Cetti's still going strong this am, belting out it's (now lonely sounding) song.

This thread is now closed and all sightings (or soundings more likely!) of the Cetti's should be posted on the Wigan Flashes thread please, so's to keep all the complete sightings in the one place for easy viewing and reference. Ta

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 12:32, 2008-01-14

still present this afternoon in corner from main path nr sewage works

Still singing sporadically this pm.,a Peregrine circling the reed bed for a couple of minutes was the highlight,also still several water Rails calling away.

still singing and hiding for an hour this afternoon, not seen from the mound

cheers geoff

Still present this morning from the lane at the back of the cemetery, level with the chapel, singing away but elusive as ever.

still present this morning singing often between 8 and 12 but not showing

Still singing occasionally from the middle and closer to mound but no sign
Steve

Present again this morning from 8.10 a.m. singing to right of mound. There was a period of about 20 mins of short bursts of song from the reeds just beyond where the channel disappears behind the clump of trees, then Riggers and I both saw a movement just over the tops of the reeds followed almost at once by a burst of song from along the other channel running diagonally out into the reedbed.(but not a good enough view for a tick).Things went quite until the bird moved off into the centre of the reedbed about 9.10 a.m. at whch point we left.

still present but has elusive as ever this morning

Nice to meet you Jimmy. Parakeet was last seen cricling over Isherwood Skip Hire at about 12:30pm. Also had 2 Ravens south over Pearsons at about 13:00.


-- Edited by Rob Thorpe at 13:55, 2007-12-30

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe at 13:56, 2007-12-30

ring n parakeet was calling from top end of the cemetary
when i came away and again didnt see the cettis nice to have met you rob

still present, showing briefly to rob thorpe this am in south east corner, rob also had a ring-necked parakeet fly east over pearsons at 12:10

All info thanks to rob thorpe

9 - 11am

Thanks to all for the directions to the Warbler,

I paid my first visit this morning and the bird was calling every 15-20 minutes. I did not see it but I can understand why some people think that there may be more than 1 bird as the call came from all parts of the reedbed. A very elusive warbler.

Also 2 Goldeneyes on the flash and a flock of 60+ Lapwings over

Alan Warford wrote:

---

You have backed up my observations that the Cetti's does circles of the reedbed mainly in a clockwise direction. Can anyone else confirm this ?

---

I refer you to my post on the 30th November in this thread "while i was there the bird certainly did a little circuit of the reedbed", I might not have recognised that it was going clockwise but...

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 12:40, 2007-12-28

having now spent over 30 hours at pearsons i agree that the bird does move in a clockwise direction, the small pool by the mound nr the telegraph pole is a good viewing point because the vegatation is quite low around it and you are above looking down onto the pool, so my advise would be to wait there for the bird to come to you. not an easy bird to see but this is probably the best spot.

Mike/Mark

You have backed up my observations that the Cetti's does circles of the reedbed mainly in a clockwise direction. Can anyone else confirm this ?
This means it can be funnelled into the area to the right of small pool by telegraph pole, which is where I saw it.
It then has to cross pool giving 2nd viewing opportunity.

Alan

Cheers Alan. you might have guessed that I hang around with that Scouser chap-new optics all round and he still sees f&£k all

Thanks Alan. The bird did at least 1 circuit this morning: right of mound, left of mound, towards the sewage works, by the main track & back to right of mound so that pool may be a good place to intercept it.

Hi Mark (Riggers)

I saw the Cetti's yesterday morning round the small pool near the telegraph pole.
It was low down in reeds to right and flew across pool into reeds on left.
It seems one of the best places to see i,t as I have heard a few people have seen it in this area.
Hope this helps.

-- Edited by Alan Warford at 22:04, 2007-12-27

Still present-but did not show(got a brief view of a bird flying into reedbed but couldnt be sure) Calling about every 20 minutes. Gave up all hope at 1010 when we got washed off 'Mckerchar's Mound' by the heavy rain

still present today but elusive, the adderlys, warfords and myself on site today

23/12/07

Cetti`s showed on a few occasions to several observers this morning, around the Sewage Works/barrier area.

(R.Adderley, B.Fielding, D.Lowe, P.Hammond, I.Woosey)

Sat 22/12/07
8.30a.m-12.00

I had my view of the cetti's warbler today which I assume is like most others. I had done an hour on the mound and then was with Hammy over on the sewage works side.
It had been calling before I got there and it was soon calling when I went over. Then we had a few bursts of song in the far corner. The occasional fleeting glimpse of a possible but unable to confirm.
Hammy left just before 11 and about half hour later I thought I would have a walk a little further round. As I went through the black metal gate/fence It called immediately to the left just before the water goes under the path. As I looked it appeared low on a reed stem called again and flew off low along the water with another call back into the main area zig zagging from side to side of the channel (reminding me a bit like a dipper flying).
It's great listening to it and hope it stays around into the spring . I've heard one before that didn't stop singing for an hour and a half so intend to go back for a listen and better look at it.
No show from the bittern, but did see a water rail appear to walk on water across a channel and back so assume it was frozen!

Cheers
Steve

18/12/07

A half-hearted attempt at a song and a distant call at 14.30 was all that was on offer this afternoon.

Nice avitar Paul. You'll be back in them reeds no doubt come the 1st Jan. Enjoy the xmas break. I've yet to get down there.

-- Edited by Pete Hines at 20:51, 2007-12-17

called a little later in the afternoon, but not showing, unlike the bittern sulking in the reeds it tried to hide but it was ticked by me as my 200 bird for the county,oh yes no more watching reeds for the rest of this year.
hammy bittern was seen on the other side of the cettis site give us a call for better directions if you want will pm you my mobile.

Took over the next shift on the mound at 11am when Hammy left. Brian fielding and I were there with no song and only the very occasional call. Shortly after Brian left there was a brief 5 note "song " from the middle of the reed bed about 1.05pm and then nothing else. Called it a day at 1.30 and went to Audenshaw. Don't know when the next time is but will be back!
Steve

Cetti's still present this am seen briefly near the mound and heard on and off upto 10.20 then went abit quiet.

at last after 20 hours and 5 visits i have seen it, althought very briefly from under the mound, the bird was only singing and calling for 30 mins early morning and wasnt heard again upto 145pm when i left. i will be back in the morning to try and get a better view.

Directions for Cetti's Warbler are as follows:


If walking from the canal, take the footpath along the former railway at the north end of Pearson's Flash and when you get near to the sewage works head towards the reedbeds at the back of the Flash. If you are looking from around the sewage works towards the former landfill, there is a broad 'causeway' of land between Pearson's Flash (to your right) and another area of reedbed (to your left) where the Cetti's is wintering. There is a black steel fence and kissing gate along here next to the reedbed. You can view the reedbed from all sides, either from near to the black fence, along a muddy footpath between the reeds and the sewage works (parallel to Ince Brook), or from the sewage works access track, which runs between the reedbed and Wigan Cemetery. Along this track the best viewing spot is roughly opposite the cemetery chapel. Off this track there is an informal route in to the willow scrub at the landfill end of the reedbed, from which there are several vantage points.

Alternatively, off Warrington Road, Lower Ince, take Cemetery Road. At the cemetery entrance the road swings left then right. Carry straight on past the stone yard. Take the first right at the end of the stone yard and park in the vicinity of two metal barriers. Walk through the right hand barrier, along the track next to the stone yard. This takes you along the back of the cemetery and to where I have described above.

Info taken from a Dave Broome post.



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 18:58, 2007-12-14

13/12/07

Did the afternoon shift (after Jimmy`s morning stint) - no song or call heard.

Bittern in flight @ 14.55 (Sewage Works end), Water Rail walking on the ice, and Sparrowhawk low over the reeds were the only sightings of note.

cettis only started singing today about 11.30 not asound before and not much after left about 1.30
no sightings of it and the bird was very quiet today for some reason when it did finally find its voice it was at the right hand side of the mound and then moved back into the reed bed without showing itself but on the good side saw a bittern 1st for the county

showed today at 14.15 along reedbed opposite cemetery down footpath, reeds showing well no sign of any bittern, starting to give up on them now.....

cetti's singing well this morning from centre of reedbed then after about a hour it came out and into the trees on the right hand side of the mound where it was doing its contact call seen briefly by allan rimmer who i was with but not by me as usual then it went back into the reeds but couldnt stop long today so back again tomorrow for another stint jimmy

What,s more to say?apart from I was there on 'McKerchars Mound' and enjoyed every minute of it,and oh my giddy aunt it does move at a pace,another lifer for me,goodness knows how long it will take for a photo to appear.:

cheers geoff

Rather suprisingly, the Cetti's showed quite well today for myself and Geoff Hargreaves from around 12:30 (ish) to just after 2pm. Viewing from the 'mound' in the woods along the reedbed it began calling it's very distinctive, loud, sharp and rather mettalic 'chick' (my interpretation) call which it readily rolls into a rattle and it showed itself 4 times in 40 minutes.

After calling for the first time roughly in between the middle of the reedbed and ourselves on the mound, it somehow managed to get round us and appreared calling, 20 feet from us to the left of the mound in amongst the short yellow grass, giving some excellent views, it then covered 20 feet to our right without being seen and appeared right infront of us, then flew across the channel into the reedbed and disappeared. After calling some more on and off it re-appeared flying right past us low across the channel following the edge of the reeds, landed out of view called and gave it's only burst of song at very close range. This went on with the bird moving around infront of us without managing to be seen by us most of the time such is the speed with which it moved through the reeds. Also throughout our observations (and on subsequently checking those of others) it never appeared above a foot from the ground or water, keeping extremely low at all times.

After these sightings I am happier to believe there is only one Cetti's present, the manner in which it moves, extremely low to the ground, very quickly thorugh reeds without making then move and sway and the overall elusive nature of the bird can easily account for the distances it covers in such short times without being seen (as frustrating as that is). Clearly the best option to see the bird is a dry, windless day (it has been calling as has been seen well over the past 3 days now), standing on top of the mound, keeping very quiet and listening for it's call (and perhaps song, although if calling I have a feeling the bird is moving around more) but be aware of the speed with which it can travel and keep a close eye on the channel and area of reeds immediately all around the mound.

heard again this morn but not seen as usual
there from 8,15 /11.45 and it was freezing,
me and ian woosey

Seen very well today by it's original finder Dave Broome, fairly close to the embankment and well enough to be 99% sure it wasn't ringed.

Recent discussion (with Rob Adderley) have made us wonder if 2 birds aren't accounting for these sightings, the male singing away from the centre of the reedbed and another (female?) creeping around the edges and getting seen by those very fortunate few? Whilst this will be very difficult to prove, observers who have seen the bird have mentioned that after seeing it, it appeared to quickly move back to the centre of the reedbed across the open water (to continue singing) but has never been seen to do so. Observers visiting the site should therefore be mindful of the singing bird in the centre of the reedbed and perhaps another 'chacking' (or similar noises) and creeping around the edges, perhaps we'll get lucky and see one whilst hearing the other sing, it's as good as we can get to currently prove the existence of two birds.

still present today calling up to 15.15, no sign of bittern, reeds looking well.
large flock of long tailed tits came through at 14.50 about 30+.

After discussion with others on their lists it seems I should not add cettis therefore I cannot claim it as 199.:however with absolute bewilderment I could claim barnacle goose ( that apparently are all poo anyway) as my 199, but do not want a bracket tick on my list, so back out into the marshes watching reeds reeds seeing shadows of warblers and hoping for that elusive bittern
keep birding

dont worry brian i am easy forgotten believe the Bittern returned again at 15.00 hours, so will be back again tomorrow.

sorry paul, forgot to mention you were there as well

Nice to be in the field with Mr P Berry, ( the president of the GM 200 club). Cettis singing it little head off and although brief views I am happy to claim it as my 199 bird for the county as long as Mr Mc kercher( vice president of the GM200) wiould be king enough to add it to my total.

just back from the reed bed, did hour and half reed watch cetti,s still hiding from view only heard it once

cheers geoff

got very close to the cettis this morning and was standing next to pete berry when he saw it. the bird was very vocal and towards the edge of the reeds at times but i still havnt seen it, thats now 16 hours over 4 visits. was treated to a nice bonus of a bittern over the same reedbed at 8.40.

Cetti's still singing well this morning and a Bittern over the same reedbed at 08:40am.

Info thanks to Brian Fielding.

Still singing sporadically today from 10:15 to 13:00 but staggeringly elusive despite how close it seems at times. Needless to say it throws it's voice very well and can lead a merry little dance but today it stayed pretty much faithful to the area in the centre with the saplings in.

It was singing occasionally 1245-1300 on Wednesday (5th Dec).

It's been mentioned in the local press http://www.wigantoday.net/wigan-news/Cetti39s-Warbler-arrives-in-Wigan.3556162.jp

cetti,s still singing later 12.30 till 2.30 despite it being a calmish day and at one point it sounded very close i,ve still not seen it.

cheers geoff

Cetti's still singing 11:15 to 11:45 today but needless to say not showing yet!

Info thanks to phil Rhodes