Late post for yesterday ,24/12/10 at approx 11:45 am..... M62 westbound between J 11 and J 12 ..... amazing sight of huge flock of starlings ,swarming over the motorway ,the clear blue sky literally turned black .. I'm no expert , but I would estimate at least 10,000 birds !! Also seen on motorway between Stockport and Liverpool ... 5 buzzards 3 kestrels and a small group of red legged partridge in field near Gemini Retail Park . Cheers Chris oops sorry Ian this should have gone into out of county birding !!

-- Edited by Chris Greene on Thursday 25th of November 2010 12:28:44 PM

Went in search of these around Denton on Saturday. Tried a back road that goes parallel to reservoirs but on otherside of M60 (passed Blue Pig, over M60 turn left). This put you in middle of golf course with a couple of dog walkers;
3.30-4.15 8/11/08
small groups of starlings flying in,
40+ presumed pink footed geese flying West
15+ canada geese on green
many woodpigeons, magpie, thrushes, 60+ corvids coming to roost in distance (jackdaws?)
Many gulls flying to reservoirs.
Distant large flocks starlings
Interesting location- never knew about.

Went back along M60 to try locate starlings & finally found them swarming right by M60/Denton roundabout over top corner of Golf course.
Couldn't resist parking on golf course- what a result! They swarmed right over car in several large groups before roosting in around 8 conifer trees between visitors carpark & security, just yards away. I would conservatively estimate 5000+ birds that all flew into these trees (4.25-4.45). Not sure how many already landed too. Absolutely amazing!!
Sparrowhawk was swooping in around the conifers & missed all of them!
Met security who came to see us & was really nice.
May go back & try a better count today with aid of camera. Anyone any good at counting fast moving starlings??
Rae

Yesterday morning approx 1500 Starlings flew over Houghton Green Flash from the east - amazing sight!

Reported from friend
5th Nov between 3.30-4pm
Two massive flocks of starlings swarming in & out of each other, seen from M60 around Denton- she guessed way over 1000 & absolutely fascinating.
Does anyone know of a good viewing place to see Denton golf course?? Want to show kids at weekend & hate THAT roundabout at rush hour- you can't exactly stop!
Rae

If you look up at Debenhams you will see some strange round black things that look like fans. These were in fact Starling scarers and I remember them in action back in the late 70s early 80s. The Starlings were unpurturbed and lined up along all the available ledges anyway. The sight in Piccadilly Gardens was amazing. Sadly not seen flocks liek that since.

My mispent youth was a lot further south!
Been pondering best vantage point- can non-members go on golf course? Otherwise pernit holders should get a good view from reservoir bank. Would like to see again when not driving on M60 & definitely not great for counting.
& I would like to spot one Sturnus roseus let alone a flock.
Good luck counting- they were close to motorway side and doing their swarming patterns above the trees.
Rae

Rachael, you must be part of the youth of today,

I remember huge flocks in Piccadilly gardens in the town centre many moons ago, but they are always a special sight, will make an effort to count these blighters this week,

Sturnus vulgaris in big flocks are worth a visit, always chance of a Sturnus roseus as well.


Keep Birding

4.15pm Golf course, Denton, Manchester (seen from M60 between Ashton/Denton). Approx 1000 starlings swarming around with other small flocks joining them. Wished I could have stopped & watched- never seen this phenomenon so close to Manchester Rae