ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Steven Nelson said
Fri Aug 14 1:25 PM, 2020
Coincidentally re:Black-tailed Godwits Ive just received this information regarding a colour-ringed bird that was part of a flock on Croxden 01/07/18. Apologies for the lengthy post but it makes interesting reading:
The bird was ringed as an adult female
12.11.08 Alhos Vedros (South Tank), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 13.11.08 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 14.11.08 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 16.11.08 Baixa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 25.02.09 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 28.02.09 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 19.10.09 Alhos Vedros (Channel), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 25.10.09 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 18.11.09 Alhos Vedros (Channel), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 25.11.09 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 27.11.09 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 15.01.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 20.01.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 27.01.10 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 04.02.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 10.02.10 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 11.02.10 Lancada, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 11.02.10 Sarilhos, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 15.02.10 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 22.02.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 23.02.10 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 03.03.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 05.03.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 15.03.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 07.08.10 Rainham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng 19.01.11 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 14.02.11 Alhos Vedros (Tanks), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 15.02.11 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 24.02.11 Alhos Vedros Qta Prata, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 25.02.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 26.03.11 Lawling Creek, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 10.11.11 Corroios, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 14.02.12 Zambujal, Sado Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 19.02.12 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 25.02.12 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 12.11.12 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 13.11.12 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 05.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 06.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 07.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 19.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 12.02.14 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 18.02.14 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 24.02.14 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 14.04.14 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 01.08.14 Frampton Marsh, The Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng 21.02.15 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 22.03.15 Otterham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng 25.03.15 Rainham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng 12.07.15 Oare marshes, Swalle, Kent, SE Eng 19.07.15 Oare marshes, Swalle, Kent, SE Eng 19.03.16 RN Saint Denis Du Payre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire, W Fra 05.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 08.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 12.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 23.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng 28.01.17 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 09.02.18 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por 01.07.18 Croxden peat pools, Chat Moss, Greater Manchester, NW Eng 17.04.20 Hippolytushoef, Wieringen, Noord Holland, W Neth
Steven Nelson said
Fri Aug 14 12:11 PM, 2020
This morning:
Little Woolden Moss: 2 Tree Pipit - 1 seen a few times flitting over the eastern entrance 07.05-08.00 then joined by a second. Both then flew off south at 09.40. 1 Wood Sandpiper - feeding at western end 08.40 c90 Black-tailed Godwit- noisy flock came in from the north and flew over western end but didnt land and carried on heading south at 08.45 - possibly the same flock seen over Pennington Flash at 08.35. 2 Little Ringed Plover- both juv 1 Green Sandpiper- flew into eastern end pools then flew off east 1 Redshank- heard only 1 Peregrine- male 1 Kestrel Flock of Gulls on western pools made up of: 1 Common Gull 2 Herring Gull 122 Lesser-backed Gulls c100 Black-headed Gull 4 Sedge Warbler- an adult seen carrying food with another adult near by. Then 2 other birds one of which was a juv. Numerous Willow Warbler reslessly flitting around in bushes at eastern end - seemed like they were getting ready to leave. Some give a little bit of song. 3 Sand Martin - heading south
Irlam Moss F20: 1 Whinchat 3 Stonechat 24 Greenfinch- including a flock of 23 on telegraph wires. 2 Yellowhammer
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 14th of August 2020 12:22:49 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 14th of August 2020 12:29:32 PM
Dave Steel said
Thu Aug 13 11:26 PM, 2020
FN21/22
1 Hobby @ 0905
18 House Martin
26 Swallow
24 Pied Wagtail
164 Black-Headed Gull
86 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
26 Starling
2 Yellow Wagtail
FN24
1 Sparrowhawk (male) being chased off by 35 Swallow
FN20
4 Stonechat
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve (FN38)
12 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler...brief snatches of song
1 Greenshank @ 1024...soon flew south
1 Hobby @ 1043
1 Tree Pipit overflying @ 1102
1 Tree Pipit overflying @ 1140
2 Yellow Wagtail
12 Linnet
9 Pied Wagtail.
Steven Nelson said
Thu Aug 13 10:19 PM, 2020
Irlam Moss this evening: 1 Yellow Wagtail 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 2 Kestrel
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 13th of August 2020 11:49:08 PM
Steven Nelson said
Thu Aug 13 11:41 AM, 2020
This morning:
Croxden, Chat and Irlam Moss: 2 Greenshank- one initially then another one seen flying over Twelve Yards Rd which landed on Croxden 2 Green Sandpiper 4 Snipe 10 Lapwing 1 Willow Tit - first one Ive seen on the mosses since Feb 23 Teal 1 Grey Heron 1 Sparrowhawk A few Willow Warbler- one singing a bit 1 Yellowhammer - singing 3 Stonechat -f20
Little Woolden Moss: 2 Black-tailed Godwit - flew in from the north, circled without landing, then carried on south. 3 Snipe 6 Teal 2 Sand Martin 1 Kestrel A few Willow Warbler- one also singing a bit
Shannon Llewellyn said
Wed Aug 12 11:32 PM, 2020
Hello. Been a while; hope everybody's well and staying safe.
First chance I've had to get here for a while today, for obvious reasons. A few hours round Little Woolden Moss mid to late afternoon. Hot.
c100 linnet (mainly in single flock on stubble) 2 swallow 3 house martin 10+ yellow wagtail 2 jay 1 swift 2 shoveler 4 little ringed plover 1 dunlin 1 green sandpiper 1 common gull 1 kestrel 1 peregrine 1 buzzard heard
FN26....is no more a wildlife friendly area...its 'overgrown' status today reduced to a field prepared for a silage factory site...it once in the not too distant past held Corn Bunting...of recent years it gave hope for wildlife...giving birds weed seed survival in winter...my heart sank...Covid's positives for nature my....
Moving on...
FN21/22
184 Black-Headed Gull
76 Starling
10 Pied Wagtail
4 Yellowhammer
FN18
26 Swallow heading South
14 House Martin
FN62
1 Stonechat
Croxden FN65
13 Chiffchaff
10 Teal
1 Tufted Duck female still with her three young
37 Mallard
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
1 Redshank..
rest of visit taken with Dragonfly Surveys...and feeding Horseflies galore!
28 Yellow Wagtail....these and the Swallow taking a hatch of insects from the 'weed' Fat Hen which has managed to avoid the herbicides within the Barley Crop...it is maybe a case of OUR food alone or perhaps sharing some space for wildlife to create such a now rare wildlife 'spectacle'...a clue 'perhaps' to the reason we have lost so much of our farmland birds...
10 Greenfinch
26 Swift
Croxden
12 Swallow
6 Swift
14 Teal
1 Tufted Duck...still holding onto to her three young
11 Sand Martin
2 Green Sandpipers
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Raven
9 House Martin
1 Reed Warbler...once more a brief snatch of song
FN16
3 Whinchat noted
14 Mistle Thrush
90 Starling.
Dave Steel said
Mon Aug 3 7:31 PM, 2020
FN53
150 House Sparrow
35 Linnet
12 Blackbird
11 Tree Sparrow
FN33
21 Swallow
FN31
6 Swallow
3 House Martin
FN33
30 House Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss
8 Yellow Wagtail...3 adult 5 juveniles
12 Sand Martin
210 Linnet
63 Swift
9 House Martin
1 Common Gull...adult
2 Wheatear
FN66
17 Pied Wagtail
1 Wheatear.
Dave Steel said
Mon Aug 3 3:43 PM, 2020
Late Record am 020820
FN52
4 Whinchat
6 Stock Dove
8 Swallow
5 House Martin
FN18
9 Swallow
3 Chiffchaff
2 Yellow Wagtail...Juveniles
Croxden
8 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff
10 Teal
1 Lesser Redpoll...in Display Flight
1 Reed Warbler...brief snatch of song
3 Green Sandpiper
Pied Wagtails catching...removing the wings then eating Black Darters.
Dave Steel said
Sat Aug 1 8:23 PM, 2020
FN21/22/23
19 Swallow
6 House Martin
1 Tree Sparrow with Food
1 Yellow Wagtail
15 Pied Wagtail
FN20
1 Corn Bunting...with a snatch of song
9 House Martin
3 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
14 Linnet
1 Little Ringed Plover
3 Green Sandpiper flying North-South @ 1115
7 Willow Warbler
2 Peregrine..
10 Grey Partridge...Family Party
1 Yellow Wagtail.
All the while I was present the reserve was being disturbed by the boys with their flying machine toys which rip through the peace of this nature reserve with aplomb...crass does not come into it...in my opinion......a reserve with a toy flying plane crew on its western edge that defeats its natural history presence....
FN52...quick Check
2 Swift
3 of the long staying Whinchat....truly a treat to be savoured over and again!
Steven Nelson said
Sat Aug 1 1:05 PM, 2020
Irlam and Chat Mosses this morning:
4 Whinchat 1 Grey Wagtail 4 Tufted Duck - female plus 3 ducklings 1 Bullfinch - m 2 Greenfinch 2 Yellowhammer 1 Buzzard 2 Blackcap singing 4 Willow Warbler- including 1 singing briefly 1 Grey Heron Quite a few Whitethroats including young birds A few Swallows, House Martin and Sand Martin over the fields A few Swift overhead
Dave Steel said
Fri Jul 31 10:47 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss
1 Peregrine
11 Willow Warbler...some still offering a taste of their song
14 Swift
3 Buzzard...2 juveniles pestering one of their parents
3 Tawny Owls calling to each other last night on Irlam Moss.
Dave Steel said
Mon Jul 27 10:55 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss in a 'bit' of precipitation...
3 Redshank
1 Snipe....Rufous coloured that had to me the brick-red colouration of a Godwit in Summer Plumage...
88 Linnet
2 Grasshopper Warbler...Reeling
1 Green Sandpiper
7 Sand Martin
16 Swallow
26 Yellow Wagtail...most were juveniles
52 Skylark
5 Lapwing...which included fully fledged 3 young...parents very protective...perhaps the last of the adult to young Lapwing alarms to my ears for yet another season.
2 Raven over Astley Moss (Rindle area), included some display!
1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shoveler and 3 Teal on Chat Moss
Dave Steel said
Mon Jul 20 8:36 PM, 2020
am
FN19
1 Corn Bunting in Song
1 Yellow Wagtail...juvenile
6 Willow Warbler...Juveniles.
FN20
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Whinchat...difficult to see as this field of Wheat although busy with wildflowers has none as tall as in FN16/FN52 Barley
12 Linnet
Little Woolden Moss
1 Lesser Redpoll in Display
2 Dunlin
14 Sand Martin
1 Little Ringed Plover
68 Swift
1 Snipe
FN16
1 Whinchat
1 Yellow Wagtail.
Doc Brewster said
Mon Jul 20 7:32 PM, 2020
Sorry late post, just a thankyou to Dave for continued updates. I managed to see the 4 Whinchats on Irlam Moss in field 16 showing very well albeit quite distant yesterday. An easy yeartick for a very short run out
Irlam Moss: 3 Whinchat 3 Yellow Wagtail (m,f,juv) 2 family parties of Whitethroats - 7 + 4 Family of 4 Wrens 5 Yellowhammer 1 Grey Heron
Little Woolden Moss: 1 Cuckoo - on the path 1 Common Sandpiper 1 Oystercatcher 2 Little Ringed Plover c.300 Swift feeding low over the western pools 10 House Martin 4 Sand Martin 12 Swallow 1 Reed Warbler singing 1 Corn Bunting singing
Dave Steel said
Tue Jul 14 7:18 PM, 2020
am
Irlam Moss
21 Swallow
4 Whinchat...still feeding up well
2 Yellowhammer in song
4 Yellow Wagtail
4 Willow Warbler in alarm
24 Swift
Little Woolden Moss
76 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
7 Sand Martin
4 House Martin.
Steven Heywood said
Tue Jul 14 6:15 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss 13:15 - 14:05
Four little ringed plover
One hobby
One buzzard
50+ swift overhead
plus a few swallows drifting over from the 20+ flock hawking low over the barley fields.
Singing birds included reed buntings, linnet, blackcap, willow warbler, meadow pipits and a single yellowhammer.
I think the Channel wagtail's still about: one of the yellow wagtails flitting about the potato field by the poly tunnels had a decidedly pale head but it dived for cover before I could definitely ID it.
-- Edited by Steven Heywood on Tuesday 14th of July 2020 06:50:32 PM
John Williams said
Tue Jul 14 2:35 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss 09.30-12.30
1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Kestrels and 1 Buzzard.
70+ Swifts (Mainly over the pools at Western end of site) and 10 Sand Martins.
Dave Steel said
Mon Jul 13 7:41 PM, 2020
am
Irlam Moss
4 Whinchat
5 Swallow
12 Sand Martin
Chat Moss
18 Swift
2 Teal
3 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
320 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song.
Dave Steel said
Sun Jul 12 3:59 PM, 2020
Chat Moss am...most time spent doing a Dragonfly Survey
I know this comment is slightly off-topic, and most of us here know already, but:
RSPB: "Under Section One of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built - which is also referred to as an 'active' nest.
"A nest is considered active as soon as the first twig, or other nesting material, has been added to the nest site. If you know that there is a nest being built or occupied, you would have to delay the work until after the blackbirds have bred"
Also, from a blog: "Wildlife legislation considers bird nesting season to be between 1st March to 31st July" though obviously some species (owls, mistle thrushes, etc) breed outside this period
Sounds like someone has broken the law - just being unaware of breeding isn't really an excuse (eg, "Sorry, officer, I wasn't aware there was a 20 mph speed limit here" - yeah, right)
Dave Steel said
Wed Jul 8 9:54 PM, 2020
am...
Irlam Moss
a 'joy' to see that a nicely overgrown area adjacent to Astley Road at FN42 which potentially (due to sightings) held nesting Grasshopper Warbler/Whitethroat/Yellowhammer had been 'tidied up' by one of the 'custodians of our countryside'.....
28 House Sparrow
9 Swallow
14 Swift
Chat Moss
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Swallow
108 Swift
4 Bullfinch
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellowhammer in song
5 Teal
11 Sand Martin
2 Buzzard in territorial dispute
9 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Little Woolden Moss East brief visit
86 Swift
2 Kestrel
6 Sand Martin
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Yellow Wagtail
...and YET MORE time and money being spent by the CHARITY LWT in repairing and replacing gates on the reserve because those who care not for the site other than for their own wildlife null recreation...Oh and a 'birder' who had chosen to wander freely off the designated pathways and into the reserve...possibly someone unable to read the signage....
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 09:57:55 PM
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jul 8 1:31 PM, 2020
Very quiet on the mosses this morning.
Chat Moss: Good numbers of Swift and Sand Martin with a few Swallow swooping low over the pools 4 Teal 2 male Blackcap - 1 singing 2 Willow Warbler - 1 singing 1 Buzzard Mixed party of families of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit 2 Whitethroat - 1 singing 3 Pied Wagtail - including 1 juv
Little Woolden Moss: 1 Blackcap singing 4 Meadow Pipit - 1 in display flight On the track to the reserve a mixed group of birds bathing in a puddle included 3 Yellow Wagtails (m,f +1juv), 10 Linnet (including many youngsters), 1 male Yellowhammer and 1 Whitethroat.
No waders of any type seen at either site!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 06:21:48 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 7 8:04 PM, 2020
Highlights from mid to late afternoon today included:
The bird was ringed as an adult female
12.11.08 Alhos Vedros (South Tank), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
13.11.08 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.11.08 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
16.11.08 Baixa, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.02.09 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
28.02.09 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
19.10.09 Alhos Vedros (Channel), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.10.09 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.11.09 Alhos Vedros (Channel), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.11.09 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
27.11.09 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.01.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
20.01.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
27.01.10 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
04.02.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
10.02.10 Moita Boavista, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.02.10 Lancada, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
11.02.10 Sarilhos, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.02.10 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
22.02.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
23.02.10 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
03.03.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
05.03.10 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.03.10 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
07.08.10 Rainham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng
19.01.11 Moita Harbour, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.02.11 Alhos Vedros (Tanks), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
15.02.11 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.02.11 Alhos Vedros Qta Prata, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.02.11 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
26.03.11 Lawling Creek, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
10.11.11 Corroios, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.02.12 Zambujal, Sado Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
19.02.12 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
25.02.12 Alhos Vedros (Gas Station), Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.11.12 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
13.11.12 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
05.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
06.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
07.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
19.02.13 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
12.02.14 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
18.02.14 Montijo, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
24.02.14 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
14.04.14 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
01.08.14 Frampton Marsh, The Wash, Lincolnshire, E Eng
21.02.15 Moita, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
22.03.15 Otterham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng
25.03.15 Rainham Creek, Motney Hill, Medway Estuary, Kent, SE Eng
12.07.15 Oare marshes, Swalle, Kent, SE Eng
19.07.15 Oare marshes, Swalle, Kent, SE Eng
19.03.16 RN Saint Denis Du Payre, Vendée, Pays de la Loire, W Fra
05.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
08.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
12.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
23.04.16 Heybridge Basin, Blackwater Estuary, Essex, E Eng
28.01.17 Alhos Vedros, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
09.02.18 Giganta, Tagus Estuary, Setúbal, W Por
01.07.18 Croxden peat pools, Chat Moss, Greater Manchester, NW Eng
17.04.20 Hippolytushoef, Wieringen, Noord Holland, W Neth
Little Woolden Moss:
2 Tree Pipit - 1 seen a few times flitting over the eastern entrance 07.05-08.00 then joined by a second. Both then flew off south at 09.40.
1 Wood Sandpiper - feeding at western end 08.40
c90 Black-tailed Godwit- noisy flock came in from the north and flew over western end but didnt land and carried on heading south at 08.45 - possibly the same flock seen over Pennington Flash at 08.35.
2 Little Ringed Plover- both juv
1 Green Sandpiper- flew into eastern end pools then flew off east
1 Redshank- heard only
1 Peregrine- male
1 Kestrel
Flock of Gulls on western pools made up of:
1 Common Gull
2 Herring Gull
122 Lesser-backed Gulls
c100 Black-headed Gull
4 Sedge Warbler- an adult seen carrying food with another adult near by. Then 2 other birds one of which was a juv.
Numerous Willow Warbler reslessly flitting around in bushes at eastern end - seemed like they were getting ready to leave. Some give a little bit of song.
3 Sand Martin - heading south
Irlam Moss
F20:
1 Whinchat
3 Stonechat
24 Greenfinch- including a flock of 23 on telegraph wires.
2 Yellowhammer
Croxden:
1 Swift
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
41 Mallard
2 Teal
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 14th of August 2020 12:22:49 PM
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Friday 14th of August 2020 12:29:32 PM
FN21/22
1 Hobby @ 0905
18 House Martin
26 Swallow
24 Pied Wagtail
164 Black-Headed Gull
86 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
26 Starling
2 Yellow Wagtail
FN24
1 Sparrowhawk (male) being chased off by 35 Swallow
FN20
4 Stonechat
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve (FN38)
12 Chiffchaff
2 Willow Warbler...brief snatches of song
1 Greenshank @ 1024...soon flew south
1 Hobby @ 1043
1 Tree Pipit overflying @ 1102
1 Tree Pipit overflying @ 1140
2 Yellow Wagtail
12 Linnet
9 Pied Wagtail.
Irlam Moss this evening:
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Kestrel
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 13th of August 2020 11:49:08 PM
Croxden, Chat and Irlam Moss:
2 Greenshank- one initially then another one seen flying over Twelve Yards Rd which landed on Croxden
2 Green Sandpiper
4 Snipe
10 Lapwing
1 Willow Tit - first one Ive seen on the mosses since Feb
23 Teal
1 Grey Heron
1 Sparrowhawk
A few Willow Warbler- one singing a bit
1 Yellowhammer - singing
3 Stonechat -f20
Little Woolden Moss:
2 Black-tailed Godwit - flew in from the north, circled without landing, then carried on south.
3 Snipe
6 Teal
2 Sand Martin
1 Kestrel
A few Willow Warbler- one also singing a bit
First chance I've had to get here for a while today, for obvious reasons. A few hours round Little Woolden Moss mid to late afternoon. Hot.
c100 linnet (mainly in single flock on stubble)
2 swallow
3 house martin
10+ yellow wagtail
2 jay
1 swift
2 shoveler
4 little ringed plover
1 dunlin
1 green sandpiper
1 common gull
1 kestrel
1 peregrine
1 buzzard heard
FN21/22....
223 Black-Headed Gull
52 Pied Wagtail
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Stock Dove
54 Swallow
46 House Martin
170 Starling
FN20
1 Whinchat
2 Stonechat
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve...FN38
3 Willow Warbler
3 Greenshank
1 Curlew...overflying
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Tree Pipit...overflying @ 1155
Croxden FN65
90 Lapwing
7 Green Sandpiper
11 Teal
120 Black-Headed Gull
3 Greenshank.
FN21/22
180 Black-Headed Gull
25 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
350 Starling
22 Pied Wagtail
5 Yellow Wagtail
12 Swallow
15 House Martin
1 Hobby...dashed through the Starlings
FN24
162 Lapwing
24 Black-Headed Gull
72 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
FN20
1 Whinchat...Juvenile
2 Stonechat
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
4 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Wood Sandpiper
5 Chiffchaff
6 Willow Warbler
1 Hobby
1 Yellow Wagtail.
FN65 Croxden
9 Yellow Wagtail
1 Tufted Duck female + 3 Young
21 Teal
7 Swallow
4 Sand Martin
6 House Martin
Little Woolden Moss
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Yellow Wagtail
FN20
2 Stonechat.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Monday 10th of August 2020 10:54:39 PM
Couple of nice evening walks in the sunshine last week.
8/7
Little Woolden Moss
2 Little Ringed Plovers
7/7
FN 16
2 Whinchat
Green Sandpiper over calling
FN 19
Corn Bunting singing
FN 22
6 Yellow Wagtails
-- Edited by Connor Rand on Monday 10th of August 2020 12:28:17 PM
FN25
110 House Sparrow
FN21/22
32 House Martin
25 Swallow
39 Pied Wagtail
2 Yellow Wagtail
FN11 Dixons Wood
5 Chiffchaff
1 Willow Warbler...brief snatch of song
FN65 Croxden
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Sparrowhawk...Bathing
3 Green Sandpiper.
FN21/22
31 House Martin
15 Pied Wagtail
5 Yellow Wagtail
9 Swallow
14 Starling
FN24
2 Yellow Wagtail
5 Pied Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss
12 Chiffchaff
11 Willow Warbler
6 Yellow Wagtail
5 Raven
23 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Green Sandpiper
300 Linnet
1 Sedge Warbler.
FN26....is no more a wildlife friendly area...its 'overgrown' status today reduced to a field prepared for a silage factory site...it once in the not too distant past held Corn Bunting...of recent years it gave hope for wildlife...giving birds weed seed survival in winter...my heart sank...Covid's positives for nature my....
Moving on...
FN21/22
184 Black-Headed Gull
76 Starling
10 Pied Wagtail
4 Yellowhammer
FN18
26 Swallow heading South
14 House Martin
FN62
1 Stonechat
Croxden FN65
13 Chiffchaff
10 Teal
1 Tufted Duck female still with her three young
37 Mallard
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
1 Redshank..
rest of visit taken with Dragonfly Surveys...and feeding Horseflies galore!
FN11 Dixon's Wood
1 Tawny Owl
FN16
4 Whinchat
4 Stock Dove
37 Canada Geese
FN19
1 Corn Bunting...in song
8 Swift
12 House Martin
25 Swallow
1 Sparrowhawk...male
30 Linnet
Little Woolden Moss Farmland FN56/57/64
27 Skylark
1 Peregrine...Juvenile
7 Yellowhammer
8 Yellow Wagtail
35 Pied Wagtail
32 Linnet
38 Swift
1 Lapwing with 1 fully fledged young.
FN2
160 Starling
FN16
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Tree Sparrow
3 Whinchat
FN20
7 House Martin
24 Swift
FN19
77 Swift
Little Woolden Moss Nature Reserve
37 Swift
16 House Martin
28 Meadow Pipit
2 Raven
3 Yellow wagtail
6 Green Sandpiper
9 Willow Warbler.
FN52
49 Swallow
28 Yellow Wagtail....these and the Swallow taking a hatch of insects from the 'weed' Fat Hen which has managed to avoid the herbicides within the Barley Crop...it is maybe a case of OUR food alone or perhaps sharing some space for wildlife to create such a now rare wildlife 'spectacle'...a clue 'perhaps' to the reason we have lost so much of our farmland birds...
10 Greenfinch
26 Swift
Croxden
12 Swallow
6 Swift
14 Teal
1 Tufted Duck...still holding onto to her three young
11 Sand Martin
2 Green Sandpipers
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Raven
9 House Martin
1 Reed Warbler...once more a brief snatch of song
FN16
3 Whinchat noted
14 Mistle Thrush
90 Starling.
FN53
150 House Sparrow
35 Linnet
12 Blackbird
11 Tree Sparrow
FN33
21 Swallow
FN31
6 Swallow
3 House Martin
FN33
30 House Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss
8 Yellow Wagtail...3 adult 5 juveniles
12 Sand Martin
210 Linnet
63 Swift
9 House Martin
1 Common Gull...adult
2 Wheatear
FN66
17 Pied Wagtail
1 Wheatear.
Late Record am 020820
FN52
4 Whinchat
6 Stock Dove
8 Swallow
5 House Martin
FN18
9 Swallow
3 Chiffchaff
2 Yellow Wagtail...Juveniles
Croxden
8 Willow Warbler
6 Chiffchaff
10 Teal
1 Lesser Redpoll...in Display Flight
1 Reed Warbler...brief snatch of song
3 Green Sandpiper
Pied Wagtails catching...removing the wings then eating Black Darters.
FN21/22/23
19 Swallow
6 House Martin
1 Tree Sparrow with Food
1 Yellow Wagtail
15 Pied Wagtail
FN20
1 Corn Bunting...with a snatch of song
9 House Martin
3 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
14 Linnet
1 Little Ringed Plover
3 Green Sandpiper flying North-South @ 1115
7 Willow Warbler
2 Peregrine..
10 Grey Partridge...Family Party
1 Yellow Wagtail.
All the while I was present the reserve was being disturbed by the boys with their flying machine toys which rip through the peace of this nature reserve with aplomb...crass does not come into it...in my opinion......a reserve with a toy flying plane crew on its western edge that defeats its natural history presence....
FN52...quick Check
2 Swift
3 of the long staying Whinchat....truly a treat to be savoured over and again!
4 Whinchat
1 Grey Wagtail
4 Tufted Duck - female plus 3 ducklings
1 Bullfinch - m
2 Greenfinch
2 Yellowhammer
1 Buzzard
2 Blackcap singing
4 Willow Warbler- including 1 singing briefly
1 Grey Heron
Quite a few Whitethroats including young birds
A few Swallows, House Martin and Sand Martin over the fields
A few Swift overhead
Little Woolden Moss
1 Peregrine
11 Willow Warbler...some still offering a taste of their song
14 Swift
3 Buzzard...2 juveniles pestering one of their parents
2 Little Ringed Plover
60 Linnet
Chat Moss
2 Whinchat noted on FN52.
Little Woolden Moss
1 Siskin
22 Swift
2 Sparrowhawk
4 Willow Warbler
15 Linnet
Chat Moss
4 Whinchat...FN52
11 Swallow
18 House Martin
1 Yellow Wagtail
3 Yellowhammer.
Chat Moss am
FN52
31 Swift
4 Whinchat
Croxden
17 Chiffchaff
43 Swift
3 Raven
1 Peregrine...male
2 Lesser Redpoll in display
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Tufted Duck female with 3 small young
1 Snipe
9 Swallow.
Barton Moss am
73 Swallow
33 House Martin
1 Yellow Wagtail
6 Stock Dove
8 Lapwing
4 Chiffchaff
6 Tree Sparrow
4 Sand Martin
38 House Sparrow
52 Starling
24 Swift.
Little Woolden Moss in a 'bit' of precipitation...
3 Redshank
1 Snipe....Rufous coloured that had to me the brick-red colouration of a Godwit in Summer Plumage...
88 Linnet
2 Grasshopper Warbler...Reeling
1 Green Sandpiper
7 Sand Martin
16 Swallow
26 Yellow Wagtail...most were juveniles
52 Skylark
5 Lapwing...which included fully fledged 3 young...parents very protective...perhaps the last of the adult to young Lapwing alarms to my ears for yet another season.
Little Woolden Moss am
12 Willow Warbler
3 House Martin
1 Peregrine with prey
7 Greylag Geese
1 Siskin
256 Swift...most moving south
1 Whimbrel...overflying @ 1222
560 Woodpigeon...trying to escape the hunters
Irlam Moss
FN16
1 Whinchat...male.
Little Woolden Moss am
11 Willow Warbler most in alarm save for 3 which sang but sparingly...nice all the same
4 Yellow Wagtail
3 Stock Dove
400 Woodpigeon...being scattered by the 'Big Game Hunters'....!
7 Greylag Geese
37 Swift
31 Linnet
Chat Moss
2 Yellow Wagtail
8 Swallow
6 Sand Martin
13 Linnet.
Great Woolden Moss
30 Swallow
4 Tree Sparrow
9 House Martin
1 Nuthatch
Early afternoon today:
2 Raven over Astley Moss (Rindle area), included some display!
1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Shoveler and 3 Teal on Chat Moss
am
FN19
1 Corn Bunting in Song
1 Yellow Wagtail...juvenile
6 Willow Warbler...Juveniles.
FN20
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Whinchat...difficult to see as this field of Wheat although busy with wildflowers has none as tall as in FN16/FN52 Barley
12 Linnet
Little Woolden Moss
1 Lesser Redpoll in Display
2 Dunlin
14 Sand Martin
1 Little Ringed Plover
68 Swift
1 Snipe
FN16
1 Whinchat
1 Yellow Wagtail.
Sorry late post, just a thankyou to Dave for continued updates. I managed to see the 4 Whinchats on Irlam Moss in field 16 showing very well albeit quite distant yesterday. An easy yeartick for a very short run out
am
Irlam Moss FN16
4 Whinchat
Chat Moss
28 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Greenshank...overflying @ 0955
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Lesser Redpoll in display
1 Hobby
1 Reed Warbler in song
0915-1515
Irlam Moss
35 Black-Headed Gull
4 Mistle Thrush
12 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
3 Moorhen
3 Stonechat...FN20
32 Starling
4 Whinchat...FN16
2 Yellow Wagtail...FN20
1 Corn Bunting in song...FN19
Little Woolden Moss
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
234 Swift
53 Sand Martin
16 House Martin
85 Linnet
1 Yellow Wagtail
1100 Woodpigeon...the Harvesting influx
2 Corn Bunting in song
1 Siskin
2 Grasshopper Warbler...Reeling
2 Sedge Warbler...in song
22 Swallow
Cadishead Moss
43 Swallow
32 Swift
350 Woodpigeon
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Nuthatch
3 Chiffchaff
2 Stock Dove
22 Mistle Thrush...time to flock once more at this time of the year
1 Woodpigeon...Leucitic.
am
Irlam Moss
5 Whinchat on FN16 @ 0910
2 Swallow
1 Yellowhammer in song
Chat Moss
1 Corn Bunting in song
3 Song Thrush
Little Woolden Moss...main thrust today was two Dragonfly counts...
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
1 Grasshopper Warbler...reeling
1 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Lesser Redpoll in display
54 Linnet
5 Yellow Wagtail
80 Swift
2 Snipe
1 Corn Bunting in song.
Two Brief Visits
Irlam Moss
4 Whinchat (noted @ 0620 and at 1330)
50 Starling
3 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
9 House Martin
3 Kestrel
1 Peregrine...male
4 Buzzard
19 Linnet
75 Swift
4 Willow Warbler in alarm...none in song .... missing it already.
Late Record for PM Yesterday whilst doing a Bat Survey for BCT
Chat Moss
2 Tawny Owl
2 Oystercatcher
115 Swallow which were feeding over Barley then all suddenly upped and flew NE to roost I imagine...@ 2100
am
Little Woolden Moss
1 Hobby chased Swift at eastern edge of reserve then moved off North @ 0955
1 Redshank
1 Common Sandpiper
3 Little Ringed Plover
1 Cuckoo being chased by a dozen Meadow Pipit...it retreated to a Birch but was then chased off.
2 Sedge Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
12 Dunlin flew east west over the reserve at great speed...@ 1113
18 Sand Martin (young) resting on the peat
2 Oystercatcher
1 Yellow Wagtail
53 Meadow Pipit...a mix of birds in alarm/feeding young and in display
46 Linnet
1 Green Sandpiper
6 Willow Warbler in alarm
350 Swift
Irlam Moss quick check
1 Whinchat...rain drove it to cover
9 House Martin
17 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail.
Attached one of the resting Sand Martin and images of the Cuckoo being chivvied by Meadow Pipit...a distant view but its there!
Irlam Moss:
3 Whinchat
3 Yellow Wagtail (m,f,juv)
2 family parties of Whitethroats - 7 + 4
Family of 4 Wrens
5 Yellowhammer
1 Grey Heron
Little Woolden Moss:
1 Cuckoo - on the path
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Oystercatcher
2 Little Ringed Plover
c.300 Swift feeding low over the western pools
10 House Martin
4 Sand Martin
12 Swallow
1 Reed Warbler singing
1 Corn Bunting singing
am
Irlam Moss
21 Swallow
4 Whinchat...still feeding up well
2 Yellowhammer in song
4 Yellow Wagtail
4 Willow Warbler in alarm
24 Swift
Little Woolden Moss
76 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song
3 Little Ringed Plover
2 Common Sandpiper
7 Sand Martin
4 House Martin.
Little Woolden Moss 13:15 - 14:05
plus a few swallows drifting over from the 20+ flock hawking low over the barley fields.
Singing birds included reed buntings, linnet, blackcap, willow warbler, meadow pipits and a single yellowhammer.
I think the Channel wagtail's still about: one of the yellow wagtails flitting about the potato field by the poly tunnels had a decidedly pale head but it dived for cover before I could definitely ID it.
-- Edited by Steven Heywood on Tuesday 14th of July 2020 06:50:32 PM
1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Linnets, 2 Meadow Pipits, 2 Kestrels and 1 Buzzard.
70+ Swifts (Mainly over the pools at Western end of site) and 10 Sand Martins.
am
Irlam Moss
4 Whinchat
5 Swallow
12 Sand Martin
Chat Moss
18 Swift
2 Teal
3 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
320 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song.
Chat Moss am...most time spent doing a Dragonfly Survey
3 Whinchat...return migration ALREADY!
15 Lapwing
4 Teal
9 Swallow
67 Black-Headed Gull
6 House Martin
12 Swift
2 Buzzard soaring high.
Distant images of the male Whinchat.
Brief Lunchtime visit to a quiet Little Woolden Moss
75 Swift
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Reed Warbler in song
5 Sand Martin
6 House Martin
5 Swallow
2 Little Ringed Plover
4 Buzzard
2 Kestrel.
am
Irlam Moss
2 Willow Tit
9 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
260 Swift
1 Common Gull
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Corn Bunting in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
3 Sedge Warbler...2 in alarm 1 in song
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
34 Linnet
2 Chiffchaff
52 Sand Martin.
Chat Moss am..
2 Common Sandpiper
10 Swallow
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Chiffchaff in song
150 Swift
65 Sand Martin
8 Willow Warbler
25 Mallard
9 Teal
1 Hobby hunting very high
2 Buzzard having an Arial altercation
1 Lesser Redpoll in Display flight
1 Raven...had a go at a Buzzard
3 Blackcap in song
14 Black-Tailed Godwit flew in high from the North @1128...checked out the area and looked as if might land...not re-found
RSPB: "Under Section One of the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981), it is an offence to intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built - which is also referred to as an 'active' nest.
"A nest is considered active as soon as the first twig, or other nesting material, has been added to the nest site. If you know that there is a nest being built or occupied, you would have to delay the work until after the blackbirds have bred"
Also, from a blog: "Wildlife legislation considers bird nesting season to be between 1st March to 31st July" though obviously some species (owls, mistle thrushes, etc) breed outside this period
Sounds like someone has broken the law - just being unaware of breeding isn't really an excuse (eg, "Sorry, officer, I wasn't aware there was a 20 mph speed limit here" - yeah, right)
am...
Irlam Moss
a 'joy' to see that a nicely overgrown area adjacent to Astley Road at FN42 which potentially (due to sightings) held nesting Grasshopper Warbler/Whitethroat/Yellowhammer had been 'tidied up' by one of the 'custodians of our countryside'.....
28 House Sparrow
9 Swallow
14 Swift
Chat Moss
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
8 Swallow
108 Swift
4 Bullfinch
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellowhammer in song
5 Teal
11 Sand Martin
2 Buzzard in territorial dispute
9 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
Little Woolden Moss East brief visit
86 Swift
2 Kestrel
6 Sand Martin
2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Yellow Wagtail
...and YET MORE time and money being spent by the CHARITY LWT in repairing and replacing gates on the reserve because those who care not for the site other than for their own wildlife null recreation...Oh and a 'birder' who had chosen to wander freely off the designated pathways and into the reserve...possibly someone unable to read the signage....
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 09:57:55 PM
Chat Moss:
Good numbers of Swift and Sand Martin with a few Swallow swooping low over the pools
4 Teal
2 male Blackcap - 1 singing
2 Willow Warbler - 1 singing
1 Buzzard
Mixed party of families of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tit
2 Whitethroat - 1 singing
3 Pied Wagtail - including 1 juv
Little Woolden Moss:
1 Blackcap singing
4 Meadow Pipit - 1 in display flight
On the track to the reserve a mixed group of birds bathing in a puddle included 3 Yellow Wagtails (m,f +1juv), 10 Linnet (including many youngsters), 1 male Yellowhammer and 1 Whitethroat.
No waders of any type seen at either site!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 8th of July 2020 06:21:48 PM
Highlights from mid to late afternoon today included:
1 Greenshank
4 Little Ringed Plover
140 Swift