A former work colleague filmed a Woodcock feeding in her Sale back garden just south west of the Mersey valley today and posted it on Facebook.

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Thursday 1st of March 2018 09:10:13 PM

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Thursday 1st of March 2018 09:44:10 PM

A rather surreal sight of 2 Oystercatchers feeding on a grass verge alongside the A57 at the Northbank Industrial Estate in Irlam this afternoon at 16.10. One bird virtually stood on the kerb a few feet from the busy traffic!

17.00 Peregrine north over the M60/62 - M66 junction.

Some nice flyovers at the stables I ride at off Knott Lane, near Ashton today; 33 pink-footed geese heading s at approx 1.55, 5 snipe directly over them heading n, then 4 goosander heading sw later on in the afternoon.

Spotted from the motorway on the way home tonight - a small (maybe a couple of thousand) Starling murmuration on the western side of the M6 between Jcnt 24 Ashton and Junct 25 exit for Wigan. Obviously difficult to pinpoint the exact location as I Was driving and they were flying around, but I'd guess that someone stood on the motorway bridge on Lowbank Road might stand a chance of seeing them. Always a chance it could increase in size if the site is suitable.

Very late post for last tuesday.
Either an immature glaucous or immature iceland gull flew over Loreto college, some point after 2:30 pm heading west

There's a thread for this area David, search Bedford Common.

Woodcock over the M60 just West of the Prestwich junction at 16:40.

Nice mixed thrush flock feeding on one of the fields at the stables I ride at off Knott Lane, near Ashton; 17+ redwing, 11 mistle thrush and 2 fieldfare.

First fieldfares of the autumn / winter, too; about time.

19 whooper swan over the area I watch / ride at around Knott / Crime Lanes just out of Ashton at dusk today, heading roughly NE.

1 Yellow-legged Gull this morning approx 10.15am circling low over KFC on Hyde Rd in Gorton.
It flew off behind Crawshaw's Meat shop and down Taylor Street, at the end of which is Bessemer Street and Smithfield Market so it's likely to be one of the Smithfield 2.

Friday 3rd Nov

Both Yellow-legged Gulls present at 10.26am on China Star roof as viewed from Bessemer Street

Thursday 2nd Nov.

9.57am and both Yellow-legged Gulls present in same general area of Smithfield Market as viewed from Bessemer Street.

Busy day forcing a late call to a supplier on Smithfield Market.

3.45pm both Yellow-legged Gulls present but as of 4pm one has disappeared and the other is currently sat on Sykes roof but fairly mobile.

- A few more images of one of these long staying Gulls as one flew off. I've included a mantle comparison with a Lesser Black-backed, and tried to show the character of this particular bird which tends to dominate pretty much anywhere in the immediate area, and to be quite frank, with a bill and gape of that ferocity and size I'm not surprised. It's always calling and making its presence known, they both do actually. (Knock an hour off the camera times, my apologies but I was in the hospital when the clocks went back ta)

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 1st of November 2017 01:10:16 AM

Smithfield Market this afternoon.

Both Yellow-legged Gulls present in full view on China Star roof from 2.05 to 2.10pm, still present when I left but mobile.
I'm now at Redgate Recycling incase lightning strikes twice!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 27th of October 2017 12:16:15 AM

Both Yellow-legged Gulls currently at Smithfield Market this afternoon.

They've just posed nicely for a record shot for proof of their presence still, and there is a large juvenile Gull standing with them, and it flys round with them every time one takes off, looks like a Lesser Black-backed Gull but I'm not the best when it comes to juvenile large Gulls!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 24th of October 2017 10:32:14 AM

1 of the Yellow-legged Gulls still present at Smithfield Market, Openshaw, around 10am today.
Seen on lamp-post near security lodge.

Late post for yesterday: Sparrowhawk seen soaring over area of Wilmslow Road near junction with Wilbraham Road/Owens Park, approx 3:45pm.

No sign of Yellow-legged Gull(s) at Smithfield Market yesterday afternoon or today either.
I'll give it chance incase I've missed it, before I submit the record.

A Kingfisher flew along the canal at Clayton as I passed on the tram late afternoon today

Thursday.
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull present from 1.15pm until 1.30pm Smithfield Market, Openshaw.

It's the usual suspect that's lingered and showed more readily. I'm still on site but not seen it since 1.30pm when it flew off towards Gorton after being harassed relentlessly by an adult and juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Could be worth checking Redgate Recycling a few minutes away?

Also 2 Grey Wagtail in the main parking area.
Some images from yesterday's onslaught. A barrage of Lesser Black-backed dive bombs.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Friday 22nd of September 2017 12:37:59 PM

Late post, apologies.

Sunday 17th Sept 5.15pm
- at least 1 Yellow-legged Gull present flying round, the one with feathers missing from the trailing edge of both wings.
Possibly another bird present, looks ok to me and doesn't look like the 2nd bird that seemed to have left a couple weeks ago but I'll wait on confirmation of the images first as these Gulls give me the runaround

Monday 18th Sept 12.30pm
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull present, mobile again, identified by wing pattern as above.

Will update hopefully tomorrow when I'm on site.
Cheers

Update... There was a second Yellow-legged Gull present Sunday afternoon as suspected. But after careful consideration on Ian's part, the general feeling is despite it being difficult to tell, it's likely to be the other bird of the main Smithfield 2 and not a different bird. The main factor being the red area of the goynes extending to the upper mandible area of the bill (or 'Bleeding', cheers Ian) which I'd actually commented on but didn't match it up. It proves however, that the 2nd bird did return if only for that day, and likely indicates that it has been present since I last saw it at Smithfield, locally at least! Thanks again Ian Cheers

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 21st of September 2017 12:10:17 AM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 21st of September 2017 12:13:26 AM

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Thursday 21st of September 2017 12:14:29 AM

- 1 Yellow-legged Gull
Still present at Smithfield Market Openshaw this afternoon, seen cruising around over Bessemer Street and Ashton-old-Road.

Also some images from yesterday of this sometimes, not so much confiding, but obliging bird!

Nice one Austin, definitely 1 of the 2 birds that has been present for some time now, and seemingly the remaining bird as it's quite possible 1 could have departed. The grey tips to 1 of the primaries on each wing matches 1 of the birds. Some nice shots on the blog too!

Cheers