A pair of Lesser Whitethroats this morning. I found 3 or 4 last year, but this pair were the only ones I could find this morning, perhaps a bit early still and the weather was grim!
Pair of Grey Wagtails, Kingfisher and female Goosander on the river.
Quite a few birds about despite the weather - Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Blackcap. Chiffchaff etc.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 28th of April 2024 02:59:14 PM
Thanks for that Simon and thank you for posting the find again, what a lovely little bird, I can tell you it is a weight off my shoulders but I have to go back with Cath now for her tick, lol.
Simon Gough said
Wed May 3 11:53 AM, 2023
Tony Koziol wrote:
...it is amazing how a little success can lift the spirit...
Great to hear that you caught up with the Lesser Whitethroats Tony! I was similarly pleased the other day cracking onto them. I didn't get a sighting when I went back on Monday afternoon but heard a bit of calling, they should be in the rough area all summer now hopefully
Tony Koziol said
Wed May 3 11:26 AM, 2023
What a difference 48 hours makes, went for the Lesser Whitethroat this morning at 07.30ish as I had cancelled my fishing trip. Walked around getting everything in my bins but the LW, Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Greenfinch looking great almost yellow in the sunshine, Jay and lots of the usuals.
As I walked I was thinking I need some momentum to get my birding going as the LW was getting the better of me here its nearly four years since I got a fleeting glimpse of one at this site. I approached a "good" spot near the old railway bridge a movement caught my attention (don't know if the bird was singing as my hearing is shot) raising the bins there he was sat in all his glory I could now see his beak and throat moving as he let out his unmistakable song to those that can hear it (not me) and then my phone pings its Cath asking me where I am, I give her good news at last about LW.
Walking about just wasting time I then return to the spot and now a pair of them give me a few minutes of their time as they fly around chasing each other in the morning sunshine, my mood has changed, it is amazing how a little success can lift the spirit, I even contemplate changing my day to a working day but not before I nip down the river to see if the Sand Martins are around.
Tony Koziol said
Mon May 1 8:22 PM, 2023
Richard Would wrote:
Tony Koziol wrote:
Lovely shots there Richard.
No Lesser Whitethroat for me again this morning.
I think I spoke to you this morning Tony. I found them between the picnic table and the old railway bridge in the end (over towards the houses on Craig Road)
Hi Richard, if you are the fella with tinnitus then yes it was me.
We have just returned after another fruitless one and a half hours chasing LW
Managed to add a male Kestrel after I had said to Cath "we don't get many raptors here do we" it flew straight over us.
Richard Would said
Mon May 1 4:59 PM, 2023
Tony Koziol wrote:
Lovely shots there Richard.
No Lesser Whitethroat for me again this morning.
I think I spoke to you this morning Tony. I found them between the picnic table and the old railway bridge in the end (over towards the houses on Craig Road)
Tony Koziol said
Mon May 1 4:06 PM, 2023
Lovely shots there Richard.
No Lesser Whitethroat for me again this morning.
Richard Would said
Mon May 1 12:32 PM, 2023
Lesser Whitethroats this morning, plus Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Greenfinches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Mandarin (on river)
We were not able to see the Lesser Whitethroats this morning but we did hear them at the top of the orchard near the pylons and near the picnic tables a bogey bird for us.
We managed to add two Swallows and two Swifts to Simons list for yesterday
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 29 12:24 PM, 2023
8.00-9.30am
4 Lesser Whitethroat this morning - 2 at the orchard end of the embankment behind Craig Road, 2 on the embankment facing the horse paddocks by the river. Some interesting behaviour I'd not seen before: I got on a male bird first down at the orchard end, some scratchy singing then it madly chased around with another bird, there were briefly 3 birds involved but I couldn't confirm the 3rd was a Lesser Whitethroat, but 2 were. Some calling and then a male came back to a central set of bushes and sang the more normal trill song, not sure whether the other one was a male or a female, I don't know how they display etc, but I thought it was probably 2 males. At the paddocks, I was looking down the fence line and a Lesser Whitethroat was on the ground with Greenfinches and a Song Thrush, perhaps feeding? but it turned out to be gathering stuff to take into the bushes. A second bird flew in calling to join it. No singing heard down there but evidently 2 territories overall.
I really enjoy going down to Mersey Vale at this time of year to look for these birds. Overall a lovely morning, with a backdrop of singing Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldfinch, active Jays, Bullfinches, even a group of 15 or so Ring-necked Parakeets seemed quite chilled out!
Pete Hines said
Wed Jun 15 2:55 PM, 2022
Lesser Whitethroat still present along the ridge path below the power lines. Not singing, but calling frequently and being elusive. Goosander - two broods Mandarin - one brood Kingfisher 1 Sand Martin 15, it appears a Badger has excavated the colony again.
Sparrowhawk, a male perched outside the nest holes of the Sand Martin colony was promptly chased off by c30 Sand Martin Dipper 1 feeding above the rapids Lesser Whitethroat singing male still present along the embankment behind Vale Farm Treecreeper 3 recently fledged young Grey Wagtails feeding young
While returning from a visit to Tatton Park along the M60 heading towards Stockport, I spotted a pair of Ravens soaring high above the electricty wires in approximately this area - certainly before we passed the Mercedes Benz Showrooms.
Kev Jin said
Sat Mar 20 2:21 PM, 2021
17.3.21 15.20-16.50
Buzzard x3
Cormorant x5 (4 on a pylon)
Goosander x 6
Mike Crawley said
Thu Mar 18 11:56 PM, 2021
Singing Chiffchaff in the Mersey Vale nature park and another in Heaton Mersey park. Also in the nature park Drumming Great spotted Woodpecker Bullfinch (single male) plus the usual suspects
Sorry for not reporting this earlier
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 19th of March 2021 07:41:21 AM
Simon Gough said
Sat Mar 6 9:30 AM, 2021
Chiffchaff singing this morning by the pylon, just before 8am, delightful.
Also lots of Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker activity, 1 Heron on a nest at the fishing pond
Tony Koziol said
Sat Jan 23 4:17 PM, 2021
A nice walk around the area today gave us a Greenfinch to add to the GM list making it bird number 54.
Lots of mixed tits, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Chaffinch one male feeding on Ash tree seeds still hanging from the branches.
Tony Koziol said
Sat Jan 9 2:50 PM, 2021
A walk this morning gave us a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly over sadly no Treecreeper to add to the list today.
Pete Hines said
Fri Oct 2 2:12 PM, 2020
Dipper 1 from the Manchester Road bridge B5095, Parrs Wood
Dipper 2 from the B5095 Manchester Rd bridge Goosander 2 Kingfisher 1 Chiffchaff 4 Goldcrest 3 Treecreeper 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Redpoll 1
Simon Gough said
Sun Jul 12 3:32 PM, 2020
Lesser Whitethroat today in the same spot as May 30; presume they have bred on this basis, which is great if it is the case!
Simon Gough said
Sat May 30 5:17 PM, 2020
Not expecting all that much today after lunch, but was pleased to pick up Lesser Whitethroat calling on the embankment overlooking the Vale Farm paddocks. 2 birds heard but only one seen.
Tony Koziol said
Sun Apr 26 1:00 PM, 2020
Just two additions to what Tony has reported from this morning and that is plenty of Chiffchaff and three Bullfinch 1m and 2 f
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Apr 26 9:57 AM, 2020
Had a brief burst of song and a possible flyover Lesser Whitethroat.
Willow Warbler and Greenfinch scrapping over a song perch. Also plenty of Blackcap and Wrens all making a din.
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 25 10:51 AM, 2020
Lesser Whitethroat again this morning, showed well
Mike Crawley said
Fri Apr 24 9:41 AM, 2020
Simon Gough wrote:
Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. Seen from the top path that runs along the embankment behind the pylon, that tracks along the back of the houses on Craig Road.
.
drat, you beat me to putting out the news
Simon Gough said
Fri Apr 24 9:06 AM, 2020
Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. Seen from the top path that runs along the embankment behind the pylon, that tracks along the back of the houses on Craig Road.
John Rayner said
Wed Mar 14 11:58 AM, 2018
Firecrest again for a few minutes at 11.50. Same area.
Cheers John
Pete Hines said
Tue Mar 13 5:01 PM, 2018
Firecrest showed on and off between 14.15 and 14.35 at 53.408232, -2.197021 (GPS from camera) which is 328.31 metres from the Craig Road entrance (at the Vale Road end) and 157.43 metres from the pylon line, along the top path above the horse paddocks (where we watched it last Sunday 11th). Record shot from Sunday attached.
Firecrest still about but intermittent . It was found by a birder who chatted to Pete Hines then spotted it to our left. I parked at the junction of Craig /Vale rd. walked up the steps on the left - along the path till you see a large ivy covered tree far to your RIGHT with broken limb ripped off . The firecrest was seen just after the tree for about 200m with a farm , caravans and horse paddock below and to the right. Good luck but be patient. Ps. nice to meet Paul Dewy .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 13th of March 2018 07:24:36 PM
John Rayner said
Tue Mar 13 1:43 PM, 2018
In addition to c5 Goldcrests 1 Kingfisher caught and ate a small fish at Pylon Pool 1 Peregrine circling overhead 4 Greenfinches
Cheers John
Ian Campbell said
Tue Mar 13 10:58 AM, 2018
8-10 a.m. this morning searching all the described areas with no sign of Firecrest , did see 7 Goldcrest however. Cheers Ian
Mike Crawley said
Mon Mar 12 6:19 PM, 2018
Firecrest seen very briefly today at approximately 14:30. Slightly away from the previous sightings though. Theres a "pond dipping" pond under the aforementioned electricity pylon. I walked along the footpath above this pond busily counting the pairs of Bullfinch when I heard the characteristic call of Firecrest. It took me five minutes to actually get to see the bird, which called regularly. The bird moved away from me towards the track where the bird was seen of Saturday and Sunday but I lost it, unfortunately.
I was "on site" for about 2 hours
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of March 2018 07:06:00 PM
John Rayner said
Sun Mar 11 12:40 PM, 2018
Firecrest still on view 12.35 Cheers John
John Rayner said
Sun Mar 11 12:23 PM, 2018
Firecrest again 12.02 - 12.09 c150m beyond pylon wires along upper track.
Cheers John
steven burke said
Sat Mar 10 10:23 PM, 2018
12.15-4.30pm.
I spent a couple of hours in the location simon had the firecrest, in the hedgerow inbetween the 2 paddocks also having small walks up & down the river but no joy, so I decided to walk along the river path to the next stile & took the path going up the slope this then took me along the top path that is overlooking the second paddock, as I passed the bench on my right then just under the pylon wires overhead the trees & shrubs on the left is where I found the firecrest just happily feeding low to the ground & only 10 feet away from me giving excellent views. I watched it for just over 5 minutes as it slowly moved around before it flew to the other side of the path & then lost to view. another 30 minute search but could not relocate. other birds around...
2 nuthatch 3 treecreeper 1 jay 2 grey wagtails 1 pied wagtail 2 bullfinch 7 chaffinch 8 goldcrest 6 goosander 3 grey herons 3 mistle thrush 2 redwings great spotted woodpecker heard plus all the usual birds around.
I just heard from Steve Burke that he has found the Firecrest up on the high path behind the paddocks where I saw it. This is a good 200m away from my spot. You can access the path up there by climbing the short slope up from the riverbank path as you head towards Stockport before the M60 bridge, or by approaching from the steps on Craig Road and walking through the scrubby woodland for 5 mins or so, where you emerge in the open, right by the electricity pylon with the paddocks below you to the right. The grid ref is more like SJ871900
Glad the bird is still around, if a little itinerant...
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 10 12:35 PM, 2018
Hi Mike, your post may be a little misleading. I gave it over 3 hours today and as far as I know there was no sign of the Firecrest after Simon Gough's original sighting at around 07.30. Some decent local birding though and loads of suitable habitat so I don't rule out it turning up again.
08.20 - 11.35.
Oystercatcher 1 Goosander 2m, 3f Sparrowhawk (a couple of fly overs) Kingfisher (heard) Bullfinch 6 Goldcrest 2 Grey Wagtail 1
Also a heronry I didn't know about by the angler's pool. 8 birds at a minimum of 3 nests (2 sitting, 1 building)
Cheers John
Mike Crawley said
Sat Mar 10 11:45 AM, 2018
Sorry if anyone feels my previous post was a little abrupt. Mainly due to frustration with myself than with anyone finding and/or reporting good birds. Firecrest would be the best bird ive seen on, what I consider as, my local patch.
Mike Crawley said
Sat Mar 10 9:22 AM, 2018
Morning
Just heard this news, which is frustrating as I live 10 minutes away.
Thankfully someone has reported it as present at 9am this morning so I can get over there and have a look.
Lots of habit to go through though
Simon Gough said
Sat Mar 10 9:01 AM, 2018
Some better directions for the Firecrest:
By car head for Vale Road, which is at the Didsbury end of Craig Road and leads to a business park, Burnage Rugby Club, and the river footpath right at the end when you run out of road. When you get to the river, turn left and go through the stile/gate thing and the bird was showing at the point where the hedge divides the 2 paddocks. It showed well for about 5 mins then flew back up the hedge line towards the farm buildings at SJ869899. I always call this area Vale Farm.
I stayed for 20 mins or so until the rain set in with no further views so hopefully somebody will re-find it over the weekend.
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Saturday 10th of March 2018 09:02:04 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 10 7:54 AM, 2018
Firecrest present this morning.
Park at the bottom of Craig Road and take the footpath to the horse paddocks where the bird was showing very well at 07:35.
A pair of Lesser Whitethroats this morning. I found 3 or 4 last year, but this pair were the only ones I could find this morning, perhaps a bit early still and the weather was grim!
Pair of Grey Wagtails, Kingfisher and female Goosander on the river.
Quite a few birds about despite the weather - Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Blackcap. Chiffchaff etc.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 28th of April 2024 02:59:14 PM
Wander through nature park and slightly further to Cheadle bridge 2-4pm, highlights were
Chiffchaff calling in 8 separate locations, definitely 6 birds possibly more
2 Buzzard
2 pair Goosander
6 Mandarin, 2f, 4m. Initially saw what I assumed to be two pairs, but later there were the additional males.
Blackcap singing
Dipper 1 juvenile
Kingfisher 1
Mandarin Duck 2 broods, 3 adult female, 12 ducklings
Goosander 2
Grey Wagtail 8 - juveniles plus adults carrying food
Sand Martin 3
Thanks for that Simon and thank you for posting the find again, what a lovely little bird, I can tell you it is a weight off my shoulders
but I have to go back with Cath now for her tick, lol.
Great to hear that you caught up with the Lesser Whitethroats Tony! I was similarly pleased the other day cracking onto them. I didn't get a sighting when I went back on Monday afternoon but heard a bit of calling, they should be in the rough area all summer now hopefully
What a difference 48 hours makes, went for the Lesser Whitethroat this morning at 07.30ish as I had cancelled my fishing trip. Walked around getting everything in my bins but the LW, Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Greenfinch looking great almost yellow in the sunshine, Jay and lots of the usuals.
As I walked I was thinking I need some momentum to get my birding going as the LW was getting the better of me here its nearly four years since I got a fleeting glimpse of one at this site. I approached a "good" spot near the old railway bridge a movement caught my attention (don't know if the bird was singing as my hearing is shot) raising the bins there he was sat in all his glory I could now see his beak and throat moving as he let out his unmistakable song to those that can hear it (not me) and then my phone pings its Cath asking me where I am, I give her good news at last about LW.
Walking about just wasting time I then return to the spot and now a pair of them give me a few minutes of their time as they fly around chasing each other in the morning sunshine, my mood has changed, it is amazing how a little success can lift the spirit, I even contemplate changing my day to a working day but not before I nip down the river to see if the Sand Martins are around.
Hi Richard, if you are the fella with tinnitus then yes it was me.
We have just returned after another fruitless one and a half hours chasing LW
Managed to add a male Kestrel after I had said to Cath "we don't get many raptors here do we" it flew straight over us.
I think I spoke to you this morning Tony. I found them between the picnic table and the old railway bridge in the end (over towards the houses on Craig Road)
Lovely shots there Richard.
No Lesser Whitethroat for me again this morning.
Lesser Whitethroats this morning, plus Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Greenfinches, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Mandarin (on river)
10.00/12.30
We were not able to see the Lesser Whitethroats this morning but we did hear them at the top of the orchard near the pylons and near the picnic tables a bogey bird for us.
We managed to add two Swallows and two Swifts to Simons list for yesterday
4 Lesser Whitethroat this morning - 2 at the orchard end of the embankment behind Craig Road, 2 on the embankment facing the horse paddocks by the river. Some interesting behaviour I'd not seen before:
I got on a male bird first down at the orchard end, some scratchy singing then it madly chased around with another bird, there were briefly 3 birds involved but I couldn't confirm the 3rd was a Lesser Whitethroat, but 2 were. Some calling and then a male came back to a central set of bushes and sang the more normal trill song, not sure whether the other one was a male or a female, I don't know how they display etc, but I thought it was probably 2 males.
At the paddocks, I was looking down the fence line and a Lesser Whitethroat was on the ground with Greenfinches and a Song Thrush, perhaps feeding? but it turned out to be gathering stuff to take into the bushes. A second bird flew in calling to join it. No singing heard down there but evidently 2 territories overall.
I really enjoy going down to Mersey Vale at this time of year to look for these birds. Overall a lovely morning, with a backdrop of singing Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldfinch, active Jays, Bullfinches, even a group of 15 or so Ring-necked Parakeets seemed quite chilled out!
Goosander - two broods
Mandarin - one brood
Kingfisher 1
Sand Martin 15, it appears a Badger has excavated the colony again.
Dipper 1 feeding above the rapids
Lesser Whitethroat singing male still present along the embankment behind Vale Farm
Treecreeper 3 recently fledged young
Grey Wagtails feeding young
Chiffchaff 1 singing
Goldcrest 5
Goosander 5
17.3.21 15.20-16.50
Buzzard x3
Cormorant x5 (4 on a pylon)
Goosander x 6
Singing Chiffchaff in the Mersey Vale nature park and another in Heaton Mersey park.
Also in the nature park
Drumming Great spotted Woodpecker
Bullfinch (single male)
plus the usual suspects
Sorry for not reporting this earlier
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 19th of March 2021 07:41:21 AM
Also lots of Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker activity, 1 Heron on a nest at the fishing pond
A nice walk around the area today gave us a Greenfinch to add to the GM list making it bird number 54.
Lots of mixed tits, Goldfinch, Bullfinch and Chaffinch one male feeding on Ash tree seeds still hanging from the branches.
A walk this morning gave us a Great Spotted Woodpecker fly over sadly no Treecreeper to add to the list today.
Goosander 2
Kingfisher 1
Chiffchaff 4
Goldcrest 3
Treecreeper 1
Meadow Pipit 1
Redpoll 1
Just two additions to what Tony has reported from this morning and that is plenty of Chiffchaff and three Bullfinch 1m and 2 f
Had a brief burst of song and a possible flyover Lesser Whitethroat.
Willow Warbler and Greenfinch scrapping over a song perch. Also plenty of Blackcap and Wrens all making a din.
.
drat, you beat me to putting out the news
Cheers John
I parked at the junction of Craig /Vale rd. walked up the steps on the left - along the path till you see a large ivy covered tree far to your RIGHT with broken limb ripped off . The firecrest was seen just after the tree for about 200m with a farm , caravans and horse paddock below and to the right.
Good luck but be patient.
Ps. nice to meet Paul Dewy .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 13th of March 2018 07:24:36 PM
1 Kingfisher caught and ate a small fish at Pylon Pool
1 Peregrine circling overhead
4 Greenfinches
Cheers John
Cheers Ian
Firecrest seen very briefly today at approximately 14:30.
Slightly away from the previous sightings though.
Theres a "pond dipping" pond under the aforementioned electricity pylon. I walked along the footpath above this pond busily counting the pairs of Bullfinch when I heard the characteristic call of Firecrest.
It took me five minutes to actually get to see the bird, which called regularly.
The bird moved away from me towards the track where the bird was seen of Saturday and Sunday but I lost it, unfortunately.
I was "on site" for about 2 hours
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of March 2018 07:06:00 PM
Firecrest still on view 12.35 Cheers John
I spent a couple of hours in the location simon had the firecrest, in the hedgerow inbetween the 2 paddocks also having small walks up & down the river but no joy, so I decided to walk along the river path to the next stile & took the path going up the slope this then took me along the top path that is overlooking the second paddock, as I passed the bench on my right then just under the pylon wires overhead the trees & shrubs on the left is where I found the firecrest just happily feeding low to the ground & only 10 feet away from me giving excellent views. I watched it for just over 5 minutes as it slowly moved around before it flew to the other side of the path & then lost to view. another 30 minute search but could not relocate.
other birds around...
2 nuthatch
3 treecreeper
1 jay
2 grey wagtails
1 pied wagtail
2 bullfinch
7 chaffinch
8 goldcrest
6 goosander
3 grey herons
3 mistle thrush
2 redwings
great spotted woodpecker heard
plus all the usual birds around.
Glad the bird is still around, if a little itinerant...
08.20 - 11.35.
Oystercatcher 1
Goosander 2m, 3f
Sparrowhawk (a couple of fly overs)
Kingfisher (heard)
Bullfinch 6
Goldcrest 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Also a heronry I didn't know about by the angler's pool. 8 birds at a minimum of 3 nests (2 sitting, 1 building)
Cheers John
Just heard this news, which is frustrating as I live 10 minutes away.
Thankfully someone has reported it as present at 9am this morning so I can get over there and have a look.
Lots of habit to go through though
By car head for Vale Road, which is at the Didsbury end of Craig Road and leads to a business park, Burnage Rugby Club, and the river footpath right at the end when you run out of road. When you get to the river, turn left and go through the stile/gate thing and the bird was showing at the point where the hedge divides the 2 paddocks. It showed well for about 5 mins then flew back up the hedge line towards the farm buildings at SJ869899. I always call this area Vale Farm.
I stayed for 20 mins or so until the rain set in with no further views so hopefully somebody will re-find it over the weekend.
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Saturday 10th of March 2018 09:02:04 AM
Firecrest present this morning.
Park at the bottom of Craig Road and take the footpath to the horse paddocks where the bird was showing very well at 07:35.
Info thanks to Simon Gough