We had a quick family walk around the lake yesterday for 1 hour. Not much birds about but there was a Terrapin sunning itself at Teal Pool. Also from my tram at 06:21 on Saturday morning at SWP tram stop, I thought/hoped it was a Stoat (not seen one this year), but it was a Mink carrying one it's young over the tram tracks, up the ramp, across the road & into the bushes. Must be moving den.
Andrew Jeffery said
Sun Feb 12 7:51 PM, 2023
Found a Football sized Giant puffball near Barrow Brook.
Robert Farmer said
Fri Jul 3 10:14 AM, 2020
Looking at the pond next to Broad Eas Dole (to the left, if your back is facing the main lake) we saw a pretty large terrapin hauled out on what looked like a Coot's nest (or similar) in the centre of the pond. Looked about 10 inches long and no doubt has accounted for more than a few birds eggs in its time.
Matt Gillett said
Mon May 18 4:50 PM, 2020
Repeat sighting to Huw - bouncing Weasel across the road between Jacksons Boat and the football pitch yesterday (17th May)
Huw Morgan said
Thu Apr 9 9:14 AM, 2020
Thanks Steven. I knew they were Brimstones, not sure why I put Clouded Yellows!
Steven Nelson said
Wed Apr 8 10:48 PM, 2020
Huw Morgan wrote:
Came across this very showy weasel today near to Jackson's Bridge. I was amazed to get a decent photo through my bins.
Also lots of Clouded Yellows around, first I've seen this year.
-- Edited by Huw Morgan on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 07:07:38 PM
Hi Huw The yellow butterflies you saw will be Brimstones not Clouded Yellows.
Huw Morgan said
Wed Apr 8 5:23 PM, 2020
Came across this very showy weasel today near to Jackson's Bridge. I was amazed to get a decent photo through my bins.
Also lots of Brimstones around, first I've seen this year.
-- Edited by Huw Morgan on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 07:07:38 PM
-- Edited by Huw Morgan on Thursday 9th of April 2020 09:15:01 AM
By far the most notable thing I saw here today was undoubtedly a pair of hornets, feeding quite high up on flowers in an ivy-covered ash, near to the stepping stones. Not a species I've ever had locally, and one I've only ever seen on a handful of occasions before.
Also 4 common darter (two copulating), 2 brown hawker and several speckled wood.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jul 8 5:24 PM, 2018
Lots of butterflies about here today, with small skipper, gatekeeper (first of the year), meadow brown, small white, large white, small tortoisehell, comma and peacock all about.
Good numbers of odonata, too; lots of common blue damselflies, a nice sized colony of azure damselflies on the outflow channel (lots of copulating and ovipositing going on), 8+ brown hawker, 2 southern hawker and a single emperor zipping over the outflow channel.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun May 28 8:23 PM, 2017
Quite a few azure and (especially) common blue damselfly around here today; also several mayflies over the lake itself. Only butterfly seen was a speckled wood.
Nick Hilton said
Sun Sep 25 8:42 PM, 2016
After reading (and then googling) Steve's recent post on the Rochdale (other wildlife) sightings I came across two clumps of Autumn Crocus (Crocus Nudiflorus) on the banks of the Mersey today.
Joel Tragen said
Fri May 6 7:58 PM, 2016
late report for wednesday. 2 male orange tips in front of visitor center 1 comma with the orange tips
First orange tip of the year today; at least three around the marshy area beneath the visitor centre.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Mar 25 11:38 PM, 2016
Fox on Broad Ees Dole.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Jun 19 11:36 PM, 2015
Family of mink at Broad Ees Dole. I was close enough to have picked one of the kits up, had I fancied losing a finger. Sadly, though, probably the reason why I see little evidence of chicks here, and those I do see don't seem to last long.
Also a fox on the river bank.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 19th of June 2015 11:37:33 PM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri May 1 11:01 PM, 2015
A fox on Broad Ees Dole, and the first bluebells I've seen in flower this year.
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Apr 10 10:32 PM, 2015
First night of the year out with the bat detector tonight; tens of common pipistrelle flitting around, feeding on the multitude of tiny flies that were about.
Also a common toad.
Tim Wilcox said
Tue Sep 2 12:08 PM, 2014
Late news for Sunday 31 Aug Old Lady moth in the 'old car park'
Mike Savage said
Mon Jul 21 4:26 PM, 2014
Great views of Emperor Dragonfly at East end of lake, next to inflow bridge...
Mike
Joe Wynn said
Tue Jun 17 10:23 AM, 2014
Not strictly Sale WP (but doubt it's worth it's own thread) there's a massive emergence of Large Skippers and Six Spot Burnets out just the other side of the motorway bridge behind Priory Gardens. Fantastic to watch, skippers are very aggressive and attack any of the other insects.
Tony Darby said
Sun Jun 30 3:02 AM, 2013
Azure damselflies in profusion this afternoon. Many, many hundreds over the main lake and Broad Ees Dole. They were particularly active at the overflow channel where their mating and egg laying could be more easily observed . Also a very smart looking male Large Red Damselfly.
steven burke said
Mon Mar 19 5:52 AM, 2012
a mink was seen carrying a dead teal up a willow tree,onto top off hide and into hole in the roof.
info thanks to phil kelly.
steven burke said
Sun Mar 11 5:04 AM, 2012
whilst watching the corvid roost from the bank off the mersey,me & phil had at least 6 bats whizzing around us, only small ones so probably pipistrelles.
Tony Darby said
Tue Nov 8 4:29 PM, 2011
A weasel ran across a gap in the hedge that runs along Cow Lane, near to the old car park. The only excitement to be had at SWP early afternoon
Originally posted today by Anthony Robinson:
We had a quick family walk around the lake yesterday for 1 hour. Not much birds about but there was a Terrapin sunning itself at Teal Pool. Also from my tram at 06:21 on Saturday morning at SWP tram stop, I thought/hoped it was a Stoat (not seen one this year), but it was a Mink carrying one it's young over the tram tracks, up the ramp, across the road & into the bushes. Must be moving den.
Repeat sighting to Huw - bouncing Weasel across the road between Jacksons Boat and the football pitch yesterday (17th May)
Thanks Steven. I knew they were Brimstones, not sure why I put Clouded Yellows!
Hi Huw
The yellow butterflies you saw will be Brimstones not Clouded Yellows.
Came across this very showy weasel today near to Jackson's Bridge. I was amazed to get a decent photo through my bins.
Also lots of Brimstones around, first I've seen this year.
-- Edited by Huw Morgan on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 07:07:38 PM
-- Edited by Huw Morgan on Thursday 9th of April 2020 09:15:01 AM
Also 4 common darter (two copulating), 2 brown hawker and several speckled wood.
Good numbers of odonata, too; lots of common blue damselflies, a nice sized colony of azure damselflies on the outflow channel (lots of copulating and ovipositing going on), 8+ brown hawker, 2 southern hawker and a single emperor zipping over the outflow channel.
2 male orange tips in front of visitor center
1 comma with the orange tips
Also a fox on the river bank.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Friday 19th of June 2015 11:37:33 PM
Also a common toad.
Mike
Many, many hundreds over the main lake and Broad Ees Dole. They were particularly active
at the overflow channel where their mating and egg laying could be more easily observed .
Also a very smart looking male Large Red Damselfly.
info thanks to phil kelly.
old car park. The only excitement to be had at SWP early afternoon