Common Sense

After shivering under my duvet for a good half an hour, I finally managed to summon the mental strength to get up, dressed and make it down to Moore NR for nine thirty.

I began my 2010 year list assault at Upper Moss Side and quickly got into my stride bagging Tree Sparrow and surprisingly Willow Tit - alongside some of the commoner species - before setting up camp at Norton Marsh. No sign of any Yellowhammers this morning though – there were fifteen plus over-wintering here last year.

On the Mersey there was very little apart from legions of gulls roosting on the sandbank, but I did manage to add Kestrel, Buzzard, Shelduck, Redshank, and a small herd of flyover Curlew to the list as the tide came up the river.

Apart from a pair of Reed Buntings, there was very little evidence of any passerines feeding on the marsh. No Stonechat, Linnet, Skylark, Meadow Pipit or even any Starling – I assume the hard frost has forced most ground feeders closer to the milder coastal areas.

After thirty bone-chilling minutes I decided to head over to Birchwood Pool cutting through the woods, where I intercepted a small flock of Lesser Redpoll and Siskin on the alders near the feeders.

The Tawny Owl was next on the hit list, but I was left staring at a blank space – I guess since they are meant to be so wise it had decided to mover to warmer climes! Nevertheless, Nuthatch and Coal Tit were ticked as I searched to see if the owl had moved to a nearby tree.

Birchwood Pool was nearly completely frozen over when I arrived – not encouraging news for my list that was already showing some glaring omissions. A female Pochard and a Grey Wagtail was the best I could manage, until one last scan of the water’s edge revealed a Common Sandpiper feeding on the water’s edge?

Surely some mistake I thought – must be a Green, so I cleaned my lens and shouted back a couple of chaps who had just left the hide. After the two blokes and I had fruitlessly trying to relocate it for ten minutes, I eventually found it feeding in a corner and in a few ticks it flew onto the small island giving cracking views.

Quite an odd record for Moore I would have thought – especially at this time of the year when any wintering Common Sandpipers would surely favour unfrozen rivers?

With the sun sinking down there was just time to visit the Bittern Enclosure - a dangerous task it was too with the metalled track resembling the cresta run! It was worth the trip though, with superb views of one of THREE Bitterns seen during the day.

And it didn’t stop there with cracking views of a hunting Barn Owl, plus a flyover Peregrine making it just about worth leaving the warm confines of my comfortable bed this morning!

Moore NR/Upper Moss Side 01.01.10

Bittern 1
Pochard 1
Shoveler 20+
Peregrine 1
Barn Owl 1
Common Sandpiper 1
Grey Wagtail 2
Willow Tit 1
Tree Sparrow 10+
Redwing 40+
Lesser Redpoll/Siskin flock 30+
Bullfinch c10

Total Species: 64

Reconnaissance

With its range of habitats and relative ease in which tricky birds such as Willow Tit, Kingfisher, Tawny Owl, Tree Sparrow, Yellowhammer and Bittern can be found, I reckon Moore Nature Reserve makes for the perfect destination to kick-start my year-list.

Hangover permitting, I reckon a full day could produce around eighty five species, but like a host of recent Australian batsmen the magic 100 looks just out of reach – unlike our boys!

This year looks especially promising as the high tide predicted for late morning should hopefully produce a smattering of commoner coastal waders from the hide overlooking the River Mersey – and with a little luck this may edge me closer to the nervous nineties.

And being ludicrously optimistic, throw in a couple of white-winged gulls, three woodpeckers, some more owls and something from totally leftfield like a Spoonbill, the century could just be attainable.

In the hope of giving myself a sporting chance I had a good walk around the Upper Moss Side and River Mersey section of the site this morning with the hope of locating a few tricky species.

Little Owl must surely inhabit one of the many old brick barns, but the grey and pallid sky before lunch must have discouraged them from peering outside. On an up note, a couple of House Sparrows were near one of the farms – birds that are perhaps more difficult to find than Tree Sparrows here of which there was a healthy flock of 25 or so today.

Walking further on I decided to check-out the River Mersey at low tide with the purpose of sussing the wader situation. Disappointingly, there was no evidence of any Curlew, Oystercatcher, Dunlin, Golden Plover or indeed much else apart from roosting gulls and a handful of Canadas – things are going to have to improve somewhat by Friday!

Upper Moss Side 29.12.09

Tree Sparrow c25
Bullfinch 1
Kestrel 1

Until later.

Fur Scarf Anybody?

With England batting like lemons I decided to head to Moore NR for a poke around Birchwood Pool and the eastern reedbed.

The Glaucous Gull was playing easy to get, prancing around the small island in front of the main hide. Looks like a first winter bird to me, although not being well-versed in the scary and cultish activity of gull watching, my knowledge is somewhat rudimentary.

Within a couple of minutes a mangy Fox rocked-up and virtually cleared the pool save a handful of Little Grebes and a few wildfowl, so I decided to walk over to the Bittern enclosure that is the eastern reedbed.

Normally a home banker, there have been scant – if any – good sightings of this elusive little critter so far this winter and this seems indicative of a wider funk the North West seems to be going through on the birding front currently – let’s hope this cold-snap shakes things up a little!

Predictably there was no sign of any Bitterns today, so I had to entertain myself by watching a male Sparrowhawk trying to cunningly inch itself along a branch in order to get within striking distance of a Jay – unsuccessfully.

Before leaving I had a final scan of the reed stems only to reveal the rather unwelcome sight of a mink strolling across the ice. In the increasing cold, I could not help thinking the best solution all round would be for it to be hanging round my neck…

Until later.

Grebe Expectations

Up to seven Black-necked Grebes have been present on Birchwood Pool at Moore Nature Reserve for a couple of months now. Probable overspill from nearby Woolston Eyes, the birds have so far failed to breed. Nevertheless, they have given superb close-up views of their exquisite plumage, the stand-out element being the fantastic ‘flame’ around those blood-red eyes.

Five birds were present this morning, although it took me a considerable amount of time to be certain; for all the individuals to be on the surface at the same time is akin to waiting for all the planets to align! Two other species of Grebe also on the pool were circa ten Dabchicks and a singe Great Crested.

The Pumphouse Pool was quiet, with the pick being a brief view of a Kingfisher darting above the legions of Common Blue damselflies and a pair of loafing Tufted Duck. Currently, these wildfowl appear to be on nearly every watercourse in Cheshire - perhaps it is an organised garrison system!

For the afternoon’s entertainment I drove over to Inner Marsh Farm. Had I been two hours earlier, I would have seen two Spoonbills, a hunting female Peregrine, a Little Ringed Plover and a herald of southerly migration in the form of a Spotted Redshank rather than a cohort of moulting Mallard, Teal and Gadwall. Ho hum.

Until later.

Mad Dogs And Englishmen, But Not Owls

Good old Flaming June. The sun had brought out my first Common Blue Damselflies of the year – flying over Birchwood Pool at Moore Nature Reserve. One male had already succeeded in ‘hooking-up’ with a female – no longer in distress!

Three species of Grebe on the water too: a single Great Crested, numerous Little and four, possibly five rather secretive and discreet Black-necked. The Gull count is still considerable, although mostly immature birds remain now and the majority of those were Lesser-black Backed.

A quick look at the Pumphouse Pool produced another two Great Crested Grebes and little else, so I decided to stroll over to Upper Moss Side.

The rough grassland on the left of Lapwing Lane was the focus of two hunting local raptors – a hovering Kestrel and a more cumbersome Common Buzzard attempting to perform the same feat. Hungry mouths to feed?

Nearing the hide overlooking Norton Marsh I noticed a large white blob standing at the entrance to one of the nest boxes. Through my bins I could just make out one, probably two Barn Owls! They must have been desperate to get outside into the breeze as conditions inside the box must have resembled the Black Hole of Calcutta!

The fields surrounding the box were looking absolutely glorious too – teeming with wild flowers including the magnificent Northern Marsh Orchid (I think?).

I had a really good look around the reserve for Spotted Flycatcher today, but I failed to turn up any birds despite the habitat looking suitable. I have also noticed that the sightings page contains no historical records for this species either. I wonder when/if they were recorded?

Until later.

I, Claudius. MMIX

Braving the strong westerly wind I took a trip to Moore NR near Warrington today, an excellent site of varied habitats that seems to get better year on year.

First port of call was Birchwood Pool. There were plenty of roosting gulls taking a break from scavenging the tip, although none of the Mediterranean, Iceland or Glaucous ilk. Infact, the pool seemeed to be dominated by a junta of juvenile Great Black-backed Gulls strutting around the small island, surrounded by a praetorian guard of Grey Herons, that were in turn circled by a legion of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Or maybe it was just my imagination.

A scattering of wildfowl completed the rest of the cast - aside from one or five special visitors that is. Wheeooo.

Feeling energetic I decided to press-on around Upper Moss Side. I could hear the faint call of a Cuckoo but failed to locate it; the call being gradually drown out in the gusty wind. The only other bird of note was a male Stonechat desperately tringing to cling to the top of a Bullrush.

Next I opted to walk along the ship canal up the point where it reaches the Mersey. Signs of life were few on the canal apart from a pair of Canada Goose with three chicks - their luminous yellow down giving them the appearance of bath toys.

On the subject of geese, I was listening to Test Match Special on Wednesday. During the tea interval Johnathan Agnew was interviewing the Chief Executive of the MCC, a chap called Keith Bradshaw. Pushed by Aggers on whether there was too much international cricket being played he responded "...we don't want to over-egg the golden goose...".

Numerous warblers en route to the river and also a male Greenland Wheatear on the opposite side of the bank. When I arrived at the Mersey it was fairly quiet. A few gulls loafing on the sandbanks and a handful of geese on the shoreline.

Before heading for home I decided to check Birchwood Pool once more. Very little change in birds - or indeed in administration - with the autocrats still ruling the roost.

Until later.