A (reluctant) walk taking in Field Numbers 1-10 covering parts of Irlam/Barton and Chat Moss
It was perhaps a self imposed Hair-Shirt wander of three hours for it confirmed, nay exceeded, my extremely low expectations of encountering much if ANY farmland birds and merely illustrated how the wider countryside (especially Farmland habitat) in the UK is bereft of Birds....
Pink Footed Geese - 2500 in massive flocks heading towards Manchester from the NW and headed over the mosslands (LWM, Irlam Moss, Astley Moss), they seemed to not want to go into the mist and fog that way and most turned SW and headed over me towards the Mersey .
2400 Pink-Footed Geese in (rather than Skeins) what I would felt I wanted to say....in waves between 1105-1115...there is still wildlife to give a chance to stand in awe...a rare treat in these days of such dreadful loss of the natural world especially in the UK...
1 Pink-Footed Goose with Satellite Tracker ----discovered (thanks to Dan Owen) that it was ringed as an adult female on 240317 near Carsethorn Dumfries and Galloway
Barton Moss....Most of the fields I checked today have of late been sown with Silage...these fields have traditionally been Lapwing Breeding Territory...and such a 'crop' is
tantamount to eradicating breeding for these and other farmland birds that also nested here (Yellow Wagtail/Skylark)....I recognise that farmers need to survive and grow the 'crop that pays' it's not incumbent on them to provide nesting sites for endangered birds (and boy are Lapwing and most Farmland birds in freefall) but what I do recognise that a large proportion of Barton/Chat Moss are becoming Farmland birds deserts...YET the UK Government is aware that the UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the WORLD...and I think I know why....don't you???
2 Great Black-Backed Gull Flying North
1 Chiffchaff
2 Snipe
-- Edited by Dave Steel on Tuesday 15th of October 2024 09:03:54 PM
Some good birds about on a still afternoon on and around Little Woolden Moss NR
Merlin 1 - skimming over Field 20 and seen to perch right by one of the houses on Astley Road Peregrine 1 - high over F20 heading west Marsh Harrier 2-3 - 2 birds seen on the reserve, 1 hunting over F20, flushed 2 Snipe Whooper Swan 2 - on the reserve, showing superbly on the closest water from the south path
The Swans and the Merlin were only my second GM sightings of each species, somehow I've never seen a Merlin at Little Woolden before
I walked back to Irlam for a 18.15 train that was cancelled, a series of buses, got home at 20.05. Don't use public transport on a Sunday unless you enjoy suffering!
2 Peregrines in a spectacular noisy mid-air skirmish above me. A large juvenile female, which had earlier been seen sat on the bare peat, was repeatedly harassed by a smaller male bird before both flew off.
Nice to have brief chat with Dave Steel who was conducting a guided tour for volunteers. Also good to speak with Dave Stewart and Ken Jones.
Started at west end of Little Woolden Moss NR - did anti-clockwise circuit of reserve - through north gate - past Poly tunnels - past Red House Farm and Whitegate Farm along Moss Lane - and return via River Glaze. Sightings included:
Fieldfare (5) in ploughed field to north of Moss Lane Wheatear (1) Peregrine (1) Marsh Harrier Immature / Female (1) Buzzard (4) Kestrel (2) Greenfinch (3) Jay (2) Skylarks and Meadow Pipits
Afternoon stroll 2:25 - 5:35, Astley Road, Little Woolden Moss then back into Irlam via Twelve Yards Road and Cutnook Lane. Highlights: Irlam Moss, 12 grey partridge; turf fields immediately South of M60, 30+ pied wagtails and a buzzard; turf fields immediately North of M60, c.50 pied wagtails and 100+ black-headed gulls; three kestrels (2m, 1f) and a buzzard by Four Lanes End; female marsh harrier being given a hard time by the resident carrion crows on Little Woolden Moss, also 39 pink-footed geese on barley stubble North of the reserve; juvenile grey wagtail having a bath in a pothole on Twelve Yards Road, also 5 swallows, 54 pink-footed geese and a barn owl in stubble by the road, 2 ravens overhead.
Tuesday 1st October AM. Walk from M62 Motorway bridge on Barton Moss along Twelve yards road and part circuit of Chat Moss
Marsh Harrier (1)
Little Egret (1)
Stonechat (2)
Buzzard (1)
Kestrel (1)
Chiffchaff (1)
Long Tailed Tits (5)
Pied Wagtail (7)
Lots of Mallard who were enjoying all the flooded fields!