A "super-flock" of c300 Siskin +1 Goldfinch in trees along the footpath between Alexandra Retail Park and Oldham Mumps, an amazing sight and sound - high volume chattering!
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Paid a very quick visit for the Wood Duck this morning at 9:30, it was next to the small bridge near the cafe, still associating with a pair of Mallard.
Drake North American Wood Duck with Mallards on the small reed-fringed pool area on the north side of the lower lake, viewable from the boardwalk adjacent to the Boathouse Cafe
2 drake Goosanders 30 Tufted Ducks
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A bit more detail on todays sighting of the Caspian gull, I was there between about 10:00 - 14:30. The bird flew over the park and away about three times without landing between 11:15 - 11.45 and then finally landed at about 12:00, but only for 1 minute before flying again and disappearing for good. Each time it flew away it went south west over Kings road towards Hathershaw. Occasionally I could see a few big gulls flying up from that area but I don't know exactly where they were. It's a cracking bird, well worth a look. Also today the wood duck was still present near the cafe.
Adult Caspian Gull present for an hour this morning before leaving and not being seen again.
Also a Yellow Colour-ringed 1stW B H Gull 2C93 in with c100 others. This was ringed in Essex as a chick 8th June last summer. 1st sighting since being ringed.
Adult Caspian Gull flew in at 2:55pm and was present until 3:15pm on the ice, flying around and getting involved in the feeding scrums with the other gulls
Drake North American Wood Duck 2 drake Goosanders 27 Tufted Ducks
Couldnt resist having a search for the North American Wood Duck. Took me half an hour before I located it preening near the cafe. It followed a pair of mallard around the lake and it brightened up a dull and miserable January day.
Mallard Tufted Duck Goosander 4/5 males (split group 1 male initially by boat house, the others right at the other end) 1 redhead. Some display, guarding and aggression noted from one of the males Canada Goose Moorhen Coot Black-headed Gull Common Gull 4 inc at least 1x2ndW Lesser Black-backed Gull 2, 1xadult, 1x3rd W Herring Gull 2 1x2nd W, 1X3rd W
Drake Wood Duck still present, ditto Muscovy Duck (possibly Strinesdale bird from last month)
Drake North American Wood Duck - commuting between the two lakes 3 drake Goosander 14 Tufted Ducks (12 drakes) 1 Cormorant 1 juvenile Mute Swan 8 Redwings 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Common Gull
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I had to go and see this Wood duck today, not seen one before - escapee or not- it's still a lifer tick!
Found the Wood duck showing well on main lake at first, but he flew off and remained concealed on an island on the other pool shortly after. Talk about good timing- another 5 minutes delay and I would have missed out on any pictures....
I wonder what relationship (if any) this bird has to the one at Strinesdale several years ago, one of many 'ornamentals' to escape from a collection on the pond at Hull Brook in Delph?
-- Edited by Mike Chorley on Monday 18th of October 2021 08:38:28 PM
Tufted Ducks have bred successfully on Alexandra Park Lakes - two brief counts suggested up to four females with broods of seven, four, two and one (might need a proper count for exact numbers), also 1 Swift
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Coot with 2 chicks. Sparrowhawk Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin all in song Great Spotted Woodpecker Wren Long-tailed Tit Goldfinch