Don't know the names of the basins around the quays, but Great Northern Diver was giving brilliant views from the basin with the waterski ramps, down to around 10 metres away. At one point i watched it dive and could see it swim down about 5 feet before disappearing. Watched it for around 20 minutes before it decided to have a sleep.
James Walsh said
Fri Feb 12 12:47 AM, 2016
Great Northern Diver Ontario Basin
Drake Goldeneye North Wharf
sid ashton said
Wed Feb 10 1:13 PM, 2016
Stopped by the Quays on the way home from the city centre late this morning. The Great Northern Diver was giving great views on Ontario basin. Birding by Metrolink has to be the way forward
steven burke said
Tue Feb 9 3:40 PM, 2016
Great northern diver having a good preen & stretch on ontario basin at 2.25pm.
3 goosander & 5 herring gull on Trafford wharf.
Pete Hines said
Tue Feb 9 1:40 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver in St. Peter Basin early pm before swimming along Chandler Canal to Ontario Basin
Pete Hines said
Sun Feb 7 1:53 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver still in St. Francis Basin late morning
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 8th of February 2016 07:13:40 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 02:09:25 PM
PS does anyone know the latest regards to Pomona planned development?
Went down today and didn't see any signs of work going on
Zoe Barrett said
Sat Feb 6 5:28 PM, 2016
Late morning along Pomona to Sam Platts pub. Unfortunately didn't make it any further in this heavy rain:
Clippers Quay/Trafford Wharf:
40 Siskins flew over 1 Chaffinch 1 Common Gull 3 Cormorants 1 Grey Heron 1 Grey Wagtail 11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 2 Moorhens 1 Robin
Also horrendous amount of rubbish near Sam Platts - cleared many bottles and cans but still lots left Don't the council ever empty these bins?
Paul Richardson said
Sat Feb 6 12:16 PM, 2016
John Watson wrote:
Does it have enough space to take off ? These basins aren't that big ...
They're all interconnected so it only has to swim out onto the main Ship Canal and it's got a fair sized runway available!
David Morris said
Sat Feb 6 12:04 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on Ontario Basin at 11:45am. Luckily it was near the entrance to Chandlers canal so I could shelter under the bridge there to get my bins on it! Also spotted a Grey Wagtail on the canal earlier.
John Watson said
Sat Feb 6 11:26 AM, 2016
Does it have enough space to take off ? These basins aren't that big ...
Mark Fenson said
Fri Feb 5 12:58 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver still on Ontario Basin @ 12:30pm. This time with added fish in mouth.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 5th of February 2016 01:42:03 PM
Mark Fenson said
Thu Feb 4 12:53 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on Ontario Basin today @ 12:30pm.
1 Moorhen and plenty of coots.
Paul Richardson said
Wed Feb 3 10:05 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver was in St Louis Basin at 4pm for a while, swam off into St Peter's eventually and then very quickly and mostly underwater into Ontario. Obviously feeling very much at home and highly mobile. What a cracking bird!
Pete Hines said
Tue Feb 2 2:43 PM, 2016
The Great Northern Diver was in St. Francis Basin at 12.15
Crawfordian said
Tue Feb 2 2:08 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on the Central bay, watersports centre side at 13.45. Diving about 10 yards out. Unfortunately I only spotted it as I was leaving and the water was rough so will have to go back in calmer weather for a better look.
Moorhen on the platform at the entrance to Ontario bay.
Cormorant flyover and 2 more on the water.
-- Edited by Crawfordian on Tuesday 2nd of February 2016 06:35:27 PM
James Walsh said
Tue Feb 2 12:47 AM, 2016
Great Northern Diver St Peters viewable from Salford Quays Metro station @1500
Kingfisher & 5 Goosanders on the Manchester Ship Canal
Pete Hines said
Mon Feb 1 11:04 AM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on St.
Francis Basin 10.45
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jan 31 4:50 PM, 2016
Great northern diver still on Ontario Basin this afternoon, at one point about 10ft from me, and diving frequently.
Also around, from Pomona Metro station to the Lowry area:
2 grey wagtail Long-tailed tit, goldfinch, greenfinch, wren, robin, blackbird 1 moorhen 11 coot 1 (perhaps two) tufted duck 17 mallard 24 Canada geese 6 mute swan 23 cormorant 200+ black-headed gull (one poor first winter bird getting its head trodden on by a typically lunkish Canada goose, during a quay-side scraps scramble) 30+ lesser black-backed gull c20 common gull
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Jan 31 12:35 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver still present - Ontario basin near waterski jump
Pete Hines said
Sat Jan 30 3:08 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver still in Ontario Basin this afternoon
vic chatterton said
Wed Jan 27 6:31 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on Ontario Basin at 2.30pm
Pete Hines said
Tue Jan 26 2:52 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver on Erie Basin this afternoon
Zoe Barrett said
Sun Jan 24 6:18 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver seen on Ontario Basin this afternoon
Great Northern Diver showing well on Ontario Basin (and adjacent Marriners Canal) between 12:25 and 15:30 hrs. on Sunday, 24th January 2016. Had great views (from window seat) while eating Sunday lunch at Quay House pub/restaurant!
Did circuit of Salford Quays from Ontario Basin past Lowry - over bridge - past imperial War Museum - to Trafford Bridge and return (via St Louis and St Peter's basin) Following birds seen:
Pied Wagtails x 2 Cormorant x 30 (some looking like punk rockers with neck moult and single tuft of feathers on top of head!) Mute Swan x 5 Canada Geese x 8 Black Headed Gulls x 50 Lesser black backed Gull x 3 Herring Gull x 1 Coot x 7 Moorhen x 3
John Watson said
Fri Jan 22 12:20 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver (juv) still, St Louis Basin then St Peter Basin
James Walsh said
Wed Jan 20 5:01 PM, 2016
Tuesday 19th January 2016
Pomona
Chiffchaff on Guinness Point
8 Goosander
Ontario Basin
Great Northern Diver
steven burke said
Wed Jan 20 12:02 PM, 2016
After searching the 3 smaller basins & ontario eventually located the great northern diver on erie basin, it then headed down the mariners canal & into ontario basin in the lovely sunshine.
2 Goosander on Trafford wharf.
Norman Price said
Tue Jan 19 3:52 PM, 2016
Thanks for all the reports regarding the Great Northern Diver. Still present on Ontario Basin this afternoon which gave a great photographic opportunity.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of January 2016 06:12:43 PM
Pete Hines said
Mon Jan 18 9:54 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver - juvenile still this morning. Photographed in the same frame as the tram whilst stopped at Salford Quays station, which overlooks St. Peter Basin. It later swam to Ontario Basin.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of January 2016 09:04:26 PM
Gervase Cooke said
Sun Jan 17 7:41 PM, 2016
Happened to pass the Quays on the Tram today and caught sight of what I was fairly sure was a diver and judging from bill size a Great Northern too. Didn't get much chance to evaluate before it dived and tram moved along. But felt sure I'd eliminated Grebes and Cormorant. Delighted to see that I was spot on. What an absolute bonus. So glad we decided to take the tram today when the car would have been much easier!!
Without the forum I think I would have been on a lot of doubt still though. A big maybe.
A County first for me. Wasn't expecting that today.
Cheers
Zoe Barrett said
Thu Jan 14 6:04 PM, 2016
Hi Joel,
has anyone from RSPCA been to look at the Cormorant?
Those plastic ring pulls are pointless, harm wildlife and should be outlawed
Joel Tragen said
Wed Jan 13 5:20 PM, 2016
A visit today between 3:10 and 4:15, Nice to see Eugene, Great Northern diver showing well on Ontario basin when I arrived, I later moved to St. Peter's Basin, where it showed incredibly well, popping up close to the bank in the same place repeatedly. Finally it went round to St. Louis Basin. The thing which made this trip magical for me was watching it swim underwater between St. Peter's Basin and St. Louis Basin, a lovely prolonged view of it swimming underwater. Other birds of note: 3 cormorants, The one which I saw on Ontario Basin had a plastic six pack ring in its mouth, entangled on its upper jaw. 2 common gulls 9 coots cheers joel
Eugene Dillon-Hooper said
Wed Jan 13 5:14 PM, 2016
Great views of the Diver all throughout the day, moving from basin to basin.
Managed to get some good pictures of it this time too! Which you can check out on my Flickr page.
Great Northern Diver still on Ontario Basin, amongst the water-skiing ramps.
Pete Hines said
Mon Jan 11 4:01 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver juvenile still, in Ontario Basin at 15.20
Steve Judge said
Sun Jan 10 9:18 PM, 2016
Sunday, 10th January 2016 13:30 - 14:30 hrs
Walk around Ontario Basin, St Louis Basin, St Peter's Basin, St Francis Basin and in front of Helly Hansen Watersports Centre (after cracking meal at Quay House). Lovely sunshine - but bitterly cold wind.
No sign of Great Northern Diver for me.
Best I could do: Grey Wagtail x 1 Great Crested Grebe x 1 Cormorant x 3 House Sparrow x 5 Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 2 Black-Headed Gull x 30 Coot x 5 Canada Geese x 20 Mallard x 3 Mute Swan x 2
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Sunday 10th of January 2016 09:20:31 PM
James Walsh said
Sun Jan 10 5:43 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver Ontario Basin this morning
Copland Smith said
Sat Jan 9 5:41 PM, 2016
On the way to see Tamsin Greg at the Beeb yesterday (Friday), I was able to point out the GND to my fellow passenger from the tram. St Peters Basin. About 1:20.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sat Jan 9 12:25 PM, 2016
Juvenile Great Northern showing well in Ontario Basin.
Pete Hines said
Fri Jan 8 12:15 PM, 2016
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still present. It's ace walking along side it while it swims the Mariners Canal between Erie and Ontario Basins.
Pete Hines said
Thu Jan 7 4:11 PM, 2016
Charm of 50-60 Goldfinch outside the Lowry retail entrance 15.40 Juvenile Great Northern Diver still in Ontario Basin
dave broome said
Thu Jan 7 2:55 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver still present early afternoon today on Ontario Basin in the watersports centre. Goldcrest there in conifers at the front of the Beefeater, also seen drake Goldeneye, Grey Wagtail and 1 Great Crested Grebe
Pete Hines said
Wed Jan 6 10:03 PM, 2016
Just to add that it's 'lips' didn't move either . It was a song from the heart. In retrospect I should have recorded it with my P900 which has a zoom microphone.
re the previous post
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 6th of January 2016 10:04:25 PM
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Jan 6 8:32 PM, 2016
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Tim Wilcox wrote:
In addition to the Great Northern Diver myself and Pete Hines observed something unusual neither of us had experienced before: one Mistle Thrush seemed to be engaged in courtship with another. Both were within a few yards of each other and of us. The male had puffed out his feathers and was emitting a strange burbling sub-song like a Starling (no Starlings were anywhere to be seen). My phone is too rubbish at recording unfortunately and this song has not been posted to Xeno Canto. Has anyone else ever heard this? I made a note of it for the records.
BWP makes reference to both subsong and 'Whisper-song', both of which seem to sound similar to that which you heard and are given in response to heterosexual interactions. Perhaps not too surprisingly, they appear to be poorly recorded and understood. Whilst the study of bird vocalisations make up a large part of my birding I've never heard anything like either, so lucky you
I had an instant feeling that it was very special and more so than an (albeit lovely) Great Northern Diver
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jan 6 8:21 PM, 2016
Tim Wilcox wrote:
In addition to the Great Northern Diver myself and Pete Hines observed something unusual neither of us had experienced before: one Mistle Thrush seemed to be engaged in courtship with another. Both were within a few yards of each other and of us. The male had puffed out his feathers and was emitting a strange burbling sub-song like a Starling (no Starlings were anywhere to be seen). My phone is too rubbish at recording unfortunately and this song has not been posted to Xeno Canto. Has anyone else ever heard this? I made a note of it for the records.
BWP makes reference to both subsong and 'Whisper-song', both of which seem to sound similar to that which you heard and are given in response to heterosexual interactions. Perhaps not too surprisingly, they appear to be poorly recorded and understood. Whilst the study of bird vocalisations make up a large part of my birding I've never heard anything like either, so lucky you
Tim Wilcox said
Wed Jan 6 7:35 PM, 2016
In addition to the Great Northern Diver myself and Pete Hines observed something unusual neither of us had experienced before: one Mistle Thrush seemed to be engaged in courtship with another. Both were within a few yards of each other and of us. The male had puffed out his feathers and was emitting a strange burbling sub-song like a Starling (no Starlings were anywhere to be seen). My phone is too rubbish at recording unfortunately and this song has not been posted to Xeno Canto. Has anyone else ever heard this? I made a note of it for the records.
Roger Hewitt said
Wed Jan 6 2:06 PM, 2016
Great Northern Diver showing well in St Peter's Basin. 13:45-14:05
Don't know the names of the basins around the quays, but Great Northern Diver was giving brilliant views from the basin with the waterski ramps, down to around 10 metres away. At one point i watched it dive and could see it swim down about 5 feet before disappearing. Watched it for around 20 minutes before it decided to have a sleep.
Great Northern Diver Ontario Basin
Drake Goldeneye North Wharf
Stopped by the Quays on the way home from the city centre late this morning. The Great Northern Diver was giving great views on Ontario basin. Birding by Metrolink has to be the way forward
3 goosander & 5 herring gull on Trafford wharf.
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Monday 8th of February 2016 07:13:40 AM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 9th of February 2016 02:09:25 PM
Great Northern Diver giving mega views on St Francis @ 1530
-- Edited by James Walsh on Saturday 6th of February 2016 09:22:44 PM
Went down today and didn't see any signs of work going on
Clippers Quay/Trafford Wharf:
40 Siskins flew over
1 Chaffinch
1 Common Gull
3 Cormorants
1 Grey Heron
1 Grey Wagtail
11 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Moorhens
1 Robin
Also horrendous amount of rubbish near Sam Platts - cleared many bottles and cans but still lots left
Don't the council ever empty these bins?
They're all interconnected so it only has to swim out onto the main Ship Canal and it's got a fair sized runway available!
Great Northern Diver still on Ontario Basin @ 12:30pm. This time with added fish in mouth.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 5th of February 2016 01:42:03 PM
Great Northern Diver on Ontario Basin today @ 12:30pm.
1 Moorhen and plenty of coots.
Great Northern Diver on the Central bay, watersports centre side at 13.45. Diving about 10 yards out. Unfortunately I only spotted it as I was leaving and the water was rough so will have to go back in calmer weather for a better look.
Moorhen on the platform at the entrance to Ontario bay.
Cormorant flyover and 2 more on the water.
-- Edited by Crawfordian on Tuesday 2nd of February 2016 06:35:27 PM
Great Northern Diver St Peters viewable from Salford Quays Metro station @1500
Kingfisher & 5 Goosanders on the Manchester Ship Canal
Also around, from Pomona Metro station to the Lowry area:
2 grey wagtail
Long-tailed tit, goldfinch, greenfinch, wren, robin, blackbird
1 moorhen
11 coot
1 (perhaps two) tufted duck
17 mallard
24 Canada geese
6 mute swan
23 cormorant
200+ black-headed gull (one poor first winter bird getting its head trodden on by a typically lunkish Canada goose, during a quay-side scraps scramble)
30+ lesser black-backed gull
c20 common gull
Great Northern Diver on Ontario Basin at 2.30pm
Pomona
1 Snipe
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail singing
3 Goosander
1 Kestrel
Manchester Ship Canal:
5 Lapwings
1 Grey heron
3 Goosander
1 Sparrowhawk
Had great views (from window seat) while eating Sunday lunch at Quay House pub/restaurant!
Did circuit of Salford Quays from Ontario Basin past Lowry - over bridge - past imperial War Museum - to Trafford Bridge and return (via St Louis and St Peter's basin)
Following birds seen:
Pied Wagtails x 2
Cormorant x 30 (some looking like punk rockers with neck moult and single tuft of feathers on top of head!)
Mute Swan x 5
Canada Geese x 8
Black Headed Gulls x 50
Lesser black backed Gull x 3
Herring Gull x 1
Coot x 7
Moorhen x 3
Tuesday 19th January 2016
Pomona
Chiffchaff on Guinness Point
8 Goosander
Ontario Basin
Great Northern Diver
After searching the 3 smaller basins & ontario eventually located the great northern diver on erie basin, it then headed down the mariners canal & into ontario basin in the lovely sunshine.
2 Goosander on Trafford wharf.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 19th of January 2016 06:12:43 PM
Mallard = 11
Moorhen = 2
Coot = 19
Grey Heron = 1
Cormorant = 22
Canada Goose = 19
Mute Swan = 8
Black Headed Gull = 276
Common Gull = 68
Lesser black backed Gull = 9
Herring Gull = 2
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 17th of January 2016 09:04:26 PM
Happened to pass the Quays on the Tram today and caught sight of what I was fairly sure was a diver and judging from bill size a Great Northern too. Didn't get much chance to evaluate before it dived and tram moved along. But felt sure I'd eliminated Grebes and Cormorant. Delighted to see that I was spot on. What an absolute bonus. So glad we decided to take the tram today when the car would have been much easier!!
Without the forum I think I would have been on a lot of doubt still though. A big maybe.
A County first for me. Wasn't expecting that today.
Cheers
has anyone from RSPCA been to look at the Cormorant?
Those plastic ring pulls are pointless, harm wildlife and should be outlawed
Great Northern diver showing well on Ontario basin when I arrived, I later moved to St. Peter's Basin, where it showed incredibly well, popping up close to the bank in the same place repeatedly. Finally it went round to St. Louis Basin. The thing which made this trip magical for me was watching it swim underwater between St. Peter's Basin and St. Louis Basin, a lovely prolonged view of it swimming underwater.
Other birds of note:
3 cormorants, The one which I saw on Ontario Basin had a plastic six pack ring in its mouth, entangled on its upper jaw.
2 common gulls
9 coots
cheers joel
Managed to get some good pictures of it this time too! Which you can check out on my Flickr page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/137776620@N05/with/23139101444/
Nice to James Walsh again today and Joel Tragen.
13:00 - 13:30
Great Northern Diver still on Ontario Basin, amongst the water-skiing ramps.
Walk around Ontario Basin, St Louis Basin, St Peter's Basin, St Francis Basin and in front of Helly Hansen Watersports Centre (after cracking meal at Quay House). Lovely sunshine - but bitterly cold wind.
No sign of Great Northern Diver for me.
Best I could do:
Grey Wagtail x 1
Great Crested Grebe x 1
Cormorant x 3
House Sparrow x 5
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 2
Black-Headed Gull x 30
Coot x 5
Canada Geese x 20
Mallard x 3
Mute Swan x 2
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Sunday 10th of January 2016 09:20:31 PM
Great Northern Diver Ontario Basin this morning
Juvenile Great Northern showing well in Ontario Basin.
Juvenile Great Northern Diver still in Ontario Basin
Great Northern Diver still present early afternoon today on Ontario Basin in the watersports centre. Goldcrest there in conifers at the front of the Beefeater, also seen drake Goldeneye, Grey Wagtail and 1 Great Crested Grebe
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 6th of January 2016 10:04:25 PM
BWP makes reference to both subsong and 'Whisper-song', both of which seem to sound similar to that which you heard and are given in response to heterosexual interactions. Perhaps not too surprisingly, they appear to be poorly recorded and understood. Whilst the study of bird vocalisations make up a large part of my birding I've never heard anything like either, so lucky you
In addition to the Great Northern Diver myself and Pete Hines observed something unusual neither of us had experienced before: one Mistle Thrush seemed to be engaged in courtship with another. Both were within a few yards of each other and of us. The male had puffed out his feathers and was emitting a strange burbling sub-song like a Starling (no Starlings were anywhere to be seen). My phone is too rubbish at recording unfortunately and this song has not been posted to Xeno Canto. Has anyone else ever heard this? I made a note of it for the records.