14th June
Curlew 1 flew low overhead calling
Mandarin 1 female

11th June
Kingfisher 2
Mandarin 1 female with 4 ducklings
Goosander 1 female with 3 ducklings

07.08, 2hr 15min, 41sp incl

Mandarin 1 drake
Gadwall 2m 1f
Kingfisher 1
Sand Martin 55+
Linnet 2 (mf)

Mandarin - the two pair still present
Goosander 3
Teal 4
Treecreeper 2
Goldcrest 1
Redwing 431

34 species :https://ebird.org/checklist/S63665427

half an hour stroll around this afternoon. Lots of birds around despite the mizzle, including around 50 redwing on the horse paddock.

On the River;
4 Mandarin Duck - 2m and 2f pairing up
3 Goosander - 2m, 1f
4 Teal - 2m,2f
c. 15 mallard

C

Manderin duck - 2 - m+f - not breeding in one of our nest boxes this year
Goosander 1 male
Sand Martin 2
Willow tit 1
Chiffchaff

Chris

Mandarin Duck plus 8 Ducklings - sat up on the exposed banks of the river. Pleasing to see they have successfully fledged from the owl box.
Sand Martin c. 20 - colony of circa 20 birds has set up in the area where I experienced the landslide in 2016.
Chris

If anybody sees mandarin duck with young around the Banky Meadows/Urmston/Flixton area please let me know.

We had a Manderin on eggs in one of our owl boxes last month. I assume they will have headed for the River Mersey (subject to the local watching buzzard). Any sighting would be gratefully received.

Chris

-- Edited by Chris Sutton on Friday 8th of June 2018 09:34:50 AM

White Wagtail 1
Grey Wagtail 1
Sand Martin 6+
Goosander 2
Buzzard 2
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch Common Whitethroat 2

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Tuesday 25th of April 2017 05:35:41 PM

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Tuesday 25th of April 2017 05:36:04 PM

Afternoon walk from Church Lane to the wier below Carrington Spur and onto Banky Meadows. Highlights;

Woodcock (1) - flushed
Teal (4) on river
150+ blackheaded gulls feeding frantically in a flooded field
Buzzard (2)
other than that quiet

The most interesting sight was the banks of the river collapsing in front of me (on the sandy meandering stretch west of the wier). Suspect the land slip was caused by the banking being undercut in the recent high waters. The banking in this area looked great for Sand Martin - must check this out on the spring.

Chris

An unusual large feeding flock on Ashton on Mersey Golf course last night 147 Corvids, the majority ..Crows, but noted 14 Rooks 20 Jackdaws 2 Magpies

Kingfisher on river Mersey
4 Sand Martins
2 Swallows.

Keep Birding

Remembered what it was all about today, why I love birding, not a rarity or a record number but a new patch tick.

2 Green Woodpeckers made my day, both flitting around the trees near Kickerty brook where it meets the mersey, a site first for me.
But the supporting list was just great,
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Bullfinch
Grey Wagtails
Kingfisher
Buzzard.

Thrushes and Robins singing everywhere, Finches all over it was just old skool birding on a local patch.
Nice to have days that make smile.


Keep Birding.

Swallows 75+
House martins 20+
Buzzards 2
Crow 37
Jackdaw 56
Collared Dove 75+
Grey wagtail 1
Pied wagtail 5

Greenfinch 14
Bullfinch 2
Goldfinch 7
Linnet 4
House Sparrow 50+
Blackbird 2


Goosander 2 males 1 female

Keep birding.

At least 7 Chiffchaff today, 4 in one small area near sewage works.
Buzzard x2
Oystercatcher of note.

Keep Birding.

Excellent light this morning and as everyone is probably on a waxwing hunt thought I would go on a patch walk, and was well rewarded.

Collared Dove 185
Starlings 500
Wood Pigeon 45
Crow 50
Rook 18
Jackdaw 30
Magpie 47
Canada Goose 42
Mistle thrush 30
Redwing 15
Song Thrush 8
Blackbird 23
Long tailed tit 30
Great tit 14
Blue tit 20
Coal tit 1
Goldcrest 4
Kingfisher 1
Grey wagtail 3
Pied wagtail 40
Robin 9
Buzzard 2

perfect light, and always the possibilty of waxwing

Keep Birding.

4 Goosander 2m 2f on river mersey
2 Kingfisher
30 Mallard
2 Little Grebe
1Grey wagtail
3 Pied Wags.

Juvenile and adult buzzard this morning opposite horse paddock on Banky meadow.
4 Jays
1 Garden Warbler amongst small feeding flock of mixed birds tits, finches chiff chaffs,

3 hour stroll this morning, won't list everything, all the common birds, one area just behind the water works plant, was most productive, Chiff chaffs and Willow warblers feeding well, party of Bullfinch on an elder bush looking smart.

Then the text about the Dotterel, some birders are jammy, well done the moors men:big grin:

I will keep slogging away, one day, I will find something.

Keep birding

19/04/2011 - 7-9am around Banky Meadow and upstream to the wier:

1 Redstart - a beautiful male, at grid ref - SJ769935 in hedgerow between the two large grass fields towards the wier upstream from Banky Meadow itself

1 Grey Heron
4 Canada Geese
5 Mallards
4 Gadwalls
1 Kestrel
2 Grasshopper Warblers - Banky Meadow
9 Willow Warblers
7 Blackcaps
6 Chiffchaffs
15 Whitethroats
1 Grey Wagtail
c50 Sand Martins
2 Swallows
1 Treecreeper
12 Rooks
1 Reed Bunting

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 19th of April 2011 10:55:22 AM

i crossed the bridge next to carrington spur road on my way back from carrington moss & headed towards urmston banky meadow as i had seen some distant passerines they were over the mersey where there is an island there was not loads but got my fist swallows for the year 6 off them & 23 sand martin.

Barn Owl quartering the meadow at 6.30 this morning, very nice, Chiff-Chaff as well.

Keep Birding

First big flock of winter thrushes to work through.

80 Redwing
37 Fieldfare
16 Mistle Thrush

50 Crows
80 Jackdaw
20 Rooks

7 Goosanders
2 Little grebe.

lots of other finches and tits etc.

keep Birding

Boxing day walk.

Tawny owl
2 woodcock
7 Goosander 2m 5f
9 Teal
2 Goldeneye m/f
5 Little Grebes.




2 Buzzard.

80 Collared dove
300 corvid flock, jackdaw, crow , rook.

4 jays
3 redpoll
mixed tit flock 30+

canada goose 30

keep birding

A fantastic Morning stroll, with average size hip flask to keep warm


Highlights 3 Tufted and 1 male Goldeneye on the River Mersey

2 Woodcocks.
1 Kingfisher
2 Buzzard
23 Fieldfare
40 Redwing
3 Cormorants.

Great, blue, long tailed, coal tits( now before you start not a new species of tit, just a brill flock):evilly:

The river mersey was frozen solid for a 900 yard stretch, first time I have ever seen this here.

Well may the yuletide spirits bring you joy, and as always.


Keep Biridng

Via Little ees lane this morning

172 Collared Dove
53 Woodpigeon.
50 Crows
30 Jackdaw
15 Magpie
2 Jay
2 Buzzard
2 Grey Wagtail
7 Pied Wagtail
1 Male Goosander
1 Mute swan Blue darvic ring could not read number.
1 Little Grebe
10 Blue tit
15 Great tit
27 Long-tailed tit
4 Wrens
4 Dunnocks
3 Song thrush
9 Redwing
4 Fieldfare
6 Blackbird
50 BH Gulls.

in a counting mood this morning.

Keep Birding

Searching for points again, alas not a jot But there always that big flock around the next corner.

Swallow 25.
Sand martins 14


Corvids.
Jackdaws 80
Rooks 45
Crows 30
Magpies 28.

Cormorants 7
Buzzard 1

House sparrows 75.

Keep Birding

1 Green Sandpiper 1 Common Sandpiper two big year ticks for this site,

Kingfisher, coots Little grebe, cormorants 2 Buzzard Sparrowhawk, plus lots of Swallows Sand martins and Swifts.

Keep Birding

Paul Heaton wrote:

---

then got bored and ran up to wigan to see Wooseys Turtle Dove

---

Didn't we all!

Little ees lane area this morning.

350+ Juv Starling (they breed well round here)
70+ Collared Doves
35 House Sparrows.

40 Carrion crows
18 Rooks
9 Jackdaws
1 Male Goosander
1 kingfisher.

then got bored and ran up to wigan to see Wooseys Turtle Dove


Keep birding

Kickety Brook to Banky meadow this morning.

12 Chiffchaffs
15 Willow warblers
2 Blackcaps
3 Sedge Warblers
1 Grasshopper warbler
1 Reed warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat
9 Whitethroat

2 Little Grebe
4 Cormorants
1 Kingfisher.

7 Long-Tailed tits
1 Treecreeper.
2 Bullfinch male and female
1 Little Owl.

amongst others,

Keep birding

Male and female Blackcap
Willow warblers chiffchaff Whitethroats

Swifts, Swallow and Sand Martin

Tawny owl and Buzzard tonight.


Keep Birding

2 oystercatchers on the rugby field this morning.
Buzzard
Garden warbler on old tip again.
2 Bullfinch
2 Jays
Goldcrest


Lack of wagtails in area since completion of new sewage works.


Keep birding

30+ Swallows
8 Sand Martins
1 Swift
1 GS woodpecker female
2 Jays
2 Grey Partridge

Willow warblers, Chiff-Chaffs
Blackcap male and female

Keep birding

1130-1320
Managed to catch up with one of the Garden Warblers in the dip on the path opposite the entrance across the model aircraft flying field (thanks to Paul for the guidance below) despite the planes!
Sedge Warbler along the path towards the mersey crossing.
Loads of blackcap, chiffchaff and willow warbler.
Pair of Goosander on mersey.

Excellent morning for birding today.
11 Whitethroat,
9 willow-warblers
10 chiff-chaffs

2 garden warblers 1 on the old tip, the other near the model aircraft flying field, a few minor points at last.

Gadwall, little grebe and 20 Sand-martins on the river.


Keep birding

Tawny owl in flight around the sewage works tonight.


keep birding.

Similar walk to the previous post, yesterday 07/02/10, 9:30-11:30.

Good numbers of collared doves along Little Ees Lane, with a rough count of 200. Decent numbers of crows, rooks and jackdaws too, with at least 30 of all. Similar-numbered corvid flocks could also be seen reeling around the sewage farm on the north side of the Mersey.

A surprise was the lack of house sparrows along the lane. Though I did spot a singing nuthatch in the conifers, a first for me on this site (since moving to Ashton-upon-Mersey in May 09). Another pleasing sight was the high numbers of redwings (50 minimum) feeding with the starlings in the horse pasture to the sides of Church Lane.

Looking at some records from last year, my first sand martin was on the 15/03 at Dunham. I reckon Ive got a fighting chance of beating it this year on this site!

Species list 07/02/10:

Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Collared Dove
Coot
Blackbird
Kestrel
Dunnock
Goldfinch
Goosander
Great Tit
Greenfinch
Grey Wagtail
Heron
House Sparrow
Jackdaw
Jay
Little Grebe
Long-tailed Tit
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Nuthatch
Pied Wagtail
Redwing
Robin
Rook
Song Thrush
Starling
Stock Pigeon
Teal
Woodpigeon
Wren

-- Edited by Julian Robinson on Tuesday 9th of February 2010 07:21:59 PM

Ashton on Mersey in Sale today, 10:30-12:30. Circular walk starting at Little Ees Lane, then along Mersey to Carrington Spur. From there along track by sewage works to Banky Meadow before joining Mersey again and returning to Carrington Spur, walk ending at Church Lane.

Crow, jackdaw, rook, starling, house sparrow and collared dove numbers lowest estimates along Little Ees Lane.

New records for me on this patch were Snipe, Gadwall and Meadow Pipit.

Black-headed Gull 15
Blue Tit 3
Bullfinch 4
Buzzard 2
Carrion Crow 30
Chaffinch 4
Collared Dove 50
Blackbird 10
Kestrel 2
Dunnock 10
Gadwall 1
Goldfinch 10
Goosander 2
Cormorant 2
Great Tit 5
Grey Wagtail 2
Grey Heron 1
House Sparrow 40
Jackdaw 20
Jay 4
Little Grebe 1
Long-tailed Tit 10
Magpie 10
Mallard 15
Meadow Pipit 2
Moorhen 2
Pheasant 1
Pied Wagtail 2
Redwing 6
Robin 10
Rook 20
Snipe 1
Starling 200
Teal 7
Woodpigeon 15
Wren 5

A couple of sitings from 11/08 -

1 Common Sandpiper
1 Kingfisher

Both seen in the twisty, sandy parts of the Mersey to the west of the Carrington spur. I've had 2 mink sightings there too

Also, in the same area, frequent sightings of Buzzards, with one often using dead tree as perch.

Julian

Cheers Paul

Its the large area covering the River Mersey between Urmston and Sale.
Access via carrington spur road or off Church Lane Ashton on Mersey.

Part of the Mersey valley maps via Sale water park.

Just out of interest, where is Banky Meadow??

Adult Med Gull in field just next to bridge at the bottom of Church lane, passed the golf club.

Feeding with 30 BH Gulls.

Keep birding

Buzzard and Stonechat made my day this morning, rare birds for this patch
4Teal
2 Goosander
Kingfisher

Bullfinch
Greenfinch
Goldfinch

lots of corvids

and no dog walkers

keep birding.

Banky Meadow 08.30- 9.20am 13-04-08 Sale sewage treatment works Pair of Gadwall, 3 Teal, single male Shoveler and 2 Coot on pool at back of the works - very hard to see from path through dense trees and bushes - possibly more stuff there but not visible. Also 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler singing there plus single Treecreeper and GS Woodpecker R.Mersey Common Sandpiper 1 Goosander 1f Grey Heron 1 Sand Martin 4 also 2 Sparrowhawk, single Kestrel and 2 LLB Gulls over