Rare Bird Alert reported 2 Common Cranes flew SSE over Failsworth today (report posted 6.45pm).

My first Sand Martin of the year this evening at 19.00, North over Oldham Road, following the line of the canal

Male Peregrine over Manchester Road from the direction of the canal, then back again over the mill at 18.42

This evening a Jay flew over Oldham Road from the direction of the canal towards the station.

Willow Tit calling and singing near the eastern side of the sewage works this evening. A site first for me

Another bizarre Blackbird song you've got to hear if your in the area. Imagine a dance-tune sample sung by an Oriole Park at Lower Memorial Park or the Lancaster Club at the Failsworth end of Broadway and head for the pylons. Thought I was onto something big till I saw him

Long-tailed and Great tits nest-building, a pair of Kingfishers, Treecreepers singing and a Woodcock

Along the River Medlock- A pair of Kingfishers, a Long-tailed Tits nest, a Woodcock, Bullfinches, a singing Goldcrest and a pair of Great Tits building a nest down a vertical pipe.

Word's getting round about those Roach shoals - now 3 Cormorants sat on the aerial, one with whitish head and breeding patch. Also, pair of Grey Wagtails over the Canal and Siskin feeding in a very busy Oldham Road-side Alder

Now 2 Cormorants perched on top of the ariel structure on the mill near Tesco, looking very prehistoric and totally out of place

A few Swifts were over Brierley Avenue last night. This area is quite a strong hold for them during the summer. Always nice to see them back screeching away.

Above Failsworth Sewage Works, plenty of Whitethroat, Blackcap and ChiffChaff. A few Willow Warblers about and lots of Blackbirds. No hirundine over the sewage works but I suppose not surprising after all the wind, the incects have probably been blown away!

I thought I had a Lesser Whitethroat but the song was more Common Whitethroat. It was a very pale individual though!

Lots of Fieldfares calling last night over Failsworth at midnight ish heading north.

4 Goosanders (2 pairs) were on a small unfrozen bit of the Rochdale Canal near Morrisons at Failsworth yesterday (3/1) morning. They were with the other waterfowl and gulls which were being fed bread there, although the Goosanders were not actually seen coming for bread.

Cheers,

Bill.

Reed Bunting, several Whitethroats and good, but distant views of Grasshopper Warbler in fields beween Failsworth Road and the M60.

At the WTW this Afternoon there were huge numbers of Swallows and House Martins! Too many to count, but a great spectacle!

A Cuckoo doing its cuck cooing at the mo behind our house in Woodhouses. First time I have had been told of a Cuckoo for this area.

Info from Mrs P!

Monday 11th April

Swallow - first one I have seen this spring in this area.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - Male sat in tree pondering
Chaffinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Great tit
Song Thrush
Blackbird
Collard Dove
Woodpigeon

Great Spotted Woodpecker heard again this morning.

Great Spotted Woodpecker pecking away yesterday morning and a Tawney Owl hooting away over the weekend.

4 Snipe in Lords Brook at the back of Woodhouses yesterday.

Mike Chorley wrote:

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Don't forget to send the details in for the BTO survey.

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BTO online Tawny Owl survey thingy completed!

We hear the owls everynight and every morning! Presume they roost/live in the tall trees opposite us. We will soon find out when breeding time comes along!

Don't forget to send the details in for the BTO survey.

Plenty of Tawny Owl noise activity opposite our house in Woodhouses both at night and in the morning!