Well done Dave - I had a good look around the Eastway, Manor Avenue & Sylvan areas this morning and had just a Mistle Thrush to show for it.

The Redwing flock at Shaftesbury Avenue/Aimson Rd Eat junction has risen to 60 or so, much more flighty than any Waxwing flock so still plenty of berries should the Waxwings wander that far.

Woodley was better this afternoon, 60+, possibly up to 90 but mobile, and we did have a few stones thrown at us from behind the shops, probably from the railway footbridge area.

75+ in trees next to the Lowes Arms, Woodley at 11am. The birds flew off towards Oldham Drive.

Still 50+ on Oldham Drive, Woodley at 10am

Info thanks to Brian Fielding

Judith Smith wrote:

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20 today on Plodder Lane, Farnworth, at the Highfield end near a pub called The Canary. (Info from Jim Nisbet).

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No sign of any on Plodder Lane in two brief searches today.

They flew off towards the pitch and putt course.

Did a scout around the Sylvan estate area, two berry bushes but only Redwings present.

Still a lot of berries at the "traditional" Shaftesbury Avenue site but again only Redwing present, this flock has been building over the last few days and is up to c 25.

Non on Eastway either time I checked.

Belated news of a waxwing flock near to the ATC huts at the end of Eastway, Sale.

The birds have apparently been present since Christmas Day but despite being only 2 minutes walk from my house I only found out yesterday (when I was in work!) The berry crop is now somewhat depleted but I did see up to 16 birds this morning but only for a few minutes when they flew off to the Timperley side of the Bridgewater canal. Anyone living in the Sylvan Avenue area of Timperley might be advised to have a scout around.

There are still some berries left so may still be worth a quick look if you are in the area. Please note that the road leading to the huts is private and parking is not allowed.

Woodley waxwings still there (around 50) but the berry trees in the precinct were looking a bit like the shelves at Woolworths with a very angry-sounding but powerless Mistle Thrush in attendance. Won't be there much longer I reckon.

20 today on Plodder Lane, Farnworth, at the Highfield end near a pub called The Canary. (Info from Jim Nisbet).

hi nigel, these waxwings are in gm, the border is just to the south by the a555 airport link road.

Frank Obertelli tells me there was 1 Waxwing in a Fontwell Rd, Little Lever garden today.

awesome waxwing pictures mr.dixon. what camera and lense/scope do you use? Id love to take pics like that.

Oh you found them Geoff, I'd just come on to tell you that I'd posted some pictures!
Still got loads to go through, so will update my site in the next day or two.

Anyway, this morning was truly magical watching the birds by the side of the Lowes Arms.
After a long period of silence and after the birds had departed, one gentleman out of the group of 10 or so of us observing simply said "Happy New Year"...Kind of summed the mood up perfectly.

There were 5 on the right hand tree in the Precinct at 10.30am, and then approx 50 roosting in the tree at the rear of the Lowes Arms (Across the car park with your back to the Precinct.)

At least 10 other birders around.

There are still a fair number of berries left, so people could be lucky if they go down today.

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 11:16, 2009-01-01

Hi Anthony,
The guy I saw, was not using a tripod - light coloured lens, and he was wearing a woolly hat. We were only there between 10.45 and 11am

Are you going to post your pictures on your web site at all? - they would be nice to see

Agree it was a good viewing session. I said to my friend, that it would be harder to get a closer better view than that.

Might try and be there at 10.30 tomorrow.

-- Edited by Geoff Walton at 23:05, 2008-12-31

Hi Richard,

A combination of "we three" were there at 10.45, and we estimated 100 so happy with 91
A lot were in the tree behind the main road opposite the Precinct, and flew over just after we arrived.

Were any of you the one with the camera on the lens? We were two and a lady.

Might pop down tomorrow am just to see .

We were on our way to Anglezarke. Fog, fog and yet more fog - still had a two hour walk.

Woodley precinct is the shopping precint on A560 - a couple of big berry trees by shops and also on the estate on the other side of the main road so if not at the shops its worth a scout around.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/idmap.srf?x=393500&y=392500&z=120&sv=393500,392500&st=4&ar=N&mapp=idmap.srf&searchp=ids.srf&ax=394500&ay=392500&lm=0


Pete - from memory there is a public footpath alongside WHGS between it and the park?

Thanks for the quick response on the gen Judith.

A non-birder M.O.P. (member of the public) in the pub (who I've never met before) this evening described a flock of 40+ birds feeding on Rowan berries in the grounds of William Hulmes Grammer School on Princess Parkway, Fallowfield (A5103), which must be Waxwings and still present today, though may be difficult to view from public access. I'll have a peek tommorow if poss, though Iwouldn't be surprised if these had flown and joined the Woodley precint birds

I have sent these colours rings of Antony's and Pete's to Ray Duncan who does the ringing. But looks like he's already got yours. Pete?

Waxwings at Woodley precint swelled to c84 by 12.55. One bird had a yellow ring above a white ring on the left leg. I didn't get to see the right leg. I've reported it to those tracking them anyway. Awaiting news.

12.30pm - 20+ in Woodley Precinct and later at around 1pm oppsite Marina Road.

More than likely the same flock?

A busy round of domestic duties today, plus running an amateur taxi service, but when driving through Adswood I found 3 Waxwings on a Rowan on Garner's Lane by the junction with Rostherne Road (near Adswood School)

Cheers, John

20 still in Offerton at St.Johns Wood Estate this morning though mobile

Info thanks to Birdnet Information Pagers

Single Waxwing on Back Hall Street (Behind MAC Building Products) Offerton 10.am this morning.

19 this morning in Offerton at entrance to St John's Wood estate - one of the predicted sites.