Swift 3 south House Martin 713 SSE Sand martin 34 SSE Swallow 329 south Grey Wag 9 SE Alba wag 5 SE Meadow Pipit 28 South
18.30 - 1945 Hobby Imm SW @ 19.10 Swallow & Sand Martin 300+ to roost in corn field back of res
Simon Johnson said
Mon Aug 30 4:24 PM, 2010
Redstart M & F at back of res this afternoon
Simon Johnson said
Sun Aug 29 9:24 PM, 2010
Big Vis Mig watch 2010
all movement south or south west
Arctic tern - 2 Juv Common Tern ad Sand Martin 400 House Martin 236 Swift 3 Swallow 153 Buzzard
Simon Johnson said
Tue Aug 24 8:41 PM, 2010
Good numbers of hirundines around the BT tower this evening
Sand Martin 250 Swallow 200 House martin 50 Swift 1
Simon Johnson said
Wed Aug 4 9:13 PM, 2010
80 House Martin around the BT tower this eve.
Also 59 Swift and 150 Sand Martin NW into the wind this eve
Melanie Beckford said
Tue Aug 3 10:33 PM, 2010
Yesterday l took my charges to the park and farm, where the Swallows were flying around very low in and out of the cow barn. From the fence you could easily see three young in the nest.
Again we visited and the young have fledged on to the outside of the barn, it was wonderful to see these delightful young birds, being fed and flitting nervously from one barn door to another.
Dunno what the children were doing but the birds were brilliant
Bill Myerscough said
Sat Jul 24 3:43 PM, 2010
24th July.
Morning visit - pretty quiet.
Pair of Great Crested Grebes, with 1 almost fully grown young on the boating lake.
2 Stock Dove heard (1 seen) and another single heard in different parts of the park - occupying roughly the same locations as in previous years visits during the breeding season but they seem to be, for me anyway, a difficult species to confirm breeding for.
Song Thrush carrying food in tetrad SD 80H Heaton Park Reservoir.
I asked some of the staff at the Farm Centre if they could tell me how many pairs of Swallows were breeding there. They told me three pairs - and then let me have a look at them which was nice of them - 1 adult was seen sitting.
c15 Pied Wagtails - mostly juveniles - on the newly mown grassland.
Cheers,
Bill.
Simon Johnson said
Mon Jun 28 11:56 PM, 2010
Curlew flew west late evening
Simon Johnson said
Sun Apr 18 9:09 PM, 2010
15 Swallow and 120 Sand Martin this eve.
Also 2 Male Wheatear, 3 Stockdove, Spahawk and GSW
Simon Johnson said
Fri Apr 9 2:40 PM, 2010
Greenshank present today -
Paul Cliff said
Fri Apr 2 9:55 AM, 2010
an almighty doh! here. got in after sitting on white ash for a couple of hours at 7.15! i'm no that flight path north! blah!
Simon Johnson said
Thu Apr 1 8:52 PM, 2010
An Osprey was picked up heading NW from the park this eve at about 19.15 it then carried on up the valley that the M66 runs up
Simon Johnson said
Sun Mar 28 2:38 PM, 2010
Some passage over the park this morning
84 Meadow Pipit NW Skylark 2 west Sand Martin 3 west Buzzard North Lapwing 5 north Grey Heron 8 south - all high birds circling round on thermals and 1 group of 4.
There was also a dead bird in the middle of the horse paddock with feathers all around it - on closer inspection it was a Great crested grebe - fresh - it had been plucked and part eaten from its back - and assume it must have been a peregrine kill
Simon Johnson said
Sat Mar 20 9:03 AM, 2010
105 Feildfare and 50+ Redwing around the horse paddock at the back of the res this morning. 5 Stock Dove and 10 Displaying Lapwing were in the newly ploughed field also.
19th March 80+ Redwing in trees by Heaton Park tram stop singing away amongst themselves.
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 20th of March 2010 09:08:22 AM
Bill Myerscough said
Thu Mar 11 7:46 PM, 2010
11th March.
On and around the boating lake - 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pochard - 1 male and 1 female, 5 Muscovy Ducks might be recent additions to the motley selection of feral birds here?
2 Nuthatch interchanged calls and songs from different woodlands in this area of the park.
Cheers,
Bill
Simon Johnson said
Sat Jan 23 5:28 PM, 2010
Lots of activity in the trees by the St Margarets Road entrance this afternoon
Redwing 30 Blackbird 3 Great Tit 25 Blue Tit 20 Goldfinch 15 Chaffinch 10 and singles of GSW, Nuthatch & Jay
Simon Johnson said
Sat Jan 2 6:24 PM, 2010
Afternoon wonder in the snow
Boating lake 95% frozen female tufted only thing of note
in the woods Coal Tit - c20 Nuthatch 4 GSW 2 Jay 2
About 120 Carrion Crow and 200 Jackdaw into roost.
No grebes or Goosanders which was a bit of a surprise.
Also 4 Cormorants - 1 caught a decent sized fish and swallowed it but only after a brief skirmish with another Cormorant, that looked like it may have been trying to steal it! 1 Grey Wagtail. 1 Herring Gull. 8 typical Greylag Geese along, with 24 Embden types of various hues.
Really pleased to see a Chiffchaff feeding in silver birch trees with 3 Blue Tits. First time I have seen a wintering Chiffchaff! Strangely enough I had been reading about this species in this mornings section of Nature Notes in The Times. Link if interested is http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article6955074.ece
In the surrounding woodlands - Treecreeper, Jay and Nuthatch.
Cheers,
Bill.
Simon Johnson said
Wed Nov 11 9:42 PM, 2009
655 Fieldfare south this morning
Simon Johnson said
Sat Nov 7 10:04 AM, 2009
6 Whooper Swan SE @ 8.05
Simon Johnson said
Wed Oct 28 8:01 PM, 2009
Big movement of thrushes today
not jotted up exact numbers and wont be able to get figures till later but about 1000 Feildfare flew over heaton park this morning along with 500+ Starling, 500+ Redwing, 100+ Woodpigeon, 5 Siskin, 21 Brambling, 3 Wigeon, female Pintail, 5 Goosander and 250 Pinkfeet
Simon Johnson said
Tue Oct 20 7:33 PM, 2009
7.45-11am
Wigeon 3 North (male and 2 female) Golden Plover south Lapwing 17 south Buzzard 2 Redwing 566 SE Skylark south Siskin 5 South Chaffinch 41 SW Starling 129 W-NW
Simon Johnson said
Mon Oct 19 7:19 PM, 2009
7.45-11.20
Redwing 142 south Fieldfare 132 W-SW Woodpigeon 33 south Pied Wag 3 south Mpipit 13 south Reed Bunt 6 SW Redpoll 7 SW Rook 56 SW Chaffinch 30 SW Jay 2 SW Skylark 3 SW Pochard 2 Male south Lapwing 17 south
Whooper Swan 2 SE - 18.10
Simon Johnson said
Sun Oct 18 5:45 PM, 2009
Vis mig watch 7.25 - 10am - cold
Redwing 498 NW and 114 south Fieldfare 90 NW Starling 120 W-NW Brambling 2 north Cormorant 2 SW and 1 SE Siskin 2 SE Skylark 2 SE Goldfinch 7 south
Simon Johnson said
Wed Oct 14 9:46 PM, 2009
307 Redwing S-SE Snipe South - in flock of Redwing Starling 37 west Bar-tailed Godwit flew south eventullay Rock Pipit with 9 mpipits went SW
Good number of Wigeon down
Bill Myerscough said
Mon Oct 12 6:47 PM, 2009
Sean Sweeney wrote:
Also, I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Great Crested Grebe numbers have fallen on the boating lake this year. There used to be at least two pairs breeding, but not sure if any were successful this summer? Only two birds seem to be on the water most visits at present, compared to 8-10 in some previous years. They have not moved on to the reservoir either, so not sure if they have moved elsewhere or if a genuine decline in numbers has occurred?
Hi Sean,
I visited Heaton Park and the boating lake and on both 23/6 and on 14/7 of this year. On 23/6 there were two pairs of Great Crested Grebes on the boating lake and one adult from one of the pairs was feeding a single three-quarters grown young on that date. Have only visited twice this year, hoping to add some roving records for the 2007 -2011 BTO (and GM breeding!) Atlas project. No grebes - adults or juvs - were seen on 14/7.
Shameless plug to all GM birders! - don't forget that the third year (of four) of the atlas project starts on 1/11/09. So get stuck in!!! To pinch a catchphrase from one of our largest retailers - every little helps!
Best wishes,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Monday 12th of October 2009 06:49:38 PM
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Oct 12 11:46 AM, 2009
Was also around the park and reservoir doing my WeBS counts Sunday morning. Only a few additions worth noting, they were a Green Woodpecker, 2 siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Jays plus approx 70 Redwing in the park between boating lake and the reservoir.
Also, I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Great Crested Grebe numbers have fallen on the boating lake this year. There used to be at least two pairs breeding, but not sure if any were successful this summer? Only two birds seem to be on the water most visits at present, compared to 8-10 in some previous years. They have not moved on to the reservoir either, so not sure if they have moved elsewhere or if a genuine decline in numbers has occurred?
Simon Johnson said
Sun Oct 11 9:16 PM, 2009
7.15 - 10.10am rain stopped play just before 10
Redwing 569 W-SW-S Fieldfare 5 NW Song Thrush 2 SW Mpipit 60 SW Alba Wag 10 south Swallow SW Starling 35 west (several groups seen coming from out east) Cormorant south Snipe 2 south Rook 6 SW (prob local but biggest group have seen here) Reed Bunt 3 SW Greenfinch 18 NE Chaffinch 19 south Shoveler 2 dropped in before going west
Present in park Peregrine male with prey, 2 spahawk - one chased Grey wag which escaped, flock of 21 Linnet and 13 Mistle Thrush
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 10 9:45 AM, 2009
7.25 - 8.25 (FOG)
11 Redwing SW
Was hoping to catch the Redwing movement which had been going on over the Pennines last night (Bradford and Halifax area) but the fog put a dampner on things
2nd attempt when fog lifted 2 Redwing, 2 Swallow, 6 Skylark and 11 Mpipit all south
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 10th of October 2009 12:35:31 PM
Simon Johnson said
Sun Sep 27 7:01 PM, 2009
Vis Mig Watch 6.50 - 12.30 - did leave to go home at 9.15 but things picked up when fog lifted.
Swallow 294 SW Mpipit 463 SW Skylark 11 SW Pinkfeet 37 west Alba Wag 51 SW-S-SE Grey Wag 3 south Lapwing 60 SE Buzzard 2 SE Kestrel south - high Greenfinch 31 NE Redpoll south
In the Park 50 Swallow and 80 Mpipit blogging about, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 33 Mistle thrush and 35 Linnet
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 27th of September 2009 07:17:09 PM
Simon Johnson said
Sat Sep 26 2:31 PM, 2009
Vis Mig Watch 8.45-10.50 - late up today
Rock Pipit - calling bird SW was best bird Mpipit 219 SW Swallow 69 South House Martin 14 south Pinkfeet 8 west Lapwing 18 south and 20 west Skylark 2 south Kestrel south
Present Green Wood, Kestrel 3, Spahawk 2+
Simon Johnson said
Fri Sep 25 12:28 PM, 2009
Vis Mig Watch 6.50-10.50am - excellent morning.
Pintail 3 south (eclipse drake & 2 fem/imm) Meadow Pipit 542 S-SW Skylark 9 SW (single flock) Swallow 80 south House Martin 120+ S-SE Reed Bunt 16 SW Grey Wag 2 south Pied Wag 12 south Siskin 3 SW Linnet 13 Goldfinch 25 south Woodpigeon 29 south Redpoll 8 NW Snipe west Song Thrush 3 soutp
Also good raptor Passage Hobby (juv) SW, Peregrine SW, Kestrel 2 (together) south + 1 present and a Spahawk South.
Elsewhere in park - Chiffchaff - still singing, Green , 3 GSW, Nuthatch and 40 Goldfinch
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 25th of September 2009 12:29:34 PM
Simon Johnson said
Thu Sep 24 10:14 PM, 2009
Vis Mig watch 6.50- 9.30am
Cormorant 2 SE Snipe 2 west Kestrel south Mpipit 282 S-SW Swallow 8 SW Alba Wag 26 SW Grey Wag 2 south Song thrush 4 south Mistle Thrush 14 SW Jay 3 SW Reed Bunt 11 south Siskin 5 SE Redpoll 2 SW Linnet 29 south Goldfinch 24 North
In the park 16 Mistle Thrush, white wag and 2 singing Chiffchaff
Simon Johnson said
Sat Sep 19 11:36 AM, 2009
Vis Mig watch 6.30-10am
Meadow Pipit 216 S-SW Skylark 11 south one flock Siskin SW Swallow 28 south Houe Martin 35 south Grey Wag 10 south Pied Wag 15 E-SE Lawping 10 NW Rook 2 SW Linnet 15 south Goldfinch 12 south Reed Bunt 3 south Cormorant 3 SE Mistle Thrush 11 North Song Thrush 2 south plus another 3 drop in from the north Jay 16 SW - these were high birds coming down the valley from near Ramsbottom in flocks of 5,4,3,2 and 2 singles
Also Wheatear, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, GSW, Nuthatch and Tree Creeper in park
Simon Johnson said
Sun Sep 13 3:35 PM, 2009
Vis Mig Watch 6.30-10.30am
Tree Pipit - heard calling south Meadow Pipit 189 S-SW Grey Wag 3 west Pied Wag 11 SE Swallow 126 SE House Martin 7 south Chaffinch 20 SW Goldfinch 14 south Reed Bunting 8 SW Jay 12 SW - these were in 4 groups Rook 4 SW - scarce birds here Buzzard 3 SE Spahawk 2 south Wigeon 2 SE Cormorant 2 SE
2 Wheatear present
Simon Johnson said
Fri Sep 11 9:00 PM, 2009
Vis Mig Watch 6.30-8am
Mpipit 62 = 38 NW + 24 SW Swallow 1 East + 5 SW House Sparrow 3 high NE Grey Wag 5 west Reed Bunting 5 south Siskin SW Greenfinch 18 north
Kingfisher, 5 Teal, Goldeneye, Garden Warbler and White Wag in Park
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 11th of September 2009 09:00:50 PM
Simon Johnson said
Sun Sep 6 10:55 AM, 2009
Vis Mig watch 6.30am - 9.30am
Not much passing over
Meadow pipit 31 SW Sand Martin 25 SE Swallow 46 SW Reed Bunt 3 west Cormorant south Teal 3 SW Mallard 19 SW
more action around the horse paddock and the bushes at back of res
Tree Pipit one landed in dead tree in corner of horse paddock as I was stood under it calling away was there couple on minutes before going west
In the bushes 10 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler - which sand several times, 2 Blackcap and a Whitethroat. A Juv Green Woodpecker had a lucky escape from a sparrowhawk
Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the field and sitting on the wire's 2 Swift were with them and a flock of 30+ Linnet
Simon Johnson said
Fri Sep 4 8:20 PM, 2009
visible Migration watch 6.30-8am
Windy, sunshine and showers
Common Tern Juv flew south east @ 7.30am Dunlin west @ 7.50am Pied Wag 5 south
Lots of hirundines moving and again this evening being held up by the showers so feeding up and then powering south west when clearing.
Swallow 289 south west + another 100 present House Martin 31 south west + another 20+ present Sand Martin 47 south west + another 20+ Present
Simon Johnson said
Mon Aug 31 10:32 AM, 2009
visible Migration watch 6.30-9.30am
Hobby 1 SE Spahawk 2 SW House Martin 59 S-SW Swallow 100 South Sand Martin 5 South Alba wag 18 S-SW Grey Wag 2 SE Mpipit 4 SW Goldfinch 15 East Cormorant NE Mallard 7 high south
Bill Myerscough said
Tue Jul 14 8:17 PM, 2009
14th July.
The second season of official recording for the BTO and GM breeding atlases is coming to an end on the last day of July - thought would try and spend at bit of time wandering around the general area to see what was about. Maybe a touch late in the season to pick up much but....
2 separate family parties of Chiffchaffs were the highlight. The fledged young have a very distinctive begging/contact call (not unlike the flight calls of Siskin but shorter, sharper and less nasal and "whiny" in tone - 1 party had at least 3 juvs and the other party a minimum of 1 juv. Adult male Chaffinch feeding 1 begging juvenile. Terrific views of a recently fledged young Jay. Juvenile Goldcrest.
Other confirmed breeders - Wren, Moorhen, Swallow, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Robin.
On the boating lake - I know they are not the most popular of birds but two pairs of Embden Geese have bred - the first three goslings are now almost full grown but today there was one very cute, small gosling trailing after all of the adult birds and pleading to be fed - it got all of the attention (if not all of the bread!) from the assorted bread chuckers!
Cheers,
Bill.
Sean Sweeney said
Sat May 2 6:53 PM, 2009
First Swifts for me locally today, some over the house and some in the park. Other than that, just the usual birds calling, nesting and flying around in the park on a lovely sunny spring day
Swallows a plenty, House Martins back in, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Nuthatch 4, Goldcrest 2, GS Woodpecker 3, Jay 6, two pairs of GC Grebes on the boating lake and the first of probably many Canada Geese chicks swimming around too .
Simon Johnson said
Tue Mar 17 11:45 AM, 2009
GSW 4 Spahawk 3 inc pair displaying Siskin NE Mpipit 66 North Cormorant North
Sean Sweeney said
Mon Mar 16 12:08 PM, 2009
Was in the park yesterday and had a large flock of Pied Wagtails with a single White Wagtail (in horse/highland cow field near to the tram stop side). Also several Meadow Pipits with them, perhaps a small passage movement.
Also did my WeBS this morning, not too much about, most winter ducks have moved on from both the water bodies in the park and the reservoir. 4 Tufted Duck and a Shoveller still on the Boating Lake, with 2 pairs of GC Grebes nest building, while a couple of Teal are still lurking on the Wildlife Pond, although not much water left in this at present.
Lots of GS Woodpeckers drumming, but not caught up with any LSWs so far this year.
Nice to be out in the sunshine again though!!
Simon Johnson said
Thu Mar 5 8:07 PM, 2009
Heaton Park early am
20+ Redpoll Flock containing what i believe were 1st winter Mealies at least 3 of them. They were giving cracking views as they fed on the ground.
Would be good for any photographers out there to try and get to grips with them! They were at the top of the hill were the horse paddock is between the tram stop entrance and the horticultral centre. There was also a noisey 250+ flock of Redwing in this area.
Also caught the back end of a flock of swans fly over heaton Park tram stop betwen 5-6 of them. But they went over the houses before getting a good look,
Simon Johnson said
Sun Jan 25 6:28 PM, 2009
25/01/09
Boating Lake Shoveler 4 (3m 1F) Tufted Duck 25 Cormorant
Peregrine over
The woods Lesser Redpoll mobile flock of 40+ Common "Mealy" Redpoll at least one with the above Nuthatch 2+ Treecreeper Jay 5
Simon Johnson said
Thu Oct 30 2:17 PM, 2008
Vis Mig Watch 6.45-8am (very cold)
Redwing 311 several high groups sw-w-nw Fieldfare 168 5 groups sw-w-nw Chaffinch 18 N Greenfinch 6 N Woodpigeon 30 N Starling 57 w & n Lawping 76 east Spahawk 2 s & 1 w
Simon Johnson said
Sat Oct 18 6:37 PM, 2008
Heaton Park Vis mig watch 18-10-08 6.50 - 11.30
totals
Redwing 2583 SW W NW Fieldfare 1351 NW Song Thrush 2 SW Brambling 2 SW Chaffinch 96 SW Greenfinch 25 SW W Goldfinch 34 S Redpoll 2 S Bullfinch 2 S & 6 W All high Reed Bunt 4 W (one group) Woodpigeon 303 S SW Meadow Pipit 17 SW Pied Wag 28 S SW Starling 19 W Spahawk 5 S Kestrel W Cormorant 3 NE & 5 SW Skylark single S Lapwing 25 S Dunlin W Whooper Swan 1 NW and 18 E with 200 PFG PFG 585 SE & 38 W
Cracking morning
Simon Johnson said
Thu Jun 26 8:40 PM, 2008
Had a quick look tonighht in this monsoon but didnt have much luck as most of the paths in the park were underwater and the roads were even worse. Water was pupming out from some under ground pipes along St Margarets Rd from within Heaton Park res and the raod was under about 10 inch of water and if carried on looked as though it could flood the houses!
Simon Johnson said
Tue Apr 22 12:45 PM, 2008
Red Kite NE by the BT tower at 10.40 circled round over the m60 a couple of times before heading on NE.
Swift 3 south
House Martin 713 SSE
Sand martin 34 SSE
Swallow 329 south
Grey Wag 9 SE
Alba wag 5 SE
Meadow Pipit 28 South
18.30 - 1945
Hobby Imm SW @ 19.10
Swallow & Sand Martin 300+ to roost in corn field back of res
all movement south or south west
Arctic tern - 2 Juv
Common Tern ad
Sand Martin 400
House Martin 236
Swift 3
Swallow 153
Buzzard
Sand Martin 250
Swallow 200
House martin 50
Swift 1
Also 59 Swift and 150 Sand Martin NW into the wind this eve
Again we visited and the young have fledged on to the outside of the barn, it was wonderful to see these delightful young birds, being fed and flitting nervously from one barn door to another.
Dunno what the children were doing but the birds were brilliant
Morning visit - pretty quiet.
Pair of Great Crested Grebes, with 1 almost fully grown young on the boating lake.
2 Stock Dove heard (1 seen) and another single heard in different parts of the park - occupying roughly the same locations as in previous years visits during the breeding season but they seem to be, for me anyway, a difficult species to confirm breeding for.
Song Thrush carrying food in tetrad SD 80H Heaton Park Reservoir.
I asked some of the staff at the Farm Centre if they could tell me how many pairs of Swallows were breeding there. They told me three pairs - and then let me have a look at them which was nice of them - 1 adult was seen sitting.
c15 Pied Wagtails - mostly juveniles - on the newly mown grassland.
Cheers,
Bill.
Also 2 Male Wheatear, 3 Stockdove, Spahawk and GSW
84 Meadow Pipit NW
Skylark 2 west
Sand Martin 3 west
Buzzard North
Lapwing 5 north
Grey Heron 8 south - all high birds circling round on thermals and 1 group of 4.
There was also a dead bird in the middle of the horse paddock with feathers all around it - on closer inspection it was a Great crested grebe - fresh - it had been plucked and part eaten from its back - and assume it must have been a peregrine kill
19th March
80+ Redwing in trees by Heaton Park tram stop singing away amongst themselves.
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 20th of March 2010 09:08:22 AM
On and around the boating lake - 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Pochard - 1 male and 1 female, 5 Muscovy Ducks might be recent additions to the motley selection of feral birds here?
2 Nuthatch interchanged calls and songs from different woodlands in this area of the park.
Cheers,
Bill
Redwing 30
Blackbird 3
Great Tit 25
Blue Tit 20
Goldfinch 15
Chaffinch 10
and singles of GSW, Nuthatch & Jay
Boating lake 95% frozen female tufted only thing of note
in the woods
Coal Tit - c20
Nuthatch 4
GSW 2
Jay 2
About 120 Carrion Crow and 200 Jackdaw into roost.
A nice assortment of wildfowl:-
7 Pochard (6 males),
4 Shoveler (2 males),
3 Teal (2 males),
11 Tufted Duck.
No grebes or Goosanders which was a bit of a surprise.
Also 4 Cormorants - 1 caught a decent sized fish and swallowed it but only after a brief skirmish with another Cormorant, that looked like it may have been trying to steal it!
1 Grey Wagtail.
1 Herring Gull.
8 typical Greylag Geese along, with 24 Embden types of various hues.
Really pleased to see a Chiffchaff feeding in silver birch trees with 3 Blue Tits. First time I have seen a wintering Chiffchaff! Strangely enough I had been reading about this species in this mornings section of Nature Notes in The Times. Link if interested is http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article6955074.ece
In the surrounding woodlands - Treecreeper, Jay and Nuthatch.
Cheers,
Bill.
not jotted up exact numbers and wont be able to get figures till later but about 1000 Feildfare flew over heaton park this morning along with 500+ Starling, 500+ Redwing, 100+ Woodpigeon, 5 Siskin, 21 Brambling, 3 Wigeon, female Pintail, 5 Goosander and 250 Pinkfeet
Wigeon 3 North (male and 2 female)
Golden Plover south
Lapwing 17 south
Buzzard 2
Redwing 566 SE
Skylark south
Siskin 5 South
Chaffinch 41 SW
Starling 129 W-NW
Redwing 142 south
Fieldfare 132 W-SW
Woodpigeon 33 south
Pied Wag 3 south
Mpipit 13 south
Reed Bunt 6 SW
Redpoll 7 SW
Rook 56 SW
Chaffinch 30 SW
Jay 2 SW
Skylark 3 SW
Pochard 2 Male south
Lapwing 17 south
Whooper Swan 2 SE - 18.10
7.25 - 10am - cold
Redwing 498 NW and 114 south
Fieldfare 90 NW
Starling 120 W-NW
Brambling 2 north
Cormorant 2 SW and 1 SE
Siskin 2 SE
Skylark 2 SE
Goldfinch 7 south
Snipe South - in flock of Redwing
Starling 37 west
Bar-tailed Godwit flew south eventullay
Rock Pipit with 9 mpipits went SW
Good number of Wigeon down
Hi Sean,
I visited Heaton Park and the boating lake and on both 23/6 and on 14/7 of this year. On 23/6 there were two pairs of Great Crested Grebes on the boating lake and one adult from one of the pairs was feeding a single three-quarters grown young on that date. Have only visited twice this year, hoping to add some roving records for the 2007 -2011 BTO (and GM breeding!) Atlas project. No grebes - adults or juvs - were seen on 14/7.
Shameless plug to all GM birders! - don't forget that the third year (of four) of the atlas project starts on 1/11/09. So get stuck in!!! To pinch a catchphrase from one of our largest retailers - every little helps!
Best wishes,
Bill.
-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Monday 12th of October 2009 06:49:38 PM
Also, I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but Great Crested Grebe numbers have fallen on the boating lake this year. There used to be at least two pairs breeding, but not sure if any were successful this summer? Only two birds seem to be on the water most visits at present, compared to 8-10 in some previous years. They have not moved on to the reservoir either, so not sure if they have moved elsewhere or if a genuine decline in numbers has occurred?
rain stopped play just before 10
Redwing 569 W-SW-S
Fieldfare 5 NW
Song Thrush 2 SW
Mpipit 60 SW
Alba Wag 10 south
Swallow SW
Starling 35 west (several groups seen coming from out east)
Cormorant south
Snipe 2 south
Rook 6 SW (prob local but biggest group have seen here)
Reed Bunt 3 SW
Greenfinch 18 NE
Chaffinch 19 south
Shoveler 2 dropped in before going west
Present in park Peregrine male with prey, 2 spahawk - one chased Grey wag which escaped, flock of 21 Linnet and 13 Mistle Thrush
11 Redwing SW
Was hoping to catch the Redwing movement which had been going on over the Pennines last night (Bradford and Halifax area) but the fog put a dampner on things
2nd attempt when fog lifted
2 Redwing, 2 Swallow, 6 Skylark and 11 Mpipit all south
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 10th of October 2009 12:35:31 PM
6.50 - 12.30 - did leave to go home at 9.15 but things picked up when fog lifted.
Swallow 294 SW
Mpipit 463 SW
Skylark 11 SW
Pinkfeet 37 west
Alba Wag 51 SW-S-SE
Grey Wag 3 south
Lapwing 60 SE
Buzzard 2 SE
Kestrel south - high
Greenfinch 31 NE
Redpoll south
In the Park 50 Swallow and 80 Mpipit blogging about, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, 33 Mistle thrush and 35 Linnet
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Sunday 27th of September 2009 07:17:09 PM
8.45-10.50 - late up today
Rock Pipit - calling bird SW was best bird
Mpipit 219 SW
Swallow 69 South
House Martin 14 south
Pinkfeet 8 west
Lapwing 18 south and 20 west
Skylark 2 south
Kestrel south
Present Green Wood, Kestrel 3, Spahawk 2+
6.50-10.50am - excellent morning.
Pintail 3 south (eclipse drake & 2 fem/imm)
Meadow Pipit 542 S-SW
Skylark 9 SW (single flock)
Swallow 80 south
House Martin 120+ S-SE
Reed Bunt 16 SW
Grey Wag 2 south
Pied Wag 12 south
Siskin 3 SW
Linnet 13
Goldfinch 25 south
Woodpigeon 29 south
Redpoll 8 NW
Snipe west
Song Thrush 3 soutp
Also good raptor Passage
Hobby (juv) SW, Peregrine SW, Kestrel 2 (together) south + 1 present and a Spahawk South.
Elsewhere in park - Chiffchaff - still singing, Green , 3 GSW, Nuthatch and 40 Goldfinch
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 25th of September 2009 12:29:34 PM
6.50- 9.30am
Cormorant 2 SE
Snipe 2 west
Kestrel south
Mpipit 282 S-SW
Swallow 8 SW
Alba Wag 26 SW
Grey Wag 2 south
Song thrush 4 south
Mistle Thrush 14 SW
Jay 3 SW
Reed Bunt 11 south
Siskin 5 SE
Redpoll 2 SW
Linnet 29 south
Goldfinch 24 North
In the park 16 Mistle Thrush, white wag and 2 singing Chiffchaff
Meadow Pipit 216 S-SW
Skylark 11 south one flock
Siskin SW
Swallow 28 south
Houe Martin 35 south
Grey Wag 10 south
Pied Wag 15 E-SE
Lawping 10 NW
Rook 2 SW
Linnet 15 south
Goldfinch 12 south
Reed Bunt 3 south
Cormorant 3 SE
Mistle Thrush 11 North
Song Thrush 2 south plus another 3 drop in from the north
Jay 16 SW - these were high birds coming down the valley from near Ramsbottom in flocks of 5,4,3,2 and 2 singles
Also Wheatear, Green Woodpecker, Chiffchaff, GSW, Nuthatch and Tree Creeper in park
Tree Pipit - heard calling south
Meadow Pipit 189 S-SW
Grey Wag 3 west
Pied Wag 11 SE
Swallow 126 SE
House Martin 7 south
Chaffinch 20 SW
Goldfinch 14 south
Reed Bunting 8 SW
Jay 12 SW - these were in 4 groups
Rook 4 SW - scarce birds here
Buzzard 3 SE
Spahawk 2 south
Wigeon 2 SE
Cormorant 2 SE
2 Wheatear present
Mpipit 62 = 38 NW + 24 SW
Swallow 1 East + 5 SW
House Sparrow 3 high NE
Grey Wag 5 west
Reed Bunting 5 south
Siskin SW
Greenfinch 18 north
Kingfisher, 5 Teal, Goldeneye, Garden Warbler and White Wag in Park
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Friday 11th of September 2009 09:00:50 PM
Not much passing over
Meadow pipit 31 SW
Sand Martin 25 SE
Swallow 46 SW
Reed Bunt 3 west
Cormorant south
Teal 3 SW
Mallard 19 SW
more action around the horse paddock and the bushes at back of res
Tree Pipit one landed in dead tree in corner of horse paddock as I was stood under it calling away was there couple on minutes before going west
In the bushes 10 Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler - which sand several times, 2 Blackcap and a Whitethroat. A Juv Green Woodpecker had a lucky escape from a sparrowhawk
Swallows and Sand Martins were feeding over the field and sitting on the wire's 2 Swift were with them and a flock of 30+ Linnet
Windy, sunshine and showers
Common Tern Juv flew south east @ 7.30am
Dunlin west @ 7.50am
Pied Wag 5 south
Lots of hirundines moving and again this evening being held up by the showers so feeding up and then powering south west when clearing.
Swallow 289 south west + another 100 present
House Martin 31 south west + another 20+ present
Sand Martin 47 south west + another 20+ Present
Hobby 1 SE
Spahawk 2 SW
House Martin 59 S-SW
Swallow 100 South
Sand Martin 5 South
Alba wag 18 S-SW
Grey Wag 2 SE
Mpipit 4 SW
Goldfinch 15 East
Cormorant NE
Mallard 7 high south
The second season of official recording for the BTO and GM breeding atlases is coming to an end on the last day of July - thought would try and spend at bit of time wandering around the general area to see what was about. Maybe a touch late in the season to pick up much but....
2 separate family parties of Chiffchaffs were the highlight. The fledged young have a very distinctive begging/contact call (not unlike the flight calls of Siskin but shorter, sharper and less nasal and "whiny" in tone - 1 party had at least 3 juvs and the other party a minimum of 1 juv.
Adult male Chaffinch feeding 1 begging juvenile.
Terrific views of a recently fledged young Jay.
Juvenile Goldcrest.
Other confirmed breeders - Wren, Moorhen, Swallow, Greenfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Robin.
On the boating lake - I know they are not the most popular of birds but two pairs of Embden Geese have bred - the first three goslings are now almost full grown but today there was one very cute, small gosling trailing after all of the adult birds and pleading to be fed - it got all of the attention (if not all of the bread!) from the assorted bread chuckers!
Cheers,
Bill.
Swallows a plenty, House Martins back in, Willow Warbler 2, Blackcap 1, Chiffchaff 1, Treecreeper 1, Nuthatch 4, Goldcrest 2, GS Woodpecker 3, Jay 6, two pairs of GC Grebes on the boating lake and the first of probably many Canada Geese chicks swimming around too .
GSW 4
Spahawk 3 inc pair displaying
Siskin NE
Mpipit 66 North
Cormorant North
Also did my WeBS this morning, not too much about, most winter ducks have moved on from both the water bodies in the park and the reservoir. 4 Tufted Duck and a Shoveller still on the Boating Lake, with 2 pairs of GC Grebes nest building, while a couple of Teal are still lurking on the Wildlife Pond, although not much water left in this at present.
Lots of GS Woodpeckers drumming, but not caught up with any LSWs so far this year.
Nice to be out in the sunshine again though!!
20+ Redpoll Flock containing what i believe were 1st winter Mealies at least 3 of them.
They were giving cracking views as they fed on the ground.
Would be good for any photographers out there to try and get to grips with them!
They were at the top of the hill were the horse paddock is between the tram stop entrance and the horticultral centre. There was also a noisey 250+ flock of Redwing in this area.
Also caught the back end of a flock of swans fly over heaton Park tram stop betwen 5-6 of them. But they went over the houses before getting a good look,
Boating Lake
Shoveler 4 (3m 1F)
Tufted Duck 25
Cormorant
Peregrine over
The woods
Lesser Redpoll mobile flock of 40+
Common "Mealy" Redpoll at least one with the above
Nuthatch 2+
Treecreeper
Jay 5
Redwing 311 several high groups sw-w-nw
Fieldfare 168 5 groups sw-w-nw
Chaffinch 18 N
Greenfinch 6 N
Woodpigeon 30 N
Starling 57 w & n
Lawping 76 east
Spahawk 2 s & 1 w
totals
Redwing 2583 SW W NW
Fieldfare 1351 NW
Song Thrush 2 SW
Brambling 2 SW
Chaffinch 96 SW
Greenfinch 25 SW W
Goldfinch 34 S
Redpoll 2 S
Bullfinch 2 S & 6 W All high
Reed Bunt 4 W (one group)
Woodpigeon 303 S SW
Meadow Pipit 17 SW
Pied Wag 28 S SW
Starling 19 W
Spahawk 5 S
Kestrel W
Cormorant 3 NE & 5 SW
Skylark single S
Lapwing 25 S
Dunlin W
Whooper Swan 1 NW and 18 E with 200 PFG
PFG 585 SE & 38 W
Cracking morning
In the park
Nuthatch 4
Jay 6
Blackcap 2
GSW 2