Astley Moss

A pleasant early evening stroll round the edge of the Astley Moss SSSI with Dave Thacker prodoced:

• Ring Ouzel - only a fleeting glimpse but positively identified by white bar on chest
• Blackbirds - one with a white spot (mistaken by me for the Ring Ouzel at first)
• Whimbrel
• Wheatear
• Yellowhammer
• Fieldfare
• Mistle Thrush
• Lapwing
• Swallow
• Great Tit
• Wren (ticking away in Rindle Wood)
• Pied Wagtail
• Mallard (three drakes together in a field) as well as a single elsewhere
• Willow Warbler (one sighted as well many singing)
• Woodpigeon

Dave kindly pointed out the Long-tailed Tit's nest that he's been watching develop over the last week or so.  On the Manchester Biridng Forum he recently explained how he sat down and held out feathers which the birds came and took from his hand to build their nest - amazing!

Nice to also briefly meet Melanie Beckford (with the big hair as she puts it) as I was heading for home.