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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Tyldesley General Environs
Post Info TOPIC: Tyldesley General Environs
Martyn Jones


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RE: Tyldesley Loopline and General Environs
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Only a brief visit to the feeding station today but a male and female pair of Bulfinches and 2 Long-tailed Tits down to 1 metre (which appeared on one of the feeders whilst I was filling another) made it worthwhile. I also saw a Willow Tit, Coal Tit, 2 Goldfinches, 2 Dunnocks, a male Chaffinch and a Blue Tit using the feeders and tree stump 'tables' as well as the usual Woodpigeons, Magpies and Carrion Crows in the area.

I do hope the Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers will return here this year, but I'm not sure due to the large number of trees that have been chopped down - it's looking very bare around here.

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Martyn Jones


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Yeah, thanks Andy. There was a pair of Mallards on the pond today as well as some frogspawn. I refilled the feeders at my feeding station and moved a few more tree stumps into position. However I only saw two Blue Tits, two Long-tailed Tits, a Great Tit and a Robin using it today (no Willow Tits) in the biting wind and snow. There were however four Goldfinches in and around the area as well as a House Sparrow, a Dunnock, three Carrion Crows and the usual Magpies and Woodpigeons. I'm starting to consider what might be done to improve the whole area for wildlife - PM me (anyone) if you're interested in getting involved.

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Andy Isherwood


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Small numbers of redwings moving south over garden on wayfarers drive today also single snipe flying round noisily at c.8am in every direction! Will be checking out the feeding station Martyn and will add to it whenever going past, the area round the pond seems to be best bet of keeping a wildlife haven here.

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Martyn Jones


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Ok, so I've got my home made feeding station up and running on the waste ground about 100 metres past the pond near the footpath at the bottom of Merlewood Drive in Tyldesley. It's nothing much, just a couple of bottle feeders, some fatballs and a tree stump bird 'table'. But today was rather special because I had a pair of Willow Tits visit, the first time I've ever seen them here. I thought I heard them yesterday, but decided they must have been Blue Tits. However, my visit today positively confirmed there are at least two in the area.

On the feeders I had:

1 Coal Tit
3 Long-tailed Tits
2 Blue Tits
3 Great Tits
2 Robins

Also very near to the feeding station were:

1 female Bullfinch
4 Goldfinches
1 House Sparrow
Several male and female Chaffinches
2 Blackbirds
2 Carrion Crows
Lots of Magpies and Woodpigeons

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Martyn Jones


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Today I ventured out for the first time in ages to see what further devastation had been wrought on the former Tyldesley Loopline by the proposed mis-guided busway as it is called by some. A single House Sparrow was singing from a rooftop aerial as I made my way to the patch of wasteland below the loopline where I was greeted briefly by a Grey Heron fishing in the small ephemeral pond we have here. Wandering through the woodchippings and remains of trees that were planted here when I first moved in over 30 years ago, it seemed that all there would be here would be a group of six Magpies and a few Woodpigeons. I've decided to try hanging a couple of home-made feeders in the hawthorns in the middle of this area and I'll report back if we get any birds using them regularly. I might try to move one of the sawn off tree stumps to use as a feeding table below it, but they're bloody heavy!

After I while I encountered some Chaffinches and a pair of Blackbirds chasing each other across the area of heather - yes, I know - heather! On walking up towards the road bridge on Hough Lane, and looking with dismay at all the extra trees that have recently been removed, I came across a Dunnock and a pair of Long-tailed Tits, as well as Robin. A Great Tit and some Blue Tits were seen on the way back as well as Wren, whilst I watched the mechanical monster removing even more trees with consummate ease.

In the words of Jurassic Park, I'm sure 'life will find a way', but we don't half make it hard for it to do so.

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Andy Isherwood


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6 whooper swans south over garden at 9 40 this am also several Siskin in area

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Andy Isherwood


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Good numbers of common species in astley park today over 30 blackbird, 13 redwing and 7 song thrush also mixed flock of tits contained at least 6 goldcrest, 3 coal tit and c. 35 long tailed tit. 2 very vocal nuthatch and single treecreeper. Had been lots of jay activity over my garden nearby last month or so ad had 3 on ground in park at one time.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 9th of November 2012 07:57:02 AM

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Ian McKerchar


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Two Tawny Owl 'hooting' during rugby training at Tyldesley RUFC tonight; one in the vicinity of Tyldesley Park and the other Gin Pit.

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Martyn Jones


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RE: Tyldesley Loopline and Environs
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Late report for yesterday (Sat 7 Jul)

First time I've been out since the recent deluges. In a warm sunny interlude I saw the following birds:

Chiffchaffs - at least three or four birds singing loudly with two seen
Whitethroat - seen singing (site tick for me)
Kestrel - perched in the trees
Great Tit
Blue Tit - heard only
Wren - heard only
2 Blackbirds
2 Woodpigeons
2 Magpies

There were also a couple of other birds singing which I couldn't identify - I need to brush up on my birdsong.

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Martyn Jones


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There was a pair of Mallard on the small pond next to the ginnel path below the loopline this afternoon. First time I've ever seen ducks on this transient pond.

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John Doherty


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Andy Isherwood wrote:

chiffchaff in with reasonably sized tit flock in tyldesley park this am also 2 great spotted woodpecker and small redwing flock




There's an interesting programme on the beeb which has just started: Railway Walks. They probably will focus on the nature of the paths. I have regularly walked the defunct line that runs somewhere close to Dunham Massey and over into Lymm - would definitely recommend it for birders.

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Andy Isherwood


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chiffchaff in with reasonably sized tit flock in tyldesley park this am also 2 great spotted woodpecker and small redwing flock

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Martyn Jones


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Today was the first sunny day for quite a while and so Sarah and I went for a quick walk round. It was nice to get out for the first time after Christmas and we saw:

Several Blackbirds, Great Tits and Blue Tits
2 Robins
A Chaffinch
A pair of Bullfinches (m & f)
A few woodpigeons
Loads of Magpies
and possibly a Jay disappearing into the trees.

The highlight was a kestrel being mobbed by a crow directly overhead as we walked along the footpath. We'll be very upset if our little patch of nature is totally lost with the advent of this damn tramway.

Happy New Year to one and all !!!

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Ian McKerchar


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Yesterday at 3pm a Raven headed south-west over Cutacre Drive, heading towards Astley.

Info thanks to Andy Little

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Ian McKerchar


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Grasshopper Warbler still reeling by Tyldesley RUFC yesterday evening.

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dave broome


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At Tyldesley Cemetery today: a very noisy party of newly fledged Goldcrest, being fed by parents, an equally noisy family party of Treecreeper, family party of Jay and Song Thrush feeding young

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dave broome


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Plenty of activity from fledged birds today, inc Bullfinch, Goldfinch, Robins, Blue & Great Tits. Chiffchaff and Whitethroat singing.

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Martyn Jones


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Another quick walk round (whilst avoiding the chores I should really be doing before returning to work tomorrow) produced:

Several Chaffinches, Blackbirds and Chiffchaff all seen and heard singing
2 Woodpigeons
1 Magpie
1 Great Tit
Several Robins, one of which followed me down the path
A Wren tutting away in the trees
2 or 3 Willow Warblers warbling
And the best of the day - 2 shy Jays hiding away in the woods

And oh yes, I tripped on a cunningly concealed bramble and fell A-over-T into a very large patch of nettles whilst trying to prevent my camera from instant death. I got stung all the way down my right side (ouch!) on my bare arms and face. It's still 'ouching' now as I write some four hours later - the dock leaves were useless, where's that antihistamine cream when you need it?

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Martyn Jones


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A quick walk round before tea produced:

Kes, our resident Kestrel hunting and perched in a tree
Luke, our local leucistic Blackbird who I see quite frequently nowadays
3 Chiffchaff singing
1 Song Thrush
4 Robins
Several Blue Tits and Great Tits
2 Magpies
Many Blackbirds and Woodpiegons
An acrobatic Grey Squirrel


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Martyn Jones


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A quick walk round before United play City in the FA Cup this afto produced:

1 Jay (I've finally found one here)
1 leucistic blackbird - must be the same one that appeared in my garden
Several other blackbirds
Loads of Robins singing away and posing for photos
Several Chiffchaff, one of which was quite obliging for photos
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
House Sparrow
Magpie
Woodpigeons
Carrion Crow over

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Martyn Jones


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A quick walk round this evening before tea produced:

Kestrel - 1
Song Thrush - at least 2
Wrens - at least 2 and very noisy
Several Chiffchaff singing
Blackbird (lots)
Woodpiegeons (lots)
Magpies - 2
Blue Tit - 2
Great Tit - 1
Several Goldfinches over
Gulls over

The highlight was the Kestrel which I watched for a good 15 minutes hunting over the flat waste land between the old railway track and the newer housing estate. After hovering in several different spots, it dropped quite slowly and then retreated to a nearby tree with a small grey kill, probably a mouse. It then proceeded to rip bits off it before eventually swallowing quite a large peice whole.

No sign of the escaped Senegal Parrot tonight.

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 07:17:22 PM

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Martyn Jones


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Cheers Steve, that's spot on. I looked for ages on the net but couldn't find anything close, but you've nailed it. (Well, not actually nailed it, because it wasn't an ex-parrot, hehe)

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Steve Christmas


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Hi Martyn,
Try Senegal parrot.
Steve

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Martyn Jones


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Parrot pictures posted. Any help in ID-ing this escapee appreciated.

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Martyn Jones


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Aye Nick lad, hehe!

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Nick Isherwood


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Tyldesley loop line and environs
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Martyn, are you sure it wasn't just attracted by your peg leg, eye patch and dubloons?

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Martyn Jones


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Tyldesley General Environs
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A quick walk down the old Tyldesley Loopline near my house this evening produced the following birds:

3 Chiffchaffs singing and two seen
1 very vocal Wren
2 Robins proclaiming their territory
3 Blackbirds
1 Goldfinch
2 Magpies
2 Great Tits
2 Blue Tits
1 Carrion Crow over
Several Gulls over
Numerous Woodpigeons

But the surprise of the evening was a green coloured Parrot or Macaw with a yellow and reddish underbelly and a greyish head. It was tame and ringed and it flew down on to my back whilst I was photographing it. I walked with it on my back for a few hundred metres but it flew off when I opened my car door. Anyone know what this might be and if I should I report if somewhere? There will be pictures on my blog tomorrow night (address below).

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Tuesday 5th of April 2011 11:22:22 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 8th of November 2012 08:38:54 PM



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of February 2018 09:20:30 PM

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