15 sand martin 3 willow warbler, 2 singing & feeding along trafford wharf another singing over on merchants quay. 1 Chiffchaff Thought I may of heard a garden warbler along trafford wharf but only heard the once. 1 goosander 4 grey wagtail 1 herring gull 5 meadow pipit, over.
no sign of the great northern diver along Trafford wharf between 4-5pm. 2 willow warblers were a nice surprise in the birch trees about halfway along Trafford wharf ( my first of the year) feeding with a couple of blue tits. 2 peregrine falcons over media city struggling in the high winds but one did have a kill in its talons, they both disappeared & were not seen again. 7 herring gulls.
great northern diver, diving, close to the wall on Trafford wharf (Samuel platts side) just after 2pm.
Shannon, Trafford wharf is that stretch of the ship canal, not sure if it is from the locks to Trafford road bridge or just from the lowry bridge to Trafford road bridge, but I am sure james walsh can clarify this for you.
Great Northern Diver preening in front of the Lowry Shopping Mall at 08.00 this morning. He's (?) been on or around The Quays now for the better part of four months.
No sign of the great northern diver, but some nice species spied.
Lowry area:
1 peregrine drifting over the Lowry Outlet building, heading in the direction of Old Trafford. 1 common gull with the more numerous black-headed, lesser black-backed and herring gulls. 25 mute swan (including two with blue darvic rings, 4BDP & 4BUV, and one with a small metal ring, ZY7805)
From Media City bridge (is it Trafford Wharf you're looking down onto from here?):
Sorry for this late post but I was chopping wood in the back yard and at 4.30pm this afternoon saw a cormorant type bird flying over going south. It definitely wasn't a cormorant it looked to me like the Great Northern Diver leaving Salford Quays(which are only a mile away) It was also calling which I checked on YouTube and that confirmed it for me.
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