sid ashton wrote:

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Thanks for that Ian, they weren't lingering in the area today as far as I could see. Should they reappear I shall let the forum know as I park in St Johns Road most times I go into Alty- which is very annoying as I parked there on at least two occasions on Christmas eve the day of the reported sighting

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Unlucky with that Sid. Christmas distracts many of us, I presume birding mode wasn't active.
I did the same with a Ring Ouzel last year along Shay Lane!
Henry.

Thanks for that Ian, they weren't lingering in the area today as far as I could see. Should they reappear I shall let the forum know as I park in St Johns Road most times I go into Alty- which is very annoying as I parked there on at least two occasions on Christmas eve the day of the reported sighting

So Steve dare I ask - why was it posted yesterday?

Steve Suttill wrote:

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Yes Sid, it was 24th December - Sheila told me about them in the first week of Jan. Didn't post it as they hadn't been seen again in the area.

Steve

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Judith

Assumed originally that you meant 24th January - (why would you post more than one month after the event?) - so had a look up and down St Johns Road a couple of times this morning. No sign of any Waxies - perhaps you did mean 24th December

Judith Smith wrote:

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Late news of 3 birds in St John's Rd Altrincham, December 24th (Per Sheila Rydz)

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Late news of 3 birds in St John's Rd Altrincham, December 24th (Per Sheila Rydz)

Hopwood, Heywood - corner of Sunningdale Drive & Grasmere at top of Ash tree. Sun 25 at 15:00 and Mon 09:00 - flock has grown to 19. Still lots of yellow berries on Rowan in my back garden now being guarded by 2 - 3 singing Mistle Thrushes

Steve Collins wrote:

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I was watching a group of about 120 waxwings in Huddersfield before christmas Steve and noticed when they were all sat in the tree away from the berries a single bird would occasionally go up as if flycatching as you noticed today. I wonder if this is a usual thing for them to do and anybody else seen it?
Steve

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It's been noticed in our county already this winter and is a very common practise, in fact as their diet consists of mainly insects during the summer (midges etc), it's their primary hunting method. See the article on Waxwings on the website if you haven't already, it should clear things up

A flock of 35 Waxwings was perched in a tree outside the Co-Op on Abert Royds Street Rochdale at 14:35 hrs today. They had been attracted to the area by a tree with yellow berries (ornamental Sorbus?) on the opposite side of the road. I drive past this tree every morning on my way to work and had noticed that up until Friday morning the berries had been untouched. This afternoon approx. 3/4 of the berries had gone, so there are probably still enough on the tree to keep them in the area at least until tomorrow. The Waxwing were a great sight, trilling contentedly with only the odd bird flying across the road to the berry tree to feed. They had presumably already had their fill of berries The occasional bird flew up into the air as if flycatching, although I couldn't see any insects about. The first time I've found a double-figure flock of Waxwings in Rochdale. Albert Royds Street is a continuation of Kingsway. The Co-op is in a parade of new shops on the left hand side, approx. half a mile from the Kingsway Retail Park if heading towards Rochdale.

Hi Paul - had no idea I was treading on your patch!

2 still...

Back at St John's Wood Estate, Offerton today per BG's.

Superb views this afternoon (2pm) despite the rain and snow on Back Hall Street, Offerton including a 10 minute arial display as the flock were mobbed by 2 Black Headed Gulls.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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40 Waxwings in Offerton by Pyramid Car Sales on the corner of Banks Lane, junction of Offerton Lane, opposite the Gardeners Arms at 9am.

Info thanks to Sonia Adderley

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Numbers were up to 57 at 11.00. They are feeding on berry trees on Hampson Street behind Pyramid Car Sales. The usual Mistle Thrush in attendance and not many berries left.

Cheers, John

40 Waxwings in Offerton by Pyramid Car Sales on the corner of Banks Lane, junction of Offerton Lane, opposite the Gardeners Arms at 9am.

Info thanks to Sonia Adderley

Just the one flew over Flixton at 1100 today.

Hi Karen, i phoned the message out whilst trying to relocate them. They were all gathered in the poplars outside the Louvelite factory then flew towards the housing estate at 11.30 with the last few leaving about 11.40. It is amazing that a flock of 80+ birds can just disappear without trace. Sorry you missed them.

cheers
jason

Rob Smallwood wrote:

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Good numbers still on Talbot Road, Hyde, this lunchtime, but restless.

Info per Mike Ribbands.

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I'm glad you mentioned the location of Talbot Rd being in Hyde Rob. I've been telling folk they're on Talbot Rd, Stretford - which would tie in with the Chorlton Park sighting .

Apologies for missing the earlier post

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 18:27, 2009-01-14

Talbot Road - 120 birds present today between 14.15 and 15.45 in one big flock flitting between the berry tree and the taller trees to the left of the houses on the service road. We had really close up views using a parked van as a screen!!

text message from Tony o'Mahoney

"12 Waxwing at Chorlton Park, NE corner, chased off by Mistle Thrushes, but one still present 11.45"

Please note, Chorlton Park is NOT Chorlton WP.

Sid, pager says 1 Waxwing Frodsham at Kingsley in a garden, so I wouldnt bother if i were you, but there is 20+ in Warrington by the A49 on Irwell Road, might be of use.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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About 70 today in Hyde on Talbot Road, opposite Louvelite Depot

Info thanks to Birdnet Information Services

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Can confirm this! Photos can be found here!

5 were seen in the precinct early this morning braving the mistle thrush

Thanks to Dave Stoney for the info.

Woodley waxwings reappeared at 11.15 today at the precinct, flock of 20-30 chased into an adjacent berry tree by the thrush that continues to guard the one tree left with berries on. Prior to that no sign, in either the precinct or the nearby estate

Martin Cuthbert

-- Edited by Martin Cuthbert at 12:09, 2009-01-05

-- Edited by Martin Cuthbert at 12:10, 2009-01-05

I went yesterday (3rd Jan) to Woodley. c.50+ giving superb views. An added bonus was a Waxwing in my hand !! One of the residents from the flats on Oldham Road behind the favoured berry tree called me over to look at Waxwing on the floor. He thought it was just exhausted but I think it must have flown into a window and stunned itself. The were no sign of any injuries to it. The bloke was worried for it's safety as lots of cats around. It let me pick it up without a struggle. After about 10 mins it got a little more lively and shortly after flew off non the worse for wear!! (not before I managed a photo !!) Absolutely gorgeous creature that deserved a happy ending! Beats holding a Storm Petrel when I was a kid - and that died shortly afterwards!!