Great Northern Diver again showing ridiculously close today in Erie Basin
James Walsh said
Sun Jan 3 12:38 AM, 2016
Great Northern Diver 4:30pm Ontario Viewable from Quay House terrace
Pete Hines said
Sat Jan 2 12:02 PM, 2016
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still at St Peter's Basin this morning
Eugene Dillon-Hooper said
Fri Jan 1 3:15 PM, 2016
Pomona this afternoon:
2 Goosander, 1 Goldcrest 5 Cormorant c200 black headed Gulls c20 Great Black backs 1 Heron c100 goldfinch c50 house sparrow 2 dunnock 5 Fieldfare 1 Redwing
Pete Hines said
Fri Jan 1 11:44 AM, 2016
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still moving between St. Louis and St. Peters Basin this morning
steven burke said
Thu Dec 31 4:58 PM, 2015
Great northern diver still on st Louis & st Peters basin at 3.30pm.
2 great crested grebe on Trafford wharf.
Nick Hilton said
Wed Dec 30 2:58 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver fishing in St Louis basin at 1415 today.
James Walsh said
Tue Dec 29 11:22 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver St Peters 4pm viewable from Salford Quays Metrolink station
Drake Goldeneye Salford Wharf displaying to Canada Geese
Gerry Flanagan said
Tue Dec 29 3:34 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver 9.30 - 11.30 - Ontario Basin 6 Fieldfare 2 Mistle Thrush 2 Collared Dove 6 Long tailed Tit 2 Blue Tit 4 Coot 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Kestrel 7 Goldfinches
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 04:13:23 PM
Charles Farrell said
Tue Dec 29 3:07 PM, 2015
Dec 29th 11:30 - 13:30:
Walked from Media City all the way anti-clockwise around the Quays area for nearly 2 hours without spotting the Great Northern Diver
After getting on the tram to Piccadilly I jumped off at Salford Quays and made one last visit to the St Louis/St Francis Basin area and spotted a couple of photographers - and then finally the bird itself. Followed it from St Francis basin thru to St Louis basin getting at close as 10m, before it dived and I lost it completly. Samsung phone snaps really dont do the bird justice. :(
Elsewhere around the area:
- 2 Mistle Thrush
- 3 Redwing
plus the usual waterfowl and small passerines.
From the tram between Cornbrook and Pomona
- 1 'redhead' Goosander @ 11:25ish on the water
- male Goosander flying off north @ 14:25 ish
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 03:12:09 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 03:34:02 PM
Chris Roberts said
Tue Dec 29 1:31 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver showing well in the middle of Ontario basin at midday.
Nick Hilton said
Mon Dec 28 1:10 PM, 2015
The Great Northern Diver was loafing in St Peters Basin, right in front of the Salford Quays tram stop at midday today. Water levels are back to normal on the quays. Also of note 2 Grey Wagtail, 20 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Long Tailed Tit
Nick Hilton said
Sun Dec 27 8:45 PM, 2015
I visited the cinema today at the Lowry and had a quick look for the diver without success on the main quays. One Grey Wagtail was noted. When I came out of the cinema around 4pm I was amazed to find the water levels in the quays extremely low, with mud banks on all sides and an island mud bank in the middle. I assume they have opened up Mode Wheel Locks to allow the water from the Irwell down-river. I went over Centenary Bridge, the water levels were still high here. The quays looked a very strange place with (puzzled!) Mute Swans stood on huge mud banks!
Carol Sanders said
Sun Dec 27 3:09 PM, 2015
Great northern diver still present 11 00am till 1pm still there when we left. and showing very well to within a few feet in St Peters basin and St louis basin quite clear views of it swimming under water and catching fish
Joel Tragen said
Sat Dec 26 5:34 PM, 2015
Thanks steven that's the name of it. Was that you outside the back of the lowery around 3:15. I was curious to see if the diver was roosting else where due to the fact that the water was moving so fast on the manchester ship canal. And there it was roosting on the area of water I found it earlier.
Cheers joel
steven burke said
Sat Dec 26 5:24 PM, 2015
had a good mooch around from 2.20-4pm. no sign of the great northern diver on the ship canal & I don't blame it for not being there as it was very high water raging downstream with lots of floating crap & trees ! the gulls taking good advantage of this though. 2 great crested grebe in docks next to itv studios. eventually found the great northern diver around 3.30pm on Ontario basin & it now seems to be favouring there & st peters basin, st lewis basin. merchants quay.
Joel Tragen said
Sat Dec 26 4:42 PM, 2015
Large dark bird flew down stream (?) over the media city bridge and was lost from view at 15:15. Was low enough to land but high enough to be heading off. Didn't get a long enough view as my view was obscured so couldn't confirm it as any thing.
Joel Tragen said
Sat Dec 26 1:50 PM, 2015
Great northern diver present at 13:32 till13:38 in the small body of water next to the waterspouts centre and holiday inn last seen heading down the lane of water nearer the back of the water.
steven burke said
Thu Dec 24 1:59 PM, 2015
no sign of the great northern diver between 11.40-12.25pm & was not in roost last night so looks like it may of gone.
2 great crested grebe, media city 1 kingfisher, Trafford wharf again but this time 2 ravens went over the lowry & headed towards eccles.
steven burke said
Wed Dec 23 10:43 PM, 2015
10.10pm
7 tufted duck & 6 pochard on Trafford wharf.
steven burke said
Wed Dec 23 1:16 PM, 2015
Had a quick ten minutes before heading to work at 12.45pm no sign of the great northern diver but a nice surprise of a raven circling overhead & drifted into trafford park.
Merry Xmas to all forum members
Pete Hines said
Tue Dec 22 12:19 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver juvenile still present
Goosander 1
Goldeneye 1
Gary Edwards said
Mon Dec 21 9:12 PM, 2015
Good to see you again Tanmay. Glad you got some decent views too. Can't believe how close it came!
pete berry said
Mon Dec 21 3:54 PM, 2015
Had a quick look today when passing,no sign of the Great Northern Diver in a brief search but excellent views of a Peregrine over.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 21st of December 2015 04:54:39 PM
Tanmay Dixit said
Mon Dec 21 11:55 AM, 2015
Great northern diver present yesterday til around 4pm, ended up around 2ft out, right in front of the sports centre
Steve Scrimgeour said
Mon Dec 21 10:49 AM, 2015
Good to meet you too Rob,
Just to reiterate cracking views..
Rob Creek said
Sun Dec 20 12:11 PM, 2015
- Great Northern Diver showing really well to within 15-20ft opposite Lowry Outlet approx 11.35am then swam over towards the Helly Hansen Watersports Ctr.
Other birds of note... - Cormorant 5 - Great Crested Grebe 2 - Common Gull at least 40 on the water in countable view, more at distance and in the air - Grey Wagtail 1
Good to meet Pete Hines, and Steve Scrimgeour and son.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Dec 20 11:51 AM, 2015
Great Northern Diver still on the Quays as of 1130hrs, adjacent to the War Museum. Also of note 3 Great Crested Grebe and a single Grey Wagtail.
Keith Williams said
Sat Dec 19 12:17 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver present this morning, spied my chance before the hoards of united fans descend into the area.
Between Sam Platts and the Lowry, close to the Trafford Park side (when it finally made an appearance).
James Walsh said
Thu Dec 17 6:34 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver present on Salford Wharf at 4pm, also 3 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Goosander
On Pomona, 2 male Bullfinches and a Goldcrest with Long-tailed Tit flock
phillipskelly said
Thu Dec 17 5:03 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver still present with really good views at Media City bridge around 3pm. Thanks for taking me and my crutches to the quays, and filling Burleigh rd. feeders to Steve Burke .
Dan Brown said
Thu Dec 17 2:28 PM, 2015
The Great Northern Diver was, as Rob says, opposite SamPlatt's (where I was!). The jogger and his Alsatian didn't really bother the diver. It just continued on its circuit of the inlets. I followed it as far as Helly Hansen but then lost it (12:45) as it swam off in the direction of the coronation street studios, diving periodically.
Rob Creek said
Thu Dec 17 1:19 PM, 2015
The Great Norther Diver was showing well for a few minutes this lunchtime not far from Sam Platt's.
There was a guy running with an Alsatian and I think it spooked the Diver, it swam into the South Bay between Merchants and Clipper Quay. I drive round and did a thorough search but it had totally vanished.
Other birds of note... 1 Goosander 1 Grey Wagtail Lots of usuals
James Walsh said
Thu Dec 17 10:32 AM, 2015
Recent sightings on Pomona
A flock of 8 Bullfinches along the Bridgewater Canal adjacent to Cornbrook Metrolink station
on Monday, 7 Goosanders on the MSC
Colin Wood said
Wed Dec 16 1:43 PM, 2015
Garry the Goldeneye patrolling the wharfside along the main canal basin by the Lowry footbridge this morning around 9.00 am. Plus four goosander by Sam Platt's around midday. And the great northern diver again showing well.
colin davies said
Wed Dec 16 8:35 AM, 2015
fredford wrote:
Mistle thrush singing on Hulme side near station, 7 15am. Delightful.
Alarmingly, that's another bird on the BoCC4 red list.
fredford said
Wed Dec 16 8:19 AM, 2015
Mistle thrush singing on Hulme side near station, 7 15am. Delightful.
colin davies said
Wed Dec 16 8:09 AM, 2015
Nick Hilton wrote:
Amusingly the online BTO WeBS system doesn't bat an eyelid when you enter Great Northern Diver but flashes up "Rarer Species" in red when I input the Grey Wagtail. Its all relative!
That's presumably because grey wagtail is on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC4) red list, whereas great northern diver is not.
Joel Tragen said
Tue Dec 15 8:07 PM, 2015
Great northern diver showing well (lifer, and what a place to have it as well), starting off at the media city bridge, 3:10 and ending in the middle of the largest area of water, asleep at 3:50. Sightings similar to Chris but I had: 5 great crested grebes 1 cormorant 5 coots. Nice to meet Chris chandler Deserves another visit when there is better lighting to put it to full justice. Cheers Joel
Colin Wood said
Tue Dec 15 6:49 PM, 2015
Saw the Great Northern Diver while jogging round The Quays at around 11.00 am. Met Pete Hines who was taking more photos of it. I also saw it again, briefly, from my living room window overlooking the main Canal Basin at around 13.30, but by the time I'd got my camera out it had disappeared
Chris Chandler said
Tue Dec 15 5:55 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver showing well in front of the Lowry Outlet until 3.45pm
Also-
2 Great Crested Grebe
4 Goosander (2m, 2f)
4 Cormorant
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Coot
1 Moorhen
Nice to meet Joel Tragen, who put me onto the bird and managed some good photos, close in.
steven burke said
Tue Dec 15 2:19 PM, 2015
Great northern diver still currently present on Trafford wharf.
Rob Creek said
Mon Dec 14 6:09 PM, 2015
Bumped into Steve Burke around 2.15pm as I was coming to the end of my tacho break.
No sign of the Great Northern Diver whilst I was there, from the Trafford Rd end, to Sam Platts, and over to the Lowry Outlet area.
Other birds of note... - Cormorant at least 6 - Grey Heron 1 - Goosander 1 female - Goldeneye 1 drake - Tufted Duck 2 - Coot 5 - Moorhen 1 - Fieldfare 8
Then I got a text off Steve shortly after when I was driving back near work, saying the Diver had decided to turn up. Apparently been for a spell around Media City. Great!
steven burke said
Mon Dec 14 3:37 PM, 2015
Fantastic views of the great northern diver up til 3pm as it swam & dived from outside the bbc studios to Trafford wharf then did a little preening
Pete Hines mentioned that it is a juvenile.
Also 1 great crested grebe, resident drake goldeneye & 3 herring gull.
-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 14th of December 2015 05:43:27 PM
Nigel Richards said
Mon Dec 14 3:23 PM, 2015
Great views of Great Northern Diver close in - is it a juvenile bird?
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 14 11:02 AM, 2015
Great Northern Diver still showing well from by the Sam Platts pub at 11am.
Info thanks to John Tromans
James Walsh said
Sun Dec 13 10:37 PM, 2015
Great Northern Diver showing to 20 yards during the afternoon ranging the docklands from Clippers Quay to North Wharf
Most often viewable from the south side of The Quays aka Trafford Wharf between Sam Platts pub and the new ITV/Coronation Street set
Also viewable at times from MediaCity, the Lowry Arts Centre, the Holiday Inn and in South Bay, the dock with the big ship with the greenhouses onboard
A flock of 23 Linnets on Pomona
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 13th of December 2015 10:42:41 PM
Amusingly the online BTO WeBS system doesn't bat an eyelid when you enter Great Northern Diver but flashes up "Rarer Species" in red when I input the Grey Wagtail. Its all relative!
steven burke said
Sun Dec 13 7:35 PM, 2015
great northern diver was roosting on Trafford wharf at 5.50pm it popped its head up a couple of times to have a stretch whilst I was there. also 3 tufted duck. redwings heard calling overhead.
well done nick on another great find for the quays
Great Northern Diver 4:30pm Ontario Viewable from Quay House terrace
2 Goosander,
1 Goldcrest
5 Cormorant
c200 black headed Gulls
c20 Great Black backs
1 Heron
c100 goldfinch
c50 house sparrow
2 dunnock
5 Fieldfare
1 Redwing
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still moving between St. Louis and St. Peters Basin this morning
Great northern diver still on st Louis & st Peters basin at 3.30pm.
2 great crested grebe on Trafford wharf.
Great Northern Diver St Peters 4pm viewable from Salford Quays Metrolink station
Drake Goldeneye Salford Wharf displaying to Canada Geese
Great Northern Diver 9.30 - 11.30 - Ontario Basin
6 Fieldfare
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Collared Dove
6 Long tailed Tit
2 Blue Tit
4 Coot
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kestrel
7 Goldfinches
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 04:13:23 PM
Dec 29th 11:30 - 13:30:
Walked from Media City all the way anti-clockwise around the Quays area for nearly 2 hours without spotting the Great Northern Diver
After getting on the tram to Piccadilly I jumped off at Salford Quays and made one last visit to the St Louis/St Francis Basin area and spotted a couple of photographers - and then finally the bird itself. Followed it from St Francis basin thru to St Louis basin getting at close as 10m, before it dived and I lost it completly. Samsung phone snaps really dont do the bird justice. :(
Elsewhere around the area:
- 2 Mistle Thrush
- 3 Redwing
plus the usual waterfowl and small passerines.
From the tram between Cornbrook and Pomona
- 1 'redhead' Goosander @ 11:25ish on the water
- male Goosander flying off north @ 14:25 ish
-- Edited by Charles Farrell on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 03:12:09 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 29th of December 2015 03:34:02 PM
Great Northern Diver showing well in the middle of Ontario basin at midday.
Water levels are back to normal on the quays.
Also of note 2 Grey Wagtail, 20 Goldfinch, 5 Greenfinch, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Coal Tit, 3 Long Tailed Tit
The quays looked a very strange place with (puzzled!) Mute Swans stood on huge mud banks!
2 great crested grebe in docks next to itv studios.
eventually found the great northern diver
2 great crested grebe, media city
1 kingfisher, Trafford wharf
again but this time 2 ravens went over the lowry & headed towards eccles.
10.10pm
7 tufted duck & 6 pochard on Trafford wharf.
Had a quick ten minutes before heading to work at 12.45pm no sign of the great northern diver but a nice surprise of a raven circling overhead & drifted into trafford park.
Merry Xmas to all forum members
Great Northern Diver juvenile still present
Goosander 1
Goldeneye 1
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 21st of December 2015 04:54:39 PM
Good to meet you too Rob,
Just to reiterate cracking views..
Other birds of note...
- Cormorant 5
- Great Crested Grebe 2
- Common Gull at least 40 on the water in countable view, more at distance and in the air
- Grey Wagtail 1
Good to meet Pete Hines, and Steve Scrimgeour and son.
Also of note 3 Great Crested Grebe and a single Grey Wagtail.
Between Sam Platts and the Lowry, close to the Trafford Park side (when it finally made an appearance).
Great Northern Diver present on Salford Wharf at 4pm, also 3 Great Crested Grebes and 5 Goosander
On Pomona, 2 male Bullfinches and a Goldcrest with Long-tailed Tit flock
Thanks for taking me and my crutches to the quays, and filling Burleigh rd. feeders to Steve Burke .
There was a guy running with an Alsatian and I think it spooked the Diver, it swam into the South Bay between Merchants and Clipper Quay. I drive round and did a thorough search but it had totally vanished.
Other birds of note...
1 Goosander
1 Grey Wagtail
Lots of usuals
Recent sightings on Pomona
A flock of 8 Bullfinches along the Bridgewater Canal adjacent to Cornbrook Metrolink station
on Monday, 7 Goosanders on the MSC
Alarmingly, that's another bird on the BoCC4 red list.
That's presumably because grey wagtail is on the Birds of Conservation Concern (BoCC4) red list, whereas great northern diver is not.
Sightings similar to Chris but I had:
5 great crested grebes
1 cormorant
5 coots.
Nice to meet Chris chandler
Deserves another visit when there is better lighting to put it to full justice.
Cheers Joel
Great Northern Diver showing well in front of the Lowry Outlet until 3.45pm
Also-
2 Great Crested Grebe
4 Goosander (2m, 2f)
4 Cormorant
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Coot
1 Moorhen
Nice to meet Joel Tragen, who put me onto the bird and managed some good photos, close in.
Great northern diver still currently present on Trafford wharf.
No sign of the Great Northern Diver whilst I was there, from the Trafford Rd end, to Sam Platts, and over to the Lowry Outlet area.
Other birds of note...
- Cormorant at least 6
- Grey Heron 1
- Goosander 1 female
- Goldeneye 1 drake
- Tufted Duck 2
- Coot 5
- Moorhen 1
- Fieldfare 8
Then I got a text off Steve shortly after when I was driving back near work, saying the Diver had decided to turn up. Apparently been for a spell around Media City. Great!
Fantastic views of the great northern diver up til 3pm as it swam & dived from outside the bbc studios to Trafford wharf then did a little preening
Pete Hines mentioned that it is a juvenile.
Also 1 great crested grebe, resident drake goldeneye & 3 herring gull.
-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 14th of December 2015 05:43:27 PM
Great Northern Diver still showing well from by the Sam Platts pub at 11am.
Info thanks to John Tromans
Great Northern Diver showing to 20 yards during the afternoon ranging the docklands from Clippers Quay to North Wharf
Most often viewable from the south side of The Quays aka Trafford Wharf between Sam Platts pub and the new ITV/Coronation Street set
Also viewable at times from MediaCity, the Lowry Arts Centre, the Holiday Inn and in South Bay, the dock with the big ship with the greenhouses onboard
A flock of 23 Linnets on Pomona
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 13th of December 2015 10:42:41 PM
13/12/15 1050 - 1150 WeBS count;
Great Northern Diver = 1
Mute Swan = 16
Mallard = 10
Goldeneye = 1
Coot = 9
Moorhen = 1
Canada Goose = 22
Cormorant = 2
Grey Heron = 1
Black Headed Gull = 330
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 27
Herring Gull = 12
Common Gull = 18
Grey Wagtail = 2
Amusingly the online BTO WeBS system doesn't bat an eyelid when you enter Great Northern Diver but flashes up "Rarer Species" in red when I input the Grey Wagtail. Its all relative!
also 3 tufted duck.
redwings heard calling overhead.
well done nick on another great find for the quays
also 5 Fieldfare on berries