Ashton Moss

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

RE: Ashton Moss

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Quick wander around from 09.15-10.30 this morning

1 Common Snipe, Lapwing, 2 Reed Bunting, Fieldfare, 2 Redwing, Kestrel, 2 Grey Heron.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 14/11/2020

2 mute swans
30 canada geese
40 mallard
4 coot
2 moorhen
2 tufted ducks

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 17/10/2020

2 mute swans
20 canada geese
40 mallard
8 coot
2 moorhen
1 black headed gull

James Walsh · Status: Offline

Ashton Moss Nature Reserve (Sheldon Pool)

1 Kingfisher
1 drake Tufted Duck
1 Mute Swan

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/10/20 Mid Morning

Still at least 8 Stonechat, counted 6 together in similar area as on Monday, 2 others were together in a different area.
Meadow Pipit numbers up to c20
3 Linnet were feeding with a flock of around 20 Goldfinch
A few Reed Buntings heard again, fleeting sightings of one or two
2 Snipe
1 Kestrel
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Little Grebe and 1 Tufted Duck on MLP

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

5/10/20 from 8:30

8 Stonechat, moving around as a loose flock. By far the largest number I've seen on here.
2 Chiffchaff
9 House Martin
6 Skylark over, 2 on the mound
c6 Meadow Pipit
A few Reed Buntings heard
Plenty of Robins and Wrens
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Little Grebe, 1 Tufted Duck and 2 Coot on Moss Lane Pool
Almost constant sound of Pink-footed Geese over, I think a lot of changing of direction occurring, c150 was the maximum at any one time.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBs count 19/09/2020

2 mute swans
22 canada geese
48 mallard
4 coot
4 moorhen
1 grey heron
1 grey wagtail
1 black headed gull
and 1 kingfisher- finally!

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

11/9/20 mid morning

A male first winter Redstart was seen twice briefly but well at close quarters along the path on the east side of the mound.
First returning Meadow Pipits, 8 seen
1 Reed Bunting
8 Chiffchaff
Bullfinch heard
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Jay
3 Little Grebe
1 Kingfisher on Sheldon Pool
2 Mute Swan on Sheldon Pool

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

2/9/20 from c8am to 9:45

15+ Chiffchaff spread around with at least 5 in fitful song
1 Willow Warbler
2 Reed Bunting
A few Bullfinch heard
15 House Martin
7 Swallow
1 Kestrel
A single Shoveler was on Sheldon Pool as I left, the only one I've seen here.
4 Little Grebe on Moss Lane Pool

I have been making a few visits during August hoping for some spill over migrants from the north and west of our county, only ones seen were a Tree Pipit watched at close range for 3 or 4 minutes perched low down in a small tree, a Wheatear was also present along with 2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrel, all on the 24th. A Sedge Warbler was seen picking around in one of the ditches on the 14th Aug. A nice family group of Whitethroat were moving across the mound on the 8th. The last Whitethroat seen was on the 25th.

On the 30th there were double figures of Chiffchaff with some Willow Warblers along the Moss Lane side of the mound, one Willow Warbler could be heard singing a little.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

At least 3 juvenile Woodpigeon present in a group of c20 feeding on the Leisure Park roundabout yesterday evening.

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

1830-1945 12th August

Canada Goose x 27

Mute Swan x 2

Mallard x 19

Domestic Mallard x 2

Feral Pigeon x 8

Wood pigeon x 7

Swift x 13

Moorhen x 6

Coot x 3

Black-headed Gull x 10

Herring Gull x 2

Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 4

Grey Heron x 1 (flew over from direction of the ressies)

Magpie x 9

Jackdaw x 1

Carrion Crow x 7

Swallow x 12

Wren x 1

Goldfinch x 8

Cheers

Bryan

Bryan Deighton · Status: Offline

An hour's walk around the area this evening 30/07/20

Buzzard x 1

Canada Goose x 15

Carrion Crow x 2

Coot x 4

Domestic Mallard x 2

Goldfinch x 10

Great tit x 1

House Sparrow x 3

Jackdaw x 3

Long-tailed tit x 6

Magpie x 12

Mallard x 33

Moorhen x 4 ( 2 juveniles)

Song Thrush x 2

Whitethroat x 1

Willow Warbler x 1

Wood Pigeon x 4

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

A few sightings from around Sheldon Pool

There is now a large sign declaring this area is a Nature Reserve.

A Whitethroat was singing and a Willow Warbler was calling

A female Mallard with four reasonable sized ducklings was near to the car park.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Very hot conditions today, but a few birds singing.

Four Reed Bunting singing, also two males and a female seen.
I accidentally flushed a Skylark and it took off and started singing, it didn't climb very high before it dropped again.
Willow Warbler and Blackcap were both singing and a Whitethroat parachuted whilst singing, another Whitethroat was singing elsewhere
Several Swallows and a single House Martin were around too.
A Jay was also seen.

Too hot to go very far today!

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

20/6/2020 from 6-8am all commoner warblers still singing intermittently.

5 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
7 Whitethroat
3 Chiffchaff
3 Skylark
10+ Reed Bunting
2 Song Thrush
4 Blackbird
4 House Martin
2 Swift
2 Kestrel
Pheasant heard

A single Stock Dove has been seen on a few occasions recently also a Lesser Whitethroat could be heard singing just of site on Little Moss last Saturday 13th and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling briefly on Wednesday 17th

A pair of Swans nested on one of the pools but left the nest a couple of weeks ago, no cygnets have been seen. The pair were moving around this morning and ended up on Sheldon Pool at 8am. Male is 4 BVL, female is not ringed.

A dog walker who has quite an interest in the wildlife informed me that a female Buzzard from a breeding pair in Daisy Nook was seen to be shot down about 2 weeks ago by kids with an air rifle, it was taken into care but failed to survive. Quite possibly one of the birds that had been seen here from time to time.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

29/5/20 Late post from an afternoon visit yesterday, mainly to look for butterflies and dragonflies.

Bird activity much reduced as to be expected in the heat of mid-afternoon but still some birds singing and fliting about.

5 Willow Warbler
4 Blackcap
1 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Whitethroat
4 Skylark
5 Reed Bunting
3 Chiffchaff
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
3 Song Thrush, rootling in the undergrowth.

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

Garden Warbler near the main 'gap' at 19.45 was the best in an hour and a half. Possible Grasshopper Warbler but only glimpsed.

5 Common Whitethroat, 5 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Reed Bunting, Skylark, 3 Blackcap, Jay, Kestrel, 4 Swallow, Swift, 4 Bullfinch.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

15/5/20 Very early visit this morning.

Best was a singing Lesser Whitethroat along Moss Lane
3 Stock Dove
9 Whitethroat
4 Chiffchaff
8 Willow Warbler
7 Blackcap
8 Reed Bunting
5 Skylark
4 Swift
1 Swallow
2 Kestrel
1 Buzzard

Over recent days there have been a couple of Grasshopper Warblers and Sedge Warblers. Also passing Redstart and Wheatear, both males.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Sightings from tram stop car park 12pm

Whitethroat singing in bush directly behind the fence on the mound
Reed Bunting singing on the mound
Grey Heron flew over being mobbed by a Carrion Crow

Several grotty hybrid type Mallard on Sheldon Pool

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

This evening on Sheldon Pool

Three Tufted Duck still present (2 drake)
Pair of Mute Swan roosting on the side nearest the tram tracks.

Water levels on here still very high.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

At least 7 Tufted Duck (4 drakes) on Sheldon Pool in recent days.

A pair of Mute Swan were chasing the Canada Geese last Monday afternoon (2/3), but I haven't seen the Swans since.

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/3/20 an hour or so around the mound from 8am

1 Stonechat, female, unusually at the far side of the site near Moss Lane Pool
4 Skylark up and singing
6+ Reed Bunting, some singing
1 Little Grebe on MLP
1 Kestrel
6 Meadow Pipit
3 Lapwing on fields over on Littlemoss
pair of Teal on Mockridge Pool
4 Tufted Duck on Sheldon Pool
Didn't see any Swans on any of the pools, an adult pair were on Mockridge Pool early last week.
Mockridge and Sheldon Pools are still flooded out as they have been most of the winter, maybe why the Swans are only occasional visitors at the moment. The back pools are nearly back down to their usual water levels.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 06/03/2020 (early)
No swans
20 canada geese
6 mallard
3 tufted ducks
1 coots

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 09/02/2020
Still no swans
11 canada geese
9 mallard
4 tufted ducks
3 coots
1 black headed gull

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 12/01/2020
no swans!
24 canada geese
1 moorhen
22 mallard (1 hybrid)
6 tufted ducks
4 black headed gulls

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

30/12/19

the 2 mute swans are a different pair- male 4BVL ZY8876, female unringed
lake had numerous canada geese, mallards and tufted ducks plus 40+ black headed gulls, very busy

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

28/12/19 Late afternoon visit

3, possibly 4 Stonechat on the mound
1 Reed Bunting
Couple of Meadow Pipit
1 Kestrel
1 Grey Heron
9 Lapwing flying over
Both Mute Swans back on Sheldon Pool
8 maybe 9 Tufted Duck also on Sheldon
2 Song Thrushes singing after sunset.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 15th Dec 19
24 canada geese
40 mallard
1 mute swan (4CLS)
7 tufted ducks
28 black headed gulls

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

Song Thrush giving a virtuoso vocal performance by the tram car park at 11pm last night!

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 16/11/19
with Emily Mason, university graduate
32 mallard
2 moorhen
2 tufted duck
42 canada goose
19 black headed gull
1 hybrid duck
mute swan cygnetshave moved on again, hopefully adult pair will come back shortly

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

WEBS count 13/10/19
2 mute swans
16 mallard
1 coot
3 moorhen
1 tufted duck
1 black headed gull

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/11/19 Early afternoon

1 Stonechat (male)
5+ Teal (4+ on Mockridge, 1 on Moss Lane Pool)
1 Snipe
2 Goldcrest
couple of Meadow Pipit

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

14/9/19 WEBs count Sheldon lake 2 mute swans back on lake (breeding pair 4ANJ 4CLS) 25 mallard 2 tufted ducks 1 coot 1 moorhen

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

17/9/19 late afternoon to 4:30 on the mound

1 Whinchat (juv)
1 Stonechat (male)
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
5 Meadow Pipit
3 Chiffchaff
1 Reed Bunting
c10 Goldfinch
1 Bullfinch
1 Chaffinch over
On Moss Lane Pool
2 Little Grebe
3 Coot (1 juv)
2 Moorhen
1 Heron
Didn't see any swans on the back pools

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

8/9/19 from 10am around the mound

1 Whinchat juv,
2 Whitethroat
2 Reed Bunting juvs,
6+ Chiffchaff
c25 Goldfinch
2 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
5 House Martin
6 Swallow

On Moss Lane and Benny Lane pools
1 Kingfisher
2 Little Grebe
2 Mute Swan, adult male 4BVL and the cygnet, couldn't see the adult female.
5 Coot including 1 Juv,
1 Mallard
1 Heron

Chris Harper · Status: Offline

18.45-19.45 yesterday.

20+ Swallow over the pond, 2 Mute Swan, 2+ Chiffchaff, 2 Kestrel

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

26/8/19 from noon, fairly quiet which is usually the case in the afternoons.

1 Wheatear
1 Whitethroat
Plenty of Chiffchaff calling, 1 singing
2 Little Grebe
5 Mute Swan, adult pair on Sheldon, pair with cygnet on Moss Lane Pool
2 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

Thanks Simon, hope the adults will return for next season, it would be a shame if such a good breeding pair moved on

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

Rachael Hill wrote:

Ahh that's sad. The back lake ones have too. Thanks

Hi Rachel

The back lake (Moss Lane Pool) Swans are still there. They are often out of sight, tucked into the bank at the narrow end of the pool.

Regarding the Sheldon Swans, 5 of last years young have been almost permanent on Audenshaw Reservoirs since the end of March. On Friday evening there were 6 immature and 2 adults, so possibly most of the family were together again.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

Ahh that's sad. The back lake ones have too. Thanks

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Hi Rachael

I did see the two adults on Sheldon Pool earlier this week but it would appear they lost their cygnets in June, perhaps in the cold damp spell.

Rachael Hill · Status: Offline

Has anyone seen our swan pair on the main lake- Lord Sheldon? I've not seen for about a month. Tried pond by mockridge, pond behind The Village and pond opposite Sheldon on the triangle between all the main roads- nothing. Thanks

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Some sightings from this morning with Simon Ghilks

Little Grebe
Reed Bunting - at least seven singing and a young bird seen
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat - birds of each species seen and heard
Lesser Whitethroat - heard singing near the railway, may have been just off site

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

19/6/19 Some sightings from today around midday and early Sunday 16th

A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling briefly today but more sustained on Sunday and visible for a time in the centre of the mound.
6 Blackcap singing along Moss Lane
Plenty of Whitethroat all around some juveniles being attended by adults.
3 Willow Warbler singing.
2 Chiffchaff singing.
Lots of Reed Bunting singing, 1 juvenile seen.
8+ Skylark
1 Kestrel
3 Little Grebe
A pair of Mute Swans had 6 cygnets on the back pools on 25th May, they only have one left now.
Swift, Swallow and House Martin over.

Karen Foulkes · Status: Offline

Some sightings from yesterday evening and early this morning.

The Sheldon Pool Mute Swans have three cygnets.

Birds otherwise similar in number to Simons last post. A Sedge Warbler was singing some distance away this morning.

Shame that this site is blighted by trail bikers

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

13/5/19 11:30

Quick stop for a listen from the car at the wonderfully tangled, overgrown and partially flooded portion of land to the east of the M60 adjacent to Ashton Cricket Club

Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler all heard singing also Reed Bunting, Wren, Blackbird, Song Thrush and Moorhen in the area.

On the 11th a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling from the area of the mound near the corner of Rayner Lane and Moss Lane, lots of other warblers heard and seen on an early morning visit.
6+ Whitethroat
4 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
4 Blackcap
Also
3 Swift over
Kestrel
2 Bullfinch
2 Song Thrush
5+ Reed Bunting
2 Skylark singing
and a well grown and independent juvenile Blackbird

John Taylor · Status: Offline

Birds I saw on the mound: Reed bunting (m) Little grebe 2 Coot 2 Blackbird Great tit Blue tit Robin Wren Dunnock Skylark

simon ghilks · Status: Offline

20/4/19 early morning up until 8

1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling and visible in the middle of the mound,
5 Willow Warbler
1 Blackcap
3 Chiffchaff
2 Whitethroat
6+ Reed Bunting
5+ Skylark
3 Song Thrush
Little Grebe
4 Teal
Kestrel
Buzzard

Steve Suttill · Status: Offline

First Swallow of the year flew east over the mound this afternoon!

Now that last year's young have left, the Mute Swan female is back on her nest. The male seems to be enjoying putting the Canada Geese in their place.

Another pair of Mute Swan on the back pool.