From Wigan Wallgate Station turn right (turn left if you come out of Wigan North Western), down Wallgate and under the railway bridge. After half a mile after you cross the canal bridge turn immediately right on to Seven Stars Road, at the end of there join the canal towpath. Continue for approx three quarters of a mile, just past the stadium, to where the Lime Pond is on the right hand side of the canal (youll see a marsh to the left with the Soccerdome beyond). Good luck John
Drake Smew still present up to 1pm. Cracking find for this location Jimmy (by Fred that is - sorry Fred didn't realise it was you that found it) Water Rail calling in the adjacent marsh and Reed Bunting in song.
-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 7th of March 2018 08:33:10 PM
You can access the tow path from the large car park behind the stadium - may be a bit cleaner! Parking where Cinema/Pizza Hut is free for 2 hours. Don't park near gym as they will get you!
Grid reference is SD565063. Access possible from Stadium Way (not sure on parking situation there) then walk over green footbridge opposite the Soccerdome, across River Douglas, pass first ponds to reach the canal and turn left down towpath to view ponds across canal. That route is extremely muddy so alternatively turn left on roadbridge over R Douglas at end of Stadium Way to reach the canal.
Other access routes possible from Miry Lane or Scot Lane areas.
-- Edited by dave broome on Wednesday 7th of March 2018 12:38:48 PM
Kingfisher on River Douglas today behind DW soccerdome. Also 2 Raven over heading to town centre and 7 Cormorant in formation heading downstream over the river.
saw a water rail today.on the edge of the open water and reed mace.it was close to an immature moorhen and at first I thought it was one too.closer inspection revealed it to be a water rail.the significance for me is ive been walking the canal here for 50+ years and ive heard them squealing hundreds of times but this is my first sighting.so a real bonus for me.its literally made my day.
pm walk today 6 tufted duck 2 mute swan 1 wheatear singing chiffchaff,willow warbler and whitethroats some sedge warblers around but the vegetation is so low nest sights are at a premium 2 reed bunting best bit was an abundance of house martins with a few swallows.havent seen so many before in this area.
Tonight 1 Reeling Grasshopper Warbler 3 Reed Warblers 3 Sedge Warblers 1 Whitethroat 1 House Martin over 1 Calling Water Rail pr Mute Swans on Walmsleys 1 Mute Swan on Mancy Pond 1 Mute Swan on River pr Mute Swan on canal
This Morning Awful Conditions on Towpath 2 Grey Heron 5 Teal 3 Tufted Duck All on Douglas; Other birds seen 1 Pied Wagtail 4 Carrion Crows 2 Common Gull 2 Moorhens 6 B H Gulls
Cheers Jimmy
Wigan Borough Year List 2010: 45
latest additions:
Grey Heron,Teal,Pied Wagtail Pagefield,Goldfinch in garden feeding on Niger seed
This morning 4 Water Rails calling 30+ House Martins Pr Mute Swan on Canal 1 Kingfisher 2 Raven nearby doing some mutual preening Cracking views of a Fox as it was chasing a rat but the rat did the dirty on the fox and jumped into the canal much to the surprise of the fox
female sparrohawk appeared from nowhere and swooped down into the grass.three snipe flew off at top speed and the sparrowhawk just sat there in the grass.she stayed there for a couple of minutes then took off and flew towards crooke.
Sorry Fred, didn't recognise you, I should have made the connection with your atavar and the badges on your hat and anorak today...I had reports in the car too!
__________________
Judith Smith
__________________________________
Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
GWE still there at 9.45 feeding on the far side of the lake in a bay Latics are at home today so parking could be a problem so you could park at Martland Mill and walk east on the canal towards JJB Stadium lake is on your right 100m past railway bridge
also 3 Goosanders 10 meadow pipits 4 calling Water Rails 14 Tufted Duck 3 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons
as i did not see the rindle rd bird and it was said that it had damaged feathers this bird as some damaged feather on its left hand side if that is any help to anyone
-- Edited by j meadows at 11:03, 2008-11-29
Or you can park in Beresford street off Frog Lane (just a bit further up from the tip) - it's about 10 mins. walk from there... not today though obviously re: latics, but I managed to park there this a.m. no probs - went to see the GWE at about 10:30
Managed to get a clear view despite it being somewhat misty - great stuff... and got to meet the chap who'd reported this and Judith also - nice meeting you folks - I'll prob. be back there tomorrow as my Brother-in-law wnat to see - if still there, I'll post here.
GWE still there at 9.45 feeding on the far side of the lake in a bay Latics are at home today so parking could be a problem so you could park at Martland Mill and walk east on the canal towards JJB Stadium lake is on your right 100m past railway bridge
also 3 Goosanders 10 meadow pipits 4 calling Water Rails 14 Tufted Duck 3 Cormorants 2 Grey Herons
as i did not see the rindle rd bird and it was said that it had damaged feathers this bird as some damaged feather on its left hand side if that is any help to anyone
great white egret still present early this morning atleast, on warmsleys lake. Park in the jjb stadium car park, walk to the canal and head west along the canal to they the lake
bill has now re-identified his egret today with more reference to literature as a great white egret, no doubt the rindle road bird gone for another wander!
Probable Cattle Egret seen this afternoon near to Walmsleys pond this afternoon by Bill Bentley he phoned me up to say that he had seen a small white heron being bullied by a swan and it flew around but came back to the same area and disappeared into the reeds but the description he gave me of it being all white with a yellow bill i said it could be a cattle egret and he phoned me back after he had seen a picture of both Little and Cattle and he is positive that it was a Cattle Egret Will be there tomorrow first thing to see if i can loacate it but its a clear night so it could disappear hopefully only to crooke and the Highland Cattle down there Cheers Jimmy
Parking where Cinema/Pizza Hut is free for 2 hours. Don't park near gym as they will get you! 
