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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 22, 2011 21:46:44 GMT
I had a thread on the old forum with this title mainly to tell you what was happening at Blackleach country park where I spend a lot of my time keeping a record of all the wildlife.I also used to put quizzes on that I put in the Blackleach newsletter.
First of all though I want to show you where I have been twice this week
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 22, 2011 21:56:06 GMT
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 22, 2011 22:19:43 GMT
Our next door neighbour took us here last Tuesday evening to see kingfishers.It is on the river Irwell right in the centre of Manchester near the Granada T.V.studios as you can see.We were stood on the opposite bank of the river.You can see a round hole in the brickwork near the right hand edge of the picture where the nest is.We had to wait about half an hour before we saw the birds then they both fled out and flew down the river a bit then went back in. Our neighbour found out about them because he walks past here to go to work after he has parked his car .He says some days they are both going in and out every few minutes. Heather,our daughter from Wales arrived at 12.30 and is staying till Monday.We took her this afternoon but we waited about an hour and didn,t see them at all  . maybe because there was an event with boats a bit further down the river.She wants to go again either tomorrow or Sunday evening before she goes home. |
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Post by floydie on Apr 23, 2011 1:01:29 GMT
Strangely enough that photo looks alot like the area we live, but were we are its full of bats  |
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Post by Cherry on Apr 23, 2011 5:24:37 GMT
Well spotted by your neighbour. They are very elusive birds. Manchester looks a really big city from this edge.
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Post by merlin on Apr 23, 2011 6:15:44 GMT
The great thing about urban wildlife is that they're not as shy and seem to be more trusting. I suppose they get used to us. For example I often visit a river where Mallard are abundant. Up in the quieter stretches they won't let you anywhere near but where it flows through the City they come up really close. The latest cameras come with 35X zooms, I would like one but I'd like a 300X better, they're only £1200  |
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 23, 2011 21:12:06 GMT
This morning I led a bird walk round Blackleach Country Park.It was a nice morning and there were eleven of us.We saw or heard all the birds that I expected,-32 kinds altogether.I tried to teach the people how to recognise the various songs and calls of the birds.All the usual summer visitors have arrived except house martins and swifts.I will be leading a wild flower walk there on July 7th.
This afternoon we have been bird watching with Heather in a local wood and this evening we have been back to Manchester to see the kingfishers and this time she DID see them :)only briefly though .They are so quick and they just flew past and went into some bushes.
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 28, 2011 21:54:21 GMT
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Post by derekbrooks on Apr 28, 2011 22:04:40 GMT
Blackbirds have been nesting in a camellia in next doors garden and the chicks have left the nest today.This one has been hopping about my garden this evening and I thought I would take a photo.It was in a place where I couldn,t photograph it so I picked it up to put it somewhere else but the parents objected strongly, flying towards me giving there alarm calls.I left them for a bit and went in the greenhouse but later I spotted it on one of my frames so I snapped it.
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Post by derekbrooks on May 7, 2011 21:30:36 GMT
We went to see the kingfishers again at Manchester this evening.We had a better view of them this time going in and out of the hole and skimming over the water.
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Post by derekbrooks on May 19, 2011 22:28:52 GMT
 Great tits in my nest box almost ready for flying |
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Post by Tel on May 20, 2011 6:10:47 GMT
A lovely photo of the great tits Derek. |
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Post by Lou78W on May 20, 2011 6:17:31 GMT
Yes....a lovely pic ;D
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Post by Geranium on May 20, 2011 8:22:57 GMT
We went to see the kingfishers again at Manchester this evening.We had a better view of them this time going in and out of the hole and skimming over the water. How lovely! I've only seen a kingfisher once in my life, and that was a few years ago when we moved to Somerset. OH has seen one in the garden - twice - flying up the stream, but I haven't. |
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Post by peony on May 20, 2011 11:30:59 GMT
Lovely picture of your blue tits Derek, the ones in my box fledged last week ;D
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. maybe because there was an event with boats a bit further down the river.She wants to go again either tomorrow or Sunday evening before she goes home.
