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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Post Info TOPIC: BICKERSHAW COUNTRY PARK (formerly Bickershaw Rucks)
Scott robinson


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RE: BICKERSHAW RUCKS
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Kestrel with prey and Female Stonechat the only birds of note this lunch time.

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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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1 1/4 hours mid morning
FTF
5 drake Goosander
5 Pochard 3M + 2F

increase of small birds evident today particularly Linnet

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Gordon Newman


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07.15-12.15, Highlights, Single Ring-necked Parakeet - perched in top of tree on top rucks before flying towards Crankwood. Single Green Woodpecker. 19 Fieldfare. 5 Pochard. 4 Great-spotted Woodpecker. 2 Kestrel hunting side by side, when the female dropped to the ground in long grass, the male joined the female spending nearly 10 minutes together, then flying off 30 seconds apart.

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Gordon Newman


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07.30-1015
Fir Tree Flash
6 Pochard - 4M+2F
5 Teal
2 Shoveler

Diggle Flash

2 Common Gull
Herring Gull

C4

Green Woodpecker

missed Scotts Stonechat and Goldeneye


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Scott robinson


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First mooch in a while. New job and training as put birding down the order of priorities. Very nice to get though.

23 Redwing. Mobile in c5 before flying off south.
1 Stonechat c6
2 Goldeneye was nice on Fir Tree Flash
1 Kestrel c8
2 Buzzard c8

Otherwise very quiet.

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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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07.45-09.00
1500+Woodpigeon SW - probably missed loads flying extremely high overhead, 07.45 - 08.15
131 Pink-footed Geese SE
3 Siskin
20+ Linnet
30+ Fieldfare
Green Woodpecker heard only

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Gordon Newman


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The Starling roost doubled in numbers this evening to around 300

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Gordon Newman


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Highlights from yesterday and today

single male Pochard on Fir Tree Flash today
700+ Pink-footed Geese SE in two groups with two other groups heard but not seen yesterday
6 Siskin
Redwing constantly flying around in small groups of 5 & 6 in no particular direction, impossible to count with some probably duplicated
35 Fieldfare yesterday with fewer numbers today again not in any particular direction
200+ Woodpigeon SW yesterday
small numbers of Linnet



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Gordon Newman


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Cetti's Warbler singing briefly at 11.00 from Nevison's Flash.

Same bird as last winter? arriving at roughly the same time as 2017 "6th" .

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Gordon Newman


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single Willow Warbler in roaming Long-tailed Tit group also containing single Willow Tit this evening otherwise quiet

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Gordon Newman


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highlights from two short visits, one mid morning and this evening
single Ring-necked Parakeet flew over NE calling @18.30
2 Siskin N a.m
Green Woodpecker

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Gordon Newman


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1 Woodcock over South
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Grey Wagtail
1 Kingfisher (Nevison's Flash)
40+ Pink-footed Geese over West
2 Sand Martin over South 1 Willow Warbler,

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Sunday 23rd of September 2018 11:07:47 AM

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Gordon Newman


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07.30 - 11.30
single Grey Wagtail by dam at end of Fir tree Flash
100+ Meadow Pipit S/SW between 07.30 - 08.00 plus plenty grounded
4 Skylark
2 Sand Martin
3 House Martin
10 Swallow
single Snipe

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Gordon Newman


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09.25 - 12.30
2 Yellow Wagtail flew over C8 SW @ 10.20 calling (new site record for myself).
single Sparrowhawk, Green Woodpecker and 2 Willow Tit only other things of note.

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Gordon Newman


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09.00 - 11.00
single Green Sandpiper flew over top rucks (c4) calling, and appeared to land on New water but was not able to relocate it later.
quite a few mixed Tit groups containing Willow Warbler,Chiffchaff and a few Goldcrest.
a few more Meadow Pipit about giving a autumn feel to proceedings.

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Gordon Newman


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2 Green Woodpecker present this evening

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Gordon Newman


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single Hobby chasing Swallows this evening, also Green Woodpecker present

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Gordon Newman


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single Spotted Flycatcher mid morning on edge of trees adjacent to former pony enclosure and Slag Lane, opposite Nissan Firsway garage

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Gordon Newman


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single Green Sandpiper present this evening (poor photo taken in fading light)

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Gordon Newman


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09.00 - 12.00
Hobby shot across tree tops and over playing field, probably chasing a Swallow or House Martin as I was walking on path through trees.

family party of Garden Warblers with at least 2 juvenile giving a brief glimpse and very vocal.

2 Whitethroat, plenty of Willow Warbler and a few Chiffchaff and Reed Warbler still present.

3 Buzzard

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Gordon Newman


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single Greenshank present on New Water at 18.25 as I approached on the hill overlooking water. Flew off at 18.35 SSW towards Pennington Flash calling.
poor photo attached looking towards the sun and from distance.

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Gordon Newman


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Green Woodpecker in trees by Fir Tree Flash and playing field this evening

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Dave Wilson


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At 9.20 this morning, at the very top of the Road to Nowhere off Smiths Lane, a male Reed Bunting delivered an extended warbler-like song, nothing like the usual brief four- or five-note offering!

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Scott robinson


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Mooch this afternoon,

1 Kestrel, Male seen a number of times hunting.
1 Buzzard
Small numbers of Reed and Sedge Warbler, also small numbers of Whitethroat, Blackcap, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff.
3 Skylark, one individual was seen having a dust bath, got to within 10 yard outstanding views.
7 Meadow Pipit
Reed Bunting numbers at the moment on this site are the most I've ever seen. They are absolutely everywhere.
Lapwing sitting and one with youngsters. Black headed sitting in same area.
1 Linnet
Plenty Swift over in most areas.
1 Common Tern over

Plus all usuals.






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Scott robinson
Gordon Newman


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Male Cuckoo this evening by Nevison's Flash

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Scott robinson


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6:00 am till 9:00 am

Lesser Whitethroat showing well in scrub just off the new road C8.
3 Sedge Warbler, more heard
1 Grasshopper Warbler
5 Willow Warbler
3 Reed Warbler, more heard
1 Linnet
1 Willow Tit
1 Stonechat
9 Blackcap
11 Chiffchaff
4 Whitethroat
15 Reed Bunting
4 Skylark
2 Meadow Pipit
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
2 Buzzard
5 Lapwing

Plus all usual suspects.




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Scott robinson
John Watson


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Y'day 8th May, late morning before the rain

1-2 Grasshopper Warblers (h)
1 Raven (E of rucks, drifting N)
3 Whitethroats
3 Sedge Warblers
10 Reed Buntings
20 Swift (E of rucks)
20 House Martins (flock, E of rucks, drifting N)
Chiffchaffs
Willow Warblers

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Scott robinson


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11 till 2:15. Glorious weather.

All areas except C5 and C7

1 Whinchat C8
1 Stonechat C8
1 Cuckoo C2
20+ Willow Warbler, Most areas.
20+ Blackcap, Most areas.
15+ Whitethroat, Most areas.
10+Chiffchaff
40+ Reed Bunting, most abundant bird on site today, absolutely everywhere.
10+ Lapwing all C10
3 Buzzard
2 Kestrel
10+ Reed Warbler
10+ Sedge Warbler
2 Grasshopper Warbler both C8
4 Linnet, over.
10+ Skylark
5 Meadow Pipit

Nice to hear a Yellowhammer singing although I didn't see it.

Plus all usuals.


Forgot to add 2 Grey Partridge flushed.

-- Edited by Scott robinson on Saturday 5th of May 2018 02:38:02 PM

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Scott robinson
Neil Dowson


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Thursday 3rd May, 0900-1000

1 Cuckoo - flying over large flooded area towards top rucks

1 male Whinchat - in field adjacent to large flooded area

Blackcap

Sedge warbler

Kestrel

Sparrowhawk



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Gordon Newman


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45 mins after work from 18.30
2 Common Tern visited Nevisons Flash for 5 mins before departing over to Pennington Flash.
Green Woodpecker flying around edge of Nevisons Flash before landing in top of tree on top rucks then yaffling for 10 mins.
plenty of Reed Warbler chattering away.
Cetti's Warbler very vocal.

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Gordon Newman


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Hobby flew west from playing field right across rucks and beyond Smiths Lane @ 18.20

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Gordon Newman


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08.00-10.15
1 Cuckoo perched in top of tree on edge of playing field
2 Whitethroat at end of road to nowhere
1 Sedge Warbler(C8)
2 Grasshopper Warbler
9 Reed Warbler
Cetti's Warbler singing
4 Oystercatcher
5 Buzzard
3 Grey Partridge
Green Woodpecker yaffling in distance while stood at end of road to nowhere
Willow Warbler, Blackcap & Chiffchaff all into double figures
3 Linnet
8 Lapwing

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Gordon Newman


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Not much this morning should of gone out early as went cloudy as I left the house and eventually turned to rain 2 Grasshopper Warbler Cetti's Warbler 2 Swallow Plenty of Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff 2 Blackcap 4 Reed Warbler

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Gordon Newman


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Grasshopper Warbler reeling by playing field early evening

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Gordon Newman


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18-00-20.00
Male Hobby circled over playing field @ 18.10 showed a brief interest in a passing Woodpigeon before departing North ( my previous earliest record for the Rucks was 2nd May)

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Gordon Newman


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08.50-10.15
of note
single Reed Warbler
single Whimbrel heard only
single Green Woodpecker flew across top rucks
single Cetti's Warbler very vocal and managed a very brief glimpse
single Blackcap
Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff both in good numbers

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Gordon Newman


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1 1/2 hours late morning, much more pleasant than yesterday in the rain
Highlights

14 Fieldfare on top rucks moving through East
Green Woodpecker yaffling way in distance
1 Grey Wagtail
Cetti's Warbler singing
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Long-tailed Tit collecting nesting material from an old cushion discarded, that you wouldn't normally like to be seen left, but came in useful on this occasion.

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Gordon Newman


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walk in heavy rain this morning,
1 Blackcap singing by Fir Tree Flash
8 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaff

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Gordon Newman


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07.30-09.00
only things of note were
single Willow Warbler
8 Chiffchaff

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Gordon Newman


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17.00-18.30
female Marsh Harrier - flew through high West @ 18.27
single Sand Martin
Cetti's Warbler singing from Nevisons Flash

Yesterday evening (Wednesday)
2 Shelduck flew over SW
2 Chiffchaff

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Gordon Newman


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17.00-16.00
3 Sand Martin
Cetti's Warbler singing from Nevisons Flash (probably same bird that has been singing from central ditch as initially heard from Nevisons Flash back in September 2017 , of course there could be 2 birds as I didn't visit central ditch area this evening), would like to think there are two individuals.

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Gordon Newman


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07.30-10.15
1 Chiffchaff - flew into small bush on edge of ruck above new housing ,called once then flew off.
Green Woodpecker still present, seems to like to cover whole site has it has done this morning
Curlew - heard only


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Gordon Newman


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08.45-12.30
cracking mornings walk 47 species seen highlights being:

Green Woodpecker - initially heard in C12 as the other day but not seen , then at midday what I presume was the same bird ,was yaffeling from trees by C5/football field before flying to trees overlooking Fir Tree Flash then flew further away still yaffeling. (could possibly move of site, watch out Pickley Green)

Little Egret - landed in flooded area of C10 that has recently had a lot of work done to retain water levels etc , but was promptly flushed by dog walker walking by waters edge despite new banking and channels put in place acting as screening and not easy to get through. ( probably same bird that is at Pennington Flash and that I have seen flying over towards Pennington Flash a couple of times recently?)

Cetti's Warbler heard only but deafening (loudest I have heard it call since first arriving at back end of last year).

1 Siskin (M)
3 Lesser Redpoll





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Gordon Newman


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17.00-18.15
Went in search of Wheatear unsuccessfully, in usual areas I see Wheatear every year, that I haven't walked over for in ages but glad I did has I heard a Green Woodpecker yaffelling in distance , so went in search, finding it perched in a tree in C2 .(managed a poor record shot attached below). only other bird of note was a single Fieldfare (only my third record of the winter which is poor for here).
Also couple of photos attached of the guys handywork in laying out the railings in Nevisons Flash the other day.

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Gordon Newman


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17.00-18.45
3 Siskin N @ 17.19,
1 Kingfisher,
Cetti's Warbler singing briefly,
800+ Starling.
Snipe flushed by some idiot dragging metal railings through water and reeds laying them in a line to form a walk way didn't dare try and approach him.


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Gordon Newman


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single Little Egret flew SW over Nevisons Flash towards Pennington Flash @ 18.35.
male Stonechat in corner of C5, also present this evening with Cetti's Warbler singing loudly from central ditch

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james hall


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Quick walk through at 4:30-5:45 1 chiffchaff (first of year) 4+ skylark Water rail heard ( nevisons)

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Gordon Newman


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single Little Egret flew over SW @ 17.10 towards Pennington Flash no doubt to roost (right place right time scenario has I had just left treeline)

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Gordon Newman


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male Stonechat still present in C5 this morning
increase in numbers of Skylark and Reed Bunting with both singing, giving hint of spring round the corner

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Gordon Newman


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Cettis Warbler giving brief bursts of song this afternoon from central ditch between C5 & C6 also in same area 11 Lesser Redpoll and 2 Water Rail calling

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