Thursday 6 September 2012

The "Start" of Autumn

                                                Common Redstart (photo: Steve Burke)

Autumn began "officially" on Salford Quays on August 22nd, when a migrant juvenile male Common Redstart was found on the old Pomona Docks site. It remained here until August 29th, amongst the Sea Buckthorn & Buddleia bushes located inbetween the Bridgewater Canal & Manchester Ship Canal. This bird appeared on the national bird news & for many birders might have been the first time they had heard of Pomona, or even Salford Quays, as a birdwatching site !

Another Redstart, this time a female, appeared on 1st September, the same day as a Wheatear was seen along the promenade. Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps & Willow Warblers are being seen most days here.

During the Spring Pomona hosted Whinchat, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart & perhaps double figures of Wheatear, so this fascinating site, formerly working docks & before that, Public Gardens, appears to be the premier place to look for migrant passerines on The Quays


DIRECTIONS TO POMONA DOCKS

From A56 south of Manchester, turn towards Cornbrook Metro station at the traffic lights that are adjacent to the Pomona Palace pub, park just after the small roundabout & walk over bridge, follow tarmac path & explore the site

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