Liam, I spent almost every day of 13 out of the last 14 years at Chorlton WP as a warden there and have never in that time nor have I in birding there since April 1977 have I ever recorded them there.
They used to be around Chorlton Ees from mid 70's to 80's (?) then dissapeared and it's just in recent years they seem to be making a comeback, probably with birds dispersing more widely in the winter, perhaps from Carrington Moss moving up along the Mersey Valley (?).
Since this forum began in 2006 in think there have been only three postings for Willow Tit on the Chorlton WP thread.
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
I've never been able to see this in the field myself although I have tried. But I've just looked at a couple of this website's gallery photos of Willow Tit and they both show a pale spot - presumably a trick of the light (or perhaps it's not as good a feature as supposed)
No Marsh Tits recorded at Barlow Tip I'm afraid, not for the past 20 years at least, though they are often misidentified.
You may need to buy a new bird guide too Gervase, as 'hammering their food with their bills' is one of the worst/most incorrect identification features I've ever heard for seperating those two tits .
Thanks Ian, Yes my memory was that it was Willows that had been reported on Barlow tip. But when I saw this pair on the Ees I thought it too good to be true so plumped for Marsh.
It is a very old guide of my parents that said that about the hammering. I've certainly never seen it written elsewhere.
Great to have all this chat about it as I'd often wondered.
Now I just ned to see theme again so I can hone my id skills. What to look for, darker cheeks? Longer black nape? Cap glossiness???
Anyway. Lifer for me then. And on my local patch. Ace. Not only that they were such a pretty sight and so close. That area next to the Reed Bed in the meadows is a an amazing spot.
On the subject of Willow Tits where are the best places in the Chorlton WP/ Barlow Tip area to see them and at what time of year?
I've never seen one in the area and would really like to add the species to my Chorlton WP list. I visit regularly so maybe I'm just overlooking them. Any help would be really appreciated.
Also the birds at Leighton are definitely Marsh Tits but I agree that "hammering food with their bills" is a weird clinching feature.
That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.
Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.
I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.
I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.
Gervase
No Marsh Tits recorded at Barlow Tip I'm afraid, not for the past 20 years at least, though they are often misidentified.
You may need to buy a new bird guide too Gervase, as 'hammering their food with their bills' is one of the worst/most incorrect identification features I've ever heard for seperating those two tits .
That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.
Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.
I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.
I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.
Gervase
As Ian says Gervase, they'll almost certainly be Willow Tits.
Marsh Tits are extremely rare now in Greater Manchester compared to say 20-30 years ago.
Willow Tits are localised in Greater Manchester in such areas as Wigan Flashes, Pennington and Carrington amongst others but the Mersey Valley also has a small population and I have seen them at Sale Water Park and on Barlow Tip at Chorlton.
I would be amazed if they weren't Willow Tits to be honest.
That's interesting. I am right in thinking that nationally Marsh are much more common though aren't I.
Willow tit would constitute a lifer for me so it's quite important.
I thought I remembered others posting about them on Barlow Tip.
I've only seen Marsh tits a couple of times at Leighton Moss. I distinguished them there by the fact that they were hammering food with their bills. I have guide book somewhere that said that only the Marsh does this.
6-9am walk Ivy green-Meadow-Reedbed-River-SWP and back over Jacksons Boat.
Blackcap & Common Whitethroat both in numbers everywhere! Couldn't hear the Lesser Whitethroat at the Brook Bridge .
In the meadow: 3 Sedge Warblers So many Reed Buntings Heard 1 Gropper faintly by the reedbed but it stopped before we approached. First time I've heard one this year. Yet to see one. Pair of what I assume to be Marsh Tits busy in an elder next to the reedbed. Not quite sharp enough to tell the diff between Marsh and Willow tit and there was no call/song. So assumption based on abundance. First in Greater Manchester for me. Lovely. 3 Reed Warblers being very obliging by flying up into the willows on the island. Got some great views. Bullfinch (m)
River Cormorant Young Heron next to nest with 2 adults in
Broad Dole Ees Little Grebe 3 Lapwing plus 4 chicks Tufty Pair Juv Heron Coot + chicks
1 Willow Tit singing from Lombardy Poplars along the cobbled road 3 Sedge Warbler in song 2 Reed Warbler in song 5 Common Whitethroat 1 Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff Blackcap 3 House Martin 3 Swallow 3 Swift 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker 2 Bullfinch 7 Reed Bunting 1 Sparrowhawk - Ivy Green
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 14th of May 2012 01:46:22 PM
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
2 sedge warblers,1 seen singing from tall reeds another heard only. 2 reed warblers,heard only in the reed beds. 5 whitethroats 4 reed buntings 2 swifts plenty off singing blackcaps.
also there was 1 wheatear on hardy farm around 1.30pm.
An early morning walk through the ees down the river to Barlow tip and kenworthy from 6.30-9 am Saturday 5th May
2 Reed warblers heard in the beds Beautiful Sedgie seen singing in the meadow very near to the reeds Blackcaps everywhere 7+ Whitethroats along the way, very active 1 Chiffchaff seen a few heard 1 Willow Warbler heard Several Reed Buntings on the meadow
Couple of Swallows on the river and CWP
Heard a blackbird doing a very passable version of a police siren near the golf course before barlow tip. Strangeset thing. Would like to post up the vid I took of the sound. Is youtube the only way?
Other usual suspects. Stunning walk. So lucky to have this patch.
Reed Warbler heard chuntering away very quietly and very occasionally at the reed bed this afternoon. No sight nor sound of Sedge or Grasshopper Warblers for me here or at CWP, although some to**er riding round Kenworthy Fields on a trail bike didn't help matters.
went in search again for whitethroats,still no luck but very happy with what i did see down here tonight..
1 swift (first for the year) 1 grasshopper warbler (first for the year) 1 willow tit 2 great spotted woodpeckers 3 blackcaps 2 chiffchaffs 1 kingfisher,flew over the reed pool at 7.25 & headed towards sale water park. 4 reed buntings
a pleasure to meet phil owen,henry cook & tony coatsworth,was it about 40 mins before we got a good sight off the little blighter
again no signs off any owls seen or heard on my cycle back home
came down here tonight to try find the whitethroat arrived just after 7pm til 7.50pm but no signs off any whitethroats on the bright side as i was watching 6 sand martins heading over towards sale water park and noticed something else higher up,was thinking gulls but no it turned out to be 3 terns heading in a north westerly direction at 7.16pm.they looked to off had long tail streamers so possibly arctic but they were high up, maybe gone straight over or possibly ended up at pennington flash !
also another 4,6 & 3 sand martins over towards sale water park whilst stood around. 5 song thrushes 1 willow warbler 2 chiffchaffs 2 reed buntings all singing 1 goosander (male ) over
1 goosander (f) on river 1 grey wagtail on river 2 bullfinches 2 reed buntings 8 jays 3 grey herons blackcaps, willow warblers, chiffchaffs & song thrushes all around,all in song
Pretty quiet at the heronry mid afternoon, with only 7 visibly occupied nests. Numbers are well down on previous years 5 Chiffchaff in song 1 male Reed Bunting at Brookburn School pond
Ivy Green
1 Blackcap in song (1 was singing in my garden on 24th, plus resident pair of Goldcrest) 4 Chiffchaff in song
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
Late post for last Sunday 15th Jan. Walking through Chorlton/ville
A Nuthatch on a roadside cherry tree on Claude Rd A Siskin singing from an alder on St. Clements Rd A Goldcrest singing from a yew tree in my garden on Edge Lane
__________________
Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
A Quick walk around the Ees this afternoon produced Buzzard Blackbird Song Thrush Wren Robin Goldfinch L/T tit Blue tit Great tit Willow tit (first for me in Chorlton) Carrion crow Magpie Jay
The Mersey Valley wardens tell me that the burning is an annual event by (they believe) the same individual. He starts and finishes at the same time each year (roughly early March to early April as I recollect). Although they think they know who it is, they haven't managed to catch him at yet. I was asked to keep my eyes open so I invite anyone else passing that way to do the same.
had a walk to here from longford park. 1 whitethroat next to large reedbed. first for the year lots off blackcaps,chiffchaff and willow warblers 1 goosander (over) 3 swallows 1 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 reed bunting 2 bullfinch 1 great spotted woodpecker 2 jays 2 pheasants plenty off goldfinch,greenfinch, blue/great & long tailed tits