16 Waxwings briefly in my garden at Lowercroft, Bury at 12.15 but driven from a neighbouring rowan tree by mistle thrushes, who, to be fair, have been guarding the berries since October.
3 flycatching from the lampost all afternoon to just before dusk when they flew towards Woodley presumably to roost.
Good to see Paul Hackett out and about again, and a good sprinkling of interested locals, including one person who asked me if we were waiting for an eclipse - clearly a duck fanatic?!
5 Waxwings behind the church on Old Hall Drive, Offerton (this may be the wigwam church that Rob referred to. I failed to get the name but I presume it's St John's). They tried to feed on the yellow berry trees at the back of the church but were quickly moved on by a noisy Mistle Thrush. They then settled in a tree in the church car park before disappearing at 14.55 over the A626 towards Hall Pool Drive Estate.
Managed to see these by bike today so they are now on my very local 'cycle from home' list which stands at 110 this year (all within 5 miles of my house).
From Golden Hind go down Lisburn Lane, 1st left into Crosthwaite Rd, 1st left into Half Moon Drive and its at the bottom on RHS.
I'd already checked the 'Birds Estate' and St John's Wood earlier this PM and nowt there. These birds flew with Starlings in the Lisburn Lane direction, presumably to roost, so Henry Street might be worth a look but not that many berries to keep them there.
A single feeding on Apples at Otterburn Place, Offerton mid morning before being flushed by Blackbirds.
Tuesday 16/12/08 15.00
I went on another tour of all the Offerton berry trees this afternoon and found 3 Waxwings, together with 4 Blackbirds and 15 Starlings, feeding on apples at Otterburn Place.
However, within minutes I was accosted by 2 community police officers on pushbikes who wanted to know what I was up to with binoculars. When they checked my car they said they were looking for someone else with bins and not me. A resident had reported a suspicious bloke, so someone else must have been there shortly before me. I asked them to explain to whoever had reported in that birders were looking at birds in trees and not through windows and they said they would, but if anyone else goes down be aware of the sensitivities of the residents.
There were 6 at the top of a fir tree yesterday behind 22 Duke St, Swinley, Wigan. Lotsof berries in the vicarage garden opposite 22. But the birds may be feeding in the gardens of Duke St (not visible). They then perch in the top of the fir tree to digest them.
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
Reported sightings on Birdguides from Wigan. Anyone know the exact location. Paulo
According to Birdguides "three in Swinley early morning only" today. A couple of days ago also on Birdguides was "two in Swinley in a garden on Duke Street".
About 20 Waxwings in Rochdale today, on Edinburgh Way behind RRG (whatever that is) at 0900hrs. Info from Steve White (Lancs recorder) per Albert Halfpenny.
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
News of Waxwings in Lowton last week - 5 were on rosehips at the bottom of Stonecross Lane N on 8th and 5 (presumably same) on Newton Rd nr Stonecross Lane S, on 5th. Lots of berries on the industrial estate at Stonecross; paths accessible from stile on Nook Lane. (Information from Dennis Price)
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
I checked out the Brassington Street area too Alan about 1.30 and only found the trees empty of berries and not a Waxwing in sight! There were however over 50 Mistle Thrushes on the ground on the grassed area up Brassington street which would suggest that there isn't a tree with berries worth defending! So I think you are right Alan and the Waxwings have moved on. Missed 'em again! Steve
at least 7 Waxwings on Old Pepper Lane jtn Robin hill dr Standish this pm info off Sheila one of the members of local RSPB group Worse for me i was in Standish all afternoon and only got the phone call when i got home 3:30:no:
Checked Brassington Avenue, National Drive, Pheobe Street and Comus Street between 12-30 & 1-30. No berries hardly and not a Waxwing or Mistle Thrush in site. Looks like they've moved on.
2 Waxwings this monring at Duke St, Swinley, Wigan, in gardens and top of a tall pine nr St Michael's Church - they then flew towards the town centre. (information from Paul Sands) There are cotoneaster bushes near GO! (formerly B&Q)/Staples, and on Chapel St at the junction with Queen St, that often have good berry crops.
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
8 at Chorlton WP very briefly at 13.05. My colleague, Dave Harrison, saw them land in the maple behind the car park notice board then fly off east to the Merseybank Estate. I was only a few metres away, putting the kettle on in the mess room & missed them
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Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
Brassington Ave birds still present @ 15:45. As i pulled up in the car they "did one" before i got chance to count them, but i'd say there were still 9 at least.
slightly off topic but having covered the 'gritty side' of the ordsall estate at work for the past 15 years and having atleast some access to crime figures for there, my opinion varies slightly from yours andy (my best attempt at a smiley face seeing as its from my mobile!). The area does seen to have gotten better over the past few years however but as with many estates around the city centre (not to mention anywhere else really) its still best to be cautious.
Yesterday as we were mistaken for a film crew a numbers of the locals were asking questions about the waxwings, and showed some keen interest, I lent my bins too one lad who was very impressed with a good view, infact all of the people bar one were interested, the last one said "whatever floats your boat" and promptly went back inside as it was cold.
Last week at the same location I rescued a skunk stuck in the school gates, that lived on the estate as well, and everyone showed alot of interest in its welfare.
One chap was most miffed as all he got on his feeders were pigeons whilst his neighbour had greenfinch, tits, thrushes and now waxwings on the berries in her garden.
Urban birding, the people are great its the 1% club that spoil it always take care anywhere but,
I had a flock of around 35 which flew S down Phoebe St, Ordsall at about 1515hrs, stopped very briefly in a tree on a park area, then continued flying S out of sight. There was a cul-de-sac called Brassington Ave that had 2 rowans full of yellow berries and only 1 Mistle Thrush; I also saw a similar tree on Craven St.
I was in the car mostly, saw one hoodie only, and chatted to 2 nice old dears who thought I was from the Council and wanted to complain about lack of gritting!
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
slightly off topic but having covered the 'gritty side' of the ordsall estate at work for the past 15 years and having atleast some access to crime figures for there, my opinion varies slightly from yours andy (my best attempt at a smiley face seeing as its from my mobile!). The area does seen to have gotten better over the past few years however but as with many estates around the city centre (not to mention anywhere else really) its still best to be cautious
Hope none of you came to any harm on the estate I lived on for 12 years. Really it is not as dangerous as you made out (well no more dangerous than anywhere else at least). Anywhere away from familiar surroundings is bound to make you feel uneasy so don't knock 'hoodies' as that was once how I was probably seen as being by outsiders (until I knocked some sense into them of course)
Failed to see any Waxwings in Salford this afternoon 1.45-2.45pm. Cut my losses and went to Clifton Country Park. On way home from Clifton CP at 1545 I had 25+ Waxwings in flight by Unity Brook on Manchester Rd Kearlsley/Clifton. They landed in tree briefly, then flew east towards Ringley etw. My first this year.
I managed a few half decent shots that I'll let Ian have for his "Oh no, not more Waxwing photos" section.
As always, any and all photos are appreciated, I'm collecting all the waxwing photos i receive currently for a specific photo gallery for them early next year (or when they all decide to bugger off) so keep 'em coming
Waxwings in Salford this p.m. a Manc tick for me today Just a thanks to the finder of these fantastic birds. Cheers Ian ............................ John, to be honest I came to find you as I was scared on my own, good to meet you again and they made up for us both missing out at Elton last weekend!
-- Edited by Ian Campbell at 17:08, 2008-12-09 ......................................... Think that might be Pete,that thanks are due to Thanks
2.30 - 3.00. A single flock of 33 on National Drive/Linden Drive although not many berries left here. Ian Campbell, who re-found these and kindly drove round the estate to find me, had a few more than this.
Passers-by were interested in what was going on and and a local hoodie, who took a phone photo of one Waxwing, told us that a camera crew had been down filming earlier this afternoon. Perhaps on the local news tonight.
Cheers, John
I think that the film crew may have been myself (digiscoping) Paul Heaton (DSLR - small lens) and Steve Round (DSLR - massive lens).
We drew quite a procession of interested parties, but the most un-nerving was the mountain biking hoodie who passed us at least 5 times in half an hour, I think the combination of Paul's uniform and my bulk might have suggested we were Police!
Steve showed me acouple of his latest photos - Bitterns at Moore - not sure if they are on his website, but well worth looking out for.
I managed a few half decent shots that I'll let Ian have for his "Oh no, not more Waxwing photos" section.
2.30 - 3.00. A single flock of 33 on National Drive/Linden Drive although not many berries left here. Ian Campbell, who re-found these and kindly drove round the estate to find me, had a few more than this.
Passers-by were interested in what was going on and and a local hoodie, who took a phone photo of one Waxwing, told us that a camera crew had been down filming earlier this afternoon. Perhaps on the local news tonight.