2 Moorhen 3 Coot 4 Little grebe Plenty of Canada geese and mallard, including quite a few growing youngsters. 6 lapwing 2 stock dove 1 juvenile grey heron 1 juvenile black-headed gull 1 jay Reed bunting, reed warbler, and loads of song thrush all heard singing
Mute swan pair with cygnets, 3 lesser black-backed gull on the lake and a few swift and swallow feeding. Buzzard over the river.
Joel Tragen said
Fri Jun 19 11:47 PM, 2015
Late report for Sunday 1 reed warbler calling outside broad ees dole on the water park it's self Broad ees dole 2 lapwing and while scanning the shore I spotted a young lapwing wondering the shore got some photos of that as well. 2 little grebe nests with 7 little grebes (2 on nests 5 swimming around) the max count for me here is 14 last summer. 1 grey heron 2 coots 3 moorhen 3 black headed gull A pair of mute swans with 5 cygnets 7 mallards 2 Canada geese sticking their heads out of the long vegetation on the island directly in front of the hide. 2 cormorants on the pylon outside the hide. 1 of the lapwings flew over the trees at the back leaving just one when I left. On my way home I spotted it taking off from turn moss playing fields heading in the direction of broad ees dole
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Jun 19 11:45 PM, 2015
This evening:
Great crested grebe on the main lake, also mute swan and Canada geese with young. Swift, house martin and swallow all hawking over the water. 3 pied wagtail
Broad Ees Dole:
5 little grebe 1 lapwing 4 moorhen (one in a tree) 3 coot 10+ mallard 2 Canada geese 2 black-headed gull 6 lesser black-backed gull 2 stock dove 2 goldfinch Reed bunting, wren, blackbird, robin heard singing
Lots of swift and 2 house martin feeding on the river behind the reserve.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 19th of June 2015 11:45:57 PM
phillipskelly said
Tue Jun 16 8:45 PM, 2015
Main Lake . . . . .
Mute swan x 2 (4ADD and 4BDH ) with 6 x Cygnets .
Reed warbler x1. Gt. Crested Grebe x 3 .
Greenfinch x 2 .
Canada goose x c. 220 . .
Chiffchaff x 1 .
Wf. Meadow . . .
Greenfinch x 3 .
Blackcap x 1 .
Wf. M. Rear of old carpark . . . .
Bullfinch x 1m . Willow warbler x 1. . Great tit x1. Reed bunting x 4 (3m + 1f ) . .
Whitethroat x 2 ( pair with food). I spent a good hour at least watching the above birds all interacting with each other in this small area .
Birdwatching , Just like it says on the tin.. .
Cow ln . . . . . . .
Blackcap x 1 .
Willow warbler x 1 . . . . . Plus lots of young blue tits about shouting for food. . .
Broad ees dole - Little grebe x 5 .
Lapwing x 2 .
Grey heron x 4 . R. Mersey . . . . .
Grey wagtail x3 (family party ). Nice afternoon from 1.30 till 5pm.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Jun 12 11:04 PM, 2015
This evening:
Pair of stock doves seen from the tram, just before crossing the river when coming to the tram stop (so probably more correctly Chorlton Ees); I've lived in Chorlton for about five years now, and have been watching this area since then, and I have never seen stock doves here before.
From the tram stop:
Great spotted woodpecker Mistle thrush Kestrel (being chased away by the thrush)
Not much on the lake, a coot with a chick and a few mallards, but lots of birds to be heard in song; dunnock, greenfinch, song thrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, etc.
Actually seen:
2 bullfinch 2 reed bunting 1 grey heron
Broad Ees Dole:
4 or 5 little grebe 5 moorhen (getting very aggravated with each other, which obviously caused a coot to weigh in, too) 4 coot 3 lapwing c15 mallard 1 mandarin (drake in eclipse plumage) 4 Canada geese
Reed bunting, song thrush, blackbird, etc all in song.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri May 29 11:15 PM, 2015
From around 7.40 to 9 this evening:
3 blackcap 4 chiffchaff 2 song thrush c5 swallow 1 greenfinch 1 goldfinch 15+ swift 1 kestrel
Main lake:
30+ Canada geese, including one pair with goslings 3 great crested grebe 2 mute swan coot and mallard 1 black-headed gull 1 lesser black-backed gull
Broad Ees Dole
6 little grebe 4 coot 4 lapwing 7 mallard, including two growing chicks (the same ones from the post below, probably) 2 goosander 13 Canada geese, with another pair with gosling Blackbird, robin, dunnock, reed bunting and song thrush all heard singing.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri May 15 9:48 PM, 2015
A couple of hours in the rain; a grey heron on the outlet stream and a couple of great crested grebe on the lake.
Broad Ees Dole:
7 little grebe 4 coot 3 moorhen 6 mallard, two of whom had a pair of young 2 tufted duck 22 Canada geese 4 lapwing 1 black-headed gull 1 grey heron several reed bunting heard calling 1 reed warbler heard singing 1 greenfinch and several song thrush also heard
c20 swift and 1 swallow feeding over the Mersey
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 15th of May 2015 10:45:00 PM
James Walsh said
Sun May 3 11:05 PM, 2015
Little Egret at Broad Ees Dole
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri May 1 10:58 PM, 2015
7 - 8.45 this evening:
2 chiffchaff 4 long-tailed tit 7 goldfinch 3 chaffinch 1 reed bunting 3 dunnock 2 swallow blue tit, robin, blackbird, etc. A couple of blackcap heard in the vegetation when walking from the tram stop.
4 Little Grebe 3 Lapwing - down to 2 fairly quickly when a fight broke out 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull 2 Cormorant (on pylon) 1 Reed Bunting (male)
Abundant Chiffchaff, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and Canada Geese.
James Walsh said
Thu Apr 23 11:36 PM, 2015
4 Lapwing 4 Reed Bunting 2 Swallow 1 Sand Martin 3 Blackcap 5 Chiffchaff 3 Little Grebe 3 Great Crested Grebe
phillipskelly said
Thu Apr 23 2:32 PM, 2015
Common tern on bouys on main lake 2.15pm but looks like it's gone .( 2.30pm).
Rob Creek said
Fri Apr 17 5:13 PM, 2015
2 Swallows through passed main car park at 4.25pm and they didn't hang around
steven burke said
Sun Apr 12 9:37 PM, 2015
6.30-8.30pm
19 mute swan 6 great crested grebe 2 teal 40+ sand martin 3 swallow 6 blackcap 6 chiffchaff 1 bullfinch 1 jay 4 song thrush 1 kestrel 1 sparrowhawk 4 grey heron, over
broad ees dole...
4 snipe 4 little grebe 2 teal 1 kingfisher 1 lapwing 10 goosander 1 reed bunting 1 grey wagtail on river
Pete Hines said
Sat Apr 11 9:43 PM, 2015
3 House Martin 5 Sand Martin 1 Blackcap 3 Chiffchaff 1 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Teal
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Apr 10 10:24 PM, 2015
Couple of willow tit here this evening. Couple of chiffchaff and a song thrush going through its full repertoire, too, around the wooded areas.
Broad Ees Dole
1 lapwing 4 goosander 2 teal 3 little grebe 1 kingfisher 2 moorhen, etc.
Also c100 jackdaw flying over to roost.
Beautiful evening; Venus and Jupiter looking fantastic in the sky, and managed to pick out at least one of the Galilean moons with my binoculars.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 10th of April 2015 10:34:38 PM
Graham Smith said
Thu Apr 9 6:27 PM, 2015
Plenty of Chifchaf heard 1 Male Blackcap
Shannon Llewellyn said
Mon Mar 30 10:06 AM, 2015
Yesterday's sightings, late afternoon / early evening:
3 teal & 3 mallard on the marshy area
Main lake:
1 goosander 4 gadwall 7 (at least) great crested grebe c25 mute swan lot of coot and canada geese a few mallards 1 common gull juvenile (the only gull on the lake, that I saw) 1 kestrel 1 grey wagtail 1 chiffchaff 4 long-tailed tit 3 sand martin (seen at the far end, flying off and feeding over the Mersey)
Broad Ees Dole
5 little grebe (giving very good views) 4 moorhen 2 coot 2 lapwing 4 teal 4 mallard (including two that seemed to be on a nest) 4 goosander 1 tufted duck 11 canada geese 2 mute swan (including one that lumbered across the path in front of me; ring no.: 4BDH) 1 jay 1 kingfisher (perched right in front of the hide, dealing with, and eating, a 3-spined stickleback in its spawning colours)
maggie mackay said
Fri Mar 27 7:58 AM, 2015
Thanks Simon. I appreciate your input - which sounds a lot better than my 'family reunion'!
Simon Johnson said
Thu Mar 26 7:33 PM, 2015
Hi Maggie
It could be that the birds were on migration - spring migration is underway now with birds which have wintered here and further south are now heading back to breeding grounds.
maggie mackay said
Thu Mar 26 7:25 PM, 2015
Hi Rob and thank you for your reply. So enjoyed seeing them spiral up and away whilst I was locked to the ground!
Rob Creek said
Thu Mar 26 2:11 PM, 2015
Current tacho break coming to an end...
Birds of note on a very choppy main lake due to the strong winds 20 Black-headed Gulls 4 Common Gulls 2 Herring Gulls ~26 Mute Swans ~65 Canada Geese 4 Mallard 5 Gadwall ~20 Coot 1 Great Crested Grebe 3 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 3 Jackdaw 5 Magpie 2 Woodpigeon
Hi Maggie, I don't think there is anything too unusual about your 7 Common Buzzards circling together, they are however strongly territorial in the breeding season.
maggie mackay said
Wed Mar 25 8:19 PM, 2015
Around 11am this morning seven buzzards were overhead near Ivy Green Road where it meets the meadows. They did not seem to be challenging one another or sparring but why gather as seven? Nor did they cry out much. Three, maybe four, I'm used to but what would seven be doing together? The time of year or normal at any time? Family re-union? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Rob Creek said
Fri Mar 20 4:13 PM, 2015
Usual numbers of the usual species... Mute Swan - at least 41 Canada Goose - around 75 Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard. Only around 20 Black-headed Gulls 1 Common Gull 1 Cormorant 1 Grey Heron 1 Pied Wagtail
From 1pm . . . . .
Visitor Centre marsh . . . -
Teal x 10 . Old car park . . .- Mistle thrush x2.
Blackbird x 2.
Bullfinch x 1m . Cow ln . . . . . . - Willow tit (heard) x 1 . Chaffinch x 2 . Main lake . . . . . - Mute swan x 41 . Goldeneye x 2 f Tufted duck x12. Gadwall x 4 . Grt. Crested grebe x8. Common gull x27 . Lesser blackback gull x 2 . Black headed gull aprox. 100 . Little grebe x 1. Broad ees dole..- Oystercatcher x1. Lapwing x 2 . Little grebe x 3 . Teal x 5 . Grey heron x 3 Goosander x 1 . Common buzzard x 1 (low over) .
4 Grey Heron 4 Little Grebe 2 Lapwing 2 Teal 9 Gadwall Small very pale wader on tiny island against far bank, sorry too far to ID with bins.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Mar 8 8:46 PM, 2015
Yesterday's sightings.
1 reed bunting seen from the tram stop, in the little reed-bed on the golf course, another heard singing
9 teal and 2 mallard on the marshy area by the visitor centre
wooded areas:
2 goldcrest 3 dunnock 3 long-tailed tit 5+ chaffinch 5+ song thrush 2 jay plenty of the usuals
Lake itself:
plenty of coot, Canada geese, mallard, tufted duck, and probably around 50 mute swan 150+ black-headed gulls, with good numbers of common gulls, at least one lesser black-backed, and quite a few large juvenile (which could have been either lb-b or herring; sorry) 14 gadwall 6 (maybe more) great crested grebe 1 little grebe 2 kingfisher
Broad Ees Dole
7 grey heron (including one flying off with nesting material) 3 little grebe c10 coot c10 black-headed gulls 1 common gull 3 moorhen 2 lapwing 1 mystery raptor; sat low in a tree at the very far end of the pond, where I couldn't properly make it out. Swooped down, and disappeared behind the furthermost island, and didn't reappear anywhere visible to me.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Mon Mar 2 10:19 AM, 2015
Thought I'd come here in a break in the weather, which was foolish, as it immediately started hammering it down again; anyway, a very quick scan of the lake yielded:
several canada geese, mute swan (around 15 or so, I'd say, that I could see), mallard and tufted duck 4 gadwall 3 little grebe 4 coot in a circle, displaying aggressively to each other; heads down low to the water, wings raised and pecking. I know coots can get involved in quite violent territorial struggles around this time of year, but these four didn't seem to want to get quite to those levels just yet; shame the weather was so bad, as it was interesting to watch, and would have liked to have seen how far it escalated, or who came out on top.
Rob Creek said
Sat Feb 28 7:54 PM, 2015
Friday afternoon.
No sign of the 'Tangled' Mute Swan 20+ Mute Swans Approx 80+ Canada Geese Lots of Mallard Plenty of Tufted Duck 7 Gadwall Plenty of Coot A few Moorhen 2 Little Grebe tucked away under the low hanging branches 1 Cormorant 1 Pied Wagtail 1 Grey Wagtail
The usual Gulls... Approx 150 Black-headed Approx 15 Common 1 Lesser Black-backed (I don't know if it's the same bird that favours this end of the lake but there's always 1) A few Herring Gull
More of the larger Gulls over near the buoys including Lesser Black-backed and Herring
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Feb 24 6:11 PM, 2015
We seem to be both going round in circles here and getting way of topic and whilst I appreciate this is a very important issue this will be the final word on it within this thread (please continue any necessary discussion via private message, verbally or email).
Clearly (and rightly), concern has been raised over this swan's health plus, if there's only a little bit of fishing line hanging out of its mouth you can bet there's a lot more in its throat/gut. The RSPCA is the correct course of action and have been alerted; they will attend, though I appreciate it may take them some time and as Jamie says there may be no immediate concern.
We're not experts (unless there is an expert out there ) so as with all welfare issues relating to birds (and indeed any other wildlife) always seek informed advice immediately.
Tony Darby said
Tue Feb 24 5:53 PM, 2015
Rob Creek wrote:
Cheers Jamie, I will report it to the park office on next visit this week. ______________________________________________
Guys, there is no park office at SWP any more, they closed the visitors centre some years ago. If there's a welfare issue with any of the birds you'll need to contact the RSPCA directly, as you seem to have done Rob.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Tuesday 24th of February 2015 05:57:40 PM
JamieDunning said
Tue Feb 24 12:49 PM, 2015
I've seen the bird in question - it's been around for a week or so, the reason I'm being laid back regarding contacting the RSPCA is because it doesn't look to be an immediate concern. I suppose that as long as they know about it you've done what you can.
Rob Creek said
Tue Feb 24 11:15 AM, 2015
Ian McKerchar wrote:
If there is any doubt about the welfare of this swan then please don't rely on this forum or indeed on someone else doing something; please contact the RSPCA without delay.
All done Ian, but was advised it could be a couple of days before I find out if an officer has seen to the bird's welfare.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Feb 24 9:59 AM, 2015
If there is any doubt about the welfare of this swan then please don't rely on this forum or indeed on someone else doing something; please contact the RSPCA without delay.
Mike Savage said
Tue Feb 24 9:45 AM, 2015
When the Warden Service was functioning we would catch birds with line where we could and remove it (had basic training from RSPCA if I remember rightly). I remember getting the local swan expert to catch a pair on SWP in the 90s - fascinating how they can be lured out of the water by the calls of their partner. That pair turned out to be gay, actually.
As Jamie says, the Queen no longer owns swans that aren't on the 'upped' rivers - she got tired of people sending vet's bills I guess!
If Paul Heaton has seen this thread I am sure he will keep an eye on the birds?
Mike
JamieDunning said
Tue Feb 24 1:24 AM, 2015
They still hold events on the Thames, I think there's two other companies that also 'up' Swans. I'm sure we could google this but the word 'own' is the problematic bit. There are all kinds of obscure things entrenched in law, there're not all as pop knowledge as this one though.
Rob Creek said
Tue Feb 24 12:47 AM, 2015
Cheers Jamie, I will report it to the park office on next visit this week.
In answer to the ownership comment though, I've always understood it that the Queen technically owns all UK Mute Swans on British waters so to speak. But she rarely, if at all, exercises her right of ownership outside of the Thames and its tributaries. There are conflicting reports however. Cheers Rob
JamieDunning said
Mon Feb 23 11:56 PM, 2015
Rob - Nothing to do with the queen up here I'm afraid, just protected as a wild species, if I remember rightly, it's only certain tributaries of the Thames these days and only un-marked birds at that (we should however, still look after Steve's swans!). If you alert the Park office they will keep an eye on the bird, I'm sure o on a site as well watched as Sale, if it takes a turn for the worse, the RSPCA will be called.
Rob Creek said
Mon Feb 23 9:24 PM, 2015
Late post for Friday, my apologies totally forgot.
The usual big numbers of birds. Black-headed Gulls - 200 easily (2C18 and 2C19 present again) Common Gull - maybe 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (more near buoys) Herring Gull - maybe 10 (more near buoys) Lots of juvenile /1st winter large Gulls around (mainly Herring I think) Lots of Waterfowl... Canada Goose - approx 80 Mallard Gadwall Teal Tufted Duck Coot Moorhen Little Grebe Cormorant ...and a stunning drake Goldeneye with 3 females
And 2 things regarding the Mute Swans. Firstly a couple of Darvic No.s VF6 already reported below 4BDA, can't see it below
Secondly... A young lad and Dad feeding the birds came over to me in the wagon and reported that 1 of the Swans has fishing line tangled up in the corner of the mouth. I zoomed in on the bird and there is a little bit there. It appears to be eating ok BUT it did appear a little bit thin if I'm honest. Does anyone need to be notified Ian? Obviously we don't have a Swan Master in the NW like in London but they are still regarded as the Queens Swans, not just the Swans in the Thames. I wondered if it would be monitored to see if the line works itself free. Cheers Rob
Main lake. . . . . . Goldeneye x 6f . Tufted duck x29. Little grebe x3. Gt Crested grebe x 8. Gadwall x 6. Mute swan x38. Blue darvic ring numbers . . . VF6. . ZF6. . 4BDH. .4BDP. 4ADD. .4BDZ. .(48DN. .48DL. . Were the first two seen so the 8's might be B's) All were seen in the water and was extremily difficult to do. Rob Creek was right. . . . Broad ees dole. . . . Buzzard x3 over. Pied wagtail x 1. Little grebe x 3. Lapwing x 2. Grey Heron x 1. Teal x 3. Goosander x 26 at 5.45pm when I left . Gadwall x8.
Rob Creek said
Tue Feb 17 6:45 PM, 2015
JamieDunning wrote:
Hi Rob, Whilst there are such good numbers of Swan prior to the breeding season I wonder if you could try and read of their Darvik (large blue coded rings) off, as well as the gulls?
Hi Jamie, Unfortunately virtually every Swan was on the lake so I will have a look for you next time I'm there. It's when I'm delivering in the Sale, Urmston and Stretford area so possibly Friday. Cheers
JamieDunning said
Tue Feb 17 10:56 AM, 2015
Hi Rob, Whilst there are such good numbers of Swan prior to the breeding season I wonder if you could try and read of their Darvik (large blue coded rings) off, as well as the gulls?
Rob Creek said
Mon Feb 16 11:53 PM, 2015
Afternoon tacho break.
Lots of birds on main lake. Mute Swan - 40+ with more on other parts of lake Canada Goose - lost count at 90 as more kept appearing Mallard - lots Tufted Duck - around (40-50) Gadwall - few small groups over nr banking Teal - again tucked away in low branches at water's edge opposite Coot - lots Moorhen Cormorant Great Crested Grebe Pied Wagtail - 1 Carrion Crow and Magpie Woodpigeon
Gulls.. Black-headed - rough estimate of around 200 Common - approx 15 or so, couple of adults Lesser Black-backed - 1 adult chasing any other Gull with food in its bill, and another younger bird with pink feet but very dark plumage as you'd expect in LB-b. Am I right in thinking that the legs sometimes take time to go yellow???
4 ringed Black-headed Gulls with the blue Darvic No's... 2F00 2F54 2C18 2C19
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 17th of February 2015 06:54:42 PM
phillipskelly said
Sat Feb 14 6:33 PM, 2015
12.30 - 2.30 pm
Main Lake -
Mutd Swan x 42 Gt. Crested Grebe x 5
Goldeneye x 4
Gadwall x 8
Tufted Duck x 32
Cormorant x 2
Black headed gull c200.
Common gull x23.
Greenfinch x 1
Broad ees dole - Black headed gull x 21
Mallard x 5
Moorhen x2
Shoveler duck x2
Teal x 18
Grey Heron x 6
Rob Creek said
Sat Feb 7 9:13 AM, 2015
Friday afternoon on tacho break.
Literally hundreds of birds so difficult to put numbers on. My sightings were on the half frozen lake around the main car park area, but there was also lots of birds around the far banking near the hide, and towards the buoys.
Black-headed Gulls - 250+ (2C18, 2C19, and 2C20 present, more ringed also but couldn't get numbers) Common Gulls - around 30 Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 5 The Gulls near the buoys seemed to be of the larger species
Wildfowl... Mute Swan - at least 30 Canada Geese - 60+ Mallard - ??? Tufted Duck - all near far banking Teal and Gadwall - tucked away under the low branches opposite car park Goldeneye - 1 female redhead Goosander - 1
Great Crested Grebe Coot Moorhen Cormorant - 1 Pied Wagtail - 1 Few Goldfinch over Magpies - ??? Carrion Crow - around 10 Woodpigeon - good number around
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 7th of February 2015 09:14:44 AM
Paul Heaton said
Mon Feb 2 8:12 PM, 2015
Chilly walk round, main lake frozen in parts. Mute swan 55 Canada goose 125 Tufted duck 100 + Gadwall 17 Mallard 30 Coots 185. Little Grebe 4 Great Crested Grebe 4 Teal 38 males 26 females Herons 5
A lack of small birds Great Tits 11 Chaffinch 1 Reed bunting 1
2 Moorhen
3 Coot
4 Little grebe
Plenty of Canada geese and mallard, including quite a few growing youngsters.
6 lapwing
2 stock dove
1 juvenile grey heron
1 juvenile black-headed gull
1 jay
Reed bunting, reed warbler, and loads of song thrush all heard singing
Mute swan pair with cygnets, 3 lesser black-backed gull on the lake and a few swift and swallow feeding. Buzzard over the river.
1 reed warbler calling outside broad ees dole on the water park it's self
Broad ees dole
2 lapwing and while scanning the shore I spotted a young lapwing wondering the shore got some photos of that as well.
2 little grebe nests with 7 little grebes (2 on nests 5 swimming around) the max count for me here is 14 last summer.
1 grey heron
2 coots
3 moorhen
3 black headed gull
A pair of mute swans with 5 cygnets
7 mallards
2 Canada geese sticking their heads out of the long vegetation on the island directly in front of the hide.
2 cormorants on the pylon outside the hide.
1 of the lapwings flew over the trees at the back leaving just one when I left. On my way home I spotted it taking off from turn moss playing fields heading in the direction of broad ees dole
Great crested grebe on the main lake, also mute swan and Canada geese with young.
Swift, house martin and swallow all hawking over the water.
3 pied wagtail
Broad Ees Dole:
5 little grebe
1 lapwing
4 moorhen (one in a tree)
3 coot
10+ mallard
2 Canada geese
2 black-headed gull
6 lesser black-backed gull
2 stock dove
2 goldfinch
Reed bunting, wren, blackbird, robin heard singing
Lots of swift and 2 house martin feeding on the river behind the reserve.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 19th of June 2015 11:45:57 PM
Pair of stock doves seen from the tram, just before crossing the river when coming to the tram stop (so probably more correctly Chorlton Ees); I've lived in Chorlton for about five years now, and have been watching this area since then, and I have never seen stock doves here before.
From the tram stop:
Great spotted woodpecker
Mistle thrush
Kestrel (being chased away by the thrush)
Not much on the lake, a coot with a chick and a few mallards, but lots of birds to be heard in song; dunnock, greenfinch, song thrush, blackcap, chiffchaff, etc.
Actually seen:
2 bullfinch
2 reed bunting
1 grey heron
Broad Ees Dole:
4 or 5 little grebe
5 moorhen (getting very aggravated with each other, which obviously caused a coot to weigh in, too)
4 coot
3 lapwing
c15 mallard
1 mandarin (drake in eclipse plumage)
4 Canada geese
Reed bunting, song thrush, blackbird, etc all in song.
3 blackcap
4 chiffchaff
2 song thrush
c5 swallow
1 greenfinch
1 goldfinch
15+ swift
1 kestrel
Main lake:
30+ Canada geese, including one pair with goslings
3 great crested grebe
2 mute swan
coot and mallard
1 black-headed gull
1 lesser black-backed gull
Broad Ees Dole
6 little grebe
4 coot
4 lapwing
7 mallard, including two growing chicks (the same ones from the post below, probably)
2 goosander
13 Canada geese, with another pair with gosling
Blackbird, robin, dunnock, reed bunting and song thrush all heard singing.
Broad Ees Dole:
7 little grebe
4 coot
3 moorhen
6 mallard, two of whom had a pair of young
2 tufted duck
22 Canada geese
4 lapwing
1 black-headed gull
1 grey heron
several reed bunting heard calling
1 reed warbler heard singing
1 greenfinch and several song thrush also heard
c20 swift and 1 swallow feeding over the Mersey
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 15th of May 2015 10:45:00 PM
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
2 chiffchaff
4 long-tailed tit
7 goldfinch
3 chaffinch
1 reed bunting
3 dunnock
2 swallow
blue tit, robin, blackbird, etc. A couple of blackcap heard in the vegetation when walking from the tram stop.
Main lake:
6 great crested grebe
c10 mute swan
2 lesser black-backed gull
1 cormorant
mallard, Canada geese, coot
Broad Ees Dole:
4 little grebe
7 coot
1 moorhen
4 goosander
2 lapwing
1 mute swan
7 mallard
17 Canada geese
1 chiffchaff
Lots of song thrush singing all over
Main Lake
2 Great Crested Grebe
Broad Ees Dole
4 Little Grebe
3 Lapwing - down to 2 fairly quickly when a fight broke out
2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
2 Cormorant (on pylon)
1 Reed Bunting (male)
Abundant Chiffchaff, Coot, Moorhen, Mallard and Canada Geese.
4 Reed Bunting
2 Swallow
1 Sand Martin
3 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaff
3 Little Grebe
3 Great Crested Grebe
19 mute swan
6 great crested grebe
2 teal
40+ sand martin
3 swallow
6 blackcap
6 chiffchaff
1 bullfinch
1 jay
4 song thrush
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
4 grey heron, over
broad ees dole...
4 snipe
4 little grebe
2 teal
1 kingfisher
1 lapwing
10 goosander
1 reed bunting
1 grey wagtail on river
5 Sand Martin
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Teal
Broad Ees Dole
1 lapwing
4 goosander
2 teal
3 little grebe
1 kingfisher
2 moorhen, etc.
Also c100 jackdaw flying over to roost.
Beautiful evening; Venus and Jupiter looking fantastic in the sky, and managed to pick out at least one of the Galilean moons with my binoculars.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 10th of April 2015 10:34:38 PM
1 Male Blackcap
3 teal & 3 mallard on the marshy area
Main lake:
1 goosander
4 gadwall
7 (at least) great crested grebe
c25 mute swan
lot of coot and canada geese
a few mallards
1 common gull juvenile (the only gull on the lake, that I saw)
1 kestrel
1 grey wagtail
1 chiffchaff
4 long-tailed tit
3 sand martin (seen at the far end, flying off and feeding over the Mersey)
Broad Ees Dole
5 little grebe (giving very good views)
4 moorhen
2 coot
2 lapwing
4 teal
4 mallard (including two that seemed to be on a nest)
4 goosander
1 tufted duck
11 canada geese
2 mute swan (including one that lumbered across the path in front of me; ring no.: 4BDH)
1 jay
1 kingfisher (perched right in front of the hide, dealing with, and eating, a 3-spined stickleback in its spawning colours)
It could be that the birds were on migration - spring migration is underway now with birds which have wintered here and further south are now heading back to breeding grounds.
Birds of note on a very choppy main lake due to the strong winds
20 Black-headed Gulls
4 Common Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
~26 Mute Swans
~65 Canada Geese
4 Mallard
5 Gadwall
~20 Coot
1 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
3 Jackdaw
5 Magpie
2 Woodpigeon
Hi Maggie,
I don't think there is anything too unusual about your 7 Common Buzzards circling together, they are however strongly territorial in the breeding season.
Mute Swan - at least 41
Canada Goose - around 75
Tufted Duck, Coot, Mallard.
Only around 20 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
1 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
1 Pied Wagtail
5 mallard
9 teal
15 goosander
11 Canada geese
3 coot
1 moorhen
1 little grebe
2 lapwing
2 long-tailed tit
2 wren
6 great crested grebe on the main lake
Tram Stop:
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Mistle Thrush
Visitor Centre flooded field:
5 Teal
Main Lake:
1 female Goldeneye
2 Great Crested Grebe
3 Cormorant
10 Tufted Duck
Broad Ees Dole:
4 Grey Heron
4 Little Grebe
2 Lapwing
2 Teal
9 Gadwall
Small very pale wader on tiny island against far bank, sorry too far to ID with bins.
1 reed bunting seen from the tram stop, in the little reed-bed on the golf course, another heard singing
9 teal and 2 mallard on the marshy area by the visitor centre
wooded areas:
2 goldcrest
3 dunnock
3 long-tailed tit
5+ chaffinch
5+ song thrush
2 jay
plenty of the usuals
Lake itself:
plenty of coot, Canada geese, mallard, tufted duck, and probably around 50 mute swan
150+ black-headed gulls, with good numbers of common gulls, at least one lesser black-backed, and quite a few large juvenile (which could have been either lb-b or herring; sorry)
14 gadwall
6 (maybe more) great crested grebe
1 little grebe
2 kingfisher
Broad Ees Dole
7 grey heron (including one flying off with nesting material)
3 little grebe
c10 coot
c10 black-headed gulls
1 common gull
3 moorhen
2 lapwing
1 mystery raptor; sat low in a tree at the very far end of the pond, where I couldn't properly make it out. Swooped down, and disappeared behind the furthermost island, and didn't reappear anywhere visible to me.
several canada geese, mute swan (around 15 or so, I'd say, that I could see), mallard and tufted duck
4 gadwall
3 little grebe
4 coot in a circle, displaying aggressively to each other; heads down low to the water, wings raised and pecking. I know coots can get involved in quite violent territorial struggles around this time of year, but these four didn't seem to want to get quite to those levels just yet; shame the weather was so bad, as it was interesting to watch, and would have liked to have seen how far it escalated, or who came out on top.
No sign of the 'Tangled' Mute Swan
20+ Mute Swans
Approx 80+ Canada Geese
Lots of Mallard
Plenty of Tufted Duck
7 Gadwall
Plenty of Coot
A few Moorhen
2 Little Grebe tucked away under the low hanging branches
1 Cormorant
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Grey Wagtail
The usual Gulls...
Approx 150 Black-headed
Approx 15 Common
1 Lesser Black-backed (I don't know if it's the same bird that favours this end of the lake but there's always 1)
A few Herring Gull
More of the larger Gulls over near the buoys including Lesser Black-backed and Herring
Clearly (and rightly), concern has been raised over this swan's health plus, if there's only a little bit of fishing line hanging out of its mouth you can bet there's a lot more in its throat/gut. The RSPCA is the correct course of action and have been alerted; they will attend, though I appreciate it may take them some time and as Jamie says there may be no immediate concern.
We're not experts (unless there is an expert out there ) so as with all welfare issues relating to birds (and indeed any other wildlife) always seek informed advice immediately.
I suppose that as long as they know about it you've done what you can.
All done Ian, but was advised it could be a couple of days before I find out if an officer has seen to the bird's welfare.
As Jamie says, the Queen no longer owns swans that aren't on the 'upped' rivers - she got tired of people sending vet's bills I guess!
If Paul Heaton has seen this thread I am sure he will keep an eye on the birds?
Mike
In answer to the ownership comment though, I've always understood it that the Queen technically owns all UK Mute Swans on British waters so to speak. But she rarely, if at all, exercises her right of ownership outside of the Thames and its tributaries. There are conflicting reports however.
Cheers
Rob
If you alert the Park office they will keep an eye on the bird, I'm sure o on a site as well watched as Sale, if it takes a turn for the worse, the RSPCA will be called.
The usual big numbers of birds.
Black-headed Gulls - 200 easily
(2C18 and 2C19 present again)
Common Gull - maybe 15
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 (more near buoys)
Herring Gull - maybe 10 (more near buoys)
Lots of juvenile /1st winter large Gulls around (mainly Herring I think)
Lots of Waterfowl...
Canada Goose - approx 80
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Tufted Duck
Coot
Moorhen
Little Grebe
Cormorant
...and a stunning drake Goldeneye with 3 females
And 2 things regarding the Mute Swans.
Firstly a couple of Darvic No.s
VF6 already reported below
4BDA, can't see it below
Secondly...
A young lad and Dad feeding the birds came over to me in the wagon and reported that 1 of the Swans has fishing line tangled up in the corner of the mouth. I zoomed in on the bird and there is a little bit there. It appears to be eating ok BUT it did appear a little bit thin if I'm honest. Does anyone need to be notified Ian? Obviously we don't have a Swan Master in the NW like in London but they are still regarded as the Queens Swans, not just the Swans in the Thames.
I wondered if it would be monitored to see if the line works itself free.
Cheers
Rob
2 Lapwing
10 Gadwall
30 Tufted Duck
11 Great Crested Grebe
5 Little Grebe
5 Teal
2 Nuthatch
2 Treecreeper
In addition to Phil's sightings:
4ADC 11/2
4ACV 11/2
VN6 11/2
4ANX 11/2
4ANL 11/2
4ADB 16/2
Also, briefly on Chorlton WP 12/2
4ACZ
4ACB
VF6
These birds plus 3 others were chased of by the resident pair, presumably back to Sale WP.
VF6 7/9/12 Moses Gate, Farnworth
ZF6 17/8/13 Ashton Moss
4ADD 9/11/13 Sale WP
4BDH 1/11/14 Sale WP
4BDZ 6/12/14 Clifton Marina
4BDH 1/11/14 Sale WP
4BDL 8/11/14 Worsley
4BDP 8/11/14 Worsley
Many thanks for reporting these,
Steve
Tufted duck x29. Little grebe x3.
Gt Crested grebe x 8.
Gadwall x 6.
Mute swan x38.
Blue darvic ring numbers . . . VF6. . ZF6. . 4BDH. .4BDP. 4ADD. .4BDZ. .(48DN. .48DL. . Were the first two seen so the 8's might be B's) All were seen in the water and was extremily difficult to do. Rob Creek was right. . . .
Broad ees dole. . . . Buzzard x3 over.
Pied wagtail x 1.
Little grebe x 3.
Lapwing x 2.
Grey Heron x 1. Teal x 3.
Goosander x 26 at 5.45pm when I left .
Gadwall x8.
Hi Jamie,
Unfortunately virtually every Swan was on the lake so I will have a look for you next time I'm there. It's when I'm delivering in the Sale, Urmston and Stretford area so possibly Friday.
Cheers
Whilst there are such good numbers of Swan prior to the breeding season I wonder if you could try and read of their Darvik (large blue coded rings) off, as well as the gulls?
Lots of birds on main lake.
Mute Swan - 40+ with more on other parts of lake
Canada Goose - lost count at 90 as more kept appearing
Mallard - lots
Tufted Duck - around (40-50)
Gadwall - few small groups over nr banking
Teal - again tucked away in low branches at water's edge opposite
Coot - lots
Moorhen
Cormorant
Great Crested Grebe
Pied Wagtail - 1
Carrion Crow and Magpie
Woodpigeon
Gulls..
Black-headed - rough estimate of around 200
Common - approx 15 or so, couple of adults
Lesser Black-backed - 1 adult chasing any other Gull with food in its bill, and another younger bird with pink feet but very dark plumage as you'd expect in LB-b. Am I right in thinking that the legs sometimes take time to go yellow???
4 ringed Black-headed Gulls with the blue Darvic No's...
2F00
2F54
2C18
2C19
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Tuesday 17th of February 2015 06:54:42 PM
Literally hundreds of birds so difficult to put numbers on. My sightings were on the half frozen lake around the main car park area, but there was also lots of birds around the far banking near the hide, and towards the buoys.
Black-headed Gulls - 250+
(2C18, 2C19, and 2C20 present, more ringed also but couldn't get numbers)
Common Gulls - around 30
Lesser Black-backed Gulls - 5
The Gulls near the buoys seemed to be of the larger species
Wildfowl...
Mute Swan - at least 30
Canada Geese - 60+
Mallard - ???
Tufted Duck - all near far banking
Teal and Gadwall - tucked away under the low branches opposite car park
Goldeneye - 1 female
redhead Goosander - 1
Great Crested Grebe
Coot
Moorhen
Cormorant - 1
Pied Wagtail - 1
Few Goldfinch over
Magpies - ???
Carrion Crow - around 10
Woodpigeon - good number around
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 7th of February 2015 09:14:44 AM
Mute swan 55
Canada goose 125
Tufted duck 100 +
Gadwall 17
Mallard 30
Coots 185.
Little Grebe 4
Great Crested Grebe 4
Teal 38 males 26 females
Herons 5
A lack of small birds
Great Tits 11
Chaffinch 1
Reed bunting 1
BH Gulls 270+
Common Gull 13
LBB 3
Cormorant 3
Goosander 4
Keep Birding