Late Afternoon 1 Chiffchaff singing at Wigan Rovers 2 Willow Tits on old railway embankment 20 Sand Martins over same place 2 BNG on Scotmans
Cheers Jimmy
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Mar 20 3:43 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash,couple of visit,s sat pm sun midday same as Gordon,s post but 4 pink footed 2 grey heron 2 great crested half heartedly displaying generally very busy,gulls over,first chiffchaff,bullfinch etc
cheers geoff
Gordon Cottle said
Fri Mar 18 8:03 PM, 2011
Bright sunny Friday at the Flashes
Horrocks Flash (from the canal) Great Crested Grebes Cormorants Mute Swans Greylag and Canada Geese Mallards Tuffted Ducks Moorhens Coots Oystercatchers Lapwings Black Headed Gulls Great blacked-back Gulls
Judith Smith said
Tue Mar 15 7:58 PM, 2011
Another swan taken into care yesterday from the Leeds-Liverpool canal near Horrocks Flash where it has been recently, probably with the clostridium bacteria. It had some antibiotics at the vet's last night and was considerably improved by the time Derek Hampson called for it, to take it to Stapeley Grange RSPCA wildlife hospital. Again, this was a 2010 cygnet and underweight, drinking a lot but not eating though initially interested in bread.
dave broome said
Tue Mar 15 7:48 PM, 2011
42 Goldeneye roosted on Scotman's this evening
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 14 11:59 AM, 2011
Dunlin by the canal towpath at Scotmans Flash this morning, near where the culvert goes underneath the canal. Already present for a few hours it is showing down to an incredible 6 feet or so, seemingly unconcerned (but fit and well) by passing folk!
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Mar 13 10:09 PM, 2011
horrocks flash 11am to 13.00
usual waterfowl and of note 3 Oystercatchers 4 pink footed geese 6 goosanders
cheers geoff
Judith Smith said
Sat Mar 12 7:40 PM, 2011
The Smew was seen well today on Pearson's this morning but very secretive - tends to be at the back in the reeds.
dave broome said
Sat Mar 12 6:23 PM, 2011
Sand Martin at Scotman's late afternoon approx 80 Goldfinch in Poplars SW corner of Scotman's
dave broome said
Wed Mar 9 9:29 PM, 2011
Horrocks Flash this evening: 3 Oystercatcher, 8 Goosander, Great Crested Grebes displaying, Pink-Footed Goose in fields with Greylags
A dead Mute Swan (juv) and a dead Canada Goose together near the bench at Pearson's Flash this afternoon, also a dead gull sp reported with them but this had gone by the time I arrived to bag the corpses for the RSPCA - possibly died from this infection (perhaps a clostridium type) which strikes suddenly. Both freshly dead and not thought to have been there this morning. A report of shooters around (so what's new?) but I didn't see any signs of bullet holes on them.
dave broome said
Fri Mar 4 9:14 PM, 2011
3 Wigeon on Scotman's today, at least 6 Teal in the channels at Hawkley Reedbed south of Scotman's 18 Gadwall and 4 Shoveler on Turner's Flash several Redpoll flying around the Turner's Flash/Ince Moss Landfill area
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Feb 20 9:28 PM, 2011
Morning wander around the flashes, Dull and overcast,and a bit chilly Not much to report,couldn,t find the smew but 6 curlew over Pearson,s made for a good borough tickAfter nearly two months of tramping ince moss I finally caught up with the siskin flock
ironically they flew over me at the rear screen on horrocks and then got some great views in the woods near the geese fields.
Cheers geoff
Judith Smith said
Sat Feb 19 8:03 PM, 2011
We suspect the dead Mute Swan ( a 2010 cygnet) is one which we had noted as being blind in one eye - when they fly they collide with things, in this case perhsp the bridge or the nearby pylons.
Pete Astles said
Sat Feb 19 5:45 PM, 2011
Pearson's Goldeneye everywhere never seen so many and on Scotmans too. Few Gadwall and Pochard but I did not see the Smew. Nice flock of Siskins 40+ on trees on way to Horrocks. There was a pod of about a dozen Goosander on Horrocks but no Goldeneye whatsoever they obviously favour Pearsons. Sad sight there was a dead Mute Swan in the far side of the canal in the overhanging branches by the railway bridge at Horrocks.
David Wilson said
Fri Feb 18 8:46 AM, 2011
First light walk round pearsons flash. Smew gave good close views on south side among trees. kingfisher over then perched in small tree in sw.corner. 5 Great crested grebe. Reed bunting.Gadwall.Pochard.Goldeneye.Tufted duck. 25 species seen.
Judith Smith said
Sat Feb 12 8:55 PM, 2011
The Smew was showing today on Pearson's Flash on the WeBS count.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Feb 6 2:55 PM, 2011
Quick scoot round
Bryn Marsh,12 teal,2 mallard
Horrocks Flash,usual crowd plus 1 downed pink footed with a damaged wing,it was being bothered by 4 grey lag and melted into the reeds around the back
Canal,1 pair of goosander
Geese Fields, canada and greylag and 1 buzzard
cheers geoff
David Wilson said
Tue Feb 1 2:16 PM, 2011
A quick look on Pearsons in lunch break with Paul Risley. Couldnt see smew. Goldeneye,tufted duck ,gadwall, 2 grey heron, mute swans and a pair of mistle thrush and pair of bullfinch in trees.
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Jan 30 6:29 PM, 2011
Pearsons this Morning Red Head Smew still present 6 Wigeon 14 Goldeneye plus usual crew
Horrocks Flash,mostly frozen with all the birds forced against the far banking,lots of tufted,teal,gadwall,coot,moorhen ect,there was quite a fuss going on between the greylag and canada geese who were watching a fox which was sitting in the grass close by,smashing
Pearsons Flash,80% frozen,a few coot gadwall,tufted,wigeon and the smew still showing well (distant from the canal)
Walk back over ince landfill produced tits,jay,crow,etc but alas no siskin or redpoll
cheers geoff
Tim Wilcox said
Mon Jan 24 7:35 AM, 2011
In addition 11.00am - 2.30pm
female Brambling with Chaffinches and B and G Tits
Redpoll 6 w Goldfinch 20
Treecreeper 1 Hawkley feeding station which wasn't feeding much as the feeders are empty.
plus drake Goosander flew along canal towards Horrocks. Presumably the same bird flew back in opposite direction 20 minutes later. A further 15 mins later back in original direction again. Confused? Either I am or a drake Goosander is....
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Jan 23 3:17 PM, 2011
Sun 23/01/11 Horrocks Flash not so early but still am
20 greylag 40 canada 19 pink feet all feeding in the regular field,something spooked the flock and the pinkfeet seperated and flew off south, 12 goosander 60 teal(all normal)
other waterfowl as expected Brynn Marsh, 6 teal ,reed bunting and tits, nothing else very quiet.
cheers geoff
Robert Adderley said
Sat Jan 22 8:21 PM, 2011
Sat 22/1/11 - early pm
Smew - redhead still on pearson's Flash.
Pink-footed Goose - 3 skeins went over - 17 and 52 SE and 86 NW.
Lesser Redpoll - c100+ showed reasonably well near Pearson's Flash . Siskin - 4 Brambling - 1 female.
Judith Smith said
Fri Jan 21 5:26 PM, 2011
The Smew was present and correct on Pearson's Flash this afternoon.
Re Bitterns and when they boom, I can only suggest folks contact Simon Wotton at the RSPB, Sandy. direct.
Stuart Evans said
Thu Jan 20 7:42 PM, 2011
Judith Smith wrote:
The RSPB Bittern expert says it's physiologically impossible for a Bittern to boom in the winter. This is because changes occur in the throat connected to light intensity and therefore hormones, enabling the bird to boom. I would have thought it was far too early in the year yet. Perhaps very late February or early March?
It definiately a Bittern that made the sound. It wasnt a fully blown boom, infact the first time I heard it sounded its voice was breaking like a teenage boy lol. After that where very short boom sounds. Coming from a very specific part of the reeds and 30 mins later it flew away from the I was watching it. Maybe the very harsh winter we had caused accelerated its ability to boom.
It definatly wasn't ice cracking as I also heard that a few days later on Bryn Marsh, a very strange sound, but nothing like what we heard.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Thu Jan 20 4:59 PM, 2011
Birding int fog
Pearsons fogbound ,vision down to 50m at best,swans,mallard,goldeneye etc
Moss Bridge,nice flock of 50 redpolls and 20 goldfinch
Hawkley Feeding Station,usual stuff present,water rail showing well but it,s/they are very skittish and dive for cover at the first hint of danger(so stand back from the screen and don,t cough) also red letter day here first a buzzard perched above the feeders and then a leceustic(spell check) chaffinch made a brief visit
cheers geoff
Neil Southworth said
Wed Jan 19 7:09 PM, 2011
Ian Woosey wrote:
18/1/11
(Caught Mr Southworth adding to his GM List )
Also added Mandarin at Worthington, so I'm on a roll.
Gordon Cottle said
Wed Jan 19 6:03 PM, 2011
Small group of waxwings pm today near Welham Road entrance.
Bittern reported over Hawkley Hall Reedbed.
Ian Woosey said
Tue Jan 18 5:08 PM, 2011
18/1/11
The Smew was seen right at the back of Pearsons, as viewed from the canal bank (once the fog had lifted ). Poor views..
Also on Pearsons were 3 Wigeon, a redhead Goosander and perhaps a dozen Goldeneye.
A walk from Pearsons around the back of Hawkley Reedbed produced 2 Treecreepers, 4 Willow Tits, 8 Reed Buntings and a flighty flock of Siskins and Redpoll on the landfill. 10 Bullfinch were hanging about nearby..
Flock of c80 Pinkfeet over NW @ 11:00
(Caught Mr Southworth adding to his GM List )
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jan 18 11:12 AM, 2011
Redhead Smew still on Pearsons Flash at 11am today.
Info thanks to Ian Woosey
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 17 2:13 PM, 2011
Redhead Smew snoozing at the back of Pearsons Flash at 2pm.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Jan 16 3:23 PM, 2011
Sunday 16 January 2011
Smew (readhead) still present on Pearsons Flash (15:25), sticking close to the trees along the south shore.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 16th of January 2011 03:26:26 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jan 16 9:21 AM, 2011
Late news for yesterday when the redhead Smew was present back on Pearsons Flash.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Gordon Cottle said
Fri Jan 14 2:33 PM, 2011
Today Friday at around mid day. Bryn Marsh 6 Goosanders 3m and 3 f.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jan 13 9:36 PM, 2011
Canal still mostly frozen.
60 Siskin on the old Ince Moss Landfill today, around 40 of which then flew to Alders alongside Scotmans Flash and dropped onto the towpath to feed.
Only 2 Lesser Redolls, mixed in with the Siskin flock.
3 Pink-footed Geese fairly low over south-west at 1:20pm.
12 Goosander on Scotmans late afternoon, plus 2 Cormorant
dave broome said
Sat Jan 8 2:11 PM, 2011
Scotman's Flash held 4 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye and 2 Pochard this morning, among a few Coot, Mallard and loafing gulls
Roger Baker 3 said
Tue Jan 4 4:06 AM, 2011
I was always taught to try and learn/remember one new fact a day...... but this ones a gem.....Thank You Judith. Even better...... I seem to be absorbing about 5 new snippets per day...... 4 off this site and 1 from elsewhere........ love it.
My Best Wishes to Everyone.
Roger B.
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Judith Smith wrote:
The RSPB Bittern expert says it's physiologically impossible for a Bittern to boom in the winter. This is because changes occur in the throat connected to light intensity and therefore hormones, enabling the bird to boom. I would have thought it was far too early in the year yet. Perhaps very late February or early March?
Interesting that and yet something else I didn't know (though that list is soooo long)!
I do know though that the London Wetland Centre has apparently already recorded a Bittern booming this January and that Minsmere RSPB's earliest record of booming Bittern is 31st January (1997), closely followed by their second on the 8th February (year unknown).
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 3rd of January 2011 09:04:11 PM
late morning while out cycling
2 Swallow at Park House Farm
1 Reed Warbler singing at Moss Bridge
Horrocks Flash around midday, with Thorpe senior:
1 Goosander (f)
2 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Oystercatcher
1 Mediterranean Gull (over)
lots of Sand Martin
10+ Chiffchaff (singing)
9 Willow Warbler (singing)
4 Blackcap (3m 1f)
1 Lesser Redpoll
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 3rd of April 2011 08:53:13 PM
afternoon
overcast at first, but soon brightening up, with car thermometer up to 18.5'C!
4 Pink-footed Goose (still at Horrocks Flash)
1 Goosander (female, at Horrocks Flash)
1 Buzzard (Horrocks Flash)
2 Kestrel (1 Horrocks Flash, 1 Scotmans Flash)
1 Sparrowhawk (Scotmans Flash)
2 Oystercatcher (Horrocks Flash)
9 Lapwing (Horrocks Flash)
12+ Sand Martin
24+ Chiffchaff
1 Blackcap (Horrocks Flash)
2 Treecreeper (Westwood)
1 Raven (over Westwood, mobbed by 2 Carrion Crow)
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 30th of March 2011 01:49:57 PM
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Wednesday 30th of March 2011 09:38:49 PM
late morning - early afernoon
Horrocks Flash with Thorpe senior:
4 Pink-footed Goose
2 Goosander
3 Goldeneye
3 Pochard
1 Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk
2 Oystercatcher
1 Redshank (over, heard only)
1 Mediterranean Gull (over)
5+ Sand Martin
4 Chiffchaff
2 Siskin
1 Chiffchaff singing at Wigan Rovers
2 Willow Tits on old railway embankment
20 Sand Martins over same place
2 BNG on Scotmans
Cheers Jimmy
same as Gordon,s post but
4 pink footed
2 grey heron
2 great crested half heartedly displaying
generally very busy,gulls over,first chiffchaff,bullfinch etc
cheers geoff
Horrocks Flash (from the canal)
Great Crested Grebes
Cormorants
Mute Swans
Greylag
and Canada Geese
Mallards
Tuffted Ducks
Moorhens
Coots
Oystercatchers
Lapwings
Black Headed Gulls
Great blacked-back Gulls
Again, this was a 2010 cygnet and underweight, drinking a lot but not eating though initially interested in bread.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
usual waterfowl and of note
3 Oystercatchers
4 pink footed geese
6 goosanders
cheers geoff
approx 80 Goldfinch in Poplars SW corner of Scotman's
18 Gadwall and 4 Shoveler on Turner's Flash
several Redpoll flying around the Turner's Flash/Ince Moss Landfill area
Dull and overcast,and a bit chilly
Not much to report,couldn,t find the smew but 6 curlew over Pearson,s made for a good borough tick
ironically they flew over me at the rear screen on horrocks and then got some great views in the woods near the geese fields.
Cheers geoff
Bryn Marsh,12 teal,2 mallard
Horrocks Flash,usual crowd plus 1 downed pink footed with a damaged wing,it was being bothered by 4 grey lag and melted into the reeds around the back
Canal,1 pair of goosander
Geese Fields, canada and greylag and 1 buzzard
cheers geoff
Red Head Smew still present
6 Wigeon
14 Goldeneye
plus usual crew
Scotmans
5 Goosanders 2m,3f
Lots of dogwalkers as well
Horrocks Flash,same as yesterday minus the fox.
Bryn Marsh, mostly frozen but 10 teal,1 mute swan,water rail calling,
cheers geoff
Horrocks Flash,mostly frozen with all the birds forced against the far banking,lots of tufted,teal,gadwall,coot,moorhen ect,there was quite a fuss going on between the greylag and canada geese who were watching a fox which was sitting in the grass close by,smashing
Pearsons Flash,80% frozen,a few coot
still showing well (distant from the canal)
Walk back over ince landfill produced tits,jay,crow,etc but alas no siskin or redpoll
cheers geoff
female Brambling with Chaffinches and B and G Tits
Redpoll 6 w Goldfinch 20
Treecreeper 1 Hawkley feeding station which wasn't feeding much as the feeders are empty.
female Kestrel moving up and down the canal
No Bitterns booming or otherwise
Pearsons
1 Smew
412 Coot
21 Goldeneye
49 Gadwall
68 Tufted Duck
4 Pochard
Westwood
7 Coot
32+ assorted bits of floating litter
Scotsmans
38 Coot
20 Goldeneye
6 Tufties
1 Pochard
3 Goosanders (drakes)
1 Little Grebe
plus drake Goosander flew along canal towards Horrocks. Presumably the same bird flew back in opposite direction 20 minutes later. A further 15 mins later back in original direction again. Confused? Either I am or a drake Goosander is....
20 greylag
40 canada
19 pink feet
and the pinkfeet seperated and flew off south,
12 goosander
60 teal(all normal)
other waterfowl as expected
Brynn Marsh, 6 teal ,reed bunting and tits, nothing else very quiet.
cheers geoff
Smew - redhead still on pearson's Flash.
Pink-footed Goose - 3 skeins went over - 17 and 52 SE and 86 NW.
Lesser Redpoll - c100+ showed reasonably well near Pearson's Flash .
Siskin - 4
Brambling - 1 female.
Re Bitterns and when they boom, I can only suggest folks contact Simon Wotton at the RSPB, Sandy. direct.
It definiately a Bittern that made the sound. It wasnt a fully blown boom, infact the first time I heard it sounded its voice was breaking like a teenage boy lol.
After that where very short boom sounds.
Coming from a very specific part of the reeds and 30 mins later it flew away from the I was watching it.
Maybe the very harsh winter we had caused accelerated its ability to boom.
It definatly wasn't ice cracking as I also heard that a few days later on Bryn Marsh, a very strange sound, but nothing like what we heard.
Pearsons fogbound ,vision down to 50m at best,swans,mallard,goldeneye etc
Moss Bridge,nice flock of 50 redpolls and 20 goldfinch
Hawkley Feeding Station,usual stuff present,water rail showing well but it,s/they are very skittish and dive for cover at the first hint of danger(so stand back from the screen
and don,t cough) also red letter day here
cheers geoff
Also added Mandarin at Worthington, so I'm on a roll.
Bittern reported over Hawkley Hall Reedbed.
The Smew was seen right at the back of Pearsons, as viewed from the canal bank (once the fog had lifted
Also on Pearsons were 3 Wigeon, a redhead Goosander and perhaps a dozen Goldeneye.
A walk from Pearsons around the back of Hawkley Reedbed produced 2 Treecreepers, 4 Willow Tits, 8 Reed Buntings and a flighty flock of Siskins and Redpoll on the landfill. 10 Bullfinch were hanging about nearby..
Flock of c80 Pinkfeet over NW @ 11:00
(Caught Mr Southworth adding to his GM List
Info thanks to Ian Woosey
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Smew (readhead) still present on Pearsons Flash (15:25), sticking close to the trees along the south shore.
-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 16th of January 2011 03:26:26 PM
Info thanks to Judith Smith
60 Siskin on the old Ince Moss Landfill today, around 40 of which then flew to Alders alongside Scotmans Flash and dropped onto the towpath to feed.
Only 2 Lesser Redolls, mixed in with the Siskin flock.
3 Pink-footed Geese fairly low over south-west at 1:20pm.
Atleast 4 Willow Tits around Hawkley Reedbed.
Scotmans Flash, late afternoon:
15 Goosander
2 Goldeneye
1 Pochard
2 Cormorant
Even better...... I seem to be absorbing about 5 new snippets per day...... 4 off this site and 1 from elsewhere........ love it.
My Best Wishes to Everyone.
Roger B.