Common Scoters were calling as they moved east somewhere over our garden nr Mosley Common at 20:24 this evening. it didnt sound like a large flock, compared to the sound of previous occasions.
Quick walk along the guided bus way between Astley street park and Hough lane this morning produced 3 singing Chiffchaff, at least 2 Nuthatch, singing Goldcrest and several Song Thrush in good voice
2 Oystercatcher on the flooded horse field just southwest of the engine lane railway bridge this afternoon. At least 4 Buzzard visible from common lane in the sunshine
c.30 Redwing in the trees by the allotments at the south end of Common lane this morning, also singing Goldcrest. 9 Pink footed Geese flew northwest just after 8am
2 Curlew in the flooded horse paddock viewed from the Engine lane railway bridge, also c.20 Lapwing and c. 120 Thrushes, mainly Redwing but including at least 8 Fieldfare in the same field. 12 Stock Dove in fields further south along Common Lane
A 1st winter Caspian Gull (probably the bird that roosted at Pennington last night) in fields off Common Lane with 870 large gulls including 171 Great Black Backed Gulls.
2460 large gulls in 3 flocks in fields off Common Lane this morning, the most I've ever seen there. Unfortunately it was a bit too wet and windy to spend much time looking through them.
7 Redwing flew out of the small wood at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime and reasonable sized Siskin flock calling from the back of this area too. Several Coal tits and 2 Willow tits in with mixed tit flock along the railway line
A couple of hours this morning spent wandering the bus way and various paths off it, 2 Redpoll and 5 Siskin over south, 12 Redwing, 4+ Bullfinch and numerous Coal tit
Plenty of activity in the small wood at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime. 2 Treecreepers, Nuthatch, single Whitethroat, Blackcap, 3 Willow tits, several Goldcrest and Chiffchaff as well as 4 Buzzard and 2 Sparrowhawk overhead.
A different immature Whinchat present along Combermere lane this lunchtime in the small horse field on the west side about halfway along. Also several Chiffchaff very vocal in the small woods at either end.
Whinchat with 3 Wheatear in the cow field east of Common lane this afternoon, favouring the fence between Common lane and the small mixed woodland to the east.
A Little Egret roosting with the gulls in fields of Common/Combermere lane today.
286 large gulls in the fields,mainly Lesser Black Backs with a few Herring Gulls mixed in.
At least 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail in cow field at south end of Combermere Lane today also c.300 mixed Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls and c. 60 Swallow/House Martin in the same area
Several hundred Swift still feeding over the grass fields either side of Combermere Lane today also increasing number of Starlings frequenting the fields (only small numbers of juvenile birds so far) and Willow tits still actively feeding at least 2 fledged young.
Either side of midday today along Cumbermere Lane:
Lesser Whitethroat singing at the north end of Cumbermere Lane when I was walking up, not far from the railway line and when returning one (it?) was singing south of the farm around the field with the Llamas in.
Lesser Whitethroat still present this afternoon but now in the hedgerow to the west of the horse fields bordering Combermere Lane (where it was last year!)
White Wagtail and single Oystercatcher on the quickly disappearing flood just South of the railway line viewed from the Engine lane bridge this lunchtime, also 2 Raven over heading south east.
Birds along common/Combermere Lane today included Willow Tit and singing Whitethroat.The flooded horse field south of the railway from the Engine lane bridge held single Greenshank, Curlew, Common Sandpiper and Oystercatcher along with a pair of Teal and 6 Gadwall.
Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Great spotted Woodpecker all active in the small wood at the south end of Common Lane this lunchtime, also a Yellow wagtail in the Gull Fields, otherwise very quiet.
Single Curlew in flooded horse field just South of railway line this morning, Also 4 Teal here and 2 Male Blackcap and a singing Willow Warbler in the small wood at the north end of Combermere Lane.
6 Singing Chiffchaff along Common/Combermere lanes this afternoon, also 3 singing Goldcrest, a pair of Willow Tit and several Siskin still in the small wood near the allotments.
Two vocal Jays were around Honksford Brook near St Johns Church, Mosley Common this morning, one mimicking a Buzzard and one sounding very much like a Tawny Owl, before they both flew off high over Mosley Common. Rooks also very active at St. Johns this morning, wonderful watching them above the churchyard. This evening around 7:10pm a Coot was calling loudly in flight over the Bridgewater View estate just below the busway.
The female Garganey from Cutacre was with 14 Gadwall on the flooded horse field just South of the railway at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime. Also 2 Oystercatcher, 38+Lapwing and about 200 mixed Herring and Lesser black backed Gulls. 12 Siskin in trees by the allotments at the south end of Common Lane.
Plenty of birds in the flooded horse paddock just south of the railway line at the north end of Combermere Lane this lunchtime.
c.300 mixed Herring and Lesser Black backed Gull with a similar number of Black Headed Gull.
4 Oystercatcher, 18 Lapwing, 15 Meadow pipit and several Pied Wagtail. Also 2 Raven over heading North.
A "whitewinger"briefly in the fields off Common Lane with about 25 large gulls before flying off. It was juvenile bird but unfortunately only saw it through my bins , it had flown off by the time I parked up and got my scope out. Hopefully might turn up at Pennington roost tonight.
2 Curlew were feeding in the Gull Fields at lunchtime, they then circled over Cutacre a little later before dropping onto the flooded horse field just South of the railway line. Also a small flock of Fieldfare in the Gull Fields and small numbers of Siskin over calling.
Lunchtime walk along Common and Combermere Lane. 7 Lapwing in the grass field with the gull roost. 5+ Siskin in trees at the southern end. Also a decent sized mixed tit flock containing all 4 of the more common species and a Treecreeper.