The Ghost of Whixall Moss

Unfortunately the ghost was always drifting away from me when ever I observed it on the moss  

 Over A week ago, Andy Lathem had a male Hen Harrier at Whixall Moss.. I thought I would like to see the harrier, but I had to wait until yesterday to go when the weather at last had improved as the rest of the week was shite! It was 08.30 when I got on to the Fenns and Whixall Moss and thirty minutes of being there I connected with the male Hen Harrier as it hunted in the NW corner. In the center of the moss there was a female Merlin perched in a small spruce. Most years a Great Grey Shrike winters in the area, but despite there being one in October there has not been anymore records since. The mosses is a vast area of peat bog bordered by birch and alder and is under watched. So there could be a spot where a shrike could be hiding. I gave it my best shot of walking most of the moss, but came away with 5 Stonechat, a single Raven and better views of the harrier. There could be two shrikes wintering on the moss and you could easily overlook them.

Fenns and Whixall Moss

This male Hen Harrier could be the same individual that has been wintering on the moss for the last few years.

Scanning the moss and picked out this female Merlin near to the center

No sign of the Cetti's Warbler on the floods just before the car park. However, with over 250 Canada Geese was this interesting darker individual. (Todds maybe?) Also on the floods were 23 Shoveler, 50+Teal and 30+Wigeon. 

Another adult Yellow-legged Gull at Trench Pool

This 4th winter yellow-legged Gull was at Prisorlee Lake

There are up to 11 Great-crested Grebe on Prisorlee Lake

Tom morello and Kris Kristofferson singing 'Working Class Hero' at John Lennon's 75th Birthday Benefit Concert at NY recorded at the beginning of December. Note how Kris asks Tom for the first line of the song to get him started as he's forgot it. At 80 he's just about to start touring again after just finishing a world tour earlier this year. Both these political activists have worked with each other a few times before.