I usually do not bother posting unless I have some significant sightings to offer but the Carrington Moss thread has been empty for a couple of weeks. I do not have any major items to report but I have a couple items which may be of interest to some people.

In the Sinderland Green area I have recently had an unusual series of records of finches including those which I would normally only expect in winter. There is now the usual flock of at least 30 Goldfinches and this now includes Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Linnet but unusually also at least 2 Siskins which have been around for over a week and a Redpoll today which was equally unexpected. This is presumably post breeding dispersal. It will be interesting to see if anything else turns up as August is often the month when there is very little of interest on farmland sites.

My records indicate that this has been a poor year for raptors in this area in that Buzzards are much less numerous than last year, and Kestrels are now only occasionally seen. Additionally I have not seen a Hobby in the last four weeks, and the last Sparrowhawk recorded here was in April. I would assume from this that none of these species are breeding nearby and a similar situation appears with no Ravens being seen here since May.

On the good side Yellow Wagtails appear to have attempted breeding at two sites, and are often easily seen either on or from the track across the north side of field 25. Additionally as probable post breeding dispersal there was a Garden Warbler seen from the Dark Lane / railway bridge, but I could not find a Whitethroat in two hours!

F32 F26 Blackcap Chiffchaff F63 F25 F26 Yellowhammer x 8 Singing, F8 Willow Warbler, F10 Lapwing 12, F25 Skylark x 3 Singing, Great Spotted Woodpecker Petro Complex, F69 F27 Common Whitethroat F60 Rooks 15 , F25 Reeling Grasshopper Warbler.

-- Edited by Ian Boote on Sunday 14th of June 2015 05:03:25 PM

8 a.m. this morning.
Lesser whitethroat singing in Eastern corner of field 66 (next to Green Lane Farm on Sinderland Lane). This bird may have been present for some time as I have distantly heard what I thought was this species a few times in the last three weeks in the areas of field 70 and 68, but had been unable to pin down the bird.
Also a Common or Arctic Tern flying West over Sinderland Green but it was too high to identify specifically.

One Quail heard in field 10 this morning at about 7:50. Only three or four shorts bursts of song were heard in a two minute period and then nothing more in the next half hour when I finally ran out of patience.
Also 3 Wheatears on field 25.

Sinderland Green area 06:45 to 09:30. Highlights were:
Field 25: Hobby, Yellow Wagtail (also Peregrine yesterday)
At least 20 Swifts distantly to the East, probably over Altrincham Sewage Works.

Dave Higginson-Tranter wrote:

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The Quail were in the crop field facing the old orchard - well that is as far as I can make out. Gonna go back on Saturday and have a tootle. Cheers man and hope this helps.

I reckon there was more than 1 by the way - one close and the one I saw about middle of field.

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Hi Dave Quail is a rare GM bird and you should contact County Recorder, Ian McKerchar about submitting this sighting and complete a rarities form. Going back over a decade of County Reports no Quail has been recorded prior to the last week of May. And in some years no Quail have been recorded at all. Typically they are only heard - not bubbling but issuing a repetitive and staccato 'whip; whip-whip' call. Last year there were two on Carrington Moss in tall Barley but never seen despite hours of waiting by many, including myself. It would be unusual for Quail to find any vegetation which will not completely hide them. Therefore all the more important that you submit this great record.

0600 - 1000hrs including a wander upto the Sewage Works.

Field 4 held Pair Grey Partridge,
Field 4 and 12 seemed to hold 6 or 7 Skylarks between them.
Old Orchard held 1 Chiffchaff
12 also held 7 female and 1 male Wheatear.
The bushes and Trees between fields 4 , 12 & 13 held 5-6 Yellowhammers, with a further 1 on fence just past Swiss Cottage and a further 2 up towards Altrincham Sewage Works.
1 pair of Linnet seemed to frequent the area before Swiss cottage, best Marker is the 2nd clump of Yellowbush over the fence in Utd training ground

4 Oystercatchers in field 12 on way back to car.

Common Whitethroats everywhere must have seem at least 35 this morning and that's not counting the ETW.

Just to add - in the lush grass we noted a consistent bubbling sound done in groups of 3. A very distincty call and one I wasn't familair with. We kept watching and saw a striped head popping up and down but couldn't imagine what it could be. After scanning various videos it was 100% a Common Quail - well chuffed. I may pop back next Saturday and try and get a better luck as only me and my daughter saw it and my wife just couldn't connect. Watch this space.

By heck - do they have numbers - oh bugger. No idea mate - so sorry. Is there a map I could use for future reference? The field it was in was to the side of a central track, one side was lush even grass and the other was quite neglected. It was the surrounding scrub of the neglected field that it was frequenting and at the side of the main track. Sorry dude and good luck. Let me know if you locate it - it was a real handsome bird.

2nd May - 35 species - plenty of Wheatear and Yellowhammer with a Whinchat, Stock Dove and Bullfinch nice extras.

I had a Red Kite low over Dunham this evening, my guess it will have roosted somewhere between Dunham and the Moss so worth keeping an eye open tomorrow morning.

Male Whinchat fields 60 / 41 this afternoon.

Info thanks to Tony O'Mahony

17.45
Ploughed field around Swiss Cottage:
19 Stock Dove feeding in amongst c.50 Woodpigeon

Steve Scrimgeour wrote:

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On drive into work this morning 0820ish.

Field 73 held 4 Guinea Fowl, 3 Black& 1 White.

Now back in December whilst heading into Partington opposite the Papermill, I saw what I assumed were 20-30 Guinea Fowl in the fenced off bit of land, but never thought anymore of it as it was semi light and couldn't get my head round , why Guinea Fowl would be in Partington

To get to where they are now is a far trek, and surprised no one else has seen them...

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Don't know if it's the case here Steve, but gamekeepers occasionally release Guinea fowl along with their Pheasant in late summer. The reasoning behind this is that Guinea fowl make a great deal of noise if any predators - human or otherwise - approach the release pens. These birds aren't shot, they're fully-winged and often stay around the area all year so long as food is provided.

Last night 1830-2100hrs..

Easter holidays so no chance of a quiet one as Alicia (9) wanted to come.

Went for a mooch on the off chance of Ring Ouzel, but to no avail.

Farmer was spraying field 4 when we arrived, then proceeded to field 2.
1 Buzzard sat on Shell NR fence post, then chased of by numerous crows.
1 Swallow over Field 4,
Old Orchard was full of Blue Tits and Great Tits
Yellowhammers in their favoured bushes at top of 4 giving great views and made a little girl fall in love with them, she now wants one.....lol.
The main track between 4 -12 & 13, the farmer had flushed onto the path 1 Red legged Partridge and 2 Grey Partridge, all ran along path and disappeared in field 4 .
Field 12 held 2 Wheatears
Field 13 held 1 Wheatear
Numerous Rooks, Jackdaws and Crows also in 12 & 13.
Swiss Cottage held 20 Goldfinches and 1 Greenfinch. On way back as light was going Tawny Owl, seemed to be calling out ot the Leylandii at back of house.
The Path up to Altrincham ETW, plenty of Robins and Wrens and 1 Willow Tit just as heads up the side of Utd training Ground.

14/04/15 1930-2000
F77 = 2 Grey Partridge
F60 = 6 Wheatear & 9 Fieldfare
F35 = 1 Kestrel
F115 = 1 Kestrel

Walk from Isherwood Road to ETW, then return via Orchard.

Ring Ouzel 2
Willow Tit 1 singing near Swiss Cottage and 1 singing in Orchard.
Yellowhammer 8
Linnet 6
Chiffchaff 6 singing.
Buzzard 2
Blackcap 7 singing.
Willow Warbler 2 singing.
Grey Partridge 2 in Carrington Riding Centre paddock next to Isherwood Road.

etc.etc.etc.

Ditto my Alty ETW comments.

Am visit:

Ring Ouzel 2 in trees between f2 and f4. Flew off over F11.

Defying doctors orders had a 5hr mooch on the Moss yesterday, although feeling it today..

so 0600 - 1100hrs

Walked from Isherwood Rd, along the path bordering field 4 and Shell, up past the Old Orchard, past Swiss Farm and upto the Altrincham Sewage Works and back.
Extremely foggy to start with not much showing in the fields on the way out.

Yellowhammers and Bullfinches were order of the day along the paths along field 4 and Old Orchard.
Fields 4, 12 & 13 seemed to hold 5 or 6 Skylarks, all singing away flying around at head height on way out, much higher up on way back as the fog burnt off.
Field 13 held 2 Wheatears which were tricky to see through the fog, also a possible female Grey Partridge although this hunkered down facing away from me in the longer grass of field 12.

Goldfinches were in around Swiss Farm, with 2 Greenfinches and several Yellowhammers sat the fence, at Utd.
Treecreepers nesting , surprised no Blackcaps around, put it down to the weather.

By far my bird of the day was a stonking Brambling, in Old Orchard on the way back, stunning Orange, Black and White, which gave great views for 5 mins or so..

Again put down to the weather, not one Buzzard, Kestrel or Peregrine spotted, plenty of Woodpeckers drumming in the distance also...

All in all 32 species seen.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 7th of April 2015 12:56:41 PM

Two Little Egrets first seen 08:30 chased by crows over field 29. Later 08:45 to al least 09:45 perched in trees in North East corner of Brookheys Covert and visible from both ends of field 28, especially from lane near to Brookheys Farm, but note that this lane is narrow can be busy especially on Saturdays.

Whilst out counting the Rook nests this evening;
F28 = 1 Buzzard
F32 = 6 Tree Sparrow, 1 Yellowhammer
F29 = 1 Little Egret (adj Sinderland Brook), 1 Kestrel
F91 = 1 Kestrel
F73 = 1 Buzzard
and in Hogswood Covert a flock of 74 Fieldfare, which at approx 1930 took off north.

pm
First Wheatear of the year for me
Viewed from path along north boundary of f2 into Shell site before Flare Stack....then the downpours!!

6.45 to 11. 15am Peregrine on pylon adj. sub-station and still present at 11.15am. am . Also singing Chiffchaff . Elsewhere - Yellowhammer x18 . . ..Song thrush x 18 . Goldfinch x 4 . F25 (carrot field) Brambling x 1f . Linnet x 3 . Lapwing x 2 . Skylark x 12 . Chaffinch x c100. Common buzzard x 2over. Raven x 2 heard. Sinderland Green Wood - Chiffchaff x 1 singing . Nuthatch x 1 .

A first for me: A Little Egret took off from a small pond north of the flare stack at 08:30 this morning. This is on the LyondellBasell site. Pure White, yellow feet, lovely looking bird.