From Cheadle Bridge 14:10 to 14:20
1 Dipper feeding along the Manchester Borough bank of the river
2 Mistle Thrush
1 Mallard
12 Sand Martin
3 Swallows (first for the year)
4 Starlings
Rick.
Whitethroat 'singing' this morning opp. sewage works. 3 Blackcap too
40 Sand Martin by Acorn
Plenty of Chiff Chaff's.
A few Goosander. Bullfinches too.
14.00 - from Cheadle Bridge
2 Lapwings showing over the field near the sewerage works again.
1 female Goosander and 1 Grey Heron just down river from bridge.
1 Grey Wagtail busily feeding
No sign of Dippers
Rick.
2 Dippers in usual area by Cheadle Bridge 5 Sand Martins flew down river over the bridge and then out of sight 1 Male and 3 female Goosanders further along the river by Burnage Rugby Club 1 GS Woodpecker flew across river 1 Cormorant near the salmon weir 1 Jackdaw overhead 2 Lapwings in the field near the sewerage works (same location as those seen on 31/3/11) 4 more Sand Martins and 1 House Martin flying down river (first for year) 1 Dipper still around the bridge on return journey. Many Chiffchaff in the trees along the side of the river with 1 singing from the pylon opposite the sewerage outflow
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 11:35:46 AM
Cheadle Bridge 01/04/11 - 1540hrs:
Quick 5 mins on return from Abney.
1 Grey Wagtail (other heard downstream in the Willow tress but not seen)
2 (f) Goosander (flew through bridge arches towards Didsbury.
No Dippers.
Andy
15.45 from Cheadle Bridge
2 Lapwings putting on an aerial display over the field near the sewerage works - opposite Burnage Rugby Club. Presumably some sort of mating ritual?
1 male Goosander just up river from bridge.
No sign of Dippers at this visit.
Rick.
Cheadle Bridge 10.45 to 11.00
Both Dippers still flying about - but no Grey Wags.
4 female Goosander up by the playing fields.
No sign of any Sand Martins from the bridge when I was there.
Then it started raining
Rick.
Convinced I heard a Redshank on way home opposite playing fields, but couldn't see anything.
Sand Martins all the way from Acorn Business centre to Cheadle Bridge, 50+ total.
Over 20 Chiff Chaff's this am.
Didn't see the Dippers today, first 'dip' for a while.
Sat on the river bank by Cheadle Bridge watching Dippers in both Stockport Borough and Manchester Borough with Tim and Tony. All is clearer.
On way back home also met up with Phil Owen and Tony Coatsworth. Always nice to meet up with fellow birders and familiar names from the forum.
Rick.
Borough boundaries for county listing purposes in Manchester Birding at least, follow the borough boundaries as found in the current A to Z map I think these are the modern county borough boundaries.
Dippers still on the river appearing in both Manchester and Stockport BOROUGHS which is indeed what I meant to say! Also 2 Grey Wags and 3 f Goosanders. Nice to meet Rick with my old mate Tony
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 27th of March 2011 01:30:31 PM
No sign c 4 - 5pm yesterday but f Goosander. For all you county listers the county boundary is the middle of the river so if they're on the S bank Stockport, N Manchester.
Strictly speaking the boundary in the middle of the river is a local authority boundary. Stockport is in Greater Manchester - there is no such county as Stockport.
I assume that county listers are still using the historical traditional county boundaries of years ago? As these have changed over the years - shouldn't the county listings criteria change also so that there is no confusion for the newer/younger contributers to the forum, who are perhaps only familiar with the current counties of England??
Perhaps county listers should be renamed Postcode listers?
Open to your thoughts.
PS. I've seen the Dippers on both banks
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 27th of March 2011 11:32:43 AM
I think Tim actually meant Stockport and Manchester Boroughs which do still exist and are just two of the several boroughs within the Greater Manchester area.
We're definately "Borough birders" not postcode birders!!
No sign c 4 - 5pm yesterday but f Goosander. For all you county listers the county boundary is the middle of the river so if they're on the S bank Stockport, N Manchester.
Strictly speaking the boundary in the middle of the river is a local authority boundary. Stockport is in Greater Manchester - there is no such county as Stockport.
I assume that county listers are still using the historical traditional county boundaries of years ago? As these have changed over the years - shouldn't the county listings criteria change also so that there is no confusion for the newer/younger contributers to the forum, who are perhaps only familiar with the current counties of England??
Perhaps county listers should be renamed Postcode listers?
Open to your thoughts.
PS. I've seen the Dippers on both banks Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 27th of March 2011 11:32:43 AM
No sign c 4 - 5pm yesterday but f Goosander. For all you county listers the county boundary is the middle of the river so if they're on the S bank Stockport, N Manchester.
Dippers still present at Cheadle Bridge 8 Goosanders 1m/7f along the river Heron by sewerage outflow and a mink nearby 9 Canada Geese Heard 7 Chiffchaff and saw 1 Heard Kingfisher - probably flying downstream as I was cycling the other way, near Geoff's Bridge (does anyone know who Geoff is or was??) Up to 30 Sand Martins over Acorn Business park which then flew off to the north west. 1 Kestrel overhead 1 Lapwing in field on opposite side to rugby club and Dippers still present at Cheadle Bridge on return journey. Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Friday 25th of March 2011 02:45:36 PM
4 Lapwing calling loudly in fields on opposite side to rugby club. Chiffchaff calling nearby and 3 buzzard over. Some interaction with one being mobbed by another. One bird was the one i have seen previously over nearby Abney, identifable as it has a missing or short 'finger'. Sparrowhawk as well.
7 Canada Geese flying from Farmland behind Patch Island towards Pyramid. Lapwing heard but not seen from fields behind Burnage Rugby Club, across the river. 1 Grey Heron at Bleechworks Canoe steps.
Not much seen due to poor light but loads of Pipistrelle bats against the sunset.
Obliging Buzzard perched on sewage farm fence this morning. 7 Chiff Chaffs between Geoff's bridge and rugby pitch, on which was a lage mixed thrush flock.
Kingfisher at the weir on my commute back this afternoon. Treecreeper too. Chiff Chaff's still in good voice, especially just downstream from M60 bridge. Goosander's getting restless. Plenty of butterflies about too.
Ollie, Must have just missed you, as I left Cheadle Bridge at 1030ish. Only saw 1 Dipper on the Gallion side of the bridge, and this one appeared to want to hide under the roots of the Oak tree which has all of the debris on it. When it did show it was very impressive.
Also 2 Grey Wagtail along Gallion access road side.
Thanks also to Rick and Chris for their posts, as I only live a mile away from here and this is such an incredible species so close to home. I would normally have had to go to the Roman Lakes in Mellor to get a guaranteed sighting of the Dipper.
Two Dippers, Galleon side of the bridge. Initially on and around the far bank, then moved onto rocks mid-river just as I was about to leave, principally to harass the local Grey Wagtail, it seemed. Many thanks to Chris and Rick for the info.
Also a pair of Goosander and three Long-Tailed Tits.
Thanks Rick, let's hope they hang around for a while. Yes it is a busy road; had it been the weekend, I might have been one the cars swerving round you
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Monday 21st of March 2011 09:23:32 PM
Rick or Chris : re the dippers, are they Heaton Mersey or Galleon side of Cheadle Bridge? Cheers, Tony
Hi Tony, Both I must have crossed the road a dozen times whilst trying to get views - hence uncertainty whether 2 or 3 birds. Remember the Green Cross Code - it's a busy road. Rick.
Between 12.30 and 14.00 today near Cheadle Bridge;
At least 2 Dippers, possibly 3. 2 Grey Wagtails 7 Goosander 3m/4f - further down river. 1 Pied Wagtail. Chiffchaff heard Nothing but school kids on the fields.
Rick.
-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Monday 21st of March 2011 02:38:05 PM
Didn't see too much today but had my first chiffchaff of the year by the river towards motorway bridge. It wasn't singing but did get good close views.
Also
Goosander (male) flying upstream along river Bullfinch, pair in trees by business park nr King st bridge Buzzard
Treecreeper today by weir, first I've seen down here for a while. Flock of 100+ mixed thrushes on Burnage rugby field, including Redwings and Fieldfare. Single Goosander. 4 Bullfinches GS Woodpecker
This morning 3 Buzzard circling overhead with typical meowing call. 2 Jackdaw flying down river. 4 Goosander 1m/3f. Wren flying back and forth across river. 200 Gulls, predominantly Black-headed flying around sewerage works. Various finches and tits in trees and undergrowth along banks. Rick.
Kingfisher still here, around M60 bridge. Mixed flock of Fieldfare and Redwings around the rugby club pitches. Grey Wagtail. 4 Goosanders 4 Bullfinches Kestrel by pyramid.