((Also on-site 1 Pipistrelle Bat, 1 Mink, Red-tailed Bumblebee & Common Carder Bee))
Nick Hilton said
Thu May 3 8:21 PM, 2012
Just popped down to the Quays in my lunch hour, Little Gull still bobbing around in the middle. Good find Steven.
Nick Hilton said
Thu May 3 3:53 PM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
Nice one on the Little Gull Steven, as far as I'm aware that's another new species for Salford Docks (unless anyone knows of any previous records)
Good things happenin around the Costa del Salford :)
Hi James
I've looked back in the BTO records I can access and there is no previous record of Little Gull.
In five years of, virtually, daily visits on the Quays I didn't have any decent gulls (white wingers, Little or even a Med !) I knew it would happen, work moved me off the Quays last Oct and you've had Med and Little since, typical !!! Keep it going.
Good luck
steven burke said
Thu May 3 1:55 PM, 2012
Little gull still present 6am.
steven burke said
Thu May 3 5:56 AM, 2012
20 mins before work,6-6.20am
thanks james for the earlier post, little gull & common terns still present this morning. little gull was still present at 4pm but no terns & another brief look at 8pm no little gull or terns.
1 sedge warbler (first for the year) was lovely surprise this morning singing and showing well, it also seemed to have no tail feathers whilst first watching for the sedge a female whitethroat appeared and flew off further along the hedgerow. no signs off either bird at 4pm.
other birds at 8 pm...
6 swifts 8 sand martins 4 swallows 1 herring gull 2 l b b gulls
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 3 5:56 AM, 2012
Little Gull still showing very well today: from Merchant's Quay.
Info thanks to Jason Atkinson
James Walsh said
Wed May 2 9:22 PM, 2012
No sign of Redstart 1pm-2pm
Karen Foulkes said
Wed May 2 6:37 PM, 2012
First visit here.
Male Whinchat still present late afternoon near Cornbrook tram stop. Also 3 Wheatear.
Thanks to Steven Burke for his assistance at the site.
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 07:41:05 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 2 6:03 PM, 2012
Male Redstart at Pomona 10:30 today and Whinchat still present.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
James Walsh said
Wed May 2 1:32 PM, 2012
Nice one on the Little Gull Steven, as far as I'm aware that's another new species for Salford Docks (unless anyone knows of any previous records)
Good things happenin around the Costa del Salford :)
James Walsh said
Wed May 2 1:30 PM, 2012
Early am sightings from Steven Burke
1st summer Little Gull 2 Common Terns
Sedge Warbler singing & showing by Trafford Wharf (near the DGOS building), also female Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Willow Warbler in this area
steven burke said
Wed May 2 4:17 AM, 2012
popped down after work 5.30-7.30pm glad i did,also james walsh & phil kelly present from 6pm..
1 little gull, 1st summer. (first for the year) a lovely looking bird 2 common terns 1 grey wagtail 20+ swallows 4 sand martins 2 herring gulls 4 l b b gulls 50+ b h gulls 10 mute swans 14 canada goose,inc 2 creamy coloured birds 7 mallards
terns & little gull still present at 8pm when phil left.
steven burke said
Thu Apr 26 6:42 PM, 2012
5.50-6.20am
as james's post plus...
5 goosanders over 16 mute swans 8 canada goose 1 coot 1 cormorant 3 mallards several starlings around collecting food.
after work 5-5.20pm...
5 arctic terns 4 swallows 7 sand martins singing blackcap in nearby trees 50+ b h gulls 3 l b b gulls 4 cormorants 9 mute swans 12 canada goose 8 mallards 2 crows 4 magpies 2 goldfinches again several starlings around collecting food.
no signs off the swifts.
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 26th of April 2012 06:44:32 PM
James Walsh said
Thu Apr 26 5:37 PM, 2012
0630
Viewing from Watersports Club
2 Arctic Terns 2 Swift Singing Blackcap
steven burke said
Wed Apr 25 8:05 PM, 2012
passed by the quays on my home from work at 5.30pm only to find lots off terns feeding & resting on the long black & yellow bouys,was not to sure that they were arctics at first but after returning with my bins & scope (plus james walsh) they were in fact arctic terns a count off around 120+,but 50+ did move on before i did manage to return. still 70+ at 7.15pm.
also.. 1 grey heron, 4 swallows, 2 sand martins & b h gulls.
-- Edited by steven burke on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 08:06:42 PM
steven burke said
Sat Apr 21 12:52 AM, 2012
4 swallows whizzing around the building site for the itv studios at 3.15pm
steven burke said
Thu Apr 12 3:00 AM, 2012
1 common buzzard circling over media city at 5.20pm drifted down towards clippers quay then towards pomona.
Nick Hilton said
Mon Apr 9 4:01 AM, 2012
James, I noted the good number (by local standards) you reported at Pomona yesterday. For those that have paired up I wonder where they move onto as I don't recall seeing any in the area in the late spring/summer months ??
I'm not working on the Quays any more so my sighting oportunities (for here and Pomona) have reduced.
cheers
James Walsh said
Sun Apr 8 7:13 PM, 2012
Hi Nick, there were high numbers (by local standards) of Goosander around the Docks yesterday, perhaps attracted by the large shoal of bream in the Pomona area
Nick Hilton said
Sun Apr 8 6:13 PM, 2012
2 male Goosander flew through the Quays, west, at 3.40pm yesterday
steven burke said
Wed Mar 28 4:02 AM, 2012
5.30-6.00pm
12 mute swans 37 canada goose 18 mallards 50+ b h gulls 2 g b b gulls 1 common gull 1 l b b gull 1 goldfinch 4 crows 3 coots 1 moorhen 1 dunnock 4 magpies 1 grey heron 8 woodpigeons 3 greenfinches
steven burke said
Fri Mar 23 2:28 AM, 2012
4.20-4.50pm
1 goldeneye (male,still got only half a left wing) opposite imperial war museum. 12 mute swans 33 canada goose 4 cormorants 100+ b h gulls,mostly over 3 l b b gulls 1 grey heron 1 pied wagtail 5 mallards 3 coots 4 crows 6 magpies 1 moorhen 11 goldfinches 4 woodpigeons 2 blue tits 1 blackbird 2 greenfinches 1 robin
steven burke said
Sun Mar 18 4:28 AM, 2012
17th march.
10 mallards 11 mute swans 5 coots 15 canada goose 1 greenfinch 5 goldfinches 2 pied wagtails 41 b h gulls 4 cormorants 3 l b b gulls
Quite a bit of disturbance today as jet ski's are being demo'd on Ontario Basin.
James Walsh said
Tue Mar 13 1:14 PM, 2012
12th March
5pm-6pm
31 Starlings on the 2 cranes @ Ontario Basin Also 2 Coot, 3 Canada Goose & 5 Mallard Ontario 2 Coot St Louis Basin (one with 2 rings, red & white) 1 Coot Francis Basin
phil ogden said
Sun Mar 11 4:37 PM, 2012
Gary! I remember another Gary that used to flap around the quays his name was Birtles. Not Goldeneye!
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 11 4:22 PM, 2012
Just gotta say loving birding in Salford more each day, have done the twitching thing, the international birding thing, but nowt beats seeing birds on your doorstep
James Walsh said
Sun Mar 11 4:19 PM, 2012
How about Arthur Gary Left Wing (or Gaz to his mates) ?
steven burke said
Sun Mar 11 5:21 AM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
0830-1200
Pomona-Media City
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls Drake Goldeneye (been here so long have now named him "Gary") 1 Herring Gull 10 Common Gull 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull c150 Black-headed Gull 15 Mallard 2 Coot 2 Moorhen 7 Mute Swan 15 Canada Goose 20 Cormorant 2 Long-tailed Tit 1 Siskin (heard) 1 Greenfinch 2 Goldfinch
but i have named him arthur left wing
well done on the med gulls today & for yesterday,at least you did manage to get them on your patch
Rob Smallwood said
Sun Mar 11 1:24 AM, 2012
Cheers - despite the "bitter" comments!
Rob Smallwood said
Sat Mar 10 9:50 PM, 2012
Were the Meds photographable?
James Walsh said
Sat Mar 10 9:00 PM, 2012
0830-1200
Pomona-Media City
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls Drake Goldeneye (been here so long have now named him "Gary") 1 Herring Gull 10 Common Gull 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull c150 Black-headed Gull 15 Mallard 2 Coot 2 Moorhen 7 Mute Swan 15 Canada Goose 20 Cormorant 2 Long-tailed Tit 1 Siskin (heard) 1 Greenfinch 2 Goldfinch
James Walsh said
Sat Mar 10 4:42 PM, 2012
Hi Rob,
The Meds were seen in flight from Trafford Wharf (the path on the south side of the docks by Sam Platts) at 11.25am today
Yesterday one was on the water close in to this path at 4pm, & also they were seen around Old Trafford (aka The Swamp) & the KFC on the Chester Road early/mid afternoon
There are usually quite a few people feeding bread to the gulls & ducks around the Quays, & these are attracting good numbers of gulls, so the Meds might drop in anywhere around this area
So my advice is to use your loaf (!), check all these areas & you might get a decent photo, they are superb breeding plumaged adults
-- Edited by James Walsh on Saturday 10th of March 2012 04:45:52 PM
Paul Heaton said
Sat Mar 10 4:03 PM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
1 adult s'pl' Mediterranean Gull Trafford Wharf at 4pm then flew towards Pomona
Increased BH gull numbers around the Docks, c300, including 1 leucistic w'pl adult
A large breeding colony of BG Gulls usually settles down on a private site about this time of year, a leucistic bird has been present for the past 4 years and 1/2 Mediterranean Gulls, they have breed here before, perhaps this year they will settle down again.
James Walsh said
Sat Mar 10 3:25 PM, 2012
Congrats to Steven for this find, thanks for the heads up, glad that I got onto the Quays to get one of these birds on the patch, the 2nd record for the site
PS Being a City fan, I'm glad that the Theatre of Shi*e isn't in my patch lol :)
steven burke said
Sat Mar 10 3:40 AM, 2012
Ian McKerchar wrote:
No it shouldn't really Steven, not unless the boundary of Salford Quays extends this far? James
i thought not ian,i think james just wanted them in the salford quays area
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 10 3:18 AM, 2012
No it shouldn't really Steven, not unless the boundary of Salford Quays extends this far? James
steven burke said
Sat Mar 10 3:13 AM, 2012
should this be in the salford quays thread
the 2 adult sp mediterranean gulls were picked up at the car park opposite east stand off mufc ground at 1.40pm. i picked up on the calls (they were the only noisy gulls) and found the 2 white wingers,i followed them up sir matt busby way towards chester rd then back down towards the quays then lost them. at 2.10pm i found them again giving excellent views flying low on sir matt busby way/chester rd outside the chippys,not bothered by the traffic & public they even had a brief landing on the pavements i also folowed them up to kfc car park where they were trying to pick up food off the ground. the only problem i did have was NO CAMERA because i was on my home from work,never mind still fantastic to see. i did however come back at 4pm armed with my camera but guess what,no signs,typical.
James Walsh said
Sat Mar 10 2:02 AM, 2012
1 adult s'pl' Mediterranean Gull Trafford Wharf at 4pm then flew towards Pomona
Increased BH gull numbers around the Docks, c300, including 1 leucistic w'pl adult
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 9 3:54 PM, 2012
Both the Mediterranean Gulls were in and around the the Old Trafford football ground car park and around the junction of Sir Matt Busby Way and Chester Road at 1:40pm .
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 9th of March 2012 03:55:38 PM
James Walsh said
Fri Mar 9 2:48 PM, 2012
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the south side of the Quays flying over Old Trafford with BH Gulls mid a'noon (seen by Steven Burke)
-- Edited by James Walsh on Friday 9th of March 2012 02:50:44 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 9th of March 2012 03:52:17 PM
steven burke said
Fri Mar 9 2:24 AM, 2012
peregrine falcon flew off the appartment block at the lowry outlet mall at 5pm,headed into trafford park but returned 10 mins later & landed back on the appartment block but soon dissapeared after a couple off minutes.
1 peregrine falcon, circling nice and low around the imperial war museum around 4pm then flew off towards trafford rd bridge. 1 sparrowhawk hundreds off b h gulls 47 common gulls 6 l b b gulls 1 grey wagtail 2 mute swans 4 canada geese 2 moorhens 2 coots 6 mallards 7 cormorants 3 magpies 1 blackbird 1 blue tit 2 greenfinches
2 Greater Black Backs among the Blackheaded Gull 2 Cormorant Lots of Swan including the aforementioned juveniles.
phil ogden said
Sat Feb 18 6:11 PM, 2012
Went down to media city with the kids this morning (cbeebies) surprised to see 4 Oystercatchers over the water near Imperial war museum. Also 12 Cormorant flying low down ship canal.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of February 2012 07:17:59 PM
2 Little Gulls flying around viewed from outside M&S, a first for me here after seeing not much for the past 2 years I lived here!
1530-1730
Yellow Wagtail, over MSC @ 1630, relocated on ETW showing well, then flew off west along MSC @ 1730
c500 Common Swifts, stunning views, especially over disused railway line between ETW & MSC
Pair of Great crested Grebe displaying, MSC
2 Oystercatcher
2 Lapwing
c150 House Martin
c150 Swallow
c20 Sand Martin
c150 Black-headed Gull
1 Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
1 Song Thrush
4 Dunnock
1 Common Buzzard
20 Cormorant
2 Mute Swan
10 Pied Wagtails
20 Jackdaw
2 Long-tailed Tit
-- Edited by James Walsh on Saturday 5th of May 2012 06:10:08 AM
1730-2130
Back to "normal" after the big twitch !
Female Linnet (patch tick)
1 Common Sandpiper
3 Wheatear (2 male, 1 female)
2 Song Thrush
1 Skylark
5 Lapwing
2 House Martin
1 Swallow
4 Dunnock
c50 Sand Martin
15 Greenfinch
10 Goldfinch
20 Starling
2 Willow Warbler
2 Mistle Thrush
4 Wren
10 Blackbird
10 Mallard
1 Mute Swan
2 Canada Goose
1 Grey Heron
5 Cormorant
((Also on-site 1 Pipistrelle Bat, 1 Mink, Red-tailed Bumblebee & Common Carder Bee))
Hi James
I've looked back in the BTO records I can access and there is no previous record of Little Gull.
In five years of, virtually, daily visits on the Quays I didn't have any decent gulls (white wingers, Little or even a Med !) I knew it would happen, work moved me off the Quays last Oct and you've had Med and Little since, typical !!! Keep it going.
Good luck
thanks james for the earlier post, little gull & common terns still present this morning. little gull was still present at 4pm but no terns & another brief look at 8pm no little gull or terns.
1 sedge warbler (first for the year) was lovely surprise this morning singing and showing well, it also seemed to have no tail feathers whilst first watching for the sedge a female whitethroat appeared and flew off further along the hedgerow. no signs off either bird at 4pm.
other birds at 8 pm...
6 swifts
8 sand martins
4 swallows
1 herring gull
2 l b b gulls
Info thanks to Jason Atkinson
Male Whinchat still present late afternoon near Cornbrook tram stop. Also 3 Wheatear.
Thanks to Steven Burke for his assistance at the site.
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 07:41:05 PM
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
Good things happenin around the Costa del Salford :)
1st summer Little Gull
2 Common Terns
Sedge Warbler singing & showing by Trafford Wharf (near the DGOS building), also female Common Whitethroat, Blackcap & Willow Warbler in this area
1 little gull, 1st summer. (first for the year) a lovely looking bird
2 common terns
1 grey wagtail
20+ swallows
4 sand martins
2 herring gulls
4 l b b gulls
50+ b h gulls
10 mute swans
14 canada goose,inc 2 creamy coloured birds
7 mallards
terns & little gull still present at 8pm when phil left.
as james's post plus...
5 goosanders over
16 mute swans
8 canada goose
1 coot
1 cormorant
3 mallards
several starlings around collecting food.
after work 5-5.20pm...
5 arctic terns
4 swallows
7 sand martins
singing blackcap in nearby trees
50+ b h gulls
3 l b b gulls
4 cormorants
9 mute swans
12 canada goose
8 mallards
2 crows
4 magpies
2 goldfinches
again several starlings around collecting food.
no signs off the swifts.
-- Edited by steven burke on Thursday 26th of April 2012 06:44:32 PM
Viewing from Watersports Club
2 Arctic Terns
2 Swift
Singing Blackcap
also.. 1 grey heron, 4 swallows, 2 sand martins & b h gulls.
-- Edited by steven burke on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 08:06:42 PM
I'm not working on the Quays any more so my sighting oportunities (for here and Pomona) have reduced.
cheers
12 mute swans
37 canada goose
18 mallards
50+ b h gulls
2 g b b gulls
1 common gull
1 l b b gull
1 goldfinch
4 crows
3 coots
1 moorhen
1 dunnock
4 magpies
1 grey heron
8 woodpigeons
3 greenfinches
1 goldeneye (male,still got only half a left wing) opposite imperial war museum.
12 mute swans
33 canada goose
4 cormorants
100+ b h gulls,mostly over
3 l b b gulls
1 grey heron
1 pied wagtail
5 mallards
3 coots
4 crows
6 magpies
1 moorhen
11 goldfinches
4 woodpigeons
2 blue tits
1 blackbird
2 greenfinches
1 robin
10 mallards
11 mute swans
5 coots
15 canada goose
1 greenfinch
5 goldfinches
2 pied wagtails
41 b h gulls
4 cormorants
3 l b b gulls
info thanks to phil kelly.
Mute Swan = 13
Canada Goose = 18
Mallard = 19
Cormorant = 1
Moorhen = 2
Coot = 14
Black Headed Gull = 107
Common Gull = 1
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 5
Quite a bit of disturbance today as jet ski's are being demo'd on Ontario Basin.
5pm-6pm
31 Starlings on the 2 cranes @ Ontario Basin
Also 2 Coot, 3 Canada Goose & 5 Mallard Ontario
2 Coot St Louis Basin (one with 2 rings, red & white)
1 Coot Francis Basin
but i have named him arthur left wing
well done on the med gulls today & for yesterday,at least you did manage to get them on your patch
Pomona-Media City
2 adult Mediterranean Gulls
Drake Goldeneye (been here so long have now named him "Gary")
1 Herring Gull
10 Common Gull
5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
c150 Black-headed Gull
15 Mallard
2 Coot
2 Moorhen
7 Mute Swan
15 Canada Goose
20 Cormorant
2 Long-tailed Tit
1 Siskin (heard)
1 Greenfinch
2 Goldfinch
The Meds were seen in flight from Trafford Wharf (the path on the south side of the docks by Sam Platts) at 11.25am today
Yesterday one was on the water close in to this path at 4pm, & also they were seen around Old Trafford (aka The Swamp) & the KFC on the Chester Road early/mid afternoon
There are usually quite a few people feeding bread to the gulls & ducks around the Quays, & these are attracting good numbers of gulls, so the Meds might drop in anywhere around this area
So my advice is to use your loaf (!), check all these areas & you might get a decent photo, they are superb breeding plumaged adults
-- Edited by James Walsh on Saturday 10th of March 2012 04:45:52 PM
PS Being a City fan, I'm glad that the Theatre of Shi*e isn't in my patch lol :)
i thought not ian,i think james just wanted them in the salford quays area
the 2 adult sp mediterranean gulls were picked up at the car park opposite east stand off mufc ground at 1.40pm. i picked up on the calls (they were the only noisy gulls) and found the 2 white wingers,i followed them up sir matt busby way towards chester rd then back down towards the quays then lost them. at 2.10pm i found them again giving excellent views flying low on sir matt busby way/chester rd outside the chippys,not bothered by the traffic & public they even had a brief landing on the pavements i also folowed them up to kfc car park where they were trying to pick up food off the ground. the only problem i did have was NO CAMERA because i was on my home from work,never mind still fantastic to see. i did however come back at 4pm armed with my camera but guess what,no signs,typical.
Increased BH gull numbers around the Docks, c300, including 1 leucistic w'pl adult
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 9th of March 2012 03:55:38 PM
-- Edited by James Walsh on Friday 9th of March 2012 02:50:44 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 9th of March 2012 03:52:17 PM
27 species
1 Kingfisher - Clippers Quay
1 Lapwing over Trafford Wharf
2 Song Thrush
2 Dunnock
2 House Sparrow
5 Herring Gull
10 LBB Gull
20 Common Gull
c300 BH Gull
26 Cormorant
7 Mute Swan
15 Canada Goose
17 Mallard (& 1 Aylesbury Duck)
2 Moorhen
1 Coot
2 Pied Wagtail
3 Robin
2 Magpie
5 Blue Tit
1 LT Tit
5 Greenfinch (1 display flight)
2 Goldfinch
8 Blackbird
4 Wood Pigeon (2 displaying)
1 peregrine falcon, circling nice and low around the imperial war museum around 4pm then flew off towards trafford rd bridge.
1 sparrowhawk
hundreds off b h gulls
47 common gulls
6 l b b gulls
1 grey wagtail
2 mute swans
4 canada geese
2 moorhens
2 coots
6 mallards
7 cormorants
3 magpies
1 blackbird
1 blue tit
2 greenfinches
4 grey wagtails
8 mute swans inc 5 juvenilles
9 canada goose
6 mallards
1 coot
1 moorhen
2 magpies
1 blue tit
2 Greater Black Backs among the Blackheaded Gull
2 Cormorant
Lots of Swan including the aforementioned juveniles.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of February 2012 07:17:59 PM