I'm glad that one got sorted, have tried not to get involved with Chiffchaffs, thanks Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 18 6:25 AM, 2013
It's certainly considerably more likely to be a St.Patricks Day Chiffchaff James ! It's a brave, brave birder (at best) who even suggests fulvescens off those images alone though but if its vocalisations were as collybita, then that's what it was
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 18 5:58 AM, 2013
Feedback from photos, happy to call it a St Patricks Day Chiffchaff (perhaps a new sub-species)
Cheers
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 18 5:17 AM, 2013
James Walsh wrote:
Perhaps of eastern origin, fulvescens a suggestion
An interesting comment. Though one photo portrays a bird with apparently paler upperparts, most others I've been supplied with show a bird with apparently typically coloured collybita upperparts. Clearly this may not have been the case in the field then but given it has been heard calling and singing I wondered on what basis fulvescens was considered as a possibility?
steven burke said
Mon Mar 18 3:51 AM, 2013
afternoon visit
1 chiffchaff, calling and singing around clippers. 1 little grebe 1 kingfisher 1 moorhen (dead ) 2 grey wagtails 5 lesser black backed gulls 9 cormorants 1 buzzard
The Clippers Quay Chiffchaff is a very interesting bird, well worth having a look at
Good find from Steve, it was elusive in the waterside buddleia & knotweed during the afternoon
Perhaps of eastern origin, fulvescens a suggestion
Access, turn west off Trafford Road (A5063) just north of the Ship Canal bridge onto Clippers Quay Road, park in small car park on left & view waterside vegetation
Also
MSC @ Weaste Drake Teal 6 Lapwing 1 Common Buzzard
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 17th of March 2013 09:48:51 PM
James Walsh said
Sat Mar 16 3:47 AM, 2013
2 Fieldfare flew in to a tree adjacent to Adamson House (near Pomona station) & showing well 6:30pm
MSC @ Weaste 1 Oystercatcher 1 Lapwing 5 Common Redshank
James Walsh said
Fri Mar 15 3:59 PM, 2013
No sign of Fieldfare @ Adamson House 0615-0635, it might have left the roost site very early
1 great crested grebe 2 goosanders, clippers 2 grey wagtails 100+ black headed gulls 23 common gulls 3 lesser black backed gulls 1 herring gull
Pomona...
no signs of the stonechat. 2 goosanders, probably the ones from the quays. 1 woodcock 3 lapwing 3 cormorants 1 herring gull 2 lesser black backed gulls 1 kestrel 4 greenfinches 1 chaffinch 1-2 goldcrest 1 moorhen 1 fieldfare, adamson house
middlewood locks...
1 grey wagtail 1 lapwing 3 goosanders on river
James Walsh said
Wed Mar 13 12:16 PM, 2013
Additional sightings for Tuesday 12th March
Pomona 1 Woodcock
Weaste ETW 2 Common Buzzard
steven burke said
Wed Mar 13 4:39 AM, 2013
Pomona
male stonechat still present from 12.15pm 1 meadow pipit 1 song thrush 1 kestrel 1 sparrowhawk 1 buzzard over headed towards city centre 1 grey heron 3 lapwings 4 lesser black backed gulls 3 cormorants 2 greenfinch
steven burke said
Tue Mar 12 5:18 AM, 2013
Pomona
male stonechat still present around 12.30pm pair of bullfinch 3 lapwings 4 cormorants 2 herring gulls 2 lesser black backed gulls black headed & common gulls.
quays/Trafford wharf
1 great crested grebe 1 grey wagtail 8 cormorants 16 lesser black backed gulls 31 common gulls 200+ black headed gulls
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 11 8:51 PM, 2013
Todays highlights so far
Male Stonechat Pomona (SB) Pair of Bullfinch Cornbrook Wood (SB) Adult summer plumage Great Crested Grebe East Bay/Trafford Wharf (JW)
Sightings James Walsh (JW), Steven Burke (SB)
steven burke said
Mon Mar 11 2:05 AM, 2013
quays, Trafford wharf...
300+ black headed gulls 60+ common gulls 21 lesser black backed gulls 4 herring gulls 8 cormorants 1 sparrowhawk 2 grey wagtail 1 moorhen
Pomona...
male stonechat found at 2.20pm still present just after 5pm. 2 meadow pipit 2 lapwing 1 pied wagtail 1 kingfisher, seen by phil only 100+ black headed & common gulls. could not relocate the kittiwake
James Walsh said
Mon Mar 11 1:45 AM, 2013
Male Stonechat showing well Pomona 5pm on the south side of the "Wheatear field", the muddy area adjacent to the promenade
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 10 11:06 PM, 2013
an adult Kittiwake on the Manchester Ship Canal at Pomona
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahoney
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 10 10:47 PM, 2013
Male Stonechat still present 3:30pm at least on Pomona
From Cornbrook tram station roundabout, walk onto the site, go over the canal bridge & follow path to left for 50/100 yards
Thanks to Steven Burke for info
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 10 9:29 PM, 2013
Male Stonechat on Pomona
Info, Steven Burke
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 10 5:59 PM, 2013
Pomona 1 Little Grebe on the MSC but very elusive 1 Lapwing
Ontario Basin c50 Siskins & 5 Goldfinches on the alders around the dockers monument
Ordsall Park 10 Mistle Thrush 20 Starling 1 female Chaffinch
MSC@Weaste up to 9 Herring Gull 2 Oystercatcher 2 Lapwing 2 Mistle Thrush
steven burke said
Thu Mar 7 5:23 PM, 2013
12.30-4pm
100+ black headed gulls 32 common gulls 8 lesser black backed gulls 1 herring gull 15 cormorants 18 mute swans 1 moorhen (clippers) 1 grey wagtail (clippers)
3 herring gulls 9 lesser black backed gulls 200+ black headed gulls & common gulls 24 cormorant inc several white headed ones inc the continental cormorant. 29 mute swans 1 coot 1 grey wagtail 1 goldeneye (north wharf) 13 siskins feeding on birch tree next to imperial war museum.
Pomona..
3 great black backed gulls was a nice surprise, 2 headed over going south/east & 1 going north west. 2 lesser black backed gull 1 snipe (south marsh) 13 lapwings 1 grey heron 1 grey wagtail 1 kestrel plus usuals
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 24th of February 2013 08:42:05 PM
James Walsh said
Fri Feb 22 1:24 AM, 2013
MSC @ Weaste
9 Lapwing 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Goosander (pair)
Huw Jones said
Wed Feb 20 7:13 AM, 2013
Monday 18 Feb 0730 Weaste cemetery - Common Buzzard - there last week as well so seems to be resident. Perched immobile on top of the memorial at the centre of site, could be mistaken for a statue. Imperious. 0830 Broadway station, Salford Quays - Bullfinch (lone male) on bank by tram stop. Not singing or calling unlike the Dunnock, Greenfinch, Chaffinch already blasting out their songs around the quays.
-- Edited by Huw Jones on Wednesday 20th of February 2013 09:17:22 AM
5 Redshank roosting opposite Kingfisher Court at 4pm
((In the proper thread this time ))
James Walsh said
Wed Feb 13 5:03 PM, 2013
MSC @ Weaste Drake Goldeneye 5 Redshank west
Salford Wharf 3 Cormorants, including 1 showing characteristics of Sinensis (see note)
Similar numbers of gulls around The Quays to Steves counts
*Cormorant note The white-headed bird photographed by Steve yesterday shows the characteristics of sinensis ("Continental" Cormorant) What looks like the same bird was on Salford Wharf today around 3pm on the boom with another white-headed bird that looks like carbo
-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 13th of February 2013 06:18:06 PM
steven burke said
Wed Feb 13 3:49 AM, 2013
msc @ weaste
5 redshank, 2 song thrush viewed from kingfisher court. 4 lapwing viewed from falcon court.
north wharf
1 goldeneye (resident drake) 1 coot 300+ b h gulls 120+ common gulls 9 l b b gulls 1 herring gull 2 pied wagtail 2 greenfinch 5 goldfinch 5 cormorant 1 with white head 15 mute swans
just the b h gulls were feeding on the disturbance that was dredged up by norma the plough dredger.
James Walsh said
Tue Feb 12 5:32 AM, 2013
MSC @ Pomona
7 Mute Swan
James Walsh said
Mon Feb 11 5:59 PM, 2013
MSC @ Weaste
10 Cormorant, 5 birds with varying amounts of white on head, 1 stunning individual, at roost on posts near locks best viewed from Kingfisher Court, perhaps worth having a closer look at/photographing (I didn't have camera today) 1 Redshank 1 Common Buzzard (display flight) 1 Meadow Pipit 2 Mute Swan
Proceedings were disturbed by 2 ships; the 68m WD Mersey (suction hopper dredger !!) and the 27m Norma (plough dredger !!) although the gulls seemed to be enjoying the disturbance of the bed behind the ships.
2 Redshank showing well from Lange car park 1 Siskin flew over calling heading towards ETW/Weaste Valley 1 singing Song Thrush 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Grey Heron
1 kingfisher
1 grey wagtail
1 herring gull
3 lesser black backed gulls
12 cormorants
7 greenfinches
Pomona
7 lesser black backed gulls
3 cormorants
3 lapwings
1 meadow pipit
3 kestrels
MSC @ Weaste
Pair of Tufted Duck
4 Lapwing
4 Redshank
1 Coot
1 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron
Cheers
An interesting comment. Though one photo portrays a bird with apparently paler upperparts, most others I've been supplied with show a bird with apparently typically coloured collybita upperparts. Clearly this may not have been the case in the field then but given it has been heard calling and singing I wondered on what basis fulvescens was considered as a possibility?
1 chiffchaff, calling and singing around clippers.
1 little grebe
1 kingfisher
1 moorhen (dead
2 grey wagtails
5 lesser black backed gulls
9 cormorants
1 buzzard
Pomona..
1 skylark
1 kestrel
2 grey wagtails
3 lapwings
1 sparrowhawk
3 cormorants
7 lesser black backed gulls
2 goldcrests
4 chaffinches
Good find from Steve, it was elusive in the waterside buddleia & knotweed during the afternoon
Perhaps of eastern origin, fulvescens a suggestion
Access, turn west off Trafford Road (A5063) just north of the Ship Canal bridge onto Clippers Quay Road, park in small car park on left & view waterside vegetation
Also
MSC @ Weaste
Drake Teal
6 Lapwing
1 Common Buzzard
-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 17th of March 2013 09:48:51 PM
MSC @ Weaste
1 Oystercatcher
1 Lapwing
5 Common Redshank
1 singing Mistle Thrush Ordsall Park
1 Mistle Thrush Craven Drive, Ordsall
11 Tufted Duck (6 drakes)
7 Lapwing
2 Goosander
2 Raven
1 Common Buzzard
1 Oystercatcher (heard)
1 great crested grebe
2 goosanders, clippers
2 grey wagtails
100+ black headed gulls
23 common gulls
3 lesser black backed gulls
1 herring gull
Pomona...
no signs of the stonechat.
2 goosanders, probably the ones from the quays.
1 woodcock
3 lapwing
3 cormorants
1 herring gull
2 lesser black backed gulls
1 kestrel
4 greenfinches
1 chaffinch
1-2 goldcrest
1 moorhen
1 fieldfare, adamson house
middlewood locks...
1 grey wagtail
1 lapwing
3 goosanders on river
Pomona
1 Woodcock
Weaste ETW
2 Common Buzzard
male stonechat still present from 12.15pm
1 meadow pipit
1 song thrush
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
1 buzzard over headed towards city centre
1 grey heron
3 lapwings
4 lesser black backed gulls
3 cormorants
2 greenfinch
male stonechat still present around 12.30pm
pair of bullfinch
3 lapwings
4 cormorants
2 herring gulls
2 lesser black backed gulls
black headed & common gulls.
quays/Trafford wharf
1 great crested grebe
1 grey wagtail
8 cormorants
16 lesser black backed gulls
31 common gulls
200+ black headed gulls
Male Stonechat Pomona (SB)
Pair of Bullfinch Cornbrook Wood (SB)
Adult summer plumage Great Crested Grebe East Bay/Trafford Wharf (JW)
Sightings James Walsh (JW), Steven Burke (SB)
300+ black headed gulls
60+ common gulls
21 lesser black backed gulls
4 herring gulls
8 cormorants
1 sparrowhawk
2 grey wagtail
1 moorhen
Pomona...
male stonechat
2 meadow pipit
2 lapwing
1 pied wagtail
1 kingfisher, seen by phil only
100+ black headed & common gulls. could not relocate the kittiwake
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahoney
From Cornbrook tram station roundabout, walk onto the site, go over the canal bridge & follow path to left for 50/100 yards
Thanks to Steven Burke for info
Info, Steven Burke
1 Little Grebe on the MSC but very elusive
1 Lapwing
Ontario Basin
c50 Siskins & 5 Goldfinches on the alders around the dockers monument
Ordsall Park
10 Mistle Thrush
20 Starling
1 female Chaffinch
MSC@Weaste
up to 9 Herring Gull
2 Oystercatcher
2 Lapwing
2 Mistle Thrush
100+ black headed gulls
32 common gulls
8 lesser black backed gulls
1 herring gull
15 cormorants
18 mute swans
1 moorhen (clippers)
1 grey wagtail (clippers)
north wharf/locks..
3 herring gulls
6 lesser black backed gulls
1 goldeneye, resident drake
1 coot
14 cormorants
msc @ weaste...
1 goldeneye, female
14 lapwings
2 oystercatchers
4 redshanks
2 grey wagtails
1 sparrowhawk
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 7th of March 2013 05:23:49 PM
c100 Waxwings flew north-west over Pomona @ 11:40am, heading towards the Ordsall area
Also 20 Common Gull, 1 Song Thrush, 1 Kestrel (& 1 Buff-tailed BumbleBee)
MSC @ Weaste 3 Lapwing
Weaste ETW c250 Black-headed Gull
100+ black headed gulls
60+ common gulls
2 herring gulls
6 lesser black backed gulls
13 cormorants inc the continental cormorant.
1 goldeneye, north wharf
1 coot, north wharf
1 moorhen, clippers
2 oystercatchers, on locks
11 mute swans
Pomona.
50+ black headed & common gulls
2 lesser black backed gulls
5 cormorants
2 lapwings
2 moorhens
1 kestrel
2 grey wagtails
3 greenfinch
1 chaffinch
2 Oystercatcher
2 Long-tailed Tit
2 Oystercatcher
14 Lapwing
1 adult Herring Gull
1 Continental Cormorant
2 Mute Swan
1 Common Buzzard
Drake Goldeneye
1 Lapwing
Pair Goosander
2 Redshank
1 Song Thrush
2 Goldcrest
2 Long-tailed Tit
1 Meadow Pipit
North Wharf
Drake Goldeneye
not a lot off gulls on the quays today, however..
3 herring gulls
9 lesser black backed gulls
200+ black headed gulls & common gulls
24 cormorant inc several white headed ones inc the continental cormorant.
29 mute swans
1 coot
1 grey wagtail
1 goldeneye (north wharf)
13 siskins feeding on birch tree next to imperial war museum.
Pomona..
3 great black backed gulls was a nice surprise, 2 headed over going south/east & 1 going north west.
2 lesser black backed gull
1 snipe (south marsh)
13 lapwings
1 grey heron
1 grey wagtail
1 kestrel
plus usuals
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 24th of February 2013 08:42:05 PM
9 Lapwing
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Goosander (pair)
0830 Broadway station, Salford Quays - Bullfinch (lone male) on bank by tram stop. Not singing or calling unlike the Dunnock, Greenfinch, Chaffinch already blasting out their songs around the quays.
-- Edited by Huw Jones on Wednesday 20th of February 2013 09:17:22 AM
2 Raven
5 Lapwing
2 Mute Swan
North Wharf
Continental Cormorant
4 Lapwing
Drake Goldeneye
30 Lapwing (15 MSC @ Weaste, 15 Pomona)
5 Redshank (MSC @ Weaste)
4 Herring Gull (including resident pair, MSC Locks)
1 Song Thrush (singing Pomona)
1 Goldeneye (resident drake, North Wharf)
1 Kestrel (Pomona)
15 Mute Swan (Pomona)
c50 Starlings (near Ordsall Legion)
2 Grey Heron (Pomona)
40 Cormorant (several white-headed birds)
1 Grey Wagtail (MSC @ Weaste)
5 Redshank roosting opposite Kingfisher Court at 4pm
((In the proper thread this time
Drake Goldeneye
5 Redshank west
Salford Wharf
3 Cormorants, including 1 showing characteristics of Sinensis (see note)
Similar numbers of gulls around The Quays to Steves counts
*Cormorant note
The white-headed bird photographed by Steve yesterday shows the characteristics of sinensis ("Continental" Cormorant)
What looks like the same bird was on Salford Wharf today around 3pm on the boom with another white-headed bird that looks like carbo
-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 13th of February 2013 06:18:06 PM
5 redshank, 2 song thrush viewed from kingfisher court.
4 lapwing viewed from falcon court.
north wharf
1 goldeneye (resident drake)
1 coot
300+ b h gulls
120+ common gulls
9 l b b gulls
1 herring gull
2 pied wagtail
2 greenfinch
5 goldfinch
5 cormorant 1 with white head
15 mute swans
just the b h gulls were feeding on the disturbance that was dredged up by norma the plough dredger.
7 Mute Swan
10 Cormorant, 5 birds with varying amounts of white on head, 1 stunning individual, at roost on posts near locks best viewed from Kingfisher Court, perhaps worth having a closer look at/photographing (I didn't have camera today)
1 Redshank
1 Common Buzzard (display flight)
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Mute Swan
WeBS count (with James Walsh);
Goldeneye = 1
Mallard = 22
Grey Heron = 1
Cormorant = 15
Mute Swan = 19
Canada Goose = 20
Black Headed Gull = 326
Common Gull = 43
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 6
Coot = 6
Moorhen = 2
Proceedings were disturbed by 2 ships; the 68m WD Mersey (suction hopper dredger !!) and the 27m Norma (plough dredger !!) although the gulls seemed to be enjoying the disturbance of the bed behind the ships.
Drake Goldeneye
4 Lapwing
1 Common Buzzard
1 Goldcrest
1 singing Song Thrush
4 Moorhen
1 Grey Heron
2 Mute Swan
Drake Goldeneye
4 Lapwing
1 Common Buzzard
2 Mute Swan
1 Moorhen
early morning
2 Redshank showing well from Lange car park
1 Siskin flew over calling heading towards ETW/Weaste Valley
1 singing Song Thrush
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Grey Heron
2 Lapwing
16 Lapwings (15 Pomona, 1 MSC @ Weaste)
3 Song Thrush (2 Pomona, 1 MSC @ Weaste)
2 adult Herring Gulls (MSC Locks)
1 Goldeneye (resident drake)
3 Grey Wagtails
2 Sparrowhawk (Pomona)
8+ Chaffinch (Trafford Road Bridge)
1 Greenfinch (Trafford Road Bridge)
12 Lesser Black-backed Gull
67+ Common Gull
3 Coot
1 Grey Heron
Observers, Steven Burke, Shaun Hargreaves, James Walsh
1 Lapwing
1 Grey Heron
1 Moorhen
A flock of 20 Teal on the canal between Lange car park & the Centenary Bridge
This would appear to be only the 3rd record for The Quays, & easily the largest count (the previous was 2)