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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> COVID- 19 GARDEN LOCKDOWN BLOGS 2020: CLOSED -> Lez Fairclough, Leigh (COVID-19 garden lockdown)
Post Info TOPIC: Lez Fairclough, Leigh (COVID-19 garden lockdown)
Lez Fairclough


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Nothing new for the list but nice to see plenty of juvenile Tits, House Sparrows & Starlings visiting the feeders.

Also nice to watch the Starlings with juveniles enjoying the bird bath. Once one takes the plunge it becomes a

free for all & up to 10 at once can be going for it.

On a sad note I found a dead juvenile Magpie just over the fence with no noticeable injuries.  



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Lez Fairclough


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No 55 for the list is an Oystercatcher heard twice in the last 3 days.

Yesterday 2 Magpies were chasing a group of fledgling Starlings but didn't see the outcome though as they went to ground.

The Nuthatch is regularly visiting the feeders now & both a Willow & Coal Tit made brief visits today.

Swifts are ever present overhead & an unidentified small & very narrow winged Tern flew down the canal 

it was definitely not a common & suspect it could be the Arctic which was seen at Pennington Flash recently.



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Lez Fairclough


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Having to resort to 'heard only' now for furthering the list with Tawny Owl, Pheasant & Common Whitethroat

taking the list up to 54.

Nice to see a few juvenile Robins, House Sparrows & very noisy Starlings visiting the feeders.

Magpies are now coming right to the back door stealing cat biscuits with the Carrion Crow inching

ever closer along the fence but isn't brave enough yet to steal an easy meal.



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Lez Fairclough


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Ever seen a Carrion Crow doing acrobatics on a washing line ?

I put out some bacon & pork fat for the 'little birds' this afternoon & couldn't believe what I saw an hour later!

Yes a Carrion Crow trying to balance on the washing line while looting the treat for the 'little birds'

with its mate just over the fence watching the acrobatics (pics Attached)



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Lez Fairclough


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Both early & late afternoon flyovers of a Hobby - obviously it could be the same bird but that's No.51 for the list.

The Nuthatch has been making regular visits the past couple of days to the feeders & rather comically runs around

them chasing off any other feeding birds which it hasn't done before, so I assume its feeding young now.  



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Lez Fairclough


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About 4 weeks ago I commented on how I never ever get Greenfinch in the garden or on the feeders then

lo and behold at dinner time today a female Greenfinch came for a good feed - but not long enough for me

to capture a picture but hopefully it will return.

That rounds my lockdown list up to 50. 



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Lez Fairclough


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Not expecting many more additions to the lockdown list but just had 2 Common Terns (18:30) flying east down the

Bridgewater Canal to bring the list to 49.

Yesterday both male & female Blackbirds put up a truly defiant & extremely noisy show in chasing off a Magpie

that was threatening their recently hatched nest in next doors bushes - it was enough to see off any bird any size! hopefully even cats!!



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Lez Fairclough


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One of my feeders contains peanuts which sometimes get trapped so usually every day I give it a shake, but due to the

poor weather I forgot yesterday. Not to be done out of its daily feast a Great Tit was furiously pecking at the clogged chute &

finally dislodged its reward - clever little things !



-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Thursday 30th of April 2020 10:04:50 PM

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Lez Fairclough


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Up until 2 weeks ago I've only ever had fly overs from Carrion Crows, but the last few days one is curiously visiting the garden.

Today it landed on the fence next to the feeders & yesterday was getting territorial by harassing any of the many Black Backed Gulls

patrolling up & down the nearby canal - maybe there's a nest close by?



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Lez Fairclough


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Much quieter day on the feeders & just as I thought I was going to draw a blank I noticed 2 large birds in an aerial cavort.

Out came the binoculars to reveal a Carrion Crow & Sparrowhawk (No 48) doing what looked more like a dance to swan lake!

it was very graceful & in no way aggressive almost as if they were friends & had rehearsed it.



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Lez Fairclough


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No additions to the lockdown list but a lot of activity on the feeders today.

The Nuthatch made a few visits to the feeders after being missing for almost 3 weeks.

Willow Tit, Coal Tit & many Blue, Great & Long Tailed Tits were also feeder visitors with a Collared Dove on the fence close by.

Although Goldfinch have been frequent visitors to the nearby trees, today was the first time this year they've been on the feeders.

A hovering Kestrel over fields just beyond the canal, a Heron flying over & a surprising perched Carrion Crow just beyond the rear

fence were the only other highlights. 



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Lez Fairclough


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My first Swallow of the year is No 47 for the lockdown list,

also a Green Shield Bug that found its way into my empty cup of tea (pic attached)



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Lez Fairclough


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After a quiet weekend back on track today with 28 species seen with 3 new additions to the list.

All 3 seen from upstairs south facing rear bedroom which overlooks the Bridgewater Canal.

No 44 - Linnet singing for 5 minutes at top of silver birch tree.

No 45 - Moorhen milling about on the canal.

No 46 - Early evening fly past of a single House Martin heading eastwards.

Never seen so many Black Headed Gulls, they're constantly patrolling up & down the canal - think it might have something

to do with the heavily increased presence of exercising people & they're waiting for discarded scraps.  



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Lez Fairclough


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26 species was today's total which included No 43 for the list a very brief 'calling' visit from a Willow Warbler.



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Lez Fairclough


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Quieter day today with only 22 species seen & no additions to the list

apart from forgetting to add the Lesser Black Backed Gull from yesterday as No 42.

The Heron once again went over early afternoon but this time circled quite low & calling very noisily.

Still very quiet for Hirundines & not yet seen or heard the usual Willow Warblers, Linnets & Common Whitethroats. 



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Lez Fairclough


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An unexpected beautiful afternoon sunbathing, doing crosswords but mostly birdwatching with excellent results

4 additions to the lockdown list bringing it to 41, & an amazing daily total of 32 species seen :-

Blackbird

Blackcap

Black Headed Gull

Blue Tit

Bullfinch (No 38)

Carrion Crow

Chiffchaff

Coal Tit (No 39)

Collared Dove

Common Gull

Dunnock

Feral Pigeon

Goldcrest

Goldfinch

Great Tit

Grey Wagtail (No 40)

Heron

House Sparrow

Kestrel

Lesser Black Backed Gull

Long Tailed Tit

Magpie

Mallard

Mute Swan

Nuthatch

Peregrine

Robin

Song Thrush

Starling

Treecreeper (No 41)

Wood Pigeon

Wren



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Lez Fairclough


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Whilst in the garden early p.m. I heard a very noisy group of gulls overhead so grabbed my binoculars - it contained calling Herring Gulls (No.36)

mixed in with Common & Black Headed Gulls. I then noticed soaring way above them 3 Swifts (No. 37) which wouldn't have been seen otherwise.

The Heron & calling Pied Wagtail once again flew over & the singing male Blackcap made regular visits to the silver birch just over the fence. 



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Lez Fairclough


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3 Buzzards were circling & drifting eastwards late this morning.

The male Blackcap also made a brief singing visit early afternoon,

followed shortly by 2 low flying Mute Swans - its amazing the humming noise their wings give off, there's nothing quite like it.

Late afternoon brought a Grey Heron flying over for No. 35 on my list,

also the Tawny Owl in the nearby woods was very vociferous tonight.

My supplies of small seed have run out for the feeders & was wondering is this an essential food item ?

to me & probably everyone on this forum it is, but is it worth the risk venturing out for - probably not - sorry birdies !



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Lez Fairclough


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No. 34 for my list was a Male Blackcap singing in the tree just over the fence

also my first ever garden sighting of an Orange Tip butterfly this afternoon.

Still very quiet for Finches which apart from Greenfinch are usually very common at this time of year.



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Lez Fairclough


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The predicted nice weather never materialised & it was quite blustery & chilly at times but still managed

an hour in the back garden early afternoon.

All in the space of 5 minutes I was able to add 3 more to my lockdown list now standing at 33 :-

A Pied Wagtail calling flew low over the garden followed by a much higher single Sand Martin &

just across the canal only 75 yds away a Kestrel was hovering & way above it a Buzzard circling & calling.

After an absence of over a week the Nuthatch was a welcome return to the feeders.

Despite the lack of sunshine there were plenty of Peacock butterflies & some bonny looking bumble bees.  



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Lez Fairclough


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No.30 for my list was a female Chaffinch that momentarily visited the peanut feeder late afternoon.

Hopefully I'll be soaking up the nice weather tomorrow & maybe see a few more returning migrants brought

up with the southerly winds.



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Lez Fairclough


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Today's addition to my C.V. list (No.29) was 2 Canada Geese passing on the canal.

Overhead 3 Buzzards were circling & heading east towards Astley - maybe the same 3 you saw Ian?

Never seem to see Greenfinch round here yet they're reported fairly regularly only a mile away in Astley.



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Lez Fairclough


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The past couple of days have been relatively quiet with no further additions to my list.

Today's highlight however was watching a courtship & mating display by the 2 resident Woodpigeons.

The Nuthatch which was probably the most frequent visitor 3 days ago has not been seen since

& I can only assume it was 'panic stockpiling' in case there's an avian lockdown!



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Lez Fairclough


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Only a Feral pigeon to add to my C V list today.

Bridgewater Canal tow path to rear of property looked like a sponsored walk & bike rally there was that many of them!

I have noticed that out of all the small birds that visit my garden, Dunnocks despite being agile enough never bother

with the hanging feeders & are just happy to skulk around underneath tidying up the overspill from the feeders.  



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Lez Fairclough


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Still no additions to my C.V. list today -  but a very peculiar visitor was a Long Tailed Tit minus its tail! which I know is an anomaly but surely is the smallest bird in Britain as its body

length is shorter than that of a Goldcrest or Firecrest - I wasn't quick enough to get a picture & just hope it returns before a raptor gets it, as it flew very clumsily but still kept up with

the other Long Tailed Tits. 



-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Saturday 28th of March 2020 01:18:07 AM

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Lez Fairclough


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Richard Thew wrote:
Lez Fairclough wrote:

 Thankyou for your comments Richard & it's nice to know that I'm not the only one trying to become the next Dr Dolittle!

 

Just out of boredom I've managed to closely copy the call of a Collared Dove just by cupping my hands & blowing into them, which

today caused quite a frenzy from the resident pair, one of which attempted to land on my head! Never been this popular with birds before!


 



I know how you feel. I used to work with wild birds (looking after sick and injured ones) and I was often imitating the birds we have: the only reaction I got however, was the irritation from the other workers there as they kept thinking it was the real thing!!!

Sounds like your doves have taken a fancy to your imitation of them!biggrin

 



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Richard Thew


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Lez Fairclough wrote:

Just out of boredom I've managed to closely copy the call of a Collared Dove just by cupping my hands & blowing into them, which

today caused quite a frenzy from the resident pair, one of which attempted to land on my head! Never been this popular with birds before!




I know how you feel. I used to work with wild birds (looking after sick and injured ones) and I was often imitating the birds we have: the only reaction I got however, was the irritation from the other workers there as they kept thinking it was the real thing!!!

Sounds like your doves have taken a fancy to your imitation of them!biggrin

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Which bird is ideal for keeping cakes in? I asked. The answer: a Bun-tin. http://www.flickr.com/photos/135715507@N06
Lez Fairclough


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No further additions to my list today but did hear a Tawny Owl calling this evening from the neighbouring woods.

Just out of boredom I've managed to closely copy the call of a Collared Dove just by cupping my hands & blowing into them, which

today caused quite a frenzy from the resident pair, one of which attempted to land on my head! Never been this popular with birds before!



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Lez Fairclough


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A lazy 2 hours early afternoon spent on the lounger in beautiful sunshine.

So nice to lie there relaxing (in such worrying times) with the only sound being that of birdlife - only to be interrupted by someone slam dunking pots in the sink!

On a more serious note 27 species seen today in total with 15 being in or on the garden feeders & 12 seen with naked eye in the surrounding external garden areas. 

15 inner garden birds :- Robin; Dunnock; House Sparrow; Starling; Great Tit; Blue Tit; Willow Tit; Long Tailed Tit; Wren; Blackbird; Magpie; Wood Pigeon; Collared Dove; Nuthatch & a Goldcrest that landed momentarily on the house brickwork looking for insects.

12 outer garden birds :- Song Thrush; Goldfinch; Chiffchaff

                                    On Bridgewater canal - Mallard & Mute Swan

                                    In flight - Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Black Headed Gull; Common Gull; Buzzard; Heron; Peregrine.   



-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Wednesday 25th of March 2020 09:00:47 PM

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Lez Fairclough


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Small south facing garden with no trees but benefits from spare land over the fence to the south containing hawthorn, elderberry & plenty of brambles & is only 10 yards from the Bridgewater Canal. 50 yards to the east is Bedford Brook & a private woods which is where the majority of birds come to the feeders from.



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