Hi Sid

have a look at the atlas website www.birdatlas.net

log on and click on Request Tetrads. The type in the 10km square (SJ78) and you'll get a map showing the tetrads (coded A-Z withouit an 0). You can print out the map if you like.

Once you've logged on you can enter your sightings on-line.

All the best

Steve

I putall of my sightings into Birdtrack.net, i've been told these might be used if necessary for the atlas but what about the Gtr Manc atlas?
Thanks. Henerz.

As you correctly say, it refers to four things - in this case four square kilometres.

The BTO wintering bird atlas will be based on the Ordnance Survey 10km squares such as SJ78. Obviously it's a big ask to expect someone to survey all this, so the 10 x 10 km square is split into tetrads - 2 x 2 km squares - the 10 km square contains twenty five of these in total (5 x 5). Dunham Massey is part of SJ78-I. They want at least 8 tetrads surveying per ten square kilometres to gain an overall picture of that area.

The survey consists of two methods.
1) A timed walk where you count all the birds seen within a one or two hour period. In my case it was about 300 or so birds - about 34 species.

2) The second method is 'roving records' where you just record any species seen during the winter period, so I've seen an additional 14 species on subsequent dates.

In parallel to the BTO atlas, there will be a Greater Manchester Atlas which will be based on these 2 x2 tetrads i.e. in finer detail than the national atlas which is based on 10 x 10.

Anyone can submit 'roving records' via the BTO website or I can send you paper forms if you want. You have to register for 'timed tetrads' and I'm still looking for volunteers,

As it stands SJ78I is 'without' Little Owl, Pheasant !, Barn Owl and Tree Sparrow at the moment - all of which definitely breed here - simply because I haven't seen them yet this winter and no-one else has logged 'roving records' for them (unless paper records have been sent direct to the BTO) !!

Female RN Parakeet by the obelisk again.

Big feeding flock of maybe 50 birds near the little mill - Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Great Tit but no LSW with them - spent about 20 minutes checking every bird.

Now up to 48 species for this tetrad.

Walk round the Park this morning.

Amongst the usual species, managed to see the Female Ring-Necked Parakeet near the Obilisk.

Grey Wagtail near the stream and lots of Redwings about.

Phil

If it's any help I have seen only common Snipe on the meadow over to the mill in recent weeks. The are a re little larger than Jacks and have a longer bill.

Jack Snipe tend to be more elusive and solitary so would have thought they would be Snipe.

Anything is possible though.

Cheers

Phil

LSWs Brooks Drive

Henry/Vaughan - is this the area shown as Humphreys Wood on the A2Z. I too live failrly close and I could take a look.

The female Ring-necked Parakeet was again present late on this afternoon and we believe that we heard another bird calling from further into the park - has anyone else seen the second Parakeet?

Sorry Tony my thanks should have gone to you for the info

Have a look at
http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/index.htm

Any sightings of birds over the winter period (November - Feb) should be reported to the BTO - either through online registration, paper forms (you can download them off that website) or through the BirdTrack scheme. They will then be used to build up a picture for the national wintering bird atlas.

Roving Records are simply that - anything you see whilst out roaming. The Timed Tetrad is a bit more scientific and involves a timed bird count covering the major habitats within a square.

I have volunteered to cover SJ78I (Dunham Massey) and have seen most of the birds in this thread in the last month - apart from the elusive Parakeet, LSW, Little Owl and Green Woodpecker.
Hopefully I will get to see them at some point, but if not - any sightings should be reported by the lucky observers, especially things like LSW which will help build up a national picture of the distribution of this (some say) mythical bird, although I have seen one in SJ78H near Rostherne so they do exist.

Nobody's added all these birds as Roving Records on the BTO Atlas yet !!

The Ring-necked Parakeet (F) was showing well around the obelisk. About 300 Black Headed Gulls plus 3 lesser Black Backs on the meadow over the styal to Bollington Mill this was under water and may be worth a looking at as it dries out. Grey Wagtail on the meadow agains the wall and several Goldcrest in the trees around the car park. I was chatting to one of the volunteers and he reckons that Lesser Spots have been seen in these trees so it may be worth folks having a look in passing.

Had a pleasant hour or so in Dunham park this afternoon had a Green Pecker, Snipe and Kingfisher on the brook from the sawmill to Bollington mill, Gadwall in the park along with a fleeting glimpse of the Ring necked parakeet near the obalisk.
The Kingfisher was doing a passible impression of a Humming Bird hovering over the water. I have never seen this before I guess it was because there were no perches for it to hunt from. Is it normal behaviour?

Tony,

From the park entrance, how do you get to Brickkiln Wood??

I may give that a try as well.

I assume similar species to the park??

Thanks

Phil

Pretty much the same species as Phil Owen below - plus GS Woodpecker and a family group of 4 Bullfinch in Brickkiln Wood (by the canal), Little Grebe in the moat and 2 Gadwall on Island Pool.

Tony Please see your PM - as I said I didn't see any SMs on the Bollin last year never mind ones with beaks full of food!!!

Tony

I remember a few years ago I saw Sand Martins close to Bollington Mill flats but haven't seen them since I became seriously interested in birding. I know the area well so if you could pinpoint the whereabouts of the colony site I shall have a good look next spring.

Ta

The park itself is all in Manchester - the county boundary is the River Bollin down by the mill.

There's also a Sand Martin colony on the banks of the Bollin on the Manchester side.

Phil

You can find the the greens just about anywhere in the park but as a suggestion for a walk - park in Woodhouse Lane ( the road after Charcoal Lane) after coming from the lights on the A56.

If you go before 0830 ( Ithink) the car park is not open anyway and it's free to park on the road -go opposite the cottages there are double yellows at the start of Woodhouse and tickets are known to be given.

Go over the big styal and start looking straight away - I usually find one or two greens immediately over the styal. On reflection it's better to look quite carefully over the wall before you get onto the styal. Turn left but take a diversion over to the pool (it's called Smithy pool) for the past couple of weeks ther's been a Grey Wagtail feeding in the mud. Back on to the path with the main wall to you left go up the path there is a fenced off area now to your right occasionally have seen greens in there as well as a tawny Owl being mobbed by crows a couple of weeks ago - but defintiely the best place is now coming up again on the right there is circle of 6 (I think) Lime Trees and the birds are usally to be seen there. Now cross over to the main path and head back towards the house - you will pass two wood carvings on the right just after this head off to the left towards the "slaughter house" it's an old brick building again crossing that patch of land has been productive. Go down toward the house again and just before the next pool on your left cut through to the obelisk. When I saw the LSW I was sitting on a fallen tree looking down to the ox bow on the river and the bird was high up in a tree to my left. Not seen it lately too many leaves. Almost home now - again head back towards the house and cafe and look out to the left across to the flats at Bollington Mill. There is a styal and it's always worth a look across the field/stream have had Kingfisher, Green Sand, Snipe and a pair of Buzzards nested in the wood that backs on to the car park. This was where we saw the Green Pecker today. There was also a Dabchick on the moat. So Phil enjoy Dunham I always think that there's always something to see on the days when I have'nt been able to take my scope for a walk in other more far flung locations.

Warfy will definitely let you know the moment I find that LSW again.

While I'm can someone please let me know the routine for visiting Audenshaw res. I went sometime ago with a friend and had a look last week near the Hungry Horse pub but that access is now closed.

Sid please keep us posted with any LSW sightings, i know one or two including me will be interested in any sightings, thanks. Intend to visit the site over the winter. Another county site i can then tick off as visited!

Im always interested in your movements Mr Woosey

-- Edited by warfy at 20:19, 2007-11-20

Dunham Massey park is a good birding site esp early in the morning before the tourists arrive.

I go there a couple of times a week. Was there this evening mainly for a stroll but did find Green Pecker - as a rule they are knocking about. I think that there were at least two new families there this year. Have also seen the Lesser Spot near the obelisk but early on in the year.

have had reports of marsh tit in dunham massey in the past, now is that why your in there mr woosey,
tony I have only visited dunham with kids do you bird in there regular, can you shed any light on old reports.

Doh - thats my atlas tetrad and there was no sign of her when I went last week, though there was one knocking around there last winter.
Where was the Teal ?