Late Record for am 180821

Chat Moss

36 Mistle Thrush

18 Linnet

1 Whitethroat

1 Whinchat (juvenile)

3 Snipe

1 Ringed Plover

1 Green Sandpiper

Irlam Moss 

2 Grey Partridge

Barton Moss

2 Yellow Wagtail

1 Peregrine...Male

33 Swallow

17 House Martin

95 Swift

Late Record for am 170821

Chat Moss

24 Mistle Thrush

12 Swallow

1 Peregrine

240 Lapwing

1 Yellow Wagtail

300 Starling

14 Teal

1 Willow Tit

11 Willow Warbler

10 Chiffchaff

3 Snipe

1 Grey Partridge

39 Linnet

21 Skylark

27 Meadow Pipit.

AM

Chat Moss 

1 Yellow Wagtail

31 Pied Wagtail

21 Swallow

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

1 Hobby...hanging onto its perch with some difficulty due to the gusting Westerly wind...later this bird noted in flight in the same conditions but this time its mastery of flight coped with the gusting wind as if it were a breeze

58 Swift hawking over the reserve then later noted moving through the site..

90 Swift @ 1120

140 Swift @ 1144

22 Swift 

44 Swallow

11 Sand Martin

12 House Martin

2 Marsh Harrier

Then whilst chatting to Steve Nelson a repeat of a scene I had noted a few days earlier over the reserve..

1 Male Peregrine being chased off by a Juvenile Female Peregrine whilst one of the Marsh Harrier followed their every move from a safe height....this was when the Hobby noted earlier also slipped into the sky...lest we forget the superb work the Lancashire Wildlife Trust has done to resurrect this site from its shameful destructive peat milling years...and such sights as noted today only after 9 years of restoration!

Lunchtime visit to Chat Moss today

1 Quail - male still singing in F62 SE corner, best accessed from the S. Seems close to derelict barn

While there:
1 Grey Heron over
2 Golden Plover high heading SSW
2 Yellow Wagtail
~40 Swallow
~10 House Martin
Flock ~25 Linnet
Hundreds of Wood Pigeon
1 Chiffchaff

-- Edited by John Watson on Monday 16th of August 2021 02:53:29 PM

In response to Dave: Thanks, having found the map, most of what I've been doing on my visits is looking inwards from the boundary of no 38, the first buzzard I saw yesterday flew across 19, the buzzard/peregrine clash was in 56/57, Marsh Harrier was in the "middle" of 38.

In response to Tony: I presume the "good place is the dead trees" is the bit of 38 that is towards 66.

As for seeing Marsh Harriers - must be so easy to miss, first time (distant & low) I just dismissed it as buzzard because that was before I knew they were in that area, but once I knew and had seen again I realised it must have been MH. I guess you just have to be looking/scanning in the right direction when they're airborne and spot some movement. I'm also coming to think that they're much more wary than the other local raptors. I don't think I've spooked them (been at least quarter mile away if not more - difficult to judge how far away they've been), but none of my sightings have had them flying towards me - always away or across.

How many years is it going to take for that path to quieten down - could just as well blow a trumpet.

Little Woolden Moss

I've seen Hobbies chasing hirundines in fields 19 and 20 but a good place is the dead trees just to the south of the nature reserve.

It is just luck - I've only seen Marsh Harrier once in about ten visits. Juvenile has very dark underwings.

I like to differentiate between the Little Woolden Moss Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve which includes the original reserve now known as the Cadishead Moss Section...this was the first area purchased on the reserve and had not suffered Peat Milling but had suffered Peat Extraction all the same....this is the area south of the track when you enter from the east entrance.

Little Woolden Moss this is the farmland to the north of the reserve with field numbers 56/57/64 which is on the map I produced back in 1999 and Ian copied onto his guide for Chat Moss.

Dave.

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve 18:15-20:30 - or is it Little Woolden Moss - is there a difference? if so please can someone explain

Firstly - to whoever has hacked away the bracken that was overgrowing the path - thank you

Lots of the usual suspects - pigeons, crows, etc.

2-4 buzzards (could be repeats because of timings) - 1 on east side (disturbed when driving to parking spot), 1 (later) beyond west side, 2 (even later) beyond north side's path

2 kestrels - the resident (presumably) pair above the path to the west of the "hide" 

1 marsh harrier (spotted twice, similar area so presumably the same bird) - female (brown all over except for tawny head), but I note the report from yesterday that includes "an immaculately fresh-plumaged juvenile" - how can you tell?

Q: A month or two ago the bird I saw on more than one occasion was male, are they actually breeding (or attempting to breed) there?

50+ canada geese - I presume the goslings have fledged because the whole flock took flight - I think spooked by the marsh harrier

4 teal - I believe my ID is ok but please correct me if I've got this wrong (obviously not the male in breeding plumage, mottled plumage, stripes on head, thin pale, then very faded green through eye, then thin pale, unable to see any wing flash) in the pool in front of the "hide", 3 juvenile (90% size) under the watchful eye of an adult

20+ swifts - seen in several parts but never more than 20 at a time

1 peregrine - having an altercation with the 2 buzzards about a field beyond the north side path - difficult to know who was having a go at who - the peregrine had something in its claws for some time which (especially when it was dropped) just looked like some long grass

But, no hobbys. I have seen previously here on the ground on west side but not had a really good view like some of the pictures posted on here - am I looking in the right place? e.g. I've hardly looked in the "new" areas south of the path on the south side, or is it too windy when I go, or am I not being patient enough, or am I just being unlucky?

am

Chat Moss 

17 Swallow

1 Whinchat...Juvenile

9 Pied Wagtail

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

1 Sedge Warbler

130 Swift

7 Swallow

1 Hobby

1 Greenshank...Flew over @ 1026

2 Marsh Harrier...Females....one with wing moult which just flew through North-South at 1215.

2 Raven

Little Woolden Moss

1 Ringed Plover...flew over @ 1237

80 Carrion Crow

Irlam Moss

250 Lapwing...flew over

2 Raven...flew over

Brief Midday Visit after Woolston

Chat Moss

84 Lapwing

28 Linnet

240 Starling

2 Buzzard (one being a demanding Juvenile)

5 Swallow

23 Skylark

1 Yellowhammer

1 Yellow Wagtail.

am

Chat Moss

73 Swallow

26 Pied wagtail

2 Yellow Wagtail

28 House Martin 

22 Linnet

11 Stock Dove

4 Swift

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

1 Marsh Harrier...female

16 Swift

15 House Martin

Little Woolden Moss

2 Yellow Wagtail

2 Tree Sparrow

36 House Sparrow

Chat Moss 12 Yards Road & Croxdens Peat Pools

2 juvenile Bullfinch

12 Willow Warbler

1 male Sparrowhawk 

2 Grey Heron

1 Kestrel

1 juvenile / female Blackcap

1 juvenile Whitethroat

37 Lapwing

25 Goldfinch

5 Pied Wagtail 

12 chaffinch

Brief visit late morn...Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West after Woolston

3 Kestrel

1 Peregrine...Female (Juvenile)

3 Stock Dove

1 Hobby taking Dragonfly

1 Raven

9 Swift

2 House Martin.

...almost forgot the highlight of my visit...a chat to the ever effervescent Pete Berry...always a pleasure!

Am Wander

Irlam Moss

2 Yellow Wagtail

2 Willow Tit...where have these birds been????

Chat Moss

15 Willow Warbler

9 Whitethroat

24 Chiffchaff

26 Teal

13 House Martin

14 Swift

96 Swallow

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve...with yet another de-brief chat with Dave Stewart.

1 Marsh Harrier female which soared above a battling male and female Peregrine as if she was a Social Distancing Spectator...

7 Teal

2 Hobby one perched and one chasing Dragonfly

5 Buzzard

17 Swift.

Irlam Moss Fields 22/24/44/51/1/3.   Some walkers / cyclists etc may see this area as pleasant to the eye, but regarding the birds this is now a shadow of it's former self. This is a huge area intensively farmed for mainly turf, making the whole area almost devoid of birdlife. 

Birds seen here are mostly migrants passing through....

c50 Swallow  F22

12 House Martin  F22

2 Mistle Thrush F44

1 Kestrel F44

19 Pied Wagtail on the turf F22

4 Yellow Wagtail on the turf F22

10 Goldfinch   Woodstock Farm

1 Buzzard F3

27 Starling on the turf F51

2 Linnet F51 on the turf

Little Woolden Moss L.W.T. N.R.

This is a complete contrast to Irlam Moss. Lancashire Wildlife Trust are doing a fantastic job here in revitalizing this site to it's former glory, also by acquiring more sizeable tracts of land for future restoration.

Today with Dave Steel....

1 immature Hobby  (Cadishead Moss side of the reserve)

25 House martin over southwest

3 Buzzard

1 Female Marsh Harrier

2 Peregrine

7 Willow Warbler

4 Swift 

7 Swallow

Very Brief Visit am

Chat Moss

36 Swallow...at first these were quiet settled most perched...then 'general alarm' by the adult birds and all milled excitedly about the air...then a minute or so later the 'Hobby' alarm...a confusion of flight and the Hobby seared through this flock and missed it prey....

38 Goldfinch were also alerted into the air...

23 Mistle Thrush...yes its that time of the year when these birds flock up for a short period of time.

1 Swift.

AM Wander

Chat Moss

1 Whinchat (Juvenile)

2 Grey Partridge

3 Yellow Wagtail

1 Quail....gave two bursts of song @ 0958

2 Raven...flew East @ 1030

46 Swift

1 Marsh Harrier...Female

32 House Martin

36 Swallow

4 Sand Martin

1 Redshank flew over @ 1120

1 Ringed Plover flew over @ 1145

1 Lesser Redpoll in Display

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

2 Hobby

1 Ringed Plover

6 Willow Warbler

...a good debrief with Dave Stewart.

Nice to have a catch up with Dave Steel also Steve & Paula Judge.

Little Woolden Moss L.W.T. N.R.

1 adult Female Marsh Harrier

2 Immature Hobby 

3 Buzzard

3 Kestrel (including 1 behind Woodstock Farm)

7 Willow Warbler

5 House Martin

17 Swallow 

5 Swift

1 juvenile Ringed Plover

12 Pied Wagtail (mostly juvenile)

1 male White Wagtail

Circuit taking in Chat Moss/Cadishead Moss/Great Woolden Moss and Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve (east section)

Irlam Moss

19 House Sparrow

1 Yellowhammer in song

Cadishead Moss

13 Skylark

3 Yellow Wagtail

15 Swallow

4 Sand Martin

34 House Sparrow

Great Woolden Moss

56 Swallow

16 House Sparrow

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

Nice Chat to Dave Thacker and Dave Broome

2 Peregrine...a male chasing off a female

600 Swift Moving through

1 Hobby...Perched

15 House Martin

1 Marsh Harrier...Female

9.00 - 14.00

Astley moss

Not much about due to heavy rain and shooting taking place, only 2 Kestrels, Skylark, Whitethroat and 2 Grey partridge. 

Croxdens peat works and pools.

A young Cuckoo was a surprise as it was put up by a flock of Wood pigeons. It flew low across the field towards 12 yards road. The water levels are very high in the pools and only 2 Herons were around the edges and 30+ Swifts feeding over the water.

20+ Swallows & 5 House Martins flying around the tress on 12 yards road.

Little Woolden moss.

Kestrel

Marsh harrier (f)

Hobby

2 Common Sandpipers

2 Yellow wagtails

1 Pied wagtail

100+ Swifts.

Also 2 Grey partridge in the cow field next to Red challis farm.

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve after Woolston

31 Swallow

2 Teal

9 Sand Martin

35 Meadow Pipit

13 Pied Wagtail

220 Swift feeding over the reserve

1 Sparrowhawk (Male) chased by the Swallows.

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve...in a 'bit' of rain...

1 Water Rail

2 Lesser Redpoll

1 Common Sandpiper

1 Peregrine

1 Sparrowhawk attacked by 4 Carrion Crow

2 Willow Warbler uttering (just about) their song of a Summer almost done..

A particularly heavy downpour brought in...(counted as best I could)...

45 Sand Martin

60 House Martin

70 Swallow

90 Swift

.....

6 Teal

16 Linnet

7 Yellow Wagtail.

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature reserve West after Woolston

4 Yellow Wagtail

27 Swift...Heading South...very High but brought to lower levels it seems by a shower.

Brief Mid-Afternoon Visit

Chat Moss

1 Green Sandpiper

1 Marsh Harrier...Male

1 Tree Sparrow

1 Yellow Wagtail

11 Willow Warbler

9 Swallow

2 Yellowhammer in song.

Additional birds on Little Woolden Moss NR this afternoon included a juvenile Peregrine and a family party of four Yellow Wagtails, a pair and at least two fully fledged juveniles.

Chat Moss 

1 Green Sandpiper  Croxdens West Pools

5 Swift  over west

c40 Chaffinch  Cutnook Lane / 12 Yards Rd

c70 Goldfinch Cutnook Lane / 12 Yards Rd

10 Swallow 

7 House Martin 

9 Willow Warbler

Little Woolden Moss LWT NR East Pools

2 immature Hobby seen briefly hawking insects then flew east

2 Kestrel

1 Buzzard

9 Pied Wagtail

5 Willow Warbler

115 Black Headed Gull over west

17 Swallow over southwest 

am

Irlam Moss

85 House Sparrow

7 Swallow

Chat Moss

14 Swift

5 Yellowhammer

6 Chiffchaff

1 Snipe

1 Siskin

9 Willow Warbler...3 offering a brief rendition of their song...

am...

Chat Moss

5 Stock Dove

8 Mistle Thrush

3 Yellow Wagtail

2 Yellowhammer

3 Willow Warbler

1 Hobby

1 Peregrine

7 Chiffchaff

16 Willow Warbler

3 Teal

13 Swallow

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve East...disturbed by the resounding bangs of the Big Game Hunters Guns on the nearby Farmland

1 Peregrine

1 Hobby

14 Swift

am

Cadishead Moss

67 Swallow

2 Yellow Wagtail

13 Swift

1 Sparrowhawk...male

Great Woolden Moss

32 Swallow

44 House Sparrow

1 Nuthatch

4 House Martin

Little Woolden Moss

150 Swift

13 Swallow

14 Linnet

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

2 Yellowhammer

2 Green Sandpiper

1 Marsh Harrier...Female

1 Hobby...hunting Dragonfly

15 Willow Warbler

20 Swift

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West after Woolston

480 Swift moved east to west between 1100-1115

16 Sand Martin

7 Swallow

6 House Martin

1500 Woodpigeon in numerous flocks moving away from the farmland gunslingers...

23 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls

82 Swift feeding over the reserve from noon...

Little Woolden Moss NR early am today:

1 Common Sandpiper

3 Common Tern over low south, an adult and two juveniles

18 Willow Warbler

16 Whitethroat 

2 Blackcap

2 Raven over west

160+ swift

8+ Sand Martin 

Little Woolden Moss am

27 Swallow

54 Swift

28 Skylark

1 Buzzard

850 Woodpigeon

4 Yellow Wagtail

7 Tree Sparrow

7 Yellowhammer

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

103 Swift

3 Sand Martin

Chat Moss

21 Swallow

am

Barton Moss...one day this will be Truck Heaven (Hell)...see 'Places for Everyone'....except for Wildlife...Where have all the Flowers Gone..as Peter Paul and Mary sang...When will they ever Learn...it seems perhaps not until after Global Warming has engulfed Mankind?

322 Black-Headed Gull

34 Lesser Black-Backed Gull (including Juveniles)

18 Stock Dove

42 Swift

31 Swallow

13 House Martin

1 Black-Tailed Godwit

16 Skylark

Chat Moss

4 Yellow Wagtail

3 Lesser Redpoll

4 Chiffchaff

Late Record am 280721

Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve

125 Swift moving west in small flocks

1 Peregrine

1 Marsh Harrier...Male

7 Sand Martin

16 Willow Warbler...including Juveniles

3 Kestrel