Already posted this in the River Irwell section, but maybe some of it or all of it belongs here? From Friday 22 March, around lunchtime, walk up from Agecroft, through Drinkwater Park, up to Kingfisher Lodge/Waterdale, back down along the River Irwell . Kingfisher Lodge pool: pair Gadwall, Mallards, Coots River Irwell: Goosander pair + 1, Tufted Duck pair, Black Headed Gull Drinkwater Park: Chiffchaffs, Great Tits, Blue Tits , Long-Tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Magpies, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swans, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, Heron, Wood Pigeons, Nuthatches
pete berry said
Wed Jul 5 12:36 PM, 2023
A Red Kite over M60 just east of the Irwell Valley at 12 o'clock.
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 5th of July 2023 03:35:34 PM
Steve Christmas said
Mon May 1 11:47 AM, 2023
A couple of unusual sightings on the Irwell near the 13 Arches while doing my BBS square this morning. A male teal (first record there for me in 25 years) and also an Aylesbury duck.
6 loafing goosander with a cormorant.
A Chiffchaff was giving a stuttering 3-syllabled song: Ch-chiff-chaff.
4 buzzards soaring over Pilkington's Tiles.
Steve Christmas said
Mon May 2 9:54 AM, 2022
While doing my BBS count, there was the strange sight of a male Tufted Duck chasing a female mallard almost to the top of the 13 Arches viaduct. They perched there for a while with a male mallard in attendance.
-- Edited by Steve Christmas on Monday 2nd of May 2022 10:02:19 AM
6 singing goldcrests, 4 chiffchaffs, 3 common whitethroat, heron, swifts, and reed bunting
Steve Christmas said
Sat May 30 9:48 AM, 2015
While doing my BBS square at 08.00 this morning had a possible pale phase arctic skua flying down the Irwell from 13 arches towards Drinkwater Park but didn't get a good enough view to claim it.
Ian Boote said
Sun Mar 29 5:01 PM, 2015
Mere Clough Jay, 2 Kestrel, 3 Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dipper on river 2 Goldcrest
Ian Boote said
Mon Feb 23 9:33 AM, 2015
around waterdale Goldcrest at botom of Mere Clough, 3 Teal on Lagoob, Pheasant Grey Wagtail and a Bullfinch
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 23rd of February 2015 09:33:28 AM
Ian Boote said
Mon Feb 16 9:18 AM, 2015
Drinkwater Park and Irwell Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebe on River, Bullfinch x 2 Male Greenfinches, several flocks of Goldfinches, Jay in Woods 6 Gadwall, Cor,orant on Lodge.F
Ian Boote said
Wed Dec 24 10:33 AM, 2014
Mere Clough 3 Nuthatches, Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tit, and Two Redwing.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of December 2014 12:29:31 PM
Ian Boote said
Sun Oct 26 12:56 PM, 2014
Waterdale 2 Kestrel, 2 Buzzard 2 Jay, flock of Redwing, Heron 10 Teal 4 Goosander 30 Mute Swan Reed Bunting, Little Grebe and 2 Wigeon
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 26th of October 2014 05:58:33 PM
Ian Boote said
Wed Sep 17 9:26 AM, 2014
Mere Clough-Jay, Singing Chiffchaff, Jackdaw, lots of Nuthatches, Heron at Damshead Coal Tit, Long TailedTits and Great Spotted Woodpecker
Ian Boote said
Tue Aug 26 10:28 AM, 2014
Fairly Good Moocg around the Clifton Aquaduct looking for some long lost plants
Green Sandpiper (spooked) , Swallow, Kestrel, Nuthatch walk back to Carpark, Goldfinches Yellow Wagtail.
Ian Boote said
Mon Jul 28 10:25 PM, 2014
7 Red Headed Goosanders on river, family of Grey Wagtails, Buzzard & Blackcap Clifton Aqueduct area.
Ian Boote said
Tue Apr 29 9:45 AM, 2014
Mere Clough Great SpottedWoodpecker, several Wilow Warbler Chiffchaff and Blackcap, Nuthatchs and a kestrel
2 Kestrel, 4 Heron, 3 Teal, lots of Long-Tailed tits 15 Tufted Duck 2 Cormorant, Singing Song Thrushes, Jay, Siskin, and several Coal Tits.
Ian Boote said
Sun Jul 21 9:19 PM, 2013
Grasshopper Warbler singing away, a family of willow tits, about 30 House Martins and a kestrel were this mornings offers.
Ian Boote said
Mon Jul 8 4:25 PM, 2013
Very short walk to the lodge at the bottom of Mere Clough gave Swallow House and Sand Martion, Nuthatch, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and family of fledged Bullfinches.
Ian Boote said
Sat Jun 8 4:54 PM, 2013
Great Spotted woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, grey wagtail, Chiffchaff Blackcap Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler, Raven
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 8th of June 2013 05:15:39 PM
Ian Boote said
Mon Mar 11 4:37 PM, 2013
Sunny Cold flock of Goldfinches and few Bullfinches near sewage works, several Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpecker bottom Mere Clough, on river downstream from aquaduct 3 Goosander 4 Little Grebe, 2 Teal 4 Grey Wagtail, upstream a wader but too far to confirm properly, over 2 Cormorant and flapping about a Kestrel more Bullfinches and loads of Wrens
Ian Boote said
Sun Jan 27 1:45 PM, 2013
Slim pickings Willow Tit, Coal tits, Nuthatches, Treecreeper Mere Cough, flock of goldfinches long tailed tits and Male Goldeneye on a very inflated river
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 27th of January 2013 01:46:07 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2013 02:09:53 PM
Ian Boote said
Mon Nov 5 5:30 PM, 2012
From Sewage works to aqueduct near thirteen arches a frosty mornings sparse picking included one goosander, one siskin, one grey wagtail, one kestrel and two flocks of long tailed tits
Ian Boote said
Mon Sep 17 4:39 PM, 2012
From Sewage works to aqueduct near thirteen arches Two singing chiffchaff, bullfinch, grey wagtail, kestrel, 6 swallows mobbing sparrow hawk, mistle thrush, nuthatch, and on river goosander
Ian Boote said
Mon Jun 4 10:00 PM, 2012
Long walk from sewage works down to waterdale over viaduct down to drinkwater park and back.
Blackcap Chiffchaff a plenty few willow warbler common whitethroat, gadwall in river, family of wrens, souring buzzard and fantastic views of two kestrels until a dog walker appeared around a corner shouting 'Baby...Baby...Baby Come Here' and then Baby quickly appeared and who was a huge slavering snarling big toothed hound.
Ian Boote said
Tue May 22 5:34 PM, 2012
Prestywich sewage Works Site Pheasant Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler Goldfinch and Whitethroat.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 05:34:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:37:48 PM
Ian Boote said
Sat Mar 24 1:06 AM, 2012
Walk from outwood to waterdale over river to drinkwater park uo and down prestwich clough and back through bottom of mere clough to outwood. Lot of people out taking the sun and one chap in drinkwater park walking around shouting a dogs name and blowing a veryvery very loud wistle, so not many sights there.
Lapwings and skylarks outwood. In the woods lots of Nuthatch, Great spotted Woodpeckers, treecreepers jay pheasant and fly over buzzard some goosander in the river. In the ponds drinkwater park 6 tufted duck and great crested grebe chiffchaff everywhere.
Ian Boote said
Tue Mar 6 2:50 PM, 2012
Trans wildlife section
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 02:52:29 PM
Ian Boote said
Tue Mar 6 2:45 PM, 2012
Mere Clough Waterdale Phillips Park Lots of Nuthatches at least six seen and heard all different birds some posing for photos. One Treecreeper One Coal tit One Pheasant and Two singing Goldcrests around what is left of the gardens. Lot of work higher up in the clough laying footpaths.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 02:46:16 PM
Ian Boote said
Mon Jan 30 7:30 PM, 2012
Sunrise Mere Clough and path to sewage work Clough plenty of Jays one Nuthatch Coal tit heard Tawney Owl Path from Sewage Works More Jays Bullfinch and flock of 12 lesser redpolls on birch
Ian Boote said
Mon May 9 9:30 AM, 2011
Sewage works
Lots of White throats, couple of lesser white throats, black cap, sedge warbler, reed bunting, 3 chiff chaffs, goldcrest and a pheasant plus usuals
Ian Boote said
Mon Mar 28 9:28 AM, 2011
prestwich sewage works gate up mere clough
3 Nuthatches one a pair getting rather annoyed with a squirrel near an old woodpecker hole which I assume they have taken over.
3 tree creepers one a pair
1 gold crest
1 coal tit
2 GS Woodpeckers
6 singing Chiff chaffs spread from sewage works gate to middle of mere clough
lots of L T tits
3 mallard 1 coot on lodge
prestwich side of he viaduct 30 ards up. The females were the goosanders. It starlted me as I was looking for plants on the river bank. It had slighty upturned bill green legs. I do not list.
Simon Johnson said
Thu Apr 15 7:28 PM, 2010
Ok thanks Ian.
Its just that Green Sandpipers are very common along that stretch of the river
Excellent record then - as its very unusual to get Greenshank on the river down there. Was it on an Island at all or the rocky banking? Will go down and have a look tomorrow.
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 07:28:59 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Apr 15 7:15 PM, 2010
How did you know it was female?
Ian Boote said
Thu Apr 15 6:42 PM, 2010
It was right neaer the thirteen arches railway viaduct on the river along with the three goosanders. I was looking at something else and startled it on to the other side of the river. It was not as green sand and it was very early.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:44:57 PM
Simon Johnson said
Thu Apr 15 5:41 PM, 2010
Hi ian. Where about's exactly was your Greenshank? As cant really work it out from your post. I have I good idea but There isn't much habitat in that area for waders! Although green sand are often seen down there along the river and occasional on the ponds. Greenshank would be a first for me in that area. Thanks very much. simon
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:04:59 PM
Paul Cliff said
Thu Apr 15 9:28 AM, 2010
Ian Boote wrote:
Early morning stroll in Phillips Park
Near Clifton aqueduct/lagoon lower woods Greenshank
Ian Boote said
Thu Apr 15 9:22 AM, 2010
Early morning stroll in Phillips Park Still frosty Seen One Mere Clough Tawney Owl 2 GS Woodpecker several chiff chaffs LT tit tree creeper Near Clifton aqueduct/lagoon lower woods 3 Goosander female Greenshank three black caps gadwall kingfisher
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 28th of March 2011 11:33:10 AM
Already posted this in the River Irwell section, but maybe some of it or all of it belongs here? From Friday 22 March, around lunchtime, walk up from Agecroft, through Drinkwater Park, up to Kingfisher Lodge/Waterdale, back down along the River Irwell . Kingfisher Lodge pool: pair Gadwall, Mallards, Coots River Irwell: Goosander pair + 1, Tufted Duck pair, Black Headed Gull Drinkwater Park: Chiffchaffs, Great Tits, Blue Tits , Long-Tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Magpies, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swans, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, Heron, Wood Pigeons, Nuthatches
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 5th of July 2023 03:35:34 PM
A couple of unusual sightings on the Irwell near the 13 Arches while doing my BBS square this morning. A male teal (first record there for me in 25 years) and also an Aylesbury duck.
6 loafing goosander with a cormorant.
A Chiffchaff was giving a stuttering 3-syllabled song: Ch-chiff-chaff.
4 buzzards soaring over Pilkington's Tiles.
While doing my BBS count, there was the strange sight of a male Tufted Duck chasing a female mallard almost to the top of the 13 Arches viaduct. They perched there for a while with a male mallard in attendance.
-- Edited by Steve Christmas on Monday 2nd of May 2022 10:02:19 AM
6 singing goldcrests, 4 chiffchaffs, 3 common whitethroat, heron, swifts, and reed bunting
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 23rd of February 2015 09:33:28 AM
Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebe on River, Bullfinch x 2 Male Greenfinches, several flocks of Goldfinches, Jay in Woods 6 Gadwall, Cor,orant on Lodge.F
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 24th of December 2014 12:29:31 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 26th of October 2014 05:58:33 PM
Green Sandpiper (spooked) , Swallow, Kestrel, Nuthatch walk back to Carpark, Goldfinches Yellow Wagtail.
Great SpottedWoodpecker, several Wilow Warbler Chiffchaff and Blackcap, Nuthatchs and a kestrel
Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, lots Nuthatch, Jay, Siskins, Coal Tit, 12 Gadwall, 4 Goldeneye, 3 Teal, 14 Tufted Duck
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 8th of June 2013 05:15:39 PM
flock of Goldfinches and few Bullfinches near sewage works, several Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpecker bottom Mere Clough, on river downstream from aquaduct 3 Goosander 4 Little Grebe, 2 Teal 4 Grey Wagtail, upstream a wader but too far to confirm properly, over 2 Cormorant and flapping about a Kestrel more Bullfinches and loads of Wrens
Willow Tit, Coal tits, Nuthatches, Treecreeper Mere Cough, flock of goldfinches long tailed tits and Male Goldeneye on a very inflated river
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 27th of January 2013 01:46:07 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2013 02:09:53 PM
a frosty mornings sparse picking included one goosander, one siskin, one grey wagtail, one kestrel and two flocks of long tailed tits
Two singing chiffchaff, bullfinch, grey wagtail, kestrel, 6 swallows mobbing sparrow hawk, mistle thrush, nuthatch, and on river goosander
Blackcap Chiffchaff a plenty few willow warbler common whitethroat, gadwall in river, family of wrens, souring buzzard and fantastic views of two kestrels until a dog walker appeared around a corner shouting 'Baby...Baby...Baby Come Here' and then Baby quickly appeared and who was a huge slavering snarling big toothed hound.
Pheasant Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Willow Warbler Goldfinch and Whitethroat.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 05:34:25 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:37:48 PM
Lapwings and skylarks outwood.
In the woods lots of Nuthatch, Great spotted Woodpeckers, treecreepers jay pheasant and fly over buzzard some goosander in the river. In the ponds drinkwater park 6 tufted duck and great crested grebe chiffchaff everywhere.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 02:52:29 PM
Lots of Nuthatches at least six seen and heard all different birds some posing for photos. One Treecreeper One Coal tit One Pheasant and Two singing Goldcrests around what is left of the gardens. Lot of work higher up in the clough laying footpaths.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 02:46:16 PM
Clough plenty of Jays one Nuthatch Coal tit heard Tawney Owl
Path from Sewage Works
More Jays Bullfinch and flock of 12 lesser redpolls on birch
Lots of White throats, couple of lesser white throats, black cap, sedge warbler, reed bunting, 3 chiff chaffs, goldcrest and a pheasant plus usuals
Mixed flock contained
Long tailed tit 10, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Nuthatch 2, Coal tit 3
Its just that Green Sandpipers are very common along that stretch of the river
Excellent record then - as its very unusual to get Greenshank on the river down there. Was it on an Island at all or the rocky banking? Will go down and have a look tomorrow.
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 07:28:59 PM
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:44:57 PM
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:04:59 PM
Still frosty
Seen One Mere Clough Tawney Owl 2 GS Woodpecker several chiff chaffs LT tit tree creeper
Near Clifton aqueduct/lagoon lower woods
3 Goosander female Greenshank three black caps gadwall kingfisher
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 28th of March 2011 11:33:10 AM