Trip reports

Coach trip- Mere Sands Wood and Pennington Flash

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Our first call was Mere Sands and the ranger told us of a Water Rail showing from the Lancaster hide just behind the visitors centre. Some managed to get a glimpse, others not, but what did show well at the hide was a number of Jays flying to the feeder along with Reed Buntings, Tree Sparrows and Bullfinches. The feeders also gave us Nuthatch.

The lakes gave us both male and female Goosander along with a number of Teal, showing well in the bright sunshine. Perhaps the best sight was a pair of Great Crested Grebes displaying to each other.

After a short coach trip we were soon at Pennington Flash. We had all the usual birds, Black Headed Gull, Cormorant, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall and Shoveler. The bird feeders were very productive with Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Bullfinch, Great Tit and Blue Tit. Both Treecreeper and Kingfisher were seen by a lucky few. Reports of a Long-eared Owl in the area had some keeping a keen eye out for it but without any luck.

The day remained cold but bright to the end and gave us a total of 66 species.