Drake Garganey at the top of the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
John Watson said
Sun May 24 5:03 PM, 2020
Thought I'd try the Flash for a change now the wind has dropped slightly. The car park was almost full, and hundreds of folk wandering about everywhere - surprisingly, almost all keeping sensible distances - easier with the Golf Club closed
Numerous Blackcaps singing, Chiffchaff, couple of Whitethroat, Bullfinch
On the spit, Oystercatcher, not much else. Very distant Tern, couldn't quite decide if Common or Arctic. Also, a couple of idiots walking along the shore who decided to walk onto the spit - they came back after a polite shout from me
Over the Flash, 50-70 Swifts, and maybe a couple of Sand Martins - too distant to be sure. Gave up completely when some berk sat on the bench near me playing loud "music"
Next visit won't be on a warm Sunday afternoon. I went out to lose stress, not gain it
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 24 10:04 AM, 2020
11 Arctic Tern present by 09:30, including a first summer bird.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 24 8:13 AM, 2020
9 Arctic Terns present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Paul Richardson said
Sat May 23 3:23 PM, 2020
A pair of Whimbrel seen briefly on the end of the Spit yesterday 08.30 - they flew off when disturbed by a family of the now ubiquitous Canada Geese/Goslings.
Very breezy with only the Swifts seeming to cope in the conditions.
2 Common Tern on the spit, then whoosh a Sandwich Tern powered through heading NW about 4:30
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 19 8:09 AM, 2020
Both Avocet flew off SW at 08:08
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 19 8:02 AM, 2020
2 Avocet on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
All hides closed so viewing by Horrocks Hide restricted, maybe best viewed from Ramsdales Ruck to ensure social distancing etc. Main car park only open at 9am and western end car park remains closed.
Kevin Cook said
Mon May 18 2:43 PM, 2020
Quick lunchtime visit after Bickershaw.
On the spit- 2 Common Terns
Overhead a few swifts but no hirundines.
1 Garden Warbler
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 17 9:37 AM, 2020
Early this morning's highlights:
! Ringed Plover
8 Common Tern
3 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
4 singing Cetti's Warbler
110 Swift
colin davies said
Sat May 16 6:22 PM, 2020
Also this morning, cuckoo calling somewhere between Tom Edmondson hide and Teal hide, plus two garden warblers singing and 3 common terns.
Pennington Flash is my nearest open space and I continued to visit the place for my daily walk right through lockdown. I don't want to post a lot of backdated records here, but if anybody is interested there's a post on my blog with details and photographs of some of the scarcer birds I saw and first arrival dates for migrants. These include osprey, little gull, Arctic terns, pied flycatcher, black-necked grebes, garganey, little tern, greenshank, kittiwake and whimbrel. If you can click on the link in my signature it will take you there, if not copy and paste. You'll need to scroll down to 12th May.
-- Edited by colin davies on Saturday 16th of May 2020 06:24:25 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 16 6:20 AM, 2020
Sanderling and Ringed Plover on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 14 12:02 PM, 2020
Gents, these problems need to be posted on the 'Pennington Flash Issues and Concerns' thread on the discussion forum so they may at least be catalogued and at some point they might be used to try and do something about it. I know Dave Shallcross does his best and a fine job too, but it will take more than just one person to even get anywhere near resolving these issues I feel.
Gordon Newman said
Thu May 14 11:47 AM, 2020
Yesterday evening (Wednesday) while stood by Ramsdales Hide 2 guys walked out over scrapes to the middle island and out of view, they weren't carrying anything. When later on the point I looked at the spit and couldn't see them. Maybe these were the same people.
colin davies said
Thu May 14 11:06 AM, 2020
This morning 7:30 - 9:30
Ringed plover 1 yacht club
Garden warbler 1 singing east bay
Shelduck 3
Swift 50
Depressingly, when I arrived in East bay at 7:30 there was a temporary hide on the end of the spit. It wasn't a angler, it was the type of hide either photographer or a shooter uses. At about 7:45 the person in the hide got out and took the hide down and left. I didn't see either a gun or a camera but whatever he had it was in his large rucksack.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 13 11:41 AM, 2020
Please note, the car parks at the flash (both ends) and all hides remain closed but access is permissible by foot or bicycle.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 13 11:40 AM, 2020
Circular bike ride around the flash very early this morning:
4 singing Cetti's Warbler, one or two missing from usual territories but one heard in a new one so maybe there's been a bit of moving about
500 Sand Martin
320 House Martin, including 160 in a single tight flock resting around the sailing club
180 Swallow
Very few Swift
4 Sedge Warbler
12 Reed Warbler
6 Whitethroat
17 Bullfinch
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 29 5:19 PM, 2020
Pennington Flash is now closed to visitors and today at least, the entrance off St. Helens Road has been coned off and a Police car present to turn away those who are stupid enough to ignore the current health warnings and Government guidelines.
With this in mind, there should be no further posts of any nature on this thread until the lockdown is lifted.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 24 8:20 AM, 2020
Just for information, the car park here is now closed and will remain so while the current COVID-19 lockdown remains in place.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 22 8:56 AM, 2020
Highlights early this morning:
Little Ringed Plover
220 Sand Martin
3 Redshank
2 Greylag Geese
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 21 9:08 PM, 2020
The adult Iceland Gull roosted again this evening and 90+ Sand Martin were feeding.
Into thanks to Phil Rhodes
Tom Jones said
Fri Mar 20 3:05 PM, 2020
Yes John, you are right the Hides are all closed untill further notice. the hides were locked this morning at 0945hrs stickers on the doors.
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 20 9:56 AM, 2020
Apparently the council are at Pennington flash closing the hides for the foreseeable future 2nd hand news but thought it may stop people travelling.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 19 9:00 PM, 2020
This evening's highlights (also with Phil Rhodes viewing from Ramsdales Ruck though):
Usual adults of Iceland and Yellow-legged Gull
84 Sand Martin
31 Goldeneye
10 Oystercatcher
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 19 5:04 PM, 2020
Additional sightings from this morning:
Curlew through SE
1 Redshank
12 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 19 9:08 AM, 2020
This morning:
22 Sand Martin
15 singing Chiffchaff (nature reserve area only)
10 Goosander
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 18 10:09 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull roosted this evening and 44 Sand Martin present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Roger Halsey said
Wed Mar 18 3:55 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull on the spit at about 1.30 today. Flew off over the sailing club after washing and preening. Also 17 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and at least 30 Sand Martin in the area of the sailing club.
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Wednesday 18th of March 2020 04:52:14 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 17 6:52 PM, 2020
This evening along with Phil Rhodes:
1 Sandwich Tern which probably flew off west after being harassed by Black-headed Gulls (photo on website galleries)
28 Sand Martin feeding off the sailing club and Sorrowcow Farm
Usual adult Iceland and Yellow-legged Gulls
2 Little Egret flew low east along the length of the flash
26 Goldeneye
Male Cetti's warbler belting out song from Sorrowcow Pond
Goldcrest on territory
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 17 9:56 AM, 2020
Highlights from early this morning:
2 Curlew
1 Redshank
1 Black-tailed Godwit over west
3 Sand Martin
2 Shelduck
Yesterday:
2 Raven
1 Sand Martin
All info thanks to Bill Harrison
David Winnard said
Mon Mar 16 8:34 PM, 2020
1 Adult Iceland Gull in the roost this evening, also 2 Sand Martin.
Dave
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 16 10:47 AM, 2020
Highlights from this morning included:
2 Chiffchaff
1 Sand Martin
1 Little Egret
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Dan Gornall said
Sun Mar 15 8:52 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull & 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost this evening. Also 5 Sand Martins.
Andy Isherwood said
Sun Mar 15 12:09 PM, 2020
Circuit round the flash this morning produced the following highlights:
Sand martin feeding over main flash
2 Curlew west
Redshank
2 Grey Partridge
5 singing Male Chiffchaff
Several Skylark on the rucks
Single Shelduck
5 singing Male Cettis warbler
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 14 8:36 PM, 2020
Two adult Iceland Gulls roosted this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 14 3:17 PM, 2020
Single Black-tailed Godwit east over Horrocks Hide this mooring, also 10 Goosander on the flash.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 13 10:58 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull and 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 12 10:07 PM, 2020
This evening:
Adult Iceland Gull
Dunlin flew west
Sand Martin feeding
Redshank along the sailing club shore
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 11 9:32 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull in the roost fairly briefly this evening and 2 Little Egret flew SW at 6:20pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 10 10:12 PM, 2020
Earlier this morning:
3 Little Egret
11 Lesser Redpoll
6 Oystercatcher
9 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Tue Mar 10 11:36 AM, 2020
1 Sand Martin through east at about 10.30
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 9 9:47 AM, 2020
Single Knot on the spit at 09:45
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 9 9:37 AM, 2020
This morning’s highlights:
3 Little Egret
31 Snipe
9 Oystercatcher
10 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Mar 8 9:16 PM, 2020
Early this morning:
1 Curlew
41 Snipe
5 Oystercatcher
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 7 7:52 PM, 2020
Highlights from this morning:
Curlew
8 Oystercatcher
8 Wigeon
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 6 12:07 PM, 2020
This morning:
34 Snipe
36 Redwing
1 Little Egret
2 Shelduck
10 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 5 10:33 PM, 2020
Adult Iceland Gull and an adult Herring Gull with practically white primaries (!!) roosted this evening.
Thank you, John, for the polite shout, more birders should do the same I know it's difficult but a polite request can't do any harm surely
2 Mediterranean Gulls on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Full circuit this afternoon very hot but quietish on the bird front.
Western side - Cetti's Warbler, Garden Warbler, Willow Warbler & Willow Tit feeding juveniles.
Sorrowcow Pond - Grey Heron, Reed Warbler & another Cetti's Warbler.
Eastern side near recycling centre - Common Whitethroats, Chiffchaffs, Reed Warblers & another Cetti's Warbler belting it out,
& above a Carrion Crow doing aerobatics with a Buzzard.
-- Edited by Lez Fairclough on Tuesday 2nd of June 2020 12:03:00 AM
Drake Garganey at the top of the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Numerous Blackcaps singing, Chiffchaff, couple of Whitethroat, Bullfinch
On the spit, Oystercatcher, not much else. Very distant Tern, couldn't quite decide if Common or Arctic. Also, a couple of idiots walking along the shore who decided to walk onto the spit - they came back after a polite shout from me
Over the Flash, 50-70 Swifts, and maybe a couple of Sand Martins - too distant to be sure. Gave up completely when some berk sat on the bench near me playing loud "music"
Next visit won't be on a warm Sunday afternoon. I went out to lose stress, not gain it
11 Arctic Tern present by 09:30, including a first summer bird.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
9 Arctic Terns present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Very breezy with only the Swifts seeming to cope in the conditions.
2 Common Tern on the spit, then whoosh a Sandwich Tern powered through heading NW about 4:30
Both Avocet flew off SW at 08:08
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2 Avocet on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
All hides closed so viewing by Horrocks Hide restricted, maybe best viewed from Ramsdales Ruck to ensure social distancing etc. Main car park only open at 9am and western end car park remains closed.
Quick lunchtime visit after Bickershaw.
On the spit- 2 Common Terns
Overhead a few swifts but no hirundines.
1 Garden Warbler
Early this morning's highlights:
! Ringed Plover
8 Common Tern
3 Shelduck
2 Oystercatcher
4 singing Cetti's Warbler
110 Swift
Also this morning, cuckoo calling somewhere between Tom Edmondson hide and Teal hide, plus two garden warblers singing and 3 common terns.
Pennington Flash is my nearest open space and I continued to visit the place for my daily walk right through lockdown. I don't want to post a lot of backdated records here, but if anybody is interested there's a post on my blog with details and photographs of some of the scarcer birds I saw and first arrival dates for migrants. These include osprey, little gull, Arctic terns, pied flycatcher, black-necked grebes, garganey, little tern, greenshank, kittiwake and whimbrel. If you can click on the link in my signature it will take you there, if not copy and paste. You'll need to scroll down to 12th May.
-- Edited by colin davies on Saturday 16th of May 2020 06:24:25 PM
Sanderling and Ringed Plover on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Gents, these problems need to be posted on the 'Pennington Flash Issues and Concerns' thread on the discussion forum so they may at least be catalogued and at some point they might be used to try and do something about it. I know Dave Shallcross does his best and a fine job too, but it will take more than just one person to even get anywhere near resolving these issues I feel.
This morning 7:30 - 9:30
Ringed plover 1 yacht club
Garden warbler 1 singing east bay
Shelduck 3
Swift 50
Depressingly, when I arrived in East bay at 7:30 there was a temporary hide on the end of the spit. It wasn't a angler, it was the type of hide either photographer or a shooter uses. At about 7:45 the person in the hide got out and took the hide down and left. I didn't see either a gun or a camera but whatever he had it was in his large rucksack.
Please note, the car parks at the flash (both ends) and all hides remain closed but access is permissible by foot or bicycle.
Circular bike ride around the flash very early this morning:
4 singing Cetti's Warbler, one or two missing from usual territories but one heard in a new one so maybe there's been a bit of moving about
500 Sand Martin
320 House Martin, including 160 in a single tight flock resting around the sailing club
180 Swallow
Very few Swift
4 Sedge Warbler
12 Reed Warbler
6 Whitethroat
17 Bullfinch
Pennington Flash is now closed to visitors and today at least, the entrance off St. Helens Road has been coned off and a Police car present to turn away those who are stupid enough to ignore the current health warnings and Government guidelines.
With this in mind, there should be no further posts of any nature on this thread until the lockdown is lifted.
Just for information, the car park here is now closed and will remain so while the current COVID-19 lockdown remains in place.
Highlights early this morning:
Little Ringed Plover
220 Sand Martin
3 Redshank
2 Greylag Geese
The adult Iceland Gull roosted again this evening and 90+ Sand Martin were feeding.
Into thanks to Phil Rhodes
Apparently the council are at Pennington flash closing the hides for the foreseeable future 2nd hand news but thought it may stop people travelling.
This evening's highlights (also with Phil Rhodes viewing from Ramsdales Ruck though):
Usual adults of Iceland and Yellow-legged Gull
84 Sand Martin
31 Goldeneye
10 Oystercatcher
Additional sightings from this morning:
Curlew through SE
1 Redshank
12 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning:
22 Sand Martin
15 singing Chiffchaff (nature reserve area only)
10 Goosander
Adult Iceland Gull roosted this evening and 44 Sand Martin present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Adult Iceland Gull on the spit at about 1.30 today. Flew off over the sailing club after washing and preening. Also 17 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 4 Oystercatcher and at least 30 Sand Martin in the area of the sailing club.
-- Edited by Roger Halsey on Wednesday 18th of March 2020 04:52:14 PM
This evening along with Phil Rhodes:
1 Sandwich Tern which probably flew off west after being harassed by Black-headed Gulls (photo on website galleries)
28 Sand Martin feeding off the sailing club and Sorrowcow Farm
Usual adult Iceland and Yellow-legged Gulls
2 Little Egret flew low east along the length of the flash
26 Goldeneye
Male Cetti's warbler belting out song from Sorrowcow Pond
Goldcrest on territory
Highlights from early this morning:
2 Curlew
1 Redshank
1 Black-tailed Godwit over west
3 Sand Martin
2 Shelduck
Yesterday:
2 Raven
1 Sand Martin
All info thanks to Bill Harrison
1 Adult Iceland Gull in the roost this evening, also 2 Sand Martin.
Dave
Highlights from this morning included:
2 Chiffchaff
1 Sand Martin
1 Little Egret
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Adult Iceland Gull & 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull in the roost this evening. Also 5 Sand Martins.
Circuit round the flash this morning produced the following highlights:
Sand martin feeding over main flash
2 Curlew west
Redshank
2 Grey Partridge
5 singing Male Chiffchaff
Several Skylark on the rucks
Single Shelduck
5 singing Male Cettis warbler
Two adult Iceland Gulls roosted this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Single Black-tailed Godwit east over Horrocks Hide this mooring, also 10 Goosander on the flash.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Adult Iceland Gull and 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This evening:
Adult Iceland Gull
Dunlin flew west
Sand Martin feeding
Redshank along the sailing club shore
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Adult Iceland Gull in the roost fairly briefly this evening and 2 Little Egret flew SW at 6:20pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Earlier this morning:
3 Little Egret
11 Lesser Redpoll
6 Oystercatcher
9 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
1 Sand Martin through east at about 10.30
Single Knot on the spit at 09:45
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
This morning’s highlights:
3 Little Egret
31 Snipe
9 Oystercatcher
10 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Early this morning:
1 Curlew
41 Snipe
5 Oystercatcher
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Highlights from this morning:
Curlew
8 Oystercatcher
8 Wigeon
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
This morning:
34 Snipe
36 Redwing
1 Little Egret
2 Shelduck
10 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Adult Iceland Gull and an adult Herring Gull with practically white primaries (!!) roosted this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes