Highfield Moss, Lowton

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

RE: Highfield Moss, Lowton

MickRyan · Status: Offline

Hi Nick,
What a find!! I'm new to the area and stumbled on your posts after coming on here to read about Pennington Flash! Went to the Moss last evening and what a great place! I'm a pro photographer but do nature stuff as a hobby so will be hopefully getting a few pics when I can. Thanks for putting me on to such a great place!
Mick

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early mooch this morning in very nice conditions for once.

2 Corn Bunting - one singing it's little heart out near Highfield farm and another just out of county to the south.
5 Meadow Pipit
2 Skylark
23 Linnet
9 Whitethroat - at least three fledglings.
5 Yellowhammer
2 Blackcap
1 Chiffchaff
2 Song Thrush
9 Willow Warbler
1 Pheasant
4 Greenfinch - 3 juveniles.
2 Chaffinch
10 Reed Bunting
4 Goldfinch - 2 juveniles.
2 Grey Partridge - both poults.
1 Kestrel
1 Mallard
2 Moorhen

Plenty of juvenile birds of the more common species too - Blackbirds, Wrens, Robins, etc. Also, Woodpigeon numbers seem to have increased with a good movement of birds passing through during my outing.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A Hobby flew over the moss late this afternoon carrying what appeared to be a Swift.

All the other usual birds present too.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A pleasant evening mooch tonight until a rain shower soaked me through.

All the usual species present but of note were:

5 Yellow Wagtail over north. Probable family party.
4 Grey Partridge including 2 young.
c40 Swallows including many young catching flies low over the moss.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Afternoon mooch and fairly quiet really.

Good to note though that Moorhens have successfully bred on the small pool and they've managed three chicks.

Kestrels have also successfully bred in the area too with one youngster noted on this visit being taught to fly and hunt by its parents.

Still at least twenty Mistle Thrushes in the crop field just south of the moss.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Loads of activity down the moss this morning. Plenty of young birds around along with a few surprises too.

3 Mallard
4 Reed Bunting
7 Yellowhammer
4 Corn Bunting - two singing from the corn field north of the moss and two singing from the field to the side of the airstrip.
8 Skylark
3 Blackcap
7 Lapwing
1 Lesser Redpoll - over north. Another year tick.

9 Linnet
4 Pheasant - m,f plus two poults.
9 Willow Warbler
5 Meadow Pipits
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
20 Mistle Thrush - I actually counted 20 though I suspect there were more. Probably several family groups.
1 Yellow Wagtail - female.
1 Whitethroat
2 Song Thrush
4 Chaffinch
5 Goldfinch
1 Moorhen

The biggest surprise of the morning was discovering the wreckage of a single propeller light aircraft nose down in the ditch on the moss by the side of the airstrip. The aircrafts nose was well bent and the windscreen cracked, but hopefully no one was too badly hurt.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A pleasant early morning wander down on the moss.

11 Meadow Pipit
1 Goldfinch
7 Skylark
9 Reed Bunting
7 Yellowhammer
5 Mallard
2 Blackcap
4 Whitethroat
14 Linnet
10 Willow Warbler
1 Pheasant
11 Lapwing
2 Grey Partridge
2 Corn Bunting - heard singing just out of county to the south.
1 Song Thrush
8 Mistle Thrush
1 Chaffinch
1 Buzzard

Also two Stoats playing in the short grass on the airstrip.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

First outing down here for a week or so, mainly due to work and bad weather.

A lovely evening down on the moss and loads of bird activity. All the usual species present and good numbers of young birds around too. Birds of note were:

A singing Corn Bunting near to Highfield farm.
A Willow Tit foraging for food.
13 Mistle Thrush on scrub field just south of the moss.
Good numbers of Swifts and Swallows hunting insects very low over the moss.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Mid morning mooch today in windy but surprisingly dry conditions.

1 Swift
2 Chaffinch
9 Skylark
3 Whitethroat
3 Linnet
9 Yellowhammer
6 Swallow
1 Blackcap
10 Willow Warbler - including 4 young
7 Reed Bunting
1 Kestrel
5 Meadow Pipit
3 Lapwing
1 Grey Partridge
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Pheasant
2 Mallard
5 Mistle Thrush - including 3 young.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Evening visit.

Female Sparrowhawk with young Blackbird. Parent bird going mental.
Kestrel with prey.
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Plus all the usuals.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

My first chance to get down here in nearly a week mostly due to the rubbish weather we've had all week. Plenty activity this morning anyway as the birds took advantage of the better conditions.

2 Grey Partridge
2 Goldfinch
8 Skylark
10 Chaffinch
4 Lapwing
2 Corn Bunting
1 Buzzard
7 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
2 Pheasant
10 Reed Bunting
9 Linnet
15 Yellowhammer
12 Willow Warbler
10 Meadow Pipit
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
6 Mistle Thrush
2 Grey Heron
2 Oystercatcher
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Kestrel
1 Mallard
1 Tree Sparrow

Also very nice views of a Roe Deer. The first I've ever seen down here.

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Walked down Barrow Lane and then round Highfield Moss and back. Two Yellow Wagtails, near the bollards on Barrow Lane plus four Corn Buntings. Totals of 8 singing Skylarks, 4 singing Reed Buntings, 11 Yellowhammers, 7 Grey Partridges, 5 Willow Warblers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Song Thrushes andc.40 Swifts.

Cheers David

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

I had a cracking new tick for here this morning. I watched a Common Tern cross Newton Road and fly directly over the moss in the distance.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A bit boggy under foot this morning on the moss after yesterday's deluge. Still, I had the place to myself for two and half hours from 6.00 to 8.30.

3 Song Thrush
13 Yellowhammer
5 Chaffinch
1 Corn Bunting
9 Skylark
8 Linnet
2 Blackcap
5 Whitethroat
1 Buzzard
10 Meadow Pipit
9 Reed Bunting
12 Willow Warbler
6 Lapwing
5 Grey Partridge
3 Tree Sparrow
1 Jay
1 Greenfinch
2 Swallow
1 Pheasant
1 Mallard

Plus the usuals.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Monday 4th of June 2012 10:36:08 PM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning stroll 6.00 to 7.45.

8 Meadow Pipit
16 Linnet
4 Goldfinch
9 Chaffinch
12 Skylark - mostly feeding on the ploughed field just west of the moss.
1 Corn Bunting - singing from same place as yesterday evening.
9 Yellowhammer
2 Buzzard
4 Whitethroat
5 Lapwing
2 Blackcap
7 Reed Bunting
8 Willow Warbler
3 Song Thrush
12 Stock Dove - ploughed field.
1 Tree Sparrow
5 Mallard
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Jay

Good numbers of fledged birds around too.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Corn Bunting singing near to Highfield farm this evening.

All the other usual stuff around too.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Further to the posts on the Pennington flash thread. The only reason I'm having a 'bumper year' as Martyn puts it is because of all the hours I'm putting in down there. I'm down there pretty much every day at the moment much to my wife's disdain. As they say, if you put the hours in then you'll get the results.

I agree with John too. When the weathers like this it gets full of idiots drinking and swimming and making fires. The area around the pond is historically known as Lowton beach and it was a hang out for people in hot weather going back over a hundred years ( I found a photo on the Internet). The best time to visit when it's hot is literally first light or last light. As he also said too, Barrow Lane and Winwick are good sites too and only a few hundred yards away.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Pete Astles wrote:

Nick I picked up three of those helium ballons earlier these week and took them home. (Not to play with for the bin)

It said baby girl on it they are all over the moss.

What a mystery

Very odd!!

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Nick I picked up three of those helium ballons earlier these week and took them home. (Not to play with for the bin)

It said baby girl on it they are all over the moss.

What a mystery

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning mooch and great to be out on such a lovely day.

7 Meadow Pipit
9 Chaffinch
13 Yellowhammer
8 Whitethroat
6 Skylark
16 Willow Warbler
11 Linnet
4 Song Thrush
8 Lapwing - amusing to watch them seeing off a predator. In this case the 'predator' was a small helium filled balloon floating through their territory.
1 Blackcap
1 Goldfinch
1 Mistle Thrush
9 Swallow
5 Reed Bunting
5 Grey Partridge
1 Greenfinch
4 Tree Sparrow
1 Buzzard
2 Long Tailed Tit
1 Kestrel
2 Jay
2 Mallard
1 House Martin
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Plus the usuals.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Cracking views this evening of a fly past Hobby with a small bird in it's talons. The amazing thing was how it was plucking it as it flew along. Every few seconds there was a puff of feathers as it plucked away on the wing. Must have been a female as only they can multi task like this.

Besides all the other usual culprits there was also four Greenland race Wheatears on the ploughed field just west of the moss.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Evening mooch in nice pleasant and still conditions.

1 Shelduck
2 Tree Sparrow
1 Yellow Wagtail - female. New year tick.

2 Goldfinch
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Lesser Whitethroat - this birds been around for a few days now singing from the same cluster of bushes. The call was a little different than is usual of a Lesser though. I got good close up views of it tonight though so that clinched the bird. Another tick.

All the other usual stuff around too.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning outing 6.00 to 8.15. Light rain and slight northerly breeze. Feeling a little on the cool side for this time of year.

1 Kestrel
4 Skylark
8 Yellowhammer
6 Whitethroat
8 Tree Sparrow - including two parents feeding a fledgling.
1 Pied Wagtail
11 Willow Warbler - including two fledglings.
4 Grey Partridge - two pairs.
7 Chaffinch
2 Blackcap - 1m,1f - the male had a very strange call. Sounded like a mix between a Blackcap and Blackbird at times.
1 Garden Warbler - very vocal bird. Gave brief views several times before disappearing. A new year tick.

8 Lapwing - including 3 fledglings.
1 Song Thrush
6 Reed Buntings
4 Meadow Pipits
1 Buzzard
1 Pheasant - male.
3 Wheatear - 2f,1m in ploughed field just out of county.
1 Linnet
1 Swallow
2 Goldfinch

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Dennis atherton wrote:

Well done Nick, your working hard there this year and getting up a great list, im enjoying reading your updates seeing what you find, keep at it, i see you got another nice tick today, Good stuff pal,

Cheers Dennis. Thought I'd set myself a little challenge at the start of the year by doing a year list here. It's been hard going at times but occasionally getting a good bird or two.

Dennis atherton · Status: Offline

Well done Nick, your working hard there this year and getting up a great list, im enjoying reading your updates seeing what you find, keep at it, i see you got another nice tick today, Good stuff pal,

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning mooch 6.00 to 7.45.

6 Skylark
6 Whitethroat - numbers of singing males seems to have dropped a little now.
9 Yellowhammer
7 Grey Partridge
17 Willow Warbler
3 Chaffinch
2 Blackcap
5 Lapwing - including 3 fledglings.
2 Shelduck - seem to be roosting on the moss.
6 Linnet
8 Reed Bunting
1 Mallard
4 Meadow Pipit
8 Wheatear - six in ploughed field to the south just out of county.
5 Tree Sparrow
1 Song Thrush

Probably the biggest surprise this morning was a Nuthatch feeding in the mature trees at the top of Heath Lane. First time I've ever seen one here.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

TweetyPatersons wrote:

Hi - our first visit today - thanks to GeekTeacher and Nick Isherwood. We have only been birding for a couple of years, but have used this website manytimes to look for places to go.

Finally took the step to join the forum!

We were the only people there, and had some great views of the reed buntings, a few swallows drinking, willow warblers, meadow pipits (a first for us), and tree sparrows. On the way back up to the travellers rest entrance a couple of buzzards. We heard many more birds including the skylarks - but are not experienced enough to identify all (any!) of them by song alone.

Really nice place to get extremely close to the birds, and generally quite beautiful, with a below average count of 'special brew' and 'carlsberg' cans!

I'm glad you enjoyed the place. Welcome to the forum.

TweetyPatersons · Status: Offline

Hi - our first visit today - thanks to GeekTeacher and Nick Isherwood. We have only been birding for a couple of years, but have used this website manytimes to look for places to go.

Finally took the step to join the forum!

We were the only people there, and had some great views of the reed buntings, a few swallows drinking, willow warblers, meadow pipits (a first for us), and tree sparrows. On the way back up to the travellers rest entrance a couple of buzzards. We heard many more birds including the skylarks - but are not experienced enough to identify all (any!) of them by song alone.

Really nice place to get extremely close to the birds, and generally quite beautiful, with a below average count of 'special brew' and 'carlsberg' cans!

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Nice morning on the Moss, lovely day.

8 Yellowhammer
1 Reed Bunting
1 Willow Warbler seen but dozens heard
2 whitethroat seen loads heard
Possibly blackcap heard
5 Wheatear 3 males and 2 females on ploughed field.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

pretty quiet early pm
1 wheatear
1 common Buzzard
6 yellowhammer
6 whitethroat
1 yellow wagtail

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

I thought the two I saw this morning looked rather chunky too. I thought they might be Greenland types but I couldn't be certain as the light was a bit against me and I couldn't make out any rufous tones underneath.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Nick Isherwood wrote:

JOHN TYMON wrote:

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Good bit of birding this morning on the moss from 6.00 to 9.00am. Finally got a Whinchat down here (possibly two) after much waiting despite birds being present in other locations nearby. Also got the surprise sighting of two Shelduck flushed from the moss itself.

23 Swallow
13 Meadow Pipit
7 Skylark
7 Lapwing
10 Yellowhammer
10 Willow Warbler
3 Grey Partridge
10 Chaffinch
11 Reed Bunting
1 Fieldfare - same bird, same place as per previous posts.
2 Blackcap
14 Whitethroat
10 Linnet
7 Mallard
1 Whinchat - maybe two. First bird seen near the wind sock, the second? on
the embankment. Both females.
2 Wheatear - m,f
1 Song Thrush
10 Tree Sparrow
2 Shelduck
2 Sand Martin - through north.
2 Oystercatcher

Plus a cheeky stoat that ran past me then decided to turn round and do a meerkat impression to have a look at me.

I'll post a few photos pn my flickr page later.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 12th of May 2012 10:53:16 AM

John Tymon Wrote
No sign of whinchat pm,but 10+ wheatear in the field to the west of the main moss.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 12th of May 2012 06:39:47 PM

Those Whinchat were quite flighty this morning and the dog walkers don't help matters. A good count of Wheatears though John, nice one. It always pays to check the furrows in that field.

There were 7f and 3m wheatear and a couple of the males looked like what we used to call greenland race birds,very big,and very rufus underneath,and the females looked bulky as well possibly Greenland race.Strangely after a tour of the moss ,on the way back I could only find one normal looking Male,so where the others went ,i haven't a clue

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

JOHN TYMON wrote:

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Good bit of birding this morning on the moss from 6.00 to 9.00am. Finally got a Whinchat down here (possibly two) after much waiting despite birds being present in other locations nearby. Also got the surprise sighting of two Shelduck flushed from the moss itself.

23 Swallow
13 Meadow Pipit
7 Skylark
7 Lapwing
10 Yellowhammer
10 Willow Warbler
3 Grey Partridge
10 Chaffinch
11 Reed Bunting
1 Fieldfare - same bird, same place as per previous posts.
2 Blackcap
14 Whitethroat
10 Linnet
7 Mallard
1 Whinchat - maybe two. First bird seen near the wind sock, the second? on
the embankment. Both females.
2 Wheatear - m,f
1 Song Thrush
10 Tree Sparrow
2 Shelduck
2 Sand Martin - through north.
2 Oystercatcher

Plus a cheeky stoat that ran past me then decided to turn round and do a meerkat impression to have a look at me.

I'll post a few photos pn my flickr page later.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 12th of May 2012 10:53:16 AM

John Tymon Wrote
No sign of whinchat pm,but 10+ wheatear in the field to the west of the main moss.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 12th of May 2012 06:39:47 PM

Those Whinchat were quite flighty this morning and the dog walkers don't help matters. A good count of Wheatears though John, nice one. It always pays to check the furrows in that field.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Just uploaded the photo's from this morning and it was two Whinchat. One male and one female. Must remember to check my shots more closely in the field next time.

Four shots from this morning now posted to my Flickr page.

JOHN TYMON · Status: Offline

Nick Isherwood wrote:

Good bit of birding this morning on the moss from 6.00 to 9.00am. Finally got a Whinchat down here (possibly two) after much waiting despite birds being present in other locations nearby. Also got the surprise sighting of two Shelduck flushed from the moss itself.

23 Swallow
13 Meadow Pipit
7 Skylark
7 Lapwing
10 Yellowhammer
10 Willow Warbler
3 Grey Partridge
10 Chaffinch
11 Reed Bunting
1 Fieldfare - same bird, same place as per previous posts.
2 Blackcap
14 Whitethroat
10 Linnet
7 Mallard
1 Whinchat - maybe two. First bird seen near the wind sock, the second? on
the embankment. Both females.
2 Wheatear - m,f
1 Song Thrush
10 Tree Sparrow
2 Shelduck
2 Sand Martin - through north.
2 Oystercatcher

Plus a cheeky stoat that ran past me then decided to turn round and do a meerkat impression to have a look at me.

I'll post a few photos pn my flickr page later.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 12th of May 2012 10:53:16 AM

John Tymon Wrote
No sign of whinchat pm,but 10+ wheatear in the field to the west of the main moss.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 12th of May 2012 06:39:47 PM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Good bit of birding this morning on the moss from 6.00 to 9.00am. Finally got a Whinchat down here (possibly two) after much waiting despite birds being present in other locations nearby. Also got the surprise sighting of two Shelduck flushed from the moss itself.

23 Swallow
13 Meadow Pipit
7 Skylark
7 Lapwing
10 Yellowhammer
10 Willow Warbler
3 Grey Partridge
10 Chaffinch
11 Reed Bunting
1 Fieldfare - same bird, same place as per previous posts.
2 Blackcap
14 Whitethroat
10 Linnet
7 Mallard
1 Whinchat - maybe two. First bird seen near the wind sock, the second? on
the embankment. Both females.
2 Wheatear - m,f
1 Song Thrush
10 Tree Sparrow
2 Shelduck
2 Sand Martin - through north.
2 Oystercatcher

Plus a cheeky stoat that ran past me then decided to turn round and do a meerkat impression to have a look at me.

I'll post a few photos pn my flickr page later.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 12th of May 2012 10:53:16 AM

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 12th of May 2012 07:45:08 PM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Another early morning foray in bright conditions with a slight easterly wind.

1 Pied Wagtail
1 Corn Bunting
8 Skylark
6 Grey Partridge
14 Yellowhammer
2 Oystercatcher
11 Willow Warbler
6 Linnet
10 Whitethroat
8 Lapwing
3 Chaffinch
7 Mallard
10 Meadow Pipit
1 Sedge Warbler - new patch tick.

. No sign of it an hour later though.
10 Reed Bunting
7 Swallow
2 Long Tailed Tit
1 Wheatear
4 Tree Sparrow
2 Jay
1 Kestrel
1 Fieldfare - looking very lost and lonely.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning mooch today. Quite cold after an overnight ground frost.

3 Mallard - all males.
2 Fieldfare - looking very sad and lost stood in the field.
14 Willow Warbler - several pairs and singing males.
5 Skylark
5 Lapwing
11 Linnet
6 Chaffinch
4 Grey Partridge - 2 pairs.
8 Reed Buntings
7 Whitethroat - these birds must have turned up on masse over the last day or so.
4 Yellowhammer
1 Cormorant - over north.
3 Wheatear - two just over the border.
2 Song Thrush
1 Tree Sparrow
2 Moorhen
11 Meadow Pipit
13 Swallow - eight birds near the copse of trees in a feeding frenzy. Great to watch them whizzing past your head and supersonic speed.

Still no Whinchat yet though.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Saturday 5th of May 2012 09:50:44 AM

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Short Eared Owl present this evening from 8.30. Flew across from Barrow Lane (see Winwick thread).

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Another early morning visit today.

8 Grey Partridge
1 Buzzard
7 Skylark
9 Lapwing
10 Meadow Pipit
14 Willow Warbler
2 Pied Wagtail
14 Yellowhammer
6 Chaffinch
2 Song Thrush
9 Linnet
1 Blackcap
1 Pheasant
3 Mallard
11 Reed Bunting
3 Tree Sparrows
1 Whitethroat
1 Wheatear

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning visit 6.00 to 7.45 in dull and breezy conditions. A decent movement of hirundines through while I was there too.

1 Peregrine - flew straight at me across the field before veering off at the last minute.

6 Grey Partridge - 3 pairs.
4 Skylark
17 Willow Warbler - 3 pairs plus several singing males.
17 Swallow - through north in two's and three's.
7 House Martin - through north.
8 Yellowhammer
8 Chaffinch
5 Lapwing - including two fledglings.
6 Linnet
6 Meadow Pipit
4 Mallard
1 Wheatear - female.
2 Song Thrush
5 Reed Bunting
6 Swift - through north.
1 Whitethroat - at long last. So glad you could make it.

1 Kestrel

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

A good evening on the moss today in breezy but very spring like conditions.

1 Hobby - through west.
1 Merlin - female through north.
6 Meadow Pipit
8 Swallow - in ones and twos all heading north.
3 Skylark
4 Lapwing
13 Willow Warbler
4 Chaffinch
1 Swift - through north.
2 Grey Partridge
2 Mallard
4 Reed Warbler
12 Yellowhammer
2 Wheatear - m,f
1 Pheasant
1 Song Thrush
1 Kestrel
1 Pied Wagtail

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning trapse in the miserable rain and drizzle.

4 Skylark
8 Grey Partridge - 4 pairs.
6 Lapwing
20 Meadow Pipit
1 Cormorant - over south.
1 Wheatear - female.
5 Yellowhammer
7 Chaffinch
8 Linnet
1 Fieldfare
11 Willow Warbler
2 Pheasant - m/f
4 Song Thrush
1 Corn Bunting
7 Reed Bunting
1 Swallow - over north.
2 Stock Dove

Still no Whitethroats yet.

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

David / All

Lowton Neighbourhood police team is 0161 856 7225

And the general one for Manchester is 0161 872 5050

Pete Astles · Status: Offline

Went on a walk Hermitage, Barrow Lane, Highfield this morning. Thought it was brightening up and the worst that could happen was a shower or two. Never seen so much rain in all my life! would not have been surprised to see Noahs ark floating past. Not surprising the birds was sheltering away. But nice views of a low flying Buzzard on Hermitage and two Yellowhammers on the hedge. Two grey partridge at Hermitage and 2 at Highfield. Two early swallows near barrow lane on the telegraph wires looking very bedraggled but nice to see them, early summer is coming soon it just did not feel like it today.

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Early morning outing again in very cold conditions - forgot my hat too!!

Highlight of the morning was a superb male Merlin that crossed in front of me from the moss and lazily flapped across the field being harrassed by a couple of Lapwings.

Other birds were:

2 Skylark
7 Yellowhammer
14 Willow Warbler
9 Linnet
3 Lapwing
3 Chaffinch
10 Meadow Pipit
1 Song Thrush
10 Stock Dove
4 Mallard
1 Pheasant
7 Reed Bunting
1 Moorhen
2 Grey Partridge
1 Buzzard

DavidBowman · Status: Offline

Thanks Pete - sound advice!

Cheers David

Nick Isherwood · Status: Offline

Pete, David. Unfortunately at present the moss is still common land and not 'owned' by anyone yet. As you'll know Wigan MBC have been attempting to acquire it under the Common land act (I think). However, this hasn't come to fruition yet as I believe a couple of objections have been lodged and it can't be concluded until the objectors have been appeased as it were. Hopefully , when or if Wigan gain ownership of the moss then there may be channels we can go through to get something done about the litter problem, etc.

The encampment you refer to David is actually a homeless guy who lives on there. According to the locals, he's lived on there for about three years now and keeps himself to himself really. I've only actually seen him myself on a few occasions as he usually sleeps all day.

I do agree with you Pete about the litter problem. The area around the woods is atrocious. There is litter strewn everywhere. Everything from beer cans to throw away barbecues. Local kids use the area as a sort of Bmx course and it doesn't take a genius to work out who leaves all the litter. This also applies to the annual torching of the moss too which thankfully often looks much worse than it is.

The issue of the owls is a sad one and to be honest i don't think anything sinister has happened to them. As David said I think they have simply fallen victim to a passing train. I know for a fact that they do hunt the embankments a lot.

One other problem I've also noted down here that seems to be on the rise is the hunting of rabbits with dogs. On many occasions I've seen groups of men with dogs and spades trying to flush out rabbits. The evidence is all around with quite a few burrows 'dug out'. That said though the rabbit population doesn't seem to be suffering too much. Apparently it is not illegal to hunt for rabbits with dogs and they only need to seek permission from the local landowner. Until Wigan take it over I feel this will be an ongoing problem.

Ian McKerchar · Status: Offline

Birders displaying such passion and care for sites can only be good news; both for me as a County Recorder and more importantly for the birds

so it is hugely appreciated.

Before I comment on who owns the site etc I'll just check my facts as, if I'm right, there's a very important point to it all. Leave it with me for the next few days and I'll have an answer.

Any illegal acts (use of air rifles, anti-social behaviour etc) should be reported to the Police. With regards litter etc, I'm sure if it's necessary we could quite easily get a few birders together with bin bags? Not a long term solution to the problem I appreciate but could save a lot of work further down the line.