Whilst 4 of us were watching the bird feeders in the Secret Garden (Archaeology site) a Raven landed on the feeder cage and tried for 2 mins to dismantle the feeders. An hour later it returned and managed to get at the fatballs through the cage with its massive beak and didn't seem at all concerned at me approaching to within about 5m. Also a Sparrowhawk (f) landed for 15 mins in a tree by the moat.
8 x Swifts flying now over Riddings Rd, Arderne Rd, St George's Crescent, Heyes Lane. They visit this same spot every year without fail in early May.
Nice, used to have them nesting in our eaves in that area, Acresfield Road.
Had a couple on Thur 10th, Delahays bypass on a visit.
Willow Warbler was brought in by the warm front and rain Wed 9th - Thur 10th. In willows along the public footpath from Brooks Drive to the hospital. Also here a Whitethroat holding on, can't be many more years before the vegetation gets too tall. I can remember the first one staking out a low bramble patch as the field scrubbed over, many years ago.
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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
Near the moat. I was just about to post that I'd seen the M + F Great Spotted Woodpecker but not together, when 5 seconds later they were 'mating', albeit for only 2 seconds. 2 Song Thrushes having a right scrap and then one of them jumps on a branch 2m away and stares at me for ages as if to say 'what do you think about that?' 1 Blackcap (f).
Drake MandarinDuck flew south over the horse field adjacent to Fairywell Wood on Sunday 3rd April, there's a small stream in there so perhaps looking for breeding sites? Prob over 100 Woodpigeon in the same field, though hard to count as they moved around a lot!
Long Tailed Tit i think probably nest building in one of the hedges along Beech Fields, Mon 4th.
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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 horse field between Brooks Drive, Fairywell Wood and Alder Drive has had a lot of birds daily, tho limited diversity!
21.2.22 - highest count of 33 Magpie,
Woodpigeon 42 on 5th March
Lesser Black Backed Gulls collecting nesting material.
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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
Great to watch Siskin (10) bathing in the flooded field by KingGeorgeV whilst it was pouring down and then to take shelter on the Lee side of a tree, next to about 8 Goldfinch. 2 trees blown down.
Alty Golf Course. About 60 Redwing, 1 Buzzard being harassed by 2 Carrion Crows again but the Buzzard fought off the 2 crows this time, 1 Treecreeper, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Goldfinch, 2 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush singing, another close by, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (m), a flock of about 45 Starlings. And nice to see several Great, Blue, Coal and Long Tailed Tits feeding together within a meter of each other.
20 Redwing in the trees by the 18th fairway. 2 Nuthatch together, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (m), 1 Song Thrush belting out some sort of song.
A Goldcrest on my garden feeder (Timperley) just now; so happy as I've not seen one in my garden before. And now a Blackcap (M) which is a regular visitor to the feeders this last 3 weeks. But not seen the Blackcap (F) for a week now.
Beautiful sunny afternoon. 2 x Nuthatch together near the moat. A Great Spotted Woodpecker landed on a branch and seemed to lay back at a slant to face the sun for 5 mins fully exposing all its underside in an unusual fashion, almost like it was sunbathing or just posing. Times like this I wish I had a camera.
Little Egret in the tree by KingGeorgeV pool. Lots of Redwing and Starling and several views of calling Nuthatch around the golf course. 2 Mistle Thrush in a standoff.
Today was the loudest drumming I've heard this year. Got a good view of the Great Spotted Woodpecker near the Driving range. Lots of Redwing flitting between the trees with a few Fieldfare too. Just one Goosander (M) on the Pool.
KingGeorgeV pool Mandarin M + F. Also the duck I can't positively identify which is of Mallard size has returned. See my earlier thread. The 9 Goosander (4M, 5F) that I saw on Christmas Day have all gone. 40 Redwing on the field by the pool.
Altrincham Golf Course and KingGeorgeV pool. Lots of birdsong today, even a Woodpecker drumming on a few occasions, on this beautiful, mild and sunny morning. Over 20 species including 4 Goosander, Redwing, Jay, Bullfinch and Greenfinch.
Little Egret now on the island at KingGeorgeV pool. About 20 Goldfinch in one Alder and about 15 Redwing in the next tree. One drake Goosander, 2 Song Thrush and a chirpy little Wren.
Rob. Could the duck be Swedish Blue? I'm no expert on birds; but there is a distict similarity. I saw it again on the Pond at Timperley Nature Reserve 2 days ago. Swimming up and down and very vocal, in a group of Mallards, looking lost. I'm not on Facebook but apparently others have seen it and posted about it. It has a striking scaly appearance on its back. Maybe try Facebook West Timperley Nature Reserve?
Still lots of Redwing, about 40, moving from tree to tree as you walk round KingGeorgeV pool, and on the field. No Fieldfare, but there were 2 Mistle Thrush.
6 Goosander on KingGeorgeV pool (5m, 1f). And a duck I didn't recognise...perhaps a hybrid? Medium to dark grey on top and sides, white throat and breast. And an unusual scaly sort of appearance especially on top. White bits just behind the bill. Very vocal, swimming up and down like it was looking for its mate. Any Ideas?
Alty Golf Course and King George V pool 2 p.m. Lots of species including 1 Bullfinch, 2 Siskin and several viewings of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Long Tailed Tits etc. Lots of Goldfinch. Not seen the 3 Juvenile swans for a while. Gadwall and Pochard seem to have gone.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 17th of November 2021 05:44:11 PM
15.00 p.m. 3 Gadwall on King George V pool, Pochard gone. One Great Spotted Woodpecker in a tree while another flew past. 1 Chaffinch.1 Heron overlooking 4 Cormorants. 8 Ring Necked Parakeets on one tree with one checking out the holes. One Nuthatch, dozens of Goldfinch. 17 Parakeets just flew over making a right racket as I write this.
Today a flock of pink footed geese heard at 0850, then later about 120 - 130 seen to the south of Whitebeam Close, flying SE about 10:00 ish, in a 'V', quite high and purposeful.
-- Edited by Mike Duckham on Saturday 13th of November 2021 04:42:57 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 13th of November 2021 07:54:53 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
35 Pink Footed Geese about half mile south of Whitebeam Close, Timperley at c.1.40 pm west into the gale, were quite straggly and low and didn't look particularly committed tbh.
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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