Goss Moor - weird place! (1 Viewer)

[Gus Horsley]

My wife and I did the first bird count in the centre of Goss Moor, Cornwall, for over 30 years. There hasn't been a survey done recently because it's been so inaccessible. English Nature cleared access paths through the undergrowth last year to reveal six lakes (there may be more) which were created due by gravel working just after the Second World War. We approached English Nature as participants in the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and their warden took us on a scary tour of the area. It's like a jungle, with thick willow carr and floating mats of vegetation where you sink to your knees after seconds. The lakes are quite varied in size (from small ponds to 100 metres across), are very difficult to view, and range from completely stagnant (blood red in colour) to having a small river flowing through one. In addition there are several ruined concrete structures poking through the foliage. Even though you're never that far from civilisation the whole place has an eerie atmosphere. The first thing you notice is the silence, the second thing you notice is how treacherous the going is.
Yesterday we took the afternoon off work and visited each of the lakes. There was very little birdlife around: some passing redwing, a kingfisher, couple of pairs of bullfinch, long-tailed tit, etc, plus two buzzards, a raven and a kestrel. The lakes themselves were virtually devoid of life. One had a few mallard on it and another had three teal.
I'm wondering why there is so little bird activity. The nearest sizeable body of water is Porth Reservoir, about 5 miles away, but there are no other similar habitats. Could it be due to a lack of suitable food? The whole area is covered in willow mainly, with a few more open areas of gorse and log grass. maybe we went at the wrong time of the day.

Gus

 

[Karl J]

sounds rather polluted

edited after i found this link http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?NNR_ID=69

 

[devon.birder]

My wife and I did the first bird count in the centre of Goss Moor, Cornwall, for over 30 years. There hasn't been a survey done recently because it's been so inaccessible. English Nature cleared access paths through the undergrowth last year to reveal six lakes (there may be more) which were created due by gravel working just after the Second World War. We approached English Nature as participants in the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and their warden took us on a scary tour of the area. It's like a jungle, with thick willow carr and floating mats of vegetation where you sink to your knees after seconds. The lakes are quite varied in size (from small ponds to 100 metres across), are very difficult to view, and range from completely stagnant (blood red in colour) to having a small river flowing through one. In addition there are several ruined concrete structures poking through the foliage. Even though you're never that far from civilisation the whole place has an eerie atmosphere. The first thing you notice is the silence, the second thing you notice is how treacherous the going is.
Yesterday we took the afternoon off work and visited each of the lakes. There was very little birdlife around: some passing redwing, a kingfisher, couple of pairs of bullfinch, long-tailed tit, etc, plus two buzzards, a raven and a kestrel. The lakes themselves were virtually devoid of life. One had a few mallard on it and another had three teal.
I'm wondering why there is so little bird activity. The nearest sizeable body of water is Porth Reservoir, about 5 miles away, but there are no other similar habitats. Could it be due to a lack of suitable food? The whole area is covered in willow mainly, with a few more open areas of gorse and log grass. maybe we went at the wrong time of the day.

Gus

Goss Moor is supposed to be a good place to see Willow Tit although I have never been there to look for them. I prefer Tamar lakes.
I was at Goss Moor in the summer looking for butterflies and dragonflies and whilst I did not see any Marsh Fritilliary this year they can usually be found with a bit of good luck. The warden told me they were scarce this year.
Goss Moor is also a good site for Grasshopper Warbler.
Hopefully with the work now being done at this site access will be easier. Roger

 

[Bluetail]

Very interesting, Gus. I've always wondered what it's like in there. You rather confirm my impression of the place. I've sometimes viewed it from the laybys and it's aways seemed pretty birdless, though I did see a Merlin once and of course there used to be the Hen Harrier roost at Tregonetha. I can imagine it being good for Gropper.

I'm only guessing, but I'd imagine that the soil quality is quite poor. Karl's link above talks of areas of acidity and, down here at any rate, Willow Tits seem to favour poorer quality land like the Culm Measures in North Devon. May have something to do with it?

 

[Gus Horsley]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think pollution is an issue now, although it would have been a few decades ago. The river Fal flows through the site and the water is of good quality.
We did see several tits - great, blue and about 20 long-tailed, but no willow. Then again, the undergrowth is so impenetrable, even at this time of the year, we might have missed them. The soil is undoubtedly very acidic, hence the iron-rich water in one of the lakes.
We thought it might be a good spot for harriers, especially since they seem to have disappeared from Tregonetha which is only a couple of miles away. We are going to do a series of future visits to get a more complete picture.
The access is due to improve in the future and there's talk of putting in a hide at one of the lakes if we can come up with a suitable one. In one sense I think it will be a bit of a shame since there is an almost premeval quality about the place and it feels very undisturbed.
By the way, the area I'm talking about is south of the current A30, the other side of the railway, slap bang in the centre of the moor.

Gus

 

[Andrew]

This is very interesting.

Is there any info out there on the web about this being a nature reserve and access facilities.

Having driven through several times with relief that no lorry is stuck under the bridge I have been thinking of wildlife in the moor. Never thought it was accessible.

Enjoy your WeBS counts Gus, I do!

 

[devon.birder]

This is very interesting.

Is there any info out there on the web about this being a nature reserve and access facilities.

Having driven through several times with relief that no lorry is stuck under the bridge I have been thinking of wildlife in the moor. Never thought it was accessible.

Enjoy your WeBS counts Gus, I do!

Turn left off the A30 just past the speed camera, drive over the railway line and when the road bends round to the left keep straight on. A path to the pools is on your right near a small stone bridge. Roger

 

[John P]

This is very interesting.

Is there any info out there on the web about this being a nature reserve and access facilities.

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/special/nnr/nnr_details.asp?NNR_ID=69

http://www.english-nature.org.uk/about/teams/team_photo/GossMoormap.pdf

 

[Andrew]

Thanks for that Roger and John. :t:

 

[Gus Horsley]

Turn left off the A30 just past the speed camera, drive over the railway line and when the road bends round to the left keep straight on. A path to the pools is on your right near a small stone bridge. Roger

These are different pools. I know the ones you mean, which are at the western end of the Moor. The ones we've been looking at are about a mile to the east and are only accessible via several locked gates near a layby on the A30. You would have to contact English Nature to visit them, since they only allow access to their workers, for insurance purposes. If anybody wants to do a visit you are welcome to do a trip with us and we''ll clear it with EN.

Gus