Platt Fields Park, Manchester

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

RE: Platt Fields Park, Manchester

Nigel Troup · Status: Offline

BN Grebe still present at around 17:45.

I spent a surprisingly enjoyable 45 minutes here between very heavy showers, seeing several other species around the small ornamental pool:

10+ Swallow
8+ Swift
2 Mute Swan (plus young)
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Heron
1 Ring-necked Parakeet (near the BMX enclosure)
20+ Coot
2+ Moorhen

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Juvenile Black-necked Grebe still present and showing well at 14.00 and looking healthy enough

a noisy Ring-necked Parakeet flew out from the island

declan savage · Status: Offline

B N Grebe still present at 5.30 this evening. I did see it eating something on one occasion but couldn't see what it was. Can't imagine it would have stayed around this long with nothing to eat.

Quite a few swallows around the lake too, and a family party of 7 Mistle Thrush.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Pete Hines wrote:

12.50 - 13.30

juvenile Black-necked Grebe still present and giving incredible views down to 3 feet when it was possible to see it swimming below the surface of the water for a while then follow its air bubbles before it resurfaces

Worryingly, the bird made numerous dives all of which were unsuccessful. Staff there reported a complete absence of small fish. Although BWP states that they take other food items according to the time of year I didn't see it eat anything . It should go to Chorlton WP where there are shoals of millions of small fry

Any photographers get down there before the weekend or before it starves.

don't worry ive seen over 100 bn grebe and can honestly say ive hardley ever seen one with a fish,i think they eat small fry,lavea,under water

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON at 18:07, 2008-07-10

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

12.50 - 13.30

juvenile Black-necked Grebe still present and giving incredible views down to 3 feet when it was possible to see it swimming below the surface of the water for a while then follow its air bubbles before it resurfaces

Worryingly, the bird made numerous dives all of which were unsuccessful. Staff there reported a complete absence of small fish. Although BWP states that they take other food items according to the time of year I didn't see it eat anything

. It should go to Chorlton WP where there are shoals of millions of small fry

Any photographers get down there before the weekend or before it starves.

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Black-necked Grebe still present about 9.30 this morning along with juv Heron, 2 cygnets, 2 juv Coots, the Gyppo Goose of unknown origin, a Parakeet that flew off from a Cherry tree right above my head and two more squabbling on the island. All quite exotic for a local park.

I couldn't see the Grebe on the way back from the supermarket but my bins were by then in the bottom of my paniers. Setup activity has started for the weekend food and drink festival event.

Melanie Beckford · Status: Offline

l nipped down to see the Black-necked Grebe (L) late afternoon with Paul (C),the weather was brilliant!!.....if you love heavy rain.Found the B-n Grebe easily,diving,loving his life and trying to stay out of the way of a Coot who was harassing it at any chance.A lovely little waterbird and l would be delighted to see an adult.

Others seen were,two juvenile Herons in the trees with an adult nearby,lots of Moorhen, Coots with young and plenty of Canada Geese.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Be warned - there's a music festival here this weekend - presumably setting up will start Friday at the latest.

I can't see the grebe (tolerant as it is) staying in to the weekend.

Rob

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

12.30 -13.00 and the start of a classic three hours of urban birding

juvenile Black-necked Grebe (absolutley bizarre

)
2 juvenile Grey Herons in the nest on the island
2 adult Mute Swan with two cygnets
1 Egyptian Goose
Blackcap in song

next stop Black Reds

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 19:11, 2008-07-09

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Still present this morning and showing excepionally well on this small ornamental pond.

Also present were calling Ring-necked Parakeets and a brief view of a tail-less parakeet that seemed to show red on the upper wing - not seen well enough to tell if it was blood stained having lost its tail in a fight or perhaps something more exotic.

Rob Smallwood · Status: Offline

Birdguides reporting a juv Black-necked Grebe on the lake at Platt Fields Park for its second day.

Given the size of the lake there should be raesonable photo ops I'd have thought.

Apologies if this is reported elsewhere.