Wed. 21/3 07:00-12:00 car park area

Lesser redpoll at least 2 trilling with male on Niger seeds
Goldcrest 1 on fat balls fem later ringed
Reed bunting Male and 2 fem all unringed

Meadow pipit singles over

-- Edited by Mike Cooper on Thursday 22nd of March 2018 08:55:52 AM

Highlights from a late afternoon visit:

8 Goldeneye.

12 Goosander arrived late on and appeared to roost.

28 Lapwing.

2 Oystercatcher.

Grey Wagtail on stream below Withins.

2 Kestrel over Old Hall Marsh.

This afternoon -

2 pair of Oystercatcher, 1 pair of which were displaying and calling before landing on the old MacPhersons site roof.

2 Buzzard, 1 of which was being harassed by a Raven and 2 Carrion Crows.

4 Gadwall in flooded field along the canal.

Mediterranean Gull.

12 Fieldfare.

Lots of Jackdaws collecting nesting material. Also a pair of Mistle Thrush.

Noticed a lot of frog spawn on the canal. Not sure I've ever seen so much before.

Hopefully, to bring the falcon matter to a conclusion on this thread, here is all we know.

The bird seen on the pump house is the female of a pair and is a Gyr x Saker cross. Both birds escaped from a site in south Manchester during the recent hard weather and have been at large since, the male having been located in Chester and recently recaptured but unfortunately died due to being so malnourished. The female was reported again from another location yesterday evening.

A local falconer has been notified by the relevant authorities and is actively attempting to recapture the bird but any further information should be passed onto the IBR whose telephone numbers can be found within Richard Thew's post.

Thanks to everyone for their concern and for providing information.

Richard Thew wrote:

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Just to note; in my experience, the falcon in question to me is obviously owned by someone. I've only just seen this post now and has the classic shaped overgrowth beak that happens after years of feeding soft meat. But be warned! - I've not checked yet myself but it's just as HIGHLY likely to be a hybrid as a pure breed as falcons are regularly mixed to create best of two birds (as an example - perigrine x gyrfalcon gives the obedience and impressive use of a gyr with a peregrine edge.) I've also seen in my previous job that not all birds have been properly kept to "legal status" and some do end up escaping. If the owner has flown the bird when it disappeared - usually jesses are sometimes removed by the minority fearing the bird will get snagged on trees etc, so this isn't a reliable indicator. The bird could also have come from miles away which won't help matters. It maybe best to report the find to the I.B.R. on 01617905613, although there is little that can be done without the ring number! This is all the information I can give at this time. Ta!

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I did not see any straps(jesses) on the raptor, only yellow talons. 2 more photos attached with talons in view.

I was walking along the reservoir embankment between 14.30 and 15.30. The raptor was on the pumphouse for over 30 minutes, regardless of people and dogs walking past, and being dived on by gulls and crows. 

A S Ball wrote:

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This is the same bird of prey that was sat on the pumphouse for 30 mins, being swooped on by crows and gulls but not moving.

It eventually flew off going towards the canal being chased by a carrion crow.

I think it may be a juvenile pale buzzard. It had yellow talons, yellow lore, black eye and dark grey curved beak.

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What appears to be a white morph Gyr Falcon was present today, sat on the pumphpouse and allowing close approach! Very unlikely to be a wild bird (no information as to whether the bird had jessies or not just yet) but an impressive looking beast nevertheless.

2,05pm:

Adult Iceland gull was already on the res, then flew off 5 mins later, I stayed till 4,30pm with Ian & Steve and it never returned. 

also of note x1 Buzzard, Curlew (heard), rock pipit flew over as me and Steve were walking back to the car park.