Just been listening to a Tawny Owl calling in the vicinity of St. Joseph's, Heyside. First I have personally heard for years, but have heard reports of one calling in the Sumner Street area a few times recently.

Salmon Fields pond and surroundings

Blackcap
Grey Heron
Jay
Moorhen
possible Garden Warbler sang once

Sparrowhawk patrolling in Cowlishaw area this morning.

Whilst at a very well attended Remembrance service at Shaw War Memorial this morning, a Sparrowhawk flew over the gathering and rested briefly in one of the trees surrounding the monument before taking flight again and heading off toward High Crompton.

small flock of twite this morning fields near Jubilee

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this or not, please move if it isnt.
Spotted a pair of Nuthatch this morning while feeding the sheep, they announced their arrival! lovely to see and unusual for our patch, came with a flock of long tailed tits, near Jubilee

Quick stop at Salmon Fields Pond today. Just a mile from home and somewhere I regularly drive past, but never pay much attention to.

3 Moorhen
32 Canada Geese
Pair of Mallard

May have to stop more often in future.

Was unsure where to post about Derker, without starting a new thread, but as it is pretty much between Shaw and Oldham this seems as good a place as any.

I work in Derker and when we got in this morning one of my colleagues who cycles to and from work came out with "I saw an amazing sight on my way home last night" his exact words and still quite excited about what he had witnessed. "As I was riding along London Road something came shooting down from a height and took a pigeon down with it in a flurry of feathers. As I got within about 10 yards I could see on the ground a Peregrine with a wing pretty much around the pigeon as if to stake claim to it."

There is a lot of housing being demolished in this area and this apparently happened on land left empty by a row of demolished terraced houses.

Not a first hand sighting I know, but I did ask if it could have been a Sparrowhawk and he was adamant it was definitely a Peregrine. This would have happened just after 4pm.

I just wondered if there were any more sightings in this area as I have never heard of any. I might have to spend my lunchtimes on Falcon watch from now on.


-- Edited by Dave Colton on Tuesday 17th of January 2012 08:40:06 PM

-- Edited by Dave Colton on Tuesday 17th of January 2012 08:40:43 PM

25th July.

At least 1, probably 2 Grey Cockatiels around the telecoms mast on Oldham Edge this morning. Many thanks to Mark Rigby for coming up with their ID from my flimsy description!

Of slightly more interest whilst standing around looking at these lovely birds in their native habitat I also spotted a Song Thrush carrying food (a new confirmed breeding record for this atlas tetrad) and a family party of Willow Warblers.

Cheers,

Bill.

Whilst at Salmon Fields, did you see the small group of turtles (??) near the right hand end? When I saw them, they were just sitting there in the sunshine. I assume they were domestic ones let out when they became too big?

Peter

Dun Wood Park - Thursday 12th May 06:30 to 09:00 hrs

A Lesser Whitethroat sang briefly, without showing itself, from the hawthorns on Small Brook Road. Opposite side of the road to the wood at SD941103.

A Treecreeper was heard calling and when finally located was seen carrying food (FF). So Bill's post on this species on the GM Atlas section of the forum was certainly well timed. However, sod's (note the correct use of the apostrophe, sod being singular ) law applies as Treecreeper has already been confirmed as breeding in SD91K Jubilee What is interesting is that the species was absent from this 10km square at the time of the last GM Atlas 1979-83 and the last national Atlas 1988-91, so perhaps indicates that there has been some expansion in its distribution or infilling.

Blackcap - 2 singing
Chiffchaff 1 S

Plenty of breeding activity:
Recently fledged Robin with adult nearby (FL). The noises coming from the undergrowth suggest other juvs were being fed.
Blackbird carrying food
Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 watched drumming on dead upright branch of oak. Seems quite late for this.
Wood Pigeon sitting on nest (ON)
A Great Tit carrying food disappeared into a drainpipe on cottages Small Brook Rd


Steve

welcome dave-keep posting