Birding Group Visit to Tatton Park 5th April 2011
The weather forecast wasn’t too good for the day and it started off dull and a bit ominous with few birds to be seen or heard in the woods. However as the morning wore on the weather picked up and so did the birding. By the far edge of the Tatton Mere we could see around eight Grey Heron nests with half of them occupied by one bird each and there were others around. On the water were fair numbers of Tufted Duck and Mallard and also a fair number of Great Crested Grebes. The last pair we saw were displaying to each other with head swivelling and neck bobbing aplenty. There were plenty of Coots but only one Moorhen and a solitary Mute Swan. By far the best sight on the water – or rather just above the water – was a huge flock of House Martins – at least 300 but possibly as many as a thousand depending upon whose judgement you believed.
In any case there were very many of them hawking over the water all along the Mere. A very impressive sight.
In the woods there were Blue Tits galore and Chiffchaffs could be heard regularly though I didn’t manage to spot any. The highlights were Nuthatch (which I didn’t see but others did) Long Tailed Tits, a Reed Bunting, Treecreper, Blackcap, Mistle Thrush (see full list below) Although we thought we had done quite well considering what the weather looked like initially, the best was kept for last as we spotted a Green Woodpecker diving down from the trees to feed on the ground a short distance away from us. We watched for quite a while and even managed to get a scope on it for better views and then just as we left the site, we saw two Buzzards quite close in the sky wheeling and soaring on the thermals that had built up as the morning had warmed up into a sunny afternoon.
We all went home pretty satisfied considering but Anne and I went to a garden centre afterwards and then stopped for a quick drink and a bite to eat at the Bells of Peover and whilst we were sitting in the beer garden Anne pointed out in the very next tree a Treecreeper scuttling along the branches – Birding from the pub ! A good end to a good mornings birding.
Bird List
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Blackbird | 8 |
| Blackcap | 1 |
| Blue Tit | 30 |
| Buzzard | 2 |
| Canada Goose | 2 |
| Carrion Crow | 12 |
| Chiffchaff | 1 |
| Coot | 20 |
| Cormorant | 1 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 8 |
| Great Tit | 6 |
| Green Woodpecker | 1 |
| Grey Heron | 4 |
| House Martin | 300 |
| Jackdaw | 6 |
| Long-tailed Tit | 2 |
| Magpie | 8 |
| Mistle Thrush | 1 |
| Moorhen | 1 |
| Mute Swan | 1 |
| Nuthatch | 1 |
| Reed Bunting | 1 |
| Treecreeper | 1 |
| Tufted Duck | 30 |
Getting There
Because the main attraction for birdwatchers at this site is Tatton Mere, Melchett Mere and the woodlands around them, entering the site from the south near Knutsford is the best approach.To get there get on the M56 and come off at Junction 7 onto Chester Road, the A556, in the direction of M6 south. At Mere turn onto the A50. At Knutsford follow signs for Mobberley (B5085) about half a mile down on the left is a crescent of houses with a grassy area to the front of these. You can park here and walk down Teal Avenue. Turn left at Mallard close. When you get to the end of this close you go through the gate and you will find yourself in the woods with Tatton Mere on the left. See below for the parking area