10.30am-12.30pm in the rain round Sunbank Lane fields with Henry Cook:

4 Meadow Pipits (over)
2 Goosanders (over)
2 Sparrowhawks
1 Buzzard
1 Stock Dove
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Teals
1 Oystercatcher
1 Goldcrest
1 Willow Warbler
Lots of Chiffchaffs and a few Blackcaps around
amongst others

Also, a Mallard with 4 Ducklings and a few Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls (over)


-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 9th of April 2012 01:41:53 PM

4.30pm-6.15pm walk round Sunbank Lane with Henry Cook:

1 Great-Black-backed Gull (2nd winter bird flew over) - 1st for the patch
5 Lesser-Black-backed Gulls (in company with above)
1 Stock Dove
1 Moorhen
1 Lapwing
amongst the usuals

Couple of hours with Phil Owen 3 - 5pm

2 Oystercatcher over viewing park
Skylark over runways
Chiffchaff bathing in a puddle

Sunbank Lane

at least 3 Buzzard
Kestrel
1 Oystercatcher - possibly one of the above
female Wheatear
plenty of Chaffinch

Of limited use to those without an airside pass, 2 female wheatear on the grass by NA1 this afternoon the first of many no doubt!

A walk around Sunbank Lane fields with Henry Cook 6.30pm-7.45pm.

Chilly and windy tonight with not as much around:

3 Lapwings
3 Mallards
2 Goldcrests
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant (f)
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
amongst others

01/04/2012 - c11am-12pm with Phil Owen:

1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Lapwing
7+ Meadow Pipits - over N
1 Treecreeper
2 Chiffchaffs
2 Linnets - first of the year, back on territory

Chiffchaff in Cotterill Clough during a walk round Sunbank Lane 6.40pm-7.45pm with Henry Cook this evening.

1 Kestrel and 1 Lapwing in the fields.

2 Oystercatchers and 3 Lapwings this morning in the Sunbank Lane fields.

Wednesday, 21st March.

Seen from the Viewing Park:

Kestrel 1m
Wheatear 3 around area of taxiway alpha.

Phil Owen wrote:

---

5.30pm quick visit with the dog:

2 Grey Partridges
2 Lapwings
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Treecreepers (in a copse by one of the fields)
1 Moorhen
amongst others

---

Was there an Ark?

Cheers
Jason

5.00pm-6.00pm wander round the fields around Sunbank Lane:

5 Wheatears (3 Males, 2 Females) in field by Oak Farm
2 Lapwings
3 Pied Wagtails
2 Mallards
amongst others

1730 hrs 3 oystercatchers flying around cargo terminal

-- Edited by Tony Mossman on Thursday 8th of March 2012 05:50:31 PM

Tony Coatsworth wrote:

---

http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/LandUsePlan/$FILE/landuse-screen.pdf

Area E in their plan is the only bit of agricultural land in Manchester Borough.

Pretty depressing really - I though Cotterril Clough was an SSSI but it looks like they are developing right up to the edge of it

---

Indeed they are Tony I'm sorry to say. .

The diggers are already in the fields to do various tests on the land as myself and Henry Cook discovered this evening.

It will be interesting to see exactly what "mitigation measures" are planned for the obvious impact on the local wildlife this proposed further expansion of the Airport will have.

In the meantime, I have a contact at Cheshire Wildlife Trust which I will be speaking to regarding the situation with Cotterill Clough SSSI.

01/03/2012 - 2 Red-legged Partidges this evening off Sunbank Lane.

Looks like Ringway might not exist as a patch of open, green countryside for much longer; land-grabbed as part of the Manchester Airport enterprise zone. At least the presence of several protected species should hold things up.

A quick walk round this afternoon:

1 Sparrowhawk (f) put up the 100+ Redwing Flock
4 Buzzards
1 Treecreeper
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Mistle Thrushes
1 Moorhen
2 Goosanders (over)
1 Black headed Gull feeding with the Corvids
amongst others

Quick afternoon visit to Sunbank Lane:

2 Grey Partridges (Good views in field next to layby, nice to see them around again)

Otherwise generally quiet in the wind with 1 Stock Dove and 1 Coal Tit in the hedgerows the only other birds worthy of note.

A couple of hours round Sunbank Lane and Sunbank Wood this morning with Tony Coatsworth:

29 Lapwings
50+ Redwings
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron
1 Stock Dove
1 Pheasant (M)
1 Goosander (over)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Treecreepers
2 Jays
3 Nuthatches
3 Fieldfares
4 Mallards
12 Teals
amongst others




-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:55:04 PM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Friday 10th of February 2012 01:58:11 PM

08/02/2012 - 1.30-3pm, covered the fields off Sunbank Lane and into Sunbank Wood with Phil Owen:

3 Mallards
7 Teals
3 Buzzards - kettling high up on thermals (?!) over Cotterill Clough
4 Lapwings
5 Mistle Thrushes
60+ Redwings
6 Fieldfares
1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch
45 Rooks
1 Redpoll sp

3 Fieldfare in Sunbank Lane fields mid afternoon.

Nice to find a flock of 22 Golden Plover in the Sunbank Lane fields during a very brief stop there this afternoon.

Sunbank Lane - very windy 9:30 - 10:30

2 Moorhen
1 Buzzard
6 Redwing
10+Rooks
Greenfinch

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 21st of January 2012 11:15:49 AM

Song Thrush singing at 9.15pm and 10.45 pm Sunday 8 June around the Terminal 2 car park. Must have been singing throughout the period. Our very own Nightingale.

Wednesday, November 30th.

Whilst at Ringways Viewing Park:

Pink Feet Geese 50+ at about 0930.
Initially heading West, then breaking up into smaller groups after being affected by a plane on take-off. Most seem to then head East.

Goosander 2 flying South.
Common Gull 1

Rob, yes Isabelline crossed my mind, no binoculars at the time but 99% sure it was northern, might go hunting for it on sunday just to make sure!!!