A nice little assemblage of thrushes on Romiley common, with 11 blackbirds viewable at the same time, 4 song thrushes in the same group, and a redwing. The song thrushes were all of the continental type, darker and spottier than our own (like the one coming to my garden at present), so it's a fair bet that these were all migrant birds. Also saw a jay, for the first time in a while, and 4 greenfinches.

2 ravens just to the East of Sunfield flying south at dusk this evening. I presume they are heading towards Lyme Park, where my brother saw a large gathering a couple of weeks back (I think he said 30-40).

Staring into the afternoon bleakness from Hilltop did not bring much. A dozen or so locally bred swallows were almost constantly in view, and joined occasionally by 3 swifts. On my walk home, a fem/juv blackcap was raiding bramble berries from a hedgerow. Not usually a big deal, but it was the first blackcap I'd seen for weeks. I don't think they had a good breeding season, at least locally.

Watching from indoors for more warbler activity in the garden this p.m. when a prob juv. male sparrowhawk appeared from around a wall to my right, and plonked itself down on the ground. It looked about for around 20 seconds, but all the birds had shut up and dived into deep cover. It then left in the direction it had arrived.

Some familiar screaming had me scanning the skies over Sunfield Est at c9.oo a.m., and sure enough there were about 20 swifts, at height, meandering sounthwards: a poignant moment. More evidence of Summer's departure was the sight of 3 chiffchaffs in my garden doing the rounds with the tit flock.

After semi-distant views of an osprey at Audenshaw (to the West of the Reservoir, about half way to Manchester Centre, going North), I arrived home on Sunfield Estate, got out of my car, looked up, and there was another osprey!!! Much nearer/lower that the one seen earlier (this was c11.40 a.m.), it had attracted a squadron of 6 buzzards which were trying to move it on Northwards as it circled over Hilltop. That's the sort of luck you dream about (well, some of us do). 

A 'mega' patch first this afternoon. A Little Egret flew NE over Woodley as I watched from Hilltop, Romiley. This was certainly one of the reasons I stand staring out towards Manchester so often. Also 2 buzzards, sparrowhawk, kestrel, a drumming great spotted woodpecker, and 15+ redwings around the hill.

It was the turn of pink-footed geese to be on the move this morning. First sighting was just before 10 a.m. with 115 coming over Trafford/Salford from the west. Moments later I picked up a skein coming from the other direction (behind me), but further North, about 90 this time, whilst at the same time another bunch of 12 or so were moving South in between the other two skeins! When these had all cleared, another flock came in on the same flightpath as the first (a further 60) about 10 minutes afterwards. A nice piece of action in a short time. No redwings appeared to be genuinely on the move today, but 30+ were in the hedgerow bordering Sunfield estate. 

A quick whizz around Hilltop (to the north of Sunfield estate) this morning, and it was evident that redwings were on the move. There were about a dozen small flocks mostly coming off the 'flatlands' of Greater Manchester, moving E-NE, the greatest being about 45. Probably c170-180 in total seen. Also one swallow definitely going South.

A couple of small signs of Autumn today. Firstly, a jay was in my alder tree for the first time in many weeks. Later, a flock of 15 mistle thrushes was around Hilltop, but otherwise there was not much sign that migration was in full swing (or any kind of swing, actually). 

Curlew heard over garden five minutes ago.

A male sparrowhawk flew into the (Romiley) garden and perched in the alder tree just 15 meters from the house this evening. Cannot remember a 'non-Winter' visit ever having taken place before.

Dashed out after the rain to see what it might have brought in (nowt), but had to be content with 4 sand martins flying over becoming No.42 for Hilltop during April. As they came from the direction of Audenshaw, I guess they had been there feeding up all day and were making their way to a breeding site to the SE.

After an excruciating week, I managed to bag a swallow flying over the stables below Hilltop, it becoming No. 40 for my 'lockdown' patch. 

Whilst returning from local shop this a.m., found 4 linnets feeding on weeds round the usually bustling Romiley Medical practices. This was nearly as exciting as finding tins of corned beef on the shelves today!!

With just over 5 minutes to spare, I managed to maintain my unbeaten home record with a late grey heron flyover. On a more sombre note, it is scarcely believable that I have to report that there does not appear to be any chaffinches singing around this area. It is (and always was) ideal habitat, and once you would hardly give them a second glance. Now, nothing. This is indeed a tragic situation of our making.

Whilst insect spotting around the golf course area saw 6 redwings, 2/3 stock doves including courting behaviour, 2-3 chiffchaffs, buzzards, kestrel, great spotted woodpecker heard.

Steve Costa wrote:

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Andy Bissitt wrote:

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Romiley golf course area; p.m. Woodcock flushed from same spot as one two Winters ago. Also pair of bullfinches + 1 singing male, and a female kestrel. On way off site, ran into a guy carrying a very high-spec air rifle who said he had permission from the golf course to bag squirrels and magpies there. Never seen him before, and was a bit alarmed that he might be on the other side of the wooded area to me blasting away without either of us knowing about the other! Anyway, as the woodcock had flown towards the way he arrived from, I flushed it again to make sure it was O.K.

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Andy - the legality of this man's so-called 'authorisation' seems questionable - especially if it's an area where the public are allowed to walk. Even if someone at the golf course has given their 'permission', it may still be illegal, and certainly highly irresponsible/dangerous with regard to people and wildlife. I'm not, for a moment, suggesting that you challenge his assertion face-to-face! Air rifles are serious weapons. I have been accidentally shot in the shoulder- very painful and requiring a hospital visit. Others have fared worse e.g. lost eyes.

-- Edited by Steve Costa on Sunday 19th of January 2020 11:00:21 PM

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Appreciate your concern Steve. I visit the site very regularly, and have never seen him before. He seemed like a 'genuine' hunter, complete with springer spaniel, but he should therefore know the rules about using air weapons within 'x' number of metres of a public footpath (which are all around the area). I certainly heard one shot which must have been within spitting distance of a track where lots of families take walks around the golf course perimeter. If I see him again, I will raise it with the golf course.

Cheers,

Romiley golf course area; p.m. Woodcock flushed from same spot as one two Winters ago. Also pair of bullfinches + 1 singing male, and a female kestrel. On way off site, ran into a guy carrying a very high-spec air rifle who said he had permission from the golf course to bag squirrels and magpies there. Never seen him before, and was a bit alarmed that he might be on the other side of the wooded area to me blasting away without either of us knowing about the other! Anyway, as the woodcock had flown towards the way he arrived from, I flushed it again to make sure it was O.K.