Very, very quiet here today; two bullfinch, one wren, one kestrel and one pheasant, other than the usual woodland birds, and I didn't even see many of those. Apart from that, one lesser black-backed gull and one common gull flying over.
Lots of the usual common woodland birds to be seen (great tit in particular evidence), but apart from those a party of seven bullfinch feeding.
By Jackson's Boat: One male kestrel, that dive-bombed a pair of magpies Two grey wagtail A ring-necked parakeet heard (later told there were two of them) Two dunnock One wren
Also walking back from the water park, spied a male goosander and a little grebe on the river.
The area behind the river banking, the meadow which is usually covered in Willowherb & balsam where the Whinchat was earlier in the year. sorry - couldn't think of anything better to call it.
The meadow field. See maps on the site guide, it contains the meadow pond. Cheers, thought that would be favourite.
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The area behind the river banking, the meadow which is usually covered in Willowherb & balsam where the Whinchat was earlier in the year. sorry - couldn't think of anything better to call it.
Bit late (connection problems) but on the 14th got some great views of a juvenile Whitethroat. Also, the pond area was very active with Reed Warblers frequently showing well. A party of Bullfinch passed through while a Buzzard came in low to settle in a nearby tree. Didn't last long before being hounded off by a Magpie. Non-bird sightings - a variety of damsels, scorpion fly, male & female banded demoiselles and a male broad-bodied chaser dragonfly.
Also, along the Mersey just off Hawthorn Lane there was a Small Skipper.
Where was the Willow Tit Steve ?. I thought I heard one briefly at the end of the brick channel on Friday but couldn't locate it. Good to know they're still about. I managed to get my mum down in a wheelchair for the Whinchat, you need a Radar key for the gate at Chorlton Ees car park. See the link below for a Whinchat movie...
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...totally forgot in the Whinchat commotion, I also had 1 male Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, and a Whitethroat was heard but not seen. And I'm glad I came back to point the Whinchat out to you Simon, otherwise you've been searching Brambles for time like I was!
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 21st of April 2014 11:19:52 PM
Great sighting for me, a lifer. Got the tip from Tony Coatsworth, much appreciated mate thanks. I thought I'd have to put a shift in at Dove Stones to be honest so this was a result. The bird was immaculate too, it just needed a female to impress really.
Met a few more Birding Forum stalwarts which I always enjoy, Rob obviously, Tim Wilcox, Phil Kelly, Steven Burke and Jamie Dunning. We hung around for a while looking for other things, Steven dismally failed to fish a Redstart out of his pocket though, most disappointing. We did see a few Whitethroat, my first of the year. Good to have a natter as well.
nice to meet you to simon & others sorry I could not get the redstart out of my pocket quick enough !
apart from the stunning looking male whinchat, other birds... 1 willow tit 2 whitethroats 2 greenfinches several blackcaps & willow warblers few sand martins over 2 jays
Great sighting for me, a lifer. Got the tip from Tony Coatsworth, much appreciated mate thanks. I thought I'd have to put a shift in at Dove Stones to be honest so this was a result. The bird was immaculate too, it just needed a female to impress really.
Met a few more Birding Forum stalwarts which I always enjoy, Rob obviously, Tim Wilcox, Phil Kelly, Steven Burke and Jamie Dunning. We hung around for a while looking for other things, Steven dismally failed to fish a Redstart out of his pocket though, most disappointing. We did see a few Whitethroat, my first of the year. Good to have a natter as well.
The stunning male Whinchat was still showing well up to 4.25 pm when I left, tending to favour a particular branch in the Bramble bush for carrying out his fly catching from.
Also 2 Buzzards being mobbed by a single Carrion Crow. A few Grey Herons over (towards the Heronry). Long Tailed Tits. Plus usuals.
Good to meet Steven Burke again, and nice to meet Phil Kelly. Also bumped into Simon Gough on way back.
Male whinchat still currenly present. rob head towards the river mersey and walk away from jacksons boat, you will come to a clearing with some steps down to you're right.
On site now, anyone have a rough location the Whinchat was last seen please? I'm near the little bridge with the small car park, there's a few bramble patches close to here. That's if the bird is still here. Thanks for any info
Pair of Common Whitethroat at Hardy Farm this morning Treecreeper in song 2 Goldcrest in song 1 Coal tit in song Willow Warblers Chiffchaffs Blackcaps 4 active nests at the Heronry
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Robin Blackbird Chiffchaff (9 singing, 5 seen) Magpie Wood Pigeon Wren Blue Tit Great Tit Carrion Crow Song Thrush (3 singing - very loudly!) Jay Grey Heron Goldfinch Mallard Jackdaw
Little Grebe showing well under Jackson's Bridge this lunchtime. Also Jay and a low flying Kestrel close by. Plus Common Gull, Black-headed Gull and Lesser Black-backed gull x 1 on the field at Hardy Farm
Late report from yesterday: Grey Heron on the now levelled field on Hardy Farm (soon to be converted into footie pitches) - the first I've seen on here. Ring-necked Parakeet x 1 (at the back of the existing football ground on Brookburn Rd) Very tame juvenile Kestrel sat in tree in Chorlton ees orchard area large party of Long-tailed tits Redwing x 3 Mistle Thrush x 5
Water rail, wow! I assume this was in the reed pond. Is it likely to overwinter?
Only seen water rails a couple of times, would be great to catch one so close to home.
Where a bouts in the pond did you hear it?
G
hi gervase, yes that would be correct, it was heard in that reed pond. I was stood where there is an opening of the reeds & just the one squeal came from somewhere opposite near the trees. I have never heard them there before but have heard them on several occasions just across the river in broad ees dole. still yet to see one there
They're ploughing and levelling the meadow at the moment; today attracting 20-30 Pied Wagtails, some of which were alba. Worth checking out in case something else interesting turns up.
Well it seems like it must have all gone quiet on teh Ees judging by when the last post was. I myself have been away mostly since last Autumn (had a right old time in India and Burma 200 lifers and I didn't even go for birding).
I went down for brief trip through yesterday with the specific hope of seeing the willow tits. After tracking down Blackcaps making a tak tak tai noise around the reed bed pool I came across three willow tits (at least) in an elder between the reeds and the river at the rapids. Finally made positive id from calls although would like to be more certain from appearance.
Over the last couple of years I've seen presumed willow tits 3 times in this area. It seems like it is there home now.
I'll be looking to get down there more in the coming months.
2 Jays Common Whitethroat - lots, at least 8 individuals in small groups 3 Swallows feeding low over hardy Farm meadow 1 House Martin Swift 2 Goldfinch Buzzard overhead Kestrel sat on telegraph wires over the Mersey at Jacksons Boat
Butterflies: Common Blue x 3 Large Skippers x 3 Moths: Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnets x 6, plus Nettle Tap, Timothy Tortrix, Cydia nigricana, Chrysoteuchia culmella, Crambus lathionellus and Celypha lacunana
plus Mistle Thrush, Jay, and 6 wood Pigeons on Jacksons Boat football pitch.
An afternnon walk around Ivy Green/Chorlton Ees turned up:
Wood Pigeon (in large numbers) Blackbird - many singing males Chiffchaff - one singing but also small groups calling to each other as they moved through Willow Warbler Blackcap - 7 or 8 singing Whitethroat Great Tit Jay Swift (2 over) Carrion Crow (2) Magpie - far fewer than normal Great Spotted Woodpecker - a pair moving through the trees of the Heronry Robin Song Thrush - one singing Wren Reed Bunting - one singing male and a shy female Sedge Warbler 3 singing Reed Warbler - one singing Starling - flock of c. 26 feeding on the playing fields Mistle Thrush
Family of Willow Tits at Ivy Green (see link below) 1 Sparrowhawk at Ivy Green singing Goldcrest at Chorlton Ees Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpeckers
After the elation of the Willow Tits it was sad to find a young Heron with a broken neck, barely alive and hanging on to a low branch (behind the fence), then it took its last breath, lost its grip and fell to the ground dead.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 3rd of June 2013 08:20:31 PM
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1 Willow Tit at Chorlton Brook/Chorlton Ees/Ivy Green 1 Lesser Redpoll at Ivy Green 1 Reed Warbler at Chorlton Ees 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 each at Chorlton Ees and Hardy Farm 2 Common Whitethroat, as above 9 Blackcap at Ivy Green/Chorlton Ees 1 Willow Warbler at Hardy Farm 5 Chiffchaff at Ivy Green/Chorlton Ees pair Great Spotted Woodpecker feeding young 3 Bullfinch at Ivy Green/Chorlton Ees
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Lesser Whitethroat at Hardy Farm this afternoon. In bushes at the side of the path that runs from Jacksons Boat to the pump house, where the path meets the field. (heard only) Also several Reed Warblers in song at the meadow pond. (again heard only)
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Monday 6th of May 2013 04:24:44 PM
Comnon Whitethroat and female Pheasant on Hardy farm 2 Buzzard, 2 Willow Tit and lots of Reed Buntings in the reedbeds by the meadow field at Chorlton Ees.
Unusual plant seen on the ripped up ground of Hardy Farm. I'm informed it is a Spurge, but further id is difficult. There's a photo below if anyone has any thoughts re this.