Morning dog walk
Highlight was a stunning male wheatear giving excellent views almost asking for its picture taken alas no camera. 2 grey partridge,whitethroat,reed warbler,grasshopper warbler,

morning dog walk
trees above diggle flash pretty busy with several singing willow warbler, singing blackcap, chiffchaff, 2 whitethroat, 2 chaffinch. 2 bullfinch, 1 goldfinch, plus usual robin, great tit, blue tit, dunnock, wood pigeon, carrion crow,magpie, blackbird, singing mistle thrush, wren with one singing from less than 4ft away from me, 5 skylark singing over fields with more at low level, 4 meadow pipit, 2 grey partridge,kestrel, 2 pheasant, strangely didn't see any reed bunting today, cracking view of a singing sedge warbler nr bottom of new road,
Diggle flash - 16 tufted duck, 5 mallard, 2 little grebe, 1 great crested grebe, 2 cormorant 1 on water 1 over, 3 canada geese,8 coot, 1 moorhen, 1 grey heron, 2 mute swan, 14 swallow over water, reed warbler and sedge warbler heard from reed beds,

Late evening stroll
Cuckoo calling first from trees around diggle flash then from bottom of new road, 2 swallow over flash,3 Canada geese over after dark, mistle thrush singing top note in fading light,

Late morning

3 Grasshopper Warbler (h)
1 Common Tern, very distant
5 Swift, small party flew N
1 Sand Martin with Swifts
~10 Swallow
2+ Whitethroat
2+ Willow Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
3 Kestrel
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Buzzard
~15 Reed Bunting
~4 Skylark
3 Meadow Pipit



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 1st of May 2015 12:36:13 PM

Morning dog walk
5 whitethroat, 2 lesser whitethroat 1 nr bottom of new road 1nr top, 2 separate pairs grey partridge, a single swallow, 2 linnet have been buzzing about near last years nest site for the past 4 days so hopefully they are nesting there again,kestrel,cuckoo could be heard from direction of fir tree flash, water rail heard from choked pond,+ usuals
Diggle flash-2 little grebe,2 great crested grebe,17 tufted duck,8 coot + a mother with at least 2 chicks possibly more but could only make 2 through the reeds,6 mallard,2 mute swan,1 moorhen,2 reed warbler and a sedge warbler heard from reed beds,

Late afternoon mooch
4 swallow over diggle flash, cuckoo gave a double call from bottom of new road, 3 mistle thrush singing,2 chiffchaff singing,

Morning dog walk
2 whitethroat,1 lesser whitethroat,2 goldfinch 2 chaffinch and a long tailed tit feeding together, 4 dunnock, wren,3 robin,several willow warbler,1 blackcap,b
Lackbird,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow, distant raven heard,5 skylark singing with as many again at low level,6 meadow pipit,4 grasshopper warbler reeling,5 reed bunting,kestrel,grey heron over,
Diggle flash-14 tufted duck with a pair of pochard mixed in,2 little grebe seen 1 more heard,7 coot,2 mute swan,3 mallard,1 moorhen,1 great crested grebe,4 reed warbler,

evening stroll
cuckoo calling from trees behind stock pond, 2 grey partridge, 2 mistle thrush and a song thrush singing even in the dark, 3 grasshopper warbler reeling.

18.30 - 20.00
1 male Wheatear - C2
1 Grasshopper Warbler - C2
1 female Whitethroat - C3

morning brew at Fir Tree Flash:

6 Swallow flying over flash & car park
Cuckoo :heard calling from far side
1Whitethroat
4 Longtailed tits
2 Reed Bunting

very windy with some heavy showers this am pretty quiet again birdwise
7 swallow over fields then later 7 swallow over flash with 4 sand martin, 3 whitethroat,2 linnet + usuals in small numbers,
1 of the coots on diggle flash has hatched young not left the nest yet but i could see at least 2 wriggling around,

Morning dog walk- mixed bag weather wise bright sunshine but with a very cold wind and a couple of short but heavy hailstone showers,
Quiet birdwise- 2 whitethroat,4 willow warbler,small numbers great and blue tit, 2 singing skylark with a few more at ground level, 1 raven over,2 Canada geese over,small numbers meadow pipit and reed bunting,robin and blackbird, 3 swallow over field,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow,1 very noisy jay.
Diggle flash- a dozen or so swallow over with at least 2 sand martin, 16 tufted duck,6 mallard,2 great crested grebe,8 coot,1 moorhen,2 mute swan, 9 black headed gull,

10.00 - 12.45
1 Wheatear - C1N
2 male Whinchat still in C10 as yesterday
1 Green Woodpecker - gave quick yaffle from C4 as I was stood in C10
10 Blackcap
1Grasshopper Warbler
4 Common Whitethroat
7 Reed Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
Loads of Willow Warbler

Good to talk to Neil

Morning dog walk- touch of frost first thing but bright and sunny after-
pretty quiet again birdwise most of the usual suspects showing but in very small numbers, 3 starling, 1 goldfinch, 3 wren 1 singing at top note, 1 mistle thrush, 5 blackbird, 4 whitethroat, 1 lesser whitethroat nr top of new road, 2 swallow, 7 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff, 4 blue tit, 2 great tit, 4 robin, only 1 skylark singing with a few more at ground level, 2 grasshopper warbler reeling, 1 sedge warbler, 3 jackdaw, magpie, wood pigeon, carrion crow, 1 kestrel, cuckoo calling from behind stock pond, 6 reed bunting,
Diggle flash- 13 tufted duck, 7 coot, 5 mallard, 2 mute swan, 1 great crested grebe, 1 moorhen, 1 lesser black backed gull, 4 black headed gull, 1 sedge warbler and 2 reed warbler heard, 2 swallow over water possibly same 2 birds that were over field

Evening dog walk
Cuckoo calling for virtually the whole 2 -1/4 hours I was out first heard from copse in middle of C8 seen briefly in flight to trees at back of diggle flash then again as it flew across to nw corner of flash before returning to it's usual haunt behind stock pond, 20+ swallow over flash, 2 grey partridge were other highlights.

Morning dog walk C8 +C9 pretty quiet overall
Did spot 1 male whinchat in a small bush in C9 then flew towards C10 so probably one of the birds Gordon saw, 3 swallow over fields,kestrel hunting, plus usuals,
Diggle flash- 1 swallow over water,9 tufted duck,4 coot,2 great crested grebe,1 lesser black backed gull, 6 black headed gull, 2 mute swan,3 reed warbler,1 sedge warbler,

07.00 - 09.00
Time didn't allow for longer unfortunately this morning

2 male Whinchat - C10
1 Lesser Whitethroat - end of road to nowhere
6 Grasshopper Warbler
3 Sedge Warbler
10 Common Whitethroat
7 Reed Warbler

Morning dog walk
1 raven being mobbed by carrion crows and magpies,2 lesser black backed gull sat on a street light,1 swallow over field, 1 whitethroat,3 singing mistle thrush scattered around,several willow warbler and robin singing, skylark,meadow pipit,reed bunting,wood pigeon,dunnock,wren,great tit,blue tit,blackbird,4 grasshopper warbler reeling,pheasant,2 Canada geese over,

Diggle flash- cuckoo calling from behind stock pond,7 tufted duck,6 coot,2 mallard,1 moorhen,1 great crested grebe,2 mute swan, little grebe heard only,

Afternoon stroll- 5 swallow, 3 over old anglers car park 2 on telephone wires, 4 little grebe on flash,

Morning dog walk
Diggle flash- 1 swallow,2 reed warbler, 13 tufted duck,6 mallard,6 coot,5 black headed gull, 2 little grebe,1 great crested grebe,
3 whitethroat + what I am pretty sure was a lesser whitethroat but only got a quick glimpse with my dodgy eyes couldn't be 100% sure, double figures willow warbler,4 chiffchaff, dunnock,wren,robin,blackbird,mistle thrush,jay,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon,skylark,meadow pipit,reed bunting,great,tit,blue tit,pheasant, 5 grasshopper warbler reeling, sedge warbler heard,

Cuckoo calling briefly this evening

morning dog walk
cuckoo heard calling from horse fields @C7, plenty of willow warbler and robin singing, 2 whitethroat, chiffchaff, 2 mistle thrush, blackbird,dunnock,wren, reed warbler, 4 grasshopper warbler reeling, skylark,meadow pipit, reed bunting,pheasant,magpie,carrion crow,wood pigeon, blue tit,great tit,
Diggle flash- 10 tufted duck, 7 coot, 5 mallard, 2 little grebe, 1 great crested grebe, 2 mute swan, 1 moorhen, 2 black headed gull,2 reed warbler

19.00-20.00
C3 only
1 Oystercatcher
7 Reed Warbler
1 Swallow
2 Water Rail calling
1 male Pochard

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Wednesday 22nd of April 2015 10:23:39 PM

Evening stroll
Curlew over heading north westerly, 2 lapwing displaying, 1 swallow, grey heron flew over after dark, 2 pochard with the tufted duck on diggle flash,

morning dog walk
willow warbler song seemed to be everywhere, 3 whitethroat, 1 blackcap seen at least 2 more heard, 2 grey partridge, 4 pheasant, approx 12 skylark singing with as many again at lower levels, 2 linnet feeding in meadow with meadow pipits, reed bunting, chaffinch,chiffchaff, great tit,blue tit, dunnock,wren, blackbird,mistle thrush, kestrel, carrion crow,magpie, wood pigeon, 3 lesser black backed gull over,
Diggle flash- 9 tufted duck, 7 coot, 4 mallard, 2 mute swan, 1 great crested grebe, 3 black headed gull, 1 reed warbler calling, little grebe heard only,

Cuckoo did a quick double call from behind stock pond @17-15, good views of a singing blackcap, kestrel giving good views sunbathing from small trees.

Cuckoo heard only I was stood in C7 and could here it calling from C8, 2 Grasshopper Warbler reeling from C7 and single birds in C6 and C8. Sedge Warbler seen well in C4. Coot with 6 chicks on Fir Tree Flash my first this year.

morning dog walk
didn't count numbers but plenty of willow warbler singing, chiffchaff,blackcap, whitethroat, long tailed tit, dunnock, great tit, robin,wren, chaffinch,blue tit, 2 very vocal jay, 2 displaying lapwing,skylark,meadow pipit, reed bunting, reed warbler heard only, at least 4 grasshopper warbler heard only, pheasant,blackbird,mistle thrush, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,
diggle flash- 9 tufted duck, 8 coot, 2 great crested grebe, 3 mallard, 2 canada geese over, 2 mute swan, 2 moorhen, 1 grey heron,

4 grasshopper warbler reeling 1 showing really well this evening

Very little to add to Gordon's and Bernard's sightings,

5 Grasshopper Warbler with 3 reeling in C7 alone
1 Sedge Warbler C4
1 Water Rail, New Water

-- Edited by Scott robinson on Monday 20th of April 2015 03:49:12 PM

not much to add to Gordons sightings, 3 swallow low over field before heading off towards Heron Lodge Farm, 2 grey partridge being the highlights, always good to catch up with Gordon.

07.45 - 10.15
Walk of the perimeter of the whole site
45+ Willow Warbler
15 Chiffchaff
10 Blackcap
3 Grasshopper Warbler
2 Whitethroat
1 Reed Warbler
1 Green Woodpecker yaffleing

Plus usuals
Good to bump into Bernard to catch up

days fishing on the stock pond produced:

1 grasshopper warbler
1 blackcap
3 willow warbler
2 chiffchaff
2 little grebe
2 great crested grebe
1 reed bunting
lesser black backed gull
plenty wood pigeon, magpie
grey heron
tuffted duck

Yes it is Wigan Council ( apart from an area of private land west of Fir Tree Flash). They really want to get on to of 4x4 problem so thanks for reporting.
Allotments will go in the South east corner of c7 but there will be a path where current desire line runs

A draft master plan for the site will be ready in a few weeks - will post a link when it is ready.
Maybe this thread needs to be in Discussion forum - sorry Ian!

Information I think is correct is the council, they are thinking of putting allotments in part of C7 not sure when though.

I've reported them today to Greater Manchester police and I always report them if I see 4x4s over there it is frustrating when you see them ripping through C7 like this afternoon and there's nothing really you can do.
Who actually owns the land?

Scott robinson wrote:

---

Roger police do nothing and never have

---

This is not true Scott. The Police have previously carried out at least two successful 'raids' on these off-road vehicles on Bickershaw (which are only the ones I know of) which I have personally witnessed albeit several years ago when this problem was at its worst.

Whilst I fully appreciate 'our' frustration at this problem, simply sitting back and attemting to do nothing because we think it won't work is probably the worst option. I have commented on similar occasions on the forum before and will say again; if we are not prepared to at least try to address such problems ourselves then simply complaining about them on this forum is not an option.

Roger police do nothing and never have, there been problems with 4x4 and motorbikes for a very long time and nothing seems to be done apart from a few barriers being put up here and there. Site is so accessible it's very hard to stop them.

Scott ..... that is far from a joke and needs reporting to the police.

You cannot ride or drive on any land, moorland, forest, commons, country parks, waste ground, derelict railways, etc., unless you have the express permission of the landholder. Motor vehicles include bikes, quads, kid's bikes, buggies, karts etc. are now covered by road traffic law. In public open spaces all vehicles must be road legal.

If you drive in any of these places and many others you will be breaking the law, possibly causing environmental damage and you could have your car, quad bike or motor bike confiscated by the police.

I have the odd run-in with mountain & scramble bikers but nothing like that .... things need to be done.

Roger.

There were 3 jeeps on Fir tree car park when I was leaving, one of them was even trying to get through C7 it's a joke.

Patches been burnt in a number of places ,site taking a battering with 4x4's and bikes as well

Green Woodpecker to add to today's sightings and idiots have set fire to a large section of reeds on border of C6-C4

morning dog walk- a good 3 1/2 hour mooch
as Gordon says plenty of willow warbler i didn't do a count but i would say 20+ all round the sight, 2 kestrel, 2 whitethroat,1 blackcap, 3 chiffchaff, 5 chaffinch, long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, goldfinch,wren,robin,blackbird, 4 mistle thrush, skylark, meadow pipit, decent numbers of reed bunting throughout site, 3 grasshopper warbler reeling, 6 reed warbler 2 singing, magpie, carrion crow, wood pigeon,5 pheasant, 2 lesser black backed gull and 2 mallard on new water,
nevisons flash- 3 grey lag geese, 2 mallard, 1 moorhen, 1 mute swan, 4 of the reed warbler seen here,
fir tree flash- 5 canada geese, 2 mute swan, 3 mallard,6 coot, 2 reed warbler,
diggle flash- 2 mute swan, 2 tufted duck, 7 coot, 5 black headed gull,3 mallard, 1 great crested grebe, 2 little grebe heard only,
didn't see the great spotted woodpecker not seemed to see very many here as yet this year in the past we have usually had quite a few,
no sign nor sound of cuckoo

10.00 - 11.30
not much singing this morning
C3&4
6 Reed Warbler
1 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
2 Chiffchaff
plenty Willow Warbler
2 Great spotted Woodpecker
usual Buzzard & Kestrel

Very little to add to Bernards sightings,

Common Whitethroat showing well by New road
Cuckoo heard only possibly around Diggle flash area
Grasshopper Warbler reeling and showing really well C7
Plenty Skylark singing in C5 and C6

Morning dog walk- pretty quiet numbers wise although most of the usual species seen, that said the willow warblers are building up with 10+ more heard than seen, 4 chiffchaff, 1 whitethroat showing well, robin,blackbird,mistle thrush, reed bunting,meadow pipit, skylark,blue tit and great tit all in smallish numbers, kestrel,2 buzzard,2 dunnock,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow,
Diggle flash- 3 tufted duck,5 coot,2 great crested grebe,3 black headed gull,2 mute swan

Cuckoo calling this evening from trees behind stock pond

Morning dog walk
Diggle flash- 8 coot,3 tufted duck,4 little grebe,1 great crested grebe, 2 mallard, 2 mute swan,5 black headed gull, 2 lesser black backed gull,
2 chiffchaff, 2 willow warbler, 1 grasshopper warbler heard only, 2 grey partridge, skylark,meadow pipit, reed bunting, pheasant, kestrel,goldfinch,blackbird,mistle thrush, blue tit,wren,great tit,magpie,wood pigeon,carrion crow,

Male Cuckoo heard then seen in C5
Loads of Willow Warbler Heard
Plenty Skylark and Chiffchaff
3 Buzzard, New water
Reed Warbler heard in C6 and C3

Plus usuals

18.30 - 20.00
1 Cuckoo - first heard at 18.45 in C5 area then seen later flying across New Water at 19.45 towards C10
1 Common Tern - flew north over C3
1 Grasshopper Warbler - C6 reeling managed to locate it after 10 mins looking for it
400+ Sand Martin
3 Swallow