A jaunt round Etherow produced a few interesting birds most notable was seen on the way to pay for a parking ticket, looking up I was pleasantly surprised to see a Kite moving with the wind towards Marple.
The other birds;
2 Great Crested Grebe's 6m and 1f Tufted Duck 3f Mandarin 2 Treecreeper 1 Little Grebe 1 Kestrel
Mark
Mark Walsh said
Sat May 26 4:43 AM, 2012
A stroll round the park from 16:00 - 19:30 produced nothing much of note;
2 Treecreepers 2 Grey Wagtails 9m Mandarin (1 female seen though that was outside the park) 4 Nuthatch 1 Juv Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Grey Heron 1 Tawny Owl 4m + 2f Tufted Duck
And all the usual bit's and bob's.
Mark Walsh said
Mon May 21 11:41 PM, 2012
Same story as Ian, no Wood Warbler either seen or heard.
Other than that;
7m Mandarin 2m and 1f Tufted Duck 3 Nuthatch 1 Jay 3 Lapwing 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Dipper 2 Chiffchaff 1 Goldcrest 4m Blackcap 1 Green Woodpecker 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1m and 1f Goosander 2 Treecreeper
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 21 8:53 PM, 2012
No sight or sound of the Wood Warbler today.
Doc Brewster said
Mon May 21 5:45 AM, 2012
Wood Warbler still present in same area, very vocal & showing intermittantly up to 11.45am at least
Andrew Johnson said
Sun May 20 11:05 PM, 2012
The Wood Warbler was still singing merrily after 12:30pm.
I walked down through Ernocroft Woods to the hide for a while and then back (about 11:20 to 13:00). Chiffchaffs heard in the woods on the way down and from across the river but no Willow Warblers. Saw a female blackcap but didn't hear any singing.
Grey Wagtail just down from the weir. Male reed bunting seen briefly from the hide. Lone buzzard overhead from there too.
Saw a single male mandarin on the river behind the pump house thing when I had the briefest of looks. Single male tufted duck seen from the hide as well.
Jay visited the feeding station area; great spotted woodpecker heard calling from across the river to the left somewhere. Numerous nuthatches around but treecreepers didn't put in an appearance.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 20th of May 2012 11:19:39 PM
Geoff Walton said
Sun May 20 5:53 AM, 2012
7-8pm
4 Lapwing in and over the field next to the top path on the left under Werneth Low.
2 Grey Heron flying.
15 Swift over E.Wood
2 GC Grebe nest making
Stephen Fuentes said
Sun May 20 2:53 AM, 2012
Wood warbler very vocal and showing well still at 4.45pm in Ernocroft wood.
Also seen 4.45pm - 7pm
Mandarin (several m & f in different locations) Nuthatch (4) Goldcrest (3) Chiffchaff (several heard) Blackcap (2) Jay long-tailed tit Grey wagtail (by the weir) Grey Heron
I had a good around look for any flycatchers but no luck.
Cheers,
Steve.
Liam Langley said
Sat May 19 6:20 PM, 2012
Wood Warbler showing well at 09.00 as it sang and called in Erncroft Wood. A cracking local bird and a Greater Manchester tick. Thanks to everyone for the help
Phil Panton said
Sat May 19 5:16 PM, 2012
Nick Hilton wrote:
Liam Langley wrote:
Hi everyone. Im thinking of visiting for the Warbler tomorrow but I'm not overly familiar with the site. Could anyone give me some directions from the car park to the area the bird's in? Any help would be really appreciated.
Liam - go on the Manchester Birding Website Homepage, look under County Birding Sites and Map, find Etherow and you will find a map to Ernocroft. Good luck
Hi Liam,
From the car park head to your right & follow the path past the sailing club building alonside the lake & just keep walking for about 15 minutes until you reach the weir. Turn right across the bridge & the track into Ernocroft woods is directly in front of you.
Nick Hilton said
Sat May 19 5:26 AM, 2012
Liam Langley wrote:
Hi everyone. Im thinking of visiting for the Warbler tomorrow but I'm not overly familiar with the site. Could anyone give me some directions from the car park to the area the bird's in? Any help would be really appreciated.
Liam - go on the Manchester Birding Website Homepage, look under County Birding Sites and Map, find Etherow and you will find a map to Ernocroft. Good luck
Liam Langley said
Sat May 19 2:15 AM, 2012
Hi Keith, thanks very much for the directions . Hopefully its still about tomorrow. Il try and dodge the joggers.
Keith Mills said
Sat May 19 2:04 AM, 2012
Liam, 1. Obtain a map to the trails at the Visitors centre. 2. Follow any of the trails leading to the Weir. 3. Cross the River at the Bridge near the Weir. 4. Follow the main trail up through Ernocroft Wood( that eventually meets the Glossop road) 5. Carry on the trail until you see a ( private) track in front of you with a wide gate. Just before this private track is a crossroads of tracks. 7 At this crossroads you should hear the Wood Warbler , but take a small public track that bends sharply back to the right as you come up the hill 8) Go down this track 25 to 30 yards and view from the Track. 9) beware of Joggers!
Liam Langley said
Sat May 19 1:43 AM, 2012
Hi everyone. Im thinking of visiting for the Warbler tomorrow but I'm not overly familiar with the site. Could anyone give me some directions from the car park to the area the bird's in? Any help would be really appreciated.
Liam
Mark Walsh said
Fri May 18 10:38 PM, 2012
Late post for thursday 17:00 - 21:30
Grey Heron near the visitor centre 5 Lapwing 2 Chiffchaff seen many more heard 1 Grey Wagtail 3 Song Thrush seen but heard everywhere within the park 2 Goldcrest 1 Jay 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker 6m + 4F Tufted Duck 1m + 1f Reed Bunting 2m Mandarin 1m + 1f Bullfinch 3 Nuthatch 2 Treecreeper 1m Kestrel 1 Tawny owl with what appeared to be a Rabbit kill.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of May 2012 10:40:37 PM
John Rayner said
Fri May 18 5:47 PM, 2012
07.00 - 10.00
Wood Warbler still singing 11 Blackcaps (all singing males) 6 Chiffchaffs (but no Willow Warblers) 2 Treecreepers 4 Nuthatches (2 nests) 3 Great spotted Woodpeckers 1 Green Woodpecker 1 female Mandarin with 7 ducklings (Keg Pool) and 2 male Mandarins on nearby river 2 Mute Swans (1 colour ringed BLUE ZP4) Uncounted Wrens (about 1 every 50 yards), Robins, Tits or Thrushes No Flycatchers or Redstarts and NO PEOPLE - never saw a soul in 3 hours!
Cheers, John
Keith Mills said
Wed May 16 3:25 PM, 2012
9.40 to 1.40 today.
Wood Warbler....1 Viewed from a path in Ernocroft Wood, it put on a great display, staying local to a smallish area, it flitted between a few trees, from branch to branch. Often perching to sing. It gave every impression of enjoying life at Ernocroft!
Other Sightings: Mandarin Duck...7.....including 1 female. House Sparrows ...5 Grey Heron....1 Tufted Duck....2 Nuthatch...3 Mistle Thrush...2 Song Thrush....3 Great Spotted Woodpecker....1
Very nice to meet local birder, Antony Marriott, who took me to areas in Etherow unknown to me, and also gave me a free natural history lesson. During this exploration we heard one incessant Green Woodpecker.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 03:27:42 PM
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 07:39:18 PM
Mark Walsh said
Wed May 16 3:30 AM, 2012
Called in today from 16:00 - 20:00
1 Wood Warbler 2m + 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Green Woodpecker seen near Keg pool 6 Nuthatch 3 Treecreeper 2m + 2f Mandarin 2m + 1f Tufted Duck 1 Buzzard 1 Grey Wagtail Good numbers of Swift, Swallow and House Martin Usual Tit's and Finches
No Flycatchers seen unfortunately.
Mark Walsh said
Mon May 14 10:49 PM, 2012
Phil Panton wrote:
Hi Mark,
Seen both species at Etherow a number of times in the past, its a case of 'the more you visit the more you see'.
Don't feel asthough you have to seek reassurance for a sighting, & i'm sure Mr Evans has taught you well.
Cheers Phil,
I didn't quite believe my luck so was unsure if others would I'll be a bit more bold with my postings from now on.
I might see if I can get down tomorrow for the wood warbler it'll be nice to see one and it would be my first of the year.
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Monday 14th of May 2012 10:51:32 PM
Tony Mossman said
Mon May 14 10:44 PM, 2012
Wood Warbler still showing well in Ernocroft Wood 1400 hours. No need to leave the path.
Cheers
Tony
John Rayner said
Mon May 14 9:17 PM, 2012
09.15-13.30
A long walk inside and outside the country park boundaries
Roosting Tawny Owl Pink footed Goose on river by Keg Pool Egyptian Goose and 2 aggressive Mute Swans on Keg Pool Usual common woodland species
Cheers John
Lee Griffiths said
Mon May 14 3:45 PM, 2012
wood warbler showing really well at 8.30 am
Tim Wilcox said
Mon May 14 11:01 AM, 2012
Late post for yesterday am 10.00am - 1.45pm
In the two hours of fairly uneventful birding prior to the delight of finding the Wood Warbler for ourselves Tony Darby and I had 12 male Mandarin and 4 female Mandarin total - mostly in the channel alongside the path to the weir with 2 on Keg Pool and 2 on the river Grey Wagtail on the river Nuthatch 2 at Sunny Corner Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Green Woodpecker heard Goldcrest 2 singing Egyptian Goose Keg Pool Mute Swan pair Keg Pool No flycatcher species unfortunately
I have checked Ernocroft Wood for Wood Warbler every year for the last 10 years since finding one for myself but had not connected here recently so it was great to have one back
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 14th of May 2012 11:02:04 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 14 4:15 AM, 2012
Anyone visiting the site for the Wood Warbler should please be particularly considerate when viewing the bird and not attempt to get too close etc.
Iain Johnson said
Mon May 14 1:36 AM, 2012
RBA reporting a wood warbler today
Adam Jones said
Sun May 13 10:42 PM, 2012
Sunday 13th May 6am
A nice early morning with plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in good voice. Dipper close to the weir and several Bullfinches around. Green Woodpecker heard. Egyptian Goose on Keg pool and two feisty Mute Swans that weren't too happy to see me. Lots of the usuals too.
Tony Darby said
Sun May 13 8:21 PM, 2012
Iain Johnson wrote:
RBA reporting a wood warbler today
They're spot on; Wood Warbler in Ernocroft Woods today, seen by myself and Tim Wilcox. Without the help of RBA I should add. Nice to bump into Steve Burke again.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 13th of May 2012 08:55:36 PM
Chris Greene said
Sat May 12 5:38 PM, 2012
13:00-16:00...
40+ swifts over river / Keg Pool area. Common buzzard. On a slightly worrying note,we saw a male mandarin, on" the front line",amongst the "bread munchers", down by the cafe
Cheers Chris
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of May 2012 06:29:18 PM
Phil Panton said
Sat May 12 3:40 PM, 2012
Hi Mark,
Seen both species at Etherow a number of times in the past, its a case of 'the more you visit the more you see'.
Don't feel asthough you have to seek reassurance for a sighting, & i'm sure Mr Evans has taught you well.
Mark Walsh said
Sat May 12 6:45 AM, 2012
John Rayner wrote:
Hi Mark,
A Spotted Flycatcher was seen on 3rd May near Sunny Corner - may well be your bird.
Cheers, John
Ah good to know I'm not the only one who's seen it.
Cheers John
Mark
John Rayner said
Sat May 12 3:48 AM, 2012
Hi Mark,
A Spotted Flycatcher was seen on 3rd May near Sunny Corner - may well be your bird.
Cheers, John
Mark Walsh said
Sat May 12 3:39 AM, 2012
Now I'm back home I can post the other sightings,
2m +1f Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Goldcrest 3 Nuthatch 1 Treecreeper 3 Song Thrush seen plenty more heard Lots of Chiffchaff heard but none seen 6 Lapwing 1 Kingfisher About half a dozen Blackcaps 2 Buzzards 4m +2f Tufted Ducks And 1 Spotted Flycatcher seen by Keg Pool on the river side.
I appreciate how this looks, I've yet to post 10 times and have already posted 2 birds a lot of people have been hoping to see at Etherow for years. I'm sure Tony Mossman and Dave Evans would vouch for my sincerity (if asked) though my Id'ing I guess will only be confirmed by someone seeing the bird.
Mark Walsh said
Sat May 12 1:49 AM, 2012
Spotted flycatcher stopped watching it to post this, its moving about in the trees along the path between keg pool and the river about 1/3rd of the way along.
Andrew Johnson said
Mon May 7 5:36 PM, 2012
Common Sandpiper viewed from the hide at 10:30. I'm rubbish at waders but this one was determined to show off as many field marks as it could so I have no doubts.
Mark Walsh said
Wed May 2 3:09 AM, 2012
Thanks for the welcome Steven. I headed down yesterday (30/04) after work to make good use of the sunshine and bumped into the Canada's again, though this time I was prepared with some seed which sort of worked. I didn't get hissed at but they did stay close.
Nothing really of note:
4m +1f Mandarin 2 Nuthatch's Usual Tit's 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers Swallows over the main lake 1m Blackcap 1 Dipper 5 Lapwing's
steven burke said
Sat Apr 28 6:05 AM, 2012
Mark Walsh wrote:
15:40 - 18:00
1 Chiffchaff seen lots heard 3 Nuthatch (2 seen at the hide) 1 Treecreeper (again the hide) 3 Lapwing one of which was displaying 1 Dipper 3m + 1f Mandarin 1m + 1f Blackcap Lots of Swallows over the main lake 5 Cormorants in the usual tree Usual Tits and Finches
Heard 1 Green Woodpecker Heard 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Heard 1 Tawny Owl which was then located - Debated whether to put this one down as it seems a bit much to post a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Tawny owls in my first 4 posts, but then this is a record of birds seen so down it goes.
Also when going to the hide you might want to be careful as there are 2 Canada geese that seem to have taken up residence close to the path where it turns parallel to the river before getting to the board walk. They are rather aggressive and it may be best if your heading that way to have some seed so as to distract them on your way past (then don't forget you'll need some for the return journey). Can't guarantee that it will work especially as it didn't for me, but then I did throw part of my flapjack bought from the cafe rather than seed.
hi mark,i had the pleasure off bumping into the 2 canada geese on sunday,they actually just hissed at me & walked away. maybe they did not like the look off you or i must off been to scary for them well done on the pied flycatcher last friday,as you can see from my post no signs off any on my visit on sunday & welcome to the forum mark
Mark Walsh said
Sat Apr 28 4:04 AM, 2012
15:40 - 18:00
1 Chiffchaff seen lots heard 3 Nuthatch (2 seen at the hide) 1 Treecreeper (again the hide) 3 Lapwing one of which was displaying 1 Dipper 3m + 1f Mandarin 1m + 1f Blackcap Lots of Swallows over the main lake 5 Cormorants in the usual tree Usual Tits and Finches
Heard 1 Green Woodpecker Heard 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker Heard 1 Tawny Owl which was then located - Debated whether to put this one down as it seems a bit much to post a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Tawny owls in my first 4 posts, but then this is a record of birds seen so down it goes.
Also when going to the hide you might want to be careful as there are 2 Canada geese that seem to have taken up residence close to the path where it turns parallel to the river before getting to the board walk. They are rather aggressive and it may be best if your heading that way to have some seed so as to distract them on your way past (then don't forget you'll need some for the return journey). Can't guarantee that it will work especially as it didn't for me, but then I did throw part of my flapjack bought from the cafe rather than seed.
steven burke said
Mon Apr 23 4:52 AM, 2012
2.45-7pm
at least 5 buzzards,3 in the air at once. 2 sparrowhawks 1 dipper 2 grey wagtails 2 great spotted woodpeckers 6 treecreepers 4 nuthatches 3 jays 2 bullfinches 2 lapwings over several mandarins around several swallows & house martins over
keg pool..
1 egyptian goose 1 little grebe 10 tufted ducks 6m 4f 1 willow warbler,the only one seen & heard on my walk around
plenty off blackcaps & chiffchaffs around green woodpecker (heard only) plus all usual birds around.
Mark Walsh said
Mon Apr 23 12:24 AM, 2012
Chris Greene wrote:
Welcome to the forum Mark. Thanks for posting your sighting of the pied flycatcher,nice record for Etherow these days ! I've been scouring the area at least twice a week ,for the past month , looking for flycatchers and redstarts etc... it's just over a year since I last saw a single male pied flycatcher at Etherow , I don't think it stuck around though...Lets hope for a better result this year ! I might try to get down there today between the showers , off to Norfolk early tomorrow , no rest for the wicked !
Cheers Chris
Thanks for the welcome Chris. Iv'e been going down normally once a week though I manage twice a week sometimes, most of the time it's the usual suspects but sometimes I get something nice like the Goosander's or the Teal though I haven't seen any for a while.
I went down again myself today only covered the top path from the car park to the weir and then 20 minutes in the hide, sadly no Pied Flycatcher seen though I did watch with some amusement a Nuthatch and Great Tit creep round the trunk of the tree just out the window on the left, they got quite a shock when they bumped into each other.
Other birds seen;
1f Goosander around the pump house 4m Mandarin in the same area + another 5m from the hide 2m + 1f Tufted Duck from the hide
Small birds form the hide;
Willow warbler on the approach to said hide 4 Nuthatch 1 Treecreeper All the usual Tit's M + F Chaffinch
Regards
Mark
Geoff Walton said
Sun Apr 22 2:34 AM, 2012
A cold 30min stroll around the main lake 6.45-7.15pm let me see my first Swallows and swifts of the year
3 Swallows hunting low
a group of about 8 Swifts fairly high up displayed for about 3 mins, and then moved on.
Chris Greene said
Sat Apr 21 2:49 PM, 2012
Welcome to the forum Mark. Thanks for posting your sighting of the pied flycatcher,nice record for Etherow these days ! I've been scouring the area at least twice a week ,for the past month , looking for flycatchers and redstarts etc... it's just over a year since I last saw a single male pied flycatcher at Etherow , I don't think it stuck around though...Lets hope for a better result this year ! I might try to get down there today between the showers , off to Norfolk early tomorrow , no rest for the wicked !
Cheers Chris
Mark Walsh said
Fri Apr 20 9:37 PM, 2012
I have in the past just lingered but while out this afternoon I saw something I believe a few might be interested in.
I got to the park at about 4pm and headed out past the main pools where there was nothing out of the usual, walking then along the path between the river and canal I saw 1m and 1f Goosander on the canal a bird I haven't seen here for a couple of months. I then headed up past the weir and on to the hide, it must have been about 4:30 when I was walking to the door of the hide, after 10 minutes sat down I saw out the left hand side 1 male Pied Flycatcher about 20 meters from the hide, I watched it for a good few minutes while it flitted between branches before flying to the other side of the river where I lost it.
Other birds of note:
2 Kingfisher sightings one around Keg pool, the other by the canal on the way back 3 Chiffchaff seen, more heard 4 or 5 Song Thrush seen 12m + 7f Mandarin 1 Grey Wagtail Lots of Swallows over the main pool 1 Lapwing seen from sunny corner
Other birds from the hide;
Blue Tit Great Tit Coal Tit Long Tailed Tit Treecreeper Nuthatch Blackcap across the river
Sadly I didn't see any Dipper's nor Great Spotted Woodpecker's, still Iv'e seen plenty of these in the past at Etherow but never a Flycatcher so I'm still rather pleased.
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Friday 20th of April 2012 09:43:36 PM
Chris Greene said
Mon Apr 2 2:48 PM, 2012
Late post for yesterday pm. 13:00 -15:00... Once away from the main visitor areas ! ... Chiffchaffs everywhere, at least a dozen heard- two seen, 2 willow warblers, 1 blackcap, 1 great spotted woodpecker seen, more drumming , Green woodpecker constantly calling from top of valley, over towards Werneth Low. Male pheasant , Buzzard hunting low through woods, 3 lapwings seen from top path, Good numbers of the usuals,especially nuthatches and coal tits.
Cheers Chris
Andy Bissitt said
Thu Mar 15 4:18 AM, 2012
Like so many sites in the east of the county, Etherow is a sad relic of what it once was. In one case, Vic blames the not-so-unbelievable act of the wardens in finishing one species off, but I'm as inclined to think that birds ebb away from less than prime habitat like we have in Greater Manchester when they start to struggle in the country as a whole. Vic has not even mentioned lesser spotted woodpecker, which is a much missed species in the area as a whole.
On the willow/marsh tit thing. I have seen both in the park, but was not living in the area until 1986 when the willow just hung on. I saw them on the bird table outside the wardens cottage a couple of times, whilst the flock of 3 marsh tits I was lucky to witness were probably just passing through.
You've got to keep going to the place though, because it did turn up a firecrest one spring and there was my 'pallid' swift on 21st March 2010. One year (early 90's, but I'd have to check), I even swore I heard a Bonelli's warbler singing, but thought 'you wouldn't get one round here, would you?' We all know what happened last summer in Derbyshire now, don't we!!!!
Keep on lookin'
Phil Panton said
Thu Mar 15 3:09 AM, 2012
Sorry...wasn't thinking.
John Rayner said
Wed Mar 14 10:25 PM, 2012
Phil Panton wrote:
Are Redstart still breeding there Vic ? Haven't seen any on site for a few years now
Hi Vic/Phil,
If you have any info one way or the other it may be better to answer by 'Private Mail'. Egg collectors probably scour these forums.
Cheers, John
Phil Panton said
Wed Mar 14 1:59 PM, 2012
Are Redstart still breeding there Vic ? Haven't seen any on site for a few years now
vic chatterton said
Wed Mar 14 6:18 AM, 2012
Willow Tits were regular breeders up to the 1980s. There are also records from Etherow CP of Marsh Tits in the late 1970s but I think that they were probably wrongly identified. Wood Warblers were more or less annual in small numbers until a few years ago. I did find 3 breeding pairs in the early 1990s. Around that time there were records from a number of sites along the Etherow valley. Sadly just as they appeared to becoming well established they crashed to almost nothing in the space of 2 years. This was also the case for a number of sites just over the border into Derbyshire. A pair bred at Etherow successfully 2 or 3 years ago but this appeared to be a one off as I have not seen a Wood Warbler anywhere in the region for the past 2 years despite visiting at least 10 sites where they were recorded in past years. It would appear that the decline is due to something in their wintering quarters. Tree Sparrows were also regular breeders at Etherow CP into the early 1980s. We have also lost Yellowhammers, Cuckoos, Spotted Flycatchers and sadly in the past couple of years Pied Flycatchers. Garden Warblers appear to have ceased breeding at Etherow CP - the last site where they bred was unbelievably destroyed by the wardens 2 winters ago.
The Peet family said
Wed Mar 14 3:33 AM, 2012
Thanks that will make my dad happy
Phil Panton said
Wed Mar 14 3:25 AM, 2012
Have seen Willow Tit & Wood Warbler at the Etherow, but not for many a long year, also remember a Great Grey Shrike up near the wardens house, but we're going back 35 years or more.
The other birds;
2 Great Crested Grebe's
6m and 1f Tufted Duck
3f Mandarin
2 Treecreeper
1 Little Grebe
1 Kestrel
Mark
2 Treecreepers
2 Grey Wagtails
9m Mandarin (1 female seen though that was outside the park)
4 Nuthatch
1 Juv Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Grey Heron
1 Tawny Owl
4m + 2f Tufted Duck
And all the usual bit's and bob's.
Other than that;
7m Mandarin
2m and 1f Tufted Duck
3 Nuthatch
1 Jay
3 Lapwing
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Dipper
2 Chiffchaff
1 Goldcrest
4m Blackcap
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1m and 1f Goosander
2 Treecreeper
I walked down through Ernocroft Woods to the hide for a while and then back (about 11:20 to 13:00). Chiffchaffs heard in the woods on the way down and from across the river but no Willow Warblers. Saw a female blackcap but didn't hear any singing.
Grey Wagtail just down from the weir. Male reed bunting seen briefly from the hide. Lone buzzard overhead from there too.
Saw a single male mandarin on the river behind the pump house thing when I had the briefest of looks. Single male tufted duck seen from the hide as well.
Jay visited the feeding station area; great spotted woodpecker heard calling from across the river to the left somewhere. Numerous nuthatches around but treecreepers didn't put in an appearance.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 20th of May 2012 11:19:39 PM
4 Lapwing in and over the field next to the top path on the left under Werneth Low.
2 Grey Heron flying.
15 Swift over E.Wood
2 GC Grebe nest making
Also seen 4.45pm - 7pm
Mandarin (several m & f in different locations)
Nuthatch (4)
Goldcrest (3)
Chiffchaff (several heard)
Blackcap (2)
Jay
long-tailed tit
Grey wagtail (by the weir)
Grey Heron
I had a good around look for any flycatchers but no luck.
Cheers,
Steve.
Hi Liam,
From the car park head to your right & follow the path past the sailing club building alonside the lake & just keep walking for about 15 minutes until you reach the weir.
Turn right across the bridge & the track into Ernocroft woods is directly in front of you.
1. Obtain a map to the trails at the Visitors centre.
2. Follow any of the trails leading to the Weir.
3. Cross the River at the Bridge near the Weir.
4. Follow the main trail up through Ernocroft Wood( that eventually meets the Glossop road)
5. Carry on the trail until you see a ( private) track in front of you with a wide gate. Just before this private track is a crossroads of tracks.
7 At this crossroads you should hear the Wood Warbler , but take a small public track that bends sharply back to the right as you come up the hill
8) Go down this track 25 to 30 yards and view from the Track.
9) beware of Joggers!
Liam
Grey Heron near the visitor centre
5 Lapwing
2 Chiffchaff seen many more heard
1 Grey Wagtail
3 Song Thrush seen but heard everywhere within the park
2 Goldcrest
1 Jay
1f Great Spotted Woodpecker
6m + 4F Tufted Duck
1m + 1f Reed Bunting
2m Mandarin
1m + 1f Bullfinch
3 Nuthatch
2 Treecreeper
1m Kestrel
1 Tawny owl with what appeared to be a Rabbit kill.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 18th of May 2012 10:40:37 PM
Wood Warbler still singing
11 Blackcaps (all singing males)
6 Chiffchaffs (but no Willow Warblers)
2 Treecreepers
4 Nuthatches (2 nests)
3 Great spotted Woodpeckers
1 Green Woodpecker
1 female Mandarin with 7 ducklings (Keg Pool) and 2 male Mandarins on nearby river
2 Mute Swans (1 colour ringed BLUE ZP4)
Uncounted Wrens (about 1 every 50 yards), Robins, Tits or Thrushes
No Flycatchers or Redstarts and NO PEOPLE - never saw a soul in 3 hours!
Cheers, John
It gave every impression of enjoying life at Ernocroft!
Other Sightings:
Mandarin Duck...7.....including 1 female.
House Sparrows ...5
Grey Heron....1
Tufted Duck....2
Nuthatch...3
Mistle Thrush...2
Song Thrush....3
Great Spotted Woodpecker....1
Very nice to meet local birder, Antony Marriott, who took me to areas in Etherow unknown to me, and also gave me a free natural history lesson.
During this exploration we heard one incessant Green Woodpecker.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 03:27:42 PM
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 16th of May 2012 07:39:18 PM
1 Wood Warbler
2m + 1f Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker seen near Keg pool
6 Nuthatch
3 Treecreeper
2m + 2f Mandarin
2m + 1f Tufted Duck
1 Buzzard
1 Grey Wagtail
Good numbers of Swift, Swallow and House Martin
Usual Tit's and Finches
No Flycatchers seen unfortunately.
Cheers Phil,
I didn't quite believe my luck so was unsure if others would
I might see if I can get down tomorrow for the wood warbler it'll be nice to see one and it would be my first of the year.
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Monday 14th of May 2012 10:51:32 PM
Cheers
Tony
A long walk inside and outside the country park boundaries
Roosting Tawny Owl
Pink footed Goose on river by Keg Pool
Egyptian Goose and 2 aggressive Mute Swans on Keg Pool
Usual common woodland species
Cheers John
In the two hours of fairly uneventful birding prior to the delight of finding the Wood Warbler for ourselves Tony Darby and I had
12 male Mandarin and 4 female Mandarin total - mostly in the channel alongside the path to the weir with 2 on Keg Pool and 2 on the river
Grey Wagtail on the river
Nuthatch 2 at Sunny Corner
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Green Woodpecker heard
Goldcrest 2 singing
Egyptian Goose Keg Pool
Mute Swan pair Keg Pool
No flycatcher species unfortunately
I have checked Ernocroft Wood for Wood Warbler every year for the last 10 years since finding one for myself but had not connected here recently so it was great to have one back
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Monday 14th of May 2012 11:02:04 AM
A nice early morning with plenty of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps in good voice.
Dipper close to the weir and several Bullfinches around.
Green Woodpecker heard. Egyptian Goose on Keg pool and two feisty Mute Swans that weren't too happy to see me.
Lots of the usuals too.
They're spot on; Wood Warbler in Ernocroft Woods today, seen by myself and
Tim Wilcox. Without the help of RBA I should add.
Nice to bump into Steve Burke again.
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 13th of May 2012 08:55:36 PM
40+ swifts over river / Keg Pool area.
Common buzzard.
On a slightly worrying note,we saw a male mandarin, on" the front line",amongst the "bread munchers", down by the cafe
Cheers Chris
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of May 2012 06:29:18 PM
Seen both species at Etherow a number of times in the past,
its a case of 'the more you visit the more you see'.
Don't feel asthough you have to seek reassurance for a sighting, & i'm sure Mr Evans has taught you well.
Ah good to know I'm not the only one who's seen it.
Cheers John
Mark
A Spotted Flycatcher was seen on 3rd May near Sunny Corner - may well be your bird.
Cheers, John
2m +1f Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Goldcrest
3 Nuthatch
1 Treecreeper
3 Song Thrush seen plenty more heard
Lots of Chiffchaff heard but none seen
6 Lapwing
1 Kingfisher
About half a dozen Blackcaps
2 Buzzards
4m +2f Tufted Ducks
And 1 Spotted Flycatcher seen by Keg Pool on the river side.
I appreciate how this looks, I've yet to post 10 times and have already posted 2 birds a lot of people have been hoping to see at Etherow for years. I'm sure Tony Mossman and Dave Evans would vouch for my sincerity (if asked) though my Id'ing I guess will only be confirmed by someone seeing the bird.
Nothing really of note:
4m +1f Mandarin
2 Nuthatch's
Usual Tit's
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Swallows over the main lake
1m Blackcap
1 Dipper
5 Lapwing's
hi mark,i had the pleasure off bumping into the 2 canada geese on sunday,they actually just hissed at me & walked away. maybe they did not like the look off you
well done on the pied flycatcher last friday,as you can see from my post no signs off any on my visit on sunday & welcome to the forum mark
1 Chiffchaff seen lots heard
3 Nuthatch (2 seen at the hide)
1 Treecreeper (again the hide)
3 Lapwing one of which was displaying
1 Dipper
3m + 1f Mandarin
1m + 1f Blackcap
Lots of Swallows over the main lake
5 Cormorants in the usual tree
Usual Tits and Finches
Heard 1 Green Woodpecker
Heard 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Heard 1 Tawny Owl which was then located - Debated whether to put this one down as it seems a bit much to post a Pied Flycatcher and 2 Tawny owls in my first 4 posts, but then this is a record of birds seen so down it goes.
Also when going to the hide you might want to be careful as there are 2 Canada geese that seem to have taken up residence close to the path where it turns parallel to the river before getting to the board walk. They are rather aggressive and it may be best if your heading that way to have some seed so as to distract them on your way past (then don't forget you'll need some for the return journey).
Can't guarantee that it will work especially as it didn't for me, but then I did throw part of my flapjack bought from the cafe rather than seed.
at least 5 buzzards,3 in the air at once.
2 sparrowhawks
1 dipper
2 grey wagtails
2 great spotted woodpeckers
6 treecreepers
4 nuthatches
3 jays
2 bullfinches
2 lapwings over
several mandarins around
several swallows & house martins over
keg pool..
1 egyptian goose
1 little grebe
10 tufted ducks 6m 4f
1 willow warbler,the only one seen & heard on my walk around
plenty off blackcaps & chiffchaffs around
green woodpecker (heard only)
plus all usual birds around.
Thanks for the welcome Chris. Iv'e been going down normally once a week though I manage twice a week sometimes, most of the time it's the usual suspects but sometimes I get something nice like the Goosander's or the Teal though I haven't seen any for a while.
I went down again myself today only covered the top path from the car park to the weir and then 20 minutes in the hide, sadly no Pied Flycatcher seen though I did watch with some amusement a Nuthatch and Great Tit creep round the trunk of the tree just out the window on the left, they got quite a shock when they bumped into each other.
Other birds seen;
1f Goosander around the pump house
4m Mandarin in the same area + another 5m from the hide
2m + 1f Tufted Duck from the hide
Small birds form the hide;
Willow warbler on the approach to said hide
4 Nuthatch
1 Treecreeper
All the usual Tit's
M + F Chaffinch
Regards
Mark
3 Swallows hunting low
a group of about 8 Swifts fairly high up displayed for about 3 mins, and then moved on.
Thanks for posting your sighting of the pied flycatcher,nice record for Etherow these days !
I've been scouring the area at least twice a week ,for the past month , looking for flycatchers and redstarts etc... it's just over a year since I last saw a single male pied flycatcher at Etherow , I don't think it stuck around though...Lets hope for a better result this year !
I might try to get down there today between the showers , off to Norfolk early tomorrow , no rest for the wicked !
Cheers Chris
I got to the park at about 4pm and headed out past the main pools where there was nothing out of the usual, walking then along the path between the river and canal I saw 1m and 1f Goosander on the canal a bird I haven't seen here for a couple of months.
I then headed up past the weir and on to the hide, it must have been about 4:30 when I was walking to the door of the hide, after 10 minutes sat down I saw out the left hand side 1 male Pied Flycatcher about 20 meters from the hide, I watched it for a good few minutes while it flitted between branches before flying to the other side of the river where I lost it.
Other birds of note:
2 Kingfisher sightings one around Keg pool, the other by the canal on the way back
3 Chiffchaff seen, more heard
4 or 5 Song Thrush seen
12m + 7f Mandarin
1 Grey Wagtail
Lots of Swallows over the main pool
1 Lapwing seen from sunny corner
Other birds from the hide;
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tailed Tit
Treecreeper
Nuthatch
Blackcap across the river
Sadly I didn't see any Dipper's nor Great Spotted Woodpecker's, still Iv'e seen plenty of these in the past at Etherow but never a Flycatcher so I'm still rather pleased.
Mark
-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Friday 20th of April 2012 09:43:36 PM
Once away from the main visitor areas ! ...
Chiffchaffs everywhere, at least a dozen heard- two seen,
2 willow warblers,
1 blackcap,
1 great spotted woodpecker seen, more drumming ,
Green woodpecker constantly calling from top of valley, over towards Werneth Low.
Male pheasant ,
Buzzard hunting low through woods,
3 lapwings seen from top path,
Good numbers of the usuals,especially nuthatches and coal tits.
Cheers Chris
On the willow/marsh tit thing. I have seen both in the park, but was not living in the area until 1986 when the willow just hung on. I saw them on the bird table outside the wardens cottage a couple of times, whilst the flock of 3 marsh tits I was lucky to witness were probably just passing through.
You've got to keep going to the place though, because it did turn up a firecrest one spring and there was my 'pallid' swift on 21st March 2010. One year (early 90's, but I'd have to check), I even swore I heard a Bonelli's warbler singing, but thought 'you wouldn't get one round here, would you?' We all know what happened last summer in Derbyshire now, don't we!!!!
Keep on lookin'
Hi Vic/Phil,
If you have any info one way or the other it may be better to answer by 'Private Mail'. Egg collectors probably scour these forums.
Cheers, John
Haven't seen any on site for a few years now
Wood Warblers were more or less annual in small numbers until a few years ago. I did find 3 breeding pairs in the early 1990s. Around that time there were records from a number of sites along the Etherow valley. Sadly just as they appeared to becoming well established they crashed to almost nothing in the space of 2 years. This was also the case for a number of sites just over the border into Derbyshire. A pair bred at Etherow successfully 2 or 3 years ago but this appeared to be a one off as I have not seen a Wood Warbler anywhere in the region for the past 2 years despite visiting at least 10 sites where they were recorded in past years. It would appear that the decline is due to something in their wintering quarters.
Tree Sparrows were also regular breeders at Etherow CP into the early 1980s.
We have also lost Yellowhammers, Cuckoos, Spotted Flycatchers and sadly in the past couple of years Pied Flycatchers. Garden Warblers appear to have ceased breeding at Etherow CP - the last site where they bred was unbelievably destroyed by the wardens 2 winters ago.