Wednesday 2nd February

c120 Starlings on grass opposite Ashley Brook Pub

Also, Goldfinch & Greenfinch

Wednesday 19th January 30 Greenfinches by Langworthy tram station

Also, recently c120 Starlings on Liverpool Road by Ashley Brook pub

Chimney Pot Park 1:30pm-2:30pm

2 Mistle Thrush
5 Goldfinch
2 Great Tits
c200 Starlings
c20 House Sparrows

Weaste cemetery this morning,

2 Buzzards roosting in the trees, one was fast asleep.
12 Goldfinch
9 Magpies
GS Woodpecker
Treecreeper
30+ Wood pigeons

River Irwell by Salford University

late WEBS count 24th December


Pair of Common Teal
Drake Goosander
10 Goldeneye
47 Tufted Duck
4 Little Grebe
4 Mallard
1 Grey Heron
4 Cormorant
4 Moorhen
1 Coot
2 Common Gull
33 BH Gull


Also, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 GS Woodpecker

27th November.

Walk along the River Irwell from Cromwell Bridge downstream to Salford University/Peel Park. 9.45 to 11.15 am.

1 Grey Heron, 42 Mallard, c135 Black-headed Gulls, 5 Little Grebes, c52 Canada Geese, 46 Tufted Duck, 7 Goldeneye, 2 Cormorant, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Teal, 1 Mute Swan and 3 Moorhen along this stretch of the Irwell.

In Peel Park - really good views of a Chiffchaff amongst a mixed tit/crest flock was a very nice surprise. 11 Long-tailed Tits, 2 Goldcrest and 3 Blue Tits. Also 2 Song Thrush and c12 Goldfinch (feeding on alder cones) and a flock of 7 Woodpigeons included a juvenile bird.

A pair of Magpies were ripping open waste plastic bags of rubbish in a skip and it's possible that a pair of Ravens were in the area too. I couldn't get to see these latter birds properly but they looked to be too large for Carrion Crows.

Cheers,

Bill.

22nd November.

Walked a good stretch of the River Irwell this morning from Agecroft Bridge downstream past Littleton Bridge and Castle Irwell and on to the Kersal footbridge, whilst at the same time incorporating a Timed Tetrad Visit (TTV) for the Atlas project for SD80A Lower Kersal.

46 species in total recorded on the TTV. Highlights of which were: - a single Green Sandpiper was just downstream of the Agecroft Bridge. Also along this stretch of the Irwell - a total of 39 Goldeneye, parties of 4, 10, 3, 4 ,16 and 2 (pretty sure these were all different birds); 10 Little Grebes - largest party of 3, 2 Grey Wagtails, 1 Goosander, 1 Cormorant and 5 Tufted Duck.

On Littleton Road Playing Fields a flock of c350 gulls (some foraging, some resting) - approx c270 Black-headed, c60 Common and c20 Lesser-black Backed.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Agecroft Cemetery, as were 3 Mistle Thrush. 5 Bullfinch, 3 Goldcrest and 2 each of Siskin, Lesser Redpoll, Fieldfare and 3 Redwing were logged.

Also singles of Reed Bunting, Jay and of the commoner species totals of 45 Magpies, 63 Mallard, 84 Feral Pigeon, 44 House Sparrow and 65 Starling.

Surveyed the adjacent tetrad yesterday (SD80F Higher Broughton) for the atlas. For those interested in a bit of local history I only learnt recently that this area - the land inside the big curve in the bend of the Irwell between Lower Kersal and Higher Broughton - used to be the site of the Manchester Racecourse aka Castle Irwell.........which I understand finally ceased to hold races in 1963 apparently. Whilst digging around on the internet to learn a bit more, I came across this fascinating footage of the Kersal flats for those who remember them. If interested copy and paste into your browser www.kersalflats.co.uk/index21.html and click on the blue number 1 button at the top of the screen to view the history of the flats. The racecourse can be seen at approx 2.55 minutes into the approx. 10 minutes of footage.

Cheers,

Bill.


-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Monday 22nd of November 2010 04:16:36 PM

A very oddly marked leucistic Jackdaw was in the middle of Stott lane opposite Hope hospital A&E Department this morning at 7.15am.

Peregrine dive bombing the evening roost over centenary way/bridge at 4.30pm.

Seen perched in a tree on Brunel avenue, Salford today was a Sparrowhawk [f] eating a Redwing. Also 6 Siskins in trees in front of my workplace on Liverpool street yesterday.

Monday 4th October

Kingfisher on the River Irwell, seen from the big footbridge by Granada Studios

A Peregrine is flying around Liverpool Street and above the car showrooms on Brunel avenue as I type this. The local Starlings are not too happy

Great spotted woodpecker at the M602 junction with Eccles Old road today .


keep birding.

A Peregrine was flying over Liverpool street in Salford at 6.40am this morning then two more seen at 9.15am soaring around together gradually heading for the Quays.

20 Canada geese
35 Mallards
27 BH Gulls

1 Grey Wagtail
3 Pied wags.

River irwell junction with Great Clowes street, I know its not a lot but needs must, was on a goose rescue, got to bird when you can.


Keep Birding

2 Common terns flying over Liverpool street in Salford this morning at 6.35am heading towards the Quays. Also 3 Grey wagtail young being fed by a single parent on Brunel avenue this afternoon.

2 Oystercatchers over Liverpool Street @ 9am

singing Goldcrest Peel Park

Buile Hill Park

singing Chiffchaff
singing Song Thrush
female Mallard

2 Grey wagtails and a singing Whitethroat in trees along Brunel avenue behind my workplace at 12.30pm today and also 3 young Mistle thrushes on West hope street.

Paul

There was also a Buzzard flying over Oldfield road in Salford at 12.50 this afternoon

2 Skylarks over Knutsford Street @ 1025

also at least 1 singing Song Thursh in Buile Hill Park

Single Sand Martin flying over flying over Lower Broughton Road by the river 6pm this evening , could have been more but I was sat in traffic when viewed .

Dave Mcintyre

Green woodpecker heard calling in the grounds of st annes hospice worsley yesterday morning.

James,
I also spotted one on my way home from work in the leafy little hamlet of Salfordshire @ about 5.10pm.
It was also being mobbed near the Liverpool St gas holders and heading towards Pomona dock.
Brilliant site and my first in Manchester, BINGO !!