Horrocks Flash ,am wander
usual waterfowl
20 fieldfare
4 mistle thrush
1 repoll
4 bullfinch
2 treecreeper
1 buzzard
1 kestrel
1 slavonian grebe,still faithfull to it,s chosen spot

cheers geoff

a Cetti's Warbler sang today at Pearson's Flash, in reeds at the east end of the main flash near to Ince Brook (i.e. clockwise from the viewing screen, just past the large Willows, in the vicinity of the black steel gate on the causeway)

also 1 Goosander and 10 Pheasant

Horrocks Flash
12:30-14:30 with Thorpe senior

1 Slavonian Grebe
1 Buzzard
10 Goosander (6 on, 4 over)
300+ Teal
2 Goldeneye (pair)
18 Pochard
3 Snipe
c200 Lapwing
1 Mistle Thrush
1 Treecreeper
1 Willow Tit
1 Coal Tit
2 Reed Bunting


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 11th of December 2011 07:02:17 PM

Horrocks Flash,midday, billinge rain to wet stuff,not pleasant
6 goosander
2 snipe
3 bullfinch
5 redpol
1 common gull
usual water fowl
1 slavonian grebe,still on the north pool sticking to it,s patch
1 redwing

cheers geoff

Spent a freezing morning there - missed the Slavonian :(

Highlights were

6 Goosander on the canal
Peregrine on a pylon
2 Willow Tits at feeding station

Horrocks Flash,full tour in inclement weather

all usual waterfowl,good numbers of teal,gadwall on the rear pool.
The slavonian grebe is still on the north pool and showing very well down to 20m at times,Mr Isherwood reports it still present at 14.00

cheers geoffI,ve just added it to my anticlockwise horrocks list

10/12/11

Slavonian Grebe still on Horrocks Flash north pool at midday, showing really close..

Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves

Cetti's Warbler calling today at Turner's Flash, in reeds along the narrow arm of the flash, about half-way between the canal and the main waterbody

a flock of about 80 finches feeding by Turner's Flash/Moss Bridge, comprised of 40+ Goldfinch, 20+ Lesser Redpoll and 10+ Siskin

Slavonian Grebe was showing really well in the narrows of the north pool when I got there at 12.15.

Slavonian Grebe present on the north pool of Horrock's Flash this morning.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

4 adult Great Black-Backed Gulls on Scotman's this morning

Horrocks Flash10.00 till 11.30 front pool only

5 pochard
4 shoveler
6 teal and usual waterfowl
of note 2 whooper swans flew over at 10.40 then landed at 10.42
they did a couple of 'lengths' of the front pool then departed SE at11.00 after being mobbed by black headed gulls.
Also of note a distant unconfirmed sighting of a mancy birder,somewhat breathless pointing skywards and smiling,going off jizz a probable woosey
sp,

cheers geoff

Wednesday, 23rd Nov. 9.30 to 14.30.

Hawkley reedbeds, Pearson's Flash, Turners' Flash. - A really nice wander round and some new areas explored. (Found the way all round Pearsons for the first time).

45 species, inc. 2 "heard only"- Cetti's Warbler, and Water Rails (latter heard in 3 places). - No sign of Bittern of course.

Fun with Cetti's Warbler:

I was checking through a mixed finch flock (about 30/40 Lesser Redpolls with a few Goldfinches) trying to pick out a Siskin which I had heard, when we heard Cetti's Warbler give a typical burst of song; this was at 11.50. We were about 200yds from the canal bridge, on the path which runs at right angles to the canal en route to Turner's Flash.
The bird was somewhere in the extensive phragmites bed which here runs for some hundreds of yards parallel to the path. As it seemed quite close, we positioned ourselves on one of two mounds in a little wooded copse. This seemed to afford a decent vantage point and a reasonable chance of a view of the bird, especially as there were several small saplings in the reedbed, into which it might well perch up if we were patient.
I felt quite confident that we would see the bird, especially as there was not a breath of wind.
We were then treated to 20 minutes of vocal entertainment: calls, (typically explosive "plits") and what I took to be some low key subsong; some gentler renderings of its normal songburst and several "full on" blasts. I had to pinch myself that this was in Greater Manchester; - really good to at least hear it.
The bird ceased quite suddenly and completely at 12.15, so then we carried on exploring the far side of Turner's Flash.
Despite our patience, we saw not a single movement in the phragmites, though the bird was at some stage within 40 ft. and we could look down into the reeds in some spots as far as 30 + ft.
-So, round one to Mr. Cetti, but be warned we know you are there!!

Mike and Barbara Passant

A couple of hours this morning in very dull conditions taking in Scotsmans, Pearsons and Turners flashes.

Good numbers of large gulls on Scotsmans.
1 Little Grebe on Scotsmans
4 Goldeneye on Pearsons
Mixed flock of Goldfinch, Lesser Redpoll & Siskin feeding on Alders on the canal towpath.
3 Greater Spotted Woodpecker near Moss bridge.
Cetti's Warbler singing near to the kissing gate at Turners flash.

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

---

Mid morning wander with Ms Foulks,not one of our best bird days,but we managed to dig out

1 treecreeper

12 goldeneye on pearsons

1 blackbird at moss bridge(just one of those days)

1 greater spotted woodpecker flying onto a church spire on the way home
And worst quote of the day,'that,s Turners Flash over there,sod all for a long walk'
Lot,s of usual water fowl

cheers geoff

---

Thanks for that Geoff

That was one I was trying to sweep under the carpet, certainly not my most successful day! Thanks for the tour though

I saw a Kingfisher on Scotsmans, which evaded Geoff.

Some you win and some you lose

Mid morning wander with Ms Foulks,not one of our best bird days,but we managed to dig out

1 treecreeper

12 goldeneye on pearsons

1 blackbird at moss bridge(just one of those days)

1 greater spotted woodpecker flying onto a church spire on the way home
And worst quote of the day,'that,s Turners Flash over there,sod all for a long walk'
Lot,s of usual water fowl

cheers geoff

Bittern at Turners Flash, late morning.

A Cetti's Warbler sang at 12:35 today at the SE corner of Pearson's Flash, in the reedbed on the edge of the main flash

Also there Goldcrest, Treecreeper and Coal Tit with a small Long-Tailed Tit flock
7 Water Rails heard Pearson's

Cetti's Warbler showed at 1:30 today at the south end of Scotman's, in Willows on the edge of Hawkley Reedbed adjacent to the boardwalk. It called a few times, but didn't sing during my time there. It was preening low down in a Willow for a short while, when it was possible to see that it wasn't ringed (three Cetti's having been ringed at Woolston this autumn I think?)

3 Goosander flew along (and probably landed on) the canal

Treecreeper, Willow Tit and Goldcrest in the vicinity of the feeding station

24 Herring Gull and 26 Lesser Black-Backed on Scotman's this morning, the latter including an adult L.f.intermedius

Kingfisher on Bryn Marsh at dusk, also there at least 4 calling Water Rails, 2 Shoveler, at least 7 Pheasant in the vicinity and 2 Snipe

Horrocks Flash 8.30 11.00 full tour
usual waterfowl but a little thinner on the ground,of note
6 bullfinch
2 common gull
1 black headed gull with a partial hood(amongst the many)
2 juv herring gulls(nearly sure)
23 mute swans,DC6 DO6 DF6 (3 cygnets) UNX LJ4 and YP4(all blue darvic rings) in amongst the crowd,and one swan with a red darvic that just couldn,t be read but rumour is it,s a yorkshire bird that,s seen the light

cheers geoff

0940-1430 with Phil Kelly

The Cetti's sang briefly, but was drowned out by some noisy dog walkers. Otherwise it was rather windy and there was no further singing.

Other sightings

1 Shelduck on Scotsmans
c15 Goldeneye around Scotsmans and Pearsons
c34 Herring Gull on Scotsmans with more coming in later over Pearsons
8 Pink Footed Geese over
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Magpies were beginning to arrive at Hawkley as we were leaving

Otherwise, most of the usual stuff about.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 13th of November 2011 10:31:05 PM

Horrocks Flash front pool only 9 till 11.30
sparrowhawk,great spotted woodpecker,mistle thrush and large tit flock
by the canal
The front pool was crammed with birds,mute swans,canada,coot,moorhen,gadwall,mallard,1wigeon,shoveler,teal,tufted
great crested grebe,grey heron,bh gull,lesser black backed and herring
5 female goosander
20 snipe(in flight and then on the deck)

Hawkley Reed Bed quick visit 12.30 13.00
Cetti,s warbler still present, heard near the boardwalk only two 'bursts'one at 12.40 and again at 12.50.

cheers geoff

Three whooper swans arrived from high to the east and dropped into Horrock's at 3.45 pm today.

As nick said very brief views of the Cetti,s were obtained this morning apart from the usuals I watched a raven having it,s brekkie on top of the pylon at bryn marsh,not sure what it was but it left a good portion as it flew off towards wigan(pie shop opens at 9).

cheers geoff

Had another go for the Cetti's again this morning.

Arrived on site where Ian Woosey and Geoff Hargreaves where already in attendance. The bird was singing well when I arrived and after ten minutes we were treated to a brief view of it for about 30 seconds.

After this Geoff kindly gave me a guided tour of the eastern end of the flashes. We covered Ochre, Bryn, Horrocks and Rainfords flashes with Geoff showing me all the best viewing spots. Although we didn't see anything out of the ordinary it was still a great way to spend a Sunday morning and I'm very thankful to Geoff for taking the time to do this.

Cetti's still singing from the vicinity of the feeding station at 9:35.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Stayed in the area until 1540. The Cetti's sang infrequently in the afternoon and the last I heard of it was 1504 at the School end of the boardwalk.

Hawkley Feeding Station,easily missedand one of the 'must see' if
your visiting the flashes,so an easy guide

from the Hawkley School entrance,turn right and follow the footpath between the flashes and school railings for 100m ,turn left at the information board ' a history of wigan flashes' 20m on the right and your there.It,s well hidden but an obvious screen when found.

Smashing spot overlooking Hawkley Reed Bed

cheers geoff

Made a return to the flashes today to try and get a view of the Cetti's for my brother John and his Son Lewis. After a frustrating start to the morning with no sightings just lots of singing, i eventually got two separate glimpses, low at base of reeds (but my brother missed it twice).
Finally after gambling on making our way to the path instead of the high vantage point it showed better than could of been hoped for in the tree mid way up giving great views before returning for cover! Great to meet some birders today, Jimmy, Steve and Phil amongst others.
Also around in the morning one Kingfisher, 2 Ravens, whooper swan flock over, Redwing and a sole Fieldfare.
Looking for some great new sites near to Salford any ideas??

8-12pm with phil kelly.
no views off the cettis for me or phil,but still plenty off noise & movement from the little blighter. however it managed to show for kevin kelly & friend(sorry did not get your name) & young lad with them,nice to meet you kevin & welcome to the forum.
nice to meet other manchester birders,karen foulkes,jimmy meadows,geoff hargreaves & nick isherwood.
other birds around...
35 whooper swans over scotmans flash at 8.40am south/east
upto 300 pinkfooted geese over 11.30am south/west
1 snipe over
1 fieldfare
1 willow tit
2 wigeon
plenty off water rails (heard only)
plenty off coots & tufted ducks on scotmans flash + lapwings over
good number off goldfinches around inc linnet,siskin & greenfinch.

thanks again phil for lift

Had another go for the Cetti's this morning from 11.30 till 1.00.

There were already a few Manchester birders on site who had heard the bird calling from the direction of Hawkley reedbed. Whilst I was there, I heard the bird a couple of times from that direction and so decided I would venture over towards the feeding station to see if it showed. I did manage to hear it once from near the station at quite close range but couldn't locate the bird due to the density if the scrub.

Another wait from near the bridge failed to hear it call again.

Other birds noted whilst I was there were:
c300 Pink feet over at 11.30.
1 Grey Wagtail
2 Water Rail - heard only
1 Snipe

Nice to meet fellow Manchester birders down there - Karen Foulkes, Steve Burke, Phil Kelly, Ian Campbell, Jimmy Meadows and Judith Smith.

Cetti,s Warbler heard firstly at moss bridge but quite mobile and was last heard
in Hawkley reed bed,nice to see jimmy and karen,congrat,s to the birders who had good views.
Also of note 1 kingfisher,4 wigeon,30 whooper swans(over west 8.45)from the rear of Pearsons
Hawkley Feeding Station,blue,great,willow and coal tit,and a tree sparrowflashes first for me.

cheers geoff

Friday 4th Nov: 1 Swallow south at Scotman's
5 Lesser Redpoll with 35+ Goldfinch around Turner's Flash/Moss Bridge
3 Willow Tit Moss Bridge
60 Fieldfare SW
8 Water Rail heard Hawkley Reedbed and Turner's Flash, with one seen crossing a channel in the reeds



-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 5th of November 2011 12:08:08 PM

Cetti's Warbler still singing by Moss Bridge this morning and hiding from those trying to see it

Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves

This afternoon with John Parkinson:-

Cetti's Warbler....................

Nothing seen or heard from previous location despite a lengthy watch
Mark Chapman present as well.
Bird eventually heard on opposite side of canal. Opposite Bridge number 2.
I understand that this is the narrow end of Turners Flash.
Bird heard to within 10 yards calling 6 times around 4pm.
Bird glimpsed, by another birder present, on the other side (to us) of the dead Hawthorn tree on the left of reedbed.

-- Edited by keith mills on Friday 4th of November 2011 06:47:38 PM

Cetti's Warbler still singing from the same location this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Broome

Thanks guys!
i was surprised at how vast the flashes were,
Aside from the Cetti's other birds included;
Water rail flushed from one of the trails, a couple of teal, Four Redwing feeding with blackbirds. Lots of common ducks and b h gulls.
Hopefully the Cetti's sticks around can't see why not with it confidently singing away and the spot it's favouring is perfect habitat!

kevin kelly wrote:

---

Hello everyone I am new to the forum and thought i'd say hello.
I found the cettis this morning singing away and eventually it showed, i put the info on birdguides with directions i hope people got them as it was my first visit to Wigan flashes

---

Hi Kevin, welcome to the forum. Thats a cracking record for your first visit to the flashes.

I went down this afternoon to try and locate the Cetti's and after a bit of wandering around I did manage to hear the bird calling from the trees to the right of the path just before the canal bridge. Unfortunately though I couldn't locate the bird. Shortly after I was joined on the hunt by Judith Smith and despite hearing the bird again we drew a blank.

Hopefully it will hang around for a while.

Great find Kevin and what an introduction to the Wigan Flashes for you! Thanks for putting out the news. It sang just a couple of times at lunchtime in a 30 minute period, still in the area of Willow scrub at the corner of Hawkley Reedbed between the boardwalk and the canal



Late news from yesterday 2nd Nov: a noisy flock of at least 14 Crossbills flew low over Westwood Park Road towards Westwood Flash, but were presumably just passing through

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 3rd of November 2011 05:49:34 PM

Hello everyone I am new to the forum and thought i'd say hello.
I found the cettis this morning singing away and eventually it showed, i put the info on birdguides with directions i hope people got them as it was my first visit to Wigan flashes

Cetti's Warbler still present and singing at 12:20.

Info thanks to Dave Broome

Cetti's Warbler reported at Wigan Flashes this morning. One reported singing and showing on and off; go through Carr lane entrance and over boardwalk with reedbed signs to view trees and reeds right of track leading to raised canal pat.

Rear of Pearsons dawn till 10.30
1 goldeneye
9 pochard
40 fieldfare
26 redwing
1 pied wagtail
reed bunting,robin,blackbird,usual waterfowl

dull and overcast and just a bit quiet after the last few weeks

cheers geoff

Horrocks Flash,quick look at the front pool only early am
25 mute swans
25 fieldfare over
30 redwing over
usual water fowl

cheers geoff

A Nuthatch at Westwood yesterday, a rarity on the Flashes, was in woodland by the new Westwood Park Road, i.e. north of Pearson's Flash



-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 29th of October 2011 11:38:36 AM

Tuesday 25th: Scotman's gull roost seems to have ended for now, only a couple of Lesser Black-Backed and several Black-Headed present after sunset
other birds present on Scotman's included 15 Pochard, 9 Wigeon and 2 Teal

Pearsons,first light (nice when it,s 8 ish)
Usual water fowl,of note in a frantic half hour
1 peregrine
1 kestrel
1 sparrowhawk
4 snipe
1 buzzard
fieldfare and redwing over

cheers geoff