The Middlebrook Great Crested Grebe was seen today in Queens park on the River Croal.
This unusual sighting thanks again to Joseph Cooper.
David Lumb said
Thu Jul 21 7:37 PM, 2016
Pair of Dippers on the river this morning.
David Lumb said
Thu Dec 17 2:00 PM, 2015
8.50am to 9.40am.
1 Little Grebe. Feeding on a small fish when I got to the lake. 1 Grey Heron 15 Canada Geese 50+ Mallards 1m Goosander 8 Moorhens 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Woodpigeons & Feral Pigeons A few Wrens, Robins, & Blackbirds. 12 Redwings & a Mistle Thrush. 2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits. 20+ at Chorley Street entrance & a smaller flock in the park. A few Great Tits & Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatches. Magpies, Jackdaws, & Carrion Crows. Hardly any finches seen in the wind & drizzle. Only saw 1 Greenfinch & 2 Goldfinches.
David Lumb said
Mon Dec 7 4:02 PM, 2015
9.45am to 9.30am.
1 Little Grebe on the lake. First one for me in the park. 14 Canada Geese 70+ Mallards 8 Moorhens 15 Black-headed Gulls Apart from 5 Redwings & a Siskin just the usual park species :- Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeons, 1 Pied Wagtail, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Nuthatches, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches.
Steve Christmas said
Fri Nov 6 8:46 PM, 2015
4 redhead goosander on lake at 8.30 this morning. No Canada Geese.
David Lumb said
Wed Nov 4 8:19 PM, 2015
10.00am to 10.55am. Quiet, apart from council workers with their leaf clearing equipment. Very noisy in those areas.
Good views of the eclipse. Before getting to the park I wondered how the eclipse would affect the woodland birds. Did not seem to make any difference, but there were not many birds about anyway. The noisier birds (e.g. Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, & Nuthatches) did not stop singing.
After leaving the park I headed for the town centre. As I passed the GPO a Peregrine flew past me heading either for the park or the gasometers down Spa Road. Definitely taking route one from the Parish Church along Deansgate.
David Lumb said
Tue Mar 17 8:19 PM, 2015
Even less about than my last visit.
26 Canada Geese 20+ Mallards 1m Goosander on the river and a female on the main pond 2 Moorhens on the river. None on the main lake or the fishing pond which is very unusual A Jay making strange noises as it was being harassed by a Mistle Thrush
David Lumb said
Fri Feb 27 7:37 PM, 2015
Late morning mooch, very little about but added Treecreeper and Goosander to this year's records.
Female Goosander was on river, and could be the one which flew off Back o'th' Bank lodges heading this way.
Only 38 Canada Geese, Mallards, a Moorhen, and Black-headed Gulls, on main pond.
Very windy and hardly anything calling in the woodland. A couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the ponds with the usual Canada Geese, Mallards, Moorhens, & Black-headed Gulls.
Just when it looked like nothing of interest was about a Peregrine flew in from Chorley New Road and flew very quickly over the ponds heading towards Gilnow.
No Peregrines seen in town today but this sighting and the one on Blackburn Road shows they are still busy on the edge of the town.
David Lumb said
Mon Feb 3 7:20 PM, 2014
11.30am to 12.30pm.
37 Canada Geese 100+ Mallards 1 Black-headed Gull 8 Moorhens 1 Sparrowhawk 40+ Feral Pigeons, but only one Woodpigeon Goldcrests seen in a couple of places Wrens, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Greenfinches, & Goldfinches the only other birds present on a very quiet visit.
David Lumb said
Fri Jan 17 8:54 PM, 2014
11.50am to 12.35pm.
13 Canada Geese 100+ Mallards 7 Moorhens 3 Herring Gulls passing over Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeons, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, a couple of Mistle Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & a single Bullfinch.
Things were so quiet I resorted to counting the Grey Squirrels. I knew there were lots but did not expect a total of 22, mostly around the lake.
David Lumb said
Thu Nov 28 4:41 PM, 2013
10.05am to 11.15am.
1 Grey Heron 1 Canada Goose c120 Mallards 10 Moorhens 45 Black-headed Gulls 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 30 Feral Pigeons 6 Woodpigeons 1 Pied Wagtail as I headed towards the park from the town centre 8 Wrens 2 Dunnocks 11 Robins 16 Blackbirds 2 Redwings 1 Mistle Thrush 2 flocks Of Long-tailed Tits with numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits 1 Nuthatch 12 Magpies 3 Jackdaws (on Chorley New Road with House Sparrows near the park entrance) 4 Carrion Crows 9 Chaffinches 2 Greenfinches 4 Goldfinches 2 Bullfinches
David Lumb said
Mon Jun 17 3:06 AM, 2013
11am to noon.
20+ Canada Geese 30+ Mallards 6 Moorhens 30+ Black-headed Gulls 30+ Feral Pigeons 3 Woodpigeons 1 Collared Dove 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 1 Pied Wagtail A few Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins 9 Blackbirds 2 Blackcaps Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 7 Magpies 2 Carrion Crows 4 Chaffinches 1 Goldfinch
David Lumb said
Mon May 6 1:55 AM, 2013
11.55am to 12.45pm. A lot of activity around the park with a bank holiday funfair. A lot better than the mess being created by the illegal travellers near the Chorley Street entrance though. Also very noisy by the river due to ongoing sculpturing using machinery on cut down tree trunks. I did manage a few interesting sightings in the quieter spots.
A very large female Sparrowhawk flew out of the trees by the fishing lodge as I watched my only butterfly of the day, a Small Tortoiseshell.
A pair of Blackcaps by the main lakes gave good views, made even better as they flitted through the Bluebells (my first Bluebells this year). Also in this area I saw 24 Canada Geese, 30+ Mallards (including some of the ducklings from last time), 4 Moorhens (3 also on the river), 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Willow Warbler, & at least 2 Goldcrests.
A pair of Treecreepers were by the bowling green.
Pete Liptrot said
Thu Apr 25 3:00 AM, 2013
To David's list I'd add a single Chiffchaff singing in the riverside trees near the fishing lodge.
David Lumb said
Thu Apr 25 2:18 AM, 2013
11.40am to 12.30pm. Quite a bit of the park still closed off due to the Lottery funded improvements.
14 Canada Geese 40+ Mallards, including a female with 14 ducklings, a few of which had normal markings but most were bright yellow. 5 Moorhens 25 Black-headed Gulls 40+ Feral Pigeons 18 Woodpigeons 5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (a pair near the fishing lodge, another pair by the main ponds, and one in a garden behind Park Road) 1 Pied Wagtail on the roof of Travis Perkins just outside the park 5 Wrens 2 Dunnocks 4 Robins 4 Blackbirds 1 Song Thrush 2 Blackcaps 2 Willow Warblers 1 Goldcrest A few Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 2 Nuthatches 3 Magpies 5 Carrion Crows 2 Chaffinches 4 Greenfinches 10+ Goldfinches
44 Canada Geese 100+ Mallards 11 Moorhens + young on river a few weeks old 75 Black-headed Gulls 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls 40+ Feral Pigeons 14 Woodpigeons 3 Grey Wagtails (one near entrance at town end, one on main lodges, and one outside the park along the river near Gilnow Mill. This stretch can also be good for Dippers and Kingfishers, viewed from the back street, but none today. 2 Wrens 3 Robins 3 Blackbirds 1 Song Thrush 1 Goldcrest 2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits with Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits 2 Nuthatches 1 Jay 8 Magpies 12 Jackdaws 1 Carrion Crow 5 Chaffinches
The Middlebrook Great Crested Grebe was seen today in Queens park on the River Croal.
This unusual sighting thanks again to Joseph Cooper.
1 Little Grebe. Feeding on a small fish when I got to the lake.
1 Grey Heron
15 Canada Geese
50+ Mallards
1m Goosander
8 Moorhens
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Woodpigeons & Feral Pigeons
A few Wrens, Robins, & Blackbirds. 12 Redwings & a Mistle Thrush.
2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits. 20+ at Chorley Street entrance & a smaller flock in the park.
A few Great Tits & Blue Tits, 2 Nuthatches.
Magpies, Jackdaws, & Carrion Crows.
Hardly any finches seen in the wind & drizzle. Only saw 1 Greenfinch & 2 Goldfinches.
1 Little Grebe on the lake. First one for me in the park.
14 Canada Geese
70+ Mallards
8 Moorhens
15 Black-headed Gulls
Apart from 5 Redwings & a Siskin just the usual park species :-
Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeons, 1 Pied Wagtail, Wrens, Robins, Blackbirds, 1 Mistle Thrush, Long-tailed Tits, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Nuthatches, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches.
4 redhead goosander on lake at 8.30 this morning. No Canada Geese.
18 Canada Geese
70+ Mallards
11 Moorhens
3 Black-headed Gulls
1 Grey Wagtail
Not much else around the park, 3 flocks of Long-tailed Tits, a few Nuthatches & Goldcrests, and a Siskin the best I could find.
1 Mute Swan
22 Canada Geese
c25 Mallards
1f Goosander
7 Moorhens
4 Black-headed Gulls
Good views of the eclipse. Before getting to the park I wondered how the eclipse would affect the woodland birds. Did not seem to make any difference, but there were not many birds about anyway. The noisier birds (e.g. Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, & Nuthatches) did not stop singing.
After leaving the park I headed for the town centre. As I passed the GPO a Peregrine flew past me heading either for the park or the gasometers down Spa Road.
Definitely taking route one from the Parish Church along Deansgate.
26 Canada Geese
20+ Mallards
1m Goosander on the river and a female on the main pond
2 Moorhens on the river. None on the main lake or the fishing pond which is very unusual
A Jay making strange noises as it was being harassed by a Mistle Thrush
Female Goosander was on river, and could be the one which flew off Back o'th' Bank lodges heading this way.
Only 38 Canada Geese, Mallards, a Moorhen, and Black-headed Gulls, on main pond.
1 Grey Heron
1 Mute Swan
37 Canada Geese
60+ Mallards
7 Moorhens
50+ Black-headed Gulls
40+ Feral Pigeons
13 Woodpigeons
5 Wrens
4 Dunnocks
14 Robins
10 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
5 Mistle Thrushes
2 Long-tailed Tits
Numerous Great Tits & Blue Tits
1 Jay
11 Magpies
6 Carrion Crows
6 Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch
Other birds :-
1 Grey Heron, 31 Canada Geese, c75 Mallards, 4 Moorhens, 15 Black-headed Gulls, Feral Pigeons, Woodpigeons, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Song Thrushes, Mistle Thrushes, Goldcrest, Great Tits, Blue Tits, Nuthatches, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Starlings, Chaffinches, & Goldfinches.
1 Mute Swan, 45 Canada Geese, 80+ Mallards, 4 Moorhens, 20+ Black-headed Gulls,
80+ Feral Pigeons, 10+ Woodpigeons,
A few Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes (3), Goldcrest, Long-tailed Tits (2 flocks), Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Chaffinches, & Goldfinches.
25+ Magpies, 2 Jays, & 2 Carrion Crows.
Just when it looked like nothing of interest was about a Peregrine flew in from Chorley New Road and flew very quickly over the ponds heading towards Gilnow.
No Peregrines seen in town today but this sighting and the one on Blackburn Road shows they are still busy on the edge of the town.
37 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
1 Black-headed Gull
8 Moorhens
1 Sparrowhawk
40+ Feral Pigeons, but only one Woodpigeon
Goldcrests seen in a couple of places
Wrens, Robins, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Magpies, Carrion Crows, Greenfinches, & Goldfinches the only other birds present on a very quiet visit.
13 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
7 Moorhens
3 Herring Gulls passing over
Woodpigeons, Feral Pigeons, Wrens, Dunnocks, Robins, Blackbirds, a couple of Mistle Thrushes, Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Nuthatches, Jays, Magpies, Jackdaws, Carrion Crows, Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, & a single Bullfinch.
Things were so quiet I resorted to counting the Grey Squirrels. I knew there were lots but did not expect a total of 22, mostly around the lake.
1 Grey Heron
1 Canada Goose
c120 Mallards
10 Moorhens
45 Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
30 Feral Pigeons
6 Woodpigeons
1 Pied Wagtail as I headed towards the park from the town centre
8 Wrens
2 Dunnocks
11 Robins
16 Blackbirds
2 Redwings
1 Mistle Thrush
2 flocks Of Long-tailed Tits with numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
12 Magpies
3 Jackdaws (on Chorley New Road with House Sparrows near the park entrance)
4 Carrion Crows
9 Chaffinches
2 Greenfinches
4 Goldfinches
2 Bullfinches
20+ Canada Geese
30+ Mallards
6 Moorhens
30+ Black-headed Gulls
30+ Feral Pigeons
3 Woodpigeons
1 Collared Dove
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Pied Wagtail
A few Wrens, Dunnocks, & Robins
9 Blackbirds
2 Blackcaps
Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
7 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
4 Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch
A very large female Sparrowhawk flew out of the trees by the fishing lodge as I watched my only butterfly of the day, a Small Tortoiseshell.
A pair of Blackcaps by the main lakes gave good views, made even better as they flitted through the Bluebells (my first Bluebells this year).
Also in this area I saw 24 Canada Geese, 30+ Mallards (including some of the ducklings from last time), 4 Moorhens (3 also on the river), 20+ Black-headed Gulls, 1 Willow Warbler, & at least 2 Goldcrests.
A pair of Treecreepers were by the bowling green.
14 Canada Geese
40+ Mallards, including a female with 14 ducklings, a few of which had normal markings but most were bright yellow.
5 Moorhens
25 Black-headed Gulls
40+ Feral Pigeons
18 Woodpigeons
5 Great Spotted Woodpeckers (a pair near the fishing lodge, another pair by the main ponds, and one in a garden behind Park Road)
1 Pied Wagtail on the roof of Travis Perkins just outside the park
5 Wrens
2 Dunnocks
4 Robins
4 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
2 Blackcaps
2 Willow Warblers
1 Goldcrest
A few Long-tailed Tits, Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
3 Magpies
5 Carrion Crows
2 Chaffinches
4 Greenfinches
10+ Goldfinches
26 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
13 Moorhens
70+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Herring Gull
50+ Feral Pigeons
13 Woodpigeons
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Wrens
1 Dunnock
5 Robins
4 Blackbirds
80+ Redwings
2 Song Thrushes
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Goldcrest
15 Long-tailed Tits
Numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Nuthatch
2 Treecreepers
17 Magpies
4 Jackdaws
3 Carrion Crows
3 Chaffinches
3 Greenfinches
30+ Goldfinches
2 Siskins
2 Bullfinches
3 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
14 Moorhens
30+ Black-headed Gulls
50+ Feral Pigeons
16 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Wren
4 Robins
5 Blackbirds
14 Redwings
1 Song Thrush
Long-tailed Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
10 Magpies
2 Jackdaws
9 Carrion Crows
4 Chaffinches
5 Goldfinches
2 Canada Geese
130+ Mallards
11 Moorhens
20+ Black-headed Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
50+ Feral Pigeons
9 Woodpigeons
2 Dunnocks
2 Robins
8 Blackbirds
15 Redwings
1 Song Thrush
2 Mistle Thrushes
10+ Long-tailed Tits
Numerous Blue Tits & Great Tits
1 Treecreeper
1 Jay
12 Magpies
5 Carrion Crows
4 Chaffinches
15+ Greenfinches
30+ Goldfinches
1 Siskin heard, could have been more mixed with the Goldfinches
2 Bullfinches
42 Canada Geese
130+ Mallards
10 Moorhens
50+ Black-headed Gulls
50+ Feral Pigeons
12 Woodpigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Wrens
3 Dunnocks
6 Robins
4 Blackbirds
40+ Redwings
2 Mistle Thrushes
10+ Long-tailed Tits
A few Blue Tits & Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
7 Magpies
2 Carrion Crows
1 Chaffinch
2 Greenfinches
10+ Goldfinches
1 Siskin
1 female Wigeon
c160 Mallards
12 Moorhens
30+ Black-headed Gulls
50+ Feral Pigeons
9 Woodpigeons
2 Wrens
3 Robins
5 Blackbirds
22 Redwings
1 Goldcrest
2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits
Blue Tits & Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
6 Magpies
6 Carrion Crows
2 House Sparrows
10+ Chaffinches
15+ Greenfinches
4 Goldfinches
1 Bullfinch
53 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
17 Moorhens
1 Black-headed Gull
16 Feral Pigeons
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Wren
1 Dunnock
12 Robins
2 Blackbirds
1 Mistle Thrush
Blue Tits & Great Tits
3 Jays
9 Magpies
3 Jackdaws
11 Carrion Crows
12 Starlings
2 Chaffinches
1 Goldfinch
44 Canada Geese
100+ Mallards
11 Moorhens + young on river a few weeks old
75 Black-headed Gulls
2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
40+ Feral Pigeons
14 Woodpigeons
3 Grey Wagtails (one near entrance at town end, one on main lodges, and one outside the park along the river near Gilnow Mill. This stretch can also be good for Dippers and Kingfishers, viewed from the back street, but none today.
2 Wrens
3 Robins
3 Blackbirds
1 Song Thrush
1 Goldcrest
2 flocks of Long-tailed Tits with Coal Tits, Blue Tits, & Great Tits
2 Nuthatches
1 Jay
8 Magpies
12 Jackdaws
1 Carrion Crow
5 Chaffinches
Wood Warbler and 2 Mediterranean Gulls
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes