ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Dave Thacker said
Sun Apr 12 8:26 PM, 2009
5 - 7.45pm this evening
Field 67 45 Wood Pigeons 8 Lapwings 3 Pied and 1 probable White wagtail 2 Pair of Grey Partridge 3 Mallard Skylark
Field 69 Buzzard 2 Grey and 6 RL Partridge 6 Tree sparrows Heron Curlew over
Rindle woods 2 pair of Blackcaps Willow warbler and plenty heard 2 GS Woodpeckers Goldcrest Coal tit Treecreeper
Astley moss Plenty of M pipits and singing Skylarks 2 Buzzards Sparrowhawk 3 Jays Chiffchaff Curlew in the potato field
Plenty of Herons over flying towards Botany woods
Wheatear seen in the horse paddock next to Allwood house farm on Moss lane.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Apr 10 7:04 PM, 2009
Irlam Moss 10.30am - 12.00pm
male Merlin trying to catch a Skylark (failed) over f16 before flying off east. 5 Bramblings with a few Chaffinches in f14. 80+ Linnets and a few Stock Doves in f16. 1 Buzzard over Dixon's Wood Tree Sparrows very noisy around Woodbarn Farm Numerous Lapwings displaying in most fields.
Still no Wheatears though!
Mike hirst said
Thu Apr 9 5:10 PM, 2009
9-45am to midday cloudy and dull Irlam moss - Cutnook end
Field 9 was the main attraction again. 1 wheatear looking stunning against the black peat. c30 linnets 10 fieldfare c8 reed buntings 2 yellowhammer c20 lapwings 1 pheasant magpies and crows
elsewhere the fields were a little quieter, lapwings and skylarks in most, usual magpies and crows but the large flocks of wood pigeon seem to have moved on leaving the odd few hundred around the wooded areas. the hedgerows held the usual birds and lots of bird song including song and mistle thrush. 2 herons flew over and I saw 2 buzzards in the air (same one twice I think).
Mike
Mike hirst said
Mon Apr 6 3:01 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday warm and bright Irlam moss - Cutnook end.
Mega sighting on the moss today, 1 adult male Ring Ouzel, hung around for about 20 minutes before flying off. Also 2 Curlews were circling the fields for approx an hour before disappearing. Field 9 was amazing too with c40 fieldfare, chaffinch, yellowhammer, lots of reed buntings, 2 skylarks, c10 lapwings and 2 shellducks. 3 mallard flew over. Most fields had lapwings and the hedgerows were busy with the usual finches and tits.there seemed a lot of wrens about - singing. 1 chiifchaff heard and 1 song thrush was in good voice. Quite a few singles and pairs of mistle thrush in the fields. Usual numbers of blackbird, robin and dunnock were about. I forgot, 6 sand martins.
Mike
-- Edited by Mike hirst on Monday 6th of April 2009 02:07:55 PM
Steven Nelson said
Fri Apr 3 7:39 PM, 2009
4.15pm - 5.45pm Irlam Moss
29 Fieldfare in f16 1 Willow Warbler (early?) and 1 Chiffchaff both singing in Dixon's Wood 3 Buzzards circling together and mewing Lapwing pairs in f16, f52 Kestrel f12
No sign of any Wheatears
pete berry said
Mon Mar 30 7:26 PM, 2009
Approx 40 Golden Plover in field off tip road tonight.
Dave Thacker said
Sun Mar 29 8:27 PM, 2009
12.30- 1400
Wheatear in the ploughed potato field at the back of f69, it flew off in the direction of Rindle road.
6 Buzzards in or over Bedford moss
Treecreeper in Rindle wood and also watched a LT Tit collecting cobwebs
Curlews heard.
sid ashton said
Sun Mar 29 6:55 PM, 2009
This evening, two male Wheatear in ploughed field 34 opposite Ash Farm, Cadishead Moss and a pair of brilliant Yellowhammer in bushes in same field close to the road
Mike Baron said
Sun Mar 29 1:18 PM, 2009
Quick flit through the mosses this morning
1 Wheatear in field 70
1 Swallow over field 40
2 Red-legged Partridges playing dare with a cat in field 21
2 Tree Sparrows and 2 Yellowhammers field 69
2 Yellowhammers field field 63
Mike Baron said
Fri Mar 27 8:00 PM, 2009
This evening around Cadishead Moss:
Wheatear in field 33. Approx 50 Black-headed Gulls were also pinching the pigs food. 8 Linnets also present.
2 Yellowhammers in field 30
2 Grey Partridges in field 54
Buzzard in field 28.
2 Oystercatchers were by the stream in field 31 with 4 Tufted Ducks on the stream.
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Friday 27th of March 2009 08:25:09 PM
Mike hirst said
Tue Mar 24 6:27 PM, 2009
9-30am to midday Bright but pretty cool in the open Irlam moss - Cutnook end
2 lapwings f4 10 Lapwings f10 2 skylarks f5 23min. magpies f6 10min. pied wagtails f6 robins, finches, blackbirds, wrens and dunnocks in hedgerows, +2 song and 2 mistle thrushes. 5 pairs of L.T. tits + blue and great tits. 2 buzzards and 1 kestrel in the air. 3 mallard over flying n.w.
Astley moss 10 Canada geese over 3 Canada geese on the scrapes which noisily told off a stalking fox Sparrowhawk [f] Alan Rowley
Also 2 Sand martins over the peat pools
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 14 7:32 PM, 2009
Heard both Tawny owl and Barn owl along Rindle road at 18.40 this evening also a very vocal Song thrush was doing his best to be heard.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 14 9:50 AM, 2009
12 Buzzards up together (2groups close together) over worsley Woods at 9:15 this morning, around the Astley Moss East area then a few bird sdrifted off south.
Approx 180 Chaffinch in freshly ploughed fields on the south side of Moss Lane, no Bramblings obvious but 4 or 5 Yellowhammers and 3 Buzzards soaring over Bedford Moss
Mike hirst said
Fri Mar 13 2:55 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday dull and coolish Irlam moss - Cutnook end
pheasant 4 in f4, 2 in f5, 5 in f9 buzzard 2 in f8 (ground feeding) 1 in f9 west side, roosting in tree grey heron 1 over f9, 6 on pylon in botany bay wood starling 100 approx in f8 fieldfare 20 in f1 lapwings 2 in f4, 12 in f5, 5 in f9 meadow pipit 20 in f5 skylarks singing in most fields lots of chaffinch with a good sprinkling of yellowhammer and reed bunting, some small flocks of goldfinch, L.T. tits + blue and great tits 2 goldcrest. crows, magpies and pigeons in abundance hedgerows full of robins, dunnocks, wrens and blackbirds. Mistle thrush 3 pairs Mallard 2 flying north over f8
Mike
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 12 7:49 PM, 2009
Late news for yesterday:
2 Ravens flew north along Astley Road, Chat Moss at approximately 1:50pm, viewd from just south of Olive Mount Farm.
2 Corn Buntings singing on the usual telephone wires in field 19
Mike hirst said
Tue Mar 10 4:48 PM, 2009
9-45 to 12-15 Brighter after the showers and cool Irlam moss - Cutnook end.
2 bullfinch (pair) hedgerow f4 5 pheasent (2 cocks, 3 hens) f4 10 lapwing f5 20 chaffinch f5 lots of crows and magpies f5 25 fieldfare f7 100 fieldfare f10 1 mallard (drake) f9 by rainwater pool 4 skylarks seen displaying around f5, f8, f9, f10 + others heard 5 lapwing f9 still lots of chaffinch, yellowhammer, reed bunting and one meadow pipit seen between f8 and f9. Fair sized flock (60 approx.) starlings f8. The hedgerows/woods had the usual birds in them, L.T. , blue and great tits, robins, dunnocks, chaffinch, blackbird, song thrush and mistle thrush. Wrens were quite active - 4 seen and others heard. Usual 1000's of wood pigeon everywhere.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Fri Mar 6 2:56 PM, 2009
9-30am to 12-15pm. bright and cool but warming up. Irlam moss between Cutnook and Astley road + Little Woolden moss.
Springfield 6 skylarks Hedgerows busy with usual tis, finches, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds etc.
Astley road. usual tits and finches Mistle thrush with nesting mat'l song thrush
Little Woolden moss 3 grey partridge f56 6 lapwing f56 and f57 1 corn bunting in tree f56 2 skylark displaying (also another 2 displaying in field to the west, number not known) 20 reed bunting in hedgerow f64 1 buzzard above 4 winds farm.
12 yards road. 30 lapwing f52 2 skylark displaying f52 a few tits, robins and finches in hedgerow
Cutnook lane Pretty uneventful really with less than usual bush birds and not a great deal of bird song either.
Mike 1 kestrel f12
Mike hirst said
Wed Mar 4 4:55 PM, 2009
9-30 to midday. bright and cool (bit of snow towards midday) Irlam moss - Cutnook end
A good day for me, another lifer (2nd this week with lesser spot at Moore) I flushed a woodcock (F9) and it was a first for me. It was also a good day all round. looking north over botany bay woods from the track between f8 and f9 - 6 grey herons going west towards Astley. slightly east on a pylon - 14 grey herons roosting. This must be the area of the heronry somebody mentioned. Above these fields 2 buzzards and 1 more roosting in tree west of f9. Lots of chaff., yellowhammer, reed bunting and some L.T. tits + blue and great tits in the hedgerow. 6 lapwings f9, 1 kestrel f9.
3 buzzards in the air over f5 and f6 12 lapwings f5, 2 f2 6 skylarks jousting f5, 1 singing and displaying f9 1 willow tit in hedgerow between f4 and f11. 2 pheasant f4 Large finch and reed bunting flock s/w corner f5 Flock of 20+ mistle thrush still around Cutnook lane and f2 Lots of usual varieties in the hedgerows and a lot of birdsong. The crows are back + usual magpies and the 1000's of wood pigeons.
When I got home, just turning into the drive 3 buzzards were just above the house, these must have the 3 I saw earlier and they just drifted s/e towards Makro.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Fri Feb 27 3:09 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday damp, dull and cool in the open Irlam moss - Cutnook end.
A bit of a funny day on the moss, I never thought I would miss crows, a small group in fields f4 and f5, a few flying over and that was it, still plenty of magpies though. The lapwings are back, 7 in f2 and 12 in f5, also solitary grey heron in f5 with approx 20 meadow pipits and a fair sized flock (80+) of starlings, a buzzard traversed the north side thro' to f4 before settling in a tree. The winter thrushes seem to have moved on from this area again but the hedgerows between f8 and f9 are still holding good nos. of yellowhammer, reed bunting and chaffinch + the usual robins, dunnocks, blackbirds etc. 2 more buzzards were seen 1 over f8 and 1 over f6 being harrassed by 2 crows. The hedgerow nos. were down on the usual but there was some mistle and song thrushes singing and 2 mistle in f6. I nearly forgot, approx 5000 wood pigeon in fields around black wood and a 200+ feral in f2.
Mike
Dave Thacker said
Mon Feb 23 9:11 PM, 2009
Hi Steve
The Green woodpecker was mooching about on the path about 25m in front of me before flying off. I've not had a good view of one on the mosses for about 6 years but I am sure that I saw one flying over Nook lane a couple of months ago but it was only a very quick look as I was driving my car and did not want to end up in the ditch. I remember one which was seen regularly over winter in the early 90's at the end of Moss lane in the trees just passed the last farm.
Steven Nelson said
Mon Feb 23 8:20 PM, 2009
Cheers Mike - I'll try to get down but it will probably be at weekend ! It's been an excellent winter for Fieldfare, Redwing and Brambling on the mosses - the best I can remember for a few years. Large numbers involved. Will bump into you one day !!
Re: Green Woodpecker (Dave Thacker - Feb 22) - A good find that on the mosses Dave. I once had one in Dixon's Wood about 6 or 7 years ago for 2 days in March. First (and only to date) GW in 25 years of birding on the mosses !
Mike hirst said
Mon Feb 23 2:52 PM, 2009
9-30 to midday dull and cool Irlam moss Cutnook end.
A good day for buzzards, 1 on usual post in f2, 4 in the air above woods north of f8, 1 in tree on west side of f9 (very light colouring with good bits of white on this one)
f9 100's of fieldfare + redwing and a smattering of chaffinch, reed bunting and a few yellowhammer spread over a large area of newly turned over field. (Steve Nelson, if you read this try and get down there, its a smashing sight.) The hedgerow between this field and f8 also holds good nos. of chaff, reed and yellowhammer.
f8 flocks of pigeon, starling and 1 kestrel ground feeding.
The hedgerows held all the usual tits, finches, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and several song thrush (singing). On cutnook lane 23 mistle thrush in mature trees. The corvids and pigeons were all over as usual but apart from whats been noted the fields were fairly quiet, the lapwings have disappeared from this end.
Mike
Dave Thacker said
Sun Feb 22 6:40 PM, 2009
12.45-2.45pm
A Green Woodpecker was a nice surprise this afternoon , it was on the woodchip path beside Bedford moss and the scrapes before flying off into the trees.
Treecreeper and Tawny owl in Rindle wood. 18 Yellowhammers at the feeding area 50+ Lapwings and 6 Grey partridge in f67 Stoat in f69
70+ Chaffinches and at least 6 Brambling alongside Nook lane, 50+ Chaffinches along Moss lane
Robert Adderley said
Sat Feb 21 8:49 PM, 2009
21/2/09
c50+ Chaffinch and at least 3 Brambling on Moss Lane late am, also 4 Buzzards.
Steven Nelson said
Sat Feb 21 1:46 PM, 2009
11.45am-1.00pm Irlam Moss
F52 - adult Peregrine hunting - swooped down low over field putting up loads of Starlings and 40+ Fieldfare. Didn't catch anything though and headed of high to the west towards Little Woolden Moss. Also a Buzzard here.
f5 - flock of 50 ish Chaffinch had 10 Brambling (poss more) - 2 female & 8 male - all starting to get darker heads now. Also a flock of 28 Skylark, 60+ Linnet and a female Sparrowhawk hunting putting up another big flock of Starling
-- Edited by Steven Nelson at 13:48, 2009-02-21
John Rayner said
Fri Feb 20 6:19 PM, 2009
Little Woolden Farm: 4 Buzzards, 37 Teal on Glaze Brook, 74 Pinkfeet northwest at 11.50.
Little Woolden Moss: 2 Grey Partridge, 7 Reed Bunting and a minimum of 20 Skylark with many singing.
Field 60: c70 Chaffinch with at least 2 Brambling (didn't have time to go through them all before they flew)
Rindle Rd Feeding Stn: 1 Willow Tit
Cheers, John
Mike hirst said
Wed Feb 18 7:43 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday cool and dull Irlam and Little Woolden moss's
springfield. Lots of birds in the hedgerows full of song - robins, tits ,dunnocks, chaffinch, blackbird and song thrush. in the fields :- 4 mistle thrush 6 skylark 1 sparrowhawk fem. 1 pheasant + pigeons, collar doves, crows and magpies.
field 24 22 lapwing, 200 approx wood pigeon
Astley road:- lots of birdsong again from usual bushbirds, + 1 kestrel loitering.
Little Woolden moss 1 grey partridge f56 2 grey partridge in each of f57 and f63 4 yellowhammer, 10 corn bunting, 2 reed bunting in hedgerows and skylarks singing.18 lapwing f56 with groups of 50 and 20 over. f62 1000's of birds, big flocks of starlings and wood pigeons, smaller nos. of fieldfare, mistle thrush,chaffinch, afew reed buntings spread over a wide area.
12 yards road was very quiet, 6 lapwing f52 and a few blue tits in hedgerow.
Cutnook lane was as usual holding lots of bushbirds and many of them singing, f1 n/e corner had a fair mixed flock of chaffinch and fieldfare but were a bit to far away to seperate the finches. 2 mistle thrushes were singing from top of trees in different locations.
Mike
Steven Nelson said
Tue Feb 17 3:26 PM, 2009
11.00 - 12.15pm Irlam Moss
f1 - large mixed flock of Chaffinch, Goldfinch, some Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. No sign of Brambling though. Also a few Redwing. f12 - 1Willow Tit in bushes & singing Skylark f17 - 40+ Fieldfare in Beeches . f16 - flock of 17 Lapwing f5 - Lapwing in display flight, Large corvid flock and 20+ Linnet Dixon's Wood - 1 Bullfinch.
Mike hirst said
Mon Feb 16 3:04 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday cool and dull Irlam moss Cutnook end
Field 9. In a newly ploughed area there was a mixed flock of approx 400 birds, mainly fieldfare but also redwing, mistles, chaffinch, reed bunting and yellowhammer. On the other side of the track - field 8 there were more chaffinch, reed bunting and yellowhammer - difficult to quantify as they were in and out of the hedgerow.
Field 5 6 lapwing +crows, magpies and starlings
Field 1 (n.e. corner) 100 approx. chaffinch + 5 brambling seen. green, gold. chaff. and bullfinch in hedgerows + usual tits, robins, blackbirds, dunnocks, wrens. 1 pheasant 1 grey heron (over) 2 skylarks heard singing (not seen) L.T tit flocks seem to have split up, 3 singles and 2 pairs seen.
An old guy (even older than me) who walks around occasionally and is not a birder counts robins on his walk, last year his best count was 45, this morning it was 33 so thats not to bad I think.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Fri Feb 13 3:15 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday cool and sunny Irlam moss Cutnook end.
Most of the fields were a bit quiet this morning and most of the larger flocks of various species seem to have reduced but it was still a good morning with the return of a few more fieldfare than the last time I was out and the amount of birdsong generally in the hedgerows, particularly chaffinch, dunnock and great tit.
fieldfare 20 f45, 18 f8, 40 f7 chaffinch 30 f2, 100 approx. f14 chaffinch,yellowhammer & reed bunting (mixed flock) on track between f9 & f8 - 20+ birds. wood pigeon 1000's black wood. crows 100's magpies 100's tree creeper 1 in wood by f5 L.T. tits 5 small groups in various places goldcrest 2 on cutnook lane mistle thrush 3 pairs & 1 group of 4 pheasant 3 buzzard 1 on post f2 kestrel 1 in tree by m/way all the usual bushbirds in fair nos. except wren, 1 heard but not seen
pete berry said
Sun Feb 8 12:14 PM, 2009
Still 3 Stonechats on the Colliery Fields today.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 5 3:00 PM, 2009
Early afternoon 5th Feb
1200 Woodpigeons in a flock from Larkhill Farm to just west of Little Woolden Moss
The following were all on or alongside field 57:
Skylark- 140+ Reed Bunting- 170 Corn Bunting- 14, a nice flock but very flighty and mobile Brambling- 4 Yellowhammer- 22 Stock Dove- 27
Mike hirst said
Tue Feb 3 5:54 PM, 2009
10am to midday cold but bright Irlam moss Cutnook end.
Field 5 south end saw most of the action this morning with several mixed groups of birds. Except for the few seen here the fieldfere and redwing seem to have gone elseware. From a birding angle a big loss. However I did see :-
f5 south 30+ meadow pipit 100+chaffinch,greenfinch,reed bunting with 2 brambling 50+ starling 4 fieldfare 2 mistle thrush 100's crows 40+ magpie 1 kestrel hovering Blue & great tit, robin dunnock and blackbird in the hedgerow.
f8 chaffinch and reed bunting in the hedgerow and crow and magpie in the field
oakfield farm 2 mistle thrush
cutnook lane usual bush birds and small flock of L.T. tits
Mike
Dave Thacker said
Sun Feb 1 2:56 PM, 2009
I watched a GS Woodpecker spend 5 minutes trying to get into a nesting box in Rindle woods.When it gave up and flew off a Wren shot out of the box.
Astley moss 4 Snipe 1 Woodcock 1 Green sandpiper flushed from where the LWT are doing their earth moving.
Bedford moss 3 Woodcock 3 Buzzards 1 Snipe
Usual at the feeding area including 2 Willow tits seen.
Mike hirst said
Thu Jan 29 3:04 PM, 2009
9-45 to midday cool breeze and cloudy. Irlam moss between Astley road and Cutnook
150 approx. chaffinch + 6 brambling f40 20 chaffinch + 1 brambling f11 100 approx. chaffinch + 2 mistle thrush f1 1 sparrowhawk thro' woods f11 1 merlin f52 and 14 1 kestrel over f2 20 approx fieldfare f15 lots of tits (incl. 1 willow), robins,goldfinch, chaffinch in hedgerows and crows magpies and pigeons in the fields. 4 pheasents.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Tue Jan 27 3:34 PM, 2009
10am to midday cool and cloudy Irlam moss Cutnook end.
A good morning for birds today, most usual species showing well in good numbers, the real exceptions being goldcrest, greenfinch and bullfinch that I didn't see at all. There are still lots of winters thrushes about, the vast majority being fieldfares but there is a smattering of redwing and mistle thrush with them.
winter thrushes - 100's in fields 4, 2 and 8 chaffinch - 100's fields 2 and 8 (plus singles in hedgerows) yellowhammer and reed bunting - mixed flock, at least 30 but probably more. lesser redpoll - 30 (couldn't spot a mealie) buzzard - 2 (1 field 8 on pylon moved on by crows, 1 on post field 2 watching fieldfare) sparrowhawk - field 5 kestrel - field 1 treecreeper in wood at edge of field 4 jay 2 pheasant 3 crow, magpie, blackbird, robin, dunnock, wren, starlings, blue and great tits. L.T. tits - 2 small flocks (nos. down on usual) wood pigeon 1000's - Black wood feral pigeon 100's field 2
I don't think I have ever seen as many magpies any where as this area of the moss.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Wed Jan 21 6:19 PM, 2009
Hi Henry, I have seen willow tits all over the mosses but not any marsh tits. I was on the road viewing the feeding station. I caught a partial glimpse of what I thought was the willow tit when it flew towards me and landed in the shrub by the gate, it then popped out of the front, glossy black head and no bib to speak of waited a few seconds and flew off. I know its unusual but I feel pretty confident about this one,still it would be nice to have someone with you when these things occur. regards Mike
Henry Cook said
Wed Jan 21 3:25 PM, 2009
Hi Mike. Were you able to rule out Willow Tit when you saw the Marsh Tit? I only ask because the mosses are good places for Willows and a Marsh hasn't been positively recorded for a long time. Thanks. Henry.
Mike hirst said
Wed Jan 21 2:52 PM, 2009
10am to midday. lovely sunny morning but fairly cold. Rindle road
Feeding station:- 11 yellowhammers (most I've seen here and looked really good in the sunshine) 6 tree sparrows 12 chaffinch 4 great tit 3 Blue tit 1 marsh tit (a first here for me) 1 pied wagtail 1 wren 4 robins 3 blackbird 1 kestrel in adjacent field. (another further down rindle road) 9 GBB gulls over (east to west)
1 buzzard over rindle wood 2 buzzards in field on moss lane 4 bullfinch in railway cottages hedgerow 3 fieldfare in field adjacent barn conversions. confirm flock of pinkfeet already recorded by Pete Berry + lots of starlings, crows, magpies and wood pigeon, pheasant heard but not seen. Last but not least:- a car in the ditch on moss lane.
Mike
Mike hirst said
Mon Jan 19 6:08 PM, 2009
10am to 11-45 dull,cold and breezy. Irlam moss Cutnook end.
large flocks of fieldfare and redwing in field 1(south end), fields 7 and 8 large flocks of chaffinch in fields 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9 3 brambling with chaffs in field 1 1000's wood pigeon in fields around black wood (sent up by dog walkers) 200 feral pigeon in field 2 1 merlin field - 4 & 5 1 sparrowhawk - field 9 1 buzzard - field 7 Lanes and hedgerows quiet by usual standards but low nos. of :-
robin, blackbird, dunnock, yellowhammer, goldcrest, tits (l.t., blue, and great) crows, magpie. 3 pheasent - field 4
Mike
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jan 19 6:59 AM, 2009
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Phil_Oldham wrote:
First wander round today...near the colliery. Without binos so couldn't ID much aside from..
3/4 Goldfinch Male goosander possibly a ring ouzel...would that be out of place? Flew right in front of me (no more than 10ft) following 2 blackbirds...so I had presumed it was just an oddly patterned blackbird. But had a look in my book just now and it shared the same distinct white neck of the ring ouzel! It also says however that they're not winter birds? Confusion!
Do barn owls still frequent anywhere nearby?
Re. Ring Ouzel Phil, a wintering bird would not be beyond the realms of possibility as there are a handful of such records in the county (see the systematic list details for that species on the website) but it would still be very rare. There are many leucistic/partial albino Blackbirds with similar markings knocking about, some of which for whatever reason seem to have a pattern very similar to Ring Ouzel but that species is really quite different from Blackbird besides it's breast patch but it still might be worth following up
Paul brown has just had a male on north ronalsey at the weekend,but as ian and pete said there are a lot of blackbirds with white patches on em these days,theres a few at penny.
pete berry said
Sun Jan 18 10:33 PM, 2009
I've seen a Blackbird with a "collar" coming into my back garden during the cold spell.As I live right opposite the colliery at Astley Green its quite possible this bird you've seen. With regard to Barn Owls they still breed on the Moss,the best time to look for them is late May when they are out early evening,hunting for food for their young.
-- Edited by pete berry at 22:37, 2009-01-18
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jan 18 8:18 PM, 2009
Phil_Oldham wrote:
First wander round today...near the colliery. Without binos so couldn't ID much aside from..
3/4 Goldfinch Male goosander possibly a ring ouzel...would that be out of place? Flew right in front of me (no more than 10ft) following 2 blackbirds...so I had presumed it was just an oddly patterned blackbird. But had a look in my book just now and it shared the same distinct white neck of the ring ouzel! It also says however that they're not winter birds? Confusion!
Do barn owls still frequent anywhere nearby?
Re. Ring Ouzel Phil, a wintering bird would not be beyond the realms of possibility as there are a handful of such records in the county (see the systematic list details for that species on the website) but it would still be very rare. There are many leucistic/partial albino Blackbirds with similar markings knocking about, some of which for whatever reason seem to have a pattern very similar to Ring Ouzel but that species is really quite different from Blackbird besides it's breast patch but it still might be worth following up
Steven Nelson said
Sun Jan 18 8:11 PM, 2009
Female Brambling with flock of Chaffinch in f8 this afternoon. Also in neighbouring f7 large flock of Fieldfare and Redwing. Also here 2 Buzzard interacting in flight. Large mixed corvid flock and c.30 Linnets in f5 plus 1 Buzzard here.
Phil_Oldham said
Sun Jan 18 7:50 PM, 2009
First wander round today...near the colliery. Without binos so couldn't ID much aside from..
3/4 Goldfinch Male goosander possibly a ring ouzel...would that be out of place? Flew right in front of me (no more than 10ft) following 2 blackbirds...so I had presumed it was just an oddly patterned blackbird. But had a look in my book just now and it shared the same distinct white neck of the ring ouzel! It also says however that they're not winter birds? Confusion!
Do barn owls still frequent anywhere nearby?
Dave Thacker said
Sun Jan 18 12:12 PM, 2009
Merlin [m] flying over fields next to Cutnook path at 10.20am this morning.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Jan 10 11:43 AM, 2009
Two Peregrines were sat in the stubble fields alongside Moss lane this morning between 9.45-10.10am. I was watching the first bird when another falcon flew in and settled down in the field about 50m from the first bird. Both falcons eventually flew up to meet a 200+ flock of Wood Pigeons which had been put up by shooting on Astley moss. Both Peregrines headed towards Bedford moss.
Rindle road feeding area A brief look as lots of shooting going on abouts and I`m suffering from the flu
7 Nervous RL Partridge 2 Moorhens 3 Bullfinch 8 Tree Sparrows 25+ Yellowhammers 2 Willow tits 1 GS Woodpecker in the trees beside Rindle road and 1 male Stonechat in the horse paddock at the top of Moss lane
Mike hirst said
Fri Jan 9 12:48 PM, 2009
Rindle road 10am - 11-30. dull, misty at first and pretty cool.
feeding station (very quiet)
4 tree sparrows 2 yellowhammers 3 chaffinch 4 blue tits 1 great tit 1 willow tit 1 robin 4 blackbirds I met Eddie King (putting the birdfood down) for the first time. Nice to meet you Eddie.
Elsewhere:- 1 heron in ditch, 6 R.L. partridge in field, robin, chaffinch and goldcrest in bushes. In field on moss lane - 19 canada geese, crows, wood pigeon and starling all over.
pete berry said
Mon Jan 5 1:12 PM, 2009
Alan Rowley wrote:
Moss lane was better than Rindle this AM but not for the lazy birder as there's nowhere to park. Large tit flock containing all 5 regular tits; Treecreepers and Goldcrests . 30+ Redwings feeding in the woods + Stock Doves, Skylarks and the odd Lapwing in the fields.
Dave,Paul. Forgot to wish you both a happy new year. Cold must have frozen my brain. Roll on Cuckoo time.
The gamekeeper's son approached me after you'd both left. They are getting distressed about people walking in the woods with dogs on the loose. One person in particular is a regular problem for them and claims to be a member of the LWT and allegedly refuses all polite pursuasion to put his dog on a lead. If enough of us attempt to politely persuade people not to let dogs loose or take then down there, perhaps we'll eventually wear them down. Its in all our interest to prevent this area becoming the local dog walk.
Field 67
45 Wood Pigeons
8 Lapwings
3 Pied and 1 probable White wagtail
2 Pair of Grey Partridge
3 Mallard
Skylark
Field 69
Buzzard
2 Grey and 6 RL Partridge
6 Tree sparrows
Heron
Curlew over
Rindle woods
2 pair of Blackcaps
Willow warbler and plenty heard
2 GS Woodpeckers
Goldcrest
Coal tit
Treecreeper
Astley moss
Plenty of M pipits and singing Skylarks
2 Buzzards
Sparrowhawk
3 Jays
Chiffchaff
Curlew in the potato field
Plenty of Herons over flying towards Botany woods
Wheatear seen in the horse paddock next to Allwood house farm on Moss lane.
male Merlin trying to catch a Skylark (failed) over f16 before flying off east.
5 Bramblings with a few Chaffinches in f14.
80+ Linnets and a few Stock Doves in f16.
1 Buzzard over Dixon's Wood
Tree Sparrows very noisy around Woodbarn Farm
Numerous Lapwings displaying in most fields.
Still no Wheatears though!
Field 9 was the main attraction again.
1 wheatear looking stunning against the black peat.
c30 linnets
10 fieldfare
c8 reed buntings
2 yellowhammer
c20 lapwings
1 pheasant
magpies and crows
elsewhere the fields were a little quieter, lapwings and skylarks in most, usual magpies and crows but the large flocks of wood pigeon seem to have moved on leaving the odd few hundred around the wooded areas. the hedgerows held the usual birds and lots of bird song including song and mistle thrush. 2 herons flew over and I saw 2 buzzards in the air (same one twice I think).
Mike
Mega sighting on the moss today, 1 adult male Ring Ouzel, hung around for about 20 minutes before flying off. Also 2 Curlews were circling the fields for approx an hour before disappearing.
Field 9 was amazing too with c40 fieldfare, chaffinch, yellowhammer, lots of reed buntings, 2 skylarks, c10 lapwings and 2 shellducks. 3 mallard flew over.
Most fields had lapwings and the hedgerows were busy with the usual finches and tits.there seemed a lot of wrens about - singing. 1 chiifchaff heard and 1 song thrush was in good voice. Quite a few singles and pairs of mistle thrush in the fields. Usual numbers of blackbird, robin and dunnock were about. I forgot, 6 sand martins.
Mike
-- Edited by Mike hirst on Monday 6th of April 2009 02:07:55 PM
29 Fieldfare in f16
1 Willow Warbler (early?) and 1 Chiffchaff both singing in Dixon's Wood
3 Buzzards circling together and mewing
Lapwing pairs in f16, f52
Kestrel f12
No sign of any Wheatears
Wheatear in the ploughed potato field at the back of f69, it flew off in the direction of Rindle road.
6 Buzzards in or over Bedford moss
Treecreeper in Rindle wood and also watched a LT Tit collecting cobwebs
Curlews heard.
1 Wheatear in field 70
1 Swallow over field 40
2 Red-legged Partridges playing dare with a cat in field 21
2 Tree Sparrows and 2 Yellowhammers field 69
2 Yellowhammers field field 63
Wheatear in field 33. Approx 50 Black-headed Gulls were also pinching the pigs food. 8 Linnets also present.
2 Yellowhammers in field 30
2 Grey Partridges in field 54
Buzzard in field 28.
2 Oystercatchers were by the stream in field 31 with 4 Tufted Ducks on the stream.
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Friday 27th of March 2009 08:25:09 PM
2 lapwings f4
10 Lapwings f10
2 skylarks f5
23min. magpies f6
10min. pied wagtails f6
robins, finches, blackbirds, wrens and dunnocks in hedgerows, +2 song and 2 mistle thrushes. 5 pairs of L.T. tits + blue and great tits.
2 buzzards and 1 kestrel in the air.
3 mallard over flying n.w.
Mike
Rindle woods
GS Woodpecker
Willow tit
4 Tree sparrows
3 RL partridge
4 Grey partridge
Astley moss
10 Canada geese over
3 Canada geese on the scrapes which noisily told off a stalking fox
Sparrowhawk [f]
Alan Rowley
Also 2 Sand martins over the peat pools
Approx 180 Chaffinch in freshly ploughed fields on the south side of Moss Lane, no Bramblings obvious but 4 or 5 Yellowhammers and 3 Buzzards soaring over Bedford Moss
pheasant 4 in f4, 2 in f5, 5 in f9
buzzard 2 in f8 (ground feeding) 1 in f9 west side, roosting in tree
grey heron 1 over f9, 6 on pylon in botany bay wood
starling 100 approx in f8
fieldfare 20 in f1
lapwings 2 in f4, 12 in f5, 5 in f9
meadow pipit 20 in f5
skylarks singing in most fields
lots of chaffinch with a good sprinkling of yellowhammer and reed bunting, some small flocks of goldfinch, L.T. tits + blue and great tits
2 goldcrest.
crows, magpies and pigeons in abundance
hedgerows full of robins, dunnocks, wrens and blackbirds.
Mistle thrush 3 pairs
Mallard 2 flying north over f8
Mike
2 Ravens flew north along Astley Road, Chat Moss at approximately 1:50pm, viewd from just south of Olive Mount Farm.
2 Corn Buntings singing on the usual telephone wires in field 19
2 bullfinch (pair) hedgerow f4
5 pheasent (2 cocks, 3 hens) f4
10 lapwing f5
20 chaffinch f5
lots of crows and magpies f5
25 fieldfare f7
100 fieldfare f10
1 mallard (drake) f9 by rainwater pool
4 skylarks seen displaying around f5, f8, f9, f10 + others heard
5 lapwing f9
still lots of chaffinch, yellowhammer, reed bunting and one meadow pipit seen between f8 and f9. Fair sized flock (60 approx.) starlings f8.
The hedgerows/woods had the usual birds in them, L.T. , blue and great tits, robins, dunnocks, chaffinch, blackbird, song thrush and mistle thrush. Wrens were quite active - 4 seen and others heard. Usual 1000's of wood pigeon everywhere.
Mike
Springfield
6 skylarks
Hedgerows busy with usual tis, finches, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds etc.
Astley road.
usual tits and finches
Mistle thrush with nesting mat'l
song thrush
Little Woolden moss
3 grey partridge f56
6 lapwing f56 and f57
1 corn bunting in tree f56
2 skylark displaying (also another 2 displaying in field to the west, number not known)
20 reed bunting in hedgerow f64
1 buzzard above 4 winds farm.
12 yards road.
30 lapwing f52 2 skylark displaying f52
a few tits, robins and finches in hedgerow
Cutnook lane
Pretty uneventful really with less than usual bush birds and not a great deal of bird song either.
Mike
1 kestrel f12
A good day for me, another lifer (2nd this week with lesser spot at Moore) I flushed a woodcock (F9) and it was a first for me. It was also a good day all round. looking north over botany bay woods from the track between f8 and f9 - 6 grey herons going west towards Astley. slightly east on a pylon - 14 grey herons roosting. This must be the area of the heronry somebody mentioned. Above these fields 2 buzzards and 1 more roosting in tree west of f9. Lots of chaff., yellowhammer, reed bunting and some L.T. tits + blue and great tits in the hedgerow. 6 lapwings f9, 1 kestrel f9.
3 buzzards in the air over f5 and f6
12 lapwings f5, 2 f2
6 skylarks jousting f5, 1 singing and displaying f9
1 willow tit in hedgerow between f4 and f11.
2 pheasant f4
Large finch and reed bunting flock s/w corner f5
Flock of 20+ mistle thrush still around Cutnook lane and f2
Lots of usual varieties in the hedgerows and a lot of birdsong.
The crows are back + usual magpies and the 1000's of wood pigeons.
When I got home, just turning into the drive 3 buzzards were just above the house, these must have the 3 I saw earlier and they just drifted s/e towards Makro.
Mike
A bit of a funny day on the moss, I never thought I would miss crows, a small group in fields f4 and f5, a few flying over and that was it, still plenty of magpies though. The lapwings are back, 7 in f2 and 12 in f5, also solitary grey heron in f5 with approx 20 meadow pipits and a fair sized flock (80+) of starlings, a buzzard traversed the north side thro' to f4 before settling in a tree. The winter thrushes seem to have moved on from this area again but the hedgerows between f8 and f9 are still holding good nos. of yellowhammer, reed bunting and chaffinch + the usual robins, dunnocks, blackbirds etc. 2 more buzzards were seen 1 over f8 and 1 over f6 being harrassed by 2 crows. The hedgerow nos. were down on the usual but there was some mistle and song thrushes singing and 2 mistle in f6. I nearly forgot, approx 5000 wood pigeon in fields around black wood and a 200+ feral in f2.
Mike
The Green woodpecker was mooching about on the path about 25m in front of me before flying off. I've not had a good view of one on the mosses for about 6 years but I am sure that I saw one flying over Nook lane a couple of months ago but it was only a very quick look as I was driving my car and did not want to end up in the ditch.
I remember one which was seen regularly over winter in the early 90's at the end of Moss lane in the trees just passed the last farm.
Re: Green Woodpecker (Dave Thacker - Feb 22) - A good find that on the mosses Dave. I once had one in Dixon's Wood about 6 or 7 years ago for 2 days in March. First (and only to date) GW in 25 years of birding on the mosses !
A good day for buzzards, 1 on usual post in f2, 4 in the air above woods north of f8, 1 in tree on west side of f9 (very light colouring with good bits of white on this one)
f9 100's of fieldfare + redwing and a smattering of chaffinch, reed bunting and a few yellowhammer spread over a large area of newly turned over field. (Steve Nelson, if you read this try and get down there, its a smashing sight.) The hedgerow between this field and f8 also holds good nos. of chaff, reed and yellowhammer.
f8 flocks of pigeon, starling and 1 kestrel ground feeding.
The hedgerows held all the usual tits, finches, robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and several song thrush (singing). On cutnook lane 23 mistle thrush in mature trees. The corvids and pigeons were all over as usual but apart from whats been noted the fields were fairly quiet, the lapwings have disappeared from this end.
Mike
A Green Woodpecker was a nice surprise this afternoon , it was on the woodchip path beside Bedford moss and the scrapes before flying off into the trees.
Treecreeper and Tawny owl in Rindle wood.
18 Yellowhammers at the feeding area
50+ Lapwings and 6 Grey partridge in f67
Stoat in f69
70+ Chaffinches and at least 6 Brambling alongside Nook lane,
50+ Chaffinches along Moss lane
c50+ Chaffinch and at least 3 Brambling on Moss Lane late am, also 4 Buzzards.
F52 - adult Peregrine hunting - swooped down low over field putting up loads of Starlings and 40+ Fieldfare. Didn't catch anything though and headed of high to the west towards Little Woolden Moss. Also a Buzzard here.
f5 - flock of 50 ish Chaffinch had 10 Brambling (poss more) - 2 female & 8 male - all starting to get darker heads now. Also a flock of 28 Skylark, 60+ Linnet and a female Sparrowhawk hunting putting up another big flock of Starling
-- Edited by Steven Nelson at 13:48, 2009-02-21
Little Woolden Moss: 2 Grey Partridge, 7 Reed Bunting and a minimum of 20 Skylark with many singing.
Field 60: c70 Chaffinch with at least 2 Brambling (didn't have time to go through them all before they flew)
Rindle Rd Feeding Stn: 1 Willow Tit
Cheers, John
springfield.
Lots of birds in the hedgerows full of song - robins, tits ,dunnocks, chaffinch, blackbird and song thrush. in the fields :-
4 mistle thrush
6 skylark
1 sparrowhawk fem.
1 pheasant + pigeons, collar doves, crows and magpies.
field 24 22 lapwing, 200 approx wood pigeon
Astley road:- lots of birdsong again from usual bushbirds, + 1 kestrel loitering.
Little Woolden moss
1 grey partridge f56
2 grey partridge in each of f57 and f63
4 yellowhammer, 10 corn bunting, 2 reed bunting in hedgerows and skylarks singing.18 lapwing f56 with groups of 50 and 20 over.
f62 1000's of birds, big flocks of starlings and wood pigeons, smaller nos. of fieldfare, mistle thrush,chaffinch, afew reed buntings spread over a wide area.
12 yards road was very quiet, 6 lapwing f52 and a few blue tits in hedgerow.
Cutnook lane was as usual holding lots of bushbirds and many of them singing, f1 n/e corner had a fair mixed flock of chaffinch and fieldfare but were a bit to far away to seperate the finches. 2 mistle thrushes were singing from top of trees in different locations.
Mike
f1 - large mixed flock of Chaffinch, Goldfinch, some Reed Bunting and Yellowhammer. No sign of Brambling though. Also a few Redwing.
f12 - 1Willow Tit in bushes & singing Skylark
f17 - 40+ Fieldfare in Beeches .
f16 - flock of 17 Lapwing
f5 - Lapwing in display flight, Large corvid flock and 20+ Linnet
Dixon's Wood - 1 Bullfinch.
Field 9. In a newly ploughed area there was a mixed flock of approx 400 birds, mainly fieldfare but also redwing, mistles, chaffinch, reed bunting and yellowhammer. On the other side of the track - field 8 there were more chaffinch, reed bunting and yellowhammer - difficult to quantify as they were in and out of the hedgerow.
Field 5 6 lapwing +crows, magpies and starlings
Field 1 (n.e. corner) 100 approx. chaffinch + 5 brambling seen.
green, gold. chaff. and bullfinch in hedgerows + usual tits, robins, blackbirds, dunnocks, wrens.
1 pheasant
1 grey heron (over)
2 skylarks heard singing (not seen)
L.T tit flocks seem to have split up, 3 singles and 2 pairs seen.
An old guy (even older than me) who walks around occasionally and is not a birder counts robins on his walk, last year his best count was 45, this morning it was 33 so thats not to bad I think.
Mike
Most of the fields were a bit quiet this morning and most of the larger flocks of various species seem to have reduced but it was still a good morning with the return of a few more fieldfare than the last time I was out and the amount of birdsong generally in the hedgerows, particularly chaffinch, dunnock and great tit.
fieldfare 20 f45, 18 f8, 40 f7
chaffinch 30 f2, 100 approx. f14
chaffinch,yellowhammer & reed bunting (mixed flock) on track between f9 & f8 - 20+ birds.
wood pigeon 1000's black wood.
crows 100's
magpies 100's
tree creeper 1 in wood by f5
L.T. tits 5 small groups in various places
goldcrest 2 on cutnook lane
mistle thrush 3 pairs & 1 group of 4
pheasant 3
buzzard 1 on post f2
kestrel 1 in tree by m/way
all the usual bushbirds in fair nos. except wren, 1 heard but not seen
1200 Woodpigeons in a flock from Larkhill Farm to just west of Little Woolden Moss
The following were all on or alongside field 57:
Skylark- 140+
Reed Bunting- 170
Corn Bunting- 14, a nice flock but very flighty and mobile
Brambling- 4
Yellowhammer- 22
Stock Dove- 27
Field 5 south end saw most of the action this morning with several mixed groups of birds. Except for the few seen here the fieldfere and redwing seem to have gone elseware. From a birding angle a big loss. However I did see :-
f5 south
30+ meadow pipit
100+chaffinch,greenfinch,reed bunting with 2 brambling
50+ starling
4 fieldfare
2 mistle thrush
100's crows
40+ magpie
1 kestrel hovering
Blue & great tit, robin dunnock and blackbird in the hedgerow.
f8
chaffinch and reed bunting in the hedgerow and crow and magpie in the field
oakfield farm
2 mistle thrush
cutnook lane
usual bush birds and small flock of L.T. tits
Mike
Astley moss
4 Snipe
1 Woodcock
1 Green sandpiper flushed from where the LWT are doing their earth moving.
Bedford moss
3 Woodcock
3 Buzzards
1 Snipe
Usual at the feeding area including 2 Willow tits seen.
150 approx. chaffinch + 6 brambling f40
20 chaffinch + 1 brambling f11
100 approx. chaffinch + 2 mistle thrush f1
1 sparrowhawk thro' woods f11
1 merlin f52 and 14
1 kestrel over f2
20 approx fieldfare f15
lots of tits (incl. 1 willow), robins,goldfinch, chaffinch in hedgerows and crows magpies and pigeons in the fields.
4 pheasents.
Mike
A good morning for birds today, most usual species showing well in good numbers, the real exceptions being goldcrest, greenfinch and bullfinch that I didn't see at all. There are still lots of winters thrushes about, the vast majority being fieldfares but there is a smattering of redwing and mistle thrush with them.
winter thrushes - 100's in fields 4, 2 and 8
chaffinch - 100's fields 2 and 8 (plus singles in hedgerows)
yellowhammer and reed bunting - mixed flock, at least 30 but probably more.
lesser redpoll - 30 (couldn't spot a mealie)
buzzard - 2 (1 field 8 on pylon moved on by crows, 1 on post field 2 watching fieldfare)
sparrowhawk - field 5
kestrel - field 1
treecreeper in wood at edge of field 4
jay 2
pheasant 3
crow, magpie, blackbird, robin, dunnock, wren, starlings, blue and great tits.
L.T. tits - 2 small flocks (nos. down on usual)
wood pigeon 1000's - Black wood
feral pigeon 100's field 2
I don't think I have ever seen as many magpies any where as this area of the moss.
Mike
I have seen willow tits all over the mosses but not any marsh tits. I was on the road viewing the feeding station. I caught a partial glimpse of what I thought was the willow tit when it flew towards me and landed in the shrub by the gate, it then popped out of the front, glossy black head and no bib to speak of waited a few seconds and flew off. I know its unusual but I feel pretty confident about this one,still it would be nice to have someone with you when these things occur.
regards
Mike
I only ask because the mosses are good places for Willows and a Marsh hasn't been positively recorded for a long time.
Thanks. Henry.
Feeding station:-
11 yellowhammers (most I've seen here and looked really good in the sunshine)
6 tree sparrows
12 chaffinch
4 great tit
3 Blue tit
1 marsh tit (a first here for me)
1 pied wagtail
1 wren
4 robins
3 blackbird
1 kestrel in adjacent field. (another further down rindle road)
9 GBB gulls over (east to west)
1 buzzard over rindle wood
2 buzzards in field on moss lane
4 bullfinch in railway cottages hedgerow
3 fieldfare in field adjacent barn conversions.
confirm flock of pinkfeet already recorded by Pete Berry + lots of starlings, crows, magpies and wood pigeon, pheasant heard but not seen. Last but not least:- a car in the ditch on moss lane.
Mike
large flocks of fieldfare and redwing in field 1(south end), fields 7 and 8
large flocks of chaffinch in fields 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9
3 brambling with chaffs in field 1
1000's wood pigeon in fields around black wood (sent up by dog walkers)
200 feral pigeon in field 2
1 merlin field - 4 & 5
1 sparrowhawk - field 9
1 buzzard - field 7
Lanes and hedgerows quiet by usual standards but low nos. of :-
robin, blackbird, dunnock, yellowhammer, goldcrest, tits (l.t., blue, and great)
crows, magpie.
3 pheasent - field 4
Mike
Paul brown has just had a male on north ronalsey at the weekend,but as ian and pete said there are a lot of blackbirds with white patches on em these days,theres a few at penny.
With regard to Barn Owls they still breed on the Moss,the best time to look for them is late May when they are out early evening,hunting for food for their young.
-- Edited by pete berry at 22:37, 2009-01-18
Re. Ring Ouzel Phil, a wintering bird would not be beyond the realms of possibility as there are a handful of such records in the county (see the systematic list details for that species on the website) but it would still be very rare. There are many leucistic/partial albino Blackbirds with similar markings knocking about, some of which for whatever reason seem to have a pattern very similar to Ring Ouzel but that species is really quite different from Blackbird besides it's breast patch but it still might be worth following up
Also here 2 Buzzard interacting in flight.
Large mixed corvid flock and c.30 Linnets in f5 plus 1 Buzzard here.
3/4 Goldfinch
Male goosander
possibly a ring ouzel...would that be out of place? Flew right in front of me (no more than 10ft) following 2 blackbirds...so I had presumed it was just an oddly patterned blackbird. But had a look in my book just now and it shared the same distinct white neck of the ring ouzel! It also says however that they're not winter birds? Confusion!
Do barn owls still frequent anywhere nearby?
Both falcons eventually flew up to meet a 200+ flock of Wood Pigeons which had been put up by shooting on Astley moss. Both Peregrines headed towards Bedford moss.
Rindle road feeding area
A brief look as lots of shooting going on abouts and I`m suffering from the flu
7 Nervous RL Partridge
2 Moorhens
3 Bullfinch
8 Tree Sparrows
25+ Yellowhammers
2 Willow tits
1 GS Woodpecker in the trees beside Rindle road and 1 male Stonechat in the horse paddock at the top of Moss lane
feeding station (very quiet)
4 tree sparrows
2 yellowhammers
3 chaffinch
4 blue tits
1 great tit
1 willow tit
1 robin
4 blackbirds
I met Eddie King (putting the birdfood down) for the first time. Nice to meet you Eddie.
Elsewhere:-
1 heron in ditch, 6 R.L. partridge in field, robin, chaffinch and goldcrest in bushes.
In field on moss lane - 19 canada geese, crows, wood pigeon and starling all over.