Late news for yesterday, the eclipse garganey was still present from Horrocks hide, near the tern raft. Also the Egyptian goose still around the car park.
Perhaps of interest, this morning I had an escaped falconers bird on a telegraph post at home which is about half a mile from the flash at most. It looked like an adult and was like a slim peregrine with a rufous crown, in my opinion from the photos it is most like a Barbary falcon or a small lanner, though could equally be a hybrid. Maybe worth bearing in mind if anybody sees an unusual falcon at the flash.
Egyptian Goose still present, near kiddies sandpit. No more/less wary than the Canadas. Wings not clipped, but right primary slightly more worn than left. Legs not seen. As good as any other UK Egyptian Goose, in my book
Looking at this image taken by Karl Bishop yesterday of the Pennington Flash Garganey as hinted by Colin Davies it seems to be a immature or eclipse type Male . Great shot again by Karl
Picture - Garganey - by Karl Bishop
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 26th of August 2018 08:12:49 PM
Garganey still showing well around the direction finder outside Horrocks hide between 9:30 - 10:30, though often disappearing in the vegetation for periods. I didn't see it fly, but 10 minutes later there was a garganey just off the tern raft on the right hand end of the spit, making me wonder if there might be two birds, but unfortunately I didn't see any further sign of garganey close to the hide so can't confirm this. Looking at the photos, it looks more like an eclipse or possibly juvenile male to me.
Highlights of a brief look round this am were:
Immature or female Redstart briefly seen and heard several times in 2nd hedge east of Sorrowcow farm, Juvenile Dunlin on shore of sailing club, Green Sandpiper from Horrocks hide and Egyptian Goose with Canada's round benches.
Now confirmed that there are 2 Redstart in Whittles Fields, directions as below (actually in the trees around the closest field to Sorrowcow Farm currently).
Redstart around Whittles Fields at 12:25 today (the grass fields immediately to the east of Sorrowcow Farm on the southern side of the flash) and possibly a second bird there too.
Chiffchaff, willow warbler, blackcap, whitethroat, swallow, house martin, pied wagtail, song thrush, jay. 1 Cetti's warbler (showing very well towards the western end) 100+ sand martin 2+ grey wagtail 2 (or 4) kingfisher, putting on a great show from T Edmondson's & (later) Teal hides 300+ coot 10 teal 21+ gadwall 3 shoveler 25+ tufted duck 1 Egyptian goose 7 little grebe c60 great crested grebe (flotilla of 50+ from Ramsdale's hide / reedbed) c60 lapwing 1 snipe (feeding right in front of Ramsdale's) 10+ grey heron 7+ common tern 1 common gull 1 herring gull 1 kestrel 1 sparrowhawk 1 buzzard
One of those rare days where all the birds were being extremely obliging.
On Friday evening 20th July there was a colour ringed juvenile black-headed gull Red 24L1 by the car park. This was ringed as a nestling at Belvide Reservoir, Staffs on 16th June 2018 so quite a rapid dispersal. Many thanks to Colin McShane for the ringing information.
2 Egyptian geese from Horrocks hide this am also 3 Snipe, 5 Oystercatcher, Redshank, 10 Common Tern and single Yellow Wagtail heard over southern side near sailing club.