Great views of Yellow Wagtail and Whinchat at 30ft. in f11 at 11- 12pm today from the path between f11 and f2. Whinchat was midway along the path and Yellow Wagtail favoured the end of f11 at the crossroads f10, 2 and f1 but was quite mobile (may have been 2). Nice to see Tony O'Mahony - he always brings me luck . Ps. As I left a Landrover and Drainage machine looked to be moving into f11. Pps. Take a warm coat it was bleak , I wore 2 fleeces but was still cold . F1. Lapwing 28 . Common Buzzard 2 over . Raven 2 over.
Richard Aubery said
Mon Apr 24 11:21 AM, 2017
09.30-10.30 Monday 24/4
Whinchat F11
Wheatear 10=
Yellow Wagtail 1 on F!1
Yellowhammer 4
1 Swallow
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 24th of April 2017 12:33:33 PM
phillipskelly said
Sun Apr 23 10:21 PM, 2017
From 5 - 7.30pm. Horse fields, Isherwood rd - Swallow 7. House Martin 2. F5. Grey Partridge 2. Wheatear 10. Mistle Thrush 1. Pheasant 3 ( Inc. 2 males having a stand-off). F4. Skylark 1. F12. Yellowhammer 2. F11. Wheatear 2. Skylark 1. Pied Wagtail 4. Alba Wagtail 1. Grey Wagtail 1. Yellowhammer 2. Common Buzzard 1 (low over). F1. Yellowhammer 2. Lapwing *29. Rook c20.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Apr 23 4:37 PM, 2017
Carried out the BTO's Breeding Bird Survey this morning 0650-0820, highlights included a singing male Linnet at Birch House Farm, Tree Sparrows on Sinderland Lane and 2 Grey Partridge in F32.
Yellowhammer numbers seemed up and I had a few Common Whitethroat (interestingly we didn't get a single one on the Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Leighton Moss yesterday).
In F5 (not on the survey) there were at least 10 Wheatear.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sun Apr 23 2:24 PM, 2017
Bugger, New there would be a Yellow Wagtail about, looks like the Wheatears have moved through as I had double figures in most fields. Glad you connected Pete :).
I decided to have a mooch around Carrington Moss, this morning and tick off some of the locals I have missed so far this year. Well, what a good decision. Between 0715 & 0800hrs I was watching a lifer, in the shape of a Male Whinchat. I first spotted it sat on the blue crate int he corner of field 11, it then moved up the field and sat on a blue tube sticking out of the ground, too far away for a picture of any description. I then lost it to view and could re find it no matter how hard I scanned the field. Other highlights.. Wheatears, sorry to many too count, in fields 4,2,1,10,11.....never seen this many, if I was asked to estimate mornings totals I say 60-70. Whitethroats, 6 in the scrub at field 27, 3 along the path at field 10. Blackcaps 4 all males singing from the fence Shell and Field 4 Yellowhammers at least 20 total, in the hedge at top of 4, and feeding in 1 , 10 , 11 & 2 Skylarks 8 in total in fields 4,11 & 2 lot of working being carried out in 4 looks like drainage work. Linnets 16 on the path between 1 & 2 a lot carrying nesting material.... Nice to bump into Jeff Clarke this morning
3 Tree Sparrows in the hedges down the road to Brookheys Covert this pm.
B Benson said
Sat Apr 8 1:41 PM, 2017
Basell site today
Yellowhammer 1
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Buzzard several
Grey wagtail 1
Ringed Plover 1
Lapwing 20+
Wheatear 4 the first I have seen this year.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Apr 7 6:38 PM, 2017
Buzzard 3 Linnet 10+ Yellowhammer 2 singing plus 5 others. Skylark 4 singing plus 5 others. Chiffchaff 14 singing. Blackcap 6 singing. Willow Warbler 3 singing. Song Thrush 7 singing. Meadow Pipit 1 Chaffinch 3 singing. Nuthatch 1 House Sparrow 1m at Swiss Cottage. Jay 1 Greenfinch 2 etc.etc.etc.
B Benson said
Mon Apr 3 9:49 PM, 2017
Basell site between last Friday and Sunday night:
One Ringed Plover
Two Oystercatchers
Two Kestrels together ( a pair bred here last year)
Two Grey Wagtails
many lapwing
Buzzard, unsure how many as spotted over a few days
Common Sandpiper flew off when disturbed from a shallow pond.
Three Canada Geese
Pied Wagtails all over the place.
Tim Wilcox said
Thu Mar 30 5:49 PM, 2017
This afternoon
Merlin f10 Buzzard f10 Lapwings 2 displaying f25 Kestrel f25 Skylarks singing f5 and f12 Teal 8 on Sinderland Brook Grey Wagtail 2 f32 Stock Dove 20 f35
Jeff Clarke said
Mon Mar 20 7:55 PM, 2017
One White Wagtail off Townsend Farm Lane, Sinderland Green 6 pm this afternoon (my first of the year). Also last week I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming on the pylon in field 8 it made quite an amazing sound!
Nev Wright said
Fri Mar 17 4:16 PM, 2017
Quick w alk around f4 this pm in the rain...
8 Brambling around the old orchard area and along the hedges.
Chiffchaff singing during brief rain respite.
Male Bullfinch.
4 Redwing
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 14 9:48 PM, 2017
At least two Ringed Plovers low over Sale Sharks Carrington training ground in the dark of this evening, unseen but heard flying low around the floodlit pitch around 7:30pm. Also, trees around the pitch seemingly full of Redwing and the odd Fieldfare.
Steven Heywood said
Mon Mar 13 7:21 PM, 2017
Half a dozen bramblings, including one male in fresh breeding plumage, with the chaffinches in the trees along the road to United's training ground.
Yellowhammers showing nicely near the Shell pool. Also three buzzards (one male, one female, one I'm not sure) flying round the woods nearby. Plenty of tufted duck, gadwall and shoveler viewable on the pool from the path.
Tim Wilcox said
Sat Mar 4 9:26 PM, 2017
This afternoon Stonechat a pair on the track between f24 and f25 Linnet 16 f9 Brambling single f9 Buzzard 4 f2, f10, f26
Chris Sutton said
Fri Mar 3 3:39 PM, 2017
1:00 to 2:30 in persistent rain making it very tricky to keep the optics dry. 40 skylarks 15 yellowhammer 250 ish chaffinch flock .... All too difficult to pick out any brambling in wet bins Buzzard 2 Tawny owl 1 Mixed finch flock c 40 mainly siskin Mixed tit flocks Peaked through the shell pond fence ....... Oystercatcher 2 Lapwing 4 Tufted duck PS - private property signs popping up and steel gates being put up across path by Swiss Cottage farm Chris
-- Edited by Chris Sutton on Friday 3rd of March 2017 03:53:31 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Feb 22 8:19 PM, 2017
Tuesday, February 21st. Field F4 and trees south of Shell Pool.
The area in and around Jack Lane nature reserve in Flixton is always good for Willow Tit. 2 there this morning.
Sean Greatbanks said
Sun Feb 19 9:46 AM, 2017
John, Steve,
Thanks so much for the info. I arrived direct to the forum - I see from the homepage that there is so much more now! Really useful, thank you.
Sean
Steven Heywood said
Sat Feb 18 9:46 PM, 2017
Hi Sean,
Willow tits get reported fairly regularly from the Mersey Valley and Priory Gardens in Sale. (I've only ever heard but not seen there).
If you can get up to Bury they're reasonably easy to connect with on the feeders by the yacht club on Elton Reservoir.
HTH
John Rayner said
Sat Feb 18 3:54 PM, 2017
Hi Sean,
Top right of this page click 'Back to the Manchester Birding Homepage' Click on 'Site Guides' and you are away.
Loads of maps and general information but Ian (website owner) is currently re-constructing the site so not everything is available yet.
Cheers John
Sean Greatbanks said
Sat Feb 18 3:32 PM, 2017
I've just come across this forum - I moved back to Sale last year after many years away and am getting reacquainted with the local birding patches. I'm by no means an expert birder but really enjoying getting back into it.
I had a nice afternoon on the Moss yesterday in the mild weather, after not visiting for a few months. Buzzard central with at least 13 knocking about including one that was not remotely bothered with me biking past it's low perch at less than 20 feet away.
There was a nice large mixed flock to pick through in the tress opposite the farm house on the main path at the back of the United training ground, at least 50 linnet, 20 chaffinch, at least 2 brambling, 5 yellowhammer (another 3 seen further along), goldfinch, the usual tits, goldcrest and a smart jay.
I could make out 1 shoveler, amongst the numerous tufties, on the pond just off the access road to the United complex (Is this the 'Shell pond'?).
Toward the Dunham end of the Moss there were lots of singing skylarks in the fields but not too much else of interest other than a flyover of 33 lapwing and a couple of stock doves. 20+ redwing were resting high in the tress near the bridge over the brook. The only ducks that I could make out at the fenced off largish pond at this end of the site were 4 gadwall.
I notice you guys are using grid references for the various fields. Is there a map available which lists these? I also noticed that there are a couple of hides on the Shell(?) pond. Is it possible to request access? All the aggressive new signs popping up regarding trespassing makes me think unlikely....
Could any regular site watchers offer any tips for finding willow tit? This bird has taken on a near mythical status for me! With grey partridge is it a case of being lucky and patient or do they favour any particular fields at this time of year?
Cheers
Sean
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Feb 14 9:28 AM, 2017
Little Egret on Sinderland Brook this morning.
Info thanks to Jeff Clarke
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 30 10:59 PM, 2017
Originally posted today by Phil Kelly:
From 1 to 3.30pm today. Brambling 6 (seen in one bush seen at edge of f4 from path running between f4 / f13) seen with - Yellowhammers - 8 (at least ) . Chaffinch - aproximately 200 . (all the birds were only 10m away so close , numbers were hard to hard to account for, dropping down feeding , moving back and forth ... Fox in henhouse senario. ) Common Buzzard - 1 f13. Stock Dove - 2 f5 Fieldfare - c50 in flight over f 2. Grey Partridge - 2 ( between f25/26 possibly f 75 ... badly marked on site map.) Pheasant - 4 f71. Linnet - 45 f71. Reed Bunting - 2 f71.
Steven Heywood said
Tue Jan 24 5:48 PM, 2017
Himor Group are winning friends and influencing people by having the United security guards hand out leaflets to say that you're trespassing on their land. This is nonsense: if you're on the public footpaths you have every right to be there, as Himor's own notices grudgingly admit.
On a brighter note, despite the Shell Pool being largely frozen over, eight gadwall easily seen from the footpath. Also mallard, coot and teal.
Diggers at work on the field by the Shell Pool so not much on (except two grey wagtails in the ditch); 70+ jackdaws and 60+ rooks in the next field. A couple of bramblings with the yellowhammers in the hawthorns along this path.
Paul Heaton said
Fri Jan 20 8:00 PM, 2017
Skylark flock C 200+ today in first field off isherwood lane ( sorry cannot find my Fcode map)
flushed by Buzzard.
Yellowhammers and Linnets on moss.
keep Birding
Jon Stevenson said
Wed Jan 18 3:58 PM, 2017
Skylarks showing well again at midday today, with good numbers in f10 and over fields 1 and 4. A flock of about 50 linnets in f9, together with c.6 redwing. A flock of about 15 redwing plus 1 mistle thrush in the trees between fields 2 and 4, plus about 15 yellowhammers in the hedge between field 4 and 12.
Pete Hines said
Mon Jan 16 1:36 PM, 2017
Skylark c150 f13, flushed by dog, flock flew NW
Chris Sutton said
Thu Jan 12 6:10 PM, 2017
Decided to brave the predicted winter sleet and snow and ended up having a nice dry 2 hour walk around the Moss (2-4pm). Highlights; Brambling (1) in Chaffinch Flock Skylark (5) - flushed by dogs Yellowhammer (1) Redwing (50+) Linnet (11) - species no. 100 for my 2017 year list Buzzard (2) Kestrel (1) ... and the usuals
Chris
Jeff Clarke said
Mon Jan 2 9:30 PM, 2017
Late record from today - Sinderland Green area - early this morning.
An indeterminate number of Bramblings in Sinderland Woods, a compact flock of maybe 50 mixed finches sounded like there were at least double figures of Bramblings present, but never seen on the ground.
A Little Owl on the high stump at the junction of Sinderland lane and Brookheys Lane for the second time in a week. This seems to be a regular perch but only until dawn when it moves on to another location which I have not yet worked out.
Little Grebe appears to be resident on Sinderland Brook, but very difficult to find.
Raven: a pair cronking from the pylon in field 25 (amazingly loud at a distance of only fifty metres) with another pair overhead.
Chiffchaff and Willow Tit, both in the north west corner of field 25,
Paul Heaton said
Sun Jan 1 4:23 PM, 2017
100 Chaffinch
4 Brambling
5 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
2 Goldcrest
1 Willow Tit.
along fence of nature reserve
Keep Birding.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 1st of January 2017 04:26:21 PM
Richard Would said
Fri Dec 30 1:15 PM, 2016
Flock of 100 - 150 finches - f4 in trees near Old Orchard. Vast majority Chaffinches, with odd Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Managed to pick out one Brambling. Probably more of them could be Bramblings, didn't get a good look at most of the flock.
Not much else, few Reed Buntings, Redwings, tits, Kestrel, Buzzard
dave broome said
Fri Dec 30 12:46 PM, 2016
65 Pink-Footed Geese feeding at Warburton Lane/Moss Lane this morning
Craig Higson said
Fri Dec 30 12:39 PM, 2016
Steve Scrimgeour wrote:
Possibly Craig although in Pink feet sightings this flock is also mentioned by Nick Hilton.
Either way decent sighting
There's a few Bean Geese knocking around in the NE/West Yorks so be worth checking any flocks on the ground for the odd rarer species. I guess their current location doesn't give great viewing options though. Seemed quite difficult to park up and not really a convenient spot to scope from.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Fri Dec 30 12:00 AM, 2016
Possibly Craig although in Pink feet sightings this flock is also mentioned by Nick Hilton.
Either way decent sighting
Craig Higson said
Thu Dec 29 11:48 PM, 2016
Steve Scrimgeour wrote:
Saw these myself this morning they mainly Pink Footed Geese, looked to be a couple of Canada Geese with them but was looking straight into the sun in places
-- Edited by Steve Scrimgeour on Thursday 29th of December 2016 01:15:16 PM
Maybe talking different flocks then Steve? - the ones I had were definitely mainly Canadas, but as I say it looked like a few grey geese so maybe others/more nearby.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 29th of December 2016 11:49:35 PM
Steve Scrimgeour said
Thu Dec 29 2:46 PM, 2016
No sign of the Pink-Footed Geese near Partington when on way to Altrincham about 1330.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Thu Dec 29 1:13 PM, 2016
Saw these myself this morning they mainly Pink Footed Geese, looked to be a couple of Canada Geese with them but was looking straight into the sun in places
-- Edited by Steve Scrimgeour on Thursday 29th of December 2016 01:15:16 PM
Craig Higson said
Thu Dec 29 12:46 PM, 2016
Perhaps a little out of the site boundaries but... a large flock of Geese in fields to the east of the A6144, just south of Partington. Probably in the region of 200-250. Looked like mainly Canada's but pretty sure I saw a few grey geese in with them. Couldn't really see too much as I was driving at the time. When I passed again an hour or so later they were much more spread out and farther into the fields.
Tony Darby said
Sat Dec 17 4:17 PM, 2016
Brookheys Road with Tim Wilcox:
Little Egret in sheep field adjacent to Sinderland Brook. Also c200 Pink-footed Geese made a couple of low circuits around us seemingly looking for somewhere to land.
phillipskelly said
Wed Dec 14 2:40 PM, 2016
Little Owl seen on Monday 12th , on the dead tree stump on Sinderland rd . Info from Dunk Williams (ex- workmate).
Mike Duckham said
Thu Dec 1 10:15 PM, 2016
Late news for Tue 29th Nov:
Stock Dove 2 Fieldfare c. 100 in stubble and hawthorns Linnet c. 35 Raven 1 over Meadow Pipit 1 (moved away due to the hard frost?) Buzzard 2 Skylark two separate flocks of c. 20 each
Wheatear 30 : 15 F4 & 15 F5
White Wagtail 1 F4
Meadow Pipit c60 F4
Common Whitethroat 1F4
Grey Partridge 2 F5
Whinchat was midway along the path and Yellow Wagtail favoured the end of f11 at the crossroads f10, 2 and f1 but was quite mobile (may have been 2). Nice to see Tony O'Mahony - he always brings me luck .
Ps. As I left a Landrover and Drainage machine looked to be moving into f11.
Pps. Take a warm coat it was bleak , I wore 2 fleeces but was still cold .
F1.
Lapwing 28 .
Common Buzzard 2 over .
Raven 2 over.
09.30-10.30 Monday 24/4
Whinchat F11
Wheatear 10=
Yellow Wagtail 1 on F!1
Yellowhammer 4
1 Swallow
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 24th of April 2017 12:33:33 PM
Horse fields, Isherwood rd -
Swallow 7.
House Martin 2.
F5.
Grey Partridge 2.
Wheatear 10.
Mistle Thrush 1.
Pheasant 3 ( Inc. 2 males having a stand-off).
F4.
Skylark 1.
F12.
Yellowhammer 2.
F11.
Wheatear 2.
Skylark 1.
Pied Wagtail 4.
Alba Wagtail 1.
Grey Wagtail 1.
Yellowhammer 2.
Common Buzzard 1 (low over).
F1.
Yellowhammer 2.
Lapwing *29.
Rook c20.
Yellowhammer numbers seemed up and I had a few Common Whitethroat (interestingly we didn't get a single one on the Stockport Birdwatching Society trip to Leighton Moss yesterday).
In F5 (not on the survey) there were at least 10 Wheatear.
Wheatear 24, 9-F5, 4-F4, 4-F11, 5-F2, 1-F1, 1 at flare
Yellow Wagtail 1 F11
Common Whitethroat 1 F4, 1 F10
I decided to have a mooch around Carrington Moss, this morning and tick off some of the locals I have missed so far this year. Well, what a good decision. Between 0715 & 0800hrs I was watching a lifer, in the shape of a Male Whinchat. I first spotted it sat on the blue crate int he corner of field 11, it then moved up the field and sat on a blue tube sticking out of the ground, too far away for a picture of any description. I then lost it to view and could re find it no matter how hard I scanned the field. Other highlights.. Wheatears, sorry to many too count, in fields 4,2,1,10,11.....never seen this many, if I was asked to estimate mornings totals I say 60-70. Whitethroats, 6 in the scrub at field 27, 3 along the path at field 10. Blackcaps 4 all males singing from the fence Shell and Field 4 Yellowhammers at least 20 total, in the hedge at top of 4, and feeding in 1 , 10 , 11 & 2 Skylarks 8 in total in fields 4,11 & 2 lot of working being carried out in 4 looks like drainage work. Linnets 16 on the path between 1 & 2 a lot carrying nesting material.... Nice to bump into Jeff Clarke this morning
Basell site Saturday:
Ringed Plover x 7 and 3 chicks
Kestrel x 1
Lapwing x 30+
Skylark several heard but too high to spot.
All birds in/over f5...
10 wheatear
4 yellowhammer
C40 linnets
3 pied wagtail
9 stock doves
4 mistle thrush
2 lapwing
2 swallow
5 sand martin
1 buzzard
Wheatear 9 (F1), 3 (F11), 3 (F12), 7 (F5).
Fieldfare 9 (F12).
Meadow Pipit 10+ (F11).
Goldfinch 10+ (F11).
Skylark 3 singing plus 5.
Linnet 10+ (F11).
Swallow 4
Sand Martin 4
Yellowhammer 3 singing plus 3m 2f.
Buzzard 2
Mistle Thrush 3
etc.etc.etc.
Basell site today
Yellowhammer 1
Kestrel 1
Peregrine 1
Buzzard several
Grey wagtail 1
Ringed Plover 1
Lapwing 20+
Wheatear 4 the first I have seen this year.
Linnet 10+
Yellowhammer 2 singing plus 5 others.
Skylark 4 singing plus 5 others.
Chiffchaff 14 singing.
Blackcap 6 singing.
Willow Warbler 3 singing.
Song Thrush 7 singing.
Meadow Pipit 1
Chaffinch 3 singing.
Nuthatch 1
House Sparrow 1m at Swiss Cottage.
Jay 1
Greenfinch 2
etc.etc.etc.
Basell site between last Friday and Sunday night:
One Ringed Plover
Two Oystercatchers
Two Kestrels together ( a pair bred here last year)
Two Grey Wagtails
many lapwing
Buzzard, unsure how many as spotted over a few days
Common Sandpiper flew off when disturbed from a shallow pond.
Three Canada Geese
Pied Wagtails all over the place.
Merlin f10
Buzzard f10
Lapwings 2 displaying f25
Kestrel f25
Skylarks singing f5 and f12
Teal 8 on Sinderland Brook
Grey Wagtail 2 f32
Stock Dove 20 f35
One White Wagtail off Townsend Farm Lane, Sinderland Green 6 pm this afternoon (my first of the year). Also last week I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming on the pylon in field 8 it made quite an amazing sound!
Quick w alk around f4 this pm in the rain...
8 Brambling around the old orchard area and along the hedges.
Chiffchaff singing during brief rain respite.
Male Bullfinch.
4 Redwing
At least two Ringed Plovers low over Sale Sharks Carrington training ground in the dark of this evening, unseen but heard flying low around the floodlit pitch around 7:30pm. Also, trees around the pitch seemingly full of Redwing and the odd Fieldfare.
Half a dozen bramblings, including one male in fresh breeding plumage, with the chaffinches in the trees along the road to United's training ground.
Yellowhammers showing nicely near the Shell pool. Also three buzzards (one male, one female, one I'm not sure) flying round the woods nearby. Plenty of tufted duck, gadwall and shoveler viewable on the pool from the path.
Stonechat a pair on the track between f24 and f25
Linnet 16 f9
Brambling single f9
Buzzard 4 f2, f10, f26
40 skylarks
15 yellowhammer
250 ish chaffinch flock .... All too difficult to pick out any brambling in wet bins
Buzzard 2
Tawny owl 1
Mixed finch flock c 40 mainly siskin
Mixed tit flocks
Peaked through the shell pond fence .......
Oystercatcher 2
Lapwing 4
Tufted duck
PS - private property signs popping up and steel gates being put up across path by Swiss Cottage farm
Chris
-- Edited by Chris Sutton on Friday 3rd of March 2017 03:53:31 PM
Chaffinch 200+
Brambling 3
Yellowhammer 1
Skylark 3
John, Steve,
Thanks so much for the info. I arrived direct to the forum - I see from the homepage that there is so much more now! Really useful, thank you.
Sean
Hi Sean,
Willow tits get reported fairly regularly from the Mersey Valley and Priory Gardens in Sale. (I've only ever heard but not seen there).
If you can get up to Bury they're reasonably easy to connect with on the feeders by the yacht club on Elton Reservoir.
HTH
Top right of this page click 'Back to the Manchester Birding Homepage'
Click on 'Site Guides' and you are away.
Loads of maps and general information but Ian (website owner) is currently re-constructing the site so not everything is available yet.
Cheers John
I've just come across this forum - I moved back to Sale last year after many years away and am getting reacquainted with the local birding patches. I'm by no means an expert birder but really enjoying getting back into it.
I had a nice afternoon on the Moss yesterday in the mild weather, after not visiting for a few months. Buzzard central with at least 13 knocking about including one that was not remotely bothered with me biking past it's low perch at less than 20 feet away.
There was a nice large mixed flock to pick through in the tress opposite the farm house on the main path at the back of the United training ground, at least 50 linnet, 20 chaffinch, at least 2 brambling, 5 yellowhammer (another 3 seen further along), goldfinch, the usual tits, goldcrest and a smart jay.
I could make out 1 shoveler, amongst the numerous tufties, on the pond just off the access road to the United complex (Is this the 'Shell pond'?).
Toward the Dunham end of the Moss there were lots of singing skylarks in the fields but not too much else of interest other than a flyover of 33 lapwing and a couple of stock doves. 20+ redwing were resting high in the tress near the bridge over the brook. The only ducks that I could make out at the fenced off largish pond at this end of the site were 4 gadwall.
I notice you guys are using grid references for the various fields. Is there a map available which lists these? I also noticed that there are a couple of hides on the Shell(?) pond. Is it possible to request access? All the aggressive new signs popping up regarding trespassing makes me think unlikely....
Could any regular site watchers offer any tips for finding willow tit? This bird has taken on a near mythical status for me! With grey partridge is it a case of being lucky and patient or do they favour any particular fields at this time of year?
Cheers
Sean
Info thanks to Jeff Clarke
From 1 to 3.30pm today.
Brambling 6 (seen in one bush seen at edge of f4 from path running between f4 / f13) seen with -
Yellowhammers - 8 (at least ) .
Chaffinch - aproximately 200 . (all the birds were only 10m away so close , numbers were hard to hard to account for, dropping down feeding , moving back and forth ... Fox in henhouse senario. )
Common Buzzard - 1 f13.
Stock Dove - 2 f5
Fieldfare - c50 in flight over f 2.
Grey Partridge - 2 ( between f25/26 possibly f 75 ... badly marked on site map.)
Pheasant - 4 f71.
Linnet - 45 f71.
Reed Bunting - 2 f71.
Himor Group are winning friends and influencing people by having the United security guards hand out leaflets to say that you're trespassing on their land. This is nonsense: if you're on the public footpaths you have every right to be there, as Himor's own notices grudgingly admit.
On a brighter note, despite the Shell Pool being largely frozen over, eight gadwall easily seen from the footpath. Also mallard, coot and teal.
Diggers at work on the field by the Shell Pool so not much on (except two grey wagtails in the ditch); 70+ jackdaws and 60+ rooks in the next field. A couple of bramblings with the yellowhammers in the hawthorns along this path.
Skylark flock C 200+ today in first field off isherwood lane ( sorry cannot find my Fcode map)
flushed by Buzzard.
Yellowhammers and Linnets on moss.
keep Birding
Skylarks showing well again at midday today, with good numbers in f10 and over fields 1 and 4. A flock of about 50 linnets in f9, together with c.6 redwing. A flock of about 15 redwing plus 1 mistle thrush in the trees between fields 2 and 4, plus about 15 yellowhammers in the hedge between field 4 and 12.
Highlights;
Brambling (1) in Chaffinch Flock
Skylark (5) - flushed by dogs
Yellowhammer (1)
Redwing (50+)
Linnet (11) - species no. 100 for my 2017 year list
Buzzard (2)
Kestrel (1)
... and the usuals
Chris
Late record from today - Sinderland Green area - early this morning.
An indeterminate number of Bramblings in Sinderland Woods, a compact flock of maybe 50 mixed finches sounded like there were at least double figures of Bramblings present, but never seen on the ground.
A Little Owl on the high stump at the junction of Sinderland lane and Brookheys Lane for the second time in a week. This seems to be a regular perch but only until dawn when it moves on to another location which I have not yet worked out.
Little Grebe appears to be resident on Sinderland Brook, but very difficult to find.
Raven: a pair cronking from the pylon in field 25 (amazingly loud at a distance of only fifty metres) with another pair overhead.
Chiffchaff and Willow Tit, both in the north west corner of field 25,
100 Chaffinch
4 Brambling
5 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
2 Goldcrest
1 Willow Tit.
along fence of nature reserve
Keep Birding.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 1st of January 2017 04:26:21 PM
Flock of 100 - 150 finches - f4 in trees near Old Orchard. Vast majority Chaffinches, with odd Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer.
Managed to pick out one Brambling. Probably more of them could be Bramblings, didn't get a good look at most of the flock.
Not much else, few Reed Buntings, Redwings, tits, Kestrel, Buzzard
65 Pink-Footed Geese feeding at Warburton Lane/Moss Lane this morning
There's a few Bean Geese knocking around in the NE/West Yorks so be worth checking any flocks on the ground for the odd rarer species. I guess their current location doesn't give great viewing options though. Seemed quite difficult to park up and not really a convenient spot to scope from.
Either way decent sighting
Maybe talking different flocks then Steve? - the ones I had were definitely mainly Canadas, but as I say it looked like a few grey geese so maybe others/more nearby.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Thursday 29th of December 2016 11:49:35 PM
-- Edited by Steve Scrimgeour on Thursday 29th of December 2016 01:15:16 PM
Little Egret in sheep field adjacent to Sinderland Brook.
Also c200 Pink-footed Geese made a couple of low circuits around us seemingly looking for somewhere to land.
Info from Dunk Williams (ex- workmate).
Late news for Tue 29th Nov:
Stock Dove 2
Fieldfare c. 100 in stubble and hawthorns
Linnet c. 35
Raven 1 over
Meadow Pipit 1 (moved away due to the hard frost?)
Buzzard 2
Skylark two separate flocks of c. 20 each
Nice to meet a local birder from Sale.