Moore Nature Reserve Sightings

 
N.B. For detailed maps showing all the names of the areas of Moore Nature Reserve please view the Compartment Maps on the 'Reports' page.
 
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Good day (31 Jan 2012)
by Simon Ladds

Iceland gull, sparrowhawk, buzzards, lesser redpoll
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First time back to Moore in a good few years - great day out. All the usuals including great views of buzzard and sparrowhawk. Thanks to the chap in the Pump house hide who identified the Iceland gull for us...we didn't manage to spot the Tawny owl however, but a good day. Next time hopefully we'll get a good view of the bitterns too.
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Bitterns. (30 Jan 2012)
by G. Boyde.

Pair of bitterns on Eastern Reed Bed . In full view for over an hour.
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harrier (29 Jan 2012)
by dennkelly

female marsh harrier
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hunting over the reed beds at Upper Moss Side spooking plenty of snipe in the process seen from the hide.
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Short walk (29 Jan 2012)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Tawny at roost again
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Birchwood Pool - tufted ducks, gadwall, mallards, coots, 2 little grebes, pochards, black headed gulls, lesser black backed gulls, pied wagtail, 2 jays, crows and magpies. Pump house pool - gadwall, tucked duck, mallards, teal, coot, 2 mute swans, crows and magpies. Tawny owl at roost with jackdaws, rooks, crows, blackbirds, robins and great tits in the surrounding trees. Grasslands north - redwing. Feeding stn - wren, long tailed, coal, blue and great tits, nuthatch, chaffinch, reed bunting, sparrowhawk. Male great spotted woodpecker, 5 lesser redpoll and a kestrel heard
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Crisp Morning Stroll 28-01-2012 (28 Jan 2012)
by David W Lawless

Various species Teal -Partridge- Buzzard -Curlew-Lapwings -Redwings -Long Tail Tits -Blue and Great Tits also Willow Tit -Loads of Robins and Dunnocks - Bullfinch and to top it off Goldcrest
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From cark park walked north to lake -before lake goorse seen small bird - stopped walking toward Du ponts saw Goldcrest (WB1) -got within 2 ft always flirty never stoping - never been as close beautiful -trip well worth the effort - right from the very start .
Next hedgerow past lake long tail tits -Robins -Redwings - usual Great and blue Tits. Going towards hides near River Bank Bullfinch x 2 eating I think buds on the hedges near hidden bird table . Buzzard being pesterd by crows - on the way back to car park Willow Tit makes my day -Sunshine Frost and lots of species sets the day -Then hear Warrington win in Australia against South Sydney Rabitahs - Perfect Day

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3hr stroll with Brian Webber & Gary Rimmer (28 Jan 2012)
by GARY RIMMER

magpie, jay, carrion crow, jackdaw, pochard, tufted duck, gadwall, teal, mallard, canada goose, cormarant, b.h.gull,c ommon gull, herring gull, l.b.b.gull, gt.b.b.gull, moorhen, coot, pied wagtail, robin, blue tit, gt.tit, long-tailed tit, coal tit, willow tit, treecreeper, nuthatch, tawny owl, collared dove, wood pigeon, blackbird, redwing, mistle thrush, song thrush, little grebe, wren, chaffinch, heron, goldeneye, goldcrest, peregrine falcon, dunnock, mute swan, buzzard, sparrowhawk, water rail, goldfinch, gt.s.woodpecker, l.s.woodpecker, pheasant. Should of got another 10 or so species but there you go,no two days are the same!!!!! Maybe next time we'll have more time and get more species.
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Late Tuesday Morning/Afternoon 24th Jan 2012 (26 Jan 2012)
by Keith G Massey

Iceland Gulls and Med Gull
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At least three first winter Iceland Gulls were identified and ad Med Gull in Pump House Pool seen from Colins Hide.
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Various lovlies (25 Jan 2012)
by Daniel Alexander

bittern and various passerines on a days walk around the reserve
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Lapwing lake - blue tit, great tit, little grebe, tufted duck, coot, pochard

feeding station - treecreeper, nuthatch, reed bunting, greater spotted woodpecker, robin, wren, dunnock, chaffinch, great tit, blue tit, long tailed tit

Middlemoss wood - lesser spotted woodpecker

birchwood pool - pochard, tufted duck, coot, little grebe, many seagull (I'm not good at seagulls!!), 5+ heron.

Pump house pool- all the above and also a bittern in the far side reeds

Eastern reedbed - Bittern hunting among reeds, sparrow hawk over near moss wood, and a peregrine falcon.
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soggy tuesday (24 Jan 2012)
by denn kelly

lesser spotted woodpecker (male)
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lesser spotted woodpecker (male) carpark area, 1st w iceland gull and adult med gull php and green woodpecker ( female) in field next to collins hide and lots of the usual suspects.
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Sunday Morning 15th Jan 2012 (19 Jan 2012)
by Keith G Massey and Brian L Swann

Shelduck, Wigeon, Mallard, Golden Plover, Curlew, Buzzard, Water Rail and Tawny Owl
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Very little showing this morning on Mersey banks with 9 Shelduck, 24 Wigeon, 50 Mallard and a Buzzard hunting Mersey marshes. Only a few Lapwing were found with 100 Golden Plover and 20 Curlew. A Buzzard was seen hunting railway embankment and a Water Rail was seen in flight as It flew low between reed beds in eastern reed bed pool and Tawny Owl was showing well again.
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Bittern times 3 (16 Jan 2012)
by DAVID WILSON

3 Bitterns giving great views at Eastern reedbed at first light .
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also 2 Water rail calling together same area. Willow warbler outside Colins hide. 3 Snipe on Birchwood pool. Tawny owl and plenty Redwing
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Iceland gulls (13 Jan 2012)
by Mike Mulholland

Some interesting gulls on Pumphouse pool recently
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On 10/1/12 I had what was probably a sub-adult/4th winter Iceland gull and a 2nd winter Iceland gull on Php; an adult Iceland Gull was reported on Birchwood pool.
On 11/1/12 Andy Dutton and myself had an adult Iceland gull and a juv/1st winter Iceland gull on Php and an adult Mediterranean gull.Later we had reasonble but brief views of a Bittern hunting in the
N/E corner of the Eastern reedbed.
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Long time no visit (11 Jan 2012)
by Austin Morley

Gold Crest, GS Woodpecker where the highlights from a brief visit to Moore but there was reports of an Icelandic Gull and two Med Gulls one adult and one 1st winter I was unable to find them as there where thousands of hering gulls, black haeded and black back gulls everywhere
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A pleasant if damp walk (9 Jan 2012)
by David Haigh

Plenty of Tree Sparrows
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Between 20-30 Tree Sparrows on the path to Moss Side also good numbers of Yellowhammers.
Missed out on the Iceland Gull couldn,t find it amongst the vast numbers of normal gulls.
The feeders were busy as usual along Lapwing Lane but no Willow/Marsh Tit to brighten the day.
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afternoon walk (6 Jan 2012)
by Gillian Hallsworth

couple of 'first' spots, plenty of variety
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Firsts for me were lesser spotted woodpecker and common scoter, but also saw blue tits, great tits, long tailed tits, wren, various types of gull, mallard, tufted, pochard, teal, great crested grebe, blackbird, mistle thrush, 50-60 redwing, coot, moorhen, jay, crow, jackdaw, magpie, mute swan, pheasant,robin, rook,shoveler,wood pigeon, stock dove, tawny owl, green woodpecker
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Sunday Morning 01st Jan 2012 (3 Jan 2012)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Shelduck, Wigeon, Tufed, Heron, Golden Plover, :Lapwing, Curlew, Redshank, Buzzard Sparrowhawk and Tawny Owl.
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Checking MS canal we found 40 Tufted Duck and 12 Heron close to half way house, Heron later moved to Mersey banks west side. Waders found on Mersey banks included 1000 Lapwing, 100 Golden Plover, 110 Curlew which roosted on the banks in the previous evening and moved off when we arrived at our watch point and three Redshank. Wildfowl found on the Mersey was 37 Shelduck, 200 Canada Goose, 30 Mallard and five Wigeon. A Buzzard was seen hunting Astmoor marshes and a male Sparrowhawk flew across Mersey to north side. checking pools later I found many species of ducks found on all pools but nothing out of the normal. The Tawny Owl showing very well again standing well up in its roosting tree by the bridge.
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Mid Morning Stroll (2 Jan 2012)
by P and J Grimmett

The hardest job was finding somewhere to park as there were over 50 cars present.
At Birchwood Pool there were good numbers of Gt.B.B, and Lesser B.B. Gulls with half a dozen herring Gulls plus a lot of Bl.H.Gulls. Gadwall, Tufted Duck and Mallard were also seen along with a couple of Pochard,2 Little Grebes and 20+ Canada Geese.
The Tawny Owl was in his usual place.
On Lapwing Pool 43 Tufted Duck, 23 Wigeon and over 30 Teal could be seen along with 1 Cormorant,Coot and Moorhen.
Other birds seen included Buzzard, Gt. and Blue Tit, Reed Bunting, Gt.Sp.Woodpecker, Robin and Wren.
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christmas morning (25 Dec 2011)
by john sutcliffe

stoat chasing and catching rabbit top end of dog field near gate!
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Red Crested Pochard (24 Dec 2011)
by John Williams

Red Crested Pochard ( female) on Birchwood pool 10.00.
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1 Red Crested Pochard (female) sw corner of Birchwood Pool. Escape?. with Tufties and 3 Gadwell.
1 Siskin & 1 L.Redpoll at feeding station. 1 Mealy Redpoll with 8 Lesser and 5 Goldfinch in Alders SE corner of Pumphouse.
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Pre-sunrise eastern reedbed bird watch (11 Dec 2011)
by David Kennedy

Action even before sun up at the eastern reed bed.
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I arrived 40 minutes before the 8.18am sunrise. Despite the dark I could here the jackdaw roost chattering away. The teal were also vocal - lovely sound it is too. At 7.50am the jackdaws took to the sky in their noisy manner. The light crept in slowly (due to cloud).

At 8am the reed bed gave away its starling hiding secret - the flying wonders could hold their tongues no more. Two sparrowhawks arrived about this time, looking for a tasty starling for breakfast (they got 2 or 3 last week early on). They used the small reed free strip in the eastern lake. At 8.10am one hawk got sick of waiting, and mangaed to harrass the flock of starlings into the air (not the lingering ariel flying display of last week). No kills today, no unpleasant screams to hear like last weekend. You have to feel sorry for the poor victims, but I want big strong sparrowhawks too .... that's nature.

Sunrise came at 8.18am but no sight of it due to cloud. Cloud also killed off the lunar eclipse last night for me .... that's nature. Other birds seeing in the new dawn were 4 stock doves, shovellers, tufted ducks, gadwall, coots, moorhens and mallards.

I was there (again) looking for the slightest glimpse of a bittern but again no joy .... that's nature. I think I will try a sunset attempt for a change on my bittern quest. Despite the disapointment of another failed bittern visit, the reliable, bold Robin (a regular companion of many a bird watcher at that hide), made my time there a joy. Such a companion he seemed to wish to be, Im suprised he didnt pull out a pair of bino's from under his wing himself! I must take him some mealworm next time.

Pre-sunrise is a quiet and peaceful time of the day - birds are stiring well before the sun comes up and the "freezing" hours warm up to the "cold" of a December daylight day...... that's nature - and I love it!
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Sunny, windy and hailstones! (7 Dec 2011)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Good few hours birding despite the weather
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Heard GSW on arrival at car park. Magpies and jackdaws overhead. Lapwing Lake - mute swans, gadwall, wigeon, mallards, tufted duck, coot, teal, little grebe with crow and lesser black backed gulls overhead. Feeding station - nuthatch, blue, great and coal tits, reed buntings, chaffinch, moorhen and blackbird. Tawny owl in its roost hunkered right down so quite difficult to see. Birchwood pool - wren, shoveler, pochard, herring and black headed gulls, magpie, crows, gadwall, little grebe, female goldeneye, tufted duck, 3 grey herons and pied wagtail. 22 grey herons sheltering on island from hide in birch strip, great crested grebe. Birch wood - mistle thrush and redwing overhead. Pump house pond - teal, pied wagtail, gadwall, mallard, crow, grey heron, black headed gulls, tufted ducks, coot and common gull
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Bittern and starlings (3 Dec 2011)
by Peter Welch

Bittern, 10,000 starlings and a stoat!
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Bittern flew into the middle reed bed in the eastern end tonight at 15:50 plus the starlings with attendant sparrowhawks and a stoat crossing the track at the T junction just west of the last pool.
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Sunday Morning 27th Nov 2011 (29 Nov 2011)
by Keith G Massey

Little Egret, Peregrine, Buzzard, Tawny Owl, Shelduck, Mallard, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank and Snipe,
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Settling in at my Mersey watch point I picked out Golden Plover and Lapwing over the banks and later a single Little Egret came fishing on the north side of the Mersey just below cuerdley marshes. I later counted 500 Golden Plover and 1000 Lapwing and two Redshank were also feeding on north side near the Little Egret for a while. Looking over the Mersey on the west side I found 50 Sheduck and 40 Mallard were feeding on the east side. All the waders started moving about and flying up and then coming down then flying up again. While they were flying around above my head they were forming what I have seen many times and have called a Peregrine cloud after manyt years of watching this falcon.Then suddenly the waders came straight down at speed and parted just above my head with half of the wader going east and half west and coming down the centre of this flock came an adult Peregrine. It looked east and west at the waders but didnt take any, it then flew high to dive again and again didnt take any birds. The waders rose higher and higher and at one point flew close to the Peregrine. The Peregrine started to move eastward high over Norton marshes towards Richmond Bank. Later in the morning the cloud of waders were seen again flying around but the Peregrine must have kept high as I didnt see it again. Later I moved to check Twany Owl roost and found the bird showing it self well out ot its roost site. Calling in at the Birchwood pool picked out a
Snipe on south side of pool feeding then moving up the bank.
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Sunday Morning 20th Nov 2011 (21 Nov 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Peregrine, Tawny Owl, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Redshank and Curlew,
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Thick mist along the Mersey made viewing difficult and only small wader flocks could be seen with only 300 Golden Plover, 400 Lapwing, and two Redshank hardly seen but heard constantly as they moved about the banks. Single Buzzard on concrete post at Cuerdley point moved to pylon below Fiddlers Ferry hide with 22 Curlew moving eastwards on south side of MS canal. Left our watch point early and as I moved to eastern reed bed it was pointed out to me I had missed the Peregrine on the hand rail as a train had flushed it, but on way back found an adult on brickwork just below the hand rail. Moving to Birchwood pool and finding no new birds I checked out the Tawny Owl roost as it had been seen regularly and I got the best view of the bird since I first saw it, it was so conspicously out of its roosting hole I could see it with out any optics. I had two sightings of Sparrowhawk one flying across Mersey and one flushed from its post along the road were I was parked.
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Bittern (19 Nov 2011)
by G . Boyde

Good sighting of bittern in flight . 1.45 pm.
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Bittern (18 Nov 2011)
by Dave Tinsley

Bittern At Eastern Reedbed at 1 p m
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Bittern at Eastern Reedbed at 1 pm
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Sunday Morning 13th Nov 2011 (15 Nov 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Wigeon, Teal, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Water Rail, Golden Plover,Curlew, Redshank and Goldfinch/
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Moving along MS Canal path female Sparrowhawk flew into bushes then a few minutes later a male flew across canal to south side. Further along a flock of 20 Goldfinch were feeding in the bushes. On the south side of MSC 36 Curlew flew up moving eastwards. At our Mersey watchpoint a new count of 820 Golden Plover for winter was made, most of birds on east side between Cuerdley and Norton marshes along with six Redshank feeding most of morning. Upwards of at least 300 Teal and 14 Wigeon was on the west side between Cuerdley and Astmoor marshes. Three Buzzards were seen at once perched up, one on Osprey post on Cuerdley marshes, one on pylon just below fiddlers ferry hide and one on concrete post at Cuerdley point. A small movement of Redwing was seen coming from the north again when a flock of first 20 then 10 then 5 birds were seen moving south over the Mersey towards Lower Moss Side. Later a Goldcrest was heard in the bushes behind us and a Water Rail was heard in reed beds at Eastern Reed Beds early afternoon.
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Bittern (15 Nov 2011)
by Beryl Woodward

From the hide about 3.30 pm the bittern flew from the reed bed in front of the hide to the other side of the reed bed to the v shaped opening
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Starling roost (13 Nov 2011)
by Neil gallimore

Eastern reed bed starling roost and sparrow hawks hunting
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Eastern reed bed at 3 45 - 4 45 . Must be up to 15000 starlings, amazing to watch as they fly around above the reeds like a giants swarm then a small groups swoops down for the best spot in the reeds . As each group does so a sparrow hawk attacks from the trees to the right , brilliant to watch .
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Saturday afternoon treats! (12 Nov 2011)
by Lesley Rawlinson

Tawny owl, and herons galore.
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The tawny owl is back in the old roost near the bridge at western end of Birchwood pool. Counted 22 herons on the island and far side of Birchwood too. Plenty of wigeon, gadwall and teal among the regulars on Lapwing Lake.
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Late Afternoon (9 Nov 2011)
by Jane and Paul Grimmett.

Murmuration of Starlings
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Pumphouse Pool 110+ Teal, 25+Gadwall, 20+Tufted Duck,1 pr of Shoveler,27 Mallard, 40+Coot, 2 Moorhen and3 Herons and 1 Cormorant. Eastern Reed Bed 2 Adult and 4 Young Mute Swan,1 Water Rail, 7 Coot and several thousand Starlings. They flew around and above the reed bed before suddenly diving into them to roost. Stunning!!!!
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Sunday Morning 06th Nov 2011 (6 Nov 2011)
by Keith G Massy & Bryan L Swann

Pink-footed Goose, Little Egret, Goosander, Teal, Curlew Sandpiper, Redshank, Buzzard, Sparrowhawjk, Redwing, Goldcrest and Bullfinch.
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Walking along MS Canal i picked out 20 Redwing and six Bullfinch feeding in bushes.Then 150 Pink-footed Goose flew high over the Mersey moving SE at 0748. Almost got to my watch point when a Goldcrest was found looking for food in small bush just feet away from me. A Buzzard flew to pylon perch just below Fiddlers Ferry hide then later a male Sparrowhawk flew just above Buzzard and perched on pylon too. East side banks were clear of all birds when I first arrived as two shooters made their way from marshes down to MS Canal path and moved off. As the birds came back I picked out two dumpy waders roosting with their heads inside their mantle feathers among the Lapwing at 0930. After a while as they moved a little they showed a large white rump and long curved bill, the birds stayed about an hour roosting most of the time before they suddenly flew up and disappeared out of sight. At 1035 cheching the east side Mersey I picked out four imm/female type Goosander fishing in Mersey between cuerdley and norton marshes, they stayed 15 minutes and disappeared as we were cheching the west side for bird life. By this time a Little Egret turned up fishing just opposite our watch point just below cuerdley marshes on north side of Mersey. A single Redshank was heard along MSCanal and another around the Mersey banks. Cheching west side 500 Teal were found along the banks and on the Mersey, the banks also had 400 Golden Plover Lapwing were to spread out on both side of Mersey to make an accurate count. Nothing of note was found in the pools but a Peacock butterfly came to Colins hide window.
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Sunday Morning 30th Oct 2011 (31 Oct 2011)
by Keith G Massey

Golden Plover and Lapwing new counts so far for this winter, Shelduck, Mallard, Buzzard, Redshank and Little Grebe.
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Very little showing this morning although new counts for this winter was 1200 Lapwing and 700 Golden Plover on Mersey banks between Curdley and Astmoor but mostly on banks between Cuerdley and Norton marshes. Also Buzzard perched on Fiddlers Ferry Osprey platform for an hour with four Redshank feeding most of morning east side banks with 100 Mallard spread out around east and west side on Mersey with 6 Shelduck the MS canal had little bird life too but for 7 Little Grebe and a few Coots and Herons.
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Sunday Morning 23rd Oct 2011 (25 Oct 2011)
by Keith G Massey

Small movement of Redwings also Golden Plover, Redshank, Wigeon, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Teal.
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A movement of Redwings coming from the North down the west side of Fiddlers Ferry cooling towers following and above the Viral Gap brought in first 100 birds which turned SE over the lagoons and flew over Norton hide into the trees beyond, and hour later three passages of 50, 60 then 35 came down the val gap and carried on over the Mersey above the half way house into trees on south side of MS canal in the space of 12 minutes from 0928 to 0940. Golden Plover still showing well with 600 birds, two Redshank flew up river but came down on south side across from Cuerdley point. A single male Wigeon, 50 Mallard, 22 Teal and Juv Great Crested Grebe was on the Mersey as a female Sparrowhawk flew across Mersey south by hwh. MS canal had 14 Tufted Duck and 5 Little Grebe. On the west side only four Shelduck was found. At least four Buzzard were present on Mersey marshes with one coming down on the east side banks to pick the bones of a first winter Herring Gull which was its earlier kill. The Buzzard was surrounded by nine Crows trying to get a share of its spoils but did not get any as the Buzzard chased them away. Then a second Buzzard came down a few feet away but that got nothing too so it carried on towards Norton marshes.
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monday afternoon (24 Oct 2011)
by Gillian Hallsworth

shovelers and teal
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4 shovelers on lapwing lake and a pair of teal on birchwood pool
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Barn Owl (22 Oct 2011)
by Yvonne Taylor

Barn Owl flying between farm buildings on Lapwing Lane 2.30pm today.
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Moore Nature Reserve is not familiar to me. So it is difficult to advise where I saw what! The Barn Owl was clearly hunting on the hay bales in the farm buildings and was just so lovely and unexpected to see in full sunlight. We also saw Kestral, Female Sparrowhawk, Buzzard, Great Spotted Woodpecker and what we believe was a Peregrine but too high for definate identification,Wigeon and Gadwall on the large lake near Lapwing Lane. A fab afternoons birding.
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Sunday Morning 16th Oct 2011 (18 Oct 2011)
by Keith G Massey

Pink-footed Geese, Little Egrets, Redwing, Spotted Redshank, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Dunlin, Sparrowhawk and Jackdaws
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Just as I had parked up the air above was full of 500 Jackdaws flying around towards the canal then back towards the woods making a tremedious din, this could have been caused by a Sparrowhawk that flew off one of the posts along the road side as I drove up. Walking along the canal 18 Pink-footed Goose flew SE. I got to my watch point and counted eventually 600 Golden Plover and 800 Lapwing as Sparrowhawk and Buzzard were flying around Mersey most of morning. As the Golden Plover came down just below me I noticed three Dunlin feeding erratically one much larger then the other two. The smaller two tended to stay together while the large one stopped to preen then carried on feeding on it own. The smaller birds could have been of the arctica race or the schinzii race didnt get enough details to i.d. them before they moved on. Later two Little Egret were found feeding on the west side between cuerdley and astmoor marsh and as I moved back along canal from my watch point I found one Small White Butterfly and my first sighting of a small to medium size Fritillary Butterfly which I was unable to i.d. I later went down to Norton hide and just behind the hide flushed up two Spotted Redshank which flew down to the incoming tide and out of sight. On the way back 10 Redwing flew aross the road were I had parked my car. My first of the autumn along with Pink-footed Goose and Spotted Redshank.
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red crested pochard (16 Oct 2011)
by mike turton

2 males on lapwing lake
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sighted from sedge hide lapwing lake about 3pm today one male showing well could also be seen from lapwing lane hide may well have been a female as well but could not confirm this they were in with the many gadwall on the lake today
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Moore & Upper Moss Side (15 Oct 2011)
by Sheelagh Halsey

50 species including c30 fieldfares
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A morning walk yielded: crow, blue tit, robin, jackdaw, magpie, woodpigeon, blackbird, heron, coot, mallard, tufter duck, little grebe, teal, moorhen, black headed gull, gadwall, wren, dunnock, jay, great tit, pheasant, long tailed tit, mute swan, goldfinch, collared dove, fieldfare, yellowhammer, lesser black backed gull, curlew (c30), song thrush, stock dove, starling, kestrel (3), cormorant, reed bunting, chaffinch, lapwing, golden plover, buzzard (8), canaga goose, pied wagtail, feral pigeon, great spotted woodpecker, nuthatch, shoveler, herring gull, pochard, greylag goose, great crested grebe and wigeon.
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Swallows (13 Oct 2011)
by Brian Webber

4 Late swallows flew over this morning (8am).
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Also kingfisher on Lagoon yesterday.
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Sunday Morning 09th Oct 2011 (10 Oct 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Little Egrets, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Jack Snipe,Common Snipe, Dunlin, Wigeon, and Redpoll.
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There were four Little Egrets feeding in Mersey 3 on East side between Cuerdley and Norton marshes and a single on west side between Cuerdley and Astmoor marshes. A single Jack Snipe and Common Snipe on Norton marsh with 500 Golden Plover with a single Dunlin feeding among them and 800 Lapwing on east side banks. Also five Wigeon and 24 Teal were feeding in Mersey and a single Buzzard was seen regular as 2 Redpoll flew past us calling.
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SUNDAY EVENING (9 Oct 2011)
by KEVIN BROWN

1 Little Egret, 4 Curlew
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1 Little Egret came in to roost in the tree with the Cormorants at Lapwing Lake around 6pm, 4 Curlew flew west over Lapwing Lake.
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Wednesday morning 5th October (5 Oct 2011)
by B. Baird

Golden Plovers etc.
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Over 250 Golden Plovers with similar number of Lapwing on the mud west of Norton Marsh this morning. A Little Egret flew past heading down river and a Buzzard hunted over the marsh.
A male Kestrel was perched on the Owl box in the Balloon field and a Sparrowhawk flew along the hedges at Upper Moss Side.
25 Linnets were feeding in the field nearby.
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Sunday Morning 02nd Oct 2011 (3 Oct 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Jack Snipe,Little Egrets, Green Sandpiper, Com mon Snipe, Curlew, Golden Plover, Buzzard with Mallard, Canada Goose and Grey lag Goose.
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Three Snipe flew up from Norton Marsh with the first Jack Snipe of autumn in with two Common Snipe. Little Egrets were down to only two birds, one on the west side and one on the east side between Cuerdley and Norton Marshes. At dawn 200 Canada Goose flew past me moving up river and making a tremendous noise, later nine Grey lag Goose gave me a fly past also moving up river. A Green Sandpiper was on the MSC bank early on with 84 Curlew and 70 Golden Plover on Mersey banks between Cuerdley and Norton Marshes and at least two Buzzards were seen along the Mersey as well.
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Sunday Morning 25th Sept 2011 (26 Sep 2011)
by Keith G Massey, Bryan L Swann & Ian Charlton

Little Egrets, Wigeon, Peregrine, Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Curlew and Buzzard.
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At 0655 seven Little Egrets flew westwards just above head hight along MS Canal by Stobarts and also the six Little Egrets which have been feeding regular on Mersey banks were still there. A count of 110 Golden Plover was highest this autumn so far between Cuerdley and Norton Marshes, a female Sparrowhawk was also present along Mersey with three Buzzard regular. Common Sandpiper still to be found on the bank in MS Canal with a second moving down river later with 40 Curlew on Mersey banks. Midday the male Sparrowhawk again was seen flying around from western end of Birchwood pool to carpark and at eastern reed bed five Wigeon my first of autumn were feeding in the pool. Moving to Colins hide I joined Ian Charlton who pointed out a Peregrine perched on the stone bricks just under the railway bridge it stayed there for 30 minutes giving very good views to other bird watchers pariticularly a father and his two young sons and was still there when I left.
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Golden Plover (19 Sep 2011)
by Brian Baird

Golden Plover, Lapwings and Curlew etc.
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55 Golden Plover on mud west of Norton Marsh this morning along with 500+ Lapwings, 4 Curlew, 5 Shelduck, 5 Cormorant and a Great Black - backed Gull.
A Green Sandpiper was at Birchwood Pool and a Snipe flew from the Lagoon where a female Sparrowhawk chased a Jay, scattering the Wood Pigeons. A few Teal and Wigeon were with the Gadwall at the Lagoon.

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Sunday Morning 18th Sept 2011 (18 Sep 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Marsh Harrier, Little Egrets, Green & Common Sandpipers, Raven, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Kingfisher and Chiffchaffs/
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At 0845 a Marsh Harrier flew past us from cuerdley marshes on south side of Mersey below Fiddlers Ferry hide to moss side at the back of Norton Hide and out of view. Litte Egrets were all on the west side of Mersey when six were seen fishing the pools with a count of 1000 Lapwing with most on east side of Mersey. At least five Buzzards were seen at once from Astmoor to Cuerdley/Norton marshes with a male Sparrowhawk flying across Mersey to Cuerdley marshes. At 0645 A Green Sandpiper was seen on the MS Canal bank where an hour and half later a Common Sandpiper turned up. First sighting this autumn of 44 Golden Plover on Mersey banks east side, only heard last Sunday. A Kingfisher flew west wards underneath us with a 1000 Lapwing mostly on the east side of Mersey banks. Five male Chiffchaff were heard and a single Blackcap in bushes along canal path. A Green Sandpiper was found on the west side of Birchwood Pool, the Pumphouse pools were almost dry and no Green Sandpipers. A Magpie came out of the bushes at the SE corner chasing a female Sparrowhawk into the NW corner of the php.
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Swifts and a Comma (11 Sep 2011)
by John Williams

2 Swifts over Birchwood Pool,1 Comma butterfly by MSC.
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2 Swifts over Birchwood Pool with House & Sand Martins. 1 Comma butterfly on North bank MSC. 17 Curlew near Stobart depot South bank MSC. 1 female Sparrowhawk on fence post along track NW corner of reserve.
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Sunday Morning 11th Sept 2011 (11 Sep 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan Swann

Little Egrets, Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Golden Plover, Swift, House Ma\rtin, Green Sanpiper.
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Four Little Egrets were back feeding in pools in Mersey banks, with a Greenshank and a juv Redshank with bright yellow legs.Twenty Shelduck were also present and first Golden Plover of autumn was heard overhead. Birchwood Pool had at least ten House Martin and 20 Sand Martin hunting for food and 12 Swift flying above the tree line. Pumphouse pool at 1306 had three Green Sandpiper.
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Ruff and Reeve (9 Sep 2011)
by Mike Mulholland

Male and female Ruff on the Mersey mudflats west of Norton Marsh early afternoon .( a scarce bird on the patch, only my third record in 21 years)
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Also - a.l.2000 Lapwing, 86 Curlew, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper and female Marsh Harrier.
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Windy day.! (6 Sep 2011)
by DAVID WILSON

Green Sandpipers, Little Egrets, Black swan, fox, Marsh harrier.
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2 green sandpipers on Birchwood. Single green sandpiper on pumphouse. 2 little egrets on Lapwing lake. Black swan asleep on Birchwood pool. Fox crossing dried up pumphouse pool.Marsh harrier over upper moss side.
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Sunday Morning 04th Sept 2011 (4 Sep 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryan L Swann

Little Egrets, Peregrine, Buzzards, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Shelduck, Chiffchaffs, Blackcap, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Brown Hawkers
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Three Little Egrets still fishing Mersey below Cuerdley marshes east side with ten Grey Herons, largest count of 1000 Lapwing so far this autumn, a Common Sandpiper also along Mersey banks with egrets with a second on its regular bank in the M S Canal. Shelduck are starting to return with 27 on Mersey banks with two Redshank and six Teal. A male Peregrine was regular around turbine tower at power station with single Buzzard around marshes with one perched in Birchwood pool wood with another calling above eastern reed bed. A movement of warblers had two Sedge Warbler, two Whitethroat, one Blackcap seen and five Chiffchaff singing along canal bushes along with two Willow Tit. While eating dinner parked up just past carpark a male Sparrowhawk came from the wood around west end of Birchwood pool and flew towards MS Canal over the works area along the canal. Later at the Lagoon had plently of Brown Hawkers flying around catching insects and eating them just a few feet away from me at the open top hide. Checking the pumphouse pool for the Green Sandpipers a Fox came from the bushes on the south side and walk around the pools drinking and looking for food in the process flushed the two Green Sandpipers.
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Sunday Morning 28th Aug 2011 (29 Aug 2011)
by Keith G Massey, Bryian L Swann and Mike Mulholland

Wheatear, many Little Egrets, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Buzzard, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Swifts
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An imm Wheatear was seen on one of the landing stages along M S Canal along with a Common Sandpiper on the sand bank. Near half way house 30 Tufted Ducks, four Great Crested Grebe and two Little Grebe where seen, Common Scoter not found! Around the Mersey below our watch point upwards of eight Little Egrets was on display, six together feeding on the Mersey banks east side while two singles flew up river then turned southeast over moss side not to return also four Shelduck on the west side. Also four Buzzard were hunting around the Mersey marshes east side and along M S canal. A female Sparrowhawk was with the Buzzards above norton marsh at one time with a male on a post as we drove off from where we normally park up. An imm male Peregrine was found at the top of the turbine tower at power staion, still numerus Sand Martins flying around as they look to their last brood and three Swift seen moving south. Early afternoon at the pumphouse pool and after a long wait the two Green Sandpipers finally turned up before I left for home.
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Little Egret (26 Aug 2011)
by Andy Weir

Little egret on Lapwing Lake on island opposite the hide and screen, late morning.
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Little Egret, Mallard, Coot, Little Grebe with chicks, and Buzzard in tree by feeding station. On Birchwood Pool Canada Geese, Gt Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Mallard, Gadwall, Coot, Moorhen, Black Swan, Grey Heron.
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Marsh Harrier (25 Aug 2011)
by Gary Rimmer

Really good views of female Marsh Harrier from screen hide on the way to Upper Moss. Was watching bird flying around and over trees for about 10mins before she headed off towards Upper Moss.
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harrier (21 Aug 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

marsh harrier from path outside colins hide heading east green sandpiper pumphouse pool
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Sunday Morning 21st Aug 2011 (21 Aug 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryian Swann

Black-tailed Godwits, Little Egrets, Common Scoter, Wheatear, Green Sandpipers, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Swifts and Meadow Pipits.
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A single imm Wheatear, 24 Swifts and 22 Meadow Pipits were found around the east end of Stobarts building on south side of MS Canal moving around on migration. Common Scoter still with us. Five Black-tailed Godwits spent all morning roosting on Mersey banks just below at our watch point, Also two Little Egrets were feeding below Cuerdley marshes east side with upto 600 Lapwing ten Curlew a Peregrine on cooling towers at power station, Buzzard in tree at edge of Cuerdley marshes with another heard over head and a female Sparrowhawk flew past us. A Green Sandpiper was seen flying down Mersey just below us coming in to land just to the west only to be flushed later by two men setting up their rods to fish in the Mersey. On way back along canal path,many Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Small White and Common Blue butterflies were seen. Early afternoon at pumphouse pool two Green Sandpiper were feeding in small pools then flew off eastwards. A single returning later.
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Baby birds xxx (17 Aug 2011)
by Natasha Tyrer (12)

Firstly we crossed the field next to the car park and there saw...

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Firstly we crossed the field next to the car park and there saw some ravens, a meadow brown and gatekeeper butterfly and a common darter and a common damselfly. My dad also said he thought he saw a brown darter but I was too slow to notice it. We went in the hide looking out on Birchwood pool and saw:
great tit,canada geese,coot,mute swan,black swan,little grebe,tufties,gadwall,coromorant,wood pig,moorhen,lapwing,mallard,goldfinch,grey heron and buzzard.
We then decided to walk to the feeding station which to our disappointment was empty and with no seed or birds. Walking to the lapwing pool we stopped to notice a small goldcrest in a tree,quite close. At the lapwing pool we saw:
2 little grebes-1 with 1 young that was as big as her and the other grebe had 2 very small young,gadwall and coot.
We walked out onto the canal bridge only to see swans but also a pair of rock doves nesting in the cracks. They had been successful and raising 2 young.
We then walked down to the pumphouse pool and saw:
little egret,grey heron,herring gull,buzzard,lapwing, magpie,9 swan (with 5 cygnets),2 little grebe (1 on nest),gadwall,moorhen and coot.
Driving out caught the glimpse of a green veined white on the brambles and watched the swallows swooping over the fields.
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Little Egret (17 Aug 2011)
by Pete Jago

Little Egret at Pump House Pool.
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A Little Egret at Pump House Pool, in the evening, hunting. The pool water level was extremely low.
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Sunday Morning 14th Aug 2011 (15 Aug 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Bryian Swann

Little Egrets, Ravens, Green Sandpiper, Common Scoter and Goldcrests.
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First checked for Common Scoter still there, two Little Egrets on Mersey banks east side most of morning kept disappearing only to return feeding all over the banks, also 20 Curlew, Redshank, and eight Teal. Two Goldcrest were seen in bushes at back of us. Buzzard, three Kestrel and Sparrowhawk also seen around Mersey and marshes. Two Raven were seen resting on pylon east side of power station for around an hour. At pumphouse pool two Green Sandpiper were found and a Little Egret flew down into my field of view while checking the sandpipers. Eight Teal from Mersey were on the pool as well.
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pumphouse pool (14 Aug 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

pumphouse pool little egret also 4 buzzards overhead kingfisher lagoon pool
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Halfway House (12 Aug 2011)
by alan wraithmell

4 Little Egret on the Mersey & Greensandpiper,Common Sandpiper on Ship Canal
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An afternoon stroll along the ship canal to halfway house produced 1Green Sandpiper,1 Common Sandpiper as well as a few Willow Warblers,Whitethroat and a Reedwarbler in the bushes,
At Halfway house there were 4 Little Egret feeding on the mersey plus large No's of Gulls & 100 plus Lapwing,
A few Gatekeepers & Common Darters seen along the canal path.
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kingfisher and black swan (9 Aug 2011)
by hugh farrell

from the hide in the middle of birchwood pool kingfisher sat on branch below hide black swan on island
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black swan on the island, kingfisher sat on branch below hide for 5 min.
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Sunday Morning 07th Aug 2011 (8 Aug 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Bryian Swann

Wood Sandppiper, Little Egrets, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, Curlew, Lapwing, Common Scoter and Buzzard.
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A juv Wood Sandpiper was found at pump house pool early afternoon and was kept on the move by Lapwing, Heron and two Crows as it moved around the different pools keeping out of their way. Earlier in the morning Common Scoter was found very close to hwhouse with 24 Tufted Duck, ad Shelduck with its four young well grown now. A Little Egret was found later as the tide went out then another turned up only to be joined by a third and much later in the morning a fourth came in all feeding just below cuerdley marshes on the east side. I picked out a Ringed Plover flying down river then it came down for a minute before flying just below me and called out. A build up of Lapwing numbered 500 with 210 Canada Goose also on the banks on the east side with 5 Curlew and one Oystercacher. A Buzzard was seen a few times with two Kestrel and a Common Sandpiper was along the MS Canal as we moved back to where we parked. Around 20 Gatekeeper butterflies was seen with a few Meadow Brown along the canal path with 6 Grey Lag Goose.
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Green Sandpipers (8 Aug 2011)
by John Williams

2 Green Sandpipers on Pumphouse Pool (8.15pm)
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2 Green Sandpipers on small pool NE corner of Pumphouse Pool. 2 Little Egrets on Lapwing Lane Pool wading in shallows on N.Side of island in the centre viewable from only from screen on North side.1 very thin Fox seen on scrape on Birchwood & Pumphouse Pools.
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Green Sandpipers (5 Aug 2011)
by Vivien Finn

2 Green Sandpipers at the far end of Pumphouse pool.

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2 Green Sandpipers at the far end of pumphouse pool.
on a sandy bank by water in the far left corner, well away from all the bathing gulls.
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foxes (4 Aug 2011)
by Roger Little , Ade Billington

2 foxes fighting over a fish
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Sat in the Eastern Reedbed hide watching 2 foxes fight over a large fish . Also good views of a Sparrowhawk in the dead trees. No sign of the Kingfisher though and the robin doesn't seem to like dried meal worms ! I'll bring biscuits next time .
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Black Swan (2 Aug 2011)
by john Gibson

Black Swan on island with 4 Mute Swans
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11 A.M. on birchwood pool on larger island
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Sunday Morning 31st July 2011 (1 Aug 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Bryian L Swann

Common Scoter, Little Egrets, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Greenshank, Kingfisher and Sparrowhawks,
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After I had settled down at my watch point over looking the Mersey I found a Common Tern at 0735am standing on the Mersey banks in light drizzle just resting, it was there for around 30 mins then flew up and around then went down river out of sight. The Common Scoter was still giving good views on the canal and two single Little Egrets were to be seen feeding on the east and west side of Cuerdley marshes. A Buzzard was seen once and flew off. A male Sparrowhawk flew by towards MScanal then three Sparrowhawks were found flying at the same time around north area of B-lagoon, an adult female and two immatures a local breeding family. On the way back three Common Sandpipers were found on their normal sand bank along the Canal and moved eastwards. Moving to the eastern reed bed/lagoon a Kingfisher flew from the lagoon to the eastern reed pool and out of sight, a Buzzard was heard over head. Moving on to the Pump House Pool at 1250pm I found two Green Sandpiper showing well feeding, I phoned around to find out if anyone wanted to know of these birds and then I found three Teal on the pool as well feeding. A little later I heard a Greenshank flying over but it didnt come down to the pool. On the MS Canal earlier I had found a female Tufted Duck with three ducklings looking like small punks with their head feathers. Also on the pool at the eastern reed bed two adult Great Crested Grebes had three recently hatched young, which one of the adults was feeding while the other two tried to get on the back of the other adult which was preening, which caused the two young to be thown into the water when the had just got on the lower back of the adult.they soon popped up and tried again.
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green,green,green!!!! (31 Jul 2011)
by Gary Rimmer

two green sandpipers/one greenshank
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A brief visit to the reserve today, (20mins),due to a tex message from a friend led me to pumphouse pool,were there were two green sandpipers at the waters edge.Around 10mins later i heard a greenshank fly over.
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Black Swan (26 Jul 2011)
by Graham Norman

Black Swan on Birchwood Pool. " x Great spotted Woodpeckers, and a Fox.
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Black swan seen from the hide in WB4 overlooking the larger of the 2 islands in Birchwood Pool. Two great spotted woodpeckers near the bench in WB1 . Fox (Vixen) on path through WA2. I was about six yards from it. It starred at me for about 10 seconds then took off. Possible pair of oyster catchers on the smaller island in Birchwood Pool.
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Sunday Morning 24th July 2011 (25 Jul 2011)
by Keith G Massey, Brian L Swann, Malcolm Roach and Den Kelly

Common Scoter back, Little Egrets, Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Curlew, Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Buzzard.
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Early check for Scoter proved fruitless and very few birds could be found on the MS canal at that time but over two hours later it was found in its normal watery habitat and giving very good views from hwhouse. Also picked out a Black-tailed Godwit on the west side of Cuerdley marshes with a few Curlews and then a Little Egret which later flew towards wig island. On the east side of Mersey 150 Lapwing were put up and quickly came down as a Buzzard was flying/hoving over Norton marshes and was later found eatin prey on a post towards the west end of the marsh. Redshank and Oystercatcher was heard regularly with a few more Curlews on the banks, later in morning around 200 Lapwing were put up at hempstone point. Six Dunlin flew past us going westwards then a flock of at least 50 Curlew came down onto the Mersey banks on the east side to freshen up and later some were seen to look for food. A Little Egret flew over from Moss side and came down near the Curlew flock to feed. It later flew towards us and came down just below us at the west end of Norton marsh and Cuerdley Point and started feeding again but soon flew around before fly westwards. Two Reed Warbler were in song along the MS canal and when the sun came out later in the morning butterlies of Gatekeeper, Meadow Brown, Peacock, Large White and Large Skipper were seen along the canal path.
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woodpeckers and egrets (24 Jul 2011)
by david strath

2 juvenile green woodpeckers 2 little egrets
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2 juvenile green woodpeckers in gorse near lapwing lake. 2 little egrets fishing in eastern reedbeds. butterflies seen comma, red admiral, common blue, meadow brown. large skipper, gatekeeper, large and small white.
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lapwing lake (20 Jul 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

6 little egrets 14 cormorants roosting in tree on lake also kingfisher lagoon pool and pumphouse pool
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green woodpecker (19 Jul 2011)
by Gillian Hallsworth

single green woodpecker near sedge hide
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seen while standing on the steps before sedge hide on the nature trail, looking straight across the field to partially dead tree,green woodpecker landed on this tree before dropping into the shrubs beow
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Sunday Morning 17th July 2011 (19 Jul 2011)
by Keith G Massey & Brian L Swann

A wader morning of Black-tailed Godwits,Curlew, Redshank, Dunlin,Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover. as well as Kingfisher and Sparrowhawk,
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A Kingfisher was sighted along MS Canal near bridge which also had 60 Tufted Duck two Little Grebe, four Great Crested Grebe. four Gadwall,10 Shelduck but no Common Scoter this Sunday morning will it return? Mersey banks between Cuerdley and Norton marshes had eight Black-tailed Godwits feeding/roosting, two Common Sandpiper seen regularly, one Dunlin flew past us to MS Canal, two Reshanks were feeding below us with five Curlew and a male Sparrowhawk flew past only to return later to fly across Mersey toward Cuerdley Marshes and later in moring an adult and immature Ringed Plover below colins hide.
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Flower survey (12 Jul 2011)
by Joy Mitchell-Lisle

Birds seen whilst checking fowers in Lagoon Meadow....
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Buzzard x 2, chaffinch, blackbird, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, wren, great spotted woodpecker, blackcap, robin, coal tit, jackdaw. On the lagoon.....tufted duck, coot, moorhen, great crested grebe, Canda geese, mallards, grey heron x 2, stock dove, lapwing, sand and house martins, swifts, pheasant, reed bunting and kingfisher
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Little Egret (10 Jul 2011)
by Daisy Boardman

Little Egret spotted from hide.
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One lone Little Egret spotted from hide. Many herons , cormorants, foxes and hundred s of frogs!!
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Sunday Morning10th July (10 Jul 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian L Swann

Migration build up with Swifts,Swallows,Sand Martins, Sandpipers,Godwits,LRPlover. passing through.
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M S Canal had 100s of Swifts, Swallows and Sand Martins catching flies, building up fat reserves before the off to wintering grounds. There were also two Common Sandpiper along the canal with another one/two on Mersey banks with also seven Black-tailed Godwit which came down to roost before carrying on. Also there were two Redshank, two Curlew a Buzzard eating bird prey on building on Fiddlers Ferry Reserve side and a poss imm Peregrine around cooling towers and old nesting area with 12 Long-tailed Tit and 20 Goldfinch flying over our heads. The canal still had the male Common Scoter showing a very bright orange upper mandable now as it moults towards adult winter plumage and one adult Shelduck with at least four recent hatched shelduckings. While certain birds were getting ready for migration, we still had three male Reed Warbler trying to find any lingering females for one last brood before the off. The Little Ringed Plover was back below Colins hide later.
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eastern reedbed (6 Jul 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

green sandpiper eastern reedbed kingfisher lagoon pool 2 little ringed plover and yellow legged gull pumphouse pool
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Sunday Morning 03rd May 2011 (4 Jul 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

Common Scoter, Little-Ringed Plover, Buzzard, Grey Wagtail, Curlew,Redshank
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2 unidentified small waders were seen moving westward and out of sight before they could be identified along MS Canal. Imm male Common Scoter still in same spot on canal, 2 Redshank and 3 Oystercatcher and 3 Curlew on Mersey banks with Buzzard eating bird prey. Later 3 imm Grey Wagtails on Birchwood pool with a Little Ringed Plover at water edge below Colins hide.
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White-letter Hairstreak Butterfly (4 Jul 2011)
by Mal Cross

White-letter Hairstreak photo taken of one high up on bramble by bench after Dog field
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White-letter Hairstreak Butterfly seen by the bench passed the Dog field. walk up to the bench. Keep brambles to your right, Gate behind you and look to the tops of the trees. Small dark colored butterflies flying at tree tops will probably be W L H.
We where lucky enough to see 3 come down to feed on the bramble, The photos are not the best but do show W L H.
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White-letter Hairstreak (3 Jul 2011)
by Brian - Warden

Several White-letter Hairstreak butterflies seen flying over the oak trees behind the bench to the east of the dog field before the steps.
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One also seen at the western end of Birchwood
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Male Common Redstart (3 Jul 2011)
by Jenny Duff

Male Redstart spotted close up on fence post from Colin's Hide.
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We were watching the life on Birchwood Pool from Colin's Hide and suddenly spotted a colourful bird on the fence post to the right next to the wood. Confirmed when checking in book as beautiful Common Redstart. He stayed and let us watch him for a couple of minutes before flying into the wood. This was approximately 6.30 pm.
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Young Foxes (3 Jul 2011)
by Jenny Duff

Spotted adult fox, then 2 young foxes from Lagoon Hide.
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They were on the field to the right of lagoon. Approximately 6.00 pm.
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Kingfisher (2 Jul 2011)
by Neil gallimore

Kingfisher on Eastern reed bed
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Kingfisher fishing from dead branches in water to the left of the island. Watched it catch 6 fish from 3 45 till 4 10 . Superb
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Little Egrets (1 Jul 2011)
by Andy Humphreys

7 Little Egrets roosting from 9:15pm onwards in trees at far end of Lapwing Lake
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7 Little Egrets roosting from 9:15pm onwards in trees at far end of Lapwing Lake. Visited the hide next to the road 3 times during the evening, last of which was at 21:15 and they had arrived. Also numerous Cormorants roosting with them (including some juveniles).
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Sunday Morning 26th June 2011 (27 Jun 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

Marsh Harrier, Buzzard, Common Scoter, Garden Warbler and three species of Butterfly
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Two brief views of a Marsh Harrier gliding over Mersey marshes at Astmoor at 0748 am could move to Cuerdley and Norton marshes. The imm male Common Scoter is still on the MS Canal and giving good views even from a distance, A build up of 138 Lapwing on Mersey banks between Cuerdley and Norton marshes and Cuerdley and Astmoor marshes is the start of the autumn influx to our area where they have built up to thousands in previous winters. A Garden Warbler uttered a slight song along canal and two Oystercatcher and one Curlew on the Mersey banks. A Buzzard showed well on the pylon on the west side of Fiddlers Ferry hide and was seen to dive down to the marsh to pick up some prey and eat it low down on its pylon perch. Butterflies have not been seen much so a Small Tortoiseshell and four Meadow Brown first of summer were found along Canal path with Large White around Birchwood west barrier hide.
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plant on eastern reedbed approach path (22 Jun 2011)
by Alan Wraithmell

escaped garden plant
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After discussion with Brian on monday afternoon about a plant on the path to the eastern reedbed located on the left side after the kissing gate.
I dragged out a gardening book on exotics and came to the conclusion that the plant is of the species Tiger Lilly! any other thoughts? Good luck.
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Sunday Morning delight (19 Jun 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

Common Scoter, Ringed Plover. Curlew, Buzzard, Redshank, Grey Wagtails.
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Immature male Common Scoter was found again in same place on MS Canal at 0725 still there when we left 1110am,also imm Ringed Plover on Mersey banks with Curlew and Oystercatcher with a Buzzard hovering over Mersey marshes. Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Reed and Sedge Warbler singing along MSCanal in bushes and reeds. Later two Gray Wagtails at Birchwood Pool.
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black swan (18 Jun 2011)
by brian mcgurk

pretty sure it was a black swan on birchwood pool
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first ever sighting of a black swan for me, on birchwood pool saturday 1300 hrs close to the island had no binos and my eyesight is not that great but friends with me concurred it was a black swan always enjoy a bike ride around the river from spike island guanranteed to see something last time it was grey partridge by fiddlers ferry
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1000's of Baby Frogs (16 Jun 2011)
by Mark Carlin

Literally thousands and thousands of baby frogs are on the move across the reserve so be careful where you step.
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The march of the baby frogs is happening now at the reserve and if you stop anywhere on the road down from the carpark just take a look at the verge nearest the lake. Thousands of baby frogs are walking back up towards the carpark. If you take a walk up the grass hill opposite the carpark just stop near the top and let your eyes settle on the ground and you will see the ground literally moving but just be careful where you put your feet.
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Little owl in barn box (14 Jun 2011)
by Duncan MacNaughton

Little owl in Box at UMS
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Good views of the little owl in Balloon Shed Field [relax on the bench to view!]. Pigeon/dove nesting in Shed made me jump as it flew out! Stock doves in Sparrow5 Field box. Slashed in front of Norton Hide - that'll sort nettles out! Views of bird feeding in reeds. Left caterpillars on nettles. Duck with 2 ducklings on Pool [gadwall? - they all dived as I went to check and mark sluice]. 13/6/11
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green woodpeckers (14 Jun 2011)
by J.houghton

Good day for being out on the reserve. Warm, sunny and still.
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Many gulls resting onlake,alongwithTeal,Wigeon,mallard and chicks,Gt. crested grebe,little grebe,coots,mute swans, etc. Family of Grey Wagtails feeding in front of hide along with family of pied wagtails. Fox with dead duck walked in front of hide, scattering the wagtails. Pair of green woodpeckers near steps. Tree creeper feeding chicks up tree. Pair of gt.spotted woodpeckers at feeding station. Dozens of tiny froglets near puddles on lapwing lane and a dead mole!
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A foxy afternoon (10 Jun 2011)
by Alan Wraithmell

Foxes on the reserve.
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arrived at birchpool westend hide this pm where good no's of sandmartins were feeding.
Oystercatchers were piping an alarm i wondered what was happening when i looked down from the hide to see a female fox walking in front of the hide being scolded by an Ad Oystercatcher this went on for a couple of minutes the vixen then moved off.
i then moved on to the eastern reed bed and lagoon when after only a few mins 2 young male foxes turned up on the lagoon for a sparing contest this went on for about 10 mins after which they both moved off.other sightings 2k Lesser-Blacks on pumphouse pool also teneral Blue tailed Damsel flies,Large Skipper and Speckled woods in Birchwood and numerous juv Whitethroats in areas around the reserve
a Foxy afternoon.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - feeding young (5 Jun 2011)
by Mikaela Owens

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - feeding one young at the feeding station hide
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Kingfisher (4 Jun 2011)
by Stef bennett

Kingfisher on eastern reed bed.
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From the hide we saw a kingfisher fly around the island in the middle of the first pool as you look out across the reed bed. The warden had just arrived and said there was no reported sightings. Right on cue it flew past & we both saw it!
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GSW (4 Jun 2011)
by Col Bignall

GSW and young nesting in a silver birch,
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GSW and young nesting in a silver birch,a few weeks ago there were 2 or 3 young but now just one and only the male adult there on feeding duty.
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Kingfisher (4 Jun 2011)
by Ian Coventry

Kingfisher at Birchwood Pool in trees to right of hide.
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Viewed from woodland hide looking out over pondweed covered shore. Flew off in clockwise direction (calling whist passing immediately by the hide!). Pic added to gallery today.
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Oystercatcher (3 Jun 2011)
by Tony Parker

Oystercatcher with chick on Birchwood Pool
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Oystercatcher with chick on island on Birchwood Pool, second bird present on lakeside, Little Ringed Plover also present
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Willow tit (3 Jun 2011)
by DAVID WILSON

Willow Tit family behind Colins Hide.
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3 fledged but well developed Willow tits with adult in bushes behind Colins Hide.
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Grebes (2 Jun 2011)
by Phil and Ruth Turner

We spottted a Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe (we think!) on Lapwing lake during an evening visit
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This was our first visit to the reserve and enjoyed the visit. We are also new to bird watching and so have discovered another place to go. The visit was very enjoyable as there was a cloudless sky and it was warm
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Weasel (30 May 2011)
by S Gos

Chasing rabbits on the path leading away from the dog walking field
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Weasel seen
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Sand Martins (29 May 2011)
by sarah travis

Had a beautiful evening stroll around the reserve seen lots of rabbits playing, lots of wood ants. Birchwood pool alive with wildlife and Sand Martins flying about over head a beautiful sight. Overall a beautiful evening walk for us and our little Jackie Russells.
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Oystercatchers (28 May 2011)
by Stef Bennett

4 Oystercatchers on the 1st island on Birchwood pool
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We saw one Oystercatcher then suddenly from under the trees at the top of the island came 3 more & went over to join the single one at the far end of the 1st island
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Juvenile Woodpecker (27 May 2011)
by Lesley Rawlinson

Young GSW in Birchwood,parent birds keeping watch.
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We were entertained by the young GSW in the trees between Birchwood and Pump House Pool. Also saw adult bird actually feeding for ants on the main island on Birchwood pool from the East end hide. Noticed that the Birch Strip Hide has residents tucked under the roof at the moment! Not sure who as we didnt want to get too close and disturb them. Could be a wren?? Finally, great views of male kestrel on tree in dog field
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Little ringed plover (24 May 2011)
by Gillian Hallsworth

Little ringed plover seen on the island on Birchwood Pool
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viewed from Birchwood Pool West Hide at about midday, one little ringed plover, on the small spit behind the main island
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Beginner's Bird Walk (22 May 2011)
by P.Grimmett

Two Willow Tits were seen and heard by the steps near Colin's bench. Blackcaps and Whitethroats could be heard all over the reserve with only 1 or 2 being seen. Lots of Sand Martins hawking over Birchwood Pool with an Oystercatcher,2 Shelduck,2 Gt.C.Grebe and several Gadwall. At Long Moss a single Spotted Flycatcher sat out on branch before flying into the undergrowth
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little ringed plover (20 May 2011)
by Fred Wright

wandering along the edge of the western end of the first pool going along the the dirt track. Viewed from the hide
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It was seen wandering along the western end of the first pool going along the dirt track. Viewed from the hide.
A large flock of gulls and two herons were around the spit where a fence runs into the pool.
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fox (20 May 2011)
by Fred Wright

crossing the path/road that carries straight on from the canal bridge.
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The fox was seen crossing the track/road that carries straight on from the canal bridge. It crossed over between the car park and the first hide on the left side before the Runcorn to Latchford canal.
As we left a Buzzard was seen over the car park area
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Pleasant few hours (20 May 2011)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle and friends

Hare foot's Meadow - Tawny heard
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Hare foot's Meadow - Tawny heard, reed bunting and warbler, great spotted woodpecker, two buzzards being mobbed by crows, mallard, gadwall, song thrush, willow warbler, blackcap, pheasant, great crested grebe, sand martins and jackdaw. ERB jay, chiffchaff, wood pigeon, crow, moorhen, coot, grey heron with young, mallard, mute swan. Lagoon shelduck, gadwall, oystercatcher, lapwing, tufted duck, pair great crested grebe, pied wagtail, sand martin, female great spotted woodpecker, mallard with chicks, two pairs Canada geese with 8 goslings and willod warbler. Path to eastern canal - family of 12 long tailed tits being fed in tree by 3/4 adults, blue tit, swifts, blackcap and whitethroat. Eastern Canal willow warbler, whitethroat, jay, blackbird and chiffchaff. PHP from Colin's hide black headed, herring, great black backed and lesser black backed gulls, grey heron, pied wagtail, sand martins, Canada geese, tufted duck, coot, magpie, gadwall, chaffinch. Lapwing lake mute swans, little grebe, tufted duck, coot, great crested grebe. Feeding Stn moorhen pair with three chicks, wren, great tit, chaffinch, nuthatch. Scrub strip long tailed tits, whitethroat, chiffchaff, pheasant and robin. Birchwood pool sand martsin, Canada geese, 6 mute swans, mistle thrush x 2, great crested grebe x 2, coot, little grebe, crow, grey heron, pied wagtail, lesser black backed and herring gulls. Dog field male kestrel.
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Little Ringed Plover (16 May 2011)
by John Williams

1 LRP on Pumphouse Pool (10:45am)
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1 LRP on Pumphouse Pool (10:45am)
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Morning of 08th May (8 May 2011)
by Keith G Massey, Brian Swann

New spring migrants arrived and winter species still occurring.
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Male Lesser Whtethroat and Garden Warbler along MS Canal by white bollards with imm Male Common Scoter on canal just past half way house five Buzzards around Mersey with male Great spotted Woodpecker on side of tree on north side of Eastern Reed Bed hide? vert good view.
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Ruddy Duck (7 May 2011)
by B Baird

Ruddy Duck at Eastern Reed Bed
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Male Ruddy Duck with Pochard, plus Little and Great Crested Grebe on Eastern Reed Bed this morning.
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Common scoter (4 May 2011)
by Karl Parry

common scoter on Ship Canal
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1st year common scoter on the Manchester Ship Canal where it runs alongside the Mersey sand ,next to the fenced off area prohibiting further entry along the canal path
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Wood Sandpiper (2 May 2011)
by Tommy Jones

from the Pump house hide
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It was spotted from the pump house hide, at 1700hrs approx, in the small bay to the left hand side of the pool, Thanks for the shout! who ever you were
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Afternoon of 02nd May (2 May 2011)
by Keith G Massey

First Swifts and male Brimstone
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My first Swift of spring was of two birds flying from Mersey over Norton hide at 1353 to above moss side and at same time one flying over half way house southwards. Two Buzzard seen most of Afternoon around Mersey. A male Brimstone flying along road side down to were I park up before going to watch point by Mersey. More Swallows seen moving along Mersey with hundreds of Sand Martins from Fiddlers Ferry colonies flying around MS Canal and Mersey.
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Possible red-throated pipet? (2 May 2011)
by Anne-Maria Young

10.30 am in woodland along path between birchwood pool and grassland south.
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I sighted this bird high up in the tree and had never seen or heard anything like it before. I took time to note its very red throat and breast that ran into the very distinct spotted under belly. I consulted a number of books and this is the only bird that fits the description (unless anyone can suggest anything else). This is a rare visitor that merely passes through so I feel very privileged.
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Swifts (1 May 2011)
by Paul Grimmett

Seen over Birchwood pool at 6am on the dawn chorus walk.
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Wood sandpiper (1 May 2011)
by Phil Brighton

One, at Pump House Pool below Colin's Hide
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An unfamiliar bird, but got a good enough photo to show the large pale spots on the back, the diffuse chest pattern, and the prominent supercilium - definitely not common or green sandpiper
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Sunday Morning 01st May (1 May 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

Black-tailed Godwit, Dunlin, Peregrine, and Wheatear.
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Only only one male Wheatear left, mersey banks below Cuerdley Marshes had two Black-tailed Godwit and a single Dunlin with at least two Buzzard flying around. A Peregrine was seen flying around Fiddlers Ferry cooling towers at 0850 but not seen again.
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Evening walk (27 Apr 2011)
by Paul Cassidy

At 8.00 PM at the carpark a cuckoo could be heard calling from the north, and a peacock calling from further east.

Black swan with mute swans on Birchwood Pool. White geese have 4 goslings on the west island.

10+ noctule bats hunting over Long Moss Meadow just after sunset.

Common pipistrelle and soprano pipistrelle bats hunting over Lapwing Lake close to the east hide, later joined by Daubentoon's bats.

Female fox came to visit us in the hide.
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Sunday Morning 24th April 2011 (25 Apr 2011)
by Keith G Massey

First Cuckoo of spring and Garden Warbler,Wheatears still around,GHWarbler singing.Black-Tailed Godwits and Common Sandpiper.

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Heard first Cuckoo at 0735 about 3to400 hundreds yards west of Moore lane bridge moving westwards towards Fiddlers Ferry, first Garden Warbler heard singing where I parked up still a male and female Wheatear east end of Stobbart building.Grasshopper Warbler still in same place as last week with only slight song this morning,At least 28 Black-tailed Godwits feeding on Mersey banks but moved west wards out of sight, single Swallow at last with hundreds of Sand Martin around Fiddlers Ferry lagoons. A single Redshank was heard and two Oystercatcher with a single Buzzard and two Raven around Mersey near halfway house. On my way back found Common Sandpiper on sand bank on south side of MS Canal. Wheatears had gone due to three car loads of dog walkers and one couple with a rifle along south side of MSCanal.
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Birchwood Pool (25 Apr 2011)
by Adam Jones

Black swan still on Birchwood pool.
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Also seen this afternoon: 2 Little Grebe, 6 Gadwall, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Treecreeper along the path.
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Monday Afternoon 25th April 2011 (25 Apr 2011)
by Keith G Massey

Whimbrel, two Buzzard, Shelduck, Curlew and Brimstone butterflym
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A single Wimbrel turned up at 1440 pm feeding on Mersey banks just below Curdley marshes later bathing just below where i was sitting before moving more to middle of bank it gave out its rippleing call as it moved about feeding, it was still there when I left at 1530. Also a single Curlew,20 Shelduck on Mersey banks and two Oystercatcher. Very strong cool NE wind made viewing difficult. Missed out of sightings was a male Ruddy Duck and Water Rail heard calling in eastern reed bed on the 24th April.
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Arpley Landfill Site walk (24 Apr 2011)
by Paul Cassidy

Lovely weather and some interesting wildlife around on the restored areas of the landfill site..
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highlights included sedge and grasshopper warblers, brown hare, grey partridge and very close views of wheatear.
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Common Tern (24 Apr 2011)
by Andy Dutton

Seen flying up ship canal
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Seen flying west up Ship canal past factories then relocated sat on sand bank at halfway house flew further west towards wigg island .
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Cuckoo (24 Apr 2011)
by DAVID WILSON

Cuckoo over canal path Hawthorn wood.Large terrapin on Lapwing lake.
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Cuckoo gave good view flying above tree line over old canal viewed from high up on hillcrest quarry overlooking hawthorn wood
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Cuckoo (22 Apr 2011)
by Neil Gallimore

Cuckoo on latchford canal path
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Section near bobs bridge . Cuckoo was high up in trees calling then flew out of trees as I got near ,good views of it as it flew out over grass land on Upper moss side
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Terrapin (22 Apr 2011)
by David Price

Terrapin sighted swimming eastern reed bed.
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3.30pm Sunny and warm. I spotted one adult terrapin.
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Cuckoo (19 Apr 2011)
by Duncan MacNaughton

Cuckoo heard along with grasshopper warbler.
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Cuckoo calling from edge of planted Tip by Lapwing Lane [where it opens out onto proposed "Airfield"] 11am. Also grasshopper, sedge, willow warbler calling with blackcap, chiffchaff and whitethroat.
Reed bunting and warbler in front of Norton Hide with couple of sandpipers. Grasshopper warbler also on SparrowS Field and Little owl in Balloon Shed Field owl box [obviously not read the rules!].
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Cuckoo heard (19 Apr 2011)
by Tommy Jones

Cuckoo heard 1730hrs west of feedhide
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Black Swan still on Birchwood 1530rs today, also Cuckoo heard west of feedhide at 1730hrs
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Migrants (19 Apr 2011)
by P.Grimmett and Chris Stott

Migrants calling.


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From Lapwing hideSedge Warblers seen and heard. From WTN1 Cuckoos heard plus Gropper reeling and Whitethroats calling.Gropper and Whitethroats also heard from Scrub Strip.
At the eastern reed bed a large tern species was seen flying off over the bank towards the Ship Canal.
7 species of butterfly seen inc stunning male Brimstones.
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Black Swan (18 Apr 2011)
by Brian Baird

Black Swan on Birchwood Pool
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Black Swan on Birchwood Pool around noon, two Wheatears still on south side of MSC and Grasshopper Warbler at HWH.
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little ringed plover (17 Apr 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

little ringed plover common sandpiper
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little ringed plover common sandpiper birchwood pool , common sandpiper manchester ship canal 5 wheatear grass bank near stobarts warehouse grasshopper warbler halfway house also chiffchaff willow warbler blackcap whitethroat
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Sunday Morning 17th Ap;ril (17 Apr 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

Raptors,Warblers and Wildfowl
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First Hobby flew low over our heads heading SW
at the west end of Norton Marsh over MSCanal at 1020 am. A Grasshopper Warbler also singing close by with 5 Buzzards over Mersey.At least six Wheatear poss ten on south side of MSCanal. A Green Woodpecker was first heard opposite old Moore lane quarry at 0720 am. Later male Goosander in eastern reed bed pool with two male Reed Warbler and one Sedge Warbler singing with two Buzzard low over head calling.
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Sandpiper and singing Warblers (14 Apr 2011)
by Brian Baird

Common Sandpiper, Oystercatcher and Warblers etc.
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Common Sandpiper and two Oystercatchers at Pump House Pool.
Sedge and Willow Warbler, also Blackcap, Chiffchaff and a pair of Bullfinch along Runcorn Latchford Canal East this morning.
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greylag goose (11 Apr 2011)
by simon rowlands

a single greylag goose seen first on the pumphouse pool at 8am then flew to lapwing lake. alos greenwoodpecker seen at carpark
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Sunday Morning (10 Apr 2011)
by Keith G Massey and Brian Swann

three new spring migrants seen and Butterflies
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Two Wheatear seen on south side of MSCanal at the east end of Stobbart building.Working along old canal road at least four Common Whitethroat in song. later in morning four Whimbrel flew over Cuerdley Marshes below Fiddlers Ferry hide and flew up river.Three Buzzard seen along with two Curlew on Mersey banks and 30 Sheldduck. Plenty of Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap singing along canal road. Butterflies seen were three male Orange Tips, Peacock, Small Toroiseshell and Small White.
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Afternoon Bimble (8 Apr 2011)
by wayne allen

Pipistrelle !! Yes Pipistrelle
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Great afternoon ramble round the reserve, 3 Buzzards, Kesterel, Chiff/chaff, Willow warbler,
Blackcap,Tawny, Magpies, Goldfinch, Blue/Great tit, Longtailed tit,plenty of gull action on Birchwood,
Sand martins and Swallows, Gadwall,Coot, M/hen,
No Woodies today :-( But seen a Pipistrelle basking in the sun see photo attached, all in all another great afternoon at my fave reserve!!
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Butterflies galore (8 Apr 2011)
by Joy Mitchell-Lisle

Beautiful sunny morning - blackcaps and butterflies
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Dog field - long tailed tits, chaffinch, chiffchaff, blue & great tits, mistle thrush, dunnock, blackbird, rook, jackdaw, willow tit, great spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, treecreeper, female kestrel, wood pigeon,nuthatch, numerous orange tip and peacock butterflies. Along Lapwing Lane a pair of blackcaps with nesting material, male brimstone butterfly. Lapwing Lake - coot, canada geese, tufted ducks, pair of little grebe, grey heron, great crested grebe, mallards and moorhen. West canal path - jay. Feeding stn - reed buntings, great and blue tits, wren, chaffinch, pheasant and woodpigeon. 2 buzzards overhead as we walked to the old tawny roost and chiffchaff. Middle moss wood - wren, chaffinch, jackdaw, crows, rooks and a willow warbler. Birchwood pool - little grebe, tufted duck, pair of nesting oystercatchers, pied wagtail, coot, canada geese, lesser black backed and herring gulls, lone black headed gull, magpies and blackbird. Hillcrest quarry - greenfinch, long tailed tits, black cap, chaffinch, chiffchaff. Comma butterfly.
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SNIPE AND (6 Apr 2011)
by David Kennedy

BIRCH POOL - SNIPE AND "SWIRL OF SAND MARTINS"
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An evening stroll showed me a snipe at Birch pool. It was late on in the day but the willow warbler near the hide sang on. Interestingly I saw a mass of sand martins high up just after sundown, swirling around a common centre (like cars around a roundabout), Ive never seen that behaviour before. Great way to spend an evening.
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Osprey (3 Apr 2011)
by John Williams

1 Osprey over Mersey near railway bridge
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1 Osprey following Mersey flying towards Transporter bridge and being mobbed by a Carrion Crow (3.30pm)
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Summer visitors (2 Apr 2011)
by Sue Lancaster

Williow warbler, chiffchaff, black cap, swallow, sand martin
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Willow warblers heard at several locations
Blackcap seen and heard in trees on bank opposite car park
Sand martins over Birchwood pool
Chiffchaff everywhere
Two swallows feeding in fields on Moore Lane as we walked home
Plus goldeneye, gadwall, greylag, pair of teal and all the usual suspects
a lovely morning!
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3 woodpeckers (1 Apr 2011)
by David Wilson

All 3 woodpeckers today around lapwing lane. willow warbler in same area.
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3 woodpeckers. Willow warbler. great crested grebes on birchwood.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (1 Apr 2011)
by Tony Dickinson and Dave Young

Flew over road and landed in tree overhead on Lapwing lane
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We were walking down Lapwing Lane when two birds flew over the lane and landed on a a tree overhead. I got a good view through my bins ( as did Dave) of a male LSW. It then flew of towards the Tawny Owl roost.
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Green Woodpecker (1 Apr 2011)
by Lee Lappin

Green Woodpecker Lapwing Lane. Lesser spotted Woodpecker..
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Green Woodpecker about 10 mtrs into the wood opposite side of hide on Lapwing Lane. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on left hand side bushes whilst going down boardwalk in fullview for 5 minutes plus. Bonus for me first time seen lesser spotted
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LS Woodpecker (27 Mar 2011)
by paul thompson

good views of lesser spotted woodpecker
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Lesser spotted woodpecker (male)seen and heard off lapwing lane showing really well...
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Lesser spotted woodpecker (26 Mar 2011)
by David Wilson

Lesser spotted woodpecker in round moss wood
Black necked grebe birchwood pool
Chiffchaff west end of birch strip
Sand martins approx 20 over long moss and wood

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Lesser spotted woodpecker very vocal but not too showy.! Black necked grebe on Birchwood Pool in middle of 2 islands. Chiffchaff singing. Sand martins over pumphouse pool hide. Dozen redwing over grasslands north.
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Short eared owl upper moss side/river Mersey marsh (23 Mar 2011)
by Neil Gallimore

Short eared owl quartering over marsh land on upper moss side
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Watched the owl from the ferry tavern pub on the other side of the Mersey . It flew from the direction of the hide that over looks the river Quartering the marsh then it chased a reed bunting across the river to our side and came quite close . Also 2 buzzards and 3 bats as it went dark .
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Black Necked Grebe (23 Mar 2011)
by John Williams

Black Necked Grebe on Birchwood Pool
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1 Black Necked Grebe on Birchwood Pool -10:30 a.m.
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Bittern (22 Mar 2011)
by G. Lloyd.

Flying over reeds at 6.35pm.
Peregrine also seen again.
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no Lesser - some goodies... (20 Mar 2011)
by Anno Brandreth/DMcGrath/IHadwin/DMcNaughton

LSW failed despite 3 attempts,although Green Woodie called in area late afternoonWillow Tit beyond raptor watchpoint and singing Bullfinch,Redpolls on floor by boardwalk,big flock of Yellowhammers and Reed Bunts(UMS) and Roosting, mobbed Tawny - excellent 'day off' birding!
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L. Grebe
G C Grebe
Cormorant
Heron
Mute Swan
G L Goose
Canada Goose
Mallard
Gadwall
Teal
Wigeon
Shoveler
Pochard
Tufted Duck
Ruddy Duck
Buzzard
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Pheasant
Grey Partridge
Coot
Moorhen
Oystercatcher
Lapwing
Curlew
B H Gull
C Gull
H Gull
L B B Gull
G B B Gull
Woodpigeon
Stock Dove
Collared Dove
Tawny Owl
Green Woodpecker
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Skylark
Meadow Pipit
Pied Wagtail
Dunnock
Robin
Redwing
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Blackbird
Chiffchaff
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Willow Tit
Coal Tit
Long Tail
Nuthatch
Treecreeper
Magpie
Jay
Carrion Crow
Jackdaw
Rook
Starling
House sparrow
Tree sparrow
Chaffinch
Lesser Redpoll
Goldfinch
Greenfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
Yellowhammer

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eastern reed bed, lagoon pool (18 Mar 2011)
by db

pair sparrowhawk, pair goldeneye, 2 pair great crested grebe
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08:33 2 x goldeneye - lagoon pool. male, female
08:59 1 x lapwing - lagoon pool, edge of. 2 show flights. flies off site east
09:09 2 x oystercatcher - lagoon pool, fly in. 09:19 fly off site east. back 09:58
09:26 2 x moorhen - E reed bed, mating
09:35 2 x sparrowhawk - eastern reed bed, flying above
09:46 6 x pochard - lagoon pool. 4 male, 2 female
09:50 5 x tufted duck - eastern reed bed. 3 male, 2 female
10:00 4 x great crested grebe - E reed bed, 1 pair, courting dance. lagoon pool, 1 pair
10:46 2 x little grebe - E reed bed. 1 + 1
11:34 2 x canada goose - E reed bed, mating
8°C, sunny, birdwatch

goldeneye fly from lagoon pool to E reed bed. 08:57 leave site toward north-west, drop down possibly on river mersey. c10+ canada geese lagoon pool. 2 sparrowhawk, flying above one heads away, one lands in tree, edge E reed bed. buzzards around. no bittern, waited til 12:15.
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chiffchaff (18 Mar 2011)
by Sue Lancaster

Chiffchaff calling early this morning in trees at the side of Moore quarry on Moore Lane
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Chiffchaff calling early this morning in trees at the side of Moore quarry (fishing pool just over swing bridge from the reserve) on Moore Lane
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GOLDENEYE & WILLOW TIT AT EASTERN REEDBED (16 Mar 2011)
by David Kennedy

Goldeneye, willow tit, gadwall, great crested grebe, dabchick, chiffchaf singing.
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Goldeneye on open water furthest from eastern reedbed hide, possible female with the male. Great crested grebes on pools either side of the hide. Oystercatchers and gadwalls too. Chiffchafs singing and reed buntings frequent. Saw a willow tit on bridleway near the steel gate. Been there 3 times early morning so far this week - no sign of the bittern sadly.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (11 Mar 2011)
by Derek Gifford

Feeding on trunk of alder off Lapwing Lane
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Male bird seen very well. 2.40 pm Pointed out by a ranger. Thanks !
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Peregrine (11 Mar 2011)
by G. Lloyd

Good sighting at Eastern end of reserve.
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Good sighting at Eastern end of reserve.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker /2 kingfishers (10 Mar 2011)
by David Bromont

lesser spot was in corner wood just past boardwalk
seen by 4 people at around 1pm
Kingfishers seen on east pool
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lesser spot was in corner wood just past boardwalk
seen by 4 people at around 1pm.showed for 15 mins. When the sun was shinning the red cap was as bright as a brake light.

Kingfishers seen on east pool, same pool as bitten earlier this week, we were looking for bitten with no luck(too windy)
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Bittern (7 Mar 2011)
by Dave Tinsley

Bittern at Eastern Reedbed also Water rail
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Bittern at Eastreedbed also Water rail
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athene noctua (6 Mar 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

little owl balloon field upper moss side also 2 grey partridge
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (6 Mar 2011)
by John Barber

Single male seen in Round Moss Wood at 9.10am
but possible pair of LSW's ( separate birds ) seen moments later in flight - could not be 100% certain though.
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Male seen on one of it's favourite dead trees at the corner of the wood by the wooden board walk - quietly tapping.
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Bittern & lesser spotted woodpecker (6 Mar 2011)
by Neil gallimore

Bittern at eastern reed beds and l s woodpecker near board walk
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Bittern showing really well 3 times on the eastern reed bed . First at 7. 45 am flew from left to right then perched in the reeds with head straight up then Dropped down Into reeds . Second time even closer , walked across narrow channel close to the hide to the island of reeds in the middle . Third time flying low back across channel . Then to cap a good morning lesser spotted woodpecker in wood near board walk also Siskin and 2 goldcrest . Great morning

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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (4 Mar 2011)
by Vivien Finn

In woods by old canal and boardwalk, adjacent to Lapwing lake.
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1st sighting 11-15am feeding in woods, then on dead tree. Visible approx 45mins. 2nd sighting 1pm on top of dead tree .
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (2 Mar 2011)
by Nick Isherwood

Male LSW seen at 11.50am this morning.
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Male LSW seen on western side of lane near the old canal and wooden walkway at 11.50am this morning.
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Bittern (1 Mar 2011)
by jon edwards

bittern seen on eastern reedbed at 11.45am.
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good close views of bittern albeit a brief encounter.bird crossed eastern reedbed right infront of hide at 11.45am
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moore birds (25 Feb 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

birchwood pool glaucous gull med gull 3 snipe
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Glaucous gull (24 Feb 2011)
by Mike Mulholland

Excellent close views of 1st winter glaucous gull on Birchwood Pool midday.
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Drake pintail reported on php
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Brimstone Butterflies (24 Feb 2011)
by John Williams

3 Brimstone butterflies around car park. 3rd winter Glaucous Gull on Birchwood pool. (12-12.30pm)
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3 Brimstone butterflies in the air simultaniously around car park. Glaucous Gull on Birdchwood Pool.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (22 Feb 2011)
by Paul Cassidy

LSW on Lapwing Lane
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Lesser spot flew east to west across Lapwing Lane near the old canal this afternoon.
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Little & Great Crested Grebes (21 Feb 2011)
by Chris

Pair of Great Crested Grebes on Lapwing Lake.
Kestrel on Hillcrest Meadow.
Pair of Little Grebe, solitary Great Crested Grebe, Pochard, Tufted Ducks and Gadwall on Birchwood Pool. Redwing and Fieldfare in Birchwood. Shoveler ducks on Pumphouse Pool and Eastern Reedbed.
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moore birds (20 Feb 2011)
by malcolm roach denn kelly

common scoter still on ship canal halfway house 61 golden plover 24 curlew 12 redshank 9 dunlin
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february Spring tide (20 Feb 2011)
by Duncan MacNaughton

time and tide wait for... March anyone?
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Oh well a really good turn out for the 'yomp' to Upper Moss side to see the high spring tide. The Mersey bore was just sweeping past as the 1st group arrived then a longish wait for the tide to come over Norton Marsh. It did eventually, but weather conditions etc didn't give the spectacle of small mammals running/swimming for their lives seen in previous "rushing" tides. There were some "hunting flocks" of gulls, crows etc to 'entertain' the late arrivals [sorry about the Guardian time], but "nowt brill" ~ that's mother nature for you. Still good numbers of yellowhammer in hedges around White House Bridge.
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Gulls at Arpley Landfill Site (19 Feb 2011)
by Paul Cassidy, Waste Recycling Group

Gulls seen during a survey on the landfill site on Saturday morning.
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6 Caspian gulls
2 Iceland gulls
2 Mediterranean gulls
5 Yellow-legged gulls
Many greater blacked-backed gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, common gulls, herring gulls and black-headed gulls.

If anybody has an interest in gulls and would like to attened an organised visit to the landfill site on Saturday 5th March please get in touch.
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Common Scoter (18 Feb 2011)
by Mike Mulholland

!st winter male common scoter on the ship canal this morning about 100m west of Randles Sluices.
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Also 243 lapwing and 23 golden plover on the river at low tide.
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moore birds (15 Feb 2011)
by malcolm roach den kelly

1pr goosanders eastern reed bed pumphouse pool 1 great crested grebe 2 oystercatchers
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goosander (15 Feb 2011)
by dennkelly/malroach

goosander on the eastern reedbed
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Gadwall (12 Feb 2011)
by Paul & Freda Griffiths

Three male Gadwall on Pump House Pool.
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Mid afternoon sighting of three male Gadwall
on The Pumphouse Pool
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moore birds (11 Feb 2011)
by malcolm roach denn kelly

med gull and iceland gull
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med gull and iceland gull pumphouse pool . halfway house 73 wigeon 51 curlew 6 greylag geese 2 redshank 1 oystercatcher 1 peregrine also green woodpecker
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Med Gull & Common Scoter (8 Feb 2011)
by Eric Deakin

Med Gull with full black cap at River bend Juv Common Scoter on Ship canal nearby
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Med Gull on the rivers edge with flock of Black Headed Gulls.....single Juvenile Common Scoter on the Ship Canal a couple of hundred yards further on towards Wigg
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Reed buntings (30 Jan 2011)
by Les Fifoot

Pond wood, mid afternoon, cold, but sunny.
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Four reed buntings were present in the area around the feeding stations. Pond was frozen over allowing grey squirrels to access feeding station in the pond. Not much else at the time, other than great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, and robins.
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Brambling (28 Jan 2011)
by Dave Tinsley

Brambling at Feedion
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Brambling at Feeding Station
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (20 Jan 2011)
by Mark Feltham

Yesterday in the railway embankment trees between Pumphouse Pool and the Eastern Reedbed
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Full details on the moorepatcher blog
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Tufted Duck (18 Jan 2011)
by Tony & Nerys

Haven't seen these before, so with book in hand... :)
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Pochards (17 Jan 2011)
by Chris

A few Pochards, lots of Teal, lots of Mallard, lots of Tufted ducks, couple of pairs of Shoveler, lots of Heron, Buzzard, Bullfinch, Chaffinch, Blue & Great Tits in afternoon. Pair of Mute Swans on the canal.
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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (16 Jan 2011)
by Ian McGeorge

Male seen feeding between Birchwood and Bittern Hide in trees by railway track.
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Male Lesser Spotted watched for about 1/2 an hour. Not much else in the area apart from about 14 siskins. The rain kept most things quiet - a grey morning.
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Goldeneye (15 Jan 2011)
by Lee L

Goldeneye/shoveler and tufted
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Tufted/Widgeon on Lapwing lake Bullfinch/blue tit and long tails on canal path. Tawny owl on full show by Birchwood pool lots of Crows very loud.
Goldeneye M/F 2. Shoveller ducks 2 plus 20 Tufted 4 Gadwall, 12 Grey Heron in a line on bank by Birch strip Hide.
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Coots (14 Jan 2011)
by Mike Mulholland

88 coots on and around Richmond Bank on 2/1/11,
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123 teal on Lagoon and the adjacent flooded area 13/1/11. Escaped Goshawk reported in the area.
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Where are all the Coots??? (12 Jan 2011)
by Mark Feltham

Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard numbers on the rise... but just ONE Coot seen...
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At Moore Birds and Birding

http://moorepatcher.blogspot.com
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Monday Magic (10 Jan 2011)
by Ken Wroe

Lesser Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, Siskins,Redwings,Kestrels,Buzzards,Teal,Shoveller,Bullfinch male and female and Stoat
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All seen between 10-30am and 1-30pm on pathway and road from carpark to Eastern Reedbed Hide
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Kestrel at lunch (9 Jan 2011)
by lee lappin

long tail,blue tits, Red wing ,mistle thrush treecreeper, kestrel Buzzards
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Long Tail blue tits great Tits on Lapwing Lane and Canal Bad plus Back birds male and femal. At end of canal by the houses 6 Red Wing in trees. 2 Buzzards over farmers field heading towards Rigbys Wood spooking gulls. Kestrel swooped down on field opposite Rigbys Wood facing North towards the picked vole or mouse up sat in tree just the other side of the gulley eating his prize on show for at least 10 mins.
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Goosanders (7 Jan 2011)
by Brian Baird

Goosanders in Mersey at east end of Reserve
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A pair of Goosanders in the Mersey just north of the railway bridges along from Eastford Rd. this afternoon plus a Common Buzzard. The Lagoon had Teal and Shoveler in double figures with Mallard and Gadwall also present.
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Dancing Stoat (7 Jan 2011)
by John Williams

Stoat dancing on Lapwing Lane, Tawny Owl in usual roost,
Siskins & L.Redpoll in Alders/Birch. Green Woodpecker east of Pumphouse Pool.
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1 Stoat dancing a manic jig in the snow on Lapwing Lane. 1 Tawny Owl in usual tree, but higher up than normal. 24 Siskins in Alders on South side of Pumphouse Pool. A single L.Redpoll feeding on Birch seeds in Birchwood. 1 Green Woodpecker near Colins Hide. 10 Teal on PH pool feeder stream. 70 Teal and 4 Shoveler on unfrozen marsh near Phoenix Hide. 09.00-12.00.
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Water rail (4 Jan 2011)
by ken birks

waters edge just outside lapwing lane hide.
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waters edge just out side lapwing lane hide.
sat and watched for at least 15 minuets,it was about ten foot away happily turning every leaf over looking for food,not bothered about us which we thought was unusual.
sods law- I left my camera at home.
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Ice and Redpolls (3 Jan 2011)
by Natasha Tyrer

Lesser Redpolls (About 15) in Alder trees at the side of the road before the Eastern Reedbed.
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Lesser Redpolls (About 15) in Alder trees at the side of the road before the Eastern Reedbed. Treecreeper in the wood outside the feeding station. Also at the feeding station quite a lot of birds with good views of the great spotted woodpecker. Not any ducks at all as the ice is so thick there. A weird bird at the edge of the wood that we could`nt properly identify (possibly a twite) so keep a eye out.
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three out of three (2 Jan 2011)
by Paul Grimmett

All 3 woodpeckers in a day.
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Walking round the reserve with my wife and friends we saw all 3 woodpeckers. The Great-spotted was observed by the feeding station. The Lesser-spotted showed really well for over 5mins in Birch Wood. Walking on to Hare's-foot meadow we were lucky to find the Green clinging to the truck of a tree. Again it showed really well.
What a great way to start the year.
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First walk of the year (2 Jan 2011)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Car park area - jackdaw, robin, magpie, goldfinch. Lapwing Lane - blue tit, blackbird, magpie. Lapwing Lake - grey heron, crow, magpie, wren, jay, blue tit and great tit. Feeding Stn - great spotted woodpecker, reed bunting, chaffinch, coal, blue, great tits, 5 moorhen, pheasant, robin, woodpigeon, nuthatch, Black headed and lesser black backed gulls overhead. Thistle field – Rooks. Birchwood pool - 2 buzzards, robin, jay. Landfill magpies x 23. Birch strip - wren, blue and great tit, blackbird. Birchwood - bullfinch pair, magpie, jackdaw, blue tit, dunnock, redwing, song thrush, long tailed tits, lesser redpoll, treecreeper, buzzard, kestrel, wren and good views of male lesser spotted woodpecker. Pump House pond - magpie, crow, robin, blackbird, goldfinch. Hare’s foot meadow - Green woodpecker. Hillcrest quarry -robin, goldfinch, cormorant overhead and jay. West canal path treecreeper, blackbird, pheasant, wren, robin, blue tit and jay


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Woodcock (28 Dec 2010)
by Mark Feltham

A balmy 3 degrees today but still no wildfowl back apart from 3 Teal onLagoon. Woodcock was off the short path to the Eastern Reedbed again.
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Full report, as always, here

http://moorepatcher.blogspot.com
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Snipe & Siskins (14 Dec 2010)
by John Williams

2 Common Snipe on Pumphouse Pool feeder stream & 20 Siskin with 2 L.Redpoll in nearby Alders (11am)
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2 Common Snipe on PP feeder stream viewable from Colins Hide, 20 Siskin plus 2 Lesser Redpoll on nearby Alders. 16 Teal on unfrozen marsh between Moss Wood and Phoenix Hide
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Gulls - Birchwood Pool (10 Dec 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Juvenile Iceland Gull and adult Mediterranean Gull this afternoon.
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Also Woodcock, Sparrowhawk, Buzzard and Pied Wagtail.
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a quiet friday morn (10 Dec 2010)
by john an tel sutcliffe

also siskins,reed buntings and a couple of jays at feeding station,tawny owl in roost and buzzards over middle moss wood
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A Chilly Afternoon (8 Dec 2010)
by sid ashton

Found a Yellow legged Gull on the ice on Birchwood and a Tawny in the old roost in Middle Moss wood on the very cold fall-on-yer-bum afternoon !!
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Set out to find the "new" Tawny Owl in Middle Moss wood. On the way slipped on the steps down to Birchwood pool - had a sit in the hide and luckily I was put onto a Yellow-legged Gull by Bryan from Urmston, a life time first for me thanks Bryan. Luckily we found the Tawny - after a few minutes searching it popped its head up in the same tree as was used by the bird that was killed last year.
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lymnocryptes minimus (5 Dec 2010)
by malcolm roach / den kelly

jack snipe redshank feeder stream collins hide
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Recent sightings (4 Dec 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

3/12 possible Mealy Redpoll with the flock frequenting the Alders on the edge of PHP.Only a brief view and couldn't check for the diagnostic features but the bird was obviously greyer in tone. than the accompanying lessers,
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2/12 good views of Jack Snipe feeding in the inlet stream on PHP with 4 Common Snipe, Woodcock flushed near the boardwalk on the 1st.
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Beginner’s Bird walk (4 Dec 2010)
by Joy Mitchell-Lisle

7 people attended on a dull and damp morning.

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Car park – blackbird, nuthatch, blue and great tit, crow, redwing and fieldfare.
Hawthorn wood – wren, goldfinch and good views of a goldcrest. Birch strip – jay and wren. Birchwood Pool (frozen) – 5 grey herons, a Canada goose, crows, black headed and herring gulls, jackdaw, starlings, long tailed tit, mistle thrush, coot, moorhen, shoveler.
Birchwood – song thrush, long tailed, great and blue tit, robin, male bullfinch, treecreeper, buzzard.
Pump house pond (frozen except for stream below Colin’s hide) – crows, coat and long tailed tit.
Road near Pump house pond – male peregrine falcon, bullfinch and three teal overhead.
Eastern Canal path – blackbird, siskin, redpoll, goldfinch, starling, blue tit, wren, song thrush.
Eastern reed bed (frozen) – robin and grey heron
Road from Eastern reed bed – siskin, redpoll, sparrowhawk, jay, magpie, male kestrel.
Middle Moss wood - Tawny owl at roost and rook
Feeding station – nuthatch, long tailed, blue, great and coal tits, reed buntings, chaffinch.

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minus 11. (3 Dec 2010)
by David Wilson

3 snipe on pumphouse feeder stream. flock of goldfinch,siskin and redpoll nr colins hide. 2 pairs of bullfinch nr reedbed.female sparrowhawk fedding station.redwing and s.thrush on dogfield.close views of treecreeper in birchwood. 35 species seen.
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Temperature was minus 11 when i arrived this morning.! all lakes frozen over apart from birchwood pool where gulls huddled together in small patch of water.
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Green Woodpecker. (3 Dec 2010)
by Vivien Finn

Green Woodpecker.

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Heading for Colin's hide along the road heard Green Woodpecker give a brief call. It flew into tall trees on embankment. 2 Snipe feeding in the stream at Colin's Hide. No sign of Jack Snipe though.
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Dunlin (1 Dec 2010)
by John Williams

1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank & 1 Common Snipe on Pumphouse Pool feeder stream.
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1 Dunlin together with a Redshank and a Common Snipe feeding in stream NE corner of Pumphouse Pool. The main pool frozen solid and lifeless( 10.15am). 3 Reed Buntings, 3 cock Pheasants and large numbers of Chaffinch at feeding station, but no sign of Brambling.
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Goldcrest (1 Dec 2010)
by wayne allen

Goldcrest, redpoll, male bullfinch, snipe, female kestrel,
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Initially went in search for the bittern, but no joy!! a dog fox was digging in the snow, he wasnt in the best of condition no tail fur, but he looked happy enough, walking back down the track to the old canal path lots of movement, robins,thrush,blackbirds,wrens,the birds named above, and the highlight was a stoat that ran out in front of me !! made my day, mnr never disappoints
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Jack Snipe (1 Dec 2010)
by Ian Coote

Jack Snipe along with 3 Common Snipe and a Redshank seen from hide at east end of Pumphouse Pool (feeding in small running stream)
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Jack Snipe along with 3 Common Snipe and a Redshank seen from hide at east end of Pumphouse Pool (feeding in small running stream)
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Woodpeckers, snipe (29 Nov 2010)
by Dave Watson

2 gt spotted wood peckers at the feeding station, 1 jack snipe, 3 common snipe in front of colins hide, green woodpecker behind the hide and female sparrow hawk in eastern reed bed

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2 gt spotted wood peckers at the feeding station, 1 jack snipe, 3 common snipe in front of colins hide, green woodpecker behind the hide and female sparrow hawk in eastern reed bed

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Redshank and Jack Snipe (29 Nov 2010)
by Brian Baird

Redshank, Jack and Common Snipe
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3 Redshank,1 Jack Snipe,1 Common Snipe with Pied Wagtail feeding in stream at Colins Hide this afternoon
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strix aluco (28 Nov 2010)
by malcolm roach / den kelly

tawny owl back in usual roost little owl big hand ranch
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27/11/10 (first trip back for 2 years- will go again soon!) (27 Nov 2010)
by Ian and Janet Lazarus

Tawny Owl, Kingfisher, Bullfinch, Snipe and more...

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Our highlights included:
Sparrowhawk and Buzzard (Moss Wood from Eastern Reedbed hide)
Male Bullfinch (track by Eastern reedbed)
Lots of Shoveler and coots, 13+ Herons, 3 Snipe, Tufted duck, teal (Birchwood pool)
Tawny Owl roosting (thanks to the friendly man who went back with us to point it out!) (Middle Moss Wood)
Kingfisher (Lapwing Lake).

Also saw reed buntings, tits (long tailed, blue, great, coal), wren, chaffinches, blackbirds, robin, great spotted woodpecker, jays, pied wagtails, pheasant and more.

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Whooper Swans (21 Nov 2010)
by Alan Hitchmough

x7 Whooper Swan and 150 Pink Footed Goose heading east.
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Green Woodpecker, 30 Lesser Redpoll and Redshank on PHP.
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Goosander (20 Nov 2010)
by Nick Hibbert

Male Goosander at Eastern Reedbed, 11.40 am, 20th November
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Male goosander at Eastern Reedbed, 11.40 am, along with kingfisher, redshank and a very photogenic common buzzard. Elsewhere, plenty of redwing and fieldfare around the reserve; lesser redpolls, mistle thrush and a male bullfinch in the Birchwood; and a grey wagtail at the Feeding Station.
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Yellow legged Herring Gull (19 Nov 2010)
by John Williams

Yellow legged Gull (Adult) on Birchwood pool. 10:15a.m
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1 Yellow legged Herring Gull (Adult) on Birchwood Pool also 6 Lesser Redpoll with Goldfinches on birch/alders near car park. 1 Peregrine on pylon near Eastern Reedbed
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dendrocopos minor (14 Nov 2010)
by malcolm roach den kelly

lesser spotted woodpecker
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birch wood lesser spotted woodpecker blackcap redpoll 3 goldcrest 3 song thrush mistle thursh bullfinch great blue long tail tits redshank on pumphouse pool goldeneye (female) lapwing lake feeding station great spot woodpecker nuthatch coal tit other birds seen include linnet siskin goldfinch chiffchaff wren grey wagtail and many more
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blue tits great tits great spotted woodpecker (14 Nov 2010)
by lynn flavell

blue tits great tits great spotted woodpecker
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blue tits great tits great spotted woodpecker fieldfare long tail tits dunnock chaffinch marsh tit kestrel sparrowhawk goldfinches herons
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9/11/2010 (9 Nov 2010)
by Jason Mossman

Kingfisher over the Eastern reedbed, a Peregrine perched on the rail bridge over the ship canal, a Green Woodpecker near the Eastern reedbed and a female Goldeneye on Lapwing Pool were the highlights of an otherwise quiet day.
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greenfinch (7 Nov 2010)
by L Lappin

Greenfinches and chaffinch at feeding stations on forestry area,kestrel overhead,goldfinch yellowhamer,
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Plenty of long tail on old canal path at the bottom of pump house lane. Walking onto forestry commision area Kestrel overhead. Lapwings on farmers field and curlew by house being rebuilt.By and on feeding stations greenfinches, chaffinch and blue tit goldfinches and ayellowhamer. Thought I seen a lesse r spotted at bottom of pump house lane but not positive
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Redpoll, siskin and thrushes (7 Nov 2010)
by Carol & Joy Mitchell-Lisle

Mistle & song thrush, blackbird, fieldfare and redwing
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Car park and field – wren, crow, redwing, fieldfare
Lapwing Lake – cormorant, moorhen, 104+ coots, wigeon, gadwall, mallard, mute swans, little grebe
Middle moss wood – long tailed tit and blue tits
Feeding station - 2 coal tits, 2 male and 1 female GSW, jay, chaffinch in abundance, 2 nuthatch, 2 cock pheasants, reed bunting, robin.
Birchwood – long tailed tits, wren, blue and great tits, treecreeper, jay, buzzard, song and mistle thrush, male bullfinch, jackdaw, male kestrel, magpie.
Birchwood pool – gadwall, tufted duck, little grebe, mallard, moorhen, coot, crow, teal, Canada goose, common, herring, black headed and great black backed gull, wren, 4 grey heron, shoveler, grey wagtail, blackbird, wood pigeon, magpie
Pump House pond – cormorant, shoveler, coot, teal, moorhen, grey heron, gadwall, mallard, grey wagtail, jay, long tailed and blue tit flock.
Hay dump field – redshank feeding in flooded field, siskin, redpoll, coal tit, kestrel and goldfinch.
Upper moss side – yellowhammer, mistle thrush, chaffinch, blue, long tailed and great tit, greenfinch, wren, redwing, fieldfare, male kestrel, tree sparrows, cock pheasant, grey heron, jay.
Hillcrest quarry – repoll, long tailed tit, greenfinch.

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A heron feeding on a frog and assorted birds on a rainy afternoon. (6 Nov 2010)
by daniel travis

@ birch strip hide herons,teals,goldeneye and buzzard flew over. @ pump house hide cormorants,heron,long tailed tits. @ dog field buzzard sat on post.
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Buzzard flew over ,10 herons,6 teals, tufted duck,think i spotted a goldeneye @birch strip hide.
2 cormorants, heron, long tailed tits @ pump house hide.
Buzzard sat on post @ dog field.
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Hooded Crow (6 Nov 2010)
by Henry Cook

Hooded Crow present briefly at 1.30pm on Arpley Tip + 2 Yellow-legged Gulls
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Hooded Crow present briefly at 1.30pm on Arpley Tip + 2 Yellow-legged Gulls
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Great Spotted Woodpecker (6 Nov 2010)
by HD

Great Spotted Woodpecker, sighted from hide. Also Jay feeding from table and numerous coal tits
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Great Spotted Woodpecker, sighted from hide. Also Jay feeding from table and numerous coal tits
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Brambling and a hat trick. (5 Nov 2010)
by Den kelly/Mal roach

Female brambling at feeding station. Woodpeckers included, great spotted (male) feeding station, green (female) pump house meadow and lesser spotted (male) in birch wood tagging along with long tailed tit flock which also included goldcrest, huge flocks of redwing and fieldfare also on the reserve.
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Swans (31 Oct 2010)
by malcolm roach den kelly

6 whooper swans south over birch wood
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also green woodpecker green sandpiper nuthatch tree creeper
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Water pipit (29 Oct 2010)
by David Wilson

Seen feeding on grass slope in front of eastern reedbed hide.
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water pipit
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Bittern (29 Oct 2010)
by Phil Cragg

Seen briefly in East reed beds
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Bittern seen in brief flight on the far side of the reed beds, directly in front of hide to the right side of the patch of cut reeds and behind it. Time approx 14.00.
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Firecrest (28 Oct 2010)
by Mark Feltham

Along Machester Ship Canal path from Bob's Bridge
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Details at http://moorepatcher.blogspot.com 'The morning after the night before...'
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1Ad winter Med Gull (27 Oct 2010)
by ALAN WRAITHMELL

1Ad Med Gull on Ship canal this am,also good No's of Redwing in the Berry bushes,Siskin and Redpoll over UMS
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Green Sandpiper (25 Oct 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Seen early afternoon, initially by the stream running into Millbrook Pool and then on the Eastern Reedbed.
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Also Kingfisher and female Goldeneye on Birchwood Pool.
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Fieldfare and Redwing (24 Oct 2010)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Lovely walk in the sun
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Car park area - robin, rook, greenfinch and blue tit. Lapwing Lake - moorhen, coot, Canada geese, mute swans, mallards, tufted ducks, wigeon, gadwall and little grebe. Feeding station magpie, 4 pheasants, crow, sparrowhawk, woodpigeon, coal, great and blue tits, chaffinch. Scrub strip- wren, a small flock of long tailed tits, jackdaws and two jays Birchwood Pool – coot, moorhen, teal, black headed, herring, great black backed and a common gull. 8 grey herons, a Canada goose, buzzard overhead, drake pochard, mallards, tufted ducks, crows and a dunnock. Pump house pool - 8 cormorants sunning themselves, teal, shoveler, mallards, tufted duck and coot. On the lane to ERB female blackbird and more jays overhead carrying acorns. Eastern Reed beds - buzzard sitting in a nearby tree. Wigeon, moorhens, coots, tufted ducks and black headed gulls. A robin and two grey wagtails, a grey heron. The lagoon - coot, mallards, tufted ducks and a family of mute swans. Canal path - 2 fieldfares, a kettle of 5 buzzards overhead, small flock of redwing, blue and great tits, a chaffinch with a male redpoll


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Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Wren (24 Oct 2010)
by Bill Griffiths

All seen at feeder station hide.
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1430 hrs. Nuthatch & Great Spotted both on left side in front of hide, first on tree trunk & then on feeder. Wren seen at edge of pool on right side & then in bushes.
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common sandpiper (23 Oct 2010)
by dan Eustace

feeding in stream near blue portable pump left side of hide
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Small Mammal Event (16 Oct 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

13 wood mice
5 bank voles
1 field vole
1 common shrew
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cool sunny day (12 Oct 2010)
by alan wraithmell

a nice start to the morning with a sighting of a Greenwoodpecker sat on top of a telegraph pole at the south west end of the forbidden valley (only jokeing guys) nice job well done.
a couple of hours down at halfway house produced some goodies in the form of a Curlew Sandpiper feeding with a small flock of Dunlin,with106 Golden Plover and 5 Redshank- flyovers included 3
Common Redpoll 5Skylark,2Swallow,1 GreyWagtail,and 5 Common Buzzard. in the bushes along the ship canal were numerous numbers of Longtailed Tits Blackbirds ,some of which were of continental origin with thier bright orange bills being a feature.Dragonflies seen today included 5 Migrant Hawkers and 3 Common Darter.
Nice views of a Comma Butterfly sunning its self along the trail by Lapwing Lake.
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Cetti's Warbler (8 Oct 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Heard singing and seen briefly early morning in the western edge of Owens Wood. Probably headed east so it may well be on the reserve.
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Also 20+ Golden Plover and 2 Dunlin on the Mersey mudflats.
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Bats (8 Oct 2010)
by Chris Gaughan

Common & Sopranp Pips & Daubentons Bats
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Mainly around the meadow next to Birchwood Pool, seen commuting from and feeding in Middle Moss Wood, then heading east. Numerous Common Pips & 1 Daubentons over Lapwing Lake
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Great skua (3 Oct 2010)
by den kelly

still on the mud flats sun.11.30am hopefully a long stayer,also greensandpiper and 3 grey wagtails php, teal numbers slowly building with good numbers of shoveler.
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Pink footed goose (3 Oct 2010)
by Lesley Rawlinson

Pink footed goose on birchwood pool this afternoon
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Lovely late afternoon stroll on the reserve after the rain, rewarded by seeing one pink foot among the Canadas and greylags on Birchwood pool
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Here comes Autumn (2 Oct 2010)
by Natasha Tyrer

Green woodpecker in field near car park!
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The Green woodpecker that was flying across the field near the car park was the highlight of the day!
Also lots of jay burying their acorns was something to watch near the pump house pool.
A few buzzards were around.
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Great Skua (2 Oct 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Bonxie on the mudflats west of Norton Marsh from mid morning until mid afternoon. Mainly finishing off a mallard carcass and roosting.
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Also in the area - 1 Ruff, 30 Golden Plover, 1 ecipse drake Pintail and 2 Ravens.
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picus viridis (26 Sep 2010)
by malcolm roach den kelly

1pr green woodpeckers great spotted woodpecker 2no goldcrest dozens of jays and much more
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Jay day (25 Sep 2010)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Jays with acorns everywhere on the reserve
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Car Park – Jay x2, magpies, male kestrel, jackdaws, robin. Birchwood Pool – lesser black backed, black headed and herring gulls, 14 grey herons, moorhen, coots, tufted duck, shoveler, crows, Canada geese, greylag goose, wood pigeon, mallard, cormorant x 3, pair gadwall, pair little grebe and 1 adult feeding 3 young, grey wagtail, black bird, robin, long tailed tit flock and blue tits. Pump house pool – mallard, cormorant, shoveler, coot, 2 pied wagtail, magpies, moorhen, black headed and herring gulls, teal, Jays, gadwall, Canada geese, 2 buzzards overhead, grey heron, mute swan. Haresfoot meadow – female sparrowhawk, goldfinch and blackbird. Canal – robin, blackbird, pair of bullfinch, mistle thrush, Jay, willow, great, long tailed and blue tits, wren and more Jay. Eastern Reed bed – gadwall, shoveler, coot, 15x Wigeon, more Jay, little grebe, moorhen. Red fox on lane back to Birchwood Pool. Feeding stn quiet except for blue and great tits. Lapwing Lake – mallards, gadwall, coot, moorhen, pair mute swans and 6 cygnets, little grebe, tufted duck and a kingfisher
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Kingfisher. (23 Sep 2010)
by Vivien Finn

Kingfisher and Gadwall.
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Lapwing lake 4pm. Kingfisher fishing from the small tree in the lake. Great view as it flew across the lake. Also Gadwall in super plumage.
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Fungal Foray species list (19 Sep 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

Full list of species found on Sunday's foray - 64 in all.
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From Fungalpunk Dave:
Another foray and the third one in rainy conditions so far (100% strike rate to the rain so far - bugger). A group total of 15 hung on in with a couple of early leavers and a reward of 64 species coming our way. The list comprised of:- Russula ochroleuca; Mycena pura; Mycena galopus; Scleroderma verrucosum; Pluteus cervinus; Scleroderma citrinum; Lycoperdon perlatum; Daldinia fissa; Hygrocybe psittacina; Trametes versicolor; Auricularia auricula-judae; Rickenella fibula; Psathyrella candolleana; Amanita muscaria; Paxillus involutus; Clavulina cinerea; Datronia mollis; Xylaria hypoxylon; Laccaria laccata; Mycena galericulata; Nectria cinnabarina; Peniophore quercina; Tremella mesenterica; Daedaleopsis confragosa; Exidea nucleata; Dacrymyces stillatus; Ascocoryne sarcoides; Calocera cornea; Coprinellus disseminatus; Piptoporus betulinus; Hypoxylon multiforme; Clitocybe odora; Rutstroemia firma; Stereum hirsutum; Trametes gibbosa; Scutellinia scutellata; Collybia peronata; Ganoderma australe; Phallus impudicus; Collybia butyracea; Marasmius rotula; Marasmius ramealis; Grifola frondosa; Hypholoma fasciculare; Calvatia gigantea; Lepista flaccida; Coprinus micaceus; Lycoperdon pyriforme; Polyporus leptocephalus; Xylaria longipes; Rhopographus filicinus; Rhytisma acerinum; Cordyceps militaris; Coprinus comatus; Handkea excipuliformis; Macrolepiota procera; Lepiota cristata; Chlorophyllum rhacodes; Hygrocybe nigrescens; Clitopilus prunulus; Stereum rameale; Hygrocybe ovina and using Jack Marriots key added later were Crepidotus cesatii and Crepidotus lundelli. The cheilocystidia of the latter species swung the decision with a definite clavate appearance as opposed to slightly pointed or tapering of the confusion species Crepidotus versutus.

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Bat and Moth Night (17 Sep 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

A few species around despite the cold conditions.
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Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)
Soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)

Moths incuded Black rustic and Setaceous hebrew character - full list soon.
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Wednesday, 15th September morning. (15 Sep 2010)
by Philip Greenwood

3 Common Sandpipers and 1 Green Sandpiper.
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3 Common and 1 Green sandpiper. 10+ House Martins and 2 Sand Martins. 20+ Grey Herons.
1 Gt. Crested Grebe. Adult Little Grebes still feeding young. Plenty of Teal, Shoveler, Tufted and Gadwall.
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Mammal Trapping Event (12 Sep 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

Results from the mammal event
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6 wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus)
1 bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus)
1 common shrew (Sorex araneus)

21 people (Homo sapiens) attended.

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Tree Pipit (4 Sep 2010)
by Alan Hitchmough

Sightings during ringing session
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Overhead - Tree Pipit, Yellow Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 100 Swallows, 10 House Martin and 4 Sand Martin all heading south.
Fall of at least 15 Goldcrest on Pumphouse pool paddock, along with Whitethroat and several Chiffchaff . Also 2 Green Woodpecker in the mist net. Single Wigeon on PHP.
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Marsh harrier (4 Sep 2010)
by Gary Rimmer

Female marsh harrier above path behind feeding station.
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Female marsh harrier above path behind feeding station.
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Common Redstart (3 Sep 2010)
by Mark Feltham

Redstart pick of woodland bunch at Half Way House, Dunlin, R.Plover there too. Elsewhere Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper
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Moore stuff on the move...

at

http://moorepatcher.blogspot.com
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Woodpeckers (30 Aug 2010)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Green and great spotted woodpeckers
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Lagoon - Buzzard x 2, sparrowhawk, grey heron, green and great spotted woodpeckers, coal tit, chiffchaff heard, bullfinch, little grebe, shoveler, gadwall, grey heron, goldfinch, jackdaw, crow, kestrel, long tailed tit, blackbird and reed warbler.
Pump house pool – moorhen, pied wagtail x 11, little grebe, black headed, herring and lesser black backed gulls, coot, tufted duck,, mallard, shoveler, teal, magpie, crow, kingfisher, mute swans, wood pigeon, long tailed tits, 6 swallows overhead and a wren heard.

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Garganey (26 Aug 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Female Garganey still on php early this morning.
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Also 2 Green Sandpipers and I Common Snipe
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Herons (26 Aug 2010)
by Peter Haslam

We have just visited Moore Nature Reserve. Whilst there at the middle lake we saw 10 (TEN!) grey herons plus a fox asleep on the northern shore. We've never seen so many herons at one time before.
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Quick visit-worthwhile (25 Aug 2010)
by warwick lowe

Mallard,Little Grebe,Heron,Green Sandpiper(2)Pied Wagtail(2)Little Egret,
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Mallard-Gulls-Canada Geese-Little Grebe-Herons-Mute Swans-Green Sandpipers-Pied Wagtails-Little Egret
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Little egret (23 Aug 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

Little egret on Lapwing Lake
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Single bird in silver birch tree at western end of Lapwing Lake - the same tree the cormorants use at night.
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A Kingfisher fishing (23 Aug 2010)
by Kevin Worthington

Great lengthy view of Kingfisher from high hide overlooking lapwing lake (only second time ive seen one)
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Spotted around 5.30pm sheltering in trees during heavy rain on the small island directly in front of the hide. Clear view of swooping for food from lake and back to tree three times before flying at low level. Great lighting for a good view if only I had a camera lens the size of a cooling tower.
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green day (21 Aug 2010)
by steven john o'connell

green woodpecker and green sandpiper today at php/colins meadow
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green woodpecker and green sandpiper today at php/colins meadow
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Dawn stint (21 Aug 2010)
by David Wilson

Little owl(big hand ranch)
pair green sandpipers(PHP)
Kingfisher(over Phoenix hide)
Green woodpecker( nr colins hide)
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Also aftanoon of prev. day.
Peregrine on railway bridge
kestrel+buzzard over reedbeds
fox nr lagoon
common darter+southern hawker
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Female Garganey on php (20 Aug 2010)
by Mike Mulholland

Sill there this morning with 21 Teal
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Female Garganey -php
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moore birds (20 Aug 2010)
by malcolm roach / denn kelly

pumphouse pool garganey green sandpiper green woodpecker lapwing lake little egret bh ranch 2 little owls buzzard kestrel
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Mo(o)re Sandpipers (19 Aug 2010)
by Mark Feltham

4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Shoveler, 1 Garganey - Pumphouse Pool
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4 Green Sandpiper, 4 Shoveler, 1 Garganey - Pumphouse Pool
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Colins Meadow (19 Aug 2010)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Female sparrowhawk, buzzard, herring gulls and 25 Canada geese overhead. Long tailed tits, coal tit and robin in the meadow.
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Pumphouse Pool (18 Aug 2010)
by Mark Feltham

Garganey, Green Sandpiper, Green Woodpecker
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female Garaganey feeding with Teal from east hide. Green Sandpiper in 'pool' left by receding water levels and Green Woodpecker calling from meadow area. 2 Shoveler back too. On ERB Kingfisher and on Lapwing Lake 2 L.Egrets and 15 Cormorants in trees. Little Owl on pill boxes at Big Hand Ranch as getting dark...
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green woodpecker (15 Aug 2010)
by dennkelly/malroach

green woodpecker seen to the left handside of colins hide , pumphouse pool
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green woodpecker seen to the left handside of colins hide , pumphouse pool
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Nuthatch (15 Aug 2010)
by Kevin Worthington

7pm not far from feeding station
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heard and then spotted half way up tree from the footpath between the two ponds on route to feeding station watched it as it cracked stuff with its beak. never seen one before.
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Black tailed godwit (12 Aug 2010)
by Duncan MacNaughton

just before the high tide this afternoon
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Black tailed godwit in front of the Norton Hide, UMS, just before this afternoons high [spring] tide ~ typically went into hiding before a father and daughter made a brief visit. Tide not high enough to go over hide [tonights should at 4.2m].
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owls (11 Aug 2010)
by neil gallimore

3 little owls and 2 barn owls
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On the farm land to the left of the road as you approach the reserve at around 9pm. Also few bats
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Common Sandpiper (10 Aug 2010)
by John Williams

2 Common Sandpipers by ship canal
2 Little Egrets on Mersey sandbank
1 Sand Martin mobbing a Buzzard at Halfway House
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2 Common Sandpipers on ship canal bank near Stobart warehouse. 2 Little Egrets on Mersey mudflats and 1 Sand Martin mobbing a Buzzard at Halfway House
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little egrets (8 Aug 2010)
by david strath

more little egrets
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five little egrets on trees by lapwing lane lake
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Litte egrets (8 Aug 2010)
by Helen Patrick

3 Egrets in tree and later on dead tree in Lapwing Lake. First time I have seen them at Moore.
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first spotted at about 1pm in trees on first path away from Lapwing lake. When walked to other site of lake at about 3pm saw 2 , one on top of dead tree. First time I have seem them here. Very exciting to see they are here now.
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Green woodpecker (31 Jul 2010)
by Paul Cassidy

Spotted during the bird ringing event.
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Single bird seen on Colin's Meadow, SW of Pump House Pool. Reported by Keiran when checking the ringing nets.
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Bird ringing demonstration (31 Jul 2010)
by Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

Rings placed on 14 species
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We met the bird ringers Alan and Kieran on Colin's Meadow. Willow, reed and sedge warblers, robins, chiffchaff, whitethroat, wren, blackcap, goldfinch, great spotted woodpecker, long tailed, blue and coal tits and a bullfinch were ringed. Very interesting and enjoyable few hours. Thanks. Overhead we saw swifts, sand martins, two buzzards and jackdaw. Later on Birchwood Pool - 2 little grebe families with six young between them. Lesser black backed, herring and black headed gulls, five grey herons, pied wag x 3 adults with 7 young. Tufted duck, mallards, moorhen, coots, mute swans, canada geese, great crested grebe and crows. Lapwing Lake more coot, swans, 2 great crested grebe, wood pigeon, mallards, buzzard and just as we were leaving a little egret
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little egret (25 Jul 2010)
by p.mellor

on island on lapwing lake
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one only spotted
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43 species seen. (8 Jul 2010)
by neale rowley

Feeding Station.Male Great Spotted Woodpecker with two young.Nuthatch,Song Thrush.

Eastern Reed Bed - Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff,A pair of Mute Swans with 9 young.

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Feeding Station.Male Great Spotted Woodpecker with two young.Nuthatch,Song Thrush.

Eastern Reed Bed - Green Sandpiper, Chiffchaff,A pair of Mute Swans with 9 young.

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1 Hobby over lorry depot side of Birchwood Pool. (18 Jun 2010)
by P Greenwood

1 Hobby over lorry depot side of Birchwood Pool.

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1 Hobby seen over lorry depot side of Birchwood Pool at approx1150, 11th June.
Also, a distant Cuckoo. 1 male Shoveler, 12+ Sand Martins and a female Kestrel amongst plenty of other stuff. 53 species in total.

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Raven chased by crow. (11 Jun 2010)
by

Raven chased by crow high over track leading to lagoon and eastern reedbed from Warrington side.Swans on lagoon with 9 cygnets - most sucessful brood I've ever seen.

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Raven chased by crow.

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25th May - Cuckoo Day (25th May 2010)
Hawthorn wood - mistle thrush, greenfinch, robin, kestrel, magpie, chaffinch, goldfinch. Birchwood pool - 3 great crested grebe, lesser black backed and black headed gulls, gadwall, coot, little grebe, sand martins, tufted ducks, crows, Canada geese, mute swans, pair shelduck and nesting oystercatchers at water's edge grey wagtail, robin, wren and blue tit. Jackdaw, and woodpigeon overhead. Near boardwalk wren and chiffchaff. Feeding Stn Jay, nuthatch, mallard, moorhen, male greater spotted woodpecker, long tailed and great tits. Lapwing Lake 2 great crested grebe with one chick, tufted ducks, mallards, gadwall, coot and greylag goose. Hillcrest quarry cuckoo calling, 2 collared doves, dunnock, willow warbler, chiffchaff, whitethroat, swallow, grey heron, buzzard and cormorant overhead, song thrush, fledgling magpie and peacock butterfly. Reed warbler on lapwing lake viewed from Hillcrest.
By Joy & Carol Mitchell-Lisle

20th May - 2 Dunlin, 1 Sanderling at HWH (21st May 2010)
See new blog post - Misty May Morning... for details
By Mark Feltham

20th May - Soprano Pipistrelle Bats (20th May 2010)
4 Soprano pipistrelle bats feeding on the edge of Lapwing lake by hide on lapwing lane, Thurs PM.
By Denny Foster

20th May - Moore Blog (20th May 2010)
If you visit Moore for the birds you might be interested in this blog. Nothing too serious, just stuff about birds and birding at Moore really... might give you a flavour of what's about if you don't visit often.

http://moorepatcher.blogspot.com

By Mark Feltham

20th May - 1 Knot, 2 Curlew at Halfway House first thing (20th May 2010)
1 Knot, 2 Curlew at Halfway House first thing
By Mark Feltham

15th May - Black Fox (15th May 2010)
Black fox seen at bird feeding station at 10am Sat. Also seen by another chap next to us. Anyone heard of this before? Great spotted woodpecker showing on dead tree at eastern reedbed, shelduck on lagoon.
By Tom Holden

13th May - Little Egret (13th May 2010)

Lagoon area top end near eastern reedbed hide. Feeding in shallows. Still there when leaving 16.15pm

By Daniel Eustace

13th May - Black Necked Grebe + Canada Chick Death (13th May 2010)
BLACK NECKED GREBE STILL ON BIRCH POOL AROUND TEA TIME. AT THE SAME TIME AN IMMATURE GULL SNATCHED A CANADA GOOSE CHICK AND FLEW OFF PURSUED BY MORE GULLS. TOO FAST FOR PARENTS TO HELP IT. I FEAR FOR THE COOT CHICKS ON THE ISLAND TOO.
By DAVID KENNEDY


NEWS

 
Please Help The Toads
 
 
Is anyone available to help us to save the toads? 
 
Every year thousands of toads cross Lapwing Lane to get to the lake to breed.  In order to prevent them getting squashed by cars we pick them up and move them to the lakeside.  If you interested in helping us during the evenings of February and March please contact the wardens either via the website or by phone on 01925 444689.
 
 

Moore Nature Reserve