Thanks Chris. I'm a bit reluctant to approach the land-owner, given that I've only seen mink there once. However, if it starts to happen more often, I might take you up on your offer. 

Little Egret at Broad Ees Dole again this morning.

Also, saw a mink kill a moorhen in the river before dragging it onto the bank. I vaguely remember that we're supposed to report mink sightings, but the only place I can find to report them is
https://www.waterliferecoverytrust.org.uk/report-a-sighting/
If I've got that wrong, please let me know.

Pete

Little Egret at Broad Ees Dole this afternoon.

Also a Common Kingfisher there, but apart from that, very quiet.

A few birds on this morning's visit that I don't usually see here:-

• Common Tern, fishing over the lake (see horrible record shot)
• Common Sandpiper, flying low over the lake
• Sedge Warbler, in the marshy scrub beside Cow Lane, below the visitor centre

Also unusual (for me) was a group of six Mistle Thrushes that flew out of the woodland behind Broad Ees Dole and across the river towards Chorlton Ees.

Quick lap before the rain for school holidays entertainment produced highlights of:

Main Lake

30+ Sand Martin

1 Swallow

1 Reed Bunting (m)

Teal Pool 

1 Reed Warbler (heard)

1 Cetti's Warbler (heard)

1 Willow Warbler

This morning 08.25/09.30, twas a lovely morning until we came upon silly season with litter down one bank the dreaded disposable barbeque being the worst item left behind by Mr and Mrs I Don't care. Then at the feeders we had people standing right by the feeders looking for birds and photographing Brown rats.

Now to the birds, highlight being our first GM Cetti's Warbler singing and showing really well near the lakeside hide along with a pair of Reed Bunting. At the feeders we did see two Willow Tit, male Great Spotted Woodpecker and a single Nuthatch being the best.

Of interest was a total lack of Gulls ?

Thank you for reading

Victor Meldrew Mk Two moan moan bloody moan.

Originally posted today by dave olive:

Sale Waterpark with Andy Tordoff - Dull and cloudy 6 to 14 deg'

Gadwall male/female

Greenfinch

Heron 4

Crow

Tufted Duck male/female

Mallards male/female

Canada Geese

Mute Swans 2 pair

Great Crested Grebe 2

Long Tailed Tit - several flitting about various places

Magpie 2

Coot

Moorhen

Shovelers male/female lake behind the hide

Teal as above

Woodpigeon

Robin 

Chifchaff - first of the year.

Ring-necked parakeets 2 flying around 

Nuthatch on feeders near the cafe

Great tits 6 

Sadly no Redpoll and no Cettis Warbler 

Sunday 5th March, 0730-0930

Of note;

Kingfisher

Siskin

Teal

Gadwall

Tufted Duck

Great Crested Grebe

Little Grebe

Shoveler

Kestrel

Reed Bunting (m)

Willow Tit

Cetti's Warbler (showed very well in usual spot between Teal Pool and main body of water)

Best counts in last week or so:

Shoveler  -  15, but very variable.

Gadwall  -  Numbers stable at 48-51.

Teal  -  39, but very variable.

Wigeon  - 1 male.

Tufted Duck  -  19, the lake birds roost on B.E.D.

Goosander  -  37 at B.E.D. roost.

Little Grebe  -  Still 13.

Great Crested Grebe  -  8, decreasing to 5.

Grey Heron  -  10, B.E.D., sheltering on windy days.

Coot  -  Decreasing from 174 to recent counts of 136 & 137.

Magpie  -  137 at roost, but only partial count possible.

Jackdaw  -  Only 1250 at B.E.D. roost, but c.400 at Hardy Farm roost, which would account for missing B.E.D. birds.

Cetti's Warbler  -  Only heard it sing twice in period.

Song Thrush  -  Now five singing.

Redwing  -  Only up to 12 recently.

Nothing much else of note. One more swan lost to HPAI, so total deaths now 32. This bird was first seen infected on 6th January, but later looked to be recovering. However, it suffered a relapse last weekend, and I had to call in the RSPCA.

Norwegian Common Gull at S.W.P. today, ringed as adult female on 25th July 2020 at Flakstad camp site (Lofoten beach camp), Flakstad, Nordland (68 06 12 N;  13 17 13 E). This is on the Lofoten Islands, just inside the Arctic circle, top NW part of Norway, 1827km. from, & approx. NE of S.W.P. Today was only sighting since ringing.

Fairly quiet during the week:

Gadwall  -  37 at the end of last week, then incr. to 59 early this week, but down to 46 by the end.

Teal  -  Best count of 43.

Mallard  -  Counted twice along the river, Jackson's Boat down to canal bridge, got 93 each time, and 25 on lake on one of the days.

Tufted Duck  -  usually 24.

Cormorant  -  14 for one day late last week, otherwise the usual 7-8 or so.

Coot  -  163 at end of last week, 164 in middle of this week, 169 a couple of days ago.

Redshank  -  2 for a morning mid week.

Common Snipe  -  Occasional 1 at B.E.D.

Black-headed Gull  -  Max. of 410.

Small birds hard to find in the cold weather:  max. of 22 Long-tailed Tit;  c.20 Redwing;  2 Willow Tit;  2 Coal Tit;  c. 50 Goldfinch;  6 Siskin.

Song Thrush beginning to sing properly, also a Chaffinch trying a bit of singing on a freezing cold morning.