1 Kingfisher 1 Goosander and superb views of Sand Martins at the colony adjacent to Market Hall

This a.m. the Sand Martins have returned in force to their breeding holes in the wall of the Market Hall.
Cheers Ian

This morning a pair of Goosander on the river by the Market Hall and a pair below the ASDA car park.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. a Dipper on river at Market Hall but the Sand Martins have not yet returned to their nesting holes.
Cheers Ian

Greater Black-backed Gull & Grey Wagtail this AM.

8 Sandmartin at the site in Radcliffe centre today.

Male and female Goosander but of more interest were the 4 Lesser Redpoll in riverside trees near Lockkeeper pub, maybe the same ones seen earlier upriver at Elton or part of a movement of these birds this morning ?.
Cheers Ian

2 Dipper at 10.30 a.m. today

Just browsing on this thread, I see a mention of the Sailor Brows, which overlooks the R. Irwell just by the side of Radcliffe New Road. I spent many hours here as a youngster fishing on the lodge (and swimming in it) in school holidays, and saw my very first Cuckoo through an old brass telescope (x20) which I had bought off a school friend for 10 shillings (=50p). I'd be about 13 at that time.

Cuckoos were annual on the "Sailors" in the early 1950's, generally heard but not seen, and I was curious as a result and it was a big deal for me to actually see one at last. To this day it's probably the only site in what is now Bury Borough where I ever saw one; do they ever get recorded there these days? - I rather doubt it, as all this was about 60 years ago!

There was also a regular Sand Martin colony at the rear of the garden of a big old house, high above the Sailors and a 150 feet or so above the river; the birds occupying an extensive sand cliff, below which in later years there was extensive tipping of household rubbish. The house stood opposite the bottom of Hollinhurst Rd. not far from the eastern end of Coronation Park; ( potential erosion of the sand cliff very likely became a threat to the garden and even to the house itself).
At least it's nice to know that the Sand Martins still nest in Radcliffe, (in the centre, near the market hall).

This a.m. at the market hall site 2 Sand Martin nests still with young in the holes, the rest of the colony have departed.
Cheers Ian

4 Sand Martin around nest colony, also 2 Grey Wagtail and a single Dipper this morning.
Cheers Ian

Single Sand Martin at nesting holes plus pair of Grey Wagtail.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Saturday 22nd of March 2014 10:18:18 AM

Still one active Sand Martin nest with 3 young at the entrance hole this morning.
Cheers Ian

9.00 a.m. 95 Canada Geeseon river by Market Hall, 1 Kingfisher flying downriver.
Cheers Ian

Dipper and Grey Heron under the Pilkington Way bridge over the Irwell.
2-3 Grey Wagtail feeding up and down this stretch.
Great to see the Sand Martins flying in and out of their nest holes in the side of the Market Hall (between Pilkington Way and Blackburn St).

On the other side of the river from the Market Hall is a small lawn that has been recently cut, with most of the grass cuttings still present. The Martins werre flying to collect these for the nest and occasionally landing for a few seconds. I'm pleased with the photos I got, but someone with a better camera (or a better photographer!) could get some great shots there.

7 Sand Martins arrived together approx 10 a.m. and immediately began entering the nest holes in the wall of the Market Hall.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. Goldcrest in conifers near Lockkeeper pub and Goosander on the river.
Cheers Ian

Single Goosander on river this morning.
Cheers Ian

In June counted 9 occupied Sand Martin nests, this is well down on previous years (20 in 2010), this a.m. no sign of any holes in use and just a single bird flying around.
Cheers Ian

11.30a.m.

Four Sand Martins seen flying up river past St. Peter's school.
Not showing any interest in holes in sandbank.

10.45 this a.m. 4 newly returned Sand Martins, immediately inspecting and entering the nest holes. Also pair of Grey Wagtail still present.
Cheers Ian

Quick visit 3.45-4.00 after work, female Sparrowhawk soaring above ASDA but no returning Martins as yet.
Cheers Ian

This a.m. a pair of Grey Wagtails present this morning for the first time this year.
Cheers Ian

Not Radcliffe I know, but couldn't find a better thread! Fantastic views of a dipper on the Irwell at Bury Bridge this afternoon. It's a fairly regular sight as I'm walking to Bury; seeing it at least twice a week as I'm crossing the bridge. With the rush hour traffic crawling past, I often wonder what the drivers must think of me staring into the rushing water below!