One Egyptian Goose in flooded field between the park wall and bridge over the Bollin to the Swan with Two Nicks at 2.30pm. Also two Green Sandpipers near the oxbow pools.
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:21:52 PM
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:22:17 PM
Henry Cook said
Thu Oct 25 4:44 AM, 2012
24/10/2012 - 1+ Brambling in the park this afternoon, congregating with Goldfinches near the watermill. Also a Kingfisher flew into the gardens from Smithy Pool.
Neil Collier said
Wed Oct 24 11:09 PM, 2012
Excellent views today of a Green Woodpecker to the left of the obelisk, also 3 raven overhead near the house. Plenty of rutting deer, even witnessed a "head to head" fight of two stags and a number of stags bellowing. The trees are in splendid colour and need to be seen before winds and frost spoil them.
Henry Cook said
Mon Oct 22 2:20 AM, 2012
Also 1 Grey Heron, 1 Teal, c90 Canada Geese, 115 Lapwings and 250+ Black-headed Gulls on the floods out of the park towards Bollington Mill flats this afternoon as well as the Wigeon. Never seen the park so busy, stayed well clear!
Ian Boote said
Sun Oct 21 6:58 PM, 2012
6 wigeon in field near mill, nuthatches, Green Woodpecker heard Great Spotted Woodpecker. Plenty of Fallow Deer rutting quite spectacular until a daft dog not on lead started worrying the deer followed by an even dafter man in big boots and bright yellow jacket running around waving his arms about and wistling put an end to it.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of October 2012 07:00:50 PM
Mike Duckham said
Wed Oct 10 5:32 PM, 2012
One Green Sandpiper yesterday 4p.m., on small flood between the oxbows just outside the park wall, upstream from the mill. The floods appear to be shrinking in this fine weather, but judging by the tidelines in the fields, and the broken river bank downstream, there's been a bit of water the last couple of weeks! I was surprised that the farmer sowed barley in one of the fields this year, but looks like he managed to squeeze in a crop in between the field being underwater.
Steven Nelson said
Wed Sep 26 5:04 AM, 2012
Small group of c.8 House Martins very low over the road heading south in the rain this evening - 5.45pm
Joe Wynn said
Mon Sep 24 2:31 AM, 2012
Very likely John, might go back and have another look at some point.
John Doherty said
Mon Sep 24 12:07 AM, 2012
Well done, Joe, excellent. Pity the weather wasn't as great as yesterday.
- I also had a Grey Wagtail which I omitted from my report (forgot it) on the pool coming from the hall towards the Charcoal Lane I'm assuming that's Smithy Pool, could well be the same bird.
Cheers
Joe Wynn said
Sun Sep 23 10:13 PM, 2012
Thanks John, both birds present today. bit of a surprise in a nice Grey Wagtail on Smithy Pool as well, wasn't expecting that!
Joe Wynn said
Sun Sep 23 2:00 AM, 2012
John Doherty wrote:
Nice day today.
Few Nuthatches about 1 Buzzard 2 Green Sandpipers, flooded field. 1 Common Gull
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 06:59:31 PM
Hi John, where are the flooded fields and how accessible are they? Thanks!
John Doherty said
Sat Sep 22 7:04 PM, 2012
Hi Joe - what you do is go right down to the back of the park where the Hall is. You've got the mill with the wheel on the left just past that, and just beyond this is a gate with steps -over the steps the field on the right where there's a stream running through. It's got a bit of a flood and the good stuff is there. If you head for the perimeter wall you can see the steps too. They can be viewed from either the path running alongside the field (easy when you get over the steps) or inisde the park itself from over the wall, which is closer to the action but obscured by trees.
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 07:06:01 PM
John Doherty said
Sat Sep 22 6:55 PM, 2012
Nice day today.
Few Nuthatches about 1 Buzzard 2 Green Sandpipers, flooded field. 1 Common Gull 2 Pied Wagtails, flooded field
etc etc
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 07:00:28 PM
JasonAtkinson said
Wed Sep 19 1:36 AM, 2012
3 Green Sandpipers on flood beside brook this afternoon.
Cheers Jason
Henry Cook said
Wed Sep 5 2:56 AM, 2012
04/09/2012 - 6.00-7.30pm:
1 Hobby - flying down the Bollin 6 Common Gulls - loafing in formerly flooded field
sid ashton said
Fri Aug 17 1:59 AM, 2012
5 Green Sandpipers on the flooded field this afternoon with 2 Lapwing and 8 Canada Geese.
sid ashton said
Wed Aug 8 4:08 AM, 2012
Two Green Sandpipers seen on the flooded field next to the brook to the mill this evening.
sid ashton said
Mon Aug 6 1:13 AM, 2012
This afternoon on the flooded field beside the brook to Bollington Mill; 3 Green Sandpipers amongst the Canada Geese and Black headed Gulls.
Also present a family of Pied Wagtails and on the brook a Little Grebe and a Grey Heron.
Over the sewage works a Hobby appeared to be just cruising around
18/07/2012 - 5pm, on and around the floods toward Bollington Mill:
4 Grey Herons 1 Gadwall 4 Teals 21 Mallards 1 Green Sandpiper 19 Lapwings c150 Black-headed Gulls - about 15 fresh juvs in amongst 17 House Martins 8 Swallows 4 Swifts
Henry Cook said
Fri Jul 6 4:13 AM, 2012
05/07/2012 - 7-8.30pm - not managed a Spotted Flycatcher yet here this year, but on the upside the fields out towards Bollington Mill flats are looking good for wader action:
7 Grey Herons 2 Little Grebes - island pool, adult and juv 1 Gadwall c20 Mallards - plus a brood 1 Kestrel 6 Lapwings c110 Black-headed Gulls - just one juv amongst them 6 Stock Doves 2 Little Owls 14 House Martins - around Bollington Mill Flats, at least 5 active nests 20+ Swallows 1 Swift 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Green Woodpecker 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers 1 Nuthatch 3 Treecreepers
sid ashton said
Tue Jun 26 3:46 AM, 2012
The Mute Swan pair UXV (female) and JY4 (male) and 6 healthy looking cygnets on the moat this afternoon. Also watched 4 feisty Swallows seeing off a male Sparrowhawk over the canal
Stuart Smith said
Wed Jun 6 3:34 AM, 2012
Highlight of a 5 hour round today on the golf course was a lovely Green Woodpecker on the 17th, just adjacent to the A556.
Adam Jones said
Tue May 29 1:41 AM, 2012
Monday 28th May 1pm
A nice afternoon, but nothing of real note. Plenty of Nuthatch, Jackdaw and lots of tit species. Green Woodpecker heard in the direction of Smithy Pool.
sid ashton said
Sun May 27 5:20 PM, 2012
07.15 - 09.15, Warm and sunny
Had a good old wander round the park this morning. At Island Pool on my way back I found what I was specifcally looking for - a Spotted Flycatcher.
There was just one bird, in the tops of the trees near the bench to the east of the pool. It was doing a lot of flitting around and not settling for long on any one particular tree.
John Doherty said
Sun May 27 1:44 AM, 2012
No Lesser-Spotted Woodpecker - Green 1 seen, others heard, same with Great-Spotted Woodpecker, several Nuthatch, two Buzzard pairs, loads of Jackdaws, Tufted Duck pair on the lake plus usuals.
Henry Cook said
Thu May 24 5:12 AM, 2012
23/05/2012 - Egyptian Goose still present in location as described by Sid. Careful though as this field has lots of cattle in it!
Andy Bissitt said
Thu May 24 3:32 AM, 2012
I visited the park last Wednesday, but apart from really close-up green woodpecker on the deck, was disappointed by the lack of virtually anything else (even 'common' stuff like blue/great/long-tailed tits). Just looking at other recent posts, though, there doesn't seem to be any mention of mandarin. I did see one on the river (a male) over the wall at the western end so wondered if that was significant here? Apologies if I've not looked closely enough.
sid ashton said
Tue May 22 6:52 PM, 2012
On the way home from Merseyside made my second visit of the day to the park, after a call from Mr Barber, and found an Egyptian Goose with three Greylags and two Canadas in-between the oxbow and the Bollin on the Bollington Mill side of the park.
Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker over and a Lesser Spotted in the trees in the oxbow made an unexpected Woodpecker treble for the day
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:23:08 PM
sid ashton said
Tue May 22 4:27 PM, 2012
06.45 - 08.00, a very pleasant stroll around the park this morning.
That Green Woodpecker was still calling like mad on the vertical trunk of an oak in the fenced off area behind the wood carvings
Quite a few young birds around including 4 Mute Swan cygnets on Smithy pool, unfortunately the Swan's nest on Island pool was empty with no sign of young or parent birds.
I too checked for Spotted Flycatchers in the area where I have seen them for the last three years but no sign today. Last year they were present on the 15th and in 2010 it was the 23rd so there is still time.
John Williams said
Mon May 21 11:58 PM, 2012
09.00-11.30
1 Green Woodpecker - Highly vocal male, elusive but eventually found
halfway up the vertical trunk of a large oak by the main road.
1 G.S Woodpecker (f) seen hanging Blue Tit fashion from the extreme twigs
of a large oak, I hav'nt seen a GSW do that before.
The pool where the flycatchers were last year, no sign of any today, held a
family of Coots (4 tiny young), 6 Tufted Duck and a Terrapin.
The other pool nearby held a family of Coots ( 2 tiny young) 1 Tufted & 4
Canada Geese.
1 Kestrel (m), 1 juv Woodpigeon, 2 Buzzards soaring high and lots of
Rabbits.
Everything you point your bins at in this park turns into either a Jackdaw or
a Grey Squirrel!!.
James Walsh said
Wed May 16 6:13 PM, 2012
Bridgewater Canal (Altrincham, Bay Molton Pub, to Little Heath Lane, Dunham)
2 singing Yellowhammer 1 singing Skylark 2 singing Song Thrush 8 singing Common Whitethroat
steven burke said
Sat May 5 7:28 PM, 2012
late post for yesterday 4th may. 3.15-8pm.
golf course & forest..
1 sparrowhawk 4 nuthatches 2 treecreepers 3 great spotted woodpeckers 1 goldcrest 2 chiffchaffs 4 blackcaps 4 swifts 1 jay
deer park...
2 green woodpeckers,more heard. 4 great spotted woodpeckers,more heard. 2 buzzards 1 kestrel 2 nuthatches 2 swifts 6 swallows 2 lapwings 1 grey heron 2 little grebes,island pool. 5 tufted ducks,island pool. 2 mandarins,females over. 2 jays 1 pied wagtail plus all usual birds.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 5th of May 2012 07:29:55 PM
Steven Nelson said
Thu May 3 2:18 AM, 2012
2 Common Terns this evening at 7pm flying back and forth over Dunham Fishery at Dunham Woodhouses (just up the road from the park!)
Jason Dulhanty said
Wed May 2 8:02 PM, 2012
10till12 1xgreen woodpecker (m) first ever 1xlesser spotted woodpecker(f) 2x gs woodpecker 1xtreecreeper 1xnuthatch Various tits loads of corvid 1xkestrel 2xbuzzard chiffchaff heard Un id raptor very high in the sky Cheers Jay
Steven Nelson said
Thu Apr 26 1:38 AM, 2012
2 female Goosander this morning on Smithy Pool. 1 present when I arrived at c.10.00am and another flew in and joined it a few mins later
Henry Cook said
Tue Apr 24 6:27 PM, 2012
24/04/2012 - 8.30-10am:
4 Mute Swans 2 Little Grebes 4 Tufted Ducks 1 Buzzard 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - female, near Deer Barn 4 Green Woodpeckers 7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
Dave Colton said
Sun Apr 22 8:42 PM, 2012
Late post from yesterday.
After three fruitless visits in search of the Green Woodpecker me and my birding mate (both new to the hobby) decided upon an early visit to see if we could break our duck.
Got up bright and early (5am ) and drove down from Oldham. After briefly watching a Little Owl (great bonus) on a lamp post on Charcoal Lane, we entered the park at 6:10am and straight away heard the distinctive call we were after. Could we pin it down - not a chance - were we to draw yet another blank on the Green Woodpecker?
We duly got a good soaking when the heavens opened and I'm sure the Deer were laughing at us taking shelter under a large tree. we were then treated to another unexpected bonus with the sight of a Tawny Owl sat in a tree before seemingly vanishing into thin air.
Several times we heard the "Yaffle" call but not even a fleeting glimpse. Eventually heard one fairly close and manged to quietly approach the tree were the call was coming from. We stood stock still for 10 minutes or so with the call occasionaly being heard but still no visual. Then at last the bird broke cover and flew across to another tree, we got great views for a further 5 minutes or so. Reward for our efforts at last.
With big grins on our faces we decided to walk on further and yes according to sods law stumbled across another Green Woodpecker without even really trying at that point.
Apologies for the lengthy post but an experience worth sharing I thought.
martin ansell said
Fri Apr 20 3:52 AM, 2012
Good post rain session today 6-7:30 p.m.
Amongst the usual birds were,
3 Jays near Smithy Pool 5 Chiff Chaff in and around picnic area plus 3 Treecreepers 1 Song Thrush in car park Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard near Obelisk Greater Spotted Woodpecker near Slaughter House 1 Sparrowhawk flying over from same area 2 Green Woodpeckers, one by perimeter wall by Deer Barn, one flying near Smithy Pool 2 Cormorants in trees over Mansion Lake 3 Coot families in full swing.
The picnic area and the trees round the back of the Winter Garden seem to be getting busier now Spring is here; I am tending to walk round there first.
munsworth said
Mon Apr 16 10:48 PM, 2012
1-3pm today
2 out of the 3 Woodpeckers but no Lesser spotted
2 Green woodpeckers in the fenced area between the Deer Barn and Smithy Pool. 1 Great spotted woodpecker in a tree at the end of Smithy Drive. Waited by the obelisk for the aptly named lesser spotted woodpecker but no sign or sound of them. Maybe next time Mike Unsworth
Adam Jones said
Mon Apr 16 10:45 PM, 2012
Monday 16th April 12-2pm
No Green or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker sightings, although I could hear plenty of Greens, just couldn't track them down. 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker. 5 Nuthatch 2 Treecreepers 2 Blackcaps 3 Chiffchaffs 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Cormorant over 1 Grey Heron A very pleasant afternoon in the warm(ish) sunshine.
steven burke said
Sun Apr 15 4:46 AM, 2012
Martyn Jones wrote:
Yey! A hat-trick of Woodpeckers!
There were Green Woodpeckers yammering all over the place today. I got a glimpse of one (lifer) which I accidentally flushed from the ground near the Smithy Pool - it flew into the trees in the fenced off area.
I saw the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (lifer) next in the trees to the east of the obelisk, although it did fly around the area a bit. Whilst trying to find where it had landed I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in one of the greyish beech trees to complete my hat-trick.
Also today I saw 2 and possibly 4 Buzzards (could have bee the same two again) circling over the park, a Kestrel, two Nuthatches as well as the usuals on and around the ponds. It was Jackdaw-city here today and there were plenty of deer around the park in both small and large groups.
I've added the sightings to my map here if you want to know where to look. It's a great place to visit.
well done martyn, glad you finally got there and got that hat-trick
Martyn Jones said
Sun Apr 15 3:33 AM, 2012
Yey! A hat-trick of Woodpeckers!
There were Green Woodpeckers yammering all over the place today. I got a glimpse of one (lifer) which I accidentally flushed from the ground near the Smithy Pool - it flew into the trees in the fenced off area.
I saw the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (lifer) next in the trees to the east of the obelisk, although it did fly around the area a bit. Whilst trying to find where it had landed I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in one of the greyish beech trees to complete my hat-trick.
Also today I saw 2 and possibly 4 Buzzards (could have bee the same two again) circling over the park, a Kestrel, two Nuthatches as well as the usuals on and around the ponds. It was Jackdaw-city here today and there were plenty of deer around the park in both small and large groups.
I've added the sightings to my map here if you want to know where to look. It's a great place to visit.
Bill Glover said
Sat Apr 14 3:36 AM, 2012
15.00 - 18.30
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Green Woodpecker 2 Nuthatch Jackdaws Buzzards (over) Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 2 Coal Tit
+ Usuals
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Apr 9 7:21 PM, 2012
Late post for Easter Sunday 11.00 - 3.20
Dunham GC and tongue of woodland off Bradgate Rd:
Chiffchaff 3 Willow Tit 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 one in wood f at end of GC Blackcap Jay 2 Goldcrest Green Woodpecker on GC from just 10 feet Nuthatch 3 Magpies with nesting material Wren with nesting material Jackdaws with nesting material
Dunham Massey deer park:
Green Woodpecker 2 - one flew right in front of me Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 near slaughterhouse m and f and 1 at far East end Nuthatch 10 (probably more) Treecreeper at slaughterhouse Coal Tit Buzzard with missing inner primary mobbed by a Kestrel Heron over L.Grebe on larger pool Rook over with nesting material
Still no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for me (at least it's already on my GM list)
Bill Glover said
Sun Apr 8 4:05 AM, 2012
14.30 till 17.30
Highlights
2 Green Woodpecker (Deer Barn) 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Coot with Young Jay Nuthatch
Still No Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Maybe next time
martin ansell said
Sat Apr 7 11:34 PM, 2012
Came into the Park 6:10 until about 7:30, got the Green Woodpeckers by the Barn but also a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker came over and settled on a tree to the main house side of the slaughterhouse which are surrounded by waterlogged ground. Only heard Great Spotted Woodpeckers plus loads of Nuthatches and that Grebe family were looking very overworked; I saw the two little ones demanding their food! One frustration was that I saw a flock of about 15-20 birds arrive in a tree to the left of the path going away from Island pool to the Obelisk. The light was going at 7 plus and I couldn't get a a good look as they were so high up in the branches. But they seemed light on the breast and with a thin beak. Fairly small and agile in the branches They all flew off together as one, towards the A56. They did not appear to be singing to any extent I could hear. So they may be worth looking out for in better light for anyone doing the rounds. Oh, and I didn't see the Green Sandpiper, I will look over in the fields beyond the river next time.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 8th of April 2012 07:33:46 AM
Tanmay Dixit said
Sat Apr 7 11:26 PM, 2012
Thanks to all for help. Hopefully it'll pay off.
steven burke said
Sat Apr 7 10:47 PM, 2012
Tanmay Dixit wrote:
Sounds like a great day, Steven.
Just wondering whether you or anyone else could give directions to find the green sandpiper? I've looked for it before, going out of the park via bollington gate and looking at the stream top the right. Have I got the right place?
regards
Tanmay
-- Edited by Tanmay Dixit on Saturday 7th of April 2012 11:05:31 AM
it certainly was a great day,tanmay. i think you will now know where to look for the green sandpiper,martyns maps are very helpfull,hope you get to see it.
steve.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 8th of April 2012 12:06:24 AM
Tim Wilcox said
Sat Apr 7 7:18 PM, 2012
No sign of Green Sandpiper in ditch noon today. So far since 10am no Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, Green Woodpeckers or Owls. Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers both drumming and two Nuthatches in view at same time the only highlight. Family packs forming. Time to head back via GC to car
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:21:52 PM
-- Edited by John Barber on Sunday 25th of November 2012 03:22:17 PM
Never seen the park so busy, stayed well clear!
Plenty of Fallow Deer rutting quite spectacular until a daft dog not on lead started worrying the deer followed by an even dafter man in big boots and bright yellow jacket running around waving his arms about and wistling put an end to it.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 21st of October 2012 07:00:50 PM
- I also had a Grey Wagtail which I omitted from my report (forgot it) on the pool coming from the hall towards the Charcoal Lane I'm assuming that's Smithy Pool, could well be the same bird.
Cheers
Hi John, where are the flooded fields and how accessible are they? Thanks!
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 07:06:01 PM
Few Nuthatches about
1 Buzzard
2 Green Sandpipers, flooded field.
1 Common Gull
2 Pied Wagtails, flooded field
etc etc
-- Edited by John Doherty on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 07:00:28 PM
Cheers
Jason
1 Hobby - flying down the Bollin
6 Common Gulls - loafing in formerly flooded field
Also present a family of Pied Wagtails and on the brook a Little Grebe and a Grey Heron.
Over the sewage works a Hobby appeared to be just cruising around
2 Grey Herons
1 Gadwall
6 Teals
9 Mallards
1 Oystercatcher
102 Lapwings
c150 Black-headed Gulls
2 Stock Doves
1 Grey Wagtail
c40 House Martins
c20 Swallows
4 Grey Herons
1 Gadwall
4 Teals
21 Mallards
1 Green Sandpiper
19 Lapwings
c150 Black-headed Gulls - about 15 fresh juvs in amongst
17 House Martins
8 Swallows
4 Swifts
7 Grey Herons
2 Little Grebes - island pool, adult and juv
1 Gadwall
c20 Mallards - plus a brood
1 Kestrel
6 Lapwings
c110 Black-headed Gulls - just one juv amongst them
6 Stock Doves
2 Little Owls
14 House Martins - around Bollington Mill Flats, at least 5 active nests
20+ Swallows
1 Swift
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Green Woodpecker
2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
1 Nuthatch
3 Treecreepers
A nice afternoon, but nothing of real note.
Plenty of Nuthatch, Jackdaw and lots of tit species.
Green Woodpecker heard in the direction of Smithy Pool.
Had a good old wander round the park this morning. At Island Pool on my way back I found what I was specifcally looking for - a Spotted Flycatcher.
There was just one bird, in the tops of the trees near the bench to the east of the pool. It was doing a lot of flitting around and not settling for long on any one particular tree.
Also a Great Spotted Woodpecker over and a Lesser Spotted in the trees in the oxbow made an unexpected Woodpecker treble for the day
-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 22nd of May 2012 08:23:08 PM
That Green Woodpecker was still calling like mad on the vertical trunk of an oak in the fenced off area behind the wood carvings
Quite a few young birds around including 4 Mute Swan cygnets on Smithy pool, unfortunately the Swan's nest on Island pool was empty with no sign of young or parent birds.
I too checked for Spotted Flycatchers in the area where I have seen them for the last three years but no sign today. Last year they were present on the 15th and in 2010 it was the 23rd so there is still time.
1 Green Woodpecker - Highly vocal male, elusive but eventually found
halfway up the vertical trunk of a large oak by the main road.
1 G.S Woodpecker (f) seen hanging Blue Tit fashion from the extreme twigs
of a large oak, I hav'nt seen a GSW do that before.
The pool where the flycatchers were last year, no sign of any today, held a
family of Coots (4 tiny young), 6 Tufted Duck and a Terrapin.
The other pool nearby held a family of Coots ( 2 tiny young) 1 Tufted & 4
Canada Geese.
1 Kestrel (m), 1 juv Woodpigeon, 2 Buzzards soaring high and lots of
Rabbits.
Everything you point your bins at in this park turns into either a Jackdaw or
a Grey Squirrel!!.
2 singing Yellowhammer
1 singing Skylark
2 singing Song Thrush
8 singing Common Whitethroat
golf course & forest..
1 sparrowhawk
4 nuthatches
2 treecreepers
3 great spotted woodpeckers
1 goldcrest
2 chiffchaffs
4 blackcaps
4 swifts
1 jay
deer park...
2 green woodpeckers,more heard.
4 great spotted woodpeckers,more heard.
2 buzzards
1 kestrel
2 nuthatches
2 swifts
6 swallows
2 lapwings
1 grey heron
2 little grebes,island pool.
5 tufted ducks,island pool.
2 mandarins,females over.
2 jays
1 pied wagtail
plus all usual birds.
-- Edited by steven burke on Saturday 5th of May 2012 07:29:55 PM
1xgreen woodpecker (m) first ever
1xlesser spotted woodpecker(f)
2x gs woodpecker
1xtreecreeper
1xnuthatch
Various tits
loads of corvid
1xkestrel
2xbuzzard
chiffchaff heard
Un id raptor very high in the sky
Cheers Jay
4 Mute Swans
2 Little Grebes
4 Tufted Ducks
1 Buzzard
1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - female, near Deer Barn
4 Green Woodpeckers
7 Great Spotted Woodpeckers
After three fruitless visits in search of the Green Woodpecker me and my birding mate (both new to the hobby) decided upon an early visit to see if we could break our duck.
Got up bright and early (5am ) and drove down from Oldham. After briefly watching a Little Owl (great bonus) on a lamp post on Charcoal Lane, we entered the park at 6:10am and straight away heard the distinctive call we were after. Could we pin it down - not a chance - were we to draw yet another blank on the Green Woodpecker?
We duly got a good soaking when the heavens opened and I'm sure the Deer were laughing at us taking shelter under a large tree. we were then treated to another unexpected bonus with the sight of a Tawny Owl sat in a tree before seemingly vanishing into thin air.
Several times we heard the "Yaffle" call but not even a fleeting glimpse. Eventually heard one fairly close and manged to quietly approach the tree were the call was coming from. We stood stock still for 10 minutes or so with the call occasionaly being heard but still no visual. Then at last the bird broke cover and flew across to another tree, we got great views for a further 5 minutes or so. Reward for our efforts at last.
With big grins on our faces we decided to walk on further and yes according to sods law stumbled across another Green Woodpecker without even really trying at that point.
Apologies for the lengthy post but an experience worth sharing I thought.
Amongst the usual birds were,
3 Jays near Smithy Pool
5 Chiff Chaff in and around picnic area plus 3 Treecreepers
1 Song Thrush in car park
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker heard near Obelisk
Greater Spotted Woodpecker near Slaughter House
1 Sparrowhawk flying over from same area
2 Green Woodpeckers, one by perimeter wall by Deer Barn, one flying near Smithy Pool
2 Cormorants in trees over Mansion Lake
3 Coot families in full swing.
The picnic area and the trees round the back of the Winter Garden seem to be getting busier now Spring is here; I am tending to walk round there first.
2 out of the 3 Woodpeckers but no Lesser spotted
2 Green woodpeckers in the fenced area between the Deer Barn and Smithy Pool.
1 Great spotted woodpecker in a tree at the end of Smithy Drive.
Waited by the obelisk for the aptly named lesser spotted woodpecker but no sign or sound of them. Maybe next time
Mike Unsworth
No Green or Lesser Spotted Woodpecker sightings, although I could hear plenty of Greens, just couldn't track them down.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
5 Nuthatch
2 Treecreepers
2 Blackcaps
3 Chiffchaffs
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Cormorant over
1 Grey Heron
A very pleasant afternoon in the warm(ish) sunshine.
well done martyn, glad you finally got there and got that hat-trick
There were Green Woodpeckers yammering all over the place today. I got a glimpse of one (lifer) which I accidentally flushed from the ground near the Smithy Pool - it flew into the trees in the fenced off area.
I saw the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (lifer) next in the trees to the east of the obelisk, although it did fly around the area a bit. Whilst trying to find where it had landed I saw a Great Spotted Woodpecker high up in one of the greyish beech trees to complete my hat-trick.
Also today I saw 2 and possibly 4 Buzzards (could have bee the same two again) circling over the park, a Kestrel, two Nuthatches as well as the usuals on and around the ponds. It was Jackdaw-city here today and there were plenty of deer around the park in both small and large groups.
I've added the sightings to my map here if you want to know where to look. It's a great place to visit.
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2
Green Woodpecker 2
Nuthatch
Jackdaws
Buzzards (over)
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 2
Coal Tit
+ Usuals
Dunham GC and tongue of woodland off Bradgate Rd:
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Tit 1
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 one in wood f at end of GC
Blackcap
Jay 2
Goldcrest
Green Woodpecker on GC from just 10 feet
Nuthatch 3
Magpies with nesting material
Wren with nesting material
Jackdaws with nesting material
Dunham Massey deer park:
Green Woodpecker 2 - one flew right in front of me
Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 near slaughterhouse m and f and 1 at far East end
Nuthatch 10 (probably more)
Treecreeper at slaughterhouse
Coal Tit
Buzzard with missing inner primary mobbed by a Kestrel
Heron over
L.Grebe on larger pool
Rook over with nesting material
Still no Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for me (at least it's already on my GM list)
Highlights
2 Green Woodpecker (Deer Barn)
5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Coot with Young
Jay
Nuthatch
Still No Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Maybe next time
One frustration was that I saw a flock of about 15-20 birds arrive in a tree to the left of the path going away from Island pool to the Obelisk. The light was going at 7 plus and I couldn't get a a good look as they were so high up in the branches. But they seemed light on the breast and with a thin beak. Fairly small and agile in the branches They all flew off together as one, towards the A56. They did not appear to be singing to any extent I could hear. So they may be worth looking out for in better light for anyone doing the rounds.
Oh, and I didn't see the Green Sandpiper, I will look over in the fields beyond the river next time.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 8th of April 2012 07:33:46 AM
it certainly was a great day,tanmay.
i think you will now know where to look for the green sandpiper,martyns maps are very helpfull,hope you get to see it.
steve.
-- Edited by steven burke on Sunday 8th of April 2012 12:06:24 AM