paul thanks i,ll take that on board and have another butchers soon,would dropping the odd crumb or a packet of seed leaking out of my pocket on the path be seen as 'coming to bread' or just a ruse to get some good photos.
cheers geoff
Paul Heaton said
Tue Nov 27 9:21 PM, 2007
REDPOLLS. Most redpoll seen here are of the race "cabaret" lesser redpoll but your "flammea" continental race appear in winter/autumn. mealy is typically larger and paler than lesser, whiter below and buffer above with two pale lines down the middle of back being more obivious than on most lessers rump often whitish, streaked darker, so it says in macmillian field guide to identification page 212 excellent little ref book. keep birding.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Nov 27 8:39 PM, 2007
glad you enjoyed it steve,i went upto the landfill site this p. m ,there,s still a huge flock of goldfinch and redpoll flirting about,good views of redpoll on the path over the top,poor pictures i,m struggling to sort out a mealie from the flock and my field guide isn,t helping,can anyone give us some pointers or a good website to look at please
cheers geoff
Steven Astley said
Tue Nov 27 4:56 PM, 2007
My first visit here this morning, nice place. On the canal 1 Willow Tit 2 GS Woodpecker Flocks of Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls and a probable male Mealy Redpoll. Also a Lesser type looking female Redpoll (ie very brown) with a white rump.
-- Edited by Steven Astley at 17:03, 2007-11-27
Paul Heaton said
Mon Nov 26 6:26 PM, 2007
Sightings from the Warford bench, reeds reeds reeds water rails snipe teal herons kingfisher. P.hammond trying to get 171 reeds reeds moving reeds then dark.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Nov 25 2:49 PM, 2007
congats to the warfords ,busy day on the flashes birders everywhere,i didn,t spot a one of you,lots of lesser redpoll and goldfinch still on the landfill site very mobile and flighty 12.30ish i couldn,t squeeze a mealie out of the flock.
cheers geoff
Simon Warford said
Sun Nov 25 1:34 PM, 2007
BITTERN - super views in flight at Bryn Marsh at 10.15 am today. Who said they were difficult, only took two attempts Found by warford senior, bout time he picked up something, seen really close from the bench overlooking Bryn, it got up from and flew about 100 yards just at the back of the pool and landed near the channel towards the scotsmans end of Bryn Marsh really close to the canal.
Also bumped into the Bolton RSPB group down there, but they missed it, oops.
Definately better than the Leighton Bitterns!
-- Edited by warfy at 13:37, 2007-11-25
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Nov 25 12:50 PM, 2007
yes they was on landfill site at around 9.15 then i lost them but found the flock again at around 11.30 but closer to moss bridge with the flock seem to have increased to between 100and 150 with goldfinch with them also kingfisher between the locks at westwood 1 grey wagtail 5 fieldfare 8 willow tits 8 siskins but no bittern think il have to get a dog because every dogwalker seems to have seen this elusive bird
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 25 10:05 AM, 2007
jimmy meadows found atleast 2 mealy redpolls today with a large lesser redpoll flock (approx 100 birds) in the area south of pearsons flash and around the old ince landfill site but the flock is typically mobile
Paul Heaton said
Sun Nov 25 9:49 AM, 2007
Sorry i missed you came in from tipping st along canal and up the hill around pearsons flash, will give you a call next time coming over. keep birding
Paul Hammond said
Sun Nov 25 8:55 AM, 2007
Hi Paul
Which part of Wigan flashes were you getting wet in. Frosty when I arrived at about 07.20, no Bittern. Didn't go as far down as Horrock's, sounded like they were shooting down that area. Just Willow Tit and a flock of five Lesser Redpolls to add to the list. Retreated back to car just after nine, wet, fed up after such a promising start.
Brian Harding said
Sat Nov 24 9:03 PM, 2007
has anyone else heard about the new link road proposed to be built through scotsmans flash?
more destroyed countryside. cant see the bitterns sticking around for that.
After the promise of a heavy frost -5, was hoping it would make a bitterns bottom cold enough to come out of the reeds this morning. early start saw the dawn over the marshes,wet wet and blooming wet 300+coots 40+ moorhen shoveler 25+ Goldeneye 5 males 5 females pochard 7+ gadwall, little grebe, GS Woodpecker blue, great, coal, long tailed tits. kingfisher on canal blooming big dinosaur on an island. and a very wet birder peering into soggy reedbeds I,ll be back. keep birding
Judith Smith said
Fri Nov 23 11:11 PM, 2007
44 species on my TTV this morning Geoff which took me round Horrocks Flash, and got Kingfisher as an "Extra" (ie after the count time is over) on the way back. Still 9 Wigeon on Horrocks at the back.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Fri Nov 23 9:05 PM, 2007
horrocks to hawkley feeding station this am
all much a muchness on horrocks but minus kingfisher and plus 5 snipe
all usual tits etc ,10+bullfinchbetween bryn marsh and moss bridge,4 (at least)willow tit at the feeding station.3 siskin(lifer at last) around ochre flash and a bonus goldeneye on turners.
cheers geoff
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Nov 20 1:23 PM, 2007
horrocks flash 20/11/07
a stroll round this morning revealed all the usual 100+coot 2 0 mallard great,blue,longtailed in abundance 2 willow tit 2 reed bunting 4 wren 2 g/spotted pecker 6 moorhen 2 water rail(calling only) 1 kingfisher(railway pool) 10 teal 6 pochard 9 shoveler 2 gadwall 2 g/c grebes 3 wigeon(hiding on the back pool) plus all usual garden birds on route
cheers geoff
Judith Smith said
Tue Nov 13 2:55 PM, 2007
Andy Makin saw the male Firecrest today, but at the other end of the gardens of Welham Rd ie walk a little way through the barrier near the school, then turn left and there is a track to another barrier about 300m along. It was with Willow Tit and a female Blackcap.
Jimmy Meadows said
Mon Nov 12 1:14 PM, 2007
2 firecrests still in the same area this morn but a bit more mobile than sunday
Judith Smith said
Sun Nov 11 9:12 PM, 2007
Did you get the Whooper on Horrocks canal pool Geoff?
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Nov 11 8:39 PM, 2007
firecresti,ve popped em on me list but it,s only with a great big thanks to other birders for pointing them out to me ,paul h thanks,but a bigger thank you to the forum users without who,s help i,d still be stuck in the mid seventies so please keep on posting.
cheers geofffirecrest ont doorstep
Robert Adderley said
Sun Nov 11 7:51 PM, 2007
Both Firecrests still present showing well off and on c3.30 - 4.00pm.
Paul Hammond said
Sun Nov 11 5:16 PM, 2007
The two Firecrests showed really well to the left of the path towards Scotsmans just feet above our heads
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Nov 11 1:33 PM, 2007
2 Firecrests are now confirmed at Wigan Flashes, showing well at 1:30pm along the path towards the feeding station, behind Hawkley Hall School, just along from the gate and notice board previously mentioned.
Rob Thorpe said
Sun Nov 11 1:31 PM, 2007
Firecrest today. Saw it at 11:05 and 11:55 just by the notice board near Hawkley Hall school.
Brian Harding said
Sat Nov 10 8:57 PM, 2007
lol maybe next time.
the 3 sisters is pretty good for goldcrest. you can normally hear em if you walk down the wide path from the lake car park.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Nov 10 4:29 PM, 2007
firecresti,m still trying to add goldcrest to me list which mr woosey had this morning,but i,ve ticked off redpoll siskin must be next
cheers geoff
Brian Harding said
Sat Nov 10 3:27 PM, 2007
no firecrest here either around 1-2 pm. flock of redpoll and siskins in trees on main path near bryn marsh, willow tit feeding on fence posts in same area.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sat Nov 10 11:55 AM, 2007
re firecrest,after an extensive search of the hawkley area by a least 4 birders (nice to meet you rob) this morning no firecrest were located,
cheers geoff
Brian Harding said
Fri Nov 9 10:57 PM, 2007
by the school is where i normally park! I will be going down there tomorrow to have a look.
Pete Hines said
Fri Nov 9 5:58 PM, 2007
Birdguides report the 2 Firecrest behind Hawkley Hall School early afternoon ( 12.30 ) - not familiar with the area myself.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Fri Nov 9 1:52 PM, 2007
2 firecrest at scotmans south end by Whelham road ,reports only 09/11/07 .i,m having a look tommorow
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves at 14:06, 2007-11-09
Pete Hines said
Thu Nov 1 12:10 AM, 2007
Birdguides report a female Marsh Harrier at Horrock's Flash on 29th October
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 01:11, 2007-11-01
Geoff Hargreaves said
Sun Oct 28 10:20 PM, 2007
after a damp start at day break and a sweaty finish at midday i had a cracking morning on the flashes horrocks rear pool, 2 gadwall 1 female pheasant (site tick ) 1 water rail,60 lapwing,4 shoveler,10 teal,4 wigeon,lots of mallard ,coot ,b/h gulls,2 fine herring gull,1 dunnock, 1 wren 6 blue tits,2 great tits,and some others that i saw but didn,t i. d .bryn marsh(the lock has gone) coot, swans,1 snipe,1 kingfisher from the screen,hawkly reed beds and feeding station 30 goldfinch,2 reed bunting,6 house sparrow,8 blackbirds 6 greenfinch and at least 6 willow tits on the feeders lovely views,didn,t take the camerascotmans 100+coot gulls akimbo, no long tailed duck.2 bullfinch between bryn marsh and hawkly.
cheers geoff
Judith Smith said
Mon Oct 1 11:12 PM, 2007
Only a few Wigeon left today 1 on Pearson's (where EA have visited and said not sewage) and 2 on Horrocks
Judith Smith said
Sun Sep 30 10:32 PM, 2007
Jimmy - Jake Moot has also reported it to the EA. The dead fish appear to be along the side of the landfill, where the work has been taking place recently.
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Sep 30 10:00 AM, 2007
2 wigeon on scotsmans, 20 shoveler on pearsons 10wigeon 200+ b h gulls and 5 heron taking dead fish from the water have reported this to the enviroment agency but if anyone sees it still happening could they report it as well thanks jimmy
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 28 5:21 PM, 2007
The Scaup (photos on the galleries) has been getting on both Scotsman Flash and Pearsons Flash, although my Birdnet pager informs me that today it was on Scotsman's.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:25, 2007-09-28
Brian Harding said
Fri Sep 28 5:09 PM, 2007
a scaup on one of the flashes according to birdguides. havent seen it myself so dont know the exact location.
Jimmy Meadows said
Sun Sep 23 12:14 PM, 2007
20 wigeon on scotsmans 1 sedge warbler and a large passage of house martins south plus all usual suspects 3 siskins over bryn marsh 2 snipe on horrocks
-- Edited by j meadows at 12:20, 2007-09-23
Pete Hines said
Mon Sep 17 10:47 PM, 2007
Birguides reported 56 Pink-feet over Scotsmans, as well as the Honey Buzzard this morning.
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 22:49, 2007-09-17
Ian Woosey said
Mon Sep 17 5:28 PM, 2007
17/9/07
RBA reports a HONEY BUZZARD over Scotman`s Flash this morning.
Brian Harding said
Sat Sep 15 2:36 AM, 2007
pink footed goose according to birdguides map. anyone seen it/ know the exact location? its not on my year list yet.
Geoff Hargreaves said
Tue Sep 11 9:04 PM, 2007
evening stroll,dover lock to glovers pool
6 house martins (young still not fledged) 4 swallows 30 goldfinch 2 blackbird 1 jay 6 magpie 1 heron over gulls,waterfowl,crows and pigeons,glovers pool is still not attracting much birdlife but does look'mature 'now hopefully spring will see some residents move in
cheers geoff
Ian Woosey said
Sun Sep 9 10:14 AM, 2007
9/9/07 early morning
A brief visit to Scotman`s ;
13 Little Grebes.
19 Gadwall flew in from the West and landed on Pearson`s. 7 were already on Scotman`s.
2 Chiffchaffs singing nr. Hawkley Reedbed. Also Willow Tit calling.
Judith Smith said
Tue Aug 28 8:00 PM, 2007
I managed 30 Shoveler at Horrocks this afternoon!
Tom Morton said
Tue Aug 28 4:37 PM, 2007
28 August -morning Horrocks - 27 Shoveler, min 17 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 1 Juvenile Common Tern, 500+ Lapwing and a Lesser Black Back with begging juvenile. Have these bred here? Also Willow Tit here and at Moss Bridge plus Bulllfinch, several Chiffchaff, Jay, Redpoll and 2 Great Spotted. Did not count the Coots on Scotmans Ian!
Ian Woosey said
Sun Aug 26 11:37 AM, 2007
26/8/07 early morning
27 Snipe and a Kingfisher on Horrock`s front pool. 9 Little Grebes and 384 Coots on Scotman`s. (think I`m going mental )
dave broome said
Sat Aug 25 10:01 AM, 2007
Friday 24th Aug roosting at Bryn Marsh - approx 1500 Starling and 400 Swallows, Water Rail showing from viewing screen on stubble by Park House Farm - 20 Lapwing, 51 Canada Geese, Fox and Brown Hare, Buzzard on telegraph pole
Geoff Hargreaves said
Mon Aug 20 9:48 PM, 2007
bryn marsh 20/08/07 evening 6 coot 12 mallard 2 mute swan with 2 young 1 g/c/grebe with 2 noisy chicks 4 swallow with 12 house martins horrocks flash 20/08/07 dusk 100+ lapwing 2 common tern 1 kingfisher on railway pool cheers geoff
Ian Woosey said
Mon Aug 20 12:29 PM, 2007
20/8/07
RBA reports an Osprey flying south over Scotman`s @ 11.30
on the path be seen as 'coming to bread' or just a ruse to get some good photos.
cheers geoff
Most redpoll seen here are of the race "cabaret" lesser redpoll but your "flammea" continental race appear in winter/autumn. mealy is typically larger and paler than lesser, whiter below and buffer above with two pale lines down the middle of back being more obivious than on most lessers rump often whitish, streaked darker,
so it says in macmillian field guide to identification page 212 excellent little ref book.
keep birding.
i,m struggling to sort out a mealie from the flock and my field guide isn,t helping,can anyone give us some pointers or a good website to look at please
cheers geoff
1 Willow Tit
2 GS Woodpecker
Flocks of Goldfinches, Siskins, Lesser Redpolls and a probable male Mealy Redpoll. Also a Lesser type looking female Redpoll (ie very brown) with a white rump.
-- Edited by Steven Astley at 17:03, 2007-11-27
water rails
snipe
teal
herons
kingfisher.
P.hammond trying to get 171
reeds reeds moving reeds then dark.
i couldn,t squeeze a mealie out of the flock.
cheers geoff
Also bumped into the Bolton RSPB group down there, but they missed it, oops.
Definately better than the Leighton Bitterns!
-- Edited by warfy at 13:37, 2007-11-25
again at around 11.30 but closer to moss bridge with the flock seem to have increased to between 100and 150 with goldfinch with them
also kingfisher between the locks at westwood
1 grey wagtail
5 fieldfare
8 willow tits
8 siskins
but no bittern think il have to get a dog because every dogwalker
seems to have seen this elusive bird
keep birding
Which part of Wigan flashes were you getting wet in. Frosty when I arrived at about 07.20, no Bittern. Didn't go as far down as Horrock's, sounded like they were shooting down that area.
Just Willow Tit and a flock of five Lesser Redpolls to add to the list.
Retreated back to car just after nine, wet, fed up after such a promising start.
more destroyed countryside. cant see the bitterns sticking around for that.
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Services/GettingAbout/HighwayDesign/A49LinkRoadProposal.htm
early start saw the dawn over the marshes,wet wet and blooming wet
300+coots 40+ moorhen
shoveler 25+
Goldeneye 5 males 5 females
pochard 7+
gadwall, little grebe, GS Woodpecker
blue, great, coal, long tailed tits.
kingfisher on canal
blooming big dinosaur on an island.
and a very wet birder peering into soggy reedbeds
I,ll be back.
keep birding
all much a muchness on horrocks but minus kingfisher and plus 5 snipe
all usual tits etc ,10+bullfinchbetween bryn marsh and moss bridge,4 (at least)willow tit at the feeding station.3 siskin(lifer at last) around ochre flash and a bonus goldeneye on turners.
cheers geoff
a stroll round this morning revealed all the usual
100+coot 2 0 mallard
great,blue,longtailed in abundance
2 willow tit 2 reed bunting
4 wren 2 g/spotted pecker
6 moorhen 2 water rail(calling only)
1 kingfisher(railway pool) 10 teal
6 pochard 9 shoveler
2 gadwall 2 g/c grebes
3 wigeon(hiding on the back pool) plus all usual garden birds on route
cheers geoff
but a bit more mobile than sunday
cheers geofffirecrest ont doorstep
the 3 sisters is pretty good for goldcrest. you can normally hear em if you walk down the wide path from the lake car park.
cheers geoff
no firecrest were located,
cheers geoff
09/11/07 .i,m having a look tommorow
cheers geoff
-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves at 14:06, 2007-11-09
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 01:11, 2007-11-01
horrocks rear pool, 2 gadwall 1 female pheasant (site tick ) 1 water rail,60 lapwing,4 shoveler,10 teal,4 wigeon,lots of mallard ,coot ,b/h gulls,2 fine herring gull,1 dunnock, 1 wren 6 blue tits,2 great tits,and some others that i saw but didn,t i. d .bryn marsh(the lock has gone) coot, swans,1 snipe,1 kingfisher from the screen,hawkly reed beds and feeding station 30 goldfinch,2 reed bunting,6 house sparrow,8 blackbirds 6 greenfinch and at least 6 willow tits on the feeders lovely views,didn,t take the camerascotmans 100+coot gulls akimbo, no long tailed duck.2 bullfinch between bryn marsh and hawkly.
cheers geoff
20 shoveler on pearsons 10wigeon
200+ b h gulls and 5 heron taking dead fish from the water
have reported this to the enviroment agency but if anyone sees it still happening could they report
it as well thanks jimmy
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:25, 2007-09-28
3 siskins over bryn marsh 2 snipe on horrocks
-- Edited by j meadows at 12:20, 2007-09-23
-- Edited by Pete Hines at 22:49, 2007-09-17
RBA reports a HONEY BUZZARD over Scotman`s Flash this morning.
6 house martins (young still not fledged)
4 swallows
30 goldfinch
2 blackbird
1 jay
6 magpie
1 heron
over gulls,waterfowl,crows and pigeons,glovers pool is still not attracting much birdlife but does look'mature 'now
hopefully spring will see some residents move in
cheers geoff
A brief visit to Scotman`s ;
13 Little Grebes.
19 Gadwall flew in from the West and landed on Pearson`s. 7 were already on Scotman`s.
2 Chiffchaffs singing nr. Hawkley Reedbed. Also Willow Tit calling.
27 Snipe and a Kingfisher on Horrock`s front pool.
9 Little Grebes and 384 Coots on Scotman`s. (think I`m going mental )
roosting at Bryn Marsh - approx 1500 Starling and 400 Swallows, Water Rail showing from viewing screen
on stubble by Park House Farm - 20 Lapwing, 51 Canada Geese, Fox and Brown Hare, Buzzard on telegraph pole
6 coot 12 mallard
2 mute swan with 2 young
1 g/c/grebe with 2 noisy chicks
4 swallow with 12 house martins
horrocks flash 20/08/07 dusk
100+ lapwing 2 common tern
1 kingfisher on railway pool
cheers geoff
RBA reports an Osprey flying south over Scotman`s @ 11.30