Yesterday in the evening gull roost, a very fine first winter Caspian Gull was present, initially off the spit just prior to 4pm and eventually roosting with all the other gulls.
Images and video of this beaut on the website.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Craig Higson said
Wed Oct 21 7:03 PM, 2020
Tried the gull roost tonight. Easily 4-6000 gulls (more coming in as I left too) but well spread out from the western end right across to east bay, and all facing slightly towards where I was stood which made identifying anything unusual a bit tricky. Big gull contingent largely made up of Lesser Black-backed from what I could see. Probably a couple of hundred. Fewer Herrings but face on immature gulls are not my strong point. Only saw one Great Black-backed.
2 Goosander and a couple of Kingfishers the only other things of any real note.
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 19 3:46 PM, 2020
Fairly brief visit over the northwest area of the flash this early afternoon:
51 Cormorant
1 Blackcap
6 Goosander watched fly in distantly from the north and drop onto the flash
17 Little Grebe
Chris Harper said
Sun Oct 18 3:24 PM, 2020
08.45-14.00
2+Cettis Warbler, single Pink Footed Goose over, 2 Kingfisher, 8 Redwing, 6 Snipe, Oystercatcher, 60 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Fieldfare over, Wigeon, 20 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 32 Great Crested Grebe, Greater Black Backed Gull, 3 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 6 Little Grebe, Water Rail, Stock Dove.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 17 9:57 AM, 2020
A further 14 Whooper Swans flew low east at 09:30, only to fly back over west against 09:40.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 17 9:17 AM, 2020
25-30 Whooper Swans flew over low east, calling, at 09:05 this morning.
Info thanks to BI’ll Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Oct 16 10:53 AM, 2020
This morning up to 9:30, Bill Harrison and myself, including a watch from Ramsdales Ruck:
Bittern in Ramsdales Reedbed
3 Goldeneye
26 Snipe roosting and one over west
911 Woodpigeons over south in 41 flocks
835 Redwings over mainly NE in 37 flocks
63 Fieldfares NE in 2 flocks
70 Pink-footed Geese east at 08:40, appeared to drop into the Chat Moss area
2 Swallows east together
56 Chaffinches over north in 7 flocks
63 Starlings over north in 2 flocks
7 Siskins east together
40 Goldfinches in a single flock on Ramsdales Ruck
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Oct 15 10:19 PM, 2020
This evening, 5 Wigeon on Teal Scrape, Pochard in Pengies and 3 Goldeneye on the main flash.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
John Watson said
Thu Oct 15 12:42 PM, 2020
Tried hard for the Yellow-Browed Warbler this morning, having missed the msg (on RBA) yesterday No tit flocks, just a few scattered about
Anyway: - Kingfisher (h) - delightful pair of Goldcrests, with male displaying his brilliant orange crest for her entertainment - Treecreeper, "Eyeball to eyeball" views - numerous Robins
-- Edited by John Watson on Thursday 15th of October 2020 03:10:40 PM
Steven Heywood said
Wed Oct 14 2:54 PM, 2020
Yellow browed warbler with mixed tit flock by Horrocks Hide just now.
colin davies said
Wed Oct 14 12:53 PM, 2020
9am - 11:30am today
Knot 1 adult non-breeding at the yacht club
Goldeneye 3 female types
Pink-footed goose 100+ flew over east
Snipe 2 flew off the spit
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 14th of October 2020 12:55:17 PM
A 2 hour Vis Mig session on top of the rucks produced very little: 202 Woodpigeon in several flocks, 55 Pink-footed Geese, 60 Redwing in 4 flocks and a single snipe were the highlights. In fairness there was some movement of species such as Redpoll and Skylark, but they were moving so high up in the clear conditions it was impossible to see everything and most birds were picked up with was just faint calls and were impossible to count.
The best bit of the day was undoubtedly the number of Tufted Ducks - a flock of 82 in the area from the old East bay hide to the corner of East Bay were flushed into Rammies - presumably by the single canoeist cutting across the centre of the flash - joining whatever birds were already there. I moved down to the shore of the ruck to count them and they were then joined by another three flocks (no idea where these birds came from) taking the total number to 363. I don't ever recall seeing that many Tufted Duck on the Flash before.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 10 8:26 PM, 2020
1w+2w Mediterranean Gulls roosted this evening.
Yesterday evening, a Little Egret was feeding on the flooded path behind Teal scrape at 6pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Oct 10 9:56 AM, 2020
Drake Pintail flew west at 09:30 this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Oct 7 11:29 AM, 2020
Adult Whopper Swan just off the spit at 11:10, calling constantly.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Oct 5 12:01 PM, 2020
Four hour watch from Ramsdales Ruck from first light, partly with Bill Harrison produced highlights of:
Short-eared Owl high west over the ruck at 07:10, mobbed by two Sparrowhawks as it went at one point (awful record shot attached)
Single Curlew east at 08:10
4101 Pink-footed Geese over in 33 skeins as follows:
2890 east in 18 skeins, largest of 580
1211 west in 15 skeins, largest of 215
17 Redwings SW in small flocks or singles
175 Woodpigeons over S/SE in small flocks
3 Goosander over west (together)
31 Snipe, including a single flock of 20 which circled our heads on the rucks then appeared to drop into the nature reserve/Ramsdales area, and also small groups/singles over high west
4 Greylag Geese west
1 vocal Raven over north
140 Lapwing looking for somewhere to land, eventually settling on the sailing club shore
26 Swallows SW in 6 flocks
2 Sand Martins SW together
35 Skylarks west in 3 flocks and at least 5 on the ruck itself
1 Grey Wagtail over high south
3 Wigeon on the flash
At least 41 Song Thrushes on and around the ruck, including 7 which dropped out of the sky in 3 flocks into cover
16+ Coal Tits on and around the ruck, including a single tight flock of 7 flying across the top of the ruck from one line of trees to another
Kingfisher, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler around Sorrowcow Pond
Andy Isherwood said
Sun Oct 4 1:29 PM, 2020
Couple of hours round the flash this am produced
257+ Tufted duck
16 + Skylark south
6 Siskin south
3 singing Cettis warbler
Numerous Chiffchaff including a few in song
At least 4 different Sparrowhawk
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 28 9:52 PM, 2020
This evening:
Adult Mediterranean Gull roosted
5 Wigeon
7 Snipe
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Gordon Newman said
Sun Sep 27 7:09 PM, 2020
Little Egret in Ramsdales this evening took flight West across Flash at 18.55
Ian McKerchar said
Sun Sep 27 3:44 PM, 2020
Male Common Scoter present this morning.
Also, c170 Pink-footed Geese over, 12 Snipe and 1 Water Rail present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Kevin Forde said
Sun Sep 27 2:33 PM, 2020
Raven high over Pennington Flash.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 26 10:02 AM, 2020
Two and a half hours off Ramsdales Ruck from first light produced the following highlights:
Great White Egret, flew in leisurely high from the north at 07:30, then veered west as it got across the centre of the flash and continued west along the length of the flash loosing height as it went and permitting great scope views
Little Egret seen well to the west of the flash at c07:45, appeared to be heading north
1 Raven over SW
7 Swallow through SW in small groups/singles
3 skiens of Pink-footed Geese as follows:
27 east at 07:23
25 east at 07:33
29 west at 08:00
31 west at 08:20
2 west at 08:25
57 east ay 09:10
16 Meadow Pipit south and several feeding on the ruck too
7 Skylark, with flocks of 4 east and 3 west
1 Grey Wagtail over high south
2 Willow Tit on the ruck, also 4 Chiffchaff mixed in with various tit flocks
Singing Treecreeper at the western end
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 25 3:12 PM, 2020
138 Tufted Ducks this afternoon, included the sky blue nasal saddled female which was original ringed in France and has been present on and off for a good few years now. Also a female Pochard and single Oystercatcher.
First winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls roosted tonight. Also 16 Snipe in Ramsdales and 5 Wigeon in Pengies.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Tue Sep 22 10:10 AM, 2020
A first early morning off work for a good while drew me to the northwestern side of the flash and despite being clear the four miles away I live, on arrival it was anything but clear. Thick fog enveloped the entire flash and never lifted in the two hours I spent there, though it looked to be clearing as I was leaving; typical!
Still, highlight was a single Redwing which dropped, calling, out of the gloom, flashed right past me on Ramsdales Ruck and appeared to dive into cover. Several redpolls were buzzing about on the ruck, plenty of Meadow Pipit could be heard and occasionally seen overhead and/or dropping on the ruck, 5 Chiffchaff were in shoreline trees and bushes with at least 2 Kingfishers knocking about the shore too.
Craig Higson said
Mon Sep 21 10:30 PM, 2020
A pleasant couple of hours birding from the Rucks. Nothing major, but if nothing else it reinforced the need for people to please submit records (see the sticky on the sightings home page) to help inform the ongoing master planning process. A single yacht and the sailing club rib were out on the flash when I arrived and as a result all the wildfowl had been pushed into Rammies, the car park area or the extreme west end. A brief respite saw some Tufted Ducks and Great Crested Grebes move out of Rammies, only to be pushed back again when more yachts appeared. A couple of kids swimming (yes really) in East Bay subsequently pushed all the wildfowl out of that area too.
Aside from the usual wildfowl the gull roost is developing nicely with over 1000 Black-headed present and a good number of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls present.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Tuesday 22nd of September 2020 10:32:08 AM
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 19 10:01 AM, 2020
Great White Egret flew low over Horrocks Hide at 09:55 towards the nature reserve area.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 16 9:42 PM, 2020
4 Dunlin tried to land in the gull roost in the middle of the flash at 7:30pm this evening!
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Wed Sep 16 3:59 PM, 2020
This morning, 2 Raven, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 14 9:45 PM, 2020
The two juvenile Garganey were still in Ramsdales this evening and the first winter Mediterranean Gull roosted again.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Mon Sep 14 9:45 AM, 2020
First winter Mediterranean Gull roosted yesterday evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Roger Halsey said
Sun Sep 13 7:33 PM, 2020
2 Garganey still this morning. Also 1 Shelduck, 150 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, and 2 Snipe.
Ian McKerchar said
Sat Sep 12 10:49 AM, 2020
Dunlin on the spit this morning, plus Raven and 5 Pink-footed Geese over (the latter heading west).
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Ian McKerchar said
Fri Sep 11 8:33 PM, 2020
Two juvenile Garganey present on Ramsdales Scrape this early evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Ian McKerchar said
Thu Sep 10 9:28 PM, 2020
Juvenile Garganey still on Ramsdales scrape this evening but no sign of the 2CY Caspian Gull in the roost.
Drake Common Scoter present this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Little Egret on the spit this late afternoon and also 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over NW.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Bittern just flew out of Ramsdales Reedbed. Circled round then headed north
-- Edited by Tony Coatsworth on Sunday 25th of October 2020 01:37:09 PM
Yesterday in the evening gull roost, a very fine first winter Caspian Gull was present, initially off the spit just prior to 4pm and eventually roosting with all the other gulls.
Images and video of this beaut on the website.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
2 Goosander and a couple of Kingfishers the only other things of any real note.
Fairly brief visit over the northwest area of the flash this early afternoon:
51 Cormorant
1 Blackcap
6 Goosander watched fly in distantly from the north and drop onto the flash
17 Little Grebe
08.45-14.00
2+Cettis Warbler, single Pink Footed Goose over, 2 Kingfisher, 8 Redwing, 6 Snipe, Oystercatcher, 60 Lapwing, Sparrowhawk, Grey Wagtail, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 5 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Fieldfare over, Wigeon, 20 Teal, 18 Shoveler, 32 Great Crested Grebe, Greater Black Backed Gull, 3 Goldcrest, Nuthatch, 6 Little Grebe, Water Rail, Stock Dove.
A further 14 Whooper Swans flew low east at 09:30, only to fly back over west against 09:40.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
25-30 Whooper Swans flew over low east, calling, at 09:05 this morning.
Info thanks to BI’ll Harrison
This morning up to 9:30, Bill Harrison and myself, including a watch from Ramsdales Ruck:
Bittern in Ramsdales Reedbed
3 Goldeneye
26 Snipe roosting and one over west
911 Woodpigeons over south in 41 flocks
835 Redwings over mainly NE in 37 flocks
63 Fieldfares NE in 2 flocks
70 Pink-footed Geese east at 08:40, appeared to drop into the Chat Moss area
2 Swallows east together
56 Chaffinches over north in 7 flocks
63 Starlings over north in 2 flocks
7 Siskins east together
40 Goldfinches in a single flock on Ramsdales Ruck
This evening, 5 Wigeon on Teal Scrape, Pochard in Pengies and 3 Goldeneye on the main flash.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Anyway:
- Kingfisher (h)
- delightful pair of Goldcrests, with male displaying his brilliant orange crest for her entertainment
- Treecreeper, "Eyeball to eyeball" views
- numerous Robins
-- Edited by John Watson on Thursday 15th of October 2020 03:10:40 PM
9am - 11:30am today
Knot 1 adult non-breeding at the yacht club
Goldeneye 3 female types
Pink-footed goose 100+ flew over east
Snipe 2 flew off the spit
-- Edited by colin davies on Wednesday 14th of October 2020 12:55:17 PM
The best bit of the day was undoubtedly the number of Tufted Ducks - a flock of 82 in the area from the old East bay hide to the corner of East Bay were flushed into Rammies - presumably by the single canoeist cutting across the centre of the flash - joining whatever birds were already there. I moved down to the shore of the ruck to count them and they were then joined by another three flocks (no idea where these birds came from) taking the total number to 363. I don't ever recall seeing that many Tufted Duck on the Flash before.
1w+2w Mediterranean Gulls roosted this evening.
Yesterday evening, a Little Egret was feeding on the flooded path behind Teal scrape at 6pm.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Drake Pintail flew west at 09:30 this morning.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Adult Whopper Swan just off the spit at 11:10, calling constantly.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Four hour watch from Ramsdales Ruck from first light, partly with Bill Harrison produced highlights of:
Short-eared Owl high west over the ruck at 07:10, mobbed by two Sparrowhawks as it went at one point (awful record shot attached)
Single Curlew east at 08:10
4101 Pink-footed Geese over in 33 skeins as follows:
17 Redwings SW in small flocks or singles
175 Woodpigeons over S/SE in small flocks
3 Goosander over west (together)
31 Snipe, including a single flock of 20 which circled our heads on the rucks then appeared to drop into the nature reserve/Ramsdales area, and also small groups/singles over high west
4 Greylag Geese west
1 vocal Raven over north
140 Lapwing looking for somewhere to land, eventually settling on the sailing club shore
26 Swallows SW in 6 flocks
2 Sand Martins SW together
35 Skylarks west in 3 flocks and at least 5 on the ruck itself
1 Grey Wagtail over high south
3 Wigeon on the flash
At least 41 Song Thrushes on and around the ruck, including 7 which dropped out of the sky in 3 flocks into cover
16+ Coal Tits on and around the ruck, including a single tight flock of 7 flying across the top of the ruck from one line of trees to another
13+ Goldcrests on and around the ruck
In the evening gull roost tonight:
3CY Yellow-legged Gull
509 Lesser Black-backed Gull
218 Herring Gull
c4000 Black-headed Gull
Kingfisher, Chiffchaff and Cetti's Warbler around Sorrowcow Pond
Couple of hours round the flash this am produced
257+ Tufted duck
16 + Skylark south
6 Siskin south
3 singing Cettis warbler
Numerous Chiffchaff including a few in song
At least 4 different Sparrowhawk
This evening:
Adult Mediterranean Gull roosted
5 Wigeon
7 Snipe
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Male Common Scoter present this morning.
Also, c170 Pink-footed Geese over, 12 Snipe and 1 Water Rail present.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Two and a half hours off Ramsdales Ruck from first light produced the following highlights:
Great White Egret, flew in leisurely high from the north at 07:30, then veered west as it got across the centre of the flash and continued west along the length of the flash loosing height as it went and permitting great scope views
Little Egret seen well to the west of the flash at c07:45, appeared to be heading north
1 Raven over SW
7 Swallow through SW in small groups/singles
3 skiens of Pink-footed Geese as follows:
16 Meadow Pipit south and several feeding on the ruck too
7 Skylark, with flocks of 4 east and 3 west
1 Grey Wagtail over high south
2 Willow Tit on the ruck, also 4 Chiffchaff mixed in with various tit flocks
Singing Treecreeper at the western end
138 Tufted Ducks this afternoon, included the sky blue nasal saddled female which was original ringed in France and has been present on and off for a good few years now. Also a female Pochard and single Oystercatcher.
First winter and adult Mediterranean Gulls roosted tonight. Also 16 Snipe in Ramsdales and 5 Wigeon in Pengies.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
A first early morning off work for a good while drew me to the northwestern side of the flash and despite being clear the four miles away I live, on arrival it was anything but clear. Thick fog enveloped the entire flash and never lifted in the two hours I spent there, though it looked to be clearing as I was leaving; typical!
Still, highlight was a single Redwing which dropped, calling, out of the gloom, flashed right past me on Ramsdales Ruck and appeared to dive into cover. Several redpolls were buzzing about on the ruck, plenty of Meadow Pipit could be heard and occasionally seen overhead and/or dropping on the ruck, 5 Chiffchaff were in shoreline trees and bushes with at least 2 Kingfishers knocking about the shore too.
Aside from the usual wildfowl the gull roost is developing nicely with over 1000 Black-headed present and a good number of Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gulls present.
-- Edited by Craig Higson on Tuesday 22nd of September 2020 10:32:08 AM
Great White Egret flew low over Horrocks Hide at 09:55 towards the nature reserve area.
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
4 Dunlin tried to land in the gull roost in the middle of the flash at 7:30pm this evening!
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
This morning, 2 Raven, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
The two juvenile Garganey were still in Ramsdales this evening and the first winter Mediterranean Gull roosted again.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
First winter Mediterranean Gull roosted yesterday evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
2 Garganey still this morning. Also 1 Shelduck, 150 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, and 2 Snipe.
Dunlin on the spit this morning, plus Raven and 5 Pink-footed Geese over (the latter heading west).
Info thanks to Bill Harrison
Two juvenile Garganey present on Ramsdales Scrape this early evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Juvenile Garganey still on Ramsdales scrape this evening but no sign of the 2CY Caspian Gull in the roost.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Single Ruff present this morning.
Also, 28 Greylag Geese, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and 5 Snipe.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme and Bill Harrison
This evening:
A Short-eared Owl circled high over the southern side of the flash
The 2CY Caspian Gull roosted again
Juvenile Garganey still in Rammies
55 Pink-footed Gees flew west
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
A Lesser whitethroat moved through this morning with 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and a Whitethroat.
10 Greylag Geese still present.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
Second calendar year Caspian Gull roosted again this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Are the hides still closed at the flash?
2W Caspian Gull roosted again this evening from 7:30pm plus the juvenile Garganey was still in Rammies.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
Juvenile Garganey off the spit this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes
One Redshank present this morning.
Info thanks to Barry Hulme
2w Caspian Gull roosted from 7:10pm this evening.
Info thanks to Phil Rhodes