The nature reserve is currently closed due to vandalism to the footbridge (and therefore no BTO WeBS count for Jan19).

BTO WeBS

Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 11 Nov, 2018 Time: 09:50 - 10:40

Black-headed Gull 120
Coot 9
Cormorant 3
Gadwall 5
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Little Grebe 3
Mallard 8
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 3
Teal 5
Tufted Duck 2
Total number of species: 11
Individuals: 162

1 Willow Tit

Very quiet!

No WeBS count from the Millennium Park this month, the site is closed due to a burst sewage pipe!

BTO WeBS

Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 18 Mar, 2018 Time: 09:30 - 10:30

Black-headed Gull 30
Canada Goose 4
Coot 1
Cormorant 3
Gadwall 2
Grey Heron 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Mallard 14
Mute Swan 16
Tufted Duck 32
Total number of species: 10
Individuals: 105

Very quiet bird-wise with only 2 Bullfinch, 3 Redwing and a Buzzard noted on the wider reserve.

BTO WeBS

Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sat, 17 Feb, 2018 Time: 10:30 - 11:20

Canada Goose 4
Coot 2
Gadwall 10
Great Crested Grebe 4
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Mallard 22
Moorhen 5
Mute Swan 8
Teal 8
Tufted Duck 50
Total number of species: 10
Individuals: 114

Also of note on the reserve;
1 Willow Tit
4 Bullfinch
15 Redwing
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

BTO WeBS 1000-1100 today

12 Mute Swan
22 Mallard
6 Gadwall
5 Teal
2 Goosander
2 Great Crested Grebe
6 Coot
2 Moorhen
4 Cormorant
126 Black-headed Gull
6 Common Gull
1 Herring Gull
1 Great Black-backed Gull

The Great Black-backed Gull (stood on a lighting column at Barton Locks) is my first record of this species at the Millenium Park and bring the total species noted to 94.

Mallard 10+
Gadwall 7
Teal 5
Little Grebe 5
Mute Swan 20+
Cormorant 6
Coot 8
Moorhen 4
Black-headed Gull 120+
Common Gull 10
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Grey Heron 1
Lapwing 11 over to Salford side of canal.
Willow Tit 2
Lesser Redpoll 4
Brambling 1
Song Thrush 2
etc.etc.etc.

BTO WeBS Survey
Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 10 Dec, 2017 Time: 01:20 - 02:20


Black-headed Gull 26
Common Gull 3
Coot 16
Gadwall 12
Grey Heron 1
Little Grebe 1
Mallard 49
Moorhen 3
Mute Swan 12
Teal 11
Tufted Duck 12
Total number of species: 11
Individuals: 146

Also of note, 8 Fieldfare and 4 Redwing in the horse field.

BTO WeBS Survey
Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 19 Nov, 2017 Time: 10:20 - 11:20

Black-headed Gull 151
Coot 9
Cormorant 1
Gadwall 4
Grey Heron 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Little Grebe 3
Mallard 19
Moorhen 4
Mute Swan 9
Teal 6
Tufted Duck 20
Total number of species: 12
Individuals: 229

Also of note on the reserve, a single Willow Tit.

BTO WeBS Survey (again noted as a "low count" due to reasons as per last post)
Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme
Date: Sun, 8 Oct, 2017 Time: 10:00 - 11:00



Species Count Comment
Black-headed Gull 38
Canada Goose 34
Common Gull 1
Cormorant 9
Grey Heron 2
Little Grebe 3
Mallard 6
Moorhen 1
Mute Swan 18
Total number of species: 9
Individuals: 112

10/09/17 1500 - 1550hrs. BTO WeBS Survey (noted as a low count as the unmanaged vegetation restricts the viewing at this time of year)

Black-headed Gull = 152
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 2
Cormorant = 8
Mallard = 3
Gadwall = 5
Mute Swan = 9
Moorhen = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 1

BTO WeBS Survey

Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 12 Mar, 2017 Time: 09:00 - 10:00


Black-headed Gull 48
Canada Goose 4
Coot 11
Cormorant 13
Gadwall 24
Goosander 1
Great Crested Grebe 3
Grey Heron 1
Mallard 14
Moorhen 3
Mute Swan 20
Oystercatcher 1
Teal 12
Wigeon 1
Total number of species: 14
Individuals: 156
Also of note on the reserve 2 Willow Tit chasing each other, 6 Bullfinch and a single Chiffchaff.

-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Monday 13th of March 2017 08:51:08 AM

BTO WeBS Survey

Site Name: Manchester Shipping Canal - Davyhulme NR
Date: Sun, 12 Feb, 2017 Time: 09:40 - 10:40


Black-headed Gull 95
Canada Goose 2
Coot 20
Cormorant 5
Gadwall 3
Great Crested Grebe 4
Grey Heron 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 2
Little Grebe 1
Mallard 2
Moorhen 2
Mute Swan 16
Teal 12
Tufted Duck 114
Total number of species: 14
Individuals: 279

(Dave - I could only locate 2 Blue Tits today)

15/01/17 BTO WeBS Survey (1040-1140)

Black-headed Gull 82
Coot 12
Cormorant 7
Gadwall 20
Goldeneye 1
Goosander 2
Great Crested Grebe 1
Grey Heron 1
Kingfisher 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1
Mallard 71
Mallard (domestic) 1
Moorhen 5
Mute Swan 21
Teal 205
Tufted Duck 29
Wigeon 1

02/01/17 1300-1400hrs

Great Crested Grebe = 6
Little Grebe = 4
Mallard = 22
Tufted Duck = 44
Teal = 8
Gadwall = 13
Coot = 13
Moorhen = 2
Mute Swan = 13
Cormorant = 10
Grey Heron = 1
Black-headed Gull = 84
Common Gull = 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 1
Robin = 6
Blackbird = 8
Bullfinch = 3
Goldfinch = 7
Lesser Redpoll = 1
Long tailed Tit = 2
Great Tit = 6
Blue Tit = 4
Great Spotted Woodpecker = 1
Jay = 1
Carrion Crow = 1
Magpie = 8
Wood Pigeon = 10
Starling = 8
House Sparrow = 12

18/12/16 1000 - 1050hrs. BTO WeBS Survey

Gadwall = 15
Mallard = 35
Teal = 6
Tufted Duck = 26
Moorhen = 2
Coot = 14
Mute Swan = 10
Cormorant = 5
Grey Heron = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 4
Little Grebe = 3
Black-headed Gull = 247
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 1

Also of note on the reserve were 7 Ring-necked Parakeet around the sludge loading bay, they then flew east along the ship canal. A first for me on the reserve and my 93'd species here.

13/11/16 0900 - 0945hrs. BTO WeBS Survey

Gadwall = 4
Mallard = 7
Teal = 2
Tufted Duck = 24
Coot = 2
Mute Swan = 8
Cormorant = 5
Grey Heron = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 3
Little Grebe = 1
Black-headed Gull = 106
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 1
Common Gull = 2

18/09/16 1020 - 1110hrs. BTO WeBS Survey (noted as a low count as the unmanaged vegetation restricts the viewing at this time of year)

Black-headed Gull = 140
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 2
Cormorant = 17
Grey Heron = 3
Mallard = 20
Gadwall = 8
Canada Goose = 3
Mute Swan = 2

A quiet walk around at circa 1700;
Swift = 2
Swallow = 22
House Martin = 10
Kingfisher = 1
Mute Swan = 3
Canada Goose = 2
Cormorant = 1
Grey Heron = 1
Mallard = 6
Gadwall = 2
Black Headed Gull = 30
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 1

Thanks for prompt posting Paul.

Redstart still showing at 1630 around stables, last seen in Millenium Park car park before flicking over the larger stable building.

My 92nd species seen at the NR.

Afternoon stroll.

Blackcap 8 singing plus 2 females.
Chiffchaff 7 singing.
Mute Swan 20+
Cormorant 4
Tufted Duck 1 male.
Gadwall 4 males, 1 female.
Swallow 6+
Sand Martin 2
Great Crested Grebe 1
Moorhen 1
Coot 1
Mallard 12+
etc.etc.

early pm visit.

Mallard 20+
Gadwall 25
Moorhen 3
Tufted Duck 5
Mute Swan 24
Great-crested Grebe 1
Teal 1m.
Goosander 1m 1f.
Grey Heron 1
BH Gull 100+
Common Gull 1
Willow Tit 1 singing plus 1.
Bullfinch 1m.
etc.etc.

17/01/16 WeBS count 0915-1015hrs;
Mute Swan = 20
Cormorant = 5
Goosander = 2(a pair)
Mallard = 55
Gadwall = 37
Teal = 17
Tufted Duck = 144
Coot = 18
Moorhen = 5
Great Crested Grebe = 1
Little Grebe = 7
Grey Heron = 1
Grey Wagtail = 1
Black Headed Gull = 285
Common Gull = 3

03/01/16 1000-1100hrs; Wet!
Mute Swan = 12
Cormorant = 5
Goosander = 2 (a pair, not often seen on this stretch of the canal)
Mallard = 36
Gadwall = 24
Teal = 18
Coot = 8
Moorhen = 3
Great Crested Grebe = 2
Grey Wagtail = 1
Black Headed Gull = 44
Lesser Black-backed Gull = 1
Common Gull = 1
House Sparrow = 12
Greenfinch = 8
Goldfinch = 32
Chaffinch = 3
Bullfinch = 9
Siskin = 2
Robin = 7
Blackbird = 23
Song Thrush = 3
Starling = 7
Goldcrest = 2
Blue Tit = 11
Great Tit = 14
Long Tailed Tit = 18
Treecreeper = 1 (good record for the reserve)
Magpie = 4
Woodpigeon = 4

and also a carpet of daffodils in bloom!

13/12/15 0940 - 1030 WeBS count:-
Coot = 8
Moorhen = 7
Mallard = 24
Teal = 15
Tufted Duck = 1
Gadwall = 14
Great Crested Grebe = 3
Cormorant = 5
Common Gull = 2
Black Headed Gull = 138
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 4
Grey Heron = 1

Also on the reserve 1 Willow Tit, 2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 6 Bullfinch and 30 strong mixed flock of Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch at the horse paddock.

Sorry for a late report from Friday, 11/12/15.

Great Crested Grebe 2
Mute Swan 3ad. 1imm.
Teal 9
Mallard 10
Gadwall 8
Coot 8
Moorhen 4
Cormorant 2
Little Grebe 2
BH Gull 50+

plus Green/Chaff/Gold/Bullfinches.

18/10/15 0930 - 1020 WeBS count:-
Coot = 12
Moorhen = 1
Mallard = 54
Teal = 1
Tufted Duck = 2
Little Grebe = 1
Black Headed Gull = 18
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 12
Grey Wagtail = 1
Grey Heron = 1

13/09/15 1000 - 1100 WeBS count:-

Moorhen = 2
Mallard = 10
Little Grebe = 9
Cormorant = 7
Black Headed Gull = 92
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 6
Grey Wagtail = 1
Grey Heron = 1

Also noted on the reserve; 1 x Buzzard, 1 x Sparrowhawk, 2 x Bullfinch and one Raven circling overhead (a new species on the reserve for me, total up to 91 now). The place is in a bit of a mess, no upkeep or maintenance unfortunately.

14/04/15 1340-1440
Of note;
9 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Jay, 2 Swallow, 2 Buzzard, 2 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 8 Mute Swan, 1 Teal, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 Cormorant, 2 Canada Geese.

03/04/15 1000 - 1045hrs
Of note;
4 Chiffchaff, 4 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 2 Mute Swan, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 1 Oystercatcher, 8 Canada Geese, 2 Teal, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Bullfinch, 4 Jay and 1 Pink Footed Goose (on the canal, shadowing 6 of the Canada Geese. First Pink Foot I think I can recall on the canal).
Also of note was a dead Coot lying on the gravel car park, the body was unmarked (and unrung), slightly strange!



-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Friday 3rd of April 2015 03:33:40 PM

08/02/15 1010 - 1100 WeBS count:-

Coot = 6
Moorhen = 3
Mallard = 25
Gadwall = 20
Teal = 54
Tufted Duck = 82
Feral Duck = 2
Great Crested Grebe = 1
Little Grebe = 9
Cormorant = 5
Black Headed Gull = 43
Common Gull = 2
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 13

18/01/15 1000 - 1100 WeBS count:-

Poor visibility.

Coot = 3
Mallard = 6
Gadwall = 14
Teal = 72
Tufted Duck = 55
Feral Duck = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 2
Cormorant = 4
Black Headed Gull = 132
Common Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 6

elsewhere on the reserve 3 (poss 4) Willow Tit.

31/12/14 1020-1140
Moorhen = 5, Coot = 14, Cormorant = 5, Mallard = 55, Gadwall = 31, Teal = 37, Tufted Duck = 157, Feral Duck = 1, Mute Swan = 8, Great Crested Grebe = 1, Little Grebe = 4, Canada Goose = 2, Black Headed Gull = 155, Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1, Buzzard = 1, Sparrowhawk = 2, Magpie = 23, Jay = 3, Carrion Crow = 1, Wood Pigeon = 5, Feral Pigeon = 3, House Sparrow = 36, Goldfinch = 16, Chaffinch = 3, Bullfinch = 7, Wren = 1, Robin = 7, Blackbird = 10, Song Thrush = 3, Great Tit = 17, Blue Tit = 13, Long Tailed Tot = 3, Willow Tit = 1

Mike Passant wrote:

---

hi Nick,
From your description this hybrid sounds rather tasty: -"flank of Teal, breast of Mallard", ... perhaps would make a nice "Meal"?

---

Very good Mike, not sure I'll be trying it if its spent its life dabbling in the Manchester Ship Canal !!!

hi Nick,
From your description this hybrid sounds rather tasty: -"flank of Teal, breast of Mallard", ... perhaps would make a nice "Meal"?

07/12/14 1330 - 1420 WeBS count:-

Coot = 10
Moorhen = 6
Mallard = 27
Gadwall = 37
Teal = 12
Tufted Duck = 9
Goldeneye = 3
Feral Duck = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 2
Little Grebe = 10
Cormorant = 3
Grey Wagtail = 1
Water Rail = 1 (I think my first sighting in 15 years at this location)
Black Headed Gull = 54
Common Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 7
Grey Heron = 1

And following the recent theme of hybrid ducks in the Trafford area there was a very attractive male of what I would suggest was a Mallard X Teal. Smaller than the Mallard it was with but feeding in the same manner, undertail coverts and flanks of Teal, mantle and breast of Mallard and a head pattern that was a mixture of the two. Quite eyecatching!

08/11/14 0940 - 1030 WeBS count:-

Moorhen = 9
Mallard = 18
Gadwall = 12
Cormorant = 5
Little Grebe = 13 (looks to have been a good breeding season in this area)
Teal = 6
Tufted Duck = 96
Great Crested Grebe = 1
Coot = 10
Black Headed Gull = 102
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Common Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 13
Grey Heron = 1

05/05/14 0950-1050 House Sparrow = 12, Starling = 2, Chaffinch = 1, Greenfinch = 3, Goldfinch = 1, Wren = 14, Dunnock = 1, Robin = 4, Song Thrush = 2, Blackbird = 4, Great Tit = 1, Blue Tit = 3, Long Tailed Tit = 1, Willow Tit = 1, Blackcap = 4, Chiffchaff = 4, Swallow = 12, Wood Pigeon = 10, Magpie = 10, Jay = 1, Buzzard = 1, Kestrel = 1, Mallard = 15 (+sets of young 5,6,10), Gadwall = 6 (all bar one pair were single males, spread out down the length of the canal so hopefully females on eggs), Tufted Duck = 2, Great Crested Grebe = 3, Canada Goose = 1 (on nest), Mute Swan = 2, Cormorant = 2, Carrion Crow = 2, Pheasant = 1

27/04/14 1015-1115 House Sparrow = 6, Starling = 9, Blackcap = 5, Chiffchaff = 5, Robin = 7, Wren = 6, Blackbird = 14, Blue Tit = 1, Great Tit = 3, Long Tailed Tit = 2, Dunnock = 1, Bullfinch = 2, Goldfinch = 3, Swallow = 3, Grey Wagtail =1, Magpie = 8, Carrion Crow = 3, Wood Pigeon = 8, Collared Dove = 1, Mute Swan = 10, Canada Goose = 3, Mallard = 9, Tufted Duck = 6, Gadwall = 5, Grey Heron = 2, Pheasant = 1, Cormorant = 4, Oystercatcher = 2

16/02/14 1100 - 1145 WeBS count:-

Moorhen = 3
Mallard = 17
Gadwall = 15
Cormorant = 3
Little Grebe = 7
Teal = 1
Tufted Duck = 1
Great Crested Grebe = 5
Coot = 12
Black Headed Gull = 81
Mute Swan = 10
Grey Heron = 1
Grey Wagtail = 1

18/01/14 1030 - 1130 WeBS:-

Moorhen = 3
Mallard = 13
Gadwall = 16
Cormorant = 6
Little Grebe = 5
Teal = 21
Coot = 24
Black Headed Gull = 58
Common Gull = 1
Mute Swan = 8
Grey Heron = 1
Canada Goose = 1

quiet !

14/12/13 1015 - 1115 WeBS:-

Moorhen = 1
Mallard = 17
Gadwall = 9
Cormorant = 4
Little Grebe = 2
Teal = 7
Tufted Duck = 2
Coot = 14
Black Headed Gull = 121
Common Gull = 2
Mute Swan = 9

Numbers well down, for this time of year. Very high water level on MSC poss reason.

Also of note on the reserve 1 Willow Tit

-- Edited by Nick Hilton on Saturday 14th of December 2013 09:16:46 PM

13/10/13 1330 - 1430 WeBS:-
Moorhen = 3
Mallard = 78
Feral Duck = 2
Gadwall = 17
Cormorant = 5
Little Grebe = 10
Great Crested Grebe = 1
Teal = 17
Tufted Duck = 24
Coot = 15
Black Headed Gull = 82
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 2
Common Gull = 2
Mute Swan = 3

Also of note on the reserve 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Jay, 12 Redwing.

22/09/13 1330 - 1430 WeBS:-
Moorhen = 3
Mallard = 44
Feral Duck = 1
Gadwall = 4
Cormorant = 2
Little Grebe = 5
Grey Heron = 1
Black Headed Gull = 25
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1

1 male Reed Bunting
4 Bullfinch
2 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Common Buzzard
2-3 Great Crested Grebe
1 drake Gadwall

-- Edited by James Walsh on Thursday 2nd of May 2013 09:31:11 PM

16/03/13 0930-1130 WeBS count (with James Walsh & Shaun Hargreaves)
Mallard - 26
Domestic Duck - 1
Teal - 62
Gadwall - 10
Wigeon - 1 (first record on a WeBS visit, had occasional singles at other times)
Canada Goose - 2
Great Crested Grebe - 2
Little Grebe - 1
Coot - 6
Moorhen - 6
Cormorant - 4
Black Headed Gull - 30
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 2

Also on the reserve; 14 House Sparrow, 12 Magpie, 5 Blackbird, 4 Carrion Crow, 3 Dunnock, 2 Grey Wagtail, 6 Robin, 3 Wren, 3 Song Thrush, 7 Redwing, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 6 Bullfinch, 7 Chaffinch, 3 Greenfinch, 12 Woodpigeon, 2 Collared Dove, 1 Lapwing, 7 Jay, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Stock Dove

09/02/13 1300-1400
WeBS count;
Mallard = 42
Tufted Duck = 6
Teal = 10
Gadwall = 20
Little Grebe = 3
Grey Heron = 1
Cormorant = 4
Black Headed Gull = 52
Common Gull = 3
Lesser Black Backed Gull = 1
Coot = 22
Moorhen = 3

Count low as birds were disturbed by 2 ships passing down the canal; the 68m WD Mersey suction hopper dredger and the 27m Norma plough dredger (which did a bloody U turn in the Sludge Loading Bay and caused havoc !!). It wasn't to be my day as both ships joined me for the WeBS count on Salford Quays as well !!

Also of note on the reserve;
1 Willow Tit
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Jay
8 Bullfinch
4 Lesser Redpoll