This morning, juvenile ruff on spit, probably male from size. Only 4 common terns inc 2 juveniles. Two Egyptian geese off car park but no sign of yesterdays juvenile black-necked grebe, though not checked Rammies or west end.
colin davies said
Fri Jul 29 1:07 PM, 2022
Juvenile black necked grebe still present off the car park at 12:00. Two common sandpipers on the spit.
Possibly even better than the grebe, an adult and two juvenile great black-backed gulls were present at 12:00. Great black-backs are scarce enough visitors in summer but I'm pretty sure that I've never seen juveniles in July before. Clearly a family party, when the adult flew the juveniles followed it around the flash calling. Also this morning, at least 150 lesser black-backs two thirds of which are juveniles.
Eight common terns this morning, including 4 juveniles.
-- Edited by colin davies on Friday 29th of July 2022 03:18:48 PM
Juvenile Black-necked grebe with coot and tufted ducks flock off the car park, also 2 Egyptian geese still, at least 1 common sandpiper and as yet uncounted common terns.
At 9am this morning, 12 common terns from Horrock's hide. Later I was walking past Mossley Hall farm at the western end and seven common terns flew over high, calling and headed away south west, one carrying a fish. Hard to know if these were part of the original 12 or different birds, but this afternoon there were 15 common terns present with six juveniles. I'd love to know how many have passed through in July.
Also today, 1 common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 28th of July 2022 07:46:51 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 28 8:25 AM, 2022
Other birds yesterday evening included 2 Common Gull, 300+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpiper and 5 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Wed Jul 27 8:29 PM, 2022
This evening, two juvenile Mediterranean gulls, one adult common gull.
Very little change from yesterday, at least 13 common terns with at least 4 juveniles, common sandpiper at the boat club, raven over south side, 2 Egyptian geese on the car park.
This morning, 11 common terns including at least 3 juveniles, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, 50+ swift, 24 greylags on the Spit, 2 Egyptian geese on car park.
Also, Bill Harrison had 1 dunlin on the Spit and 2 ravens over the south side.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Jul 26 10:12 AM, 2022
Yesterday evening, 4 Redshanks flew straight through west at 8:30pm and 10 Common Terns were present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Mon Jul 25 9:53 AM, 2022
This morning, raven over south side, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, 8 common terns inc 3 juveniles, 90+ lapwings, 100+ sand martins, 2 grey wagtails, 2 Egyptian geese on the car park. Seems to have been a clear out of swifts, none at all for me so far.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 25 8:56 AM, 2022
A Dunlin and 14 Common Tern so far this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Lez Fairclough said
Sun Jul 24 8:29 PM, 2022
Late news for yesterday 23rd July 2.30pm to 4pm.
Horrock's Hide - 10 Common Tern including 2 begging juveniles & a fly by Kingfisher.
Edmondson Hide - Kingfisher perched on one of the stakes occasionally fishing, also 2 Grey Heron & Cetti's Warbler heard.
Ramsdale's Hide - Cetti's Warbler seen & heard, Common Sandpiper & 3 juvenile Reed Warbler in reeds in front of hide.
This afternoon 16 common terns including at least 4 juveniles, little egret at the Slag lane end and 2 Egyptian geese still at the car park.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 23 9:17 PM, 2022
This evening, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was around the spit then flew west, a pair Pochard at the western end and 8 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Sat Jul 23 8:18 AM, 2022
This morning, 4 pochard, 1 common sandpiper (boat club), 17 common terns including at least 5 juveniles.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 22 1:58 PM, 2022
18 Common Tern and a Little Egret present early this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
colin davies said
Fri Jul 22 11:59 AM, 2022
Other birds this morning, two common sandpipers on the spit, two little ringed plovers at the boat club, two Egyptian geese next to the car park and around 15 common terns with at least three juveniles. Two kingfishers were having a battle in front of Horrock's hide, even clasping bills at one stage(see photos). I've not seen the second black tern yet but the first one was an adult moulting around the head (see photo). If anybody wants to see more photos of the kingfishers, they're on my blog which can be accessed from the link below.
Summer plumage black tern this morning. Common terns seem well down but no counts yet.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 21 11:06 PM, 2022
This evening and adult Little Egret flew off from Ramsdales scrape, 3 Common Sandpiper below the rucks, a single Pochard flew in and a Hobby flew west along the canal just before 9pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Steven Nelson said
Thu Jul 21 9:22 PM, 2022
Quick visit this evening
Plenty of Common Terns including a couple of juveniles. The 2 Egyptian Geese at the lake shore by the carpark.
Also a dead Black-headed Gull on the lake shore that seems to have been predated by something rather than a victim of bird flu.
This afternoon at least 33 common terns including at least 8 juveniles. Also little egret in Ramsdales. No sign of any common scoter.
colin davies said
Thu Jul 21 9:48 AM, 2022
Further news from this morning, at least 1 common sandpiper on the ruck, 4 kingfishers including 3 together at Tom Edmondson hide and 2 Egyptian geese still off the car park.
No further sign of the spoonbills and no sign at Lightshaw, though Dover Lock not checked.
It was a bit of a panic this morning when the spoonbills flew in from the south and over the spit. I wanted to watch them, get the news out and photograph them all at the same time. I went for my phone first and found that it was in the middle of an update which was 80% complete so had to wait for that. Then I had to get my camera out of my bag. Then back to the phone which now wouldn't accept my fingerprint log in because it had just updated so I had to sign in with my password. Then make the calls to try to get other birders who were on site onto the birds which were now flying away from me west over the ruck. Finally try to get a photo of two dots. In other words, the attached photos aren't very good!
10 Common Scoter early am, with four present at 05:20 and then a further 6 dropping in at 05:35.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
colin davies said
Thu Jul 21 7:42 AM, 2022
This morning so far, 2 spoonbills over ruck heading west towards Lightshaw. Also 9 common scoter, though only one at 7.30 and 30+ common terns. Dunlin just dropped in.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 21st of July 2022 07:46:58 AM
colin davies said
Wed Jul 20 3:58 PM, 2022
1st summer drake common scoter still present this afternoon, plus an impressive minimum of 32 common terns with at least 8 juveniles. Also 2 common sandpipers.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 20th of July 2022 03:58:48 PM
1st summer drake common scoter on the flash this morning, also at least 21 common terns, common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese.
colin davies said
Tue Jul 19 10:12 AM, 2022
This morning at least 18 common terns with at least 5 juveniles, also 2 common sandpipers, 2 little ringed plovers and 2 Egyptian geese.
colin davies said
Mon Jul 18 11:03 AM, 2022
At least 21 common terns this morning including at least 5 juveniles. Also 2 little ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese the latter over at the boat club.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Jul 16 10:39 PM, 2022
This evening, a juvenile and four adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Common Sandpiper and 10+ Common Tern.
Yesterday evening a Hobby flew NW.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Fri Jul 15 5:07 PM, 2022
Green sandpiper, 1 common sandpiper, 23+ common terns, 2 Egyptian geese this afternoon.
pete berry said
Fri Jul 15 12:28 PM, 2022
Still at least 12 Common Terns today around the flash. Also plenty of Swifts plus a few hirundines hawking over the water,and a Green Sandpiper in Ramsdales. The feeding station was overun with tree rats,counted at least 9,but not a single bird in there !!!!
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 14 12:21 PM, 2022
12 Common Terns early this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
colin davies said
Thu Jul 14 10:55 AM, 2022
This morning, 11 common terns including a family party with 3 juveniles (see photo), also 6 common sandpipers on the spit, 2 Egyptian geese and kingfisher. At least a couple of hundred swift over the flash, plus a handful of house martins and sand martins.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 14th of July 2022 08:38:18 PM
11 Common Tern present this morning, also a Raven over.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 7 9:45 AM, 2022
This morning:
1 Dunlin
1 Little Ringed Plover
5 Oystercatcher
1 Little Egret
6 Common Tern
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Jul 7 9:37 AM, 2022
Late news for yesterday mid to late evening:
Hobby
Drake Common Scoter, seemed to get pushed off by yachts mid-evening
Adult Mediterranean Gull
4 adult Little Ringed Plover
150 Swift
4 adult and a juvenile Common Tern
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Jul 6 7:56 AM, 2022
This morning, one Common Scoter, five Common Tern and two Oystercatcher.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Jul 4 9:44 AM, 2022
So far this morning, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit with a single Dunlin and the two Egyptian Geese were by the sailing club shore.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 1 9:47 AM, 2022
Late news for late yesterday evening which saw juvenile Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 2 Teal and 3 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 1 9:44 AM, 2022
A further single drake Common Scoter dropped in at 08:45
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Jul 1 7:14 AM, 2022
5 Common Scoter this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian Howarth said
Wed Jun 29 9:43 PM, 2022
This p.m at Ramsdale Hide there were 4 x Water Rail wandering about close to the hide, for an hour, in full view, feeding and preening, and then bathing and swimming around. Also, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 1 x GS Woodpecker (Juv) sat on the bare tree, 1 x passing Jay, 1 x Reed Warbler back and forth in the reeds a few metres away, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Oystercatcher. In front of Horrocks Hide were 2 x Egyptian Geese. Whilst walking back to the car and watching 2 x Blackcaps flirting together a Mistle Thrush almost flew in to me and landed a few metres away. But the highlight for me was watching a Reed Warbler feed a Juvenile by the path just near Edmunson Hide.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Jun 26 6:21 PM, 2022
This morning, single Common Sandpiper, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank and 1 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Lez Fairclough said
Wed Jun 22 9:36 PM, 2022
Round the hides mid afternoon for a couple of hours - very quite with more birds heard than seen.
Of note :- Little Egret from Ramsdale's Hide with Song Thrush carrying food.
Reed Bunting & Grey Heron from Edmondson Hide with Reed Warblers heard across the path.
Common Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Jay & numerous Blackcaps along bottom path near canal.
Small group of Long-Tailed Tits seen with Cetti's Warbler & Sedge Warbler heard near Teal Hide.
Bunting hide overgrown, feeders empty & devoid of all wildlife.
This morning, juvenile ruff on spit, probably male from size. Only 4 common terns inc 2 juveniles. Two Egyptian geese off car park but no sign of yesterdays juvenile black-necked grebe, though not checked Rammies or west end.
Juvenile black necked grebe still present off the car park at 12:00. Two common sandpipers on the spit.
Possibly even better than the grebe, an adult and two juvenile great black-backed gulls were present at 12:00. Great black-backs are scarce enough visitors in summer but I'm pretty sure that I've never seen juveniles in July before. Clearly a family party, when the adult flew the juveniles followed it around the flash calling. Also this morning, at least 150 lesser black-backs two thirds of which are juveniles.
Eight common terns this morning, including 4 juveniles.
-- Edited by colin davies on Friday 29th of July 2022 03:18:48 PM
Juvenile Black-necked grebe with coot and tufted ducks flock off the car park, also 2 Egyptian geese still, at least 1 common sandpiper and as yet uncounted common terns.
At 9am this morning, 12 common terns from Horrock's hide. Later I was walking past Mossley Hall farm at the western end and seven common terns flew over high, calling and headed away south west, one carrying a fish. Hard to know if these were part of the original 12 or different birds, but this afternoon there were 15 common terns present with six juveniles. I'd love to know how many have passed through in July.
Also today, 1 common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 28th of July 2022 07:46:51 PM
Other birds yesterday evening included 2 Common Gull, 300+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Common Sandpiper and 5 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This evening, two juvenile Mediterranean gulls, one adult common gull.
Very little change from yesterday, at least 13 common terns with at least 4 juveniles, common sandpiper at the boat club, raven over south side, 2 Egyptian geese on the car park.
This morning, 11 common terns including at least 3 juveniles, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, 50+ swift, 24 greylags on the Spit, 2 Egyptian geese on car park.
Also, Bill Harrison had 1 dunlin on the Spit and 2 ravens over the south side.
Yesterday evening, 4 Redshanks flew straight through west at 8:30pm and 10 Common Terns were present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This morning, raven over south side, common sandpiper in Ramsdales, 8 common terns inc 3 juveniles, 90+ lapwings, 100+ sand martins, 2 grey wagtails, 2 Egyptian geese on the car park. Seems to have been a clear out of swifts, none at all for me so far.
A Dunlin and 14 Common Tern so far this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Late news for yesterday 23rd July 2.30pm to 4pm.
Horrock's Hide - 10 Common Tern including 2 begging juveniles & a fly by Kingfisher.
Edmondson Hide - Kingfisher perched on one of the stakes occasionally fishing, also 2 Grey Heron & Cetti's Warbler heard.
Ramsdale's Hide - Cetti's Warbler seen & heard, Common Sandpiper & 3 juvenile Reed Warbler in reeds in front of hide.
This afternoon 16 common terns including at least 4 juveniles, little egret at the Slag lane end and 2 Egyptian geese still at the car park.
This evening, a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was around the spit then flew west, a pair Pochard at the western end and 8 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This morning, 4 pochard, 1 common sandpiper (boat club), 17 common terns including at least 5 juveniles.
18 Common Tern and a Little Egret present early this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Other birds this morning, two common sandpipers on the spit, two little ringed plovers at the boat club, two Egyptian geese next to the car park and around 15 common terns with at least three juveniles. Two kingfishers were having a battle in front of Horrock's hide, even clasping bills at one stage(see photos). I've not seen the second black tern yet but the first one was an adult moulting around the head (see photo). If anybody wants to see more photos of the kingfishers, they're on my blog which can be accessed from the link below.
2 black tern seen at 11.30.
Summer plumage black tern this morning. Common terns seem well down but no counts yet.
This evening and adult Little Egret flew off from Ramsdales scrape, 3 Common Sandpiper below the rucks, a single Pochard flew in and a Hobby flew west along the canal just before 9pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Plenty of Common Terns including a couple of juveniles.
The 2 Egyptian Geese at the lake shore by the carpark.
Also a dead Black-headed Gull on the lake shore that seems to have been predated by something rather than a victim of bird flu.
This afternoon at least 33 common terns including at least 8 juveniles. Also little egret in Ramsdales. No sign of any common scoter.
Further news from this morning, at least 1 common sandpiper on the ruck, 4 kingfishers including 3 together at Tom Edmondson hide and 2 Egyptian geese still off the car park.
No further sign of the spoonbills and no sign at Lightshaw, though Dover Lock not checked.
It was a bit of a panic this morning when the spoonbills flew in from the south and over the spit. I wanted to watch them, get the news out and photograph them all at the same time. I went for my phone first and found that it was in the middle of an update which was 80% complete so had to wait for that. Then I had to get my camera out of my bag. Then back to the phone which now wouldn't accept my fingerprint log in because it had just updated so I had to sign in with my password. Then make the calls to try to get other birders who were on site onto the birds which were now flying away from me west over the ruck. Finally try to get a photo of two dots. In other words, the attached photos aren't very good!
10 Common Scoter early am, with four present at 05:20 and then a further 6 dropping in at 05:35.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning so far, 2 spoonbills over ruck heading west towards Lightshaw. Also 9 common scoter, though only one at 7.30 and 30+ common terns. Dunlin just dropped in.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 21st of July 2022 07:46:58 AM
1st summer drake common scoter still present this afternoon, plus an impressive minimum of 32 common terns with at least 8 juveniles. Also 2 common sandpipers.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 20th of July 2022 03:58:48 PM
1st summer drake common scoter on the flash this morning, also at least 21 common terns, common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese.
This morning at least 18 common terns with at least 5 juveniles, also 2 common sandpipers, 2 little ringed plovers and 2 Egyptian geese.
At least 21 common terns this morning including at least 5 juveniles. Also 2 little ringed plover, 1 common sandpiper and 2 Egyptian geese the latter over at the boat club.
This evening, a juvenile and four adult Mediterranean Gulls, 4 Common Sandpiper and 10+ Common Tern.
Yesterday evening a Hobby flew NW.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Green sandpiper, 1 common sandpiper, 23+ common terns, 2 Egyptian geese this afternoon.
The feeding station was overun with tree rats,counted at least 9,but not a single bird in there !!!!
12 Common Terns early this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning, 11 common terns including a family party with 3 juveniles (see photo), also 6 common sandpipers on the spit, 2 Egyptian geese and kingfisher. At least a couple of hundred swift over the flash, plus a handful of house martins and sand martins.
-- Edited by colin davies on Thursday 14th of July 2022 08:38:18 PM
11 Common Tern present this morning, also a Raven over.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This morning:
1 Dunlin
1 Little Ringed Plover
5 Oystercatcher
1 Little Egret
6 Common Tern
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Late news for yesterday mid to late evening:
Hobby
Drake Common Scoter, seemed to get pushed off by yachts mid-evening
Adult Mediterranean Gull
4 adult Little Ringed Plover
150 Swift
4 adult and a juvenile Common Tern
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This morning, one Common Scoter, five Common Tern and two Oystercatcher.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
So far this morning, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwits on the spit with a single Dunlin and the two Egyptian Geese were by the sailing club shore.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Late news for late yesterday evening which saw juvenile Ringed Plover, 4 Common Sandpiper, Redshank, 2 Teal and 3 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
A further single drake Common Scoter dropped in at 08:45
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
5 Common Scoter this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This p.m at Ramsdale Hide there were 4 x Water Rail wandering about close to the hide, for an hour, in full view, feeding and preening, and then bathing and swimming around. Also, 1 x Common Sandpiper, 1 x GS Woodpecker (Juv) sat on the bare tree, 1 x passing Jay, 1 x Reed Warbler back and forth in the reeds a few metres away, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Oystercatcher. In front of Horrocks Hide were 2 x Egyptian Geese. Whilst walking back to the car and watching 2 x Blackcaps flirting together a Mistle Thrush almost flew in to me and landed a few metres away. But the highlight for me was watching a Reed Warbler feed a Juvenile by the path just near Edmunson Hide.
This morning, single Common Sandpiper, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank and 1 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Round the hides mid afternoon for a couple of hours - very quite with more birds heard than seen.
Of note :- Little Egret from Ramsdale's Hide with Song Thrush carrying food.
Reed Bunting & Grey Heron from Edmondson Hide with Reed Warblers heard across the path.
Common Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Jay & numerous Blackcaps along bottom path near canal.
Small group of Long-Tailed Tits seen with Cetti's Warbler & Sedge Warbler heard near Teal Hide.
Bunting hide overgrown, feeders empty & devoid of all wildlife.
This morning, grasshopper warbler reeling at Slag Lane end, little egret also Slag Lane end, common sandpiper, 2 common terns and 2 Egyptian geese.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 21st of June 2022 03:27:15 PM
This evening, Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover, 2 Redshank, 6 Common Tern, 200 Swift, 2 Egyptian Geese.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This morning, 4cy great black-backed gull (also present yesterday), 2 Egyptian geese on the spit, 2 common terns.
Common sandpiper on the spit this morning, also 2 common terns over the flash and 2 Egyptian geese in front of Horrock's hide.
Yesterday evening:
Second calendar year Hobby flew low west at 8:42pm
Cuckoo flew west over the yacht club at 9:02pm
3 adult Redshank
260 Swift
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes