Pete Astles wrote:

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Hi folks

I am a new member of the national trust this year and might give this place a try I went to the hall last year but only to see the World War One feature but no idea of the grounds could I ask generally where you head to for the birding ?

Thanks in advance

Pete

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Pete to get yourself started the National Trust counter directly under the clock have free info leaflets with a park map included to give you an idea of the various locations mentioned in the forum thread.

For example if you walk from in front of the house up the main paved path with Smithy Pool to your left. You will pass a fenced-off area and two wood carvings - walk on about 100m and you will see the deer house to your left. The Green Woodpeckers tend to feed on the ground in that area. Historically the Lesser spotted Woodpeckers tend to be in the wooded areas around the obelisk and the various pieces of water are always worth a look including the stream over towards the Bollington Mill flats. A walk along the Bollin from the flats can be productive.

As for other "birding areas" in the park just walk around and you will find many of the species as published on this thread.

I tend to try to be there before the crowds arrive and always try to avoid weekends when birding. Good luck.

with Steve Atkins saturday morning:

Green woodpecker
2 x Green sandpipers
3 x Buzzards including 2 displaying
Mute swan pair
Great spotted woodpeckers drumming
flock of Redwing in sub song
Grey Herons at heronry


-- Edited by Zoe Barrett on Monday 16th of March 2015 08:41:29 PM

James Walsh wrote:

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The Little Egret has a protuberance from it's neck just underneath its' beak, the situation didn't look very healthy and I have reported this situation and my concern for this birds' welfare to the RSPCA, the Case Number is 123843-1426027611

If anyone visits Dunham Park, please report on the health of this bird

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There has been a Little Egret reported in and around the park for a couple of weeks but no sign today.

PS - A group of 15 - 20 Redwings remains in the area of the obelisk.



-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 11th of March 2015 06:06:25 PM

Little Egret on Island Pool, giving good views and still present at 5pm
3 Green Sandpipers Bollington area

A visit today with my sister and her family, hoping to show the kids the deer and maybe a woodpecker or two. Didn't see one, but did manage a nice Little Egret on the Island Pool, which is a GM tick for me. It seemed pretty comfortable, might become a fixture, who knows?

A quiet day at Dunham Massey from 12.30 to 3.30pm, with some nice highlights.

1 kingfisher on the mill outflow
2 Treecreeper
1 Goldcrest
6 Long Tailed Tits
50+ Black Headed Gulls on Smithy pool
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker

A Dunham first for me this morning, three Goosander (2 male, 1 female) on the now very flooded meadow between the mill and Bollington flats.

I took a bird walk in the park this morning 11.00am to 1.00pm.

The highlights were:
1 Common Buzzard
2 Grey Heron
Many Nuthatch very vocal throughout the park
5+ Long Tailed Tit
1 Coal Tit
3 Goldcrest
1 Treecreeper
1 Green Woodpecker, a female feeding on ground next to deer barn for a good 15 minutes.
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
1 Greenfinch

20 people attended the walk, which was just right.

I had a nice afternoon in the park yesterday. Here are some highlights.

100+ flock of Fieldfare flew over the hall
200+ Black Headed Gull on flooded field by Bollin
5 Grey heron
2 Stock Dove
1 Treecreeper
2 kestrel both giving alarm calls
2 Little Grebe

Rob Creek wrote:

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Post edited to Woodhouse Lane NOT SCHOOL LANE!

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Yes Rick as I said in my PM if you park at the bottom end of School Lane you are likely to get a ticket as the parking wardens are active around there

Woodhouse Lane opposite the cottages is fine.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 20th of October 2014 08:58:52 AM

I called in on Friday afternoon on way back from Blithfield Res, Staffordshire. I parked on Woodhouse Lane just off Charcoal Road (usually a few spaces around there) and used the very stile that is mentioned virtually right opposite where I parked.

Very little in the way of bird sightings, was hoping for a Green Woodpecker but none seen.
-1 Buzzard over
-1 Sparrowhawk
-1 Nuthatch
-1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard only at close quarters but couldn't see it)
-Flock of Redwings heard in the tree tops on Main Drive, but I could see that they were moving through the trees so unable to give a number, sounded loud and there tends to be quite a large number in Dunham, was last year anyway.
-Jackdaws everywhere
-usuals on Smithy Pool ... Mallard, Coot, Black-headed Gull

Without doubt the star attraction was the Fallow Deer herd, and just recently Mammals have provided some good sightings on recent trips out. After climbing over the stile immediately there were 2 fairly large darkish Buck's partially hidden sat in the vegetation against the perimeter brick wall. They were keeping out of the way of the 2 even larger pale phase Buck's that were bellowing to each other and chasing Doe's. These 2 really are thick set Buck's and 1 of them provided a bit of a rush when he charged a Doe to right near where I was standing, I don't know if she ran over to me for a bit of protection but there would've been very little I could've done against that hormonal brut!



-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 19th of October 2014 09:12:01 PM

Thanks for the info guys.

Craig Higson wrote:

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Daft questio - I always thought Dunham was a pay to enter place i.e. everywhere not just the house and formal gardens. Is that not the case? Was thinking of a visit so any info would be really useful.

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Only entry to the Hall is charged. And the car park of course but you can park off Coal Lane if you're early enough and walk there. You can cycle there too but beware the fascist NT wardens who have failed to notice that British Cycling and the NT have combined to 'promote' cycling (with a photo of a bike outside the hall natch!). I was practically arrested by their goons for cycling there at the dizzying speed of 3mph

Daft questio - I always thought Dunham was a pay to enter place i.e. everywhere not just the house and formal gardens. Is that not the case? Was thinking of a visit so any info would be really useful.

Early evening, watched House Martins taking food to very noisey young in nest on Bollington Mill flats. Grey Wagtail landed on the roof just above the nest



-- Edited by sid ashton on Monday 8th of September 2014 09:12:59 PM

Dunham Massey park 10.00am - 2.00pm yesterday. A quiet day but some birds worth reporting

1 f Mandarin Duck on the moat

Bollington Gate

3 grey Heron
1 Stock Dove

Originally posted today by Kristian Wade:


Visit from 10:30am - 13:00pm

2 adult and 6 juvenile swans on smithy's pool.

5 Little Grebes on Island Pool with coots and moorhens.

6 Grey Herons on brook flowing out of park.

Green woodpecker heard but not seen.

A nice evening wander after work, 7.30-9.30pm

2 Green Woodpecker (1 adult, 1 juv) in trees to the left of the hall, where the stile crosses the wall.
1 Stock Dove & 2 Woodpigeon on the banks of the Bollin, just over the wall.
7-8 Mistle Thrush among the deer, just in front of the hall.
1 Grey Heron on the edge of Island Pool.

Also nearby:
2 Yellowhammer perched up on wires, just off Oldfield Lane.

Thank you very much Lawrence - I saw two of them there today. These were my first UK Green Woodpecker so I'm chuffed. We sat for a while on the bench near to the deer barn and after a while, I saw a head pop up exactly like you said! I've put a photo on the St Helens Birds and Wildlife blog in the out of area tab (big crop).

Green Woodpecker 2 (1m, 1juv)

Damian

I've been to Dunham Massey lots of times and never seen the green woodpecker. Where is the best place/time to see them?

Thanks, Damian

In the park 06.00 - 08.15 today on a pleasantly sunny morning. First stop was at Smithy pool where the Swan family; parents and 6 cygnets were alseep on the bank next to the bench where the feathers that Lawrence mentioned were strewn about. I had noticed these earlier in the week. From the amount of droppings it looks as though the birds spend some time there and the feathers could possiblly be from an early moult. So perhaps not too much to worry about.

Also of note on the Bollin, upstream the flats at Bollington mill, 10's of House Martins taking insects. In previous years House Martins have nested in the eaves of the flats but not this year so it was good to see them. Downstream the flats, also feeding over the river a group of 15 - 20 Sand Martins stayed around for a time.

Lawrence Hindley wrote:

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Just seen your post Steven so will just add a few more birds seen while on duty as a Park Guide in the park this afternoon

1 Grey Wagtail by the mill
3 Sand Martins over Smithy Pool
2 Mistle Thrush on top path
2 Buzzard on top path
1 Treecreeper near Langham Grove

Also observed 2 Carrion Crows trying to predate the Mallard Ducklings on Smithy. However the female Mallard was aggressively attacking them, but she was being vigorously assisted by the Cobb Swan who was being very aggressive toward them as well. There were many white swan feathers strewn about as well which seemed to show that the Swan may have had an altercation with something bigger earlier. If you or anybody has any information on this it would be appreciated?

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hi Lawrence, I noticed all the mute swan feathers whilst I was watching the pool, everything seemed calm, so obviously must of happened before I arrived.

7.30-12-30pm.

golf course & forest...

4 great spotted woodpeckers
1 jay chasing juvenile coal tits !
3 treecreepers
nuthatches all over the place.
3 chiffchaffs
several blackcaps around inc 1 male feeding 2 fledglings.
1 buzzard
2 goldcrests
5 song thrushes
plus all the usuals around with lots of juveniles.

deer park...

3 green woodpeckers
6-7 great spotted woodpeckers
1 kestrel
1 jay
1 kingfisher
1 pied wagtail
6 grey herons

smithy pool... 2 mute swans + 6 juveniles, 4 tufted ducks, 2 swallows.

island pool... 2 tufted ducks + 5 juveniles, 1 little grebe.

plus all the usuals around, plus jackdaws seem to have taken over the deer park, no crows or rooks seen

sid ashton wrote:

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On an evening stroll along the canal behind the park a Common Tern passed us a couple of times. Never seen one in that area previously.

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They seem to be fairly regular at Manor Farm fishery over the road from the Vine Pub Sid. I've seen them there a few times in the past when my son fishes whilst I bird!

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Thursday 19th of June 2014 12:04:37 AM

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Thursday 19th of June 2014 12:06:13 AM