A Red Kite flew fairly low east just south of the fire station opposite Pennington Flash today at 2.25pm today (so not actually in the flash recording area).

Info thanks to Andrew Swift

11.30 to 12.30 today:

Red-breasted Merganser on far side from Horrock's ,a little to the west of the Sailing Club.
On zoom it certainly looked like a Drake (advanced Juvenile or Eclipse).
Also 2 Greenshank over the water and 3 Buzzards over the Ruck.

With thanks to Bill Harrison for these sightings and nice to meet him and Bernard Hooley again.

2 Greenshank flew around the spit and Rammies at 11.50 before heading off south-east.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Red-breasted Merganser still present at 11.45 but distant and drifting towards the western end of the flash.

Info thanks to Tim Wilcox

Red-breasted Merganser still present 1030 in middle of flash looking out towards boat club.

Red-breasted Merganser (probably juvenile male) present at 8:30 this morning; to the left of the spit by the green buoys viewed from Horrocks Hide.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Today:

Black-necked Grebe still present
6 Wigeon
5 Siskin
C420 Pink-footed Geese over
2 Ruff straight through west at midday

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

35 Pink-footed Geese east at 5:15pm

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 27th of September 2012 10:12:42 PM

Hmm - eventful afternoon at the Flash thinking the rain was clearing - downpours, the odd flash of sunshine, and a rather close-feeling flash of lightning and almost simultaneous thunder!!

Notably absent:

The Spit! (Entirely submerged today)
Golfers.
Other birders!


Present:

Jays - at least 6
Willow Warblers - at least 4
Long tailed tits - many
Swallows - 4 over Ramsdale's Ruck
Juvenile Bullfinches - 2
Kingfisher

Arctic tern (I think)

Black necked grebe - showed well from the observation point next to locked Ramsdale's Hide

About half way down the north side, I stuck around in the pouring rain for quite a time just because it was so enjoyable seeing all the tits and the willow warblers in the half submerged willows - just seemed to be alive with them! I was also desperately trying to ID these two berry-eaters with reddish breasts and grey heads ... as usual it didn't turn out to be something unusual, but just the juvenile bullfinches. Still enjoyed seeing them demolishing some of the autumn berries.

two terns present today one an arctic and one a common, nice to see them together to compare and contrast, atleast 700 black-headed gulls on the flooded golf course but try as hard as I could couldn't find anything amongst them

10:00 adult winter black necked grebe by Horrocks hide

Also present today a single juvenile Arctic Tern, Green Sandpiper (flew over), 2 Blackcaps, 5 Chiffchaff and a noteable increase in Song Thrushes.

Please note that all the hides were closed today due to flooding, the worst I have seen in the 30 or so years I've been visiting the place. It was so bad that Pengies has overflowed across the path to Horrock's Hide (and is actually like a flowing river!) and the golf course now has Tufted Duck diving on it



-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 26th of September 2012 03:47:05 PM

5 pm
2 Artic Tern occupying buoys looking towards yacht club - Horrocks
3 Little Grebe - Ramsdales

Kingfisher from Horrocks Hide 2.00pmish

of note today AM/PM-Mooch with Dennis Atherton,Charlie Owen and a few others along the way
Arctic Tern-2 juv/1st w
Pintail-1
chiffchaff-2
Nuthatch-2
Wigeon-7


Black necked grebe reported from plank lane end also



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 23rd of September 2012 08:49:36 PM

Sat pm
Arctic tern-1
Black necked Grebe-1(west end)
Common Buzzard-8
Kingfisher-3
Nuthatch-1
cormorant-26
plenty swallows through south
plus the usuals


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 23rd of September 2012 09:14:38 AM

Highlight this morning was 2 Sparrowhawks (male and female) doing a couple of flybys of the spit. It put most things up and scared off the Snipe. The male perched on a post for a couple of minutes before having a swoop at a Teal. The pair then sat in a tree for a while before flying off together over Horrocks hide.
1 Kingfisher from Horrock's too.
5 Snipe
3 Blackcap from Edmondson and 1 Willow Warbler
15 Shoveler in front of Ramsdales

A lovely crisp morning.

Arctic Tern & BN Grebe

Info Phil Kelly

Greenshank still present today, plus adult Mediterranean Gull late afternoon.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison and Phil Rhodes respectively.

Good views late morning of Arctic Tern and Little Gull from Horrock's Hide and BN.Grebe from Slag Lane end. The same Arctic Tern also seen perched on post from Ramdale's Hide.

AM/PM Mooch wi Charlie Owen
Goosander-2 f/imm (teal Scrapes)
Arctic Tern-1 Juv
Little Gull -1 1st winter
swallow/Sand Martin/House martin-All present at various times today
Nuthatch-4 (most I can remember at one time at penny)
chiffchaff-1
wigeon-1
Redwing - 5 >se
plus the usuals

Still present this morning:

Juvenile Arctic Tern
Juvenile Greenshank
First winter Little Gull (Slag Lane end)
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe (Slag Lane end)

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Paul Richardson wrote:

---

That would be him, Nick - I got him on camera this morning during a rain shower! That's two lifers for me at the Flash in one day - can't be bad!!

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Nice one Paul. The flash is throwing up some very good birds lately. New ticks all round.

That would be him, Nick - I got him on camera this morning during a rain shower! That's two lifers for me at the Flash in one day - can't be bad!!

Paul Richardson wrote:

---

Juvenile Black-Necked Grebe: Would that be the little grey and pale mottled chappie with the shining red eye, swimming on his lonesome?

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More grey and buff with a red eye Paul but yes, on it's lonesome.

Juvenile Black-Necked Grebe: Would that be the little grey and pale mottled chappie with the shining red eye, swimming on his lonesome?

Karen Foulkes wrote:

---

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

A little walk down the western side late afternoon.

Also excellent views down to 10 yards (why did I not bring the camera) of the juvenile Arctic Tern that's also been present for a few days too.

Grey wagtail over northwards too.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Wednesday 19th of September 2012 05:28:52 PM

---

Simple Nick

Sod's law of birding dictates that if you take the camera, the bird often doesn't show as well or as close as you want it to!

---

Unfortunately Karen I never seem to learn this.

Nick Isherwood wrote:

---

A little walk down the western side late afternoon.

Also excellent views down to 10 yards (why did I not bring the camera) of the juvenile Arctic Tern that's also been present for a few days too.

Grey wagtail over northwards too.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Wednesday 19th of September 2012 05:28:52 PM

---

Simple Nick

Sod's law of birding dictates that if you take the camera, the bird often doesn't show as well or as close as you want it to!

Black-necked Grebe at the western end this early afternoon.

Info thanks to Paul Brown

Nice bright, slightly breezy morning at the Flash gave me a chance to walk all the way round, but didn't get much time to visit hides.

6 Jay - 3 on south side at various spots, 3 together in N woodland not far from W end.

3 Willow Warbler around W end
2 Reed Bunting
Little Gull at W end: Lifetime tick - thanks to the assembled company in Horrocks' for the ID from my photo
Arctic Tern
Kingfisher (W end)
8 House Martin over near Aspull Common
10 Swallows over horse field at W end

Horrocks's:
1 Greenshank (a first for me at the Flash)
5 Snipe

A little walk down the western side late afternoon.

Juvenile Black Necked Grebe in the bay at the western end gave good views. As did the juvenile Little Gull that's been present for a couple of days now.

Also excellent views down to 10 yards (why did I not bring the camera) of the juvenile Arctic Tern that's also been present for a few days too.

Grey wagtail over northwards too.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Wednesday 19th of September 2012 05:28:52 PM

Kingfisher x 2
Blackcap (female)
Grey wagtail
Buzzard
Artic tern
Greenshank
Little gull (in western corner of Flash)

Spotted Flycatcher in the open area of Aspull Common behind the first car park off the access road.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

greenshank and juv artic tern am

Sunday 16th September 7.30am

Good views of the Greenshank from Horrocks this morning along with a Snipe.
20+ Snipe further up the spit.
2 Kingfishers (1 from Edmondson and 1 from Pengys hides)
1 Little Gull over by the sailing club sat on a jetty.
1 Arctic Tern (I think, pretty sure it was) chased off across the flash by a Lapwing.
2 Chiffchaffs
5 Blackcaps
2 Nuthatch
1 Willow Tit

A good morning all round.

Spotted Flycatcher present along the path in between Tom Edmondson hide and Horrocks Hide at 12.30 today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

AM/PM
Feels Like winter is around the corner
Redwing-15> S 12.00pm(First of Autumn)
Little Gull -1 Juv(Mainly along the se Bay)
Arctic Tern-1 Juv(showing very well at the front of Horrocks Hide pm)
Common Snipe-c30
Greenshank-1
Chiffchaff-7 on the south bank
Common Buzzard-2
a few swallow and house martins through south
Quite a lot of big gulls in late pm-50+ Lesser black backed
plus the usuals

Little Gull present this am

Info Phil Kelly

I have read stories of Crows doing the same thing and have witnessed Jackdaws chasing Curlew Sandpipers constantly at Inner Marsh Farm last year. Crows and Gulls are intelligent and opportunists so therefore must recognise something unusual and a potential easy meal. There were a set off photos online about how a group of House Crows tired out a Phalarope somewhere in Asia and then one picked it up with its talons and took it to land to eat. If they really wanted to make a meal of it nothing could have stopped them.

AM/PM
Little Gull- 1 juv -Last seen about 12.00 heading towards the west end
Arctic Tern-1 Juv
Greenshank-1
Nuthatch-2
Chiffchaff-2
Lapwing -400+
Black headed Gull-c 500 late pm

Other birds today so far: -

Greenshank
Bar-tailed Godwit flew SW

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

First winter Little Gull present this morning.

Info thanks to Paul Brown

JasonAtkinson wrote:

---

The only conclusion I could come to is that they take the Petrel for a predator

Cheers
Jason

---

Was discussing this today whilst sheltering from the rain in Horrocks Hide. Sound a plausible explanation given the overall shape of the petrel but why would the petrel get attacked as it was resting on the water. I could understand it when flying but not when at rest?

Didn't notice the Black Tern or it's US cousin being harassed once by BH Gulls on the flash recently. It was interesting to note that only BH Gulls and the juv LBB Gulls were taking an interest in the Petrel. The only conclusion I could come to is that they take the Petrel for a predator, pretty sure European Storm Petrels are not treated like this, in fact I think they make a tasty meal!

Cheers
Jason

Pm Only things of note
Lots of House Martins
1 Greenshank
1 Nice Juv Arctic Tern
1 wader through west-poss Dunlin
2 Nuthatch


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 14th of September 2012 05:02:09 PM

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Not to blow all the theories out of the water but Black headed gulls at the flash harrass many birds ,The greenshank for instance in the few days I watched them at the weekend the Black Headed Gulls constantly chased the greenshanks one or 2 times doing full circled of the flash and once chasing them over the boat clubs and away,same with anyything that is not the norm at the flash,whether it be a red necked grebe,An Avocet,Little Tern,or things like the petrel quite commonly get harrased by black headed gulls at the flash until they finally give up and leave.
Its a lot more noticeable if everyone is watching an unusual bird,I can't say really for yesterdays bird,as I was working so didn't see it,but its not unusual for anything different to be harrased and chased by Black headed gulls.Just seems worse when its a rarity rather than a commoner bird,as people don't tend to take much notice then.



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 14th of September 2012 07:49:54 AM

---

I agree John. I think the Black Headed Gulls have a heightened awareness of any bird that's out of the norm within their community or territory which is why they constantly harrass them.

Pete Hines wrote:

---

Jimmy Meadows wrote:

---

colin davies wrote:

---

We discussed this whilst watching the bird but no firm conclusions reached.

Perhaps the Black-headed Gulls were trying to down and drown the Petrel, they could probably make a meal of the carrion. Or, they took the Petrel's general shape and colour to be small raptor-like (Merlin?) and this triggered a mobbing response.

Cheers, John

---

However, whilst I was there, when it landed the gulls left it alone, so making a meal of it doesn't seem right or they would have continued. Perhaps the small raptor theory is therefore more likely??

---

Thanks for your thoughts on this there much appreciated.

Jimmy

---

When I was there the bird didn't fly at all, until it was mobbed on the water that is. I half expected it to drift into the bank and be picked up, Chorlton WP Fulmar style. I thought that this mobbing was a normal occurence with Leach's on inland waters. Before I'd connected with and identified the Sale WP bird the description I got from an MOP was of a mystery bird being attacked by Black-headed Gulls. I'm sure I've read descriptions of this behaviour with other occurences of Leach's elsewhere in GM.

---

Whilst not discounting the theory that the petrel might look like a small raptor there may be well be other reasons too? I watched a Kittiwake at Piethorne on 2/11/07 and whilst airborne this bird was regularly harrassed by Black-headed Gulls but at least got a bit of peace whilst on the resting waters surface. Presumably most of these Black-headed Gulls will have previously encountered Kittiwake in their lives and not hassled them as such in their maritime environment? So why do it inland? Maybe there is avian awareness of weak, lost and vulnerable birds, as this petrel might have been and the gulls seek to take advantage of this? Just a suggestion.

Regards,

Bill.

Jimmy Meadows wrote:

---

colin davies wrote:

---

We discussed this whilst watching the bird but no firm conclusions reached.

Perhaps the Black-headed Gulls were trying to down and drown the Petrel, they could probably make a meal of the carrion. Or, they took the Petrel's general shape and colour to be small raptor-like (Merlin?) and this triggered a mobbing response.

Cheers, John

---

However, whilst I was there, when it landed the gulls left it alone, so making a meal of it doesn't seem right or they would have continued. Perhaps the small raptor theory is therefore more likely??

---

Thanks for your thoughts on this there much appreciated.

Jimmy

---

When I was there the bird didn't fly at all, until it was mobbed on the water that is. I half expected it to drift into the bank and be picked up, Chorlton WP Fulmar style. I thought that this mobbing was a normal occurence with Leach's on inland waters. Before I'd connected with and identified the Sale WP bird the description I got from an MOP was of a mystery bird being attacked by Black-headed Gulls. I'm sure I've read descriptions of this behaviour with other occurences of Leach's elsewhere in GM.

colin davies wrote:

---

We discussed this whilst watching the bird but no firm conclusions reached.

Perhaps the Black-headed Gulls were trying to down and drown the Petrel, they could probably make a meal of the carrion. Or, they took the Petrel's general shape and colour to be small raptor-like (Merlin?) and this triggered a mobbing response.

Cheers, John

---

However, whilst I was there, when it landed the gulls left it alone, so making a meal of it doesn't seem right or they would have continued. Perhaps the small raptor theory is therefore more likely??

---

Thanks for your thoughts on this there much appreciated.

Jimmy

Not to blow all the theories out of the water but Black headed gulls at the flash harrass many birds ,The greenshank for instance in the few days I watched them at the weekend the Black Headed Gulls constantly chased the greenshanks one or 2 times doing full circled of the flash and once chasing them over the boat clubs and away,same with anyything that is not the norm at the flash,whether it be a red necked grebe,An Avocet,Little Tern,or things like the petrel quite commonly get harrased by black headed gulls at the flash until they finally give up and leave.
Its a lot more noticeable if everyone is watching an unusual bird,I can't say really for yesterdays bird,as I was working so didn't see it,but its not unusual for anything different to be harrased and chased by Black headed gulls.Just seems worse when its a rarity rather than a commoner bird,as people don't tend to take much notice then.



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 14th of September 2012 07:49:54 AM