Brother had a Goosander with 17 ducklings on Saturday morning
Rob Creek said
Mon May 25 8:26 PM, 2020
Today. Afternoon walk down Reddish Vale but we didnt stay long as it was packed.
Of note... - 1 Stock Dove still, not as brave as Woodpigeons or Ferals, flew off to another fishing lodge but the others stayed when people walked by - c30+ Sand Martins - c5-10 Swallow - 1 Common Whitethroat near visitor centre - 4 Blackcap (1 seen) - 3 Chiffchaff heard - 1 drake Mandarin only? - the Swangoose - 1 Herring Gull on the island
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:28:54 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:30:16 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:30:48 PM
Rob Creek said
Sun May 17 8:18 AM, 2020
Friday 15th May.
Teatime visit with Michelle and Lucas on our way back from Asda in south Reddish.
Of note... - 1 Stock Dove on main path near 1st fishing lodge - 1 Ring-necked Parakeet bear car park - 2 Blackcaps seen - Garden Warbler probable heard in trees just beyond arches - c20+ Sand Martins - 2 Swallows - 2 single drake Mandarins
Lucas loved the Sand Martins, just kept seeing his little head turning round to keep up with them. Then he shouts - a Bat - bless him he must associate the random swirly flight with the Bats that I take him to see some evenings on our dog walk.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 17th of May 2020 08:28:26 AM
Saturday 9th May We needed some baby stuff so we nipped to Morrisons in Houldsworth Square, we stopped off here for a little bit of exercise with Lucas.
Of note... - Sand Martin c20+ - House Martin 4 - Swallow 2 - Blackcap 3 heard, 1 seen - Chiffchaff 4 heard, 2 seen - Grey Wagtail heard - Ring-necked Parakeet heard near car park - 1 2nd summer Lesser Black-backed Gull
Talking to a nice couple whilst there (social distancing of course) just getting into birding so I told them about the forum - hope you found it. Worth mentioning that theyd had a Kingfisher and a family of Goosander on the river.
Rob Creek said
Wed Mar 18 12:34 AM, 2020
Late post for Saturday 14th March.
Late afternoon walk round the Duck ponds with Michelle and Lucas. Seeds and nuts had been put down on various locations on the paths around the ponds and as a result quite a few birds were coming down to feed including...
- 1 Bullfinch m seen earlier by my brother - 2 Reed Bunting 1m 1f - 2 Nuthatch - 1 Chaffinch m - 2 Robins
Mandarins 8m 1f, it looked like one particular male had won the mating rights. He was displaying well and making the right noises which was almost a little bark? This occurred on the mill pond that is a dead end.
Other highlights:
Grey Wagtail 1
Nuthatch and Treecreeper in Sunnyside wood
Rob Creek said
Mon Mar 2 5:12 PM, 2020
Went for a walk around near the visitor centre and the main ponds Sunday afternoon with Michelle and Lucas.
Of note... - 3 Ring-necked Parakeets - 1 pr Goosander - 1 Great Crested Grebe - 1 Grey Wagtail - 1 Swan Goose - 10+ Mandarins - 50+ Black-headed Gulls and a single 1st W Herring Gull taking advantage of the duck bread
Treecreeper heard but not seen
Anthony Dixon said
Fri Feb 28 12:35 PM, 2020
First visit of the year yesterday and highlights were
1 Kingfisher
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Tony Koziol said
Sat Jan 18 3:57 PM, 2020
Highlights from yesterday:
A magnificent Kingfisher patiently perched above a pocket of slack water and delightful Dipper heading up river.
Tony Koziol said
Wed Jan 1 2:22 PM, 2020
09.30/12.30
The first good walk of the year around Reddish Vale from the Tesco end near Portwood roundabout took us through to the visitor centre.
Thirty one species were observed with the highlights being one Grey Wagtail on the River Tame. A Treecreeper along the footpath above the river. Two Mandarin Ducks on the ponds. Mixed tit flock with plenty of the Long Tailed Tits.
Four Pied Wagtail around the Nelstrop Flour Mill above the reserve car park.
This year species total now stands at thirty four.
Tony Koziol said
Sat Dec 28 6:44 PM, 2019
Several hours along the River Tame today produced the following;
1 Little Grebe
1 Dipper
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Jay
Magpies
Wren
Blackbird
Moorhen
Mallards
Wood Pigeons
Carrion Crows
1 Robin
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
A mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long Tail tits
John Rayner said
Fri Jun 28 9:01 PM, 2019
pete berry wrote:
Just seen on Birdguides a Cattle Egret reported from here
No sign of Cattle Egret this afternoon. But that was a full 4 hours after the claimed sighting. An adult Peregrine took a Swallow overhead.
Cheers, John
pete berry said
Fri Jun 28 2:42 PM, 2019
Just seen on Birdguides a Cattle Egret reported from here
James Walsh said
Thu Jun 13 10:52 PM, 2019
3 Kingfishers giving superb views on Sunnyside Pond, 1 Goosander on the Mill Ponds, 1 Ring-necked Parakeet
John Rayner said
Mon Apr 8 3:20 PM, 2019
Despite the severe handicap of 2 small grandchildren (and being without binocs) I managed to see both Little Gulls at 14.10. There was no sign of them 30 minutes later. Also on/over the lodge pool:
Sand Martins c25 Swallows 2 Great Crested Grebe 1
Cheers John
Edit: I should have added my thanks to Alan for passing on the information.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 8th of April 2019 05:13:19 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Apr 8 2:48 PM, 2019
2 Little Gulls (adult and 1st summer) present this morning and still there at 2:10pm.
Also in a flooded depression further along the vale.
Info thanks to Alan Hunter
Chris Harper said
Sun Mar 10 11:59 AM, 2019
Pretty sure you're right Rob. Interesting moult stage though.
Remind me not to post from a public house in future.
Rob Creek said
Sun Mar 10 11:43 AM, 2019
Hi Chris, they obviously mean the bird on the right, but in my opinion it looks like a Mandarin. The white eye ring with the trailing thin line (Mandarin) rather than the eye set in a large white tear drop (Wood Duck) looks to be what this bird has. You know me... if Im wrong then Ill bow down graciously and admit defeat.
Chris Harper said
Sat Mar 9 8:34 PM, 2019
Picture of a Wood Duck with a Mandarin from the Stockport Nature Watch site today.
Thanks for this excellent detail Rob, and to Ian for his analysis. Consensus is that it is a Pink Footed Goose. If you look on the original website, there are definite hints of orange on the legs, but this is more common than people think in Pink Footed apparently.
You live and learn.
Nice bird for Reddish Vale, though.
Yeah more features seem to favour Pink-footed Goose. Im glad I picked up on the legs as they I certainly didnt think it was a definitive pink. Cheers Chris.
Chris Harper said
Tue Feb 12 8:12 AM, 2019
Thanks for this excellent detail Rob, and to Ian for his analysis. Consensus is that it is a Pink Footed Goose. If you look on the original website, there are definite hints of orange on the legs, but this is more common than people think in Pink Footed apparently.
You live and learn.
Nice bird for Reddish Vale, though.
Rob Creek said
Mon Feb 11 11:12 PM, 2019
Go on then, you lured me in Chris, Ill probably be wrong but Ill have a go.
For me it doesnt shout Bean Goose, but at the same time although there is a look of Pink-footed Goose, something is a little odd, in that it shows indeterminate features. - The legs appear to be more of a pink than orange, certainly not definitive pink though. - Then theres the bill, although the amount of colour can be variable on the bill of both species, it does look to have a pink band and the structure does more closely resemble Pink-footed to me. - The mantle plumage has that bluey grey tone to it, but it appears to be the same colour on the lower parts too whereas I wouldve expected a slightly warmer brown below for Pink-footed Goose. - That leads on to the flank thumbprint which in this case doesnt look to be darker of any significant proportion to the back, this being a feature of Bean Goose. - it looks to have a fairly broad white tail tip which would favour Pink-footed Goose - no contrasting pale buffy chest of a Pink-footed Goose
Possible hybrid?
Chris Harper said
Mon Feb 11 7:55 PM, 2019
Photo screenshot from a post on Stockport Nature Watch site from Sunday. Any takers? Do those legs look a bit Bean Goosey? Bill a bit Pink Footed? Might be worth checking out?
A circuit of the part frozen ponds this morning resulted in:
Mute Swan x 2
Mallard c 30
Tufted duck c 20
Coot c 15
Moorhen x 6
Cormorant
Mandarin pair
Woodpigeon
Jackdaw x 5
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Robin
Blue tit
Long Tailed tit
Ring Necked Parakeet x 2
Great Crested Grebe
Magpie
Blackbird
Canada Goose c 50
Nuthatch x 2 these were under the viaduct feeding along the brickwork.
Other: Chinese Goose, Muschovy and Farm type Goose.
Matt Bannon said
Mon Jan 28 3:03 PM, 2019
Of note: Ring necked parakeet x2, Goldcrest, Treecreeper, Kingfisher, Mandarin x4, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 32 x Tufted Duck, 2 x Redwing
Tony Koziol said
Wed Jan 23 2:21 PM, 2019
A short hour visit today from around noon along the ponds near the visitor centre. There was no sign of the Little Egret however lots of other observations;
Canada Goose c200
Coot
Moorhen
Tufted Duck
Pochard x 1 male
Mallard
Mandarin x 9
Great Crested Grebe
Black Headed Gull x 21
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Dunnock
Robin
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Wren
Starling
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Reed Bunting x 2
Ring Necked Parakeet x 2
I was informed that there was a flock of Redwing c130 in a field along the track,
John Rayner said
Mon Jan 21 8:03 AM, 2019
The Little Egret left the roost at 07.57 and is currently on the river just beyond the viaduct.
Also drake Pochard and 1 Great Crested Grebe
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 21st of January 2019 08:59:38 AM
Rob Creek said
Sun Jan 20 4:34 PM, 2019
Sunday 20th Jan
Just had a phone call from my brother, theres a Little Egret roosting in one of the trees near the main fishing pools to the left of the visitor centre this afternoon. (4pm)
Tony Koziol said
Fri Jan 18 6:47 PM, 2019
Along the River Tame again, not a lot of activity however always interesting.
Kingfisher
Goosander
Cormorant flew over
Magpie x 3
Crow x 5
Jackdaw
Moorhen
Mallard pair
Wren
Blackbird
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2 flew over
Woodpigeon x 7
Small mixed tit flock Blue and Great
I can never tire of seeing the Kingfishers and very occasionally they land close by on a fishing perch.
Tony Koziol said
Wed Jan 16 2:52 PM, 2019
Along the River Tame and little quiet yesterday but managed
03 Oct: Ring-necked parakeets 2 Great Crested Grebe 1 juv Mute Swans 2 (Blue 4BVC and Green CFC1)
17 Oct: Cormorant 10 ( including a metal ringed individual. Just not enough pixel power to get a clear reading but it looks like it ends XH or XN. Not enough info on it's own to identify unless anyone else can get further photos) Ring-necked Parakeets heard Teal 10 (on flooded field towards Brinnington) Mixed tit flock was trailed by single Goldcrest and Treecreeper.
Funnily enough I noticed a Sedge Warbler singing in the wetland area, the only other I recall seeing was on passage by the ponds about 8 years ago.
Andy Voisey said
Tue Jun 12 7:59 PM, 2018
New bird for me today in the park, two sedge warblers singing between the ponds and the motorway bridge.
Also of note on today's walk:- Mandarin and three young on the river. Goosander and three young by the weir, and also by motorway bridge Sparrow hawk over by bridge. Two common whitethroats feeding young between viaduct and bridge. The whole park is inundated with blackcap and goldcrest - I've never seen a year like it, but bizarrely, no resident willow warblers. A couple passed through in April but didn't stay. 2 kingfisher 3 reed bunting Male Mandarins now in eclipse
Tony Mossman said
Mon Apr 23 4:03 PM, 2018
2 Swifts today over the viaduct
colin rushmer said
Sat Apr 7 4:40 PM, 2018
Seen in between rain showers - 1000-1300
Bullfinch 1M, Buzzard 1, Chiffchaff (heard and seen), Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (also heard drumming), Grey Heron 2, Grey Wagtail 3, House Martin 2 (with Sand Martins), Lesser Black-Backed Gull 2, Mandarin Duck M3, 1F and pair in a field, Meadow Pipit 3, Mute Swan 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Reed Bunting 1 in hedgerow and 3 in reedbeds, Ring Necked Parakeet 3 plus 2 later (could be from same group earlier), Sand Martin approx. 8-10 feeding over the pond, Swallow 1 + 1 (with Sand Martins), Willow Warbler 1.
Went and spent an hour down there today, plenty of Goldcrests but no sign of Firecrest unfortunately.
Rob Creek said
Wed Jan 10 6:47 PM, 2018
Hi Tony. I've just made a phone call and got the rough area where my bro was. Passed the Fletchers pub on way to Bredbury is a large lay-by on the left. Denton Woods is on the left and Reddish Vale is on the right. 5 minute walk through Denton Woods with the river on your right, you eventually come to a bench next to a pond, the birds were flitting around in the shrubbery there. Cheers
Tony Mossman said
Wed Jan 10 4:51 PM, 2018
Hi Rob, can you be any more specific on the area? I could check tomorrow. Thanks
Rob Creek said
Wed Jan 10 12:04 AM, 2018
Totally forgot to post this...
I received a text off my brother a few days ago that said "hi mate I'm watching Firecrests." He's not a birder but he knows his basic species, so I asked him where he was? He was walking the dog with his family down the Vale near the Denton Woods end. I asked him was he sure they were 'Firecrests' ... he said yes according to the birdwatcher they were stood with who'd apparently just come back a Birding trip in The Galapagos.
I thought I'd mention it incase anyone knows who the birder is, and indeed if it is a good sighting that may have gone under the radar! Cheers
Tony Mossman said
Tue Jan 9 11:17 PM, 2018
2 Parakeets 3 Mandarin and a single Egyptian Goose
A while since I have visited here, but a nice walk this morning
aside from the usual tits, thrushs and water birds
10 nuthatch
4 jackdaw
20 carrion crow
6 ring neck parakeets
100+ Canada geese
2 mute swans
small flock of chaffinch
small flock of goldfinch
10 tufted ducks
8 cormorants
2 runner ducks
2 Muscovy ducks
grey wagtail
small flock of pied wagtails
heron
female goosander
treecreeper
great crested grebe
50+ black headed gulls
15 house sparrow
jay
no redwings yet
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 4th of November 2017 06:35:15 PM
Chris Harper said
Sat May 13 7:23 PM, 2017
Very brief visit this afternoon around visitor centre.
Ring Necked Parakeet, Drake Mandarin, Blackcap, numerous Common Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail and Stock Dove.
Chris Knight said
Mon Apr 3 9:20 PM, 2017
Pleasant wander, hoping for a willow warbler failed on that one but large numbers of chiffchaffs, two singing blackcaps, a dozen sand martins, two goosander on the river and a buzzard being given a very hard time by one of the two kestrels.
Vicky Harper said
Sat Mar 25 5:15 PM, 2017
Male wheatear in field to the east of Mill Lane at 4.15.
Afternoon walk down Reddish Vale but we didnt stay long as it was packed.
Of note...
- 1 Stock Dove still, not as brave as Woodpigeons or Ferals, flew off to another fishing lodge but the others stayed when people walked by
- c30+ Sand Martins
- c5-10 Swallow
- 1 Common Whitethroat near visitor centre
- 4 Blackcap (1 seen)
- 3 Chiffchaff heard
- 1 drake Mandarin only?
- the Swangoose
- 1 Herring Gull on the island
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:28:54 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:30:16 PM
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 25th of May 2020 08:30:48 PM
Teatime visit with Michelle and Lucas on our way back from Asda in south Reddish.
Of note...
- 1 Stock Dove on main path near 1st fishing lodge
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet bear car park
- 2 Blackcaps seen
- Garden Warbler probable heard in trees just beyond arches
- c20+ Sand Martins
- 2 Swallows
- 2 single drake Mandarins
Lucas loved the Sand Martins, just kept seeing his little head turning round to keep up with them. Then he shouts - a Bat - bless him he must associate the random swirly flight with the Bats that I take him to see some evenings on our dog walk.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 17th of May 2020 08:28:26 AM
We needed some baby stuff so we nipped to Morrisons in Houldsworth Square, we stopped off here for a little bit of exercise with Lucas.
Of note...
- Sand Martin c20+
- House Martin 4
- Swallow 2
- Blackcap 3 heard, 1 seen
- Chiffchaff 4 heard, 2 seen
- Grey Wagtail heard
- Ring-necked Parakeet heard near car park
- 1 2nd summer Lesser Black-backed Gull
Talking to a nice couple whilst there (social distancing of course) just getting into birding so I told them about the forum - hope you found it.
Worth mentioning that theyd had a Kingfisher and a family of Goosander on the river.
Late afternoon walk round the Duck ponds with Michelle and Lucas.
Seeds and nuts had been put down on various locations on the paths around the ponds and as a result quite a few birds were coming down to feed including...
- 1 Bullfinch m seen earlier by my brother
- 2 Reed Bunting 1m 1f
- 2 Nuthatch
- 1 Chaffinch m
- 2 Robins
Also...
- 1 Ring-necked Parakeet
- 2 Cormorants
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Little Grebe
- 1 Grey Wagtail
- 20+ Mandarins
Today 14.45/16.10
Mandarins 8m 1f, it looked like one particular male had won the mating rights. He was displaying well and making the right noises which was almost a little bark? This occurred on the mill pond that is a dead end.
Other highlights:
Grey Wagtail 1
Nuthatch and Treecreeper in Sunnyside wood
Of note...
- 3 Ring-necked Parakeets
- 1 pr Goosander
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Grey Wagtail
- 1 Swan Goose
- 10+ Mandarins
- 50+ Black-headed Gulls and a single 1st W Herring Gull taking advantage of the duck bread
Treecreeper heard but not seen
First visit of the year yesterday and highlights were
1 Kingfisher
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Great Crested Grebe
1 Little Grebe
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Highlights from yesterday:
A magnificent Kingfisher patiently perched above a pocket of slack water and delightful Dipper heading up river.
09.30/12.30
The first good walk of the year around Reddish Vale from the Tesco end near Portwood roundabout took us through to the visitor centre.
Thirty one species were observed with the highlights being one Grey Wagtail on the River Tame. A Treecreeper along the footpath above the river. Two Mandarin Ducks on the ponds. Mixed tit flock with plenty of the Long Tailed Tits.
Four Pied Wagtail around the Nelstrop Flour Mill above the reserve car park.
This year species total now stands at thirty four.
Several hours along the River Tame today produced the following;
1 Little Grebe
1 Dipper
2 Grey Wagtails
2 Jay
Magpies
Wren
Blackbird
Moorhen
Mallards
Wood Pigeons
Carrion Crows
1 Robin
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
A mixed flock of Blue, Great and Long Tail tits
No sign of Cattle Egret this afternoon. But that was a full 4 hours after the claimed sighting. An adult Peregrine took a Swallow overhead.
Cheers, John
Sand Martins c25
Swallows 2
Great Crested Grebe 1
Cheers John
Edit: I should have added my thanks to Alan for passing on the information.
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 8th of April 2019 05:13:19 PM
2 Little Gulls (adult and 1st summer) present this morning and still there at 2:10pm.
Also in a flooded depression further along the vale.
Info thanks to Alan Hunter
Pretty sure you're right Rob. Interesting moult stage though.
Remind me not to post from a public house in future.
The white eye ring with the trailing thin line (Mandarin) rather than the eye set in a large white tear drop (Wood Duck) looks to be what this bird has.
You know me... if Im wrong then Ill bow down graciously and admit defeat.
Picture of a Wood Duck with a Mandarin from the Stockport Nature Watch site today.
Highlights from a very brief visit yesterday afternoon:
2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mandarin Duck, 3 Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail.
Yeah more features seem to favour Pink-footed Goose. Im glad I picked up on the legs as they I certainly didnt think it was a definitive pink. Cheers Chris.
Thanks for this excellent detail Rob, and to Ian for his analysis. Consensus is that it is a Pink Footed Goose. If you look on the original website, there are definite hints of orange on the legs, but this is more common than people think in Pink Footed apparently.
You live and learn.
Nice bird for Reddish Vale, though.
For me it doesnt shout Bean Goose, but at the same time although there is a look of Pink-footed Goose, something is a little odd, in that it shows indeterminate features.
- The legs appear to be more of a pink than orange, certainly not definitive pink though.
- Then theres the bill, although the amount of colour can be variable on the bill of both species, it does look to have a pink band and the structure does more closely resemble Pink-footed to me.
- The mantle plumage has that bluey grey tone to it, but it appears to be the same colour on the lower parts too whereas I wouldve expected a slightly warmer brown below for Pink-footed Goose.
- That leads on to the flank thumbprint which in this case doesnt look to be darker of any significant proportion to the back, this being a feature of Bean Goose.
- it looks to have a fairly broad white tail tip which would favour Pink-footed Goose
- no contrasting pale buffy chest of a Pink-footed Goose
Possible hybrid?
Photo screenshot from a post on Stockport Nature Watch site from Sunday. Any takers? Do those legs look a bit Bean Goosey? Bill a bit Pink Footed? Might be worth checking out?
A circuit of the part frozen ponds this morning resulted in:
Mute Swan x 2
Mallard c 30
Tufted duck c 20
Coot c 15
Moorhen x 6
Cormorant
Mandarin pair
Woodpigeon
Jackdaw x 5
Carrion Crow
Chaffinch
Robin
Blue tit
Long Tailed tit
Ring Necked Parakeet x 2
Great Crested Grebe
Magpie
Blackbird
Canada Goose c 50
Nuthatch x 2 these were under the viaduct feeding along the brickwork.
Other: Chinese Goose, Muschovy and Farm type Goose.
A short hour visit today from around noon along the ponds near the visitor centre. There was no sign of the Little Egret however lots of other observations;
Canada Goose c200
Coot
Moorhen
Tufted Duck
Pochard x 1 male
Mallard
Mandarin x 9
Great Crested Grebe
Black Headed Gull x 21
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Dunnock
Robin
House Sparrow
Chaffinch
Wren
Starling
Blackbird
Blue Tit
Reed Bunting x 2
Ring Necked Parakeet x 2
I was informed that there was a flock of Redwing c130 in a field along the track,
Cheers John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Monday 21st of January 2019 08:59:38 AM
Just had a phone call from my brother, theres a Little Egret roosting in one of the trees near the main fishing pools to the left of the visitor centre this afternoon. (4pm)
Along the River Tame again, not a lot of activity however always interesting.
Kingfisher
Goosander
Cormorant flew over
Magpie x 3
Crow x 5
Jackdaw
Moorhen
Mallard pair
Wren
Blackbird
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2 flew over
Woodpigeon x 7
Small mixed tit flock Blue and Great
I can never tire of seeing the Kingfishers and very occasionally they land close by on a fishing perch.
Along the River Tame and little quiet yesterday but managed
Kingfisher
Dipper, both near Tiviot Way
Magpie
Woodpigeon x 2
Long tailed tit x 5
Mallard x 3 one drake
Along the River Tame:
Kingfisher
Dipper
Robin
Wren
Crow 3
Woodpigeon 20+
Mallard 3m 1f
Moorhen
Cormorant
Tufted Duck 39
Goosander 2m, 6f
Mandarin Duck 1m, 1f
Little Grebe 3
Stock Dove 2
Ring-necked Parakeet 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Cheers John
Ring-necked parakeets 2
Great Crested Grebe 1 juv
Mute Swans 2 (Blue 4BVC and Green CFC1)
17 Oct:
Cormorant 10 ( including a metal ringed individual. Just not enough pixel power to get a clear reading but it looks like it ends XH or XN. Not enough info on it's own to identify unless anyone else can get further photos)
Ring-necked Parakeets heard
Teal 10 (on flooded field towards Brinnington)
Mixed tit flock was trailed by single Goldcrest and Treecreeper.
Cheers John
Also of note on today's walk:-
Mandarin and three young on the river.
Goosander and three young by the weir, and also by motorway bridge
Sparrow hawk over by bridge.
Two common whitethroats feeding young between viaduct and bridge.
The whole park is inundated with blackcap and goldcrest - I've never seen a year like it, but bizarrely, no resident willow warblers.
A couple passed through in April but didn't stay.
2 kingfisher
3 reed bunting
Male Mandarins now in eclipse
2 Swifts today over the viaduct
Seen in between rain showers - 1000-1300
Bullfinch 1M, Buzzard 1, Chiffchaff (heard and seen), Goldcrest 1, Goldfinch, Great Crested Grebe 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 (also heard drumming), Grey Heron 2, Grey Wagtail 3, House Martin 2 (with Sand Martins), Lesser Black-Backed Gull 2, Mandarin Duck M3, 1F and pair in a field, Meadow Pipit 3, Mute Swan 2, Pied Wagtail 1, Reed Bunting 1 in hedgerow and 3 in reedbeds, Ring Necked Parakeet 3 plus 2 later (could be from same group earlier), Sand Martin approx. 8-10 feeding over the pond, Swallow 1 + 1 (with Sand Martins), Willow Warbler 1.
Tufted Duck 44
Mandarin 2
Mute Swan 4
Little Grebe 1
Ring-necked Parakeet 6
Cheers John
Went and spent an hour down there today, plenty of Goldcrests but no sign of Firecrest unfortunately.
I've just made a phone call and got the rough area where my bro was.
Passed the Fletchers pub on way to Bredbury is a large lay-by on the left. Denton Woods is on the left and Reddish Vale is on the right. 5 minute walk through Denton Woods with the river on your right, you eventually come to a bench next to a pond, the birds were flitting around in the shrubbery there.
Cheers
Hi Rob, can you be any more specific on the area? I could check tomorrow. Thanks
I received a text off my brother a few days ago that said "hi mate I'm watching Firecrests."
He's not a birder but he knows his basic species, so I asked him where he was? He was walking the dog with his family down the Vale near the Denton Woods end.
I asked him was he sure they were 'Firecrests' ... he said yes according to the birdwatcher they were stood with who'd apparently just come back a Birding trip in The Galapagos.
I thought I'd mention it incase anyone knows who the birder is, and indeed if it is a good sighting that may have gone under the radar!
Cheers
2 Parakeets 3 Mandarin and a single Egyptian Goose
Shoveler 1f
Tufted Duck 42
Mandarin 2m, 1f
Little Grebe 1
Cheers John
A while since I have visited here, but a nice walk this morning
aside from the usual tits, thrushs and water birds
10 nuthatch
4 jackdaw
20 carrion crow
6 ring neck parakeets
100+ Canada geese
2 mute swans
small flock of chaffinch
small flock of goldfinch
10 tufted ducks
8 cormorants
2 runner ducks
2 Muscovy ducks
grey wagtail
small flock of pied wagtails
heron
female goosander
treecreeper
great crested grebe
50+ black headed gulls
15 house sparrow
jay
no redwings yet
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 4th of November 2017 06:35:15 PM
Very brief visit this afternoon around visitor centre.
Ring Necked Parakeet, Drake Mandarin, Blackcap, numerous Common Swift, Swallow and Sand Martin, Grey Wagtail and Stock Dove.
Pleasant wander, hoping for a willow warbler failed on that one but large numbers of chiffchaffs, two singing blackcaps, a dozen sand martins, two goosander on the river and a buzzard being given a very hard time by one of the two kestrels.
Male wheatear in field to the east of Mill Lane at 4.15.
Other birds of note:
Great Spotted Woodpecker
5+ Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
1 drake Mandarin
Tufted duck
2 grey Wagtail
Buzzard
Bullfinch
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 25th of March 2017 05:57:36 PM