
No sign of the tree pipits, searched all over the tip to no avail. Nice morning though with plenty around...
1 Buzzard seen off by 2 Jays
Pair of Pheasant managing to evade a fox
Pair of Sparrowhawk circling overhead
Several Willow Warbler / Chiffchaff / Blackcap / Whitethroat including pair of displaying WW.
1 Gropper reeling briefly (tip) but no sight of it
2 Swallow
3 Reed Bunting (2m 1f)
5+ Song Thrush
2 Swift
I have just received some new walking guide maps for some MV sites which I will forward to Ian, so check the MV Site Guide on the home page.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 26th of April 2010 09:00:58 PM
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 26th of April 2010 09:04:17 PM
Reed bed and environs
2 x Reed Warbler
Whitethroat
Reed Bunting
Blackcap
Grasshopper Warbler reeling, so loud I thought I must have been stood on top of it, but I couldn't spot it!
Barlow Tip
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Tree Pipit
Gorgeous evening.
Thanks for the info, having missed out on Gropper last year I really wouldn't mind getting a good look this time round. Probably won't be able to go up until weekend so I'll just keep an eye on the forum with regards to the tree pipits - would be a nice addition to the ever growing mersey valley list though.
If you follow the path up from the NW corner of CWP on the r-h side just after the bramble there's a load of fresh grass/sedge growing from where it was burnt out a few weeks ago. On Saturday the Tree Pipits were feeding in this area and perching up in a birch tree on the left of the path. Pete will have more up to date info.
The gropper was on top of the hill about 50yds west of the methane plant reeling away at 8.30am. Still there early evening when I took the dog out. No sign of any at Kenworthy this year apart from 1 very faint, distant reeling a few weeks ago. Normally Chorlton Eees is also a reliable spot but the best areas were burnt out a few weeks ago so perhaps not this year. If you can't make early morning try 30 mins before dusk.
Cheers, Luke
Also present:
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Whitethroat
Reed Bunting
Swallow
2 Mute Swan
2 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk (all gliding in the air together)
Peacock, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Small White, Green Veined White and Speckled Wood Butterflies also around.
Info from Tony O'Mahony