Highlights from a turn around Werneth Park after this morning's rather fine moon set over Horwich Moors, were two Song Thrushes singing in the lower boughs of the beech trees along the edge of the allotments and a Mistle Thrush keeping a speculative eye on the remaining holly berries. Usual Blue Tits, Robins, Magpies, Feral and Wood Pigeons, Blackbird and the Carrion Crow family party. No white feathers among this year's quartet.

A chance scan from the living room window just now (15.30) picked up an adult female Peregrine (by size) on the Hartford Mill chimney, just before it luanched down towards the local feral Pigeons.

The Tawny Owl "ke-wiking" last night turned out to be in the tree outside the kitchen window. Didn't stay long when it got warned off with a low, growling rattle from the sitting Carrion Crow. Heard a similar shorter one from a tree on the main road, near to one of last year's crow nests and almost immediately one of the area's group of C12 Lesser Black-backed Gulls was being dived bombed by another crow.

Hi Tony. Maybe that's why they don't eat the orange ones lol.

I wonder if those crab apples originally evolved to be eaten by a specific species, like Wild Boar, like some other fruits, nuts etc that need to past through a digestive tract to start regeneration. Or maybe they're just a genetic dead end?

Hi Tony I've noticed this quite a lot over the years, especially when we've been lucky enough to have local Waxwings. They strip anything with red berries and move on, even though there are twice as many trees/shrubs with orange ones. Yet even in comparatively mild recent winters birds are taking shrivelled haws rather than still orange berries on nearby trees.

Single Mistle Thrush failing to drive off two Magpies from the only remaining red-berried tree along Lansdowne Road. For some reason nothing seems to like the orange berries on all the others, which often wither on the stalk. Maybe the visual signal is "unripe"

Elsewhere the cold weather had no effect on a pair of Feral Pigeons literally billing and cooing on the roof of one of the industrial units. Not much else to be seen, just the 'pied' Crow and its' parents (?) and a few Black-headed Gulls with one Lesser Black-backed and one Herring Gull for variety.

Lovely observation an great corvid behaviour to record. I have seen another 2 young crows at Daisy Nook (not very far fro where I live, especially as the crow flies) whohad similar pale feathers on their wings - I'm wondering if this is an adolesent phase and they will lose them at some point, as the one at home appears to be getting less white.

That would make it a good couple of months later than mine, which was more like a juvenile trying it's luck after it should really be independent when I first saw it in July. Not the same brood or parents then but maybe from related parent birds carrying a particular gene. It will be interesting to see if we get more 'Pied' Crows next year.

Hi Andrea

Interesting. Definitely a different bird with that wing pattern. My local one has something like 8th to 5th primary on one wing and 7th to 4th primary on the other solid white, with the others all dark and the rest of the white tapering out from them up towards the 'shoulder'. It is also definitely browner. It hangs around a lot on the roofs of the industrial units behind the Ford car lot on Manchester Street so I see it fairly regularly, either foraging or as a fly by.

How long has your bird been around? Mine was definitely a this summer's bird as it was still being fed by a parent back at the start of July and yours looks quite juvenile in the first and last photos. I only saw one parent with it at the time, and later it seemed more independent when it was with the group. I wonder if the two are related, with maybe a parent taking one of each in different directions after fledging, or maybe there's a genetic link back to connected parent birds in two pairs? I've certainly not seen anything like either before around here

Quick turn around the local park at lunchtime to reduce the squareness of my eyeballs from setting up a new desktop before the old one expires mid...................sentence

Fairly quiet, as it has been most of this year after an initial outburst of song during Spring. Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Wren, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Song and Mistle Thrushes and Blackbird were all in good voice, but despite signs of birds carrying food no actual offspring were sighted, let alone tripped over, as happened a few years back when a family of Blackcaps flooded one of the paths. Neither Nuthatch nor Great Spotted Woodpecker nests were located either, despite good evidence of breeding activity. A nice mixed tit flock of around 20 birds today contained at least one each of Great, Blue and Coal Tit, along with several Long-tailed Tits which were more easily spotted by silhouette against the gaps in the canopy. A Goldcrest was calling with them but remained unseen. Another grouping of Long-tailed Tits on the opposite side of the park a little earlier may represent a different troop.

One of the local pairs of Carrion Crows, possibly the ones which literally 'upped sticks' and dismantled last year's nest from outside the kitchen window, have produced a pied offspring, or maybe more correctly a skewbald one, as there's little or no black on the bird. Predominantly brown, with parallel but uneven strips of 'Hoodie' grey either side of the breast, it is noticeable for asymmetric white panels on the wings. About 4 primary feathers in each wing are white, with an uneven spread of white up over the coverts and a scatter of single white feathers onto the scapulars. The breast and underparts are a patchy brown, like a juvenile blackbird. All in all quite striking creature, especially in flight. If it survives the winter (and it seems successfully independent at the moment) it will be interesting to see if it breeds and what the offspring look like. It was still getting fed by a parent when I first saw it, and there didn't seem to be any siblings, but it was part of a group of 4 or 5 birds feeding on a previous night's carpool karaoke leftovers so it might have family. It's certainly alarming the local pigeons.

First swift sighting at home 17.45 7/5/21 roof top height, so hopefully one of the locals returning.

A surprise and very fleeting visit from, what I think was, a 1st winter female brambling. If I hadn't been staring out of the window whilst on the phone I would have missed it . Record shots of it hiding amongst the branches of the tree outside the house.

Werneth Park 01/01/21-05/01/21. Lunchtime circuits when the park is usually at its' quietest. In order of appearance :

FeralPigeon
Magpie
Woodpigeon
Starling (12)
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch (max 16)
Nuthatch
Blackbird
Goldcrest (well scrutinised )
Robin
Collared Dove
Long-tailed Tit
Great Tit
Wren
Blue Tit
Chaffinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker heard but not seen as the snow fell 03/01

Lesser Black-backed, Black-headed, Herring and 1 Common Gull recorded from the roofs around, along with Pied Wagtail and Jackdaw.

A walk past Oldham Grammar School on 05/01 produced 14 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare and a single Mistle Thrush, as well as revealing where the local House Sparrows were hanging out. Passing again today numbers were down to 5 Redwing and 3 Fieldfare plus a very annoyed Mistle Thrush, probably because there are noticably fewer berries. Any Waxwings stopping by will have to look elsewhere this year. Hopefully the central reservtion of Manchester Road again

Fairly quiet over the last 5 weeks.

There was some activity around the abandoned Carrion Crow nest in the tree outside the kitchen window, probably the local Magpies raiding for sticks as they now have a nest with a sitting bird in another Acer at the back of the flats. Noticed when the Crows flew over the other day one flew to the nest while the other flew past and appeared to be being called back.

July 8th Influx of around 20 juvenile Woodpigeons into Werneth Park...Song Thrush, Blackbird and Wren still singing, Song Thrush gathering food

July 19th Walk over to Chadderton Cemetery; very few species seen possibly because of the Hitchcockian gathering of Carrion Crows, especially in the quieter NW corner. One House Martin hawking over the NE side and 3 Swifts over the Broadway/Middleton Road junction. More interesting insect life.

July 23rd House Martin activity again around the regular nest site. A bird flying up to the nest and twittering, as if trying to entice out a brood. Unfortunately didn't have time to stay and see if this was what was happening. Blackbird and Wren still siging in the park

July 30th. Unsuccessful attempt to locate any White-letter Hairstreaks at the locations I'd been shown at the start of the month. Park very quiet, possibly due to the presenceof a large female Sparrowhawk who shot along one of the avenues. Usual distinctive alarm call from the Long-tailed Tits, otherwise contact calls of juvenile Robins etc. Blackbirds feeding young in the hedge/undergrowth across the street. Juvenile Mistle Thrush on the top of the derelict mill tower. Looking very odd in a side backlight from strong evening sun.

July 31st Blackbirds now in turf war with juvenile Mistle Thrushes over the well-laden Rowan across the road


August 3rd - 5th young Magpie being chased off by male or female Blackbird several times over the last few days. Single Swift seen behind the mill in the dusk on August 5th

Neil Blood wrote:

---

We used to climb over the fence to the Sewage works. Thats where LRP bred, as it also did on both the old cooling towers site and power station site, making it 3 breeding pairs. The sewage works also had all three wagtail species breeding and several wintering Green Sandpipers, which used to feed in part of the sewage treatment process, where it was full of worms.

We used to get other passage waders too in spring and the Grey Partridge would fly over Foxdenton Lane to reach the sewage farm too, which was/is quite a large area. The area between the sewage works and the canal (top of springs road), is where Willow Tit bred along with breeding Sparrowhawk.

---

I guessed the sewage works would be where the Woodcock had been recorded previously, although the grid ref given was down the side of the hall, where the work is being done now. As it happened no sign of any on my scheduled visits. Having spent most of the time I've lived in Oldham up in Lees, I've only visited the hall a few times, but I shall have to add it to my local trips list. The area where you had the Willow Tits was where I found the Ringlets.

We used to climb over the fence to the Sewage works. Thats where LRP bred, as it also did on both the old cooling towers site and power station site, making it 3 breeding pairs. The sewage works also had all three wagtail species breeding and several wintering Green Sandpipers, which used to feed in part of the sewage treatment process, where it was full of worms.

We used to get other passage waders too in spring and the Grey Partridge would fly over Foxdenton Lane to reach the sewage farm too, which was/is quite a large area. The area between the sewage works and the canal (top of springs road), is where Willow Tit bred along with breeding Sparrowhawk.

You take me back with your posts about the Sportsmans and Foxdenton Hall. That was my local patch and boozer when I was young (30 odd years ago). I remember when Spotted Flycatcher nested in the ivy on Foxdenton Hall; Willow Tit, Yellow Wagtail and Little Ringed Plover bred a very short distance away. The fields opposite held Grey Partridge, breeding Common Snipe and Wintering Jack Snipe. Not to mention the many Lapwing pairs.

Shame they are building on it all now, for the most part. If was a 13 year old kid, living there now, there's not much to light my spark and get me interested in birds 

-- Edited by Neil Blood on Thursday 18th of June 2020 05:55:47 PM

Bit of drama on the street this morning when a racket drew my attention to a pair of adult Magpies harassing a juvenile. It was spinning round wing fluttering, calling as if food soliciting and reacting to the adults which had it cornered against the bramble covered fence opposite. The young bird didn't seem to know whether to try and get away, blocked by the vegetation or food solicit. Each time it turned to one bird the other pecked it from behind. As they moved down the street another adult flew down from a young Rowan but things had moved just out of sight so I couldn't see if was joining in the attack on the chick or defending it. When I was out later I looked but there was no sign of a corpse...but it may have been taken off as a food item. Hard to tell if they were trying to drive off an over-dependent chick or attacking one which had strayed into their territory. There had been a similar ruckus in the Sycamore outside the kitchen window yesterday, which led to the departure of one of the Carrion Crows from around their presumably failed nest with a bit of KFC, but that appeared to be at least one juvenile harassing adults for food. Maybe overstaying their welcome? I've noticed both the Carrion Crows and another pair of Magpies nearby involved in mutual preening, including some anal pecking reminiscent of mating Dunnocks, but with both birds doing it. Not something I'd noticed before. Otherwise, fairly quiet this week with sightings of the odd juvenile Coal Tit and Robin in the park, and House Martins still around the nest site on Frederick Street.

A bit of breeding noted in recent visits to Werneth Park, with Bullfinches seen mating earlier in the week (and right by a public highway!), then a Great Spotted Woodpecker brood located by the racket they were making....still in the nest today from the sound of things....1 or 2 juvenile Nuthatch chasing after a parent bird between possible nest sites inc one definitely used a few years ago ....and a juvenile Goldcrest snapping at a halo of midges as it sat in the top of a young beech sapling. The field guides often use terms like 'cute' or 'appealing' to describe the bird's face but in this case it was more like "Oh my, so much food, where to start" Also 2 juvenile Pied Wagtails feeding on the bowling green where an adult pair were seen earlier this month.

-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Sunday 31st of May 2020 06:08:49 PM

Another hirundine for the year list today with one, possibly two, Swallows heading over our flats towards Tandle Hill Park as I came back up the hill from my walk. Luckily the bird called or I might have missed it in the strong southern light. Shame I couldn't confirm the birds I saw last month as Sand Martins, would have had the full set by now. Otherwise, business as usual on my slightly chilly walks today and last Sunday. Singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap still, usual foraging party of Starlings, one Mistle Thrush on the main grassy area on Sunday, two today, at least 8 male Blackbirds around today, with 4 together in the scrubby area, several Robin and Wren still singing, while a family group of 4 Robins were out and about in the wooded edge of the park. Usual collection of gulls, corvids and pigeons, first juvenile Mistle Thrush for me today, as one flew up into view onto a lamp post then more or less jumped off rather than flew down The local House Sparrows are active again, despite the loss of a hedge - the crop of dandelions and buttercups maybe compensating and it's been nice to have the local Blackbirds and Goldfinches drown out the sound of the traffic.

Saw my first swifts yesterday, 4 screaming and flying low over the houses.

So nice to hear and watch.

 

As the seasons advance so the vista from my window disappears behind the leaves. Luckily there is still a direct line of sight to the Crow's nest outside the kitchen window. I say 'direct' but....so if you're out birding when lock down ends and you bump into Quasimodo with a pair of bins say 'Hi' The Crows are now sitting, so I'm seeing some different behaviour, with the female flying down to a nearby roof to solicit food this morning. They're still getting some hassle from the local Magpies, but I noticed they were squabbling among themselves as well today. Not much else on view from the front room window this last week other than the usual pigeons, gulls and other crows, apart from 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 fly-through Starling and several Blue Tits collecting (I think) insects from the leaf sheaths. Trips out to hang washing in the small communal grass plot among the flats confirmed that the Coal Tit singing away in March has a mate and a Mistle Thrush was scolding all round the local area on Thursday evening.

Today's multi-purpose walk produced lower numbers than last week but a change of cast included a 'heard' year tick of Garden Warbler in the overgrown shrubberies and 12 Starlings foraging in the open grassy areas.

No Webs today as per BTO instructions, so a quick turn around the local park this afternoon. Hardly any people and not many birds!

Robin several S
Great Tit several S
Blue Tit several S
Wren 2 -one S
Blackbird 2 M
Chiffchaff 1 S from somewhere upwind - could just hear odd snatches
Starling 3
Carrion Crow 2
Magpie a 'murder' of 13 along one of the boundary fences.
Feral Pigeon several
Wood Pigeon 3

A Dunnock was singing from the hedge opposite as I got back and half-a dozen Lesser Black-backed Gulls of various ages had a squabble over the industrial units.

With the hills shrouded in mist/smoke/low cloud? for most of the last few days there's not been much to report apart from the usual gulls, crows and pigeons, but late yesterday afternoon I was able to pick out a Common Buzzard well over in the direction of Ramsbottom , then last night around 8 p.m. a female Sparrowhawk was up close by slowly circling west to east. The Carrion Crows are gradually assembling something beginning to resemble a nest but at a maximum of two twigs a day it looks as if their work has been deemed 'non-essential construction.' The local Blue Tits however are putting much more effort in and zooming back to the hedge with beak-fulls of newly emerged Acer leaves on a regular basis.

Turn around my local park again today. Only 1 Peacock butterfly in the scrubby area but a singing Chiffchaff made up for the lack of insects. My first singing bird of the year after one lurking in ivy in Norfolk in January. Pair of Robins, singing Nuthatch, 2 Wrens, 2 Blackbirds, Wood Pigeon, Carrion Crow, 2 Magpies, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch and Goldfinch completed the list for the park. Another Chiffchaff was singing nearby.

Did some scanning from my living room this p.m. No Osprey for me either, plenty of Gulls, mostly Lesser Black-backed, a couple of Magpies, some nesting Jackdaws, at least one Buzzard mobbed by Carrion Crows and on my last sweep, around 7.45 p.m. my first hirundine of the year. Unfortunately it was above the skyline so just a silhouette but definitely a Martin sp rather than a Swallow.