3 Little Egrets back in the same field with the horses to the west of the path at the end of Cob Kiln Lane at 15.00 today.
Male and Female Goosander on the Mersey opposite the MetroVics Clubhouse.
Very large flock (50+) Collard Doves on the roof at the grain store/sheds between Ashton cricket club and MV Rugby Club. I've seen big groups of Collard Doves here before, but never quite this many. Feral Pigeons and Wood Pigeons also in large numbers.
Pete Hines said
Fri Jan 5 3:06 PM, 2024
Pink-footed Geese 52 over east at 11.09 Willow Tit 1 same area as yesterday, though at the riverside at 53.440898, -2.345975 Redwing 66
Pete Hines said
Thu Jan 4 1:32 PM, 2024
Willow Tit 1 Cob Kiln Lane, in bramble, same area as the Waxwing 53.441228, -2.346096 Redwing 84
Pete Hines said
Wed Jan 3 4:06 PM, 2024
Waxwing 1 in hawthorn with Chaffinches before flying across to tree top, then continuing east at 12.25. Cob Kiln Lane, open area with the pylon 53.441018, -2.345745
No sign of Cattle Egret today in a 30 minute search in rain from 1pm approx.
Steven Heywood said
Mon Jan 1 8:00 PM, 2024
I had wondered where the cattle egret had got to when I walked past just after two. The little egret was with the horses at the far end of the field on the other end of the lane and a couple of dozen redwings were flitting about in the treetops by the stables with a handful of parakeets.
Cob Kiln Wood was *very* quiet even though it was the only bit of the area not heaving with people and dogs.
The cattle egret was back in the same field when I was walking back into Urmston at quarter past three. It seemed a bit more skittish than it was yesterday but it didn't seem to spoil its appetite for earthworms.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Jan 1 5:37 PM, 2024
Cattle Egret still present at 13.45pm but had flown up into a tree from the field after being spooked by a couple of barking dogs. But it had to put up with a lot of Magpie attention.
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 1st of January 2024 05:50:12 PM
Cob Kiln Lane - very busy with family walks and cyclists. Cattle Egret still feeding at 1.00pm 1 Stock Dove near Mersey Bridge 2 Wood Pigeons Female Sparrowhawk 2 singles Grey Wagtails 2 Herring Gulls 2 Lesser Blackback Gulls Several Blackbirds 1 Robin! 1 Blue Tit! 2 Great Tits! 2 Carrion Crows! 30+ Magpies
Nick Hilton said
Mon Jan 1 12:17 PM, 2024
Cattle Egret present now in the field to east of the lane.
Martin Whittam said
Mon Jan 1 11:10 AM, 2024
Cattle Egret this morning 10:30 in horse field along Cob Kiln Lane, left hand side after the gate
Cattle Egret this morning.09.00 in horse field along Cob Kiln Lane left hand side of lane walking away from Urmston and passed horse supplies shop.
No sign of Little Egret
Pete Hines said
Sun Dec 31 5:15 PM, 2023
The Cattle Egret was still present at the horse paddock with a Little Egret on Cob Kiln Lane at 11.58. At 13.33 the / a Cattle Egret was at Watery Lane, by Ruby Farm, with a Common Gull when it flew west at 13.37 appearing to drop down behind the trees. No Egrets at cob Kiln Lane at 14.22. Pics of the Cattle Egret from both locations.
Raven 3 over Siskin 50 (in 3 flocks) Redwing 250+ Mandarin Duck 2
1 Cattle Egret and 2 Little Egret still in the horse paddock at Cob Kiln Lane 15:05hrs
Tony O Mahony said
Sat Dec 30 11:35 AM, 2023
Cattle Egret and 2 little egrets urmston meadows off Cob Kiln Lane
Robert Farmer said
Sat Dec 30 10:09 AM, 2023
Interesting that Pete - I wonder if that makes it more likely the group of 5 I saw was either a mixture of Little Egrets and Cattle Egrets, or just Little Egrets with the Cattle Egret the following day being a solo traveller?
The group of 5 I saw Christmas day were too far away to discern without binoculars, but the Cattle Egret the following day was more co-operative. A couple of further pics below.
We went round again today, similar route to Pete but with nothing unusual to note.
River level is well up and the ox-bow lake is now a part of the river again.
Pete Hines said
Wed Dec 27 12:41 PM, 2023
08.14 - 10.56 Cob Kiln Lane to Willow Farm & areas inbetween
Teal 48 Little Grebe 1 Stock Dove 14 Redwing 74 Siskin 28
Woodcock 1 on 22nd Dec.
No Egrets
steven burke said
Wed Dec 27 11:13 AM, 2023
No sign of any egrets between 10.15 - 11am this morning.
Robert Farmer said
Tue Dec 26 6:05 PM, 2023
Yesterday while walking the dogs we came across what I thought at first were 5 Little Egrets, about 100 yards away in a field of horses. I didn't have my binoculars but took a picture with my phone to remind me to check again later. The birds were a bit too far away to see much detail and I didn't want to disturb them by going too near with my dogs.
Visited again today and had a better look at one which was there again - looked very much like a a Cattle Egret.
Main reasons for this conclusion was a small size compared to a Magpie and imm gull nearby, short yellow bill, head shape and shortish neck, dark but not black legs and no sign of yellow feet. Also the fact they seemed very comfortable amongst a field of horses.
I was able to take a few pictures with my phone through my binoculars and saw enough to be fairly confident this was a Cattle Egret and in all probability, based on size, activity and location, the five we saw yesterday were also.
The five seen yesterday and today's solitary bird all eventually flew off over the trees to the south-west towards the Mersey.
The location is in the horse field to the west of the path immediately after the stables and through the gate at the end of Cobb Kiln Lane.
Little Egret at Old Eea Brook below the cemetery this morning
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 9 6:40 PM, 2023
Originally posted today by Barry Brett:
Little Egret in ditch by old football fields.
Pete Hines said
Mon Jan 2 2:30 PM, 2023
Pink-footed Goose 18 > NW @ 11.06, 40 > W @ 12.10, another skein heard only Mandarin Duck 2 pairs on the River Mersey at Old Ea's Brook Teal 10 Little Grebe 3 Willow Tit pair at 53.438256, -2.352372 Redpoll 2 Siskin 5
Pete Hines said
Fri Dec 30 12:20 PM, 2022
Little Egret - 1 along Watery Lane at Ruby Farm Mandarin Duck 5 (2 male and 3 female) on the Mersey at Old Ea's Brook Teal 17 " Little Grebe 6 "
Dipper again today at 4.05pm near to the Riverside Cafe (as previously).
Kingfisher flew by towards Stretford. Grey Wagtail and 2 Little Grebe on the river opposite the sewage works.
Chiffchaff (at least 2) with the Long-Tailed Tits at Kickety Brook.
Robert Farmer said
Mon Aug 15 4:51 PM, 2022
Dipper seen again at the same place.
Seen at about 8.45am and flew off upstream towards Stretford this time.
4x Goosander hauled out on the concrete slab below the footbridge. All female/juveniles.
Robert Farmer said
Wed Jul 27 9:10 PM, 2022
Dipper on the 'rapids' near the Riverbank cafe at the entrance to Kickerty Brook at about 12.30 today. Flew off downstream towards the Ashton footbridge.
First I've seen here in many years - aware they have been seen near the Mile Road, but not this far up.
David Newbrook said
Wed Apr 20 4:55 PM, 2022
Eight Sand Martins collecting nest material .
Pete Hines said
Wed Mar 23 10:03 AM, 2022
Mandarin 5-7 3m 2f on river and pair in a tree on Old Eea Brook may have come from there Teal 15 Chiffchaff 8 Treecreeper 1 Redwing 96 Siskin 2 Yellowhammer 1 male
Pete Hines said
Tue Feb 1 1:18 PM, 2022
Little Egret 1 flew overhead towards Ashton-on-Mersey Water Rail 1 walking between roosting Teal on small island in Mersey Redwing 115 Siskin 24 Teal 27
Chris Sutton said
Wed Jan 12 9:59 PM, 2022
Green Woodpecker calling 3:15 today. Ring-necked Parakeet - 3 Chris
Visiting my parents today so made my first visit to Urmston meadows looking for the Mandarin. Sadly, I think it was a little busy for them to make themselves known! But some nice spots;
2 grey wagtail chasing each other up and down the Brook
1 x chiffchaff- my first for a few months
2 x teal who were quite nervy whenever the mallards came close
2 x wren
2 x ring-necked parakeet
1 x buzzard riding the warmer afternoon air
House sparrow in the lane approaching the brook
Pete Hines said
Thu Mar 4 11:33 AM, 2021
Little Egret 1 flew in from the west and dropped down onto Old Eea Brook behind 'Barrowfield' at 10.29, before alighting and returning west. Mandarin 8 (5m 3f) Teal 13 Goosander 6 (3m 3f) Stock Dove 10 Redwing 12 Greenfinch 14 Siskin 3
Raven - pair on pylon by Cob Kiln Lane
Little Egret 1
Redwing 65
Siskin 25
Male and Female Goosander on the Mersey opposite the MetroVics Clubhouse.
Very large flock (50+) Collard Doves on the roof at the grain store/sheds between Ashton cricket club and MV Rugby Club. I've seen big groups of Collard Doves here before, but never quite this many. Feral Pigeons and Wood Pigeons also in large numbers.
Willow Tit 1 same area as yesterday, though at the riverside at 53.440898, -2.345975
Redwing 66
Redwing 84
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 1st of January 2024 05:50:12 PM
Cattle Egret still feeding at 1.00pm
1 Stock Dove near Mersey Bridge
2 Wood Pigeons
Female Sparrowhawk
2 singles Grey Wagtails
2 Herring Gulls
2 Lesser Blackback Gulls
Several Blackbirds
1 Robin!
1 Blue Tit!
2 Great Tits!
2 Carrion Crows!
30+ Magpies
Raven 3 over
Siskin 50 (in 3 flocks)
Redwing 250+
Mandarin Duck 2
No horses either, whether that has an influence I don't know?
Cattle Egret and Little Egret still there at 11 in the horse paddock at Cob Kiln Lane
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 31st of December 2023 01:10:24 PM
Cattle egret present with a little egret 9:33am
-- Edited by Keith Rowland on Sunday 31st of December 2023 09:40:51 AM
Glad Pete and others managed to catch up the the Cattle Egret today.
He had a bit more company this afternoon - joined by a fox as well as the gulls, horses and Little Egrets.
Nice to meet you Tony - no sign of your rainguard unfortunately. We will keep an eye out as we are down there most days.
-- Edited by Robert Farmer on Saturday 30th of December 2023 10:13:36 PM
Cattle Egret and 2 little egrets urmston meadows off Cob Kiln Lane
The group of 5 I saw Christmas day were too far away to discern without binoculars, but the Cattle Egret the following day was more co-operative. A couple of further pics below.
Redwing 43
River level is well up and the ox-bow lake is now a part of the river again.
Teal 48
Little Grebe 1
Stock Dove 14
Redwing 74
Siskin 28
Woodcock 1 on 22nd Dec.
No Egrets
Visited again today and had a better look at one which was there again - looked very much like a a Cattle Egret.
Main reasons for this conclusion was a small size compared to a Magpie and imm gull nearby, short yellow bill, head shape and shortish neck, dark but not black legs and no sign of yellow feet. Also the fact they seemed very comfortable amongst a field of horses.
I was able to take a few pictures with my phone through my binoculars and saw enough to be fairly confident this was a Cattle Egret and in all probability, based on size, activity and location, the five we saw yesterday were also.
The five seen yesterday and today's solitary bird all eventually flew off over the trees to the south-west towards the Mersey.
The location is in the horse field to the west of the path immediately after the stables and through the gate at the end of Cobb Kiln Lane.
Teal 17
Goosander 5
Lapwing 49 over
Siskin 28
Redpoll 1
Mandarin 1
Redwing 163
Fieldfare 20
Redpoll 1
Siskin 10 Chiffchaff 1
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Thursday 19th of October 2023 11:12:36 AM
1 Blackcap singing
2 Mandarin on river
2 Goosander on river
12 Chiffchaff
4 Greenfinch
Mandarin Duck pair
Chiffchaff 8
Redwing 60
Originally posted today by Barry Brett:
Little Egret in ditch by old football fields.
Mandarin Duck 2 pairs on the River Mersey at Old Ea's Brook
Teal 10
Little Grebe 3
Willow Tit pair at 53.438256, -2.352372
Redpoll 2
Siskin 5
Mandarin Duck 5 (2 male and 3 female) on the Mersey at Old Ea's Brook
Teal 17 "
Little Grebe 6 "
Little Grebe 3
Buzzard 3
Chiffchaff 2
Blackcap 2
Redwing 14
Grey Wagtail 3
Pied Wagtail 3
Meadow Pipit 2
Siskin 3
Kingfisher flew by towards Stretford. Grey Wagtail and 2 Little Grebe on the river opposite the sewage works.
Chiffchaff (at least 2) with the Long-Tailed Tits at Kickety Brook.
Seen at about 8.45am and flew off upstream towards Stretford this time.
4x Goosander hauled out on the concrete slab below the footbridge. All female/juveniles.
First I've seen here in many years - aware they have been seen near the Mile Road, but not this far up.
Eight Sand Martins collecting nest material .
Teal 15
Chiffchaff 8
Treecreeper 1
Redwing 96
Siskin 2
Yellowhammer 1 male
Water Rail 1 walking between roosting Teal on small island in Mersey
Redwing 115
Siskin 24
Teal 27
Ring-necked Parakeet - 3
Chris
Chiffchaff 3
Mandarin 8, 4 pairs
Teal 13
Visiting my parents today so made my first visit to Urmston meadows looking for the Mandarin. Sadly, I think it was a little busy for them to make themselves known! But some nice spots;
2 grey wagtail chasing each other up and down the Brook
1 x chiffchaff- my first for a few months
2 x teal who were quite nervy whenever the mallards came close
2 x wren
2 x ring-necked parakeet
1 x buzzard riding the warmer afternoon air
House sparrow in the lane approaching the brook
Mandarin 8 (5m 3f)
Teal 13
Goosander 6 (3m 3f)
Stock Dove 10
Redwing 12
Greenfinch 14
Siskin 3
8 Teal (5m, 3f)
5 Goosander (1m, 4f)
4 Grey Wagtail
2 Greenfinch
2 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel