Wednesday 22 April 2009
evening
Horrock's Flash

1 Ringed Plover (99th flashes species of the year, next stop 100! )
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Redshank
5 Oystercatcher
3 Lapwing
2 Common Tern
1 Reed Warbler

Also Grasshopper Warbler still singing near A58 at Platt Bridge, and a Fox in the field opposite canal from Platt Bridge (don't worry Dave, i'll put it on the wildlife forum too )

just got home after a few beers then read this, cried laughing, very funny. cheers guys



-- Edited by Paul Risley on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 06:55:18 AM

No backpedalling Rob, you Pea dough...

sarcasm Geoff

Must have dropped by now...

Pea dough...Manchester Birding classic

Rob,I was going to private message this ,but no it,s quite funny,Pea Dough? I think the scally wags may have been to alluring to the misconseption that anyone using optical equipment is obviously sexually devient.Let me know when the penny lands

cheers geoff

Tuesday 21 April 2009
evening

Horrock's Flash
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Little Ringed Plover
5 Oystercatcher
5 Lapwing
5 Common Tern
2 Swallow
2 Reed Warbler

Bryn Marsh
Grasshopper Warbler
Sedge Warbler
and a Starling roost of c30 birds, looked just like that Carling advert, honest!

also a Grasshopper Warbler between Ochre Flash and the canal, and another Grasshopper Warbler near Moss Bridge.

While at Horrock's Flash this evening, three fine young gentlemen from the Platt Bridge country estate cycled past me, loudly requesting some "Pea Dough".
I'm not quite sure what this Pea Dough is, and moreover why did they think i would be in possession of it (or some)?
Geoff, maybe you could help me out being a local and all... Is it a local delicacy maybe, something like the 'Pea Wet' those Wiganers enjoy so much?

Excuse me,thats were i live and if you ignore the other houses it is quite a large country estate

cheers geoff

Monday 20 April 2009
19:30-20:30
Horrock's Flash

1 Common Sandpiper
4 Common Terns
4 Swallow
2 MICROLIGHTS

also, at Platt Bridge Estate (that's the housing estate, not some idyllic country estate!) there was a House Martin flying around and a Grasshopper Warbler "reeling" on the opposite side of the A58. The Greylag pair with 10 goslings were on the canal here too along with a mallard and 3 ducklings.

They were at it again tonight (thanks Rob) so I have sent another email to Stephen Ayliffe at Natural England and CC'd it to Mark Ryding, our police county wildlife officer, Roz Smallshaw at Wigan Planning (their ecologist) and Mark Champion, the LWT officer at the Wigan Flashes. Allan Rimmer will also ring the RSPB North Office tomorrow. At this rate we wont have a breeding season on Horrocks Flash.

Thanks for your prompt action Judith

Judith Smith wrote:

---

Rob - I have notified the powers that be. Horrocks Flash is a SSSI and this is not a permitted activity there, nor would they get planning permission were they to apply for it - which they would need if they do it for more than a certain number of days a year.

---

You wouldn't happen to know how many days that is would you? It's at least 3 Sunday afternoons that I've seen them now.
Just found this on Civil Aviation Authority website: Alleged Breach of Air Navigation Legislation (Including incidents such as perceived low flying) - CAA Aviation Regulation Enforcement, CAA, K504 CAA House 0207 453 6193 (During office hours). Please print the Complaint Form, complete it and post or fax it to 0207 453 6175.
I got the numbers of two of the aircraft and intend to make a complaint.

Rob - I have notified the powers that be. Horrocks Flash is a SSSI and this is not a permitted activity there, nor would they get planning permission were they to apply for it - which they would need if they do it for more than a certain number of days a year.

Sunday 19 April 2009
11:00-15:00 (general mooch) / 18:00-17:00 (Horrock's Flash)

20+ Lapwing @ Horrock's Flash
2 Little Ringed Plover "
2 Redshank "
6 Oystercatcher "

7 Common Tern @ Horrock's Flash (plus a dead one on Turner's Flash).

2 Sedge Warbler: 1 @ Hawkley Reedbed, 1 @ Pearson's Flash
1 Grasshopper Warbler @ Pearson's sewage works.

Greylags down to 10 goslings, unless its a different pair.
A few "cootlings" on Westwood Flash.

Lot's of Microlight aircraft things taking off and landing on the field near the "speed boat lake" over the canal from Horrock's Flash this evening. When they're coming in to land they're flying really low right over the flash, causing chaos amongst the ducks, geese and waders, bad news...

There was a canoe near the reeds at the eastern side of the canal-pool of Horrock's Flash, no sign of the canoeist though.

Also, while at Horrock's Flash looking through the scope, i could see a large fire being put out on Rivington Pike, at least 5 fire engines in attendance.


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 19th of April 2009 10:07:09 PM

Saturday 18 April 2009
17:30-18:30
Horrock's Flash

1 Little Ringed Plover
2 Redshank
5 Snipe
2 Oystercatcher (mating )
1 Kingfisher

Dawn start at moss bridge,grasshopper warbler reeling but couldn,t be seen sedge and reed warbler same,gave up and had an hour at the hawkley feeding station,willow tit,bullfinch,as highlights.Walked down the 'wrong' side of the canal lots of blackbirds and other,s emerged from the walk in bamfurlong

Brekkie,then horrocks flash front pool
1 redshank
2 oystercatchers
1 little ringed plover(being harrased by a lapwing)
2 shoveler
1 sparrowhawk
2 gadwall
1 common tern
all others as standard

cracking morning ont flashes

pair of Greylag Geese on the canal by Bryn Marsh with 11 goslings this afternoon
pair of Coot with 5 Juvs (Cootlings???) on Bryn Marsh
Reed Warbler singing Bryn Marsh
Grasshopper reeling between canal and Ochre Flash
2 House Martin
a Long-Tailed Tit moved through the reeds at Bryn Marsh, doing it's best impression of a a Bearded Tit (b*****d!)


-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 18th of April 2009 03:31:09 PM

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 18th of April 2009 04:33:42 PM

Saturday 18 April 2009
06:40 - 11:30

a pair of Grey Partridge @ Park House Farm.

2 House Martins: 1 over Pearson's Flash, 1 @ Park House Farm.

3 Whitethroat (the first of the year): 2 on Rainford's Tip and one near Park House Farm.
1 Grasshopper Warbler near the sewage works @ Pearson's Flash.
1 Sedge Warbler along the path from Hawkley to Moss Bridge.

1 Siskin flew over Ince Moss Landfill.

Friday 17 April 2009
evening

1 Buzzard over Turner's Flash

1 Curlew over Scotman's Flash
1 Little Ringed Plover and 4 Oystercatchers on Horrock's Flash
1 Snipe over Rainford's Tip

4 Common Terns flying about

1 Sedge Warbler @ Pearson's Flash
4 Grasshopper Warblers: 2 near the sewage works @ Pearson's Flash, 1 on the N shore of Pearson's and 1 between Ochre Flash and the canal.

Thursday 16 April 2009
evening @ Horrock's Flash

2 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
3 Snipe

Grasshopper Warbler near the water treatment place at Pearson's Flash yesterday (15 April). It was singing frequently, but some of it's bursts of song were rather odd: it would do the odd burst of about 5 seconds "reeling" that would start really slow and low-pitched, then would speed up to the usual speed and pitch, but then as soon as it sounded "normal" it would suddenly stop.

Walk with Local Rspb group
Moss Bridge
Reeling Grasshopper Warbler


Bryn Marsh
4 Buzzards in the air together

Horrocks
4 Common Tern
2 Redshank
1 Sparrowhawk
Plus the Usual and 1 Dead Inflatable Dingy

Cheers Jimmy

Two Grasshopper Warblers singing this morning, one near Moss Bridge in the usual place, and one within an overgrown embanked scrape area at the S end of Scotman's Flash (have heard them in this area in previous years). The whole area (Ochre Flash, Hawkley Reed Bed, Turner's Flash) teeming with Willow Warblers, Chiffys and Blackcaps, and a few extra Reed Warblers in today as well.

Horrocks Flash am,loads of b h gull and normal stuff

1 common tern
2 teal
4 pochard
2 gadwall
1 little ringed plover
2 oystercatchers
6 greylag(spread out over the pools)

also(to my eternal shame)lot,s of big gulls(best guess herring )flying north south in groups 5 to 20 strong

cheers geoff

Friday 10 April 2009

08:00 - 13:30ish

1 Little Ringed Plover flew NE over Rainford's Tip.
4 Common Tern (3 Scotman's, 1 Horrock's. But there was 2 on Horrock's in the evening).
1 Reed Warbler singing at Turner's Flash. Another Reed Warbler singing at Horrock's Flash in the evening.
a couple of House Martins over Ochre Flash and the odd Swallow.
More Willow Warblers than you could shake a stick at!

On Thursday 09 April there was a Cockateil at Horrock's Flash in the evening, strangely it appeared to be trying to land in the water

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 12th of April 2009 12:40:48 PM

Saturday 11th April:
Also saw 2 common terns on Horrock's front pool.
2 reed warbler seen/heard by Pearson's.
The wing of what looked like a large bird of prey (I have photo - possibly a buzzard?) on rough land near Isherwoods - and very near electricity pylon. No sign of any other body parts - a dog was chewing on the wing until called off by its owner!
cheers,
Ken

Horrocks flash front pool, dinner time,to many to list but of note

2 common tern,found amongst the gulls then lost
13 greylag
4 oystercatchers
80 lapwing
2 herring gull
1 sparrowhawk

cheers geoff

Scotman's this evening:
3 Common Terns
63 Tufted Duck
14 Goldeneye
approx 500 Sand Martin

A Reed Warbler singing this morning near the Liverpool line railway bridge on Horrocks Flash - continues the run of early returning birds here over the last few years. Too many Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs to count.
On Turner's Flash, a flock of c.40 mobile Lesser Redpolls.

Horrock's Flash this evening (08 April 2009)

Sedge Warbler singing close to the canal towpath, near the compass.

4 Oystercatcher
3 Snipe over
60+ Sand Martin over heading W.

9 Oystercatcher on Horrock's Flash this evening.

7th April:
15 Willow Warbler
18 Chiffchaff
6 Blackcap
1 Swallow
60+ Sand Martin over Scotsman's
4 Oystercatchers on Horrock's
Cheers,
Ken

Monday 06 April 2009

1 Redshank and 4 Oystercatcher on Horrock's Flash

just the one Swallow late afternoon over Scotman's, among approx 250 Sand Martins

Saturday 04 April 2009
10:45 - 14:45
1 Buzzard hanging around Bryn Marsh/Horrock's Flash
1 Peregrine high over Ince Moss Landfill Site
1 Redshank at Horrock's Flash along with 2 Oystercatcher
10+ Swallow with Sand Martins and 3 House Martin at Scotman's Flash, also 2 House Martin over Horrock's Flash.
3 Blackcap all singing males, 1 nr Hawkley Hall, 1 at Horrock's Flash and 1 nr Turner's Flash.
1 Willow Warbler nr Turner's Flash.
14 Chiffchaff heard.


Sunday 05 April 2009
16:30 - 18:15
1 Redshank and 2 Oystercatcher still at Horrock's Flash
5 Willow Warbler the one near Turner's Flash, 3 new arrivals on Rainford's Tip, and another new one at Hawkley.

Scotman's Flash @ 14:00ish:

48 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 7 Herring Gulls. 1 Buzzard over and 1 Stock Dove over.

1 Redshank and 2 Oystercatcher on Horrock's Flash this evening.

Thursday 2nd April (morning):
17 Chiffchaff seen/heard
1 Willow Warbler near Turner's Flash
1 Blackcap just south of Ochre Flash.
1 Black-necked Grebe on Scotsman's
Cheers,
Ken

Monday 30 March 2009
18:00 - 19:30

a quick dash round after work...

Swallow at least one at Scotman's, probably more, but I didn't look for long. Also one over Turner's Flash.
Black-necked Grebe 4 distantly in the NE corner of Scotman's Flash.
Oystercatcher 10 on Horrock's Flash.

Sunday 29 March 2009
09:00 - 13:45 (GMT+1)

Black-necked Grebe 4 on Scotman's Flash
Goosander 2f on Scotman's Flash and 1m on Horrock's Flash
Oystercatcher 6 (or possibly 10) around Horrock's Flash
Snipe 5 at Hawkley Reedbed (still no sign of Cetti's here since it's ringing)
Yellowammer 1 over Horrock's Flash
Buzzard 1 high over Bryn Marsh
Chiffchaff 16 heard


Saturday 28 March 2009
10:45 - 15:00ish

Bittern flew in to Horrock's Flash at 11:45 being mobbed by Black-headed Gulls, then, amazingly, as i was walking back past Horrock's Flash at 14:30 i heard the Black-headed Gulls making a right fuss, then saw the Bittern fly out of Horrock's Flash and over Rainford's Tip, being chased by the Gulls! i'll think those Elton boys (and girls) will find it's Wigan that "rocks"

Wheatear a flashes lifer for me! a male on the top of a pile of earth opposite the canal from Horrock's Flash
Black-necked Grebe the Scotman's 4
Buzzard 1 over Bryn Marsh
Chiffchaff 7 heard


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:15:48 PM

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 29th of March 2009 07:56:12 PM

Scotmans,all the usual crowd plus the 4 blacknecked grebe showing very nicely with some cracking views as the team roamed a bit closer to the canal sidelots of ducking and diving observed but a little bit of displaying was also seen,maybe they,ll stay

cheers geoff

first-winter Mediterranean Gull on Scotman's this evening, also
also 150 Sand Martin and at least 3 Swallows (info per C Darbyshire)

Spring seemed distant again during a windy morning ont' Flashes
4 Black-Necked Grebes on Scotman's brightened things up
about 70 Sand Martins (about 180 on Thursday 26th) Scotman's
Buzzard
Willow Tit at Hawkley feeding station
2 Stock Dove

3 Black-necked Grebes on Scotman's Flash this evening. 2 of them near to the Brick Island and the other on it's own in the middle of the flash.

The Willow Warbler found by Rob on Sunday was singing at the E end of Turner's Flash this morning.

belated thanks to jimmy and geoff for the use of their scopes to get cracking views of the black necked grebes on sunday.first timer for me.nice to meet you geoff.

3 Black necked Grebe on Scotsmans 10am today. All 3 in breeding plumage and in excellent light- Brilliant!
Mike Unsworth

-- Edited by munsworth on Tuesday 24th of March 2009 11:55:31 AM

belated update
from rear of Horrocks sunday afternoon 22/03/09 before


coot, mallard,moorhen,bh gull as normal, 1 wigeon,4 gadwall,1 goldeneye,1 little grebe,1 great crested grebe, 1 sleepy pochard, 8 greylag and lots of canada geese being very vocal and mobile,all in all a nice few hours with only one dog walkerencountered.



cheers geoff

Sunday 22 March 2009

07:10-13:00

1 Willow Warbler singing at the Fishing Club, near Horrock's Flash
at least 12 Chiffchaff dotted around the flashes
4 Black-necked Grebes on Scotman's Flash, along with hundreds of Sand Martins and 3 (or 1 going round in circles) Curlew over heading NW.
1 Buzzard over Pearson's Flash
1 Snipe and 2 Skylark on Rainford's Tip
1 Water Rail at Bryn Marsh
7 Oystercatcher and 11 Lapwing on Horrock's Flash
a flock of 40+ Jackdaw over Horrock's Flash was unusual.



-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 22nd of March 2009 01:57:01 PM