Thursday 9th April

- 2 Swallows on wires along the country lanes near Mawdesley on way to the M6 yesterday afternoon.
My first ones this year.

Osprey flying north north west tonight 1950, just east of rufford station

Originally posted by Gary Lilley today: -

Found 2 green sandpiper today one on mawdesley moss on a drainage ditch and one on the syd brook at eccleston .

Female ringtail hen harrier hunting corn bunting
And yellowhammer flock near the two big hedges on the moss today
Also sparrowhawk here

I was down yesterday, owing to trains to rhyl being inexplicably cancelled on the only day i've got off. Still well worth the visit, 4 shorties and a kestrel putting on a show! Considering its right next to a train station its a nightmare to get to, thanks to David Cookson I did OK though!

Another excellent night on the marsh behind rufford
Train station
3 short eared owls hunting joined by a barn owl
Kestrel,and buzzard also present.

Just like to thank Gary lilley for putting me on to this
Site from his forum on the chorley site.

Parked on rufford train station car park
And behind on the marsh land was treated to
Two short eared owls hunting around 3pm
Also 4 kestrels 2 buzzards
Hundreds of pink footed geese coming in to roost
Huge number of Corvus flying high over
1st time I have been ere birding very impressed
Easy to access with the public footpath right next to
The car park

had a great day on the mosses today , 1 fem marsh harrier , 50 pinkfooted geese , 1 fem whinchat , 100+ linnet ,5 snipe also spotted a possible dotterel the bird was flying fast about 30 feet up ( i heard a long drawn whistle almost bullfinch like ) it headed towards croston finney , just hope someone else get to see it .

Highlight this morning was a huge flock of 200/300 linnet which are being attracted by 2 fields set aside for wild birds also 13 partridge in one covey and a single wheatear ( not sure what species of partridge)

A single female marsh harrier was hunting over the moss this morning .

2 Quail were calling this morning , other highlights a single sedge warbler was with whitethroat and reed bunting and a single tawny owl was being mobbed by several species of birds as it tried have a sleep in a scyamore tree .

A barn owl was hunting at 8.00pm , no quail calling (2 birds were calling the other day) although a single bird was calling yesterday at nearby eccleston on a maize field near the river yarrow between eccleston and croston .

-- Edited by gary lilley on Saturday 16th of July 2011 10:39:43 PM

A single quail was calling on two occasions early this morning, the bird was calling near the main path ( mawdesley to croston ) on a onion field and a nearby field of wheat .

Had 7 different species of warblers highlights being 3 lesser whitethroat 2 sedge warbler and a reeling grasshopper warbler ( sedge and gropper croston moss) .

Corn buntings ( double figures) linnet , reed buntings , yellowhammer , plenty of singing skylark , several pairs of lapwing , 1 oystercatcher , pair of red legged partridge , coot with chicks on a secluded pond , 1 buzzard , star bird was a single YELLOW WAGTAIL .

5 wheatear , corn bunting singing , yellowhammer , reed bunting , 1 oystercatcher .

-- Edited by gary lilley on Monday 18th of April 2011 06:59:27 AM

A flock of 30+ cormorant where heading inland ( fish beware ) also 5 yellowhammer , 4 reeed bunting , skylark singing in several areas , 20+ lapwing , 2 oystercatcher , 3 partridge ( not sure what species , a rare sight on the moss these days) 3 buzzard , 3 kestrels , 5 stock dove , 100+ woodpigeon .