11th March
Grey Wagtail on rooftops Irlam o'th heights and a Buzzard soaring over Buile hill park

Dave Mcintyre

While driving down Oldfield road in Salford this morning at 10.40am a Common sandpiper flew low over the road just in front of me and landed on waste land which is bordered by Middlewood street and Oldfield road.
After parking up I saw that the sandpiper had landed near a pair of Lapwings and as I watched, one of the Lapwings flew up and chased the sandpiper off towards the centre of Manchester.

Buile Hill Park Saturday 30th January Big Garden Birdwatch

35 Redwing
4 Fieldfare
15 Goldfinch
2 Coal Tit
4 Mistle Thrush


Also, today, c40 Redwing feeding on roadside verge along Liverpool Street opp Chimney Pot Park (showing very well)

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 31st of January 2010 04:12:12 PM

Peregrine flying over Liverpool street in Salford today at 14.15pm during a light fall of snow.It attempted to land on the gasometer but then changed its mind and flew towards Regent road.

A careful check of the full stretch of Irwell and Ship Canal through Salford by Pete Berry, myself and 'our Jack' today for any open water resulted in the following:

River Irwell off Woden Street, Salford, upstream of Pomona Dock (unfrozen):

Goosander- 12
Gadwall- 2
Kingfisher- 1
Cormorant- 6
Mallard- 16
Great Crested Grebe- 3
Sparrowhawk- 1
Fieldfare- 160 in trees and a couple of bulging berry bushes along the ship canal there


Pomona Dock (unfrozen):

Goosander- 6
Pochard- 4
Goldeneye- 1
Tufted Duck- 5
Mallard- 7


Salford Quays (mostly frozen):

Tufted Duck- 12
Pochard- 5
Mallard- 17
Coot- 10
Moorhen- 2
Mute Swan- 7


Ship Canal off Cemetary Circle Bridge, Eccles (only a very small patch unfrozen):

Tufted Duck- 4
Canada Goose- 50+
Feral Pigeon- 300+ in one flock
Peregrine- 1 on the side of the Allied Mills building


Barton Swing Bridge (very small patch unfrozen):

Mallard- 36
Coot- 31
Little Grebe- 2


Barton Docks (unfrozen):

See the relevant site thread

Checked the River Irwell at a few spots in Salford this afternoon with Simon Warford, just to see if anything had been displaced by the cold weather.

Peel Park - Trinty River side - Crompton Bridge and Lower Kersal all covered.

Tufted Duck 308 - mainly at Peel Park
Goldeneye 62
Goosander 11
Teal 10
Mallard 90
Little Grebe 13
Cormorant 7
Coot 8
Snipe - flew from bank at peel park
Lapwing 2 on shingle at crompton bridge

At least 16 Pied Wagtails around Brunel avenue in Salford at 15.50 this afternoon all busily looking for food.

Also the 5 Dunnocks which I have been feeding in the cold weather as they visit my works canteen are now down to 2. I wonder how many other small birds will not live through this long icy spell.

Short stretch of River Irwell at back of Peel Park today, by Salford Uni. At least 200 Tufted and 30 Goldeneye. Most Ive ever seen there. Also saw family group of Mute Swans (5) and 1 Little Grebe. Possibly others species around too, though was tricky to judge without binoculars. Park itself appeared deserted of thrushes. Theyd been pretty healthy numbers up to xmas.

-- Edited by Julian Robinson on Friday 8th of January 2010 09:08:56 PM

4 Grey Wagtails in trees along Brunel avenue, Salford at 10.30am this morning, also 16 Cormorants over Liverpool street in 10 minutes between 12.30 and 12.40pm this afternoon. All were flying towards Salford crescent.

Yesterday, I counted 132 Fieldfare all flying West over Liverpool street at 15.40pm.

1 Woodcock, 20+ Redwing with a few Mistle Thrush this afternoon at Lightoaks park Salford 6 Irlam O'th Height . Viewed in between a bit of sledging ( day off work ,not skivving off)

Dave Mcintyre

As I was leaving Manchester along Regent Road this morning I got stopped at the traffic lights before joining the M602. Whilst stopped I noticed a small bird flying towards me just above car height. It then suddenly changed direction as a female Sparrowhawk swooped alongside my car literally a couple of metres from my driver's door window. The small bird then flew towards a car that was stationary on the busy roundabout pursued by the Sparrowhawk. The small bird dived underneath the car but the Sparrowhawk quickly decided not to follow and swooped over the car's bonnet instead and headed off. The small bird sat on the tarmac for a few seconds and flew out again and dived into a bush as the car moved off.
I didn't really get a decent chance to ID the small bird as it happened so fast and then the lights changed so had to drive off plus had family in back so couldn't go back for another look!. But it had a fluttery, undulating flight a bit like a Meadow Pipit but looked all grey with a darker grey face. (poss. Black Redstart???!!!) I couldn't see the tail colour though. Definately not a M Pipit, Dunnock, Pied Wag or Sparrow. Nothing else came to mind. If anyone is passing or driving around the roundabout over the next few days it could be worth checking any small birds!

River Irwell WEBS Sunday 20th December

23 Goldeneye
96 Tufted Duck
25 Mallard
2 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
1 LBB Gull
5 Common Gull
c100 BH Gull


-- Edited by James Walsh on Monday 21st of December 2009 03:22:19 PM

Peregrine flying around the Maxwell building @ Salford University at 1:20pm on Sunday 13th December

Also, c30 Redwings feeding on berries between the library and University House last week

-- Edited by James Walsh on Tuesday 15th of December 2009 08:18:33 AM

Weaste cemetery this afternoon,

4 Jays
Song thrush
2 Goldcrests
5 LT Tits
and a Buzzard perched in a tree.

13 Pied wagtails together running around Brunel avenue, Salford at 12.35pm today.

Two flocks of Golden plover [ 13@ 13.20pm + 9@ 15.45pm] seen flying over Hope hospital in Salford today. All heading West same as the 39 seen at the same location yesterday.

Paul Heaton wrote:

---

Not fully aware of the Salford Boundary ,

2 Buzzards at the end of M602 today at 14.00.


Keep birding

---

I'm not 100% sure, but it probably depends which end you are referring to...

Not fully aware of the Salford Boundary ,

2 Buzzards at the end of M602 today at 14.00.


Keep birding

4 Grey wagtails along Brunel avenue, just of Liverpool street at 12.35pm today. Also 13 Cormorants seen flying overhead in 15 minutes probably going from the Quays to the Irwell.

A dozen Redwings feeding on berries in Peel Park today, along with 3 Mistle Thrushes.

Other notables recently seen in this park are GS Woodpeckers and Siskins.

Peregrine falcon landed on a house roof on tynesbank walkden yesterday at 1130 am,it rested for about 5 mins and then flew off in an easterly direction.

Weaste cemetery this teatime,

1 Siskin
2 Bullfinches
1 Sparrowhawk [m]

And a couple of local scroats hanging about who were taking an interest in the unattended cars. Not a nice place to visit

3 Swift, c20 House Martins & c20 Mistle Thrush @ Salford University

A Peregrine is sat on the gasometer on Liverpool street,Salford as I type this at 7.55am. It has been there since 6.35am this morning.

2 Whitethroat in the allotment off Seedley Rd M6. 40ish Swifts past over and 2 Mistle thrush

Dave Mcintyre

-- Edited by dave mcintyre on Sunday 10th of May 2009 11:23:40 PM

100+ Swifts over Liverpool street and Regent road area this morning at 6.20am

1 Grey wagtail and a Heron opposite the Mark Addey pub(on the river) New Bailey st M3, today 4.30pm

Dave Mcintyre

Green woodpecker yesterday morning in the grounds of wardley hall, thought i heard one calling a few months ago but was not certain. The bird was on the lawn in front of the hall before flying off.

A Peregrine, Kestrel and two Crows all perched within 30m of each other on top of the gasometer beside Liverpool street Salford today at 14.20.

Oldfield Road - area of open ground behind fences bordered by Hampson St and East Ordsall Lane - not sure what its called;

5pm today:

4 Lapwing
4 White Wagtail
1 male Wheatear
22 Woodpigeon
2 Mistle Thrush

-- Edited by declan savage on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 08:00:55 PM

Buile Hill Park - drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1+ Song Thrush, singing Coal Tit (by the bowling green)

Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in Buile Hill Park, also c10 Greenfinch and a pair of Mallard on the small pool

also pair of Goosander and c10 Tufted Duck on River Irwell by Peel Park 02/04

-- Edited by James Walsh on Saturday 4th of April 2009 08:02:40 PM

Pair of goldfinch with nesting material in garden on sefton drive worsley this morning. Also first time ive ever seen a nuthatch in full voice, it was sending out its bubbling call from a tree on leigh road worsley.

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers chasing each other around Buile Hill Park, also Nuthatch and singing Song Thrush

Singing Goldcrest and 2 Song Thrushes on Salford University campus Monday 30/03

4 Goosander (1 drake) on the River Irwell by The Lowry Hotel Saturday 28/03

A Peregrine was perched on one of the Liverpool street Gasometers this morning at 6.25am.

7 Goldeneye (5 drakes), pair of Goosander and 80 Tufted Duck on the River Irwell by Peel Park

singing Chaffinch, 10+ Redwing and 2+ Common Gull in Buile Hill Park

2 Grey and 5 Pied Wagtails perched together on my works roof today between the snow falls on Liverpool street Salford.

26/01/09

pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker Buile Hill Park

also 3 Common Gulls (2 adults, 1 first winter) on adjacent playing field

A female Sparrowhawk was feeding on a Grey wagtail behind my works today, just off Liverpool street Salford.

Hello

Walking into work this morning along Chapel St, I had the pleasure of seeing a Peregrine making a beeline for the steeple of Salford Cathedral.

Julian

3 Goosander (1 drake) and 4 drake Goldeneye on the River Irwell @ Peel Park

19/12/08

9 Redwings over Liverpool Street @ 9am

A Peregrine chased and caught a BH Gull over Liverpool street and the EMR scrapyard in Salford today at 12.40pm. The gull tried its best to evade the falcon by flying as fast as it could through the framework of the gasometers but it was soon caught.

River Irwell by Peel Park Tuesday 2nd December

3 fem/imm Goldeneye
3 Goosander (2 drakes)
57 Tufted Duck
5 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Mute Swan


also Grey Wagtail on Knutsford Street, Seedley

Top of the War Museum is a prime site, usually early morning between 7.30 & 8.00am. Hunts the pigeons in Traff Park from this vantage point. Can be seen around the Quays at any given time, usual story, the more time you spend in the area, the better the chances of seeing one. Keep an eye on the seperate "Salford Quays" thread .

Forgot to mention yesterday morning;
Sparrowhawk while crossing Centenary Bridge - flew about 2ft in front of me .
I've often looked for Peregrines in Trafford Park around the bridge area, but not seen any. Has anyone else?

Judith
I check the gasometer each time as I walk between the shopfloor and the offices, normally between 20-30 times a day. I have in the past set up my scope during my dinner break but the Peregrines have not put in a visit.
I'm lucky if I can get a view with my bino's which I always keep in my car but I have been trying to get a decent photo of the birds for the last 18 months but no luck so far.

I don't suppose there's any way you can get a scope on the gasometer birds, Dave? It would be interesting to see if 2006 juvs are coming back with a view to breeding.