Been running down the canal past the flashes this morning,

2 common tern fishing on the canal
2 cettis warbler singing in different areas
Reed and sedge both heard also
1 buzzard
2 kestrel, 1 very noisy youngster harassing mum

This AM
3 Cettis Warblers singing.
Buzzard flew over Scotmans

1 Pied Flycatcher in tree canopy on path btw Westwood and Pearsons then flew over Westwood unusual sighting for here and at wrong time of year failed breeder or late migrant ???.

Could understand it in April/May or September but its a bit baffling really to me.

Jimmy

6.00am

Cuckoo 1 heard from behind Pearson's
Reed Bunting - 2 lots of fledged young
Cettis, Sedge, Reed, Willow Warbler, Common Tern etc

The path by the canal along Scotsman's has an astonishing concentration of dog dirt. Avoiding it seems like some Crypton Factor-style test of agility!

This morning
Scotmans
Cettis Warbler singing and giving brief flight views
Westwood
Garden Warbler singing
Canal
27 Canada Geese goslings left in the crèche
pr Mute Swans 6 Cygnets probably the birds off Westwood
Pearsons
pr Mute Swans 1 Cygnet.

Sadly no Osprey for me.

Jimmy

The Osprey was over Bryn Marsh at 9.00 then lost to view.Earlier spelling caused by holding a wriggling 10 month old child and a brew,men can multitask
cheers geoff

-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Sunday 8th of June 2014 03:04:49 PM

Scotmans
5 Adult Little Gulls dropped in briefly adj to a heavy rain storm over Winstanley they was there btw 5+10 mins then off north
50 + Canada Geese goslings on canal
Cettis Warbler singing in Hawkley Reedbed

But no Black Terns sadly

Jimmy

1 Dunlin on Horrocks Flash this morning, also 16 Common Tern

Late evening, no sign of the Red-crested Pochards, but 5 Pochard on the various flashes, 3 Cetti's Warblers, also Shoveler, Goldeneye, Water Rail, Common Sandpiper and Tawny Owl (heard by some)

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Saturday 3rd of May 2014 11:34:43 PM

2 Swift at Scotman's this afternoon

4pm today around Pearson's Flash
Highlights were:-
Pair of Red crested Pochard in the middle of the flash
Cuckoo (heard)
Cetti's Warbler

Mike

Pair of Red-crested Pochards at the back of Pearsons Flash this morning.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

A short walk today from the Wigan Flashes car park on Poolstock Lane along the former railway embankment at the north end of Scotman's - 1 Cetti's Warbler (an unringed bird) singing at the east end of the embankment, showed well in an Alder sapling by the canal towpath, then flew over to the corner of Pearson's, 3 Whitethroat - 1 singing and two feeding in a Sycamore, 4 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 8 Blackcap

Two Mallard broods and a Common Tern on Scotman's

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 24th of April 2014 09:08:41 PM

-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 24th of April 2014 09:09:23 PM

21st April 07.15 - 09.00

Of note

Cettis Warbler - 2 - Hawkley Feeding Station (whats left of it..) Screen and Moss Bridge
Sparrowhawk (F)
Common Whitethroat
Blackcap
Sedge Warbler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff

Karl

thanks Ian, its the one with the islands.

james hall wrote:

---

does anyone know what the water is called just before you get to wigan flashes towards abram, looks like a bit of a fishing lake with the pegs?

---

If its on the right just before you get to the railway bridge over the canal (walking up from Abram/Platt Bridge direction) then its Horrocks Flash James.

does anyone know what the water is called just before you get to wigan flashes towards abram, looks like a bit of a fishing lake with the pegs?

Looks like the pair of Red-crested Pochard have relocated to Woolston Eyes this morning.

19/4/14

Six singing Cetti`s Warblers this morning from around the various flashes; two of them showing well at the Hawkley and Pearsons viewing screens, (the Hawkley one had a BTO ring on). No sign of the Red-crested Pochards. Two Sedge Warblers and one Whitethroat around Pearsons. Two Common Terns over, and a pair of Grey Partridges in the field SW of Bryn Marsh..

Red-crested Pochard (pair) on Pearsons Flash

Cettis Warbler singing by canal bridge

Grasshopper Warbler reeling at Pearson's today, also pair of Red-Crested Pochard and 1 Goldeneye

Pair of Red- Crested Pochard still on Pearson's Flash this afternoon

Thanks Dave

Reed Warbler and Common Tern present at Horrocks Flash today.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

The pair of Red-crested Pochard were still present on Pearson's Flash at 6:15pm this evening.

Info thanks to Dave Humphreys

Originally posted today by Dave O'Neill:

Typically, I'm a bit late on to this one - could someone post whether the Red-crested Pochard pair are still on Pearsons - thursday, or, even better, friday.

Ta, Dave

Thanks for the welcome !!

Ian Woosey wrote:

---

Map of Wigan Flashes LNR (courtesy of LWT):

http://www.lancswt.org.uk/uploads/images/reserves/wigan-map.jpg





-- Edited by Ian Woosey on Monday 14th of April 2014 07:19:03 PM

---

'Posts 1' Always nice to welcome a new member ;) can't do that winking thing off my phone

Map of Wigan Flashes LNR (courtesy of LWT):

http://www.lancswt.org.uk/uploads/images/reserves/wigan-map.jpg





-- Edited by Ian Woosey on Monday 14th of April 2014 07:19:03 PM

1 Common Tern and approx 1000 Sand Martin at Scotman's Flash early evening

Phil Barnett wrote:

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Rob - regarding the viewing screen does this help
http://www.abcissa-websites.co.uk/viewing_screen.jpg

It's really close to the Carr Lane car park - just a couple of minutes walk

Rob Creek wrote:

---

Also on path back to the Greenheart car park was either a Willow or Marsh Tit feeding in the shrubs and trees within feet of me. Got some good close up video but despite that it's still difficult to get these right, I'm going for Willow Tit.

Thanks for your help Steve but I couldn't find the hide despite covering quite a few paths!

---

-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Monday 14th of April 2014 08:39:40 AM

---

Thanks for that Phil and everyone else for your help with this, I can't believe I was right on top of it but missed it! I will know next time.

Rob - regarding the viewing screen does this help
http://www.abcissa-websites.co.uk/viewing_screen.jpg

It's really close to the Carr Lane car park - just a couple of minutes walk

Rob Creek wrote:

---

Also on path back to the Greenheart car park was either a Willow or Marsh Tit feeding in the shrubs and trees within feet of me. Got some good close up video but despite that it's still difficult to get these right, I'm going for Willow Tit.

Thanks for your help Steve but I couldn't find the hide despite covering quite a few paths!

---

-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Monday 14th of April 2014 08:39:40 AM

Rob Creek wrote:

---

Lifer for me...Red-crested Pochard pair on Pearson's Flash.
3 Pochard (2m 1f)
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Goldeneye
Great Crested Grebe
Chiffchaff 1 seen, lots heard
Willow Warbler 2 heard

Cetti's Warbler - none seen but 3 heard in different locations.
1 in the reeds just passed Pearson's Flash, and then another 2 heard in close proximity to each other just after the bridge towards Horrocks Flash.

Also on path back to the Greenheart car park was either a Willow or Marsh Tit feeding in the shrubs and trees within feet of me. Got some good close up video but despite that it's still difficult to get these right, I'm going for Willow Tit.

Thanks for your help Steve but I couldn't find the hide despite covering quite a few paths!




Oh yeah, almost forgot, Sand Martin in big numbers along with a few Swallow and I'm pretty sure the odd House Martin was in there too!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 13th of April 2014 07:12:31 PM

---

sorry you did not find the screen rob. I did see 2 willow tits with at least 8 lesser redpolls along the path (south of scotsmans) going towards the canal bridge. despite looking for house martins amongst the hundreds of sand martins & several swallows, none seen

Lifer for me...Red-crested Pochard pair on Pearson's Flash.
3 Pochard (2m 1f)
Tufted Duck
Gadwall
Goldeneye
Great Crested Grebe
Chiffchaff 1 seen, lots heard
Willow Warbler 2 heard

Cetti's Warbler - none seen but 3 heard in different locations.
1 in the reeds just passed Pearson's Flash, and then another 2 heard in close proximity to each other just after the bridge towards Horrocks Flash.

Also on path back to the Greenheart car park was either a Willow or Marsh Tit feeding in the shrubs and trees within feet of me. Got some good close up video but despite that it's still difficult to get these right, I'm going for Willow Tit.

Thanks for your help Steve but I couldn't find the hide despite covering quite a few paths!




Oh yeah, almost forgot, Sand Martin in big numbers along with a few Swallow and I'm pretty sure the odd House Martin was in there too!

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 13th of April 2014 07:12:31 PM

3 cettis warbler, only one seen the other two heard
7 chiffchaff
3 willow warbler
pair of red crested pochard, first time for me
3 blackcap
big numbers of sand martin, with swallow and house martin
1 kingfisher
13 goldeneye
4 pochard
1 snipe
2 oystercatcher
1 water rail heard only
1 willow tit
2 bullfinches
gadwall
teal
shoveler
goosander
tufted duck
Plus all the usual small birds, tits, blackbird and robin

Rob, this is only my 1st real big tour of here, but i will try & explain, if you park at the end of carr lane & walk straight ahead of you i think, its the second path on your right & about 50yds or so along there is the one where the cettis was seen. Good luck, unless someone else can explain better.
also 1 common sandpiper on horrocks.
pair of greylags on canal with 6 goslings.

Ok thanks Steve, where is the screen that everyone mentions, been here a couple of times and never seen it.
Cheers

Rob, I'm currently here at the moment & the pair of red crested pochard are on pearsons flash.
cettis warblers, at least 4 heard & 1 seen at the screen with the feeders
1 common term on horocks.
hundreds of sand martins all around with several swallows.

...any reports of the Red-crested Pochard pair still being present? The forum seems unusually quiet today.
Cheers

1 Kingfisher flying along canal between dover lock pub and wigan flashes.

Few hours this morning from 10:15, from Hawkley and then around Pearsons and Scotsmans.

Cetti's Warbler - 1 seen, at Hawkley viewing screen. Called 2 or 3 times before showing well from the brambles close to the screen on the right hand side, then flying into the reedbed. A real treat to watch it call, always a surprise just how loud they are! At least another 3 heard, one on south side of Pearsons, one in NW corner of Pearsons, one in the SE corner of Scotsmans.
Reed Bunting - 2 at Hawkley feeding station area (1m, 1f)
Chiffchaff - 4 seen but several more heard, they seemed to be everywhere
Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Lesser Redpoll heard but not seen
Large numbers of Sand Martin over the flashes with some Swallow and House Martin in with them
Red-crested Pochard - 2 (1m, 1f) still on Pearsons
Goldeneye - 3 on Pearsons (1m, 2f)
Pochard - 2 in NW corner of Pearsons (1m, 1f)
Kestrel hunting in the scrub land south of Pearsons

Plus all other usual suspects, including large numbers of Tufted Duck and Great Crested Grebe

This Morning, Bittern flying over the reed bed at Pearsons flash and then landing on the edge on the reeds there at 11.55; pair of Red Crested Pochards there also; 1 Common Tern on Scotmans and a solitary Swallow over; 3 Cettis Warblers (Pearsons, Bryn and by Moss bridge - the latter giving good views); Pair Oystercatchers Horrocks; Snipe on Hawkley reed bed; 6 singing Chiffchaff, 6 singing Willow Warblers and 5 singing Blackcaps; Great Spotted Woopecker near railway bridge and butterflies included 1 Orange Tip were the main highlights

Pair of Red Crested Pochard (1M and 1F) on Pearson's Flash (15:00 hrs).
Cettis Warbler heard and seen well at Hawksley Viewing screen (between 13:30 and 14:00 hrs)


-- Edited by Steve Judge on Wednesday 9th of April 2014 09:49:28 PM

Cettis Warbler seen briefly twice at hawkley feeding station screen in bushes to right 07.20 and 07.40 wed am
Cheers
Karl

Cettis Warbler heard and seen at Hawksley viewing screen between 11:15 and 12:15 hrs on 8th April 2014.

A pair of Common Scoter on Scotmans Flash this morning.

Info thanks to Ian Woosey

Around Turner Flash Water Rail, Several Willow Tits, Greylag Geese, Oystercatchers, Reed Bunting, Willow Warblers Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs, Bullfinches, Long-tailed Tits, Tufted Ducks, and Two Goldeneye.

4 chiffchaff
3 willow warbler
2 cettis warbler, 1 seen and the other heard
sand martin and swallow, to many to count
1 blackcap
3 oystercatcher
pair of great crested grebe
1 willow tit
1 peregrine falcon over
1 water rail heard only
gadwall
tufted duck
goldeneye
pochard
Teal
goosander
Shoveler

7.00am Scotmans / Pearsons / Hawkley

Red-crested Pochard - pair still on Pearsons
Sand Martin - c30
Blackcap - 1 singing
Chiffchaff - 4 singing
Cettis Warbler 3 singing
Redwing 2 over


-- Edited by Phil Barnett on Tuesday 1st of April 2014 10:00:09 AM

cettis warbler showing well at hawksley viewing screen. 1.00 pm

Pair red crested pochard still showing well on Pearson's at 16-00, gadwall,goldeneye,tufted duck,pochard,teal,goosander,coot,great crested grebe,moorhen,mute swan,mallard all on Pearson's, canada,greylag and 1 pink footed goose + what I think was possibly a greylag pink foot hybrid on horrocks, plenty of gulls on scotsmans , cettis warbler heard from corner of Pearson's reedbed, 8 chiffchaff,

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 30th of March 2014 07:47:35 PM