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...
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Judith Smith
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Lightshaw hall Flash is sacrosanct - NO paths please!
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...
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
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 )
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.
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No one on their death bed ever said they wished they'd spent more time at work. http://bitsnbirds.blogspot.co.uk
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!
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
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
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
) and that 'a mistake' had been made, well your time has come!
)
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 never would have believed it