MB

 

Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: WIGAN FLASHES


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:
RE: Wigan Flashes


8/7/07 06.30 - mid morning

14 COMMON SCOTER (11 drk) - on Scotmans. (still present @ 10.00. J.Meadows)
Common Sandpiper
2 Little Grebe
numerous Common Terns fishing


__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

4/7/07 mid-morning

Common Buzzard - pursued by Black-headed Gulls over Hawkley Hall Reedbed.
2 Common Sandpiper - on Pearsons `mini pool` by the outlet.
Little Ringed Plover - Horrocks front pool. Also c9 Common Tern chicks/juvs. Obviously all the waters have risen but surprisingly not as much as I would have expected here, with all the usual mud still exposed (which admittedly isn`t all that much really hmm.gif )
A couple of young Terns were being `shown the ropes` out on Scotmans, making quite a racket in the process !
Kingfisher -along the canal by Bryn Flash.
11 drake Pochard asleep on Pearsons.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

24/6/07 early morning

Horrocks Front Pool ;

2 Little Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
Redshank
16 + Common Tern chicks
5 Teal (4drks.)
Lesser Redpoll

Grasshopper Warbler reeling nr. Moss Bridge
Willow Tit nr. Hawkley Reedbed
23 Pochard - Pearsons
G.S.Woodpecker
numbers of Sedge, Reed Warbs, Whitethroats & Reed Buntings

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Judith, the saddled Tufty was on the back pool near that `chicken wire` fence. BTW it`s a drake and it didn`t seem to be paired up.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

horrocks flash,07/06/07 19.00
good job i didn,t log on before i went tonight or i would have left the chick count till fri pm.i counted 23 tern chicks 2 teal
1 little ringed plover and suprisingly 1 black tailed godwit which i observed for about 10 mins, went to set digiscope
thingy up and couldn,t find it again.

cheers geoff

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:

Glad to see our plovers coincided today, as I was doing the plover survey! Didn't see the nasal saddle Tuftie though, sadly - which pool was it on? Had a Gadwall with 6y on the back pool. I counted 28 Common Tern nests, many with young, plus another pair building. Hope we make it to 30 - it looks like being a record year. 99 BH Gull nests including Turners, last time I counted. Also your Pochard brood in the SW corner pool - just 2 young now. Also a Redshank on the back pool.

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Thanks Ian. - I`ll have to `tice it nearer wi` some bread ! smile.gif

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 15382
Date:

Ian,

I had a blue nasal saddled Tuffy at Scotsman Flash afew years ago and received a nice history on that bird (which appeared in the county bird report for that year). Your bird may have come from the project below but you'll really need to see those letters/numbers on the saddle, so get back down there and try harder wink.gif


Nose-sadles (red).

David Rodrigues, Departamento Florestal, Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra, 3040-316 Coimbra, Portugal.

tel.: +351-23.98.02.285.

fax.: +351-23.98.13.612.

e-mail: drodrigues@mail.esac.pt

note 1 : see total captures, codes, colours and photos at http://pt-ducks.naturlink.pt/

note 2 : recaptures in Belgium , resightings in the UK.





__________________

Forum administrator and owner



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

7/6/07 mid-afternoon ; Horrocks Flash

3 Little Ringed Plover - at first viewed from the `back pool` constantly flying around, but later settled on the `front pool` (canal-side)
also single Ringed Plover here
Redshank
managed to count 17 Common Tern chicks from various nests and some well developed Black-headed Gull chicks
3 drk Teal
5 Gadwall
6+ Pochard
G.S.Woodpecker
Greylag
Mute Swan - CJ56 (green darvic)
a Tufted Duck with an orange/red `bill saddle` but it was too distant / hazy to read. (if indeed that`s what it was ! Someone please tell me I haven`t dreamt this and that there is a scheme for `ringing` Tufties in this way ! confused.gif)



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

same as geoff,s report this morning(sunday am)but can add 100 plus swift, fewer swallows and house martin over boathouse end of scotmans and 15 greylag on horrocks

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 552
Date:

Horrocks Flash10-30am to 2.30pm

G.C.Grebe and young

Ringed Plover
Pochard
Lapwings
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Whitethroat on opposite bank of Canal
Turns on nests
usual other stuff

Nothing much on other Flashes, but little grebe

Geoff

-- Edited by geoff at 16:39, 2007-05-25

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 552
Date:

I trust my new Binsbiggrin.gif

Thanks Ian

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Geoff, the winter months are your best bet for Bittern, and even then you have to be extremely lucky ! wink.gif

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 552
Date:

Does nobody see any Bittern? I am going tomorrow

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

24th May. early a.m.

2 Little Ringed Plover over Bryn Marsh
Ringed Plover on Horrocks. Also here 2 Redshank
Lesser Whitethroat still with us, though less vocal than of late
Willow Tit feeding young opp. Bryn Flash
Green Woodpecker over Moss Br.
Kestrel

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

21st May mid-afternoon Horrocks Flash

3 LRPs
2 Redshank
23+ Common Tern
2 Cormorant
m. Kestrel
10 Greylags (a couple of pairs with goslings)
f Pochard w/5 chicks smile.gif
G.C.Grebe w/2 chicks
6 Greenfinch together (possible family ?)
drk Shoveler
drk Gadwall

The Shoveler and a few of the Mallards were progressing into `eclipse` plumage.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

15th mid-morning til early p.m

Dunlin, 3 LRPs & single RP on Horrocks`. Also at least 23 Common Terns.
2 (together) Water Rails
2 Stock Dove
Common Sandpiper on the causeway of the yachting club, Scotmans
Kingfisher - Pearsons
Willow Tit - round Ochre Flash
5 Reed Warblers in the reeds at Moss Br.
Also my pal the Lesser Whitethroat singing his lungs out at the top of his very own Hawthorn tree. (a male Reed Bunting is keeping a beady eye on him ! ! )

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

chuffed,well chuffed, made up ,happy,estatic, missed the whimbrels by half an hourfurious.gif but it,s been quite a week of birding for me, just on the flashes i,ve added loads of lifers/county ticks, astley moss will live with me for
ever ,thanksfor the help and info from all
concerned,i,ve got a self imposed date 01/06/07 to update my county list.if anyone,s got a tame green woopecker
i am willing to travel and have g.s.o h.

cheers geoffbiggrin.gifbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

12/5/07 early - mid morning

Turnstone - briefly on Horrocks Flash. It looked to have settled down on a bit of mud but was moved on. Also witnessed by a chuffed Geoff Hargreaves.
Also Dunlin, LRPs & RP.

Lesser Whitethroat performing @ Moss Br.

The `Poolstock` Grey Wagtails had 2 fledged chicks.

Leucistic drk. Tufty on Scotmans

Kestrel carrying prey (small enough to be a shrew) over canal @ Bryn Fl.


-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 17:15, 2007-05-12

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

just back from moss bridge/horrocks ,lesser whitethroat posing as required,biggrin.gifstill need green woodpecker for listconfused.gif 4 dunlin on horrocks with all three plovers present and tons of bh gulls and terns, all the regulars 1 redshank

cheers geoffbiggrin.gif

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1229
Date:

6.00 this morn lesser whitethroat showing well ,cuckoo calling
from rainfords area that odd tufty on pearsons and grey wagtail
taking food in to nest site near to wigan rovers ground

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 828
Date:

Escaped work at lunch and walked from the school to Moss Bridge and back.

3 Chiffchaff
5 Willow Warbler
1 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
8 Sedge Warbler
1 Lesser Whitethroat - still showing extremely well
2 Common Tern over
1 Green Woodpecker calling nearby

__________________
www.winwickbirder.blogspot.com


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

9/5/07 06.00 - 09.30

3 LRP & 3 RP on Horrocks. Also here ;
single Dunlin
17+ Common Tern
4 drake Pochard
along canal - Mallard with 13 ducklings ! - is this a record ?

The Lesser Whitethroat was showing extremely well on top of the Hawthorn tree at Moss Bridge steps. Further along the canal opposite Bryn Flash ditto a Garden Warbler.

2 pairs of Grey Wagtail - one `holding` Westwood Lock, the other, Poolstock Lock.

2 Shelduck and the drake Pintail on Scotmans.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

5/5/07 06.00 - 09.45

Lesser Whitethroat - Moss Bridge (Turner`s side) - County Lifer (at last !) biggrin.gif
drk Pintail - Scotmans
3 LRPs - Horrocks
2 RPs "
Snipe "
11+ Common Tern " (others moochin` everywhere)
Water Rail "
Common Sandpiper - flying along canal by Horrocks
Oystercatcher - over Bryn Flash
Coot w/3 Chicks - Bryn
2 Grey Wags - Westwood
2 Little Grebe - Scotmans
numbers of Swift, Swall, House & Sand Martins, Blackcaps, Whitethroat

-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 13:03, 2007-05-05

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

2/5/07 06.00 - 11.00

Black Tern - flew from Scotmans @ 06.50. Presumably went to Horrocks` `cos I re-found it there @ 09.50
Cuckoo - flew over me on Moss Bridge (after calling from different areas)
2 Ringed Plovers - Horrocks`
2 LRPs - displaying/chasing over Bryn Marsh
21 + Common Terns - Horrocks`
2 Oyc
2 Grey Wags
11 Greylags
2 Sparrowhawk
Kestrel
Stock Dove
numerous Blackcaps, Sedge Warblers, Willow Warbs, heard Reed Warb at Bryn Flash

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

24/4/07 midday

Just a quick hour at Horrocks ;

2 House Martin
3 LRP
4 Common Tern
2 Oystercatcher
Redshank
2 Pinkfeet
4 Greylags

(Swift over Dover Basin earlier on)

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

23/4/07 06.30 - 09.30

Grasshopper Warbler - Moss Bridge (guaranteed place !)
4 LRP - 3,Bryn / 1,Horrocks
10 Common Tern - 2,Scotmans / 4,Horrocks / 4,squabbling over Bryn Flash (probably some inter-change between flashes, i.e. there might have only been 4 or 6 altogether)
5 Snipe - Horrocks
2 Greylags with 6 goslings (aaahhh ! )
80+ Sand Martin - Scotmans
2 L.Redpoll
1 Pinkfoot - Horrocks

-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 14:53, 2007-04-23

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:
RE: Wigan Flashes Whooper


Apparently it was on Scotmans on Monday.

-- Edited by Judith Smith at 23:25, 2007-04-11

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:
RE: Wigan Flashes


11/04/07 19.30
the whooper swan was back on horrocks front pool this evening and about 50 sandmartins over

cheers geoff

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

11/4/07 a.m.

Horrocks` Flash ;

Whooper Swan - flew off at 10.10 but re-located later on Rainfords Flash (J. Smith)
redhead Smew
Little Ringed Plover
2 Pinkfeet
7 Greylag
3 Snipe

Bryn Flash ;

2 Oystercatcher
Buzzard perched on pylon
5 Lesser Redpoll
2 Willow Tit
Mallard w/ 5 chicks

2 m. Blackcap singing
2 Willow Warbler - heard only
Chiffchaff - plenty singing


__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 6
Date:

i had the Black-necked Grebe on tuesday, around 150 sand martins and 2 swallows.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

6/4/07 06.30-10.00

Black-tailed Godwit - circled round Horrocks, landed briefly then departed
Redshank
13 Snipe
2 Greylags
Sparrowhawk
Green Woodpecker - Moss Bridge
2 Willow Tit - canal @ Bryn Fl.
2 Grey Wagtail - Westwood lock

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Reading `Birds Britannica` (Cocker & Mabey, 2005) I came across this ;

`They (Cormorants) have been recorded to take 86 species of fish, from tiny fry to 2.5 - foot conger eels. An elastic throat pouch and a specially hinged beak means that, unlike Grey Herons, they can also cope with large flat fish, which look like small plates bulging in the distended gorge once the birds have finally shovelled them down. However, for sheer dietry eccentricity, little beats the record of a Cormorant eating a waste-filled plastic bag, or the individual found with an 11 inch kitten in it`s stomach ! `

Food for thought indeed ...............

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1596
Date:

The best place to park is Welham Rd at the end of Carr Lane, near the bus roundabout at Hawkley Hall School. A map of the flashes is then in front of you.

I saw a Cormorant eat an eel a few years ago, Ian - as you say, it takes quite a time to get it down.
NB on Scotman's, not on the canal - doubt there are eels in the canal.

__________________
Judith Smith __________________________________ Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!


Status: Offline
Posts: 6
Date:

there are eels in the canal at maghull, thats a dead cert.

does anyone know where a good place to park the car is? ive only ever been once and i walked from by boars head, ive got a scope now though, so walking is a bit tricky from boars head.



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

I will do that John - it certainly opened my eyes !

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 3491
Date:

im pretty sure there are eels in the canal,as they seem to find there way into most canal systems,i know the sankey canal is full of them-ask anyone fishing on the canal,im sure they will know

__________________

http://www.flickr.com/photos/johntymon/



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Tue 27th Mar. a.m.

Black-necked Grebe - still present on Scotman`s
f. Red-crested Pochard - Westwood
5 Snipe - Horrocks`. 5 Greylags here also
2 Kingfisher - canal @ Bryn Flash
2 Sand Martin - Scotman`s
33 Goldeneye
Willow Tit
2 Grey Wags - Westwood lock

On Scotman`s I watched in amazement a Cormorant eat an eel, which must have been at least two and a half feet long and quite thick ! It took the Cormorant several attempts and a good 10 minutes to devour. Needless to say it was very thick-necked afterwards !
Apart from the spectacle itself I was surprised that there were eels here at all ! ?

-- Edited by Ian Woosey at 17:02, 2007-03-27

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

24/03/07 black neck grebe still present on scotmans,smashing view,s close to banking

cheers geoff

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

23/3/07 06.30 - 10.30

Smew - at first on Scotmans, then by the time I`d got to Horrocks it was on there
Black-necked Grebe - Scotmans, down to 20ft from canal bank
Red-crested Pochard - Westwood
Green Woodpecker - nr Moss Br.
3 Sand Martin
2 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wag, 2 Willow Tit - along canal
Curlew over N.
2 Oystercatcher
2 Pink-feet
29 Goldeneye
18 Shoveler
4 Little Grebe
10 Pochard
Sparrowhawk

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 428
Date:

scotchmans flash - commerant, tufties,goldeneye,heron,little grebe no sign of the black neck,sand martin,willow tit and all the usual stuff.

__________________
THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRDING ISNT JUST THE BIRDS


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Mon 19th Mar. a.m.

Black-necked Grebe - Scotmans Flash
3 Sand Martin
drk Wigeon
2 Shelduck over
2 Pink-feet - Horrocks
6 Greylag
Chiffchaff & 2 L.Redpoll nr. Bryn Flash
Sparrowhawk
Kestrel

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

15/3/07

OSPREY (see seperate post)
redhead Smew - Horrocks`.
2 Pink-feet
2 Greylags
Oystercatcher
2 Raven over Scotmans heading N.
4 Sand Martin
Water Rail
f. Red-crested Pochard - Westwood Fl.
Chiffchaff - nr. feeding station
3 Willow Tit
2 Grey Wag

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 937
Date:

11/3/7 am

Walk round with Geoff - thanks for showing me a new area. About 40 species in total. Highlights were ....

Smew on Horrocks Flash
Small groups of Goldeneye.
1 Redshank at Dover Basin but water levels very high everywhere so no other waders about. Also 6 Goosander here.



-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth at 15:56, 2007-03-11

__________________



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

10/3/07 a.m.

redhead Smew - Horrocks, canal-side
2 Pink-feet
5 Greylags
Oystercatcher
Redshank
15 Shoveler
4 Teal
Green Woodpecker - Moss Br. area
8 L.Redpoll
Willow Tit
6 Bullfinch
2 Grey Partridge - Park House Fm.
m. Kestrel
Sparrowhawk
33 Goldeneye - Pearsons
4 Little Grebe

heard a Chiffchaff nr. Hawkley school



__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Fri 2nd Mar. a.m

pair of Goosander - Horrocks`
2 Willow Tit - along canal
2 Grey Wagtail "
27 Goldeneye
9 Gadwall
19 Shoveler
5 Little Grebe
4 Pochard
4 LBbG
2 Common Gull
9 Reed Bunting
26 Mute Swan - of which 3 had blue Darvics ; 7DED, DXY & UNX
Embden Goose
3 different Water Rails heard

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Geoff,

The Water Rail was lurking along the reed-line in the corner opposite the `Pink-feet` field. This was the first time I`d seen one at Horrocks`, others being at the feeding station and in the canal-side reeds at Pearsons.

Gary,

As you walk along the canal towpath from Moss Bridge (check the info. boards for locations) towards Horrocks`, Bryn Flash / Marsh appears on your right just after the derelict footbridge.The pylon in question is on your right just before you go under the railway bridge. This was the second time in the last three weeks that I`ve seen the Peregrine there and Geoff has seen it also within the same time-scale.

Good luck to you both in your respective quests.

__________________


Status: Offline
Posts: 428
Date:

Ian Woosey wrote:

Wed. 7th Feb.

Red-crested Pochard - Scotmans Flash. ( Westwood completely frozen. )
Peregrine - perched again on pylon @ Bryn Flash
2 Pink-feet - Horrocks
Also here - 13 Greylags, Water Rail, 22 Mute Swan, Black Swan, Canada x Greylag hybrid, Muscovy Duck.
4 Willow Tit - 2 at feeding stn. 2 round back of Ochre Flash.
single Snipe along edge of Pearsons.

( no sign of Smew )


could you tell were Bryn flash is, i live in hindley would love to see the peregrine .



__________________
THE GREAT THING ABOUT BIRDING ISNT JUST THE BIRDS


Status: Offline
Posts: 1474
Date:

ian,the water rail?spotted, scoped,or heard? i,ve only seen one flushed and in flight so i can,t put it in my horrock,s list which i,m very keen to do but i do have rules( and they are my rules)so tell me where it was ,or else

regards geoff

__________________

mm



Status: Offline
Posts: 1171
Date:

Wed. 7th Feb.

Red-crested Pochard - Scotmans Flash. ( Westwood completely frozen. )
Peregrine - perched again on pylon @ Bryn Flash
2 Pink-feet - Horrocks
Also here - 13 Greylags, Water Rail, 22 Mute Swan, Black Swan, Canada x Greylag hybrid, Muscovy Duck.
4 Willow Tit - 2 at feeding stn. 2 round back of Ochre Flash.
single Snipe along edge of Pearsons.

( no sign of Smew )

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 14:48, 2007-07-17

__________________
« First  <  Page 47  sorted by
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

RODIS

 

This forum is dedicated to the memory of Eva Janice McKerchar.