Birding Group Visit to Moore and Moss Side Nature Reserves 22nd May 2012

Birding Group Visit to Moore and Moss Side Nature Reserves 22nd May 2012

After missing a couple of the birding group mornings as a result of being on holiday it was good to get back with the group and our morning was at Moore Nature Reserve. The last time we were there as a group we saw a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker excavate a hole in a tree near a pathway so we hoped we might see it again. In fact we turned up a little early and from the car park we spotted a Jay, a Buzzard and we even had time to get a scope on a Whitethroat which was singing in rotation around three trees and showing very well. When we were all collected it had been decided that we should take in a new route around a part of the site that I had not been to before but have often wondered about.

Instead of our usual walk through Rigby’s Wood and on to Middle Moss Wood and Birchwood Pool we walked to the left of the car park up the grassy slope that leads to the high land that overlooks Lapwing Lake. This turned out to be very nice indeed ; all shrubs and trees and gorse – very good for the woodland birds and, in particular for the summer migrants. As we walked through this scrubby woodland we could hear more Whitethroats, Chaffinches, Tits and all the usual small birds. We stopped at the Sedge Hide and listened as we heard several Reed Warblers singing. There were plenty of very brief views of birds as they flashed by before dropping into the reeds but, at last, we all got our bins on a single Reed Warbler that didn’t mind showing itself for long enough to keep us happy. On the water were a couple of Little Grebes and a Grey Heron.

As you walk along there is a valley on both sides of the track. The one on the right overlooks Lapwing Lake and the one on the left overlooks a bit of moor, scrub type of land with a couple of small ponds. A we looked here, two Buzzards that had been grazing on the ground rose up and flew into the air, wheeled around and disappeared over the trees. It was one of the best days ever for Buzzards which seemed to be everywhere, presumably glad of some dry weather and clear skies at last after a few weeks of rain. We then walked onto a new reserve for me, Moss Side. This was made up of some fields with shrubs leading to a hide that overlooked the intertidal part of the Mersey facing Fiddlers Ferry power station. As we walked through this land we saw lots of Reed Bunting and could hear many Skylarks though we only saw one flying. There were warblers but they went unidentified. There are quite a few nest boxes set up in one of the fields there and on top of one was a Kestrel taking in the sun and dozing. Swifts, House and Sand Martins and Swallows all flew low over the odd pond. When we got to the hide there wasn’t a great deal to see really. It was probably not quite the right time of year and is probably great for waders on migration. Anyway, we walked on back a bit and on to the main lane which was long and passed the odd farmhouse on the left and fields and hedgerows on the right. Apparently this was always a good area for Yellowhammers but we didn’t manage to see any. They are there, however, because we heard at least one singling loud and clear.

As it happens this path is just the remote end of the Lapwing Lane that runs through Moore so the path veers around and sends you back along the far side on Rigby’s Wood. From there we dropped down to see if we could find our Lesser Spotted Woodpecker but it wasn’t to be seen or heard. At this point most of the group were for heading home but a couple of us thought that it was such a nice day that we should try going to the far side of the site to where the big reed beds are. Firstly, we stopped at the Feeding Station Hide where we saw the usual Chaffinches and Great Tits. A Moorhen mooched around on the ground and a Jay and a Great Spotted Woodpecker were taking peanuts from a feeder. We then took the outside path and curved around into Middle Moss Wood and into the hides at Birchwood Pool. This was largely dominated by Great Black-backed Gulls and Tufted Ducks, though there were a few Canada Geese a couple of Mute Swans and a Great-crested Grebe. We walked through Birch Wood where Chiffchaff were calling. At The Pump House Hide we saw a couple of Great-crested Grebes and a couple of Little Grebes.

We then walked on to the furthest of the Hides at that end – the Phoenix Hide. We had thought that it would be good for Reed Warblers etc. but in fact what was special about the reed bed was a Ruddy Duck and on the other side of the hide overlooking the Lagoon and just in front of Moss Wood was a Glossy Ibis ! When we arrived there were already a couple of people overjoyed at this rarity although it has to be said this was my second of the year – the first being at Leighton Moss. A Grey Heron was also stalking around and there were a couple of Lapwing and a Great-crested Grebe. We stayed there about half an hour before heading back to the car via Dog Field where we saw yet another Jay ! In all we were there for about six and a half hours and by now we were keen to find the nearest pub to quench our thirst on a fantastically hot and sunny day.

Bird Sightings : Moore Nature Reserve