Trip reports

Field trip to Moore Nature Reserve

Sunday, 17 February 2008

The latest North Cheshire RSPB Group field visit was to Moore NR on Sunday 17th February. The weather was cold and sunny after an overnight frost which meant that many of the pools on the reserve were frozen over.
Lapwing Lane Pool was the first port of call, most of the pool was covered in ice but a few Little Grebe, Teal and Ruddy Duck remained on the small areas of unfrozen water and amongst the bankside vegetation. The group then moved to the feeding station, a few Reed Bunting and the occasional Nuthatch were seen but the area was generally quiet. The group moved on to Birchwood Pool, pausing to observe a Tawny Owl roosting in its usual tree.
Birchwood Pool was largely unfrozen so had a good variety of waterfowl including good numbers of Shoveler, Pochard and Tufted Duck, a pair of Oystercatcher and Snipe were also present. Nearby Birch Wood had a selection of woodland birds including Great Spotted Woodpecker, Redwing and Treecreeper. Eventually the group reached the Eastern Reedbed, stopping to observe a small number of Lesser Redpoll on the way.
Thanks to several helpful occupants in the hide several members caught a glimpse of one of the over-wintering Bittern.
After lunch the group visited Upper Moss Side Farm, a Kingfisher was seen along a nearby ditch, a small flock of Curlew fed in an adjacent field whilst a good number of Tree Sparrow and Willow Tit were seen in the numerous hedgerows. The estuary and Norton Marsh were generally quiet although a Raven was noted flying overhead. A male Stonechat was the highlight of the journey back to the cars. A total of 67 species were seen throughout the day.
By Tony Parker