Late afternoon circle of the moss yesterday. Of interest: swallows, swifts, linnets, at least 2 (up to 4) yellowhammers singing, plenty of willow warbler, and a hovering kestrel.

Early morning loop. 

7 Whitethroats

5 Blackcaps

5 Willow Warblers

Still good numbers of Tree Sparrows present plus all the usuals. 

Another circuit this morning. 

6 Willow Warblers

6 Whitethroats 

5 Blackcaps 

2 Yellow Wagtails

1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

7 Stock Doves

Good numbers of Tree Sparrows again. 

This mornings venture. 

6 Willow Warblers 

5 Blackcaps

6 Whitethroats

1 Chiffchaff

1 Yellow Wagtail

Good numbers of Tree Sparrows present this morning too. 

This mornings loop of the moss. 

7 Willow Warblers

3 Whitethroats

1 Blackcap

1 Chiffchaff

2 Wheatears m,f

1 Whinchat - male. It spent its whole time whilst watching it feeding off the short mown grass of the model aircraft club field with the two Wheatears. 

Morning circuit. 

7 Willow Warblers

1 Whitethroat

1 Blackcap

1 Chiffchaff

2 Shelduck

Plus the usuals  

 

I'm pretty sure wood pigeon can only be shot to protect crops actually growing, and not for food or sport. Any time of year
Not allowed to shoot within 25 yards (I think) of public right of way, and anything else is trespassing with a weapon
Obviously breaching CV guidelines, and a firearms offence
I'd have called the police - they take firearms offences seriously

I don't think exercising a Harris hawk is a risk to wildlife, don't think they can catch birds, they're too slow. It'll be rabbits
Whereas I don't agree with falconry, it's reasonable to exercise these birds, so not really breaching CV guidelines I guess

-- Edited by John Watson on Saturday 18th of April 2020 11:44:45 AM

This mornings circuit. 

10 Willow Warblers

1 Chiffchaff

1 Blackcap

2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Plus the usual Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Meadow Pipits, Linnets.  

This morning 6.00 - 7.30. 

1 Whinchat - male

1 Cuckoo - heard several times but not seen

2 Whitethroat

2 Wheatear

4 Willow Warblers

Plus the usuals. 

Over 50% of the moss has recently been scorched (which is an almost annual event), but new growth is already beginning to show. At least six Wheatears present this morning on the blackened ground plus another four on the airstrip. Also, a female Whinchat down near the southern boundary. 

Other birds in attendance were at least three Whitethroats, two Blackcaps and nine Willow Warblers. 

This morning 8.30 - 10.00.

Fantastic views of a Peregrine chasing Woodpigeon this morning over the airstrip. 

c150 Pink footed geese over north west

10 Grey Partridge 

c25 Redwings over south plus a few in the hedges to the north of the moss

c20 Fieldfare over north

c80 Skylarks loafing around the fields with some moving through south too

4 Buzzards

2 Kestrels

2 Goldcrests

c100 Black headed gulls on the fields with several Common and Lesser Black backed mixed in. 

 

Planning meeting 16th August
More details in other thread:
http://www.manchesterbirding.activeboard.com/t61567660/highfield-moss-lowton-planning-application/?page=1#lastPostAnchor

Apologies for wrong-threading, but it's important

Early morning foray from 6.00-8.00am. Of note were:

1 Corn Bunting

1 Yellow Wagtail - male

7 pairs of Grey Partridge

 

My first visit this morning for two months or so.

Non breeding plumage adult Little Gull feeding and loafing with several Black headed gulls on the arable field to the north of the railway line near to Highfield farm. I watched it for around fifteen minutes and it came incredibly close at times giving excellent views. A massive tick for the moss!

Other notables were a single Coal Tit in the woods and also around thirty Fieldfares in the stubble field near the railway line. 

birds present today included 3 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 41 Fieldfare and a Skylark in song briefly

A good morning on the moss today with plenty of visible migration on show.

c565 Pink-footed Geese through South eastwards (80,20,25,220,35,45 and 140)
12 Buzzards - all on the ground in the field to the north of the line. A recently deceased fox in this field too which may be the reason for all the Buzzards though they were no where near it at the time. My largest ever count.
c80 Linnets
c20 Pied Wagtails
c100 Black-headed Gulls
c20 Lesser black-backed gulls.
1 Merlin - female came through southwards with prey. First of the autumn.
1 Sparrowhawk - female.
c200 Skylarks - birds moving through constantly during my two hour visit.
1 Goldcrest

Another jaunt from 8.00 - 10.00 this morning.

Not very much at all going on at first until I reached the South east corner where I spied a Lesser Whitethroat on top of the hedge by the airstrip. I watched it at distance for a few seconds until it dropped down into the hedge. I moved forward with the hope of getting better views but whilst doing this I picked up a high pitched call of a wader coming in from the north. A quick scan soon picked up a Grey Plover heading southwards and right over my head giving really good views as it disappeared into the distance. A good site tick and the second one I've had here on migration in the last few years.

Other notables were singles of Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. Also quite a few House Martins trickling through southwards.

9.00 - 10.30 this morning during intermittent rain.

One or two migrants about mostly on the north side of the railway. The moss itself was very quiet.

Tree Pipit - Good views as it appeared to take off from the crop field and flew right past me 'buzzing' away as it flew South.
2 Sedge Warblers with two Whitethroats in the verge to the corn field.
A massive flock (at least 250 birds) of mostly Linnets plus a few Goldfinches and Greenfinches feeding on the stubble field with at least 70 Swallows.
Female Sparrowhawk flew in from the north sending everything scattering. Great views as it singled out a Linnet and took it mid flight.
Also noted were a single Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler.

Rene Griffiths wrote:

---

Apologies in advance for asking this in the bird sighting thread - I looked but couldn't find a site guide regarding Highfield Moss, if there is one please could someone paste a link? If there isn't one can anyone advise where would be the best/safest place to park and if there are any "don't miss" areas?

---

Not sure there is a site guide you can either park on the a572 and walk on the public footpath by the travellers rest pub or park in the pub car park provided you buy a drink or I prefer to park on barrow lane which is a good birding spot in itself barrow land is the concrete road on parkside road between the railway bridge and the m6 and walk back to the moss via the public footpath signs alternatively park on Kenyon garden centre cross (with care) winwick lane and use the public footpath and across the airfield to the moss the site is fairly small and anywhere can turn things up but nick will know better than anyone best spots

Late post from yesterday morning.

No sign of any Cuckoos or Wheatears though it was very windy and a lot of birds were keeping down.

5 Whitethroats
5 Willow Warblers

Plus the usuals.

Mega patch tick this morning in the form of a male Cuckoo that was hanging around the eastern side of the moss and causing chaos amongst the Meadow Pipit population. I got one really good look at it when it perched in a dead tree but generally it was quite elusive and I only managed another couple of glimpses of it. I'm fairly sure it was still present when I left.

A Sedge Warbler was singing by the rape field to the north of the line as well. These are annual in this spot but never seem to hang around for long.

Other birds were:

7 Whitethroats
8 Willow Warblers
1 Blackcap
3 Wheatears -all females on the ploughed field South of the railway.
2 Grey Partridges
A steady movement of Swifts as well.

Late report from yesterday morning 8.00-10.00.

1 Lesser Whitethroat - quite a skulky bird on the ditch line north of the railway near the corn field.
4 Whitethroat - The first of the year down here. Two males singing in separate locations plus two males together moving along the hedge line by the airstrip.
7 Willow Warblers
1 Wheatear
2 Buzzards

Plus the usuals.

The airstrip now appears to have become the home of a model aircraft club and flying has been happening everyday now for about the last week. Yesterday morning one guy was flying his model jet fighter at about 8.30. It seems you can't go anywhere these days to get some peace and quiet!

3 Wheatears (2m,1f) and at least 5 singing Willow Warblers present this afternoon.

Couple of hours here this afternoon from half two. Gorgeous afternoon, but pretty quiet bird-wise. Maybe the wrong time of a warm day!

1 Kestrel (f)
2 Common Buzzard
1 Goldcrest
1 Chiffchaff seen and others singing
1 Meadow Pipit on airstrip
Numerous Robins and Wrens

Several tits, (great, blue and long-tailed), blackbirds.

Carrion crow & woodpigeon numerous


Site has certainly changed a lot in character - it's early days obviously in a long term management project.