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Nevison's Flash Bird Watching (Part of Bickershaw Country Park) - Monday 4th May 2026

FIELD NOTES:

We have not been out for ages and thought it was a good idea to show our visitors (Steve, Ange and Nell) our local patch. We went for a  short walk from home around Nevison's Flash which is part of the Bickershaw Country Park, an area being reclaimed by nature now that its former life as a colliery has finished.

There was a lot of bird chatter so you had to keep your ears open to distinguish the bird calls and identify them, the Merlin Bird App also helps. I also hear a cuckoo (at least I thought I did) once I got home I had a look to see if they had been in the area and they had so a future walk around here was scheduled.

DATE: Monday 4th May 2026
TIME: 11:30 - 13:30hrs
WEATHER CONDITIONS: 5-6C cloudy
HABITAT: Small lake with reed beds

Nevison Flash Map

Bird Observations

Cettis Warbler*, Common Reed Warbler- 1st I have seen this year. Migrated to the UK for summer and will have all left to return to overwinter in Africa by September/October. Reed Bunting, Cuckoo - Heard but could not find it. Mute Swan x2, Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Sedge Warbler -Another great summer visitor to the UK. Great Tits and Blue Tits.

Mute Swan
Mute Swan

Sedge Warbler
Sedge Warbler - Distinct pale supercilium.

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Location: Plank Ln, Leigh WN7 4QE, UK

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What is "A Birding Blog" about?

Welcome to A Birding Blog — my personal field notes from across my local patch. After moving house, my birding shifted from a small suburban garden to the rich wetlands and reclaimed industrial landscapes of Bickershaw Country Park, Pennington Flash, and the Wigan Flashes. This blog — and my YouTube channel — are more than species lists. They’re part of how I manage my health and wellbeing. Like many people, I’m still navigating the quiet, lingering effects Covid left on mental health and confidence. Some days, anxiety makes even stepping outside feel like a mountain. Birding is my therapy. It gives me purpose, fresh air, gentle movement, and low‑pressure conversations. It’s also where my mental health meets my faith. Time by the water or under the trees offers a quiet space to pray, reflect, and reconnect with God’s creation. You won’t find frantic twitching here. Instead, this blog is a mindful celebration of the joy found in our common species — a record of rebuilding confidence, strengthening faith, and finding peace in creation, one bird at a time.