It's the best time of year to find out where Buzzards are going to breed. I have suspected a pair might breed at Wardley Hall, Dave - nice private site! Early this morning on New Moss Rd, Cadishead Moss, I had a superb male Merlin on plough f.53 which flew off W - John Shakeshaft and Steve Nelson also had one on Chat Moss f. 62 earlier and later than I, so there may be 2. Also on New Moss Rd, a male Stonechat and 5 Tree Sparrows, plenty of mipitsand larks in fallow f.33. But no lark. BWP says when flushed, they fly some distance then hide behind a stone or a plant, but are nocturnal migrants. We should have looked harder yesterday!
Dave Thacker said
Sat Mar 10 4:54 PM, 2007
Astley and Chat Moss 10/03 12.30 to 3 pm
Watched 4 buzzards flying around Astley Moss causing panic for the many Lapwings in the fields. 1 Buzzard flying north over field 67 before the railway line on Rindle rd. 2 more flying west over field 59. Then 2 Buzzards displaying over field 52 besides 12 yards rd.
While talking to a car load of bird watchers out looking for the Desert wheatear we saw a Peregrine spook at least 200 pigeons and doves in field 63.It managed to catch one but then lost hold of the dove which managed to escape minus some feathers.
Driving towards home in Swinton another Buzzard flew over the A580 and into Wardley Woods.
Quite a good afternoon but I still did not see the wheatear
Early this morning on New Moss Rd, Cadishead Moss, I had a superb male Merlin on plough f.53 which flew off W - John Shakeshaft and Steve Nelson also had one on Chat Moss f. 62 earlier and later than I, so there may be 2. Also on New Moss Rd, a male Stonechat and 5 Tree Sparrows, plenty of mipitsand larks in fallow f.33. But no lark. BWP says when flushed, they fly some distance then hide behind a stone or a plant, but are nocturnal migrants. We should have looked harder yesterday!
Watched 4 buzzards flying around Astley Moss causing panic for the many Lapwings in the fields.
1 Buzzard flying north over field 67 before the railway line on Rindle rd.
2 more flying west over field 59.
Then 2 Buzzards displaying over field 52 besides 12 yards rd.
While talking to a car load of bird watchers out looking for the Desert wheatear we saw a Peregrine spook at least 200 pigeons and doves in field 63.It managed to catch one but then lost hold of the dove which managed to escape minus some feathers.
Driving towards home in Swinton another Buzzard flew over the A580 and into Wardley Woods.
Quite a good afternoon but I still did not see the wheatear