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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> Ashton Moss
Post Info TOPIC: Ashton Moss
Steve Suttill


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RE: Ashton Moss
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Sheldon pond is on your left as you walk from the Metrolink car park towards Mockridge nurseries. The mound is on your right. Car People is on the other side of the main road and tramtracks - look out for the Lapwings on the roof.

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David Morris


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Steve Suttill wrote:

Hi Vicky

If you park in the Metrolink (tram) car park (for tram users only!) the "mound" is the raised area in front of you if you stand with your back to the tram tracks. I'm sure there must be a better way of putting this, but it should be obvious when you are there!

The "mound" is fenced off with very few gaps in the fence. It's an overgrown tip and could be dangerous, but all the local dogwalkers seem to use it. If you want to get to the top of the mound for a better view, there is a public footpath between two fences on your right as you walk down the lane past the big pool towards Mockridge nurseries.

Good luck!




Cheers, I was going to ask the same question! I work in Ashton and so might pop there after work tomorrow to see if I can spot a Short-eared Owl. Where's the Sheldon pond in relation to the mound?

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Steve Suttill


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Hi Vicky

If you park in the Metrolink (tram) car park (for tram users only!) the "mound" is the raised area in front of you if you stand with your back to the tram tracks. I'm sure there must be a better way of putting this, but it should be obvious when you are there!

The "mound" is fenced off with very few gaps in the fence. It's an overgrown tip and could be dangerous, but all the local dogwalkers seem to use it. If you want to get to the top of the mound for a better view, there is a public footpath between two fences on your right as you walk down the lane past the big pool towards Mockridge nurseries.

Good luck!

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Vicky Harper


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I pass Ashton Moss daily on my way to work. I'm planning on stopping off to try to see the short-eared owl. Could somebody tell me where the mound is please.

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Steve Suttill


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Bad luck Roger. Looks like you are also suffering from Irritable Owl Syndrome biggrin

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Roger Baker 3


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That has cheered me up no end ! furious
I must have just missed you Vic.
Pulled off the car park at 14.20 having done a two hour stint without a sniff of the Short-eared Owls and not a lot else.

Stonechat. (M)
Mistle Thrush.

A lady dog-walker told me that the owls were right up to the fence around 10.00 hrs yesterday morning.

Roger.

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vic chatterton


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2 Short-eared Owls still present between 2.30pm and 3.10pm.

A single bird hunting over the mound for much of the time - mostly distant but one excellent close range view. It was joined briefly by a second bird on 2 occasions.

3 Common Snipe overhead.



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Rachael Hill


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WEBs count from Sunday 17/1/16 10.45am
Sheldon pool
Pond 90% ice
8 canada geese,
7 mallard,
7 coot,
1 moorhen,
19 black headed gulls

and i would have love to have seen a short eared owl think i need a trip around the mound


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Bill Beckwith


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19/1/15.Late morning on the mound

Good,long views of a short eared owl and two seen together briefly.Also a male stonechat,a flock of about 30 meadow pipits,a collared
dove and two great tits.Also a female reed bunting by the pond near Mockridge nursery ,a wren and the usuals.


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B Beckwith
simon ghilks


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19/1/2016 early afternoon on the mound

Short-eared Owl was flushed by a couple of lost walkers but quickly went to ground, it reappeared about 45mins later and started to hunt. Been half hoping one of these would be seen on here since the influx of autumn. Excellent find Steve, thanks for putting the news out.
Also around
1 Stonechat male
Skylark
2 Reed Buntings
Few Meadow Pipit
1 Goldcrest

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Steve Suttill


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Full circuit of the mound - 13.15 - 14.30

SHORT-EARED OWL quartering the Moss was a most pleasant surprise smile

also: Kestrel hunting, 3 Skylarks, flock of 25 Meadow Pipits, 1 Snipe flushed...

usuals on Sheldon pool and just 4 Lapwing on Car People.

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John Taylor


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Pond near Mockridge Nursery Pair mute swan Several coot 5 mallard 2 tufted duck ( m and f) Moorhen c20 Black-headed gull 8 canada geese Sheldon Pool Pair mute swan 8 canada geese (these could have moved from the other pool) Kingfisher 3 mallard (2m 1f)

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 3rd of January 2016 02:13:08 PM

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Karen Foulkes


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Late morning visit

Sheldon Pool

2 Tufted Duck (pair)
2 Mute Swan
8 Coot
3 Moorhen
5 Mallard

2 male Stonechat on the mound
Meadow Pipit
Kestrel hunting

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Karen Foulkes


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Afternoon visit

Sheldon Pool

Female Tufted Duck
6 Coot
Moorhen
Two adult Mute Swans flew in while I was there
15 Canada Geese
6 Mallard
24 Black-headed Gulls

Mound

Kestrel
Male Stonechat

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David Walsh


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Tuesday 29th December 2015, 1.50 - 2.40pm

2 Grey Heron
4 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Fieldfare
2 Mistle Thrush
3 Lesser Redpoll
c25 Goldfinch
c40 Starlings
2 Reed Bunting

On the pool

1 drake Tufted Duck
2 Mute Swans
7 Coot

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Karen Foulkes


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A late afternoon visit, too late to see anything on the mound.

Sheldon Pool

2 Mute Swan
Drake Tufted Duck
8 Coot
3 Moorhen
5 Mallard

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David Walsh


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Wednesday 23rd December 2015, 1.30 - 2.10pm

A forty minute lunchtime escape from the gathering festive madness of work.
From Moss Lane, north across the railway line towards Littlemoss

1 female Kestrel over Moss Lane
1 Grey Heron in the fields towards Jaum Farm
At least 2 Skylark calling north of the railway line
Several Reed Bunting calling around Moss Side Farm, and another north of the railway
Magpies everywhere

It would be good to have more time, and do a full count of the area



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Karen Foulkes


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A couple of hours on the Moss this morning

Mound area

2 male Stonechat
Male Reed Bunting
Skylark
c30 Meadow Pipit
Five flocks of Lapwing flew over, containing over 120 birds (12, 5, 25, c80)

Sheldon pool

Female Tufted Duck
2 Mallard
7 Coot
5 Canada Geese

2 Lesser Redpoll, 1 near Mockridge Garden Centre and one from tram stop
Song Thrush singing

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Rachael Hill


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14/12/15 Sheldon pond 11.30am
2 mute swans (must have flown back, unringed pair not the original pair)
15 canada geese
2 moorhen
6 mallard
6 coot
1 tufted duck
11 black headed gulls

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Rachael Hill


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13/12/15 Webs count 10.50-11.00am
2 mute swans- flew off on arrival
1 grey heron
3 moorhen
5 mallard
7 coot
18 black headed gulls


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simon ghilks


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14/12/2015 Mid morning visit to the mound

c30 Meadow Pipit
1 Reed Bunting
3 Stonechat
1 Skylark
3 Bullfinch
4 Lesser Redpoll
c15 Long-tailed Tit
1 Coal Tit
1 Kestrel
2 Grey Heron
13 Mallard
9 Redwing flew over


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Bill Beckwith


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On the mound 11 15 am to 12 00 am on Fri 11th Dec.

2 skylarks.several meadow pipits and wood pigeons,magpies and two crows.
2 mute swans on pond and one heron flying,Female stonechat and wren nearby.

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Rachael Hill


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Wednesday 02/12/15, 11.00am
12 canada geese,
9 coots
4 mallard
1 tufted duck
2 mute swans (both unringed)
20 black headed gulls

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simon ghilks


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4/12/2015 an hour after noon on the mound.

3 Stonechat
3 Skylark
2 Reed Bunting
c10 Meadow Pipit spread out over the site, probably more hidden in the long grass.
1 Mute Swan on a pond near Moss Side Farm, no Darvic on the right leg, didn't get to see the left so could be one of the birds from a few weeks ago.
2 Grey Heron in the horse field



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Rachael Hill


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Lord Sheldon pond
2 mute swans- unringed,
18 canada geese
8 mallard
41 black headed gulls
9 mallard
5 coot
2 moorhen

I think from the original pair of mute swans that the male has disappeared shortly after cygnet died and the female has moved the remaining 3 cygnets over a week ago. Current 2 swans possibly pair that Simon had seen on farm pond

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simon ghilks


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Late afternoon 23/11/2015

On or over the Mound
1 Reed Bunting
5 Linnet
3 Lesser Redpoll
5 Meadow Pipit
2 Kestrel
1 Common Snipe flew around.

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Karen Foulkes


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Late morning

Sheldon Pool

2 adult Mute Swan. No sign of any juveniles
6 Moorhen
6 Coot
3 Mallard (2 drake)

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Rachael Hill


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Webs count 12.20-12.30pm, very little bird life after the torrential weather.
6 coots
1 tufted duck
4 moorhen


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Karen Foulkes


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Early afternoon

Sheldon Pool
2 Coot
3 Moorhen

35 Pink-footed Geese flew over

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simon ghilks


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30/10/2015 from noon for an hour or so.

Ponds adjacent to Moss Side Farm
23 Mallard (17 drake)
5 Moorhen
1 Little Grebe
2 Mute Swan
Horse Field
19 Collared Dove feeding as a flock.
On the Mound
1 Reed Bunting
3 Skylark
c15 Meadow Pipit
flock of c25 mixed Fieldfare and Redwing flew over going south
1 Kestrel


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Rachael Hill


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4pm

only 1 adult mute swan present, plus 3 cygnets, no sign of other adult- will keep an eye out.

1 kestrel hoovering over mound by mini roundabout, then landed on lamp post next to me



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Rachael Hill


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WEBS count 10.30-10.50am
5 mute swans
9 coot
3 tufted duck
8 mallard
3 moorhen
5 black headed gulls

overhead not using pond:
76 pink footed geese- very low, though was going to land on Moss but kept changing direction, disappeared over mound, may have landed.
approx 15 thrushes flew over


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Karen Foulkes


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2 Common Gull on the Leisure Park roundabout late afternoon along with c20 Starling.

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simon ghilks


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14/10/2015 an hour or so this afternoon

30+ Meadow Pipit

1 Kestrel

On the pond to the north west of the mound

1 drake Wigeon, coming out of eclipse

3 Mallard

1 Canada Goose

2 Mute Swan, appeared to be adults, both were metal ringed but had no darvic rings

3 Moorhen

Double spacing problem persists.



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Rachael Hill


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Sadly one of the cygnets found dead today by road, possibly flew into tram wires, no obvious injuries

3 still on lake though plus adults.



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David Walsh


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Monday 12th October 2015, 6.20pm

6 Mute Swans
13 Mallard
1 female Tufted Duck
7 Coot
7 Moorhen
5 Pied Wagtails flying over Car People, towards Ashton

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Rachael Hill


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12.30pm

down to 3 cygnets & 2 adults (1 presumably flown on)

8 coots

1 moorhen



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David Walsh


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Thursday 1st October 2015, 9.15 - 9.50am

A half hour wander on the way home from the vet

6 Mute Swans
7 Coot
6 Moorhen
4 Tufted ducks
13 Mallard
5 Pied Wagtail over towards Ashton
1 Kestrel
At least 6 Skylarks around the mound
12+ Meadow Pipits

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Karen Foulkes


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On the main pool today

2 Tufted Duck, both female
7 Moorhen, one of which moved rather quickly when a large fish (carp?) jumped out of the water a couple of times!
7 Coot
2 Mallard
6 Mute Swan, all in moult


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David Walsh


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Friday 25th September 2015, 1.10 - 1.45pm

The "Mound"

1 Skylark flushed
6+ Meadow Pipits
1 Jay
2 Collared Dove
Goldfinch heard, but not seen
Kestrel hunting towards Moss Lane

-- Edited by David Walsh on Friday 25th of September 2015 08:22:56 PM

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Rachael Hill


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WeBS count 13/9 11.40-12pm

6 mute swans
7 moorhens
11 coots
1 black headed gull

(swans have now been ringed)

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Karen Foulkes


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Nine Pied Wagtail and 18 Starling on the leisure park roundabout this afternoon

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simon ghilks


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29/8/15 from 10 till 12
Fairly quiet on the mound with only 2 Kestrel, House Martins, Swallows and a few Magpies around.
However along the north east edge there were perhaps 40+ each of Swallow and House Martin, a large loose feeding flock of predominantly young Goldfinch, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 or 5 Chiffchaff, a family group of Whitethroat, 1 moulting male Blackcap and great scoped views of a Tree Pipit perched in the open that was followed by another bird when it flew into cover. 1 Little Grebe and a few adult and young Moorhen and Coot where on the pools.

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John Taylor


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Thanks Simon will have to investigate.

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simon ghilks


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The mound is along the north west of Rayner Lane, you can see it from the metro stop next to the pool. It looks like a hill but is in fact man made and covers a large part of what used to be Ashton Moss.

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John Taylor


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What / where is the mound?

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simon ghilks


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8/8/2015 08:00-09:15

A few sightings from the mound and surrounds

2 Little Grebe.
2 Kestrel.
Skylark, heard only.
c20 House Martin
few Swallow.
Willow Warbler a bit of singing, lots of contact calling.
Whitethroat 1 carrying food another alarm calling.
1 Bullfinch.
1 Sedge Warbler.
1 fem/imm Redstart.



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simon ghilks


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Hello Bill

Check your private messages.

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Bill Beckwith


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Where do you get on 'the mound'?Is it from the path behind the pool near the metro station?


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B Beckwith
Rachael Hill


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10.50am
both Mute swans and 4 cygnets present

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