This morning, 6/7 House Martins present with 1 nest hole still containing young birds. Also Grey and Pied Wagtail.
Cheers Ian

4.00p.m today
Goosander present, approx 50 Sand Martins, 4 Swift and 6 Swallows. Both Grey and Pied Wagtails had fledged young and a Kingfisher flew down river, 10 mins later flew back carrying a fish.
Cheers Ian

Young male goosander seen on its lonesome. Just starting to moult into male colours.

11.00a.m. today
18 pairs of Sand Martin(minimum) nesting in walls at side of river in centre of Radcliffe, plus a male Goosander present for the last 2 days.
Cheers Ian

Male and female Goosander on river in centre of Radcliffe 3.50 p.m. today.
Cheers Ian

9.45 am 2 male Goosander, unusual for this time of the year.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Sunday 26th of April 2009 04:02:22 PM

Friday 3.50 p.m.
Single Dipper, Kingfisher and Common Sandpiper along with usual Sand Martins and Wagtails. Mallard nest that was on the bridge now empty, wonder if they were successfull?
Cheers Ian

Peter Johnson kindly pointed out to me this morning that I mistakenly called SAND MARTINS "House Martins" in previous post. Appologies for the confusion.
Cheers Ian

At least 16 House Martin active nests, 2 pairs of Grey Wagtail and 1 of Pied. No sign of Dipper since last Monday. Also Mallard sat tight on a nest in an interesting location.
Cheers Ian

12.30 today, 2 Dipper, if not mating, getting very friendly
Also all the holes in Market Hall occupied by Martins and many more birds searching the wall opposite for available holes.
Cheers Ian

12.45 today
2 Dipper on the river

Lots of Sand Martin activity today, dozen or more present.

Quick 5 min walk at 13.55 between blackburn st and pilkington way
Kingfisher feeding on reeds side of market hall,
female goosander up river,
4 seperate Sand Martin nesting holes on Market Hall walk active.
Carrion Crowsat on nest market hall.
Four grey wagtails scrapping on island, one pied wagtail.
2 Goldfinches on each side of Piklington way bridge in trees.
Jay near market hall.

Called in at 3.45 today.
Wagtails but nothing else, who said this site was good, no Kingfisher, Dipper then suddenly 14 Sand Martin some entering holes, then they all buggered off. Don't know about Summer being here but Spring is certainly Springing!!
Cheers Ian

Just come in from a walk down the river Irwell and I spotted two pairs of Sand Martins flying in and out of the wall Black burn street presumably starting to nest. Summer on its way

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 31st of March 2009 03:19:37 PM

3.35-4.00p.m. today
Dipper feeding for 10 mins in river before flying upstream, seen regulariy now so maybe breeding nearby?. Also 3 Kingfisher, 1 initially flying upstream then 10 mins later 2 chasing each other. Sand Martins also migrating upstream in 2's and 3's, approx 20 seen in total. 4 Grey Wagtail and 2 Pied also. It's hard to believe all this in centre of Radcliffe!
Cheers Ian

11.30 this a.m.
No sign of Dippers today but good views of Kingfisher, pair of Goosander, 3 Sand Martin and pair of Grey Wagtails.
Cheers Ian

10.30 this a.m.
Pair of Dipper together in middle of river, then flew upriver and 10 mins later single bird flew back and disappeared into the stone bank near Asda bridge, this is the first time I have seen a pair together here. Also Kingfisher present with usual Wagtails.
Cheers Ian

quick dinner time shufty
3 sand martins feeding over river
2 gold finchest busher near pilkington way
3 pied wagtail 1 grey
swollen river

On a wet day into work over Blackburn bridge most people passing missed two pairs of goosander fighting each other amongst the usual diving.

3.30-3.45 male Goosander near Asda, then Dipper(2nd day running)amongst rocks then flying upstream as yesterday. Followed by Kingfisher in similar position to reported earlier today and also 2 Grey Wagtails. Finished off with a Sparrowhawk circling overhead. An excellent 15 mins
Cheers Ian

Pair of Grey Wagtails
Pied Wagtail
and Kingfisher perched fishing for 20 minutes on riverbank beside wall below Asda Carpark.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 02:11:59 PM

3.50pm today, checked to see if the Sand Martins had returned but none present. However did see a Dipper feeding amongst the stones in the centre of the river untill it flew upstream.
Cheers Ian

3.55 p.m. today
3 Sand Martins following the river North, 4 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Grey 1 Pied Wagtail, and heard a Kingfisher. Best though, and a site first for me was a Peregrine, quite high, flying West
Cheers Ian

Walk at dineer showed a pair of grey wagtails moving between the two bridges above ASDA. No sign of S Martins and not much else.

SEE LAST POST
Obviously I meant to say GREY WAGTAILS,NOT YELLOW
Tried to edit the post but couldn't
Cheers Ian

4.00p.m.
Went for a look after work to see if there was any sign of the very early Sand Martin reported on this forum yesterday, no there wasn't
Did see 3 Yellow Wagtails chasing each other, pair of Carrion Crow nest building in tall trees by Market hall and heard a Kingfisher flying up river.
Cheers Ian

This a.m.
8 Goosander, 1 Heron, 3 Grey Wagtail, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Pied Wagtail

12 Goosander, 1 Teal(1st I've seen here), 1 Tufted, 2 Grey Wagtails and a Grey Heron this a.m.
Cheers Ian

After wasting my time at Elton, 8.15 a.m. no visibility and almost totally frozen, went to Asda and looked on the Irwell. 8 Goosander, but best was a Dipper( I think, the 3rd I've ever seen here) but it was also singing, just read John's post about Dipper at Goyt Valley today.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL, but especially to all the Elton, which has rocked all year, birders.
Cheers Ian

Single female Goosander today, with, nothing else really.
Cheers Ian

2 Goosander in the centre of Radcliffe this a.m. plus usual Grey and Pied Wagtails.
Cheers Ian

3 Goosander, the first I've seen here of the Autumn, also Pied and Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher and a Heron.
Cheers Ian

11.30a.m. River very high, 4 Sand Martins flying around with one still active nest, 3young visible at entrance.
Cheers Ian

3.00 p.m. Just 1 active Sand Martin nest, this time last year there were 12, is this a reflection of our Summer?. Plus 1 Grey Heron, which looked totally out of place and 3 passing Swift.

10.30 this a.m.
Only 4 active Sand Martin nests, also 2 adult Grey Wagtails with 3 fledged young.
Cheers Ian

Today 10.30 a.m.
Lots of Sand Martins with Swifts and unusually 2 House Martins and 2 Swallows. Also a female Goosander, Grey and Pied Wagtails but no Kingfisher today.
Cheers Ian

My day off is Wednesday and l'll be there first thing with my bins' and a flask of coffee and l'm NOT going home till l see it

Today, 11.45 a.m. and yesterday 10.00 a.m. Kingfisher using supports below bypass bridge near Asda to fish from. Today watched it catch a fish, return to bridge to bash its head in, then take it upstream. Magic , check it out Melanie.
Cheers Ian

10 a.m. now at least 18 Sand Martin pairs plus the usual Grey and Pied Wagtails, also pair of Jackdaw and yet again a Kingfisher flying up river carrying a fish.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. 9-9.30
At least 17 pairs of Sand Martins at the usual colony, also Grey Wagtail with young and a pair of Pied Wagtail. Kingfisher carrying fish up river.
Cheers Ian

10.45 a.m. watching Sand Martins in the rain when from nowhere appeared 70-80 Swifts for 10 mins and then gone. Kingfisher seen again and Pied & Grey Wag

Exactly as yesterday except no sandpiper, nice to seethe kingfisher 2 days running
Cheers Ian

Around 9.30 this a.m.
45-50 Sand martins flying around the colony site also 3 Grey and 2 Pied Wagtails, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Kingfisher.
Cheers Ian

Visited this a.m.
No Sand Martins however a Common Sandpiper sat on one of the few stones not covered by flood water in middle of the river

yesterday 4.30p.m.
25-30 sand martins flying in and out of nest holes, hope the bad weather forcast this weekend does'nt spoil their party!
Cheers Ian

7 Sand Martins present this a.m. 2 entering one of the nest holes.
cheers Ian

Watching pair of Pied and Grey Wagtails, a Kestrel and a pair of Jackdaw prospecting a nest site when at 9.45 6 Sand Martins arrived.
Cheers Ian

Approx 1.30 today on the river by Asda 18 Goosander, presumably forced off frozen waters. Also Grey and Pied Wagtails and 2 Kingfisher

Around 12.00 today.
10 Goosander on river in centre of Radcliffe plus Grey and Pied Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher and best of all my 2nd ever Dipper seen here.
Cheers Ian