About 300 Pink Footed Geese were over the Clay Lane end of Brooks Drive flying east at 10.05 a.m. Seemed a bit disorganised and unsure where they wanted to go, some of them changed direction briefly at one point.
Ta for the heads up on the Parakeet roost Rob, wasnt aware of that.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
About 35 ish Ring Necked Parakeets in 4 groups observed from the back of Ridgeway Sports and Social Club fields at 7pm ish flying from the Clay Lane area towards Roundthorn/Baguley area. I've seen them head that way before, must be a roost somewhere.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Approx 80 ish Pink Footed Goose east ish at 11:53 and Raven low at 11:45, both over Beech Fields.
2 Swallow at 10:30 SE ish low and fast
over Riddings Road after the rain stopped, on a mission.
1 Siskin at 10:20 south east ish over Olive Road
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Approx 18 Pink Footed Geese high SE over Acresfield Road at 7.40pm, lucky they called or I'd have missed them.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
1 Stock Dove landed in the field next to Fairywell Wood briefly before flying north along the course of the brook in the direction of Brooklands, on Sat 8th (late due to losing my password!)
Today, a pair of House Sparrows feeding on Hawthorn buds in the hedge at the bottom of the garden - first in the garden for nearly 30 years!
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
It was nice to observe at close quarters 2 presumed Icelandic coburni Redwing feeding with 3 iliacus on holly berries the last few days, near Fairywell Wood, Timperley. Occasionally joined by a Fieldfare. The coburni seemed to stay close to each other but not the iliacus - and vice versa. Probably coincidence though. The Fieldfare and one of the Redwing repeatedly drank water droplets that were hanging off twigs.
-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Wednesday 27th of November 2019 01:21:46 PM
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Pink Footed Geese heard distantly from Whitebeam Close (by Fairywell Wood) at 9:05 today were presumably the flock that Chris Roberts had SE over Ashton on Mersey at 8:45.
-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Sunday 10th of November 2019 08:10:05 PM
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A skein of 15 calling Whooper Swans flew SE over the far end of Navigation Road train platform yesterday at 4pm, a very pleasant surprise. On my return leg, a Golden Plover flew over Alder Drive calling at 1 a.m. today.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A flock of Pink Footed Geese were heard from Whitebeam Close at 10.15 a.m., possibly the 90 birds which flew SE over Irlam prior to that.
Ring Necked Parakeets seen and heard today and yesterday at the south end of the wood.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A flock of Pink Footed Geese flew over the Fairywell Wood/Brooks Drive area, calling at 9:05 a.m., didn't manage to spot them this time.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Yesterday morning, 2 Ravens flew east to west over Fairywell Wood, the horse field next to Alder Drive, Brooks Drive and the sports fields off Ridgeway Rd. Pretty sure i heard one call same time today but only 99%.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A Green Sandpiper was heard this morning from Whitebeam Close, calling from the area of Fairywell Brook just south of Fairywell Wood. A few parakeets heard too. The gull colony, wherever it is, is quite vocal and can be heard from a distance, presumably on the roofs of Roundthorn Industrial Estate.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A Lesser Black Backed Gull was collecting nesting material in the horse field adjacent to Whitebeam Close - i wonder where the nearest nesting site is? Perhaps on the big warehouse roofs not far away across Fairywell Wood. A Blackcap singing in the wood. Fledgling Dunnock in the garden. A Whitethroat is back in the rough field between Fairywell Wood and Brooks Drive, along the footpath here.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A Woodcock flew east over Delahays Rd at 5:45 pm., heading for the pastures. Not a Timperley tick for me though, after one flushed from a neighbours garden next to the big pond on Acresfield Road one morning during a snowy spell mid '80's.
Yep Sid it's amazing how egrets have spread and are still spreading. I guess during the daytime it must be fishing along quieter stretches of the Timperley Brook, there's bits that go between houses which will be undisturbed.
sid ashton wrote:
Mike Duckham wrote:
1 Little Egret present in the tall weeping willow on one of the islands at KGV Pool at dusk. Talking to a couple of fishermen, it's apparently been quite regular recently. No Pochard or Goosander though.
Mike of interest I posted the following on 12th December 2018 in the Altrincham thread which is where I have always believed the pool is situated. The two Little Egrets were there for a couple of days that I know of.
Just did a circuit of King George V pool, plenty of activity today including 3 Cormorant, 7 Goosander (5 female and 2 male), male and female Pochard, a Grey Heron perched in the same tree on one of the small islands as two Little Egrets.
Interestingly I discovered a bit of history about the pool today. It is a small artificial lake constructed between 1910 and 1911 in celebration of the coronation of King George V and was gifted to the people of Altrincham in the king's memory in the hope that the folk of Altrincham would take an interest in the pool's birdlife.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
1 Little Egret present in the tall weeping willow on one of the islands at KGV Pool at dusk. Talking to a couple of fishermen, it's apparently been quite regular recently. No Pochard or Goosander though.
Mike of interest I posted the following on 12th December 2018 in the Altrincham thread which is where I have always believed the pool is situated. The two Little Egrets were there for a couple of days that I know of.
Just did a circuit of King George V pool, plenty of activity today including 3 Cormorant, 7 Goosander (5 female and 2 male), male and female Pochard, a Grey Heron perched in the same tree on one of the small islands as two Little Egrets.
Interestingly I discovered a bit of history about the pool today. It is a small artificial lake constructed between 1910 and 1911 in celebration of the coronation of King George V and was gifted to the people of Altrincham in the king's memory in the hope that the folk of Altrincham would take an interest in the pool's birdlife.
1 Little Egret present in the tall weeping willow on one of the islands at KGV Pool at dusk. Talking to a couple of fishermen, it's apparently been quite regular recently. No Pochard or Goosander though.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
11:20 a.m. - v. approx 240 Pink Footed Geese fairly low ESE ish over the south end of Fairywell Wood, viewed from Whitebeam Close. On a course for Wythenshawe, Heald Green and The Wash.
I must go and have a look for those Little Egrets, insane record in the not-too-distant past!
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
A male Blackcap in the hedge between Whitebeam Close and the adjacent horse field. I only spotted it because i was trying to see a calling House Sparrow which was the first one here for over 20 years!
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
Just had a harrier sp fly over! Viewed from Clay Lane c. 4:40pm, i luckily had bins and somewhere to pull over, watched it as it headed slowly and steadily approx. NE over the rugby pitches, Ridgeway Sports and Social Club, and the Brooks Drive area. Watched until it was well distant. Bit gutted i couldn't ID it to species, but quite a buzz nonetheless.
-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Saturday 20th of October 2018 05:17:35 PM
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
No show by the Rose-coloured Starling this morning by 11.15
That's a pity, hope it's still around - but a very clear night last night so may have taken the opportunity to go somewhere a bit warmer. Certainly new birds arrived in my part of Timperley - Blackbirds and Chaffinches in particular.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
The Fawn Yawn was still showing well on and off today in the tall Lombardy Poplar in the school grounds, and also the aerial on Forest Drive.. There was a bit of a phase of giving birds nicknames in the 80s/90s, kind of a twitching tribe hip speak. The Grotfinch, the Marmo's, Eleo's, R B Flicker and so on. 3 Fieldfares over quite high picked up with bins, and 2 others landed in the top of a lime tree.
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Timperley life list c. 89 (ish). Barn Owl 4.11.19, Green Sand 27.8.19, Little Egret 13.2.19, ringtail harrier sp 20.10.18, Fawn Yawn 15.10.18, Grasshopper Warbler 15.4.16, Tree Pipit 13.4.16, Yellowhammer 5.4.15, Hobby May '11, Wigeon Dec '10
I've always assumed it's because the adults are pink and the juvs are basically boring bags of pooh,and stink rhymes with pink,therefore we get pink stink,could be totally wrong though,if anyone else has another theory i'd be interested to hear it
Starling was seen briefly this morning around the corner from forest drive opposite wellington school it was in a tree behind Bryon Drive off moss lane, birds were very mobile today and were returning to the popular and other areas. they were feeding on the sports field opposite the school down a allyway , large Goldfinch flock and redwings in area, its a mobile bird but a spoke to a number of locals who are aware of its and are feeding all the birds as best they can.
Tried again today. None of last night's forecast sun but at least it didn't rain. More birders seem to be turning up (about 20) which appeared to make the Rose-coloured Starling a little nervous as the 4 visits to the aerials/roof top were only short ones. It did linger, preening, on top of the nearby Lombardy Poplar allowing more distant photos.
Just to add to Doc Brewsters comments about the local residents. Whilst waiting yesterday for the bird with a fellow birder, a friendly resident came out to chat and asked if we would like cup of tea! Good old northern hospitality.
We also had great views of the bird on a tv aerial near to the Forest school.
Made the short 17mile drive to Timperley for c.9am this morning and wasn't disappointed. Withing about 15mins of arrival the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling showed on TV aerials in it's usual area. The weather was horrid, but there are areas where you can shelter under overhanging trees & keep pretty dry. Quite a few folk were there, lots of birding pals, some of whom had been there for at least an hour and a half before it showed. Maybe arriving bewteen 8.30am-10am would be a good tactic for future visitors. Everyone who was there and who arrived whilst I was there had views of the bird, I volunteered up my scope for anyone who hadn't seen it yet or had only used bins and everyone got decent views. We all kept out of the way and got no adverse reaction at all from residents at all, quite the opposite with a few friendly enquiries asking if we had seen the bird yet. (low res handheld phonescoped record shot attached)
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Sunday 14th of October 2018 01:52:34 PM
The rose-coloured starling showed well eventually, high up in a poplar tree in Forest Preparation School for a while, then later on aerials. At all times it was associating with starlings, though often when they flew it remained behind.
Juvenile Rose-coloured Starling present again in the Moss Lane area again this morning, on one occasion with Starlings in a poplar in the grounds of Forest Preparation School.
It is essential that any visiting birders park carefully and considerately and also consider their actions in such a residential area.
A couple of decent solo shows by the Starling this afternoon between 12.30 and 1.30 on aerials near Wellington School for Gary Crowder, Phil Kelly and myself plus a flyover in between. Another good bit of 'bus pass birding' .....and a swarm of very colourful Manchester BEES to round out the afternoon.
Tried to get my 1st all-timer rose coloured starling with my mother. We covered everything and unfortunately it was a no-show. Somewhat disappointing after 2 1/2 hours of effort but that's the way it goes sometimes. Sadly I won't be making another attempt - so will wait for a different future opportunity. Ta!
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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Nice views of the juvenile rose-coloured starling this morning around 9.10am then seen in flight coming from a playing field on willow bank around 9.40am. Also in the general area... Common buzzard 4 ring-necked parakeets Several redwings.