Pennington Flash - 6 April 2012

Good Friday and a first visit to Pennington Flash Country Park for me and PK. We parked in the wrong place, got lost, but eventually found our way to the flash and began a clockwise circuit of the mile long lake. The history of the flash is interesting and well worth a read (google it) but in short, it was created in the early 1900's following subsidence created by the local collieries.

The walk was somewhat lacking in wildlife to be honest, until we reached the north-east corner and the area know as Ramsdale's Flash (a very good map was acquired later from the visitor centre). We first saw a number of Mute Swans followed by a group of Cormorants and a few Tufted Duck.

We were surprised to find a hide (not aware that there are eight of them here) and from this we saw Black-tailed Godwit (almost in full colour), Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and two Redshank.

Now armed with the map, we found a remarkable feeder hide. It was alive with an eclectic mix including Tits, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Reed bunting, Woodpigeon, a rather large congregation of Magpies and more Bullfinch than you would believe possible in one place! Not to mention a number of grey squirrels, which PK found as entertaining as ever.

We'll be back!

Male Bullfinch at the extraordinary feeder station