Around Sunny Corner. Bird flew out above Weir Pond over towards Ernocroft Woods. Willow Warbler were mainly on 'higher' path from car park to weir.
Andy Bissitt said
Fri Apr 18 1:55 PM, 2014
Chris Harper wrote:
This am 9-11:
Also whilst in woods a bird flew over that was very egret shaped, light coloured and had the flight jizz of an egret. Saw for 1 second then hidden by trees. Might be worth looking for locally?
Chris,
Which 'woods'? There are a lot of trees out there!
Chris Harper said
Fri Apr 18 11:31 AM, 2014
This am 9-11:
3 willow warbler
6 chiffchaff
12 blackcap
2 swallow
Egyptian goose
7 mandarin
4 nuthatch
treecreeper
Common buzzard
Stock dove
goldcrest
Great crested grebe
Also whilst in woods a bird flew over that was very egret shaped, light coloured and had the flight jizz of an egret. Saw for 1 second then hidden by trees. Might be worth looking for locally?
Mark Walsh said
Thu Apr 17 12:49 PM, 2014
Phil it is a large area, much larger than I had originally guessed at, just hope it's managed correctly and not allowed to dry out.
On to today's sightings though;
10 Chiffchaff seen or heard 5 Blackcap all male with a possible 6th female but I didn't get a good enough look 1m and 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Treecreeper 3 Nuthatch
Interestingly no Willow Warblers heard anywhere
Plenty of blue great and coal tit's about though.
Cheers
Mark
Phil Panton said
Mon Apr 14 9:41 PM, 2014
Noticed the ground clearing a couple of weeks ago when i was last there, hadn't realised how big that area was, with it previously being overgrown, & as you say Mark, theres plenty of scope to develop a nice little marsh area
Mark Walsh said
Mon Apr 14 2:34 PM, 2014
Early morning walk around the park produced a good amount of the common woodland birds.
7:30 - 10:15ish Keg woodland and then a quick walk round Ernocroft.
12 Chiffchaff seen or heard 3 Willow Warbler 7 Blackcap all male 5 Treecreeper 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3m + 1f) 1 Dipper on the river near Keg pool. 1 Swallow 2 Buzzard 2 Sparrowhawk
Interesting development around the marshy area near the king fisher statue on keg pool, looks like they're clearing the willow out to help native plants to come through as well as hopefully creating a suitable marsh habitat for birds. Handled well it could be a nice area.
Cheers
Mark
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 14th of April 2014 02:45:14 PM
John Rayner said
Sun Apr 13 10:56 AM, 2014
Ian Boote wrote:
On the path back from the Hide to the gate
Hi Ian,
Was this bird singing or calling?
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 13th of April 2014 11:31:17 AM
Ian Boote said
Sat Apr 12 9:42 PM, 2014
On the path back from the Hide to the gate
Andy Bissitt said
Sat Apr 12 8:56 PM, 2014
Ian Boote wrote:
Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, from the hide Nuthatches, Treecreeper, obliging kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Mandarin, Tufted Ducks Coal Tit, further on 2 Buzzard, top of wood more of the species listed Goldcrest Keg Willow Tit and Egyptian thing, and on lodge 6 Swallow.
Willow Tit? Are you quite sure you've got that right Ian? Haven't seen one in the area for over a decade.
Cheers,
Andy
Ian Boote said
Sat Apr 12 6:37 PM, 2014
Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warbler, from the hide Nuthatches, Treecreeper, obliging kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Mandarin, Tufted Ducks Coal Tit, further on 2 Buzzard, top of wood more of the species listed Goldcrest Keg Willow Tit and Egyptian thing, and on lodge 6 Swallow.
Phil Panton said
Sun Mar 23 4:25 PM, 2014
Highlights of a lunchtime walk around the reserve
First Chiffchaff of the year - 3 seen in total Appear to be a healthy number of Tufted ducks pairing up, having seemingly dropped in numbers over the last few years. Pair of very vocal Buzzards over Ernocroft Wood Plenty of Nuthatches about
Chris Chandler said
Mon Mar 10 1:02 AM, 2014
Fantastic walk 4-6pm in great weather.
Lots of dogs and children meant there weren't many birds around the weir when I first arrived, so decided to pop into the hide.
Hide: 6 Mandarin (2m, 4f) 4 Tufted Duck (2m, 2f) 1 Teal (m) 2 Grey Heron 10 Cormorant gathering in one of the trees Lots of small birds feeding on or around the feeders- Blue, Great, Coal and Long-Tailed Tits Chaffinch Reed Bunting (1m) Goldcrest Nuthatch
Keg Pool and Keg Wood:
1 Egyptian Goose - honking loudly the entire time 2 Grey Heron 9 Coot Lots of Tufted Duck 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker inspecting nest holes 1 Tawny Owl - flew west out of the wood, being mobbed by 2-3 small birds
I then returned to the weir at about 5.40 and was rewarded with great views of 2 Dippers and 2 Grey Wagtails. The Dippers performed a courtship dance to one another that involved displaying their white throats and then dancing from side to side with their wings fanned. A lovely sight to end a productive couple of hours!
Andy Bissitt said
Mon Mar 3 9:22 PM, 2014
Last chance you people out there. I have received a reply to the concerns which I voiced to Stockport MBC that make for, shall we say, interesting reading. It looks as if we are looking at events for over 200 people which could last in excess of 24 hours!! All sorts of factors will be put in place to stop people going off site with alcohol, and to keep events drug free (because everyone is just so law abiding these days). Oh, and the music (which appears to be confined to indoors) will be restricted to 11:00 to 00:00 only (some concession that!). I hope others will at least raise some issues with the authorities. You only have until 11th March. Otherwise one feels that your day in the park is about to become that bit more crowded (and noisy).
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Mar 2 9:45 PM, 2014
I don't know if the regular ECP users have seen the notice recently put up near the start of the path to Whitebottom Farm. If you haven't, take a look AND OBJECT unless, as it appears, you would like to be birding to the accompanyment of 'live' music events and such (yes, really).
Go to the following web address for more info and act as you think fit. http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/business/licensing11/fooddrinkentertainment/licensingat2003appsrep/currentlicenceapplications
Is nothing sacred?
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Mar 2 1:49 PM, 2014
10.00 - 12.30 with Tony Darby A stunning total of 40 Mandarins present: 28 at the weir and 12 in the channel from the main lake Pair Dippers very active at the weir Tawny Owl heard from Ernocroft Wood Egyptian Goose on Keg Pool honking furiously for a mate Mute Swans ZP4 and 4ADL at the weir and juvenile 4ADJ on the main lake at the model boat end Buzzard over mobbed by a Carrion Crow
John Rayner said
Sat Mar 1 2:27 PM, 2014
Pair of Mute Swans near weir were both ringed. Blue ZP4 and Blue 4AOL 28 Mandarin Ducks Egyptian Goose near hide
Cheers John
Jon Beckett said
Fri Feb 28 7:25 PM, 2014
Went this morning, saw 2 dipper nest building at the weir and the egyptian goose was on the river behind the hide.
Saw pair of buzzards on path to Low from park and small murder of rooks and jackdaw on Low/Nuthatch and coal tit on table near Sunny Corner.Also saw two groups of long tailed tits.Egyptian goose on table at hide and chaffinch and cormorants up river.
Ian Boote said
Sat Feb 1 11:03 PM, 2014
treecreepers, low buzzard, lots of mandarin, redwings and jackdaws coming in to roost.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 1st of February 2014 11:05:28 PM
Paul Rafferty said
Sun Jan 19 6:15 PM, 2014
20 mandarin Greylag goose Mute swan 2 buzzards Lots of black headed gulls Robins Heard 2 woodpeckers but couldn't find them
First visit. Lovely place but need to spend more time there.
Chris Harper said
Sat Jan 11 8:52 PM, 2014
Quick wander to Keg pool and back 2.30-4.00:
Egyptian Goose
34 Mandarin(Mainly behind Pump House)
7 Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
3 Common Buzzard
5 Teal
Nuthatch
Goldcrest
4 Mute Swan
Phil Panton said
Tue Jan 7 2:38 PM, 2014
Nice late morning wander around before the heavens opened.
Nothing out of the ordinary but good numbers of the commoner wildfowl including
16 Tufted Duck (9 m & 7 f)
19 mandarin (11 m & 8 f)
1 very vocal Egyptian Goose at the Keg Pool
4 Mute Swans (2 Adult & 2 Juvenile)
5 Longtailed Tits
Unable to get round to the hide, due to contractors blocking the road by the weir, who appeared to be carrying out strengthening work on the wall
Simon Gough said
Sun Dec 22 9:54 PM, 2013
First visit here today, nice place.
Nothing earth-shattering, as follows: Woods to the left of the river Nuthatch 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker male Treecreeper Goldcrest plus common tits, robins Buzzard over the fields behind.
Weir area 12 or so Mandarins 10 Tufted Duck Kingfisher-like flash, couldn't say for sure Grey Wagtail
Ernocroft Wood Kestrel Bullfinch 2
Is a Kestrel in woodland fairly common? not sure I've seen one in such a habitat before
Finally as I left, around 500 Jackdaw heading back west towards Stockport
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 22nd of December 2013 10:24:06 PM
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Monday 23rd of December 2013 12:11:41 AM
paul shaw said
Sat Nov 16 11:11 PM, 2013
Car park-weir-hide 12.00-2.00
Lots of blue tit, great tit and robins around the main lake.
20 long tailed tits moving through.
1 dipper,3 nuthatch,80 jackdaw heading towards Brabyns park but the highlight was approximately 125 lapwing over towards Werneth low.
Chris Harper said
Sat Nov 16 4:22 AM, 2013
Car park-weir-hide 3.40-5.15
Single Woodcock down river from hide at 4.40 2+ Tawny Owls 26 Mandarin Dipper Kingfisher Grey Wagtail 26 Cormorant 5 Goosander over Grey Heron Song Thrush in song Common Buzzard
Mark Walsh said
Thu Oct 31 4:28 PM, 2013
Thought I'd rescue the thread from the murky depths of page 6.
A trip to Ludworth this morning turned into a trip to Etherow when I realised how long its been since I last birded there in earnest. I have been once or twice but it's just to busy over the weekend.
Anyway not much out of the ordinary;
2 large tit flocks through the park. 3 Goldcrest mixed in with the above. 11 Nuthatch seen in various places. 11 Tufted Duck 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Bullfinch 1 Chiffchaff heard calling while I was walking to the hide, took me a while to locate but managed to see it on the other side of the river low down.
Cheers
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Thursday 31st of October 2013 07:57:03 PM
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Thursday 31st of October 2013 07:57:59 PM
Chris Harper said
Tue Jul 30 6:19 PM, 2013
Car Park-Weir-Ernocroft 8.30-10.30
Dipper 1+ Egyptian Goose 25+ Mandarin Duck, inc. juvenilles 5 Grey Wagtail. inc juvenilles 3+Grey Heron Juv. Nuthatch 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 Jay 4 Goldcrest, inc. juv. 4 Chiffchaff, inc. juv. 2 Swallow Common Swift
Mark Walsh said
Sat Jul 20 7:22 AM, 2013
16:30 - 19:30
A walk round the park produced;
5 Chiffchaff 1 Willow Warbler 1 Blackcap (f) 5 Grey Wagtail Large tit flock of 60 - 80 birds in Ernocroft.
Cheers
Mark
Mark Walsh said
Mon Jul 15 11:06 PM, 2013
0600 - 1100
Not been getting much sleep these past couple of days so decided rather than stay in I'd make the most of the nice mornings we've been having and go down Etherow. All in all it turned out to be quite a fruitful day;
4 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcaps all male
4 Grey Wagtail 2 adult and 2 juv
1 Juv Dipper
1 Tawny owl in Ernocroft
A pair of Bullfinch's
3 Goldcrest
2 Spotted Flycatcher around the weir cottage area
Plenty more about but these were the highlights.
Cheers
Mark
John Taylor said
Wed Jul 10 10:50 PM, 2013
Visited on Sunday 7th for the first time in many years primarily for Mandarin.
Was not disappointed saw 19.
Also seen Egyptian Goose in exactly in the same place as described on 29 June. Preening on steps above weir.
Nuthatch plenty
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Mark Walsh said
Wed Jul 10 4:18 AM, 2013
A quick walk from 4:30 - 7:30 pm
Good numbers of all usual tits with lots of juveniles
3 Treecreeper
Saw 5 Nuthatch but heard more
6 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcap (4f + 1m)
Grey Wagtail
Tufted Duck (3m +2f)
Cheers
Mark
Geoff Walton said
Sun Jun 30 3:15 AM, 2013
7.45p
Egyptian Goose preening on the top stone of the Weir. Dipper in the usual place in the opposite direction.
Mark Walsh said
Sat Jun 22 8:06 PM, 2013
Yesterday evening from 17:30 - 21 :00
Of note;
1 Reed Bunting male Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow warbler Several Goldcrest 3 Grey Heron Juv Great Spotted Woodpecker
There were however lots of signs of new life with lots of parties of blue and great tits feeding young all over the park the same with nuthatches.
Walking all through the park it seemed that wherever I was there was always a roving party of some type of bird.
Cheers
Mark
Ian Campbell said
Sun Jun 16 10:50 PM, 2013
this a.m. Egyptian Goose above weir and female Mandarin(3) with 2 young from hide, lots of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Chiffchaff, Blackcap but no Dipper seen. Cheers Ian
Mark Walsh said
Sun Jun 2 2:26 AM, 2013
A late post for yesterday.
A late afternoon early evening stroll produced much the same as Ian with the exception of a Sparrowhawk over ernocroft and a Reed Bunting on the path to the hide.
Ian Boote said
Sat Jun 1 1:54 AM, 2013
Three broods of mandarin at least. One coot took a pop at one of the duckling. It was duffed up by Mum Mandarin. Also Dipper, pair Grey Wagtails, Buzzard, Blackcaps, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Lots of Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Gold Crest, Little Grebe, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Tufted Duck and Swifts. No Egyptian Goose or Great Crested Grebes on main lodge
Mark Walsh said
Sun May 26 9:17 PM, 2013
A late post for Saturday the 25th
As I didn't get down Friday I headed down Saturday morning 07:40 - 10:30
Same as previous trips managed everywhere other than the hide.
Several Goldcrest Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff heard 1 Little Grebe on Keg Pool 1 Dipper on the river 3 Treecreeper all in the same vicinity within Ernocrroft 1 Buzzard circling over the weir area.
Lovely day but by 10am quite busy.
Chris Harper said
Sun May 19 1:14 AM, 2013
Car park-Keg Pool 2.45-4.45 High Lights:
Little Grebe pair 15 Mandarin, some with young 2 Tufted Duck 3 Willow Warbler 4 Blackcap 5 Chiffchaff Mute Swan pair with 3 cygnets Many Swallow and Swift 4 Stock Dove Cormorant
Mark Walsh said
Sat May 18 3:02 AM, 2013
Etherow CP 15:00 - 18:00
Again managed to cover the whole park (minus the hide)
Plenty of Willow Warbler heard with a couple seen feeding. Plenty of Chiffchaff heard though non seen. 1 Tawny Owl being chased by Blackbirds 1 Bullfinch male 2 Grey Wagtail 1 Buzzard
Unfortunately I encountered the Canada's by Keg Pool which took 5 minutes to bypass without alarming them to much
Cheers
Mark
Mark Walsh said
Thu May 2 2:05 AM, 2013
Etherow CP 16:00 - 18:20
1 Willow Warbler seen, several more heard 2 Chiffchaff seen though loads heard 1 Jay 1 Treecreeper 2 Nuthatch 2 Lapwing 1 Siskin
Cheers
Mark
Vicky Harper said
Fri Apr 26 11:23 PM, 2013
A male Brambling at the back of the house near the pump house. A common sandpiper flew on to the left banking of the main lake and flew off to the opposite banking when a dog approached. Swallows flying into a disused fan hole in the side of the old boat house. 3 Buzzard Several blackcap Plenty of coot with young around keg pool Surprisingly not a single cormorant on the usual tree viewed from the hide. also no Mandarin at the back of the pump house but there were a few canadas chasing everything off. also some aggressive canadas guarding path to hide. Dipper on rocks closest to the weir.
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 26 10:32 PM, 2013
Whilst scanning from a vantage point 11 Buzzards in scattered groups was noteworthy.
Cheers, John
Mark Walsh said
Fri Apr 26 9:04 PM, 2013
Etherow CP 16:30 - 19-30
Managed to cover the whole of the park, visitor centre - ernocroft - hide - sunny corner - keg pool.
The highlights being;
2 Siskin (main lake area) 3 Willow Warbler seen, more heard 2 Chiffchaff seen, again more heard 3 Blackcap (1m +2f) 2 Lapwing 8 Redpoll over Ernocroft Not quite John's 11 but I did get 2 Buzzards circling low over Ernocroft. Plenty of Swallows with the odd house martin mixed in.
Then plenty of the usual nuthatch's, treecreeper's, and all the normal tit's.
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:07:13 PM
Mark Walsh said
Sun Apr 21 4:55 PM, 2013
First stroll round Etherow for a few weeks, a lot of people in the park reminded me of why I tend to go in the evening (that and I'm too lazy to get up early).
Nevertheless an enjoyable walk.
4 Chiffchaff, 2 seen 2 heard 1 Nuthatch 1 blackcap (female) 2 Goosander, Keg pool (female) 1 Treecreeper 10 Long Tailed Tits 3 Lapwing in the usual field
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Sunday 21st of April 2013 05:01:44 PM
John Rayner said
Fri Apr 19 11:54 PM, 2013
c 8 Chiffchaff 3 Willow Warblers Mandarin pair at nest hole Egyptian Goose (Keg Pool) 2f Goosander (Keg Pool) Aggresive pair of Canadas on eggs by riverside footpath at Keg Pool
Cheers, John
Chris Harper said
Mon Apr 15 12:11 AM, 2013
1.30-3pm Car Park to hide, via woodland path: 3 Lapwing Chiffchaff 15 Mandarin Coot with young Nuthatch Dipper, below weir Kestrel
Hide: Kingfisher 2 Treecreeper 4 Mandarin 2 Swallow during shower House Martin with swallow 2 Jay Chiffchaff
Andrew Johnson said
Sat Mar 30 8:09 PM, 2013
Went down through Ernocroft Woods to the hide and back briefly yesterday late morning.
Plenty of tits around (usual 4 species). Greenfinches part way down and a nuthatch calling up near the road. Needless to say, no new arrivals.
From the hide (someone had left the gate and hide door open!), twelve teal - 1m1f to the left + 3m3f a little up to the right + 4m up in the distance to the right. Usual cormorants and a few Canada geese. Great spotted woodpecker calling. No tufted ducks nor mandarins seen from the hide in perhaps my 45mins there.
Chris Knight said
Sun Mar 17 9:42 PM, 2013
Peregrine over the car park today. Perhaps that's what got the kestrel whose remains were beside the church last week (not much left; only feet, wings and tail, all neatly removed).
Willow Warbler were mainly on 'higher' path from car park to weir.
Chris,
Which 'woods'? There are a lot of trees out there!
On to today's sightings though;
10 Chiffchaff seen or heard
5 Blackcap all male with a possible 6th female but I didn't get a good enough look
1m and 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Treecreeper
3 Nuthatch
Interestingly no Willow Warblers heard anywhere
Plenty of blue great and coal tit's about though.
Cheers
Mark
7:30 - 10:15ish Keg woodland and then a quick walk round Ernocroft.
12 Chiffchaff seen or heard
3 Willow Warbler
7 Blackcap all male
5 Treecreeper
4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (3m + 1f)
1 Dipper on the river near Keg pool.
1 Swallow
2 Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk
Interesting development around the marshy area near the king fisher statue on keg pool, looks like they're clearing the willow out to help native plants to come through as well as hopefully creating a suitable marsh habitat for birds. Handled well it could be a nice area.
Cheers
Mark
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 14th of April 2014 02:45:14 PM
Was this bird singing or calling?
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 13th of April 2014 11:31:17 AM
Willow Tit? Are you quite sure you've got that right Ian? Haven't seen one in the area for over a decade.
Cheers,
Andy
First Chiffchaff of the year - 3 seen in total
Appear to be a healthy number of Tufted ducks pairing up, having seemingly dropped in numbers over the last few years.
Pair of very vocal Buzzards over Ernocroft Wood
Plenty of Nuthatches about
Lots of dogs and children meant there weren't many birds around the weir when I first arrived, so decided to pop into the hide.
Hide:
6 Mandarin (2m, 4f)
4 Tufted Duck (2m, 2f)
1 Teal (m)
2 Grey Heron
10 Cormorant gathering in one of the trees
Lots of small birds feeding on or around the feeders-
Blue, Great, Coal and Long-Tailed Tits
Chaffinch
Reed Bunting (1m)
Goldcrest
Nuthatch
Keg Pool and Keg Wood:
1 Egyptian Goose - honking loudly the entire time
2 Grey Heron
9 Coot
Lots of Tufted Duck
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker inspecting nest holes
1 Tawny Owl - flew west out of the wood, being mobbed by 2-3 small birds
I then returned to the weir at about 5.40 and was rewarded with great views of 2 Dippers and 2 Grey Wagtails.
The Dippers performed a courtship dance to one another that involved displaying their white throats and then dancing from side to side with their wings fanned. A lovely sight to end a productive couple of hours!
Go to the following web address for more info and act as you think fit. http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/business/licensing11/fooddrinkentertainment/licensingat2003appsrep/currentlicenceapplications
Is nothing sacred?
A stunning total of 40 Mandarins present: 28 at the weir and 12 in the channel from the main lake
Pair Dippers very active at the weir
Tawny Owl heard from Ernocroft Wood
Egyptian Goose on Keg Pool honking furiously for a mate
Mute Swans ZP4 and 4ADL at the weir and juvenile 4ADJ on the main lake at the model boat end
Buzzard over mobbed by a Carrion Crow
28 Mandarin Ducks
Egyptian Goose near hide
Cheers John
Pink-footed geese
Mallards
Coots
Moorhen
Mandarins (12m, 8f)
Black-headed gulls
Great tits
Coal tit
2 nuthatch
Grey wagtail
4 cormorants
Saw pair of buzzards on path to Low from park and small murder of rooks and jackdaw on Low/Nuthatch and coal tit on table near Sunny Corner.Also saw two groups of long tailed tits.Egyptian goose on table at hide and chaffinch and cormorants up river.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 1st of February 2014 11:05:28 PM
Greylag goose
Mute swan
2 buzzards
Lots of black headed gulls
Robins
Heard 2 woodpeckers but couldn't find them
First visit. Lovely place but need to spend more time there.
Quick wander to Keg pool and back 2.30-4.00:
Egyptian Goose
34 Mandarin(Mainly behind Pump House)
7 Tufted Duck
Little Grebe
Sparrowhawk
3 Common Buzzard
5 Teal
Nuthatch
Goldcrest
4 Mute Swan
Nice late morning wander around before the heavens opened.
Nothing out of the ordinary but good numbers of the commoner wildfowl including
16 Tufted Duck (9 m & 7 f)
19 mandarin (11 m & 8 f)
1 very vocal Egyptian Goose at the Keg Pool
4 Mute Swans (2 Adult & 2 Juvenile)
5 Longtailed Tits
Unable to get round to the hide, due to contractors blocking the road by the weir, who appeared to be carrying out strengthening work on the wall
Nothing earth-shattering, as follows:
Woods to the left of the river
Nuthatch 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker male
Treecreeper
Goldcrest
plus common tits, robins
Buzzard over the fields behind.
Weir area
12 or so Mandarins
10 Tufted Duck
Kingfisher-like flash, couldn't say for sure
Grey Wagtail
Ernocroft Wood
Kestrel
Bullfinch 2
Is a Kestrel in woodland fairly common? not sure I've seen one in such a habitat before
Finally as I left, around 500 Jackdaw heading back west towards Stockport
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 22nd of December 2013 10:24:06 PM
-- Edited by Simon Gough on Monday 23rd of December 2013 12:11:41 AM
Single Woodcock down river from hide at 4.40
2+ Tawny Owls
26 Mandarin
Dipper
Kingfisher
Grey Wagtail
26 Cormorant
5 Goosander over
Grey Heron
Song Thrush in song
Common Buzzard
A trip to Ludworth this morning turned into a trip to Etherow when I realised how long its been since I last birded there in earnest. I have been once or twice but it's just to busy over the weekend.
Anyway not much out of the ordinary;
2 large tit flocks through the park.
3 Goldcrest mixed in with the above.
11 Nuthatch seen in various places.
11 Tufted Duck
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Bullfinch
1 Chiffchaff heard calling while I was walking to the hide, took me a while to locate but managed to see it on the other side of the river low down.
Cheers
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Thursday 31st of October 2013 07:57:03 PM
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Thursday 31st of October 2013 07:57:59 PM
Dipper
1+ Egyptian Goose
25+ Mandarin Duck, inc. juvenilles
5 Grey Wagtail. inc juvenilles
3+Grey Heron
Juv. Nuthatch
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Jay
4 Goldcrest, inc. juv.
4 Chiffchaff, inc. juv.
2 Swallow
Common Swift
A walk round the park produced;
5 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap (f)
5 Grey Wagtail
Large tit flock of 60 - 80 birds in Ernocroft.
Cheers
Mark
Not been getting much sleep these past couple of days so decided rather than stay in I'd make the most of the nice mornings we've been having and go down Etherow. All in all it turned out to be quite a fruitful day;
4 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcaps all male
4 Grey Wagtail 2 adult and 2 juv
1 Juv Dipper
1 Tawny owl in Ernocroft
A pair of Bullfinch's
3 Goldcrest
2 Spotted Flycatcher around the weir cottage area
Plenty more about but these were the highlights.
Cheers
Mark
Was not disappointed saw 19.
Also seen Egyptian Goose in exactly in the same place as described on 29 June. Preening on steps above weir.
Nuthatch plenty
Spotted Flycatcher 2
Good numbers of all usual tits with lots of juveniles
3 Treecreeper
Saw 5 Nuthatch but heard more
6 Chiffchaff
5 Blackcap (4f + 1m)
Grey Wagtail
Tufted Duck (3m +2f)
Cheers
Mark
Egyptian Goose preening on the top stone of the Weir.
Dipper in the usual place in the opposite direction.
Of note;
1 Reed Bunting male
Good numbers of Chiffchaff and Willow warbler
Several Goldcrest
3 Grey Heron
Juv Great Spotted Woodpecker
There were however lots of signs of new life with lots of parties of blue and great tits feeding young all over the park the same with nuthatches.
Walking all through the park it seemed that wherever I was there was always a roving party of some type of bird.
Cheers
Mark
Cheers Ian
A late afternoon early evening stroll produced much the same as Ian with the exception of a Sparrowhawk over ernocroft and a Reed Bunting on the path to the hide.
As I didn't get down Friday I headed down Saturday morning 07:40 - 10:30
Same as previous trips managed everywhere other than the hide.
Several Goldcrest
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff heard
1 Little Grebe on Keg Pool
1 Dipper on the river
3 Treecreeper all in the same vicinity within Ernocrroft
1 Buzzard circling over the weir area.
Lovely day but by 10am quite busy.
High Lights:
Little Grebe pair
15 Mandarin, some with young
2 Tufted Duck
3 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
5 Chiffchaff
Mute Swan pair with 3 cygnets
Many Swallow and Swift
4 Stock Dove
Cormorant
Again managed to cover the whole park (minus the hide)
Plenty of Willow Warbler heard with a couple seen feeding.
Plenty of Chiffchaff heard though non seen.
1 Tawny Owl being chased by Blackbirds
1 Bullfinch male
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Buzzard
Unfortunately I encountered the Canada's by Keg Pool which took 5 minutes to bypass without alarming them to much
Cheers
Mark
1 Willow Warbler seen, several more heard
2 Chiffchaff seen though loads heard
1 Jay
1 Treecreeper
2 Nuthatch
2 Lapwing
1 Siskin
Cheers
Mark
A common sandpiper flew on to the left banking of the main lake and flew off to the opposite banking when a dog approached.
Swallows flying into a disused fan hole in the side of the old boat house.
3 Buzzard
Several blackcap
Plenty of coot with young around keg pool
Surprisingly not a single cormorant on the usual tree viewed from the hide.
also no Mandarin at the back of the pump house but there were a few canadas chasing everything off. also some aggressive canadas guarding path to hide.
Dipper on rocks closest to the weir.
Cheers, John
Managed to cover the whole of the park, visitor centre - ernocroft - hide - sunny corner - keg pool.
The highlights being;
2 Siskin (main lake area)
3 Willow Warbler seen, more heard
2 Chiffchaff seen, again more heard
3 Blackcap (1m +2f)
2 Lapwing
8 Redpoll over Ernocroft
Not quite John's 11 but I did get 2 Buzzards circling low over Ernocroft.
Plenty of Swallows with the odd house martin mixed in.
Then plenty of the usual nuthatch's, treecreeper's, and all the normal tit's.
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Friday 26th of April 2013 09:07:13 PM
Nevertheless an enjoyable walk.
4 Chiffchaff, 2 seen 2 heard
1 Nuthatch
1 blackcap (female)
2 Goosander, Keg pool (female)
1 Treecreeper
10 Long Tailed Tits
3 Lapwing in the usual field
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Sunday 21st of April 2013 05:01:44 PM
3 Willow Warblers
Mandarin pair at nest hole
Egyptian Goose (Keg Pool)
2f Goosander (Keg Pool)
Aggresive pair of Canadas on eggs by riverside footpath at Keg Pool
Cheers, John
Car Park to hide, via woodland path:
3 Lapwing
Chiffchaff
15 Mandarin
Coot with young
Nuthatch
Dipper, below weir
Kestrel
Hide:
Kingfisher
2 Treecreeper
4 Mandarin
2 Swallow during shower
House Martin with swallow
2 Jay
Chiffchaff
Plenty of tits around (usual 4 species). Greenfinches part way down and a nuthatch calling up near the road. Needless to say, no new arrivals.
From the hide (someone had left the gate and hide door open!), twelve teal - 1m1f to the left + 3m3f a little up to the right + 4m up in the distance to the right. Usual cormorants and a few Canada geese. Great spotted woodpecker calling. No tufted ducks nor mandarins seen from the hide in perhaps my 45mins there.
Perhaps that's what got the kestrel whose remains were beside the church last week (not much left; only feet, wings and tail, all neatly removed).