The spell of cold and dry weather has made conditions ideal for ducks to feed on the river.
5 Canada Geese 39 Teal (the largest flock of 23 was feeding just downstream from the Ringley ETW outflow 69 Mallard 8 Goosander 1 Cormorant 14 Moorhen 4 Dipper including two having a territorial stand off on the shoreline (singing and posturing until one chased the other into the river) 34 Black-headed Gull 3 Grey Wagtail
Thanks to everyone who took part in the survey and to Mike Beard for doing a great job of organising it. Virtually the whole of the River Irwell (and the Croal up to Rock Hall) has been counted this morning over the same 2-2.5 hour period from Salford Quays all the way upstream to Springside Farm north of Burrs Country Park. A very impressive effort by everyone involved
Once we have done all the number crunching it will be interesting to see how the results compare with the original surveys carried out over the winter of 1998-99.
A Raven was calling from the top of an electricity pylon above the Kearsley Rd, to the east of Prestolee and took flight south across the river.
-- Edited by Steve Atkins on Saturday 21st of January 2017 07:53:13 PM
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The Watergrove Skyline (January 2010) - before desecration.
Today during cold and frosty conditions From agecroft to crescent road:
Dipper - first ever seen along this stretch Kingfisher Wigeon (female) also first seen on river 16 Goldeneye 17 Tufted duck 12 Little grebes 13 Lapwing on Littleton playing fields 2 Reed buntings seen in Kersal dale Kestrel Plus usuals
-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Saturday 26th of November 2016 05:11:20 PM
-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Saturday 26th of November 2016 05:12:51 PM
Sightings from this afternoon at River Irwell at Kersal dale:
Peregrine flew low over kersal dale Common sandpiper Kingfisher Kestrel male Bullfinch Goldcrest Chiffchaff Grey wagtail 2 Jays 2 Little grebes including a juvenile 5 Goosander by Littleton bridge
Castle irwell wetland:
Wheatear female Common gull amongst lessers and black-heads Sparrowhawk juvenile Meadow pipit 10 Mistle thrush 150 Jackdaw 60 Carrion Crows
-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Sunday 25th of September 2016 08:32:27 PM
Last night at Littleton road:
20+ Sand Martins
2 Mute Swan
2 Great Crested grebe
2 Little grebe
12 Canads geese with grown goslings
11 Mallards including small ducklings
Blackcap, Song thrush, Willow warbler, Whitethroat, Blackbird all singing
12 House Martins by Castle Irwell university buildings
2 Sparrowhawks (magnificent displaying over Kersal dale swooping down over trees) 2 Kingfishers (boniface bridge) 2 Sand martins ( Littleton bridge) first back here
2 Kingfishers flying past Cromwell bridge 2 Tufted ducks 2 Goosander 1 Kestrel chased by crows 8 Siskins feeding on the ground No Goldeneye seen on this occasion perhaps gone back to Scandinavia?
Yesterday during WeBS Count: with Steve Atkins and Tim Cosford:
Littleton to Agecroft:
2+ Skylarks over 1+ Meadow pipit over 1 Linnet in subsong 10 Fieldfares 4 Mistle Thrush and one singing 1 Nuthatch 1 Collared dove 2 Long-tailed tits nest building plus more seen singing birds including Goldcrest, Greenfinch, Song Thrush, Robins, Chaffinchs 2 Bullfinch Goldeneyes displaying
60+ Redwing in Peel Park in subsong 36 Siskins feeding on alder by Cromwell Road 1 Greylag Goose amongst Canada Geese between Littleton and Jubilee bridge 26 Cormorants at roost:
18 Tufted Ducks near university 2 Little Grebes near university 11 Goldeneye near Frederick road 20+ Redwing in Peel Park 108 Black-headed Gulls in flooded section of Peel Park. The park was completely submerged only 4 days ago
Great views of a male kestrel 10 Grey herons in trees roosting. Seems strange seeing so many roosting so early in the day, some flew in while i stood there 6 Tufted Ducks 17 Canada Geese 3 Little Grebes 1 Grey Wagtail
23 Lapwings flying over Charlestown 6 Goldeneye 4 Siskin 2 Meadow Pipits flying over salford sports village 1 Jay 1 Goosander drake 1 Bullfinch male 1 Nuthatch plus lots of the usuals (goldfinch, blackbirds, tits etc.)
8 Goldeneye 14 Tufted Ducks 1 Common Gull 90 Starlings on playing fields 1 Kestrel 4 Goldcrest 2 Song thrushes 1 Mistle Thrush singing in Peel Park 1 Treecreeper in Peel Park 30 Long-tailed tits 8 Redwings 1 Coal Tit 5 Little Grebes 3 Cormorants
Dipper showing well this morning, seen twice Sparrowhawk came through, scattered all pigeons from surrounding mills and chimney. 2 Grey Wagtails 2 possibly 3 Jays seen flying over our site throughout the day. 3 Redwing over