19/12/2007 - Sightings from Bollin River walk past Mill to Obelisk
1 Ring-necked Parakeet (showing in roost hole in nearest tree to Obelisk, south-facing side of tree) 1 Lesser Redpoll (fem) 2 Siskin 1 Kingfisher 4 Common Snipe 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 1 Grey Heron 2 Nuthatch + the usual
Spoke to a chap who birds the park regularly and he says there's been 2 Green Sandpipers knocking about on the flooded fields but this frost might well have moved them on today. Great to catch up with the Ring-necked Parakeet which was a lifer. Stunning lime green bird with the deep blue background of the sunny sky. Thanks. Henerz.
Tony Coatsworth said
Tue Dec 18 2:18 PM, 2007
I saw Pheasants in the summer by the sewage works, so they are there. Similarly the Tree Sparrows and Barn Owls are towards Dunham Woodhouses.
The 48 species are for the Winter period i.e. November onwards.
Sid - PM me your email address and I'll send you a map of the tetrad boundary if you want.
Steve Suttill said
Tue Dec 18 10:26 AM, 2007
Hi Sid
have a look at the atlas website www.birdatlas.net
log on and click on Request Tetrads. The type in the 10km square (SJ78) and you'll get a map showing the tetrads (coded A-Z withouit an 0). You can print out the map if you like.
Once you've logged on you can enter your sightings on-line.
All the best
Steve
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 18 9:44 AM, 2007
Tony
Thanks for the explanation of the tetrad. I don't have an OS map for the area so if you give me a rough idea where SJ781 covers I can do a bit of "roving". There are certainly Pheasants over the canal for example. What is the time frame for the survey? you didn't mention when the 48 species have been recorded, was this in the last month or over the year?
Henry Cook said
Mon Dec 17 10:19 AM, 2007
I putall of my sightings into Birdtrack.net, i've been told these might be used if necessary for the atlas but what about the Gtr Manc atlas? Thanks. Henerz.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 17 9:58 AM, 2007
Full details of the BTO and GM atlas can be found on the 'Bird Surveys' page on the Manchester Birding website.
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Dec 17 9:17 AM, 2007
As you correctly say, it refers to four things - in this case four square kilometres.
The BTO wintering bird atlas will be based on the Ordnance Survey 10km squares such as SJ78. Obviously it's a big ask to expect someone to survey all this, so the 10 x 10 km square is split into tetrads - 2 x 2 km squares - the 10 km square contains twenty five of these in total (5 x 5). Dunham Massey is part of SJ78-I. They want at least 8 tetrads surveying per ten square kilometres to gain an overall picture of that area.
The survey consists of two methods. 1) A timed walk where you count all the birds seen within a one or two hour period. In my case it was about 300 or so birds - about 34 species.
2) The second method is 'roving records' where you just record any species seen during the winter period, so I've seen an additional 14 species on subsequent dates.
In parallel to the BTO atlas, there will be a Greater Manchester Atlas which will be based on these 2 x2 tetrads i.e. in finer detail than the national atlas which is based on 10 x 10.
Anyone can submit 'roving records' via the BTO website or I can send you paper forms if you want. You have to register for 'timed tetrads' and I'm still looking for volunteers,
As it stands SJ78I is 'without' Little Owl, Pheasant !, Barn Owl and Tree Sparrow at the moment - all of which definitely breed here - simply because I haven't seen them yet this winter and no-one else has logged 'roving records' for them (unless paper records have been sent direct to the BTO) !!
sid ashton said
Sun Dec 16 10:10 PM, 2007
Tony
Just what is a tetrad in this context - something with four somethings presumably - my dictionary refers to four fingers or four toes or a group of four?
In this case I suspect it must refer to an area - if so in what area does your "tetrad" cover and in what time period where the 48 species recorded?
Sorry to appear daft but I suspect that I am not the only Manchester birder not familiar with tetrads so it may help a few people if you explain - ta
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Dec 16 4:11 PM, 2007
Female RN Parakeet by the obelisk again.
Big feeding flock of maybe 50 birds near the little mill - Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Great Tit but no LSW with them - spent about 20 minutes checking every bird.
Now up to 48 species for this tetrad.
Phil Owen said
Sat Dec 15 11:33 AM, 2007
Thanks for your info by the way Sid!!!
Phil Owen said
Sat Dec 15 11:31 AM, 2007
Walk round the Park this morning.
Amongst the usual species, managed to see the Female Ring-Necked Parakeet near the Obilisk.
Grey Wagtail near the stream and lots of Redwings about.
Phil
Phil Owen said
Sat Dec 15 12:20 AM, 2007
Sorry Ian!
I was just counting on my personal experiences of Jacks.
Whenever I have seen them, on numerous occassions, they were certainly solitary and "playing hard to get" whereas parties or flocks have turned out to be Snipe.
I beg to differ though!!
Thanks
Phil
sid ashton said
Fri Dec 14 10:14 PM, 2007
If it's any help I have seen only common Snipe on the meadow over to the mill in recent weeks. The are a re little larger than Jacks and have a longer bill.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 14 9:19 PM, 2007
Saint Necessarily So, as they say Phil
Jack Snipe occur in groups on the mosses in the county, Pete Berry and I recorded our record count of 30 odd in an area no larger than a couple of tennis courts (not that I play tennis of course) a few years ago and smaller numbers are regular. Jacks are not usually too difficult to ID though but if in any doubt they're probably not
Phil Owen said
Fri Dec 14 8:48 PM, 2007
Jack Snipe tend to be more elusive and solitary so would have thought they would be Snipe.
Anything is possible though.
Cheers
Phil
James Hutchison said
Wed Dec 12 4:11 PM, 2007
I saw the female parakeet today at about 2pm at the obelisk. Also four (jack?)snipe in the stream in the field next to the path from the mill to the park. If I get time I'll go back tomorrow with a field guide and hopefully confirm which.
Also heard loud pecking from a tree near the obelisk and got very excited when I saw a small woodpecker-shaped bird moving about high in the branches, but sadly it moved into the light and turned out to be a nuthatch! Not that there's anything wrong with nuthatches, but an LSW would have been rather nicer.
-- Edited by James Hutchison at 16:14, 2007-12-12
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 11 7:49 PM, 2007
LSWs Brooks Drive
Henry/Vaughan - is this the area shown as Humphreys Wood on the A2Z. I too live failrly close and I could take a look.
Henry Cook said
Tue Dec 11 7:26 PM, 2007
Hey Vaughan. I live very close by and even checked that spot along Brooks Drive today but no sign. Thanks for mentioning it though. I did think it looked good for LSW's but just need the luck now! Cheers. Henerz.
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 11 7:14 PM, 2007
The female Ring-necked Parakeet was again present late on this afternoon and we believe that we heard another bird calling from further into the park - has anyone else seen the second Parakeet?
Vaughan Evans said
Tue Dec 11 4:03 PM, 2007
I have seen LSW on Ringway Golf Course on several occasions. The most reliable spot is the is in the stand of trees just inside the NW corner along Shay Lane (SJ799859) which can be reached from Brooks Drive
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans at 16:25, 2007-12-11
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 11 12:25 PM, 2007
Sorry Tony my thanks should have gone to you for the info
sid ashton said
Tue Dec 11 12:21 PM, 2007
Phil
Thanks very much, very interesting.
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Dec 10 7:49 PM, 2007
Have a look at http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/index.htm
Any sightings of birds over the winter period (November - Feb) should be reported to the BTO - either through online registration, paper forms (you can download them off that website) or through the BirdTrack scheme. They will then be used to build up a picture for the national wintering bird atlas.
Roving Records are simply that - anything you see whilst out roaming. The Timed Tetrad is a bit more scientific and involves a timed bird count covering the major habitats within a square.
I have volunteered to cover SJ78I (Dunham Massey) and have seen most of the birds in this thread in the last month - apart from the elusive Parakeet, LSW, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker. Hopefully I will get to see them at some point, but if not - any sightings should be reported by the lucky observers, especially things like LSW which will help build up a national picture of the distribution of this (some say) mythical bird, although I have seen one in SJ78H near Rostherne so they do exist.
sid ashton said
Mon Dec 10 5:24 PM, 2007
Phil
It was actually late morning - I had the choice of Dunham or shopping - no contest!!
The Parakeet has been around for my last couple of visits. It flits from tree to tree around the obelisk and sometimes sits for a while without a sound then you get an explosion of noise - just sit on the logs and listen. Good luck.
Tony
What's a Roving Record?
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Dec 10 9:06 AM, 2007
Nobody's added all these birds as Roving Records on the BTO Atlas yet !!
Phil Owen said
Sun Dec 9 9:40 PM, 2007
Hi Sid,
Thanks for your info.
I hope to get there again next weekend, so will have a good look round for the Lessers.
I take it that you went early morning to avoid the walkers?
Also, is the Parakeet always about, as I haven't seen it there yet?
Thanks
Phil
sid ashton said
Sun Dec 9 7:04 PM, 2007
The Ring-necked Parakeet (F) was showing well around the obelisk. About 300 Black Headed Gulls plus 3 lesser Black Backs on the meadow over the styal to Bollington Mill this was under water and may be worth a looking at as it dries out. Grey Wagtail on the meadow agains the wall and several Goldcrest in the trees around the car park. I was chatting to one of the volunteers and he reckons that Lesser Spots have been seen in these trees so it may be worth folks having a look in passing.
Henry Cook said
Wed Nov 28 8:39 PM, 2007
I have seen Kingfisher do this Sid but like you had never seen it before. It was at a site with plenty of perches too so maybe to do with the food source being in the middle of the water or something? Great to watch though isn't it!
sid ashton said
Wed Nov 28 6:47 PM, 2007
Had a pleasant hour or so in Dunham park this afternoon had a Green Pecker, Snipe and Kingfisher on the brook from the sawmill to Bollington mill, Gadwall in the park along with a fleeting glimpse of the Ring necked parakeet near the obalisk. The Kingfisher was doing a passible impression of a Humming Bird hovering over the water. I have never seen this before I guess it was because there were no perches for it to hunt from. Is it normal behaviour?
Tony Coatsworth said
Tue Nov 27 10:22 PM, 2007
Next to the main car entrance on Woodhouse Lane, there is a private road to Bollington Mill. If you walk down here, the wood is on the right alongside the canal. There's gates in the fence at each end of the wood giving access. The wood is a bit scruffier than the main Dunham Park - hence a few different species.
Phil Owen said
Tue Nov 27 8:11 PM, 2007
Tony,
From the park entrance, how do you get to Brickkiln Wood??
I may give that a try as well.
I assume similar species to the park??
Thanks
Phil
Phil Owen said
Sun Nov 25 7:41 PM, 2007
Visited again this morning.
A Little Owl called and then flew from one tree to another near the old slaughter house.
Phil
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Nov 25 1:34 PM, 2007
Pretty much the same species as Phil Owen below - plus GS Woodpecker and a family group of 4 Bullfinch in Brickkiln Wood (by the canal), Little Grebe in the moat and 2 Gadwall on Island Pool.
Phil Owen said
Sat Nov 24 11:25 AM, 2007
Thanks for your info Sid, I have been here a few times before but not for a while, so gave it a go.
Early Morning visit this am produced the following:-
Jackdaw Carrion Crow Rook Shoveler Tufted Duck Mallard Coot Black Headed Gull Cormorant Kestrel Woodpigeon Mistle Thrush Blue Tit Coal Tit Great Tit Long-Tailed Tit Treecreeper Nuthatch Robin Blackbird Goldcrest
This place is great for a quick hours walk and only 15 minutes away, I will try to go more often from now and keep an eye out for the Lessers!!
Thanks
Phil
sid ashton said
Thu Nov 22 10:51 AM, 2007
Tony Please see your PM - as I said I didn't see any SMs on the Bollin last year never mind ones with beaks full of food!!!
Tony Coatsworth said
Thu Nov 22 8:46 AM, 2007
PM (Private Message) sent to you Sid - if you just click on your name you should see your messages.
I'd rather not publicise nest sites on the Forum, though it's not difficult to suss out where it is if you just watch where the birds fly to with a beakful of food !
sid ashton said
Wed Nov 21 4:32 PM, 2007
Tony
I remember a few years ago I saw Sand Martins close to Bollington Mill flats but haven't seen them since I became seriously interested in birding. I know the area well so if you could pinpoint the whereabouts of the colony site I shall have a good look next spring.
Ta
jason atkinson said
Wed Nov 21 4:23 PM, 2007
Thanks Tony , very interesting ... so just be careful what you tick near the boundry then.
cheers jason
Tony Coatsworth said
Wed Nov 21 1:11 PM, 2007
The park itself is all in Manchester - the county boundary is the River Bollin down by the mill.
There's also a Sand Martin colony on the banks of the Bollin on the Manchester side.
jason atkinson said
Wed Nov 21 11:52 AM, 2007
Does Dunham Massey come under Manchester or Cheshire ??
cheers jason
sid ashton said
Tue Nov 20 10:12 PM, 2007
Phil
You can find the the greens just about anywhere in the park but as a suggestion for a walk - park in Woodhouse Lane ( the road after Charcoal Lane) after coming from the lights on the A56.
If you go before 0830 ( Ithink) the car park is not open anyway and it's free to park on the road -go opposite the cottages there are double yellows at the start of Woodhouse and tickets are known to be given.
Go over the big styal and start looking straight away - I usually find one or two greens immediately over the styal. On reflection it's better to look quite carefully over the wall before you get onto the styal. Turn left but take a diversion over to the pool (it's called Smithy pool) for the past couple of weeks ther's been a Grey Wagtail feeding in the mud. Back on to the path with the main wall to you left go up the path there is a fenced off area now to your right occasionally have seen greens in there as well as a tawny Owl being mobbed by crows a couple of weeks ago - but defintiely the best place is now coming up again on the right there is circle of 6 (I think) Lime Trees and the birds are usally to be seen there. Now cross over to the main path and head back towards the house - you will pass two wood carvings on the right just after this head off to the left towards the "slaughter house" it's an old brick building again crossing that patch of land has been productive. Go down toward the house again and just before the next pool on your left cut through to the obelisk. When I saw the LSW I was sitting on a fallen tree looking down to the ox bow on the river and the bird was high up in a tree to my left. Not seen it lately too many leaves. Almost home now - again head back towards the house and cafe and look out to the left across to the flats at Bollington Mill. There is a styal and it's always worth a look across the field/stream have had Kingfisher, Green Sand, Snipe and a pair of Buzzards nested in the wood that backs on to the car park. This was where we saw the Green Pecker today. There was also a Dabchick on the moat. So Phil enjoy Dunham I always think that there's always something to see on the days when I have'nt been able to take my scope for a walk in other more far flung locations.
Warfy will definitely let you know the moment I find that LSW again.
While I'm can someone please let me know the routine for visiting Audenshaw res. I went sometime ago with a friend and had a look last week near the Hungry Horse pub but that access is now closed.
Judith Smith said
Tue Nov 20 9:36 PM, 2007
Dunham Massey has always had LSWs. it's just finding them... This is a place which is a SSSI for its insects so no old trees are cut down or removed (well, they weren't until a year or so ago when one fell down on NY Day and killed a child). However, lots of the trees have holes in them which Jackdaws use. Hence the attractiveness for RN Parakeets, which were also recorded there last year ...this is a site which needs more watching. The old slaughter house was also a good place to see LSW in 2004.
Simon Warford said
Tue Nov 20 8:18 PM, 2007
Sid please keep us posted with any LSW sightings, i know one or two including me will be interested in any sightings, thanks. Intend to visit the site over the winter. Another county site i can then tick off as visited!
Im always interested in your movements Mr Woosey
-- Edited by warfy at 20:19, 2007-11-20
Phil Owen said
Tue Nov 20 7:34 PM, 2007
Which part of the park are the Green's and Lessers seen mostly??
If anybody could maybe suggest a route to walk in the park itself, I may take a trip up there this weekend. Early of course!!!
Also, do you park in the main car park or go over the big styal on foot?
Thanks
Phil
sid ashton said
Tue Nov 20 6:48 PM, 2007
Dunham Massey park is a good birding site esp early in the morning before the tourists arrive.
I go there a couple of times a week. Was there this evening mainly for a stroll but did find Green Pecker - as a rule they are knocking about. I think that there were at least two new families there this year. Have also seen the Lesser Spot near the obelisk but early on in the year.
Ian Woosey said
Tue Nov 20 6:03 PM, 2007
Hoots Mon ! I had no idea that my movements would provoke such interest ! Yes, LSW was uppermost in my thoughts, and after repeated visits to Worsley Woods last winter came to nought, I think Dunham Massey seems a much more attractive proposition - for the scenery if nothing else..........HOWEVER, having said that, the border with Cheshire is much much too close for my liking.
Paul Heaton said
Tue Nov 20 5:38 PM, 2007
have had reports of marsh tit in dunham massey in the past, now is that why your in there mr woosey, tony I have only visited dunham with kids do you bird in there regular, can you shed any light on old reports.
Ian Woosey said
Tue Nov 20 12:43 PM, 2007
The Teal (fem) was on the pond nearest to the Woodhouse Lane/Charcoal Road entrance (the stile).
Tony Coatsworth said
Tue Nov 20 12:37 PM, 2007
Doh - thats my atlas tetrad and there was no sign of her when I went last week, though there was one knocking around there last winter. Where was the Teal ?
Simon Warford said
Tue Nov 20 12:11 PM, 2007
mr woosey, nice to see your venturing out of Bolton/Horwich, you wouldnt be looking for LSW would you? keep it up you owe me one
1 Ring-necked Parakeet (showing in roost hole in nearest tree to Obelisk, south-facing side of tree)
1 Lesser Redpoll (fem)
2 Siskin
1 Kingfisher
4 Common Snipe
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
1 Grey Heron
2 Nuthatch + the usual
Spoke to a chap who birds the park regularly and he says there's been 2 Green Sandpipers knocking about on the flooded fields but this frost might well have moved them on today. Great to catch up with the Ring-necked Parakeet which was a lifer. Stunning lime green bird with the deep blue background of the sunny sky.
Thanks. Henerz.
The 48 species are for the Winter period i.e. November onwards.
Sid - PM me your email address and I'll send you a map of the tetrad boundary if you want.
have a look at the atlas website www.birdatlas.net
log on and click on Request Tetrads. The type in the 10km square (SJ78) and you'll get a map showing the tetrads (coded A-Z withouit an 0). You can print out the map if you like.
Once you've logged on you can enter your sightings on-line.
All the best
Steve
Thanks for the explanation of the tetrad. I don't have an OS map for the area so if you give me a rough idea where SJ781 covers I can do a bit of "roving". There are certainly Pheasants over the canal for example.
What is the time frame for the survey? you didn't mention when the 48 species have been recorded, was this in the last month or over the year?
Thanks. Henerz.
The BTO wintering bird atlas will be based on the Ordnance Survey 10km squares such as SJ78. Obviously it's a big ask to expect someone to survey all this, so the 10 x 10 km square is split into tetrads - 2 x 2 km squares - the 10 km square contains twenty five of these in total (5 x 5). Dunham Massey is part of SJ78-I. They want at least 8 tetrads surveying per ten square kilometres to gain an overall picture of that area.
The survey consists of two methods.
1) A timed walk where you count all the birds seen within a one or two hour period. In my case it was about 300 or so birds - about 34 species.
2) The second method is 'roving records' where you just record any species seen during the winter period, so I've seen an additional 14 species on subsequent dates.
In parallel to the BTO atlas, there will be a Greater Manchester Atlas which will be based on these 2 x2 tetrads i.e. in finer detail than the national atlas which is based on 10 x 10.
Anyone can submit 'roving records' via the BTO website or I can send you paper forms if you want. You have to register for 'timed tetrads' and I'm still looking for volunteers,
As it stands SJ78I is 'without' Little Owl, Pheasant !, Barn Owl and Tree Sparrow at the moment - all of which definitely breed here - simply because I haven't seen them yet this winter and no-one else has logged 'roving records' for them (unless paper records have been sent direct to the BTO) !!
Just what is a tetrad in this context - something with four somethings presumably - my dictionary refers to four fingers or four toes or a group of four?
In this case I suspect it must refer to an area - if so in what area does your "tetrad" cover and in what time period where the 48 species recorded?
Sorry to appear daft but I suspect that I am not the only Manchester birder not familiar with tetrads so it may help a few people if you explain - ta
Big feeding flock of maybe 50 birds near the little mill - Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Great Tit but no LSW with them - spent about 20 minutes checking every bird.
Now up to 48 species for this tetrad.
Amongst the usual species, managed to see the Female Ring-Necked Parakeet near the Obilisk.
Grey Wagtail near the stream and lots of Redwings about.
Phil
I was just counting on my personal experiences of Jacks.
Whenever I have seen them, on numerous occassions, they were certainly solitary and "playing hard to get" whereas parties or flocks have turned out to be Snipe.
I beg to differ though!!
Thanks
Phil
Jack Snipe occur in groups on the mosses in the county, Pete Berry and I recorded our record count of 30 odd in an area no larger than a couple of tennis courts (not that I play tennis of course) a few years ago and smaller numbers are regular. Jacks are not usually too difficult to ID though but if in any doubt they're probably not
Anything is possible though.
Cheers
Phil
Also heard loud pecking from a tree near the obelisk and got very excited when I saw a small woodpecker-shaped bird moving about high in the branches, but sadly it moved into the light and turned out to be a nuthatch! Not that there's anything wrong with nuthatches, but an LSW would have been rather nicer.
-- Edited by James Hutchison at 16:14, 2007-12-12
Henry/Vaughan - is this the area shown as Humphreys Wood on the A2Z. I too live failrly close and I could take a look.
Cheers. Henerz.
-- Edited by Vaughan Evans at 16:25, 2007-12-11
Thanks very much, very interesting.
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/index.htm
Any sightings of birds over the winter period (November - Feb) should be reported to the BTO - either through online registration, paper forms (you can download them off that website) or through the BirdTrack scheme. They will then be used to build up a picture for the national wintering bird atlas.
Roving Records are simply that - anything you see whilst out roaming. The Timed Tetrad is a bit more scientific and involves a timed bird count covering the major habitats within a square.
I have volunteered to cover SJ78I (Dunham Massey) and have seen most of the birds in this thread in the last month - apart from the elusive Parakeet, LSW, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker.
Hopefully I will get to see them at some point, but if not - any sightings should be reported by the lucky observers, especially things like LSW which will help build up a national picture of the distribution of this (some say) mythical bird, although I have seen one in SJ78H near Rostherne so they do exist.
It was actually late morning - I had the choice of Dunham or shopping - no contest!!
The Parakeet has been around for my last couple of visits. It flits from tree to tree around the obelisk and sometimes sits for a while without a sound then you get an explosion of noise - just sit on the logs and listen. Good luck.
Tony
What's a Roving Record?
Thanks for your info.
I hope to get there again next weekend, so will have a good look round for the Lessers.
I take it that you went early morning to avoid the walkers?
Also, is the Parakeet always about, as I haven't seen it there yet?
Thanks
Phil
The Kingfisher was doing a passible impression of a Humming Bird hovering over the water. I have never seen this before I guess it was because there were no perches for it to hunt from. Is it normal behaviour?
If you walk down here, the wood is on the right alongside the canal. There's gates in the fence at each end of the wood giving access. The wood is a bit scruffier than the main Dunham Park - hence a few different species.
From the park entrance, how do you get to Brickkiln Wood??
I may give that a try as well.
I assume similar species to the park??
Thanks
Phil
A Little Owl called and then flew from one tree to another near the old slaughter house.
Phil
Early Morning visit this am produced the following:-
Jackdaw
Carrion Crow
Rook
Shoveler
Tufted Duck
Mallard
Coot
Black Headed Gull
Cormorant
Kestrel
Woodpigeon
Mistle Thrush
Blue Tit
Coal Tit
Great Tit
Long-Tailed Tit
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Robin
Blackbird
Goldcrest
This place is great for a quick hours walk and only 15 minutes away, I will try to go more often from now and keep an eye out for the Lessers!!
Thanks
Phil
I'd rather not publicise nest sites on the Forum, though it's not difficult to suss out where it is if you just watch where the birds fly to with a beakful of food !
I remember a few years ago I saw Sand Martins close to Bollington Mill flats but haven't seen them since I became seriously interested in birding. I know the area well so if you could pinpoint the whereabouts of the colony site I shall have a good look next spring.
Ta
cheers
jason
There's also a Sand Martin colony on the banks of the Bollin on the Manchester side.
cheers
jason
You can find the the greens just about anywhere in the park but as a suggestion for a walk - park in Woodhouse Lane ( the road after Charcoal Lane) after coming from the lights on the A56.
If you go before 0830 ( Ithink) the car park is not open anyway and it's free to park on the road -go opposite the cottages there are double yellows at the start of Woodhouse and tickets are known to be given.
Go over the big styal and start looking straight away - I usually find one or two greens immediately over the styal. On reflection it's better to look quite carefully over the wall before you get onto the styal. Turn left but take a diversion over to the pool (it's called Smithy pool) for the past couple of weeks ther's been a Grey Wagtail feeding in the mud. Back on to the path with the main wall to you left go up the path there is a fenced off area now to your right occasionally have seen greens in there as well as a tawny Owl being mobbed by crows a couple of weeks ago - but defintiely the best place is now coming up again on the right there is circle of 6 (I think) Lime Trees and the birds are usally to be seen there. Now cross over to the main path and head back towards the house - you will pass two wood carvings on the right just after this head off to the left towards the "slaughter house" it's an old brick building again crossing that patch of land has been productive. Go down toward the house again and just before the next pool on your left cut through to the obelisk. When I saw the LSW I was sitting on a fallen tree looking down to the ox bow on the river and the bird was high up in a tree to my left. Not seen it lately too many leaves. Almost home now - again head back towards the house and cafe and look out to the left across to the flats at Bollington Mill. There is a styal and it's always worth a look across the field/stream have had Kingfisher, Green Sand, Snipe and a pair of Buzzards nested in the wood that backs on to the car park. This was where we saw the Green Pecker today. There was also a Dabchick on the moat. So Phil enjoy Dunham I always think that there's always something to see on the days when I have'nt been able to take my scope for a walk in other more far flung locations.
Warfy will definitely let you know the moment I find that LSW again.
While I'm can someone please let me know the routine for visiting Audenshaw res. I went sometime ago with a friend and had a look last week near the Hungry Horse pub but that access is now closed.
This is a place which is a SSSI for its insects so no old trees are cut down or removed (well, they weren't until a year or so ago when one fell down on NY Day and killed a child). However, lots of the trees have holes in them which Jackdaws use. Hence the attractiveness for RN Parakeets, which were also recorded there last year ...this is a site which needs more watching.
The old slaughter house was also a good place to see LSW in 2004.
Im always interested in your movements Mr Woosey
-- Edited by warfy at 20:19, 2007-11-20
If anybody could maybe suggest a route to walk in the park itself, I may take a trip up there this weekend. Early of course!!!
Also, do you park in the main car park or go over the big styal on foot?
Thanks
Phil
I go there a couple of times a week. Was there this evening mainly for a stroll but did find Green Pecker - as a rule they are knocking about. I think that there were at least two new families there this year. Have also seen the Lesser Spot near the obelisk but early on in the year.
I had no idea that my movements would provoke such interest !
Yes, LSW was uppermost in my thoughts, and after repeated visits to Worsley Woods last winter came to nought, I think Dunham Massey seems a much more attractive proposition - for the scenery if nothing else..........HOWEVER, having said that, the border with Cheshire is much much too close for my liking.
tony I have only visited dunham with kids do you bird in there regular, can you shed any light on old reports.
Where was the Teal ?