07/04/2010 - Bit of a fall following overnight drizzle:

8 Wheatears (a record number)
1 Blackcap
1 Willow Warbler
11 Chiffchaffs (all singing males)
2 Swallows
4 Canada Geese
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
10 Lapwings (4 flew west over the Newall Green fields)
6 Redwings
7 Fieldfares
4 Lesser Redpolls
1 Reed Bunting

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 7th of April 2010 08:52:26 AM

06/04/2010 - A good morning locally with Phil Owen. Amongst others we saw:

1 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaffs
1 Swallow
4 Redwings (bit late now)
1 Cormorant
2 Canada Geese
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
6 Lapwings
5 Stock Doves
7+ Meadow Pipits
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel

and for a naughty non-bird sighting - a real, live, sun-seeking Badger!

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 6th of April 2010 11:04:13 AM

05/04/2010 - From 5.00-6.30pm in addition to Phil's sightings from this morning:

2 Willow Warblers
2 Curlews (flew up from one of the large sheep fields and disappeared westwards)
3 Cormorants (flew towards Rostherne)
c140 Woodpigeons
6 Stock Doves
1 Reed Bunting


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 5th of April 2010 06:49:44 PM

Early morning walk produced much the same as yesterday;-

1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Bullfinch (Male and Female)
2 Lapwings
2 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen
2 Stock Doves
6 Chiffchaff

Mid afternoon walk in Sunny but windy conditions:-

2 Chiffchaff
1 Red-Legged Partridge
1 Pheasant
2 Swallow
2 Canada Geese
1 Buzzard
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron
1 Bullfinch (Male)
amongst others

Walk round the patch this morning resulted in 32 species including:-

4 Chiffchaff (2 Newall Green, 2 Hale Barns)
2 Kestrels
3 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Cormorant (over)
7 Mallard
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Nuthatch
1 Stock Dove
1 Goldcrest

Quick visit this evening before I decided to head home due to the weather:-

1 Little Grebe (a patch tick)
2 Canada Geese
2 Moorhen
12 Mallard
2 Pheasant
4 Jays
Chaffinch
Greenfinch

31/03/2010 - The monstrous weather still hasn't abated but a quick walk this morning revealed the continued presence of the Little Grebe plus 2 Canada Geese on the sheep fields. Otherwise, just a single Stock Dove a lingering Redwing of note.

P.s. 2 Oystercatchers flew through the fields going west at 11am.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 31st of March 2010 12:02:43 PM

30/03/2010 - Cloudy and a bit of drizzle but a long wander was rewarded with finding a new species for the area:

1 Little Grebe (on the long pond in the fields North of Shay Lane)
2 Moorhens
1 Grey Heron
5 Meadow Pipits
6 Chiffchaffs
4 Stock Doves
2 Buzzards

29/03/2010 - short walk with Phil Owen in light drizzle this afternoon:

1 Swallow (first of the year here - flew through quickly)
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Grey Heron
2 Meadow Pipits
2 Stock Doves
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel

Also fairly quiet for me this morning 7.30am-9.30am.

4 Chiffchaffs on Newall Green side.
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Pheasant
5 Canada Geese (over)
1 Cormorant (over)
2 Stock Dove
1 Grey Heron
7 Mallard
+ usual species




-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 28th of March 2010 10:54:10 AM

28/03/2010 - less diurnal migration than yesterday with only a few mipits heard, otherwise similar to previous days, of note still:

1 Raven (could be breeding in the locality or possibly a wandering bird born last year?)

27/03/2010 - In decent weather this morning it was good to bump into Phil Owen and Vaughan Evans. Between myself and Phil, we spotted:

2 Ravens
2 Canada Geese
6+ Chiffchaffs
8 Lapwings
4 Buzzards
4 Stock Doves
1 Fieldfare
1 Reed Bunting
c40 Meadow Pipits
18 Bullfinches (a 12 strong flock in the Newall Green fields was impressive to see)

How did you get on Vaughan, any wheatears?

Whilst out checking my moth trap this evening a couple of resident and migrant birds were audible:

Tawny Owl
Rook (heard distantly from the roost along Brooks Drive)
Redwings
plus a probable Little Ringed Plover (I'm not great with wader calls but it was too high pitched for a Ringed Plover)

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Friday 26th of March 2010 09:31:30 PM

26/03/2010 - Things are most definitely hotting up now (metaphorically):

2 Northern Wheatears (M+F briefly on the sheep fields north of Shay Lane but flew off north in the strong breeze)
7 Chiffchaffs (5 singing on the Newall Green fields)
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Pied/White Wagtail
16 Lesser Redpolls
4 Lapwings
c40 Redwings (moving through in largish flocks still)
100+ Woodpigeons

25/03/2010 -

2 Canada Geese (over)
2 Grey Herons
1 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting
6 Meadow Pipits
2 Pied/White Wagtails
2 Redwings
16+ Lesser Redpolls

also 14 Lesser Redpolls and a brief Brambling in the garden (a different individual to the bird seen 11 days ago)

24/03/2010 - Migration picking up locally now although the Chiffchaffs appear to be on territory already:

4 Chiffchaffs
2 Pied/White Wagtails (over)
6 Meadow Pipits
c70 Redwings (over in several flocks)
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Buzzard
2 Stock Doves
1 Moorhen
13 Mallards

After hearing it call nearby for a bit, a Tawny Owl flew through the garden this evening in less than good conditions for hunting owls, with the rain lashing down.

23/03/2010 - 4 Chiffchaffs back on territory this morning. Que mornings of wonderful, endless "chiff-chiff-chaff, chaff-chaff-chiff, chiff-chaff-choff"!

Also about were:

4 Lapwings
2 Meadow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
8 Stock Doves
8 Jays
1 Treecreeper
2 Nuthatch
4 Bullfinches
12 Redwings
3 Black-headed Gulls
2 Moorhens

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 23rd of March 2010 08:04:46 AM

Briefly this afternoon in addition to Phil's sightings there were:

1 Kestrel
c50 Greenfinches
9 Stock Doves (most seem paired up now)
2 Grey Herons

no Chiffy's just yet here!

9.45am-11.15am walk with dog.

Cloudy and Dry but Windy.

c30 Meadow Pipit (in field between Piggy Wood and Crowland Hill)
4 Bullfinch
2 Mallard
Grey Heron
Sparrowhawk
Buzzard
4 Lapwing (feeding amongst the Sheep in Marl Pit field)
Goldcrest (Piggy Wood)
Lesser Black-backed Gull (over)
2 Rook
3 Jackdaw
+ Redwing flock


-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 22nd of March 2010 12:04:25 PM

Walk round the whole patch area including Brooks Drive this morning 7.15am-9.30am with foggy conditions early on.

No summer arrivals as yet but of note were:-

Grey Heron (2)
Reed Bunting (Male in Marl Pit)
Mallard (2)
Buzzard
Large flock of Redwings and Fieldfares
Skylark (1 probable over)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (5) including 3 together chasing each other round a tree
Treecreeper (2)
Nuthatch (2)
Stock Dove (2)
Pheasant (Female)

19/03/2010 - A good morning on the patch with bird movement a feature:

1 Curlew (flew over)
10 Lapwings
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (all ads going north)
2 Common Gulls
8 Stock Doves
2 Meadow Pipits
winter thrush flock still present
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Reed Bunting

18/03/2010 -

2 Lapwings
2 Canada Geese (over)
4 Stock Doves
c60 Fieldfares
c50 Redwings
4 Lesser Redpolls (including 2 on Newall Green ridge, Phil )
2 Meadow Pipits (powering on north)

16/03/2010 - A different Lesser Black-backed Gull (3w) was present today amongst 44 Crows on the sheep fields. 2 Moorhens, 1 Buzzard, 4 Stock Doves and 2 migrating Fieldfares were also seen.

15/03/2010 - Bit of movement this morning with a Grey Wagtail and Lesser Black-backed Gull over. 2 Canada Geese winging it towards Rostherne were the only other sightings of note in a short walk.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 15th of March 2010 08:28:29 AM

14/03/2010 - No sign of Brambling today but all local birds being a bit elusive in the windy weather. Also about were:

1 Lapwing
11 Mallards (down one from yesterday, remains left by a largish predator)
100+ Woodpigeons
1 Fieldfare
9 Redwings
1 Goldcrest (singing)
27 Greenfinches
6 Bullfinches
3 Lesser Redpolls

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Sunday 14th of March 2010 05:35:47 PM

13/03/2010 - 1 male Brambling in the garden this morning. Quite flighty but nice to see in this generally quiet winter for the species.
3 Stock Doves, 12 Mallards, 1 Kestrel present in the Newall Green fields this morning.

12/03/2010 - 2 Common Snipes were back in the large Marl Pit in the fields north of Shay Lane this morning, probably migrants as the wintering birds left before the cold snap.
Walk was a bit quiet and then had to be curtailed as about 300 sheep, many complete with horns, decided to charge en masse! Nice.

Quick visit this morning and onto Brooks Drive, amongst others were:-

Newall Green side.

Goldcrest - 2
Bullfinch (good numbers)
Meadow Pipit
Grey Heron
Mallard
Jackdaw

Brooks Drive.

Nuthatch
Great Spotted Woodpecker (quite a bit of drumming activity going on)
Rook

07/03/2010 - 11 Lapwings present in the sheep fields just south of Clay Lane this morning.

Sorry Phil, I hadn't finished editing the post . I can't see Perergine being a problem for you though, they're obvious enough in the city centre
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I know Ian, I've seen 'em a good few times there, but it saves me the hassle!!!

Ian, surely the bird has to be seen within the County Boundaries regardless of where you are actually standing at the time doesn't it??

Sorry Phil, I hadn't finished editing the post . I can't see Perergine being a problem for you though, they're obvious enough in the city centre

Confusion cleared up it seems then Ian, that post wasn't noticed (only just put on while I was away from the Laptop!!)

Peregrine will be added now!!!

Thanks

Phil

The answer (as far as this website is concerned anyway, you can make your own minds up elsewhere ) is on the borough listing thread on the discussions forum.

I think this area maybe subject of debate to be honest, but really if you are seriously doing some local patching, then it makes sense to only record species within the given area??

Take my local patch and Crowland Hill as a perfect example, on a clear day, you can see for absolutely miles and therefore a bird could be 'scoped from there that has never set foot in the County, so this would give a somewhat false list for the County?

Over to you Ian!!













-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 6th of March 2010 11:23:24 PM

I personally would say you have to be in your patch boundary to count it as a patch tick. As long as you are there it doesn't matter where the bird is, i scoped a Goldeneye a mile away !

cheers
jason

ps. had peregrine in 2008 perched on a lamp post at Manchester Airport. Possibly the same bird.

Great to see the Peregrine today, a great local bird for the patch.

Just a quick question regarding the Borough list, although I was technically stood in Trafford when I saw the bird, I did then see it fly from Trafford into Manchester.

Does this count towards the Manchester Borough list???

I wasn't sure if the person or the bird have to be in Manchester at the time of the sighting and secondly I don't want to cheat!!!

We had fairly close views and didn't notice a colour ring, so I think it probably didn't have a darvic Judith.

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 6th of March 2010 08:16:48 PM

Don't suppose you had chance to look to see if it had a Darvic ring...

6th continued...

Wandering the fields with Phil Owen this evening, we spotted a bird ayonder perched high on a pylon. Whitish breast, dark cap, upright stance, we both turned to each other and both calmly exclaimed, PEREGRINE! After repositioning a touch closer, we were treated to great views for several minutes after which it flew off towards Newall Green's sports fields. It rose slowly but powerfully, before plummeting so so fast towards terra firma before being lost behind trees and hedges. What a treat, and another first for the patch.

Going to roosts before dusk were:

c150 Redwings
c130 Greenfinches
c150 Rooks
20+ Magpies

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 6th of March 2010 08:08:13 PM

06/03/2010 - 2 Teals were on the pool just north of Piggy Wood this morning, probably the same pair as a few days back. Also 1 Lapwing, 10 Jays, and a Meadow Pipit over. Several species seen courting or nest building in the area including Stock Dove, Collared Dove, Blackbird (taking mud from the garden pond), Goldcrest, Coal Tit and Dunnock.

05/03/2010 - The wintering Green Sandpiper was seen in flight again today. Where it is spending it's time i'm not quite sure.

A Buzzard circling overhead at noon, reached such an altitude that it become tricky to see with the naked eye. It took full advantage of the first decent thermals this year. Thrushes still present today in good numbers but the finch gathering seems to be just a pre-roost thing. No sign of them during the middle of the day today. 2 Stock Doves were taking a close look at Piggy Wood over towards Newall Green with a Grey Heron and Moorhen also in the area.
Garden sightings included 2 Lesser Redpolls, 2 Treecreepers and a singing Goldcrest, all nice distractions whilst doing some opportunistic DIY

I bumped into a good size bird flock late on this afternoon which had at least 150 Greenfinches in it. Also in this one impressively sized assemblage were 8 Chaffinches, 35 Fieldfares, 41 Redwings, 3 Song Thrushes, 1 Mistle Thrush but couldn't bring out a Brambling out of the bag. Also around the fields north of Shay Lane were:

2 Teals (1m, 1f in the large marl pit)
3 Mallards
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron
2 Kestrels
42 Magpies (all moving towards the Newall Green roost)

Very quiet on the patch this morning with only a Grey Heron on the pond at Crowland Hill and a pair of Mallards and a Buzzard at Davenport Green fields being the only birds worthy of note.

Maybe the cold biting wind had moved them on!!!

Dinner break at ash farm,
70+ redwing (borough tick)
30+ fieldfare
lots of corvids,tits and a very fiesty wren shooing me away

cheers geoff

Good spot - keep it up Henry - great to see this local coverage