Wouldn't say the Barnacle was wild but it didn't look very happy!!!

Quick stroll between showers (Showers!!) this evening found the Little Owl basking in the sunshine, lots of Mistle Thrush around the park and on the meadow over to Bollington Mill c.250 Canadas and a lone Barnacle Goose plus at least 4 Green Sandpiper and lots of House Martins and Swallows.

The Little Owls have one fledgeling, there are three Little Grebe chicks and two adults on Smithy Pool along with three very new Coot. Lots of Green Pecker seen and calling The five swans cygnets are doing well.

Sid - have there been any broods of Tufties at Dunham Massey this year (usually on the noat round the house- or Spotted Flycatchers, they breed on the house?

Had a quick walk round the park this morning not much activity but I did meet a really friendly couple John and Cynthia Robins from the Leigh area and pointed them in the direction of the Green Peckers and the Little Owl. Glad that you were able to get some nice shots of both John. I don't think that the bloke with the big lens was pleased to see me though!!!!

I was just trying to keep sightings from Dunham on the one thread Malcolm so it forms a more useful reference work to the birds of this site.
Henry.

Henry and Sid thanks for mentioning my spot I haven't had any replies to my Hobby post (guess I'm classed as a stranger). My first time at DMP and wasn't sure if the Hobbies were regulars. I nearly didn't pack the Leica's as it was a family day out. Glad I did in the end.

Never seen them so close to home but have watched them many times in the New Forest and Exmoor. In case it's of interest the bird was spotted around 19:00 flying down the ride that leads from the obelisk to the shop area. It landed in the very top of a tree on the edge of the ride and after a short stay flew out over the wall away from the park.

Malcolm

Hi Sid.
Are you sure the Kezzas were both females? On my last visit recently there was a very vocal family of them around the walk to the mill which had at least 2 juveniles.
Hobbies are certainly in the area and well done to Malcolm on seeing them. A real bogey bird of mine, never seen one!
Thanks. Henry.

John Rayner wrote:

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2 juvenile Green Woodpeckers calling by the deerhouse near Lime Circle and another juvenile but the perimeter wall by the southeast wall, Great Spotted Woody overhead but nothing much else.

Cheers, John

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I took Wednesday off work to do the green woodpeckers but it rained too much. When I decided to go later on I had an accident, pulled my knee ligaments and twisted my back. I'm not a happy bunny. I will have to have a go at the green woodpecker at the weekend. If I can't locate them I will probably have a tin of meal worms going cheap

Adrian

Sorry about the delay in response but our BT phone connection has been out all weekend.
You can easily get within 10 - 20 m of the Green Woodpeckers or should I say they will get within that distance of you if you stand around a while!! You can hear and see them all around the park at the moment. I have found them near the Lime Tree circle - turn left over the stile from Woodhouse Lane and past Smithy pool to your right. They quite often sit up nicely on the wooden fences built around the newly planted saplings. They are also around the stream over to Bollington Mill - had a Kingfisher and a Green Sandpiper there yesterday as well.

As to the timing it's always nicer in the park when it's quite but have seen the Greens at all times of the day - yesterday for example is was there between 07.30 and 09.30. There are always Nuthatch and Tree Creeper to be seen. Good luck

Sid

sid ashton wrote:

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Pleasant stroll around the park 11.00 - 13.00 found 5 Sand Martins busy over Smithy Pool then as I was watching a family of Green Peckers up by the Lime circle a couple of Crows disturbed a Little Owl from one of the limes - the Owl then flew off into a tree next to the wood carving of Old Stumpy where I had a good view before it vanished into the foliage. Also had Great Spot and young Nuthatch

(Mike B please note this was definitely a Little Owl and not a Woody!!!!)

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Are you sure the Green Peckers weren't Woodies that had been rolling in moss?

Birdguides reported today:

14:04 14/07/08 Mediterranean Gull Manc'r Dunham Massey Park 13:30
adult at Bridgewater Canal then flew east towards Altrincham

It's been great to read through all the posts and take a trip down memory lane...spent SO much time around here as a young birdwatcher. Still remember finding my first Little Grebes in the park, so excited! Interesting to hear that a Ring-Necked Parakeet has taken up residence. In Rusholme too? Are they quite widespread in small numbers? There used to be Grey Partridge and Corn Bunting along Oldield Lane and Willow Tits just over the wall inside the Scout Camp down the southern end but i think they disappeared. A mate of mine Pete Brown used to work Dunham religiously.
When i was a kid i used to dream about seeing a Buzzard over the golf course...last time i went i saw 2!
Keep it up!
Cheers,
Mike.

Stuck in work - implementing a new computer system :(
12 hour shift yesterday as well

Hopefully get out to watch the footie tonight !

The park was closed today due to high winds.

I did manage to see a Spotted Flycatcher in Brickkiln Wood though.

Little Grebes were on Island Pool hidden amongst the Lillies. At least one chick and two adults - presumably the parents. They nested on the Island.

I have seen them on the moat in the winter but don't think they bred there.

Whoops - sorry Phil - I'm hopeless with names !

Tony,

Try counting the legs. 2 legs and its one bird, 4 and its two birds etc

Sorry-but I couldn't stop myself!

Spotted Flycatcher in the same place as last year on the island in Island pool - really easy to see on high dead branches. Grey wag near the house and the 5 cygnets are doing well on Smithy pool.

Not in the park but also had a single Corn bunt singing on the bushes opposite the entrance to fields 57 and 24 on Black Moss road - coming from Atlantic street direction there is a lay by on the left hand side before the field entrance but be careful if going as it's a fast road

Did my early TTV today. A few new species for the square.

Little Grebe on nest
2 Greylag Geese flew low over the meadow.
Gadwall on oxbow lake
approx 6 Coot chicks on moat
Kingfisher on brook
Sand Martins checking out nest sites
Sedge warbler singing near fishing club - Dunham Woodhouses
Whitethroat also here
Tree Sparrows - Meadow Lane
Bullfinch - Brickkiln Wood

Usual stuff this morning.
Parakeet calling and flying round obelisk.

Kingfisher on the brook.

GSW drumming and Green calling but no Lessers.

Sand Martins not back yet.

I managed 42 species so have put them all in as Roving Records.

-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth at 13:26, 2008-04-13

Steve

In the park from 0630 - 0800 there were three of the 6 heron nests occupied and a further 3 or 4 birds flying round. Will keep an eye on progress over the coming weeks. There was also lots of Great Spot and Green Pecker activity but no Lesser Spots either seen or heard. Perhaps Henry who arrived as I was leaving will have had more luck.

Tony
Please see your mail box.

-- Edited by sid ashton at 17:28, 2008-04-07

Please can someone count the number of active nests in the heronry at Dunham Massey? This is for the National Heronries Census and the GM County Report (and the Atlases).

Post the results here or send me a private message.

Cheers, Steve