3 Mute Swan yesterday (2/11/13). It looked as if the adults were in the process of chasing the third juvenile away, there being no sign of the other two juveniles!
Also
2 Coot 1 Mallard 1 Black-headed Gull
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Oct 20 1:09 AM, 2013
At least 4 Mute Swan visible from tram early evening
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Jul 14 11:36 PM, 2013
Pair of Mute Swan and 3 cygnets
Coot
15+ Mallard (lots of juveniles)
Grey Heron
Whitethroat singing
Willow Warbler singing
Steve Suttill said
Sat Jun 15 2:37 AM, 2013
Karen Foulkes wrote:
The pair of Mute Swans now have four cygnets
Only 3 cygnets this afternoon though they were being well looked after by the parent birds.
Pair of Mistle Thrush have nested under the canopy of the garden centre and have 3 recently-fledged young
Just amazing how good a place for birding this is.
Some of us can remember it before they built a motorway, a by-pass and a tram track through it...
Ashley Edwards said
Wed May 15 10:50 PM, 2013
Just amazing how good a place for birding this is. Visit to Mockridge Nurseries cut short to go look at Sedge warbler Blackcap Skylark calling in distance Pair of mute swans Swift x3 Whitethroat
Karen Foulkes said
Sat May 11 8:09 PM, 2013
This morning
Sedge Warbler still present Willow Warbler Blackcap Whitethroat Grey Heron
Karen Foulkes said
Wed May 8 1:12 AM, 2013
2 Whitethroat Willow Warbler 2 Grey Heron Swallow plus the usuals
No sign of yesterday's Lesser Whitethroat or Sedge Warbler
Karen Foulkes said
Tue May 7 5:21 AM, 2013
Mid afternoon
Mockridge Garden Centre area
Reed Bunting (singing male) At least 2 Common Whitethroat Blackcap Sedge Warbler, an uncommon species in Tameside! Lesser Whitethroat, I initially heard this bird whilst trying to find the Sedge Warbler. As I managed to get on the bird he moved, being a typical Lesser Whitethroat! He sang about six bursts and seemed to move on
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Feb 24 2:27 AM, 2013
Grey Heron and drake Tufted Duck seen from bus on pool nearest Manchester Road early afternoon
Steve Suttill said
Mon Jan 28 5:34 PM, 2013
Buzzard on a fence post by the railway line this morning.
Karen Foulkes said
Mon Jan 28 4:07 AM, 2013
Morning visit
3 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool. 2 adults and 1 juvenile bird 20+ Black Headed Gull 3 Mallard 10+ Magpie near Cricket Club
Sainsburys roundabout
2 Jackdaw 7 Carrion Crow 6+ Common Gull
Sean Molloy said
Thu Jun 21 4:36 AM, 2012
8.20pm - 9.00pm 20/6/12
Quick stroll round starting near the path near the sheldon arms. Robin Song Thrust, singing deafeningly loud! c10-20 Starling c10 Swallows Swift 1 Kestrel flew over and was subsequently mobbed by everything, poor thing. 1 Little Grebe, couldn't see any of the chicks, hopefully they were huddled in the reeds with the other parent. Mute Swans still on Mockridges pond with all 5 cygnets. Mallards still got plenty of ducklings. 1 Grey Heron
Also, whilst walking back down the dirt road had a lond distance staring contest with a fox.
Sean
Sean Molloy said
Wed Jun 13 3:56 PM, 2012
11am-12pm
Mockridge Pond Swans and cygnets still present Mallards ducklings doing well Reed Bunting
Skylark singing above scrubby fields
Went over to the smaller pool next to the field with the horses. x2 Little Grebe with 4 tiny chicks Linnet Goldfinch Coot Swallows
Loads of Starlings all over the place Also saw a little gang of blue tit fledglings in a bush down near the motorway bridge.
Sean
-- Edited by Sean Molloy on Wednesday 13th of June 2012 04:02:55 PM
Steve Suttill said
Mon Jun 11 4:30 PM, 2012
Glad to hear that the cygnets are doing OK - think Rachael said there were 6 originally. The guys working on the Metro have been keeping an eye on them.
There are a few Reed Bunting around, but the bigger flocks in the area last time I visited were Linnets. A few pairs of Lapwing seem to have bred as usual but it won't be long before the roost starts to build up again.
Steve
Sean Molloy said
Mon Jun 11 5:25 AM, 2012
Not sure if anyone is still posting in here but seems to be the only thread on the forum for this general area.
Walk around near mockridges yesterday afternoon, around 4PM, for the first time in a while.
Mute swans have successfully bred, 5 signets in tow. Mallards have also bred, i think i counted about 9 ducklings. They were so tame, obviously used to being fed, that they literally crowded around my feet. Coot with one chick, past the downy stage but still obviously young and being fed by both parents. 2 Grey herons unfortunately didn't have my bins but I'm sure there was a flock of reed bunting about but couldn't get close enough to see. also saw a few greenfinch and goldfinch. 1 lapwing on a strip of grass in the middle of the dual carriageway, only one i saw. are they still roosting in the area or have they been deterred by the metro work? not much else of note.
Sean
-- Edited by Sean Molloy on Monday 11th of June 2012 03:09:20 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Mon May 30 8:59 PM, 2011
Late afternoon visit
Blackcap - 2 sets of parents feeding young, at least one more singing Willow Warbler - 3 singing Whitethroat - 3 birds singing including one displaying Reed Bunting singing Mallard with 8 well grown ducklings Grey Heron Lapwings still around, not sure how much Metro works have affected them, no obvious sign of any young birds Skylark in full song 8 House Martin
Alan Turner said
Sat Apr 30 3:19 PM, 2011
Swift seen at junction of Lord Sheldon Way and Manchester Road,2.15pm
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Apr 17 12:31 PM, 2011
Late am
Common Whitethroat - 2 birds singing in different locations 2 Blackcap singing and 1 female c10 Willow Warblers c20 Linnet 2 Meadow Pipits Mute Swans still present
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Apr 10 2:16 PM, 2011
This morning 0900-1200
Male Reed Bunting singing when I first arrived 5 Willow Warblers all heard only 4 Blackcap (2 males singing in close proximity to one another with 2 females also in the vicinity) 2 Sand Martin over 16+ Lapwing 8-10 Linnet c4 Skylark singing and another one showing well perched on post Also quite a large passage of Meadow Pipits appeared to be going through c50 birds in total
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Mar 20 5:00 PM, 2011
After rain this afternoon
Mockridge Pool 1 Reed Bunting (male) 1 Little Grebe Pair Coot 1 Moorhen
Sheldon Pool 2 Mute Swan 2 Coot 6 Mallard
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Mar 12 12:08 PM, 2011
A brief look on the Moss this am
4 Lapwings displaying despite the fact that they were working in the area 1 Skylark singing 2 adult Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool Also 2 Coot and a Moorhen
At least 3 Greenfinch displaying Plenty of House Sparrows also
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Mar 6 12:12 PM, 2011
A good mooch around the moss this am
Two flocks of Linnet (6 and 10-12) At least 3 Skylarks singing including 2 having a mid air battle for territory 2-3 Meadow Pipit, a bit thin on the ground in Tameside at the moment 2 adult Mute Swans arrived on Sheldon Pool, one had a silver ring on, couldn't read number though Pr Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool also 1 Buzzard displaying towards motorway 1 Kestrel, hovering near Metro works 3 Lapwing displaying
Good numbers of birds singing, nothing out of the ordinary though
Still some good habitat in the area despite the works
Sheldon Pool 2 adult Mute Swan when I arrived, a first winter bird then arrived, stayed briefly and then flew off. One adult bird was definitely unringed, but I didn't see the legs properly of the other, but the first winter bird was ringed. Unfortunately I was unable to read the ring as I only saw the ring when the bird was in flight.
Also present: 20 Lapwing 1 Grey Heron c20 Black Headed Gull 2 Mallard 10 Canada Geese
Mockridge Pool
2 Moorhen 2 Mallard
30 Linnet opposite KFC feeding on ground
Greenfinch displaying near Mockridge Garden Centre
Areas which were potentially good for Lapwing breeding last year now look unsuitable as there is lots of digging going on, it looks like several breeding species will be lost from this site and the workmen were taking a keen interest in Sheldon Pool today.
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 24th of January 2011 01:32:29 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Jan 9 1:07 PM, 2011
This am
All pools still iced over
c150 Pink Footed Goose, probably same skein reported on Pink Foot thread times etc tie in 2 Lapwing with 1 Golden Plover calling loudly over towards Ashton, no birds roosting on Gala Bingo though Meadow Pipit over calling plus another unseen bird Common Buzzard dislodged by Crow near motorway/Leisure area Grey Heron around Sheldon Pool 1 Herring, 2 Common and c40 Black Headed Gulls on Sainsburys roundabout. c40 Jackdaw on Sainsburys Roundabout
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Oct 7 8:22 PM, 2010
This evening 1710-1820
Sheldon Pool Mute Swan 2 Moorhen Grey Heron
22 Lapwing over in two groups of 12 and 10 Steady stream of Gulls flying over towards Audenshaw
When I was waiting for the bus, there was a flock of 50-100 Pied Wagtails which landed first on Nexus House and then across the road on the Snipe Retail Park perching on the road side of Argos and Comet, looking like a different roost perhaps?
Rachael Hill said
Tue Aug 31 3:20 PM, 2010
Quick mooch today about 2.30pm Lots of digger movement on Moss so a lot of disruption. On the plus side that got a few flying 80+ lapwings 60+ Black headed gulls 30+ starlings 8+ carrion crow All circling
Sheldon Pool c35 Lapwing - more may have been hiding in long grass 15 Mallard including duck with 8 well grown young 1 Moorhen 10 Canada Geese 1 Grey Heron - juv 8 House Martin low over pool 2 Sand Martin over 1 Swallow
Skylark singing on the moss 3 Pied Wagtail over
Also around
Greenfinch House Sparrow Wren Collared Dove Woodpigeon Feral Pigeon B H Gull Swift
It sounded like there were young birds Moorhen or Coot? on Mockridge Pool, but the cover on the ground is so thick, only small parts of the pool are visible.
Iain Johnson said
Wed Jul 14 8:00 PM, 2010
probable hobby flew over the car as we crossed the M60 by the village hotel circa 7pm - flew along the embankment towards jnc 23.
A skylark was singing this morning over Lord Sheldon Way.
Iain Johnson said
Fri May 28 2:23 PM, 2010
highlights from early afternoon
1 ringed plover 3 lapwings 1 skylark
Iain Johnson said
Wed May 26 7:41 AM, 2010
early evening yesterday
whitethroat 5+ reed bunting 1 blue tit 1 goldfinch 4+ greenfinch wren 2 magpie 3 starling inc a flock of around 300 carrion crow 4+ jackdaw 1 willow warbler 2+ robin 1 blackbird 2 wood pigeon 2 swift 4+ swallow 1 LBB Gull 2
black rat!
Iain Johnson said
Thu May 20 1:20 PM, 2010
Thought I heard a cuckoo distantly whilst on the moss this lunchtime.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat May 15 5:27 PM, 2010
A trip this morning revealed no sign of the hoped for Sedge Warbler, one that looks like it won't find its way onto my Tameside list this year!
Didn't have time to check the area out fully today
1 Oystercatcher flying north 2 male Reed Buntings 4 Whitethroat Mute Swan Greenfinch with 2 young
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 15th of May 2010 05:37:22 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Sun May 9 11:57 AM, 2010
A good selection of birds on the Moss this morning, nothing out of the ordinary though.
4 Whitethroat along bridleway towards Littlemoss Little Grebe on Mockridge Pool Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool 3 Grey Heron Good numbers of Linnet around
and lots of common stuff
Iain Johnson said
Tue May 4 7:13 PM, 2010
had a wander across part of the moss: greenfinch, goldfinch, chaffinch, blue, great and long tailed tit's, pied wagtail, whitethroat, wood pigeon, blackcap.
Karen Foulkes said
Sun May 2 8:56 PM, 2010
A walk across the Moss this afternoon
Sheldon Pool Mute Swan Mallard Canada Goose
Mockridge Pool Grey Heron Moorhen Coot Little Grebe 4 Mallard
3+ Lapwing Linnet Skylark 2 Whitethroat singing opposite Leisure Park
gary mills said
Tue Apr 20 10:17 PM, 2010
Good view of a male Wheatear as it landed on the railings by the motorway bridge on Lord Sheldon Way this morning.
3 Mute Swan still present
4 Tufted Duck - 3 drake
Coot
c10 Black-headed Gull
16.00
Two flocks of lapwings flew from Moss direction over Halford (Snipe retail Park), towards reservoirs.
Approx 35 in 1st flock
Approx 25 in 2nd flock
A few minutes this morning
3 Mute Swan
2 Coot
12 Mallard12 Black-headed Gull
2 Canada Geese
Female Tufted Duck
Cormorant flew towards Audenshaw
3 Mute Swan
Drake Tufted Duck
1 Coot
70+ Black-headed Gull (c20 on roof of Car People)
No Lapwing
3 Redwing flew towards motorway embankment near The Village
3 Mute Swan
50+ Black-headed Gull
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 14th of December 2013 08:29:30 PM
50+ Black-headed Gulls on pool by Metrolink stop
3 Mute Swan
3 Mute Swan
2 Coot
Moorhen
Female Tufted Duck
7 Mallard
1 Meadow Pipit over
3 Mute Swans still present
1 Coot
Also
2 Coot
1 Mallard
1 Black-headed Gull
Coot
15+ Mallard (lots of juveniles)
Grey Heron
Whitethroat singing
Willow Warbler singing
Only 3 cygnets this afternoon though they were being well looked after by the parent birds.
Pair of Mistle Thrush have nested under the canopy of the garden centre and have 3 recently-fledged young
Sedge Warbler singing and giving brief views
2-3 Reed Bunting
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Willow Warbler
Grey Heron
Skylark
Sedge warbler
Blackcap
Reed bunting
Bullfinch
Willow warblers aplenty
Skylark x2
Plus the usual suspects on the pond/swan lake
Some of us can remember it before they built a motorway, a by-pass and a tram track through it...
Sedge warbler
Blackcap
Skylark calling in distance
Pair of mute swans
Swift x3
Whitethroat
Sedge Warbler still present
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Whitethroat
Grey Heron
Willow Warbler
2 Grey Heron
Swallow
plus the usuals
No sign of yesterday's Lesser Whitethroat or Sedge Warbler
Mockridge Garden Centre area
Reed Bunting (singing male)
At least 2 Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Sedge Warbler, an uncommon species in Tameside!
Lesser Whitethroat, I initially heard this bird whilst trying to find the Sedge Warbler. As I managed to get on the bird he moved, being a typical Lesser Whitethroat! He sang about six bursts and seemed to move on
3 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool. 2 adults and 1 juvenile bird
20+ Black Headed Gull
3 Mallard
10+ Magpie near Cricket Club
Sainsburys roundabout
2 Jackdaw
7 Carrion Crow
6+ Common Gull
Quick stroll round starting near the path near the sheldon arms.
Robin
Song Thrust, singing deafeningly loud!
c10-20 Starling
c10 Swallows
Swift
1 Kestrel flew over and was subsequently mobbed by everything, poor thing.
1 Little Grebe, couldn't see any of the chicks, hopefully they were huddled in the reeds with the other parent.
Mute Swans still on Mockridges pond with all 5 cygnets.
Mallards still got plenty of ducklings.
1 Grey Heron
Also, whilst walking back down the dirt road had a lond distance staring contest with a fox.
Sean
Mockridge Pond
Swans and cygnets still present
Mallards ducklings doing well
Reed Bunting
Skylark singing above scrubby fields
Went over to the smaller pool next to the field with the horses.
x2 Little Grebe with 4 tiny chicks
Linnet
Goldfinch
Coot
Swallows
Loads of Starlings all over the place
Also saw a little gang of blue tit fledglings in a bush down near the motorway bridge.
Sean
-- Edited by Sean Molloy on Wednesday 13th of June 2012 04:02:55 PM
There are a few Reed Bunting around, but the bigger flocks in the area last time I visited were Linnets. A few pairs of Lapwing seem to have bred as usual but it won't be long before the roost starts to build up again.
Steve
Walk around near mockridges yesterday afternoon, around 4PM, for the first time in a while.
Mute swans have successfully bred, 5 signets in tow.
Mallards have also bred, i think i counted about 9 ducklings. They were so tame, obviously used to being fed, that they literally crowded around my feet.
Coot with one chick, past the downy stage but still obviously young and being fed by both parents.
2 Grey herons
unfortunately didn't have my bins but I'm sure there was a flock of reed bunting about but couldn't get close enough to see.
also saw a few greenfinch and goldfinch.
1 lapwing on a strip of grass in the middle of the dual carriageway, only one i saw. are they still roosting in the area or have they been deterred by the metro work?
not much else of note.
Sean
-- Edited by Sean Molloy on Monday 11th of June 2012 03:09:20 PM
Blackcap - 2 sets of parents feeding young, at least one more singing
Willow Warbler - 3 singing
Whitethroat - 3 birds singing including one displaying
Reed Bunting singing
Mallard with 8 well grown ducklings
Grey Heron
Lapwings still around, not sure how much Metro works have affected them, no obvious sign of any young birds
Skylark in full song
8 House Martin
Common Whitethroat - 2 birds singing in different locations
2 Blackcap singing and 1 female
c10 Willow Warblers
c20 Linnet
2 Meadow Pipits
Mute Swans still present
Male Reed Bunting singing when I first arrived
5 Willow Warblers all heard only
4 Blackcap (2 males singing in close proximity to one another with 2 females also in the vicinity)
2 Sand Martin over
16+ Lapwing
8-10 Linnet
c4 Skylark singing and another one showing well perched on post
Also quite a large passage of Meadow Pipits appeared to be going through c50 birds in total
Mockridge Pool
1 Reed Bunting (male)
1 Little Grebe
Pair Coot
1 Moorhen
Sheldon Pool
2 Mute Swan
2 Coot
6 Mallard
4 Lapwings displaying despite the fact that they were working in the area
1 Skylark singing
2 adult Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool
Also 2 Coot and a Moorhen
At least 3 Greenfinch displaying
Plenty of House Sparrows also
Two flocks of Linnet (6 and 10-12)
At least 3 Skylarks singing including 2 having a mid air battle for territory
2-3 Meadow Pipit, a bit thin on the ground in Tameside at the moment
2 adult Mute Swans arrived on Sheldon Pool, one had a silver ring on, couldn't read number though
Pr Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool also
1 Buzzard displaying towards motorway
1 Kestrel, hovering near Metro works
3 Lapwing displaying
Good numbers of birds singing, nothing out of the ordinary though
Still some good habitat in the area despite the works
Sheldon Pool
1 ad Mute Swan
2 Coot
1 Mallard
Mockridge Pool
2 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron
1 Skylark singing above old slag heaps
Kestrel hovering
9 Goldfinch
Sheldon Pool
2 adult Mute Swan when I arrived, a first winter bird then arrived, stayed briefly and then flew off. One adult bird was definitely unringed, but I didn't see the legs properly of the other, but the first winter bird was ringed. Unfortunately I was unable to read the ring as I only saw the ring when the bird was in flight.
Also present:
20 Lapwing
1 Grey Heron
c20 Black Headed Gull
2 Mallard
10 Canada Geese
Mockridge Pool
2 Moorhen
2 Mallard
30 Linnet opposite KFC feeding on ground
Greenfinch displaying near Mockridge Garden Centre
Areas which were potentially good for Lapwing breeding last year now look unsuitable as there is lots of digging going on, it looks like several breeding species will be lost from this site and the workmen were taking a keen interest in Sheldon Pool today.
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 24th of January 2011 01:32:29 PM
All pools still iced over
c150 Pink Footed Goose, probably same skein reported on Pink Foot thread times etc tie in
2 Lapwing with 1 Golden Plover calling loudly over towards Ashton, no birds roosting on Gala Bingo though
Meadow Pipit over calling plus another unseen bird
Common Buzzard dislodged by Crow near motorway/Leisure area
Grey Heron around Sheldon Pool
1 Herring, 2 Common and c40 Black Headed Gulls on Sainsburys roundabout.
c40 Jackdaw on Sainsburys Roundabout
Sheldon Pool
Mute Swan
2 Moorhen
Grey Heron
22 Lapwing over in two groups of 12 and 10
Steady stream of Gulls flying over towards Audenshaw
When I was waiting for the bus, there was a flock of 50-100 Pied Wagtails which landed first on Nexus House and then across the road on the Snipe Retail Park perching on the road side of Argos and Comet, looking like a different roost perhaps?
Lots of digger movement on Moss so a lot of disruption.
On the plus side that got a few flying
80+ lapwings
60+ Black headed gulls
30+ starlings
8+ carrion crow
All circling
On Sheldon pond
28 canada geese
16 mallard
1 grey heron
no skylark which is what we went for!
Sheldon Pool
c35 Lapwing - more may have been hiding in long grass
15 Mallard including duck with 8 well grown young
1 Moorhen
10 Canada Geese
1 Grey Heron - juv
8 House Martin low over pool
2 Sand Martin over
1 Swallow
Skylark singing on the moss
3 Pied Wagtail over
Also around
Greenfinch
House Sparrow
Wren
Collared Dove
Woodpigeon
Feral Pigeon
B H Gull
Swift
It sounded like there were young birds Moorhen or Coot? on Mockridge Pool, but the cover on the ground is so thick, only small parts of the pool are visible.
A skylark was singing this morning over Lord Sheldon Way.
1 ringed plover
3 lapwings
1 skylark
whitethroat 5+
reed bunting 1
blue tit 1
goldfinch 4+
greenfinch
wren 2
magpie 3
starling inc a flock of around 300
carrion crow 4+
jackdaw 1
willow warbler 2+
robin 1
blackbird 2
wood pigeon 2
swift 4+
swallow 1
LBB Gull 2
black rat!
Didn't have time to check the area out fully today
1 Oystercatcher flying north
2 male Reed Buntings
4 Whitethroat
Mute Swan
Greenfinch with 2 young
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 15th of May 2010 05:37:22 PM
4 Whitethroat along bridleway towards Littlemoss
Little Grebe on Mockridge Pool
Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool
3 Grey Heron
Good numbers of Linnet around
and lots of common stuff
Sheldon Pool
Mute Swan
Mallard
Canada Goose
Mockridge Pool
Grey Heron
Moorhen
Coot
Little Grebe
4 Mallard
3+ Lapwing
Linnet
Skylark
2 Whitethroat singing opposite Leisure Park