14.30-16.00
A family bimble amongst the crowds rather than a birding trip but a few things noted:

1 Swallow around the old stables area
Green Woodpecker heard
4-5 Nuthatches
c.20 Tufted Duck
1 Linnet over
2 Cormorant
2 Buzzard over
1 Pied Wagtail

Also a number of mating Toads in the moat near the watermill.

Yesterday had 1 green woodpecker with more heard two tree creepers together 2 buzzards up high 1 great spotted woodpecker plus three chiffchaffs

Spent 6 hours covering all 4 corners of the Deer park today..
X3 Green Woodpecker
X6 Buzzard
X2 Treecreeper
20+ Jackdaw
10+ Great tit
5+ Blue tit
x8 Nuthatch
x6 Wren
x2 ChiffChaff
X4 Grey Heron
x1 Jay
x 2 Thrush
plus the usual resedent Waterfowl

Lovely morning in the park before the crowds arrived. Green woodpeckers vocal on the east of Charcoal drive near the deer barn, and one seen near island pool. Great Spotted Woodpecker around the park but the Lessers eluded us. Nice to see noisy nuthatches paired up, and the Green Sandpiper was still on the stream just outside the park wall. Two buzzards soared overhead, and a new bird for us here was a Raven.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 25th of March 2015 05:28:31 PM

On a non birding trip on 21st march walking the dogs saw my 1st 2 Green woodpeckers

Hi Pete and Sid

Sid's advice on the best areas to look is spot on, but it is worth pointing out that the counter under the clock has now been replaced by the new visitor centre in the car park. The reception desk should be able to provide you with leaflets containing maps.

Hope you have a good visit.

Lawrence

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

---

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

---

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.

---

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.