11.30-17.45
2 Cuckoo - female flew from C4 to C3 & male calling C9
4 Grasshopper Warbler - C3,C4,C7,C8
1 Common Tern over C10
5 House Martin - C9
Sedge Warbler - 2C3 & 1 C10
2 Great-spotted Woodpecker - C3 & C10
2 Buzzard - C3 & C10
2 Kestrel - C3 & C10
1 Grey Partridge - C6
Blackcap, Willow Warbler good numbers in all areas as is Reed Bunting with fledglings in C3 & C8
by my reckoning there is 30+ Reed Warbler on site + 4 possibly 5 Cuckoo

don't know if it's my imagination but Whitethroat numbers are well down on previous years?

3 cuckoos this morning with 2 female's both calling, male and female at the top of C4 and another female in C7
3 sedge warbler 2 C10, 1 C8
1 grasshopper warbler C8
4 snipe C10
2 common whitethroat C6 and C8
1 blackcap C6
1 song thrush C6
plenty skylark and meadow pipit
3 linnet C8

Plus all usual's

Morning dog walk
C9 2 common tern, 1 swallow, 2 swift, 3 mallard all on or over stock pond, main flash 7 tufted duck, 5 black headed gull,6 coot,2 mute swan,1 reed warbler seen 3 others heard,1 sedge warbler heard,2 goldfinch,2 willow warbler,1 whitethroat,1 chiffchaff,blue tit,great tit,blackbird,magpie,woodpigeon,robin,dunnock.
C8 skylark,meadow pipit,carrion crow,reed bunting with 2 females carrying small green caterpillars, 2 linnet, 2 grasshopper warbler heard, neither sight nor sound of cuckoo.

days fishing on dingle flash, nice to meet up with steve judge:

1:45 cuckoo showing well
2 cuckoo seen flying
2 common terns

willow warbler and chiffchaff heard

Evening dog walk
Sparrowhawk low over reeds at diggle flash,grasshopper warbler reeling close to flash,cuckoo calling from behind stock pond, song thrush,mistle thrush both singing from different areas.

Thanks for update Bernard. Good to meet up with Gary and James Hall today.

Diggle Flash:
14:15 hrs. Cuckoo seen and heard in trees behind Stock pond next to Diggle Flash.
Two cuckoo then seen and flying away behind Diggle Flash.
Mute Swan on nest
Tufted Duck
Swift x lots
Swallows
Moorhen
Coot and 2 chicks
Chiffchaff
Chaffinch
Jay

Fir Tree Flash:
Female Blackcap
Great Crested Grebe and 4 chicks
Canada Geese and 5 chicks
Coot and 2 chicks
Carrion Crow
Jay

Kestrel in field between Diggle Flash and Fir Tree Flash
Lots of Skylarks and Magpies in fields between flashes

"High Water" (channel of water next to bikers shale cliffs):
Pair of lapwing displaying
Black Headed Gulls
Tufted Duck

Joe Tinker Flash/Nevison Flash AKA "Floods":
Reed Bunting
Sedge Warbler
6 Greylag Geese flying over from Pennington Flash towards Fir Tree Flash (and then back again after 10 minutes!)
Buzzard overhead to North
Herring Gull
Tufted Duck
Wren

morning dog walk
C9 diggle flash and surrounds, 2 mute swan, 4 tufted duck, 8 black headed gull, 5 coot + 4 young, several mallards including broods of 6, 4, 2 and 1. c40 swift over flash, kestrel hunting field beside, 5 swallow over old car park, 2 willow warbler, 1 chiffchaff,3 goldfinch, 4 dunnock, great tit, blue tit, blackbird, wood pigeon, wren, magpie, 2 jay. grasshopper warbler reeling,
C8 20+ skylark, reed bunting, meadow pipit,pheasant, 3 linnet, 2 cuckoo 1 heard calling from trees behind diggle flash whilst another ( possibly female) was perched in a small hawthorn watching meadow pipits.

Steve
Diggle flash is just off Smiths Lane you can park either at top of new road opposite childrens nursery or there is a layby a bit further down opposite Owens farm.

Been busy at work this week so just C6 again this morning,

C6
goldfinch with juveniles
2 house sparrow
robin and blackbird
blue and great tits
2 common whitethroat
1 blackcap
coot and moorhen both with chicks
mallard
3 tufted duck
1 cuckoo flew from C5 towards C7
Skylark and meadow pipit
2 reed bunting
1 sedge warbler
2 chaffinch
1 willow tit
2 jays

Afternoon walk (15:00 - 17:00 hrs.) - mainly dry with occasional light shower.

Buzzard
Kestrel
Skylark
Sedge Warbler
Reed Bunting
Chiffchaff
Long Tailed Tit
Jay
Wren
Great Tit
Blue Tit
Swift x lots
Mute Swan
Coot with 2 chicks
Canada Geese with 4 young
Moorhen
Mallard with 6 young
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Black Headed Gull
No Cuckoo heard or seen
Check out the Bittern nest webcam on Springwatch on Red Button (at Minsmere)

Where exactly is Diggle Flash? I am familiar with Fir Tree Flash and the Floods (or Nevison Flash).

-- Edited by Steve Judge on Wednesday 28th of May 2014 10:21:33 PM

08.45-09.45
Walk to Far corner Fir Tree Flash and back to C3
Male Cuckoo calling in C7, Female Cuckoo calling in C3 as I walked back across football field, didn't see either.
Plenty bird song despite heavy rain.

Morning dog walk rain alternating between heavy and light
Good views of cuckoo flew across corner of diggle flash settled in a tree preening itself before flying into trees behind flash and started calling, 8 swift,several dunnock including 5 youngsters,song thrush, plus usuals.

Evening dog walk
Cuckoo calling from behind stock pond,song thrush,5 swift,kestrel,sparrowhawk,2 grasshopper warbler reeling, + usuals.

Morning dog walk
Nice to meet Neil and whilst chatting we saw at least 2 possibly 3 cuckoo behind diggle flash before one flew off to the horse field still calling, little grebe,2 great crested grebe,8 tufted duck, 6 coot + broods of 4 + 2, 5 mallard + 1 duckling,2 mute swan,8 black headed gull,reed warbler flew into reeds + 2 more hear and 2 sedge warbler heard,3 long tailed tit family's seen two with 7 young one with 5, 2 willow warbler,2 jay,1 chiffchaff, 2 chaffinch,blue tit,great tit,blackbird,wood pigeon,carrion crow,magpie, mistle thrush,
C8 good numbers reed bunting, meadow pipit,skylark,1 kestrel,pheasant,
C7 over horse field 7 swallow, 2 swift,12 starling,
Lesser black backed gull perched on street light.

Just C6 this morning,

Coot and moorhen with young
2 tufted duck with 1 young
1 grey heron
mallard with young
2 mute swan
2 common whitethroat
1 blackcap
3 skylark
1 sedge warbler
3 reed bunting
goldfinch with juveniles
blue and great tits
robin and blackbird
woodpigeon and carrion crow
1 chaffinch
1 cuckoo in flight,flying over C7 towards C8

After the two lifers at Elton earlier, I decided to push my luck and visit this site for the first time en route to see family, trying to see Cuckoo. For those who haven't been, it's a terrific habitat with loads of potential and well worth a visit. I was there from about 6.15 to 7.15 tonight and will definitely be back for another look.

Apologies I don't know the 'C' numbers - so descriptions below as best I can!

Cuckoo - 1 in flight. After parking at Fir Tree Flash and walking up and to the right, a Cuckoo could be heard calling from the wooded area near to the horse paddocks. Walked round on the path through the wood - the Cuckoo was now calling from across the football field. As I walked across there it flew back across towards the horse paddocks again, and I got decent views through my bins. It landed back in the woods behind the paddocks (out of sight) and began calling again. Not perfect views, but decent enough and nice to see the falcon-like flight.

Other highlights - Skylarks everywhere, display flying and perched on small trees/scrub. Views as good as you'll ever get really. Also, as I was leaving, two Common Terns circling above and plenty Swift and Swallow around.

Evening dog walk
Highlight was a lesser whitethroat near car park,cuckoo calling from behind stock pond,3 swallow over,grasshopper warbler reeling from now corner of field beside diggle flash,mistle thrush singing.

Late morning early afternoon dog walk
Very little to add to Scott and Gordon's sightings.
Buzzard high over,c50 mainly swift with a few swallow passed through quite quickly heading in direction of Eastleigh,little grebe showing briefly near reeds at diggle flash,cuckoo calling from trees around flash sure it waits until it sees me leaving before it starts calling

Nothing to add to Scott's sightings other than male Cuckoo calling from usual area of C3 and another male that flew across C4 twice (probably same bird as Scott's), no sign of the female this morning.
2 Raven over C3 (not sure if these relate to one that Scott saw).

C6
1 little grebe,3 tufted duck,mallard,coot and moorhen,canada geese,2 house sparrow,1 jay,2 blackcap,1 common whitethroat,2 grashopper warbler,blue and great tits,
2 reed bunting,1 cuckoo very flighty
C4
2 reed warbler,3 reed bunting,3 snipe,1 carrion crow,1 sedge warbler,magpie
C2
skylark and meadow pipit,1 carrion crow,1 common whitethroat
C10
2 sedge warbler,4 snipe,1 raven, 20 swift
C8 1 cuckoo,2 linnet flushed,skylark and meadow pipit,2 grasshopper warbler, 1 kestrel

A nice surprise this morning two grey wagtails were on the new waterfall/rockery feature that's been made in C6.

Plus all usual's

Evening dog walk
2 grey partridge,1 linnet,2 grasshopper warbler heard only,4 swift, 2 swallow,cuckoo calling from behind stock pond,little grebe on diggle flash.

10.30-11.30
C3 only
2 Cuckoo (pair) calling to each other as they flew over football field
1 Sparrowhawk
30+ Swift
2 Swallow
2 House Martin (strangely, the first I have seen here this year)
4 Tufted Duck, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Reed Warbler
Mistle Thrush with 3 fledglings (which is good as a Sparrowhawk caught one of the adult birds recently), Song Thrush, Reed Bunting.
Quite a few Goldfinch flying about so suspect some were juvenile.

should of left for home when it started spitting instead of waiting till I got soaked thinking it would pass over

Morning dog walk
C9 reed and sedge warbler heard from diggle flash reed bed, little grebe showing briefly,common tern over stock pond, pair coot with 4 young on stock pond, 1 great crested grebe,8 black headed gull, 4 mallard, 4 tufted duck, grasshopper warbler reeling from nw corner, 1 blackcap,2 willow warbler,1 whitethroat carrying food into brambles,dunnock,robin,blackbird,wood pigeon,carrion crow, magpie,blue tit,
C8 skylark,meadow pipit,good numbers reed bunting,1 swallow over, single reed,sedge and grasshopper warbler seen others heard,pheasant, song thrush.

Evening dog walk
c30 swift and c12 swallow over diggle flash,great view of a sedge warbler singing from a small bush,2more sedge and 3 reed warbler heard only,cuckoo calling from behind flash + a single call from horse field, grasshopper warbler reeling from field beside flash, 2 song thrush, 1 mistle thrush,p
Lenty of pheasant activity 2 cock pheasant having a disagreement 2 more walking down new road then a cock and hen + a grey partridge erupted from the field a young fox popped his head up looks like he needs a bit more practise at stalking.

07.30-10.15
C3
2 Willow Tit, 1 Cuckoo, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap +4 fledglings,, increased numbers of Long-tailed Tit, Song Thrush, Chaffinch,12 Reed Warbler chattering away(Nevison's), good numbers of Reed Bunting, Great Tit with grub in its bill + fledglings,
C4
4 Whitethroat, 1 Kestrel, 1 Lapwing, 2 Reed Warbler, Willow Warbler ,
C2
2 Reed Warbler, good numbers of skylark, plenty Woodpigeon and Carrion Crow feeding on edges where motorbikes have left large exposed areas in grass,
C12
2 Coal Tit, 1 Bullfinch, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Cuckoo, 1 GreyHeron in adjacent field being mobbed by Carrion Crow, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Chiffchaff, Blue tit with grub in its bill (couldn't find its nesting location)

Morning dog walk pretty quiet,
C9 2 mute swan, 1 great crested grebe, 5 black headed gull,6 tufted duck, 6 coot + brood of 4 young,several mallard very flighty over field and in drainage/overflow ditch, 2 willow warbler,1 whitethroat,1 grasshopper warbler heard only,1 song thrush,robin,dunnock,blackbird,chaffinch,blue tit,wood pigeon,magpie,
C8 carrion crow,skylark,meadow pipit,reed bunting,pheasant, heard only sedge warbler reed warbler and cuckoo.grey heron over,

Evening dog walk
Approx 20-15 marsh harrier circled 3 times low over field in C10 before heading off in direction of crankwood, 5 swallow over field at top of new road,1 whitethroat,cuckoo calling from trees behind diggle flash.

Morning dog walk, cold wind with occasional showers,
Not much to add to Scotts sightings,2 linnet near bottom of new road,buzzard high over,kestrel hunting was also hunting late yesterday evening(after 9pm).4 swift and 2 swallow over diggle flash, cuckoo heard from 3spots near for tree flash and then near horse field and as I was leaving from behind stock pond.

Pretty quiet this morning and a little cold compared to the last few days.
C6
2 tufted duck
canada geese with goslings
2 mute swan
1 cormorant
coot wih chicks
moorhen
No sign of kingfisher this morning
C5
1 reeling grasshopper warbler
2 skylark
1 meadow pipit
C4
3 snipe
2 reed warbler
1 reed bunting
2 carrion crow
C10
5 snipe
Robin and blackbird
1 sedge warbler
C8
Skylark and meadow pipit
1 cuckoo
blue and great tits
1 whitethroat
2 blackcap

Plus all usuals


-- Edited by Scott robinson on Friday 23rd of May 2014 08:20:08 AM

Couple of birds to add to Steve's this teatime,

1 kingfisher flew low from the reed's over to the island.
2 noisy jays

14:00 - 16:00 today

Fantastic site - all these years walking round Pennington Flash and Wigan Flashes - not knowing about this site. Thanks for heads up Bernard (McGurrin).
Enjoyed taster for site with Tim (Wilcox) earlier this week

Male Cuckoo heard on three separate occasions. Got close to sighting - but cuckoo moved on when got near!!!
Reed Warbler
Reed Bunting
Chiffchaff
Jay
Long Tailed Tit
Mute Swan
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Black Headed Gull
Mistle Thrush
Canada Geese and goslings (I counted 4)
Coot and 2 chicks
Moorhen
Kestrel
Magpie
Mallard
Feral Pigeon
Skylark
Carrion Crow
Heron
Blue Tit
Blackbird

Your very welcome mike , glad you enjoyed

12-1pm today
Great crested Grebe
Grey Heron-2
Mallard
Tufted Duck
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Kestrel
Skylark -6
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Long tailed Tit
Grasshopper Warbler - 3
Willow Warbler
Reed Warbler
Coot
Moorhen
Woodpigeon
Swift
Carrion Crow
Magpie
Reed Bunting
Sorry I can't give the areas I saw these birds as I am unfamiliar with the site, this being my first visit - but one I will certainly revisit.
Thanks again Scott for your first class directions

Mike

morning dog walk 08-45--12-05 mostly in light but steady rain

wood pigeon, magpie, blue tit robin etc seen in good numbers throughout walk although great tit only seen on top of rucks and around Fir Tree flash,
2 grey partridge seen in C6 + C4 probably same pair, reed beds from Fir Tree flash to Nevisons flash very active c20 reed bunting at least 3 carrying food, 3 sedge warbler and 2 reed warbler seen but at least 4 more of each heard,2 tufted duck, 3 swift over nevisons, 2 cuckoo heard calling at same time 1 from C3 near football field, 1 from C9 behind stock pond both could be heard clearly from top of rucks, approx 12 willow warbler in trees on top of rucks, kestrel seen in 3 locations but probably same bird, Fir Tree flash pair great crested grebe with 4 young, pair canada geese with 5 goslings, 2 common tern, 9 mallard,2 coot,1 moorhen, 1 mute swan, Diggle flash 2 mute swan 2 pairs of mallard with ducklings 2+4, 2 tufted duck, 1 great crested grebe,6 coot + a brood of 4 young, 2 sedge warbler, 1 reed warbler 1 grasshopper warbler all heard only, 6 swallow over scrapyards, 4 whitethroat seen 2 in C9 1 each in C8 + C3, 2 linnet and 2 bullfinch in C8 + good numbers skylark, reed warbler and meadow pipit, 2 jay in C9, 2 pheasant seen more heard.
I have scoured the area i saw the pied flycatcher both yesterday afternoon and early evening as well as this morning with no sign i was probably just lucky enough to have caught it resting in passage.

Early morning before work.

2 common tern over heading towards diggle flash
1 grasshopper warbler c5
1 willow tit c6
1 cuckoo heard only c6
3 common whitethroat 2 c6 and 1 c8
4 blackcap 2 c6 and 2 c8
1 kestrel c6
2 linnet flushed from feild in c8
Swift high over c8
A pair of bullfinch by the side of the new road
1 sedge warbler c8

Plus all usual suspects

18.30-20.00,
1 Woodcock - C3,
1 Common Tern - NF,
1 Grasshopper Warbler - C5,
2 Grey Partridge - C5,
Plus usuals


-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 10:47:46 PM

Evening mooch with Keith Williams mainly around C8+ C9
Several swallow and swift,grasshopper warblers,sedge warblers,reed warblers,good numbers reed bunting,skylark,meadow pipit,4 linnet,kestrel,whitethroat,2 grey partridge,mistle thrush, plus usuals.
Keith was hoping to photograph cuckoo but we only got a fleeting view in flight and didn't hear many calls.



-- Edited by Bernard McGurrin on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 10:24:47 PM

Hi Scott
Thanks for all that information. I will look forward to exploring it soon.

Cheers Mike

Hi mike,

There isn't an official map at the minute,the area's been broken up into compartments to help with recording, as there's a chance it could be made into a nature reserve or a country park. There's quite a few ways to access Bickershaw rucks, but the best one would be fir tree car park I'll leave you a post code WN7 5ES. This postcode will take you to the top of edna road, when you get to the top of edna road there's a concrete white road to your right follow that round and you'll come to the car park.

P.s Fir tree flash is C6 and surround, C9 is diggle flash, C8 is the area where the new road is, the best thing would be to just go and get to know the area.

Cheers scott

-- Edited by Scott robinson on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 08:40:49 PM

Scott
Could you tell me how to access 'Bickershaw Rucks' and to what do C2 , C3 etc refer to. I have searched the website for a map of the area but can't find it unless I'm missing something. Thanks

Mike

Afternoon mooch after finishing work,

Nothing much to add to this mornings sightings other then,

1 lesser whitethroat C8
2 linnet C8

Missed pied flycatcher came through C9 about 6:45am

Scott it was about 07-40, didn't show too long before it was disturbed by another dog walker coming through the gate and flew across Bickershaw Lane behind the houses.

C6
2 grasshopper warbler
1 goldcrest
1 cuckoo showing really well
2 reed warbler
1 sedge warbler
C5
4 redpoll
1 grey heron over
1 reeling grasshopper warbler
C4
5 snipe
1 raven
C3
1 male cuckoo heard only
3 reed warbler
C10
1 sedge warbler
2 snipe

What time was pied flycatcher bernard?

Plus usuals




-- Edited by Scott robinson on Wednesday 21st of May 2014 11:59:09 AM

C9 site first for me pied flycatcher this morning, first seen in trees near kissing gate before flying across road behind houses
7 goldfinch, 3 long tailed tit 1 carrying food,mistle thrush,blackbird,robin,dunnock,4 willow warbler, 3 sedge warbler heard, 2 swallow, 2 mute swan,2 great crested grebe, 1 little grebe, 6 coot + 4 young, pair mallard with 2 ducklings, 1 whitethroat, wood pigeon,magpie, carrion crow,
C8 good numbers skylark and reed bunting, meadow pipit,2 grasshopper warbler,reed warbler,2 Canada geese over,4 linnet,blue tit, cuckoo calling from trees behind diggle flash,

After the disappointment of missing the Spotted Redshank had a wander around here with Steve Judge for whom it was also a first visit. What a rich-lookimg site! We walked from Penny over the canal to Plank Lane via the top of the slag heaps.
Reed Warbler 2 seen at least 4 more heard
Kestrel pair
Skylarks 6+
no Cuckoos for us but probably the time of day c2-5pm
Nice to meet Steve and we'll both be back here...

morning dog walk
C9 2 mute swan, 5 mallard + 2 ducklings, 2 great crested grebe, 2 tufted duck, 7 coot, 5 black headed gull, 1 lesser black backed gull, 3 sedge warbler heard, mistle thrush, whitethroat, 2 jay, blue tit, goldfinch, magpie, wood pigeon, willow warbler, dunnock, robin, blackbird, chiffchaff, 2 swallow.
C8 grasshopper warbler, reed warbler, skylark, meadow pipit, reed bunting, kestrel, 4 starling flying around field, carrion crow, cuckoo heard 1 call only.

2 male wheatear in C1n this morning, 2 cuckoos also 1 in C6 and the other top of C4.
2 Woodcock flushed from C6
Reed and sedge warbler C8
2 common whitethroat C8
2 blackcap 1 C8, 1 C6
Could hear a yellowhammer from C8 somewhere but couldn't locate.
1 kestrel C8

Plus all usuals

First mooch around this patch early yesterday evening.
Went looking to photograph the cuckoo or grasshopper warblers.
Pair of swifts, swallows over field at back of pond, located a pair of grasshopper warblers but no chance of a pic.
Reed buntings all over fields.
Common Whitethroat, Willow warbler, then as I was heading back to the car I heard the cuckoo in the distance from towards Fir Tree Park way.

Evening walk around C4 hoping to see swifts, but none present this evening

4 Snipe all in and around new water
1 male cuckoo at the top of C4
2 reed warbler

18.45-19.30
C3 only
2 Cuckoo M+F
1 Garden Warbler
1 Kestrel
Pair of Greylag Geese +5 goslings - DF
plus usuals

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 19th of May 2014 08:02:25 PM

Morning dog walk 08-20--10-00
Very little to add to Scotts sightings, 3 bullfinch just off new road, 1 grasshopper warbler drinking from drainage ditch,kestrel, 2 swallow.