07/01/2013 - 12 Waxwings flew south low over the cargo center at Manchester Airport at 10.40am. I've not found a regular flock here despite some searches but the several one-off sightings in the area suggest there may a feeding flock around.

John Harden wrote:
I think the thing that people fail to realise is that so much of the UK's much publicised need to increase airport capacity is because of the still rapidly increasing number of flights made for leisure purposes

... and how many of those leisure flights are full of people going on exotic birding holidays?

(sorry Ian, I know this should be in the discussion forum, but I had to say it!)

Tim Wilcox wrote:

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'letters of praise'!!! I don't think so. I sent mine of complaint from oh-so-snobby Moss Side

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Thursday 3rd of January 2013 12:05:43 AM

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Thank goodness you have a more enlightened view Tim.
I think the thing that people fail to realise is that so much of the UK's much publicised need to increase airport capacity is because of the still rapidly increasing number of flights made for leisure purposes. Manchester doesn't need to expand to accommodate yet more holiday flights when Liverpool airport is still operating at about 25% capacity. It's just a matter of using what's already there more efficiently. Now, if Manchester Airport bought Liverpool off Peel Holdings, then I'm sure the continued expansion of Ringway could be halted. (And yes I know that the Sunbank Lane site is "needed" for cargo, but if there were fewer holiday flights, then there would be ample space within the existing boundary rather than concreting over more green fields.)
Sorry! Rant over!!!

Rafik Filobbos wrote:

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Once again many thanks to those who have signed the petition. Having read several of your passionate views on the e-petition I am back asking for more help, particularly from those of you know the local area.

Manchester Council have published the Planning Documents submitted by the airport and opponents have until 21st September to reply.

As I previously stated in the discussion forum we would be very keen for anybody interested and opposed to the plans to concrete Sunbank Lane to review Manchester Airport's claims about the effect of the proposed development on the native bird population - the airport's overall assessment is that the development will have a "minor adverse effect" on the local breeding bird habitat - I personally think this is an underestimation of the impact but I think those of you whom freqently walk this area are best placed to pass comment on the claims of the airport about the impact on the local bird population.

The council website is:- http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?100263/OO/2012/S2
Having read further into the documents supplied by the airport the main report is in fact:-
100263-EIA-0002.pdf section 4.103 - the proposed effects of a "moderate adverse impact with minor adverse effect " on the breeding bird habitat are described under section 4.147.
Further info is contained in 100263-EIA-0009.pdf related to the studies performed.

Any further help you can provide us with would be much appreciated - I would ask you to submit your objections to Mr David Lawless : Senior Planner, PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA ref 100263/OO/2012/S2- we are currently centralizing our own responses to the following email address:- savesunbank@gmail.com.


Many thanks in advance for any of you who may help - the more letters of objections submitted the better.

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Regrettably, despite objections from locals and Trafford BC, it has been reported in the local press that Manchester City Council has granted planning permission (possibly only outline at this stage) to the scheme. They had received (allegedly) many letters of praise for the scheme from residents of the City of Manchester who see the expansion of the airport as a positive thing.

Certainly local Trafford press carried several letters from people complaining about the attitude of people from "snobby Hale & Altrincham" who they perceive as being NIMBY's. An unfortunate attitude from poorly informed people who have no idea of the irreversible harm that the scheme will do to the local environment and cannot see the need for green spaces!

-- Edited by John Harden on Wednesday 2nd of January 2013 04:24:52 PM

04/12/2012 - c20 Waxwings just north of the Romper pub perched up in birches and feeding on hawthorn berries from 11.50-12.30pm. They flew off shortly after and weren't relocated in the adjacent cargo center (an area favoured 2 years ago).

Once again many thanks to those who have signed the petition. Having read several of your passionate views on the e-petition I am back asking for more help, particularly from those of you know the local area.

Manchester Council have published the Planning Documents submitted by the airport and opponents have until 21st September to reply.

As I previously stated in the discussion forum we would be very keen for anybody interested and opposed to the plans to concrete Sunbank Lane to review Manchester Airport's claims about the effect of the proposed development on the native bird population - the airport's overall assessment is that the development will have a "minor adverse effect" on the local breeding bird habitat - I personally think this is an underestimation of the impact but I think those of you whom freqently walk this area are best placed to pass comment on the claims of the airport about the impact on the local bird population.

The council website is:- http://www.publicaccess.manchester.gov.uk/associateddocs/MCCList1.aspx?100263/OO/2012/S2
Having read further into the documents supplied by the airport the main report is in fact:-
100263-EIA-0002.pdf section 4.103 - the proposed effects of a "moderate adverse impact with minor adverse effect " on the breeding bird habitat are described under section 4.147.
Further info is contained in 100263-EIA-0009.pdf related to the studies performed.

Any further help you can provide us with would be much appreciated - I would ask you to submit your objections to Mr David Lawless : Senior Planner, PO Box 532, Town Hall, Manchester M60 2LA ref 100263/OO/2012/S2- we are currently centralizing our own responses to the following email address:- savesunbank@gmail.com.


Many thanks in advance for any of you who may help - the more letters of objections submitted the better.

The link is on the discussion forum.

there is also a link here to show where to sign the petition


http://manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/t50686707/say-no-to-the-world-logistics-hub/

Charles Coutts wrote:

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33 young Swallows on wires at Hangar Car Park,No Adults noted
1 Swift
2 Chiffchaff next to Viewing Park

Brains gone Dead,is that the way you spell Chiffchaff,no time to look it up



-- Edited by Charles Coutts on Monday 3rd of September 2012 08:16:42 PM

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If is indeed Chiffchaff Charles and not the dreaded Chiff Chaff

30/07/2012 - 7.15-9pm with Phil Owen:

1 possible Whimbrel - seemed really short-billed but only got brief silhouetted views on the deck
3 Kestrels - 2 juvs + male
2 Buzzards - juvs calling
1 House Martin
c20 Swallows
4 Swifts
1 Linnet

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 30th of July 2012 09:46:09 PM

A pleasant 7.15pm-8.00pm walk with the dog around Sunbank Lane fields:

1 Grey Partridge
1 Pheasant
1 Reed Bunting
1 Great-spotted Woodpecker
1 Common Whitethroat
2 Linnets
2 Long-tailed Tits with young
3 House Martins
1 Swift
Lots of Swallows about
amongst others

2 Oystercatchers airside near Fire Station
Wheatear same location
8 Swift flying low near Romper pub

Sadly when cycling home at junction of Runger Lane and Avro Way,was a Dead Oystercatcher, obviously a road casulty

09/06/2012 - 7-9pm with Phil Owen:

1 Curlew - over W
4 House Martins
20+ Swallows - first brood now on the wing
1 Swift
2 Blackcaps
1 Whitethroat
1 Linnet

Saturday 19th May at 05L runway end produced:

- Whitethroats
- 1 male Bullfinch
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Reed Bunting
- several Chiffchaffs
- Willow Warblers

Wheatear by where new control tower being built
Linnet nesting beside Hanger 4(Security Pass] needed to view
In the quiteness between Aircraft taking off and landing,Im sure I heard a Cuckoo over Styal area,most likely in Cheshire,Dont think it was on the Airfield

Since 11.00am with Tony Darby
Lesser Whitethroat heard and seen in hedge n of Cotteril Clough
Another splendid male Redstart same hedge
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Blackcap 2
Dunnock
Long-tailed Tit 2
Grey Heron in the Clough

Further news if we find anything else

Oak Farm Oystercatcher 1
Partridge species flushed but as it flew away and over a hedge I was not certain which
Goldcrest singing near the Bollin where good numbers of butterflies: Orange Tip, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Thursday 3rd of May 2012 05:55:59 PM

5.45pm-6.45pm round Sunbank Lane fields with Henry Cook:

1 Lesser Whitethroat
(rattling away in hedgerow by path from Sunbank Lane to Cotterill Clough)
1 Common Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
1 Linnet
1 Oystercatcher
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
15 Swallows
2 House Martins
2 Buzzards

Visited Sunbank Wood for the first time this morning, very impressed, good habitat, with Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Blackcap amongst the typical birds seen. Lots of wild flowers also.
Cheers Ian

7.30pm-8.30pm.

1 Reed Bunting (by Oak Farm)
1 Oystercatcher (by Oak Farm)
1 Kestrel
20 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (over)

Tawny Owl calling in Cotterill Clough

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 20th of April 2012 11:24:15 PM

18/04/2012 - 2 Grey Partridges and an Oystercatcher this evening.

Walk round the area tonight with Jason Atkinson and Henry Cook:

No sign of the Redstarts (which more than likely left overnight) and fairly quiet otherwise with 2 Linnets and 1 Red-legged Partridge amongst the usuals.

Myself and Phil Owen had 2 Redstarts along the same section of hedgerow this evening - a fem and subadult male (possibly different to Tim's bird?).

Male Redstart in hedge alongside path from Cotteril Clough to Sunbank Lane 11.00am
Field near Oak Farm Red-legged Partridge 3
Linnets 2
Kestrel

Quick visit this evening at 6.30pm:

Quiet tonight with just a single Swallow by Oak Farm and a Kestrel over the fields amongst the commoner species.