16 Black-tailed Godwits flew SE over the main water at 08:15 this morning.

Also present were 2 Common Sandpiper, 3 Little Ringed Plover and 2 Shelduck.

Info thanks to Shaun Murphy

So far this morning, highlights include:

Common Scoter

Common Sandpiper

Drake Garganey

7 Redshank

Info thanks to Barry Hulme 

Drake Garganey still present at 5:30, with Teal on the 'kidney pond' on the opposite side of the causeway from Tom Edmondson hide; viewed from the viewing screen there.

Info thanks to Simon Warford

Drake Garganey on the spit this morning; also 4 Little Ringed Plover.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

So far today:

Common Sandpiper on the spit

2 Redshank

5 Oystercatcher

Little Egret

Curlew

2 Raven

60 Sand Martin

1 Swallow

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Originally posted today by Rosemary Naylor:

Late post for yesterday, (sorry got home after midnight) mid afternoon to early evening walk around the Flash clockwise. 
> 6 Tufted Duck
4 singing Chiffchaff 
> 50 Sandmartins 
3 Swallows
1 Goldcrest 
1 Grey Heron
2 Great Crested Grebe
2 Jays
6 Reed Buntings
2 Robins
2 Coal Tits 
2 Bullfinches 
2 Greenfinches 
1 Great Tit 
2 Blue Tits 
2 Chaffinch 
2 Teal or similar ducks
2 Oystercatcher 
1 Curlew
1 Pied Wagtail 
1 singing Song Thrush

This morning so far:

5 Black-tailed Godwits

3 Little Egrets

4 Redshank

1 White Wagtail

3 Goosander

Info thanks to Bill Harrison and Barry Hulme

Late news for yesterday was a single Little Ringed Plover

My first four swallows of the year up by the canal at Common Lane Bridge about quarter past three. Also three willow warblers singing in this area. Blackcap singing near Tom Edmondson Hide, with kingfisher, dabchick and shoveler showing nicely from the hide. One Cetti's warbler near the lagoon.

Also plenty of sand martins this afternoon.

I was at the flash this morning and met a bloke ( sorry didn't get your name ) who was convinced he had two Cattle Egrets flying around near teal hide before disappearing in the trees there. We looked for about a hour in the area but no further sign . I nipped up to Lightshaw but could only find two Little Egrets.

colin davies wrote:

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I'm not sure if it's a first for the flash, but it sounds like it could be. 

---

It would be the second record for the flash Colin, the first being on 2nd December 2007, found initially in a field by the entrance road by Neil Dowson and relocated later in the day on the golf course but only seen by a very small handful of fortunate folk.

I was on the Point this evening when a cattle egret flew over heading west. Not a totally surprising record given the number around in the country and the north-west at the moment. I'm not sure if it's a first for the flash, but it sounds like it could be. I think it's a Greater Manchester tick for me. I reckon anybody who wants to look for it tomorrow could do worse than go to Lightshaw flash. In amongst the long-horn cattle would be nice.

Early afternoon highlights were :-

Willow Warbler (4), Blackcap (2), Chiffchaff (11) Cetti's Warbler (2) and Willow Tit (2)

Mike

this morning, 1 long-tailed duck, 1 redshank, singing cetti,s warbler, lots of willow warblers and blackcaps now in.

c.250 sand martin over flash this am, single Swallow over fields at west end, 4 singing Cettis warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 willow warbler. c.70 Redwing over east in 2 flocks and single snipe flushed from horse field by side of track at west end.

PM

This morning:

Curlew over south and a White Wagtail on the spit.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

This afternoon:

Long-tailed Duck showing well off Ramsdales Ruck

Small numbers of Sand Martin flying through fairly high west

Four Cetti's Warbler territories

4 Oystercatcher

2 Redshank

1 Snipe

Birds present this morning include:

Long staying Long-tailed Duck

Drake Mandarin

Little Egret

70 Sand Martin

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Long-Tailed Duck still present today, at the very western end early afternoon

Rosemary Naylor wrote:

---

Hi, I was trying to locate the sandmartins at the Flash yesterday, but no luck. Where is the best place to see them. Any advice will be much appreciated

---

They get out over the main flash Rosemary and can be difficult to pick out, often just remaining long enough for a quick feed and then flying on through at this time of year. They should be hanging around for longer soon though and the best places to see them are from Horrocks Hide using the side window looking out over the flash or better still taking a walk over to the opposite side of the spit, along the shoreline path along Ramsdales Ruck all the way down to the western end  

29 singing chiffchaff around the flash this morning/early afternoon, also 2 Redshank, the long-staying Long-tailed Duck and 6 Sand Martin (latter thanks to Bill Harrison).

Single Black-tailed Godwit on the spit this morning, also two Redshank.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Single Black-tailed Godwit on the sp this morning, also two Redshank.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

9:45 -12:30. Very quiet this morning compared to the excitement of yesterday. Best I could manage was the long-tailed duck still in Ramsdales, 6 singing chiffchaffs and 1 singing Cetti's warbler. No hirundines, no waders except oystercatchers and no new warblers. A bit of a build up of adult lesser black-backed gulls at the moment, with around 30 in the centre of the flash and the partially melanistic or stained black-headed gull was still around the spit.

7.30 - 11.00 & 13.00 - 16.40. Magical views of the little gulls this morning with Bill as they hawked for insects and often walked on water like storm petrels. A privilege to see them so well, the experience made all the better by the drizzle because that was probably what was keeping them there. They didn't stay long once the rain stopped and there was no sign this afternoon. Also this morning 7 singing chiffchaffs, 3 singing Cetti's warblers, long-tailed duck and at least 8 sand martins.

Four Little Gulls present this morning, plus a little Egret.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

So far at the flash, at least 60 sand martins and long-tailed duck still.

Four sand martins this evening, but nothing in the gull roost for me except the usual common species. Attached are a couple more photos of the black-necked grebe.

A pair of Common Scoter also present this afternoon on the main flash

14.15 black-necked grebe still, from the point when I took the photo, now heading for Ramsdales.

Black-necked Grebe present this morning.

Also, Long-tailed Duck still present.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

PM

Juvenile Iceland Gull and 2 breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gulls roosted this evening.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

A good if wet day at the flash today with Karl Bishop around the north bank.
Long Tailed Duck-1 imm Male
Sand Martin- 3 first of year for me
KingFisher-2...
Oystercatcher-4
Goldeneye-26
Cetti's Warbler-2
Chiffchaff-1
Snipe-3
Goosander-10

a juvenile Iceland Gull roosted this evening

PM

Long Tailed Duck - 1 Imm Male (very mobile flying round a lot with the Goldeneye, probably a matter of time before it leaves with one of the Goldeneye groups,or on its own.

Oystercatcher-4

Redshank-2

Goosander-8

Cormorant-12

Goldeneye- 18

Some sightings from this morning:

Long-tailed Duck

3 Redshank

3 Snipe

1 White Wagtail

1 Wigeon

Info thank to Bill Harrison

2nd winter yellow-legged gull present again this evening.

Additional to this morning sightings, at least 3 singing Cetti's warblers and 8 singing chiffchaffs on a full circuit of the flash. I'm never certain if there are 1 or 2 Cetti's in Ramsdales, but every morning I also hear 1 singing at Sorrowcow pond and another in the western reedbed, so at least 3 singing birds in total.

Pennington Flash this morning, 7am - 10:15am. Long-tailed duck still present in the middle, at least 7 singing chiffchaffs and 3 singing Cetti's warblers. Also 2 redshanks.