Two adult Whooper Swans on the flash this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 14 3:49 PM, 2021
Drake Common Scoter in Ramsdales at 10am then flew west late morning, also 3 Goldeneye.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 14 11:55 AM, 2021
Early morning watch from first light atop Ramsdales Ruck:
16,798 Redwing- what began around 07:40(ish) quickly became an unrelenting torrent of low, tight flocks barely above tree level most of the time heading fast west/south west with seemingly no break until around 10am. Their path was strongly along the south side of the flash and over Lowton with only a handful of flocks heading NW across the flash itself. As the morning wore on, some flocks were moving higher in the sky but still following the same line and more flocks were skirting the southern shore until just before 10am when it fairly abruptly stopped but for stragglers and smaller flocks, the last of which headed NW at 10:45. A total of 251 flocks were counted, more undoubtably missed due to furious scribbling of flock numbers in the notebook and the odd flock slipping behind me to the north of the flash (though many were also seen after their calls gave them away).
Pink-footed Goose- 477 east in 7 skeins and 50 west in a single skein
1 Yellowhammer over south at 09:36
1 Green Sandpiper
2 single Lesser Redpoll west
7 Jay very high north in a single flock
1 Peregrine
23 Song Thrush on Ramsdales Ruck itself and immediate area
On the flash itself:
1 Goldeneye
6 Wigeon
12 Little Grebe
The usual noisy Oystercatcher on the spit
David Hughes said
Fri Oct 8 9:03 PM, 2021
I had a nice afternoon here today ,warm,still and sunny,....Canada goose, moorhen,coot,great crested grebe, little grebe,carrion crow ,magpie,gadwall ,teal,snipe ,black headed gull, lesser black backed gull,mute swa, cormorant, distant buzzard the ruck viewed from Edmonson hide,cettis warbler called also nearby.From Ramsdales hide, snipe,teal , coot ,moorhen,gadwall, mallard,great crested grebe, kingfisher gave great views close to the hide,on leaving this hide up to 8 buzzards aloft.Bunting hide was good today too,coal tit ,long tailed tit,willow tit,great and blue tit,chaffinch ,greenfinch ,robin,dunnock, nuthatch, woodpigeon,moorhen,reed bunting, magpie.
-- Edited by David Hughes on Friday 8th of October 2021 09:05:36 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 8th of October 2021 09:17:49 PM
This evening, an adult Whooper Swan was present and a first winter Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 4 2:25 PM, 2021
400 Pink-footed Geese over E/SE early this morning in skeins of 300 and 100, also 16 Snipe present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Oct 3 11:14 PM, 2021
The third winter Caspian Gull from September 22nd roosted again this evening, along with a first winter Mediterranean Gull.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 2 10:05 PM, 2021
First winter Mediterranean Gull roosted this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 30 2:10 PM, 2021
Single female Goosander present this morning, also 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Snipe.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 28 5:26 PM, 2021
Around midday today:
14 Snipe
112 Lapwing
7 Wigeon
2 Pochard
109 Tufted Duck
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 27 2:23 PM, 2021
Late morning today:
7 Swallow west
6 Wigeon
21 Snipe
Willow Tit
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Blackcap
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 25 11:01 PM, 2021
67 Pink-footed Geese over East at 5:44pm, also 12 Snipe present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 24 10:35 PM, 2021
38 Pink-footed Geese SE early this morning, also 9 Snipe and 15 Dunlin alighted briefly on the spit before heading off west.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Gordon Newman said
Thu Sep 23 10:31 PM, 2021
1ST W Mediterranean Gull present @ 6pm Redshank heard but not located 7 Chiffchaff {1 singing}
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 22 9:18 PM, 2021
Third calendar year Caspian Gull in the gull roost this evening (initially well picked out by Phil Rhodes), also 304 Canada Geese, most of which flew off SE around 7pm to roost elsewhere, and 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest around Sorrowcow Pond.
Keith Williams said
Wed Sep 22 7:25 PM, 2021
30 Pink-footed Geese low over the fields near the bypass heading towards the Greyhound @19.15
-- Edited by Keith Williams on Wednesday 22nd of September 2021 07:26:01 PM
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 22 8:41 AM, 2021
Late news for yesterday:
11 Wigeon
1 Shelduck
1 Little Egret south
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Also, 9 Snipe (info thanks to Phil Rhodes)
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 21 9:35 AM, 2021
Late news for yesterday evening when a first winter Mediterranean Gull flew west at 5:50pm and 12 Snipe, 2 Pochard and 7 Wigeon were present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 21 8:42 AM, 2021
31 Pink-footed Geese over east early this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 18 10:37 AM, 2021
24 Wigeon and a Pintail this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 17 2:35 PM, 2021
2 Pintail present this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Pete Hines said
Tue Sep 14 6:56 PM, 2021
Little Stint still on the spit at 15.45, after the maintenance workers had left and the end part of the spit yet to be strimmed. (Distant lousy record shots attached taken from the far side although it was also viewable from Horrock's Hide)
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Tuesday 14th of September 2021 07:18:32 PM
Little Stint still present at end of spit. Maintenance workers on the spit will likely flush it soon as they get closer to the end
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 14 12:06 PM, 2021
Ian McKerchar wrote:
Little Stint on the spit at 10am.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Still present at 11:30.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 14 10:26 AM, 2021
Little Stint on the spit at 10am.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 13 1:13 PM, 2021
Early this morning:
148 Tufted Duck
1 Oystercatcher
11 Chiffchaff on and around Ramsdales Ruck
Rob Creek said
Sat Sep 11 1:35 PM, 2021
Probably best thread.
Friday 10th Sept. A Raven flew low over A579 Atherleigh Way at junction with the East Lancs at 10.26am. It was heading towards Culceth and looked as if it had flown over the Flash.
Lez Fairclough said
Fri Sep 10 12:28 AM, 2021
1.30pm to 4.45pm - full circuit of flash.
500+ Coots at west bay & 200+ Tufted Ducks at Ramsdales flash.
Also of note :- a few Swallows still hanging around the sailing club area.
Buzzard; Kestrel; 3 Little Grebes; Good numbers of Great Crested Grebes & Juveniles.
A Ruff flew in at 6:40pm this evening and 13 Snipe and 3 Wigeon were also present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 7 9:44 PM, 2021
A juvenile Little Gull flew NW at 6:48pm this evening.
Also, 38 Snipe including 23 flying east, a single Wigeon and 4 Pochard.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian Howarth said
Tue Sep 7 12:58 PM, 2021
Thanks for reply Ian. What a shame. I've tried the 2 Tel numbers on the notice board. One number is disused, the other is eternally engaged. I've also emailed them and the auto reply says to expect a reply in about 10 working days.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 7 11:59 AM, 2021
Ian Howarth wrote:
All 6 Hides were locked today (Monday) at 9.30 a.m. Does anyone know the are opening times of the bird hides please?
I'd imagine the unlocking of the hides will be variable these days. The padlocks have been changed and keys are apparently not being given out to those very few regulars who visit very early, had always been entrusted with keys and used to ensure the hides were unlocked.
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 7 11:57 AM, 2021
This morning:
1 Ringed Plover
4 Snipe
4 Pochard
2 Greylag Geese
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian Howarth said
Mon Sep 6 7:37 PM, 2021
All 6 Hides were locked today (Monday) at 9.30 a.m. Does anyone know the are opening times of the bird hides please?
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 6 4:33 PM, 2021
Avocet present on the spit this morning.
Also seven Pochard and three Snipe.
Info thank to Bill Harrison
Gordon Newman said
Sun Sep 5 6:18 PM, 2021
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe just of the point looking towards the spit @5pm Cetti's Warbler popped up in tree immediately to the left of Ramsdales Hide mid pm Single Kingfisher 1 Oystercatcher 200+ Lapwing plus everything else put up of spit by guy in a kayak towing a guy in a rubber dingy
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 3 3:34 PM, 2021
9 Wigeon at the western end this late morning.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 1 2:47 PM, 2021
This afternoon:
21 Chiffchaff
6 Wigeon
77 Gadwall
58 Shoveler
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Aug 29 9:26 AM, 2021
This morning:
1119 Coot
145 Tufted Duck
3 Swift feeding over the south side
70 House Martin and 90 Swallow mainly heading west in smaller flocks, some feeding over the water first
7 Willow Warbler and 14 Chiffchaff on and around Ramsdales Ruck, many singing and some young birds at least trying to
Young Cetti's Warbler trying (rather feebly) to sing near to the Point
8 Snipe in a flock flew in from high west and dropped into the 'nature reserve' area
Richard Thew said
Sun Aug 29 8:04 AM, 2021
A short visit yesterday with a friend of mine.
Highlights include:
Little grebe x6+ Oystercatcher Snipe Lapwing Teal Gadwall Shoveler Willow tit (amusing to watch it hiding black sunflower seeds like a squirrel)
Unfortinatly, I could'nt find the Egyptian geese for my yearlist.
Ta!
Ian Howarth said
Sat Aug 28 4:18 PM, 2021
11 a.m. Good selection of birds on the feeders and bird tables at Bunting Hide including at least 2 Willow Tits.
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Aug 27 10:09 PM, 2021
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe present this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 9:37 PM, 2021
This evening:
4 Ruff circled low over the spit before heading off south
1 Green Sandpiper
Juvenile Little Gull still present
Two Mediterranean Gulls present (1st and 3rd calendar year birds)
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ray Scally said
Wed Aug 25 5:06 PM, 2021
Ray Scally wrote:
Little Gull present still just after lunch on flash over by sailing club, no sign of Great-white Egret but 5 Pintail circled the flash for a good 5-10 minutes but not seen to land. Mediterranean Gull adult seen but not relocated before leaving.
Ducks were Wigeon not Pintail as mentioned earlier.
Ray Scally said
Wed Aug 25 2:53 PM, 2021
Little Gull present still just after lunch on flash over by sailing club, no sign of Great-white Egret but 5 Pintail circled the flash for a good 5-10 minutes but not seen to land. Mediterranean Gull adult seen but not relocated before leaving.
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 8:07 AM, 2021
Great White Egret currently on the spit.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Aug 25 7:46 AM, 2021
Juvenile Little Gull present this morning, also a female type Goosander.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Aug 24 1:58 PM, 2021
This early morning:
Seven Little Egrets flew off west in a single flock, may possibly have come up off the spit (record shot on website)
419 Lapwing
88 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap on and around Ramsdales Ruck
Two adult Whooper Swans on the flash this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Drake Common Scoter in Ramsdales at 10am then flew west late morning, also 3 Goldeneye.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Early morning watch from first light atop Ramsdales Ruck:
16,798 Redwing- what began around 07:40(ish) quickly became an unrelenting torrent of low, tight flocks barely above tree level most of the time heading fast west/south west with seemingly no break until around 10am. Their path was strongly along the south side of the flash and over Lowton with only a handful of flocks heading NW across the flash itself. As the morning wore on, some flocks were moving higher in the sky but still following the same line and more flocks were skirting the southern shore until just before 10am when it fairly abruptly stopped but for stragglers and smaller flocks, the last of which headed NW at 10:45. A total of 251 flocks were counted, more undoubtably missed due to furious scribbling of flock numbers in the notebook and the odd flock slipping behind me to the north of the flash (though many were also seen after their calls gave them away).
Pink-footed Goose- 477 east in 7 skeins and 50 west in a single skein
1 Yellowhammer over south at 09:36
1 Green Sandpiper
2 single Lesser Redpoll west
7 Jay very high north in a single flock
1 Peregrine
23 Song Thrush on Ramsdales Ruck itself and immediate area
On the flash itself:
1 Goldeneye
6 Wigeon
12 Little Grebe
The usual noisy Oystercatcher on the spit
I had a nice afternoon here today ,warm,still and sunny,....Canada goose, moorhen,coot,great crested grebe, little grebe,carrion crow ,magpie,gadwall ,teal,snipe ,black headed gull, lesser black backed gull,mute swa, cormorant, distant buzzard the ruck viewed from Edmonson hide,cettis warbler called also nearby.From Ramsdales hide, snipe,teal , coot ,moorhen,gadwall, mallard,great crested grebe, kingfisher gave great views close to the hide,on leaving this hide up to 8 buzzards aloft.Bunting hide was good today too,coal tit ,long tailed tit,willow tit,great and blue tit,chaffinch ,greenfinch ,robin,dunnock, nuthatch, woodpigeon,moorhen,reed bunting, magpie.
-- Edited by David Hughes on Friday 8th of October 2021 09:05:36 PM
-- Edited by Ian McKerchar on Friday 8th of October 2021 09:17:49 PM
A watch from Ramdsdales Ruck from first light this morning for a couple of hours produced:
1 Merlin over fairly high south at 07:40, it circled the spit area once before continuing purposefully on
7 Redwing east at 07:57 in a single flock
2 single Lesser Redpolls over east
16 Stock Dove through ENE in a single flock
1854 Woodpigeon through SE in 27 flocks
606 Pink-footed Geese over in 5 skeins between 08:10 and 09:07
Also on the flash itself:
329 Tufted Duck
3 Wigeon
31 Snipe
Wednesday October 6th quick hour & half late afternoon.
9 or 10 Snipe on right side near end of spit - the volunteers have done an amazing job round the site & sightings like this wouldn't
have been possible a few weeks ago.
Kidney Pond viewing screen - Cetti's Warbler seen & heard, 2 Bullfinch & a female Sparrowhawk sped through.
Ramsdale's Hide - Grey Heron, single Snipe & 2 more Cetti's Warbler heard.
This evening, an adult Whooper Swan was present and a first winter Mediterranean Gull roosted.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
400 Pink-footed Geese over E/SE early this morning in skeins of 300 and 100, also 16 Snipe present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
The third winter Caspian Gull from September 22nd roosted again this evening, along with a first winter Mediterranean Gull.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
First winter Mediterranean Gull roosted this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Single female Goosander present this morning, also 2 Cetti's Warblers and 2 Snipe.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Around midday today:
14 Snipe
112 Lapwing
7 Wigeon
2 Pochard
109 Tufted Duck
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Late morning today:
7 Swallow west
6 Wigeon
21 Snipe
Willow Tit
Chiffchaff
Goldcrest
Blackcap
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
67 Pink-footed Geese over East at 5:44pm, also 12 Snipe present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
38 Pink-footed Geese SE early this morning, also 9 Snipe and 15 Dunlin alighted briefly on the spit before heading off west.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Redshank heard but not located
7 Chiffchaff {1 singing}
Third calendar year Caspian Gull in the gull roost this evening (initially well picked out by Phil Rhodes), also 304 Canada Geese, most of which flew off SE around 7pm to roost elsewhere, and 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldcrest around Sorrowcow Pond.
-- Edited by Keith Williams on Wednesday 22nd of September 2021 07:26:01 PM
Late news for yesterday:
11 Wigeon
1 Shelduck
1 Little Egret south
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Also, 9 Snipe (info thanks to Phil Rhodes)
Late news for yesterday evening when a first winter Mediterranean Gull flew west at 5:50pm and 12 Snipe, 2 Pochard and 7 Wigeon were present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
31 Pink-footed Geese over east early this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
24 Wigeon and a Pintail this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
2 Pintail present this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
-- Edited by Pete Hines on Tuesday 14th of September 2021 07:18:32 PM
Still present at 11:30.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Little Stint on the spit at 10am.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Early this morning:
148 Tufted Duck
1 Oystercatcher
11 Chiffchaff on and around Ramsdales Ruck
Friday 10th Sept.
A Raven flew low over A579 Atherleigh Way at junction with the East Lancs at 10.26am. It was heading towards Culceth and looked as if it had flown over the Flash.
1.30pm to 4.45pm - full circuit of flash.
500+ Coots at west bay & 200+ Tufted Ducks at Ramsdales flash.
Also of note :- a few Swallows still hanging around the sailing club area.
Buzzard; Kestrel; 3 Little Grebes; Good numbers of Great Crested Grebes & Juveniles.
Coal Tit; Willow Tit; Long-Tailed Tit; Goldfinch; Chiffchaff; Willow Warbler;
Common Whitethroat (western side).
3 Cetti's Warblers - 1 on Ramsdales ruck, 1 from Ramsdales hide & 1 from Edmondson hide.
2 distant Snipe plus a Reed Warbler from Ramsdales hide & 3 Grey Heron from Edmondson hide.
A Ruff flew in at 6:40pm this evening and 13 Snipe and 3 Wigeon were also present.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
A juvenile Little Gull flew NW at 6:48pm this evening.
Also, 38 Snipe including 23 flying east, a single Wigeon and 4 Pochard.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
I'd imagine the unlocking of the hides will be variable these days. The padlocks have been changed and keys are apparently not being given out to those very few regulars who visit very early, had always been entrusted with keys and used to ensure the hides were unlocked.
This morning:
1 Ringed Plover
4 Snipe
4 Pochard
2 Greylag Geese
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Avocet present on the spit this morning.
Also seven Pochard and three Snipe.
Info thank to Bill Harrison
Cetti's Warbler popped up in tree immediately to the left of Ramsdales Hide mid pm
Single Kingfisher
1 Oystercatcher
200+ Lapwing plus everything else put up of spit by guy in a kayak towing a guy in a rubber dingy
9 Wigeon at the western end this late morning.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This afternoon:
21 Chiffchaff
6 Wigeon
77 Gadwall
58 Shoveler
This morning:
1119 Coot
145 Tufted Duck
3 Swift feeding over the south side
70 House Martin and 90 Swallow mainly heading west in smaller flocks, some feeding over the water first
7 Willow Warbler and 14 Chiffchaff on and around Ramsdales Ruck, many singing and some young birds at least trying to
Young Cetti's Warbler trying (rather feebly) to sing near to the Point
8 Snipe in a flock flew in from high west and dropped into the 'nature reserve' area
Highlights include:
Little grebe x6+
Oystercatcher
Snipe
Lapwing
Teal
Gadwall
Shoveler
Willow tit (amusing to watch it hiding black sunflower seeds like a squirrel)
Unfortinatly, I could'nt find the Egyptian geese for my yearlist.
Ta!
Juvenile Black-necked Grebe present this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This evening:
4 Ruff circled low over the spit before heading off south
1 Green Sandpiper
Juvenile Little Gull still present
Two Mediterranean Gulls present (1st and 3rd calendar year birds)
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ducks were Wigeon not Pintail as mentioned earlier.
Little Gull present still just after lunch on flash over by sailing club, no sign of Great-white Egret but 5 Pintail circled the flash for a good 5-10 minutes but not seen to land. Mediterranean Gull adult seen but not relocated before leaving.
Great White Egret currently on the spit.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Juvenile Little Gull present this morning, also a female type Goosander.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
This early morning:
Seven Little Egrets flew off west in a single flock, may possibly have come up off the spit (record shot on website)
419 Lapwing
88 Tufted Duck
2 Willow Warbler, 13 Chiffchaff and 2 Blackcap on and around Ramsdales Ruck