Pennington Flash

A quick trip to Pennington Flash brought me nice and close to some of our regular birds. Often overlooked in the field when looking for something a little more exotic, or something new for the year list, these more common birds reminded me that they still hold a lot of natural beauty. You just have to give them the time to realise it.
The Blue Tit is possibly my favourite garden bird, and it is always good to see. More often than not it is a fleeting glimpse as it forages through bushes and trees or sits at a feeder. The beauty of having binoculars or a camera is that you get to see everything a lot closer up. Feather patterns, colours and detail are really highlighted. 

Blue Tit

Nuthatch doing what a Nuthatch does best.

Willow Tit do very well in this part of the North West.

Greenfinch

Out on the flash itself, among many waterfowl and waders was this pristine Grey Heron. In fact I counted seven on the spit from Horrocks hide. Once again, it was nice to be able to observe it for some time and appreciate it's majesty.

Pennignton Flash - The Usual Fair

Another good mix of birds from Pennington Flash. Nothing unusual this time, just a good variety.
Great Crested Grebes have been quite numerous on the main Flash. With some fast developing juveniles around too, it seems to have been a good year for them, or maybe its just an average year and I have noticed too much before. Either way they are always nice to watch.

Greenfinch have been in good numbers too, and this is something I've noticed in other parts of Manchester and Cheshire too. This is good, as some years back they were quite hard to come by.

A Jay came down to greet me as I parked the car. They'll be getting busy soon to stash food for the winter.



A Lapwing in front of Horrocks Hide.

Pennington Flash

After my trek up and then down Pendle Hill, I carried on my day to possibly Manchester's finest birding site, Pennington Flash. Such a variety of habitats all in one place, it  really does attract so many different species at all times of the year. This visit I managed to tick off Common Tern for the year list.
Below here are some of the birds you can get really close to in some of the hides. It's so nice just to sit and watch these birds at close quarters. I sit in some of these hides for ages, no camera, just watching and studying there behaviour. Fantastic.

Greenfinch

A really stunning Nuthatch.

 

A Jay. Pretty difficult to get so close to these very flighty and nervous birds.

Sorry for chopping the tail off of this Magpie, but go too close and I like the shot anyway.

A Cold Winters Day

Back in the winter I spent a day in the hide of Charlie Owen in Glazebury, Cheshire. As cold as it was that day, the light was spot on. The birds were obliging and plentiful. Most were common garden or farmland birds, but it was fantastic day. I'm happy to revisit it here.

Blue Tit

Greenfinch

Nuthatch

Great Tit

Goldfinch