present today, 2 arctic terns, 2 common terns, 1 dunlin, 2 redshank, 2 oystercatcher, ringed plover, wigeon, large numbers of swifts, sand martin, house martin and swallows, garden warbler nr teal hide.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 08:52:04 PM

Craig Higson wrote:

---

Quick hour in the rain this afternoon: 3 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wigeon, 1 poss 2 Redshank. Didnt realise there were any Arctic Terns about till I read the thread, so its nice to know the one I thought I had one very distant in front of the Sailing Club probably was one.

---

There was 2 at least front of yaught clubs sunday 12.00

5th May

3 Arctic Terns in the morning atleast.

Info thanks to Andy Makin

Quick hour in the rain this afternoon: 3 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wigeon, 1 poss 2 Redshank. Didnt realise there were any Arctic Terns about till I read the thread, so its nice to know the one I thought I had very distant in front of the Sailing Club probably was one.

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Tuesday 5th of May 2009 04:21:11 PM

Popped in this morning hoping to 'nail' the artics but failed miserably,i,ve spent a few hours this pm really looking hard at the common terns on horrocks to prepare for the next influx at pennington

here,s hoping geoff. opps 1 dunlin,1 curlew on the spit

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

they are not easy gary-just have a look at the galleries on this site and look at the arctic tern shots from this month,and compare them with the article ian did with my photo's of common tern,like anything else time and experience will eventually give you almost instant recodnition with these things.even regulars at penny are not sure,it just takes time ,but once nailed never forgotten.no pay nessasary help always freely giveneven after 35 years im still learningdon't mention tree pipit

---

Thanks for the encouragement John. Reminds me of a few years ago when I hadn't seen Med Gull. I spent ages looking through flocks of Black-headed Gulls for ones with slightly different shaped hoods, redder bills and legs and white wing tips. When I finally saw one I was surprised how different they were.

One of the great things about this forum is that sightings by the more experienced birders make the less experienced birders like me realise that stuff is out there and we just need to spend more time looking.

It's what keeps us birding.

Gary

Gary you're not the only one. I was there late afternoon watching the terns way off near the sailing club with a lot of glare trying desperately to ascertain a 'more graceful flight', 'stepped hovering' etc. but to no avail. Anything that came closer or landed on the spit was definitely Common. I need Arctic for my county list and was hoping for a resident expert in the hide who could tell by jizz alone but unfortunately I was on my own.

Gary Marland wrote:

---

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Gary Marland wrote:

---

Sat 2-5-09 11.00-13.00

Common Tern 1........

................
Gary

---

plus
dunlin-2
garden warbler-1
common tern -9
arctic tern-2

---

I really need to pay someone (like John maybe) to point out Arctic Tern to me as I've never been able to seperate them. So I always have to assume it's a Common if I see one. Even went to Cemlyn Lagoon last year while on Anglesey but still couldn't sort them out.

Gary

---

they are not easy gary-just have a look at the galleries on this site and look at the arctic tern shots from this month,and compare them with the article ian did with my photo's of common tern,like anything else time and experience will eventually give you almost instant recodnition with these things.even regulars at penny are not sure,it just takes time ,but once nailed never forgotten.no pay nessasary help always freely giveneven after 35 years im still learningdon't mention tree pipit

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 4th of May 2009 08:48:03 AM

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

Gary Marland wrote:

---

Sat 2-5-09 11.00-13.00

Common Tern 1........

................
Gary

---

plus
dunlin-2
garden warbler-1
common tern -9
arctic tern-2

---

I really need to pay someone (like John maybe) to point out Arctic Tern to me as I've never been able to seperate them. So I always have to assume it's a Common if I see one. Even went to Cemlyn Lagoon last year while on Anglesey but still couldn't sort them out.

Gary

Gary Marland wrote:

---

Sat 2-5-09 11.00-13.00

NO Garganey

Common Tern 1
Ringed Plover 2
Redshank 1
Oystercatcher 2
Common Sandpiper 1
Lapwing
Wigeon 1
Gadwall
Shoveler
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap
Willow Warbler (heard)
Chiffchaff (heard)
Bullfinch
Skylark

plus more common stuff
Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Pheasant, Magpie, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit

Butterflies: Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, Speckled Wood & Orange Tip

Gary

---

plus
dunlin-2
garden warbler-1
common tern -9
arctic tern-2

Sat 2-5-09 11.00-13.00

NO Garganey

Common Tern 1
Ringed Plover 2
Redshank 1
Oystercatcher 2
Common Sandpiper 1
Lapwing
Wigeon 1
Gadwall
Shoveler
Great Crested Grebe
Little Grebe
Cormorant
Reed Warbler
Sedge Warbler
Blackcap
Willow Warbler (heard)
Chiffchaff (heard)
Bullfinch
Skylark

plus more common stuff
Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Goose, Pheasant, Magpie, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon, Chaffinch, Robin, Great Tit, Blue Tit

Butterflies: Peacock, Brimstone, Large White, Speckled Wood & Orange Tip

Gary

9.30 to 10.15

Only highlights
redshank and common sandpiper.

No garganey seen.

2nd May

Little egret, single at the top of the spit from 05:58-06:20am only, when it flew off north-west
Drake Goosander also present

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Garganey still present at 20.30,the terns were way out over the bouys,I,d love to say arctic but i,m not sure i,ll have to go again and hope for better views before i tick
them,hopefully perched up on the compass post

cheers geoff

Drake Garganey still present at 3pm

Info thanks to Steve Collins

1st May

Drake Garganey on the spit early morning
Single Whimbrel present but flew off SE at 6:25 am

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

9 Common Tern and 2 Arctic Tern late this evening, little else though. It's all up at Elton

All you 'lobby-gobblers', please read the 'Breeding birds on this forum' post at the top of this forum.

Cheers

3.30 - 4.30 today:

From Horrocks Hide: 10 Common Tern, 2 Common Sandpiper, , 2 Ringed Plovers, 3 Redshank, 2 Snipe, 2 Oystercatcher, c10 Swift, 3 Sand Martin.

at Feeders: 12 Bullfinch, 5 Reed Bunting, GS Woodpecker, 1 Stock Dove, 1 Collared Dove.

Teal Hide: 2 Little Grebe, Kestrel over.
Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Sedge Warbler, Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff all singing nearby.

-- Edited by declan savage on Wednesday 29th of April 2009 09:40:36 PM

JOHN TYMON wrote:

---

---

Think a lot of its caused by the credit crunch,those same people flooding onto the flash,would probably normally have been shopping in the trafford centre,ar at the cinema,but lack of money,and thats hit us all has seen a massive rise in visiters to penny.Five years ago there would be 4 cars max on in a evening and you would have been the only one parked at the west end,wearhas now at any given time the car park near the golf coarse is bursting,and the west car park has 25 cars on it.
At least at penny the birds are to the main protected in areas where the public cannot walk,and its just the odd idiot with a dog who let it go into restricted areasbut in the main penny is still a great site,the pictures in the gallerys prove that.
Now Houghton green is another matter formally an idilic place with cattle round it and had only one visitor,one happy birder me.then new owner,cattle removed,signs on the road advertising a water is actually present,outcome biggest dog toilet in the north west,how the birds stand it i don't know ,but 8 black necked grebes in full summer plumage last night and greenshank the other day still make it worth a visit.
I think birders in general,are a bit insular,and expect everywere to be quiet and free of people,but the truth is no-were any more is like that,even in the lake district ,pick any walk and you will get to the top of a peak,to find lager can stuffed in a hole in a rock and dog cr~p everywere.Then again its better than being stuck in this office,reading of dotterals in manchester

---

Thanks John, I'll be happy with early mornings to avoid the crowds from now on... and as you say at least the dogs can't easily get to the pools! As a fell walker I know what you mean about the tops - I don't have a problem with the careful majority its just the mean spirited minority that gets me down wherever they are. Cheers, Peter

present today, 8 common tern, 1 dunlin, 1 common sandpiper, 2 each of ringed plover and little ringed plover,3 oystercatchers, 2 snipe, whitethroat, sedge, reed warbler, lots of swifts, sand martins, house martins and swallows.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Tuesday 28th of April 2009 08:14:45 PM

Pete Welch wrote:

---

Evening visit 6.30pm to 7.15pm - how depressing - dogs everywhere - swimming to all the islands by the spit and possibly even all over the spit [turned away in disgust by then] and one couple who could have been purposefully waiting for every time a tern flew near the bank to throw sticks in for their dog!

Despite the disturbance saw 3 LRP, White throats, Blackcaps, hundreds of swifts and many sand martins and at least eight Common Tern - some roosting on bouys...

I get really depressed when I see the chaos caused by ill behaved dogs/owners - its put me right off Houghton Green as well - I'll have to stick to 7am visits from now on

---

Think a lot of its caused by the credit crunch,those same people flooding onto the flash,would probably normally have been shopping in the trafford centre,ar at the cinema,but lack of money,and thats hit us all has seen a massive rise in visiters to penny.Five years ago there would be 4 cars max on in a evening and you would have been the only one parked at the west end,wearhas now at any given time the car park near the golf coarse is bursting,and the west car park has 25 cars on it.
At least at penny the birds are to the main protected in areas where the public cannot walk,and its just the odd idiot with a dog who let it go into restricted areasbut in the main penny is still a great site,the pictures in the gallerys prove that.
Now Houghton green is another matter formally an idilic place with cattle round it and had only one visitor,one happy birder me.then new owner,cattle removed,signs on the road advertising a water is actually present,outcome biggest dog toilet in the north west,how the birds stand it i don't know ,but 8 black necked grebes in full summer plumage last night and greenshank the other day still make it worth a visit.
I think birders in general,are a bit insular,and expect everywere to be quiet and free of people,but the truth is no-were any more is like that,even in the lake district ,pick any walk and you will get to the top of a peak,to find lager can stuffed in a hole in a rock and dog cr~p everywere.Then again its better than being stuck in this office,reading of dotterals in manchester

Evening visit 6.30pm to 7.15pm - how depressing - dogs everywhere - swimming to all the islands by the spit and possibly even all over the spit [turned away in disgust by then] and one couple who could have been purposefully waiting for every time a tern flew near the bank to throw sticks in for their dog!

Despite the disturbance saw 3 LRP, White throats, Blackcaps, hundreds of swifts and many sand martins and at least eight Common Tern - some roosting on bouys...

I get really depressed when I see the chaos caused by ill behaved dogs/owners - its put me right off Houghton Green as well - I'll have to stick to 7am visits from now on

12-3pm
redshank-4
LR PLOVER-4
B.T.GODWIT-2
OYSTERCATCHER-2
RUFF-1
DUNLIN-2
RINGED PLOVER-4
COMMON TERN -8
SWIFT-500+AFTER RAIN SHOWER
LOADS OF HURRUNDINES
plus 2 buzzard

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 25th of April 2009 06:07:15 PM

2 Little Ring Plover still visible from the Teal Hide this morning.
Close views of Ring Plover, Reshank and Snipe from Horrocks.

Hi John, just edited to add Ruff, and then read your post

Geoff Walton wrote:

---

Made it in the daylight - the light was very good as well.

GC Grebe's
Common Sandpipers
Ringed Plovers
Little Ring Plovers - Teal Hide
Snipe
GSW at Feeder Hide
plus the usual stuff

---

PLUS
1 RUFF
1 BLACK TAILED GODWIT
4 COMMON TERNS
WHITETHROAT

Made it in the daylight - the light was very good as well.

GC Grebe's
Ruff
Common Sandpipers
Ringed Plovers
Little Ring Plovers - Teal Hide
Snipe
GSW at Feeder Hide
plus the usual stuff




-- Edited by Geoff Walton on Friday 24th of April 2009 05:13:22 PM

Sorry Chaps - 10.45am - still be nice to meet anyone (1.45am, just testing the ED glass)

sid ashton wrote:

---

Won't it be dark at that time Geoff or are there Nightjars we don't know about???

---

keep it quiet dont tell mr woosey

Won't it be dark at that time Geoff or are there Nightjars we don't know about???

We two or three are. going tomorrow. If you see us, please let on - not hard, one with a beard, and me at 5'3"
Guess we could be at the first hide by about 1-.45am

Greenshank and Ruff still present at 1400hrs

5 Common Tern
2 LRP
Ringed Plover
3 Redshank
2 Willow Tit (New Hide)

Thursday 23rd April, 6:48am

Sanderling, Ruff, Greenshank all present on the spit this morning

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Geoff Hargreaves wrote:

---

and if you need them for your county list,get up before dawn and get there,as they say'once thier gone'

---

I do need Ruff for my county list, but before dawn...

Oh deep joy,on the spit tonight lots of birds, but still present at 20.00

1 greenshank
1 ruff

i,ve been chasing these over the county some time now,got them bang to rights two lifers in one hit,couldnt, do it without the forum,and if you need them for your county list,get up before dawn and get there,as they say'once thier gone'

cheers geoff I might go back and put a few more thingys on this but she,s on me case ,and so not interested

thanks John we owe you a cup of coffee if ever we meet, this is why photos are important to those who are not experts, we try not to list it if we haven't pictures as sometimes misidentification is easier than identification! original post now changed to willow. ty.



-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 06:26:27 PM

willow tits ,im afraid from bunting hide at penny,wish i had a £ for every time id heard marsh tit in that hidei definately wouldnt need to workThe willow tits breed close by to the bunting hide each year,and marsh tit i think has only been recorded once at penny to my knowledge.nice list though,greenshank are a real scarce bird at penny these days,id have been happy with that list

-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 06:10:16 PM

got some photos of them here
https://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z302/agent-c/IMG_1249.jpg
https://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z302/agent-c/IMG_1250.jpg

we did ask the question of others in the hide and both people said marsh tit so who was i to argue, but i am more than happy to be corrected as they are hard to distinguish .....
please let us know what you think Paul, and thanks for your input.
It was the eye being slightly lower than the black hood and the stronger beak that swayed me but let us know what you think.
btw we love some of your pictures on your site. like you we take photos of almost everything we see just to check when we get home, Had a lovely chat to Judith about the tree sparrows we saw at flixton although only 1 decent photo shows anything like a tree sparrow.




-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 05:50:14 PM

-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 06:03:42 PM

I think you'll find that they are Willow Tits at Bunting hide, not Marsh Tits. I could be mistaken though!

great day/afternoon out for our first trip to pf in order of sightings
lesser black backed gull
gadwall
bh gull
tufted duck

horrocks hide
lapwing
moorhen
common snipe
redshank
gc grebe
cormorant
godwit
greenshank
little ring plover
black necked grebe
ruff
goldeneye
wigeon
tufted duck

bunting hide
reed bunting
willow tit
bullfinch
greenfinch
blue tits
chaffinch
great tit
collared dove
gs woodpecker
dunnock
thanks for everyones help and nice to meet and put faces to names




-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 06:17:49 PM

-- Edited by brandon mulhern on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 08:10:27 PM

Paul Owen wrote:

---

Hi Craig,
Me and the wife heard one reeling away in that same spot last thursday pm.

---

Cheers Paul, nice to know my ears are still working OK

-- Edited by Craig Higson on Wednesday 22nd of April 2009 12:10:42 PM

Hi Craig,
Me and the wife heard one reeling away in that same spot last thursday pm.

Greenshank and Ruff present very early this morning atleast.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Two grasshopper warblers reeling this morning at 6.15am down Green Lane - one behind the cottages, the other in the scrub beside the smaller building on the sailing club.

I could have been mistaken, but I'm sure I heard a distant Grasshopper Warbler at the western end this morning - down the footpath heading to where Hey brook comes in. Didnt have time to check before running off to my beloved workplace.

Greenshank at the back of the wader scrape tonight.

Late news for this morning:

2 adult Mediterranean Gull (flew of shortly after 7am)
Single Ruff

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

just read it myself, looks like weds day trip will be here, thanks Ian

have a read of Ians new penny flash site guide,that will give you a better idea.