Chris Harper wrote:

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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 

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 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

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

8.45-10.45.

2 Siskin by Keg Pool, 50+ Mandarin Duck, 5 Goosander, Treecreeper, 4 Common Buzzard, 3 Bullfinch, 2 Stock Dove, 4 Nuthatch, 10 Redwing, Raven, Sparrowhawk, Goldcrest, Teal, Great Spotted Woodpecker. 

10-11am: 30+ Mandarin Duck, Sparrowhawk, 2 Goosander, Grey Heron. 

Late report for Sunday 6th November
Walk along the Etherow from Broadbottom and around the CP
1.30-4pm

3 Dipper (all on the river, none by the weir)
10 Mandarin (6m, 4f)
2 Redwing
2 Jay
2 Buzzard
3 Grey Heron
Kestrel
Long-tailed Tits
Grey Wagtail
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Nuthatch
Cormorant
Tufted Duck

The hide was utterly devoid of any birdlife. Nothing but a carrion crow in 15 minutes. The trees over the river are getting quite overgrown, meaning the field if view us quite limited.

6-7pm 21 Mandarin Duck, 3 Teal , 2+ Tawny Owl, Raven, Dipper above weir, 7 roosting Cormorant, 4 Tufted Duck,  Grey Heron. 

Lovely view a of a Buzzard circling over Etherow while calling loudly as I cycled up Werneth Low this morning

Today 1200 - 1500;

Chiffchaff x 5
Blackcap x 3
Goldcrest x 3
Song Thrush x 6
Siskin x 4
Coal Tit x 8
Long Tailed Tit x 6
Bullfinch x 1
Chaffinch x 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 2
Jay x 1
Grey Wagtail = 2

Conservative count of 32 Mandarin (plus two duckling)
One female Tufted Duck on Keg Pool with 5 duckling.

I had thought that the Egyptian Goose at Platt Fields and the one at Etherow were two different birds. Anyone feel sure about this?

Ian Campbell wrote:

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5.00-7.30 a.m. after dropping son off at airport at 4.40 a.m. Good walk through whole area listening to dawn chorus. Magical and I had the whole place to myself seeing and hearing all the expected birds except Egyptian Goose, 3rd visit this year and still not connected.
Cheers Ian

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The resident Egyptian Goose is still at Platt Fields. No more plastic than the Etherow bird...which is quite a lot anyway

I saw it on Tuesday 24th May on the keg pool near the swans.

Visitor centre informed me that the Egyptian Goose has not been seen for weeks now Ian. 

Had a wander round the park from 1 through till 4:30 getting back just in time for a coffee at the café.......happy days

Plenty of bird life around the park;

9 Chiffchaff.
Several Goldcrest heard though only managed to track a couple down.
1 Dipper seen briefly from the Weir Bridge.
2m and 1f Blackcap seen, more heard.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Tufted Duck
3 Swallow over the main boating lake
Redpoll heard
1 Buzzard over
1 Grey Heron
Then all the usual Tit,s, Nuthatch, treecreeper.

Cheers

Mark

A pair of siskin were using the feeder in the last garden before you enter the park. Nearby, my first fledgling of the year, a robin, was pondering why its parents had chosen to nest in mid-winter! A male goosander flew down the length of the mill lodge. 

8.10am to 10.15am walk from visitors centre to keg pool and back via the weir.

weather cool breeze with sunny outbreaks.

Mallard, Tufted Duck,Wren, Grey Wagtail,Chaffinch,Goldfinch, 2 Common Redpoll, Moorhen , Coot Jackdaw

Blackbird,Great Tit, Nuthatch,Woodpigeon , Coal Tit, Canada Geese,Robin, Dunnock.

5 Cormorant on island on main lake.

10 Mandarin Duck on canal.

Buzzard mobbed by 6 crows near main lake.

Thought there might be a Chiffchaff or two today but no. To avoid the crowds I missed visitor centre pools and the weir so no Mandarins seen. But on the way to and around Keg Pool:

Song Thrush 6
Cormorant 6
Tufted Duck 3
Goosander 1m
Muter Swan 2
Egyptian Goose 1

The female swan appeared to be sitting on eggs with the male patrolling. But in close attendance to the nest was the Egyptian Goose. After a while preening the Goose approached the nest and perched on it. This caused the female to grab it by the neck, a little more than just allopreening but not as aggressive as pecking. The Egyptian Goose was completely submissive and lay down with neck outstretched and endured a good 'worrying', which lasted a few minutes. Eventually the swan lost interest and the goose left the nest. The following images, taken into strong sunlight, set the scene.

Cheers, John


-- Edited by John Rayner on Sunday 13th of March 2016 08:20:12 PM

Egyptian goose along the canal at Etherow today, making it's usual racket. It usually tags onto a pair of swans later,inspecting their nest and having a lot to say until they get cheesed off with it.
I think the canal bank is being cleared to stop the leaning trees uprooting and taking the soil away that's holding up the tarmac road. Only one permanent warden now, who has to do what he can!

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Decided to call in after seeing the Scaup at Chorlton, counted 41(at least) Mandarin along canal but no sign of the Egyptian Goose, has it departed/died ?.
Cheers Ian

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 Presumably you walked down to Keg Pool, Ian, as it is very often resident on here?

vic chatterton wrote:

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late am to 4.30pm

Pretty quiet  A few Redwings on the Werneth Low edge of the CP, but largest flock only 9.

Mandarin very scattered throughout the canal and river but at least 30.

11 Tufted Duck, 2 Teal, 1 Grey Heron.

A Kingfisher flew down river and flew into fairly deep overhanging waterside cover. Could just about make it out in the dense cover and would appear to have settled down to roost.

Anybody know why umpteen trees have been cut down along the waterside edges by the roadside leading to the hide entrance gate? It's even worse along the central causeway from the car park and the canal.  As well as the trees almost all the undershrub layer of bramble, hazel and blackthorn etc has been removed leaving a very bare edge to the lake and canal. Just another episode in the worst run CP in the North West - not just my opinion having talked to other regular birders.

Vic,

I think there were signs at one point saying that the embankment of the canal had been severly undermined by unnamed burrowing animals, and was in danger of collapse. I dare say that they decided to extend the action taken there as it would not go down too well if the road to the farm collapsed (they wouldn't be able to hold their music festival then!!). I try to look on the bright side and imagine that more sunlight reaching the surface of the water might encourage some new species of dragonfly. I think future developments in the insect world will be far more interesting than birding ones in ECP (and probably elsewhere).  

 

 

 

 

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-- Edited by Andy Bissitt on Friday 15th of January 2016 09:19:48 PM

Mandarin 16m, 7f (Canal & Weir)
Tufted Duck 2m, 7f (Keg Pool)
Goosander 2m, 1f (KP)
Teal 1f (KP)
Nuthatch, Goldcrest, Bullfinch (Sunny Corner)

Cheers John

Grey Wagtail 1 colour ringed individual near the weir. Left - Metal over Shocking Pink. Right - Yellow over Light Green. A quick Google search suggests it may have been ringed at Heysham. I will try to find out.

Mute Swan 2 (both Blue Darvics 4ADL and ZP4)

Wigeon 1f (my second local one of the year)

Mandarin 12m, 5f

Tufted Duck 8

Chiffchaff 1 heard

Cheers John

 

 

late am/ early pm
3 Buzzards (minimum - possibly more as birds were overhead in various parts of CP)
1 Sparrowhawk - caused pigeon mayhem around car park
1 Kingfisher
1 Chiffchaff
Where have the Little Grebes got to - not seen any this year?

A badly timed visit to coincide with a torrential downpour, Highlights

Mandarin Duck 24
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Great spotted Woodpecker 1 adult and 2 juvinile birds
Goldcrest
Blackcap
Chiffchaff
Buzzard

Not really at the park for birds today, but seeing two broods of tufted duck on the keg was the highlight. Two females (no drakes) have broods of seven and four. There was also another juvenile which was sort of with no one. It tried to join the brood of seven and was viciously attacked by the female who made an attempt to drown it. Birds always provide the best action it can't be denied.