14/02/2011 - Ring-necked Parakeet briefly just outside park boundary beyond the picnic area this afternoon. It promptly flew back into the park and disappeared into a hole in the largest beech tree there. Other stuff around included:
1 Snipe - along the brook out towards Bollington Mill 1 GSW 2 Stock Doves 1 Nuthatch 28 Fieldfares c40 Redwings 4 Mute Swans 17 Tufted Ducks
Nick_Patel said
Fri Feb 11 5:29 PM, 2011
4 Great spotted woodpeckers, 1 Female green woody showing nicely near entrance.. 3 Nuthatch, treecreeper, c10 Tufted duck, Little grebe, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, Fieldfare, plenty of mistle thrushes and jackdaws and a few Jays.
sid ashton said
Sat Jan 29 5:35 PM, 2011
Ring-necked Parakeet going to roost in the picnic area at about 4.30pm.
sid ashton said
Fri Jan 28 7:25 PM, 2011
Late afternoon visit found 3 Snipe on the meadow close to the stream to Bollington Mill.
Phil Owen said
Mon Jan 24 11:54 PM, 2011
Tony Salt wrote:
Was at Dunham Massey on Sat 22nd, spotted several long tailed tits in the park then went for coffee at Lavender Barn in Dunham, lots of great tits and blue tits on the feeders and spotted ring necked parakeet in tree behind barn.
Seen lots of these parakeets on trips to Putney / Richmond but never thought they ventured to the North West.
Hi Tony, welcome to the forum!!
A single Ring-necked Parakeet has been at Dunham for the last few years. Ideal habitat bearing in mind the mature trees and numerous holes that the many Jackdaws take to there. Just wish it could find a mate but good to see it reported again.
There is a seperate thread on South Manchester Ring-necked Parakeets which you will no doubt find interesting!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 24th of January 2011 11:55:17 PM
Tony Salt said
Mon Jan 24 8:33 PM, 2011
Was at Dunham Massey on Sat 22nd, spotted several long tailed tits in the park then went for coffee at Lavender Barn in Dunham, lots of great tits and blue tits on the feeders and spotted ring necked parakeet in tree behind barn.
Seen lots of these parakeets on trips to Putney / Richmond but never thought they ventured to the North West.
Ann Ribbands said
Mon Jan 24 12:33 PM, 2011
Had an early morning walk round the park hoping for woodpeckers. Plenty of GS activity - at least 3 drummers, plus usual nuthatch, treecreepers and tits but no luck with lesser or green. Most unusual sighting was a pair of goosanders on the moat.
sid ashton said
Thu Dec 30 9:42 PM, 2010
Had a stroll along the River Bollin latish this afternoon, where it runs behind the park, to check for Woodcock - trip unsuccessful but the views of the Emirates A380 Airbus were good In the park proper on the way back to the car were two Treecreeper and a calling Great spotted Pecker - little else to see apart from big numbers of Black headed Gulls and 10 Mallard on the Moat. Had heard a report of a Ring-necked Parakeet but no joy with that one either.
Henry Cook said
Mon Dec 20 2:20 PM, 2010
20/12/2010 - Minus 11 degrees on the car thermometer this morning but simply had to get out and about, so I chose the scenic spot that is Dunham. Not too much activity with the thick frost and snow covering most surfaces, but a small patch of open water on Smithy Pool held plenty of birds:
A late stroll round the park after the rain. Not a lot to note but we still have 3 cygnets of the original 9 on the moat.
Melanie Beckford said
Wed Aug 11 12:36 AM, 2010
Mark Rigby wrote:
Melanie Beckford wrote:
Spot Fly (finally)...fly-catching for me
It would never get you off the ground!
ahem....
Mark Rigby said
Tue Aug 10 10:42 PM, 2010
Melanie Beckford wrote:
Spot Fly (finally)...fly-catching for me
It would never get you off the ground!
Melanie Beckford said
Tue Aug 10 10:19 PM, 2010
Spot Fly (finally)...fly-catching for me as l arrived
Charles Coutts said
Tue Jul 27 4:27 PM, 2010
First time out since my overdue stay at Wythey Hospital. Slow mooch around Dunham Massey Park reveald 3. G S Woodpecker 5.Green Woodpeckers, 4 Jay Nuthatches and jackdaws everywhere.
Walk over to Dunham Brewery 20+ L T Tits in trees next to brewery and while sat at Bus stop at Big Tree 4 Tree Sparrows in tree next to the stop.
sid ashton said
Tue Jun 29 7:07 PM, 2010
A late afternoon walk around the park not really birding but found a big group of at least 16 Long-tailed Tits in front of the house, a pair of Treecreepers feeding young and the Swans that appear to have moved from Smithy pool to the moat with 5 cygnets out of the original 9.
David Winnard said
Mon Jun 28 4:42 PM, 2010
Hi Mike,
there is a separate wildlife forum for everything non-feathery in GM, it can be found here http://manchesterwildlife.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=123878 or by clicking the link on my signature.
I think there have been up to 4 males seen at Dunham in the last week or so, but the Red-eyed Damselflies are the star attraction there at the moment.
All the best
Dave
Mike Passant said
Mon Jun 28 3:53 PM, 2010
June 24th I neglected to mention before, but seeing a sign for the park as I was travelling along the M56 last week, I called in on impulse and spent an hour and a quarter, 8.50 to 10.05, exploring much of the site, in the loose hope also of perhaps bumping into Spotted Flycatchers, (which I failed to find). I recorded 20 or so common bird species, but also a single male Banded Demoiselle (my first of the year anywhere), close to the large car park and well away from water. I don't know if they are regular/ common here; perhaps they are? (This is posted should it be of interest to anyone).
Regards, Mike P
Henry Cook said
Mon Jun 21 5:07 PM, 2010
21/06/2010 - Thought i'd make the most of the longest day of the year and set off out early to Dunham before a treck up north to the mosses. In the park amongst the usual were:
1 Hobby (over) 2 Cormorants (over) 1 Gadwall 2 Little Grebes (+1juv sat on parents back) 2 Goldcrest (frustratingly elusive so no sign of young) 4 Treecreepers (+3 juvs) 8 Nuthatches (+4 juvs) 10 House Martins 1 Blackcap
mark gilligan said
Thu Jun 17 12:33 PM, 2010
Not been able to get out in ages but had a smashing morning! Had a stroll around the park before the madding crowd arrived from 8.30 this morning till midday. Saw the usual suspects but decided to concentrate around the area that I call the barn(?), not the one near the main drive but the one set back near island pool. I first saw a GSW feeding on the ground and then calling in the trees when I then watched as two juveniles(Im assuming they were juvs, small with full red crowns that I first thought were LSW) feeding by one and other on large fallen trees at the rear. They were all visible for over twenty minutes+ . All were then disturbed by a dog walker but the GSW returned. A pair of Greens then moved in and flew around the location from tree top to tree top. Also watched as a sparrowhawk then flew fast and low in the open field beside and moved into the trees in the Deer Sanctuary. On my way back and past the Obelisk a Buzzard was wheeling over towards the Bollin and as I made my way past Old Mans Pool I saw another Green. A good morning and a lovely walk!!
Pete Lane said
Sun Jun 13 8:07 PM, 2010
Yesterday 1.00pm
From one spot just off one of the main drives.
Little owl perched on post part of a tree protector. green woodpecker 2 nuthatch buzzard
sid ashton said
Sun Jun 13 5:31 PM, 2010
Young Green Woodpecker feeding on the grass at the top of the main drive late this afternoon.
Steve Collins said
Wed May 26 2:15 PM, 2010
Finally saw one of the Spotted Flycatchers this morning at the third attempt. Sat at the top of the tree Sid described. I didn't see it arrive but good clear views. I thought I'd try for a photo and picked my camera up and it had gone! Only the one visit but obviously it likes it around there! Steve
Steve Collins said
Tue May 25 10:48 PM, 2010
I was in the park too! I was looking up into the trees and the sky so hard I was begininng to see spots- but not a flycatcher! Riggers even told me where it was and I still didn't find it! Shouldn't have stopped to photograph treecreepers or I would seen him looking at it. Steve
Melanie Beckford said
Tue May 25 9:41 PM, 2010
l was in the park today...never saw the Spotted Flycatchers, but l did see the Grey Partridge
-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 07:01:41 AM
sid ashton said
Tue May 25 9:08 PM, 2010
The Spot Fly was in the same tree as I have seen it for the last three days for quite a short visit at 18.15. Glad I was able to help Phil K with his "lifer" but Gavin D left too early
Henry Cook said
Tue May 25 4:52 PM, 2010
My third visit in as many days finally revealed the Spotted Flycatcher in the trees around Island Pool although typically elusive and mobile. 9 Cygnets still on Smithy Pool. 1 Buzzard and 2 Little Grebes also around.
Mark Rigby said
Tue May 25 11:02 AM, 2010
Spotted flycatcher in trees at the opposite end of island pool from the house near the obvious flat topped tree stump.
sid ashton said
Mon May 24 10:01 PM, 2010
Quick stroll around the park at around 19.00 - as we parked in Woodhouse Lane two Hobbys went over in the direction of the park and one Spot Fly put in a brief appearance but the highlight was found on Smithy Pool where the Swans have 9 cygnets. I believe we witnessed their maiden voyage - lovely to watch
sid ashton said
Sun May 23 8:49 PM, 2010
17.45 - 18.30, still very warm
On my third visit of the weekend looking for Spotted Flycatchers checked the area around Smithy Pool from Tony's earlier sighting - no joy.
Then over to Island Pool and just as in the last three years the birds, and there were two of them were on the tree with the bare topmost branches close to the bench. They were not fly-catching and were quite flighty. Found them a day earlier than last year
The area to look is up the main drive away from the house making Island Pool, tree and bench on the right about 200 m up the drive.
sid ashton said
Sun May 23 12:23 PM, 2010
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Spotted Flycatcher just north of Smithy Pool at 10:35 today.Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
That must have been very close to the stile from Charcoal Road - is that right Tony ?
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 23 11:32 AM, 2010
Spotted Flycatcher just north of Smithy Pool at 10:35 today.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
sid ashton said
Sun May 16 9:56 AM, 2010
Not that unusual to see Grey Partridge in the park Henry that's perhaps why Phil didn't report them himself I saw two yesterday morning in the mist at around 06.30 when I called in.
Henry Cook wrote:
Just remembered a notable sighting from the park seen on the 10th with Phil Owen. 2 Grey Partridge were flushed at the north-east end of the park from bracken and over the park wall into the large grass field behind.
Henry Cook said
Sun May 16 9:45 AM, 2010
Just remembered a notable sighting from the park seen on the 10th with Phil Owen. 2 Grey Partridge were flushed at the north-east end of the park from bracken and over the park wall into the large grass field behind.
Vaughan Evans said
Wed May 5 9:18 AM, 2010
Had a Kingfisher further up the Bollin at Ashley Mill on Thursday
Tony Coatsworth said
Tue May 4 7:15 PM, 2010
That's good news - Ive not seen one there since December
Steve Christmas said
Mon May 3 8:58 PM, 2010
Had one on the Irwell at Clifton during my BBS on 1st May.
sid ashton said
Mon May 3 8:16 PM, 2010
Pleased to report that during a family walk this afternoon we found a Kingfisher - it flew along the canal and then into the park up the Bollin. This was the first Kingfisher I have seen this year at Dunham and had feared that the cold weather had taken its toll
P.S. just wondered if other folk have seen much expected Kingfisher activity?
-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 3rd of May 2010 08:29:49 PM
Phil Owen said
Sun Apr 25 10:09 AM, 2010
Nice walk round the park 7.30am-9.00am in light rain:
Amongst the usual Woodland species were:
1 Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker (calling near the Old Slaughter House) 1 Lapwing (over) 3 Cormorant (over) 2 Swallows 2 Mute Swan
sid ashton said
Wed Apr 21 11:16 AM, 2010
Chilly for my walk in the park this morning 09.30 - 10.45. Of note 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Willow Warbler, 3 Swallows along the canal, 6 House Martins around the flats at Bollington Mill, a singing Blackcap near the Moat and the now resident pair of Mandarins on the Moat.
Phil Owen said
Tue Apr 20 9:10 PM, 2010
A pleasant 45 minute stroll round with dog in the park tonight 7.45pm-8.30pm. Didn't have time to cover my usual route but did manage to see:
Green Woodpecker (feeding on ground, close to pool over style entrance) Great-Spotted Woodpecker (still drumming away at 8.15pm near car park) Sparrowhawk Cormorant (3 over) Chiffchaff Blackcap
No sign of the Mandarins
Howard Flint said
Sat Apr 17 11:08 AM, 2010
About 0800 this morning.. Willow Tit on canal stretch Nuthatches all over the park calling GSW showing well Mandarin pair still on moat also pair of gadwall
Melanie Beckford said
Fri Apr 9 8:59 PM, 2010
3 Mandarins all present this morning
Hard to bird whilst looking after my two charges, never-the-less....
Tufted M + F Gadwall Two Tree-creepers Nuthatch Pheasant and Green Woodie, heard.
Zillions of children and one fire engine.
sid ashton said
Thu Apr 8 8:33 PM, 2010
2 male and 1 female Mandarin on the moat early evening.
Henry Cook said
Thu Apr 8 12:42 PM, 2010
08/04/2010 - Mid-morning, v.busy in the park but a few good birds about still:
1 Mandarin (drake still present on the moat, female probably hidden in the rhododendron) 2 Chiffchaffs 1 Willow Warbler 1 Little Grebe 14 Tufted Ducks 2 Gadwalls 2 Mute Swans 3 Nuthatches 6 Treecreepers 2 Stock Doves 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Howard Flint said
Wed Apr 7 8:55 PM, 2010
Clear evening walk down the canal saw swallows and solitary sandmartin.
Grey wagtail on the brook into the park.
Pair of GSW in the park plus kestrel sitting on branch.
Pair of mandarins on the lake by the house.
Mike Duckham said
Mon Apr 5 8:45 PM, 2010
Pleasant evening stroll, lots of birdsong and 2 Green Woodies yaffling away very close as i walked along the inside of the wall along Charcoal Lane. Also 21 Tufties on the pond by the stile there which was nice to see - i remember getting very excited seeing just one there in the late 70's! Interesting to see all the young trees which have been planted.
Nick Hilton said
Tue Mar 30 7:39 PM, 2010
Mike - yes, guilty party ! Good memory you have, hear your over at Conwy. I'll ask for you when I next go. cheers Nick
Mike Duckham said
Mon Mar 29 11:01 PM, 2010
Looking forward to a visit to a place that got me birding as a youngster, in a few days time!
Nick - did you used to go to Hale O's? BOU 400+ when you were 13?! Glad to hear you're still birding if so mate! Hope to bump into you at some point, say hi to your Dad when you see him. Cheers.
sid ashton said
Sat Mar 27 6:42 PM, 2010
Second visit of the day this afternoon found 6 separate Chiffchaff along the canal behind the park, 2 Swallows near the sewage works and 3 Snipe on the stream to Bollington Mill.
sid ashton said
Sat Mar 27 11:37 AM, 2010
At Bollington Mill flats on the way home from early morning Shrike trip found my first Swallow of the summer over the flats and into the park. Also Green Sandpiper on the Oxbow.
1 Snipe - along the brook out towards Bollington Mill
1 GSW
2 Stock Doves
1 Nuthatch
28 Fieldfares
c40 Redwings
4 Mute Swans
17 Tufted Ducks
Hi Tony, welcome to the forum!!
A single Ring-necked Parakeet has been at Dunham for the last few years. Ideal habitat bearing in mind the mature trees and numerous holes that the many Jackdaws take to there. Just wish it could find a mate but good to see it reported again.
There is a seperate thread on South Manchester Ring-necked Parakeets which you will no doubt find interesting!!
-- Edited by Phil Owen on Monday 24th of January 2011 11:55:17 PM
Seen lots of these parakeets on trips to Putney / Richmond but never thought they ventured to the North West.
In the park proper on the way back to the car were two Treecreeper and a calling Great spotted Pecker - little else to see apart from big numbers of Black headed Gulls and 10 Mallard on the Moat. Had heard a report of a Ring-necked Parakeet but no joy with that one either.
1 Little Grebe
c60 Mallards (including 3 domestic birds)
2 Gadwalls
6 Coots
2 Mute Swans
c20 Black-headed Gulls
1 Grey Heron
2 Grey Partridge
10 Pheasants
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
8 Long-tailed Tits
1 Treecreeper
ahem....
It would never get you off the ground!
Slow mooch around Dunham Massey Park reveald
3. G S Woodpecker
5.Green Woodpeckers,
4 Jay
Nuthatches and jackdaws everywhere.
Walk over to Dunham Brewery
20+ L T Tits in trees next to brewery
and while sat at Bus stop at Big Tree 4 Tree Sparrows in tree next to the stop.
there is a separate wildlife forum for everything non-feathery in GM, it can be found here http://manchesterwildlife.activeboard.com/index.spark?aBID=123878 or by clicking the link on my signature.
I think there have been up to 4 males seen at Dunham in the last week or so, but the Red-eyed Damselflies are the star attraction there at the moment.
All the best
Dave
I neglected to mention before, but seeing a sign for the park as I was travelling along the M56 last week, I called in on impulse and spent an hour and a quarter, 8.50 to 10.05, exploring much of the site, in the loose hope also of perhaps bumping into Spotted Flycatchers, (which I failed to find).
I recorded 20 or so common bird species, but also a single male Banded Demoiselle (my first of the year anywhere), close to the large car park and well away from water. I don't know if they are regular/ common here; perhaps they are? (This is posted should it be of interest to anyone).
Regards,
Mike P
1 Hobby (over)
2 Cormorants (over)
1 Gadwall
2 Little Grebes (+1juv sat on parents back)
2 Goldcrest (frustratingly elusive so no sign of young)
4 Treecreepers (+3 juvs)
8 Nuthatches (+4 juvs)
10 House Martins
1 Blackcap
Had a stroll around the park before the madding crowd arrived from 8.30 this morning till midday.
Saw the usual suspects but decided to concentrate around the area that I call the barn(?), not the one near the main drive but the one set back near island pool.
I first saw a GSW feeding on the ground and then calling in the trees when I then watched as two juveniles(Im assuming they were juvs, small with full red crowns that I first thought were LSW) feeding by one and other on large fallen trees at the rear. They were all visible for over twenty minutes+ . All were then disturbed by a dog walker but the GSW returned.
A pair of Greens then moved in and flew around the location from tree top to tree top.
Also watched as a sparrowhawk then flew fast and low in the open field beside and moved into the trees in the Deer Sanctuary.
On my way back and past the Obelisk a Buzzard was wheeling over towards the Bollin and as I made my way past Old Mans Pool I saw another Green.
A good morning and a lovely walk!!
From one spot just off one of the main drives.
Little owl perched on post part of a tree protector.
green woodpecker
2 nuthatch
buzzard
I didn't see it arrive but good clear views. I thought I'd try for a photo and picked my camera up and it had gone! Only the one visit but obviously it likes it around there!
Steve
Steve
-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Wednesday 26th of May 2010 07:01:41 AM
9 Cygnets still on Smithy Pool. 1 Buzzard and 2 Little Grebes also around.
On my third visit of the weekend looking for Spotted Flycatchers checked the area around Smithy Pool from Tony's earlier sighting - no joy.
Then over to Island Pool and just as in the last three years the birds, and there were two of them were on the tree with the bare topmost branches close to the bench. They were not fly-catching and were quite flighty. Found them a day earlier than last year
The area to look is up the main drive away from the house making Island Pool, tree and bench on the right about 200 m up the drive.
That must have been very close to the stile from Charcoal Road - is that right Tony ?
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
I saw two yesterday morning in the mist at around 06.30 when I called in.
P.S. just wondered if other folk have seen much expected Kingfisher activity?
-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 3rd of May 2010 08:29:49 PM
Amongst the usual Woodland species were:
1 Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker (calling near the Old Slaughter House)
1 Lapwing (over)
3 Cormorant (over)
2 Swallows
2 Mute Swan
Green Woodpecker (feeding on ground, close to pool over style entrance)
Great-Spotted Woodpecker (still drumming away at 8.15pm near car park)
Sparrowhawk
Cormorant (3 over)
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
No sign of the Mandarins
Willow Tit on canal stretch
Nuthatches all over the park calling
GSW showing well
Mandarin pair still on moat also pair of gadwall
Hard to bird whilst looking after my two charges, never-the-less....
Tufted M + F
Gadwall
Two Tree-creepers
Nuthatch
Pheasant and Green Woodie, heard.
Zillions of children and one fire engine.
1 Mandarin (drake still present on the moat, female probably hidden in the rhododendron)
2 Chiffchaffs
1 Willow Warbler
1 Little Grebe
14 Tufted Ducks
2 Gadwalls
2 Mute Swans
3 Nuthatches
6 Treecreepers
2 Stock Doves
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Grey wagtail on the brook into the park.
Pair of GSW in the park plus kestrel sitting on branch.
Pair of mandarins on the lake by the house.
Nick - did you used to go to Hale O's? BOU 400+ when you were 13?! Glad to hear you're still birding if so mate! Hope to bump into you at some point, say hi to your Dad when you see him.
Cheers.