http://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/11666751.Protected_birds_killed_in_Risley_Moss_shootings/

Such sad new hopefully they can find the person responsible and hand out a severe punishment

A Red Kite spent over an hour around the moss on Saturday afternoon, seen by several birders - unfortunately not me! A female Stonechat was on the moss on Monday afternoon, not a regular visitor these days. Fifteen Shoveler were seen flying along the boundary to the SE today, and c50 Skylarks flushed from the arable beyond the same boundary. A late dragonfly was also seen today! Several Merlin sightings over the last two weeks too, along with the usual Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels.

11-12
Usuals at the woodland hide. Highlight being a Willow tit, not seen one for a while
From the Tower hide, loads of Wood pigeon
Jay
Mallard f
Lots of Crows
Distant Kestrel
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive

A Hobby went through this afternoon. Seven Swallows, Peregrine and Curlew also seen.

Three skeins of Pink-footed geese over this afternoon - 50, 18 & 18. A drake Wigeon dropped into the moss yesterday. Plenty of Common snipe buzzing around at the moment. No Hobbies have been seen this week so far.

13.00-15.00

2 Snipe, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 35 Lapwings and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Still a few Common Darter dragonflies around, and 1 large hawker which moved too quickly to ID.

It's sad to see the mossland so overgrown with birch and willow, but mostly with bracken which as colonised almost everywhere.

Great views yesterday afternoon of 2 Hobbies, 3 Kestrels and 3 Common Buzzard from the tower observation area.

Three Hobbies at one point this afternoon - the usual 2cy bird hawking dragonflies, another probable 2cy on a post and a third bird up high over the tip, mobbing a Peregrine carrying prey. Usual Common buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrels around too. A large flock of mixed tits and warblers (inc. at least one Willow tit) moved through the wood at the back of the watchpoint.

sid ashton wrote:

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Jonathan Platt wrote:

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Secondly, the 2cy bird that has been with us throughout the summer appeared, seemingly carrying a bird. If it was a bird (it was certainly a large item) this is the first time I've ever seen a Hobby at Risley with avian prey, though others who've watched there far longer than me have seen Hobbies chasing birds over the moss on a few occasions. As we watched, an adult Hobby (probably the one seen earlier) flew in and attempted to grab the prey from the other bird. Both birds spiralled down to the ground, one bird (I think the adult, I missed it!) flew off across the moss a few seconds later, don't know if it was carrying prey.

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Jonathan - do you think, that although a little late in the breeding cycle this could possibly have been a food pass between a male and femalle bird?

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Hi Sid,

Personally I don't think it's too late for food passing to be taking place, there'll still be unfledged Hobbies around. However, I think one of the Hobbies involved today was a 2cy bird whereas the other was an adult - it's possible for 2cy birds to breed, but unlikely. Also, it didn't look like a food pass, the adult smacked into the other falcon and grabbed the prey, then both birds spiralled down from about 70yds up, as far as we could see they hit the ground! I don't think there are any Hobbies nesting in the immediate vicinity of the moss this year. Apart from spring passage we've not seen many adults, I took pics of three perched Hobbies several weeks ago, all three were 2cy birds. The 2cy bird from today has probably been around all summer, it's been quite distinctive over the last few weeks as it's now moulting. There isn't any aggression shown by adults towards any of the 2cy birds, or any other raptors for that matter; nor do we ever see adults chasing birds - other indications perhaps that no breeding is taking place locally.

Jonathan Platt wrote:

---

Secondly, the 2cy bird that has been with us throughout the summer appeared, seemingly carrying a bird. If it was a bird (it was certainly a large item) this is the first time I've ever seen a Hobby at Risley with avian prey, though others who've watched there far longer than me have seen Hobbies chasing birds over the moss on a few occasions. As we watched, an adult Hobby (probably the one seen earlier) flew in and attempted to grab the prey from the other bird. Both birds spiralled down to the ground, one bird (I think the adult, I missed it!) flew off across the moss a few seconds later, don't know if it was carrying prey.

---

Jonathan - do you think, that although a little late in the breeding cycle this could possibly have been a food pass between a male and female bird?



-- Edited by sid ashton on Tuesday 5th of August 2014 03:02:23 PM

Couple of odd Hobby-related incidents today. Firstly, at least one juv. Sparrowhawk was calling just to the left of the watchpoint. I wandered over to see if I could spot it and flushed an adult Hobby from the trees, the bird was presumably perched a few yards from the watchpoint. Had the Hobby flown in because it had heard the young Sparrowhawk and if so, why?

Secondly, the 2cy bird that has been with us throughout the summer appeared, seemingly carrying a bird. If it was a bird (it was certainly a large item) this is the first time I've ever seen a Hobby at Risley with avian prey, though others who've watched there far longer than me have seen Hobbies chasing birds over the moss on a few occasions. As we watched, an adult Hobby (probably the one seen earlier) flew in and attempted to grab the prey from the other bird. Both birds spiralled down to the ground, one bird (I think the adult, I missed it!) flew off across the moss a few seconds later, don't know if it was carrying prey.

2 hobbies at 4pm. Probably fem+juv
Also, 3+ buzzards, 2 kestrels (1 swooping like a hobby)

-- Edited by John Watson on Sunday 20th of July 2014 05:00:35 PM

A quick hour this morning from 10.30 in decent sunny weather. Three Hobbies were active over the moss and giving great views, both in flight and perched on treetops/posts. Also, a single Buzzard was circling higher up.

15.30 - 16.45, 24 degrees and sunny certainly had the Hobbies flying. In the time I was there there seemed always to be at least one bird up and just before I left 4 were chasing insects. Also present Kestrel and Buzzard.

At least three Hobbies this afternoon.

4.00PM Saturday 21st June

4x Hobbies across the moss
2x Buzzard
Reed Bunting

Up to five Hobbies over the moss this afternoon.

A Garden warbler was singing from the moss this afternoon. 2-3 Hobbies seen every day this week, apart from today.

Three Hobbies this afternoon.

Two Hobbies at the moss this afternoon 1.00-2.30pm

First Hobby of the year over the moss today, 1.50-2.30pm.

13.00-15.00
Buzzardx4
Sparrowhawkx2
Single yellowhammer
Reed buntingx3
Carrion crowxloads
Great spotted woodpecker at the woodland hide
Nice to meet John Doherty on his Birthday as well.
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive

up to 5 Buzzards
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Yellowhammer
3 Reed Bunting

First ever visit today:

Tower Hide - Nothing noteworthy aside from 4 Buzzards

Woodland Hide - Coal Tit, 1 M Bullfinch, 1 Jay, Siskin pair, 1-2 Nuthatches plus usuals

1 singing Chiffchaff by car park

12.00-14.00
Woodland hide
Nuthatchx4
Coal tit
Blue titx4
Great titx2
Chaffinchx3
Bullfinch m
Reed buntingx2
Viewing tower
3 very active and noisy Buzzards
Reed buntingx3
Mallardx3
Moorhenx2
Carrion crowx2
As I was leaving 4 more birders turned up, might be a better idea to go a bit later.
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive

10.00-12.00

Mossland

6 Buzzards (possibly more, 6 in the air simultaneously, performing aerial display & occasional fight)

1 male Yellowhammer & 6 Reed Buntings.

Tower Hide
1 poss 2 Woodcock around 4.45pm as the light failed

12.00-14.00

1 Willow Tit & 1 Nuthatch amongst the usual garden birds at the feeding station.

On the mossland few birds were showing just 1 Buzzard and a couple of Wrens, plus the odd Carrion Crow.

2 Buzzards were soaring over the tip. Beyond the tip huge numbers of Woodpigeons were irritated by something, but I could'nt see what it was.

A flock of 50 Lapwings flew south.

Lesser Redpoll numbers have been (very!) slowly building up over the last few weeks. Today there was a flock of 30+ flying around the watchpoint - the largest flock seen there for several years.

11.30-13.30
Woodland hide
Great spotted woodpeckerx2 m and f
Nuthatch
Usual tits
Bullfinch
Jaysx2
Chaffinchx5
Dunnock

Tower hide
Reed bunting
Long tail tit
Wren
Buzzard on a post
Sparrowhawk f
Toughest lookin Cat in Risley hunting the moss
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive

14.30-16.00

2 small flocks of Redwings 1@10 & 1@22 birds flying SW.

2 Buzzards, with 1 very nearly catching a Crow in a lightning attack. 1 Sparrowhawk.

Good numbers of raptors showing over the moss recently. Today we had five species - Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Kestrel, Hobby and Peregrine. The Peregrine was seen catching dragonflies today, likewise a Kestrel yesterday. Buzzards and, rarely, Sparrowhawks take them occasionally too.

Peregrine over this afternoon. Hundreds of Swifts heading south over the last week.

Two Hobbies hunted briefly together over the moss yesterday, earlier another bird (probably a different one) had bombed through heading south. A juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen on Sunday and a Merlin earlier in the week. Sparrowhawks have recently fledged and can be heard - and occasionally seen - from the watchpoint.

Three Hobbies and a female Marsh Harrier this afternoon.

Late PM
Hobby-2
Yellow Wagtail -1 > n
Nuthatch-2
Whitethroat
Blackcap-3

Hi Jonathan,
I saw a Harris Hawk on my way to work near Southport on March 28th, sat on a lamp post. If the views hadn't been so close giving quick identification I would probably have crashed the car. The bird I saw had jesses so may not have been the same one.

KevB

A large raptor being mobbed by two Common Buzzards confused a large group of visiting birders momentarily - it was an escaped Harris Hawk. No sign of jesses so it's either out of an aviary or has been loose for some time. Otherwise,lots of Common Buzzards soaring, Sparrowhawks and a Kestrel, no sign of Hobbies since last week.

A rarity for Risley Moss this afternoon - four Dunlin!

Late PM
Hobby-1
Kestrel-1
Sparrowhawk-1 f
Common Buzzard-3 (including 1 very white individual)
Oystercatcher-1
Meadow Pipit-1
Nuthatch-3
plenty swallows through
Sand Martin -1
and no Dogs :)

Two Hobbies this afternoon, plus Peregrine, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks and Kestrel. Two male Yellowhammers also present.

A Short-eared Owl has been showing in the afternoon for several days. It was out for an hour between 2-3pm today, and was hunting for prolonged periods on Saturday and Sunday afternoons too.

Goshawk at 17:45hrs this evening, flew down into trees

3 Woodcock at Dusk

Tawny Owl heard, not seen

Single short eared owl from 3.30 pm today

Flushed a Woodcock from the side of the path, about ten yards from the watchpoint this afternoon. No idea what it was doing there and why it flushed when I walked past, apparently many other folk had walked along the path. Gave decent views to the other birders as it flew within a few yards of them. A Merlin put in a couple of appearances too.

2 - 4:30pm

Feeders - Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Reed Bunting (pair)

On the moss - 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk. Yellowhammer heard, but not sighted

Deceptively cold, despite the sun. Many thanks to the legend Brian for dropping me back at the train station!

2 short eared Owls at 4pm onwards today

A small male Peregrine over the moss today. The male Hen Harrier has been seen every day this week - though not by me unfortunately! Generally appears mid to late afternoon.

1 immature male Hen Harrier flew in at 15.30 and began hunting over the moss.

Also 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Buzzards.

14.30-16.15

Very quiet bird wise, just a few crows on the moss, and a huge flock of Woodpigeon flying over.

At 15.45 though a Short Eared Owl flushed from the moss.

After quartering the Northern end of the mossland a couple of times it climbed very high, and with a crow in pursuit flew off in a North-Westerly direction.