Birding Group Visit to Tatton Park 17th January 2012
Birding Group Visit to Tatton Park 17th January 2012
Our morning trip to Tatton Park was made more pleasant by it being a cold, bright, crisp winter morning. We parked up as usual in the lay-by on Mobberley Road and walked down Mallard Close and over the railway bridge to the south entrance. We walked through Dog Wood where we saw Goldcrests, a Nuthatch and Long-tailed Tits. The wood was full of Blue and Great Tit calls as well. We turned down the path to the left that runs near the edge of Tatton Mere and stopped there to see what was on the water.
On the far bank we spotted a male and a female Mandarin Duck and amongst the Mallards, Tufted Ducks and Black-headed Gulls we also spotted a Ruddy Duck. As we walked along the Mere edge we saw two Cormorants drying themselves off and young Great Crested Grebes gliding around among the Mute Swans and multitudes of Coots. There were also young Moorhens and Goldeneye families. As we came out of Dog Wood into the clearing there were Jackdaws scouring the grass for a bite to eat.
We turned left and went to the new hide in Crow Wood that overlooks Melchette Mere. There were too many of us for the hide but some of us that had seen the hide before let the others enjoy it whilst we stood outside near the edge of the mere. In the trees nearest the waters edge on the opposite side a Kestrel was perched. Some of the group saw three Snipe from the hide but we couldn’t see that part of the mere from where we were. There were a couple of Pochard but mainly it was all Mallard and Tufted Ducks.
As we walked back across the bridge we saw behind us a Buzzard flying over Melchette Mere. Rooting around among the leaf litter in the Old Hall Covert were a few Redwing. We walked back along the the high path and back into Dog Wood. By this time it was a little warmer and more birds seemed to be about. Again we saw Goldcrests and also a Treecreeper, a Great-Spotted Woodpecker and a Jay. As we returned to the car a small flock of noisy House Sparrows was waiting for us in the hedges of one of the houses.
It was a great day for a walk and we had some unusual sightings. It being my birthday we then went on to the Legh Arms on Brook Street in Knutsford where they had good food, open log fires and Marston’s Best Bitter and and Pedigree ! Who could ask for more ?
Bird Sightings : Tatton Park
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Mute Swan | 20 |
| Canada Goose | 50 |
| Mandarin Duck | 2 |
| Mallard | 100 |
| Pochard | 2 |
| Tufted Duck | 50 |
| Goldeneye | 20 |
| Ruddy Duck | 1 |
| Cormorant | 2 |
| Great Crested Grebe | 6 |
| Buzzard | 1 |
| Kestrel | 1 |
| Moorhen | 4 |
| Coot | 50 |
| Black-headed Gull | 60 |
| Great Spotted Woodpecker | 1 |
| Jay | 1 |
| Jackdaw | 8 |
| Goldcrest | 3 |
| Blue Tit | 8 |
| Great Tit | 8 |
| Long-tailed Tit | 2 |
| Nuthatch | 1 |
| Treecreeper | 1 |
| Redwing | 2 |
| Blackbird | 2 |
| House Sparrow | 4 |
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
