this morning

5 Whooper swan flew se over St Margaret's road
767 Redwing flew west
118 Fieldfare NW
juvenile peregrine flew into the park putting up hundreds of woodpigeons

9.00 till 11.15 whilst at a Junior football game.

Numerous Chiffchaff
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pied Wagtail flock of 25+


-- Edited by Mark Burgess on Saturday 5th of October 2013 08:20:30 PM

lots of raptors about today

5 common buzzard
adult hobby flew sw
6 sparrowhawk
5 kestrel
female/imm merlin flew south

170 pink footed geese flew se in 5 skeins
1700+ Swallows sw
400+ meadow pipit sw

few meadow pipits over the park this morning - largest flock 10

also singles of Swift, Tree Pipit and Yellow Wagtail over.

4 Teal dropped into the secret pond

Grey Wagtail in the park today,on the stream near the eastern end of the lake.First one I've seen in the park for a while.

1.30-7.15pm

despite the hoards of people in the park, a great aft/eve of birds seen..
there was at least 4 spotted flycatchers in the paddock near the entrance from the tram stop, about 150 yds to the left, but gradually moved west and were then best viewed from the path leading straight from the entrance about 100yds, at around 2.05pm there was a female redstart with them plus at least 5 willow warblers. after a mooch around I also found another or possibly the same female redstart with 1 spotted flycatcher further west of the first spot they were seen which was close to the playground at 5.25pm. soon after watching them I went back to the original spot & there was 5 spotted flycatchers this time & then at 6.45pm a handsome male redstart watched until 7.15pm when I eventually dragged myself away.

other birds in the area...

1 great spotted woodpecker
2 nuthatches
2 chaffinches
c20 mistle thrushes
6 swallows over south
1 yellow wagtail over south

north of the park near bt tower...

6 willow warblers
3 chiffchaffs, 2 singing
1 jay
4 house martins
1 whitethroat
2 blackcaps
1 sparrowhawk, being mobbed by crows & magpies

plus usuals around

This afternoon, at least 4 Spotted Flycatchers in the paddock near the entrance from the tram stop, about 150 yds to the left. Also present was a single female/immature Redstart.

Info thanks to Steven Burke

Huge numbers of hirundines north end of the park this afternoon

600 Sand Martin (170 of which flew SW before heavy rain set in)
1000+ Swallow
400+ House Martin
22 Swift

Lots of young birds and Family parties with small groups moving SW between showers

Unusual Gull on boating lake this morning.An immature.In size,between Black-headed and Herring,[Comon Gull-sized].Pure white ,clean and round head,dark eye,pale grey back and wings,the latter also having dark brown primaries and a dark tail band also present,[not particularly neat].No white edge to porimaries seen.
As regards bare parts,bill greyish with ring near the tip,not particularly long.Leg colour not clearly seen.The bird stayed mainly near the west side of the lake,near Canada Geese and quite far apart from the numerous black-headeds,which mainly congregate nearer the cafe.Unfortunately it was frequently disturbed by dogs and kids
I am not a Gull expert,especially with immatures.My provisional opinion is Common Gull.If anyone else sees it,I would be interested in their opinion.
Stock Doves heard near the Dell and also near the Tram Depot.Otherwise things much the same as previous reports.Unfortunately,it looks as if the pair of Mute Swans on the boating lake have lost one of their 4 cygnets.

Single Adult Mediterranean Gull amongst the Black-headeds on freshly mown field in front of Hall near to the Pitch and Putt course,late morning

I have not seen any Black-headed Gulls breeding on the lake Ian. Also,I am not certain how old the juveniles were, but they were probably more than half the size of the adult birds and were certainly capable of flight.

Things very much the same as my last entry,but nice to see a pair of Great-crested Grebes on the boating lake,with 1 chick.
A small group of Black-headed Gulls on the field in front of the Hall,included 2 juveniles which have fledged.
Good numbers of Swift and Swallow in the same area, along with 2 Pied Wagtail,[an adult and juvenile],and a couple of Goldfinches.
About 5 House Martins,[including fledglings],flying above the Farm Centre.

Just an update.
Not a lot to report since my last entry,although at least the park is relatively unscathed after the Parklife weekend.[due to appropriate fencing at the time,and also an excellent rubbish clear-up job by council workers afterwards.
As regards birdlife,things are relatively unremarkable.
On the boating lake,lots of Canada Geese with Goslings,and good numbers of Mallard with ducklings,[various ages]
Lesser numbers of Coot with young,also Moorhens.
The feral Greylags and farm Geese appear not to have bred.There are a paior of Mute Swans with 4 cygnets ,and a pair with 2 cygnets on the Northern lake.
Very occasional Gulls.
Large numbers of common songbirds with fledged young.Nice to see Song and Mistle Thrushes doing well.Blackcaps still very vocal but only one Chiffchaff heard today,and no Willow Warblers.Large numbers of Wren,Robin,Tits,Chaffinch and Blackbird.
Greenfinch more evident than of late.Occasional Swift and Swallow.
Huge numbers of Buttercups and also patches of Water Mint.Both highly popular with Bumble Bees including White-tailed,Red-tailed and also Tree Bumble Bee.

Far less Hirundines overall than my last report but more Swifts.I calculated about 30 Swifts over the boating lake with half that no.of mixed Hirundines.
Nice view of a Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding on the ground in a field near the Horticultural centre entrance Lots of Mistle Thrushes feeding on the ground in various locations.
Stock Dove heard near the Tram depot.

Not much new to report,and I think nearly every dog walker in North Manchester was in the park this morning even though I arrived soon after opening time!
Stock Dove heard in the wooded area near Tram station.
Plenty of Blackcaps and reasonable numbers of Willow Warbler.
The boating lake is dominated by Canada Geese but I have to admit,that the goslings are very cute!

Good numbers of Willow Warblers now present,and also Blackcaps and Chiffchaff,but not much else of note and very little on the boating lake.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 26th of April 2013 06:35:15 PM

A male Wheatear seen on field between the Hall and the Pitch and Putt course,about 11.30am.Small group of Swallows flew over same area.
Willow Warbler near North end of Boating Lake.

170 Redwing near the tram stop lots of sub song - great sound from this noisy flock

Also 14 Sand Martin and a Swallow north end.

treecreeper just off northern side of boating lake.

100+ Redwing field near boating lake
Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Shoveler on boating lake
9 Teal in swamp
3 Nuthatch
10 Goldfinch
Bullfinch
3 Goldcrest
8 Stock Dove
15 Lapwing north
11 Curlew nw (4,4,3)

Heaton Park Boating Lake
8 Pochard 7 male and the first female seen on there this year
26 Tufted Duck
Goosander
2 Great Crested Grebe

BT Tower area north part of Park
Brambling - male
15 Chaffinch
16 Greenfinch
2 Stock Dove
11 Magpie
70 Woodpigeons
230 Jackdaw flew north west in small parties

No sign either for me -

Highlights on the lake- 4 Goosanders, 6 drake Pochards, 3 x Great Crested Grebes, 1 Mute Swan
Park- Chaffinch, Nuthatch (in the trees next to lake) Greenfinch (Conifers near perimeter fence at the car park)

The female Ring-necked Duck was showing very well about 4.45pm behind the main island in front of the cafe
It was with 6 Pochard and 20 Tufted Duck

Thursday 24/1/13
Lunch break.
Quick walk to the lake but it was frozen over,
Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, couple of Tufted Duck keeping out of sight in the bushes at the side of the lake.
Walking back to the van...20-25 Redwings in the trees overhead and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker