2 Dunlin on the spit this morning and 6 Green Sandpiper in Teap Scrape by 11:15.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Nick Isherwood said
Mon Aug 8 10:27 AM, 2011
4 Green Sandpiper on teal scrape this morning at 10am.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 7 9:16 PM, 2011
Six Green Sandpipers present on Teal Scrape at 4:40 this afternoon.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Aug 7 3:52 PM, 2011
pm common scoter-1f (asleep in rammies when i left) tufted duck-312 goldeneye-2f green sandpiper-3(1 ad + 2 imm) common tern-10 cormorant-12 teal-18 common sandpiper-1 greenfinch-30+ plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 7th of August 2011 04:15:54 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 7 11:37 AM, 2011
So far this morning:
Female Common Scoter 2 Common Sandpiper Curlew flew SE at 7:05am 3 Green Sandpiper on Teal Scrape
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Aug 5 2:44 PM, 2011
3 Green Sandpiper 2 Common Sandpiper 2-3 Reed Warbler Plus usuals
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 4 12:35 PM, 2011
Late news for Monday 1st August when a Little Egret was present on the spit.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Aug 4 9:34 AM, 2011
4 Green Sandpiper on Teal Scrape this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Joe Wynn said
Wed Aug 3 5:39 PM, 2011
Quite quiet today in the time I spent there (about 1050-1400). birds of note were:
c.100 Lapwing 6 Common Tern (3 juv.) 1 Common Sandpiper (heard from Teal hide) 2 Willow Tit 1 Goldfinch (juv.) 2 GC Grebes 1 Green Sandpiper
Tony Coatsworth said
Mon Aug 1 4:18 PM, 2011
1 Green Sandpiper - Teal Hide 15:30
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 30 1:40 PM, 2011
Greenshank currently present on Horrocks scrape, at 13:40.
Info thanks to Peter Alker
Adam Jones said
Sat Jul 30 7:58 AM, 2011
3 Green Sandpipers on the spit this morning 7.45. Also 1 Parakeet noisily across Tom Edmondson hide towards canal
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 29 8:21 AM, 2011
Green Sandpiper still on Teal Scrape this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Nick Isherwood said
Wed Jul 27 5:31 PM, 2011
Green sandpiper on the teal scrape at 4.30 this afternoon.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 25 8:48 PM, 2011
212 Tufted Duck present this afternoon, with 2 female Goldeneye, 5 Pochard and a single Common Sandpiper knocking about.
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jul 24 6:35 PM, 2011
pm common sandpiper-1 goldeneye-2f tufted duck-c300 little grebe-3 mute swan with 1 very small young on the small canal basin by plank lane swing bridge pennington side cormorant-8 skylark-20+ meadow pipit-20+ plus the usuals-and I was the only birder on the flash as i could see
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jul 23 6:41 PM, 2011
am/pm common sandpiper-2 goldeneye-2f tufted duck 250+ on rammies pochard-4 common tern-4 wigeon-2 little grebe-2 plus all the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jul 22 6:38 PM, 2011
pm 3 common sandpiper 1 ringed plover 6 common tern little grebe-2 cormorant-8 mute swan-c100 plus all the usuals
Nick Isherwood said
Tue Jul 19 7:32 PM, 2011
Another visit today between 2.00 and 3.30pm. Water level now substantially higher than yesterday.
2 Ringed Plover 1 Oystercatcher 6 Common Tern including at least 1 juvenile 1 Common Sandpiper 2 Teal 1 Grey Wagtail (juv) 1 Chiffchaff 1 Sedge warbler 3 Reed Warbler Several families of Blackcap feeding young Lots of Hirundines over the flash.
Plus all the other usual birds.
Nick Isherwood said
Mon Jul 18 6:42 PM, 2011
Grabbed a quick hour or so here this afternoon between the worst of the showers. The highlights were:
3 Oystercatcher on the spit and one on the Teal scrape. At least 6 Common Tern from Horrocks. 1 Juvenile Little Grebe in Rammies. 2 Reed Warbler feeding a fledgling in front of Tom Edmonson hide.
Also witnessed a mink from Pengies hide swimming across with what appeared to be an egg in its jaws - not good!!
Had a little look around the brook and upto the old bridge but no signs of the Dipper. The only bird seen here was a Grey Wagtail.
Dave Thacker said
Sun Jul 17 12:56 PM, 2011
A Green sandpiper on the spit flew off at 9.50am when all the birds were disturbed by a Fox. A pair of Lapwings defending 3 small chicks against 2 Crows 5 Common terns Sparrowhawk Reed warbler in front of the Tom Edmondson hide Bunting hide was closed A lot of very wet runners
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jul 16 3:01 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Still no sight nor sound of the Dipper (other than the obvious dipper in me!) by 1pm.
and me am/pm shellduck-1 pair with 5 juvs 1 common sandpiper (teal scrape) common tern-5 plus all the usuals
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 16 1:04 PM, 2011
Still no sight nor sound of the Dipper (other than the obvious dipper in me!) by 1pm.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 16 11:26 AM, 2011
Dipper seen briefly at 11:05 today on the brook by the bridge along the entrance road.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
No further sign since and the stretch of brook beyond the bridge is practically impossible to view for much of it. I know as I've been looking for the past 15 minutes!
Nick Isherwood said
Fri Jul 15 12:46 PM, 2011
No sign of the 3 common Scoter by 9.30 this morning.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 15 7:12 AM, 2011
Three drake Common Scoter present this morning.
Also two Black-tailed Godwits on the spit and 2 female Goldeneye still present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Jonathan Platt said
Wed Jul 13 7:40 AM, 2011
A single black-tailed godwit flew down the Flash (west to east) last night around 9.30pm, couldn't find it on The Spit from Green Lane with my scope though.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 12 7:47 AM, 2011
2 female Goldeneye still present this morning and 2 Green Sandpipers on Teal Scrape.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 11 11:44 AM, 2011
14 adult Common Terns present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jul 10 3:44 PM, 2011
PM 2 Female Goldeneyedropped in during a heavy storm-first I can remember in July at penny. common tern-6 ringed plover-2 Jay-2 JUV G.S.Woodpecker Plus the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Jul 8 4:55 PM, 2011
pm common sandpiper-4 ringed plover-4 little ringed plover-3 redshank-1 oystercatcher-2 garden warbler-1 common tern -at least 7 all adults greater spotted woodpecker-1 juv pochard-7 kestrel-1 sparrowhawk-1 gadwall-3 broods approx 15 young plus the usuals
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 8 8:41 AM, 2011
Single Black-tailed Godwit still present this morning, with2 Common Sandpipers. Also 11 Pochard flew in early morning too.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 7 9:43 AM, 2011
A further single Black-tailed Godwit flew onto the spit at 08:15 this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 7 6:58 AM, 2011
Turned out to be 18 Black-tailed Godwits (hidden amongst the weeds on the spit!), all flew south east at 06:52.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 7 6:54 AM, 2011
12 Black-tailed Godwits at the top of the spit plus 18 Stock Dove this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 6 8:59 AM, 2011
Greenshank on the spit at 5:50 this morning.
Also 5 adult Common Terns present and single Green Sandpiper on Horrocks Scrape.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian Coote said
Mon Jul 4 11:17 PM, 2011
dave broome wrote:
Presumably the pair of Ruddy Shelduck have moved on? Did they call at the burger van like the last one at Pennington ended up doing?
We saw them flying south over the trees beside the sailing club at around 18:00hrs on Saturday evening
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jul 4 2:36 PM, 2011
dave broome wrote:
Presumably the pair of Ruddy Shelduck have moved on? Did they call at the burger van like the last one at Pennington ended up doing?
They slept all day Sat ,gone yesterday,probably eaten by the returned Moscovy duck,thats the size of a large dog,when they tried to nick a burger bun off itTo be honest they were supposedly very flighty sat morning,and never put thier heads up when i saw em laterJon Taverner got a beltin shot of em off horrocks hide ,they were a propper adult pair,in real good nick-shame they are all classed as ferel escapes in the uk now
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 4th of July 2011 02:39:06 PM
dave broome said
Mon Jul 4 2:22 PM, 2011
Presumably the pair of Ruddy Shelduck have moved on? Did they call at the burger van like the last one at Pennington ended up doing?
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Jul 4 7:56 AM, 2011
sunday 3rd July pm common sandpiper-2 ringed plover-6 little ringed plover-2 common tern-1 Redshank-2 oystercatcher-2 great crested grebe-down to 2 young on pengys now kingfisher-1 garden warbler-1 plenty skylarks on the ruck and a few meadow pipit a few teal appearing and a few shoveler still over 300 canada geese greylag geese-9 a few juv greater spotted woodpeckers about. sparrowhawk-1f common buzzard-2 over the rucks plus all the usuals
dave broome said
Sat Jul 2 2:18 PM, 2011
Late news from just outside the Pennington recording area - a Great Crested Grebe was on the new marina by Plank Lane swing bridge on Thursday 23rd June, the first bird I've seen on there. I feel there ought to have been some form of ceremony. There's lots of shiny new benches overlooking it for when a diver or phalarope turns up. That's if they haven't been nicked for scrap by then
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 2 9:03 AM, 2011
2 Ruddy Shelduck flew onto the spit at 9am this morning.
Info thanks to John Taverner
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jun 30 8:06 PM, 2011
Spent an interesting afternoon here today, the only real bird of note for me being a (probable) hybrid Canada x Greylag Goose amongst the 414 adult Canada Geese there.
I enjoyed some time out on Horrock's Scrape though, assisting with the formation of some 'channels' there. Peter Alker had hired a small digger and two man crew for the day with the primary intention of carrying out essential ditch clearing due to them being extremely heavily silted up. Whilst this work was the obvious priority, in order to maintain the integrity of these ditches which allows both birds and fish (and water) to circulate around the small ponds and channels there (for instance grebes can now once again get to the small pond just to the right of the hide), Peter took advantage of having the use of the digger in order to excavate some channels into the scrape too. The channels are only shallow but in very low water levels such as we are experiencing currently, they allow there to be muddy edges for birds to feed along. The material taken out has been levelled besides it so that when water levels are higher, there may by contrast be some areas of land still exposed. Anyway, looking from Horrock's Hide they may not look that impressive but the two we had time to excavate are 156 and 60 foot long respectively. That's 432 feet of new shoreline for birds to feed along!
Ian Woosey said
Thu Jun 30 7:21 AM, 2011
30/6/11
Little Egret flew West over main flash at 6:20 this morning.
(Info thanks to Barry Hulme)
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jun 29 9:02 PM, 2011
Single Black-tailed Godwit in Ramsdales Scrape this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jun 28 4:04 PM, 2011
Single Black-tailed Godwit on the spit this morning with 3 Common Sandpipers. Green Sandpiper still knocking about but mobile.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Sun Jun 26 7:48 PM, 2011
pm Garden warbler-2 singing thier heads off between teal hide and canal-not heard one for about 6 weeks ,so this maybe in between brood singing ringed plover-3 oystercatcher-2 gadwall still with 8 ducklings-front of rammies hide great crested carrying at least 3 chicks on pengys plus all the usuals
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Jun 25 5:08 PM, 2011
AM/PM redshank-2 gadwall-2 female with newly hatched broods great crested grebe-first young of year one pair front of edmonson hide with 4 little uns teal-4 cormorant-4 kestrel-1 plenty of young warblers/finches /tits etc 300+ canada geese lots of Juv Black headed gulls plus the usual
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 24 10:25 PM, 2011
Singles of Common and Green Sandpipers present this morning (info thanks to Barry Hulme) and both still present at 2:50pm (info thanks to Phil Rhodes).
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jun 24 4:46 PM, 2011
Ruck, as referred to here Peter, is indeed an area of coal mining spoil (slag heap if you like ). The old Ramsdales ruck was very large (and barren) indeed and the view over the flash from it was frankly, superb. It has been re-profiled and seeded to very good effect and is now a shadow of it's former self in size terms but by far and away more productive for wildlife.
As for the term 'ruck' itself? I can only think it refers to a definition of 'an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth)' or in this instance as in land!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 24th of June 2011 05:10:53 PM
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
common scoter-1f (asleep in rammies when i left)
tufted duck-312
goldeneye-2f
green sandpiper-3(1 ad + 2 imm)
common tern-10
cormorant-12
teal-18
common sandpiper-1
greenfinch-30+
plus the usuals
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Sunday 7th of August 2011 04:15:54 PM
Female Common Scoter
2 Common Sandpiper
Curlew flew SE at 7:05am
3 Green Sandpiper on Teal Scrape
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2 Common Sandpiper
2-3 Reed Warbler
Plus usuals
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
c.100 Lapwing
6 Common Tern (3 juv.)
1 Common Sandpiper (heard from Teal hide)
2 Willow Tit
1 Goldfinch (juv.)
2 GC Grebes
1 Green Sandpiper
Info thanks to Peter Alker
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
common sandpiper-1
goldeneye-2f
tufted duck-c300
little grebe-3
mute swan with 1 very small young on the small canal basin by plank lane swing bridge pennington side
cormorant-8
skylark-20+
meadow pipit-20+
plus the usuals-and I was the only birder on the flash as i could see
common sandpiper-2
goldeneye-2f
tufted duck 250+ on rammies
pochard-4
common tern-4
wigeon-2
little grebe-2
plus all the usuals
3 common sandpiper
1 ringed plover
6 common tern
little grebe-2
cormorant-8
mute swan-c100
plus all the usuals
2 Ringed Plover
1 Oystercatcher
6 Common Tern including at least 1 juvenile
1 Common Sandpiper
2 Teal
1 Grey Wagtail (juv)
1 Chiffchaff
1 Sedge warbler
3 Reed Warbler
Several families of Blackcap feeding young
Lots of Hirundines over the flash.
Plus all the other usual birds.
3 Oystercatcher on the spit and one on the Teal scrape.
At least 6 Common Tern from Horrocks.
1 Juvenile Little Grebe in Rammies.
2 Reed Warbler feeding a fledgling in front of Tom Edmonson hide.
Also witnessed a mink from Pengies hide swimming across with what appeared to be an egg in its jaws - not good!!
Had a little look around the brook and upto the old bridge but no signs of the Dipper. The only bird seen here was a Grey Wagtail.
A pair of Lapwings defending 3 small chicks against 2 Crows
5 Common terns
Sparrowhawk
Reed warbler in front of the Tom Edmondson hide
Bunting hide was closed
A lot of very wet runners
and me
am/pm
shellduck-1 pair with 5 juvs
1 common sandpiper (teal scrape)
common tern-5
plus all the usuals
Info thanks to Dave Broome
No further sign since and the stretch of brook beyond the bridge is practically impossible to view for much of it. I know as I've been looking for the past 15 minutes!
Also two Black-tailed Godwits on the spit and 2 female Goldeneye still present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2 Female Goldeneye
common tern-6
ringed plover-2
Jay-2
JUV G.S.Woodpecker
Plus the usuals
common sandpiper-4
ringed plover-4
little ringed plover-3
redshank-1
oystercatcher-2
garden warbler-1
common tern -at least 7 all adults
greater spotted woodpecker-1 juv
pochard-7
kestrel-1
sparrowhawk-1
gadwall-3 broods approx 15 young
plus the usuals
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Also 5 adult Common Terns present and single Green Sandpiper on Horrocks Scrape.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
We saw them flying south over the trees beside the sailing club at around 18:00hrs on Saturday evening
They slept all day Sat ,gone yesterday,probably eaten by the returned Moscovy duck,thats the size of a large dog,when they tried to nick a burger bun off it
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 4th of July 2011 02:39:06 PM
common sandpiper-2
ringed plover-6
little ringed plover-2
common tern-1
Redshank-2
oystercatcher-2
great crested grebe-down to 2 young on pengys now
kingfisher-1
garden warbler-1
plenty skylarks on the ruck and a few meadow pipit
a few teal appearing and a few shoveler
still over 300 canada geese
greylag geese-9
a few juv greater spotted woodpeckers about.
sparrowhawk-1f
common buzzard-2 over the rucks
plus all the usuals
Info thanks to John Taverner
I enjoyed some time out on Horrock's Scrape though, assisting with the formation of some 'channels' there. Peter Alker had hired a small digger and two man crew for the day with the primary intention of carrying out essential ditch clearing due to them being extremely heavily silted up. Whilst this work was the obvious priority, in order to maintain the integrity of these ditches which allows both birds and fish (and water) to circulate around the small ponds and channels there (for instance grebes can now once again get to the small pond just to the right of the hide), Peter took advantage of having the use of the digger in order to excavate some channels into the scrape too. The channels are only shallow but in very low water levels such as we are experiencing currently, they allow there to be muddy edges for birds to feed along. The material taken out has been levelled besides it so that when water levels are higher, there may by contrast be some areas of land still exposed. Anyway, looking from Horrock's Hide they may not look that impressive but the two we had time to excavate are 156 and 60 foot long respectively. That's 432 feet of new shoreline for birds to feed along!
Little Egret flew West over main flash at 6:20 this morning.
(Info thanks to Barry Hulme)
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Garden warbler-2 singing thier heads off between teal hide and canal-not heard one for about 6 weeks ,so this maybe in between brood singing
ringed plover-3
oystercatcher-2
gadwall still with 8 ducklings-front of rammies hide
great crested carrying at least 3 chicks on pengys
plus all the usuals
redshank-2
gadwall-2 female with newly hatched broods
great crested grebe-first young of year one pair front of edmonson hide with 4 little uns
teal-4
cormorant-4
kestrel-1
plenty of young warblers/finches /tits etc
300+ canada geese
lots of Juv Black headed gulls
plus the usual
As for the term 'ruck' itself? I can only think it refers to a definition of 'an irregular fold in an otherwise even surface (as in cloth)' or in this instance as in land!
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 24th of June 2011 05:10:53 PM