Highfield Moss, Lowton

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

RE: Highfield Moss, Lowton

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Not wishing to cast aspertions on the local kids, but the burning of the moss has been happenning at this time every year for a very long time (must be some sort of tradition that they pass down).

The fires are definately started deliberately as apart from the current one major burnt area, there are also many smaller burnt areas - many of them destroying the already few remaining gorse bushes that used to be there.

Also, the kids use the wooded area as a BMX track and regularly dig out large holes to create jumps and obstacles. The chopping of the trees has been done to create firewood as these scroats are down there most evenings making fires and littering the place with their lager cans, etc.

I had already heard that the ownership of this area was being looked at and I can only hope that it is resolved in the near future and the area can get proper management because valuable habitat is being destroyed daily.

Mark Rigby · Status: Offline

Ian McKerchar wrote:

There is a train track nearby! Then obviously those fires where probably caused by sparks from a passing locomotive (sorry, an old occupational joke I'm afraid ).

I didn't know you were that old Ian. Steam trains became obsolete in 1968!

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

You see. Just like in Scooby Doo, we always blame those pesky kids!

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

I saw it last month, when it was still smoking. I thought it might be habitat management...

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

There is a train track nearby! Then obviously those fires where probably caused by sparks from a passing locomotive (sorry, an old occupational joke I'm afraid

).

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Quick mooch on the moss today at 4.00pm.

Usual stuff present as well as a single Wheatear in the adjacent field and a single Swallow passing overhead.

It was also sad to note that not only have the local hooligans took to torching the moss again but they are also now chopping down a lot of the trees in the small copse near the railway line. There are stumps of sawn down trees everywhere and a lot of them are quite sizeable trees too. I had heard that Highfield Moss was a SSSI but by the time the local idiots have finished having their way there won't be anything of interest down there. As the area isn't managed (or owned it would seem) then it looks like this maybe something that just won't go away.

Nick, did you see kids chopping the trees down? Seems unusual for them to be cutting lots of them down with saw doesn't it? Also, a fair proportion of fires such as these are started by adults either carelessly disgarding smoking materials or with 'other issues' in those areas. That said of course, more often than not it's the local scroats!

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

No use reporting it to Natural England - they never reply to emails. You could try the Wigan ecologist Roz Smallshaw 01942 404232

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Quick mooch on the moss today at 4.00pm.

Usual stuff present as well as a single Wheatear in the adjacent field and a single Swallow passing overhead.

It was also sad to note that not only have the local hooligans took to torching the moss again but they are also now chopping down a lot of the trees in the small copse near the railway line. There are stumps of sawn down trees everywhere and a lot of them are quite sizeable trees too. I had heard that Highfield Moss was a SSSI but by the time the local idiots have finished having their way there won't be anything of interest down there. As the area isn't managed (or owned it would seem) then it looks like this maybe something that just won't go away.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

First visit to this site and i,m quite impressed ,I went with a vague hope of a merlin but was very pleased to find yellowhammer,reed bunting,linnet very easy to locate,nice to see these birds alongside the worlds first railway line(too much discovery channel).

kestrel,buzzard,lapwing,crow,jackdaw,grey partridge, mallard and a wind that cut to the quick

cheers geoff

Whenever I see Merlin down there its usually in the surrounding fields. You should have a wander down there at dusk time as the short eared owls are around at this time of year.

Geoff Hargreaves · Status: Offline

First visit to this site and i,m quite impressed ,I went with a vague hope of a merlin but was very pleased to find yellowhammer,reed bunting,linnet very easy to locate,nice to see these birds alongside the worlds first railway line(too much discovery channel).

kestrel,buzzard,lapwing,crow,jackdaw,grey partridge, mallard and a wind that cut to the quick

cheers geoff

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

On't Moss this morning 10.00am - 12.00pm.

Lapwing
Skylark
Crow
Wood Pigeon
Curlew
Kestrel
Buzzard
Great Tit
Blue Tit
LT Tit
Linnet
Grey Partridge
Blackbird
Magpie
Meadow Pipit

Seems to be a lack of Yellowhammer down there at the moment. Maybe they're all over at Waterworks lane.

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

1.30 to 3.30pm

5 Corn Buntings (Hurrah!)
4 Grey Partridge
2 Snipe
2 Pheasant
4 Buzzard (Probably repeat sightings of same bird)
1 Male Kestrel
1 Grey Heron

Sad sight on way back young Rabbit on path totally blind and moving at a snails pace. Hope Myxomatosis is not on way back I remember seeing loads of wild Rabbits with that when I was a kid and its a rotten cruel disease.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

This morning 9.30-11.30am.

Flock of Linnet, Starling and Fieldfare all feeding together in adjacent field.
Flock of around 20 Skylark
20 Grey Partridge
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Corn Bunting
Wood Pigeon
Great tit
Blue tit
Long tailed tit
Blackbird
Magpie
Crow
Robin
Chaffinch

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Morning 2 hours

Not much activity bird wise but more than compensated by a great sunny morning to be out and about.

2 Buzzard possibly same bird but second time being mobbed by 2 carrion crows protecting nesting area
1 Kestrel
2 Grey Partridge
1 Skylark
2 Reed Bunting
Large flock of fieldfare 70 plus
Loads of wood pigeon including two very large flocks 50 plus.

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

Finishing off the last of the rare flowers no doubt!

dave broome · Status: Offline

1 Corn Bunting today, 16 Pink-Footed Geese circling the area before heading NW, 2 Kestrel, Buzzard, 15 Fieldfare and 15 students around the pool with surveying poles

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

Sunday 24 January 2010
14:00-16:30 with Mr Woosey

c100 Pink-footed Goose (over E, then came
back W drifting SW)
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
10 Grey Partridge
16 Golden Plover (over NE)
2 Jay
2 Skylark
6 Greenfinch
2 Linnet
3+ Yellowhammer
16 Corn Bunting

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 24th of January 2010 05:14:05 PM

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 24th of January 2010 05:53:45 PM

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

mike haylett wrote:

hi john, where exactly is highfield moss. is it adjacent to moss ind. estate, regards mike

its the area between parkside road and winwick lane near lowton.adjacent to newton road,best to go to ordnance survey and go through the get a map and look at it on there.There are a few paths of newton road that lead onto the moss.its only a small area,and the edge of it can be seen from parkside road at one point.don't go very often myself ,just pop in now and again,on the way to or back from the flash.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 16th of January 2010 05:13:53 PM

mike haylett · Status: Offline

hi john, where exactly is highfield moss. is it adjacent to moss ind. estate, regards mike

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

male merlin-chasing a small flock of linnets,on the way back from the flash
also 1 buzzard
8 grey partridge

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

This morning 10.00am - 11.30am.

4 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
2 Sparrowhawk
1 Peregrine - perched on nearby pylon.
1 Stonechat
25 Pink feet flying over heading north.
Possible Jack Snipe - It came up quite close but didn't get a good look at it. Had the flight of a snipe but much smaller.
Blackbird
Blue tit
Great tit
Yellowhammer
Reed Bunting
etc.

Ian Woosey · Status: Offline

3/1/10 pm

3 Buzzard
9 Grey Partridge
3 Yellowhammer
7 Snipe over
10 Lapwing
5 Skylark
3 Kestrel
3 Stock Dove
2 Bullfinch
23 Fieldfare
c400 Wood Pigeon

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

Monday 28 December 2009

Barn Owl present again this evening.

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

Sunday 27 December 2009

15:30-16:30:
2 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
1 Peregrine nearly took a Woodpigeon from a roosting flock
1 Barn Owl
2 Snipe
5+ Yellowhammer

Ian Woosey · Status: Offline

6/12/09 am

1 Peregrine
5 Buzzard
21 Grey Partridge (in three seperate coveys)
3 Kestrel
1 Willow Tit
18 Skylark
11 Stock Dove
8 Meadow Pipit
3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers near the feeders at Highfield Farm
1 Reed Bunting
6 Mistle Thrush

30 species seen in total.

Ian Woosey · Status: Offline

RE: Highfield Moss

Henry Cook · Status: Offline

15/07/2009 - A short walk in the heat of the day and along the railway line produced:

1 Corn Bunting
2 Reed Buntings
4 Yellowhammers
3 Linnets
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Pheasant
1 Kestrel
2 Mallards
200+ Swallows
4 Swifts

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

On the moss this morning 9.30am to 11.00am.

2 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrel
16 Redpoll
1 Raven
1 Woodcock
2 Wheatear (1m, 1f)

Plus all the usual stuff.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Out on the moss today from 12.00pm to 1.45pm.

4 Wheatear (3m, 1f)
1 Curlew
1 Sparrowhawk being chased by a swallow.
1 Merlin
8 Buzzard
20 Jay
Lots of Linnet, Lapwing
Quite a few Willow Warbler heard
Plus all the other usual stuff

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

On the moss this morning between 11.00am and 12.30pm.

Stock Dove (4)
Wheatear (1)
Brambling (1) (flocked with Chaffinches)
Linnet (lots)
Meadow Pipit (4)
Sand Martin (3) in passage
Sparrowhawk (1)
Kestrel (1)

Plus all the other usual birds down there.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Male Wheatear on the Highfield Farm field adjacent to Highfield Moss this morning at 11.20am.

Also 4 Stock Dove.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Went out onto Highfield Moss late this afternoon with the dog for a walk as I hadn't been down there for about two weeks or so. Absolutely gutted when I saw the moss though as around 40% of the area to the west of the railway line has been scorched by fire.

Much of the dead ferns and grass has been burnt along with quite a lot of the gorse near to the railway. This has resulted in a massive loss of habitat for the wildlife down there along with damage to the hunting grounds of the short eared owls which are sometimes present.

I know spring is round the corner so hopefully this ground can rejuvinate itself quickly.

I hope the idiots who set this fire are proud of themselves.

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

5 Buzzards in this area today, including 3 together, when I did one of my TTVs today.
6 Siskins in Golborne as well.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

On the moss this evening (3.30 - 4.30). Sightings as follows: -

Crow - Huge flock of around 150
Starling - Flock of around 150 very near to the flock of crows
Fieldfare - 12
Reed Bunting - 3
Buzzard - 1
Kestrel - 1
Sparrowhawk (male) - 1
Grey Partridge - many in various little clusters
Chaffinch - 15
Yellowhammer - small flocks of around 15
Pheasant - 3
Blackbird - 8
Long tailed tit - 5
Jay - 2

Cheers

Nick

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Hi Phil,

I think I may have seen you in the distance. There were one or two people knocking around. I actually had my dog with me and there was another guy with a dog and a whistle.

The SE Owl can be a bit hit and miss. Sometimes I've seen it on virtually every occasion I've been down there and at other times I can go months without seeing it - such is the joy of bird watching eh?? On the odd occasion though there has been two of them hunting together - awesome sight!!

Did you manage to see any of the snipe and jack snipe? They usually come up as you walk across the top of the embankment.

Nick.

Phil_Oldham · Status: Offline

Nick, I may have seen you! I was there at dusk myself...the one without the dog :)

Only managed to see the 1 buzzard...and briefly, it was chased away by 2 kestrels, amongst the other smaller things listed!

No sign of the short eared owl, which was my reason for going :(

None the less, seems like an impressive little place!

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Had another little excursion onto the moss at dusk tonight.

Sightings as follows: -

Blackbird - lots
Chaffinch - flock of around ten
Buzzard - 2
Goldcrest - 3
Jack Snipe - 1 but several were heard calling from the long grass
Fieldfare - 12
Pink footed Goose - large flock of around 150 circling before landing in adjacent field (I've got a feeling some of these could be on someones table on Christmas day as I heard several shotgun blasts from that direction).

Cheers

Nick

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Hi,

Thanks for the correction on Highfields location. I wasn't sure whether it was in Greater Manchester or not. I'll make sure I post in the correct place from now on.

You're right about it being under watched as I've never met any other bird watchers down there in the 18 months I've been visiting the place.

It is a great little haven for bird life though with quite a bit of habitat too. I've managed to record almost 60 species down there with the highlights being the S.E. Owl and a hobby during the summer.

Cheers

Nick

Rob Thorpe · Status: Offline

Sunday 30 November 2008

15:00ish-16:30

Short-eared Owl from 16:00 hunting the rough patch north of the railway first, then over the moss. Fantastic views!

4 Corn Bunting, rather embarrassingly needed for my county list, annoyingly they were initially outside the county but one landed on a tree which is (according to Google Earth) 4metres within Greater Manchester. Also lots of Linnets and a few Yellowhammer. Quite a few Grey Partridge about, a Buzzard and a Kestrel.
2+ Stonechat on the gorse and fences along either side of the railway.
5 Golden Plover over.
c500 Pink-feet in field to the south, possibly just out of county, they flew west at 16:30.
My first visit here, looks like a good spot!

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

welcome nick-a good record that of the jack snipe,it is a much underwatched area and could eisily turn up some good birds,as you've shown in the post-keep posting

Judith Smith · Status: Offline

Hi Nick - Highfield Moss is in Greater Manchester (just) and has (or used to have) a great show of gentians in August, for which is was designated a SSSI. So, welcome to the site and post onto County sightings in future. It's a site which has had some good birds in the past and is underwatched.

Judith Smith (county recorder)

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Highfield Moss, Lowton