Green Sandpiper 2 flew along MSC over the locks towards Barton Bridge Little Egret 2 ditto Common Tern 1 Great Black-backed Gull 1 adult over Kingfisher 1 Gadwall 2 Willow Tit 2 Linnet 4
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1 Common Tern on the Ship Canal hunting around Barton Locks this morning before flying towards Barton Bridge 1 Kingfisher along the canal 1 Sedge Warbler singing on north side of the canal
Goldeneye 1 female on MSC by the locks Common Tern 1 between Hulme's ferry & the locks Willow Tit 1 at 53.462064, -2.385285 Kingfisher 1 (3 sightings of an individual) Great crested Grebe 1 on MSC Little Grebe 1 juvenile on the pond
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Couple of hours this afternoon down on the veiwpoint watching the Ship Canal.
Goldeneye female. Common Tern, diving and hawking the water, eventually called and flew high towards Barton Aerodrome Couple of Grey Herons Plenty of Swallows, House Martin's and Sand Martin's 2 x Oystercatchers 2 x Great Black Backed Gulls.
There has been a Tern showing here since Monday not sure if it's the same as the ones around Irlam Locks.
A pretty fruitful trip round the reserve this afternoon:)
1 male blackcap 1 greenfinch 2 tree sparrow 2 chiffchaff 1 great crested grebe 3 swallow feeding around the jetty and an oystercatcher chilling out on the jetty!! As seen from the large viewing platform near the docks
Walk round the reserve with my Mum and we were rewarded with excellent views of a kingfisher scanning the first pond, which we were both able to enjoy.
Gadwall
Tufted duck
2 male and one female teal
Cormorant
Lesser black backed gull
Couldn't get to Boysnope because of it being fenced off. So tried to get a view of Ship Canal from the Flixton side. Turned out alright, except any Goldeneyes probably downstream of Boysnope towards the bend, before Irlam Locks.
Just as an FYI I have 4 Willow Tits on my feeders every day at the moment (backing on to Nature Reserve in area not open to the public), definite increase in numbers, normally I only see 2 or occasionally 3
Willow Tit 1 singing at 53.461525, -2.385785 Oystercatcher 4 together at Barton Lock Gadwall 7 Cormorant 10 minimum Coot 1 ad with 5 young on pond Buzzard 1 Swift 9 Swallow 11 House Martin 13 Chiffchaff 8 singing Blackcap 7 singing House Sparrow 31 minimum
Willow Tit singing, thats almost right opposite a possible nest site I stumbled across during the WT survey I did this year....
Willow Tit 1 singing at 53.461525, -2.385785 Oystercatcher 4 together at Barton Lock Gadwall 7 Cormorant 10 minimum Coot 1 ad with 5 young on pond Buzzard 1 Swift 9 Swallow 11 House Martin 13 Chiffchaff 8 singing Blackcap 7 singing House Sparrow 31 minimum
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Looking for some assistance with identifying a new visitor to my garden yesterday which backs on to the Millenium Nature Reserve - sadly not great images buy hopefully good enough for someone to tell me what this is please .......
New pair of Willow Tits right next to the bridge was a welcome arrival. 2 other birds heard around the reserve.
Peregrine Falcon flew over us on our departure with a distinctive gap in its left wing, probably a Beyond Bird, but with this feature maybe someone has seen it further a field..
A very warm afternoon walk round from 2 until half 3. Highlights being;
Several female chaffinch along the Brook as viewed from the bridge
Plenty of gadwall
1 x great-crested grebe
And as I was leaving, near the main pond and the trees next to the exit sign, lots of interesting song and I was rewarded with my first willow tit. I would say at least three birds being very active.
A chilly mooch around Millenium this morning before the hoards of dog walkers descended produced
6 Willow Tits seen. 4 & 2 3 Willow Tits heard only sadly 1 Lesser Redpoll appeared briefly with the WT 4 Common Gulls 2 Great Black Backed Gulls 1 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel
And Peel seemed to clearing the opposite embankment as all the trees have gone missing...
A lovely winter walk in the snow as the sun came out...I think my peaceful moments down at the dock waiting for birds to arrive have really helped me through lockdown fever! Highlights today:
1x Great crested grebe
1x Raven making a racket from top of the pylon
3 x cormorant
4 x gadwall
And 1 x grey heron who i was pretty much waiting to turn up before I left! I like to see him before leaving my favourite spot...and he dutifully flew in
-- Edited by Natalie Clarke on Saturday 23rd of January 2021 05:24:35 PM
Thanks, although sadly stuck in the office now.....
Natalie Clarke wrote:
Hi Steve,
No, of course not!
It was at the Dock viewing ledge. So slightly to the right of that thing that pumps out water (looks iike a giant plug socket ) he was feeding in the overgrowth. Quite well hidden. I actually think I caught sight of him the on NYE as well but couldn't be sure but had a better view yesterday!
It was at the Dock viewing ledge. So slightly to the right of that thing that pumps out water (looks iike a giant plug socket ) he was feeding in the overgrowth. Quite well hidden. I actually think I caught sight of him the on NYE as well but couldn't be sure but had a better view yesterday!
Very quiet afternoon walk around with my Dad but still enjoyable!
1 x heron on the dock.
1 x cormorant
1 x male shoveler who lifted his head briefly for me to admire!
Tufted duck seen further down the canal, on the way back to the car park and a great creasted grebe. Who almost looked more like a winter red-throated diver! But I am trying not to take my guide out with me at the moment. So I think I would have to commit to a winter great crested grebe!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 3rd of January 2021 06:58:02 PM
Really interesting bird that Steve. Can't say I 've ever seen any aberrant Willow Tits before, although a quick google shows a similar bird on Surfbirds.
The BTO have an aberrant plumage survey, could be interesting data to upload;
A good number of birds seen as well, the Willow Tit population at Davyhulme MNR never seems to grow, for last 10 - 15 years only seems to be a max of two pairs and you would have thought there was plenty of suitable habitat in the back closed off section. I've seen them being pushed off potential nesting sites here by both Great and Blue tit.
Highlight of the BTO's WeBS count at the NR today was 44 Gadwall all taking shelter in the Sludge Loading bay. The current down the canal was fierce and there was plenty of debris being taken west. No birds were on the actual canal on the whole stretch adjacent to the NR. 4 Great Crested Grebe were also in the Sludge Loading Bay along with 1 Little Grebe.
Another Little Grebe was on the larger of the two ponds.
Usual pair of Willow Tits in my garden backing on to the Nature Reserve this morning, Goldcrest also sighted but highlight was the return visit of 2 Red Kites over the Reserve