My hearfelt thanks go out to United Utilities for arranging a power cut in my area this morning. I'd just got back from Watergrove, and realising there was no electricity, decided to go straight back out again. Walking down Dye House Lane, in the Smallbridge area of Rochdale, I'd stopped to listen to a Blackcap singing when I noticed a large bird drifting in from the south at about 50 metres height. Even before lifting my binoculars I realised this was my first Rochdale and GM Red Kite. The bird passed almost directly over my head before being lost to view behind an industrial unit. It was heading north ( not north-east as originally reported to Ian). Time - approx. 12:15 hrs. The Kite looked rather tatty and was probably the same bird seen by Bob Kenworthy at Crompton Moor early yesterday morning.

Judith Smith wrote:

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One reported flying along the R Tame between Stalybridge and Mossley at 3pm yesterday (24th). Info from Den Whittaker.

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Now I know how it feels Mr. Heaton!

Wednesday is usually my day off but yesterday I was at work in Manchester - and with no time to go looking for Black Redstarts either!!

There are some sightings I would rather weren't posted!!!

Steve

One reported flying along the R Tame between Stalybridge and Mossley at 3pm yesterday (24th). Info from Den Whittaker.

Cheers Rob, that makes me feel so much ......bitter......

Will keep careful watch on the border tomorrow

keep birding.

It started off near Lymm/Dunham, then was seen over Partington, then at Rostherne. It quite probably flew over your house Paul!!

Bugger bugger and bloodly not fair!

I have been checking out every Buzzard on the A556 for ages now, then today was out of area, blooming well want it on my Manchester list.


Keeping my eye out.

keep birding.

I can totally understand it Rob and I have garden birds on my list which didn't fly directly over the garden but then again it's more of a 'birds seen from my garden' list. I think for lists such as a county list then they should really have to be seen actually in the county. I've seen Osprey flying over Pennington Flash but having just found it at Hope Carr and then watched it flying over Pennington from Hope Carr, it still remains my flash bogey' bird

I know that there are "local" patch watchers whose rule is, if the bird is on the ground or in the airspace of the patch, it counts, if the watcher is within the patch but the bird outside, it counts!

I'm relaxed on this one, Red Kite is on my garden list (or would be if I kept one)!

Now that would be desperate Rob, and also in Cheshire which ever way you look at it

And now at Rostherne.

the last Rostherne birdlingered, and could be seen from time to time from the Mcr side of the Bollin, just in case anyone is desperate to get one on a Mcr list!

Poss. same bird as one reported on Bird Guides at 8.10 heading NE over Lymm

Red Kite 'reported' over Partington at 08:30 this morning

Info via Birdnet Information Premier Pagers

One drifting W over the Civic Centre at Chorley Rd Swinton at 1pm today, being harried variously by a gull and a crow (info from Phil Martin).

One flying low due west over my garden in Sale 08:25 this morning 2nd April. Another good record for my garden list!

Probably passed obver my garden on the way there - as did one a couple of years ago!

Red Kite over Woolston Eyes this morning - but heading SW

Nigel reports:
Released Easter Saturday, admitted the previous Sunday. Was very concussed upon admittance, but became truly wild upon recovering. No rings, nor sign any had ever been fitted. Wouldn't recognise chicks but would rabbits/vermin. Released in mid-Wales where others had been sited within a few miles. Previous weather reports show most probably a Welsh one blown up this way in the storms the previous week. Not sure of age, but would say under 5 yrs old.

Wish we'd known about it - I need it for my county list!

I have Nigel at 3 Owls on email so will check it out with him. Perhaps it was ringed?

The Rochdale Observer reports that a Red Kite was found exhausted in Ashworth Valley, Rochdale last week and taken to the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary where it was rehabilitated and has now been re-released - but unfortunately in north Wales. Don't know anything more about this story but sounds pretty genuine - sounds like this should have been a job for Paul Heaton. Cheers, Simon