Thank you mr Woosey, saw your bird just after listening to the Archers what a pleasent afternoon,
Cettis still there as well.
keep birding

25/4/08 (05:30-09:00)

CETTI`S WARBLER continually singing at Moss Bridge - very brief flight view.

drk GARGANEY on Pearson`s Flash @ 08:35 (obviously yesterdays Pennington bird relocating to a better site )

Sedge Warbler,
Reed Warblers,
Whitethroats,
6 Common Terns on Horrock`s, and the Barnacle Goose still present, though it`s now consorting with Greylags.
Lesser Redpoll & Kingfisher along the canal.

2 drake Wigeon on Scotman's this morning

23/4/08 (05:40-06:30)

Scotman`s Flash ;

ad Little Gull present for 15 mins only (05:50)

2 Common Terns,
2 Common Sandpipers near the outfall,
Gropper reeling in SW corner,
63 Tufted Duck,
2 m Blackcaps.

The rains came at 06:20..................back to the pavilion !

Cetti's still singing today.

Info thanks to Mark Champion

Among the 56 species I found in SD50W, my Wigan Flashes TTV, today, were 2 singing Whitethroats (at Moss Bridge and Horrocks Flash loop line), a pair of Greylags with goslings, the Barnacle/Pinkfoot duo still together, Reed Warblers at 5+ locations, and, incredibly, a silent Cuckoo near Taylor's Lane bridge. No sign of the Cetti's (full moon last night) or Groppers today but in a timed survey, one can't spend a lot of time hanging about.

cettis still at hawkley this morning nr moss bridge but elusive, gropper nearby, right just before moss bridge along canal then take first path on right, bird in brambles on left of path before the trees.

Cetti's around Hawkley reedbed this afternoon singing about once every 10 minutes but very elusive.
Also a Harrier Sp (probably Marsh) seen briefly in silhouette flying toward Hawkley reedbed but couldn't be relocated.

Cetti's close to the path at the reedbed nr Moss Bridge, good views and singing about every 5 mins. Also a Gropper on the land at the S of Scotman's Flash, nearer to the Welham Rd parking area.

on the canal path: 5 oystercatchers in the field opposite horrocks, male blackcap just before platt bridge, buzzard by dover lock. and the usual stuff.

Cetti's singing in Hawkley reedbed at 4pm. Reed Warbler still where Judith found it this morning. 19 Lesser Redpolls in alders nearby.

Pleased to report the Cetti's singing again this morning, but it has now moved across the canal to the scrub at the edge of Hawkley reedbed. From the main path (from Welham Rd parking area at the end of Carr Lane) to Moss Bridge, it's about 50m or so before the bridge, opposite a pair of stepladders which for some reason have been abandoned by the side of the path.

Also this morning, a Reed Warbler singing on Turner's Flash, in what is becoming the favourite place for early Reeds - in the reedbed by the second wooden walkway, about halfway along the flash. Also plenty of Blackcaps this morning so a fall overnight? No sign of Logie!

Cetti's Warbler heard x3 and seen briefly in flight yesteday (tuesday) at 3pm at western end of Turner's Flash. Sorry for delayed posting - been having broadband problems.
cheers
Declan

The Barnacle Goose and the Pinkfooted Goose were still on Horrocks' yesterday.

15/4/08 (06.00-09.30)

2 Common Terns over Scotman`s,
Shelduck and 3 Oystercatchers on Horrock`s.

Birding in the fast lane........................

Ian Woosey wrote:

---

No sign of the Red-breasted Merganser 20.00-20.15

Of all the sodding stupid days to agree to stay on late at work and do over-time..........

---

I was there from 18:45 to 20:30ish and didn't see any sign, just lots of ducks flying off when all the windsurfers were out.
There was a huge column of thousands of Sand Martins over Turners flash as the sun was going down. Looked just like a starling roost! Also a 'Commic' Tern flew over Turners at 20:00 and was sat on a buoy on Scotmans at about 20:30, looked more like a common, but it was too dark to confirm it.

Paul Heaton wrote:nice to have chat with riggers as well very civilized.

---

Are you sure it was riggers?

No sign 5.00-6.30pm either but alot of canoe's showing well.

No sign of the Red-breasted Merganser 20.00-20.15

Of all the sodding stupid days to agree to stay on late at work and do over-time..........

This morning in the drizzle there were 500+ Sand Martin, 2 Swallows and 1 House Martin, plus 1 Common Sandpiper on the jetty and the RB Merg (first-winter/first-summer drake)

Paul,

Grey Wagtail and 20+ Sand Martins as well

Sorry-just had to do it!!!!!!

Cheers

Riggers

RED BREASTED MERGANSER Showing well today at 15.00 till 15.50 on scotsman flash
nice to have chat with riggers as well very civilized.

horrocks flash 05/04/08 12ish

all much as normal + 1 shoveler 2 lapwing 3 oyster catchers, barnacle on back pool 20 sand martins feeding around the rail crossing, a pair of pochard near the rear screen,150+ blackheaded gull (no avocets among them)

cheers geoff

hoping to be there about 7am

avocets again hope they stick around anyone looking in the morning?? i can,t i,ve got to work till lunch,

cheers geoff( ian march keith off the shops pronto and get him a mobile, out of group funds if needed)

Cheers Ian,
I was on my way home and watched them for 15 mins before leaving, they were still there as I left.

Welcome Keith - that`s quite an introduction ! - did they hang around for any length of time, and did you see them depart ?

Finally got round to posting my sightings at Wigan Flashes, 11am this morning all the usual stuff but to my surprise 4 Avocets on Scotsmans Flash.

This pm much as in the morning - 2 White Wags still there, 5 singing Willow Warblers, plus 11 Goldeneye on Pearsons and 40+ Sand Martins still on Scotmans.

Two White Wagtails (and 2 Grey Wagtails) on the towpath at Scotman's Flash this morning. Also at least 3 Willow Warblers singing, with a further 2 silent and feeding hard - presumably just arrived. About 50 Sand Martins feeding over the water. Lots of Chiffys singing.

2 b n grebe tonight on scotmans
info dave broome cheers

at least 28 Sand Martins and 5 Ciffchaffs around Pearsons/Turners this afternoon. Also heard the Cetti's briefly but not in full song.

single swallow over pearsons this morning but no cettis

me and my dad got completely drowned standing in the reeds at the south end of the flash , was worth it for a lifer though. cheers for the call ian

i ian all we have to do is win lottery and then persuade daves dad to sell up thanks for the call dave and also the brew shame about the weather county and lifer for me

Dave phoned me just as I`d finished writing the previous post, so I shot off and watched it from the comfort of his Dad`s (famous) garden, overlooking the flash - brilliant !..............even got a brew as well !...........Cheers Dave

Juv Iceland Gull on Scotmans Flash 2:20pm. (obviously Woosey left after it had come in, or otherwise that means he mis...)

Info thanks to Dave Broome

29/3/08 (06.45-09.30)

Up to 30 Sand Martins on either side of the canal at Pearson`s, and a good count of 51 Goldeneye concentrated on Pearson`s.
Little else of note apart from 3 Oystercatchers, 11 Shovelers, half a dozen Greylags and the Pink-foot & the Barnacle on Horrock`s.

Friday 28 March 2008

17:00 - 19:00

A quick dash round after work...

Scotmans:
Chiffchaff
8 Wagtail (4 Pied & 4 Grey) along the canal towpath
4 Sand Martins
2 Little Grebe
GC Grebe
Tufted
Pochard
Goldeneye
Cormorant
Common Gull
BH Gulls
LBB Gulls


Pearsons:
R**** Duck
Shoveler
Gadwall

Turners:
at least 16 Sand Martin


Horrock's
2 LBB Gull (+14 flew N at dusk)
BH Gulls
5 Oystercatcher
1 Lapwing
2 Grey Heron
2 Redwing
7 Starling
2 Jackdaw

then it went a bit dark and got very wet and windy, so i went home.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe at 20:47, 2008-03-28

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe at 20:47, 2008-03-28

i dont call that soft dave id say that was clever

I was soft and hid in my car during that mega downpour. A few Meadow Pipits heading north before and after it, totalling 11. Sand Martins reached 40 at Scotman's for a short while

this morn
5+chiffchaff
20+ goldeneye they was grouping up it seems prior to migration dont know if they go in a flock or just in pairs ,,15+sandmartins
20+lesser redpolls in trees side of turners
1 g s woodpecker
5 jays
cettis still singing
then a monsoon shower came that was enough for me got soaked

-- Edited by j meadows at 13:15, 2008-03-27

dave broome wrote:

---

Adult Kittiwake on Scotman's early afternoon. 15 Sand martins

---

Kittiwake departed NW @ 13.30 when disturbed by Yachts/canoes

Adult Kittiwake on Scotman's early afternoon. 15 Sand martins

Cetti's heard several times c.3.50 - 4.50pm. Seen well in reeds below telegraph pole H152006 after a heavy shower before disappearing again deeper into the reeds

Scotman's this afternoon:
32 Lesser Black-Backed Gull
7 Sand Martin

24/03/08 am cettis still present but not seen

cheers geoff

23/3/08 am

Little of note really. A few Chiffchaffs singing, and the following from Horrock`s Flash ;-

6 Oystercatcher.
6 Goosander.
the resident Barnacle & Pink-foot.
small numbers of Greylags, Teal, and Shoveler.

(Nice to meet you Keith, get logged on - an extra pair of eyes for the Flashes ! )

Sat 22nd March

Cetti's Warbler singing several times between 11:30 and 12:30 in reedbed near sewage outfall.

Goldeneye 60+
Shoveler 15


-- Edited by ColinD at 17:26, 2008-03-22

sat am
windy
scotsmans
1 grey wagtail
13 l b b gull
18 goldeneye
1 sand martin god knows how it was finding food in that wind it deserves a medal
pearsons
12 goldeneye
wigan rovers ground
2 song thrush
2 mistle thrush