ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Dave Steel said
Thu Jun 4 7:40 PM, 2020
Brief Visit Midday
Irlam Moss
270 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
30 Black Headed Gull
8 Herring Gull
82 Lapwing
4 Tree Sparrow
11 Buzzard
all of the above feeding on a 'Turf Factory producing field' which on the ODD occasion actually (and all too briefly) accommodates wildlife...today was one of those rare days...make Hay whilst...
4 House Martin
5 Swallow
2 Yellowhammer in song.
Dave Steel said
Wed Jun 3 7:17 PM, 2020
Chat Moss am in the Wonderful...Wonderful RAIN!!!!
...and, for now, the efforts of the Firemen have stopped/paused the fire in Dixon's Wood...the sooner the rain arrives the better!
Dave Steel said
Sun May 31 10:52 PM, 2020
am
Irlam Moss
2 Tawny Owl
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellow Wagtail
10 House Martin
2 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
4 Swallow
52 Swift
3 Tufted Duck
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher.
Adam Jones said
Sun May 31 8:42 PM, 2020
Made my first visit to Little Woolden Moss yesterday morning. Cracking place. Highlights were: 2 Yellow Wagtail 1 Wheatear 2 Curlew
Dave Steel said
Sat May 30 12:25 PM, 2020
Hi John...as the Channel has bred in this same area in recent years it more than likely is....but I gave it the benefit of doubt due to the harsh sunshine...and in truth I was still trying to determine if I had TWO singing Corn Bunting...happily I proved that but then the Yellow Wagtail had moved off into the Barley Crop...I will be back at this western outpost of the patch next week and peer deeper into the eyes of the Wagtails!
Dave.
John Watson said
Sat May 30 9:51 AM, 2020
Dave, does that Yellow Wagtail look a little bit Channel ?
Dave Steel said
Fri May 29 8:06 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss am in this interminable unforgiving constant sunshine....when oh when will the RAIN return????
1 Snipein song from its Silver Birch perch...always seems incongruous to watch waders perched on a tree stump...
4 Blackcap in song in western section of Dixon's Wood ...wonder if these are birds whose nesting attempts might have failed due to the fire at the eastern section of Dixon's Wood???
1 Garden Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
32 Lapwing.
Dave Steel said
Wed May 27 10:18 PM, 2020
Barton Moss am
1 Goldcrest in song
3 Yellow Wagtail
4 Lapwing...calling to young
22 House Martin...some nest building within a bird friendly farmyard
the last 4 species noted had obviously found a hatch and were feeding well upon the hapless insects...
1 Ringed Plover
1 Wheatear...Greenland
24 Skylark
32 Lapwing
1 Goldcrest in song.
Dave Steel said
Mon May 25 2:01 PM, 2020
Hi David
Glad to say the Fire Service Team returned and really doused the area and today it is OK...but I will continue to check...there are also plans by the LWT to
try and sort out the access points that have been 'created' by those who don't like following the pathways...etc etc etc!
Dave.
David Shallcross said
Mon May 25 8:20 AM, 2020
There's an ever-growing number of arson attacks everywhere Dave, Pennington is targeted frequently by firebugs, trespassers, illegal fishing and poor practise photography, just a few of the many other disturbing things that go on there. Sorry, I can go on about Pennington, this is about your patch well done to you for your ever presence there I'm sure the area would be in a far worse state if you didn't show up daily as you do.
best wishes, great records and reports that you send to LOS. thank you, David Shallcross
Dave Steel said
Sun May 24 11:32 PM, 2020
Chat Moss
35 Rook
3 Grey Partridge
60 Jackdaw
180 Carrion Crow
3 Swallow
3 Swift
Little Woolden Moss...check to see if last nights fire had not re-ignited as such fires on Peat do...it seems to have started at the Hide area (the hide having been razed to the ground a couple of years ago) and had spread south over the path...no nests destroyed from my checks this morning but the peat was smouldering in parts...our local dedicated firemen updated with this info (they had contacted me last night about the fire) and they later returned and hopefully it is completely out now...will check am...its sad to think that the moss is suffering such fires (FN11 Dixon's Wood has also been on fire of late)...isn't our wildlife under enough pressure as it is???
4 Swallow
15 Willow Warbler in song
4 Ringed Plover
38 Swift
1 Hobby
1 Redshank
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Curlew.
Steven Nelson said
Sun May 24 10:52 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss - quick visit am 1 Corn Bunting singing 1 Yellow Wagtail male
Irlam Moss - briefly pm 1 Yellow Wagtail 1 half grown Lapwing with parent 1 Tree Sparrow 2 Kestrel
Also: I amazingly have finally received an email reply to my report of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit nearly 2 years after I sent the record in!!! The bird was part of a flock of 32 birds on Croxden on 1st July 2018! It turns out in was ringed in France but no other details were given.
Had a wander round Rindle and the SSSI this afternoon, highlights were a pair of Yellow Wagtails on one of the muck heaps and a Nuthatch in Rindle Woods, first one I've seen here. A couple of Kestrel hunting the SSSI, Buzzard ,Lapwing and a few displaying Meadow Pipits,2 Mistle Thrush plus the usual warblers were the only other birds of note.
Dave Steel said
Wed May 20 10:51 PM, 2020
0820-1230
Chat Moss
7 Tree Sparrow
7 Oystercatcher
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Garden Warbler
2 Swallow
2 Swift
1 Curlew
1 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss East
3 Yellow Wagtail
3 Ringed Plover
1 Hobby.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 10:52:04 PM
1 Garden Warbler chasing a Whitethroat 1 Sedge Warbler singing 1 Tree Sparrow 7 Oystercatcher 1 Curlew 5 Yellow Wagtail- 2 pairs and single male 1 Grey Partridge 4 Gadwall- 2 pairs 1 Teal 1 Mallard brood of 4 quite well grown ducklings 21 Rook in with the mixed Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flock 1 Grey Heron 1 Kestrel
Tony Koziol said
Sat May 16 5:52 PM, 2020
Today between 7 am and 1.30 pm around Little Woolden Moss and Chat Moss - a little cool and breezy this morning, warming up later on. Observations very similar to David's and Tony's.
8 Yellowhammers and 2 Corn Buntings in field 17.
Several Yellow Wagtails in 3 separate locations with 2 absolutely stonking males.
1 Ruff.
4 Ringed Plovers
1 MedIterranean Gull in field 52.
Lots of Whitethroats and Skylarks around.
2 Grey Partridge.
Lots of Lapwing in various fields.
Heard a Curlew at 11.30 am.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of May 2020 05:58:18 PM
Dave Steel said
Sat May 16 4:47 PM, 2020
Irlam and Chat Moss Brief early morn visit
2 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail
5 Oystercatcher
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Grey Partridge
1 Mediterranean Gull...adult feeding with Black Headed and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls.
Heard a distant Curlew but no waders whatsoever apart from Lapwing
2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard
Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails - at least 6 birds seen around the reserve.
Plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks
Swifts seemed to be passing through in small groups
Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
Dave Steel said
Fri May 15 7:17 PM, 2020
Irlam Moss am
7 Oystercatcher
2 Wheatear
1 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss
20 Willow Warbler
21 Meadow Pipit
1 Dunlin
3 Yellow Wagtail
3 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew...pair
18 Swift
3 Sedge Warbler.
Dave Steel said
Thu May 14 10:56 PM, 2020
Irlam Moss am
1 Hen Harrier...ringtail chased by 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls as it flew west-east @ 0800
1 Wheatear
16 Stock Dove
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Partridge
Chat Moss
2 Curlew...pair
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
23 Swift
12 Willow Warbler
1 Oystercatcher
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Tree Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Snipe...in song
14 Reed Bunting
1 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail
13 Swift.
phillipskelly said
Thu May 14 1:12 PM, 2020
Late post for yesterday Wed 13.05.20 (11.45 - 4.30pm) Astley Moss - Rindle rd, over railway crossing to Croxdens (Chat Moss), Irlam Moss and Little Woolden Moss. Then back via Astley rd, over level crossing to Rindle rd.
RINDLE rd (Astley) Kestrel - 2. Buzzard - 1. Swifts - 100's. Oystercatcher - 1. Whitethroat - 1. Yellow wagtail - 2. CROXDENS - (CHAT). Wheatear - 1. Buzzard - 1. Swifts - 100's. Willow warbler - 4 heard. Whitethroat - 4 heard. Lapwing - 5. Oystercatcher - 10. Yellow wagtail - 1. Grey Heron - 1. Pied wagtail - 5. Lapwing - 10 f52. IRLAM MOSS - Wheatear - 1 f17. Blackcap - 1 heard. Buzzard - 1. LITTLE WOOLDEN MOSS - Yellow wagtail - 5 (3 in f 19). Reed bunting - 1. Shoveler duck - 1. Oystercatcher - 1. Pied wagtail - 6. Meadow pipit - 4. Linnet - 4. Also on the way back along Astley rd to Rindle rd - Fields 18,62,63, 65. contained at least 10 Lapwing in each .
Dave Steel said
Wed May 13 11:24 PM, 2020
Irlam Moss am
1 Grasshopper Warbler...reeling
3 Wheatear
8 Stock Dove
4 Swallow
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
2 Lapwing...day or two old...they keep coming slowly but surely...thankfully
Chat Moss
9 Oystercatcher
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew
21 Willow Warbler
3 Tree Sparrow.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 13th of May 2020 11:25:47 PM
1 Cuckoo calling regularly and seen well. It was mobbed by 4 Meadow Pipits as it sang from its favoured tree which chased after it when it flew off. Also: 3 Teal over 1 Oystercatcher over 2 Grey Partridge
Irlam & Chat Moss A further 7 Grey Partridge 2 Mandarin Duck - pair again including the white female.
pete berry said
Wed May 13 12:51 PM, 2020
Astley Moss SSSI and Rindle Woods
2 Cuckoo calling this morning at the same time,one at the southern end of Bedford Moss,and one at n.w. corner ,a few Swifts feeding over the moss and several Buzzards over. A single Meadow Pipit and a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the area. Around Rindle fields good numbers of Stock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 3 Mistle Thrush and several Lapwing in the fields,also about 20 Black Headed Gulls feeding in one of the fields. The recent frosts had killed the all the emerging Bracken it had been blackened by the frost.
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 13th of May 2020 12:51:49 PM
Irlam & Little Woolden Mosses this morning. Cold and windy !!
LWM: 1 Curlew 1 Yellow Wagtial - male 1 Teal - male 6 Swift 1 Herring Gull 2 Lesser Blacked-backed Gull A few Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff singing but most hunkered down in the wind 4 Linnet 1 Cormorant over 3 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 2 Stock Dove
Irlam Moss: 4 Wheatear 2 Yellow Wagtail - pair At least 26 Rook in with the mixed Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flock 6 Oystercatcher 3 Whitethroat 12 Stock Dove 1 Kestrel
Dave Steel said
Sat May 9 5:18 PM, 2020
Little Woolden Moss am
25 Linnet
1 White Wagtail
1 Great Black-Backed Gull
5 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Redshank
2 Sedge Warbler
1 Corn Bunting in song....not too sure if this may really be one of the Cheshire birds just visiting from over the Glaze...and even this one was not singing where the last remaining 2-3
birds sang on Little Woolden Moss last year...we will see...I feel my mapping of these birds on the moss may be nearing an end....
1 Reed Warbler singing from a stand of Birch...assume it is a late returning bird and will move on...
35 Willow Warbler.
Steven Nelson said
Sat May 9 1:57 PM, 2020
Irlam & Chat Mosses late morning
2 Hobby together catching dragonflies. 1 Raven circling and calling 1 Garden Warbler singing and seen 1 Sedge Warbler heard singing 2 Wheatear 2 Tree Sparrow 31 Rook - a record count for me including a few young birds pestering their parents. Rook are not common on the mosses so it would be interesting to know where they are coming from. 5 Oystercatcher 1 Yellow Wagtail 3 newly fledged Lapwing wandering around the same field 6 Swallow 2 Kestrel-pair 4 Buzzard
Dave Steel said
Fri May 8 7:49 PM, 2020
am...
Chat Moss
3 Oystercatcher
7 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song
4 Tufted Duck
2 Gadwall...male
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Hobby...hunting very high....thanks to a group of Black-Headed Gull for leading my eyes to it...now the Jets no longer cover our skies their are few hooks that lead me to that odd
but distant high flying raptor!
1 Pied wagtail that caught and swallowed whole...including the wings...a recently emerged Four Spotted Chaser...I have never seen this nor suspected that the gape of a Pied Wagtail could cope with such a food payload...further to this my thoughts lay with the dragonfly...a few years as a nymph...all that effort to emerge from its exuviae...the pumping of it wings to get them to unfurl...and within a short period of flight...simply ending up as a meal...puts us and nature into perspective in my opinion...
Astley Moss
2 Oystercatcher
5 Swift
32 Sand Martin
7 Swallow
17 Stock Dove
1 Nuthatch
1 Raven.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Friday 8th of May 2020 07:51:54 PM
30 Lapwing + 3 Young....hardly a successful breeding season so far...here's hoping
5 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Swift
Chat Moss
8 Oystercatcher
9 Rook
14 Yellow Wagtail
1 Garden Warbler
4 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
4 Tree Sparrow
8 Swallow
4 House Martin
Little Woolden Moss
1 Curlew
6 Yellow Wagtail
1 Wheatear
2 Swallow
1 Redshank.
Sometimes the Peter Paul and Mary song Where Have all the Flowers Gone comes to mind as I wander the Moss...Where have all the Wild birds gone....I mean but 10 Swallow/4 House Martin/ONE Swift....and lest we forget NO Corn Bunting in song in the three territories that were remaining last year...!
Steven Nelson said
Thu May 7 3:14 PM, 2020
Irlam, Chat & Little Woolden Mosses this morning
Irlam & Chat Mosses 1 Hobby 2 Garden Warbler 6 Oystercatcher- one bird with a silver leg ring but couldnt read any details. 3 Wheatear 6 Yellow Wagtail 2 Tree Sparrow 1 Grey Partridge 6 Rook 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Little Woolden Moss: 1 Sedge Warbler singing 1 Teal- male 1 Shoveler- male 2 Tufted Duck- pair 2 Oystercatcher
Dave Steel said
Thu May 7 2:42 PM, 2020
Late Record for 060520...no access to the system last night...
Chat Moss
9 Rook
2 Garden Warbler vying for the patch that has been held over past couple of years as the habitat changed to suit this species.
6 Stock Dove
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Teal...male
6 Oystercatcher
1 Wheatear
3 Swallow
Irlam Moss
2 Curlew...pair
3 Yellow Wagtail
9 Swift
1 Goldcrest in song
7 Song Thrush
4 Yellowhammer
5 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat in song on my arrival but silent as I left the Moss
1 Grey Partridge
4 Wheatear
2 Lapwing young being driven off the territory of a re-nesting pair with the young birds parents fending off this attack.
Steven Nelson said
Wed May 6 7:55 PM, 2020
Irlam, Chat & Little Woolden Mosses this morning
Irlam & Chat Mosses: 2 Garden Warbler in a territorial squabble 8 Oystercatcher including the colour ringed bird reported the other day 1 Tree Sparrow 4 Wheatear 1 Yellow Wagtail- male 1 Curlew 2 Mute Swan flew low over 6 Swift 2 Buzzard
Little Woolden Moss: 1 Lesser Whitethroat called briefly 3 Ringed Plover 1 White Wagtail 1 Shoveler-male 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 6th of May 2020 07:57:08 PM
Brief Visit Midday
Irlam Moss
270 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
30 Black Headed Gull
8 Herring Gull
82 Lapwing
4 Tree Sparrow
11 Buzzard
all of the above feeding on a 'Turf Factory producing field' which on the ODD occasion actually (and all too briefly) accommodates wildlife...today was one of those rare days...make Hay whilst...
4 House Martin
5 Swallow
2 Yellowhammer in song.
Chat Moss am in the Wonderful...Wonderful RAIN!!!!
6 Blackcap in song
14 Blackbird
5 Song Thrush
23 Lapwing
4 Lapwing Young
1 Mediterranean Gull
1 Goldcrest in song
4 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellow Wagtail
20 Willow Warbler in song
10 Swift
2 Yellowhammer in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Garden Warbler in song
1 Curlew
5 Oystercatcher
1 Wood Sandpiper.
Little Woolden Moss
2 Oystercatcher
48 Linnet
5 Yellow Wagtail
2 Corn Bunting in song
9 Swallow
4 Sand Martin
9 Stock Dove
1 Goldcrest in song
14 Swift
1 Hobby.
A family party of Willow Tit was the highlight on Astley Moss this morning.
Little Woolden Hall
Singing Corn Bunting
Yellow Wagtail
2 Buzzard
2 Tufted Duck
Little Woolden Moss
1 Ringed Plover
1 Oystercatcher
Twelve Yards Road
Singing Yellowhammer
Chat Moss am
4 Swallow
5 Rook
4 Tree Sparrow
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Mediterranean Gull
4 Swift
47 Lapwing
1 Curlew
2 Yellowhammer
10 Reed Bunting
1 Kestrel...took a young Blue Tit in Mid-air
1 Buzzard...took a young Lapwing
128 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
15 Herring Gull
25 Black-Headed Gull.
...and, for now, the efforts of the Firemen have stopped/paused the fire in Dixon's Wood...the sooner the rain arrives the better!
am
Irlam Moss
2 Tawny Owl
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellow Wagtail
10 House Martin
2 Swallow
Little Woolden Moss
4 Swallow
52 Swift
3 Tufted Duck
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher.
Highlights were:
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Wheatear
2 Curlew
Hi John...as the Channel has bred in this same area in recent years it more than likely is....but I gave it the benefit of doubt due to the harsh sunshine...and in truth I was still trying to determine if I had TWO singing Corn Bunting...happily I proved that but then the Yellow Wagtail had moved off into the Barley Crop...I will be back at this western outpost of the patch next week and peer deeper into the eyes of the Wagtails!
Dave.
Little Woolden Moss am in this interminable unforgiving constant sunshine....when oh when will the RAIN return????
1 Snipein song from its Silver Birch perch...always seems incongruous to watch waders perched on a tree stump...
21 Willow Warbler...in song
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Corn Bunting in song
1 Oystercatcher.
Chat Moss brief visit am...
4 Blackcap in song in western section of Dixon's Wood ...wonder if these are birds whose nesting attempts might have failed due to the fire at the eastern section of Dixon's Wood???
1 Garden Warbler in song
1 Reed Warbler in song
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
32 Lapwing.
Barton Moss am
1 Goldcrest in song
3 Yellow Wagtail
4 Lapwing...calling to young
22 House Martin...some nest building within a bird friendly farmyard
28 Swallow
21 Swift
1 Yellowhammer in song
3 Buzzard
18 Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
Little Woolden Moss am
2 Yellow Wagtail
55 Swift
1 Peregrine...male
1 Hobby
2 Curlew
16 Willow Warbler in song.
am...
Chat Moss
33 Rook
3 Yellow Wagtail
6 Swallow
150 Carrion Crow
Little Woolden Moss
2 Grey Partridge
13 Yellow Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher
6 Yellowhammer
11 House Sparrow
2 Tree Sparrow
5 Curlew
2 Hobby
2 Mediterranean Gull
1 Kestrel
20 Black-Headed Gull
the last 4 species noted had obviously found a hatch and were feeding well upon the hapless insects...
1 Ringed Plover
1 Wheatear...Greenland
24 Skylark
32 Lapwing
1 Goldcrest in song.
Hi David
Glad to say the Fire Service Team returned and really doused the area and today it is OK...but I will continue to check...there are also plans by the LWT to
try and sort out the access points that have been 'created' by those who don't like following the pathways...etc etc etc!
Dave.
There's an ever-growing number of arson attacks everywhere Dave, Pennington is targeted frequently by firebugs, trespassers, illegal fishing and poor practise photography, just a few of the many other disturbing things that go on there. Sorry, I can go on about Pennington, this is about your patch well done to you for your ever presence there I'm sure the area would be in a far worse state if you didn't show up daily as you do.
best wishes, great records and reports that you send to LOS. thank you, David Shallcross
Chat Moss
35 Rook
3 Grey Partridge
60 Jackdaw
180 Carrion Crow
3 Swallow
3 Swift
Little Woolden Moss...check to see if last nights fire had not re-ignited as such fires on Peat do...it seems to have started at the Hide area (the hide having been razed to the ground a couple of years ago) and had spread south over the path...no nests destroyed from my checks this morning but the peat was smouldering in parts...our local dedicated firemen updated with this info (they had contacted me last night about the fire) and they later returned and hopefully it is completely out now...will check am...its sad to think that the moss is suffering such fires (FN11 Dixon's Wood has also been on fire of late)...isn't our wildlife under enough pressure as it is???
4 Swallow
15 Willow Warbler in song
4 Ringed Plover
38 Swift
1 Hobby
1 Redshank
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 Curlew.
1 Corn Bunting singing
1 Yellow Wagtail male
Irlam Moss - briefly pm
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 half grown Lapwing with parent
1 Tree Sparrow
2 Kestrel
Also:
I amazingly have finally received an email reply to my report of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit nearly 2 years after I sent the record in!!! The bird was part of a flock of 32 birds on Croxden on 1st July 2018! It turns out in was ringed in France but no other details were given.
0520-0630
Chat Moss
36 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
22 Lapwing
2 Swallow
1 Redshank
1 Garden Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Yellow Wagtail...pair
2 Tufted Duck...pair
3 Oystercatcher.
0820-1300
Cadishead Moss
55 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
6 Herring Gull
75 Black-Headed Gull
4 Oystercatcher
2 Tree Sparrow
14 Swallow
41 House Sparrow
64 Starling
7 House Martin
Little Woolden Moss
5 Yellow Wagtail
1 Corn Bunting in song...halleluiah
2 Grey Partridge
2 Swallow
4 Gadwall
1 Ringed Plover
1 Curlew
15 Swift
10 Willow Warbler
0530-0630
Irlam Moss
2 Grey Partridge
2 Oystercatcher
6 Stock Dove
Chat Moss
1 Mediterranean Gull
2 Curlew
3 Tree Sparrow
1 Garden Warbler
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Partridge.
A couple of Kestrel hunting the SSSI, Buzzard ,Lapwing and a few displaying Meadow Pipits,2 Mistle Thrush plus the usual warblers were the only other birds of note.
0820-1230
Chat Moss
7 Tree Sparrow
7 Oystercatcher
1 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Garden Warbler
2 Swallow
2 Swift
1 Curlew
1 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss East
3 Yellow Wagtail
3 Ringed Plover
1 Hobby.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 10:52:04 PM
0750-1250
Chat/Irlam Moss
12 Rook
2 Grey Partridge
5 Swallow
1 Mediterranean Gull
5 Yellow Wagtail
16 Stock Dove
2 Garden Warbler
2 Shoveler...pair
2 Tree Sparrow...doing their usual sorties out into the wider Mosslands from their breeding locations
Little Woolden Moss
2 Yellow Wagtail
4 Swift
1 Oystercatcher
2 Linnet...with the female gathering nesting material
1 Ringed Plover
2 Curlew
1 Wood Sandpiper.
Rindle area 9-10.30
Very brief glimpse of a Cuckoo this morning Bedford moss area
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Irlam & Chat Mosses:
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Oystercatcher
1 Garden Warbler singing
1 Reed Warbler singing
2 Sedge Warbler singing
4 Grey Partridge- 2 pairs
3 Wheatear
2 Tree Sparrow
2 Gadwall- pair
2 Shoveler- pair
2 broods of Mallard (4 + 5 chicks)
1 Grey Heron
14 Rook
7 Stock Dove
5 Lesser Black-backed Gull
Little Woolden Moss:
1 Wood Sandpiper flew in
1 Ringed Plover
2 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail- pair
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 Buzzard
1 Wheatear
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 05:40:03 AM
Irlam and Chat Moss am
2 Wheatear
9 Stock Dove
44 Lapwing
4 Oystercatcher
Chat Moss
1 Redshank
2 Wigeon...pair
8 Swift
1 Garden Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
60 Jackdaw
10 Willow Warbler
2 Grey Partridge
15 Lapwing
5 Yellow Wagtail
3 Mediterranean Gull...1 of which was ringed on both legs...metal + Darvic...unable to read
87 Black-Headed Gull
1 Herring Gull
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Monday 18th of May 2020 10:42:43 PM
Irlam and Chat Moss am
2 Wheatear
8 Oystercatcher
1 Mediterranean Gull...flew off north with a Black-Headed Gull
21 Swift
18 Stock Dove
6 Tree Sparrow
2 Garden Warbler in song
1 Curlew
25 Willow Warbler
1 House Martin
2 Grey Partridge
3 Swallow
1 Grey Heron Juvenile...first for the year for me.
1 Garden Warbler chasing a Whitethroat
1 Sedge Warbler singing
1 Tree Sparrow
7 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew
5 Yellow Wagtail- 2 pairs and single male
1 Grey Partridge
4 Gadwall- 2 pairs
1 Teal
1 Mallard brood of 4 quite well grown ducklings
21 Rook in with the mixed Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flock
1 Grey Heron
1 Kestrel
Today between 7 am and 1.30 pm around Little Woolden Moss and Chat Moss - a little cool and breezy this morning, warming up later on. Observations very similar to David's and Tony's.
8 Yellowhammers and 2 Corn Buntings in field 17.
Several Yellow Wagtails in 3 separate locations with 2 absolutely stonking males.
1 Ruff.
4 Ringed Plovers
1 MedIterranean Gull in field 52.
Lots of Whitethroats and Skylarks around.
2 Grey Partridge.
Lots of Lapwing in various fields.
Heard a Curlew at 11.30 am.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 16th of May 2020 05:58:18 PM
Irlam and Chat Moss Brief early morn visit
2 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail
5 Oystercatcher
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Grey Partridge
1 Mediterranean Gull...adult feeding with Black Headed and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls.
Little Woolden Moss
Cold wind keeping birds tucked away.
4 Tufted Duck
Heard a distant Curlew but no waders whatsoever apart from Lapwing
2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard
Good numbers of Yellow Wagtails - at least 6 birds seen around the reserve.
Plenty of Meadow Pipits and Skylarks
Swifts seemed to be passing through in small groups
Common Whitethroat, Willow Warbler
Reed Bunting
Irlam Moss am
7 Oystercatcher
2 Wheatear
1 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail
Little Woolden Moss
20 Willow Warbler
21 Meadow Pipit
1 Dunlin
3 Yellow Wagtail
3 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew...pair
18 Swift
3 Sedge Warbler.
Irlam Moss am
1 Hen Harrier...ringtail chased by 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls as it flew west-east @ 0800
1 Wheatear
16 Stock Dove
1 Yellow Wagtail
2 Grey Partridge
Chat Moss
2 Curlew...pair
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Garden Warbler
23 Swift
12 Willow Warbler
1 Oystercatcher
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Tree Sparrow
Little Woolden Moss
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Snipe...in song
14 Reed Bunting
1 Curlew
2 Yellow Wagtail
13 Swift.
Astley Moss - Rindle rd, over railway crossing to Croxdens (Chat Moss), Irlam Moss and Little Woolden Moss. Then back via Astley rd, over level crossing to Rindle rd.
RINDLE rd (Astley)
Kestrel - 2.
Buzzard - 1.
Swifts - 100's.
Oystercatcher - 1.
Whitethroat - 1.
Yellow wagtail - 2.
CROXDENS - (CHAT).
Wheatear - 1.
Buzzard - 1.
Swifts - 100's.
Willow warbler - 4 heard.
Whitethroat - 4 heard.
Lapwing - 5.
Oystercatcher - 10.
Yellow wagtail - 1.
Grey Heron - 1.
Pied wagtail - 5.
Lapwing - 10 f52.
IRLAM MOSS -
Wheatear - 1 f17.
Blackcap - 1 heard.
Buzzard - 1.
LITTLE WOOLDEN MOSS -
Yellow wagtail - 5 (3 in f 19).
Reed bunting - 1.
Shoveler duck - 1.
Oystercatcher - 1.
Pied wagtail - 6.
Meadow pipit - 4.
Linnet - 4.
Also on the way back along Astley rd to Rindle rd -
Fields 18,62,63, 65. contained at least 10 Lapwing in each .
Irlam Moss am
1 Grasshopper Warbler...reeling
3 Wheatear
8 Stock Dove
4 Swallow
3 Yellow Wagtail
2 Yellowhammer
2 Lapwing...day or two old...they keep coming slowly but surely...thankfully
Chat Moss
9 Oystercatcher
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew
21 Willow Warbler
3 Tree Sparrow.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Wednesday 13th of May 2020 11:25:47 PM
1 Cuckoo calling regularly and seen well. It was mobbed by 4 Meadow Pipits as it sang from its favoured tree which chased after it when it flew off.
Also:
3 Teal over
1 Oystercatcher over
2 Grey Partridge
Irlam & Chat Moss
A further 7 Grey Partridge
2 Mandarin Duck - pair again including the white female.
2 Cuckoo calling this morning at the same time,one at the southern end of Bedford Moss,and one at n.w. corner ,a few Swifts feeding over the moss and several Buzzards over. A single Meadow Pipit and a few Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs in the area. Around Rindle fields good numbers of Stock Dove and Wood Pigeon, 3 Mistle Thrush and several Lapwing in the fields,also about 20 Black Headed Gulls feeding in one of the fields.
The recent frosts had killed the all the emerging
Bracken it had been blackened by the frost.
-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 13th of May 2020 12:51:49 PM
Little Woolden Moss am
6 Tufted Duck
1 Snipe...Drumming
32 Willow Warbler
2 Curlew...pair
6 Yellow Wagtail
3 House Martin
44 Swift
2 Swallow
28 Meadow Pipit
1 Redshank
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
Irlam Moss
2 Curlew...pair
25 Stock Dove
1 Oystercatcher
1 Yellow Wagtail.
am...
Cadishead Moss
4 Yellow Wagtail
7 Linnet
4 Swift
13 Swallow
45 House Sparrow
2 Nuthatch
35 Starling
1 Redshank
2 House Martin
2 Oystercatcher
Little Woolden Moss
4 Yellow Wagtail
58 Swift
3 Oystercatcher
2 Swallow
4 Ringed Plover
2 Sedge Warbler
1 Curlew
1 Common Gull
1 Peregrine.
am..
Irlam Moss
3 Grey Partridge
2 Oystercatcher
1 Ringed Plover
4 Wheatear
16 Rook
2 Yellow Wagtail
Chat Moss
3 Yellow Wagtail
8 Oystercatcher
27 Lapwing
18 Willow Warbler
2 Shelduck...pair
1 Garden Warbler
1 Peregrine...male.
LWM:
1 Curlew
1 Yellow Wagtial - male
1 Teal - male
6 Swift
1 Herring Gull
2 Lesser Blacked-backed Gull
A few Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff singing but most hunkered down in the wind
4 Linnet
1 Cormorant over
3 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Stock Dove
Irlam Moss:
4 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail - pair
At least 26 Rook in with the mixed Carrion Crow and Jackdaw flock
6 Oystercatcher
3 Whitethroat
12 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel
Little Woolden Moss am
25 Linnet
1 White Wagtail
1 Great Black-Backed Gull
5 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Redshank
2 Sedge Warbler
1 Corn Bunting in song....not too sure if this may really be one of the Cheshire birds just visiting from over the Glaze...and even this one was not singing where the last remaining 2-3
birds sang on Little Woolden Moss last year...we will see...I feel my mapping of these birds on the moss may be nearing an end....
1 Reed Warbler singing from a stand of Birch...assume it is a late returning bird and will move on...
35 Willow Warbler.
2 Hobby together catching dragonflies.
1 Raven circling and calling
1 Garden Warbler singing and seen
1 Sedge Warbler heard singing
2 Wheatear
2 Tree Sparrow
31 Rook - a record count for me including a few young birds pestering their parents. Rook are not common on the mosses so it would be interesting to know where they are coming from.
5 Oystercatcher
1 Yellow Wagtail
3 newly fledged Lapwing wandering around the same field
6 Swallow
2 Kestrel-pair
4 Buzzard
am...
Chat Moss
3 Oystercatcher
7 Swift
1 Reed Warbler in song
4 Tufted Duck
2 Gadwall...male
1 Yellow Wagtail
1 Hobby...hunting very high....thanks to a group of Black-Headed Gull for leading my eyes to it...now the Jets no longer cover our skies their are few hooks that lead me to that odd
but distant high flying raptor!
1 Pied wagtail that caught and swallowed whole...including the wings...a recently emerged Four Spotted Chaser...I have never seen this nor suspected that the gape of a Pied Wagtail could cope with such a food payload...further to this my thoughts lay with the dragonfly...a few years as a nymph...all that effort to emerge from its exuviae...the pumping of it wings to get them to unfurl...and within a short period of flight...simply ending up as a meal...puts us and nature into perspective in my opinion...
Astley Moss
2 Oystercatcher
5 Swift
32 Sand Martin
7 Swallow
17 Stock Dove
1 Nuthatch
1 Raven.
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Friday 8th of May 2020 07:51:54 PM
am...
Irlam Moss
30 Lapwing + 3 Young....hardly a successful breeding season so far...here's hoping
5 Wheatear
2 Yellow Wagtail
1 Swift
Chat Moss
8 Oystercatcher
9 Rook
14 Yellow Wagtail
1 Garden Warbler
4 Tufted Duck
1 Curlew
4 Tree Sparrow
8 Swallow
4 House Martin
Little Woolden Moss
1 Curlew
6 Yellow Wagtail
1 Wheatear
2 Swallow
1 Redshank.
Sometimes the Peter Paul and Mary song Where Have all the Flowers Gone comes to mind as I wander the Moss...Where have all the Wild birds gone....I mean but 10 Swallow/4 House Martin/ONE Swift....and lest we forget NO Corn Bunting in song in the three territories that were remaining last year...!
Irlam & Chat Mosses
1 Hobby
2 Garden Warbler
6 Oystercatcher- one bird with a silver leg ring but couldnt read any details.
3 Wheatear
6 Yellow Wagtail
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Grey Partridge
6 Rook
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Little Woolden Moss:
1 Sedge Warbler singing
1 Teal- male
1 Shoveler- male
2 Tufted Duck- pair
2 Oystercatcher
Late Record for 060520...no access to the system last night...
Chat Moss
9 Rook
2 Garden Warbler vying for the patch that has been held over past couple of years as the habitat changed to suit this species.
6 Stock Dove
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Teal...male
6 Oystercatcher
1 Wheatear
3 Swallow
Irlam Moss
2 Curlew...pair
3 Yellow Wagtail
9 Swift
1 Goldcrest in song
7 Song Thrush
4 Yellowhammer
5 Whitethroat
1 Lesser Whitethroat in song on my arrival but silent as I left the Moss
1 Grey Partridge
4 Wheatear
2 Lapwing young being driven off the territory of a re-nesting pair with the young birds parents fending off this attack.
Irlam & Chat Mosses:
2 Garden Warbler in a territorial squabble
8 Oystercatcher including the colour ringed bird reported the other day
1 Tree Sparrow
4 Wheatear
1 Yellow Wagtail- male
1 Curlew
2 Mute Swan flew low over
6 Swift
2 Buzzard
Little Woolden Moss:
1 Lesser Whitethroat called briefly
3 Ringed Plover
1 White Wagtail
1 Shoveler-male
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Wednesday 6th of May 2020 07:57:08 PM