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

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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??

Jimmy Meadows wrote:

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Does anyone know the reason why the petrel was getting moidered by the Black Headed Gulls

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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

Question for anyone who can hopefully have the answer.
Does anyone know the reason why the petrel was getting moidered by the Black Headed Gulls
I can understand if it was the bigger gulls which it would be a meal for them but i would have thought to big for the Black Headed Gulls but am i wrong

Jimmy

I managed to see the petrel this evening, amazingly my second for the flash, but a much better view than my first. I also saw it fly away high to the south / south east at 6:40pm and it didn't reappear whilst I was there. I watched it go through the scope until it was a dot, I think it had just had enough of the constant harassment.

Colin

Gordon Newman wrote:

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Leach's Petrel flew off high south east at 6 40pm, didn't see it reappear and i left at 7 10pm

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Thursday 13th of September 2012 07:43:19 PM

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Bloody typical,now I do feel sad after having to work til 7pm tonight

managed to get a cross for the Leach's for about 5.20. Continued to show well but constantly hassled by gulls when in flight. First day subscribing to Ian's text alerts and a lifer come through as 1st bird, can't fault it definitely money well spent.

saw the leaches at aprox 5pm, showing well in the middle of the flash, gets hassled by the gulls when it flys around, nice to see mike passant again who twitched the bird from durham, british and county lifer for me.

Leach's Petrel still present at 5.40pm.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Leach's Petrel still present at 5pm.

Info thanks to Ian Campbell

Nice to see the bird this afternoon, at first distant on the water but a close fly past off the car park & settling off there allowed a few record digiscoped shots. My fear now is that the Black-headed Gulls will exhaust it & when the larger Gulls come in later it could well fall victim to one of them. I hope that this doesnt come true, but best to get there as soon as possible to see it if you have the chance. Nice to see so many 'forumers' there too

Still here at 4.20pm

Left the bird at 1440, it was taking a real hammering from the gulls, not sure it will put up with that for too long!

Leach's Petrel still present at 2.55pm.

Info thanks to Henry Cook

Leach's Petrel still present at 1.45pm.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Leach's Petrel still present at 12.50pm

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Can't leave work 'till 4.15 today, would really appreciate an update around 4.00 on the Petrel's location if possible, bet it flys off at 4.00 p.m.
Cheers Ian

Leach's Petrel flew off high south east at 6 40pm, didn't see it reappear and i left at 7 10pm

-- Edited by Gordon Newman on Thursday 13th of September 2012 07:43:19 PM

10.50 this am.

WOW! Leach's Petrel showing well over and on the Flash, near Sailing Club. County Life Tick for me!

Nice to meet Nick Isherwood, John Parkinson (life tick) and Charlie

brian fielding wrote:

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saw the leaches at aprox 5pm, showing well in the middle of the flash, gets hassled by the gulls when it flys around, nice to see mike passant again who twitched the bird from durham, british and county lifer for me.

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Brilliant stuff but how did Mike see it from Durham
Cheers Ian
ps Thanks for all the updates that gave me hope it would stay in time for me to get there, the Gulls were definately not helping those of us who were at work

-- Edited by Ian Campbell on Thursday 13th of September 2012 07:10:30 PM

Just back from a flying visit.

Leaches Petrel still showing well out in the centre of the flash but not getting a minutes peace from the gulls.

A cracking bird for the flash and GM and hats off to the finder.

Nice to bump into Keith Mills again too.

Closest I've seen it was just off the top of the spit looking like it was heading into Rammies; it turned back and flew back out to the middle of the flash though.

Birdguides report Leach's Petrel Pennington Flash 10:15am

Oh no! That's my only Pennington Flash blocker gone! ( ). I saw the 1995 bird. Is this the first since then?

Great news I'll check for updates later and see if I can nip down!

Leach's Petrel still showing very well, occasionally harassed by gulls!

Manchester Birding text alert put the news out well before Birdguides

Birdguides says leach's storm petrel!!??

Also present this afternoon were:

2-3 Greenshanks
1 Green Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
5 Pochards
1 Kingfisher
4 Sand Martins
30+ House Martins
1 Willow Warbler
5 Chiffchaffs

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Thursday 13th of September 2012 04:23:37 PM

Anyone going -keep updating as no phone at work-any idea how close its coming would be helpfull for me :)hope its still there tomorrow,but I daupt that ::keep updating for us stuck at work I can seel that SAD coming on again :(

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 13th of September 2012 10:40:52 AM

2 Greenshank, 94 Snipe and a Raven(PF tick for me!) Today

2 Greenshank, Knot and Green Sandpiper

Also drake Scaup and 3 Wigeon

Now two Greenshank present again this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

AM/PM-Mooch with Paul Brown and Charlie Owen-of Note
2 Greenshank (One nearly eaten by a dog on the spit before its owner decided to walk through the ditch and streight to the end of the point at which point his dog decided to swim in to rammies,before he finally retreived it ,leaving the spit and most of the flash birdless ) 1 flew to plank lane end after being chased by the dog the other back on the spit at 2pm
1 Knot
1 Adult Male Scaup (well found by Paul in the se bay)
Wigeon-3
Tufted Duck-c 300




-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 9th of September 2012 06:35:40 PM

Single Greenshank and Knot both still present this morning so far.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

9.30 to 11 this morning.

The Knot finally showed for me at 10.45 (Ramsdale's Hide)

Other worthies :
Green Sandpiper...1
Greenshank....1 ( SPIT)
Family of Little Grebes...3
Numerous Snipe.

Very nice to meet Tim Wilcox, Tony Darby and Colin

-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 9th of September 2012 11:38:56 AM

AM/PM
Greenshank-1
green sandpiper-1
kingfisher-1
goldcrest-1
chiffchaff-1
Great crested grebe -1 pair with 3 x 2 week old chicks
Sparrowhawk-1
Common Buzzard-4
Tufted duck - 300+

More like Blackpool pleasure beach today with car park fit to bursting

Good views of Greenshank on spit

Green Sandpiper and Knot at Ramsdale Hide 4pm

Early pm to 2.15 today.

The Knot proved elusive and was not located.
Good views of the Greenshank often together with the Green Sandpiper, in the first pool in front of Horrock's

So far this morning:

1 Knot
1 Greenshank
1 Green Sandpiper
6 Snipe
54 Pink-footed Geese over SE

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

No sign of the Knot after I left you John.

1 Green Sandpiper in Rammies.
1 Common Gull at the end of the spit.

late AM/PM of Note
Greenshank-2
Knot-1
common snipe-c25
Kingfisher-2

Knot and 2 Green Sandpipers still present from Ramsdale's Hide this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

The 2 Greenshank are still present this morning.

I arrived at Pennington at 14.00; stayed until 16.50.

-Nice to see Greenshank, Knot and Green Sandpiper together from Ramsdales hide(mid afternoon).

With good light conditions, I sat on one of the large rocks on the "rucks" side 'scoping through the gulls on the west end of the spit, and found among the Lesser Black Backs and Black-headed Gulls a single Common Gull, and pleasingly a juv./1st winter Mediterranean Gull.
Both Greenshanks were together close to Horrocks' hide when I left at 16.50.

Regards,
Mike P.

Also this morning:

2 Green Sandpiper
3 Redshank

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Two Greenshank presently on the spit. Knot viewable from Ramsdale Hide.

Earlier today:

Knot in front of Horrock's hide!
2 Green Sandpiper
4 Buzzard
1 Treecreeper

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Red Kite low over rammies hide pm
info Charlie Owen

As far as I can see John's blog entry is for yesterday.

Oops! My fault. Didn't look at the date. At least I feel better now knowing I wouldn't have seen it even if I had gone to the flash yesterday.

The American Black Tern is still at Eccleston Mere this morning. My brother-in-law, who is not a birder but lives very close to the Mere had it pointed out to him when he was walking his dog earlier on.