23 Waxwings again at the Lightbourne Road/Chilcote junction in Sale just now. I live just round the corner, so went on a slight detour to post a couple of letters.
They're just perched on the wires coming off a telegraph pole above the tree.
Julie Unwin said
Fri Jan 11 8:42 PM, 2013
Waxwings still in Trafford Park at 12-30 today opposite hotel. They then flew off slighly left of the hotel towards the Village. Still berries on the trees so likely to be back.
Paul Dewey said
Fri Jan 11 8:09 PM, 2013
Approx 12 waxwings (12.05) on corner of heaton rd and warwick rd, heaton chapel. In birch tree then feeding in nearby cotoneaster.
Sadly no bins.
John Harden said
Fri Jan 11 5:45 PM, 2013
11/1/2013 09.40am 9 Waxwings at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave, Sale, making their first visit this morning at 09.40. The berry tree looking even more sparse; the birds are having to feed lower down now as most of the upper berries have been stripped. John H
John Harden said
Fri Jan 11 10:21 AM, 2013
John Harden wrote:
11/1/2013 09.40am 9 Waxwings at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave, Sale, making their first visit this morning at 09.40. The berry tree looking even more sparse; the birds are having to feed lower down now as most of the upper berries have been stripped. John H
No sooner do I type the above, than another flock joins the original group, so 10.10 Now 40 Waxwings in Lightborne Road! 10.20 And more arriving! Now 51 loitering.
-- Edited by John Harden on Friday 11th of January 2013 10:23:25 AM
simon ghilks said
Thu Jan 10 11:02 PM, 2013
Trafford Park 1500 10th Jan
100+ next to Trafford Park Hotel at Village Way and Third Ave crossroads. Feeding in tree opposite Hotel and resting in tall trees adjacent.
Judith Pidgeon said
Thu Jan 10 7:52 PM, 2013
There were approx 50 waxwings in a tree off Lightborne Rd at 10.30 this morning. Thanks John for highlighting this location. Nice to see these birds close to where I live
John Harden said
Thu Jan 10 8:59 AM, 2013
10/1/13 08.50am Just 10 Waxwings at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave (Sale) so far this morning. Still, that's better than none! And thanks for identifying the Hupeh Rowan, Ann/Mike.
-- Edited by John Harden on Thursday 10th of January 2013 09:43:12 AM
Ann Ribbands said
Thu Jan 10 2:58 AM, 2013
It's a sorbus hupehenis (Hupeh Rowan) according to Mike, who grew our two from seed! (didn't get any waxwings though).
John Harden said
Thu Jan 10 1:27 AM, 2013
18 Waxwings in Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave tree/telegraph pole/bush again around mid-day today.
They were late arriving today, and early departing. The berry shrub that they are being attracted to is looking decidedly bare now. A neighbour advises that when the then owner of the house planted the shrub, he said it was a Japanese Pagoda Bush that he planted specifically to attract birds many years ago. Unfortunately, he has moved away. Whilst it has certainly attracted the birds this year, I can find no mention in various plant guides of a Japanese Pagoda bush that produces berries. So despite various attempts to identify the bush, the jury is still out! Many visitors have given their opinion, the favourite being that it is a Cotoneaster, but maybe a more knowledgeable person will eventually be able to give a definitive answer.
Gary Ingram said
Wed Jan 9 10:53 PM, 2013
5 Waxwings in same trees as yesterday near tesco petrol station Hindley leading onto Darby lane still there at 245pm
John Rayner said
Wed Jan 9 9:33 PM, 2013
Cheadle Hulme.
45 Waxwings at junction of Heathbank Road/Hulme Hall Road at 10.23.
Info from Geoff Lightfoot
Cheers, John
Chris Chandler said
Wed Jan 9 6:16 PM, 2013
Flock of 15 over Lyndene Road in Wythenshawe at 9.15. Flew south to trees on Hollyhedge Road then east to the roundabout at Brownley Road. They look like they're doing a circuit of the area.
John Doherty said
Wed Jan 9 5:10 PM, 2013
35-40 Waxwings feeding on the buds in the tall trees inside Gorse Hill Park entrance, next to the Great Stone Hotel, Chester Road, Stretford this afternoon - at least one Mistle Thrush arrived and ten birds took off and flew over the road as I left. First picked them up aurally :)
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 9th of January 2013 05:14:49 PM
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jan 9 1:47 AM, 2013
No sign of any at Lightboune Rd/Chilcote Dr at 4.00pm tonight but very poor light and weather.
Pauline Greenhalgh said
Wed Jan 9 12:11 AM, 2013
We too have called in and checked Howe Bridge twice in the last two days and waxwing activity seems to have ceased there ...
Pauline
Ray Eden said
Tue Jan 8 8:52 PM, 2013
About 26 at Lightborne Rd/Chilcote Ave 11.30-12.00. Thank you to all the posters, first time I've seen Waxwings.
Gary Ingram said
Tue Jan 8 3:54 PM, 2013
5 Waxwings in trees next to Tesco petrol station hindley at 3pm today First of the year for me,made up for the blank i had at Howe Bridge crematorium today at 1pm
-- Edited by Gary Ingram on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:16:27 PM
John Rayner said
Tue Jan 8 3:47 PM, 2013
Cheadle Hulme:
51 in John Millington car park (14.00). They were feeding on a cotoneaster in the car park but soon flew off. Whilst walking into the centre I saw the same flock briefly (at 14.10) in tall trees behind Waitrose but they soon flew again westwards.
I later found a part of the same flock (38) feeding on rose hips in front garden of first house on LHS of Haslemere Drive then on cotoneaster directly opposite Haslemere across Hulme Hall Road (still there at 15.00). There appeared to be some berries left so they may stick.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:47:57 PM
John Harden said
Tue Jan 8 3:09 PM, 2013
Ray Eden wrote:
About 26 at Lightborne Rd/Chilcote Ave 11.30-12.00. Thank you to all the posters, first time I've seen Waxwings.
And unfortunately, they departed with the arrival of the rain & the refuse collection truck just after mid-day. Hopefully they'll be back tomorrow, although the berry bush is now looking somewhat ransacked.
-- Edited by John Harden on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:09:50 PM
John Rayner said
Tue Jan 8 1:09 PM, 2013
27 yesterday at 15.50 on corner of Aldwyn Crescent and Bramhall Moor Lane (Hazel Grove).
25-30 today at 9.00 Cheadle Hume Methodist Church may be same flock. No further sightings.
Info from Geoff Lightfoot
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Wednesday 9th of January 2013 09:09:46 AM
JasonAtkinson said
Tue Jan 8 10:08 AM, 2013
C.13 Waxwing in my Heald Green back garden @ 10am and feeding on berry bush on the corner of Motcombe Road and Peelgate Drive.
Cheers Jason
-- Edited by JasonAtkinson on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 10:13:56 AM
John Harden said
Tue Jan 8 9:29 AM, 2013
8/1/13 09.15 - 9.15am 68 Waxwings showing well at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave Sale this morning. Very flighty again.
10.20am just 4 left now
11.00am no sign of any for last half hour or so. Sparrowhawk has been past several times this morning, so may have disturbed the Waxwings for now
-- Edited by John Harden on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 11:05:34 AM
Mike Chorley said
Tue Jan 8 5:44 AM, 2013
29 Waxwings at the Ashton Road end of Schofield Street, Hathershaw (Oldham) in tall trees next to the Hindu Temple at about 13.30. Unfortunately they flew off immediately heading towards Copster Park at the south end of Copster Hill Road. Possibly the Alexandra Park birds from the weekend, as I was on my way home from failing to find any there at lunchtime.
Henry Cook said
Mon Jan 7 9:06 PM, 2013
07/01/2013 - 12 flew south low over the cargo center at Manchester Airport at 10.40am. I've not found a regular flock here despite some searches but the several one-off sightings in the area suggest there may a feeding flock around.
Paul Heaton said
Mon Jan 7 3:49 PM, 2013
30 plus birds at the bottom of Glebelands rd Sale this morning at 11.oclock 200 yards up from the main A56 Chester rd, very flighty.
keep birding
-- Edited by Paul Heaton on Monday 7th of January 2013 03:49:32 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Mon Jan 7 1:14 PM, 2013
John Harden wrote:
7/1/13 09.15 - 11am 146 Waxwings showing well at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave Sale this morning. 11.40am update The whole flock suddenly departed in a NW direction towards Carrington Moss, may have dropped down behind Manor High School. I don't think they've been back since, apart from 4 stragglers. (The number of people looking for the birds are currently more numerous than the birds they are looking for.)
12.55pm update A smaller flock of 26 returned but after about 5 minutes soon disappeared once again in a SW direction.
-- Edited by John Harden on Monday 7th of January 2013 01:05:08 PM
It's amazing that the bulk of this flock, which has been around for some time, appears to have found feeding areas that no one has yet stumbled across!
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Monday 7th of January 2013 01:14:51 PM
John Harden said
Mon Jan 7 10:46 AM, 2013
7/1/13 09.15 - 11am 146 Waxwings showing well at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave Sale this morning. Loitering in tall trees again, dropping down to phone wires & berry bush periodically. Adjacent parked car is looking rather splattered. Still very flightly, possibly due to regular visits from local Sparrowhawk who so far (fortunately?) does not appear to have had any success but appears confused by sheer numbers of birds as they scatter. Part of flock flew off NE at around 10am, flock now "only" around 120!
11.40am update The whole flock suddenly departed in a NW direction towards Carrington Moss, may have dropped down behind Manor High School. I don't think they've been back since, apart from 4 stragglers. (The number of people looking for the birds are currently more numerous than the birds they are looking for.)
12.55pm update A smaller flock of 26 returned but after about 5 minutes soon disappeared once again in a SW direction.
-- Edited by John Harden on Monday 7th of January 2013 01:05:08 PM
Lynne Webster said
Mon Jan 7 1:45 AM, 2013
Yes, thanks to all for the information on the Sale flock.
I had a good view of them at around 3.00pm today. When a puzzled householder came out to ask why I seemed to be looking at his roof through a pair of binoculars, I lent them to him for a look at the waxwings, and explained about them. Not only was he fascinated, he was relieved, as he thought I might have spotted some loose tiles!
John Roberts said
Sun Jan 6 9:32 PM, 2013
A big thank you to all who put this tip up. I saw my first Waxwings today and I'm really pleased about it. I'd never have found them without your help. I went down to lightbourne rd, chilcote drive, Sale at about 12.30 and there was a flock of 90-100 present on the phone wires and in the tall trees behind the houses. Watched for about10 mins and then they all took off to somewhere else. About half an hour later a smaller flock of about 20 returned briefly. They were flighty and nervous but I still got a good look. Also had a nice chat to a couple of other birders staking them out. Cheers!
Mark Rigby said
Sun Jan 6 9:18 PM, 2013
10+ flew west over Alexandra Park, Oldham at 1305hrs
steven burke said
Sun Jan 6 8:07 PM, 2013
Arrived at lightbourne rd,chilcote drive,sale at 9.40am & 19 waxwings present on wires they were then joined by another 35 as john harden also arrived,nice to meet you john . Watched for over an hour,flighty and nervous but still showing very well
A quick look in sainsburys car park,altrincham at 11.35am but no signs off any waxwings.
brian fielding said
Sun Jan 6 7:29 PM, 2013
19 waxwings showing well at howe bridge crematoriun from 11.15am in the memorial garden.
pete berry said
Sun Jan 6 7:11 PM, 2013
A single bird feeding on rosehips behind Paul Rogers coalyard off Higher Green Lane,Astley
John Harden said
Sun Jan 6 7:09 PM, 2013
James Walsh wrote:
54 showing well on Lightbourne Road/Chilcote Drive, Sale
Info, Steven Burke
09.45 - 11.15 They're spending a lot of time in the big tree behind the houses opposite once again, only returning to the berry tree & telegraph pole fairly briefly and are very easily spooked today. 2 Redpoll and several Goldfinches in the big tree too for a time. Good light initially but gloomy conditions returned by 10.40
James Walsh said
Sun Jan 6 7:01 PM, 2013
54 showing well on Lightbourne Road/Chilcote Drive, Sale
Info, Steven Burke
Tony Darby said
Sun Jan 6 4:13 PM, 2013
80+ at Lightborne Road, Sale this afternoon around 2.30. with plenty of berries still left. Still being very flighty, although a chap with a long lens getting as close as possible probably didn't help.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 6th of January 2013 04:15:15 PM
tom willis said
Sun Jan 6 5:44 AM, 2013
Approx. 15 in Alexandra Park, Oldham this afternoon 3.45pm
Neil McCall said
Sun Jan 6 5:20 AM, 2013
Called in quickly to get the Sale birds today - had to delay getting to the car as one of the Waxwings was sitting on the wire directly above!
Many thanks to everybody who's continued to provide updates.
munsworth said
Sun Jan 6 2:35 AM, 2013
Ian McKerchar wrote:
munsworth wrote:
12.30-1pm today
8 Waxwings at Howe Bridge cemetery today. They perched in Silver Birch occasionally flying down to feed on berry bushes or bathe in the conveniently located bird bath. In the excellent light they obligingly gave many photo opportunities.
Mike
Mike, I assume you mean Howe Bridge Crematorium and not cemetery? The cemetery is quite nearby so clarification would be great
Yes sorry Ian. Howe Bridge Crematorium of course. Sorry for the confusion caused
Mike
munsworth said
Sun Jan 6 2:22 AM, 2013
Yes sorry Ian. Howe Bridge Crematorium of course. Sorry for the confusion caused.
Mike
Rob Smallwood said
Sun Jan 6 12:40 AM, 2013
The Lightbourne Road flock in Sale were joined briefly by 5+ Redpoll and several flocks of Siskin, one of 16 and several individuals and smaller groups.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jan 6 12:35 AM, 2013
munsworth wrote:
12.30-1pm today
8 Waxwings at Howe Bridge cemetery today. They perched in Silver Birch occasionally flying down to feed on berry bushes or bathe in the conveniently located bird bath. In the excellent light they obligingly gave many photo opportunities.
Mike
Mike, I assume you mean Howe Bridge Crematorium and not cemetery? The cemetery is quite nearby so clarification would be great
Joe Wynn said
Sun Jan 6 12:07 AM, 2013
The Sale birds were initially flighty moving between Gaydon rd Fir Way junction and the tree on Chilcote road, but about 1200 they settled in the bare trees on Lightborne rd dropping down to the tree every 10-20 minutes for a quick feed before departing again. I had a highest count of 16, though there looked more birds than that early on and birds were coming and going throughout the day. Some decent light (at last!) some good birds and good company.
munsworth said
Sun Jan 6 12:03 AM, 2013
12.30-1pm today
8 Waxwings at Howe Bridge cemetery today. They perched in Silver Birch occasionally flying down to feed on berry bushes or bathe in the conveniently located bird bath. In the excellent light they obligingly gave many photo opportunities.
Mike
John Harden said
Sat Jan 5 10:46 PM, 2013
Rob Smallwood wrote:
The Lightbourne flock in Sale still present this morning, also getting to the gardens on Firs Road near the end of Gaydon Road.
Saw Joe Wynn there - light good for photography so hopefully he might have got some decent shots.
The Lightborne Road gang has numbered 16 for most of the day, moving to & fro from the high leafless trees behind 12/14 to the telephone pole & adjacent berry tree on the corner of Chilcote Ave.
redkite said
Sat Jan 5 10:28 PM, 2013
Spent the morning at Heaton Mersey Vale ....just about to give up when they arrived .....a group of 30 were joined by maybe 20 more ,before being bombed out by magpies and flying off SE over the river. They seemed to have come from the Stockport direction .This was around 13.00hrs. today . Got some nice photos.
Jon Taverner said
Sat Jan 5 10:18 PM, 2013
Returned to Howe Bridge at 2.30pm to find 8 present. I understand that they arrived just before midday.
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Jan 5 8:58 PM, 2013
The Lightbourne flock in Sale still present this morning, also getting to the gardens on Firs Road near the end of Gaydon Road.
Saw Joe Wynn there - light good for photography so hopefully he might have got some decent shots.
Phil Hampson said
Sat Jan 5 7:52 PM, 2013
No sign of any waxwings in Mersey Vale, Heaton Mersey between 09:25 and 11:00. Good numbers of bullfinch present.
They're just perched on the wires coming off a telegraph pole above the tree.
They then flew off slighly left of the hotel towards the Village.
Still berries on the trees so likely to be back.
9 Waxwings at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave, Sale, making their first visit this morning at 09.40. The berry tree looking even more sparse; the birds are having to feed lower down now as most of the upper berries have been stripped.
John H
No sooner do I type the above, than another flock joins the original group, so
10.10
Now 40 Waxwings in Lightborne Road!
10.20
And more arriving!
Now 51 loitering.
-- Edited by John Harden on Friday 11th of January 2013 10:23:25 AM
100+ next to Trafford Park Hotel at Village Way and Third Ave crossroads.
Feeding in tree opposite Hotel and resting in tall trees adjacent.
Just 10 Waxwings at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave (Sale) so far this morning. Still, that's better than none!
And thanks for identifying the Hupeh Rowan, Ann/Mike.
-- Edited by John Harden on Thursday 10th of January 2013 09:43:12 AM
They were late arriving today, and early departing. The berry shrub that they are being attracted to is looking decidedly bare now.
A neighbour advises that when the then owner of the house planted the shrub, he said it was a Japanese Pagoda Bush that he planted specifically to attract birds many years ago. Unfortunately, he has moved away. Whilst it has certainly attracted the birds this year, I can find no mention in various plant guides of a Japanese Pagoda bush that produces berries. So despite various attempts to identify the bush, the jury is still out!
Many visitors have given their opinion, the favourite being that it is a Cotoneaster, but maybe a more knowledgeable person will eventually be able to give a definitive answer.
45 Waxwings at junction of Heathbank Road/Hulme Hall Road at 10.23.
Info from Geoff Lightfoot
Cheers, John
Flew south to trees on Hollyhedge Road then east to the roundabout at Brownley Road.
They look like they're doing a circuit of the area.
First picked them up aurally :)
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 9th of January 2013 05:14:49 PM
Pauline
First of the year for me,made up for the blank i had at Howe Bridge crematorium today at 1pm
-- Edited by Gary Ingram on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 04:16:27 PM
51 in John Millington car park (14.00). They were feeding on a cotoneaster in the car park but soon flew off. Whilst walking into the centre I saw the same flock briefly (at 14.10) in tall trees behind Waitrose but they soon flew again westwards.
I later found a part of the same flock (38) feeding on rose hips in front garden of first house on LHS of Haslemere Drive then on cotoneaster directly opposite Haslemere across Hulme Hall Road (still there at 15.00). There appeared to be some berries left so they may stick.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:47:57 PM
And unfortunately, they departed with the arrival of the rain & the refuse collection truck just after mid-day. Hopefully they'll be back tomorrow, although the berry bush is now looking somewhat ransacked.
-- Edited by John Harden on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 03:09:50 PM
25-30 today at 9.00 Cheadle Hume Methodist Church may be same flock. No further sightings.
Info from Geoff Lightfoot
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Wednesday 9th of January 2013 09:09:46 AM
Cheers
Jason
-- Edited by JasonAtkinson on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 10:13:56 AM
68 Waxwings showing well at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave Sale this morning. Very flighty again.
10.20am just 4 left now
11.00am no sign of any for last half hour or so. Sparrowhawk has been past several times this morning, so may have disturbed the Waxwings for now
-- Edited by John Harden on Tuesday 8th of January 2013 11:05:34 AM
keep birding
-- Edited by Paul Heaton on Monday 7th of January 2013 03:49:32 PM
It's amazing that the bulk of this flock, which has been around for some time, appears to have found feeding areas that no one has yet stumbled across!
-- Edited by Rob Smallwood on Monday 7th of January 2013 01:14:51 PM
146 Waxwings showing well at Lightborne Road/Chilcote Ave Sale this morning. Loitering in tall trees again, dropping down to phone wires & berry bush periodically. Adjacent parked car is looking rather splattered.
Still very flightly, possibly due to regular visits from local Sparrowhawk who so far (fortunately?) does not appear to have had any success but appears confused by sheer numbers of birds as they scatter.
Part of flock flew off NE at around 10am, flock now "only" around 120!
11.40am update
The whole flock suddenly departed in a NW direction towards Carrington Moss, may have dropped down behind Manor High School. I don't think they've been back since, apart from 4 stragglers.
(The number of people looking for the birds are currently more numerous than the birds they are looking for.)
12.55pm update
A smaller flock of 26 returned but after about 5 minutes soon disappeared once again in a SW direction.
-- Edited by John Harden on Monday 7th of January 2013 01:05:08 PM
I had a good view of them at around 3.00pm today. When a puzzled householder came out to ask why I seemed to be looking at his roof through a pair of binoculars, I lent them to him for a look at the waxwings, and explained about them. Not only was he fascinated, he was relieved, as he thought I might have spotted some loose tiles!
I went down to lightbourne rd, chilcote drive, Sale at about 12.30 and there was a flock of 90-100 present on the phone wires and in the tall trees behind the houses. Watched for about10 mins and then they all took off to somewhere else. About half an hour later a smaller flock of about 20 returned briefly. They were flighty and nervous but I still got a good look. Also had a nice chat to a couple of other birders staking them out. Cheers!
09.45 - 11.15
They're spending a lot of time in the big tree behind the houses opposite once again, only returning to the berry tree & telegraph pole fairly briefly and are very easily spooked today.
2 Redpoll and several Goldfinches in the big tree too for a time. Good light initially but gloomy conditions returned by 10.40
Info, Steven Burke
Still being very flighty, although a chap with a long lens getting as close as possible probably didn't help.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 6th of January 2013 04:15:15 PM
Many thanks to everybody who's continued to provide updates.
Yes sorry Ian. Howe Bridge Crematorium of course. Sorry for the confusion caused
Mike
Mike
Mike, I assume you mean Howe Bridge Crematorium and not cemetery? The cemetery is quite nearby so clarification would be great
8 Waxwings at Howe Bridge cemetery today. They perched in Silver Birch occasionally flying down to feed on berry bushes or bathe in the conveniently located bird bath.
In the excellent light they obligingly gave many photo opportunities.
Mike
The Lightborne Road gang has numbered 16 for most of the day, moving to & fro from the high leafless trees behind 12/14 to the telephone pole & adjacent berry tree on the corner of Chilcote Ave.
Saw Joe Wynn there - light good for photography so hopefully he might have got some decent shots.
Phil