Just as I reached the junction of Delamere and Stamford Street, a call overhead made me look up to see a Peregrine at roof top height being pursued by a Black-headed Gull. Both birds flew NE down Stamford Street and were lost to view.
There are only 3 previous records of Peregrine from Ashton-under-Lyne town centre in the GMBRG database. The last being in Feb 2013.
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
6+ Sand Martin along Coopers Ride Pair of Grey Wagtail, mobbing Magpie, hopefully with young tucked away out of sight Female Mallard with 7 well-grown ducklings Bullfinch calling Still a fair amount of song including at least 7 Wrens singing along this short stretch
1 male Whitethroat, with at least 4 fledglings, plus one other singing male 1 Blackcap singing 20+ Great Tits, at least four groups of fledglings 15+ House Martins Several Swallows
Pennine Bridleway, from Shireclough to Millbrook border
Lapwings. At least four territories with noisy, agitated behaviour. Also, an adult with one downy juvenile just over into Millbrook. Brilliant. 1 Lesser Redpoll 2 Linnet singing 1 Willow Warbler singing 4 Greenfinch 1 Chaffinch 6+ Meadow Pipits
Pennine Bridleway between Carrbrook and Besom Lane, Millbrook. Cold and windy.
3 Lapwing, with two displaying 6 Meadow Pipits, one parachuting 1 Skylark singing further up the moor 4 Redwing 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Song Thrush 2 Dunnock singing 2 Chaffinch singing 3 Goldfinch 3 House Sparrows 1 Long-tailed Tit
Monday 21st, 7pm - good views of a perched Tawny Owl at Shireclough which flew off in the direction of Cowbury Dale. Also 2 Little Owls calling after dark.
Pennine Bridleway, from Carrbrook to Higher Hyde Green, and a wander up onto Harridge, with two species in mind, and both seen.
12 Lapwings, two or three calling and starting to display 1 Little Owl 6 Goldfinch, some singing 2 singing Chaffinch 2 singing Greenfinch 6 Dunnock 1 Skylark singing up on the moor 2 Mistle Thrush 4 Red Grouse Ominous numbers of Magpies and Carrion Crows in the fields with the Lapwing
Around the Pennine Bridleway, Shireclough, Carrbrook
2 Skylark calling 3 Chaffinch singing 2 Greenfinch singing 3 Goldfinch Couple of Bullfinch, calling 3 Mistle Thrush, 2 singing 1 Song Thrush singing 3 Dunnock singing c 25 Redwing in the trees c 50 Black-headed Gulls in the fields 4 Great Tits 2 Long-tailed Tits 6 House Sparrows 3 Red Grouse on the moor
1 Jay
-- Edited by David Walsh on Thursday 3rd of March 2016 02:30:15 PM
1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel Mobile flock of 200+ consisting mainly of Jackdaws and Carrion Crows, but with a few Rooks mixed in Several hundred gulls, Black-headed and Common, feeding in the fields towards Dukinfield golf course