Trip reports

PENNINGTON FLASH COUNTRY PARK

Monday, 10 December 2007

We took the path which leads to the screen overlooking the flash, spotting greenfinch, bullfinches and blue tits along the way. On the flash we saw four fine male & female goosanders - care is needed, at this time of year, not to confuse female goosanders with female mergansers - there is a clear line between the head & neck on the goosander. There was a heron and to the delight of watchers, two kingfishers at rest and then in flight. We also sighted male and female shovelers & gadwall with a pied wagtail overhead.

Further along the path we watched a hovering kestrel and a pair of quite beautiful stonechats perching boldly at the top of dead reed stalks.

As we moved on towards the Teal Hide we heard & saw a great spotted woodpecker in flight, soon to be followed by a single redwing. Robins were singing all around.

The Bunting Hide is by far the best spot in winter for small passerines, which come to feed avidly at the bird tables and feeders. Birds seen included great, blue, coal and willow tits; chaffinch, greenfinch & splendid male and female bullfinches; reed buntings and a single brambling in winter plumage; male & female blackbirds, a song thrush, two robins and a pair of dunnocks.

Our last call was to the Horrock's Hide which overlooks the spit where there were lots of black-headed gulls, a few lapwings and great crested and little grebes. A pretty grey wagtail pottered about by the water's edge, its brilliant yellow underside gleaming in the sun. Slightly further from the shore there were wigeon, gadwall, a single female goldeneye & cormorants.

This is a brief summary of GRAHAM TONGE report.

Photograph: Bullfinch