Had a walk round the moss this morning the smell of ash hits you before you get near the moss and the moss itself iis quite a shock when you see it three quarters of it totally black and charred.

Good numbers maybe 20 wheatears on the moss standing out against the black
3 yellow wagtails again clearly standing against the black ash.

It is rather like draining a pond it's clear what is on there normally hidden although they are vulnerable to predation I presume the sinpe and woodcock are now elsewhere.

Good numbers of willow warbler. Lots of singing skylarks around the fields and with the growing rape crops and the swallows I could have been in the Cotswolds such a lovely part of the world.

This happens every year.

Make sure it's reported to the regular local police and nick I would let LENDF know too. I will but it would help if you did too.

I was there when it happened again this afternoon and I phoned the Fire Brigade and let Ian know too. I thought he might know some lesser known path for them to get the vehicles there, as it seemed pretty inaccessible to me. When I first walked past the previously burnt area it wasn't on fire, but on my way back the flames were rising quite high. At first I thought it might have been land management but as I couldn't see anyone else about, I assumed it must have been spontaneous.

I called 999 and in spite of being put through to the Merseyside division, the appliance arrived in about 15 minutes. It had to turn back though when it approached the railway line from Newton Road and obviously couldn't get across - I don't know where they went next, perhaps down Winwick Lane. Talking to a local on my way out, he said it had been on fire last night too, and Ian says the ground can remain smouldering under the surface without actually being on fire - perhaps the hot weather was all it needed to get going again. Some photos are on my blog now but they were all taken with a 420mm telephoto as I wasn't expecting to need a wide angle shot today.

Apart from that there wasn't too much about (earlier) but I did see some Willow Warblers singing away, Reed Buntings, a Corn Bunting, a Linnet, a Kestrel, some Skylarks and the usual Crows, Tits and Pigeons. But most unusual of all, there was no sign of Nick Isherwood anywhere!

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 09:07:37 PM

Gutted, Nick - I know you enjoy birding there and I enjoy reading your sightings there has to be a way somehow to stop this mindlessness- even if it's CCTV

A quick blast around for an hour this afternoon. All the usual birds present plus two male Whinchats that have been present for almost a week now. I watched them for a few minutes fly catching in the centre of the moss before they disappeared from view. Also eight Wheatears (3m,5f) present in the raked field on the eastern side and two Oystercatchers by the flood in the field by the airstrip. Other notables were:

2 Kestrels
3 Whitethroats
4 Lapwings
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Willow Tit

Another early morning wander around the moss. Cool and breezy and quite dull kept a few birds hunkered down but still plenty of activity. Best birds of the morning was a flock of twelve Corn Buntings at the top of a large Oak by the side of the air strip. After a few years of just single birds down here it makes a nice change to finally get a few.

8 Chaffinches
2 Canada Geese over north.
13 Yellowhammers
3 Skylarks
13 Wheatears - 2m, 11f
7 Lapwings
1 Mistle Thrush
11 Willow Warblers
2 Oystercatchers
4 White Wagtails
9 Reed Buntings
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Moorhen
4 Whitethroats
c37 Linnets - including one flock of c25
2 Pheasants
12 Corn Buntings


-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Monday 29th of April 2013 03:41:20 PM

Another late afternoon mooch and some nice birds around.

Two cracking male Yellow Wagtails feeding in the newly raked field on the east side together with 10 Wheatears (7m,3f), 4 Pied Wagtails, 3 White Wagtails and a handful of Linnets and Meadow Pipits. Further down the airstrip a male Corn Bunting was singing and it was also accompanied by two other birds. Best of all were 2 male Whinchats perched up on the ferns on the south side of the moss. I sat down and watched them for a while and managed a few record shots. Whinchats are an annual bird on the moss and I always look forward to seeing them each year.

Early morning outing in lovely conditions.

2 Grey Partridges
5 Lapwings
19 Linnets
7 Wheatears - 4m,3f
15 Yellowhammers
4 Skylarks
6 Chaffinches
10 Reed Buntings
2 Mistle Thrushes
8 Willow Warblers
9 Meadow Pipits
1 Corn Bunting - singing by the the railway line.
2 Song Thrushes
1 Pheasant - male.
1 Pied Wagtail.

The case of the one that got away this morning. As I approached the line a small, dark bird flitted from the top of the railway embankment and flew away across the line. White sides to the tail and white on the wings immediately made me think Pied Flycatcher but my views were so brief that I just couldn't be certain. Elsewhere, there were 11 Wheatears present with at least two of these being Greenland race.

1 Kestrel - male.
3 Skylarks
11 Yellowhammers
7 Meadow Pipits
4 Chaffinches
4 Lapwings
c26 Linnets
1 Pheasant
3 Swallows - through west.
1 Goldcrest
8 Willow Warblers
10 Reed Buntings
1 Pied Wagtail - over north.
1 Whitethroat - male and the first of spring.
2 Jays
1 Song Thrush
2 Long Tailed Tits
2 Goldfinches
2 Mistle Thrushes
2 Oystercatchers on ploughed field to the east.
11 Wheatear - 5 male, 6 female. Two males where Greenland race.
1 Cormorant over north.

First visit down here in over a week due to a short holiday and a stomach bug and what a difference a week makes. Despite the strong winds there was quite a bit of activity most of which was on the eastern and slightly more sheltered side. At least 20 Swallows were present here fly catching and surfing the wind over the airstrip, a single male Wheatear was also present here along with 3 Pied Wagtails and several Meadow Pipits. Good numbers of Linnets were on show as were Chaffinches, Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings. A brief view of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker through the trees and also a single Willow Warbler singing too - the first of the spring. Two Buzzards battled through westwards against the wind as did a single male Kestrel.

A nice slow mooch around the moss this morning from 6.30 to 9.00. As per the last few days Meadow Pipits were still trickling through, but only during the first hour of light after which they seemed to cease. A large flock of Linnets was present on the south side too with many in fine song - the largest number I've had of them down here for a while. Also a Corn Bunting sang briefly from a tree in the centre of the moss before flying away south and a very vocal Curlew flew through west at the same time. I just wish it would begin to warm up a little now.

2 Pied Wagtails over north.
6 Grey Partridge
46 Meadow Pipits - most over north.
18 Yellowhammers
6 Skylarks
7 Redwings
9 Chaffinches
2 Buzzards
3 Pheasants
16 Fieldfares
6 Stock Doves - over north.
16 Reed Buntings
7 Mallards
3 Common Snipe
c33 Linnets
1 Willow Tit
4 Long Tailed Tits
1 Corn Bunting
2 Teal
1 Curlew - over west.
8 Lapwings
4 Mistle Thrushes

Nick and Pete. Further to the comments about off road biking, I was at the Moss yesterday afternoon the 1st and there was a motorbike heading to cross the moss until he saw me. I turned to challenge him and he went back to the road past the farm.

I did not post anything (apart from a close up view of a Buzzard) as it was very quiet with a biting wind, so I did not stay long.

Pete Astles wrote:

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Nick I will put the path on my Facebook page later once my phones charged up and I have watched corrie which I taped from last night. ( don't tell me what happens)

I phoned Wigan council a few weeks ago they have made redundant their ecology officer and they said it was now being managed by LWT. I spoke to the contact ( can't recall his name but on my website) and he said it was a major concern the new paths being opened up.

---

If as you say it has been taken over by LWT then I'm surprised they've not put any notices up yet to inform everyone of the fact.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the moss to be managed and afforded a little protection (more than it currently gets anyway). The hunting with dogs down there needs to be stopped as well as any off road biking etc. Do you know if there is to be any consultation on these management plans or are they just going to go ahead and re-wet it?

Pete Astles wrote:

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Morning visit.

Good views of buzzard hunting low over fields.
3 reed bunting
4 yellowhammer including one lovely specimen don't know whether the male brightens up in spring for display purposes.
1 willow tit
I snipe in flight.

Noticed people are now making pathways through the centre of the moss. This is what Lancashire wildlife trust who run the moss on behalf of Wigan are trying to stop. It causes environmental damage to the plant life plus it's only a matter of time before the off road bikes spot it as a fun thing to ride accross. It is also dangerous in the centre. Plus the plan is to re wet it which will make the paths unusable anyway.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 2nd of April 2013 04:47:12 PM

---

What paths are you referring to Pete. I've not seen any new paths across the moss for a while now though there are a couple of well trodden ones that have been there for quite a few years.

Also, I wasn't aware that Wigan MBC had acquired the moss yet. LWT are only down for managing it once the land is acquired.

You're right Dennis. The wind could have been a big factor.

I've been down there in easterly winds many times though and never had Snipe in that ditch before.

Colder conditions again this morning from 6.45 to 8.30. Overcast with a chill wind meant bird activity was a little more subdued than previous visits. Still, one or two good birds around including a Woodcock that flushed from the ditch on the east side with several Common Snipe. Interestingly, during the years I've birded the moss I've never recorded Snipe in this ditch before. Makes me wonder why they were roosting there on this occasion.

2 Mistle Thrushes
5 Redwings
12 Yellowhammers
3 Pied Wagtails
8 Reed Buntings
6 Chaffinches
4 Lapwings
2 Pheasants
6 Long Tailed Tits
7 Meadow Pipits
6 Mallards
7 Common Snipe
2 Linnets
1 Woodcock
2 Skylarks

It was also good to meet up with you this morning. Its a great patch and I'm sure I will see you again. I can add 2 jays passing north of the railway tracks just after you left.

Karen Foulkes wrote:

---

No sign of the Great Grey Shrike

---

No sign of the possible/probable...

Dan Brown wrote:

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2:30 until 4:00 with Andy Pinches

No sign of Great Grey Shrike. If the bird was viewed from the train it must have been very close to the actual track, which is down an embankment and well below the level of the Moss which must surely be out of sight of rail passengers???

3 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
Grey Partridge
Lapwing

---

The south side is mostly out of view to train passengers but quite a bit of the northern part should be viewable as the embankment isn't as high or steep there.

Although the moss here does have some very Shrike like habitat I am rather dubious about the sighting given that it was from a passing train. The trains usually run through here at about 30-40mph so whoever saw it must have had only a fleeting glimpse.

Just done a quick hour down there and no sign of any Great Grey Shrike.

Tanmay Dixit wrote:

---

Great Grey Shrike reported today on birdguides.

Anybody know of the accuracy of this/where the bird is etc?

---

Probable (?) seen from train north of the railway mid-way between the A573 and A579 bridges this morning.

The eternal pessimist with these kind of reports, I'll be very happy to be proven wrong but until them I'm not holding my breath...

Great Grey Shrike reported today on birdguides.

Anybody know of the accuracy of this/where the bird is etc?

Female Stonechat present just north of the line this morning at 6.15am.

Late afternoon mooch today.

2 Buzzards
6 Lapwings
1 Chaffinch
2 Pheasants
13 Common Snipe
5 Reed Buntings
1 Skylark
2 Kestrels
2 Mallard
c25 Golden Plover over south east.
1 Grey Heron - stood in the ploughed field to the south.
2 Yellowhammers
3 Long Tailed Tits