Monday 04 January 2010

Scotman's Flash (98% frozen) @ 14:00ish:
1 Mandarin (female)
10 Teal
5+ Pochard
7+ Goldeneye
4+ Little Grebe
1 Sparrowhawk (female) over

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 4th of January 2010 03:50:26 PM

What a difference a day makes,glorious sunshine and very little wind led to a nice day birding on the flashes,I checked the teal and still no sign of the green winged wanderer.
Highlights of an extended bittern on ice based search

Turners f goldeneye 2 little grebe
Pearsons (frozen) 2 grey heron
Scotmans quite a few gulls goldeneye and m goosander in the mix
Bryn Marsh(frozen) blue tit and reed bunting 15 redpoll over
Horrocks Flash still no GWT

Rear of Pearsons 1 kingfisher posing in the sunshine(magic and worth the walk)
alas no bittern

cheers geoff

A bleak, bleak morning, akin to a nuclear winter, with a soggy excuse for hail as fallout. Described by Mr Thorpe as officially the worst morning's birding ever.

No sign of the GWTeal among a flock of 97 Teal on the canal frontage of Horrocks.

Drake Goosander Scotman's

Buzzard Horrocks

A couple of Willow Tits.

2 Bullfinch at the Hawkley feeding station.

1 Redpoll heard near Turner's

A lone Meadow Pipit flew west, as if it were the last Mipit on earth

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 2nd of January 2010 01:28:21 PM

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

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Horrocks Flash, most of today,never have so many looked for so long for nothing but dissapointment

more birders than you can shake a stick at
mark rigby,steve reynolds,paul hammond,rob thorpe,myself,shaun and better half,all failed to find the green-winged teal,it,s out there somewherethe pie eaters will be checking tomorrow

cheers geoff

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Not only were there plenty of birders present but there were plenty of Teal to search through as well. 82 on Turners with another dozen or so at Horrocks.

Cheers, John

Horrocks Flash, most of today,never have so many looked for so long for nothing but dissapointment

more birders than you can shake a stick at
mark rigby,steve reynolds,paul hammond,rob thorpe,myself,shaun and better half,all failed to find the green-winged teal,it,s out there somewherethe pie eaters will be checking tomorrow

cheers geoff

Thursday 31 December 2009

Last Wigan Flashes visit of the year (finally!)...

Scotman's Flash @ 14:00ish:
5 Goosander (2 drake)
10+ Goldeneye
1 first-winter Great Black-backed Gull amongst the usual gang of gulls.
1 Sparrowhawk (male)
and a Moorhen running along a Mute Swan's back!?

Scotmans
2 Goosanders

Mandarin at Feeding Station

Cheers Jimmy

The Green-winged Teal was with 57 other Teal on the ice at Rainfords Flash this morning. Rainford's is the part of Horrocks Flash at the N end, separated by a causeway from the rest of the flash (though it's been severed in a few places to deter trespassers), near the level cfossing. Best access is from Taylor's Lane, then across the railway bridge, down the slope (ice-free), bear left through the fishing ponds (some ice on road) and across the level crossing (a lot of ice but driveable).

Wednesday 30 December 2009

Scotman's Flash @ 14:00ish:

4 Goosander (all drakes)
10+ Goldeneye (including 1 first-winter drake)

Green Winged Teal still present, 9.30 a.m., nice GM 1st for me, also good to see Eltons not the only place to have Water Rail, one flew from under metel bridge from school approaching canal. Also good to see lots of Goldeneye on Scotmans(we used to get these at Elton).
Cheers Ian

Yes, twas I. Took me almost as long to get across Brampton Close to the car as it took me to get from Horrocks to the railway bridge! Glad you and the "big guy" saw it.

When I was a kid, the 'Wigan Chosen Few' were in the charts with the 'Footsie.' If you practised it you landed on your arse ! . You can now practise this dance move on the towpath. Mind your optics, don some sturdy boots and walk to side of the paths. The big guy with the scope was Hammy, who knows some interesting moves on ice.

hi richard was u the chap that was getting back to brampton close as i was leaving with my wife, if so nice to meet u the conditions u discribed under foot were very acurate i met an other chap called geoff he should be on dancing on ice , did manage to get a poss id on the teal due to the help of the big guy with his scope thankyou

Arrived at Horrocks Flash around 1150 from the skating rink aka Brampton Close. Just about see the liquid area through the fog with the odd Mute Swan, Mallard and Coot hanging around. At around 1240, the fog lifted sufficiently to see Teal swimming around in the middle distance. Prolonged scrutiny eventually revealed the Green-winged one's vertical white stripe, dodging between the horizontal white-scapulared Common Teal. Kept fading in and out, but got onto it three times for varying periods. Couldn't say they were excellent views, and failed utterly to get a fellow birder on to it. Had to leave him hoping that there would be a further lift in the visibility.

Horrock flash pm visit

Green-winged teal still present upto 16.30 although the fog made viewing 'difficult' at times.
15 redpoll very briefly near the railway pool
Rainfords has quite a large ice free zone with lots of coot 4 little grebe tufted present
rear pool frozen over and deserted except for blackbirds,blue tit and magpie the highlights.

cheers geoff

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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Monday 28 December 2009

An unusual sight this morning was a drake Wigeon walking around under the feeders at Hawkley Hall feeding station, along with the female Mandarin and a few Mallards.

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probably the male thats been at penny fer about 5 years,that feeds out of yer hand near toot car park.

Monday 28 December 2009

An unusual sight this morning was a drake Wigeon walking around under the feeders at Hawkley Hall feeding station, along with the female Mandarin and a few Mallards.

We saw the Bittern at about 13:00

Nice to meet you!

Colin,yes it must have been me nice to 'meet' you across the canal and congrats with the Bittern sighting but can you put a time on it??and just for the record it,s Bryn Marsh

cheers geoff

In the end we decided to park in Welham road. The walk to Horrock's flash was a nightmare underfoot, but we were more than compensated by a flyover Bittern which landed on Bryn Flash (Geoff, was it you who we enquired about the name of the flash?).
Also in the same area, I thought I heard a distant Cetti's Warbler call, but I couldn't be 100% certain.

The Green-winged Teal was sitting on the ice with perhaps 40 other Teal, and a drake Wigeon.

Although the ice is a pain in many ways, I suppose it does at least make the GWT fairly easy to locate. I suspect that once the ice has melted it will be much more difficult to pin down.

Wigan Flashes,general mooch to try and dig out a point before close of play.

Horrocks flash early doors to check on the 'long staying' Green-winged teal. Much to my delight a Bittern flew across from the rear pool and went over towards Turners flash.

Hawkley Hall feeding station area,lots of tits and bullfinch with willow tit always reliable here,a female manderin had me scribbling notes and trying to phoneascope with little success.

Ince landfill and rear of pearsons/cemetry reed bed produced very little with both the redpoll and cetti,s playing hard to get.
Turners flash,coot,swans,little grebe and 1 goldeneye
Bryn marsh,from the other side of the canal, I watched in shock and awe as another?Bittern glided in over the railway and dropped into the central reed bed at 11.30ish

Horrocks flash 1 Steve Collins braving the elements,nice to see you.

Red letter dayGeoff

Very much appreciate the update today by Geoff and Ian as not had much time to get out recently but had a couple of hours today.
I tried 3 times for the Green winged Teal last winter and missed it so very pleased to see it today for a county tick. Not sure if I got a decent photo but will send one anyway. It was still there at 12.00.
Also chatted to Geoff on his way back from the Hawkley end and yes, as Ian suggested, he had a bittern in flight whilst walking (or skateing) along the tow path! I'm sure Geoff will update you as there is even more to tell you!
Steve

Green-winged Teal still present this morning on Horrocks at 08:50 atleast.

Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 27th of December 2009 08:53:40 AM

Horrocks flash,i,ve made two quite lenthy visits today in an effort to improve my digiscoping skills,the green winged teal was always present but at times difficult to locate due to it,s tendency to stand facing the towpath making the 'stripes' just visible head on, so a little patience is needed sometimes.I,ll pop down in the morning and get an update posted.Nice to meet the Bolton Rayners this afternoon.

cheers geoff

Judith Smith wrote:

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If you are only going to Horrocks Flash, Welham Rd is quite a long walk - more than a mile. )

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If you are only going to Horrock's Flash you should be ashamed of yourselves you twitchers . That mile walk could net you Cetti's Warbler, Bittern, Mealy Redpoll (if you can catch up with that damn roving finch flock!) and who knows what else

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 26th of December 2009 11:08:42 PM

steve ashworth wrote:

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could anyone please tell me how to get to wigan flashes as i will be coming from bolton merry christmass

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Easiest option by far is to:

1/. go to www.googlemaps.co.uk

2/. click get directions, top left (under the words 'Googlemaps')

3/.enter your location into A and Welman Road, Wigan into B

4/. hit 'get directions' and hey presto! A full list of directions plus map if necessary.

If you are only going to Horrocks Flash, Welham Rd is quite a long walk - more than a mile. It's best to park at the end of Brampton Close (a cul-de-sac) at SD599022, walk through the gap at the end onto the footpath, turning left, continuing down to the canal. At the towpath turn right under the main West Coast line bridge, and walk along the towpath through wet woodland until you reach open water. This is the canal frontage of Horrocks Flash. You can walk all the way round, bringing you back to the main line bridge, by climbing the steps from the towpath when you reach the next railway line bridge over the canal (Liverpool Wigan line) and following the footpath round the edge of the flash (total circumference about 3km) (do not be tempted to cross the level crossing, walk past this)

I went for a look with my seven year old in tow [literally in tow on the ice] at about 3pm. As we walked to the viewpoint a flock of around 14 Teal whistled away perhaps to more clear water elsewhere in the flashes. Of the 10 or so Teal that were left they all had the white flash the right way round sadly!

There were 30 + Coot, a single Canada, Tufted ducks [one with a lot of white around the bill - but I'm not making that mistake again!], Mallard, five mute swan and on the ice path there were all the normal suspects and some very obliging robins so that my daughter could try out her new camera!

I'm a fairly seasoned winter fell walker and that path is as bad as I've seen at 3000ft in winter so take care if you're going tomorrow - I wore some spikes and couldn't have made it without them [I drew the line at full Crampons but to be honest they wouldn't have been a bad idea ]

As for the access the side roads are literally 3" of ice so I parked at the first side road off the A58 [Lily Lane] which is Abington Drive and was ice free for the first 50m. From there we walked back to the canal probably 100m further away than from where the directions on the site guide [see main website] would bring you to.

I may go for another skate if its back tomorrow!

Thanks Ian. I'll let you know how we get on.

Colin

could anyone please tell me how to get to wigan flashes as i will be coming from bolton merry christmass

I find the best place to park Colin is in Wellham Road. Turn off Poolstock Lane onto Carr Lane and follow this all the way to just before you come to Hawkley Hall High School, whereupon you turn left just before it and into Wellham Road.

Park at the bottom and then continue along the path heading in the same direction as Welham Road (sort of west-ish!), which will take you past Hawkley Reedbed (on your right) and Scotmans Flash (on our left) and up to the canal. Cross the canal via the bridge there and turn right to head east along the canal. Continue along the canal towpath, underneath the railway bridge and until the large pool appears on your left. This is Horrock's Flash and is where the Green-winged Teal has been.

As for the Cetti's, it's hit and miss. I have been the only one to see it this side of the year and when I did it was last headed in the direction of Hawkley Reedbed. There are paths around it and a wander with your ears tuned in to it's contact call will be your best option. My encounter was pure luck combined decent hearing and being familiar with it's call.

Good Luck.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 26th of December 2009 06:30:14 PM

Hi
I'm hoping to call in to see the Green-winged Teal tomorrow (27th). Where is the best place to park? When I visit these flashes I usually park near the church in Poolstock Lane, but that seems quite a distance from Horrocks Flash. Also, where's the best place for the Cetti's Warbler? Last year I heard it at the back of Pearson'. Is that still the best area.

Thanks for any help,

Colin

Horrocks flash am

Green-winged teal still with us but sleepy,the tow path is just an ice rink

cheers geoff

Horrocks flash 10.30 just before the fog blanked the view,same a yesterday

Green-winged teal still present
4 fieldfare
2 bullfinch
2 g s woodpecker
6 redpoll
a host of finches,tits etc around the railway line/houses

merry xmas geoff

Horrocks front pool is now reduced to just one open pool being kept ice free by the following

1 Green-winged teal
82 teal
17 mute swans
4 tufted
73 mallard
2 little grebe
180 coot (approx)
4 moorhen

from the towpath 1 kestrel 1 buzzard

cheers geoff

p s take a little bread with you,the mallard and coot will trudge over for chat,or a guilt
trip when they realise you,ve nothing to contribute

Green-winged Teal still present today on Horrocks Flash. View from the canal towpath as usual.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

I for one am not risking life and limb on that towpath!

did anyone see the special teal yesterday?

Simon Warford wrote:

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Well done Ian with the Cetti's, but of course you were down there just trying to increase your self found list and just happened to be passing Horrocks flash

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Nope! I was there blatantly increasing my Wigan borough list. Gotta get myself back to the top

Well done Ian with the Cetti's, but of course you were down there just trying to increase your self found list and just happened to be passing Horrocks flash

Horrocks flash a very brief visit at 13.00 the Green-winged teal is still with us.

cheers geoff

Oh for the value of ears!

Walking back from Horrock's this morning along the treacherous canal towpath (think pure ice under powdered snow!), as I neared the canal bridge opposite Hawkley reedbed I was somewhat surprised to hear the metallic 'plitt' of a Cetti's Warbler. I was even more surprised to look around and see the bird in a small bare tree some 30 feet away, apparently scolding me! It stayed in that one spot for around 20 seconds affording me the best views I have ever seen of the species anywhere (including abroad), oh for a DSLR! The bird then flew cross the canal over towards Hawkley reedbed and despite a very brief could not be relocated.

Despite such superb views it didn't show it's legs very well due to the way it was sat on the branch but I feel sure the bird wasn't ringed but alas cannot confirm it. So, if you do happen to see it, please concentrate on it's legs to see if we can confirm if it's a new individual or the 'old one'

Green-winged Teal still present this morning on Horrocks front pool, viewed from the canal towpath.

10 Wigeon Scotman's Flash

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

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Green-winged teal still present at 13.30,

cheers geoff

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And still there at 15:50

Green-winged teal still present at 13.30,

cheers geoff

Green-winged Teal still present at midday on Horrocks Flash viewed from the canal towpath.

Info thanks to John Rayner

Drake Green-winged Teal at 09:50 this morning on the front pool of Horrock's Flash, viewed from the canal towpath.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

A mobile flock of 40+ Goldfinch and 12+ Lesser Redpolls were around the area between Turner's Flash, the former landfill and the canal this morning. I had a couple of brief views of a strikingly pale, possible Mealy, but couldn't get on to it well enough.

-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 06:46:36 PM