The 2 Oystercatchers came in to land on the exact taxiway as of 1/4, at 06:45,then flew onto the corragated roof of serviceair, they stayed about 20 mins pecking at the roof,then had a good mating session
Aviation viewing park is £3 admission and there's no parking on Sunbank Lane on the airport side - probably for security. You could sneak in the pub carpark I guess, but didn't seem to be many birding opportunities that side.
Sunbank Lane the other side of the A538 is a better bet - there's a few passing places you can park in. Cotterril Clough and Sunbank Wood are probably the best bits of woodland and around Oak Farm the best farmland in Manchester Borough, apart from Heaton Park north end (unless anyone knows differently ??)
Not many birds about apart from the pair of Red-legged Partridge in the big field on the corner of Sunbank Lane/A538
Osprey reported south over Manchester Airport flying towards Styal at 6.40pm. It's vector suggests it passed straight over my house!
Wow, that's quite something! I'll have to get myself over the airport one day - where would you suggest the best place is for birdspotting around there? My knowledge of the area is very good.
03/04/2011 - A couple of hours here with Phil Owen before upto dark produced:
1 Woodcock
1 Wheatear - male still by Oak Farm
3 Chiffchaffs
2 Lapwings
5 Mallards
1 Cormorant - over
4 alba Wagtails - over
1 Linnet
A pleasant late afternoon walk around the fields at Ringway were rewarded with finding 7 Wheatear (6 males and 1 female).
Also seen:
40+ Meadow Pipits
3 Sand Martins (passing through)
2 Stock Doves
1 Lapwing
1 Mallard
1 Moorhen
amongst the usuals
Wilmslow Road roundabout walking behind new fire station through the tunnel, between R1 and R2 returning back through tunnel and back to Wilmslow Road.
3 Skylark ( 1 disturbed as i have walked through shrub from Tunnel) 1 Buzzard
R1 Approach lights Knutsford end
2 Chiif chaff ( 1 seen, 1 heard) 1 Green Woodpecker ( Initially heard calling, then flew from direction of farm on Ashley Lane and stayed for at least 10 mins in the Oak trees surrounding the Farm fields away from the direction of the Airport.
19/03/2011 - 2-4pm with Phil Owen around the fields of Ringway, through Sunbank Wood and Cotteril Clough and then back up to Sunbank Lane:
2 Red-legged Partridges - showed well in fields between Sunbank Lane and Oak Farm 1 Linnet - male, back for the summer 2 Chiffchaffs 2 Goldcrests 2 Treecreepers 1 Nuthatch 1 Siskin 1 Lesser Redpoll 1 Pied Wagtail 8 Fieldfares 2 Mistle Thrushes 4 Buzzards
3 flocks of Goldfinches,1 flock 30+.2nd flock 40+ and 3rd flock 15, all joined together at trees at Clough Top farm and Water treatment area at side of Monarch Hangar at 4pm. very impressive and noisey,All headed off towards Hale Barns.
27/11/2010 - Short early morning walk around the fields of Ringway along Sunbank Lane and the road down to the aviation viewing park. Stuff seen:
1 Peregrine (on airport hangar) 1 Kestrel 4 Buzzards 2 Lapwings 4 Snipes 1 Grey Wagtail 2 Siskins 2 Bullfinches 1 Brambling (by entrance to aviation viewing park with large numbers of finches and sparrows)
Very quite at the Airport,lots of Starlings and Feral Pigeons. Sparrowhawk now spending the nights on top of Monarch hangar doors,must be for the warmth coming out of the hanger heaters,beats a cold tree. Trouble is it keeps regurgitating big pellets and poo all around,and the hanger Manager is not happy.
Cargo Centre 200+ Starling 4 Bullfinch 10 Pied wagtail
Around Aircraft Hangars Sparrowhawk 6 Pied Wagtail + 1 very young one all on its lonesome,still learning to fly,resident Crows eyeing it up,I scared them away 8 times.I hope it survives.
Today in work Sparrowhawk landing on top of Monarch Hangar being mobbed by the 5 resident Crows, 30+ starlings,1with silver ring on leg, 16 Pied Wagtail and best of all Goldcrest underneth Monarch Hangar which let me get 2 yards away and wasnt botherd,just carried on foraging
Is someone ringing birds in this area as I saw a Robin the other week with Silver ring .
Sparrow Hawk yesterday perched in the dead trees. the field other side of runway to airport hotel 08/08 didnt realise it was a sparrowhawk till i cropped my photo down to zoom in on it
-- Edited by Simon Gregory on Monday 9th of August 2010 11:11:37 PM
I was the one that saw the Osprey yesterday at 6:40pm. I was playing at Styal Cricket Club on Altrincham Road when the Osprey flew over from Manchester Airport straight over the Cricket Pitch heading SE. I reported this straight to RBA Pager hotline - and have only just managed to get online to this site - so very much baffled how there is conflicting reports - unless someone else saw it??
Hi Simon. I saw them along the public footpath between Oak Farm and Sunbank Lane near the cargo center. Been a few times in the past and not seen them as they are only present in low numbers, so it might take a bit of persistence. Henry.
19/05/10 1 Oystercatcher low over cargo centre flying towards airfield calling was on my bike on the road flew right over my head as I was cycling back home. 19.30 ish
-- Edited by Simon Gregory on Thursday 20th of May 2010 12:29:35 PM
There have been a few reports of Whoopers locally, inc 5 at Audeshawe and similar sized groups elsewhere in the NW, not seen any Bewick's reports - but then again....