1 peregrine falcon, circling nice and low around the imperial war museum around 4pm then flew off towards trafford rd bridge. 1 sparrowhawk hundreds off b h gulls 47 common gulls 6 l b b gulls 1 grey wagtail 2 mute swans 4 canada geese 2 moorhens 2 coots 6 mallards 7 cormorants 3 magpies 1 blackbird 1 blue tit 2 greenfinches
Went down to media city with the kids this morning (cbeebies) surprised to see 4 Oystercatchers over the water near Imperial war museum. Also 12 Cormorant flying low down ship canal.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of February 2012 07:17:59 PM
1.30-2.45pm 250+ b h gulls 13 common gulls 4 herring gulls 2 l b b gulls 12 cormorants 9 mute swans 68 canada geese 17 mallards 1 coot 2 moorhens 9 magpies 2 crows 1 blackbird 1 goldeneye, near bbc media city,throwing his head back & flicking his fleet & making his call 1 peregrine falcon, over bbc media city then landing on building opposite the bbc. possibly same bird from pomona.
1.30-3.00pm 1 goldeneye,(drake)pretty sure its the same bird i had in september which was in moult. now has its natural colours,but still has only half a left wing. 200+ b h gulls 17 common gulls 2 l b b gulls 15 mallards 10 cormorants 23 canada geese 6 mute swans 3 coots 3 moorhens 1 grey wagtail 3 mistle thrushes 4 magpies 1 crow 10 goldfinches 2 chaffinches
While walking to Lowry from work at lunch time. There were 20+ Mistle Thrush around the "St Louis Basin" on the many berry trees which line the Northern side. Lots of berries on the ground also, saw a few Mistle Thrush here for last couple of week.
-- Edited by Alan Warford on Monday 5th of December 2011 06:16:05 PM
Todays WeBS count 1330-1430 Heron = 1 Cormorant = 8 Mallard = 53 Coot = 14 Mute Swan = 17 (inc green ring left leg CAF9 & blue ring right leg LY4) Black Headed Gull = 202 Common Gull = 14 Lesser Black Backed Gull = 6 Canada Goose = 112
1 kingfisher, first seen flying down ship canal towards bbc building,then later on 6.30pm found one near old cinema close to the round concrete basin just perched there looking around but doing nothing. 200+ b h gulls 16 l b b gulls 3 common gulls 141 canada goose 16 cormorants 14 mallards 10 magpies 5 mute swans 5 pied wagtails 7 wood pigeons 3 crows 3 mistle thrushes 1 blackbird 6 goldfinches 3 blue tits
4-4.30pm no signs off goldeneye. lots off b h gulls 17 l b b gulls 2 herring gulls 13 cormorants 35 canada goose 33 mallard 9 mute swan 2 grey heron 2 magpie 1 chiffchaff 6 swallows
3.50-4.45pm 1 goldeneye (female) good views of it diving/feeding close to wall opposite from lowry outlet mall. lots off b-h gulls at least 16 l-b-b gulls 2 herring gulls 1 common gull 2 cormorants 2 canada goose 8 mute swans 8 mallards
DV4 and YZ4 have been joined by XF4 (ringed at Elton Oct 10 I understand), also a further 8 unrung Mute Swans hanging around the rowing club pontoons yesterday lunch.
I've been doing the WeBS surveys here for a couple of years now and working on the Quays for the last 5 but had nothing in the way off unusual Gulls. At times there has been 500+ birds out there so the chances, at certain times of year, must be good. As with everything else the more time watching the better the chance (or be born very lucky) !!!! Over the years I've had a couple of interesting LBB's with variation in structure and grey toning but given the effects of light, viewing distance, hybridisation, etc nothing I've been 100% happy to call.
I'm waiting for a nice Ross's Gull to drop in !!!! (to be fair I'd be happy with a Little !!)
At least 30 Lesser black-backed & 30 Black-headed Gulls (including a very young juv) near Trafford Road bridge, Salford Quays
(Does anybody know whether Mediterrranean or Yellow-legged Gull has ever been seen at Salford Quays........& a prize for anyone that finds a twitchable one of either this summer on the Quays!)
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There's been an increase in swan numbers over the last two weeks on the Quays, assume all the unsuccessful and non-breeders returning.
Same for the canada's. There's been up to 3 leucistic birds hanging around the Quays for the past 2 years, always wondered if they were all from the same clutch !!
DV4 was a 'Worsley bird' that attempted nesting earlier this year but the egg dissapeared not long after it was laid and the pair of swans duly dispersed, although they were firmly territorial whilst nesting
7 Cormorant on the quays, plus one under Trafford Road Bridge, and one sighting on the way back in Pomona; plus several lapwing on wasteland near Pomona, and a Goldfinch singing his heart out on the Metrolink overhead wires. All the usual gulls.
Edit: On the Bridgewater Canal to Sale - a heron being harangued by two crows.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Wednesday 4th of May 2011 07:34:17 PM