12 Teal on the little island in Broad Ees Dole and a pied wagtail. Then not far from the hide, close to the path, a cracking view of a Kingfisher in full sun, slowly doing a 360 ° turn before diving, catching its meal and eating. Several Siskin. On the feeders 1 Nuthatch and 1 Willow Tit back and forth.

Willow tits at least 3 regularly visting the bird feeders , along with nuthatches and coal tits 

Several goldcrest, and 5 Bullfinches today.

Kingfisher in the brook app the sluice gates .

main lake holds large Swan geese and coot numbers all 50 plus .

broad ees dole is overgrown and a mess but has bits and bobs on it 

Keep birding 

Nothing on the Egret front at Sale water park today , stroll round with Tim Wilcock , Kingfisher on the Teal pool the dole was quite .

Keep Birding 

Saturday, 11-Sep, there was a Great Egret on Broad Ees Dole at 17:30. Horrible record shot attached. 

Also there were 3 Eurasian Teal and 6 Gadwall, along with the usual supporting cast. (Full list on eBird.)

Apologies for the delayed post; I had to wait to sign up for the forum. 

Little Egret on Broad Ees Dole at 1.30 today

Yesterday 17th June : Broad Ees Dole : A juvenile Ruff on the Island

Sun 09May21. 12.30 p.m. Broad Ees Dole hide. 5 x Herons on the tiny island or within 1.5m (one was a juvenile) plus another Heron about 30m away. 1 x Little Grebe. 1 Buzzard being harassed by crows.

17:00 - 17:50

• 40 sand martins and 4 swallows feeding over the lake
• Fledgling pied wagtail being fed at the lake side
• Pair of goosander on Broad Ees Dole

 

 

Common Sandpiper on the Mersey by Sale Ees whilst on my run this evening.

Kittiwake present to 1910hrs., when it flew off with five L. B.-b. Gulls, heading towards Trafford Park / Salford Quays.

Enjoyed spending some time with the 2nd cy Kittiwake in front of the boat house this afternoon. Wonderful views. 

A quick visit straight after work at 2.10pm, kittiwake showing very well in front of the boathouse.

Got down to see the Whooper Swans at 1015hrs., they were in the centre of the lake as quite a tight group, looking alert and a bit ill at ease, perhaps because of the increasing number of people around the lake, and the paddle boards and canoes etc. at the east end of the lake; I did notice a powerboat being prepared for going onto the lake.

Ten minutes or so later, the powerboat did a high speed circuit round the main body of the lake. The Whooper Swans were clearly disturbed by this, and four birds took off in alarm, gaining height and moving away from the area used by the boat. This took them directly towards the powerlines along the north side of the lake, the section from B.E.D. over the river to Stretford Ees. Getting closer to the cables, they clearly saw the hazard, and tried to slow down and turn away. This they succeeded in doing, and all four turned and descended back towards the lake, landing back with the other eighteen swans.

A further high speed run by the powerboat caused panic, with initially four birds taking flight, then followed by the rest of the group fragmenting, individuals and small groups taking off over the course of several seconds. The first four birds strove for height, and again approached the powerlines. Three of the birds managed to slow down and either turn back or manoeuvre a way through. The other bird struck one of the cables, and dropped vertically, showing no sign of struggle, out of sight either into or behind the trees at B.E.D. All the eighteen other birds seemed to go generally eastwards, somewhat scattered. I think all managed to get through the powerlines in that direction, but I doubt if they all found each other again.

I decided to try and find the fallen bird, and set off round the lake. After a few minutes I noticed one of the Whooper Swans still on the lake, swimming towards the eastern part; I assumed one bird had returned. A couple of minutes later, it took off and flew eastward. Then I searched Stretford Ees, the riverbanks, and the bits of B.E.D. wood I could get into, but no swan, so I gave up. Later, I received a text: "the Whooper came clattering out of the wood through the willows. Met two dogs on the path but neither made contact. It swam back onto the water only for a real near miss with the speedboat. It then swam up the lake. No visible sign of damage". So, it survived, and was the lone bird I had seen.

Birds don't get much of a chance on the lake. Four pairs of Great Crested Grebe are present; last week, the only active nest was washed away by waves from high speed jet-skis, as was the Little Grebe nest. One of the pairs of Kingfisher appears to have gone after boating activity in one area, similarly, one of the G.C. Grebe pairs has given up at the eastern end of the lake. Even the Mute Swans (34 at the moment) have to be wary of attempted attacks by uncontrolled dogs; a daily event I think.

On a brighter note: over 50 species today, including fem. Wheatear, the Sedge Warbler still in the same bush as when I first saw it on 3rd, and double figures of both Chiffchaff and Blackcap. The Great Tit which sings exactly like a Willow Tit is still active by B.E.D. hide (I have seen W. Tit there this week though), and the Great Tit which calls like a Common Sandpiper is still in B.E.D. wood. 

 

 

 

 

No sign of Garganey early this afternoon but...

Willow Tit 1 singing, viewed from SJ 807 926.
Raven 2 over Mersey heading south, to Carrington Moss presumably.
Chiffchaff 4 singing.
Blackcap 3 singing.
Sand Martin 5
Reed Bunting 1 male.
Kingfisher 1
Teal 11
Gadwall 3
Great Crested Grebe 2
Little Grebe 3
Grey Heron 6
etc.etc.etc.

Male Garganey still present on the Dole this afternoon.

Drake Garganey still showing well early evening though mobile.

 

Earlier in the week (1/4) singing Willow Tit near the carpark and 2 Redpoll.

 

 

-- Edited by Connor Rand on Sunday 4th of April 2021 07:05:27 PM

Garganey still present when I left at 4:15pm

Late post for yesterday Monday 22.03.21

Common Scoter 1 ( found by an experienced local birdwatcher earlier that day).

By the time I got to the main lake it was getting dark and I found the Scoter at 7pm lost it,went to the motorway side of the lake and re- found it at 7.20pm.
Although it was dark,the white clouds were reflecting off the water surface plus a bit of light from the motorway helped. Also at that time were 3 Great crested grebe on the water and a Moorhen close to the bank.
Earlier 2 Mute swan were seen building a nest close by.

Flying visit early AM, viewed only from the main car park.

I didn't see the reported Common Scoter
2 Sand Martin through
1 Goosander (redhead)
2 Herring Gull
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Greenfinch

Visit this morning, very quiet.

1 Kingfisher
5 Teal
1 Goosander (redhead)
17 Tufted Duck
1 Herring Gull
1 Common Gull
3 Lesser Black Backed Gull
15 Redwing
5 Cormorant
5 Great Crested Grebe
2 Little Grebe
1 Kestrel

No Gadwall today

1x Kingfisher along brook

approx 20 Gadwall

2x Teal

1x Bullfinch which looked like it was unwell, maybe Trich disease?

2x Little grebe 

1x female Goosander

4x great crested grebe

3x Grey Heron

Coots aggressive and fighting 

-- Edited by CALLUM VERNON on Saturday 20th of February 2021 05:26:20 PM

Broad ees dole (90%frozen).

Teal - 61 most I've seen at this site.
Grey Heron - 3.
Little Grebe - 4.
Snipe - 6.

Main lake
Little Grebe - 6.
Mute Swan - 10.
Tufted Duck - 6.
Redwing - 1.
Chaffinch - 1.
Treecreeper - 1.
Wren - 1.
Plus lots of Robins and Blackbirds about. Also at least one Great crested Grebe.

-- Edited by phillipskelly on Wednesday 10th of February 2021 05:18:54 PM

2 kingfishers seen today and yesterday together in a bush halfway between the lake and wooden bridge.

Kingfisher (2) - Barrow Brook (the sluice from the river to the water park) . They were both low down in scrub about 40ft from the river towards the flying field having a natter. Chris