Today I've been down to the University of Salford for an interview. Once I'd finished I had a few hours before my train departed for Penrith, so I wandered off campus and along the River Irwell. The first thing to catch my eye as I headed down was a Kingfisher darting along the bank side ! Something I hadn't expected in pretty much inner city Manchester. Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Moorhen, Canada Geese, and Black Headed Gulls were all on the first bend.
The majority of the stretch I covered had flood defences either side, with large housing estates not far from the water. Adding Chiff Chaff Grey Wagtail, Stock Dove and a few Grey Squirrels I soon began moving out of the man made landscape and into a little wild corner, an area labeled on the map as the 'Irwell Sculpture Trail', it had the vibe of Plessey Woods. Another Kingfisher made it self known, along with a single Grey Heron, but as I made my way round the corner the most unexpected sighting of the day occurred, first the call, then a brief glimpse flying by, a Green Sandpiper ! Using the bank as covered I managed to creep along and watch it feeding along the shoreline.
Its amazing what urban areas can hide.
Showing posts with label Kingfisher. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kingfisher. Show all posts
Monday, 16 April 2012
Tuesday, 1 November 2011
Gosforth Park under threat...
600 houses threaten the Green Belt land surrounding the Natural History Society of Northumbria's reserve. I imagine most people have visited this reserve, a hidden gem in a urban jungle, full to the brim with wildlife, with that magical atmosphere, and the sense your the only one there, finding moments of 'the spark' with every step.
The development will severely effect the reserves present wildlife, follow the links to voice your opinion about this destructive act.
Natural History Society of Northumbria
Save Gosforth Park
and the follow Facebook Group
or Twitter
The development will severely effect the reserves present wildlife, follow the links to voice your opinion about this destructive act.
Natural History Society of Northumbria
Save Gosforth Park
and the follow Facebook Group
or Twitter
Saturday, 19 September 2009
The Adventure Begins ...
Well today was my last visit to Holywell, for who knows how long, hopefully sooner rather than later. Tomorrow I leave for the start of University, I can't wait. Thank You to the readers of this blog, helping me on my way, I hope that you will continue to check my blog for Cumbrian updates, as well as the local updates now and again.
19/09/09 10:30 Sunny with light breeze
Today I took the opportunity to drive my Grandad down to the hide, those of you who have met my Grandad will probably remember him bringing me down to Holywell, mostly on Sunday mornings. The shared passion for wildlife kept us going back week after week, becoming regulars in the process, he gave me a great opportunity to learn more about the natural world. I wouldn't be where I am today without him. Due to illness, my Grandad can no longer drive, but that doesn't stop us, as I can :) My little sister also joined us today.
On the water, 6 Teal, 2 Female/Juvenile Ruddy Duck, 3 Female Shoveler, 19 Canada Geese, 9 Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 8 Pink-Footed Geese flew in, and were later joined by another 8, 16 Little Grebe, 1 Female Pochard, 11 Coot, 4 Moorhen + 1 medium young, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull and a single Lesser Black Backed Gull. Also about were 3 Stock Doves, 2 Migrant Hawker, 3 Grey Heron, 80+ Lapwing, Female Sparrowhawk, and a Common Buzzard.
As me and my Grandad were catching up with what we'd been doing the past week, I told him about visiting Big Waters with Crammy Birder the other day, in search of the Kingfisher. He told me that someone had sent a picture in to NE Weather and they had showed it, the magnificent blues, oranges with the eye catching oily finish caught his attention and imagination as well as mine.
My sister has began drawing birds in a small notebook (as she's the most artistically gifted of the family), labelling with plumage descriptions, and other notes, the Kingfisher talk sparked her own imagination and she promptly got out her bird book, found Kingfisher and began drawing the bird. Just as she had finished the sketch she shouted out, Kingfisher!. Bins up and there it was sitting on the depth post to the right of the hide, it stayed for about ten minutes, fishing from the posts and occasionally flying off and hovering just off the reeds, locating a fish and then diving, not unlike a Kestrel searching for a vole. Another build up of events leading to some great views, providing a great ending to the day.
19/09/09 10:30 Sunny with light breeze
Today I took the opportunity to drive my Grandad down to the hide, those of you who have met my Grandad will probably remember him bringing me down to Holywell, mostly on Sunday mornings. The shared passion for wildlife kept us going back week after week, becoming regulars in the process, he gave me a great opportunity to learn more about the natural world. I wouldn't be where I am today without him. Due to illness, my Grandad can no longer drive, but that doesn't stop us, as I can :) My little sister also joined us today.
On the water, 6 Teal, 2 Female/Juvenile Ruddy Duck, 3 Female Shoveler, 19 Canada Geese, 9 Wigeon, 8 Mallard, 8 Pink-Footed Geese flew in, and were later joined by another 8, 16 Little Grebe, 1 Female Pochard, 11 Coot, 4 Moorhen + 1 medium young, Black Headed Gull, Herring Gull and a single Lesser Black Backed Gull. Also about were 3 Stock Doves, 2 Migrant Hawker, 3 Grey Heron, 80+ Lapwing, Female Sparrowhawk, and a Common Buzzard.
As me and my Grandad were catching up with what we'd been doing the past week, I told him about visiting Big Waters with Crammy Birder the other day, in search of the Kingfisher. He told me that someone had sent a picture in to NE Weather and they had showed it, the magnificent blues, oranges with the eye catching oily finish caught his attention and imagination as well as mine.
My sister has began drawing birds in a small notebook (as she's the most artistically gifted of the family), labelling with plumage descriptions, and other notes, the Kingfisher talk sparked her own imagination and she promptly got out her bird book, found Kingfisher and began drawing the bird. Just as she had finished the sketch she shouted out, Kingfisher!. Bins up and there it was sitting on the depth post to the right of the hide, it stayed for about ten minutes, fishing from the posts and occasionally flying off and hovering just off the reeds, locating a fish and then diving, not unlike a Kestrel searching for a vole. Another build up of events leading to some great views, providing a great ending to the day.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Holywell
Had a couple of frees back to back this morning so borrowed Grandma's car and went down to the Sluice to check for waders and early migrants. Stop at Briardene car park on way but no sign of the Med Gull.
On the way back to the car I was joined by a flock of Long-tailed Tits. Due to the lack of time I drove to the car park up the road at Old Hartley, lazy I know, I walkd along the burn hoping for the Kingfisher as my neighbour seen it there the other day. No joys so off back to school.
Picked up 2 Oystercacther, 2 Redshank and a lone Drake Shelduck on the North Pool.
Bike to the avenue but no luck with Yellowhammer, although I did see a Mistle Thrush on the wires. On my way back to the hide I heard some Linnets and then clocked them, there was 10 in total, and behind them was a Yellowhammer, another patch tick for the year.
Back at the hide for a tally up on the water there was 32 Tufted, Pair Great Crested Grebes, 8 Mallard, 5 Pochard, Pair Mute Swan, Pair Canada, 6 Greylag, 4 Coot, 7 Moorhen, and 14 Wigeon. 2 Grey Heron were saw flying South past Obelisk. A Stock Dove flew over the top of the hide, at 18:05 a large No. of Gulls descended onto the pond mostly GBB and Herring with 1 LBB amongst them. Roughly about the same time I saw the Kingfisher fishing from the far post, another patch tick for the year. Other birds around included 1 Song Thrush at gates, House Sparrow flock in hedgerow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, 5 Long-Tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren and Pheasant.
As I reached the Meadow Field next to the Beehive I heard 4 different Grey Partridge calling, 2 in horse field 2 in plough, they were accompanied by 8 Curlew.
73 for the patch list this year.
Got down to the water and was pleased to see 8 Redshank, a patch tick for this year, also on the water were a few Black Headed Gulls, and I could see a Song Thrush on the far bank. I walked up to the first bridge and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but the noise was unreal, the amount of birds singing was amazing, with the Rooks taking central stage, nests are still being added to with a couple of new ones popping up.
On the way back to the car I was joined by a flock of Long-tailed Tits. Due to the lack of time I drove to the car park up the road at Old Hartley, lazy I know, I walkd along the burn hoping for the Kingfisher as my neighbour seen it there the other day. No joys so off back to school.
When my dad got in a biked down to the Pond, the handles missing from the outside of the door, making it difficult to get in. I was hoping that the Little Gull from earlier on had returned, Northumbrian Birder was in the hide, he had no joys and nothing out of the ordinary. Quick scan and decided to bike down to the North Pool and the wagon way, hoping for Yellowhammer and some more waders. Along the track from the Public hide to the wagon way I was stopped by three toads, first for the year. 
Picked up 2 Oystercacther, 2 Redshank and a lone Drake Shelduck on the North Pool.
Bike to the avenue but no luck with Yellowhammer, although I did see a Mistle Thrush on the wires. On my way back to the hide I heard some Linnets and then clocked them, there was 10 in total, and behind them was a Yellowhammer, another patch tick for the year.
Back at the hide for a tally up on the water there was 32 Tufted, Pair Great Crested Grebes, 8 Mallard, 5 Pochard, Pair Mute Swan, Pair Canada, 6 Greylag, 4 Coot, 7 Moorhen, and 14 Wigeon. 2 Grey Heron were saw flying South past Obelisk. A Stock Dove flew over the top of the hide, at 18:05 a large No. of Gulls descended onto the pond mostly GBB and Herring with 1 LBB amongst them. Roughly about the same time I saw the Kingfisher fishing from the far post, another patch tick for the year. Other birds around included 1 Song Thrush at gates, House Sparrow flock in hedgerow, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, 5 Long-Tailed Tits, Blue Tit, Great tit, Chaffinch, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Wren and Pheasant.
As I reached the Meadow Field next to the Beehive I heard 4 different Grey Partridge calling, 2 in horse field 2 in plough, they were accompanied by 8 Curlew.
73 for the patch list this year.
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