Sunset over Winwick viewed from HGF
The current indian summer has produced some spectacular sunsets
Male Stonechat, Moore NR 
Buzzard, Moore NR
Norton Marsh, Moore NR 
Wood Pigeon, Risley Moss
Juvenile male Common Darter 
Risley Moss from the tower looking towards Risley Landfill site
Wheatear, Rixton Moss
Deceased Grey Partridge, Rixton Mossxxxx
It’s that time of year when familiar summer birds start to move on while winter visitors and vagrants turn up. So as Mr Almond use to sing - say hellow, wave goodbye. The one thing I notice at this time of year is that there is movement everywhere and lots of things to attract the attention. For someone like me with a low attention span it is the perfect time of year.
Xxx
Last Thursday in the evening I diverted once again through Rixton mosses in the evening after work. Three Yellow Wags were present by the pool at the foot of the tip – 2 males and a juvenile. Around half way up Holly Bush Lane is a pile of rubble by the road – a bird perched on here caught my eye but I was staring directly into the sun and couldn’t make it out. I got out and there proceeded a game of hide and seek before I finally twigged the bird was a Wheatear. There was also a covey of 6 Grey Partridges here – they quickly melted into the carrot field behind. Sadly in front of this rubble was a recently deceased Grey Partridge.
Xxxx
Friday and a quick divert at lunch through…yes you’ve guessed it… Rixton Mosses! A single juvenile Yellow Wagtail flew over the tip and a flock of around 80 Goldfinches were feeding on the thistles on the tip face. Five Buzzards and five Kestrels constituted a good raptor turn out. I only managed to visit HGF just before dusk – the only interesting bird was a juvenile Ruddy Duck.
Xxxx
Saturday morning was a cool, clear and sunny day – I like this sort of autumn weather. On arrival at HGF the first thing that struck me was the complete absence of any hirundines –same in Winwick. The Swallows and House Martins are now back on their way to Africa and in the case of the martins to places currently unknown. I still find it amazing that these small, delicate and graceful birds fly such long distances over all sorts of adverse terrain. Late afternoon I had a wander over to Risley Moss where birds were constantly on the move though granted most of these were Woodpigeons.
Xxxx
At least 5 Buzzards were in the air towards the tip – a couple of Sparrowhawks were also regularly up along with a couple of Kestrels. Three Jays were making plenty of noise and a few Swallows and martins passed through. After an hour the first Hobby showed up – the adult like plumage minus the rufous vent and troos making this a first summer bird. I watched the bird hunting for a good twenty minutes before it disappeared. A browner juvenile Hobby then showed briefly for a minute or so before departing – the first summer bird then reappeared and gave a repeat performance before departing. A Tawny Owl was calling near the tower.
Xxx
On the way home through Croft a flock of finches in a stubble field was worth a look-see. The flock was made up roughly of 50 Greenfinches and 30 Goldfinches. At dusk I had a wander along Waterworks Lane and picked up 18 Grey Partridges from four different coveys plus a single bird though I couldn't see some of the birds that were probably there due to low light and vegetation. A Buzzard was also present on a pylon.
Xxxx
Sunday morning and while watching the Match of the day repeat a male Sparrowhawk decided to visit the garden. He perched in the Cherry tree for a few minutes – gorgeous bird! After MOTD I headed over to Moore – I took Billy for a walk between Birchwood Pool and Norton Marsh. Nothing stupendous on the birding front, however I really enjoyed just sauntering along at my own pace with no particular expectations. I felt totally at peace for a change and very relaxed.
Xxx
I did see some decent birds including six Buzzards, four Kestrels, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, three Stonechats, eight Tree Sparrows, at least fourteen Jays and a host of common species. Tits were everywhere – I counted 117,613 Blue Tits along the way. It could have been 117,614 but one bird hid behind a branch and refused to show itself thus completely ruining my count! I also counted 117,613 Long-tailed Tits – how spooky is that!
Xxxx
This is the first time I have followed Sid’s directions to the hide at Norton Marsh. I landed at possible the worst time i.e. low tide and not much on show. A number of birds were clearly in the mud channel directly in front of the hide but completely out of sight aside from the odd fly off and some calling. If ever a hide needed stilts or a top deck, this one is it.
Xxxx
Early evening and a drive along Parkside Road produced a large Linnet flock on the wires – around 270 birds! I scoped through the flock – there were no finches from other species. At Newton Lake the Teal have increased substantially – 59 birds present with 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Herons, a pair of Shovelers (nice record for here) and a Tufty. Just before dusk I walked around the back lanes again. Four Buzzards and two Kestrels were around the lanes with 18 Grey Partridges (the coveys of 11 and 6 plus the single bird which was being run off by the larger covey). Two Brown Hares were also present in the fields – one was only 30 feet away when I saw it and rather than bolt it merely flattened itself to look inconspicuous.
Xxxx
This morning at HGF and as I watched a flock of corvids nr Myddleton Farm they suddenly spooked. Almost immediately a Peregrine appeared – probably a tiercel from the size. It flapped around leisurely at first and then after briefly tangling with a Crow it made several high speed bullet passes through the area before vanishing. This evening on the way home from work I drove round Rixton Moss again. The tip pool is now full again – three Grey Herons and five Teal were here with around 40 Linnets on the tip face. The Wheatear is still present perched on its pile of rubble – the other thing of note was 25 Pheasants but no Grey Partridges.
Xxx
Last Thursday in the evening I diverted once again through Rixton mosses in the evening after work. Three Yellow Wags were present by the pool at the foot of the tip – 2 males and a juvenile. Around half way up Holly Bush Lane is a pile of rubble by the road – a bird perched on here caught my eye but I was staring directly into the sun and couldn’t make it out. I got out and there proceeded a game of hide and seek before I finally twigged the bird was a Wheatear. There was also a covey of 6 Grey Partridges here – they quickly melted into the carrot field behind. Sadly in front of this rubble was a recently deceased Grey Partridge.
Xxxx
Friday and a quick divert at lunch through…yes you’ve guessed it… Rixton Mosses! A single juvenile Yellow Wagtail flew over the tip and a flock of around 80 Goldfinches were feeding on the thistles on the tip face. Five Buzzards and five Kestrels constituted a good raptor turn out. I only managed to visit HGF just before dusk – the only interesting bird was a juvenile Ruddy Duck.
Xxxx
Saturday morning was a cool, clear and sunny day – I like this sort of autumn weather. On arrival at HGF the first thing that struck me was the complete absence of any hirundines –same in Winwick. The Swallows and House Martins are now back on their way to Africa and in the case of the martins to places currently unknown. I still find it amazing that these small, delicate and graceful birds fly such long distances over all sorts of adverse terrain. Late afternoon I had a wander over to Risley Moss where birds were constantly on the move though granted most of these were Woodpigeons.
Xxxx
At least 5 Buzzards were in the air towards the tip – a couple of Sparrowhawks were also regularly up along with a couple of Kestrels. Three Jays were making plenty of noise and a few Swallows and martins passed through. After an hour the first Hobby showed up – the adult like plumage minus the rufous vent and troos making this a first summer bird. I watched the bird hunting for a good twenty minutes before it disappeared. A browner juvenile Hobby then showed briefly for a minute or so before departing – the first summer bird then reappeared and gave a repeat performance before departing. A Tawny Owl was calling near the tower.
Xxx
On the way home through Croft a flock of finches in a stubble field was worth a look-see. The flock was made up roughly of 50 Greenfinches and 30 Goldfinches. At dusk I had a wander along Waterworks Lane and picked up 18 Grey Partridges from four different coveys plus a single bird though I couldn't see some of the birds that were probably there due to low light and vegetation. A Buzzard was also present on a pylon.
Xxxx
Sunday morning and while watching the Match of the day repeat a male Sparrowhawk decided to visit the garden. He perched in the Cherry tree for a few minutes – gorgeous bird! After MOTD I headed over to Moore – I took Billy for a walk between Birchwood Pool and Norton Marsh. Nothing stupendous on the birding front, however I really enjoyed just sauntering along at my own pace with no particular expectations. I felt totally at peace for a change and very relaxed.
Xxx
I did see some decent birds including six Buzzards, four Kestrels, two Great Spotted Woodpeckers, 2 Nuthatches, a Treecreeper, three Stonechats, eight Tree Sparrows, at least fourteen Jays and a host of common species. Tits were everywhere – I counted 117,613 Blue Tits along the way. It could have been 117,614 but one bird hid behind a branch and refused to show itself thus completely ruining my count! I also counted 117,613 Long-tailed Tits – how spooky is that!
Xxxx
This is the first time I have followed Sid’s directions to the hide at Norton Marsh. I landed at possible the worst time i.e. low tide and not much on show. A number of birds were clearly in the mud channel directly in front of the hide but completely out of sight aside from the odd fly off and some calling. If ever a hide needed stilts or a top deck, this one is it.
Xxxx
Early evening and a drive along Parkside Road produced a large Linnet flock on the wires – around 270 birds! I scoped through the flock – there were no finches from other species. At Newton Lake the Teal have increased substantially – 59 birds present with 2 Mute Swans, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Little Grebes, 3 Herons, a pair of Shovelers (nice record for here) and a Tufty. Just before dusk I walked around the back lanes again. Four Buzzards and two Kestrels were around the lanes with 18 Grey Partridges (the coveys of 11 and 6 plus the single bird which was being run off by the larger covey). Two Brown Hares were also present in the fields – one was only 30 feet away when I saw it and rather than bolt it merely flattened itself to look inconspicuous.
Xxxx
This morning at HGF and as I watched a flock of corvids nr Myddleton Farm they suddenly spooked. Almost immediately a Peregrine appeared – probably a tiercel from the size. It flapped around leisurely at first and then after briefly tangling with a Crow it made several high speed bullet passes through the area before vanishing. This evening on the way home from work I drove round Rixton Moss again. The tip pool is now full again – three Grey Herons and five Teal were here with around 40 Linnets on the tip face. The Wheatear is still present perched on its pile of rubble – the other thing of note was 25 Pheasants but no Grey Partridges.
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