l've recently been noticing the Jackdaws near where l work, nesting in the eaves of flats...is this unusual ?
Hi Melanie,
It's an interesting point you've raised. I have always thought of Jackdaws as typically being cavity nesters - and I would suppose if there is a gap and a cavity they can exploit underneath the eaves then I'm sure they probably will be using it as a nesting site. Once during late February this year I did notice Jackdaws disappearing underneath the eaves of a large house near North Manchester Hospital - it was late in the day and I assumed that at that time of year that they were just roosting there. Still Starlings roost throughout the winter and then nest in the spring/summer in the same hole in the roof space of the house next door to where I live - so why shouldn't Jackdaws do the same? Jackdaws have a reputation for favouring chimneys as nesting sites but with many modern houses not having chimneys and possibly the Jackdaw population increasing I would guess they are having to improvise with their choice of nesting locations? In early April I watched several pairs nest building semi-colonially behind some metallic cladding structures on a tall mill chimney in Bury. I too watched a pair disappearing under the large overhanging eaves of a Rochdale Hospital early this morning (18/4) - they weren't carrying nesting material so presumably the nest is already built?
I would be interested to know of the location of your nesting pair and the outcome of their breeding attempt (if known?) If you would be able to send me a pm with any further details, then that would be appreciated.
Best wishes,
Bill.
Dennis atherton said
Sat Apr 16 8:45 PM, 2011
river irwell today my first Juv of the year, a Juv dipper
John Doherty said
Tue Apr 12 5:29 PM, 2011
At Harpurhey Ponds/Reservoirs (Anybody birded here at this spot?) It's not the nicest place - old mill ponds which looked pretty contaminated - but I still got: A couple of Coots, 2 Canada, 2 Herons, a dozen mallards, and a Willow tit - I didn't hang around too long.
Phil Owen said
Sun Apr 10 7:07 PM, 2011
2 Grey Wagtails yesterday on Sharston Industrial Estate whilst visiting the tip.
Raymond Ashcroft said
Sun Apr 10 5:22 PM, 2011
Sliproad onto M60 from East Lancs Rd - Male Hen Harrier had just taken off flying NW at 4pm this afternoon
Melanie Beckford said
Wed Apr 6 9:34 PM, 2011
l've recently been noticing the Jackdaws near where l work, nesting in the eaves of flats...is this unusual ?
Sarfraz Hayat said
Wed Apr 6 12:59 AM, 2011
Buzzard over Glodwich, Oldham at 4.15pm mobbed by a LBBG and moved in the direction of Lees on 3rd April.
Common Gull with BHGulls lying over Wigan Road about 3.30pm 5th April
Phil Owen said
Sat Apr 2 11:00 AM, 2011
A male Pheasant crossed Greenwood Road in Wythenshawe at 6.55am this morning.
The bird was then walking round the parked cars amongst the housing estate, a most unusual record for this area!!
Helen Jones said
Wed Mar 30 7:14 PM, 2011
Male sparrowhawk in my garden (Mosley Common) this morning
Ollie Wright said
Tue Mar 29 7:18 PM, 2011
Hi all,
This is probably nothing, but it's doing my shed in, so thought would post
Walking down bank of River Mersey at about 5:30pm between Northenden and West Didsbury, had a pigeon-sized bird high in a tree, which I got bins on. It was dark but not black (unfortunately, the light was not great). For a moment, I thought I might have a Green Woodpecker, but notice a relatively long, thin bill, which *looked* as though it might have been red. I could see it face on and it looked like the feathers got slightly lighter towards the top of the breast. After a few seconds, it took off and glided to a lower branch, showing a fanned tail. I tried to get closer for a better view, but before I could get binoculars back on it, it swooped off to another tree further down the river and I lost it.
I haven't the faintest idea what it could have been!
Paul Dewey said
Tue Mar 29 6:02 PM, 2011
Sorry Judith, didn't log back on yesterday. The birds were at my home location, Heaton Moor Stockport.
Judith Smith said
Mon Mar 28 8:14 PM, 2011
Location, Paul?
Paul Dewey said
Mon Mar 28 5:44 PM, 2011
Saw a robin feeding a fledgling in a neighbours tree when I was out cutting my hedge this lunchtime. Heard feeding noises first and had a look as thought it may have been a pair of courting birds and was suprised to see the youmg bird being fed. On listening a bit harder could hear what I think was another fledgling calling in another tree but couldn't confirm this.
Is this quite early as the books I have seems to say eggs laid in April or are my books a little out of date,
Paul Heaton said
Mon Mar 28 5:31 PM, 2011
A Grebe feast today at various locales in GM
Slavonian Grebe
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Black Necked Grebe.
then Sand Martin, Swallow Wheater and Waxwing, the oddest day list for years.
Keep Birding
Allan Rimmer said
Wed Mar 23 12:22 PM, 2011
Had what I first thought was a Buzzard this morning in fields north of Gidlow Cemetery, Wigan. Flew up out of marshy area and into tree but I couldn't get good views except to see that it was buzzard-size but with an overall chestnut-y appearance and white occasionally visible behind the wings, on the upper tail and lower belly.
As I moved nearer it flew directly over my head, always partly hidden by branches and into the sun but I managed to see what looked like a dark-ish body and underwing, with no carpal patches.
As it flew over it gave a couple of harsh croaks, (nothing like a buzzard's call), and a quick look at the Sibley when I got home confirmed my suspicion that it was a Harris's Hawk, an obvious escape, though I didn't notice jesses.
Peter Jones said
Tue Mar 22 4:58 PM, 2011
I have just had to take my wife to Bury. (And back, since you ask). As we came off the M62, onto the M627 towards Chadderton, we saw a Buzzard sitting on the fence in the strong and warm sunshine. It was only about 30 feet away, and seemed to be oblivious to al the vehicles going past. I have heard about Buzzards at Tandle Hills before, but this, and the previous post, proves it!
Should this be headed "Buzzards"?
Peter Jones
Melanie Beckford said
Mon Mar 21 4:05 PM, 2011
Just went to feed the birds and found a beautiful female Sparrowhawk plucking a feral pigeon. l was recently grumbling to myself, l never see enough of these raptors.
The local Magpies sat in the trees watching, a lone Crow dive bombed her. Nowt moved her, she was plucking and fending off that annoyance, lots of pressure as then a small human crowd gathered.
Then in a second she let her victim go and off she flew,then that pigeon resembled a bat out of hell, minus several feathers !!!
Wonderful stuff
-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Monday 21st of March 2011 06:11:23 PM
Bill Myerscough said
Sun Mar 20 10:59 AM, 2011
20th March.
Male Pintail on flooded field off Stopes Rd, Radcliffe viewable from Singleton St. Grid ref approx SD766076. There at 10.45 am. Also 2 Oystercatcher
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 14 10:43 AM, 2011
Fairly remarkably (I thought) a Swallow was back on territory this morning in Astley Village, bold as brass on it's usual telephone wires over Higher Green Lane by the Conservative Club. Still present preening away by mid-morning!
Ian Campbell said
Fri Mar 11 8:00 AM, 2011
Great spotted Woodpecker flying over Little Lever parish church 7.05 a.m. today. Cheers Ian
Jimmy Meadows said
Fri Mar 4 8:39 PM, 2011
3 Curlews displaying rrear of Hampson Green this morning
Cheers Jimmy
Sarfraz Hayat said
Fri Mar 4 11:08 AM, 2011
gulls incl lbb, bh and some others on the golf course on the m66 just before the slip[ road onto m62
soem common gulls with a few b h gulls over the trafford centre yesterday
and a buzzard on a post about 3.20pm on the m60 slip road which joins on m66 a bit later on
Tony Mossman said
Mon Feb 28 12:54 PM, 2011
Peregrine over Aldi in Stockport about 11am being mobbed by gulls.
Nick Isherwood said
Fri Feb 25 1:27 PM, 2011
Whilst driving down Heath Lane, Lowton this morning on my way to work I noticed two large raptors over the adjacent field heading south at a height of about 400 feet. I could tell straight away that they weren't buzzards so I quickly pulled up and got my bins on them to see that they were a pair of Hen Harriers. The lazy flight and long tail where easily noticable. I watched them for a couple of minutes until they went out of sight. A brilliant start to the day!!
Would they be migrating from the lowlands back up to the high ground in readiness for spring I wonder?
Sarfraz Hayat said
Thu Feb 24 11:03 PM, 2011
buzzard over ashton ikea at about 4pm
Marvin Lewis said
Thu Feb 24 9:56 PM, 2011
Buzzard seen flying over A627M [Oldham side],just after the junction with M62,approx.1.00pm
Jim Ormerod said
Thu Feb 24 4:58 PM, 2011
Forgot to say - 2 Ravens flying round Bolton Town Hall at lunchtime, calling. No sign of Peregrines.
Jim
Jim Ormerod said
Thu Feb 24 4:56 PM, 2011
Curlew calling this morning over fields to SW of Belmont Road, Horrocksfold.
Jim
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 24 4:05 PM, 2011
Calling Curlew flew over Green Avenue, Astley at 15:45 today.
Roger Baker 3 said
Thu Feb 24 3:18 PM, 2011
Robins especially do sing at night, in the last few nights I've heard Blackbirds, Magpies and Song Thrushes all very vocal at 11pm!!
Not so sure about the Magpies singing though, probably more like squabbling at their roosting site!!!
Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of February 2011 11:47:13
Robins and Wrens both sing all night under the street-lights.
There were at least 4 Mistle Thrushes singing at 3am this morning in the vicinity of Park Rd /Sandy Lane area of Dukinfield. Last year one sang every morning from top of an Ash........ commenced at 03.50 hrs.... you could have set you watch by it to within a couple of minutes. Brilliant on the stormy mornings ...... well named the Storm-Cock.
A Magpie roost in some Willows at the side of the river contained up to 32 birds over winter then dropped down to 3 pairs during mid January. These pairs roosted about 15 yards apart except for two exceptionally cold nights when all 6 shared a branch.....you couldn't have prised 'em apart with a crow-bar. Has now whittled down to just the one pair for about the last 10 days.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Thursday 24th of February 2011 03:24:07 PM
Nick Hilton said
Sun Feb 20 3:19 PM, 2011
Pair of Goosander cruising the Ship Canal adjacent to the A57 Cadishead
Phil Owen said
Sat Feb 19 11:43 PM, 2011
Steven Nelson wrote:
8.30pm - The Sainsburys, Sale carpark Robin again in full song under its streetlight. But by 10.45pm all was quiet!
Robins especially do sing at night, in the last few nights I've heard Blackbirds, Magpies and Song Thrushes all very vocal at 11pm!!
Not so sure about the Magpies singing though, probably more like squabbling at their roosting site!!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of February 2011 11:47:13 PM
Steven Nelson said
Sat Feb 19 11:33 PM, 2011
8.30pm - The Sainsburys, Sale carpark Robin again in full song under its streetlight. But by 10.45pm all was quiet!
Nick Isherwood said
Sat Feb 19 10:38 AM, 2011
Had a skylark in full song this morning over Heath lane, Lowton. This is easily the earliest i've ever heard one. Made me feel all summery for a minute or two. Spring is well on its way!
Steven Nelson said
Thu Feb 17 9:40 PM, 2011
A Robin singing it's heart out under a street light in Sainsburys carpark Sale at 9pm this evening!
Dave Thacker said
Tue Feb 15 8:09 PM, 2011
A Collared dove has built a nest in a tree along Partington lane Swinton. Also Wood pigeons are building in the large Birch tree in my neighbours garden.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Feb 15 5:39 PM, 2011
Flock of c.100 Starlings performing acrobatics over road junction near Tesco, Irlam at 5.20pm this evening. Saw them a couple of weeks ago here.
Also the large flock of c.2000 I reported over Cadishead on Feb 3rd has apparently been a regular sight at c.4.45pm many evenings. My parents see them here regularly as they often pass through here at this time. I've only seen them once. Don't know where the roost is though.
Joe Wynn said
Tue Feb 15 4:54 PM, 2011
1 Grey Wagtail outside stamford park, altrincham at about 0815 this morning. Prehaps there is a roost there?
Neil Southworth said
Mon Feb 14 4:38 PM, 2011
Two Buzzards perched by the side of the M61 at the northbound Reebok exit at 4.00 pm
Pete Hines said
Fri Feb 11 3:45 PM, 2011
I almost wrote an m.o.p. rang c.w.p. with a b.o.p.
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Feb 11 12:51 PM, 2011
I took me a few seconds to work out that M.O.P was member of public. Can I suggest the use of MOP to describe those non-birders that report rare birds in gardens etc that usually turn out to be common birds, but you have to check just in case it turns out to be another Dusky Thrush or first Black Woodpecker?
Pete Hines said
Fri Feb 11 11:02 AM, 2011
Harris Hawk Davyhulme c12.15 9th Feb in a roadside tree near the Nags Head.
I spoke to a m.o.p. who rang cwp at lunchtime asying he could see a large bird of prey from his window and thought it may be a Red Kite, although the description better fitted a Harris Hawk. He was happy with the ID once looked up on tinternet.
Joe Wynn said
Sat Feb 5 3:30 PM, 2011
c.20 Siskin near cheadle sainsburys feeding on alders, a much needed new species for my GM list
Steve Christmas said
Thu Feb 3 11:49 PM, 2011
Sounds like the same flock I saw over the M62 one morning a month or so back in the Little Woolden Moss area.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Feb 3 10:36 PM, 2011
Great sight of a twisting, turning Starling flock consisting of estimated 1500-2000 birds over Cadishead near the border with Cheshire at 4.45pm tonight. They were obviously getting ready to roost in the area - but where? I saw a similar sized flock in the same area on December 14th but in the morning. Also another smaller flock of just c.30 birds in Irlam near Tesco traffic lights doing the same thing a few mins later.
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 3rd of February 2011 10:38:16 PM
Marvin Lewis said
Tue Jan 25 11:10 PM, 2011
More birdsong noticed in general,lately,including Song Thrush and Mistle Thrush in various localities.Spring must be starting earlier.
Steve Almond said
Tue Jan 25 11:51 AM, 2011
David Craven wrote:
As the train goes from Lostock to Bolton, there's an open area of farmland on the left just outside Lostock station (if you look on a map, it's the area between Beaumont Road and Ladybridge Lane).
Usually quite a lot of standing water, often mallards, moorhen, herons to be seen. For the first time, there are a couple of Mute Swan there now. One a juvenile. Been there 3 or 4 days now.
The amount of standing water in that area is growing, it could become interesting for birding.
This area would come under "Middlebrook Trail, Bolton" It's in my BBS square but I've never seen owt of interest there.
-- Edited by Steve Almond on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 11:53:30 AM
-- Edited by Steve Almond on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 11:56:58 AM
Dave Tennant said
Sun Jan 23 10:48 PM, 2011
magpie spotted flying onto old nest in worsley yesterday, and today one was seen flying from a tree with a stick in its beak near to the reebok stadium.
stuartherring said
Thu Jan 20 5:58 PM, 2011
nearly stood on two blue tits fighting in our works car park today stopped to watch and they carried on until i leaned over towards them
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jan 19 8:35 PM, 2011
Cycling home tonight between 5.20pm and 6.00pm (so completely dark by then) I had 3 separate Robins singing under street lights at 3 different locations:
1 in Flixton near Wellacre school. 2 in Irlam - 1 on by-pass by Irlam Locks and 1 next to Boathouse pub.
Hi Melanie,
It's an interesting point you've raised. I have always thought of Jackdaws as typically being cavity nesters - and I would suppose if there is a gap and a cavity they can exploit underneath the eaves then I'm sure they probably will be using it as a nesting site. Once during late February this year I did notice Jackdaws disappearing underneath the eaves of a large house near North Manchester Hospital - it was late in the day and I assumed that at that time of year that they were just roosting there. Still Starlings roost throughout the winter and then nest in the spring/summer in the same hole in the roof space of the house next door to where I live - so why shouldn't Jackdaws do the same? Jackdaws have a reputation for favouring chimneys as nesting sites but with many modern houses not having chimneys and possibly the Jackdaw population increasing I would guess they are having to improvise with their choice of nesting locations? In early April I watched several pairs nest building semi-colonially behind some metallic cladding structures on a tall mill chimney in Bury. I too watched a pair disappearing under the large overhanging eaves of a Rochdale Hospital early this morning (18/4) - they weren't carrying nesting material so presumably the nest is already built?
I would be interested to know of the location of your nesting pair and the outcome of their breeding attempt (if known?) If you would be able to send me a pm with any further details, then that would be appreciated.
Best wishes,
Bill.
It's not the nicest place - old mill ponds which looked pretty contaminated - but I still got: A couple of Coots, 2 Canada, 2 Herons, a dozen mallards, and a Willow tit - I didn't hang around too long.
Buzzard over Glodwich, Oldham at 4.15pm mobbed by a LBBG and moved in the direction of Lees on 3rd April.
Common Gull with BHGulls lying over Wigan Road about 3.30pm 5th April
As I moved nearer it flew directly over my head, always partly hidden by branches and into the sun but I managed to see what looked like a dark-ish body and underwing, with no carpal patches.
As it flew over it gave a couple of harsh croaks, (nothing like a buzzard's call), and a quick look at the Sibley when I got home confirmed my suspicion that it was a Harris's Hawk, an obvious escape, though I didn't notice jesses.
Should this be headed "Buzzards"?
Peter Jones
The local Magpies sat in the trees watching, a lone Crow dive bombed her. Nowt moved her, she was plucking and fending off that annoyance, lots of pressure as then a small human crowd gathered.
Then in a second she let her victim go and off she flew,then that pigeon resembled a bat out of hell, minus several feathers !!!
Wonderful stuff
-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Monday 21st of March 2011 06:11:23 PM
Male Pintail on flooded field off Stopes Rd, Radcliffe viewable from Singleton St. Grid ref approx SD766076. There at 10.45 am. Also 2 Oystercatcher
Cheers Ian
Cheers Jimmy
gulls incl lbb, bh and some others on the golf course on the m66 just before the slip[ road onto m62
soem common gulls with a few b h gulls over the trafford centre yesterday
and a buzzard on a post about 3.20pm on the m60 slip road which joins on m66 a bit later on
Would they be migrating from the lowlands back up to the high ground in readiness for spring I wonder?
buzzard over ashton ikea at about 4pm
Jim
Jim
Robins especially do sing at night, in the last few nights I've heard Blackbirds, Magpies and Song Thrushes all very vocal at 11pm!!
Not so sure about the Magpies singing though, probably more like squabbling at their roosting site!!!
Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of February 2011 11:47:13
....................................................
Robins and Wrens both sing all night under the street-lights.
There were at least 4 Mistle Thrushes singing at 3am this morning in the vicinity of Park Rd /Sandy Lane area of Dukinfield.
Last year one sang every morning from top of an Ash........ commenced at 03.50 hrs.... you could have set you watch by it to within a couple of minutes. Brilliant on the stormy mornings ...... well named the Storm-Cock.
A Magpie roost in some Willows at the side of the river contained up to 32 birds over winter then dropped down to 3 pairs during mid January. These pairs roosted about 15 yards apart except for two exceptionally cold nights when all 6 shared a branch.....you couldn't have prised 'em apart with a crow-bar.
Has now whittled down to just the one pair for about the last 10 days.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Thursday 24th of February 2011 03:24:07 PM
Robins especially do sing at night, in the last few nights I've heard Blackbirds, Magpies and Song Thrushes all very vocal at 11pm!!
Not so sure about the Magpies singing though, probably more like squabbling at their roosting site!!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 19th of February 2011 11:47:13 PM
Also the large flock of c.2000 I reported over Cadishead on Feb 3rd has apparently been a regular sight at c.4.45pm many evenings. My parents see them here regularly as they often pass through here at this time. I've only seen them once. Don't know where the roost is though.
I spoke to a m.o.p. who rang cwp at lunchtime asying he could see a large bird of prey from his window and thought it may be a Red Kite, although the description better fitted a Harris Hawk. He was happy with the ID once looked up on tinternet.
Also another smaller flock of just c.30 birds in Irlam near Tesco traffic lights doing the same thing a few mins later.
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 3rd of February 2011 10:38:16 PM
This area would come under "Middlebrook Trail, Bolton" It's in my BBS square but I've never seen owt of interest there.
-- Edited by Steve Almond on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 11:53:30 AM
-- Edited by Steve Almond on Tuesday 25th of January 2011 11:56:58 AM
1 in Flixton near Wellacre school.
2 in Irlam - 1 on by-pass by Irlam Locks and 1 next to Boathouse pub.