Thanks Kate hope its ok, I know last year there was 6 cygnets and i think only 2 survived. Very sad, I fish to and whatever is lying around I bring home with me mine or not. Its not difficult to clean up after. Was up there on Sunday with my little lad he said look Daddy a Kingfisher when we were playing Pooh sticks on the bridge. I completely missed it!! He is only 2 1/2.

Hi Phil

the cygnet at Clifton was the victim of fishing line, not mink. It got tangled around it's wings. RSPCA took it in to care but it looked badly infected and we haven't heard yet whether it survived.

Hi I have seen mink along the river at 4 different locations at Queens Park Heywood.

On one of those occasions I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker ghasing a mink down a tree that was just opposite its nest - I mentioned this to the park ranger and was told that although they were aware, it was the responsability of the waterways authority.

Regards

Mike

I have seen Mink on Clifton Country Park. Was there this evening and noticed that one of the Cygnets has diappeared. I wondered if the furry chap was to blame.

Surely if the Mink are predating a schedule 1 listed species eg. Kingfisher the landowner/manager would be duty bound to carry out control (even more so if they are responsible for the management of a local nature reserve)?

Based upon the increased number of Mink sightings over the past 18months it'll be a long time before the Mersey Valley Kingfisher population recovers from last winter. Likewise Sand Martin colonies along the length of the valley appear to be vulnerable with several locations destroyed.

If anybody has annual records of the breeding success of vulnerable species for key sites along the valley perhaps they could be used to encourage the relevant authorities to take action. Personally I'm aware Mink have been around the Chorlton/Sale area since winter 2008.

Or perhaps seeing it's such a publically sensitive area Natural England could reintroduce a few Otters!

Mink have also been reported in Heaton Mersey Nature Park, close to Burnage Rugby club. Again the info I have is that it was seen near Sand Martin colony. I had a look at it today and most holes seemed normal, although a couple did seem to have been dug.

That side of the river is private land, but not sure whether anyone would be able to trap.

I'm afraid not. There was even a known nest along the Mersey a year or so ago, I understand DEFRA are aware of the situations though the sites are deemed too public an area. There are legal issues i.e. required licences and such to trap and remove.

MV management are interested in any mink sightings along the valley. Contact Richard Salisbury 0161 881 5639 r.salisbury@manchester.gov.uk

Where's Davy Crocket when you need him?

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 24th of June 2010 06:14:22 PM

Is there any trapping of mink going on in the Mersey valley Pete?

There was a report of a mink at the Parrs Wood (Millgate ?), Didsbury, Sand Martin colony entering nests and removing young chicks 3 times on 26th May .

The small Sand Martin colony in the bank of the Mersey at Sale WP opposite Chorlton Ees (10th May) has again been abandoned and nest holes enlarged (16th June) .

Wildfowl at Chorlton WP has suffered heavy losses from mink predation this year (a regularly visiting male). The Coots and G/C Grebes are now on their third nesting attempt.

Pesky animals

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 24th of June 2010 06:08:31 PM

There are Mink in and around Bredbury and Reddish Vale I'm affraid...Mink feared responsible for the death of 3 Cygnets at the Vale last week.

Anthony

hi i live in denton, but its borderline bredbury so its on the tame,you can see reddish vale from where i live,lanie

Where was this lanie ?

not a good sight yesterday,while i was watching the sandmartins weaving about like they do over ther bank on the river, i saw a mink crossing the river and enter there nesting sites well all hell broke loose there were twice of many martins all at once as if from no where.i must of been there for a good hour and i didnt see it come back.but on a lighter note i did see a kingfisher,5 young goosander,pied wagtail,kestral,morehen and her 4 babies,the lovely buzzards and the goldfinch.lanie