I was tipped off a while ago that Ring-necked Parakeets have moved into the area: it was confirmed this morning when two flew above the trees at the edge of the cricket ground. This noisy bird is not a delight to everyone, but it is a great ambassador for birding, as every novice knows instantly that they have seen something unusual, and often has a good idea what it is. There were two Buzzards on different parts of the site. Much gloom is voiced about species decline, but we should not miss the positives. I would have been very excited by each of these species when I first started to cover the area nearly twenty years ago.

The changing finch populations have also been a feature. I saw only one Greenfinch and no Chaffinch. Siskin numbers were a tiny fraction of past winters, and I saw no Lesser Redpoll; however, Goldfinches are still in healthy numbers and Bullfinches are now very easy to find throughout the year (two were feeding on lilac seeds a few feet from my window as I left).

It was good to find both Treecreeper and Nuthatch.

Canada Goose
Mallard 2
Buzzard 2
Black-headed Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove 2
Ring-necked Parakeet 2
Magpie
Jay 4
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Nuthatch 1
Treecreeper 1
Wren
Blackbird
Song Thrush
Redwing
Robin
Dunnock
House Sparrow
Grey Wagtail 2
Bullfinch
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 20+
Siskin 3

Spring has finally sprung in Woodsmoor. Though there was some frost on the ground, the sun was warm and the air was windless. Warblers are singing: one Blackcap near the railway bridge and seven Chiffchaffs. Three Sparrowhawks were in the air together. Four Redwing were the last sign of winter.

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 3
Sparrowhawk 3
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Jay 3
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow 1
Blue Tit
Great Tit 3
Coal Tit 1
Long-tailed Tit 3
Chiffchaff 7
Blackcap 1
Nuthatch 2
Wren 10+
Starling
Blackbird
Song Thrush 3
Redwing 4
Mistle Thrush 1
Robin
Dunnock 6
House Sparrow
Bullfinch 3
Greenfinch 4
Goldfinch 1

The birds shook off their winter lethargy under bright sunshine on Mirrlees yesterday morning. Song Thrushes led the chorus - at least half a dozen. Many of the birds were in pairs, as they should be at this time of year: Herons, Nuthatches, Dunnock etc. A Grey Wagtail flew over.

It was a good day for finches. I saw four species, which is a rare event these days. Three Chaffinches were a very high count, plus one each of Greenfinch and Siskin (in a garden on Flowery Field), plus the dependable Bullfinch, which are now this site's commonest finch. It is strange not to see a Goldfinch at this time of year.

There were about a dozen Redwing feeding on the shady edge of the cricket ground.

Goosander were back on the pond on Chudleigh Close this morning: six red heads and an adult male.

Two Treecreepers, in different spots, were the first that I have seen anywhere since January.

A Buzzard was in the trees in the wooded area near Man Diesel.

Other species included:

Mallard
Moorhen
Redwing
Mistle Thrush
Goldcrest (3+)
Long-tailed Tit
Chaffinch
Bullfinch
Goldfinch
Jay

Cold and windy morning. Two Chiffchaffs singing.

A solid wall of incessant fine rain.  In the circumstances, it was quite a good showing.  It was good to see a small group of Siskins back again, and I heard, though did not see, at least one Redpoll.  Bullfinches are doing well this year, and are venturing into my garden fairly regularly.

Canada Goose, Mallard, Goosander, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Jay, Carrion Crow, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Nuthatch, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Redwing, Robin, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Goldfinch, Siskin.

-- Edited by Nigel Troup on Sunday 31st of January 2016 11:41:12 AM

The first genuinely cold morning of the winter, and it made a welcome change to be crunching over icy ground not squelching through mud.  The pond at Chudleigh Close was frozen over, apart from a small area into which 35 Mallards had squeezed.  There was a good selection of thrushes, including my first local Fieldfares for quite a while.  Dunnock and Song Thrush are both now in song.

Canada Goose 5 Mallard 35 Moorhen 1 Black-headed Gull 5 Feral Pigeon  Woodpigeon 36 Collared Dove 1 Magpie 37 Jay 5 Jackdaw 3 Carrion Crow 7 Goldcrest 1 Blue Tit 6 Great Tit 6 Long-tailed Tit 8 Wren 3 Starling 5 Blackbird 15 Fieldfare 2 Song Thrush 2 Redwing 10 Mistle Thrush 2 Robin 12 Dunnock 4 House Sparrow  Bullfinch 5 Goldfinch 1 Siskin 1

 

 

-- Edited by Nigel Troup on Saturday 16th of January 2016 04:40:50 PM

First circuit of the year on a wet and miserable afternoon.  The species count was lower than usual, but this was not unexpected in the circumstances.  It was lovely to watch a pair of Treecreepers feeding together low down in a patch of willows at very close range.

Canada Goose 7 Mallard 26 Goosander 1 Moorhen 4 Black-headed Gull C30 Woodpigeon +10 Collared Dove 3 Magpie +20 Jay 3 Jackdaw 1 Carrion Crow 2 Blue Tit 6 Great Tit 2 Long-tailed Tit 2 Treecreeper 2 Wren 2 Starling C10 Blackbird +5 Redwing C30 Robin 2 House Sparrow 2 Goldfinch 4

A pleasant morning circuit, 23 species seen:

Pink-footed Goose c65 Mallard 38 Moorhen 3 Black-headed Gull 3 Woodpigeon 16 Collared Dove 1 Magpie 9 Jay 2 Jackdaw 1 Carrion Crow 2 Goldcrest 2 Blue Tit 4 Great Tit 1 Long-tailed Tit 1 Wren 2 Starling 6 Blackbird 15 Redwing c35 Robin 4 House Sparrow 5 Chaffinch 2 Bullfinch 1 Goldfinch c5

Two noisy Peregrines circling over the playing field at 08:45 this morning were a first for Woodsmoor. There was also a male Sparrowhawk in a conifer near the cricket ground.

I took part in Mirrlees Action Group's first official bird tour early this morning, in the company of a select band of local residents and Richard of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, who will play a key part in the future management of this wonderful amenity. With the planned destruction of other key pieces of local green belt for a variety of commercial uses, this is a rare piece of good news.

The highlight of the two hour wander was the company, the crystal clear light and the singing warblers. Good numbers of Blackcap and Chiffchaff entertained us, along with a single Willow Warbler.

List of species heard and seen:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Lesser Black-backed Gull (overflying)
Woodpigeon
Magpie
Jay
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Goldcrest (probable)
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long-tailed Tit
Chiffchaff
Willow Warbler
Blackcap
Nuthatch
Wren
Starling
Blackbird
Robin
Dunnock
Chaffinch
Greenfinch

08:00 to 09:00 - walking the dog. Nothing unusual, and no sign of spring, but an abundance of birds.

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 9
Sparrowhawk 1
Moorhen 3
Herring Gull 2
Woodpigeon 36
Collared Dove 2
Magpie 32
Jay 4
Jackdaw 2
Carrion Crow 6
Blue Tit 13
Great Tit 7
Long-tailed Tit 6
Wren 15
Starling 25
Blackbird 26
Song Thrush 2
Redwing 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Robin 19
Dunnock 12
House Sparrow 17
Pied Wagtail 2
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 4
Goldfinch 20

8:40 through 10:00. Air temperature a bit higher, but a cold breeze, and much of last week's snow still under foot. Highlight was a Treecreeper, near the Shady Oak pub.

Canada Goose 1
Mallard 31
Goosander 4 (1m)
Moorhen 3
Black-headed Gull 3
Woodpigeon 24
Collared Dove 1
Magpie 19
Jackdaw 4
Carrion Crow 8
Blue Tit 10
Great Tit 3
Long-tailed Tit 4
Treecreeper 1
Wren 3
Starling C20
Blackbird 10
Mistle Thrush 2
Robin 5
Dunnock 5
House Sparrow C6
Greenfinch 1
Goldfinch 1

Twenty one species on the one hour morning dog walk circuit, with Monty, in grim weather.

Surprises included a Snipe sitting in the middle of the playing field between Woodsmoor Lane and Stockport Georgians CC, three Herring Gulls over (two adults), and a stonking count of sixteen Goosander on the small pool off Chudleigh Close.

As per last Saturday, I didn't see a single Long-tailed Tit; neither did I see one over the first three days of the year, spent on Anglesey.

4 Chiffchaffs singing and a perched female Sparrowhawk calling loudly.

Cheers, John

It may have been a chilly breeze that accompanied this morning's bright sunshine, but six singing Chiffchaffs on my dog walk circuit proved that spring has arrived in Woodsmoor. Other highlights included a Sparrowhawk soaring over the house, at least five Jays and a Nuthatch. It was good to see that a Coot is still on Chudleigh Close pond.

There was no sign of any wintering thrushes, though I did see seven Redwing on Old Hall Lane, Woodford, yesterday evening.

Full list from this morning's one hour walk.

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 10
Sparrowhawk 1
Moorhen 1
Coot 1
Woodpigeon 28
Magpie 21
Jay 5
Jackdaw 12
Carrion Crow 4
Blue Tit 8
Great Tit 2
Long-tailed Tit 4
Chiffchaff 6
Nuthatch 1
Wren 9
Starling 10
Blackbird 11
Song Thrush 1
Mistle Thrush 2
Robin 6
Dunnock 8
House Sparrow 13
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 2
Goldfinch 1

This morning brought another horribly wet walk around Mirrlees fields. The wind has dropped a little, but Wednesday's gales have left their mark, with a large silver birch uprooted by the edge of Chudleigh Close pond.

The first decent Siskin flock (eight) of the year was feeding in alders in the old golf course area, alongside similar numbers of Goldfinch, with both Chaffinch and Greenfinch in song nearby. Five Jay were harvesting acorns, and a count of four Song Thrushes was encouraging for a species that seems to lie low for much of the winter. There was a redhead Goosander on Chudleigh Close pond.

Full list:

Mallard c20
Goosander 1
Moorhen 4
Black-headed Gull 1
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove 5
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Magpie c12
Jay 5
Jackdaw 2
Blue Tit c10
Great Tit 2
Long-tailed Tit 2
Wren 1
Blackbird c20
Song Thrush 4
Redwing c20
Robin c6
Dunnock 4
House Sparrow c12
Chaffinch 1
Greenfinch 4
Goldfinch 6
Siskin 8

Despite treble figure counts of Redwing on the past two weekends, I didn't see a single one this morning. I saw 27 other species on my circuit, which includes the pond off Chudleigh Close, and I counted them more thoroughly than usual.

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 28
Sparrowhawk 1
Moorhen 3
Black-headed Gull 2
Common Gull 2
Woodpigeon 15
Collared Dove 3
Magpie 27
Jay 1
Jackdaw 7
Carrion Crow 5
Blue Tit 13
Great Tit 2
Nuthatch 1
Wren 2
Starling 3
Blackbird 19
Song Thrush 1
Mistle Thrush 1
Robin 11
Dunnock 3
House Sparrow 8
Chaffinch 2
Greenfinch 6
Goldfinch 2
Bullfinch 2

There has been a great abundance of Redwing in the area this winter, and the number actually seems to be increasing. I counted 140 feeding on Stockport Georgians football pitch this morning, alongside Mistle Thrush, Starling, Goldfinch and Blackbird; there were others in the neighbouring trees.

A Siskin at a feeder by Chudleigh Close pond was the first that I have seen this year, and brought up my 100th species of 2014 (not all of them around Mirrlees!).

Nature is being fooled to believe that spring is nearly here: daffodils are shooting and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming near the pond.

Other sightings included:

Heron
Mallard
Moorhen
Black-headed Gull
Common Gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Blackbird
Robin
Dunnock
Wren
Goldcrest
Long-tailed Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Magpie
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
House Sparrow
Greenfinch
Bullfinch

There were five Herring Gulls around Stepping Hill's chimney at 10:00 this morning - unusual here. Other sightings included:

15 Redwing feeding on the football pitch.
1 male Bullfinch.
A pair of Chaffinch.
1 Nuthatch.
1 Sparrowhawk.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
4 Mistle Thrush.
50+ Black-headed Gulls.

Lter in the day, there was a redhead Goosander on Chudleigh Close pond at 3:30.

A Tawny Owl seen in flight at 9.00 tonight, close to the entrance to the playing fields at junction of Woodsmoor Lane and Egerton Road.

12 Goosander on Chudleigh Close pond this morning.
4 Redwing over.
1 Nuthatch in trees at end of Flowery Field.

Otherwise pretty quiet.

Two Fieldfare yesterday morning: not regular at this site.

A circuit at 08:30 onwards produced 20 species, including six Chiffchaffs and four Blackcaps.

Magpies dominated Mirrlees in crisp, but beautiful, sunshine this morning. I counted 27 in a single group.

Also in good numbers were Goosander. Five (three drakes) were on Chudleigh Close pond when I arrived, and another drake dropped in five minutes later. There was also a pair (duplication is possible) on the anglers' pool on Mirrlees; I have never seen one here before.

A Lesser Redpoll was a nice surprise. I used to see flocks of up to 60 here ten years ago, but they are irregular winter visitors now. It was feeding in bramble near the station entrance.

A Song Thrush was singing, and a Mistle Thrush chastised Magpies angrily nearby. The commoner finches were scarce, but I saw at least three Bullfinches (two males). Once again, a Sparrowhawk was patrolling the area, and a Common Gull was on the playing fields.

26 species in all.