Just an update on this pleasant little place. A male and female Goosander have been here of late. A female Teal has made an intermittent appearance for some time but a male flew in earlier in the week. 2 female Bullfinches seen amongst the Chaffinches. A mixed flock of Goldfinches and Siskins also seen. Regulars include Goldcrests, Treecreepers and Nuthatches. Not seen the Grey Wagtail for a while, although I haven't been going as often. Has anyone else seen it?
Kingfisher at SW aspect of lake this morning. Nice to see a pair of Mute Swan here, present intermittently over last few weeks. Small skein of c.35 Pink-footed Geese flying west. + usuals.
Hi Martin & Ben, the Kingfisher was near playground opposite side to bridge where it was momentarily perched. Never seen one before there. I have seen Grey wagtail a few times - normally flies over but occasionally lands on Lake edge in front of main entrance.
The few times that I saw a Kingfisher it was diving close to the end where the playground is. If you're looking at the pond from the playground side, then it was perching on the trees to your left or near where the little bridge is.
Furthermore, with regards to grey wagtail, I almost always saw it on the bank of the little island on the west side of the pond. I hope that helps.
-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Monday 28th of November 2016 01:43:38 PM
Mind if I ask whereabouts on the lake you saw the Kingfisher? I visit Clowes Park several times a week and occasionally see one flying over but not usually settling anywhere. The Grey Wagtail comes and goes but I have not seen it for a while. Whereabouts did you see it today?
Teal (female)...a nice bird to have on the lake. It seemed healthy enough. At one point it took to flight but because it was behind foliage I couldn't tell if it was unable to maintain lift.
looks like the 2 mute swans are here to stay! coots with young 5 starling 1 mistle thrush 1 chaffinch 1 greenfinch 1 swift flying high out of the park 3 lesser black backed gulls ~10 swallows skimming the lake
-- Edited by Ben Kayser on Sunday 19th of May 2013 01:08:45 AM
a pair of chaffinches and mute swans tufted ducks wren by the reeds on the playground side of the lake goldcrest in really good view a couple of flocks of long tailed tits
drake goosander this week tufted ducks pair of goldeneye pair of mute swan - first in a long time mistle thrush more than one long tailed tit flock canada goose, coots, moorhen, crows, grey heron, mallard, blue and great tits
Thu 13th 1.30 - kingfisher flew off lake, across lawn and out of the North gate...great views in the sunshine...thanks to Ben I was looking out for it!
Drake wigeon was attempting to hide from me as i went around the lake on friday. The majority of the lake was frozen over and the fog was heavy going. I wonder if it got lost! A first at the park.
goosander present over the last week but alas not today! i've only seen females so far... more than one flock of long tailed tits, numbering around 10 max per flock 3 tufted ducks 2 mistle thrush 1 grey heron and a grey wagtail, my first at the park
i stalked one goosander across the lake to get a better look and it ended up flying away (heading south)! luckily there were 2 more on the other side of the lake. first that i've seen this season
only just started using this forum. this week i saw:
kingfisher (on top form today, first time i've seen one here) canada goose mallards coots moorhens swan goose (has been here for maybe the last 4-5 months) greylag geese Grey heron blackbirds robins
on recent occasions the last couple of week:
blue/great/long-tailed tits Great spotted woodpecker green/bull/goldfinch treecreeper dunnocks tufted ducks...
for a small lake it attracts some interesting visitors :)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of August 2012 11:57:35 PM
A nice little park and my first time here - a quick skim through revealed eight tufted ducks (5m 3f), two blacked-headed gulls, a dozen or so mallards, c25 Canada and 3 coots on its lake
On the Irwell coming over there/in Kersal Dale -6 Mallard, 2 Black faced gulls, 2 Mute swans, 5 tufted ducks, Blue tit in the trees.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Tuesday 12th of April 2011 05:32:22 PM
7 Tufted Duck, c25 Canada Goose, 5 Moorhen and 4 Coot on the pond in Clowes Park. I Nuthatch, 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Goldcrest in the surrounding woodland.
At nearby Kersal Dale - 1 Buzzard flew over, as did a skein of Pink-footed Geese at 8.30 but they remained unseen and uncounted as I couldn't see them through the fairly dense tree canopy. A Sparrowhawk targeted a large mixed tit flock. 2+ Siskin, 1+ Bullfinch and a single Jay.
Adults and at least 2 juvenile Goldcrest in the park this morning. It's always difficult to be absolutely certain with such a small and flighty species but I'm fairly sure from the movements being made and and the sounds heard that the adults were feeding the young.
Pair of Coot with 3 young. 2 pairs of Moorhen - one pair with 3 young. I have quite often seen adult Coots loosing their patience with their begging young but not Moorhens...until today, when the adult was really quite repeatedly aggressive towards its young. Mallard and Canada Goose have also bred here. Also Song Thrush carrying food and begging young Dunnocks heard. Had a Nuthatch in this park on 24/4 this year - not sure if that is a good record for here or not? Not heard or seen today though.
In nearby Mandley Park - at least 16 Mistle Thrush, including juvenile birds feeding in bird cherry trees. A family party of Goldfinch. Male Blackbird carrying food. An independent juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. c80 Starlings.
as did a skein of Pink-footed Geese at 8.30 but they remained unseen and uncounted as I couldn't see them through the fairly dense tree canopy. A Sparrowhawk targeted a large mixed tit flock. 
2+ Siskin, 1+ Bullfinch and a single Jay.
in the park this morning.