ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Steve Christmas said
Wed Jun 23 7:39 PM, 2021
'1 Swallow...how can such a relatively bird friendly farming area support but ONE PAIR of Swallow...what have we done to this world???????????????????'
Maybe something to do with the hobbys. One of our farmers complained that they had taken most of his.
Dave Steel said
Wed Jun 23 7:19 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve
3 Stonechat...Juveniles
14 Swift
2 Curlew
3 Buzzard
Little Woolden Moss Farmed area FN56/57/64
5 Skylark
2 Grey Partridge
11 Yellow Wagtail
3 Yellowhammer
5 Mistle Thrush
3 Willow Warbler in song
30 House Sparrow
3 Tree Sparrow
1 Oystercatcher
1 Swallow...how can such a relatively bird friendly farming area support but ONE PAIR of Swallow...what have we done to this world???????????????????
Chat Moss including a Carbon Landscape Dragonfly Survey on Croxden
26 Willow Warbler in song
1 Oystercatcher
24 Rook
9 Swift
3 Teal..1 Female 2 Male
1 Reed Warbler in song
Little Woolden Moss Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
4 Hobby...taking Dragonfly
21 Lapwing
2 Oystercatcher
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew.
Dave Steel said
Sun Jun 20 8:48 PM, 2021
Chat Moss after an abandoned Dragonfly Survey on Croxden...too cool/overcast initially
75 Lapwing
8 Swallow
5 House Martin
11 Yellow Wagtail
14 Stock Dove
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
15 Skylark
1 Garden warbler in song
1 Oystercatcher
3 Yellowhammer
2 Hobby Hunting Swallow one of which attacked by a Carrion Crow which the Hobby then proceeded to attack and drive off!
1 Corn Bunting in song at LONG last
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve East
3 Hobby
1 Marsh Harrier male
4 Curlew
1 Raven
1 Mediterranean Gull.
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 19 10:41 PM, 2021
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Rob Creek wrote:
Hi Dave, I didnt know it was possible to reliably sex adult Hobbies unless they were in the hand and you can examine the under tail covert pattern, or is it?
Hobby are easily assigned as Male or Female on size alone the Female in general are around Kestrel Size and the Males more Merlin sized,when You watch them regularly there us no issue sexing them ,the Males quite often look a third smaller than the Females of any age.
Thanks for this John, obviously I'm aware of the fact as a general rule most male Birds of Prey are around a 1/3 smaller than females, but it was something I read a while ago that with Hobbies, both sexes can have very long wings and can therefore appear to be of very similar size.
As for the chicks (you did say of any age) it depends on the fullness of the crop at time of measurement, which in some cases can create overlaps in body mass of M & F. That is only what Ive read though, and Im certainly not experienced in any sense of the word with the species hence why I asked, so I appreciate your observations and the original sighting by Dave.
Richard Thew said
Sat Jun 19 9:49 PM, 2021
I had a long bikeride to the mosses, arriving at 11:30am till 3:15pm.
I didn't do a species count this time, but highlights include:
Little Woolden Moss: Curlew x3 Oystercatcher x2 Lapwing Yellow wagtail x2 Buzzard Hobby x1 (I must have just missed the others) Linnet Whitethroat Willow warbler Skylark (a few singing) Meadow pipit Yellowhammer
Chat Moss area
Hobby (l got very lucky as one landed in a tree nearby) Yellow wagtail (c)x5 Yellowhammer Corn bunting singing (though a passing vehicle flushed it before I could spot it) Linnet Lapwing Oystercatcher (another x2) Willow tit heard Treecreeper Stock dove Gadwall x2
River Glaze - ~10 Sand Martins, ~10 House Martins and House Martin nest on building nearby. Also, Cormorant & 2 Herons on river
L Woolden LNR - 2 maybe 3 Hobbies, Marsh Harrier (subad male, older than the Risley one a few days ago) likely caught passerine in flight, 3+ distant Buzzard, Kestrel, 3 Lapwing on reserve, Yellowhammer (h), 1-2 Curlew landed
No sign of Lapwings in fields, presumably with young & keeping quiet?
Dave Steel said
Sat Jun 19 3:18 PM, 2021
Late Record for Friday 180621
Astley Moss LWT BBS
2 Willow Tit
18 Willow Warbler in song
11 Meadow Pipit
9 Reed Bunting
1 Teal
2 Chiffchaff in song
Little Woolden Moss East Brief Midday visit
1 Peregrine
1 Hobby
2 Oystercatcher
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jun 19 12:14 PM, 2021
Rob Creek wrote:
Hi Dave, I didnt know it was possible to reliably sex adult Hobbies unless they were in the hand and you can examine the under tail covert pattern, or is it?
Hobby are easily assigned as Male or Female on size alone the Female in general are around Kestrel Size and the Males more Merlin sized,when You watch them regularly there us no issue sexing them ,the Males quite often look a third smaller than the Females of any age.
Rob Creek said
Sat Jun 19 10:49 AM, 2021
Hi Dave, I didnt know it was possible to reliably sex adult Hobbies unless they were in the hand and you can examine the under tail covert pattern, or is it?
Dave Stewart said
Fri Jun 18 8:14 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss West.
To add a little to what Mr. Steel had seen in a similar area the previous day....
4 hobby (3 female 1 male) high and silhouetted so difficult to age.
1 Kestrel
c50 Lapwing (post breeding flock adults and juveniles)
8 Sand martin feeding above the bridge over The R. Glaze
4 Yellow Wagtail (2 Field 38E and 2 Field C7 just west of The R. Glaze
2 Stock Dove Field C7
Dave Steel said
Fri Jun 18 8:04 AM, 2021
Late Record for 170621 Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve whilst moving through on way to do a Carbon Landscape Dragonfly Survey on The Glaze
As this thread covers all the mosses as in the thread title and more, could we ensure we put which specific moss sightings are from please.
John Williams said
Thu Jun 17 7:44 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss NR 13.00-15.00
In addition to Pete's report : Hobby - 2 seen catching dragonflies over the centre of the moss, they appeared to catch one on every swoop.
3 were later seen together over the NW corner of the site.
Also seen around the moss this afternoon :- 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Meadow Pipits (3 still display flying),
2 Skylarks, 3 Common Whitethroats and 4 juvenile Black headed Gulls (Have these gulls been reared on the moss?).
At least 6 Willow Warblers still singing along the Southern edge of the moss.
-- Edited by John Williams on Thursday 17th of June 2021 08:53:36 PM
pete berry said
Thu Jun 17 2:45 PM, 2021
Another excellent Hobby afternoon with 4 birds together at one stage,again spending all their time aerial feeding. Also a Little Egret on the western pools(first spotted by Dave Steel),excellent views of the male Marsh Harrier hunting over the moss,and again a few close views of Yellow Wagtails.
LITTLE WOOLDEN Whimbrel over early this morning but no sign of the Avocet on Western or Eastern Pools on brief walk round but some pools out of view.
Steven Heywood said
Thu Jun 17 1:21 AM, 2021
15:10 - 16:00
The two avocets were still on the pool, sleeping with the black-headed gulls.
Two hobbies very briefly.
The channel wagtail is still favouring its favourite bush at the corner of the footpath where it turns West between the potato field and the poly tunnels. A bonny bird.
Dave Steel said
Wed Jun 16 8:19 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve am...during Dragonfly Surveys for Carbon Landscape...noted
2 Avocet which appeared quite content...flying round when the local Buzzards came to close but were happy to return it seems to Preen/Snooze/Feed and Sleep as I left at Noon
1 Hobby taking Dragonfly over the East Pool Area
2 Oystercatcher
4 Curlew
1 Redshank
17 Willow warbler including one with a Large Red Damselfly for its young
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 08:20:59 PM
Up to 3 Hobbies in the air together this afternoon, not as spectacular as yesterday with the bird feeding quite high up. The 2 Avocets relocated to the pools near the burnt out hide(per Pete Hines and Dave Broome). Several Yellow Wagtails giving excellent views around the western pools.
Dave Stewart said
Tue Jun 15 10:49 PM, 2021
Croxdens Peat Pools
Hobby 1st summer, probably female 11-05hrs
3 Buzzard north of the railway line
2 Kestrel hunting over the peat
Little Woolden Moss (EastPools)
Hobby 1st summer female 11-55hrs. possibly the same bird seen 50 minutes earlier at Croxdens
2 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail (pair)
2 Oystercatcher
2 Buzzard
11 Lapwing including 5 well grown young
27 Black Headed Gull
-- Edited by Dave Stewart on Tuesday 15th of June 2021 10:50:37 PM
pete berry said
Tue Jun 15 2:45 PM, 2021
A cracking hour watching the Hobbies at Little Woolden,feeding virtually non stop aerially on Dragonflies. At one stage a first summer bird joined them and was chased off by one of the adults. Birds spent a lot of time feeding high up ,but occasionally coming down to ground level to catch Dragonflies off the water and giving amazing views as they occasionally flew right over my head. Also several Yellow Wagtails about,and at one stage 5 Buzzards in the air at the same time.
Dave Steel said
Tue Jun 15 9:34 AM, 2021
Late Record for 140621 am
Little Woolden Moss
20 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grey Partridge
1 Oystercatcher
3 Tree Sparrow
4 Yellowhammer
6 Swallow
28 Lapwing
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve
1 Hobby taking Dragonflies once the weather had improved
2 Mediterranean Gull
1 Snipe
86 Lapwing
6 Swift.
Dave Stewart said
Mon Jun 14 7:07 PM, 2021
Little Woolden Moss West
Pair Yellow Wagtail (female with nest material)
2 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank
6 Ringed Plover (4adult & 2 juvenile) flew west at 12-40hrs.
Pair of Hobby hawking insects
3 Pied Wagtail
17 Black Headed Gull
4 Tufted Duck
c 70 Swift
Dave Steel said
Sun Jun 13 3:49 PM, 2021
Chat Moss
1 Tawny Owl
32 Lapwing...some with young
2 Grey Partridge
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
1 Goldcrest in song
19 Stock Dove
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve (east)
1 Hobby
4 Mediterranean Gull...feeding on Dragonflies with a flock of 70 Plus Black-Headed Gull...the Mediterranean Gulls came in to the East Pools to bathe
2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew in display
1 Peregrine
1 Marsh Harrier
PS...not a drop of seed was placed out to attract these birds
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve...brief midday visit west
7 Yellow Wagtail
1 Peregrine
1 Curlew
43 Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Dave Steel said
Wed Jun 9 10:21 PM, 2021
Chat Moss...More concentrated on a Dragonfly Survey for the Carbon Landscape this morning...but noted along the way
1 Raven
1 Lesser Redpoll in Display
2 Mediterranean Gull over flying @ 1030
1 Sedge Warbler in song
13 Willow Warbler in song
38 Rook
5 Swift.
Dave Steel said
Tue Jun 8 8:04 PM, 2021
Chat Moss...
5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
13 Stock Dove
34 Lapwing on Territory
4 Oystercatcher
32 Lapwing...Post Breeding Season Flock...
6 Tree Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve...late Morning Brief Visit
1 Curlew in display
2 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck
2 Hobby..1 Immature...1 Adult
....a report and posting of 2 Red Kite over the Reserve @ 0830 today on Facebook...both birds moved south according to this rare to infrequent visitor to the Reserve...proving to me how this lovely Mossland 'seems' to enjoy tormenting me...for yesterday I was here for at least 4 hours doing a BBS...'.for those whom the Gods wish to 'destroy'...they first make MAD!'...how true!
Dave Steel said
Mon Jun 7 11:53 PM, 2021
Chat Moss
59 Lapwing...some with young...some in a post breeding flock...already...how time flies
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Oystercatcher
Little Woolden Moss BBS 3 of 3
1 Hobby...immature taking Dragonflies
2 Sedge Warbler i song
2 Yellow Wagtail
4 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
40 Linnet
8 Willow Warbler in song
15 Reed Bunting
25 Reed Bunting
3 Tufted Duck
On Return on Chat Moss...a Kestrel with a small young Lapwing....I'll possibly never quite get the randomness of nature...
Chat Moss 2 Hobby hawking insects at high altitude this afternoon.
Dave Steel said
Sun Jun 6 8:32 PM, 2021
Irlam Moss
10 Lapwing...agitated Behaviour...hidden young
11 Lapwing...agitated behaviour...hidden and three small young noted
2 Yellow Wagtail
Barton Moss
6 Lapwing...agitated behaviour...hidden young
3 Yellowhammer in song
Chat Moss return
8 Willow Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
3 Tufted Duck...male
1 Mediterranean Gull
Little Woolden Moss East...brief visit
1 Curlew
1 Oystercatcher
11 Lapwing...several in display...how bad has their breeding season elsewhere been that they are STILL in display...perhaps the Reserve may give them success..
52 Swift
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Monday 7th of June 2021 07:24:11 AM
Late afternoon/early evening on Little Woolden Moss LWT Reserve in beautiful light and conditions:
Male Marsh Harrier hunting over the moss (headed off leisurely west)
3 Hobby, with a pair and a first summer hawking the many dragonflies over the moss but the pair eventually saw the immature bird off, chasing it south
1 Redshank
6 Yellow Wagtail avidly collecting food around the pools then carrying it back to their nests in the arable fields, one of which took a fairly impressively sized hawker dragonfly
110+ Swift high over the reserve
10 Mallard
Dave Stewart said
Sun Jun 6 3:20 PM, 2021
Cadishead Moss Field 53
All these birds feeding / gathering food on the now daisy covered turf
When the numerous members of the public have asked me...why do we not see 'many' birds on this reserve...I carefully explain that this restoration by the LWT has brought about a subtle BUT significant change to this once bare habitat...it is an insect foodbank...for so much...and as they are the building block to life THAT IS ITS IMPORTANCE...and once more so many swift now finding food!
Success or what!
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 24 9:38 PM, 2021
Additionally on Little Woolden Moss this early evening was a great sight of c700 Swift feeding over the reserve.
'1 Swallow...how can such a relatively bird friendly farming area support but ONE PAIR of Swallow...what have we done to this world???????????????????'
Maybe something to do with the hobbys. One of our farmers complained that they had taken most of his.
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve
3 Stonechat...Juveniles
14 Swift
2 Curlew
3 Buzzard
Little Woolden Moss Farmed area FN56/57/64
5 Skylark
2 Grey Partridge
11 Yellow Wagtail
3 Yellowhammer
5 Mistle Thrush
3 Willow Warbler in song
30 House Sparrow
3 Tree Sparrow
1 Oystercatcher
1 Swallow...how can such a relatively bird friendly farming area support but ONE PAIR of Swallow...what have we done to this world???????????????????
Late Record 220621
Chat Moss including a Carbon Landscape Dragonfly Survey on Croxden
26 Willow Warbler in song
1 Oystercatcher
24 Rook
9 Swift
3 Teal..1 Female 2 Male
1 Reed Warbler in song
Little Woolden Moss Lancashire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve
4 Hobby...taking Dragonfly
21 Lapwing
2 Oystercatcher
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew.
Chat Moss after an abandoned Dragonfly Survey on Croxden...too cool/overcast initially
75 Lapwing
8 Swallow
5 House Martin
11 Yellow Wagtail
14 Stock Dove
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
15 Skylark
1 Garden warbler in song
1 Oystercatcher
3 Yellowhammer
2 Hobby Hunting Swallow one of which attacked by a Carrion Crow which the Hobby then proceeded to attack and drive off!
1 Corn Bunting in song at LONG last
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve East
3 Hobby
1 Marsh Harrier male
4 Curlew
1 Raven
1 Mediterranean Gull.
Thanks for this John, obviously I'm aware of the fact as a general rule most male Birds of Prey are around a 1/3 smaller than females, but it was something I read a while ago that with Hobbies, both sexes can have very long wings and can therefore appear to be of very similar size.
As for the chicks (you did say of any age) it depends on the fullness of the crop at time of measurement, which in some cases can create overlaps in body mass of M & F.
That is only what Ive read though, and Im certainly not experienced in any sense of the word with the species hence why I asked, so I appreciate your observations and the original sighting by Dave.
I didn't do a species count this time, but highlights include:
Little Woolden Moss:
Curlew x3
Oystercatcher x2
Lapwing
Yellow wagtail x2
Buzzard
Hobby x1 (I must have just missed the others)
Linnet
Whitethroat
Willow warbler
Skylark (a few singing)
Meadow pipit
Yellowhammer
Chat Moss area
Hobby (l got very lucky as one landed in a tree nearby)
Yellow wagtail (c)x5
Yellowhammer
Corn bunting singing (though a passing vehicle flushed it before I could spot it)
Linnet
Lapwing
Oystercatcher (another x2)
Willow tit heard
Treecreeper
Stock dove
Gadwall x2
Ta!
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West 1130-1330 after a morn @ Woolston Eyes
3 Hobby taking Dragonfly
5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew
1 Ringed Plover
1 Oystercatcher
3 Buzzard
Raven to Little Woolden Moss, and back
River Glaze - ~10 Sand Martins, ~10 House Martins and House Martin nest on building nearby. Also, Cormorant & 2 Herons on river
L Woolden LNR - 2 maybe 3 Hobbies, Marsh Harrier (subad male, older than the Risley one a few days ago) likely caught passerine in flight, 3+ distant Buzzard, Kestrel, 3 Lapwing on reserve, Yellowhammer (h), 1-2 Curlew landed
No sign of Lapwings in fields, presumably with young & keeping quiet?
Late Record for Friday 180621
Astley Moss LWT BBS
2 Willow Tit
18 Willow Warbler in song
11 Meadow Pipit
9 Reed Bunting
1 Teal
2 Chiffchaff in song
Little Woolden Moss East Brief Midday visit
1 Peregrine
1 Hobby
2 Oystercatcher
Hobby are easily assigned as Male or Female on size alone the Female in general are around Kestrel Size and the Males more Merlin sized,when You watch them regularly there us no issue sexing them ,the Males quite often look a third smaller than the Females of any age.
I didnt know it was possible to reliably sex adult Hobbies unless they were in the hand and you can examine the under tail covert pattern, or is it?
Little Woolden Moss West.
To add a little to what Mr. Steel had seen in a similar area the previous day....
4 hobby (3 female 1 male) high and silhouetted so difficult to age.
1 Kestrel
c50 Lapwing (post breeding flock adults and juveniles)
8 Sand martin feeding above the bridge over The R. Glaze
4 Yellow Wagtail (2 Field 38E and 2 Field C7 just west of The R. Glaze
2 Stock Dove Field C7
Late Record for 170621 Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve whilst moving through on way to do a Carbon Landscape Dragonfly Survey on The Glaze
1 Mediterranean Gull...East Pools
2 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
3 Hobby
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Little Egret...West Pools
Along Glaze and Adjacent field
5 Yellow Wagtail
4 Gadwall
9 Tufted Duck
1 Yellowhammer in song.
As this thread covers all the mosses as in the thread title and more, could we ensure we put which specific moss sightings are from please.
In addition to Pete's report : Hobby - 2 seen catching dragonflies over the centre of the moss, they appeared to catch one on every swoop.
3 were later seen together over the NW corner of the site.
Also seen around the moss this afternoon :- 2 Oystercatchers, 2 Buzzards, 2 Kestrels, 3 Yellow Wagtails, 7 Meadow Pipits (3 still display flying),
2 Skylarks, 3 Common Whitethroats and 4 juvenile Black headed Gulls (Have these gulls been reared on the moss?).
At least 6 Willow Warblers still singing along the Southern edge of the moss.
-- Edited by John Williams on Thursday 17th of June 2021 08:53:36 PM
Also a Little Egret on the western pools(first spotted by Dave Steel),excellent views of the male Marsh Harrier hunting over the moss,and again a few close views of Yellow Wagtails.
Whimbrel over early this morning but no sign of the Avocet on Western or Eastern Pools on brief walk round but some pools out of view.
15:10 - 16:00
The two avocets were still on the pool, sleeping with the black-headed gulls.
Two hobbies very briefly.
The channel wagtail is still favouring its favourite bush at the corner of the footpath where it turns West between the potato field and the poly tunnels. A bonny bird.
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve am...during Dragonfly Surveys for Carbon Landscape...noted
2 Avocet which appeared quite content...flying round when the local Buzzards came to close but were happy to return it seems to Preen/Snooze/Feed and Sleep as I left at Noon
1 Hobby taking Dragonfly over the East Pool Area
2 Oystercatcher
4 Curlew
1 Redshank
17 Willow warbler including one with a Large Red Damselfly for its young
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 16th of June 2021 08:20:59 PM
The 2 Avocets relocated to the pools near the burnt out hide(per Pete Hines and Dave Broome).
Several Yellow Wagtails giving excellent views around the western pools.
Croxdens Peat Pools
Hobby 1st summer, probably female 11-05hrs
3 Buzzard north of the railway line
2 Kestrel hunting over the peat
Little Woolden Moss (EastPools)
Hobby 1st summer female 11-55hrs. possibly the same bird seen 50 minutes earlier at Croxdens
2 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail (pair)
2 Oystercatcher
2 Buzzard
11 Lapwing including 5 well grown young
27 Black Headed Gull
-- Edited by Dave Stewart on Tuesday 15th of June 2021 10:50:37 PM
Also several Yellow Wagtails about,and at one stage 5 Buzzards in the air at the same time.
Late Record for 140621 am
Little Woolden Moss
20 Yellow Wagtail
1 Grey Partridge
1 Oystercatcher
3 Tree Sparrow
4 Yellowhammer
6 Swallow
28 Lapwing
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve
1 Hobby taking Dragonflies once the weather had improved
2 Mediterranean Gull
1 Snipe
86 Lapwing
6 Swift.
Little Woolden Moss West
Pair Yellow Wagtail (female with nest material)
2 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank
6 Ringed Plover (4adult & 2 juvenile) flew west at 12-40hrs.
Pair of Hobby hawking insects
3 Pied Wagtail
17 Black Headed Gull
4 Tufted Duck
c 70 Swift
Chat Moss
1 Tawny Owl
32 Lapwing...some with young
2 Grey Partridge
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
1 Goldcrest in song
19 Stock Dove
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve (east)
1 Hobby
4 Mediterranean Gull...feeding on Dragonflies with a flock of 70 Plus Black-Headed Gull...the Mediterranean Gulls came in to the East Pools to bathe
2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew in display
1 Peregrine
1 Marsh Harrier
PS...not a drop of seed was placed out to attract these birds
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West after Woolston
16 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
5 Yellow Wagtail
41 Lapwing
190 Swift
1 Hobby taking Dragonfly...first noted @ 1305
1 Marsh Harrier male flew South North @ 1303
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West
16 Linnet
6 Tufted Duck
7 Yellow Wagtail
3 Curlew
13 Willow Warbler
1 Hobby taking Dragonfly...
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve...brief midday visit west
7 Yellow Wagtail
1 Peregrine
1 Curlew
43 Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Chat Moss...More concentrated on a Dragonfly Survey for the Carbon Landscape this morning...but noted along the way
1 Raven
1 Lesser Redpoll in Display
2 Mediterranean Gull over flying @ 1030
1 Sedge Warbler in song
13 Willow Warbler in song
38 Rook
5 Swift.
Chat Moss...
5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
13 Stock Dove
34 Lapwing on Territory
4 Oystercatcher
32 Lapwing...Post Breeding Season Flock...
6 Tree Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve...late Morning Brief Visit
1 Curlew in display
2 Oystercatcher
2 Shelduck
2 Hobby..1 Immature...1 Adult
....a report and posting of 2 Red Kite over the Reserve @ 0830 today on Facebook...both birds moved south according to this rare to infrequent visitor to the Reserve...proving to me how this lovely Mossland 'seems' to enjoy tormenting me...for yesterday I was here for at least 4 hours doing a BBS...'.for those whom the Gods wish to 'destroy'...they first make MAD!'...how true!
Chat Moss
59 Lapwing...some with young...some in a post breeding flock...already...how time flies
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Oystercatcher
Little Woolden Moss BBS 3 of 3
1 Hobby...immature taking Dragonflies
2 Sedge Warbler i song
2 Yellow Wagtail
4 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
40 Linnet
8 Willow Warbler in song
15 Reed Bunting
25 Reed Bunting
3 Tufted Duck
On Return on Chat Moss...a Kestrel with a small young Lapwing....I'll possibly never quite get the randomness of nature...
2 Hobby hawking insects at high altitude this afternoon.
Irlam Moss
10 Lapwing...agitated Behaviour...hidden young
11 Lapwing...agitated behaviour...hidden and three small young noted
2 Yellow Wagtail
Barton Moss
6 Lapwing...agitated behaviour...hidden young
3 Yellowhammer in song
Chat Moss return
8 Willow Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
3 Tufted Duck...male
1 Mediterranean Gull
Little Woolden Moss East...brief visit
1 Curlew
1 Oystercatcher
11 Lapwing...several in display...how bad has their breeding season elsewhere been that they are STILL in display...perhaps the Reserve may give them success..
52 Swift
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Monday 7th of June 2021 07:24:11 AM
Late afternoon/early evening on Little Woolden Moss LWT Reserve in beautiful light and conditions:
Male Marsh Harrier hunting over the moss (headed off leisurely west)
3 Hobby, with a pair and a first summer hawking the many dragonflies over the moss but the pair eventually saw the immature bird off, chasing it south
1 Redshank
6 Yellow Wagtail avidly collecting food around the pools then carrying it back to their nests in the arable fields, one of which took a fairly impressively sized hawker dragonfly
110+ Swift high over the reserve
10 Mallard
Cadishead Moss Field 53
All these birds feeding / gathering food on the now daisy covered turf
5 Yellow Wagtail (3m 2F)
4 Lapwing
7 Linnet
3 Mistle Thrush (2 ads 1juv)
4 Pied Wagtail
80 Starling (post breeding flock juvs / ads)
2 Tree Sparrow in the hedgerow
Great Woolden Hall
10 Swallow nests
4 House Martin nests
3 Swift nests
c 40 House Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss West
1 Yellow Wagtail (male)
1 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew (pair)
1 1st summer Hobby
Hobby 2
Peregrine 1
Oystercatcher 4
Curlew 2
Yellow Wagtail 1
Chat Moss
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Garden Warbler in song
4 Tufted Duck
8 Willow Warbler in song
2 Teal...male
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West
2 Curlew...pair
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Sand Martin
2 House Martin
1 Hobby.
Chat Moss
5 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
4 House Martin
1 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve
2 Hobby
4 Curlew
3 Oystercatcher
4 Swift.
Little Woolden Moss LWT Nature Reserve West Brief Midday Visit
1 Redshank
7 Yellow Wagtail
1 Marsh Harrier
6 Swallow
42 Swift
1 Curlew.
Little Woolden Moss early this morning:
1 Ringed Plover
1 Curlew
1 Redshank
6 Yellow Wagtail
6 Tufted Duck
Barton Moss
8 Lapwing
39 House Sparrow
5 Yellowhammer
6 Yellow Wagtail....5 Male 1 Female
28 Skylark
8 House Martin
12 Swallow
4 Swift
1 Sedge Warbler in song
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
1 Hobby
11 Willow Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Curlew in display
Chat Moss
2 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
4 Tufted Duck
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Sedge Warbler in song
31 Willow Warbler in song...the intensity of which is slowly fading as yet another season evaporates from my life...
Brief Visit to LWT Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve
1 Curlew in Display
5 Willow Warbler in song
6 Lapwing in display.
Brief visit this morning....
Irlam Moss
F52 x 12 Yards Road
1 Yellowhammer in song
F17 x 12 Yards Road
2 Yellowhammer (pair)
Little Woolden Moss East
2 Curlew
1 1st Summer Hobby over west 11-15hrs.
2 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank
3 Pied Wagtail (adult & 2 juveniles)
2 Yellow Wagtail (pair)
Today 09-30-12-45hrs.
Irlam Moss
Field 52
32 lapwing & 9 chicks
Field 19
7 Lapwing & 6 chicks
1 curlew
Little Woolden Moss East
2 Curlew
5 Common Whitethroat in song
9 Willow Warbler in song
4 Blackcap in song
2 Chaffinch in song
6 Reed Bunting in song
1 Redshank
1 Oystercatcher
3 Tufted Duck
2 Yellow Wagtail (pair)
2 Pied Wagtail
4 Meadow Pipit
6 Gadwall over west
1 immature female Peregrine
1 adult male marsh harrier
2 Buzzard
10 Lapwing
Irlam Moss
18 Lapwing
5 House Martin
2 Swallow
1 Curlew
1 Yellow Wagtail
Chat Moss
2 Grey Partridge
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
5 Tree Sparrow
33 Lapwing
10 Corn Bunting....passing through or hopefully arrived in our area to stay and breed????
Little Woolden Moss east as the sun finally induced Dragonfly to emerge..
1 Hobby
1 Marsh Harrier...male
2 Mediterranean Gull
1 Curlew
A check on the progress of Lapwing and Yellow Wagtail on parts of Barton Moss
42 Lapwing on territory at various stages...with small/large/fully fledged young plus some sat on eggs
7 Yellow Wagtail noted...struggling to get this breeding season underway it seems
Little Woolden Moss east to chill after Barton wander
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew in display
80 Swift
5 Tufted Duck.
Cadishead Moss
1 Lesser Whitethroat in song
2 Common Whitethroat in song
4 Chaffinch in song
1 Nuthatch calling
2 Song Thrush ( 1 singing 1 carrying food)
c40 House Sparrow (Great Woolden hall)
Little Woolden Moss circular walk
Tree Sparrow...pair feeding chicks in the terraced nest box kindly put up by Eddie King, but only one compartment occupied.
9 Tufted Duck (7 R.Glaze 2 peat pools)
19 Willow Warbler in song
17 Reed Bunting 14 in song & 3 female.
9 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew (displaying)
2 Oyster Catcher
1 Redshank
7 Meadow Pipit
1 Sedge Warbler in song
5 Common Whitethroat in song
23 Linnet
2 Buzzard (pair)
c70 Swift
A trip taking my old Tuesday WEA Class out onto Little Woolden Moss...some highlights
2 Curlew
1 Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin
1 Channel Wagtail
80 Swift
2 Oystercatcher
When the numerous members of the public have asked me...why do we not see 'many' birds on this reserve...I carefully explain that this restoration by the LWT has brought about a subtle BUT significant change to this once bare habitat...it is an insect foodbank...for so much...and as they are the building block to life THAT IS ITS IMPORTANCE...and once more so many swift now finding food!
Success or what!
Additionally on Little Woolden Moss this early evening was a great sight of c700 Swift feeding over the reserve.