late posting for yesterday evening 26th may

2 Curlews + 3 young can just make them out every now and again walking between gaps in the buttercups, best view from canal
1 Oystercatcher over calling loudly and possibly landing in fields behind the horses on pendlebury lane, a new site tick for me
Kingfisher on canal
Tree Sparrow
common Tern
Mallard with two young but on way back there was only one
2 canada Geese near farm
2 Skylarks
usuall Goldfinches and Whitethroats
finally what looked like a Spotted Flycatcher on Pendlebury lane Lodge television mast but as I went for camara missed it fly off and couldnt relocate.
cracking evening only a few bikes and even less dog walkers

Paul Risley wrote:

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dave broome wrote:

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Sounds like Carp spawning now that the water's warmed up

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Cheers Dave, A mate of mine who is into fishing saw similar on a canal near him and told me the same, I thought it was a mink chasing something at first,

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Most likely be bream spawning at this time of year,and canals don't tend to have many breeding carp,and they don't seem to spawn very much in canal,but very large populations of bream spawn in canals at this time of year.thats what the thrashing about would be.

Paul Risley wrote:

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late posting for yesterday afternoon 22nd may

2 Stock Doves under leyland mill lane bridge
male Blackcap

Also loads of fish in a feeding frenzy in the reeds along the opposite side of the canal

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Sounds like Carp spawning now that the water's warmed up

9 species of warbler this morning including 2 Garden (Sennicar Bridge and Lady Mabel Wood); 1 Lesser Whitethroat (Winstanleys near Pendlebury Bridge); 1 Grasshopper (again Lady Mabel Wood), and 3 Sedge.
Also 2 Common Terns

(Late post for) 13/5/10

(16:30-19:30):

2 Curlew
1 Tree Sparrow
1 Buzzard
1 Sand Martin
2 Linnet
1 Common Tern
3 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel
2 Lapwing
2 Skylark
2 Blackcap
1 Whitethroat
4 Canada Goose

Hall end quiet this morning - but further down the hill a lot better
Mandarin - 2 drakes on pond near canal (Thanks to the rangers for pointing me in the right direction)
Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, Willow Warbler, Blackcap plus all the usual stuff between canal and river
Unfortunately couldn't find the Dippers.
Green Woodpeckers and Grasshopper Warblers heard on East side of park but not seen.

Whinchat still present in Sennicar Lane at 19.45 - never moved in 10 mins observation.

10/5/10

The "Northern Quarter" (16:15 - 19:00):

1 Whinchat (m) - on fences along the drainage ditch, Sennicar Lane.
1 Common Sandpiper still present along the canal bank between Red Rock Moorings and Pendlebury Lane Bridge.

1 Tree Sparrow
2 Common Tern
1 Skylark
4 Linnet
1 Whitethroat
2 Lapwing
2 Reed Bunting
7 Swift
5 Swallow
1 Garden Warbler (heard)

Fledged House Sparrows and Robin..

couple of hours this afternoon, all the usuall stuff. Fem Sparrowhawk on territory and Goldcrests singing in four different locations were the main things of note

5/5/10 (pm)

Usual route produced the usual suspects:

1 Curlew
2 Green Woodpecker
4 Mandarin (3 drk)
5 Stock Dove
1 Kestrel (m)
2 Sedge Warbler
4 Whitethroat
2 Blackcap
5 Swift
3 Skylark
1 Reed Bunting
2 Grey Heron
4 Canada Goose
1 Pheasant

Mid Morning - Warblers in song 8 Willow, 5 Chiffchaff, 15 Whitethroat, 3 Blackcap, 2 Sedge, 3 Grasshopper (4th by Aspull RUFC), 2 Garden, 1 Reed (Aspull Sough); also 2 Willow Tits and 1 Stonechat m - Higher Lane, 2 pairs Curlew (Pendlebury Lane and Bawk House Farm), 1 pair Lapwing, Green Woodpecker and 4 singing Reed Buntings

2/5/10 (am)

Whelley Loop to Sennicar Lane (in a bloody freezing NE wind ):

1 Curlew
1 Sand Martin >N
1 Garden Warbler (Lady Mabels Wood)
2 Mandarin (drks)
1 Buzzard
1 Sedge Warbler (Sennicar Bridge)
5 Whitethroat
6 Reed Bunting
2 Stock Dove
3 Skylark
8 Swallow
4 Rook
1 Coal Tit
1 House Sparrow (Sennicar Lane)
1 Grey Heron

1 Reed Warbler heard in Aspull Sough No.2 Reedbed
1 Green Woodpecker heard

This Morning
1 Lesser Whitethroat in trees on path just over Shedfield Bridge

Cheers Jimmy

11am to 2.30pm

pair of Sparrowhawks on territory, female overhead made a close flypast at speed at 4 crows who took to the sanctury of tree tops to call back there annoyance, male Sparrowhawk landed on plucking post with prey item later.

elsewere

2 Coal tits
1 Goldcrest
Heron on pond
Tree Creeper
Moorhen on nest
Buzzard over
good numbers of Nuthatches Great, Blue and Long tailed tits.

Cant remember seeing as many Grey Squirrels for a very long time

Haigh Hall/Canal area am - 4 singing Willow Warblers inc one at Pendlebury Bridge which as reported started its song as a Chiffchaff every time! Also Curlew there and 6 Tree Sparrows, 2 blackcaps and at least 6 calling Nuthatches around the Hall. otherwise extremely quiet.

Sunday 11 April 2010
17:30 - 18:30

Hall Lane, Canal, Pendlebury Lane:
2 Dipper
1 Raven
2 Blackcap
and a Willow Warbler by the canal at Sennicar Lane which starts it's song as a Chiffchaff, but ends as Willow Warbler.

10/4/10 (am)

A five hour mooch around the estate this morning, after a waking dilemma; face the hordes of sun-seekers at PF to tick(le) the Garganey, or solitude at Sennicar Lane for an Osprey watch ?.............it was a no-brainer

Whelley Loop to Mowpin Cottage, past Crawfords Wood, Holly Nook and the windmill, along Copperas Lane and down to Sennicar:

1 Raven over
4 Buzzards spiralling on the thermals
1 Sand Martin heading north along the canal - very uncommon here (only my 2nd record)
2 Mandarin (pr)
4 Snipe over
1 Yellowhammer, 2 Willow Tit, 2 Bullfinch (near Manor House Farm)
1 Tawny Owl roosting in regular spot
2 Kestrels mating
5 Skylarks singing
4 Swallows passing over
1 Sparrowhawk displaying
Chiffchaffs & Willow Warblers aplenty

No Osprey..................but who cares ?

7/4/10 (am)

A fog-bound two hour mooch around Aspull Sough & Shedfield Bridge area produced the following:

3 Mandarin (2 drk)
1 Treecreeper
2 Willow Warbler
3 Chiffchaff
2 Swallow
2 Reed Bunting (m)
1 Stock Dove
5 Canada Geese, grounded by the fog on No.2 pond
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
4 Jay
3 Bullfinch (m)
3 Song Thrush
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Green Woodpecker (heard)

Sunday am a walk up sennicar lane along the canal then down hall lane and back to the
start(with a few diversions). Blatent borough listing some may say but I don,t care ,amongst the throng of birds

1 tree creeper
1 nuthatch
1 stock dove
1 green woodpecker ,very nicely perched up calling viewed from the canal at hall lane lodge a wigan first for me

I spent a hour dipper hunting but 'dipped'

cheers geoff

3/4/10 (pm)

Couple of hours at midday around Lady Mabels Wood and Sennicar Lane area:

1 Curlew back on territory,
4+ Buzzards making most of the thermals,
3 Swallow
3 Lapwing
1 Skylark
1 Meadow Pipit
2 Reed Bunting
Chiffchaffs aplenty
1 Sparrowhawk displaying
2 Kestrel (m+f)
Mute Swan (SLI)

1/4/10 (pm)

Late afternoon stroll from Whelley Loop Line to Lady Mabels Wood produced the following:

2 Green Woodpeckers - very vocal and mobile pair around the Aspull Sough area.
1 Mandarin (drk)
1 Treecreeper
5 Stock Dove
1 Sparrowhawk soaring above New Springs allotments
1 Kestrel (m)
1 Reed Bunting (m)
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
1 Bullfinch (m)
Chiffchaffs - several heard.
2 Coot
5 Moorhen
12 Mallard
2 Canada Goose

2pm to 5pm cracking Day

Peregrine,
just walking down Senicar Lane looking at the Lapwings in the fields on the left when a flock of about 35 Wood pigeons take flight from the fields on my right, I watch them and suddenly the Peregrine cuts through the flock and just misses one, she quickly wheels around and speeds towards the flock again this time singling one out and hitting it knocking feathers but not holding it, again she gives chase but the woodie makes the cover of some trees on the canal bank literally crashing in to them, the Peregrine circles over it for a few mins before making off towards Wigan Lane.100th species for this area and what a classy one to get it with.
Curlew over
Pair of Dippers mating on Dougy

Pair of Manderins + a single male further on
3 Buzzards
Pair of Grey Wagtails
Goldcrest
Chiffchaff
Pair of Coal tits
3 Lapwings
Heron over

Wednesday 24 March 2010

A very vocal Green Woodpecker flew across Hall Lane and into Lady Mabel's Wood this afternoon.

quick hour after work around the treatment ponds and surrounding fields,
2 Bullfinch
2 Green Woodpeckers, very vocal
female Reed Bunting
Single Raven over again going north. still lightish but after sun down, possibly roosting in woods?
2 Foxes hunting in fields