Chris,it,s best to use the offical car park,google dunham massey park map,the stream and field are at the west end of Smithy Drive,or come out of the gift shop turn right to waterwheel house and the stream will be obvious,as for the 'hat trick' a bit of luck is needed but research into the calls and drumming should help.I,ve heard 'lesser' in the car park in the last week.I,d also lug the scope,might not get used,but at least other birders will be able to spot you and might offer some help.Good luck.
geoff
sid ashton said
Thu Mar 7 10:05 PM, 2013
C Brown wrote:
I'm toying with the idea of visiting Dunham Massey on Saturday, with a view to looking for the green sandpiper (and who knows, maybe a lesser spotted woodpecker - one can dream eh?). However, I don't know the site very well, having only visited in the past with the missus and kids as National Trust members and am looking for some directions on how to locate it's favoured haunts. I do know how to get to the Obelisk from the National Trust car-park and that is about it! Is the National Trust car-park the best place to set out from? Or would one of the surrounding villages be better? I hope to get hold of an OS map of the area if I can so I can familiarise myself with the public rights of way that might be of use. Oh, and will I need to lug my 'scope about? Many thanks in advance.
Regards, Chris-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 7th of March 2013 08:49:45 PM
Chris
The Green Sandpiper has tended to be on the flooded meadow over the park wall towards Bollington mill apartments. So, as you walk from the car park toward the obelisk the stile over the wall is to the right down the slope. The area up to and around the obelisk has tended to be the place to look for the Lesser spotted Woodpeckers in previous years. The Green Woodpeckers will be heard before you see them up the main drive towards the area of the deer barn.
As far as parking is concerned although I am a NT member I tend to get there before the car park is open and usually park on Woodhouse Rd off the B5160. I also find that getting there before the place gets busy also helps.
To get decent views of birds on the meadow I tend to take my scope but for the rest binoculars are fine.
Hope that helps but please PM me if you need any more info.
PS @ 22.07 - Whoops just double posted with Geoff there sorry.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 8th of March 2013 05:21:53 PM
C Brown said
Thu Mar 7 8:46 PM, 2013
I'm toying with the idea of visiting Dunham Massey on Saturday, with a view to looking for the green sandpiper (and who knows, maybe a lesser spotted woodpecker - one can dream eh?). However, I don't know the site very well, having only visited in the past with the missus and kids as National Trust members and am looking for some directions on how to locate it's favoured haunts. I do know how to get to the Obelisk from the National Trust car-park and that is about it! Is the National Trust car-park the best place to set out from? Or would one of the surrounding villages be better? I hope to get hold of an OS map of the area if I can so I can familiarise myself with the public rights of way that might be of use. Oh, and will I need to lug my 'scope about? Many thanks in advance.
Regards, Chris
-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 7th of March 2013 08:49:45 PM
sid ashton said
Tue Mar 5 3:53 AM, 2013
Karl Bishop wrote:
Thanks to Sid Ashton (spoke to you about 9.30) who pointed me in the direction of the Green Woodpeckers (said i'd post if i saw them....no Little Owl or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers though)
Yes Karl nice to meet you both this morning and glad that you found the Green Woodpeckers OK. I too had no luck with the Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers but had very nice veiws of the Green Sandpiper as it fed on the mud in the stream across the flooded meadow.
Karl Bishop said
Tue Mar 5 2:34 AM, 2013
Dunham Massey Deer Park - 09.15 - 12.00
Jay Jackdaw Blackbird Coot Tufted Duck Black Headed Gull Mute Swan Mallard Goldfinch Redwing Cormorant Great Tit Blue Tit Nuthatch Mistle Thrush Magpie Fieldfare Green Woodpecker (2) Buzzard Robin Canada Goose Wood Pigeon
Thanks to Sid Ashton (spoke to you about 9.30) who pointed me in the direction of the Green Woodpeckers (said i'd post if i saw them....no Little Owl or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers though)
steven burke said
Mon Mar 4 3:18 AM, 2013
8-12pm
golf course & forest...
3 great spotted woodpeckers green woodpecker heard 2 nuthatch 1 treecreeper 2 stock dove 2 song thrush 1 sparrowhawk
deer park...
a nice hat-trick of woodpeckers,
1 lesser spotted woodpecker (female) in the same tree as a male great spotted woodpecker about 5ft away from it showing good size comparison 2 green woodpeckers at least 6 great spotted woodpeckers 1 little owl 2-4 buzzards 2 kestrels 1 skylark (over) 1 Egyptian goose, over bollington gate in field next to stream 2 snipe over bollington gate on stream no signs of the green sandpiper 2 grey wagtail 6 stock dove 1 jay 1 goldcrest 5 nuthatch 3 treecreeper good numbers of redwings plus usuals
Henry Cook said
Fri Mar 1 6:32 PM, 2013
01/03/2013 - 7-10am, cloudy and cold but plenty of birds singing around the park including one special one:
Hi Sid Where abouts in Dunham did u see the sandpiper and snipe? Cheers Nigel (We met at the Waxwing party last sat)
Nigel, the Snipe was by the stream that runs across the flooded meadow just outside the park wall, over the stile to Bollington mill apartments. The Sandpiper was on the mud that surrounds the flood. Always a good place to check as the water dries out.
Nigel Richards said
Fri Mar 1 4:16 AM, 2013
Hi Sid Where abouts in Dunham did u see the sandpiper and snipe? Cheers Nigel (We met at the Waxwing party last sat)
sid ashton said
Fri Mar 1 1:57 AM, 2013
16.00 - 17.30:- went to try to pin down the Ring-necked Parakeet that I heard calling on Tuesday - no joy however. The Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe were still present as well as a Grey Wagtail on the brook and c.25 Pied Wagtails feeding on the flooded meadow.
Ann Ribbands said
Thu Feb 28 1:48 AM, 2013
Egyptian goose was with the green sandpiper by the stream just outside the park wall by the Little Bollington stile this morning, then relocated to the Island Pool. No sight or sound of any green woodpeckers yet, usual tits, nuthatches, great spot woodpecker, jay, redwing, pied wagtail on stable roof. Surprised not to hear any drumming. Half of the retired folk of Altrincham seemed to be in the Park this morning with their dogs and grandchildren!
Henry Cook said
Wed Feb 27 6:33 PM, 2013
27/02/2013 - 4pm: Not heard or seen the Green Woodpeckers also for quite a while now. I bet they'll start calling soon though.
1 Egyptian Goose 1 Green Sandpiper 1 Common Snipe 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 2 Grey Wagtails - male singing 200+ Redwings
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 27th of February 2013 06:38:04 PM
sid ashton said
Wed Feb 27 2:08 AM, 2013
Went round the garden this afternoon - never seen so many snowdrops, lovely and heard Ring-necked Parakeet from the direction of the picnic area. Then later found Egyptian Goose grazing on the bank of the Bollin behind Bollington Mill flats.
Henry Cook said
Tue Feb 26 4:36 AM, 2013
25/02/2013 - 2pm: 1 Green Sandpiper on pool by stream to Bollington Mill.
steven burke said
Sun Feb 17 4:05 AM, 2013
12.-3.30pm with a non birding friend.
1 green sandpiper, on stream over bollington gate. 2 great spotted woodpecker Green woodpecker heard only 2-4 buzzards 1 kestrel 5 nuthatch 3 treecreeper 1 pied wagtail 4 gadwall on smithy pool Plus all usuals around.
Henry Cook said
Fri Feb 8 11:37 PM, 2013
08/02/2013 - 12-1.30pm:
1 Kestrel 1 Common Snipe - on brook towards the Bollin 1 Little Owl 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - engaging in a territorial dispute 8 Fieldfares 3 Treecreepers 1 Siskin
1 Blackbird with 1 white feather in wing very catching when seen from a distance
I saw what was presumably same bird seen yesterday along main drive adjacent to the 'Old Man' tree sculpture. White feather in its RH wing. As you say Graham, it's a smart looking bird and seemed quite bold despite the number of walkers/kids/dogs.
Graham Smith said
Mon Jan 14 2:46 AM, 2013
Very cold and extremely busy in the park
1 Blackbird with 1 white feather in wing very catching when seen from a distance
sid ashton said
Fri Jan 11 2:50 AM, 2013
During a late afternoon walk around the park met two rangers "escorting" one of last year's young Mute Swans away from the moat. They explained they were doing this because two adult Swans, leg tag TAX (m) and UXV (f) had been seen attacking the young bird.
I realise that once cygnets are old enough to look after themselves the adults cut the parental ties with them and chase them away, sometimes quite aggressively but still quite strange to see this rescue taking place with the cygnet bobbing along the path between the rangers
Eventually the young bird was directed towards two of its siblings on the shorter sections of moat near to the clock tower where it appeared to settle in with them.
John Harden said
Mon Jan 7 11:12 PM, 2013
steven burke wrote:
12.30 til dark
golf course & forest...
4 great spotted woodpeckers 3 nuthatches 3 goldcrests 2 treecreepers green woodpecker heard tawny owl heard plus usuals
deer park...
1 little owl 1 green woodpecker, more heard 7 great spotted woodpeckers, more heard 4 nuthatches 2 treecreepers 1 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 green sandpiper, on stream over bollington gate 1 barnacle goose on moat 15 siskins 1 jay 6 goldcrests kingfisher heard near oxbow plus usuals
Sounds as though you had a good day Steve - all this and Waxwings too. It was good to meet you in Sale - happy birding! John H
steven burke said
Mon Jan 7 3:38 AM, 2013
12.30 til dark
golf course & forest...
4 great spotted woodpeckers 3 nuthatches 3 goldcrests 2 treecreepers green woodpecker heard tawny owl heard plus usuals
deer park...
1 little owl 1 green woodpecker, more heard 7 great spotted woodpeckers, more heard 4 nuthatches 2 treecreepers 1 buzzard 1 kestrel 1 green sandpiper, on stream over bollington gate 1 barnacle goose on moat 15 siskins 1 jay 6 goldcrests kingfisher heard near oxbow plus usuals
James Walsh said
Thu Jan 3 11:50 PM, 2013
Also, adult Mute Swan JY4 on Moat Pool
James Walsh said
Thu Jan 3 11:25 PM, 2013
1 Barnacle Goose - initially on Bollington Mill floodplains on it's own, then flew onto Moat Pool, joining the Canada Goose flock 21 Tufted Duck - Moat Pool Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard near the obelisk) c50 Fieldfare c15 Redwing
Henry Cook said
Wed Jan 2 2:24 AM, 2013
01/01/2013 - 11-12pm, pretty quiet in the park (birdwise...):
1 Little Grebe 1 Barnacle Goose - moat 1 Green Sandpiper - on the oxbow flood 1 Green Woodpecker 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 2 Mistle Thrushes - singing c50 Redwings c50 Fieldfares - flew in from Carrington Moss 2 Ravens - over towards the Cheshire border, probably the same as seen on Carrington Moss earlier
no Egyptian Goose
JasonAtkinson said
Mon Dec 31 10:13 PM, 2012
Ian McKerchar wrote:
JasonAtkinson wrote:
An American Wigeon turned up some years ago on Fair Isle and associated with domestic ducks in one of the crofters back garden and was extremely tame. I think some lone wild birds adopt the habits of tame birds if they perceive there is no threat present. So the assumption of captive origin because of its habits should be taken with a pinch of salt I think.
Cheers Jason
Guilty until proven innocent; its current location, duration of stay and habits lean overwhelmingly to it being a feral bird, of which of course there are lots in the UK, not to mention right here in the north-west
I can agree in principle with your comments but believe caution should be exercised. A perfect example I think is wondering what happened to the Pink-footed Goose present in May at Etherow CP whilst on the bird race? The current Barnacle Goose has been present 6+weeks and is happy associating with its cousins. It could have broke away from a group through injury and now in the depths of winter decided to stay till Spring. It will be interesting to see if it moves with the Canada Geese, I presume it arrived with the large flock?
Cheers Jason
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 31 6:44 AM, 2012
Henry Cook wrote:
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Guilty until proven innocent; its current location, duration of stay and habits lean overwhelmingly to it being a feral bird, of which of course there are lots in the UK, not to mention right here in the north-west
But it's fully-winged and un-ringed
and looks nervous no doubt...
Henry Cook said
Mon Dec 31 6:12 AM, 2012
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Guilty until proven innocent; its current location, duration of stay and habits lean overwhelmingly to it being a feral bird, of which of course there are lots in the UK, not to mention right here in the north-west
But it's fully-winged and un-ringed
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 31 5:52 AM, 2012
JasonAtkinson wrote:
An American Wigeon turned up some years ago on Fair Isle and associated with domestic ducks in one of the crofters back garden and was extremely tame. I think some lone wild birds adopt the habits of tame birds if they perceive there is no threat present. So the assumption of captive origin because of its habits should be taken with a pinch of salt I think.
Cheers Jason
Guilty until proven innocent; its current location, duration of stay and habits lean overwhelmingly to it being a feral bird, of which of course there are lots in the UK, not to mention right here in the north-west
Pete Welch said
Mon Dec 31 5:29 AM, 2012
Thanks both, whether captive or not it was still a very useful bird to consider the size comparison with the Mallard and Canada Geese and as I'd taken my eldest daughter to see the wild ones at Caeverock last winter it was good to see one up close, Peter
JasonAtkinson said
Mon Dec 31 5:07 AM, 2012
An American Wigeon turned up some years ago on Fair Isle and associated with domestic ducks in one of the crofters back garden and was extremely tame. I think some lone wild birds adopt the habits of tame birds if they perceive there is no threat present. So the assumption of captive origin because of its habits should be taken with a pinch of salt I think.
Cheers Jason
Henry Cook said
Mon Dec 31 4:51 AM, 2012
Wild birds can show yellow on the face Pete. I don't think it is exclusive to captive birds. It's behaviour on the other hand, now favouring the moat and the proximity of lots of people, does seem to favour captive origin.
Pete Welch said
Mon Dec 31 4:25 AM, 2012
Egyptian Goose on the flycatcher pool this afternoon [the one with the dead trees] and Barnacle Goose still on the moat pool. Vocal Nuthatch, several Jays and I think I heard the Ring Necked Parakeet but couldn't be sure. The deer showed superbly well despite hundreds of visitors. The Barnacle looks very small and very well coloured [dark flanks, extensive black bib and very dark yellow/cream face] - not sure if captive bred birds have been bred for their colour over time?
Ben Smart said
Sat Dec 29 11:47 PM, 2012
A quick trot around Dunham Massey Park this lunchtime. Hoping for a distant glimpse of the Barnacle Goose on the flooded field. Nice, instead, to see it at very close quarters on the Moat Pool. Egyptian Goose still on the (very) flooded field over towards "The Swan With Two Nicks".
26/12/2012 - Park very busy as expected but a few birds managing not to be disturbed by the hordes:
1 Egyptian Goose 2 Green Sandpiper 27 Black-headed Gulls 1 Ring-necked Parakeet - heard only 2 Green Woodpeckers c60 Redwings 2 Linnets
John Barber said
Fri Dec 21 6:39 PM, 2012
Five Green Sandpiper in flooded field by the Oxbow pools, between the Bollin and the park walls at 10.15am
James Walsh said
Thu Dec 13 10:16 AM, 2012
Green Woodpecker & Kingfisher showing well this am around the Bollington Mill Flood
Ring-necked Parakeet heard in The Moat area
-- Edited by James Walsh on Thursday 13th of December 2012 10:17:13 AM
James Walsh said
Wed Dec 12 5:01 PM, 2012
Sightings from Sunday 9th December
1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose & 1 Green Sandpiper Bollington Mill Flood 1 female Wigeon Smithy Pool
Info, Steven Burke
Henry Cook said
Thu Dec 6 12:22 AM, 2012
05/12/2012 - 2.30-4pm around the park and the flood towards Bollington Mill flats.
1 Barnacle Goose - back from it's little trip to Rostherne 1 Egyptian Goose 1 Little Grebe 2 Cormorants - over 1 Gadwall 13 Tufted Ducks 2 Goosanders - on the moat 1 Green Sandpiper 28 Lapwings 7 Common Gulls c200 Black-headed Gulls
Tanmay Dixit said
Sun Dec 2 10:52 PM, 2012
Managed to pop in v briefly as my family were going that way anyway.
Too short a visit for much, but few nuthatches, four corvids as well as commoner birds.
Only highlight was the egyptian goose, seen well near the flooded field with c. 25 canada geese
Dave Colton said
Sun Dec 2 12:13 AM, 2012
I was at Dunham Massey this morning and got the Egyptian Goose grazing in the flooded fields over the stile near the little water mill beyond the main house. The bird was grazing amongst a small flock of Canada Geese.
No sign of any waders though maybe because the fields were still frozen?
Rewarding morning though including sightings of:
1 Green Woodpecker 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 20+ Long Tailed Tit 3 Nuthatch Several Great and Blue Tit 2 Redwing Couple of Song Thrush
Tanmay Dixit said
Sat Dec 1 10:31 PM, 2012
Thanks a lot!
Great directions, and I know the deer barn and smithy pool, so that's fine. Re goose and green sandpiper, this isn't the stile called Bollington Gate is it? This is the only one I'm familiar with but I think it is on the east wall. In which case, do you mean one that you can reach via Main Drive, or maybe Farm Walk?
Am not hugely familiar with the park, presume there are lots of stiles I could get mixed up with, haven't been in a long time! Any mroe info about precisely where to go would therefore be useful and very much appreciated.
Thanks so much for all the info though!! see if I can get down tomorrow
James Walsh said
Sat Dec 1 8:49 PM, 2012
Hi Tanmay,
The Egyptian Goose on Thursday was on the field with the large pool just south of Dunham park, either park in National Trust car park & go over the stile on the boundary wall & look to the right, or park at the Swan with two nicks pub on Park Lane, then walk north-east over the River Bollin, then along the track towards the park (the field with the large pool is on your left)
As far as I know the Green Sandpipers are in this field, the Little Owl was seen around the deer barn & the Green Woodpecker was feeding amongst the grass around the Smithy Pool (see the maps on the National Trust boards around the park for these locations)
Tanmay Dixit said
Sat Dec 1 12:36 PM, 2012
hi all
Is the flooded field where the Egyptian goose has been seen on the right of the park (as viewed from the house), where you have to go over the steps to get outside the park boundary?
Thinking of going tomorrow but not sure where the goose would be, the more precise directions, the better!
And where is the best place for the green sandpipers? And also where is the best place to see the little owls?
Sorry, lot of questions, but won't have much time so directions would help! Thanks a lot
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Saturday 1st of December 2012 12:38:08 PM
James Walsh said
Fri Nov 30 11:05 AM, 2012
Thursday November 29th 2pm-4pm
1 Egyptian Goose - flooded field 21 Lapwing - flooded field 1 Green Woodpecker - showing well around Smithy Pool 1 Kingfisher - commuting between Smithy Pool & Island Pool 2 Gadwall - pair on Smithy Pool c50 Canada Geese - Moat Pool 14 Tufted Duck 2 Goldcrest Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard) no sign of Barnacle Goose
((Also, 2 glimpses of what might have been a Short-eared Owl over field to north of the park, seen at distance from the deer barn looking north, but not seen well enough to confirm))
Mike Duckham said
Thu Nov 29 1:09 AM, 2012
The Barnacle and Gippo still present, didn't check on the Green Sands. Green Woody moving through the park calling occasionally, and a Linnet over.
Henry Cook said
Mon Nov 26 7:51 PM, 2012
26/11/2012 - 2-4pm around the park and River Bollin with Mike Duckham:
geoff
The Green Sandpiper has tended to be on the flooded meadow over the park wall towards Bollington mill apartments. So, as you walk from the car park toward the obelisk the stile over the wall is to the right down the slope. The area up to and around the obelisk has tended to be the place to look for the Lesser spotted Woodpeckers in previous years. The Green Woodpeckers will be heard before you see them up the main drive towards the area of the deer barn.
As far as parking is concerned although I am a NT member I tend to get there before the car park is open and usually park on Woodhouse Rd off the B5160. I also find that getting there before the place gets busy also helps.
To get decent views of birds on the meadow I tend to take my scope but for the rest binoculars are fine.
Hope that helps but please PM me if you need any more info.
PS @ 22.07 - Whoops just double posted with Geoff there sorry.
-- Edited by sid ashton on Friday 8th of March 2013 05:21:53 PM
Many thanks in advance.
Regards, Chris
-- Edited by C Brown on Thursday 7th of March 2013 08:49:45 PM
Jay
Jackdaw
Blackbird
Coot
Tufted Duck
Black Headed Gull
Mute Swan
Mallard
Goldfinch
Redwing
Cormorant
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Nuthatch
Mistle Thrush
Magpie
Fieldfare
Green Woodpecker (2)
Buzzard
Robin
Canada Goose
Wood Pigeon
Thanks to Sid Ashton (spoke to you about 9.30) who pointed me in the direction of the Green Woodpeckers (said i'd post if i saw them....no Little Owl or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers though)
golf course & forest...
3 great spotted woodpeckers
green woodpecker heard
2 nuthatch
1 treecreeper
2 stock dove
2 song thrush
1 sparrowhawk
deer park...
a nice hat-trick of woodpeckers,
1 lesser spotted woodpecker (female) in the same tree as a male great spotted woodpecker about 5ft away from it showing good size comparison
2 green woodpeckers
at least 6 great spotted woodpeckers
1 little owl
2-4 buzzards
2 kestrels
1 skylark (over)
1 Egyptian goose, over bollington gate in field next to stream
2 snipe over bollington gate on stream
no signs of the green sandpiper
2 grey wagtail
6 stock dove
1 jay
1 goldcrest
5 nuthatch
3 treecreeper
good numbers of redwings
plus usuals
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
1 Green Sandpiper
8 Stock Doves
1 Ring-necked Parakeet
11 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
5 Fieldfares
200+ Redwings
7 Treecreepers
5 Nuthatches
1 Goldcrest
2 Jays
4 Siskins
Where abouts in Dunham did u see the sandpiper and snipe?
Cheers
Nigel
(We met at the Waxwing party last sat)
1 Egyptian Goose
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Snipe
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Grey Wagtails - male singing
200+ Redwings
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Wednesday 27th of February 2013 06:38:04 PM
1 green sandpiper, on stream over bollington gate.
2 great spotted woodpecker
Green woodpecker heard only
2-4 buzzards
1 kestrel
5 nuthatch
3 treecreeper
1 pied wagtail
4 gadwall on smithy pool
Plus all usuals around.
1 Kestrel
1 Common Snipe - on brook towards the Bollin
1 Little Owl
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers - engaging in a territorial dispute
8 Fieldfares
3 Treecreepers
1 Siskin
Indeed! The woods were a bit quiet tho.
On flooded fields nearby
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- c330 Black-headed Gull
In the Park
- Pied Wagtail
- c12 Fieldfare
- c20 Redwing
- Goldcrest
- Nuthatch
- 2+ Treecreeper
c.40 Canada Geese on the moat - don't normally see so many.
20 Redwing
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
65 Canada Geese
25 Tufted Duck
Bollington Floods
5 Fieldfare
c100 Redwing
c300 Black-headed Gull
I saw what was presumably same bird seen yesterday along main drive adjacent to the 'Old Man' tree sculpture. White feather in its RH wing.
As you say Graham, it's a smart looking bird and seemed quite bold despite the number of walkers/kids/dogs.
1 Blackbird with 1 white feather in wing very catching when seen from a distance
I realise that once cygnets are old enough to look after themselves the adults cut the parental ties with them and chase them away, sometimes quite aggressively but still quite strange to see this rescue taking place with the cygnet bobbing along the path between the rangers
Eventually the young bird was directed towards two of its siblings on the shorter sections of moat near to the clock tower where it appeared to settle in with them.
Sounds as though you had a good day Steve - all this and Waxwings too. It was good to meet you in Sale - happy birding!
John H
golf course & forest...
4 great spotted woodpeckers
3 nuthatches
3 goldcrests
2 treecreepers
green woodpecker heard
tawny owl heard
plus usuals
deer park...
1 little owl
1 green woodpecker, more heard
7 great spotted woodpeckers, more heard
4 nuthatches
2 treecreepers
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 green sandpiper, on stream over bollington gate
1 barnacle goose on moat
15 siskins
1 jay
6 goldcrests
kingfisher heard near oxbow
plus usuals
21 Tufted Duck - Moat Pool
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard near the obelisk)
c50 Fieldfare
c15 Redwing
1 Little Grebe
1 Barnacle Goose - moat
1 Green Sandpiper - on the oxbow flood
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
2 Mistle Thrushes - singing
c50 Redwings
c50 Fieldfares - flew in from Carrington Moss
2 Ravens - over towards the Cheshire border, probably the same as seen on Carrington Moss earlier
no Egyptian Goose
I can agree in principle with your comments but believe caution should be exercised. A perfect example I think is wondering what happened to the Pink-footed Goose present in May at Etherow CP whilst on the bird race?
The current Barnacle Goose has been present 6+weeks and is happy associating with its cousins. It could have broke away from a group through injury and now in the depths of winter decided to stay till Spring. It will be interesting to see if it moves with the Canada Geese, I presume it arrived with the large flock?
Cheers
Jason
and looks nervous no doubt...
But it's fully-winged and un-ringed
Guilty until proven innocent; its current location, duration of stay and habits lean overwhelmingly to it being a feral bird, of which of course there are lots in the UK, not to mention right here in the north-west
Cheers
Jason
It's behaviour on the other hand, now favouring the moat and the proximity of lots of people, does seem to favour captive origin.
Hoping for a distant glimpse of the Barnacle Goose on the flooded field. Nice, instead, to see it at very close quarters on the Moat Pool.
Egyptian Goose still on the (very) flooded field over towards "The Swan With Two Nicks".
Photo of the Barnacle Goose at flickr
1 Egyptian Goose
2 Green Sandpiper
27 Black-headed Gulls
1 Ring-necked Parakeet - heard only
2 Green Woodpeckers
c60 Redwings
2 Linnets
Ring-necked Parakeet heard in The Moat area
-- Edited by James Walsh on Thursday 13th of December 2012 10:17:13 AM
1 Barnacle Goose, 1 Egyptian Goose & 1 Green Sandpiper Bollington Mill Flood
1 female Wigeon Smithy Pool
Info, Steven Burke
1 Barnacle Goose - back from it's little trip to Rostherne
1 Egyptian Goose
1 Little Grebe
2 Cormorants - over
1 Gadwall
13 Tufted Ducks
2 Goosanders - on the moat
1 Green Sandpiper
28 Lapwings
7 Common Gulls
c200 Black-headed Gulls
No sign of any waders though maybe because the fields were still frozen?
Rewarding morning though including sightings of:
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
20+ Long Tailed Tit
3 Nuthatch
Several Great and Blue Tit
2 Redwing
Couple of Song Thrush
Great directions, and I know the deer barn and smithy pool, so that's fine.
Re goose and green sandpiper, this isn't the stile called Bollington Gate is it? This is the only one I'm familiar with but I think it is on the east wall. In which case, do you mean one that you can reach via Main Drive, or maybe Farm Walk?
Am not hugely familiar with the park, presume there are lots of stiles I could get mixed up with, haven't been in a long time! Any mroe info about precisely where to go would therefore be useful and very much appreciated.
Thanks so much for all the info though!! see if I can get down tomorrow
The Egyptian Goose on Thursday was on the field with the large pool just south of Dunham park, either park in National Trust car park & go over the stile on the boundary wall & look to the right, or park at the Swan with two nicks pub on Park Lane, then walk north-east over the River Bollin, then along the track towards the park (the field with the large pool is on your left)
As far as I know the Green Sandpipers are in this field, the Little Owl was seen around the deer barn & the Green Woodpecker was feeding amongst the grass around the Smithy Pool (see the maps on the National Trust boards around the park for these locations)
Is the flooded field where the Egyptian goose has been seen on the right of the park (as viewed from the house), where you have to go over the steps to get outside the park boundary?
Thinking of going tomorrow but not sure where the goose would be, the more precise directions, the better!
And where is the best place for the green sandpipers?
And also where is the best place to see the little owls?
Sorry, lot of questions, but won't have much time so directions would help!
Thanks a lot
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Saturday 1st of December 2012 12:38:08 PM
1 Egyptian Goose - flooded field
21 Lapwing - flooded field
1 Green Woodpecker - showing well around Smithy Pool
1 Kingfisher - commuting between Smithy Pool & Island Pool
2 Gadwall - pair on Smithy Pool
c50 Canada Geese - Moat Pool
14 Tufted Duck
2 Goldcrest
Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard)
no sign of Barnacle Goose
((Also, 2 glimpses of what might have been a Short-eared Owl over field to north of the park, seen at distance from the deer barn looking north, but not seen well enough to confirm))
1 Barnacle Goose
1 Egyptian Goose
100+ Canada Geese
2 Green Sandpipers
12 Lapwings
2 Gadwalls
8 Tufted Ducks
1 Little Owl
1 Nuthatch
2 Treecreepers
1 Goldcrest
-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 26th of November 2012 07:54:58 PM