Late afternoon

Cuckoo back of field 69
Corn Bunting singing on wires in field 67
1 Whimbrel in field 68 plus nearby:

Garden Warbler (opposite pond)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
4 Yellowhammers
1 Tree Sparrow
7 Lesser Redpolls
2 Blackcaps (1 female)
1 Whitethroat
4 Willow Warblers

4.30 - 5.00 today:

still 2 Whimbrel and Cuckoo in F69 (cuckoo on fence post)

Garden Warbler singing and showing well in the hedge between the new houses and the fishing pond.

11 Stock Dove, 4 Wheatear, 1 White Wagtail, 2 RL Partridge, 4 Mistle Thrush, 4 Sand Martin, 2 Swallow in F68

1pm-2:20pm today

2 Whimbrel field 69
2 Curlew field 69
2 Red-legged Partridge field 69
Cuckoo showing well flying around the fields in between field 69 and the SSSI
4 Yelowhammer
2 Tree Sparrow
and best of all a single singing Corn Bunting in the hedgerow alongside field 69, a very rare occurence indeed on the north side of the railway

Good to see you again too Melanie and what a great place on a nice evening.
Similar sightings to everybody else except teasingly heard the Cuckoo & Grasshopper Warbler but didn't see,and didn't here a Lesser Whitethroat sadly.
Also had 6 Wheatear in field 68 and 2 willow tit by the field and a flock of over 20 Lesser Redpoll and a Bullfinch around the end of the feeding path/Rindle Wood.
A good night for songs & calls with all the above and Whitethroat, Willow Tit, Blackcap, Curlew, Yellowhammer, Willow Warblers and Coal Tit with the usual Tits, Chaffinches and Blackbirds making a delightful atmospheric, evening in the sun.
I must make a return visit for the Cuckoo!
Cheers
Steve

At Rindle Road with my birding class this evening,saw most of the birds on Declan and Phil's posts.
Never saw the Cuckoo but plenty of calls,great views of a male Wheatear and finally Grasshopper Warbler (L) at Nook Lane Junction......nice to see Steve Collins

In addition to Phil's sightings (nice to meet you by the way), I saw/ heard :

Lesser Whitethroat singing at the back of F69

F68: 11 Wheatear, 3 more Whimbrel, 1 Curlew, 2 Oystercatcher, 4 Stock Dove,
1 fem Kestrel, 2 Grey + 4 RL Partridge, , c 20 Sand Martins.

Rindle Road this evening
Cuckoo single bird over Rindle Wood

Field 69
1 Whimbrel
2 Mistle Thrush
7 Lapwing

Fields next to 69
Another single Whimbrel
1 Wheater
2 Song Thrush
1 Pied Wagtail

Rindle Woods
1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker
2 Lesser Redpoll
Willow Warbler

Nook Lane Junction
Grasshopper Warbler reeling
Willow Warbler

Moss Lane
2 Whitethroat
2 Wheatear in the Horse Paddock

3 Cuckoo around Rindle road this evening including 2 in and around field 69 and 1 in field 68.
2 more were calling at the end of Moss lane.

Also in f69

2 Whimbrel
2 Curlew
2 Oystercatchers
4 RL Partridge
1 Buzzard
6 Lapwing
7 Stock doves

Irlam Moss (yesterday 11.15am - 12.15pm) - wet !!

2 Wheatear (m & f) in f12
3 Whitethroat along Twelve Yards Rd next to f12
Quite a few singing Yellowhammers around

Phil Mansfield wrote:

---

8.00 to 9.20am

Cuckoo flew across Rindle Road and into field 68 area, another then on fence posts in field 69.

2 Whimbrel in field by ploughed potato field
Also single Wheatear
2 Skylark

Lesser Whitethoat worked its way down bramble fence next to field 69 before flying over the railway lines.

Corner of Nook Lane
Grasshopper Warbler
Whitethroat - being chased around by Goldfinch
Willow Warbler

Moss Lane
9 Wheatear in total - 5 in field with potato? growing, 4 in ploughed field over road.
Also 2 Oystercatcher, another or the same Cuckoo as above calling but not seen.

---

In addition to these birds, from approx 7.30am me and my dad saw 2 Curlew in same field as Whimbrel, and we heard three different Whitethroat along Rindle Road.

8.00 to 9.20am

Cuckoo flew across Rindle Road and into field 68 area, another then on fence posts in field 69.

2 Whimbrel in field by ploughed potato field
Also single Wheatear
2 Skylark

Lesser Whitethoat worked its way down bramble fence next to field 69 before flying over the railway lines.

Corner of Nook Lane
Grasshopper Warbler
Whitethroat - being chased around by Goldfinch
Willow Warbler

Moss Lane
9 Wheatear in total - 5 in field with potato? growing, 4 in ploughed field over road.
Also 2 Oystercatcher, another or the same Cuckoo as above calling but not seen.

No Cuckoo again this evening

Field 69
2 Whimbrel
Buzzard
4 RL Partridge
2 Grey Partridge
Willow tit

In the ploughed fields behind Rindle wood
Another 5 Whimbrel
2 Curlew
2 Oystercatchers
1 Wheatear
2 Song thrush
1 Mistle thrush
2 Skylarks
2 Kestrels

Bedford moss
Buzzard
2 Canada geese over

7.00-8.30pm Rindle Road area

3 Whimbrel in field next to now ploughed potato field, also in same field 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Song Thrush

Field 69
4 Mistle Thrush
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard - flyover

The Grasshopper Warbler still reeling at the corner of Nook Lane - gave the briefest of views.

Down Moss Lane single male Wheatear and 3 Oystercatcher.

Like Dave last night no Cuckoo heard or seen tonight.

1000-1130

3 Whimbrel
Curlew
2 Oystercatcher

Grasshopper Warbler reeling opposite the junction of Nook lane.

Cuckoo calling but not seen.

6.45-8.20pm

No Cuckoo seen or heard this evening

Field 69
1 Whimbrel joined by 2 more later as I was leaving.
2 Oystercatchers

3 Curlew in the potato fields and also calling from f68
2 GS Woodpeckers over
14 Herons over

Gropper calling but not seen opposite the junction of Nook lane.

It was good to meet up with Dave Benson tonight at Rindle road. We have not met up together for over 30 years when we were both members of the old Swinton and District Naturalist Club and used to go birdwatching on the mosses

-- Edited by Dave Thacker on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 08:11:58 PM

first trip here for us on way to Pennington Flash. Was bit misty when we arrived but turned out fine.
2 heron nr fishing pond
grey partridge
2 tree sparrow
2 swallow
lapwings in almost every field we looked in
2 pied wagtail
1 wren
1 kestrel
1 buzzard
on the walk to rindle wood
2 blackcap
great tit
wheatear
oh and a whimbrel in the field behind the feeding station
heard the cuckoo but impossible to see!
thanks for help of people we met and we hope Judith wasn't late for lunch!

Cuckoo still in F69 this evening at 7pm, sitting on fence post. 2 Curlew and 2 Oystercatcher in same field.

1 Whimbrel , 2 Grey Partridge and 4 White Wagtails in F68, with dozens of Sand Martins overhead.

2 Wheatear, 2 Oystercatcher, Kestrel and 2 White Wagtails on Moss Lane

Cuckoo finally clocked at 5:30PM today in trees at back of f69, sat over 1 Whimbrel in field. Thanks for the offer of the tent Dave. Had I not seen it tonight, I might have taken you up on it.

9-45 t0 midday really nice sunny morning Irlam moss - Cutnook end.

If you did not actually see a bird today you would still have enjoyed the walk. birdsong was coming at you from all sides. However I did see a few and it was a good day for wheatears in particular.

f8 6 wheatears, 8 lapwings, some crows and magpies. first whitethroat of the year showing really well in hedgerow with chaffinch and yellowhammer.
f9 2 wheatears, 2 skylarks 10 lapwing, 1 swallow, 1 corn bunting in hedgerow along with linnet, chaffinch and yellowhammer.
f12 5 wheatears, 6 mistle thrush, 2 lapwing.
Other fields held lapwings,crows,magpies and pigeons, a couple of pheasant were seen but a lot more heard, 1 grey partridge was flushed and the mallard pair turned up again in f4.
Cutnook lane was alive with all the usual tits, finches, dunnocks, wrens, robins and blackbirds and 1 buzzard soared overhead. In the wooded areas lots of willow warblers were heard (1 seen) but no chiffchaffs today and Iam a bit suprised by that.

Mike
p.s. Thanks Rob re info on Viridor wood
p.p.s Othe stonechat theme, I personally have not seen a stonechat on Irlam moss since autumn

-- Edited by Mike hirst on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 03:15:29 PM

Mike hirst wrote:

---

I saw a sign that mentioned `Viridor landfill' so is this area the Viridor wood I have seen posted on the site?.

Mike

---

Mike, the Viridor Wood you have seen mentioned on this forum is off the A58 between Ashton-in-Makerfield and Bamfurlong.
Cheers
Rob

6.15- 8.30pm

Its a hard life being a Cuckoo on the mosses , I got within 30` of one tonight as it was calling from a birch tree at the end of the feeding area track.
It took one look at me and flew up over the potato field and was immediately chased by a small flock of Yellowhammers, then 2 Lapwings joined in and finally a Kestrel chased the Cuckoo into Rindle woods and beyond.

2 Curlew also in the ploughed field next to the potato field and others calling from Chat moss

It was good to meet fellow forum member Phil Mansfield as we watched another Cuckoo and Oyster catchers. Phil also pointed out the Gropper after we had been listening for 20 minutes.

Alan, I've got an old tent if you want it

Evening wonder around Rindle Road Area

4 Tree Sparrow
2 Linnet
7 Yellowhammer
All in field 67

Heard Cuckoo and finally saw one fly over field's near field 68, had been calling from Rindle Woods area at first.

Upto 4 Oystercatcher around.

Grasshopper Warbler in scrubby field by junction with Nook Lane

Nice to meet up with you and chat Dave, Cheers

Mike wrote:
Rindle wood.
"cuckoo heard but not seen, calls were coming from Astley moss SSSI"

I think I smell a conspiracy here. Suddenly the whole world and his/her dog are finding Cuckoos on the moss. I shall have to take Mr Thacker's advice and camp out down there till I hear and see it.

9-45 to midday warm and sunny Rindle road thro' to Bedford moss

Rindle road.
Kestrel on telephone wire, yellowhammer in hedgerow plus usual tits etc.

Rindle wood.
cuckoo heard but not seen, calls were coming from Astley moss SSSI.
blackcaps seen and heard, willow warblers seen and heard but no chiffchaffs in ths area (strange) but one heard later elseware. All the usual tits and finches with song thrush, blackbird, robin, dunnock and wren in good voice.
The track was very dry so I walked thro' to Bedford moss. In next but one field to the wood - 2 oystercatchers and 4 lapwings and a bit further down the track 2 mallards in the ditch, 1 grey partridge in the undergrowth (flushed) and 2 jays over. the buzzard put in a very brief appearance and disappeared. A chiffchaff was heard but not seen. I saw a sign that mentioned `Viridor landfill' so is this area the Viridor wood I have seen posted on the site?.

Mike

l heard but couldn't locate the Cuckoo at 11.30am,in the area beyond the barn conversions.
It was beautiful to hear it call,a true sound of summer although l'm sure the hosts it was seeking don't agree
Exactly a year ago l met Dave whilst looking for Cuckoos at Rindle Road and he told me about this forum and l've never looked back...(cheesy l know...but true).
Great meeting up with you today Dave,probably see you Wednesday.
Also saw Curlews,Red Legged Partridge,Sky Lark,Snipe and Buzzard,what a great day to be out and about........luv birding,me

cheers

stuartherring wrote:

---

excuse my ignorance but what is a gropper

---

a Grasshopper Warbler

excuse my ignorance but what is a gropper

I meant it's my first Cuckoo in GM for aeons

Sorry to contradict, but I saw a Cuckoo at Elton last year.
Cheers Ian

That's where I had the Gropper, deep in the field, couldn't see it, though. Poor dad couldn't hear it.

I can imagine the Cuckoo giving you the runaround, although it showed very well for us, and then spent the best part of an hour calling all over the moss. First in GM for aeons

There was a Gropper reeling tonight on the rough field on Rindle Rd between the 2 right-angle bends.

You want to get out more Alan

Cuckoo seen perched on the telegraph pole outside Birchwood farm at 12.30pm and another seen flying over f67 and over the railway line later

2 Yellow wagtails and 2 Swallows over f69

2 pairs of Blackcaps in Rindle woods,

Nice to meet up with Melanie again who had been listening to the Cuckoos

Hi Karen
Where abouts was your Grasshopper Warbler?

Spent three hours out there this morning and couldn't find a Cuckoo. I was beginning to think Mr Thacker had imagined it.

8.30-9.30am

1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling (but not seen)

Cuckoo on top of tree in Rindle Wood (the one to the left of the one with the nest). Not sure whether there was just the one or two. If there was just one it was very flighty even calling from the other side of the railway at one stage.

First Whitethroat of the year seen too.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 19th of April 2009 05:25:18 PM

2 Yellow Wags, 1 male Golden Plover in summer plumage and 1 Wheatear in field south west of level crossing on Rindle Road at 11AM today.

Also Grasshopper Warbler singing 50 metres South East of Vicars Hall Lane Bridge over canal in Boothstown at 10AM

6 kestrel, 2 Yellowhammer and 6 Tree Sparrow Rindle Road area

2 Yellow wag and 3 White wag Irlam Moss also 12 Stock Dove

6-8pm this evening

Cuckoo heard and eventually found at 7.30pm in the top of a large Birch tree next to the white gas pipeline sign on the far side of Astley moss when looking over the potato field from the edge of Rindle wood.

Also 1 Whimbrel and 2 Curlew in field 69
7 vocal Curlews over, which came from the direction of field 68 and flew towards Chat moss.
Buzzard over being mobbed by Lapwings
3 Blackcaps in Rindle woods

10 Yellow Wagtails on a turf field near Worsley View Farm Irlam Moss, 15th (per Dave Steel)

Cuckoo calling over Astley Moss today at 18:44.

Info thanks to Dave Thacker

9-45 to midday dull and cool Springfield, astley road thro'12 yards to Cutnook

Springfield. c60 linnets, 10 lapwings, 4 mistle thrush and 1 pied wagtail

Astley road f21 c20 linnets, 6 lapwings, some crows and wood pigeons. 1 willow warbler in the lane

12 yards road. f14 chaffinch, yellowhammer, reed bunting all dropping down from hedgerow on north and south side of field.
f15 2 fieldfare
f12 2 wheatear, c20 linnets, 4 yellowhammer. 2 skylark(on ground), 4 lapwing.

Cutnook lane.
1 chiffchaff, 1 willow warbler seen, plus 3 heard and all the usual bushbirds in good song.
Generally there are skylarks and lapwings all around now. The fields at Astley road end are much further on in terms of growth than at Cutnook end so there is plenty of cover for the ground birds.There seems to be less nos. of crows and magpies at the Astley end to.

Mike

field 9 this (damp!) evening:-
3 Wheatears ! - at last I've caught up with some !!
2 Tree Sparrow
2 Buzzard
1 male Mallard

1 Kestrel - f8

2 Grey Partridge - f6

Evening walk
Field 67
Stock Dove 3
Tree Sparrow 4

Field 69
Yellowhammer 5
Meadow Pipit 1
Chaffinch 2
Mistle Thrush 1
Stock Dove 3
Buzzard - single flying over
Whitethroat - single in bushes by Rindle Woods

Potato Fields nr Rindle Woods
Curlew 2
Yellowhammer 3

By Moss Bank Farm
Single Fieldfare

Along Moss Lane
Wheatear 4 - 3 male and 1 female
Reed Bunting 1
Sand Martin 3
Lapwing 29 in one field
Grey Partridge 2

Also a few swallow, seemed like every field had own lapwing and pair of Red Legged Partridge

9-45 to midday bright but cool and blustery Irlam moss cutnook end

f4 and f5 c30 lapwings, 2 mistle thrush, 1 pheasant.
f10 2 skylarks seen in low flight, 2 lapwings.
f9 2 skylarks on ground pairing up, 4 wheatears, small nos. chaffinch, yellowhammer and reed bunting dropping from the hedgerow to the field but wind making them skittish. 2 mallard over, 3 buzzard in the air (separately). 10 lapwing, 2 mistle thrush.
f13 2 yellowhammer.
f12 2 mistle thrush.

The hedgerows held the usual tits, finches, robins, dunnocks and wrens but a bonus today was 2 willow warblers seen and several more heard, 1 chiffchaff seen and heard.
Large flocks of pigeons -wood and feral are still missing and the crow count is lower than usual, magpies no change. I have not seen kestrel or sparrowhawk for a few weeks.

Mike

I've often had counts of 10+ Wheatears in a single field so could be a local thing! I've seen the reports on this thread so I know a few have been around but I don't get on the mosses as regularly as I used to so I've probably missed a few. Still plenty of time though!

Cheers!

Steven

Think you must have missed the Wheatears when they were around at the end of March when three of us reported them on this thread.

Sid A

Steven Nelson wrote:

---

Irlam Moss 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Swift over Twelve Yards road this afternoon.
Lots of Willow Warblers
3 Buzzards
2 Grey Partridge f14 and another calling from f52

STILL no Wheatears !!! - is it me or are they late this year? - I've had them in March in previous years. Last year I had my first one on 2nd April.

---

Possibly they have just powered on to their breeding grounds already Steven. The weather has been fairly calm recently which will help them avoid the mosses sadly! Had record numbers here in Hale Barns this spring though (6+) so maybe it's a local thing.
Henry.

Irlam Moss 5.00pm - 6.00pm

Swift over Twelve Yards road this afternoon.
Lots of Willow Warblers
3 Buzzards
2 Grey Partridge f14 and another calling from f52

STILL no Wheatears !!! - is it me or are they late this year? - I've had them in March in previous years. Last year I had my first one on 2nd April.

8am-1pm

Beautiful morning on the mosses with plenty of birdsong.

A Merlin was the highlight flying over Astley moss early in the morning
4 Buzzards
Sparrowhawk
4 Blackcaps
2 Treecreepers
3 Singing Skylarks
More Willow warblers on the mosses than I have seen for years.
2 pair of Tufted duck and 2 pair of Teal in the small ponds on Bedford moss
6 Jays
5 Swallows
3 Grey partridge
8 RL Partridge
10+ Yellowhammers
2 Linnits
1 Siskin
1 GS woodpecker

It was nice to meet Dave Steel, Alan Rowley, Ian Woosey and I had a distant view of Paul Hammond on the other side of the moss

13/4/09 am

Gentle mooch this morning from Nook Lane to Bedford Moss via Rindle Wood and Astley Moss, then back again :

5 Oystercatcher over, from the Peat Pools,
5 Buzzard,
10+ Yellowhammer,
2 Tree Sparrow,
5+ Blackcap (including 3 in the same tree having a `sing-off`),
2 Red-legged Partridge,
2 Sparrowhawk,
2 Kestrel,
3 Coal Tit,
5+ Willow Warbler,
Goldcrest,
5 Stock Dove.

Bumped into Paul Hammond and Dave Thacker, who should have different sightings to me...