6 Canada Geese 2 Coot 1 Mute Swan 1 G. C. Grebe 2 Common Tern 4 Carrion Crows 7 House Sparrows several Swallows 1 Swift 1 B.H. Gull
Also the small pond by the side of Ringley Road just after Old Hall Lane, a pair of Canada Geese have raised several goslings. Hard to tell exactly how many when I was walking past as they stay in the long grass besides the pond.
Keith Mills said
Wed Jul 4 9:06 PM, 2012
Thanks for the help and advice on the two previous posts.
This am with John Parkinson:
Managed to get a view across the rectangular pool!
Tufted Duck....8 Gadwall......6 Coot........ 4 Including a Juvenile. Black-headed Gulls....6 A few Swifts overhead. Passing a bush, on the path that runs alongside the M60, we came across a Buzzard sat on a low fence with its back to us. The bird was just 4 yards from us and did not notice us for 30 seconds. At the ETW at Ringley we had six Swifts, very close and at head hight 3 Blackcap heard. A new Electricity transmission pole had had the copper earthing cable hacked off....this will be reported.
Simon Johnson said
Wed Jul 4 7:50 PM, 2012
Just a reminder to folk that the ponds are in a private site and viewing needs to be made from the motorway embankment.
Cheers
Lee Kleiman said
Wed Jul 4 4:56 PM, 2012
Hi, yes those are the ponds I visited. They are probably a couple of miles from Ringley but not too far a walk from there and you get a chance to check out any birds on the river and in the woods along the way too.
I think Ringley was used just as a general area as Shore Top, the canal on the other side of the main road, Outwood Trail and also the fields down Philips Park Road are also included in this thread. Likewise the area covered in the Elton thread is pretty extensive and not just the res. itself. It would be quicker to get to them if you parked at the bottom of Philips Park Road (although the bottom half is pretty ropey) and walked down from there or at the entrance to Giants Seat Nursery and you would still get to walk along the river.
About 18 months ago I saw a barn owl hunting in the evening 3 times in the space of a week whilst walking the dog on the nature trail down Copper Lane that runs down to the Outwood Trail. Never seen one before or since but it was a real thrill.
Keith Mills said
Wed Jul 4 8:39 AM, 2012
Can anyone tell me where these ponds are? Are they connected with the Sewage Works?
On the maps the only ponds/pools that I can find are either side of the M60, which is the other side of Clifton Marina and is hardly Ringley. Thanks.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 08:46:20 AM
Lee Kleiman said
Tue Jul 3 7:50 PM, 2012
Just found this forum. Have walked dogs and ridden my bike all around this area for almost 20 years and never knew these ponds existed. So got my map out and decided to have a good explore, eventually found them
Ponds and round about
11.30 - 3.00
Quail removed ,after speaking with Ian most probably young pheasant 2 Jay 3 Grey Herron 3 Pheasant 3 Bullfinch approx 15 Coot 4 Mallard 2 Mute swans with 1 cygnet 1 Kestrel 1 Song Thrush 1 Long Tailed Tit
-- Edited by Lee on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 10:30:36 AM
Simon Johnson said
Wed Jun 27 4:19 PM, 2012
Brief visit last night
Ponds very full, few camp fires dotted about and fence pulled down all over.
Coot look to be only waterfowl with young Mute swans have 1 cygnet left 4 gadwall - not one brood of ducklings 3 mallard again as above Little grebe again as above with no young 4 tufted duck Buzzard 80 swift
Shame no one will look after this site as it has great potential but it's just so over grown now
Dave Thacker said
Sat Jun 2 4:22 AM, 2012
As I left the La Roma restaurant this evening in Ringley and walked to the small bridge opposite which goes over the Irwell a Cuckoo flew over my head and landed in the trees next to the river near the Horseshoe pub. It stayed silent but I got great close up views of this male bird. After 2-3 minutes of preening it flew up river. Also seen were 2 Grey wagtails.
Dave Thacker said
Mon May 14 3:18 AM, 2012
A brief glimpse of a Kingfisher as it flew down the Irwell, seen yesterday at 14.25pm from the Giants Seat garden centre at Ringley.
Simon Johnson said
Mon May 14 12:04 AM, 2012
Mid Morning Mooch
highlights were a Male Shelduck NW - site tick and a Lesser Whitethroat
water levels very high
2 pairs of coot with young, Pair of Canada Geese with 5 young and the pair of Mute Swan have at least 3 Cygnets.
10 Gadwall 4 Tufted Duck 12 Mallard 2 Little Grebe 7 Whitethroat 100 Swift 15 House Martin Kestrel Buzzard 2 Stock Dove
Simon Johnson said
Mon Apr 16 3:10 AM, 2012
later afternoon
Female Redstart - in bushes around the pond north of motorway 6 Blackcap 5 Willow Warbler 4 Chiffchaff 13 Swallow during a hail shower Peregine flew up valley Buzzard 23 Gadwall 22 Tufted Duck 4+ Lapwing
Simon Johnson said
Mon Apr 2 12:25 AM, 2012
Around the pools this afternoon and the ploughed field above
House Martin 30 se and 24 knocking about Blackcap 9 inc 6 together Chiffchaff 5 Whitethroat Willow Tit Siskin 16 Woodpigeon 300+ in stubble fields Buzzard Kestrel 2
Simon Johnson said
Sun Aug 7 7:52 PM, 2011
Morning visit and a good soaking
Female tufted duck with 8 small ducklings Gadwall 14 ads & 18 well grown ducklings Teal 2 Little grebe 3 Buzzard Stock dove Willow tit Bullfinch family party of 4 ad still feeding young Reed bunting family party of 6 House Martin 104 Swift 100
Simon Johnson said
Sat Jul 9 6:31 PM, 2011
Couple of months since last visit
Gadwall 9 adults + 5 broods = 37 ducklings in total (to start with) (10+9+9+7+2)
However the female of the brood of 10 went mad and 9 ducklings went zooming out to the middle. The 10th fell vicitm to a Mink!! the mink then swam off with it followed by a flock of Black-headed Gulls going mad at it.
The mink are breeding up near the treatment works (and need getting rid of)
Little Grebe 5 only one pair nesting (used to be up to 7 pairs and reckon the Mink have something to do with that too)
Tufted Duck 67 Teal Mallard 40 Mute Swan 2
Mixed tit flock near motorway bridge had Long tailed tit 15+ Willow tit Coal tit 3 Garden Warbler Great spotted woodpecker and a Jay following
Simon Johnson said
Sat May 14 8:50 PM, 2011
stupidly early
Swallow 92 moving up irwell valley Sand Martin House Martin 5 Swift 30 Gadwall 11 Tufted Duck 2 Mute Swan 2 on ponds + 3 west Mallard + 11 ducklings on irwell Jay Great spotted Woodpecker Buzzard
Common Sand and a few Lapwing present Gadwall 27 Tufted Duck 7 Mallard 15 Mute Swan 2 Little Grebe 2 Swift 25 Sand Martin 10 House Martin 2 Blackcap several Whitethroat 6 Chiffchaff 3
Dave Thacker said
Sun Apr 17 9:12 PM, 2011
Birds seen on a walk from the Horseshoe pub, Ringley to the Giants seat garden centre and back again this afternoon;
4 Singing Whitethroat including one collecting nesting material 2 Blackcaps Lots of Willow warblers singing 2 Chiffchaff GS Woodpecker seen drumming on a telegraph pole 8 BH Gulls at the treatment plant 4 Tufted ducks flying over 8 Mallard Kestrel 2 Buzzards over the woods Heron Song thrush 3 Canada geese 2 Moorhen Treecreeper
-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Sunday 17th of April 2011 09:13:41 PM
Simon Johnson said
Tue Apr 12 8:45 PM, 2011
good section of the riverbank has been torched down here.
On the ponds
Gadwall 21 Teal 17 Mallard 23 Tufted Duck 20 Coot 18 Moorhen 3 Canada Goose 10 + 5 which flew in from east at dusk Mute Swan 2. Lapwing 11
In the woods Blackcap 6 Willow Warbler 10 Chiffchaff 2 Jay Willow Tit heard Buzzard
Dave Thacker said
Sat Apr 9 8:52 PM, 2011
2 Kingfishers seen flying down the Irwell this afternoon, viewed from the Giants Seat Garden centre
Simon Johnson said
Sun Mar 20 8:18 PM, 2011
Mute Swan 4 (3 ad + Imm) Gadwall 8 Teal 14 Tufted Duck 20 Goldeneye 3 Coot 4 Lapwing 20 Buzzard 2 Stock Dove 3 Skylark north Mpipit north
Simon Johnson said
Sun Feb 27 8:09 PM, 2011
Gadwall 3 Teal 13 Goldeneye 22 Tufted Duck 32 Pochard (male) Mute Swan Cormorant 2 Little Grebe (first of the year on the ponds) Kestrel (female)
Skylark flew north Willow tit 3 long tailed tit flocks containing 6,6&7 birds. Goldcrest 2 fly catching from a bush in the sunshine
Simon Johnson said
Sat Feb 12 6:54 PM, 2011
Few ducks on the pools this morning before being flushed by a guy with a fishing net.
Goldeneye 25 - Smashed last weeks highest count Pochard 1 male Gadwall 8 Teal 17 Coot 3 Mute Swan 4
Buzzard & 2 Spahawk displaying
Siskin 2 Bullfinch 2 GSW 2 Pheasnt 6 Jay Jackdaw 33 high flying west Reed Bunt 2
Only 1 Robin & 3 Wren!! Blackbird & Song thrush numbers also seem down in the area
Tony Hill said
Tue Feb 8 11:09 AM, 2011
Whoopers still on canal.
Simon Johnson said
Sun Feb 6 2:24 PM, 2011
Walk round the treatment works -very windy today and lots of big branches being blown down.
Goldeneye 21 on the rectangle pool (highest count have had here) prob pushed on by the high river. Hardly any other wildfowl tho, still no Gadwall or Little Grebe and small numbers of the others : - Teal 20 Mallard 3 Tufted Duck 5.
3 Tit flocks along the walk 13 Long-tailed tit - Phillips park road 11 Long-tailed tit- works entrance with Treecreeper, Willow Tit and 5 Great tits & 10 Blue tit by motorway bridge with a single willow tit.
Female kestrel & a single Buzzard which was hovering at times about the wood.
100+ Woodpigeon & 17 Magpie in the fields and that was it
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Feb 6 12:09 PM, 2011
With Iain Johnson this am
Whooper Swans still present in the same place, apparently feeding on bread, according to a dog walker we spoke to!
We didn't try to make them fly though!
Thanks to Iain for the leap of faith!
JJumper said
Sat Feb 5 5:32 PM, 2011
The Adult whooper swan was on it own for approx a week then 4 days ago it was joined by the younger one. Both appear OK.
Keith Mills said
Sat Feb 5 4:08 PM, 2011
The 2 Whooper Swans still present 2.30 this afternoon on canal opposite Stoneclough (also 2 mute Swans in basin by Prestolee locks}
Judith Smith said
Fri Feb 4 7:50 PM, 2011
Might be an idea to give them the once-over to make sure nothing amiss (ie can they fly, (esp. the adult) wings OK?) as it seems a bit of an odd place for 2 Whoopers to winter, if anyone passing that way.
Simon Warford said
Fri Feb 4 1:29 PM, 2011
Judith, im certain these will be the same swans we saw back in December, when we last saw them they had split up with a single adult on the river on its own.
Tony Hill said
Fri Feb 4 10:37 AM, 2011
2 Whooper Swans, adult + young, On canal between Prestolee and Ringley, also Common Buzzard over.
Judith Smith said
Wed Feb 2 8:44 PM, 2011
I wonder if these are the same as the birds on the Irwell at Prestolee back in December- ish?
julian shimmin said
Tue Feb 1 9:40 PM, 2011
today- 1 juv + 1 adult whooper swans on canal at ringley-just north of a667. must be resting whilst migrating.
Simon Johnson said
Tue Jan 18 8:06 PM, 2011
2-4 pm Not many birds on the pools after the cold snap
Mute Swan 2 Canada Goose 39 Mallard 19 Teal 27 Goldeneye 7 BHG 112 Long-tailed Tit 2 groups of 10
a tit flock worked its way down the hedgerow passed Sedgley Park rugby pitches
Blue tit 26 Great tit 8 Chaffinch 14 Bullfinch 2 GSW Song thrush 2
Simon Johnson said
Sun Dec 12 8:34 PM, 2010
Winter Survey for SD70 W - Ringley still frozen - most ducks on river
Gadwall - Single male on ice Mallard 44 Teal 5 Goldeneye 4 Goosander 2 Spahawk 2 Kestrel 2 Buzzard 2
In the woods Nuthatch 4 Goldcrest 3 Blue tit 30 GSW
Dave Thacker said
Sat Nov 20 8:49 PM, 2010
2pm
2 Bramblings flew in front of my car near the new treatment plant as I travelled to Giants seat garden centre in Ringley. In trees at the top car park were 2 Goldcrests and a GS Woodpecker
Simon Johnson said
Wed Oct 20 10:46 PM, 2010
Buzzard 3 south in the afternoon Shoveler 10 Gadwall 34 Teal 30 Little Grebe Mute Swan 3 Willow Tit Kestrel
Simon Johnson said
Sun Aug 29 9:27 PM, 2010
Lapwing 90 on south pool plus 43 flying above the fields above Ringley Snipe 2 Green Sand Gadwall 15 Teal 19 Shoveler Tufted Duck 11 Little Grebe 6 Spahawk Buzzard
Simon Johnson said
Wed Aug 4 9:21 PM, 2010
late post from yesterday eve 3/8
Still some mud south Pool
93 Lapwing, 16 Gadwall, 2 Little grebe, Kestrel, 30 Long tailed tit and 4 Blackcap of any note
Simon Johnson said
Sat Jul 17 1:25 PM, 2010
Early morning - wet - didnt cash in on the bit of wader movement other sites have had this morning and the site was disturbed by a gut with waders and a big net.
LRP 3 ad 1 juv, Green Sand (heard) & Lapwing 27
Ducks also down with Gadwall 7, Tufted Duck 26, Mallard 77, Teal 7, Little Grebe 2 (ad + Juv), Cormornat 2 flew West
Kestrel Male and Female - seen taking food towards Pilikington tile factory, female Spahawk hunting fields by cemetry
Swift 110 NW, Swallow 50, House Martin 29, Sand Martin 6.
Stock Dove 5, GSW 2, Jay 6, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Goldrest all confirmed breeding with young seen begging for food!
Gropper reeling and also Reed and Sedge Warbler singing.
Looks like Mink are also breeding down here with an adult seen walking down the path an off into the vegitation carrying a MOLE - which was still alive!!
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 17th of July 2010 01:27:22 PM
Simon Johnson said
Thu Jul 15 9:13 PM, 2010
Quick look tonight in the rain
Gadwall are having a good year down here with now 6 broods!! Ducklings were down to 26 but then spotted this further brood of 5 this eve - 31 young!!
Green Sand LRP Juv Lapwing 77 Gadwall 10 Teal 6 Mallard 80 Tufted Duck 40 Little Grebe 1ad 1 juv
Juv Kestrel and Bullfinch also
Simon Johnson said
Sun Jul 11 2:35 PM, 2010
Quick look with Sean S at lunch time
few more waders on the pools
Greenshank, Common & Green Sandpiper, 4 LRP and 39 Lapwing.
Now 5 broods of Gadwall with another on the south pool total of 29 ducklings (this is the highest number of young have had down here - i think)
Not been down for a while - quick visit after work and the pools have good muddy edges. Lots of birds.
Green Sand, 2 LRP, 15 Lapwing, 80 Mallard + 2 broods, 6 Gadwall + 4 broods total 23 ducklings, tufted duck 20, teal 5. Only 3 coot and 3 Little Grebe - none have young and only 4 young Moorhen seen.
5 Grey Heron and a Cormorant sat on mud.
Swift 26, Swallow 40+ Many young birds sitting on wires, 15 Goldfinch, GSW, Bullfinch male.
Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat still singing. Loads of young Blue, Great & Long tailed tit and also a couple of recently fledged coal tit.
6 Canada Geese
2 Coot
1 Mute Swan
1 G. C. Grebe
2 Common Tern
4 Carrion Crows
7 House Sparrows
several Swallows
1 Swift
1 B.H. Gull
Also the small pond by the side of Ringley Road just after Old Hall Lane, a pair of Canada Geese have raised several goslings. Hard to tell exactly how many when I was walking past as they stay in the long grass besides the pond.
This am with John Parkinson:
Managed to get a view across the rectangular pool!
Tufted Duck....8
Gadwall......6
Coot........ 4 Including a Juvenile.
Black-headed Gulls....6
A few Swifts overhead.
Passing a bush, on the path that runs alongside the M60, we came across a Buzzard sat on a low fence with its back to us. The bird was just 4 yards from us and did not notice us for 30 seconds.
At the ETW at Ringley we had six Swifts, very close and at head hight
3 Blackcap heard.
A new Electricity transmission pole had had the copper earthing cable hacked off....this will be reported.
Just a reminder to folk that the ponds are in a private site and viewing needs to be made from the motorway embankment.
Cheers
I think Ringley was used just as a general area as Shore Top, the canal on the other side of the main road, Outwood Trail and also the fields down Philips Park Road are also included in this thread. Likewise the area covered in the Elton thread is pretty extensive and not just the res. itself. It would be quicker to get to them if you parked at the bottom of Philips Park Road (although the bottom half is pretty ropey) and walked down from there or at the entrance to Giants Seat Nursery and you would still get to walk along the river.
About 18 months ago I saw a barn owl hunting in the evening 3 times in the space of a week whilst walking the dog on the nature trail down Copper Lane that runs down to the Outwood Trail. Never seen one before or since but it was a real thrill.
Are they connected with the Sewage Works?
On the maps the only ponds/pools that I can find are either side of the M60,
which is the other side of Clifton Marina and is hardly Ringley.
Thanks.
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 08:46:20 AM
Ponds and round about
11.30 - 3.00
Quail removed ,after speaking with Ian most probably young pheasant
2 Jay
3 Grey Herron
3 Pheasant
3 Bullfinch
approx 15 Coot
4 Mallard
2 Mute swans with 1 cygnet
1 Kestrel
1 Song Thrush
1 Long Tailed Tit
-- Edited by Lee on Wednesday 4th of July 2012 10:30:36 AM
Ponds very full, few camp fires dotted about and fence pulled down all over.
Coot look to be only waterfowl with young
Mute swans have 1 cygnet left
4 gadwall - not one brood of ducklings
3 mallard again as above
Little grebe again as above with no young
4 tufted duck
Buzzard
80 swift
Shame no one will look after this site as it has great potential but it's just so over grown now
highlights were a Male Shelduck NW - site tick and a Lesser Whitethroat
water levels very high
2 pairs of coot with young, Pair of Canada Geese with 5 young and the pair of Mute Swan have at least 3 Cygnets.
10 Gadwall
4 Tufted Duck
12 Mallard
2 Little Grebe
7 Whitethroat
100 Swift
15 House Martin
Kestrel
Buzzard
2 Stock Dove
Female Redstart - in bushes around the pond north of motorway
6 Blackcap
5 Willow Warbler
4 Chiffchaff
13 Swallow during a hail shower
Peregine flew up valley
Buzzard
23 Gadwall
22 Tufted Duck
4+ Lapwing
6 Snipe
15 Gadwall
20+ Mallard
14 Tufted Duck
3 Goldeneye
18 Teal
26 Coot
Buzzard
5 Stock Dove
7 Lapwing
3 Chiffchaff
Coal tit
9.10a.m. to 11.50a.m.
Warm and sunny
Canada goose 2
Mallard 12
Goosander 3
Pheasant 1
Grey Heron 2
Great Crested Grebe 2
Kestrel 1
Coot 6
Woodpigeon 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Magpie 12
Jay 8
Carrion Crow 6
Blue Tit 6
Great tit 7
Long-tailed Tit 2
Chiffchaff 3
Wren 5
Blackbird 4
Robin 4
Dunnock 2
House Sparrow 6
2 Pintail (pair)
2 Wigeon (pair)
31 Gadwall
40 Mallard
30 Teal
2 Tufted Duck
Female Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
2 Mute Swan
Woodcock
4 Lapwing
9 Cormorant east
2 Bullfinch, 2 Goldcrest, Sparrowhawk, Raven and 2 Kestrel
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 17th of March 2012 07:11:43 PM
on ponds
30 Gadwall
21 Mallard
22 Teal
26 Goldeneye
6 Tufted Duck
Goosander
2 Mute Swan
2 Lapwing
Buzzard
2 Kestrel
2 Coal tit,
singing Goldcrest
2 Skylark north
3 Stock Dove
Nuthatch
2 mute swan on a very small patch of water
14 gadwall flushed by a buzzard
20 teal
37 mallard
3 goosander
Little grebe
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Kingfisher
Ponds frozen just small patch with 2 Mute swan
30 Redwing
6 Songthrush
10 Blackbird
Treecreeper
3 Coal tit
Willow Tit
50 Long-tailed tit in 3 seperate flocks
Buzzard
Kestrel
Female Pintail
Wigeon
4 Gadwall
37 Teal
(No diving ducks at all - a lot of tree felling has been done around the ponds so may have been pushed off - to Elton!)
2 Goldcrest
Treecreeper
Willow Tit
27 Long-tailed tit
2 buzzard
Kestrel
Bullfinch (male)
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 93
Gadwall 6
Teal 29
Little Grebe 5
few tit flocks
Blue tit 15, Long-tailed tit 12, Chiffchaff and 5+ Goldcrest
Gadwall 39
Tufted Duck 34
Shoveler 3
Teal 26
Moorhen 9
Canada Goose 113
Mute Swan 2
other sightings
House Martin 30 se and 24 knocking about
Blackcap 9 inc 6 together
Chiffchaff 5
Whitethroat
Willow Tit
Siskin 16
Woodpigeon 300+ in stubble fields
Buzzard
Kestrel 2
Female tufted duck with 8 small ducklings
Gadwall 14 ads & 18 well grown ducklings
Teal 2
Little grebe 3
Buzzard
Stock dove
Willow tit
Bullfinch family party of 4 ad still feeding young
Reed bunting family party of 6
House Martin 104
Swift 100
Gadwall 9 adults + 5 broods = 37 ducklings in total (to start with) (10+9+9+7+2)
However the female of the brood of 10 went mad and 9 ducklings went zooming out to the middle. The 10th fell vicitm to a Mink!! the mink then swam off with it followed by a flock of Black-headed Gulls going mad at it.
The mink are breeding up near the treatment works (and need getting rid of)
Little Grebe 5 only one pair nesting (used to be up to 7 pairs and reckon the Mink have something to do with that too)
Tufted Duck 67
Teal
Mallard 40
Mute Swan 2
Mixed tit flock near motorway bridge had
Long tailed tit 15+
Willow tit
Coal tit 3
Garden Warbler
Great spotted woodpecker and a Jay following
Swallow 92 moving up irwell valley
Sand Martin
House Martin 5
Swift 30
Gadwall 11
Tufted Duck 2
Mute Swan 2 on ponds + 3 west
Mallard + 11 ducklings on irwell
Jay
Great spotted Woodpecker
Buzzard
possible fall of warblers in area
Sedge Warbler 6
Whitethroat 15
Blackcap 20
Chiffchaff 8
One has small section of mud
Common Sand and a few Lapwing present
Gadwall 27
Tufted Duck 7
Mallard 15
Mute Swan 2
Little Grebe 2
Swift 25
Sand Martin 10
House Martin 2
Blackcap several
Whitethroat 6
Chiffchaff 3
4 Singing Whitethroat including one collecting nesting material
2 Blackcaps
Lots of Willow warblers singing
2 Chiffchaff
GS Woodpecker seen drumming on a telegraph pole
8 BH Gulls at the treatment plant
4 Tufted ducks flying over
8 Mallard
Kestrel
2 Buzzards over the woods
Heron
Song thrush
3 Canada geese
2 Moorhen
Treecreeper
-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Sunday 17th of April 2011 09:13:41 PM
On the ponds
Gadwall 21
Teal 17
Mallard 23
Tufted Duck 20
Coot 18
Moorhen 3
Canada Goose 10 + 5 which flew in from east at dusk
Mute Swan 2.
Lapwing 11
In the woods
Blackcap 6
Willow Warbler 10
Chiffchaff 2
Jay
Willow Tit heard
Buzzard
Gadwall 8
Teal 14
Tufted Duck 20
Goldeneye 3
Coot 4
Lapwing 20
Buzzard 2
Stock Dove 3
Skylark north
Mpipit north
Gadwall 3
Teal 13
Goldeneye 22
Tufted Duck 32
Pochard (male)
Mute Swan
Cormorant 2
Little Grebe (first of the year on the ponds)
Kestrel (female)
Skylark flew north
Willow tit
3 long tailed tit flocks containing 6,6&7 birds.
Goldcrest 2 fly catching from a bush in the sunshine
Goldeneye 25 - Smashed last weeks highest count
Pochard 1 male
Gadwall 8
Teal 17
Coot 3
Mute Swan 4
Buzzard & 2 Spahawk displaying
Siskin 2
Bullfinch 2
GSW 2
Pheasnt 6
Jay
Jackdaw 33 high flying west
Reed Bunt 2
Only 1 Robin & 3 Wren!! Blackbird & Song thrush numbers also seem down in the area
Goldeneye 21 on the rectangle pool (highest count have had here) prob pushed on by the high river. Hardly any other wildfowl tho, still no Gadwall or Little Grebe and small numbers of the others : -
Teal 20
Mallard 3
Tufted Duck 5.
3 Tit flocks along the walk
13 Long-tailed tit - Phillips park road
11 Long-tailed tit- works entrance with Treecreeper, Willow Tit and 5 Great tits
& 10 Blue tit by motorway bridge with a single willow tit.
Female kestrel & a single Buzzard which was hovering at times about the wood.
100+ Woodpigeon & 17 Magpie in the fields and that was it
Whooper Swans still present in the same place, apparently feeding on bread, according to a dog walker we spoke to!
We didn't try to make them fly though!
Thanks to Iain for the leap of faith!
Stoneclough (also 2 mute Swans in basin by Prestolee locks}
must be resting whilst migrating.
Not many birds on the pools after the cold snap
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 39
Mallard 19
Teal 27
Goldeneye 7
BHG 112
Long-tailed Tit 2 groups of 10
a tit flock worked its way down the hedgerow passed Sedgley Park rugby pitches
Blue tit 26
Great tit 8
Chaffinch 14
Bullfinch 2
GSW
Song thrush 2
Winter Survey for SD70 W - Ringley still frozen - most ducks on river
Gadwall - Single male on ice
Mallard 44
Teal 5
Goldeneye 4
Goosander 2
Spahawk 2
Kestrel 2
Buzzard 2
In the woods
Nuthatch 4
Goldcrest 3
Blue tit 30
GSW
2 Bramblings flew in front of my car near the new treatment plant as I travelled to Giants seat garden centre in Ringley. In trees at the top car park were 2 Goldcrests and a GS Woodpecker
Shoveler 10
Gadwall 34
Teal 30
Little Grebe
Mute Swan 3
Willow Tit
Kestrel
Snipe 2
Green Sand
Gadwall 15
Teal 19
Shoveler
Tufted Duck 11
Little Grebe 6
Spahawk
Buzzard
Still some mud south Pool
93 Lapwing, 16 Gadwall, 2 Little grebe, Kestrel, 30 Long tailed tit and 4 Blackcap of any note
LRP 3 ad 1 juv, Green Sand (heard) & Lapwing 27
Ducks also down with Gadwall 7, Tufted Duck 26, Mallard 77, Teal 7, Little Grebe 2 (ad + Juv), Cormornat 2 flew West
Kestrel Male and Female - seen taking food towards Pilikington tile factory, female Spahawk hunting fields by cemetry
Swift 110 NW, Swallow 50, House Martin 29, Sand Martin 6.
Stock Dove 5, GSW 2, Jay 6, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Goldrest all confirmed breeding with young seen begging for food!
Gropper reeling and also Reed and Sedge Warbler singing.
Looks like Mink are also breeding down here with an adult seen walking down the path an off into the vegitation carrying a MOLE - which was still alive!!
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Saturday 17th of July 2010 01:27:22 PM
Gadwall are having a good year down here with now 6 broods!! Ducklings were down to 26 but then spotted this further brood of 5 this eve - 31 young!!
Green Sand
LRP Juv
Lapwing 77
Gadwall 10
Teal 6
Mallard 80
Tufted Duck 40
Little Grebe 1ad 1 juv
Juv Kestrel and Bullfinch also
few more waders on the pools
Greenshank, Common & Green Sandpiper, 4 LRP and 39 Lapwing.
Now 5 broods of Gadwall with another on the south pool total of 29 ducklings (this is the highest number of young have had down here - i think)
Mallard 95, Tufted Duck 51, Teal 2, Gadwall 6 (5 female + 1 Male)
Loads of butterlies down here 10+ species!
Green Sand, 2 LRP, 15 Lapwing, 80 Mallard + 2 broods, 6 Gadwall + 4 broods total 23 ducklings, tufted duck 20, teal 5. Only 3 coot and 3 Little Grebe - none have young and only 4 young Moorhen seen.
5 Grey Heron and a Cormorant sat on mud.
Swift 26, Swallow 40+ Many young birds sitting on wires, 15 Goldfinch, GSW, Bullfinch male.
Reed Warbler, Blackcap and Whitethroat still singing. Loads of young Blue, Great & Long tailed tit and also a couple of recently fledged coal tit.