16:25 - 17:15 weir to patch island, and back.
1 common sandpiper (!)
1 mandarin
20+ sand martin
2 house martin
2 swallow
2 willow warbler
3 chiffchaff
4 blackcap
1 buzzard
1 grey wagtail
Cheadle Bridge to Vale Farm this morning around 10.00-12.00
Most usuals about, except Pied Wagtail. No Sand Martins yet.
Of note: 6-7 Chiffchaff and more heard only 2 Mandarin 5 Ring-necked Parakeet 6 Grey Wagtail, 3 distinct pairs 2 Nuthatch, a pair, by the pitch and putt 1 Sparrowhawk
Also of interest, some clearance has occurred on the other side of the river from the Garlic Bend, a further loss of habitat for things like the warblers after the council decided to pave the track on the Didsbury side and wipe out loads of Sylvia habitat. Now you have to look out for cyclists instead of birds...it was a nice walk out this morning though
Male Blackcap in hedgerow by East didsbury tramstop at 18.00. First heard in quiet subsong and first I have seen in UK this year
I just missed a tram this morning. Why is it that waiting 12 minutes seems like eternity at that moment? However, having read Zoe's post, I started looking at the hedge opposite the platforms, and spotted a male Blackcap feeding amongst Blue and Long-tailed Tits. First for the year for me too! Just one reason why I like the Forum, thanks Zoe for my year-tick on a plate.
13 Redwings ,behind the old Bridgefords estate agents on the A6 this afternoon, sadly no Waxwings, thanks to RA for the clarity as I didn't have my binoculars with me and RA taking the time to check himself.
An interesting walk this afternoon. At last managed to clock a dipper under the south arch of Cheadle Bridge, saw a mink on Patch Island, then a kingfisher on the pool near the weir. Plus goosander (1m, 2f) and a flock of long-tailed tits.
Two fieldfare and one stock dove flew east over the office (Embankment Business Park) early morning.
I relocated one of the darvic ringed black-headed gulls during my lunch break. 'Yellow T99P' appears to be of polish origin(!), I should have more details back in the next 2-3 days. No sign of the second bird today (lime green ring on right tarsus) but I will try again tomorrow.
Two teal (m+f) were also on the golf course flood, a decent count of nine goosander on the river, two parakeets were still around the large poplars bordering the rugby club and a small number of redwing were moving overhead but there was no further sign of the little grebe on the river.
Two darvic ringed black-headed gulls on the golf course flood this afternoon, which is currently 90% frozen over. Only had my bins with me but I'll bring my scope down tomorrow and hopefully get the numbers, unless anyone can beat me to it!?
Four ravens around Mersey Vale between 13.00-13.30 today. Two initially flew east over the dipping pond area which I later relocated on top of the pylon by the weir. They were soon joined by a second pair and spent the following few minutes flying around and perching on the pylon. A brilliant local tick for me for the Heatons!!
Also in recent days were two ring-necked parakeets over dipping pond / patch island yesterday and a dipper briefly on the 4th, 50m west of the weir, before the water levels rose.
-- Edited by Scott Reid on Tuesday 15th of November 2016 11:22:02 PM
Single Woodcock over the Mersey at 15.20. Flew from farm just upstream from Cheadle Bridge to the large hedge separating the golf course and rugby pitch.
Quick walk along the Mersey this afternoon, cold and very quiet. When watching a flock of Long- Tailed Tits I noticed a Chiffchaff with them. Latest one I have seen.
Suicidal Stock Dove on the A6, out side the Garrick theatre, playing chicken with the 192 North bound bus's. Really thought it was gonna end up as a bloody mess as it went underneath the moving bus's but was unharmed. Currently on the Garrick theatre sign.
3 (female) Goosanders seen by Patch Island this afternoon. I am still somewhat perplexed: where have they been to during the breeding season? - locally? North-East England? Scotland? Scandinavia? Unknown?