Hi Rob ... looking at the outside decoration think the nest is Chaffinch (but possible Goldfinch ?) .... have you not got a pic of the eggshell ?? Goldfinch egg is more white with brown speckling ... Chaffinch egg is an off cream, greenish tinge colour with more chocolate brown blotches / squiggles. Hope this helps.
Roger.
Rob Creek said
Sat May 15 1:43 PM, 2021
Greenbank Park, Levenshulme.
- 2 singing Blackcap on main park - 3 Mallard sat on grass near kids playground (unusual location) - small party of Long-tailed Tits - 1 Song Thrush ...and the remains of small birds nest with a bit of eggshell in it, not sure of possible species?
Single Wheatear on the soil/ clay heaps in Leigh cemetery, first record here for me.
Also: Great Spotted woodpecker several: Great, Blue & Long tailed tits several: Robins & Blackbirds Mistle Thrush Chiff Chaff Blackcap Dunnock Nuthatch Stock dove Wood pigeon Common Whitethroat
Rob Thorpe said
Sun May 2 7:46 PM, 2021
Saw the backsides of 39+ Snow Geese disappearing north-east over Crankwood at 08:06 this morning. Just managed to get a quick record shot at full zoom of what I'd initially assumed were Whooper Swans, only on checking the photo after seeing a tweet about a skein of 42 Snow Geese seen over Yorkshire this morning, I can see my birds are definitely Snow Geese, and no doubt the same skein reported heading east over Fairburn Ings at 09:55, then Wheldrake Ings at 10:25, and then south over Alkborough Flats around 11:05. Seems odd for what I'd presume is a feral flock to cross the country like that?
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 07:51:21 PM
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 09:04:29 PM
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Manor Rd and into a tree on the park but didnt stay long - 1 Blackcap singing in copse near basketball court - 1 Chiffchaff singing in same area - 1 Coal Tit - 1 Chaffinch
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 27 10:04 PM, 2021
An Osprey flew low NE at 8:30 over Westhoughton.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Karen Foulkes said
Tue Apr 27 9:42 PM, 2021
A Buzzard was being mobbed over woodland by several Corvids, near the Rochdale junction on the Bury tramline this afternoon.
Rob Creek said
Thu Apr 15 3:26 PM, 2021
Chiffchaff singing, coming from Greenbank Park, Levenshulme, whilst I was driving on Mount Rd this morning.
Then both Blackcap & Chiffchaff singing in car park area of B&Ms in Burnage late morning.
Rob Creek said
Fri Apr 9 10:09 PM, 2021
Friday 9th April
Greenbank Fields, Levenshulme.
- Blackcap singing in one of the gardens bordering the fields near the basketball court late morning and then again early evening - 1 Swallow through early evening - 10+ Goldfinch - 1 m Greenfinch
Rob Creek said
Thu Apr 8 7:40 PM, 2021
Thursday 8th April
Greenbank Playing Fields, Levenshulme (6.23pm).
- c25 Swallows in one group flying over south towards A6 / Fallowfield, silhouetted as they came racing over Mount Road and over the field. Thought they were Sand Martins but call suggested otherwise. Surprisingly difficult to tell at speed and not the best of light.
Rob Creek said
Thu Apr 8 7:33 AM, 2021
Weds 7th April Teatime walk with Lucas, Levenshulme.
- 9 Redwings over (calling) being tailed by a Sparrowhawk on Greenbank playing fields. - c70 visible Woodpigeons feeding on the overgrown Mellands sports field, possibly more hidden
Rob Creek said
Sun Apr 4 11:47 PM, 2021
Sunday 4th April
- 3 Sand Martin (1 then 2) south over Greenbank Park, Levenshulme, around 6.20pm
steven burke said
Fri Apr 2 7:42 PM, 2021
Chiffchaff & blackcap both singing whilst at firswood tram stop this morning.
Rob Creek said
Thu Apr 1 5:14 PM, 2021
At least 2 possibly 3 Chiffchaff singing in scrub at side of Reddish works yards this afternoon.
Rob Creek said
Sun Mar 28 6:51 PM, 2021
Saturday 27th March
On Greenbank Park, Levenshulme, early afternoon with Lucas when I could hear a bit of commotion above me.
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls calling, and not so much mobbing but paying attention to a slightly smaller bird, then I noticed 2 smaller birds trailing it and calling. A Sparrowhawk being followed by 2 Sand Martins. The Gulls flew off towards Greenbank playing fields, the Sparrowhawk and tailing Martins flew over Mount Rd towards the secret lake / Fallowfield loop area.
Rob Creek said
Thu Mar 25 11:19 AM, 2021
Tuesday 23rd March Teatime walk and playing football with Lucas on Greenbank playing fields in Levenshulme.
- c50 House Sparrows in bushes on one side of the field. Lots of squabbling, chirping, and chasing around. Lucas was mesmerised by them.
Karen Foulkes said
Tue Mar 23 7:26 PM, 2021
As I can't do everything connected with work at home, I've been in the office at Abraham Moss several times recently.
A pair of Carrion Crows have built their nest opposite the window from where I sit and I'm sure they've finished now.
Today though I was distracted as a kid from the primary school threw a ball at the window and as I looked up a Peregrine flew through the campus in the direction of the tramlines. A new species from the office.
Steven Heywood said
Wed Mar 17 9:05 PM, 2021
Two sand martins flying low over Liverpool Road, Irlam at 5pm.
Paul A Brown said
Mon Mar 1 11:31 AM, 2021
Chiffchaff singing on canal bank near Marsland Green this morning
Bryan Deighton said
Wed Feb 17 11:43 AM, 2021
Single Peregrine Falcon showing well on Bolton Parish Church this morning
Father in law has seen the pair regularly over the last couple of weeks on his walk home from work in the evening
Cheers
Bryan
phillipskelly said
Sun Feb 7 9:13 PM, 2021
This afternoon at Waters' Meet on the Bridgewater canal Stretford - 1 Kestrel hunting.
Rob Creek said
Sat Feb 6 1:09 PM, 2021
Brother phoned me yesterday afternoon.
5 smallish Waders with quite long bills flew up from the marshy area behind my Reddish works yard (he works opposite us). Likely to be Common Snipe I thought.
Mike c cooper said
Thu Feb 4 3:09 PM, 2021
Little Egret seen in fields behind Hopwood hall farm off Oaken bank road, Hopwood woods between Trub brook and North Manchester golf course
paul shaw said
Wed Feb 3 8:31 PM, 2021
I have been told about reports of a Little Egret at Hopwood Woods nature reserve in trub brook near to Hopwood Hall Farm, Middleton.
Bryan Deighton said
Mon Feb 1 10:27 PM, 2021
Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed a couple of large flocks of Jackdaws flying over my house next to Leverhulme Park in the afternoon early evening. They always tend to head in the general direction of moses gate.
Tonight as I got home from work there must have been well over 75 birds in a number of flocks of between 6 and 20 at a time that flew over between 4.30 and 5pm
Steven Heywood said
Wed Jan 20 6:32 PM, 2021
Here in Stretford, Lostock School's playing field usually has a couple of dozen black-headed gulls (sometimes as many as fifty) and an assortment of large gulls (it varies day to day, anything between two and two dozen, mostly herring gulls) loafing about or stamping for worms. Today there's been literally none. I wonder if they've all moved over to the flooded fields over on the Mersey valley.
Bryan Deighton said
Wed Jan 13 9:34 PM, 2021
Had a juvenile Tawny Owl following me whilst I was running on the cycle path between Leverhulme Park and Manchester Rd, Bolton.
I don't know if it was attracted by my head torch but it definitely followed me. I heard it behind me and stopped but couldn't find it. Carried on running and I heard it behind me again. Stopped looked back and I saw it fly into the trees next to me and then just sat there watching me .
A real highlight for me
Thanks
Bryan
-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Thursday 14th of January 2021 07:49:46 AM
David Gornall said
Sat Jan 2 11:21 AM, 2021
Leigh Cemetery:
40+ Redwings 2 Mistle Thrush Charm of 15 Goldfinch 1 Female Sparrowhawk ( chasing a blackbird) 20+ Blackbirds ( around the cemetery) several Robins 2 Nuthatch 6 Magpies
Ian Yeomans said
Fri Dec 25 7:07 PM, 2020
Johnston-Hewlett playing fields, off Seymour Road, Clayton. 11-30am 35+ Common Gull 20 Black-Headed Gull 3 Herring Gull
-- Edited by Ian Yeomans on Friday 25th of December 2020 07:08:10 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Dec 1 4:12 PM, 2020
90+ Magpie gathering to roost in trees off Collyhurst Road, Collyhurst at 3:45pm today, with more arriving as I left.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Nov 29 9:29 PM, 2020
A pair of Raven flew south over the Urmston pub on Stretford Road, Urmston today around midday, heading in the Stretford Meadows direction
Peter Jones said
Thu Nov 19 5:13 PM, 2020
We do the Garden Bird Survey. Among other things, we also noticed that there have not been as many wood pigeons or greenfinches as before. Do not know why, but plenty of theories.....
Steven Heywood said
Wed Nov 18 11:51 AM, 2020
A negative rather than positive sighting: has anyone else noticed a dearth of woodpigeons lately? Over the past few weeks I've been lucky to spot a single one on any of my local patches and when I've walked further afield I've been seeing single numbers where I'd expect to see many dozens.
I noticed something similar with rooks in late Summer though their numbers seem to be picking back up again. I'm wondering if the change in weather patterns with a long hot Spring period is affecting food plants and insects on open fields.
steven burke said
Tue Nov 17 11:25 PM, 2020
Whilst walking the dog this evening at 10.40pm I could hear a tawny owl calling down Warwick road south, firswood, I then took a detour down the road & the tawny owl was then seen perched in an ash tree. The residents in the house directly opposite was also watching it. There was another tawny owl calling from the back of the houses at the same time. On the rest of my walk home, probably the same tawny owl was then seen on top of the chimney pots of a house on woodstock road, then flying onto another set of chimney pots & then on to some guttering. Possibly the most activity I have ever seen from a tawny owl
Rob Creek said
Sat Nov 7 8:07 AM, 2020
Rob Creek wrote:
- Peregrine circling near the works yard being followed by a large Gull at 8.35am
Reddish, Stockport.
Steven Heywood said
Sat Nov 7 12:04 AM, 2020
Chorlton Park 15:20 - 15:55
864 jackdaws flew overhead to roost on Hardy Farm and Chorlton Ees.
Rob Creek said
Thu Nov 5 8:43 AM, 2020
- Peregrine circling near the works yard being followed by a large Gull at 8.35am
Vicky Harper said
Sun Nov 1 12:25 PM, 2020
Today at 11:30
1 Rook on Audenshaw High School playing field
Rob Creek said
Sun Nov 1 12:56 AM, 2020
Saturday
2 groups of Redwings (7 + 10) over Greenbank Park, Levenshulme 2pm
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 1st of November 2020 12:56:49 AM
Mike Chorley said
Sun Oct 25 9:12 PM, 2020
Oldham Town Centre this afternoon. Male Peregrine being harassed by a Carrion Crow at rooftop level behind The Spindles.
Rob Creek said
Sun Oct 18 10:13 PM, 2020
A walk with Lucas on Greenbank Park and Playing fields, Levenshulme this morning was the unexpected start of a day of inadvertent local birding.
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over - 1 Common Gull feeding - 1 Grey Wagtail with 3 Pied Wagtails - 4 Redwings over - 2 Robins - 5 Blackbirds - 1 Mistle Thrush
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Oct 16 10:13 PM, 2020
A Grey Wagtail was feeding in a puddle on the primary school roof that the office window overlooks today at Abraham Moss.
Also a Feral Pigeon was flying around with what appeared to be ribbon attached to it between the High School and the Test and Trace Centre, visible from the Abraham Moss tram stop.
Dave Tennant said
Sun Oct 11 5:13 PM, 2020
Chiffchaff calling from hedgerow between Leyland farm and the new estate on Hilton lane Worsley . This was yesterday and Friday.
Steven Heywood said
Thu Oct 8 10:10 PM, 2020
As I waited for the bus by Barlow Moor Road tram stop 5:15pm - 5:35pm I counted 374 jackdaws flying over to roost over at Hardy Farm, mostly in flocks of six to a dozen but including a couple of forty-plus flocks.
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Sep 23 11:40 AM, 2020
Some sightings from Abraham Moss this week.
Jay seen from office window on Monday 13 Meadow Pipit west over tram stop around 4.50pm on Tuesday
Rob Creek said
Wed Sep 16 12:26 AM, 2020
Great Spotted Woodpecker low over Kirkmanshulme Lane near Belle Vue Dogs and landed in a bare tree near Gala Bingo early evening.
Rob Creek said
Tue Sep 15 11:18 PM, 2020
An odd few minutes spell this morning whilst loading up the wagon in our Reddish works yard, that set the day up nicely!
Seemed to be a lot of bird call and quite a few birds over in a short space of time, unfortunately my bins were in the car so I went mainly off the call for the first 2.
- 3 possibly 4 Meadow Pipit over, strange I thought... location wise! - 2 Lesser Redpoll over - 1 Grey Wagtail over - 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over - 1 Chiffchaff calling around rear edge of yard
Rob Creek said
Fri Sep 4 10:54 PM, 2020
- adult type Common Gull in Tesco Gorton car park at teatime.
First one Ive seen in a while, it was joining in eating the food thrown down by a taxi driver, also shed loads of Black-headed Gulls and Pigeons.
Green Woodpecker this morning, heard it last weekend but couldn't see it , today it just 'popped' up from between some gravestones!
Other sightings: Jays Jackdaws Magpies Kestrel x2 Great, Blue & Long tailed Tits Robins Goldfinches
Rob Creek said
Sat Aug 22 1:59 PM, 2020
A few evening walks last few days around Greenbank Park, Levenshulme and the playing fields.
Basically the usual suspects but amongst the more interesting stuff was... - 2 Raven last night near Sandfold Lane refuse site - 1 female Bullfinch - 1 Sparrowhawk - 1 Common Swift - 6 Swallows - 10+ House Martins - 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (reported on thread) - Long-tailed Tit 7 - 1 Coal Tit - 1 group of 23 Magpies incl juvs - House Sparrows in abundance too
Roger.
- 2 singing Blackcap on main park
- 3 Mallard sat on grass near kids playground (unusual location)
- small party of Long-tailed Tits
- 1 Song Thrush
...and the remains of small birds nest with a bit of eggshell in it, not sure of possible species?
Also:
Great Spotted woodpecker
several: Great, Blue & Long tailed tits
several: Robins & Blackbirds
Mistle Thrush
Chiff Chaff
Blackcap
Dunnock
Nuthatch
Stock dove
Wood pigeon
Common Whitethroat
Seems odd for what I'd presume is a feral flock to cross the country like that?
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 07:51:21 PM
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 2nd of May 2021 09:04:29 PM
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet flew over Manor Rd and into a tree on the park but didnt stay long
- 1 Blackcap singing in copse near basketball court
- 1 Chiffchaff singing in same area
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Chaffinch
An Osprey flew low NE at 8:30 over Westhoughton.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Then both Blackcap & Chiffchaff singing in car park area of B&Ms in Burnage late morning.
Greenbank Fields, Levenshulme.
- Blackcap singing in one of the gardens bordering the fields near the basketball court late morning and then again early evening
- 1 Swallow through early evening
- 10+ Goldfinch
- 1 m Greenfinch
Greenbank Playing Fields, Levenshulme (6.23pm).
- c25 Swallows in one group flying over south towards A6 / Fallowfield, silhouetted as they came racing over Mount Road and over the field. Thought they were Sand Martins but call suggested otherwise.
Surprisingly difficult to tell at speed and not the best of light.
Teatime walk with Lucas, Levenshulme.
- 9 Redwings over (calling) being tailed by a Sparrowhawk on Greenbank playing fields.
- c70 visible Woodpigeons feeding on the overgrown Mellands sports field, possibly more hidden
- 3 Sand Martin (1 then 2) south over Greenbank Park, Levenshulme, around 6.20pm
On Greenbank Park, Levenshulme, early afternoon with Lucas when I could hear a bit of commotion above me.
4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls calling, and not so much mobbing but paying attention to a slightly smaller bird, then I noticed 2 smaller birds trailing it and calling. A Sparrowhawk being followed by 2 Sand Martins.
The Gulls flew off towards Greenbank playing fields, the Sparrowhawk and tailing Martins flew over Mount Rd towards the secret lake / Fallowfield loop area.
Teatime walk and playing football with Lucas on Greenbank playing fields in Levenshulme.
- c50 House Sparrows in bushes on one side of the field.
Lots of squabbling, chirping, and chasing around. Lucas was mesmerised by them.
A pair of Carrion Crows have built their nest opposite the window from where I sit and I'm sure they've finished now.
Today though I was distracted as a kid from the primary school threw a ball at the window and as I looked up a Peregrine flew through the campus in the direction of the tramlines. A new species from the office.
Chiffchaff singing on canal bank near Marsland Green this morning
Single Peregrine Falcon showing well on Bolton Parish Church this morning
Father in law has seen the pair regularly over the last couple of weeks on his walk home from work in the evening
Cheers
Bryan
5 smallish Waders with quite long bills flew up from the marshy area behind my Reddish works yard (he works opposite us). Likely to be Common Snipe I thought.
Over the last couple of weeks I've noticed a couple of large flocks of Jackdaws flying over my house next to Leverhulme Park in the afternoon early evening. They always tend to head in the general direction of moses gate.
Tonight as I got home from work there must have been well over 75 birds in a number of flocks of between 6 and 20 at a time that flew over between 4.30 and 5pm
Here in Stretford, Lostock School's playing field usually has a couple of dozen black-headed gulls (sometimes as many as fifty) and an assortment of large gulls (it varies day to day, anything between two and two dozen, mostly herring gulls) loafing about or stamping for worms. Today there's been literally none. I wonder if they've all moved over to the flooded fields over on the Mersey valley.
Had a juvenile Tawny Owl following me whilst I was running on the cycle path between Leverhulme Park and Manchester Rd, Bolton.
I don't know if it was attracted by my head torch but it definitely followed me. I heard it behind me and stopped but couldn't find it. Carried on running and I heard it behind me again. Stopped looked back and I saw it fly into the trees next to me and then just sat there watching me .
A real highlight for me
Thanks
Bryan
-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Thursday 14th of January 2021 07:49:46 AM
40+ Redwings
2 Mistle Thrush
Charm of 15 Goldfinch
1 Female Sparrowhawk ( chasing a blackbird)
20+ Blackbirds ( around the cemetery)
several Robins
2 Nuthatch
6 Magpies
35+ Common Gull
20 Black-Headed Gull
3 Herring Gull
-- Edited by Ian Yeomans on Friday 25th of December 2020 07:08:10 PM
90+ Magpie gathering to roost in trees off Collyhurst Road, Collyhurst at 3:45pm today, with more arriving as I left.
We do the Garden Bird Survey. Among other things, we also noticed that there have not been as many wood pigeons or greenfinches as before. Do not know why, but plenty of theories.....
Reddish, Stockport.
Chorlton Park 15:20 - 15:55
864 jackdaws flew overhead to roost on Hardy Farm and Chorlton Ees.
1 Rook on Audenshaw High School playing field
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 1st of November 2020 12:56:49 AM
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over
- 1 Common Gull feeding
- 1 Grey Wagtail with 3 Pied Wagtails
- 4 Redwings over
- 2 Robins
- 5 Blackbirds
- 1 Mistle Thrush
Also a Feral Pigeon was flying around with what appeared to be ribbon attached to it between the High School and the Test and Trace Centre, visible from the Abraham Moss tram stop.
As I waited for the bus by Barlow Moor Road tram stop 5:15pm - 5:35pm I counted 374 jackdaws flying over to roost over at Hardy Farm, mostly in flocks of six to a dozen but including a couple of forty-plus flocks.
Jay seen from office window on Monday
13 Meadow Pipit west over tram stop around 4.50pm on Tuesday
Seemed to be a lot of bird call and quite a few birds over in a short space of time, unfortunately my bins were in the car so I went mainly off the call for the first 2.
- 3 possibly 4 Meadow Pipit over, strange I thought... location wise!
- 2 Lesser Redpoll over
- 1 Grey Wagtail over
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over
- 1 Chiffchaff calling around rear edge of yard
First one Ive seen in a while, it was joining in eating the food thrown down by a taxi driver, also shed loads of Black-headed Gulls and Pigeons.
Green Woodpecker this morning, heard it last weekend but couldn't see it , today it just 'popped' up from between some gravestones!
Other sightings:
Jays
Jackdaws
Magpies
Kestrel x2
Great, Blue & Long tailed Tits
Robins
Goldfinches
Basically the usual suspects but amongst the more interesting stuff was...
- 2 Raven last night near Sandfold Lane refuse site
- 1 female Bullfinch
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Common Swift
- 6 Swallows
- 10+ House Martins
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeet (reported on thread)
- Long-tailed Tit 7
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 group of 23 Magpies incl juvs
- House Sparrows in abundance too