pennington flash

[ChrisJB]

The uplands of Calderdale are quite good for LEOs, in the plantations. I'm not aware of any specific sites (for obvious reasons they are not well publicised). But if you arm yourself with the 1:25 000 OS map (South Pennines) and visit a few at dusk or dawn you should eventually get lucky.

Regards, Chris

[gary jb]

Great spotted woodpecker and Jay are resident there.Large groups of Starlings root at dusk can be a great sight

[heskin]

Anyone know when an osprey was seen there?

[Davy Crockett]

Hi only just found you post, why not join the local bird club, Leigh Ornithological Society. leighos.org.uk

Over 230 bird species recorded on site including, Black-Faced Bunting, Nightingale, Marsh Harrier, Spoonbill and Leach’s Petrel

[Helen Jones]

Hi

Just found this thread - I'm the treasurer for the Leigh Ornithological Society, if you are interested in joining or would like more info, send me your details by private message and I'll get something sent out to you. Alternatively, our next meeting is on the 30th October, 7.30pm at Leigh Library - small entrance fee of £1 for non-members. If you fancy it, come along and say hi!

Re: Penny Flash, I love it at this time of year, always plenty of wildfowl and waders around, in the last few weeks the more interesting species (for me anyway!) have included little egret, pintail, gargeney, yellow-legged gull, whoopers, bt godwit, golden plover and green sandpiper - too many other good 'uns to mention!!

Helen

[ollyk]

I don't suppose you get large gatherings of starlings their do you? I really want my daughter to witness the dusk gatherings so am looking for a good site in the North West!

[captaincarot]

Originally Posted by ollyk

I don't suppose you get large gatherings of starlings their do you? I really want my daughter to witness the dusk gatherings so am looking for a good site in the North West!

first time i ever saw what you're thinking about it was right in the middle of sheffield so you might not have to travel so far to see it, it could be happening just down the road.

[Davy Crockett]

Originally Posted by ollyk

I don't suppose you get large gatherings of starlings their do you? I really want my daughter to witness the dusk gatherings so am looking for a good site in the North West!

No there arn't any gatherings of starlings. But the "Flash" is well worth a day out, its well fix with hides, paths, carpark, facilities, and most of all birds.

[PMG]

Originally Posted by ollyk

I don't suppose you get large gatherings of starlings their do you? I really want my daughter to witness the dusk gatherings so am looking for a good site in the North West!

Leighton Moss before dusk this next month should have a good display of starling coming to roost: its hard to predict how many - I've been on consecutive evenings last year and some were good and some were poor - obviously the starlings have more than one roost spot and pick and choose between them. I;ve even noticed that they move spots around a reedbed too - I suppose the reeds get broken and dirty after a night or two of 5-10,000 starlings bouncing around in them - so they choose different parts of the reserve which makes it hard to predict where to stand to get the best view! Most folk opt for Lilians Hide as its 'in the middle' whether they go right or left - but I prefer to stand outside as I love it when I've got it right and they fly overhead - the whoosing of wings is so fantastic!

And err ....... Pennington - well actually since I finished work there in March this year I haven't actually been back .......... I've concentrated on going just about everywhere and anywhere else but ....... think that has more to do with my previous working life than the place itself ......... nough said methinks!

[ollyk]

Ah thanks, Leighton moss too far tbh. I know there are roosts at Runcorn bridge but they have never compared to what I have seen elsewhere. Maybe we will try that this year.