Hi I wasn't really thinking when I said there wasn't anywhere near the wood for a Heron, was I? That's me told.
Graham Smith said
Sun Feb 23 11:34 AM, 2014
Hi Simon the Heron can been seen at The Moat on Peel hall park seen it a few times on my roof and flying over
Simon Gough said
Fri Feb 21 7:04 PM, 2014
Patch tick today Bullfinch, a splendid male in the field on the airport side of Ringway Road. Also 2 Buzzards.
The work on the fields off Styal Road is for an airport car park, as opposed to the link road, although the bit I was wandering around today will be obliterated by the link road in due course. They're extending the railway station and building the tram to the airport, so the requirement for more parking seems interesting to say the least.
Simon Gough said
Fri Feb 14 8:26 PM, 2014
I just wish I had more time to explore. I'm considering asking the boss if I can reverse the ratio of lunch time to work, and pop into the office for an hour in the middle of the day in between scouring the fields and woods. They keep talking about the work/life balance after all...
Charles Coutts said
Fri Feb 14 8:11 PM, 2014
The Herons are probably from The River Dean at Styal,about a two minute flight from Wythenshawe
Simon Gough said
Fri Feb 14 8:07 PM, 2014
Saw Sparrowhawk and Buzzard again today. Bit gloomy though as a building site is springing up on the fields behind our office, between Moss Nook and Simonsway. It's been great watching the Starlings, Redwings and Fieldfares shuttle around on those fields these past weeks. Even saw the Buzzard pecking the grass at one point! They've lopped down about 8 or 9 trees and I'm sure will be ensuring we won't see the birds feeding there next winter. It looks like work associated with the link road from Bramhall into the airport.
Mark Battersby said
Fri Feb 14 12:50 PM, 2014
Simon - If you look on Google maps - other sites available - you will see several ponds just off Simonsway on the opposite side of the road to the Atlantic Business park. Presumably, the heron was heading for one of these. Buzzards are regular visitors around the BW area.
-- Edited by Mark Battersby on Friday 14th of February 2014 05:23:00 PM
Simon Gough said
Thu Feb 13 8:32 PM, 2014
Patch tick today, Grey Wagtail. Also nice, Buzzard, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker on the same tree, a Nuthatch bickering with Coal and Blue Tits, around 20 Redwing in the wood bombing between the trees, and then finally the familiar Sparrowhawk.
Simon Gough said
Tue Jan 28 9:47 PM, 2014
Patch ticks today, Jackdaw, not that amazing, and Grey Heron, slightly more surprising. It was flying over Big Wood, heading west to east, there isn't any obvious body of water it could have been heading for before Stockport, if it stayed on that heading. Mysterious...
Simon Gough said
Tue Jan 14 9:26 PM, 2014
Progress in my new patch today: Coal Tit, Collared Dove and Nuthatch as patch ticks. Congratulations, Big/Little and Hatchetts Woods, you are officially woods. First time I've really noticed the Coal Tit call, distinct from the Blue and Long-tailed Tits, which was what got me onto the bird. As I progress with birding I find myself hearing calls and then seeing birds more and more. Had this with a Raven on Saturday too. Cue rolling eyes from the old hands but remember I'm new to this...
So birds today: Sparrowhawk f Jay 2 Coal Tit Treecreeper 2 Collared Dove 2 Nuthatch 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 m and f together
Lots of Magpies, Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, nice and noisy in the winter sun
Hopefully these crows will find me a Tawny Owl roosting
Simon Gough said
Fri Jan 10 8:35 PM, 2014
I've dug this thread out because I now work in Wythenshawe and was worried that a lunchtime walk might not match up to Didsbury where I used to work, but today it has excelled itself. My office is just off Simonsway and so I can either walk to Ringway Road for some nice open fields full of winter thrushes or the other way to Big and Hatchetts Woods. Today in Big Wood I saw Great Spotted Woodpecker and Treecreeper. These are 2 of the 3 birds that mean that a wood is an actual wood and not just some trees, the other being Nuthatch. This despite Big Wood being a terrible name for what is clearly a small wood. The other cracking bird around is a female Sparrowhawk that I've seen every day this week. Great views of her being irritated by a Jay the other day. There also seems to be a local Buzzard, and there are Goldcrest and Mistle Thrush as well as the ubiquitous birds you'd expect. Echoing a comment below, only a single Chaffinch so far despite dozens of other common garden/park birds.
So my plan is to keep going with this patch, coax a Nuthatch out of hiding and see what happens in the spring; maybe a warbler of some description. I'm kind of hoping for a Tawny Owl to be hiding in there somewhere too! I'm looking at about 30 species in the square mile or so around the office so far, so my target is 50. Will need some luck but you never know...
Any locals, if you're about at lunchtime and you see a guy staring at the trees then it's probably me!
Charles Coutts said
Thu Aug 22 2:24 AM, 2013
50+ Black Headed Gulls catching Flying Ants over Forum Center ,Never seen that before
Charles Coutts said
Sat Jul 20 4:01 AM, 2013
26 Mistle Thrush flying around The Forum area for the last couple of evenings.
IanPlant said
Sat Oct 8 11:56 AM, 2011
Sparrowhawk chased a magpie in to conifers in front of my house yesterday
Also a pair of grey wagtails on the roof
-- Edited by IanPlant on Saturday 8th of October 2011 11:57:41 AM
Phil Owen said
Fri Oct 7 7:52 PM, 2011
Meadow Pipit over Hollyhedge Park Benchill whilst walking the dog at 6.30pm this evening.
Steve Smith said
Wed Sep 28 7:57 PM, 2011
Two Buzzards overhead and calling on Floats Rd by the hospital (a bad sign) this lunchtime.
SS
Chris Chandler said
Wed Sep 28 2:26 PM, 2011
Large female Sparrowhawk hunting over the gardens on Lyndene Road in Benchill.
Henry Cook said
Tue Jan 18 8:51 PM, 2011
Excellent spot Ian. This no doubt proves the continued presence of this species in the Wythenshawe Park area. Thanks. Henry.
IanPlant said
Tue Jan 18 4:02 PM, 2011
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker spotted atop a tree on Moorcroft Rd
-- Edited by IanPlant on Tuesday 18th of January 2011 04:04:04 PM
Phil Owen said
Sun Jun 27 1:45 AM, 2010
Nice one Ian, A good few about in Wythenshawe as always!!
IanPlant said
Sun Jun 27 1:26 AM, 2010
27th June 2010 01:10am and again at 01:25am
While sat in our garden we heard a Tawny Owl over towards the motorway East of our house.
Ian
-- Edited by IanPlant on Sunday 27th of June 2010 01:33:52 AM
IanPlant said
Mon May 24 2:21 PM, 2010
23/05/2010 5 Swifts flying over head most of the day first ever Coal tit arrivied in my garden in the afternoon House Sparrow family with 3 fledglings
Paul Dewey said
Mon May 17 8:53 PM, 2010
Great spots visit my mum's garden on other side of Peel Hall road on a daily basis, most likely from that wood, although big wood on Simonsway also similar habitat. Nuthatch is a less regular visitor, but bullfinch again is almost daily. She has always had better birds than in my garden, notably a little owl for 3 days a few years ago. I'm not jealous though, honest.
IanPlant said
Mon May 17 8:14 PM, 2010
Hi Smithy Welcome to the forum,
My daughter told that her and her boyfriend (Boyfriend lives on Calve Croft) heard an Owl and Woodpecker in Ash wood (the one your talking about)
A Great-Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch was spotted there yesterday evening by one of the members
Ian
Graham Smith said
Mon May 17 7:19 PM, 2010
i live in peel hall and have heard woodies banging away over the last 3 weeks there in the woods by st elizabeths school been for a look but no joy also had a great spotted on a peanut feeder last year
IanPlant said
Mon May 17 4:06 PM, 2010
15/5/2010
I came back from Civic Centre to find 2 Goldfinches sat on the fence
Pete Hines said
Thu Mar 1 12:19 AM, 2007
I've no idea where the Green or Lesser-peckers breed.
I first saw Green at Wythy Park in August '92. Next from Oct 2001 at Barlow Tip then every winter there, except 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, then again from late winter 2005. In 2002/2003 there was a pair and I was hoping they would breed, but there were no records after mid-April. With sightings of a Green recently coming in on his forum, from Barlow Tip, Kenworthy Woods, Millgate Fields and Wythenshawe Park, all in close proximity, I wouldn't be surprised if they refered to same wandering bird. Who knows?
I recorded Lesser-pecker at Nan Nook Woods in March '92, '93 and April '96, though I hadn't visited again till the other week, with no joy. I've never checked Gib Lane Wood at that time of year, but they both look good.
Phil Owen said
Wed Feb 28 7:15 PM, 2007
Thanks for the info on that one Pete!!!!
Knowing where to look was the key and from living not too far away, I had a good look round exactly where you said.
Not sure of it's name but the Great and Lesser were in the Wood next to the golf course if that makes sense, and no the Lesser didn't call it was next to a Great Spotted at the same time!!!.
The Green was in the wood next to the Motorway which I must admit would have thought looks the better of the two for Lessers.
Have they bred in the past in Wythenshawe Park or was I just plain lucky like the one you obviously know about in Chorlton Water Park?
I know of Green's being sighted and you get to see a lot of Great Spotted but never seen a Lesser there before.
Cheers Phil
PS I had to do the message again as my son was typing the original message and pressed the Submit Post button in error (kid's hey???)
Pete Hines said
Mon Feb 26 8:43 PM, 2007
Nice one getting the Lesser-spot Phil, as you know I checked out Nan Nook Wood, Wythenshawe Park (adjacent to Wythenshawe Rd) briefly on 9th Feb but with no joy, but prob a bit early in the year for the birds to be calling. Was it calling Phil ?. I've recorded Lesser-spot here over three years during March in the early 90's. Gib Lane Wood must be worth checking as well - the larger wood in the Park adjacent to the Princess Parkway A5180.
Judith Smith said
Mon Feb 26 5:38 PM, 2007
Was your Lesser Spot in Nan Nook Wood, Wythenshaw Park? Last reported from there 1996, nice to know they are still around. One or two listers might be interested.
Phil Owen said
Sun Feb 25 10:28 PM, 2007
Stonechat, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (in Wythenshawe at last !!!!!!)
Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (pair) in Mile Lane.
All three Woodpeckers within half a mile of where of where I used to live.
The work on the fields off Styal Road is for an airport car park, as opposed to the link road, although the bit I was wandering around today will be obliterated by the link road in due course. They're extending the railway station and building the tram to the airport, so the requirement for more parking seems interesting to say the least.
-- Edited by Mark Battersby on Friday 14th of February 2014 05:23:00 PM
Coal Tit, Collared Dove and Nuthatch as patch ticks. Congratulations, Big/Little and Hatchetts Woods, you are officially woods. First time I've really noticed the Coal Tit call, distinct from the Blue and Long-tailed Tits, which was what got me onto the bird. As I progress with birding I find myself hearing calls and then seeing birds more and more. Had this with a Raven on Saturday too. Cue rolling eyes from the old hands but remember I'm new to this...
So birds today:
Sparrowhawk f
Jay 2
Coal Tit
Treecreeper 2
Collared Dove 2
Nuthatch 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 m and f together
Lots of Magpies, Woodpigeons, Carrion Crows, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits, nice and noisy in the winter sun
Hopefully these crows will find me a Tawny Owl roosting
So my plan is to keep going with this patch, coax a Nuthatch out of hiding and see what happens in the spring; maybe a warbler of some description. I'm kind of hoping for a Tawny Owl to be hiding in there somewhere too! I'm looking at about 30 species in the square mile or so around the office so far, so my target is 50. Will need some luck but you never know...
Any locals, if you're about at lunchtime and you see a guy staring at the trees then it's probably me!
Also a pair of grey wagtails on the roof
-- Edited by IanPlant on Saturday 8th of October 2011 11:57:41 AM
SS
Thanks. Henry.
-- Edited by IanPlant on Tuesday 18th of January 2011 04:04:04 PM
While sat in our garden we heard a Tawny Owl over towards the motorway East of our house.
Ian
-- Edited by IanPlant on Sunday 27th of June 2010 01:33:52 AM
5 Swifts flying over head most of the day
first ever Coal tit arrivied in my garden in the afternoon
House Sparrow family with 3 fledglings
My daughter told that her and her boyfriend (Boyfriend lives on Calve Croft) heard an Owl and Woodpecker in Ash wood (the one your talking about)
A Great-Spotted Woodpecker and Nuthatch was spotted there yesterday evening by one of the members
Ian
there in the woods by st elizabeths school been for a look but no joy
also had a great spotted on a peanut feeder last year
I came back from Civic Centre to find 2 Goldfinches sat on the fence
I first saw Green at Wythy Park in August '92. Next from Oct 2001 at Barlow Tip then every winter there, except 2003/2004 and 2004/2005, then again from late winter 2005. In 2002/2003 there was a pair and I was hoping they would breed, but there were no records after mid-April. With sightings of a Green recently coming in on his forum, from Barlow Tip, Kenworthy Woods, Millgate Fields and Wythenshawe Park, all in close proximity, I wouldn't be surprised if they refered to same wandering bird. Who knows?
I recorded Lesser-pecker at Nan Nook Woods in March '92, '93 and April '96, though I hadn't visited again till the other week, with no joy. I've never checked Gib Lane Wood at that time of year, but they both look good.
Thanks for the info on that one Pete!!!!
Knowing where to look was the key and from living not too far away, I had a good look round exactly where you said.
Not sure of it's name but the Great and Lesser were in the Wood next to the golf course if that makes sense, and no the Lesser didn't call it was next to a Great Spotted at the same time!!!.
The Green was in the wood next to the Motorway which I must admit would have thought looks the better of the two for Lessers.
Have they bred in the past in Wythenshawe Park or was I just plain lucky like the one you obviously know about in Chorlton Water Park?
I know of Green's being sighted and you get to see a lot of Great Spotted but never seen a Lesser there before.
Cheers Phil
PS I had to do the message again as my son was typing the original message and pressed the Submit Post button in error (kid's hey???)
Stonechat, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (in Wythenshawe at last !!!!!!)
Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (pair) in Mile Lane.
All three Woodpeckers within half a mile of where of where I used to live.
Some places, you never forget!!!