Two black-necked grebes at the entrance to Rammies around 5.00pm. Also 30-40 sand martins and half a dozen black-tailed godwits on The Spit (viewed from Green Lane).
Nick Isherwood said
Mon Mar 28 4:14 PM, 2011
Called in at 11.30 this morning for a quick hour. Immediately picked up the two Med Gulls on the spit who were both napping at the time. Absolutely stunning birds when the sun shone on them, their bills were so red that you could have picked them out with just the bill colour alone.
Also heard several singing Blackcaps on my way up to Tom Edmonson hide and one single Chiffchaff.
A quick scope over towards East Bay showed it to be swarming with Sand Martins too.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 28 2:58 PM, 2011
Further sightings from midday:
Female Merlin fairly high over the western end of the flash heading due east at 1:30pm. Plenty Sand Martins through at a fair height and heading west 2 White Wagtails briefly by the point scrape
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 28 12:43 PM, 2011
The pair of breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gulls are currently showing very well on the spit, if occasionally asleep!
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 28 9:25 AM, 2011
Yesterday up to 6:30pm:
14 Black-tailed Godwit 2 Ringed Plover Little Ringed Plover 250 Sand Martin Singing Blackcap
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
james hall said
Sun Mar 27 7:21 PM, 2011
no sign of the knot
4 chiffchaff
2 widgeon
12 black tailed godwit
8 oyster catchers
JOHN TYMON said
Sat Mar 26 3:55 PM, 2011
pm with charlie owen brambling 2 male sand martin-100+ swallow-3 house martin-2 blackcap-1 male on fat balls in bunting hide chiff chaff-6 common buzzard-2 black tailed godwit-14 ringed plover-1 knot-1 great crested grebe-33 goldeneye-43 plus the usual
>
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 26th of March 2011 05:24:08 PM
Joe Wynn said
Sat Mar 26 2:35 PM, 2011
A nice few hours (1100-1330) at bunting hide and Horrocks Hide produced:
Horrocks Hide: 4 Redshank 14 Black tailed Godwit 1 Knot (would never have spotted it, cheers to whoever pointed it out!) c.10 oysteys
Pengies Hide: c.15 tufties 1 Sand martin over the path near pengies hide
Bunting Hide: 3 Brambling (2m 1f) 1 Blackcap (m) 3 Stock Dove 2 Willow Tit 1 Teal Usual mix of bullfinch, reed bunting, chaffinch, greenfinch, etc.
-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Saturday 26th of March 2011 03:30:07 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 26 9:42 AM, 2011
13 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit this morning plus a minimum of 350 Sand Martins.
Info thanks to Andy Makin
Martyn Jones said
Sat Mar 26 8:13 AM, 2011
Late report for last night:
At 6:10pm there were 30-40 Sand Martins whizzing around above the water at Teal Hide presumably feeding on insects. A fantastic sight in the early evening sunshine. Black-tailed Godwits still present on the far end of the spit at Horrocks Hide as well as three Redshank, Oystercatchers and the other usuals, but there were surprisingly few Great Crested Grebes about. A Chiff Chaff was singing in the trees outside Horrocks Hide and at least two Skylarks were singing and displaying high above Ramsdales Ruck.
What exactly is that big goose mixed in with Canada Geese currently at Edmonson's Hide? A Bar-headed Goose, a Greylag of some sort or a escaped farmyard goose?
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Saturday 26th of March 2011 10:05:32 AM
Karen Foulkes said
Fri Mar 25 5:24 PM, 2011
A couple of hours from 1230
10-12 Black Tailed Godwits 6 Redshank 6 Oystercatcher 2 Little Grebe 6 Shelduck 2 Chiffchaff singing 2 male Brambling
Male Blackcap seen from Bunting hide by Bob Foulkes
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 25th of March 2011 08:00:56 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 24 11:29 AM, 2011
Around 7am this morning:
14 Black-tailed Godwits Single Green Sandpiper on Teal Scrape
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Nick Isherwood said
Thu Mar 24 11:21 AM, 2011
12 black tailed godwits on the spit this morning at 9.30. Also a kingfisher showed quite well too. It was also good to see the Great crested grebes attempting to mate with the female patiently waiting in position on a rock for the male to 'hop on'. Two robins were also seen displaying with one of the birds stretching its neck right up and swaying its head from side to side. Not seen this before with robins.
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Thursday 24th of March 2011 12:49:22 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 23 11:12 PM, 2011
12 Black-tailed Godwits flew onto the spit at 5:55 this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Judith Smith said
Wed Mar 23 8:07 PM, 2011
Nice to see the mud bank at the west end has reappeared after several years' absence; if it remains it will be worth checking for waders. Two Oystercatchers and a Lapwing on it today.
Ivan Ellison said
Wed Mar 23 7:33 PM, 2011
Usual birds at the Bunting hide, also saw 1 x male Brambling. 1 x Redwing, and a tree creeper , another birder said he had seen a Redpoll on the feeders earlier today.Cracking sunset over the flash tonight.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Mar 23 2:56 PM, 2011
Early afternoon today:
11 Black-tailed Godwits, possibly more but was viewing from the point. 2 Ringed Plover 12 Oystercatcher 3 Redshank
Rick Donkin said
Tue Mar 22 5:08 PM, 2011
11.30 to 14.00
2 Black-necked Grebes 10 Black-tailed Godwits 4 Redshank Many Goldeneye, Gadwall, Teal, Tuffties, Shoveler, Lapwing & Great Crested Grebes. 8 Oystercatcher 1 Stock Dove 1 Little Grebe 6 Shelduck 1 Pochard A few Common and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls among the BHGulls Lots of the usual smaller birds and 3 or 4 Chiffchaff singing throughout. Skylarks on the Ruck flying up singing and displaying. Kestrel overhead.
Nice to have met up with Paul from North Ronaldsey - enjoy the rest of your visit, Paul. Rick.
3 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit Pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls still on
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 19 9:13 AM, 2011
More sightings for the morning:
Single Black-tailed Godwit on the spit 2 Raven over east 14 Oystercatcher 7 Redshank 6 Shelduck 1 Curlew
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Mar 19 7:06 AM, 2011
No sign of the Avocet this morning.
The two adult Mediterranean Gulls present though.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 18 8:34 PM, 2011
Ian Campbell wrote:
I presume it was you John or one of your friends , and thanks, who pointed out the Avocet to me approx 4.00 p.m.(I was the idiot in the MCFC coat straight from work) and very grateful too. Cheers Ian
yep that was paul brown with the beard-The North ronaldsey sheep shearerwho looks like hes short of a good meal and Charlie Owen the old fella with the cap-all round good guy and local legend who went in the corner to point it out,and me who definately isn't short of a good meal being about 10 stone heavier than Paul in the left side of the hidegiving directions
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of March 2011 08:36:48 PM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of March 2011 08:37:36 PM
Judith Smith said
Fri Mar 18 8:18 PM, 2011
Also 20 Sand Martins about 0800hrs
Ian Campbell said
Fri Mar 18 7:54 PM, 2011
I presume it was you John or one of your friends , and thanks, who pointed out the Avocet to me approx 4.00 p.m.(I was the idiot in the MCFC coat straight from work) and very grateful too. Cheers Ian
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 18 6:41 PM, 2011
Afternoon mooch with my old pal Browney,and Charlie more chatting than birding as I had not seen Paul for best part of 20 years. Avocet-1 redshank-10 chiff chaff-2 dunlin-1 grey wagtail-3 med gull-1 pair goosander-22 shellduck-4 plus all the usual stuff
Keith Mills said
Fri Mar 18 4:47 PM, 2011
This afternoon. Pleasant weather and walk round with Tony Coatsworth. So my posting is same as his, except two pairs of Goldeye in front of East Bay hide. The Avocet and the Dunlin were both ticks. Nice to see that your Swan shot turned out ok, Tony!
Tony Coatsworth said
Fri Mar 18 3:56 PM, 2011
1 Dunlin, 1 Avocet and 2 Med Gulls still present 14:00
5 Skylarks - Ramsdale Rucks 2 Wigeon 20 Goosander
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 18th of March 2011 04:01:08 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 18 12:52 PM, 2011
Little Ringed Plover on Teal Scrape midday.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Mar 18 11:25 AM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Avocet still present at 10:50.
Also:
The pair of Mediterranean Gulls present on the spit 1 Dunlin 1 Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
lets hope its still there for me at 1pm after work
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 18 11:22 AM, 2011
Avocet still present at 10:50.
Also:
The pair of Mediterranean Gulls present on the spit 1 Dunlin 1 Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 18 9:26 AM, 2011
Avocet still present 09:25, on the spit.
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 18 8:11 AM, 2011
Avocet still present at 08:10, plus at least one adult Mediterranean Gull.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Mar 18 6:55 AM, 2011
Single Avocet landed on the spit at 06:45 this morning, currently still present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Mar 17 9:04 PM, 2011
Early am today:
1 Curlew 1 Chiffchaff 20 Sand Martin 18 Meadow Pipit on Ramsdales Ruck
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Early afternoon today:
28 Wigeon noisily in the middle of the flash and often circling around. 27 Goldeneye 12 Oystercatcher 3 Lesser Redpoll
PHIL GREENWOOD said
Wed Mar 16 6:57 PM, 2011
After a couple of hours intermittent checking, the 2 ad Med Gulls finally arrived at c1630 on the spit. This was just after seeing 7 Sand Martins flying over. Also: Redshank 4 Oystercatcher 6 Shelduck 2 Wigeon 1m Shelduck 2 Goldeneye 1m5f Stock Dove 2 Goosander 1m 6f/imm Chiffchaff 1 singing etc.etc.etc.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Mar 15 10:55 AM, 2011
The pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls present once again this morning. Also 6 Redshank, single Chiffchaff and 12 Skylark back on Ramsdales Ruck.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Neil Southworth said
Mon Mar 14 2:15 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Also 3 Redshank and a female Brambling on the bird table
That must have been quite a sight!
JOHN TYMON said
Mon Mar 14 1:10 PM, 2011
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Pair of Mediterranean Gulls again on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to ex-flash moocher and now North Ronaldsay resident Paul Brown (on his first visit back to his old haunt for 13 years!)
About time he did some real birding,instead of having bluethroats at 3 feet in his garden
welcome back to realityalmost
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 14th of March 2011 01:12:57 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Mar 14 10:21 AM, 2011
Pair of Mediterranean Gulls again on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to ex-flash moocher and now North Ronaldsay resident Paul Brown (on his first visit back to his old haunt for 13 years!)
Also 3 Redshank and a female Brambling on the bird table near Horrocks Hide plus a single Chiffchaff (latter thanks to Jon Taverner)
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Jon Taverner said
Mon Mar 14 10:19 AM, 2011
1 Chiffchaff singing near Ramsdale Hide this morning
Female Merlin fairly high over the western end of the flash heading due east at 1:30pm.
Plenty Sand Martins through at a fair height and heading west
2 White Wagtails briefly by the point scrape
14 Black-tailed Godwit
2 Ringed Plover
Little Ringed Plover
250 Sand Martin
Singing Blackcap
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
brambling 2 male
sand martin-100+
swallow-3
house martin-2
blackcap-1 male on fat balls in bunting hide
chiff chaff-6
common buzzard-2
black tailed godwit-14
ringed plover-1
knot-1
great crested grebe-33
goldeneye-43
plus the usual
>
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 26th of March 2011 05:24:08 PM
Horrocks Hide:
4 Redshank
14 Black tailed Godwit
1 Knot (would never have spotted it, cheers to whoever pointed it out!)
c.10 oysteys
Pengies Hide:
c.15 tufties
1 Sand martin over the path near pengies hide
Bunting Hide:
3 Brambling (2m 1f)
1 Blackcap (m)
3 Stock Dove
2 Willow Tit
1 Teal
Usual mix of bullfinch, reed bunting, chaffinch, greenfinch, etc.
-- Edited by Joe Wynn on Saturday 26th of March 2011 03:30:07 PM
At 6:10pm there were 30-40 Sand Martins whizzing around above the water at Teal Hide presumably feeding on insects. A fantastic sight in the early evening sunshine. Black-tailed Godwits still present on the far end of the spit at Horrocks Hide as well as three Redshank, Oystercatchers and the other usuals, but there were surprisingly few Great Crested Grebes about. A Chiff Chaff was singing in the trees outside Horrocks Hide and at least two Skylarks were singing and displaying high above Ramsdales Ruck.
What exactly is that big goose mixed in with Canada Geese currently at Edmonson's Hide? A Bar-headed Goose, a Greylag of some sort or a escaped farmyard goose?
-- Edited by Martyn Jones on Saturday 26th of March 2011 10:05:32 AM
10-12 Black Tailed Godwits
6 Redshank
6 Oystercatcher
2 Little Grebe
6 Shelduck
2 Chiffchaff singing
2 male Brambling
Male Blackcap seen from Bunting hide by Bob Foulkes
-- Edited by Karen Foulkes on Friday 25th of March 2011 08:00:56 PM
14 Black-tailed Godwits
Single Green Sandpiper on Teal Scrape
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Thursday 24th of March 2011 12:49:22 PM
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
11 Black-tailed Godwits, possibly more but was viewing from the point.
2 Ringed Plover
12 Oystercatcher
3 Redshank
2 Black-necked Grebes
10 Black-tailed Godwits
4 Redshank
Many Goldeneye, Gadwall, Teal, Tuffties, Shoveler, Lapwing & Great Crested Grebes.
8 Oystercatcher
1 Stock Dove
1 Little Grebe
6 Shelduck
1 Pochard
A few Common and Lesser Black-Backed Gulls among the BHGulls
Lots of the usual smaller birds and 3 or 4 Chiffchaff singing throughout.
Skylarks on the Ruck flying up singing and displaying. Kestrel overhead.
Nice to have met up with Paul from North Ronaldsey - enjoy the rest of your visit, Paul.
Rick.
2 Black-necked Grebes
21 Black-tailed Godwits
11 Redshank
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
12 Black-tailed Godwit
11 Redshank
Snipe
10 Sand Martin through
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
with 4 black tailed godwit
1 dunlin
and all the usual suspects
Info thanks to Dave Ousey
Sand Martins: 4 flew accross Teal hide.
-- Edited by keith mills on Sunday 20th of March 2011 01:50:51 PM
As well as Med Gulls & godwits
1 Common Snipe from Tom Edmondson Hide showing well
2 Goldcrest nr Teal Hide
plus all the usual suspects
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
4 Black-tailed Godwit
2 adult Mediterranean Gull
1 Curlew
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2 med gulls(ad)
1 yellow-legged gull
14 oystercatcher
8 shellduck
7 redshank
3 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit
Pair of adult Mediterranean Gulls still on
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Single Black-tailed Godwit on the spit
2 Raven over east
14 Oystercatcher
7 Redshank
6 Shelduck
1 Curlew
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
The two adult Mediterranean Gulls present though.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
yep that was paul brown with the beard-The North ronaldsey sheep shearer
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of March 2011 08:36:48 PM
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Friday 18th of March 2011 08:37:36 PM
Cheers Ian
Avocet-1
redshank-10
chiff chaff-2
dunlin-1
grey wagtail-3
med gull-1 pair
goosander-22
shellduck-4
plus all the usual stuff
So my posting is same as his, except two pairs of Goldeye in front of East Bay hide.
The Avocet and the Dunlin were both ticks.
Nice to see that your Swan shot turned out ok, Tony!
5 Skylarks - Ramsdale Rucks
2 Wigeon
20 Goosander
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Friday 18th of March 2011 04:01:08 PM
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
lets hope its still there for me at 1pm after work
Also:
The pair of Mediterranean Gulls present on the spit
1 Dunlin
1 Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Dave Broome
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
1 Curlew
1 Chiffchaff
20 Sand Martin
18 Meadow Pipit on Ramsdales Ruck
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Early afternoon today:
28 Wigeon noisily in the middle of the flash and often circling around.
27 Goldeneye
12 Oystercatcher
3 Lesser Redpoll
Also:
Redshank 4
Oystercatcher 6
Shelduck 2
Wigeon 1m
Shelduck 2
Goldeneye 1m5f
Stock Dove 2
Goosander 1m 6f/imm
Chiffchaff 1 singing
etc.etc.etc.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
That must have been quite a sight!
welcome back to reality
-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Monday 14th of March 2011 01:12:57 PM
Info thanks to ex-flash moocher and now North Ronaldsay resident Paul Brown (on his first visit back to his old haunt for 13 years!)
Also 3 Redshank and a female Brambling on the bird table near Horrocks Hide plus a single Chiffchaff (latter thanks to Jon Taverner)
Info thanks to Barry Hulme