June didn't bring anything new and neither had July until a couple of days ago, when some Siskins flew over.

New species for the list - a Cormorant passing overhead, otherwise fairly quiet.

Thursday 21st - Hobby seen agaain, passing over high, somewhere towards the M60 as it passes Blackley Golf Course. Of course, the the time I had run inside to get my bins, it had gone.

Several Swifts seen around the same time and also on the 22nd May. Also on the 22nd, a single Butterfly - and a new one for the year in a Large White.

The Moth trap was getting more traffic - until the blustery conditions of the last few days. The species included one or two not previously recorded in the area (according to iRecord)

Little to report of that is new. Visible activity and singing has dropped off significantly over the last couple of week. The local House Sparrows, Starlings and Blackbirds are hard at work feeding young (and messing with my vegetable garden).

Nocmig:
While vehicle activity has picked up significantly again along the M60, its not too much of a distraction as there is next to nothing passing over and making its presence known audibly. A few calls from the local Tawny Owls and a single Oystercatcher calls is all I have to show for hours of recording - although I also have some nice recordings of the morning chorus.

Moth Trap:
The improved temperatures and warmer nights have led to a series of new species for me. Best of which was a nice Poplar Hawk-moth.

Avian visitors:
- a nice male Bullfinch a few days ago
- more frequent visits from members of the House Sparrow colony down the road
- this evening a stunning Hobby passed directly over the house, giving brilliant views against the clear blue sky.

Other visitors:
- Grey Squirrel
- Common Pipistrelle most evenings

Little to report of that is new. Visible activity and singing has dropped off significantly over the last couple of week. The local House Sparrows, Starlings and Blackbirds are hard at work feeding young (and messing with my vegetable garden).

Nocmig:
While vehicle activity has picked up significantly again along the M60, its not too much of a distraction as there is next to nothing passing over and making its presence known audibly. A few calls from the local Tawny Owls and a single Oystercatcher calls is all I have to show for hours of recording - although I also have some nice recordings of the morning chorus.

Moth Trap:
The improved temperatures and warmer nights have led to a series of new species for me. Best of which was a nice Poplar Hawk-moth.

Avian visitors:
- a nice male Bullfinch a few days ago
- more frequent visits from members of the House Sparrow colony down the road
- this evening a tunning Hobby passed directly over the house, giving brilliant views against the clear blue sky.

Other visitors:
- Grey Squirrel
- Common Pipistrelle most evenings

May 7th: Another un-remarkable week has passed with a noticeable drop off in activity during the day and zero bird activity at night.

However, after a sunny day working in the garden, I was finally rewarded with 2 new species

- a flock of 5 Ring-necked Parakeets, which though present in Alkrington Woods, are rarely seen here, less than 1 mile away
- The unusual sight (and sound) of an overflying Goosander

and some less frequent visitors
- a single foraging Great Tit
- a Chaffinch singing a few streets away
- some Swifts screaming in the distance

Sparrowhawk and one of the local Buzzards also seen over the last week.

Small White, Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell Butterflies. Nothing of interest yet in the new Moth trap.

April 30th:

Finally! A single swallow over the area, following some of the heavy showers!

Finally heard a singing wren this morning during a breakfast in the garden. THat plus a single House Martin passing overhead takes the list to 31.

A single Swift heading northwards at 10:45 was a first of the year all round for me, this morning.

Not much about in the slightly breezy afternoon weather, but a singing Goldcrest at the end of the Garden was new and some House Sparrows

Very little new and a distinctive drop-ff in the number of Bird species being seen. That being said, there was a new species this evening

- Oystercatcher - 1 seen and several more calling birds heard

In terms of other things seen

Butterflies
- 1 or sometimes 2 Peacock Butterflies
- 1 Small Tortoiseshell
- 1 Orange Tip (female)

Bats
- 1 or sometimes 2 Common Pipistrelle

After a week or so with little variation in terms of visitors and just the odd flyover Grey Heron, Mistle Thrush or Sparrowhawk to provide variety, I had both flyover Lapwing and Jay within a few minutes of each other while staring out of the window at breakfast this morning.

Despite having my recorder running for between 4 and 8 hrs each night, I picking up very little during the hours of darkness, despite the noise from the nearby M60 having dropped off considerably.

16-Mar-20 - 1 single Redwing call

3-Apr-20 - 1 Tawny Owl calling some way off.

Missed the delivery of my Parabolic Dish on thursday, so now will have to wait until at least Wednesday for it to arrive.

Another visit from the local Sparrowhawk, once again targetting a flock of feral pigeons who tend to sunbathe on the roof of the house behind ours, was the main highlight.

Otherwise, it was the usual resident species and just 2 new additions
- 1 flyover Mistle Thrush
- 2 flyover starling

One of the local Buzzards soaring overhead today and a Coal Tit actually in the garden.

After some earlier miscounting, the list actually stands at 20.

No noticeable change in the species around. Best birds today include

- 1 flyover male Sparrowhawk
- Bullfinch calling nearby
- Greenfinch over

Little improvement in the range of species seen, but I did manage to add Collared Dove, Great Tit and House Sparrow to the list, bringing it up to 15.

Hoping some more luck with Nocmig this evening, now that I've finally sorted out the settings on my recorder