1 Green Sandpiper, heard only, at the north end of Horrocks Flash this evening
dave broome said
Tue Aug 23 12:29 PM, 2011
Early a.m. around Bryn Marsh-Ochre Flash: 1 Yellow Wagtail flew south, 100+ Swallow feeding around fields at Park House Farm, 1 singing Willow Warbler, a family party of Goldcrest in Larch trees, 1 Buzzard, juv Kestrel begging for food from an adult female and a noisy flock of 10 Jay
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Aug 22 10:57 PM, 2011
Belated post sat/sunday mooching ,it,s all gone a bit quiet in the reed beds and now the gulls and terns have fledged Horrock,s looks a little bare,of note
Horrocks Flash,2 green sandpiper,1 common snipe,20 gadwall,6 teal,no sign of the shoveler family.
Pearsons,1 common tern,usual residents and very nicely the late nesting grey herons have 2 young that are well grown and look ready to fly the coop.the water level has dropped and there is quite a lot of mud on offer for passing migrants
cheers geoff
dave broome said
Thu Aug 18 3:41 PM, 2011
Lots of activity along the canal this morning at Horrocks, from mixed tit-warbler flocks, inc a family party of Coal Tits with juvs still begging, Reed Warblers feeding in Elder and 2 Willow Tit lots of Lapwing on Horrocks but no other waders on show
dave broome said
Mon Aug 15 10:17 PM, 2011
4 Buzzard in the air early p.m. juv Sparrowhawk still calling at a nesting location
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Aug 7 10:25 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash a m full tour,
lots of residents,tit flocks building up with good numbers of willow tit on show, 1 Green Sandpiper,little else of note
Bryn Marsh p m starling watch pretty sure I missed the main event as there were only 200ish still flying and they went to roost sharpish,a juv sparrow hawk made a few sorties into the flock and then perched up on the pylon.
Horrock Flash dusk
a large flock of swifts and house martin,3 shovelers,21 common tern( inc 5 juv)
general,an intriguing glimpse of a possible tree sparrow on the tow path,a flashes mega but distant and untickable
cheers geoff
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Aug 7 10:37 AM, 2011
Pearsons Early AM 1 Little Gull 1 Garganey f 1 Dunlin 5 Pochard 1 Goldeneye m
Cheers Jimmy
-- Edited by Jimmy Meadows on Sunday 7th of August 2011 11:00:38 AM
dave broome said
Sat Aug 6 2:35 PM, 2011
Water Rail calling in Hawkley Reedbed today, juv Sparrowhawk calling at two locations, a marauding family party of Jay were around the reedbed at Bryn Marsh, plenty of Willow Tits about, Treecreeper in woodland between Bryn Marsh and Ochre Flash and another in woodland north of Ochre Flash, three Great Spotted Woodpecker on one dead tree at Westwood
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Aug 3 7:44 PM, 2011
An afternoon mooch in very hot conditions gave the following highlights: -
2 Sparrowhawk - 1 circling over Pearsons and the other over Horrocks. 1 Kestrel At least 7 Common Tern on Horrocks and 1 on Pearsons. 1 Snipe on Horrocks Several Lesser Redpoll passing over in ones and two's. Water Rail heard on Pearsons.
dave broome said
Tue Aug 2 8:47 PM, 2011
2 Teal, Kingfisher and 2 Snipe at Horrocks Flash this morning, Redpoll heard
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 31 2:15 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash a.m. visit full circuit
usual crowd,lots of canada geese and mallard etc, 4 juv common terns 1 shoveler family all eight ducklings are quite well grown now. 1 marsh harrier,it did a couple of circuits before I lost it,it,s plumage was pristine and all brown apart from the head so i,m guessing it,s one of this years young.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jul 30 10:40 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,a.m. visit rear screen and Rainfords mud flats,
1 common snipe making a welcome return 1 family of tufted duck,only days old 20 house martins taking the waters 2 green sandpipers 1 ringed plover juv 1 garganey,female very flighty and elusive(and quite an i.d. challenge,very pleased that lugging my collins around paid off)
cheers geoff
dave broome said
Sat Jul 30 2:16 PM, 2011
3 Green Sandpiper on Horrocks Flash North Pool (aka Rainford's Flash) visible from near level crossing early afternoon
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 27 9:49 PM, 2011
Yesterday evening (26th) at 8pm, a Little Egret flew north-west over Scotmans Flash.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Jul 25 11:35 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,20.00 while dark
usual,s plus 2 green sandpiper 3 ringed plover 2 little grebe (1 ad 1 juv) showing very well 9 shoveler 1 f and 8 adorable ducklings
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 24 2:30 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,morning till midday all usual waterfowl,plus
2 ringed plover 1 common sandpiper 1 green sandpiper, 1 family party 2 ad 1juv cormorant,juv was sporting a yellow darvic ring ZB3
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Thu Jul 21 11:01 PM, 2011
Pearsons Flash,late evening visit,as expected the mudflats have been flooded so bang goes the wader fest,all the usual residents on show,a low flying buzzard was the highlight for me and a small group of visiting birders from preston.
cheers geoff
dave broome said
Sat Jul 16 9:48 PM, 2011
Second calendar-year Little Gull again on Scotman's this afternoon. Presumably the bird present since spring (I've not had chance to look here for a couple of weeks).
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Jul 11 11:30 PM, 2011
In the quiet corner this evening,the shoveler family have moved behind a reed bed and arn,t in view all the time,watched them fly/ knat catching for a while,sad but I could only count 8 tonight.
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Monday 11th of July 2011 11:31:46 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jul 10 11:15 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash morning visit Pearsons midday mooch,late pm at rear of Horrocks
Nice relaxed birding but by paying special attention to the little stuff( for a change) I managed a 63 species count with treecreeper and coal tit as highlights.
Of note in a quiet corner a shoveler with 10 ducklings
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jul 9 2:55 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,midday wander full circuit,
with young,black headed gulls,common tern,tufted duck,mallard,great crested grebe,lapwing,mute swan,pied wagtail,grey heron.as always the gull colony is rammed with birds some still sitting,lots of reed warblers,buntings etc.
cheers geoff
day
Ian Woosey said
Wed Jun 29 9:24 PM, 2011
29/6/11
Also present this evening on Scotmans and Pearsons Flashes:
July (bearing in mind we're very nearly there) is a very good month for Common Scoter in the county, always has been and the month has hosted the county's largest flock of 80-90 birds too!
------------------------------------ One of Castleshaw's 'claim to fame' occurrences.
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 29th of June 2011 09:23:00 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jun 29 8:12 PM, 2011
Ian Campbell wrote:
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Five Common Scoter (four drakes and one female) at the north end of Scotmans Flash at 11:30 today.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
I wonder if these were the birds at Elton earlier today, although we had 3 males and a female, does anyone have any thoughts on the likelyhood of 2 seperate flocks turning up at this time of year on the same day, has it happened before. Would ask the county recorder if we had one. Cheers Ian
As Tom Jones would say 'it's not unusual'
These will undoubtably be different birds though. July (bearing in mind we're very nearly there) is a very good month for Common Scoter in the county, always has been and the month has hosted the county's largest flock of 80-90 birds too!
All five Scotmans birds still present at 7:30 tonight (info thanks to Ian Woosey).
Ian Campbell said
Wed Jun 29 5:30 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Five Common Scoter (four drakes and one female) at the north end of Scotmans Flash at 11:30 today.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
I wonder if these were the birds at Elton earlier today, although we had 3 males and a female, does anyone have any thoughts on the likelyhood of 2 seperate flocks turning up at this time of year on the same day, has it happened before. Would ask the county recorder if we had one. Cheers Ian
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jun 29 11:44 AM, 2011
First summer Little Gull also present on Scotmans Flash today.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jun 29 11:42 AM, 2011
Five Common Scoter (four drakes and one female) at the north end of Scotmans Flash at 11:30 today.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Jun 28 10:47 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash 20.00 till 22.00(got a bit nippy late on)
All usual residents present,2 shovelers,2 oystercatchers,of note 2 black headed gulls have taken to the wing,some 16 days after the first pennington birds were seen flying.
Bryn Marsh Just to watch the starlings,very impressive.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 26 3:03 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash am observations
the front pool is still very busy but just the usual residents
north pool is just a busy but the lapwings are back from their breeding sites,1 brood of 5 tufted ducks and a sparrowhawk flythrough being the highlights.
Pearsons,usual residents and 1 pair of Teal the male moulting,
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Wed Jun 22 10:17 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,19.30 21.00
Wood Sandpiper still present (sleeping when last seen) very difficult to locate and it can hide easily amongst the bricks etc.Easyist way to view is to approach from the level crossing,follow the metal fence on the right to the waters edge and locate the fishing pegs,then scan the distant islets.
myself and Mr. Broome
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jun 22 7:56 PM, 2011
Wood Sandpiper present on Horrock's Flash north pool this afternoon.
Info thanks to Rob Thorpe (found by Judith Smith)
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Jun 21 11:06 PM, 2011
Late evening stroll
Horrocks Flash,usual residents, 1 Kestrel being chased by one very irate black headed gull, a prolonged event
Bryn Marsh ,viewed from the 'opposite towpath' the Starling roost has started to build up with the pylon and wires at times covered with birds,I,d guestimate about 800ish so not that much 'swirling' but still nice to see.The flock fussed and faffed around the pylon and over the reed beds untill 21.03 when they all dropped into reeds
cheers geoff
Ken Dunning said
Mon Jun 20 10:17 PM, 2011
A steady stroll round some of the flashes today started with a great view of a Reed Bunting, lots more were to come. Lots of Chiff Chaffs and Black Caps. 5 pairs Common Tern, 3 with youngsters, amongst the Black Headed Gull chicks. A decent close up of a Reed Warbler, and a good number of distant views too. 2 Whitethroat, one by the canal bridge at Scotsmans Flash. The Coots, Greater Crested Grebes and Herons go without saying! Some rather bedraggled looking Tufted ducks too. A lovely sunny afternoon, in what for me, is foreign territory, just a shame you can't walk all the way round Scotsmans flash without having to negotiate Poolstock Lane. Cheers Ken
-- Edited by Ken Dunning on Monday 20th of June 2011 10:35:26 PM
-- Edited by Ken Dunning on Tuesday 21st of June 2011 04:38:26 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 19 2:28 PM, 2011
am wander
Pearsons the water level on pearsons has risen a little but there,s still some mud left usual residents,30 mute swans,1 raven over,hundreds of swifts,few swallows,house martins and sand martins,nothing of particular note.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 12 10:03 PM, 2011
am wander
Pearsons, Little gull still present,usual suspects.
Horrocks Flash, very busy with the residents,22 greylag,of interest 1 of the common terns has a leg ring and 1 of the greylag is sporting a leg ring,
cheers geoff
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Jun 7 4:58 PM, 2011
Nice afternoon stroll down to Pearsons Flash and then back along the canal to Horrocks flash and back again. Highlights were: -
Pearsons Flash Knot At least 4 Ringed Plover
Horrocks Flash 1 Kingfisher 1 Grey Wagtail c20 Greylag c10 Common Tern 2 Shoveler Female Pochard with 7 chicks
Also, several Jay around, Blackcaps catching flies over the canal and a family of Whitethroat on the canal bank.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Tuesday 7th of June 2011 07:21:33 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jun 5 10:29 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,mid morning amble
20 greylag geese 21 canada geese usual residents, common tern count increased by at least 6
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Jun 4 4:04 PM, 2011
Pearsons Flash, 8 while 10ish
1 knot still present,plus residents
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Thu Jun 2 10:45 PM, 2011
Pearsons Flash,20.00 21.00
1 Knot,1 Little Gull,plus residents
myself and rob thorpe
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 31 11:48 AM, 2011
Knot still present on Pearsons Flash this morning, plus a first summer (second calendar year) Common Tern.
Knot and Little Gull both still present on Pearsons Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 26 9:37 AM, 2011
First summer Little Gull this morning on Pearsons plus the (county's longest ever staying?) Knot.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Rob Thorpe said
Tue May 24 10:04 PM, 2011
Tuesday 24 May 2011 evening
Pearson's Flash with Thorpe senior: 1 Knot 1 Dunlin 5 Ringed Plover 1 Garden Warbler a swarm of Swifts
dave broome said
Tue May 24 12:54 PM, 2011
Knot feeding on Pearson's today, also 6 Dunlin
Nick Urmston said
Sun May 22 9:28 PM, 2011
Hello folks,
The Knot that has been knocking about over't flash was perched at the side of the canal inbetween Westwood flash and Pearsons flash at about 8PM tonight, it did not appear to be injured but it seemed rather disorientated and it wasn't flying off even when you got to within about 5 or 6 feet of it. Hope it is okay.
Horrocks Flash,2 green sandpiper,1 common snipe,20 gadwall,6 teal,no sign of the shoveler family.
Pearsons,1 common tern,usual residents and very nicely the late nesting grey herons have 2 young that are well grown and look ready to fly the coop.the water level has dropped and there is quite a lot of mud on offer for passing migrants
cheers geoff
lots of Lapwing on Horrocks but no other waders on show
juv Sparrowhawk still calling at a nesting location
lots of residents,tit flocks building up with good numbers of willow tit on show,
1 Green Sandpiper,little else of note
Bryn Marsh p m starling watch
pretty sure I missed the main event as there were only 200ish still flying and they went to roost sharpish,a juv sparrow hawk made a few sorties into the flock and then perched
up on the pylon.
Horrock Flash dusk
a large flock of swifts and house martin,3 shovelers,21 common tern( inc 5 juv)
general,an intriguing glimpse of a possible tree sparrow on the tow path,a flashes mega
but distant and untickable
cheers geoff
1 Little Gull
1 Garganey f
1 Dunlin
5 Pochard
1 Goldeneye m
Cheers Jimmy
-- Edited by Jimmy Meadows on Sunday 7th of August 2011 11:00:38 AM
2 Sparrowhawk - 1 circling over Pearsons and the other over Horrocks.
1 Kestrel
At least 7 Common Tern on Horrocks and 1 on Pearsons.
1 Snipe on Horrocks
Several Lesser Redpoll passing over in ones and two's.
Water Rail heard on Pearsons.
usual crowd,lots of canada geese and mallard etc,
4 juv common terns
1 shoveler family all eight ducklings are quite well grown now.
1 marsh harrier,it did a couple of circuits before I lost it,it,s plumage was pristine and all brown apart from the head so i,m guessing it,s one of this years young.
cheers geoff
1 common snipe making a welcome return
1 family of tufted duck,only days old
20 house martins taking the waters
2 green sandpipers
1 ringed plover juv
1 garganey,female very flighty and elusive(and quite an i.d. challenge,very pleased that lugging my collins around paid off)
cheers geoff
usual,s plus
2 green sandpiper
3 ringed plover
2 little grebe (1 ad 1 juv) showing very well
9 shoveler 1 f and 8 adorable ducklings
cheers geoff
all usual waterfowl,plus
2 ringed plover
1 common sandpiper
1 green sandpiper,
1 family party 2 ad 1juv cormorant,juv was sporting a yellow darvic ring ZB3
cheers geoff
cheers geoff
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Monday 11th of July 2011 11:31:46 PM
Nice relaxed birding but by paying special attention to the little stuff( for a change) I managed a 63 species count with treecreeper and coal tit as highlights.
Of note in a quiet corner a shoveler with 10 ducklings
cheers geoff
with young,black headed gulls,common tern,tufted duck,mallard,great crested grebe,lapwing,mute swan,pied wagtail,grey heron.
cheers geoff
day
Also present this evening on Scotmans and Pearsons Flashes:
1 Wigeon (drk)
42 Greylag Geese
1 Gadwall w/9 chicks
61 Tufted Ducks
8 Lapwings
4 Pochards
4 Common Terns
52 Mute Swans
163 Canada Geese
2 Little Grebes
10 Great Crested Grebes
1 Lesser Redpoll
(Sightings with Mr Meadows)
-- Edited by Mark Rigby on Wednesday 29th of June 2011 09:23:00 PM
As Tom Jones would say 'it's not unusual'
These will undoubtably be different birds though. July (bearing in mind we're very nearly there) is a very good month for Common Scoter in the county, always has been and the month has hosted the county's largest flock of 80-90 birds too!
All five Scotmans birds still present at 7:30 tonight (info thanks to Ian Woosey).
I wonder if these were the birds at Elton earlier today, although we had 3 males and a female, does anyone have any thoughts on the likelyhood of 2 seperate flocks turning up at this time of year on the same day, has it happened before. Would ask the county recorder if we had one
Cheers Ian
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Info thanks to Dave Broome
All usual residents present,2 shovelers,2 oystercatchers,of note 2 black headed gulls have taken to the wing,some 16 days after the first pennington birds were seen flying.
Bryn Marsh
Just to watch the starlings,very impressive.
cheers geoff
the front pool is still very busy but just the usual residents
north pool is just a busy but the lapwings are back from their breeding sites,1 brood of 5 tufted ducks and a sparrowhawk flythrough being the highlights.
Pearsons,usual residents and 1 pair of Teal the male moulting,
cheers geoff
Wood Sandpiper still present (sleeping when last seen) very difficult to locate and it can hide easily amongst the bricks etc.Easyist way to view is to approach from the level
crossing,follow the metal fence on the right to the waters edge and locate the fishing pegs,then scan the distant islets.
myself and Mr. Broome
Info thanks to Rob Thorpe (found by Judith Smith)
Horrocks Flash,usual residents, 1 Kestrel being chased by one very irate black headed gull, a prolonged event
Bryn Marsh ,viewed from the 'opposite towpath' the Starling roost has started to build up
with the pylon and wires at times covered with birds,I,d guestimate about 800ish so not that much 'swirling' but still nice to see.The flock fussed and faffed around the pylon and over the reed beds untill 21.03 when they all dropped into reeds
cheers geoff
Reed Bunting, lots more were to come.
Lots of Chiff Chaffs and Black Caps.
5 pairs Common Tern, 3 with youngsters, amongst the Black Headed Gull chicks.
A decent close up of a Reed Warbler, and a good number of distant views too.
2 Whitethroat, one by the canal bridge at Scotsmans Flash.
The Coots, Greater Crested Grebes and Herons go without saying!
Some rather bedraggled looking Tufted ducks too.
A lovely sunny afternoon, in what for me, is foreign territory, just a shame you can't walk all the way round Scotsmans flash without having to negotiate Poolstock Lane.
Cheers Ken
-- Edited by Ken Dunning on Monday 20th of June 2011 10:35:26 PM
-- Edited by Ken Dunning on Tuesday 21st of June 2011 04:38:26 PM
Pearsons the water level on pearsons has risen a little but there,s still some mud left
usual residents,30 mute swans,1 raven over,hundreds of swifts,few swallows,house martins and sand martins,nothing of particular note.
cheers geoff
Pearsons, Little gull still present,usual suspects.
Horrocks Flash, very busy with the residents,22 greylag,of interest 1 of the common terns has a leg ring and 1 of the greylag is sporting a leg ring,
cheers geoff
Pearsons Flash
Knot
At least 4 Ringed Plover
Horrocks Flash
1 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail
c20 Greylag
c10 Common Tern
2 Shoveler
Female Pochard with 7 chicks
Also, several Jay around, Blackcaps catching flies over the canal and a family of Whitethroat on the canal bank.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Tuesday 7th of June 2011 07:21:33 PM
20 greylag geese
21 canada geese
usual residents,
common tern count increased by at least 6
cheers geoff
1 knot still present,plus residents
cheers geoff
1 Knot,1 Little Gull,plus residents
myself and rob thorpe
Info thanks to Dave Broome
afternoon
Horrocks Flash
1 Garganey (drake)
5 Shoveler
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
2 Oystercatcher
Pearsons Flash
1 Shoveler
1 Little Gull
2 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Dunlin
2 Ringed Plover
1 dunlin ,usual residents, black headed gull count still increasing
Pearsons Flash 12.00 while 14.00ish
residents,1 dunlin,1 little gull,2 black tailed godwits, I couldn,t find the knot(probably gone to find a pie shop)
cheers geoff
Geoff
Cheers geofwf
Horrocks Flash, afternoon:
1 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
1 Dunlin
2 Oystercatcher
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Info thanks to Dave Broome
evening
Pearson's Flash with Thorpe senior:
1 Knot
1 Dunlin
5 Ringed Plover
1 Garden Warbler
a swarm of Swifts
The Knot that has been knocking about over't flash was perched at the side of the canal inbetween Westwood flash and Pearsons flash at about 8PM tonight, it did not appear to be injured but it seemed rather disorientated and it wasn't flying off even when you got to within about 5 or 6 feet of it. Hope it is okay.
Regards,
Nick