The finder of the Wilson's Phalarope was James Harvey (whose details I have and whom I know). I did appraoch him years ago about submitting it but I don't think he felt confident about writing a description. I can have another go if you want...

No, unfortunately the Pennington Wilsons Phalarope was never submitted to BBRC, there was never any question over it's identification but at the time the finder (or identifier atleast) had his own personal reasons for not submitting it. Maybe it's not too late...

The Wilsons Phal was at Woolston Eyes before putting in an appearance at Pennington.I remember seeing it at Woolston on the drained No. 3 bed.

These phal's got me wondering - was the reported Wilson's at Pennington (early 1990's?) ever submitted to BBRC?
I recall it turned up at Martin Mere later on the same day, where incidentally there was Grey and Red-Necked together, later in the same autumn if I recall correctly (the brain's getting old).

It's still a rather staggering county event which brings a broad smile to my face whenever I think about it. Just think TWO phalaropes, one a Red-necked, one a Grey, less than a mile apart the very same day in a little inland north-west county, both species mega county records. I for one am very grateful to those who found the birds as I'm sure we all are but what it does show is that during what appeared to be a very quiet county birding period, two county megas appeared from nowhere, proof that if we try hard enough we can pull good birds from anywhere in our county, instead of complaining about not living in Norfolk or somewhere, which I for one probably do plenty of

The pics will silence the doubters, who on earth had any doubts?

For those who doubted the existence of the Red-necked Phalarope at Pennington, believing that there could never be two phalaropes only a mile apart (and you are out there, I know you are ) and that 'a mistake' had been made, well your time has come!

I have just place Arthur Doyle's record shots (but worth their weight in gold, so a million thanks Arthur) onto the gallery on the website and whilst they are just that (record shots) they clearly prove that the Pennington Phalarope was a different bird to the Hope Carr, grey upperparts Grey Phalarope and was ineed a Red-necked Phalarope, check out the fully brown upperparts and goldish mantle stripes just visable on one of the images, the overall rather delicate build is also evident even from these shots.

Public apologies will be accepted posted on to this forum (I think most of the doubters were 'out-of-county birders though )

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 23:48, 2007-09-19

Two visits this morning to Pennington but no sign of the RN Phalarope , at least I saw Ian Woosey

I spent about an hour at Pennington Flash yesterday evening to no avail If only work would add a clause to its flexi time policy that allowed you out of the office to twitch county rarities on your local patch.

I'm hoping beyond hope it turns up again today.

I'm so pleased for all of you that saw it at Pennington, honest.

Got the Grey at Hope Carr Missed the Red Necked at Penny If only i didn't have to work

Fantastic bird and great to have 2 Phalaropes in the county at the same time.

Shrike(out of county) and a Phalarope in less than a month I never would have believed it
All thanks to this website

Dean.

-- Edited by Dean Mac at 22:52, 2007-09-18

worth pointing out that the grey phal at hope carr is a non breeding plumaged adult and not a juv, unlike the red necked phal at pennington which was a full juv!

Said summat daft then edited it !

Pleased to say I connected twice

What a day for the county.

(Ian, don`t forget you owe me a quid )

Oh, ye bitter and twisted out there- shoulda, woulda, coulda

Even I have to admit that if I hadn't seen the Red-necked with my very own eyes I might have been sceptical but brown is brown and grey is grey. And anyway, rugby tackles are allowed when there's Tournament points at stake for re-identification, now who wishes he'd have joined in

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 18:40, 2007-09-18

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 18:42, 2007-09-18

Not saying much Mr Woosey lol.

Cant see the Photo's on the Gallery yet Mr McKerchar?

-- Edited by warfy at 18:35, 2007-09-18

Didnt the Red Necked Phal fly off towards Hope Carr? Just kidding Ian go on I accept that there was one of each Im just gripped off again. A classic adult winter Grey Phalarope too, my third in the county.

I was just saying to Judith at Hope Carr "Looks like a Grey Phal to me" when Ian rugby tackled me out of the way(he had no optics again) and confirmed it

Yep a good day in the county indeed, well for some

I think you might be busy updating the listing section tonight Ian




-- Edited by warfy at 18:21, 2007-09-18

Here's the low down on the two Phalaropes, yes, TWO Phalaropes in Greater Manchester in one day no more than a mile apart!

On the 17th of September, Pennington Flash regular John Lyons noticed an unfamiliar wader right underneath Horrock's hide, roughly where the direction sign is, and although it is uncertain whether he identified it at this point or not he made his way to the visitor centre and was fortunate that Peter Alker was working early that day. The bird was still present at very close range and Peter released the information as a Red-necked Phalarope, of course it was never seen again that day!

Today, the 18th of September, long-time Pennington regular Arthur Doyle re-found the bird approximately in the middle of the flash and very efficiently released the news. Fortunately I was very close to Pennington at the time and was on site in about 5 minutes and sure enough there was a very pleasant juvenile Red-necked Phalarope feeding in the middle of the flash, dark brown back complete with bright mantle stripes! The bird was seen by approximately 30 or so birders before the wind picked up and it became more difficult to see, soon being lost to view and not seen subsequently.

Then at around just after 3pm the same day I receive a message on my Birdnet pager that the Red-necked Phalarope is at Hope Car Nature Reserver! Within 20 minutes I am there being met by the Warfords and Judith Smith who have the bird pinned down in their scopes, after no more than a cursory glance however and the bird is very obviously a Grey Phalarope, complete with a full grey mantle!

Difficult to believe I know but Greater Manchester did indeed host a Red-necked and Grey Phalarope the very same day no more than a mile apart. County birding at it's very best

Ian McK certain there are two birds - the Grey on Hope Carr and a Red-necked on Pennington - anyone out there finding the Wilson's to make it a set?!

Been put out as a Grey Phal on RBA!

18/9/07

The Pennington juv RED-NECKED PHALAROPE has been re-found at Hope Carr NR @ 15.00ish, present on the first tank on the right, off the main path.

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar at 17:45, 2007-09-18