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BACK TO THE MANCHESTER BIRDING WEBSITE HOMEPAGE -> Manchester Birding Forum -> GREATER MANCHESTER BIRD SIGHTINGS -> PENNINGTON FLASH.
Post Info TOPIC: PENNINGTON FLASH.
Ian McKerchar


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RE: PENNINGTON FLASH.
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Visible migration watch from 7:15-10:00 (passage all but dried up by 9am) this morning produced:

1507 Woodpigeon S/SE in 38 flocks

1096 Pink-footed Geese E/SE in 8 skeins from 08:18 to 09:25 and a single bird west at 08:39

2 single immature Whooper Swans low west, only a minute apart from each other at 08:30

82 Redwing south in several small flocks

22 redpoll south

52 Chaffinch south

26 Greenfinch south

31 Goldfinch south

many other finches over south unidentified due to their height/distance 

9 Goosander in groups of 3, 4 and 2

Other sightings around the flash included:

A Cetti's Warbler extremely active and showing very well out in the open, calling nervously continuously around the reedbed and shoreline bushes by the point on Ramsdales Ruck; probably one of the resident birds having a little wander 

13 Little Grebe

2 Kingfishers along the north side of the flash

 



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Jeff Gorse


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Brief early afternoon visit as a break from the office!

Sightings -

1 x willow tit, 2 x nuthatch, multiples of great tit, blue tit, greenfinch, chaffinch and bullfinch at the Bunting Hide, briefly scared off when a male sparrowhawk dropped like a stone onto the hollow log but departed almost immediately having just missed out.

Cetti's warbler singing loudly from the screen across from Tom Edmondson Hide, didn't manage a spot as it was deep in the undergrowth but very close at hand.



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colin davies


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A few photos of the common tern which has been present for the past few days. Interesting to me because it's my latest ever common tern, anywhere, in fact it's the first I have ever seen in October, so an opportunity to get a good look at it's plumage at this time of year. What makes the date even more remarkable to me is that this is an adult not a juvenile. I would have expected adults to be long gone by now, and any stragglers to be juveniles.

It was very approachable, and I wondered if it was unwell, but an angler told me that it had been feeding on casters which he had been throwing into the water, and later I saw it fishing in the western bay so perhaps it's just a tame bird (extreme northern breeder??). It's also more or less still in breeding plumage, with a full black cap and quite a lot of red in the bill (I love the yellow tip!). Just a hint of a carpel bar perhaps and the dark patch behind the eye is there, despite the fact that the forehead is still black.

It seems quite short legged and pale to me, but a I'm not trying to claim anything other than common tern!



-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 9th of October 2017 07:36:51 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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Further sightings from this morning:

 

5 Swallow

5 Snipe

8 Redwing over

c700 Pink-footed Geese over in total so far this morning

 

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 

 



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colin davies


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Also this morning, common tern still present.



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Ian McKerchar


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So far this morning:

Female Common Scoter

9 Wigeon

2 Pintail west

c530 Pink-footed Geese over

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 



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Ian McKerchar


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Adult Mediterranean Gull posted again this evening.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Ian McKerchar


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Main flash and Ramsdales Ruck highlights this morning:

Adult Common Tern still present

27 Pink-footed Geese low over east

Influx of Song Thrushes and Goldcrest saw 15 of the former and 16 of the latter around the ruck but a notable exodus of Chiffchaff



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Ian McKerchar


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Single adult Mediterranean Gull present in the evening's gull roost today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes



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Steve Judge


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Friday, 6th October 2017

At 09:30 hrs - Bittern seen flying into reeds to right of Ramsdale's Flash (looking from standing posts towards Pennington Flash)

Cetti's Warbler heard (but not seen) to left of Ramsdale's Flash

Common Tern x 1 (above canal)

Other birds seen included:
Kingfisher x 2
Grey Heron x 3
Sparrowhawk x 1
Grey Wagtail x 2
Great Spotted Woodpecker x 1
Willow Tit x 1
Gadwall x 8
Teal x 1
Lapwing x 20
Bullfinch x 2
Coal Tit x 2
Dunnock x 1
Blue Tit x 5
Great Tit x 3
Chaffinch x 3
Robin x 1
Canada Geese x 20
Great Crested Grebe x 5
Tufted Ducks x lots
Black-Headed Gulls x lots
Cormorant x 10
Mute Swan x 4
Jay x 1
Mallard x 40
Blackbird x 5
Wren x 1
Moorhen x 10
Coot x lots
Magpie x 4
Carrion Crow x 8

In addition - following were seen yesterday:
Goosander x 3 different sightings
Shoveler x 10
Little Grebe x 2
Greenfinch x 4





-- Edited by Steve Judge on Friday 6th of October 2017 02:28:36 PM

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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

 

4 Ruff flew around the spit early am, landed briefly then at least 3 of them flew off east

Common Tern still present

16 Pink-footed Geese over NW

 

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 

 

 



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Ian McKerchar


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This morning:

adult Common Tern

Cetti's warbler giving prolonged and unobstructed views whilst singing by Ramsdales Reedbed

9 Chiffchaff and 14 Goldcrest around the area of Ramdsdales Ruck and the canal



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Ian McKerchar


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Early this morning:

c370 Pink-footed Geese over SE

8 Snipe

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 



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Ian McKerchar


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So far this morning:

Green Sandpiper

Black-tailed Godwit

7 Snipe

2 Wigeon

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 

 GREEN SAND 1 BLACK T GODWIT 7 SNIPE 2 WIGEON



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richard howells 2


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The Sandbach U3A Birdwatching Group visited today, and were a bit surprised to find the  hides locked. Opened around 1030. 42 species recorded, best being 6 Snipe in front of the Horrocks' hide, female Blackcap at Pengy's, and up to 5 Willow Tit seen between Pengys and Bunting hides. Good day.



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Ian McKerchar


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John Watson wrote:

Of interest at Martin Mere y'day 25th Sept, presumably the same individual:

 Yesterday's skua at Pennington was a dark-phase bird John, so couldn't have been the same individual.



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John Watson


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Of interest at Martin Mere y'day 25th Sept, presumably the same individual:

"...at midday a pale adult/sub adult Arctic Skua flew over the In Focus shop coming from inland ..."

Photographed by Tony Disley (In Focus)

http://www.wwt.org.uk/news/all-news/2017/09/wwt-martin-mere-sightings/skua

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Ian McKerchar


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No further sightings of this morning’s skua but a Curlew flew east and a Redshank was on the spit.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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Ian McKerchar


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Dark-phase Arctic Skua present at 09:30; flew off towards the western end.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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Ian McKerchar


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Two female/immature Red-breasted Mergansers off Ramsdales Ruck this morning, though site still slightly misty.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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Ian McKerchar


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Three Common scoter present this morning (two drakes and a female).

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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JOHN TYMON


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only things of note different than yesterday was 2 Ravens,2 Sparrowhawk,3 Kingfisher and 3 Grey Wagtail .

 

:)



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JOHN TYMON


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Another Mooch on my Patch Pennington Flash today with Charlie Owen what did we see...
Teal - 171 (Good Number)
Shoveler-36
Common Snipe- 6
Kingfisher- 3+
Cormorant- 37
Wigeon- 12 (11 on main flash and one on Ramsdales scrape area)
Chiffchaff-2
Jay- 10
Buzzard-5 >S
Kestrel-2
Sparrowhawk- 1 Female
Tufted Duck -200+
Lesser Black Backed Gull-47
plus the usuals :)


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Jon Taverner


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Dipper back at the place where it was recently seen which is on the south side of the former railway bridge that goes over the brook heading toward St Helens' Road- noticed it at around 15.10 on a walk to the Flash and then again at 16.00 when I returned. Don't know whether there is more than one. Now that the water level has gone down, a number of suitable stones are available. 



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Ian McKerchar


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David Shallcross wrote:

thank you, Ian, for the explanation. A step too far for my liking. regards David 

 Can't say I necessarily disagree David, although I really don't know enough about them either.



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David Shallcross


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thank you, Ian, for the explanation. A step too far for my liking. regards David 



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colin davies


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A single wigeon from Ramsdales, little egret and several chiffchaffs were the best I could manage from a circuit in the rain this morning.



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Ian McKerchar


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A small piece of coloured plastic is attached to the upper mandible and secured through the nostrils. It carries a code which permits easy in-field reading of such ‘ringed‘ birds (they also carry the usually metal ring on one of the legs too) and apparently cause no ill effects or discomfor/disablement to the bird itself.

An image of such a bird (not the Pennington one I might add) is attached to give you a better idea.



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David Shallcross


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Ian would you please explain what is meant by nasal saddled.



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Ian McKerchar


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Ian McKerchar wrote:

A nasal saddled female Tufted Duck amongst the couple of hundred present which, subject to confirmation, looks to have come from a French project

 This female was initially 'ringed' on 14th June 2017 at Sainte Suzanne, Mayenne in north-west France and was still present there on 18th July.



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights this afternoon included:

24 Chiffchaff and 4 Blackcap around the site

2 Reed Warblers in Ramsdales Reedbed, one of which was persisting with a bit of feeble sub-song!



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colin davies


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This morning:

Wigeon 3

Pink-footed goose 4 over north

Great spotted woodpecker 6

Swallow 10

Lapwing 500



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JOHN TYMON


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AM/PM

Whinchat - 1 Juv on the Rucks ,seen twice ,but distant for pics

Great Crested Grebe-81 (good number)

Black Tailed Godwit - 1

Kingfisher-2

Kestrel-2

Buzzard-5

Swallow -50+>s

House Martin-10+>s

Sand Martin- 2

Cormorant-40

Tufted Duck-260

Chiffchaff-1

Cetti's Warbler-2

Grey Heron-10

Lapwing-550

 



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JOHN TYMON


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AM/PM

Kingfisher-2

Black Tailed Godwit-1

Swallow- 100 >s

Sand Martin-10>s

House Martin-20>s

Cormorant-26

Pink Footed Geese- 96>E(3 groups)

Common Snipe-1

Cetti's Warbler - 1 Male singing

Chiffchaff-2

Long Tailed Tit- 14

Tufted Duck - 262

Great Crested Grebe-72

small numbers of Shoveler and Teal

:)

 



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Craig Higson


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84 Pink-footed Geese, single Wigeon and a single Black-tailed Godwit from Horrocks Hide the highlights this morning.

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Ian McKerchar


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Singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret and Swift present so far today.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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dave broome


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2 Raven west this afternoon 



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Ian McKerchar


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Single Black Tern and Black-tailed Godwit present this morning.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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JOHN TYMON


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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


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Ian McKerchar


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Hobby over Ramsdales Ruck this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme



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Ian McKerchar


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Highlights this morning were:

Drake Common Scoter

2 Swift

Info thanks to Bill Harrison



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Ian McKerchar


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Single Dipper present this morning, under the first bridge from the flash car park (bypass bridge).

Info thanks to Jim Caulfield



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John Watson


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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

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colin davies


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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.



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Ian McKerchar


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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



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JOHN TYMON


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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.



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Ian McKerchar


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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



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Ian McKerchar


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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.



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colin davies


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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

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Two dippers under the same bridge now. Photo to follow.



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