Many thanks John.I could not see the bird this morning either.
Cheers,
Dave.

David Ousey wrote:

---

Anyone got anymore information on the Little Egret (Update at 6pm) please?
Dave Ousey.

---

I arrived around 1.15 to learn that it had flown and I'd missed it by about half an hour. No idea if it has returned or not.

Cheers, John

Anyone got anymore information on the Little Egret (Update at 6pm) please?
Dave Ousey.

Little Egret still present to 11.15 at least

Info from Liz Saxby at the VC

Excellent views for over an hour as it picked off some of the hundreds of frogs around the waters edge, it flew off in the direction of chorlton so we down hearted few left for home, only as we walked back we accidently disturbed it in a tree overlooking the main lake, it flew backover the hide where it flew round for a while then settled back to picking frogs by the waters edge again, we left it alone at about 9ish . Nice to meet the friendly people who put up with Toby my 5yr old and his incessant talking. Ian i hope the midges left your legs alone long enough for you to get a glimpse of the gropper!! We heard one but never saw it, near the little stream by the dragonfly pond.



-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Tuesday 30th of June 2009 09:34:49 PM

Little Egret still present at Broad Ees Dole at 7pm.

Perched in a tree at the back.

Info thanks to Tim Wilcox

Broad Ees Dole, 30th June 2009

Little Egret present up to 4:11pm atleast.

Info thanks to Pete Hines

1 Redshank
1 Kingfisher
2 Teal at B.E.D.
1 Cormorant
no Terns

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 29th of June 2009 11:57:13 PM

2 Common Tern still today. There was an earlier report from MVVC of 2 here on the 16th June. Maybe relate to the 2 at Chorlton WP on 24th June?

2 Cormorant

12.35-12.55

4 Common Tern. 2 appeared to fly off high to the west at 12.45
No sign of any activity at the Sand Martin colony yesterday, more holes but no birds.

just missed the butty van

Rifle Road access to Jacksons Boat pub is closed for the Jacksonbury music festival
see http://www.jacksonbury.com/

nice walk round, we saw the sand martins along the river opp chorlton ees (we were on the Sale side) lots of swallow and swift there too. Single cormorant on the pylon.
Our first kingfisher at Sale wp sat on the middle little post to the right of the hide as you look out, it never stayed long enough for its photo to be taken sadly! but still great views for all of 7 or 8 seconds. Heron sat right in front of the hide for quite a while and 4 gc grebe on main lake, no little grebe we could see or the teal, nice view of a f kestrel hunting over the dragonfly pond, chiff chaff and pied wags around the same pond . All in all a pleasent walk had.

Yesterday evening:

There is a new small Sand Martin colony in the slumped riverbank opposite Chorlton Ees (best viewed from there). I'll make sure the EA are aware of it.
1 Kingfisher (also at Chorlton Ees meadow pond)
1 m Teal
3 Little Grebe (and1 at Stretford Ees)
5 Lapwing
2 pr Tufted
13 Heron
2 Cormorant

Nobody should attempt to access Broad Ees Dole during the breeding season, besides its Trafford MBC's responsibility and an access key and probably a boat would be required.

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Tuesday 2nd of June 2009 12:03:58 PM

Broad Ees Dole Saturday c.3.30pm

Kingfisher 1
L.Grebe 5
Heron 4
Tufties 4
Mallard 9



-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 1st of June 2009 01:09:29 PM

Has anyone checked the dead swan for a ring? If not I would be grateful if someone could. Many thanks!
Steve

BED - 1 Kingfisher perched up just in front of hide on one of the poles.
All of the usual incl. dead swan
No sign of LRP's

Overflow channel at the far end next to Jackson's Boat car park and the model plane flying area.
1 Kingfisher
2 Heron
1 male Blackcap
2 Willow Warbler
The channel is black with tadpoles. Although I've never seen or heard of a KF bothering with tadpoles the sheer size and quantity of them might be tempting. Also plenty of damselflies especially banded demoiselle.

Late sightings for Monday evening 4th 1900-2030 in the rain...

Broad Ees Dole.
3 Little Grebes
1 Snipe
Canada Geese
Mallards
Coots
Lapwings

Main Lake
3 Great Crested Grebes
Swallows giving great photo opportunity on hand rail in front of Deckers.

A gentleman whom came into the hide mentioned that on Saturday Reed Buntings were giving great views in Reed Bed infront of Hide or if looking onto the Dole behind the hide....

Steve

Sale WP / BED / river back to VC 13;15 - 14;45
Blackcap c. 4 singing males
Garden Warbler 1 singing hegde past canal / pool end
Whitehtroat c. 3 males singing
Grashopper Warbler 1 in march by VC & 1 behind old car park and hedge by river embankment
Dabchick 2 BED & 2 pool across river
Tufted 2 pair pool across river
Common Sandp 2 flitting about main pool
Sand MArtin 2 over river
Swallow 2 over river/BED

Walk from Visitors' Centre to Broad Ees Dole, returning along Mersey.

Grasshopper W 1 heard beyond Centre feeding station.
Blackcap 5 singing.
Whitethroat 4 singing.
Willow W 1 singing.
Chiffchaff 1 singing.
Bullfinch 3
GtC Grebe 2 on main lake.
Little Grebe 2 on BE Dole.
Lapwing 6 on BE Dole.
Tufted Duck 5 on Dole.
Cormorant 2
Mute Swan 1 on main lake plus 1 dead on BE Dole.
Grey Heron 1

thanks for replying we went in search of it ( kingfisher) tonight along the ees and if you read the ees post were very shocked to hear then see a cuckoo we have two photos of it but they are diabolical and could be anything from a pidgeon to a black headed gull as it was in trees and the best photo was on full zoom, but recorded the sound and got very excited trailing it for so long

-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 20th of April 2009 09:55:25 PM

Brandon

First sighting from the hide. Flew from right to left about half way out and went behind bank. Second sighting from footpath just past the hide and pylon male KF perched up on branch by edge of pool,

Far easier to see at Chorlton WP. On the western bank there's a small concrete slipway next to a a picnic table midway between the island. If you go down to the lower path there's a timber seat on the path edge. With patience if you look north and scan the water's edge you'll eventually see a KF.

Good luck

-- Edited by Ian Keith on Monday 20th of April 2009 08:17:22 PM

where was the kingfisher if you don't mind me asking?
on the river?

-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Monday 20th of April 2009 04:48:50 PM

Sale Ees
3 Blackcap all male
1 Buzzard
2 Willow warbler

Sale WP
2 GC Grebe displaying

Broad Ees Dole
48 Canada's
1 Kingfisher
3 Lapwing
2 Little Grebe
2 Coot
2 Moorhen
5 Goldfinch
1 partially decomposed Swan

One Gropper reeling on Chorlton Ees Dole in the usual site, but I also heard a second reeling near the outflow building adjacent to the airfield on the Sale side. I'm sure they were two seperate birds, but could the reeling from Chorlton Ees carry that far?

Broad Ees Dole this evening:

1 Little Ringed Plover
6 Lapwing
male Teal
male Reed Bunting
4 Grey Heron
2 Little Grebe
nesting Coot, Moorhen and Canada Geese

sadly, what appeared to be a dead Mute Swan on one of the islands, at least thats what it looked like. A Canada Goose was stood on top of it at one point.


Pair of GC Grebes displaying on the main lake. 3 Cormorant on the pylon. 2 adult LBB Gulls.

Treecreeper by Jackson's Boat pub.

late wander round we saw
1 greylag
1 cormorant
1 reed bunting (hanging round the hide)
3 grey herons
2 goosanders (on river)
2 gc grebe
plenty canada's, mallard, coot, moorhen, blackbirds, great tit, blue tit and long tail tits
raven on the pylon
carrion mobbing the raven.
no gulls anywhere today!


-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 07:36:11 PM

2 L-r P's this evening ( Tony O'Mahoney )

2 pr Gadwall
1 pr Shoveler
2 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant
1 Greylag
2 Stock Dove
2 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting

today we saw

1 kestrel {m}
5+ cormorants
3 grey herons
6 great crested grebe
1 bullfinch {m}
2 moorhen
2 mute swans attacking canada goose
possible shoveler {m} 2f
dunnock near the feeders
many...
coot
canada goose
mallard
BH gulls
blue tits
great tits

-- Edited by brandon mulhern at 17:57, 2009-03-07

Treecreeper for the first time for me at SWP this morning , at the north end near the gates leading to Broad Ees Hide.
Goosander and Pochard still about.

Following all seen around midday from hide at Broad Ees, 24/02/09.

Black-headed Gull
Canada Goose
Coot
Cormorant
Gadwall pair
Goosander
Great Crested Grebe
Grey Heron
Lapwing single individual on small island furthest right
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Oystercatcher single individual on furthest away island
Pochard single male
Shoveler
Teal
Tufted Duck
Woodpigeon

Julian


-- Edited by Julian Robinson at 09:48, 2009-02-25

Sunday 0900-1000

Group of shoveler (10) on Broad Ees, a Pochard and a goosander (3 more on the Mersey).
Also a Buzzard scavenging on the far island as viewed from the hide. Never seen one around there before .
Otherwise the usual, GCGrebe and at least 2 Little Grebe

Fri - 13/2/09 early pm

8 Shoveler on Broad Ees Dole
c20 Teal
1 Little Grebe
6 GC Grebes

6 Shoveler and 3 Teal, some Mallards and a good deal of ice at Broad Ees Dole this afternoon.

This afternoon between 1500-1645

Main lake 80% frozen
1 extremely pale bodied Canada Goose.
10 Great Crested Grebes

Broad Ees Dole 90% frozen
28 Teal
8 Shoveler
1 Mute Swan
1 Grey Heron

Unusual for here no Cormorants anywhere to be seen

Your probably right about the Cormorants Pete. There is a small daily movement over Sale, Timperly and Hale Barns towards Rostherne in the evening.

I received a text message from a colleague at 15.40 re 3 Eider on the Mersey between Barfoot Bridge (the metrolink bridge) and Jacksons Boat, a second hand report which had been left on the VC answer machine. I staked out the area from just after 16.00 until dark (see also Chorlton Ees and Streford Ees threads). The river bank is heavily used, many dog walkers cyclists and a motorbike this evening. If gen, the Eider could be anywhere along the Mersey / Ship Canal / Irwell. I have seen Common Scoter and Ring-necked Duck in the past on the section of river Paul mentions.

Dusk:

28 Goosander roosting on Broad Ees Dole
7 Shoveler B.E.D (& another 13 on Stretford Ees - the cow field Paul mentions)
5 Teal B.E.D.
12 Tufted B.E.D.
2 Little Grebe
2 Goldeneye
1 hybrid goose mentioned earlier on this thread
the Magpies, plus many others, were going to roost at Chorlton Ees / Ivy Green
many Woodpigeon roosting at the back of B.E.D.

not a single Cormorant, so they roost elsewhere, probably Rostherne

After a little report of 3 eiders on the river mersey between jackson boat, and the weir, thought it would be rude not to go and have a look. (although I suspected I would not find them, but your never know?)

4 Goosander
110 magpies on the cow field
17 canada geese
20 teal on broad ees dole
2 Goldeneye on main water
30 cormorant
BH gulls and Common Gulls. nice walk, met Phil Kelly.

keep birding.

Visting old haunts this year.

30 Cormorants
8 Goldeneye
4 Little grebe
2 Goldcrest.
7 Siskin 2 Redpoll
1 Woodcock flushed by a staffy terrier.

plenty of tits and bullfinch on feeding station .

keep birding

23 Cormorant
1 Goosander
2 Little Grebe
2 Shoveler
2 Teal
1 Lapwing
3 Reed Bunting in the 'wildflower area'

Politics aside, the vegetation has been cut back infront of the hide and litter cleared.

Here is the response from Mark Saxon, Parks Operations Manager dated 22 Dec:

Thank you for you letter blah blah..

Trafford's Parks Operations team commenced maintenance of Mersey Valley sites in April this year. Throughout the summer months, the team have spent a considerable amount of time and effort maintaining the Mersey Valley areas and in particular, Broad Ees Dole.

As a birdwatcher you will be aware that the shrubs blocking the view from the bird hide and arond the Dole banking have been cut to improve views. In addition other works including graffiti removal, fencing repairs, strimming of fence lines and litter removal from the hide and the dole canal system, have been carried out.

Of particular importance during the wet Summer was controlling the water levels in the dole as well as weed control. although this work was started, the team were unable to complete it as the Mersey Valley Warden Service took the pump to Platt Fields.

You can be assured that as soon as the pump is once again in operation, the team will complete the work that has already been started and will continue to respond to maintenance concerns,

yours sincerely


So there you have it. Comments Pete ans Steve?

It will be many months before I go again. I'm recovering from a very bad accident with broken femur and broken arm.

Steve, this is the same hybrid goose I posted on the Stretford Ees thread on 26th Nov, that had been documented in the South Manchester Reporter on 3 Jan 08, then resident on Didsbury golf course. Strange looking bird of questionable parentage. The legs and feet are orange / yellow.

Late post from Saturday 06.12.08 0800 - 0915ish.

Visitor centre: GSW on Feeders.

Main Lake: 1 m Teal.
2 Tufties
1 Little Grebe
5 Great Creasted Grebes
1 f Shoveler
1 x small hybrid goose, hanging out with Canadas, White Vent, White and black patches on face, Pink Beak and Orange Beak.

Broad Ees Dole or frozen, overgrown boating lake ( probably more use now)
1 m Shoveler
6 m Teal
1 Grey Heron

Real crying shame, to see the Dole so sparce of birds but so heavily overgrown and flooded, if it stays this way then, it will be in a sorry state by the Spring, also so many cans and bottles floating about.

Hi Tim,

Not been down there since beginning of Summer what with work, kids etc.

I was however thinking of doing the same back then, but never followed it through.

Is it really bad down there?

Steve

I've just sent a letter of complaint to Paul Harvey Director, Environment at Trafford Council about the desperate state of Broad Ees Dole. I'll report on the outcome.

Hi

I thought Id post a species list of a recent walk I did around Chorlton and Sale.

More information about this can be found on the Friends of Chorlton Meadows blog: http://friendsofchorltonmeadows.blogspot.com/

Species list (04/11/08)

Black-headed Gull
Blue Tit
Bullfinch
Canada Goose
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Common Blackbird
Common Gull
Coot
Cormorant
Dunnock
Fieldfare
Goldcrest
Goldeneye
Goldfinch
Great Crested Grebe
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great Tit
Grey Heron
House Sparrow
Jay
Magpie
Mallard
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Nuthatch
Pheasant
Pied Wagtail
Redwing
Robin
Shoveler
Sparrowhawk
Starling
Stonechat
Teal
Tufted Duck
Woodpigeon
Wren

All the best,
Julian

I have been informed today that the EA (Environment Agency) open the Mersey sluice gates here and at Millgate Fields yesterday, flooding these areas, so there will access restrictions in place until the water subsides at these sites. The pump hadn't been removed so may well be damaged.

Tim the LNR area, no longer managed by Mersey Valley is known as Broad Ees Dole. The site surrounded by the raised bund and moat is known as the jheel. This design was based on Bharatpur in Rajastan where water levels can be maintained for their required purpose, in this case so it can be pumped out to provide ideal conditions for LRP's. The buliding next to the hide contains the pump. As you can the see site has not been managed at all during 2008, despite repeated requests to Trafford MBC who are responsible. I was surprised that the LRPs managed a single chick this year, running around the top of the bund with limited space. In fact it hasn't been managed since the heavy rains of the previous summer which prevented a second pair of LRPs and a pair of RPs from nesting. The rest I simply refer to as the pond. I find it too disheartening to visit.

late post for Monday:

4 Herons on Broad Ees Dole

10 Teal - 8 males displaying excitably to 2 non-plussed females on the pool next to the Dole.

Pete does this body of water have its own name?

c40 Redwing and 7+ Fielfare through
1 Common Buzzard circling over at 12.12 drifted over to Chorlton
20 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe

Broad Ees Dole

2 ad & 1 juv LRP
2 imm Tufted
1 m Teal
2ad Mute Swan with 2 cygnet
1 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant