RIVER IRWELL, SALFORD, INCLUDING KERSAL WETLANDS

Simon Ladds · Status: Offline

James Walsh · Status: Offline

RE: RIVER IRWELL

Simon Ladds · Status: Offline

Lunch time walk from Clifton CP along the Irwell past 13 Arches and back.
Miserable weather but plenty of birds.

Disappointed not to see Green Sandpiper - is it usually further down river towards Agecroft? Still waiting for a life tick!!

Did get great views of Goldcrest and Treecreeper though - just in the CP.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

post-afternoon from Prestwich to Clifton CP and back - weather depressing.

Sightings: Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Robin, Goldfinch + usual tits, Jay numbers into double figures, 2 Great Crested Grebe (in summer garb) on Clifton Lake + c25 Tufted Duck, also what was likely a calling Curlew on the opposite bank from the Country Park, 1 Grey Wagtail over the sewage works, also 2 Kestrels nearer 13 arches.

-- Edited by John Doherty on Monday 20th of February 2012 07:05:50 PM

Adrian Dancy · Status: Offline

I visited the location where the Green Sandpipers usually are. Today, two Green Sandpipers, two Dunlin (seen by Bill Myerscough yesterday) and 2 Common Snipe and all the other usual suspects.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Agecroft Bridge to 13 Arches today, 1.30-3.30 - not so cold, but barely a soul about!

The highlights:

Teal (2)
Tufted Duck (6)
Little Grebe (3)
Mallard and Moorhen
At least 2 Nuthatches (heard in woods)

Clifton Road area: At least 1 more Nuthatch, 1 Jay, Lots of Greenfinch, a flock of Goldfinch with a single Female Siskin mixed in (feeding in a tall tree)

Cheers

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Agecroft Bridge to 13 Arches

0745-1200

40 species

2 Green Sandpiper
drk Gadwall
4 Goosander
10 Song Thrush (9 singing males)
Male Bullfinch
2 Dunnock
10 Goldeneye
10 Tufted Duck
5 Little Grebe
5 Grey Heron
c70 Redwing
2 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Siskin
5 Jackdaw
5 Cormorant
c70 Mallard
3 Moorhen
2 Canada Goose
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Pied Wagtail
5 Wren
15 Great Tit
15 LT Tit
20 Blue Tit
1 Goldcrest
9 Blackbird
2 Mute Swan
4 Coot
10 Wood Pigeon
5 Magpie
5 C Crow
c50 BH Gull
c20 Feral Pigeon
7 Goldfinch
1 GS Woodpecker
3 Chaffinch
7 Robin
8 Greenfinch
6 Jay

Phil Lee · Status: Offline

Tawny Owl tonight near Kingfiher lodge.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

I remember seeing a pheasant down to about 6 feet there, it didn't recognise me otherwise it would have erupted!! Lapwing can sometimes be around there too (just up from thirteen arches on the meadows)

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

keith mills wrote:

Bill Myerscough wrote:

In surrounding woodland/scrubland - 2 singing Song Thrush, excellent views of a singing Willow Wit near the Thirteen Arches, 8 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male Siskin, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Pheasant, 4 Bullfinch and c15 Redwing. Plenty of vocal Dunnocks, Wrens and Robins.

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 01:55:39 PM

Willow Wit....surely worth a .Bill.

Definitely worth a

Keith... it could have been even worse if I'd typed Tillow Wit..... that might have got the listers and twitchers interested

Keith Mills · Status: Offline

Bill Myerscough wrote:

In surrounding woodland/scrubland - 2 singing Song Thrush, excellent views of a singing Willow Wit near the Thirteen Arches,

8 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male Siskin, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Pheasant,

4 Bullfinch and c15 Redwing. Plenty of vocal Dunnocks, Wrens and Robins.

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 01:55:39 PM

Willow Wit....surely worth a

.Bill.

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

17th January - am.

From the Agecroft Bridge upstream to the Thirteen Arches Viaduct. Along this stretch the south/west bank of the river is in Salford and the north/east bank in Bury!

Totals along this small strecth of river:- 8 Moorhen, 78 Mallard, 9 Goldeneye, 10 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Heron and 1 Goosander.

In surrounding woodland/scrubland - 2 singing Song Thrush, excellent views of a singing Willow Wit near the Thirteen Arches,

8 Lesser Redpoll, 1 male Siskin, 2 Stock Dove, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Pheasant,

4 Bullfinch and c15 Redwing. Plenty of vocal Dunnocks, Wrens and Robins.

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Wednesday 18th of January 2012 01:55:39 PM

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

29th November.

Green Sandpiper approx 300 yards downstream of the Agecroft Bridge this morning.

Presumably the same individual bird that has wintered here for a few years now?

Also 3 Goldeneye together on the river here.

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Tuesday 29th of November 2011 09:09:39 PM

John Doherty · Status: Offline

This morning from town (where possible) to Cheetham Hill:

1 Cormorant
6 Grey Herons
3 Goosanders (2F 1M)
1 M Tufted Duck
Lots of Blackheaded Gulls and some Lesser Black-Backed
60-70 Canada Geese
1 Moorhen

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Walk from Castle Irwell to Agecroft Bridge in inclement weather produced:

c10 Blackheaded gulls
1 Kingfisher
3 Mute Swans
c80 Sandmartins and a few Swifts mixed in

-- Edited by John Doherty on Sunday 15th of May 2011 04:16:13 PM

James Walsh · Status: Offline

River Irwell WEBS Friday 21st January 1145-1240

1 drk Goosander
2 drk Goldeneye
7 Teal
6 Tufted Duck
5 Little Grebe
3 Common Gull
70 BH Gull
4 Cormorant
14 Mallard
32 Canada Geese

Also, in Peel Park c50 Redwing, 1 Song Thrush, 1-2 GS Woodpecker, 2 Goldfinch

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

2 adult Whooper Swans behind Kearsley Mill, Prestolee late evening.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Alan Warford · Status: Offline

Late am with Simon.

Redhead Smew still present on the river at lunchtime today almost directly below the green footbridge from Ringley to Clifton near where sewage outflow comes in, showing very well. Also Dipper, lots of teal, 7 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye & 4 Gadwall.

Also amazingly a single Whooper Swan on the river behind Kearsley Mill, Prestolee, 50 yards from where we saw 3 on Boxing Day!

Simon Warford · Status: Offline

26/12/10 9-12.30 With my Dad & Phil Rhodes.

A concerted effort to check various parts of the river between Nob End & Giants Seat garden centre, Ringley produced one or two suprises.

At Nob End confluence with the Croal, Coots, Pochard, 10 Tufted, 5 Goldeneye, 10 Goosander, 3 Little Grebe & Lapwing.

At Prestolee, 3 Whooper Swans (2 ad & 1 juv) resting on the ice behind Kearsley mill was a very unusual but welcome sight. Also here another 3 Goldeneye & 4 Goosander.

Lower down between Ringley sewage works/filtration beds & Giants Seat, Kingfisher, Lapwing, 10+ Goldeneye, 5 Goosander, male Shoveler, 10+ Gadwall, 30+ Teal, wonderful views of a woodcock on the ground by the river. Then to top of a good morning the Smew flew upstream & landed right in front of us and proceeded to catch small fish 100 yards west of the garden centre!

Several Goldcrests & Treecreepers also seen & Gadwall & Teal on the filtration beds themselves.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Sunday 10th October

River Irwell by Peel Park

1-2 Kingfishers
4 juvenile Goosanders
5 Little Grebes
1 Grey Heron

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

19th April.

Morning visit.

A single Common Sandpiper on the Irwell near the Cliff.

Also on mown sports playing fields on the hairpin bend of the Irwell in this area between Lower Kersal and Higher Broughton and seen amongst the foraging Woodpigeons, corvids and gulls was a single Curlew!

Cheers,

Bill.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 8th March

2 Goldeneye & 47 Tufted Duck between Peel Park & Old Pint Pot

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Tuesday 2nd March

pair of Goosander on River Irwell by Peel Park displaying before flying north

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Monday 1st March

Kingfisher showing well by the UoS sportsground
Song Thrush singing by the footbridge between Peel Park & sportsground, also 2 Redwings
c10 Goldeneye, c5 Tufted Duck & 1 Little Grebe along river

James Walsh · Status: Offline

River Irwell WEBS count 19th February 2010

47 Tufted Duck
9 Goldeneye (3 drk, 4 imm drk, 2 fem)
4 Little Grebe
14 Cormorant
14 Mallard
1 Moorhen
1 Coot
17 Canada Goose
5 Black-headed Gull
2 LBB Gull

Also, 2 Treecreeper, Sparrowhawk & GS Woodpecker

James Walsh · Status: Offline

adjacent to Peel Park: 10 Goldeneye (incl. 3 drakes and 3 imm drakes), 3 Little Grebes, pair of Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard & 16 Canada Geese

also, GS Woodpecker in Peel Park & 2 Skylark flew over calling

Bill Myerscough · Status: Offline

Steve Suttill wrote:

Stephen Young found a Green Sandpiper on the Irwell just downstream from Agecroft Bridge yesterday whilst doing BirdAtlas survey work.

Steve

26th January.

Green Sandpiper still showing very well in same location this morning. Also just a few hundred yards from this bird on the Irwell were 2 Little Grebe, 4 Goosander (1m,3f) and 7 Goldeneye together (all females).

Just a shame that the sandpiper was in tetrad SD80A Lower Kersal and not in "mine" SD80B Prestwich, which I surveyed this morning.

Keep atlasing!

Bill.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

WEBS count by Salford University 22/01/10 1445-1545

Cormorant 16
BH Gull c50
Mallard 7
Goosander 2
Grey Heron 1
Coot 1

River fast flowing and levels high, no Tufted Ducks or Goldeneye seen !

Also, a Great Spotted Woodpecker and c40 Redwings in Peel Park

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Stephen Young found a Green Sandpiper on the Irwell just downstream from Agecroft Bridge yesterday whilst doing BirdAtlas survey work.

Steve

Robin Tong · Status: Offline

Between bridge at Linen Court/Riverside & Peel Park bridge

Mike Noon · Status: Offline

RIVER IRWELL

Mike Noon · Status: Offline

Drake Goldeneye seen from Peel Park between abandoned footbridge and The Crescent.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

12th October

Kingfisher, 3 Little Grebe, fem/imm Goosander and 5 Tufted Duck between Castle Irwell and Peel Park

James Walsh · Status: Offline

River Irwell by Peel Park on 16/09

Kingfisher (being mobbed by a Magpie !), fem/imm Goosander and c20 Tufted Duck

Simon Bracegirdle · Status: Offline

Kingfisher this lunch time, flying by bridge across Irwell by Lowry Hotel.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Kingfisher this morning from footbridge opposite the Lowry Hotel, my new early morning local patch!

James Walsh · Status: Offline

drake Goosander by Blackfriars Bridge this morning

James Walsh · Status: Offline

WeBs count Hough End Bridge - Old Pint Pot pub

3 Goosander (2 drakes)
3 Little Grebe
13 Tufted Duck (8 drakes)
16 Mallard (11 drakes)
5 Cormorant
1 Grey Heron
3 Moorhen

Also 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Jay

James Walsh · Status: Offline

3 Teal (2 drake), 2 Little Grebe, 2 Grey Wagtail, c50 Tufted Duck, 5 Mute Swans, c20 finches (prob Siskin) on River Irwell between Adelphi building and Castle Irwell

James Walsh · Status: Offline

2 redhead Goosander and c25 Tufted Duck on the river viewed from The Crescent today

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st am
all as reported before but the swans had 2 juv (still in brownish moult)who got chased around a lot,
a pair of little grebe were on this side of the river for a change but made a hasty retreat as the light changed,the kingfisher was spotted and posed nicley on a shopping trolley for a while.

cheers geoff

James Walsh · Status: Offline

1 Little Grebe & 5 Tufted Duck yesterday on the river viewed from The Crescent

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Parakeet type flew over Adelphi Street calling around 11am, sounded like an Oystercatcher........anyone any ideas ?

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st 16/10/07 7.30ish
2 pied wagtails 8 mallard
2 mistle thrush 10 coot
1 wren 20 mute swan (best gathering i,ve seen)
2 cormorant(fishing) 1 kingfisher
1 blackbird 20+ b/h gull

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st 08.00 22/09/07

after a complete dip at burnt edge(fogged out) i retreated to familiar ground, and was treated to three young swallows fresh from the nest being chastised by their parents for sitting within 10ft of me on the railings, a smashing morning well worth the wait.as well 30 footballs on river

all makes and sizes

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st 7.00 20/09/07

all ducks and gulls present and correct
2 greywagtail
4 swallows (2 young having practice flights)
1 chiffchaff (mega this side of the river and still chiffchaffing)

water level back to normal so no waders

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

back to normal this morning all waterfowl in place,

5 grey wagtail (3 young)
1 kingfisher

1 heron
2 swallow
?? 1 mallard with two ducklings (guess 14 days old) is this unusual

also today 40 mistle thrush on the colgate building 15.00

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

7ish am fairbrother st,
usual waterfowl

50 b/h gull (probabley some meds and y/leg in there

)
2 swallows on telephone lines
4 mute swans
1 mixed flock of birds containing at least 3 song thrush 4 great tit
6 blackbirds 2 robins (locals not happy with the invasion)
12 blue tits
2 greenfinch
6 goldfinch
water level still down so hopes of waders still high

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st 14/09/07 07.00
1 grey wagtail
1 kingfisher
1 grey heron

water level has dropped even further exposing a few sand banks which might attract migrant waders for an overnight stop(if i,m lucky)

cheers geoff

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

fairbrother st 7.00
usual suspects all present,
1 kingfisher
2 greywagtail
2 swallows
water level has dropped by 2 ft exposing all the debris that the birds normally forage between,its not a pretty sit

cheers geoff