Little Egret Mills Hill showing in field adjacent to Rochdale Canal

Viewable from Coney Green Lock (number 62)

Still present at 3:30pm

Park at Chadderton Hall Park or the Rose of Lancaster pub and walk north along the canal towpath

Also c30 Redwings, 4 Siskin, 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Teal, 2 Meadow Pipit

Boarshaw Lane Flash 4 Goosander, 1 Wigeon, 8 Teal

Clegg Hall Pools

91 Pink-footed Geese east at midday
5 Wigeon
7 Gadwall
6 Tufted Duck
2 Little Grebe

Boarshaw Lane Flash area

1 Wigeon
2 Teal
2 Little Grebe
c50 Meadow Pipit
1 Buzzard


https://youtu.be/eruLaWtkPlE

Film: Eurasian Wigeons on Boarshaw Lane Flash

Boarshaw Lane - Chadderton Hall Park

1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
2 Goldcrest
1 Wigeon
3 Little Grebe
1 Teal
3 Buzzard
4 Jay
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Clegg Hall Pools

drake Pochard
5 Wigeon
4 Tufted Duck
2 Little Grebe

Info thanks to Alan Nuttall

Clegg Hall Pools - 7 Wigeon, 5 Tufted Duck, 7 Mute Swan

Info thanks to Alan Nuttall

Clegg Hall Pools - 6 Wigeon, 3 drake Tufted Duck

Castleton - 20 Swallows

Boarshaw Lane Flash - 1 Wigeon, 3 Little Grebe

Boarshaw Lane Flash - 1 Wigeon, 1 Swallow, 2 Little Grebe

Also 6 Wigeon photographed on Clegg Hall Pools

Boarshaw Lane Flash - 2 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 2 Little Grebe

c50 Lapwings in fields around Lock 72

Sunday 20th September 2020

Boarshaw Lane Flash

1 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 2 Little Grebe

Friday 18th September 2020

Female / immature Wigeon Boarshaw Lane Flash (view only from Boarshaw Lane)

Mandarin Duck Littleborough adjacent to Bridge 49, probably a juvenile drake moulting into adult plumage (3 birds reported here recently including a full adult drake and female)

Female Tufted Duck and 7 Mute Swans (2 adults and 5 cygnets) on Clegg Hall Pools

Sunday 23rd October 8:30am
Between Sandbrook Park and Smithy Bridge Station:
2 female and 1 male Goosander
3 Fieldfare

Lots of the usuals too on a sunny morning.

19:25 this evening whilst walking dog from Halifax Rd towards Todmorden Cath and I came across a Little Egret stood opposite tow path close to first bridge after joining canal at Halifax Rd. Flew off in direction of ealees. Grey heron stood nearby also flew off but headed towards nearby heronry.

This morning between Castleton and Chadderton:
1 Goosander (male)
1 Sparrowhawk
6 Tree Sparrows
Plenty of Canada Geese and Mallards
Plus lots of the usuals too

Originally posted today by Abby Barclay:

Pair of Kestrels hunting along Littleborough canal managed to photograph them today.. Gorgeous birds.

Along the canal east of Littleborough at lunchtime today just past bridge 46 and in bushes opposite the towpath:

Lesser Whitethroat, 1
Blackcap male 2, possibly 3
Spotted Flycatcher, 1
Willow warbler, c6
Chiffchaff, c4
Greenfinch 2

Were a big surprise and a great sign of autumn migration

Returned at 2pm to see Spotted flycatcher and blackcap still present though no sign of the Lesser Whitethroat.

Female Mandarin back on the canal just east of littleborough centre today.

3 Grasshopper Warblers reeling in field alongside the canal east of Littleborough, 1 seen reeling from the top of a fence post at the bottom of the railway embankment. Also in the general area, the local Tawny's have 2 owlets although we learned today 1 has been taken in to care after twice being found in the road by the local postman.

The Pink foot mentioned in an earlier post has also been seen recently amongst the Canada's!

-- Edited by Andrew Huyton on Sunday 22nd of June 2014 08:45:39 PM

Pink footed goose feeding in fields by the canal amongst a large flock of Canada geese again last night approx 1 mile from centre of Littleborough towards Todmorden.

Short walk along the canal to walk the dog the last couple of nights, from where the canal goes under Halifax Rd in Littleborough walking towards Todmorden.

Monday - 1 Snipe, 2 Grey Herons, 1 Tawny Owl
Tuesday - 2 Snipe, 1 Pink Footed Goose on the canal amongst c250 Canada Geese and 1 Tawny Owl.

Not bad for a short walk at dusk.

Today -Similar to my Ashton Canal Jaunt yesterday - nothing out of ordinary

1 Great Tit
1 pied Wagtail
Couple of Song thrush
Several Housesparrows
3 Starling
Circa 20 Canada
15 Mallard

Yesterday

1 Pied Wagtail
3 Song Thrushes
2 Goldfinch
2 Great Tits
Usual suspects on the canal itself, including 1 pair of mallards and three ducklings

I know what you mean about the similarity to R-b goose! Someone's pet they got rid of, I suppose.

Hi Judith,
yes I'm sure it was a male according to the web site the female has a lot drabber plumage. Its colouration reminded me of a red breasted goose although a lot smaller in size. I'm going to try and relocate it next week' will give you an update.

Dave Phillips

Thanks - I need to keep a check on exotics! Presume it's a male?

Hi Judith
I did go on an exotic duck web site and yes it was a Carolina wood duck that most closely resembled the duck I saw. It was on a stretch of the canal near Rochdale centre where the canal passes under Oldham road A671.

Dave Phillips

HI Dave - do you mean a Carolina Wood Duck? Where exactly did you see it on the canal?

Wednesday 10.30. Walked the Rochdale Canal from Rochdale to Manchester. Grey Wagtails very abundant at least 5pair also a few pied Wagtails. Three Kingfisher seen this species now seen daily on various stretches of the canal. An unusual duck with Mallard at Rochdale appears to be a Carolina. A few Heron seen and moorhen. Dave Phillips