Male Cuckoo being mobbed by Meadow Pipits in scrub from notice board on path next to yellow wagtail fields at 7.10pm. Flew towards tree line at carpark end.
steven burke said
Sun Jun 2 11:40 AM, 2024
Post from yesterday evening 1st June...
Little woolden moss nr.
2 hobbies 1-2 marsh harrier 1 kestrel 2 curlews 2 oystercatchers Several lapwings Numerous swifts 1 garden warbler heard near main entrance but just couldn't see it. 2 blackcaps Numerous willow warblers 1 chiffchaff 3 Reed buntings Grasshopper warbler, Water rails & Cuckoo heard only.
4 grey partridge along Astley Road.
Simon Gough said
Sun Jun 2 10:06 AM, 2024
Saturday 010624
I had a walk on Little Woolden Moss yesterday evening, it was superb in the warm sunshine. Delighted to hear and then see a Cuckoo, being chased from bush to bush by Meadow Pipits. Also 2 Hobby and a Marsh Harrier at the western end and a singing Corn Bunting in the field north of the reserve. Heard a Grasshopper Warbler over there too
1 Yellow Wagtail...with this and the Yellowhammer I was as ever uplifted by the sights and sounds of these birds in their glory...BUT sadly this was tempered by the knowledge that in but one (brief as it seems now!!!) lifetime these two species and many more have declined so much so that its to me fundamentally sad that I but encounter these birds in single numbers...what have we done to our Natural World????....and who cares?????
Little Wooden moss highlights from this morning, Little egret dropped into the centre of the reserve c.10.45 am, singing Corn Bunting to the north and also 2 + Yellow Wagtail In the area.
I too have read about the Lapwing Young being taken by Red Kite....and have had the same reservations....I have been recording the decline of Lapwing on the Moss over the years and in my opinion this is now gaining momentum with
Autumn Sowing such as FN29 now having lost up to 20 pairs
No crop sowing on most of Barton Moss
The recent purchase of Farmland for a Nature reserve...ironically now little opportunity for Lapwing to breed due to longer vegetation
Turf Production...ironically a few patches not quite as intensively used have produced some young this year but on the whole a loss of Lapwing compared to the decades when Turf wasn't produced
Farmland on Irlam Moss that has gone over to Autumn Sown Crops
Other land used for Silage production...no chance for anything to nest in such a 'crop' I believe it is oft known as 'Haylage' but the result is the same NO breeding birds within it
The only Farmland where Lapwing Thrive and are treated with great respect (Nests moved during ploughing)....Young moved if ploughing a little later is Little Woolden Moss Field Numbers FN56/57/64...proving farming DOES work with nature if applied with such as the farmers here
Thus IF methods of use of our farmland could reflect the past Lapwing friendly were to be applied we could perhaps accept the beauty of Red Kite into our moss....but regardless the Kite IS part of nature...it's 'us' humans that appear to be increasingly un supportive of nature!
PS nest on Horse Paddock today...not seen Lapwing nest here before such is their desperation to breed surrounded by horses!
Thanks Dave, I know 12 yards road, if you see it again could you post it
Dave Steel said
Sat May 18 4:15 PM, 2024
Hi Brian...it was over Field Numbers 15/16/12 which are part of Irlam Moss....off 12 Yards Road
Dave
brian fielding said
Sat May 18 3:58 PM, 2024
Hi Dave, is irlam moss the area up from irlam on astley road before you get to little woolden moss and where aprox was the red kite hunting please
pete berry said
Sat May 18 2:41 PM, 2024
Let's hope the Red Kite doesn't hand around too long ,remember seeing an article a couple years ago that said NOT a single Lapwing chick was fledged along the M40 corridor due to Red Kite predation. Our Lapwings are having an hard enough time without any extra problems.
...and where have the nesting Curlew/Turtle Dove/Tree Sparrow and more of my visits in the sixties???...it sort of gets depressing this birdwatching when I look back...
Noted during and after a Carbon Landscape Breeding Bird Survey on Barton Moss
7 Reed Bunting
1 Yellowhammer in song...there were more in recent past but a 'tidy up'!!!! of the habitat (because that's what big landowners can do...it seems) last breeding season seems to have left one remaining stoic...
3 Chiffchaff in song
3 Willow Warbler in song
26 Skylark...8 in song
2 Lapwing
5 Yellow Wagtail
7 Swallow
3 House Martin
6 Linnet
2 Wheatear
9 Whitethroat in song
2 Song Thrush in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song...fortunately this returning bird (I surmise) in finding that it's previous Habitat had been 'tidied' away found the last vestiges of its required habitat nearby....for how long depends on PfE decision for this 'Warehouse Dream (developer speak)/nightmare (wildlife speak) ' at present Greenbelt...
Mid afternoon highlights- Osprey circling distantly over Glazebury, then lost to view. Also 2 Hobby, 2 Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler.
Carl Moorhouse said
Sun May 12 4:09 PM, 2024
Hi Brian, Red Kite circled over the east end of the reserve for about 5 minutes and then left east high up. Presumably same bird that was seen yesterday over Astley and Davyhulme.
brian fielding said
Sun May 12 2:21 PM, 2024
Hi, was the red kite a fly over?
Carl Moorhouse said
Sun May 12 12:12 PM, 2024
Red kite, 4 hobby, 2 marsh harrier and 2 ringed plover midday.
Richard Would said
Sat May 11 3:25 PM, 2024
Quick visit this morning, didn't stay long.
Saw a couple of Hobbies and three Common Cranes flying over high. They seemed to descend over in the general direction of Winter Hill/Rivington (but not at that distance).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 11th of May 2024 03:28:16 PM
-- Edited by Richard Would on Saturday 11th of May 2024 07:39:09 PM
2 Hobbies feeding quite high over Little Woolden Moss for about 30 mins late morning when the sun finally came out. Also a Kestrel feeding on insects high up like the Hobbies,and a couple Swifts over.
-- Edited by pete berry on Thursday 9th of May 2024 02:47:10 PM
Steven Nelson said
Wed May 8 8:26 PM, 2024
Chat Moss late afternoon
5 Little Egret - my highest ever mossland count. 3 birds in attached phone photo 2 Hobby 2 Little Grebe 1 Coot 1 Sedge Warbler singing 1 Marsh Harrier - female 2 Teal - pair 2 Tufted Duck - pair 5 Swift
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 8th of May 2024 08:27:59 PM
A couple of Whimbrel in the field by the railway diagonally opposite Rindle Cottages. Also 3 Lesser Black Backed Gulls and a single Herring Gull feeding in the same field. A leucistic Wood Pigeon just behind Rindle Cottages. It had usual grey head and white collar but the remainder of plumage was white,can't remember seeing a leucistic Wood Pigeon before. Otherwise pretty quiet, no sign of any Wheatears anyway but nice to see a few juvenile Lapwings along Moss Lane and 2 Oystercatchers on the same field.
Michael Hood said
Tue May 7 9:59 PM, 2024
Tuesday 7th quickish evening visit to Little Woolden Moss NR:
Lapwing chicks in the "north" fields are growing fast
Female or immature Marsh Harrier - quick view, I wasn't well placed to see it for more than a few seconds
Loads of Willow Warblers (some seen) and a few Chiffchaff (heard only)
2 Sedge Warblers (1 seen) and another one heard from 12 Yards Road
Lots of Mallard, Canada Geese with goslings, and 2 pairs Tufted Duck
2 Common Tern obviously planning to spend the night in the middle of the Eastern pools
5 Mute Swans - not fully mature I think because the bills weren't orange even though the birds were pretty white
030624
Chat Moss
1 Marsh Harrier...female....chased by 2 Curlew
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Little Egret
30 Willow Warbler
1 Common Tern
32 Swift
2 Cuckoo...both calling
10 Linnet
1 Garden Warbler in song
Little Woolden Moss
4 Yellow Wagtail
4 Grey Partridge
21 Skylark
21 Lapwing
1 Lapwing young...quite small obviously from a second breeding attempt
1 Corn Bunting....in song...thought I'd lost these a couple of years ago...here's hoping it succeeds...
1 Oystercatcher
020624
Irlam Moss
11 House Martin
10 Swallow
18 Lapwing
Chat Moss
13 Skylark in song
8 Swallow
17 Swift
2 Yellowhammer in song
4 Willow Warbler in song
7 House Martin
1 Little Egret
1 Teal....female feigning injury to protect her young
Fresh juvenile Buzzards on the wing with adults, a single Raven and 80 Swifts over Astley Moss East this morning.
010624
Barton Moss
20 Swallow
14 House Martin
2 Buzzard
19 Skylark
5 Yellow Wagtail
1 Mediterranean Gull
7 House Sparrow
1 Sparrowhawk chased by Carrion Crows
1 Raven
310524
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR West...including a Dragonfly Survey along the Glaze
1 Sedge Warbler in song
2 Marsh Harrier...one with wing moult
2 Willow Warbler in song
60 Swift
1 Hobby
12 Lapwing
300524
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
23 Willow Warbler in song
3 Curlew
5 Reed Bunting
72 Swift
1 Peregrine...Male
1 Garden Warbler in song
1 Raven
2 Herring Gull
Irlam Moss
1 Tawny Owl
8 Swallow
90 Starling
290524
Irlam Moss
14 Mistle Thrush
11 Stock Dove
14 Lapwing
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Oystercatcher
350 Starling
Chat Moss
21 Lapwing
4 Grey Partridge
12 Swift
1 Little Grebe
1 Little Egret
9 Willow Warbler in song
Little woolden moss nr.
2 hobbies
1-2 marsh harrier
1 kestrel
2 curlews
2 oystercatchers
Several lapwings
Numerous swifts
1 garden warbler heard near main entrance but just couldn't see it.
2 blackcaps
Numerous willow warblers
1 chiffchaff
3 Reed buntings
Grasshopper warbler, Water rails & Cuckoo heard only.
4 grey partridge along Astley Road.
I had a walk on Little Woolden Moss yesterday evening, it was superb in the warm sunshine. Delighted to hear and then see a Cuckoo, being chased from bush to bush by Meadow Pipits. Also 2 Hobby and a Marsh Harrier at the western end and a singing Corn Bunting in the field north of the reserve. Heard a Grasshopper Warbler over there too
280524
Irlam Moss
600 Starling
1 Mediterranean Gull
11 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
1 Shoveler---Male
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
24 Willow Warbler
21 Reed Bunting
24 Linnet
1 Marsh Harrier
9 Swift
17 Meadow Pipit
6 Sedge Warbler
1 Curlew
3 Gadwall
1 Garden Warbler
270524
New Moss Wood
10 Blackcap in song
22 Wren
1 Treecreeper
6 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
4 Whitethroat
2 Song Thrush
9 Swift
1 Nuthatch
Cadishead Moss
1 Yellow Wagtail...with this and the Yellowhammer I was as ever uplifted by the sights and sounds of these birds in their glory...BUT sadly this was tempered by the knowledge that in but one (brief as it seems now!!!) lifetime these two species and many more have declined so much so that its to me fundamentally sad that I but encounter these birds in single numbers...what have we done to our Natural World????....and who cares?????
1 Yellowhammer
1 Kestrel with prey
7 House Martin
6 Swallow
1 Grey wagtail
1 Nuthatch
13 House Sparrow
Irlam Moss
39 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
600 Starling
5 Lapwing
Chat Moss
2 Red-Legged Partridge
260524
Irlam Moss
38 Starling
29 Black-Headed Gull
10 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
18 Lapwing
16 Swallow
2 Grey Partridge
2 Yellowhammer
2 Curlew
2 Shoveler
1 Oystercatcher
2 Swift
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
42 Swift
15 Willow Warbler
2 Swallow
Chat Moss
14 Willow Warbler
2 Hobby
1 Snipe
1 Little Egret
2 Tufted Duck
230524...Brief visit
Little Woolden Moss
2 Yellow Wagtail
3 Swallow
2 Sand Martin
3 Skylark in song
Irlam Moss
750 Starling....with good numbers of young....gratifying to see
13 Lapwing...Adult
6 Lapwing Young
2 Shoveler
13 Mallard
22 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
2 Herring Gull
220524 14C...Heavy Rain Throughout
Irlam Moss
42 Starling
8 Lapwing Young
1 Oystercatcher
10 Lapwing adults
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
26 Willow Warbler in song
2 Shoveler...Male
12 Swift
7 Tufted Duck
1 Common Tern
4 Sedge Warbler in song
12 Reed Bunting
7 Stock Dove
30 Meadow Pipit
9 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss NR and round via the Glaze this evening after the rain
-- Edited by Michael Hood on Monday 27th of May 2024 10:05:00 PM
Little Woolden Moss mid-afternoon today, adult female Marsh Harrier, two adult Hobbies and a maxima of 180 Swifts.
210524...brief am visit
Irlam Moss
1 Swift
6 Swallow
2 Oystercatcher
12 Lapwing
2c Lapwing young
Chat Moss
8 Willow Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
2 Tufted Duck
2 Bullfinch
1 Little Egret
200524
Little Woolden Moss
2 Sand Martin
4 Yellow Wagtail
5 Swift
1 Swallow
3 Gadwall
Little Woolden Moss West
16 Willow Warbler in song
10 Reed Bunting
1 Shoveler...Male
2 Water Rail...on call
2 Swallow
1 Curlew
15 Meadow pipit
2 Oystercatcher
1 Buzzard
4 Sedge Warbler in song
51 Swift...an influx it seems
190524
Barton Moss
1 Yellowhammer in song
23 Lapwing
1 Redshank
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Partridge
1 Peregrine...male chased by Lapwing
6 Skylark
1 Willow Warbler in song
8 Swift
Irlam Moss
8 House Martin
4 Swallow
180524
Cadishead Moss
4 Grey Partridge
2 Swallow
7 Skylark
4 Yellow Wagtail
33 Starling
Irlam Moss
135 Starling
9 Lapwing
7 Swallow
Chat Moss
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Yellowhammer
6 Stock Dove
170524
Chat Moss
1 Mistle Thrush in song
2 Red-Legged Partridge
2 Grey Partridge
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR/LWM Carbon Landscape BBS 3 of 3
1 Hobby
1 Grasshopper Warbler
34 Willow Warbler in song
35 Lapwing
3 Sedge Warbler in song
27 Meadow Pipit
7 Linnet
2 Swift
1 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
1 Dunlin
1 Snipe
2 Ringed Plover
2 Swallow
160524
Irlam Moss
3 Swift
16 Lapwing
3 Lapwing sat on nests...after field had been recently ploughed and sown...no doubt a second attempt to breed
1 Sedge Warbler in song
2 Grey Partridge
1 Yellowhammer
1 Mistle Thrush in song
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Marsh Harrier
2 Hobby
2 Shoveler...Males...Fighting...again!
8 Swift
7 Willow Warbler in song
230 Swifts drifting east whilst feeding over the railway line at the northern end of Croxdens on Chat Moss late afternoon today.
Sunday 20 May, from Glazebury to LWM and back
Lapwing - about 10 pairs, most with chicks
Hobby - 3 (seemed to be 2m chasing 1 f - usual story!)
Shoveler - 3 (2m+f, ditto)
2 Curlew (h) - 1 on LWM, 1 N of White Gate Farm
1 Oystercatcher - on LWM
1 Whitethroat
6 Yellow Wagtail (3 pairs, males stunning atm)
2 Swallow
4 Canada Geese (2 pairs)
1 Buzzard
150524
Carbon Landscape BBS Little Woolden Moss/Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Garden Warbler in song
16 Reed Bunting
21 Willow Warbler
1 Curlew
3 Sedge Warbler
6 Grey Partridge
5 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grasshopper Warbler
6 Swift
21 Lapwing
1 Hobby
Fields around Rindle rd...
Lapwing - 33.
Oystercatcher - 1.
Sparrowhawk - 1.
Mistle thrush - 1.
Yellowhammer - 1 heard.
Willow Warbler - 1 heard.
Raven - 1.
Buzzard -1.
Red - legged partridge -2.
Pheasant - lots,some laying flat in the heat (I almost stood on one ).
Chat Moss...
Croxden Peat Works - F58 (always partly flooded).
Curlew -1 ( long range photo).
Tufed duck - 2.
Oystercatcher -1.
Swallow
In Reply to Pete Berry wrt Red Kite...
I too have read about the Lapwing Young being taken by Red Kite....and have had the same reservations....I have been recording the decline of Lapwing on the Moss over the years and in my opinion this is now gaining momentum with
Autumn Sowing such as FN29 now having lost up to 20 pairs
No crop sowing on most of Barton Moss
The recent purchase of Farmland for a Nature reserve...ironically now little opportunity for Lapwing to breed due to longer vegetation
Turf Production...ironically a few patches not quite as intensively used have produced some young this year but on the whole a loss of Lapwing compared to the decades when Turf wasn't produced
Farmland on Irlam Moss that has gone over to Autumn Sown Crops
Other land used for Silage production...no chance for anything to nest in such a 'crop' I believe it is oft known as 'Haylage' but the result is the same NO breeding birds within it
The only Farmland where Lapwing Thrive and are treated with great respect (Nests moved during ploughing)....Young moved if ploughing a little later is Little Woolden Moss Field Numbers FN56/57/64...proving farming DOES work with nature if applied with such as the farmers here
Thus IF methods of use of our farmland could reflect the past Lapwing friendly were to be applied we could perhaps accept the beauty of Red Kite into our moss....but regardless the Kite IS part of nature...it's 'us' humans that appear to be increasingly un supportive of nature!
PS nest on Horse Paddock today...not seen Lapwing nest here before such is their desperation to breed surrounded by horses!
Thanks Dave, I know 12 yards road, if you see it again could you post it
Hi Brian...it was over Field Numbers 15/16/12 which are part of Irlam Moss....off 12 Yards Road
Dave
Hi Dave, is irlam moss the area up from irlam on astley road before you get to little woolden moss and where aprox was the red kite hunting please
140524
Brief am visit
Irlam Moss
10 Lapwing with 4 young noted
21 Starling including young
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Red Kite...hunting
Chat Moss
12 Lapwing
16 Stock Dove
2 Grey Partridge
2 Swallow
13 Willow Warbler in song
130524
Astley Moss LWT BBS
22 Willow Warbler in song
7 Lapwing
4 Meadow Pipit
10 Robin in song
3 Blackcap in song
2 Whitethroat in song
1 Swift
2 Red Legged Partridge...introduction I'm sure...
...and where have the nesting Curlew/Turtle Dove/Tree Sparrow and more of my visits in the sixties???...it sort of gets depressing this birdwatching when I look back...
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Marsh Harrier...female @ 1221
2 Hobby
3 Swift
2 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
2 Shoveler...male
2 Tufted Duck...pair
3 Swallow
120524
Chat Moss
6 Willow Warbler in song
1 Hobby...taking Dragonflies
1 Little Egret
2 Ringed Teal...whose wildfowl collection have these two escaped from I wonder?
Irlam Moss
1 Yellow Wagtail
36 Starling
4 Swallow
2 House Martin.
110524
Noted during and after a Carbon Landscape Breeding Bird Survey on Barton Moss
7 Reed Bunting
1 Yellowhammer in song...there were more in recent past but a 'tidy up'!!!! of the habitat (because that's what big landowners can do...it seems) last breeding season seems to have left one remaining stoic...
3 Chiffchaff in song
3 Willow Warbler in song
26 Skylark...8 in song
2 Lapwing
5 Yellow Wagtail
7 Swallow
3 House Martin
6 Linnet
2 Wheatear
9 Whitethroat in song
2 Song Thrush in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song...fortunately this returning bird (I surmise) in finding that it's previous Habitat had been 'tidied' away found the last vestiges of its required habitat nearby....for how long depends on PfE decision for this 'Warehouse Dream (developer speak)/nightmare (wildlife speak) ' at present Greenbelt...
Chat Moss
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Yellowhammer in song
Irlam Moss
4 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
....
100524
Irlam Moss
2 Grey Partridge
8 Lapwing with 10 Young noted
6 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
37 Willow Warbler in song
39 Meadow Pipit...several carrying food
8 Linnet
17 Reed Bunting
2 Greylag Geese
7 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
2 Curlew
2 Hobby
2 Redshank
2 Tufted Duck
1 Oystercatcher
2 Common Tern...preening.
Mid afternoon highlights- Osprey circling distantly over Glazebury, then lost to view. Also 2 Hobby, 2 Sedge Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler.
Hi, was the red kite a fly over?
Quick visit this morning, didn't stay long.
Saw a couple of Hobbies and three Common Cranes flying over high. They seemed to descend over in the general direction of Winter Hill/Rivington (but not at that distance).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 11th of May 2024 03:28:16 PM
-- Edited by Richard Would on Saturday 11th of May 2024 07:39:09 PM
....catch up...280424
Barton Moss
6 Grey Partridge
8 Herring Gull...chased off by Lapwing
8 Whitethroat...in song
3 Yellow Wagtail
16 Lapwing
12 Skylark
Irlam Moss
3 Buzzard
2 Raven flying south
Chat Moss
15 Willow Warbler in song
1 Willow Warbler in alarm
2 Raven @ 0905 flying north
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Curlew
1 Redshank
6 Swift
1 Yellow Wagtail
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of May 2024 08:44:37 PM
...better late than ever records for 270424
Chat Moss
4 Gadwall....1 Pair + 2 Male
32 Willow Warbler in Song
4 Teal...2 Pair
3 Tufted Duck...1 Pair...1 Male
1 Oystercatcher
3 Herring Gull
2 Coot
7 Lapwing...with unseen young
10 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss West
10 Willow Warbler in song
9 Swallow
2 Grasshopper Warbler...Reeling
1 Snipe
1 Great Black-Backed Gull
2 Lesser Redpoll
4 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew...in Display
1 Yellowhammer in song
1 Marsh Harrier
Little Woolden Moss
1 Channel Wagtail
3 Swallow
Irlam Moss
13 Skylark
5 Lapwing
1 Yellowhammer
9 Linnet
2 Swallow
Also a Kestrel feeding on insects high up like the Hobbies,and a couple Swifts over.
-- Edited by pete berry on Thursday 9th of May 2024 02:47:10 PM
5 Little Egret - my highest ever mossland count. 3 birds in attached phone photo
2 Hobby
2 Little Grebe
1 Coot
1 Sedge Warbler singing
1 Marsh Harrier - female
2 Teal - pair
2 Tufted Duck - pair
5 Swift
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 8th of May 2024 08:27:59 PM
A leucistic Wood Pigeon just behind Rindle Cottages. It had usual grey head and white collar but the remainder of plumage was white,can't remember seeing a leucistic Wood Pigeon before.
Otherwise pretty quiet, no sign of any Wheatears anyway but nice to see a few juvenile Lapwings along Moss Lane and 2 Oystercatchers on the same field.
Tuesday 7th quickish evening visit to Little Woolden Moss NR: