Stanley Park, Blackpool

[mikfoz]

Thought it was time, seeing as we've been firmly directed towards a whole forum for Lancashire birding, to try kicking off a more specific thread about a particular location for people to chuck in their musings, wanderings and ticks.

I've wandered up there the last couple of evenings armed with bins and camera and had quite a productive time. Got a lovely Grebe shot last night despite being lumbered with a dog and a grumpy kid. Tonight I got a great view of some very early Grey Heron chicks and a photo or two of them and managed to finally spot a Tree Creeper which is a lifer for me. Also got another nice G. C. Grebe pic and some sundry snaps of Robins etc. Sadly the light was going by the time I got a view of the Tree Creeper so all I got were some pics of a blurry bird zooming up and down a pin sharp tree trunk. Those little devils just won't stay still.

I'm starting to appreciate this location I've blissfully wandered through for years in a new light as a birding location. I must have had some sort of blindfold on up until now...

[sleipnerofasgard]

Well done Mike, paid my second visit to Marton Mere a few weeks ago for my first ever LEOs after dibbing out the week before and picked up the Firecrest in Stanley Park too, only the second one i've seen with a 20 year gap, so i have no doubt i will return again in the coming months

Frank

[Neil UK]

Stanley Park the end near the golf course is definately turning out to be a haven alately. Even had the pleasure of a Robin eating out of my hand a few weeks back there!!

[Alan67]

I agree, Stanley Park is great. I've had some very enjoyable trips there. Went today and managed to find a Goldcrest:

[mikfoz]

Went up this morning despite the dreadful light. Plenty of common birds about. I was just becoming frustrated with the light and thinking I wouldn't catch a glimpse of the Goldcrest everyone's been on about when there it was in front of me. It was on the road side of the lake about halfway towards the main path opposite the Zoo entrance and stuck around for about 5 minutes, singing away. Even so, it was almost impossible to get a good pic of it showing its crest so this is the best I could do.

[WyreWader]

I was just becoming frustrated with the light and thinking I wouldn't catch a glimpse of the Goldcrest everyone's been on about when there it was in front of me.

Mik, there are good numbers of Goldcrest at the park at the moment - it's a Firecrest that's caused quite a stir, although it's over a week now since it was last reported as seen there.

BTW - I fully agree re Stanley Park being a top birding location, some of my best photos have been taken there over the last few years, & how lucky are we to have a Heronry at the park!

Regards

Cliff

[mikfoz]

Knew it was a something-crest... 8-P

I still liked seeing the little chap anyway.

[mikfoz]

Better feed this thread...

The Herons are doing quite well on the Heronry at the moment and are well worth a look.

191722

As you can see, you get a pretty close look.

[DaveN]

Superb Heron photo, Mike.

[Trainee-Ringer-Craig]

I also Bird around the park and have noticed that since the Firecrest Apeared at the start of march many more birders are giving the park a look! Its A great place Early morning especially in spring as whole knows what will be there! it also pulls in some unusual birds along with the commoner migrants... Highlights of the park for me however are the Woodpeckers Often near "heron Island" or the Spotted flycatchers in spring... But early morning visits are definately worth while as the public haven't had chance to throw there dogs in every bit of greenary! and birds to be seen fairly close include the crests, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Wood warbler (when they arrive), Garden warbler (as formentioned), Willow Warbler and the oppurtunity to see the odd osprey passing over! I know all these sound like they will not be found in the oark but believe me with a bit of time and effort all these can be ticked off in the park!

Regards and good birding,

Craig!

[Stephen Dunstan]

I also Bird around the park and have noticed that since the Firecrest Apeared at the start of march many more birders are giving the park a look! Its A great place Early morning especially in spring as whole knows what will be there! it also pulls in some unusual birds along with the commoner migrants... Highlights of the park for me however are the Woodpeckers Often near "heron Island" or the Spotted flycatchers in spring... But early morning visits are definately worth while as the public haven't had chance to throw there dogs in every bit of greenary! and birds to be seen fairly close include the crests, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Wood warbler (when they arrive), Garden warbler (as formentioned), Willow Warbler and the oppurtunity to see the odd osprey passing over! I know all these sound like they will not be found in the oark but believe me with a bit of time and effort all these can be ticked off in the park!

Regards and good birding,

Craig!

I haven't seen many Ospreys in the Fylde but if I was looking for one I would go to Marton Mere not Stanley Park. The park is relatively underwatched though, it has had a few scarce gulls in the past and even Roseate Tern and Smew.

Stephen.

[mikfoz]

Yeah, I've noticed a lot more people plainly there just for birding and asking about the Firecrest as well.

One pair of Great Spotted Woodpeckers have a nest in the dead tree by the little bridge at the corner of the lake opposite the Heronry so the small bit of scrubby woodland in that area is a great place to spot them quite close up.

[mikfoz]

Finally saw a GCG catch a fish.

193295

Got some more cool closeups as well.

193298

This is the same GCG as with the fish about 2 minutes before it caught it. It took about five minutes for it to swallow it and I really thought it was going to have to spit it out.

Not bad for a trip to the park I nearly didn't take.

[David Smith]

I live some 55 miles away so it would never be a regular patch but I recently called in (week-end:-C) and wonder if I have the right place as-although only there for 30 minutes) I didn't see much at all.
I drove in through a main gate and down a 'lane' that had cars parked all along. Leaving the car there I walked ahead, past a small cafe' and found a relatively large lake.
If I have the right place can you tell me how to find the Herons and any of the other birds?
Thanks

[mikfoz]

I live some 55 miles away so it would never be a regular patch but I recently called in (week-end:-C) and wonder if I have the right place as-although only there for 30 minutes) I didn't see much at all.
I drove in through a main gate and down a 'lane' that had cars parked all along. Leaving the car there I walked ahead, past a small cafe' and found a relatively large lake.
If I have the right place can you tell me how to find the Herons and any of the other birds?
Thanks

The Herons are up at the end of the boating lake. If you come in the way you arrived and parked (this is where I usually pull in) and down to the lake you then need to follow it clockwise. You'll see a bridge towards the road. Don't cross this, just follow the path round the lake and you'll see an island with a load of trees on it. There are no boats or fishing allowed in this section. There's also some nice light woodland to poke through. You can't miss the heronry. The path follows right round the lake at this point until you reach the bridges and then back over them and into the park once more.

If you check out my gallery you'll see a lot of shots taken in the park. Cliff also gets some great pics there and I bump into him quite often.

[David Smith]

Thanks for that-I actually went counter clockwise and as I was taking my elderley relative I had to go when she had had enough wallking.........she is fearsome:eek!:

[Trainee-Ringer-Craig]

Treecreeper Nest on Budlia Island (where the two bridges meet!!!) Plenty of Blackcap singing along with Chiffchaff's and Willow warblers... Not long until the spotted Fly catchers should arrive!!!

[mikfoz]

That explains why I get most of my Trecreeper sightings in that area. Suspected as much.

[Neil UK]

Went over this morning, got some lovely shots which will post up later. Also was anyone over there this morning aswell? Just asking as 3-4 birders in a group, who seemed to be keeping a secret to themselves, by whispering amongst themselves and walking away from me. One of them had the decency to actually have a slight conversation with me, as I was watching a Sparrowhawk attempt to take a grey squirrel.

The reason they may of been whispering between themselves was possibly the Sparrowhawk nest that I then saw. So Mik get over there with your 500mm lens, you would get some amazing shots.

[Tao Wild]

My I suggest the stance of this Lancashire forum be that THE LOCATION OF NO BREEDING SPECIES SHOULD BE POSTED.

Eggers are once again very active in this county and surrounding areas and could easily access the forum for information. They are particularly interested in schedule 1 species such as Peregrine, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover (which should not be posted at breeding sites during the breeding season) etc plus owls and the like but to keep it simple, I suggest everything should be avoided.

[Stephen Dunstan]

My I suggest the stance of this Lancashire forum be that THE LOCATION OF NO BREEDING SPECIES SHOULD BE POSTED.

Eggers are once again very active in this county and surrounding areas and could easily access the forum for information. They are particularly interested in schedule 1 species such as Peregrine, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover (which should not be posted at breeding sites during the breeding season) etc plus owls and the like but to keep it simple, I suggest everything should be avoided.

I appreciate your concern, but I don't think stopping people talking about all nesting birds is really enforceable.

Stephen.

[Neil UK]

My I suggest the stance of this Lancashire forum be that THE LOCATION OF NO BREEDING SPECIES SHOULD BE POSTED.

Eggers are once again very active in this county and surrounding areas and could easily access the forum for information. They are particularly interested in schedule 1 species such as Peregrine, Merlin, Little Ringed Plover (which should not be posted at breeding sites during the breeding season) etc plus owls and the like but to keep it simple, I suggest everything should be avoided.

I to appreciate your concern but to be honest if you were one of those gentleman I mentioned above, then you gave more away by standing by the same tree all the time I was there. Plus also walking onto the Golf Course to get an easier view of the Sparrowhawk, to me was a bit idiotic.

Apologise if I have offended you with those comments but I to felt offended by basically being ignored and shunned. Maybe you took from my image, baggy jeans, trainers, skinhead and goatee beared that I may of been an egger and not your typical birder.

A polite hello and maybe a small chat may of been nice, instead of skulking around in the bushes.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Perhaps best to take this off the group now, or continue it on the separate thread Tao Wild has now started??

Good birding all,

Stephen.

[WyreWader]

Some fine photographs there Neil :t:. I'm torn between the park & the mere tomorrow, so will probably try & take in both for a few hours.

[Neil UK]

Some fine photographs there Neil :t:. I'm torn between the park & the mere tomorrow, so will probably try & take in both for a few hours.

Thanks Cliff, the birds are unbelievably tame on the Park. Well the tits are anyway, nice to see the blackcaps flitting here there and everywhere aswell.

[mikfoz]

I'm going to nip down to the park first thing, I guess as I want to see if the Grebe have hatched at last.

See you down there if you're about! I've yet to get any decent Sprawk shots and I've the sense to not approach any nest too closely.

[mikfoz]

Couldn't sleep this morning so I got down to the park early.

Got some great pics of the Herons and some disappointingly murky pics of an epic Coot battle. Sightings and pics of common species of perching birds and some cracking Great Spotted Woodpecker pics.

194546

Also got some lovely Grebe pics, though lacking somewhat in drama this time.

194547

The woods were really alive with birdsong though the trees are more leafy now, alas.

[WyreWader]

Two fine shots there Mick, the reflection of the green leaves/Grebe is excellent :t:.

I got a few Grebe photos myself, I'll tag a couple on here.

Cheers

Cliff

[Tao Wild]

I to appreciate your concern but to be honest if you were one of those gentleman I mentioned above, then you gave more away by standing by the same tree all the time I was there. Plus also walking onto the Golf Course to get an easier view of the Sparrowhawk, to me was a bit idiotic.

Apologise if I have offended you with those comments but I to felt offended by basically being ignored and shunned. Maybe you took from my image, baggy jeans, trainers, skinhead and goatee beared that I may of been an egger and not your typical birder.

A polite hello and maybe a small chat may of been nice, instead of skulking around in the bushes.

Hi Neil,

I wasn't the gentleman you mentioned in the above post.

I'm not sure if Fylde Bird Club has been mentioned in this thread before but please can I draw people's attention to the next meeting on 26th May: The Art of Misidentification with Tim Melling.

New members always welcome. A membership form can be dowmloaded from the site here: http://www.fyldebirdclub.org/joinup.htm

Best,
Tao.

[Trainee-Ringer-Craig]

many birds singing this morning in the park including wood warbler and a couple of redpolls over which i thought was unusual for this time of year! many birds are settling to nest now with woodpeckers feeding young near the heron island, nuthatch singing as well this morning which gives me hope of potential breeders... They have not sung in the park for a couple of years to myself and the rangers knowledge but have begun again this last week!!! Praying for a spotted fly at dawn tomorrow as they are later than normal!!! Ps I encourage conversation with people on the park and think by shunnin people away it makes them more interested in what your doing, I think its best however if talk of nests which are vulnerable are kept quiet as you never know who could see this as aforementioned!!! Hope to bump into one of you soon for a chat and a watch around the park!

Cheers Craig!

[Trainee-Ringer-Craig]

Are People still putting nuts in the coffe cup lids as I have heard that some young parent birds may try and feed full peanuts to tiny chicks and in some cases kill the chicks, I know it is a nice feeling to help the birds but peanuts at this time of year can be bad for the birds welfare, Meal worms or maggots however are softer foods and the birds love them!!! They will eat them out of your hand too and those bloody pigeons dont get a look in!!!

[Neil UK]

Are People still putting nuts in the coffe cup lids as I have heard that some young parent birds may try and feed full peanuts to tiny chicks and in some cases kill the chicks, I know it is a nice feeling to help the birds but peanuts at this time of year can be bad for the birds welfare, Meal worms or maggots however are softer foods and the birds love them!!! They will eat them out of your hand too and those bloody pigeons dont get a look in!!!

You cant stop the masses that I see doing this as they do not know. And it CANNOT be policed, its a public park at the end of the day.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Once again I appreciate where the sentiments are coming from but I agree with Neil, you aren't going to stop people finding nest sites or feeding peanuts to the birds in a public park.

I would think that the wider avian conservation significance of the park comprises:

i) heronry
ii) wintering Shoveler population (though this has dropped away in recent years)

You are going to struggle to keep either of these quiet!

Regards,

Stephen.

[mikfoz]

I tried my hardest to stop people coming into the park this morning without signing the peanut policy I'd drafted but they just told me to get lost and that they wanted to feed the squirrels. What is the world coming to? Next week come and see me chain myself to the gates in protest.

Most people I see feeding birds are throwing seeds about anyway as they get more value for money out of them.

A better point to lobby would be retailers.

[mikfoz]

Back on topic:

Great views of the GSW this morning thanks to Cliff's impromptu shrubbery maintenance and sly baiting.

197018

Also had a superb view of a Mute Swan preening and having a bath.

197030

Good views of the young Herons, Coots and Geese. There seem to be no ducklings about now which is a bit sad but I guess they make a tasty snack for the Herons.

[WyreWader]

Great views of the GSW this morning thanks to Cliff's impromptu shrubbery maintenance and sly baiting

Worked a treat didn't it. I got lots of photos, I've not had chance to finish processing them yet, I'll stick the whole lot on my website later, I've attached a few below.

Cheers

Cliff

[docs uk]

i enjoyed seeing the great spotted woodpeckers on saturday a first for me although the 2 guys that kept putting nuts out for them so they could get some good pics wasnt to pleased as all it did was attract the pigeons

[The Actor]

i enjoyed seeing the great spotted woodpeckers on saturday a first for me although the 2 guys that kept putting nuts out for them so they could get some good pics wasnt to pleased as all it did was attract the pigeons

Saw this on Sunday but I couldn't get a decent pic.

BTW You're not "the" Docs of FTFC by any chance ?

[mikfoz]

GSW chicks almost ready to fly. (This out of date - they may now have fledged).

199114

Forgot to update B (:

Darned rain is spoiling my day.

[docs uk]

Saw this on Sunday but I couldn't get a decent pic.

BTW You're not "the" Docs of FTFC by any chance ?

sure am,a few free saturdays now

[The Actor]

sure am,a few free saturdays now

It's a small world, docs. I'm blackfazer of the Cod Army. Oh, hiya.

[docs uk]

we can discuss birds at half time now and i dont mean the barmaids8-P

[Trainee-Ringer-Craig]

I Presume Both Woodpeckers have left the hole now as the First one left last weekend and the second was looking like going on Wednesday morning... Can anyone be sure of this?
Their is still plenty of birds coming to the feeders for meal worms and they do show their Nest sites Rather well if you want to feed them worms and watch them feed their young! Then some good photo's could be taken!

[The Actor]

we can discuss birds at half time now and i dont mean the barmaids8-P

So do you take photos or just look at the birds ?

[docs uk]

just looking at the moment hope to get a decent camera soon though but season ticket first

[The Actor]

just looking at the moment hope to get a decent camera soon though but season ticket first

10 match book for me as I need a tyre and service on my bike.

I'm out most weekends with my camera and today I shall be mostly Over Wyre. Not strictly birding but no doubt there'll be something about.