Trip reports

Field trip to Tatton Park and Rostherne Mere

Saturday, 17 January 2009

The first North Cheshire RSPB group visit of 2009 was to Tatton Park near Knutsford, Cheshire. We began at the Knutsford entrance to the park and made our way to the mere through the woods. A few woodland birds were noted such as Jay, Nuthatch, Long-tailed Tit and Siskin but the area was generally quiet. Tatton Mere itself had few birds including Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Tufted Duck and several Goldeneye. The group moved to the smaller Melchett Mere which proved far more productive, with several hundred wildfowl present including good numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Pochard along with a few Ruddy Duck and Goldeneye. In the vegetation adjacent to the mere Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Stonechat were noted along with Buzzard and Kestrel.

The group moved to nearby Rostherne Mere for the afternoon, this site is a National Nature Reserve managed by Natural England but has limited access by appointment. After meeting at the observatory a group of us were shown round the site by some of the voluntary wardens, As with Tatton the woodland areas were relatively quiet, most of the bird interest being centred on the mere. Wildfowl noted included Wigeon, Teal, Pochardand Tufted Duck, along with small numbers of Mandarin, Shoveler and Goldeneye. Other birds of interest included a Peregrine roosting in lakeside trees, Water Rail calling from the reeds, Snipe and Reed Bunting.

In all 53 species were recorded for the day