Lesser Spotted Woodpecker,Marbury Country Park

[Geoff Pain]

Thinking of going to Marbury on Sunday,anybody know the best place to look for these birds at this site?

Geoff.

[jeff]

Report on birdguides mid Jan was

'male in front of Mere screen hide for 30 minutes feeding on willows at midday in what appears to be a favoured feeding spot '

a male was reported on the 6th Feb but didn't say where, good luck, it's one of the birds i'm hopeing for over the next month or so.

[Surreybirder]

It's not exactly my patch, but when I used to go to Marbury country park I saw them occasionally inland from that screen overlooking the mere. (But I'm talking some years ago.) They weren't particularly shy, as I recall.

[Tony]

Thinking of going to Marbury on Sunday,anybody know the best place to look for these birds at this site?

Geoff.
We have seen them on a number of occassions this Winter from the screen overlooking the Coward Memorial Reedbed. I believe one was seen today (12th.) on Marbury Lane, near the brine overflow. This is where a pair were seen many times last Spring. Ask at the information centre for directions.

Good luck.
Tony Usher
Knutsford Ornithological Society
http://www.10X50.com

[tom mckinney]

Hi Geoff,

I've seen them every year since 2000 and there are a couple of hot spots. I went on monday and didn't see them, but it is probably a bit too early yet, and I was actually there for the Bitterns (which I also didn't see!). Late Feb into March is best.

These are the most reliable spots I know of, which have been mostly passed on to me by the very helpful regulars there.

Marbury Lane is excellent. Walk from the main car park down the lane to a gate on your left hand side. It is the last gate before the water pump that is inside a green metal cage... you'll know what I mean when you see it! The area near to this gate is very good. As is the area by the caged water pump.

From the water pump you can either head left towards the main wood (Big Wood) and Budworth Mere, keeping the meadow on your left hand side; or you can carry on to the canal and head left along that. I usually go off the lane by the water pump as the meadow can be pretty good for Green Woodpecker.

Follow the footpath signs for Budworth Mere and the car park. You will pass a sculpted bench with woodland creatures on it made out of a single dead oak (again you'll know what I mean when you see it). There is a feeder stream to the Mere on your right and this area is also very good.

Walk on the footpath by the shore of the Mere and you will come to a hide with a feeding station. A bird showed very well here in 2001, but not since unfortunately.

Pass the hide and, keeping the Mere on your right, you should come to a viewing screen/hide overlooking the Coward Memorial Reebed. This is where you view the Bitterns.

Some people have also had Lessers here.

From the hide carry on up the steps and then go right on the track at the top of the steps. Follow this until you can view a paddock with huge deciduous trees in (don't know what type they are). These trees were brilliant in 2002.

This is the walk that I usually do. And, as I said, I have had success here many times. However, I've also been many times & not seen or heard anything of them!

Its probably best to go early in the morning especially on sunday as it gets very busy. They are obviously present now, but become a lot more vocal in couple of weeks, something essential if you want to stand any chance of getting them.

The best thing is to ask the locals. One very friendly guy once took me to a Lesser Spot nest hole and also showed me a Tawny Owl at the same time.

Phew, essay over.

Good luck, Tom

[Geoff Pain]

Thanks for the info everybody,I'll let you know how I get on.

Geoff

[TonyC]

I've seen two there in about 5 years visiting about once a month on average :(

Both times they were with a flock of Long-tailed Tits feeding high up in the thin branches of trees. Stand on the concrete jetty, the walk 'inland' up the slope and straight along the path that runs round the edge of the wood with the paddock to your right. It turns sharp left then along a muddy bit then a sharp right (I think this is sign-posted as a bridleway from the other end). Both times they were in this 'corner'.