Winter Wetland Bird Survey M60 to Ringley Road Bridge 8.15 - 10:45am

The spell of cold and dry weather has made conditions ideal for ducks to feed on the river.

5 Canada Geese
39 Teal (the largest flock of 23 was feeding just downstream from the Ringley ETW outflow
69 Mallard
8 Goosander
1 Cormorant
14 Moorhen
4 Dipper including two having a territorial stand off on the shoreline (singing and posturing until one chased the other into the river)
34 Black-headed Gull
3 Grey Wagtail

Thanks to everyone who took part in the survey and to Mike Beard for doing a great job of organising it. Virtually the whole of the River Irwell (and the Croal up to Rock Hall) has been counted this morning over the same 2-2.5 hour period from Salford Quays all the way upstream to Springside Farm north of Burrs Country Park. A very impressive effort by everyone involved

Once we have done all the number crunching it will be interesting to see how the results compare with the original surveys carried out over the winter of 1998-99. A Raven was calling from the top of an electricity pylon above the Kearsley Rd, to the east of Prestolee and took flight south across the river.

-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Saturday 21st of January 2017 07:53:13 PM

3 Teal near Kersal dale
1 Kestrel on the Meadows
9 Fieldfare at the cliff playing fields

Water level high so fewer ducks on river than expected for time of year

2 Dippers - next to Agecroft bridge
1 Teal (m) - Agecroft bridge
5 Redwings - Littleton road
12 Goldeneye (11f 1m) - kersal dale
1 Wigeon (F) - castle irwell wetland
2 Linnets - castle irwell

Today during cold and frosty conditions From agecroft to crescent road:

Dipper - first ever seen along this stretch
Kingfisher
Wigeon (female) also first seen on river
16 Goldeneye
17 Tufted duck
12 Little grebes
13 Lapwing on Littleton playing fields
2 Reed buntings seen in Kersal dale
Kestrel
Plus usuals

-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Saturday 26th of November 2016 05:11:20 PM

-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Saturday 26th of November 2016 05:12:51 PM

River Irwell at Kersal dale & Castle irwell:

Kingfisher
Buzzard
3 Lapwing
3 Chiffchaffs
12 Skylarks over
Plenty of goldcrests

Saturday late post at Hough lane bridge (in between Peel park and Frederick road):

5 Swallow over
Bullfinch
Goldcrest

Castle irwell\Kersal dale:

Lesser redpoll over
3 Siskin
12 Linnets
20 Meadow pipits on site many more heard or seen over southbound
2 Cormorants
Goosander

a stroll along the river from trinity way bridge to Adelphi bridge & back this afternoon.

7 goosanders
67 Canada geese
3 grey wagtails
2 grey herons
1 mute swan
12+ long tailed tit
3 chiffchaff
11 mistle thrush
6 house martins
1 sparrowhawk

20 Goosander near Adelphi bridge today

Common Sandpiper this morning at 9:30 flying downstream from Regent Road bridge

Late post from yesterday around crescent meadows area:

2 Willow Warblers
1 Chiffchaff
20 Sand martins at Adelphi bridge - possibly new colony! Shame it is being developed.

This evening from Littleton road to Kersal dale:

2 Common Sandpipers
2 Goosanders
2 Mute swans
2 Lapwing (Castle Irwell)
40 Sand martins

Short visit this morning from Littleton road to kersal dale:

1 Willow warbler
1 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaffs
30 Sand martins

5 Shoveler at Castle Irwell

Evening visit with Simon Warford.

Castle Irwell:

3 Oystercatchers
10 Herring Gulls
15 Teal
20 Sand Martins
92 Lesser black-backed Gulls

River Irwell between Kersal dale and Littleton:

4 Wheatears (3 male 1 female)

River @ Salford uni:

23 Cormorants (flying to roost)

Castle Irwell Wetland 18.00 - 20.00

1 Redshank
2 Lapwing
c.300 Jackdaws

River Irwell from University to Cromwell Rd:

2 Kingfishers flying past Cromwell bridge
2 Tufted ducks
2 Goosander
1 Kestrel chased by crows
8 Siskins feeding on the ground
No Goldeneye seen on this occasion perhaps gone back to Scandinavia?

Kersal Dale:

12 Lesser redpolls
2 Buzzards

3 Woodcock flushed along the riverside at Kersal Dale this morning during a clean up of all the litter following the floods, with Melanie B and Zoe B.

Littleton Road Playing fields (Salford sports village)

300 Black-headed Gulls
40 Starlings
15 Mistle Thrushes
23 Magpies
1 Kestrel
5 Siskins

Salford uni:
2 Treecreepers
2 Jays

David Lewis Playing fields

43 Woodpigeons

Summary of sunday's WeBS count from the Weir (salford uni) to Agecroft bridge:

204 Black-headed Gulls
124 Canada Geese
11 Common Gulls
1 Cormorant
5 Goosanders
28 Goldeneye
1 Greylag Goose
3 Grey Wagtails
1 Kingfisher
1 Lapwing
4 Lesser black-backed Gulls
9 Little Grebes
103 Mallard
9 Moorhen
2 Pied Wagtails
87 Tufted Ducks

other highlights include:

140 Pink-footed geese flying west
c. 40 Siskin
90 Fieldfare

Happy new year everyone!

18 Tufted Ducks near university
2 Little Grebes near university
11 Goldeneye near Frederick road
20+ Redwing in Peel Park
108 Black-headed Gulls in flooded section of Peel Park. The park was completely submerged only 4 days ago

Late post from Yesterdays WeBS Survey (Crescent to Agecroft bridge):

1 Common Gull, Mew Gull
1 Goosander
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher
3 Cormorant, Great Cormorant
4 Grey Heron, Heron
4 Tufted Duck
5 Teal, Common Teal, Eurasian Teal
10 Moorhen, Common Moorhen
16 Dabchick, Little Grebe
26 Goldeneye, Common Goldeneye
58 Canada Goose, Greater Canada Goose
61 Black-Headed Gull
111 Mallard

Adelphi to Cromwell Rd today:

1 Goosander
1 Kingfisher
3 Siskin
2 Goldcrest
c. 300 Starlings

Castle Irwell:

120 Lapwings
300 Jackdaws

Littleton to Jubilee bridge:
! Kingfisher
4 Redwing
2 Fieldfare
3 Goldcrest

1 Goosander redhead by crescent road

This morning near Salford university:

1 Little grebe
7 Tufted duck
10 Mallard
1 Teal
51 Fieldfares in trees and 38 flying over

Wellington Street, Bury

Dipper showing well this morning, seen twice
Sparrowhawk came through, scattered all pigeons from surrounding mills and chimney.
2 Grey Wagtails
2 possibly 3 Jays seen flying over our site throughout the day.
3 Redwing over

Wellington Street, Bury

Kingfisher active this morning.

A flock of Thrushes flew over probably 30+, wasn't able to identify with the naked eye as they were too high.