WeBS count this afternoon during showers: 1 Kingfisher 1 Grey heron 1 Cormorant 2 Goosander 4 Coots 5 Tufted ducks 5 Moohens 13 Black-headed gulls 17 Mallard Also 50 goldfinches

My first Blackcap of the year recorded today. Also present at least 3 Willow Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs.
All the commoner passerines in full voice.

At least 15 Redwings feeding amongst the leaf litter south west aspect of park this morning around 8.30am.

Just an update on this pleasant little place. A male and female Goosander have been here of late.
A female Teal has made an intermittent appearance for some time but a male flew in earlier in the week.
2 female Bullfinches seen amongst the Chaffinches.
A mixed flock of Goldfinches and Siskins also seen.
Regulars include Goldcrests, Treecreepers and Nuthatches.
Not seen the Grey Wagtail for a while, although I haven't been going as often. Has anyone else seen it?

Kingfisher at SW aspect of lake this morning. Nice to see a pair of Mute Swan here, present intermittently over last few weeks.
Small skein of c.35 Pink-footed Geese flying west.
+ usuals.

Hi Martin & Ben, the Kingfisher was near playground opposite side to bridge where it was momentarily perched. Never seen one before there.
I have seen Grey wagtail a few times - normally flies over but occasionally lands on Lake edge in front of main entrance.

The few times that I saw a Kingfisher it was diving close to the end where the playground is. If you're looking at the pond from the playground side, then it was perching on the trees to your left or near where the little bridge is. Furthermore, with regards to grey wagtail, I almost always saw it on the bank of the little island on the west side of the pond. I hope that helps.

-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Monday 28th of November 2016 01:43:38 PM

Mind if I ask whereabouts on the lake you saw the Kingfisher? I visit Clowes Park several times a week and occasionally see one flying over but not usually settling anywhere.
The Grey Wagtail comes and goes but I have not seen it for a while. Whereabouts did you see it today?

Today's belated Webs with lake frozen over:

Kingfisher - first I have seen here
3 Goosander (male 2 redheads)
Grey heron
Grey wagtail
3 Coot
2 Moorhen
1 Herring Gull
2 Lesser black-backed gulls
4 Common gulls
8 Mallard
64 Black-headed gulls

Also nuthatch, Redwings and Siskin

Teal x 1 present again this morning. Also Goosander x 8, [redheads]

This afternoons Webs count:

1 Teal (f) first time I have seen here
2 Coots
3 Moorhen
3 Tufted ducks
23 Canada geese
22 Black-headed gulls
25 Mallard

Sunday WeBS with park in snow and lake frozen over:

14 Black-headed Gulls
1 Common Gull
6 Mallards
2 Mute swans
1 Coot
4 Moorhens
1 Grey wagtail
3 Canada Geese

5 Lesser redpolls in trees
male Sparrowhawk flew through park

Sunday afternoon visit during WeBS:

45 Canada Geese
4 Moorhen
18 Mallard
3 Coot
6 Tufted ducks
21 Black-headed Gulls
1 Grey heron

Robin singing
Goldcrest heard in trees

A quick visit this afternoon:

1 Nuthatch calling
a pair of blue tits
20 Canada Geese
3 Tufted duck
2 Coot
3 Moorhen
43 Black-headed gulls
4 Blackbirds
1 Song thrush
1 Jackdaw
2 Grey herons flying over
1 Greenfinch singing
1 Dunnock singing

Nuthatch and redwing seen near the bridge.

grey heron flying across the lake causing quite a stir!

a few goosander still here :) and mute swan

first pair of grey wagtails seen. Exact same spot as last year :)

goosander seen this week along with a ringed mute swan and jay

5 goosander. first of the season :)

3 mute swans
blue, great and long tailed tits
grey heron
moorhen with chicks

2 sets of canada goslings x3 and x2
mallard chicks x2
coot chick now only 1

starlings
mistle thrush
great/blue/long tailed tits
swifts
chaffinch
lesser black backed gulls
tufted ducks

no more swans :(

-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Sunday 30th of June 2013 01:16:41 AM

great spotted woodpecker. first time i've seen one here in a looong time :)

looks like the 2 mute swans are here to stay!
coots with young
5 starling
1 mistle thrush
1 chaffinch
1 greenfinch
1 swift flying high out of the park
3 lesser black backed gulls
~10 swallows skimming the lake

-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Sunday 19th of May 2013 01:08:45 AM

2 mute swans still there
mistle thrush
jay
long tailed tits

sunny morning in clowes park :)

a pair of chaffinches and mute swans
tufted ducks
wren by the reeds on the playground side of the lake
goldcrest in really good view
a couple of flocks of long tailed tits

things of interest the last few days:

chaffinch
chiffchaff
mute swan pair still there, nice to see!
coot nest on playground side of the lake

drake goosander this week
tufted ducks
pair of goldeneye
pair of mute swan - first in a long time
mistle thrush
more than one long tailed tit flock
canada goose, coots, moorhen, crows, grey heron, mallard, blue and great tits

Grey wagtail still hanging around in the park. showing well.
mistle thrush
song thrush
chaffinch
grey heron
tufted ducks
drake goosander

grey wagtail showing very well for about 15mins, to within meters from the pavement for most of the time :)

On my way home with a quick stroll through the park.

Grey Heron
c10 tufted ducks
numerous mallards, coots, moorhen, canada geese and blue tits.
and a wren in the reeds

-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Thursday 10th of January 2013 12:25:56 AM

Thu 13th 1.30 - kingfisher flew off lake, across lawn and out of the North gate...great views in the sunshine...thanks to Ben I was looking out for it!

A sparrowhawk was weaving its way low and out of the park today until it disappeared in between the houses.

Female Reed Bunting on show in the park today.

Drake wigeon was attempting to hide from me as i went around the lake on friday.
The majority of the lake was frozen over and the fog was heavy going. I wonder if it got lost!
A first at the park.

I saw a glimmering kingfisher shooting across the lake about 30mins before dark.
Very lucky to see it in low light!

goosander present over the last week but alas not today! i've only seen females so far...
more than one flock of long tailed tits, numbering around 10 max per flock
3 tufted ducks
2 mistle thrush
1 grey heron
and a grey wagtail, my first at the park

1 goosander
grey heron :)
+ usuals

this afternoon:

i stalked one goosander across the lake to get a better look and it ended up flying away (heading south)!
luckily there were 2 more on the other side of the lake. first that i've seen this season

One lone mute swan. First in a very long time.

-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Friday 21st of September 2012 01:06:20 AM

tufted ducks
heron
jay
and the swan goose (which appears not to be tagged)

The usuals, and a bubbly pair of goldcrests.

just passing through:

32 canada geese
coots
moorhens
mallards
black-headed gulls
long tailed tits
grey heron
swan goose

only just started using this forum. this week i saw:

kingfisher (on top form today, first time i've seen one here)
canada goose
mallards
coots
moorhens
swan goose (has been here for maybe the last 4-5 months)
greylag geese
Grey heron
blackbirds
robins

on recent occasions the last couple of week:

blue/great/long-tailed tits
Great spotted woodpecker
green/bull/goldfinch
treecreeper
dunnocks
tufted ducks...

for a small lake it attracts some interesting visitors :)



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of August 2012 11:57:35 PM

Today:

1 Treecreeper
1 Robin
3 Long Tailed Tits
1 Great tit
Coot plus 4 young on the lake.

A nice little park and my first time here - a quick skim through revealed eight tufted ducks (5m 3f), two blacked-headed gulls, a dozen or so mallards, c25 Canada and 3 coots on its lake

On the Irwell coming over there/in Kersal Dale -6 Mallard, 2 Black faced gulls, 2 Mute swans, 5 tufted ducks, Blue tit in the trees.

-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 05:32:22 PM

3rd November.

7.30 to 9.30 am.

Visit to Clowes Park and nearby Kersal Dale.

7 Tufted Duck, c25 Canada Goose, 5 Moorhen and 4 Coot on the pond in Clowes Park. I Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Goldcrest in the surrounding woodland.

At nearby Kersal Dale - 1 Buzzard flew over, as did a skein of Pink-footed Geese at 8.30 but they remained unseen and uncounted as I couldn't see them through the fairly dense tree canopy. A Sparrowhawk targeted a large mixed tit flock. 2+ Siskin, 1+ Bullfinch and a single Jay.

Cheers,

Bill.

31st July.

Adults and at least 2 juvenile Goldcrest in the park this morning. It's always difficult to be absolutely certain with such a small and flighty species but I'm fairly sure from the movements being made and and the sounds heard that the adults were feeding the young.

Pair of Coot with 3 young. 2 pairs of Moorhen - one pair with 3 young. I have quite often seen adult Coots loosing their patience with their begging young but not Moorhens...until today, when the adult was really quite repeatedly aggressive towards its young. Mallard and Canada Goose have also bred here. Also Song Thrush carrying food and begging young Dunnocks heard. Had a Nuthatch in this park on 24/4 this year - not sure if that is a good record for here or not? Not heard or seen today though.

In nearby Mandley Park - at least 16 Mistle Thrush, including juvenile birds feeding in bird cherry trees. A family party of Goldfinch. Male Blackbird carrying food. An independent juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. c80 Starlings.

Cheers,

Bill.

16 goosander this morning. Half the lake was iced up.

22 goosander. Nice to see for such a small lake. 5 goldcrest