Little Egret still present in Horrocks Flash, viewable from the canal.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Jul 28 7:55 PM, 2013
Pearsons AM 9 Black Tailed Godwit 2 Redshank 1 Snipe No sign of Wood Sandpiper while i was there.
Jimmy
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 28 5:36 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash a.m.
1 Little Egret still present ,viewed from the towpath
there are directions to the flashes on the main website site,
cheers geoff&buster
Rob Creek said
Sun Jul 28 2:24 AM, 2013
JOHN TYMON wrote:
Rob Creek wrote:
If anyone is clued up on this part of Wigan could you please tell me the best road to park on as close to Pearsons Flash as possible. Many thanks
Park at poolstock church WN3 5EZ -walk across the main road and you are on the Leeds- Liverpool canal, walk right half a mile cross the first bridge turn right about 300 yards pearsons on your left. :)
Thanks John, I found it a few minutes after as I was parked near Wigan Pier when I posted, so I asked a kind local and they told me to park on a waste ground lay bye area near the mini roundabout not far from the church. I was 50yds off the canal so I was happy.
Only visited Pearson's Flash due to time. Birds of note : -
Wood Sandpiper showing well but quite far out (a Lifer) Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, and Tufted Duck in abundance, and alot of these 3 species seem to be well grown youngsters. Common Tern - 7. Very noisy and flighty so probably some juveniles.
In the reeds on Pearson's edge, a loud reeling over the normal Grasshoppers stopped me in my tracks, I stayed still and looked down from the towpath towards the reeds, a small mid brown bird took flight from low in the reeds and delicately flew about 10ft in distance along the reed edge, it had a fan-like tail and a fluttery flight. If this was a Grasshopper Warbler then it's a Lifer for me as I've only ever heard them. But the more I hope it was, the more I suspect it could've been a young Reed Warbler that just happened to show as the Grasshopper Warbler was reeling. Oh well...maybe the one that got away!
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jul 28 12:47 AM, 2013
Rob Creek wrote:
If anyone is clued up on this part of Wigan could you please tell me the best road to park on as close to Pearsons Flash as possible. Many thanks
Park at poolstock church WN3 5EZ -walk across the main road and you are on the Leeds- Liverpool canal, walk right half a mile cross the first bridge turn right about 300 yards pearsons on your left. :)
Rob Creek said
Sat Jul 27 11:04 PM, 2013
If anyone is clued up on this part of Wigan could you please tell me the best road to park on as close to Pearsons Flash as possible. Many thanks
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 27 5:26 PM, 2013
Little Egret still viewable from the canal at Horrocks Flash at 10:25 and the Wood Sandpiper still present in Pearsons Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 25 7:15 PM, 2013
Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper and 2 Common Sandpipers on Pearsons Flash this morning.
Little Egret on Rainfords Pool, Horrocks Flash (no access from the level crossing)
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Antony Wainwright said
Thu Jul 25 2:01 AM, 2013
Around Pearson's Flash
Wood, Green & Common Sandpiper, 1 of each until 5pm at least - all north side but hidden behind vegetation sometimes.
Also of note
Common Tern 9 inc 2 juveniles with one on Great crested Grebe nest being fed Whitethroat 3+ inc female with fledged young Tufted Duck 80+ inc 3 chicks with female on canal Willow Tit 1 Reed Warbler 5 Sedge Warbler 1 Great crested Grebe 13 +2 on nests Pochard 2 males Lapwing 45 Shoveler 2 Teal 1
Doc Brewster said
Wed Jul 24 11:19 PM, 2013
The Wood Sandpiper was present not too far out on the lefthand side of Pearson's at 2.10pm viewed from the canal path. A Green Sandpiper landed next to it & the two fed together, reported the 2nd sandpiper to RBA but they chose to just put the Wood Sand out
dave broome said
Wed Jul 24 8:00 PM, 2013
Wood Sandpiper still present on Pearson's Flash early pm today
bernard hooley said
Wed Jul 24 6:45 PM, 2013
mistake on my last post like stevens my godwits were black and not bar tailed just had a senior moment
steven burke said
Wed Jul 24 3:25 AM, 2013
an evening visit with phil Kelly.
much the same as bernards sightings, wood sandpiper showing on far side of pearsons 3 black tailed godwits reed warbler feeding juveniles
little egret on horrocks
bernard hooley said
Wed Jul 24 1:39 AM, 2013
pearsonsflash pm pochard lapwing bar tailed godwit common tern swift reed warbler mute swan canada goose black headed gull coot moorhen woodpigeon blackbird great crested grebe mallard grey heron wood sandpiper showing spasmodically
Frank Whitney said
Tue Jul 23 4:59 PM, 2013
Wood Sand showing well if distant up till 8 pm and around 3 juvenile common terns with some adult birds sat among B H Gulls , GC Grebes displaying , and a plethora of duck and geese and Hirundines , very humid a lsrge flock of juvenile homo sapiens diving in canal among the debris
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Jul 23 4:29 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash p.m. visit
1 Snipe 1 Little Egret showing well from the towpath(21.00)
cheers geoff
Jimmy Meadows said
Mon Jul 22 11:37 PM, 2013
Wood Sandpiper still on Pearsons 3:30 but can be elusive no show with Green Sandpiper while we were there
Jimmy Meadows + Allan Rimmer
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 22 4:42 PM, 2013
Both Wood and Green Sandpipers now on Pearsons Flash this morning.
Little Egret still intermittently on Horrocks Flash.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 22 12:18 AM, 2013
Little Egret back on Horrocks Flash at 5pm, viewed from the canal, along with a Wood Sandpiper and Green Sandpiper too!!
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 21 9:19 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash a.m. visit
No sign of the Little Egret but 4 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in for a visit,usual water fowl all present and correct.
cheers geoff&buster
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 21 5:06 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash, 1 Little Egret still present at 21.00
cheers geoff & buster (yes he,s back for his hols)
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jul 20 9:16 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash,weekly catch up,all as expected, the gulls and terns are having a good season so far.
1 Little Egret still present at 10.45,a nice surprise as I,d convinced myself that the birds from the colony were driving off any visitors,wrong again.
cheers geoff
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 20 4:47 PM, 2013
Little Egret on the front pool at Horrocks Flash at 09:45 this morning.
Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 14 5:06 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash,a couple of hours this a.m. ,YL4 is fine and back to it,s normal narky self,the Common Terns are doing well with at least 7 young now flying <img src="www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="biggrin" title="biggrin" />.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Jul 9 5:04 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash,quick update,one of the Mute swans YL4 has an injury around it,s right wing and has been bleeding a lot,the authorities have been alerted and a rescue/inspection is planned for tomorrow.
Horrocks Flash,evening chill out
Deep joy the eldest tern chicks have taken to the airand the last ones have hatched
cheers geoff
dave broome said
Tue Jul 2 10:35 PM, 2013
Approx 500 Swift showing at close range this afternoon along the embankment at the north end of Scotman's
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Jul 1 5:26 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash,a weeks worth of visit,s crammed into one post
The gull and tern colony is in full swing and very productive,although a few notable losses over the week.
cheers geoff
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Jun 30 9:12 PM, 2013
This AM Garden Warbler singing opp rear of Circular Garage Cettis Warbler singing nr Moss Bridge also 2pr Whitethroat feeding young Pearsons 2 Great Crested Grebes nests have been flooded out Westwood Great Crested Grebe with 1 chick coming along nicely. pr Mute Swans with 6 cygnets Canal Creche of Canada Geese now down to 18 from 25.
Jimmy
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Jun 23 9:07 PM, 2013
This AM Pearsons 2 pr Great Crested Grebe battling to keep there nests from being flooded. Westwood pr Great Crested Grebe with 1 young.
Jimmy
Jimmy Meadows said
Thu Jun 20 11:52 PM, 2013
Pearsons Flash Red Crested Pochard (F) this morning.
Jimmy
Geoff Hargreaves said
Thu Jun 20 5:30 AM, 2013
Usual evening stroll,
Horrocks Flash,all present and correct,of note 8 Grey Heron all lined up on spoonbill flats,looked like a teach in to me 80 Swift 2 Mistle Thrush, very agitated mobbing Magpie really to much going on to type up
Bryn Marsh,the Starling roost is still building up with at least 90% of them juv
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 16 9:53 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash a.m. wander,all as expected,the gulls and terns are doing well and 4 broods of 3,1,2,2,Great Crested Grebe dotted around the flash.Just out of the flashes recording area a pair of Mute Swan have hatched 2 cygnets on the canal,much to the delight of the many 'swan watchers' who have been waiting with baited breath.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Jun 10 5:06 AM, 2013
Bryn Marsh, dusk
1000+ Starlings coming into roost 1 Peregrine perched on the pylon above the starlings
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 9 9:01 PM, 2013
Early a.m. Horrocks Flash,all as expected
1 Buzzard 1 Mistle Thrush
some strange reports of a Cuckoo around Westwood and even stranger a report of a mancy birder going cuckoo at moss bridge cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jun 8 9:20 PM, 2013
a.m. tour of the flashes,usual residents all present, of note
1 Cetti,s warbler at moss bridge showing well (for once) 1 Red-crested pochard on Horrocks from the rear screen
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun May 26 9:38 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash a.m. visit no sign of the Scaup, usual residents some with youngsters 1 Red-crested Pochard,briefly near the islets 3 Pochard 1 Buzzard
Bryn Marsh 2 Mute Swan with a fine brood of 8
cheers geoff
David Duncan said
Sun May 26 6:06 AM, 2013
Nice afternoon on the flashes, full circuit of pearsons produced, blackcap, chiffchaff, willow warbler, reed warbler, sedge warbler, whitethroat, reed bunting, jay, buzzard, and all the usual suspects. Numbers down on previous years, particularly hirrundines. Oh and the reed beds seemed a little bare.
Phil Barnett said
Wed May 22 5:26 PM, 2013
6.00 AM Horrocks Flash Scaup (male) Common Sandpiper 2 Pochard (male) Gadwall (male) Common Tern c10 Kingfisher Garden Warbler (singing)
Near Carr Lane entrance Cettis Warbler (singing) Willow Tit
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue May 21 5:02 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash p.m visit
1 Drake Scaup,on the front pool firstly giving great views from the towpath,then after a little preen it swam into the midst of the islets and was displaying to a female Tufted. Numerous Black-Headed gulls and Common Terns all vying for space amongst the islets.
cheers geoff
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 20 5:55 AM, 2013
Cetti's Warbler seen and heard well today, in Brambles by the canal bridge at Hawkley Reedbed.
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon May 20 5:31 AM, 2013
Full tour of the flashes this a.m.the hirundine circus has moved on with just a few lingering.of note
1 Common Sandpiper(turners)
1 Scaup missing a.m but back on Horrocks front pool at 21.00
6 Dunlin 2 Pochard 1m 1f 1 Scuap ( drake) on the front pool @20.30 ,sorry you missed it Mike but I think it,s quite flighty (pennington on monday) 100ish Swallow
cheers geoff
Mike Passant said
Thu May 16 4:05 AM, 2013
Back down again (this time mainly on family business), Barb and I rounded off a wet couple of days of nevertheless enjoyable birding with a walk round Wigan Flashes in fine weather prior to setting off back north. - Usual stuff, but just to add to the "Dunlin" picture, a party of 8 were on the islets of Horrocks's Flash at 16.45. Also 2 drake Pochard: 1 on Horrocks's; one on Scotsmans. No sign of the Scaup, (though it could have been lurking in the great expanses behind Horrocks's; - finally beaten by the clock again).
Nice to bump into John and Ron - birding companions respectively from Wales in the 70's and Scilly in the mid 80's!
Regards to all, Mike P.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun May 12 10:11 PM, 2013
Horrocks Flash p.m. visit to check the roost,usual residents and of note
1 Drake Scaup feeding in the middle of the front pool easily viewable from the towpath
and just for interest a Mallard duckling (Solo) who,s been an orphan on the canal from a very young age has started to develop feathers and against all odds seems set to fledge,
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Sunday 12th of May 2013 10:22:05 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun May 12 4:46 AM, 2013
Horrocks Flash am in the drizzle
Usual residents and of note a huge flock Hirundines,mostly resting in the reed beds and confined to the front pool
350 Barn Swallow 50 House Martin 30 Swift
Cheers geoff
Jon Bowen said
Wed May 8 5:46 PM, 2013
Hoping to make a dash across to the Flashes this pm - so any news on the Red Crested Pochard & Scaup would be greatly appreciated
Info thanks to Judith Smith
9 Black Tailed Godwit
2 Redshank
1 Snipe
No sign of Wood Sandpiper while i was there.
Jimmy
1 Little Egret still present ,viewed from the towpath
there are directions to the flashes on the main website site,
cheers geoff&buster
Thanks John, I found it a few minutes after as I was parked near Wigan Pier when I posted, so I asked a kind local and they told me to park on a waste ground lay bye area near the mini roundabout not far from the church. I was 50yds off the canal so I was happy.
Only visited Pearson's Flash due to time.
Birds of note : -
Wood Sandpiper showing well but quite far out (a Lifer)
Lapwing, Great Crested Grebe, and Tufted Duck in abundance, and alot of these 3 species seem to be well grown youngsters.
Common Tern - 7. Very noisy and flighty so probably some juveniles.
In the reeds on Pearson's edge, a loud reeling over the normal Grasshoppers stopped me in my tracks, I stayed still and looked down from the towpath towards the reeds, a small mid brown bird took flight from low in the reeds and delicately flew about 10ft in distance along the reed edge, it had a fan-like tail and a fluttery flight. If this was a Grasshopper Warbler then it's a Lifer for me as I've only ever heard them. But the more I hope it was, the more I suspect it could've been a young Reed Warbler that just happened to show as the Grasshopper Warbler was reeling.
Oh well...maybe the one that got away!
Park at poolstock church WN3 5EZ -walk across the main road and you are on the Leeds- Liverpool canal, walk right half a mile cross the first bridge turn right about 300 yards pearsons on your left.
:)
Many thanks
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Little Egret on Rainfords Pool, Horrocks Flash (no access from the level crossing)
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Wood, Green & Common Sandpiper, 1 of each until 5pm at least - all north side but hidden behind vegetation sometimes.
Also of note
Common Tern 9 inc 2 juveniles with one on Great crested Grebe nest being fed
Whitethroat 3+ inc female with fledged young
Tufted Duck 80+ inc 3 chicks with female on canal
Willow Tit 1
Reed Warbler 5
Sedge Warbler 1
Great crested Grebe 13 +2 on nests
Pochard 2 males
Lapwing 45
Shoveler 2
Teal 1
like stevens my godwits were black and not bar tailed just had a senior moment
much the same as bernards sightings,
wood sandpiper showing on far side of pearsons
3 black tailed godwits
reed warbler feeding juveniles
little egret on horrocks
pochard
lapwing
bar tailed godwit
common tern
swift
reed warbler
mute swan
canada goose
black headed gull
coot
moorhen
woodpigeon
blackbird
great crested grebe
mallard
grey heron
wood sandpiper showing spasmodically
1 Snipe
1 Little Egret showing well from the towpath(21.00)
cheers geoff
Jimmy Meadows + Allan Rimmer
Little Egret still intermittently on Horrocks Flash.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Info thanks to Judith Smith
No sign of the Little Egret but 4 Black-tailed Godwit dropped in for a visit,usual water fowl all present and correct.
cheers geoff&buster
1 Little Egret still present at 21.00
cheers geoff & buster (yes he,s back for his hols)
1 Little Egret still present at 10.45,a nice surprise as I,d convinced myself that the birds from the colony were driving off any visitors,wrong again.
cheers geoff
Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves
cheers geoff
cheers geoff <img src="www.sparkimg.com/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="biggrin" title="biggrin" />
The gull and tern colony is in full swing and very productive,although a few notable losses over the week.
cheers geoff
Garden Warbler singing opp rear of Circular Garage
Cettis Warbler singing nr Moss Bridge
also 2pr Whitethroat feeding young
Pearsons
2 Great Crested Grebes nests have been flooded out
Westwood
Great Crested Grebe with 1 chick coming along nicely.
pr Mute Swans with 6 cygnets
Canal
Creche of Canada Geese now down to 18 from 25.
Jimmy
Pearsons
2 pr Great Crested Grebe battling to keep there nests from being flooded.
Westwood
pr Great Crested Grebe with 1 young.
Jimmy
Red Crested Pochard (F) this morning.
Jimmy
Horrocks Flash,all present and correct,of note
8 Grey Heron all lined up on spoonbill flats,looked like a teach in to me
80 Swift
2 Mistle Thrush, very agitated mobbing Magpie
really to much going on to type up
Bryn Marsh,the Starling roost is still building up with at least 90% of them juv
cheers geoff
cheers geoff
1000+ Starlings coming into roost
1 Peregrine perched on the pylon above the starlings
cheers geoff
1 Buzzard
1 Mistle Thrush
some strange reports of a Cuckoo around Westwood and even stranger a report of a mancy birder going cuckoo at moss bridge
cheers geoff
1 Cetti,s warbler at moss bridge showing well (for once)
1 Red-crested pochard on Horrocks from the rear screen
cheers geoff
3 Pochard
1 Buzzard
Bryn Marsh
2 Mute Swan with a fine brood of 8
cheers geoff
Scaup (male)
Common Sandpiper 2
Pochard (male)
Gadwall (male)
Common Tern c10
Kingfisher
Garden Warbler (singing)
Near Carr Lane entrance
Cettis Warbler (singing)
Willow Tit
1 Drake Scaup,on the front pool firstly giving great views from the towpath,then after a little preen it swam into the midst of the islets and was displaying to a female Tufted.
Numerous Black-Headed gulls and Common Terns all vying for space amongst the islets.
cheers geoff
Info thanks to Phil Kelly
1 Common Sandpiper(turners)
1 Scaup missing a.m but back on Horrocks front pool at 21.00
the reed beds are crammed with warblers
cheers geoff
1 Scuap,the drake
2 Black-necked Grebe
1 Buzzard mobbed by,crows,heron,gulls
cheers geoff
1 Scuap (drake) still present on the front pool
cheers geoff
6 Dunlin
2 Pochard 1m 1f
1 Scuap ( drake) on the front pool @20.30 ,sorry you missed it Mike but I think it,s quite flighty (pennington on monday)
100ish Swallow
cheers geoff
Back down again (this time mainly on family business), Barb and I rounded off a wet couple of days of nevertheless enjoyable birding with a walk round Wigan Flashes in fine weather prior to setting off back north.
- Usual stuff, but just to add to the "Dunlin" picture, a party of 8 were on the islets of Horrocks's Flash at 16.45.
Also 2 drake Pochard: 1 on Horrocks's; one on Scotsmans. No sign of the Scaup, (though it could have been lurking in the great expanses behind Horrocks's; - finally beaten by the clock again).
Nice to bump into John and Ron - birding companions respectively from Wales in the 70's and Scilly in the mid 80's!
Regards to all,
Mike P.
1 Drake Scaup feeding in the middle of the front pool easily viewable from the towpath
and just for interest a Mallard duckling (Solo) who,s been an orphan on the canal from a very young age has started to develop feathers and against all odds seems set to fledge,
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Sunday 12th of May 2013 10:22:05 PM
Usual residents and of note a huge flock Hirundines,mostly resting in the reed beds and confined to the front pool
350 Barn Swallow
50 House Martin
30 Swift
Cheers geoff
1 Red Crested Pochard (f)
1 Scaup (m)
1 Kestrel
Reed Warbler calling