Goosander 7

9:15am

Redwing 6 flitting from Holly to Holly (Demesne Road end)
Carrion Crows

Lake

the usual Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards, Tufted Ducks, Moorhens, Coots

no Goosanders

Linden Avenue

Ringnecked Parakeets very active
Rook 22 - a visitation in the Linden tops. They were repeatedly chasing the Parakeets.

9:40
Lake
1 Goosander male

Only 4 Goosander on the lake approx 3:00-3:20pm- 3 females/juveniles, 1 male. Other highlights: Grey Heron- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet- 3 Song Thrush- 1

Counted approx. 10 Goosander on the lake this afternoon, 3 males and maybe 6-7 females/juveniles. Before I could confirm the count some dogs ran towards the lake and despite the barrier the birds got scared and flew off!

The usual lake denizens [Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Grey Wagtail]
but they've been joined by a male Goosander.

Yesterday (Tue 19 Jul 2016) saw the usual Park pond residents - 4 mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted, Coot, Moorhen, 4 Terrapins, with Feral Pigeons, a couple of Carrion Crows and a few Blackheaded Gulls flying over. And, of course, Ringnecked Parakeets all around. Difficult to count now that the leaves are hiding them, but there hasn't been a single day without hearing or seeing them since I moved here in January. 4 flew past last month, 2 of which had shorter tails and were presumably juveniles. Last night at 10.30, I heard a Tawny Owl for the first time here.

The usual lake population - Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Moorhen, Coot and Herons - 3 young in one nest and one in another I think. On the floating pallet, usually occupied by Tufted Duck, 2 terrapins were sunbathing (Yellowbellied Sliders, I think). Nuthatches, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers about the park, plus Ring-necked Parakeets.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 23rd of April 2016 03:46:43 PM

As I had begun to suspect, the head of one of the 2 Goosanders on the lake is now clearly darkening, so a Redheaded juvenile is coming out as a drake. The other is very red, so I think we have a pair. Photos through today's snow are not very clear but I'll get a clear picture of both to show the difference when the sun comes out.

During the last week, there has usually been a single redhead Goosander on the lake. Both the north and south Heron nests have been busy with pairs nest-building and mutual-preening. Parakeets have become even noisier. There were 8 feeding in the conifer next to the south Heron nest, plus others spiralling around. 13 is my maximum definite count so far.

Lake: Moorhen; Coot; Mallard; Mute swan; Canada Geese; Tufted duck; Blackheaded gull; Common gull; Lesser blackbacked gull.

The fields have had their usual thrushes - mainly Mistle and Redwing. In the short time since I moved here, as well as Robins, I've seen Song, Mistle, Blackbird (including Luke, a leucistic bird - see picture), Redwing & Fieldfare. I'm waiting for a Ring Ousel.

A Nuthatch joined the Blue tits at my feeder on Demesne Road yesterday.

Yesterday, Sunday 7 Feb, the sun came out for a while and I started my walk by watching the Herons in Alexandra Park for a while. There are 2 pairs on nests at the north and south ends of the island. The south pair are clearly visible, more so than most of the nests in the Chorlton Ees heronry - no branches in the way and no leaves yet. One was sitting low in the nest, presumably on egg(s). The north nest is more hidden.

This morning, I watched 2 pairs of Herons on new nests in separate trees on the island.

At the lake:
3 Mute Swan (2 ad 1 juv)
4 Moorhen
1 Goosander (brown head)
15 Tufted Duck
6 Coot
10 Mallard
99 Blackheaded Gull
2 Lesser Blackbacked Gull
24 Canada Goose

Off the water:
Feral & Woodpigeons, Great, Blue and Longtailed Tits, Wrens, Blackbirds, Robins, Mistle Thrushes.
I think I heard Goldcrest, but at my age, I have lost the higher frequencies.

Also a screaming Kestrel harried by Crows and Magpies. It passed my window on Demesne Road later, still screaming, at about 2pm.

13 Goosander and a pair of Shoveler on the lake

Info via Tony O'Mahony

Garden Warbler in trees east of the lake at 11:25 today but mobile.

Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony

I imagine he may have moved on with all this fine weather!


-- Edited by Andy Isherwood on Wednesday 8th of April 2015 03:33:18 PM

You weren't using work as an excuse to twitch Bez were you

David Morris wrote:

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and Bez from the Happy Mondays.

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One of the best sightings I've seen on here in ages; I'm actually quite envious! I can only hope he was doing 'his dance'

Cormorant on the pond today. Not sure if anyone has seen them here before, but this is first one I've seen here. Was sunning itself on a low branch over water, just beneath Grey Heron on nest. What looked like a juvenile heron was also tentatively making its way into the water nearby. The Tufted Ducks seem to be doing well here, with many more around than last year around, along with plenty of Coot, Canada Goose and Mallard.

GUYS! They're gonna start draining the lake soon . by a metre. to rebuild the wall (which means it will take ages) there's a heron chick that needs protecting - theyre doing it at the wrong time of year - the fact theyre doing it altogether is outrageous as it will affect the whole ecosystem of the lake. please take action!

Quick walk in the park today - large areas of the park devastated by the tree felling since my last visit. Will undoubtedly have a negative effect on many species.

Spent some time at the other side of the park, around where the firecrests had previously been reported. No firecrests or goldcrests as I was really hoping for (the former more in unduly optimistic hope, as they have perhaps now moved on permanently as has been suggested on here), but did see a couple of bullfinch which brightened up the day.

Steve - I fear you're right. But I spoke to the RSPB this morning, who confirmed that if any evidence of bird nesting behaviour (even just flying from tree to tree carrying nesting materials) is evident in the park, then it is unlawful for the felling to continue. That's why I'm urging any local birders with a half decent zoom lens to get down to the park and see if they can spot, and photograph, any such behaviour, ASAP...

400 trees under the chop , work has already started and large area already felled over past fews days,

5 Ring necked Parakeets seen today.

campsite area where protesters have set up !

No sign of any Firecrests the last few days but knowing how elusive and mobile they've been they could easily still be about.
Also 1 Siskin over.

One Firecrest this morning and two this afternoon per BG's.

The duller bird showed well in the SW corner around 14:40

Moved quickly from tree to tree but spent a little time fly-catching and hovering in a birch. It then flew towards and over Demesne Road.

(Unfortunately I had spent 2 hours looking in the wrong trees near the abandoned building)

Birds also seen

Dunnock
Goldcrest
Coal, Blue, Great and Long-tailed Tits
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Redwing
Fieldfare