Tonight 5pm.... Goldcrest on edge if quays, pair goosanders in Ship Canal plus Two Sandmartin, a singing Chiffchaff and Kestrel at Pomona. Finally it's spring!
Great Northern Diver present on Sunday 13th March (Tony Disley) and I saw it on Tuesday 15th March, this now seems to be the last day of its' prolonged stay, my calculations make its' stay 3 months and 2 days Could this be the most twitched bird on Salfords' Docklands ever ?
I have enjoyed seeing it enormously on my visits, superb bird and a wonderful record for the Quays. Thank you to the finder and for all the information from everyone.
Great Northern Diver present on Sunday 13th March (Tony Disley) and I saw it on Tuesday 15th March, this now seems to be the last day of its' prolonged stay, my calculations make its' stay 3 months and 2 days
Could this be the most twitched bird on Salfords' Docklands ever ?
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I had a good mooch around all the basins this morning (twice) & along Trafford wharf, no signs of the great northern diver so hopefully gone safely back to where it should be. a woodcock flying over media city heading towards Trafford park at 9.50am was a nice surprise.
I am sad to say it is the beginning of a development taking place -they are going to build two tower blocks (Peel towers) on that site. Not sure what will happen to the rest of the site as Peel own it
A neighbour mentioned late today that he saw (from the tram )areas that have been cleared at Pomona. Is it shrub clearing like last time or is it the beginning of the end ?
Great Northern Diver still present on Ontario Basin this morning. Very bright light, harsh for photography as it stayed towards centre and MediaCity side. I also will be sad when it goes. So accessible 100mts from tram stop. Green birding!
Phil
-- Edited by Phil Hampson on Monday 7th of March 2016 08:59:01 PM
A very brief visit on sunday between 16:55 and 17:15. Found on Ontario basin after a quick walk round the other smaller basins. I'll be sad when its gone.
Great Northern Diver showing very well on Ontario Basin this morning. Initially in the middle asleep and then became very active at the road end continually diving but I didn't see it with any fish. Superb bird and well worth the visit.
great northern diver on Ontario basin at 11am, 20 mins later it was in st peters basin right under my nose, could see the diver swimming under the water looking & probing around on the bottom it surfaced then went back down then returned with a small perch which slipped out of its bill & had to dive again after it, it returned with the perch & positioned it to swallow it whole
1 jack snipe 2 common snipe 2 meadow pipit 2 song thrush 3 grey wagtail 2 goosander 1 tufted duck on the bridgewater canal. 2 siskin & 2 goldcrest in wood next to Trafford road bridge. 34 pink- footed goose over west/north west at 5.10pm.
-- Edited by steven burke on Monday 29th of February 2016 08:09:32 PM
Passed through the Quays at about 3.15pm today and sure enough the Great Northern Diver was in St Francis Basin having a kip.
Was wondering what the prognosis is for this bird. Will it most likely head back down the ship canal come spring and north to breed? Think its interesting that it is so reliably in St F basin. Such a small body of water with so much more available.
It's a top predator in a fish tank !
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Passed through the Quays at about 3.15pm today and sure enough the Great Northern Diver was in St Francis Basin having a kip.
Was wondering what the prognosis is for this bird. Will it most likely head back down the ship canal come spring and north to breed? Think its interesting that it is so reliably in St F basin. Such a small body of water with so much more available.
This afternoon, west of Pomona Metro to Lowry area:
2 goldcrest 11 goldfinch 3 greenfinch Blue tit, long-tailed tit, wren, robin 2 grey wagtail 2 moorhen 6 coot Mallard & Canada geese 17+ mute swan (including two with blue Darvic rings; 4BDN & 4BDJ) 1 great northern diver (Ontario Basin, as below) c10 cormorant Plenty of black-headed gull 20+ common gull 10+ herring gull c10 lesser black-backed gull (slightly fewer noted than herring)
Pomona Docks:
1 goldfinch 4 long-tailed tit 3 wren, 1 blackbird and greenfinch, robin, house sparrow and dunnock (singing) all heard 2 meadow pipit 2 grey wagtail 12 mallard 3 goosander 5 mute swan (flying low over, where every leathery creak and groan from their wings could be heard; what a sound) 1 lapwing 8 cormorant c60 black-headed gull 7 common gull 2 lesser black-backed gull 1 herring gull 2 kestrel
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 21st of February 2016 06:02:22 PM
great northern diver showing really well on Ontario basin from 3.50pm. I stayed & watched the diver for almost an hour in the dismal weather (brolly keeping me dry) getting some photos & video, when I first arrived it was actually having a bathe & preen & then it decided to flap its wings wildly & almost looked like it was going to take of at one point. I also heard it calling, it didn't do its wails, bubbling or laughing voice it did 3 hoot like calls which was still nice to hear big numbers of goldfinches building up going to roost in the trees outside the lowry.
Don't know the names of the basins around the quays, but Great Northern Diver was giving brilliant views from the basin with the waterski ramps, down to around 10 metres away. At one point i watched it dive and could see it swim down about 5 feet before disappearing. Watched it for around 20 minutes before it decided to have a sleep.
Stopped by the Quays on the way home from the city centre late this morning. The Great Northern Diver was giving great views on Ontario basin. Birding by Metrolink has to be the way forward