A brief visit on the way to do the weekly shop proved productive this afternoon, with a brown female cuckoo and later a little egret flying over Horrock's.
Main highlights from this morning besides the more usual birds:
Little Tern flew through west at 07:35
5 Common Terns
Adult Great Black-backed Gull
1 Kingfisher
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jun 11 2:34 PM, 2023
This afternoon Redshank, Common Sandpiper and 4 Grey Wagtail.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Scott robinson said
Sun Jun 11 2:30 PM, 2023
Late post from yesterday, first time around penny since moving to Mull 4 years ago, missed the place.
Of Note.
1 Garden Warbler, was singing and showing well in a bush right next to the steps that lead upto the canal on the Tom Edmondson path. 1 Kingfisher, again showed well in Pengys in the tree to the left. 2 Cettis Warbler 3 Common Tern
colin davies said
Sun Jun 11 9:46 AM, 2023
Also this morning, redshank on the spit, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, adult great black-backed gull and 2 common terns.
Hugely unexpected to say the least was a fantastic male Serin which flew N/NW over Ramsdales Ruck calling away giving brief but good views. The bird never appeared to drop down and a search of the top of the ruck later proved fruitless.
Ringed Plover over high west calling
4 Great Black-backed Gulls, with three single adults NW and a first summer bird feeding on a corpse opposite the spit (photo attached next to a Coot's nest!)
800 Swifts
A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flying around the flash calling, eventually landed on the spit (I could only hear it/them as I was in tree cover at the time, confirmed as two by Bill Harrison)
Phil did we speak this afternoon when you came out of ramsdales? I went to look for the garden warbler didnt get it,but got one further round as advised on here inthe trees close to canal bridge.
phillipskelly said
Thu Jun 1 4:26 PM, 2023
Garden Warbler 2 present . As I left the Ramsdale hide and followed the dirt path to the left which used to be a cut - through to the canal I found the path blocked with vegetation so I followed another path which was full of nettles. As I returned to the original blocked path I heard 2 Garden Warblers in the little clearing and after a minute or two spotted one singing which flew to a branch right Infront and above me giving great views of it singing. There was also another singing which I didn't see . It's a good place to start if you want to find them. Ps. nice to meet Phil Rhodes on the way back - he's a font of knowledge .
JOHN TYMON said
Thu Jun 1 4:23 PM, 2023
Minimum 26 Black Tern at 16.00 some attempted to leave but came back down
Steven Nelson said
Thu Jun 1 2:55 PM, 2023
Up to 21 Black Terns still over the flash when I left at 14.20
Also 1 Greenshank on spit from Horrocks hide 1 Garden Warbler singing and showing intermittently along main path 100m south of Tom Edmondson hide 3 Common Terns
phillipskelly said
Thu Jun 1 1:09 PM, 2023
I've counted 19 Black Turn but others have counted 21. Another birder also found a Greenshank on the spit seen from Horrocks hide.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jun 1 12:06 PM, 2023
21 Black Terns present at 11:30
Info thanks to Andy Makin
pete berry said
Thu Jun 1 10:50 AM, 2023
Now 20 Black Terns feeding over the flash .
Andy Isherwood said
Thu Jun 1 8:49 AM, 2023
Cuckoo singing just after 8am today between the golf course and the canal.at the northern end of the nature reserve.
colin davies said
Thu Jun 1 8:12 AM, 2023
Late news for yesterday evening when there were 11 black terns present, info thanks to a couple of flash regulars.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jun 1 7:54 AM, 2023
Two adult Black Terns this morning and also 1400 Swift again mainly feeding over the south side early morning but with some dispersal a little later on
Cuckoo singing again around 08:30 and flew towards the south side.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 1st of June 2023 12:33:49 PM
This morning’s highlights (other than the usual more regular birds) included a pretty spectacular 940+ Swifts feeding over the south side early morning, thinning out a little and also moving lower over the water towards mid-morning. Also 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Common Tern, the first Great Crested Grebe young and the usual small passage of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 30 9:44 AM, 2023
Cuckoo singing on the south side this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
colin davies said
Mon May 29 10:13 AM, 2023
Thanks very much Colin. I visit the reserve regularly but have never climbed up to the canal - no wonder I haven't seen it. thanks again
Mike
Hi Mike, just to clarify, you don't climb up to the canal, the bird is in the woodland to the right just before you climb up.
If that bird isn't around, there's another bird around the large patch of gorse on the edge of the ruck towards the Slag lane end.
munsworth said
Mon May 29 9:12 AM, 2023
munsworth wrote:
colin davies wrote:
Two curlew north over the ruck this morning, also 2 common terns and singing garden warbler showing well.
Colin, could you give me an approximate location for the garden warbler please
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 28th of May 2023 11:18:59 AM
Thanks very much Colin. I visit the reserve regularly but have never climbed up to the canal - no wonder I haven't seen it. thanks again
Mike
colin davies said
Mon May 29 8:57 AM, 2023
This morning 7:15 - 8:45:
Common tern 2
Tufted duck 10 inc. female with nasal saddle CH1
Swift 100 mainly over boat club
Nuthatch with fledged young outside Pengy's hide
Barry Hulme heard a greenshank at 5:30ish, but not seen.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 29th of May 2023 10:09:48 AM
colin davies said
Sun May 28 11:02 PM, 2023
Colin, could you give me an approximate location for the garden warbler please
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 28th of May 2023 11:18:59 AM
The easiest to explain is walk down the central footpath to the footbridge over the canal. Just before you go up the canal bank to the bridge there is a bird singing in the trees on the right.
munsworth said
Sun May 28 11:18 AM, 2023
colin davies wrote:
Two curlew north over the ruck this morning, also 2 common terns and singing garden warbler showing well.
Colin, could you give me an approximate location for the garden warbler please
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 28th of May 2023 11:18:59 AM
colin davies said
Sat May 27 7:56 AM, 2023
Two curlew north over the ruck this morning, also 2 common terns and singing garden warbler showing well.
colin davies said
Thu May 25 8:20 PM, 2023
Dunlin and ringed plover new in this evening on the end of the spit, also 2 common sandpipers, common tern and 3 singing garden warbler.
colin davies said
Thu May 25 7:01 AM, 2023
Two common sandpipers on the spit this morning, no sign so far of Temmincks stint. Garden warbler still singing and showing well by footbridge over canal.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed May 24 7:58 AM, 2023
Temminck’s Stint still present on the end of the spit this morning.
Non-singing Lesser Whitethroat in Shoreline bushes on Ramsdales Ruck
Garden warbler
330 Swift
Noteworthy numbers of mainly Lesser Black-backed but also some Herring Gulls flying through SW
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 23 10:02 PM, 2023
Temmincks Stint again on the end of spit this late evening. Also Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Tern and 80 Swift
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Mon May 22 7:03 PM, 2023
Just a quick update on the female tufted duck with a nasal saddle CH1 which was still present today, some of this may already be known but perhaps not the later information.
It was ringed as an adult at Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes in France on 18/07/2017 and was first seen at the flash on 06/09/2017. It was then seen back at Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes on several dates in March and April 2019 before being reported again at the flash on 25/09/2020 and 28/02/2021 prior to the current run of sightings. Obviously there will be many other sightings which haven't been reported to the ringer.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 23rd of May 2023 01:12:32 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 22 1:12 PM, 2023
Temminck’s Stint present on the end of the spit at midday.
Info thanks to Rob Adderley.
colin davies said
Mon May 22 10:13 AM, 2023
Temminck's stint showing well from Ramsdales hide up to 10am at least. Currently can't see it but still thought to be here. Also dunlin on the spit.
colin davies said
Mon May 22 7:35 AM, 2023
Temminck's stint on the end of the spit this morning, also common sandpiper and 2 common terns. With Barry Hulme.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 23rd of May 2023 01:04:08 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 21 9:23 AM, 2023
Two Whimbrel on the spit first thing this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
colin davies said
Sat May 20 8:45 PM, 2023
Turnstone still present this evening, also the tufted duck with the nasal saddle.
A brief visit on the way to do the weekly shop proved productive this afternoon, with a brown female cuckoo and later a little egret flying over Horrock's.
Thought I heard one whilst I was on Ramsdales Ruck but couldn’t see it/them and didn’t hear it again. Always back yourself 😂
This morning 9:00 - 11:00
Mediterranean gull 2 ad & 2nd sum. Hawking for insects with black-headed gulls then on the spit.
Common sandpiper 1
Barnacle goose flying with 2 greylags west along the canal
Main highlights from this morning besides the more usual birds:
Little Tern flew through west at 07:35
5 Common Terns
Adult Great Black-backed Gull
1 Kingfisher
This afternoon Redshank, Common Sandpiper and 4 Grey Wagtail.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Of Note.
1 Garden Warbler, was singing and showing well in a bush right next to the steps that lead upto the canal on the Tom Edmondson path.
1 Kingfisher, again showed well in Pengys in the tree to the left.
2 Cettis Warbler
3 Common Tern
Also this morning, redshank on the spit, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, adult great black-backed gull and 2 common terns.
Both Stilts flew off NE at c08:55ish and could not be relocated around the flash.
Black-winged Stills on view again at 08:40 from Horrocks Hide.
No further sign of the Black-winged Stilts by 08:30.
Two black-winged stilts on spit, currently out of view but being looked for.
This morning 6.30 - 8.00,
Cuckoo 1 singing in Ramsdales then later from the golf course
Common sandpiper 1
Common tern 4
Grey wagtail 2
Garden warbler 1 singing and showing well behind Teal hide
4 common terns this afternoon, also 2 grey wagtails.
Single adult Great Black-backed Gull, 5 Greylag Geese, single Redshank and Kingfisher and c600 Swifts the main highlights this morning.
So far this morning:
2 Arctic Terns
4 Common Terns
9 Greylag Geese
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning,
2 Great Black-backed Gulls, an adult and yesterday's first summer bird (image below) still around the spit (and carcass opposite)
1 Redshank on the spit
1 Raven over north
1 Greylag Geese over SE
1 Great Crested Grebe flew at considerable height east along the flash then veered to the north and into the distance!
This morning's highlights:
Hugely unexpected to say the least was a fantastic male Serin which flew N/NW over Ramsdales Ruck calling away giving brief but good views. The bird never appeared to drop down and a search of the top of the ruck later proved fruitless.
Ringed Plover over high west calling
4 Great Black-backed Gulls, with three single adults NW and a first summer bird feeding on a corpse opposite the spit (photo attached next to a Coot's nest!)
800 Swifts
A pair of Mediterranean Gulls flying around the flash calling, eventually landed on the spit (I could only hear it/them as I was in tree cover at the time, confirmed as two by Bill Harrison)
1 Kingfisher
Single ringed plover on the spit this morning.
Black tern again 7.05am
This morning 5.45 - 7.00
Black tern 1 at 5.45 but not seen since.
Ringed plover 2 on spit
Swift lots!
So far today,
Red Kite 1 initially low over the boat club then gained height and drifted slowly north.
Black tern 5
Turnstone 1 on the end of the spit. Thanks to Roger Halsey for pointing the bird out to me and letting me look through his scope.
Garden warbler 1
Swift 500
As I left the Ramsdale hide and followed the dirt path to the left which used to be a cut - through to the canal I found the path blocked with vegetation so I followed another path which was full of nettles.
As I returned to the original blocked path I heard 2 Garden Warblers in the little clearing and after a minute or two spotted one singing which flew to a branch right Infront and above me giving great views of it singing.
There was also another singing which I didn't see .
It's a good place to start if you want to find them.
Ps. nice to meet Phil Rhodes on the way back - he's a font of knowledge .
Minimum 26 Black Tern at 16.00 some attempted to leave but came back down
Also
1 Greenshank on spit from Horrocks hide
1 Garden Warbler singing and showing intermittently along main path 100m south of Tom Edmondson hide
3 Common Terns
Another birder also found a Greenshank on the spit seen from Horrocks hide.
21 Black Terns present at 11:30
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Late news for yesterday evening when there were 11 black terns present, info thanks to a couple of flash regulars.
Two adult Black Terns this morning and also 1400 Swift again mainly feeding over the south side early morning but with some dispersal a little later on
Cuckoo singing again around 08:30 and flew towards the south side.
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Thursday 1st of June 2023 12:33:49 PM
This morning’s highlights (other than the usual more regular birds) included a pretty spectacular 940+ Swifts feeding over the south side early morning, thinning out a little and also moving lower over the water towards mid-morning. Also 6 Greylag Geese, 3 Common Tern, the first Great Crested Grebe young and the usual small passage of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls.
Cuckoo singing on the south side this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Thanks very much Colin. I visit the reserve regularly but have never climbed up to the canal - no wonder I haven't seen it. thanks again
Mike
Hi Mike, just to clarify, you don't climb up to the canal, the bird is in the woodland to the right just before you climb up.
If that bird isn't around, there's another bird around the large patch of gorse on the edge of the ruck towards the Slag lane end.
Thanks very much Colin. I visit the reserve regularly but have never climbed up to the canal - no wonder I haven't seen it. thanks again
Mike
This morning 7:15 - 8:45:
Common tern 2
Tufted duck 10 inc. female with nasal saddle CH1
Swift 100 mainly over boat club
Nuthatch with fledged young outside Pengy's hide
Barry Hulme heard a greenshank at 5:30ish, but not seen.
-- Edited by colin davies on Monday 29th of May 2023 10:09:48 AM
Colin, could you give me an approximate location for the garden warbler please
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 28th of May 2023 11:18:59 AM
The easiest to explain is walk down the central footpath to the footbridge over the canal. Just before you go up the canal bank to the bridge there is a bird singing in the trees on the right.
Colin, could you give me an approximate location for the garden warbler please
Mike
-- Edited by munsworth on Sunday 28th of May 2023 11:18:59 AM
Two curlew north over the ruck this morning, also 2 common terns and singing garden warbler showing well.
Dunlin and ringed plover new in this evening on the end of the spit, also 2 common sandpipers, common tern and 3 singing garden warbler.
Two common sandpipers on the spit this morning, no sign so far of Temmincks stint. Garden warbler still singing and showing well by footbridge over canal.
Temminck’s Stint still present on the end of the spit this morning.
Non-singing Lesser Whitethroat in Shoreline bushes on Ramsdales Ruck
Garden warbler
330 Swift
Noteworthy numbers of mainly Lesser Black-backed but also some Herring Gulls flying through SW
Temmincks Stint again on the end of spit this late evening. Also Common Sandpiper, 4 Common Tern and 80 Swift
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Just a quick update on the female tufted duck with a nasal saddle CH1 which was still present today, some of this may already be known but perhaps not the later information.
It was ringed as an adult at Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes in France on 18/07/2017 and was first seen at the flash on 06/09/2017. It was then seen back at Sainte-Suzanne-et-Chammes on several dates in March and April 2019 before being reported again at the flash on 25/09/2020 and 28/02/2021 prior to the current run of sightings. Obviously there will be many other sightings which haven't been reported to the ringer.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 23rd of May 2023 01:12:32 AM
Temminck’s Stint present on the end of the spit at midday.
Info thanks to Rob Adderley.
Temminck's stint showing well from Ramsdales hide up to 10am at least. Currently can't see it but still thought to be here. Also dunlin on the spit.
Temminck's stint on the end of the spit this morning, also common sandpiper and 2 common terns. With Barry Hulme.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 23rd of May 2023 01:04:08 AM
Two Whimbrel on the spit first thing this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Turnstone still present this evening, also the tufted duck with the nasal saddle.