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Post Info TOPIC: PENNINGTON FLASH.
Ian McKerchar


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PENNINGTON FLASH.
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Highlights from just after first light this morning:

5 Shelduck, with 3 flying in from the west at 07:15, landing briefly off the car park then flying off N/NE, followed by a pair which landed in Ramsdales at 07:57 which eventually flew off S/SW

Drake Scaup still at the western end and showing well

Mallard pair with 15 young at The Point

7 Black-necked Grebes still present but elusive as they were feeding in their tight flock close to the shore along East Bay 

Great White Egret at the western end early but flew off low west. This red-ringed bird, which has now been resident in the west of the county for at least 10 months, was in full resplendent breeding plumage, complete with very long aigrettes on its back and surprisingly pinkish-red legs, the first time I can recall witnessing this plumage in the county.

4 Common Sandpipers

Pair of Great Black-backed Gulls

2 Common Terns

3 Buzzards

Cuckoo singing briefly on the south side at 07:34 and again 07:56

3200 Sand Martins, with numbers increasing during the early morning (from 1660 first count) and more than a dozen counts made. At around 08:10 a proportion of the flock appeared to move off N/NW but this was quickly followed by the entire flock lifting off the water (leaving it totally devoid of hirundines) and circling high in the sky, the culprit for the panic appearing to be a Sparrowhawk. Numbers were then once again good over the water but perhaps less than the highest count made earlier in the morning.

Pair of Linnet on the ruck flew off north

 

 



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colin davies


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7am - 8.15am,

Scaup 1 drake again at western end

Great white egret 1

Goldeneye 2 sub ad drake and female

Black-necked grebe 7

Pochard 6 inc. 5 drakes

Common tern 2

Common sandpiper 3

Green sandpiper 1 in Ramsdales 

Reed warbler 2



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JOHN TYMON


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10-1 pm 16.04.2026

Common Tern -2 (pair) pic below

Black Necked Grebe -7

Little Egret -1

Common Sandpiper- 3

Little Ringed Plover-4

Swift- 8-10 high over rucks 11am

Mixed Hurrundines - 700+ (House Martin. Sand Martin. Swallow )

White Wagtail-1



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Thursday 16th of April 2026 05:36:07 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from first light this morning:

3 Pochard (1 female) off the car park

7 Black-necked Grebes still out in the middle of the flash

3 Common Sandpipers

3 Little Ringed Plovers

Single Black-tailed Godwit flew through west at 08:03

3 Common Terns

1 Garden Warbler singing on the ruck

13 Blackcaps singing around the ruck, also a pair nest building near the leaning posts at Ramsdales Reedbed

7 singing Reed Warblers, including two new in The Point

Grasshopper Warbler reeling on the side of the canal just west of the leaning posts at Ramsdales Reedbed

 



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David Hughes


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Kingfisher whistled past horrocks hide 11 58

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colin davies


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This morning 7.45-10.30,

Black-necked grebe 7 in the middle of the flash

Scaup 1 drake again at the western end

Common tern 2

Common sandpiper 2

Little ringed plover 1

Redshank 1

Whitethroat 3 singing 

Reed warbler 2

 

 



-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 15th of April 2026 10:50:49 AM

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

Single Black-necked Grebe off the South shore

Little Egret at the western end

3 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Common Sandpipers

1940 Sand Martins

Male White Wagtail briefly on The Point

3 singing Reed Warblers in Ramsdales Reedbed

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Early evening today:

3 Black-necked Grebes

Black-tailed Godwit still on Ramsdales Scrape

3 Common Terns, with a pair and a single bird flying west

2 Little Ringed Plovers

3 Redshanks

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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colin davies


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19:00 - 19:45 from Green Lane,

Scaup 1 drake at the western end

Common sandpiper 2 on the spit

Redshank 2 on the spit

Little ringed plover 1 on the spit

 



-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 13th of April 2026 09:40:13 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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Notable birds this morning:

1 Little Egret

2 Common Sandpipers

Reed Warbler still quietly singing from Ramsdales Reedbed

2 singing Whitethroats, with one in the Lock Monument Valley and one on the top of the ruck



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Andy Isherwood


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This mornings highlights included singing Whitethroat and Reed Warbler, 7 singing Cettis Warbler, Black tailed Godwit at least 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 Snipe, Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Greylag geese and all 3 Hirundine species over the water.

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colin davies


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10 black-necked grebes still in the middle at 19:20.

 



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colin davies


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Additional sightings from today,

Black-tailed godwit 1 in Ramsdales (Thanks to Colin Broadhurst for the info)

Pochard 2 male & female off the main car park

Black-necked grebe 10 still present at 2pm

Common sandpiper 3

Photos of the brent geese attached, including the dark-bellied bird in flight. Also the black-necked grebes. Thanks to Ian for the info.

The brents in our area, i.e. Hilbre Island and the North Wales coast are pale-bellied birds with just the occasional dark-bellied and I guess this is where todays birds originate from, since the east coast birds are mainly dark-bellied with the exception of those on Lindisfarne and I'm not sure why those would head our way, especially at this time of year. I was on Hilbre last week when there were still 100+ pale-bellied and a few dark-bellied brents present. Interestingly the pale-bellied birds in our area breed in Greenland and do not generally go to the east coast of England, so it seems a bit of a strange movement for them to appear at Pennington Flash in the middle of April and even stranger for them to head off east. A great sight to see the brents and the grebes in the same scope view!

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from this morning:

11 Brent Geese, consisting of 10 pale-bellied and a single dark-bellied, out from the sailing club. They flew off at 08:05 but quickly returned before eventually flying off high east around 08:33 (attached image of the geese and grebes together!)

10 Black-necked Grebes in a tight flock but very mobile swimming around the flash, including them also flying from one end to the other

4 Little Ringed Plovers

2 Common Sandpipers

2 Redshanks

2 adult Common Terns

1740 Sand Martins

4+ House Martins

At least ‘several’ Swallows

21 Willow Warblers around the ruck

 



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Ian McKerchar


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11 Brent Geese flew off high east around 08:35.



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Ian McKerchar


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Brent Geese (10 pale-bellied and a single dark-bellied) still present off the sailing club at 08:28, Black-necked Grebes very mobile



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Ian McKerchar


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11 Brent Geese currently out from the sailing club.

Also 10 Black-necked Grebes.



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James Tipping


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Highlights from a good late afternoon visit today 10/04

1 Common Scoter, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, 100s of Sand Martins, 1 Reed Warbler (heard from reed bed west of Ramsdale), Willow Warbler, Cetti's Warbler, Blackcap

Spit:

1 Common sandpiper, 3 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher

Ramsdale Scrape:

1 Summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Shelduck



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Ian McKerchar


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Late news for yesterday evening when a Green Sandpiper and Little Ringed Plover were on Ramsdales Scrape.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

 



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pete berry


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A quick look at the flash late morning, 100s of Sand Martins feeding over the water. A few Swallows and at least 2 House Martins in with the feeding hirundines. Willow Warblers,Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps singing and the resident Cettis Warbler singing away by Sorrocow pond.

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Ian McKerchar


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Early this morning:

9 Goldeneye

1 Great White Egrets at the western end

2 Little Ringed Plovers

13 Willow Warblers, 12 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps singing on the ruck

6 Lesser Redpolls together on the ruck



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Zoe Barrett


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Brief visit this evening at Western end. Female common scoter at 18.00. Also Willow tit 2 Cettis warbler Willow warbler Blackcap Chiffchaff 3 Swallow Little egret

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colin davies


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Mainly early afternoon,

Common sandpiper 1 on the spit

Little ringed plover 3 (2 on the spit, 1 from Charlie Owen hide)

Redshank 2 on the spit

Common scoter 1 female in the middle early morning only

Oystercatcher 2

Humans 10,000+ including in the hides hmm



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Andy Isherwood


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Brief visit to the Sailing club this morning produced a single Common Sandpiper on the shore and at least 3 Swallows in with the c.200 Sand Martin over the water.

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steven burke


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To add to Keith's sightings this afternoon...

4 common scoters, 1male & 2 females in east bay, 1 female at the west end.
Hundreds of sand martins low over the lake, eventually picked up 2+ swallows.
2 adult Mediterranean gulls
2 oystercatchers
1 mandarin at the car park
4 little egrets
1 kingfisher
Numerous chiffchaffs
Blackcap heard only near pengys
2 willow warblers, 1 heard singing quietly.
1 willow tit



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Keith Williams


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In front of Horrocks hide
2 x Little Ringed Plover
1 x Common Sandpiper
1 x Redshank

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Ian McKerchar


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Five Common Scoter (one drake) this early afternoon, also 13 Goldeneye, 1 female Goosander, 1 female Pochard and c40 Sand Martins.



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Andy Isherwood


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5 Common Scoter present this morning between the sailing club and the rucks, 1 drake and 4 female, also c.300 Sand Martin.

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JOHN TYMON


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Ian McKerchar wrote:

Five Common Scoter (2 drakes) and c60 Sand Martins late morning today.

 3 Redshank, 1 Little Egret, 2 Little Ringed Plover to add to the above up to 1pm



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Ian McKerchar


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Five Common Scoter (2 drakes) and c60 Sand Martins late morning today.



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning;

Pair of Common Scoter busy diving out in the centre of the flash

12 Goldeneye

Female Goosander through east

Great Black-backed Gull on the spit

140 Sand Martins

2 Redwings over east



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Andy Isherwood


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Sightings from this morning included 3 Common Scoter, with a pair in the centre of the flash and a drake off the eastern reedbed. Pair of Shelduck, 4 Redshank, single adult Mediterranean Gull, singing Willow Warbler, Great White egret, 3 Siskin, 2 Redwing over and 2 Redpoll.

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Keith Williams


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Drake Common Scoter an Little Ringed Plover this morning

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Ian McKerchar


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Ian McKerchar wrote:

Highlights from first thing this morning included:

Probably a Puffin Island colour-ringed second calendar year Cormorant on the spit 

 Colour ringed Cormorant was the same individual as seen on the flash in December 2025.



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from first thing this morning included:

Female Pochard

Probably a Puffin Island colour-ringed second calendar year Cormorant on the spit 

Great White and Little Egret at the western end

200+ Sand Martins

17 Meadow Pipits on the grass by the sailing club

Willow Warbler singing by The Point



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JOHN TYMON


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Only things of note this morning 

Willow Warbler- 1 near Edmonson hide singing

Little Ringed Plover - 2 at boat clubs

Wifeon -3 

Mandarin-1 

Oystercatcher- seems the car park bird that's been around about 8 years has finally

Got a mate ,he was with another on the side of the car park feeding this morning 



-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 27th of March 2026 03:18:02 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from first thing this morning:

Drake Mandarin down by the car park

Female Common Scoter just off the East Bay

9 Goldeneye

3 Little Egrets

1 Little Ringed Plover

1 Ringed Plover flew east

4 Redshanks

3 very vocal adult Mediterranean Gulls on the spit, including an obvious pair. At one point the pair flew off north but quickly flew back in down the centre of the flash from the west and back onto the spit

240 Sand Martins

9 Siskins at the western end

10+ Lesser Redpolls at the western end 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

2 Shelduck

2 drake Common Scoter

Great White Egret (unringed) at the western end

Little Egret flew over west

2 Redshanks

22 Sand Martins

6 Meadow Pipits on the ruck

8 singing Chiffchaffs on the ruck

10 Lesser Redpolls together on the western side of the ruck

 



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dave broome


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This evening Great White Egret at the west end
1 drake Mandarin
1 Pochard
61 Tufted Duck
11 Goldeneye
9 Oystercatcher
19 Lapwing
2 Redshank
665 Black-headed Gull roosting, very few large gulls
17 Great Crested Grebe
350 Jackdaw in pre-roost flight around the south side
Cettis Warbler singing at Sorrowcow Pond
House Sparrow min 5 on Green Lane

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Andy Isherwood


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Birds seen this morning included 2 male Wheatear in the ruck, 2 Little ringed plover on the spit, at least 2 Blackcap at the west end. Drake Scaup still in East bay, single Great White egret and Little egret at west end. Several small flocks of Siskin buzzing about, 7 singing Cettis warbler and at least 4 Redshank.



-- Edited by Andy Isherwood on Sunday 22nd of March 2026 08:23:20 PM

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JOHN TYMON


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Scaup Drake off car park this morning 

4 redshank, 4 Oystercatcher, 3 cetti"s Warbler,  14 Goldeneye 



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights this morning:

Great White Egret at the western end

1 Little Ringed Plover on the sailing club shore

3 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit

3 Redshanks

A lone Sand Martin through NE

6 singing Chiffchaffs around the ruck

2 Linnets NW together over the ruck 

14 Siskins around the ruck, with 6 at the very eastern end and 8 at the western end



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights from this morning:

2 drake Common Scoter (photo in early very misty and bright conditions)

1 Little Egret at the western end

1 Great White Egret flew straight through high east at 07:30

2 Redshanks

4 singing Chiffchaffs on the ruck

8+ Siskins around The Point

2 Lesser Redpolls around The Point and a further two on the top of the ruck



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JOHN TYMON


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Of note this morning

Mandarin - 1 Drake (pic below ) 

Redshank - 2 

Sand Martin -4 

Oystercatcher-6

Chiffchaff - 2 

Goldeneye- 12



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colin davies


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Single sand martin this morning, also 4 redshank and water rail showing well at Pengy's. 



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Ian McKerchar


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From first light this morning:

8 Greylag Geese

7 Pochard (5 drakes)

23 Goldeneye

2 Goosander

2 Little Egrets at the western end, flew off towards Lightshaw Croft at 06:50

1 Great White Egret on the south side and another over high west at 07:58 may have dropped down towards Bickershaw

8 Oystercatchers

1 Redshank on the sailing club shore

3 Curlews over NE together at 07:50

27 Sand Martins

8 Siskin and 4 Lesser Redpolls feeding together along the Canal Zone



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Andy Isherwood


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This mornings highlights included 4 Great White egret with 3 feeding together on the south side and another flying into the nature reserve area from the East. 4 Little egret flew over Slag Lane from the direction of the flash and landed in the fields behind Byron Hall. 5 singing Cettis warbler and at least 8 singing Chiffchaff. c 12 Sand Martin in East bay, 2 Redshank on the spit and a few Siskin dotted about the site.

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JOHN TYMON


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Am of note

Goldeneye-21

2 Common Scoter still present asleep in middle of flash at 12.00pm

Wigeon - 19

Sand Martin - 15

Great White Egret - 1

Mandarin- 1 Male

Cettis Warbler-2

Redshank -2

Oystercatcher- 8



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

31 Wigeon, all took off at 07:20 with 15 landing back on the flash fairly quickly but the other 16 birds circled high over the flash calling loudly for 50 minutes (!) before eventually heading off E/SE at 08:10

2 drake Common Scoter

6 Sand Martins

1 Lesser Redpoll north over the ruck

 



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JOHN TYMON


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Male Scaup off the car Park this afternoon , still there at 2.30pm



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