Peregrine: One on pylon in field 11, has been present almost daily since 30th Sep using various pylons from fields 5 and 8 to Sinderland Lane / Altrincham Crematorium. Redwing: Small numbers passing over all morning, largest group was of about 15. Fieldfare: 2 over field 25, 1 over Dark Lane at least an hour later. The Chaffinch flock in field 25 has varied from 40 to 100 over the last week. Brambling: one male in with Chaffinch flock in field 25 (two males yesterday in same location). Pink footed geese: Six skeins totalling at least 470 birds (all heading approximately east). At one point a skein of 70 crossed the path of another of 120, and about 20 birds left the smaller skein for the larger. Also a late record for October 12th: One Golden Plover over field 67 at about 9 am.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue Sep 29 5:30 PM, 2015
Stonechat 1m and 1f as mentioned previously. Hobby 1 juv. over field 70. Buzzard 2 Kestrel 1m Treecreeper 1 in orchard. Yellowhammer 3 Meadow Pipit 2 Skylark 1 Swallow 1 House Martin 2 with the Swallow, going South like the clappers. Pied Wagtail 2 etc.etc.etc.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 29 4:57 PM, 2015
2 Stonechat in the hedge between fields 12 and 13 at 1pm today.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
Pete Hines said
Mon Sep 28 5:06 PM, 2015
Hobby : 1 over F70 this pm
Tim Wilcox said
Sun Sep 27 1:24 PM, 2015
Covey of 6 Grey Partridge f25 11am
Jeff Clarke said
Sun Sep 27 10:58 AM, 2015
Sinderland Green area: 2 Hobbies over Sinderland Green Woods (also fields 68 and 69) at 1030 this morning.
Jeff Clarke said
Wed Sep 23 10:40 AM, 2015
Sinderland Green area 8-10 am. Little Grebe still on the Brook at Sinderland Green Woods. 3 Hobby over field 25/field 70 Field 24: 2 Buzzard; 2 Sparrowhawk; 2 Kestrel; 3 Raven. There are still Chiffchaffs singing but only Blackcap this morning.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Sep 22 7:32 PM, 2015
8.10am Chiffchaff singing in tree opposite MUFC entrance.
6.15pm Female Sparrowhawk sat on fence along Isherwood Rd.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Tue Sep 22 7:23 PM, 2015
Skylark 1 Meadow Pipit 2 Kestrel 1f Sparrowhawk 1 juv. male, I think. House Martin 2 Swallow 6 Buzzard 1 Collared Dove 1 Woodpigeon 200+
etc.
Jeff Clarke said
Tue Sep 22 5:27 PM, 2015
Afternoon visit to Sinderland Green area: As expected for an afternoon visit most birds very quiet and difficult to find: Highlights: One Hobby over field 25 (I note that my latest record for last year was 23rd Sep) Little Grebe on Sinderland Brook (unexpected as my previous two records here were in mid-winter). Plenty of House Martins but most Swallows have left. A local farmer told me that he can now again park his car in the barn without it being splattered!
Rob Creek said
Sun Sep 6 9:08 PM, 2015
Late afternoon visit with Steve Burke and Simon Gough.
Sinderland Green area. - 2 juvenile Hobbies Distant but good scope views of the 2 birds on a telegraph pole out beyond the harvested field (67?) We got round to near the farm and cottage where we had better views of mainly 1 of them, the other 1 wasn't as showy.
Other birds of note... - plenty of Woodpigeon - 1 Stock Dove - 1 Linnet - plenty of Swallow
Steve Collins said
Fri Sep 4 11:28 PM, 2015
Sunderland green area. Very grateful to the young Hobbies calling for food this morning around 11 am over field 68. 4 hobbies in the air and fortunate to twice witness mid air food exchanges looking likely to be hirundine of some sort. Also saw 7 Buzzards in the air at the same time. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also seen. Steve
Jeff Clarke said
Tue Sep 1 1:34 PM, 2015
Sinderland Green area this morning: Hobby: only one field 65 Quail: One singing 07:30 field 26, but not heard two hours later when potato crop in f25 was being harvested (lots af tractors etc.) Raven: 2 over field 25. Willow Tit: 2 at NE corner field 25 and 2 more at NW corner of same field.
Sinderland Green area. Late post from this morning. Hobby at least two over field 68. Peregrine: one on pylon at east side of field 11 although distant and the pylon is probably in field 12. Tree Pipit: one over field 25. Kingfisher: One on brook through Sinderland Woods.
Jeff Clarke said
Sat Aug 29 11:57 AM, 2015
This morning 3 Hobbies (possibly 4) including one juvenile in Sinderland Woods area. The most reliable area seems to be the trees in the hedge between field 67 and 68.
Tim Wilcox said
Thu Aug 27 4:37 PM, 2015
3 Hobbys currently around Sinderland Green Wood and fields to the south at 4.30pm. Frequent calling from 2 birds poss juvs Buzzard 1 Goldfinch 150 mostly juv f24/f25
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Aug 26 8:31 PM, 2015
Wednesday pm.
No Hobbys but...
Buzzard 6 Kestrel 2 House Martin 20+ Swallow 2 Goldfinch 50+
Jeff Clarke said
Tue Aug 25 4:39 PM, 2015
Sinderland Green area 6:30 to 9:30 this morning.
HOBBY: at least 5 very active and vocal around fields 67, 68 and 70. There seems to be two groups. One has 2 adults and 1 juvenile which have been around here for three weeks or so, and the other of two birds (one adult, the other too distant to tell). TREE PIPIT: one heard flying over field 25. WILLOW TIT: two at junction of field 24, 25, 26. These have been here for some days and with patience give great views.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sun Aug 23 1:54 PM, 2015
Quick mooch Isherwood Rd - ETW and back.
Very quite on the bird front although huge numbers of Woodpigeon in 4, 12, 13, 5. 2 very vocal Jays just beyond Swiss Farm at corner of Utd training ground. Several vocal Buzzards about as well with in Utd training complex. Only 1 Yellowhammer in 5.
If anyone thinking of a wander be careful as footpath between Shell and field 4 is extremely overgrown..
Jeff Clarke said
Thu Aug 13 10:47 AM, 2015
Sinderland Green area this morning. Hobby - 2 adults very vocal over field 67, one of these had a short conflict with a Sparrowhawk! Yellow Wagtail - 3 in field 65, 2 in field 25.
Jeff Clarke said
Wed Aug 5 10:22 AM, 2015
Sinderland Green area morning visit today 7am to 9.30.
Initially very quiet but eventually a few interesting birds appeared. This looks like post-breeding dispersal has really started now so almost anything could turn up. Hobby: 2 hawking over fields 64,65,68; the first here in over four weeks. Yellow Wagtail field 24/25; seen on every visit here since 2nd July. Raven: 2 soaring over Sinderland Green; the first here since May Siskin: 3 around bridge over railway line (where fields 10,11,25,27 intersect). These have been present since 18th July. Also a couple of days ago 1 saw my first Sparrowhawk here since April.
Tony Darby said
Sat Aug 1 6:12 PM, 2015
B Benson wrote:
There are breeding Kestrels in the area. On the Basell site we have had a nest with 4 young which have only recently fledged. You sometimes see them more or less in a row on the fence behind the flare .
Breeding Kestrels is a good record Brian. Earlier in Spring I saw Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher and Lapwing on the Basell site, viewed through the fence; all potential breeders there. It's important that we formally submit these kind of records since the Basell site and a huge part of Carrington Moss are under threat of development since Shell sold the Carrington Estate to Langtree (developers). Langtree didn't buy this land because they enjoy the wildlife, they bought it to build a New Town, so keep your records coming in.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 1st of August 2015 08:48:11 PM
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 2nd of August 2015 03:13:18 PM
Richard Would said
Fri Jul 31 10:40 PM, 2015
I saw a Sparrowhawk near Swiss Cottage Farm 3 or 4 weeks ago, but I agree Buzzards seem strangely scarce. I've not seen Hobby on the Moss this Summer, though they've been at Risley Moss in normalish numbers.
B Benson said
Fri Jul 31 8:57 PM, 2015
There are breeding Kestrels in the area. On the Basell site we have had a nest with 4 young which have only recently fledged. You sometimes see them more or less in a row on the fence behind the flare .
Jeff Clarke said
Fri Jul 31 7:36 PM, 2015
I usually do not bother posting unless I have some significant sightings to offer but the Carrington Moss thread has been empty for a couple of weeks. I do not have any major items to report but I have a couple items which may be of interest to some people.
In the Sinderland Green area I have recently had an unusual series of records of finches including those which I would normally only expect in winter. There is now the usual flock of at least 30 Goldfinches and this now includes Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Linnet but unusually also at least 2 Siskins which have been around for over a week and a Redpoll today which was equally unexpected. This is presumably post breeding dispersal. It will be interesting to see if anything else turns up as August is often the month when there is very little of interest on farmland sites.
My records indicate that this has been a poor year for raptors in this area in that Buzzards are much less numerous than last year, and Kestrels are now only occasionally seen. Additionally I have not seen a Hobby in the last four weeks, and the last Sparrowhawk recorded here was in April. I would assume from this that none of these species are breeding nearby and a similar situation appears with no Ravens being seen here since May.
On the good side Yellow Wagtails appear to have attempted breeding at two sites, and are often easily seen either on or from the track across the north side of field 25. Additionally as probable post breeding dispersal there was a Garden Warbler seen from the Dark Lane / railway bridge, but I could not find a Whitethroat in two hours!
Tim Wilcox said
Thu Jul 16 10:07 PM, 2015
Grey Partridge family of 2 adults and 3 fledged young on the track between f24 and f25 this afternoon. 60 Lapwing in f1 ignoring a gas gun. Yellowhammer 4 f1 Linnet 6 f1
No sign of Hobby or Yellow Wagtail (or Quail)
Ian Boote said
Sun Jun 14 5:02 PM, 2015
F32 F26 Blackcap Chiffchaff F63 F25 F26 Yellowhammer x 8 Singing, F8 Willow Warbler, F10 Lapwing 12, F25 Skylark x 3 Singing, Great Spotted Woodpecker Petro Complex, F69 F27 Common Whitethroat F60 Rooks 15 , F25 Reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 14th of June 2015 05:03:25 PM
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Jun 10 5:33 PM, 2015
Tuesday, June 9th.
Walk from Isherwood Road to ETW, Brookheys Covert, and return via Orchard.
Buzzard 7 Kestrel 1 Lapwing 3 Stock Dove 2 etc.etc.etc.
A good day, only bitten once!
Jeff Clarke said
Sun May 17 8:52 AM, 2015
8 a.m. this morning. Lesser whitethroat singing in Eastern corner of field 66 (next to Green Lane Farm on Sinderland Lane). This bird may have been present for some time as I have distantly heard what I thought was this species a few times in the last three weeks in the areas of field 70 and 68, but had been unable to pin down the bird. Also a Common or Arctic Tern flying West over Sinderland Green but it was too high to identify specifically.
Mike Savage said
Fri May 15 2:09 PM, 2015
Walk around northern section in preparation for a guided walk on Sunday - haven't been around these tracks since late 1990s!
5+ Yellowhammers heard around fields 1 and 2, with great views of male and female on the ground in 1, and a superb male on the track between 2 and 11.
Female Whinchat in 1
Mike
Jeff Clarke said
Wed May 13 10:41 AM, 2015
One Quail heard in field 10 this morning at about 7:50. Only three or four shorts bursts of song were heard in a two minute period and then nothing more in the next half hour when I finally ran out of patience. Also 3 Wheatears on field 25.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sun May 10 10:51 AM, 2015
Late post from Saturday 9-5-15.
Met up with Dave aka Fungal Punk, an had a mooch around 1030-1300hrs. He took me to where he had seen 2 Quail and a Whinchat the previous weekend.
The Quail were in field 10, same field as last years 2, (have they returned, or indeed never ventured far), alas no sign this week, although Dave couldn't believe how much the crop had grown. Would be very lucky to spot anything in there now. The Whinchat was in field 1 in the corner on the crossroads with 10/11/2, No sign this week either, although they don't hang around long. Very showy Wheatear was in 1, hanging around in the scrub.
Apart from all the usual suspects picked up 5 or 6 Yellow Wagtails on the paths again at the crossroads of 1/2/11/10, there possibly were more, feed off the paths and seemed very flighty. Also Grey Partridge in 11..
Dave, remember to print of the map for the Moss, as you have seen its far bigger than you expected...lol..
See you soon. Steve
Jeff Clarke said
Thu May 7 10:15 AM, 2015
Sinderland Green area 06:45 to 09:30. Highlights were: Field 25: Hobby, Yellow Wagtail (also Peregrine yesterday) At least 20 Swifts distantly to the East, probably over Altrincham Sewage Works.
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Wed May 6 8:31 AM, 2015
Cheers Tim and will get said form and do the bit. The vegetation was just tall enough to cover the birds but there were a few furrows which they crossed and one poke his head up several times. The one closer in was just nowhere tpo be seen, totally hidden and very frustrating. Yes - the whip call was what to me sounding like bubbly water - must be my lugs.
Hopefully a few more can get down and seek out and find these tinkers.
Tim Wilcox said
Tue May 5 8:55 PM, 2015
Dave Higginson-Tranter wrote:
The Quail were in the crop field facing the old orchard - well that is as far as I can make out. Gonna go back on Saturday and have a tootle. Cheers man and hope this helps.
I reckon there was more than 1 by the way - one close and the one I saw about middle of field.
Hi Dave Quail is a rare GM bird and you should contact County Recorder, Ian McKerchar about submitting this sighting and complete a rarities form. Going back over a decade of County Reports no Quail has been recorded prior to the last week of May. And in some years no Quail have been recorded at all. Typically they are only heard - not bubbling but issuing a repetitive and staccato 'whip; whip-whip' call. Last year there were two on Carrington Moss in tall Barley but never seen despite hours of waiting by many, including myself. It would be unusual for Quail to find any vegetation which will not completely hide them. Therefore all the more important that you submit this great record.
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Tue May 5 8:12 PM, 2015
The Quail were in the crop field facing the old orchard - well that is as far as I can make out. Gonna go back on Saturday and have a tootle. Cheers man and hope this helps.
I reckon there was more than 1 by the way - one close and the one I saw about middle of field.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Mon May 4 8:59 PM, 2015
0600 - 1000hrs including a wander upto the Sewage Works.
Field 4 held Pair Grey Partridge, Field 4 and 12 seemed to hold 6 or 7 Skylarks between them. Old Orchard held 1 Chiffchaff 12 also held 7 female and 1 male Wheatear. The bushes and Trees between fields 4 , 12 & 13 held 5-6 Yellowhammers, with a further 1 on fence just past Swiss Cottage and a further 2 up towards Altrincham Sewage Works. 1 pair of Linnet seemed to frequent the area before Swiss cottage, best Marker is the 2nd clump of Yellowbush over the fence in Utd training ground
4 Oystercatchers in field 12 on way back to car.
Common Whitethroats everywhere must have seem at least 35 this morning and that's not counting the ETW.
Nick Hilton said
Mon May 4 8:26 PM, 2015
Highlights of this mornings BTO Breeding Bird Survey on the moss, which goes from Birchmoss Covert round to Brookheys Covert and back again (rough square) were a pair of Grey Partridge. Good numbers of Whitethroat but worryingly a lack of Yellowhammer. F25 (not part of the survey) held 2 Wheatear.
Dave, if you have a look at the field number system on the main website (under "County Birding Sites and Maps") I'm sure people will be keen to know where the Quail was seen. Thanks Nick
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Mon May 4 7:39 PM, 2015
Just to add - in the lush grass we noted a consistent bubbling sound done in groups of 3. A very distincty call and one I wasn't familair with. We kept watching and saw a striped head popping up and down but couldn't imagine what it could be. After scanning various videos it was 100% a Common Quail - well chuffed. I may pop back next Saturday and try and get a better luck as only me and my daughter saw it and my wife just couldn't connect. Watch this space.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sun May 3 7:32 PM, 2015
Haha, yeah they all have numbers see the map on the guides and maps bit on the homepage.
No probs, going for a proper mooch in the morning, will defo let you know if I find it...
Cheers
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Sun May 3 7:15 PM, 2015
By heck - do they have numbers - oh bugger. No idea mate - so sorry. Is there a map I could use for future reference? The field it was in was to the side of a central track, one side was lush even grass and the other was quite neglected. It was the surrounding scrub of the neglected field that it was frequenting and at the side of the main track. Sorry dude and good luck. Let me know if you locate it - it was a real handsome bird.
Steve Scrimgeour said
Sun May 3 7:07 PM, 2015
Dave,
What field number did you get Whinchat, just heading up there in morning for a mooch.
Many thanks.
Dave Higginson-Tranter said
Sun May 3 6:55 PM, 2015
2nd May - 35 species - plenty of Wheatear and Yellowhammer with a Whinchat, Stock Dove and Bullfinch nice extras.
Tim Wilcox said
Fri May 1 2:34 PM, 2015
No sign of Spotted Flycatcher at Sinderland Green Woods lunchtime today but a Hobby over fields 70 and 67 then seen close up over field 63. My earliest of the year. Also 3m Wheatear f32
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 1st of May 2015 02:37:04 PM
Rob Smallwood said
Thu Apr 30 10:03 PM, 2015
I had a Red Kite low over Dunham this evening, my guess it will have roosted somewhere between Dunham and the Moss so worth keeping an eye open tomorrow morning.
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Thu Apr 30 6:06 PM, 2015
Afternoon walk from Isherwood Road to ETW.
Field 5:
Wheatear 1m. Stock Dove 100+ Yellowhammer 2
General Sightings:
Yellowhammer 5 but none singing. Treecreeper 1 along Trans Pennine Trail to ETW. Chiffchaff 5 singing. Blackcap 4 singing. Willow Warbler 2 singing. Bullfinch 2 Missel Thrush 1 singing. Swallow 2 Sand Martin 2 Rook 1 Jay 2 Linnet 1 etc.etc.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 29 6:12 PM, 2015
Male Whinchat fields 60 / 41 this afternoon.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
Jeff Clarke said
Wed Apr 29 10:08 AM, 2015
Short visit around Sinderland Green area 07:45 - 09:15 Spotted Flycatcher in Sinderland Green Woods - this is by far the earliest date for me! 7 Wheatear in field 25. Otherwise a quiet morning with several regular species not recorded.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Apr 21 7:06 PM, 2015
17.45 Ploughed field around Swiss Cottage: 19 Stock Dove feeding in amongst c.50 Woodpigeon
Peregrine: One on pylon in field 11, has been present almost daily since 30th Sep using various pylons from fields 5 and 8 to Sinderland Lane / Altrincham Crematorium.
Redwing: Small numbers passing over all morning, largest group was of about 15.
Fieldfare: 2 over field 25, 1 over Dark Lane at least an hour later.
The Chaffinch flock in field 25 has varied from 40 to 100 over the last week.
Brambling: one male in with Chaffinch flock in field 25 (two males yesterday in same location).
Pink footed geese: Six skeins totalling at least 470 birds (all heading approximately east). At one point a skein of 70 crossed the path of another of 120, and about 20 birds left the smaller skein for the larger.
Also a late record for October 12th: One Golden Plover over field 67 at about 9 am.
Hobby 1 juv. over field 70.
Buzzard 2
Kestrel 1m
Treecreeper 1 in orchard.
Yellowhammer 3
Meadow Pipit 2
Skylark 1
Swallow 1
House Martin 2 with the Swallow, going South like the clappers.
Pied Wagtail 2
etc.etc.etc.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
2 Hobbies over Sinderland Green Woods (also fields 68 and 69) at 1030 this morning.
Little Grebe still on the Brook at Sinderland Green Woods.
3 Hobby over field 25/field 70
Field 24: 2 Buzzard; 2 Sparrowhawk; 2 Kestrel; 3 Raven.
There are still Chiffchaffs singing but only Blackcap this morning.
Chiffchaff singing in tree opposite MUFC entrance.
6.15pm
Female Sparrowhawk sat on fence along Isherwood Rd.
Meadow Pipit 2
Kestrel 1f
Sparrowhawk 1 juv. male, I think.
House Martin 2
Swallow 6
Buzzard 1
Collared Dove 1
Woodpigeon 200+
etc.
As expected for an afternoon visit most birds very quiet and difficult to find:
Highlights:
One Hobby over field 25 (I note that my latest record for last year was 23rd Sep)
Little Grebe on Sinderland Brook (unexpected as my previous two records here were in mid-winter).
Plenty of House Martins but most Swallows have left. A local farmer told me that he can now again park his car in the barn without it being splattered!
Sinderland Green area.
- 2 juvenile Hobbies
Distant but good scope views of the 2 birds on a telegraph pole out beyond the harvested field (67?)
We got round to near the farm and cottage where we had better views of mainly 1 of them, the other 1 wasn't as showy.
Other birds of note...
- plenty of Woodpigeon
- 1 Stock Dove
- 1 Linnet
- plenty of Swallow
Very grateful to the young Hobbies calling for food this morning around 11 am over field 68.
4 hobbies in the air and fortunate to twice witness mid air food exchanges looking likely to be hirundine of some sort.
Also saw 7 Buzzards in the air at the same time. Kestrel and Sparrowhawk were also seen.
Steve
Hobby: only one field 65
Quail: One singing 07:30 field 26, but not heard two hours later when potato crop in f25 was being harvested (lots af tractors etc.)
Raven: 2 over field 25.
Willow Tit: 2 at NE corner field 25 and 2 more at NW corner of same field.
2 hobbys f63/64
3 buzzards, 1 in f11
1 kestrel, f12
1 sparrowhawk, f61
4 grey partridge, 2 in f10, 2 in f63
2 nuthatch, brookheys covert
1 willow warbler, singing f27
2 jay, f64
2 whitethroat, 1 blackcap, 1 chiffchaff, f4
Hobby at least two over field 68.
Peregrine: one on pylon at east side of field 11 although distant and the pylon is probably in field 12.
Tree Pipit: one over field 25.
Kingfisher: One on brook through Sinderland Woods.
Buzzard 1
Goldfinch 150 mostly juv f24/f25
No Hobbys but...
Buzzard 6
Kestrel 2
House Martin 20+
Swallow 2
Goldfinch 50+
HOBBY: at least 5 very active and vocal around fields 67, 68 and 70. There seems to be two groups. One has 2 adults and 1 juvenile which have been around here for three weeks or so, and the other of two birds (one adult, the other too distant to tell).
TREE PIPIT: one heard flying over field 25.
WILLOW TIT: two at junction of field 24, 25, 26. These have been here for some days and with patience give great views.
Very quite on the bird front although huge numbers of Woodpigeon in 4, 12, 13, 5.
2 very vocal Jays just beyond Swiss Farm at corner of Utd training ground.
Several vocal Buzzards about as well with in Utd training complex.
Only 1 Yellowhammer in 5.
If anyone thinking of a wander be careful as footpath between Shell and field 4 is extremely overgrown..
Hobby - 2 adults very vocal over field 67, one of these had a short conflict with a Sparrowhawk!
Yellow Wagtail - 3 in field 65, 2 in field 25.
Initially very quiet but eventually a few interesting birds appeared. This looks like post-breeding dispersal has really started now so almost anything could turn up.
Hobby: 2 hawking over fields 64,65,68; the first here in over four weeks.
Yellow Wagtail field 24/25; seen on every visit here since 2nd July.
Raven: 2 soaring over Sinderland Green; the first here since May
Siskin: 3 around bridge over railway line (where fields 10,11,25,27 intersect). These have been present since 18th July.
Also a couple of days ago 1 saw my first Sparrowhawk here since April.
on the Basell site, viewed through the fence; all potential breeders there.
It's important that we formally submit these kind of records since the Basell site and a huge part of Carrington Moss are under threat
of development since Shell sold the Carrington Estate to Langtree (developers).
Langtree didn't buy this land because they enjoy the wildlife, they bought it to build a New Town, so keep your records coming in.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 1st of August 2015 08:48:11 PM
-- Edited by Tony Darby on Sunday 2nd of August 2015 03:13:18 PM
I saw a Sparrowhawk near Swiss Cottage Farm 3 or 4 weeks ago, but I agree Buzzards seem strangely scarce.
I've not seen Hobby on the Moss this Summer, though they've been at Risley Moss in normalish numbers.
In the Sinderland Green area I have recently had an unusual series of records of finches including those which I would normally only expect in winter. There is now the usual flock of at least 30 Goldfinches and this now includes Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Linnet but unusually also at least 2 Siskins which have been around for over a week and a Redpoll today which was equally unexpected. This is presumably post breeding dispersal. It will be interesting to see if anything else turns up as August is often the month when there is very little of interest on farmland sites.
My records indicate that this has been a poor year for raptors in this area in that Buzzards are much less numerous than last year, and Kestrels are now only occasionally seen. Additionally I have not seen a Hobby in the last four weeks, and the last Sparrowhawk recorded here was in April. I would assume from this that none of these species are breeding nearby and a similar situation appears with no Ravens being seen here since May.
On the good side Yellow Wagtails appear to have attempted breeding at two sites, and are often easily seen either on or from the track across the north side of field 25. Additionally as probable post breeding dispersal there was a Garden Warbler seen from the Dark Lane / railway bridge, but I could not find a Whitethroat in two hours!
60 Lapwing in f1 ignoring a gas gun.
Yellowhammer 4 f1
Linnet 6 f1
No sign of Hobby or Yellow Wagtail (or Quail)
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 14th of June 2015 05:03:25 PM
Walk from Isherwood Road to ETW, Brookheys Covert, and return via Orchard.
Totals of singing males:
Yellowhammer 8
Whitethroat 14
Blackcap 18
Chiffchaff 11
Chaffinch 5
Skylark 6
Willow Warbler 2
Garden Warbler 1
Greenfinch 2
also
Buzzard 7
Kestrel 1
Lapwing 3
Stock Dove 2
etc.etc.etc.
A good day, only bitten once!
Lesser whitethroat singing in Eastern corner of field 66 (next to Green Lane Farm on Sinderland Lane). This bird may have been present for some time as I have distantly heard what I thought was this species a few times in the last three weeks in the areas of field 70 and 68, but had been unable to pin down the bird.
Also a Common or Arctic Tern flying West over Sinderland Green but it was too high to identify specifically.
5+ Yellowhammers heard around fields 1 and 2, with great views of male and female on the ground in 1, and a superb male on the track between 2 and 11.
Female Whinchat in 1
Mike
Also 3 Wheatears on field 25.
Met up with Dave aka Fungal Punk, an had a mooch around 1030-1300hrs.
He took me to where he had seen 2 Quail and a Whinchat the previous weekend.
The Quail were in field 10, same field as last years 2, (have they returned, or indeed never ventured far), alas no sign this week, although Dave couldn't believe how much the crop had grown. Would be very lucky to spot anything in there now.
The Whinchat was in field 1 in the corner on the crossroads with 10/11/2, No sign this week either, although they don't hang around long.
Very showy Wheatear was in 1, hanging around in the scrub.
Apart from all the usual suspects picked up 5 or 6 Yellow Wagtails on the paths again at the crossroads of 1/2/11/10, there possibly were more, feed off the paths and seemed very flighty.
Also Grey Partridge in 11..
Dave, remember to print of the map for the Moss, as you have seen its far bigger than you expected...lol..
See you soon.
Steve
Field 25: Hobby, Yellow Wagtail (also Peregrine yesterday)
At least 20 Swifts distantly to the East, probably over Altrincham Sewage Works.
Hopefully a few more can get down and seek out and find these tinkers.
Hi Dave Quail is a rare GM bird and you should contact County Recorder, Ian McKerchar about submitting this sighting and complete a rarities form. Going back over a decade of County Reports no Quail has been recorded prior to the last week of May. And in some years no Quail have been recorded at all. Typically they are only heard - not bubbling but issuing a repetitive and staccato 'whip; whip-whip' call. Last year there were two on Carrington Moss in tall Barley but never seen despite hours of waiting by many, including myself. It would be unusual for Quail to find any vegetation which will not completely hide them. Therefore all the more important that you submit this great record.
I reckon there was more than 1 by the way - one close and the one I saw about middle of field.
Field 4 held Pair Grey Partridge,
Field 4 and 12 seemed to hold 6 or 7 Skylarks between them.
Old Orchard held 1 Chiffchaff
12 also held 7 female and 1 male Wheatear.
The bushes and Trees between fields 4 , 12 & 13 held 5-6 Yellowhammers, with a further 1 on fence just past Swiss Cottage and a further 2 up towards Altrincham Sewage Works.
1 pair of Linnet seemed to frequent the area before Swiss cottage, best Marker is the 2nd clump of Yellowbush over the fence in Utd training ground
4 Oystercatchers in field 12 on way back to car.
Common Whitethroats everywhere must have seem at least 35 this morning and that's not counting the ETW.
Dave, if you have a look at the field number system on the main website (under "County Birding Sites and Maps") I'm sure people will be keen to know where the Quail was seen. Thanks Nick
No probs, going for a proper mooch in the morning, will defo let you know if I find it...
Cheers
What field number did you get Whinchat, just heading up there in morning for a mooch.
Many thanks.
Hobby over fields 70 and 67 then seen close up over field 63. My earliest of the year.
Also 3m Wheatear f32
-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 1st of May 2015 02:37:04 PM
Field 5:
Wheatear 1m.
Stock Dove 100+
Yellowhammer 2
General Sightings:
Yellowhammer 5 but none singing.
Treecreeper 1 along Trans Pennine Trail to ETW.
Chiffchaff 5 singing.
Blackcap 4 singing.
Willow Warbler 2 singing.
Bullfinch 2
Missel Thrush 1 singing.
Swallow 2
Sand Martin 2
Rook 1
Jay 2
Linnet 1
etc.etc.
Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony
Spotted Flycatcher in Sinderland Green Woods - this is by far the earliest date for me!
7 Wheatear in field 25.
Otherwise a quiet morning with several regular species not recorded.
Ploughed field around Swiss Cottage:
19 Stock Dove feeding in amongst c.50 Woodpigeon