Sunday 28 February 2010

A Successful Morning at Pennington Flash

Yesterday I went out to Pennington Flash with my new hide clamp for my spotting scope and camera. It was a revelation to see how much better the clamp made my scope - I could now see clearly without my eyelashes getting in the way and without needing to hold the scope still on a flimsy tripod. I would thoroughly recommend a decent hide clamp to everyone - it makes your other equipment seem much better.

At Horrocks Hide I spotted and positvely identified the following ducks and birds:

  • Teal (two Male and Female pairs)
  • Goosander
  • Goldenye (two Male and Female pairs)
  • Tufted Duck (Male and Female)
  • Great Crested Grebe
  • Grey Heron
  • Mallard (Male and Female pairs)
  • Canada Goose
  • Moorhen
  • Coot
  • Redshank (a single Male and Female pair)
  • Cormorant
  • Lapwing (Peewit)
  • Black Headed Gull
  • Mute Swan
From Pengy's Hide I spotted:
  • Shoveler (Male and Female)
  • Gadwall
  • Coot
  • Moorhen
  • Tufted Duck (Male and Female)
From Lapwing Hide I saw:
  • Tufted Duck
  • Gadwall
  • Coot
And from Bunting Hide (the Feeding Station) I saw:
  • Bullfinch
  • Robin
  • Blackbird
  • Blue Tit
  • Coal Tit
  • Willow Tit
  • Long Tailed Tit
  • Corn Bunting
  • Greenfinch
  • Chaffinch
  • Dunnock
  • Magpie
  • Stock Dove
  • Moorhen
... and a lone rat!

Thanks to all those anonymous birdwatchers who helped me spot and identify the Redshank, Goldeneye and Gadwall which I'd not previously seen here before.

Thursday 11 February 2010

Two Skylarks


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Here's an action picture of two skylarks 'larking about'! I took this while geocaching at Cow Hill just of Plodder Lane in Farnworth, Bolton. First of all I could hear the birds way up in the sky singing their characteristic song, but I couldn't see them. Then I saw them diving to the ground, before eventually landing and walking about in the grass.

After a while they'd ascend almost vertically (the Lark ascending) way up high to become almost invisible again before repeating the dive again. It was a great sight on a beautifully sunny February day.

Species: Skylark
Date: February 2010
Location: Cow Hill, Bolton, Lancashire

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Collared Doves


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Collared doves always seems to go around all 'lovey dovey' in pairs - ah, ain't that sweet?


Species: Collared Dove
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire



Pheasant


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It was quite a surprise to see this pheasant turn up in the Bunting Hide.



Species: Pheasant
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Greenfinch


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Looks more yellow than green to me!


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Species: Greenfinch
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Chaffinch

This is a male chaffinch:


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But are these females ?



Species: Chaffinch
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Great Spotted Woodpecker

I really wasn't expecting to see a Greater Spotted Woodpecker here.











Species: Greater Spotted Woodpecker
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire
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Blue Tit


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Species: Blue Tit
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Dunnock


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The Dunnock used to be called the Hedge Sparrow and it's easy to see why. They can easily be mistaken for sparrows.


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Species: Dunnock
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Bullfinch


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I can't believe how colourful the male Bullfinches are.


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Species: Bullfinch
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire

Song Thrush or Mistle Thrush?




Species: Thrush
Date: 30 January 2010
Location: Pennington Flash, Leigh, Lancashire