Merlin showing well along Moss Lane early afternoon today.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

A Tawny owl flew across Rindle road near Moss bank farm this evening.

Around Astley Moss SSSI early afternoon today:

110 Yellowhammer and 60 Tree Sparrow around Rindle Wood and the big hedge there.

An impressive 'little' flock of a minimum of 250 Chaffinch feeding along the side of the SSSI and (foul smelling) ploughed field there (by the 'new' information board) contained atleast 3 Brambling.

Irlam Moss 10.00-11.00am

Very cold and frosty but beautiful blue skies

Mixed finch flock in bushes along Twelve Yards Rd opposite f4 contained the following:
c.150 Chaffinch
1 Brambling (m)
2 Goldfinch
1 Greenfinch
6 Reed Bunting
4 Tree Sparrow
6 Yellowhammer
4 Linnet

Other birds seen
Total of 4 Willow Tit (2 Dixons Wood, 1 along Twelve Yards, 1 in bush f12
10+ Tree Sparrow at Woodbarn Farm
1 GS Woodpecker (Dixons Wood)
9 Lapwing
1 Buzzard (f2)
1 Kestrel (f44)
1 Jay
2 Song Thrush
2 LT Tit
2 Cormorant overhead SW
2 Herring Gull overhead W

plus small no.s of usual Blackbirds, Robins, Blue & Great Tits, Wrens, Dunnock, Wood Pigeons, Collard Dove etc



-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 28th of November 2010 01:01:10 PM

mid afternoon with karen foulkes

moss lane
approx 40 linnet with half a dozen goldfinch
2/3 buzzard
3 kestrel
10+ meadow pipit
50ish starling
1 probable raven (bit distant)
single LT tit
loads of fieldfare

rindle road and astley moss
1+ sparrowhawk
yellowhammer 3+
brambling 2
chaffinch
greenfinch
tree sparrow
blue tit
great tit
LT tit
robin
blackbird
loads more fieldfare

Astley moss 8.15-9.20am

420 Starlings sat on the wires along Moss lane with a Merlin sat on one of the telephone posts about 100m away from them with two Collared doves in close attendance.

130 Chaffinch and a single RL Partridge in the fields beside Nook lane.

Seen flying over the feeding station area,
2 Sparrowhawks
3 Kestrels
2 Buzzards
1 Heron
22 Fieldfare

On the seed,
Brambling [f]
2 Willow tits
11 Tree sparrows
4 Reed buntings
2 Greenfinch
7 Goldfinch
only 3 Yellowhammers
1 Moorhen
3 cock Pheasant

Plenty of thrushes in the hedgerows along Rindle road

Cheers E no easy way of reaching field 9 that way and the best route is via off 12 yards road but it's a long walk from Rindle

sorry Ian, bit misleading of me there. I walked beween fields 67 and 68 and crossed the railways line to field 58; was trying to reach field nine.

the brambling and tree sparrow were on the path between 67 and 68.

Iain Johnson wrote:

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one brambling and small party of tree sparrow away from the feeding station on the path leading to field nine! one sparrowhawk over field nine

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Not sure where you mean here Iain. Feeding station near field 9? Field 9 lies to the east of Croxdens peat works on Chat Moss.

one brambling and small party of tree sparrow away from the feeding station on the path leading to field nine! one sparrowhawk over field nine

highlights of a later afternoon wander where

200+ fieldfare
200+ starling
1 female sparrowhawk
1+ male kestrel
one redwing

also a lot of pheasant - presumably released and hiding from the shooters!

Around midday today:

Hen Harrier (ringtail) hunting over field 9 and just to the north of it by the train track.

Top of Rindle Road:

160 Fieldfare
C2000 Starlings
70 Crow
3 Bullfinch

An hour or so along Rindle rd produced:

1 Raven, 100+ Chaffinches, the majority in one flock, A female Brambling with the Chaffinches, 70+ Goldfinches, 300+ Starlings on the wires, 30+ Tree Sparrows, 120+ Fieldfares, 4 Mistle Thrushes, 8 Redwings plus the other usual suspects.

3.30-4.30pm
Fields 9 & 10 and surrounding area:
c.80 Fieldfare
c.30 Redwing
40+ Tree Sparrows
16 Grey Partridge (2 coveys: 10+6)
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
c.100 Chaffinch

Nice to catch up with Dave Steel & Ian Moffett again!

Thanks Eddie, A Lot of rindle road Birds make it through winter a bit easier because of your effotts, THANK YOU

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Originally posted by Eddie King at 2:12 today:

Started feeding at Rindle feeding station near Astley Moss on the 1st October. Bird food provided by Leigh Ornithological Society. Wednesday 3rd a Merlin over the feeding station.

---

Originally posted by Eddie King at 2:12 today:

Started feeding at Rindle feeding station near Astley Moss on the 1st October. Bird food provided by Leigh Ornithological Society. Wednesday 3rd a Merlin over the feeding station.

Lots of action along Rindle Road this early afternoon (in poor weather):

140 Chaffinch initially in the muddy field along Rindle Road opposite the fishing pond, then moved (due to the persistence of a few raptors) to the field just south of Shooters Grove (immediately north of field 68)

The Chaffinch flock seemed to contain only two Brambling, although one was a very nice male.

In the same initial field above were 18 Pied Wagtail and 4 Lesser Redpoll.

c520 Fieldfare were very prominent mainly just to the east of Rindle Cottages but later the flock broke up slightly and some flew over towards the SSSI. Much smaller numbers of Redwing were present but not counted.

The field immediately north of field 68 also held a flock of around 300 Starling, 57 Stock Dove, 70 Collared Dove and 17 Skylark.

Also in the Rindle feeding station/cottages area were 6 Yellowhammer but no Tree Sparrow (?).

At least two Sparrowhawks were hunting the field edges and (presumably the same) female/immature Merlin was seen twice around the top of Rindle Road area.

Along Moss Lane, 2 Skylarks and 8 Linnet were present.

10.45am-12.00pm

Hawthorn hedge between f9 & 10 teeming with Fieldfare and Redwing. Lots of berries. Difficult to count but:
c.80+ Fieldfare
c.40+ Redwing

Also:
c.30+ Tree Sparrows
3 Willow Tit (very vocal at moment)
c.20+ Chaffinch
5 Grey Partridge
4 Pheasant
11 Skylark
2 Kestrels (1 being mobbed by 2 crows)
7 Yellowhammer
2 Reed Bunting
2 Bullfinch
1 Jay
1 Dunnock

and the usual stuff!

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 27th of October 2010 10:39:02 PM

Irlam Moss 11.45am-12.45pm

Nuthatch in the beech trees outside Oakfield farm (amazingly a new bird for me on the mosses!!)
3 Willow Tit (1 Dixon's Wood, 2 near Birch View Farm)
81 Fieldfare (flocks of 19+21+40+1)
12+ Redwing
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Pheasant
25+ LT Tits (3 parties)
9 Skylark over
7 Pied Wagtail
1 Goldcrest
9 Stock Dove
14 Jackdaw over
1 GS Woodpecker (Dixon's Wood)
3 Jay
11 Yellowhammer
8 Goldfinch

Plus a few Blue & Great Tits, Crows, Woodpigeons & Starlings, 1 Robin, 3 Blackbirds & 1 Song Thrush

-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Tuesday 26th of October 2010 08:58:59 PM

Late posting for Wednesday night (20th) at 5:25pm

A flock of 80+ Fieldfare flew from the field near Rindle Cottages over Rindle Road and towards Bedford Moss. Pictures on my blog.

Immature Merlin hunting the fields in between Moss Lane and the tip road today with good numbers of finches, pipits and Skylark also in the fields.

Ring-necked Parakeet around Morleys Hall area (only a couple of hundred yards south of my garden!).

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Today between Moss Lane and Astley Tip:

Grasshopper Warbler
Stonechat
Whinchat
Redwing
Raven

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Friday 01/10 4-4.30pm

I decided to cut across the mosses trying to avoid the Irlam traffic yesterday and ended up counting Pied wagtails in the rain soaked Field 21 on Irlam moss. They were feeding on the edge of the field very close to Astley road.
Highest count was 73 but they were moving around and many more kept flying in from across the field, the total was probably closer to 100 birds.

Also a very wet Kestrel was sat in the middle of the road as you approach the train crossing. It did not move as my car got within 6' so I parked up and got out to see if it needed a lift. I was just about to pick it up when it decided to fly off leaving behind a small dead mouse which was floating in a puddle next to where the bird had been standing.

-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Saturday 2nd of October 2010 09:19:57 PM

Astley moss this evening 5-7.30pm

2 Buzzards
2 Kestrels
1 Sparrowhawk
2 GS Woodpecker and 2 Bullfinch in Rindle woods
20+ tit flock mainly LT tits but included 2 Blue, 1 Coal tit and 2 Goldcrest.
5 Teal at the new ponds
3 Teal, Heron and 2 Green sandpipers at the scrapes
500+ Wood pigeons over the SSSI
Chiffchaff and 7 Jays on Bedford moss
2 Swallows over heading west

Best was left to the last, as I walked back to my car I heard a Grey partridge calling in field 57, as I stood on Rindle road and waited a flock of 17 Grey partridge all flew up together and headed for the cover at the edge of the field. Largest number together for a long time. I just hope that they do not all get shot over the coming weeks.

nice to see you got an id on one of the owls in the area Dave, i was hoping for long or short eareds being seen but there is still time yet

Dave Thacker wrote:

---

A Tawny owl flew in front of my car headlights at 8.10pm along Rindle road near Haynes farm this evening.

---

Irlam Moss 10.30 - 11.45am

1 Chiffchaff
3 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk (f)
3 Kestrel
46 Canada Geese over north
26 BH Gull + 1 Common Gull in f1
2 Willow Tit
10 Tree Sparrow
5 Skylark
9 Meadow Pipit
4 Pied Wagtail
3 Jay
1 Robin
3 Blackbird
Family party of LT Tit
2 Goldfinch
Small flocks of Linnet & Chaffinch starting to assemble
1 House Sparrow

A Tawny owl flew in front of my car headlights at 8.10pm along Rindle road near Haynes farm this evening.

On the way back from Pennington I had a quick look down Rindle road just before dark

Interesting to see 12 Canada geese, 8 ducks [probably Teal] and 3 small waders all flying over the road heading towards the Peat pools.

Adult Hobby over Dixons Wood on Irlam Moss at 4.45pm this afternoon.
Also 1 Buzzard

Thirty Tree Sparrow and a single Yellow Wagtail in fields between Moss Land and the tip road this afternoon.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

A Merlin was perched on a fence post in f18 at the rear of Mosslands farm this evening.
Not much else apart from 3 Buzzards over and still plenty of Swallows about feeding over the fields.

Whinchat along Nook Lane this morning, along the fence by the pipeline.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

This morning in hedgerows around Tyldesley Sewage Works:

3 Spotted Flycatcher
1 Reed Warbler
1 Treecreeper

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Two hours tonight around the farm produced no owls

Only bird of note to add to the list of usuals was two skylarks, lots of swallows, meadow pipits, goldfinch, nice flock of mistle thrush, two great tit, 2 kestrel and one sparrowhawk who almost flew into me as i was in bushes hiding hoping for an owl fly by, and who said birders are mad

out of interest the owl was seen near woodbarn farm

ah well cant say i did not try, i walked from rindle road to astley road to woolden moss and all around it, back to twlelve yards road and down towards barton moss and back again, my feet are still aching, i gave it a good try, i did get rewarded with the owl instead, better than nowt

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Sorry Dennis. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew south towards Croxdens late evening tonight after being flushed accidentally (as we didn't know it was there!) from where it was perhaps roosting

---

Dennis atherton wrote:

---

covered late this afternoon to early evening woolden moss and twelve yards road


No sign of any marsh harrier today, lots of sightings of buzzards, must be minimum of 3 pairs, 5 kestrels, 1 sparrowhawk, large flocks of mistle thrush, meadow pipits and goldfinch, also willow warbler, great spotted woodie, i jay, still a few swallows and house martins about,


saving the best till last seven o clock at the first farm down the road, about a mile down twelve yards road from the astley road junction walking towards barton moss direction, the farm on the right as you walk down a large owl flew down the track of the long eared or short eared type, sorry but only a quick glimpse and not enough for a positive ID, spent a further hour trying to relocate with no joy, superb sight as it came down straight at me then saw me and flew over the bushes out of sight

---

Thats were tha sneaked off too-twichin short eared owls ont mosssi thi ont rucks -Compo

Sorry Dennis. A juvenile Marsh Harrier flew south towards Croxdens late evening tonight after being flushed accidentally (as we didn't know it was there!) from where it was perhaps roosting

covered late this afternoon to early evening woolden moss and twelve yards road


No sign of any marsh harrier today, lots of sightings of buzzards, must be minimum of 3 pairs, 5 kestrels, 1 sparrowhawk, large flocks of mistle thrush, meadow pipits and goldfinch, also willow warbler, great spotted woodie, i jay, still a few swallows and house martins about,


saving the best till last seven o clock at the first farm down the road, about a mile down twelve yards road from the astley road junction walking towards barton moss direction, the farm on the right as you walk down a large owl flew down the track of the long eared or short eared type, sorry but only a quick glimpse and not enough for a positive ID, spent a further hour trying to relocate with no joy, superb sight as it came down straight at me then saw me and flew over the bushes out of sight

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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There has been no access to the pools due to this reason for the past few months Ian, other than the two people authorised by the sand plant management and Salford Council.

---

I beg to differ Ian, I know of at least one other "unauthorised" visitor

There has been no access to the pools due to this reason for the past few months Ian, other than the two people authorised by the sand plant management and Salford Council.

Adult female Marsh Harrier present late morning, flew the length of the peat pools
and then onto Worsley moss.
Also 2 Green Sandpipers & a single juvenile Ringed Plover present.
Please note: the access pathway has been cut in two due
to the on-going gas pipline work.
Cheers
Ian

6-8.45pm

Yellow wagtail, RL Partridge and 4 BH Gulls in field 24
5 Willow warblers along the path leading to the Ringing pits
40+ Goldfinch over f38
In f63 the large round rolls of recently cut crops made an excellent perch for a young Buzzard who kept swooping into the short stubble and was successful in catching 3 small rodents. Also in the same field was a small head bobbing about which turned out to be a Little owl catching bugs.

Lots of recently released Pheasants in f60 and f59
Buzzard over Rindle road
2 Pied wagtails on the feeding track
6 young Pheasants in the old school yard just before the humpbacked bridge over the canal.

A beautiful sunset this evening.

Cadishead Moss:

Late morning in field behind Woolden View farm - 254 LBBG's (mostly juveniles and sub-adults) and 75 BHG's

Yesterday - 1000+ Starlings around pig pens

-- Edited by Mike Baron on Sunday 22nd of August 2010 03:47:07 PM

Two spotted Flycatchers by Allwood Farm off Moss Lane early afternoon. Also 14 Stock Doves.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 22nd of August 2010 12:55:59 PM

7-8am
Astley moss
100's of Pheasants in the fields this morning after being released ready for the shooting season.
2 GS Woodpeckers and a Sparrowhawk in Rindle woods
2 Grey partridge in the potato field
Green sandpiper at the ponds
12 Linnets
3 Yellowhammers
Kestrel

A bit quiet so I went to Pennington

A Buzzard was carrying prey over the M62 this evening near the Astley road bridge.

Judith Smith wrote:

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The immature Marsh Harrier was again on Little Woolden Moss mid afternoon (info thanks to Dave Steel)

---

I take it this immature is a different individual from the adult female which was present at Astley Moss East again this evening and has now been in the area for nearly two months?

Hepzibah, and Ebenezer, too - our forefathers were biblical folk. In Bury a lot of farms have OT names as well...

The immature Marsh Harrier was again on Little Woolden Moss mid afternoon (info thanks to Dave Steel)