Wigeon 5 (4m, 1f) Lapwing 1 (first of the year here) Black-headed Gull 325 Common Gull 3 Herring Gull 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull 8 Canada Goose 310
Old Hall Lane:
Tree Sparrow (1 in song) Stonechat 1 female Lapwing 3 Skylark 2
The old hangars with the nesting Gull colony on their roofs have been demolished. As an example 2 years ago there were 90 LBB Gulls and 13 Herring Gulls nesting.
John Rayner said
Mon Dec 28 1:39 PM, 2020
Church Lane Flood:
Goldeneye female (local rarity) It was diving for 20 seconds at a time but as the water is about 15 inches deep on a grass base I am not sure what food it would find. It flew east after I watched it for about 15 mins so probably just a fleeting visit.
All the Mallard left just after 07.30 and the Wigeon flew as the first dog walker passed by at 08.08.
Cheers, John
John Rayner said
Tue Oct 13 2:27 PM, 2020
Church Lane, recent visits
Sunday 11th. The 3 Whooper Swans remained till dusk and a female Pintail turned up in the afternoon. Monday 12th. At dawn no Whoopers or Pintail down on the water but 4 Wigeon and c300 Canada Geese. A pair of Pintails flew through at 07.30. Tuesday 13th. Zero birds on the water with the Canada flock grazing surrounding field. Dog walkers and model plane flyers not helping.
Old Hall Lane, 13th Oct.
c170 Pink-footed Geese SE c250 Redwings NE 3 Skylarks SW
Cheers, John
John Rayner said
Mon Oct 12 10:20 AM, 2020
11/10/20. Church Lane Flood (07.30-08.00)
Pair of Pintails in flight only 4 Wigeon Approx 300 Canada Geese No Swans
Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sun Oct 11 9:35 PM, 2020
Church Lane Flood
A female Pintail was reported early evening and the 3 Whoopers were still present at dusk. (Info thanks to Steve Collins)
Cheers, John
Adam Jones said
Sun Oct 11 1:01 PM, 2020
Whooper Swans, were still there when I left at 11.30am.
Old Hall Farm had c50 Lapwing take to the sky after a Buzzard flyover. Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, otherwise quiet.
Church Lane Flood: Now contains a reasonable amount of water, enough for a Little Grebe anyway. Lots of other birds but they were mostly Canada Geese and Black-headed Gulls.
Little Grebe 1 Canada Goose 176 Black-headed Gull 301 Common Gull 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Cheers John
Adam Jones said
Tue Sep 1 8:12 PM, 2020
1st September 5pm
Old Hall Lane: After seeing several individual Tree Sparrows on recent visits, I came across a super flock of 30+ this evening. Feeding on the elderberries near the horse field and before the barns. This is the most I've seen here for many years. Other birds of note: 1 Reed Bunting 1 Stock Dove 2 Chiffchaff
John Rayner said
Tue Aug 4 7:27 PM, 2020
Old Hall Lane
Green Sandpiper on small patch of water on airfield. Viewable from perimeter fence. Oystercatcher 1 Lapwing minimum 28 Pied Wagtail flock of 10 House Martin c60
Saw 2 Whimbrel this morning. One on Avro golf course and the other in a field beside Church Lane, feeding with a flock of jackdaws.
Adam Jones said
Sun Jul 12 7:44 PM, 2020
Highlights from a couple of walks along Old Hall Lane and Old Hall farm this weekend: 1 Tree Sparrow - seen both Saturday and Sunday in the same area. First here for a very long time. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Kestrels 5 Linnets 16 Swallows, good numbers of juveniles. 2 Grey Herons 2 Common Buzzards 1 Curlew Large flock of corvids consisting of: c75 Jackdaw 10 Carrion Crow 3 Rooks
A nice walk this evening which gave up some site favourites and regulars in the form of: 1 Skylark 7 Linnets 3 Sand Martins 1 Swift 1 Swallow 1 Blackcap 1 Kestrel 1 Common Whitethroat 1 Chiffchaff The now customary 8pm Thursday firework display did throw up 2 Shelduck (possibly long staying from Church Lane a few weeks back), and 2 Stock Dove.
Plenty of other finches and tits too.
Gordon Eckersley said
Fri May 8 8:04 PM, 2020
Thursday 7 May 10:00
Pond on path off Church Lane
Sedge Warbler - seen and heard
Thursday 7 May 20:00 Swift over Bramhall village during clap for NHS
Friday 8 March 08:00 Sadly no sign of Sedge Warbler today
Friday 8 March 10:30 Blackcap singing in my garden close to Bramhall Village centre
markwoodhead said
Tue May 5 1:24 PM, 2020
3 Swifts screaming over Dairyhouse Lane at midday
Steve Collins said
Mon May 4 9:20 PM, 2020
No sign of Wheatear at Church Lane and nearly all the water has gone now!
2 very colourful and large-looking female Wheatears ?Greenland
2 Little Ringed Plovers - water disappearing fast!
Dairyhouse Lane:
7 Buzzards in a kettle
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Phil Oddy said
Sat May 2 6:25 AM, 2020
During my walk earlier in the afternoon yesterday four Wheatears were present including at least one Greenland race bird.
Adam Jones said
Fri May 1 7:59 PM, 2020
Church Lane 6pm
3 Wheatear this evening in the same area as earlier. 1 male and 2 females Also 10 Stock Dove in this field with a few Woodpigeon 2 Shelduck still.
Gordon, I had exactly the same thoughts as you this evening. One female in particular was bulkier and darker and more buff in colour, and my gut instinct was wow that's a bit different. This one was actually being chased off by the male, who seemed to be paired with the other female. (Could be pure coincidence). Shame I couldn't spend more time with it or go home and get a scope. Great to see 3 here all the same. Took me back 10 years or so.
Gordon Eckersley said
Fri May 1 6:56 PM, 2020
Church Lane
12:45
Male and Female Wheatear still in the field with stones on the other side of Church Lane opposite the Flood. This late in the Spring might they be of the Greenland subspecies O.o. Leucorhoa ? They look big.
2 Mandarin ducks in this field
Circa 12 Swallows over the same field
2 Shelduck on the Flood.
Steve Collins said
Fri May 1 5:54 PM, 2020
Found the Lesser Whitethroat and Whitethroat singing around the pond on left hand side along Dairyhouse Lane today.
Steve Collins said
Thu Apr 30 3:58 PM, 2020
I didn't go that far down Dairyhouse Lane so missed the Lesser Whitethroat unfortunately. Did have Whitethroat Blackcap and Chiffchaff around the corner by the derelict farm, and a further 2 Whitethroat and Song Thrush around the pond further down. Also 4 Greylag Geese and a Buzzard flew over.
markwoodhead said
Thu Apr 30 1:55 PM, 2020
Lesser Whitethroat still present 1pm, but at the end of the road off Dairy House lane by the parking spaces on the left at the entrance to Total Fitness
Adam Jones said
Wed Apr 29 8:30 PM, 2020
It is indeed Steve
Steve Collins said
Wed Apr 29 8:00 PM, 2020
The male Wheatear was there around 1.30 but occasionally moved into the longer grass. Also had a Whitethroat on the footpath off Blossoms Lane along with a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Didn't notice the Ringed Plover
Otherwise similar to Adam. Nice to know there is a Lesser Whitethroat on Dairyhouse Lane. Thanks Adam. Is that near the derelict farm near the bend?
Adam Jones said
Wed Apr 29 7:15 PM, 2020
Church Lane 4:15pm:
After this afternoons heavy rain, 1 Ringed Plover At least 3 Little Ringed Plover (couldn't quite see all the verges) 2 Shelduck still 2 Oystercatchers on the cricket pitch 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 1 Chiffchaff
I carried on my bike ride to Dairyhouse Lane where I picked up 2 Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat too.
markwoodhead said
Tue Apr 28 1:47 PM, 2020
Lockdown bike ride: 11am: 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck. Smart male Wheatear in filed opposite pool
2 Swallows and Whitethroat around derelict farm at bend in road to Total Fitness
Steve Collins said
Mon Apr 27 3:57 PM, 2020
Wheatear again at Church Lane. Different bird. Looks like a female.
Steve Collins said
Sat Apr 25 4:18 PM, 2020
Pair of Mandarin still present today at Church Lane.
Adam Jones said
Fri Apr 24 7:16 AM, 2020
Some sightings over recent days:
Church Lane: 5 Little Ringed Plover (22/4/20) 2 Mandarin Ducks (23/4/20) A Great Spotted Woodpecker has been drumming close to farm buildings near Chester Road over the last week.
Old Hall Lane: 2 Sand Martins (23/4/20) 2 Swallows 1 Willow Warbler singing beyond the golf clubhouse (19/4/20) Lapwings, Curlews, Skylarks and Linnets over the airfield regularly
Steve Collins said
Wed Apr 22 5:26 PM, 2020
Nice to see a male Wheatear today to add to the recent sightings at Church Lane. In the middle of the field across the lane to the floods.
The field looked a little roughed up in the middle compared to the other day which may have attracted it.
Gordon Eckersley said
Sun Apr 19 2:16 PM, 2020
Church Lane Flood 07:30 am Common Sandpiper still present No Swallows today - very glad you saw them yesterday Adam
Adam Jones said
Sat Apr 18 5:29 PM, 2020
Church Lane 15:10 1 Common Sandpiper 3 Little Ringed Plover 2 Swallows 2 Oystercatcher 15 Pied Wagtail
Gordon Eckersley said
Fri Apr 10 11:37 AM, 2020
Church Lane
07:30 am today
Blackcap(singing)
Adam Jones said
Mon Apr 6 10:05 PM, 2020
Old Hall Lane:
A single Swallow this evening over the old barn. 2 Singing Chiffchaffs 1 Curlew 2 Skylarks and a few Lapwings the best of the rest
Gordon Eckersley said
Sun Apr 5 7:36 PM, 2020
07:30 am
Three Ways Farm Blossoms Lane Woodford
Swallow
Perhaps a bit put out to fly thousands of miles and find its barn nesting site of last year has been concerted into a des res !
Best
Gordon
Adam Jones said
Thu Apr 2 6:19 PM, 2020
Today on my lockdown bike ride:
Church Lane: of note, a single Redwing in amongst the leaf litter by Bramhall cricket club.
Adam Jones said
Tue Mar 31 7:21 PM, 2020
Today on my lockdown bike ride:
Church Lane: 1 Little Ringed Plover on the muddy verge of the receding flood.
Old Hall Lane: 2 Chiffchaff singing 1 Nuthatch 1 Skylark in flight 8 Lapwings 3 Common Buzzard
This afternoon the same as johns last sighting except no greylags
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 14 4:08 PM, 2020
Late News 13th March:
Church Lane Flood: Coot 13 Oystercatcher 4 Gadwall 1 Shoveler 2 Greylag Goose 2 with Canadas
Cheers John
Phil Oddy said
Thu Mar 5 3:50 PM, 2020
4 Shoveler still present this morning plus 7 Oystercatchers. I was informed a couple of days ago by another birder that a male Pochard was present on 20/2
John Rayner said
Mon Mar 2 1:16 PM, 2020
Church Lane Flood:
9 Oystercatchers 4 Shovelers 2 Stock Doves
Cheers John
Phil Oddy said
Wed Feb 19 12:01 PM, 2020
Pair Shoveler still present at Church Lane plus 8 Oystercatchers on the floods
John Rayner said
Thu Feb 13 1:34 PM, 2020
Old Hall Lane:
Pair of Stonechats still 2 Song Thrushes 3 Lapwings 3 singing Skylarks (but for how much longer as house building continues apace? Skylarks, Lapwings, Curlews and Oystercatchers days as breeding birds here are surely numbered).
Wigeon 5 (4m, 1f)
Lapwing 1 (first of the year here)
Black-headed Gull 325
Common Gull 3
Herring Gull 3
Lesser Black-backed Gull 8
Canada Goose 310
Old Hall Lane:
Tree Sparrow (1 in song)
Stonechat 1 female
Lapwing 3
Skylark 2
The old hangars with the nesting Gull colony on their roofs have been demolished. As an example 2 years ago there were 90 LBB Gulls and 13 Herring Gulls nesting.
Goldeneye female (local rarity)
It was diving for 20 seconds at a time but as the water is about 15 inches deep on a grass base I am not sure what food it would find. It flew east after I watched it for about 15 mins so probably just a fleeting visit.
Also:
Black-headed Gull 100 (exact count)
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4
Meadow Pipit 1
Photo is by phone held to a 40 year old scope (my excuse anyway)
Cheers, John
24th Oct. Church Lane
Canada Goose 680
Mallard 32
26th Oct. Old Hall Lane
Stonechat 2 (m&f)
Pintail. Surprise sight of 1 flying over airfield parallel to OHL in direction of Woodford Church
Cheers, John
Large number of Canada Geese gathering. Not much room for anything else...
Canada Goose 456
Greylags 2
Canada hybrid
Black-headed Gull 51
Common Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Jay 2
Cheers, John
Surprising news of a female Common Scoter, which stayed for almost an hour from 11.29 - 12.27.
Even more surprising it was diving, although this casual water is probably no more than 12 inches deep.
Also:
Wigeon 1
Canada Goose 200+
Greylag Goose 1
(Image courtesy of Andrew Emerson and thanks to Phil Oddy for the find)
Cheers John
Canada Goose 300+
Mallard 72
Wigeon 5
Black-headed Gull 2
Redwing 5 over
All the Mallard left just after 07.30 and the Wigeon flew as the first dog walker passed by at 08.08.
Cheers, John
Church Lane, recent visits
Sunday 11th. The 3 Whooper Swans remained till dusk and a female Pintail turned up in the afternoon.
Monday 12th. At dawn no Whoopers or Pintail down on the water but 4 Wigeon and c300 Canada Geese. A pair of Pintails flew through at 07.30.
Tuesday 13th. Zero birds on the water with the Canada flock grazing surrounding field. Dog walkers and model plane flyers not helping.
Old Hall Lane, 13th Oct.
c170 Pink-footed Geese SE
c250 Redwings NE
3 Skylarks SW
Cheers, John
Pair of Pintails in flight only
4 Wigeon
Approx 300 Canada Geese
No Swans
Cheers John
A female Pintail was reported early evening and the 3 Whoopers were still present at dusk. (Info thanks to Steve Collins)
Cheers, John
Old Hall Farm had c50 Lapwing take to the sky after a Buzzard flyover.
Several Skylarks and Meadow Pipits, otherwise quiet.
3 Whooper Swans (departed 09.32 to the NW. Perhaps heading for Martin Mere)
Black-headed Gulls c100 or so
Canada Goose 8
Poor phonescoped photo attached
Cheers, John Edit. The Whoopers are back at 10.45. Info thanks to Nigel Troup.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 11th of October 2020 11:02:40 AM
Little Grebe 1
Canada Goose 176
Black-headed Gull 301
Common Gull 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Cheers John
Old Hall Lane:
After seeing several individual Tree Sparrows on recent visits, I came across a super flock of 30+ this evening. Feeding on the elderberries near the horse field and before the barns. This is the most I've seen here for many years.
Other birds of note:
1 Reed Bunting
1 Stock Dove
2 Chiffchaff
Green Sandpiper on small patch of water on airfield. Viewable from perimeter fence.
Oystercatcher 1
Lapwing minimum 28
Pied Wagtail flock of 10
House Martin c60
Cheers, John
1 Tree Sparrow - seen both Saturday and Sunday in the same area. First here for a very long time.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Kestrels
5 Linnets
16 Swallows, good numbers of juveniles.
2 Grey Herons
2 Common Buzzards
1 Curlew
Large flock of corvids consisting of:
c75 Jackdaw
10 Carrion Crow
3 Rooks
A nice walk this evening which gave up some site favourites and regulars in the form of:
1 Skylark
7 Linnets
3 Sand Martins
1 Swift
1 Swallow
1 Blackcap
1 Kestrel
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Chiffchaff
The now customary 8pm Thursday firework display did throw up 2 Shelduck (possibly long staying from Church Lane a few weeks back), and 2 Stock Dove.
Plenty of other finches and tits too.
Pond on path off Church Lane
Sedge Warbler - seen and heard
Thursday 7 May 20:00 Swift over Bramhall village during clap for NHS
Friday 8 March 08:00 Sadly no sign of Sedge Warbler today
Friday 8 March 10:30 Blackcap singing in my garden close to Bramhall Village centre
3 Swifts screaming over Dairyhouse Lane at midday
Church Lane 18-00pm yesterday
1 White Wagtail
2 Wheatear opposite field to flood
Church Lane 11am:
2 very colourful and large-looking female Wheatears ?Greenland
2 Little Ringed Plovers - water disappearing fast!
Dairyhouse Lane:
7 Buzzards in a kettle
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
During my walk earlier in the afternoon yesterday four Wheatears were present including at least one Greenland race bird.
3 Wheatear this evening in the same area as earlier. 1 male and 2 females
Also 10 Stock Dove in this field with a few Woodpigeon
2 Shelduck still.
Gordon, I had exactly the same thoughts as you this evening. One female in particular was bulkier and darker and more buff in colour, and my gut instinct was wow that's a bit different. This one was actually being chased off by the male, who seemed to be paired with the other female. (Could be pure coincidence). Shame I couldn't spend more time with it or go home and get a scope. Great to see 3 here all the same. Took me back 10 years or so.
12:45
Male and Female Wheatear still in the field with stones on the other side of Church Lane opposite the Flood. This late in the Spring might they be of the Greenland subspecies O.o. Leucorhoa ? They look big.
2 Mandarin ducks in this field
Circa 12 Swallows over the same field
2 Shelduck on the Flood.
Lesser Whitethroat still present 1pm, but at the end of the road off Dairy House lane by the parking spaces on the left at the entrance to Total Fitness
After this afternoons heavy rain,
1 Ringed Plover
At least 3 Little Ringed Plover (couldn't quite see all the verges)
2 Shelduck still
2 Oystercatchers on the cricket pitch
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Chiffchaff
I carried on my bike ride to Dairyhouse Lane where I picked up 2 Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat too.
Lockdown bike ride: 11am: 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck. Smart male Wheatear in filed opposite pool
2 Swallows and Whitethroat around derelict farm at bend in road to Total Fitness
Church Lane:
5 Little Ringed Plover (22/4/20)
2 Mandarin Ducks (23/4/20)
A Great Spotted Woodpecker has been drumming close to farm buildings near Chester Road over the last week.
Old Hall Lane:
2 Sand Martins (23/4/20)
2 Swallows
1 Willow Warbler singing beyond the golf clubhouse (19/4/20)
Lapwings, Curlews, Skylarks and Linnets over the airfield regularly
Church Lane Flood
07:30 am
Common Sandpiper still present
No Swallows today - very glad you saw them yesterday Adam
1 Common Sandpiper
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Swallows
2 Oystercatcher
15 Pied Wagtail
07:30 am today
Blackcap(singing)
A single Swallow this evening over the old barn.
2 Singing Chiffchaffs
1 Curlew
2 Skylarks and a few Lapwings the best of the rest
Three Ways Farm Blossoms Lane Woodford
Swallow
Perhaps a bit put out to fly thousands of miles and find its barn nesting site of last year has been concerted into a des res !
Best
Gordon
Church Lane:
of note, a single Redwing in amongst the leaf litter by Bramhall cricket club.
Church Lane:
1 Little Ringed Plover on the muddy verge of the receding flood.
Old Hall Lane:
2 Chiffchaff singing
1 Nuthatch
1 Skylark in flight
8 Lapwings
3 Common Buzzard
1 Black-tailed Godwit (local rarity)
6 Oystercatchers
13 Coot
(Info from Nigel Troup)
Awful photo attached as I only had my 1970's scope available.
Cheers John
This afternoon the same as johns last sighting except no greylags
Church Lane Flood:
Coot 13
Oystercatcher 4
Gadwall 1
Shoveler 2
Greylag Goose 2 with Canadas
Cheers John
4 Shoveler still present this morning plus 7 Oystercatchers. I was informed a couple of days ago by another birder that a male Pochard was present on 20/2
9 Oystercatchers
4 Shovelers
2 Stock Doves
Cheers John
Pair Shoveler still present at Church Lane plus 8 Oystercatchers on the floods
Pair of Stonechats still
2 Song Thrushes
3 Lapwings
3 singing Skylarks (but for how much longer as house building continues apace? Skylarks, Lapwings, Curlews and Oystercatchers days as breeding birds here are surely numbered).
Cheers John.