Garden Warbler, flycatching & showing well on bushes above the reeds from the footpath through the reedbed Water Rail, walked over the footpath and showed again briefly 2 Reed Buntings (male & female) 2 singing Reed Warbler 1 Common Buzzard
thanks again for a great day out james, some good birds seen throughout the day
James Walsh said
Fri May 3 4:04 AM, 2013
Jack Lane Nature Reserve
Garden Warbler, flycatching & showing well on bushes above the reeds from the footpath through the reedbed Water Rail, walked over the footpath and showed again briefly 2 Reed Buntings (male & female) 2 singing Reed Warbler 1 Common Buzzard
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri May 3 12:28 AM, 2013
My first Swifts of the year, with 2 over Flixton this afternoon.
Yellow Wagtail 1 on the filter beds. A first for me at this site. Grey Wagtail 2 Pied Wagtail 20+ Starling 50+ BH Gull 10+ Mute Swan 10 Cormorant 3 LBB Gull 1 Swallow 30+ House Martin 1 Whitethroat 1 alongside the canal, downstream of locks.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue Apr 23 1:48 AM, 2013
Monday, April 22nd pm.
Walk from Stott Drive, via Jack Lane to Ship Canal.
Stott Drive:
Waxwing 35 Grey Heron 1 low over front garden. Kestrel 1 Coal tit 1 singing. Blackcap 1 singing.
Sunday 21st Jack Lane NR Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler all present at Jack Lane NR. Swallows in some numbers and 2 House Martin at ETW full list as follows
Black-headed Gull Blackbird Blackcap Blue Tit Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff Collared Dove Dunnock Feral Pigeon Goldfinch Great Tit House Martin House Sparrow Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) Reed Bunting Reed Warbler Robin Rook Song Thrush Starling Swallow Water Rail Whitethroat Willow Tit Willow Warbler Woodpigeon Wren
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Apr 17 1:54 AM, 2013
Even better, but 2 male Blackcaps now perched in my Mountain Ash Tree. Brilliant to hear their beautiful song, especially so close to the house.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Apr 17 1:35 AM, 2013
Late update but just heard a singing Blackcap in the field behind Stott Drive.
Black-headed Gull Blackbird Blue Tit Canada Goose Carrion Crow Chaffinch Chiffchaff-6 Collared Dove Cormorant Dunnock Feral Pigeon Fieldfare Goldfinch Great Spotted Woodpecker Great Tit Greenfinch Grey Heron House Sparrow Jay Lesser Black-backed Gull Linnet Little Grebe Long-tailed Tit Magpie Mallard Meadow Pipit Mistle Thrush Moorhen Redwing Reed Bunting Robin Rook Siskin Skylark Song Thrush Starling Teal Woodpigeon Wren
Kevin McCabe said
Sat Mar 30 4:55 PM, 2013
Irlam Locks 7.30am
A pair of Mandarin ducks between Irlam Locks and railway viaduct, this is a new species for me on my local patch, other species nearby Kingfisher (2) Gadwall (4), Teal (4) several Mallards and a Great Crested Grebe. Chiffchaff at Jack Lane N.R. no signs of any other migrants. Kevin
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Mon Mar 25 3:12 AM, 2013
Sunday, 24th March.
Irlam Locks/Canal:
Chiffchaff 1 seen near jetty. Mute Swan 8 ad. 2 imm. Gadwall 1m 1f. Teal 3m 3f. Grey Wagtail 2 as usual, just downstream of locks. Cormorant 3. Moorhen 2. Pied Wagtails.
Flyash Hill/Flixton Lagoons:
Teal 20. Buzzard 1. Herring Gull 1 imm.
Field being ploughed:
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5. Common Gull 3. Black-headed Gull 300+ including a leucistic individual.
Paul Heaton said
Mon Mar 18 7:28 PM, 2013
Large thrush flock this morning Fieldfare Redwing c50+, mixed finch flock Chaffinch Greenfinch Goldfinch, Redpoll . Willow Tit Coal Tit, etc. best bit of the morning was bumping into Mr McCabe who was on a Chiffchaff hunt the same as me, birders we are all the same...
Keep Birding
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of March 2013 07:57:02 PM
Kevin McCabe said
Mon Mar 18 12:30 AM, 2013
Sand Martin flying over Fly Ash Tip. Flixton approx 10.15am
Kev.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Mar 17 11:29 PM, 2013
6 Buzzard circling high over the Mile Road just before 1pm this afternoon.
Steven Nelson said
Wed Feb 27 4:44 AM, 2013
Irlam Locks - 7.50am this morning
A very noisy gathering of 300+ Black-headed Gulls on the water and perched on the railings. Definately a 'spring feeling' amongst the flock with a bit of displaying going on !
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Feb 27 3:36 AM, 2013
Late mention from Monday, 25th Feb.
From Flyash Hill were seen:
Goosander 2m 2f flying east along River Mersey. Cormorant 1 as above. Teal 5+ Gadwall 1m 1f Moorhen 1 Buzzard 2 Bullfinch 1 "singing".
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Sat Feb 2 5:38 AM, 2013
Highlights, 1/2/13, am.
Raven 2 seen south from Flyash Hill on Carrington pylons. Kestrel 1m Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 imm male.
A male Goosander flying south over Flyash Hill. 10+ Redwings and 10+ Fieldfares also seen from the hill.
10+ Siskin at Dutton's Pond, plus a singing Song Thrush. 1 Willow Tit nearby.
At the ETW/Canal were 8 Lesser Redpolls. Also, 16 Mallards, 4 Mute Swans, including 2 adults with rings VJ6 and SYC, 2 Grey Wagtails, 150+ BH Gulls, with just 1 Common and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 20+ Starlings, 30+ Magpies and 2 Cormorants.
Late post for Yesterday - 6.30pm
Irlam Locks
1 Grey Wagtail
c.25 Pied Wagtails - looking like they were getting ready roost
1 Grey Heron
7.50am
10 Swallows gathered on wires
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Fri Aug 31 11:02 PM, 2012
Friday, August 31st. Back from my summer recess.
Viewed from Garden:
Hobby 1 soaring overhead. Buzzard 5 soaring in a group plus 1 later. Swift 1 Goldcrest 1
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue Jun 19 1:53 AM, 2012
Monday, June 18th.
Usual walk from home. Highlight was a second-summer Mediterranean Gull, with 2 adult and 3 immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 immature Common Gull and a number of Black-headed Gulls, all helping to clean up Wellacre School field after the Boys' lunch break. Plenty of the usual stuff.
Steven Nelson said
Wed May 30 1:57 AM, 2012
Pair of Grey Wagtail at Irlam Locks this morning 8.00am
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu May 24 12:43 AM, 2012
Wednesday, May 23rd.
*another Whimbrel* over Flixton. Just the one this time.
Also a Yellow Wagtail flying west over Fly-Ash Hill, presumably on it's way to Chat Moss.
Possibly unusual sighting for May, of an adult and imm. Common Gull on Wellacre School fields.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu May 10 10:14 PM, 2012
Whimbrel 2 flying North over Stott Drive, calling at 1450.
House Martin 3 around Woodsend Shops.
Steven Nelson said
Thu May 10 3:36 AM, 2012
1 Raven flying over locks from Irlam towards Carrington at 5.45pm tonight.
Robert Farmer said
Wed May 9 1:59 PM, 2012
Had a pleasant hour round there last night, till around 7.30pm.
(Not been there since my cross-country runs from school 40 years ago!)
ETW/Canal and environs
A great display of Swallows and Sand Martins assembled on the telegraph wires at the ETW - strangely no House Martins amongst them at that point.
2 (possibly 3) Grey Herons 1 male and 1 female Goosander 1 male Gadwall plenty of Mallard scattered about including a couple in the locks 9 Mute Swans on the northern side of the locks with another under the railway bridge to the south 2 Cormorants Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler heard and seen Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits Chaffinch heard Carrion Crow Magpies Wood Pigeon Blackbird House Martins/Swallows over the fields
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 9th of May 2012 02:26:21 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue May 1 10:03 PM, 2012
My first Swift of the year over Flixton, Monday 30/4/12.
Any extent of white on the head of a Cormorant is not necessarily indicative of the 'sinensis' race of Cormorant I'm afraid Michael. Their identification is in fact very difficult to say the least.
I've been reading up on identifying them. It does indeed look difficult. That's why I was asking if anybody else had seen this bird. I have a friend into wildlife photography, think I'll have to get him to come along to try and get a decent picture.
Cheers for the reply Ian.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Feb 26 2:10 AM, 2012
Any extent of white on the head of a Cormorant is not necessarily indicative of the 'sinensis' race of Cormorant I'm afraid Michael. Their identification is in fact very difficult to say the least.
Michael Willett said
Sat Feb 25 7:23 PM, 2012
9am The blue cranes at Barton locks.
4 cormorants perched on top, one with white head.
Was wondering if anybody else has seen this bird and if it's a sinensis?
Steven Nelson said
Thu Feb 23 9:02 PM, 2012
7.50am A singing Chiffchaff in a tree next to MS Canal this morning
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Feb 22 2:44 AM, 2012
Tuesday, February 21st, pm visit to Jack Lane and ETW/Canal.
Jack Lane:
WOODCOCK. 1 flew from Jack Lane reeds, over railway and down to sludge beds.
Redwing 20+ Fieldfare 5+ Willow Tit 1
ETW/Canal:
Cormorant 9 Oystercatcher 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Pied Wagtail 20+ Mute Swan 2ads. GtCGrebe 1 Mallard 6 BH Gull 50+ Common Gull 2 LBB Gull 2 Sparrowhawk 1f and 1m flew over to Irlam side.
Jack Lane:
Reed Warbler 5 singing.
Reed Bunting 4 males.
Whitethroat 2 singing.
Swifts/House Martins/Swallows/Sand Martins.
Cormorant 2
Along River Mersey:
Lesser Whitethroat 1 still singing.
Whitethroat 2 singing.
Bullfinch 2
etc.etc.etc.
1 Peregrine seen at 1740 high over my Stott Drive garden.
Fly Ash Hill:
1 Grasshopper Warbler - heard singing from scrub below hill near lagoons
Jack Lane NR:
4 Reed Warbler
Jack Lane NR:
Reed Warbler 6
Moorhen 1
Swift 6
House Martin 1
Sand Martin 2
etc.
FlyAsh Hill/Lagoons:
Willow Tit 1
Buzzard 1
Kestrel 1m
Stock Dove 2
Reed Warbler 1
Sand Martin 4+
Whitethroat 8+
Willow Warbler 3+
Blackcap 2
Chiffchaff 2
Reed Bunting 1
etc.
Along River towards weir:
Lesser Whitethroat 1
Willow Tit 2
Grey Heron 1
Whitethroat 5
etc.
thanks again for a great day out james, some good birds seen throughout the day
Garden Warbler, flycatching & showing well on bushes above the reeds from the footpath through the reedbed
Water Rail, walked over the footpath and showed again briefly
2 Reed Buntings (male & female)
2 singing Reed Warbler
1 Common Buzzard
Jack Lane:
Water Rail 1 heard.
Reed Warbler 1 singing.
Reed Bunting 1
ETW/Canal:
Yellow Wagtail 1 on the filter beds. A first for me at this site.
Grey Wagtail 2
Pied Wagtail 20+
Starling 50+
BH Gull 10+
Mute Swan 10
Cormorant 3
LBB Gull 1
Swallow 30+
House Martin 1
Whitethroat 1 alongside the canal, downstream of locks.
Walk from Stott Drive, via Jack Lane to Ship Canal.
Stott Drive:
Waxwing 35
Grey Heron 1 low over front garden.
Kestrel 1
Coal tit 1 singing.
Blackcap 1 singing.
Jack Lane NR:
Water Rail 1 heard.
Reed Warbler 1
Willow Warbler 1 singing.
Chiffchaff 1 singing.
Moorhen 1
Reed Bunting 2
Canal/ETW:
Cormorant 2
Oystercatcher 1
Pied Wagtail 12+
Grey Wagtail 1
Swallow 10+
Bullfinch 1
Mute Swan 8ads 3imms.
Mallard 7
Greenfinch 4
Starling 30+
BH Gull 20+
LBB Gull 3
Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler all present at Jack Lane NR. Swallows in some numbers and 2 House Martin at ETW
full list as follows
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blackcap
Blue Tit
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff
Collared Dove
Dunnock
Feral Pigeon
Goldfinch
Great Tit
House Martin
House Sparrow
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii)
Reed Bunting
Reed Warbler
Robin
Rook
Song Thrush
Starling
Swallow
Water Rail
Whitethroat
Willow Tit
Willow Warbler
Woodpigeon
Wren
ETW/Ship Canal:
BH Gull 10+
Swallow 10+
Sand Martin 3
Mute Swan 2ad 3imm
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 10+
Cormorant 1
Magpie 30+
Along River Mersey:
Kingfisher 1
Sparrowhawk 1
FlyAsh Hill:
Buzzard 2
Teal 1 pair
Little Grebe 1
Linnet 1 singing
etc.etc.etc.
11 Chiffchaffs singing in total, on whole walk.
Black-headed Gull
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Chiffchaff-6
Collared Dove
Cormorant
Dunnock
Feral Pigeon
Fieldfare
Goldfinch
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Heron
House Sparrow
Jay
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Linnet
Little Grebe
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Meadow Pipit
Mistle Thrush
Moorhen
Redwing
Reed Bunting
Robin
Rook
Siskin
Skylark
Song Thrush
Starling
Teal
Woodpigeon
Wren
A pair of Mandarin ducks between Irlam Locks and railway viaduct, this is a new species for me on my local patch,
other species nearby Kingfisher (2) Gadwall (4), Teal (4) several Mallards and a Great Crested Grebe.
Chiffchaff at Jack Lane N.R. no signs of any other migrants.
Kevin
Irlam Locks/Canal:
Chiffchaff 1 seen near jetty.
Mute Swan 8 ad. 2 imm.
Gadwall 1m 1f.
Teal 3m 3f.
Grey Wagtail 2 as usual, just downstream of locks.
Cormorant 3.
Moorhen 2.
Pied Wagtails.
Flyash Hill/Flixton Lagoons:
Teal 20.
Buzzard 1.
Herring Gull 1 imm.
Field being ploughed:
Lesser Black-backed Gull 5.
Common Gull 3.
Black-headed Gull 300+ including a leucistic individual.
best bit of the morning was bumping into Mr McCabe who was on a Chiffchaff hunt the same as me, birders we are all the same...
Keep Birding
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of March 2013 07:57:02 PM
Kev.
A very noisy gathering of 300+ Black-headed Gulls on the water and perched on the railings. Definately a 'spring feeling' amongst the flock with a bit of displaying going on !
From Flyash Hill were seen:
Goosander 2m 2f flying east along River Mersey.
Cormorant 1 as above.
Teal 5+
Gadwall 1m 1f
Moorhen 1
Buzzard 2
Bullfinch 1 "singing".
Raven 2 seen south from Flyash Hill on Carrington pylons.
Kestrel 1m
Buzzard 1
Sparrowhawk 1 imm male.
ETW/Canal:
Grey Heron 1
BH Gull 200+
Pied Wagtail 20+
Mute Swan 2 adults.
LBB Gull 2
Herring Gull 2 heading downstream along canal.
Cormorant 1
Highlights.
A male Goosander flying south over Flyash Hill. 10+ Redwings and 10+ Fieldfares also seen from the hill.
10+ Siskin at Dutton's Pond, plus a singing Song Thrush. 1 Willow Tit nearby.
At the ETW/Canal were 8 Lesser Redpolls. Also, 16 Mallards, 4 Mute Swans, including 2 adults with rings VJ6 and SYC, 2 Grey Wagtails, 150+ BH Gulls, with just 1 Common and 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 50+ Pied Wagtails, 20+ Starlings, 30+ Magpies and 2 Cormorants.
Jack Lane NR:
Grey Heron 1
Willow Tit 1
Treecreeper 1
Bullfinch 1f
Goldcrest 1
ETW/Ship Canal:
Cormorant 3
Mallard 20+
Gadwall 1m
LBB Gull 1
BH Gull 150+
Magpie 40+
Pied Wagtail 50+
Grey Wagtail 2
Moorhen 2
Goldcrest 2
Starling 10+
General Sightings:
Redwing 3
Goldcrest 1
etc.
Great Crested Grebe 2
Mute Swan 1m 1f adults
LBB Gull 5 over
Herring Gull 1 over
BH Gull 10+
Pied Wagtail 3
Cormorant 1 imm
Irlam Locks:
Grey Wagtail 1 juv.
Gt.Crested Grebe 1
BH.Gulls 60+
Mallard 7
Cormorant 2
LBB.Gull 1
Jack Lane:
Water Rail 1 juv. showing well plus 1 heard.
General Sightings:
Meadow Pipit 1
Chiffchaff 2 singing.
Viewed from Garden:
Hobby 1 soaring overhead.
Buzzard 5 soaring in a group plus 1 later.
Swift 1
Goldcrest 1
Usual walk from home.
Highlight was a second-summer Mediterranean Gull, with 2 adult and 3 immature Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 immature Common Gull and a number of Black-headed Gulls, all helping to clean up Wellacre School field after the Boys' lunch break.
Plenty of the usual stuff.
*another Whimbrel* over Flixton. Just the one this time.
Also a Yellow Wagtail flying west over Fly-Ash Hill, presumably on it's way to Chat Moss.
Also around the Hill and lagoons:
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 1m
Sedge Warbler 1 singing.
Reed Warbler 1 singing.
Skylark 1 singing.
Tufted Duck 1m 1f
Stock Dove 2
Swifts/Sand Martins/Swallows/2 House Martins.
Blackcaps/Whitethroats/Chiffchaffs/Willow Warblers.
Pied Wagtail 2
Possibly unusual sighting for May, of an adult and imm. Common Gull on Wellacre School fields.
House Martin 3 around Woodsend Shops.
(Not been there since my cross-country runs from school 40 years ago!)
ETW/Canal and environs
A great display of Swallows and Sand Martins assembled on the telegraph wires at the ETW - strangely no House Martins amongst them at that point.
2 (possibly 3) Grey Herons
1 male and 1 female Goosander
1 male Gadwall
plenty of Mallard scattered about including a couple in the locks
9 Mute Swans on the northern side of the locks with another under the railway bridge to the south
2 Cormorants
Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler heard and seen
Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits
Chaffinch heard
Carrion Crow
Magpies
Wood Pigeon
Blackbird
House Martins/Swallows over the fields
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 9th of May 2012 02:26:21 PM
Jack Lane:
Reed Warbler 1 singing.
ETW/Canal:
100+ Hirundines, mainly Swallows, then Sand Martins, then House Martins.
Grey Wagtail 2
Kingfisher 1
Mute Swan 1 pair adults.
Oystercatcher 2
Black-headed Gulls
LBB Gulls and 1 Herring Gull flying upstream (NE).
Kestrel 1m
Grey Heron 1
Pied Wagtail 3
General Sightings:
Sparrowhawk 1
Bullfinch 1
Chiffchaffs/Willow Warblers/Blackcaps.
etc.etc.etc.
8 mute swans
4 mallards
2 cormorants
1 pied wagtail
2 goldfinches
c10 house sparrows
etw..
c25 swallows
info thanks to phil kelly.
Highlights:
Willow Warbler 2 singing.
Chiffchaff 5 singing.
Sparrowhawk 1f.
Lesser Redpoll 1
Blackcap 3 singing plus 1 female.
Linnet 1
Cormorant 4
Kingfisher 1
etc.etc.etc.
I've been reading up on identifying them. It does indeed look difficult. That's why I was asking if anybody else had seen this bird. I have a friend into wildlife photography, think I'll have to get him to come along to try and get a decent picture.
Cheers for the reply Ian.
4 cormorants perched on top, one with white head.
Was wondering if anybody else has seen this bird and if it's a sinensis?
A singing Chiffchaff in a tree next to MS Canal this morning
Jack Lane:
WOODCOCK.
1 flew from Jack Lane reeds, over railway and down to sludge beds.
Redwing 20+
Fieldfare 5+
Willow Tit 1
ETW/Canal:
Cormorant 9
Oystercatcher 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 20+
Mute Swan 2ads.
GtCGrebe 1
Mallard 6
BH Gull 50+
Common Gull 2
LBB Gull 2
Sparrowhawk 1f and 1m flew over to Irlam side.
etc.etc.etc.
ETW/Canal:
Goosander 1m1f
Gadwall 2m2f
Mallard 7
Cormorant 1
Grey Heron 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Pied Wagtail 10+
BH Gull 60+
Starling 50+
Magpie 30+
Moorhen 1
Wellacre School Field:
Common Gull 14
LBB Gull 1
Treecreeper 1
Garden/Back Field:
Goldcrest 1 singing.
Song Thrush 1 plus 1 singing.
etc.etc.etc.
Noteworthy count of 40+ Rooks on Woodsend Park.
Also 6 Common Gulls, 70+ Starlings and a couple of Crows.
200+ BH Gulls on Flixton Road fields.
37 species in total.
Highlights:
Flyash Hill:
Sparrowhawk 1m
Lesser Redpoll 12+
Teal heard on the River Mersey.
Cormorant 5 flying over.
ETW:
Pied Wagtail 40+
Dutton's Pond:
Grey Heron 1
Moorhen 6
Coot 2
Mallard 12+
Canada Geese 16
General Area:
Mixed flock of Fieldfare/Redwing/Missel Thrush 30+
BH/LBB/Common Gulls over plus 1 Herring Gull noted.