ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 30 5:16 PM, 2017
Irlam and Barton Moss this morning:
280 Chaffinch
3 Brambling
17 Grey Partridge
300 Jackdaw
1 Woodcock
1 Kingfisher
8 Tree Sparrow
1 Common Gull
1 Great Crested Grebe
4 Yellowhammer
21 Fieldfare
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Steve Judge said
Thu Nov 30 3:24 PM, 2017
Thursday, 30th November 2017 10:00 - 14:00 hrs.
From Barton Moss - walk along Twelve Yards Road to Little Woolden Moss - then return via a circuit of Croxdens Peat Fields.
Willow Tit x 1 Fieldfare x 2 Redwing x 10 Tree Sparrow x 6 Linnet x 1 Mistle Thrush x 4 Bullfinch x 2 Long Tailed Tit x 5 Wren x 1 Kestrel x 5 sightings Buzzard x 4 sightings Pied Wagtail x 3 Goldfinch x 5 Chaffinch x 70 Woodpigeon x 1000 approximately Magpie x 10 Robin x 7 Blackbird x 10 Carrion Crow x 8 Blue Tit x 3 Great Tit x 2 Pheasant x 1
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 28 9:48 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss and immediate area today:
1 female Peregrine
5 Snipe
25 Starling
31 Linnet
14 Pied Wagtail
3 Meadow Pipit
51 Fieldfare
3 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
1 Raven
1 Brambling
1 Woodcock
138 Chaffinch
12 Redwing
14 Stock Dove
1 Stonechat
110 Starling
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Andy Isherwood said
Mon Nov 27 1:36 PM, 2017
3 Brambling in with c. 70 Chaffinch in Rindle hedge this am.
Paul Richardson said
Sat Nov 25 1:35 PM, 2017
Rindle Road and SE across the railway to the old peat cutting area on 23rd Nov 08.00 to 11.30am
Chaffinch 300 at field edge E of cottages Brambling 5 among them Linnet 3 Starling 2000 on wires near cottages
Redwing 33 across the patch Fieldfare 6 Mistle Thrush 2
Willow Tit 1 Long Tailed Tit 15 Goldcrest 1 Reed Bunting 27 at SE edge of old peat workings Snipe 5
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 24 10:51 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
Merlin over west
17 Fieldfare
Croxdens
1 Wigeon
1 juvenile Peregrine
11 Fieldfare over west
c1000 Woodpigeon
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 24 8:59 AM, 2017
Late news for yesterday morning on Little Woolden Moss:
34 Fieldfare
105 Skylark
71 Lapwing
12 Yellowhammer
3 Stonechat
2 Grey Wagtail
520 Pink-footed Geese over in 4 Skeins
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 22 10:11 PM, 2017
Chat Moss/Croxden/Barton Moss this morning:
3 Peregrine
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pintail
1 Wigeon
4 Snipe
2 Raven
114 Lapwing
220 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
11 Grey Partridge
1 Woodcock
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 21 11:50 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
17 Fieldfare
1 Raven
3 Snipe
34 Lesser Redpoll
19 Teal
7 Pink-footed Geese
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 19 10:49 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss circular walk via the River Glaze 11:00-14:30 today:
23 redpolls by New Moss Road
117 Lapwing
Peregrine
27 Reed Bunting
10 Tree Sparrow (Platt House Farm)
c800 Starling
5 Yellowhammer
35 Teal (River Glaze)
1 Wigeon
1 Raven
445 Pink-footed Geese over in 3 skeins
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 17 8:39 PM, 2017
Drake Pintail still present at Croxdens today as was an adult female Peregrine.
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 16 9:30 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning, 07:15-11:15:
2 Brambling
12 Lesser Redpoll
35 Fieldfare
435 Pink-footed Geese all heading east in 4 skeins
4 Snipe
3 Stonechat
9 Grey Partridge
220 Lapwing
Barton Moss 11:25-13:15
37 Grey Partridge
235 Chaffinch
1 Brambling
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Steve Judge said
Thu Nov 16 6:11 PM, 2017
Thursday, 16th November 2017 13:00 - 16:00 hrs.
From Barton Moss - walk along Twelve Yards Road as far as Astley Road - then a circuit of Croxdens
Siskin x 2 Tree Sparrow x 3 Yellowhammer x 3 Bullfinch x 2 Mistle Thrush x 1 Chaffinch x 60 Buzzard x 3 sightings Kestrel x 5 sightings Wren x 1 Blue Tit x 1 Great Tit x 3 Blackbird x 5 Mallard x 10 Carrion Crow x 5 Magpie x 4 Pheasant x 2
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 16th of November 2017 06:14:07 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 15 6:01 PM, 2017
Croxdens today:
1 drake Pintail
7 Teal
Twelve Yards Road/field 18:
2 Brambling
6 Yellowhammer
c200 Chaffinch
Little Woolden Moss:
Juvenile female Merlin
Immature Marsh Harrier with pale green tags on the inner wings
Barton Moss:
205 Starling
288 Chaffinch
2 Peregrine
4 Brambling
4 Tree Sparrow
200 Jackdaw
1 Nuthatch
1 Grey Wagtail
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 14 11:31 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Stonechat
c300 Starling
c1500 Woodpigeon
A brief visit Irlam Moss/Croxdens:
1 Brambling
2 Lesser Redpoll
2 Fieldfare
20 Redwing
14 Pink-footed Geese
400 Chaffinch
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 12 10:45 PM, 2017
Additional Little Woolden Moss sightings from today, 11:00- 13:45:
3 Stonechat
1 Raven
1 female Sparrowhawk
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
On Croxdens this morning:
1 peregrine
3 Brambling
1 Raven
170 Jackdaw
13 Whooper Swans still present on Little Woolden Moss this evening.
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Nov 12 8:29 PM, 2017
Day spent around here today; up Astley Road from Irlam, over the motorway, across to Cutnook Lane, onto Twelveyards Road, then onto Little Woolden Moss.
Irlam Moss:
4 goldcrest 45+ goldfinch 17+ linnet 1 greenfinch c25 chaffinch 4 brambling 1 bullfinch 9+ reed bunting 7 meadow pipit 10 pied wagtail 5+ skylark 1 song thrush (first I've noted for a couple of months) 8 mistle thrush 33 stock dove 1 -3 sparrowhawk 2 kestrel 4 buzzard
Little Woolden Moss:
6 lesser redpoll 2 bullfinch 2 reed bunting 19 pink-footed geese circling over 13 whooper swan (peat works end; thanks to Dave Stewart for putting me onto these) 35+ lapwing 1 snipe over 1 merlin 1 kestrel
Steven Nelson said
Sat Nov 11 4:30 PM, 2017
Irlam Moss (along Cutnook Lane and Raspberry Lane) 15.30-16.15
c.70 Pink-footed Geese over E 3 Brambling 40-50 Goldfinch 1 Bullfinch (f) 1 Buzzard 2 Kestrel
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Nov 11 10:12 AM, 2017
Late news for yesterday:
Croxdens am:
Peregrine upsetting 90 Jackdaw
1 Brambling
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss:
97 Lapwings
Immature male Stonechat
5 Tree Sparrows (Red House Farm)
1 Peregrine
Info thank to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 8 9:42 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today 10:00-12:30:
47 Reed Buntings
120 Skylarks
7 Snipe
c700 Starlings
15 Grey Partridges (f56)
2 Fieldfares (f19)
1 Wigeon
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese heading east, totalling 350
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart.
Alan Rowley said
Wed Nov 8 7:09 PM, 2017
oops, the "800 across the road" were starlings.
Alan Rowley said
Wed Nov 8 7:07 PM, 2017
A couple of hours around Astley Moss SSSI this morning.
Blackbird 5
Brambling 1
Buzzard 2
Chaffinch 13
Goldcrest 2
Great Tit 4
Jay 5
Lesser Redpoll 1
Long-tailed Tit 20
Meadow Pipit 3
Pheasant everywhere
Reed Bunting 4
Siskin 1
Song Thrush 1
Starling 30
Treecreeper 1
Woodpigeon 102 (there were c800 across the road)
Blue Tit 3
Bullfinch 3
Carrion Crow 1
Dunnock 2
Goldfinch 4
Jackdaw 12
Kestrel 2
Linnet 1
Magpie 3
Mistle Thrush 2
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) 1
Robin 5
Skylark 4
Sparrowhawk 1
Teal 2
Willow Tit 1
Wren 8
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 7 10:23 PM, 2017
Late news for Irlam Moss on the afternoon of Sunday 5th:
1 Brambling
36 Chaffinch
5 Snipe
1 Willow Tit
1 Tawny Owl
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 750 heading east at 17:10
Late news for Monday 6th on Little Woolden Moss 07:09-12:30:
3 Raven
7 Siskin
8 Lesser Redpoll
1 Peregrine
1 Female Merlin
494 Starling
3 Stonechat
6 Snipe
159 Redwing
All info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 6 7:42 PM, 2017
At least two, possibly three, Brambling in the big hedge at the top of the old feeding station track at Rindle this afternoon.
Also 150 Starling off Moss Lane and a further flock of 500 feeding in field 67 off Rindle Road.
James Richardson said
Mon Nov 6 12:38 PM, 2017
Had a very brief visit yesterday afternoon, got close views of a female sparrowhawk. A male sparrowhawk later was chased by 4 crows eastwards away from the site.
Also saw a kestrel hunting, several skylark, a couple of reed bunting, 3 buzzard. Need time for a longer visit!
Steven Nelson said
Sun Nov 5 5:43 PM, 2017
Kingfisher on River Glaze at Great Woolden Hall this afternoon.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 5 8:41 AM, 2017
Late news for Little Woolden Moss yesterday early afternoon:
c50 Skylark
14 Teal
6 Tree Sparrow
1 Peregrine
3 Stonechats (2m+1f)
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Nov 3 10:41 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
2 Stonechat
37 Reed Bunting
6 Snipe
210 Skylark
1 Peregrine
9 Tree Sparrow
300 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
1 Grey Wagtail
8 Yellowhammer
50 Linnet
750 Pink-footed Geese over in 6 skeins
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 2 11:07 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today, 09:45-12:4:
52 Pink-footed Geese above fields 62/63
Male and female Peregrines high over west
84 Lapwings
c150 Skylarks
c50 Reed Buntings
6 Teal
Make and female Stonechats
2 Grey Partridges
12 Yards Road:
11 Grey Partridges, appeared tame (likely released birds)
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Croxdens:
4 Snipe
5 Wigeon
220 Chaffinch dropped into a treeline from the north at 12:30
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 1 4:23 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss, 09:15-12:00:
2 Stonechat
5 Snipe
1 Peregrine
1 Merlin
180 Skylark
22 Linnet
4 Lesser Redpoll
150 Lapwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 31 11:05 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
243 Lapwings on the west peat pools
5 Snipe
Adult male Peregrine with prey
c50 Skylarks (field 56)
c100 Starlings over west
3 Lesser Redpolls on the path near to the car park
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Irlam Moss:
5 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
2 Willow Tit
9 Grey Partridge
120 Pink-footed Geese over heading west
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Rob Smith said
Tue Oct 31 6:46 PM, 2017
A pleasant walk along Moss Lane to edge of Lower Woolden Moss
Pink footed Geese - 250 in 2 skeins came off fields & flew west Skylark - ca100 restless flock around fields Fieldfare - 10 Redwing - several flocks of between 20 - 50 Mistle Thrush - 2 Pied Wagtails - 6 Stonechat - pair Linnets - 50 Reed Bunting 6 Tree Sparrow - several heard & seen among House Sparrows by farm
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 29 8:19 PM, 2017
Further Little Woolden Moss sightings today:
31 Pink-footed Geese over west (09:40)
3 Lesser Redpoll
2 Stonechat
30 Skylark
15 Reed Bunting
3 Snipe
Barton Moss:
40 Goldfinch
12 Reed Bunting
3 Kestrel
23 Snipe
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Steven Nelson said
Sun Oct 29 8:03 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss - last hour of daylight 16.15-17.15
1 Stonechat (male) along main path 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel c50 Pink-footed Geese in 2 skiens at 17.10. (22 heading E, c.38 heading W) covey of 14 Grey Partridge just off reserve
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 29th of October 2017 08:04:42 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 27 7:11 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss to Red House Farm:
23 Reed Bunting
7 Tree Sparrow
2 Willow Tit
45 Skylark
3 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
71 Pink-footed Geese over west at 12:10
Irlam Moss:
2 Grey Partridge
20 Pink-footed Geese
4 Siskin
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 26 6:07 PM, 2017
Croxden/Barton Moss this am:
1 Peregrine
2 Raven
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Wigeon
14 Tree Sparrow
3 Snipe
3 Lesser Redpoll
2500 Woodpigeon
A total of 480 Pink-footed Geese on and over the area
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 25 10:42 PM, 2017
Further sightings from Little Woolden Moss today,10:00-12:25:
15 Reed Bunting
c300 Pink footed Geese
200+ Skylark (field 56 & over west)
Croxdens:
81 Mallard
5 Snipe
c2000 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Alan Warford said
Wed Oct 25 10:17 PM, 2017
Little Woolston Moss 7-11.30 with Dave Steel
Corn Bunting 1
Pink Footed Geese 360
Tree Sparrow 20+
Siskin 4
Lesser Redpoll 2
Skylark 120+
Buzzard 7
Redwing 45
Yellowhammer 5
Of note- the peat extraction has finished on LWM and remedial work is being done to retain water on that area where extraction had been continuing till last week.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 25 3:47 PM, 2017
Rindle area of Astley Moss this early afternoon:
A Rock/Water Pipit flew fairly low over the old feeding station track (having come from the direction of the east side of Rindle Road) calling several times and headed west just over tree height over Rindle Wood but no further sign including in the fields beyond. A very odd sighting indeed!?
170 Starling in one flock feeding in fields
440 Woodpigeon in one flock in fields behind Rindle Wood
A total of 109 Grey Partridge (releases for shooting) in two coveys, with 31 in fields behind Rindle Wood and 78 in field 67; and a very wary pair in field 69 were much more likely to be local wild birds
7 Buzzards up in the immediate area
In the big hedge by Rindle Wood were:
29 Yellowhammer
26 Redwing
19 Greenfinch
16 Tree Sparrow
70 Goldfinch (mobile flock around the fields mainly)
4 Lesser Redpoll
Plenty of Chaffinch
9 Jay were in a single flock feeding on acorns along Moss Lane
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 24 4:17 PM, 2017
Barton Moss this morning:
48 Meadow Pipit
17 Reed Bunting
2 Lesser Redpoll
9 Yellowhammer
98 Redwing some pausing to eat hawthorn berries
4 Grey Partridge
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 23 7:58 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
1 Wigeon
160 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
6 Lesser Redpoll
300 Pink-footed Geese off the reserve
1 Peregrine
2 Snipe
1 Chiffchaff
2 Stonechat
145 Skylark
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 22 9:35 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today, 12:30-14:30:
c270 Pink-footed Geese including 50 flying in from the east (all in fields west of the reserve)
11 Cormorants over southeast
1 Peregrine
21 Mistle Thrushes on wires in field 18
Croxdens 15:30-17:30:
300 Pink-footed Geese milling about the air
4 Snipe
Water Rail
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 20 10:26 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today, 10:30-13:00:
c220 Pink-footed Geese around field 56
21 Reed Bunting
1 Peregrine
Croxdens:
73 Mallard
12 Teal
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Mike Chorley said
Thu Oct 19 8:45 PM, 2017
Ian McKerchar wrote:
They have stopped releasing many (if any) Red-legged Partridges though as they apparently used to almost immediately dissappear and were never seen again, let alone shot!
As they're "French" partridges (Obsever's Book of Birds -1952 edition) presumably they're on the next Eurostar back home tout suite
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 19 8:45 PM, 2017
Little Woolden Moss today:
7 Lesser Redpoll
2 Willow Tit
1 Grey Wagtail
6 Snipe
280 Pink-footed Geese over and about the reserve
23 Teal
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 19 1:36 PM, 2017
There are huge releases of gamebirds here each year, my largest ever single covey of over 80 Grey Partridge and it’s near impossible to now tell wild birds from releases although the latter are at least usually fairly tame. They have stopped releasing many (if any) Red-legged Partridges though as they apparently used to almost immediately ‘dissappear’ and were never seen again, let alone shot!
Doc Brewster said
Thu Oct 19 1:25 PM, 2017
Jason Dulhanty wrote:
Field behind Rindle barn
An impressive 60 Grey partridge
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Hi, I was chatting to 'Mr Mosslands' David Steel who told me that there had been releases of captive reared Grey Partridges in this general area recently, so this number may well be part of that release programme. 60 is certainly a very impressive number and gives hope for their survival here long term
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 18 8:56 PM, 2017
Croxdens this am:
2 Willow Tit
1 Chiffchaff
1 Nuthatch
3 Snipe
22 Reed Bunting
1 Stonechat
1 Golden Plover over
6 Lesser Redpoll
Info thank to Dave Steel
Jason Dulhanty said
Wed Oct 18 5:40 PM, 2017
15.00-16.30
Rindle road area
On the way in, fields around Nook lane full of Pheasants
Rindle woods and SSSI
More Pheasants
2 coveys of Grey partridge 5 and12
Various Thrush flocks
Chaffinch
Treecreeper
Corn bunting x4 id by call
Jayx2
Long tailed titx16
Buzzard
Field behind Rindle barn
An impressive 60 Grey partridge
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 16 3:33 PM, 2017
Visible migration highlights from Little Woolden Moss this morning, 07:00-12:00:
Irlam and Barton Moss this morning:
280 Chaffinch
3 Brambling
17 Grey Partridge
300 Jackdaw
1 Woodcock
1 Kingfisher
8 Tree Sparrow
1 Common Gull
1 Great Crested Grebe
4 Yellowhammer
21 Fieldfare
Info thanks to Dave Steel
From Barton Moss - walk along Twelve Yards Road to Little Woolden Moss - then return via a circuit of Croxdens Peat Fields.
Willow Tit x 1
Fieldfare x 2
Redwing x 10
Tree Sparrow x 6
Linnet x 1
Mistle Thrush x 4
Bullfinch x 2
Long Tailed Tit x 5
Wren x 1
Kestrel x 5 sightings
Buzzard x 4 sightings
Pied Wagtail x 3
Goldfinch x 5
Chaffinch x 70
Woodpigeon x 1000 approximately
Magpie x 10
Robin x 7
Blackbird x 10
Carrion Crow x 8
Blue Tit x 3
Great Tit x 2
Pheasant x 1
Little Woolden Moss and immediate area today:
1 female Peregrine
5 Snipe
25 Starling
31 Linnet
14 Pied Wagtail
3 Meadow Pipit
51 Fieldfare
3 Mistle Thrush
1 Song Thrush
1 Raven
1 Brambling
1 Woodcock
138 Chaffinch
12 Redwing
14 Stock Dove
1 Stonechat
110 Starling
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Chaffinch 300 at field edge E of cottages
Brambling 5 among them
Linnet 3
Starling 2000 on wires near cottages
Redwing 33 across the patch
Fieldfare 6
Mistle Thrush 2
Willow Tit 1
Long Tailed Tit 15
Goldcrest 1
Reed Bunting 27 at SE edge of old peat workings
Snipe 5
Little Woolden Moss today:
Merlin over west
17 Fieldfare
Croxdens
1 Wigeon
1 juvenile Peregrine
11 Fieldfare over west
c1000 Woodpigeon
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Late news for yesterday morning on Little Woolden Moss:
34 Fieldfare
105 Skylark
71 Lapwing
12 Yellowhammer
3 Stonechat
2 Grey Wagtail
520 Pink-footed Geese over in 4 Skeins
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Chat Moss/Croxden/Barton Moss this morning:
3 Peregrine
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Pintail
1 Wigeon
4 Snipe
2 Raven
114 Lapwing
220 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
11 Grey Partridge
1 Woodcock
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
17 Fieldfare
1 Raven
3 Snipe
34 Lesser Redpoll
19 Teal
7 Pink-footed Geese
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss circular walk via the River Glaze 11:00-14:30 today:
23 redpolls by New Moss Road
117 Lapwing
Peregrine
27 Reed Bunting
10 Tree Sparrow (Platt House Farm)
c800 Starling
5 Yellowhammer
35 Teal (River Glaze)
1 Wigeon
1 Raven
445 Pink-footed Geese over in 3 skeins
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Drake Pintail still present at Croxdens today as was an adult female Peregrine.
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Little Woolden Moss this morning, 07:15-11:15:
2 Brambling
12 Lesser Redpoll
35 Fieldfare
435 Pink-footed Geese all heading east in 4 skeins
4 Snipe
3 Stonechat
9 Grey Partridge
220 Lapwing
Barton Moss 11:25-13:15
37 Grey Partridge
235 Chaffinch
1 Brambling
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Steel
From Barton Moss - walk along Twelve Yards Road as far as Astley Road - then a circuit of Croxdens
Siskin x 2
Tree Sparrow x 3
Yellowhammer x 3
Bullfinch x 2
Mistle Thrush x 1
Chaffinch x 60
Buzzard x 3 sightings
Kestrel x 5 sightings
Wren x 1
Blue Tit x 1
Great Tit x 3
Blackbird x 5
Mallard x 10
Carrion Crow x 5
Magpie x 4
Pheasant x 2
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Thursday 16th of November 2017 06:14:07 PM
Croxdens today:
1 drake Pintail
7 Teal
Twelve Yards Road/field 18:
2 Brambling
6 Yellowhammer
c200 Chaffinch
Little Woolden Moss:
Juvenile female Merlin
Immature Marsh Harrier with pale green tags on the inner wings
Barton Moss:
205 Starling
288 Chaffinch
2 Peregrine
4 Brambling
4 Tree Sparrow
200 Jackdaw
1 Nuthatch
1 Grey Wagtail
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today:
1 Stonechat
c300 Starling
c1500 Woodpigeon
A brief visit Irlam Moss/Croxdens:
1 Brambling
2 Lesser Redpoll
2 Fieldfare
20 Redwing
14 Pink-footed Geese
400 Chaffinch
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart
Additional Little Woolden Moss sightings from today, 11:00- 13:45:
3 Stonechat
1 Raven
1 female Sparrowhawk
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
On Croxdens this morning:
1 peregrine
3 Brambling
1 Raven
170 Jackdaw
13 Whooper Swans still present on Little Woolden Moss this evening.
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Irlam Moss:
4 goldcrest
45+ goldfinch
17+ linnet
1 greenfinch
c25 chaffinch
4 brambling
1 bullfinch
9+ reed bunting
7 meadow pipit
10 pied wagtail
5+ skylark
1 song thrush (first I've noted for a couple of months)
8 mistle thrush
33 stock dove
1 -3 sparrowhawk
2 kestrel
4 buzzard
Little Woolden Moss:
6 lesser redpoll
2 bullfinch
2 reed bunting
19 pink-footed geese circling over
13 whooper swan (peat works end; thanks to Dave Stewart for putting me onto these)
35+ lapwing
1 snipe over
1 merlin
1 kestrel
c.70 Pink-footed Geese over E
3 Brambling
40-50 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch (f)
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
Late news for yesterday:
Croxdens am:
Peregrine upsetting 90 Jackdaw
1 Brambling
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss:
97 Lapwings
Immature male Stonechat
5 Tree Sparrows (Red House Farm)
1 Peregrine
Info thank to Dave Stewart
Little Woolden Moss today 10:00-12:30:
47 Reed Buntings
120 Skylarks
7 Snipe
c700 Starlings
15 Grey Partridges (f56)
2 Fieldfares (f19)
1 Wigeon
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese heading east, totalling 350
Info thanks to Dave Steel and Dave Stewart.
oops, the "800 across the road" were starlings.
A couple of hours around Astley Moss SSSI this morning.
Blackbird 5
Brambling 1
Buzzard 2
Chaffinch 13
Goldcrest 2
Great Tit 4
Jay 5
Lesser Redpoll 1
Long-tailed Tit 20
Meadow Pipit 3
Pheasant everywhere
Reed Bunting 4
Siskin 1
Song Thrush 1
Starling 30
Treecreeper 1
Woodpigeon 102 (there were c800 across the road)
Blue Tit 3
Bullfinch 3
Carrion Crow 1
Dunnock 2
Goldfinch 4
Jackdaw 12
Kestrel 2
Linnet 1
Magpie 3
Mistle Thrush 2
Pied Wagtail (yarrellii) 1
Robin 5
Skylark 4
Sparrowhawk 1
Teal 2
Willow Tit 1
Wren 8
Late news for Irlam Moss on the afternoon of Sunday 5th:
1 Brambling
36 Chaffinch
5 Snipe
1 Willow Tit
1 Tawny Owl
3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese totalling 750 heading east at 17:10
Late news for Monday 6th on Little Woolden Moss 07:09-12:30:
3 Raven
7 Siskin
8 Lesser Redpoll
1 Peregrine
1 Female Merlin
494 Starling
3 Stonechat
6 Snipe
159 Redwing
All info thanks to Dave Steel
At least two, possibly three, Brambling in the big hedge at the top of the old feeding station track at Rindle this afternoon.
Also 150 Starling off Moss Lane and a further flock of 500 feeding in field 67 off Rindle Road.
Also saw a kestrel hunting, several skylark, a couple of reed bunting, 3 buzzard. Need time for a longer visit!
Late news for Little Woolden Moss yesterday early afternoon:
c50 Skylark
14 Teal
6 Tree Sparrow
1 Peregrine
3 Stonechats (2m+1f)
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
2 Stonechat
37 Reed Bunting
6 Snipe
210 Skylark
1 Peregrine
9 Tree Sparrow
300 Chaffinch
2 Brambling
1 Grey Wagtail
8 Yellowhammer
50 Linnet
750 Pink-footed Geese over in 6 skeins
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today, 09:45-12:4:
52 Pink-footed Geese above fields 62/63
Male and female Peregrines high over west
84 Lapwings
c150 Skylarks
c50 Reed Buntings
6 Teal
Make and female Stonechats
2 Grey Partridges
12 Yards Road:
11 Grey Partridges, appeared tame (likely released birds)
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Croxdens:
4 Snipe
5 Wigeon
220 Chaffinch dropped into a treeline from the north at 12:30
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss, 09:15-12:00:
2 Stonechat
5 Snipe
1 Peregrine
1 Merlin
180 Skylark
22 Linnet
4 Lesser Redpoll
150 Lapwing
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today:
243 Lapwings on the west peat pools
5 Snipe
Adult male Peregrine with prey
c50 Skylarks (field 56)
c100 Starlings over west
3 Lesser Redpolls on the path near to the car park
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Irlam Moss:
5 Lesser Redpoll
2 Siskin
2 Willow Tit
9 Grey Partridge
120 Pink-footed Geese over heading west
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Pink footed Geese - 250 in 2 skeins came off fields & flew west
Skylark - ca100 restless flock around fields
Fieldfare - 10
Redwing - several flocks of between 20 - 50
Mistle Thrush - 2
Pied Wagtails - 6
Stonechat - pair
Linnets - 50
Reed Bunting 6
Tree Sparrow - several heard & seen among House Sparrows by farm
Further Little Woolden Moss sightings today:
31 Pink-footed Geese over west (09:40)
3 Lesser Redpoll
2 Stonechat
30 Skylark
15 Reed Bunting
3 Snipe
Barton Moss:
40 Goldfinch
12 Reed Bunting
3 Kestrel
23 Snipe
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
1 Stonechat (male) along main path
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
c50 Pink-footed Geese in 2 skiens at 17.10. (22 heading E, c.38 heading W)
covey of 14 Grey Partridge just off reserve
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Sunday 29th of October 2017 08:04:42 PM
Little Woolden Moss to Red House Farm:
23 Reed Bunting
7 Tree Sparrow
2 Willow Tit
45 Skylark
3 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
71 Pink-footed Geese over west at 12:10
Irlam Moss:
2 Grey Partridge
20 Pink-footed Geese
4 Siskin
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Croxden/Barton Moss this am:
1 Peregrine
2 Raven
2 Grey Wagtail
2 Wigeon
14 Tree Sparrow
3 Snipe
3 Lesser Redpoll
2500 Woodpigeon
A total of 480 Pink-footed Geese on and over the area
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Further sightings from Little Woolden Moss today,10:00-12:25:
15 Reed Bunting
c300 Pink footed Geese
200+ Skylark (field 56 & over west)
Croxdens:
81 Mallard
5 Snipe
c2000 Woodpigeon
1 Peregrine
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
Rindle area of Astley Moss this early afternoon:
A Rock/Water Pipit flew fairly low over the old feeding station track (having come from the direction of the east side of Rindle Road) calling several times and headed west just over tree height over Rindle Wood but no further sign including in the fields beyond. A very odd sighting indeed!?
170 Starling in one flock feeding in fields
440 Woodpigeon in one flock in fields behind Rindle Wood
A total of 109 Grey Partridge (releases for shooting) in two coveys, with 31 in fields behind Rindle Wood and 78 in field 67; and a very wary pair in field 69 were much more likely to be local wild birds
7 Buzzards up in the immediate area
In the big hedge by Rindle Wood were:
29 Yellowhammer
26 Redwing
19 Greenfinch
16 Tree Sparrow
70 Goldfinch (mobile flock around the fields mainly)
4 Lesser Redpoll
Plenty of Chaffinch
9 Jay were in a single flock feeding on acorns along Moss Lane
Barton Moss this morning:
48 Meadow Pipit
17 Reed Bunting
2 Lesser Redpoll
9 Yellowhammer
98 Redwing some pausing to eat hawthorn berries
4 Grey Partridge
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss this morning:
1 Wigeon
160 Redwing
5 Fieldfare
6 Lesser Redpoll
300 Pink-footed Geese off the reserve
1 Peregrine
2 Snipe
1 Chiffchaff
2 Stonechat
145 Skylark
Info thanks to Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today, 12:30-14:30:
c270 Pink-footed Geese including 50 flying in from the east (all in fields west of the reserve)
11 Cormorants over southeast
1 Peregrine
21 Mistle Thrushes on wires in field 18
Croxdens 15:30-17:30:
300 Pink-footed Geese milling about the air
4 Snipe
Water Rail
Info thanks to Dave Stewart and Dave Steel
Little Woolden Moss today, 10:30-13:00:
c220 Pink-footed Geese around field 56
21 Reed Bunting
1 Peregrine
Croxdens:
73 Mallard
12 Teal
Info thanks to Dave Stewart
As they're "French" partridges (Obsever's Book of Birds -1952 edition) presumably they're on the next Eurostar back home tout suite
Little Woolden Moss today:
7 Lesser Redpoll
2 Willow Tit
1 Grey Wagtail
6 Snipe
280 Pink-footed Geese over and about the reserve
23 Teal
Info thanks to Dave Steel
There are huge releases of gamebirds here each year, my largest ever single covey of over 80 Grey Partridge and it’s near impossible to now tell wild birds from releases although the latter are at least usually fairly tame. They have stopped releasing many (if any) Red-legged Partridges though as they apparently used to almost immediately ‘dissappear’ and were never seen again, let alone shot!
Hi, I was chatting to 'Mr Mosslands' David Steel who told me that there had been releases of captive reared Grey Partridges in this general area recently, so this number may well be part of that release programme. 60 is certainly a very impressive number and gives hope for their survival here long term
Croxdens this am:
2 Willow Tit
1 Chiffchaff
1 Nuthatch
3 Snipe
22 Reed Bunting
1 Stonechat
1 Golden Plover over
6 Lesser Redpoll
Info thank to Dave Steel
15.00-16.30
Rindle road area
On the way in, fields around Nook lane full of Pheasants
Rindle woods and SSSI
More Pheasants
2 coveys of Grey partridge 5 and12
Various Thrush flocks
Chaffinch
Treecreeper
Corn bunting x4 id by call
Jayx2
Long tailed titx16
Buzzard
Field behind Rindle barn
An impressive 60 Grey partridge
Cheers Jay
Dont twitch and drive
Visible migration highlights from Little Woolden Moss this morning, 07:00-12:00:
2 Brambling
23 Snipe
98 Meadow Pipit
1 Wigeon.
12 Siskin.
389 Redwing
3 Lesser Redpoll
76 Skylark
1 Peregrine with prey
1 Golden Plover
452 Starling
350 Lapwing
60 Pink-footed Geese
Info thanks to Dave Steel