0600-0645 cold frost and a bit misty on the pools Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Garden Warbler singing and good views in scrubland towards Racecourse Estate Whitethroat Willow Warbler Blackcap Chiffchaff no Garganey for me, but could easily lurk in the undergrowth.
TanmayI usually find the most productive area the scrubland at the back of the works towards Danewell Woods, but the reeds in the works are good for Sedge, Reed and Grasshopper Warbler.
Also take care at weekendssometimes unsavoury folks about, although I've never had a problem.
Garganey visible on main pool around the back, being terrorised by Coot. Hello Rob, who i met while he was having a quick look round in mid-afternoon!
Good to meet you too Laurence (didn't know it was you then). A very active site whilst I was here, especially a lot of Warbler activity, and one particular bird heard but I didn't see it, a bit further up the path from the 1st pool where I saw you, sounded a bit like a cross between a Blackbird and a Whitethroat, I think I've matched it to a Garden Warbler but I didn't see it.
I may visit tomorrow, hoping to see the garganey or especially garden warbler. Is anyone planning a visit by any chance as I really don't know the site well and not sure where are the best areas for warblers? Just thought I'd ask, just in case!
6 yellow wagtails and about 60 hirundines - 20 of each Very little else across the nearby moss area, the highlight being a hare in field 33 and a single yellowhammer
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans on Thursday 1st of May 2014 07:36:39 PM
Rob, Think it depends on what time you plan on going and where you live, I am in Urmston and tend to trek it from Isherwood Rd, up towards MUFC then left past Swiss Cottage Farm, And then right up the other side of MUFC just follow footpath and you will come to the pools. I did drive this morning as was heading into work and parked at the stables as there was room opposite Woodcote Farm, off Woodcote Rd, must stress there isn't much room to park, but it was 0800. Hope this helps
Is this place easily accessible and is it best parking Sinderland Rd side OR over near MUFC? Thanks for any info as it looks like a maze on the site map and Google maps doesn't give you much. Cheers
Sorry, should have made it clear, it was the path (Pennine Way, is it?) leading directly away from the stables/Sinderland Road, i.e. not one of the paths off to the right where the pools are.
HTH
As well as the Garganey, I can also add a very showy Garden Warbler, 300m down the main path from the pools. Also at least 8 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff and (heard only) 2 Sedge Warbler. Also 4 Little Grebe on first pool along with some Gadwall.
Nice to meet you today James. Good luck with your exam!
Hi, are there any directions to this place in the forum that someone can point me at? I don't think it's on the site guide section of the website (unless I'm missing the obvious). I've been before but several years ago and I had it stored in a previous car's sat nav!
TIA
Patrick - its covered on the Carrington Moss site guide (look for Woodcote Farm on the map with the field numbers)
Hi, are there any directions to this place in the forum that someone can point me at? I don't think it's on the site guide section of the website (unless I'm missing the obvious). I've been before but several years ago and I had it stored in a previous car's sat nav!
Also of note 5 Sedge Warbler 1 Reed Warbler singing 2 Garden Warbler ( one in the usual spot next to the main path and one nearer the Sale West estate).
-- Edited by Dave Cropper on Monday 28th of April 2014 10:49:31 AM
-- Edited by Dave Cropper on Monday 28th of April 2014 10:50:16 AM
1 Grasshopper Warbler - singing and showing well in the middle of the 2nd 'reedy bed' west of the cycle path 1 Reed Warbler singing from 1st bed west of cycle path 3 Whitethroat 1 Chiffchaff 1 Willow Warbler 1 Willow Tit - heard 1 Yellow Wagtail (m) singing from one of the big trees near the ETW big grey tanks 1 Grey Wagtail (m) 1 Pied Wagtail (m) 1 large female Sparrowhawk soaring high up before descending into a spectacular 'Peregrine style' stoop at break-neck speed and lost to view behind the Riding Centre - not seen that before! 2 Buzzard 10 Gadwall 1 Little Grebe 2 Mute Swan 4 Canada Geese A few Sand Martins and Swallows but much less than yesterday
Also a superb Fox on the grassy embankment in the same bed as the Grasshopper Warbler
Also Steven Burke snapping away - hope you got a decent picture :)
tony, I did manage to get some decent shots the yellow wagtail was like you say on the big concrete tank & flew into the trees opposite on a couple of occasions, but never came down. also around, 3-4 pied wagtails, 1 mistle thrush, 1 whitethroat more heard as were blackcaps, willow warblers & chiffchaffs, several swallows & sand martins over.
I know they might be a little upset , but the couple who I was having a little chat with whilst first looking for the yellow wagtail, obviously it turned up just after you left, but come back & have another search.
Yellow Wagtail 3 at 1.10pm none am. With the Donkeys
Also in the scrub land area Willow Warbler 2 Whitethroat 3 (first of the year for me) Bullfinch 4 Reed Bunting 1 Blackcap 9 Wrens 3 Pied Wagtail 2 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1 Mute Swan 2 still on pool Shoveler 1 Gadwall 3
Superb showing of butterflies list under other wildlife
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 18th of April 2014 07:24:21 PM
4.30-4.45pm - quick stop off tonight on my cycle home. Virtual darkness but the cloudy sky was illuminated by the streetlights from Altrincham so that anything flying overhead was silhouetted. It turned out to be a very productive short stop. Quite a few duck flying in which is why I stopped but there was a general feel of uneasiness amongst the birds as though something was about. I could make our the shapes of Teal (c.15), Shoveler (c.8), Mallard (c.5) and, what I think, were a few Gadwall all flying around.
But there were other birds also:-
1 Peregrine over and quite well illuminated from below. Maybe looking to pick off one of the birds flying around. It headed of NW towards Carrington Moss and into the darkness. 2 Woodcock - 1 of which came down somewhere in the front pool vegetation 2 Snipe + 2 more heard 1 Water Rail squealing close to the path in the overgrown bed opposite front pool
All to a background noisey chatter of Jackdaws and Rooks heard from the Birchmoss Cover roost. A few late Jackdaws still flying in.