Fallowfield Loop

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

RE: Fallowfield Loop

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Tuesday 23rd June

Early evening walk with Lucas and the dog around Nelstrop Rd and Highfield CP on the Levenshulme part of the loop.

Of note...
- 5 singing Blackcaps
(1 slightly more Blackbird toned and I was leaning towards Garden Warbler but it went quiet as I approached on the path so I didnt get a better earshot or a sighting)
- 2 singing Chiffchaff, 1 seen
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Ring-necked Parakeets heard on golf club
- 1 Sparrowhawk being followed by c15 Starling near the Z-bends
- 1 Song Thrush right near my feet
- Long-tailed Tit family of 12 minimum
- 1 Swallow and 1 House Martin together, over

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Been on a few walks during the last week or so but Ive been mad busy having eyes in the back of my head as Lucas has decided hes got a turbo boost for crawling and he started walking the other day without the aid of his push along musical walker so I forgot to post any sightings.
My apologies as I cant remember the exact days I saw what but I know what I saw and heard and its much the same as Ive seen in recent weeks, again the sightings are from the Levenshulme part of the loop near Highfield CP.

- Ring-necked Parakeets heard on Houldsworth Golf Club
- 1 Common Whitethroat also heard on Gokf Club
- Blackcaps still in abundance
- Chiffchaffs also
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- lots of Song Thrush
- 1 Long-tailed Tit family
- male Greenfinch
- Bullfinch pair
- 2 Jay
- a lot of Wren activity
- 1 Kestrel hovering over the allotments

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 15th of June 2020 07:29:50 PM

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

First full cycle since you know what. 07:00-07-30

7 Blackcap, 8 Chiffchaff, 5 Ring Necked Parakeet, 30 Swift, 2 Swallow, possible Lesser Whitethroat singing from bridge 22 near Fallowfield, 2 Mute Swan, Willow Warbler, 4 Greenfinch

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Tuesday 2nd June.
Evening walk with Lucas around Highfield CP and surrounds

Of note...

- Garden Warbler heard again and is deep into the inaccessible part of the woods, there is a small clearing where I heard it, so you can see any birds flying over or if moving around the outside of any bushes, but no path into the main area and its quite dense with brambles etc so its impossible to go and find it.

- 8 Blackcap heard, 4 seen inc m+f together
- 3 Chiffchaff, 1 close up feeding in the bushes
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets in tree on golf club
- 1 Sparrowhawk circling over Z bends being tailed by a few House Martins, a Swallow, and other lbjs

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Monday 1st June

Spent the morning having a good look round the Abbey Hey part of the loop from Falmer Close to Boothdale Drive, and around the meadow, which I was told this morning is 1 one of only 2 that are protected locally.

Of note...
- 2 singing Lesser Whitethroat
(1 in meadow near allotments, 1 on top of a Conifer near Wright Robbie)
- 4 Blackcap seen, more heard
- 3 Chiffchaff, 2 doing a sing off and chasing each other
- 1m Greenfinch well camouflaged singing right above my head
- 2pr Bullfinch
- 1m Chaffinch
- c10+ Common Swift
- few Swallow
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 2 Song Thrush
- 1 Jay
- Ring-necked Parakeet heard over
- plenty of House Sparrow in the meadow and near Ackroyd allotments which was a good sign

Plenty of usuals seen too including Blackbird, Dunnock, Robin, Wren, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Magpie, Carrion Crow and Starlings. A good mix of everything in this area
smile

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Evening walks with Lucas and the dog on the Levenshulme part of the loop around Highfield CP / Fallowfield Brook / Nelstrop Rd North.

Friday 29th May.
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over Z bends
- 7 Blackcap
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 2 Song Thrush
- 1 Jay
- 5 Long-tailed Tits

Saturday 30th May
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over allotments
- Lesser Whitethroat heard near Golf Club (not seen)
- 4 Blackcap
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 1 Treecreeper briefly but I lost it
- 4 Song Thrush
- 2 Jay

Sunday 31st May
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over Highfield Woods
- 8 Blackcap (3 in 1 tree alone)
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 1 Kestrel over allotments

Also Im sure I heard a Garden Warbler a couple of times over the weekend but there was that much bird song that it was difficult to locate and was possibly deeper into the inaccessible area of the woods so its just a probable.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Thanks for posting the Abbey-Hey part of the loop Chris.

Bit more open with a wider path than the Highfield CP woodland part that I take Lucas for a walk round. Nice to walk along a visually different and aesthetically pleasant part of the Loop. Halfway along the path there?s a scrubby meadow a bit reminiscent of the Woolston Eyes meadow.
Dropped Lucas off at nursery earlier and decided to try my luck on the same stretch as Chris mentions.

- 4 Lesser Whitethroat inc 3 singing males (all 4 seen)
- 1 Common Whitethroat singing on top of a bush in the meadow
- 3 Chiffchaff singing, 1 seen
- Blackcap heard all over (3 seen)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Bullfinch pair
- 2m Greenfinch
- 2 Jay
- lots of Swift over

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Lesser Whitethroat singing away between Boothsdale Road and Wright Robinson High School. Also Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Monday 25th May

Late lunchtime walk with Lucas in much the same area as below.

Of note...
- Blackcap + Chiffchaff singing from the allotments
- More Blackcap seen and heard in Highfield Woods
- Chiffchaff heard only
- 1 male Greenfinch
- Long-tailed Tit family again

Sightings are getting a bit sameish from this area, let me know if it gets a bit boring!
wink

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Sunday 24th May

Busy on the Saturday as it was my sons 1st birthday so took him on a nice long walk through Highfield CP and surrounds, pretty much same areas as below.

- 11 Blackcap possibly more (3m / 1f type together)
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 2 Jay
- 1 Song Thrush
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker heard
- 1 Kestrel over Barlow Rd

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Friday 22nd May.

2 walks today in virtually same area as below.
Warm but strong winds meant you could mainly hear the leaves on the trees and bushes blowing about but there was a few times it subsided to listen to the birdsong. It died down later though.

Lunchtime.
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over the Golf Course area
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat heard
- 1 pr Blackcap seen, more heard
- 1 Chiffchaff seen, another heard

Evening.
- 3 singing Garden Warbler (2 seen)
- 1 Common Whitethroat heard - couldnt see it
- 2m Blackcap seen, more heard
- 3 Chiffchaff heard, 1 seen
- 2 Ring-necked Parakeets over the woods clearing
- Long-tailed Tit family group of 7 then 3 moving around

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Thursday 21st May.

Took Lucas for a mid-evening walk in roughly the same area as yesterday, Nelstrop Road North bridleway passing Houldsworth golf club and then into the woods at Highfield CP in Levenshulme.

Of note...
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing near golf club again, not seen
- 1 Garden Warbler heard then appeared briefly along main path
- 2m then 1m+1f Blackcap, more heard
- 2 Chiffchaff, 1 seen
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over
- lots of Wren and Song Thrush activity

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Weds 20th May.

Took Lucas for another long walk late lunchtime, doing part of the Loop near Levenshulme as per yesterday, then through Highfield CP woods near Fallowfield Brook and then back down Broom Lane.

- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet over Z-bends (Nelstrop Rd N / Longford Rd)
- 1 pr Blackcap annoyed at a Woodpigeon on a nest
(More Blackcap seen and heard)
- Great Spotted Woodpecker heard
- 2 Chiffchaff heard
- numerous Song Thrush, some in full song
- Long-tailed Tits moving through

Plenty of other usuals seen, and similar to Debdale in that the Wildlife certainly appears to be a lot closer to you.

Rob Creek · Status: Offline

Best thread I think, Levenshulme area of the Loop.

Took Lucas for a walk yesterday teatime along Nelstrop Rd North (the path at the Z bends at bottom of Longford Rd) through the woods between Highfield CP and Houldsworth Golf club, then back again and up a different path towards the bridge on Longford Rd.

Surrounded by birds including...
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing near golf club
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- numerous Blackcaps
- 2 Chiffchaff
- Song Thrush
- lots of usual woodland birds

...and then on the way back, a Grey Squirrel was barking in a Sycamore Tree along the path, as I moved round to get a better view of what was causing the alarm I could see a familiar dark shape hidden in the foliage. Tawny Owl.

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Similar to last week but 2 Blackcap singing near St Werberghs station

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Will be doing this a lot for the near future as my cycle exercise.

About 3 Chiffchaff, Greenfinch (which seem very thin on the ground now), Wren, Chaffinch and Robin all singing away.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

3 Chiffchaff today. One at bridge 18 in Levenshulme, 1 on Gorton cemetery, and one near Boothsdale Drive

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Chiffchaff at start of Loop by Boothsdale Close at 07.15

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Chiffchaff by bridge 12 at 15.30. Also 5 Ring Necked Parakeet, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

12 Redwing in trees near Princess Parkway. Also 9 Ring Necked Parakeets, 2 Bullfinch and Mistle Thrush

Great Crested Grebe and Tufted Duck by Debdale Reservoir Dam (Nice of them to divert the Loop along here)

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Counted 25 Song Thrush in full song from the start to the finish of the loop whilst cycling this morning. A nice prelude to a day's work.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

100 Redwing heading into Gorton cemetery at 15.30

Also Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Ring Necked Parakeet, Jay.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

20 Fieldfare over St Werburgh's Road tram stop at 11am. Over 50 Redwing between Sainsbury's in Fallowfield and the tram stop too at 07.45.

Also Nuthatch and 10 Ring Necked Parakeet

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Common Buzzard over the St. Werbugh's Road tram stop at 15:15 this afternoon.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

8 Redwing by Wright Robinson School, 50+ Ring Necked Parakeet out of roost between Yew Tree Lane and Princess Road, 2 Bullfinch, Nuthatch.

Fox by Houldsworth Golf Club

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

5 Redwing by Houldsworth golf course this morning, with others calling en route. Chiffchaff also. At least 2 Ring necked Parakeets at very close range on the apple tree by St. Werburgh's Road tram stop.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

3 Chiffchaff singing this morning. Also 10 Ring Necked Parakeet, Nuthatch, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, 2 Mistle Thrush.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Lesser Whitethroat still blasting out it's song and showing occasionally from track near Wright Robinson School from Boothsdale Crescent at 07.15 this morning.

Also en route were at least 15 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Ring Necked Parakeet, 4 Bullfinch, 70+ Swift.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Nice to hear Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Common Whitethroat all in song together at the start between Boothsdale Crescent and Wright Robinson School at 16.45 today.

Also 2 Goldcrest and 2 Ring Necked Parakeet en route .

stevenmiles · Status: Offline

Not, strictly speaking, on the Fallowfield loop, but we had a cycle out to the secret lake in Levenshulme, and there is a family of great crested grebes - one adult and two juveniles - the today. Also, what I thought was a very large swift swooped low through the trees by the lake and then flew upwards. I think it may have been a hobby.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Possible Lesser Whitethroat (thought I caught a snippet of the song) near Wright Robinson School again.

Common Whitethroat at bridge 22, and one singing near the start at Boothsdale Drive.

Also 6 Blackcap, 3 Chiffchaff, 2 Ring Necked Parakeet, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Excellent views of a singing Lesser Whitethroat this morning between Wright Robinson School and start of the trail.

Still 10 Blackcap en route, 5 Chiffchaff, Bullfinch.

By St. Werbugh's tram stop in Chorlton were Grey Wagtail, 2 Greenfinch and 3 Swift.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Goldcrests at at least 3 spots today. Bridges 13 and 14, and then 25 and 27 2 singing.

Also Great Spotted Woodpecker at atart, and 10 Blackcap.

7 Swifts overt tram stop

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Nice to see 4 Common Swift over St Werburgh's Road tram stop this morning.

Also 12 singing Blackcap en route, 4 Chiffchaff, and a Common Whitethroat near Wright Robinson school.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Minimum of 14 Blackcap on the route over the last few days. Chiffchaff count still around 8.

Ring Necked Parakeet in Gorton cemetery

Bullfinch and Greenfinch between bridges 13 and 12.

Willow Warbler singing by wright Robinson school

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Thanks Steven. Looked bigger, but I'll stop for a closer look if I see it again

steven burke · Status: Offline

Chris Harper wrote:

Up to 7 Blackcap en route now, with a few stunning males in the sunshine. best between bridge 13 and 14 in North Reddish. 7 Sand Martin over towards Debdale Reservoir. 5 Chiffchaff. Herring Gull in levenshulme.
5 Bullfinch.
5 ring Necked Parakeet, plus a small Parakeet/Parrot with a pale/sky blue belly near Whalley Range High School. Any thoughts welcome.

Chris, I seen on a couple of occasions a budgerigar flying around old trafford on Saturday !

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Up to 7 Blackcap en route now, with a few stunning males in the sunshine. best between bridge 13 and 14 in North Reddish. 7 Sand Martin over towards Debdale Reservoir. 5 Chiffchaff. Herring Gull in levenshulme.

5 Bullfinch.

5 ring Necked Parakeet, plus a small Parakeet/Parrot with a pale/sky blue belly near Whalley Range High School. Any thoughts welcome.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

5 singing Blackcap at various points this morning. Also 7 Chiffchaff. Grey Heron by the brook near Princess Road (Bridge 27)

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

This mornings highlights were 13 Chiffchaff en route, 2 Blackcap, Ring Necked Parakeet, Bullfinch by bridge 12, a Kestrel over Princess Road. 07.20-07.50

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

As this is such a long route, stretching from Audenshaw to Chorlton, I think it deserves its own thread. There are basically 30 bridges on the cycle/walking route, from bridge 30 at St Werburg's Road tram stop in Chorlton, back to the start just West of Audenshaw Reservoirs. I cycle it at least a few times a week, and it has some decent habitat, with scrub, mature trees, Gorton Cemetry, Houldsworth Golf Course, and Highfields Country Park en route.

I've put sightings previously on the Fallowfield or 'Odds and Sods' lists, but think this will pinpoint any sightings a little better.

Best of today was a Blackcap by the tram stop, 7 Chiffchaff at various points, 5 Ring Necked Parakeet by Whalley Range High School, and 4 Bullfinch at bridge 25.