3.45p.m. at least 15 Sand Martin nests both sides of river at market hall, also pair of Pied Wagtails with 3 fledged youngsters, no Grey Wagtails as there is normally 2 pairs breeding here.
Cheers Ian

22nd May.

What was presumably the same family party, of a female Goosander and her young, as was reported on the Elton Reservoir thread yesterday morning by Brian Fielding were on the Irwell just downstream of the Radcliffe Bridge in Radcliffe town centre at 8.20 am today. They were moving downstream pretty quickly so only got to see them for a short while but as Brian rightly said what a superb sight!

Also in the general area - a pair of Song Thrushes (one nest building), a pair of Dunnocks feeding at least 1 fledged young and a female Mallard with 5 ducklings.

Cheers,

Bill.

This a.m. a Dipper next to the Martin colony was a nice surprise, still a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls present, Grey & Pied Wagtails have bred here for years but none present at the moment.
Cheers Ian

Again a large number of Sand Martins around colony at 11.00 a.m. when a female Sparrowhawk soaring overhead sent them all up to mob it. 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls have also been present for the last couple of weeks. Absence of any Wagtails was unusual.
Cheers Ian

11.0a.m. today, 40+ Sand Martins plus Sparrow Hawk over, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Grey Heron.
Cheers Ian

Martins now in residence both sides of river and in market hall wall

10.45 this morning, around 45 Sand Martins having disputes over the available nesting holes (there are not enough to go round) also 2 Pied Wagtail and 1 Grey Wagtail. Cheers Ian

Approx 25 Sand Martins above nest colony this morning and a single Grey Wagtail calling on the river. Cheers Ian

8 Sand Martin flying around above breeding holes 3.50p.m. today also single Grey Wagtail. Cheers Ian

3.55 p.m. today at the breeding colony site in wall of Market Hall my 1st Sand Martin of the year here.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. on river near Asda, 7 Goosander, 1 Goldeneye(1st one I've seen here), 2 Grey Heron, 3 Tufted amongst usual Mallard but best was a Dipper.
Cheers Ian

pm 3 tufted duck 2 mute swans 25 mallard

1st light this a.m. 9 Goosander on the river, 1 Grey Wagtail, 8 Moorhen and 2 Grey Heron.
Cheers Ian

River this a.m. both sides of bridge at Asda, 3 Goosander, 3 Tufted, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Moorhen and approx 30 each of Mallard and Black-headed Gull. I was surprised as I expected more birds forced off frozen ponds etc.
Cheers Ian

This AM
Cormerant, Kingfisher, Grey Wag, moorhen

Dipper this a.m. in exactly the same place as last Sunday, also 2 Grey Heron.
Cheers Ian

Grey Wagtail Heron Tufted Duck AM

Near Asda this a.m. 6 Goosander and really pleased to see a Dipper.
Cheers Ian

east lanc paper mill
huge site with river, lodge, ballast, grassy mound, wood, and scrub.

little Grebe dipper River
3 Herons
3 Cormerants
Goosander
moorhen coot canada geese
Jay
pied wags
willow warbler
long tailed trits
large flock of gold finches
kestral

Went to check on Sand Martin colony in walls of Market Hall, they've all gone, nesting over for another season, what's worrying is how quickly the Summer has gone by!.
Cheers Ian

Still 6 Sand Martin nests in use at the colony today, the max this year was 20 active nests.
Cheers Ian

There are now 20 holes in use by the Sand Martins, the most I've ever seen here. Lots of other birds prospecting for sites but I don't no if any more holes are available. Also usual Grey and Pied Wagtails

This morning large number of Sand Martin flying around, counted 18 holes being visited. Also Goosander seems to have taken up residence, Canada Geese with 2 Gosling and Pied and Grey Wagtail. No sign of Kingfisher, I used to see them nearly every visit.
Cheers Ian

The old East Lancs Paper Mill
Now all flat earmarked as a school
A huge site running from cross lane to the river
Many of the lodges are drained
One remains to the east of the site
The area near croft lane is a rubble tip and south of the site running to the river is a large grassy spoil heap giving way to scrub birch

Lodge Heron Coot Canada Goose
Tip area Lapwing lots of swifts sand martins
Grassy mound
At least three skylarks singing
Further on
Sedge Warbler, several Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff and more lapwing and usuals

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 28th of May 2010 12:35:24 PM

10.15-10.45a.m. At least 13 Sand Martin nests in wall of Market Hall and opposite. Pied Wagtail with fledged young and Grey Wagtail also.
Cheers Ian

Grey Wagtails feeding young, also Pied Wagtail and a male Goosander, here yesterday also, at 10.30 a.m.
Cheers Ian

11.00a.m. today, at least 20 Sand Martin around the colony with 4 birds collecting nesting material (I didn't know they did this) and entering holes, usual Wagtails but still no Kingfisher.
Cheers Ian

At least 8 Sand Martins
LBB BH Gull
Mallard
Kingfisher
Gold finch
Great and coal tit
Grey and Pied Wag

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 9th of April 2010 09:30:01 AM

Correction to post dated 2nd April, should have said Sand Martins NOT House Martins
This morning (9.45) no Martins of any description, wonder where yesterdays have gone?.
Cheers Ian

11.30 a.m. 16 Sand martins now present plus 4 Swallow and the usual Pied and Grey Wagtails.
Cheers Ian

11.00a.m. Sand Martins returned to nesting colony at Market Hall with 6 birds flying around investigating the holes
Also good to meet you(Bill M) at Elton this a.m. keep those emoticons going in your posts!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers Ian

12.00-1.00p.m. today, just pair of Grey and Pied Wagtails and 6 House Martins flying upriver. No sign of Kingfisher again, wonder if numbers are down because of the cold Winter.
Cheers Ian

3.15 p.m. 5 Sand Martin for 5 mins before moving on.
Cheers Ian

Hi Ian,

Mink are controlled at certain sites by trapping etc, but not so much on the rivers. Putting sightings on the Mink section of the wildlife forum will help build a picture of distribution and population. There were good numbers on R. Spodden at Healey Dell but the rangers managed to get rid of a few by trapping which has made a difference i feel.

If Otters decide to populate GM again then numbers of mink should go down, but that is not going to happen overnight.

Dave

-- Edited by David Winnard on Sunday 28th of March 2010 04:34:37 PM

10.30-11.00a.m. at Market Hall, steady stream of Sand Martins moving North along the river, at least 30 birds over the half hour, no Kingfisher but 2 pairs of Grey Wagtails in the area.
Cheers Ian
.............................
A resident in local flats also reported seeing a Mink recently, with Mink at Elton and Pennington things don't look good. Are there any plans to control them, does anyone know?.

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 28th of March 2010 03:54:39 PM

Quick look in on way home at 3.45 p.m., I know us teachers work ridiculous hours. Nice views of a Kingfisher from road bridge by Asda and lots of Grey Wagtail action but no more Sand Martins after yesterdays 5.
Cheers Ian

11.15 a.m. 5 Sand Martins around nest holes for 3 mins before flying North. Also 2 pairs of Grey and 1 of Pied Wagtails having territorial disputes plus 1 pair Goosander.
Cheers Ian

Radcliffe Moor Bolton Border Brinks Lane Black shaw brook and reservoirs
6 Tufted Ducks Coot Mallard Canada Geese Moorhen
LT Great Coal Tit
Gold Green Bull finches
Hedge sparrow Robin etc

Pair of Grey Wagtails have returned after being absent since last October, also KIngfisher.
Cheers Ian

Shore Top Res Rads
Female Kestrel
2 Bullfinch
Moorhen
Heron
few mallard Canada goose
Fly by Crmrnt
Coal Great LT Blue tit
Chaffinch

Pair of Goosander present 11.00am today, also here yesterday at same time.
Cheers Ian

10.00-10.30 today sheltering from the snow below road bridge(Pilkington Way)me not the birds . 3 Goosander, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk but was most surprised to see a Little Grebe, a first here for me, presumably as all the ponds are frozen over.
Cheers Ian

AM
M & F Gooseander, Pied Wagtail

Around 12.30 today
1 Goosander, 1 Dipper and 2 Grey Wagtails.
Cheers Ian

1.00p.m. 2 Goosander, 2 adult and 1 juv. Mute Swan, 1 Kingfisher.
Cheers Ian

2.00-2.15p.m. over river next to Asda carpark, approx 100 mixed flock of Swallow, House and Sand Martin and Swift; about equal numbers of each passed through.
Cheers Ian

still 8-10 sand martins on a very swollen river today and two days ago pair of mute swans and 3 young that looked very like those from the canal near bennies that seemed to be missing earlier this week.

11.am today, over a 10 min period 450+ Sand Martins with 80+ Swallows and 36 Swift passed over on migration, an incredible sight.
Cheers Ian

Sorry Judith, YES is the answer, I meant Sand Martins.
Cheers Ian

Do you mean Sand Martins?