Horrocks Flash - 31 Blackwits today

Gadwall brood of 3 ducklings and 5 Blackwits still on Pearson's Flash.

Horrocks Flash yesterday held 28 Blackwits, Redshank with y, and a good selection of other breeding wildfowl, Black-headed Gulls and terns.

24th June
I spent 10 hours in the field at various locations within Gr. Man. including 4 hours here (11 AM to approx. 3 PM). I met no other birders at all, anywhere.

I explored Ochre Flash, Bryn Flash, Turner's Flash for the first time, as well as Scotsmans, and my personal favourite, Pearsons Flash, (which pleasingly held 5 Black-tailed Godwits). = 40 species seen/heard (amid some superb habitat), including Geoff's 2 Buzzards circling to the east beyond the pylons at Bryn.

The best of the insects included a Brimstone, Common Blues and Speckled Woods, and Four Spotted Chasers. (With respect to the people who devised the dragonfly signboard by Ochre Flash, a depicted female Broad-bodied Chaser is miscaptioned as a Four -spotted Chaser).

Mike P.

Bryn Marsh 8.30 while 10.00 am

2 buzzard on a distant pylon
1 sparrow hawk
reed bunting.reed warbler,sedge,various other tits,thrushes etc,no sign of the marsh harrier,but a large raptor gave a fleeting glimpse as I walked back to platt bridge down the canal

cheers geoff

51 Blackwits and a Redshank with a new chick at Horrocks Flash today.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Also two pillocks on jet skis tearing around Rainsford Flash, disturbing the birds and causing havoc amongst the still flightless juv Black-headed Gulls. The registration number of their vehicle has been passed to the Police and LWT are now looking at fencing for theat area. Please note any further incidents though and pass any detials on to PC Mark Rydings whose details can be found on the 'Whos who' page on the Manchester Birding website.

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Having been contacted by LWT officials tonight they are taking the matter very seriously, so should there be any further incidents of this nature please let me know so I may liase with them.

Atleast 31 Black-tailed Godwits at the Bamfurlong Junction end of Horrock's Flash. Viewed from the screen by the railway but very obscured.

Garden Warbler singing at the very eastern end of the canal at Horrock's by the railway bridge.

Also two pillocks on jet skis tearing around Rainsford Flash, disturbing the birds and causing havoc amongst the still flightless juv Black-headed Gulls. The registration number of their vehicle has been passed to the Police and LWT are now looking at fencing for theat area. Please note any further incidents though and pass any detials on to PC Mark Rydings whose details can be found on the 'Whos who' page on the Manchester Birding website.

Sunday 13 June 2010
afternoon in the rain

Horrock's Flash:
1 Teal
1 Shoveler
11 Pochard
5 Ringed Plover
17 Black-tailed Godwit

Ian Campbell wrote:

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Bet they are breedng there next year, although Ian McK will not let anyone in on it

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So, I'm a suppressor of rare breeding birds for no quantifiable reason then Ian?

Judith, you won't be the first to know unless you were to find it yourself

If they were, I would be the first to know as it is my responsibility to compile the reports for the Rare Breeding Birds Panel.

Bet they are breedng there next year, although Ian McK will not let anyone in on it

Still present at 1400

My pics of the female Marsh Harrier are now in the gallery. (By the way, it was my girlfriend who spotted it).

Bryn marsh 13/06/10 9.00 till 10.30

1 female marsh harrier hunting over reed beds at 9.15 and again at 10.20 thanks for the tip off steve.

cheers geoff

I thought I would have a go at looking for the Marsh Harrier today as it was a nice day for a walk round anyway.
Not been for a while so parked near the cemetery and started out at Pearsons and worked my way over to Bryn Marsh. Lots of work gone on since I was there last. The brick pathway is new to me and only seen Bryn Marsh from the towpath so nice to find the viewing screen and able to have good views of Reed Warblers.
My luck paid off when the Female Marsh Harrier showed up over the reedbed about 4pm with great views for a hunting session. A repeat performance at about 5.30 before going home for the match.
Hopefully I've got a photo but having real difficulty getting birds in focus (yes even the big birds!) in flight with trees etc in the background- it always seems to focus on the background. Any tips anyone? (perhaps I'll post that bit on the discussion forum)
Anyway really pleased to get a county tick for a great bird!
Steve

Goldfinches inc fledged juvs at the Hawkley feeding station today, also fledged Willow Tits and Blackcaps in the vicinity

Wednesday 09 June 2010

2 Ringed Plover on Horrock's Flash this evening.

I have some pics of a female Marsh Harrier hunting over pearsons 10 days ago. Not very good quality mind.

Marsh Harrier reported this afternoon flying toards Ochre Flash from the canal, by Jake Moot - also watched by another birder with bins.

Monday 07 June 2010

Still 5 Black-tailed Godwit on Horrock's Flash this evening.
Also, a Pied Wagtail with 4 young.

First broods of Common Terns and Pochard this morning. Also our oldest swan in the county - at least 25 years old - has produced 3 cygnets...

-- Edited by Judith Smith on Sunday 6th of June 2010 08:51:01 PM

Sunday 06 June 2010

5 Black-tailed Godwit on Horrock's Flash this morning.

Bryn Marsh,till dusk,just to watch the starling roost/pre roost assy on the pylons,my best guess would be 2000 birds ,very nice to watch and amusing as each bird needs it,s
own 'space' on the pylon which results in much shuffling and flyrounds,my own Bryn,s Got Talent.

cheers geoff

Horrocks Flash,19.30 till 20.51 ish

1 drake gargany on the back pool, elusive and sleepy but looked settled in.Found by one Rob (the points) Thorpe.

cheers geoff

Pearsons flash 29-5-19 1700
A female Marsh Harrier hunting low over reeds provided cracking viewing for 20 mins. Thought it was a Buzzard at first.

Monday a.m. Canal at Platt Bridge 30 blacktailed godwit going south,
Horrocks Flash 50 blacktailed godwit flying south,more and more bh gulls.
Bryn Marsh 6 Pochard displaying
1 Raven on the pylon
3 Buzzard
1 very pleasant hour spent bittern hunting from the 'warford,s' bench(dipped)

cheers geoff

Horrocks Flash 12.30 14.00 rain/drizzle

same old same old,wader scrape still vacant,gulls, terns, geese all as expected ,on a brighter note the gull population is expanding as the little fluffy ones have started to appearno black terns yet

cheers geoff

Wednesday 26 May 2010
16:30 - 19:30

70 Black-tailed Godwit through, as follows:
16:50 - 11 flew NW over Hawkley Reedbed.
17:15 - 25 circled Horrock's Flash a few times before landing, then at 17:28 a low flying helicopter flushed the 25, they then flew WNW.
17:50 - 34 circled Horrock's Flash twice before flying NNW.
All 3 flocks unsurprisingly came from the direction of the Abram Flashes.
Also:
1 Kingfisher along canal at Bryn Marsh
9 Canada Goose with 32 goslings at Moss Bridge, with 3 teenage scrotes throwing stones at them

Horrocks Flash 19.30 till 21.00

swifts,swallows and house martins putting on a nice display
usual crowd just as busy as usual,and despite a good search not a single godwit strayed from the blatently over crowded nearby site.honest I always go to Horrocks on tuesdays the thought of 241 points dropping in never crossed my mind

cheers geoff

Monday 24 May 2010
evening

Horrock's Flash:
4 Buzzard
1 Cuckoo
lots of Swift and House Martin.

Wigan flashes am, an extended wander around horrocks,bryn marsh,ocre,scotmans pearsons and back around the rear of horrocks .Nothing of note,highlights of the morning a coot family with six chicks,12 great crested grebe on pearsons displaying and
'mirror dancing.Horrocks flash is the most crowded/ busiest at the moment.Only reed,sedge, blue tit seen lurking in the reed beds.

cheers geoff

Sunday 23 May 2010

1 Common Sandpiper on Horrock's Flash late morning.

Horrocks Flash 2.00 pm

1 cuckoo seen in flight (at last)
20 common terns
usual suspects
1 report from a regular contact of the osprey being mobbed over the area (Yes it stings)

cheers geoff

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Neil Ferguson wrote:

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A million Coots

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Easily a new county record then Neil

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Well about 15 then !!!!!

Neil Ferguson wrote:

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A million Coots

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Easily a new county record then Neil

I'm just back from my first trip to Scotsmans Flash since about 1972.

Too many Chavs about really I'm afraid.

I was delighted to spot a Reed Bunting though and a small charm of 4 Goldfinches.

A million Coots and Mute Swans on the flash but nothing else of note seen really.

I must learn some of the more obscure bird song.

Now I know how to get there, an early Saturday morning stroll will be on the cards I think.

Drake Garganey on the front pool at Horrock's Flash at 3:20 today.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

Horrocks Flash,19.00 21.00 quick ride round before the rain set in,usual suspects all present

50 swallows (after yesterdays no show)
1 cuckoo calling from the 'jungle' will it ever show

cheers geoff

3 other Garden Warblers there too, Dave - one Ince Moss Landfill and 2 within 30ft of each other on the path to Moss Bridge near the metal bridge over the stream.

Garden Warbler today along the canal near Bryn Marsh
1 Oystercatcher
3 adult Greylags on canal with 15 juvs

All the usual suspects this am but a Cuckoo was at Horrocks Flash.

I didn't see this bird again despite being in the area for about 4 hours but it was a full female. Also a Grasshopper Warbler on the path to Moss Bridge at the S end of Scotman's and a Raven eating some kind of prey there.

Female Marsh Harrier over Hawley Hall Reedbed at 8:30 this morning.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

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Horrocks Flash 20.00 21.30 ish

200+ now staying put overnight

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Anglers, Scrotes or Gulls?

Horrocks Flash 20.00 21.30 ish

200+ now staying put overnight
7 common terns
1 oystercatcher
0 passage waders despite the rain

cheers geoff

Wednesday 28th: pair of Greylag on Scotmans with 6 juvs
also a Cockatiel at large there

Wednesday 28 April 2010

2 Garden Warbler this evening. One across canal from Bryn Marsh and the other near the pond on Rainford's Tip.

Tuesday 27 April 2010

Horrock's Flash 19:00 - 20:00:
1 Kestrel
1 Common Sandpiper
6 Common Tern
1 Cuckoo (heard)
2 Blackcap
5 Reed Warbler

Sunday 25 April 2010

Horrock's Flash, afternoon:
17 Pochard
2 Whimbrel landed on Rainford's Pool for a while before being flushed by a Heron and flying NE
1 Common Sandpiper
3+ Common Tern
1 Cuckoo (heard only)
1 Swallow
4+ Blackcap
2 Reed Warbler

Also, a Garden Warbler was along canal towpath opposite Bryn Marsh.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 26th of April 2010 12:22:11 AM