Highlight today around Astley Moss East Sand Quarry Lake were four Cattle Egrets which came in from the west and veered S/SE across the railway and off out of view.
Also present on the lake were 266 Great Black-backed Gulls, 214 Herring Gulls, 282 Mallard, 13 Shoveler, 64 Teal and a Little Grebe.
Around Rindle, c170 Meadow Pipits were in a flock feeding in the grass of field 67, 121 Greylag Geese were loafing in field 68, a Snipe was flushed from the ditch along field 67 and 2 Treecreepers were also along the edge of the field there. A further c15 Meadow Pipits were feeding in fields behind Rindle Wood though there were probably many more.
A tentative drive round moss after an enforced 'rest' from it...causation a deep unseen hole filled with water to chest which also involved a broken right fibula...its a tad unsafe out on the Moss...only taken me a great number of decades to discover this fact!
2 Short Eared Owls hunting over field 19 this afternoon, showing well all afternoon . I was the only birder watching them,however there were at least 24 paparazzi there taking photos!!!.Fortunately all well behaved and keeping the edges of the field. Also a flock of approx 30 Skylark in the field and 2 Stonechats down near the car park,and several Kestrel around the fields. Unfortunately the owls were fairly distant when I decided to take a few pics !!!
Flock of c.100 chaffinches with the pigeons, magpies and pied wagtails on Cutnook Lane opposite the Oxcheek entrance included at least one male brambling (the flock was very skittish) plus linnets. Also a female white wagtail on this field.
Chat Moss 1230 - 1330
2 x Woodcock in the boundary edge of Chat Moss today. First of the season for me. Also 9 Snipe throughout the Moss, 1 x little Egret