1 Raven over heading North in direction of Irlam Moss at 3pm

Late record for yesterday - Nuthatch calling but not seen

11.30 - 12.15

1 Treecreeper - only 2nd record for me here but presumably resident.
1 Nuthatch - now seem to be permanently resident here as trees begin to mature.
1 Cormorant overhead
1 Goldcrest

11.00am-12.00pm

1st sign of Spring! 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming to each other! Didn't think they started so early. It was positively balmy this morning at +8 degrees. Lots of other bird activity as they seemed to relish the mild conditions for a change.

2 Robins bathing together in the newly unfrozen 'Old River'. Not seen that before!
Lots of the usual common birds singing.
3 Mistle Thrushes foraging together on the thawing football field

Overhead:
2 Cormorants heading W. Interestingly they both did an unusual mid-flight stall steeply rising up and tucking their heads down for a few seconds at exactly the same time before normal flight resumed. How did they both decide to do it at the exact same time? Not seen that before either!

5 Herring Gull and 1 Great Black-backed Gull together W
16 Redwing (6 W , 10 S)

Flock of 19 Skylark low overhead going north towards Irlam Moss at 10.30am
2 m Teal on river

2.30-3.00pm

1 Grey Wagtail
3 Siskins
3 Teal (2m, 1f)
2 Goldcrest

Nuthatch again in the park by the river.

3-4pm

6 Teal back for the winter as usual (4m & 2f)
The resident pair of Mute Swans now only have 3 cygnets with them. They seem to have chased the other 3 off.

1.15pm-2.00pm

1 Brambling flying around the park calling
2 Siskins
1 Sparrowhawk
7 Fieldfare over heading NW

Nuthatch again calling and showing well near garden centre this afternoon.
Also:
1 Sparrowhawk and 2 Buzzard over
3-4 Coal Tits in conifers

Nuthatch calling from the wooded area next to the river this morning

The pair of Mute Swans have successfully raised 6 cygnets this year. They started with 8 though. Last year they successfully raised all 8 young.

3.30pm - 4.30pm

Site Mega! - Nuthatch - first one I've ever seen here
family group of Goldcrest - mostly just heard but a few fleeting views as they flitted between trees.

Kingfisher near Boathouse pub
2 Heron
family of Wrens - 4 young & 1 adult

11.30am
Pair of Grey Wagtails plus 1 young near Boathouse Pub.
Also 1 male Pied Wag.

10.30am
Male Bullfinch - a site first for me!
Also GS Woodpecker still sticking it's head out of nest hole
2 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
7 cygnets still with pair of Mute Swans
two Mallard broods. One with 4 & one with 10 new young

There are now only 7 Mute Swan cygnets. 1 has obviously succummed.
Pair of Canada's with 5 goslings.
Noisy GS Woodpecker chicks calling from inside their nest hole. Occassionally sticking their heads out. Parents making regular visits.

Hobby over Prince's Park at 6.10pm heading north in the direction of Irlam Moss.
Also the resident pair of Mute Swans on the 'Old river' have 8 young cygnets again - same as last year.
Pair of Tufted Duck here as well.

Kingfisher on the 'firestation' end of the old river Irwell at 10.30am. First I've seen here for couple of years.
The resident pair of Mute Swans now seem to have chased away all 8 of the young from last year and now seem to be just chasing the other ducks and Canada's instead!.
6 Tufted Duck (3m & 3f)
1 GS Woodpecker
Other than that just the usual stuff and lots of common bird (and Grey Squirrel!) activity in the sunshine.

Water Rail again at 12.20pm and showing well in the wooded overgrown section of the river. Also 1 male Teal and lots of birds singing on a very spring-like day!

Water Rail again this afternoon in roughly the same place. Also 3 Teal (2 drake & 1 female) and 40+ Goldfinches

Water Rail in the reedy part of the 'Old River' Irwell at 3.30pm this afternoon where the water remains unfrozen. I had one in the same area 2 years ago.
Also 80+ Goldfinches making a fantastic sound as they all sing together at the top of the trees.
2 GS Woodpeckers.
1 drake Teal

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 4th of January 2010 08:17:15 PM