A Peregrine was around the Chill Factore this morning, south end of the structure on the steelwork. A Sparrowhawk, a couple of Bullfinch, 20 odd Goldfinch, Great Tit and Redwing were around the David Lloyd centre.
Whilst waiting along Trafford Way for a lift yesterday afternoon, by the turnoff to the iFly indoor skydiving place, I heard a couple of Goldcrest calling from roadside bushes and set about a little bit of 'pishing' to see what came out.
Imagine my surprise when a male Blackbird, perfectly normal but for a pure white head, popped out to see what all the noise was about! Whilst leucistic Blackbirds aren't uncommon and I've seen many variations before, this was my first so perfectly hooded pure white; quite striking. Funnily though I've seen Fieldfare with such anomalies so maybe its thrush 'thing'!
Photos taken with iPhone and heavily zoomed in I'm afraid, so not the best.
Sorry John. I will stick to bird reports and not weather reports from now on Still, it is possible to see good birds in all weathers so get out there and let us know what you see!
Also in Dumplington, within the boundaries of the Trafford Centre, Wilderspool Wood; 1 Bullfinch, 4 Blackbird, 3 Starling, 3 Wren, 2 Blue Tit, 2 Goldfinch, 3 Wood Pigeon, 2 Magpie, 1 Great Tit, 1 Moorhen.
It will be interesting to see what effect putting up a "Go Ape" style course amongst this long established woodland will have on the birds.
