My first Scoters heard this year were on 12th March ... they're usually about 2 weeks after I start noticing migrating Redwing calls. I think we're a bit off the main migration route here Ashley ... lads up Hollingworth / Hadfield seem to do a lot better but I get a lot of traffic noise here, HGVs & emergency sirens so you might be a bit quieter in Heyrod ?? Good Luck with it !
Roger
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Roger,
I heard the movements over Heyrod last night but heard flocks at 9:30 but they seemed to circle. Heard again at several times between 10 and 11, almost continually. Have been hearing the nocturnal flight calls for many nights but have never been able to identify them. Thanks for putting me out of my misery.
2 Goosander on the Tame at Portland Basin this morning. 2 Muscovy Duck on the canal West past Guide Bridge, one almost fully black, one mostly white. displaying to each other.
Just had 2 Swift wheeling above home, Mottram Road, Stalybridge (thought I heard one on Monday evening ??) ...... first I've seen here in seven years !
Roger.
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Kingfisher on Ashton canal this morning just West of Portland Basin. Further along towards Droylsden the Mute Swan pair have 7 cygnets. Grey wagtail also.
An Oystercatcher flew out of Portland Basin this morning at 7am, and 3 Goosander(2drakes) were on the canal. On the Tame from Shepley Street 2 drake Mandarin Duck at 16:30.
Firecrest still present in Dukinfield Park. Picked it up in the holly bushes to the R/hand side of the Grenville St (top) gate, as if you were stood in the park looking out. Had half a dozen brief views as it was hunting around the boles of the trees .. only about 9 ins off the ground. It was the only "crest" I saw today ... a few Nuthatch and a cracking Mistle Thrush on the old now disused bowling green.
Roger
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Blessed is the man who expecteth little reward ..... for he shall seldom be disappointed.
Brief views of the Firecrest in Dukinfield Park this morning whilst chatting to Pete about Gulls, it literally popped up on the branch of a bare tree then disappeared into a conifer. Id heard it a little earlier which afforded rubbish silhouette views of it flitting around (image below from last Saturday).
Also of note - 6 Goldcrest - 1 Nuthatch - 2 Coal Tits - few Long-tailed Tits - 2 showy tame Wrens - 1 f Chaffinch
Nice to meet Sam Glennie today too
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 19th of March 2023 10:17:55 PM
The Firecrest showed briefly again about 11am in a bare tree before disappearing back into a thick conifer, this was just on east side nr top of bowling green.
An hour or so around the park this morning yielded a fleeting flight view of the firecrest as it zipped at tree-top height from the far NE corner of the park to the conifers on the S side of the bowling green, followed by a frustrating half minute trying to get a decent view before it disappeared. Main conclusion being that, when it was calling, it was very distinctive, but as soon as it stopped, it has plenty of space to hide. Will try again at some point.
Other notables included a starling doing a brilliant curlew impression, a dead sparrowhawk (close to SE corner of green) and a singing chiffchaff (on the estate just N of the park)