I'm flagging a lot lately, probably a combination of Winter blues, Christmas shopping and new train timetables. Today I had an afternoon wander round Chorlton Water Park and walked down along the river to Hardy Farm then got the bus home.
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| Black-headed gulls, a coot and a tufted duck |
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| Duck gadwall |
The water park was packed with coots, gadwall and tufted ducks and a flock of fifty-odd black-headed gulls seemed to be too skittish to loaf about properly. A couple of male pochards and a great crested grebe added a bit of variety. A small flock of goldfinches worked their way through the alders accompanied by a handful of siskin while magpies and ring-necked parakeets vied to see who could make the most noise.
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| Barlow Tip |
Barlow Tip was very quiet. This time of year, no matter how suburban the setting it still looks like the blasted heath. A few blackbirds were picking their way through the last of the hawthorn berries. Other than that it was just singles of robin, wren and woodpigeon.
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| Walking along the Mersey in the mizzle |
Walking along the Mersey between Barlow Tip and Hardy Farm the river was well down from my visit last week (thank Heaven!). A few mallard dabbled by the river edge and a lone duck goosander steamed downstream at a rate of knots. I kept hearing a grey wagtail but it took a while to pick it out amongst the mud-flattened grass. The puddles on Hardy Farm were smaller but the usual juvenile heron was still working its way along the side of the path.
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