After a 50 day wait - at last a new species to add to my list! YES 50 DAYS!
A Cormorant flew over my house yesterday. This is a "proxy" sighting - as it was spotted by my neighbour (Dave B) across the road. Cheers Dave - I said I would mention you in dispatches!
Total garden bird lockout total = 28.
Steve Judge said
Mon Jun 1 9:13 PM, 2020
Sparrowhawk overhead - seen from front garden flying just above roof height.
Total garden bird lockout total = 27.
Mike Chorley said
Mon Jun 1 7:14 PM, 2020
Cheers Steve, thank goodness it was still a lifer!
Steve Judge said
Sun May 31 9:19 PM, 2020
Hi Mike - well spotted (if you pardon the pun!). You are correct - it is a 'White Ermine' moth after consulting the internet. The Moth leaflet I referenced (which is produced by Field Studies Council) does not include all moths including 'White Ermine'.
Also, thanks to the private message received from Steve Christmas who tells me that he has 'White Ermine' moths annually in his moth trap in Swinton.
It is great to have the experts on hand to put me right and improve my knowledge.
Still a moth lifer for me!
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Sunday 31st of May 2020 09:21:46 PM
Mike Chorley said
Sun May 31 5:32 PM, 2020
Hi Steve. Have you looked at 'White Ermine' ? Checking with Waring and Townsend female Muslin Moths have a different pattern of fewer black dots.
Steve Judge said
Sun May 31 11:44 AM, 2020
I saw a lovely white moth with black spots in my garden yesterday evening. Never seen one like this before. According to butterfly/moth book it is a 'Muslin Moth'. Has anybody else seen this moth?
Mallard x 3 overhead - after 10 day wait for anything new since last post!
Total garden bird lockout total = 26.
Steve Judge said
Sun May 10 11:34 AM, 2020
Great Tit x 1. First Great Tit seen in garden since lockdown (at 10:30 hrs). It was only there a matter of seconds before being chased off by the resident Blue Tits. Now I know why I have not seen many Great Tit in the garden.
Total garden bird lockout total = 25.
Steve Judge said
Fri May 8 12:55 PM, 2020
Swallow x 1 seen on telephone wire from front window at 12:30 hrs. Sat there for a while preening itself before heading off in direction of Barton Moss.
Total garden bird lockout total = 24.
Steve Judge said
Fri May 8 10:55 AM, 2020
Just when I thought my garden bird sightings had completely dried up...
Long-Tailed Tit x 1 (seen on telephone wire above front garden) at 10:00 hrs. I have never been as happy to see a long-tailed tit in all my life!
Also, two Swift see again overhead flying from Winton Park direction.
Total garden bird lockout total = 23.
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Friday 8th of May 2020 10:56:28 AM
Steve Judge said
Sun May 3 5:14 PM, 2020
Grey Heron x 1 (overhead flying from roughly Worsley Brook / Winton Park to Salford Quays direction).
Total garden bird lockout total = 22.
Steve Judge said
Thu Apr 30 1:03 PM, 2020
Swift x 2 (overhead at 12:15 - seen from front window).
Total garden bird lockout total = 21.
Steve Judge said
Sun Apr 26 2:06 PM, 2020
Guess what? One addition again since my last post!...
Jackdaw x 1 (on telephone wire above back garden). It looked like it was an opportunistic check out of the Starling and House Sparrow nests in the Holly Tree.
Total garden bird lockout total = 20.
Steve Judge said
Fri Apr 24 4:25 PM, 2020
One addition since my last post...
Canada Geese (overhead at 06:20 this morning as part of my wake up call!)
Total garden bird lockout total = 19.
Steve Judge said
Wed Apr 22 9:49 PM, 2020
One addition since my last post...
Kestrel x 1 (overhead at 10:40 this morning)
Total garden bird lockout total = 18.
Steve Judge said
Sun Apr 19 6:24 PM, 2020
A la Jimmy Cricket... "and there's more"..
One addition since my last post...
Coal Tit x 1
Total garden bird lockout total = 17.
My next best hope now is to see a Swift or Grey Heron overhead (thanks for tip off to my neighbour across the road - Dave B!)
Steve Judge said
Sat Apr 18 1:41 PM, 2020
One addition since my last post:
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 3 (overhead)
Total bird count = 16.
Steve Judge said
Sun Apr 12 2:08 PM, 2020
New additions since my last post:
- Dunnock x 1 - Black-Headed Gull x 1 (overhead) - Woodpigeon x 3 (overhead) - Herring Gull x 1 (overhead)
The highlight was watching the male Blackbird cramming as much mealworm and suet pellets in its beak before flying off (and also burying a cache for a later date).
Total bird count = 15
Steve Judge said
Fri Apr 10 12:14 PM, 2020
The list of birds so far seen in my Eccles garden during lockdown is:
- Buzzard x 1 overhead - Blue Tit x 3 - Blackbird x 2 (1M and 1F) - Collared Dove x 2 - Goldfinch x 2 - Robin x 1 - House Sparrow x 3 (who nest in holly tree at end of garden) - Starling x 10 - Crow x 1 - Magpie x 1 - Feral Pigeon x 1 overhead
Sadly, I also found a dead Robin in my front garden - possible victim of local cats.
Total bird count = 11. Keeping my fingers crossed for new additions...
Steve Judge said
Fri Apr 10 12:03 PM, 2020
I have an average sized urban garden in Eccles (see attached photo). It is near Winton Park with links to Port Salford Greenway route.
A Cormorant flew over my house yesterday. This is a "proxy" sighting - as it was spotted by my neighbour (Dave B) across the road. Cheers Dave - I said I would mention you in dispatches!
Total garden bird lockout total = 28.
Total garden bird lockout total = 27.
Also, thanks to the private message received from Steve Christmas who tells me that he has 'White Ermine' moths annually in his moth trap in Swinton.
It is great to have the experts on hand to put me right and improve my knowledge.
Still a moth lifer for me!
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Sunday 31st of May 2020 09:21:46 PM
See attachment. A moth 'lifer' for me!
Total garden bird lockout total = 26.
Total garden bird lockout total = 25.
Total garden bird lockout total = 24.
Long-Tailed Tit x 1 (seen on telephone wire above front garden) at 10:00 hrs. I have never been as happy to see a long-tailed tit in all my life!
Also, two Swift see again overhead flying from Winton Park direction.
Total garden bird lockout total = 23.
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Friday 8th of May 2020 10:56:28 AM
Total garden bird lockout total = 22.
Total garden bird lockout total = 21.
Jackdaw x 1 (on telephone wire above back garden). It looked like it was an opportunistic check out of the Starling and House Sparrow nests in the Holly Tree.
Total garden bird lockout total = 20.
Canada Geese (overhead at 06:20 this morning as part of my wake up call!)
Total garden bird lockout total = 19.
Kestrel x 1 (overhead at 10:40 this morning)
Total garden bird lockout total = 18.
One addition since my last post...
Coal Tit x 1
Total garden bird lockout total = 17.
My next best hope now is to see a Swift or Grey Heron overhead (thanks for tip off to my neighbour across the road - Dave B!)
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 3 (overhead)
Total bird count = 16.
- Dunnock x 1
- Black-Headed Gull x 1 (overhead)
- Woodpigeon x 3 (overhead)
- Herring Gull x 1 (overhead)
The highlight was watching the male Blackbird cramming as much mealworm and suet pellets in its beak before flying off (and also burying a cache for a later date).
Total bird count = 15
- Buzzard x 1 overhead
- Blue Tit x 3
- Blackbird x 2 (1M and 1F)
- Collared Dove x 2
- Goldfinch x 2
- Robin x 1
- House Sparrow x 3 (who nest in holly tree at end of garden)
- Starling x 10
- Crow x 1
- Magpie x 1
- Feral Pigeon x 1 overhead
Sadly, I also found a dead Robin in my front garden - possible victim of local cats.
Total bird count = 11.
Keeping my fingers crossed for new additions...