Hello Everyone , My wife and I have been advised to pay Moore Nature Reserve at Warrington a visit . Can any of you knowledgeable chaps (or chapesses) suggest the best hides to take close up photography of some of the woodland birds rather than wildfowl and what it's possible to see ...it would be most appreciated ! I've also heard that it's possible to see a tawny owl roosting nearby...is that still the case ? If so , directions to the offending tree would be gratefully received. Thanks a lot !
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Moore Nature Reserve (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter COLG
- Start date
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi ColG,
I was there yesterday - had a look for the Tawnies - but couldn't find any - though they are difficult to find sometimes. Check the ivy-covered trees near the feeders.
The feeding station (straight on down the track off the road where the road turns left) is the place to photo stuff.
Willow tits are regular there, common species in crowds, there has been a Brambling recently - but I didn't see it yesterday.
Saw a Little owl sitting on the roof of the farm on the right as you drive out beyond the Ship Canal (but it was dusk).
Good luck,
H
I was there yesterday - had a look for the Tawnies - but couldn't find any - though they are difficult to find sometimes. Check the ivy-covered trees near the feeders.
The feeding station (straight on down the track off the road where the road turns left) is the place to photo stuff.
Willow tits are regular there, common species in crowds, there has been a Brambling recently - but I didn't see it yesterday.
Saw a Little owl sitting on the roof of the farm on the right as you drive out beyond the Ship Canal (but it was dusk).
Good luck,
H
David Smith
Warrington Lancs
Out of interest what camera/lense do you have (it's difficult to advise without some idea)
Re' Moore Tawny Owl-last year it was as follows.........out of the car park-turn right-past the hide on the left to where a path 'crosses' the road-take the right (thro' the gate) and follow that path as far as the bridge-then, from the bridge, look back to the nearest trees. I was informed (yesterday) that it is back there now!.......but it's very difficult to see-then when you do see it it's obvious.
I realise you want woodland birds but! do you know that at Marshside, within a few weeks, you will see Avocets & Godwits close enough to get good photos.
Re' Moore Tawny Owl-last year it was as follows.........out of the car park-turn right-past the hide on the left to where a path 'crosses' the road-take the right (thro' the gate) and follow that path as far as the bridge-then, from the bridge, look back to the nearest trees. I was informed (yesterday) that it is back there now!.......but it's very difficult to see-then when you do see it it's obvious.
I realise you want woodland birds but! do you know that at Marshside, within a few weeks, you will see Avocets & Godwits close enough to get good photos.
Hi , Thanks for the responses . My wife is actually the photographer. Her camera is a Canon 300D and she has a 175 -500mm lens , so it's reasonably decent if not exactly wildlife photographer quality ! We've had decent photographs of Bullfinches and Great Spotted Woodpeckers at Pennington Flash and Reed Buntings and GSWs at Martin Mere but it would be lovely to see Lesser Spotted and Green Woodpeckers, as well as Willow Tits and Bramblings . Hopefully Moore might provide the opportunity !
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
Should get Willow Tit and possibly Brambling. LSW is also possible. This is the link to the reserves webpages - http://www.wrg.co.uk/moorenaturereserve/
. If you click on the "about us" at the top of the page it takes you to the reserve map, which I recommend you print out before going. The directions already given are then easy to follow.
CB
David Smith
Warrington Lancs
There are LSW at Moore but not easily seen. If you turn right out of the car park and walk to the 1st hide (on the left) then you may see one in the woods to the right (I saw one very briefly last year).
Green WP-you can almost certainly see them at Dunham Massey as they feed at the ant hills at point 7 on the DM leaflet. Your main problem is the number of pedestrians who may frighten them off-so early is best.
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
National Trust property just south of Altrincham.
All three woodpeckers and usual woodland birds - no hides and less photo ops than Moore.
All three woodpeckers and usual woodland birds - no hides and less photo ops than Moore.
David Smith
Warrington Lancs
For birding it's only worth a 'long journey visit' if you particularly want to see the Green WP and don't know where else to see one. As Rob says, it's national trust so unless you are members it can be an expensive (but good) day out. There are beautiful gardens and walks plus the old house with it's history etc. Lots of deer which are deep in the sanctuary until spring.
halftwo
Wird Batcher
Hi Wimpy,
If you wait a few weeks the Lessers will be drumming & singing. The best spot is the obelisk. Avoid weekends as there are literally crowds of the great unwashed as the NT has turned half of the park into a HUGE car park.
Dawn/early morning's best.
PM me if you fancy knowing the local good spots there, or joining me on a birding part-day - it's my local patch.
Green woodies are not guaranteed - they're always there but I see them on under half my visits.
For more info see my "My Birding Day" blogs (several years of them to peruse) to get a flavour of the site. Any reference to "The Greensand Pool" is the spot for Lessers.
H
If you wait a few weeks the Lessers will be drumming & singing. The best spot is the obelisk. Avoid weekends as there are literally crowds of the great unwashed as the NT has turned half of the park into a HUGE car park.
Dawn/early morning's best.
PM me if you fancy knowing the local good spots there, or joining me on a birding part-day - it's my local patch.
Green woodies are not guaranteed - they're always there but I see them on under half my visits.
For more info see my "My Birding Day" blogs (several years of them to peruse) to get a flavour of the site. Any reference to "The Greensand Pool" is the spot for Lessers.
H
Stephen Fletcher
Yes, i did take the photo of the Eagle
Plenty of Green Woodpeckers at Moore NR, they frequent the areas to the west of the reserve, either take the old road west from the crossroads, then go into the scrubland north of that road, lots of footpaths in there, or, the footpath up the hill by the crossroads to the same area, or, take the path by the old canal, the opposite way for the Tawnies. LSW can be anywhere from the crossroads up to the feeding station, as already said, they will be drumming soon, so easier to find, they have been drumming here for a couple of weeks now.
Rob Smallwood
Well-known member
No lesser Spots but I added Wimpy (I have to ask - is this a Popeye related nickname?)to my BF "met" list - nice to meet you both.
Gulls very flighty this afternoon, one poss Yellow-legged and an adult Med - the Med stayed about 10 secs!
Gulls very flighty this afternoon, one poss Yellow-legged and an adult Med - the Med stayed about 10 secs!
Wimpy
Well-known member
Yes good to meet up Rob and thanks to all the other guys we quizzed today at Moore.
You guys have one super reserve there, we shall definitely be back.
Had a look for the tawny no luck, so what happens when we stepped out of the car at home - whoot whoot, our very own calling from down the garden!
Thanks all
You guys have one super reserve there, we shall definitely be back.
Had a look for the tawny no luck, so what happens when we stepped out of the car at home - whoot whoot, our very own calling from down the garden!
Thanks all
We visited Moore the other day....what a lovely place . It was half term so we expected lots of families to be around but that wasn't the case . We visited the feeding station and were able to take some nice photographs of a Jay but alas no sign of any Bramblings or Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers....I've never actually seen a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, are they quite small? Somebody told us that the tawny owl hadn't been seen for a while because somebody had removed a lot of ivy from its tree..is this true ?
Cheshire Birder
Well-known member
I've heard them calling but I didn't know they sing.
Hi Halftwo, you're not Nicholas Winterton by any chance are you?!
I've met Halftwo and I can assure you he does not look like the aforementioned politician who is soon to be out of a job!
Yes. LSW are very small about the size of a House Sparrow. Not heard anything like that about the Tawny Owl but I know quite a few people have been and not seen it in the regular spot.
CB
