pete berry wrote: Actually Salford Quays usually stays ice free long after Rostherne as the River Irwell flows into it,and because the flow of the river helps to prevent ice forming.I can remember many years ago(showing my age now) seeing several thousand wildfowl there during a extreme spell of cold weather,when even Rostherne was frozen.
Looks as though Rostherne is staying clearer than Salford Quays this time
Salford Quays frozen over today, at least from Sam Platts to the War Museum. Lone male Goosander circled the keys a few times mid-afternoon looking for open water
what do you think the permit holders have been doing John
Simon Johnson inform me that 97% of the water is frozen on there this afternoon. Clearly all those divers, Smew et al will have go to elsewhere now.
It has to be really cold for Heaton Park to freeze the last two times it has frozen its been -8 or lower! all the tufted duck have moved on all that was left was a tiny stretch of open water but still loads of coots crammed on! - No Divers or Smew - YET!!
I have discovered this afternoon that last weekend there were 661 Tufted Duck and circa 1400 Teal on Rostherne - these are considered to be exceptional numbers for the mere. I was also told that the last time it completely froze over was probably the late 1800s (confirmation of the exact date awaited)
I also understand that during the big freeze of the early 1960s a substantial area was covered in ice but even that year there was a clear patch in the centre of the mere.
As Henry said Rostherne Mere is a likely refuge in the present conditions.
Because of its size (more than 1km long x up to 0.6km wide) and depth (31m max) it is the last freshwater body in the area to freeze in winter and is consequently an important sanctuary in severe weather.
Actually Salford Quays usually stays ice free long after Rostherne as the River Irwell flows into it,and because the flow of the river helps to prevent ice forming.I can remember many years ago(showing my age now) seeing several thousand wildfowl there during a extreme spell of cold weather,when even Rostherne was frozen.
As Henry said Rostherne Mere is a likely refuge in the present conditions.
Because of its size (more than 1km long x up to 0.6km wide) and depth (31m max) it is the last freshwater body in the area to freeze in winter and is consequently an important sanctuary in severe weather.
It does, but hasn't, for some reason, done so yet. We watched the ice forming along the edges the other day whilst doing the gull roost but most of the water is currently still open.
It does, but hasn't, for some reason, done so yet. We watched the ice forming along the edges the other day whilst doing the gull roost but most of the water is currently still open.
Your Tufties have probably gone to Heaton Park Res where we have had in excess of 400 birds the last few days. In previous years when we have had such bad weather Salford Quays (which rarely freezes)has held massive numbers of wildfowl,and is well worth checking out if this freeze continues. In Scotland where I spend a lot of time Wigeon,Teal,Pintail,Shelduck,Mallard,Tufted Duck spend all winter on the sea irrespective of the weather.
-- Edited by pete berry on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 11:30:58 AM
does heaton park not freeze ?as penny is almost completely frozen.youd think martin mere would get a lot,but when i popped in sat,there were very few diving duck.
Your Tufties have probably gone to Heaton Park Res where we have had in excess of 400 birds the last few days. In previous years when we have had such bad weather Salford Quays (which rarely freezes)has held massive numbers of wildfowl,and is well worth checking out if this freeze continues. In Scotland where I spend a lot of time Wigeon,Teal,Pintail,Shelduck,Mallard,Tufted Duck spend all winter on the sea irrespective of the weather.
-- Edited by pete berry on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 11:30:58 AM
Meols on the Wirral had a near record count for Cheshire of Great Crested Grebes (c440). I presume this will involve many birds which would have been forced off small lakes by this weather John.
I've not been out much in this weather recently but I would think that a few spots with deep waters and large perimeters like Rostherne Mere have open water still(?), so things like Tufties will presumably gather there in impressive numbers. Another option for many waterbirds is the coast where waterbodies stay open for longer thanks to the relative warming effect of the sea in winter. I've even seen stuff like Wigeon, Shoveler and Shelducks on the sea in recent weeks over in North Wales. No doubt there are high numbers of wildfowl around there at the moment.
Thanks. Henry.
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 10:25:40 AM
I keep wondering in this type of weather ,where do all the wildfowl go,as far as im aware there are no open still waters at the moment apart from small pockets,so where have all the tufted duck,great crested grebe,little grebe,pochard, coot.i know grebes will go on the sea,but what happens to tufted etc as there were 400 ish a few weeks ago on penny and now about 20,so where have all the rest gone. The others like teal etc can rest on ice ,but where do they feed,i imagine brooks and rivers are busy now with wildfowl and anyone with a river on thier local patch should give it a good look as owt could turn up
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Tuesday 5th of January 2010 10:09:24 AM
I keep wondering in this type of weather ,where do all the wildfowl go,as far as im aware there are no open still waters at the moment apart from small pockets,so where have all the tufted duck,great crested grebe,little grebe,pochard, coot.i know grebes will go on the sea,but what happens to tufted etc as there were 400 ish a few weeks ago on penny and now about 20,so where have all the rest gone.