Already posted this in the River Irwell section, but maybe some of it or all of it belongs here? From Friday 22 March, around lunchtime, walk up from Agecroft, through Drinkwater Park, up to Kingfisher Lodge/Waterdale, back down along the River Irwell . Kingfisher Lodge pool: pair Gadwall, Mallards, Coots River Irwell: Goosander pair + 1, Tufted Duck pair, Black Headed Gull Drinkwater Park: Chiffchaffs, Great Tits, Blue Tits , Long-Tailed Tits, Wrens, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, Magpies, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swans, Mallards, Coots, Moorhens, Heron, Wood Pigeons, Nuthatches
A couple of unusual sightings on the Irwell near the 13 Arches while doing my BBS square this morning. A male teal (first record there for me in 25 years) and also an Aylesbury duck.
6 loafing goosander with a cormorant.
A Chiffchaff was giving a stuttering 3-syllabled song: Ch-chiff-chaff.
While doing my BBS count, there was the strange sight of a male Tufted Duck chasing a female mallard almost to the top of the 13 Arches viaduct. They perched there for a while with a male mallard in attendance.
-- Edited by Steve Christmas on Monday 2nd of May 2022 10:02:19 AM
While doing my BBS square at 08.00 this morning had a possible pale phase arctic skua flying down the Irwell from 13 arches towards Drinkwater Park but didn't get a good enough view to claim it.
Drinkwater Park and Irwell Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebe on River, Bullfinch x 2 Male Greenfinches, several flocks of Goldfinches, Jay in Woods 6 Gadwall, Cor,orant on Lodge.F
Very short walk to the lodge at the bottom of Mere Clough gave Swallow House and Sand Martion, Nuthatch, Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and family of fledged Bullfinches.
Sunny Cold flock of Goldfinches and few Bullfinches near sewage works, several Nuthatches and Great Spotted Woodpecker bottom Mere Clough, on river downstream from aquaduct 3 Goosander 4 Little Grebe, 2 Teal 4 Grey Wagtail, upstream a wader but too far to confirm properly, over 2 Cormorant and flapping about a Kestrel more Bullfinches and loads of Wrens
Slim pickings Willow Tit, Coal tits, Nuthatches, Treecreeper Mere Cough, flock of goldfinches long tailed tits and Male Goldeneye on a very inflated river
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 27th of January 2013 01:46:07 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of January 2013 02:09:53 PM
From Sewage works to aqueduct near thirteen arches a frosty mornings sparse picking included one goosander, one siskin, one grey wagtail, one kestrel and two flocks of long tailed tits
From Sewage works to aqueduct near thirteen arches Two singing chiffchaff, bullfinch, grey wagtail, kestrel, 6 swallows mobbing sparrow hawk, mistle thrush, nuthatch, and on river goosander
Long walk from sewage works down to waterdale over viaduct down to drinkwater park and back.
Blackcap Chiffchaff a plenty few willow warbler common whitethroat, gadwall in river, family of wrens, souring buzzard and fantastic views of two kestrels until a dog walker appeared around a corner shouting 'Baby...Baby...Baby Come Here' and then Baby quickly appeared and who was a huge slavering snarling big toothed hound.
Walk from outwood to waterdale over river to drinkwater park uo and down prestwich clough and back through bottom of mere clough to outwood. Lot of people out taking the sun and one chap in drinkwater park walking around shouting a dogs name and blowing a veryvery very loud wistle, so not many sights there.
Lapwings and skylarks outwood. In the woods lots of Nuthatch, Great spotted Woodpeckers, treecreepers jay pheasant and fly over buzzard some goosander in the river. In the ponds drinkwater park 6 tufted duck and great crested grebe chiffchaff everywhere.
Mere Clough Waterdale Phillips Park Lots of Nuthatches at least six seen and heard all different birds some posing for photos. One Treecreeper One Coal tit One Pheasant and Two singing Goldcrests around what is left of the gardens. Lot of work higher up in the clough laying footpaths.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Tuesday 6th of March 2012 02:46:16 PM
Sunrise Mere Clough and path to sewage work Clough plenty of Jays one Nuthatch Coal tit heard Tawney Owl Path from Sewage Works More Jays Bullfinch and flock of 12 lesser redpolls on birch
prestwich sewage works gate up mere clough
3 Nuthatches one a pair getting rather annoyed with a squirrel near an old woodpecker hole which I assume they have taken over.
3 tree creepers one a pair
1 gold crest
1 coal tit
2 GS Woodpeckers
6 singing Chiff chaffs spread from sewage works gate to middle of mere clough
lots of L T tits
3 mallard 1 coot on lodge
prestwich side of he viaduct 30 ards up. The females were the goosanders. It starlted me as I was looking for plants on the river bank. It had slighty upturned bill green legs. I do not list.
Its just that Green Sandpipers are very common along that stretch of the river
Excellent record then - as its very unusual to get Greenshank on the river down there. Was it on an Island at all or the rocky banking? Will go down and have a look tomorrow.
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 07:28:59 PM
It was right neaer the thirteen arches railway viaduct on the river along with the three goosanders. I was looking at something else and startled it on to the other side of the river. It was not as green sand and it was very early.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:44:57 PM
Hi ian. Where about's exactly was your Greenshank? As cant really work it out from your post. I have I good idea but There isn't much habitat in that area for waders! Although green sand are often seen down there along the river and occasional on the ponds. Greenshank would be a first for me in that area. Thanks very much. simon
-- Edited by Simon Johnson on Thursday 15th of April 2010 06:04:59 PM
Early morning stroll in Phillips Park Still frosty Seen One Mere Clough Tawney Owl 2 GS Woodpecker several chiff chaffs LT tit tree creeper Near Clifton aqueduct/lagoon lower woods 3 Goosander female Greenshank three black caps gadwall kingfisher
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 28th of March 2011 11:33:10 AM
