Ian Campbell wrote:

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Visited for approx 90 mins this lunch time. Thanks to all the helpful posts was able to find the correct area easily, can't say the same for the Lesser Spotted (or Green) but did see 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers plus most of the other birds of the park. Great place and so was the beer in the Axe & Cleaver, cheers for the advice Sid and Ian Mc
Cheers Ian

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Hi Ian nice to have met you. Later on at about 14:30 2 L.S.W AND 1 g.s.w no Green

-- Edited by sammy on Thursday 16th of April 2009 02:53:32 PM

Visited for approx 90 mins this lunch time. Thanks to all the helpful posts was able to find the correct area easily, can't say the same for the Lesser Spotted (or Green) but did see 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers plus most of the other birds of the park. Great place and so was the beer in the Axe & Cleaver, cheers for the advice Sid and Ian Mc
Cheers Ian

Best bet for 'peckers is too choose a sunny and still day - this increases the drumming activity and makes them much easier to find.

On dull and windy days all 3 can be illusive, but the Lesser's especially so.

Steve

Checked several times this morning between 07.00 & 09.00 only one bird on or around the heronry although there were a couple of sightings elsewhere over the park.

Sid

Steve Suttill wrote:

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Can one of you regulars (Sid?) do a count of the active nests in the heronry for census purposes? If left much longer it may be more difficult. Your help much appreciated.

Cheers, Steve

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-- Edited by sid ashton on Thursday 16th of April 2009 03:35:02 PM

Ian C

I should point out that if you are looking for the Lesser Pecker I'm not guaranteeing it - having spent 4 hours there on Monday this week some of that time with Martin Cuthbert (nice to meet you Martin) and not getting even a glimpse unlike Henry and Rob over the weekend and Declan yesterday - I'm the King of the Dippers at the moment having missed the Snowy Owl in Cornwall last week as well as the Great Spotted Cuckoo that was about 5 miles away on a different bit of moorland on the day we were looking for the Owl. The Cuckoo had of course done a runner by the time I got there the day after.

The positive bit of birding down there were the Cirl Bunts as a lifer for me


-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 15th of April 2009 01:23:42 PM

-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 15th of April 2009 01:55:01 PM

ditto Axe & Cleaver, great food, lovely pub

Ian

As an alternative to the Swan with Two Nicks you might try the Axe & Cleaver in Dunham town - easy to get to if you take the Woodhouse Lane parking option the pub is just up the lane passed the church. But to the birding - from Woodhouse lane enter the park over the stile with Smithy Pool on your left - walk along this path until you see the Hall to your right - the obelisk is then on your left as described by Rob. If you go over the stile at the end of this path, from Woodhouse Lane, you will be heading in the direction of the Swan with the stream to Bollington Mill in the meadow to the right always worth checking out.

Sid

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Thinking of visiting this week but don't know the area at all. Looking back on this thread it appears that it is possible to park in Woodhouse lane and enter the park over a style. where do I go then?, it seems that the obelisk area is a popular spot, Where is this, is it easy to spot etc, etc ?. Any help would be appreciated. Is the Swan with Two Necks a good pub?.
Cheers Ian

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-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 15th of April 2009 10:47:50 AM

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Thinking of visiting this week but don't know the area at all. Looking back on this thread it appears that it is possible to park in Woodhouse lane and enter the park over a style. where do I go then?, it seems that the obelisk area is a popular spot, Where is this, is it easy to spot etc, etc ?. Any help would be appreciated. Is the Swan with Two Necks a good pub?.
Cheers Ian

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Pub has a good reputation but not been for years.

If you enter the park from this entrance there is a map board quite soon, the Obelisk is on the first "proper" path to your right (one of the rides that heads out from the hall across the park in a a sort of fan shape).

At the weekend all three peckers could be found in a triangle ferom the obelisk, further into the park and the next "ride" right, with the centre of the triangle being one of the deer sanctuary areas that you cannot enter.

All three were vocal at the weekend, making finding them much easier!

Good luck.

I could only see 2 occupied nests this morning, but there were several other adults around the park.

Steve had a look yesterday and there are 5/6 nests 2 of which appear to have birds on them. All of these nests seem to have been there since last year although I did observe a bit of repair work going on a couple of weeks ago. Will have another look later in the week.

Sid

Steve Suttill wrote:

---

Can one of you regulars (Sid?) do a count of the active nests in the heronry for census purposes? If left much longer it may be more difficult. Your help much appreciated.

Cheers, Steve

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-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 05:46:17 PM

Can one of you regulars (Sid?) do a count of the active nests in the heronry for census purposes? If left much longer it may be more difficult. Your help much appreciated.

Cheers, Steve

Thinking of visiting this week but don't know the area at all. Looking back on this thread it appears that it is possible to park in Woodhouse lane and enter the park over a style. where do I go then?, it seems that the obelisk area is a popular spot, Where is this, is it easy to spot etc, etc ?. Any help would be appreciated. Is the Swan with Two Necks a good pub?.
Cheers Ian

A very enjoyable morning in the park (6.30 - 8.30), with all 3 woodpecker species present. A pair of Lesser-spots put on a great show in the obelisk area from about 8.00 onwards - I could still hear them calling as I was leaving. 2 Green Woodpeckers and several Great Spots also around, including a pair of Great Spots mating. Also present, single Buzzard, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk. Nesting activity from Nuthatches, Treecreeper, Pied Wagtail, Mute Swan, Grey Herons, Stock Doves, tits, Goldfinch.

-- Edited by declan savage on Tuesday 14th of April 2009 03:27:00 PM

Sounds like that was me, I did the early morning shift and the peckers seemed very active when I arrived and became more elusive. What a cool bird, wierdly looked quite bat-like in flight with proportionally large wings compared with the body length. Glad you saw them too Steve.

I must have just missed you Henerz ( I thought I saw another birder close to a big fallen tree- was that you looking for Fungi!?).
Got there about 9.15 and waited for over an hour before getting the male Lesser Spotted which called and drummed (first time I've heard either) close to the obelisk. It also went to the trees along the river. As you say, seemed to be closely associated with a couple of Great Spotted.
Also made the big three with a green woodpecker too.
Steve

2 Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers showed excellently this morning, drumming frequently, calling and fighting with GSWs in the same area as the pair were hanging around last year (when I missed them). A diminutive long-awaited lifer!
Also around the obelisk area round to island pool:

2 Willow Warblers
1 Swallow
8 Stock Doves
2 Pheasants
2 Treecreepers
2 Nuthatches
4 Lesser Redpolls
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Canada Geese
8 Coots
2 Moorhens
5 Mallards
6 Grey Herons (6 active nests)
1 Cormorant (flew over)
plus the usual gathering

All three 'peckers showing well today in the triangle between the obelisk, the deer sanctaury and the path straight out from the hall.

The Lesser returned time and time to drum from the large tree just beyond where the metal fence ends.

Same as Ann - Greens in the 'plantation', GSW calling but no Lesser.
Also weird wooo-wooo call of the Stock Doves all around.

Great spots very active and drumming earlier this morning, two green woodpeckers; one not far from Charcoal Road lodge and the other heard in the plantation near the pedestrian entrance near the village. No sign of lessers or the parakeet. Green sandpiper still on the stream, chiffchaffs and a bullfinch at edge of car park. The new car park is ridiculous, if it ever gets full it'll be standing room only in the deer park - how did they get away with it?

Very nearly dipped on all 3 peckers today before a pair of Gt Spot's put on a show. Other birds of interest were Stock Dove, 6+ Buzzard, Kestrel apprently competing with Jackdaws for a nest site and 2 Swallows.

Nice to meet Chris Roberts there.

Nice to meet you too Steven - no I had no luck after you had gone. Don't know what it is with these Dunham Lesser Peckers they seem to turn up at all sorts of odd times except when I happen to be passing

I have always been lucky early doors but this year both at Dunham and Moore they are appearing at various times during the day. Is it because more people are aware of their presence or is it to do with the dreaded climate change?

Anyway off to Cornwall today perhaps the Snowy Owl will still be around

Had a quick check of the potential LSW nest hole this evening for about half an hour but no activity. Heard some drumming distantly around obelisk area.
2 GSW's but no Green's.
1 Chiffchaff and 2 Buzzards

Hello Sid Ashton! - nice to meet you in the park today! Hope you had better luck than me !

all three woodpeckers today, lesser drumming, calling and showing well by the main path on the oposite side of the wood from the obelisk.

All 3 Woodpeckers in just over 1 hour this afternoon between 4.10pm and 5.20pm.
I located a female LS Woodpecker after it called and watched it excavating a nest hole for well over 5 mins before it flew off! Hope to get chance to have another look soon to see if it remains active. Heard the male drumming nearby but couldn't locate it. Green Woodpecker and GS Woodpecker by Smithy Pool.
Also Treecreeper and lots of Nuthatches around.
Only 2nd time I've had all 3 peckers in a day!

Superb 2 hours in the park this lunchtime - the big 3 all showing well........

1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - drumming by the obelisk and being mobbed by a GS
3 Green Woodpecker
c5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
up to 5 Common Buzzard
21 Tufted Duck
1 Kingfisher
2 Little Grebe
c5 Sand Martin
4 singing Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
2 Greylag Geese
c20 Redwing
2 Grey Wagtail

-- Edited by James Walsh on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 06:53:52 AM

Watched Little Egret from about 09.30 on the stream - it flew off a couple of times but came back - still present at 10.45 - seems quite happy there feeding away.
Six Common Snipe also present.

Lots of Pecker activity from 07.30 - Great Spots (calling, drumming and seen), Lesser Spot (calling, drumminig, brief views flying away) and Greens ( strangely didn't see one but plenty calling)

Good to have our emoticons bacK Ian

Myself and Alan Nuttall had a fantastic 3 woodpecker morning here today. Despite half the park being closed for deer culling we were treated to stonking views of a showy male Lesser Pecker. It was calling and drumming very enthusiastically between 0830 & 0930.

Also the Green Sand was on the stream and lots of Redwing in babbling subsong but no sign of the Little Egret this am.

Little Egret present on the mill stream at 13.15 today - its head plumes clearly visible.

Only Pecker activity was a Green calling.

had a quick walk round on sunday g/s woodpecker,green woodpecker 4 pair of tufties,3 buzzards and a little grebe on the middle lodge

sid ashton wrote:

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There were also 11 grey Herons sitting around the Heronry not doing much in particular. Will keep an eye on that one.

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Please do keep an eye on the herons, Sid, and let me know your estimate of active nests.

Many thanks, Steve

Had a quick walk round the park in the afternoon sun - 40 species seen - don't usually do a count put thought I would on this occasion. Highlights Kingfisher, Grey Wag and 6 Snipe on the stream to the Mill and the Ring necked Parakeet in the Picnic area.

There were also 11 grey Herons sitting around the Heronry not doing much in particular. Will keep an eye on that one.

Late report from the weekend - Green sandpiper still on the stream - right by the fence posts in the middle - plus parakeet directly behind the gardeners area - I was alerted to it by the clear calls - then flew off into the proper garden area [the bit where you need to pay to get in]. Grey wagtail in drained moat then flew towards stream in field, where I couldn't locate it again.

No sign of the egret

-- Edited by Pete Welch at 17:59, 2009-02-27

20th Feb 08.30 - 10.00

Green Sandpiper on the brook but no sign of Little Egret. 9 Snipe in field next to brook.

Ringed-necked Parakeet beyond the overflow carpark and by the gardener's compound (as described by Sid on 4th Feb)

2 Shoveler on Island Pool. Nuthatches, Great Spots and Treecreeper in the obelisk area and lots of Redwing giving a warbling sub-song.

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner at 18:13, 2009-02-20

Wednesday 18th february 2009
07.30-09.55
Cloudy

Possibly saw Little Egret first thing flying over the treeline towards
Water treament works

Both Great and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker were seen but Green was only heard


Quite a number of Jackdaws in woodland

Another place worth looking at if the Egret is not on the stream is the temporary "lake" within the oxbow on the Bollin - easy to get to - just go over the stile next to the Bollington Mill flats, at the other end of the path from the stile into the park, and walk away from the flats for about 100m - the river is to the right the oxbow is to the left. The Green Sands often hang out there.

Had a phone call from someone yesterday, he spoke to my wife as I wasn't in, saying he had a question about birds - the person didn't leave his name and to be fair my wife didn't ask as she was in a hurry but he would call back - so far no call back. Anyone on the forum forget to call me back as I am quite puzzled as to who it may have been?? A PM would be appreciated.

10am till 3pm. no sign of little egret but green sandpiper still on stream. green and great spot but no lesser around the obelisk. nuthatch, treecreeper and lots of redwings.

Would this be the most long staying Litte Egret ever in the county?
I just need it to stick around for another month before having a chance to see it so Hope it likes that stream! Saying that, it is a lovely stream.
Cheers. Henry.

The little egret was in the stream and then flew into the trees by the wall at 14.30.Cracking county bird,let.s hope it settles in.

cheers geoff

Pleased that you guys all managed to find the Little Egret. This time last week I wasn't even planning on going to Dunham on Wednesday and now we have a bunch of happy birders thanks to the forum. All we need now is the Lesser Spotted Pecker

And nice to see you too Brian- especially when you gave us the shout as Paul and I were looking for the woodpecker treble and enjoying the February sunshine!
It flew off just after 3.00pm on line with the stream and over the Bollin and trees beyond out of the county- sure it will be back though.
Also had the usual Treecreeper and Nuthatches with the two woodpeckers in the park.
The Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail showed along the stream.
The fieldfare and Redwings looked great in the sunshine in the fields and you could pick out a few Snipe in the grass.
I was showing Paul my impression of Jack Snipe and about 30 Snipe took to the air and dived towards the stream! Obviously my Snipe bobbing looks more dangerously like a raptor than I thought! Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were also in the air. Great day out and a county tick
Thanks to Brian ,Sid and Henerz.
Steve

little egret again on the stream from aprox 2.45, also green sand there. no sign of lesser spot around the obelisk but green and great spot present. nice to see steve collins and paul cliff.

No sign of it tonight at 5.00pm.
I was on my way back from Wales on the M56 so a quick call in the fading light but no luck. 3 Shoveler on the stream and 30+ Canada Geese around.
Steve

Dunham Massey Park. 09/02/09. (07.30 - 09.15)

I made sure I was there early to avoid dog walkers/joggers and as I approached the white stile from the Bollington Mill end I inadvertently flushed the Little Egret, which had been tucked in close to the park wall. This must have been about 7.40. It flew about 150m down the brook and landed. The best place to view was from an obvious grassy bank leading up to buildings. From here you have a clear view down the length of the brook (except the bit of water nearest the wall). I scoped the bird from here until it flew at 08.01 away down the brook towards the Bollin, but I lost it to view behind trees so was uncertain whether it re-landed. I spoke to a lady dog walker who said she had seen the Egret twice. Once '2 or 3 weeks ago' and again 'a few days ago', so this appears to confirm that it has been around for some time and is likely to return to the brook.

Nearly did the woodpecker treble but Lesser Spot stubbornly remained heard only. It called once by the frozen pool up towards the obelisk. Also Grey Wagtail, Stock Doves and scattered Redwing. There were good numbers of Snipe (26) in the field next to the brook.

A big thank-you to Sid for finding and posting about the Egret which was a new GM bird for me

Cheers, John

Just had an hour in Dunham myself 10.30 to 11.30 no sign of Little Egret on the stream there were a couple of Moorhens, a pair of Mallard , a Grey Heron, two Black Headed Gulls and a Kingfisher. In the rest of the park 3 Green Peckers on the damp area next to Smithy Pool and 2 Great Spots (not drumming) - alas no woodpecker treble

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Little Egret still present at 8:00am today in the ditch by the white stile then flew towards the Bollin and was lost to view

Info thanks to John (aka Steve) Rayner

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Little Egret still present at 8:00am today in the ditch by the white stile then flew towards the Bollin and was lost to view

Info thanks to John (aka Steve) Rayner

Thanks Sid and Henerz- I'll let you know if I find it!
Cheers
Steve

Steve there are two ways to reach the stream- three if you go into the official paying car park. You can park near the Swan with Two Nicks pub Little Bollington, they have a web site showing their location, and walk over the River Bollin footbridge into the park - if you head toward the clock tower the stream with the Little Egret is to your left - you will eventually come to a stile into the park - this is a good place to look back along the stream as the bird was below ground level in the water for most of the time on both occasions that I saw it. Alternatively you can park in Woodhouse Lane off Charcoal Road, the B5160 and go over the stile there into the park. Walk staight ahead with Smithy Pool to your left and you come to the same stile, down hill as you would reach from the Swan. Good luck

Sid A

Steve Collins wrote:

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I need a Little Egret for my county list never mind the year list!
Never been to Dunham Massey before and might be able have a look on tuesday. I've got the OS map showing pools that have been mentioned and the obelisk- i would be grateful if anybody could tell me where the stream is to look in relation to any of them.
Cheers
Steve

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-- Edited by sid ashton at 21:25, 2009-02-08

Unfortunately, there are no serious county year listers this year, not surprising after what Paul achieved last year really

Near the obelisk and mill within the park is a white style over the park wall. Stand on the style and look into the fields. A stream runs through it where I think the Little Egret is at the mo. Also to be seen from here often include Green Sand, Kingfisher, Snipe, Stock Dove and winter thrushes.
Hope this helps Steve.
Henry.

I need a Little Egret for my county list never mind the year list!
Never been to Dunham Massey before and might be able have a look on tuesday. I've got the OS map showing pools that have been mentioned and the obelisk- i would be grateful if anybody could tell me where the stream is to look in relation to any of them.
Cheers
Steve