Just for clarity on this, the bird was/is on the GM side of the Bollin just up from the pub.

Had a call from my mate John Barber earlier to say that there is a Glossy Ibis on the flooded field just opposite the Swan with Two Nicks pub.

Three green sandpipers around a small patch of water near the hall just over the estate wall looking towards the mill on the Bollin (from the National Trust 'Family wildlife walk' this lunchtime)

12th June

Singing male Yellowhammer & singing Skylark by Bridgewater Canal c100 yards south-west of Bay Malton pub, also Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff & a very confiding Fox on the towpath

TPT (Trans Pennine Trail) route 62 between Station Road and the River Bollin

1 Little Owl close to the path F217
2 pair Stock Dove F217
2 Skylark F152
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker heard only
1 Long-tailed Tit
12 Common Whitethroat
8 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler

Intersting crow deterents now, resembling a revolving Frank Sidebottom head on a stick !.

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 08:44:05 PM

On my way home from the Sinderland Road tip at around 4pm this afternoon I stopped next to Whitehouse farm near Altrincham crematorium just for a scan around and I was attracted to a raptor flying toward me - I first thought it could have been a Harrier sp. As it got nearer there was a sudden panic amongst the corvids and mobbing took place. As the raptor took evasive action I noticed how pale it was underneath and particularly white aound the rump with very clear dark underwing patches. Could this have been a Rough legged Buzzard?

I really didn't get long enough to study the detail and certainly didn't notice any leg feathers. I tried to see if it had landed anywhere but got the impression that it kept going in the general direction of Partington.

In all probability it was a pale Common Buzzard and the light was not of the best. However it may be worthwhile for anyone in the general area of the tip/crematorium/Carrington Moss to pay a little extra attention to any large raptors coming their way

-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 10th of January 2012 10:33:27 PM

Thanks Tony, I had some work in that area in 2003 and there were Yellowhamers aplenty around at that time - must take another look sometime

Probably the back of that - walk out of the village on Woodhouse Lane towards the main park entrance - just before you go under the canal. Also down the track to the sewage works.

Tony Coatsworth wrote:

---

Another good spot for Yellowhammer & Tree Sparrow is the hedge near the fishery and bus stop

---

Tony is that Manor House Farm fishery opposite the Vine pub?

Another good spot for Yellowhammer & Tree Sparrow is the hedge near the fishery and bus stop

Most reliable place for yellowhammers in my experience is the transpennine trail between Dunham and the Rope and Anchor - in the hedges left hand side of the path. Have had tree sparrows there too.

I look forward to your next report, Stephen. On Saturday I did not go along the canal
at all, but spent a lot of time looking for the Green Woodpecker in the Park. I know the Park is a separate thread but I will be going back again soon as I dipped on this too!

Spent a good hour and a half at the Grove House Farm environs.
Plenty of bird activity but nothing too unusual. And not a Yellowhammer in sight.
Around the farm Chaffinches were singing with equal numbers of Great Tits and Blue Tits,and a few Robins.
1 Kestrel perched and 1 Buzzard perched.
On the TPT a Song Trush was continually vocal above my head.
On the field 20 Starlings with 4 Fieldfare.
On a tree out in the field: 16 Linnets.
Goldfinch and a Jay.
That was about it but the coffee and scone, at the Lavender Barn, went down well on this grey day.



-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 20th of February 2011 09:41:32 AM

Read this report with interest as I hope to visit the Dunham area soon.( for the first time Birdwatching.)
Am I reading my County map wrong ? ....most of the Canal walk appears out
of county?

SJ738885

Late news of yet another county record - 500 Yellowhammers at Grove House Farm (which has a stewardship scheme), December 21st. This is 200 more than any previously counted flock. Info from Geoff McPherson, Bollin Valley Ranger.

Swallows and Sand Martins along the River Bollin and over meadow.

Plenty of vocal Nuthatches in park

Few Chiffchaff singing - no Blackcaps as yet

1 Wheatear in field opp Altrincham Crem car park yesterday pm.

1 Chiffchaff singing by the Rope & Anchor

6 Tree Sparrows at Dunham Woodhouses around the village today.

Ash Farm,home of dunham massey ice creamalso

50 house sparrowsnice to see such good numbers
60 starlings
1 robin
2 house martins and 2 swallows feeding young at the nest(many more over and around)
1 grey wagtail
2 blackbirds, and a few flies that hitched a lift to bowden before i finally got shut.

nice spot to grab my lunch,

cheers geoff

Female Wheatear in Field 129.

Also plenty of Common Whitethroat, Yellowhammer and Willow Warbler along the old railway.

Common Whitethroat along Oldfield Lane

Garden Warbler in a little wood along the A56 oppoosite Denzell Gardens entrance

Male Yellowhammer Oldfield Lane near the Brewery.

Mixed flock of Siskins and Redpoll, Devisdale park near cricket ground.

Hello Sid

I find that about this time of year that fieldfares and redwings gather together in the fields where i live but i think its because the berries have gradually run out for the redwings so they start looking more to the fields for there food i think its the end of march when they start to move back to their breeding grounds but then again i am no expert on the matters

Cheers Jimmy

Oldfield Lane, Dunham - "hundreds" of winter thrushes, too many to count - some Mistles but mostly Redwing and Fieldfare mixed, in the fields to the right just past Dunham brewery.

Does this mean that they are getting ready to fly off back to their breeding grounds or is it a bit early?

-- Edited by sid ashton at 06:58, 2009-01-28

Having read Pete's sightings (and spoken to him a Chorlton WP although didin't introduce myself properly) thought i would have a walk down the TPT and very good it was too apart from the grotesque tree decorations.

Virtually all my better birds were in hedge between 126/8, all numbers approx as counting not one of my top skills!

yellowhammer 20+ also 5+ in field 52
reed bunting 8+
tree sparrow16+
Peregrine over 129
buzzard in tree in 53
kestrel over 49
long tailed, blue and great tits at various points along trail
Jackdaw 60+ in 55
Carrion crow
Cormorant 7 flyover
Wood pigeon
blackbird
robin

Nice start to year and waxwings at woodley as well.

Pete
Keep an eye out for Corn Bunting. I've seen them in winter on the hedges between f55 and 43 and the SW corner of 47. Not for the last couple of years though.

It is illegal to shoot, or even carry a gun which is not in a case, within 50ft of a public footpath.

Shot and strung up Henry. Dead Crows scare Crows. Hence the reference to Wurzel Gummidge. I spent several weeks during late summer & autumn involved in the prep work and resurfacing of the trail between Atlantic St and the R. Bollin and gunshots sounded throughout this time. £100K was invested in improving this stretch for visitor usage and is well used by families. If you were going to give your kids that countryside experience would they rather see a scarecrow in a field or death hanging from trees and poles. Bring back Wurzel (and aunt Sally) .

Nice one finding the Merlin. Top winter birds.
Why have all those birds died Pete? Shot? Collisions? Thanks.

-- Edited by Henry Cook at 21:07, 2008-12-29

A stroll along the TPT from Atlantic St to Henshall La and back this afternoon:

1 male Merlin scoped perched on a mound in F45 before being flushed by a dog walker and flying west
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Stock Dove over
1 Brambling F47 by Black Moss Covert
100+ Chaffinch F47 "
2 Yellowhammer F47, 1 F52
Siskins - BMC
Goldfinch's -BMC
Reed Bunting 8 F126

numerous corpses of crows. magpies and woodpigeon hanging from trees and poles in fields all along the route, quite depressing . Bring back Wurzel Gummidge . Not a single Tree Sparrow or Skylark.

along TPT route 62

40+ Tree Sparrow field 126/8
3 Yellowhammer f128, 2 f105
c50 Skylark moving between f105/108/126
6 Partridge sp f120

Juvenile Peregrine hunting Feral Pigeons in field 48 before crossing the Trans-Pennine Trail (TPT) route 62 and sitting in field 45 before being disturbed by a tractor and flew descending towards Broadheath. 14.00-14.15

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:38, 2008-11-03