BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Gordon Newman said
Sun May 1 1:31 PM, 2022
09.00-12.00 Terrible record shot of Female Marsh Harrier first seen on North side of Park briefly @ 10.35 through gap in trees then seen again on South side over New Water @ 11.40. Marsh Harrier was a surprise but an even bigger surprise was 2 SANDWICH TERN flying over New Water WNW @ 11.45. Garden Warbler by Choke Pond makes all the regular warblers back on site except for Lesser Whitethroat which is not regular.
08.00-10.15 Walk across centre of parkland back 1 Swift N 7 Grasshopper Warbler - 3 on South side 4 on North side 5 Sedge Warbler - 3 on North side 2 on South side Plenty of Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Blackcap throughout.
Lez Fairclough said
Tue Apr 26 12:09 AM, 2022
1:30pm to 4:30pm - A day of Warblers with 7 different species seen.
Willow Warbler - could be heard singing all around the reserve.
Reed Warbler - 12 with 4 seen around New Water & Nevison Flash reedbeds.
Cetti's Warbler - 3 with 2 seen at Nevison Flash reedbeds.
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 seen reeling and a lifer for me (many thanks to Gordon Newman for approx. location)
Blackcap & a few Whitethroats & Chiffchaffs made up the rest.
Also of note :- Wheatear (F); Bullfinch (M); Chaffinch (M); Goldfinch; Linnet; 2 Pheasant; 3 Grey Heron; Song Thrush;
Nuthatch; 2 Buzzards; Kestrel; Swallow & Sand Martin over.
Hobby flew East low over Nevison's Flash @18.11 Other sightings today on South side off Park 3 Grasshopper Warbler 5 Cetti's Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 6 Whitethroat 15+ Reed Warbler
Gordon Newman said
Mon Apr 18 1:16 PM, 2022
11.47 A Little Egret flew South high over playing field then suddenly circled overhead at which point I then picked up a second bird even higher, I heard them call before I lost sight of them in cloud and didn't see which direction they went.
Gordon Newman said
Sun Apr 17 3:51 PM, 2022
9.00-11.30 1 Yellow Wagtail N calling 4 Grasshopper Warbler 4 Whitethroat 2 Sedge Warbler 6 Reed Warbler 1 Drake Mandarin on Nevison's Flash presumably the same bird from Pennington Wharf /Flash.
Gordon Newman said
Thu Apr 14 10:48 PM, 2022
Further sightings this evening 5 Cetti's Warbler 2 Sedge Warbler 2 Grasshopper Warbler 1 Snipe flushed by a Buzzard
12.30-14.30 Not the best time of day for productivity highlights being 7 Willow Warbler 2 Swallow 2 Blackcap
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 11th of April 2022 04:46:41 PM
Gordon Newman said
Fri Apr 8 7:53 PM, 2022
Little Egret flew NW over Plank Lane @ 19.38
Gordon Newman said
Thu Mar 24 1:10 PM, 2022
10.15 - 12.30 From Plank Lane round Fir Tree Flash and back Of note 1 Willow Warbler 18 Chiffchaff 3 Cetti's Warbler Pair of Teal 4 Great spotted Woodpecker drumming 8
Gordon Newman said
Sun Mar 20 1:10 PM, 2022
Mid morning 2 Raven present
Lez Fairclough said
Fri Mar 18 8:45 PM, 2022
14-15 to 16-45 - a walk in beautiful weather round most of the country park.
Nevison Flash area - 2 Chiffchaffs & a Chaffinch in full song with a single male Reed Bunting & a flushed Snipe on the flash edge.
South Rucks - 2 Buzzards one with prey being harassed by a Carrion Crow.
Fir Tree Flash - 2 each of Shoveler & Cormorant, a Greylag Goose, plus what I think were 2 domestic Indian Runner Ducks.
Also seen - 2 Skylarks, 4 Long-Tailed Tits & few Goldfinch.
09.00-1115 South Ruck, New Water and back to Plank Lane Of note: 2 Chiffchaff singing. 1 Woodcock flushed accidentally from long grass 2ft away, it was clearly eyeballing me as he/she lifted off vertically. 7 Redwing. 3 Cetti's Warbler
Gordon Newman said
Thu Mar 3 11:57 AM, 2022
As far as South side of Fir Tree Flash and back. 4 Cetti's Warbler very vocal this morning, as were the 2 pairs of Little Grebe on Nevison's Flash. 8 Siskin 2 Grey Partridge Plenty of Reed Bunting back now setting up territory. 3 Singing Skylark.
Gordon Newman said
Thu Feb 17 12:41 PM, 2022
Siberian Chiffchaff calling and seen briefly in treeline between Nevisons's Flash and allotments 11.45
Gordon Newman said
Mon Feb 14 7:04 PM, 2022
16.40 Single Little Egret flew West over Plank Lane continuing over playing field
Gordon Newman said
Wed Jan 26 6:08 PM, 2022
1 possibly 2 Woodcock flying over trees between Nevison's Flash and New Water @17.20 and then again @17.26 both times flying towards top rucks.
Gordon Newman said
Mon Jan 24 12:12 PM, 2022
Flushed Woodcock accidently close to Nevison's Flash mid morning
Gordon Newman said
Sun Jan 23 4:53 PM, 2022
15.00 16.15 walk over to and round Fir Tree Flash and back to Plank Lane Highlights 7 Grey Partridge 75+ Pink footed Geese West 2 Goosander
Gordon Newman said
Fri Dec 24 2:30 PM, 2021
Single Jack Snipe flew up from New Water, circled and flew off SW @ 11.40
Gordon Newman said
Thu Nov 11 2:36 PM, 2021
10.30-13.15 Nevison's Flash and area around the South ruck
100+ Redwing feeding on berries but very mobile, 15+ Linnet, on and around the top ruck
17.15-18.15
3 Cetti's Warbler singing (2 from central ditch the other from New Water), barely audible above the din from motorbikes Again just about audible roosting Redwing in trees between Nevison's Flash and playing field
Gordon Newman said
Thu Oct 7 6:26 PM, 2021
10.15 - 1145 Highlights
South ruck overlooking housing estate /Plank Lane swing Bridge
1 Marsh Harrier over West - flew from behind me, caught sight of it flying away from me to the East of Crankwood (turned round when gone, took one stride and flushed a Common Snipe) Single Coal Tit in a roaming mixed Tit flock 9 Swallow drifting SW slowly as they fed 8 Grey Partridge 6 Common Snipe SW 3 Lesser Redpoll 1 Raven 5 Chiffchaff Nevison's Flash Water Rail squealing 1 Cetti's Warbler
Gordon Newman said
Mon Oct 4 9:41 PM, 2021
14.00 - 16.15 1 M Stonechat on edge of playing field 1 Grey Wagtail flew over playing field SW and continued of C. P boundary Resident pair of Raven 2 Grey Partridge 1 Cetti's Warbler
Gordon Newman said
Mon Sep 13 1:39 PM, 2021
10 50-12.45 Covey of 9 Grey Partridge Usual 2 Raven Meadow Pipit numbers building daily
Gordon Newman said
Sun Sep 12 1:35 PM, 2021
07.15-10.30 Common Lane as far as South side of Fir Tree Flash and back. Highlights : 1 Yellow Wagtail S 2 Grey Wagtail W 2 Whitethroat 1 Hobby E 1 Sparrowhawk 15 Chiffchaff 1 Cetti's Warbler 1 Kingfisher 2 Raven 10 Mistle Thrush 3 Willow Tit
Single Sand Martin
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 12th of September 2021 01:37:52 PM
Gordon Newman said
Thu Sep 9 12:00 PM, 2021
09.30 - 11.30 As far as New Water and back to Plank/Common Lane 1 Green Sandpiper flew over calling SE 1 Goosander S 1 Reed Warbler in central ditch still
Brief visit at dusk 20.30 300 + Swallow feeding over New Water Water Rail heard only
Gordon Newman said
Sun Aug 15 12:53 PM, 2021
08.00 - 10. 00 3 possibly 4 Sedge Warbler skulking in scrub along the edge of the playing field 3 family parties of Reed Warbler 2 Cetti's Warbler singing briefly Plenty of Willow Warbler still with a couple in full song
Report from a dog walker of an Egret sp ( possible Great White from the description) that flew up over from the New Water a couple of weeks ago
Gordon Newman said
Thu Aug 5 11:29 AM, 2021
08.45 - 11.00 1 Raven 1 Blackcap 1 Grasshopper Warbler 2 Sedge Warbler 2 Whitethroat Several Reed Warbler Family party of Buzzard 3 Kestrel 1 Willow Tit
Gordon Newman said
Mon Aug 2 12:28 PM, 2021
Mid a.m New Water of note, 2 Lesser Redpoll high NE calling Family party of Tufted Duck 2 adult & 1Juvenile Buzzard 1 Sparrowhawk
Gordon Newman said
Sun Aug 1 3:41 PM, 2021
11.30 - 13.30 4 Common Term South 2 Whitethroat Family party of Reed Warbler Grey Partridge calling
Gordon Newman said
Mon Jul 19 10:16 PM, 2021
Tawny Owl calling this evening towards Crankwood direction whilst stood by Nevison's Flash. Adult Kestrel passed food to Juvenile in flight
Gordon Newman said
Sun Jul 18 10:21 PM, 2021
300+ Swallow and 100+Swift feeding over New Water area this evening
Gordon Newman said
Mon Jul 12 5:03 PM, 2021
4 Common Term flew over high ESE @4.30
Ernest Sherman said
Thu Jun 3 10:20 PM, 2021
9.30-1.30 Huge walk around most of the area with my 5 year old granddaughter.. She loved it. Anyway highlights were.. Fantastic close up view of Reed Warbler... 1 male Kestrel... 2 Cetti's Warbler calling... Several Grasshopper Warbler reeling... Lots of Swift and House Martins over Nevisons Flash and lots of the summer Warblers.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 27 9:51 PM, 2021
A rufous phase Cuckoo flew along the rucks behind Nevisons flash at 10:50am today and a Garden Warbler was singing too.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Gordon Newman said
Sun May 16 11:36 AM, 2021
Male Cuckoo called twice from the general direction of Crankwood mid morning whilst stood on ruck above New Water (better late rather than not at all!)
Gordon Newman said
Wed May 12 5:48 PM, 2021
Not seen Lesser Whitethroat since but was near to Bracken Road moving through in between rain showers
John Watson said
Wed May 12 3:27 PM, 2021
2 Grasshopper Warblers, 1st doing a song I've not heard before - 1.5 second rattle but descending. I guess it was a female, 2nd bird flew off from same spot
No sign of Lesser Whitethroat, though not really sure where it might be
Numerous (Common) Whitethroat - 20 perhaps 4 Swift heading W 3 Common Tern heading N 1 Cetti's Warbler, strangely quiet but feeding next to me
Willow Warblers Chiffchaff Blackcap
Gordon Newman said
Sat May 8 3:44 PM, 2021
14.00-15.15 1 Lesser Whitethroat 2 Grasshopper Warbler 4 Sedge Warbler 6 Whitethroat 40+ Swallow with lesser numbers of House and Sand Martin hawking over Nevison's Flash
Gordon Newman said
Fri May 7 4:39 PM, 2021
10.30 - 12.45 Plank Lane as far as FTF dam, first visit for nearly 2 weeks due to ill health
09.30-12.30. Highlights included... 2 Water Rails (squeeling and grunting).. Several Grasshopper Warblers reeling... Lot's of Cetti's Warblers including a first sighting for me... 6 Common Buzzards... 1 Kestrel and lots of Swallow and House Martins but only 1 Swift.
Gordon Newman said
Thu Apr 22 12:38 PM, 2021
09.00-12.00 10 Whitethroat 5 Grasshopper Warbler 9 Reed Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 5 Blackcap 4 Cetti's Warbler 2 Raven 6 Buzzard 50+Sand Martin 2 House Martin 1 Swallow
Gordon Newman said
Tue Apr 20 9:12 PM, 2021
Evening walk 1 Whitethroat 5 Reed Warbler
Gordon Newman said
Sun Apr 18 10:58 AM, 2021
08.00-10.15 1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling 1 male Hobby flew low directly over me 3 Reed Warbler Green Woodpecker gave a very quick yaffle
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Apr 17 10:17 PM, 2021
Green Sandpiper on New Water this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Gordon Newman said
Sat Apr 17 11:45 AM, 2021
A. M As far as Southern tip of FTF from Plank Lane 1 Garden Warbler 2 Reed Warbler 10 Blackcap
Terrible record shot of Female Marsh Harrier first seen on North side of Park briefly @ 10.35 through gap in trees then seen again on South side over New Water @ 11.40.
Marsh Harrier was a surprise but an even bigger surprise was 2 SANDWICH TERN flying over New Water WNW @ 11.45.
Garden Warbler by Choke Pond makes all the regular warblers back on site except for Lesser Whitethroat which is not regular.
Walk across centre of parkland back
1 Swift N
7 Grasshopper Warbler - 3 on South side 4 on North side
5 Sedge Warbler - 3 on North side 2 on South side
Plenty of Whitethroat, Reed Warbler and Blackcap throughout.
1:30pm to 4:30pm - A day of Warblers with 7 different species seen.
Willow Warbler - could be heard singing all around the reserve.
Reed Warbler - 12 with 4 seen around New Water & Nevison Flash reedbeds.
Cetti's Warbler - 3 with 2 seen at Nevison Flash reedbeds.
Grasshopper Warbler - 2 seen reeling and a lifer for me (many thanks to Gordon Newman for approx. location)
Blackcap & a few Whitethroats & Chiffchaffs made up the rest.
Also of note :- Wheatear (F); Bullfinch (M); Chaffinch (M); Goldfinch; Linnet; 2 Pheasant; 3 Grey Heron; Song Thrush;
Nuthatch; 2 Buzzards; Kestrel; Swallow & Sand Martin over.
Other sightings today on South side off Park
3 Grasshopper Warbler
5 Cetti's Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
6 Whitethroat
15+ Reed Warbler
A Little Egret flew South high over playing field then suddenly circled overhead at which point I then picked up a second bird even higher, I heard them call before I lost sight of them in cloud and didn't see which direction they went.
1 Yellow Wagtail N calling
4 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Whitethroat
2 Sedge Warbler
6 Reed Warbler
1 Drake Mandarin on Nevison's Flash presumably the same bird from Pennington Wharf /Flash.
5 Cetti's Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Snipe flushed by a Buzzard
2 Whitethroat, 5 Reed Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Hobby, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 4 Cetti's Warbler, 30+ Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 2 Sparrowhawk, 5 Buzzard, 3 Grey Partridge.
Not the best time of day for productivity highlights being
7 Willow Warbler
2 Swallow
2 Blackcap
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 11th of April 2022 04:46:41 PM
10.15 - 12.30
From Plank Lane round Fir Tree Flash and back
Of note
1 Willow Warbler
18 Chiffchaff
3 Cetti's Warbler
Pair of Teal
4 Great spotted Woodpecker drumming 8
2 Raven present
14-15 to 16-45 - a walk in beautiful weather round most of the country park.
Nevison Flash area - 2 Chiffchaffs & a Chaffinch in full song with a single male Reed Bunting & a flushed Snipe on the flash edge.
South Rucks - 2 Buzzards one with prey being harassed by a Carrion Crow.
Fir Tree Flash - 2 each of Shoveler & Cormorant, a Greylag Goose, plus what I think were 2 domestic Indian Runner Ducks.
Also seen - 2 Skylarks, 4 Long-Tailed Tits & few Goldfinch.
South Ruck, New Water and back to Plank Lane
Of note:
2 Chiffchaff singing.
1 Woodcock flushed accidentally from long grass 2ft away, it was clearly eyeballing me as he/she lifted off vertically.
7 Redwing.
3 Cetti's Warbler
4 Cetti's Warbler very vocal this morning, as were the 2 pairs of Little Grebe on Nevison's Flash.
8 Siskin
2 Grey Partridge
Plenty of Reed Bunting back now setting up territory.
3 Singing Skylark.
Single Little Egret flew West over Plank Lane continuing over playing field
walk over to and round Fir Tree Flash and back to Plank Lane
Highlights
7 Grey Partridge
75+ Pink footed Geese West
2 Goosander
Nevison's Flash and area around the South ruck
100+Redwing
25+ Linnet
2 Lesser Redpoll
10 Grey Partridge
2 Coal Tit
1 Cetti's Warbler singing briefly
2 Water Rail squealing
100+ Redwing feeding on berries but very mobile,
15+ Linnet, on and around the top ruck
17.15-18.15
3 Cetti's Warbler singing (2 from central ditch the other from New Water), barely audible above the din from motorbikes
Again just about audible roosting Redwing in trees between Nevison's Flash and playing field
Highlights
South ruck overlooking housing estate /Plank Lane swing Bridge
1 Marsh Harrier over West - flew from behind me, caught sight of it flying away from me to the East of Crankwood (turned round when gone, took one stride and flushed a Common Snipe)
Single Coal Tit in a roaming mixed Tit flock
9 Swallow drifting SW slowly as they fed
8 Grey Partridge
6 Common Snipe SW
3 Lesser Redpoll
1 Raven
5 Chiffchaff
Nevison's Flash
Water Rail squealing
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 M Stonechat on edge of playing field
1 Grey Wagtail flew over playing field SW and continued of C. P boundary
Resident pair of Raven
2 Grey Partridge
1 Cetti's Warbler
Covey of 9 Grey Partridge
Usual 2 Raven
Meadow Pipit numbers building daily
Common Lane as far as South side of Fir Tree Flash and back.
Highlights :
1 Yellow Wagtail S
2 Grey Wagtail W
2 Whitethroat
1 Hobby E
1 Sparrowhawk
15 Chiffchaff
1 Cetti's Warbler
1 Kingfisher
2 Raven
10 Mistle Thrush
3 Willow Tit
Single Sand Martin
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 12th of September 2021 01:37:52 PM
As far as New Water and back to Plank/Common Lane
1 Green Sandpiper flew over calling SE
1 Goosander S
1 Reed Warbler in central ditch still
1 Snipe
3 Reed Warbler
1 Whitethroat
1 Cetti's Warbler
2 Raven
3 Buzzard
Brief visit at dusk 20.30
300 + Swallow feeding over New Water
Water Rail heard only
3 possibly 4 Sedge Warbler skulking in scrub along the edge of the playing field
3 family parties of Reed Warbler
2 Cetti's Warbler singing briefly
Plenty of Willow Warbler still with a couple in full song
Report from a dog walker of an Egret sp ( possible Great White from the description) that flew up over from the New Water a couple of weeks ago
1 Raven
1 Blackcap
1 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Sedge Warbler
2 Whitethroat
Several Reed Warbler
Family party of Buzzard
3 Kestrel
1 Willow Tit
New Water of note,
2 Lesser Redpoll high NE calling
Family party of Tufted Duck
2 adult & 1Juvenile Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
4 Common Term South
2 Whitethroat
Family party of Reed Warbler
Grey Partridge calling
Adult Kestrel passed food to Juvenile in flight
A rufous phase Cuckoo flew along the rucks behind Nevisons flash at 10:50am today and a Garden Warbler was singing too.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
No sign of Lesser Whitethroat, though not really sure where it might be
Numerous (Common) Whitethroat - 20 perhaps
4 Swift heading W
3 Common Tern heading N
1 Cetti's Warbler, strangely quiet but feeding next to me
Willow Warblers
Chiffchaff
Blackcap
1 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Sedge Warbler
6 Whitethroat
40+ Swallow with lesser numbers of House and Sand Martin hawking over Nevison's Flash
Plank Lane as far as FTF dam, first visit for nearly 2 weeks due to ill health
Highlights
2 Garden Warbler
8 Swift
5 Sedge Warbler
1 Grasshopper Warbler
10 Whitethroat
5 Grasshopper Warbler
9 Reed Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
5 Blackcap
4 Cetti's Warbler
2 Raven
6 Buzzard
50+Sand Martin
2 House Martin
1 Swallow
1 Whitethroat
5 Reed Warbler
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 male Hobby flew low directly over me
3 Reed Warbler
Green Woodpecker gave a very quick yaffle
Green Sandpiper on New Water this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
As far as Southern tip of FTF from Plank Lane
1 Garden Warbler
2 Reed Warbler
10 Blackcap