pennington flash

[Morph]

Originally Posted by 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.

You could try Rostherne Mere they sometimes get good flocks the reedbeds are are at the south west corner best viewed from Dirty Lane near the farm, And what about Wigan Flashes Davy should put us right if they get any, there's certainly plenty of reeds. Also you could try Woolsten Eyes if your a member.

[Jonathan]

Originally Posted by PMG

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!

Reading the LDBWS website, John Wilson reckoned over 50,000 starlings left the roost last Sunday morning! I was in Lillians around 4.30pm on Saturday and certainly thousands of starlings around, but seemed to be favouring the area towards Grizedale rather than in front of Lillians.

Cheers
Jonathan

[PMG]

Originally Posted by Jonathan

Reading the LDBWS website, John Wilson reckoned over 50,000 starlings left the roost last Sunday morning! I was in Lillians around 4.30pm on Saturday and certainly thousands of starlings around, but seemed to be favouring the area towards Grizedale rather than in front of Lillians.

Cheers
Jonathan

Ta for that Jonathon - I will bear it in mind next week when I intend spending some time at LM.

Pauline

[Helen Jones]

For the past week or so there has been a Slavonian Grebe showing well at the flash - haven't seen it myself (too busy at work ) but have heard numerous reports.

H
x

[Lancastrian]

Had Green Sandpiper a couple of weeks ago. There is nearly always something to be seen - although it was rather disappointing to see the Bunting hide was flooded over the weekend.

[Davy Crockett]

Water levels are a problem at Penny, a lot going in, but restricted at the out fall. it's bad in the breeding season when there are flash floods. ground nesters get swamped out.

[Nightranger]

It is a well watched site so there is usually plenty of information to tap into. Sadly, the LEOs are gone now but black-necked grebes and smew are becoming regular visitors in winter, which is not bad for a site in Lancashire. Pennington Flash has a lot going for it throughout the year from being one of the best places for a variety of warblers and other migrants in spring through to the less common waterfowl and if the water is low enough, some good waders.

[satnavbirder]

Pennington flash
Neill Carden ‘The Satnavbirder’
Another truly amazing place to visit in the North West of England and except for the £1.00 car park fee entry is FREE. I was recommended this reserve by a fellow birder who could not stop ranting about the place, all this lady could do was rant on about how well run and laid out the area was, and boy was she right!
All seven hides are wheelchair friendly as are the paths to them, from the minute you park in the car park the views across the 70 hectare lake are spectacular. The lake is the centre of this 200 hectare park. This is one of Wigan’s premier bird watching sites and over 230 different species have been recorded at the site these include Nightingale, Spoonbills, Black faced bunting, Marsh Harrier and a good variety of sea birds are just a few.
There is also a good variety of other wildlife including butterflies, dragon flies, Damselflies, foxes and hares, these are regularly sighted.
The Bunting hide is fantastic and the feeders have been arranged in such a way that trees and bushes have been left to create a very natural and inviting habitat.
Last time I visited the site and took another birder Johnny Carr, he had travelled up from Sussex and was in awe at the number of Bullfinches in one spot. A sighting of one in Sussex is a special occasion, but 20 plus pairs all within 15 feet and with some good photographic background made a spectacular day for a southerner visiting the North, so much so he returned two weeks later.
Johnny Carr Photography, Bird photograpy
Local bird watching group Manchester Birding have a good link on their website regarding Pennington Flash.
http://www.manchesterbirding.com/pen...nsiteguide.htm
Another good and informative link is the one below by the local Wigan borough council.
Wigan's Parks and Countryside
If you do make the effort to visit this fantastic site take your time to walk all the way around. Walk up to the canal and watch some of the canal barges coming through the locks, this is easily accessed by following the main walk way until you come to some steps that look like they lead to nowhere, also take the time to look in the reed beds that run either side of some of the pathways, you will be surprised at what is flitting in and out. Kingfishers are very often heard and spotted but in the distance, a Black necked Grebe in summer plumage was present for a short time this year.
This is a ideal family hotspot with good park and play area’s for children set away from the bird hides.
PENNINGTON FLASH COUNTRY PARK
Off St Helens Road
Leigh
Greater Manchester
WN7 3PA
Tel 01942 605253
HOW TO GET HERE
BY CAR: - The Park lies close to the A580 East Lancashire Road and is well signposted from it
BY BUS: - From Leigh Bus Station take the 600 to the outskirts of the Park, get off at the Robin Hood pub,
for details Tel 01942 883501
ON FOOT: - The Park is only a short walk away from Leigh town centre, there is a footpath entrance into the Eastside of the Park from St Helens Road, which will take you along the old Pennington Railway line

[Davy Crockett]

Originally Posted by satnavbirder

Pennington flash
Neill Carden ‘The Satnavbirder’
Another truly amazing place to visit in the North West of England and except for the £1.00 car park fee entry is FREE. I was recommended this reserve by a fellow birder who could not stop ranting about the place, all this lady could do was rant on about how well run and laid out the area was, and boy was she right!
All seven hides are wheelchair friendly as are the paths to them, from the minute you park in the car park the views across the 70 hectare lake are spectacular. The lake is the centre of this 200 hectare park. This is one of Wigan’s premier bird watching sites and over 230 different species have been recorded at the site these include Nightingale, Spoonbills, Black faced bunting, Marsh Harrier and a good variety of sea birds are just a few.
There is also a good variety of other wildlife including butterflies, dragon flies, Damselflies, foxes and hares, these are regularly sighted.
The Bunting hide is fantastic and the feeders have been arranged in such a way that trees and bushes have been left to create a very natural and inviting habitat.
Last time I visited the site and took another birder Johnny Carr, he had travelled up from Sussex and was in awe at the number of Bullfinches in one spot. A sighting of one in Sussex is a special occasion, but 20 plus pairs all within 15 feet and with some good photographic background made a spectacular day for a southerner visiting the North, so much so he returned two weeks later.
Johnny Carr Photography, Bird photograpy
Local bird watching group Manchester Birding have a good link on their website regarding Pennington Flash.
http://www.manchesterbirding.com/pen...nsiteguide.htm
Another good and informative link is the one below by the local Wigan borough council.
Wigan's Parks and Countryside
If you do make the effort to visit this fantastic site take your time to walk all the way around. Walk up to the canal and watch some of the canal barges coming through the locks, this is easily accessed by following the main walk way until you come to some steps that look like they lead to nowhere, also take the time to look in the reed beds that run either side of some of the pathways, you will be surprised at what is flitting in and out. Kingfishers are very often heard and spotted but in the distance, a Black necked Grebe in summer plumage was present for a short time this year.
This is a ideal family hotspot with good park and play area’s for children set away from the bird hides.
PENNINGTON FLASH COUNTRY PARK
Off St Helens Road
Leigh
Greater Manchester
WN7 3PA
Tel 01942 605253
HOW TO GET HERE
BY CAR: - The Park lies close to the A580 East Lancashire Road and is well signposted from it
BY BUS: - From Leigh Bus Station take the 600 to the outskirts of the Park, get off at the Robin Hood pub,
for details Tel 01942 883501
ON FOOT: - The Park is only a short walk away from Leigh town centre, there is a footpath entrance into the Eastside of the Park from St Helens Road, which will take you along the old Pennington Railway line

Or visit: leighos.org.uk The Local bird enthusiasts:
Leigh Orinithological Society