An amazing 4 Hobbies together hawking insects over the reserve between 11.20-11.30. 1 Hobby returned an hour later and was still around when I left. There has been a big emergence of Red Damselflies. 3-4 Curlew 2 Oystercatcher 2 Shoveler- both male 1 Kestrel 4 Buzzard Lots of Willow Warblers, 3 Whitethroat 1 Blackcap 6 Linnet 2 Yellowhammer 1 Reed Bunting
Chat Moss 6 Wheatear in f52
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 5th of May 2018 01:49:04 PM
Excellent 3 hours at Little Woolden Moss, 6-9 a.m. 1 Cuckoo near car park, 2 Whimbrel(or 1 bird seen in two locations), Yellowhammer, Yellow Wagtail(7), 2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler(1 seen),3 Curlew, 1 Shelduck, 2 Ringed Plover, 3 Wheatear also numerous Warblers and Lapwing. I'm sure this site gets better each time I visit, maybe the sunshine helped. Cheers Ian
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 5th of May 2018 11:39:59 AM
Unfortunately for me the fleeting corner of the eye glance of a (very close in) dark-backed bird flashing low and fast past me couldn't be confirmed as the merlin it probably was. Never mind, a good haul nonetheless.
Redstart heard calling a couple of times and singing briefly. In trees between aerodrome and field 55 on Barton Moss around 12.00 this afternoon with Steve Atkins
Chat & Irlam Moss, Croxden and Dixons Wood: 2 Oystercatcher 1 Willow Tit 2 Chiffchaff singing 1 Willow Warbler singing in the distance 1 Goldcrest 2 Long-tailed Tit 12 Stock Dove 1 Skylark 1 Cormorant seen to land on the fisheries Lapwing in most fields - many displaying
A surprisingly chilly trudge around Astley Moss (Rindle Road and then the Croxden's Old Peat Workings) revealed several Chaffinch and Yellowhammer at Rindle Hedge, several Lapwings now claiming territory on the fields, 4 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, the sound of a Curlew, a singing Chiffchaff, and on the peat workings, 17 Teal, several Mallard pairs, a treeful of Goldfinch (probably about 70), 4 Reed Bunting and 15 Meadow Pipit. No Wheatear seen on the Rindle fields today though had a good look.