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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> RIVER IRWELL, SALFORD, INCLUDING KERSAL WETLANDS
Post Info TOPIC: RIVER IRWELL, SALFORD, INCLUDING KERSAL WETLANDS
dave mcintyre


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RE: RIVER IRWELL, SALFORD, INCLUDING KERSAL WETLANDS
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16/10/23 Afternoon

River Irwell

9 Goosander

2 Heron

3 Grey Wagtail

Rose Ringed Parakeets calling 

1 Little Grebe 

Quite a large flock of Long Tailed Tit

Wetlands

2 Stonechat (male & female)

2 Little Grebe

4 Tufted Duck

 



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Michael Hood


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Good day today on "my little stretch"...

Little Egret on the shingle area between the Adelphi footbridge and the weir upstream - think that's the 4th time I've seen one in the last 17 months since I started coming down here.

A Kingfisher which stayed in one spot for over 10 minutes (still there when I left).

The river levels have been low for the last week or so - no surprise - and as clear as I've yet seen; last week you could easily see the Goosanders (in detail) underwater with the naked eye when they were fishing.

Saw a Garden Warbler on the city-centre side of the river a couple of weeks ago but forgot to report it at the time.



-- Edited by Michael Hood on Monday 11th of September 2023 06:57:31 PM

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Michael Hood


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This week the water's high, fast and brown. The only reliable spots (apart from a few Mallard and the ubiquitous Canada Geese) are a couple of Grey Herons and some Grey Wagtails - there appears to be a family of 5. Last week the water was lower, the Goosander numbers were going up; 12 to 15 to 18 to 20 and the water was clear enough to clearly see some of them swimming underwater. They obviously reallocate to a more favourable stretch when the water's higher than they like. I did manage to work out how to identify this year's juveniles; their plumage is now adult but their feet are still dirty orange rather than bright red.

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Michael Hood


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The usual heron and Goosanders (15) today



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Michael Hood


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Not surprisingly the river's been quite high after the weekend's incessant rain:

  • Yesterday the only bird "on" the river was a Heron patiently standing near the edge
  • Today the water level was still high but it had dropped by 88cm (assuming the scale under Broughton Bridge is metric)
  • Today Goosanders and Cormorants were back on the water fishing

I saw a Kingfisher the day after my previous post (only because it was disturbed by a Cormorant's fishing) but I've also seen a couple of times since then - not expecting to see at the moment whilst the water's high and fast.



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Michael Hood


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On "my little stretch" today - a Little Egret, think that's the third time I've seen one here in about 15 months - it was doing a fair bit of fishing, successfully.

The 3 Goosanderlings that have grown up on this part of the river have been allowed out on their own for the last couple of weeks. They're difficult to identify when amongst adult birds if they're just resting, but when moving they're easy to spot because they tend to zoom around more than the adults and also because they go around as a tight threesome, almost always diving together.

Still no recent Kingfisher sighting.



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Michael Hood


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On "my little stretch"...

  • Only a few Goosander today - males moulting
  • But a pair of Teal - only 2nd time I've seen them here
  • Several Grey Wagtail - some juvenile
  • Not seen a Kingfisher for several months
  • Blackcap heard singing (on Mon) but not seen


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Michael Hood


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Juvenile's day today:

  • 3 Heron, 2 young + bored parent (presumably) on the left - poor quality photo - budget smartphone at max zoom
  • Goosander with 3 young - with all the Goosanders how comes I don't see more young?
  • Canada Geese goslings - loads, 25+, several broods are in a creche

Haven't seen a Kingfisher for ages, even though the water levels/flow/speed are now suitably down, I think this isn't a nesting area of the river so they won't be back quite yet

The male Goosanders are losing their green heads already



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Michael Hood


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First visit for 5 weeks; river levels down, Goosander back in numbers...

58 Goosander in the attached photo (budget smartphone "quality"), another 22 within 200m downstream

Amongst the Canada Geese, a pair with 16 goslings

The lone Heron seemed a bit mundane compared with yesterday's Little Bittern (not in UK)



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Michael Hood


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I was wrong, single male Goldeneye spotted downstream from Broughton Bridge (one end of my stretch).

 



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Michael Hood


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On "my" stretch of the Irwell...

Goldeneyes have almost certainly gone for this winter - been over a week since I've seen one here and that was only a single male for a couple of days

Not seen a Kingfisher for a while - I think the water level's too high and too fast

Goosander numbers seem to be increasing - 19 today

And surprisingly, a Chiffchaff in the trees on the other side - not really surprising at this time of year, just surprised that the Irwell would be the first place I'd see one



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Michael Hood


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Still seeing a few Goldeneye on "my" stretch of the Irwell, 6 yesterday (5M, 1F), only 2M today.

I'm getting the feeling that the Goosanders are pairing up - seeing more M+F together rather than groups of M or F.



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dave mcintyre


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Afternoon

River Irwell

4 Goldeneye  (2 Duck 2 Drake)

5 Goosander (2 duck 3 drake)

Wetlands 

6 Little Grebe 

2 Shoveler (pair feeding together)

1 Reed Bunting (female)

 

 



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Michael Hood


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Some Goldeneye present every time I've been along "my" bit of the Irwell, not large amounts (up to 12) but never absent. Full, fast river doesn't bother them.

Seen at least 1 Goosander nearly every time as well, both male and female but no large groups.

1 Kingfisher - first sighting for several weeks

 



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 20th of January 2023 03:04:51 PM

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Steven Heywood


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Kersal Wetlands. Eighteen goldeneyes on the river including eight displaying drakes. Three goosanders, all redheads including one first-Winter drake starting to show his adult colours. A pair of dabchicks were displaying close to the river bank. Over a hundred black-headed gulls on the wetlands with handfuls of herring gulls and lesser black-backs and a couple of first-Winter common gulls, also a dozen herons. A couple of ring-necked parakeets screeching in the trees to the North.

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Steven Heywood


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Eighteen goldeneyes on the river including eight displaying drakes. Three goosanders, all redheads including one first-Winter drake starting to show his adult colours. A pair of dabchicks were displaying close to the river bank. Over a hundred black-headed gulls on the wetlands with handfuls of herring gulls and lesser black-backs and a couple of first-Winter common gulls, also a dozen herons. A couple of ring-necked parakeets screeching in the trees to the North.

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Michael Hood


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Friday 22nd late lunchtime (of note):

  • 21 Goldeneye (6m, 15f) - there have been at least a couple of Goldeneye on this stretch every time I've been
  • 2 Goosanders - both males in full breeding plumage
  • Not seen a Kingfisher for a little while - I think the river's been a bit full & fast & murky recently for optimum Kingfisher fishing conditions although it doesn't appear to affect the Goldeneye

Tried photographing the Goldeneye with smartphone + adaptor through my compact spotting scope but the results are not so good as soon as it's on anything larger than a smartphone screen - think I might have to invest in a proper camera



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Simon Gough


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A lunchtime walk along the river through Peel Park produced a patch tick for me, as 2 Snipe dropped briefly onto the river bank rocks just down from the Frederick Road bridge. I guess this is the sort of local movement of birds you get when the weather changes.

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Michael Hood


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30 Goldeneye today (11 drakes, 19 ducks), there must be plenty of edible stuff in the river



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Michael Hood


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16 Goldeneye today (8 drakes, 8 ducks), one of each with a few signs of eclipse plumage, the rest in breeding plumage - had to wait for them to stop diving before I could be confident of the counting



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Michael Hood


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10 Goldeneye (4 drakes, 6 ducks) on "my" little section of the Irwell. They even had the decency to stop diving for a while so that they could be confidently counted.



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Steven Heywood


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Just the one Goldeneye today, a male in full breeding plumage. Also two redhead goosanders and a first-Winter drake moulting into adult plumage. Just up river, 27 cormorants and 7 herons roosting in the trees by The Crescent.

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Michael Hood


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A first for me today on "my" little section of the Irwell (Broughton Bridge to Adelphi Footbridge) - 2 male Goldeneye, one fully breeding plumage, the other almost completely out of eclipse.

Have now seen a Little Grebe a couple of times on this stretch (I'd seen them previously on other bits of the Irwell).

I've been regularly spotting Kingfishers and I think I've only had one occasion when there hasn't been at least 1 Goosander about; starting to get some male plumage back, green heads and pinky lower halves are become more frequent.

Realised the other day that I can see the top of the CIS building - now hoping for a distant Peregrine spot to add to my "site" tally.



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James Walsh


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Little Egret on the River Irwell adjacent to Kersal Wetlands

1 Greylag Goose with Canada Geese near Mocha Parade

1 Mute Swan
2 Kingfisher
10 Little Grebe
10 Sand Martins
20+ Goosanders
5+ Rose-ringed Parakeets

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Michael Hood


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On "my" little section of the Irwell:

  • The Little Egret was back today
  • Seeing at least one Kingfisher most days (2 today)
  • Watched some impressive fishing by a Cormorant in today's murky water - 2 good sized fish within a minute - absolutely no time wasted eating, just gulped down
  • The Greylag Goose has apparently been part of the Canada Geese flock for at least a couple of years


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Michael Hood


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A first on "my" little section of the Irwell - a Little Egret

Have also seen at least 2 different Kingfishers (because once there were 2 at the same time) at various times but have only identified male so far

Sand Martins still occasionally about, but no longer seeing Swifts

Apparently, the 15-16 inch long fish are likely to be Bream

Also, I have a feeling that the Goosander may fish co-operatively, have seen several times that 3 or 4 will swim underwater together, presumably it makes it harder for fish to outflank them



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Michael Hood


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Today on "my" little section of the Irwell - between Broughton Bridge A5066 and the Adelphi Footbridge - I had the pleasure of watching a Kingfisher fishing for about 15 minutes - only the second time I've seen one on this stretch (I have a quick check most weekday lunchtimes).

Apart from all the usual inhabitants (Canada Geese + the 1 Greylag, Black-headed gulls, Mallards, Goosanders) I could also see a shoal of approx 30 substantial fish - all about 15-16 inches long.



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Michael Hood


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Late lunchtime today upstream of Broughton Bridge...

61 Goosander - 30 Male, 27 Female and 4 goosanderlings (far too cute to merely be called ducklings) all on or in-front or near the shingle bank in the photo (phone maximally zoomed so not great quality), and there were a couple more Goosanders both upstream & downstream

2 Grey Wagtail

2 Pied Wagtail - although one may be a White Wagtail (I'll post some photos on the Basic identification help! thread) - Edit: further looking at the photos I think it's just a rather grey Pied female

Plus the usual Mallard (well outnumbered by the Goosanders), Canada Geese (some goslings) and Black-headed Gulls



-- Edited by Michael Hood on Tuesday 10th of May 2022 09:55:34 PM

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Michael Hood


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Quick walk along the riverside path this afternoon between Broughton Bridge and the first footbridge upstream (Linen Ct to Riverside)...

13 Goosander - the river brings down loads of unsightly rubbish but the water itself must be fairly ok if it's supporting so many fish eaters

Wagtails - at least one Pied and one Grey, possibly a White Wagtail as well (Edit: quick read tells me it's more likely to be a 1-year old Pied still in winter plumage) but didn't have binoculars with me so can't be sure - I'll have them with me next time 

Just downstream from Broughton Bridge - a Greylag Goose amongst the Canada Geese, pair of Lesser Black Backed Gulls

Lots of Black Headed Gulls and Mallard around of course



-- Edited by Michael Hood on Thursday 31st of March 2022 08:55:20 PM

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Michael Hood


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Quick walk around the wetlands Friday pm - (relatively) notable sightings...

Wetlands: Mute Swan pair, Little Grebe 1, Gadwall 2M, 1F

River Irwell: Little Grebe 1, Goosander 1M, 2F

Kersal Dale (path back up to car): Goldcrest 2, Sparrowhawk 1

 



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Simon Gough


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Pretty sure I heard a singing Black Redstart on the Meadow side of the river at Peel Park this lunchtime. Not enough time to go and look before I had a meeting though...

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Simon Gough


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A quick look around Kersal Wetlands this lunchtime as I am on campus at work today. Not a lot on there, it needs some trees and bushes to grow up a bit I reckon, and maybe you'll get more stuff. I did see 4 Goldeneye bombing down the river towards Peel Park.

Clear highlight was 8-9 Siskins in the Alder trees at the end of Basset Avenue as you come onto the wider bit of the riverbank footpath, point blank views above my head, lovely!

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Michael Hood


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12 Goldeneye today at about 12:00; 1 (M) upstream from Cromwell Rd Bridge, the other 11 downstream (6M, 5F) - I think, so difficult to count when they're all constantly diving but definitely more than 10



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Michael Hood


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9:30am 20/01/2022

5 Goldeneye - 3 downstream from Cromwell Rd Bridge (2M 1F), 2 upstream from Kersal Wetlands footbridge (1M 1F)

2 Little Grebe - downstream from Cromwell Rd Bridge

1 Tufted Duck - upstream from Cromwell Rd Bridge

Lots of the "usual suspects"; possible Common Gull amongst the Black Headed Gulls on the wetlands but sun in the wrong direction and no binoculars (running)



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Chris Knight


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14 Goldeneye (7 of each sex) a little West of Broughton bridge yesterday (plus 3 goosander further East)



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Steven Heywood


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Spotted flycatcher showing nicely in the trees by the path at the southern end of The Meadow.

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Adrian Dancy


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This evening around 'The Cliff' and flood plain.
5 grey herons
2 mute swans with 3 cygnets
2 ring necked parakeets flew over and landed in trees and disturbed a great spotted wood pecker
1 snipe

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John Doherty


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An impressive raft of Nine Redhead Goosander all together on the Irwell

One Swift through headed south 



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James Walsh


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Sunday 15th August 2021

1 Kingfisher viewable from the Cromwell Bridge on the River Irwell

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James Walsh


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2 Kingfisher
1 Greylag Goose
2+ Little Grebe
2 Mute Swan
9 Goosander
10 Grey Heron
c20 Sand Martins

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Pete Hines


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Curlew 3 flew over north calling at 07.48 (lousy record shot attached) Goosander 25, 16 adult redhead and 9 juvenile

-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 09:59:14 AM

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John Doherty


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Was stood at the river bank today minding my own when a male Sparrowhawk swooped from nowhere meters away. 

 

Also had sandmartins (3), 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Goosander and 1 Little Grebe 

 



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Kev Jin


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4.2.2021 14.00-15.07

13 Grey Heron

2 Little Grebe

1 Goosander

1 Lesser Black Backed Gull

 



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Steven Heywood


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12:45 2:40, Broughton Bridge to Frederick Road, including Peel Park and the Meadow. 26 goldeneyes, including a group of six drakes and three ducks; a couple of dozen goosanders, mostly drakes with four redheads by The Crescent. Just the one grey wagtail, with pied wagtails by Frederick Road. Interesting bookends to the walk with three mistlethrushes rattling from a treetop by The Friars Primary School and another trip in a treetop by the Art Gallery.

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Kev Jin


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07.12.2020

10.30-11.00

12 Grey Heron

1 Wigeon

2 Pied Wagtail

4 Goldfinch

2 Reed Bunting (male and female)

8 Goldeneye (counted 8, but there were more, all female)



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Adrian Dancy


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A walk from The Cliff to Hough End Bridge yesterday. (the bridge is closed to the public and will remain closed till 10th Dec, if I am correct.
4 grey herons
2 mute swans
6 mistle thrushs
2 female goldeneye
1 male tufted duck
6 little grebes
4 female goosander
2 kingfishers chasing each other
circa 200-300 crows

A few images attached. A firework (larger banger type) was thrown over a bank into the river. It exploded about 2 feet away from the goosander you see in the image attached. The sound almost deafened me so god knows what it did to the bird. The bird was not targeted. The idiot threw the banger blind (no defence). I thought banger type fireworks were banned?



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Kev Jin


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25.09.2020

11.45-12.35

Kersal Wetlands

1 Kingfisher

6 Grey Heron

8 Black Headed Gulls (first winter plumage)

2 Mute Swans

1 Grey Wagtail



-- Edited by Kev Jin on Friday 25th of September 2020 09:23:13 PM

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Charles Farrell


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Sat 12-Sep-20 (14:30 - 17:00):

Walked from Victoria Station

River Irwell south of Kersal Wetlands:
- c 7 'redhead' Goosanders along a long stretch of the Irwell
- 2 adult Little Grebe - seen from Broughton footbridge
- 1 Kingfisher - seen from Broughton footbridge
- 3 House Martin

River Irwell south of Kersal Wetlands:
- 1 juv Little Grebe
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- c10 House Martin
- 2 Swallow
plus usual Corvids and small passerines




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James Walsh


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Wednesday 26th August 2020

2 Swifts and 2 Mute Swans on Salford Wetlands

Kingfisher on the River Irwell adjacent to Kersal Dale LNR

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James Richardson


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Broughton footbridge, (where the gravel bank is) yesterday
1 Kingfisher hunting, 2 late swift with 2 swallow, a few sand martin, 4 lapwing, several lesser black backed gulls, 1 grey heron, 1 moorhen

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