Had reason to be passing Chorlton WP this am 0720 - so dropped in a quik circuit very impressive with the sun coming up!!
Had nice views of Golden Eye on the river as well as 10s of Pochard on the main pool plus plenty of Canadas and a nice Kingfisher - then off to Dunham me that is not the Kingfisher

A late entry for Wed 6th Feb

131 Pochard
53 Tufted
7 Goosander
8 Goldeneye
6 Little Grebe
4 Cormorant (3 over) and the adult sinensis type again in the afternoon
2 ad 1 imm L Bl-b Gull
c30 Siskin Barlow Tip

127 Pochard
61 Tufted
6 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk
c25 Goldfinch
60+ Siskin
1 Reed Bunting at feeding station

125 Pochard
74 Tufted
10 Goosander
8 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
20+ Greenfinch
100+ Siskin
1 Redpoll Barlow Tip

109 Pochard
76 tufted
7 Goosander
20 Goldeneye
1 ad Cormorant sinesis type
5 Little Grebe
1 Barnacle x Canada type hybrid
1 Kingfisher
28 Common Gull
3 Siskin
1-2 Reed Bunting

The map on the Mersey Valley web-site isn't very clear. I'll try and put something more precise together in the near future and ask Ian to incorporate it into the site guide.

Is there a map avaibale showing the various parts of CWP? I am never 100% sure where the various spots are.

thanks

Vaughan

1 Water Rail in the furthest compound in front of the play area (or the one closest to the bailey bridge) showing at 10.40 and 12.25 along the edge of the reeds and heard from the bridge.
116 Pochard
92 Tufted
1 Teal
4 Goosander
3 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
1 Barnacle x Canada
3 Mute Swan
Siskin flocks of 60+, 40+ & 10+

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 20:40, 2008-01-27

Jack Snipe - New Mcr species for me
Snipe
both flushed from the tip cheers for the tip-off PeteSo never mind the water going over my boots
siskin 35 on the tip w/ 1 Redpoll
Buzzard at 4.05pm heading N over the estate
also probable Woodcock flushed from birch scrub Kenworthy but silly me I was paying attention to a Pheasant as it was my first of the year and didn't get onto it properly

There was at least one adult herring Gull and a couple of scruffy juveniles - about 14:30

5 Gadwall (3m 2f)
109 Pochard
66 Tufted
4 Goosander
7 Goldeneye
4 Little Grebe
4 Heron (one eating a large toad at the pond)
1 Barnacle x Canada on the riverbank
6 Mistle Thrush - U.M.I.S.T. fields Kenworthy
1 Redwing "
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Stock Dove reported on Barlow Tip
Siskin flocks reported still around Barlow Tip & Kenworthy, though I only logged two at the WP this morning
1 Buzzard reported on Kenworthy yesterday

I'm gripped with the Herring Gulls Tony - something of a scarcity here.

Pretty quiet this afternoon

2M 1F Goosander
3 Goldeneye
6 Common Gull
100+ BH Gull
1 LBB Gull
2 or 3 Herring Gull
8 LT Tit in the car park

Good numbers of Pochard and Tufties, I didn't bother to count them all.

No Siskin :(

Wed 23rd

c70 Pink-feet flew low west following the course of the Mersey at 09.23
1 Barnacle x Canada
80 Pochard
62 Tufted
5 Goosander
5 Goldeneye
1 Little Grebe
304+ Bl-h Gull
2 Gt/sp Woodpecker
140+ Siskin, in flocks of 50+, 40+, 40+ & 10+

Barlow Tip ( with my new 'lucky' work wellies )

1 Snipe
1 Jack Snipe
1 Woodcock
13+ Redpoll in a Siskin flock
1 Kestrel

Tues 22nd

84 Pochard
57 Tufted
3 Teal
14 Goosander
4 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
3 Mute Swan
6 Grey Heron
1 Kingfisher
c130 Siskin, in flocks of c30 & c100

75 Pochard
45 Tufted
14 Goosander (5m)
1 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
116 Canada Geese
1 Barnacle x Canada type hybrid

On 19th a female Sparrowhawk was observed hunting Siskins from a flock of c80

68 Pochard
68 Tufted
7 Goosander
4 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
100+ Siskin

72 Pochard
75 Tufted
6 Goosander
1 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher (very obliging views)
100+ Siskin
2 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
66 Redwing on the U.M.I.S.T. playing fields Kenworthy
2 Fieldfare " "
11 Mistle Thrush "
200+ Starling "

15 Greenfinch yesterday
3 Redpoll "

I've just realised that this is my 300th post - 300 is/was quite a benchmark in Uk listing terms



-- Edited by Pete Hines at 20:27, 2008-01-17

08.40 - 09.30

59 Pochard
51 Tufted
2 Goosander
1 Kingfisher
Siskins

57 pochard
41 Tufted
8 Goosander
1 Cormorant
1 Barnacle x Canada type hybrid
140+ Siskin
2 Buzzard reported at Kenworthy

44 Pochard ( 66 on 9th )
37 Tufted
the small Barnacle x Canada type hybrid was grazing on the adjacent Barlow Moor Golf Course with 42 Canadas
8 Goosander
2 Little Grebe ( 7 yesterday )
1 Kingfisher ( 2 on 10th )
140+ Siskin
3 + Redpoll

A Water Rail was foraging along the north bank between fishings 9 & 10 before flying towards peg 5 and lost to view on 11th.

60 Pochard
42 Tufted
11+ Goosander
20 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
the Barnacle x Canada type hybrid back again with 16 CGs
3 Mute Swan (includes a pair with a very aggressive male)
1 Kingfisher
2 Buzzard - Kenworthy, at the end of the tip road flew over the M60
mixed finch flock of 120+ comprised mostly Siskin, several Goldfinch and 12+ Redpoll
2 f. Reed bunting in phragmites

17 Goldeneye 6 drks
6 Goosander 3 drks
27 Pochard
41 Tufties

in and around Kenworthy Woods:

pair Kestrels (a third Kestrel on Old Tip)
Heron eating a toad
on football pitches:
200 Starlings
100 Redwings - 3 more Old Tip
6 Mistle thrushes
5 Blackbirds
GS Woodpecker in trees at edge of pitches

1 female Blackcap in the wardens compound
1 drake Gadwall
3 Teal (1m 2f)
46 Tufted
24 Pochard
5 Goosander
14 Goldeneye
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
2 Mute Swan
3 Snipe flushed at Barlow Tip
53 Common Gull
1 f Kestrel at Barlow Tip
flocks of c60 & 8 Siskin
1+ Redpoll - tip
2 Treecreeper by the pond

Met the L/S Woodpecker (1/12/07) man, Steve Burke, and saw the photo. He says there was one at the pond in Dec 2006!. That's 3 Decembers in a row!.

62 Pochard
46 Tufted
77 Mallard
6 Goosander
6 Goldeneye
4 G/C Grebe
4 Little Grebe
12 Coot
11 Moorhen
19 Canada Geese
1 Embdem Goose
2 Mute Swan
2 L Bl-b Gull (1ad 1imm)
2 Kingfisher
1 Skylark heard

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:26, 2007-12-31

29/12

male Kestrel over the tip
60+ Siskins, 30+ Goldfinch and 20+ Redpoll feeding in alders on coppice trail
3 Bullfinch (2m+1f) coppice trail -
2 Bullfinch - Kenworthy
1 female GSW
1 Tawny (f) - Kenworthy - 7pm

60+ Pochard (55+ arrived at 09.45)
41 Tufted
9 Goosander (5m)
14 Goldeneye (6m)
1 Cormorant
2 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
20+ Redpoll

27/12
2 Buzzards drifted over at 2.50pm heading NW.
2 female GSW
2 Kestrel
at least 22 Goosander from western side of lake at 4pm.

24 Tufted
59 Pochard (only 18 early a.m. - birds arriving later)
9 Goosander (4 m)
1 Goldeneye
72+ Canada Geese and the Barnacle x Canada type hybrid briefly
4 Mute Swan
f Reed Bunting in phragmites
4 Snipe flushed on Barlow Tip
1 f Kestrel Barlow Tip

09.00-10.00, lake 99.5% frozen

28 Tufted
3 Pochard
3 Goosander
2 Little Grebe
3 Mute Swan
9 Goldeneye on river

13 Goldeneye on the Mersey (6m+7f) at 4.30pm

08.30-09.30, c96% thin ice cover

70 Tufted
9 Pochard
2 m Wigeon
1 f Shoveler
10 Goosander
1 Little Gebe
4 Mute Swan
Siskins

103 Tufted
46 Pochard
1 Teal
20 Goosander (5 m)
8 Goldeneye
4 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
2 Mute Swan
2 Kingfisher
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk

97 Tufted
31 Pochard
2 Wigeon (1m 1f)
2 Gadwall (1m 1f)
3 Teal (1m 2f)
29 Goosander (only 5 males)
9 Goldeneye on the Mersey
3 Little Grebe
2 Mute Swan
2 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk
22 Redpoll
Siskins

Goosanders continue to rise and with 8 males on 15th brings the total to at least 32 visiting so far, which has to be a record for the WP. There has been a change in thier activity this winter. In previous years they always seemed to prefere fishing the Mersey then coming to gather on the lake late afternoon, presumably to roost. This winter numbers still increase slightly in the afternoons (24 this a.m.) but they are on the lake all day and they are feeding like mad on small fry in the shallows.

So whart's changed ?. During March and April this year approx. 150 bales of barley straw were spread out around the lake in 'booms'. This was a reccomended process to attempt to combat the bloom of blue green algae that the lake had a problem with last summer, formed by the chemical process involved with the break down of the barley straw. When they were removed in October these barley straw booms were packed full of invertebrates ( and a 2.5lb eel ) and must surley have aided the fish populations this summer. Little Grebe are also up, Kingfishers regular, Cormorants have increased and they're fishing in groups in the centre taking larger prey. Another 150 bales are going out next March / April for six months, so it'll be interesting to see what happends next winter. Hopefully not culling

Another recent change. The resident small Barnacle x Canada type hybrid hasn't been logged since the end of September. The recent alteration to a section of bankside (strengthening, disabled fishing access) has made it less favourable to the feeding Canadas and Oct and Nov counts of Canada's were only in their 20's. Larger flocks fly up and down the Mersey and have been seen grazing on neighbouring golf courses and playing fields, so presumably the small hybrid is with these groups.

The low Aythya numbers in the daytime roost are worrying (although higher than this time last year). Tufted's normally peak here in Dec and Pochard in Feb, so see what happends.

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 20:26, 2007-12-17

By 3.30 Goosanders 19
Only one m Goldeneye - disappointing for the time of year as are numbers of Pochard - worrying.
Wigeon still present

Pete what's the maxima for Goosanders at Chorlton? Must be close

Tim

80 Tufted
23 Pochard
5 Wigeon (3m 2f)
18 Goosander
3 Goldeneye
4 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant

86 Tufted
19 Pochard
3 Wigeon (2m 1f)
2 f Teal
17 Goosander (8m 9f)
5 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
2 Snipe at Barlow Tip
1 Buzzard Kenworthy 13th

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 00:51, 2007-12-16

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 00:52, 2007-12-16

1 f. Shoveler
2 Teal
80 Tufted
12 Pochard
12 Goosander
6 Little Grebe

c60 Lapwings arrived from the west at 08.55, flew around the lake a few times then departed to the west
13 Little Grebe
5 G/C Grebe
71 Tufted
9 Pochard
10 Goosander
6 Goldeneye
1 Kingfisher
mixed Goldfinch / Siskin / Redpoll flocks

84+ Tufted
13 Pochard
8 Goosander (4m.)
5 Little Grebe
3 Cormorant
2 Mute Swan
1 Kingfisher
30+ Siskin
13+ Redpoll

9/12

Impressive flock of Siskins 60 sounds about right - in Pops next to Orchard at 9.30am
40+ Goldfinch (2 groups)
3 Goosanders on Mersey
3 Kestrel over Kenworthy (2M+1F)
2 GS Woody's (0 LSW)
1 Treecreeper
2 Bullfinch (Coppice trail)
2 Grey Wags (+1 in the Garden)
1 Cormorant
1 Heron
3 Goldcrest
1 female Tawny - 8pm

87 Tufted
9 Pochard ( 13 on 5th )
11 Goosander (8 f. 3m)
1 Goldeneye
6 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
60+ Siskin in one flock, plus 15+ with Goldfinches
5+ Redpoll
1 f. Teal on 8th
c80 Goldfich on 8th
1 Treecreeper on 5th
1 Snipe flushed at Barlow Tip on 5th

87 Tufted
11 Pochard
7 redhead Goosander
2 Goldeneye
2 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
2 Kingfisher
c90 Goldfinch in three separate flocks
c30 Siskin

Tim. It was uncanny to see you on the day of the second record, although we knew nothing about it then. There was a group of volunteers cutting trees around the pond on Sat afternoon, although I think the bird had already flown by then. Had a look yesterday afternoon in terrible weather and again this morning. The pond is part of my morning patrol so will keep checking, though I can't spend long there. A colleague had seen the photo, it had been digi-binned and showed the upperparts clearly. Also today -

88 Tufted
12 Pochard
10 Goosander
2 Little Grebe
2 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:33, 2007-12-03

Hi Pete

I checked that area on Sat pm hoping for a LSW but nothing there. The last bird actually stuck around for 4 days having been found by friends of mine the day before I got it on camera but it was gone by the morning of 1 Jan! this current visitor may still be around

Tim

PS only just got broadband and discovered from Judith the forum is where all the info exchange is going on.

Some late news for yesterday :

A female L/Sp Woodpecker was photographed by the pond by a lucky unknown observer early afternoon, possibly around 13.35, which is when I walked passed him he didn't say owt, prob too busy grilling the pecker but apparently the bird soon flew flew off. I just found out this afternoon . I wonder what the chance is of a returning bird i.e. the female present at the same same spot from 28th to 31st Dec 2005 ? Which I didn't see either Photo of that bird by Tim Wilcox in the photo gallery.

Also yesterday.

84 Tufted
13 Pochard
11 Goosander
10 Goldeneye
1 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
1 Snipe flushed on Barlow Tip
7 Fieldfare on the U.M.I.S.T. playing fields Kenworthy
40+ Redwing " "
24+ Mistle Thrush " "
1 m Kestrel Barlow Tip & a f on Kenworthy
7+ Redpoll
Siskins / Goldfinches - small mixed flocks still
1 f Reed Bunting infront of play area, another f on Barlow Tip & one heard Kenworthy.

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:48, 2007-12-02

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:50, 2007-12-02

10 Goosander
5 Goldeneye
56 Tufted
11 Pochard
3 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher
3 Redpoll

c45 Siskin recorded yesterday
1 Buzzard over Princess Parkway A5103 recorded yesterday
2m & 2f. Pheasant, Kenworthy " "

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 21:26, 2007-11-26

48 Tufted
11 Pochard
2 Goosander
1 Little Grebe
1 Skylark over NW
c70 Goldfinch
Siskins still around though no count

59 Tufted
5 Pochard
5 Goosander
4 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
12 Redpoll yesterday
Siskin / Goldfinch flocks still about

3 Pochard
43 Tufted
5 Goldeneye
2 Goosander
3 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel

4 Wigeon yesterday

1 Peregrine over NE at 14.38
5 Pochard
30 Tufted
1 Teal
2 Goldeneye
3 Little Grebe
13 Common Gull
1 Snipe flushed from Barlow Tip
A Water Rail flushed from Barlow Tip yesterday ( D. Steele )

A couple of late reports -

A imm / f Ring-necked Parakeet was in an oak tree on the north bank of the lake at 09.25 on Sun 4th Nov

A Merlin was reported from Kenworthy on the morning of Sat 27th Oct