Large finch flock, Chaffinch, and Linnet on Irlam moss yesterday top of Twelve yards road approx 70 Linnet 40 Chaffinch.

Keep birding

Woodpigeons in full effect on the mosses today and with so many stubble fields so strewn with leftover seed, every one of them seemed to hold a decent flock. Birds poured into the roost at Botany Bay wood from midday onwards, particularly after the drizzle stopped and skies cleared, all coming in from the west. By 3pm birds had stopped coming in but a few small (couple/few hundred each) flocks remained in fields on Chat and Astley Moss. In total, over 17,000 birds had been counted and the true number of birds in the roost is probably mindbogglingly more!

1 till 2
Rindle road area
Pheasant
kestrel
blue tit
greenfinch
chaffinch
several flocks of wood pigeon,starlings and thrushes
cheers Jay

Apologies the e-mail for the LOS treasurer is raymond.meredith@ntlworld.com. Eddie King

Re the feeding station at Rindle if any is kind enough to contribute to the feeding cost please e-mail our treasurer Ray Meredith at " raymond.meredith@ntworld.com." The society also pays for much of the feed at Pennington Flash feeding station.Thanks Dave, Eddie King,

eddie king wrote:

---

The Leigh Ornithological Society have started feeding at the Rindle feeding station Astley. We have purchased 100kg of feed and if anyone enjoys the site and is willing to contribute to the cost, it would be appreciated. Eddie King

---

Hi Eddie
What's the best way for people to do that?
Cheers
Dave

The Leigh Ornithological Society have started feeding at the Rindle feeding station Astley. We have purchased 100kg of feed and if anyone enjoys the site and is willing to contribute to the cost, it would be appreciated. Eddie King

14.30
Rindle road area
Heavy rain (stayed in car)
shooters grove
Mistle thrushx2
Chaffinchx8
Pheasantsx15
Moorhenx2
Nook lane
Pheasantsx11
Jayx1
Magpiex2
Moorhensx3
Cheers Jay

Had a look around this afternoon mainly for yesterday's black redstarts but no sign in pretty rubbish weather! Several small flocks of goldfinch around rindle road area and c. 60 redwing round horse fields near tyldesley treatment works also 2 jay in this area but otherwise queit.

Couldn't be sure exactly where they were heading but four Whooper Swans low over the M62 going north at around 10:40am this morning - maybe one of the mosses will get a visit?

4 Bramblings mixed in with 47 Greenfinch in field 9 on Chat Moss today.

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

Two Black Redstarts currently on rooftops of Rindle Cottages on Rindle Road, Astley Moss.

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

2 Crossbills south over Moss Lane at 1335

Single Swallow SE over Astley Moss around 1.20pm today.

The Rindle area today produced its largest Redwing count of recent weeks with 180 in the berry laden Hawthorns around there, as well as 6 very fine Fieldfare.

40 Chaffinch contained a single male Brambling in Rindle hedge.

Mistle thrush
Song thrush
Blue tit
Great tit
Treecreeper
Robin
Jay
2 Kestrel
Pheasant

4 Willow tits on seed near the gate at Rindle road feeding track at 15.25.

Barton Moss 12.00-12.45am
Lovely still, brighht autumnal weather.

Good raptor day

1 Peregrine circling around for nearly 10 mins (12.20pm) and frequently calling. Seemed agitated at something. Then headed towards Botany Bay woods
1 Sparrowhawk circling high up
2 Kestrel
3 Buzzard circling together.

Also:
6 Tree Sparrow
4 Yellowhammer
1 Pied Wagtail
2 Song Thrush
4 Jay

Flocks of:
Linnet c.30,
Goldfinch c.25,
Greenfinch c.10
Black headed Gull c.40 circling overhead

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Originally posted by Ian Moffatt earlier today:

Barton Moss & Chat Moss

But still no sightings of Fieldfare & Redwings for the winter Thrush survey.

Ian

---

Don't worry, Ian, remember one of the first rules of bird surveying - a negative count is just as important as a positive one .

Hopefully you will have counted some Blackbirds (and maybe some Song and/or Mistle Thrushes) so will be able to chart how their numbers increase when the continental visitors arrive.

Keep up the good "work".

Steve

Originally posted by Ian Moffatt earlier today:

Barton Moss & Chat Moss

Flushed a Barn Owl from trees along Barton Moss Road, mid afternoon.

Field 9 produced a female Stonechat, 1st on the moss this year for me.

The overgrown track between fields 9 & 10 observed 7/8 Goldcrest
+ Willow Warbler & a pair of Blackcaps amongst the berry laden hawthorns & elderberry trees.

Finch flock of 100+, included 50+ Greenfinches 30+ Goldfinches & around 25 Linnets which attracted the local Sparrowhawk, also 26 Collard Doves around the metal grain barns.

But still no sightings of Fieldfare & Redwings for the winter Thrush survey.

Ian

Today was the first time for a while that I've spent any length of time down here, and it was what Winnie the Pooh would call 'a rather blustery day'. Here's what I saw:

Fields Near Astley Tip
Some Wood Pigeons
A few Collared Doves
4 Jays - all together
Later a single Jay flew across the field and another landed in a small Oak tree

Moss Lane
A few more Wood Pigeons
Around 40-50 Corvids
40-ish Goldfinches on wires
4 Juvenile Partridges (could have been juvenile Pheasants as I only got a brief glimpse)
1 Buzzard
30-ish Pink-footed Geese flying west - I heard the coming from way off.
Another group of six flying South, but may have been Canada Geese
10-12 Starlings on the wires

Rindle Woods and neighbouring fields
2 Pheasants
2 Great Tits
Quite a few Wood Pigeons
4 or 5 Swallows
1 Kestrel
4 Buzzards
5 Carrion Crows
3 Magpies
Mallard landing on a scrape

Rindle Road and neighbouring fields
2 Song Thrushes on wires
1 Chiffchaff
A few Swallows, but a lot less than earlier in the week.
Even more Wood Pigeons
Buzzard being mobbed by a Crow
2 Kestrels - probably same one twice
Great Spotted Woodpecker on telephone pole

Did I mention the Pigeons? - Seems like they had a good year.

P.S. Beware of the footpaths around Astley Moss SSSI at the moment as they're underwater in many places. I turned back from my normal anti-clockwise route through Rindle Wood and around the edge of the Moss because I sank into a deep puddle on the path and I was carrying my camera gear. And when I went the other direction along Rindle Hedge, I nearly lost a wellie when I sank in again up to my shin - the water came over the top of my boot and I had to put my gear down to get out without the peat sucking my boot off.

Rindle road area 1900-20.00
Not a great deal
30plus flock of very noisy geese over cottages towards Botany bay woods
1xkestrel
3xmallard
Cheers Jay

13.00-15.00 this afternoon.

Astley moss
Hobby over the SSSI
Barn owl asleep in a tree next to Bedford moss
3 Buzzards
Kestrel
2 Snipe
Willow tit
Goldcrest
2 Chiffchaff
Song thrush
Grey partridge
2 Yellowhammers
2 Pied wagtails
2 Wrens
Jay
5 Crows
3 Jackdaws
20+ Swallows over the SSSI and fields.

An adult Hobby hunting over Croxdens this am
2 Wheatear by Croxden Lagoons
and distance views of the Marsh Harrier being mobbed near Olive Mount Farm

Marsh Harrier (juv fem) over peat working north of Croxden lagoons at 1320hrs then flew east and lost to view.

Hobby on Astley Moss over field 69 at 0910hrs
c500 Starling on wires near Prospect Grange farm

-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Friday 14th of September 2012 11:31:51 PM

Rindle road area 7-8
Not a great deal
Song thrush on the way in
4xCarrion crow having a do with a Buzzard
2xRobin
Thats about it, should have gone an hour earlier.
Cheers Jay

Marsh harrier (probably juv female) quartering fields east of rindle cottages at 6 30ish this evening also at east 6 kestrel in rindle/moss lane area and over 12 buzzard also in the area

1700-2000

Hobby hawking insects adjacent to Croxdens and perched up on several occasions giving good views.

Also in the area

4 Common Buzzard
4 Kestrel
14 Yellowhammer
Tufted Duck
Jay

0730-1200 and Irlam and Chat Moss

16 Buzzard on thermals over Chat Moss
2 Sparrowhawk
Kestrel

Croxden Peat works

5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Wheatear (fem)

Otherwise, very quiet

2 separate Hobby sightings today:

11.20am -Edge of Irlam Moss at bottom end of Silver Street, Irlam
- a Hobby causing pandemonium amongst a feeding flock of Swallows. The Swallows were feeding around a group of trees at quite low level. It carried out repeated attempts to catch one often at lamp-post height over the road! Eventually it disappeared through the trees but I don't know if it caught one or not. But it gave a spectacular show!

4.20pm - Prospect Grange Farm, Irlam Moss
- Hobby overhead. Came from the direction of Cadishead Moss and headed east.
Also here 1 Kestrel and 1 Buzzard

No signs of the Cranes this evening.

Tree Pipit over
Hobby
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Little Owl calling
Yellow Wagtail heard

11.00am-12.30pm

Olive Mount area:
No sign of Cranes unfortunately but-
3 Yellow Wagtails (1f & 2 juv) and c.8 Pied Wagtails in the field with the brown sheep.
3 Siskins
1 Bullfinch heard
1 Kestrel
3 Mallard over

Woodstock Farm area:
1 Yellow Wagtail (m) and c.10 Pied Wagtail in turf field opposite.
Also here:
2 Buzzard on ground
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull (1st w) in field
15 Mistle Thrush on telegraph wires
1 Sparrowhawk (f)

Prospect Grange area:
c.400 Starlings on wires

Croxden:
1 Tufted Duck (f)

A few Swallows with young perched on wires

This a.m. on Astley Rd just South of Olive Mount Farm from 6.00-8.00, no sign of any Crane (this being my 6th recent attempt), gave up and went home when it really started to rain heavily. Did manage 3 Buzzard but no real consolation.
Cheers Ian

Several visits to the area over last few days failed to produce the hoped for passerines. Hobby seen couple of times along rindle road terrifying mixed hirundine flock, apart from that c. 2000 woodpigeon including one almost completely leucistic bird along moss lane was only other highlight.

19.00-20.00
Rindle road area
2xJay
6xcarrion crow
1xsparrowhawk
1xwren
1xkestrel
Thats about it.
cheers Jay

Common Cranes 2 tonight 8.23pm viewed looking west from Astley Rd. south of Olive Mount Farm. Do not leave the road - no need. Get there c.7.50pm to be sure
Also Kestrel 2
Probable Hobby s at 8.00pm
Swift 16 at Croxden Peat works

Mike, I've had a couple of trips out to Astley and Bedford mosses lately in the hope of seeing Hobbies, drew a blank and didnt see much else, the paths are completely overgrown with bracken which hide nettles underneath, if going around the SSSI' as someone else recently posted, waterproof pants are nessecary, the flies seem to bite much worse than anywhere else I've visited too, I officially hate the place but will probably be back good luck

Just a quick "Thanks" for your kind responses and help; - You know who you are; -much appreciated.
Cheers,
Mike

I have a window of opportunity (at last ) to get down into Greater Manchester (as opposed to merely passing through under usual time pressure).
My priority would be to have an evening stab at the Cranes, but of course there is no update as to sightings for almost three weeks now, (and it is tempting just not to bother if it is such a long shot).
If I am coming down, I need to commit tonight, so any update (via PM if preferred) would really be very helpful please; (even some negative news would assist towards making a decision).

Regards to all,
Mike P.

19.00-20.00
Not a lot happening around Rindle Road
7 Snipe (I think) flew over sssi
1 angry wren
single blue tit
Cat size Rat near entrance to Rindle woods
Very quiet.
Cheers Jay

In a word NO.not a single quail has been heard on Chat Moss,its been a poor year nationally for them.

Are there no quails about this year ?

Irlam to Olive Mount Farm

A few hours in this area late morning to mid afternoon

Juv Ringed Plover on flooded area near motorway bridge
25+ Lapwing
20+ Pied Wagtail also feeding on this area, mixture of adults and juvs
2 Linnet
200-300 Swallow
c100 House Martin
2 Buzzard
2 Kestrel

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Monday 13th of August 2012 06:31:28 PM

Basically out on a cycle ride this morning, but en route down Rindle Road:

1 Kestrel (juv)

1 possibly 2 Sparrowhawk

1 Common Buzzard

2 Yellowhammers singing.
4 Grey Herons over, which were not, unfortunately, common cranes!

Cycled from Rindle Cottages along Astley Road 1100-1400

Plenty of swallows swifts and occasional house martin
3 Buzzards soaring together behind Olive Mount Farm
Single Oystercatcher in flooded areas left after recent turf cutting
Kestrel chasing prey on ground. Suprisingly quick - at first glance I thought it was a rabbit
No sign of cranes

Quick mooch along astley road 7.30-9.15

2 whitethroat
2 yellow wagtail
5 grey partridge
Barn owl

Meself and Pete Hines
2 adult Hobbies watched for 20mins feeding on insects over Chat Moss N.R.,
Also Raven over
and later a single Hobby towards Bedford Moss from Astley Road
and the local brain dead village idiot who stopped his van to ask us if we had permission to look over the fields !!!

John of course means Little Woolden Moss.

Visiting birders please not though that there are no public footpaths accessing west of Astley Road and viewing should be made from the road itself.

Late news yesterday:

2 Cranes in flight behind Olive Mount Farm and appeared to land near Little Walden Moss at 20.25

Cheers, John

-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 2nd of August 2012 11:39:14 AM

Ian - have these birds been present concurrently with the two that have been reported off and on across Cheshire/Derbyshire or do we think that they have wandered and returned?