Thanks for the extra info on these leucistic birds. Its all intriguing stuff!!

hi was just going to pm ian then i saw this.. i think this as solved my problem to !!!myself and another man was at kinder scout on sunday .when we had a fly over bird that looked like a carrion crow but with all white primaries also a very light all most white beak to ..
cheers lee

-- Edited by Lee Griffiths on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 10:16:27 PM

As Dave says these birds are leucistic individuals and are not uncommon on the mosses over the past few years. They're certainly not hybrids I'm afraid and leucism (note semi-leucism doesn't actually exist as such ) can be partial as in this case or of course complete. They're intruiging birds and their leucism generally seems to affect the wings (like a bird I saw at Rindle yesterday). Whether this is hereditary I'm not sure but there used to be an apparent small population of similar (but often more leucistic on the body too) in the south Bolton borough area many years ago which were often misidentified as Hooded Crows by birders passing in cars

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 13th of April 2011 09:11:56 PM

Hi Nick
There have been at least two Crows showing light grey/dull white primaries and wing panels around the fields on Astley moss in the last month. I would agree with you on them being semi leucistic or possible hybrid. As much as I would like to get a Hooded on the moss these two are certainly not

Had a nice two hour stroll this afternoon through Rindle Woods and the SSSI.

Highlights were:

6 Wheatear (4 female) in the field to the south of Rindle Hedge
6 Yellowhammer
6 Linnet
2 White wagtail
1 Fieldfare
3 Kestrel
8 Buzzard

Also a crow which I observed only for a few seconds as it flew across my line of sight on the SSSI in amongst about 30 other crows. It appeared to have quite a lot of light grey on it and for a second had me thinking it was a Hooded Crow. I later caught up with the same bird at the bottom of Rindle road and it showed itself to have light grey primaries and wing panels. I'm thinking maybe some kind of semi leucistic bird or maybe hybrid. Has anyone else seen this bird?

Prior to 8:30 this morning:

4 Raven in fields east of Rindle Cottages also a single Fieldfare and 2 singing Whitethroat along Rindle Road.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

CUCKOO down Rindle Road this am
per Peter Hilton

Female Marsh Harrier (with a complete set of primaries!) flew due north over Bedford Moss at 1:40 today, didn't stop and on its course would have passed near enough over my house!

The length of Rindle Road and Astley Moss today produced:

18 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat (at the bottom of Rindle Road by the bridge over the brook)
4 Chiffchaff
3 Redpoll
8 Mistle Thrush

thats superb that Dave, it would of made a great photo with you holding out your hand and the long tailed tit taking a feather, brilliant

Dave Thacker wrote:

---

Just missed you Martyn

6.20-7.45pm this evening'
A quick check on the fields turned up;

Field 67
Wheatear on the far side
4 Lapwings
4 Pheasant
3 Yellowhammers
4 Tree sparrows
Pied wagtail
3 Stock dove
12 Woodpigeons

Field 69
5 Lapwings
15 Pheasant
2 Grey Partridge
Mistle thrush
4 Chaffinch
13 Stock dove
8 Woodpigeons

Ploughed field behind Rindle woods [ potato field]
7 Fieldfare which flew in from over the Rail tracks
5 Wheatear
Curlew landed in the field at 7.25pm
4 Lapwings
2 Song thrush
2 Mistle thrush
8 Yellowhammers
3 Chaffinch
2 Tree sparrows
4 Stock doves
4 Mallard
Moorhen

Buzzard and Kestrel over

One of the LT Tits nest that I have been watching being built over the last 4 days is now complete. I supplied over 30 small feathers which the parents eagerly took from my hand hovering like small Hummingbirds before quickly taking hold of a feather and placing it into their nest.

Absolute Magic

---

Just missed you Martyn

6.20-7.45pm this evening'
A quick check on the fields turned up;

Field 67
Wheatear on the far side
4 Lapwings
4 Pheasant
3 Yellowhammers
4 Tree sparrows
Pied wagtail
3 Stock dove
12 Woodpigeons

Field 69
5 Lapwings
15 Pheasant
2 Grey Partridge
Mistle thrush
4 Chaffinch
13 Stock dove
8 Woodpigeons

Ploughed field behind Rindle woods [ potato field]
7 Fieldfare which flew in from over the Rail tracks
5 Wheatear
Curlew landed in the field at 7.25pm
4 Lapwings
2 Song thrush
2 Mistle thrush
8 Yellowhammers
3 Chaffinch
2 Tree sparrows
4 Stock doves
4 Mallard
Moorhen

Buzzard and Kestrel over

One of the LT Tits nest that I have been watching being built over the last 4 days is now complete. I supplied over 30 small feathers which the parents eagerly took from my hand hovering like small Hummingbirds before quickly taking hold of a feather and placing it into their nest.

Absolute Magic

Tonight, between 4:30 and 6pm on a very pleasant walk with my other half round Rindle Road, Rindle Wood and the trail around the edge of the SSSI, produced:

Male and Female Pheasant on Rindle Road near Nook Lane
2 Tree Sparrows in f67
2 Yellowhammers in f67
1 Chaffinch in hawthorne along road
Buzzard over the trees near the railway line
Several Lapwing displaying in f67/68
Many Carrion Crows and Wood Pigeons in f69
2 Kestrels (1 over Astley Moss and the other over f67)
2 Mallards in pools
3 Blue Tits in Wood
1 Great Tit in Wood
1 Wren in Wood
4 Wheatear in the ploughed field between the SSSI pools and Rindle Hedge (year tick)
1 Yellowhammer and a Pied Wagtail in same ploughed field
2 Mistle Thrushes and 2 Grey Partridges in f69
Several Crows, Magpies and Blackbirds around
Several other unidentified LBJ's (moved too fast for us)

On leaving the 'Moth Man' (whose name I'm afraid I don't know even though I've met him many times) said there had been a Corn Bunting on the wires near Rindle Cottages earlier in the week.

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Monday 11th of April 2011 09:42:41 PM

Yesterday, a Green Woodpecker was in the fields behind Rindle Wood, the last one before the scrapes.

Info thanks to Andy Little

Single Whitethroat singing from a small group of bushes at the jnc Rindle road and Nook lane yesterday (9/4) 9.30am

Sedge Warbler singing on Vicars Hall lane, just south of canal bridge this AM.

8.10-11.30am

Single Wheatear in the fields next to Nook lane at 8.10am but it had gone by the time that I left the moss.

11 Buzzards seen from Rindle road soaring around at the same time at various parts of the mosslands


-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 9th of April 2011 09:36:43 PM

7 Wheatear together in a ploughed field south of Moss Lane this afternoon.

whilst stood on bak field at scool bedford moss produced:

3 lapwing
6 cormarants over
7 goldfinch

Dave Thacker wrote:

---

I sat down to watch a pair of LT tits build their nest for over 40 minutes. I placed a couple of small feathers on my knee and one of the birds came over and picked them up and placed them into the nest.

---

love that...

keep an eye on that nest Dave and let us know how they get on

3.45-8.30pm

Birds seen around Astley and Bedford moss this afternoon,

2 Wheatear flew into f67 at 5pm
4 Grey Partridge
2 RL Partridge
9 Buzzards
2 Kestrels
Sparrowhawk
4 Herons
60 Stock dove
32 Crows
13 Lapwings
2 Curlew
3 Tree sparrows
13 Yellowhammers
Willow tit
4 Pair of LT tits
3 Song thrush
3 Mistle thrush
8 Swallows
80+ Sand martins
3 Chiffchaffs
At least 9 Willow warblers heard
2 Pied wagtails
Treecreeper
2 GS Woodpeckers

I sat down to watch a pair of LT tits build their nest for over 40 minutes. I placed a couple of small feathers on my knee and one of the birds came over and picked them up and placed them into the nest.

It was also good to finally meet up with Paul Risley this afternoon

Moss Lane, Rindle Road, Rindle woods and SSSI in belting conditions this afternoon with John Barber for company.

2 Wheatear - one off Moss Road, one opposite feeding station.
13 Swallow
1 Alba Wagtail
8 Pied Wagtail
2 Red Legged Partridge - corner of Nook Lane
8 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
5 Song Thrush
2 Mistle Thrush
2 GSW
2 LT tit
5 Tree Sparrow
4 Yellowhammer
5 Lesser Redpoll
3 Chiffchaff
3 Willow warbler
1 Blackcap
1 Curlew - heard
1 Mipit
30+ Stock Dove
100+ Wood pigeon
30+ Crow

An hour around 7pm this evening; Nook Lane - 2 hunting Kestrel Rindle Road - 12 Brambling (some very smart males) feeding with 15 Yellowhammer and a couple of Chaffinch in the first ploughed field on the west side, handful of Stock Dove amongst the Woodies. 2 Grey Partridge in the grassed field opposite. 5 Wheatear, 1 Skylark and 2 Kestrels in the ploughed field on the east of the road after Rindle Cottages. Reed Bunt, Yellowhammer and a couple of Tree Sparrow at the feeding station. Plenty of Lapwing and a couple of Oystercatcher along the length of the road. Moss Lane - 2 seperate pairs of Grey Partridge, again plenty of Lapwing and 2 more Oystercatcher.

All that work was carried out in the last four days too!

A Little Owl was in the trees just before the left hand bend at the bottom of Moss Lane round about 1:00pm today. Pictures on my blog (address below). Couldn't find the Wheatear though.

Boy has it changed down Moss Lane since I last came a few weeks ago. All the high banks on the north side of the Lane have gone and the fields where the pipeline work has been done have been made good and ploughed. It all looks a lot more open again now.

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 04:26:46 PM

8-10.45am this morning Single Wheatear along Moss lane 5 Wheatear and 2 Grey partridge in f67 31 Fieldfare, 2 Oystercatchers and 4 Lapwings in f69 3 Yellowhammers sat on the fence waiting for me to put some seed down along the track. Rindle wood 2 GS Woodpeckers with one drumming 2 Treecreepers Willow tit 3 Tree sparrows Kestrel Jay 2 Chiffchaff 2 vocal Ravens flew over the SSSI and landed in the potato fields which disturbed another Wheatear which flew off. Later a Peregrine flew over the Potato fields which caused the Ravens to chase it over the SSSI. Bedford moss 4 Chiffchaffs heard GS Woodpecker 5 LT tits 2 Grey partridge 5 Reed buntings Great views of a hunting Stoat at the end of the feeding track

5 wheatear in field 67 this morning at 8am

Fifteen Common Buzzards up and about around midday with seven around Botany Bay Woods and north-east Chat Moss, two up over Astley Moss and six together in a very low altitude arial battle around the sand quarry by Morleys (still visible from my garden when I got back home ).

3.20pm-7.15pm this evening, Usual around the feeding track including 11 Tree Sparrows and 6 Yellowhammers, Field 69 65 Fieldfare 2 Oystercatchers 8 Lapwings 2 Pied wagtails 2 Grey partridge Astley SSSI 4 Linnits 7 Reed buntings 3 Mpipts Chiffchaff 3 Goldcrests 3 Swallows over Due to the re flooding of Bedford moss a large area on the far side of the moss is now under water forming a small boggy lake which this evening held 12 Teal, 4 Mallard and 2 Snipe. A Curlew and 8 Sand Martins flew over. Also seen 4 Buzzards 2 Kestrels Sparrowhawk 2 Herons and a Female Blackcap along the feeding track on the way back to my car

Yep if anyone sees a yeti on the moss or anywhere else its not a Bigfoot its just me, please don't feed or pet the wild animals Large , illusive but harmless creature.

Dennis atherton wrote:

---

late evening visit to rindle road feeding track, 6-7pm


Threw out loads of seed to keep um going, set up my new bag hide to do some local ditching, lied down flat on the track hidden from view, all the usuals, constant reed buntings and yellowhammers, a few tree sparrows popped in, also chaffinch, 1 willow warbler, blue and great tits, then a sparrowhawk flew down the track right down low, all the birds scarpered and it flew straight towards me not seeing me in the hide and flew low just over my head, Superb, it cant get any better than this but it did, later while lied perfectly still in the hide i heard a bit of noise to my left, i quietly turned and looked and 2 grey partridge were walking past 2 ft from my head, they then fed on the seed i threw out only 8ft from me for 15 mins, Brilliant

---

I will have to watch I don't trod on you as I walk down the path in that leaf covered yeti suit you are wearing

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 1st of April 2011 10:10:17 AM

late evening visit to rindle road feeding track, 6-7pm Threw out loads of seed to keep um going, set up my new bag hide to do some local ditching, lied down flat on the track hidden from view, all the usuals, constant reed buntings and yellowhammers, a few tree sparrows popped in, also chaffinch, 1 willow warbler, blue and great tits, then a sparrowhawk flew down the track right down low, all the birds scarpered and it flew straight towards me not seeing me in the hide and flew low just over my head, Superb, it cant get any better than this but it did, later while lied perfectly still in the hide i heard a bit of noise to my left, i quietly turned and looked and 2 grey partridge were walking past 2 ft from my head, they then fed on the seed i threw out only 8ft from me for 15 mins, Brilliant

In a small ploughed field at the western end of Moss Lane late afternoon today:

11+ Brambling
34+ Yellowhammer
8 Reed Bunting

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

With Iain Johnson

Also spotted on Astley Moss this afternoon from track at end of feeding track

c25 Fieldfare
3-4 Redwing
c10 Brambling
2 Linnet

Rindle Road Feeding Track

10+ Yellowhammer
c8 Tree Sparrow

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Thursday 31st of March 2011 04:51:49 PM

Brief visit mid-afternoon today:

Pair of adult Wheatears by Rindle Cottages
White Wagtail at Moss Lane, flew north

Astley, Chat and Barton moss via Rindle Road, Croxdens to Manor Farm 28th March:

Yellowhammer 10
Curlew 1
Lapwing 26
Buzzard 3
Meadow Pipit 5
Reed Bunting 2
Grey Partridge 3
Tree Sparrow 6
Whooper Swan 2 (in flield 8 at Manor Farm )
Skylark only 1
Kestrel 2
Brambling c.26 (including 20 in birch trees along footpath from Rindle Road)
Redpoll 5
Willow Tit 2
Fieldfare 6

Also -
Hares 5

Info thanks to Phil Kelly

Female Marsh Harrier circling fairly high over Astley Moss East around 1:30 today, slowing drifting south.

The same individual as I saw yesterday with missing inner primaries on the left wing and probably the same bird as has been around the mosses for a while and possibly even the bird which practically summered last year. Given it was at Risley Moss 45 minutes before I saw it yesterday it's obviously getting about!

5-7.15pm this evening. I went looking for the Nuthatch which I didn't find but I did see a pair of Treecreepers inspecting a possible nesting site Feeding track 12+ Yellowhammers 6 Tree sparrows 4 Greenfinch 6 Goldfinch Usual Chaffinch and Reed buntings 4 Kestrel over 1 Buzzard 6 Herons Field 67 50+ Lapwings 28 Crows 2 RL partridge 1 Curlew feeding which was joined by two more at 6.53pm. 4 Mistle thrush 2 Mallard Potato fields 6 Lapwings 6 Mistle thrush Moss lane 2 Oystercatchers with the Lapwings Wildlife sightings posted on Manchester Wildlife

Early afternoon today:

Female Marsh Harrier hunting over Astley Moss SSSI at 2:15, also circled for a while with a Buzzard. Fairly distinctive bird complete with a couple of inner primaries missing from the left wing and the pale patches on the forewings unsymmetrical with the right one noticeably smaller than the left.

Nuthatch (exceptional site record) calling continuously from Rindle Wood, eventually made it's way along the hedge towards the railway.

7 Buzzards in the area of Rindle/Astley/Bedford Moss

The south part of Croxdens peat works, adjoining the access track to the sheds (which is a public footpath) and also viewable from 12 Yards Rd, is now a superb flood with lots of scrapes - surprised it's not dried out with the current dry spell due to end shortly. Anyway, pairs of Curlew, Oystercatcher and Lapwing were all looking interested today. Whoopers still present this afternoon on f8.

9-12.20 this morning 52 Lapwings in the fields along Rindle road with 38 Crows and single Curlew and Heron Feeding area 8 Yellowhammers 3 Reed buntings 6 Tree sparrows Usual chaffinch and tits with 1 Willow tit. Astley moss, Rindle woods and SSSI 4 Skylarks 4 Mistle Thrushes 2 Chiffchaff 2 Grey partridge 2 Oystercatchers 2 Willow tits 2 Goldcrest Song thrush Buzzard Kestrel 8 Stock doves Pied wagtail GS Woodpecker 4 Mallard Bedford moss 2 Willow tits 4 Buzzards Coal tit 2 Redpoll 3 Yellowhammers 3 Mpipits 2 Buzzards soaring over the peat works 2 Herons over Curlew over

11am-12.pm Irlam & Barton Moss Female Marsh Harrier again over Croxten and drifted off over the railway to Astley side. 1 Peregrine sat on top of pylon in f8 2 Whoopers still in f8 - now present for over 4 weeks! 4-5 Buzzards c.17 Tree Sparrows - track between f9 & 10 Pair Grey Partridge - f10 2 Yellowhammer 5 Reed Bunting 4 Meadow Pipit 1 Skylark 3 Pheasant (inlcluding 2 males fighting!) 1 singing Chiffchaff - Barton Moss Farm Plus usuals

15.45-1800

Very quiet around Astley and Bedford moss late this afternoon

17 Lapwings
3 Mistle thrush
Song thrush
Redpoll
Goldcrest
Reed Bunting
4 Yellowhammers
Plenty of chaffinches
3 Buzzards around Bedford moss
3 Oystercatchers over
2 Teal
5 Mallard
GS Woodpecker drumming

Spent a little time here today after an early dart from work.

A single Swallow on the telegraph wire on Rindle Road, near to the barn conversions.

Whimbrel flew over from the direction of the train tracks and right over the barns.


Chaffinch
Yellowhammers
Reed Buntings
Red-legged Partridge (2)
Buzzard 3 (all together)
Pheasant
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Mistle Thrush (a few)

-- Edited by Melanie Beckford on Thursday 24th of March 2011 07:52:17 PM

Male Merlin through Astley Moss SSSI this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Little

Early afternoon today:

The Moss Lane Wheatear had obviously moved on.

Rindle Woods and fields behind:

90 Redwing
60 Chaffinch
21 Brambling, all very vocal and including some cracking looking males
12 Reed Bunting
17 Tree Sparrow
2 Willow Tit
4 Buzzard

Male Wheatear in a newly rolled field down Moss Lane this morning and the Swallow still present on wires in Astley village this morning too.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Dennis atherton wrote:

---

feeding track for a hour this morning, 8 males reed buntings minimum, 5 female, 5-6 yellow hammers, 1 willow tit, i brambling, 2 tree sparrow and the usual suspects,

---

must have missed thi Den
PM-mooch wi browny
much the same as dennis plus a beltin male roe deer which came fairly close before i spooked it when i took some pictures.

feeding track for a hour this morning, 8 males reed buntings minimum, 5 female, 5-6 yellow hammers, 1 willow tit, i brambling, 2 tree sparrow and the usual suspects,

A good morning's birding on Irlam and Barton Mosses 9.30am-12.45pm with Martyn Jones delivered a couple of surprises

Female Marsh Harrier hunting over Croxten and flushed 5 Teal (2m & 3f) & a pair of Mallard. Could it be the same bird seen last year at Astley Peat Pools area?

2 Whooper Swans (adult and cygnet) still in f8. They have been here for over 3 weeks now A Mute Swan flew over from west, circled over f8 as though checking out the Whoopers then flew off over the railway.

4-5 Buzzards seen
2 pairs of Grey Partridge
1 Red-legged Partidge
A few Pheasant
c. 21 Tree Sparrows (16+ on track between f9 & 10, 7+ Woodbarn Farm)
1 GS Woodpecker calling from Dixons Wood
1 Snipe - Croxten
Siskin over - heard only
2 Collard Dove
5 Skylark
Blackbird
c.6 Reed Buntings
5 Yellowhammer
c. 40+ Linnet including a flock of c.30
A few Goldfinches and Chaffinch
3 Pied Wags
4 Herons
Numerous pairs of Lapwing on territory
5 Herring Gulls over

Plus usual Blue, Great & LT Tits, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Carrion Crows.
2 LBB Gulls over
2 Canada Geese over

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 20th of March 2011 01:52:54 PM

Very few birds about this afternoon on Astley moss

Feeding track
9 Yellowhammers
4 Chaffinch
4 Tree sparrows
2 Collared doves
2 Mallard in the ditch
Usual tits about

Potato fields
50+ Redwing
3 Mistle thrush
1 Pied wagtail
30+ Crows

3 Buzzards over
3 Kestrels over
Willow tit heard
Curlew heard

Also a Swallow was sat on the telephone wires in the village.

Nice to have Melanie for company and our four legged friend as we walked about.

A Swallow perched on wires on Higher Green Lane this am,on territory.
info per Peter Hilton