Section of Micker Brook downstream of the March Hare pub - a pair of Mandarin Ducks feeding just where the bridge goes over the brook at 12.30, and watched a Kingfisher flying up and down slightly further downstream for about an hour, and from what passers by say, you can see Kingfishers most days.

Nice sunny morning walk interrupted by brief shower:-

4 Collared Doves - two separate pairs
Blackbirds and Blue Tits collecting nesting materials
2 Song Thrush - one pulling a worm from the grass
3 Treecreepers - 1 pair chasing up and around the trees and 1 individual
4 Nuthatch
2 very noisy Jays in standoff with a pair of Crows
1 female GS Woodpecker with 2 separate Woodies drumming in distance
2 Willow Warblers singing about 100 yards apart (first for year)
Several Chiffchaff singing in tree tops
4 drake Mallards

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 10:27:18 AM

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 10:28:32 AM

This afternoons highlights :-

3 Nuthatch
1 GS Woodpecker
2 female Mandarin Ducks
2 Grey Wagtails
1 Dipper downstream by footbridge near Warwick Close (a good km lower downstream than previous sightings the other side of 7 Arches).
1 Kingfisher
Up to 6 Chiffchaff - 3 seen very well, low down, feeding and singing.

Most of the other usual birds.

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Saturday 2nd of April 2011 06:46:28 PM

This is not a regular patch for me, but I was on nearby Grange Park Road Rec at 09:30 this morning to watch my son's junior football match. This brought the unexpected bonus of two Swallows passing overhead, heading west: my first of the year.

This morning:-

1 Treecreeper
1 Nuthatch + others heard
2 female Mandarin Ducks behind Radnormere Drive area, below weir.
Pair of Mistle Thrush
and all the usual stuff
Rick.

2 female Mandarin Ducks in the area where the pair of Mandarins usually seen, behind Radnormere Drive area.

Large families of very noisy House Sparrow both sides of the Brook.

Futher down steam towards Brookfield Park the White Pekin Duck was now hanging around with the pair of Mandarin Duck seen late yesterday evening. Mandarins seem to be spreading further along the Lady Brook Valley, which is nice to see. With 4 sightings today and getting closer to home it may not be long before I get them as a garden tick.

About a dozen Redwing feeding on football pitches on far side of brook.

3 Jays flying around tree canopy and all the usual stuff - particularly many singing Wrens.

Rick.

Late post for yesterday evening.

Between 50 and 60 Woodpigeon - feeding on the grass presumably before settling at roost.
Mistle Thrush
Blackbirds singing away.
Pair of Mallard on Brook with White Pekin type duck. The Drake Mallard trying to keep the 'White' away from its mate.
Plenty of activity from Dunnock, Robin, Blue, Great and Long Tailed Tit with parties of Greenfinch and 3 pairs of Chaffinch in trees.
Nuthatches calling in distance.
Starlings feeding on Golf Course.
Pair of Mandarin Ducks in small pond near Cheadle Sports Centre - possibly same pair from higher up Micker Brook previously seen behind Radnormere Drive area.
Rick.

14.40 this afternoon.

Pair of Mandarin Ducks back at original place on Micker Brook by Radnormere Drive, still
hanging around with a pair of Mallard. A pair of moorhen also close by.

Rick.

The pair of Mandarin Ducks still on Micker Brook, but a bit further down stream, presumably keeping out of the way from all the 'Sunday' walkers/joggers/cyclists etc and associated disturbance. They did prove difficult to locate.

Rick.

13.20 - 13.50 today further up Micker Brook by Radnormere Drive

A pair of Mandarin Ducks hanging around with a pair of Mallard.

Rick.

Walk round the park and up the Micker Brook today between 13.30 and 15.30

Kingfisher - 3 separate sightings (about 1 mile apart between first 2 sightings). 1 Male sat obligingly for 3 mins before flying off - curses for not taking my camera on what was a damp and dull afternoon
Grey Wagtail 1
Mistle Thrush 2
Song Thrush - at least 4 separate singing individuals
Treecreeper 1
Woodpigeon 20
Magpie 13
Blue Tit - approx 30
Great Tit - approx 20
Long-tailed Tit - flock of 40ish birds
Coal Tit 2
Nuthatch 4
Blackbird approx 15 but few females
Redwing 32
Goldfinch 6
Great Spotted Woodpecker heard
Wren 1
Jay 2
Robin approx 15
Carrion Crows 4

Rick.

Quick stop off at 15.00 on way home rewarded with sighting of Kingfisher flashing by, taking a short cut overland to avoid two bends in the Brook. Caught another brief glimpse further up river before it disappeared round the next bend.

Rick.

-- Edited by Rick Donkin on Thursday 17th of February 2011 04:05:52 PM

Walk round the park and up the Micker Brook 11.00 to 14.45 produced the following sightings:- Mistle Thrush 5 Woodpigeon many Magpie many (some carrying nesting materials) Blue Tit } Great Tit } (many all over the walk) Long-tailed Tit } Coal Tit 2 Nuthatch 3 seen many more heard Treecreeper 5 seen (2 together) Song Thrush 1 Chaffinch many (both male and female) Blackbird many (80% of them male) Redwing 5 (1 bathing in the Brook) Dunnock 7 (2 pairs seen together) Goldfinch (several small parties) Bullfinch 1m Siskin 5 (3m/2f) Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 (1m/1f) Wren 2 Jay 2 Robin (many all over the walk) Carrion Crows 8 House Sparrows 8 Last week:- Waxwing 55 on Tue 8th Waxwing 20 on Weds 9th Kingfisher 1 on Weds 9th This used to be a regular walk of mine many years ago and other notable birds seen in the past include;- Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (at least 3 years running) Lesser Redpoll Goldcrest Rick.