Swifts right over the house first thing and this afternoon. Apart from that, a quiet cool and windy day.

Did have a new butterfly yesterday which I forget to mention in the shape of a female Green Veined White. 11 species now.

Another quiet one, but Goldcrest still vocal, and the first Nuthatch for 3 weeks. Swifts still flying around early on, with the Blackcap song for company. 

Had two similar experiences to other bloggers today:

First was watching a male House Sparrow doing an excellent impression of a Spotted Flycatcher from next doors tree,

Second was watching 3 balloons drift over Guide Bridge mill all tied together. One red, one white, one blue.

A VE day release no doibt

House Martin over this morning, with up to 6 Swift flying around.

A few hours sorting the front garden produced a flyover Peregrine, Greenfinch singing (wheezing) for a good 40 minutes, Canada Goose and many Lesser Black Backed Gulls.

Chiffchaff seems more vocal currently. Willow Warbler and Blackcap now singing less frequently. 

 

A couple of Pipistrelle Bats flying around last evening was nice to see.

Up early...ish for dawn chorus day. Blackcap was dominating all, with Dunnock and Blackbird the main rivals. 

7 Swift were over Dukinfield on and off most of the morning, with aerial mating seen. 4 Sand Martin flew low over the garden coming up from the Tame.

2 Great Crested Grebe could be seen on number 2 reservoir at Audenshaw with excellent light this morning. Unfortunately water too low to see into numbers 1 and 3.

House Sparrow investigating an older nest box with them having established a great dust bathing area under the conifer. 

Wood Pigeon getting twigs off next doors Damson tree and flying off.

Mid morning a Peregrine flew strongly over Stalybridge, a Cormorant was over the M60, and 3 Swallow bickered over.

After tea an hour gave a lot more Swift sightings, a few House Martin joining them, and best of all a female Sparrowhawk almost hit my head as I was refilling the seeds. I could feel the air from it's wake....brill.

In the front garden it's nice to see Cuckoo Flower in the un mown bits.

Fox, Badger, Wood Mouse and Squirrel continue to entertain us from the trail cam footage. Along with too many cats...grrrr.

No new additions but a cracking day and first where all 4 aerial feeding migrants were seen.

Most of the day working, but did manage a grainy shot of the Wood Mouse at the feeding area last night. 

A quiet hazy day today, but still we have the Willow Warbler and Blackcap singing away. The Fox and Badger continue to sneak around in the night. 

Goldcrest was also singing today for the first time in a while.

Heron, Mallards and Canada Geese flying around as usual.

No raptors today....so far.

Another relatively quiet day but the Willow Warbler continues to flit around the top of the garden calling on and off all day which remains a delight.

A couple of Grey Heron and a Cormorant were flying over Stalybridge this morning. 

Also snuck a picture of  Comma on a duck.

Most of the day in the garden today and was well rewarded.

Camera trap revealed mammal number 6 in the shape of a well fed Hedgehog. Chuffed with this target species. Lets hope it finds the newly made house. Pic attached. 

Early birding caught the worm too. A couple of Linnet flew over the front garden making species number 50 for the lockdown list. A scan from the very top of the garden revealed a Peregrine plucking prey on the top of our nearest mill chimney.

All this to the sounds of Blackcap , Willow Warbler  and a vocal Blackbird. See pic with Tameside College behind it.

House Sparrow collecting feathers and taking to it's nesting spot a few doors down. Us next year?

Best was yet to come as at 10.10 our first Common Swift of the year flew strongly North, followed by another at 11.45 and a third at 12.15. So 51 species and a new bird for the year.

3 Speckled Wood was a new butterfly too this afternoon. 

Overall a cracking lockdown day.

Chris Harper wrote:

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The bad news is the camera trap caught the fox sneaking past with a Blackbird in it's mouth....grrrr.

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Had you set up your camera trap a mile or so to the north east, in my garden, you would have been treated to the sight of Reynard wandering past with four headless chickens! The lawn looked like someone had emptied out a duvet onto it this morning.....grrrr indeed.

Hope not David. Plenty of food here in Duky.

Small White was a new butterfly for the lockdown list today. 

No new birds again but a nice Peregrine vs Feral Pigeon battle across Tameside this afternoon. Pigeon won.

Two Common Buzzard towards Ashton Moss. 

Chiffchaff singing for first time in a while and both Willow Warbler and Blackcap very vocal. 

2 passing Mistle Thrush were the best birds this afternoon. Distant Peregrine over Manchester again.

Picture of last night's fox...well 6am.

Badger again at 2 and 5am this morning enjoying the peanut butter. 

Goldcrest on 2 occasions today and 3 Sand Martin over early this morning. 

Long Tailed Tit pair getting bold now. Feeding just behind me as I scope...see photo.

No new additions today but nice to see three Buzzard in the air at one time over Guide Bridge. Two were displaying with talon locking. A new addition to our butterfly list was an Orange Tip.

The probable swallow from a few days ago turned into a definite today with one flying past the front of our house. Taking the new lockdown total to 47 species. Also seen was a Buzzard circling in the direction of Manchester City centre. The Willow Warbler was singing in the trees in front of our house and Blackcap singing over the back garden.

-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Tuesday 14th of April 2020 07:42:54 PM

Birds of note from today. 2 House Martin and 2 Goosander flying over Audenshaw at 9.35. Blackcap and Willow Warbler heard at regular intervals throughout the day. Apart from that a quiet day.

Apologies for the sideways photo yesterday. It shows the fire pit lighting up the garden.

Had 3 sessions scoping today. This morning tracked a House Martin flying across Tameside and was delighted to see 3 back in Dukinfield this afternoon.  Unfortunately can't see their nest from the garden.

This afternoon saw very little with the haze.

This evening from 7-7.45 was good. A single Goosander flew into Audenshaw, where 100+ Gulls were circling. 4 Canada Geese and a Cormorant flew near it too.

Tracked a Sparrowhawk fly over the house towards Guide Bridge. A Hirundine and Starlings mobbed it. Couldn't quite make it out but a possible Swallow. 

Lockdown list now 46 with 2 possibles.

Again no new additions to the list, but found the Coal Tit's nest in a gap in the wall. Regularly in and out this morning. 

Blackcap and Willow Warbler both singing away on and off all day. Willow Warbler in front garden for 5 minutes which is a first. 

Pond becoming increasingly used for drinking in the evening. 

Sparrowhawk over Ashton

A nice surprise this morning as I was scoping was a Blackcap in the garden and a Willow Warbler singing just over the garden fence. Also had the Mistle Thrush singing away again.

Our lockdown list now up to 44 species.

-- Edited by Vicky Harper on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 08:00:48 PM

No new additions today but 3 Greenfinch on the feeders was the first since we moved them, including a male looking stunning in the sun.

Female Kestrel again over towards the golf club. 

Great day for the lockdown list now we have our bench up and can scope across East Manchester. 

Had a Common Gull flying near Audenshaw, and whilst looking at the town centre for the Peregrine Falcon 2 Cormorant flew past. On number 2 reservoir 2 birds were close to each other, diving and coming together so I'm putting them as Great Crested Grebes displaying. Feel free to put me right.

A look from 7 tonight produced a Peregrine flying towards the Arndale tower and when I had nipped in Vicky had a possible Osprey flying over Oldham.

So up to 39 species with 1 possible.

Getting a little addictive.

Attempted a Scoter listen last night without success at 10pm. Hats off to those that lasted more than 5 minutes. Patience and layers next time.

2 Sparrowhawks today was the highlight until half an hour ago when a Tawny Owl flew across the back of the garden towards the tall conifer hedge.

Heard it call around New Year but this is the first sighting.

Up to 34 species.

Might try to scope Audenshaw tomorrow see if anything is viewable. Prepare for a dodgy digiscoped image. 

Feeders now up and running again. A new bird for the list was a vocal Nuthatch, which we usually see most of the Winter, but this is the first time for a few weeks.

2 Mallard flying around Stalybridge were seen from the front garden taking the list to 32.

Put 2 bat boxes up as well so fingers crossed 

Managed a quick snap of a Goldfinch in the garden today collecting nesting material.

Great morning so far. Goldcrest and Greenfinch in the garden.

Flyover Lesser Black Backed Gull and Heron

Front garden views of Collared Dove and Starling

Up to 28 now 

Pic of the Greenfinch on Nyger attached