Late post for yesterday 15.7.21 11.30 am - 2.30pm Wood Pigeon x 9 Magpie x 5 Feral Pigeon x 3 Carrion Crow x 4 Starling x 4 House Sparrow x 2 Goldfinch x 4 Collared Dove x 5 Moorhen x 5 (2 adults +3 imm.) Black Headed Gull x 10 Canada Goose x 20+ Great Crested Grebe x 1 Mallard x 12 Blackbird x 8 Chaffinch x 11 Blue Tit x 9 Great Tit x 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Coal Tit x 1 Dunnock x 2 Greenfinch x 1 Wren x 3 Willow Tit x 1 For the first time in many visits . Coot x zero
Tuesday 1.30 pm -2.45pm.Managed to miss the rain. Starling x 8 House Sparrow x 18 Wood Pigeon x 20 + Black Headed Gull x 30 + Feral Pigeon x 6 Magpie x 5 Carrion Crow x 4 Blackbird x 20+ Canada Goose x 11 Mallard x 8 Collared Dove x 6 Greenfinch x 1 Great Tit x 3 Robin x 16 Dunnock x 3 Blue Tit x 5 Chaffinch x3 Nuthatch x 3 Coot x 1 Herring Gull x 1
Yesterday between 12.15 and 2.00 pm. Birds seen as follows: Goldfinch x 2 Starling x 4 Magpie x 5 Collared Dove x 7 Black Headed Gull x 40 Grey Heron x 2 Feral Pigeon x5 Canada Goose x14 Mallard x10 Moorhen x6 Blackbird x 18. Including a leucistic bird at the feeding station. Lesser Black Backed Gull x 1 Great Crested Grebe x 2 Robin x 14 Wood Pigeon x 8 Blue Tit x 18 Chaffinch x 20 Greenfinch x 8 Great Tit x 6 Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1 Pheasant x 1 Dunnock x 2 Long Tailed Tit x 4 Coot x 2
First visit for some time. Good to see the birds are returning> Not as many as before,but somewhat encouraging.Birds seen as follows. Starling x6 Feral Pigeon x 7 Carrion Crow x4 Robin x8 Goldfinch x3 House Sparrow x1 Wood Pigeon x6 Black Headed Gull x30 + Mute Swan x1 Coot x7 Mallard x8 Moorhen x3 Canada Goose x10 Common Gull x1 Chaffinch x10 Great Tit x6 Blue tit x8 Great Crested Grebe x1 Coal Tit x1 Willow Tit x1 Great Spotted Woodpecker x1 Blackbird x11 Collared Dove x5 Nuthatch x1 Magpie x5 Mistle Thrush x1
Very sad to visit here today to find absolutely no birds on either reservoir. No Mallard, Canada Geese, Coot, Moorhen, Great crested Grebe or Gulls. The feeding station yielded a few Blue and Great Tits, Chaffinch and Woodpigeon. Has avian Botulism been confirmed as the cause of this decimation of the bird population?
Thanks David. I thought that something serious like a virus had occurred to clear the pond . I visited Blackleach C.P. on Friday,The scenario there was similar there with no Mallards or Canada Geese present.I hope we are not experiencing an epidemic.
I vistited the water park for the first time in about five weeks. It was very strange. There wasn't asingle bird on the first pond. Not one Mallard or Canada Goose to be seen anywhere. On the second pond there was one Moorhen and one coot. At the feeding station I waited for fifteen minutes before the first Blue Tit showed up.It seemed very nervous staying for less than ten seconds.Blue Tits and Great Tits appeared but did not hang about. On my way back I came across two young Mallards on the rear path both were dead.They did not seem to be predated as they were completely intact. Altogether an uncanny visit
Hi Bernard,
I was informed recently that there has been a number of ducks found dead at Orrell water park. I believe defra have been informed and have taken some for analysis. Avian botulism was mentioned but not confirmed.
I vistited the water park for the first time in about five weeks. It was very strange. There wasn't asingle bird on the first pond. Not one Mallard or Canada Goose to be seen anywhere. On the second pond there was one Moorhen and one coot. At the feeding station I waited for fifteen minutes before the first Blue Tit showed up.It seemed very nervous staying for less than ten seconds.Blue Tits and Great Tits appeared but did not hang about. On my way back I came across two young Mallards on the rear path both were dead.They did not seem to be predated as they were completely intact. Altogether an uncanny visit
First visit for some time, greeted by 2 Kingfishers chasing one another around the pond. This lasted for about 20 minutes until they disappeared up the stream by the viewing screen At the screen there were numerous Chaffinch but no Brambling.the other birds were as follows. Long Tailed Tit x 6 Great Tit x10 Blackbird x11 Willow Tit x 1 Collared dove x 1 Wood Pigeon x 12 Blue Tit x16 In the woodland were many more Chaffinches Goldfinches and a solitary female Blackcap. On the other pool were 5 Goosanders(4f.1m),also a Great Crested Grebe.
Late post for last Friday.Birds seen as follows. Starling x8 Blackbird x8 Goldfinch x3 Canada Goose x17 Magpie x3 Lesser Blacked Gull x1 Black Headed Gull x30 Wood Pigeon x3 Coot x27 Mallard x18 Moorhen x3 Kingfisher x1 Blue Tit x9 Robin x7 Great Tit x4 Chaffinch x9 Blackcap (M) x1 Carrion Crow x3 Collared Dove x2 Long Tailed Tit x6 Feral Pigeon x5 Pied Wagtail x1 Redwing x4 On the train back to Walkden good views of an Arctic Gull whilst passing Cutacre C.P.
A couple of hours walking round the water park and Greenslate Meadows late this morning in surprisingly-nice weather. A few highlights:
Goldcrest and chiffchaffs singing in the trees at the corner near the railway station. Blackcaps singing in the trees near the feeders. No other warblers to be seen or heard.
Great crested grebes and coots nesting by the island on the top pond.
Two pairs of willow tits at the Lakeside Avenue end. Nuthatch calling from the same area.
Just one ruddy shelduck to be found.
Only my second visit, as well as enjoying the walk I'm impressed that it's so litter free!
You're welcome. It's not to say that anybody shouldn't go and see them if they wish to do so. I record them on my WeBS count there and they brighten up the car park. Just that nobody should be under any illusion about their origin
These individuals would indeed be classed as category E birds as per the BOU, therefore not forming part of the British list (albeit that Ruddy Shelduck is also included in category B (on account of apparently wild birds between 1800 and 1949) and category D (birds having occurred where there is reasonable doubt about their wild status). The Orrell Water Park birds are clearly escapes from captivity, quite possibly from a collection a mile away which contains this species, or possibly even deliberate introductions. Being very confiding and hanging around the throng of car park puddleducks they presumably add a bit of interest for people feeding the Mallards and geese. They also add a bit of variety on the WeBS count. Other than that they reside firmly in category E, alongside such species as Ostrich, Wild Turkey, Laughing Kookaburra and Toco Toucan.
These individuals would indeed be classed as category E birds as per the BOU, therefore not forming part of the British list (albeit that Ruddy Shelduck is also included in category B (on account of apparently wild birds between 1800 and 1949) and category D (birds having occurred where there is reasonable doubt about their wild status). The Orrell Water Park birds are clearly escapes from captivity, quite possibly from a collection a mile away which contains this species, or possibly even deliberate introductions. Being very confiding and hanging around the throng of car park puddleducks they presumably add a bit of interest for people feeding the Mallards and geese. They also add a bit of variety on the WeBS count. Other than that they reside firmly in category E, alongside such species as Ostrich, Wild Turkey, Laughing Kookaburra and Toco Toucan.
Took a flying visit to Orrell Water Park this afternoon to see the two Ruddy Shelducks (see pics) Both showing really well as the water is mostly frozen.
Post for Wednesday the 14th Feb.Extremely cold.The paths were flooded. Mallard x40 Mute Swan x2 Coot x6 Carrion Crow x4 Ruddy Shelduck x1 Long Tailed Tit x6 Chaffinch x8 Wood Pigeon x 12 Great Tit x 4 Blue Tit x 8 Blackbird x 4 Robin x 3 Goldfinch x6 Great Crested Grebe x1 Greenfinch x 1 Siskin x 1
Barnacle Geese in the county were all considered of feral origins until one in a small flock contained a ringed bird which proved that it (and probably all of them) were truly wild, so anything is possible
Using these last two posts I can now say that this isn't the individual that turned up a couple of times in 2016 at Newchurch Common. That wasn't wingclipped or indeed had no signs of ever having been. It was ultra wary too, I had to crouch behind a hedge and stalk it to get closer for pictures, never as close os Marks, even digiscoping. Still, as Ian says - mine was also still only Cat E. This species will always be guilty until proven innocent!!
Ruddy Shelduck much tamer this time, and right wing is obviously clipped - couldn't see this before
Cat E or otherwise, they breed in SE Europe & are migratory, often appearing in the UK. One day there will be evidence of natural migration, so it's worth checking
Definitely no jewelry, primaries seem unclipped though possibly slightly short indicating 1cy perhaps ? Much more cautious than the Canadas it was with, reluctantly came to bread supplied by someone
Definitely no jewelry, primaries seem unclipped though possibly slightly short indicating 1cy perhaps ? Much more cautious than the Canadas it was with, reluctantly came to bread supplied by someone
Ruddy shelduck was approachable this morning amongst the mallards & Canada geese, it has no rings & was holding its right leg up a lot even when feeding. Female mandarin 2 great crested grebe At the feeders... Chaffinch Greenfinch Coal tit Blue tit Great tit Collared dove Blackbird Robin Moorhen
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 24th of June 2017 03:55:14 PM