Just to confuse, at the last minute there were four of us.Had a nice day - fantastic weather, no wonder you have a Pier

Not a lot about, but nice to see some Snipe at Horrocks, and a Reed Bunting. I always enjoy lapwings, and there were quite a few around. Did not see any other birders though.

Geoff

Rob Thorpe wrote:

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***ATTENTION PIE-EATERS***
Do you like BIG BIRDS?

If so then get down to the flashes this Saturday for the "official" Wigan Flashes Raptor Watch. Location to be confirmed (but probably in the Horrock's Flash area), the watch will begin at 9ish prompt. Be there or be elswhere,the choice is all yours (but you probably won't be missing much).

Ps. This offer is also extended to non-pie-eaters. But lobby-gobblers are not welcome.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 10th of September 2009 11:19:14 PM

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if its owt like penny at the moment,you'll be lucky to see a kestreland us leythers would not think of venturing to the dark side,when we can stay in the countys premier site,with plenty of comfy hides and ive seen plenty of big birds in pieland

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 11th of September 2009 07:28:03 AM

***ATTENTION PIE-EATERS***
Do you like BIG BIRDS?

If so then get down to the flashes this Saturday for the "official" Wigan Flashes Raptor Watch. Location to be confirmed (but probably in the Horrock's Flash area), the watch will begin at 9ish prompt. Be there or be elswhere,the choice is all yours (but you probably won't be missing much).

Ps. This offer is also extended to non-pie-eaters. But lobby-gobblers are not welcome.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 10th of September 2009 11:19:14 PM

Anyway John, what do you mean you might be at the flashes tomorrow? You do know Horrocks Hide at Penny Flash is still open don't you? It's only Bunting Hide that's bring closed

Geoff,Jim & Malc. Easy to spot. I am the short one, and another has a beard

When "we four" are out, we have Ian, but no boat, but Ian is not a dog With a bit of luck at the end of Sept, we could become "we five" (gold rings eh)

It's great, because it always means there is someone to go out with, if one or two of us cannot make it.

Hope to see you John,

very funny

Ian Woosey wrote:

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john lyons wrote:

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who are the three? i might be on wigan flashes tomorrow

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The 3 Degrees ?
The 3 Amigos ?
The 3 Musketeers ?
The 3 Men In A Boat ?
The 3 Wise Men ?

On second thoughts it can`t be the latter..................not at Wigan anyway !

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Ian, you forgot:
the 3 Bears
the 3 Little Pigs
the 3 Blind Mice
3 Willy (that big whale)
the 3 Ronnies
and so on...

john lyons wrote:

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who are the three? i might be on wigan flashes tomorrow

---

The 3 Degrees ?
The 3 Amigos ?
The 3 Musketeers ?
The 3 Men In A Boat ?
The 3 Wise Men ?

On second thoughts it can`t be the latter..................not at Wigan anyway !

Thursday 10 September 2009 continued...
Evening
Horrock's Flash: I wish I hadn't bothered!

1 Pintail
Green Sandpiper heard (2 seen earlier today)
600+ Lapwing
loads of Snipe
1 Kingfisher
1 Kestrel
really quiet hirundine wise, just 2 Swallows. Looks like most of them cleared out either yesterday or this morning.
Also, earlier today 4 Wigeon were seen.

who are the three? i might be on wigan flashes tomorrow

Better say this quick after last week, but "we three" are going tomorrow. Please let on if you are around. Should be there around sometime after 10.30.

Thursday 10 September 2009
07:30-09:30
Scotman's Flash:

16 Meadow Pipits south, and 5 NW
3 Pied Wagtails south
2 Song Thrush south with one of the mipits
2 Greenfinch south

the female Mandarin was still on the canal
1 Kingfisher
2 Grey Wagtail
19 Lapwing flying back and forth
several Chiffchaff, including 3 singing
3 House Martins were the only hirundines.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 10th of September 2009 11:56:39 AM

Wednesday 09 September 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

a quick visit after work and before a barbers appointment, in the hope that today's Viridor/Abram Hobbies would have found their way to Horrock's Flash. They hadn't.
Here's some of the things I did see:
1 Pintail
3 Green Sandpiper
7 Common Tern (2juv on front pool and a group of 5 flew west)
1 Kingfisher
2 Buzzard

2 Reed Warblers were in Hawthorns on the top of the embankment at the north end of Scotman's this morning
apart from 5 Swallows possibly moving through, visible migration consisted of nothing whatsoever. Still lots of Tufted Ducks to scan through.

Monday 07 September 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

2 Curlew over, heading SW fairly high
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
1 Kingfisher
3 Common Tern (2ad, 1juv)
and a roost of c300 Swallow

Sunday Morning Mooch
Scotmans
Tufted Duck everywhere
18 Snipe over heading to Bryn Marsh
2 Grey Heron
20 Mute Swan
1 Whitethroat

Pearsons
pr Mute Swan + 4 Juv
Little Grebe with 1 fully grown young

Canal at Westwood
1 Mandarin f

seems Bullfinch have done well this time seemed to be calling from most trees

Cheers Jimmy

Saturday 05 September 2009 continued...
16:30-19:00
Horrock's Flash:

1 Pintail
3 Green Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Kingfisher
while walking back to my car a lone Swift was feeding over the Bamfurlong Triangle.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 10th of September 2009 09:23:32 PM

not a lot different to add this afternoon: 193 Tufted Duck, nearly all on Pearson's, juv Reed Warbler by the Hawkley feeding station

Saturday 05 September 2009
morning

Scotman's Flash:
1 Dunlin west
4 Common Tern (2ad, 2juv)
3 Swift south
1 Kingfisher
1 Meadow Pipit south
lots of hirundines including one with a very odd call, I thought it was a dog whistle at first so ignored it, until I heard it right overhead. It was a Sand Martin making a rather long high pitched whistling sound. Has anybody else ever heard this?

Horrock's Flash:
c60 Snipe
1 Common Tern
2 Grey Wagtail
1 Pied Wagtail
7 Mipit south and one going the wrong way (north)
an unusual sight was a loose flock of c100 Greenfinch along the canal towpath.
1 Kingfisher
and Judith had a Green Sandpiper.
Also, a Reed Warbler was singing at Bryn Marsh and I heard another Kingfisher.


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 5th of September 2009 03:36:11 PM

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 10th of September 2009 09:26:37 PM

Friday 04 September 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

1 Pintail
Green Sandpiper heard
c20 Snipe, plus a flock of 18 over heading west
1 Kingfisher
3 Common Tern (1ad, 2juv)
loads and loads of Swallows, mainly in cow field over canal
zero curlew sands

Scotman's Flash this morning: 1 Shelduck, 2 Common Tern (1 adult 1 juv)

I know I was a bit out of territory today but had a bit of a wander around Horrocks this afternoon. Very windy but didn't get wet. Of note 30+ Snipe on two of the little islands plus lots of Lapwing.

Sorry lads, did not get the "buzz to Wigin", but took the car to Carsington, where we say a Red Crested Pochard. Did not fancy being out in the rain most of the day.

Another time

Geoff

Thursday 03 September 2009
evening

Scotman's Flash:
1 Mandarin on canal with a pair of Mallard. Having not had much experience with Mandarins I'm not sure if it was a female, a juv, or an eclipse drake (I suppose I could read up about it, but I am far too lazy).
1 Swift
loads of hirundines, mainly Swallow
2 Reed Warbler
1 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk

Horrock's Flash:
1 Pintail
2 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
only about 8 Snipe and Lapwing numbers seemed to be down
1 Kingfisher
2 Common Tern (both juvs)
1 Buzzard
Lots of Swallows and a few House Martins.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 3rd of September 2009 09:57:45 PM

Thanks Geoff.
Just looked at the weather, and now not sure if it is such a good idea. Will have to discuss when I am picked up. Penny might be a better bet due to the hides.

Geoff,i,m afraid i,ll also be at work ,but would extend a welcome to flashes from us 'regulars'as rob says the screens are mostly ornamental and not really worth seeking out,best bet for a one day taster is a stroll through, sticking to the canal for ease of navigation,but if you can find the hawkley feeding station it,s quite reliable for willow tit and bullfinch which are always present but hard to pin down,hope you enjoy.

and locals approaching you may mutter a gruff 'aw reet' which is a standard wiganese
greeting meaning 'good day ,how are you'

cheers geoff

No hides I'm afraid Geoff, there are some viewing screens dotted around but they're pretty useless.
I won't be around unfortunately due to work, but if you would like any advice/directions I'd be more than happy to help.
Cheers
Rob

We four are going tomorrow, probably arrive 10-30ish. Please let on if anyone else is there.

Geoff

p.s. Are there any hides?

Wednesday 02 September 2009
07:15ish-09:15ish

Scotman's Flash:
1 Reed Warbler
1 Kingfisher
a few assorted hirundines

on the walk between Scotman's Flash and Horrock's Flash:
c50 Goldfinch
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Linnet over, heading north
a steady trickle of Wood Pigeon heading south along with 8 Meadow Pipit, giving the morning a very autumnal feel

Horrock's Flash:
1 Pintail
4 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
Snipe seem to have increased considerably overnight with at least 70 present, and small parties dropping in while I was counting
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Pied Wagtail

3 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper on Horrocks Flash today, also 25+ Snipe and about 620 Lapwing

Monday 31 August 2009
06:45-12:00

1 Black-tailed Godwit and c30 Snipe at Horrock's Flash, also 1 Buzzard over and 4 Common Terns (2 ad, 2 juv).
1 Swift south over Scotman's Flash.
42 Shoveler took off from Pearson's Flash and headed south in groups of 20, 7, 11 and 4.
Kingfisher heard at Westwood Flash.
2 Willow Warbler and several Chiffchaff in song.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 31st of August 2009 07:02:00 PM

Sunday 30 August 2009
late afternoon
Horrock's Flash:

1 Spotted Flycatcher along canal with tit flock.
1 Green Woodpecker on canal towpath
1 Black-tailed Godwit
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Snipe
2 Common Tern (1 ad, 1 juv)
loads of hirundines feeding over the canal.

Finally beaten my 2008 Wigan Flashes Year-list . And it's only August


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Monday 31st of August 2009 12:10:27 AM

Saturday 29 August 2009
early afternoon
Horrock's Flash:

1 Pintail
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Redshank
8+ Snipe
3 Buzzards in the air together
1 Kestrel
1 Willow Warbler singing.

Thursday 27 August 2009
late morning:

1 Lesser Whitethroat in hedge between Wigan Flashes and Hawkley Hall School, along with several Blackcap. Also there seemed to be a bit of an influx of Chiffchaff.
2 Reed Warblers near Hawkley Reedbed
1 Kingfisher @ Scotman's Flash
a Grey Partridge at Park House Farm
a Buzzard, a Sparrowhawk and a Kestrel over Ince Moss Landfill
1 Grey Wagtail over Pearson's Flash.

Wednesday 26 August 2009
late am > early pm

Horrock's Flash:
1 Pintail still present
c600 Lapwing
c30 Snipe
c300 Black-headed Gull
6 Common Tern (inc. 2 juvs)
1 Kingfisher
1 Reed Warbler

Scotman's Flash:
2 Common Gull south
1 Common Tern
c50 House Martin
a few Sand Martin
19 Mute Swan

I did flush a couple of Jays Judith and it did cross my mind, the only thing that puzzled me was it wasnt the mewing call of an adult Buzzard, but the hungar call of a juvenile, I do hope it was the jays though an not a young one gone into the wires, Jays have fooled me doing adult buzzards and Tawny Owls around Haigh though a couple of times this year

Could have been a Jay, Paul. We have a couple of instances of Jays mimicking Buzzard calls very realistically in this area recently. I understand they also do Tawny Owl very well, too.

I was around turners flash on Sunday and heard a Buzzard calling from bushes under the power cables, near were the dirt bikers go. thought it was unusual so went to check it out but didnt find anything, apart from female pheasant that got up almost at my feet and scared the #### out of me nothing of note though

Monday 24 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

1 (very vocal) Green Sandpiper
c25 Snipe
2 Kingfisher
1 Grey Wagtail (over)
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Kestrel
a few House Martins and Swallows

It was a very quiet weekend at the flashes. The only highlights were a probable flycatcher sp. seen very briefly in flight near Bryn Marsh on Saturday morning, but could not be refound. And the only things of note on Sunday were 3 Swifts over Scotman's Flash and a very tatty Buzzard causing havoc at Horrock's Flash.

On Horrocks Flash (let's not leave it out!) 2 Green Sandpipers and the Pintail. 750 Lapwing + one I released there. I rescued this when a half-grown chick from the canal; it couldn't be left on the towpath so it was reared at Stapeley Grange. With the addition of a little jewellery, it flew off strongly to join the flock.

Friday 21 August 2009
evening
Scotman's Flash (yes that's right, NOT Horrock's Flash )

6 Swift and a few Swallow
2 Common Tern
1 Kestrel
Thousands and thousands of Black-headed Gulls, must have been close to 7 or 8 thou, if not more.
c40 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (forgot to count them)
loads of Coot
quite a few loitering youths.

Thursday 20 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
18 Snipe
1 Kingfisher (canal)
2 Kestrel
and lots of shooting from a very loud gun just over the canal, resulting in the front pool being devoid of anything but a few Mallard. Why is it that people with lots of land generally have very little brains, maybe it's the result of inbreeding?

Wednesday 19 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

1 juv/fem Pintail (again)
1 Green Sandpiper
14 Snipe
2 Sand Martin
a few Swallows
1 Kestrel

Sunday Aug 16, 6pm, Pearson's Flash:-
More tufted ducks than we could count, plus one pochard? Brown head, grey body, black tail.

Monday 17 August 2009

very quick visit to Horrock's Flash this evening. Nothing much of note, just 8 Snipe. In fact I'm only posting this to stop anybody worrying, last time I didn't post I received a pm from a concerned shirt-wearing pie-eater

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Tuesday 18th of August 2009 07:25:43 AM

Sunday 16 August 2009
morning

Horrock's Flash with Mr Meadows and Mr Woosey:
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
7 Snipe
Kingfisher (heard)
1 Kestrel

also, "highlights" from elsewhere on the flashes:
16 Swift over Scotman's Flash
1 Kingfisher at Pearson's Flash
and lots or warblers around including a Garden Warbler on Ince Moss Landfill Site and a juv Sedge Warbler at Pearson's Flash.

Friday 14 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

Naff-all tonight, just a Kingfisher, 7 Snipe and a Kestrel.

Thursday 13 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

2 Curlew (over, very high heading S)
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Common Sandpiper
Oystercatcher (heard)
1 Ringed Plover (juv)
2 Snipe
1 Kingfisher
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel

Wednesday 12 August 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash:

1 Pintail (female or juv)
1 Green Sandpiper (over heading S)
2 Ringed Plover (both juv)
9 Snipe
1 Kingfisher
8 Sand Martin
Thousands of Starlings on pylon on Rainford's Tip and a juv Buzzard on pylon at Bryn Marsh.

Paul Heaton wrote:

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Rob Thorpe wrote:

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Never mind Rob something will turn up soon, just one more bird to beat last years list,what will it be

keep birding

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I'm thinking Hobby next, but you never know. A decent wader would be nice