alanhill wrote:

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Re Simon Gough's post, I am convinced that the Parakeets have had an impact on the Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Stenner Woods and other local areas. Is it that they are taking over their nest holes? Jamie Dunning will know the answer. Where are you Jamie?

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The Great Spotted Woodpeckers make new holes every year while the Parakeets use old holes so no probably not

A late departing single Redwing this morning. Unusual to see one on it's own..

730-1030 from Stenner Woods to Cheadle Bridge via Millgate Fields and the river, with Chris Chandler

The woods were busy with common birds, but only 1 Woodpecker seen, a female Great Spotted, but numerous Great Tits and at least 4 Nuthatch were contesting territory or partners or both.5 Ring-necked Parakeets were hanging about at the Boardwalk, we did wonder if they were preventing Great Spotted Woodpeckers from occupying the area, as you would normally expect to see at least 2 or 3 of those. Who knows?

Walking round to the football pitches, we saw a smashing flock of 50+ thrushes, with some smart Fieldfares amongst 6-7 Mistle Thrush and Redwings. Also here were 5 or more Siskin feeding on catkins

At the sluices on the river we were delighted to see a Kingfisher zip across and perch at a nice bino distance, before zooming off towards the A34. Also 3 pairs of Goosander on the water at different points along it.

A nice walk down the river to Millgate Fields, hoping for some winter birds. First notable sighting was the first local flocks of Redwings I've seen this winter. I don't know about anyone else but I've seen plenty of Fieldfares and hardly any Redwings. As I walked up the path along the side of the rugby pitches I saw a male Bullfinch, then a female, and then another male, and eventually 5 birds materialised, 3 male and 2 female.

Next up was the main species I was hoping to spot, Siskin. Having heard a rather wan call, I noticed 2 birds, then a couple more and eventually I was sure there were 10. They were so mobile it was impossible to count them, and I had run out of fingers anyway to be fair...Some dog walkers wandered past and the flock flew off, and I counted 12 or 13 birds in the air, and 2 were left, so I ended up going with 'about 15'. Don't sign me up for any surveys I guess...

Walking back through Stenner Woods I picked up a nice Reed Bunting. What adaptable birds these seem to be. I saw one in a tree with a Yellowhammer in farm fields on Sunday, then today in woodland with Chaffinch and Great Tit. Neither of which is really what you think of as their core habitat, although to be fair in both cases some prime habitat was nearby.

Also seen, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Nuthatch, Common Gull and a Cormorant over. Lots of Long-tailed Tits and Black-headed Gulls. The river was very high and I saw no Goosander, I guess they prefer shallower water?

4 Ring-necked Parakeets, 2 Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Chiffchaff.

3 Treecreepers all in same tree along boardwalk in Stenner Woods.

Parakeets very noisy and visible, one perched around 15 foot above footpath which I could show to the grandchildren without needing binoculars.

9 Ring Necked Parakeet
Chiffchaff
2 Treecreeper
7 Jay
2Chaffinch
6 Nuthatch
Goldcrest
6 Redwing
Grey Heron
3Buzzard,(2very high,the other 1 low down)

Lots of Blue,Great And Long tailed Tits,Robins,Blackbirds and far to many Magpies.

Lunchtime visit today, very busy birdwise!

Of note...
Rose-ringed Parakeet - approx 20, singles-2's-3's-4's. In various areas of the park. Could be repeats though.
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2
Nuthatch - 1 then 2 together later
Redwing - large group of about 80-90 in woods, very loud
Song Thrush - 2 together
Blackbird - 2
Chaffinch - quite a few around
Goldfinch - 7
Lesser Redpoll - 1 with the Goldfinch
Bullfinch - 2 (call gave them away)
Lots of Great Tit and Blue Tit
Coal Tit - 1
Wren - few seen, lots singing
Grey Heron - 2 (1 stood near boardwalk, 1 over)

a pm tacho break today after delivering in Didsbury centre.

45 minutes with plenty of activity.

Rose-ringed Parakeets - approx 8 (some near entrance, others in the wood)
Blue Tits - at least 8
Great Tits - 3
Coal Tit - 1
Goldfinch - 1
Chaffinch - 2 or 3 with more heard
Mistle Thrush - 1
Blackbird - 3
Chiffchaff - heard only but quite loud, couldn't locate
Oystercatcher - heard it calling and it was flying over towards the open bit of the park as I glanced up
Woodpigeon - lots around

...and also of note a Treecreeper with a distinct very white breast, and a pale brown hue to the body, had an almost greyish colour to it. Reminded me of the Treecreeper I had at Marton Mere (Fylde) on Jan 18th this year that was also very white breasted and pale greyish brown to the body.

Late Report from Friday 27th

On Mersey

2 Goosander
Red Breasted Merganser
These 3 Ducks were together and flew off towards Kingsway Bridge

In Fletcher Moss

Goldcrest
4 Nuthatch
2 Treecreeper
Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Ring-necked Parakeet
Grey Heron




-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 28th of February 2015 07:56:52 AM

Ring necked parakeet 5
Blackbird 5
Blue tit 4
Great tit 2
Woodpigeon 4
Goldcrest 1
Grey wagtail 1
Mallard 4
Black headed gull 12
Magpie 6
Carrion crow 3
Long tailed tit 2

6 Bullfinch
8 Jay
2 Treecreeper
Kingfisher
Goldcrest
11 Ring-necked Parakeet

Plus lots of activity from all the usual Garden Birds


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 20th of February 2015 09:14:29 PM

Passing through on my way to Didsbury Village(slow walk)

Kingfisher (pond by boardwalk)
Bullfinch
Treecreeper
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
Plus a Cockatiel,Only inches away from capturing it

Originally posted by Bernard Hooley:

A walk with my wife from fletcher moss park to northenden along the bank of the Mersey
Fletcher moss park
Ring-necked parakeets 6 flying about from tree to tree with a lot of squawking going on
Other birds seen
Blackbirds2
Carrion crows 2
Magpies 6
Robins 2
Woodpigeons2
On the river
Grey heron
Mallards20
Little grebe 2
Black headed gulls 46
Cheers bernard

Buzzard over, Sand Martins on River, Several Treecreepers, Nuthatch, Blackcap singing, Chiffchaff, Reed Bunting on one of the ponds and 6 Ringed Necked Parakeets.

1st Blackcap of the year this morning.

Also 3 Chiffchaff + all the usuals

Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
several Redwing
11 Ring-necked Parakeet
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
6 Teal
1 Little Grebe
2 Sparrowhawk

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 20th of March 2014 11:08:00 AM

33 Siskin yesterday
several Redwing - also in song

11 Ring-necked Parakeets in the area this morning. A decent turn out, the maximum here during the day is usually 9.

A large flock of at least 150 Redwings feeding on the ground until the area was invaded by rugby blokes doing training stuff. 

The Ringed Teal has been in the area for over a year now Pete.
As you suggest, it moves between the woods and the Millgate Lane pond.

10 Ringed Necked Parrakeets, at one point mobbed a grey squirrel, Local lady also stated she had seen the amazon in this neck of the woods in the past. 1 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Chiffchaff 1 Willow Warbler loads of Blackcap, 1 Swallow, Jay, Common Whitethroat Reed Bunting, Cormerant Greylag Goose Carrion Crow one very hoarse, woodpecker drumming Goldfinch Alpine Garden 2 Goldcrest with Long Tailed Tits. More mistletoe in the church yard.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 5th of May 2013 12:11:52 PM

Nice evening stroll 6 - 7.30pm, though no sign of the recent Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Ring-necked Parakeets everywhere. 6-8 individuals, but difficult to keep track.
First Swift of the year
Male Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Nuthatch
5 Mistle Thrush
2 Song Thrush
Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits
Greenfinch, Goldfinch and Chaffinch
Wren
Jay
Great Spotted Woodpecker

6 - 7:30

Song Thrush
4 Ring-necked Parakeets
2 Jays
1 maybe 2 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
Chaffinch (m)