Counted 27 Song Thrush singing on my cycle along the loop this morning from 07.15- 07.45

Also 7 Ring Necked Parakeet, Goldcrest

Sunday afternoon.
Dog walk along the loop path at the Levenshulme end near Highfield CP.

Of note - a Tit flock moving through close to me, from what I could see with the naked eye
- min 15 Long-tailed Tits
- 3 Coal Tits
- 3 Blue Tits
- 2 Great Tits
- 1 Chaffinch
- 1 Blackbird
- 2 Wren

The Blackbird and Wrens couldve been just local to the flock but appeared to be moving with them.

Peregrine Falcon hunting around Gorton cemetery at 3.30 this afternoon. 

Tony Koziol wrote:

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Rob Creek wrote:

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Been keeping away from Secret Lake for a while as I ended up with some bites on my ankles, legs and arms. A couple were from Horseflies as I saw the culprits fly off after theyd butchered me, the others were just Midge bites, bad enough tho as they can itch like buggery!

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 Rob there is no need to suffer......"well known secret" in the fishing circles is that Avon Skin so Soft is a great insect repellent a very reasonable price and you end up with lovely silky smooth skin 

Another one is white vinegar, tea tree oil and veg oil, I have the quantities somewhere  or off course just some off the shelf  repellent.

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Thanks Tony, Ive got some Deet spray left over so Ill use that for now rather than smear myself with oil.

Been keeping away from Secret Lake for a while as I ended up with some bites on my ankles, legs and arms. A couple were from Horseflies as I saw the culprits fly off after theyd butchered me, the others were just Midge bites, bad enough tho as they can itch like buggery!

A midweek evening walk up to near Highfield CP, Levenshulme on the opposite side of the Z bends, not been on this bit since the path was redone. Its all been tidied up and is more open now.

Of note
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Nuthatch
- 1 Jay
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeet
- 4 Chiffchaff together
(Possibly a family group)

An early evening walk around the Secret Lake with my lad produced

- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet low over towards Sandfold La tip
- 4 Common Swift
- 2 House Martin
- 1 singing Blackcap
- 1 singing Greenfinch
- 1 singing Song Thrush
- 4 ad Moorhen
- 4 ad Coot + 2 imm
- No sign of any Great Crested Grebes

For interest

The Secret Lake swans mentioned below have both turned up on Sheldon Pool at Ashton Moss, they have been there since at least the 8th July.
The female 4DBU was hatched and ringed on Sheldon Pool in 2018. They are with two immatures, 4DLZ and 4DNH, these two were ringed as cygnets at Etherow in October 2020.

Ringing info from Steve Christmas.

Tuesday evening walk round Secret Lake with Lucas.

- new in 1 Tufted Duck (m)
- 1 Great Crested Grebe only (immature)
- 6 ad Coot (3pr) 2pr with well grown young, 1pr with 1 tiny chick
- 4 Moorhen
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 1 Song Thrush
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over
- 2 Swallow

As a matter of interest, both Mute Swans now look to have departed.

Walk round Secret Lake, Levenshulme, with Lucas last 2 evenings.

Monday.
- 5 Ring-necked Parakeets over south
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 5 Swallow
- 2 Common Swift
- 1f Bullfinch
- 5 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Grey Heron low over

Tuesday after the match
- 2 Blackcap
- 6 House Martin
- 4 Swallow
- 8 Common Swift
- 2 Song Thrush
- 1 Greenfinch
- distant Whitethroat singing
- only 3 Great Crested Grebes visible

Usual stuff around and also Mute Swan 4DBU appears to be feeding ok on both occasions.

Peregrine Falcon over the Donkey Sanctuary at 07.15. Also 5 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, 4 Bullfinch. 20 Swift, Ring Necked Parakeet.

Sunday 6th June

Afternoon dog walk around Secret Lake area.

- 2 Willow Warbler
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Common Whitethroat
- 1 pr Mute Swan
- 1 pr Great Crested Grebe with well grown youngsters
- 2 pr Coot both with well grown youngsters
- 6 House Martin
- 2 Swallow
- 2 Common Swift

Possible snippet of Lesser Whitethroat song at the 'usual' spot between Boothsdale Crescent and Wright Robinson High School at 07.15.

Also 2 Common Whitethroat at bridge 12, 15 Swift, 3 Ring Necked Parakeet, 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Bullfinch.

Common Whitethroat by bridge 12 yesterday at 17:30. North Reddish. 3 Bullfinch also.

Kingfisher sat up bold as brass between bridges 26 and 27 today. Also Goldcrest, 5 Chiffchaff, 10 Blackcap, 10 Swift.

2 Willow Warbler this morning. One at Donkey Sanctuary, 1 in Gorton Cemetary. Also 12 Blackcap, 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Ring Necked Parakeet, Goldcrest, 3 Bullfinch.

Kingfisher heard Friday under Princess Road.

- Bullfinch pair flew across Longford Rd over the hump bridge and onto the main area of the Loop paths late morning.

Friday 9th April.
Afternoon dog walk whilst Lucas was asleep.

Longford Rd Z bends to Highfield CP & Houldsworth Golf Cl, Levenshulme.
- min 5 Blackcap (2m seen, 3 more heard)
- 3 Chiffchaff (2 seen)
- 1 Song Thrush
- Ring-necked Parakeets heard on golf cl.
Many species active incl Robin, Blackbird, Wren, Tits, etc

Back to Longford Rd Z bends and on to Secret Lake (Pond).
- 1 pr Great Crested Grebe
- 1 pr Moorhen
- 2 pr Coot
- 2 Mute Swans (4CLA, 4DBU)
- 3 Swallows through
- 1 Sparrowhawk hunting
- 3 Blackcap (1 seen, 2 heard only)
- 2 Chiffchaff heard

3 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Ring Necked Parakeet

Mon 22nd & Tues 23rd March

Levenshulme & surrounds.
Afternoon walks with Lucas from Barlow Rd - Longford Rd Z-bends along the main loop path to Highfield CP and then along the paths back to Longford Rd bridge in a triangle if you like.

Lots of birdsong and mainly usual stuff around incl...
- 1 Chiffchaff near allotments
- 1 Treecreeper heard (couldnt find it tho!)
- 4 Song Thrush
- 2 Mistle Thrush
- 1 singing Wren
- c25 Goldfinch near golf course
- c30 House Sparrow on allotment bushes
- lots of Blackbird / Robin / Blue Tit / Great Tit
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet on golf course
- few Pied Wagtails on golf course
- 1 female Sparrowhawk over Barlow Rd

Parts of the main path and connecting trails to Highfield CP are closed at various points due to surfacing work, it is mainly woodland type muddy soil paths in that area and they have put in edging stones and laid hardcore probably for tarmacking over.

A walk down towards Highfield CP on the Levenshulme part of the loop yesterday afternoon, not been in ages.

A large flock of c35/40 birds moving through the trees lining the golf club and the main loop path, I thought these may have been dispersing by now and getting ready to pair up for breeding. Numbers only estimated as some were silhouetted, the calls gave many species away.

- 4 Lesser Redpoll at least (firstly picked up on call then seen)
- 1 pair of Bullfinch
- 1m Chaffinch
- 1m Greenfinch
- c8 Goldfinch
- c10 Long-tailed Tit
- 4 Blue Tit
- 2 Great Tit
- 5 Blackbird (3m)
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet sat in the tree in their midst

2 Chiffchaff, one perched by Boothsdale Crescent, the other near Donkey Sanctuary (07.20). Also 3 Goldcrest, 2 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4 Ring Necked Parakeet, 7 song Thrush, Bullfinch.

2 Redwing by Donkey Sanctuary, 10 Ring necked Parakeet, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, 4 Bullfinch, 8 Greenfinch, Mute Swan over

Counted 23 Song Thrush singing in my cycle from the start to the finish of the loop today from 07.20 to 07.50

Also 6 Ring necked parakeet

60+ Ring Necked Parakeet in trees around Bethnal Drive allotments this morning. Also 20 Redwing.