ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 2 12:20 PM, 2020
Juvenile Little Stint and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on Little Woolden Moss currently. On the large pool in the very south-western corner of the reserve.
Access via Astley Road, turning west up the track at the junction of 12 Yards Road, park at the top of the track and follow the footpath west and then north to view the pools.
Dave Steel said
Tue Sep 1 4:12 PM, 2020
010920 am
FN70
120 Swallow
26 House Martin
FN21/22
22 Pied Wagtail
FN23
13 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel
9 Pied Wagtail
FN20
2 Swift
65 House Martin
1 Kestrel
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
17 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
3 Swift
1 Snipe
21 Teal
1 Golden Plover Flying over @ 0925
1 Ringed Plover Flying over @ 0926
1 Siskin
2 Lesser Redpoll
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Hen Harrier...Ringtail in from Northwest @ 1005 but hounded off south over FN20 by a Sparrowhawk
Irlam Moss 4 Mediterranean Gulls feeding with a group of Black-headed Gulls near Springfield this morning.
Dave Steel said
Sat Aug 29 5:28 PM, 2020
290820 am
FN49/50
46 House Sparrow
31 Swallow
9 Pied Wagtail
6 House Martin
8 Linnet
FN55
2 Chiffchaff
4 Snipe
5 Meadow Pipit
1 Buzzard...Juvenile
2 Skylark
1 Whitethroat.
...and a 'lovely' encounter with a Big Game Hunter who was 'telling' me where I could and could not go...I gave him a 'reply' and carried on Birdwatching...Farmer informed...
FN46
6 House Martin
FN45
16 House Sparrow
35 Swallow
21 House Martin
FN10
90 Swallow
2 Chiffchaff
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
6 Chiffchaff
5 Swallow
1 Hobby...thanks to the House Martin Alarm...it dashed through heading east
am...once more in the (heavy) rain....THIS IS YESTERDAYS POST>>>WHEN I CAME TO input todays sighting there was not a new page...I will try again for today!
FN21/22
240 Black-Headed Gull
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
28 Swallow
82 Starling
8 Wheatear
FN24
52 Lapwing
FN16
1 Greenshank
FN18
56 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
26 House Martin
FN19
24 House Sparrow
FN61
59 Collared Dove
33 Pied Wagtail
15 Chaffinch
FN65 Croxden
13 Snipe
9 Swallow
16 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
2 Siskin
21 Swift
1 Greenshank
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve FN38
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
31 Swift
230 Sand Martin
3 Yellow Wagtail
35 Swallow
28 House Martin.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Saturday 29th of August 2020 05:17:22 PM
Dave Steel said
Fri Aug 28 11:08 PM, 2020
am...once more in the (heavy) rain
FN21/22
240 Black-Headed Gull
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
28 Swallow
82 Starling
8 Wheatear
FN24
52 Lapwing
FN16
1 Greenshank
FN18
56 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
26 House Martin
FN19
24 House Sparrow
FN61
59 Collared Dove
33 Pied Wagtail
15 Chaffinch
FN65 Croxden
13 Snipe
9 Swallow
16 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
2 Siskin
21 Swift
1 Greenshank
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve FN38
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
31 Swift
230 Sand Martin
3 Yellow Wagtail
35 Swallow
28 House Martin.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Friday 28th of August 2020 11:09:42 PM
Willow Tit heard calling in New Moss Wood this afternoon
Andy Isherwood said
Thu Aug 27 10:21 PM, 2020
Cream crown Marsh Harrier over fields just north of Moss Lane, Astley Moss this am.
Dave Steel said
Thu Aug 27 8:03 PM, 2020
am
FN21/22...even the dreaded turf has at certain times some use for the wildlife it normally disdains..
284 Black-Headed Gull
57 Starling
61 Swallow
6 Wheatear
4 Chiffchaff...wow there is even a bit of un-reamed ditch vegetation for these birds to move through...tut-tut this wildlife friendly jumble is letting the 'neat-brigade down'!
160 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
6 Herring Gull
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve (east)...actually sat on my camping chair and just let the mozzies bite and watched the world go by...
3 Green Sandpiper
5 Kestrel
82 Swallow
13 Chiffchaff
35 Snipe
19 Sand Martin
47 House Martin
2 Willow Warbler
1 Sparrowhawk...male
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Greenshank
2 Wheatear
1 Peregrine...male
1 Hobby moving west @ 1115
137 Swift.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Thursday 27th of August 2020 08:06:10 PM
1 Yellow Wagtail 1 Nuthatch 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Whitethroat Numerous Swallow and a few House Martin low over fields A few Willow Warbler 2 family groups of Long-tailed Tits
Dave Steel said
Wed Aug 26 11:35 PM, 2020
am...in the driving rain...
FN21/22
450 Black-Headed Gull
28 Starling
3 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail
14 Pied wagtail
FN18
3 Swift
12 House Martin
Croxden
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Greenshank
5 Snipe
9 Swift
28 Swallow
11 Chiffchaff
36 House Martin
1 Sparrowhawk...female
32 Teal
3 Wheatear
2 Siskin
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve...brief visit
10 Swift
45 House Martin
40 Swallow
1 Wheatear
2 Snipe.
Steven Nelson said
Wed Aug 26 6:03 PM, 2020
Short mooch on Croxden late afternoon: Very quiet overall
1 Greenshank - heard but not seen 1 Sparrowhawk- female 1 Kestrel 3 Grey Heron 1 Chiffchaff - singing briefly A small number of Willow Warbler calling - 1 singing briefly 12 Swallow
Irlam & Little Woolden Mosses (east end) - Short late afternoon visit:
2 Marsh Harriers - 1 initially hunting fields near entrance gate to LWM before moving onto the reserve. Later seen over fields north of reserve and joined by the second bird and a Buzzard and all being mobbed by crows. Both Marsh Harriers then headed off together high east over Irlam Moss. 1 Sparrowhawk - female 1 Kestrel 2 Buzzard 4 Yellow Wagtail - in one group 3 Tree Sparrow 7 House Sparrow - family group with youngsters 2 Whitethroat 15 Swift 5 Pied Wagtail 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Skylark Decent numbers of Swallow, House & Sand Martins A few Willow Warbler heard hooweeting Family party of Long-tailed Tits
Pete Hines said
Sun Aug 23 2:09 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss (western pools 08.10 - 10.55)
Wood Sandpiper 2 juv (one flew east at 09.06) (video link below) Greenshank 1 Little Ringed Plover 3 juv Snipe 8 (flight) Marsh Harrier 1 (neat winged bird) Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail 1 Swift c30 Canada Goose 400
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 23rd of August 2020 02:13:37 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 23rd of August 2020 02:18:36 PM
230 Linnet...taking the fallen Oilseed Rape seeds from harvesting...sadly this food supply was being covered by a liberal dousing of manure...ensuring this food supply will NOT help winter survival...
1 Hobby which after checking out the Linnet flew North @ 1025
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
2 Little Ringed Plover
16 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Ruff
16 Swift
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Hobby sweeping east-west with great speed @ 1202
3 Willow Warbler
1 Hobby over east pools incoming from east @ 1235...moved on south
FN66
12 Swallow
1 Swift
18 Starling.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Saturday 22nd of August 2020 12:12:43 AM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Fri Aug 21 8:21 PM, 2020
Few hours this afternoon.
A few hirundines over the fields on the path leading up to Little Wooden Moss; 10+ house martin, c5 swallow, 1 sand martin (first of the year; Covid hasn't affected my year list at all).
Little Woolden Moss:
2 willow warbler 2 chiffchaff 1 whitethroat 4 linnet 2 house martin 1 wheatear 3 little ringed plover 1 turnstone 1 green sandpiper 1 greenshank (heard frequently, seen fleetingly) 1 kestrel 1 marsh harrier (with quite a large prey item in talons)
Dave Benson said
Fri Aug 21 5:45 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss
Turnstone on western pools 3pm today.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 21 11:22 AM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss main highlights this morning:
Juvenile Ruff on the eastern pools, then flew towards the western pools
Whimbrel flying over west was briefly (and unsuccessfully) attacked by a Peregrine
2 Little Ringed Plover
Hobby flew very purposefully straight through west
Rain Hail or Shine the Moss calls...am...it was RAIN today...
FN27
6 Whinchat
5 Yellow Wagtail
160 Black-Headed Gull...drawn to the recently cut silage...I suppose even this 'crop' has its 'limited usefulness to wildlife...bring back Hay Meadows!
90 Swallow in Hobby alarm
1 Hobby @ 0912...came in from south...missed its prey...which was on high alert due to the ever vigilant adult Swallow 'special Hobby alarm'
2 Swift
1 Buzzard ....juvenile
The Hobby (I assume same bird as earlier) returned from the east and tried once more to catch a Swallow...once more these birds had uttered 'that' Hobby alarm...This set of flying machine wings simply kept on west...I lost it as it dived for hirundine over the glaze area...
7 Willow Warbler
FN24
21 Mistle Thrush...yes 'EVEN' these Turf deserts occasionally accommodate wildlife...this turf desert having been ploughed ONCE more giving a temporary access to invertebrate food..
45 Starling
9 Swallow
FN21/22...another Turf desert....
42 Swallow
23 Pied Wagtail
2 Stock Dove
74 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
5 Herring Gull
220 Black-Headed Gull
Little Woolden Moss east Pool area.....
16 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff...one in brief song...
24 Meadow Pipit
2 Wheatear
3 Ringed Plover...answering back to my version of their 'Pur-Lee' contact call...they dipped their flight lower to check but unconvinced of my veracity as a wading bird moved on south...
4 Swift
1 Tree Pipit...@ 1132
FN12....quick Check
2 Spotted Flycatcher still gracing the area with their presence...
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Tuesday 18th of August 2020 08:19:01 PM
In the rain on Little Woolden Moss through the early morning, clearing around 09:20:
Sandwich Tern calling loudly heading over high east over the eastern side of the reserve at 09:35 just after the rain had finally stopped
Calling Whimbrel over south (again over the eastern side of the reserve) at 09:30
2 Marsh Harriers, with the heavily moulting female and juvenile (same bird as yesterday but closer views clearly indicating it was a juvenile) seen together in the same field of view at one point, ranging widely over the reserve
Hobby came in from the east and hunted over the eastern side of the reserve, at one point putting in an epic 45 second pursuit of a high flying Meadow Pipit with the pipit incredibly managing to escape capture somehow
Tree Pipit calling from trees along the path by Cadishead Moss, eventually flying off low south, perhaps onto Cadishead Moss itself
1 Little Ringed Plover on the western pools
Greenshank calling constantly from a hidden pool near the eastern end and remained unseen
Fairly brief visit to Little Woolden Moss late morning/early afternoon today:
14+ Yellow Wagtail in the western fields, probably more
2 female Marsh Harrier
2 Wheatear
1 adult Hobby actively and very successfully hunting dragonflies over the moss
17 Snipe in one flock circled high over the moss before moving off east and appearing to drop down onto Croxdens
418 Lesser Black-backed Gulls loafing about and coming and going, including 140 which flew in from the west as I was leaving
2 redhead Goosander on the Glaze
Steven Nelson said
Mon Aug 17 1:56 PM, 2020
Hi John It was a legal shoot in a far corner of field a good distance from a path as pest control.
But I still hate to see it. I saw 3 pigeons get shot out of the sky.
John Watson said
Mon Aug 17 1:45 PM, 2020
Ian, sorry for posting this in this thread, but it's relevant
Steve re the shooter .. if it's someone protecting crops for the farmer then it's legal, assuming safe distance from footpath & its users. If it's for pot or "sport" it's illegal this time of year, even more so because it's a Sunday apparently
If it's a possible illegal shooting, phone 999 rather than 101. I have in the past, and the police encouraged me to do it, and I know others who have also done this. The Police take firearms offences very seriously
Hope I've got the facts spot on
Oh, and common sense when talking to someone with a loaded gun
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Aug 16 9:19 PM, 2020
Another few hours here today.
Irlam Moss:
5+ whinchat in second field on the right down Twelve Yards Rd (if coming from Astley Road) 56 pied wagtail together on turf field opposite Woodstock Farm 2 tree sparrow in with house sparrow flock at crossroads on Astley Rd / Twelve Yards Rd 2 yellowhammer in song along path to Little Woolden Moss
Croxden, Chat and Irlam Mosses: 4 Spotted Flycatcher- still in f12 4 (possibly more) Whinchat - f16 - hard to get an accurate count as they disappear into the vegetation 2 Stonechat- with the Whinchat in f16 1 Tree Pipit over 1 Greenshank 2 Green Sandpiper 9 Lapwing 1 Snipe 22 Teal 1 Tree Sparrow 3 Grey Heron- in turf field f3 5 Swift 3 Sand Martin 1 House Martin A few Swallows 3 Whitethroat 2 Yellowhammer A few Willow Warbler Two family parties of Long-tailed Tits
....a one bloke blasting Woodpigeons out of the sky!
Tony Coatsworth said
Sun Aug 16 4:17 PM, 2020
Pretty quiet with a stiff breeze keeping things low.
4 Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers on 'container' pool
Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull in with the gull flock
Several Yellowhammers along Twelve Yards Road FN 18 and 19.
Small flock of Tree Sparrows at the crossroad with Astley Road
Pete Hines said
Sun Aug 16 1:04 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss - Boundary drain/old workings 09.23 - 10.57
Greenshank 2 flew east over the car park 09.23, one heard from Boundary Drain later Ringed Plover 1 Green Sandpiper 1 heard
Irlam Moss
Spotted Flycatcher 1- F12 at the junction of Cutnook Lane and Twelve Yards Road
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 16th of August 2020 01:58:10 PM
Irlam Moss 18-52 track, same location as Steve's, around 3rd post heading North
1 Spotted Flycatcher (juv) actively feeding just 15 feet away (pic attached) 3 Tree Pipit (at least 1 ad, 1 young), landing at tree tops & on wire, buzzing a lot (pic attached)
Field 52 Hobby over, heading E Whinchat (very pale m) dead centre of field
Numerous Swallows A few House Martins A few Meadow Pipits 2 Whitethroat
And Clegs, but fewer bites than at L Woolden Moss yesterday
Popped down to Little Woolden in the hope of some Hobby action, no joy whatsoever on that front unfortunately. However the 2 Wood Sandpipers were still present and showing well, as were 4 Little Ringed Plover, single Common Sandpiper still present on the pool by the metal cabin. The Marsh Harrier was hunting over the moss looks really tatty,must be in heavy moult,also 4 Yellow Wagtails dropped in onto the mud at the edge of the pool. On the way out a flock of 100 + Linnets was nice to see,and a single juvenile Common Gull was with the small flock of Black Headed Gulls.
Little Woolden Moss: 2 Wood Sandpiper - W pools 1 Common Sandpiper - W pools 4 Little Ringed Plover- all juvs - W pools 6 Snipe - flock of 5 over and a single over 1 Marsh Harrier- seen 3 times then it drifted off over fields to the north 1 Peregrine 1 Sparrowhawk- female being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows 3 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 4 Tree Pipits over 2 Wheatear - W end 3 Yellow Wagtail- W end 4 Moorhen- pair with 2 chicks 2 Swift - drifting S 10 Sand Martin - heading S Quite a few Swallows heading S 6 Raven- 2 together followed by a group of 4 120+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls 2 Herring Gulls 150+ Black-headed Gulls 5 Stock Dove A few Willow Warblers but noticeably less than yesterday
Irlam Moss: 5 Spotted Flycatcher- 4 in f12, 1 along track between f52 & f18 4 Tree Pipit - 2 over and 2 more on wires along track between f52 & f18 (phone pic attached) 3 Stonechat- f20 1 Willow Tit - heard only 3 Chiffchaff - one singing 1 Blackcap 4 Whitethroat 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 2 Yellowhammer Flocks a Swallow and House Martin over fields and a flock of 22 on telegraph wires
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:35:34 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:37:35 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:39:33 PM
Juvenile Little Stint and juvenile Curlew Sandpiper on Little Woolden Moss currently. On the large pool in the very south-western corner of the reserve.
Access via Astley Road, turning west up the track at the junction of 12 Yards Road, park at the top of the track and follow the footpath west and then north to view the pools.
010920 am
FN70
120 Swallow
26 House Martin
FN21/22
22 Pied Wagtail
FN23
13 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel
9 Pied Wagtail
FN20
2 Swift
65 House Martin
1 Kestrel
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
17 Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap
3 Swift
1 Snipe
21 Teal
1 Golden Plover Flying over @ 0925
1 Ringed Plover Flying over @ 0926
1 Siskin
2 Lesser Redpoll
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Hen Harrier...Ringtail in from Northwest @ 1005 but hounded off south over FN20 by a Sparrowhawk
(two rather poor record shots attached)
1 Hobby @ 1050
2 Chiffchaff in song.
Ringtail Hen Harrier over Little Woolden Moss this morning, drifted off over the fields to the south.
Info thanks to Dave Steel
310820 am
FN23
12 Swallow
13 Pied Wagtail
24 Linnet
12 Lapwing
FN21/22
53 Swallow
39 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
21 House Martin
FN18
1 Kestrel...with prey...mouse
37 House Martin
26 Swallow
1 Whitethroat
1 Yellowhammer
1 Swift
Croxden FN65
19 Chiffchaff
1 Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin
13 Lapwing
3 Snipe
6 Swift
1 Green Sandpiper
12 Teal
1 Whitethroat
2 Sand Martin
57 House Martin
21 Swallow
2 Reed Warbler...Agitated.
Highlights from Little Woolden Moss this early afternoon:
2 feeding Hobby, with an adult and the second calendar year bird as photographed (very well indeed!) by Dave Steel yesterday
1 Greenshank, appeared to fly off east but could have dropped into a hidden pool on the reserve
1 Ringed Plover through west
1 Yellow Wagtail
380 Starling in a single flock on fields at the very west edge of the area
130 Crow in a single flock
2 Blackcap
1 Nuthatch
1 Willow Tit heard
1 Chiffchaff singing
6 Willow Warbler
4 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Sand Martin
60+ Swallow
3 Herring Gull over
3 Greenfinch
2 Bullfinch
2 Stock Dove
6 Linnet
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Whitethroat
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Monday 31st of August 2020 01:50:28 PM
10+ chiffchaff (mainly pristine looking juvenile birds)
1 blackcap heard
1 spotted flycatcher
1 sand Martin
c5 house Martin
10+ swallow
3 shoveler
2 greenshank
1 hobby
2+ kestrel
3+ buzzard
300820 am
FN25
1 Whitethroat
1 Kestrel
26 House Sparrow
FN21/22
1 Sparrowhawk...male
3 Pied Wagtail
24 House Martin
2 Siskin
FN20
38 Swift
FN19
16 House Martin
2 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
1 Blackcap
8 Meadow Pipit
1 Ringed Plover
19 Chiffchaff
7 Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk...Males
47 House Martin
1 Sand Martin
3 Swallow
Hobby 3...including a really brown juvenile....not as a family party each hunting Dragonfly individually and in separate areas of the reserve.
4 Mediterranean Gulls feeding with a group of Black-headed Gulls near Springfield this morning.
290820 am
FN49/50
46 House Sparrow
31 Swallow
9 Pied Wagtail
6 House Martin
8 Linnet
FN55
2 Chiffchaff
4 Snipe
5 Meadow Pipit
1 Buzzard...Juvenile
2 Skylark
1 Whitethroat.
...and a 'lovely' encounter with a Big Game Hunter who was 'telling' me where I could and could not go...I gave him a 'reply' and carried on Birdwatching...Farmer informed...
FN46
6 House Martin
FN45
16 House Sparrow
35 Swallow
21 House Martin
FN10
90 Swallow
2 Chiffchaff
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
6 Chiffchaff
5 Swallow
1 Hobby...thanks to the House Martin Alarm...it dashed through heading east
1 Greenshank
FN66
29 Swallow
2 Buzzard one being a Juvenile.
1 Blackcap.
am...once more in the (heavy) rain....THIS IS YESTERDAYS POST>>>WHEN I CAME TO input todays sighting there was not a new page...I will try again for today!
FN21/22
240 Black-Headed Gull
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
28 Swallow
82 Starling
8 Wheatear
FN24
52 Lapwing
FN16
1 Greenshank
FN18
56 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
26 House Martin
FN19
24 House Sparrow
FN61
59 Collared Dove
33 Pied Wagtail
15 Chaffinch
FN65 Croxden
13 Snipe
9 Swallow
16 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
2 Siskin
21 Swift
1 Greenshank
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve FN38
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
31 Swift
230 Sand Martin
3 Yellow Wagtail
35 Swallow
28 House Martin.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Saturday 29th of August 2020 05:17:22 PM
am...once more in the (heavy) rain
FN21/22
240 Black-Headed Gull
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
28 Swallow
82 Starling
8 Wheatear
FN24
52 Lapwing
FN16
1 Greenshank
FN18
56 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
26 House Martin
FN19
24 House Sparrow
FN61
59 Collared Dove
33 Pied Wagtail
15 Chaffinch
FN65 Croxden
13 Snipe
9 Swallow
16 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
2 Siskin
21 Swift
1 Greenshank
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve FN38
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
31 Swift
230 Sand Martin
3 Yellow Wagtail
35 Swallow
28 House Martin.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Friday 28th of August 2020 11:09:42 PM
Cream crown Marsh Harrier over fields just north of Moss Lane, Astley Moss this am.
am
FN21/22...even the dreaded turf has at certain times some use for the wildlife it normally disdains..
284 Black-Headed Gull
57 Starling
61 Swallow
6 Wheatear
4 Chiffchaff...wow there is even a bit of un-reamed ditch vegetation for these birds to move through...tut-tut this wildlife friendly jumble is letting the 'neat-brigade down'!
160 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
6 Herring Gull
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve (east)...actually sat on my camping chair and just let the mozzies bite and watched the world go by...
3 Green Sandpiper
5 Kestrel
82 Swallow
13 Chiffchaff
35 Snipe
19 Sand Martin
47 House Martin
2 Willow Warbler
1 Sparrowhawk...male
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Greenshank
2 Wheatear
1 Peregrine...male
1 Hobby moving west @ 1115
137 Swift.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Thursday 27th of August 2020 08:06:10 PM
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Nuthatch
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Whitethroat
Numerous Swallow and a few House Martin low over fields
A few Willow Warbler
2 family groups of Long-tailed Tits
am...in the driving rain...
FN21/22
450 Black-Headed Gull
28 Starling
3 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail
14 Pied wagtail
FN18
3 Swift
12 House Martin
Croxden
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Greenshank
5 Snipe
9 Swift
28 Swallow
11 Chiffchaff
36 House Martin
1 Sparrowhawk...female
32 Teal
3 Wheatear
2 Siskin
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve...brief visit
10 Swift
45 House Martin
40 Swallow
1 Wheatear
2 Snipe.
Very quiet overall
1 Greenshank - heard but not seen
1 Sparrowhawk- female
1 Kestrel
3 Grey Heron
1 Chiffchaff - singing briefly
A small number of Willow Warbler calling - 1 singing briefly
12 Swallow
Another Rain-Swept Wander am
FN21/22
68 Swallow
21 Pied Wagtail
1 Wheatear
1 Buzzard...hunting worms
50 Black-Headed Gull
FN24
66 Lapwing
42 Starling
48 Black-Headed Gull
5 Herring Gull
12 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
21 Pied Wagtail
2 Ringed Plover
1 Green Sandpiper
210 Canada Geese
1 Marsh Harrier
5 Chiffchaff
126 Swift
1 Greenshank
1 Golden Plover Flying south @ 1210
11 Sand Martin
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Dunlin Flying over @ 1225
2 Wheatear
FN19
3 Swift
6 House Martin
1 Tree Pipit Flying over @ 1325.
FN66
162 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Common Gull
9 Herring Gull
13 Swallow
FN35
222 Black-Headed Gull
47 Swallow
6 Pied Wagtail
FN39
32 Swallow
am...LWMNR + Dragonfly Survey along the Glaze
2 Blackcap
16 Willow Warbler
17 Chiffchaff
16 House Martin
3 Green Sandpiper
4 Swallow
12 Meadow Pipit
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Greenshank
1 Goosander...flying North South
1 Redstart
1 Yellowhammer
1 Sparrowhawk male chased off by a Carrion Crow
1 Marsh Harrier
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Whinchat
Glaze Area
3 Buzzard including one juvenile
1 Little grebe
61 Mallard
1 Cormorant
1 Kingfisher
FN21/22
96 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
19 Pied Wagtail
5 Stock Dove
18 Swallow
130 Linnet
FN23
11 House Martin
9 Swallow
2 Yellow Wagtail
FN19
3 Yellow Wagtail.
am...with the now expected rain..
FN21/22
3 Ringed Plover
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
140 Swallow...gave Hobby alarm at least 5 times whilst I was there...they saw it I didn't!
57 House Martin
14 Sand Martin
28 Swift
10 Willow warbler
1 Marsh Harrier
6 Ringed plover
1 Greenshank
1 Wood Sandpiper
7 Snipe
2 Little Ringed plover
FN19
1 Marsh Harrier hunting
Croxden
10 Snipe
23 Teal
32 Swallow
65 Swift
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Greenshank.
2 Marsh Harriers - 1 initially hunting fields near entrance gate to LWM before moving onto the reserve. Later seen over fields north of reserve and joined by the second bird and a Buzzard and all being mobbed by crows. Both Marsh Harriers then headed off together high east over Irlam Moss.
1 Sparrowhawk - female
1 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
4 Yellow Wagtail - in one group
3 Tree Sparrow
7 House Sparrow - family group with youngsters
2 Whitethroat
15 Swift
5 Pied Wagtail
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Skylark
Decent numbers of Swallow, House & Sand Martins
A few Willow Warbler heard hooweeting
Family party of Long-tailed Tits
Little Woolden Moss (western pools 08.10 - 10.55)
Wood Sandpiper 2 juv (one flew east at 09.06) (video link below)
Greenshank 1
Little Ringed Plover 3 juv
Snipe 8 (flight)
Marsh Harrier 1 (neat winged bird)
Wheatear 1
Yellow Wagtail 1
Swift c30 Canada Goose 400
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 23rd of August 2020 02:13:37 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 23rd of August 2020 02:18:36 PM
0815-1415...Heavy...Heavy rain at first!
FN27
150 Starling
5 Skylark
6 Swallow
2 Whitethroat.
Little Woolden Moss Nature reserve
12 House Martin
30 Swallow
1 Green Sandpiper
2 Greenshank
9 Willow Warbler
1 Marsh Harrier
225 Swift dropped in at 1205...fed and off south by 1220
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Tree Pipit
230 Black-Headed Gull
28 Greylag Geese
4 Little Ringed Plover
226 Linnet
2 Wheatear
2 Ringed Plover
1 Dunlin
FN 20 @ 1355
1 Marsh Harrier..in from Northeast...attacked by a Buzzard...which it fended off with ease before it moved on South
Friday am...0830-1315
FN31...New Moss Wood
20 Chiffchaff
16 Blue Tit
15 Long-Tailed Tit
5 Willow Warbler
6 Great Tit
FN53
115 Starling
300 Woodpigeon
FN33
52 Swallow
48 Goldfinch
Great Woolden Hall Area
50 Swallow
35 House Martin
1 Nuthatch
75 House Sparrow
1 Tufted Duck female with 3 small young
FN38...Little Woolden Hall Fields
12 Pied Wagtail
5 Skylark
230 Linnet...taking the fallen Oilseed Rape seeds from harvesting...sadly this food supply was being covered by a liberal dousing of manure...ensuring this food supply will NOT help winter survival...
1 Hobby which after checking out the Linnet flew North @ 1025
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
2 Little Ringed Plover
16 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Ruff
16 Swift
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Hobby sweeping east-west with great speed @ 1202
3 Willow Warbler
1 Hobby over east pools incoming from east @ 1235...moved on south
FN66
12 Swallow
1 Swift
18 Starling.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Saturday 22nd of August 2020 12:12:43 AM
Few hours this afternoon.
A few hirundines over the fields on the path leading up to Little Wooden Moss; 10+ house martin, c5 swallow, 1 sand martin (first of the year; Covid hasn't affected my year list at all).
Little Woolden Moss:
2 willow warbler
2 chiffchaff
1 whitethroat
4 linnet
2 house martin
1 wheatear
3 little ringed plover
1 turnstone
1 green sandpiper
1 greenshank (heard frequently, seen fleetingly)
1 kestrel
1 marsh harrier (with quite a large prey item in talons)
Little Woolden Moss main highlights this morning:
Juvenile Ruff on the eastern pools, then flew towards the western pools
Whimbrel flying over west was briefly (and unsuccessfully) attacked by a Peregrine
2 Little Ringed Plover
Hobby flew very purposefully straight through west
2 Wheatear
11 Yellow Wagtail
8 Swift through west
22 Sand Martin feeding over the Glaze
Croxden am
1 Peregrine...Flying south
1 Chiffchaff in song
3 Green Sandpiper
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Snipe
2 Greenshank
8 Swift
1 Wheatear
1 Sand Martin
2 Raven
18 Teal.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Thursday 20th of August 2020 08:30:55 PM
Irlam Moss field no. 16, 13:05
Little Woolden Moss, West end by boundary path, 14:35
Cadishead Moss field no. 33, 15:40
5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Willow Tit together
2 Grey Partridge - pair
13 Mistle Thrush in one flock
5 Swift
2 Sand Martin
40+ Swallow
2 Whitethroat
2 Kestrel- pair
FN28
5 Whinchat
360 Woodpigeon
3 Yellow Wagtail
4 Whitethroat
FN21/22
2 Yellow Wagtail
36 Pied Wagtail
26 Swallow
FN56/57
19 House Martin
81 Linnet
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Corn Bunting
70 House Sparrow
4 Tree Sparrow
21 Swallow
3 Swift
1 Sparrowhawk...male
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
5 Green Sandpiper
3 Greenshank
1 Tree Pipit
5 Teal
1 Marsh Harrier
1 Swift
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
1 Peregrine
4 Snipe
11 Grey Partridge
25 Linnet
1 Tree Sparrow
11 Willow Warbler.
Little Woolden Moss (Western side 06.55-08.40, Eastern side 10.53-11.35)
Wood Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper 1 (at least)
Greenshank 1
Little Ringed Plover 1
Peregrine 2
Marsh Harrier 1 (tatty adult female)
Sparrowhawk 1
Yellow Wagtail 18 (at least)
Irlam Moss FN12 09.00-09.10
Common Whitethroat 1
Blackcap 2
Chat Moss, Croxdens 09.12-10.12
Wood Sandpiper 1
Green Sandpiper 4
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Wednesday 19th of August 2020 02:12:28 PM
Rain Hail or Shine the Moss calls...am...it was RAIN today...
FN27
6 Whinchat
5 Yellow Wagtail
160 Black-Headed Gull...drawn to the recently cut silage...I suppose even this 'crop' has its 'limited usefulness to wildlife...bring back Hay Meadows!
90 Swallow in Hobby alarm
1 Hobby @ 0912...came in from south...missed its prey...which was on high alert due to the ever vigilant adult Swallow 'special Hobby alarm'
2 Swift
1 Buzzard ....juvenile
The Hobby (I assume same bird as earlier) returned from the east and tried once more to catch a Swallow...once more these birds had uttered 'that' Hobby alarm...This set of flying machine wings simply kept on west...I lost it as it dived for hirundine over the glaze area...
7 Willow Warbler
FN24
21 Mistle Thrush...yes 'EVEN' these Turf deserts occasionally accommodate wildlife...this turf desert having been ploughed ONCE more giving a temporary access to invertebrate food..
45 Starling
9 Swallow
FN21/22...another Turf desert....
42 Swallow
23 Pied Wagtail
2 Stock Dove
74 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
5 Herring Gull
220 Black-Headed Gull
Little Woolden Moss east Pool area.....
16 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff...one in brief song...
24 Meadow Pipit
2 Wheatear
3 Ringed Plover...answering back to my version of their 'Pur-Lee' contact call...they dipped their flight lower to check but unconvinced of my veracity as a wading bird moved on south...
4 Swift
1 Tree Pipit...@ 1132
FN12....quick Check
2 Spotted Flycatcher still gracing the area with their presence...
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Tuesday 18th of August 2020 08:19:01 PM
In the rain on Little Woolden Moss through the early morning, clearing around 09:20:
Sandwich Tern calling loudly heading over high east over the eastern side of the reserve at 09:35 just after the rain had finally stopped
Calling Whimbrel over south (again over the eastern side of the reserve) at 09:30
2 Marsh Harriers, with the heavily moulting female and juvenile (same bird as yesterday but closer views clearly indicating it was a juvenile) seen together in the same field of view at one point, ranging widely over the reserve
Hobby came in from the east and hunted over the eastern side of the reserve, at one point putting in an epic 45 second pursuit of a high flying Meadow Pipit with the pipit incredibly managing to escape capture somehow
Tree Pipit calling from trees along the path by Cadishead Moss, eventually flying off low south, perhaps onto Cadishead Moss itself
1 Little Ringed Plover on the western pools
Greenshank calling constantly from a hidden pool near the eastern end and remained unseen
Common Sandpiper on the eastern pools
1 Wheatear
6 Yellow Wagtail
14 Willow Warbler
6 Blackcap
330 Black-headed Gulls on western fields
FN27
9 Whinchat
93 Swallow
70 Black-Headed Gull
8 Yellow Wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk...male
FN21/22
210 Black-Headed Gull
23 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
26 Greylag Geese
1 Ringed Plover
1 Swift
2 Tree Pipit...Flying over @ 1110
9 Pied Wagtail
1 Hobby taking Dragonfly @ 1318
3 Wheatear
Western Pools Area Sightings
1 Wood Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
9 Yellow Wagtail
19 Snipe (including a flock of 17)
1 Wheatear
1 Marsh Harrier...female
3 Common Gull
127 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
195 Black-Headed Gull
23 Meadow Pipit
Fairly brief visit to Little Woolden Moss late morning/early afternoon today:
14+ Yellow Wagtail in the western fields, probably more
2 female Marsh Harrier
2 Wheatear
1 adult Hobby actively and very successfully hunting dragonflies over the moss
17 Snipe in one flock circled high over the moss before moving off east and appearing to drop down onto Croxdens
418 Lesser Black-backed Gulls loafing about and coming and going, including 140 which flew in from the west as I was leaving
2 redhead Goosander on the Glaze
It was a legal shoot in a far corner of field a good distance from a path as pest control.
But I still hate to see it. I saw 3 pigeons get shot out of the sky.
Steve
re the shooter .. if it's someone protecting crops for the farmer then it's legal, assuming safe distance from footpath & its users. If it's for pot or "sport" it's illegal this time of year, even more so because it's a Sunday apparently
If it's a possible illegal shooting, phone 999 rather than 101. I have in the past, and the police encouraged me to do it, and I know others who have also done this. The Police take firearms offences very seriously
Hope I've got the facts spot on
Oh, and common sense when talking to someone with a loaded gun
Irlam Moss:
5+ whinchat in second field on the right down Twelve Yards Rd (if coming from Astley Road)
56 pied wagtail together on turf field opposite Woodstock Farm
2 tree sparrow in with house sparrow flock at crossroads on Astley Rd / Twelve Yards Rd
2 yellowhammer in song along path to Little Woolden Moss
Little Woolden Moss:
3+ chiffchaff
4+ willow warbler
1 willow tit
2 wheatear
1 yellow wagtail heard
5 teal
4 little ringed plover
5 ringed plover
1 green sandpiper
2 kestrel
3 buzzard
1 marsh harrier
FN27...recent silage cut
340 Black-Headed Gull
89 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Mediterranean Gull
4 Yellow Wagtail
1 Yellowhammer...still carrying birdsong into late-late summer...a joy!
31 Swallow
FN28/29 Harvested
6 Yellow Wagtail
28 Swallow
5 Whinchat
6 Stock Dove
FN53
14 Swallow
1 Yellowhammer
FN21/22
39 Pied Wagtail
38 Starling
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Hobby....thanks once more to the Swallow 'hobby' alarm noted it as it flew over high moving west east
FN19
1 Sparrowhawk
9 Tree Sparrow
11 Swallow
FN18
8 Swallow
6 Whitethroat
Croxden FN65
23 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
1 Green Sandpiper
21 Teal
11 Snipe
1 Greenshank
70 Mallard
FN12
3 Spotted Flycatcher
6 Swallow
FN14
1 Swift
4 Willow Tit.
Croxden, Chat and Irlam Mosses:
4 Spotted Flycatcher- still in f12
4 (possibly more) Whinchat - f16 - hard to get an accurate count as they disappear into the vegetation
2 Stonechat- with the Whinchat in f16
1 Tree Pipit over
1 Greenshank
2 Green Sandpiper
9 Lapwing
1 Snipe
22 Teal
1 Tree Sparrow
3 Grey Heron- in turf field f3
5 Swift
3 Sand Martin
1 House Martin
A few Swallows
3 Whitethroat
2 Yellowhammer
A few Willow Warbler
Two family parties of Long-tailed Tits
....a one bloke blasting Woodpigeons out of the sky!
Pretty quiet with a stiff breeze keeping things low.
4 Juvenile Little Ringed Plovers on 'container' pool
Juvenile Great Black-backed Gull in with the gull flock
Several Yellowhammers along Twelve Yards Road FN 18 and 19.
Small flock of Tree Sparrows at the crossroad with Astley Road
Little Woolden Moss - Boundary drain/old workings 09.23 - 10.57
Greenshank 2 flew east over the car park 09.23, one heard from Boundary Drain later
Ringed Plover 1
Green Sandpiper 1 heard
Irlam Moss
Spotted Flycatcher 1- F12 at the junction of Cutnook Lane and Twelve Yards Road
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Sunday 16th of August 2020 01:58:10 PM
18-52 track, same location as Steve's, around 3rd post heading North
1 Spotted Flycatcher (juv) actively feeding just 15 feet away (pic attached)
3 Tree Pipit (at least 1 ad, 1 young), landing at tree tops & on wire, buzzing a lot (pic attached)
Field 52
Hobby over, heading E
Whinchat (very pale m) dead centre of field
Numerous Swallows
A few House Martins
A few Meadow Pipits
2 Whitethroat
And Clegs, but fewer bites than at L Woolden Moss yesterday
FN12
39 Swallow in Hobby Alarm...raptor unseen
5 Chiffchaff
4 Willow Warbler
3 Spotted Flycatcher...count interrupted by a male Sparrowhawk...
1 Blackcap
14 Lapwing
Croxden FN65
2 Green Sandpiper overflying and heading east @ 0814
18 Lapwing
12 Teal
1 Snipe
1 Lesser Redpoll
5 Green Sandpiper
12 Linnet
2 Tree Pipit overflying @ 0848 & 0850 respectively
FN16
2 Whinchat
1 Tree Pipit overflying @ 0927
1 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss brief visit to Eastern area
2 Tree Pipit...on the Cadishead Moss section of the reserve
1 Wheatear
3 Siskin.
Popped down to Little Woolden in the hope of some Hobby action, no joy whatsoever on that front unfortunately.
However the 2 Wood Sandpipers were still present and showing well, as were 4 Little Ringed Plover, single Common Sandpiper still present on the pool by the metal cabin.
The Marsh Harrier was hunting over the moss looks really tatty,must be in heavy moult,also 4 Yellow Wagtails dropped in onto the mud at the edge of the pool.
On the way out a flock of 100 + Linnets was nice to see,and a single juvenile Common Gull was with the small flock of Black Headed Gulls.
Little Woolden Moss:
2 Wood Sandpiper - W pools
1 Common Sandpiper - W pools
4 Little Ringed Plover- all juvs - W pools
6 Snipe - flock of 5 over and a single over
1 Marsh Harrier- seen 3 times then it drifted off over fields to the north
1 Peregrine
1 Sparrowhawk- female being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows
3 Kestrel
1 Buzzard
4 Tree Pipits over
2 Wheatear - W end
3 Yellow Wagtail- W end
4 Moorhen- pair with 2 chicks
2 Swift - drifting S
10 Sand Martin - heading S
Quite a few Swallows heading S
6 Raven- 2 together followed by a group of 4
120+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls
2 Herring Gulls
150+ Black-headed Gulls
5 Stock Dove
A few Willow Warblers but noticeably less than yesterday
Irlam Moss:
5 Spotted Flycatcher- 4 in f12, 1 along track between f52 & f18
4 Tree Pipit - 2 over and 2 more on wires along track between f52 & f18 (phone pic attached)
3 Stonechat- f20
1 Willow Tit - heard only
3 Chiffchaff - one singing
1 Blackcap
4 Whitethroat
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Yellowhammer
Flocks a Swallow and House Martin over fields and a flock of 22 on telegraph wires
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:35:34 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:37:35 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 12:39:33 PM
FN12
4 Spotted Flycatcher
5 Whitethroat
1 Yellowhammer
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
14 Swallow
1 Nuthatch
9 Chiffchaff
7 Willow Warbler
Croxden FN65
15 Teal
2 Willow Warbler offering their swan song for this year
2 Wheatear
1 Greenshank
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Wood Sandpiper
FN62
32 House Martin
6 Stock Dove
FN18
7 Swallow
1 Green Sandpiper overflying
FN16...pool
1 Wood Sandpiper
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve FN38
13 Chiffchaff
1 Marsh Harrier...female moving west to east @ 1132
2 Raven
8 Willow Warbler
FN20
2 Stonechat.
2 Wood Sandpiper (juv) at NW corner: view North from green containers
5 plover sp or maybe Dunlin very distant near them, but disappeared by the time I got there
Hobby catching many dragonflies
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk bothering a Buzzard
Yellowhammer (h) field 20
3 Linnets (1+ juv) field 20
sev Reed Bunting
no hirundines
PS - Raven (h), and small plovers were likely those Little Ringed Plovers seen later by Steve
-- Edited by John Watson on Saturday 15th of August 2020 01:09:05 PM