CHORLTON WP

steven burke · Status: Offline

RE: CHORLTON WP

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Yesterday late morning there were 27 Gadwall before a canoeist flushed them all.

Cheers John

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Yesterday, afternoon:

Lots of goldcrest, heard and seen all over
2 grey wagtail
3 redwing over
10 gadwall
1 tufted duck
1 great crested grebe
5 mute swan
70+ coot

Barlow tip:

4 goldcrest
6 or 7 lesser redpoll
1 siskin
2 bullfinch
1 chaffinch
c15 redwing over
1 jay
1 snipe
2 ring-necked parakeet over
1 buzzard over (hassled by a carrion crow)

Hardy farm orchard (listed here for convenience):

4 goldcrest
1 willow tit
3 bullfinch
2 jay

Paul Heaton · Status: Offline

First light this morning Tawny Owl over kenworthy fields.

The water park was full this morning hundred plus coots, Mute Swan in Large numbers as were Canada geese, good stroll round an old haunt,

Kingfisher, Buzzard some of the best birds, but the sheer joy of the birds on the water, in the autumn light was ace.

Keep Birding

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Brief visit at 2pm
Ring Necked Parakeet on feeders
12 Gadwall

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

One female Sparrowhawk attacking another female Sparrowhawk was quite a sight at Kenworthy Woods this afternoon. One of those birding moments

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Looking down onto the water from Barlow Tip yesterday:

4 great crested grebe (two adults and two juvenile)
4 coot (two adults and two juvenile)
12 black-headed gull

Plenty of long-tailed tit and chiffchaff on Barlow Tip itself.

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

Still seven cygnets on lake.

One Great Crested Grebe kept busy feeding FOUR fully-grown juveniles.

Two pairs of Blackcap on Kenworthy Fields

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

This afternoon:

3 very recently fledged chiffchaff, with a parent
Reed warbler singing (possibly two)
Mute swan with seven cygnets
Plenty of coot with young
5 great crested grebe, including three large juveniles
1 grey heron
2 black-headed gull
1 lesser black-backed gull

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

Not much about mid-afternoon. Reed Bunting very close to western end of CWP with dragonfly in its beak. Whitethroat on Barlow Tip.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Late report for yesterday
Had a quick walk down to the reedbed
Things had seem to have calmed down with the reed warbler there was at least 3. Near the end of our visit 1 of them gave some nice views of its self singing nearer the top of the reeds staying still for some time this allowed me to get some film footage of it. I might head out today to see if I can film the whitethroat pair close to my house..
Loads of Canada geese on the water
5 long tailed tits in the reedbed
4 gadwall
2 tufted ducks
1 great crested grebe
About 5 coot all either with young or a partner and 2 more on nests
5 mallards

-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Saturday 6th of June 2015 10:39:20 AM

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Had a quick walk to Kenworthy woods from the car park.
I saw from the reedbed:
29 canada geese
11 mallards
2 pairs of coots. 1 pair had 3 juveniles and the other had 9 fledglings which looked like they had only just fledged.
3 moorhen
2 great crested grebes
7 black headed gulls
At least 6 reed warblers giving really good views coming within 1 foot of me. Letting me get good photos of them.
3 female and 1 male house sparrow with the male singing in the reed bed not to the likings of reed warblers
2 jays flew over
2 blue and 2 great tits feeding on the reed maces
Kenworthy woods:
3 song thrush
9 male and 3 female whitethroats (a bird I have had difficulty photographing for a while)
1 male and 1 female sparrowhawk
2 buzzarsd
1 female and 1 male bullfinch
1 skylark singin
Plus the usual
Barlow tip
2 whitethroats
2 male reed buntings
Plus the usual
Plus the usual

Chris Porter · Status: Offline

Skylark spotted from path between water and Barlow Tip/Eye around 6pm. 90% certain of sighting as was with the kids and couldn't hang around too long, but definite small crest.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Late this afternoon:

2 great crested grebe
4 tufted duck
plenty of coot, one pair with two extremely young chicks
1 cormorant
3 chiffchaff
2 blackcap
1 whitethroat
1 reed warbler
2 willow warbler
3 swallow
6 house sparrow
1 ring-necked parakeet
Lots of the usuals.

Kenworthy Woods:

Plenty of chiffchaff
2 blackcap (a couple of others heard)
3 greenfinch
3 bullfinch
2 goldfinch
c10 swallow
1 mistle thrush
1 buzzard
1 lesser black-backed gull over

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Had a little trip. Got there around 4 went straight to where I saw the redstart yesterday. On the way two birds flew of the path and flew into a hawthorn. One must have flew deeper into the hedge but one was a male whitethroat. Had a walk around the area and saw 2 more whitethroats in the brambles around gropper hill and I thought I heard the redstart but couldn't be sure. I then decided I would sit on the path where I saw it yesterday. After about 15 mins something flew onto the path and the back into the hedge. It looked like the redstart but I wasn't one hundred percent sure it was it because I only got a very brief view of it.

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

CWP:

Reed Warbler - small reedbed near children's playground

Kenworthy fields:

2 Whitethroat in brambles around "gropper hill" west of main track
Lots of woodland birds including Bullfinch at small pond just beyond gropper hill.

Didn't see/hear Redstart but I didn't cover the whole area.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

Hi I'm thinking of going to check if the redstart is still there does anyone know any news about it.

Joel Tragen · Status: Offline

A lovely 2 and a half search for the redstart in Kenworthy woods today.
I got there around 3 and on the way over to the woods I ask a birder (who we later found out was Pete Hines) if he had seen it and where it was. He said he had seen it 3 times but only brief views and that was over 20 mins ago. Halso gave us directions and off we went in search of him. At 4:30 we decided that that we were going to leave after hearing him 4 times but not seeing him. On our way out I was looking in the hedges when my Godmother said 'Joel I have just seen something pinky fly past but it is probaly a bullfinch" I went to have a look where it had landed and was rewarded with a stunning view of a male redstart sitting 2 meters away in a hawthorn. I got some photos and deiced we would leave but on our way out he kept on following us so I got some more photos. In the end we decided we would leave once and for all but we met up with another birder (who I am really sorry have forgotten the name of). We were told him he had missed it by 2 min and decided to show him where it was at the moment seen as we were going that way. Just as we were showing him it flew into a tree and then into the path giving amazing view. All together a really nice day out. We also saw: 2 m +2 f whitethroats, 5 m + 3 f blackcaps with more heard, 17 chiffchaff, 6 willow warblers with 2 nests, 1 male reed bunting in the brambles at the bottom of grouper hill, 2 song thrushs and the usual ( long-tailed tits, great tits, etc)

-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Monday 27th of April 2015 08:30:22 PM

-- Edited by Joel Tragen on Tuesday 28th of April 2015 08:13:50 AM

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Redstart in the Kenworthy area refound by Tony Darby at 1.20pm
Sparrowhawk 1
Blackcap 9 singing males and one female seen too
Whitethroat 1
Reed Bunting male 1

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 27th of April 2015 01:33:49 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Male Redstart in the area west of the main track at Kenworthy at 11:30 today.

Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

20th April 14:15-15:30 Kenworthy Fields

Abundant Chiffchaff
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard - chased away by -
2 Ring-Necked Parakeets, very noisy, flying over river
3 Jay
1 Grey Wagtail on stones on river close to bridge between CWP and Kenworthy

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 20th of April 2015 04:50:47 PM

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Male Whitethroat at Hardy Farm this morning.

Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony

Ian Keith · Status: Offline

2 Wheatears - both male on the UMIST playing fields next to the M60 at 5.30pm today. With all the paddocks and piggery may stay for a day or two.

Ian Keith · Status: Offline

The regulars around Kenworthy and the substation joined by 2 Whitethroats this afternoon.
17 Blackcaps (12m, 5f) in the early morning Fog last Thursday - majority in the Hawthorn hedge leading up past the Orchard.
Weasel bounding up the riverbank by substation (again).

Andrew Mitchell · Status: Offline

A couple of hours late afternoon. Amongst the usuals (of which there were loads - a very pleasant walk indeed):

Decent mixed group of Sand Martins and Swallows feeding over the water - would estimate a total of 20-30 birds
Chiffchaff singing everywhere - 5 seen but lots more around
3 male Blackcap seen and singing, again probably more around
2 Song Thrush
2 Reed Bunting (1m, 1f) at the feeders
Ring-necked Parakeets heard by the Mersey
1 Jay

-- Edited by Andrew Mitchell on Saturday 11th of April 2015 11:03:12 PM

Ian Keith · Status: Offline

2 male Blackcaps - joining in the dawn chorus this morning. 2 of the regular group of 5 Parakeets mating in a large Ash tree and a lone drake Goosander out fishing on the Mersey also 7 Bullfinch, 6 Jays, 6 Song Thrush, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Grey Wagtails, 1 Pied Wagtail, 1 Buzzard.

Plenty of Butterflies on the wing yesterday - 7 Tortoiseshells, 3 Brimstones and 2 Peacocks. Still no end to the Myxomatosis outbreak in Kenworthy.

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

2 Sand Martin 3pm

steven burke · Status: Offline

Aft/eve

4 mute swan
1 great crested grebe
7 tufted duck
3 grey heron
2 chiffchaff

Barlow tip..

1 jack snipe
3 chiffchaff
2 treecreeper
4 bullfinch
3 reed bunting
2 redwing
1 buzzard
1 great spotted woodpecker
7 goosander, over.
Lots of song thrush around, plus the usuals.

John Doherty · Status: Offline

No woodcock yesterday either... Had jays five chiffchaffs and two sparrowhawks one being pursued by corvids

phillipskelly · Status: Offline

From 6 to 7.30 pm - Goldeneye x 2. Mute swan x 2 . Gadwall x 2 . Tufted duck x8. Ring-necked parakeet x 2 . . . . And a Mystery Bird . . . Seen in the reedbed from the concrete jetty with bins only -- Small with a light brown back and pale chest disappeared into the reeds(might be a sand martin). Then a small bird from the same position within the reeds flew out perpendicular, to 2 ft. above and then straight back down (similar to that of a reed warbler ) at 6.10 pm. Any ideas ? Also present at the reedbed -- Grey wagtail x 4. Reed bunting x 2 . Had a look for Woodcock at Barlow Tip but No luck, . . I did see 2 ft bats at 7.10pm whilst sat on the fence next to the baily bridge.

David Morris · Status: Offline

Four firsts for me at Chorlton WP yesterday (still fairly new to the whole birding thing, and hadn't been out for a while): 3 Long-tailed Tits at Barlow Tip 1 Ring-Necked Parakeet by the feeders 1 Bullfinch by the feeders 1 Jay on the side of the lake near the substation A lot of the gulls seem to have disappeared over the past few weeks- is this common for them this time of year?

David Morris · Status: Offline

I saw one of the parakeets yesterday- them seem to be seen more at Fletcher Moss Park (saw one there today too!), but they do make an appearance in Chorlton WP too!

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Late post for yesterday. Walk from Princess Parkway through Waterpark fringe to Sale WP

Nine Chiffchaffs, including 3 singing in a small triangle of woods at Priory Gardens
1 Kestrel
1 Willow Tit at Kenworthy Woods
2 Ring-necked Parakeet in Kenworthy Woods.... are they seen here often? The two were together in a tree.
3 Buzzards

Didn't do Barlow Tip

Plus a weasel

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 22nd of March 2015 06:20:01 PM

Tony Coatsworth · Status: Offline

Chiffchaffs back in force - singing at Barlow Tip, Hardy Farm and around the substation

No Sand Martins yet

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Barlow Tip:

4 chiffchaff
6 long-tailed tit (the most numerous small bird today)
1 reed bunting
1 greenfinch
2 bullfinch, showing bonding behaviour
Numerous wren
3 jay
2 snipe
1 woodcock
1 kestrel
1 grey heron over

3 comma (first butterflies of the year) :)

Water Park itself:

8 long-tailed tit
1 song thrush
2 starling
c30 tufted duck (including two mating)
2 goldeneye (male and female)
2 great crested grebe
4 moorhen (including, bizarrely, one sat preening in a tree)
1 grey heron (perhaps the same one I saw fly over Barlow Tip; it was heading in the right direction)
1 cormorant
3 ring-necked parakeet

Lots of the usuals, both of water birds, and small birds. Few gulls.

-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Thursday 19th of March 2015 09:27:38 PM

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Pm with Tony Darby

Woodcock 1
Snipe 3
Bullfinch 2
Goldeneye 1
Lesser Redpoll 8
Redwing 3
First Chiffchaff of the year smile

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Shannon Llewellyn wrote:

steven burke wrote:

Shannon, well done on spotting you're first woodcock

Thank you! I was extremely happy to see it. :) Also seven grey wagtail, which was bizarre, and caused BirdTrack to warn is, 'an unusually high bird count.' The kingfisher was perched next to one of them for a short time too, which was lovely.

7 Grey Wagtail together is indeed a great record outside the breeding season. It needs to be formally submitted to Ian McKerchar as all observations on the forum count for nothing unless backed up with records...

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

steven burke wrote:

Shannon, well done on spotting you're first woodcock

Thank you! I was extremely happy to see it. :) Also seven grey wagtail, which was bizarre, and caused BirdTrack to warn is, 'an unusually high bird count.' The kingfisher was perched next to one of them for a short time too, which was lovely.

steven burke · Status: Offline

Shannon Llewellyn wrote:

Along the Mersey valley from Jackson's Boat to the turn off to Barlow Tip (including that clearing just before the golf course, which a good little spot for observing small birds, in my experience):

3 goldfinch
1 greenfinch
10 redwing
2 wren
1 pied wagtail
1 goldcrest
1 jay
1 coal tit

Barlow Tip:

2 goldfinch
2 bullfinch
1 greenfinch
6 long-tailed tit
5 dunnock
c15 redwing
5+ song thrush, in full voice as evening drew on
1 woodcock*
the usual (even by their standards) large number of magpie; they seem to really love this place
plenty of wren and one mistle thrush heard in song

Water park itself:

good numbers of coot, mallard and Canada geese (including two that looked as if they were pairing up)
black-headed gulls in good numbers
10+ common gull
1 lesser black-backed gull
10 pochard
1 tufted duck
2 great crested grebe
6 moorhen
7 grey wagtail (a group of four flew over and headed off across the lake towards Barlow Tip, the others flew over shortly after, and remained flitting around the reed area)
1 kingfisher
2 song thrush
5 long-tailed tit (including a pair gathering nesting material)
6 ring-necked parakeet
1 grey heron

The usual array of blue tits, great tits, robins, blackbirds, woodpigeon, carrion crow and magpie everywhere.

A successful day, considering a good part of it was a washout, and the starred bird is a first. :)

Shannon, well done on spotting you're first woodcock smile

Ian Keith · Status: Offline

Unfortunately it appears Manchester City Council is in discussions with a group of Mountain Bikers about developing a Mountain Bike course opposite the water park in Kenworthy Wood.

More details available at Facebook page and a South Manchester Mountain Bike Forum.

Unfortunately with the demise of the Warden Service I'm concerned the proposal will be approved before anybody is given an opportunity to formally object. I've emailed Councillor Rosa Battle the Executive Member for Culture and Leisure to express my concerns. If anybody has any other ideas on how to stop this from proceeding please drop me a pm.

Ian, please feel free to move this post from the sighting section if there's a more appropriate thread.

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Along the Mersey valley from Jackson's Boat to the turn off to Barlow Tip (including that clearing just before the golf course, which a good little spot for observing small birds, in my experience):

3 goldfinch
1 greenfinch
10 redwing
2 wren
1 pied wagtail
1 goldcrest
1 jay
1 coal tit

Barlow Tip:

2 goldfinch
2 bullfinch
1 greenfinch
6 long-tailed tit
5 dunnock
c15 redwing
5+ song thrush, in full voice as evening drew on
1 woodcock*
the usual (even by their standards) large number of magpie; they seem to really love this place
plenty of wren and one mistle thrush heard in song

Water park itself:

good numbers of coot, mallard and Canada geese (including two that looked as if they were pairing up)
black-headed gulls in good numbers
10+ common gull
1 lesser black-backed gull
10 pochard
1 tufted duck
2 great crested grebe
6 moorhen
7 grey wagtail (a group of four flew over and headed off across the lake towards Barlow Tip, the others flew over shortly after, and remained flitting around the reed area)
1 kingfisher
2 song thrush
5 long-tailed tit (including a pair gathering nesting material)
6 ring-necked parakeet
1 grey heron

The usual array of blue tits, great tits, robins, blackbirds, woodpigeon, carrion crow and magpie everywhere.

A successful day, considering a good part of it was a washout, and the starred bird is a first. :)

Shannon Llewellyn · Status: Offline

Yesterday's water birds as below, but with the addition of two goosander and two great crested grebe.

Song thrush and coal tit heard in song, and greenfinch calling loudly (not that I could locate any of them). Great tits in large numbers again, calling and singing loudly; also one nuthatch and around 10+ goldfinch.

Barlow tip: magpies, carrion crows, more magpies, around five bullfinch and couple of long-tailed tit. Also what looked like the first, second and third primary feathers, and accompanying coverts, all attached to each other, of (I think) a common gull; no idea where the rest of it was (there were a few other other isolated feathers, but not many), or what could have happened to leave such remains.

Also on the walk along the river form Chorlton Ees, one grey wagtail, two pied wagtail, and two little grebe, looking very smart in their summer plumage.

Steven Nelson · Status: Offline

14.00-15.00 - rain!

c.20 Pochard
c.10 Tufted Duck
1 Gadwall
2 Mute Swan
2 Ring-necked Parakeets
1 Treecreeper
1 Goldcrest

John Doherty · Status: Offline

Had a scout for Jack Snipe and Woodcock on Barlow Tip without success - probably due to HORRIFIC rain which battered down catching me unawares.

However, despite a soaking, there were a few highlights.

Chorlton WP: 2x Sparrowhawks together; mixed flock Siskin poss. Redpoll in among; 8+ drake Pochards
Barlow Tip: 2 m Bullfinch

downriver on the Mersey towards Didsbury: Goldeneye pair: redhead Goosander.

Neil McCall · Status: Offline

Shoveler (male) lurking in reeds below playground

Great Crested Grebe 3
Cormorant 1

Long-Tailed Tit (3) and Goldfinch (3) around entrance to Barlow Tip.

Lesser Redpoll (1) on Kenworthy Fields

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

1 Jack Snipe - Barlow Tip
1 Common Snipe - Barlow Tip
3 Skylark flying west over Kenworthy
2 Nuthatch - Kenworthy
1 Goldcrest
1 Buzzard

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Three hours round Chorlton WP, Barlow Tip and Kenworthy Woods with Tony Darby today netted 42 species including:

Woodcock 1
Jack Snipe 1 (of note was that as it flew a short distance low over a hedge I heard it make a very peculiar and almost inaudible noise - a sound like it was coughing up a tiny ball of phlegm. Tony was a little further back from me and didn't hear it at all)
Redpoll 13
Long-tailed Tit carrying nesting material
Bullfinch two pairs
Redwing 5
Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming
Treecreeper 1
Goldcrest 1 singing
Ring-necked Parakeets 2 or 3
Reed Bunting
Pochard 10

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 15th of February 2015 05:12:37 PM

Tony Darby · Status: Offline

No Snipe for me on Barlow Tip this morning but I had an unusual sighting of 7 Ravens over S.
Also
Buzzard 1
Redpoll c12 feeding with a similar number of Goldfinches

Gary Edwards · Status: Offline

Cheers Pete. I'll spend some time there and hopefully get lucky

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Folks for info on Barlow Tip see the Site Guides on the Home Page of this website, under M, Mersey Valley, there are maps you can print off. Barlow Tip is on the Chorlton WP map (as is Kenworthy). Woodcock favour the woodland thickets as well as rushes, which are preferred by the Snipes. They can occur literally anywhere in the Mersey Valley (and elsewhere) with this habitat, particularly after a foggy night in late autumn/winter.