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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> WIGAN FLASHES
Post Info TOPIC: WIGAN FLASHES
David Hughes


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RE: WIGAN FLASHES
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Willow tit by wellham Rd 11am

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David Hughes


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Shoveller on westwood .

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David Hughes


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Goldeneye on Pearsons flash,siskin, goldcrest, blue tit, redpoll ,sparrowhawk, kestrel plus usual,14.45 today

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Simon Gough


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David Hughes wrote:

Re willow tit with leg bands, the bird was ringed as part of a scheme in Washington Tyne and Wear




Interesting, I've read papers suggesting that Willow Tit are reluctant to fly across an open space of a few hundred metres between decent scrub or woodland habitat, but this one has crossed the Pennines!

Which is the point of ringing ultimately...

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David Hughes


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Re willow tit with leg bands, the bird was ringed as part of a scheme in Washington Tyne and Wear

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David Hughes


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Willow tit on the first feeder from wellham Rd, bryn viewpoint, willow tit,goldcrest  ,coal tit,nuthatch, birds round this area are fed regularly by passers by and seem to follow folk around, if you're missing out on willow tit, maybe   put some seed  out and sit and wait,?



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David Hughes


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Short walk in a loop from wellham Rd entrance via ochre flash, bryn viewpoint  ,canal and back,willow tit with leg bands,right leg red over white  ,near to the feeding station that is no longer,blue tit, great tit, robin,blackbird, ochre flash 40+black headed gull,3 coot viewpoint, tufted duck 2,moorhen 2 ,goldfinch and siskin feeding on nearby alder,along the canal toward moss Bridge, goldcrest,  redwing,Jay, Robin, blackbird  ,moss Bridge, collared dove,sparrowhawk over and circling, back toward the feeding station, bullfinch ,blue tit great tit1 dunnock,2 house sparrow on the feeder on the left as I left



-- Edited by David Hughes on Friday 10th of November 2023 02:58:06 PM

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David Hughes


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Marsh harrier (moulting) over pearsons 3 30 pm today

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David Hughes


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A walk today from poolstock locks to horrocks's,12 30 /3pm on westwood fleash a few black headed gulls and a pair of mute swan, on Pearson's flash coot, tufted duck, cormorant,lapwing, more black headed gull, onward to moss bridge great tit ,blue tit ,long tailed tit, woodpigeon, mallard on canal,jay calling from woodland opposite, terrapin in canal ,peregrine on pylon nearest the railway as previous, on horrocks flash grey heron, lapwing, cormorant, black headed gull, mallard, terrapin on island, with lapwing, on return peregrine still on pylon, 6 raven or more over scotmans flash, chiffchaff calling in the wooded bit before Pearson's, plenty of black headed gull, and some lesser black backed gull on scotmans.

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Ian McKerchar


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It is with great pleasure I can confirm that a pair of Marsh Harriers successfully bred for the very first time in the county at this site during the summer.

Full details and some photos and video can be found here https://www.manchesterbirding.com/whats-new



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David Hughes


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Raven over ochre flash,3 marsh harriers airborne over bryn flash viewpoint, a cettis warbler seen here too ,also several buzzard,a peregrine falcon on the pylon nearest the canal,another cettis warbler singing near the metal bench 1 30 -3pm today

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Ian McKerchar


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2 Black-tailed Godwits and 5 juvenile Common Terns on Pearsons Flash.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Common Sandpiper on Scotmans Flash today, whilst on Pearsons 5 Crossbill flew NW at 12:50 with 3 Little Ringed Plovers and 14 Lapwing present.

Info thanks to Phil Rhides



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Ian McKerchar


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Ruff, Common Sandpiper and adult Great Black-backed Gull on Pearsons Flash this morning.

Info thanks to Andy Makin



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday, female Marsh Harrier, Hobby catching damselflies over Bryn Marsh, 4 Little Egret.

No further sight or sound of the Spotted Crake



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Ian McKerchar


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Spotted Crake heard late yesterday evening from within the reedbed at Horrocks Flash in the farthest E/NE corner as viewed from canal footpath.

This morning the bird has been seen on several occasions very briefly on muddy edges in the same area (VERY roughly at ///camp.first.swing) but viewing is very restricted, rather distant and a telescope probably essential.



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David Hughes


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A wander today 2pm/4pm,from the canal near st James church,to moss bridge and back,several Cetti’s warblers calling in different locations, reed warbler 3 or 4 seen in the reeds near Pearson's flash, lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, cormorant, sparrowhawk, mallard, canada goose, long tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, reed bunting ,teal ,tufted duck ,coot, moorhen, buzzard over, robin ,2 at least 2 common tern,and 3 swifts



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Saturday 29th of April 2023 09:46:28 PM

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David Hughes


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Female common scoter scotmans flash 2pm today, also sand martin, house Martin and swallow skimming the flash sedge warbler singing at Pearson's flash



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Steve Judge


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Wednesday 22nd March 2023 10:00 - 14:00 hrs.

Walk along Leeds Liverpool Canal covering Horrock's Flash - Pearson's Flash - Scotman's Flash- Ochre Flash - Bryn Marsh and return.

Willow Tit (1)
Cettis Warbler (1 calling)
Chiffchaff (3 heard singing)
Little Egret (3)
Buzzard (2)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Bullfinch (2)
Reed Bunting (1)
Great Crested Grebe (6)
Goldeneye (10)
Teal (6)
Pochard (12)
Jay (4)
Grey Heron (2)
Gadwall (8)
Canada Geese (40)
Greylag Geese (20)
Tufted Duck (100)
Long Tailed Tit (4)
Goldfinch (3)
Dunnock (1)
Wren (1)
Black-Headed Gull (75)
Mute Swan (30)


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David Hughes


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20-30 sand martin whizzing around, 2 common scoter,cettis warbler calling in 2 spots,redpoll in alders, a few goldeneye around too today. 



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David Hughes


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A wander today 11 30 -13 30  from locks and  to moss bridge and back, on westwood flash just a couple of tufted duck, on Pearson's flash cormorant, lesser black backed gull and black headed gull, goldeneye, coot, mallard, moorhen, tufted duck, robin in the bushes between the canal and Pearson's flash,goldfinch, siskin,lesser redpoll on alders on the corner of Pearson's, long tailed tit also in a few places,blue tit, great tit too.I went to the feeding station/screen behind the school and have to report that the tree that carried the existing feeders  has now fallen. However the feeder nearest to metal entrance was active with blue tit, great tit ,long tailed tit, and 1 willow tit,jay also seen in nearby trees ,blackbird  a few in this area,back along the canal,Canada goose,mallard on canal, scotmans flash  goosander  female, tufted duck, coot,canada goose, mute swan, great crested grebe, cormorant, pochard, 2 Cetti’s warbler calling this visit. 

 



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 14th of March 2023 04:15:24 PM

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Charles Farrell


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Mon 13-Mar-23:
Lunchtime visit, during which it rained continually. Visibility wasn't great, so I may have missed a few things. Certainly didn't find any Willow Tits.

- 20+ Goldeneye
- c250 Tufted Duck
- 18 Mute Swan
- 6 Northern Shoveler
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- Kestrel
- Buzzard
- c3 singing Cetti's Warbler

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David Hughes


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Afternoon excursion, willow tit on feeder nearest to school also a few at bryn marsh bench (feeders nearby) great spotted woodpecker, 2 raven again ,bullfinch, long tailed tit, coal tit plus usual suspects.also  cettis warbler calling in 3 locations



-- Edited by David Hughes on Tuesday 24th of January 2023 03:15:15 PM

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Pete Hines


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Yesterday 22nd Jan
Scotsman's Flash

Pink-footed Goose 147 over NW in 2 skeins
Gadwall 66
Wigeon 33 (two flocks flying around of 13 and 20)
Teal 3
Tufted Duck 210
Goldeneye 29
Goosander 8
Little Grebe 4
Great Crested Grebe 1
Coot 177
Willow Tit 1 Colour ringed bird, by the school, at 53.524171, -2.635863. Red over blue on left leg, green over silver on right.

Turners Flash

Raven 2
Cetti's Warbler 1 calling
Redpoll 3
Siskin 2



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Updated birding videos on You Tube https://www.youtube.com/c/PeteHinesbirding
Steve Judge


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Monday 16th January 11:00 - 15:00 hrs. Walk from Dover Lock along Leigh branch of Leeds/Liverpool Canal - Horrocks Flash - Pearsons Flash - Scotmans Flash - and return. Scaup (Female) (1) on Scotmans Flash Goosander (6) 2M and 4F Willow Tit (1) Sparrowhawk (1) Buzzard (2) Kestrel (1) Little Grebe (1) Tufted Duck (100) Gadwall (4) Coot (150) Mute Swan (15) Canada Geese (10) Jay (1) Magpie (12) Rook (1) Carrion Crow (7) Goldfinch (1) Long Tailed Tit (14) Chaffinch (2) Robin (5) Blue Tit (7) Great Tit (1) Blackbird (5) Mistle Thrush (1) Cormorant (5) Grey Heron (1) Black-Headed Gull (50)

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David Hughes


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To birder George, ive taken your number wrongly if you can pm it to me i will send the pictures from today thanks

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David Hughes


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Bittern showed very well for over àn hour on the iced over scotmans near the new road

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Ian Moran


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Bittern: Flying over Scotsman's to the right hand side reeds and showing well there. 

Red-crested Pochard: Surprised to see it on the canal at the bridge at Westwood Road with mallards etc. Strange white base to it's bill and limp looking leg. Very tame. 

Also water rail calling and willow tits. 



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David Hughes


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A fruitless search for the red crested pochard today but  was more than made up for by bittern flying to south west corner,1 willow tit and one goldcrest. 



-- Edited by David Hughes on Wednesday 14th of December 2022 02:15:27 PM

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John Williams


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11.00-14.30

Westwood and Pearsons Flashes both only had a bathtub sized area unfrozen, and on each this contained

a pair of Mute Swans.

In the trees alongside the towpath a mixed Blue and Long-tailed Tit flock, also contained 1 Willow Tit,

2 Coal Tits and 4 Goldcrests.

Horrocks Flash: 32 Mute Swans, including 8 1st winters, sadly 1 of these youngsters appeared to be ill.

I also witnessed the death of 1 of the adults, the bird appeared to gasp it's last breath whilst lying on the ice,

with it's mate standing alongside looking very anxious. Also on Horrocks were 100+ Coots and 10 Shovelers.

Scotsmans Flash: Wildfowl and gulls were packed in and around a few unfrozen areas.

1f Red-crested Pochard, 4m+4f Goldeneyes, 1m Goosander, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe and 13 Pochards.

In the gull roost a huge adult "Argentatus" type Herring Gull dwarfed the Lesser Black Backs stood alongside it.

A scan through the other gulls did not produce anything unusual.

Raptors seen alongside the canal were 2 Buzzards and 1m Kestrel.

-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 13th of December 2022 05:26:57 PM

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John Williams
John Williams


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11.00-13.30

Scotsmans Flash : 66 Tufted Ducks, 2m+3f Goldeneyes, 4 Great Crested Grebes and 12 Gadwall.

Horrocks Flash :1 Kingfisher, 15 Tufted Ducks, 10 Gadwall, 2m+1f Shovelers and 1 Kestrel.

There appeared to be healthy numbers of Coots on all the larger flashes, however a raft of 150+ on Horrocks Flash

was quite a sight.

In trees alongside the towpath opposite Bryn Flash, a mixed flock of Long-tailed, Blue and Great Tits also held singles

of Willow Tit, Goldcrest and Treecreeper.

Pearsons Flash :5 Little Grebes, 5f Goldeneyes and a pair of Gadwall.

Westwood Flash :4 Tufted Ducks.

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John Williams
John Williams


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09.30-12.30

Westwood Flash : 14 Shovelers and 5 Gadwall.

Pearsons Flash : 10 Little Grebes, 8 Shovelers, 24 Tufted Ducks, 2f Goldeneyes and 13 Gadwall.

Horrocks Flash : 1 Kingfisher, 10 Tufted Ducks, 16 Gadwall, 12 Teal, a group of 10 Long-tailed Tits

and a passing flock of 10 Fieldfares. Oddly the small islets around the flash held no Snipe or Lapwings.

Scotsmans Flash: 5 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Cormorants, 13 Gadwall, 18 Tufted Ducks,

a 1st winter Great Black-backed Gull and an adult Herring Gull that dwarfed the surrounding Lesser Black-backs.


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John Williams
David Hughes


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Yesterday 11/12 30, short walk to Pearson's from the lock,on westwood flash shoveller, little grebe  ,coot ,mute swan ,teal ,goosander ,on Pearson's flash, snipe ,teal, goldeneye, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, gadwall, cormorant, reed bunting , bullfinch, long tailed tit, tutted duck, mallard ,coot, party of about 10 little grebe,.



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John Williams


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Ok thanks for that Pete, I'm used to seeing adult Yellow Legged Gulls at Sandbach side on and in good light, when their mantle looks

noticeably lighter than the bird in my photo, hence my initial doubt. At one point the birds head looked very rounded, indicating a

Yellow Legged, but the speckled pattern extending down the neck seems pure Lesser Black Back. At one point I even considered

a hybrid, which would certainly start a debate.

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John Williams
pete berry


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Looks like a Lesser Black Back gull unfortunately, mantle too dark for Yellow Legged gull,sun can "bleach out" LBB mantle and make them look paler than they really are.

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John Williams


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10.00-13.30 Walked along the canal towpath from Poolstock to Horrocks Flash and back.

Westwood Flash : 1 Reed Bunting and oddly no waterfowl at all.

Pearsons Flash :12 Little Grebes, 10 Lapwings, 43 Tufted Ducks and 40 Coots.

Horrocks Flash : 1 adult Yellow legged Gull (Photo Below) which I puzzled over for quite a while. Was it a Yellow Legged or

an adult "graellsii" Lesser black Back?. On looking at the photo I've opted for a Yellow Legged now, but the shade of the saddle

changed depending on the light and angle of view. Also the winter plumage speckle pattern seemed to extend a little down the birds neck,

rather than just around the eye, as on a typical field guide YLG. Please advise me if you disagree with my view on this?.

Also around the flash were 16 Snipe, 2 Buzzards, 28 Lapwings, 1 Grey Heron. 3 Cormorants and a noticeable abundance of Gadwall.

Scotsmans Flash: 4 adult + 2 juvenile Great Crested Grebes.

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John Williams
David Hughes


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Pearson's flash, Snipe, reed warbler, wigeon,tufted duck,gadwall,mute swan,lapwing, coot, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull,common tern juv,shoveler, cormorant, little grebe, great crested grebe, mallard ,moorhen.,teal.



-- Edited by David Hughes on Thursday 8th of September 2022 03:15:45 PM



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 8th of September 2022 08:34:06 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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Female Pintail and Common Sandpiper on Scotmans today, plus a Green Sandpiper on Pearsons.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Ian McKerchar


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82 Mute Swan, 2 Common Tern, and a small but steady flow of Lesser Black-backed Gulls coming in from the north stopping briefly then moving off south, at Scotmans Flash this late morning.



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David Hughes


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Swift over moss bridge yesterday also garden warbler seen singing, thanks Peter for putting me on it



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David Hughes


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Tuesday a.m. , lesser black backed gull, herring gull,black headed gull, mute swan,cormorant,great crested grebe, coot, moorhen, gadwall, mallard, blackbird, greenfinch, grey wagtail, grey heron, buzzard,sparrowhawk, greylag with chicks,Canada goose, robin, cettis warbler seen ,others heard,willow warbler, shelduck over,sand martin,house martin ,swallow,  swift,woodpigeon, carrion crow,goldfinch, sedge warbler singing but elusive, blackcap singing all around, long tailed tit,teal



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Rob Thorpe


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Saturday 30 April 2022

A Garden Warbler was near the concrete silo thing at Pearsons Flash, early afternoon.

A Grasshopper Warbler was in the field along the southern edge of Bryn Marsh, early morning.

Late news for Wednesday 27 April, when a Swift was feeding high above the new road at Scotmans Flash, early evening.

-- Edited by Rob Thorpe on Saturday 30th of April 2022 09:46:50 PM

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David Hughes


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Sunday sunny and warm,blackcap singing, willow warbler singing, wren seen,kingfisher,tufted duck,gadwall,mallard,mute swan ,greylag with young,Canada goode,blackbird, robin,lesser black backed gull, black headed gull, coot, great crested grebe, sedge warbler singing but hidden,a couple of sand martin over scotmans flash,cormorant, cettis warbler both vocal and active by moss bridge i saw 3 ,one from 5 mtrs



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David Hughes


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This evening a short walk to moss bridge and back to poolstock lock,blackbird, song thrush ,long tailed tit, mute swan, coot,cettis  warbler in 3 locations, blue tit,cormorant, tufted duck ,mallard,goldeneye, kingfisher, black headed gull, lesser black backed gull, kestrel,canada goose,great crested grebe, a steady stream of sand martins ,with swallow amongst them i counted at least 20 swallow, and a single reed bunting. 



-- Edited by David Hughes on Saturday 9th of April 2022 08:31:45 PM

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David Hughes


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Flashes today, cettis warbler calling  in 3 locations, blackcap singing  ,approx 20 sand martin, 1 kestrel, 4 buzzards, 2 cormorant, 20 lesser black backed gull, goldeneye, teal,tufted duck wren, canada goose, see picture ,greylag  goose, mallard, mute swan,lots of black headed gull, còot,dunnock 



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David Hughes


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1pm-3pm,carrion crow ,song thrush, blackbird, woodpigeon, chaffinch,goldfinch ,coal tit ,great tit, magpie,blue tit,long tailed tit ,reed bunting, jay,robin,skylark high singing, meadow pipit, wren, dunnock ,stonechat male in same field as reported previously,.Bryn marsh viewpoint gave gadwall,coot,tufted duck,mallard and kingfisher obligingly gave a great view


-- Edited by David Hughes on Wednesday 16th of March 2022 03:27:40 PM



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 16th of March 2022 04:34:02 PM

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Rob Thorpe


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Sunday 13 March 2022

1 Sand Martin and 8 Chiffchaff this morning.

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David Hughes


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Midday mooch,of note 1 chiffchaff singing, 1 seen,goldeneye m/f 10,long tailed tit pair gathering fibres for nesting,1 buzzard over 4 great crested grebe.

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Rob Thorpe


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Sunday 27 February 2022

1 Stonechat (female) was in the northern corner of the field which borders the south-west of Bryn Marsh, at around 8am.
A surprisingly rare bird here, and a long-awaited Wigan Flashes tick for me!

Also of interest, 8 Whooper Swan flew north over Scotmans Flash at around 9am.

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Ian Moran


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Pearson's Flash: 3 Little Egrets, one flying off. My first at the flashes. 1m Wigeon, Goldeneyes, Teals, 2 Pochard, 2 Shoveler. 

Scotsman's Flash: 2f + 1m Goosander, Goldeneyes. 

Ochre Flash: 30+ Gadwall, Willow Tits nearby, 3 Bullfinch.



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