On my Stretford backyard feeders last week have been good numbers of Goldfinch, sometimes 30's and 40's with the majority being newly fledged and juveniles. Today 8th, I saw my first Goldfinch juvenile with red and black feathers starting to appear on it's head. I also saw a Greenfinch juvenile for the first time this year on Sunday 6th, but it didn't stay long as it couldn't work out how to use the feeders. One or two Blue - tit juveniles are also using the feeders. Swifts over the house have been seen but not many and Swallows very rarely.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 8th of August 2023 04:41:36 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 8 1:30 PM, 2023
Remarkably this morning whilst leaving my house in Astley for work just after 6am, I heard the distinctive low ‘cronk’ of a Raven. I looked up but nothing. I opened the car door to get in and heard it again, then saw the bird lift off the roof of a house along Manchester Road, just 60 feet or so directly opposite mine! The bird flew off down our street just above rooftop height, then quickly veered back round and landed on another roof a little further up.
We get occasional Ravens flying over but unsurprisingly nothing like this before!
Tony Koziol said
Sun Aug 6 4:28 PM, 2023
Yesterday an inexperienced Sparrowhawk decided to swoop down on our ornamental Ring Ouzel.
Photo attached, please note, the Kingfisher is also ornamental!
Bury . Greenfinch , goldfinch , blue , great , cole tit chicks back in numerous quantities . Sparrowhawk enjoying the buffet and taking many more than usual . Hope some survive First time for nuthatch chicks taking fallen sunflower hearts from the ground . Not seen treecreepers since spring . Many swallows . Not one swift , after seeing a pair some weeks ago .
steven burke said
Fri Aug 4 10:36 PM, 2023
Whilst taking a break from some gardening this afternoon in my old Trafford garden a nice fresh willow warbler was flicking around in my pine tree, didn't stay long though, it flew into next doors garden then back into mine before then flying off over my house.
Mike Chorley said
Tue Aug 1 8:30 PM, 2023
From almost one extreme to another. After the unsuccessful attempts by the Carrion Crows to nest in the tree outside the kitchen window, a pair of Wrens have hatched chicks somewhere under the weatherboarding along the eaves. Think they hatched on Sunday from the noises in the bedroom, but didn't get a good look at the brown shapes zooming in and out until this evening Dunnocks fledged in the nearby park on Sunday too.
pete berry said
Sat Jul 22 4:39 PM, 2023
Raven over the garden this afternoon being half heartedly mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Jul 21 5:43 PM, 2023
A noisy Common Tern flew over my Irlam garden this afternoon in the direction of the Manchester Ship Canal. Also a Cormorant over
Richard Thew said
Thu Jul 20 9:30 AM, 2023
Oh wow! Just before work, I've had a nice surprise in my Radcliffe garden: A Stock Dove!
This is a garden first for me, managed a couple of pictures, but unfortunately I don't have time to sort. You can look forward to it on my Flickr account over the weekend.
The bird looks like a juvenile, and was obviously very wary and cautious.
Ta!
phillipskelly said
Tue Jul 18 12:17 PM, 2023
On and around my Stretford backyard feeders lately there's been quite a lot of Goldfinch young in attendance, sometimes more young than adults and over the last month I've been filling the feeders every day. The newly fledged/ young birds can be quite aggressive towards adult Goldfinch or even their siblings (when a family turn up) when defending a feeding place and often short flights occur . Adults always give way to the young ones eventually. I find the newly fledged ( you can tell which ones because they seem to have tiny heads and beaks and big eyes compared to the juveniles ) birds struggle with the Sunflower Hearts on first arrival as they can only break the pear shaped seed near the pointed end whereas older more experienced birds break the seed down the length of it and only waste a small amount. Numbers are not what they used to be and low 20's is a good amount.
I've only seen one Greenfinch up to now but an occasional young Blue- tits turns up also a Dunnock,which will search the whole yard.
Steve Judge said
Mon Jul 17 12:12 PM, 2023
Eccles garden on Monday 17th July at 10:30 hrs:
Female Sparrowhawk took out and ate Starling in my back garden.
Ian Howarth said
Wed Jul 5 8:58 PM, 2023
2 x Lesser Black-backed Gulls in my small Timperley back garden just now; one on the garage roof, one on the lawn.
fredford said
Sun Jul 2 7:24 AM, 2023
Bury . Normally , we have waves of goldfinch chicks at this time of year . I have seen only two , so far . Hope it improves . Our three visiting house sparrows have grown to about ten , including fledglings . Hurrah . They seem to nest approx 100 yards away . Joy to see them on the feeders next to the great spotted woodpecker chick .
phillipskelly said
Thu Jun 22 3:24 PM, 2023
Buzzard being mobbed by gulls over my Stretford, Gorse Hill, backyard at 3:20pm.
fredford said
Tue Jun 20 6:47 PM, 2023
Hurrah ! Just now , female great spotted woodpesker with newly fledged infant , on the tree with the feeders , showing him theropes . Wonder if there are more . Watch this space.
Isabel Hay said
Sat Jun 17 3:40 PM, 2023
Ok, it was above the garden, not in it, but I can't see another forum to put it in... Red Kite! Above Higher Blackley, Boothroyden Road estate which is on a headland, the hill running down to the River Irk with Heaton Park going up the other side of the Irk valley. Circling, scruffy-looking wing-tip primaries on both wings. Lovely!
Isabel Hay said
Sat Jun 17 3:31 PM, 2023
Ok, it was above the garden, not in it, but I can't see another forum to put it in... Red Kite! Above Higher Blackley, Boothroyden Road estate which is on a headland, the hill running down to the River Irk with Heaton Park going up the other side of the Irk valley. Circling, scruffy-looking wing-tip primaries on both wings. Lovely!
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 16 8:32 PM, 2023
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Single Ring-necked Parakeet flew noisily east directly over my Astley garden at 20:58 tonight.
Ring-necked Parakeet once again east over my Astley garden at 20:30 tonight, also two flocks of Starling west numbering over 50 individuals in total.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jun 15 9:00 PM, 2023
Single Ring-necked Parakeet flew noisily east directly over my Astley garden at 20:58 tonight.
Andy Isherwood said
Sat Jun 10 11:18 AM, 2023
Sorry meant slowly east for the Tyldesley Red Kite!
Andy Isherwood said
Sat Jun 10 11:12 AM, 2023
Red kite drifting slowly west along Manchester road Tyldesley c. 11am this morning seen from Tyldesley than from the house after I'd raced home!
pete berry said
Sat Jun 10 9:22 AM, 2023
3 Oystercatchers just flown over the garden calling noisily as usual.
Lez Fairclough said
Wed Jun 7 11:29 PM, 2023
Birds of note from my back garden this afternoon/early evening
Ring-Necked Parakeet; Jay; Kestrel Hunting; Buzzard; Pied Wagtail over; 2 Canada Geese over; Grey Heron over; Common Whitethroat singing across the canal & a distant Skylark heard towards Bedford Moss.
phillipskelly said
Wed Jun 7 1:23 PM, 2023
A quick look at 11:45 am today on/around my Stretford backyard feeders were - Goldfinch - 7 ( 5 young + 2 adults ).
pete berry said
Tue Jun 6 10:07 AM, 2023
Just been watching a female Great Spotted Woodpecker getting beakfuls of food from the fatballs hung in the garden and feeding it to a recently fledged male Great Spotted Woodpecker that's perched in my pear tree at bottom of garden.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Jun 1 8:35 PM, 2023
Nice moment whilst I was sat in the garden this afternoon when I witnessed my Blue Tits fledging from the nest box. Just 3 young with one bird flying low straight over my head into the neighbours garden. The other two remain in their natal tree this evening close to the nest box and the adults are still coming to feed them.
Bury . Mistle thrush singing , again . Three female and one male housesparrow love the meal worms . Great spotted woodpecker , absent for weeks , has reappeared on the fat balls . Hope this means chicks . Greenfinches every day . Found remains of bullfinch egg on the lawn - definitely chicks !
Chris Roberts said
Tue May 30 2:55 PM, 2023
Red Kite drifted east over garden Ashton on Mersey at 14-45, male Bullfinch on feeder first for several years.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 30th of May 2023 04:56:49 PM
Neil Collier said
Sun May 28 3:00 PM, 2023
A gannet (!!!) has just flown low over my garden in Harwood flying north . He/she must be very lost. 14.56 Sunday 28th May.
Lez Fairclough said
Sat May 27 11:17 PM, 2023
Common Snipe flew over back garden at 7pm tonight heading towards Pennington Flash. Also this afternoon a Jay landed in the birch tree to the rear of the garden but was quickly despatched by a male Blackbird which must have a nest nearby given its prompt intervention.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 24 8:49 PM, 2023
2 Common Terns flew very low NE directly over my Astley garden at 8:25pm
phillipskelly said
Wed May 24 10:42 AM, 2023
My first young Goldfinch with an adult bird on the telephone wires today at 10:30am also a pair of Goldfinch were seen mating wires last week above my Stretford backyard feeders .
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 21 8:36 PM, 2023
A single Ring-necked Parakeet just flew noisily east over my Astley garden at 8:35pm!
fredford said
Tue May 16 7:34 AM, 2023
Bury . Hear only blackcap and chiffchaff . Great joy to see pair of house sparrows taking mealworms originally put out for pied wagtails who still come for them . Two male bullfinch , on lawn ,taking fallen sunflower hearts . More jays than last year . Many goldfinch . Occasionally male greenfinch .
steven burke said
Wed May 3 9:50 PM, 2023
14 swifts over my old Trafford garden this morning.
Tony Koziol said
Wed May 3 8:53 PM, 2023
Late this afternoon a male Sparrowhawk came through the garden pursing about six House Sparrows he managed to take a female before she reached the safety of the Hawthorn hedge. It was a bat of an eyelid event and the agility of the hawk was breathtaking. Not everybodies cup of tea but nature nonetheless.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 2 7:05 PM, 2023
This evening a Common Tern flew east, a couple of Swifts flew over the feilds and a Whitethroat sang from the hedgerow all at the back of my Astley garden.
pete berry said
Sun Apr 30 9:27 AM, 2023
Birds heard singing this morning from the garden Chiffchaff Blackcap Willow Warbler Song Thrush
steven burke said
Sat Apr 29 8:36 PM, 2023
3 swifts over my old Trafford garden this afternoon.
pete berry said
Wed Apr 26 5:35 PM, 2023
2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls over the back garden this afternoon, heading north.
steven burke said
Mon Apr 24 11:03 PM, 2023
Bar-tailed godwit heard over my old Trafford garden tonight at 10.15pm.
fredford said
Tue Apr 18 4:50 PM, 2023
Bury . Mistle thrush on lawn . Blackbird pair feeding chicks which are heard but unseen . Redpolls on feeders , along with a male tree sparrow . Several unwelcome jays . Pair pied wagtails returned after couple of days absence . Awaiting willow warblers and blackcaps .
pete berry said
Tue Apr 18 10:31 AM, 2023
Blackcap singing at bottom of the garden this morning.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 14 8:53 PM, 2023
Normally, I'd have had the feeders down by now, but with 11 hours of continuous rain today, 7 goldfinch, 1 male chaffinch, and at least 1 greenfinch were glad that I haven't yet done so. House sparrows also benefitting too.
Tony Koziol said
Fri Apr 14 12:54 PM, 2023
One Goldfinch on our peanut feeder this Monday just gone. Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Collared Doves, three usual tit species and House Sparrows continue to visit our Stockport garden however the Long tailed -Tits have left us.
A quarter of the year has gone also but where?
fredford said
Fri Apr 7 2:14 PM, 2023
Bury . First swallow pair toured the garden , inspected the garage and continued north . Three minutes later returned for another viewing . Hurrah !
Lez Fairclough said
Thu Apr 6 11:04 PM, 2023
Buzzard being chased off by a single Herring Gull today over the garden & a Carrion Crow on the feeders!
3 buzzards circling together over my old Trafford garden today at 12. 15pm.
Lynne Webster said
Mon Apr 3 6:07 PM, 2023
Red legged partridge in my Bramhall garden today. Thats a first.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Apr 3 1:09 PM, 2023
Goldfinch started nest building in my Astley garden again yesterday, in the exact same spot as they did last year and Blue Tits have been busy inspecting our nest box the past two days too. Amazing what a bit of sun can do...
Today 8th, I saw my first Goldfinch juvenile with red and black feathers starting to appear on it's head.
I also saw a Greenfinch juvenile for the first time this year on Sunday 6th, but it didn't stay long as it couldn't work out how to use the feeders.
One or two Blue - tit juveniles are also using the feeders.
Swifts over the house have been seen but not many and Swallows very rarely.
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 8th of August 2023 04:41:36 PM
Remarkably this morning whilst leaving my house in Astley for work just after 6am, I heard the distinctive low ‘cronk’ of a Raven. I looked up but nothing. I opened the car door to get in and heard it again, then saw the bird lift off the roof of a house along Manchester Road, just 60 feet or so directly opposite mine! The bird flew off down our street just above rooftop height, then quickly veered back round and landed on another roof a little further up.
We get occasional Ravens flying over but unsurprisingly nothing like this before!
Yesterday an inexperienced Sparrowhawk decided to swoop down on our ornamental Ring Ouzel.
Photo attached, please note, the Kingfisher is also ornamental!
First time for nuthatch chicks taking fallen sunflower hearts from the ground . Not seen treecreepers since spring .
Many swallows . Not one swift , after seeing a pair some weeks ago .
Dunnocks fledged in the nearby park on Sunday too.
Also a Cormorant over
This is a garden first for me, managed a couple of pictures, but unfortunately I don't have time to sort. You can look forward to it on my Flickr account over the weekend.
The bird looks like a juvenile, and was obviously very wary and cautious.
Ta!
The newly fledged/ young birds can be quite aggressive towards adult Goldfinch or even their siblings (when a family turn up) when defending a feeding place and often short flights occur . Adults always give way to the young ones eventually.
I find the newly fledged ( you can tell which ones because they seem to have tiny heads and beaks and big eyes compared to the juveniles ) birds struggle with the Sunflower Hearts on first arrival as they can only break the pear shaped seed near the pointed end whereas older more experienced birds break the seed down the length of it and only waste a small amount.
Numbers are not what they used to be and low 20's is a good amount.
I've only seen one Greenfinch up to now but an occasional young Blue- tits turns up also a Dunnock,which will search the whole yard.
Female Sparrowhawk took out and ate Starling in my back garden.
Wonder if there are more . Watch this space.
Ring-necked Parakeet once again east over my Astley garden at 20:30 tonight, also two flocks of Starling west numbering over 50 individuals in total.
Single Ring-necked Parakeet flew noisily east directly over my Astley garden at 20:58 tonight.
Birds of note from my back garden this afternoon/early evening
Ring-Necked Parakeet; Jay; Kestrel Hunting; Buzzard; Pied Wagtail over; 2 Canada Geese over; Grey Heron over; Common Whitethroat singing across the canal & a distant Skylark heard towards Bedford Moss.
Goldfinch - 7 ( 5 young + 2 adults ).
Red Kite drifted east over garden Ashton on Mersey at 14-45, male Bullfinch on feeder first for several years.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 30th of May 2023 04:56:49 PM
A gannet (!!!) has just flown low over my garden in Harwood flying north . He/she must be very lost. 14.56 Sunday 28th May.
Common Snipe flew over back garden at 7pm tonight heading towards Pennington Flash. Also this afternoon a Jay landed in the birch tree to the rear of the garden but was quickly despatched by a male Blackbird which must have a nest nearby given its prompt intervention.
2 Common Terns flew very low NE directly over my Astley garden at 8:25pm
A single Ring-necked Parakeet just flew noisily east over my Astley garden at 8:35pm!
Late this afternoon a male Sparrowhawk came through the garden pursing about six House Sparrows he managed to take a female before she reached the safety of the Hawthorn hedge. It was a bat of an eyelid event and the agility of the hawk was breathtaking. Not everybodies cup of tea but nature nonetheless.
This evening a Common Tern flew east, a couple of Swifts flew over the feilds and a Whitethroat sang from the hedgerow all at the back of my Astley garden.
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Song Thrush
Awaiting willow warblers and blackcaps .
Normally, I'd have had the feeders down by now, but with 11 hours of continuous rain today, 7 goldfinch, 1 male chaffinch, and at least 1 greenfinch were glad that I haven't yet done so. House sparrows also benefitting too.
One Goldfinch on our peanut feeder this Monday just gone. Blackbirds, Robins, Dunnocks, Collared Doves, three usual tit species and House Sparrows continue to visit our Stockport garden however the Long tailed -Tits have left us.
A quarter of the year has gone also but where?
Buzzard being chased off by a single Herring Gull today over the garden & a Carrion Crow on the feeders!
Goldfinch started nest building in my Astley garden again yesterday, in the exact same spot as they did last year and Blue Tits have been busy inspecting our nest box the past two days too. Amazing what a bit of sun can do...