Local patch

Barton Clough

A general air of lethargy had descended. I wondered if I'd burned myself out trying to fill my boots while passage migrants, incoming Summer visitors and decent weather was available before the onset of the hayfever season. Then I nipped round to the shops for a loaf and discovered it was municipal grass-cutting day. I didn't want to waste what was likely to be the last fine day this week so I weighed up the options. Then found that the trains in and out of Manchester were up the spout. So I checked up on the local patch then did the big shop for the week.

There are already more singing blackcaps in the park than last year. The chiffchaffs were a bit shy, we seem to be back down to two territories. I'd written the visit off as too early for whitethroats then one started singing from the brambles on the United Utilities land behind the wall. There were greenfinches about but they were keeping a very low profile.

• Blackbird 10, 4 singing
• Blackcap 4, 3 singing
• Blue tit 5, 1 singing
• Carrion crow 2
• Chaffinch 1 singing
• Chiffchaff 2 singing
• Dunnock 1
• Feral pigeon 2
• Goldfinch 9, 2 singing
• Great tit 9, 6 singing
• Greenfinch 3
• Lesser black-back 1
• Long-tailed tit 2
• Magpie 6
• Mistle thrush 1
• Ring-necked parakeet 1
• Robin 8, 7 singing
• Song thrush 1 singing
• Whitethroat 1 singing
• Woodpigeon 16, 4 singing
• Wren 6, 5 singing