Etherow Country Park and Nature Reserve

Steven Heywood · Status: Offline

Etherow Country Park and Nature Reserve

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Changing tack then...

In the rain this afternoon, thought I'd check the outside chance of something odd dropping in on the lake, but found only c30 swallows, c10 sand martins and 1 house martin sweeping the water for anything going. Thankfully they won't have to put up with another day like this for a while at least.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

This discussion requires its own thread if possible please, it could (and perhaps should) run and run.

dave broome · Status: Offline

I dont really understand NEs stance that the Egyptian Goose cant be re-released, when it is a Category C species on the BOU British list. Surely they wouldnt object to the re-release of a Mandarin from Etherow, or any of Pheasant, Red-Legged Partridge, or Little Owl? I would be interested to see their reasoning.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Tim Wilcox wrote:

Can we have a campaign to restore the poor harmless goose to its home alongside all the other harmless wonky ducks and geese there? Who do we complain to? None of this has any bearing on the loss of native passerines and woodpeckers btw.

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Saturday 27th of April 2019 07:54:55 PM

A start point might be...

Teresa Hughes
Nature Development Officer
Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

Can we have a campaign to restore the poor harmless goose to its home alongside all the other harmless wonky ducks and geese there? Who do we complain to? None of this has any bearing on the loss of native passerines and woodpeckers btw.

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Saturday 27th of April 2019 07:54:55 PM

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Julie Gardiner wrote:
I know what has happened to the Egyptian Goose at Etherow. I spent a very long time trying to find out and did! He apparently was found curled up somewhere in Etherow around bonfire night. A gentleman got him to the RSPCA and they looked after him. Apparently there wasn't much wrong with him. Those awful fireworks must have distressed him. Anyhow, we were told at first that he would be released into the park but then Natural England put a stop to it and wouldn't issue a license for his release as he is not an indigenous species. Along with a friend of mine we are in contact with Natural England and are at stage 2 of trying to get a license for release. It's really hard as they have quote an EU law. But our friend the Egptian Goose in Etherow is no threat to the wildlife there. He's lived all his life in Etherow and around 15 years. He's more of a domestic goose than a wild one. And he teamed up with the swan family. I just can't believe this lovely gentle goose cannot get back to the place he loves. He is apparently with some private "collector" whatever that means and they won't reveal where he is. But I really am trying to get him back where he belongs. We are expecting a reply from Natural England any day now.

The Egyptian goose was always nice to see, but I'd rather 'Un-Natural England' restored willow tit, lesser spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, redstart, garden warbler etc... which have also all disappeared from the park. If the goose does return, I trust it has grown used to the rock music, bikers, drunken revellers and so on who have turned the park into a sad joke. Stand up Stockport Council.

Julie Gardiner · Status: Offline

I know what has happened to the Egyptian Goose at Etherow. I spent a very long time trying to find out and did! He apparently was found curled up somewhere in Etherow around bonfire night. A gentleman got him to the RSPCA and they looked after him. Apparently there wasn't much wrong with him. Those awful fireworks must have distressed him. Anyhow, we were told at first that he would be released into the park but then Natural England put a stop to it and wouldn't issue a license for his release as he is not an indigenous species. Along with a friend of mine we are in contact with Natural England and are at stage 2 of trying to get a license for release. It's really hard as they have quote an EU law. But our friend the Egptian Goose in Etherow is no threat to the wildlife there. He's lived all his life in Etherow and around 15 years. He's more of a domestic goose than a wild one. And he teamed up with the swan family. I just can't believe this lovely gentle goose cannot get back to the place he loves. He is apparently with some private "collector" whatever that means and they won't reveal where he is. But I really am trying to get him back where he belongs. We are expecting a reply from Natural England any day now.

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

I'll rescue the Etherow thread from the depths of the 5th page, early morning start and a wander round up to Sunny Corner and back by Keg Pool;

8 Chiffchaff in song
7 Nuthatch
4 Male Blackcap's singing
7 Tufted Duck (6m and 1 poor female)
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Willow Warbler (not particularly common here these days)
1 Goosander.

A call in the cafe where I met up with Mr Rayner, who had had Kingfisher on the river, before we headed up to Ludworth

Cheers

Mark

Mark Dean · Status: Offline

I visited for a couple of hours between 1 and 3 pm. Usual wildfowl on unfrozen parts of main lake, and some stood on ice,Greylags,Mallard,Coots,Moorhen,Mute Swans, a Tufted Duck, the 2 Muscovy ducks, Canada Geese as well as B H Gulls,but unfortunately no sign of the Egyptian Goose or Great Crested Grebe. Walked on and on the 'Canal' section at least 40 Mandarin ducks.Walked up path through wooded area and on field above at least 10 Lapwings,2 Mistle Thrush,a few Carrion Crows.On to the Wild Sensory Garden and on feeders Great tits,Blue Tits, Coal Tits ,a small flock of 12 Long Tail Tits,1 Nuthatch kept visiting, on ground a Dunnock, 3 Blackbirds,3 Robins,Chaffinch 2 Woodpigeon,a Song Thrush ,2 Cormorants flew over. I walked on to the bridge near the weir,no sign of Dipper or Kingfisher and the pond further on was frozen over,and nothing on it. A few notices around informing that there is a petition to sign in the information centre to stop the demolition of the toilet block near the Sensory Garden area ,this I think runs until later this month so I signed it.
All the best and good Birding in 2019!

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Got to try and keep the place on the map! No signs of anything unusual, but there was a very large cormorant roost of 25+ birds. Two great spotted woodpeckers were having a drumming competition, and the number of jackdaws overflying the park at dusk was the most I've seen for some time (750+). Also noted 1 male goosander and a few teal on the river. Much of the open water was frozen so I expecgted more on the river but was disappointed.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of February 2019 10:02:03 PM

Julie Gardiner · Status: Offline

Has anybody seen the Egyptian Goose recently at Etherow Country Park. I haven't seen him for six weeks and am worried.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Wednesday 19th December 2018

c40 Mandarins on the channel between the main lakes and Keg Pool
1 Peregrine
1 Greylag Goose

Steven Heywood · Status: Offline

Quick sken round at lunchtime, 33 species in total, some highlights:

90+ pigeons on the café roof
17 mandarin ten drakes, seven ducks
3 muscovy ducks a pair plus one half-grown juvenile
One common gull, all the rest black-headed, no large gulls
One male goosander, one male tufted duck
Great spotted woodpecker showing well on the feeders by the herb garden, also large numbers of blue, great and coal tits and at least two nuthatches
Grey wagtail on the river, also a juvenile heron
One buzzard feeding on the field
Nice to see a song thrush belting out a song in plain view by the garden centre

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

09.30-11.30 this morning.

140 Fieldfare in fields beyond Sunny Corner .20 Redwing. Also Egyptian Goose, 8 Goosander, Kingfisher, 5 Mute Swan, 2 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 2 Common Buzzard.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Large flock of 167 Feral Pigeons around the café. (Well, someone might as well count them! It's pretty slow around these parts of GM)

Cheers, John

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Evening stroll from 19.30-21.00 yesterday .

2 Raven over weir, 14 Mandarin, Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Nuthatch, 2 Goldcrest, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Mute Swan.

Steven Heywood · Status: Offline

12:45 16:30

Drake mandarins ranging from full breeding plumage to very nearly full eclipse.

Pair of buzzard overhead, occasionally mobbed by carrion crows.

No sign of dippers and just the one grey wagtail.

Steven Heywood · Status: Offline

Nesting nuthatches and treecreepers. Great spotted woodpeckers, blackcaps and chiffchaffs very much in evidence. Just the one willow warbler.

Egyptian goose on Keg Pool.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Blackcap (the most abundant warbler) 13
Chiffchaff 3
Willow Warbler ZERO
Sand Martin 2 (visiting nest hole)
House Martin 4
Swallow 2
Grey Wagtail 1
Dipper 1 (colour ringed Blue/left, Red over metal/right)
Treecreeper 3
Raven 1
Buzzard 2
Mute Swan 2 ad, 3 1st s.
Mandarin 6m, 3f
Mallard f+9 ducklings
Little Grebe 1

Didn't bump into the Egyptian Goose in a fairly extensive walk. Lots of butterflies.

Cheers John.

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

Had a quick walk round midday as the weather was so nice.......I quickly remembered it was the school holidays as the place was packed.

Main things of note;

3 Male Blackcap seen, more heard.
8 Chiffchaff
2 Little Grebe
1 Raven
1 Buzzard

Usual woodland stuff as well, Nuthatch, Treecreeper etc.

Cheers

Mark

James Richardson · Status: Offline

Sunday 8 April first time visit to Etherow CP, what a nice pocket of ancient woodland I never knew was there. As usual in the NW though - Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed everywhere.
Wondering if it's redstart/pied fly/wood warbler territory?
There was a female sparrowhawk hunting round the big warehouse by the car park, where there were also 4 sand martins shadowing it when it flew higher up.
In the woodland loads of blue tit, several chiffchaff and treecreeper, 4 great spotted woodpecker, ravens heard, 2 buzzards over the forest to the east.
On the river/canal, 1 dipper, 2 grey wagtail, 2 mute swan, loads of mandarin, one Egyptian goose. Also 2 goosander.
Will have to go back in a few weeks.

-- Edited by James Richardson on Monday 9th of April 2018 09:53:38 AM

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

vic chatterton wrote:
Re Andy's count of Tufted Duck
During the late 1970s and early 80s there were some fairly high counts during the much harsher winters.
On 13/1/1979 I had 48 Tufted Duck all visible from the hide. All still water was frozen on that day and even parts of the river. There were also 22 Teal and 5 Pochard on the river. I counted 48 Tufted Duck again on 1/2/1979.

Way before my time Vic. wink

Andy.

vic chatterton · Status: Offline

Re Andy's count of Tufted Duck

During the late 1970s and early 80s there were some fairly high counts during the much harsher winters.

On 13/1/1979 I had 48 Tufted Duck all visible from the hide. All still water was frozen on that day and even parts of the river. There were also 22 Teal and 5 Pochard on the river. I counted 48 Tufted Duck again on 1/2/1979.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Chiffchaff from hide
Ravens 2 over
Treecreeper 2
Siskin 14
Best bird was a displaying Goldcrest - quite stunning with red-orange crown fully flared.

No sign of Crossbill in Ernocroft Wood (reported by Paul Greenall)

Cheers John

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Mandarin 18
Teal 4
Tufted Duck 4
Goosander 5
Little Grebe 1
Nuthatch 2

Cheers John

Tim Wilcox · Status: Offline

With Tony Darby this morning

Mandarin c. 10 - well down on this time last year
Sparrowhawk in the car park
Egyptian Goose at Keg Pool
Surprise Tawny Owl flying around in the woods near Keg Pool around noon and perching in the open!
Weir in spate so no Dipper activity

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

Called in briefly this afternoon;

Similar to Andy I had good numbers of Tufted Duck with 17 counted between the main lake and hide.
11 Coot
5 Moorhen
2 Goosander
A sizable party of Long Tailed Tits on some fat blocks near the hide.

Sadly no Water Rail, best I managed was a Robin feeding along the bank

Cheers

Mark Oh and Great Spotted Woodpecker from the hide as well.

-- Edited by Mark Walsh on Saturday 3rd of March 2018 04:43:22 PM

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Really testing conditions which I thought might have brought something unusual in, but hadn't really. The following were recorded as notable.

Lodge:

20 tufted duck (14 male); possibly a site record?

18 cormorants (at least).

6 goosander (4 male)

River Hide:

pr of goosander

1 dabchick, a real scarcity in the park these days

1 snipe; attempted to land on mud bank (covered in ice), but flew off up river at once. A first for me here after 33 years of visits!

No sign of teal or water rail, which with carrion crows and a grey heron patrolling where it had been is perhaps understandable. Only saw 5 small passerines in total (robin, blackbird, wren, long-tailed tit, goldfinch), all singles.

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

One of the park's Holy (G)rails this afternoon, from the now reopened hide. A water rail on the far bank of the river giving good views well before dusk. Also 9 teal on the river, 14 cormorants on the mill lodge, dipper from the weir bridge, and two ravens over. All in all, a very productive pm.
Cheers,
Andy

bernard hooley · Status: Offline

A couple of hours yesterday afternoon.
Starling x5
Black Headed Gull x 40+
Magpie x6
Carrion Crow x7
Jackdaw x15
Wood Pigeon x8
Canada Goose x 100+
Mallard x 80 +
Greylag Goose x5
Mute Swan x6
Blue Tit x8
Chaffinch x3
Robin x10
Goosander x2
Mandarin x14
Egyptian Goose x1
Coot x12
Blackbird x3
Cormorant x3
Long Tailed Tit x8
Nuthatch x4
Great Spotted Woodpecker x1
Great Tit x3
Coal Tit x1
Moorhen x2
Herring Gull x2

steven burke · Status: Offline

A couple of hours this morning.

33+ mandarin
2 Goosander
7 tufted duck
1 great crested grebe
1 little grebe
Close views of a kingfisher on the canal, the same or another seen near pump house later on.
2 dipper near the weir another seen flying up stream from the hide. There was actually 2 black bags outside of the boarded up hide.
The 4 muscovy ducks were on the path between canal & pool & were not even bothered by my presence ( nigel, not quiet sure where there from but I get the impression that they have been there for some time) there is something about them though, despite there looks hmm

1 raven, over
1 grey wagtail
2 pied wagtail
No signs of the Egyptian goose for me.
Plus the usuals around.

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

John Rayner wrote:

There is a notice on the hide closed from 14th December. Does anyone know is this is seasonal or permanent? The way the door and windows are screwed and boarded up make it look permanent.

Cheers John

John I know there has been a homeless person living in the hide for a while now. Maybe closing and barring it shut is an effort to move him on?

nigel charlesworth · Status: Offline

Afternoon visit usual suspects at car park end walk up to weir 21+Mandarin, Egyptian Goose was on the pond area of the canal near the old barge on the way back near the cottage before garden centre were 4 very smart Muscovy Duck I have never seen them like this where have these come from any ideas people???

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Goosander 2
Mandarin Duck 21
Teal 3
Egyptian Goose 1
Little Grebe 1
Raven 1 (mobbed by Carrion Crows)

There is a notice on the hide closed from 14th December. Does anyone know is this is seasonal or permanent? The way the door and windows are screwed and boarded up make it look permanent.

Cheers John

Steve Christmas · Status: Offline

Egyptian goose was ringed there as an adult on 10/11/2013. Thanks for reporting it.

Steve

Chris Knight · Status: Offline

Dropped in to shelter from the foul weather in the cafe. Quick look showed a single goosander on boat club lake. The (?) Egyptian goose was sitting disconsolately up on the edge of the path, this meant I could test out the close focus on my new bins (Thanks FocalPoint!) and read its BTO ring (1044333). Is this well known, or worth reporting?

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

Called in again this afternoon, only 2 things of note were a flock of c30 Siskin near sunny corner and a group of 12 Long Tailed Tits with 2 Goldcrest moving through, otherwise very quiet.

Mark Walsh · Status: Offline

Fancied a change from Ludworth so called in Etherow for a brief visit;

Several parties of Great Tit, Coal Tit, Long Tailed Tit and Goldcrest around the park, in addition a lone Grey Wagtail by the weir.

A large number of Jackdaw heading to roost (3:30pm) as the sun was setting, heading south west.

Usual Mandarin's along the canal between the visitor centre and pump house with some in the river behind the pump house. The Egyptian Goose was also on the canal.

Cheers

Mark

bernard hooley · Status: Offline

Late post for yesterday
Sparrowhawk m x1
Coot x4
Mallard x34
Canada Goose x31
Black Headed Gull 28
Mandarin x12
Mute Swan x3
Moorhen x 2
Greylag Goose x 1
Carrion Crow x 4
Egyptian Goose x1
Grey Heron x 1
Cormorant x 1
Raven x 2
Jackdaw x 1
Magpie x 4
Wood Pigeon x 6

Pete Hines · Status: Offline

Mandarin 42
Egyptian Goose 1
Kingfisher 1
Little Grebe 1
Great crested Grebe 2
Buzzard 1

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 11th of August 2017 03:55:10 PM

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Yesterday 7.40-9.40 am

2 Redpoll by garden centre, Goldcrest, Kestrel top of Ernocroft, 4 Nuthatch, Treecreeper, 4 Muscovy Duck, 14 Mandarin Duck.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

The Egyptian Goose was ringed as an adult at Etherow on 10/11/2013

Info thanks to Steve Christmas.

John Rayner · Status: Offline

Without trawling through 11 pages of sightings I cannot be sure this hasn't been reported before:

The Egyptian Goose was hauled out on the bank near the model boat club area. It was metal ringed 1044333. I would assume it was ringed at Etherow but someone out there will know for certain. >
Sand Martin young were hanging out of holes in the brick walls of the mill waiting to be fed and 1 Great Crested Grebe on the lodge.

My intention to photograph insects was unsuccessful. Must remember to put a memory card in the camera next time hmm

Cheers John

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

6-8.30 pm yesterday

Dipper, Tawny Owl, 2 Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, 2 Common Buzzard, 2 Treecreeper, 4 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mandarin, 2 Mute Swan with cygnet, 4 Tufted Duck, 8 Swift, 5 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 4 Sand Martin, 3 Goldcrest, Goosander and at least 3 pairs of Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Plus the usuals

vic chatterton · Status: Offline

Brief visit to hide - pair of Kingfishers perched below hide for some time but mostly obscured by vegetation (about time the brambles were cut on edge of embankment)

pair of Teal and pair of Tufted Ducks and several Mandarin. Grey Wagtail by weir and a single Great Crested Grebe on boating lake.

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

Chris Harper wrote:
19.00-20.30 Highlights
Drake Teal, Kingfisher, Dipper, 7 Tufted Duck, 18 Mandarin Duck, 5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Swallow, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Goldcrest

Earlier in the afternoon (in addition to the above), there was a single raven over the park which hung around for about 5 minutes. Also drake goosander, a few sand martins, and a tantalising glimpse of what was near certainly a woodcock which rose from the ground near Sunny Corner (whilst I was not looking in that direction) and made off over the trees in a direct line away from me.

-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Saturday 8th of April 2017 09:13:10 PM

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

19.00-20.30 Highlights

Drake Teal, Kingfisher, Dipper, 7 Tufted Duck, 18 Mandarin Duck, 5 Chiffchaff, Blackcap, 2 Swallow, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Great Crested Grebe, 3 Goldcrest

Vicky Harper · Status: Offline

2.30 -4.00

Highlight was a male reed bunting by the nature reserve.

5+ Sand martin
2 Swallow
1 Great crested grebe
20+Mandarin
12 Tufted duck
1 Grey wagtail
1 Dipper
1 + Kingfisher
2 Treecreeper
2 Blackcap
1 Nuthatch
1 Great Spotted woodpecker
5+ Chiffchaff
2 Buzzard
1 Goldcrest
2 Stock dove

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of April 2017 05:07:40 PM

Andy Bissitt · Status: Offline

p.m.

12 sand martins around the mills and lodge area. A pair of sparrowhawks way on high, one in display. Male goosander in flight, one dipper briefly near weir, and chiffchaffs/buzzards as expected. Across the road along the river, a willow warbler was heard very briefly, but not seen. This, I think, was my earliest ever for the county.

A couple of pieces of behaviour were quite interesting. One was noting mandarins 'diving' (for up to 20 seconds). I had always considered them a dabbler/grazer. The other was a coot steaming towards me across the pond in an aggressive manner, mute swan style, and its mate likewise. They did not leave the water though, and backed off when I made steps towards them. Never seen that before (it was not a pond where the birds are fed).