22 years at it now around Southern Cemetery and ex-Withington hospital, now housing . Good numbers of Robins and Blackbirds this year - maybe the recent wet weather has boosted the food supply.
Amazing that you see the same species in the same spot year on year - Pied Wagtail in the hospital car park, 2 Mallard sat on the grass near the allotments and a lone Chiffchaff by the Metrolink
Still large numbers of Feral Pigeons but their fatter cousins are taking over - nearly a Wood Pigeon on every lamp post along Princess Parkway.
Almost ditto from last year. Greenfinch trees are now housing. Depressing sight of nets, anti-pigeon spikes and even a plastic owl complete with a hooting sound which got me excited for a bit!
Familiar tale of decline in House Sparrows. Down to one nest site now. Greenfinch have gone completely - looks like building work at Siemens has removed a lot of trees.
Winners appear to be Goldfinch, Jackdaw and Carrion Crow
17 years on - House Sparrows have almost all gone with just 2 birds left. There used to be at least 4 nest sites and up to 20 birds.
Carrion Crows, Magpies and Jays are a lot more common. Mallard still hanging around, although the Metrolink tracks now run through the old marshy area.
Ring-necked Parakeet and Nuthatch have colonised the area.
Feral Pigeons pushed out, to a small group on Burton Road, as the Withington Hospital development has removed their nest sites.
First ever Ring-necked Parakeet on my BBS survey. Now up to 42 species in 15 years. Starlings and House Sparrows down to 1 or 2. Wood Pigeons now outnumber Feral Pigeons now all the development at Withington Hospital has finished.
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Saturday 20th of June 2015 08:49:03 AM
Cold and damp but finally got my late survey done.
Woodpigeons are now by far the most common species.
Only 3 House Sparrows and no House Martins whatsoever - the nests on the Midland look abandoned. The only positive news is that Mistle Thrushes seem to be doing well
With the all the new development work at the old Withington Hospital most of the Feral pigeons have now disappeared.
The new Metrolink line is nearly finished but hasn't seemed to have affected bird numbers so far - I expect that will change when the trams start running :(
Also did my first ever BBS survey this morning(7.30 a.m.) on the Bury/Bolton border. A bit confusing at first with all the codes etc, but I soon got used to it. Also recorded 26 different species. Cheers Ian
Up at the crack today with a bit of a hangover. Nothing exciting to report from the Southern Cemetery apart from 55 Feral Pigeons and 28 Magpies. 26 species in total which is probably my best ever for this tetrad - a few fly-overs helped such as Swallow and LBB Gull.
The more worrying trend is the steady decline of House Sparrows, now absent from from one section where they were ever-present, and the huge increase in traffic - even at 05:45 which now makes it difficult to pick up bird-song along Princess Parkway
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 20th of June 2015 09:04:27 AM
