8 Wigeon, 6 male and 2 females, arrived from the west at 08.45, flew around the lake for 35 mintues, landed for 20 mintues, then departed west. 34 Pochard 17 Tufted 3 Goosander 2 Goldeneye c10 Siskin 20+ Redpoll
Pete Hines said
Fri Dec 19 8:39 PM, 2008
1 ad Whooper Swan flew low over the car park east at 08.30 28 Pochard 30 Tufted 6 Goosander 8 Goldeneye 1 Cormorant 31+ Redpoll
100+ Pink-feet flew over east at 08.52 1 Goosander 3 Goldeneye, both on river 15 Tufted 12 Pochard 2 Little Grebe
Pete Hines said
Sun Dec 14 6:23 PM, 2008
1 sub-adult drake Scaup present all day 22 Tufted 8 Pochard 3 Goldeneye 4 Goosander 3 Little Grebe 2 Cormorant 1 Kingfisher 10+ Siskin 2 Redpoll 126+ Collared Dove at the Fairy Lane small-holdings, Kenworthy, late pm
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 18:23, 2008-12-14
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 18:27, 2008-12-14
Nev Wright said
Sun Dec 14 11:36 AM, 2008
1000-1100
Male Scaup with 11 Pochards at the (?) North End near the Heron island 45 Mallard 51 BHG 4 Common Gull LBBG 16 Tufties 3 Goldeneye 2m, 1f 1 Goosander m
Pete Hines said
Wed Dec 10 5:08 PM, 2008
8 Waxwings landed briefly in the maple behind the car park notice board before flying east towards the Merseybank Estate at 13.05 (Dave Harrison).
1 Buzzard at Kenworthy, otherwise the usual suspects
Pete Hines said
Mon Dec 8 8:28 PM, 2008
In additon to Henrys' sightings
1 drake Teal (also yesterday) 1 Goldeneye (14 yesterday) 2 Snipe at Barlow Tip 6+ Bullfinch at Barlow Tip 1 Skylark over yesterday 1 Fieldfare " c20 Siskin yesterday
Henry Cook said
Mon Dec 8 2:11 PM, 2008
08/12/2008 - Sightings on a soggy morning: 2 Lesser Redpoll 6 Siskins 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Kingfisher 5+ Goosander (landing on the frozen lake very funny!) c20 Common Gulls 28 Tufted Ducks 15+ Pochards 4 Cormorants
-- Edited by Henry Cook at 14:17, 2008-12-08
Pete Hines said
Wed Dec 3 9:03 PM, 2008
Tim Wilcox wrote:
It's a year to the day since the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed up for the second year running and conditions are right so anyone visiting should have a good look around the trees in the play and pond area. You never know!
I check it every morning Tim.
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Dec 3 4:39 PM, 2008
It's a year to the day since the female Lesser Spotted Woodpecker showed up for the second year running and conditions are right so anyone visiting should have a good look around the trees in the play and pond area. You never know!
Pete Hines said
Tue Dec 2 6:27 PM, 2008
18 Waxwing flew south over the wardens compound at 11.39 towards Kenworthy Woods (unlikely to land there). 1 Buzzard at Kenworthy 110+ Collared Dove at the Fairy Lane small-holdings, Kenworthy 22 Tufted 24 Pochard 10+ Goosander 3 Goldeneye 9+ Cormorant 2 Little Grebe c20 Siskin 1 Meadow Pipit over south
a Woodcock last foggy Saturday morning by the lakeside was flushed by a fox.
1 Stock Dove at Kenworthy to add to the previous post (26th Nov)
Pete Hines said
Wed Nov 26 9:15 PM, 2008
1 Woodcock at Barlow Tip 10 Goosander 7 Goldeneye 15 Pochard 15 Tufted 3 Cormorant 2 Kingfisher 14 common Gull 1 L Bl-b Gull 1 Pheasant at Barlow Tip 3 Siskin 9 Bullfinch at Barlow Tip
Pete Hines said
Tue Nov 25 6:06 PM, 2008
Skeins of Pinf-footed Geese over this morning: 60+ @ 08.30, c280 @ 09.05 8 Pochard 8 Tufted 5 Goosander 4 Goldeneye 1 Little Grebe 2 Cormorant
cheers for the Stonechat gen Julian, that's at the spot labelled wildflower meadow on the Sale WP map (that I usually refer to as the hay crop - well it used to be)
Julian Robinson said
Fri Nov 21 8:56 AM, 2008
Hi Pete
Yep - the Stonechat was in the scrubby fields adjacent to the one used for model aircraft displays. I only saw one, and though I only saw it from quite a way off, Im 80% sure it was a 1st winter male rather than a female.
Hope this helps.
A little bit more about the walk I took can be found here: http://friendsofchorltonmeadows.blogspot.com/
Kindly,
Julian
Pete Hines said
Thu Nov 20 5:24 PM, 2008
Hi Julian. Can you provide any details for the Stonechat, date, location, sex ?
Julian Robinson said
Thu Nov 20 9:48 AM, 2008
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
Pete Hines said
Wed Nov 19 7:57 PM, 2008
I saw a Mink for the first time at this site yesterday afternoon. Bad News . It was on branches at the waters edge in the south compound, Carrions and Magpies were going mad in the branches above it and all the Black-headed Gulls were swirling round overhead. The animal went in the water, submerged, then everything went quiet. It just disappeared.
Henry, the PFG's are on their way to East Anglia following the Mersey along part of their route.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Mon Nov 17 9:31 AM, 2008
Pete,
Spotted the first 3 movements from Flixton/Urmston as was out and about.
Also c150 over Trafford Park approx 1200 heading eastish
Steve
Henry Cook said
Sun Nov 16 10:32 PM, 2008
That's an excellent movement of Pinkfooted Geese Pete. Strange how just a touch further south west in HaleBarns, i've never seen a single bird fly over. As you mention though they were all going east and away from this area. I wonder why this eastwards flying phenonemon is so popular! Thanks. Henry.
Pete Hines said
Sun Nov 16 8:05 PM, 2008
1 drake Shoveler 26 Tufted 7 Pochard 2 Goosander 1 Goldeneye 10+ Siskin 1 Redpoll 1 Buzzard at Kenworthy perched on a pylon, flew and perched on a pylon at the side of the busy A5103, Princess Parkway, before flying towards Northendon.
Pink-footed Geese skeins, all flying east
c52 at 09.05, c170 at 10.00, c320 at 10.12, 550+ in two close skeins at 10.15, c110 at 10.20 contained a smaller bird situated behind the leader (silhoetted so I didn't get anything on it)
Pete Hines said
Sat Nov 15 7:41 PM, 2008
53 Tufted 8 Pochard 1 Goldeneye 1 Cormorant c180 Pink-feet over east at 12.10 84 Canadas (72 on river-bank) 7 Common Gull 1 Redpoll 2 Siskin
Very small dark mammal (body about 2 inches long) across path in Kenworthy - poss Shrew
Pete Hines said
Thu Oct 30 7:59 PM, 2008
1 Buzzard over Kenworthy at 12.24 1 Pochard 15 Tufted 2 Little Grebe 1 Cormorant 1 Kingisher
Pete Hines said
Mon Oct 27 8:52 PM, 2008
1 Goosander on the Mersey 1 Pochard 19 Tufted 3 Little Grebe 7 Fieldfare fying west
Pete Hines said
Wed Sep 24 10:13 PM, 2008
4 Common Buzzard in the air together at 14.15. Two drifted high to the south and two descended towards Barlow Tip / Chorlton. 6 adult & 2 cygnet Mute Swan 6 Tufted
a Mink was reported here last night by a fisherman. 2-3 now known along the Mersey between Didsbury and Stretford this year.
( early night now, Flamborough at dawn, Brown Shrike beckons )
Geoff Walton said
Mon Aug 25 9:51 AM, 2008
Must be blind. Two of us went on Fri 22nd and saw nothing apart from G.C.Grebe
Pete Hines said
Sun Aug 24 7:41 PM, 2008
lots of activity at the SE corner of Barlow Tip this morning (from the gate)
1 Lesser Whitethroat at least 1 Garden Warbler several Blackcap 2+ whitethroat Willow Warblers
also 2 Kingfisher 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Tufted Reed Warblers calling yesterday 1 Swift yesterday
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:48, 2008-08-24
Pete Hines said
Tue Aug 19 8:43 PM, 2008
1 adult Common Tern briefly at 09.10 1 Kingfisher 14 Swift
Pete Hines said
Mon Aug 18 11:41 PM, 2008
1 Kingfisher flew downriver entering the WP from the east 1 Swift yesterday & 7 over Stretford today
Pete Hines said
Thu Aug 14 12:01 AM, 2008
1 or 2 Reed Warbler watched carrying food on several occasions, must be the second pair nesting 2 adult L Bl-b Gull 5 ad Common Gull on the UMIST playing fields
Pete Hines said
Tue Aug 12 11:03 PM, 2008
First time I've had a chance for 'mooch' for while and not very exciting
24 Swift family parties of Whitethroats, Blackcaps & Willow Warblers around Barlow Tip and Kenworthy c40 Goldfinch, Fairy Lane, Kenworthy, mostly juvs and some still being fed by adults 1 Sparrowhawk juv Gt/sp Woodpecker still on feeders
I tried to spice things up a bit, arriving home from Madeira last night, though customs confiscated the Bulwers Petrel in my hand luggage (only joking of course )
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:16, 2008-08-12
Pete Hines said
Sat Jul 19 9:22 PM, 2008
a Peregrine flew through heading north at 09.29 1 Kingfisher juv Bullfinch
Pete Hines said
Sun Jul 13 7:39 PM, 2008
I could see 3 young being fed at the nest by both parents today (from land) as another sang away further along on its territory
I always knew I was right Tom Successful nesting has been long overdue
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:52, 2008-07-13
Tom McKinney said
Sun Jul 13 5:21 PM, 2008
Pete Hines wrote:
Reed Warblers feeding young in front of play area
So you've been right for all these years! I take it nobody has decided to have a walk about in the reeds this year?
Pete Hines said
Sat Jul 12 7:11 PM, 2008
a Hobby flew low over the car park heading west at 09.43 2 Kingfisher
Pete Hines said
Sat Jul 5 12:42 PM, 2008
Reed Warblers feeding young in front of play area (viewed from boat on Wed), poss another on territory Sedge Warblers feeding 2-3 young on Kenworthy yesterday Kingfisher still present
Pete Hines said
Tue Jul 1 11:48 PM, 2008
1 Common Sandpiper 2 Kingfisher reported
Pete Hines said
Tue Jul 1 11:55 AM, 2008
It was pretty quiet during June
3 Common Sandpiper on 29th and a single on 26th another Reed Warbler singing from small patch of reeds on the south side on 23rd up to 2 Kingfishers reported occaisionally family of Gt/sp Woodpeckers m,f & juv regular on the feeders family of 8 Mistle Thrush on 24th 2 juv Grey Wagtails on river bank 2 Goldcrest singing still 2 Tawny Owl still being reported by fishermen from the south side on 21st and another two calling from Barlow golf course on the same night 158 Canada Geese and 28 goslings (goslings on the river) counted on 26th. I buried an adult on the tip yesterday which had been killed in a dog attack (they are vulnerable at this time of year when they are in moult).
the female Mute Swan gave up incubating by the 14th and was last seen on 18th. The males corpse had another external examination at a wildlife sanctuary which was inconclusive.
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Jun 30 10:01 AM, 2008
late pm Kingfisher and 2 small waders not posible to identify on shore of W island - one perched on a stick mostly asleep and one part hidden on the bank seen from S bank. Frustratingly just not enough magnification with bins to call. Might still be there.
Also on Old Tip -
Whitethroat 4 at least Willow Warbler Chiffchaff male Reed Bunting
Couldn't post yesterday - home PC has died
Pete Hines said
Wed Jun 4 11:49 PM, 2008
2 Reed Warbler in song today
Henry Cook said
Mon May 26 11:47 PM, 2008
Flippin humans... (probably?) What a sad story. And with the Fulmar too.
Judith Smith said
Mon May 26 10:26 PM, 2008
Pete - the female swan should be able to succeed without the male, as long as she doesn't get too much hassle from human interference (an offence of course). What do you think killed the male - have you checked (if possible) for airgun pellets? Not much kills a resident male swan who isn't flying around, other than foxes (unlikely on an island) or humans...
Pete Hines said
Mon May 26 7:48 PM, 2008
CWP Mute Swan update :
Following my earlier report of 20th April. The pair almost immediatley started nest building again on the west island, where they should be safe, and we (the wardens) provided them with a bale of barley straw which they took for the nest.
The Canada Geese eggs (for whatever reason) weren't pricked this year and Mr Swan has being doing a sterling job at controlling the gosling population, although his has made him somewhat unpopular with the public / service users.
My suspiscions from yesterday evening were confirmed this morning. We had the rescue boat on for water safety (local kids canoeing activity during half term) and I went to check on the swans. We were confronted with the extremely sad and distressing sight of the female sat on the nest, still incubating, though lying alongside the nest was the corpse of the male (BTO ring ZZ5471, ringed here on 12 April 2008) with all the flesh of the head and upper neck completely knawed away (prob rats). The corpse was removed. Rigormortis hadn't set in and there were no visible external injuries on a quick examination. The last confirmed sighting of him hassling the geese was Wed 21st May.
The female is now having to leave the nest periodically to feed. She's had a hard time here and we are all really feeling for her. Maybe we could have a dating thread for widowed swans
1 Reed Warbler in song since the 19th 1 Goldcrest in song yesterday
34 Pochard
17 Tufted
3 Goosander
2 Goldeneye
c10 Siskin
20+ Redpoll
28 Pochard
30 Tufted
6 Goosander
8 Goldeneye
1 Cormorant
31+ Redpoll
16 Pochard
16 Tufted
4 Goosander
6 Goldeneye
43+ Magpie
c20 Siskin - Kenworthy
1 Sparrowhawk
100+ Pink-feet flew over east at 08.52
1 Goosander
3 Goldeneye, both on river
15 Tufted
12 Pochard
2 Little Grebe
22 Tufted
8 Pochard
3 Goldeneye
4 Goosander
3 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
10+ Siskin
2 Redpoll
126+ Collared Dove at the Fairy Lane small-holdings, Kenworthy, late pm
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 18:23, 2008-12-14
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 18:27, 2008-12-14
Male Scaup with 11 Pochards at the (?) North End near the Heron island
45 Mallard
51 BHG
4 Common Gull
LBBG
16 Tufties
3 Goldeneye 2m, 1f
1 Goosander m
4 Shoveler (1m 3f)
18 Pochard
9 Tufted
4 Goosander
3 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
3 Redpoll
Siskin
1 drake Teal (also yesterday)
1 Goldeneye (14 yesterday)
2 Snipe at Barlow Tip
6+ Bullfinch at Barlow Tip
1 Skylark over yesterday
1 Fieldfare "
c20 Siskin yesterday
2 Lesser Redpoll
6 Siskins
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kingfisher
5+ Goosander (landing on the frozen lake very funny!)
c20 Common Gulls
28 Tufted Ducks
15+ Pochards
4 Cormorants
-- Edited by Henry Cook at 14:17, 2008-12-08
I check it every morning Tim.
1 Buzzard at Kenworthy
110+ Collared Dove at the Fairy Lane small-holdings, Kenworthy
22 Tufted
24 Pochard
10+ Goosander
3 Goldeneye
9+ Cormorant
2 Little Grebe
c20 Siskin
1 Meadow Pipit over south
16 Pochard
7 Goosander (12 yesterday)
4 Goldeneye
4 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe
Siskin
a Woodcock last foggy Saturday morning by the lakeside was flushed by a fox.
1 Stock Dove at Kenworthy to add to the previous post (26th Nov)
10 Goosander
7 Goldeneye
15 Pochard
15 Tufted
3 Cormorant
2 Kingfisher
14 common Gull
1 L Bl-b Gull
1 Pheasant at Barlow Tip
3 Siskin
9 Bullfinch at Barlow Tip
8 Pochard
8 Tufted
5 Goosander
4 Goldeneye
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
2 Wigeon on 22nd (Tony O'Mahoney)
13 Tufted
8 Pochard
6 Goldeneye
2 cormorant
1 Treecreeper
Siskins
cheers for the Stonechat gen Julian, that's at the spot labelled wildflower meadow on the Sale WP map (that I usually refer to as the hay crop - well it used to be)
Yep - the Stonechat was in the scrubby fields adjacent to the one used for model aircraft displays. I only saw one, and though I only saw it from quite a way off, Im 80% sure it was a 1st winter male rather than a female.
Hope this helps.
A little bit more about the walk I took can be found here:
http://friendsofchorltonmeadows.blogspot.com/
Kindly,
Julian
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
2 drake Goosander on the Mersey today
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 20:00, 2008-11-19
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:17, 2008-11-19
34 Tufted
8 Pochard
2 Goldeneye
1 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
5 Siskin
c20 in mixed flock Goldfinch / Siskin / Redpoll
Henry, the PFG's are on their way to East Anglia following the Mersey along part of their route.
Pete,
Spotted the first 3 movements from Flixton/Urmston as was out and about.
Also c150 over Trafford Park approx 1200 heading eastish
Steve
Thanks. Henry.
26 Tufted
7 Pochard
2 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
10+ Siskin
1 Redpoll
1 Buzzard at Kenworthy perched on a pylon, flew and perched on a pylon at the side of the busy A5103, Princess Parkway, before flying towards Northendon.
Pink-footed Geese skeins, all flying east
c52 at 09.05,
c170 at 10.00,
c320 at 10.12,
550+ in two close skeins at 10.15,
c110 at 10.20 contained a smaller bird situated behind the leader (silhoetted so I didn't get anything on it)
8 Pochard
1 Goldeneye
1 Cormorant
c180 Pink-feet over east at 12.10
84 Canadas (72 on river-bank)
7 Common Gull
1 Redpoll
2 Siskin
9 Pochard
5 goldeneye
2 Goosander
1 Mute Swan
1 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
2 Redpoll
7 Pochard
2 Little Grebe
2 Goosander
2 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
25+ Siskin
4 Redpoll
1 Reed Bunting
Gt/Sp Woodpecker always one on the feeders
4 Pochard
17 Tufties
3 Goldeneye
3 Cormorant
1 LBB Gull
4 Common Gull
2.40 77 PF Geese E over Barlow Tip
Very small dark mammal (body about 2 inches long) across path in Kenworthy - poss Shrew
1 Pochard
15 Tufted
2 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Kingisher
1 Pochard
19 Tufted
3 Little Grebe
7 Fieldfare fying west
6 adult & 2 cygnet Mute Swan
6 Tufted
a Mink was reported here last night by a fisherman. 2-3 now known along the Mersey between Didsbury and Stretford this year.
( early night now, Flamborough at dawn, Brown Shrike beckons )
1 Lesser Whitethroat
at least 1 Garden Warbler
several Blackcap
2+ whitethroat
Willow Warblers
also
2 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Tufted
Reed Warblers calling yesterday
1 Swift yesterday
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:48, 2008-08-24
1 Kingfisher
14 Swift
1 Swift yesterday & 7 over Stretford today
2 adult L Bl-b Gull
5 ad Common Gull on the UMIST playing fields
24 Swift
family parties of Whitethroats, Blackcaps & Willow Warblers around Barlow Tip and Kenworthy
c40 Goldfinch, Fairy Lane, Kenworthy, mostly juvs and some still being fed by adults
1 Sparrowhawk
juv Gt/sp Woodpecker still on feeders
I tried to spice things up a bit, arriving home from Madeira last night, though customs confiscated the Bulwers Petrel in my hand luggage (only joking of course )
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:16, 2008-08-12
1 Kingfisher
juv Bullfinch
I always knew I was right Tom Successful nesting has been long overdue
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 23:52, 2008-07-13
So you've been right for all these years! I take it nobody has decided to have a walk about in the reeds this year?
2 Kingfisher
Sedge Warblers feeding 2-3 young on Kenworthy yesterday
Kingfisher still present
2 Kingfisher reported
3 Common Sandpiper on 29th and a single on 26th
another Reed Warbler singing from small patch of reeds on the south side on 23rd
up to 2 Kingfishers reported occaisionally
family of Gt/sp Woodpeckers m,f & juv regular on the feeders
family of 8 Mistle Thrush on 24th
2 juv Grey Wagtails on river bank
2 Goldcrest singing still
2 Tawny Owl still being reported by fishermen from the south side on 21st and another two calling from Barlow golf course on the same night
158 Canada Geese and 28 goslings (goslings on the river) counted on 26th. I buried an adult on the tip yesterday which had been killed in a dog attack (they are vulnerable at this time of year when they are in moult).
the female Mute Swan gave up incubating by the 14th and was last seen on 18th. The males corpse had another external examination at a wildlife sanctuary which was inconclusive.
Also on Old Tip -
Whitethroat 4 at least
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
male Reed Bunting
Couldn't post yesterday - home PC has died
What a sad story. And with the Fulmar too.
Following my earlier report of 20th April. The pair almost immediatley started nest building again on the west island, where they should be safe, and we (the wardens) provided them with a bale of barley straw which they took for the nest.
The Canada Geese eggs (for whatever reason) weren't pricked this year and Mr Swan has being doing a sterling job at controlling the gosling population, although his has made him somewhat unpopular with the public / service users.
My suspiscions from yesterday evening were confirmed this morning. We had the rescue boat on for water safety (local kids canoeing activity during half term) and I went to check on the swans. We were confronted with the extremely sad and distressing sight of the female sat on the nest, still incubating, though lying alongside the nest was the corpse of the male (BTO ring ZZ5471, ringed here on 12 April 2008) with all the flesh of the head and upper neck completely knawed away (prob rats). The corpse was removed. Rigormortis hadn't set in and there were no visible external injuries on a quick examination. The last confirmed sighting of him hassling the geese was Wed 21st May.
The female is now having to leave the nest periodically to feed. She's had a hard time here and we are all really feeling for her. Maybe we could have a dating thread for widowed swans
1 Reed Warbler in song since the 19th
1 Goldcrest in song yesterday