Finally twitching pays off! I must have been one of the few people at Tesco (other supermarket's available) not that bothered about hanging around a car park doing nothing in less than spring-like weather. Didn't even need my thermals. A Golden-winged Warbler was obviously not on the cards but some late staying Waxwings would have been nice..
My exercise/weekly shopping trip was surprisingly quite in terms of birds, apart from the slightly Hitchcockian collection of corvids outside the flats. I've got used to the recent increase in Carrion Crow activity but it seems the turf war is back on and escalated with one pair having called for back up. Now 5 of them are swooping, cawing and chasing about the place, which probably explains why the nest outside the kitchen window hasn't progressed from something even the most laid-back Wood Pigeon would regard as "not fit for purpose". More sinister was the quartet of magpie in one of the trees, all cackling like very hammy auditionees for Shakespeare's Weird Sisters as I passed. A Jackdaw quietly collecting nest lining material made up the numbers.
Apart from them all I saw was one Feral Pigeon, a small group of six Starlings and a couple of Goldfinch. Maybe the lack of edible litter after last weekend has lead to the scavengers moving elsewhere.

It seems the turf war between two pairs of Carrion Crows displaced by the demolition of a near-by mill is over and the victorious pair have decided to nest in a Sycamore outside my kitchen window. It will be interesting to see how they get on, as the local Magpies are already eyeing up proceedings,and there's an established Jackdaw nest under the eaves of a neighbouring house. Given that one of the pair arrived with nest material then seemed confused as to where the nest was or had forgotten that they had already started one five feet higher up I may have got the pair that prove the exception to the rule about crows being intelligent!

On the subject of forgetfulness and intelligence, I forgot about our own local Curlew-Starling, calling from an ivy-covered tree in Werneth Park yesterday. Reminded me of my first visit to Lindisfarne just short of 50 years ago when we had a similar experience trying to locate the wader among the chimney pots of the houses in the village.

1 possibly 2 Coal Tits singing in the trees outside our flats today. Certainly located one, apparently singing off against another across the road but couldn't actually find the latter. Later a Blue Tit tried and failed to see it off. Have seen them nearby in Werneth Park quite often, but the first time I've seen one anywhere around the built-up area.

3 House Martins hawking at around eaves height on Frederick Street
1 Swift hunting slightly higher up
1 male Peregrine over SW

The local Swifts on Schofield Street seem to have an active nest. Two birds left the nest site in quick succession as I was passing today.

Red Kite flying South crossed A627(M) at 08.40

One occupied House Martin nest at last year's location on Frederick Street.

2.45 p.m. Pair of Peregrines, judging on size difference, headed roughly west over Windsor Road this afternoon. Caused some upset among the local pigeons.

I have two Peanut feeders in Foxdenton park Chadderton and this morning Two Jays feeding on one of them.

Two pair of House Martins nesting in eaves of Sportsmans Arms Denton Lane Chadderton Very active.

At least 1 of two House Martin nests in use on a house on Frederick Street today. There were signs of recent visitors around the other nest too, but only two birds seen on the wing earlier in the week.

A pair of swifts were at just above rooftop level over the Manchester Road/Heron Street junction at around 4.15 yesterday.

Single oystercatcher flew over Foxdenton park 1pm could not believe my eyes.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 19th of April 2018 10:51:57 PM

Pair of Nuthatch now resident in Foxdenton Park.

Two Kestrel hovering over Foxdenton Hall foxdenton Park mid day.

Charm of 20 Goldfinch making the most of the Niger seeds this weekend, briefly joined by a pair of Siskin and a very fleeting visit from a woodpecker- a first for me at home.

We now have five Heron and one less young Moorhen.

Cormorant diving for fish Foxdenton park big pond 1230hrs watched for 20mins non stop.

Two Peregrine over Fields new road and Denton Lane Chadderton within the last hour No camera

A comparatively low-flying Peregrine (female judging by bulk) made a sweep from Manchester Road towards Old Lane and then round towards the Freehold tram stop this evening around 6.30.

Also at least 1 House Martin hawking over Werneth Park and male Blackbird with a beak-full of worms.

Originally posted today by Charlie Garrity:

Foxdenton Park, Chadderton:

We have had a small Heron resident on the pond for a couple of weeks but yesterday 4 Herons. The 3 surviving Mallard ducklings had better watch out. 

First Swallow of the year, right over my local patch, was a nice reward for an unexpected chore.

Female Blackbird carrying food - Lansdowne Road, near the Diodes factory. First local evidence of breeding this year

Originally posted today by Charlie Garrity:

 

Foxdenton Park, Chadderton today:

12 or so Robins,  6 Blue tits, 1 great tit, pair of Dunocks, 14 Mallard and call ducks, 10 Canada Geese and 3 or 4 Blackbirds also Mistle thrush

 

Redwing 36 on the playing field at Hulme Grammar School this afternoon, with
Starling 1 and
Pied Wagtail 1