Last known Wood Warbler was 11th June 2005. It was heard from the coal mining display board along the canal and was singing in Ernocroft. This species is a labour of love in this part of the country, so you will be very lucky to hear/see one on a casual visit if at all. Pied Flycatchers took a dive about two years ago after kindly using one of the nest boxes at Sunny Corner for a few years. Another species joining the long Stockport extinction list perhaps?

2 Redstarts
Many Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs.
A Chiffchaff with unusual song - not the normal song extension that it sometimes adds to its song. Def. NOT an Iberian Chiffchaff in case anyone gets excited!

[BTW, are Woodcock heard roding here? If so, when is a good time to hear them?]

Now at dusk. Although it's three years since I last went looking for them.

If you sit on the benches just past the path that leads down to the keg pool and wait for dusk I don't think you will be disappointed


-- Edited by Paul Hammond on Monday 17th of May 2010 07:09:24 AM

-- Edited by Paul Hammond on Monday 17th of May 2010 07:10:04 AM

Grey wagtail and dipper from the weir bridge. Someone this morning had seen a Mink from there too.

5 baby Mandarins were escorted down the far side of the river past the hide by 'mum'.
Great Spotted Woodpecker calling and drumming over the far end of the Keg somewhere or beyond (heard from the shelter there) but no cuckoos.
Nuthatches very much in abundance but they seem to have largely shut up in contrast to a few weeks ago. Treecreepers still audible. Heard Goldcrest in a couple of places and Bullfinches were at the far end of Keg Pool.
Blackcaps, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff continue to make themselves known but no signs of anything like Pied Flycatcher or Wood Warbler. Are the latter seen here?
Two Great Crested Grebe on the main lake. Not seen the Barnacle Goose on my last two visits but there's a slightly peculiar Canada Goose near the visitors' centre that has extra white on its face to usual...?!
Also seen one Canada gosling and enough baby coots to populate the entire river Etherow.

BTW, are Woodcock heard roding here? If so, when is a good time to hear them?

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 16th of May 2010 06:47:00 PM

Missed hearing the cuckoo.
Mandarins appear to have moved to the canal.
In addition to the usual woodland ones already entioned
Kingfisher from hide
Dipper on river below main lodge
3 coots hatched Parents fighting madly with another coot
2 tufted on main lodge
GS Woodpecker near sunny corner keg and a couple of jays
Fly over heron
And they appear to have stopped pay and display. The machines have all gone but the signs 'have you paid and displayed' remain.
Cheers Ian

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Monday 3rd of May 2010 11:42:52 PM

0900-1040
Cuckoo heard calling in distance from East end upstream beyond Keg Pool.

Counted 12 Mandarin; 11m, 1f.

Usual woodland crowd...Blackcap, WW, Chiffchaff, Nuthatch, etc.... no redstart for me.

Single swallow and House Martin around Keg Pool

Grey Wags near weir.

Good to meet you John (Rayner); good luck to your team tomorrow and hope the damaged fingers hold out!

Late news for 28th April (8.00 - 12.00)

Similar spread of species as on 22nd with addition of a nice Tawny Owl. No new woodland migrants despite a thorough search of the woodland either side of the valley.

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 29th of April 2010 08:30:35 PM

09.00 - 12.00.

Egyptian Goose 1
Mandarin 8m, 1f
Dipper 2
Blackcap 12
Chiffchaff 6
Treecreeper 2
Stock Dove 1
GS Woodpecker 4
Bullfinch 2
Buzzard 2
Nuthatch 7
Goldcrest 3
Jay 6

(GV White and Small Tortoishell)

Despite having been going to ECP since at least the mid 80s, I never knew the hide existed until I chanced across this thread. Well I went down this morning - stunning weather - and sat in there for a couple of longish periods and walked around Keg Pool in between.

Initially one young Cormorant in the tree up the river but 4 by the time I was leaving (13:30). Loads of Nuthatches and Treecreepers around plus Blackcaps singing from across the river. Great Spotted Woodpecker came and sat on the bird table for awhile as did a Jay and a pair of Mandarin Duck. Plenty of Tufted Duck, Canada Geese, Coot and Moorhen around and all 4 common tits were seen. Heard a Goldcrest across the water. Saw dippers below the weir.

Also what I took to be a Chiffchaff (since it said nothing and I heard no Willow Warblers) was repeatedly collecting lots of feathers below the bird table and flying across the river with them.

I didn't stray from the path in the reserve - is there anywhere else in there you can go or is it off limits? The reedbed looks interesting - is there anything seen there of interest - any warblers?

I did hear a Little Grebe a few weeks ago while I was at Keg Pool in the direction of that flooded reedy area by the river. Never seen one at ECP though (not that I go all that often for anything apart from a stroll around!)


Sorry, just saw the rule about new usernames - please feel free to change!

-- Edited by Cantoris on Saturday 17th of April 2010 04:00:55 PM

2 GS Woodpecker Black cap chiff chaffs nuthatch and 2 tree creepers and poss buzzard high up in sky all from keg wood.
Mandarin Tufted Ducks behind weir
Dipper Cormerant river

Dipper down from the weir this am.

Afternoon visit today between 2.00pm - 4.00pm.

1 male Greater Spotted Woodpecker
3 Nuthatch
3 Treecreepers
3 Chaffinches
c10 Great Tits
c10 Blue Tits
4 Long Tailed Tits
1 Wren
2 Robins
2 Dunnocks
c5 Blackbirds
2 Magpies
9 Manadrin Ducks (7 males 2 females)
7 Tufted Ducks (4 males 3 females)
c25 Mallards
c10 Coots (2 nests being built)
1 Moorhen
c40 Canada Geese
1 Great Crested Grebe
1 Cormorant (1st Winter)

21st March.

8.00 to 10.20 am.

First visit to this site - maybe not an ideal time on a Sunday morning, also with fairly heavy fog/mist first thing. Still the site I wanted to visit at 7.15 was so fog bound I made a long detour and ended up here! Very busy with people later on - I've never seen so many people carrying bags of bread to feed to the wildfowl!

Pleased I did visit though, really beautiful mature woodland and more than enough birds of interest. The wet woodland in the spring sunshine was just starting to smell of wild garlic.

Wall to wall Nuthatch songs and calls all the way round - at least 3 pairs and 2 singles seen. 7 Mandarin - a party of 3 (2 males) and 2 other pairs - never really looked at the females so close up before - how beautiful they are in a dapper, subdued way... not like the males which are a bit OTT! 3, probably 5 Goldcrest - a single bird singing, and 2 (a pair?) in another location and possibly even another pair as well. 1 Dipper, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Coal Tit, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Green Woodpecker "yaffled" twice, 1 Siskin flew over calling, a Woodcock was flushed by a dog, 1 Raven flew over "pronking". A brief burst of song heard sounded remarkably like that of a Blackcap but despite a 20 minute wait it didn't start up again. 2 Mute Swan, 9 Tufted Duck, plenty of Cormorants flying over. 4 singing Song Thrush.

Highlight of the morning though was the sighting of a single Buzzard, which quickly became 2 and then 5 and then 6 - all circling and "miaowing" at height over the area for approx. 90 seconds, before all departing in different directions.

Will definitely visit Etherow again later in spring and summer!

Cheers,

Bill.

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Sunday 21st of March 2010 03:25:59 PM

-- Edited by Bill Myerscough on Sunday 21st of March 2010 03:55:38 PM

8-10.30am

A total of 20 Mandarin...16 behind pump house and 4 on backwater of main lake.
(12 male & 8 female)

1 Dipper and 2 Grey Wagtail on river

Anthony

7-9.30am this Morning

11 Mandarin
1 male Goosander (on main backwater)
1 Dipper on river
4 Cormorant
1 Egyptian Goose
1 Barnacle Goose

Nothing of note from the hide.

Anthony

Usual plastic and exotics near the visitor centre.

A Dipper was collecting nesting material near the weir.
17 Mandarins in scattered groups (4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 2, 1)
3 Treecreepers together (Sunny Corner)
2 Teal, 1 male Goosander (Keg Pool)

Cheers, John

Thurs 4/3/201
Main lake
4 Egyption goose
Small lake
2 Cormarant
50+ B H gulls
Hide
6 Mandarin
Female Reed Bunting
2 Jay
Treecreeper
Tawney Owl having a mid day hoot in woods across from hide.(not seen)
Little grebe
15 Cormorant in tree down river

Flashed you as you crossed over to Brabyn's John, but you were engrossed.
Missed the Dippers, but can add Buzzard, 15 Tufties, 4 Stock Dove and 8 Cormorants to the list.
Grey Wagtails downstream of weir.
Chris H

A tick-fest in the Borough today. Started with the first Great-crested Grebe here this year and a supporting cast of:

23 Mandarin Duck (starting to pair off now, 4 separate pairs in this total)
GS Woodpecker 2 (drumming and courtship)
4 Nuthatches singing
Dipper at weir (unringed)
Little Gebe above weir
Siskins and Sparrowhawk overhead
2 Egyptian Geese (1 on Keg Pool aggresively chasing the Canada Geese)
Feral Barnacle Goose (not countable on the Borough list)
Teal (3m, 1f)
Goosander (1m, 2f on Keg Pool)

A total of 40 spp.

Cheers, John

Shoveler and Wigeon both been present at Reddish Vale this year, Goldcrest at Chadkirk and Woodbank Park, Great Crested Grebes are almost certain to be seen at Etherow by spring.

Anthony

During the cold snap at the start of the year there was a Juvenile Great Crested still with traces of 'humbug' plumage, on the small area of water which wasn't frozen over, on the main stretch of water at the Etherow.

Also had a couple of Goldcrest in a conifer along the path between the Roman Lakes entrance & the railway bridge near the weir at Marple, & another with a flock of tits close to the pelican crossing just before the turn off to Chadkirk.

John,

I'm delighted to hear the you have picked up the banner for Stockport in this birding battle of the boroughs. It will be a tough one to win against such high quality competition!

You will eventually get Great Crested Grebe on Sykes' Reservoir, to the back of Stockport County's ground: they breed here each year. I have seen no sign of them this winter, I would guess that they have been driven off by the cold. Obviously, you can expect some at Etherow too. I wonder whether Reddish Vale might turn up the odd duck for you?

I have had the same experience with Goldcrest this winter. My only English 'crest was by Poynton Pool in early January, though I saw three in North Wales today. I'm not sure whether the cold spell is to blame; I had seen very few before the ice age began.

A 4 hour flog round Etherow produced 1 new borough bird.

Little Grebe (2 on river)
Teal (10 on river)
Mandarin (15 near weir)
Tufted Duck (13 near weir)

The woodlands were incredibly quiet:
Siskin (c30)
Nuthatch (2)
GS Woodpecker (1)
A scattering of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits

Keg Pool (almost ice free):
Mute Swan (2)
Mallard (2)
Coot (4)
Egyptian Goose (1)

It is difficult to get duck other than common stuff in Stockport Borough. Waters are small, few and much disturbed. So, not a sniff of Shoveler, Wigeon, Goldeneye, Gadwall, Stifftail nor even a Great Crested Grebe yet. Come to that I haven't seen a local Goldcrest yet either.

Cheers, John



-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 18th of February 2010 09:10:43 PM

First time visit to Etherow this morning - may well have seen you Nigel, as I went to the hide just before the large group you referred to arrived and then stayed for around 20 minutes once they had gone. Managed to see the Mandarins although they stayed mostly hidden until somebody threw bread. I was also unsuccessful finding Dippers. An enjoyable place to visit and worth the journey from Leigh.

There were 18 Cormorants in the roost near the bird hide above the weir, and roughly as many birders enjoying a guided tour. A few Tufties and a couple of Little Grebe were on the river.

Chaffinch, Dunnock and Nuthatch were singing, but there was little else going on. I been hoping to see a Dipper, but was not successful.

The pool had its usual collection of feral and exotic birds clamouring for the attention of those who had brought bread; these included a Barnacle Goose.

first time there for me, a good walk round was quite eventfull, lots of plastic birds, egyptian, muscovey and mandarins, mixed in with some lovely looking tufted ducks, not too much of note on the ponds but dipper showing on the river and in the woods mixed in with all the usuals were the most nuthatch's i have ever seen, the woods are full of them, also nice views of a few great spotted woodpeckers and treecreepers too,

18 Mandarin Duck (11m, 7f) along the Goyt and by the brick blockhouse near the weir
12 Tufted Duck (8m, 4f) by the brick blockhouse near the weir
1 feral Barnacle and 1 Egyptian Goose towards the visitor centre

Cheers, John

24/01/10
10.00-11.20
walk through lakes to top weir & back
Black headed gulls 110
Mallard approx 190
Egyptian goose 3
Mute swan 2
Canada goose 45+
Tufted duck 9 (3 lakes, 6 top river)
Coot 18
Moorhen 8
Mandarin (12 lakes/feeding stations, 9 top river)
goosander (male, top river)
grey heron 2
blue tit 8+
coal tit 5
great tit 10+
robin 5
carrion crow 6
magpie 2
chaffinch 2
dunnock 2
heard greenfinch
Chinese swan goose 30ish (didn't count, they were everywhere!)
embden geese & assorted farm geese/hybrids

17/1/10 am

Mandarin - 18
Egyptian Goose - 3
Goosander - 2
Teal - 7

Hi William.

If you go over the Weir bridge and turn right, past the small lake, and then you come to a farm gate, with a small gate to the left. That is marked as Cheshire Wildlife Trust and leads to the hide. So the hide is not actually in the ECP.
On the Cheshire Wildlife Site, it says the NR is open to the public and a permit can be obtained from the Wardens Office.
I have to say, that the few who use it just go there, but I usually tell the Warden at the Office (if open) that I am going.

Link to map of site, but hide not marked.

http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/leisureculture/parksandrecreation/countryside/countryparks/etherowpark/

Brilliant , thank you anthony.

No you don't need a key mate...

Walk to the top end of the park to the weir.
Then take the path just to the right of the weir towards the farm.
You will pass a little pond on the left which is usually full of Bullrushes and then a few yards further along on the left hand side you will see a gate which should have a sign 'Nature Reserve'. (or something like that)
Go through the gate, follow the path and 'Voila' you can't miss it!

Good morning everyone, was wondering if you could help me. I was hoping you could tell me where the hide is at E.C.P and also is it public access, or do i need to apply for a key.
many thanks
William

9-11am this morning...

13 Pairs of Mandarin Duck (Couple of photos on Birdguides) 10 behind Pump house and 3 more on the back water of the main lake.

3 Egyptian Goose
8 Goldfinch
2 Cormorant
2 Raven

I didn't get as far as the hide or Keg Pool, so might have another look tomorrow.

Anthony

Not today, but i will be back.....with more bread!

Dave

Glad you spotted the Mandarin.
Did you manage to get any good photos?

Had a pleasant morning walking around;

11 Raven....yes 11! At one point mobbing a buzzard, got a few pics of the group but only ever managed to get 3's and 4's in at once. Circled around for a bit before they appeared to move on.
1 Buzzard
8 Cormorant
5 Mandarin (3 male)
2 Egyptian Goose
2 Little Grebe

Cheers

Dave

Yes Dave take bread and lots of it! You can tempt them in very close for some excellent photos, Ian put a couple of mine in the photo section last month so you can see their current colourful glory in there.

Cheers guys a great help, will have a look in the next few days.

Dave

David Winnard wrote:

---

I was just wondering if the male mandarins are back in all their glory yet? I may have a trip down there in the next couple of days and would like to photograph the males.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dave

---

In addition to the Mandarins at Etherow there were 9 today on the Goyt at Offerton plus 29 (just out of county) at Poynton Pool - an excellent count for this site.

By the way Dave, If you want photos of the Mandarins at Etherow take some bread. They were coming in with Mallard at the sluice house last Sunday.

Cheers, John



-- Edited by John Rayner on Wednesday 11th of November 2009 07:55:22 PM

David Winnard wrote:

---

I was just wondering if the male mandarins are back in all their glory yet? I may have a trip down there in the next couple of days and would like to photograph the males.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dave

---

Really is pot luck with the males at Etherow David...They can show well one day, not the next and will be back the day after.
Behind the Pump house near the weir is always the best bet and will offer nice close up views for photography if your luck is in.

In saying that, they could show up just about anywhere from the main lake to the Keg Pool.

Good luck.
Anthony

There were five malesd at the sluice house on Monday respendent and a few Nutch hatches and jays at the hide.

I was just wondering if the male mandarins are back in all their glory yet? I may have a trip down there in the next couple of days and would like to photograph the males.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Dave

Quite a charactor the Egyptian Goose at Etherow...
He is known as 'Eugine' to the staff and wardens at the visitors centre and he's spoiled rotten by all the duck feeders.

He has been paired up with a Greylag for a couple of years and sees off any other bird that has designs on her.

Should be quite interesting to see how he reacts to the new arrivals.

Picture of Eugine...http://ajdixon.photium.com/photo3909588.html

Hi Andy,

Yesterday was a very peculiar day in Poynton also where not only the finches were missing at our ringing site, but also were the Jackdaws, Jays and Wood Pigeons. The wind (drift) was from the NW so perhaps the birds were anticipating a cold snap had legged it further south? If so we might get an influx of Siskins. Greenfinches are looking fluffed up, and there are other less obvious signs of Trichomoniasis.

Tony

It's illegal to introduce Egyptian Geese...

8th Nov (11.30 - 13.00)

Now 3 Egyptian Geese. The warden said they have not been deliberately introduced, that the extra 2 flew in and have been on Keg Pool associating with swans. All 3 are now in the vicinity of the visitor centre.

Also 4 Mandarin not far from the visitor centre ignored scores of walkers on the nearby path. One of these was a female with very pale, ragged head.

On the river by the weir only 5 Mandarin on show but others probably lurking under the willows.

From the hide. Usual Blue, Great, Long-tailed and Coal Tits, 2 Nuthatch, 1 female Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, Jays at feeders, 1 male Bullfinch and 18 Cormorants roosting.

Cheers, John


-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 8th of November 2009 02:51:49 PM

I too was there this afternoon - not too worthwhile. Siskins heard twice, but didn't sound many. Maybe up to six goldcrests. Two or three ravens over. At least 17 mandarins. Too much person pressure on this place now, which is why lesser spot and others have quit. Another mystery today was where the finches are. Not a single chaffinch/greenfinch seen (not to mention brambling, obviously). Did hear bullfinch briefly.

Quick visit mid-afternoon,
Close views of Nuthatch & Treecreeper on the path leading to the hide,
20 odd Cormorant in the tree,
i Buzzard
& 18 Redwing flying over

Another 6 Redwing in Brabyns Park near the Iron Bridge.

PM

24 Cormorant on the usual tree from the Hide. Great Tit and Nuthatch on the hide feeder, and loads of Mandarin in trees on the canal just above and below the main Res.
One Egyptian Goose on main Res.
Other than that nothing doing. I noticed that all the feeders around had seed on them - don't know if that is a winter or half-term thing