Singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret and Swift present so far today.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
dave broome said
Mon Sep 11 5:27 PM, 2017
2 Raven west this afternoon
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 11 9:36 AM, 2017
Single Black Tern and Black-tailed Godwit present this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 10 7:11 PM, 2017
A Mooch today on my local patch at Pennington Flash ,started off well with plenty birds about ,but unfortunately finished badly when 2 canoeists decided to launch from the car park and go past Horrocks along the main spit and into the top of Ramsdales and at one point over 1200 birds were in the air,even coots were flying high,in the end it was left to me to confront these people again and put them right ,its such a shame that the place does not warrent a full time warden any more as these sort of things would be stopped,and people like me wouldn't have to sort it themselves ,and as me and Charlie discussed it after,it was thought that a few signs ,possibly a post out in the water at the end of the fence near Horrocks with no Boats etc on this side of the flash etc would help in these situations. Anyway the good stuff this is what we counted on our way round the flash today .
Black Tailed Godwit - 15
Swift-10
Swallow-1000+
Sand Martin-400+
House Martin - 50+
Mallard-245
Tufted Duck -220
Shoveler - 23
Gadwall-77
Teal-44
Great Crested Grebe -55
Little Grebe-6
Goosander-1 Female
Nuthatch-2
Willow Tit-4
Chiffchaff-5
Goldcrest-2
Sparrowhawk-1
Kestrel-2
Lapwing-550
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Sep 10 9:57 AM, 2017
Hobby over Ramsdales Ruck this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 9 11:56 AM, 2017
Highlights this morning were:
Drake Common Scoter
2 Swift
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 8 10:45 PM, 2017
Single Dipper present this morning, under the first bridge from the flash car park (bypass bridge).
Info thanks to Jim Caulfield
John Watson said
Thu Sep 7 11:09 PM, 2017
Had a quick look for the Dippers, without success (but Grey Wagtail)
Access easy from behind College - Sports Centre CPs; head under former railway bridge, turn right towards river bridge
colin davies said
Thu Sep 7 11:02 AM, 2017
So far this morning
7 black-tailed godwits
1 common term
5 swifts
No sign of dippers up to the time I left at 10.15.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 6 8:36 PM, 2017
JOHN TYMON wrote:
That Tufted Duck with what looks from a distance like a Mute swan ring stuck round its bill ,is a saddle then?
Yes, nasal saddle with an alpha-numeric code
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Sep 6 8:22 PM, 2017
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Late afternoon into the evening today was pretty productive for a change:
Grey Plover briefly only, over the spit
Single Greenshank
A non-breeding plumaged adult Common Tern
14 Swift
Hirundines almost impossible to count accurately but estimates of 700 Sand Martin, 500 Swallow and 220 House Martin
360 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost along with a few dozen Herring, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3100 Black-headed Gull
A nasal saddled female Tufted Duck amongst the couple of hundred present which, subject to confirmation, looks to have come from a French project
That Tufted Duck with what looks from a distance like a Mute swan ring stuck round its bill ,is a saddle then?, its been present at the flash about 6 weeks now ,putting Nasal saddles on ducks bills to me just doesn't sit well ,bit like the neck rings on Greylags ,there comes a point where you have to stop and look at the Ducks welfare, thats my thought anyway.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 6 7:51 PM, 2017
Late afternoon into the evening today was pretty productive for a change:
Grey Plover briefly only, over the spit
Single Greenshank
A non-breeding plumaged adult Common Tern
14 Swift
Hirundines almost impossible to count accurately but estimates of 700 Sand Martin, 500 Swallow and 220 House Martin
360 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost along with a few dozen Herring, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3100 Black-headed Gull
A nasal saddled female Tufted Duck amongst the couple of hundred present which, subject to confirmation, looks to have come from a French project
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 6 7:44 PM, 2017
colin davies wrote:
It wasn't always in view and at first I walked past this bridge because it seemed an unlikely place for a dipper.
Maybe not as unlikely as we may think as the last flash record was on exactly this stretch of water although it also got up as far as the bypass bridge itself. Rumours of potential breeding in Leigh this year coupled with these birds (and the last record) may well hint at a previously undiscovered pair or indeed lowland population. One wonders how many go unnoticed.
colin davies said
Wed Sep 6 4:57 PM, 2017
Following Jons directions in the previous post I was able to locate the dipper this afternoon at about 3pm. For those who don't know the area that well, it's the bridge nearest Leigh college. Walk under the road bridge near the car park, then turn left at the next bridge and walk along the line of the old railway for about 100m until you come to a third bridge. As John commented in his post, the bird was mainly frequenting a rock on the southern (or right hand) side of the bridge. It wasn't always in view and at first I walked past this bridge because it seemed an unlikely place for a dipper. However I had a second look and spotted the bird through some vegetation. Then suddenly a second bird flew towards the first and they flew around for a bit and then under the bridge before returning, There was quite a lot of interaction between the two and it made me wonder (amazing as it may seem) if it was a new arrival and had not been present this morning because surely in the hour Jon was there he would have seen the two together at some stage?
I couldn't get a photo of the two birds together, but I think I have them individually in the attached photos. If you notice the white fringes to the terials on the photograph of the bird through the vegetation, they look more prominent than on the bird on the rocks. I assume that the pale fringes to the tertials and greater coverts make them young birds, though clearly not juveniles, first winters I guess. Also today, a juvenile common tern and at least 5 swifts.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 6th of September 2017 05:01:23 PM
Two dippers under the same bridge now. Photo to follow.
Jon Taverner said
Wed Sep 6 2:01 PM, 2017
Dipper seen from the bridge this morning, that goes over the brook, which is on the path of the old railway line from the Flash to St. Helens Road. Observed for over an hour, favouring a stone on the south side although, at times, flying under the bridge to the north.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 5 2:12 PM, 2017
A juvenile Arctic Tern flew through being chased by a Black-headed Gull this morning and 7 Swifts were present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Sep 3 6:01 PM, 2017
Only things of real note today were the large numbers of Hurundines present during the heavy rain this morning including the following
Swallow -1000+
Sand Martin -500+
House Martin- 200+
Swift -25
Andy Isherwood said
Sat Sep 2 1:14 PM, 2017
Single Tree Pipit heard and seen flying South over Byrom Lane c.7.50 this am. Other birds seen, little egret at west end, Garden Warbler again around Sorrowcow pond and still 2 Greylag geese
Rob Thorpe said
Sat Sep 2 11:14 AM, 2017
Saturday 02 September 2017
2 Tree Pipits calling and flying around low over the Lapwing Hide area at around 08:40 this morning while I was warming up for the parkrun. Another, probably different Tree Pipit heard overhead near the Common Lane canal bridge a little later on.
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Sep 1 4:50 PM, 2017
Nice Early visit to Penny this morning Dawn-11am
Tree Pipit - 1 (in a group of 4 pipits heading south at 7am,all 4 could have been Tree, but only one called )
Swift- c50
Swallow- c300+
Sand Martin -c400+
House Martin- 50+
Reed Warbler- 1 Juv
Goldcrest- 5
Willow Warbler- 10+
Chiffchaff-15+
Grey Wagtail-2
Lapwing-300
Kestrel-1
Buzzard-1
Kingfisher-4
Tufted Duck-210
Coot - 550+
Goosander-1 Female
Cormorant-16
Little Grebe -5
:)
John Watson said
Mon Aug 28 12:48 PM, 2017
Just to be an annoying pedant and to correct the correction:
Butts Lagoon is part of Pennington Marshes, Hampshire (not Lancashire)
Rob Creek said
Mon Aug 28 10:23 AM, 2017
Ian McKerchar wrote:
To be honest, it's one of the reasons I've always tried to keep the forum down to what you've seen yourself, and not what you've heard elsewhere
Hence why I put is anyone familiar with that area of Pennington Flash CP? It just didn't sound right.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Aug 28 9:15 AM, 2017
To be honest, it's one of the reasons I've always tried to keep the forum down to what you've seen yourself, and not what you've heard elsewhere
Pete Hines said
Mon Aug 28 9:05 AM, 2017
Rob Creek wrote:
- Spoonbill just been reported (seen at 8.02am today) on the salt marsh at Butts Lagoon, Pennington Flash CP, anyone familiar? Might visit after work if I get chance. Cheers
They mean Pennington Marshes, Lancashire. I've notified Birdguides and they are aware of the error .... and relax.
Rob Creek said
Mon Aug 28 8:50 AM, 2017
- Spoonbill just been reported (seen at 8.02am today) on the salt marsh at Butts Lagoon, Pennington Flash CP, anyone familiar? Might visit after work if I get chance. Cheers
Shannon Llewellyn said
Sun Aug 27 8:19 PM, 2017
Day spent here today (supposed to go to Little Woolden Moss, but the train was cancelled; ah, well, nothing to see there today, anyway...); lovely day, some of the highlights:
Lots of chiffchaff, but no willow warbler; the only other warblers 3 blackcap and a single calling reed warbler. 3 willow tit (one Bunting Hide, one calling behind Ramsdale's Hide, the other calling amongst a mixed flock in the wooded part of the ruck). 4 house martin 10 swallow 1 wheatear 1 kingfisher (bringing up a pellet right in front of Ramsdale's Hide) Moorhen with very young brood. 21 teal 52 gadwalll 7 shoveler 50+ tufted duck 7 little grebe 30+ great crested grebe (including a juvenile begging a fish from parent) 70+ lapwing 1 little egret (western end) 8+ grey heron 1 common tern 1 common gull 1 buzzard heard
Craig Higson said
Sun Aug 27 6:44 PM, 2017
Late news from yesterday. 7 Black-tailed Godwits flew through mid morning.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Aug 27 4:24 PM, 2017
Of note today
Wheatear - 1 on spit most of the day ,looked like a Juvenile to me
Great Crested Grebe-47
Kingfisher-3
Cormorant-14
Chiffchaff-8
Buzzard-4
Swallow -10
plus the usuals
Andy Isherwood said
Sat Aug 26 4:02 PM, 2017
Spotted Flycatcher in trees near bridge over brook on south side this am also Garden Warbler amongst good numbers of commoner warblers around Sorrowcow farm 2 Yellow Wagtail in cut fields between western end and Slag lane, little egret at west end. Other birds seen around flash drake Pochard, notable increase since last weekend of tufted duck, shoveler, and teal and still c.15 Swift over rucks.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 25 8:20 AM, 2017
Red-crested Pochard present this mornin.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
colin davies said
Fri Aug 25 7:22 AM, 2017
6am - 7.15am this morning, mainly around the western end:
35+ swifts over
1 little egret
1 Kingfisher
colin davies said
Thu Aug 24 11:22 AM, 2017
So far this morning:
Tree pipit 1 calling over the Ruck
Little egret 1 at the western end
Willow tit 3+ all at the western end
Kingfisher 4
Common tern 4
Craig Higson said
Wed Aug 23 10:40 PM, 2017
A late evening stroll around the ruck with the dog - quiet on the passerine front with only a couple of Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers 'hweeting' or 'hoo-weeting' in the scrub. There were at least 5 terns flying around the spit but slightly too far away in fading light for a positive ID with just bins, so they'll have to stay as Commics. There was quite a large number of gulls roosting with a surprising number of larger gulls - I counted over 100 mainly Lesser Black-backed Gulls with a smattering of Herring Gulls. Good numbers of Coot and Tufted Ducks too, the latter being pushed around a bit by the yachts which were out in force. 55+ Swallows headed over the ruck as I was leaving, presumably heading to roost in one of the reed beds and 6 Swifts were high over the western end.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Wednesday 23rd of August 2017 10:40:37 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 23 12:01 PM, 2017
Birds from this morning include:
2 female Common Scoter
1 Greenshank
1 Little Egret
4 Snipe
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 22 1:40 PM, 2017
So far today:
6 Common Tern
2 Little Egret
2 Snipe
6 Buzzard
1 Pochard
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
John Watson said
Tue Aug 22 9:14 AM, 2017
Missing Black-Necked Grebe coincides with this one turning up at Martin Mere, just 16 miles to the NW (as the Grebe flies):
Little egret 2 (one near yacht club, one from Ramsdales)
Lapwing 150
Common tern 11
colin davies said
Thu Aug 17 7:36 AM, 2017
Late news for yesterday, 1 summer plumage Dunlin on the spit from Horrocks.
colin davies said
Wed Aug 16 5:17 PM, 2017
I wasn't expecting a new bird for me at the flash today, but I got one, red-legged partridge on the path through the woodland on the Ruck, near the car park in Slag Lane. Also today, the juvenile black-necked grebe still at the western end and 3 little egrets, 2 from Ramsdales and 1 near the yacht club.
At least two little egrets: one from F R Horrocks, which might also be the one seen later from Ramsdale. Another seen flying past the boatyard, seen from Horrocks about 1pm.
Probable immature marsh harrier flying at tree top height, distant view from Horrocks about 1:25pm.
Immature male sparrowhawk visited Tom Edmondson about 1:55pm.
Cetti's warbler in the reed beds nearest the canal
Kingfisher single sighting, flying a circuit of the pool from Pengy's
colin davies said
Tue Aug 15 10:41 AM, 2017
Also this morning black necked grebe juvenile still in the western bay with 2 little egrets and a 3rd little egret from ramsdales.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 15 9:23 AM, 2017
Sightings so far today include:
Female Common Scoter
Redshank
6 Grey Wagtail
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
colin davies said
Mon Aug 14 7:15 PM, 2017
A few photos of the black terns this morning and the common scoter this afternoon. My sources (Mr. Harrison) tell me that the black terns left at about 10am.
Plenty of sand martins about today, probably upto 400, whilst at Sorrowcow pond there was a willow warbler still in sub-song.
Predictably no sign of the Black Terns early afternoon as the weather cleared. The juvenile Black-necked Grebe was still showing right in the corner at the west end. Other sightings of note included: juvenile Mediterranean Gull in East Bay Arctic Tern straight through 3 Common Tern Willow Tit at west end
Steve Suttill said
Mon Aug 14 4:04 PM, 2017
colin davies wrote:
Also this afternoon, female common scorer in East Bay and 3 orchard.
Sadly, the inventor of predictive text has died. His funfair will be hello on Sundial
Singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret and Swift present so far today.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
2 Raven west this afternoon
Single Black Tern and Black-tailed Godwit present this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Hobby over Ramsdales Ruck this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Highlights this morning were:
Drake Common Scoter
2 Swift
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Single Dipper present this morning, under the first bridge from the flash car park (bypass bridge).
Info thanks to Jim Caulfield
Access easy from behind College - Sports Centre CPs; head under former railway bridge, turn right towards river bridge
So far this morning
7 black-tailed godwits
1 common term
5 swifts
No sign of dippers up to the time I left at 10.15.
Yes, nasal saddle with an alpha-numeric code
That Tufted Duck with what looks from a distance like a Mute swan ring stuck round its bill ,is a saddle then?, its been present at the flash about 6 weeks now ,putting Nasal saddles on ducks bills to me just doesn't sit well ,bit like the neck rings on Greylags ,there comes a point where you have to stop and look at the Ducks welfare, thats my thought anyway.
Late afternoon into the evening today was pretty productive for a change:
Grey Plover briefly only, over the spit
Single Greenshank
A non-breeding plumaged adult Common Tern
14 Swift
Hirundines almost impossible to count accurately but estimates of 700 Sand Martin, 500 Swallow and 220 House Martin
360 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost along with a few dozen Herring, 3 Great Black-backed Gulls and 3100 Black-headed Gull
A nasal saddled female Tufted Duck amongst the couple of hundred present which, subject to confirmation, looks to have come from a French project
Maybe not as unlikely as we may think as the last flash record was on exactly this stretch of water although it also got up as far as the bypass bridge itself. Rumours of potential breeding in Leigh this year coupled with these birds (and the last record) may well hint at a previously undiscovered pair or indeed lowland population. One wonders how many go unnoticed.
Following Jons directions in the previous post I was able to locate the dipper this afternoon at about 3pm. For those who don't know the area that well, it's the bridge nearest Leigh college. Walk under the road bridge near the car park, then turn left at the next bridge and walk along the line of the old railway for about 100m until you come to a third bridge. As John commented in his post, the bird was mainly frequenting a rock on the southern (or right hand) side of the bridge. It wasn't always in view and at first I walked past this bridge because it seemed an unlikely place for a dipper. However I had a second look and spotted the bird through some vegetation. Then suddenly a second bird flew towards the first and they flew around for a bit and then under the bridge before returning, There was quite a lot of interaction between the two and it made me wonder (amazing as it may seem) if it was a new arrival and had not been present this morning because surely in the hour Jon was there he would have seen the two together at some stage?
I couldn't get a photo of the two birds together, but I think I have them individually in the attached photos. If you notice the white fringes to the terials on the photograph of the bird through the vegetation, they look more prominent than on the bird on the rocks. I assume that the pale fringes to the tertials and greater coverts make them young birds, though clearly not juveniles, first winters I guess. Also today, a juvenile common tern and at least 5 swifts.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 6th of September 2017 05:01:23 PM
Two dippers under the same bridge now. Photo to follow.
Dipper seen from the bridge this morning, that goes over the brook, which is on the path of the old railway line from the Flash to St. Helens Road. Observed for over an hour, favouring a stone on the south side although, at times, flying under the bridge to the north.
A juvenile Arctic Tern flew through being chased by a Black-headed Gull this morning and 7 Swifts were present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Only things of real note today were the large numbers of Hurundines present during the heavy rain this morning including the following
Swallow -1000+
Sand Martin -500+
House Martin- 200+
Swift -25
2 Tree Pipits calling and flying around low over the Lapwing Hide area at around 08:40 this morning while I was warming up for the parkrun.
Another, probably different Tree Pipit heard overhead near the Common Lane canal bridge a little later on.
Nice Early visit to Penny this morning Dawn-11am
Tree Pipit - 1 (in a group of 4 pipits heading south at 7am,all 4 could have been Tree, but only one called )
Swift- c50
Swallow- c300+
Sand Martin -c400+
House Martin- 50+
Reed Warbler- 1 Juv
Goldcrest- 5
Willow Warbler- 10+
Chiffchaff-15+
Grey Wagtail-2
Lapwing-300
Kestrel-1
Buzzard-1
Kingfisher-4
Tufted Duck-210
Coot - 550+
Goosander-1 Female
Cormorant-16
Little Grebe -5
:)
Butts Lagoon is part of Pennington Marshes, Hampshire (not Lancashire)
Hence why I put is anyone familiar with that area of Pennington Flash CP? It just didn't sound right.
To be honest, it's one of the reasons I've always tried to keep the forum down to what you've seen yourself, and not what you've heard elsewhere
They mean Pennington Marshes, Lancashire. I've notified Birdguides and they are aware of the error .... and relax.
Cheers
Lots of chiffchaff, but no willow warbler; the only other warblers 3 blackcap and a single calling reed warbler.
3 willow tit (one Bunting Hide, one calling behind Ramsdale's Hide, the other calling amongst a mixed flock in the wooded part of the ruck).
4 house martin
10 swallow
1 wheatear
1 kingfisher (bringing up a pellet right in front of Ramsdale's Hide)
Moorhen with very young brood.
21 teal
52 gadwalll
7 shoveler
50+ tufted duck
7 little grebe
30+ great crested grebe (including a juvenile begging a fish from parent)
70+ lapwing
1 little egret (western end)
8+ grey heron
1 common tern
1 common gull
1 buzzard heard
Of note today
Wheatear - 1 on spit most of the day ,looked like a Juvenile to me
Great Crested Grebe-47
Kingfisher-3
Cormorant-14
Chiffchaff-8
Buzzard-4
Swallow -10
plus the usuals
Red-crested Pochard present this mornin.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
6am - 7.15am this morning, mainly around the western end:
35+ swifts over
1 little egret
1 Kingfisher
So far this morning:
Tree pipit 1 calling over the Ruck
Little egret 1 at the western end
Willow tit 3+ all at the western end
Kingfisher 4
Common tern 4
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Wednesday 23rd of August 2017 10:40:37 PM
Birds from this morning include:
2 female Common Scoter
1 Greenshank
1 Little Egret
4 Snipe
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
So far today:
6 Common Tern
2 Little Egret
2 Snipe
6 Buzzard
1 Pochard
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/all-news/2017/08/wwt-martin-mere-sightings/black-necked-grebe-2
This morning;
1 black tailed godwit on the spit from Horrocks (info Bill Harrison)
2 little egrets
7 common terms
I had a good look for the black necked grebe in it's usual spot at the western end but couldn't find it.
So far this morning:
3 Little Egret
1 Redshank
8 Common Tern
12 Swift
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Tad cool and breezy today Little Egret , kingfisher, willow tit , highlights today plenty of lapwing gadwall , hopefully pictures attached.
This morning so far:
1 juvenile Black-necked Grebe
2 Little Egret
1 Greenshank
1 Redshank
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
So far today:
Black-necked grebe 1 juv. still western end
Willow tit 1 western end
Cetti's warbler 1 singing Sorrowcow pond
Sedge warbler 1 western end
Little egret 2 (one near yacht club, one from Ramsdales)
Lapwing 150
Common tern 11
Late news for yesterday, 1 summer plumage Dunlin on the spit from Horrocks.
I wasn't expecting a new bird for me at the flash today, but I got one, red-legged partridge on the path through the woodland on the Ruck, near the car park in Slag Lane. Also today, the juvenile black-necked grebe still at the western end and 3 little egrets, 2 from Ramsdales and 1 near the yacht club.
Also this morning black necked grebe juvenile still in the western bay with 2 little egrets and a 3rd little egret from ramsdales.
Sightings so far today include:
Female Common Scoter
Redshank
6 Grey Wagtail
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
A few photos of the black terns this morning and the common scoter this afternoon. My sources (Mr. Harrison) tell me that the black terns left at about 10am.
Plenty of sand martins about today, probably upto 400, whilst at Sorrowcow pond there was a willow warbler still in sub-song.
juvenile Mediterranean Gull in East Bay
Arctic Tern straight through
3 Common Tern
Willow Tit at west end
Sadly, the inventor of predictive text has died. His funfair will be hello on Sundial