PENNINGTONFLASH

byPeterAlkerandIanMcKerchar

PenningtonFlash,anaerialviewtothewest(PhotocourtesyofWL@CT)

PenningtonFlashisalargesubsidenceflashapproximatelyamilelongandissituatedjustoutsideLeigh,itisundoubtedlythejewelinthecounty'sbirdingcrownandremainsoneofthetopbirdinglocationsinthenorth-westofEngland.Itslargevarietyofhabitatscanproduceanexcellentnumberofspeciestoseeatanytimeofyearandprovidesgenuineday-longbirding.Itaffordssupremeviewingthankstoitsgoodnetworkofpathsandcomfortablehidesaroundthenaturereserveareaandthesiteisidealfordisabledpersonsasallhideshaveaccessforwheelchairusersandpatharewellsurfaced.Toiletsareavailable(includingdisabledtoilets)andthereisaninformationpointwitharecentbirdsightingsboardlocatedbyalargepayanddisplaycarpark(asmallfeeforalldayparkingisrequiredandannualpassesarealsoavailable).PenningtonFlashcanofferbirdersanythingfromabrief'whistle-stop'flyingvisittoanall-daymajor'mooching'affairandeverythinginbetween.ThelocationoftheflashiswellsignpostedofftheA580EastLancashireRoadandthemainentranceisoppositeLeighFireStationonSt.HelensRoad.

Pennington'scrowningglory.The1994firstBritishrecordofBlack-facedBunting(PhotobythelateRogerWood)

ByMarch2009,243specieshadbeenrecorded,includingnolessthansevencountyfirstinthelastdecadebutthesiteisundoubtedlymostfamousforthediscoveryofthefirstBlack-facedBuntinginBritainin1994,whichobliginglystayedforsevenweeks.AfeedingstationatBuntingHideprovidesexcellentviewsofWillowTit,upto30Bullfinch,occasionallyWaterRailandmanyothercommonwoodlandspecies.RecentraritieshaveincludedGlossyIbis,CattleEgret,GreatWhiteEgret,WhiskeredTern,White-wingedBlackTern,GreatNorthernDiver,Temminck'sStint,SpottedCrake,Canvasback,LesserScaupandBrentGoose.Theeveninggullroostinwinterisvastlyunder-watchedandiscryingoutforattentionasareothereveninggatheringssuchaswaderandwildfowlroostsonandaroundthespitfromHorrocksHideanddedicatedobservationwoulddefinitelyproduceexcellentresults.Similarly,thewoodedareasaregenerallyveryunder-watched,especiallyonthesouthsideoftheflashandtheseholdbreedingGardenWarblersinsummerandhaveheldWoodWarbler,Redstart,SpottedandPiedFlycatchersonpassageandLesserSpottedWoodpecker.Awalkencompassingacompletecircuitoftheflashcanproduceanimpressivedaylistofspeciesandisveryhighlyrecommended,itisapproximatelythreetofourmileslongandcantakeanythingfromtwotofourhoursdependingonhowmuchstoppingisinvolved.Lastly,don’tbeputoffbytheoftenlargenumberofhumanvisitorsasthetreesbytheplayareahavehelduptofiveSpottedFlycatchersandaHobbyhashunteddragonfliesbetweenpeopleonthepicnicfieldinautumn!It’salsoworthbearinginmindthattheflashissusceptibletosporadichighwaterlevelswhichmayoccasionallyimpactonyourbirdinghere.

Above:PenningtonFlashisthesiteinthenorth-westofEnglandtoencountersuchregularcloserangeviewsofBullfinchandWillowTit,bothofwhichcanbevieweddowntoonlyafewfeetinthefeedingstation,whichalsoprovidessuperbphotographicopportunitiesandespeciallyinwinterdemandstheattentionofbirderssuchisthewonderfularrayandamountofbirdsutilisingit.(Photos:BullfinchbyMikeBaron,WillowTitbyPaulHammond)

Above:IgnoreanyareasofPenningtonatyourperil!BoththeabovebirdsoccurredinlessthanexpectedareaswiththeCattleEgret(left,photobyAndyMakin)occurringonthefloodedgolfcourseandtheRing-billedGull(right,photobyJohnTymon)spendingallit'stimeinoraroundthemaincarpark!

Hobby(left,photobyJohnTymon)hasbecomeamorerecentfeatureatPenningtonwithanincreaseinsightingswhichhasbeenmuchappreciatedbutsurprisesareneverfaraway,likethisRed-neckedGrebe(rightwithTuftedDuck,photobyJudithSmith)whichappearedonthelagoononRamsdalesRuck.

Thisflockof28BrentGeese(photobyIanMcKerchar)whichspentthemajorityofadayattheflashgoestoprovejustwhatoutstandingsightingsitcanproducebutraritiesaside,itisitsgeneralvarietyandquantityofspeciescombinedwiththeeaseofviewingthemwhichcontinuestosetPenningtonFlashapartandensureagreatvisit.

SpendingtimeinHorrocksHideisessential,especiallywithanabsolute'spit-full'ofbirdssuchashereisarealhighlightofanyvisit(PhotoPeterAlker).Theaerialviewofthespitshowsthatitwasoncepartofarailwaylinebutisnowthefocusformuchofthesite'sbirdingattention(PhotocourtesyofWT@CT).

IMAGESANDAWALKAROUNDTHEFLASH

Theseimagesillustrateaclockwisewalkaroundthenaturereservesectionofthecountryparkandthenaclockwisewalkaroundtheentireflashitself.

Ignoretheareaaroundthecarparkatyourperilforitattractedthecounty'sfirsteverrecordofLesserScaupandisoftenbelovedbyspringBlack-neckedGrebes.Thegullsthatgathertofeedonthescrapsintendedforthegeese,ducksandswansaroundandeveninthecarparkhaveincludedKittiwakes,Yellow-LeggedGullandonmorethanoneoccasionRing-billedGull,includingoneveryconfidingfirstwinterinthecarparkthatwasmorethanhappycomingtobread!OtherinterestingsightingsonthispartoftheshorelinehaveincludedaRuffthatchasedbreadcrumbsoneseverewinter.RockPipitandSpottedRedshankhavealsobeenfoundbetweentherocksontheshore.(PhotoJohnTymon)

TheviewfromHorrocksHide(namedafterPenningtonFlashandcountybirdinglegendFrankHorrocks)overlookingthe'spit'(centre),HorrocksScrapetoitsrightand'mini-spit'attherightofthescrape(withthetreeonit).ThisisthemostproductivelocationespeciallyifyoucangiveitsometimeanditiswellworthstartingandendinganyvisittoPenningtonatthishide.Thedirectionpostontheleftofthepicturegivesahandycompassbearingandisoftenutilisedbygullsandterns.Thesmallscrapeinfrontofthehide(attheverybottomofthepicture)canbeexcellentforwaders(includinga2007Red-neckedPhalarope)andwildfowl(especiallyGarganey).Thespititselfremainsthefocusformuchofthesite'sattentionandwithgoodreasonasthissmallstripofstoneandshinglecontinuestoattractmostofthesite'sscarceandrarebirds.TheareainthecentrebackgroundisRamsdales

Ruck,onceahugecollieryspoilheapandrecentlylandscapedtoverygoodeffect.(PhotoJohnTymon)

ThemainpathinbetweentheKidneyPond(ontheleft)andPengies(ontheright)withtheTomEdmondsonhide(renamedassuchfromNewHide9thJune2009)inthedistanceatthetopofthetrack.RecentbirdsalongherehaveincludedFirecrestandthoseofoldincludeaonceregularlargeLong-earedOwlroost,asingingMarshWarblerandofcoursetheastonishingBritishfirstrecordofBlack-facedBunting!(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

ThescrapeviewedfromNewHide(toberenamedinSpring2009)isaveryproductivespotandworthyofspendingsometimeat.TheroostingLong-earedOwlscanoftenbefoundinthetreesandbushesontheveryleftoftheimageontheisland,thecentralareaandscrapetoitsrightattractsvariouswildfowlandwadersincludingGarganeyandGreenSandpiper.KingfishersarearegularfeaturehereandcountyraritieshaveincludedSpottedCrake(anditremainsperhapsthebestlocationtoattempttofindoneforyourself),GreatWhiteEgret,LittleEgret,SpoonbillandWaterPipit.(PhotoJohnTymon)ThescrapeasviewedfromRamsdalesHide(openedJuly2009),muchbelovedbywildfowl(especiallyautumnGarganey)butalsoattractingwaders,particularlyLittleRingedPlover.Thetreesandbushesarounditproduceanarrayofpasserinesatanytimeofyearwhichonceincludedthesite'sonlyrecordofNightingale.(PhotoJohnTymon)

RamsdalesHideasviewedfromthescrape.AsPennington'snewesthide,ittookonlyonedayafterit'sofficialopeningtorecorditsfirst(then)countyrarity;anexcellentLittleEgret.(PhotoPeterAlker)

Thepath'aroundtheback'ofthenaturereserveonthewaytoTealHideandrunningparalleltothecanal,oftenoverlookedassimplyaroutetoandfromthehidesbutismuchmoreandisaterrificareaforspring,summerandautumnwarblersincludingGrasshopperWarblersintheroughgrasslandandGardenWarblers,bothofwhichcanoftenbedifficulttoconnectwithelsewhereinthearea.Thesite'sfirstWoodWarblerwasalsofoundherein1996.(PhotoJohnTymon)

TealScrapefromTealHideisahighlyproductivelocation,affordingverycloseviewsofwildfowlandwaders.Thisman-madescrapehasattractedsomequalitycountybirdssuchasLittleEgret,SpottedRedshank,CurlewSandpiperandwinteringBitternbutnonemoresothantheinitialfindingofthe2002drakeCanvasback.(PhotoJohnTymon)

PengiespondfromPengiesHide.TheoldPengiesScrapewhichusedtobeontheveryrightofthisimagehaslonggonebutthereedsherehideamultitudeofwildfowlandonceaveryconfidingSpottedCrakewhichgiventhefavourableannualautumnreedtrimming,mustsurelybedueare-occurrence.(PhotoJohnTymon)

Thesouthsideoftheflashisextremelyunderwatchedandhasmanywonderfulhabitats,includingthislargehorsepaddocksurroundedbytreeswhichishighlyattractivetowinterthrushesandfinchesandwithincreasedcoveragewouldsurelyproveevenmoreproductive.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)'Eric'sHump'onthesouthsideoftheflash,affectionatelynamedafteronetimePenningtonChiefWardenEricStaniforthandisinfactthesiteofanoldrefusetipandformspartofwhatismorecommonlyknownasBradshawLeach.Itisnowaworthyspotforbirder'sattention(althoughtheoldtipdidattractaLong-tailedSkua!)andisagoodplacetoconnectwithvariouswoodlandspeciesbutaswithotherlocationsonPennington'ssouthsideittoocriesoutformoreattention.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

Someofthesouthsidemeadows(thisoneat'Eric'shump')aremanagedfortheirwildflowerswhichincludebeeorchids.(PhotoPeterAlker)

Anotherofthepathsonthesouthsideoftheflash,thisoneonAspullCommon,whichisnearlyentirelyoverlookedorignoredbyvisitingbirdersbutoffersterrificbirdingwiththebushesandtreeshidinglargetitflocks,finches,woodpeckersandwarblersandhascontributedsomeexcellentsiterecordsofLesserSpottedWoodpecker,PiedFlycatcher,WoodWarblerandSiberianChiffchafffromitsscantcoverage.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

ThetracktoLiptrotFarmwasonceanannualsiteforRedstarteachspringbutdoestheirlackofrecentrecordsindicatethattheyhavevanishedorisitthatwenevercheckthetrackanymore?Thelatteriscertainlytruebuttheareastilldeservesatleasttheoccasionalcoverageasthegrazingfieldsandhedgesalongitsedgeareaprimesiteforseveralpotentialspecies;GreatGreyShrikeanyone?(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

Whittle'sFieldsformthelargestareaofgrazinggrasslandmixedwithmaturehedgesandtreesaroundtheflashandshouldalwaysbeworthyofagoodscanning.Whenoncebetterwatched,LittleOwlwereoccasionallyfoundroostinginthehedgerowtrees.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

SorrowcowFarmpond,perhapsmostfamousforits1977springsingingGreatReedWarblerbuthighlyinvitingtoahostofspeciesespeciallywithitsparticularlyproductivescrublandsurroundingitandrecentobservationshavefoundRedstart,Cetti’sWarblerandLesserWhitethroat.Theareaattheright-handtopcorner,nowlargelyinaccessible,isknownas'BackoBillies'whichduringthe1970'sand80's,andduetoitsalmostuniqueflashhabitatatthetime(nowreplicatedthroughouttheflash!),attractedsuchqualitysitespeciesasLesserSpottedWoodpecker,TurtleDove,Firecrestandthecounty'sonlyrecordofTawnyPipit.Theviewovertheflashfromoppositethepondisexcellentandcanbeverygoodforviewingthenightlywintergullroost.(PhotoJohnTymon)

LookingdownGreenLanefromSandyLane,theyachtclubisontheleftandcottagesontherightatthebottom.ThegrassedgestotheflashinfrontoftheyachtclubareattractivetotheoccasionalwadersandthehedgesalongthelanehereholdaresidentflockofHouseSparrowandthegrasslandaroundittheoftenhaveGrasshopperWarblerinspringwhilstthetreesbythecottagesonceattractedaCrossbill,averyrareflashspeciesindeed.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

ThefootpathdownpastMossleyHallFarmviewedfromByromLane,thewoodedareasaroundthefarmitselfcanbeveryproductiveandhaveheldTreeSparrowsbuttheysufferfromalackofcoverage.Thehorsepaddockseithersideofthepathhereareveryattractivetowinterthrushes.(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

Thewestern(SlagLane)endoftheflash,hereviewedfromMossleyHallFarm.Thereedbedatthisendandbusheswithinitareproductiveforwarblers(particularlySedgeandGrasshopper)butcouldeasilyattractsomethingaltogetherbetter.ThisendoftheflashisfairlyshallowandiswhereHeyBrookenters,whichattractsgoodnumbersofaythyathatquiteoftencanincludeoneortwoScaup.OtherspeciesfoundherehaveincludedLong-tailedDuckandBlue-wingedTeal.LowwaterlevelshereexposealargesandbankwhichisnotsurprisinglyattractivetowadersattherighttimesofyearandiswellworthyoftheshortwalkoverRamsdalesRuckfromthenaturereservetocheckitout.TheareaonthefarrightofthepictureisthewoodedareaaroundtheSlagLanecarparkanddeservesanamountofanybirderstimeforitannuallyattractsLesserWhitethroat,SpottedFlycatcherandMealyRedpoll(thelatterwitharunofrecordsinMarch)whilst

ithasalsomanagedtodrawinArcticRedpollwithfourrecordsinthislocationduringthe1996influx!(PhotoIanMcKerchar)

RamsdalesRuck,nowlandscapedandunrecognisablefromitsoriginalbare,greyanddesolatecoalminingspoilruckofold.ThenewgrasslandattractsgoodnumbersofSkylarkandMeadowPipitwithWhinchat,WheatearandWhiteWagtailduringpassage(springespeciallyforthelattertwo)whilstStonechatisoccasionalandtheareahasattractedaRichard'sPipitbeforenow.

ThespitandHorrocksHideandscrapeviewedfromRamsdalesRuckandlookingbeyondtowardsthecarpark.Thewaterattheextremeloweredgeofthephotois'thelagoon'anddespiteoftenconsiderabledisturbancehasattractedRed-neckedGrebe.(PhotoJohnTymon)

ThemainpathbisectingRamsdalesRuckandconnectingthenaturereservesidetothewesternendwithRamsdalesFlash(Rammies)beyond.Tothesouthofthepathitislandscaped,roughgrassland(seeaboveimage)buttoitsnorthistheremnantsofwhattheoldRamsdalesRuckusedtolooklikeandisgoodforwarblers,redpollsandtitflocksnottomentionmorethantheoccasionalWoodcockandGreenWoodpecker.(PhotoJohnTymon)

RamsdalesFlashorRammiesasitisknownlocallywasformerlyseparatedfromthemainflashbyarailwayline,theremnantofwhichnowformsthespit.ThereedbedhereholdsWaterRail,ReedandSedgeWarblerandReedBuntingandoftenaBitterninmostwinters.Thesectionoftheflashitselfisgoodforwildfowl,affordingprotectionfromtheweatherandyachtsandoffersgoodviewing.GreatCrestedGrebeoftengatheringoodnumbers(especiallyonSundayswhentheyachtsareout)andtheannualsummerflockofTuftedDuckcanusuallybefoundloafinghereandisalwaysworthyofcarefulscanningforsomething'better'amongstthem.Thesmallergullspeciesalsooftenhaveapre-roostgatheringhereinwinter.(PhotoPeterAlker)

ThefullextentofRammiesreedbed.WaterRailandBitternfavourherebecausewaterinpartsofthereedbedneverfreezeseveninthehardestwinters.(PhotoPeterAlker)

AskeinofPink-footedGeeseflyingeast.BirdersshouldalwayskeepaneyeontheskyattheFlashasitcanbeagoodsiteforvisiblemigrationandsoaringspecies.Uptofive(maybemore?)BuzzardshavebeenseenintheairtogetherandOspreysusuallypassthroughveryquicklyalthoughMarshHarriershavebeenknowntolingerincludingonebirdwhichroostedinCanaryGrassatthewesternendoftheflash.LargeraptorsalmostinvariablycauseLapwingandgullstotaketotheairbutthesespeciessometimesalsospookCarrionCrowsfornoapparentreasonatall.Divershavebeenseencirclingandfrustratinglymovedonratherthansettlingontheflash.MostrecordsofTreePipitandRaveninvolvefly-oversandSwifts,thatmostaerialspecies,oftengatherovertheflashinhugenumberscomingdowntolowlevelsinpoorweather.(PhotoPeterAlker)

PenningtonFlashisundoubtedlyworthyofbirdersattentionatanytimeofyear,notleastasitscollectionofspeciesisunrivalledinthecounty.Enjoyingtheoftenstunningsunset,especiallycombinedwiththewinter'seveninggullroostascanbeseenhere,makesafineendtoagreatday'sbirding.(PhotoJohnTymon)

NoteverythingatPenningtonFlashisbirdsthough.Thereissomuchmoretoseeanddo,suchasappreciatingotherwildlifelikethisBeeOrchid(PhotoPeterAlker)

AcknowledgementsOurthankstothephotographerswhosephotographshavebeenutilisedinthisguide,toWiganLeisureandCultureTrustandtoDavidWilsonforthoseearly1980’sdayswhichencouragedIanMcKerchar'slong-termrelationshipwiththesite.

PeterAlkerandIanMcKerchar,March2009

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