02.07.29. Birdlog.
A short visit after work to No.6 tank produced 146 Tufted Duck, 5 Common Pochard and an assortment of Northern Shoveler, Gadwall and Mallar.
A medium sized flock of Black-tailed Godwit included a colour flagged bird and currently I am still awaiting its life history.
Observer: WSM (image 2).
04.07.20. Birdlog.
A midday walk along the River Weaver and Manchester Ship Canal. Meadow Pipit were numerous along Alder Lane with small flocks of European Goldfinch and Linnet being noted.
On to the Manchester Ship Canal the dredger left its berth and turned around at the entrance to the Weaver Estuary displacing the Tufted Duck, common Shelduck and Mallard resting nearby. A flock of 47 Greylag Goose were bunched together on the canal while many Canada Goose were on the river.
Looking over the Mersey Estuary a mixed flock of mostly Black-headed Gull with several Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull were roosting at the waters edge alongside c200 Black-tailed Godwit, 13 Common Redshank and a flock of 125 Pied Avocet were spooked by an unseen threat but soon settled down again.
Further shorebirds included 37 Eurasian Curlew and 2 Whimbrel were also feeding on the salt marsh. 3 Common Sandpiper were on the River Weaver with a further c30 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Common Redshank and several Eurasian Oystercatcher.
A group of Sand Martin were feeding young sat on a barbed wire fence jutting out into the river.
Observer: Paul Ralston (images 1 & 3-7).
