ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Steve Collins said
Sat Jan 5 6:47 PM, 2008
Moss Lane 3.30-4.30 4 Grey Partrige and Pheasant fields to south Buzzard Kestrel sadly no Barn Owl for me tonight! Steve
Andrew Newall said
Thu Jan 3 11:47 PM, 2008
1sr ever visit today, forgot to take the map i printed off the website, doh !. So had a quick walk down by the canal had no idea where i was going so went back and have decided to visit antoher day.
cheers
Andrew
-- Edited by Andrew Newall at 00:23, 2008-01-04
Steve Collins said
Wed Jan 2 11:21 PM, 2008
I called by at 3pm to look for the feeding station which was ok to find thanks to directions. There were 30+ yellowhammers and 2 tree sparrows along with 2 reed buntings and chaffinches. They were up and down into the bushes but continued until about 3.45pm. A buzzard and kestrel also showed overhead. It was very cold and windy tonight so being able to sit in the car was a bonus! Steve
Dave Thacker said
Wed Jan 2 10:22 PM, 2008
Its interesting to see the numbers of Tree sparrows fall during the day at the feeding area.If like yesterday the birds are not disturbed by the Sparrowhawks they will quite happily gorge themselves on the seed from first light till around midday and then start flying off possibly to an early roost. The more disturbance there is then the later they go to roost.
Mark Rigby said
Wed Jan 2 9:47 PM, 2008
Feeding area at Rindle road 1215-1300
10+ Yellowhammer 2 Tree Sparrow buzzard 8 Stock Dove over field to left (69?) 3 Reed Bunting
Andy Isherwood said
Tue Jan 1 9:11 PM, 2008
Female type Merlin was hunting along Moss lane at about 2.30PM today aslo Little owl showing well in the trees at the west end of the long straight on moss lane and a barn owl hunting fields to the north. Andy
Dave Thacker said
Tue Jan 1 8:51 PM, 2008
8.15am - 16.40pm Usual birds at the feeding area at Rindle road, mainly in the morning as it went a little quiet after 1pm including Tree Sparrows ,up to 15-20 at a time Yellowhammers 20+ Willow tits 2 Reedbuntings 6 In field 69, Grey partridge 5 Fieldfare 1 Redwing 15+ Stonechat 2
Chat moss In the trees beside f18 mixed flock of Redwing , Brambling ,Chaffinch and Yellowhammers
Irlam moss 5 Pied Wagtails at f23
When the mosses are dull and overcast there are normally not too many birds about What did brighten up a dull day was meeting Simon + Alan Warford ,Paul Heaton,Paul Hammond, Dave Evans and friends and the other birders who turned up though the day at the Rindle road feeding area.
-- Edited by Dave Thacker at 20:54, 2008-01-01
Dave Thacker said
Mon Dec 31 4:10 PM, 2007
Hi Alan , Welcome to the forum
Alan Rowley said
Mon Dec 31 3:48 PM, 2007
Good to meet Dave Thacker and Eddie King at the feeding station on Rindle Road yesterday. Seems to be drawing in every Yellowhammer and Tree Sparrow for miles around.
I did the official BTO Winter Atlas to SJ79D (Birchwood Farm, south to Twelve Yards Road) on the 16th December. Needless to say all the Yellowhammers were at the one spot. Yesterday, I was testing out a voice activated digital recorder before the late Winter tetrads start. This is because my reading vision has gone so as I can't use notebook and bins together and I can no longer remember what I've seen for more than a few minutes. For anyone with the same problem..it worked.
The numbers on the official 2 hour visit were as follows: Mallard 5 Red-legged Partridge 3 Pheasant 3 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 2 Moorhen 3 Lapwing 5 Woodcock 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 Herring Gull 5 Feral Pigeon 27 Stock Dove 2 Woodpigeon 2 Collared Dove 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 Meadow Pipit 1 Wren 8 Dunnock 4 Robin 4 Blackbird 30 Song Thrush 1 Redwing 1 Mistle Thrush 2 Goldcrest 2 Long-tailed Tit 15 Willow Tit 1 Coal Tit 2 Blue Tit 10 Great Tit 8 Jay 2 Magpie 14 Jackdaw 7 Carrion Crow 9 Starling 117 Tree Sparrow 3 Chaffinch 80 Goldfinch 1 Bullfinch 1 Yellowhammer 14 Reed Bunting 5
Total species: 40
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 30 10:30 PM, 2007
geoff, you're spot on there, up rindle road and the feeding area is along the obvious track along the edge of the very last field on the right bordering the railway, on the chat moss field map found on the county site guides page on the website its field no 69
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Dec 30 8:55 PM, 2007
ian ,i,m a bit like you the info,s on the site or forum somewhere but i cant find it.Quite a lot of seed is being put on the track off rindle road so i,ve assumed this is it,approaching from the A580 get to the level crossing and turn round, after the first field on your left there is a parking spot and a metal barrier/gate tied up with blue rope look down the track and the seed is being left out there,i,m sure your meant to watch from the gate to avoid spooking the diners
cheers geoff
Ian Campbell said
Sun Dec 30 8:07 PM, 2007
I suspect that the location of the feeding station on Rindle Rd has been explained but I can't find it. So could some kind soul out there please give me instructions. Thanks in anticipation, as this site never fails(unlike Citys strike force!!). Cheers Ian
Dave Thacker said
Sun Dec 30 1:21 PM, 2007
9.20 am - 12. 10 pm
Birds seen while parked up at the feeding area beside Rindle road this morning,
110+ Pink footed Geese over flying west at 9.30 am 1 male Merlin flying at speed over f69 , it flushed the birds from the seed and carried on into Rindle woods. 2 Grey Partridge, 6 Pheasant, 5 Redwing and 4 Mistle thrushes in f67.
Feeding at the seed, 25+ Yellowhammers 20+ Tree Sparrows 10+ Chaffinches 2 Reed buntings 15+ Blackbirds Blue,Great and Coal tits, 2 Pied Wagtails Too many to count Robins
Birds flying over Kestrel, Jays, GS Woodpecker and a mixed bunch of 80+ gulls,
In all 32 different species of bird seen from the same spot at the end of the track. It was also good to meet up with Alan Rowley who was doing his timed tetrad count and Eddie King who was putting some seed down.Nice to meet you both.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Dec 22 8:18 PM, 2007
8.30 -11.30am The male Sparrowhawk was again swooping down the track this morning and came very close to catching a Robin which left it very late to fly into the hedge.As well as all the usual birds that turned up for the seed a GS Woodpecker also flew on to the track and had a quick forage with the 4 Blackbirds that were feeding there.
Astley Moss 11 Corn buntings in the trees beside the potato field 2 Snipe at the scrapes 5 MPipits 2 Willow tits 1 Stonechat on the dung heaps in the horse paddock 30+ Redwing all over
A male Sparrowhawk was sat in the hedge beside the track where the seed is put down but did not stay around for a photo and did not hunt while I was there. 20+ Tree sparrows 10+ Yellowhammers 3 Reed buntings 6 Chaffinches 2 Great and 1 Willow tit all came down to the seed. Also in the horse paddock next to the track was a large [30+] mixed flock of thrushes Mistle,Blackbird,Redwing and 3 Fieldfare.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 13 5:40 PM, 2007
I saw the same flock Pete of around 200 Pink-feet flying over Astley, 12:10 and they were indeed over (and following?) the East Lancs Road
Pete Lane said
Wed Dec 12 3:01 PM, 2007
11.00am-12.00noon Rindle Rd.
Stonechat Large group of geese (200+) flying west I guess they were somewtere near the East Lanc's road.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Nov 29 2:27 PM, 2007
11.50 - 1315 today Good views of a hunting male Sparrowhawk can be seen as it flies up and down the track where the seed is being put down for the birds at the top end of Rindle road.
It made 3 attempts today as I watched from my car parked beside Rindle road looking down the track. It watches from the large tree at the beginning of Rindle wood, then swoops down and glides over the grass in the middle of the track , flying 6" from the ground trying to flush a bird from the seed, it then flies through the triangle in the metal gate and down along the drainage ditch until it reaches the farm, it then uses the cover of the trees and Rindle wood to arrive back at its starting point.
It takes about 10-15 minutes for the Yellowhammers, Tree sparrows and Chaffinches to settle down feeding again before the Sparrowhawk trys again.On its third attempt it caught a female Chaffinch which was just a little too slow in getting back into the hedge.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Nov 26 5:25 PM, 2007
11.45 - 14.30pm today
Bedford moss 2 Woodcock flushed out 2 Buzzards Large tit flock 30 + including 4 Willow tits
Astley moss 2 Stonechats 4 Redwing and 6 Mistle Thrushes in the old potato field 2 Grey Partridge
Plenty of Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and 2 Linnits near the seed on the track beside Rindle road.
Simon Warford said
Sun Nov 25 1:55 PM, 2007
25/11/2007 Late am
Quick look around the Rindle Road feeding station area, counted 11 Yellowhammers on seed and 20 Tree Sparrows, plus Redwing and Willow Tit in adjacent bushes getting into the communal spirit with the other birds there.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 11 5:26 PM, 2007
Forgot to mention also today...
Stonechat- a pair at the bottom of Rindle Road (where the level crossing is classed as the top), close to the horse paddock there. Chaffinch- 130, in a large flock along Nook Lane then made their way to the back of the horse paddock at the bottom of Rindle (where the Stonchats were)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:35, 2007-11-11
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 11 2:08 PM, 2007
Sunday 11th November 8:30am
2 Whooper Swan flew strongly west low over Astley Moss East at 9:05am this morning.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Nov 10 3:12 PM, 2007
This morning 8 - 11 am
Astley Moss Large flock [30+] Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows at the feeding area near Rindle road. Plenty of Blue, Coal, Great and Willow tits along the hedges near the now ploughed potato field. GS Woodpecker in the trees as you enter Astley SSSI. 5 Teal and 2 Mallard in the small water filled channels cut into the peat in the middle of the moss. 4 Mpipits
Bedford Moss Buzzard on its favourite perch, 8 LT tits 7 Whooper Swans flying low over the moss in a NE direction at 10.17 am,
I also saw the Grey geese flying over the moss while talking with Pete Berry . I took them to be Pinks but Pete had doubts . So its worth keeping an eye out for them.
Nice to meet you Pete.
pete berry said
Sat Nov 10 12:11 PM, 2007
About 11am this morning 12 Grey geese flew low from Chat Moss over Astley Moss and tried to land near Moss Lane but were put up by shooting.They circled round and appeared to land near Botany Bay Woods on private land.They could just be Pinks,but as we don't usually get Pinks landing in the county they just might be something more interesting.I'm sure they're still around the area,so worth keeping your eyes open if your birding on the Moss.
Pete Hines said
Fri Nov 9 6:00 PM, 2007
Birdguides report 5 Whooper Swan flying SE over Irlam 07.15 this morning
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 6 7:06 PM, 2007
Tuesday 6th November, 12:00 to 2:20pm
A couple of hours around the mosses:
Merlin- fem/imm over field 63, heading low (and very quickly) south Skylark- 12, field 63 (disturbed by the Merlin) Stonechat- a pair long the western edge of field 63 Stock Dove- 73, field 52 Buzzard- only a couple knocking about
Dave Thacker said
Sun Oct 14 5:18 PM, 2007
12.30 - 3.15pm this afternoon. Astley moss, 10 Pied wagtails in the fields beside Moss lane 4 Redwing , 6 Tree Sparrows , 4 Yellowhammers and 2 Reed Buntings in the hedges beside Rindle road. 5 Goldcrests , 1 Siskin and 1 Willow tit joining a flock of Blue,Coal,Great and LT Tits in the hedges near Rindle wood.
Bedford moss, 2 Grey wagtails 1 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 2 flocks of Redwings over, 9 + 24 flying west 15 Pinkfoot over flying west 11 Canada geese over flying east.
Astley SSSI 2 M Pipits 1 Grey partridge 2 Reed buntings 1 Linnet Also 12 Teal , 5m and 7f in the long water filled channels in the middle of the moss.
Still lots of Dragonflies hunting over the moss.
Dave Thacker said
Sun Sep 30 8:53 PM, 2007
This afternoon 12.30 - 2.30pm Astley Moss
1000`s of young Pheasants in the fields and along Rindle road. Buzzard in f69 hopping around probably trying to catch a vole and 1 Kestrel hunting over the same field. A flock of at least 40 Tree sparrows in the hedges leading to Rindle wood. 5 Jays, 1 Treecreeper and 4 Goldfinch in Rindle woods. 2 Buzzards soaring over the potato field. 2 Willow, 8 LT tits and 1 GS Woodpecker in the trees beside the field. 3 juvenile Buzzards around Bedford moss and 1 Swallow over On the walk back I saw 2 Redwing together with Blackbirds and Mistle thrushes taking berries from the hedges
Too much shooting was going on around the mosses today disturbing the birds as 100`s of woodpigeons were always overhead.
Dave Thacker said
Sat Sep 22 9:36 PM, 2007
This afternoon 1.30-4pm
Astley moss 100+ Pheasant in the fields along side the length of Rindle road and a couple actually running in front of my car. 50+ Woodpigeons in f67 and f69. At least 180 Starlings sat together on the phone wires between the farm and f68. Chiffchaff singing near the signal box Large flock of LT,Great,Blue and Coal tits working the hedges up to Rindle wood 4 Tree sparrows ,1 Treecreeper and 1 GS woodpecker in Rindle woods
Astley SSSI 2 Snipe at the small ponds 4 Yellow wagtails , all juveniles 1 Curlew over 2 Oystercatchers over 3 Jays over
Bedford moss 2 juvenile Buzzards sat at their favourite perches watching the moss 2 Kestrels both hunting and having successful kills while I watched. Due to lots of shooting going on further down the moss large flocks of Woodpigeons were overhead , up to 150 birds at a time. Plenty of Swallows and Martins heading south.
Dave Thacker said
Thu Sep 13 9:41 PM, 2007
This evening 18.30 - 20.45
3 Grey Partridge in f67 24 Lapwings flocking together and flying between f69 and f67 due to being disturbed by a small biplane out from Barton. 7 Tree Sparrows in the hedges before Rindle wood 1 Barn owl hunting over the small pools on Astley SSSI. Tawny owl sat in a Birch tree on Bedford moss while another was calling from the railway side of the moss.
Plenty of insects, moths and bats flying around the moss tonight and 5 Hares seen in the potato fields.
Also as I walked back to my car a very large owl flew over me just before I came out on Rindle road, it was too dark to see it properly.Possible SE Owl but not sure.
Ian Woosey said
Sun Aug 26 7:11 PM, 2007
26/8/07 early afternoon
8 Buzzards - 3 over Bedford Moss, and 5 soaring over the Peat Pools (seen distantly from Rindle Farm flood, I hasten to add ! !) a male and a female Sparrowhawk - the f. chasing Starlings at Rindle flood (F68), the m. over Astley SSSI. 3 Kestrels - Bedford Moss. single Sand Martin with Swallows and House Martins over the flood. usual sightings of Tree Sparrows at Rindle Farm.
-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 19:21, 2007-08-26
Dave Thacker said
Sat Aug 25 9:35 PM, 2007
Hope you find something decent at Spurn Ian
Ian Woosey said
Fri Aug 24 10:18 PM, 2007
Glad you eventually caught up with the Hobby Dave : patience and perseverance always pays off
Dave Thacker said
Fri Aug 24 10:09 PM, 2007
This evening 6pm - 8.45 pm
Finally had two sightings of the Hobby tonight , it only took 16 visits in the last 2 months to find it .
It flew over f67 which panicked the Swallows and Martins and chased them over Rindle road and into f69. I then saw it again later flying over the small pools in Astley SSSI towards the railway.
Field 67, 2 Kestrels hunting , 3 RL Partridge ,2 Grey Partridge ,1 Whitethroat , 4 Tree sparrows ,2 Mallard over Field 69 ,4 Stock doves and 20 Woodies and this was even with the combine harvester working in the same field.
In the fields between Rindle woods and Astley SSSI there was 4 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards hunting together, the kestrels hovered or perched in the trees before dropping into the fields .As I walked around the edge of the field I must have seen 30+ small black voles in the grass which has been cut very short. Some of the voles were actually fighting or chasing each other around my boots as I stood there.At one point there was 6 Kestrels over the field at the same time.
Bedford moss , 3 more Buzzards sat in the trees and 21 Canada geese over flying west.
Mark Rigby said
Wed Aug 22 12:54 PM, 2007
Tuesday 21/08/07
Irlam Moss 1330-1530
3 Yellow wag/16 Pied Wag/6 Linnet on 22 100's of Hirundines on wires over 22 Buzzard over 23 5 Stock Doves 10 6 Stock Doves/70+Woodpigeon 62
Dave Thacker said
Sun Aug 19 10:01 PM, 2007
Astley and Bedford moss 6pm-9pm this evening.
Hundreds of Swallows in the fields and on the wires along side Moss lane, it looks like they are getting ready for the trip down South.Not one Swift seen all evening.
2 Kestrels hunting along Nook lane. 1 Little owl at the edge of Rindle woods 2 Buzzards stood in the field of grass beside the woods along with 2 Hares Astley SSSI was very quiet and too overgrown to walk about much , just 1 Canada goose flying over. The two Buzzards from the field spent 20 minutes hunting over Bedford moss then joined up in the same tree and started preening. 3 Jays 10+ Tree sparrows in the hedges on the way back to Rindle road. 1 Budgie sat on the telephone wires near the canal bridge , I suppose thats a girlie tick!!!!
Dave Thacker said
Sun Aug 19 12:53 PM, 2007
Welcome Riggers Its been a good year for breeding Wagtails on the mosses as there are plenty of juvenile Yellow.Pied and Grey in the fields.
I also had a report of deer in fields 20 + 21 beside Astley road in the last couple of days.
Mark Rigby said
Sat Aug 18 10:10 PM, 2007
Irlam Moss 0730-0830 in very poor weather.
10 yellow wagtails with large no's of pied wagtails (25+) field 22 100+ starling on wires with 18 mistle thrush 20-22 pair blackcap in hedgerow. s end 20 common buzzard 52 2 stock dove over 52
first time birding in the sw of the county apart from the Wheatear, nice to see yellow wags-they are a 'mega' in the east of the county!
eddie king said
Thu Aug 16 12:39 PM, 2007
15th 9.00pm. Little Owl on Rindle Farm.
Ian Woosey said
Wed Aug 15 7:36 PM, 2007
15/8/07 early afternoon
8 Yellow Wagtails - 7 in F22, one over F59. 4 Buzzard (at least one juv.) - over F44/51 m Stonechat nr. Messuages Farm Little Owl by the side of Olive Mt Fm. c150 House Martins along Rindle Rd/farm 2 Kestrels
I & J McKerchar & I Woosey
Steve Suttill said
Mon Aug 6 10:21 AM, 2007
Glad to see that you're getting involved in the Atlas Tony. Ian has put all the details on the noticeboard page (I know some folks only look at the Forum bit of the website - you don't know what you're missing).
I've had quite a few expressions of interest so far (thanks all) but if anyone else is interested in helping with this mammoth, but extremely valuable project, send me an e-mail or register on the BTO website - see above-mentioned article on the Noticeboard page.
Steve
Tony Coatsworth said
Sat Aug 4 11:05 AM, 2007
I have volunteered to co-ordinate the 10km square SJ78 for the forthcoming BTO Bird Atlas project, so if anyone fancies doing a 'timed tetrad' walk or just submitting 'roving records' - see http://www.bto.org/birdatlas/taking_part/index.htm - please let me know.
Of course I expect someone else will be co-ordinating other squares such as SJ79 - Steve Suttill will have the details for the Manchester squares
Dave Thacker said
Fri Aug 3 9:45 PM, 2007
This afternoon 4pm to 8pm
Astley moss Stonechat beside Rindle road opposite Moss Bank farm, At least 22 Tree Sparrows flocking together in the hedges just before the rail crossing beside f69, 3 Kestrels.
Rindle woods 2 Willow warblers, 1 Stoat.
Bedford moss Watched 2 Buzzards for about 45 minutes perching and soaring around the clearing at the end of the woodchip path.Both were juveniles as they had streaked breasts which were lighter in colour than an adult bird.Very vocal, constantly mewing to each other as they were mobbed by a pair of Jays.Good views of one of my favourite birds of prey. Also 2 Herons catching frogs from the sides of the ponds. 1 Grey Wagtail.
Chat moss Kestrels hunting in both f58 and f59, 3 Yellow wagtails over f62. 4 Yellow wagtails in f52
Irlam moss 2 Corn buntings, 4 Grey partridge and 1 Buzzard in f17, A flock of 5 Yellow and 3 Pied wagtails together in f21, Whitethroat perched beside Woodstock farm. 2 Grey partridge over f27.
Hundreds of hirundines over all the mosses.
and still no Hobby sighting
-- Edited by Dave Thacker at 21:48, 2007-08-03
Pete Hines said
Thu Aug 2 9:05 PM, 2007
Birdguides reported for morning of 1st August at Irlam Moss
Hobby, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Spotted Fly and a Little Owl
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 1 7:22 PM, 2007
Sid and anyone else who'd like a paper copy of the mosses map,
if you send me a stamped, addressed envelope I can send you an A4 copy of the map if you'd like? My address can be found on the 'who's who' page on the website.
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 31 11:24 PM, 2007
Warfy/Ian thanks for the info and the welcomes - much appreciated.
It seems to be quite a detailed and large map but I am sure that I shall find some way to print and take with me to find all those good sightings.
Regards
Sid A[
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 31 10:19 PM, 2007
Hi Sid and welcome,
what Warfy says
Simon Warford said
Tue Jul 31 10:17 PM, 2007
Sid, on the home page, click on "County Birding sites and map" and chat/astley moss are at the bottom
And welcome to the forum
Simon
sid ashton said
Tue Jul 31 9:54 PM, 2007
Ian
Have been looking at the forum for a few months now and finally plucked up the courage to submit an entry this morning re Black Redstarts. Reading you item on Chat Moss etc I notice you refer to the fields by number. Question where can I find a map with those numbers reffed?
Regards
Sid A
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 31 8:21 PM, 2007
Tuesday 31st July, 1pm-3pm.
Spotted Flycatcher- 1 along 12 yards road, roughly around field 52
Yellow Wagtail- 1 female on 12 yards road (actually on the road!), 5 juveniles (with atleast 3 other unaged birds calling in the field to the south) in the horse paddocks in field 23 showing very well and actually allowing me to photograph them this time, check out the galleries when I've uploaded them)
Whinchat- 1 immature in the horse paddocks in field 23 (also got some nice shots of that too )
4 Grey Partrige and Pheasant fields to south
Buzzard
Kestrel
sadly no Barn Owl for me tonight!
Steve
cheers
Andrew
-- Edited by Andrew Newall at 00:23, 2008-01-04
Steve
10+ Yellowhammer
2 Tree Sparrow
buzzard
8 Stock Dove over field to left (69?)
3 Reed Bunting
Andy
Usual birds at the feeding area at Rindle road, mainly in the morning as it went a little quiet after 1pm including
Tree Sparrows ,up to 15-20 at a time
Yellowhammers 20+
Willow tits 2
Reedbuntings 6
In field 69,
Grey partridge 5
Fieldfare 1
Redwing 15+
Stonechat 2
Bedford moss
Buzzards 2
Woodcock 2
Snipe 1
Kestrel 1
Chat moss
In the trees beside f18 mixed flock of Redwing , Brambling ,Chaffinch and Yellowhammers
Irlam moss
5 Pied Wagtails at f23
When the mosses are dull and overcast there are normally not too many birds about
What did brighten up a dull day was meeting Simon + Alan Warford ,Paul Heaton,Paul Hammond, Dave Evans and friends and the other birders who turned up though the day at the Rindle road feeding area.
-- Edited by Dave Thacker at 20:54, 2008-01-01
I did the official BTO Winter Atlas to SJ79D (Birchwood Farm, south to Twelve Yards Road) on the 16th December. Needless to say all the Yellowhammers were at the one spot. Yesterday, I was testing out a voice activated digital recorder before the late Winter tetrads start. This is because my reading vision has gone so as I can't use notebook and bins together and I can no longer remember what I've seen for more than a few minutes. For anyone with the same problem..it worked.
The numbers on the official 2 hour visit were as follows:
Mallard 5
Red-legged Partridge 3
Pheasant 3
Sparrowhawk 1
Kestrel 2
Moorhen 3
Lapwing 5
Woodcock 1
Lesser Black-backed Gull 6
Herring Gull 5
Feral Pigeon 27
Stock Dove 2
Woodpigeon 2
Collared Dove 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker 3
Meadow Pipit 1
Wren 8
Dunnock 4
Robin 4
Blackbird 30
Song Thrush 1
Redwing 1
Mistle Thrush 2
Goldcrest 2
Long-tailed Tit 15
Willow Tit 1
Coal Tit 2
Blue Tit 10
Great Tit 8
Jay 2
Magpie 14
Jackdaw 7
Carrion Crow 9
Starling 117
Tree Sparrow 3
Chaffinch 80
Goldfinch 1
Bullfinch 1
Yellowhammer 14
Reed Bunting 5
Total species: 40
get to the level crossing and turn round, after the first field on your left there is a parking spot and a metal barrier/gate tied up with blue rope look down the track and the seed is being left out there,i,m sure your meant to watch from the gate to avoid spooking the diners
cheers geoff
Cheers Ian
Birds seen while parked up at the feeding area beside Rindle road this morning,
110+ Pink footed Geese over flying west at 9.30 am
1 male Merlin flying at speed over f69 , it flushed the birds from the seed and carried on into Rindle woods.
2 Grey Partridge, 6 Pheasant, 5 Redwing and 4 Mistle thrushes in f67.
Feeding at the seed,
25+ Yellowhammers
20+ Tree Sparrows
10+ Chaffinches
2 Reed buntings
15+ Blackbirds
Blue,Great and Coal tits,
2 Pied Wagtails
Too many to count Robins
Birds flying over
Kestrel, Jays, GS Woodpecker and a mixed bunch of 80+ gulls,
In all 32 different species of bird seen from the same spot at the end of the track.
It was also good to meet up with Alan Rowley who was doing his timed tetrad count and Eddie King who was putting some seed down.Nice to meet you both.
The male Sparrowhawk was again swooping down the track this morning and came very close to catching a Robin which left it very late to fly into the hedge.As well as all the usual birds that turned up for the seed a GS Woodpecker also flew on to the track and had a quick forage with the 4 Blackbirds that were feeding there.
Astley Moss
11 Corn buntings in the trees beside the potato field
2 Snipe at the scrapes
5 MPipits
2 Willow tits
1 Stonechat on the dung heaps in the horse paddock
30+ Redwing all over
Bedford Moss
Hunting Kestrel
1 Buzzard
2 Mallard on the ponds
3 Woodcock flushed
1 Moorhen
3 Pied Wags
2 Goldcrests
A male Sparrowhawk was sat in the hedge beside the track where the seed is put down but did not stay around for a photo and did not hunt while I was there.
20+ Tree sparrows
10+ Yellowhammers
3 Reed buntings
6 Chaffinches
2 Great and 1 Willow tit all came down to the seed.
Also in the horse paddock next to the track was a large [30+] mixed flock of thrushes Mistle,Blackbird,Redwing and 3 Fieldfare.
Stonechat
Large group of geese (200+) flying west I guess they were somewtere near the East Lanc's road.
Good views of a hunting male Sparrowhawk can be seen as it flies up and down the track where the seed is being put down for the birds at the top end of Rindle road.
It made 3 attempts today as I watched from my car parked beside Rindle road looking down the track. It watches from the large tree at the beginning of Rindle wood, then swoops down and glides over the grass in the middle of the track , flying 6" from the ground trying to flush a bird from the seed, it then flies through the triangle in the metal gate and down along the drainage ditch until it reaches the farm, it then uses the cover of the trees and Rindle wood to arrive back at its starting point.
It takes about 10-15 minutes for the Yellowhammers, Tree sparrows and Chaffinches to settle down feeding again before the Sparrowhawk trys again.On its third attempt it caught a female Chaffinch which was just a little too slow in getting back into the hedge.
Bedford moss
2 Woodcock flushed out
2 Buzzards
Large tit flock 30 + including 4 Willow tits
Astley moss
2 Stonechats
4 Redwing and 6 Mistle Thrushes in the old potato field
2 Grey Partridge
Plenty of Tree Sparrows, Yellowhammers and 2 Linnits near the seed on the track beside Rindle road.
Quick look around the Rindle Road feeding station area, counted 11 Yellowhammers on seed and 20 Tree Sparrows, plus Redwing and Willow Tit in adjacent bushes getting into the communal spirit with the other birds there.
Stonechat- a pair at the bottom of Rindle Road (where the level crossing is classed as the top), close to the horse paddock there.
Chaffinch- 130, in a large flock along Nook Lane then made their way to the back of the horse paddock at the bottom of Rindle (where the Stonchats were)
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:35, 2007-11-11
2 Whooper Swan flew strongly west low over Astley Moss East at 9:05am this morning.
Astley Moss
Large flock [30+] Yellowhammers and Tree Sparrows at the feeding area near Rindle road.
Plenty of Blue, Coal, Great and Willow tits along the hedges near the now ploughed potato field.
GS Woodpecker in the trees as you enter Astley SSSI.
5 Teal and 2 Mallard in the small water filled channels cut into the peat in the middle of the moss.
4 Mpipits
Bedford Moss
Buzzard on its favourite perch,
8 LT tits
7 Whooper Swans flying low over the moss in a NE direction at 10.17 am,
I also saw the Grey geese flying over the moss while talking with Pete Berry . I took them to be Pinks but Pete had doubts . So its worth keeping an eye out for them.
Nice to meet you Pete.
A couple of hours around the mosses:
Merlin- fem/imm over field 63, heading low (and very quickly) south
Skylark- 12, field 63 (disturbed by the Merlin)
Stonechat- a pair long the western edge of field 63
Stock Dove- 73, field 52
Buzzard- only a couple knocking about
Astley moss,
10 Pied wagtails in the fields beside Moss lane
4 Redwing , 6 Tree Sparrows , 4 Yellowhammers and 2 Reed Buntings in the hedges beside Rindle road.
5 Goldcrests , 1 Siskin and 1 Willow tit joining a flock of Blue,Coal,Great and LT Tits in the hedges near Rindle wood.
Bedford moss,
2 Grey wagtails
1 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
2 flocks of Redwings over, 9 + 24 flying west
15 Pinkfoot over flying west
11 Canada geese over flying east.
Astley SSSI
2 M Pipits
1 Grey partridge
2 Reed buntings
1 Linnet
Also 12 Teal , 5m and 7f in the long water filled channels in the middle of the moss.
Still lots of Dragonflies hunting over the moss.
Astley Moss
1000`s of young Pheasants in the fields and along Rindle road.
Buzzard in f69 hopping around probably trying to catch a vole and 1 Kestrel hunting over the same field.
A flock of at least 40 Tree sparrows in the hedges leading to Rindle wood.
5 Jays, 1 Treecreeper and 4 Goldfinch in Rindle woods.
2 Buzzards soaring over the potato field.
2 Willow, 8 LT tits and 1 GS Woodpecker in the trees beside the field.
3 juvenile Buzzards around Bedford moss and 1 Swallow over
On the walk back I saw 2 Redwing together with Blackbirds and Mistle thrushes taking berries from the hedges
Too much shooting was going on around the mosses today disturbing the birds as 100`s of woodpigeons were always overhead.
Astley moss
100+ Pheasant in the fields along side the length of Rindle road and a couple actually running in front of my car.
50+ Woodpigeons in f67 and f69.
At least 180 Starlings sat together on the phone wires between the farm and f68.
Chiffchaff singing near the signal box
Large flock of LT,Great,Blue and Coal tits working the hedges up to Rindle wood
4 Tree sparrows ,1 Treecreeper and 1 GS woodpecker in Rindle woods
Astley SSSI
2 Snipe at the small ponds
4 Yellow wagtails , all juveniles
1 Curlew over
2 Oystercatchers over
3 Jays over
Bedford moss
2 juvenile Buzzards sat at their favourite perches watching the moss
2 Kestrels both hunting and having successful kills while I watched.
Due to lots of shooting going on further down the moss large flocks of Woodpigeons were overhead , up to 150 birds at a time.
Plenty of Swallows and Martins heading south.
3 Grey Partridge in f67
24 Lapwings flocking together and flying between f69 and f67 due to being disturbed by a small biplane out from Barton.
7 Tree Sparrows in the hedges before Rindle wood
1 Barn owl hunting over the small pools on Astley SSSI.
Tawny owl sat in a Birch tree on Bedford moss while another was calling from the railway side of the moss.
Plenty of insects, moths and bats flying around the moss tonight and 5 Hares seen in the potato fields.
Also as I walked back to my car a very large owl flew over me just before I came out on Rindle road, it was too dark to see it properly.Possible SE Owl but not sure.
8 Buzzards - 3 over Bedford Moss, and 5 soaring over the Peat Pools (seen distantly from Rindle Farm flood, I hasten to add ! !)
a male and a female Sparrowhawk - the f. chasing Starlings at Rindle flood (F68), the m. over Astley SSSI.
3 Kestrels - Bedford Moss.
single Sand Martin with Swallows and House Martins over the flood.
usual sightings of Tree Sparrows at Rindle Farm.
-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 19:21, 2007-08-26
Finally had two sightings of the Hobby tonight , it only took 16 visits in the last 2 months to find it .
It flew over f67 which panicked the Swallows and Martins and chased them over Rindle road and into f69. I then saw it again later flying over the small pools in Astley SSSI towards the railway.
Field 67, 2 Kestrels hunting , 3 RL Partridge ,2 Grey Partridge ,1 Whitethroat , 4 Tree sparrows ,2 Mallard over
Field 69 ,4 Stock doves and 20 Woodies and this was even with the combine harvester working in the same field.
In the fields between Rindle woods and Astley SSSI there was 4 Kestrels and 2 Buzzards hunting together, the kestrels hovered or perched in the trees before dropping into the fields .As I walked around the edge of the field I must have seen 30+ small black voles in the grass which has been cut very short. Some of the voles were actually fighting or chasing each other around my boots as I stood there.At one point there was 6 Kestrels over the field at the same time.
Astley SSSI , 5 Jays , 1 GS Woodpecker over , 3 Yellowhammers.
Bedford moss , 3 more Buzzards sat in the trees and 21 Canada geese over flying west.
Irlam Moss 1330-1530
3 Yellow wag/16 Pied Wag/6 Linnet on 22
100's of Hirundines on wires over 22
Buzzard over 23
5 Stock Doves 10
6 Stock Doves/70+Woodpigeon 62
Hundreds of Swallows in the fields and on the wires along side Moss lane, it looks like they are getting ready for the trip down South.Not one Swift seen all evening.
2 Kestrels hunting along Nook lane.
1 Little owl at the edge of Rindle woods
2 Buzzards stood in the field of grass beside the woods along with 2 Hares
Astley SSSI was very quiet and too overgrown to walk about much , just 1 Canada goose flying over.
The two Buzzards from the field spent 20 minutes hunting over Bedford moss then joined up in the same tree and started preening.
3 Jays
10+ Tree sparrows in the hedges on the way back to Rindle road.
1 Budgie sat on the telephone wires near the canal bridge , I suppose thats a girlie tick!!!!
Its been a good year for breeding Wagtails on the mosses as there are plenty of juvenile Yellow.Pied and Grey in the fields.
I also had a report of deer in fields 20 + 21 beside Astley road in the last couple of days.
10 yellow wagtails with large no's of pied wagtails (25+) field 22
100+ starling on wires with 18 mistle thrush 20-22
pair blackcap in hedgerow. s end 20
common buzzard 52
2 stock dove over 52
first time birding in the sw of the county apart from the Wheatear, nice to see yellow wags-they are a 'mega' in the east of the county!
8 Yellow Wagtails - 7 in F22, one over F59.
4 Buzzard (at least one juv.) - over F44/51
m Stonechat nr. Messuages Farm
Little Owl by the side of Olive Mt Fm.
c150 House Martins along Rindle Rd/farm
2 Kestrels
I & J McKerchar & I Woosey
I've had quite a few expressions of interest so far (thanks all) but if anyone else is interested in helping with this mammoth, but extremely valuable project, send me an e-mail or register on the BTO website - see above-mentioned article on the Noticeboard page.
Steve
Of course I expect someone else will be co-ordinating other squares such as SJ79 - Steve Suttill will have the details for the Manchester squares
Astley moss
Stonechat beside Rindle road opposite Moss Bank farm,
At least 22 Tree Sparrows flocking together in the hedges just before the rail crossing beside f69,
3 Kestrels.
Rindle woods
2 Willow warblers,
1 Stoat.
Bedford moss
Watched 2 Buzzards for about 45 minutes perching and soaring around the clearing at the end of the woodchip path.Both were juveniles as they had streaked breasts which were lighter in colour than an adult bird.Very vocal, constantly mewing to each other as they were mobbed by a pair of Jays.Good views of one of my favourite birds of prey.
Also 2 Herons catching frogs from the sides of the ponds.
1 Grey Wagtail.
Chat moss
Kestrels hunting in both f58 and f59,
3 Yellow wagtails over f62.
4 Yellow wagtails in f52
Irlam moss
2 Corn buntings, 4 Grey partridge and 1 Buzzard in f17,
A flock of 5 Yellow and 3 Pied wagtails together in f21,
Whitethroat perched beside Woodstock farm.
2 Grey partridge over f27.
Hundreds of hirundines over all the mosses.
and still no Hobby sighting
-- Edited by Dave Thacker at 21:48, 2007-08-03
Hobby, 6 Yellow Wagtail, 4 Spotted Fly and a Little Owl
if you send me a stamped, addressed envelope I can send you an A4 copy of the map if you'd like? My address can be found on the 'who's who' page on the website.
It seems to be quite a detailed and large map but I am sure that I shall find some way to print and take with me to find all those good sightings.
Regards
Sid A[
what Warfy says
And welcome to the forum
Simon
Have been looking at the forum for a few months now and finally plucked up the courage to submit an entry this morning re Black Redstarts. Reading you item on Chat Moss etc I notice you refer to the fields by number. Question where can I find a map with those numbers reffed?
Regards
Sid A
Spotted Flycatcher- 1 along 12 yards road, roughly around field 52
Yellow Wagtail- 1 female on 12 yards road (actually on the road!), 5 juveniles (with atleast 3 other unaged birds calling in the field to the south) in the horse paddocks in field 23 showing very well and actually allowing me to photograph them this time, check out the galleries when I've uploaded them)
Whinchat- 1 immature in the horse paddocks in field 23 (also got some nice shots of that too )