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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> Cheshire and The Wirral -> Tatton Park
Post Info TOPIC: Tatton Park
Rick Donkin


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RE: Tatton Park
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Spent very pleasant afternoon Thus 11 Feb walking through Tatton. Parked at Knutsford entrance on road by golf club for free - saving £4.50 - thanks to Sid Ashton for tip. Walk started at 11.30.

Redheads not on view initially at Knutsord end of mere so walked along to far end scanning through the many diving tufties and goldeneye, with a few pochard. On Melchett Mere there were more of the same with 10 Ruddy Ducks. Still no Smew so walked back watching 2 Buzzard displying over golf course another soaring over the wood on far side of the mere.
Back near the Knutsford end again there was one Redhead drifting along with mallard and coot - then the second one appeared and the two started to dive for food. Watched, sat on the Millennium Project park bench, for an hour in clear, sunny conditions and it became apparent that one of the ducks was slightly larger than the other with noticably more white markings on the sides! (Male in eclipse???). I'm no expert - do we get them here?

Other birds included Jay, Nuthatch, GS Woodpecker, Jackdaw, C Crow, Mistle Thrush, Greenfinch, Chaffinch,Linnet (? 2 overhead against sun) and many cormorant - some in breeding plumage.

Overall a very satisfying afternoon ending at 16.40 before returning to the car frozen to the bone.

This is only my second contribution after having recently come across this excellent birding forum. Hope to post some interesting finds myself to reciprocate the sightings from other members. (In last 10 yrs I have had Lesser Spot in Garden and nesting Kingfisher in opposite bank of stream along side of my garden - but, alas, nothing as good since).
Rick.

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sid ashton


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Tim Wilcox wrote:

Yesterday around 1.00pm both redheads were at the south end of the Mere. One in open water, the other hiding near the bank under branches. It's a long tramp with a heavy tripod if you come in at the Rostherne end and park at the Hall. So best to follow the road on to the Kuntsford end.


There is also parking on the road outside the Knutsford entrance wink.gif

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Tim Wilcox


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Yesterday around 1.00pm both redheads were at the south end of the Mere. One in open water, the other hiding near the bank under branches. It's a long tramp with a heavy tripod if you come in at the Rostherne end and park at the Hall. So best to follow the road on to the Kuntsford end.

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stuartherring


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ONLY ONE SMEW (F) ON MAIN LAKE PENTYOF GOLDEN EYES DISPLAYING PLUS A LOT OF TUFTIES ALSO 2 MALE SHOVELER AND 2 MALE POCHARD,4 HERONS ON THE HERONRY NICE DAY OUTsmile.gifsmile.gif

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Pete Welch


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Good views of wildfowl today as the mere is partially frozen in the middle - large number of Tufties, Mallard, Coot and Canadas plus good number of Gadwall, a few teal, two red head Smew and displaying Golden Eye drakes. The Smew were at the Northern end about 150m south of the narrow neck where the mere ends in the circular pond. There were more Golden Eye and Teal on the further mere which is separated from the main one by the road.

Elsewhere in the park two pairs of Buzzards displaying and calling, mipits, and the usual goldfinch and mixed tit flocks.

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Saturday 6th of February 2010 01:59:41 PM

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John Barber


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Glad to have been of assistance John - did you listen out for the Lesser Pecker by any chance?



I parked outside the park and walked in, but I didn't hear an LSP.

Thought I heard one at Woolston Eyes last week though.

-- Edited by John Barber on Thursday 4th of February 2010 07:22:08 PM

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richard howells 2


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Saw two late on. Thanks for the heads up. Also the ducks that have no name.

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sid ashton


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John Barber wrote:

Thanks for the tip Sid. A few of us turned up this morning to see the Smew, which duly obliged - but ony one bird seen today.


Glad to have been of assistance John - did you listen out for the Lesser Pecker by any chance?

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John Barber


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Thanks for the tip Sid. A few of us turned up this morning to see the Smew, which duly obliged - but ony one bird seen today.

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sid ashton


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Two redhead Smew at the Knutsford entrance end of Tatton mere this morning. First seen at 08.15 still present at 11.30 amongst a flock of Canadas. Much easier to see here than at Rostherne biggrin.gif

P.S. - Should also have mentioned reasonably confident that I heard a lesser pecker drumming briefly in the wood next to the car park at Knutsford entrance when I first arrived - to be investigated further wink.gif

-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 3rd of February 2010 04:15:37 PM

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Steve Johnson


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Large Falcon Present this morning 8.15am, looks like a Peregrine x Saker or Gyr. Vertical chest bars. Got a couple of long shots. No jesses visable on bird. Attacked a passing Grey Heron at one point. Looked larger than Peregrine.

Anyone else seen hybrid type bird in the area, or is missing one.


Just put pic on Birdguides.
(unidentified)




-- Edited by Steve Johnson on Sunday 18th of October 2009 03:51:35 PM

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