ASTLEY, CHAT, LITTLE WOOLDEN AND ASSOCIATED MOSSES
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 11 9:14 AM, 2015
Stone Curlew on Little Woolden Moss this morning, showing well on the bare peat of the new LWT reserve from the hide area.
Info thanks to Dave Steel
** Please note that parking in this area is extremely limited and consideration should always be given for farm vehicles at all times. Park very carefully along Moss Road and walk north to the end of road and continue north to follow the footpath to the reserve or park equally carefully along Astley Road to access the reserve via the track west from the junction with Twelve Yards Road. Any inconsiderate parking will cause serious problems with locals in the area so please park a distance away and walk as necessary **
Nick Isherwood said
Sun May 10 7:45 PM, 2015
Took my 6 year old daughter to look for the Cuckoos this evening. There were no birds present in the usual place on the dead trees but as we walked back through Rindle Woods a male started calling from around twenty yards away. After a bit of stealthy back-peddling we managed to see it up in the canopy of a large tree. My daughter was really happy she'd seen one and I made sure she knew how lucky she was to get such close views.
Adam Jones said
Sun May 10 10:57 AM, 2015
Cuckoo patrolling the tops of the tress and singing frequently this morning. A second one was heard babbling away too but I wasn't able to see it. Also in the area: 5 Lapwings 2 Yellowhammers 2 Common Whitethroats 1 Tree Sparrow Curlew, heard only
Rob Creek said
Sat May 9 7:45 PM, 2015
5.30 - 6.30pm with Stephen Ellison
1 male Yellowhammer on telephone wire on Rindle Road 1 male and 1 female CUCKOO (First seen as a silhouette in flight then landed on dead tree at edge of field, then another bird appeared and they did a couple of fly-rounds and dropped down out of sight, female could be heard Bubbling quite loudly) 1 Sparrowhawk being persued by 2 smaller birds 2 Common Buzzard 1 Kestrel hovering over Rindle Road 2 Grey Partridge that flew up nearby and landed quite a way away, definitely not Quail as suggested. 1 Red-legged Partridge 4 Lapwing 4 Oystercatcher flew over - calling, 6 feeding in field 5 Redshank flew over Few Pheasant Greenfinch Goldfinch Blue Tit Plenty of Woodpigeon
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 9th of May 2015 07:48:11 PM
Steve Judge said
Sat May 9 5:53 PM, 2015
Saturday, 9th May 2015. 15:00 - 16:30 hrs.
Quick walk round Rindle Woods and Astley Moss area. Pleasant early evening sun with bit of nip in air.
No sight or sound of cuckoo (spoke to another birdwatcher who said cuckoo heard 12:15 yesterday) Whitethroat Reed Bunting Skylark Pheasant and chick Song Thrush Lapwing Buzzard Chaffinch Black Headed Gulls Lesser Black Backed Gull Great Tit Blue Tit Goldfinch Magpie Carrion Crow Blackbird Woodpigeon Robin Mallard Canada Geese
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 9 9:42 AM, 2015
Cuckoo around the scrapes on the old carrot field behind Rindle Woods this morning and Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the SSSI.
Info thanks to Andy Little
JOHN TYMON said
Sat May 9 6:53 AM, 2015
John Williams wrote:
Follow the directions given in the site guide on the website Joel.
Please note there is strictly no access onto the moss itself, it's a spagnum bog and dangerous.
The cuckoos are best viewed along the Southern boundary of the moss, they often settle on one of dead birches here.
Also people seem to forget that a permit is required to go on any of the paths behind Rindle wood and Astley Moss from the Lancashire trust. It always amazes me how many I meet who have never had a permit but are always on there.
John Williams said
Fri May 8 11:58 PM, 2015
Follow the directions given in the site guide on the website Joel.
Please note there is strictly no access onto the moss itself, it's a spagnum bog and dangerous.
The cuckoos are best viewed along the Southern boundary of the moss, they often settle on one of dead birches here.
Joel Tragen said
Fri May 8 9:58 PM, 2015
Is there a good spot to see the cuckoos here, I haven't seen a cuckoo for a good few years now and I have never been to this site?
John Williams said
Fri May 8 11:47 AM, 2015
08.00-10.30
1 Whitethroat singing by Rindle Cottages, and 2 more on territory around Astley Moss Scrapes.
2 Cuckoos on the edge of the moss, 1 highly vocal and calling from the dead birches, the other silent and seen hawking insects "flycatcher style" around the top of a big oak.
1m+1f Kestrels, the male seen carrying a small rodent. A pair of Oystercatchers was in the field by the railway. 1 Buzzard flew over the scrapes.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 5 5:27 PM, 2015
Cuckoo feeding on worms in the middle field behind Rindle Wood this early morning.
Info thanks to Andy Little
Ian Boote said
Mon May 4 1:35 PM, 2015
Garden Warbler at edge of Astley SSSI in willow birch scrub
Steven Nelson said
Sun May 3 1:51 PM, 2015
12.00-13.00 Little Woolden Moss
1 Peregrine (adult f) - sat on bare peat throughout c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the pools and circling overhead plus approx 10 Herring Gulls mixed in. 1 Yellow Wagtail - male 3 Pied Wagtail 1 Oystercatcher 4 Lapwing 2 Whitethroat 6 Willow Warbler 2 Reed Bunting 1 Canada Goose 6 Mallard plus 4 ducklings 2 Stock Dove 2 Jackdaw 2 Carrion Crow 1 Skylark Plus usuals
Also 1 Grey Partridge male near Four Lane Ends
Ian Boote said
Sat May 2 5:15 PM, 2015
Astley Moss Yellowhammer x 2 Willow Tit x 2 (1 on SSSI 1 Rindle Road) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, one very mobile Cuckoo, White Wagtail, Lapwings Rindle Road, Reed Bunting , Meadow Pipits, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Linnets, Oystercatcher, Sand Martins, and Swallows as well as more usuals.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 05:20:36 PM
John Sleaford said
Fri May 1 10:20 PM, 2015
Twelve Yards Rd
1 Reed Warbler
2 Willow Warbler
2 Pied Wagtail
5 Long-tailed Tit
2 Skylark
2 Blackcap
And the three legged Fox.
Barton Moss --Tunnel farm & Field 55 mid afternoon House Martins nesting under the eves of the farmhouse. Field 55. ~ 8 pairs of Lapwings 3 pairs of Skylarks Single male Wheatear Pair of Little Ringed Plovers Single male Yellow Wagtail Pair of Pied Wagtails Pair of Buzzards soaring over Male Kestrel hunting In the field drainage ditches 2 male Whitethroats singing Resident pair of Willow Tits Female Blackcap, huge increase in numbers of pairs this spring across the Mosses. Cheers Ian
Paul Richardson said
Mon Apr 27 3:30 PM, 2015
Rindle Road area 07.30 - 11.30 cold, frosty start and unbroken sunshine
Cuckoo heard at some distance around 10am - several calls in succession, then nothing. I suspect it was somewhere in the trees over the far side of Astley Moss.
Willow Warbler - everywhere! Common Whitethroat - at least 8 over the patch Blackcap - 6 Yellowhammer 4 Reed Bunting 3 Chiffchaff 2 Oystercatcher 1 Lapwing - numerous Stock Dove Woodpigeon ++ Chaffinch ++ Wren ++ Treecreeper Willow Tit 4 Pied Wagtail Wheatear 2 Kestrel 1 Buzzard 4
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 26 9:17 AM, 2015
Two Cuckoos present behind Rindle Wood and around the SSSI this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Little
Alan Warford said
Thu Apr 23 1:43 PM, 2015
Little Woolden Moss and Croxdens 7-30 till 12 with Dave Steel.
Greenshank 6 little Ringed Plover 1 Ringed Plover 2 Curlew 4 Redshank 10 Wheatear Grasshopper Warbler 10 Yellowhammer 2 Yellow Wagtail 2 Oystercatcher 15 Sand Martins 5 Swallows 12 Linnets 4 Grey Partridge 2 Buzzards 18 Stock Dove 4 Tree Sparrows Few Chiffchaff, blackcap and Willow Warbler.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 23rd of April 2015 02:53:35 PM
James Walsh said
Wed Apr 22 7:59 PM, 2015
Earth Day event on Mosses
Chat Moss, Barton Moss, Irlam Moss and Little Woolden Moss
A second Whimbrel has just turned up in field 67 and both birds have flown over to Chat moss.
Dave Thacker said
Mon Apr 20 6:35 PM, 2015
Astley moss
7 Wheatear and single Whimbrel at the moment.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Apr 19 5:00 PM, 2015
Originally posted today by Alan Prosser:
A Common Crane heading North over Astley Tip at 11.30am today. Climbing in thermal over East Lancs Road and then headed North East after a huge increase in height. It was 200ft to 300 ft high when first observed from approx. about 400yds away.
Jason Dulhanty said
Sun Apr 19 4:40 PM, 2015
Rindle road area 2 till 4 Field 67 Single Swallow Whimbrel Wheatearx2 Lapwing Rindle wood area Yellowhammerx2 Chiffchaff chaffinchx2 mallardx2 SSSI Hunting Kestrel Buzzardx2 Grey Heron over Cheers Jay Don't twitch and drive
-- Edited by Jason Dulhanty on Sunday 19th of April 2015 04:41:45 PM
Steven Nelson said
Fri Apr 17 9:51 PM, 2015
19.30-20.30 Little Woolden Moss
1 Green Sandpiper 4 Little Ringed Plover 2 Oystercatcher 2 Curlew 5 Lapwing 11 Wheatear (10 together in the ploughed field at back & 1 on the peat) 4 Teal 6 Mallard 4 Canada Geese 4 Willow Warbler - singing 1 Blackcap - singing 1 Buzzard 1 Kestrel 1 Reed Bunting
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Apr 16 10:13 PM, 2015
Single Cuckoo feeding on the ground in field 69, Astley Moss at 7am this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Little
Seven Wheatears at Rindle this evening.
Info thanks to Pete Berry
Steven Nelson said
Thu Apr 16 9:59 PM, 2015
1 very distant Cuckoo heard somewhere from Irlam or Cadishead Moss this evening at 19.30.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Apr 15 8:07 AM, 2015
Two Cuckoos behind Rindle Wood this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Little
Dave Thacker said
Tue Apr 14 8:49 PM, 2015
At least 5 Wheatear in the field behind Rindle woods this evening.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Apr 14 9:40 AM, 2015
Cuckoo flying and singing over Bedford Moss this morning.
Info thanks to Andy Little
Simon Gough said
Sat Apr 11 8:05 PM, 2015
A walk up from Irlam across the motorway on Astley Road to Croxdens, then over Little Woolden Moss, back round to Irlam via the other bridge over the motorway and the footpath back to Astley Road.
Field 25 had a fair few birds feeding in the stubble, but I couldn't pick out any Corn Buntings amongst lots of Yellowhammer and some Chaffinch. It was very windy, irksome as no birds were singing or perching up as you might have hoped on a nice spring day.
Not much on Twelve Yards Road, again too windy as you'd expect singing birds down there too. Nowt at Croxdens but a flyover Curlew walking back was nice for me, not seen many in GM. Lapwings and Skylarks weren't bothered by the wind.
Little Woolden Moss was a very interesting place. Firstly were 2 Willow Warbler singing at the entrance gate. Only saw one, but a nice year tick there. Then walking across to the open peaty pools bit, literally as I was drafting the line in my head about how eerie and deserted it was, I flushed 2 Redshank! But better than that, a Green Sandpiper followed them. I was really confused because at first view it was a light colour and I thought Common Sand, then on ruling that out I started thinking outlandish thoughts about Wood Sand. But it was too big and none of the features really added up, essentially it was a pale-looking Green Sand. I think the high sun overhead was washing out the colour a bit. Anyway then I saw a White Wagtail with a couple of Pied cousins, and finally a Little Ringed Plover, so from me thinking it was a desert I actually got another 2 year ticks. From now on I will check it out if I'm over that way. It looked a better bet for waders than Croxdens in all honesty.
Walking back to Irlam an Oystercatcher was feeding with pigeons and gulls on a ploughed field and I saw a few Swallows to rack up another first for the year. Last good bird was a Snipe that flashed up from a ditch and zoomed away, another walker ahead of me had flushed it I think.
A nice walk, I wish it had been less blustery though, but even so some great birds.
Steven Nelson said
Fri Apr 10 8:29 PM, 2015
13.30 Quick visit to Cadishead Moss & Little Woolden Moss
2 Redshank 2 Stock Dove 4 Swallow at Woodlands Farm 2 Grey Partridge - pair
Steven Nelson said
Thu Apr 9 2:03 PM, 2015
8.00-10.45 Croxdens, Irlam, Barton & Little Woolden Mosses
Totals: 5 Willow Warbler 3 Chiffchaff 3 Wheatear 1 Sand Martin 2 Redshank 1 Curlew c.50 Lapwing - many displaying 6 Grey Partridge - 3 pairs 8 Pheasant 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 Jay 2 Bullfinch - pair 8 Mallard 7 Canada Geese c.30 Reed Bunting 7 Yellowhammer c.100 Meadow Pipit - many displaying plus a flock of c.60+ 6 Skylark c.50 Black-headed Gull 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 Pied Wagtail 5 Grey Heron over c.200 Woodpigeon 4 Stock Dove 2 Song Thrush Plus the usuals!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 9th of April 2015 02:04:35 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of April 2015 02:07:38 PM
Paul Richardson said
Wed Apr 8 11:57 PM, 2015
Glorious evening at Astley along Rindle Road and the Moss SSSI path. 4pm - 7pm.
Willow Warbler - one seen, one heard only, on the pools area of the SSSI. My first for the year!
Chiffchaff - 3 singing Willow Tit - 2 seen (a pair) and at least one other singing. SSSI pools path - trees along edge of field. Reed Bunting - 8 Pied Wagtail - 4 Meadow Pipit - approx 10 Common Buzzard - 3 Lapwing - several over SSSI, at least 4 pairs displaying over ploughed fields on Moss Lane and 2 more pairs near Rindle Cottages. Chaffinch - numerous all over Yellowhammer - 4 Skylark - several heard only Song Thrush - 2 heard Mistle Thrush - 2 Jay - 3
Also Mallard Blackbird Great & Blue Tit Wren Robins ++ Woodpigeon ++++
Rob Creek said
Tue Apr 7 6:01 PM, 2015
A Sparrowhawk came gliding over the road last night near the Old Boat House as I was leaving.
Rob Creek said
Mon Apr 6 10:46 PM, 2015
Late afternoon visit in brilliant sunshine.
Started off a bit slow but soon picked up pace.
Common Buzzard - 4 seen together at once, more singles seen Kestrel - 1 Chaffinch - ~15 Greenfinch - 6 together (all male) Goldfinch - ~10 Tree Sparrow - 2 seen together Reed Bunting - ~10 Linnet - ~5 Yellowhammer - 10 Corn Bunting - 3 Skylark - ~8 Meadow Pipit - 2 Pied Wagtail - 2 following a Horse in a paddock Chiffchaff - 4 heard but only a brief glimpse of 1 Song Thrush - 3 Mistle Thrush - 2 Blackbird - lots Robin - 5 Long-tailed Tit - 2 Lots of Great Tit and Blue Tit Lapwing - 1 Woodpigeon - uncountable Numerous usual Gulls over Few Carrion Crows around Few Starlings 2 Collared Dove Lot's of Carrion Crow 2 Mallard Lots of Pheasant ...and 1 Hedgehog fairly close up - slowly going about its business in the field at the side of the feeding track
Can't put exact numbers on these but whilst there, a couple of fields were ploughed over, a massive Finch flock took to the air from one field, they were obviously feeding in the furrows out of view. Personally I think there was well clear of 100 birds and from what I could make out they were mainly Reed Bunting and Linnet with some Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer in there too! So I've only listed the numbers I could reasonably estimate at closer quarters.
Ian Boote said
Mon Apr 6 5:17 PM, 2015
Fields 25 26 3 Yellowhammer, 2 Corn bunting, 2 Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit Male Kestrel- There was other flocks but rather duistant and hidden by stubble. Field 22 1 singing Skylark 2 Oystercatcher, Chiffchaff Singing Field 18 Singing Goldcrest at farm and Tree sparrow Woolden Moss 18 Buzzard. Oystercatcher Lapwing Singing Skylark Field 62 Singing Yellowhammer Reed Bunting and over Peregrine Falcon Field 52 2 Curlew Singing skylark x 2 Fields 58 61 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff Singing Goldcrest Singing, Female Sparrowhawk, Pheasant Croxden Peat works 4, 5 Two Redshank. Several Lapwing Fields 13 14 52 Singing Yellowhammer, Singing Reed Bunting, White wagtail Field 24 Buzzard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 6th of April 2015 05:55:21 PM
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Apr 5 9:26 PM, 2015
Astley Road from Irlam to railway; a couple of deviations off the road, but mainly in the fields immediately adjacent to it:
5+ greenfinch (mostly in song) 20+ goldfinch c30 linnet (in two flocks, a few in song) 30+ chaffinch 6 corn bunting (one in song) c15 yellowhammer (two in song) 3 reed bunting 1 swallow c30 skylark 3 chiffchaff c25 meadow pipit (in two flocks) 16 pied wagtail 1 grey wagtail 3 mistle thrush 5+ song thrush 5 stock dove c50 lapwing (displaying all over) 2 oystercatcher 4 curlew over (and others heard) 2 grey partridge 3 grey heron over 2 mute swan over 5 buzzard 1 kestrel
Plenty of blackbird, wren, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, etc. Didn't notice any corvids that weren't carrion crows, perhaps oddly.
Several small tortoiseshell and a few peacock. :)
ETA: Sorry if anyone got a bit excited there; definitely a *grey* wagtail.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 5th of April 2015 09:35:13 PM
Mark Burgess said
Sun Apr 5 10:49 AM, 2015
Astley Moss 8.15 - 10 .15am
Rindle Road Linnet 10+ Reed Bunting Yellowhammer 6 Greenfinch Tree Sparrow 2 Pied Wagtail 4 Buzzard Sparrowhawk Kestrel Jay 3 Curlew Song Thrush
Rindle Wood Song Thrush Great Spotted Woodpecker Great, Blue, Long Tailed, Coal and Willow Tit All present
3 Curlew 5 Canada Geese 6 Mallard c. 20 BH Gulls 1 Kestrel 2 Heron over
Ian Boote said
Thu Apr 2 8:41 PM, 2015
Astley Moss - Buzzard x 2 Kestrel x 2 Reed Bunting Long Tailed Tits, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Meadow Pipit Woolden Moss 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew one circling and calling, 7 Lapwing on the Moss 30 in surrounding field several displaying, Reed Bunting, Buzzard, Singing Skylark, Meadow Pipits, in the Glazebrook 6 Teal and Pheasant everywhere.
Phil White said
Sat Mar 21 4:36 PM, 2015
Quick walk with the dogs round croxden pools Oystercatcher 2 Wheatear 1 M showing well
IANMOFFAT1 said
Fri Mar 20 9:25 PM, 2015
Chat Moss late afternoon. Single female Stonechat in field 9 west, siding onto Croxden P.N.R. No sign of the long staying Male last seen on Croxden peat pools on Feb 20th. Cheers Ian
Ian Boote said
Fri Mar 20 6:13 PM, 2015
Little Woolden Moss Fields between Rosebank Farm Worsley View Farm south of Motorway 2 Grey Partridge, 20 Lapwing (2 Displaying) 4 Skylark (2 Singing) Goldcrest Singing, 6 Pheasant, 3 Yellowhammer (2 Singing) 7 Reed Bunting Males, 2 Corn Bunting, large flocks of Gold and Chaffinch House and Tree Sparrow. On the Moss itself which is undergoing a lot of restoration work by LWT 2 Oystercatcher 6 Mallard, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Singing Goldcrest Singing Reed Bunting Meadow Pipits and more Skylarks.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 20th of March 2015 06:14:22 PM
Info thanks to Dave Steel
** Please note that parking in this area is extremely limited and consideration should always be given for farm vehicles at all times. Park very carefully along Moss Road and walk north to the end of road and continue north to follow the footpath to the reserve or park equally carefully along Astley Road to access the reserve via the track west from the junction with Twelve Yards Road. Any inconsiderate parking will cause serious problems with locals in the area so please park a distance away and walk as necessary **
A second one was heard babbling away too but I wasn't able to see it.
Also in the area:
5 Lapwings
2 Yellowhammers
2 Common Whitethroats
1 Tree Sparrow
Curlew, heard only
1 male Yellowhammer on telephone wire on Rindle Road
1 male and 1 female CUCKOO
(First seen as a silhouette in flight then landed on dead tree at edge of field, then another bird appeared and they did a couple of fly-rounds and dropped down out of sight, female could be heard Bubbling quite loudly)
1 Sparrowhawk being persued by 2 smaller birds
2 Common Buzzard
1 Kestrel hovering over Rindle Road
2 Grey Partridge that flew up nearby and landed quite a way away, definitely not Quail as suggested.
1 Red-legged Partridge
4 Lapwing
4 Oystercatcher flew over - calling, 6 feeding in field
5 Redshank flew over
Few Pheasant
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Plenty of Woodpigeon
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Saturday 9th of May 2015 07:48:11 PM
Quick walk round Rindle Woods and Astley Moss area.
Pleasant early evening sun with bit of nip in air.
No sight or sound of cuckoo (spoke to another birdwatcher who said cuckoo heard 12:15 yesterday)
Whitethroat
Reed Bunting
Skylark
Pheasant and chick
Song Thrush
Lapwing
Buzzard
Chaffinch
Black Headed Gulls
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Goldfinch
Magpie
Carrion Crow
Blackbird
Woodpigeon
Robin
Mallard
Canada Geese
Info thanks to Andy Little
Also people seem to forget that a permit is required to go on any of the paths behind Rindle wood and Astley Moss from the Lancashire trust. It always amazes me how many I meet who have never had a permit but are always on there.
Please note there is strictly no access onto the moss itself, it's a spagnum bog and dangerous.
The cuckoos are best viewed along the Southern boundary of the moss, they often settle on one of dead birches here.
1 Whitethroat singing by Rindle Cottages, and 2 more on territory around Astley Moss Scrapes.
2 Cuckoos on the edge of the moss, 1 highly vocal and calling from the dead birches, the other silent and seen hawking insects "flycatcher style" around the top of a big oak.
1m+1f Kestrels, the male seen carrying a small rodent. A pair of Oystercatchers was in the field by the railway. 1 Buzzard flew over the scrapes.
Info thanks to Andy Little
1 Peregrine (adult f) - sat on bare peat throughout
c.150 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the pools and circling overhead plus approx 10 Herring Gulls mixed in.
1 Yellow Wagtail - male
3 Pied Wagtail
1 Oystercatcher
4 Lapwing
2 Whitethroat
6 Willow Warbler
2 Reed Bunting
1 Canada Goose
6 Mallard plus 4 ducklings
2 Stock Dove
2 Jackdaw
2 Carrion Crow
1 Skylark
Plus usuals
Also 1 Grey Partridge male near Four Lane Ends
Yellowhammer x 2 Willow Tit x 2 (1 on SSSI 1 Rindle Road) Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Buzzard, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, one very mobile Cuckoo, White Wagtail, Lapwings Rindle Road, Reed Bunting , Meadow Pipits, Common Whitethroats, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Linnets, Oystercatcher, Sand Martins, and Swallows as well as more usuals.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 2nd of May 2015 05:20:36 PM
1 Whinchat
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Swift
9 Wheatear
Cadishead Moss
1 singing Corn Bunting
8 Yellowhammer
1 Wheatear
2 Grey Partridge
5 Tree Sparrow
Info thanks to Andy Little
2 Whinchat
1 Wheatear
4 Yellow Wagtail
2 Curlew Sandpiper one coming into Summer plumage
16 Dunlin
7 Little Ringed Plover
2 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
2 Curlew
3 Oystercatcher
1 whinchat adult male
1 Corn Bunting
8 Wheatear
1 Raven
1 Yellow Wagtail
5 Yellowhammer
10 Linnet
10 Meadow Pipi
6+ Grey Partridge
9 Tufted Duck
House Martins nesting under the eves of the farmhouse.
Field 55.
~ 8 pairs of Lapwings
3 pairs of Skylarks
Single male Wheatear
Pair of Little Ringed Plovers
Single male Yellow Wagtail
Pair of Pied Wagtails
Pair of Buzzards soaring over
Male Kestrel hunting
In the field drainage ditches
2 male Whitethroats singing
Resident pair of Willow Tits
Female Blackcap, huge increase in numbers of pairs this spring across the Mosses.
Cheers
Ian
Cuckoo heard at some distance around 10am - several calls in succession, then nothing. I suspect it was somewhere in the trees over the far side of Astley Moss.
Willow Warbler - everywhere!
Common Whitethroat - at least 8 over the patch
Blackcap - 6
Yellowhammer 4
Reed Bunting 3
Chiffchaff 2
Oystercatcher 1
Lapwing - numerous
Stock Dove
Woodpigeon ++
Chaffinch ++
Wren ++
Treecreeper
Willow Tit 4
Pied Wagtail
Wheatear 2
Kestrel 1
Buzzard 4
Info thanks to Andy Little
Greenshank
6 little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
2 Curlew
4 Redshank
10 Wheatear
Grasshopper Warbler
10 Yellowhammer
2 Yellow Wagtail
2 Oystercatcher
15 Sand Martins
5 Swallows
12 Linnets
4 Grey Partridge
2 Buzzards
18 Stock Dove
4 Tree Sparrows
Few Chiffchaff, blackcap and Willow Warbler.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 23rd of April 2015 02:53:35 PM
Chat Moss, Barton Moss, Irlam Moss and Little Woolden Moss
3 Yellow Wagtail
1 White Wagtail
4+ Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
c100 Lapwing
2 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
3 Redshank
2 broods of Mallard
c20 singing Willow Warbler
c5 singing Chiffchaff
c5 singing Skylark
5 Buzzard
5 Swallow
5 Sand Martin
2 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
10 Meadow Pipit
10 Reed Bunting
15 Tufted Duck
Early evening, Field 67 and horse paddock at side of Rindle cottages.
Wheatear 6
Whimbrel
Curlew 2
Oystercatcher
Grey Partridge 4
7 Wheatear and single Whimbrel at the moment.
A Common Crane heading North over Astley Tip at 11.30am today. Climbing in thermal over East Lancs Road and then headed North East after a huge increase in height. It was 200ft to 300 ft high when first observed from approx. about 400yds away.
Field 67
Single Swallow
Whimbrel
Wheatearx2
Lapwing
Rindle wood area
Yellowhammerx2
Chiffchaff
chaffinchx2
mallardx2
SSSI
Hunting Kestrel
Buzzardx2
Grey Heron over
Cheers Jay
Don't twitch and drive
-- Edited by Jason Dulhanty on Sunday 19th of April 2015 04:41:45 PM
1 Green Sandpiper
4 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
2 Curlew
5 Lapwing
11 Wheatear (10 together in the ploughed field at back & 1 on the peat)
4 Teal
6 Mallard
4 Canada Geese
4 Willow Warbler - singing
1 Blackcap - singing
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Reed Bunting
Info thanks to Andy Little
Seven Wheatears at Rindle this evening.
Info thanks to Pete Berry
Info thanks to Andy Little
Info thanks to Andy Little
Field 25 had a fair few birds feeding in the stubble, but I couldn't pick out any Corn Buntings amongst lots of Yellowhammer and some Chaffinch. It was very windy, irksome as no birds were singing or perching up as you might have hoped on a nice spring day.
Not much on Twelve Yards Road, again too windy as you'd expect singing birds down there too. Nowt at Croxdens but a flyover Curlew walking back was nice for me, not seen many in GM. Lapwings and Skylarks weren't bothered by the wind.
Little Woolden Moss was a very interesting place. Firstly were 2 Willow Warbler singing at the entrance gate. Only saw one, but a nice year tick there. Then walking across to the open peaty pools bit, literally as I was drafting the line in my head about how eerie and deserted it was, I flushed 2 Redshank! But better than that, a Green Sandpiper followed them. I was really confused because at first view it was a light colour and I thought Common Sand, then on ruling that out I started thinking outlandish thoughts about Wood Sand. But it was too big and none of the features really added up, essentially it was a pale-looking Green Sand. I think the high sun overhead was washing out the colour a bit. Anyway then I saw a White Wagtail with a couple of Pied cousins, and finally a Little Ringed Plover, so from me thinking it was a desert I actually got another 2 year ticks. From now on I will check it out if I'm over that way. It looked a better bet for waders than Croxdens in all honesty.
Walking back to Irlam an Oystercatcher was feeding with pigeons and gulls on a ploughed field and I saw a few Swallows to rack up another first for the year. Last good bird was a Snipe that flashed up from a ditch and zoomed away, another walker ahead of me had flushed it I think.
A nice walk, I wish it had been less blustery though, but even so some great birds.
Quick visit to Cadishead Moss & Little Woolden Moss
2 Redshank
2 Stock Dove
4 Swallow at Woodlands Farm
2 Grey Partridge - pair
Croxdens, Irlam, Barton & Little Woolden Mosses
Totals:
5 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
3 Wheatear
1 Sand Martin
2 Redshank
1 Curlew
c.50 Lapwing - many displaying
6 Grey Partridge - 3 pairs
8 Pheasant
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Jay
2 Bullfinch - pair
8 Mallard
7 Canada Geese
c.30 Reed Bunting
7 Yellowhammer
c.100 Meadow Pipit - many displaying plus a flock of c.60+
6 Skylark
c.50 Black-headed Gull
4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
7 Pied Wagtail
5 Grey Heron over
c.200 Woodpigeon
4 Stock Dove
2 Song Thrush
Plus the usuals!
-- Edited by Steven Nelson on Thursday 9th of April 2015 02:04:35 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 9th of April 2015 02:07:38 PM
Willow Warbler - one seen, one heard only, on the pools area of the SSSI. My first for the year!
Chiffchaff - 3 singing
Willow Tit - 2 seen (a pair) and at least one other singing. SSSI pools path - trees along edge of field.
Reed Bunting - 8
Pied Wagtail - 4
Meadow Pipit - approx 10
Common Buzzard - 3
Lapwing - several over SSSI, at least 4 pairs displaying over ploughed fields on Moss Lane and 2 more pairs near Rindle Cottages.
Chaffinch - numerous all over
Yellowhammer - 4
Skylark - several heard only
Song Thrush - 2 heard
Mistle Thrush - 2
Jay - 3
Also
Mallard
Blackbird
Great & Blue Tit
Wren
Robins ++
Woodpigeon ++++
Started off a bit slow but soon picked up pace.
Common Buzzard - 4 seen together at once, more singles seen
Kestrel - 1
Chaffinch - ~15
Greenfinch - 6 together (all male)
Goldfinch - ~10
Tree Sparrow - 2 seen together
Reed Bunting - ~10
Linnet - ~5
Yellowhammer - 10
Corn Bunting - 3
Skylark - ~8
Meadow Pipit - 2
Pied Wagtail - 2 following a Horse in a paddock
Chiffchaff - 4 heard but only a brief glimpse of 1
Song Thrush - 3
Mistle Thrush - 2
Blackbird - lots
Robin - 5
Long-tailed Tit - 2
Lots of Great Tit and Blue Tit
Lapwing - 1
Woodpigeon - uncountable
Numerous usual Gulls over
Few Carrion Crows around
Few Starlings
2 Collared Dove
Lot's of Carrion Crow
2 Mallard
Lots of Pheasant
...and 1 Hedgehog fairly close up - slowly going about its business in the field at the side of the feeding track
Can't put exact numbers on these but whilst there, a couple of fields were ploughed over, a massive Finch flock took to the air from one field, they were obviously feeding in the furrows out of view. Personally I think there was well clear of 100 birds and from what I could make out they were mainly Reed Bunting and Linnet with some Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer in there too! So I've only listed the numbers I could reasonably estimate at closer quarters.
Field 22 1 singing Skylark 2 Oystercatcher, Chiffchaff Singing
Field 18 Singing Goldcrest at farm and Tree sparrow
Woolden Moss 18 Buzzard. Oystercatcher Lapwing Singing Skylark
Field 62 Singing Yellowhammer Reed Bunting and over Peregrine Falcon
Field 52 2 Curlew Singing skylark x 2
Fields 58 61 Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff Singing Goldcrest Singing, Female Sparrowhawk, Pheasant
Croxden Peat works 4, 5 Two Redshank. Several Lapwing
Fields 13 14 52 Singing Yellowhammer, Singing Reed Bunting, White wagtail
Field 24 Buzzard
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 6th of April 2015 05:55:21 PM
5+ greenfinch (mostly in song)
20+ goldfinch
c30 linnet (in two flocks, a few in song)
30+ chaffinch
6 corn bunting (one in song)
c15 yellowhammer (two in song)
3 reed bunting
1 swallow
c30 skylark
3 chiffchaff
c25 meadow pipit (in two flocks)
16 pied wagtail
1 grey wagtail
3 mistle thrush
5+ song thrush
5 stock dove
c50 lapwing (displaying all over)
2 oystercatcher
4 curlew over (and others heard)
2 grey partridge
3 grey heron over
2 mute swan over
5 buzzard
1 kestrel
Plenty of blackbird, wren, dunnock, blue tit, great tit, etc. Didn't notice any corvids that weren't carrion crows, perhaps oddly.
Several small tortoiseshell and a few peacock. :)
ETA: Sorry if anyone got a bit excited there; definitely a *grey* wagtail.
-- Edited by Shannon Llewellyn on Sunday 5th of April 2015 09:35:13 PM
Rindle Road
Linnet 10+
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer 6
Greenfinch
Tree Sparrow 2
Pied Wagtail 4
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Jay 3
Curlew
Song Thrush
Rindle Wood
Song Thrush
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Great, Blue, Long Tailed, Coal and Willow Tit All present
6 Willow tits
Coal tit
3 Yellowhammers
2 Tree sparrows
4 Jays
Kestrel
2 Buzzards
Tawny owl
Curlew
3 Curlew
5 Canada Geese
6 Mallard
c. 20 BH Gulls
1 Kestrel
2 Heron over
Woolden Moss 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Curlew one circling and calling, 7 Lapwing on the Moss 30 in surrounding field several displaying, Reed Bunting, Buzzard, Singing Skylark, Meadow Pipits, in the Glazebrook 6 Teal and Pheasant everywhere.
Oystercatcher 2
Wheatear 1 M showing well
Single female Stonechat in field 9 west, siding onto Croxden P.N.R.
No sign of the long staying Male last seen on Croxden peat pools on Feb 20th.
Cheers
Ian
Fields between Rosebank Farm Worsley View Farm south of Motorway
2 Grey Partridge, 20 Lapwing (2 Displaying) 4 Skylark (2 Singing) Goldcrest Singing, 6 Pheasant, 3 Yellowhammer (2 Singing) 7 Reed Bunting Males, 2 Corn Bunting, large flocks of Gold and Chaffinch House and Tree Sparrow.
On the Moss itself which is undergoing a lot of restoration work by LWT 2 Oystercatcher 6 Mallard, 6 Canada Geese, 2 Singing Goldcrest Singing Reed Bunting Meadow Pipits and more Skylarks.
-- Edited by Ian Boote on Friday 20th of March 2015 06:14:22 PM