Sightings from Shell pool and the Bassell site Sunday 20th March At least six Buzzard either overhead or displaying in the area Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Canada Goose 12 Mallard 23 Tufted Duck 30 Coot 8 Moorhen 8 Little Grebe 6 Cormorant 1 over Grey Heron 1 Pheasant 1 Black Headed Gull100+ Lesser Black Ba...
10/4/10 AM Ring Ouzel - at least 5, possibly 6 birds between Middle Bank and Lees Hill this am. Brambling - 7 by Hollingworth Hall Farm. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 6th of April 2012 02:21:31 PM
King George V Pool - 5 Pochard (2m, 3f), 2 Tufted Duck (1m, 1f), GC Grebe, 19 Canada Geese, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch. It is close season, so there is no fishing at this site 1st April - 16th May. Second year running I've checked this site in Spring and second year running there has been a small P...
Not actually a birding post but may be of interest to scope owners. Just had a look at the sky after a call from Ms O, the "Manx Birder" who pointed me in the direction of Jupiter. It is a very bright star just now to the right of our Moon and three of Jupiters moons can be seen clearly with the help of my scope. A...
Went up this a.m. with P Johnson looking for Ring Ouzel but no luck. Did see lots of Meadow Pipits, even more Carrion Crow, 4 Pheasant and a Kestrel. Surprisingly no Wheatear, they must all be at Elton!. Also heard singing 1 Willow Warbler. Cheers Ian --------------------------- Forgot the half doze...
Sunday 30 Oct pm with Tony Darby A splendid Giant Puffball visible through a hedge in a field on the way to the East Bay to twitch the Red-crested Pochard. It was literally bigger than a football! -- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Tuesday 1st of November 2011 01:43:02 PM
A female Wheatear in the fields here this afternoon as I walked along the footpaths, north of the M62, and along Old Alder Lane to Causey Bridges. Also seen on a cold and windy day - Lapwing 4 Skylark 1 Meadow Pipit 4 Wood Pigeon 20+ Buzzard 1 Goldfinch 2 Mistle Thrush 1 Starling 6 Collared Dove 2 Mallard 2 H...
37 species recorded today for the Bird Atlas / GM Breeding Atlas including pairs of the following: Great Crested Grebe Oystercatcher Coot (2 pairs) Tufted Duck Grey Partidge Also seen 4 Snipe, a Stonechat, a Sand Martin (the first of the year was here on 30th March), a Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. The hi...
On River Tame this morning:-
6 Goosander including 5 drakes between Dukinfield and Stalybridge
pr G S Woodpeckers in valley
pr Dipper Bayley Street, Stalybridge near tip from small bridge
5+ Heron on river between Dukinfield and Stalybridge
Pm towards Ashton
7 Goosander including 4 drak...
I'm going to walk the Manchester Ringway (no, not the airport runways) but this 200 mile trail once in each season (twice clockwise, twice anti-clockwise) and see how many species I can see. The route takes in a plethora and many Meccas of Manchester birding sites plus every environment apart from co...
Just got back last night from a four day stint at Spurn Bird Observatory. No great rarities, although I did miss Bee Eater which was present before we arrived, and Spoonbill on Sunday morning (due to spending too much time in the pub on Saturday evening).
The weather looked promising on Thursday w...
4th March.
Visited this area of Oldham for the first time ever today - despite having lived in the area for 20+ years! Really will have to try and get out a bit more
On the upper reservoir - 1 Little Grebe, 2 redhead Goosanders and a pair of Tufted Duck. 170+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Lesser...
Marsh Cinquefoil now established at Etherow CP. In pond opposite the entrance to the hide. One of the Broad-leaved Helloborine sites had 5 plants showing -not in flower yet- 2 further plants broken off as part of area has been trampled. -- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of June 2012 04:22:34...
Seeing as the only posts for Dorset include other areas and are linked to individual trips to Dorset and other counties I think this County deserves its own thread. I spent a week in Dorset (arriving on the evening of Fri July 29th and departed for Norfolk on Sun Aug 7th). THe weather overall was fine, wi...
Having business in Preston and a visit to Grimsargh wetlands (maintenance work had flushed a lot of species) yesterday I took a slight divert to go and see the Hoopoe at Lower Foulridge Reservoir. Cracking little bird (always smaller than I expect them to be). One of those strange "twitches" where ob...
Great White Egret been present since last Sunday on Holden Wood Red, will fly to Ogden which is next res on north side. Was away on Wednesday and Thursday but came back. Gets a lot of grief from Herons. Bigger than Heron's when standing close. Quite a few Whinchat around at least 10 seen on o e day by 2 diffe...
Heavily out-numbered by dog walkers but saw:
Stock Dove (9, some singing)
Jackdaws prospecting nest holes
Treecreeper 1
Nuthatch 3
Grey Heron 1 on river
Dipper 1 on river
Buzzard 1 overhead
Plus the commoner stuff.
Cheers, John
Always an excellent site, this produced 14 Whitethroats, 12 Sedge Warblers, 3 Grasshopper Warblers, 7 Reed Buntings, 2 Reed Warblers, 2 displaying Buzzards this morning. 15 years ago this site - essentially the same - had several Cuckoos but not today (though one again at Amberswood). Surprising...
Spotted Flycatcher 2 together this morning, conducting fly-catching sallies and chasing each other. At the south end from the bark path at 53.435940, -2.177163
3pm Merlin- A crackin adult female landed on a gate at bold heath between rivendell and wyvale garden centre -from the road looking east at the metal gate half way between the 2 garden centres-I stopped the car within 10 feet ,and no camera but it flew soon as I stopped anyway. not sure if...
I'm revamping a slide show I made in 2011 as a record of the flashes development I would like pictures of the Black-faced Bunting or pics of the Iron Man race or park runs that I can use in a show about the development of the Flash with permission to use them. (credited in the show)if you can help send them to...
Having not seen any peregrines for several weeks I thought they had finally vacated for the winter. This afternoon though, I saw 2 (1 adult, 1 1st year), chasing each other around St Peter's square for about 5 minutes, before settling on the Town Hall, just before dusk, approx 4pm. Not sure if they were...
I always tell myself that this time of year anything can turn up anywhere. This whinchat was a nice reminder. Spotted it perched on United Utilities' fence as I strolled down the disused freight line. Couldn't get any closer without scaring it off by barging through a couple of bramble patches.
Sunday 16/12 1.15PM
Sleeping Tawny Owl in Weaste Cemetery with also a male Bullfinch seen in the trees near the VC Grave at the end of the road.
Today
Peregrine on the Gasometer on Liverpool street at 9.20 am.
At least 25 Redwing either on the gasometer or eating the berries in the trees opposite at...
3pm Merlin- A crackin adult female landed on a gate at bold heath between rivendell and wyvale garden centre -from the road looking east at the metal gate half way between the 2 garden centres-I stopped the car within 10 feet ,and no camera but it flew soon as I stopped anyway.