Bretherton eyes floods .

Discussion of sightings in and around the Chorley area.

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gary lilley
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Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by gary lilley »

The flood near to the douglas was rammed with birds this evening ( at least 700 birds ) the majority were canada geese and mallards also present pinkfoots , greylags , 1 barnacle , at least 1 pure white goose , 7 whooper swan ( 3 juv ) , 3 mute swan , small numbers of teal and lapwings , 1 male pintail ( probably same bird as the other day going off plumage ) and no doubt some species missed , bonus bird was a jack snipe which i flushed at my feet as tried to get nearer to the flood , also a few skylark about , and a gs pecker in flight .
John Frankland
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Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by John Frankland »

You must have been there earlier than me as I only arrived at 615pm but wished I'd been there half an hour earlier when I saw the number of birds present ! Maybe I would have got the barnacle and pintail with more time and light.

Quite an impressive sight and sound though. I don't remember the flood as busy as tonight whilst I've been watching it.

Cheers.
gary lilley
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Joined: Thu Oct 12, 2006 6:01 pm

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by gary lilley »

Yes john just missed you , quite an incredible numbers of bird for such a small area , i got quite near to the birds walking from the rough field using the tall vegetation as a makeshift hide this is were i viewed the pintail from although i picked out the barnacle from the bridge , sounds like my quick estimate of 700 birds were not far off going off your counts .
Neville Root
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Location: Chorley

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by Neville Root »

12.30-1.15 similar numbers (500 to 600) of pink foots at lunchtime today. Not a lot of room for anything else, but still good numbers of BH gull, lapwing, swans (7 whooper, 3 mute) and starling - no waders or other waterfowl to be seen on the flood. Nearby several skylark, flock of linnet (40), 2 buzzards being mobbed by 3 crows, kestrel hunting. On the Douglas only mallard (c.60), single moorhen, pr of grey wags over and LT tit flock in the willow tree (by the bridge).
John Frankland
Peregrine
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Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 6:18 pm
Location: Leyland

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by John Frankland »

Arrived a little earlier tonight managing 540 to 640.

Thought it was crowded on the flood last night until I arrived tonight !! Word is definitely spreading in the Goose community.

Whooper Swan 9
Mute Swan 3
Pink-footed Goose c2000
Canada Goose c300
Greylag Goose c100
Barnacle Goose 2 together
Farmyard Goose 2
Mallard c 150
Wigeon 1m but no sign of the Pintail.
Lapwing 20
Buzzard 1
Grey Heron 1

Also a lesser spotted Hodson skulking in the distant undergrowth before he joined me by the bridge !

Roe Deer 4
Neil Southworth
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Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by Neil Southworth »

I was there between 3.00 and 4.30 pm just as the pinkfeet were dropping in. The two Barnacles were with the pinkfeet so there must be a good chance of them being genuine wild birds. There was a pair of Wigeon and I'm pretty sure I saw a Pintail in partial eclipse plumage. Other sightings for the record included Pheasant 20+, Moorhen 6, BH Gull c200, Skylark 8, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Long-tailed Tit.
John Frankland
Peregrine
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Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 6:18 pm
Location: Leyland

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by John Frankland »

Quick 15 minutes this morning and already full like last night

Whoopers increased to 24 including 2 families with 3 and 4 juveniles.
Pintail 1 eclipse or young male
Teal 1

Numbers estimated at 2-2500 in total with majority being pink feet, similar split to last night.

Definitely recommended to anyone with more time to scan through.
Neil Southworth
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Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by Neil Southworth »

Much the same this afternoon, but I only managed 21 Whoopers. At one stage a guy decided to walk across the field and put everything up. Most of the pinkfeet and whoopers relocated across the river. The only duck seen were Mallard. Full sightings:-
Whooper Swan 21
Mute Swan 3
Pink-footed Geese c2,500
Barnacle Goose 1
Greylag Geese c50
Canada Geese c400
Hybrid Geese 2
Mallard c30
Buzzard
Kestrel
Pheasant min 20
Lapwing c25
Gulls (BH, Common, Herring) c1,000
plus Woodpigeon, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Crow, Jackdaw, Starling and Goldfinch
John Frankland
Peregrine
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Joined: Tue May 01, 2007 6:18 pm
Location: Leyland

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by John Frankland »

Called in again 545 to 620
Whoopers slightly down at 16-18 with only one family group (the one with 3 juveniles). 3 Mute.
Pink feet I reckon have increased again to c3500 including c2000 over the Douglas and c1500 around the floods.
Pintail 1
Other Geese similar to Neil although I'd say more than 50 Greylag and didn't pick out any barnacle.

There was a hybrid Canada/Greylag with dark brown front from neck downwards, Canada white ear flash and pink beak - different !!
Neville Root
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Location: Chorley

Re: Bretherton eyes floods .

Post by Neville Root »

For those thinking of heading out to Eyes Lane this morning I wouldn't bother. Dozens of geese carcasses being loaded onto an offroader. Must have been one of the easier 'turkey shoots'. Safe to say not a lot else around (the geese are widely staying to the skies).
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