Approx 14:30 till 15:00. I would estimate a flock of between 25 and 30 crossbills present,in area described.Birds very flighty,regular disturbance by a sparrowhawk! Nice to meet all the Manchester Birders present
3 Crossbills flew in (calling) at 07.55 to the Larches on the left down the track as described by Andy. They stayed a few minutes then moved further down the track (where there is a rubble pile across the track). Here I had trouble re-locating them until another flock joined them. I thought I'd counted 8 feeding in the Larch top but when they left at 08.27 there were more, probably c12. Of the ones I saw well there were at least 2 males, a green female and a streaky juvenile in this group but for most of the time plumages were difficult to assess against the light.
Whilst feeding they were completely silent and didn't move around much either so would then be difficult to find until they flew. The best method was to listen for dropped cones bouncing off branches and hitting the bracken.
I'm glad you got them Ken
Elsewhere, from the weir to the hide, there were a total of 21 female/eclipse Mandarins and only 1 obvious male. At the hide were 3 ducklings.
A great big thanks to John Rayner for taking the time this morning to point me in the right direction. I eventually found 5 Crossbills feeding at the top of a larch just off to the left of the path Andy described. Located them by the method John suggested, listening for the falling cones. Didnt hear them call at all. Another 3 birders there when I left at 10am so could get quite busy later. Again thanks John., and Andy
I'd been on domestic duties this afternoon so hadn't read Andy's post.
I did get down to Etherow about 2 hours after the last sighting and had a brief fly-over at 18.00 of a 'chipping' flock of about 5 or 6 birds. They flew high overhead roughly in line with the track Andy describes. I couldn't find them perched but had to leave in a hurry or else re-subscribe to the Silent Meals Club. I'll also have another go in the morning so may see you there Ken.
Thanks to Andy for the find/post and Karen for the text.
6 CROSSBILLS IN ERNOCROFT WOOD UP TO 3.55 PM AT LEAST.
Take the main path from by the weir and proceed up it until you get to the area where the wood warblers were a few years back. Take the last path on the right before the gate (which is where the path bends to the left sharply). The birds were in the larches about 20 yds down on the right. There are plenty of cones, so they might stay in the area. Prepare for neck ache though!!
Cheers,
Andy
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Cheers for that thanks,might call tomorrow daytime was getting a little late last night so could'nt make it all the way over there, again thanks. got any good places for owls any will do, cheers.
Hi Stephen, it was sat on Keg Pool, which is through the woods just beyond and to the left of the weir. There are wooden signs for it at the appropriate junction in the woods. There were also two Mute swans with one Cygnet on the pool. Good luck
Hi i noticed on a recent visit to ethero you spotted an egyptian goose, could you please tell me where abouts you saw it. i went last night but could'nt see it . thanks
Lots of the usual geese, plus one with a very strange bulge at the front of it's head.
That will be the Chinese (Swan) Goose genes, I guess. Haven't been to Etherow for a few years but there used to be a couple of Swan Geese and a whole lot of Greylag/Swan Goose hybrids.
2 Blackcap 3 Nuthatch seen, many more heard 1 Goosander (over, making it's strange squawk) 2 Dippers 2 Grey Wagtails 1 Kingfisher 1 Chiffchaff 2 Greater Spotted Woodpecker 1 Egyptian Goose 2 Mute Swans and 1 Cygnet 4 Tufted ducks 1 Great Created Grebe 3 Grey Herons Lots of young Tits and Wrens. Lots of the usual geese, plus one with a very strange bulge at the front of it's head.
Late post for yesterday ,29th ... slightly later visit than Rob's , but still fairly peaceful...quite a few men about ( fishing , walking , birding etc .) , but a noticable absence of ladies !! Similar birds to Rob also ... Kingfisher flew downstream from hide. Dippers and grey wags near weir . Despite a fairly exhaustive search of suitable locations , no further signs of flycatchers or redstart... Also , I was told of a sighting of a water rail, flushed from under the boardwalk to the hide ! I was also informed that a common sandpiper had been seen on the main lodge , much earlier that morning !
4 Mandarins (2m, 2f) 1 Egyptian Goose 4 Greylag geese 6 Canada Geese 2 GC Grebes near visitor's centre 6 Herons 4 Blackcaps (3m, 1f) - but heard a few more 10+ Chiffchaff heard and seen 5 Willow warblers (heard) 1 Whitethroat 1 Green Woodpecker (heard) 2 GS Woodpeckers (m+f) 1 Treecreeper 1 Nuthatch All common crow species and tit species, robins and dunnocks. 2 Mistle Thrushes singing from tree tops 1 Song Thrush 10+ Blackbirds 4 Tufted Ducks 1 Grey Wagtail
Walked down through Ernocroft Woods - numerous nuthatches, blackcaps, treecreepers (latter on the open sweeping bend of the trail that loops off to one side and crosses the route of the coal carts) and chiffchaffs. Came across a goldcrest at close quarters too near the treecreepers.
Then from the hide, two willow warblers heard singing quite briefly. Pair of tufties swam past and 2 male mandarins.
Grey heron standing out in the middle near the visitors' centre, looking like a statue. Pair of GC Grebes on the main lake despite all the sailing boats.
Woods over near the Keg - two Sparrowhawks circling overhead at the far end as you start to descend to the pool. At least one of these flew in from the north-west.
Return up though Ernocroft - more treecreepers singing about a third of the way up and then a buzzard calling up beyond the road somewhere.
Didn't spot either redstarts or pied flycatchers :(
keep it all in one place keg several black caps chiff chaffs one willow warbler several nuthatches and 3 gold crests 2 fighting one sparrow hawk and a dipper on the river
Pretty much the same as Rob Bell although 3 Green Woodpeckers were notable - 1 seen, 2 different birds calling at same time. Blackcaps were everywhere and are by far the commonest warbler.
Hope a few redstarts or flycatchers stay and nest! fingers tightly crossed! cheers
Couldn't agree more Rob
Seeing as we're getting to that time of year though I'll take the opportunity to bring this forums breeding bird posting policy to the fore once again. It can be found in the sticky threads at the top of this forum
I thought Id go and have a look around today for redstarts or pied flycatchers but my efforts didnt pay off
I saw pretty much the same birds as John and Chris:
2 Chiffchaffs and 1 willow warbler in ernocroft woods 8-10 mandarins (some with females but mostly males) 3 GS Woodpeckers 1 Dipper (in its usual spot on the river) Lots of mallards and canada geese 2 GC Grebes courting 6 Tufted Ducks on the river 2 Herons 1 Song Thrush 1 Buzzard from the keg pool in the distance
Hope a few redstarts or flycatchers stay and nest! fingers tightly crossed! cheers
No sign of Pied Flycatcher today either but a nice male Redstart compensated. Sparrowhawk and Raven over. Both Dippers are unringed. c10 Mandarins (all males). Lots of Great Spot activity. Numerous Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps and Song Thrushes singing.
Late post for yesterday ,Thursday 14th , about noon... Quick visit , hoping for a repeat viewing of the flycatcher- but alas , no joy on that score. However , birds seen included : Two dippers on river ,I'm 90% certain, that both are unringed birds. Chiffchaff and willow warbler. Four lapwing on stubble field ,adjacent to the top path,back from Weir Cottages to theV.C. Also , three buzzards , circling high and gently calling , in the same area. Coot family still have one chick on canal .
Brief visit this afternoon @ 14:30 , highlights including : Two dippers on river , just below weir . Male pied flycatcher , in small enclosed garden area , near weir cottages . Two chiffchaffs , plenty more heard . Willow warbler. Buzzard over . Coots on canal , now down to one chick ,( three yesterday ) Four swallows over main lake Plenty of usual tits , finches and nuthatches ...
21+ mandarin 2 dipper flew across the path moorhen and coots both sitting on nest Great Crested grebe 3 nuthatch 2 buzzard over 5 tufted duck on farmer's private pool
Around 2/3 Dipper, 2 Grey wagtail, 20+ Mandarin on the park as a whole, many treecreepers, 1 Male goosander... Also a possible Wigeon x Mallard hybrid (have got photograph), 2 Great crested grebe as well.
1 Dipper (viewed from bridge near waterfall) 1 Magpie
Woods
1 Treecreeper 2 Nuthatches 2 Redwing 1 Fieldfare
From Hide
2 Cormorants sat in the trees looking over the river 1 KINGFISHER (darted past the hide along the river) - great to see considering the harsh weather we've had this winter and makes me wonder whether or not they may be breeding here this year.
Enjoyable visit today,between 13:00 and 14:30hrs. At weir 15 male and 10 female Mandarins. 7 male and 4 female Tufted ducks. From the C.W.T hide blue,great,coal and long tailed tits. 1 male Chaffinch. 2 Dunnock. 1 Robin. 3 Jays. Kingfisher in tree upstream. Male GS Woodpecker. 3 male 2 female Teal. 2 male 2 female Tufted duck. 4 Crows. 12 Cormorants in usual tree. 5 Nuthatch. Moorhen. Coot. Little Grebe. 2 male and 1 female Goosander. Cheers, Chris
Enjoyable first visit to this very picturesque Country park.
30 plus Mandarin (20 DRK) 30 Tufted duck Keg Pool: 1 Egyptian Goose with... 2 Mute Swans. 9 Goosander (6 DRK) In the trees: Numerous Gt. Tit and Blue tit 4 Nuthatch 10 Cormorants 2 Treecreepers 1 Jay From the Hide: 1 (male) Teal on the river The feeding table was continuosly used by at least 12 Nuthatch, Gt.tits ,Blue Tits 2 Coal tits and a flock of Lt Tits.
Several Crows,2 Jackdaws and a Magpie were also seen.
Bumped into 7 Local birders: All very pleasant and informative. One 'Kathy' has the ashes of Eugene (the dead Egyptian Goose) , that she was very attached to. The casket is tied in blue ribbon!
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 19th of January 2011 05:07:36 PM
-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 19th of January 2011 11:13:59 PM
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I was up at Etherow yesterday ( 04/01/11 ) , about 13: 00 hrs , there is at least one Egyptian Goose alive and well , it was on the river , opposite Keg pool, in the company of a pair of mute swans , it then proceeded to clamber out of the river ,near the hide ,and started eating bits of bread and bacon rind , that someone had scattered under the bird table !
The Egyptian Goose (on its own!) was in the same place this afternoon!
There was a Barnacle Goose which kept to itself away from the other geese today. When I came back from the hide I couldn't see it although all the Canadas etc were still present.
From hide: Egyptian Goose, 6 Mandarins, 1 Little Grebe.
I was up at Etherow yesterday ( 04/01/11 ) , about 13: 00 hrs , there is at least one Egyptian Goose alive and well , it was on the river , opposite Keg pool, in the company of a pair of mute swans , it then proceeded to clamber out of the river ,near the hide ,and started eating bits of bread and bacon rind , that someone had scattered under the bird table ! Also seen from hide : Little Grebe , 8 teal , tufties , 7 male and 5 female mandarin , 12 cormorant ( in tree upstream ) nuthatch , treecreepers , blue , great and coal tits. Plenty of the usual species around the country park itself , including heron and sparrowhawk over , a few jays and at least 10 moorhens in the muddy section of the backwater , near the garden centre ... Unfortunately, no sign of willow tit anywhere . Cheers Chris _
Hi John, Was up at Etherow a few days ago, and saw the Warden. Apparently the Egyptian Goose is no more and had to be put down last month. It was 20 years plus old and way past it's time but had a serious bout of pneumonia. It is being kept in the freezer at Marple vet's waiting for a proper burial somewhere on the park. I am told that there are 2 E Geese up on the Keg Pools but have not confirmed . Regards David
Thanks for this info Dave,
I've just looked down this thread and I saw an Egyptian Goose on 23rd December. It was on the river opposite Keg Pool. Hopefully this one survived, it looked OK at the time and was very noisy.
Hi John, Was up at Etherow a few days ago, and saw the Warden. Apparently the Egyptian Goose is no more and had to be put down last month. It was 20 years plus old and way past it's time but had a serious bout of pneumonia. It is being kept in the freezer at Marple vet's waiting for a proper burial somewhere on the park. I am told that there are 2 E Geese up on the Keg Pools but have not confirmed . Regards David
I put seed down around Sunny Corner and gave it an hour but no Willow Tit. Loads of Great, Blue and Coal Tits, 3 Nuthatches, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Jays and a Tawny Owl heard.
On the river 3 Teal and a drake Goosander. Overall a total of 32 Mandarin Ducks. No sign of the Egyptian Goose but I'm sure it's around somewhere.
Had a lovely walk in the sunshine with the girlfriend and the dog this afternoon. The usual stuff on and around the mill ponds. 3 goosander on the river (2m, 1f). Up in the forest past the weir were 5+ goldcrest, 1 treecreeper (a good spot by my girlfriend) and the usual blue, coal and great tits. All in all, lots of people and not many birds (except for the ones that like bread!)
The balance of probability weighs massively in favour of Willow Tit I'm afraid Dave. Marsh Tit hasn't been reliably recorded in the county for quite a few years now.
Check out the identification article on Worcester Birding website which is one of the better ones on the internet.
At Sunny Corner we had either a Marsh or Willow Tit this lunchtime - clear views but I am not sufficiently familiar with these birds to confirm the ID either way. Any views? Plenty of nuthatches, and great, blue and coal tits and treecreeper mostly coming to the well-stocked feeders. I pair goosander on the river. Nice party of 12 long tailed tits at the hide. 1 GS woodpecker also, plus plenty of the commoner stuff.