9 Snipe flew in to Little Woolden Moss late afternoon and 2 Greylag Geese flew north
On Irlam Moss, c120 Linnet, 25 Chaffinch and 1 Brambling in field 25
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jan 26 10:03 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss today:
70 Skylark (field 56)
600 Jackdaw
2000 Woodpigeon
370 Lapwing
200 Starling
5 Buzzards
31 Fieldfare
190 Pink-footed Geese over south-east to west at 11:55
Chat Moss this morning:
950 Jackdaw
2 Stonechat
8 Grey Partridge
250 Chaffinch
6 Snipe
55 Fieldfare
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 25 9:16 PM, 2018
Barton Moss this morning:
3 Stonechat
6 Snipe
50 Linnet
49 Reed Bunting
2 Brambling
1 Raven
12 Lesser Redpoll
16 Grey Partridge
32 Redwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jan 24 9:05 PM, 2018
Chat Moss this morning:
2 Woodcock
5 Snipe
2 Stonechat
1 Raven
5 Brambling
26 Fieldfare
6 Tree Sparrow
45 Lapwing
2500 Woodpigeon
750 Jackdaw
2 Willow Tit
2 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 22 6:14 PM, 2018
Sightings from today:
Croxdens:
1 Peregrine
4 Snipe
Barton Moss:
400 Chaffinch
1000 Woodpigeon
700 Jackdaw
70 Reed Bunting
50 Goldfinch
3 Snipe
2 Stonechat (field 48)
9 Tree Sparrow
10 Brambling
22 Yellowhammer
19 Fieldfare
Chat Moss:
260 Chaffinch (field 52)
25 Lapwing
1 Raven
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jan 20 8:34 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss and the Glaze this morning:
250 Pink-footed Geese
115 Mallard
48 Reed Bunting
4 Grey Partridge
500 Starling
16 Tree Sparrow
30 Redwing
110 Fieldfare
2 Golden Plover
220 Skylark
3 Corn Bunting
Info thanks to Dave Steel
John Doherty said
Sat Jan 20 6:37 PM, 2018
This morning's sightings included flocks of Linnet and Redwing, plus a single snipe flushed from a ditch at the Nature Reserve. Conditions were appeal.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jan 17 9:03 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss today:
21 Linnet
10 Meadow Pipit
8 Pied Wagtail
Stonechat (female along North Path)
Barton Moss:
c200 Chaffinch
47 Redwing
2 Song Thrush
Chat Moss:
4 Snipe
2500 Woodpigeon
600 Jackdaw
1 Woodcock
12 Brambling
200 Goldfinch
3 Tree Sparrow
1100 Chaffinch
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jan 14 9:16 PM, 2018
Other sightings from Little Woolden Moss today included:
118 Pink-footed Geese milling around fields 19/63
Platt House Farm:
8 Tree Sparrow
18 House Sparrow
54 Collard Dove
70 Skylark
120 Starling
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Jan 14 8:19 PM, 2018
Here today; usual route, up Astley Road from Irlam, over motorway, across to Cutnook Lane, then Twelve Yard Road to Little Woolden Moss.
Irlam Moss:
2 goldcrest 2 willow tit 10+ house sparrow 60+ goldfinch 75+ linnet (flock of c65 feeding in f25) 40+ chaffinch 1+ brambling (in with flighty chaffinch flock in f25; surely more, but I could only pick out one each time they moved) 1 bullfinch 11+ reed bunting 3 yellowhammer 1 meadow pipit 50+ redwing 1 song thrush 60+ fieldfare (with redwing feeding in paddocks of riding school on Cutnook Lane) 2 jay 200+ jackdaw in flock off Raspberry Lane (or whatever that track's called) 13 stock dove 500+ woodpigeon 6 grey partridge c50 pink-footed geese fairly distantly, dropping down into field n of Little Woolden Moss 6 lapwing 11 herring gull 1 kestrel 2 buzzard
Little Woolden Moss:
1 treecreeper 6 linnet 1 reed bunting heard 1 song thrush 550+ pink-footed geese; 250+ over heading sw, then hour later 300+ arriving from sw, circled over area to n, split into two groups with half heading s, low and noisy right over my head; cracking. 1 snipe 1 kestrel 1 buzzard
A thoroughly enjoyable day around here for me, too.
Roger Baker 3 said
Sun Jan 14 6:44 PM, 2018
Sunday 14th Jan.
With Ian Lyth.
AM. Walk from Moss Farm Fisheries, Cutnook Lane to Little Woolden Moss. Very quiet.
Buzzard. Grey Wagtail over. Odd Chaffinch & Bullfinch in the hedge plus 3 Yellowhammer together (2M 1F). Massive flock of Woodpigeon in field No 15/16. Redwing. Small party of Long-tailed Tit (20). Reed Bunting was the only bird seen on Little Woolden Moss.
PM. Rindle Road.
Kestrel. Jay. Grey Partridge. Heron. Cormorant over. Willow Tit in with tit flock feeding in two ivy covered trees on opposite side of road to cottages. Fieldfare, Redwing and Song Thrush in feeding track hedge. The track that runs off right to the feeding track had a large mixed flock of Chaffinch and Redwing .. Ian managed to pick out a female Brambling. Great spotted Woodpecker. Pair of Raven over .. grunting to each other.
A Kingfisher flew down the ditch on opposite side of the road to the entrance to feeding track.
Checked the midden .. nothing, not even the dead rat ... probably a good job as by this time I was in the mood to have ate it !!
An enjoyable winters day birding.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 14th of January 2018 06:55:48 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 11 8:44 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Peregrine
275 Lapwing over west
c4500 Woodpigeon
1 male Stonechat
437 Pink-footed Geese all settled in field 20
Barton and Irlam Moss:
4 Brambling
110 Linnet
125 Chaffinch
67 Reed Bunting
6 Grey Partridge
2 Tree sparrow
52 Fieldfare
32 Skylark
29 Redwing
3. Snipe
120 Pink-footed Geese over
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Steve Judge said
Thu Jan 11 2:30 PM, 2018
Thursday, 11th January 2018
No sign of Water Pipit on the "manure heap" when I left at 12:30 hrs. today.
Birds seen included Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, Long-Tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Grey Partridge and Pheasant.
Nice to have chat with Dave Stewart, Paul Richardson and Dave Shallcross. Dave was still there when I left.
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 11th of January 2018 02:35:23 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 11th of January 2018 02:35:56 PM
pete berry said
Thu Jan 11 10:44 AM, 2018
A quick look at "The Manure Heap" this morning produced only 2 Meadow Pipits,6 or 7 Chaffinch and a large dead Rat.
brian kirkwood said
Thu Jan 11 8:54 AM, 2018
Nice to meet you John,
Your description is spot on, when I left the site I was about 95% Water Pipit, when home and having checked all my reference to this species I was then certain, so I posted the sighting, hopefully someone else will pick them up today and confIrm.
Best regards Brian.
John Watson said
Thu Jan 11 8:17 AM, 2018
Well, I'm not often called a gentleman ! Nice to meet you, Brian & Geoff
The 2 Water Pipits favoured the top left of the pile of poo, along with a few Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails & a Grey Wagtail. All birds can disappear for some time, sometimes behind the pile
I'll attempt a description from memory of what I saw, rather than what Brian/Geoff showed me on his pad for several pipit species
Clearly slightly larger than the Meadow Pipits, legs much longer above & below the heel, the gait obviously more striding than shuffling. Legs moderately pink, one bird's a legs little duller than the other's. Some aggression between these 2 birds & the Meadow Pipits, but not between the Meadow Pipits
Head: white throat bordered by fine black stripe, itself bordered by white line. Pale supercilium, not as pronounced as on some Water Pipits, but more defined than on the accompanying Meadow Pipits. Back brown, slightly different shade to Meadow Pipits, weak double wing-bar. Tail brown with white outer feathers, considerably more prominent than on the Meadow Pipits. Underside obvious white (not fawn), with bold streaky flanks & streaky band across breast up to white throat
Having said all that & emphasising the differences, it did take some effort to be sure this wasn't just an odd Meadow Pipit, esp at this time of year when everything changes subtly with moult. But, the number of distinct features clinches it for me (and I think for the other gentlemen)
Steve Judge said
Wed Jan 10 6:27 PM, 2018
Wednesday, 10th January 2018 10:45 - 15:30 hrs.
Irlam Moss: 300 x Pink Footed Goose (approximately) in Field 20 Brambling x 1 Bullfinch x 3 Goldcrest x 1 Redwing x 7 Mistle Thrush x 3 Nuthatch x 1 Chaffinch x 70 Kestrel x 1 Carrion Crow x 2 Woodpigeon x 40 Pied Wagtail x 1 Blue Tit x 5 Great Tit x 4 Robin x 3 Blackbird x 7
Astley Moss: Yellowhammer x 5 Pied Wagtail x 3 Chaffinch x 25 Reed Bunting x 3 Buzzard x 1 Wren x 1 Woodpigeon x 50
Chat Moss: Tree Sparrow x 3 Yellowhammer x 7 Reed Bunting x 5 Buzzard x 1 Kestrel x 1 Lapwing x 5 Black-Headed Gull x 40 Chaffinch x 50 Starling x 35
brian kirkwood said
Wed Jan 10 2:48 PM, 2018
Today 10/1/2018 between 1100/1230 hrs mist had lifted calm 8 degrees.
For the time span above we watched two Water Pipit feeding on insects coming off a horse manure heap adjacent to the railway line at Rindle road, the field number is 67.
There were three observers, myself, Geoff M (Rossendale) and a gentleman from Culcheth.
Regards Brian.
-- Edited by brian kirkwood on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 02:50:35 PM
-- Edited by brian kirkwood on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 02:55:42 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jan 9 9:46 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss today:
3 Snipe
3 Kestrel
12 Great black backed Gull
7 Herring Gull
Barton Moss (field 45):
c400 strong finch flock included 300+ Chaffinch, 75 Goldfinch, 3 Brambling, 10 Reed Bunting, 4 Tree Sparrow
25 Magpie
4,000 Woodpigeon in 2 flocks
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 8 6:53 PM, 2018
Chat and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
3 Stonechat
23 Tree Sparrow
38 Stock Dove
5 Brambling
3 Snipe
26 Great Black-Backed Gull
430 Chaffinch
4500 Woodpigeon
7 Grey Partridge
34 Reed Bunting
90 Pink-footed Geese flying NW at 09:50
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Steven Nelson said
Sat Jan 6 6:29 PM, 2018
Irlam Moss 16.20-16.50
c.200 Pink-footed Geese flying round in fading light over Little Woolden Moss this afternoon before settling down. A small flock (approx 15) of what appeared to be Golden Plover took off from f52 and seemed to land near Hepzibah Farm. But a later search of that area proved fruitless but very little light by then. 3 Buzzard 2 Kestrel
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jan 6 5:56 PM, 2018
Irlam and Chat Moss this morning:
230 Chaffinch
4 Brambling
1500 Woodpigeon
65 Redwing
41 Fieldfare
7 Yellowhammer
24 Skylark
350 Jackdaw.
2 Tree Sparrow
60 Pink-footed Geese flying east at 08:35
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jan 5 10:31 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss 10:00-14:00 today:
197 Pink-footed Geese over west (11:20)
10 Great Black-backed Gulls on the peat
Platt House Farm:
3 Tree Sparrow
20+ House Sparrow
Moss Road (field 66b):
19 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
c50 Linnet
35 Meadow Pipit
8 Pied Wagtail
120 Starling
Chat Moss early evening:
1 Merlin
4 Snipe
220 Pink-footed Geese milling about the air at dusk
4 Grey partridge
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jan 2 9:09 PM, 2018
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
350 Pink-footed Geese
2 Woodcock
5 Great Black-backed Gull
6 Snipe
2000 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 1 12:35 PM, 2018
Plenty of activity north of the railway this morning as follows:
Peregrine hunting Woodpigeons along Moss Lane
4400 Woodpigeon in the area, with 2600 around Moss Lane and Astley Moss and a further 1800 over Chat Moss
400 Starling feeding in the last field by the level crossing at Rindle but many more flying in all the time
1260 Chaffinch in one flock around the Rindle area! Large numbers in trees along the old mineral line east of Rindle Road flew across to Rindle Hedge by Rindle Wood, joining a huge flock already there. These birds then flew into the fields just behind Rindle Wood to join others feeding in all three stubble fields and resting in the trees lining them but were far too difficult to count as they were very mobile to and from the trees to the fields. Eventually they all flew, in smaller flocks or long straggling lines back east over towards the big hedge where they could be more easily counted accurately, with most continuing back across Rindle Road to then fields just east of it.
16 Brambling in with the Chaffinch flocks but there will undoubtably be many more as they were almost impossible to pick out most of the time
16 Tree Sparrow
38 Yellowhammer
2 Willow Tit in Rindle Wood
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 31 9:40 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Peregrine
1 Raven
5 Snipe
58 Skylarks
14 Reed Bunting
1 Lesser Redpoll
Moss Road:
28 Fieldfare
7 Redwing
5 Bullfinch
c450 Pink-footed Geese close to little Woolden Hall
c400 Pink-footed Geese milling around Little Woolden Hall
3 Raven
3 Snipe
34 Fieldfare
50 Redwing
Irlam Moss (field 17):
c150 Chaffinch
Croxdens:
5 Snipe
1 Sparrowhawk
Barton Moss (field 45):
c55 Goldfinches in hawthorns
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 28 10:48 PM, 2017
Irlam Moss today (field 17):
180 Chaffinch
5 Yellowhammer
12 Reed Bunting
Red House Farm:
17 Tree Sparrow
120 Skylark in barley stubble fields south east of Holm Leigh Farm
c300 Pink-footed Geese above Little Woolden Hall
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 27 9:18 PM, 2017
Irlam, Chat, Barton Mosses this morning:
1800 Woodpigeon
500 Jackdaw
5 Snipe
2 Woodcock
1 Willow Tit
120 Redwing
130 Chaffinch
12 Fieldfare
1 Peregrine hunting the Jackdaw
1 Merlin
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Andy Isherwood said
Wed Dec 27 1:22 PM, 2017
Good mixed flock of c. 200 birds along Rindle hedge and track this am, mainly Chaffinch but also c.12 Yellowhammer several Reed Bunting, Goldfinch and greenfinch. 3 Grey Wagtail and c. 10 Meadow Pipit around the muck heap near the railway crossing and c. 100 Resting in horse fields along Rindle road but Mobile.
Along moss lane 15+Jay c.70 Fieldfare at western end in with c.150 Lapwing and starling.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Dec 26 1:37 PM, 2017
Late news for yesterday morning at Chat Moss:
2 Peregrine
4 Snipe
9 Teal
250 Jackdaw.
37 Redwing
23 Pink-footed Geese
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 24 8:21 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
Adult pair of Peregrines
c170 Redwing
35 Fieldfare over east
400+ Pink-footed Geese milling around Little Woolden Hall
3 Snipe
1 Raven
Croxdens:
5 Snipe
5 Teal
37 Mallard
c1000 Woodpigeon
1 Raven
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Steven Nelson said
Sun Dec 24 4:34 PM, 2017
Irlam @ Little Woolden Mosses 14.30-15.40
3 Buzzards 1 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 1 Goldcrest 18 Long tailed Tits in one flock 1 Reed Bunting Distant mixed flock of Redwing & Fieldfare (unable to count) c500 Starling flock flew southwest
Steven Nelson said
Sat Dec 23 3:48 PM, 2017
A non-birding family bike ride over Irlam, Cadishead and Little Woolden Mosses 11.45-14.30 but managed to see the following: Large flock of Wood pigeon -c.700+ put up by someone shooting 2 Mute Swan flew over south 40+ Redwing 40+ Mallard Teal heard c30 Canada Geese 1 Buzzard 10+ Long Tailed Tit 5 Reed Bunting 30+ Chaffinch 1 Kestrel c300+ Starling Distant flock of Lapwing flying around- c50+ c150+ Flock of Corvids - mostly Jackdaws
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 22 2:01 PM, 2017
Irlam, Cadishead and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
3 Snipe
5 Redpoll
125 Fieldfare
14 Grey Partridge
60 Redwing
10 Linnet
1 Stonechat
2 Tree Sparrow
2 Grey Wagtail
13 Wigeon
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 21 7:36 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
48 Reed Bunting
1 Stonechat
400 Pink-footed Geese
2 Raven
1 Woodcock
2500 Woodpigeon
345 Lapwing
3 Golden Plover over
15 Redwing
33 Fieldfare
20 Teal
7 Snipe
1 Merlin
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 20 3:20 PM, 2017
Chat and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
5 Snipe
2 Raven
37 Fieldfare
1500 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
1 Woodcock
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Dec 19 2:10 PM, 2017
Irlam, Barton and Chat Mosses this morning:
23 Reed Bunting
6 Snipe
43 Fieldfare
32 Redwing
230 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
1800 Woodpigeon
400 Jackdaw
260 Starling
2 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 13 10:13 AM, 2017
Late news for yesterday on Little Woolden Moss:
2 Raven
2 Peregrine
On Great Woolden Moss:
400+ Pink-footed Geese
110 Fieldfare
12 Meadow Pipit
22 Lapwing
17 Skylark
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 8 10:05 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today 11:30-14:00:
1 Goldcrest
3 Lesser Redpoll
3 Yellowhammer
7 Reed Bunting
3 Kestrel
4 Snipe
c500 Pink-footed Geese still west of field 56
19 Fieldfares
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 7 5:39 PM, 2017
Chat and Barton Moss this morning:
2 Snipe
2 Peregrine
2 Lesser Redpoll
30 Linnet
22 Reed Bunting
25 Fieldfare
2 Tree Sparrow
21 Grey Partridge
150 Jackdaw
20 Stock Dove
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Dec 6 10:19 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today, 10:00-14:15:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
29 Redwings
3 Fieldfares over north and a further 7 Fieldfares in field 35 Moss Road
18 Long-tailed Tits
110 Lapwings
c600 Pink-footed Geese (around fields west of field 56) then flew north west mid afternoon
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 4 11:53 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
10 Grey Partridge
7 Snipe
3 Lesser Redpoll
500 Pink Footed Geese
21 Redwing
1 Woodcock
1 Merlin
1 Great Black-Backed Gull
2 Stonechat
26 Fieldfare
96 Skylark
125 Lapwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Dec 3 10:05 PM, 2017
Irlam Moss today:
c100 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
12 Fieldfares over west
c350 Pink-footed Geese east (12:35)
c1000 Woodpigeon
2 Raven
Chat Moss:
26 Lapwing
250 Chaffinch
1200 Woodpigeon
23 Skylark
3 Snipe
9 Yellowhammer
202 Pink-footed Geese heading east
12 Fieldfare
1 Brambling
Little Woolden Moss:
24 Grey Partridge
48 Skylark
18 Linnet
75 Chaffinch
3 Brambling
22 Lapwing
500 Pink-footed Geese which were settled on stubble until the model airplanes flew nearby
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 1 9:27 PM, 2017
Following the Timberland Trail back from its junction with the Ship Canal at Cadishead to Irlam Moss today produced:
Little Woolden Moss today:
190 Lapwing
c500 Pink-footed Geese
1000 Woodpigeon over
45 Stock Dove
120 Mallard and 37 Teal (on the Glaze)
190 Starling
15 Fieldfare
1 Peregrine
15 Skylark
Chat Moss:
1 Shelduck
1000 Jackdaw
10 Grey Partridge
5 Snipe
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Highlights:
1 Peregrine
1 Stonechat (m)
5 Grey Partridge
c.400 Chaffinch (f17)
8 Brambling (f17)
3 Greenfinch
2 Bullfinch- pair
14 Lapwing
c.10 Yellowhammer
2 Skylark
c.20 Meadow Pipit
c.30 Fieldfare
2 Redwing
1 Buzzard
c.300 Woodpigeon
1 Stock Dove
2 Mallard
Little Woolden Moss today, 15:00-16:30:
370 Lapwing
c500 Pink footed Geese
Irlam Moss this afternoon:
200 Linnet
6 Grey Partridge
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
On Irlam Moss, c120 Linnet, 25 Chaffinch and 1 Brambling in field 25
Little Woolden Moss today:
70 Skylark (field 56)
600 Jackdaw
2000 Woodpigeon
370 Lapwing
200 Starling
5 Buzzards
31 Fieldfare
190 Pink-footed Geese over south-east to west at 11:55
Chat Moss this morning:
950 Jackdaw
2 Stonechat
8 Grey Partridge
250 Chaffinch
6 Snipe
55 Fieldfare
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Barton Moss this morning:
3 Stonechat
6 Snipe
50 Linnet
49 Reed Bunting
2 Brambling
1 Raven
12 Lesser Redpoll
16 Grey Partridge
32 Redwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Chat Moss this morning:
2 Woodcock
5 Snipe
2 Stonechat
1 Raven
5 Brambling
26 Fieldfare
6 Tree Sparrow
45 Lapwing
2500 Woodpigeon
750 Jackdaw
2 Willow Tit
2 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Sightings from today:
Croxdens:
1 Peregrine
4 Snipe
Barton Moss:
400 Chaffinch
1000 Woodpigeon
700 Jackdaw
70 Reed Bunting
50 Goldfinch
3 Snipe
2 Stonechat (field 48)
9 Tree Sparrow
10 Brambling
22 Yellowhammer
19 Fieldfare
Chat Moss:
260 Chaffinch (field 52)
25 Lapwing
1 Raven
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Little Woolden Moss and the Glaze this morning:
250 Pink-footed Geese
115 Mallard
48 Reed Bunting
4 Grey Partridge
500 Starling
16 Tree Sparrow
30 Redwing
110 Fieldfare
2 Golden Plover
220 Skylark
3 Corn Bunting
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today:
21 Linnet
10 Meadow Pipit
8 Pied Wagtail
Stonechat (female along North Path)
Barton Moss:
c200 Chaffinch
47 Redwing
2 Song Thrush
Chat Moss:
4 Snipe
2500 Woodpigeon
600 Jackdaw
1 Woodcock
12 Brambling
200 Goldfinch
3 Tree Sparrow
1100 Chaffinch
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Other sightings from Little Woolden Moss today included:
118 Pink-footed Geese milling around fields 19/63
Platt House Farm:
8 Tree Sparrow
18 House Sparrow
54 Collard Dove
70 Skylark
120 Starling
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Irlam Moss:
2 goldcrest
2 willow tit
10+ house sparrow
60+ goldfinch
75+ linnet (flock of c65 feeding in f25)
40+ chaffinch
1+ brambling (in with flighty chaffinch flock in f25; surely more, but I could only pick out one each time they moved)
1 bullfinch
11+ reed bunting
3 yellowhammer
1 meadow pipit
50+ redwing
1 song thrush
60+ fieldfare (with redwing feeding in paddocks of riding school on Cutnook Lane)
2 jay
200+ jackdaw in flock off Raspberry Lane (or whatever that track's called)
13 stock dove
500+ woodpigeon
6 grey partridge
c50 pink-footed geese fairly distantly, dropping down into field n of Little Woolden Moss
6 lapwing
11 herring gull
1 kestrel
2 buzzard
Little Woolden Moss:
1 treecreeper
6 linnet
1 reed bunting heard
1 song thrush
550+ pink-footed geese; 250+ over heading sw, then hour later 300+ arriving from sw, circled over area to n, split into two groups with half heading s, low and noisy right over my head; cracking.
1 snipe
1 kestrel
1 buzzard
A thoroughly enjoyable day around here for me, too.
With Ian Lyth.
AM. Walk from Moss Farm Fisheries, Cutnook Lane to Little Woolden Moss. Very quiet.
Buzzard.
Grey Wagtail over.
Odd Chaffinch & Bullfinch in the hedge plus 3 Yellowhammer together (2M 1F).
Massive flock of Woodpigeon in field No 15/16.
Redwing.
Small party of Long-tailed Tit (20).
Reed Bunting was the only bird seen on Little Woolden Moss.
PM. Rindle Road.
Kestrel.
Jay.
Grey Partridge.
Heron.
Cormorant over.
Willow Tit in with tit flock feeding in two ivy covered trees on opposite side of road to cottages.
Fieldfare, Redwing and Song Thrush in feeding track hedge.
The track that runs off right to the feeding track had a large mixed flock of Chaffinch and Redwing .. Ian managed to pick out a female Brambling.
Great spotted Woodpecker.
Pair of Raven over .. grunting to each other.
A Kingfisher flew down the ditch on opposite side of the road to the entrance to feeding track.
Checked the midden .. nothing, not even the dead rat ... probably a good job as by this time I was in the mood to have ate it !!
An enjoyable winters day birding.
Roger.
-- Edited by Roger Baker 3 on Sunday 14th of January 2018 06:55:48 PM
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Peregrine
275 Lapwing over west
c4500 Woodpigeon
1 male Stonechat
437 Pink-footed Geese all settled in field 20
Barton and Irlam Moss:
4 Brambling
110 Linnet
125 Chaffinch
67 Reed Bunting
6 Grey Partridge
2 Tree sparrow
52 Fieldfare
32 Skylark
29 Redwing
3. Snipe
120 Pink-footed Geese over
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
No sign of Water Pipit on the "manure heap" when I left at 12:30 hrs. today.
Birds seen included Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Bullfinch, Long-Tailed Tits, Chaffinch, Grey Partridge and Pheasant.
Nice to have chat with Dave Stewart, Paul Richardson and Dave Shallcross. Dave was still there when I left.
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 11th of January 2018 02:35:23 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 11th of January 2018 02:35:56 PM
Nice to meet you John,
Your description is spot on, when I left the site I was about 95% Water Pipit, when home and having checked all my reference to this species I was then certain, so I posted the sighting, hopefully someone else will pick them up today and confIrm.
Best regards Brian.
The 2 Water Pipits favoured the top left of the pile of poo, along with a few Meadow Pipits, Pied Wagtails & a Grey Wagtail. All birds can disappear for some time, sometimes behind the pile
I'll attempt a description from memory of what I saw, rather than what Brian/Geoff showed me on his pad for several pipit species
Clearly slightly larger than the Meadow Pipits, legs much longer above & below the heel, the gait obviously more striding than shuffling. Legs moderately pink, one bird's a legs little duller than the other's. Some aggression between these 2 birds & the Meadow Pipits, but not between the Meadow Pipits
Head: white throat bordered by fine black stripe, itself bordered by white line. Pale supercilium, not as pronounced as on some Water Pipits, but more defined than on the accompanying Meadow Pipits. Back brown, slightly different shade to Meadow Pipits, weak double wing-bar. Tail brown with white outer feathers, considerably more prominent than on the Meadow Pipits. Underside obvious white (not fawn), with bold streaky flanks & streaky band across breast up to white throat
Having said all that & emphasising the differences, it did take some effort to be sure this wasn't just an odd Meadow Pipit, esp at this time of year when everything changes subtly with moult. But, the number of distinct features clinches it for me (and I think for the other gentlemen)
Irlam Moss:
300 x Pink Footed Goose (approximately) in Field 20
Brambling x 1
Bullfinch x 3
Goldcrest x 1
Redwing x 7
Mistle Thrush x 3
Nuthatch x 1
Chaffinch x 70
Kestrel x 1
Carrion Crow x 2
Woodpigeon x 40
Pied Wagtail x 1
Blue Tit x 5
Great Tit x 4
Robin x 3
Blackbird x 7
Astley Moss:
Yellowhammer x 5
Pied Wagtail x 3
Chaffinch x 25
Reed Bunting x 3
Buzzard x 1
Wren x 1
Woodpigeon x 50
Chat Moss:
Tree Sparrow x 3
Yellowhammer x 7
Reed Bunting x 5
Buzzard x 1
Kestrel x 1
Lapwing x 5
Black-Headed Gull x 40
Chaffinch x 50
Starling x 35
Today 10/1/2018 between 1100/1230 hrs mist had lifted calm 8 degrees.
For the time span above we watched two Water Pipit feeding on insects coming off a horse manure heap adjacent to the railway line at Rindle road, the field number is 67.
There were three observers, myself, Geoff M (Rossendale) and a gentleman from Culcheth.
Regards Brian.
-- Edited by brian kirkwood on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 02:50:35 PM
-- Edited by brian kirkwood on Wednesday 10th of January 2018 02:55:42 PM
Little Woolden Moss today:
3 Snipe
3 Kestrel
12 Great black backed Gull
7 Herring Gull
Barton Moss (field 45):
c400 strong finch flock included 300+ Chaffinch, 75 Goldfinch, 3 Brambling, 10 Reed Bunting, 4 Tree Sparrow
25 Magpie
4,000 Woodpigeon in 2 flocks
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Chat and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
3 Stonechat
23 Tree Sparrow
38 Stock Dove
5 Brambling
3 Snipe
26 Great Black-Backed Gull
430 Chaffinch
4500 Woodpigeon
7 Grey Partridge
34 Reed Bunting
90 Pink-footed Geese flying NW at 09:50
Info thanks to Dave Steel
c.200 Pink-footed Geese flying round in fading light over Little Woolden Moss this afternoon before settling down.
A small flock (approx 15) of what appeared to be Golden Plover took off from f52 and seemed to land near Hepzibah Farm. But a later search of that area proved fruitless but very little light by then.
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Irlam and Chat Moss this morning:
230 Chaffinch
4 Brambling
1500 Woodpigeon
65 Redwing
41 Fieldfare
7 Yellowhammer
24 Skylark
350 Jackdaw.
2 Tree Sparrow
60 Pink-footed Geese flying east at 08:35
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss 10:00-14:00 today:
197 Pink-footed Geese over west (11:20)
10 Great Black-backed Gulls on the peat
Platt House Farm:
3 Tree Sparrow
20+ House Sparrow
Moss Road (field 66b):
19 Fieldfare
3 Redwing
c50 Linnet
35 Meadow Pipit
8 Pied Wagtail
120 Starling
Chat Moss early evening:
1 Merlin
4 Snipe
220 Pink-footed Geese milling about the air at dusk
4 Grey partridge
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
350 Pink-footed Geese
2 Woodcock
5 Great Black-backed Gull
6 Snipe
2000 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Plenty of activity north of the railway this morning as follows:
Peregrine hunting Woodpigeons along Moss Lane
4400 Woodpigeon in the area, with 2600 around Moss Lane and Astley Moss and a further 1800 over Chat Moss
400 Starling feeding in the last field by the level crossing at Rindle but many more flying in all the time
1260 Chaffinch in one flock around the Rindle area! Large numbers in trees along the old mineral line east of Rindle Road flew across to Rindle Hedge by Rindle Wood, joining a huge flock already there. These birds then flew into the fields just behind Rindle Wood to join others feeding in all three stubble fields and resting in the trees lining them but were far too difficult to count as they were very mobile to and from the trees to the fields. Eventually they all flew, in smaller flocks or long straggling lines back east over towards the big hedge where they could be more easily counted accurately, with most continuing back across Rindle Road to then fields just east of it.
16 Brambling in with the Chaffinch flocks but there will undoubtably be many more as they were almost impossible to pick out most of the time
16 Tree Sparrow
38 Yellowhammer
2 Willow Tit in Rindle Wood
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Peregrine
1 Raven
5 Snipe
58 Skylarks
14 Reed Bunting
1 Lesser Redpoll
Moss Road:
28 Fieldfare
7 Redwing
5 Bullfinch
c450 Pink-footed Geese close to little Woolden Hall
Irlam Moss:
3 Snipe
47 Fieldfare
Info thank to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
1 Stonechat f51
1 Grey Wagtail f24
c120+ Chaffinch f17
3 Yellowhammer f17
Little Woolden Moss today:
c400 Pink-footed Geese milling around Little Woolden Hall
3 Raven
3 Snipe
34 Fieldfare
50 Redwing
Irlam Moss (field 17):
c150 Chaffinch
Croxdens:
5 Snipe
1 Sparrowhawk
Barton Moss (field 45):
c55 Goldfinches in hawthorns
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Irlam Moss today (field 17):
180 Chaffinch
5 Yellowhammer
12 Reed Bunting
Red House Farm:
17 Tree Sparrow
120 Skylark in barley stubble fields south east of Holm Leigh Farm
c300 Pink-footed Geese above Little Woolden Hall
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Irlam, Chat, Barton Mosses this morning:
1800 Woodpigeon
500 Jackdaw
5 Snipe
2 Woodcock
1 Willow Tit
120 Redwing
130 Chaffinch
12 Fieldfare
1 Peregrine hunting the Jackdaw
1 Merlin
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Late news for yesterday morning at Chat Moss:
2 Peregrine
4 Snipe
9 Teal
250 Jackdaw.
37 Redwing
23 Pink-footed Geese
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today:
Adult pair of Peregrines
c170 Redwing
35 Fieldfare over east
400+ Pink-footed Geese milling around Little Woolden Hall
3 Snipe
1 Raven
Croxdens:
5 Snipe
5 Teal
37 Mallard
c1000 Woodpigeon
1 Raven
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
3 Buzzards
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
1 Goldcrest
18 Long tailed Tits in one flock
1 Reed Bunting
Distant mixed flock of Redwing & Fieldfare (unable to count)
c500 Starling flock flew southwest
Large flock of Wood pigeon -c.700+ put up by someone shooting
2 Mute Swan flew over south
40+ Redwing
40+ Mallard
Teal heard
c30 Canada Geese
1 Buzzard
10+ Long Tailed Tit
5 Reed Bunting
30+ Chaffinch
1 Kestrel
c300+ Starling
Distant flock of Lapwing flying around- c50+
c150+ Flock of Corvids - mostly Jackdaws
Irlam, Cadishead and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
3 Snipe
5 Redpoll
125 Fieldfare
14 Grey Partridge
60 Redwing
10 Linnet
1 Stonechat
2 Tree Sparrow
2 Grey Wagtail
13 Wigeon
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
48 Reed Bunting
1 Stonechat
400 Pink-footed Geese
2 Raven
1 Woodcock
2500 Woodpigeon
345 Lapwing
3 Golden Plover over
15 Redwing
33 Fieldfare
20 Teal
7 Snipe
1 Merlin
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Chat and Little Woolden Mosses this morning:
5 Snipe
2 Raven
37 Fieldfare
1500 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
1 Woodcock
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Irlam, Barton and Chat Mosses this morning:
23 Reed Bunting
6 Snipe
43 Fieldfare
32 Redwing
230 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
1800 Woodpigeon
400 Jackdaw
260 Starling
2 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Late news for yesterday on Little Woolden Moss:
2 Raven
2 Peregrine
On Great Woolden Moss:
400+ Pink-footed Geese
110 Fieldfare
12 Meadow Pipit
22 Lapwing
17 Skylark
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today 11:30-14:00:
1 Goldcrest
3 Lesser Redpoll
3 Yellowhammer
7 Reed Bunting
3 Kestrel
4 Snipe
c500 Pink-footed Geese still west of field 56
19 Fieldfares
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Chat and Barton Moss this morning:
2 Snipe
2 Peregrine
2 Lesser Redpoll
30 Linnet
22 Reed Bunting
25 Fieldfare
2 Tree Sparrow
21 Grey Partridge
150 Jackdaw
20 Stock Dove
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today, 10:00-14:15:
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
29 Redwings
3 Fieldfares over north and a further 7 Fieldfares in field 35 Moss Road
18 Long-tailed Tits
110 Lapwings
c600 Pink-footed Geese (around fields west of field 56) then flew north west mid afternoon
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
10 Grey Partridge
7 Snipe
3 Lesser Redpoll
500 Pink Footed Geese
21 Redwing
1 Woodcock
1 Merlin
1 Great Black-Backed Gull
2 Stonechat
26 Fieldfare
96 Skylark
125 Lapwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Irlam Moss today:
c100 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
12 Fieldfares over west
c350 Pink-footed Geese east (12:35)
c1000 Woodpigeon
2 Raven
Chat Moss:
26 Lapwing
250 Chaffinch
1200 Woodpigeon
23 Skylark
3 Snipe
9 Yellowhammer
202 Pink-footed Geese heading east
12 Fieldfare
1 Brambling
Little Woolden Moss:
24 Grey Partridge
48 Skylark
18 Linnet
75 Chaffinch
3 Brambling
22 Lapwing
500 Pink-footed Geese which were settled on stubble until the model airplanes flew nearby
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Following the Timberland Trail back from its junction with the Ship Canal at Cadishead to Irlam Moss today produced:
143 Canada Geese
26 Fieldfare
5 Grey Partridge
43 House Sparrow
31 Blackbird
31 Magpie
12 Snipe
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Irlam Moss fields 20/19/63/62/18 today:
c300 Starling
10 Fieldfare
11 Long-tailed Tit
c200 Chaffinch
1 Brambling
7 Yellowhammer
5 Meadow Pipit
1 Willow Tit
1 Grey Wagtail
Info thanks to Dave Stewart