Walk along the path from the end of Moss Side Lane (nr entrance to Colliers Landfill site) this evening

Lesser Whitethroat singing
Grasshopper Warbler (opposite end of the path to previous bird and presumably a different one)
4 Yellowhammers

Plus

2 singing Lesser Whitethroats - one on Moat Lane and one behind the pools to the west
4 Buzzards
18 Mistle Thrushes in ploughed field at top end of Holly Bush Lane (6 adults, rest juveniles)

Around Moat Lane, the path from Moss Side Lane and the mosses themselves I estimate at least 30 singing Whitethroats and >45 birds all told seen / heard

200+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls on tip

Lots of butterflies today for first time - mainly Common Blue and Speckled Wood plus quite a few dragonflies with male and female Broad Bodied Chasers, several Four Spotted Chasers and a couple of Black-tailed Skimmers

Late post for Friday evening.

Quick walk round the claypits and singing birds included 3 goldcrest 3 willow warbler 2 chiffchaff sedge warbler 3 reed bunting blackcap and whitethroat.buzzard stock dove and heron also seen.nuthatch and great spotted woodpecker with young in the nest.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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If we are asking users of the forum to contribute towards something they are unaware of at a site they don't know, it might be worthwhile giving some background as to the proposals and our reasons to oppose it

---

Ian

Apologies you are quite right. The background is that this is an application for a clay pigeon shooting centre on farmland on Rixton mosses at the end of Hollybush Lane, immediately south of the railway lane and Risley Moss. One controversial aspect of the proposal is that the application seems to be somewhat retrospective as there has already been some engineering works and construction done. The application is receiving a lot of opposition from local residents of Rixton, Oakwood and Gorse Covert mainly centered around the noise pollution, traffic and environmental disturbance to the farmland and adjacent Risley Moss.

I would support all these points. Somewhat selfishly I don't want my birding to be spoiled by the sound of gunfire (recognizing the shooters are just enjoying their hobby!). But of greater concern is the immediate loss of land and breeding habitat the project would cause and the longer term disturbance to the wildlife populations caused by the gunfire noise.

The planning statement (section 1-03 in my link, page 18) supporting the application summarises the ecological issues. One of the points to note is:

"The proposal will have an impact on certain bird species associated with Risley Moss. It is anticipated that the development will deter raptors from using Risley Moss and this impact is considered to be moderate in the long term. To ameliorate this impact and reduce noise levels over the reserve, all shotgun stands will fire towards the south and west of the site."

One thing I am unsure of is the timescale to object; I have a copy of a council letter dated 20th April which I believe was distributed to Oakwood residents regarding the application saying there are 21 days to respond from the date of the letter but the website suggests a consultation end date of 1st May.


Regards


David

-- Edited by David Spencer on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 06:09:02 PM

-- Edited by David Spencer on Wednesday 2nd of May 2012 06:10:38 PM

14 Wheatears this evening - 6 in Prospect Lane and 8 in Holly Bush Lane plus:

11 Yellowhammers
1 Corn Bunting
14 Grey Partridges
2 Red-legged Partridges
110+ Lesser Black-backed Gulls

Male Whinchat with 9 Wheatears at far north end of the field next to the tip early afternoon. 4 more Wheatears around log pile and field opposite and another in field off Holly Bush Lane

Nice to meet you too Brian.

I could only get 6 Wheatears late this afternoon.

Where were the Garden Warblers Mike, they have eluded me so far?

Cheers

David

A Little Ringed Plover on Moat Lane Pool this am. and at least 3 Wheatear along Prospect Lane.
Nice to meet David Spencer here as well this morning. Hope you weren't too late with the papers !

10 Wheatears off Prospect and Holly Bush Lanes this am

Glad David caught up with the cranes this am. They were not present at 07:30 or this evening. 9 Wheatears in the usual fields though and both Common Terns now back - one was back yesterday (courtesy of David Spencer)

Cranes have flown back into Risley Moss

Very soggy and bedraggled female Merlin in field off Prospect Lane this evening

Having only ever seen one Common Crane 5 years ago, and more in hope than expectation I set off to Rixton late afternoon. No sign of the Cranes but a pleasant enough walk - haven't been over there for a while. As it was a bit late in the day there wasn't that much about

Of note several Chiffchaff and my first Willow Warbler for the year near the fishing area on Moat Lane.

In the fields along Woodend Lane, Pied Wagtail, Mistle Thrush, Skylark, several Yellowhammers and busy Lapwings.

At 09:15 the cranes flew out of risley moss, spiraling up high and headed off Se

Cranes adults and unringed. Still present

2 Common Cranes present on Rixton Moss at 5:30pm today.

Seen over Risley Moss a couple of days ago, the birds were refound at Rixton Moss at 5:30pm today but flew back towards Risley Moss shortly afterwards, maybe to roost?

Info thanks to Mike Baron

In yesterdays downpours 1 Wheatear off Holly Bush Lane, 8 or so Corn Buntings, 3 Grey Partridges, 2 Red-legged Partridges & double figures of Yellowhammers. My first visit along these lanes thanks to posters on this forum - thanks Won't be my last visit

6 wheatears along holly bush lane at 11.30

2 Wheatears present this morning, hanging around the wood pile. Looked like new birds. Also at least 7 Corn Buntings, 2 Yellowhammers, 25+ Skylarks, 7 Grey Partridges and 2 Buzzards.

-- Edited by Mike Baron on Sunday 1st of April 2012 04:25:53 PM

4 Wheatears still in Prospect Lane this evening (thanks David) plus a fifth in Holly Bush Lane

Single Wheatear in Holly Bush Lane this morning plus 2 singing Corn Buntings

No sign of Green Sandpiper but a Redshank on the working pit

2 male Wheatears along Woodend Ln together with Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammers.

Green Sandpiper again on Moat Lane pools today

Had a brilliant morning walking the Rixton/Martinscroft Mosses, from dawn, with Dave Steel and Les Jones. Two Hares and a Fox added spice to the morning and the birding highlights were as follows:

Tawny Owl 4 (2 dueting pairs)
Curlew 2 (flying west)
Corn Bunting 2 (in song from the wires in Hollybush Lane)
Yellowhammer 11 (inc. 7 in song)
Reed Bunting 5
Grey Partridge 9 (inc. 4 pairs)
Linnet 91
Stock Dove 2
Pied Wagtail 2
Skylark 29 (inc. 16 in song)
Lapwing 180
Redwing 85 (from roost)
Fieldfare 60
Chaffinch 35
Mistle Thrush 2
Song Thrush 2
Kestrel 2
Common Buzzard 2
House Sparrow 14

This was my first visit here and I was quite impressed with the range of habitat available. Today I saw:

2 GS Woodpeckers chasing each other and drumming on trees - both seemed to be female - also lots of Woodpecker-type holes in one particular tree.
Lot of Blue Tits and LT Tits
A couple of Great Tits, Robins and Blackbirds
2 Cormorants taking off the largest pool
1 Grey Heron flying low over the smaller pools
Quite a few Coots and Tufted Ducks
2 Mute Swans
1 drake Shoveler
At least 5 Gadwall (4 drake)

A lady I met also reported seeing two Buzzards circling over a nearby field, but didn't see them.

I can't see why this area seems to be under-reported as seems to have a lot of potential and I definitely be coming back during Spring.