Basically the same as John except for a Treecreeper just before the entrance to the Bunting hide and a couple of Foxes in front of the Edmondson hide

pretty quiet today,just a couple of small holes in the ice ,one end of point.one near horrocks hide
goosander-7
peregrine-seen twice once chasing the teal off the end of the spit.
goldeneye -6f
shovele-11
teal-45+
plenty small stuff.
not muh else to report

No sign of the Bewick's Swan (or any Whoopers) this morning.

Info thanks to Mark Rigby

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

I now have in my possession some excellent images of the lone Bewick's Swan amongst the Whoopers. If I don't get chance to upload them to the website galleries tonight I'll certainly do it tomorrow. An excellent county record

---

beltin record,just goas to show,you never know,them pictures will be unique

I now have in my possession some excellent images of the lone Bewick's Swan amongst the Whoopers. If I don't get chance to upload them to the website galleries tonight I'll certainly do it tomorrow. An excellent county record

15.15 today 15 whooper with 1 bewick swan in the centre of ramsdales flash making a lot of noise and the long eared owl was seen in the same place as earlier in the month from Tom edmondson hide! Fantastic hours birding on the way back from Martin mere where we had specifically gone to see a bewick! Typical!!

Quiet as expected today. Nevertheless, late afternoon the feeding station held 17 Bullfinch, 27 Blackbirds and 38 (!!!) Robins at one time. Very few tits, buntings or finches though.

8 wigeon at the Slag Lane end of the Flash this morning, plus 3 great black-backed gulls off sailing club first thing. A couple of willow tits on the rucks where the lagoon flows out into the Flash. 20 skylarks over heading north. Mixed flock of 20+ goldfinch and siskin (mostly the latter) on canal bank.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Reported by and to who John?

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Charlie mentioned last night that 2 people had told him they reported it to the rangers ,earlier in the week,but charlie saw it himself on friday afternoon.

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 18th of December 2010 05:17:02 PM

Reported by and to who John?

am/pm-80% of flash open water now
goldeneye-15
water rail-1 in ditch front of teal hide
goosander-16
common snipe-2
siskin-5
redpoll-2
goldfinch-20
bullfinch-12
kingfisher-1
cormorant-6
teal-100+
shoveler
kestrel-2
merlin-1 poss through south 11.30
grey heron-5
pink footed geese-41>se 1pm

Late record from friday
charlie owen had a firecrest-along the track towards the golf coarse from teal hide -apparently been reported earlier in the week.


But who needs birds when the landscape was so stunning in the snow today and extremely quiet for people smashing

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 18th of December 2010 04:36:40 PM

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 18th of December 2010 05:17:51 PM

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 19th of December 2010 03:04:11 PM

We fortuitously bumped in Peter on our way out to the hides and managed to locate a Long Eared Owl. Whilst we were watching the bird seemed to move deeper into the bush making observation extremely difficult, it was awkward to start off with, possibly due to a heavy snow shower while we were on the way out. We did wonder at one point whether there might be two birds though!

Long-eared Owl from Tom Edmondson Hide at 1:30 today.

On the island on the left from the hide, low down in an Elderberry bush which is covered in obvious yellowish lichen.

Info thanks to Peter Alker

This morning:

27 Pink-footed Geese south at 08:35.

39 Goosander very early on, most dispersing to elsewhere soon after.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

I enjoyed a relatively short visit (12.55 to 14.00) today as my main focus was on Wigan Flashes.
I had 35 species, best of which were 2 Water Rails, pattering around the edge of the small pool just to the right of Horrocks's Hide. (You can see part of this pool from inside the hide; - I don't know if this pool has a name though).
10 mins in Bunting Hide was entertaining, nothing unusual but humming with birds; the ground below the feeders was seemingly carpetted with Moorhens (perhaps 20 plus) as I arrived there.

regards,
Mike P.

late record for sunday,Charlie owen had a oystercatcher over at 11.30,while i was too busy stood up to my knees in ice trying to get teal shotsand missed it

Single Redshank calling over the horse fields this morning too.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

38 Goosanders this morning (17 males) plus a Dunlin flew west.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

A Bittern flew west along the canal at the Plank Lane end of the flash around 1:45, heading towards Bickershaw Rucks and appeared to drop down into a scrubby area.

Info thanks to Andy Isherwood

Bittern in Ramsdales Reedbed this morning. Also 81 Pink-footed Geese north at 08:50.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Late afternoon (gull roost) upto 4:25pm:


Adult Mediterranean Gull
1500 Black-headed Gull
60 Herring Gull
25 LbbGull
4 GbbGull
200 Common Gull
28 Goosander

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Really good afternoon today:

Waxwings at long last! At 13:00, 4 flew low over the very western end of the flash (not far from the car park) heading south-west, four minutes later another 9 did precisely the same. Magic

Siskin- 4 western end

Redpoll- 30+ at the western end of Ramsdales Ruck, only managed a good look at half a dozen or so due to the extreme mobility of the flock, but they were all certainly Lessers that I saw.

Teal- 181 by the end of the spit.

Curlew- one flew low west at 13:34, possibly from off the spit.

I think it would be very unusual for Bitterns to be calling in December. I followed up a report of a Bittern booming in the Wigan Flashes in September with the Bittern supremo at the RSPB, Simon Wotton. He told me that it is not physically possible for Bitterns to boom outside the breeding season, as the ability to boom is governed by hormones (affecting the skin in the throat) which are only there in enough quantities in the breeding season. Therefore February - when light levels begin to increase substantially and therefore hormones - would be the earliest date.

Two Bitterns reportedly heard from in front of the East Bay Hide at approximately 11:30 ish today.

Info thanks to John Cartright

Pete Astles wrote:

---

As an idea what about putting up a notice in Penny cark in bad weather such as this. Permission would be required but I am sure the rangers / council would not object. With the numbers of the public visiting it would I am sure illicit a response. Most people would not be aware of the plight of the birds and most people are good hearted. Dog walkers people out with kids etc are regulars so they could bring bread the next time out if only 5% did it that could make the difference.

---

you could only ask pete,to see if it was ok,at one time local farmers used to contribute sacks of seed,which the rangers and a few hardy volunteers used to carry to the end of the spit and feed the birds,its a shame but the ranger service now is cut to a bare minimum,and I daupt they would have the time these days,and I think the farmer gave up giving the free seed.

As an idea what about putting up a notice in Penny cark in bad weather such as this. Permission would be required but I am sure the rangers / council would not object. With the numbers of the public visiting it would I am sure illicit a response. Most people would not be aware of the plight of the birds and most people are good hearted. Dog walkers people out with kids etc are regulars so they could bring bread the next time out if only 5% did it that could make the difference.

On the subject of people feeding the birds at penny I would thank some older people who regular walk the flash from approx the boating clubs to st helens rd car park with their dogs and put out seed on every gate and style post and have done so for many years any time of the year and any weather. They don't carry binn's or scopes so I guess they are nature lovers in general. If they just happen to be reading this thank you

phil ogden wrote:

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I was down there today took some bread,seed and chopped up apples. I removed a dead drake Mallard from the side of the flash. Few other people there with the kids feeding but not the usual numbers. Duck Frozen solid me and the little lad gave it a burial at home.

---

well done phil

I was down there today took some bread,seed and chopped up apples. I removed a dead drake Mallard from the side of the flash. Few other people there with the kids feeding but not the usual numbers. Duck Frozen solid me and the little lad gave it a burial at home.

nice to hear birders doing there bit feeding the birds not just in the garden we put fatballs out behind our works in oldham just have to keep the bloody squirels off now

Pete Astles wrote:

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Anyone read the article a week or so about Herefordshire council banning feeding bread to the ducks because people were (pass the smelling salts) feeding them white bread not wholemeal which is better for you. It was against the councils healthy eating policy I am not making this up. God knows what they would make of feeding them Asda value bread. I don't know how posh the tits / finches are in my garden but I have filled up the nut feeders at the local delicatessen to be on the safe side.

---

Its Pity a few more birders ,don't get down there with some value bread,the birds just starve in this weather,and 50 loafs would not have been enough today,and in the last 3 days ,ive not seen any other birder bringing food down to the open patch near horrocks hide,its a pity in this weather that the wildfowl trust don't distribute a bit of the seed to places like penny,that have regular feeding dependant birds.

Anyone read the article a week or so about Herefordshire council banning feeding bread to the ducks because people were (pass the smelling salts) feeding them white bread not wholemeal which is better for you. It was against the councils healthy eating policy I am not making this up. God knows what they would make of feeding them Asda value bread. I don't know how posh the tits / finches are in my garden but I have filled up the nut feeders at the local delicatessen to be on the safe side.

today not much due to fog-but at least the birds got the bread again-a few goosander flying about ,but visibility down to about 30 yards,so not much else to report

Me too JT, I always pick up the 10p loaves on the way there in winter,

pretty much the same has yesterday
goosander-16 in water at the end of spit
common snipe-4
teal-150 on ice end of spit
goldeneye-3
plenty of bullfinches etc in bunting
and some very hungry birds in the small pool towards the car park from horrocks hide-i took 4 loaves of bread,and it only toched the few ducks ,swans at the edge of the pool,any birders bothering to go in this weather,call in asda/tescos,and pick up 4 value loafs of bread,less than £1 and it will keep these birds alive in this weather,they become very dependent at penny on the public feeding them,but in this weather when the general public don't visit,they need that little bit of help,just to keep alive-please feed them if you go

pm pretty bleak-about 30 feet of water open near horrocks ,about the same at the end of spit
siskin-20+ with about 60 golfinch near common lane bridge
goosander-6 on westleigh brook on golf course,and about 10 end of spit
stock dove -14 front of bunting hide
a few golden eye-in the open patches and about 50 teal on the ice.
not much else-too cowd for owt really.

3 Dunlin present by 10:20 this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Nice group of Siskins amongst the Goldfinches feeding on Alder not far from Canal,just before path leading down to Teal Hide.

Six curlew on the edge of the ice hole in the middle of the Flash around 4.15pm.

2 Dunlin and a single Curlew on the spit at 8am this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Dunlin on the spit this morning, plus 18 Redpolls by the canal.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

21 Goosander this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

95% of the flash now frozen.

SAT 27TH LATE AM /PM
GOOSANDER-27
REDWING-30+
PLENTY TEAL/SHOVELER/GADWALL/MALLARD
GOLDENEYE-25+
CORMORANT-3
LOTS OF BIG GULLS ON THE ICE IN RAMMIES
PLUS ALL THE USUAL STUFF.


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 27th of November 2010 04:42:04 PM

frid am/pm
cormorant-35
goosander-10
teal-102
pochard-30
goldeneye-21
meadow pipit-15
redpoll-8+ 1 very pale bird-poss mealy-near to common lane bridge
siskin-6
grey heron 8
redwing-20+
plus all the usual stuff.

Redshank on the spit at 10:20 today.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Buzzard showing well over the car park at Pennington today,approx.1pm.

Green Sandpiper in front of Horrocks Hide this morning. At least 7 Siskin were also present.

Whooper Swan on the main flash early a.m.
Drake Goosander on Westleigh Brook where it passes under Pennington Line (the footpath off the access road, under the by-pass leading to St Helens Rd).


-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 23rd of November 2010 07:33:17 PM

Immature drake Scaup currently in Rammies, tucked up against the reeds with the Pochard flock.

Also 250 Pink-footed Geese low east at 12:55 and atleast 3 Water Rail making allsorts of noise from within Rammies reedbed.

hi jon guess itwas you I saw in horrocks at about 11. Also seen 6 goosander and 5 wigeon