Birding Group Visit to Macclesfield Forest 6th May 2014
Birding Group Visit to Macclesfield Forest 6th May 2014
The first birding group morning of the month was to Macclesfield Forest and we had hopes for Flycatchers and Redstarts. We were rather disappointed in this and generally speaking it was a bit of a flop – except that it was a nice day for a walk and we did see a couple of interesting birds, if not the species we expected.
The woods seemed to be a bit lacking in birds but I did manage to see a Bullfinch and some Goldfinches, a Wren or and a Blackcap. We could hear Chiffchaffs but not see them. The water was not a lot better either with a pair of Cormorant loafing about and a few Mallards. The two high points were a single Male Goosander who looked to be settled and probably had a partner on a nest somewhere. Additionally a duck flew over our heads and landed on the far side of the small reservoir and it turned out to be a rather splendid Mandarin Duck ! He showed for a while and flew back over our heads. Unfortunately that was it. It is always difficult to know exactly the right time to come to this area – it is often too early or too late. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
Bird Sightings : Macclesfield Forest
| Species | Count |
|---|---|
| Mandarin Duck | 1 |
| Mallard | 12 |
| Tufted Duck | 2 |
| Goosander | 1 |
| Great Cormorant | 2 |
| Eurasian Jackdaw | 12 |
| Great Tit | 6 |
| Common Blue Tit | 8 |
| Eurasian Nuthatch | 2 |
| Northern Wren | 1 |
| Common Chiffchaff | 2 |
| Blackcap | 1 |
| European Goldfinch | 6 |
| Common Bullfinch | 1 |