Whilst on a big mooch around looking for peregrines I also spent some time in other areas looking for other birds. Viewed from down Fairfield street looking over the bridge on the river Medlock produced at least 15 blackbirds, 2 bullfinch, 1 chaffinch, 1 greenfinch, 2 goldfinch, nothing to be seen on the river Medlock here. Further along at the bridge on pin mill brow were a pair of goosander, 1 grey wagtail. Viewed from cathedral approach around 3.45pm 4 goosander flew past the arndale & headed towards the river irwell.
A buzzard drifting low over st johns gardens, mobbed by gulls, makes 50 species for this ebird hotspot and the little pin turning a lighter shade of blue :)
Almost exactly the same day as last year, a willow warbler has dropped into Rozel Square and is singing from some birch trees no doubt on its way south.
wood pigeons building a nest outside the window.
There was a single coot on the canal outside The Wharf pub yesterday evening, seems to be the first ebird record for the site.
Also one mute swan. water currently very clear down there.
St John's Gardens
Friday - sparrowhawk caught a pigeon but couldn't hold onto it.
This morning, sunday 22 March, a pair of bullfinch was the first record of this species for me (and possibly anyone?) here, eating apple buds.
Female blackcap still here.
House sparrows starting to nest.
Amongst the usuals, a female blackcap was drinking from my bird bath at Rozel Sq. St John's gardens this a.m.
Also several house sparrows knocking about around the estate, hoping they'll use one of the terrace boxes we've put up.
Two collared doves looking like they'll start a nest soon in a cypress tree.
Spent the day having a big wonder around the city centre, 3 target birds in mind, dipper, kingfisher & redwing but no joy in places I expected to see them. All birds seen.... Cormorant Canada goose Mallard Goosander Peregrine falcon Moorhen Black headed gull Lesser black backed gull Herring gull Woodpigeon Feral pigeon Grey wagtail Wren Dunnock Robin Blackbird Mistle thrush Goldcrest Long-tailed tit Great tit Coal tit Blue tit Magpie Crow House sparrow Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch Bullfinch ( heard only) There was a decent number of blackbirds around especially in 2 areas, potatoe wharf (at least 15) & pin mill brow (at least 12).
A woodcock just flew over Albert Square Christmas markets towards the town hall where I lost sight of it, it actually looked like it might have landed on the building.
Starlings it seems are like buses. None whatsoever for 6 years and then a flock of 12 descended to feed on whitebeam berries today. Alongside at least 4 mistle thrush, several blackbird, greenfinch, goldfinch and wood pigeons.
These whitebeam trees are literally alive with birds. Bodes well for possible waxwing irruptions assuming there's any berries left in a few weeks.
Greenfinch at rozel square today, first for a long time. Large mixed tit flock of 17 blue tit, 5 great tit, a single coal tit.
Also the grey wagtail is still around feeding under its favourite birch trees, presumably on inverts washed off by the rain.
Clearly another influx of flying ants today, I was stood in St Peters square around 6.30pm & was watching many gulls circling around, not in the hundreds but not far off a hundred in total mostly lesser black backed, few herring & black headed gulls. Whilst watching these I then noticed a number of starlings flycatching on the top of no 1 & no 2 buildings, I first thought there were around 30+ of them but one photo revealed at least 58, nice to watch for around 20 minutes before they all flew off towards Oxford Road train station.
About 20 sand martins feeding over Rozel sq St. Johns gardens just now, with another 20 martins or so over the top of no1 spinningfields feeding although those were high up so uncertain on species
Lesser black-backed gull chick visible and calling from the roof of Zizzi's on King Street, on the flat roof bit by the chimney. Adults calling and flying around overhead.
About 15 or so swifts were feeding over Castlefield on Saturday.
Also there seems to have been a little influx of coal tits to the city centre - at least 2 birds singing from Rozel Sq. at the weekend
There was a fledgling coal tit on my peanut feeder this morning, Rozel Square, city centre. Until now I've only really known coal tits as winter visitors here.
a common buzzard circled high over the town hall this afternoon. male kestrel at the town hall, looking very scruffy. 2 mistle thrush in parsonage gardens. there are several pairs of lesser black backed gulls around, I watched one adult attacking one of the several crows that are also around. 1 grey wagtail
First jay i've ever recorded at Rozel Square this morning. Noticed when all the local blue tits were warning calling. It flew in from Castlefield and fed off one of the bird feeders.
A near adult/adult Iceland Gull with Herring Gulls and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls over Dale Street car park Tuesday 2nd April 2.10pm. They had appeared to have flown from the East. The Herring Gulls and Lesser Black- Backed Gulls dropped onto the water bodies of what is probably the Picadilly Basin. The Iceland Gull flew quite low but then carried on westwards
Loud chirping made me notice a blackbird nest at Rozel Square this morning, with at least 3 fairly well developed chicks.
The location is regularly disturbed so the nest may be relatively safe from the local magpies.
male goosander on the high fast flowing river Irwell from Victoria bridge this afternoon. mistle thrush on the premier inn. blackbird singing at the cathedral, also 8 goldfinch there.