At least 8 Common Whitethroats displaying/singing between pyramid and Burnage Rugby club all week. Swallows scraping what little mud left from 'horse' field Unidentified raptor from end of Vale Rd yesterday( No bins as usual on my bike) Buzzard size, thin wings, flapping to gain height, not soaring, then a few sparrowhawk type lunges at a tree. Drifted off North. any ideas? Chris H
Hobby today over the town centre, low above viaduct at first after swifts, but then gained a lot of height before drifting East. Other weeks highlights: Mon: Young Long Tailed Tits near pyramid, Young Canada's near Sewage Farm(Maybe a lowlight?) Tue:All 4 aerial feeders together around Sand Martin colony, Black Headed Gull back, Peregrine in the evening 'returning' to Stockport going up-river. Thu: Displaying Common Whitethroat, Coot(not often seen) Fri: 2 Coots(near 'Patch' Island) by Rugby club Chris H
A few of the main highlights of last week were: Wed pm Green Woodpecker calling from trees to South of Geoff's bridge Kestrel there a few mornings adjacent to pyramid Lapwing in horse field Wed am Sand Martin colony now well established, Swifts joining them often around the water. Many singing Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Chiff Chaffs and Whitethroat Bullfinches along the length of TPT Grey Wagtails around Cheadle Bridge Still 4 Goosanders around Burnage Rugby Club Mallard with 8 young South of M60 bridge Cheers Chris H
POSSIBLE female redstart by large pond just past rugby club. Flew fast in front as I cycled past. Quick stop to look in hedge behind pond, near industrial estate, but couldn't find the bird.(15.45 this afternoon) 5 Goosander Plenty of Sand Martins Drumming Great Spot Obliging Whitethroat and Blackcaps Good numbers of butterflies too Chris H
2 House Martins with the 'sands' by Cheadle bridge. Swallow on 'horse' field 4 Lesser Black Backed Gulls along the Mersey in shallow parts. Plenty of the more 'common' early warblers about. 4 Bullfinches Male Goosander still Lapwings calling near the usual spot. Chris H
Sparrowhawk this morning near the excavating Sand Martins, Lapwings joined them in seeing her off. 3 fearless Blackcaps singing their hearts out at 7.40am Bullfinches near felled shrub 2 male Goosander still(3 females) Chris H
Thurs 11.30 to 16.30. Took the bike and the bins along the Mersey from Cheadle to Stockport and then on to Reddish Vale.
Sand Martin flock of 25 to 30 birds just up river from Cheadle Bridge. Lapwing in field on opposite side of river. 2 Pied and 1 Grey Wagtail in field at Vale Rd Farm. Lots of Blue, Great and LT Tit, Wren and Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler. More Sand Martin (approx 10) from King St Bridge.
Along River Tame Path towards Reddish Vale plenty more Chiffchaff, 5 Jay together near weir with Grey Heron and a few Mallard.
Reddish Vale. Kingfisher on Tame near sluice gate and 2 Buzzard soaring overhead towards motorway.
Nothing else of note on way back - too tired and saddlesore.
Chilly cycle this morning, but still a fair bit about. Highlights: 3 Blackcap, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiff Chaff, 12 Sand Martins(opp rugby club), 2 Female Goosander,2 Bullfinches, Jay Thanks Chris H
Sand Martins back just downstream from viaduct again Still a good number of Chiff chaffs Lapwing mobbing crow Female Goosander Grey Wagtail with a Pied on the same bit of sand
At least 5 Chiff chaff this morning between Geoff's bridge and sewage works. Bullfinches near newly chopped scrub under pylon 2 Grey Wagtail under pyramid bridge Kestrel and Sparrowhawk around yesterday afternoon 3ish Chris H
If it is the section just before the weir coming from cheadle bridge end , then it is because national grid are having some tree work done as they were getting too close to the power lines.
They were starting yesterday as i did my circuit around the park. I suspect that they will be doing some just past the weir as well.
I heard chiffchaff near the 'horse field' at vale farm, possibly another bird, otherwise similar birds to Chris, without sand martin today and only 4 redwing.
Buzzard over at 3.15. Lapwings freaking, opp. rugby pitch 6 Bullfinches, one pair nearly always in hedges around Acorn Business Park 10 Goosander Many Canada Geese and Mallard(one Mallard 'sleeping' on top of old bracken near sewage works) A few Moorhens and Cormorants Surely not lomg until the first Chiff chaff or Sand Martin? Cheers Chris H
A different Little Grebe today, almost summer plumage, by weir with salmon sculpture. Kestrel on viaduct Lapwings again 5 Grey Wagtails around Cheadle Bridge. Cheers Chris H
Tue 9: Little Grebe, downstream from Geoff's bridge( Sorry, said George's yesterday-doh!) Lapwings opp Parrs Wood playing field 100+ Redwings on Rugby club pitch 8 Goosander At least 7 Bullfinches along trans Pennine GS Woodpecker still drumming Cheers Chris H
A pair of Goldeneye near Parrs Wood playing fields early on. 8 Goosander near George's bridge Drumming GS Woodpecker near kennels Bullfinch in shrubs opposite Crown Pub, 2 near pylon/metal bridge Cheers Chris H
2 lapwing displaying on field opp Rugby club on Thu morning. Bullfinches by pylon, and around matel bridge. 6 Goosander today, and a few Grey Wagtails Redwing under road bridge by pyramid Thu am Landslide still looking quite impressive for those with a geological bent. Cheers Chris H
Almost spring like today. 40 Fieldfare on field opposite Burnage RFC 8 Redwing in horse field near kennels 8 Goosander(Pairs) 200+ gulls on Parr's Wood fields. Mostly Black Headed, a few Common's. Plenty of finches and tits
Noticed Kestrel seemed to be more regularly about last years winter site around the Pyramid(wasteground just down stream). 2 Bullfinches, too. Of interest, a landslip on the bank opposite has resulted in tree in the middle of the Mersey. Magpies were still on the nest in the middle of it on Wed, maybe retrieving sticks? A couple of pristine looking Goosander on the river, too. Chris H
20 Fieldfare this morning on Northern bank of the Mersey near Parrs Wood playing fields. This is snow free, and am sure may be worth a look later in the day. (It's only just light as I cycle past.) Also Female Goosander 4 Redwings 25 Canada Geese Cormorant Lapwing(heard but not seen)
I regularly cycle to work on the Trans Pennine here, and wonder if it's snowbound at the minute? Went in the car last week, but itching to do some early morning bidwatching as I cycle in. I have seen some great birds in the last few years, including female Redstart, Stonechat, Woodcock, and Goldeneyes. Opp sewage works is usually the first Chiffchaff of the year for me too. If I get back up and cycling, will definately post anything of note on. Chris Harper
Wander around Mersey Vale Nature Park and along the river.
Chiffchaff still occasionally singing Song thrush Blackbird Robin Wren Dunnock Blue, Great and long tailed tits Goldfinch, approx 35 in very mobile flock 2 Grey heron 3 Cormorant Carrion crow 3 Jay Woodpigeon Magpie Mallard 6 goosander Grey and pied wagtail Heard a great spotted woodpecker
Also 2 buzzards, both seen to land in trees which must be somewhere in or near Abney hall, one briefly mobbed by a sparrowhawk. A possible 3rd buzzard also seen slightly later heading west
Still a few butterflies inc painted lady and a common darter
-- Edited by Paul Dewey on Wednesday 9th of September 2009 03:49:49 PM
Wander around Mersey Vale Nature Park and along the river.
2 Blackcap 4 Willow warbler 4 Chiffchaff Lapwing Song thrush Blackbird Mistle thrush Sand Martin (7 or 8 visiting holes in river bank) Robin Wren Chaffinch Dunnock Blue and Great tits
Lots of butterflies (orange tip and speckled wood) in the sunshine
2 Buzzard over field at end of UU site, may have crossed motorway. 2 Lapwing Pied Wagtail Grey wagtail (3) 46 wood pigeon in flock on pay and play course 2 Chiffchaff Goldfinch Magpie Carrion Crow Grey heron Goosander (pair) Mallard Moorhen Great, Blue, Coal and Long tailed tits Dunnock Robin Wren
Having seen singing chiffchaff reported on birdguides late last week for Heaton Mersey went out this morning to find one myself and picked up one singing in the sun near Vale farm plus kestrel.
Walk today turned up less birds than I hoped but sightings as follows
Chaffinch 2 greenfinch 1 goldfinch 8 dunnock 2 robin 4 wren 4 redwing 2 fieldfare (1 in fields nr cheadle bridge) blackbird (loads) mistle thrush 6 starling (a few) cormorant 3 on usual pylon grey heron 1 magpie, 14 in vale farm field alone carrion crow mallard (20+) blue, great and long-tailed tits (3 flock of latter) wood pigeon (hods of em) moorhen 6 Buzzard (1 in fields nr cheadle bridge). black headed gulls Goosander 2 fem, 1 m
Most maddening was seeing a wader flying over industrial estate near pyramid, which I was unable to id fully. Unfortunately it was flying away from me at some distance and only got a brief glimpse of its bill and its back. It was either a woodcock or a snipe and as it looked quite bulky and brief look at bill seemed quite chunky I would plump for woodcock if pressed, but not with enough conviction for it to be a record.
Not quite all the way from Stockport today, but from Mersey Vale nature park to East Dids.
Most birds were around vale farm area.
Chaffinch flock 25-30 birds and a number of other smaller groups greenfinch dunnock robin (lots) wren (lots) redwing blackbird song thrush mistle thrush starling cormorant 4 on usual pylon grey heron 2 magpie, 30 +, counted a dozen sharing spoil heap from stable with a cat. carrion crow mallard blue, great and long-tailed tits sparrowhawk wood pigeon moorhen (on river as well as ponds) Black headed and common gulls, group of about 200+ birds on school fields, counted 14 common gulls before they flew off.
Also yesterday in same area Buzzard over UU site Sparrowhawk in nature park Male Bullfinch on Heaton Mersey Pond
Sand martins were back at the breeding site in Stockport Town Centre on Wednesday last week - possibly earlier because I didn''t check earlier in the week.
On walk from town centre to bridge at East Didsbury saw the following: Sparrowhawk - female by pyramid Kestrel - near bridge for M60 Bullfinch - pair near vale farm Chiffchaff - definately 4 birds possibly 5, in several places but 2 birds near vale farm blue tit great tit long tailed tit dunnock mistle thrush Song thrush pied wagtail Grey wagtail (3 pairs) Mallard Goosander 1male 2 female Cormorant Buzzard - 2 birds, at least one calling over United Utilities site. One did land briefly and same bird was later mobbed by 3 lapwing.