Walk to work through Rozel Sq, 1 song thrush (relatively unusual) also 12 goldfinch, 2 dunnock, 2 collared dove, 2 blackbird, 1 blue tit, 2 wood pigeon.
Out with my folks in Manchester today, and on a whim we walked over from the Cathedral to look at Strangeways Prison, as you do (!). Lining the carpark at the old Boddies brewery site were lots of very berry-laden trees, and there was a good number of Redwing around and about. Also a dozen or so more on a tree on Elsworth Street up the hill towards Cheetham Hill.
I wouldn't be surprised if the Ordsall Waxwings found the trees on Bury New Road in due course, it's not far away from where they are
A redwing was in subsong at St John's Gardens this morning, with a mistle thrush rattling away just above in the same tree.
Plenty of blackbirds feeding on what's left of the crab apples and rowan berries.
1 dipper on the river medlock viewed from pin mill brow on the city centre side, it then flew down river a few minutes later. Numerous blackbirds & redwings on a walk around faraday tower & piccadilly area. Just outside the city centre I went to look for the recent sighting of waxwings at gartside gardens but none seen, as I walked back to the city centre I noticed 2 juvenile mistle thrush sat in a tree next to the mancunian way, I have seen juveniles in February but never this early ! Photo attached.
Late post, but last Thursday AM, heard the sounds of a falcon on Lloyd Street - a Kestrel was bickering with a second unidentified bird just above the roof of the Town Hall.
Up to 7 house sparrows have been using the bird bath (for drinking mostly) recently at Rozel Square, flying in from their Camp Street nest sites. Including at least one adult male and several likely 1st year birds.
They have also been feeding in a group on lavender seeds, as well as people's seed feeders. The dry sandy soil under a Leyland cypress nearby is being used as a dust bath.
They do seem to require quite a heterogeneous landscape which may be a cause of wider declines elsewhere. Just from personal observation they seem to require drinking water more regularly than other similar sized birds.
A pillar of Lesser-blacked Backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls circled over Manchester at around 12.40pm moving from east to west. I was not able to get a full view but would estimate 100-200.
-- Edited by Adrian Dancy on Monday 23rd of July 2018 07:05:23 PM
Random lying-on-back sky-gazing in the sun yesterday from 16:00 to 16:20, 4 swift flying singly over St John's Gardens, generally heading north east.
A similar sky gazing for 10 minutes this afternoon at 15:00, 2 swift over both north east.
Possibly non-breeding birds heading to potential breeding grounds to scope out nest sites for next year.
Also a coal tit singing in the cedar at Rozel Square this morning.
Just now - an exhausted juvenile Bullfinch, immobile on the grass in front of the Cenotaph in St Peter's Square. The bird was alive, but obviously not in good shape.
A common buzzard circled slowly over the cathedral & then the arndale this afternoon it also hovered on a couple of occasions. Grey wagtail from blackfriars bridge. Mistle thrush in parsonage gardens.
Just outside the city centre, start of the Mancunian way ,Salford end, up to 20 Canada geese attempting to cross the road in heavy traffic. Hope that went well, traffic did appear to be slowing down but it was quite busy, fingers crossed.
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive (unless absolutely necessary)
Rob, that's a rare sighting of an elusive species - well done and good to meet you too :)
I know of another blue tit family about to fledge (as of this morning anyway) near Bootle Street, fingers crossed they don't succumb to the same fate.
A pair of blackbirds at Rozel Square have recently fledged and the constant alarm calling from the parents at the local magpies is driving me nuts.
3 sand martins were feeding over the Manchester Arena area around dawn yesterday, and a kestrel was perched on the building. It seems to use the arena as a regular hunting perch.
Blackcap singing from the central garden area at Rozel Square (adjacent to St John's Gardens) this morning.
Long tailed tits continuing their nesting attempt in the same area. Seems to be at least 3 birds involved.
Female sparrowhawk nailed a feral pigeon on Tonman Street this morning just as I happened to look out the window.
Several people walking to work stopped in amazement, there was a struggle on the tarmac but someone's dog scared the sparrowhawk off. Pigeon got away.
Surprised, whilst sitting on a Tram this morning at 8:30 from Piccadilly station, as it turned up the hill towards Aytoun Street, to see a Woodcock crash into one of the windows, at street level of the building on the left. Poor thing looked somewhat dazed.
male & 2 female goosander on the river Irwell viewed from cathedral approach, then another 2 seen in flight heading down stream towards the lowry hotel shortly after. also 1 goldcrest & 1 grey wagtail, mistle thrush heard singing.
A Moorhen ran across Great Ancoats Street infront of the wagon about 10am from Pollard Street near the Ashton Canal towards Chapeltown Street. I glanced over as it dodged the busy traffic over both carriageways and I'll never know how it made it!
1 redwing, 2 mistle thrush both with beaks full of food, I tried to look if they actually had a nest around but couldn't see one & they disappeared. 3 blackbirds & 4 goldfinch all in exchange square. a pair of goosander on the river Irwell from Blackfriars bridge also 1 grey wagtail. 1 chaffinch, 1 mistle thrush in vimto park.