Salford

I was visiting friends in Salford and was running early so along the way I had a nosy on the Irwell by Broughton Bridge.

Lesser black-backs flew over but most didn't land. Three dozen Canada geese loafed under the bridge while mallards clung to the bank on my side of the river. I found out why when I spotted a mink working its way through the undergrowth on the opposite bank. A couple of grey wagtails decided it would be a good idea to fly over this way, too.

Ambition: cat and heron

A bit further along I noticed a little black and white cat stalking two herons. That is, until it got within a few feet of them and realised how big they are.

A dozen goosanders were loafing on the sandbar on the corner of the river beforethe  Adelphi Bridge. A lesser black-back joined them and I was struck by how large it looked compared to the goosanders, they were the same length but the gull was decidedly chunkier.

It was only twenty minutes' walk but there was plenty to see.