Friday 09 March 2012
evening, 13'C (first non-gloved visit of the year!)

1 Curlew (LHF)
2 Redshank (LHF)
1 Kingfisher (DB)

Friday 02 March 2012
morning

1 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
1 Snipe
4 Shelduck
all flushed off Lightshaw Hall Flash by some guy checking on the cattle who decided to walk right along the shore of the flash taking photos

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Friday 2nd of March 2012 11:44:04 AM

Saturday 18 February 2012
06:40-10:15
Raining, gusty WSW wind, 8'C

2 Shelduck (LHF)
3 Wigeon (DB)
19 Teal (DB)
4 Pochard (DB)
19 Tufted Duck (DB)
2 Buzzard
31 Lapwing
3 Snipe
6 Skylark (inc. singing)
20+ Meadow Pipit
2 Goldcrest
1 Linnet

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 18th of February 2012 12:49:47 PM

Sunday 12 February 2012
15:15-17:15
misty and murky with a little light drizzle. 5'C
flashes mainly frozen

1 Bittern (DB)
3 Goosander (DB)
53 Teal (17 DB, 36 LHF)
9 Shoveler (DB)
1 Snipe (DB)
1 Kingfisher (DB)
120+ Fieldfare (LHF)

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 12th of February 2012 09:10:27 PM

Recent highlights:

Saturday 28 January: Merlin (female) hunting Skylark near Lightshaw Hall, early am.

Sunday 05 February: Woodcock near Coffin Brook Flash, pm.

A walk on Lightshaw Lane this morning produced 16 Skylark, 17 Reed Bunting, 5 Yellowhammer, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Grey Partridge, 205 Fieldfare, 10 Redwing, 130 Jackdaw, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and 5 Stock Dove

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 28th of January 2012 12:57:35 PM

Sunday 22 January 2012
15:30-17:15
gusty westerly wind - 7'C

2 Shelduck (DB)
3 Goosander (LHF)
2 Wigeon (LHF)
7 Tufted Duck (DB)
2 Teal (LHF)
6 Gadwall (DB)
22 Mallard (10 DB, 12 LHF)
1 Buzzard
1 Kestrel
1 Goldcrest

Saturday 21 January 2012
07:15-11:30
gusty westerly wind - 10'C
whole area very flooded

2 Greylag Goose (over > east)
47 Canada Goose (LHF)
2 Shelduck (in field flood off LL)
5 Goosander (DB)
7 Tufted Duck (DB)
6 Teal (LHF)
6 Gadwal (DB)
48 Mallard (2 DB, 46 LHF)
3 Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk
4 Snipe (over)

also, a nice mixed flock of several hundred Fieldfare, Redwing and Starling feeding in horse paddocks at Appletree Stables, impossible to count due to strong gusts of wind and their constant moving around.

Sunday 15 January 2012
morning
easterly breeze, frosty, flashes mostly frozen.

5 Mute Swan (3 DB, 2 LHF)
c70 Pink-footed Goose (over > west @10:45ish)
2 Shelduck (LHF then DB)
2 Goosander (DB)
1 Shoveler (DB)
1 Buzzard
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Little Owl
1 Water Rail (DB)
10 Grey Partridge
30+ Lapwing
1 Snipe
1 Great Black-backed Gull (over > east)
200+ Woodpigeon
12 Skylark
20+ Meadow Pipit
1 Goldcrest
3 Siskin
20+ Yellowhammer

1 Airbus A380 (over > west)

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Sunday 15th of January 2012 11:18:28 PM

Sunday 08 January 2011
15:00-17:00
westerly breeze, cloudy but clearing. 10'C

2 Shelduck (LHF)
2 Goosander (over > west)
1 Buzzard
1 Merlin (flew low over DB at 15:22, then seen again, preening on a fencepost at LHF (15:50) before flying towards Pennington Flash)
1 Snipe (DM)
7 Lapwing (over > west)
1 Long-eared Owl

Saturday 07 January 2012
07:30-12:30
strong, gusty westerly wind. Dry with sunny spells. 8'C

56 species seen - including:

1 Shelduck (CBF)
4 Goosander (3 over > west, 1 CBF)
19 Teal (DB)
13 Tufted Duck (DB)
1 Shoveler (CBF)
1 Pink-footed Goose (over > west)
73 Canada Goose (DB)
1 Peregrine (through > west)
5 Kestrel
4 Buzzard
2 Sparrowhawk
1 Snipe (LHF)
1 Kingfisher (Hey Brook)
1 Treecreeper (Smiths Bridge)
10+ Lesser Redpoll (CBF)
4 Yellowhammer (LL)

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 7th of January 2012 02:19:27 PM

Late report from Monday 02 January 2012
07:45-11:00 with Thorpe senior (must have just missed you Ian)

A nice morning for a change with clear skies, clouding a little later on. Whole area very flooded.

48 species seen - including:

9 Wigeon (LHF then flew east (to PF?))
8 Goosander (over > west)
48 Teal (LHF)
14 Tufted Duck (DB)
2 Shelduck (LHF)
72 Pink-footed Geese (over > east)
120 Canada Geese (LHF then flew east (to PF?))
1 Buzzard (LHF)
1 Sparrowhawk (LL)
c100 Lapwing (over > east early (prob. same as Ian's later?))
10 Grey Partridge (LL)
4 Skylark (LL)
5+ Bullfinch (LL)
3 Willow Tit
4 Tree Sparrow (LL)
c30 Reed Bunting (LL)
1 Treecreeper (LL)

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Thursday 5th of January 2012 06:44:04 PM

Mid-morning today:

2 Shelduck (LHF)
3 Buzzard
110 Lapwing (LHF)
2 Yellowhammer
260 Fieldfare (Lightshaw Lane)

Evening

4 Shelduck (LHF)
35 Canada Goose (DB)
1 Goosander (over)
12 Teal (DB)
12 Tufted Duck (DB)
1 Buzzard
47 Lapwing (over)
2 Treecreeper (LL)
2 Willow Tit
1 Lesser Redpoll
6 Bullfinch
1 Meadow Pipit

14/11/11 (am)

Lightshaw Meadows/Dover Basin area:

1 Peregrine
7 Tree Sparrows near Lightshaw Hall farmhouse
1 Buzzard
5 Snipe
1 Sparrowhawk
2 Kestrels
2 Willow Tits
12 Skylarks
26 Stock Doves
c60 Fieldfares
1 Great Black-backed Gull over
39 Teal
11 Shovelers
4 Gadwall
6 Reed Buntings

c170 Pink-footed Geese NW @ 10:00 and another c60 @ 10:05

Immature Marsh Harrier at Lightshaw Hall Flash this late afternoon.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

ooh er,extended visit this morning,although i didn,t cover all of the area you can,t help but be impressed by the improvements,starting at bamfurlong and walking to my new screen overlooking lightshaw,

2 mixed up family groups of sedge and reed warblers,first for me
4 jays
100,s house martin,swallows
20 sand martin
1 buzzard
2 chiffchaff
1 willow warbler
2 grey heron
plus usual waterfowl

cheers geoff & buster

No sign of the Red-crested Pochard on Dover Basin this morning.

Info thanks to Dave Broome

Red crested Pochard still present at 7.30pm.

Also a nice selection of other ducks present - Wigeon, Gadwall, Shoveller, Teal and Mallard.

Female Red-crested Pochard present on Dover Basin at 4:15 this afternoon.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

I did visit on Saturday afternoon, highlights were 116 lapwin at lightshawhall plus a yellowhammer and two willow tits on the path between the flash and the basin.

Also had a visit this evening, along Lightshaw Lane. 101 Lapwing were in the meadow just east of Lightshaw Hall Flash. 1500+ Swallows were over fields just east of Crankwood around sunset - mostly too distant for scrutiny, but a few Sand Martin among closer birds

Thought i'd have a little visit here this evening as i hadn't seen any reports of late. Water levels were very high on dover basin and consequently there's no mud. Sightings were as follows though: On dover basin - c25 Gadwall, 4 Heron, 1 female Tufted duck with a brood of three, also a few Coot and Moorhen. Other sightings were a Sparrowhawk circling over Lightshaw flash, a Kingfisher down the canal, 12 Cormorant over heading towards Wigan flashes and also good numbers of juvenile Chiffchaff and Willow warbler.

12.00 ish water levels quite high, no mud

Dover Basin,12 mallard,2 mute swan,1 grey heron,6 tufted duck

Lightshaw,3 shelduck one of them causing havoc chasing anything it could see,1 redshank,2 oystercatchers,

fields and environsyellowhammer,skylark,buzzard,reed bunting,sedge and reed warbler,finches and tits etc ,smashing

cheers geoff

23/06/2011 - 9am. Lightshaw Hall Flash and environs:

2 Shovelers
1 Kestrel
5 Lapwings
1 Common Tern
2 Lesser Whitethroats
2 Reed Warblers
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Treecreeper
4 Reed Buntings




-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 23rd of June 2011 01:48:19 PM

A little strolling visit this afternoon along the canal adjacent to Dover Basin and Lightshaw.

Not much on Lightshaw except a few Mallard and Lapwing.

Dover Basin had the following highlights:

2 Shoveller
2 Redshank
2 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher

Loads of Swifts too.

early doors visit,

3 shelduck 1 redshank,on dover no sign of the Temmincks Stint.

cheers geoff

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 15th of May 2011 01:00:25 PM

No sign of the Temminck's Stint late afternoon/early evening on Dover Basin or Lightshaw yesterday (myself, Rob and Terry Thorpe). However as per Ian's previous comment it could well have been lurking on Lightshaw.

1 Common Sandpiper LHF

Temminck's Stint present this morning at 11:35 found by Karen Foulkes and Iain Johnson.

This bird is actually present for it's second day though, having been seen yesterday by Dave Wilson and Roy Rhodes who, armed with only binoculars and brief views after the bird departed towering off towards Lightshaw, couldn't positively identify it. Subsequent searching duing the day failed to relocate the bird on either water but obviously it was hiding somewhere!

7/5/11

Greenshank - another (or the same as on LHF) on DB later.

1 Wheatear (m), 1 Red-legged Partridge, and 3 Grey Partridge in fields off Lightshaw Lane.

3 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
1 Cuckoo (heard only)
1 Grasshopper Warbler (DM)

No sign of Wood Sandpiper this morning, one Greenshank still present.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Friday 06 May 2011

evening with Thorpe senior

1 Buzzard
1 Wood Sandpiper (LHF)
2 Greenshank (LHF)
7 Redshank (6 LHF, 1 DB)
2 Oystercatcher (LHF)
Snipe heard
4+ Grey Partridge
Tawny Owl heard
1 Sand Martin
3 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
2 Yellowhammer

Wood Sandpiper present on Lightshaw Hall Flash this evening and also 2 Greenshank.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

Wednesday 04 May 2011
evening

1 Buzzard
1 Greenshank (LHF)
5 Redshank (LHF)
1 Common Sandpiper (DB)
4 Oystercatcher (2 LHF, 2 flying around everywhere)
1 Barn Owl
4 Swift
2 Lesser Whitethroat
2 Grasshopper Warbler
85 Starling (in a field off LL)

1 Spotted redshank still present at dusk and a welcome tick to my abram list thanks to judith and rob for pointing me via three phones and goodness knows how many space thingys(saterlite,saterlight,who cares).

cheers geoff

Been a while since posting, sorry...

Tuesday 03 May 2011

evening with Thorpe senior:

1 Spotted Redshank (LHF)
1 Greenshank (LHF)
6 Redshank (LHF)
1 Oystercatcher (LHF)
3 Snipe (LHF)
1 Whinchat (DB)


And a round up since last post:

01/05/2011:
2 Curlew Sandpiper (LHF)
1 Wheatear (LHF)
1 Barn Owl

26/04/2011:
4 Common Tern (DB)

21/04/2011:
1 Common Sandpiper (canal)
7 Redshank (1 DB, 6 LHF)
13 Black-tailed Godwit (LHF)
2 Snipe (DM)
3 Wheatear
4 Sedge Warbler
3 Reed Warbler
5 Grasshopper Warbler

18/04/2011:
6 Teal (4 DB, 2 LHF)
15 Black-tailed Godwit (LHF)
6 Redshank (2 DB, 4 LHF)
2 Snipe (1 DM, 1 LHF)
1 Sedge Warbler
2 Reed Warbler
6 Grasshopper Warbler
1 Whitethroat

14/04/2011:
2 Greylag Goose (DB)
8 Teal (DB)
5 Black-tailed Godwit (4 DB, 1 LHF)
3 Redshank (2 DB, 1 LHF)
12 Swallow
300+ Sand Martin
1 House Martin
31 Willow Warbler
8 Chiffchaff
2 Reed Warbler
11 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat
1 Treecreeper (LL) (site tick )
1 Lesser Redpoll
30+ Linnet (LL)
10+ Yellowhammer (LL)

Spotted Redshank currently on Lightshaw Hall Flash at 7:30pm.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

Whinchat at Dover Basin 6:40pm, on the fence with the white posts.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

also on lightshaw
2 redshank
1 greenshank

dover basin
1 shelduck
8 mallard
2 gadwall
1 coot

cheers geoff

2 Curlew Sandpipers still present at Lightshaw Hall Flash at 1:30pm today.

Info thanks to Geoff Hargreaves

curlew sandpipers still present at 12.30

cheers geoff

10.45 to 11. 15am
Lightshaw Hall Flash.

With John Parkinson

Curlew Sandpiper 2.... Easily viewed from Canal through gap in trees!

Curlew Sandpipers still present at 10:50, showing from Lightshaw Lane (opposite side from the canal and still out of view from this location). Note, there is no parking anywhere along the lane.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey/Andy Makin

2 Curlew Sandpipers on Lightshaw Hall Flash this morning at 09:15. Then flushed by a Buzzard shortly after but still present though out of view from the canal towpath.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

Early Morn Visit with Mr Woosey

Dover Basin
2 Oystercatchers
2 Shelduck
8 Black Tailed Godwits
4 Redshank
4 Gadwall
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Reed Warbler
In Area
6+ Grasshopper Warblers 1 giving good views
1 Little Owl showing well till disturbed by a Tree Rat
1 Willow Tit
Cuckoo heard from over banjo country

Cheers Jimmy


-- Edited by Jimmy Meadows on Friday 22nd of April 2011 01:15:27 PM

15 Black-tailed Godwits on Lightshaw at 7:30pm yesterday.

Info thanks to Rob Thorpe

Sunday 10 April 2011
18:45 - 20:45
19'C - 16'C
Sunny

Dover Marsh (DM), Dover Basin (DB) & Lightshaw Hall Flash (LHF)

2 Shelduck (DB)
1 Goosander (f) (over W)
3 Tufted Duck (DB)
3 Shoveler (DB)
26 Teal (18 DB, 6 LHF, 2 over)
2 Grey Heron (1 DB, 1 LHF)
1 Buzzard (DB)
1 OSPREY (over DB, flying north at 18:55)
2 Oystercatcher (LHF)
2 Black-tailed Godwit (LHF)
3 or 4 Redshank (LHF)
5 Snipe (2 DM, 1 DB, 2 LHF)
1 Little Owl
100s of Sand Martins (over, heading towards Wigan Flashes)
1 Grasshopper Warbler (DM) (heard only)
2 Reed Warbler (1 DM, 1 DB) (heard only)
1 Whitethroat (near Dover Lock bridge)
many Willow Warbler
a few Chiffchaff

Saturday 02 April 2011 Afternoon at Coffin Brook Flash, in the sunshine: 2 Teal 2 Gadwall 2 Tufted Duck 2 Buzzard 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 2 Curlew over 1 Swallow 100+ Sand Martin 1 Willow Warbler 2 Chiffchaff

wet and dank am wander

Dover Basin
6 gadwall
12 mallard
8 teal
2 coot
1 moorhen

Lightshaw
5 redshank
3 oystercatchers
6 gadwall
12 teal
General area
2 yellowhammer
20 fieldfare
skylarks present (singing their socks off)

Dog walkers nil
cheers geoff

Good wander all over the area am,not many waterfowl due to shooting,

5 shelduck
12 teal
4 coot
4 gadwall
6 mallard
1 grey partridge
1 red legged partridge(site tick)
1 barn owl
200 fieldfare
60 starlings
3 yellow hammers
30 skylark
10 meadow pipit
1 kestrel
wrens,tits,abundant.

cheers geoff