No sign 6:45 to 7:45 this morning despite a fairly thorough scan from Deckers. Good Spam & Cheese barm from the Greasy Spoon at the entrance to the water Park scant consolation!

At 15.45 I was approached at Chorlton WP by MOP Mr D. Lancaster who described 'an unusual bird' he'd seen at Sale WP this afternoon at 14.30. It was being harrassed by gulls, described as half the size of a bl-h gull, brown, a pale W on the wings and a white rump and had landed on the water briefly. I showed him a pic of Leach's in the Collin's guide and then shot down there after work at 16.00 arriving about 16.10+.

All the gulls had left to roost elsewhere and the bird was just sat on the lake and identified as a Leach's Petrel and after a while it took a short flight briefly when harrassed by a group of Coots and some more features were noted . I stayed until 16.40 when it was still present, as a dark blob in the lights of the M60. Generally the light was failing and I wished I had my big bright Kowa, instead of the works Spacemaster 22XWA on a shoulder pod.

I might be wrong but it didn't look too healthy, though prob just exhausted. Hope it's still there in the morning ( I won't be able to male it ).

You guys might just want to be in Didsbury though, just in case there's a Little Auk on the pond at Fog Lane Park

might see you there Paul. Would love to see one fairly well, compared to the usual spec at sea!

-- Edited by henerz1 at 18:41, 2007-11-12

nipped there in the dark at 17.10 tonight petrel species seen opposite deckers near the pylon, but unable to get any other points on it, will be there in the morning.
keep birding ( even in the dark)

Report of Leach's Storm Petrel at Sale Water park just before dusk on RBA. Isn't this quite a good Manc bird? Might nip there first thing in the morning. Cheers. Henerz.