Also today, the greylag flock which commutes between here and Lightshaw had grown to 50 birds at the Slag lane end. Again no sign of the Richardson's cackling goose, either here or at Lightshaw.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Feb 12 2:41 PM, 2021
44 Pink-footed Geese over north this early afternoon.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Feb 12 11:44 AM, 2021
Adult Mediterranean Gull (unringed) on the ice from the car park mid-morning.
Info thanks to another birder.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 11 12:18 PM, 2021
This morning's highlights:
38 Whooper Swans over NW
Adult Mediterranean Gull
2 Little Egrets
41 Greylag Geese
Dunlin briefly on the ice and then flew north
58 Gadwall by the spit
Info thanks to Barry Hume and others
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Feb 11 7:35 AM, 2021
Late news for yesterday:
1 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
2 Pochard
30 Cormorant
2 Snipe
17 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
colin davies said
Wed Feb 10 11:19 AM, 2021
No sign of the Richardson's cackling goose today, apparently not seen since Monday. At least 41 greylags at the western end and 3 oystercatchers.
colin davies said
Mon Feb 8 8:36 PM, 2021
Of interest in relation to the cackling goose, I've been working in Glasgow today and called in at Hogganfield Loch in the busy suburbs of the city. I was amazed to see around 20 wild whooper swans feeding on the car park with mute swans, mallard and black-headed gulls and surrounded by small children and dogs in a scene not too dissimilar to Pennington Flash. Quite an eye opener.....
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Feb 8 5:34 PM, 2021
Another Dunlin flew straight through this morning (making two in total) and the 3 Oystercatcher were still present.
Info thanks to another birder.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Feb 8 10:16 AM, 2021
1 Dunlin through north this morning and the Richardsons Goose still off the slipway off the car park with Canada Geese.
Info thanks to another birder (not mine).
colin davies said
Sun Feb 7 3:36 PM, 2021
Richardson's cackling goose still present near the main car park at 13:30.
Richardson’s Cackling Goose now coming to grain/seed by the car park around midday and showing ‘very well indeed’.
Info thanks to John Dixon
colin davies said
Sun Feb 7 12:33 PM, 2021
The Richardson's cackling goose which was previously at Lightshaw flash, Longton Marsh (Ribble estuary) and Hatfield moor (Yorkshire) was at the Slag Lane end of Pennington Flash until at least 9:30 this morning. It was not there at 11:30 but may have moved elsewhere on the flash or even returned to Lightshaw.
Adult Iceland gull and adult Mediterranean gull in the roost this evening.
colin davies said
Sat Jan 9 1:04 PM, 2021
It started out a beautiful morning at Pennington Flash but the fog came down later. Two wigeon on the open water at the west end, also a couple of kingfishers. Around 30 Goldeneye, 30 great crested grebes, 20 little grebe and maybe 100 tufted ducks. Heard but not seen, Cetti's warbler and water rail. Also 10 meadow pipits on the ruck.
I'm afraid I can't see how the car park can remain open, heaving again at 11am with streams of cars arriving all of the time. Plenty of groups of people who clearly aren't one household plus one. Apparently the police helicopter has been over, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they move in and start issuing fines today. I was glad to be home for 12, it's only going to get worse this afternoon.
-- Edited by colin davies on Saturday 9th of January 2021 02:59:22 PM
colin davies said
Fri Jan 8 8:08 PM, 2021
Adult Iceland gull in the roost this evening. There's a couple of short videos on my blog if anybody is interested, follow the link in my signature.
Juvenile Iceland gull in the roost at 4pm, looked paler than yesterdays bird possibly the Cutacre bird. No sign of the adult for me.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jan 4 4:49 PM, 2021
This early morning:
5 drake Pochard
14 Goldeneye
15 Greylag Geese
14 Goosander
1 Buzzard
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Steven Heywood said
Mon Jan 4 3:29 PM, 2021
Adult Iceland gull on the flash at 3:05pm, in the raft of large gulls near the sailing club but probably easiest to see from the Horrocks Hide. Very roughly, it's on the edge of the raft away from the shore halfway down, where "mostly black-backs" becomes "mostly herrings."
colin davies said
Sun Jan 3 7:54 PM, 2021
Hi Brian, Green Lane, but the birds have been quite distant for the past few evenings. Parking is also getting difficult, I got about the last space today, I've never seen it so busy, hopefully it will be less busy after today. If you do park in Green lane, it's best to park on the right (i.e. the same side as the houses). Its very muddy but lorries go down the lane and if you park on the left you'll cause problems especially on week days.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 4th of January 2021 07:31:23 AM
brian fielding said
Sun Jan 3 7:36 PM, 2021
Hi Colin, I was at the roost tonight watching from ramsdales, didn't see the juvenile or adult Iceland gull although someone got on the juvenile late on but I couldn't find it in the gloom, where do you watch from, also for info the site was packed with people this afternoon and the paths are very icy
colin davies said
Sun Jan 3 7:19 PM, 2021
Juvenile Iceland gull in the roost this evening, looks like the bird from Lower Rivington rather than the juv which was at Cutacre yesterday (thanks for the tip off Phil Rhodes). No sign of the adult Iceland gull this evening.
Adult Mediterranean Gull roosted, along with 1200 Herring Gulls
7 Pochard in Rammies
130 Pink-footed Geese flew west at dusk
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Andy Isherwood said
Fri Jan 1 3:01 PM, 2021
Few hours round the flash this am produced 63 species including
30 Pink footed geese south c. 9.20am
47+ Greylag geese at the western end
Pair of Wigeon also at western end
6 Pochard at west end (5 drakes)
2 Oystercatcher on the main spit
Several Water Rail heard calling and one showing well by Slag lane opposite the recycling centre
c.60 Redwing and a single Fieldfare
Small numbers of siskin over at various points
At least 6 Willow tit
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 31 5:17 PM, 2020
Also a Little Egret flew east across the length of the flash until out of view.
pete berry said
Thu Dec 31 4:58 PM, 2020
The adult Iceland Gull turned up in the roost tonight,initially found by Colin,hopefully the returning bird from previous years. A poor pic taken late on attached.
Bittern was just about on view when it clambered up the reeds in ramsdale Reed bed at 4.10pm. Also water rail seen & Cettis warbler occasionally calling.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 25 2:07 PM, 2020
Little Egret and 2 Pochard this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 24 5:43 PM, 2020
This morning:
18 Goosander
30 Pink-footed Geese over west
90 Lapwing
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Dec 22 9:07 PM, 2020
In the gull roost this evening, 126 Great Black-backed and 2043 Herring Gulls.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Dec 18 11:58 AM, 2020
Bittern still in Ramsdales Reedbed this morning, also 14 Goosander around the flash.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Dec 15 9:02 PM, 2020
With Phil Rhodes, 1360 Herring Gulls in the roost tonight, plus a probable 2CY Caspian Gull (still checking details as it was quite late on!) and a Little Egret flew low east across the flash at dusk towards the East Bay area.
Steven Heywood said
Tue Dec 15 5:48 PM, 2020
The overhead passage of gulls and jackdaws as I joined Pennington Flash from the canal at 3:25pm included a third-Winter (I think) yellow-legged gull. A second-Winter Mediterranean gull circled the Horrocks Hide spit just before 4pm before flying off towards the sailing club.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Dec 14 9:15 PM, 2020
In the gull roost tonight, 149 Great Black-backed and 191 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.
Yesterday morning, 12 Black-tailed Godwits circled the spit for five minutes before eventually flying off south.
Info thanks to another birder
Apologies for poor photo
Single Little Egret present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
3 Whooper Swans flew over east this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2 adult Mediterranean Gullthis morning
Also today, the greylag flock which commutes between here and Lightshaw had grown to 50 birds at the Slag lane end. Again no sign of the Richardson's cackling goose, either here or at Lightshaw.
44 Pink-footed Geese over north this early afternoon.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Adult Mediterranean Gull (unringed) on the ice from the car park mid-morning.
Info thanks to another birder.
This morning's highlights:
38 Whooper Swans over NW
Adult Mediterranean Gull
2 Little Egrets
41 Greylag Geese
Dunlin briefly on the ice and then flew north
58 Gadwall by the spit
Info thanks to Barry Hume and others
Late news for yesterday:
1 Curlew
2 Oystercatcher
2 Pochard
30 Cormorant
2 Snipe
17 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
No sign of the Richardson's cackling goose today, apparently not seen since Monday. At least 41 greylags at the western end and 3 oystercatchers.
Of interest in relation to the cackling goose, I've been working in Glasgow today and called in at Hogganfield Loch in the busy suburbs of the city. I was amazed to see around 20 wild whooper swans feeding on the car park with mute swans, mallard and black-headed gulls and surrounded by small children and dogs in a scene not too dissimilar to Pennington Flash. Quite an eye opener.....
Another Dunlin flew straight through this morning (making two in total) and the 3 Oystercatcher were still present.
Info thanks to another birder.
1 Dunlin through north this morning and the Richardsons Goose still off the slipway off the car park with Canada Geese.
Info thanks to another birder (not mine).
Richardson's cackling goose still present near the main car park at 13:30.
Richardson’s Cackling Goose now coming to grain/seed by the car park around midday and showing ‘very well indeed’.
Info thanks to John Dixon
The Richardson's cackling goose which was previously at Lightshaw flash, Longton Marsh (Ribble estuary) and Hatfield moor (Yorkshire) was at the Slag Lane end of Pennington Flash until at least 9:30 this morning. It was not there at 11:30 but may have moved elsewhere on the flash or even returned to Lightshaw.
Richardsons Cackling Goose (of unknown origin) with Canada Geese this morning. Also, 3 Oystercatcher and 2 Snipe.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Stonechat on the north side of Ramsdales Ruck by the canal this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Late post from yesterday 29th Jan.
Approx 100 calling Lapwing on what's left of the spit.
9 Grey Heron together on the island at the side of Ramsdale's scrape.
Single female Greenfinch in trees near canal & a couple of Long-Tailed Tits.
A new pool has cropped up from the floods to the rear of Teal scrape which hosted 2 Mute Swans & 2 Coots.
A Woodcock was also flushed from trees in the same area.
On Teal scrape there were 20 mixed Goosander, 15 mixed Shoveler with unfortunately a dead male on the shoreline.
In trees near Teal hide was a mobile flock of about 30 Redwing.
And finally despite the unpleasant conditions underfoot it was a pleasure to walk round here being constantly
serenaded with Robins & even more so Song Thrush.
Adult Iceland gull and adult Mediterranean gull in the roost this evening.
It started out a beautiful morning at Pennington Flash but the fog came down later. Two wigeon on the open water at the west end, also a couple of kingfishers. Around 30 Goldeneye, 30 great crested grebes, 20 little grebe and maybe 100 tufted ducks. Heard but not seen, Cetti's warbler and water rail. Also 10 meadow pipits on the ruck.
I'm afraid I can't see how the car park can remain open, heaving again at 11am with streams of cars arriving all of the time. Plenty of groups of people who clearly aren't one household plus one. Apparently the police helicopter has been over, it wouldn't surprise me at all if they move in and start issuing fines today. I was glad to be home for 12, it's only going to get worse this afternoon.
-- Edited by colin davies on Saturday 9th of January 2021 02:59:22 PM
Adult Iceland gull in the roost this evening. There's a couple of short videos on my blog if anybody is interested, follow the link in my signature.
31 Goldeneye and 3 Pochard this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
4 whooper swans just landed in west bay.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 6th of January 2021 11:18:53 AM
Juvenile Iceland gull in the roost again this evening.
This morning:
3 Snipe
3 Pochard
2 Wigeon
25 Cormorant
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Hi Brian nice to meet you yesterday this is the bird i found in the gloom
Juvenile Iceland gull in the roost at 4pm, looked paler than yesterdays bird possibly the Cutacre bird. No sign of the adult for me.
This early morning:
5 drake Pochard
14 Goldeneye
15 Greylag Geese
14 Goosander
1 Buzzard
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Hi Brian, Green Lane, but the birds have been quite distant for the past few evenings. Parking is also getting difficult, I got about the last space today, I've never seen it so busy, hopefully it will be less busy after today. If you do park in Green lane, it's best to park on the right (i.e. the same side as the houses). Its very muddy but lorries go down the lane and if you park on the left you'll cause problems especially on week days.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 4th of January 2021 07:31:23 AM
Juvenile Iceland gull in the roost this evening, looks like the bird from Lower Rivington rather than the juv which was at Cutacre yesterday (thanks for the tip off Phil Rhodes). No sign of the adult Iceland gull this evening.
Adult Iceland gull in the roost again this evening, also 9 pochard.
With Phil Rhodes
Adult Mediterranean Gull roosted, along with 1200 Herring Gulls
7 Pochard in Rammies
130 Pink-footed Geese flew west at dusk
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Few hours round the flash this am produced 63 species including
30 Pink footed geese south c. 9.20am
47+ Greylag geese at the western end
Pair of Wigeon also at western end
6 Pochard at west end (5 drakes)
2 Oystercatcher on the main spit
Several Water Rail heard calling and one showing well by Slag lane opposite the recycling centre
c.60 Redwing and a single Fieldfare
Small numbers of siskin over at various points
At least 6 Willow tit
Also a Little Egret flew east across the length of the flash until out of view.
In this evening's roost:
206 Great Black-backed Gulls
1828 Herring Gulls
Late morning around the SE side as far as Sorrowcow Farm only:
54 Long-tailed Tit in four flocks (largest of 28)
6 Goldcrest
1 Nuthatch
8 Bullfinch (4 pairs)
21 Goldeneye out on the water
c210 Pink-footed Geese over west at 11:50
Mid morning visit and had a pretty eventful few hours!
Pied wagtail near the car park
Herring gull
Bullfinch
Song thrush
Redwing
Goldcrest
Treecreeper (my closest view of one so far)
Buzzard
And a lost looking Oystercatcher! Who enjoyed the food I sent his way!
And a peregrine falcon on the way home.
Also water rail seen & Cettis warbler occasionally calling.
Little Egret and 2 Pochard this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning:
18 Goosander
30 Pink-footed Geese over west
90 Lapwing
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
In the gull roost this evening, 126 Great Black-backed and 2043 Herring Gulls.
Bittern still in Ramsdales Reedbed this morning, also 14 Goosander around the flash.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
With Phil Rhodes, 1360 Herring Gulls in the roost tonight, plus a probable 2CY Caspian Gull (still checking details as it was quite late on!) and a Little Egret flew low east across the flash at dusk towards the East Bay area.
In the gull roost tonight, 149 Great Black-backed and 191 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.