Permit only site - However viewing can be made from the fence at either the BT Tower within the park or the vantage point at the pump house along Heywood Road.
Also
Common Scoter - 2 male & female Goldeneye 14 Swallow 2 Sand Martin 30
Simon Johnson said
Tue Apr 5 10:29 PM, 2011
Flock of 16 Goldeneye flew north over park sunday 3/4
Tony Coatsworth said
Sat Apr 2 2:35 PM, 2011
2 Oystercatcher and a few Lapwing - in Bury !
Simon Johnson said
Fri Apr 1 9:03 PM, 2011
52 Sand Martin and a Swallow flew west over St Margarets Rd this eve
alex lewis-gough said
Tue Mar 22 11:19 PM, 2011
very busy in the park this afternoon. not much out of the ordinary, great, blue, long tailed and coal tits, fair few nuthatch, robin, jay, goldeneye and 2 sparrowhawks soaring together.
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Mar 21 11:42 AM, 2011
North end this morning (07:30 - 08:30) The first Chiffchaff of the spring and a small fall of Mipits were reward for pre work stroll this morning!?
Also present were 2 Oystercatchers, 17 Lapwing, 1 Goosander, 30+ Goldeneye, 2 Tufties, 10 Teal, 17 Mallard, 1 GC Grebe and a couple of Little Grebes.
Simon Johnson said
Sun Mar 20 8:21 PM, 2011
North of the park
Stock Dove 5 Redwing 16 Fieldfare 3 Greenfinch 15 Meadow Pipit 16 North Cormorant over
Simon Johnson said
Sat Mar 19 7:56 PM, 2011
Sand Martin 2
Nuthatch
Simon Johnson said
Fri Mar 18 10:58 PM, 2011
Treecreeper Redwing 80+
Simon Johnson said
Mon Mar 14 7:39 PM, 2011
2 visits to the park today
Med Gull 2 Summer plumaged adults
Redwing 80+ singing/feeding in the highland cow field - (here every March)
a Pair of Raven flew over NW.
A Peregrine was perched on a pylon before flying north and attacking a Buzzard which was circling with prey, Buzzard dropped it and both went tumbling to the ground.
Nuthatch and GSW calling from woods
Oystercatcher 5 birds flying about
Stock Dove 3, Fieldfare 40 & Greenfinch 16 - plughed field north of park
Simon Johnson said
Sun Mar 13 6:56 PM, 2011
3 Adult Med Gull this eve. 2 full summer plumage the third with a partial hood
Bill Myerscough said
Fri Mar 4 5:03 PM, 2011
4th March - am visit.
On the boating lake - 14 Goosander (3 males), 6 Pochard (4 males), 3 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Cormorant, including a very elegant looking breeding plumaged bird. It's amazing how attractive they can be when they make a bit of an effort to smarten themselves up!
In surrounding woodland - 7 Teal, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest and 1+ Siskin (heard only). I've spent a bit of time here lately looking and hoping for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.....but without luck. A male Great Spotted was heard and then watched drumming, with another bird calling close by.
Cheers,
Bill.
Simon Johnson said
Sat Feb 26 7:09 PM, 2011
Ad Med Gull seen at 16.50 could have been the one seen at Elton earlier?
Also 12 Redwing & 34 Fieldfare in the horse paddocks
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Jan 31 4:29 PM, 2011
Kestrel ? Male Sparrowhawk ??
Chris Payne said
Mon Jan 31 4:12 PM, 2011
Hello all Saturday afternoon - Watched a Greater Spotted Woodpecker just up from "The Dell" on the way back up towards walled garden. Also watched something in the avenue of trees on the way up towards the hall from the boating lake. Have had real trouble identifying it and the closest thing I can compare it to is a swift. I know they're not due here for a few months, but I can't tally it with anything else. About a foot in length, it perched on a tree branch before swooping down into the heavy scrub. It was darkish brown (all over) with a slightly hooked beak, but didn't have the wingspan or look of a raptor. Baffled! Can anyone help?
Simon Johnson said
Sat Jan 22 10:12 AM, 2011
Very cold this morning - still cant feel my fingers as posting this and been home half hour now!
Really not much about in the park. Magpie 30+ in the stubble field at the north end Jay 2 in the horse paddock by BT tower Fieldfare 5+ - heard more sat in trees by BT tower
Highlight was a Drake Shelduck which assume was the same bird. Which circled & gained height over the horse paddock by BT tower and flew south out of view but then 10 mins later came from the east and carried on North west.
richard tyson said
Fri Jan 21 4:24 PM, 2011
22 Goosander on reservoir plus quite a few goldeneye, teal and tufted.
Bill Myerscough said
Tue Jan 18 2:38 PM, 2011
18th January.
On the boating lake - 4 male Pochard, 1 female Gadwall, 4 Goosander (2 pairs) and 1 Great Crested Grebe. Both today and on 11th Jan, the single Pink-footed Goose from 30/12/10 was still present and associating with the gaggle of other wildfowl and on both occasions was seen coming to and taking bread!
On one of the ponds in an adjacent copse of wet woodland - c10 Teal. There were c35 there on 11th, including much noisy calling and displaying.
In the surrounding woodlands - 2 singing Song Thrush, 2 possibly 3 singing Mistle Thrush and 2 Nuthatch trading calls.
On 11th - c120 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Common Gulls on the ice. Plus 4 Muscovy Ducks, 31 Embden Geese and 5 Greylag Geese.
Cheers,
Bill.
David Winnard said
Thu Dec 30 7:14 PM, 2010
Woodcock in wooded area near to the boating lake and a Pink-footed Goose on the lake - the bit that was not ice. Lots of fungi too.
Dave
Adrian Dancy said
Tue Dec 21 8:38 PM, 2010
I spoke to Ivan Ellison today and he fed the heron some herring and sprats and it had no problems feeding. If there is a fish hook in the bird let's hope the hook quickly degrades and the bird does not get an infection.
Sean Sweeney said
Tue Dec 21 12:12 AM, 2010
There has been a heron on the band stand pond not flying off recently too. Also showed interest in the bread and seed I was throwing out on my WeBS count on Sunday. Must be down to the harsh weather, as the coot were even nearly feeding from my hand at the boating lake today?! Stress from this weather holds no surprises in bird behaviour though......
kathleenellenmary said
Mon Dec 20 10:28 PM, 2010
also, several times this year i've seen a heron around the park and thought that it was unusually tame. i saw it fairly often around the boating lake over the summer either perched on an overhanging branch whilst people rowed close by and a couple of times standing in the gardens near the farm and the tunnel when there are lots of people around. not sure if it's the same bird.
kathleenellenmary said
Mon Dec 20 10:20 PM, 2010
no i wouldn't try anything like that. i was thinking about taking some different food for it next time as it was there again today. any recommendations? i didn't notice any fishing line but i will try and get a better look tomorrow. it wasn't on the boating lake it was on the smaller pond next to the bandstand or whatever it is.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 20 10:08 PM, 2010
A Grey Heron has been seen and photographed here recently with fishing line and lead weights hanging out of its mouth. It doesn't appear to be in discomfort but the observer did alert one of the wardens apparently.
Info thanks to Mike Killelea
Judith Smith said
Mon Dec 20 9:36 PM, 2010
Presume this was at the boating lake there? That's a very unusual observation, as herons are normally very wary indeed. They are also dangerous so don't actually offer it bread from your hand, as the bill could go through your hand. The RSPCA use visors and think gloves when dealing with them. It shows you what hunger will do.
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Dec 20 3:26 PM, 2010
Had a woodcock fly up from the thickets in the middle of park today, new bird for my park list?!
kathleenellenmary said
Mon Dec 20 9:12 AM, 2010
a grey heron flew down when we were feeding the ducks yesterday and proceeded to share their bread! it was only around five feet away from us at it's closest point. how unusual is this? it must be very hungry.
Simon Johnson said
Sun Dec 19 5:56 PM, 2010
197 Jackdaw NW at dusk - heading towards Bury
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 15 7:37 PM, 2010
Originally posted by Murray Fink today:
Ten goosanders on Heaton Park lake 12 noon today. Small section of lake not iced
pete berry said
Tue Nov 23 12:09 PM, 2010
We quite often get pre- roost gatherings of several hundred birds at Heaton Park Reservoir when we do the gull roost.I think they roost in the woods at the back of the model boat lake adjacent to the golf course.
Steven Astley said
Tue Nov 23 9:43 AM, 2010
I have seen similar size jackdaw flocks flying into heaton park at dusk from the road parrentholme sports centre is on..
Bill Myerscough said
Mon Nov 22 6:45 PM, 2010
22nd November.
Driving south along Middleton Road, on the eastern edge of the park, at 7.20 this morning - a quick sighting of 2 separate flocks of Jackdaws of c50 birds each flying eastwards out the park - where presumably they roost?
Cheers,
Bill.
Bill Myerscough said
Wed Nov 3 3:16 PM, 2010
3rd November.
Mid-morning.
7 Cormorant and 4 Great Crested Grebe on the boating lake.
A Treecreeper was watched for a short time looking for food over the surface of the exposed stone facade of the Old Town Hall Colonnade at the southern end of the boating lake. Does this count as my first Wallcreeper?
Cheers,
Bill.
Simon Johnson said
Thu Oct 28 9:00 PM, 2010
Vis Mig Watch
Pinkfeet 90 SE 8.15 Fieldfare 243 NW Redwing 163 SW Greenfinch 77 North Siskin 8 south Goldfinch 18 S Peregrine south Lapwing 60 North
Green Sand present
Simon Johnson said
Mon Oct 25 9:49 PM, 2010
Vis mig watch today
Fieldfare 223 NW Woodpigeon 364 S Redwing 10 NW Starling 98 NW PFG 80 SE Goosander 12 SE Siskin 15 S Lapwing 18 North 61 present
Vis mig watch 23/10 Fieldfare 674 SW Long tailed tit 45 Brambling 10
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 23 12:05 PM, 2010
What looked like a pure Hooded Crow flew SW at 10.30 this morning. I have been searching the park since but havent been able to re-locate it.
Simon Johnson said
Thu Oct 21 10:41 PM, 2010
1st Winter Scaup flew in this morning
Simon Johnson said
Wed Oct 20 10:22 PM, 2010
Vis Mig Watch 7.30am 13.30pm
Very cold not loads moving until about 10am when it then became clear that Fieldfare were moving in massive numbers. 72 flocks went NW albeit in smaller numbers than Winter Hill with the biggest flocks being 200.
Fieldfare 3895 NW Redwing 67 NW Starling 52 W Woodpigeon 417 W-SW Stock Dove 4 W Collared Dove - High SW Jackdaw 57 W (7 high groups) Brambling 3 W Chaffinch 102 W Finch sp. 30 W Greenfinch 19 W Skylark 3 S Lapwing 17 S Buzzard 8 S-SW Great Black-Backed Gull 26 SW
Then to top it off the flock 40 Whoopers that flew SE over my apartment at dusk. Brilliant county birding today!
Few ducks moving too or dropping in Pinkfeet 75 SE @ 8.13 Cormorant 16 N (one flock) + 10 SE very high tracked off over pennines Pochard 4 SE, Wigeon 12, Goldeneye 6, Teal 15, Goosander 25 + Kingfisher
Finches also moving Chaffinch 86, Brambling, 11 Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Siskin all WSW.
Simon Johnson said
Mon Oct 11 8:44 PM, 2010
Vis Mig watch 7.30-10am
Redwing 603 E-SE Fieldfare - single NE Pinkfeet 90 west @ 8.53
birds heading south Swallow 44 - in small groups(max 6) Skylark 22 Meadow Pipit 209 Alba Wag 22 Wigeon 5 Snipe 2 Spahawk 3 Jay Siskin 12 Redpoll 3 Greenfinch 12 Chaffinch 41
3 Goldeneye present
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 9 12:05 PM, 2010
Vis Mig Watch 7.30 - 10am
SWIFT - flew SE across the horse paddock latest ever seen (was just a common) Golden Plover 3 SE Snipe SE Lapwing 19 SE Mpipit 150 ish south Redwing 13 south ( no big movement yet - a lot heard over the Pennines last night) Alba Wag 23 S Siskin S
Simon Johnson said
Thu Oct 7 9:08 PM, 2010
Vis Mig Watch 8.45-9.10am
Ring-necked Parakeet - Loud group of 5 birds powering through SE. Pinkfeet 829 SE (see PFG thread for more details) Chaffinch 100 S Siskin 7 S Pied Wag 19 S Meadow Pipit 158 S Redwing North
House Martin 26 present
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 2 5:27 PM, 2010
Vis Mig watch 8.30 -12am Fog clearing to leave clear conditions
Missed the first hour of daylight here as tried another site which was fogged out and when did arrive it was clear there was a bit of movement going on....so if had been here at first light the totals would have been higher!
Best was a Snow Bunting heard calling over going S-SE - (I just couldnt see it as it must have been high)
4 Cormorant & 25 Lapwing south, 10 Pinkfeet, single Wigeon and Greylag Goose (scarse here) west.
Good raptor passage with 9 Sparrowhawks south in singles and two 2's, 4 Buzzard went SW and 3 sparrowhawks and a single buzzard were also milling about all morning.
Other Birds moving south 155 Swallow, 30 House Martin, 76 alba Wagtails, 306 Meadow Pipit, 24 Skylark, 71 Chaffinch, Brambling, 14 Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 14 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch 2 Reed Bunting and a single Redwing which went north!
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 2nd of October 2010 05:28:25 PM
Simon Johnson said
Tue Sep 28 2:28 PM, 2010
Good number of Hirundines this morning
400+ Swallow and 300+ House Martin.
Redwing 3 west, 6 Song Thrush, 11 Blackbird and 25 Mistle thrush horsepaddock and 30 Pied Wags
Paul Heaton said
Fri Sep 24 7:51 PM, 2010
Swallows 50 + Sand Martins 7 House martins 5
Moving through today.
Keep birding
Simon Johnson said
Wed Sep 22 9:35 AM, 2010
Swallow's again on the move today. Single hobby and snipe south too. Pair of pintail present first thing then same? Pair dropped back in from high about 9am
Simon Johnson said
Tue Sep 21 8:00 PM, 2010
Hours vis mig before work
All birds south in clear conditions
Swallow 403 House Martin 133 Sand Martin (single bird) Meadow pipit 200 Skylark Lapwing 9 Spahawk 2 Goosander 5 Alba Wag 10 Jay 2 very high birds
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Sep 13 10:02 AM, 2010
I was out in Heaton Park on Saturday afternoon and came across a green and yellow coloured budgie!?!? Forgot to post it on Saturday, but another free flying exotic for the Manchester skies along with the rossellas, parakeets and cockatiels etc!?
It was flying about near the horse fields at the back of the reservoir, before landing on a tree and calling frantically. No doubt it will be picked off by the local Sparrowhawk in the next few days if it keeps that vocal activity up
Also about in the same area, in the horse fields near the reservoir, were a Chiffchaff, 30+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows and a lone Sand Martin.
Adult winter Little Gull this eve.
Permit only site - However viewing can be made from the fence at either the BT Tower within the park or the vantage point at the pump house along Heywood Road.
Also
Common Scoter - 2 male & female
Goldeneye 14
Swallow 2
Sand Martin 30
The first Chiffchaff of the spring and a small fall of Mipits were reward for pre work stroll this morning!?
Chiffchaff 1
Meadow Pipit 9 + 6 (6 were flyovers)
Reed Bunting 1 (male calling)
Stock Dove 1
Siskin 1 (flying north)
Bullfinch 1 (female)
Pied Wagtail 5
Grey Wagtail 3
Also present were 2 Oystercatchers, 17 Lapwing, 1 Goosander, 30+ Goldeneye, 2 Tufties, 10 Teal, 17 Mallard, 1 GC Grebe and a couple of Little Grebes.
Stock Dove 5
Redwing 16
Fieldfare 3
Greenfinch 15
Meadow Pipit 16 North
Cormorant over
Nuthatch
Redwing 80+
Med Gull 2 Summer plumaged adults
Redwing 80+ singing/feeding in the highland cow field - (here every March)
a Pair of Raven flew over NW.
A Peregrine was perched on a pylon before flying north and attacking a Buzzard which was circling with prey, Buzzard dropped it and both went tumbling to the ground.
Nuthatch and GSW calling from woods
Oystercatcher 5 birds flying about
Stock Dove 3, Fieldfare 40 & Greenfinch 16 - plughed field north of park
On the boating lake - 14 Goosander (3 males), 6 Pochard (4 males), 3 Great Crested Grebe and 3 Cormorant, including a very elegant looking breeding plumaged bird. It's amazing how attractive they can be when they make a bit of an effort to smarten themselves up!
In surrounding woodland - 7 Teal, 2 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Goldcrest and 1+ Siskin (heard only). I've spent a bit of time here lately looking and hoping for Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.....but without luck.
Cheers,
Bill.
Also 12 Redwing & 34 Fieldfare in the horse paddocks
Saturday afternoon - Watched a Greater Spotted Woodpecker just up from "The Dell" on the way back up towards walled garden. Also watched something in the avenue of trees on the way up towards the hall from the boating lake. Have had real trouble identifying it and the closest thing I can compare it to is a swift. I know they're not due here for a few months, but I can't tally it with anything else. About a foot in length, it perched on a tree branch before swooping down into the heavy scrub. It was darkish brown (all over) with a slightly hooked beak, but didn't have the wingspan or look of a raptor. Baffled! Can anyone help?
Really not much about in the park.
Magpie 30+ in the stubble field at the north end
Jay 2 in the horse paddock by BT tower
Fieldfare 5+ - heard more sat in trees by BT tower
Highlight was a Drake Shelduck which assume was the same bird. Which circled & gained height over the horse paddock by BT tower and flew south out of view but then 10 mins later came from the east and carried on North west.
On the boating lake - 4 male Pochard, 1 female Gadwall, 4 Goosander (2 pairs) and 1 Great Crested Grebe. Both today and on 11th Jan, the single Pink-footed Goose from 30/12/10 was still present and associating with the gaggle of other wildfowl and on both occasions was seen coming to and taking bread!
On one of the ponds in an adjacent copse of wet woodland - c10 Teal. There were c35 there on 11th, including much noisy calling and displaying.
In the surrounding woodlands - 2 singing Song Thrush, 2 possibly 3 singing Mistle Thrush and 2 Nuthatch trading calls.
On 11th - c120 Black-headed Gulls and 5 Common Gulls on the ice. Plus 4 Muscovy Ducks,
Cheers,
Bill.
Dave
Info thanks to Mike Killelea
It shows you what hunger will do.
Ten goosanders on Heaton Park lake 12 noon today. Small section of lake not iced
Driving south along Middleton Road, on the eastern edge of the park, at 7.20 this morning - a quick sighting of 2 separate flocks of Jackdaws of c50 birds each flying eastwards out the park - where presumably they roost?
Cheers,
Bill.
Mid-morning.
7 Cormorant and 4 Great Crested Grebe on the boating lake.
A Treecreeper was watched for a short time looking for food over the surface of the exposed stone facade of the Old Town Hall Colonnade at the southern end of the boating lake. Does this count as my first Wallcreeper?
Cheers,
Bill.
Pinkfeet 90 SE 8.15
Fieldfare 243 NW
Redwing 163 SW
Greenfinch 77 North
Siskin 8 south
Goldfinch 18 S
Peregrine south
Lapwing 60 North
Green Sand present
Fieldfare 223 NW
Woodpigeon 364 S
Redwing 10 NW
Starling 98 NW
PFG 80 SE
Goosander 12 SE
Siskin 15 S
Lapwing 18 North 61 present
Vis mig watch 23/10
Fieldfare 674 SW
Long tailed tit 45
Brambling 10
What looked like a pure Hooded Crow flew SW at 10.30 this morning. I have been searching the park since but havent been able to re-locate it.
Very cold not loads moving until about 10am when it then became clear that Fieldfare were moving in massive numbers. 72 flocks went NW albeit in smaller numbers than Winter Hill with the biggest flocks being 200.
Fieldfare 3895 NW
Redwing 67 NW
Starling 52 W
Woodpigeon 417 W-SW
Stock Dove 4 W
Collared Dove - High SW
Jackdaw 57 W (7 high groups)
Brambling 3 W
Chaffinch 102 W
Finch sp. 30 W
Greenfinch 19 W
Skylark 3 S
Lapwing 17 S
Buzzard 8 S-SW
Great Black-Backed Gull 26 SW
Then to top it off the flock 40 Whoopers that flew SE over my apartment at dusk. Brilliant county birding today!
Main movers were:
Woodpigeon 290 SW & 123 NW
Starling 363 WNW
Redwing 177 NW
Few ducks moving too or dropping in
Pinkfeet 75 SE @ 8.13
Cormorant 16 N (one flock) + 10 SE very high tracked off over pennines
Pochard 4 SE, Wigeon 12, Goldeneye 6, Teal 15, Goosander 25 + Kingfisher
Finches also moving
Chaffinch 86, Brambling, 11 Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Siskin all WSW.
Redwing 603 E-SE
Fieldfare - single NE
Pinkfeet 90 west @ 8.53
birds heading south
Swallow 44 - in small groups(max 6)
Skylark 22
Meadow Pipit 209
Alba Wag 22
Wigeon 5
Snipe 2
Spahawk 3
Jay
Siskin 12
Redpoll 3
Greenfinch 12
Chaffinch 41
3 Goldeneye present
SWIFT - flew SE across the horse paddock latest ever seen (was just a common)
Golden Plover 3 SE
Snipe SE
Lapwing 19 SE
Mpipit 150 ish south
Redwing 13 south ( no big movement yet - a lot heard over the Pennines last night)
Alba Wag 23 S
Siskin S
Ring-necked Parakeet - Loud group of 5 birds powering through SE.
Pinkfeet 829 SE (see PFG thread for more details)
Chaffinch 100 S
Siskin 7 S
Pied Wag 19 S
Meadow Pipit 158 S
Redwing North
House Martin 26 present
Missed the first hour of daylight here as tried another site which was fogged out and when did arrive it was clear there was a bit of movement going on....so if had been here at first light the totals would have been higher!
Best was a Snow Bunting heard calling over going S-SE - (I just couldnt see it as it must have been high)
4 Cormorant & 25 Lapwing south, 10 Pinkfeet, single Wigeon and Greylag Goose (scarse here) west.
Good raptor passage with 9 Sparrowhawks south in singles and two 2's, 4 Buzzard went SW and 3 sparrowhawks and a single buzzard were also milling about all morning.
Other Birds moving south
155 Swallow, 30 House Martin, 76 alba Wagtails, 306 Meadow Pipit, 24 Skylark, 71 Chaffinch, Brambling, 14 Redpoll, 5 Siskin, 14 Linnet, 2 Goldfinch 2 Reed Bunting and a single Redwing which went north!
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 2nd of October 2010 05:28:25 PM
400+ Swallow and 300+ House Martin.
Redwing 3 west, 6 Song Thrush, 11 Blackbird and 25 Mistle thrush horsepaddock and
30 Pied Wags
Sand Martins 7
House martins 5
Moving through today.
Keep birding
All birds south in clear conditions
Swallow 403
House Martin 133
Sand Martin (single bird)
Meadow pipit 200
Skylark
Lapwing 9
Spahawk 2
Goosander 5
Alba Wag 10
Jay 2 very high birds
It was flying about near the horse fields at the back of the reservoir, before landing on a tree and calling frantically. No doubt it will be picked off by the local Sparrowhawk in the next few days if it keeps that vocal activity up
Also about in the same area, in the horse fields near the reservoir, were a Chiffchaff, 30+ House Martins, 20+ Swallows and a lone Sand Martin.
Goosander 13 south
Common Sand