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.

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

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