Pre-8:30 this morning the two Egyptian Geese were sat on the shore in front of the sailing club and c130 Swift were around the flash, many quite high up viewed from Ramsdales Ruck.
colin davies said
Sun Jun 12 9:35 AM, 2022
Another very quiet morning at the flash, 2 Egyptian geese still, today in front of Horrock's hide, also 2 common terns, 3 grey wagtails and 30 swifts. The only hirundine that I saw was a single house martin.
colin davies said
Wed Jun 8 9:19 AM, 2022
Very quiet this morning, 2 Egyptian geese still, on the car park, and 1 common tern best. No hirundines and maybe 30 swifts. I don't think I've seen double figure counts of swallow or house martin anywhere yet this year.
colin davies said
Tue Jun 7 1:53 PM, 2022
This morning;
Barnacle goose 2 with Canada geese on the Spit
Egyptian goose 2
Common tern 5
Garden warbler 1 near Tom Edmondson hide
Willow tit 1 on ruck
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 7th of June 2022 04:53:40 PM
Late yesterday evening, a female Common Scoter, 4 Common Tern, 300 Swift and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Fri May 27 12:05 PM, 2022
Early today, 240 Swift feeding, some pretty high up and 2 Common Tern the main highlights Of a fairly quiet morning.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue May 24 10:00 PM, 2022
This evening:
Drake Garganey
2 Dunlin
1 Common Tern
1 Grasshopper Warbler by the canal
200 Swift
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Tue May 24 5:27 PM, 2022
This afternoon, 2 dunlin on the spit, 1 common tern, 100 swift and 2 water rails calling.
Late news for yesterday when there was a single common sandpiper on the spit.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 22 10:15 PM, 2022
This evening, 5 Dunlin including 4 flying west at 8:30pm and 3 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Sun May 22 7:46 PM, 2022
A quick visit this evening, from near Horrocks hide, single dunlin and 2 common terns.
Natalie Clarke said
Sun May 22 6:24 PM, 2022
Had a good trip round the hides today!!
Highlights were...
2 ringed plover, reed bunting, reed warbler, 2 common tern and 1 male and 1 female bullfinch flitting about together, which is always a pleasure to see!
Pete Hines said
Fri May 20 8:22 PM, 2022
Little Egret 1 Common Tern 2 Willow Tit pair feeding a juvenile in Sallow between Teal and Bunting hide at 53.490674, -2.536928
colin davies said
Mon May 16 8:41 PM, 2022
A brief visit this afternoon produced 2 common sandpiper and a redshank on the spit, plus 1 common tern over the flash.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 15 2:20 PM, 2022
Early this morning:
1 Ringed Plover
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Redshank
First Black-headed Gull chicks showing and the Lapwing young on Ramsdales scrape growing well.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat May 14 6:21 AM, 2022
Yesterday evening, 10 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Little Egret.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
colin davies said
Fri May 13 8:40 PM, 2022
Tony Coatsworth wrote:
Yes - that Dunlin confused me for a while. Presumably the alpina race?
Yes that seems to be the most likely.
Tony Coatsworth said
Fri May 13 8:36 PM, 2022
Yes - that Dunlin confused me for a while. Presumably the alpina race?
colin davies said
Fri May 13 3:19 PM, 2022
Just a brief visit to Horrocks this afternoon, 9 dunlin all with black bellies and 2 common sandpipers.
For interest, a pale bellied presumably 1st summer dunlin with a longish bill was present a couple of days ago but I've not seen it since. Photo attached.
2 Sanderling and singles of Turnstone and Dunlin on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Craig Higson said
Tue May 10 2:48 PM, 2022
Two Sanderlings, a Dunlin, Common Sandpiper on the spit. A single Arctic Tern put in a brief appearance between showers and my first Swifts of the year - only half a dozen - made for an interesting hour or so.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 9 8:33 PM, 2022
2 Arctic Terns this early afternoon, 3+ Common Tern, 110 Swift, 140 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow and small numbers of House Martin.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon May 9 3:41 PM, 2022
A Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Common Tern and 2 Redshank were this morning's highlights.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JohnThirkell said
Sun May 8 8:31 PM, 2022
Cettis Warbler was still showing 07/05/2022 from the Horrocks hide. Also need Whitethroat and grey wagtail.
Ian McKerchar said
Sun May 8 2:20 PM, 2022
This morning:
Rufous phase Cuckoo flew north across Ramsdales scrape
Single Arctic Tern
5 Common Tern
14 Swift
Shelduck flew west
Garden Warbler singing at the western end
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu May 5 9:43 PM, 2022
This evening:
2 Arctic Tern
8 Common Tern
3 Common Sandpiper
4 Redshank
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Steven Nelson said
Wed May 4 7:52 PM, 2022
From Horrocks Hide this evening:
Black Tern present up to approx 19.15 then seemed to disappear. Not relocated by 19.45
Still a few Arctic Terns and at least 4 Common Terns
1 Common Sandpiper 1 Ringed Plover 5 Swift Lots of Sand Martin and smaller numbers of Swallow over the water 1 Sparrowhawk over 1 Cettis Warbler singing
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 4th of May 2022 08:08:22 PM
pete berry said
Wed May 4 7:37 PM, 2022
Black Tern still present this evening, also still numbers of Commic Terns present including a Common Tern with a metal darvic ring. A couple hundred hirundines over the west end of the flash,the vast majority of which were Sand Martins, could only find 3 House Martins and a couple of Swallows with them.
A quick summary of a remarkable morning at the flash. I didn't have a scope with me.
7:50am a message off Bill Harrison alerted me to the presence of 28+ arctic terns on the flash.
9:00am black tern off the boat club and arctic terns still present. Misty drizzle.
9:25am I was on the point of the ruck in now pouring rain and watching a group of Arctic's landing on the spit when suddenly I heard the characteristic call of a Sandwich tern overhead. I watched it land on the spit and then took my eyes off it and messaged Bill who was on the bench in East Bay. On looking again I realised that there were actually 3 Sandwich terns now on the spit. They remained here for the next 1 hour 25 minutes, occasionally briefly flying up and around the flash but soon returning to the spit. During this time I saw them displaying. Unbeknown to me at the time, these three birds were probably the same as three seen earlier for 5 minutes at Elton Reservoir, Bury, before flying south west at 8:50am. 35 minutes to get to the flash.
10:00am Whilst photographing the Sandwich terns on the spit I noticed that there was a smaller bird with a black hood on the spit, surely a little gull but in those conditions and with no scope I couldn't be sure. Still pouring down and misty.
10:05am Little gull flew from spit, an adult with a complete black hood. I managed to get Bill on it from East Bay before it disappeared. It was not seen again.
10:50am Sandwich terns spooked by a large gull, flew high and away over the ruck. Not seen again. Most Arctic terns and black tern still present. Rain eased slightly, but still misty.
Other birds today, plenty of hirundines of three species, at least 20 swift and a common sandpiper.
Photos of Sandwich terns, black tern and arctic terns. Also note that the little gull is on one photos with the Sandwich terns. Excuse the quality, it was dull, misty with heavy rain, real camera wrecking weather.
The little gull didn't seem to stay long, I found it at about 10:10 and didn't see it after 10:40. A second arctic tern dropped in and a raven went over, also common sandpiper at the point.
Photos arctic tern and little gull.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 3rd of May 2022 01:59:08 PM
Arctic Terns got to 37 at one point but half left North at 12.00 and a possibility the Little Tern was with them,as I've not seen it since 12.00.It could be on the spit as I'm too far away but a possibility it has left North.
JOHN TYMON said
Mon May 2 11:31 AM, 2022
30 Arctic Tern just dropped in don't think they will stay long,200 swift over rucks little tern still present.
colin davies said
Mon May 2 10:09 AM, 2022
Little tern still present at 10.05 also 2 swift over boat club, curlew over North and 4 common teens.
Andy Isherwood said
Mon May 2 9:27 AM, 2022
Little tern currently over the main flash off the sailing club
2 Egyptian Geese from the car park 12 noon
Egyptian and Barnacle Geese by the car park today
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Sunday 12th of June 2022 06:31:33 PM
Pre-8:30 this morning the two Egyptian Geese were sat on the shore in front of the sailing club and c130 Swift were around the flash, many quite high up viewed from Ramsdales Ruck.
Another very quiet morning at the flash, 2 Egyptian geese still, today in front of Horrock's hide, also 2 common terns, 3 grey wagtails and 30 swifts. The only hirundine that I saw was a single house martin.
Very quiet this morning, 2 Egyptian geese still, on the car park, and 1 common tern best. No hirundines and maybe 30 swifts. I don't think I've seen double figure counts of swallow or house martin anywhere yet this year.
This morning;
Barnacle goose 2 with Canada geese on the Spit
Egyptian goose 2
Common tern 5
Garden warbler 1 near Tom Edmondson hide
Willow tit 1 on ruck
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 7th of June 2022 04:53:40 PM
Late yesterday evening, a female Common Scoter, 4 Common Tern, 300 Swift and a reeling Grasshopper Warbler.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Early today, 240 Swift feeding, some pretty high up and 2 Common Tern the main highlights Of a fairly quiet morning.
This evening:
Drake Garganey
2 Dunlin
1 Common Tern
1 Grasshopper Warbler by the canal
200 Swift
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This afternoon, 2 dunlin on the spit, 1 common tern, 100 swift and 2 water rails calling.
Late news for yesterday when there was a single common sandpiper on the spit.
This evening, 5 Dunlin including 4 flying west at 8:30pm and 3 Common Tern.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
A quick visit this evening, from near Horrocks hide, single dunlin and 2 common terns.
Common Tern 2
Willow Tit pair feeding a juvenile in Sallow between Teal and Bunting hide at 53.490674, -2.536928
A brief visit this afternoon produced 2 common sandpiper and a redshank on the spit, plus 1 common tern over the flash.
Early this morning:
1 Ringed Plover
3 Common Sandpiper
1 Redshank
First Black-headed Gull chicks showing and the Lapwing young on Ramsdales scrape growing well.
Yesterday evening, 10 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, Ringed Plover and Little Egret.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Yes that seems to be the most likely.
Yes - that Dunlin confused me for a while. Presumably the alpina race?
Just a brief visit to Horrocks this afternoon, 9 dunlin all with black bellies and 2 common sandpipers.
For interest, a pale bellied presumably 1st summer dunlin with a longish bill was present a couple of days ago but I've not seen it since. Photo attached.
This morning, 6 Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpiper and 1 Ringed Plover
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Highlights
5 Dunlin - 4 on spit - 1 at West end
1 Ringed Plover
1 Common Sandpiper
4 Common Tern
200+ Swift
Four dunlin on the spit this afternoon, all in summer plumage with black bellies.
A Turnstone flew west this morning but 3 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 2 Raven and 4 Common Tern also seen.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Sanderling and Redshank also on the spit at 3.00p.m. Hobby, Sparrowhawk and c20 Swift over the canal.
Further update from this morning, 2 turnstone, 3 common sandpipers, ringed plover, 2 dunlin & 70 swift.
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 11th of May 2022 07:10:44 PM
2 Sanderling and singles of Turnstone and Dunlin on the spit this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Two Sanderlings, a Dunlin, Common Sandpiper on the spit. A single Arctic Tern put in a brief appearance between showers and my first Swifts of the year - only half a dozen - made for an interesting hour or so.
2 Arctic Terns this early afternoon, 3+ Common Tern, 110 Swift, 140 Sand Martin, 24 Swallow and small numbers of House Martin.
A Dunlin, 3 Common Sandpipers, 4 Common Tern and 2 Redshank were this morning's highlights.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Cettis Warbler was still showing 07/05/2022 from the Horrocks hide. Also need Whitethroat and grey wagtail.
This morning:
Rufous phase Cuckoo flew north across Ramsdales scrape
Single Arctic Tern
5 Common Tern
14 Swift
Shelduck flew west
Garden Warbler singing at the western end
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This evening:
2 Arctic Tern
8 Common Tern
3 Common Sandpiper
4 Redshank
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
From Horrocks Hide this evening:
Black Tern present up to approx 19.15 then seemed to disappear. Not relocated by 19.45
Still a few Arctic Terns and at least 4 Common Terns
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Ringed Plover
5 Swift
Lots of Sand Martin and smaller numbers of Swallow over the water
1 Sparrowhawk over
1 Cettis Warbler singing
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Wednesday 4th of May 2022 08:08:22 PM
A couple hundred hirundines over the west end of the flash,the vast majority of which were Sand Martins, could only find 3 House Martins and a couple of Swallows with them.
A quick summary of a remarkable morning at the flash. I didn't have a scope with me.
7:50am a message off Bill Harrison alerted me to the presence of 28+ arctic terns on the flash.
9:00am black tern off the boat club and arctic terns still present. Misty drizzle.
9:25am I was on the point of the ruck in now pouring rain and watching a group of Arctic's landing on the spit when suddenly I heard the characteristic call of a Sandwich tern overhead. I watched it land on the spit and then took my eyes off it and messaged Bill who was on the bench in East Bay. On looking again I realised that there were actually 3 Sandwich terns now on the spit. They remained here for the next 1 hour 25 minutes, occasionally briefly flying up and around the flash but soon returning to the spit. During this time I saw them displaying. Unbeknown to me at the time, these three birds were probably the same as three seen earlier for 5 minutes at Elton Reservoir, Bury, before flying south west at 8:50am. 35 minutes to get to the flash.
10:00am Whilst photographing the Sandwich terns on the spit I noticed that there was a smaller bird with a black hood on the spit, surely a little gull but in those conditions and with no scope I couldn't be sure. Still pouring down and misty.
10:05am Little gull flew from spit, an adult with a complete black hood. I managed to get Bill on it from East Bay before it disappeared. It was not seen again.
10:50am Sandwich terns spooked by a large gull, flew high and away over the ruck. Not seen again. Most Arctic terns and black tern still present. Rain eased slightly, but still misty.
Other birds today, plenty of hirundines of three species, at least 20 swift and a common sandpiper.
Photos of Sandwich terns, black tern and arctic terns. Also note that the little gull is on one photos with the Sandwich terns. Excuse the quality, it was dull, misty with heavy rain, real camera wrecking weather.
Adult Black Tern and 10 Arctic Terns present late afternoon.
Adult little gull just dropped in with complete hood.
3 sandwich terns just dropped in, landed on the spit and started displaying. What next?
Black tern and minimum 28 arctic terns so far this morning.
Whimbrel 2 on the spit
Dunlin 1 on the spit
Shelduck 3
Garden Warbler 1 rucks
The little gull didn't seem to stay long, I found it at about 10:10 and didn't see it after 10:40. A second arctic tern dropped in and a raven went over, also common sandpiper at the point.
Photos arctic tern and little gull.
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 3rd of May 2022 01:59:08 PM
So far this morning,
Little gull 1 1st summer
Arctic tern 1
Common tern 3
Common sandpiper 1
-- Edited by colin davies on Tuesday 3rd of May 2022 02:00:03 PM
Other news from this morning, 2 sedge warblers and a garden warbler at the western end.
Attached a few photos of todays little tern and an arctic tern.
8 Arctic Terns feeding this evening.
Arctic Terns got to 37 at one point but half left North at 12.00 and a possibility the Little Tern was with them,as I've not seen it since 12.00.It could be on the spit as I'm too far away but a possibility it has left North.
30 Arctic Tern just dropped in don't think they will stay long,200 swift over rucks little tern still present.
Little tern still present at 10.05 also 2 swift over boat club, curlew over North and 4 common teens.