11th March
Grey Wagtail on rooftops Irlam o'th heights and a Buzzard soaring over Buile hill park

Dave Mcintyre

Buile Hill Park Saturday 30th January Big Garden Birdwatch

35 Redwing
4 Fieldfare
15 Goldfinch
2 Coal Tit
4 Mistle Thrush


Also, today, c40 Redwing feeding on roadside verge along Liverpool Street opp Chimney Pot Park (showing very well)

-- Edited by James Walsh on Sunday 31st of January 2010 04:12:12 PM

A careful check of the full stretch of Irwell and Ship Canal through Salford by Pete Berry, myself and 'our Jack' today for any open water resulted in the following:

River Irwell off Woden Street, Salford, upstream of Pomona Dock (unfrozen):

Goosander- 12
Gadwall- 2
Kingfisher- 1
Cormorant- 6
Mallard- 16
Great Crested Grebe- 3
Sparrowhawk- 1
Fieldfare- 160 in trees and a couple of bulging berry bushes along the ship canal there


Pomona Dock (unfrozen):

Goosander- 6
Pochard- 4
Goldeneye- 1
Tufted Duck- 5
Mallard- 7


Salford Quays (mostly frozen):

Tufted Duck- 12
Pochard- 5
Mallard- 17
Coot- 10
Moorhen- 2
Mute Swan- 7


Ship Canal off Cemetary Circle Bridge, Eccles (only a very small patch unfrozen):

Tufted Duck- 4
Canada Goose- 50+
Feral Pigeon- 300+ in one flock
Peregrine- 1 on the side of the Allied Mills building


Barton Swing Bridge (very small patch unfrozen):

Mallard- 36
Coot- 31
Little Grebe- 2


Barton Docks (unfrozen):

See the relevant site thread

At least 16 Pied Wagtails around Brunel avenue in Salford at 15.50 this afternoon all busily looking for food.

Also the 5 Dunnocks which I have been feeding in the cold weather as they visit my works canteen are now down to 2. I wonder how many other small birds will not live through this long icy spell.

4 Grey Wagtails in trees along Brunel avenue, Salford at 10.30am this morning, also 16 Cormorants over Liverpool street in 10 minutes between 12.30 and 12.40pm this afternoon. All were flying towards Salford crescent.

Yesterday, I counted 132 Fieldfare all flying West over Liverpool street at 15.40pm.

As I was leaving Manchester along Regent Road this morning I got stopped at the traffic lights before joining the M602. Whilst stopped I noticed a small bird flying towards me just above car height. It then suddenly changed direction as a female Sparrowhawk swooped alongside my car literally a couple of metres from my driver's door window. The small bird then flew towards a car that was stationary on the busy roundabout pursued by the Sparrowhawk. The small bird dived underneath the car but the Sparrowhawk quickly decided not to follow and swooped over the car's bonnet instead and headed off. The small bird sat on the tarmac for a few seconds and flew out again and dived into a bush as the car moved off.
I didn't really get a decent chance to ID the small bird as it happened so fast and then the lights changed so had to drive off plus had family in back so couldn't go back for another look!. But it had a fluttery, undulating flight a bit like a Meadow Pipit but looked all grey with a darker grey face. (poss. Black Redstart???!!!) I couldn't see the tail colour though. Definately not a M Pipit, Dunnock, Pied Wag or Sparrow. Nothing else came to mind. If anyone is passing or driving around the roundabout over the next few days it could be worth checking any small birds!

Peregrine flying around the Maxwell building @ Salford University at 1:20pm on Sunday 13th December

Also, c30 Redwings feeding on berries between the library and University House last week

-- Edited by James Walsh on Tuesday 15th of December 2009 08:18:33 AM

13 Pied wagtails together running around Brunel avenue, Salford at 12.35pm today.

Paul Heaton wrote:

---

Not fully aware of the Salford Boundary ,

2 Buzzards at the end of M602 today at 14.00.


Keep birding

---

I'm not 100% sure, but it probably depends which end you are referring to...

4 Grey wagtails along Brunel avenue, just of Liverpool street at 12.35pm today. Also 13 Cormorants seen flying overhead in 15 minutes probably going from the Quays to the Irwell.

Peregrine falcon landed on a house roof on tynesbank walkden yesterday at 1130 am,it rested for about 5 mins and then flew off in an easterly direction.

3 Swift, c20 House Martins & c20 Mistle Thrush @ Salford University

2 Whitethroat in the allotment off Seedley Rd M6. 40ish Swifts past over and 2 Mistle thrush

Dave Mcintyre

-- Edited by dave mcintyre on Sunday 10th of May 2009 11:23:40 PM

1 Grey wagtail and a Heron opposite the Mark Addey pub(on the river) New Bailey st M3, today 4.30pm

Dave Mcintyre

A Peregrine, Kestrel and two Crows all perched within 30m of each other on top of the gasometer beside Liverpool street Salford today at 14.20.

Buile Hill Park - drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1+ Song Thrush, singing Coal Tit (by the bowling green)

Pair of goldfinch with nesting material in garden on sefton drive worsley this morning. Also first time ive ever seen a nuthatch in full voice, it was sending out its bubbling call from a tree on leigh road worsley.

Singing Goldcrest and 2 Song Thrushes on Salford University campus Monday 30/03

A Peregrine was perched on one of the Liverpool street Gasometers this morning at 6.25am.

2 Grey and 5 Pied Wagtails perched together on my works roof today between the snow falls on Liverpool street Salford.

A female Sparrowhawk was feeding on a Grey wagtail behind my works today, just off Liverpool street Salford.

3 Goosander (1 drake) and 4 drake Goldeneye on the River Irwell @ Peel Park

A Peregrine chased and caught a BH Gull over Liverpool street and the EMR scrapyard in Salford today at 12.40pm. The gull tried its best to evade the falcon by flying as fast as it could through the framework of the gasometers but it was soon caught.

Top of the War Museum is a prime site, usually early morning between 7.30 & 8.00am. Hunts the pigeons in Traff Park from this vantage point. Can be seen around the Quays at any given time, usual story, the more time you spend in the area, the better the chances of seeing one. Keep an eye on the seperate "Salford Quays" thread .