16-00 till 19-00

Best Sightings Included

2xLBB Gulls
2xPied wagtail
Swallows
Swifts
House Martins
GC Grebes
4xOystercatchers
2xRedshank
2xBlackcap
3xJays
2xShelduck
2xGadwell
2xBullfinch
2xReed Bunting
2xStock Doves

With Tony Darby from 3pm in the drizzle
Arctic Tern 17
Common Tern 5
House Martin 300+
Swifts 100+
Swallow 20+
Sand Martin 20+
Redshank 1
Oystercatcher 3

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 4th of May 2012 04:17:39 PM

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Friday 4th of May 2012 05:10:10 PM

Fairly quiet this pm. Plenty of hirundines around and 3 Common Tern on the spit.

Plenty Willow Warbler, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs around plus three Reed Warblers heard near Rammies and also a Whitethroat near Lapwing hide. Also a Kingfisher in front of Pengies.

Tuesday 01 May 2012

Very quiet this morning - no sign of yesterday's Black Terns.

1 Siskin (over > north)
1 Treecreeper (climbing a concrete bridge where the canal crosses the Westleigh Brook)

Four Black Terns present this evening.

Info thanks to Jonathon Platt

Whimbrel on the spit

Early evening today:

1st summer Little Gull
Female Pintail still loitering by the burger van
14 Goosander
Whitethroat by the East Bay Hide yesterday

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Also this afternoon around 30 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Hobby (GM tick for me)

Paul A Brown wrote:

---

Also this afternoon around 30 House Martin, 1 Common Sandpiper and a Hobby (GM tick for me)

---

yep that hobby was a cracker,it almost took the head off a sparrowhawk at the end of the point,then shot into rammies after a sand martin ,turned and fired down the point and almost through horrocks hide window,shame it was going at such a pace that I couldn't lock the camera on it,as that would have been a one off shot at penny

Plus
2 fem Goosander
and what must have been 1000s of sand martin and swallow through in the afternoon :)

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 29th of April 2012 04:25:12 PM

9.30 - 11.30 with Tony Darby and Paul Brown
Little Gull 1st winter picked up by Paul Brown
Swallow 100+
Sand Martin 400+
House Martin 1
Goosander 2f
Common Tern 2
Sparrowhawk f which shot out over the water and tried to catch a Swallow

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 29th of April 2012 12:51:02 PM

-- Edited by Tim Wilcox on Sunday 29th of April 2012 12:51:50 PM

1 adult Little Gull, 12 Common Tern, singles of Oystercatcher and Common Sandpiper and 40 Swift today

pretty quiet this aft
5 common tern
1 garden warbler
100+ swift when it started to rain
2 common sandpiper
plus the usuals

I know its a day late. Male cuckoo heard calling late afternoon. 25th April.
also crossed paths with the Mink at Ramsdales Flash hide.

-- Edited by Paul Pennington on Friday 27th of April 2012 10:41:36 PM

-- Edited by Paul Pennington on Friday 27th of April 2012 10:43:32 PM

Also a single Whimbrel came and went.
2 Whitethroats seen singing.

Phil Greenwood.

Up to 50 Swift just after midday today.

At least 12 Swifts on the flash between 3.30 and 4pm when they all departed during a heavy downpour.

Also of note, good numbers of Swallow, House Martin and Sand Martin plus 6 Common Tern.

08.00 - 14.45, a very showery day - spent much of the time in Horrock's hide keeping dry and seeing some really good birds:-

Swifts - when I arrived there appeared to be only 2 present but after the first big shower the numbers increased to possibly 20 - 30 mixed in with the House Martins and Swallows.

Common Terns - up to 6 early on and the single Little Tern.

Raptors seen - the fly-over Osprey, Merlin and Sparrowhawk.

Little Gull - adult bird coming quite close to the hide.

Other species seen on the spit - Little ringed Plover 3 and single Common Sandpiper all put in brief appearances flying off again after short stays, as did a Kingfisher.

Of interest elsewhere on the reserve several Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 3 Reed Buntings, 2 Willow Tit at the Bunting hide along with Bullfinches (up to 6 males) and 3 Reed Warbler in the reed-bed.

A smashing session, meeting some friendly folk and enjoying a nice bacon and sausage balm and a cup of coffee

No further sign of the Little Tern by midday.

So far this morning:

Osprey through north at 10am, Little Tern dropped in at 10:30, single Little Gull and 12 Swift also present.

Info thanks to Paul Brown

Midday onwards:

13 Little Gulls still present; a mixture of some stunning breeding plumaged adults (others not quite fully there yet) and first-summer birds.

Arctic Terns dropped in on masse and numbered 41 at one point.

At least 14 Common Terns also present.

Just arrived home from Pennington. I have to agree with Ian, that we can't know how many Terns have gone through today. As Keith said (nice to meet you Keith) numbers reduced for a time, but then suddenly increased again later on.

All the remaining Little Gulls, 12 in total, left north east at around 7pm with 18 Arctic Terns that appeared out of nowhere. There was a constant stream of terns on and off the spit, but when they were sitting it was nigh on impossible to identify Common from Arctic and trying to separate them flying round was difficult in the poor visibility.

A flock of 8 Arctics seemed to fly straight through at about 7.30pm.

When I left just before 8, there were at least 41 Terns present, of which 11 were Arctic (mainly out over the flash) 7 were definite Common's and the rest will have to stay as 'Commics'.

Edited to add Wheatear also present on the Rucks - seen from Horrocks hide in one of the brief rain free moments.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 08:30:02 PM

3 until 6 this pm:
Second visit of the day.
On arrival at Horrock's Hide I estimated that there were 40 Terns on the spit.
A lot of these were hunkered down and close together. Very difficult to quantify the numbers of Arctic and Common but both species identified.
Just after arrival I picked up singles of SWIFT and,on the Spit, Ringed Plover.

Then I walked out, past the Ruck, to get closer views of the Little Gulls and
Arctic Terns, numbers as per Nick's post, all feeding in the same area with the Hirundines below.
All together an amazing sight. I picked out 3 first- summer Gulls.

Returning to the Hide, it was nice to meet Nick Isherwood again,
and two County Ticks: Craig Higson and Richard Norris.
The Terns there had reduced to about a dozen and were mainly Common but with 3 or 4 Arctic in the mix.
The Swift returned and was picked up by Craig.








-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 08:35:29 PM

A huge movement of Arctic Terns is currently being witnessed throughout the country and I've no doubt many more than we realise have passed through Pennington today. I'm just glad someone was there late afternoon as I had to get to work for the night.

My current estimate for total numbers through Greater Manchester today, from figures passed to me by several observers, is probably 500-600 birds so far today!

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 06:40:36 PM

Managed to get a quick hour in on the flash this afternoon from 3.30.

On my arrival I scoped the spit and there were 24 Arctic Tern and 4 Common Tern resting up. Over on the west side towards the yacht club I managed to estimate at least another 30 Arctic Terns along with 13 Little Gulls.

It really was quite a sight to see this whirling mass of Terns and Little gulls out on the main flash. As Ian stated earlier there seemed to be around half a dozen adult Little Gulls along with other more immature birds. The adult birds also seemed to have a rosy wash to their chest.

At around 4.00pm the terns on the spit were all spooked by something and they then gradually merged with some of the other terns that had moved across the flash along with a number of the Little Gulls. By 4.30pm around 30 Arctic Terns and 11 Little Gulls slowly rose higher and higher above the spit and departed northwards. A quick count up revealed easily another 30 Arctics still over the main flash with two Little Gulls. At this point there were also 5 Common Terns on the spit.

In reality the Terns were difficult to accurately count but after several attempts I'm fairly satisfied that there were around 60 birds.

Definitely one of the birding highlights of the year so far.

Also, nice to bump into Keith Mills again down there.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 06:44:12 PM

13 Little Gulls present this morning by 09:15, also a Green Sandpiper from Teal Hide.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

11.00 to 11.30 this am:
Little Gulls.... flying about together on south side of Flash, Just west of Sailing Club. At least 11 counted including 1 Immature.
3 House Martins seen among Hirundines in front of car park.

Common Terns ...7 seen earlier this morning but only 2 on the spit for me.
12 Great Crested Grebe,10 of which were in close proximity.

-- Edited by keith mills on Wednesday 25th of April 2012 12:35:19 PM

Single Whimbrel on the spit early this morning.

Also, 3 Sedge Warblers and 2 Grey Partridge around the western end.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

1230-1600

9 Buzzard up over the rucks simultaneously
1 Kestrel
9 Common Tern on spit
2 Common Sandpiper
2 Redshank
2 Oystercatcher
9 Stock Dove at Bunting Hide
Blackcaps everywhere including a female
Reed Warbler - at least 2 in the reedbed
I walked over to Ramsdale Hide and heard a Cuckoo calling. Unfortunately it only called once and I had a search of suitable areas to no avail.

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 22nd of April 2012 08:28:31 PM

-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Sunday 22nd of April 2012 09:05:48 PM

7-30am to 9.00am
4 Common Tern on spit
Common Sandpiper on spit
Kingfisher catching a fish in front of the main hide then swallowing it whole on the direction sign.
Blackcap
8 Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Pair of Bullfinches nr Tom Edmondson hide
Sand Martin's and Swallows but still no House Martin's

PM
Knot-1
common tern - 11 over the water at 2.30pm
Grey heron swallowing a mallard duckling
Loads of Blackcaps
Treecreeper-1
plus the usuals

10.30am-2pm

Knot on the spit and a Little Grebe on the water
Common Sandpiper at Ramsdales
Kingfisher at Ramsdales
1 Snipe somewhere, think it was right at the back from Teal Hide

Willow Tit
Bullfinches
3 or so Reed Buntings
Robins etc

We were amazed at the lack of stuff around and on the water - have you Northern lads had a winter clear out?

This morning:

Knot at the top of the spit
6 Common Tern
Common Sandpiper

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Yesterday up to 3pm:

Female Pintail still by the burger can
8 Common Terns
Ringed Plover
2 Little Ringed Plover

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

0830 - 10.30 today before the rain really set in:

5 Greylag geese sailed majestically into harbour opposite Ramsdale's Hide from the western end.

Bunting Hide:

2 female and unusually 1 male pheasant
1 Stock Dove
3 Reed Bunting
2 (or even 3?) Willow Tits gave good photo ops by taking seed to nearby bush instead of doing normal disappearing act.
Bullfinch pairs ++
Too many Magpies and Grey Squirrels!

Hirundines +++ over the water but I was too wet by then. No stamina some people!



-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Wednesday 18th of April 2012 05:19:06 PM

5 Common Tern this morning and not much else apart from a Nuthatch near the bridge over the brook near the entrance (made my day has it is the first one i've seen in around 15 years)

Damn it !!! I mustn't have looked closely enough.

Martyn Jones wrote:

---

Great weather for a few hours at Penny today. Nice to meet a few people there including Charlie Owen, Paul Brown, Shaun Murphy, Gordon Newman and Pete Hindley. Fairly quiet on the whole but here's the highlights of what I saw:

Ramsdales Ruck area
1 Reed Warbler (plus two others heard) in reedbed
4 Willow Warblers in the trees
Lots of Skylarks on and over

Spit
4 Redshank
Male and female Shoveler
Pied Wagtail
Stock Doves
Only a few Lapwings
2 Hirundines (probably Swallow, but too fast for me to see properly)

Path from Horrocks to Edmonson's Hides
2 Blackcap
Lots of Chiffchaffs heard here and elsewhere

Teal Hide
2 Shelduck
Also Gadwall, Teal, Lapwings

Bunting Hide
Just the usuals

No Common Terns or Garden Warbler for me today

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Monday 16th of April 2012 08:18:40 PM

---

Hi Martyn,

There were 2 Common Terns on the spit at 13:00ish today, hunkered down with the Black Headed Gulls.

Patrick

Earlier this morning:

3 Common Tern
7 Shelduck
Common Sandpiper
White Wagtail

Into thanks to Barry Hulme and Shaun Murphy

3 Common Tern still present at 4pm

Into thanks to Phil Rhodes

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Monday 16th of April 2012 10:52:07 PM

Great weather for a few hours at Penny today. Nice to meet a few people there including Charlie Owen, Paul Brown, Shaun Murphy, Gordon Newman and Pete Hindley. Fairly quiet on the whole but here's the highlights of what I saw:

Ramsdales Ruck area
1 Reed Warbler (plus two others heard) in reedbed
4 Willow Warblers in the trees
Lots of Skylarks on and over

Spit
4 Redshank
Male and female Shoveler
Pied Wagtail
Stock Doves
Only a few Lapwings
2 Hirundines (probably Swallow, but too fast for me to see properly)

Path from Horrocks to Edmonson's Hides
2 Blackcap
Lots of Chiffchaffs heard here and elsewhere

Teal Hide
2 Shelduck
Also Gadwall, Teal, Lapwings

Bunting Hide
Just the usuals

No Common Terns or Garden Warbler for me today

-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Monday 16th of April 2012 08:18:40 PM

eventually got here after a few mishaps this morning,1.30-7.30pm 50 species seen. highlights..

3 reed warblers (first for the year)it took me just over 20 mins to spot one then pleasantly watched for almost 5 mins,even had my scope on the little blighter
3 common terns (first for the year)2 on spit and 1 on green bouy.
4 snipe
6 redshanks
5 oystercatchers
1 shelduck
1 white wagtail
3 goldeneyes (females)
1 buzzard
2 sparrowhawks
1 willow tit
3 stock doves
2 linnets on ruck
blackcaps & chiffchaffs galore all around
at least 10 willow warblers around
hundreds off sand martins over lake
several house martins & swallows
skylarks & meadow pipits on ruck

did not know about the garden warbler until i met hugo (nice to meet you again,sorry i could not stick around for longer. i did manage to get my bus ) as i was leaving the area

AM/PM
REED WARBLER-3
COMMON TERN-2
BLACKCAP-AT LEAST 10
SHELDUCK-3
A FEW HURRUNDINES
GOLDENEYE-1F
KINGFISHER-2
WILLOW WARBLER-8+
PLUS THE USUALS

At least 3 Reed Warblers in the reed bed. After a lengthy vigil I managed to see one of the elusive little sods!

Nuthatch also by the bridge as I walked in from the bus stop, a new bird for me at Penny!

Also present this morning:

2 White Wagtail
Garden Warbler along the path which runs parallel with canal and which takes you back round to Teal hide; singing in thick bushes just behind two benches and a litter bin at 10:30.

Info thanks to Shaun Murphy

2 Little Gulls present this morning, also 2 Common Tern and at least 1 Reed Warbler.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

pm
Common Tern - 5
sand martin-2000+(massive ammounts through all afternoon)
swallows-100+
house Martin-100+
Reed warbler-4
Common Sandpiper-1
Kingfisher-1
20+ lesser black backed Gull
oystercatcher-2
plus the usuals

2 Common Terns on the flash and 3 Reed Warblers in Ramsdales reedbed this morning.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Very pleasant afternoon stroll round the the Flash. Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warblers all in good numbers and Pennington rarity for us; a lovely Treecreeper near the New Hide .

pm
2 Common Tern
1 Common Sandpiper
6 Willow Warbler
10 Goldeneye
8 chiffchaff
2 shelduck
4 Oystercatcher
Plus the usuals

3pm today
Single Common Tern motionless (for 15 minutes) on the spit today

Mike Unsworth

Other sightings up to 8:10pm today:

2 Common Tern
Common Sandpiper
2 Curlew north

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes