23/4/10 (am)

(Most) sightings with Mr McKerchar. Of particular interest:

1 Whimbrel (flew onto the spit at 08:40)
4 Black-tailed Godwit
5 Common Sandpiper
2 Little Ringed Plover
1 Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
1 Oystercatcher
1 Shelduck
1 Wigeon
2 Common Tern
2 Reed Warbler
c16 Swift
1 House Martin
2 Willow Tit

1 (very wild) Red-legged Partridge..

Wednesday 22 April 2010

Horrock's Hide 18:45 - 20:45
in addition to the stuff Rick saw (below):
2 Goldeneye (f)
3 Goosander (f)
1 Whimbrel (appeared back on the spit at about 20:30. Dave Wilson had seen it earlier from Ramsdale's Hide)
4 Black-tailed Godwit
12 Swift

Pleasant walk round Penny from 12.30 to 16.45 today produced the following highlights;-

Common Sandpiper 3
Snipe 1
Ringed Plover 1
Little Ringed Plover 3
Whimbrel 1 (unfortunately flew off parallel with spit then headed north @ 15.50)
Redshank 5
Common Tern 1

All above from Horrocks.

Red-legged Partridge 1 - on tow path of Canal near swing bridge at Slag Lane, underneath electric power cable. Soon disappeared into brambles and out of sight down the hollow after people on cycles rode past. No further sight over next 30 mins.

Other sightings include;-

Lapwing
Oystercatcher
Great Crested Grebe
Gadwall
Mallard
Teal
Tufted Duck
Shoveler
Willow Warbler
Chiffchaff
Blackcap - many males but only 1 female seen
Mistle Thrush
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Goldfinch
Bullfinch
Reed Bunting
Blue, Great and LT Tit
Common, BH and LBB Gull
Cormorant
Grey Heron
Even the strange looking Muscovy Duck looked quite dapper in the glorious sunshine!
Kestrel
Sparrowhawk high over golf course.

NO Pied Flycatcher - but a great afternoon nevertheless.
Rick.

Matt nice to meet you an all,Mr Tymon has sent me some shots(very nice) just to rub salt in the wounds that a 'dip' leaves.I hope it,s just gone to bed and not left the area.

cheers geoff

If I hadt got stuck in traffic coming from Houghton Green Flash, I would have been stodd with you watching it!!

Nice to meet you though! Nice camera too!

Matt Potter wrote:

---

I think it was you two who directed me to the new spot. Especially if you had a big camera! Nice to put a name to a face!

Unfortunatley no sign though up until 8 ish tonight when my self and Mr Hargreaves gave up! Nice to meet you Geoff!

No sign of Whimbrel either! But Blackcaps absolutely everywhere!

---

yep that was me with the camera,and Mike Barron wit big scope

I think it was you two who directed me to the new spot. Especially if you had a big camera! Nice to put a name to a face!

Unfortunatley no sign though up until 8 ish tonight when my self and Mr Hargreaves gave up! Nice to meet you Geoff!

No sign of Whimbrel either! But Blackcaps absolutely everywhere! And a Willow Tit.

-- Edited by Matt Potter on Wednesday 21st of April 2010 10:32:02 PM

pied fly further down the main path towards common lane bridge when myself and mike barron left about 6.30,but it was very flighty

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 21st of April 2010 07:33:12 PM

Pied Fly still present at 5:25pm.

Info thanks to John Tymon

Pied Flycatcher still present 3pm atleast and also the Whimbrel (with a Curlew) still present on the spit).

Info thanks to Rob Adderley, Rob Thorpe and Mike McKerchar

Ian McKerchar wrote:

---

Still present early afternoon John but had moved slightly to the area on the left of the path as you walk down to Ramsdales Hide from the causeway footpath.

Also present early afternoon was a Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail and Curlew.

Much more impressive however was a magnificent site first, a Red-legged Partridge along the canal at the Slag Lane end found by Rob Thorpe. Unfortunately I couldn't refind it but I'll be back!

Thanks to Pete the Haydock birder and Peter Alker for info/updates.

---

thanks for the update try and get out after work-don't know why i bother though as im the kiss of death to any bird i try to see after work-its usually gone,then pops back in the following morning when im back in work!!thats my escuse for being blind as a bat anyway

Still present early afternoon John but had moved slightly to the area on the left of the path as you walk down to Ramsdales Hide from the causeway footpath.

Also present early afternoon was a Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail and Curlew.

Much more impressive however was a magnificent site first, a Red-legged Partridge along the canal at the Slag Lane end found by Rob Thorpe. Unfortunately I couldn't refind it but I'll be back!

Thanks to Pete the Haydock birder and Peter Alker for info/updates.

Rob Thorpe wrote:

---

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Pied Flycatcher still showing well at 09:50. Still behind Ramsdale's Hide.
Also 5 Black-tailed Godwit currently circling over spit.

---

any updates on the flycatcher appreciated,as i may go after work,but time will be tight

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Pied Flycatcher still showing well at 09:50. Still behind Ramsdale's Hide.
Also 5 Black-tailed Godwit currently circling over spit.

Pied Flycatcher still there this morning behind Ramsdale's hide, at least until 06:45.

it was still there at 17.40, if you had your back to the hide as the path goes to your left in the tree on the left just before that wooden gate/pass thing. Showing well down to a few feet.

thanks to the helpful chap I met in the car park who hadn't seen it but told me where to look.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Pied Flycatcher still feeding near Ramsdale's Hide at 20:30. Info thanks to Ian Woosey.

Simon Warford wrote:

---

Peter Baron informs me he is watching a male Pied Flycatcher behind Ramsdales hide 2.45pm.

One for you wigan listers maybe(for those that are still doing them!)

---

Cheers Warfy! I hope it stays for a couple of hours!

1400 Sand Martins over the flash and a single Little Gull through early afternoon.

Peter Baron informs me he is watching a male Pied Flycatcher behind Ramsdales hide 2.45pm.

One for you wigan listers maybe(for those that are still doing them!)

Pre 07:30am this morning:

7 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
8 Redshank
8 Little Ringed Plover
5 Black-tailed Godwit
2 adult Med Gulls

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

10am

At least 300 swallows this morning
4 Black-tailed Godwit
3 Dunlin
2 Redshank
and a single Common Sandpiper

4 Black-tailed Godwit flew in at around 9am this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls
2 Common Sandpipers
6 Dunlin
Wheatear

all present on the spit early am

Info thanks to Barry Hulme


Yellow Wagtail over the main car park yesterday evening.

Info thanks to Dave Wilson

Simon Warford wrote:

---

Hi John, both Black Necked Grebes close into the reeds in Ramsdale Bay mid afternoon, also Common Tern & 7 Goldeneye, 5 Stock Dove & 2 Willow Tits Bunting Hide.

---

must have passed em-although i passed there about 1pm and couldn't see em,but i know through experience that 12 can dissapear on a small water,so 2 on penny can easily hide

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 17th of April 2010 07:18:17 PM

Hi John, both Black Necked Grebes close into the reeds in Ramsdale Bay mid afternoon, also Common Tern & 7 Goldeneye, 5 Stock Dove & 2 Willow Tits Bunting Hide.

late am /pm
no sign of black necks-but the boats were on,so my guess would be the se bay,but no signs of them at slag lane end.
great crested grebe-41-good number for time of year
common sand-1
redshank-8
blackcap-10+
willow warbler-25+
whitethroat-1
chiff chaff -6
plus all the usual suspects

2 Black-Necked Grebe still around at 10:00, visible from Ramsdale's Ruck

Horrocks Hide

5 Redshank
3 Snipe
2 LRP

Teal Hide

4 LRP

Ramsdale Hide

2 LRP

Bunting Hide

Lots of Bullfinch, the most common bird seen here

No sign of male Garganey

2 Black-necked Grebe and Green Sandpiper at 0715hrs.

Correction

Mike Baron wrote:

---

Arctic Tern this evening

---

Correction
Common Tern

Arctic Tern this evening

WE had a nice time today, but no Drake Garganey.
In addition to the usual stuff on the water, there were two Oystercatchers, Redshank and Little Ringed Plover.
Also saw some Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and a Blackcap.

Drake garganey to the right of The Spit from Horrocks Hide this evening.

3 Black-tailed Godwits present am atleast.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme


Up to 2:50pm:

Cuckoo over the sailing club and Raven circling.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

I forgot to mention I left my Olympus camera lens cap somewhere. If anybody finds it, it would greatly be appreciated.

i forgot to add a kestrel when just leaving

Tuesday 13 April 2010

Horrock's Hide 19:00 - 20:00:
3 Goosander
4 Oystercatcher
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Black-tailed Godwit
8 Redshank
3 Snipe
thousands of Sand Martin

some young were climbi into the vegetation near the horrocks hide. they were on their way to the waters edge but a birder told them its not allowed.

a dog i think border collie was running free and had gone to the waters edge near the horrocks hide and started barking furiously and chasing the geese and other birds.

such a nice area but it attracts some bad apples.

there wer some bull finch and reed buntings too.

i went today and missed it! although somebody had seen it around 2pm w whimbrel also sighetd earlier but not by me.

1 green sand
2 LRP and another ringed plover but not sure if that was LRP
1 snipe
some lapwing, oystercatcher, redshank, black headed gulls, chiff chaff, willow warbler, blackcap, cormorant, tufted duck, teal, gadwall
plenty of sand martins

thanks everyone for your advice! no garganey but the lrp was a first for me!

Drake Garganey still on the Kidney Pond at 9am.

Also White Wagtail present.

Info thanks to Jon Taverner.

2 Adult Mediterranean Gull this morning, one colour-ringed.
Single Common Tern

Info thanks to John Lyon

The colour-ringed bird (red with white letters/numbers) appears to be a bird from a ringing scheme in either Poland or Slovakia.

1 green sandpiper
1 snipe
1 wigeon
blackcaps, chiffchaffs, willow warblers
3 LRP
4+ redshank (mating)
4 goldeneye
oystercatchers

Sarfraz Hayat wrote:

---

disappear into vegetation?

---

No I mean dissapear alltogether as they are mainly passage migrants at penny,with a few each spring and the odd one in late summer

Ventured to Penny on Sunday just after 12.00 along with hundreds of dog walkers and Camper Van enthusiasts with overflow car park in operation.

Managed great views of Black-necked Grebe with a walk round to the far side of the Flash but was also seen easily from main car park where RSPB set up a viewing post.

As well as all the usual stuff there were 4 LRP's, 4 Redshank, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin and Green Sandpiper on the spit from Horrocks.

Sarfraz - The Garganey was skulking below some overhanging branches at the back of the 'kidney' pool - viewed from the wooden screen on the left side of the path behind Tom Edmondson Hide on Sunday. I believe it does move around so you will need to view all possible areas from Horrocks Hide round to Tom Edmondson Hide and maybe on to the new Ramsdale Hide just a bit further along the path to the left, if you do visit on Tuesday. Good luck!!

Rick.

-- Edited by Richard Donkin on Monday 12th of April 2010 02:36:30 PM

disappear into vegetation?

Sarfraz Hayat wrote:

---

is it easy to see the garganey? i hope it waits till tuesday. i might visit penn flash on that day.

---

it has been about 200 meters fromm horrocks hide,but they can dissapear as qickly as they arrive,never a guarentee anywere with Garganey

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 12th of April 2010 07:58:37 AM

is it easy to see the garganey? i hope it waits till tuesday. i might visit penn flash on that day.

This morning:

Single Black-necked Grebe on the main flash
3 Green Sandpipers on the spit
Drake Garganey showing well on the Kidney Pond

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

as well as the garganey
lots of blackcaps,willow warblers,chiffchaffs,redshank,lr plover,goldeneye,kestrel,and all the usual stuff.and for once a very pleasant stroll in the sunshine

Drake Garganey showing from Horrocks Hide at 4:50pm atleast. Also present a single Black-tailed Godwit.

Info thanks to Sonia Adderley