Flock of 100 plus Swifts over my garden (Aston on Mersey) today at 15.00, also 2 Buzzards.

Largest swift flock I have seen from my garden.

Some recent records from my Chadderton garden.

After several earlier failures a pair of Collared Doves have fledged 2 young. Dunnocks have been seen collecting food in the last few days - this is a later brood - having already fledged 2 young earlier in the year. The local pair of Magpies fledged a single young and for the first time ever a pair of Jackdaws have been regular visitors to the garden and even brought a single begging juvenile into the garden. That was nice to see although the other birds didn't seem too keen on having them around! House Sparrows have been bringing small numbers of young into the garden for several weeks now, as have Blackbirds.

The only just ripened berries on the Rowan tree are disappearing fast at the moment - Blackbirds and Starlings. It's a shame really - in some years they are gone by the end of July and in other years they are still there in autumn and have attracted Mistle Thrush and even the odd Redwing and Fieldfare.

Cheers,

Bill.

I have been watching a Jay for over an hour visit my garden. It has figured out that each day I place peanuts inside the entrances to both my Hedgehog boxes. The Jay reaches inside and takes a couple of peanuts then flies onto my shed roof then it goes back to the box for more peanuts. It actually climbed into one of the boxes to get some of the peanuts at the back of the box.

God knows what the Hedgehog thinks that is sleeping in one of the boxes

Just counted 14 juvenile chaffinches eating seed from the lawn.

Kingfisher along Mickerbrook this afternoon at bottom of garden.

During the week there has been much activity on feeders again with family parties of Great and Blue Tits with visits by Bullfinches, Greenfinches and House Sparrows daily - the latter making a welcome comeback after a number of very poor years.
Juvenile Robins, Dunnocks and Wrens also plentyful at bottom of garden.

Rick.

David Winnard wrote:

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There seems to be a bit of an influx at the moment, as Ian says the Wildlife Forum can be found from the link below.

Dave

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thanks ian now joined daves forum

Just sat in my inlaws conservatory in Bredbury when a Sparrowhawk landed in a tree above her hedge in the back garden.
They feed lots of sparrows and it was a tense few minutes before it flew off empty handed.
Great to see, but only briefly.

Sat out in the garden earlier with my good lady wife enjoying the evening sunshine with a glass of Shiraz when there was a lovely burst of bird song from the adjacent trees.

After several minutes I remarked "That's a Goldfinch" !!

"Oh" she says "I wondered what the din was" !!!!!

Kate Humble she ain't !!

Common Tern over the garden in Crankwood yesterday afternoon. It was flying low, below the top of the chimney. Could this be a garden tick?

All wildlife sightings other than birds should be directed to David Winnards Manchester Wildlife website and forum where they will be very gratefully received

In Mickerbrook at bottom of garden this morning :-

1 adult and 1 juvenile Grey Wagtail.
1 Mallard duck with 4 well grown juvs.

Elsewhere in garden :-

Family group of 4 Nuthatches, including at least 2 juveniles.
Many Wrens, Blackbirds, Dunnocks and Goldfinches.
Far too many juvenile Magpies with their parents.
1 Collared Dove.
4 Swifts overhead.
2 Carrion Crows.

Rick.

A Nuthatch was feeding in my garden in Cheadle Hulme this morning. I have previously only seen one once before in my garden in Eight years.

Ken Dunning wrote:

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Hey Melanie,
I have lived in my house in Chapel-en-le-Frith for 24 years and tonight I have seen my first Greater Spotted Woodpecker whilst in my garden. If you think you were chuffed you should see me. whoopee!!!

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Ha ha Ken, l'm happy for you.

Was yours feeding or just visiting ?

We're getting regular Goldfinch visits in the garden where l work in Heaton Moor, we have had Bullfinch and recently male and female Blackcap. Not terribly interesting l know but for such a small garden l was chuffed

Yesterday two juvenile Robin hopping in following their parent for food, l melted...they were so cute....today a male Woodpecker on our fat ball

l know many guys on here have many more exciting birds visit their garden but l am delighted with my views

-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Wednesday 29th of June 2011 08:47:27 PM

-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Wednesday 29th of June 2011 10:11:37 PM

Great-spotted Woodpecker family, parents and two young in our Hale garden this afternoon on the nut feeders

Reluctantly now inside after fading light and rain made it impossible to continue watching Kingfisher(s) at bottom of garden. 5 separate sightings including 1 briefly perched on a holly bush on opposite bank of the Mickerbrook. I'm rather hoping that they may be nesting somewhere in the vicinity, especially after seeing one on 15th as well.

Also 3 separate sightings of Grey Wagtail collecting beakfuls of flies from mud along the bank - nesting close by???

Rick.

i'm out of county by a couple o hundred yards but the gold finches have increased for us too but these include some of this years juveniles, we're also getting a regular male bullfinch and as of a couple of days ago 2 redpoll

-- Edited by jason fisher on Sunday 19th of June 2011 08:00:55 PM

A 'seen from the garden' first this evening when I disturbed a Dipper that was perched on a driftwood log in the middle of the Mickerbrook at the side of my garden.

Also a pair of Mallard and singing Chiffchaff.
1 Jackdaw, Swift and 1 Grey Wagtail overhead.

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 19th of June 2011 07:56:36 PM

Whilst taking a break from mowing the lawn this morning I sat at the bottom of the garden by the Mickerbrook watching a Mallard with 4 ducklings when a Kingfisher flashed past.

Also plenty of activity with Great and Blue Tits, Robins, Wrens, Nuthatches, Bullfinches, Dunnocks and Blackbirds.

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker also in the woods at the end of the garden.

Rick.

Vaughan, I have sent you a PM!!

Superb male bullfinch feeding on our nyjer seed on and off all day, first for our garden.

I've had (what I think is) a fledgling Lesser Redpoll (no red cap, dark, very streaky, sits still for longish periods) for the past four days. The adult female that had been about has now gone awol.

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Blue Tits fledging as I type from nest box on my house wall, fantastic.
Cheers Ian

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Must be an awfully big nest box, Ian

Sorry, couldn't resist

busy in my garden this afternoon. counted at least 25 starlings at one time with at least 7 immature birds amongst them. still being fed by parents but starting to feed themselves a little too. also at least 8 house sparrows. never seen so many birds in my garden all at once