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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
John Williams


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RE: WIGAN FLASHES
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09.30-13.00

Main Features were :

Scotsmans Flash : 4f+3m Goosanders, 3m+6f Goldeneyes, 4m+2f Pochard and 1 Little Grebe.

Pearsons Flash : 4m+9f Goldeneyes, 1m Shoveler, 6m+2f Pochards and 1 Little Grebe.

Horrocks Flash : 1m Shoveler and 22 Gadwall.

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John Williams
Simon Gough


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Saturday 3rd August 10.00-13.30

Enjoyable walk down the canal from Wigan town centre, around Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh and back, my first time exploring this area. Not masses of birds showing, 33 species but an earlier start would likely have helped and probably not being somewhat hungover...in May I bet the place is much more vibrant anyway. Brilliant reedbed habitat, maybe some of the Bitterns and Bearded Tits settling in the North West will breed here in the next year or two?

Best I saw was a Kingfisher from the high concrete viewpoint over Bryn Marsh, lovely views as it shuttled with fish in its bill, presumably to a nest in there somewhere. A single Reed Warbler was in trees on the canal and I had some lovely views of a family of Whitethroats and some superb views of fishing Common Terns, full plunge dives, stunning. Predictably heard Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail but no views.

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John Williams


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11.00-15.00

Scotsmans Flash : 7 Common Terns plus a flock of 14 Cormorants that circled the flash

a couple of times then flew off towards the N.East.

Westwood Flash : 1 Great Crested Grebe.

Pearsons Flash : 21 Great Crested Grebes, 5 Little Grebes, 9 Pochard and 1 Grey Heron.

Horrocks Flash : 1 female Common Scoter, 4 juv+9 adult Common Terns, 4 Cormorants,

2 adult+ 5 juv Great Crested Grebes (All one family), 1 Grey Heron and around 100 Lapwings.

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John Williams
John Williams


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14.30-17.30

Pretty quiet birdwise.

6 almost full grown Coot youngsters with their parents on Westwood Flash.

Large numbers of Swifts were feeding over Scotsmans and Pearsons Flashes.

3 Great Crested Grebes were on Scotsmans Flash, 2 of which had quite a nasty fight.

The Cettis Warbler is still calling by the SE corner of Scotsmans.

7 Great Crested Grebes were on Pearsons Flash.

A Garden Warbler gave a brief burst of song from the SE corner of Bryn Marsh, then showed quite well for a while from a willow opposite the towpath

near the railway bridge.

Horrocks Flash : 4 Common Terns, 2 Kingfishers (1 chased the other across the flash), 3 Cormorants and 1 Gadwall.

A Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the SW corner, by the towpath, but he stayed hidden.

The Black Headed Gull colony appears to be doing well with numerous half grown chicks seen, 3 of which have chosen the company of 5 drake Mallards,

although their parents don't appear very happy about it, the youngsters were almost snuggled up to the ducks on a small islet.



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John Williams
John Williams


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09:00-14.30

Scotsmans Flash : 4f Goldeneyes, 2 Cettis Warblers (1 showing well), 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2m+1f Pochards.

Pearsons Flash : 2 Cettis Warblers (1 seen & 1 heard calling), 2f Goldeneyes, 2 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 1 Buzzard.

Horrocks Flash : 1m Pochard, 6 Lapwings, 2 Grey Herons, 2 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Gadwall and 2 Teal. A single Willow Warbler by Horrocks Flash was the only one seen or heard throughout.

A Mistle Thrush was seen near the new bridge over the canal.

Sad to see that extensive patches of reeds have destroyed by fire on Pearsons Flash.

The towpath below the newly installed bridge is closed on the Pearsons Flash side of the canal at the moment.



-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:27:03 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:30:59 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:31:58 PM

-- Edited by John Williams on Tuesday 16th of April 2019 05:32:41 PM

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John Williams
dave broome


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This evening c900 Sand Martin at Scotmans/Pearsons Flashes
35 Goldeneye roosted on Scotmans Flash

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Keith Pilling


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Black Tailed Godwit on Horrocks this afternoon .



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Ian McKerchar


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Black-necked Grebe on Scotmans today.

Info thanks to Judith Smith



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munsworth


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This afternoon of note

Cetti's Warbler - in reeds at southern end of Scotsman's

Willow Tit - 3

Lesser Redpoll - 4 at Hawkley feeding station



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Steve Judge


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Saturday, 9th March 2019.

Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Dover Basin (Abram) - Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return. N.B. Limited view on to Pearson's Flash as path is closed next to canal on that side.

Redpoll x 3
Willow Tit x 2
Reed Bunting x 5
Goosander x 14 (2 Males and 12 Females) - mainly on Horrocks Flash
Goldeneye x 4
Shoveler x 4
Little Grebe x 2
Teal x 2
Oystercatcher x 9
Gadwall x 8
Great Crested Grebe x 7
Buzzard x 2
Kestrel x 1
Mute Swan x 6
Coal Tit x 1
Goldfinch x 7
House Sparrow x 10
Jay x 2
Cormorant x 3
Tufted Duck x 30
Coot x 40
Moorhen x 5
Black-Headed Gull x 100 plus
Robin x 1
Chaffinch x 5
Blue Tit x 4
Great Tit x 7
Blackbird x 3
Dunnock x 1
Magpie x 8
Crow x 5
Mallard x 40
Canada Geese x 50
Greylag Geese x 4
Woodpigeon x 15

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Ian Moran


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Sightings from Tuesday 26th:

Horrock's Flash: 15 Goosander, 3 Oystercatcher, 5+ Shoveler, 10+ Gadwall 

Feeding station: 5 Redpoll

Scotsman's Flash: 10+ Goldeneye

General: 2 Cetti's Warblers calling, 1 Water Rail



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Ken Dunning


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Short dog walk to the closed pathway at Pearsons flash. 2 Cetis Warbler 5 Redpoll (feeding station) 4 Bullfinch 1 Snipe circling Pearsons flash.

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Steve Judge


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Friday, 1st February 2019. 10:45 - 15:00 hrs.

Walk along towpath of 'Leeds - Liverpool Canal' from Platt Bridge - past Horrocks Flash - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - then across Moss Bridge to Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash and Bryn Marsh - and return.

Redpoll x 1
Willow Tit x 2
Reed Bunting x 2
Goosander x 12 (4 Males and 8 Females)
Goldeneye x 3
Shoveler x 7
Pochard x 1 (on Pearsons Flash - limited views as path is closed on that side)
Great Crested Grebe x 3
Long-Tailed Tit x 2
Collared Dove x 2
Mute Swan x 2
Goldfinch x 2
House Sparrow x 10
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 1
Grey Heron x 1
Jay x 1
Cormorant x 3
Tufted Duck x 40
Coot x 55
Moorhen x 5
Black-Headed Gull x 70
Robin x 7
Chaffinch x 15
Blue Tit x 10
Great Tit x 8
Blackbird x 5
Magpie x 3
Crow x 10
Mallard x 40
Canada Geese x 4
Woodpigeon x 1

Also, Fox seen walking across frozen Horrocks Flash - presumably after feeding on dead duck on the ice on the other side of the flash.







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dave broome


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2 Cettis Warbler singing at Bryn Marsh today and 1 singing at Ochre Flash
Approx 100 Redpoll feeding at Bryn Marsh alongside the railway
45 Goldfinch feeding in Birch by Killington Close
42 Blue Tit formed the bulk of a tit flock which moved along the canal at Bryn Marsh

-- Edited by dave broome on Saturday 1st of December 2018 02:43:10 PM

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Geoff Hargreaves


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8 Whooper swans on horrocks flash rear pool viewed from toilet block,there is no longer any access via Taylors lane. Geoff

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dave broome


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In 4 hours this morning birds included at least 2 Crossbill going high south over Bryn Marsh, very vocal but I couldnt pick them up against the sky, other birds moving south were 7 Skylark, 1 Redpoll and a few Meadow Pipit
5 singing Cettis Warbler
7 Water Rail calling in Bryn Marsh
35 Gadwall on Ochre Flash

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brian fielding


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No sign of red kite 07.30 till 12.00



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Ian McKerchar


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A Red Kite has been around the Wigan Flashes since last Sunday and apparently earlier at Lightshaw. Today the bird was seen in the Westwood area.

Info thanks to Judith Smith

 



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dave broome


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Some highlights from today were a Cettis Warbler calling fairly frequently in front of the Bryn Marsh viewing screen and showing occasionally along base of reed stems on edge of channel, a Peregrine on a pylon there, 2 Siskin, 3 Goldeneye

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dave broome


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Wednesday 24th October Cettis Warbler, Kingfisher and Water Rail at Bryn Marsh in last hour of daylight

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dave broome


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Gull roost at Scotmans Flash tonight: 1468 Black-Headed Gull, 97 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 11 Herring Gull and single figure of Common Gull

-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 23rd of October 2018 10:16:16 PM

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Rob Thorpe


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Tuesday 25 September | immature Hobby straight through, south, over Horrocks Flash at around 07:45ish.

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dave broome


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Approx 3,000 Swallow roosted at Pearsons Flash this evening, where wildfowl included 5 Wigeon and 7 Shoveler
Approx 2,500 Black-Headed Gull still roosting on Scotmans Flash, with 1 Common Gull among them, though very few large gulls.
Cettis Warblers singing at Pearsons Flash and south end of Scotmans Flash nr Moss Bridge. One was singing in Bryn Marsh on Friday 31st August

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dave broome


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2463 Black-Headed Gull counted roosting on Scotmans Flash tonight, along with 52 Lesser Black-Backed Gull and 1 Common Gull
4 Snipe flew from Scotmans Flash to Waddicars Flash

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dave broome


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Birds on Scotmans Flash this morning included 2 Wigeon, 4 Pochard, 2 Greylag Geese, 17 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Common Tern

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Geoff Hargreaves


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Thanks for the I.D. dave,to be fair I do need an eye test,I,ve only seen Greenshank a couple of times, and have never heard one before.The group on,t flash were very vocal which gave them away as strangers, the flight call on/ Birdguides is very good for confirmation.Also of interest 2 Cetti,s warbler 1 rear of Horrocks and 1 Bryn marsh both heard only but the same half hearted effort at a call presumed/wild guess they are this years juv.

 

geoff  & trixie



-- Edited by Geoff Hargreaves on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 09:15:38 PM

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dave broome


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4 juvenile Greenshank currently on Horrocks Flash viewed from canal, thanks to Geoff Hargreaves for heads up as to presence of waders only seen with his naked eye, a man who obviously doesnt need an eye test!

-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 14th of August 2018 11:07:03 PM

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Jeff Gorse


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Morning walk in showery and humid conditions. Beyond the usuals -

Kingfisher seen twice over Horrocks Flash. Also here a sparrowhawk overhead being mobbed by a couple of sand martins



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dave broome


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Birds at Horrocks Flash this evening included 4 Snipe, 2 Shoveler, min 2 Redpoll and c50 Goldfinch

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dave broome


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a Curlew flew SW this evening
Approx 600 Hirundines roosted at Pearsons Flash, about three quarters of which were Sand Martins, the rest Swallows
415 Coot were on Scotmans-Pearsons Flashes
2 Pochard on Pearsons, where a Cettis Warbler briefly sang


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Andy Bissitt


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More on the lookout for dragonflies (which were surprisingly low in number), but did see 11 oystercatchers which struck me as being a good number. Also a willow tit by the canal towpath, and a redpoll over a couple of times. 



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Craig Higson


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Spent a couple of hours round Horrocks Flash this morning.

The Black-headed Gull colony is in full swing, I didn't even attempt a count. There were at least 12 Common Terns, but this is a minimum figure as they were quite active and a few disappeared along the canal with possibly others returning. I only heard a couple of Reed Warblers which surprised me. Blackcaps and Willow Warblers were seemingly everywhere. A single Willow Tit was on the banks of the Canal. The back pools were very quiet with just a few Canada Geese, Tufted Duck and 2 Gadwall.

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Mike c cooper


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Yesterday late morning

Reed warbler clamouring away at canal end of scotsmans and another over the canal by the pool with newearth embankment

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dave broome


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At Scotmans Flash late afternoon an Oystercatcher on the dismantled railway embankment at the north end and 2 Common Tern, 1 bathing in middle of the water for a while. 2 House Martin among small numbers of Swallow and Sand Martin. Single Cettis Warblers singing at Pearsons and Scotmans Flashes

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Rob Thorpe


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Friday 13 April 2018

A Green Sandpiper was calling as it flew north, somewhere in the murk over Horrocks Flash, at around 19:30 - while I was running along the towpath.

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Steve Judge


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Saturday, 7th April 2018. 11:30 - 14:30 hrs

Platt Bridge - Horrocks Flash - Hawkley Viewing Screen - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - and return

Swallow x 1 (over Scotmans Flash - 1st of year for me)
Sand Martin x 50 (over Scotmans Flash and Pearsons Flash)
Kingfisher x 1
Willow Warbler x 1
Bullfinch x 2
Buzzard x 1
Pochard x 4
Reed Bunting x 5
Great Crested Grebe x 6
Jay x 2
Grey Heron x 5
Canada Geese x 40
Greylag Geese x 4
Cormorant x 3
Wren x 1
Long-Tailed Tit x 5
Robin x 3
Blue Tit x 9
Great Tit x 4
Dunnock x 1
Chaffinch x 1
Blackbird x 4
House Sparrow x 5
Tufted Duck x 50
Mute Swan x 2
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 10
Black-Headed Gull x 100
Mallard x 30
Woodpigeon x 5
Carrion Crow x 4
Rook x 3
Magpie x 10
Coot x 30
Moorhen x 4
Oystercatcher x 2
Song Thrush x 1



-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:03:49 PM

-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 7th of April 2018 06:04:47 PM

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dave broome


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A first-winter drake Scaup on Scotmans Flash this morning
1 Swallow among c200 Sand Martin
1 singing Willow Warbler
1 Cettis Warbler
22 Golden Plover flew NE
a trickle of Meadow Pipit moving N, 12 counted

An Osprey was seen there again this morning by another observer at 09:20


-- Edited by dave broome on Thursday 5th of April 2018 06:31:22 PM

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Keith Pilling


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Osprey flying over Scotmans flash at Moss bridge in the direction of Wigan town centre being mobbed by gulls at 6:20 pm.

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bernard hooley


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Sedge Warbler collecting nesting material near the little bridge
leading down to Hawkley viewing screen . Also on top of the
adjacent reeds was a Cettis Warbler.

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dave broome


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approx 150 Sand Martin at Scotmans Flash today

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dave broome


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87 Sand Martin feeding at Scotmans Flash this afternoon

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James Walsh


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Pair of Northern Pintail flew North-east over Scotmans Flash & Westwood Flash @ 7:55am also 2 Kingfishers, c20 Goldeneye & 2 Greylag Geese on Scotmans Flash

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Ian McKerchar


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Black-necked Grebe on Horrocks Flash front pool today.

Info thanks to Judith Smith



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dave broome


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drake Smew back on Scotmans Flash at 16:35, on edge of reeds at very far south end near Moss Bridge, 2 Greylag Geese also present 



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colin moran


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Drake smew on Ochre Flash at 14.30.

 

 



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Pete Hines


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Smew - drake looking settled to roost at Scotsman's Flash 17.00 -17.35 in front of the sailing club and distant from the towpath (see twitter for video). (No sign at the other site near the DW Stadium after 16.00). Rubbish pics attached, distant, low light, blah blah

Cetti's Warbler 1 in song by the towpath bridge at the Hawksley end

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Steve Judge


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Saturday, 3rd March 2018. 12:30 - 16:00 hrs.

Walk from Dover Lock Inn (Abram) along towpath of Leigh branch of Leeds-Liverpool canal - Horrocks Flash - Hawkley Viewing Screen - Ochre Flash - Bryn Marsh - Scotmans Flash - Pearsons Flash - and return.

No sign of Drake Smew or Whooper Swans for me - but still a nice selection of birds on view (41 in total).

Little Egret x 1 (in flight over Dover Lock heading towards Lightshaw Meadows / Pennington Flash at 15:50 hrs.)
Willow Tit x 1
Sparrowhawk x 1
Buzzard x 1
Wigeon x 8
Pochard x 10
Teal x 2
Goldeneye x 6
Shoveler x 10
Goosander x 4
Reed Bunting x 4
Bullfinch x 3
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Greylag Geese x 4
Canada Geese x 70
Great Crested Grebe x 2
Little Grebe x 1
Long Tailed Tit x 8
Jay x 2
Mistle Thrush x 1
Mute Swan x 5
Tufted Duck x 50
Cormorant x 4
Carrion Crow x 10
Black-Headed Gull x 100
Great Black-Backed Gull x 3
Lesser Black-Backed Gull x 7
Herring Gull x 10
Grey Heron x 2
Magpie x 15
Goldfinch x 4
Blackbird x 10
Dunnock x 2
Robin x 15
Chaffinch x 1
Blue Tit x 7
Great Tit x 6
Coot x 30
Moorhen x 25
Mallard x 50
House Sparrow x 10

-- Edited by Steve Judge on Saturday 3rd of March 2018 05:32:19 PM

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Brian Harding


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9 whooper swans on scotmans this afternoon showing well from canal tow path at approx 1.30pm, drake smew seen briefly far away near the boat club.



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Steven Nelson


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Drake Smew on Scotsmans Flash at 15.35pm. Distant on far side near boat club.

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Andrew Mitchell


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Smew moved onto Pearsons Flash at around 3pm and gave good views, then back to Scotsmans around 3.45. Decent numbers of Goldeneye around too.

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