I've posted a short video of these birds - an imm male or adult female with the adult male and watch out for a guest appearnce from a surprised looking Great Spot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiUIZmFWr-c

One bird showed well at 6pm just by the entrance ,and at 7pm the Ruby Murray and pint of Cobra showed even better down the Shandaah on the curry mile

nice sunny evening so i had a look round the park and found one bird near basketball court and heard one calling behind me at same time,they are surprisingly hard to see with the naked eye ,once i took my bins off it it seemed to dissapear.

cheers geoff

4 - 6 birds tonight putting on a good display after poor showings the evenings before - sunny evenings definitely best.

I now have a second report of 8 birds from a local.

Also of interest yesterday were a magnificent 20 Mistle Thrush, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a further belated report of a Lady Amhurst's Pheasant - presumably the bird reported from the nearby USDAW buildings last year?

This from BWPi:

juveniles........tips of flight-feathers and greater upper primary coverts and inner webs of primaries narrowly edged yellow, these edges wider than those present in fresh adult, up to 1 mm; tail shorter than adult.


I think that in the field this difference in the yellow edging can be detected, I'm trying to get photos to show the difference and this may untangle the age of some of the birds.

I'm also on the trail of a bird photographed (I think) three years ago at this site.

Have had a look in BWP - apparently juvs and imms have shorter tails but that seems the only way to separate them from ad females.

5.30 to 6.25pm 2 or may be 3 but did not show except for one which flew over my head. The joggers stop them calling and the rain was not encouraging them to show.

3 or 4 late afternoon, between about 5:00 and 6:30, but a bit illusive in pretty dreadful rain.

Managed to connect this afternoon with 2 adult Parakeets south west corner near Brighton Grove entrance, showing well despite the heavy intermittent downpours. Located easy enough by the call.

Thanks for your reply Jeff.

The parrot at Pennington Flash a couple of years ago was a Nanday Conure (Nandayus nenday)

8 would be a record!

If anyone talks to anyone local who has information I'd be grateful for a contact name/number so that I can follow up reports.

The rain finally stopped
Went this evening between 7-8.15pm and saw 6 Parakeets in the same tree that Mevan saw them in on Saturday .Also heard another calling behind me as I watched the 6 birds perch around the nest hole in the broken branch.I do not think that this is the parakeets nest hole as a pair of GS Woodpeckers attacked any Parakeet that attempted to look into the hole and tried to chase them from the tree.

A local told me that she had seen a total of 8 Parakeets at once in the last couple of weeks and she was quite sure that they had bred this year in the park.

Great views tonight and thanks for the directions Rob.

Also what type of Parrot used to fly around Pennington Flash a couple of years ago. I saw it 3-4 times and was never sure what species it was ?

found one today at 15.00hours just to the left of the gatehouse.

Although present all day they clearly come and go - it certainly seems as if the late afternoon and evening are best - I've yet to try in the rain though!

I`ve just had a wander around the park in the rain earlier this afternoon.No Parakeets showing but I got close to a Treecreeper near the small bridge over the stream and a pair of GS Woodpeckers in the Oak trees opposite the park lodge.Also 17 Mistle thrushes feeding around the grass areas and a Wood pigeon sitting on a nest beside the path.
I will pay another visit for the Parakeets when the rain finally stops.

watched 5 birds flying round the park together calling loudly about 20:00. cracking close views of 3 of them high on a broken tree trunk looking into a hole. seemed to be pulling chunks of dead wood away and maybe feeding on grubs(?). thought id found a nest hole! the tree was directly to your right as you enter the gate infront the park house. thanks rob for the info

Must have just missed you!

A magnificent 7 between 6:00 and 7:50 and showing well off and on.

Also made contact with a local who might have some useful information on the birds - more to follow..

one showed well at about 5pm today in the right hand corner of the field to the right of the entrance on birch grove, others heard calling but not seen, thanks rob for directions.

Couple lurking in the trees at the north end of the old basketball court, about 3pm today.

It was hard to see bright green birds in a bright green tree though - best to listen out for them.

Also juv Mistle Thrushes flapping about which looked very odd.

rob,had a reccey this morning 6.30 7.30 super directions ect but it was raining so everything was sheltering thought i heard them but may be wishfull thinking i,ll try again thursday evening cos i need that tick.

cheers geoff

Six tonight including a fine male showing very well in the same area.

thanks, i am working in the evenings this week so will go on sat or sunday about 5ish, thanks for the info and please keep this page updated if you can.

From the A6010 Wilmslow Road turn in toDickenson Road (still the A6010) and then 5th right in to Birch Grove. Park by the Park Lodge and gates near the sharp right bend and enter the park.

To find the birds use your ears! The can be very hard to find if silent, and still hard to see if noisy - but give themselves away by their whistling shriek call.

Try walking anti-clockwise around the park edge, and also up and down both sides of the stream through the middle of the park.

When feeding they can be approached with care - but will flush easily.

I saw them well around 5:00 p.m. on Suday - last year evenings were best too = with the bonus of the aroma of the Curry Mile to whet your appetite!

I'll be popping in late tonight to see if they are still roosting there - the did last year.

If visiting please take care not to disturb the birds - and watch out for urban Gt Spots and Nuthatches too.

Just put the photos on Rob

hi Rob, could you please give me directions to the park and where you saw the parakeets, i am keen to see these birds as they are a county lifer for me, thanks.

There are at least 4, probably 5 Ring-necked Parakeets trequenting Birchfields Park near Rusholme. I suspect ity to be a famly party and that breeding took place nearby. On Sunday afternoon they were giving great views - I've sent some pics for inclusion in the gallery