Had an hour down at Golf Road this morning looking for the Ravens. Took my scope but getting a clear view of the nest was difficult, best place was the car park at the back of the football ground.
While I was there had two sightings of what was possibly the same bird, first view was when it landed low down on the mast for a short time and the second was when it visited the nest briefly.
I suspect that if the nest site has been occupied this year fledging will be complete, but it would be interesting to see how long the birds show interest in the tower.
sid ashton said
Tue Apr 27 8:36 PM, 2021
Just been out in the rain to check out the report of a Raven's nest near to Altrincham football ground, that I heard about from my neighbour who had been down that way earlier and noticed this "big, black bird" and heard the "cronking".
The nest is almost at the top of the telecoms mast at the end of Golf Road, Hale. A bit late and wet and didn't see any activity so I didn't hang around but will hopefully be able to have another look tomorrow.
I guess this is the same nest reported on the Timperley thread by Mike D. but this would be a Hale record for me and so it's staying in Hale, sorry Mike
Mike Duckham said
Tue Dec 25 12:43 AM, 2018
First chance i've had to follow up this report, more out of curiosity than anything. Not surprisingly, i didn't see a Waxwing - the berrires have all gone from the tree leaving just the stalks. Interesting spot though, right on the top of the hill, wouldn't be surprised if it's good for a bit of vis-migging, from a local point of view.
Mike Duckham said
Tue Nov 27 4:26 PM, 2018
Just seen a Waxwing report on Twitter (WaxwingsUK) for 24th Nov on Melrose Cres., Hale, Mcr - house number 37 i think.
sid ashton said
Sun Nov 18 9:19 PM, 2018
Just heard my first Tawny Owl of the season from our Hale garden, on this clear moonlit night.
sid ashton said
Fri Jun 29 10:05 PM, 2018
At 9.30ish had a small group of screaming Swifts on Ashley Road, near the bowling green in Hale village - a nice surprise on our evening walk.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Dec 11 12:57 PM, 2017
Red Kite over low heading south @12.52
Mike Duckham said
Sat Nov 25 9:38 PM, 2017
Ring Necked Parakeet heard from Nursery Ave., Hale this afternoon.
Paul Boyfield said
Fri May 29 5:15 PM, 2015
Sunflower hearts in my feeder are attracting bullfinches, goldfinches and a nuthatch to my garden in Hale Barns. Had a garden warbler last month which seemed to be nesting but sadly moved on. Song was wonderful though!
phillipskelly said
Sun May 24 12:51 PM, 2015
Late post for yesterday Sat 23.05.15 - -
Afternoon mooch from Rossmill ln. via Barrow ln, Bentley bank to Bankhall ln. -
Spotted Flycatcher x 1 seen +1 other heard.
Yellow wagtail 1. Chiffchaff x 4.
Great spotted Woodpecker x5 (1seen feeding young ).
Kestrel x 1 .
Lots of Chaffinch about but did'nt hear any willow warbler or nuthatch .
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 17th of March 2014 11:48:39 AM
sid ashton said
Sun Apr 3 10:55 AM, 2011
Just had a Sparrowhawk buzzing the garden - must have scared off all of the Wheatears and Ring Ouzels 'cause I couldn't see any
sid ashton said
Sat Dec 11 4:39 PM, 2010
After putting the kitchen scraps on the lawn earlier this afternoon the garden was suddenly awash with Black headed Gulls possibly 20-25 swooping down taking the various goodies - never seen this before. Quite exciting actually, good stuff this gulling
sid ashton said
Tue Nov 30 4:21 PM, 2010
For the first time in weeks we had one of our Bullfinch pairs back in the garden this afternoon. Nice to see them still around and competing for food on the feeders which were doing great take-away business today
sid ashton said
Sat Nov 13 6:26 AM, 2010
Just heard first Tawny Owl of the season in the garden
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 13th of November 2010 06:27:26 AM
sid ashton said
Sun Oct 24 8:57 AM, 2010
Nice surprise this morning - Grey Wagtail (juv) feeding around our garden pond and taking insects off the surface of the water.
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 20 9:13 PM, 2010
Just (at 20.45) had a garden first with a Curlew over.
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 20 10:58 AM, 2010
That Tawny has been sitting in trees and atop a telegrph pole on our road for a couple of weeks now Vaughan - generally quite though.
Vaughan Evans said
Tue Jul 20 7:31 AM, 2010
Tawny Owl last night despite the rain
Vaughan Evans said
Mon May 24 8:17 AM, 2010
The first House sparrows since last May were a very welccome sight along with a few Starlings which have also become increasingly scarce. Clear skies over the weekend meant a good deal of gazing into space between being water-pistolled. A stooping peregrine to the NE on Sunday evening brought a flash of activity followed by a Lapwing coasting over - not so exciting but the first for the garden.
Vaughan Evans said
Wed Apr 28 7:57 AM, 2010
First Swifts (4) over last night at sevenish
sid ashton said
Thu Mar 18 9:17 AM, 2010
We have a pair of Long-tailed Tits in the final stages of construction their elaborate domed nest in a neighbour's shrub that we can observe quite clearly from our house.
sid ashton said
Wed Feb 24 3:05 PM, 2010
Female Blackcap in the garden this afternoon as well as a small flock of 5 Long - tailed Tits, Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Greenfinch and Song Thrush,
sid ashton said
Fri Jan 29 12:51 PM, 2010
Just seen the first Goldcrest in our garden for ages.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 29th of January 2010 01:14:11 PM
Vaughan Evans said
Wed Jan 6 10:01 AM, 2010
Blackcap stil laround, 12 Redpoll, a male Brambling and a skein of Pinkfeet over this am
Vaughan Evans said
Sun Jan 3 10:22 PM, 2010
Plenty of garden activity over the holiday. Highest counts include Bullfinch 8 (5m 3f), Redpoll 11, including one probable mealy, a female blackcap from 31 Dec still present. Winter thrushes were common around xmas but scarcer around new year. Interestingly not a single goldfinch over the period, nor any goldcrests.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Dec 21 7:47 AM, 2009
Only four bullfinches for me - 3 males and a female. 3 redpoll this weekend plus several redwing and a fieldfare. Like you Sid, lots of chaffinches but there haven't been any goldfinches now for several weeks.
sid ashton said
Sun Dec 20 3:45 PM, 2009
Garden watching today produced single Goldfinch, several Greenfinch, lots of Chaffinch and 5 Bullfinch (3 male, 2 female) as well as Blue, Great & Coal Tits, Robin and a couple of Nuthatch on the feeders. Jay, Wood Pigeon, Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, and Magpie all in evidence. No Lesser Redpoll as yet.
The 5 Bullfinch at one time were a bit of a bonus - not unusual for warmer days but we have only had one male and one female on a regular basis lately.
Must admit this garden watching has a certain attraction on a day like today - think I'll just have another cup of coffee and a mince pie
sid ashton said
Mon Dec 14 6:02 PM, 2009
To add to the other Tawny Owl posts today - there was one calling in my garden in Hale at 0515 this morning.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Dec 7 9:18 AM, 2009
Single Redpoll on Sunday along with four bullfinches and 10+ chaffinches. No sign of any goldfinches or greenfinches for two or three weeks now. Lots of Redwings in the area and a few Fieldfare over too
sid ashton said
Tue Nov 3 5:50 PM, 2009
Just had that Tawny in our garden - it flew off in your direction Vaughan
sid ashton said
Mon Oct 19 8:31 AM, 2009
Yes Vaughan, I've been hearing that Owl most nights recently - annoying isn't it? It should be asleep like the rest of us are trying to be
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Oct 19 8:11 AM, 2009
Tawny Owl early Sunday morning, plus a few Redwing over
Henry Cook said
Mon Sep 14 4:23 PM, 2009
Probably the same two birds flew over my house, just W of you Vaughan, on Sat around midday also.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Sep 14 12:56 PM, 2009
2 Raven over on Saturday afternoon heading WSW
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Aug 3 8:15 AM, 2009
I think it's about this time of the year the ants get airborne, though the weather isn't helping this year. At the end of July last year I had a Hobby in with the swifts and black headed gulls
sid ashton said
Sun Aug 2 9:18 PM, 2009
Yes Henry we watched a big flock of gulls doing just that over Bollington Mill field at Dunham last year - an amazing sight.
Henry Cook said
Sun Aug 2 7:32 PM, 2009
The ants can be magnets for allsorts of birds as you have seen Sid. It happens every year around this time as Black Ants take to the wing to mate. In my garden i've noted Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps becoming conspicuous as they try and make the most of the short-lived bounty, so the ants can attract some unusual garden species as well. Flocks of gulls also take advantage from time to time, in large flocks. A wonderful spectacle of summer. Henry.
sid ashton said
Sun Aug 2 5:58 PM, 2009
Doing a bit of gardening this afternoon - well it has to be done sometime - when we disturbed an ant's nest. Can't say that I know a lot about ants, specially those with wings but these guys flew up in a swarm (if that's the right word). Shortly afterwards 6 or 7 Swifts appeared and gave us a wonderful low level flying display
I guess it was just coincidence that the Swifts were just flying by at the right time but nice to see them so close in our garden when this time next week they'll be on their way to warmer climes.
Vaughan Evans said
Fri Jul 3 8:48 PM, 2009
I'll keep an eye out for them here too ... my last ones were april 16
I had wren this morning that was ringed - I can't remember seeing a ringed bird in the garden previously.
sid ashton said
Wed Jul 1 4:56 PM, 2009
Yes Henry it was strange - last had them in the garden on April 18th - so suppose they could be locals but nevertheless still seemed odd to see them on 1st July and in temperatures such as we have had today.
Henry Cook said
Wed Jul 1 3:57 PM, 2009
Must have been strange to see them in mid-summer Sid! Wonder if they've bred nearby? I had one fly over the garden here the other day, might be some movement of the species going on. Henry.
sid ashton said
Wed Jul 1 2:44 PM, 2009
Just had two Siskin on our sunflower hearts - 1 male t'other either juv or female couldn't tell.
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Jun 1 8:49 AM, 2009
The local sparrowhawk was given the surpise of it's life whilst circling when it was bombed by a peregrine - a garden first - 25 05 09
Vaughan Evans said
Wed May 20 9:04 AM, 2009
I had one earlier in the year Sid - possibly the same bird???
sid ashton said
Tue May 19 9:05 PM, 2009
Noticed a very white bird on our sunflower hearts this morning - I was too slow to get a decent view but it reappeared this evening and it was an almost white (leucistic?) Goldfinch. The only colour present was some yellow from the folded wings and some grey flecks in the otherwise white plumage. Its bill and legs appeared pale and it was with two other Goldfinch - amazing. Anyone else come across such a bird of the species?
sid ashton said
Tue May 12 11:13 AM, 2009
Two Swifts very high over the bowling green in Hale earlier this morning - then another two, perhaps the same ones over my garden later. As far as I could see, not a white chin patch between them unfortunately
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Apr 20 7:36 AM, 2009
11 Redpolls and 3 Siskins this weekend
sid ashton said
Sun Apr 19 8:29 PM, 2009
At the end of a perfect day - sorry you Reds - had a pair of Siskin on our sunflower hearts at 8 pm
Vaughan Evans said
Mon Apr 13 11:59 AM, 2009
6 Redpoll, a siskin and a willow warbler on saturday
Had an hour down at Golf Road this morning looking for the Ravens. Took my scope but getting a clear view of the nest was difficult, best place was the car park at the back of the football ground.
While I was there had two sightings of what was possibly the same bird, first view was when it landed low down on the mast for a short time and the second was when it visited the nest briefly.
I suspect that if the nest site has been occupied this year fledging will be complete, but it would be interesting to see how long the birds show interest in the tower.
Just been out in the rain to check out the report of a Raven's nest near to Altrincham football ground, that I heard about from my neighbour who had been down that way earlier and noticed this "big, black bird" and heard the "cronking".
The nest is almost at the top of the telecoms mast at the end of Golf Road, Hale. A bit late and wet and didn't see any activity so I didn't hang around but will hopefully be able to have another look tomorrow.
I guess this is the same nest reported on the Timperley thread by Mike D. but this would be a Hale record for me and so it's staying in Hale, sorry Mike
First chance i've had to follow up this report, more out of curiosity than anything. Not surprisingly, i didn't see a Waxwing - the berrires have all gone from the tree leaving just the stalks. Interesting spot though, right on the top of the hill, wouldn't be surprised if it's good for a bit of vis-migging, from a local point of view.
Just heard my first Tawny Owl of the season from our Hale garden, on this clear moonlit night.
At 9.30ish had a small group of screaming Swifts on Ashley Road, near the bowling green in Hale village - a nice surprise on our evening walk.
Red Kite over low heading south @12.52
Ring Necked Parakeet heard from Nursery Ave., Hale this afternoon.
Garden birds updatedhttp://manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/t17923128/county-garden-birds/
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Monday 17th of March 2014 11:48:39 AM
-- Edited by sid ashton on Saturday 13th of November 2010 06:27:26 AM
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 29th of January 2010 01:14:11 PM
The 5 Bullfinch at one time were a bit of a bonus - not unusual for warmer days but we have only had one male and one female on a regular basis lately.
Must admit this garden watching has a certain attraction on a day like today - think I'll just have another cup of coffee and a mince pie
In my garden i've noted Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps becoming conspicuous as they try and make the most of the short-lived bounty, so the ants can attract some unusual garden species as well. Flocks of gulls also take advantage from time to time, in large flocks. A wonderful spectacle of summer.
Henry.
I guess it was just coincidence that the Swifts were just flying by at the right time but nice to see them so close in our garden when this time next week they'll be on their way to warmer climes.
I had wren this morning that was ringed - I can't remember seeing a ringed bird in the garden previously.
I had one fly over the garden here the other day, might be some movement of the species going on.
Henry.