1 Oystercatcher still in field by Oak Farm and 2 immaculate Lesser Black-backed Gulls feeding in the cattle field by the layby, otherwise fairly quiet.
Phil Owen said
Mon Apr 9 1:39 PM, 2012
10.30am-12.30pm in the rain round Sunbank Lane fields with Henry Cook:
4 Meadow Pipits (over) 2 Goosanders (over) 2 Sparrowhawks 1 Buzzard 1 Stock Dove 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Teals 1 Oystercatcher 1 Goldcrest 1 Willow Warbler Lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps around amongst others
Also, a Mallard with 4 Ducklings and a few Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (over)
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 9th of April 2012 01:41:53 PM
Henry Cook said
Sun Apr 8 7:15 PM, 2012
08/04/2012 - 9.30-11am, with Phil Owen. Some viz-mig in the drizzle:
2 Teals 1 Buzzard 4 Red-legged Partridges 1 Lapwing 1 Swallow - over W 1 Skylark - over W 8+ Meadow Pipits - over N and W 1 Blackcap 4 Chiffchaffs 6 Linnets - including a 1st summer Male
Phil Owen said
Sun Apr 8 2:56 AM, 2012
4.30pm-6.15pm walk round Sunbank Lane with Henry Cook:
1 Great-Black-backed Gull (2nd winter bird flew over) - 1st for the patch 5 Lesser-Black-backed Gulls (in company with above) 1 Stock Dove 1 Moorhen 1 Lapwing amongst the usuals
Phil Owen said
Sat Apr 7 10:45 AM, 2012
7.30am-9.00am round Sunbank Lane fields:
Fairly quiet this morning due to the breezy conditions:
Also, a steady passage of Meadow Pipits with a total of 31 birds counted heading NE during the time.
Tony Mossman said
Fri Apr 6 7:22 PM, 2012
Of limited use to those without an airside pass, 2 female wheatear on the grass by NA1 this afternoon the first of many no doubt!
Stuart Smith said
Fri Apr 6 1:45 AM, 2012
A lovely hour round the fields, coming up past Cotteril Clough.
2 Chiffchaff 1 Raven 1 Sparrowhawk, got to within a few foot of it - I think it had momentarily tangled itself in a bush after a failed swoop. 4 snipe 2 Yellowhamer 4 Crow 1 Stock Dove 2 Mistle Thrush
+ regulars
And then a big Bird of Prey flew over. Not a Buzzard, not a Raven, but a big one. Not sure what it was.
Phil Owen said
Wed Apr 4 5:00 AM, 2012
A walk around Sunbank Lane fields with Henry Cook 6.30pm-7.45pm.
1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Lapwing 7+ Meadow Pipits - over N 1 Treecreeper 2 Chiffchaffs 2 Linnets - first of the year, back on territory
Henry Cook said
Thu Mar 29 4:00 AM, 2012
28/03/2012 - 1 Snipe at dusk off Sunbank Lane.
Phil Owen said
Wed Mar 28 5:38 AM, 2012
Chiffchaff in Cotterill Clough during a walk round Sunbank Lane 6.40pm-7.45pm with Henry Cook this evening.
1 Kestrel and 1 Lapwing in the fields.
Phil Owen said
Tue Mar 27 3:04 AM, 2012
Nice walk round in the glorious March sunshine.
2 Grey Partridges again this evening by the layby on Sunbank Lane.
Also present 2 Lapwings and 2 Kestrels amongst the usuals.
Phil Owen said
Sat Mar 24 5:00 PM, 2012
2 Oystercatchers and 3 Lapwings this morning in the Sunbank Lane fields.
Phil Owen said
Sat Mar 24 2:49 PM, 2012
2 Red-legged Partridges in Sunbank Lane fields this afternoon during a very brief stop.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 24th of March 2012 02:49:52 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Mar 22 2:48 AM, 2012
Wednesday, 21st March.
Seen from the Viewing Park:
Kestrel 1m Wheatear 3 around area of taxiway alpha.
Phil Owen said
Wed Mar 21 2:21 AM, 2012
JasonAtkinson wrote:
Phil Owen wrote:
5.30pm quick visit with the dog:
2 Grey Partridges 2 Lapwings 2 Grey Wagtails 2 Treecreepers (in a copse by one of the fields) 1 Moorhen amongst others
Was there an Ark?
Cheers Jason
It did seem like it tonight Jase, the birds not the animals came in two by two.
No Ark and no Oyc for that matter either.
Whoops, must say Oystercatcher, I'll be getting in trouble off Ian for using abbreviated names!
JasonAtkinson said
Wed Mar 21 2:13 AM, 2012
Phil Owen wrote:
5.30pm quick visit with the dog:
2 Grey Partridges 2 Lapwings 2 Grey Wagtails 2 Treecreepers (in a copse by one of the fields) 1 Moorhen amongst others
Was there an Ark?
Cheers Jason
Phil Owen said
Wed Mar 21 1:51 AM, 2012
5.30pm quick visit with the dog:
2 Grey Partridges 2 Lapwings 2 Grey Wagtails 2 Treecreepers (in a copse by one of the fields) 1 Moorhen amongst others
Phil Owen said
Mon Mar 19 2:08 AM, 2012
5.00pm-6.00pm wander round the fields around Sunbank Lane:
5 Wheatears (3 Males, 2 Females) in field by Oak Farm 2 Lapwings 3 Pied Wagtails 2 Mallards amongst others
Charles Coutts said
Sun Mar 18 8:22 PM, 2012
6 Pheasant 1m,5f in field on Wilmslow Old Road at back of Hangars. 2 Bullfinch 2 Siskin near AVP Sparrowhawk on Monarch Hangar Oystercatcher heard not seen
Tony Mossman said
Thu Mar 8 5:35 PM, 2012
1730 hrs 3 oystercatchers flying around cargo terminal
-- Edited by Tony Mossman on Thursday 8th of March 2012 05:50:31 PM
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Mar 4 4:50 PM, 2012
Couple of hours round Sunbank lane / Cotteril Clough with Phil Owen
Not much of note apart from Pheasant and 30+ Redwing
and some yellow diggers :(
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Sunday 4th of March 2012 04:50:56 PM
Area E in their plan is the only bit of agricultural land in Manchester Borough.
Pretty depressing really - I though Cotterril Clough was an SSSI but it looks like they are developing right up to the edge of it
Indeed they are Tony I'm sorry to say. .
The diggers are already in the fields to do various tests on the land as myself and Henry Cook discovered this evening.
It will be interesting to see exactly what "mitigation measures" are planned for the obvious impact on the local wildlife this proposed further expansion of the Airport will have.
In the meantime, I have a contact at Cheshire Wildlife Trust which I will be speaking to regarding the situation with Cotterill Clough SSSI.
Area E in their plan is the only bit of agricultural land in Manchester Borough.
Pretty depressing really - I though Cotterril Clough was an SSSI but it looks like they are developing right up to the edge of it
Henry Cook said
Fri Mar 2 3:19 AM, 2012
01/03/2012 - 2 Red-legged Partidges this evening off Sunbank Lane.
Looks like Ringway might not exist as a patch of open, green countryside for much longer; land-grabbed as part of the Manchester Airport enterprise zone. At least the presence of several protected species should hold things up.
Henry Cook said
Tue Feb 21 3:01 AM, 2012
Looks like Goosander may be a fairly regular fly-over at this site. Presumably they are making their way along the Bollin and then veer off (over Ringway) where it turns south-eastwards into Cheshire.
Phil Owen said
Tue Feb 21 2:12 AM, 2012
A quick walk round this afternoon:
1 Sparrowhawk (f) put up the 100+ Redwing Flock 4 Buzzards 1 Treecreeper 1 Pied Wagtail 2 Mistle Thrushes 1 Moorhen 2 Goosanders (over) 1 Black headed Gull feeding with the Corvids amongst others
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Feb 20 1:45 AM, 2012
Couple of hours with Phil Owen this afternoon
Birds of note
9 Teal 3 Buzzards 1 Kestrel 2 Common Gull on the fields (normally all gulls just fly over) 6 Rooks 100+ Redwing Good numbers of Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits 1 Coal Tit 1 singing male Reed Bunting
Phil Owen said
Thu Feb 16 10:50 PM, 2012
Quick afternoon visit to Sunbank Lane:
2 Grey Partridges (Good views in field next to layby, nice to see them around again)
Otherwise generally quiet in the wind with 1 Stock Dove and 1 Coal Tit in the hedgerows the only other birds worthy of note.
Phil Owen said
Thu Feb 16 1:33 AM, 2012
Quick morning visit to check the fields of Sunbank Lane:
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:55:04 PM
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:58:11 PM
Phil Owen said
Thu Feb 9 8:54 PM, 2012
9.45am-Noon round Sunbank Lane and Sunbank Wood before the rain:
1 Common Snipe 6 Lapwings 22 Golden Plover 2 Teal 2 Mallard 3 Goosanders 3 Fieldfares 4 Pheasants (1 M, 3 F) 12 Siskins 1 Treecreeper 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (one drumming) 2 Goldcrests 2 Jays 2 Nuthatches 1 Coal Tit amongst the usuals
1 Fox on opposite side of the River.
Henry Cook said
Thu Feb 9 2:19 AM, 2012
08/02/2012 - 1.30-3pm, covered the fields off Sunbank Lane and into Sunbank Wood with Phil Owen:
3 Mallards 7 Teals 3 Buzzards - kettling high up on thermals (?!) over Cotterill Clough 4 Lapwings 5 Mistle Thrushes 60+ Redwings 6 Fieldfares 1 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch 45 Rooks 1 Redpoll sp
Henry Cook said
Tue Feb 7 1:42 AM, 2012
06/02/2012 - 12.00-2.45pm around the Ringway fields with Phil Owen. Thick fog burnt off eventually allowing for some decent birding. About 40 species seen:
Woodcock - feeding in hedge near road then moving up towards lone Oak tree.
6 Fieldfare Treecreeper 8 Rooks
Phil Owen said
Sat Feb 4 1:54 AM, 2012
Nice to find a flock of 22 Golden Plover in the Sunbank Lane fields during a very brief stop there this afternoon.
Phil Owen said
Wed Feb 1 12:45 AM, 2012
Sunbank Lane 3pm-3.30pm in bitterly cold conditions:
5 Golden Plover (flew over) 1 Goldcrest 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 2 Mistle Thrushes Usual Rooks and Jackdaws on the fields amongst others
Tony Coatsworth said
Sat Jan 21 11:15 AM, 2012
Sunbank Lane - very windy 9:30 - 10:30
2 Moorhen 1 Buzzard 6 Redwing 10+Rooks Greenfinch
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 21st of January 2012 11:15:49 AM
Phil Owen said
Fri Jan 20 1:01 AM, 2012
1.15pm-2.45pm around Sunbank Lane area and Sunbank Wood with Henry Cook:
4 Buzzards 1 Kestrel 1 Coal Tit 1 Treecreeper 8 Teal Large flock of Redwings on the field near Sunbank Wood Quite a few Rooks around today too
Sarfraz Hayat said
Mon Jan 9 11:07 PM, 2012
Song Thrush singing at 9.15pm and 10.45 pm Sunday 8 June around the Terminal 2 car park. Must have been singing throughout the period. Our very own Nightingale.
Phil Owen said
Mon Dec 12 4:20 PM, 2011
2.15pm-3.15pm round the Sunbank Lane area with Henry Cook:
Pink Feet Geese 50+ at about 0930. Initially heading West, then breaking up into smaller groups after being affected by a plane on take-off. Most seem to then head East.
Goosander 2 flying South. Common Gull 1
Henry Cook said
Fri Nov 11 10:19 PM, 2011
A Robin was singing at 11pm by Terminal 3 last night (10/11/2011). It's song wasn't the usual autumn/winter song but had a strong Blackcap quality to it, very warbling.
Tony Mossman said
Fri Nov 11 9:43 PM, 2011
Rob, yes Isabelline crossed my mind, no binoculars at the time but 99% sure it was northern, might go hunting for it on sunday just to make sure!!!
Rob Smallwood said
Fri Nov 11 1:02 PM, 2011
Hope you scrutinised the Wheatear closely - Desert, Pied & Isabelline have outnumbered European recently!
Tony Mossman said
Thu Nov 10 1:18 PM, 2011
Wheatear today airside on remote stands opposite cargo centre, latest i have ever seen. Also two meadow pipits and a common gull.
1 Oystercatcher still in field by Oak Farm and 2 immaculate Lesser Black-backed Gulls feeding in the cattle field by the layby, otherwise fairly quiet.
4 Meadow Pipits (over)
2 Goosanders (over)
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Buzzard
1 Stock Dove
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Teals
1 Oystercatcher
1 Goldcrest
1 Willow Warbler
Lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps around
amongst others
Also, a Mallard with 4 Ducklings and a few Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (over)
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 9th of April 2012 01:41:53 PM
2 Teals
1 Buzzard
4 Red-legged Partridges
1 Lapwing
1 Swallow - over W
1 Skylark - over W
8+ Meadow Pipits - over N and W
1 Blackcap
4 Chiffchaffs
6 Linnets - including a 1st summer Male
1 Great-Black-backed Gull (2nd winter bird flew over) - 1st for the patch
5 Lesser-Black-backed Gulls (in company with above)
1 Stock Dove
1 Moorhen
1 Lapwing
amongst the usuals
Fairly quiet this morning due to the breezy conditions:
1 Oystercatcher
1 Lapwing
3 Teal
1 Reed Bunting (M)
1 Cormorant (over)
20 Fieldfares (over)
13 Meadow Pipits (over)
1 Redwing (over)
Lots of Chiffchaffs and 2 Blackcaps
amongst others
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 7th of April 2012 08:02:14 PM
2 Oystercatcher over viewing park
Skylark over runways
Chiffchaff bathing in a puddle
Sunbank Lane
at least 3 Buzzard
Kestrel
1 Oystercatcher - possibly one of the above
female Wheatear
plenty of Chaffinch
1 Willow Warbler
2 Blackcaps
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Wheatear (f)
4 Red-legged Partridges
2 Pheasants
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Oystercatchers
1 Lapwing
4 Teal
5 Mallards
1 Moorhen
2 Canada Geese (over)
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
1 Goldcrest
amongst others
Also, a steady passage of Meadow Pipits with a total of 31 birds counted heading NE during the time.
2 Chiffchaff
1 Raven
1 Sparrowhawk, got to within a few foot of it - I think it had momentarily tangled itself in a bush after a failed swoop.
4 snipe
2 Yellowhamer
4 Crow
1 Stock Dove
2 Mistle Thrush
+ regulars
And then a big Bird of Prey flew over. Not a Buzzard, not a Raven, but a big one. Not sure what it was.
Chilly and windy tonight with not as much around:
3 Lapwings
3 Mallards
2 Goldcrests
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant (f)
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
amongst others
1 Snipe
3 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
Several Chiffchaff
2 male Blackcap singing
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
7+ Meadow Pipits - over N
1 Treecreeper
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Linnets - first of the year, back on territory
1 Kestrel and 1 Lapwing in the fields.
2 Grey Partridges again this evening by the layby on Sunbank Lane.
Also present 2 Lapwings and 2 Kestrels amongst the usuals.
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 24th of March 2012 02:49:52 PM
Seen from the Viewing Park:
Kestrel 1m
Wheatear 3 around area of taxiway alpha.
It did seem like it tonight Jase, the birds not the animals came in two by two.
No Ark and no Oyc for that matter either.
Whoops, must say Oystercatcher, I'll be getting in trouble off Ian for using abbreviated names!
Was there an Ark?
Cheers
Jason
2 Grey Partridges
2 Lapwings
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Treecreepers (in a copse by one of the fields)
1 Moorhen
amongst others
5 Wheatears (3 Males, 2 Females) in field by Oak Farm
2 Lapwings
3 Pied Wagtails
2 Mallards
amongst others
2 Bullfinch
2 Siskin near AVP
Sparrowhawk on Monarch Hangar
Oystercatcher heard not seen
-- Edited by Tony Mossman on Thursday 8th of March 2012 05:50:31 PM
Not much of note apart from Pheasant and 30+ Redwing
and some yellow diggers :(
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Sunday 4th of March 2012 04:50:56 PM
Indeed they are Tony I'm sorry to say. .
The diggers are already in the fields to do various tests on the land as myself and Henry Cook discovered this evening.
It will be interesting to see exactly what "mitigation measures" are planned for the obvious impact on the local wildlife this proposed further expansion of the Airport will have.
In the meantime, I have a contact at Cheshire Wildlife Trust which I will be speaking to regarding the situation with Cotterill Clough SSSI.
Area E in their plan is the only bit of agricultural land in Manchester Borough.
Pretty depressing really - I though Cotterril Clough was an SSSI but it looks like they are developing right up to the edge of it
Looks like Ringway might not exist as a patch of open, green countryside for much longer; land-grabbed as part of the Manchester Airport enterprise zone. At least the presence of several protected species should hold things up.
1 Sparrowhawk (f) put up the 100+ Redwing Flock
4 Buzzards
1 Treecreeper
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Moorhen
2 Goosanders (over)
1 Black headed Gull feeding with the Corvids
amongst others
Birds of note
9 Teal
3 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
2 Common Gull on the fields (normally all gulls just fly over)
6 Rooks
100+ Redwing
Good numbers of Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tits
1 Coal Tit
1 singing male Reed Bunting
2 Grey Partridges (Good views in field next to layby, nice to see them around again)
Otherwise generally quiet in the wind with 1 Stock Dove and 1 Coal Tit in the hedgerows the only other birds worthy of note.
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Pied Wagtail
amongst others
8 Teal and 2 Mallards in flooded area of field
29 Lapwings
50+ Redwings
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron
1 Stock Dove
1 Pheasant (M)
1 Goosander (over)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Treecreepers
2 Jays
3 Nuthatches
3 Fieldfares
4 Mallards
12 Teals
amongst others
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:55:04 PM
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:58:11 PM
1 Common Snipe
6 Lapwings
22 Golden Plover
2 Teal
2 Mallard
3 Goosanders
3 Fieldfares
4 Pheasants (1 M, 3 F)
12 Siskins
1 Treecreeper
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (one drumming)
2 Goldcrests
2 Jays
2 Nuthatches
1 Coal Tit
amongst the usuals
1 Fox on opposite side of the River.
3 Mallards
7 Teals
3 Buzzards - kettling high up on thermals (?!) over Cotterill Clough
4 Lapwings
5 Mistle Thrushes
60+ Redwings
6 Fieldfares
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
45 Rooks
1 Redpoll sp
13 Teals
3 Mallards
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
2 Moorhens
1 Red-legged Partridge
2 Pheasants
1 Skylark
43 Fieldfares
50+ Redwings
3 Song Thrushes
4 Mistle Thrushes
60+ Starlings
8 Rooks
2 Bullfinches
6 Fieldfare
Treecreeper
8 Rooks
5 Golden Plover (flew over)
1 Goldcrest
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
2 Mistle Thrushes
Usual Rooks and Jackdaws on the fields amongst others
2 Moorhen
1 Buzzard
6 Redwing
10+Rooks
Greenfinch
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 21st of January 2012 11:15:49 AM
4 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
1 Coal Tit
1 Treecreeper
8 Teal
Large flock of Redwings on the field near Sunbank Wood
Quite a few Rooks around today too
Song Thrush singing at 9.15pm and 10.45 pm Sunday 8 June around the Terminal 2 car park. Must have been singing throughout the period. Our very own Nightingale.
4 Teal
1 Pheasant
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Grey Heron
amongst others
Whilst at Ringways Viewing Park:
Pink Feet Geese 50+ at about 0930.
Initially heading West, then breaking up into smaller groups after being affected by a plane on take-off. Most seem to then head East.
Goosander 2 flying South.
Common Gull 1