Late report for yesterday (Fri 10th) 12:30-14:30; nothing exceptional (all the usual suspects),
But 8 species of duck (both M&F) easily seen; Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted, Goldeneye & Goosander (4 M & 3 F showing nicely from Teal hide)
Also 5 species of tit nicely seen from Pengy's hide and Bunting hide; Great, Blue, Coal, Willow & Long-tailed
For anyone just getting into birdwatching, PF really is a great place to get familiar with these (and other) species.
JOHN TYMON said
Fri Dec 10 6:08 PM, 2021
Full Circle of the flash 10-3 no sign of Great Northern Diver, no counts done but plenty of the normal Winter Birds present with at least 17 Goldeneye, a few Goldcrest at various points on the way round ,the Car park Oystercatcher still present after about 4 years, a nice winter walk a bit let down with the storms that came and went during the day. Also really good numbers of Great Black-Backed Gull.
Juvenile Great Northern Diver present off the car park earlier this morning, just after 8am (per Rob Adderley) but no further sign since though it is still being looked for.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Dec 9 4:54 PM, 2021
Juvenile Great Northern Diver present this late afternoon, mainly off the spit (long range phonescoped video grabs attached, better video on the website)
Resident Oystercatcher still bullying the gulls on the spit
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 30 6:55 PM, 2021
A female Pintail flew west this afternoon and also present were a Redshank with 22 Lapwing on the spit, 13 Goosander, 8 Pochard and 6 Goldeneye.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian Howarth said
Sun Nov 28 1:53 PM, 2021
1 Shelduck at Teal Hide.
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 25 5:05 PM, 2021
In this evening's gull roost:
4650 Herring Gulls
62 Great Black-backed Gulls
111 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 25 11:46 AM, 2021
32 Cormorant, 2 drake Wigeon, 100 Lapwing, 8 Little Grebe and 6 Pochard this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
JOHN TYMON said
Wed Nov 24 3:51 PM, 2021
Little Egret on spit this afternoon
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 24 3:12 PM, 2021
This morning:
1 Whooper Swan
9 Pochard
3 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 18 10:12 PM, 2021
Late news for yesterday evening when there were over 1500 Herring Gulls in the roost.
It's worth noting that the gulls have been roosting out in front of the sailing club of late regardless of the globe.
Gordon Newman said
Thu Nov 18 7:07 PM, 2021
I was stood on the point which where I always watch the roost from, and couldn't pick out the usual Mediterranean Gull, as John suggested, could be because of the inflatable Earth pushing them further away from the point than usually. of note: 1 Little Egret in Ramsdales 7 Siskin flew over Ramsdales reedbed West 9 Goldeneye in Ramsdales Bay (6 F & 3M) 6 Pochard in East Bay
John Watson said
Thu Nov 18 6:31 PM, 2021
Huge roost this evening, numbers are wild guesses - 4000 Black-Headed Gulls - 500 Herring Gull - 50 Common Gull - many Lesser & Great Black-Backed Gull
Quite a few younger birds difficult to be certain of ID Couldn't pick out anything unusual, but the numbers were too many for just me
Interestingly, that giant inflatable globe by the main CP pushed all the gulls over to the yacht club - which was fine, since that's where I was
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 16 9:02 AM, 2021
This morning 2 drake Common Scoter present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Nov 16 9:00 AM, 2021
Yesterday evening, 1141 Herring and 184 Lesser Black-backed Gulls roosted, along with a single adult Mediterranean Gull.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 15 3:43 PM, 2021
This morning:
Little Egret
10 Pochard
4 Wigeon
6 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Michael Hood said
Sun Nov 14 8:30 PM, 2021
10:30-12:00; of note (possibly):
5 Pochard (males - I didn't check for females) - visible from car park
7 Goldeneye (2 males in breeding plumage + 5 females) - well beyond the spit from Frank R. Horrocks hide
Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch (female), Wren, Nuthatch - Bunting Hide
Shoveler - Teal Hide (many) + occasional 1 or 2 from other hides
Goosander (2 females) - Teal Hide
Gadwall - everywhere, PF must surely be a premier site for this sometimes overlooked species
Kingfisher - Ramsdale Hide and Tom Edmonson Hide
Lez Fairclough said
Sat Nov 13 11:22 PM, 2021
Quick hour mid afternoon of note :-
Pengy's Hide - Lone Wigeon & Kingfisher flew down left side into Dogwood bushes.
Kidney Pond - Grey Heron & female Goosander.
Edmondson Hide - Usual Cetti's Warbler heard & probably the plumpest Great Tit I've ever seen! with a family of Long-Tailed Tits.
1 Adult Mediterranean Gull roosted. @ 1615 every Gull and Jackdaw were in the air after being disturbed, I think by a mobile crane in front of the yacht club. The Gulls all landed in South Bay. The Mediterranean Gull was half way between the spit and the point @ 16.25 1 female Goldeneye in Ramsdales near the spit.
Craig Higson said
Wed Nov 10 11:01 PM, 2021
Advanced warning for anyone doing the gull roost - Wigan Council are hosting an 'art' event where a large illuminated model of the earth will be floated on the flash for 10 days from 19th November - www.wigan.gov.uk/News/Articles/2021/Nov/Artist-Luke-Jerram.aspx
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 10 8:30 PM, 2021
13 Pochard present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 8 6:33 PM, 2021
This evening along with Pete Berry:
1620 Herring Gulls
126 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Mediterranean Gull
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 8 6:30 PM, 2021
This morning's highlights:
12 Pochard (11 drakes)
1 Yellowhammer in shoreline bushes on Ramsdales Ruck, flew off south after a short while
2 Cetti's warblers; one in Ramsdales Reedbed and one in shoreline bushes around the point
1 Chiffchaff around the point
7 Bullfinch and 4 Lesser Redpoll in one flock on Ramsdales Ruck
steven burke said
Sun Nov 7 10:48 PM, 2021
A wonder around just after midday till dusk...
Lots of ducks to be seen all around, amongst the many tufted ducks around the nasal ringed female was in ramsdales. 3 goldeneye 7 pochard 4 wigeon 5 goosander Plus lots of Shoveler, Teal, gadwall, mallard & coots everywhere. 1 Oystercatcher 40+ lapwings 5 snipe 1 kingfisher 3 willow tits 1 treecreeper Several siskin seen & heard over Just 4 redwings Plus the usuals around. Just 1 cettis warbler heard near ramsdales hide.
Adult Mediterranean gull in amongst all the gulls in ramsdales from around 3.20pm.
Late report from yesterday; midday - 2pm 05/11/2021
Apart from the usual loads of Mute Swans, Mallard, Coots, Moorhen, Black Headed Gulls, Canada Geese
4 Whooper Swan in the middle of the main lake
Several Lesser Black-backed Gull - occupying most of the buoys out on the main lake
Tufted Duck - many, on the main lake but also visible from several hides
40-50 Shoveler - 19 male visible from Teal hide, similar number of female, most asleep, also a few visible from Pengy's hide
40+ Gadwall - visible from Pengy's hide, Teal hide, Tom Edmondson hide, virtually everywhere
5 Goosander - all female, Teal hide (where do the males go?)
4 Little Grebe - Tom Edmondson hide
2 Oystercatcher - one on lakeshore near car park was "okay" being <15m away
1 Pochard - male - easily seen from the car park
1 Goldeneye - male Eclipse or (less likely) female - past the spit from the Frank R. Horrocks Hide (this seems the most likely to me but I'll detail and no doubt I can be corrected if I've concluded incorrectly; solitary, diving every so often, darkish back, darker - possibly brown - head but too distant to be sure of any sheen/colour, however no green sheen apparent, no facial white spot, no apparent white neck band, small white "flashes" on flank, pale but not white breast - so not Tufted/Pochard/Scaup, initial thought - except for the lack of white neck band - was female Goldeneye, until saw eclipse plumage examples on internet)
-- Edited by Michael Hood on Saturday 6th of November 2021 06:54:05 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 4 10:20 PM, 2021
22 Whooper Swans (including 2 juveniles) departed NW at 4:15pm. Another 5 Whooper Swans flew south at dusk plus 2 adult Whooper Swans and an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Nov 4 9:21 AM, 2021
21 Whooper Swans (including 2 juveniles) currently out on the centre of the flash. Also 9 Pochard.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Nov 3 3:33 PM, 2021
11 Whooper Swans flew over NE this morning and also present were 3 female Goosander, a juvenile Scaup, 2 Pochard and 2 Oystercatcher.
Info thanks too Barry Hulme
Steven Heywood said
Tue Nov 2 4:37 PM, 2021
Two black-necked grebes on the flash just now.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Nov 1 9:35 PM, 2021
Drake Common Scoter this late afternoon and an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Gordon Newman said
Mon Oct 25 10:54 PM, 2021
Only thing of note visiting Horrocks, Edmondson and Ramsdales hides 14.00-16.00 was a Female Blackcap
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 25 10:43 PM, 2021
Sightings from earlier this morning included:
170 Pink-footed Geese east in two skeins of 100 and 70
1 Whooper Swan
11 Pochard
10 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Lez Fairclough said
Sun Oct 24 10:31 PM, 2021
Saturday afternoon 23rd Oct - walk round the hides - of note :-
Pengy's Hide :- Grey Heron, Willow Tit & good numbers of both Gadwall & Shoveler.
Late report for yesterday (Fri 10th) 12:30-14:30; nothing exceptional (all the usual suspects),
But 8 species of duck (both M&F) easily seen; Mallard, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted, Goldeneye & Goosander (4 M & 3 F showing nicely from Teal hide)
Also 5 species of tit nicely seen from Pengy's hide and Bunting hide; Great, Blue, Coal, Willow & Long-tailed
For anyone just getting into birdwatching, PF really is a great place to get familiar with these (and other) species.
Full Circle of the flash 10-3 no sign of Great Northern Diver, no counts done but plenty of the normal Winter Birds present with at least 17 Goldeneye, a few Goldcrest at various points on the way round ,the Car park Oystercatcher still present after about 4 years, a nice winter walk a bit let down with the storms that came and went during the day. Also really good numbers of Great Black-Backed Gull.
picture one of the Goldcrests today
Juvenile Great Northern Diver present off the car park earlier this morning, just after 8am (per Rob Adderley) but no further sign since though it is still being looked for.
Juvenile Great Northern Diver present this late afternoon, mainly off the spit (long range phonescoped video grabs attached, better video on the website)
84 Great Black-backed Gulls in the roost
Drake Wigeon
c65 Pink-footed Geese over east just before duck
Two drake Pintail present this late morning.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
In the gull roost this late afternoon:
1930 Herring Gulls
76 Great Black-backed Gulls
10700 Black-headed Gulls
Late afternoon with Pete Berry:
1980 Herrings Gulls
76 Great Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Mediterranean Gull (with a 70% hood)
2+ Kingfisher
Late evening today:
2080 Herring Gulls
65 Great Black-backed Gulls
16 Goldeneye
9 Pochard
206 Tufted Duck
Resident Oystercatcher still bullying the gulls on the spit
A female Pintail flew west this afternoon and also present were a Redshank with 22 Lapwing on the spit, 13 Goosander, 8 Pochard and 6 Goldeneye.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
In this evening's gull roost:
4650 Herring Gulls
62 Great Black-backed Gulls
111 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
32 Cormorant, 2 drake Wigeon, 100 Lapwing, 8 Little Grebe and 6 Pochard this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Little Egret on spit this afternoon
This morning:
1 Whooper Swan
9 Pochard
3 Goosander
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Late news for yesterday evening when there were over 1500 Herring Gulls in the roost.
It's worth noting that the gulls have been roosting out in front of the sailing club of late regardless of the globe.
of note:
1 Little Egret in Ramsdales
7 Siskin flew over Ramsdales reedbed West
9 Goldeneye in Ramsdales Bay (6 F & 3M)
6 Pochard in East Bay
- 4000 Black-Headed Gulls
- 500 Herring Gull
- 50 Common Gull
- many Lesser & Great Black-Backed Gull
Quite a few younger birds difficult to be certain of ID
Couldn't pick out anything unusual, but the numbers were too many for just me
Interestingly, that giant inflatable globe by the main CP pushed all the gulls over to the yacht club - which was fine, since that's where I was
This morning 2 drake Common Scoter present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Yesterday evening, 1141 Herring and 184 Lesser Black-backed Gulls roosted, along with a single adult Mediterranean Gull.
This morning:
Little Egret
10 Pochard
4 Wigeon
6 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
10:30-12:00; of note (possibly):
5 Pochard (males - I didn't check for females) - visible from car park
7 Goldeneye (2 males in breeding plumage + 5 females) - well beyond the spit from Frank R. Horrocks hide
Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Bullfinch (female), Wren, Nuthatch - Bunting Hide
Shoveler - Teal Hide (many) + occasional 1 or 2 from other hides
Goosander (2 females) - Teal Hide
Gadwall - everywhere, PF must surely be a premier site for this sometimes overlooked species
Kingfisher - Ramsdale Hide and Tom Edmonson Hide
Quick hour mid afternoon of note :-
Pengy's Hide - Lone Wigeon & Kingfisher flew down left side into Dogwood bushes.
Kidney Pond - Grey Heron & female Goosander.
Edmondson Hide - Usual Cetti's Warbler heard & probably the plumpest Great Tit I've ever seen! with a family of Long-Tailed Tits.
Ramsdale Hide - Good numbers of Teal.
@ 1615 every Gull and Jackdaw were in the air after being disturbed, I think by a mobile crane in front of the yacht club. The Gulls all landed in South Bay. The Mediterranean Gull was half way between the spit and the point @ 16.25
1 female Goldeneye in Ramsdales near the spit.
13 Pochard present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
This evening along with Pete Berry:
1620 Herring Gulls
126 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 adult Mediterranean Gull
This morning's highlights:
12 Pochard (11 drakes)
1 Yellowhammer in shoreline bushes on Ramsdales Ruck, flew off south after a short while
2 Cetti's warblers; one in Ramsdales Reedbed and one in shoreline bushes around the point
1 Chiffchaff around the point
7 Bullfinch and 4 Lesser Redpoll in one flock on Ramsdales Ruck
Lots of ducks to be seen all around, amongst the many tufted ducks around the nasal ringed female was in ramsdales.
3 goldeneye
7 pochard
4 wigeon
5 goosander
Plus lots of Shoveler, Teal, gadwall, mallard & coots everywhere.
1 Oystercatcher
40+ lapwings
5 snipe
1 kingfisher
3 willow tits
1 treecreeper
Several siskin seen & heard over
Just 4 redwings
Plus the usuals around.
Just 1 cettis warbler heard near ramsdales hide.
Adult Mediterranean gull in amongst all the gulls in ramsdales from around 3.20pm.
Late report from yesterday; midday - 2pm 05/11/2021
Apart from the usual loads of Mute Swans, Mallard, Coots, Moorhen, Black Headed Gulls, Canada Geese
4 Whooper Swan in the middle of the main lake
Several Lesser Black-backed Gull - occupying most of the buoys out on the main lake
Tufted Duck - many, on the main lake but also visible from several hides
40-50 Shoveler - 19 male visible from Teal hide, similar number of female, most asleep, also a few visible from Pengy's hide
40+ Gadwall - visible from Pengy's hide, Teal hide, Tom Edmondson hide, virtually everywhere
5 Goosander - all female, Teal hide (where do the males go?)
4 Little Grebe - Tom Edmondson hide
2 Oystercatcher - one on lakeshore near car park was "okay" being <15m away
1 Pochard - male - easily seen from the car park
1 Goldeneye - male Eclipse or (less likely) female - past the spit from the Frank R. Horrocks Hide (this seems the most likely to me but I'll detail and no doubt I can be corrected if I've concluded incorrectly; solitary, diving every so often, darkish back, darker - possibly brown - head but too distant to be sure of any sheen/colour, however no green sheen apparent, no facial white spot, no apparent white neck band, small white "flashes" on flank, pale but not white breast - so not Tufted/Pochard/Scaup, initial thought - except for the lack of white neck band - was female Goldeneye, until saw eclipse plumage examples on internet)
-- Edited by Michael Hood on Saturday 6th of November 2021 06:54:05 PM
22 Whooper Swans (including 2 juveniles) departed NW at 4:15pm. Another 5 Whooper Swans flew south at dusk plus 2 adult Whooper Swans and an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
21 Whooper Swans (including 2 juveniles) currently out on the centre of the flash. Also 9 Pochard.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
11 Whooper Swans flew over NE this morning and also present were 3 female Goosander, a juvenile Scaup, 2 Pochard and 2 Oystercatcher.
Info thanks too Barry Hulme
Drake Common Scoter this late afternoon and an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Sightings from earlier this morning included:
170 Pink-footed Geese east in two skeins of 100 and 70
1 Whooper Swan
11 Pochard
10 Snipe
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Saturday afternoon 23rd Oct - walk round the hides - of note :-
Pengy's Hide :- Grey Heron, Willow Tit & good numbers of both Gadwall & Shoveler.
Bunting Hide :- Willow & Coal Tit, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Stock Dove, Reed Bunting.
Teal Hide :- mostly Gadwall & Shoveler.
Ramsdale's Hide :- 13 Snipe on far island with plenty of Teal.
Edmonson Hide :- Cetti's Warbler heard only in shrubbery to right of hide.
Horrock's Hide :- 4 Snipe on far right of spit.
2 Whooper swan in Ramsdales this morning before flying low west c. 8.45.
c.200 Pink footed goose east c 8.15
9 Pochard off car park
6 Redpoll
Several small Redwings over and in bushes
Several Goldcrest, song thrush and a single chiffchaff
Juvenile Scaup off the carpark with 5 Pochard this evening.
47 Whooper Swans flew south at 5:11pm, with another 15 south at 5:57pm.
90+ Pink-footed Geese flew east at 4:21pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ramsdales Bay area : 2f Goldeneyes, 10 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Little Grebes and 1m Kestrel.
160 Lapwings were on the spit.
Viewable in front of Ramsdales hide were : 8 Snipe and a pair of Kingfishers that chased each around the pool in front of the hide.
Singles of Goldcrest and Treecreeper were seen in bushes close to Ramsdales hide.
2 Bullfinches (M+F) and a single Redwing were seen in front of the Tom Edmondson hide.
14 Whooper Swans roosted plus another 21 flew South at 5:45pm. Also, a 1W Mediterranean Gull roosted, plus 7 Pochard and a Goldeneye were present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Total Whooper Swans present now 23, after the original 14 adults were joined by 5 more adults and 4 juveniles.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
14 Whooper Swan on the spit this morning at 8am.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Whooper Swans flew off east at 9am
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
-- Edited by Paul Richardson on Wednesday 20th of October 2021 11:56:41 AM
5 Whooper Swans currently out in the middle of the flash and 80 Pink-footed Geese over east so far.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Highlights of today's High Peak RSPB group visit
2 Kingfisher, 2 Willow Tit, 14 Common Snipe, Treecreeper, Goldeneye, Pochard, 6 Little Grebe, 18 Mistle Thrush, 40 Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Sparrowhawk, 2 Common Buzzard, 3 Wigeon, numerous Teal, Gadwall and Shoveler, 4 Jay, 2 Cettis Warbler, Goldcrest. 57 species in total.