lodges Mute Swan 68, Tufted Duck 42. Gosander 2 Great Crested Grebe 2, Coot nest building flock of Goldfinches and Long Tailed Tits on river 2 Teal and Dipper
Alan Warford said
Thu Feb 21 2:44 AM, 2013
Late pm
Mute Swan 73 Goosander 17 (7 Drake) Great Crested Grebe 1 Tufted Duck 47 Black Headed Gulls c120 Common Gull 2
Ian Boote said
Fri Feb 8 11:48 AM, 2013
72 mute swans, 5 goosander 3 heron usuals
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 8th of February 2013 11:49:38 AM
Martyn Jones said
Thu Jan 24 4:29 PM, 2013
Moses Gate is the place to go at the moment if you want some close up photos of Goosander - a female often comes for food along with the other ducks and swans and a male is sometimes not far behind although a lot more skittish. On Tuesday this week there were three males and three females which stayed mainly in the centre of the largest pool, but from time to time they would come fairly close to the bank. A single male shoveler was also present in amongst all the usuals.
Some examples of the type of Goosander photos you can get here are on my Blog and Flickr sites.
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Thursday 24th of January 2013 10:45:29 PM
Keith Mills said
Sat Jan 5 2:10 PM, 2013
Pleasant walk this morning with Bolton RSPB. Circuit via the Lodges, to the confluence of Rivers Irwell and Croal, the new Meccano Bridge at the top of Prestolee Locks, Nob End, and Darcy Lever Gravel Pits. Fine weather and very mild.
Goosander....16 Tufted Duck ...24 Cormorant...1 Grey Heron...3 Dipper...3 Mallard...20 plus Mute Swans...40 plus Canada Geese...50 plus Black-headed Gulls c200 Lesser Black-backed...2 Common Gulls...6 Long-tailed Tits...6 Regular sightings of Great Tits and Blue Tits, and Great Tits in abundance at the feeders. Coal Tit...1 Willow Tit...1 Chaffinch...8 Robins...5 Coots 100 plus Moorhen...9 Jackdaw...3 Carrion Crow...1 Kestrel...1 Feral Pigeon...c60 Woodpigeon...1 Magpie c10 Mandarin (drake) Duck...1 Greenfinch...1 Bullfinch...1 Blackbird..1 Dunnock..1 I missed the Kingfisher, Song Thrush and Little Grebe seen by some of the others!
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 6th of January 2013 08:40:39 AM
Ian Boote said
Wed Jan 2 6:16 PM, 2013
Only things Male Goosander and a Pair of Treecreepers.
Chris Smith said
Mon Dec 31 1:58 AM, 2012
managed to get across here for an hour
saw 4 pairs of Gossander (M&F). 1 jay along with lots of coots, canada geese & mallards
this was about 2.30pm on 30th December 2012
-- Edited by schrismonkey on Monday 31st of December 2012 01:58:42 AM
Ian Boote said
Fri Dec 28 10:35 AM, 2012
54 Mute swans 8 Goosander 2 Heron, Pied Wagtail and a treecreeper
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 28th of December 2012 10:35:29 AM
Ian Boote said
Tue Dec 18 8:59 PM, 2012
Still quite frozen. 60 Mute Swans similar Tufted Ducks, 2 Goosanders, Mistrle Thrush, Pied Wagtail Madarin and Heron on main lodges
Martyn Jones said
Sat Dec 15 1:07 AM, 2012
Went for the Goosanders, Mandarin and Wood Duck. Got the first two, but didn't see the last one. At first there was just one male Goosander which at times came fairly close to the banks of the main lodge. Later two more flew in from the direction of the river, one male and one female.
Ian Boote said
Thu Dec 13 10:43 AM, 2012
All frozen up one goosander male on river, coal tits on feeder, and a shivering heron were all the offers today.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 13th of December 2012 12:50:53 PM
Steve Christmas said
Sun Dec 9 1:37 AM, 2012
Unfortunately the male mandarin has a clipped right wing.
Ian Boote said
Thu Dec 6 3:58 PM, 2012
Very cold and icy AM Three Goosander on river (2m 1f) Heron on river and back lodge, Mandarin looking cold on main lodge, several pied wagtails, Kestrel river, plenty of coal tits on feeders, Treecreeper from hide and heard goldcrest.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 6th of December 2012 04:28:13 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 6 2:15 AM, 2012
Originally posted today by Alan Flavell:
10.50a.m. to 12.45p.m.
Goosander 3 Mandarin drake (on main lake) female Woodduck (in river near weir) Common Gull 3 Grey Wagtail 1 Long-tailed tits 12 Plus Black-headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Coots and Moorhens.
Ian Boote said
Mon Dec 3 5:36 PM, 2012
6 goosanders one group of 3 male 2 female, and the grumpy one on the bank with the mallards, male mandarin, goldcrest Jay, & pied wagtail,
Ian Boote said
Fri Nov 16 5:21 PM, 2012
2 goosanders male, male teal, female wigeon, male mandarin, female wood duck, fieldfares, heron, pied wagtail,
DAVID KENNEDY said
Fri Nov 16 8:02 AM, 2012
(15.11.12 12.30pm)
At lunchtime today I saw the female wood duck on the visitors centre wier. Its primary feathers on one side were missing - do I presume its an escapee/expulsion from a wildfowl collection? Will it grow the feathers back I wonder and look natural again?
The lovely male mandarin duck was on the big lake being fed by visitors with many other coots, mallards and gulls.
Ian Boote said
Mon Nov 12 6:46 PM, 2012
Mandarin still on main lodge, 3 Goosander (1 M) ( One of which mixed in with Mallards quite grumpy but doesn't move until you get to within a metre of it when you walk along path assume same bird that was here a month ago)44 Mute Swans, Heron, Great Crestd Grebe, Redwings, Pied Wagtail, 6 Whooper Swans flying over heading SW. ,
Ben Kayser said
Mon Nov 12 7:31 AM, 2012
Drake Mandarin still here, on the main lake this time, taking bread from the locals. Lone female wood duck just above the weir.
plenty of the usuals: mute swans, coots, great crested grebes, tufted ducks, mallards, black headed gulls, canada goose.
2 lesser black backed gulls
Alan Warford said
Sun Oct 21 4:05 AM, 2012
PM
Male Mandarin 50 yards downstream of Weir. My first here. Female Wood Duck at Weir associating with 6 Mallards. Great Crested Grebe 2 Mute Swan c50 Tufted Duck c35 Canada Geese loads Coot few Found the collapsed boardwalk, looks like a very heavy log was dropped on it from height ! B##### vandals.
Ian Boote said
Fri Oct 19 9:28 AM, 2012
Not much Heron, 2 Goosander, Male Mandarin, Wood Duck, flock of Long-Tailed Tits Board Walk reopened and if you want to make a witch's broom you can over the weekend by calling in to an event here.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 19th of October 2012 09:29:12 AM
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 19th of October 2012 09:29:35 AM
Ben Kayser said
Mon Oct 15 5:17 AM, 2012
A very foggy morning; I could barely see to the other side of the main lake!
from what i did manage to see on the lake:
200+ black headed gulls 40+ mute swans 60+ coots 60+ canada many tufted ducks a lone goosander 2 LBB gulls male/female pair of mandarins (just above the waterfall opposite the childrens' play area)
Ian Boote said
Fri Oct 12 9:29 AM, 2012
Was listening to under the board walk on the radio which is quite apt as the boardwalk around the back lodge has finally collapsed and this path is closed, hopefully not permanently like the one with the burnt bridge. It is undergoing some sort of repair but other areas are rather treacherous with anti slip wire and side boards missing boards, rotten and broken planking and another bridge that sways quite alarmingly when you cross it so take care.
Seen Cormorant, Great-crested grebe, pochard, three goosander, heron and treecreeper.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 12th of October 2012 09:30:05 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 12th of October 2012 09:36:31 AM
David Lumb said
Wed Oct 10 5:13 AM, 2012
13.00 to 13.45
Difficult to get exact counts as the birds were mingled together, especially where being fed. Good luck to the WeBS counter. My results are :-
2 Great Crested Grebes 52 Mutes Swans 131 Canada Geese Lots of Mallards 61 Tufted Ducks 1 male Pochard 8 Moorhens 100+ Coots 150+ Black-headed Gulls 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 3 Common Gulls A few Siskins heard flying around
Ian Boote said
Mon Oct 1 10:37 AM, 2012
Female Sparrowhawk, pied wagtail, two great crested grebes, two goosander, ( One posing for pictures to within 3 metres and giving the coots a beak full) one pochard, flock of long-tailed tits, a goldcrest and two mallard stood on the life bouy post thrown into the lodge several months ago and still not removed.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 1st of October 2012 11:40:49 AM
Ian Boote said
Fri Sep 14 5:23 PM, 2012
53 Mute Swans, Family Pied Wagtails, Wood Duck at Weir Great Creste Grebe and Long Tailed Tits
James Walsh said
Fri Sep 14 5:07 PM, 2012
The Egyptian Goose is perhaps the bird from Salford Quays that was last reported on 4th September
Keith Mills said
Fri Sep 14 1:06 PM, 2012
James Walsh wrote:
The Egyptian Goose is perhaps the bird from Salford Quays that was last reported on 4th September
That was the first thing that occurred to me yesterday, James. Saved me a trip to Salford anyway! The bird that I observed had pristine body plumage but the head and neck were not as smart. John's checking for it today, after he finishes his voluntary work at the CP.
13.17 hours...John has just text...''no sign of (Egyptian) Goose and far fewer Canada's than yesterday''
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 14th of September 2012 02:41:55 PM
Keith Mills said
Thu Sep 13 11:50 PM, 2012
4.10pm today. Egyptian Goose feeding on grass among Canada Geese. Did not beg and not ringed.
Keith Mills said
Thu Sep 13 10:14 PM, 2012
Egyptian Goose with Canada Geese on main pond this pm...info from John Parkinson.
Female Wood Duck (has missing primaries on right wing)
Ian Boote said
Thu Sep 6 10:41 PM, 2012
66 mute swan, grey and pied wagtails, heron, great crested grebe, about 24 tufted ducks, goldcrest and heard a nuthatch.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 6th of September 2012 10:41:36 PM
Ian Boote said
Fri Aug 31 12:32 AM, 2012
Only things of note Three common Tern (2 Juv) few tufted ducks, and Great Crested Grebe Bird Hide shut at midday, bridge still burnt and sign still thrown in lodge
This place is looking tired with many things not repaired for months or years, litter all over the shop, signs thrown in the lodge, and a bird hide that has spasmodic opening times. Nonetheless family of 4 Sparrowhawks in the woods at least, Oystercatcher, Pied Wagtail, Blackcap, Sand Martin, Grey Heron and two great crested grebes who were nesting last time here but who appear to have been evicted by coots
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of July 2012 09:45:01 AM
Alan Warford said
Sun Jul 22 8:19 PM, 2012
Late post for Saturday pm walk along canal to Nob End.
River Croal
Female Wood Duck by weir
Canal
Common Tern 1 Oystercatcher 4 over Mute Swan 2 ad, 6 Cygnets Swallows 6 House Martin 3 Sand Martin 1
Alan Warford said
Wed Jul 11 3:14 PM, 2012
The 3 pairs of Mute Swans that built nests at Crompton lodges all failed to raise any Cygnets, but on a brighter note the pair on Smiths Lodge, Darcy Lever have 6 well grown Cygnets.
Crompton Lodges
67 Mute swan 41 Tufted Duck Fem Wood Duck on river at weekend
Ian Boote said
Fri Jun 1 9:33 AM, 2012
Not much Great Crested Grebe and swan with young few blackcaps
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 1st of June 2012 09:37:14 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 29 3:13 PM, 2012
Yesterday at 7:30pm:
A Pair of Common Terns and 15 Swallows present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian Boote said
Thu Apr 19 6:56 PM, 2012
three blackcaps, chiffchaff, 2 great crested grebe, pied wagtail, heron, jay
Ian Boote said
Fri Apr 13 4:28 PM, 2012
Two Blackcap Chiffchaff 2 Heron 2 Great Crested Grebe Jay Coal tit this am
Ian Boote said
Fri Mar 30 5:17 PM, 2012
Two Greatcrested Grebe, Heron, Oystercatcher and singing Blackcap AM
Ian Boote said
Thu Mar 15 9:30 PM, 2012
Goosanders lodges, river and canal coal tits Goldcrest Greatcrested Grebe Three Greatspotted Woodpeckers Nob End Sparrowhawk fly over cormorant
Tony Hill said
Sun Mar 11 6:10 PM, 2012
Oystercatcher at Crompton Lodges, Dipper on river Irwell.
Ian Boote said
Fri Mar 9 8:22 PM, 2012
Only things of note were One female goosander, three great crested grebes, heron, and a pied wagtail among usuals
Ian Boote said
Wed Feb 29 11:13 AM, 2012
Not much of note Pair of Shoveler still present 45 mute swans, tufties and two heron
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 03:39:30 PM
Ian Boote said
Thu Feb 23 5:00 PM, 2012
Of Note Pair of Shovelor on main lodge, four goosanders each on the two back lodges, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtails, coal tit, fly over cormorant plenty of singing Song Thrushes.
Ian Boote said
Wed Feb 15 6:39 PM, 2012
AM Visit Things of note Male Shoveler that proved very adept at moving around to give the impression that it was more than one. Several Goosander mainly Drakes and two pied wagtails usuals.
Keith Mills said
Mon Feb 13 12:21 AM, 2012
Late this am :
A single Pink-footed Goose with the Canada's Scruffy and looks bemused, but no rings and not taking Bread.
Mute Swan 73
Goosander 17 (7 Drake)
Great Crested Grebe 1
Tufted Duck 47
Black Headed Gulls c120
Common Gull 2
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 8th of February 2013 11:49:38 AM
Some examples of the type of Goosander photos you can get here are on my Blog and Flickr sites.
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Thursday 24th of January 2013 10:45:29 PM
the new Meccano Bridge at the top of Prestolee Locks, Nob End, and Darcy Lever Gravel Pits.
Fine weather and very mild.
Goosander....16
Tufted Duck ...24
Cormorant...1
Grey Heron...3
Dipper...3
Mallard...20 plus
Mute Swans...40 plus
Canada Geese...50 plus
Black-headed Gulls c200
Lesser Black-backed...2
Common Gulls...6
Long-tailed Tits...6
Regular sightings of Great Tits and Blue Tits, and Great Tits in abundance at the feeders.
Coal Tit...1
Willow Tit...1
Chaffinch...8
Robins...5
Coots 100 plus
Moorhen...9
Jackdaw...3
Carrion Crow...1
Kestrel...1
Feral Pigeon...c60
Woodpigeon...1
Magpie c10
Mandarin (drake) Duck...1
Greenfinch...1
Bullfinch...1
Blackbird..1
Dunnock..1
I missed the Kingfisher, Song Thrush and Little Grebe seen by some of the others!
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 6th of January 2013 08:40:39 AM
saw 4 pairs of Gossander (M&F). 1 jay along with lots of coots, canada geese & mallards
this was about 2.30pm on 30th December 2012
-- Edited by schrismonkey on Monday 31st of December 2012 01:58:42 AM
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 28th of December 2012 10:35:29 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 13th of December 2012 12:50:53 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 6th of December 2012 04:28:13 PM
10.50a.m. to 12.45p.m.
Goosander 3
Mandarin drake (on main lake)
female Woodduck (in river near weir)
Common Gull 3
Grey Wagtail 1
Long-tailed tits 12
Plus Black-headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Coots and Moorhens.
(15.11.12 12.30pm)
At lunchtime today I saw the female wood duck on the visitors centre wier. Its primary feathers on one side were missing - do I presume its an escapee/expulsion from a wildfowl collection? Will it grow the feathers back I wonder and look natural again?
The lovely male mandarin duck was on the big lake being fed by visitors with many other coots, mallards and gulls.
plenty of the usuals: mute swans, coots, great crested grebes, tufted ducks, mallards, black headed gulls, canada goose.
2 lesser black backed gulls
Male Mandarin 50 yards downstream of Weir. My first here.
Female Wood Duck at Weir associating with 6 Mallards.
Great Crested Grebe 2
Mute Swan c50
Tufted Duck c35
Canada Geese loads
Coot few
Found the collapsed boardwalk, looks like a very heavy log was dropped on it from height ! B##### vandals.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 19th of October 2012 09:29:12 AM
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 19th of October 2012 09:29:35 AM
from what i did manage to see on the lake:
200+ black headed gulls
40+ mute swans
60+ coots
60+ canada
many tufted ducks
a lone goosander
2 LBB gulls
male/female pair of mandarins (just above the waterfall opposite the childrens' play area)
Seen Cormorant, Great-crested grebe, pochard, three goosander, heron and treecreeper.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 12th of October 2012 09:30:05 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 12th of October 2012 09:36:31 AM
Difficult to get exact counts as the birds were mingled together, especially where being fed. Good luck to the WeBS counter. My results are :-
2 Great Crested Grebes
52 Mutes Swans
131 Canada Geese
Lots of Mallards
61 Tufted Ducks
1 male Pochard
8 Moorhens
100+ Coots
150+ Black-headed Gulls
5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
3 Common Gulls
A few Siskins heard flying around
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 1st of October 2012 11:40:49 AM
That was the first thing that occurred to me yesterday, James. Saved me a trip to Salford anyway!
The bird that I observed had pristine body plumage but the head and neck were not as smart.
John's checking for it today, after he finishes his voluntary work at the CP.
13.17 hours...John has just text...''no sign of (Egyptian) Goose and far fewer Canada's than yesterday''
-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 14th of September 2012 02:41:55 PM
Egyptian Goose feeding on grass among Canada Geese. Did not beg and not ringed.
44 Tufted Duck, 29 Mute Swan, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Moorhen
River Croal Weir
Female Wood Duck
(has missing primaries on right wing)
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 6th of September 2012 10:41:36 PM
Three common Tern (2 Juv) few tufted ducks, and Great Crested Grebe
Bird Hide shut at midday, bridge still burnt and sign still thrown in lodge
50 mute swans
60 canada geese
30 tufted ducks
mallards
coots (2 nesting)
great crested grebes
black headed gulls
1 grey heron
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 23rd of July 2012 09:45:01 AM
River Croal
Female Wood Duck by weir
Canal
Common Tern 1
Oystercatcher 4 over
Mute Swan 2 ad, 6 Cygnets
Swallows 6
House Martin 3
Sand Martin 1
Crompton Lodges
67 Mute swan
41 Tufted Duck
Fem Wood Duck on river at weekend
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 1st of June 2012 09:37:14 AM
A Pair of Common Terns and 15 Swallows present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
coal tits
Goldcrest
Greatcrested Grebe
Three Greatspotted Woodpeckers Nob End
Sparrowhawk
fly over cormorant
One female goosander, three great crested grebes, heron, and a pied wagtail among usuals
Pair of Shoveler still present 45 mute swans, tufties and two heron
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 29th of February 2012 03:39:30 PM
Pair of Shovelor on main lodge, four goosanders each on the two back lodges, Great Crested Grebe, Pied Wagtails, coal tit, fly over cormorant plenty of singing Song Thrushes.
Things of note Male Shoveler that proved very adept at moving around to give the impression that it was more than one. Several Goosander mainly Drakes and two pied wagtails usuals.
A single Pink-footed Goose with the Canada's
Scruffy and looks bemused, but no rings and not taking Bread.