Just nipped down... apparently they've moved the swans today (done once before), but I've not been able to check out new location. Last time they moved them back pretty quick. I'll keep an eye out.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 22nd of June 2015 12:16:31 AM
Rachael Hill said
Sun Jun 21 8:40 PM, 2015
Hi Karen, all 4 mute swan cygnets were there yesterday (Saturday, 2pm) on bank near road opposite the car park. There was a bloke waiting there, presumably for a lift, who gave me odd look when I checked on swans.
I'll try & check on them tomorrow. They were far to young to have left naturally.
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Jun 21 5:52 PM, 2015
Sheldon Pool
2 adult Mute Swans 8 Canada Geese Moorhen
No sign of any other Mute Swans on usual pool, so don't know where the cygnets are.
3 Coot Moorhen 6 Mallard in heavy moult
Skylark singing Blackcap singing
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Jun 6 10:10 PM, 2015
Pm quite blustery
The Mute Swans now have four cygnets
One young Coot seen with single adult and Willow Warbler singing
Karen Foulkes said
Tue May 12 6:31 PM, 2015
Pair of Mute Swan with 5 cygnets seen this evening
Karen Foulkes said
Mon May 4 12:28 PM, 2015
Late morning today
Mute Swan, 5 cygnets visible with the pen, although I believe there were/are 8. The cob was spending his time seeing off Canada Geese 3 adult Coot, 2 Coot chicks seen also (3 on Friday) Grey Heron Blackcap singing and showed well although briefly Willow Warbler singing 2 Swallow Skylark singing
Rachael Hill said
Fri Apr 17 7:07 PM, 2015
14 & 16/4/15 Seen both times 2 mute swans 1 grey heron moorhens, mallards coots
Karen Foulkes said
Tue Mar 24 5:55 PM, 2015
Little Grebe present this afternoon Also seen from the tram today Mute Swan Moorhen Coot 3 Mallard
Drake Tufted Duck present again Pair of Mute Swan 6 Canada Geese 4 drake Mallard 3 Moorhen
Rachael Hill said
Sat Feb 14 6:48 PM, 2015
14.10 2 mute swans (adult, no juvenile)- checked leg rings and they are our original pair 6 moorhen 7 mallard 2 coot 6 canada geese plus black headed gulls (approx 20)
Karen Foulkes said
Thu Feb 12 6:11 PM, 2015
Both adult Mute Swans were present this evening along with one juvenile.
I believe the missing adult may have been residing at another site elsewhere in the borough
The news stated yesterday that the M60 at Ashton under Lyne had to be stopped in both directions for a swan, they had to get the RSPCA to catch it. Lets hope the other adult appears soon, back with its partner.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Feb 7 8:17 PM, 2015
Two Mute Swan only today, one adult and one juv 6 Canada Geese flew off towards Audenshaw 3 Coot Moorhen Mallard (drake) Grey Heron flew over A Song Thrush sang briefly when it had gone dark
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Feb 1 1:23 PM, 2015
The Mute Swan family has now dwindled to four, two adults and two juvs Also the drake Tufted Duck was back, possibly moving between this pool and one of the others 3 Moorhen 2 Coot
Kestrel perched on lamp post in Metrolink car park
6 Mute Swan including four of last years young 6 Canada Geese 2 Coot Drake Tufted Duck Drake Mallard A single Common Gull amongst 23 Black-headed Gulls
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Dec 24 9:24 PM, 2014
A drake Tufted Duck was present on the pool nearest the tram stop this afternoon.
10th Nov 2014 9.30am Sheldon pool today had: 2 adult mute swans, 4 juveniles (2 juveniles gone hopefully fledged, others being shown how to take off by parent, lots of flapping up & down the pool!) 4 coot 3 moorhen 67 canada geese 3 mallard 6 black headed gulls kestrel, female being mobbed by 3 magpies (had a proper fight and landed right in front of my car )
-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Monday 10th of November 2014 10:37:48 AM
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Sep 27 5:54 PM, 2014
40 Meadow Pipit which appeared to have been grounded on the mound this morning 6 Swallow flew south 8 Mute Swan (including the six juveniles) 2 Coot 7 Moorhen Kestrel
Yesterday a Willow Warbler was in the area
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 27th of September 2014 05:55:34 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Sep 19 7:26 PM, 2014
10 Pied Wagtail on the Leisure Park roundabout this afternoon 1 Jay flew high towards Richmond Street Up to 100 Starling present in small flocks
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 19th of September 2014 07:27:20 PM
Alan Turner said
Sat Sep 13 8:07 PM, 2014
This pm 2 adult and 6 juvenile Mute Swan 1 Little Grebe 6 Mallard Moorhen Coot 2 Grey heron 1 Common Buzzard 1 Kestrel Party of LongTailed Tits and Blue Tits
simon ghilks said
Wed Sep 10 4:52 PM, 2014
10 Sept
Brief visit at 2pm 2 adult and 6 juvenile Mute Swans on the large pond, 2 Common Buzzard circling, appeared to be taking flying insects, 1 Kestrel with prey item, 2 House Martin, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Skylark, All except the swans were on or above the mound that used to be the moss.
Also a few blue type damselflies and a couple of distant dragonfly on the large pond.
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Sep 3 6:16 PM, 2014
Late afternoon
200+ Starlings spooked the 15 Lapwing which were on the roof of Car People
Karen Foulkes said
Sun Aug 31 10:20 PM, 2014
1 Swift high over Ashton Moss this afternoon
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Aug 23 7:59 PM, 2014
This afternoon
1 Little Grebe 2 Coot 2 Moorhen 8 Mute Swan 3 Mallard, probably more, but that was all I counted! 28 Lapwing and 2 Starling on roof of Car People 20 Starling feeding on Leisure Park roundabout
Not much else around as there were three lads fishing at the pond
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 15th of August 2014 08:08:57 PM
Steve Suttill said
Fri Aug 8 2:53 PM, 2014
This morning 10.00 - 11.00
23 Lapwings on roof of Car People
Sheldon pool: pair Mute Swan with 6 cygnets 2 Coot 2 Moorhen + juvs 1 Little Grebe Mallards
Mockridge pool: pair Coot with small chicks Heron
plenty of juvenile Willow Warblers but few other small birds
Karen Foulkes said
Tue Jul 29 6:26 PM, 2014
All eight Mute Swans were on the bank of the main pond this afternoon.
Also seven Blackbirds were feeding by the Travelodge and two juvenile Pied Wagtails flew across the front of the tram.
Rachael Hill said
Wed Jul 23 10:40 PM, 2014
Are they back on main pond? I looked a week ago and they weren't on main pond, I was going to see if they'd moved like last year to small pond but had no time at weekend. If one died/been attacked then that might explain moving between ponds (or moving back lol). They were a decent size as well
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Jul 23 6:07 PM, 2014
Rachael Hill wrote:
Sat 28 June 2014
7 cygnets still present
-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Sunday 29th of June 2014 09:00:12 AM
Since Rachael last posted, one of the juvenile Mute Swans has disappeared.
This evening there were still eight Mute Swans (2 ad, 6 juv) present
Rachael Hill said
Sun Jun 29 8:59 AM, 2014
Sat 28 June 2014
7 cygnets still present
-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Sunday 29th of June 2014 09:00:12 AM
Karen Foulkes said
Sat Jun 14 7:34 PM, 2014
All 7 cygnets present with both parents. Grey Heron 15+ Mallard Willow Warbler singing 2 Swallow Skylark singing over the Moss
Rachael Hill said
Sat Jun 7 12:29 PM, 2014
10.30am today, 7 healthy and strong looking cygnets on bank with parents on guard. Grey Heron at back of lake.
Karen Foulkes said
Sat May 31 7:58 PM, 2014
Two visits to the area today
Grey Heron flying over 2 House Martin near Travelodge Reed Bunting singing Willow Warbler, either one very mobile or two birds present Kestrel hunting
The Mute Swan family was posing for photos
Generally fewer Warblers in the area than last year
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 31st of May 2014 07:59:13 PM
Karen Foulkes said
Thu May 29 8:09 PM, 2014
7 Mute Swan cygnets still present this evening along with both parents.
Rachael Hill said
Fri May 23 8:05 PM, 2014
Okay Karen steal my idea.... Went tonight, 7 cygnets happily swimming but with a group of lads skimming stones over their heads. After lynching them (and I knew them through my voluntary- they must think I'm totally bonkers now!) I tried re-educating them and hopefully they might keep an eye on them or at least leave them alone.
Karen Foulkes said
Fri May 23 5:34 PM, 2014
This evening as I passed on the tram, both adult Mute Swans and all 7 cygnets were on the bank of the pool.
Also 6 drake Mallard in early stages of moult
Steve Suttill said
Mon May 19 8:51 AM, 2014
yesterday at 5pm
All 7 cygnets present and correct
Stupid couple allowing one of their dogs to harass the swans . Pen moved cygnets to centre of pool whilst the cob patrolled the water near the bank giving a metaphorical two fingers to the dog!
Coot family on Mockridge pool but no sign of Little Grebes this year.
Karen Foulkes said
Mon May 12 6:58 PM, 2014
On my way home this evening
Pair of Mute Swan with 7 cygnets 1 Whitethroat singing
Karen Foulkes said
Wed Mar 19 6:25 PM, 2014
Today
Grey Heron in corner of pool by tram stop 2 Coot 3 Mute Swan still present. I've been watching the adults trying to chase last year's remaining youngster off on more than one occasion over the past couple of weeks!
I'll keep an eye out.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 22nd of June 2015 12:16:31 AM
all 4 mute swan cygnets were there yesterday (Saturday, 2pm) on bank near road opposite the car park.
There was a bloke waiting there, presumably for a lift, who gave me odd look when I checked on swans.
I'll try & check on them tomorrow. They were far to young to have left naturally.
2 adult Mute Swans
8 Canada Geese
Moorhen
No sign of any other Mute Swans on usual pool, so don't know where the cygnets are.
3 Coot
Moorhen
6 Mallard in heavy moult
Skylark singing
Blackcap singing
The Mute Swans now have four cygnets
One young Coot seen with single adult and Willow Warbler singing
Mute Swan, 5 cygnets visible with the pen, although I believe there were/are 8. The cob was spending his time seeing off Canada Geese
3 adult Coot, 2 Coot chicks seen also (3 on Friday)
Grey Heron
Blackcap singing and showed well although briefly
Willow Warbler singing
2 Swallow
Skylark singing
Seen both times
2 mute swans
1 grey heron
moorhens,
mallards
coots
Also seen from the tram today
Mute Swan
Moorhen
Coot
3 Mallard
2 mute swans
3 mallards
2 moorhen
4 black headed gulls
1 coot
2 mute swans
4 mallard
4 moorhen
3 coot
2 tufted ducks
2 black headed gulls
plus great tit, magpie and a skylark singing
This evening both adult Mute Swans were present. Also 3 Coot, 1 Moorhen and 20 Black-headed Gulls.
3 Tufted Duck (2 drake)
2 Mute Swan
2 Coot
20 Black-headed Gull
Mallard
Moorhen
Drake Tufted Duck present again
Pair of Mute Swan
6 Canada Geese
4 drake Mallard
3 Moorhen
2 mute swans (adult, no juvenile)- checked leg rings and they are our original pair
6 moorhen
7 mallard
2 coot
6 canada geese
plus black headed gulls (approx 20)
I believe the missing adult may have been residing at another site elsewhere in the borough
2 mute swan (1 adult, 1 juvenile)
8 canada geese
5 moorhen
1 coot
7 mallard
40 black headed gulls
60% ice, 80% visability
The news stated yesterday that the M60 at Ashton under Lyne had to be stopped in both directions for a swan, they had to get the RSPCA to catch it.
Lets hope the other adult appears soon, back with its partner.
6 Canada Geese flew off towards Audenshaw
3 Coot
Moorhen
Mallard (drake)
Grey Heron flew over
A Song Thrush sang briefly when it had gone dark
Also the drake Tufted Duck was back, possibly moving between this pool and one of the others
3 Moorhen
2 Coot
2 adult, 3 juvenile mute swans
6 canada geese
1 coot
4 mallard
1 lapwing
46 black headed gulls
Kestrel perched on lamp post in Metrolink car park
6 Mute Swan including four of last years young
6 Canada Geese
2 Coot
Drake Tufted Duck
Drake Mallard
A single Common Gull amongst 23 Black-headed Gulls
6 mute swans (4 juveniles)
6 canada geese
3 coot
41 black headed gulls
4 mallards
Sheldon pool today had:
2 adult mute swans, 4 juveniles (2 juveniles gone hopefully fledged, others being shown how to take off by parent, lots of flapping up & down the pool!)
4 coot
3 moorhen
67 canada geese
3 mallard
6 black headed gulls
kestrel, female being mobbed by 3 magpies (had a proper fight and landed right in front of my car )
-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Monday 10th of November 2014 10:37:48 AM
6 Swallow flew south
8 Mute Swan (including the six juveniles)
2 Coot
7 Moorhen
Kestrel
Yesterday a Willow Warbler was in the area
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 27th of September 2014 05:55:34 PM
1 Jay flew high towards Richmond Street
Up to 100 Starling present in small flocks
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 19th of September 2014 07:27:20 PM
2 adult and 6 juvenile Mute Swan
1 Little Grebe
6 Mallard
Moorhen
Coot
2 Grey heron
1 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel
Party of LongTailed Tits and Blue Tits
Brief visit at 2pm
2 adult and 6 juvenile Mute Swans on the large pond,
2 Common Buzzard circling, appeared to be taking flying insects,
1 Kestrel with prey item,
2 House Martin,
2 Meadow Pipit,
1 Skylark,
All except the swans were on or above the mound that used to be the moss.
Also a few blue type damselflies and a couple of distant dragonfly on the large pond.
200+ Starlings spooked the 15 Lapwing which were on the roof of Car People
1 Little Grebe
2 Coot
2 Moorhen
8 Mute Swan
3 Mallard, probably more, but that was all I counted!
28 Lapwing and 2 Starling on roof of Car People
20 Starling feeding on Leisure Park roundabout
2+ Juv Willow Warbler
Kestrel
8 Mute Swan
5 Mallard
Not much else around as there were three lads fishing at the pond
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 15th of August 2014 08:08:57 PM
23 Lapwings on roof of Car People
Sheldon pool:
pair Mute Swan with 6 cygnets
2 Coot
2 Moorhen + juvs
1 Little Grebe
Mallards
Mockridge pool:
pair Coot with small chicks
Heron
plenty of juvenile Willow Warblers but few other small birds
Also seven Blackbirds were feeding by the Travelodge and two juvenile Pied Wagtails flew across the front of the tram.
If one died/been attacked then that might explain moving between ponds (or moving back lol). They were a decent size as well
Since Rachael last posted, one of the juvenile Mute Swans has disappeared.
This evening there were still eight Mute Swans (2 ad, 6 juv) present
7 cygnets still present
-- Edited by Rachael Hill on Sunday 29th of June 2014 09:00:12 AM
Grey Heron
15+ Mallard
Willow Warbler singing
2 Swallow
Skylark singing over the Moss
7 healthy and strong looking cygnets on bank with parents on guard.
Grey Heron at back of lake.
Grey Heron flying over
2 House Martin near Travelodge
Reed Bunting singing
Willow Warbler, either one very mobile or two birds present
Kestrel hunting
The Mute Swan family was posing for photos
Generally fewer Warblers in the area than last year
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Saturday 31st of May 2014 07:59:13 PM
Went tonight, 7 cygnets happily swimming but with a group of lads skimming stones over their heads.
After lynching them (and I knew them through my voluntary- they must think I'm totally bonkers now!) I tried re-educating them and hopefully they might keep an eye on them or at least leave them alone.
Also 6 drake Mallard in early stages of moult
All 7 cygnets present and correct
Stupid couple allowing one of their dogs to harass the swans . Pen moved cygnets to centre of pool whilst the cob patrolled the water near the bank giving a metaphorical two fingers to the dog!
Coot family on Mockridge pool but no sign of Little Grebes this year.
Pair of Mute Swan with 7 cygnets
1 Whitethroat singing
Grey Heron in corner of pool by tram stop
2 Coot
3 Mute Swan still present. I've been watching the adults trying to chase last year's remaining youngster off on more than one occasion over the past couple of weeks!
3 Mute Swan
Pair Tufted Duck
Coot
2 Canada Geese
12 Black-headed Gull
4 Mallard
This evening at least one drake Tufted Duck present, but only the usual three Mute Swans
3 Tufted Duck (2 drakes)
2 Coot
4 Mallard
3 Mute Swan
Coot
20 Black-headed Gull
3 Common Gull
10 Lapwing flying away from the roof of Car People!
The four Tufted Duck from my last post were still present in the middle of the week, but were not visible today