Swallow over at 08:40 this morning too.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Now 5 Sand Martin present and the 2 breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gulls are on the spit.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 13th of March 2011 07:31:11 AM

Single Ringed Plover this morning on the spit and 2 Sand Martin present so far.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

pm
redshank-3
oystercatcher-12
kingfisher-2
goosander-16
shellduck-6
kestrel-1
Plus all the ususal stuff

Curlew through this morning.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

pm rainwhy is always sunny when we are at work
goosander-16
shellduck-4
goosander-c25
oystercatcher-10
redshank-1
great crested grebe-20+
plus the usual suspects

Single adult Mediterranean Gull on the spit again early this morning at least.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Atleast one adult Mediterranean Gull present on the spit this morning around 9am.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Mediterranean Gull 2 Thanks to this morning's report. On spit level with
furthest ''goalposts'' Well tucked down. one full sp

Redshank 1 In front of Horrocks Hide.

Snipe 2 Ramsdale's Hide
Skylark 5 Vacating the Ruck for an energetic dog.
Goldeneye 4 near Hey Brook

Further sightings from this morning:

20 Goosander
7 Shelduck
8 Fieldfare over

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls on the spit again this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

pm
treecreeper-1
goldeneye-25
pochard-25
oystercatcher-12
goosander-8
shellduck-6
masses of gulls mainly black headed
plus the usual stuff

pm
no rare gulls-lots of herring/Lbb/common/bhg
goosander-22
shellduck-8
wigeon-6
oystercatcher-10
dunlin-1
plus all the usual stuff

Just after 9am this morning:

2 breeding plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull on the spit.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Adult breeding plumaged Mediterranean Gull present on the spit this morning.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Solitary Dunlin present briefly on the spit late morning today.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

So far this morning:

2 Curlew on the grass in front of the yacht club.
16 Oystercatchers.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

pm
goldeneye-57
oystercatcher-12
curlew-2>w 1pm
Common Buzzard-2
common snipe-1
shellduck-6
goosander-12
great crested grebe-24
cormorant-16
skylark-singing over rucks
kestrel-1
pochard-20
plus all the usual

early pm
16 oystercatcher
2 dunlin
1 redshank
pretty quiet otherwise


-- Edited by JOHN TYMON on Saturday 26th of February 2011 03:23:41 PM

This mornings sightings:

10 Pintail flew west
4 Wigeon
14 Oystercatcher
1 Curlew flew west

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Yesterday:

4 Curlew through
2 Redshank present

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Todays sightings:

Single Redshank
11 Oystercatcher
Female Sparrowhawk plucking a Lapwing on the spit!
3 Buzzard
15 Redpoll

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

More sightings from this morning:

5 Curlew flew NE
single Ringed Plover
single Dunlin, flew off late morning

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Yesterday:

Single Curlew west at 09:30
Single Dunlin on the spit

This morning:

11 Oystercatcher

All info thanks to Barry Hulme

20th February, up to 5:50pm:

Adult Mediterranean Gull
7000 Black-headed Gull
30 LBbGull
8 GBbGull
1 Herring Gull
150 Common Gull

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Decided to try Pennington as there are no hides at Elton to avoid the rain in, 8.30-10.00 a.m. Enjoyable look around, birds as John's report from yesterday except I missed the Redpoll. Good to see lots of birds from the Bunting hide, all the Tits except Marsh and Crested, lots of Bullfinch plus Great Spotted Woodpecker and 16 Stock Dove
Cheers Ian

Sun pm
redpoll-30 near canal
oystercatcher-4
cormorant-17
goldeneye-32
great crested grebe-12
goosander-16
shellduck-6
lapwing-200+
kestrel-1m
pochard-30
tufted-150
a few siskins and the usual from bunting hide

SAT-AM/PM
GOOSANDER-18
GOLDENEYE-26
OYSTERCATCHER-2
DUNLIN-3 ARRIVED FROM WEST 3PM LANDED ON POINT-DEPARTED SE 3.05PM(SPRING HAS ARRIVED)
C0RMORANT-11
SHOVELER-30
SPARROWHAWK-1F
GREY HERON-6
POCHARD-30
LAPWING-200+
DECENT GULL ROOST STARTING AT 3.30 WHEN I LEFT
SISKIN-20
GOLDFINCH-40
TEAL
GADWALL
PLENTY BULLFINCH
REED BUNTING-8
GREAT CRESTED GREBE-14

Friday 10-30/2.30

Much the same for the four of us John, but from the new hide we saw a great fight between a couple of Moorhen, soon to be joined by another, and then two Coot waded in as well. It lasted quite a while. We had not seen that before.

The Feeder Hide was great around 2pm loads of everything apart from GSW's. including 1 male and 2 hen pheasants. Lots of Willow Tits as well.

fairly quiet this aft
oystercatcher-4
goosander-18
goldeneye-30
pochard-30
cormorant-11
a few siskins

Early this morning:

41 Goldeneye
6 Oystercatcher
9 Shelduck

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

A quick mooch around the hides this morning. Birds of note were 7 shelduck (2 on the spit, 2 in rammies and 3 near the yacht club). Also 3 oystercatcher on the spit.

-- Edited by Nick Isherwood on Thursday 17th of February 2011 04:00:50 PM

Single Curlew present up to 4pm today.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Today, 7 Shelduck and 20 Pochard present.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

Don't great tits occasionally mimic marsh tits? I seem to recall Richard Broughton, writing on another forum recently, stating he'd heard a coal tit mimicking a marsh tit. If this were the case I suppose you'd have to ask yourself where they'd learnt the calls from in the first place?

Evening gull roost, 13th February:

4000 BhGull
20 Herring Gull
35 LBbGull
9 GBb Gull
200 Common Gull

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Thanks Ian. That makes it seem even less likely, perhaps. Ears open ...!

Last Pennington record was in 2000.

My first visit on Sat - was impressed with the huge number of Bullfinches at the Bunting Hide (at least 6m + 6f) and the Stock Doves there ... came looking for Willow Tits and found them, very happy. However, myself and another very experienced birder (moreso than me) heard a possible Marsh Tit call in the area between the rear of the Edmondson and Ram(thingy - forgotten the name) Hide. I had a recording with me and we immediately referred to it and it seemed spot on. We didn't get to see the bird, so considerable doubt obviously remains and I'm not claiming it, but I post this as a heads up for anyone else going there, and to see if anyone has any knowledge of the last sightings of Marsh Tit here?

Thanks

Penghies Hide: Kingfisher-1 Waterrail-1, Shoveler-9+, Goosander-5, Tufties10+, Teal++
Bunting Hide: Greenfinches, Bullfinches, Teal, Moorhens, Pheasants, Stock Doves, Blue tits, Great tits, Longtailed tits, Chaffinchs, Song Thrush, Blackbirds, Willow tits, Reed Buntings, Coal tit, Robins, Sparrow Hawk.
Horrocks Hide: Lapwings++, Oystercatchers-2, Shelduck-2, Cormorants-6+, Pochards-4+, Coots++, GC Grebs-4+, An odd looking Canada goose cross??
Teal Hide: Tufties, Teal, Coots, Moorhens, Goosanders,
Around the Information Centre: Song Thrush, Goldfinches, Wood Pigeons

Loads of water everywhere,

still not online dongling with the daughter
SAT
POCHARD-63(HIGHEST NO FOR QUITE A WHILE)
OYSTERCATCHER-1
LAPWING-c400
GOLDENEYE-20

Early this p.m. :
By the Information office:
Song thrush ( vocal) There on my arrival and departure 2 hours later!

Spit: On arrival ...empty. Due,I was told, to Yatch Race, Drifting Buoys and speedboats.
At departure.... 25 Lapwing ...25 BH Gull...2 Oystercatchers....1 Heron..2 Woodpigeons.
4 Cormorants on posts.
Ramsdale's Hide: 4 Shelduck....Few Tufties and Teal. I LBB Gull
Resting Rail looking down Ramsdale's Flash:
12 Goldeneye in Pairs.
25 Pochard
2 GC Grebes.
Few Tufties.
Tom Edmonson Hide: 5 Shoveler( 1 fem.)..... 1 Heron... Few Tufties and 4 teal.
Teal hide : 6 Gadwall......1 drake Goosander... Tufties.
Over ...flock c 70 Lapwing




-- Edited by keith mills on Saturday 12th of February 2011 04:04:59 PM

Midday today:

7 Shelduck
4 Oystercatcher
Single Golden Plover mixed in with 300 or so flighty Lapwing.

Also, earlier this morning at 9am, Barry Hulme had a Merlin low over the flash.

2 Oystercatcher and 5 Shelduck present today.

Info thanks tp Barry Hulme

In addition to the Mediterranean Gull, c3700 Black-Headed was well down on yesterday, 58 Common, 74 Lesser Black-Backed (though some left to the SW), 6 Great Black-Backed (all 6 departed SW after sunset)

c450 Jackdaws roosted on south side

Adult Med gull in roost again tonight.

2 Dunlin landed on the spit late morning today.

Info thanks to Barry Hulme

adult Mediterranean Gull in roost, with near full black hood

also approx 8000 Black-Headed, 80+ Common, 74 Lesser Black-Backed, 2 Herring and 2 Great Black-Backed

late for sunday-still offline
Goldeneye-69 (highest no for a while-in rammies when all the boats where being rescued all round the flash.

14 Shoveler & 12 Goosander seen early pm