1 Female Scaup on Scotsman's about 11.00. Couldn't see on the ay back about 13.00.
Willow tits at the feeders.
Natalie Clarke said
Thu Dec 17 4:51 PM, 2020
Another walk round on a lovely sunny morning! My favourite sightings:
jay
dunnock
nuthatch
greenfinch
Natalie Clarke said
Sat Dec 12 4:12 PM, 2020
First visit round here for me and it was pretty successful! Possibly helped by the weather getting better as the day went on and even some sunshine from around midday.
My highlights and some firsts for me:
1 x jay
1 x little grebe
2 x juvenile mute swan
1 x siskin (particularly excited by this as I had set my heart on spotting one this weekend!)
Coal tit
Pochard
2 x collared doves
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of December 2020 04:58:15 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Oct 17 9:51 PM, 2020
Saturday 17 October 2020
Pearsons Flash, Turners Flash, and Horrocks Flash by bike, from 07:30ish to late morning: 64 Whooper Swan east, with c50 at 08:55, then 14 at 09:25. 557 Pink-footed Goose, with skeins of 60, 285, 171 east, and 41 west. 3 Wigeon. 1 Brambling north. 15 Siskin north. 142 Redwing north-east. 29 Woodpigeon south. 3 Stock Dove south. 1 Chiffchaff. 7 Goldcrest. 8 Cetti's Warbler. 1 Treecreeper. 5 Snipe.
5 adult + 1 full grown juvenile Great Crested Grebes together on Scotsmans Flash, also there a flock of 14 Swifts heading NE.
1 Great Crested Grebe plus an odd looking female Tufted Duck on Pearsons Flash.
I could'nt really make my mind up on the above "Aythya" duck, although now I'm pretty sure she was Tufted and not a Scaup.
She appeared to have a perfectly rounded head and a distinct "white patch" at the base of her beak.
The latter feature though is not truly diagnostic, and her saddle seemed a liitle too dark for a Scaup, I could'nt discern any cheek markings either.
Not having my scope did'nt help, neither did the fact that anglers are camping out on some of the best viewing spots.
John Williams said
Fri Jun 5 9:34 PM, 2020
16.00-18.00
Scotsmans Flash : Large numbers of Swifts above the flash.
1 Reed Warbler seen NE corner on rushes by the new road.
Horrocks Flash : There appeared to be 4 pairs of Common Terns amongst the Black Headed Gull colony, where at least 10 almost
full grown Black Head chicks were seen. Lots of hirundines skimming the surface of the flash, mainly Swallows and House Martins.
Pearsons Flash : 2 adult Herring Gulls amongst a group of 30 Lesser Black Backs. Large numbers of House Martins feeding above
the flash, with lesser numbers of Sand Martins and Swallows. 2 Cettis Warblers heard along the edge of the flash.
Ben Taylor said
Mon Apr 20 10:37 AM, 2020
Sunday 19th April
1 Buzzard 1 kestrel, both over near the water works facility between the flashes and ince cemetery.
Monday 20th April
1 kestrel on its usual area between persons flash and the iron bridge
Ben Taylor said
Sun Apr 19 10:22 AM, 2020
Common merganser
Black headed gull
Greylag goose
Great spotted woodpecker
Ian Moran said
Fri Mar 20 3:07 PM, 2020
Turner's Flash: 1 Red-head Smew still present.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 7 8:22 PM, 2020
Redhead Smew still on Turner's Flash today.
Viewable from the fishing peg at the western end but elusive, often best to look towards the right hand long seedbed. Weliies are essential!
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 13 2:08 PM, 2020
Redhead Smew still at Turner's Flash yesterday (12th).
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Feb 8 11:58 AM, 2020
Redhead Smew still present on Turners Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jan 11 1:35 PM, 2020
Redhead Smew at the western end of Turners Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
John Williams said
Sat Dec 21 9:02 PM, 2019
09.30-13.00
Main Features were :
Scotsmans Flash : 4f+3m Goosanders, 3m+6f Goldeneyes, 4m+2f Pochard and 1 Little Grebe.
Pearsons Flash : 4m+9f Goldeneyes, 1m Shoveler, 6m+2f Pochards and 1 Little Grebe.
Horrocks Flash : 1m Shoveler and 22 Gadwall.
Simon Gough said
Sun Aug 4 1:47 PM, 2019
Saturday 3rd August 10.00-13.30
Enjoyable walk down the canal from Wigan town centre, around Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh and back, my first time exploring this area. Not masses of birds showing, 33 species but an earlier start would likely have helped and probably not being somewhat hungover...in May I bet the place is much more vibrant anyway. Brilliant reedbed habitat, maybe some of the Bitterns and Bearded Tits settling in the North West will breed here in the next year or two?
Best I saw was a Kingfisher from the high concrete viewpoint over Bryn Marsh, lovely views as it shuttled with fish in its bill, presumably to a nest in there somewhere. A single Reed Warbler was in trees on the canal and I had some lovely views of a family of Whitethroats and some superb views of fishing Common Terns, full plunge dives, stunning. Predictably heard Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail but no views.
John Williams said
Wed Jul 31 5:18 PM, 2019
11.00-15.00
Scotsmans Flash : 7 Common Terns plus a flock of 14 Cormorants that circled the flash
a couple of times then flew off towards the N.East.
Westwood Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Pearsons Flash : 21 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 9 Pochard and 1 Grey Heron.
Horrocks Flash : 1 female Common Scoter, 4 juv+9 adult Common Terns, 4 Cormorants,
2 adult+ 5 juv Great Crested Grebes (All one family), 1 Grey Heron and around 100 Lapwings.
6 almost full grown Coot youngsters with their parents on Westwood Flash.
Large numbers of Swifts were feeding over Scotsmans and Pearsons Flashes.
3 Great Crested Grebes were on Scotsmans Flash, 2 of which had quite a nasty fight.
The Cettis Warbler is still calling by the SE corner of Scotsmans.
7 Great Crested Grebes were on Pearsons Flash.
A Garden Warbler gave a brief burst of song from the SE corner of Bryn Marsh, then showed quite well for a while from a willow opposite the towpath
near the railway bridge.
Horrocks Flash : 4 Common Terns, 2 Kingfishers (1 chased the other across the flash), 3 Cormorants and 1 Gadwall.
A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the SW corner, by the towpath, but he stayed hidden.
The Black Headed Gull colony appears to be doing well with numerous half grown chicks seen, 3 of which have chosen the company of 5 drake Mallards,
although their parents don't appear very happy about it, the youngsters were almost snuggled up to the ducks on a small islet.
John Williams said
Tue Apr 16 5:24 PM, 2019
09:00-14.30
Scotsmans Flash : 4f Goldeneyes, 2 Cettis Warblers (1 showing well), 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2m+1f Pochards.
Pearsons Flash : 2 Cettis Warblers (1 seen & 1 heard calling), 2f Goldeneyes, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Buzzard.
Horrocks Flash : 1m Pochard, 6 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gadwall and 2 Teal.
A single Willow Warbler by Horrocks Flash was the only one seen or heard throughout.
A Mistle Thrush was seen near the new bridge over the canal.
Sad to see that extensive patches of reeds have destroyed by fire on Pearsons Flash.
The towpath below the newly installed bridge is closed on the Pearsons Flash side of the canal at the moment.
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:27:03 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:30:59 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:31:58 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:32:41 PM
dave broome said
Tue Apr 2 8:32 PM, 2019
This evening c900 Sand Martin at Scotmans/Pearsons Flashes 35 Goldeneye roosted on Scotmans Flash
Keith Pilling said
Tue Apr 2 8:10 PM, 2019
Black Tailed Godwit on Horrocks this afternoon .
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 23 11:28 PM, 2019
Black-necked Grebe on Scotmans today.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
munsworth said
Mon Mar 11 3:05 PM, 2019
This afternoon of note
Cetti's Warbler - in reeds at southern end of Scotsman's
Willow Tit - 3
Lesser Redpoll - 4 at Hawkley feeding station
Steve Judge said
Sat Mar 9 6:28 PM, 2019
Saturday, 9th March 2019.
Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Dover Basin (Abram) - Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return. N.B. Limited view on to Pearson's Flash as path is closed next to canal on that side.
Redpoll x 3 Willow Tit x 2 Reed Bunting x 5 Goosander x 14 (2 Males and 12 Females) - mainly on Horrocks Flash Goldeneye x 4 Shoveler x 4 Little Grebe x 2 Teal x 2 Oystercatcher x 9 Gadwall x 8 Great Crested Grebe x 7 Buzzard x 2 Kestrel x 1 Mute Swan x 6 Coal Tit x 1 Goldfinch x 7 House Sparrow x 10 Jay x 2 Cormorant x 3 Tufted Duck x 30 Coot x 40 Moorhen x 5 Black-Headed Gull x 100 plus Robin x 1 Chaffinch x 5 Blue Tit x 4 Great Tit x 7 Blackbird x 3 Dunnock x 1 Magpie x 8 Crow x 5 Mallard x 40 Canada Geese x 50 Greylag Geese x 4 Woodpigeon x 15
Short dog walk to the closed pathway at Pearsons flash.
2 Cetis Warbler
5 Redpoll (feeding station)
4 Bullfinch
1 Snipe circling Pearsons flash.
Steve Judge said
Fri Feb 1 4:37 PM, 2019
Friday, 1st February 2019. 10:45 - 15:00 hrs.
Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Platt Bridge - past Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return.
Redpoll x 1 Willow Tit x 2 Reed Bunting x 2 Goosander x 12 (4 Males and 8 Females) Goldeneye x 3 Shoveler x 7 Pochard x 1 (on Pearsons Flash - limited views as path is closed on that side) Great Crested Grebe x 3 Long-Tailed Tit x 2 Collared Dove x 2 Mute Swan x 2 Goldfinch x 2 House Sparrow x 10 Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 1 Grey Heron x 1 Jay x 1 Cormorant x 3 Tufted Duck x 40 Coot x 55 Moorhen x 5 Black-Headed Gull x 70 Robin x 7 Chaffinch x 15 Blue Tit x 10 Great Tit x 8 Blackbird x 5 Magpie x 3 Crow x 10 Mallard x 40 Canada Geese x 4 Woodpigeon x 1
Also, Fox seen walking across frozen Horrocks Flash - presumably after feeding on dead duck on the ice on the other side of the flash.
dave broome said
Sat Dec 1 2:30 PM, 2018
2 Cettis Warbler singing at Bryn Marsh today and 1 singing at Ochre Flash Approx 100 Redpoll feeding at Bryn Marsh alongside the railway 45 Goldfinch feeding in Birch by Killington Close 42 Blue Tit formed the bulk of a tit flock which moved along the canal at Bryn Marsh
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 1st of December 2018 02:43:10 PM
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Nov 18 10:56 AM, 2018
8 Whooper swans on horrocks flash rear pool viewed from toilet block,there is no longer any access via Taylors lane.
Geoff
dave broome said
Sat Nov 10 1:17 PM, 2018
In 4 hours this morning birds included at least 2 Crossbill going high south over Bryn Marsh, very vocal but I couldnt pick them up against the sky, other birds moving south were 7 Skylark, 1 Redpoll and a few Meadow Pipit 5 singing Cettis Warbler 7 Water Rail calling in Bryn Marsh 35 Gadwall on Ochre Flash
brian fielding said
Wed Oct 31 12:02 PM, 2018
No sign of red kite 07.30 till 12.00
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Oct 30 10:07 PM, 2018
A Red Kite has been around the Wigan Flashes since last Sunday and apparently earlier at Lightshaw. Today the bird was seen in the Westwood area.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
dave broome said
Sat Oct 27 6:39 PM, 2018
Some highlights from today were a Cettis Warbler calling fairly frequently in front of the Bryn Marsh viewing screen and showing occasionally along base of reed stems on edge of channel, a Peregrine on a pylon there, 2 Siskin, 3 Goldeneye
dave broome said
Thu Oct 25 8:39 AM, 2018
Wednesday 24th October Cettis Warbler, Kingfisher and Water Rail at Bryn Marsh in last hour of daylight
dave broome said
Tue Oct 23 7:16 PM, 2018
Gull roost at Scotmans Flash tonight: 1468 Black-Headed Gull, 97 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 11 Herring Gull and single figure of Common Gull
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 23rd of October 2018 10:16:16 PM
Rob Thorpe said
Tue Sep 25 11:17 AM, 2018
Tuesday 25 September | immature Hobby straight through, south, over Horrocks Flash at around 07:45ish.
dave broome said
Sat Sep 1 9:21 PM, 2018
Approx 3,000 Swallow roosted at Pearsons Flash this evening, where wildfowl included 5 Wigeon and 7 Shoveler Approx 2,500 Black-Headed Gull still roosting on Scotmans Flash, with 1 Common Gull among them, though very few large gulls. Cettis Warblers singing at Pearsons Flash and south end of Scotmans Flash nr Moss Bridge. One was singing in Bryn Marsh on Friday 31st August
dave broome said
Tue Aug 21 10:15 PM, 2018
2463 Black-Headed Gull counted roosting on Scotmans Flash tonight, along with 52 Lesser Black-Backed Gull and 1 Common Gull 4 Snipe flew from Scotmans Flash to Waddicars Flash
dave broome said
Thu Aug 16 7:58 AM, 2018
Birds on Scotmans Flash this morning included 2 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 2 Greylag Geese, 17 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Common Tern
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Aug 14 9:13 PM, 2018
Thanks for the I.D. dave,to be fair I do need an eye test,I,ve only seen Greenshank a couple of times, and have never heard one before.The group on,t flash were very vocal which gave them away as strangers, the flight call on/ Birdguides is very good for confirmation.Also of interest 2 Cetti,s warbler 1 rear of Horrocks and 1 Bryn marsh both heard only but the same half hearted effort at a call presumed/wild guess they are this years juv.
geoff & trixie
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 09:15:38 PM
dave broome said
Tue Aug 14 8:36 PM, 2018
4 juvenile Greenshank currently on Horrocks Flash viewed from canal, thanks to Geoff Hargreaves for heads up as to presence of waders only seen with his naked eye, a man who obviously doesnt need an eye test!
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 11:07:03 PM
Morning walk in showery and humid conditions. Beyond the usuals -
Kingfisher seen twice over Horrocks Flash. Also here a sparrowhawk overhead being mobbed by a couple of sand martins
dave broome said
Fri Aug 10 10:00 PM, 2018
Birds at Horrocks Flash this evening included 4 Snipe, 2 Shoveler, min 2 Redpoll and c50 Goldfinch
dave broome said
Thu Aug 9 11:19 PM, 2018
a Curlew flew SW this evening Approx 600 Hirundines roosted at Pearsons Flash, about three quarters of which were Sand Martins, the rest Swallows 415 Coot were on Scotmans-Pearsons Flashes 2 Pochard on Pearsons, where a Cettis Warbler briefly sang
Andy Bissitt said
Sun Jul 15 10:11 PM, 2018
More on the lookout for dragonflies (which were surprisingly low in number), but did see 11 oystercatchers which struck me as being a good number. Also a willow tit by the canal towpath, and a redpoll over a couple of times.
Craig Higson said
Sat May 12 5:33 PM, 2018
Spent a couple of hours round Horrocks Flash this morning.
The Black-headed Gull colony is in full swing, I didn't even attempt a count. There were at least 12 Common Terns, but this is a minimum figure as they were quite active and a few disappeared along the canal with possibly others returning. I only heard a couple of Reed Warblers which surprised me. Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were seemingly everywhere. A single Willow Tit was on the banks of the Canal. The back pools were very quiet with just a few Canada Geese, Tufted Duck and 2 Gadwall.
Mike c cooper said
Tue Apr 17 6:26 PM, 2018
Yesterday late morning
Reed warbler clamouring away at canal end of scotsmans and another over the canal by the pool with newearth embankment
dave broome said
Tue Apr 17 5:40 PM, 2018
At Scotmans Flash late afternoon an Oystercatcher on the dismantled railway embankment at the north end and 2 Common Tern, 1 bathing in middle of the water for a while. 2 House Martin among small numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin. Single Cettis Warblers singing at Pearsons and Scotmans Flashes
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Apr 14 12:07 AM, 2018
Friday 13 April 2018
A Green Sandpiper was calling as it flew north, somewhere in the murk over Horrocks Flash, at around 19:30 - while I was running along the towpath.
Swallow x 1 (over Scotmans Flash - 1st of year for me) Sand Martin x 50 (over Scotmans Flash and Pearsons Flash) Kingfisher x 1 Willow Warbler x 1 Bullfinch x 2 Buzzard x 1 Pochard x 4 Reed Bunting x 5 Great Crested Grebe x 6 Jay x 2 Grey Heron x 5 Canada Geese x 40 Greylag Geese x 4 Cormorant x 3 Wren x 1 Long-Tailed Tit x 5 Robin x 3 Blue Tit x 9 Great Tit x 4 Dunnock x 1 Chaffinch x 1 Blackbird x 4 House Sparrow x 5 Tufted Duck x 50 Mute Swan x 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 10 Black-Headed Gull x 100 Mallard x 30 Woodpigeon x 5 Carrion Crow x 4 Rook x 3 Magpie x 10 Coot x 30 Moorhen x 4 Oystercatcher x 2 Song Thrush x 1
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:03:49 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:04:47 PM
dave broome said
Thu Apr 5 12:04 PM, 2018
A first-winter drake Scaup on Scotmans Flash this morning 1 Swallow among c200 Sand Martin 1 singing Willow Warbler 1 Cettis Warbler 22 Golden Plover flew NE a trickle of Meadow Pipit moving N, 12 counted
An Osprey was seen there again this morning by another observer at 09:20
-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 5th of April 2018 06:31:22 PM
1 Female Scaup on Scotsman's about 11.00. Couldn't see on the ay back about 13.00.
Willow tits at the feeders.
Another walk round on a lovely sunny morning! My favourite sightings:
jay
dunnock
nuthatch
greenfinch
First visit round here for me and it was pretty successful! Possibly helped by the weather getting better as the day went on and even some sunshine from around midday.
My highlights and some firsts for me:
1 x jay
1 x little grebe
2 x juvenile mute swan
1 x siskin (particularly excited by this as I had set my heart on spotting one this weekend!)
Coal tit
Pochard
2 x collared doves
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 12th of December 2020 04:58:15 PM
Pearsons Flash, Turners Flash, and Horrocks Flash by bike, from 07:30ish to late morning:
64 Whooper Swan east, with c50 at 08:55, then 14 at 09:25.
557 Pink-footed Goose, with skeins of 60, 285, 171 east, and 41 west.
3 Wigeon.
1 Brambling north.
15 Siskin north.
142 Redwing north-east.
29 Woodpigeon south.
3 Stock Dove south.
1 Chiffchaff.
7 Goldcrest.
8 Cetti's Warbler.
1 Treecreeper.
5 Snipe.
Highlights :
3 Common Terns still on Horrocks Flash.
5 adult + 1 full grown juvenile Great Crested Grebes together on Scotsmans Flash, also there a flock of 14 Swifts heading NE.
1 Great Crested Grebe plus an odd looking female Tufted Duck on Pearsons Flash.
I could'nt really make my mind up on the above "Aythya" duck, although now I'm pretty sure she was Tufted and not a Scaup.
She appeared to have a perfectly rounded head and a distinct "white patch" at the base of her beak.
The latter feature though is not truly diagnostic, and her saddle seemed a liitle too dark for a Scaup, I could'nt discern any cheek markings either.
Not having my scope did'nt help, neither did the fact that anglers are camping out on some of the best viewing spots.
Scotsmans Flash : Large numbers of Swifts above the flash.
1 Reed Warbler seen NE corner on rushes by the new road.
Horrocks Flash : There appeared to be 4 pairs of Common Terns amongst the Black Headed Gull colony, where at least 10 almost
full grown Black Head chicks were seen. Lots of hirundines skimming the surface of the flash, mainly Swallows and House Martins.
Pearsons Flash : 2 adult Herring Gulls amongst a group of 30 Lesser Black Backs. Large numbers of House Martins feeding above
the flash, with lesser numbers of Sand Martins and Swallows. 2 Cettis Warblers heard along the edge of the flash.
Sunday 19th April
1 Buzzard 1 kestrel, both over near the water works facility between the flashes and ince cemetery.
Monday 20th April
1 kestrel on its usual area between persons flash and the iron bridge
Turner's Flash: 1 Red-head Smew still present.
Redhead Smew still on Turner's Flash today.
Viewable from the fishing peg at the western end but elusive, often best to look towards the right hand long seedbed. Weliies are essential!
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Redhead Smew still at Turner's Flash yesterday (12th).
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Redhead Smew still present on Turners Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Redhead Smew at the western end of Turners Flash this morning.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
Main Features were :
Scotsmans Flash : 4f+3m Goosanders, 3m+6f Goldeneyes, 4m+2f Pochard and 1 Little Grebe.
Pearsons Flash : 4m+9f Goldeneyes, 1m Shoveler, 6m+2f Pochards and 1 Little Grebe.
Horrocks Flash : 1m Shoveler and 22 Gadwall.
Enjoyable walk down the canal from Wigan town centre, around Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh and back, my first time exploring this area. Not masses of birds showing, 33 species but an earlier start would likely have helped and probably not being somewhat hungover...in May I bet the place is much more vibrant anyway. Brilliant reedbed habitat, maybe some of the Bitterns and Bearded Tits settling in the North West will breed here in the next year or two?
Best I saw was a Kingfisher from the high concrete viewpoint over Bryn Marsh, lovely views as it shuttled with fish in its bill, presumably to a nest in there somewhere. A single Reed Warbler was in trees on the canal and I had some lovely views of a family of Whitethroats and some superb views of fishing Common Terns, full plunge dives, stunning. Predictably heard Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail but no views.
Scotsmans Flash : 7 Common Terns plus a flock of 14 Cormorants that circled the flash
a couple of times then flew off towards the N.East.
Westwood Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Pearsons Flash : 21 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 9 Pochard and 1 Grey Heron.
Horrocks Flash : 1 female Common Scoter, 4 juv+9 adult Common Terns, 4 Cormorants,
2 adult+ 5 juv Great Crested Grebes (All one family), 1 Grey Heron and around 100 Lapwings.
Pretty quiet birdwise.
6 almost full grown Coot youngsters with their parents on Westwood Flash.
Large numbers of Swifts were feeding over Scotsmans and Pearsons Flashes.
3 Great Crested Grebes were on Scotsmans Flash, 2 of which had quite a nasty fight.
The Cettis Warbler is still calling by the SE corner of Scotsmans.
7 Great Crested Grebes were on Pearsons Flash.
A Garden Warbler gave a brief burst of song from the SE corner of Bryn Marsh, then showed quite well for a while from a willow opposite the towpath
near the railway bridge.
Horrocks Flash : 4 Common Terns, 2 Kingfishers (1 chased the other across the flash), 3 Cormorants and 1 Gadwall.
A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the SW corner, by the towpath, but he stayed hidden.
The Black Headed Gull colony appears to be doing well with numerous half grown chicks seen, 3 of which have chosen the company of 5 drake Mallards,
although their parents don't appear very happy about it, the youngsters were almost snuggled up to the ducks on a small islet.
Scotsmans Flash : 4f Goldeneyes, 2 Cettis Warblers (1 showing well), 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2m+1f Pochards.
Pearsons Flash : 2 Cettis Warblers (1 seen & 1 heard calling), 2f Goldeneyes, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Buzzard.
Horrocks Flash : 1m Pochard, 6 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gadwall and 2 Teal. A single Willow Warbler by Horrocks Flash was the only one seen or heard throughout.
A Mistle Thrush was seen near the new bridge over the canal.
Sad to see that extensive patches of reeds have destroyed by fire on Pearsons Flash.
The towpath below the newly installed bridge is closed on the Pearsons Flash side of the canal at the moment.
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:27:03 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:30:59 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:31:58 PM
-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:32:41 PM
35 Goldeneye roosted on Scotmans Flash
Black Tailed Godwit on Horrocks this afternoon .
Black-necked Grebe on Scotmans today.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
This afternoon of note
Cetti's Warbler - in reeds at southern end of Scotsman's
Willow Tit - 3
Lesser Redpoll - 4 at Hawkley feeding station
Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Dover Basin (Abram) - Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return. N.B. Limited view on to Pearson's Flash as path is closed next to canal on that side.
Redpoll x 3
Willow Tit x 2
Reed Bunting x 5
Goosander x 14 (2 Males and 12 Females) - mainly on Horrocks Flash
Goldeneye x 4
Shoveler x 4
Little Grebe x 2
Teal x 2
Oystercatcher x 9
Gadwall x 8
Great Crested Grebe x 7
Buzzard x 2
Kestrel x 1
Mute Swan x 6
Coal Tit x 1
Goldfinch x 7
House Sparrow x 10
Jay x 2
Cormorant x 3
Tufted Duck x 30
Coot x 40
Moorhen x 5
Black-Headed Gull x 100 plus
Robin x 1
Chaffinch x 5
Blue Tit x 4
Great Tit x 7
Blackbird x 3
Dunnock x 1
Magpie x 8
Crow x 5
Mallard x 40
Canada Geese x 50
Greylag Geese x 4
Woodpigeon x 15
Sightings from Tuesday 26th:
Horrock's Flash: 15 Goosander, 3 Oystercatcher, 5+ Shoveler, 10+ Gadwall
Feeding station: 5 Redpoll
Scotsman's Flash: 10+ Goldeneye
General: 2 Cetti's Warblers calling, 1 Water Rail
Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Platt Bridge - past Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return.
Redpoll x 1
Willow Tit x 2
Reed Bunting x 2
Goosander x 12 (4 Males and 8 Females)
Goldeneye x 3
Shoveler x 7
Pochard x 1 (on Pearsons Flash - limited views as path is closed on that side)
Great Crested Grebe x 3
Long-Tailed Tit x 2
Collared Dove x 2
Mute Swan x 2
Goldfinch x 2
House Sparrow x 10
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Jay x 1
Cormorant x 3
Tufted Duck x 40
Coot x 55
Moorhen x 5
Black-Headed Gull x 70
Robin x 7
Chaffinch x 15
Blue Tit x 10
Great Tit x 8
Blackbird x 5
Magpie x 3
Crow x 10
Mallard x 40
Canada Geese x 4
Woodpigeon x 1
Also, Fox seen walking across frozen Horrocks Flash - presumably after feeding on dead duck on the ice on the other side of the flash.
Approx 100 Redpoll feeding at Bryn Marsh alongside the railway
45 Goldfinch feeding in Birch by Killington Close
42 Blue Tit formed the bulk of a tit flock which moved along the canal at Bryn Marsh
-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 1st of December 2018 02:43:10 PM
5 singing Cettis Warbler
7 Water Rail calling in Bryn Marsh
35 Gadwall on Ochre Flash
No sign of red kite 07.30 till 12.00
A Red Kite has been around the Wigan Flashes since last Sunday and apparently earlier at Lightshaw. Today the bird was seen in the Westwood area.
Info thanks to Judith Smith
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 23rd of October 2018 10:16:16 PM
Approx 2,500 Black-Headed Gull still roosting on Scotmans Flash, with 1 Common Gull among them, though very few large gulls.
Cettis Warblers singing at Pearsons Flash and south end of Scotmans Flash nr Moss Bridge. One was singing in Bryn Marsh on Friday 31st August
4 Snipe flew from Scotmans Flash to Waddicars Flash
Thanks for the I.D. dave,to be fair I do need an eye test,I,ve only seen Greenshank a couple of times, and have never heard one before.The group on,t flash were very vocal which gave them away as strangers, the flight call on/ Birdguides is very good for confirmation.Also of interest 2 Cetti,s warbler 1 rear of Horrocks and 1 Bryn marsh both heard only but the same half hearted effort at a call presumed/wild guess they are this years juv.
geoff & trixie
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 09:15:38 PM
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 11:07:03 PM
Morning walk in showery and humid conditions. Beyond the usuals -
Kingfisher seen twice over Horrocks Flash. Also here a sparrowhawk overhead being mobbed by a couple of sand martins
Approx 600 Hirundines roosted at Pearsons Flash, about three quarters of which were Sand Martins, the rest Swallows
415 Coot were on Scotmans-Pearsons Flashes
2 Pochard on Pearsons, where a Cettis Warbler briefly sang
More on the lookout for dragonflies (which were surprisingly low in number), but did see 11 oystercatchers which struck me as being a good number. Also a willow tit by the canal towpath, and a redpoll over a couple of times.
The Black-headed Gull colony is in full swing, I didn't even attempt a count. There were at least 12 Common Terns, but this is a minimum figure as they were quite active and a few disappeared along the canal with possibly others returning. I only heard a couple of Reed Warblers which surprised me. Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were seemingly everywhere. A single Willow Tit was on the banks of the Canal. The back pools were very quiet with just a few Canada Geese, Tufted Duck and 2 Gadwall.
Reed warbler clamouring away at canal end of scotsmans and another over the canal by the pool with newearth embankment
A Green Sandpiper was calling as it flew north, somewhere in the murk over Horrocks Flash, at around 19:30 - while I was running along the towpath.
Platt Bridge - Horrocks Flash - Hawkley Viewing Screen - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - and return
Swallow x 1 (over Scotmans Flash - 1st of year for me)
Sand Martin x 50 (over Scotmans Flash and Pearsons Flash)
Kingfisher x 1
Willow Warbler x 1
Bullfinch x 2
Buzzard x 1
Pochard x 4
Reed Bunting x 5
Great Crested Grebe x 6
Jay x 2
Grey Heron x 5
Canada Geese x 40
Greylag Geese x 4
Cormorant x 3
Wren x 1
Long-Tailed Tit x 5
Robin x 3
Blue Tit x 9
Great Tit x 4
Dunnock x 1
Chaffinch x 1
Blackbird x 4
House Sparrow x 5
Tufted Duck x 50
Mute Swan x 2
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 10
Black-Headed Gull x 100
Mallard x 30
Woodpigeon x 5
Carrion Crow x 4
Rook x 3
Magpie x 10
Coot x 30
Moorhen x 4
Oystercatcher x 2
Song Thrush x 1
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:03:49 PM
-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:04:47 PM
1 Swallow among c200 Sand Martin
1 singing Willow Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler
22 Golden Plover flew NE
a trickle of Meadow Pipit moving N, 12 counted
An Osprey was seen there again this morning by another observer at 09:20
-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 5th of April 2018 06:31:22 PM