a.m highlights Single Cuckoo Single Swift 7 Grasshopper Warbler 4 Cetti's Warbler Whitethroat not counted but in double figures now along with Blackcap
Gordon Newman said
Wed Apr 22 11:55 AM, 2020
a.m Single Garden Warbler only thing new in this morning
Gordon Newman said
Mon Apr 20 5:36 PM, 2020
Late morning /early p.m Single Common Swift 2 House Martin 2 Swallow (3 yesterday finally) 12 Sand Martin Plus the usual warblers
Mike Jepson said
Sun Apr 19 4:49 PM, 2020
Had my exercise walks here (Northern Trail) yesterday and today
2 Redshank 100+ Sand Martin (still no Swallow) 5 Grasshopper Warbler 1 Sedge Warbler 7 Reed Warbler 4 Whitethroat Grey Heron very keen on some ducklings but mother did enough to keep hold of her young
Gordon Newman said
Sat Apr 11 3:59 PM, 2020
Very enjoyable a.m walk with some new arrivals
2 Sedge Warbler. 1 Whitethroat. 2 Reed Warbler. 4 Grasshopper Warbler reeling . 4 Cetti's Warbler (have decided that there is not a 5th bird on site just that the 4th is very mobile since it's arrival the other week, today it was singing opposite side of road to no where showing briefly before heading back to choke pond). A very agile Willow Warbler flycatching from one tree catching the fly before landing in another some distance away. 2 Raven very vocal. Female Kestrel was constantly flying from metal fencing by the allotment to the ground eating perhaps beetles? not sure what and back for a good 5 mins or so before being disturbed by a passer-by. Still not seen any Swallows yet, this time last year they were on site virtually 2 weeks ago (read this week there is a high mortality rate this year in Greece?)
Late morning early afternoon walk 1 Reed Warbler chatting away. 2 Raven. Blackcap /Willow Warbler /Chiffchaff all present numbers not recorded. Was stood at bottom of a ruck @1pmish, watching a Buzzard on edge the ruck, listening to slight commotion coming from Gulls. As the Buzzard moved away I turned round to look at the Gulls, disappearing over rucks in a WNW direction I had a very brief glimpse of a possible White Stork. I tried to grab a quick snapshot but missed. Would be interesting to hear if one is reported in the NW in the near future.
Gordon Newman said
Wed Apr 8 12:30 PM, 2020
a.m highlights 40+Willow Warbler seemed to be everywhere you turned now out numbering Chiffchaff 2/1. 9 Blackcap
Gordon Newman said
Mon Apr 6 12:23 PM, 2020
Mid morning walk, got caught in the downpour of note 10 Willow Warbler 3 Raven
Gordon Newman said
Sat Apr 4 4:12 PM, 2020
Today's highlights Fairly quiet Single Willow Warbler singing still in the same area as the the other day. 1 male Blackcap The fourth Cetti's Warbler back by New Water singing, so the bird yesterday singing by Choke Pond could possibly be a fifth bird? 5 Buzzard Seems to be a good number of Meadow Pipit on site at the minute. Heard singles of Sand Martin passing over a couple of times but didn't locate any.
Gordon Newman said
Fri Apr 3 5:38 PM, 2020
Today's highlights
2 Raven 4 Cetti's Warbler (the new bird now singing from the Choke Pond)
Gordon Newman said
Thu Apr 2 9:48 PM, 2020
Today's highlights Single Blackcap (different bird from the other day) 2 Grey Partridge 1 Male Bulfinch (not seen often here) 1 Oystercatcher
Gordon Newman said
Wed Apr 1 2:25 PM, 2020
A. M Highlights Single Willow Warbler 25+ Redwing
Gordon Newman said
Thu Mar 26 12:03 PM, 2020
07.30-11.15 1 Male Blackcap 3 Sand Martin 20+ Chiffchaff The three resident Cetti's Warbler have now been joined by a fourth one singing from the back of the New Water
Gordon Newman said
Wed Mar 25 11:31 AM, 2020
Single Little ringed Plover present this morning 20+ Chiffchaff
08.00 - 10.30 Highlights 2 Chiffchaff 3 Cetti's Warbler 2 Greylag Geese Plenty of Skylark and Reed Bunting singing making it Spring like in the sunshine
Rob Thorpe said
Thu Feb 13 11:33 PM, 2020
Ian McKerchar wrote:
No flocks of Starling passing through Pennington Flash heading towards the roost here at all this evening and no murmuration seen either. Is the roost still active?
A flock of maybe a thousand or so flew over Lightshaw Hall Flash on Sunday evening during the storm, came from Pennington / Bickershaw direction, heading towards Abram. Maybe heading for a Wigan Flashes roost?
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 13 6:24 PM, 2020
No flocks of Starling passing through Pennington Flash heading towards the roost here at all this evening and no murmuration seen either. Is the roost still active?
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Feb 5 7:11 PM, 2020
For the past couple of weeks while watching the gull roost at Pennington Flash, flocks of Starlings have been seen moving in to the Bickershaw area predominantly from the east, in flocks raining from a hundred or so to several hundred. The resultant flock can be seen even from the south side of Pennington and a rough estimate own a few occasions (including this evening) has been around 5000 birds but maybe up to 7000.
Either way, its a great local spectacle and well worth a look.
Gordon Newman said
Mon Jan 27 3:20 PM, 2020
Stonechat present this morning
Gordon Newman said
Thu Jan 23 11:13 PM, 2020
11.45 - 13.00 Common Lane as far as New Water and back 20+ Lesser Redpoll 3 Cetti's Warbler in usual locations Yesterday a slightly unusual sight I thought, especially for the time of year, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker all in the same tree as each other before flying off together all in the same direction.
Gordon Newman said
Sat Jan 18 4:38 PM, 2020
Fir Tree Flash late morning
Single Male + Female Goosander Single Male Pochard Pair of Great crested Grebe were busy nest building after brief neck dancing display
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of January 2020 06:03:37 PM
Constant stream of Gulls heading to Penny as were flocks of Jackdaw. />
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Thursday 26th of December 2019 04:21:55 PM
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Thursday 26th of December 2019 04:22:16 PM
Gordon Newman said
Fri Dec 20 11:23 AM, 2019
The usual 3 Cetti's Warbler were singing loudly mid morning
Paul Richardson said
Thu Dec 12 6:11 PM, 2019
Of interest yesterday were at least 11 Meadow Pipits around the field where the Highland Cattle are now grazing. These are so uncommon now at Bickershaw this was quite a surprise - and hopefully the cattle and their effect on the pasture is helping attract them. Also 3 Lesser Redpoll with the many Goldfinch on the alder trees on the field edges. Redwings aplenty and a few Fieldfare about.
2 Common Snipe flushed on wet grassland
2 Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 5 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck and the sound of Teal all on the old SBI flood area.
3 Buzzard and at least 2 Kestrel also seen.
-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Thursday 12th of December 2019 06:27:46 PM
Jeff Gorse said
Mon Dec 9 2:29 PM, 2019
Not quite the Rucks but closest I could find - great white egret over Bickershaw Lane (the horse paddocks near the Biffa site) circling up then flying off southwards 2pm today
james hall said
Sun Dec 1 4:39 PM, 2019
Late morning to around 2ish produced: 1 female Marsh Harrier along the new road towards the PPG tomorrow was the highlight. Good numbers of redwing, Fieldfare and blackbird were on the hawthorns. Buzzard and kestrel were hunting in the blue skys also big numbers of goldfinches flying about.
Gordon Newman said
Fri Nov 29 5:35 PM, 2019
3 Cetti's Warbler this morning, the 2 residents and a new bird joining the one on Nevison's Flash
Gordon Newman said
Mon Nov 18 9:56 PM, 2019
10.40 - 15.30 41 species including 1 Ring-necked Parakeet 2 Cetti's Warbler 369 Pink-footed Geese 300S, 45W, 24 SE 1 Grey Wagtail 1 Raven 2 Pochard 1 Sparrowhawk 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 Willow Tit
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of November 2019 10:25:06 PM
09.45 - 11.00 Highlights in foggy conditions 1 Chiffchaff 2 Cetti's Warbler singing loudly 5 Song Thrush all in one small bush 3 Bulfinch - not seen that often here
Additional news for yesterday that I forgot to mention 2 Siskin
Paul Richardson said
Sat Nov 2 9:42 PM, 2019
Additional sightings from this morning 8-9am
2 Little Grebe on Stock Pond, 20 Tufted Duck on Diggle Flash. 1 Buzzard over 1 male Sparrowhawk in tree with prey at Stock Pond chased off by Magpies. 1 Kestrel over central grassland. 25 Redwing in various bushes around N side.
1 Cetti's Warbler singing from back of New Water then presumably the same bird singing from ditch nearer to Fir Tree Flash later on ( probably 1 bird accounting for the sightings today and the other week close to Edna Road car park) 2 Siskin 3 Raven 1 Coal Tit ( uncommon on this site) 6 Common Snipe 5 Buzzard 3 Kestrel 35 Pink-footed Geese West,
forgot, 4 Chiffchaff present as well
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 14th of October 2019 03:19:21 PM
Gordon Newman said
Sun Oct 13 7:44 PM, 2019
Single Woodcock flew over path above Fir Tree Flash after dark this evening
Gordon Newman said
Sun Oct 6 10:08 AM, 2019
Additional sightings 08 30 - 09.30
12 Redwing
Gordon Newman said
Sun Oct 6 9:09 AM, 2019
3 Greenshank on New Water - all 3 flew off at 08 57 1 Late Hobby over being harassed by single Raven At least 3 Chiffchaff
Gordon Newman said
Mon Sep 30 4:31 PM, 2019
Mid pm Fir Tree Flash
1 female Goosander 1 Kingfisher 2 Chiffchaff
Gordon Newman said
Sun Sep 22 6:36 PM, 2019
Late morning Fir Tree Flash
Cetti's Warbler now moving towards Edna Road carpark 1 Kingfisher 150+ Goldfinch
Gordon Newman said
Sat Sep 21 2:40 PM, 2019
Cetti's Warbler singing from the North end of Fir Tree Flash this morning as a posed to the ditch between South end of Fir Tree Flash and New Water last week
Gordon Newman said
Mon Sep 16 11:54 AM, 2019
10.00 - 11.15
2 Whinchat M + F 9 Common Snipe 30+ Meadow Pipit S
Had a walk this morning for a couple of hours
Heard Cetti's warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
linnet 2
Blackcap
Song Thrush
Mistle Thrush 1
Great Crested Grebes 2
Reed Bunting
Reed Warbler
Single Cuckoo
Single Swift
7 Grasshopper Warbler
4 Cetti's Warbler
Whitethroat not counted but in double figures now along with Blackcap
Single Garden Warbler only thing new in this morning
Single Common Swift
2 House Martin
2 Swallow (3 yesterday finally)
12 Sand Martin
Plus the usual warblers
Had my exercise walks here (Northern Trail) yesterday and today
Grasshopper Warbler
Whitethroat
Willow Warbler
Goldfinch
Blue Tit
Great Crested Grebe
Tufted Duck
Mallard
All with 10 minutes of entrance
2 Redshank
100+ Sand Martin (still no Swallow)
5 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Sedge Warbler
7 Reed Warbler
4 Whitethroat
Grey Heron very keen on some ducklings but mother did enough to keep hold of her young
2 Sedge Warbler.
1 Whitethroat.
2 Reed Warbler.
4 Grasshopper Warbler reeling .
4 Cetti's Warbler (have decided that there is not a 5th bird on site just that the 4th is very mobile since it's arrival the other week, today it was singing opposite side of road to no where showing briefly before heading back to choke pond).
A very agile Willow Warbler flycatching from one tree catching the fly before landing in another some distance away.
2 Raven very vocal.
Female Kestrel was constantly flying from metal fencing by the allotment to the ground eating perhaps beetles? not sure what and back for a good 5 mins or so before being disturbed by a passer-by.
Still not seen any Swallows yet, this time last year they were on site virtually 2 weeks ago (read this week there is a high mortality rate this year in Greece?)
1 Grasshopper Warbler reeling
1 Reed Warbler
4 Cetti's Warbler
1 Reed Warbler chatting away.
2 Raven.
Blackcap /Willow Warbler /Chiffchaff all present numbers not recorded.
Was stood at bottom of a ruck @1pmish, watching a Buzzard on edge the ruck, listening to slight commotion coming from Gulls. As the Buzzard moved away I turned round to look at the Gulls, disappearing over rucks in a WNW direction I had a very brief glimpse of a possible White Stork. I tried to grab a quick snapshot but missed. Would be interesting to hear if one is reported in the NW in the near future.
40+Willow Warbler seemed to be everywhere you turned now out numbering Chiffchaff 2/1.
9 Blackcap
of note
10 Willow Warbler
3 Raven
Fairly quiet
Single Willow Warbler singing still in the same area as the the other day.
1 male Blackcap
The fourth Cetti's Warbler back by New Water singing, so the bird yesterday singing by Choke Pond could possibly be a fifth bird?
5 Buzzard
Seems to be a good number of Meadow Pipit on site at the minute.
Heard singles of Sand Martin passing over a couple of times but didn't locate any.
2 Raven
4 Cetti's Warbler (the new bird now singing from the Choke Pond)
Single Blackcap (different bird from the other day)
2 Grey Partridge
1 Male Bulfinch (not seen often here)
1 Oystercatcher
Single Willow Warbler
25+ Redwing
1 Male Blackcap
3 Sand Martin
20+ Chiffchaff
The three resident Cetti's Warbler have now been joined by a fourth one singing from the back of the New Water
20+ Chiffchaff
2 Shelduck
12 Chiffchaff
3 Redwing
3 Cetti's Warbler
4 Buzzard
4 Great spotted Woodpecker
4 Shoveler
12 Little Grebe
5 Redwing NE
8 Chiffchaff
3 Cetti's Warbler
2 Greylag Geese
5 Lapwing
Highlights
2 Chiffchaff
3 Cetti's Warbler
2 Greylag Geese
Plenty of Skylark and Reed Bunting singing making it Spring like in the sunshine
A flock of maybe a thousand or so flew over Lightshaw Hall Flash on Sunday evening during the storm, came from Pennington / Bickershaw direction, heading towards Abram. Maybe heading for a Wigan Flashes roost?
No flocks of Starling passing through Pennington Flash heading towards the roost here at all this evening and no murmuration seen either. Is the roost still active?
For the past couple of weeks while watching the gull roost at Pennington Flash, flocks of Starlings have been seen moving in to the Bickershaw area predominantly from the east, in flocks raining from a hundred or so to several hundred. The resultant flock can be seen even from the south side of Pennington and a rough estimate own a few occasions (including this evening) has been around 5000 birds but maybe up to 7000.
Either way, its a great local spectacle and well worth a look.
Common Lane as far as New Water and back
20+ Lesser Redpoll
3 Cetti's Warbler in usual locations
Yesterday a slightly unusual sight I thought, especially for the time of year, 3 Great spotted Woodpecker all in the same tree as each other before flying off together all in the same direction.
Fir Tree Flash late morning
Single Male + Female Goosander
Single Male Pochard
Pair of Great crested Grebe were busy nest building after brief neck dancing display
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 18th of January 2020 06:03:37 PM
Highlights
1 Treecreeper - uncommon here
1 Woodcock
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Cetti's Warbler
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
2 Kestrel
1 Stonechat
7 Linnet
4 Meadow Pipit
1 Jay
3 Redwing
1 Fieldfare
Constant stream of Gulls heading to Penny as were flocks of Jackdaw. />
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Thursday 26th of December 2019 04:21:55 PM
-- Edited by Scott robinson on Thursday 26th of December 2019 04:22:16 PM
Also 3 Lesser Redpoll with the many Goldfinch on the alder trees on the field edges.
Redwings aplenty and a few Fieldfare about.
2 Common Snipe flushed on wet grassland
2 Shoveler, a Little Grebe, 5 Coot, 1 Tufted Duck and the sound of Teal all on the old SBI flood area.
3 Buzzard and at least 2 Kestrel also seen.
-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Thursday 12th of December 2019 06:27:46 PM
Not quite the Rucks but closest I could find - great white egret over Bickershaw Lane (the horse paddocks near the Biffa site) circling up then flying off southwards 2pm today
10.40 - 15.30
41 species including
1 Ring-necked Parakeet
2 Cetti's Warbler
369 Pink-footed Geese 300S, 45W, 24 SE
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Raven
2 Pochard
1 Sparrowhawk
3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
3 Willow Tit
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 18th of November 2019 10:25:06 PM
3 Pochard 2M & 1F
100+ Redwing
30+ Fieldfare
70+ Pink - footed Geese SE
2 Buzzard
Highlights in foggy conditions
1 Chiffchaff
2 Cetti's Warbler singing loudly
5 Song Thrush all in one small bush
3 Bulfinch - not seen that often here
Additional news for yesterday that I forgot to mention
2 Siskin
2 Little Grebe on Stock Pond, 20 Tufted Duck on Diggle Flash.
1 Buzzard over
1 male Sparrowhawk in tree with prey at Stock Pond chased off by Magpies.
1 Kestrel over central grassland.
25 Redwing in various bushes around N side.
2 Cetti's Warbler
29 Fieldfare S
1 Kingfisher
Otherwise quiet
4 Fieldfare
12 Song Thrush
1 Grey Wagtail
77 Pink - footed Geese 75 W + 2 SE
Yesterday
2 Chiffchaff
250+ Redwing
110 Pink-footed Geese East
1 Jack Snipe
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Ring-necked Parakeet
3 Siskin
1 Raven
9 Skylark SW
41 Species highlights being
1 Cetti's Warbler singing from back of New Water then presumably the same bird singing from ditch nearer to Fir Tree Flash later on ( probably 1 bird accounting for the sightings today and the other week close to Edna Road car park)
2 Siskin
3 Raven
1 Coal Tit ( uncommon on this site)
6 Common Snipe
5 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
35 Pink-footed Geese West, forgot, 4 Chiffchaff present as well
-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Monday 14th of October 2019 03:19:21 PM
12 Redwing
1 Late Hobby over being harassed by single Raven
At least 3 Chiffchaff
Fir Tree Flash
1 female Goosander
1 Kingfisher
2 Chiffchaff
Fir Tree Flash
Cetti's Warbler now moving towards Edna Road carpark
1 Kingfisher
150+ Goldfinch
2 Whinchat M + F
9 Common Snipe
30+ Meadow Pipit S