Mosses

Grey partridges, Glazebrook

I've been pretty lazy lately so I decided to have a stroll across the Salford mosses. I got the train to Irlam and headed up Astley Road. The Zinnia Drive sparrows were out in force, presaging a very productive four hours' wander.

Long-tailed tit, Irlam Moss

I'd barely walked a dozen yards into Astley Road when I bumped into the first mixed tit flock of the visit: a couple of dozen long-tailed tits, half a dozen blue tits, a few great tits and a couple of chaffinches tagging along for the ride. There were a couple of dozen woodpigeons and a pheasant in the stubble field by the road. There were a couple of young woodpigeons in the flock, a third dark-eyed pigeon turned out to be a stock dove. By now I had a pocket full of conkers to keep my dad out of mischief.

Long-tailed tits, Irlam Moss

Just past the Jack Russell's gate a speckled wood sunned itself on a bed of nettles while a chiffchaff fussed about in the sycamores just behind. A couple of skylarks and a yellowhammer flew by and particularly noisy low-flying buzzard flew overhead and headed towards Cadishead.

Not the best photo of a pair of kestrels but a good example of the size difference between the male and female of the pair. Irlam Moss.

The trees lining the road on the other side were quieter than recent visits. There were plenty enough robins setting their stalls out for their Winter territories and a few blue tits and great tits. A pair of kestrels hovered over the turf fields. The male landed on the roof of the farmhouse, much to the utter disinterest of the flock of pied wagtails foraging on the tiles. They changed their tune and flew off in a panic when he took flight again. A migrant hawker — surely the last of the year? — patrolled the ditch by the road here. 

Irlam Moss

There were more dragonflies by the path to Hepzibah Farm, ruddy darters and a couple of common darters this time. As I approached Four Lanes End three buzzards chased and called and generally irritated the carrion crows feeding in the field.

Common darter, Four Lanes End

There were even more dragonflies on the path to Little Woolden Moss, mostly common darters and a few black darters, the former glinting gold and red in the Autumn sunlight, the latter shone inky black while their wings were shot with blue.

Black darter, Little Woolden Moss

The pools at this end of Little Woolden Moss were quiet of birds but very busy with black darters. Just to emphasise the change of seasons, while I was looking at the dragonflies a skein of forty-seven pink-footed geese flew overhead.

Little Woolden Moss

There were thirty or more black-headed gulls over on the far pools. Every so often they'd rise up in a cloud, prompting me to scan round in the hopes of there being a bird of prey about to spook them. If there was one around — the female marsh harrier that spent Summer here or the ringtail hen harrier that's been reported a couple of times this week — I didn't see it.

Black-headed gulls, Little Woolden Moss

There were a hundred or so black-headed gulls in the fields by Little Woolden Hall. Half a dozen meadow pipits rose up as I walked along the path and a yellowhammer chipped at me from the bushes by the huge log pile. Unexpectedly a great woodpecker flew from the bushes and off towards the copse behind the hall.

I walked down into Glazebrook. As I was crossing the motorway four pink-footed geese flew low overhead and off towards Warrington. I hadn't gone far past the allotments when I noticed some dark shapes in the stubble field by the road. It's always nice to see a good-sized covey of grey partridges.

It was well past the time for the train home from Glazebrook so I bobbed over the bridge into Cadishead and got the bus to Irlam Station and thence home. A good long afternoon's birdwatching.

Little Woolden Moss