4.15 today
13 Goosander, 2 male Goldeneye, 6/7 Oystercatcher, 53 Lapwing. Have I missed anything Peter?.
Cheers Ian

Around 16:30 today single Shelduck, 4 Oystercatcher, pair of Goldeneye, 4 Wigeon, 5 Goosander and a single Little Owl at Old Hall Farm.

After doing waxwings in Bury I went to Elton for water rail and got one. Two oystercatcher seen flying over and others heard.

Early a.m.
2 Curlew and 4 Goldeneye seen by Peter Johnson before I arrived, then 6 Oystercatcher, 2 Goosander, approx 50 Lapwing(some displaying), 2 Bullfinch, singing Skylarks and at least 6 calling Reed Bunting. Another walker reported 2 Dipper on the river.
Cheers Ian

Quiet again this morning. 3 Oystercatchers still around and 1 Curlew over (seen by another birder).

Wrens and Dunnocks seemed to have joined the Robins and Song Thrushes and are now singing from the treetops. Lapwing displaying in the fields and the Water Rail near Bennies was squealing for over 20 minutes this morning - but didn't show.

Two Kingfishers flew past me on the canal. And several Snipe flushed from the small stream in the Dip. Nothing much else going on. Gull numbers fairly high again (mainly BH but at least 3 adult LBB). Still 40+ Redwing near Crow Tree Farm.

All birds ringed in this area (and Lancs) by our ringer have red rings, Simon, Can you read the letter and number? Bolton chicks had the letter K in 2008 (but depends on the actual number as to whether they come from there). There were Peregrines at Elton long before they bred at the Town Hall!

Quiet morning today at Elton. 2 Oystercatchers still around but not much else. Had Jay, Bullfinch and Kingfisher in the Dip. Still no sightings for me this year of Little Owl, which is a bit worrying - last year there were up to 3 pairs around. Also had a fock of 32 Greenfinches and 42 Redwing.

Hi Paul,

thanks for replying however I remember seeing Brent Goose at Elton on Feb 13th 1991, the bird stayed for 5 days and was seen by others i believe. This was a dark bellied bird but as i understand it the Brent Goose complex is unliklely to ever be split.

Dark bellied birds are not unprecedented in the county at this time of year as the birds in Rochdale demonstrate.

Good luck with the year list, just like Simon found out October and November are the key months...

firstly very well done Simon for managing to see 130 sp at Elton last year - a great effort at this very disturbed and polluted site!! Can't see that record being broken anytime soon although missing the tern and the egret must have hurt....

i enjoyed your review of the year but was intrigued by the "4 site firsts". Clearly Shag, WWB Tern and GW Egret but what was the fourth?

just a heads up for birders the earliest I have had sand martin at Elto was the 7th March weather could bring them in earlier.
I think there are those who have had them earlier than the 7th! Jim

early a.m.
Water Rail on canal in front of Bennies.
On the res. 3 Wigeon, 34 Tufted, 12 Goosander, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 Goldeneye.
Singing Skylarks near Withins
Cheers Ian

Also 4 Grey Herons flying together - unusual for Elton.

I bet the Elton Plovers yesterday were the ones seen LATER at Pennington, making them 1st at Elton(heehee)
This a.m.
3 Curlew, 4 Oystercatcher, Goldeneye, goosander on Elton, 1 Pinkfoot on Withins and a Kingfisher and Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Dip.
Cheers Ian
ps Don't tell Warfy but Pauls trying to beat his total from last year!!!!
..........................
forgot the singing Skylarksabove fields near withins

-- Edited by Ian Campbell at 17:08, 2009-02-21

Ian Campbell wrote:

---

Are they the 1st in GM County this Spring?
Cheers Ian

---

2 at Pennington Flash early this morning also

Decided to try a fog free visit after this a.m.
3.00p.m. 12 Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Gadwall, 2 Oystercatcher 12 Tufted Duck but no sign of the 2 Ringed Plover Paul saw this a.m. Are they the 1st in GM County this Spring?
Cheers Ian

Early a.m.
On the res - fog. On the shoreline 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Ringed Plover along with the usual c50 Lapwing, small number of Goosander 2 Goldeneye, 3 Swans (1 adult and two cygnets). Also 1 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk 4 Pied Wagtails and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Spring seems to be approaching.

Early a.m.
On the res. No Curlew unfortunately but 2 Shoveler, 3 Oystercatcher, c50 Lapwing, 20+ Goosander (prob the same ones that were at Daisyfield earlier), 3 Goldeneye, 3 young Swans and 14 Cormorant.
Plenty of BH Gulls along with 1 Herring, 2 LBB, 2 Common.
In surrounding fields 13 Fieldfare and at least 6 singing Song Thrushes.
No sign of the Canada Goose with the "neck ring".
GS Woodpecker drumming at Daisyfield this morning.

When the canal isn't frozen they tend to move up the canal a bit, to the other side of the bridge. I have seen them several times on the stretch between the bridge and the place where there is a electricity post next to the canal.

can anyone tell me the best place to observe the Water Rails.
is it from the Benny's side or is it on the other near the small weir.
i've been several times to try and view them, but no luck yet.
regards, maurice

-- Edited by Maurice Clegg at 21:33, 2009-02-18

Early a.m.
On the res. 1 Curlew spent approx 10 mins at wader point before circling the res 3 times then flying off, also at wader point good flock of 170 Lapwing and 2 Oystercatcher. On the water 27 Wigeon, 5 goosander, 2 Goldeneye and 12 Cormorant.
In surrounding fields 200 approx fieldfare/ Redwing flock, 1 Snipe and a Pheasant.
Cheers Ian

This a.m.
Only 24 Tufted today, but also 17 Wigeon, 2 Gadwall, 2 Shelduck, 5 Goldeneye, 7 Goosander and 2 Oystercatcher, so an improving situation on the birdfront
Also in fields mixed flock of 130 Redwing and Fieldfare
Cheers Ian

Hi Ian
Had 330+ Tufted ducks on the M.S.Canal at Barton locks ,Eccles.
On the 13th of Feburary
I will check tomorrow if they have dispersed, could be your birds.
Yours Ian Moffat.

Early a.m.
On the res. of note, 76 Tufted Duck, where have they all come from?. Also 5 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Kingfisher and a first for me this year 2 Oystercatcher.
Cheers Ian

Hi Paul the plastic ring looked like a broken plastic cup to me - I will send you a pic

Regards

Mike

8am - 10am.
Water level still very low. Highlights included:

Pinkfeet 5 on res when i got there, took off and flew round, landed again, then disappeared moments before Ian Campbell turned up
Lapwing 50+
Goldeneye 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Redwing 22
Goosander c10 (including some on Withins)
Tufted Duck 20+
GC Grebe 4 at least
Mute Swans 3 cygnets on the res (?) , 4 adults on the canal

Also, 1 of the many Canada Geese has a plastic ring on its neck which seems to have writing on, but I can't make out from the photo what it says.


-- Edited by Paul Wilson at 16:40, 2009-02-14

Had a couple of hours at Elton this morning. Water level still very low, but at least it wasn't all frozen today. Highlights included:

Lapwing 50+
Canada Geese 100+ flew in from surrounding fields, all in one go!
Goldeneye 3m +3f (never seen six at once here before)
Sparrowhawk - flew down the trench next to the wall, and straight past a Goldcrest
Goosander 13
Tufted Duck 10+
GC Grebe 5
Kestrel 1m 1f
Bullfinch 1m
Common Gull 3 (amongst 100+ BHG)
Mute Swans 2 adult on Withins, 1 adult and 2 cygnets on Elton res
Greylag - 3 (usually just 2 feral ones)
GS Woodpecker drumming in trees near Daisyfield car park.

-- Edited by Paul Wilson at 18:09, 2009-02-12

<

---

Campbell and I were discussing renaming it - Elton Pond or even Elton Desert. The later is probably more apt as the only thing of note on Sunday was a solitary male Bullfinch.

---

From Elton ROCKS to Elton the desert eh , it's a quiet period throughout the country really and February is historically probably the quietest month in the county birding year so I shouldn't worry just yet

That brings back memories of our ice hockey match on Elton resr in 1963. The ice was so thick theat there was no water left underneath. Looks like we might get a re-run - the 200 club against the rest, maybe!!

This a.m
Almost completely frozen over and water level lower than I think I've ever seen it.
1 kingfisher, small number of Lapwing, 2 Great Crested Grebe and not much else
In surrounding fields 3 Meadow Pipit, 1 Kestrel, 1 Teal and 1 Snipe.
Did you get anything in the dip Paul?
Cheers Ian

Elton stops rocking!
With Ian Campbell this cold, dull and windy morning, we saw very little. All we could muster were:
2 Kkingfisher, a few Goosander and Tufted, 2 Goldeneye, and not much more. Almost certain we had a Peregrine but it seemed small and we didn't chance for a good view.
No sign of the Water Rail today - probably had the right idea and decided not to bother coming out!
Things were so bad that Ian even counted the lapwings that were in front of the boathouse - he got 57.

a.m. with Paul Wilson
3 Goldeneye, 2 Wigeon, 10 Goosander, 1 Kingfisher(seen by Paul), 10 Tufted on Elton.
5 Goosander on Withins, an unusual sight.
Small numbers of Redwing and Fieldfare in the fields around Crow Tree Farm and a Crow tucking into the carcase of a sheep.
1 Water Rail at usual place on the canal.
Cheers Ian
.................
Forgot the flock of 55ish Lapwings

-- Edited by Ian Campbell at 12:04, 2009-01-31

As far as I understand events at Elton, only 2 cygnets have been found dead. It might be that one was forced onto the fields by aggression from an adult male and fell prey to foxes - I know from experience this can happen. Or the adult male can and does drown them! This happened the other day in Wigan on the canal and I got a distressed phone call from 2 of my swanwatchers who were witnessing it. Howver, the cygnet was just playing dead and recovered to get away from its attacker.

Unfortunately Judith Smith is otherwise occupied of late and is getting little chance to read the forum but she remains clearly the expert on this subject and will have something to say on the matter sooner or later hopefully

Regarding Swan deaths.
I think the key event at Elton was the initial disappearance of the first adult and 2 of the young. The 2 adults together would never have allowed other adult Swans to attack their young as they were a very dominant pair on the canal, as was shown by successfully raising 6 young. Maybe, if anyone else has observed similar "swanticide" attempts, this should be a new thread in general birding discussion.
Cheers Ian

Thought I'd try for the Tawny Owls today, so set off in the usual place, armed with long lens and bins. Just got round the back when I was stopped by a security guard who was inside the fence. He told me I had to leave - apparently the inmates don't like the idea of people with cameras hanging about. I explained what I was there for and he said that it was ok to be there but not with a camera, and if I didn't leave straight away he would cell the police! I left - slowly - but didn't manage to connect with any owls. As I always take my camera it is unlikely I'll get to see the Tawny's again!

Anyway, onto the res and there was little of interest. 13 Goosander and the long staying pair of Goldeneye were the highlights.Thought I'd count the Mallard - 54. On the way round to Withins there was a pair of Bullfinch. Nothing on Withins itself.

The canal proved to be the most productive today. A Peregrine flew over, chasing something that looked like a Starling, and headed towards Radcliffe. I counted 7 Reed Buntings and had flocks of Greenfinch (11), Goldfinch (8), Long-tailed Tit (13).

Thought I had a Stonechat sitting on one of the rushes behind the canal, but as i got closer it turned out to be a Kingfisher - never seen one sat out in the reedbed like that before. Only saw the Swan family today (1 adult and 2 cygnets), no sign of either of the other 2 pairs. Got to where the electricty lines go over the canal and had a brief glimps of a Water Rail sat on top of the reeds. It dropped down so I decided to wait for a while to see if it popped out. I could see it just inside the reeds. Got talking to a couple who were out walking and it appeared. They were really impressed with how attractive it was. As they left it showed again and ten feet away a second one appeared. I also thought I caught sight of a third a bit further down but couldn't relocate the bird to confirm it. It really is one of the best places to see Water Rails in Gr. Manchester. Thats' 4 times running I've managed to find them. After that I'd had enough - I was getting tired. Four hours I was out today!

Simon Johnson wrote:

---

Is it right 4 cygnets have been killed and one of the adults? Would another male Mute attack such a large family?

---

There was a family of 8 - 2 adults and 6 cygnets originally. A couple of weeks ago this became 1 adult and 4 cygnets. No one knows what happened to the rest of the family.
Last week 2 of the remaining cygnets were found dead, 1 in the canal and the other in a field next to the canal. The one in the field was missing its head and neck.
This left just 1 adult and 2 cygnets.
There are also two other pairs of Swans on that stretch of the canal and this weekend Peter J witnessed one of these adults attempting to drown one the cygnets. There has always been a bit of hostility between the pairs of Swans. So it is quite possible that the two dead cygnets were killed by one of the other adults.

Is it right 4 cygnets have been killed and one of the adults? Would another male Mute attack such a large family?

We now think the cyggies might have been killed by an adult male Mute Swan. They do this kind of thing (attacking stray youngsters on their patch) quite regularly.

Early a.m. with Paul W & Sue
1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Goldeneye, 5 Goosander on the res.
On the canal the single adult Swan with 2 young and just down from Bennies 2 Water Rail out in view together(well spotted Sue) giving Paul more photo oppertunities, at Manchesters premier hotspot for Rails.
Eltons still rocking Warfy
Cheers Ian

Is that 2 dead or 4 in total? either way report it to the Police guys. Sick.

The Swans were a family of 8, 2 adults and 6 full grown young, yesterday morning there was a single adult with 4 young, today the single adult had 2 live young with 2 dead
Paul is right, unfortunately there are some some total scroats in this world.
The Rail was fantastic though, giving brilliant views
Cheers Ian

Not much about this morning except a Water Rail showing really well on the canal.

Unfortunately there are two dead young swans, one in the canal and one in the field behind the canal. We took a close look at the one in the field and it has no head or neck. Looks to me like it has been deliberatly removed - the rest of the body looks in perfect condition so it seems to not have been got by a fox. We suspected they were both shot as there were definatel four young swans around yesterday, and we could only find two alive today.

There are some real scroats get around Elton.

First light this a.m.
Not much about, 11 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye, 7 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Tufted and a Kingfisher. Pair of Kestrel near the canal also.
Cheers Ian

8am to 11am. Nice to have some decent weather!

Not much around, highlights:
Tufted Duck 17
Goosander 31
Great Crested Grebe 5
Teal 2
Pochard 1
Goldeneye 3 (1 male)
Pheasant 1
Cormorant 7
Kestrel 1
Bullfinch 2

Also managed a photo of teh "white-headed" Robin.

-- Edited by Paul Wilson at 17:25, 2009-01-14

8am - 11am this morning. No ice - and very few Canada Geese (assume they went back to where they used to hang out before everywhere frooze). Quite an eventful morning really. Two Peregrines as oon as I got there which flew off to be replaced almost immediately by two Kestrels on the pylon. Then I had two Greylags fly over - these weren't the ones that are always there - they were still near the boathouse at the time.

Made my way to Withins, looked up and there was a skein of Pink-footed Geese. Took a quick snap as they flew into the distance heading north, so i could count them later.

72 Pink-footed Geese (over)
2 Greylag Geese (over)
2 Peregrine
2 Kestrel
7 Cormorant
5 Pochard
2 Goldeneye (fem)
9 Tufted
25 Goosander
4 Mistle Thrush
Large mixed finch flock (20+ Greenfinch, 4 Chaffinch, 2 Bullfinch).
50+ Black-headed Gulls with several large gulls amongst them.

Couldn't go to check out the Water Rail because the area had a police cordon around it - several police cars and unmarked cars were in the area near the bridge over the canal - looked serious.

Did the evening shift today, was amazed at the amount of Gulls on the ice which now only covers half the Res, it will have melted by tomorrow, 65+ Herring Gulls, 33 LBB and 3 GBB which is quite decent numbers for Elton, nothing unusual though. Plus Redshank, 16 Goosander, 2 Peregrine and one all time low water level.