4 Goosander. 1 Heron. Lots of Mallard and Canadas. My first visit for a while and I found the path blocked by treetrunks placed across the way in three places near Garlic Island. I'm getting too old for climbing over obstacles.
A pair of Lesser Whitethroats this morning. I found 3 or 4 last year, but this pair were the only ones I could find this morning, perhaps a bit early still and the weather was grim!
Pair of Grey Wagtails, Kingfisher and female Goosander on the river.
Quite a few birds about despite the weather - Bullfinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Song Thrush, Blackcap. Chiffchaff etc.
-- Edited by Richard Would on Sunday 28th of April 2024 02:59:14 PM
Thanks for that Simon and thank you for posting the find again, what a lovely little bird, I can tell you it is a weight off my shoulders but I have to go back with Cath now for her tick, lol.
...it is amazing how a little success can lift the spirit...
Great to hear that you caught up with the Lesser Whitethroats Tony! I was similarly pleased the other day cracking onto them. I didn't get a sighting when I went back on Monday afternoon but heard a bit of calling, they should be in the rough area all summer now hopefully
What a difference 48 hours makes, went for the Lesser Whitethroat this morning at 07.30ish as I had cancelled my fishing trip. Walked around getting everything in my bins but the LW, Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bullfinch, Greenfinch looking great almost yellow in the sunshine, Jay and lots of the usuals.
As I walked I was thinking I need some momentum to get my birding going as the LW was getting the better of me here its nearly four years since I got a fleeting glimpse of one at this site. I approached a "good" spot near the old railway bridge a movement caught my attention (don't know if the bird was singing as my hearing is shot) raising the bins there he was sat in all his glory I could now see his beak and throat moving as he let out his unmistakable song to those that can hear it (not me) and then my phone pings its Cath asking me where I am, I give her good news at last about LW.
Walking about just wasting time I then return to the spot and now a pair of them give me a few minutes of their time as they fly around chasing each other in the morning sunshine, my mood has changed, it is amazing how a little success can lift the spirit, I even contemplate changing my day to a working day but not before I nip down the river to see if the Sand Martins are around.
I think I spoke to you this morning Tony. I found them between the picnic table and the old railway bridge in the end (over towards the houses on Craig Road)
Hi Richard, if you are the fella with tinnitus then yes it was me.
We have just returned after another fruitless one and a half hours chasing LW
Managed to add a male Kestrel after I had said to Cath "we don't get many raptors here do we" it flew straight over us.
I think I spoke to you this morning Tony. I found them between the picnic table and the old railway bridge in the end (over towards the houses on Craig Road)
We were not able to see the Lesser Whitethroats this morning but we did hear them at the top of the orchard near the pylons and near the picnic tables a bogey bird for us.
We managed to add two Swallows and two Swifts to Simons list for yesterday
4 Lesser Whitethroat this morning - 2 at the orchard end of the embankment behind Craig Road, 2 on the embankment facing the horse paddocks by the river. Some interesting behaviour I'd not seen before: I got on a male bird first down at the orchard end, some scratchy singing then it madly chased around with another bird, there were briefly 3 birds involved but I couldn't confirm the 3rd was a Lesser Whitethroat, but 2 were. Some calling and then a male came back to a central set of bushes and sang the more normal trill song, not sure whether the other one was a male or a female, I don't know how they display etc, but I thought it was probably 2 males. At the paddocks, I was looking down the fence line and a Lesser Whitethroat was on the ground with Greenfinches and a Song Thrush, perhaps feeding? but it turned out to be gathering stuff to take into the bushes. A second bird flew in calling to join it. No singing heard down there but evidently 2 territories overall.
I really enjoy going down to Mersey Vale at this time of year to look for these birds. Overall a lovely morning, with a backdrop of singing Greenfinch, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Blackcap, Goldfinch, active Jays, Bullfinches, even a group of 15 or so Ring-necked Parakeets seemed quite chilled out!
Lesser Whitethroat still present along the ridge path below the power lines. Not singing, but calling frequently and being elusive. Goosander - two broods Mandarin - one brood Kingfisher 1 Sand Martin 15, it appears a Badger has excavated the colony again.
Sparrowhawk, a male perched outside the nest holes of the Sand Martin colony was promptly chased off by c30 Sand Martin Dipper 1 feeding above the rapids Lesser Whitethroat singing male still present along the embankment behind Vale Farm Treecreeper 3 recently fledged young Grey Wagtails feeding young
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While returning from a visit to Tatton Park along the M60 heading towards Stockport, I spotted a pair of Ravens soaring high above the electricty wires in approximately this area - certainly before we passed the Mercedes Benz Showrooms.
Singing Chiffchaff in the Mersey Vale nature park and another in Heaton Mersey park. Also in the nature park Drumming Great spotted Woodpecker Bullfinch (single male) plus the usual suspects
Sorry for not reporting this earlier
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 19th of March 2021 07:41:21 AM
Not expecting all that much today after lunch, but was pleased to pick up Lesser Whitethroat calling on the embankment overlooking the Vale Farm paddocks. 2 birds heard but only one seen.
Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. Seen from the top path that runs along the embankment behind the pylon, that tracks along the back of the houses on Craig Road.
Lesser Whitethroat singing this morning. Seen from the top path that runs along the embankment behind the pylon, that tracks along the back of the houses on Craig Road.
Firecrest showed on and off between 14.15 and 14.35 at 53.408232, -2.197021 (GPS from camera) which is 328.31 metres from the Craig Road entrance (at the Vale Road end) and 157.43 metres from the pylon line, along the top path above the horse paddocks (where we watched it last Sunday 11th). Record shot from Sunday attached.
Firecrest still about but intermittent . It was found by a birder who chatted to Pete Hines then spotted it to our left. I parked at the junction of Craig /Vale rd. walked up the steps on the left - along the path till you see a large ivy covered tree far to your RIGHT with broken limb ripped off . The firecrest was seen just after the tree for about 200m with a farm , caravans and horse paddock below and to the right. Good luck but be patient. Ps. nice to meet Paul Dewy .
-- Edited by phillipskelly on Tuesday 13th of March 2018 07:24:36 PM
Firecrest seen very briefly today at approximately 14:30. Slightly away from the previous sightings though. Theres a "pond dipping" pond under the aforementioned electricity pylon. I walked along the footpath above this pond busily counting the pairs of Bullfinch when I heard the characteristic call of Firecrest. It took me five minutes to actually get to see the bird, which called regularly. The bird moved away from me towards the track where the bird was seen of Saturday and Sunday but I lost it, unfortunately.
I was "on site" for about 2 hours
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of March 2018 07:06:00 PM
I spent a couple of hours in the location simon had the firecrest, in the hedgerow inbetween the 2 paddocks also having small walks up & down the river but no joy, so I decided to walk along the river path to the next stile & took the path going up the slope this then took me along the top path that is overlooking the second paddock, as I passed the bench on my right then just under the pylon wires overhead the trees & shrubs on the left is where I found the firecrest just happily feeding low to the ground & only 10 feet away from me giving excellent views. I watched it for just over 5 minutes as it slowly moved around before it flew to the other side of the path & then lost to view. another 30 minute search but could not relocate. other birds around...
2 nuthatch 3 treecreeper 1 jay 2 grey wagtails 1 pied wagtail 2 bullfinch 7 chaffinch 8 goldcrest 6 goosander 3 grey herons 3 mistle thrush 2 redwings great spotted woodpecker heard plus all the usual birds around.
I just heard from Steve Burke that he has found the Firecrest up on the high path behind the paddocks where I saw it. This is a good 200m away from my spot. You can access the path up there by climbing the short slope up from the riverbank path as you head towards Stockport before the M60 bridge, or by approaching from the steps on Craig Road and walking through the scrubby woodland for 5 mins or so, where you emerge in the open, right by the electricity pylon with the paddocks below you to the right. The grid ref is more like SJ871900
Glad the bird is still around, if a little itinerant...
Hi Mike, your post may be a little misleading. I gave it over 3 hours today and as far as I know there was no sign of the Firecrest after Simon Gough's original sighting at around 07.30. Some decent local birding though and loads of suitable habitat so I don't rule out it turning up again.
08.20 - 11.35.
Oystercatcher 1 Goosander 2m, 3f Sparrowhawk (a couple of fly overs) Kingfisher (heard) Bullfinch 6 Goldcrest 2 Grey Wagtail 1
Also a heronry I didn't know about by the angler's pool. 8 birds at a minimum of 3 nests (2 sitting, 1 building)
Sorry if anyone feels my previous post was a little abrupt. Mainly due to frustration with myself than with anyone finding and/or reporting good birds. Firecrest would be the best bird ive seen on, what I consider as, my local patch.
Morning
Just heard this news, which is frustrating as I live 10 minutes away.
Thankfully someone has reported it as present at 9am this morning so I can get over there and have a look.
Lots of habit to go through though
By car head for Vale Road, which is at the Didsbury end of Craig Road and leads to a business park, Burnage Rugby Club, and the river footpath right at the end when you run out of road. When you get to the river, turn left and go through the stile/gate thing and the bird was showing at the point where the hedge divides the 2 paddocks. It showed well for about 5 mins then flew back up the hedge line towards the farm buildings at SJ869899. I always call this area Vale Farm.
I stayed for 20 mins or so until the rain set in with no further views so hopefully somebody will re-find it over the weekend.
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Saturday 10th of March 2018 09:02:04 AM
but I have to go back with Cath now for her tick, lol.
, did see 7 Goldcrest however.
