Sunday, 20 March 2011

Irlam and Barton Mosses

This morning I went birding with Steve Nelson who left this report of our sightings on the Manchester Birding Forum:

A good morning's birding on Irlam and Barton Mosses 9.30am-12.45pm with Martyn Jones delivered a couple of surprises

Female Marsh Harrier hunting over Croxten and flushed 5 Teal (2m and; 3f) and a pair of Mallard. Could it be the same bird seen last year at Astley Peat Pools area?

2 Whooper Swans (adult and cygnet) still in f8. They have been here for over 3 weeks now A Mute Swan flew over from west, circled over f8 as though checking out the Whoopers then flew off over the railway.
  • 4-5 Buzzards
  • 2 pairs of Grey Partridge
  • 1 Red-legged Partridge
  • A few Pheasant
  • c. 21 Tree Sparrows (16+ on track between f9 and 10, 7+ Woodbarn Farm)
  • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling from Dixons Wood
  • 1 Snipe - Croxten
  • Siskin over - heard only
  • Collared Dove
  • 5 Skylark
  • Blackbird
  • c.6 Reed Buntings
  • 5 Yellowhammer
  • c. 40+ Linnet including a flock of c.30
  • A few Goldfinches and Chaffinch
  • 3 Pied Wagtails
  • 4 Grey Herons
  • Numerous pairs of Lapwing on territory
  • 5 Herring Gulls over
  • 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls over
  • 2 Canada Geese over
Plus the usual Blue, and Long-tailed Tits, Woodpigeons, Magpies, Carrion Crows.

I couldn't really improve on this excellent report by Steve so I've left it more or less as written.

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