Cheers for the info. I will try and get the numbers the next time I am out. They have been in the area for a little while now and come quiet close when on the canal. Beautiful birds.
Jusy a quick wander up the canal today on my way to Hopwood. Other than the usual fowl, finches, tits and corvids there was a Cormorant posing for photos between locks 59 and 60. Got a better look at the two swans that have been in the area for a while. Both had blue leg tags. Did'nt manage to get the numbers as they decided to fly off. Its quiet a sight watching them take off from close up. Very powerful birds. (Anyone know who may have tagged them?
4 Canada Geese 1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga) 10+ Mixed flock mainly House Sparrow 1 Great Tit 1 Blue Tit 2 Robin 1 Wood Pigeon 4 Long-tailed Tit
Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)
4 Blue Tit 4 Blackbird 2 Robin
Rear Pond
9 Mallard 2 Carrion Crow
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
1 Wood Pigeon 1 Great Tit 2 Long-tailed Tit 29 Canad Geese flying South across site
5 Magpie 17 Black-headed Gull 4 Common Gull 1 Moorhen
Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)
3 Mallard 1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga) 6 Canada Geese 10+ Mixed flock mainly House Sparrow 1 Blackbird 2 Collared Dove
Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)
5 Blue Tit 1 Blackbird 2 Jackdaw
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
1 Blackbird
Rear Pond
17 Teal 1 Carrion Crow 30+ mixed flock of Redwing, Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush and Starling
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
4 Magpie 4 Blackbird 1 Blue Tit
Fields (Between canal and school)
10 Magpie 2 Carrion Crow 3 Redwing 1 Robin 1 Great Tit 4 Jackdaw
Interesting to see the influx of Fieldfare and Redwing today. Also the Common Gull. Have been watching for these amongst the Black-heads since Bill M made me aware of them and gave me some tips for identification (Thanks Bill ).
Ponds and the canal are frozen over. The juvinile swan was trying to push its way through the ice on the front pond but not having much luck. No sign of the mature swan.
150 Canada Geese around the front pond with more flying in to join them as the sun went down. A solitary Sparrowhawk was watching them from the boundary trees to the fields.
Other than that a few Robin, Blackbird, House Sparrow and a couple of Mallard and the Mallard hybrid on the canal bank.
2 Mallard 1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga) 2 Canada Geese 15+ House Sparrow
Fields (Between canal and school)
5 Magpie 2 Carrion Crow 1 Wood Pigeon
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
3 Long Tailed Tit 2 Redwing 1 Raptor (Possibly a Sparrowhawk. perched in a tree for a while). 6 Black Bird
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
1 Black Bird
Rear Pond
30+ Canada geese 4 Jackdaw 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Carrion Crow 2 Rook 2 Raptors (Possibly Sparrowhawk. Flew in very low along the hedge line and disapeared into the trees on the far side of the railway line) 1 Mute Swan
Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)
3 Blue Tit 1 Magpie 1 Goldfinch 1 Black Bird
It was interesting to see the three raptors today. Only thing I can say for certain is that they were not Kestrels and the one on the back site was slightly large and lighter in colour than the two at the rear pond.
50 + Canada Geese 1 Grey Heron 80+ Black -Headed Gull 15 Starling 1 Moorhen 7 Mallard 5 Jackdaw 2 Snipe (Got some photos this time and ID confirmed on ISpot) A first for me
Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)
1 Mallard cross (Similar to a Cayuga) 9 Mallard 1 Mute Swan
Flock of 20+ Magpies The large flock of carrion was absent as were the gulls
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
1 Magpie 10+ Flock of mixed tit, Long Tailed tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit Flock of Mistle Thrush sized birds circled site and headed toward the fields between canal and school.
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
2 Mallard 1 mute Swan The unidentified duck (Possibly a Cayuga) was noticable by its absence today. Unusual as it has been there for long time.
Fields (Between canal and school)
The large flock of carrion still there (150+). Mainly Crow and Jackdaw. Spent a long time watching these and did not notice any Rook this time. The larger birds were flat in the forehead with no noticable lighter base to beak.
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
1 Wood Pigeon 1 Magpie 1 Jay 1 Great Tit 1 Thrush 2 Blue Tit 1 Black Bird 1 Gold Finich 1 White Throat
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
Crossed the canal tonight and had a good roam about these fields folllowing an messege from Bill Myerscough about Rooks. Was surprised by the size of the carrion flock not visible from the canal tow path.
50+ Carrion (Mainly Jackdaw with at least 8 Rook and a few Crow) 20+ Black - Headed Gull 6 Magpie 2 Wood Pigeon
20+ Mixed carrion mainly Jackdaw with a few crow in amoungst. 1 Magpie
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
1 Carrion Crow 3 Blackbird
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
1 Wood Pigeon 1 Carrion Crow 2 Jay
Rear Pond
7 Mallard 30+ Canada Geese
Not much about. Possible because the area seems to have been invaded by off road motor bikers Not that I begrudge them their space . Just dont run me over when I am on the canal tow path .
40+ Flock of Carrion Crow and Jackdaw (Seems to be growing everytime I see it) 3 Magpie 18 Canada Geese
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
2 Jay 4 Jackdaw 4 Blackbird 2 Blue Tit 6 Long-tailed Tit 1 Chaffinch (May perhaps have been a Brambling only a fleeting glimps) 2 Wood Pigeon 1 Chiffchaff
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
A couple of new additions to the front ponds tonight. As is always my luck I did not spot them until late on just as it was going dark as I was about to leave . I was unable to get any decent photos or a clear look .
Best description for now: Two of them hanging about the reeds to the left hand side of the front pond. They appeared shy and did not venture far out from the reed bed. Slightly bigger than a Mistle Thrush up to the size of a Collered Dove. Long beak in comparision to the body which 'may' have had a slight upcurve. The one I saw most of had a fluffy sort of look to its feathers. Plumage was brownish with some lighter markings high on the back. I know Bill has reported Snipe here may be a pair of these.
After a good look on the site I think the duck I have struggled to identify 'may' be a Cayuga. Beside the one that hangs about in Boarshaw there are a few more further up the Rochdale Canal behind the Ship Inn. These are usually in amoungst the domsetic ducks and geeses from the small holding behind the lock house.
52 Canada Geese 4 Carrion Crow 4 Wood Pigeon 5 Mallard 1 Unidentified duck (Has curly tail feathers which I am informed [By a bloke I met in the pub wearing in a black cape and face mask] is an indication of a Mallard hybrid )
Fields (Between canal and school)
2 Wood Pigeon 5 Magpie 8 Black Head Gull
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
Thought I would have an early start today (6.45) with the hope of seeing the deer.
Front Ponds
7 Gulls (Black-heads) 12 House Sparrow
Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)
2 Mallard 1 Unidentified duck
Fields (Between canal and school)
2 Carrion Crow 2 Magpie 20+ Canada Geese
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
4 Long Tail Tit (Seemed to follow me around the site. Lots of them in the area today around the cemetry and in my back garden) 1 Blue Tit 1 White Throat 1 Dunnock
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
2 Long Tail Tit 3 Black Bird 2 Blue Tit 1 Wood Pigeon
Rear Pond
25 Duck (Mallard and lots of Teal )
1 Black Headed Gull
Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)
Lots of House Sparrow (Numbers seem to be growing) 2 Wood Pigeon 5 Carrion Crow 1 Robin
5 Mallard 3 Moorhen (1 Adult 2 Juvenile) 1 King Fisher (Flashing about around the pond edge to quick to phototgraph) 10+ Swallow 3 Black birds 4 Wood pigeon
Dave:
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Saturday 17th of September 2011 07:14:21 PM
50+ Canada Geese 5 Gulls (Black-heads) 2 Moorhen 5 Swallow 10 Wood Pigeon 1 Unidentified bird. About the size and colouring of a Starling but with a distinctive greyish hood. It did not hang around for long.
Canal (Between locks 60 and 59)
1 Wood Pigeon 7 Mallard 1 Unidentified duck (Same size as Mallard but a lot darker. Possibly Mallard hybrid?)
Back Site (Between canal and railway Line, adjacent Lock 59)
1 Jay 1 White Throat 60+ Carrion Crow disturbed on industrial estate flying East to West across site to school playing fields on other side of the canal. Biggest flock of crow I have ever seen. 20+ Gull also disturbed on industrial estate circled site flying South to ponds
Back Path (Between railway line and industrial units)
3 Jay 1 Wood Pigeon
Rear Pond
60+ Duck (Mallard and Teal)
Boarshaw Lane (From back path to canal)
5 House Sparrow 2 Wood Pigeon
A pleasant evening for a stroll.
Dave
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Saturday 10th of September 2011 07:56:02 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 12th of September 2011 07:57:37 PM
Rushed all the way home from work in Leeds when I saw your post. Been wanting to get some photos of Teal for a long time. There were about 75 mixed duck (Mallard and Teal) on the rear pond by the time I got there (6ish) Along with a 100 or so gulls. I think I could identify the Teal from thier smaller size and short neck but unfortunately they were just a little to far away for any decent pics . Will keep an eye on them over the next few days and hopefully get them on the front ponds .
I don't suppose you noticed the dark coloured duck on the canal near lock 60? Bigger than a Mallard and very dark with even darker coverts. I have been trying to get an id for this for ages but can find nothing like it on the net or in my books . There are a few of them along the stretch of the canal up to Castleton either on thier own or with Mallards.
Cheers
Dave
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 07:16:04 PM
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 07:34:09 PM
Rushed all the way home from work in Leeds when I saw your post. Been wanting to get some photos of Teal for a long time. There were about 75 mixed duck (Mallard and Teal) on the rear pond by the time I got there (6ish) Along with a 100 or so gulls. I think I could identify the Teal from thier smaller size and short neck but unfortunately they were just a little to far away for any decent pics . Will keep an eye on them over the next few days and hopefully get them on the front ponds .
I don't suppose you noticed the dark coloured duck on the canal near lock 60? Bigger than a Mallard and very dark with even darker coverts. I have been trying to get an id for this for ages but can find nothing like it on the net or in my books . There are a few of them along the stretch of the canal up to Castleton either on thier own or with Mallards.
Cheers
Dave
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 07:16:04 PM
-- Edited by Davidcaron62 on Wednesday 7th of September 2011 07:34:09 PM