7/7/24 Dunkirk Area, quick look at the pool and river around 8am

Common Sandpiper, Mandarin, Kingfisher, juvenile Grey Wagtails, juvenile Moorhen and 8 Mallard on the river.

1 Mallard on the Pool, 1 Lapwing over, a few Swallows and Sand Martins drinking from it.

Song Thrush, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Bullfinch heard. Juvenile Woodpigeon and Jackdaws in the fields.

Thought I heard a briefly drumming Woodpecker, don't recall hearing that in July before.

7/3/24 Some sightings from Dunkirk area early afternoon yesterday.

Pool, Horse Field and surrounding Woods
1 Green Sandpiper, this was flushed to another pool with limited views a few yards further to the south.
2 Oystercatcher
2 Teal
Kingfisher flew over the pool
2 Stock Dove
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Mistle Thrush singing

On the river adjacent to the pool
5 Goldeneye
2 Goosander
2 Little Grebe
2 Teal
Mallards and Canada Geese

Walked back through Hyde cemetery at lunchtime on my way back from the Tesco express at Gee Cross when I came across one of the most bizarre and unexpected bird sightings I've ever recorded locally. At the bottom of the cemetery perched on the stone

boundary wall  backing onto the terraced houses  on Peel Street was a Red-legged Partridge. The bird was on the wall for some time before it flew up onto the ridge tiles on Peel St. A young man who was passing took a photo of the bird when I pointed it out to

him. The bird was still perched on the Peel St roof as I  left the cemetery but when I walked up the front of Peel St it had gone.

 

Vic C

6/12/23

Newton, Hyde.

30+ Waxwings feeding on the Rowans on the corner of Talbot Road and St Marys Road.

Roger.

17/4/23 Dunkirk Area around Noon

Green Sandpiper still on horse field pool, now in full breeding plumage.
2 Oystercatcher flew in whilst I was there. Of note, neither of these birds are ringed whereas one of the birds being seen at Audenshaw reservoirs is metal ringed.
3 Goosander on the river.
1 Chiffchaff heard
Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush and Chaffinch singing.

24/1/23 Dunkirk area mid morning

The Green Sandpiper was on the pool. It had been seen at Audenshaw Reservoirs last week when the pool was frozen.
Also 4 Teal on the pool
On the river
3 Goldeneye
1 Goosander
c10 Teal
1 Little Grebe
1 Dipper
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Heron
Around the woods and fields
1 Buzzard
c20 Redwing
1 Goldcrest
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a short burst of drumming heard.

12 Lapwing over the town centre at 11:45

21/3/22 Dunkirk Area, brief visit from 7:45am

On the horse field pool
Green Sandpiper in breeding plumage now. I didn't see it on my visit last week.
4 Teal.
Grey Heron.

A Common Snipe was feeding near the river in a Juncus patch.
1 Stock Dove with a flock of Woodpigeon in the Horse Field.

Chiffchaff, Song Thrushes and Chaffinch singing near the car park also a few Redwing still flitting about.

06/03/2022 Dunkirk area

Green Sandpiper (eventually) at the back of the pool at 12.20 after not being visible when I arrived at around 11.00 am or 40 mins later after a mooch north along the river looking for views onto the front edge of the pool. Glad I went back "just for last quick look" after exploring the wider area.
Teal M & F in the back area of the pool with the Sandpiper
Goosander M on the West neck of the loop beyond the metal bridge
Song Thrush feeding near the bridge, then one singing up the hill towards the reedmace pond just off the canal towpath heading North.
Grey Heron in the area of the pond
Redwing 2 minimum in the hedge between the path to that pond and Jet Amber Fields car park
Goldcrest 2 1 Singing Dunkirk Lane in conifers beside the track and one in the woods in the loop.
Treecreeper in the field boundary trees by the riverside path

9/2/22 Mid Morning Dunkirk area.

The Green Sandpiper was present at the back of the pool (wasn't seen last time I looked about a week ago)
also 21 Teal and min. 9 Pied Wagtail.

Song Thrush singing near the car park.

SUNDAY 23/01 /22  14:00- 15:00 approx 

DUNKIRK POOL & RIVER TAME

On the pool: 9 teal and a large flock of Black-headed Gulls with 2 Common Gulls in the field.

On the river:  2 pair Goldeneye, 2 female Goosander, Teal and Mallard.

Also noted. Canada Geese, Sparrowhawk, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Woodpigeon and Cormorant over.

Simon/Chris many thanks for that, was aware of Dunkirk Lane in Duckie, but didn't realise there was any suitable habitat in the vicinity

Hi Phil. If you park near the Lowes Arms in Denton and walk down hill, you cross the River Tame and there is a footpath that follows the river upstream. Follow this for 10 minutes and you can see the pond on the left.

Hope this helps. The path starts near the Riverside Care Home

16-1-22 Dunkirk area mid afternoon

Green Sandpiper, 20 Teal, c30 Black-headed Gull and 15 Pied Wagtail on or around the pool. Water level now much reduced providing plenty of muddy margin.
In the general area
150+ Redwing
10+ Siskin
1 Buzzard
2 Goldcrest
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

vic chatterton wrote:

---

Just after sundown as I reached the top of Peel St a large bird of prey flew past me carrying a bird. When I got home I could see the bird from my kitchen window perched on a rooftop near the bottom of Grange Road South, plucking and eating the bird. I was

able to watch the bird for around 15 mins with binoculars from my back garden. Despite the poor light I was able to make out that the bird was a Harris Hawk with a feral pigeon. I could not see any jesses on the bird and even in poor light the bird would appear

to have been in good condition. It eventually flew off over Hyde cemetery with the remains of the pigeon.

---

 Vic,

This will be the culprit. It's been on the loose in the general area for a few years now. Nice to hear it takes pigeons! This was taken on the south-east slope of Werneth Low late Summer 2021.

Cheers,

 

Andy B

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Wednesday 5th of January 2022 09:56:40 PM

4/1/22 Dunkirk Area. Brief visit around midday

The Green Sandpiper was around the pool edges where there were also 3 drake Shoveler and 1 drake Teal.

c30 Redwing flew from the riverside trees.


-- Edited by simon ghilks on Tuesday 4th of January 2022 01:16:01 PM

14/9/21 Dunkirk area around midday

Horse field pool little more than a large puddle at the moment but the Green Sandpiper was happily feeding around the edges.
Some interest in the old hawthorn hedge that runs through the horse field.
1 Lesser Whitethroat
1 Blackcap
min 3 Chiffchaff
Tit flock with all four of the regular species moving through.
Nuthatch heard.

12.30pm today
Common sandpiper on the river by horse field
2 kingfishers flew down river by steps, Dunkirk woods area

12/8/21

Short visit to Dunkirk area late afternoon
Didn't see the Green Sandpiper around the pool, looks like the water level had covered the mud recently but some is now exposed so if still around it might return.
1 Snipe was boldly sat out on the waters edge, (there is no waterside vegetation for hiding in).
4 Lapwing and 2 Stock Dove were also on the pool edge.
A kingfisher and Goosander were on the adjacent river.

23/7/21 Dunkirk Area

Short visit from 6:30 this morning.

Green Sandpiper on the horse field pool.
80 Black-headed Gulls including 7 juveniles.
2 Lapwing.
2 Grey Wagtail on the river edge.
A family group of Song Thrushes, min 4 in bushes by river bank.
Bullfinch, Blackcap, Nuthatch and Great Spotted Woodpecker all heard only.

13/7/21 Dunkirk Area early pm

Green Sandpiper around the replenished horse field pool. First time in 4 visits I have seen it since 25/6, possibly getting on the river bank at times.
Also 1 Lapwing and 40 Black-headed Gulls including 2 juveniles.
A Kestrel over.
A couple of Swallows and House Martins.
3 Blackcap singing.

21/6/21 2:30 to 3:30pm Dunkirk Area

Unsurprisingly not much water in the horse field pool now, plenty of muddy margin but only attracted c10 Black-headed Gulls including a couple of juveniles.
A few hirundine hawking the river, c10 Sand Martin, c8 House Martin and 4 Swallow.
3 Swift overhead.
A female Mandarin Duck flew low along the river.
2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the adjacent wooded areas.
Also a noisy group of Jackdaw and Magpie gathered on the river bank, 50+ birds in total. See other wildlife thread for the reason.

On a couple of previous visits an Oystercatcher was around the pool on the 7th May with two there on the 6th June, a Kingfisher was present on the later date.

Sneaky shot of the Pink Footed Goose today around Dunkirk Pond attached.

A walk along the old railway line from Stockport Rd to Apethorne Lane.

3 Bullfinches (2m 1f) and several Goldfinches on bushes near feeders at top of embankment about 100 yards along from Stockport Rd.