I had to drop off some canoes there yesterday, Sat 2nd, and was informed by staff that a pair of herons had bred successfully on the island this year. Also, there was an Egyptian Goose on the pond.

I've had a word with the WeBS counter there who knows the site very well (P. Helm) and he knows nothing about it but had heard the rumour as there had been something in the MEN. He will try and find out. It wouldn't surprise me though given the nearness of the new heronry at Northenden, and the fact they breed on islands at QP Lake Heywood and Boggart Hole Clough, both of which are public parks. My recollection of the island at Platt Fields Park is that it has trees!

A work colleague (not a birder, but not an ignoramus!) reckons that Herons have nested this year in Platt Fields Park, Manchester. Does anyone have further details of this? If you do, please let me know as I organise the BTO Heronries Census for the Manchester region. Thanks.