Forgot to mention a Herring Gull landed 3 times and ate from a discarded takeaway off a side street off Derby Street Bolton 3 weeks ago.
Also I noticed a number of blackbirds 2 days before Xmas in Oldham when its snowed in terraced areas where you dont normally get them.
Luke Brown said
Fri Mar 19 4:32 PM, 2010
2 rooks over rusholme sending pigeons into a frenzy
Matt Potter said
Wed Mar 17 9:42 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Woodcock again tonight doing a circuit of the pitch in the floodlights at Leigh RUFC, Pennington
Did it fly half way round or take a direct line out?
I will get me coat!
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 17 9:34 PM, 2010
Woodcock again tonight doing a circuit of the pitch in the floodlights at Leigh RUFC, Pennington
Paul Heaton said
Sun Mar 14 9:14 PM, 2010
Male Merlin Boothstown/Worsley today Down Vicars hall lane, nice points, 40 plus Fieldfare as well.
Eccles Worsley road, fledgling Collared dove fell out of nest, taken in for care, adult bird still sat on nest perhaps has another chick
Jon Stevenson said
Wed Mar 10 9:52 PM, 2010
Single large swan flying over Harborough Road area of Ashton on Mersey in a NW direction at 6:10pm today. Only seen through the kitchen window, so I couldn't make out the bill, but a very vocal bird, so I'm claiming this as a Whooper - I'd love someone to confirm the sighting though.
Paul Heaton said
Wed Mar 10 9:39 PM, 2010
A number of Tawny owls very vocal tonight in Sale, 2 on Glebelands road near Ashton park close to the allotments.
One in my back garden now,
Keep Birding.
Sarfraz Hayat said
Tue Mar 9 12:55 AM, 2010
it was dark not light as in BO and fairly large although not EO large.
Judith Smith said
Mon Mar 8 10:38 AM, 2010
Almost certainly if dark coloured (unless an escapee).
Sarfraz Hayat said
Mon Mar 8 10:13 AM, 2010
Owl noted flying aropund road out of Terminal 2 at about 8pm Thursday. Would it be a Tawny most likely?
Sean Sweeney said
Sun Mar 7 9:06 PM, 2010
Several Siskin overhead, a lone Raven and a pair of Sparrowhawk displaying in this morning while I was warming up for Sunday League Football. Our pitch is just to the north end of Bolton Golf Course. Had a Roe Deer there two weeks ago too!!
Luke Brown said
Sun Mar 7 8:54 PM, 2010
1 Nuthatch & 1 Coal Tit in Woodstock car park & gardens opposite on Barlow Moor Road, West Didsbury.
stuartherring said
Sun Mar 7 8:38 PM, 2010
woodcock flew across A 627M at stakehill 1.30 pm today towards tandle hills
-- Edited by stuartherring on Sunday 7th of March 2010 08:38:46 PM
Dave Tennant said
Sat Mar 6 7:25 PM, 2010
been there for at least 3 years , was spotted nesting 2 years ago.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 6 6:35 PM, 2010
6 Buzzards over the old Billinge Hospital site at 11:30am today.
Infor thanks to Peter Alker
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of March 2010 06:37:03 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 6 4:07 PM, 2010
Mike Chorley wrote:
Matt Potter wrote:
Mike Chorley wrote:
Matt Potter wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch....
.....before taking a direct line out of the area
Thats amauling Mike!!
I must admit I was winging it
Time to kick this one in to touch methinks!
Pete Welch said
Sat Mar 6 3:48 PM, 2010
Very unusual brown crow in field between M61 junction and Reebok stadium - uneven chocolate brown and pale cream wings - I know its not unknown to get odd coloured crows but it was new for me - I'll send Ian some shots if they've come out and confirm it was a crow and not a rook. Has anyone else seen it?
Mike Chorley said
Wed Mar 3 9:18 PM, 2010
Matt Potter wrote:
Mike Chorley wrote:
Matt Potter wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch....
.....before taking a direct line out of the area
Thats amauling Mike!!
I must admit I was winging it
Matt Potter said
Tue Mar 2 9:58 PM, 2010
Mike Chorley wrote:
Matt Potter wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch....
.....before taking a direct line out of the area
Thats amauling Mike!!
Phil Owen said
Tue Mar 2 9:52 PM, 2010
Good "try" Mike!!!
Mike Chorley said
Tue Mar 2 9:46 PM, 2010
Matt Potter wrote:
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch....
.....before taking a direct line out of the area
Matt Potter said
Tue Mar 2 9:40 PM, 2010
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch.... -- Edited by Matt Potter on Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 09:56:21 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Mar 2 9:35 PM, 2010
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
fred fouracre said
Tue Mar 2 4:26 PM, 2010
i was in manchester this morning and walked down to the irwell at the bottom of great ducie street close to the men.on the river were 4 tufted duck and 1 goldeneye.on the waters edge were 2 grey wagtails.in the trees by the river were lots of goldfinches,greenfinches,blue,great and longtailed tits,crows magpies,dunnocks,robins and wood pigeons.all this against a backdrop of boarded up warehouses and run down factories.there were abandoned couches and matresses along with hundreds of bin liners containing who knows what.leaning on the fence looking out on the river was lovely on a fine spring morning.do a 180 and your looking at absolute squalour.a very strange contrast.
Phil Owen said
Tue Mar 2 12:09 AM, 2010
Waders are known to fly at night Debs, I've had Oystercatchers calling at night over where I live in Wythenshawe.
Debs Wallace said
Mon Mar 1 10:41 PM, 2010
10.35pm Curlew heard flying over my garden in Northern Moor (I didn't expect that at all). Do they normally fly and call at night?
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Feb 27 1:21 AM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Late news for Wednesday the 24th February:
A Woodcock flew low (around 20 feet) across the floodlit first-team pitch at Leigh Rugby Union club, Hand Lane, Pennington at approximately 6:10pm. It came from the direction of the estate and dropped into the trees and bushes in between the all-weather pitch and second-team pitch. Made me loose my train of thought for a second whilst coaching too...
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
Dennis atherton said
Fri Feb 26 10:10 PM, 2010
Two Tawny owls calling to each other just now 10pm somewhere near bradley fold trading estate, superb, almost spooky sounding, great stuff............
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Feb 26 3:37 PM, 2010
Late news for Wednesday the 24th February:
A Woodcock flew low (around 20 feet) across the floodlit first-team pitch at Leigh Rugby Union club, Hand Lane, Pennington at approximately 6:10pm. It came from the direction of the estate and dropped into the trees and bushes in between the all-weather pitch and second-team pitch. Made me loose my train of thought for a second whilst coaching too...
gary mills said
Thu Feb 25 8:59 PM, 2010
Buzzard unsuccessfully attempting to drop on prey by the M60 between Ashton and Oldham.(18/2) 2 Buzzards soaring near to Middlewood, Worsley (19/2) A pair of GSW mating in a tree on Worsley Golf Course (19/2) A female Blackbird nest building in my back garden in Swinton (21/2) A Green Woodpecker flying over the canal towards 'Loves farm', Worsley followed by the distinctive 'Yaffle'.(24/2) 2 Tawny Owls calling to each other this evening on Worsley Golf Course. One was seen to fly across open space towards the other clearly carrying a prey item which resulted in a lot of noise and wing flapping before they seperated and flew off in different directions.
Melanie Beckford said
Thu Feb 25 8:22 PM, 2010
Two very vocal Goldcrest were squabbling and chasing each other outside the house where l work today. They flew out of the conifer and into the bushes on 'our' drive and stopped for a breather, whilst l gawped at them
Paul Heaton said
Thu Feb 25 8:14 PM, 2010
Raven over Church lane Ashton on Mersey those morning heading over St Martins Church.
Keep birding
Dean Macdonald said
Mon Feb 22 9:34 PM, 2010
Pair of Ravens over Bolton town centre at 12.45 today.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Feb 22 7:43 PM, 2010
Driving along the M62 between Irlam moss this morning produced 4 Buzzards, a Woodcock flying over and a Little owl bobbing about while perched on a fence post watching the cars go past.
Phil Owen said
Mon Feb 22 6:15 PM, 2010
5 Rooks seen at Wythenshawe Civic Centre this afternoon was unusual.
They were challenging the Black-Headed Gulls, Crows and Starlings for scraps.
stuartherring said
Sun Feb 21 5:48 PM, 2010
lone mute swan on salmon fields lake oldham 3.30 pm sun 21/02/10
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Feb 20 7:29 PM, 2010
Around 1800 Starlings headed due west from 5-5:15pm over Astley, headed towards Leigh in two large flocks of c1200 and 600.
Dennis atherton said
Fri Feb 19 6:10 PM, 2010
owl hooting this morning around bradley fold trading estate at around sixish
Paul Heaton said
Fri Feb 19 5:19 PM, 2010
Buzzard over Barton Bridge today 11ish.
Keep birding
Dave Thacker said
Wed Feb 17 8:02 PM, 2010
Driving along the M62 yesterday inbetween the mosses turned up 7 Buzzards. Two were sat on the fence posts beside the motorway and the other 5 were in the air together over Irlam moss.
Bill Myerscough said
Tue Feb 16 7:14 PM, 2010
A short stroll around a snow covered Alexandra Park in Oldham this morning.
I usually visit this park about once or twice a year to see what is about. For those who remember Alexandra Park from not that long ago when it was quite run down and not a particularly safe place to visit - what a transformation in recent years! It really now must be one of the best tended urban parks in GM?
Not brilliant for birds - but today:- 17 Tufted Duck, 1 male Teal, c60 Mallard on the ponds. Also on and around the ponds - 26 Canada Geese, 1 feral Barnacle Goose which has been here since at least 13/5/08 to my knowledge. Today it seemed to have a "partner", in that it went around with an Embden Goose. About c230 Black-headed Gulls all lolling about except when someone arrived with bread when they all went into a squabbling, heaving mass. c15 Common Gulls with them were much more laid back and far too dignifed to be seen fighting over bread!
2 Chaffinch singing, 7 Robins singing, 1 Song Thrush singing. 1 Coal Tit amongst the Blue, Great and Long-tailed. 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jay and 2 Pied Wagtails.
Finally I watched a pair of Magpies around a nest that they had almost fully completed. One of the birds flew away and the other landed on a branch maybe only a yard or so away from the built nest and it appeared to align its tail along the length of the branch and rapidly "wiggle" its rear end. This behaviour to my eyes recalled that of a domestic cat "spraying" a bush in a garden to mark its territory! I know birds don't produce urine but I wondered if this was some sort of marking of their nesting site? - although I have been unable to find any mention of this type of behaviour anywhere. Probably just made a complete fool of myself by even mentioning it!!
Cheers,
Bill.
Dave Thacker said
Fri Feb 12 7:08 PM, 2010
A Peregrine seen soaring over Worsley road in Swinton [ above the White Horse pub] at 16.15 this afternoon. It headed towards the golf course.
Matt Potter said
Tue Feb 9 6:58 PM, 2010
A very large Gull flock, in the hundreds, in fields at the side of the M62, eastbound carriageway bteween junction 18 and Birch Services, at lunchtime today. Couldnt do a count and specific species list at 70mph but obvious birds were Common Gulls, LBB and GBB.
Jimmy Meadows said
Tue Feb 9 6:19 PM, 2010
18 Jackdaws coming out of St Wilfreds Church Tower Standish this afternoon
Cheers Jimmy
Matt Potter said
Mon Feb 8 11:06 AM, 2010
2 Ravens calling over ASDA at Eastlands yesterday.
Plus a huge flock of 200 hundred or so mixed Gull flock at the junction of the M627 and M62 today.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Feb 7 11:25 PM, 2010
Sunday 07 February 2010
A Woodcock flew over Hall Lane near Pennington Green, Hindley, at 17:45ish.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Feb 7 8:51 PM, 2010
6th February 20:10 at aprox 12.15am
I was stood on Longford Bridge (Chester Road Bridge A56) at Gorsehill, Stretford with my family looking towards Stretford Marina ( where the old Kendal Club used to be) and my eldest daughter spotted what she thought was a very large coot. It was on the bit of canal where we often see several pairs of Canada Geese that sleep on the lawn of a block of flats. We watched the cormarant swiming and diving for about 5 minutes or so before it took off in the direction of the marina, it was flying only a few feet above the water so it may well have landed further up that stretch which eventually leads up to Waters Meeting where the canal divides and branches off to the right by Manchester Utd and eventually upto Castlefield in the city centre and the left branch goes through Trafford Park and I think eventually ends up in Worsley.
Caroline
Chris Harper said
Fri Feb 5 8:17 PM, 2010
Yep, had a quick look myself. Plenty of Starlings, not a Rowan berry in sight. Maybe next year? Chris H
Craig Higson said
Fri Feb 5 6:28 PM, 2010
Barn Owl in fields just off Kenyon lane at Lowton today. Just inside GM I believe
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 5th of February 2010 10:13:19 PM
Chris Greene said
Fri Feb 5 1:23 PM, 2010
Hi Chris,I'm new to this site,but I had a quick look around Henry Street/Rayner Street area this morning and there was no sign of any waxwings,plenty of totally stripped rowan trees though.Still keep looking eh,cheers Chris
Also I noticed a number of blackbirds 2 days before Xmas in Oldham when its snowed in terraced areas where you dont normally get them.
Did it fly half way round or take a direct line out?
I will get me coat!
Eccles Worsley road, fledgling Collared dove fell out of nest, taken in for care, adult bird still sat on nest perhaps has another chick
One in my back garden now,
Keep Birding.
and fairly large although not EO large.
Owl noted flying aropund road out of Terminal 2 at about 8pm Thursday. Would it be a Tawny most likely?
-- Edited by stuartherring on Sunday 7th of March 2010 08:38:46 PM
Infor thanks to Peter Alker
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 6th of March 2010 06:37:03 PM
Time to kick this one in to touch methinks!
I must admit I was winging it
Thats amauling Mike!!
.....before taking a direct line out of the area
And then proceeded to fly half way across the pitch....
-- Edited by Matt Potter on Tuesday 2nd of March 2010 09:56:21 PM
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
PS - thought this deserved at least a groan, if not a string of rugby related puns....
Perhaps came off one of the rucks? :)
A Woodcock flew low (around 20 feet) across the floodlit first-team pitch at Leigh Rugby Union club, Hand Lane, Pennington at approximately 6:10pm. It came from the direction of the estate and dropped into the trees and bushes in between the all-weather pitch and second-team pitch. Made me loose my train of thought for a second whilst coaching too...
2 Buzzards soaring near to Middlewood, Worsley (19/2)
A pair of GSW mating in a tree on Worsley Golf Course (19/2)
A female Blackbird nest building in my back garden in Swinton (21/2)
A Green Woodpecker flying over the canal towards 'Loves farm', Worsley followed by the distinctive 'Yaffle'.(24/2)
2 Tawny Owls calling to each other this evening on Worsley Golf Course. One was seen to fly across open space towards the other clearly carrying a prey item which resulted in a lot of noise and wing flapping before they seperated and flew off in different directions.
They flew out of the conifer and into the bushes on 'our' drive and stopped for a breather, whilst l gawped at them
Keep birding
Pair of Ravens over Bolton town centre at 12.45 today.
They were challenging the Black-Headed Gulls, Crows and Starlings for scraps.
Keep birding
I usually visit this park about once or twice a year to see what is about. For those who remember Alexandra Park from not that long ago when it was quite run down and not a particularly safe place to visit - what a transformation in recent years! It really now must be one of the best tended urban parks in GM?
Not brilliant for birds - but today:-
17 Tufted Duck, 1 male Teal, c60 Mallard on the ponds. Also on and around the ponds - 26 Canada Geese, 1 feral Barnacle Goose which has been here since at least 13/5/08 to my knowledge. Today it seemed to have a "partner", in that it went around with an Embden Goose. About c230 Black-headed Gulls all lolling about except when someone arrived with bread when they all went into a squabbling, heaving mass. c15 Common Gulls with them were much more laid back and far too dignifed to be seen fighting over bread!
2 Chaffinch singing, 7 Robins singing, 1 Song Thrush singing. 1 Coal Tit amongst the Blue, Great and Long-tailed. 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Jay and 2 Pied Wagtails.
Finally I watched a pair of Magpies around a nest that they had almost fully completed. One of the birds flew away and the other landed on a branch maybe only a yard or so away from the built nest and it appeared to align its tail along the length of the branch and rapidly "wiggle" its rear end. This behaviour to my eyes recalled that of a domestic cat "spraying" a bush in a garden to mark its territory! I know birds don't produce urine but I wondered if this was some sort of marking of their nesting site? - although I have been unable to find any mention of this type of behaviour anywhere. Probably just made a complete fool of myself by even mentioning it!!
Cheers,
Bill.
Cheers Jimmy
Plus a huge flock of 200 hundred or so mixed Gull flock at the junction of the M627 and M62 today.
A Woodcock flew over Hall Lane near Pennington Green, Hindley, at 17:45ish.
I was stood on Longford Bridge (Chester Road Bridge A56) at Gorsehill, Stretford with my family looking towards Stretford Marina ( where the old Kendal Club used to be) and my eldest daughter spotted what she thought was a very large coot. It was on the bit of canal where we often see several pairs of Canada Geese that sleep on the lawn of a block of flats. We watched the cormarant swiming and diving for about 5 minutes or so before it took off in the direction of the marina, it was flying only a few feet above the water so it may well have landed further up that stretch which eventually leads up to Waters Meeting where the canal divides and branches off to the right by Manchester Utd and eventually upto Castlefield in the city centre and the left branch goes through Trafford Park and I think eventually ends up in Worsley.
Caroline
Maybe next year?
Chris H
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Friday 5th of February 2010 10:13:19 PM