4 Yellow Wags (pair plus 2 juvs) Quail singing Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 18th of July 2010 09:13:54 PM
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Jul 14 8:42 PM, 2010
A greenshank on Pool 1 (large pool) off Moat Lane this evening, plus lr plover, redshank and a green sandpiper on Pool 2. Pools look ideal for waders since they've been pumped out.
David Spencer said
Wed Jul 7 9:21 PM, 2010
Rob Smallwood wrote:
Quail reported from Rixton today, no details
Went out looking for the Quail this evening and heard at least one bird in the field by the junction of Woodend Lane and Holybush Lane (north of Woodend). These are private roads but public footpaths.
David
Rob Smallwood said
Tue Jul 6 9:29 PM, 2010
Quail reported from Rixton today, no details
Jonathan Platt said
Tue Jul 6 8:44 PM, 2010
Called in briefly to have a look at Pool 2 (smaller of the two pools). The terns are still there though at least two thirds of the water has now been drained. I think they should be safe enough as they can fly, I can't say the same for the black-headed gull chick that was wandering around an island with it's parent. Chick was very small, presumably one from a second clutch after the first failed? There was also a tufted female with a brood of six small ducklings, their chances of survival might be slim too.
Yellow wag, grey partridge, corn bunts and yellowhammer on Rixton Moss, and another two yellow wags on Damhead Lane.
Mike Baron said
Thu Jul 1 12:15 AM, 2010
Moat Lane pools are private property and owned by the brickworks. Until now I guess they have turned a blind eye to birders, people walking dogs and kids swimming in the pools. Apparently as part of the Enviornmental Permit to operate they have to keep the water levels down and they are currently too high. Also the insurers seem to have become concerned about liability etc
Consequently a pump has been installed and will operate for the next two weeks to lower the water in the main pool. The equipment will be guarded 24/7. New fencing is about to be installed to prevent unauthorised access.
The nearby landfill site on Prospect Lane has also been accumulating gulls - I counted 620+ LBBG's yesterday evening. This has now triggered a separate permit requirement and scarers have been introduced today to disperse the gulls.
On the birding front, a pair of Common Terns have successfully fledged two youngsters on the smaller pool. I first spotted them here on 5th May - not entirely sure when they turned up. The eggs hatched on or around 7th June and the juveniles fledged yesterday or possibly Monday. Cracking success for these pools.
Two male Yellow Wags on the mosses yesterday plus at least 17 Reed Buntings and 2 Corn Buntings. Green Woodpeckers have also bred in the area this year.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jun 27 8:33 AM, 2010
1-3pm-saturday 2 pairs of yellow wagtail-along the lanes buzzard-2 corn bunting-1 lesser whitethroat-1
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 27th of June 2010 07:50:41 PM
Steven Nelson said
Wed Jun 2 2:31 PM, 2010
Rixton Clay Pits 10.30am-1.30pm
Garden Warbler singing in scrub on opposite side of Moat Lane to the fisherman's gate. 1 Reed Warbler Lots of Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats etc. 2 Willow Tits together (pair?) 4 Jays GS Woodpecker hole with noisy chicks in + adults nearby 1 each of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel all overhead 30+ Lapwing 1 Little Grebe 1 GC Grebe 1 Mute Swan 20+ Tufted Duck
Also a fox with a rabbit in its mouth trotting down the path towards me before it realised and turned back round !
Butterflies: 1 Small Copper, 1 Orange Tip, a few Common Blues
Jonathan Platt said
Thu May 13 11:49 AM, 2010
Hobby over Hollins Green 6.00am this morning. Lesser whitethroat and grasshopper warbler along Main Lane, two wheatear on Prospect Lane, yellow wag and three corn buntings along Holcroft Lane.
Mike Baron said
Mon Apr 19 7:25 PM, 2010
22 Wheatears around the mosses today - 13 together in first ploughed field on left on Prospect Lane and rest in various fields off Woodend and Holly Bush Lanes
2 Yellow Wags (both males) - one off Prospect Lane and other at top end of Holly Bush Lane 6 White Wagtails 4 Buzzards 8 Grey Partridges (4 prs) 60+ Carrion Crows 9 Teal (pool at base of tip) 18 Linnets 16 Skylarks
Mike Baron said
Fri Apr 16 1:30 PM, 2010
Yellow Wagtail over top end of Hollybush Lane yesterday evening.
This afternoon:
1 Wheatear off Prospect Lane (plus two Yellowhammers and two Grey Partridges) Pair of Shovelers on the tip pool Singing Whitethroats on Woodend Lane and Moat Lane nr the compressor station
Mike Baron said
Tue Apr 6 3:21 PM, 2010
4 Wheatears still off Prospect Lane today
Also 2 Buzzards and 2 Grey Partridge plus a piece of yellow foam doing a sterling impersonation of a Yellow Wag!
Mike Baron said
Fri Mar 26 2:35 PM, 2010
10+ Wheatears today on the mosses:
Prospect Lane heading towards Hollybush Lane - 2 birds in first ploughed field on left after tip and then at least 8 in ploughed field on right past the farm.
19 Corn Buntings and 6 Yellowhammers in bushes at top of Hollybush Lane and 12 Fieldfares in ploughed field there.
Lots of Skylarks, Lapwings etc
Not much on Moat Lane pool
Mike Baron said
Thu Dec 3 5:11 PM, 2009
This afternoon -
Moat Lane Pool:
215 Tufted Duck 42 Gadwall 2 Shoveler 4 Teal 10 Mallard 56 Coot 3 Moorhen 2 Little Grebe 1 Cormorant 1 Kestrel Fox strolling along the path
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 05:36:17 PM
Mike Baron said
Mon Jun 15 8:06 PM, 2009
Quick visit on way home from work
Reeling Grasshopper Warbler - nr clay pits Male Kingfisher - pool west of Moat Lane Singing Yellowhammer at back of the above pool 1 Jay 4 Willow Warblers 4 Whitethroats 1 Chiffchaff 3 Great Crested Grebes (2 juvs) on pool 4 Corn Buntings on Prospect/Holly Bush Lanes 140+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on tip
Steven Nelson said
Sat May 2 1:01 PM, 2009
Rixton NR - southern end: Garden Warbler singing and showing well near new wardens hut next to where path slopes down to reserve. Also a good flock of 25+ Lesser Redpoll feeding in tree tops east of hut. G S Woodpecker on ground and acting like a Green Woodpecker! Nuthatch on woodland path plus usual other warblers: Willow, Chiffs and Whitethroat - lots + Blackcap just 1
and the usual large Terrapin sunning itself in its favourite place viewable from the bridge.
Pools west of Moat Lane: Possible reeling Grasshopper Warbler- but only distant and short so couldn't quite get my ear in ! 2 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 GC Grebe on pool plus more of the usual warblers
Mike Baron said
Mon Apr 20 1:25 PM, 2009
Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing briefly at lunch - by large pool off Moat Lane.
Approx 10 mins before I arrived an Egret (prob Little Egret) had flown from the pool - it landed briefly by the fishing ponds on Prospect Lane before being flushed by a fisherman and heading off roughly NE.
Observed and described well by non-birder.
Jonathan Platt said
Fri Apr 17 8:36 AM, 2009
Grasshopper warbler reeling left of Moat Lane pool (other side of Moat Lane from reserve) 6.45am. Still singing when I left at 7.45am.
Mike Baron said
Fri Apr 10 3:38 PM, 2009
Mosses this afternoon:
8 Wheatears (in field behind farm off Prospect Lane) 4 Grey Partridges 7 Corn Buntings (all singing birds) 4 Yellowhammers 155+ Linnets 8 Fieldfares 1 Buzzard 2 Reed Buntings 20+ Lapwings 1 White Wagtail
plus 140+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on tip
Mike Baron said
Fri Mar 27 1:24 PM, 2009
Eight Wheatears at lunch. Pair in field by landfill site off Propect Lane and six in field between Prospect and Woodend Lanes.
Mike Baron said
Tue Mar 24 1:06 PM, 2009
5 Wheaters this lunch.
2 in field by landfill site off Prospect Lane and 3 in first field on left up Holly Bush Lane.
Also female Sparrowhawk glided low past car and a Buzzard being mobbed by Crows.
Lots of Skylarks and Lapwings.
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Mar 18 6:50 PM, 2009
Moat Lane - 4.30-5.30pm
Three chiffchaffs in the wood. A lone swallow on the telegraph wire over the horse field at the front of the compressor station.
Mike Baron said
Mon Feb 9 3:00 PM, 2009
40 Golden Plovers with the local Lapwing flock this afternoon - in field off A57 nr entrance to Biffa site.
Mike Baron said
Thu Jan 22 1:13 PM, 2009
Moat Lane pool at lunch:
3 Pintails (2 drakes and a duck) - flew off west 138 Tufty 59 Gadwall 58 Coot 1 Little Grebe 7 Cormorants 2 GBBG's with 1 Herring Gul and 40+ BHG
Tip was very quiet except for 2 Kestrels and a Grey Wagtail
500+ Wood Pigeons and 30+ Lapwing at end of Holly Bush Lane with a Buzzard flying over.
Next field over - 140+ Fieldfare and 4 Mistle Thrush
100 Tufted Duck - numbers have been building steadily over the last few weeks - I wonder if they will bring some Scaup with them this year 2 Pochard 27 Coot 7 Gadwall 2 Cormorant 1 Little Grebe 32 Redwing 2 Fieldfare 1 Mistle Thrush 1 Buzzard
Ian Woosey said
Mon Aug 25 11:48 PM, 2008
Can you elucidate on this further Mr McKerchar, or is it from one of the County`s "secret" sites ?
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 25 11:40 PM, 2008
Ian Woosey wrote:
.
The last GM record was one over Plank Lane, near Pennington Flash on 8th Sep 2002.
Infact a much more recent GM record (photographed) has just come to the attention of Judith Smith and myself!
Ian Woosey said
Mon Aug 25 11:29 PM, 2008
Re Turtle Doves - the latest (ie from published County Reports) for Lancs and Cheshire are as follows ;
Lancs - Leighton Moss, 27th May 2006.
Cheshire - Leasowe, 22nd Sep to 30th 2006.
The last GM record was one over Plank Lane, near Pennington Flash on 8th Sep 2002.
Paul Heaton said
Mon Aug 25 9:58 PM, 2008
Turtle doves are fast becoming extremly rare in the northwest cannot remember the last one that was reported ,
I am sure the next GM turtle dove will cause a big twitch.
keep birding
Steven Nelson said
Mon Aug 25 5:21 PM, 2008
I went to Rixton this morning to look for the Cuckoo. No sign - but a Greenshank on the small spit on the pool west of Moat Lane briefly before flying back over the hilly bank to the area currently being used for clay extraction from where it seemed to originally come from. First Greenshank I've ever had here after 25+ years of coming to Rixton !
During a wander around the nature reserve a Green Woodpecker called from woods but I didn't see it.
Has anybody had a Turtle Dove at Rixton this year (or recent years) ? Used to be reliable site. Not had one for about 5 years here.
sid ashton said
Sun Aug 24 10:55 AM, 2008
Called in at Rixton on the way to Seaforth yesterday - the young Cuckoo was flitting about and looked ok to me but I'm no expert either!! It may have had something to do with the weather - really sunny and quite warm with lots of other birds around Goldfinch, Greenfinch, Wren, Canadas etc
Mike Baron said
Tue Aug 19 12:51 PM, 2008
Juvenile Cuckoo still present. It flitted around in the tops of bushes and gradually came closer until it was no more than 20 feet away.
Looking at the bird it doesn't seem to be in really good condition, it looks a bit thin (though I am no expert). I am not optimistic about its chances of surviving migration. I also wonder how much of its current boldness is driven by hunger. Am half tempted to go and buy it a tub of meal worms!
Other than the Cuckoo the place was extremely quiet - even the Canada's have gone.
Mike
sid ashton said
Sat Aug 16 4:34 PM, 2008
Cuckoo (Juv) showing well 0700 - 0800 and again 12.30 - 13.30 - well found Mike
Mike Baron said
Fri Aug 15 1:48 PM, 2008
Juvenile Cuckoo still showing off at lunch. Watched it foraging on the path - doesn't seem overly bothered by people.
2 Buzzards overhead, 4 Herons also present and Canada Geese up to 114.
Mike Baron said
Wed Aug 13 1:15 PM, 2008
Had a mooch around the large pool west of Moat Lane at lunch.
Stunning views of a juvenile Cuckoo - the bird flew right past me and landed in the top of a low-growing Hawthorne bush nearby. I watched for 5 mins or so as it tried to beat to death a large, fat, bright green caterpillar! The Cuckoo eventually dropped the caterpillar (which was still wriggling) and disappeared in the undergrowth.
Also present:
4 Buzzards soaring together over the pool
1 Kestrel
4 Herons (3 juveniles)
1 Cormorant
1 Whitethroat
1 Willow Warbler
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Linnets
66 Canada Geese
3 Moorhens
18 Coots
1 Great Crested Grebe
5 Sand Martins
3 Redshank (adult plus 2 fledged juvs)
Mosses
4 Yellow Wags
3 Corn Buntings
2 Grey Partridges
Buzzard
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
Glazebrook - Dam Head Lane
4 Yellow Wags (pair plus 2 juvs)
Quail singing
Sparrowhawk
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 18th of July 2010 09:13:54 PM
Went out looking for the Quail this evening and heard at least one bird in the field by the junction of Woodend Lane and Holybush Lane (north of Woodend). These are private roads but public footpaths.
David
Yellow wag, grey partridge, corn bunts and yellowhammer on Rixton Moss, and another two yellow wags on Damhead Lane.
Consequently a pump has been installed and will operate for the next two weeks to lower the water in the main pool. The equipment will be guarded 24/7. New fencing is about to be installed to prevent unauthorised access.
The nearby landfill site on Prospect Lane has also been accumulating gulls - I counted 620+ LBBG's yesterday evening. This has now triggered a separate permit requirement and scarers have been introduced today to disperse the gulls.
On the birding front, a pair of Common Terns have successfully fledged two youngsters on the smaller pool. I first spotted them here on 5th May - not entirely sure when they turned up. The eggs hatched on or around 7th June and the juveniles fledged yesterday or possibly Monday. Cracking success for these pools.
Two male Yellow Wags on the mosses yesterday plus at least 17 Reed Buntings and 2 Corn Buntings. Green Woodpeckers have also bred in the area this year.
2 pairs of yellow wagtail-along the lanes
buzzard-2
corn bunting-1
lesser whitethroat-1
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 27th of June 2010 07:50:41 PM
10.30am-1.30pm
Garden Warbler singing in scrub on opposite side of Moat Lane to the fisherman's gate.
1 Reed Warbler
Lots of Blackcaps, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaffs, Whitethroats etc.
2 Willow Tits together (pair?)
4 Jays
GS Woodpecker hole with noisy chicks in + adults nearby
1 each of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel all overhead
30+ Lapwing
1 Little Grebe
1 GC Grebe
1 Mute Swan
20+ Tufted Duck
Also a fox with a rabbit in its mouth trotting down the path towards me before it realised and turned back round !
Butterflies: 1 Small Copper, 1 Orange Tip, a few Common Blues
2 Yellow Wags (both males) - one off Prospect Lane and other at top end of Holly Bush Lane
6 White Wagtails
4 Buzzards
8 Grey Partridges (4 prs)
60+ Carrion Crows
9 Teal (pool at base of tip)
18 Linnets
16 Skylarks
This afternoon:
1 Wheatear off Prospect Lane (plus two Yellowhammers and two Grey Partridges)
Pair of Shovelers on the tip pool
Singing Whitethroats on Woodend Lane and Moat Lane nr the compressor station
Also 2 Buzzards and 2 Grey Partridge plus a piece of yellow foam doing a sterling impersonation of a Yellow Wag!
Prospect Lane heading towards Hollybush Lane - 2 birds in first ploughed field on left after tip and then at least 8 in ploughed field on right past the farm.
19 Corn Buntings and 6 Yellowhammers in bushes at top of Hollybush Lane and 12 Fieldfares in ploughed field there.
Lots of Skylarks, Lapwings etc
Not much on Moat Lane pool
Moat Lane Pool:
215 Tufted Duck
42 Gadwall
2 Shoveler
4 Teal
10 Mallard
56 Coot
3 Moorhen
2 Little Grebe
1 Cormorant
1 Kestrel
Fox strolling along the path
Hollybush & Woodend Lanes:
36 Corn Bunting
50+ Linnet
18 Fieldfare
2 Mistle Thrush
2 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Loads of corvids!
-- Edited by Mike Baron on Thursday 3rd of December 2009 05:36:17 PM
Reeling Grasshopper Warbler - nr clay pits
Male Kingfisher - pool west of Moat Lane
Singing Yellowhammer at back of the above pool
1 Jay
4 Willow Warblers
4 Whitethroats
1 Chiffchaff
3 Great Crested Grebes (2 juvs) on pool
4 Corn Buntings on Prospect/Holly Bush Lanes
140+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on tip
Garden Warbler singing and showing well near new wardens hut next to where path slopes down to reserve.
Also a good flock of 25+ Lesser Redpoll feeding in tree tops east of hut.
G S Woodpecker on ground and acting like a Green Woodpecker!
Nuthatch on woodland path
plus usual other warblers: Willow, Chiffs and Whitethroat - lots + Blackcap just 1
and the usual large Terrapin sunning itself in its favourite place viewable from the bridge.
Pools west of Moat Lane:
Possible reeling Grasshopper Warbler- but only distant and short so couldn't quite get my ear in !
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 GC Grebe on pool
plus more of the usual warblers
Approx 10 mins before I arrived an Egret (prob Little Egret) had flown from the pool - it landed briefly by the fishing ponds on Prospect Lane before being flushed by a fisherman and heading off roughly NE.
Observed and described well by non-birder.
8 Wheatears (in field behind farm off Prospect Lane)
4 Grey Partridges
7 Corn Buntings (all singing birds)
4 Yellowhammers
155+ Linnets
8 Fieldfares
1 Buzzard
2 Reed Buntings
20+ Lapwings
1 White Wagtail
plus 140+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on tip
2 in field by landfill site off Prospect Lane and 3 in first field on left up Holly Bush Lane.
Also female Sparrowhawk glided low past car and a Buzzard being mobbed by Crows.
Lots of Skylarks and Lapwings.
Three chiffchaffs in the wood.
A lone swallow on the telegraph wire over the horse field at the front of the compressor station.
3 Pintails (2 drakes and a duck) - flew off west
138 Tufty
59 Gadwall
58 Coot
1 Little Grebe
7 Cormorants
2 GBBG's with 1 Herring Gul and 40+ BHG
Tip was very quiet except for 2 Kestrels and a Grey Wagtail
500+ Wood Pigeons and 30+ Lapwing at end of Holly Bush Lane with a Buzzard flying over.
Next field over - 140+ Fieldfare and 4 Mistle Thrush
109 Mallard
79 Coot
1 Moorhen
1 Tufty
7 Gadwall
4 Little Grebes
A Peregrine flew low over with 1 Siskin, 1 Bullfinch (female) and 1 Raven nearby.
A Brambling was with 35+ Chaffinch nr the junction of Moss Side Lane and Moat Lane
225 Tufty
2 Pochard
3 Shoveler
7 Gadwall
3 Little Grebe
61 Coot
2 Moorhen
10 Fieldfare
1 Buzzard
100 Tufted Duck - numbers have been building steadily over the last few weeks - I wonder if they will bring some Scaup with them this year
2 Pochard
27 Coot
7 Gadwall
2 Cormorant
1 Little Grebe
32 Redwing
2 Fieldfare
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Buzzard
Infact a much more recent GM record (photographed) has just come to the attention of Judith Smith and myself!
Lancs - Leighton Moss, 27th May 2006.
Cheshire - Leasowe, 22nd Sep to 30th 2006.
The last GM record was one over Plank Lane, near Pennington Flash on 8th Sep 2002.
I am sure the next GM turtle dove will cause a big twitch.
keep birding
Also:
1 Kingfisher
89 Canada Geese
5 Tufted Duck
1 GS Woodpecker
20+ Goldfinch
1 Buzzard
During a wander around the nature reserve a Green Woodpecker called from woods but I didn't see it.
Has anybody had a Turtle Dove at Rixton this year (or recent years) ? Used to be reliable site. Not had one for about 5 years here.
Looking at the bird it doesn't seem to be in really good condition, it looks a bit thin (though I am no expert). I am not optimistic about its chances of surviving migration. I also wonder how much of its current boldness is driven by hunger. Am half tempted to go and buy it a tub of meal worms!
Other than the Cuckoo the place was extremely quiet - even the Canada's have gone.
Mike
2 Buzzards overhead, 4 Herons also present and Canada Geese up to 114.