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.
Melanie Beckford said
Mon Jan 17 10:47 PM, 2011
l visited Dunham today, couldn't do much birding as l had an un-cooperative toddler with me ..anyway did watch for a while a Buzzard forgaging on the grass.
Ollie Wright said
Mon Jan 17 8:30 PM, 2011
I thought I'd become a pied piper for Waxwings this Christmas, but now it seems to be Grey Wagtails I'm a magnet for. Last week, I very nearly trod on one on Brundretts Road in Chorlton, which just about avoided my size 11s and trundled happily along the road a yard ahead of me for a while, before fluttering up and off.
Then this weekend, I was househunting in Northenden, looked out of the back window of the place and there was a Grey Wag in the yard. I took this as a good omen!
One other Wagtail story - during the cold snap, on High St in the city centre, I saw a Pied Wagtail come off the tramlines and onto the snowy pavement, where it weaved its way through the feet of the many Christmas shoppers. The poor thing kept looking up at the people walking past it, with what looked like a mixture of awe and fear. I stood and watched it for a while, worried for its welfare, but it seemed to be able to avoid people whilst it picked at the pavement.
Lee Griffiths said
Mon Jan 17 8:14 PM, 2011
a robin singing its little heart out tonight at 6.45 in morrisons carpark dukinfield
Steven Nelson said
Sat Jan 8 7:25 PM, 2011
3.50pm
How about this for cracking a garden tick (well over the garden anyway!). I just had an incredible 3 Peregrines at the same time over my house in Irlam ! I was just about to get into my car when I heard a high pitched 'kee kee kee kee' call over head. I looked up to see 2 peregrines (looked like a pair - one seemed slightly larger than the other so presume f and m) and they were being harassed by a large (presume f) single bird that was making the noise. I assume that the pair were passing through the single birds's 'territory' and it was trying to force them away. They came from the direction of Irlam Moss 1/2 mile to the north (regular Peregrine haunt in winter) and headed south still making the noise.
Never seen 3 Peregrines together anywhere before!!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 8th of January 2011 05:10:31 PM
Tony Coatsworth said
Thu Jan 6 8:40 AM, 2011
50+ Jackdaws flying low over Alan Rd, Withington this morning - possibly roosted behind the NatWest bank - I'll check it out tonight
Shaun Garfin said
Mon Jan 3 6:23 PM, 2011
Simon Harris wrote:
buzzard perched in tree beside the rochdale and oldham link motorway
Seeing a Buzzard on the same lamp post practically every time I drive down the A627m recently, at the Oldham end.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 3 11:34 AM, 2011
Otiginally posted by Steve Christmas today:
Little egret seen flying low NW over my Swinton garden at 10.40 this morning. First garden record.
Steve
Jon Bowen said
Sun Jan 2 2:07 PM, 2011
driving between Orrell Water Park and Pennington there were single buzzards on lamp posts at each of the three motorway junctions
William Binns said
Sat Jan 1 8:59 PM, 2011
we watched a peregrine for a few minutes before it stooped at great speed , didnot see what the result was, as it went out of view behind buildings , this was in the centre of stockport.,
Simon Harris said
Sat Jan 1 2:48 PM, 2011
buzzard perched in tree beside the rochdale and oldham link motorway
stuartherring said
Wed Dec 29 8:40 PM, 2010
while sat at the traffic lights at the hollinwood junction of the m60 a female sparrowhawk flew slowly across the front of the car
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Dec 27 2:34 PM, 2010
Peregrine over and Buzzard perched alongside Mottram end of M67 at 1420 today
Steven Nelson said
Mon Dec 27 2:01 PM, 2010
3 male Goosanders on Manchester Ship Canal at Cadishead at 1.45pm this afternoon
Melanie Beckford said
Sun Dec 26 7:16 PM, 2010
A very gruesome discovery at the bottom of some steps to an office building near Albert Square (Manchester) today. The body/remains of a Peregrine kill.
Treecreeper in Ramsbottom also today....wallcreeping
Nick Isherwood said
Sun Dec 26 11:53 AM, 2010
Whilst out with the dog this morning i had the strangest sighting of a kingfisher flying down our street in Lowton and then off across the fields.
Dave Thacker said
Fri Dec 24 9:01 PM, 2010
2 Snipe flew up from Swinton Park golf course and over the A580 this afternoon at 14.10.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Dec 24 5:49 PM, 2010
A Woodcock flew low N over Liverpool Rd, Irlam at 3.41pm precisely this afternoon as I drove along. Illuminated beautifully in the late afternoon sunshine and clear blue sky!
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Dec 22 9:52 PM, 2010
Travelling down the East Lancs road this evening at 7.00pm between Lane Head and Atherleigh Way I had a Barn owl cross in front of me heading north. Great to see and looked really big when the streetlights shone on it.
Joe Wynn said
Tue Dec 21 12:31 PM, 2010
A largish mixed thrush flock on Woodlands Road feeding on the berry trees there. Mostly Redwing (about 20), 2 Mistle thrushes and the highlight was definitely at least 2 Fieldfare feeding with the redwings! They were based in a large tree and were descending into someone's garden, before going onto the trees i could watch. At about 1100, a load of them headed towards the met stop, but I lost them from there. Still loads wheeling about though!
Lee Griffiths said
Tue Dec 21 12:04 AM, 2010
while waiting for the wife to come out off work today up ridge hill . Noticed all the bird's in the gardens facing all go crazy . Then witnessed a sparrow hawk (F) take a blackbird in full flight down :(. Sad to see but also spectacular at the same time !
-- Edited by Lee Griffiths on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 12:05:48 AM
Dave Thacker said
Mon Dec 20 9:59 PM, 2010
At 7.30pm this evening while walking along the A580 East Lancs road in Swinton a dog walker just in front of me flushed a Woodcock from the undergrowth next to the fence of the Deans playing field opposite Moorside High school. The bird was only 15' from the main road and I can't believe that it has been there all day due to the amount of disturbance throughout the day along the roadside path.
Also during the weekend I noticed that the local Starlings are roosting at night in my neighbours roof space, 15 birds entered at the same point between 3.15 and 4.40pm on Saturday and 24 birds on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue tit is still sleeping in my bird box with the camera installed and on Saturday afternoon while watching the Starlings I noticed a Wren sneak into one of the Roosting pockets that I put into a couple of the conifers in my garden. About 30 mins later it was joined by another Wren. Last year a Goldcrest used the same pocket for a couple of weeks, its a pity that I put it too high in the tree as I can't see into it.
Joe Wynn said
Sun Dec 19 3:20 PM, 2010
2 snipe on the junction of priory road and dane road sale presumably foraging in the snow. Never seen them there before! However, they could have come across from priory woods which is near there. Also a lapwing over homelands road in timperley.
Rob Smallwood said
Sun Dec 19 10:06 AM, 2010
Maybe they were there more in hop than expectation?
Geoff Eldridge said
Sun Dec 19 9:57 AM, 2010
I was up on the tops yeaterday walking the Gretaer Manchester/ West Yorksire border area. It was foggy. What was not covered with snow was rock hard with ice - yet in the lee of rocks and bog grasses there were fresh bird tracks. (Hopping) The only signs of life I saw anywhere near them were a copule of Crows or Ravens 10 minutes later flying away as I dropped down on the Pennine Way towards Windy Hill. It makes me wonder what they could find to eat in such harsh conditions to justify the energy expenditure needed just to get there. Unless, of course, grouse hop and I was passing the local residents - but I don't recall every seeing them hop as they forage.
Holly Page said
Sat Dec 18 10:55 AM, 2010
Raven flew right over my house calling 10.40 heading SE, right in the middle of Halliwell!!
A sight & sound which cheered me up while trying to shift 4 inches of snow off my car!
Joey Eccles said
Wed Dec 15 11:13 PM, 2010
Pairs of Bullfinch (m and f), chaffinch, greenfinch, blue, great and coal tits and a pair of parakeets along with a single nuthatch were present on feeders just outside of birch fields park this afternoon at 12.00pm!
Dave Tennant said
Wed Dec 15 6:44 PM, 2010
What looked like black headed gull perched on lamp post with full black head kenyon way little hulton . perhaps summers coming early.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Dec 14 10:05 PM, 2010
You could be right Henry. They certainly came from that direction. Cheers!
Henry Cook said
Tue Dec 14 3:04 PM, 2010
They were probably from the Rostherne roost Steve, which has maxed around 25000 birds recently.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Dec 14 12:23 PM, 2010
From Warburton bridge this morning whilst sat in traffic que I saw what I initially thought was a large black cloud of smoke over Hollins Green. It then became apparent that it was in fact a hugh flock of Starlings twisting and turning forming some amazing shapes. The flock must have numbered many hundreds of birds if not a few thousand but impossible to count due to distance. It headed north. I've not seen a flock this size away from known roost sites for a long time. Mesmerising to watch. I wonder where they were coming from and going to? I've seen a few descent flocks this week all heading north over this general area but this was easily the biggest. Great stuff!
Also flock of 100+ BH Gulls following ship canal west presumably dispersing from overnight roosts.
Phil Owen said
Mon Dec 13 7:26 PM, 2010
A Starling was flying around actually inside Asda Wythenshawe supermarket at 6.30pm!!
It should hopefully get out at some point but was flying all around the place landing on lights and TV screens etc.
Although I saw the funny side, I am also concerned about the bird's welfare so will keep an eye on things.
Hopefully all should be OK though!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 13th of December 2010 07:27:48 PM
Steven Nelson said
Mon Dec 13 12:28 PM, 2010
c.25 Woodpigeons again in roadside hawthorns at Warburton bridge eating the berries this morning
Ian Boote said
Sat Dec 11 7:34 PM, 2010
Bridgewater School Spectator at some family martial art grading took quick opportunity to have a mooch artound the carpark and in 15 mins
Treecreeper GS Woody Nuthatch, (Heard another) Great Coal Blue tits and a chaffinch
Nick Hilton said
Sat Dec 11 2:20 PM, 2010
4 Bullfinch at rear of Soccerdome carpark, Trafford
Rick Donkin said
Fri Dec 10 8:50 PM, 2010
The woodpigeons have stripped the berries off the ivy and from the mahonia bushes in my garden - often hanging upside down to get to the berries at the very tips. Rick.
Dave Tennant said
Fri Dec 10 5:02 PM, 2010
hungry looking buzzard sat on lamp post [ kestrel like ] chequer bent round about westhoughton, as the traffic crawled past beneath it 4pm.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Dec 9 10:00 PM, 2010
Not this week mate - too cold !!
Nick Hilton said
Thu Dec 9 9:13 PM, 2010
Woodies on Salford Quays have been eating Hawthorn as well Steve, (and any other berries available from garden ornamentals it seems), I walked up to one today and it still didn't budge when I was 2 feet away. I did consider it was frozen to the bush !! It just continued gorging itself, assume its any food that counts in these conditions.
No Carrington Moss special by cycle light this week !!!!!
Steven Nelson said
Thu Dec 9 8:33 PM, 2010
15p !!! You must have too much money Paul. Peel Holdings make enough out of me as it is !!
I didn't realise Woodies eat acorns, slugs and snails as well! Cheers
Paul Heaton said
Thu Dec 9 8:35 AM, 2010
Steven Nelson wrote:
Whilst in the traffic que to pay my 12p for the 'priviledge' of crossing Warburton bridge I watched 20+ Woodpigeons in the hawthorn bushes eating the berries. Has anyone else ever seen this behaviour? I suppose with the ground being frozen any seeds etc will be frozen into the ground as well and hard for them to access forcing them to look for alternative food sources.
12p... I often give them 15 and tell them to keep the changeand thats on my bike, its one of the wonders of the north west the Toll bridge,
As for Woodpigeons they will eat all sorts, acorns, holly berries, rowans, and earthworms slugs and snails, I think they are making the most of anything in this cold snap.
Keep birding
Steven Nelson said
Thu Dec 9 8:11 AM, 2010
Just seen a similar sized flock behaving in same way and looking the same as yesterdays flock and these were definitely Starlings. So cam only conclude yesterdays flock were Starlings too!
4 Woodpigeons again in hawthorns on roadside over Warburton bridge eating berries again
Steven Nelson said
Wed Dec 8 10:56 PM, 2010
Whilst in the traffic que to pay my 12p for the 'priviledge' of crossing Warburton bridge I watched 20+ Woodpigeons in the hawthorn bushes eating the berries. Has anyone else ever seen this behaviour? I suppose with the ground being frozen any seeds etc will be frozen into the ground as well and hard for them to access forcing them to look for alternative food sources.
Also a flock of 200+ 'Starling sized and shaped birds' heading NW. They formed a lose flock - not tight like Starlings do and slightly undulating rather than straight like Starlings. I couldn't make out any colour due to silouetted against sky (except 1 bird that seemed to be brownish) even though they were quite low but shape could only be either Starlings or Waxwings! But they just didn't 'feel' like Starlings. Ive seen fly-past Waxwing flocks and this flock certainly had the same 'jizz'! Will have to go down as 'possible'!
Mike Bisson said
Wed Dec 8 11:18 AM, 2010
Joey, despite them being a red listed species, I regularly get flocks of 30+ Starlings on my feeders and table. I live in Rochdale. There was a time when I didnt see any Starlings, but just recently (last 6 months) they are regular visitors to my garden in good numbers
Joey Eccles said
Wed Dec 8 11:12 AM, 2010
c.50 starling sized birds flew about roof level, going East towards swinton about 10 minutes ago. They were about 150m from my garden, and i've never seen a starling flock this size near my garden or in worsley before... And a grey wagtail just landed on the roof opposite my back garden- garden tick
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Wednesday 8th of December 2010 11:19:26 AM
Paul Heaton said
Tue Dec 7 4:51 PM, 2010
Peregrine Falcon flew over Stretford Arndale today at 13.00 hours.
keep Birding
Steven Nelson said
Tue Dec 7 8:16 AM, 2010
Pair of Goosander flew over Warburton bridge w to e and into GM at 8.10am this morning
Marvin Lewis said
Mon Dec 6 11:21 PM, 2010
Phil,thanks for the information.I work in Sharston but don't actually know the area too well.I'll look out for the stream you mention. I've had a look at the A to Z again.There is a brook crossing Gatley Road about midway between Kingsway and Wilmslow Road.Is that where you mean?
Paul Heaton said
Mon Dec 6 10:45 AM, 2010
Of local interest Brambling reported on bird feeders on Little Ees lane sale this morning.
Keep Birding
Debs Wallace said
Sun Dec 5 9:41 PM, 2010
A Curlew flying over Northern Moor 11am, from the direction of Sale Water Park.
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.
Then this weekend, I was househunting in Northenden, looked out of the back window of the place and there was a Grey Wag in the yard. I took this as a good omen!
One other Wagtail story - during the cold snap, on High St in the city centre, I saw a Pied Wagtail come off the tramlines and onto the snowy pavement, where it weaved its way through the feet of the many Christmas shoppers. The poor thing kept looking up at the people walking past it, with what looked like a mixture of awe and fear. I stood and watched it for a while, worried for its welfare, but it seemed to be able to avoid people whilst it picked at the pavement.
3.50pm
How about this for cracking a garden tick (well over the garden anyway!).
I just had an incredible 3 Peregrines at the same time over my house in Irlam ! I was just about to get into my car when I heard a high pitched 'kee kee kee kee' call over head. I looked up to see 2 peregrines (looked like a pair - one seemed slightly larger than the other so presume f and m) and they were being harassed by a large (presume f) single bird that was making the noise. I assume that the pair were passing through the single birds's 'territory' and it was trying to force them away. They came from the direction of Irlam Moss 1/2 mile to the north (regular Peregrine haunt in winter) and headed south still making the noise.
Never seen 3 Peregrines together anywhere before!!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 8th of January 2011 05:10:31 PM
Seeing a Buzzard on the same lamp post practically every time I drive down the A627m recently, at the Oldham end.
Little egret seen flying low NW over my Swinton garden at 10.40 this morning. First garden record.
Steve
Treecreeper in Ramsbottom also today....wallcreeping
-- Edited by Lee Griffiths on Tuesday 21st of December 2010 12:05:48 AM
Also during the weekend I noticed that the local Starlings are roosting at night in my neighbours roof space, 15 birds entered at the same point between 3.15 and 4.40pm on Saturday and 24 birds on Sunday afternoon.
The Blue tit is still sleeping in my bird box with the camera installed and on Saturday afternoon while watching the Starlings I noticed a Wren sneak into one of the Roosting pockets that I put into a couple of the conifers in my garden. About 30 mins later it was joined by another Wren. Last year a Goldcrest used the same pocket for a couple of weeks, its a pity that I put it too high in the tree as I can't see into it.
A sight & sound which cheered me up while trying to shift 4 inches of snow off my car!
Also flock of 100+ BH Gulls following ship canal west presumably dispersing from overnight roosts.
It should hopefully get out at some point but was flying all around the place landing on lights and TV screens etc.
Although I saw the funny side, I am also concerned about the bird's welfare so will keep an eye on things.
Hopefully all should be OK though!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 13th of December 2010 07:27:48 PM
Spectator at some family martial art grading took quick opportunity to have a mooch artound the carpark and in 15 mins
Treecreeper GS Woody Nuthatch, (Heard another) Great Coal Blue tits and a chaffinch
Rick.
No Carrington Moss special by cycle light this week !!!!!
I didn't realise Woodies eat acorns, slugs and snails as well!
Cheers
4 Woodpigeons again in hawthorns on roadside over Warburton bridge eating berries again
Also a flock of 200+ 'Starling sized and shaped birds' heading NW. They formed a lose flock - not tight like Starlings do and slightly undulating rather than straight like Starlings. I couldn't make out any colour due to silouetted against sky (except 1 bird that seemed to be brownish) even though they were quite low but shape could only be either Starlings or Waxwings! But they just didn't 'feel' like Starlings. Ive seen fly-past Waxwing flocks and this flock certainly had the same 'jizz'! Will have to go down as 'possible'!
And a grey wagtail just landed on the roof opposite my back garden- garden tick
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Wednesday 8th of December 2010 11:19:26 AM
keep Birding
I've had a look at the A to Z again.There is a brook crossing Gatley Road about midway between Kingsway and Wilmslow Road.Is that where you mean?
Keep Birding