a kestrel was hovering over the field next to barton road and the M60 this evening, the first i've seen there
Steve Christmas said
Sat Sep 11 9:27 PM, 2010
Hobby over Bridgewater canal last night, 10/9/10, headed off towards Botany Bay Woods.
gary mills said
Sat Sep 4 10:03 PM, 2010
Single Kingfisher flew from the stream on Worsley Golf Course this evening.
Joey Eccles said
Mon Aug 30 5:27 PM, 2010
1 dazzling adult Kingfisher at roe green fishing pond that would have started fishing if it hadn't of seen me from its perch.
Joey Eccles said
Sun Aug 15 5:09 PM, 2010
Today whilst fishing just off manchester road, near the motorway bridge at linnyshaw in walken at 1.30pm, 2 soaring buzzards that caught my attention were joined by an osprey that flew to the north after briefly slowing and dropping in altitude to check out the pond i was fishing from. The view lasted less than a minute, and it must have been 100ft in the air. My first osprey outside of the lakes or scotland.
Joey Eccles said
Wed Aug 11 1:02 PM, 2010
Late post for Monday 9th August. Early morning One male pheasant in the cow field. The cows are getting quite aggressive as they have young and chased me out of the field. Family of moorhens on the pond with two young 5 adult canada geese dropped in briefly 1 grey heron 1 flock of goldfinches that peaked around 40+ members 1 male kestrel joined the female hunting in the field, the first male i've seen in worsley. Hopefully they might have been breeding nearby One probable gropper. Heard a reeling noise in the scrub field, sounded louder than any grasshopper or cricket i've ever heard. When i moved towards the noise it stopped. It then started again about 30 yards away, as if i had flushed it and it had started reeling again after flying 30 yards. Unfortunately i didn't see the bird
Joey Eccles said
Tue Jul 13 10:21 PM, 2010
A male pheasent was flushed from the cow field opposite bridgewater school early this morning, my first in worsley
Joey Eccles said
Fri Jul 2 9:50 PM, 2010
In the field next to Roe green cricket club this evening.
Heron over Female kestrel hunting (i think the same one as in the other field.) Family of long tailed tits family of magpies Buzzard heard. At the fishing pond in the field: family of moorhen (2 chicks) 1 Kingfisher flew low over the pond, the first i have seen in worsley for months
Joey Eccles said
Wed Jun 23 6:34 PM, 2010
Early this am, in and around the fied opposite bridgewater school and the cow field.
A family of 6 Jays with 4 fledged and begging young all lined up in on tree branch Families of: blue tits great tits magpies wrens
Female sparrowhawk hunting low in cow field before heading to golf course Female GSW landed before heading to golf course Female kestrel hunting in scrub field.
2 moorhen still present on pond as was a grey heron.
1 opportunistic house sparrow who took first a toad (not a tiny one either)and pecked it to death around the heart area, and then took a dragonfly that had just emerged from its larval stage and was waiting for its wings to dry out. The sparrow duly removed the wings and was able to eat the dragonfly at its leisure!
Joey Eccles said
Sat Jun 5 1:51 PM, 2010
to add to the usual suspects seen this morning in the field opposite bridgewater school:
1 oystercatcher over 1 cormorant over 1 wren with fledglings
gary mills said
Fri Jun 4 10:41 PM, 2010
Filtration bays this evening:
Goldfinch Whitethroat Blackcap Heron Reed & Sedge Warbler Swallow, Swift & House Martin Willow Warbler Chiff Chaff Reed Bunting 3 pairs of Coot with a total of 13 young. Moorhen and single chick Canada goose and 3 goslings that are 3 weeks old and surviving well.
The Swan nest near to the wooden bridge at the courthouse still has 2 eggs that unfortunately have not hatched this year. The pair and cygnets left the nest last week.
Joey Eccles said
Thu Jun 3 10:52 PM, 2010
at the fishing pond opposite bridgewater school this early am: 2 whitethroat 2 goldfinch plenty starling 2 moorhen plenty house sparrow 2 bh gull (many more flying over) 1 gbb gull (over) snipe drumming (heard) woodcock roding female kestrel hunting in surrounding field lots of swift 12 house martin 2 swallow
Joey Eccles said
Mon May 31 8:55 PM, 2010
early morning at the fishing pond opposite bridgewater school
3 black headed gull 4 moorhen having a 2 on 2 scrap with neither pair giving in, giving incredible views (the pond isn't big enough for two pairs really) buzzard over Female Kestrel hunting in surrounding field 2 lapwing heron 2 whitethroat 10+ house sparrow 15+ starling willow warbler 2 goldfinch Loads of swift, swallow, house martin
gary mills said
Sat May 29 8:48 PM, 2010
The pair of swans from around Worsley Courthouse appear to have just raised 1 cygnet this year, the same as last year.
Joey Eccles said
Thu May 27 4:45 PM, 2010
In the field opposite bridgwater school:
On pond in cowfield:
Single black headed gull in breeding plumage - its there every day, just timidly flying over the water, occasionally dropping down but never sitting on water. the common tern made another brief appearance 1 heron 2 moorhen 1 coot female kestrel hunting in surrounding field - I never see a male in worlsey always the female bird
gary mills said
Tue May 25 4:48 PM, 2010
A morning trip along the canal between Worsley and Astley produced the following:
Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Heron, Buzzard. Sedge Warbler 'parachuting' near to the landfill.
Family of Swans with 4 cygnets. Looking at the size of the cygnets it's a good possibility that this is the same pair that were seen in the same area a couple of weeks ago with 7.
Steve Christmas said
Wed May 19 5:25 PM, 2010
From Worsley roundabout walk westwards along the south bank of the Bridgewater canal, under the two motorway bridges and the site is on your left.
Duncan Hunter said
Wed May 19 5:11 PM, 2010
Hi Gary
Can you direct me to where the filtration lagoons are in Worsley Woods as I would like to take a look. Thanks Duncan
gary mills said
Tue May 18 11:12 PM, 2010
Single Hobby seen over the filtration lagoons 4.45pm today. The bird came in high from Worsley and swooped into the field next to the lagoons. Unfortunately lost sight of it due to the bushes.
Joey Eccles said
Tue May 18 9:00 PM, 2010
today quick mooch through woods:
5 tufted duck (3 m 2 f) - odd as didn't see any here yesterday and in previous years they have 'wintered' on the dam and not 'summered' and there were none in winter that i saw
also 1 buzzard circling
Joey Eccles said
Mon May 17 9:34 PM, 2010
7.30 - 9.00pm Highlights Woods:
1 GSW chiffchaff male sparrowhawk over
Canal:
2 mute swans mallard with 4 ducklings mallard with 8 ducklings
Filtration lagoons:
2 canada geese with 3 goslings 2 little grebe 1 whitethroat sedge warbler reed warbler reed bunting heron over swift,swallow, coot, moorhen
Checked full length of canal between Worsley and Lower Green Lane. No sign of the swan family from earlier this week.
gary mills said
Wed May 12 10:46 PM, 2010
Evening bike ride along canal from Worsley to Astley Moss produced the following:
Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat on the filtration Lagoons.
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff along the canal including a single Sedge Warbler near to the landfill site.
Cuckoo heard but not seen at the Astley SSSI
The highlight however was the sight of a pair of Mute Swans with 7 cygnets on the canal just past Boothstown. All 7 were hitching a ride on the back of the female, unfortunately, due to the numbers some kept falling off and jumping back on.
Joey Eccles said
Tue May 11 10:54 AM, 2010
In the field opposite bridgewater school 7.15 - 9.00
Many of the regulars metioned below but highlights included:
1 snipe 1 common tern (stopped briefly at pond then flew NW)
gary mills said
Sun May 9 10:24 PM, 2010
An afternoon visit to the filtration lagoons produced the following:
Unfortunately some morons have set fire to and destroyed 30/40 foot of scrub/brambles that would be home to several nesting birds on the fields opposite Bridgewater School.
-- Edited by gary mills on Sunday 9th of May 2010 10:57:32 PM
Joey Eccles said
Fri May 7 11:49 AM, 2010
In field off worlsey road opposite bridgewater school
1 heron 1 swallow 8 swifts 3 house martins 1 moorhen 3 reed warbler 4 goldfinch plenty corvids plenty house sparrow 1 skylark 1 whitethoat that remaining coot has dissapeared
Joey Eccles said
Sun May 2 12:12 PM, 2010
In field opposite bridgewater school 7-8am
15 swift 1 swallow house sparrows of the breeding coot pair i mentioned earlier one has been inexplicably killed, most likely by the local hoodies who sneak onto the small fishing pond. it was found in some brambles with no obvious flesh wounds (presumably it was clubbed to death ) fantastic close views of: 1 female gsw 1 female sparrowhawk 1 heron 3 reed bunting
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 1 3:37 PM, 2010
5 Whimbrel were in fields to the south west of the filtration lagoons around midday today.
Joey Eccles said
Wed Apr 7 11:17 PM, 2010
early am in field opposite bridgewater school
3 lapwing female sparrowhawk 2 moorhen 1 song thrush 2 coot and bh gull in little pond plenty corvids and woodpigeons
Joey Eccles said
Sun Mar 28 7:11 PM, 2010
stuff of note this pm
1 buzzard and 1 chiff chaff by filtration lagoons
pair of tufted duck on the dam in the woods (interesting as none this winter) - hopefully a breeding pair. + 1 little grebe.
gary mills said
Sat Mar 27 8:23 PM, 2010
Willow Warbler singing in bushes near to the filtration beds plus several singing Chiff Chaffs along the canal between Worsley and Boothstown
Joey Eccles said
Tue Mar 9 7:26 PM, 2010
1 kingfisher in the delph on the fallen branches at 7.35 this morning the electric blue on it seemed extra bright today, breeding plumage maybe?
gary mills said
Sun Feb 28 7:58 PM, 2010
4 Buzzards in the air together over woods just past the filtration beds midday today.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Feb 9 9:33 PM, 2010
Of note in the woods this afternoon:
14 Siskin, with males singing and displaying 2 Water Rail (in the marsh bit!)
Joey Eccles said
Thu Feb 4 8:24 PM, 2010
quick visit this afternoon 12.45 - 1.30 On dam:
1 juvenile mute swan (first for me on the dam) 1 little grebe mallard plenty of calling teal around 12-15 snipe that were flushed by a dog walker. some re-landed and gave best views i've had in the area. others flew off in all directions! seems to be an absence of tufted duck on the dam this year also in woods were goldfinch, commoner tits and lots of nuthatch
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Thursday 4th of February 2010 08:25:22 PM
Steve Christmas said
Wed Jan 6 9:36 PM, 2010
Hi Joey, I've sent you a PM. Steve
Joey Eccles said
Wed Jan 6 5:39 PM, 2010
Quick visit this afternoon
Betfred lake 95% frozen only mallard and 2 teal 5 redwing finch flock 10+ birds could only identify a couple of birds and they were both goldfinch lt tit flock also with grt tits and blue tits.
canal and delph
plenty of mallard 4 moorhen 1 sparrowhawk troubling 30+ starlings, 2 chaffinch and some jackdaws
filtration lagoons at sunset
small starling roost 30+ reed bunting roost which surprised me as usually i see only 3-4 birds in the day. many of these birds arrived in flocks from the east 9 shoveler arrived and flew down onto lagoons 7 teal already present 2 coot 2 canada geese left 2 adult swan and 2 juveniles(this year's) - which is interesting as only 1 bird was raised in the worlsey area this year many small mammal footprints and fox footprints. 1 buzzard roosting in nearby trees 1 sparrowhawk over
Joey Eccles said
Tue Jan 5 8:45 PM, 2010
Hi Ian I went lucking for the lsw as well today but no luck. woods: female sparrowhawk perched in tree was a nice opener roving lt tit flock (20+) along with grt tits and blue tits. 3 nuthatches 2 treecreeper (1st of the year) 1 gsw 1 jay finch flock that contained goldfinches and smaller birds, probably siskins but couldn't be sure 12 magpies feeding on dead ewe i reported a couple of days ago betfred lake completely frozen stoat/weasel and fox footprints
Canal and Delph: 1 heron many mallard 8 bh gulls 4 moorhen 2 fieldfare 3 redwing 1 very pale buzzard over
Filtration lagoons: 10-15 shovelers (mostly male) 2 coot 1 heron 2 swan 3 canada geese 8 teal (again mostly male) 2 buzzard scrapping in mid air over (including the earlier pale one) sparrowhawk over many gulls heading east 3 reed bunting nothing in field adjacent
Also just want to comment on how blissfully quiet it was without motorway noise. Never before in worlsey have i been able to hear birds so clearly it makes you wonder just how wonderful the woods must have been before the motorway was built quite possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was certainly relished
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 09:05:24 PM
IANMOFFAT1 said
Tue Jan 5 12:50 AM, 2010
Hi Joey Started checking out Worsley Woods for the Lesser Spot no luck yet. Will post sightings if spotted. Had the wintering Green Woodpecker on the 3rd of Jan for the 2nd successive year on the Irwell old course at Barton oppersite the airport near to Barton locks on the M.S.Canal. Also huge numbers of Teal, 85 counted on the same day on the old course. Bye for now Ian.
Joey Eccles said
Sun Jan 3 12:36 PM, 2010
8-10.30am this morning
In the woods:
many tit flocks consisting of blue, great and longtailed tits, throughout woods large flock of goldfinch 30+ 2 gs woodpecker 8 nuthatch lots of blackbird and robin song thrush numerous mallard on mostly frozen betfred lake teal and grey wagtail on surrounding streams coming from lake wren about 2 jay 1 heron redwing flock in field adjacent to bridgewater school also in same field a freshly dead ewe, probably died in night.
On canal: this years juvenile swan lots of mallard
Titration lagoons:
some better species here with
10 shoveler (8m 2f) 6 teal 2 coot two swan, probably parents of juvenile 2 canada geese little grebe grey heron 3 reed bunting 6 field fare in adjacent field at least 500 gulls (mostly if not all herring gulls) heading over to the east
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:37:37 PM
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:38:25 PM
Dave Thacker said
Tue Dec 22 12:54 PM, 2009
9.45-12.15 this morning in the snow
Seen in the woods;
Sparrowhawk [m] GS Woodpecker 5 Nuthatches 4 Bullfinches 2 Coal tits 30+ LT tits 2 Jays 7 Redwings Plenty of Wrens and Robins but no Treecreepers seen.
On the dam, 7 Teal 5 Snipe Water rail heard Heron Little grebe There was a Kingfisher perched on the railings at the Delph with also pair of Mute swans [one ringed LPL] with one young swan from last year.
At the Filtration lagoons near the canal; 3 Teal 2 Snipe 2 Buzzards over 4 Bullfinches 3 Reed buntings Jay 13 Fieldfare 6 Redwings 5 Mistle thrushes.
Joey Eccles said
Wed Nov 25 7:42 PM, 2009
Kingfisher catching fish by Delph and canal this morning at around 7.40. Beautiful and a nice surprise
Joey Eccles said
Sun May 10 5:48 PM, 2009
quick visit this afternoon,
1 gsw(female) usual tits singing chiff chaff plenty of blackbird, robin and dunnock 2 song thrush
On betfred pond:
3 coot 1 tuftie
Also about 30 swifts overhead, occasional screaming. Couldn't get a good picure though
Joey Eccles said
Sat May 9 7:42 PM, 2009
not much on this morning,
1 grey wagtail catching flies by brook 1 tuftie on pond next to betfreds 1 gr tit nest Lots of dunnock, goldfinch 1 decimated treecreeper nest On canal swans nesting abandoned moorhen nest Pair of canada geese
Sam Ridgway said
Fri Apr 3 5:48 PM, 2009
11:45 G.S.W Mating, 2 Tree creeper's, 3 Gray Wagtail's, 1 wren building a nest next to brook. Robin's, Longtail tit's, also blue and coal Tit's, Pair of Bullfinch.
-- Edited by sammy on Saturday 4th of April 2009 06:56:20 AM
Joey Eccles said
Fri Apr 3 8:54 AM, 2009
Spent another hour in the woods this morning, 12 tufties (6males 6 females) on the pond outside BetFred's house on pond. I flushed at least 6-7 snipe from frozen area in front of reeds and i also flushed a kestrel from its roosting site. 3 teal also on pond (2m 1f) and 1 coot. Also i moorhen quite high up in a tree that surprised me! In woods: treecreepers still carrying material into nest site, lots of nuthatch calling. lt, coal, bl and gr. tits about, 1 possibly 2 chiff chaff and lots of woodpigeon. Lastly, heard lesser spot and turned to see a small bird flying away from me. still no tick!
Dave Thacker said
Sun Mar 29 8:35 PM, 2009
14.15-15.15pm
You had better luck than I did Joe,
No sign of the LSW but plenty of Nuthatches seen with also 3 GS Woodpeckers at the same time.
Kingfisher seen flying along the small stream towards the Delph.
The filtration lagoons beside the canal only had a pair of Little Grebes and a pair of Grey Wagtails , not much else
Joey Eccles said
Sun Mar 29 5:46 PM, 2009
spent an hour in woods 3.30 onwards. identified a nuthatch and treecreeper nest flushed a jay at least 2 possibly 3 singing chiff chaff 1 male bullfinch various tits tufties, mallards and teal on pond in front of betfred went looking for the lsw at the particular spot with my 9 year old step brother, we were watching the nuthatch when another bird similiar in size, flies behind them in a striking way (gliding and splaying out its wings then tucking them in again). all i saw was a silhouette but then he asked (without knowing what the lsw looked like) 'is there a black and white nuthatch?'. can't confirm for definite but it was pretty likely it was in fact the lsw. still no worsley tick though
Joey Eccles said
Fri Mar 27 8:34 PM, 2009
thanks for the info - was it quite high in the trees? and was it on the more mature trees or the younger trees opposite? sorry about the questions but i really really want to see this bird!
IANMOFFAT1 said
Fri Mar 27 5:14 PM, 2009
Hi Ian/Joey Re-Lesser spot Yes thats the exact location,but when reaching the top of the tract to the right of the boardwalk turn right again and walk back along the path through the woods this should bring you back to the `OLD WARKE STONE WEST`its on this circuit i have located the female 3 times. A good pair of boots is a must as the tract gets quite boggy in parts. Good luck Ian.
My first osprey outside of the lakes or scotland.
Early morning
One male pheasant in the cow field. The cows are getting quite aggressive as they have young and chased me out of the field.
Family of moorhens on the pond with two young
5 adult canada geese dropped in briefly
1 grey heron
1 flock of goldfinches that peaked around 40+ members
1 male kestrel joined the female hunting in the field, the first male i've seen in worsley. Hopefully they might have been breeding nearby
One probable gropper. Heard a reeling noise in the scrub field, sounded louder than any grasshopper or cricket i've ever heard. When i moved towards the noise it stopped. It then started again about 30 yards away, as if i had flushed it and it had started reeling again after flying 30 yards. Unfortunately i didn't see the bird
Heron over
Female kestrel hunting (i think the same one as in the other field.)
Family of long tailed tits
family of magpies
Buzzard heard.
At the fishing pond in the field:
family of moorhen (2 chicks)
1 Kingfisher flew low over the pond, the first i have seen in worsley for months
A family of 6 Jays with 4 fledged and begging young all lined up in on tree branch
Families of:
blue tits
great tits
magpies
wrens
Female sparrowhawk hunting low in cow field before heading to golf course
Female GSW landed before heading to golf course
Female kestrel hunting in scrub field.
2 moorhen still present on pond as was a grey heron.
1 opportunistic house sparrow who took first a toad (not a tiny one either)and pecked it to death around the heart area, and then took a dragonfly that had just emerged from its larval stage and was waiting for its wings to dry out. The sparrow duly removed the wings and was able to eat the dragonfly at its leisure!
1 oystercatcher over
1 cormorant over
1 wren with fledglings
Goldfinch
Whitethroat
Blackcap
Heron
Reed & Sedge Warbler
Swallow, Swift & House Martin
Willow Warbler
Chiff Chaff
Reed Bunting
3 pairs of Coot with a total of 13 young.
Moorhen and single chick
Canada goose and 3 goslings that are 3 weeks old and surviving well.
The Swan nest near to the wooden bridge at the courthouse still has 2 eggs that unfortunately have not hatched this year. The pair and cygnets left the nest last week.
2 whitethroat
2 goldfinch
plenty starling
2 moorhen
plenty house sparrow
2 bh gull (many more flying over)
1 gbb gull (over)
snipe drumming (heard)
woodcock roding
female kestrel hunting in surrounding field
lots of swift
12 house martin
2 swallow
3 black headed gull
4 moorhen having a 2 on 2 scrap with neither pair giving in, giving incredible views (the pond isn't big enough for two pairs really)
buzzard over
Female Kestrel hunting in surrounding field
2 lapwing
heron
2 whitethroat
10+ house sparrow
15+ starling
willow warbler
2 goldfinch
Loads of swift, swallow, house martin
On pond in cowfield:
Single black headed gull in breeding plumage - its there every day, just timidly flying over the water, occasionally dropping down but never sitting on water.
the common tern made another brief appearance
1 heron
2 moorhen
1 coot
female kestrel hunting in surrounding field - I never see a male in worlsey always the female bird
Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiff Chaff, Heron, Buzzard.
Sedge Warbler 'parachuting' near to the landfill.
Family of Swans with 4 cygnets. Looking at the size of the cygnets it's a good possibility that this is the same pair that were seen in the same area a couple of weeks ago with 7.
Can you direct me to where the filtration lagoons are in Worsley Woods as I would like to take a look. Thanks Duncan
5 tufted duck (3 m 2 f) - odd as didn't see any here yesterday and in previous years they have 'wintered' on the dam and not 'summered' and there were none in winter that i saw
also 1 buzzard circling
Woods:
1 GSW
chiffchaff
male sparrowhawk over
Canal:
2 mute swans
mallard with 4 ducklings
mallard with 8 ducklings
Filtration lagoons:
2 canada geese with 3 goslings
2 little grebe
1 whitethroat
sedge warbler
reed warbler
reed bunting
heron over
swift,swallow, coot, moorhen
Joey
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Reed Bunting
Buzzard
Heron
Coot
Swallows & Swifts
Lesser Whitethroat
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff
Checked full length of canal between Worsley and Lower Green Lane. No sign of the swan family from earlier this week.
Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Whitethroat on the filtration Lagoons.
Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff along the canal including a single Sedge Warbler near to the landfill site.
Cuckoo heard but not seen at the Astley SSSI
The highlight however was the sight of a pair of Mute Swans with 7 cygnets on the canal just past Boothstown. All 7 were hitching a ride on the back of the female, unfortunately, due to the numbers some kept falling off and jumping back on.
Many of the regulars metioned below but highlights included:
1 snipe
1 common tern (stopped briefly at pond then flew NW)
Sedge Warbler, Reed Bunting, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Swallow,
Swift, Coot
(also good views of a Cuckoo on Astley Moss)
Unfortunately some morons have set fire to and destroyed 30/40 foot of scrub/brambles that would be home to several nesting birds on the fields opposite Bridgewater School.
-- Edited by gary mills on Sunday 9th of May 2010 10:57:32 PM
1 heron
1 swallow
8 swifts
3 house martins
1 moorhen
3 reed warbler
4 goldfinch
plenty corvids
plenty house sparrow
1 skylark
1 whitethoat
that remaining coot has dissapeared
15 swift
1 swallow
house sparrows
of the breeding coot pair i mentioned earlier one has been inexplicably killed, most likely by the local hoodies who sneak onto the small fishing pond.
it was found in some brambles with no obvious flesh wounds (presumably it was clubbed to death )
fantastic close views of:
1 female gsw
1 female sparrowhawk
1 heron
3 reed bunting
3 lapwing
female sparrowhawk
2 moorhen
1 song thrush
2 coot and bh gull in little pond
plenty corvids and woodpigeons
1 buzzard and 1 chiff chaff by filtration lagoons
pair of tufted duck on the dam in the woods (interesting as none this winter) - hopefully a breeding pair. + 1 little grebe.
the electric blue on it seemed extra bright today, breeding plumage maybe?
14 Siskin, with males singing and displaying
2 Water Rail (in the marsh bit!)
On dam:
1 juvenile mute swan (first for me on the dam)
1 little grebe
mallard
plenty of calling teal
around 12-15 snipe that were flushed by a dog walker. some re-landed and gave best views i've had in the area. others flew off in all directions!
seems to be an absence of tufted duck on the dam this year
also in woods were goldfinch,
commoner tits
and lots of nuthatch
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Thursday 4th of February 2010 08:25:22 PM
I've sent you a PM.
Steve
Betfred lake 95% frozen only mallard and 2 teal
5 redwing
finch flock 10+ birds could only identify a couple of birds and they were both goldfinch
lt tit flock also with grt tits and blue tits.
canal and delph
plenty of mallard
4 moorhen
1 sparrowhawk troubling 30+ starlings, 2 chaffinch and some jackdaws
filtration lagoons at sunset
small starling roost
30+ reed bunting roost which surprised me as usually i see only 3-4 birds in the day. many of these birds arrived in flocks from the east
9 shoveler arrived and flew down onto lagoons
7 teal already present
2 coot
2 canada geese left
2 adult swan and 2 juveniles(this year's) - which is interesting as only 1 bird was raised in the worlsey area this year
many small mammal footprints and fox footprints.
1 buzzard roosting in nearby trees
1 sparrowhawk over
I went lucking for the lsw as well today but no luck.
woods:
female sparrowhawk perched in tree was a nice opener
roving lt tit flock (20+) along with grt tits and blue tits.
3 nuthatches
2 treecreeper (1st of the year)
1 gsw
1 jay
finch flock that contained goldfinches and smaller birds, probably siskins but couldn't be sure
12 magpies feeding on dead ewe i reported a couple of days ago
betfred lake completely frozen
stoat/weasel and fox footprints
Canal and Delph:
1 heron
many mallard
8 bh gulls
4 moorhen
2 fieldfare
3 redwing
1 very pale buzzard over
Filtration lagoons:
10-15 shovelers (mostly male)
2 coot
1 heron
2 swan
3 canada geese
8 teal (again mostly male)
2 buzzard scrapping in mid air over (including the earlier pale one)
sparrowhawk over
many gulls heading east
3 reed bunting
nothing in field adjacent
Also just want to comment on how blissfully quiet it was without motorway noise. Never before in worlsey have i been able to hear birds so clearly it makes you wonder just how wonderful the woods must have been before the motorway was built
quite possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was certainly relished
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 09:05:24 PM
Started checking out Worsley Woods for the Lesser Spot no luck yet.
Will post sightings if spotted. Had the wintering Green Woodpecker on
the 3rd of Jan for the 2nd successive year on the Irwell old course at
Barton oppersite the airport near to Barton locks on the M.S.Canal.
Also huge numbers of Teal, 85 counted on the same day on the old course.
Bye for now
Ian.
In the woods:
many tit flocks consisting of blue, great and longtailed tits, throughout woods
large flock of goldfinch 30+
2 gs woodpecker
8 nuthatch
lots of blackbird and robin
song thrush
numerous mallard on mostly frozen betfred lake
teal and grey wagtail on surrounding streams coming from lake
wren about
2 jay
1 heron
redwing flock in field adjacent to bridgewater school
also in same field a freshly dead ewe, probably died in night.
On canal:
this years juvenile swan
lots of mallard
Titration lagoons:
some better species here with
10 shoveler (8m 2f)
6 teal
2 coot
two swan, probably parents of juvenile
2 canada geese
little grebe
grey heron
3 reed bunting
6 field fare in adjacent field
at least 500 gulls (mostly if not all herring gulls) heading over to the east
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:37:37 PM
-- Edited by Joey Eccles on Sunday 3rd of January 2010 12:38:25 PM
Seen in the woods;
Sparrowhawk [m]
GS Woodpecker
5 Nuthatches
4 Bullfinches
2 Coal tits
30+ LT tits
2 Jays
7 Redwings
Plenty of Wrens and Robins but no Treecreepers seen.
On the dam,
7 Teal
5 Snipe
Water rail heard
Heron
Little grebe
There was a Kingfisher perched on the railings at the Delph with also pair of Mute swans [one ringed LPL] with one young swan from last year.
At the Filtration lagoons near the canal;
3 Teal
2 Snipe
2 Buzzards over
4 Bullfinches
3 Reed buntings
Jay
13 Fieldfare
6 Redwings
5 Mistle thrushes.
1 gsw(female)
usual tits
singing chiff chaff
plenty of blackbird, robin and dunnock
2 song thrush
On betfred pond:
3 coot
1 tuftie
Also about 30 swifts overhead, occasional screaming. Couldn't get a good picure though
1 grey wagtail catching flies by brook
1 tuftie on pond next to betfreds
1 gr tit nest
Lots of dunnock,
goldfinch
1 decimated treecreeper nest
On canal
swans nesting
abandoned moorhen nest
Pair of canada geese
-- Edited by sammy on Saturday 4th of April 2009 06:56:20 AM
In woods: treecreepers still carrying material into nest site, lots of nuthatch calling. lt, coal, bl and gr. tits about, 1 possibly 2 chiff chaff and lots of woodpigeon.
Lastly, heard lesser spot and turned to see a small bird flying away from me. still no tick!
You had better luck than I did Joe,
No sign of the LSW but plenty of Nuthatches seen with also 3 GS Woodpeckers at the same time.
Kingfisher seen flying along the small stream towards the Delph.
The filtration lagoons beside the canal only had a pair of Little Grebes and a pair of Grey Wagtails , not much else
identified a nuthatch and treecreeper nest
flushed a jay
at least 2 possibly 3 singing chiff chaff
1 male bullfinch
various tits
tufties, mallards and teal on pond in front of betfred
went looking for the lsw at the particular spot with my 9 year old step brother, we were watching the nuthatch when another bird similiar in size, flies behind them in a striking way (gliding and splaying out its wings then tucking them in again). all i saw was a silhouette but then he asked (without knowing what the lsw looked like) 'is there a black and white nuthatch?'. can't confirm for definite but it was pretty likely it was in fact the lsw. still no worsley tick though
Re-Lesser spot
Yes thats the exact location,but when reaching the top of the tract to the right of the boardwalk turn right again and walk back along the path through the woods this should bring you back to the `OLD WARKE STONE WEST`its on this circuit
i have located the female 3 times.
A good pair of boots is a must as the tract gets quite boggy in parts.
Good luck Ian.