ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Dave Steel said
Fri Dec 10 10:25 PM, 2021
091121 am
Little Woolden Moss West...Brief Visit
1 Peregrine...Male
120 Canada Geese
2 Greylag Geese
John Williams said
Fri Dec 10 3:21 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss NR 10.00-13.00
1 Marsh Harrier (f), 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk (Being chased by a Magpie), 2 Ravens and
a covey of 4 Grey Partridges. A group of 144 Canada Geese were in the field alongside the River Glaze, but on the Cheshire side.
The solitary Greylag Goose mentioned in my November 29th report is still roughly in the same spot, I thought initially
that this bird was sick, possibly with bird flu as it seemed very lethargic. However it now looks to have recovered somewhat
and appeared to grazing ok, perhaps people have been feeding the goose as it looks to have become almost tame.
Dave Steel said
Thu Dec 9 10:53 PM, 2021
081221 am
Brief Visit as I was to attend a Teams Meeting with Government inspector wrt the Salford Local Development Plan...its wearisome at times trying to 'save our Greenbelt' and possibly save and hopefully enhance the lives of the diminishing Farmland birdlife....I'm running out of time and at times energy with this constant grinding down by politicians and developers who in my opinion chose to ignore my years of painstakingly written objections, the depletion of our wildlife and the global warming caused by so called 'progress' via concreting the land.....
Chat Moss
7 Lesser Redpoll
3 Snipe
1 Raven
6 Skylark
2 Buzzard.
John Watson said
Thu Dec 9 3:09 PM, 2021
I think I was around White Gate Farm at around the same time as you were further East, Steve
~30 Pinkfooted Geese seen landing around 13:30, very distant looking East - so, must have been around Olive Mount Farm 2 Stonechat (pair) along the track East of Red House Farm
4 Kestrels around, 1 Buzzard
At White Gate Farm: 150-200 Linnet, 20+ Brambling, 50+ Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Tree Sparrow, 3 Siskin over. The huge number of finches here are thanks to the farmer leaving a field of sunflower as set-aside - all credit to him. Combined with previous visits, there could be up to 1000 wintering finches around there
Nearer the river & border: 20 Redwing, 1 Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting (pair), Teal (h) in small pond, 2 Siskin over
Oddly, no Skylark or Meadow Pipits
Steven Nelson said
Thu Dec 9 2:07 PM, 2021
Chat & Irlam Mosses - midday
11 Corn Bunting in trees alongside Twelve Yards Rd near f52 1 Marsh Harrier - juv/imm with a red wing tag - presumably the same bird from a few weeks ago. 3 Wiilow Tit 2 Brambling in with a flock of c.70 Chaffinch 24 Skylark c.30 Fieldfare c60 Redwing 7 Yellowhammer 3 Buzzard 2 Kestrel Pink-footed Geese-heard distantly but not seen
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 9th of December 2021 02:16:22 PM
Yellowhammer 38 in a single flock on wires and small trees along the Twelve Yards Road between F12 & 14 late afternoon
Dave Steel said
Mon Dec 6 4:27 PM, 2021
051221 Barton Moss...Warehouse Land in the near future...meanwhile it was hosting...(Fields 49/50 and 55)
4 Snipe
175 Skylark
18 Chaffinch
1 Grey Wagtail
11 Yellowhammer
15 Reed Bunting
400 Jackdaw
10 Linnet
Dave Steel said
Sun Dec 5 7:48 PM, 2021
041221 Brief Midday Visit...in the driving rain!
Irlam Moss
4 Snipe
7 Meadow Pipit
5 Skylark
1 Grey Wagtail
40 Goldfinch
Cadishead Moss
230 Black-Headed Gull....facing into the gusting westerlies.
Steven Nelson said
Sun Dec 5 1:54 PM, 2021
Irlam & Chat Mosses - late morning
16 Corn Bunting - A flock in top of trees near Woodbarn Farm. Easily the highest count Ive had on the mosses for many years. Some giving short bursts of song.
A mixed finch and bunting flock contained approximately the following: 2 Brambling- 1 m, 1 f c100+ Chaffinch c.20+ Yellowhammer c.10 Reed Bunting
5 Redwing 1 Buzzard 3 Meadow Pipit c.40 Stock Dove 1 Grey Wagtails 1 Cormorant over the fishery
Grey Partridge 5 (Just off the reserve by the footpath to Whitegates Farm)
In set aside field: Linnets c60 Chaffinch c40 Bramblng (10 minimum) Counting brought to a halt by a Peregrine owned by the farmer from the neighbouring farm.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 2nd of December 2021 05:19:25 PM
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR in heavy downpours of rain
3 Snipe
7 Skylark
45 Starling.
Dave Steel said
Thu Dec 2 2:43 PM, 2021
301121 am
Chat Moss
2 Snipe
45 Skylark
3 Brambling
11 Meadow Pipit
5 Yellowhammer
6 Lesser Redpoll
1 Woodcock
Dave Steel said
Tue Nov 30 11:52 PM, 2021
291121 am
Chat Moss
2 Woodcock
1 Snipe
14 Tree Sparrow
90 Chaffinch
1 Green Woodpecker...Vocal as ever...
4 Yellowhammer.
John Williams said
Mon Nov 29 3:53 PM, 2021
10.30-13.00
Little Woolden Moss NR and surrounding area.
The reserve looked bleak with all pools frozen over, and just a few hardy crows were seen on the mossland.
A group of 6 Meadow Pipits were noted on the perimeter path at one point though.
A female Kestrel was seen near the green containers, whilst a solitary ill looking Greylag Goose rested on the adjacent field.
2 Buzzards were seen at Western end of the moss. One of these was noted on the model aircraft strip, foraging alongside a
Mistle Thrush and a couple of Lapwings. The thrush appeared unconcerned about being close to a large predator, whilst the
Buzzard showed little interest in it's smaller companion.
The field on the other side of the River Glaze, and just in Cheshire held 306 Lapwings alongside a group of 180 Canada Geese.
pete berry said
Sun Nov 28 5:58 PM, 2021
It's really a pity a few more farmers can't do the same,it would cost them relatively little and the benefits to wildlife are massive as is shown by the number of birds using this area.
Dave Steel said
Sun Nov 28 2:47 PM, 2021
With Respect to Pete Berry's note about the Stewardship Crop on Whitegate Farm...
This farmer and his farm manager have been involved with planting such crops for the past 12 years...this year he has increased the area adjacent to his farm to approximately 1 Hectare...and as he has got a predominantly 'Mustard' Crop it seems to lend itself to predominantly Linnet (700 a couple of weeks ago) with good numbers of other Finches/Tree Sparrow Reed Bunting whereas in the past his stewardship crops have been dominated by such as Sunflower/Triticale/Quinoa which attracted more Chaffinch/Brambling/Greenfinch....these previously sown crops were often away from the public footpaths.....My constant hope/wish/dream is that other farmers on the moss would do the same in planting these crops...an excellent crop of Canary Grass out on Chat Moss a few years ago attracted hundreds of finches in the winter...this being mainly due to the crop not being harvested...(other such instances with the crop being an unharvested Oilseed Rape Crop a few years ago was attracting over a Thousand Linnet) but it shows what CAN be done to save some of our farmland species...attached one of the Sunflower crops in 2018...
A wander down Moss Lane again this morning with Pete Hines to have a look at the finch flock which was still on the set aside fortunately. At least 25 Brambling, 240 Linnet,good nos.of Chaffinch together with smaller nos. of Tree Sparrows, and a few Greenfinch and Reed Bunting. There were probably a lot more but due to the birds not settling for very long it was impossible to get an accurate count.
2 Snipe 3 Buzzard 12 Greenfinch 2 Yellowhammer 20+ Tree Sparrow 60+ Chaffinch 20+ Goldfinch 11 Long-tailed Tit 1 Siskin 3 Herring Gull over - one of which had something trailing behind it that seemed tangled around its leg.
4 trees blown down in the over-night storm
Dave Stewart said
Sat Nov 27 2:00 PM, 2021
Barton Moss 25-11-21
1 Great spotted Woodpecker
6 Greenfinch
27 Starling
15 Tree Sparrow
12 House Sparrow
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Kestrel
6 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
150 Chaffinch
5 Brambling
5 Reed Bunting
650 Jackdaw
100 Carrion Crow
70 Skylark
85 Collared Dove
200 Woodpigeon
Steven Heywood said
Thu Nov 25 10:02 PM, 2021
A walk from Astley to Irlam 12:45 - 16:25, highlights
One brambling in a flock of fifty-odd chaffinches near Moss Bank Farm
A wander down Moss Lane this morning (Moss Lane behind the Raven pub) produced some interesting birds. On the River Glaze 20 Mallard,8 Teal,3 Moorhen a Comorant and a Kingfisher. In the trees just past the river a Treecreeper,Nuthatch and numbers of Blue and Great Tits. In the fields a feeding flock of 100 Starlings, also 5 Fieldfare and a single Mistle Thrush,a few Black Headed Gulls and corvids. At the far end of the lane by White Gate farm the set aside was alive with birds,must have been several hundred feeding in the set a side and perching up in nearby trees. It was impossible to count them all but there were masses of Chaffinch,Linnet,at least 20 Tree Sparrows (possibly lot more) together with Brambling and Reed Bunting.
-- Edited by pete berry on Saturday 20th of November 2021 12:22:29 PM
Dave Steel said
Fri Nov 19 8:32 PM, 2021
am
Chat Moss
1 Water Rail
16 Teal
13 Lesser Redpoll
2 Snipe
18 Reed Bunting
6 Bullfinch
7 Yellowhammer
3 Tree Sparrow
75 Collared Dove
70 Chaffinch
1 Mistle Thrush in song.
Barton Moss
130 Starling
3 Snipe
Irlam Moss
4 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
600 Jackdaw.
Dave Stewart said
Fri Nov 19 5:08 PM, 2021
Chat & Irlam Mosses
190 lapwing over south (F52)
2 Kestrel
7 Buzzard
c600 Pink footed Geese resting in Field 63
100 + Collared dove in one flock (F58)
18 Chaffinch
15 Linnet
3 Goldcrest
25 Goldfinch
Pete Hines said
Fri Nov 19 1:33 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss (west)
Merlin 2 (male and female) Peregrine 1 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Buzzard 2 Stonechat 2 (pair) Pink-footed Goose 90 > south at 10.27
Dave Steel said
Fri Nov 19 8:08 AM, 2021
181121 am
Little Woolden Moss
55 Skylark
250 Linnet
12 Grey Partridge
16 Tree Sparrow
11 Brambling
8 Siskin
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
3 Snipe
4 Grey Partridge.
Dave Stewart said
Wed Nov 17 4:31 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR (West)
15 Teal (R. Glaze)
2 Little Grebe (R. Glaze)
195 Black headed Gull (F38E)
12 Whooper Swan (On West Pools)
2 Stonechat (pair)
1 Kestrel
1 male Merlin
1 Water Rail (heard only...West Pools)
Dave Steel said
Wed Nov 17 3:26 PM, 2021
Barton Moss am
600 Jackdaw
4 Snipe
1 Merlin....Female
1 Marsh Harrier...the one with the red Wing Tag
13 Stock Dove
130 Skylark
1 Grey Wagtail
5 Buzzard
28 Linnet
21 Reed Bunting
2 Stonechat...Pair.
Dave Steel said
Tue Nov 16 7:10 PM, 2021
am...
Irlam Moss
3 Snipe
42 Skylark
10 Fieldfare
2 Lesser Redpoll
6 Yellowhammer
210 Lapwing
88 Stock Dove
110 Starling
52 Jackdaw
Chat Moss
160 Lapwing
1 Dunlin
45 Skylark
120 Goldfinch
60 Chaffinch
7 Whooper Swan...flushed into the air by one of those ever so 'sweet people with hunting Dogs' who roams the area with impunity....Don't they all
1 Tawny Owl
2 Goldcrest
42 Lesser Redpoll
1 Green Woodpecker...never seen one in this spot before...
1 Woodcock
Steve Judge said
Tue Nov 16 2:11 PM, 2021
Monday 15th November 2021 10:30 - 14:00 hrs.
Irlam Moss, Cadishead Moss, Little Woolden Moss and Little Woolden NR
Tried out my new lightweight binoculars purchased from Focalpoint. Superb for my neck / back issues; and now able to wear binoculars round my neck again.
Yellowhammer x 2 Fieldfare x 15 Redwing x 3 Greenfinch x 3 Lapwing x 1 Jay x 1 Magpie x 5 Kestrel x 3 Buzzard x 2 Pied Wagtail x 1 House Sparrow x 20 Crow x 8 Jackdaw x 12 Coot x 2 Moorhen x 3 Black-Headed Gull x 50 Chaffinch x 7 Blue Tit x 3 Goldfinch x 3
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 14 5:47 PM, 2021
Around midday today on Little Woolden Moss, highlights of:
2 (feeding) Redshank
1 juvenile Peregrine (colour ringed) watched fly in from Astley Moss area to the north with prey and land on the bare peat to consume the pigeon
1 male Merlin, landed on a post within 10 feet of the feeding Peregrine for all of 30 seconds or so
180+ Skylark
A pair of Stonechat
1 Raven
28 Lesser Redpoll
Video footage of both raptors on the website but the record shots below (taken c250 metre range) also show the Merlin on the post to the right of the Peregrine feeding on the peat
2 Marsh Harrier - juvenile red wing-tagged bird and another juvenile without a wing tag which seemed to have traces of male plumage coming through. 1 Peregrine - mobbed the un-tagged Marsh Harrier before heading off towards LWM NR 7 Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk 2 Kestrel 4 Snipe 5 Siskin - more heard 13 Skylark 1 Yellowhammer 6 Reed Bunting 200 Lapwing 5 Redwing 1 Grey Heron
091121 am
Little Woolden Moss West...Brief Visit
1 Peregrine...Male
120 Canada Geese
2 Greylag Geese
1 Marsh Harrier (f), 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 1 Sparrowhawk (Being chased by a Magpie), 2 Ravens and
a covey of 4 Grey Partridges. A group of 144 Canada Geese were in the field alongside the River Glaze, but on the Cheshire side.
The solitary Greylag Goose mentioned in my November 29th report is still roughly in the same spot, I thought initially
that this bird was sick, possibly with bird flu as it seemed very lethargic. However it now looks to have recovered somewhat
and appeared to grazing ok, perhaps people have been feeding the goose as it looks to have become almost tame.
081221 am
Brief Visit as I was to attend a Teams Meeting with Government inspector wrt the Salford Local Development Plan...its wearisome at times trying to 'save our Greenbelt' and possibly save and hopefully enhance the lives of the diminishing Farmland birdlife....I'm running out of time and at times energy with this constant grinding down by politicians and developers who in my opinion chose to ignore my years of painstakingly written objections, the depletion of our wildlife and the global warming caused by so called 'progress' via concreting the land.....
Chat Moss
7 Lesser Redpoll
3 Snipe
1 Raven
6 Skylark
2 Buzzard.
I think I was around White Gate Farm at around the same time as you were further East, Steve
~30 Pinkfooted Geese seen landing around 13:30, very distant looking East - so, must have been around Olive Mount Farm
2 Stonechat (pair) along the track East of Red House Farm
4 Kestrels around, 1 Buzzard
At White Gate Farm: 150-200 Linnet, 20+ Brambling, 50+ Chaffinch, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Greenfinch, 2 Tree Sparrow, 3 Siskin over. The huge number of finches here are thanks to the farmer leaving a field of sunflower as set-aside - all credit to him. Combined with previous visits, there could be up to 1000 wintering finches around there
Nearer the river & border: 20 Redwing, 1 Brambling, 2 Reed Bunting (pair), Teal (h) in small pond, 2 Siskin over
Oddly, no Skylark or Meadow Pipits
11 Corn Bunting in trees alongside Twelve Yards Rd near f52
1 Marsh Harrier - juv/imm with a red wing tag - presumably the same bird from a few weeks ago.
3 Wiilow Tit
2 Brambling in with a flock of c.70 Chaffinch
24 Skylark
c.30 Fieldfare
c60 Redwing
7 Yellowhammer
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Pink-footed Geese-heard distantly but not seen
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 9th of December 2021 02:16:22 PM
071221 am
Another Carbon Landscape Farmland Winter Bird Count...Little Woolden Moss
1 Marsh Harrier...Female/Immature
4 Snipe
1 Peregrine...Male
8 Reed Bunting
9 Grey Partridge
21 Skylark
3 Great Black-Backed Gull...Flying North
65 House Sparrow
Pink-footed Goose c41 in F62
Brambling 4 amongst Chaffinch F16
Fieldfare 13+ with 60+ Redwing F18
Yellowhammer 16
Collared Dove minimum 100+
061221 am
Irlam Moss
65 Redwing
20 Fieldfare
45 Starling
20 Chaffinch
15 Corn Bunting
Little Woolden Moss Carbon Landscape Winter Farmland Bird Count
4 Grey Partridge
110 Skylark
200 Linnet
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
4 Snipe
1 Stonechat
11 Reed Bunting
2 Peregrine having a Skirmish....Males
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Woodcock
Yellowhammer 38 in a single flock on wires and small trees along the Twelve Yards Road between F12 & 14 late afternoon
051221 Barton Moss...Warehouse Land in the near future...meanwhile it was hosting...(Fields 49/50 and 55)
4 Snipe
175 Skylark
18 Chaffinch
1 Grey Wagtail
11 Yellowhammer
15 Reed Bunting
400 Jackdaw
10 Linnet
041221 Brief Midday Visit...in the driving rain!
Irlam Moss
4 Snipe
7 Meadow Pipit
5 Skylark
1 Grey Wagtail
40 Goldfinch
Cadishead Moss
230 Black-Headed Gull....facing into the gusting westerlies.
16 Corn Bunting - A flock in top of trees near Woodbarn Farm. Easily the highest count Ive had on the mosses for many years. Some giving short bursts of song.
A mixed finch and bunting flock contained approximately the following:
2 Brambling- 1 m, 1 f
c100+ Chaffinch
c.20+ Yellowhammer
c.10 Reed Bunting
5 Redwing
1 Buzzard
3 Meadow Pipit
c.40 Stock Dove
1 Grey Wagtails
1 Cormorant over the fishery
031221 am
Irlam Moss
1 Merlin...Male
75 Stock Dove
1 Lesser Redpoll
70 Linnet
90 Chaffinch
3 Snipe
15 Grey Partridge
Chat Moss
20 Reed Bunting
80 Teal
60 Linnet
1 Grey Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Woodcock
2 Snipe
2 Lesser Redpoll
38 Stock Dove
021221 am
Irlam Moss
70 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
Little Woolden Moss
200 Skylark
70 Linnet
450 Lapwing flying West @ 1035
Chat Moss
40 Skylark
1 Merlin...Female
Lapwing 28
Astley Moss (Field 15/16/52 area):
Grey Partridge (coveys of 3 & 5. Maybe some double counting)
Chaffinch 80+
Brambling 3+
Yellowhammer 1
Teal 1
Snipe 1
Little Woolden Moss:
Merlin female
Linnet flock c30
Whitegate Farm area:
Grey Partridge 5 (Just off the reserve by the footpath to Whitegates Farm)
In set aside field:
Linnets c60
Chaffinch c40
Bramblng (10 minimum)
Counting brought to a halt by a Peregrine owned by the farmer from the neighbouring farm.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Thursday 2nd of December 2021 05:19:25 PM
011221 am
Irlam Moss
2 Snipe
38 Stock Dove
4 Lesser Redpoll
6 Teal
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR in heavy downpours of rain
3 Snipe
7 Skylark
45 Starling.
301121 am
Chat Moss
2 Snipe
45 Skylark
3 Brambling
11 Meadow Pipit
5 Yellowhammer
6 Lesser Redpoll
1 Woodcock
291121 am
Chat Moss
2 Woodcock
1 Snipe
14 Tree Sparrow
90 Chaffinch
1 Green Woodpecker...Vocal as ever...
4 Yellowhammer.
Little Woolden Moss NR and surrounding area.
The reserve looked bleak with all pools frozen over, and just a few hardy crows were seen on the mossland.
A group of 6 Meadow Pipits were noted on the perimeter path at one point though.
A female Kestrel was seen near the green containers, whilst a solitary ill looking Greylag Goose rested on the adjacent field.
2 Buzzards were seen at Western end of the moss. One of these was noted on the model aircraft strip, foraging alongside a
Mistle Thrush and a couple of Lapwings. The thrush appeared unconcerned about being close to a large predator, whilst the
Buzzard showed little interest in it's smaller companion.
The field on the other side of the River Glaze, and just in Cheshire held 306 Lapwings alongside a group of 180 Canada Geese.
With Respect to Pete Berry's note about the Stewardship Crop on Whitegate Farm...
This farmer and his farm manager have been involved with planting such crops for the past 12 years...this year he has increased the area adjacent to his farm to approximately 1 Hectare...and as he has got a predominantly 'Mustard' Crop it seems to lend itself to predominantly Linnet (700 a couple of weeks ago) with good numbers of other Finches/Tree Sparrow Reed Bunting whereas in the past his stewardship crops have been dominated by such as Sunflower/Triticale/Quinoa which attracted more Chaffinch/Brambling/Greenfinch....these previously sown crops were often away from the public footpaths.....My constant hope/wish/dream is that other farmers on the moss would do the same in planting these crops...an excellent crop of Canary Grass out on Chat Moss a few years ago attracted hundreds of finches in the winter...this being mainly due to the crop not being harvested...(other such instances with the crop being an unharvested Oilseed Rape Crop a few years ago was attracting over a Thousand Linnet) but it shows what CAN be done to save some of our farmland species...attached one of the Sunflower crops in 2018...
Dave.
At least 25 Brambling, 240 Linnet,good nos.of Chaffinch together with smaller nos. of Tree Sparrows, and a few Greenfinch and Reed Bunting. There were probably a lot more but due to the birds not settling for very long it was impossible to get an accurate count.
261121 Brief Midday Visit
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
41 Teal
148 Canada Geese
160 Starling.
2 Snipe
3 Buzzard
12 Greenfinch
2 Yellowhammer
20+ Tree Sparrow
60+ Chaffinch
20+ Goldfinch
11 Long-tailed Tit
1 Siskin
3 Herring Gull over - one of which had something trailing behind it that seemed tangled around its leg.
4 trees blown down in the over-night storm
Barton Moss 25-11-21
1 Great spotted Woodpecker
6 Greenfinch
27 Starling
15 Tree Sparrow
12 House Sparrow
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Kestrel
6 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
150 Chaffinch
5 Brambling
5 Reed Bunting
650 Jackdaw
100 Carrion Crow
70 Skylark
85 Collared Dove
200 Woodpigeon
A walk from Astley to Irlam 12:45 - 16:25, highlights
241121 am
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR---East
9 Lesser Redpoll
2 Snipe
42 Linnet
4 Bullfinch.
231121 am
Chat Moss
10 Teal
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Pink-Footed Goose
1 Water Rail
2 Grey Partridge
11 Lesser Redpoll
2 Brambling
2 Great Black-Backed Gull flying North @ 0950
Barton Moss
550 Jackdaw
4 Brambling
19 Tree Sparrow
Irlam Moss
220 Chaffinch
6 Brambling
1 Willow Tit.
221121 am
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
4 Lesser Redpoll
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Snipe
1 Golden Plover...Flew over @ 1310
Little Woolden Moss
210 Skylark
160 Linnet
8 Tree Sparrow
9 Great Black-Backed Gull flew North @ 1001
11 Brambling
12 Reed Bunting
1 Golden Plover flew over @ 1255
2 Stonechat...Pair.
211121 am
Irlam Moss
2 Snipe
6 Siskin
24 Skylark
6 Great Black-Backed Gull flying North@ 1004
45 Meadow Pipit
Chat Moss
1 Woodcock
1 Snipe
21 Skylark
23 Stock Dove
24 Meadow Pipit
3 Yellowhammer.
1 Willow Tit
7 Buzzard - including 5 circling together
1 Sparrowhawk
7 Yellowhammer
1 Siskin
2 Lesser Redpoll
30+ Chaffinch
21 Reed Bunting
5 Redwing
1 Greylag Goose
2 Bullfinch
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Teal
1 Snipe
10 Lapwing
150 Jackdaw
4 Skylark
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR Brief Midday Visit 201121
240 Starling
13 Teal
1 Peregrine...Male
2 Snipe
5 Pink-Footed Geese
1 Merlin.
Just a quick hour on Astley Moss round the Rindle Wood area mid afternoon.
About 150 Jackdaw feeding in a field behind Rindle Hedge with 2 very vociferous Buzzards circling overhead.
A nice find was a male Great Spotted Woodpecker at the far end of Rindle Hedge near the railway lines where there
was also a very flighty flock of about 30 Redwing.
Pheasants are everywhere in the fields round here but cannot be ignored especially with the beautiful markings
and colours of the males but do tend to startle you when they fly up out of nowhere right in front of you!
On the River Glaze 20 Mallard,8 Teal,3 Moorhen a Comorant and a Kingfisher.
In the trees just past the river a Treecreeper,Nuthatch and numbers of Blue and Great Tits.
In the fields a feeding flock of 100 Starlings, also 5 Fieldfare and a single Mistle Thrush,a few Black Headed Gulls and corvids.
At the far end of the lane by White Gate farm the set aside was alive with birds,must have been several hundred feeding in the set a side and perching up in nearby trees. It was impossible to count them all but there were masses of Chaffinch,Linnet,at least 20 Tree Sparrows (possibly lot more) together with Brambling and Reed Bunting.
-- Edited by pete berry on Saturday 20th of November 2021 12:22:29 PM
am
Chat Moss
1 Water Rail
16 Teal
13 Lesser Redpoll
2 Snipe
18 Reed Bunting
6 Bullfinch
7 Yellowhammer
3 Tree Sparrow
75 Collared Dove
70 Chaffinch
1 Mistle Thrush in song.
Barton Moss
130 Starling
3 Snipe
Irlam Moss
4 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
600 Jackdaw.
Chat & Irlam Mosses
190 lapwing over south (F52)
2 Kestrel
7 Buzzard
c600 Pink footed Geese resting in Field 63
100 + Collared dove in one flock (F58)
18 Chaffinch
15 Linnet
3 Goldcrest
25 Goldfinch
Merlin 2 (male and female)
Peregrine 1
Kestrel 2
Sparrowhawk 1
Buzzard 2
Stonechat 2 (pair)
Pink-footed Goose 90 > south at 10.27
181121 am
Little Woolden Moss
55 Skylark
250 Linnet
12 Grey Partridge
16 Tree Sparrow
11 Brambling
8 Siskin
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
3 Snipe
4 Grey Partridge.
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR (West)
15 Teal (R. Glaze)
2 Little Grebe (R. Glaze)
195 Black headed Gull (F38E)
12 Whooper Swan (On West Pools)
2 Stonechat (pair)
1 Kestrel
1 male Merlin
1 Water Rail (heard only...West Pools)
Barton Moss am
600 Jackdaw
4 Snipe
1 Merlin....Female
1 Marsh Harrier...the one with the red Wing Tag
13 Stock Dove
130 Skylark
1 Grey Wagtail
5 Buzzard
28 Linnet
21 Reed Bunting
2 Stonechat...Pair.
am...
Irlam Moss
3 Snipe
42 Skylark
10 Fieldfare
2 Lesser Redpoll
6 Yellowhammer
210 Lapwing
88 Stock Dove
110 Starling
52 Jackdaw
Chat Moss
160 Lapwing
1 Dunlin
45 Skylark
120 Goldfinch
60 Chaffinch
7 Whooper Swan...flushed into the air by one of those ever so 'sweet people with hunting Dogs' who roams the area with impunity....Don't they all
1 Tawny Owl
2 Goldcrest
42 Lesser Redpoll
1 Green Woodpecker...never seen one in this spot before...
1 Woodcock
Irlam Moss, Cadishead Moss, Little Woolden Moss and Little Woolden NR
Tried out my new lightweight binoculars purchased from Focalpoint. Superb for my neck / back issues; and now able to wear binoculars round my neck again.
Yellowhammer x 2
Fieldfare x 15
Redwing x 3
Greenfinch x 3
Lapwing x 1
Jay x 1
Magpie x 5
Kestrel x 3
Buzzard x 2
Pied Wagtail x 1
House Sparrow x 20
Crow x 8
Jackdaw x 12
Coot x 2
Moorhen x 3
Black-Headed Gull x 50
Chaffinch x 7
Blue Tit x 3
Goldfinch x 3
Around midday today on Little Woolden Moss, highlights of:
2 (feeding) Redshank
1 juvenile Peregrine (colour ringed) watched fly in from Astley Moss area to the north with prey and land on the bare peat to consume the pigeon
1 male Merlin, landed on a post within 10 feet of the feeding Peregrine for all of 30 seconds or so
180+ Skylark
A pair of Stonechat
1 Raven
28 Lesser Redpoll
Video footage of both raptors on the website but the record shots below (taken c250 metre range) also show the Merlin on the post to the right of the Peregrine feeding on the peat
2 Marsh Harrier - juvenile red wing-tagged bird and another juvenile without a wing tag which seemed to have traces of male plumage coming through.
1 Peregrine - mobbed the un-tagged Marsh Harrier before heading off towards LWM NR
7 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
4 Snipe
5 Siskin - more heard
13 Skylark
1 Yellowhammer
6 Reed Bunting
200 Lapwing
5 Redwing
1 Grey Heron
121121 am
Irlam Moss
130 Chaffinch
60 Stock Dove
46 Skylark
3 Grey Partridge
2 Snipe
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
11 Lesser Redpoll
1 Snipe
18 Skylark
50 Lapwing
4 Grey Partridge
Little Woolden Moss
150 Linnet
210 Skylark
4 Tree Sparrow
16 Redwing
12 Brambling
2 Yellowhammer
111121 am
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR Midday Visit West
1 Water Rail
2 Snipe
1 Marsh Harrier...no Wing Tag
101121 am
Little Woolden Moss LWTNR
1 Marsh Harrier
5 Snipe
11 Skylark
18 Reed Bunting
60 Lapwing
20 Lesser Redpoll
2 Brambling
28 Fieldfare.
2+ Brambling, White Gate Farm entrance, with Chaffinch & Greenfinch
2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 3 Fieldfare over
That's it!
PS, possibly some Redpoll a long way behind White Gate Farm, too far to be sure
-- Edited by John Watson on Friday 12th of November 2021 10:38:05 AM
081121 am
Irlam Moss
2 Willow Tit
2 Nuthatch
9 Linnet
28 Redwing
2 Snipe
Chat Moss
1 Treecreeper
5 Lesser redpoll
4 Bullfinch
42 Skylark
8 Brambling
8 Greylag Geese
Barton Moss
2 Brambling
32 Chaffinch
6 Tree Sparrow
7 Yellowhammer
6 Siskin
071121 am
Chat Moss
70 Linnet
27 Skylark
9 Brambling
3 Snipe
10 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
350 Fieldfare
1 Woodcock
51 Collared Dove
7 Yellowhammer
17 Redwing
2 Goldcrest.