Ashton Moss

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

RE: Ashton Moss

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

3/1/22 from around 9am

Very little on the mound, 1 Reed Bunting, 4 Meadow Pipit couple of Wren, 2 Song Thrush in fitful song in the general area.
Most notable sighting was on Mockridge Pool where there were at least 25 Teal, probably 30+ also 1 Little Grebe, difficult to get a clear view of the whole pool.
Sheldon Pool had 13 Tufted Duck, 12 Moorhen, c30 Mallard and the Mute Swan pair.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Pair of Mute Swan and three drake Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool early this afternoon.

John Taylor · Status: Offline

Single male wigeon and single female tufted duck with the usual pair of coot on the pond at the back of the mound this morning.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

15/9/21 mid afternoon

1 Whinchat at eastern end of mound, perhaps one of the birds from last week.
Still a few Common Whitethroat, 4 min, I think young birds possibly hanging on from this years broods. Mainly seen in or around the bramble patches.
1 Blackcap heard
2 Chiffchaff
5 House Martin
2 Swallow

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS Count 11/09/2021

2 mute swan
9 canada geese
25 mallard
3 coot
10 moorhen
2 muscovy ducks
5 black headed gulls

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

10/9/21 Called back after lunch with scope.

Whinchats still in the same area, a Common Whitethroat was seen next to the chats a couple of times, I think a different bird from earlier.
More Chiffchaffs, at least 5.
A Buzzard was fairly low over the mound as I arrived.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

10/9/21 around the mound from 9:30ish

2 Whinchat staying close together on the centre area at Eastern end.
1 Common Whitethroat, late record for here.
1 Chiffchaff
3 Meadow Pipit,
1 very young Bullfinch
12 House Martin moving through with similar numbers of Swallow
2 Jay

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

27/8/21 couple of hours from 6:30

A Spotted Flycatcher was seen twice on the fencing forming the path from Sheldon Pool to Little Moss/Droylsden. It was associating with a flock of Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Tits. This path is often a good place to watch for birds moving through, I have seen a Redstart along here in the past.
Plenty of Chiffchaff and a few Willow Warblers with a bit of song from both around the mound, also 1 Blackcap heard.
3 Swallow overhead, just 1 Reed Bunting seen.
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

11/8/21 from 6am

2 Grasshopper Warblers were reeling in the south west section of the site, behind Mockridge Pool up until 7:30.
Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers calling from many areas, some giving brief snatches of song. Probably upwards of 30 birds.
Whitethroats seem to have moved off or were keeping out of sight, only 1 heard this morning. They have done quite well this year with plenty of young birds seen in June and July.
Blackcaps seem a little down on numbers this year. A juvenile was seen on 3/8.
Reed Buntings like Whitethroats have done well this year but only a couple heard and seen this morning.
Last Skylark sighting was 4 on 20/7.
A few House Martins and Swallows were around this morning.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A visit today with Mike Chorley mainly for the insects, but still a few birds about. Very hot conditions

Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Reed Bunting were all still singing in decent numbers.

At least six each of Swift and Swallow were feeding above us along with two House Martin.

Three Grey Heron included a juvenile bird

Roger Baker 3 · Status: Offline

Tues 8th June.

Grasshopper Warbler reeling between Moss Lane and M60 .

Roger.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

2 singing Skylarks on Ashton Moss this morning

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Late report from Friday 14 May, mid to late morning.

Four species of Warbler singing

Whitethroat - at least 10 birds heard and seen across the area
Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler and Blackcap were present in similar numbers to Simon's counts earlier in the week
Reed Bunting at least 5 singing males
2 Swift
Disappointingly only one Skylark was seen

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

11/5/21 from 5:30 this morning, some sightings from around the mound

1 Grasshopper Warbler seen and heard briefly.
15+ Whitethroat
2 Chiffchaff
5 Willow Warbler
5 Blackcap
4 Skylark, these have declined this year, likely as a result of off lead dogs running through their favoured areas.
6+ Reed Bunting
2 Song Thrush
1 Swallow
1 Oystercatcher flew over calling.
1 Pheasant

A Kestrel and also a Goldcrest were seen yesterday morning.

James Walsh · Status: Offline

2 singing Skylark
2 singing Whitethroat (1 in song flight)
5 singing Willow Warbler
2 singing Chiffchaff
3 singing Reed Bunting

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A Buzzard was riding the thermals above Ashton Moss when I passed late afternoon today.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

18/4/21 some sightings from a 9:30 to 10:30 circuit of the mound

1 Grasshopper Warbler heard briefly once
1 Whitethroat
5 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Blackcap
4 Reed Bunting
5 Skylark
2 Jay
2 Song Thrush

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A brief visit to Sheldon Pool area this afternoon

A pair of Mute Swan present this afternoon

An immature Cormorant was on the raft

It looks as if the banks of Sheldon Pool have been sanitised.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

2/4/21 Wander around the mound from 7:15 for about an hour or so this morning.

3 Willow Warblers singing, earliest by 10 days I have seen or heard them here and about a week earlier than I have seen them any anywhere else in Tameside going back to 2009.
2 Blackcap singing, also well over a week earlier than usual.
5 Chiffchaff
6 Reed Bunting
3 Skylark
Meadow Pipit heard
3 Song Thrush
1 Little Grebe
Didn't the Mute Swans on any of the 4 pools I looked at.
7 Teal were on Mockridge Pool on Monday 29th

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A Cormorant was on Sheldon Pool this morning.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

21/3/21 from 8:30 this morning,

Birds starting to come back now
9 male Reed Bunting, some in song,
5 or 6 Skylark also some singing,
1 Woodcock,
1 Little Grebe,
5 Bullfinch,
2 Song Thrush,
3 Redwing,
2 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool both blue, 4BVL and 4DLI,
Pair of Tufted duck on Sheldon and 2 Muscovy duck that have been released there, apparently by persons unknown.

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

Quick half hour at last light this evening whilst having a break from work

18 species

Canada Goose X 19

Mute Swan X 2

Mallard X 22

Tufted Duck X 3

Feral Pigeon X 5

Woodpigeon X 2

Moorhen X 3

Coot X 3

Magpie X 17+ (two large flocks in fields)

Carrion Crow X 2

Great Tit X 1

Wren X 1

Song Thrush X 2

Robin X 3

Dunnock X 2

Pied Wagtail X 2

Goldfinch X 14 (however as I got back to work a huge flock of well over 30birds flew over making a racket)

Reed Bunting X 2 (first time seen on this site)

Plus two Muscovy Ducks

Thanks

Bryan

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

Quick look at around 7am this morning as it was coming light on my way into work

12 species.

Kestrel x 1 (hunting in the field immediately behind metrolink carpark and then perched on lamppost for a 5 mins)

Canada Goose x 36 (with more flying in as I was driving off)

Mute Swan x 2

Mallard x 31

Tufted Duck x 3 (2m 1f)

Moorhen x 4

Coot x 8

Magpie x 4

Carrion Crow x 1

Blackbird x 1

Robin x 2

Plus plenty of feral Pigeon flying around.

Thanks Bryan

-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Wednesday 24th of February 2021 01:23:37 PM

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS Count 14/01/2021 65% ice

1 mute swan
1 cormorant
77 canada geese
44 mallard
6 coot
25 black headed gulls

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

06/02/21 1530-1600

19 species

Quick half hour walk between the ponds after this evening after work before going home.

Canada Goose x 34

Mute Swan x 1

Mallard x 2

Tufted Duck x 6 (3m 3f)

Feral Pigeon x 8

Woodpigeon x 4

Moorhen x 6

Coot x 10 (two on the far pond the rest on the main pond)

Black-headed Gull x 17 (on main pond plus lots more flying around)

Cormorant x 1 (flew off towards Audenshaw res after a bit of hunting)

Jay x 1

Magpie x 16 (12 of which were in one flock in the fielding looking for worms)

Jackdaw x 2

Carrion Crow x 2

Coal tit x 2

Blue Tit x 2

Great Tit x 10 (8 in one flock along with a goldfinch flock)

Goldfinch x 8

Song Thrush x 1

Thanks

Bryan

-- Edited by Bryan Deighton on Saturday 6th of February 2021 07:19:15 PM

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

15/01/2021 30% ice

2 mute swans
29 canada geese
41 mallard
7 coot
4 moorhen
71 black headed gulls

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 13/12/2020

1 mute swan
33 canada geese
37 mallard
4 coot
3 moorhen
4 tufted ducks
1 kingfisher
24 black headed gulls

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Quick wander around from 09.15-10.30 this morning

1 Common Snipe, Lapwing, 2 Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Kestrel, 2 Grey Heron.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 14/11/2020

2 mute swans
30 canada geese
40 mallard
4 coot
2 moorhen
2 tufted ducks

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 17/10/2020

2 mute swans
20 canada geese
40 mallard
8 coot
2 moorhen
1 black headed gull

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Ashton Moss Nature Reserve (Sheldon Pool)

1 Kingfisher
1 drake Tufted Duck
1 Mute Swan

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/10/20 Mid Morning

Still at least 8 Stonechat, counted 6 together in similar area as on Monday, 2 others were together in a different area.
Meadow Pipit numbers up to c20
3 Linnet were feeding with a flock of around 20 Goldfinch
A few Reed Buntings heard again, fleeting sightings of one or two
2 Snipe
1 Kestrel
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Little Grebe and 1 Tufted Duck on MLP

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

5/10/20 from 8:30

8 Stonechat, moving around as a loose flock. By far the largest number I've seen on here.
2 Chiffchaff
9 House Martin
6 Skylark over, 2 on the mound
c6 Meadow Pipit
A few Reed Buntings heard
Plenty of Robins and Wrens
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Little Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck and 2 Coot on Moss Lane Pool
Almost constant sound of Pink-footed Geese over, I think a lot of changing of direction occurring, c150 was the maximum at any one time.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 19/09/2020

2 mute swans
22 canada geese
48 mallard
4 coot
4 moorhen
1 grey heron
1 grey wagtail
1 black headed gull
and 1 kingfisher- finally!

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

11/9/20 mid morning

A male first winter Redstart was seen twice briefly but well at close quarters along the path on the east side of the mound.
First returning Meadow Pipits, 8 seen
1 Reed Bunting
8 Chiffchaff
Bullfinch heard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Jay
3 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher on Sheldon Pool
2 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

2/9/20 from c8am to 9:45

15+ Chiffchaff spread around with at least 5 in fitful song
1 Willow Warbler
2 Reed Bunting
A few Bullfinch heard
15 House Martin
7 Swallow
1 Kestrel
A single Shoveler was on Sheldon Pool as I left, the only one I've seen here.
4 Little Grebe on Moss Lane Pool

I have been making a few visits during August hoping for some spill over migrants from the north and west of our county, only ones seen were a Tree Pipit watched at close range for 3 or 4 minutes perched low down in a small tree, a Wheatear was also present along with 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrel, all on the 24th. A Sedge Warbler was seen picking around in one of the ditches on the 14th Aug. A nice family group of Whitethroat were moving across the mound on the 8th. The last Whitethroat seen was on the 25th.

On the 30th there were double figures of Chiffchaff with some Willow Warblers along the Moss Lane side of the mound, one Willow Warbler could be heard singing a little.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

At least 3 juvenile Woodpigeon present in a group of c20 feeding on the Leisure Park roundabout yesterday evening.

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

1830-1945 12th August

Canada Goose x 27

Mute Swan x 2

Mallard x 19

Domestic Mallard x 2

Feral Pigeon x 8

Wood pigeon x 7

Swift x 13

Moorhen x 6

Coot x 3

Black-headed Gull x 10

Herring Gull x 2

Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 4

Grey Heron x 1 (flew over from direction of the ressies)

Magpie x 9

Jackdaw x 1

Carrion Crow x 7

Swallow x 12

Wren x 1

Goldfinch x 8

Cheers

Bryan

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

An hour's walk around the area this evening 30/07/20

Buzzard x 1

Canada Goose x 15

Carrion Crow x 2

Coot x 4

Domestic Mallard x 2

Goldfinch x 10

Great tit x 1

House Sparrow x 3

Jackdaw x 3

Long-tailed tit x 6

Magpie x 12

Mallard x 33

Moorhen x 4 ( 2 juveniles)

Song Thrush x 2

Whitethroat x 1

Willow Warbler x 1

Wood Pigeon x 4

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A few sightings from around Sheldon Pool

There is now a large sign declaring this area is a Nature Reserve.

A Whitethroat was singing and a Willow Warbler was calling

A female Mallard with four reasonable sized ducklings was near to the car park.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Very hot conditions today, but a few birds singing.

Four Reed Bunting singing, also two males and a female seen.
I accidentally flushed a Skylark and it took off and started singing, it didn't climb very high before it dropped again.
Willow Warbler and Blackcap were both singing and a Whitethroat parachuted whilst singing, another Whitethroat was singing elsewhere
Several Swallows and a single House Martin were around too.
A Jay was also seen.

Too hot to go very far today!

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

20/6/2020 from 6-8am all commoner warblers still singing intermittently.

5 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
7 Whitethroat
3 Chiffchaff
3 Skylark
10+ Reed Bunting
2 Song Thrush
4 Blackbird
4 House Martin
2 Swift
2 Kestrel
Pheasant heard

A single Stock Dove has been seen on a few occasions recently also a Lesser Whitethroat could be heard singing just of site on Little Moss last Saturday 13th and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling briefly on Wednesday 17th

A pair of Swans nested on one of the pools but left the nest a couple of weeks ago, no cygnets have been seen. The pair were moving around this morning and ended up on Sheldon Pool at 8am. Male is 4 BVL, female is not ringed.

A dog walker who has quite an interest in the wildlife informed me that a female Buzzard from a breeding pair in Daisy Nook was seen to be shot down about 2 weeks ago by kids with an air rifle, it was taken into care but failed to survive. Quite possibly one of the birds that had been seen here from time to time.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

29/5/20 Late post from an afternoon visit yesterday, mainly to look for butterflies and dragonflies.

Bird activity much reduced as to be expected in the heat of mid-afternoon but still some birds singing and fliting about.

5 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
1 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Whitethroat
4 Skylark
5 Reed Bunting
3 Chiffchaff
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
3 Song Thrush, rootling in the undergrowth.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Garden Warbler near the main 'gap' at 19.45 was the best in an hour and a half. Possible Grasshopper Warbler but only glimpsed.

5 Common Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, Skylark, 3 Blackcap, Jay, Kestrel, 4 Swallow, Swift, 4 Bullfinch.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

15/5/20 Very early visit this morning.

Best was a singing Lesser Whitethroat along Moss Lane
3 Stock Dove
9 Whitethroat
4 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
7 Blackcap
8 Reed Bunting
5 Skylark
4 Swift
1 Swallow
2 Kestrel
1 Buzzard

Over recent days there have been a couple of Grasshopper Warblers and Sedge Warblers. Also passing Redstart and Wheatear, both males.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Sightings from tram stop car park 12pm

Whitethroat singing in bush directly behind the fence on the mound
Reed Bunting singing on the mound
Grey Heron flew over being mobbed by a Carrion Crow

Several grotty hybrid type Mallard on Sheldon Pool

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

This evening on Sheldon Pool

Three Tufted Duck still present (2 drake)
Pair of Mute Swan roosting on the side nearest the tram tracks.

Water levels on here still very high.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

At least 7 Tufted Duck (4 drakes) on Sheldon Pool in recent days.

A pair of Mute Swan were chasing the Canada Geese last Monday afternoon (2/3), but I haven't seen the Swans since.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/3/20 an hour or so around the mound from 8am

1 Stonechat, female, unusually at the far side of the site near Moss Lane Pool
4 Skylark up and singing
6+ Reed Bunting, some singing
1 Little Grebe on MLP
1 Kestrel
6 Meadow Pipit
3 Lapwing on fields over on Littlemoss
pair of Teal on Mockridge Pool
4 Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool
Didn't see any Swans on any of the pools, an adult pair were on Mockridge Pool early last week.
Mockridge and Sheldon Pools are still flooded out as they have been most of the winter, maybe why the Swans are only occasional visitors at the moment. The back pools are nearly back down to their usual water levels.