ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
IANMOFFAT1 said
Tue Nov 17 1:09 PM, 2009
Hi Steve Whooper swans still feeding on field 9 at mid-day. Spilt into 2 family groups, 2 ad + 6 juv & 2 ad + 4 juv. Turn off 12yrs rd at Bartonmoss farm towards the railway & Manor farm, go past the metal barns, next field on your left is field 9. Good luck Ian.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Nov 16 7:44 PM, 2009
A quick check for the Whoopers in fading light this evening but no sign!
Steven Nelson said
Sun Nov 15 9:22 PM, 2009
Super record of the Whoopers Ian - I'll have to try to get down there.
I managed a quick walk along Twelve Yards Road this afternoon:
70+ Lapwing flushed from f23 by a helicopter 23 Fieldfare over f52 30+ Chaffinch and a few Yellowhammer in flock in f12
IANMOFFAT1 said
Sun Nov 15 8:55 PM, 2009
Hi Mike Checked out your Whooper swan sighting today and there they were, 16th Nov. The family of 8 Whooper swans on field 9(Chat moss) have been joined by a 2nd family of 2 adults & 4 juveniles making 14 Whoopers in total! Observed from 1300-1600 & still feeding close to Manor farm when i left. Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 15 3:08 PM, 2009
As a serial bird counter and notebook user (), especially of the species usually ignored by others, I can lay claim to more than my fair share of record counts in the county. Today however, was on a different plane and was truely staggering.
I'd already noticed a lot of Woodpigeons around this morning, even over Pennington as I was inspecting the rugby pitches very early this morning and then cancelling our game due to it being unplayable A visit to the Peat pools at Astley before midday coincided with what was the biggest gathering I had ever witnessed in my life. Shortly before midday I noticed a huge flock of Woodies flying in from the south-west (Astley/Chat Moss area?) and within minutes 3700 had flown into trees in the heart of Botany Bay Woods. It was soon evident that more flocks were coming in from the same direction including three impressive flocks of almost a thousand birds each. Birds kept coming and coming until all of a sudden, around 12:45, they stopped and no more were seen. I waited a while and made my way back towards the old railway track whereupon a massive flock of 3000 birds flew very low over my head coming in from the west! They were quickly followed by a further flock of 2000, also witnessed by Ian Woosey who was along Nook Lane at the time. Despite hanging around for any further flocks by 1:45 all but ones and two flying over were left.
In a period of 2 hours an incredible 14,100 Woodpigeons had made their way into the roost in the heart of the woods. Fortunately there was no shooting in the there today though but one can only guess as to how many had entered the roost before I got there or might come in later on in the afternoon.
Mike hirst said
Mon Nov 9 2:29 PM, 2009
9-45am to 12-30pm cold but bright Irlam, Chat and springfield mosses.
nice suprise in field 9 , 8 whoopers (2 adults & 6 juveniles) took off at 10-45 but relocated later on the peat pools north of f52 at 11-30. At last I got the stonechats, on a wood dump on s.w. corner of f44 near Hephzibah farm. Other sightings were :- 2 pair willow tit 1 GSW fem. 5 yellowhammer (2 adult, 3 imm.) 1 buzzard 3 kestrel 10 fieldfare 6 mistle thrush c30 mpipits 6 pied wag. lots of finches (no brambling yet) usual hedgerow birds and usual covids and pigeons. 8 grey partridge from f10 to f7
Mike
Paul Heaton said
Mon Nov 9 8:28 AM, 2009
Sorry Ian, sometimes I just forget things
Apologises for that fact I am a headbanger
Keep looking at the website, it gives you access details so you can...........
Keep Birding
brandon mulhern said
Sun Nov 8 9:27 PM, 2009
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Head...wall...bang...
doh!!!
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Nov 8 9:19 PM, 2009
Judith Smith wrote:
Canny birds, Pheasants. They obviously know it's illegal to discharge a firearm within 50ft of a public road or footpath!
smarter than the average farmer then...
Judith Smith said
Sun Nov 8 9:13 PM, 2009
Canny birds, Pheasants. They obviously know it's illegal to discharge a firearm within 50ft of a public road or footpath!
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 8 9:04 PM, 2009
the full details of the bridge closure were on the county notice board on the website ages ago (and was where they should be rather than on here as details then don't get 'lost' under a mass of other posting), long before any details appeared on this forum. Of course the question is, what website?
Head...wall...bang...
Dave Thacker said
Sun Nov 8 8:12 PM, 2009
Paul The work should be finished this month. Access to Rindle road means you have to carry on down the A580 towards Liverpool, past the turn off for the moss and take the next left after going over the bridge.This is the old tip road and following it will bring you out at the roundabout near the canal bridge.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Nov 8 8:10 PM, 2009
Paul Heaton wrote:
Unable to get to Rindle road today, road block on canal at Higher green road, anyone know how long this is here for?
Judith Smith wrote: (on 28 September)
Just to inform those who don't know that Higher Green Lane (becomes Rindle Road) is closed at the canal bridge for 6 weeks from today. Access to the area S of the canal, from the East Lancs Rd for is via the tip road, about a mile further west.
Paul Heaton said
Sun Nov 8 7:58 PM, 2009
Unable to get to Rindle road today, road block on canal at Higher green road, anyone know how long this is here for?
Dave Thacker said
Sun Nov 8 6:51 PM, 2009
Rindle road 12.30-13.15pm
Good size flock of Tree sparrows 27+ near the feeding area. 7 Goldfinches 6 Chaffinch 6 Field fare in the horse paddock 2 Buzzards 5 Kestrels 1 Jay
Lots of shooting around the moss caused around 50 Pheasant to run along Rindle road, not much else about so I went to see the GND at Hollingworth Lake.
Mike hirst said
Fri Nov 6 3:14 PM, 2009
9-45am to 12-30pm cold, damp and murky Irlam and Chat mosses
Cutnook end. 30 fieldfare in Rasberry lane hedgerow, 2 pied wag. in field 11 fieldfare f10 hedgerow. Most fields have large pools of water and have attracted some gulls, 32 imm. black head in f5, c50 in f44. 1 kestrel over.
12 yards road lots of chaffinch, greenfinch. 2 yellowhammer.
woodbarn farm lane 2 willow tits, mixed flock - LT tits,blue and great tits, 1 pied wag, 1 jay, 2 sparrowhawks in the air together.
Springfield In potato field next to motorway, c150 fieldfare incl. some mistle thrush and 3 redwing seen (could be more) and c100 starling. Sparrowhawk sent them up so was able to get an approx. count.
general. In the fields where there was stubble good nos. of crow, magpie and pigeon are about and also a few pheasant, all the usual hedgerow birds were seen, the wrens being very vocal today. I hung around f16 for a while but no sign of the stonechats, to be expected as it was pretty cold. A better day than I anticipated for all that.
Mike
Steven Nelson said
Fri Oct 30 4:40 PM, 2009
2.30pm - 4.00pm
Irlam Moss: No sign of the Stonechats in f16 20 Mistle Thrushes feeding on the turf in f3 2 Redwing + 2 Fieldfare together flying N over f44 2 parties of Long tailed tits in Dixon's Wood Tree Sparrows heard as usual around Birch View Farm - but couldn't see them 13 Lesser Redpolls in Birch trees between Woodbarn & Birch View Farms
Croxten: 60+ Snipe 1 Jack Snipe 40+ Fieldfare 1 Kestrel 21 Shoveler flying over west was unusual a few Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits 1 Blackbird
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 30th of October 2009 04:43:03 PM
Mike Baron said
Fri Oct 30 1:56 PM, 2009
Had a mooch around New Moss Wood at lunch. Initially very quiet with 11 Goldfinches, Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 fly over Skylarks being main sightings. Just as I arrived back at the car a large tit flock moved through across the path consisting of:
31 Long-tailed Tits 13 Blue Tits 12 Great Tits 4 Willow Tits plus at least 8 or 9 birds unidentified
2 Tree Sparrows on wires off Woolden Road nr junction with New Moss Road
11 Teal in Glaze Brook where it flows under Woolden Rd
Steven Nelson said
Mon Oct 26 7:12 PM, 2009
4.00pm - 4.50pm
2 Stonechats still in west end f16 west of Woodbarn Farm on the fences 1 Lapwing - f16 3 Buzzards - 2 flew into Black Wood, 1 flew over f12 1 Kestrel - along Twelve Yards Rd
Dave Thacker said
Sun Oct 18 6:18 PM, 2009
Rindle road feeding station this afternoon
9 Yellowhammers 6 Tree sparrows 4 Chaffinch 1 Coal tit
18 Jays flying around Sparrowhawk over Mixed flock of Redwings and Starlings sat on the wires.
5 Linnets in a flock with 15+ Goldfinches along Moss lane.
Mike hirst said
Mon Oct 12 6:12 PM, 2009
10am to mid-day cool and sunny Irlam and Chat mosses
Hedgerows were pretty busy with all the usual stuff but most of the fields were suprisingly empty, even the crows and pigeons were very low counts. In f7 at a farmers dump there were 6 grey partridge, 5 dunnock, 3 pied wag, 1 grey wag and a robin. f8 had 2 buzzards in the air and f9 1 sparrowhawk. 12 yards road had several flocks of L.T. tits along with blue and great tits. In the western irrigation ditch 0f f11 there were a family of 4 grey wags. and 2 jays in the woods, 6 pheasant in the field (east side).
Mike
Ian Woosey said
Sun Oct 11 3:43 PM, 2009
11/10/09 Early afternoon
Astley Moss, from Nook Lane to Olive Mount Farm:
1 Peregrine over Rindle Farm 7 Buzzard (3 over Red Challis, the others over the SSSI) 2 Sparrowhawk 3 Kestrel 4 Tree Sparrows in bushes opposite Rindle fishing pond 2 Grey Partridge 4 Redwing 17 Mistle Thrush 14 Collared Doves on wires near the peat works 2 Yellowhammer 4 Linnet 3 Pied Wagtail.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Oct 10 7:01 PM, 2009
Seen from Rindle road this afternoon,
14 Buzzards and a Peregrine in the air at the same time.
11 of the Buzzards were over the peat works and were joined by the Peregrine. The other 3 Buzzards were over Bedford moss.
Also small numbers of Redwings were sat on the wires with the Starlings.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Oct 9 8:36 PM, 2009
That area around Woodbarn Farm is a fairly regular site for them. Sometimes 1 or 2 can hang around for a few weeks through autumn - winter. They like all the fence posts around there. However, I didn't see any last winter here!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 9th of October 2009 08:37:03 PM
Mike hirst said
Fri Oct 9 3:22 PM, 2009
Thanks Jonathan I'll have a good look around there.
Mike
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Oct 9 1:07 PM, 2009
Mike hirst wrote:
Hi Johathan, Thats really good news about the stonechats, I thought we had lost them as I had not seen one since last autumn. Where on 12 yards did you see them? I will look even more carefully from now on. Regards Mike
Hi Mike,
Looking at a map - just before Woodbarn Farm coming from Astley Road, on my way back they were not far from the beeches back towards Astley Road.
Cheers
Mike hirst said
Thu Oct 8 8:00 PM, 2009
Hi Johathan, Thats really good news about the stonechats, I thought we had lost them as I had not seen one since last autumn. Where on 12 yards did you see them? I will look even more carefully from now on. Regards Mike
Judith Smith said
Thu Oct 8 7:59 PM, 2009
Sadly, a young Kestrel taken into care at a farm on Rindle Rd today, was found to have completely sheared its wing off, probably as a result of a wire hit. I picked it up and met the RSPCA ACO nearby who put it out of its misery. Whilst waiting for the ACO, I had a walk around Rindle Wood and onto the SSSI - very very quiet, just 1 Willow Tit.
Jonathan Platt said
Thu Oct 8 7:38 PM, 2009
Two stonechats on Twelve Yards Road this evening around 5.30pm.
Mike hirst said
Thu Oct 8 4:18 PM, 2009
9-15am to mid-day. Chat moss and little Woolden moss Bright but cool start.
Lots of birds about this morning. f44 - mixed flock, mpipits,greenfinch and chaffinch. f23 - little owl on woodpile behind barn. f20 - the biggest flock of pied wags I have ever seen c200 in the field and surrounding hedgerows + chaffinch, blackbird, magpies and 1 buzzard. Astley road hedgerows held wrens, robins, blackbirds, L.T., blue and great tits, a pair of GSW's and a good few mistle thrushes in the treetops. There was 1 kestrel on the telephone wires. 12 yards road was very quiet with 1 buzzard in f12, along with some yellowhammer and mpipits. Amixed flock of chaffinch and linnet in f14. A big suprise was 4 shellducks on moss farm fishing pool.
Mike
Steve Suttill said
Thu Oct 8 9:51 AM, 2009
Steve Atkins wrote: Whoever posted the Osprey sighting on Birdguides could not possibly have been a Manc birder as they have mixed up the 100km square prefix, using SD instead of SJ.
I'm prepared to accept donations of cash (sorry, I should have said "donations to the Bird Atlas Fund") not to reveal the names of those who have entered wrong grid refs!
I'm also prepared to admit I've done it myself
Steve
Steven Nelson said
Wed Oct 7 9:16 PM, 2009
So it was indeed near Woodstock Farm. - cheers Ian! We're only jealous of this excellant record on my local patch !
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 6 10:27 PM, 2009
Either way, the observer has very kindly contacted me and the bird was indeed on Chat/Irlam Moss, along 12 yards road in between fields 12 and 14.
Steven Nelson said
Tue Oct 6 8:52 PM, 2009
Hi Steve
I think you've almost hit the nail on the head. However, to test your theory I changed the SD to SJ with the same grid ref number and it actually takes you to Carrington Moss at the back of Partington - Red Brook to be precise ! The plot thickens !!!
So the observer either: 1) thinks Carrington Moss is Irlam Moss ! or 2) can't work out where he was on a map ! or 3) really was in Cumbria !!!!
we may never find out!
Steve Atkins said
Tue Oct 6 8:01 PM, 2009
Steven Nelson wrote:
Report on Birdguides today of an Osprey on a post behind some horse paddocks on 'the farm' on Irlam Moss at 07.30 this morning before flying off north. The report gave a grid reference but when I checked it out on the OS website it came up somewhere near Sedbergh in Cumbria! I suspect 'the farm' could have been Woodstock Farm off Twelve Yards Rd.
On my visit between 11.30am and 12.30pm was quiet but saw: 1 Willow Warbler opposite Woodstock Farm 2 Buzzards 2 Kestrel 2 Willow Tit 10+ Meadow Pipits 3 Jay 1 Tree Sparrow 2 Reed Buntings
Hi Steven,
Whoever posted the Osprey sighting on Birdguides could not possibly have been a Manc birder as they have mixed up the 100km square prefix, using SD instead of SJ. As every Manc birder knows there are four 100km squares that intersect in GM, SD to the north of the city centre, SJ to the south, SE in the east (parts of Oldham and Rochdale) and a tiny bit of SK along the eastern edge of Tameside and Stockport. Steve Suttill and I were only discussing this very problem by email this evening. So if you are submitting records for the Bird Atlas please check your prefixes. Otherwise that lovely pair of Reed Warblers breeding in the Wigan Flashes could end up in Shropshire, or even worse that pair of Corn Buntings on Carrington Moss could end up on Baugh Fell in Cumbria. They've got enough birds of their own without pinching ours.
Steve
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 4 7:21 PM, 2009
Steven Nelson wrote:
Report on Birdguides today of an Osprey on a post behind some horse paddocks on 'the farm' on Irlam Moss at 07.30 this morning before flying off north. The report gave a grid reference but when I checked it out on the OS website it came up somewhere near Sedbergh in Cumbria! I suspect 'the farm' could have been Woodstock Farm off Twelve Yards Rd.
I received this info on my Birdnet pager this morning and was just about to ask for any information when I saw Steve's post.
Either way, if anyone has any info on this sighting (and someone reported it to the information services), particularly the observer involved then please get in touch with me privately please.
Cheers.
Steven Nelson said
Sun Oct 4 5:45 PM, 2009
Report on Birdguides today of an Osprey on a post behind some horse paddocks on 'the farm' on Irlam Moss at 07.30 this morning before flying off north. The report gave a grid reference but when I checked it out on the OS website it came up somewhere near Sedbergh in Cumbria! I suspect 'the farm' could have been Woodstock Farm off Twelve Yards Rd.
On my visit between 11.30am and 12.30pm was quiet but saw: 1 Willow Warbler opposite Woodstock Farm 2 Buzzards 2 Kestrel 2 Willow Tit 10+ Meadow Pipits 3 Jay 1 Tree Sparrow 2 Reed Buntings
Dave Thacker said
Sun Oct 4 3:34 PM, 2009
Around Rindle road today
Stonechat on the dung heap in f69 A Buzzard sat on a post in the same field 6 other Buzzards in the air together over f68 and the peat works 2 Tree Sparrows 7 Goldfinch Chiffchaff still calling from Rindle woods 9 Jays 1 Song thrush over 2 Snipe over
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 1 9:59 PM, 2009
8 Tree Sparrows in fields just south of the A580 East Lancs near Morleys Hall Farm in Astley today with 11 more in stubble fields with a mixed flock of finches near the old Tyldesley Sewage Works.
Info thanks to Andy Isherwood
Mike hirst said
Mon Sep 28 4:05 PM, 2009
9-30 to 12-15 drizzle an d a bit breezy, Irlam moss - Cutnook end.
First visit for a couple of months due to work commitments. Most of the crops are done and there is plenty of stubble, some re-ploughing has been done and 2 of these fields (f6 and f11)held good numbers of birds, f6 c50 pied wag., linnet and chaffinch, f11 c250 of the same +greenfinches. It was also a good day for buzzards(2 pair and 4 singles) and kestrels (4) and 1 sparrowhawk. the lanes held all the usual tits ,robins, blackies etc. Only 1 mistle thrush (usually a lot more), and no yellowhammers seen but 2 heard on other side of thick hedge. Almost forgot, 33 canada's in f5.
Mike
-- Edited by Mike hirst on Monday 28th of September 2009 04:14:41 PM
Judith Smith said
Mon Sep 28 11:38 AM, 2009
Just to inform those who don't know that Higher Green Lane (becomes Rindle Road) is closed at the canal bridge for 6 weeks from today. Access to the area S of the canal, from the East Lancs Rd for is via the tip road, about a mile further west.
Steven Nelson said
Sun Sep 27 9:02 PM, 2009
Tawny Owl calling somewhere from Botany Bay Woods this evening. Also 90-100 Canada's coming into roost at Astley Peat Pools.
Dave Thacker said
Fri Sep 25 6:57 PM, 2009
A Merlin flew over Boag farm on Chat moss late this afternoon
Ian Woosey said
Sun Sep 20 2:14 PM, 2009
20/9/09 Late morning
7 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks in the air together over Astley Moss.
Rindle Road area :
28 House Martins >SE 11 Mistle Thrushes 10 Pied Wagtails Jays well into double figures, mostly to~ing and fro~ing round Rindle Wood Willow Tit near Messuages Farm.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Sep 19 8:59 PM, 2009
This evening along Rindle road, It was like the wild west tonight with lots of guns about Lots of birds flying over including; 65 Canada geese over, unfortunately they were shot at 5 times before landing near Croxdens. 8 Mallard 3 Tufted ducks 2 Green sandpipers 1 Snipe 1 GS Woodpecker 1 Swallow 3 Buzzards Chiffchaff and Tawny owl heard from Rindle woods 2 Grey partridge in f67
Barn owl seen sat on a large tree lay on its side in the horse paddock along Moss lane
Little owl hunting beetles on Astley road next to the narrow boat on Chat moss
Another Barn owl seen flying across the entrance to Barton airport
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 16 4:30 PM, 2009
2:30pm today
13 Buzzards in and around field 69, including 4 juveniles spending much time interacting at close range to me and generally hanging around in the wind (hovering a lot!) 2 Ravens flew over from the north, dropped into field 67 briefly then carried on south over the railway.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Sep 12 9:16 PM, 2009
2 juvenile Yellow wagtails in f23 2 Little owls hunting along Astley road near Olive mount farm 3 Kestrels hunting in f67 and f69 near Rindle road even while the tractors were working in the fields. All 3 made kills while I watched.
At 19.50 two small skeins [20 & 32] of Pink footed geese attempted to land in f63 but were disturbed by a shotgun firing at them. The 20 headed West while the 32 went East and were shot at twice more as they flew over f61 and f65.
Plenty of wildlife along Astley road this evening which I will post on the Manchester Wildlife website.
Judith Smith said
Mon Sep 7 10:39 PM, 2009
I have seen Noctules at dusk moving purposefully across Chat Moss heading for (presumably) Pennington Flash. They will travel a long way to feed.
David Winnard said
Mon Sep 7 10:32 PM, 2009
Hi Steve,
the Manchester Wildlife website is having a re vamp at the moment so the information is not easily accessible - though the sightings forum is fully working. From the sound of it it would probably be a Noctule, much bigger than pips.
As usual all the wildlife sightings in Manchester from the link below
Dave
Steven Nelson said
Mon Sep 7 9:47 PM, 2009
Cheers Ian. I had a look and I think it could be a Noctule Bat going of size descriptions and frequency of sightings around GM but difficult to be 100% certain.
Whooper swans still feeding on field 9 at mid-day.
Spilt into 2 family groups, 2 ad + 6 juv & 2 ad + 4 juv.
Turn off 12yrs rd at Bartonmoss farm towards the railway
& Manor farm, go past the metal barns, next field on your left is field 9.
Good luck
Ian.
I managed a quick walk along Twelve Yards Road this afternoon:
70+ Lapwing flushed from f23 by a helicopter
23 Fieldfare over f52
30+ Chaffinch and a few Yellowhammer in flock in f12
Checked out your Whooper swan sighting today and there they were, 16th Nov.
The family of 8 Whooper swans on field 9(Chat moss) have been joined by a 2nd
family of 2 adults & 4 juveniles making 14 Whoopers in total!
Observed from 1300-1600 & still feeding close to Manor farm when i left.
Cheers Ian
I'd already noticed a lot of Woodpigeons around this morning, even over Pennington as I was inspecting the rugby pitches very early this morning and then cancelling our game due to it being unplayable
In a period of 2 hours an incredible 14,100 Woodpigeons had made their way into the roost in the heart of the woods. Fortunately there was no shooting in the there today though but one can only guess as to how many had entered the roost before I got there or might come in later on in the afternoon.
nice suprise in field 9 , 8 whoopers (2 adults & 6 juveniles) took off at 10-45 but relocated later on the peat pools north of f52 at 11-30. At last I got the stonechats, on a wood dump on s.w. corner of f44 near Hephzibah farm. Other sightings were :-
2 pair willow tit
1 GSW fem.
5 yellowhammer (2 adult, 3 imm.)
1 buzzard
3 kestrel 10 fieldfare
6 mistle thrush
c30 mpipits
6 pied wag.
lots of finches (no brambling yet)
usual hedgerow birds and usual covids and pigeons.
8 grey partridge from f10 to f7
Mike
Apologises for that fact I am a headbanger
Keep looking at the website, it gives you access details so you can...........
Keep Birding
doh!!!
smarter than the average farmer then...
Head...wall...bang...
The work should be finished this month. Access to Rindle road means you have to carry on down the A580 towards Liverpool, past the turn off for the moss and take the next left after going over the bridge.This is the old tip road and following it will bring you out at the roundabout near the canal bridge.
Good size flock of Tree sparrows 27+ near the feeding area.
7 Goldfinches
6 Chaffinch
6 Field fare in the horse paddock
2 Buzzards
5 Kestrels
1 Jay
Lots of shooting around the moss caused around 50 Pheasant to run along Rindle road, not much else about so I went to see the GND at Hollingworth Lake.
Cutnook end.
30 fieldfare in Rasberry lane hedgerow, 2 pied wag. in field
11 fieldfare f10 hedgerow. Most fields have large pools of water and have attracted some gulls, 32 imm. black head in f5, c50 in f44. 1 kestrel over.
12 yards road
lots of chaffinch, greenfinch. 2 yellowhammer.
woodbarn farm lane
2 willow tits, mixed flock - LT tits,blue and great tits, 1 pied wag, 1 jay, 2 sparrowhawks in the air together.
Springfield
In potato field next to motorway, c150 fieldfare incl. some mistle thrush and 3 redwing seen (could be more) and c100 starling. Sparrowhawk sent them up so was able to get an approx. count.
general.
In the fields where there was stubble good nos. of crow, magpie and pigeon are about and also a few pheasant, all the usual hedgerow birds were seen, the wrens being very vocal today. I hung around f16 for a while but no sign of the stonechats, to be expected as it was pretty cold. A better day than I anticipated for all that.
Mike
Irlam Moss:
No sign of the Stonechats in f16
20 Mistle Thrushes feeding on the turf in f3
2 Redwing + 2 Fieldfare together flying N over f44
2 parties of Long tailed tits in Dixon's Wood
Tree Sparrows heard as usual around Birch View Farm - but couldn't see them
13 Lesser Redpolls in Birch trees between Woodbarn & Birch View Farms
Croxten:
60+ Snipe
1 Jack Snipe
40+ Fieldfare
1 Kestrel
21 Shoveler flying over west was unusual
a few Reed Buntings and Meadow Pipits
1 Blackbird
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 30th of October 2009 04:43:03 PM
31 Long-tailed Tits
13 Blue Tits
12 Great Tits
4 Willow Tits
plus at least 8 or 9 birds unidentified
2 Tree Sparrows on wires off Woolden Road nr junction with New Moss Road
11 Teal in Glaze Brook where it flows under Woolden Rd
4.00pm - 4.50pm
2 Stonechats still in west end f16 west of Woodbarn Farm on the fences
1 Lapwing - f16
3 Buzzards - 2 flew into Black Wood, 1 flew over f12
1 Kestrel - along Twelve Yards Rd
9 Yellowhammers
6 Tree sparrows
4 Chaffinch
1 Coal tit
18 Jays flying around
Sparrowhawk over
Mixed flock of Redwings and Starlings sat on the wires.
5 Linnets in a flock with 15+ Goldfinches along Moss lane.
Hedgerows were pretty busy with all the usual stuff but most of the fields were suprisingly empty, even the crows and pigeons were very low counts. In f7 at a farmers dump there were 6 grey partridge, 5 dunnock, 3 pied wag, 1 grey wag and a robin. f8 had 2 buzzards in the air and f9 1 sparrowhawk.
12 yards road had several flocks of L.T. tits along with blue and great tits. In the western irrigation ditch 0f f11 there were a family of 4 grey wags. and 2 jays in the woods, 6 pheasant in the field (east side).
Mike
Astley Moss, from Nook Lane to Olive Mount Farm:
1 Peregrine over Rindle Farm
7 Buzzard (3 over Red Challis, the others over the SSSI)
2 Sparrowhawk
3 Kestrel
4 Tree Sparrows in bushes opposite Rindle fishing pond
2 Grey Partridge
4 Redwing
17 Mistle Thrush
14 Collared Doves on wires near the peat works
2 Yellowhammer
4 Linnet
3 Pied Wagtail.
14 Buzzards and a Peregrine in the air at the same time.
11 of the Buzzards were over the peat works and were joined by the Peregrine. The other 3 Buzzards were over Bedford moss.
Also small numbers of Redwings were sat on the wires with the Starlings.
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 9th of October 2009 08:37:03 PM
Mike
Hi Mike,
Looking at a map - just before Woodbarn Farm coming from Astley Road, on my way back they were not far from the beeches back towards Astley Road.
Cheers
Thats really good news about the stonechats, I thought we had lost them as I had not seen one since last autumn. Where on 12 yards did you see them? I will look even more carefully from now on.
Regards
Mike
Whilst waiting for the ACO, I had a walk around Rindle Wood and onto the SSSI - very very quiet, just 1 Willow Tit.
Lots of birds about this morning.
f44 - mixed flock, mpipits,greenfinch and chaffinch.
f23 - little owl on woodpile behind barn.
f20 - the biggest flock of pied wags I have ever seen c200 in the field and surrounding hedgerows + chaffinch, blackbird, magpies and 1 buzzard.
Astley road hedgerows held wrens, robins, blackbirds, L.T., blue and great tits, a pair of GSW's and a good few mistle thrushes in the treetops. There was 1 kestrel on the telephone wires.
12 yards road was very quiet with 1 buzzard in f12, along with some yellowhammer and mpipits. Amixed flock of chaffinch and linnet in f14. A big suprise was 4 shellducks on moss farm fishing pool.
Mike
We're only jealous of this excellant record on my local patch !
I think you've almost hit the nail on the head. However, to test your theory I changed the SD to SJ with the same grid ref number and it actually takes you to Carrington Moss at the back of Partington - Red Brook to be precise ! The plot thickens !!!
So the observer either:
1) thinks Carrington Moss is Irlam Moss ! or
2) can't work out where he was on a map ! or
3) really was in Cumbria !!!!
we may never find out!
Hi Steven,
Whoever posted the Osprey sighting on Birdguides could not possibly have been a Manc birder as they have mixed up the 100km square prefix, using SD instead of SJ.
As every Manc birder knows there are four 100km squares that intersect in GM, SD to the north of the city centre, SJ to the south, SE in the east (parts of Oldham and Rochdale) and a tiny bit of SK along the eastern edge of Tameside and Stockport.
Steve Suttill and I were only discussing this very problem by email this evening. So if you are submitting records for the Bird Atlas please check your prefixes.
Otherwise that lovely pair of Reed Warblers breeding in the Wigan Flashes could end up in Shropshire, or even worse that pair of Corn Buntings on Carrington Moss could end up on Baugh Fell in Cumbria. They've got enough birds of their own without pinching ours.
Steve
I received this info on my Birdnet pager this morning and was just about to ask for any information when I saw Steve's post.
Either way, if anyone has any info on this sighting (and someone reported it to the information services
Cheers.
On my visit between 11.30am and 12.30pm was quiet but saw:
1 Willow Warbler opposite Woodstock Farm
2 Buzzards
2 Kestrel
2 Willow Tit
10+ Meadow Pipits
3 Jay
1 Tree Sparrow
2 Reed Buntings
Stonechat on the dung heap in f69
A Buzzard sat on a post in the same field
6 other Buzzards in the air together over f68 and the peat works
2 Tree Sparrows
7 Goldfinch
Chiffchaff still calling from Rindle woods
9 Jays
1 Song thrush over
2 Snipe over
Info thanks to Andy Isherwood
First visit for a couple of months due to work commitments. Most of the crops are done and there is plenty of stubble, some re-ploughing has been done and 2 of these fields (f6 and f11)held good numbers of birds, f6 c50 pied wag., linnet and chaffinch, f11 c250 of the same +greenfinches. It was also a good day for buzzards(2 pair and 4 singles) and kestrels (4) and 1 sparrowhawk. the lanes held all the usual tits ,robins, blackies etc. Only 1 mistle thrush (usually a lot more), and no yellowhammers seen but 2 heard on other side of thick hedge. Almost forgot, 33 canada's in f5.
Mike
-- Edited by Mike hirst on Monday 28th of September 2009 04:14:41 PM
7 Buzzards, 4 Kestrels and 2 Sparrowhawks in the air together over Astley Moss.
Rindle Road area :
28 House Martins >SE
11 Mistle Thrushes
10 Pied Wagtails
Jays well into double figures, mostly to~ing and fro~ing round Rindle Wood
Willow Tit near Messuages Farm.
It was like the wild west tonight with lots of guns about
Lots of birds flying over including;
65 Canada geese over, unfortunately they were shot at 5 times before landing near Croxdens.
8 Mallard
3 Tufted ducks
2 Green sandpipers
1 Snipe
1 GS Woodpecker
1 Swallow
3 Buzzards
Chiffchaff and Tawny owl heard from Rindle woods
2 Grey partridge in f67
Barn owl seen sat on a large tree lay on its side in the horse paddock along Moss lane
Little owl hunting beetles on Astley road next to the narrow boat on Chat moss
Another Barn owl seen flying across the entrance to Barton airport
13 Buzzards in and around field 69, including 4 juveniles spending much time interacting at close range to me and generally hanging around in the wind (hovering a lot!)
2 Ravens flew over from the north, dropped into field 67 briefly then carried on south over the railway.
2 Little owls hunting along Astley road near Olive mount farm
3 Kestrels hunting in f67 and f69 near Rindle road even while the tractors were working in the fields. All 3 made kills while I watched.
At 19.50 two small skeins [20 & 32] of Pink footed geese attempted to land in f63 but were disturbed by a shotgun firing at them. The 20 headed West while the 32 went East and were shot at twice more as they flew over f61 and f65.
Plenty of wildlife along Astley road this evening which I will post on the Manchester Wildlife website.
the Manchester Wildlife website is having a re vamp at the moment so the information is not easily accessible - though the sightings forum is fully working. From the sound of it it would probably be a Noctule, much bigger than pips.
As usual all the wildlife sightings in Manchester from the link below
Dave
I had a look and I think it could be a Noctule Bat going of size descriptions and frequency of sightings around GM but difficult to be 100% certain.