Pennington Flash

A trip to Pennington Flash to see what birds are about.
Very overcast (as it usually is when we come here). A Snipe was lurking in the woods. Blackcaps were in the trees by the first hide.

Great Crested Grebe

 Stopping for lunch at the central hide we saw a Cormorant on a little island. Apparently it had been there for weeks, some of the local birders thought it was dead. We had seen it moving, dragging itself around, and a close-up shows a damaged beak. But, later, it hauled itself into the water and swam off, presumably this is how it's managed to survive so long.

Injured Cormorant

At the final hide we had the usual flocks of Bullfinches and other small birds. Joined this time by some Stock Doves and Jays. We made the most of the close birds, although the almost complete lack of light didn't help.

Jay

Male Bullfinch

Stock Dove

Magpie

Stock Dove

Male Chaffinch

Female Bullfinch

Female Bullfinch

Male Reed Bunting

Female Mallard

Jay

The squirrels were scoffing up bird seed as well.

Fat Grey Squirrel

Male Bullfinch

Male Bullfinch

Female Bullfinch

A female Mallard popped in with a clutch of ducklings, making the most of the dropped seed.

Mallard Duckling

Pennington Flash

A cold and drafty wander round Pennington Flash. Loads of action at the feeders, including a lost-looking Teal waddling through. A Brambling would occasionally pop in every half hour or so, but we couldn't get a nice shot.

Black-headed Gull

Female Chaffinch

Male Chaffinch

Male Bullfinch

Long-tailed Tit

Reed Bunting

Dunnock

Blue Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Male Blackbird

Grey Squirrel

Male Bullfinch

Female Bullfinch

Great Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Long-tailed Tit

Female Bullfinch

Grey Squirrel

Willow Tit

Male Bullfinch

Brambling with cousin Chaffinch

Reed Bunting

Leighton Moss

A fine, sunny day was forecast so we raced up to Leighton Moss for a day's birding. Where there were grey clouds, gale force winds and driving rain. Oh well.

Female Bullfinch

Male Bullfinch

Greenfinch

Little Egret

Male Chaffinch

Little Egret

Robin

Coal Tit

Male Pheasant

Male Bullfinch

Male Chaffinch

 We were also expecting to see the Starling murmuration, but while a few large flocks went over they were very hard to see and almost immediately went down to roost. Maybe next time.

Sunset over Leighton Moss