This late afternoon:

11 Goosanders

Drake Mandarin in Ramsdales

9 Oystercatchers

2520 Herring Gulls (once again the roost split into two close to dusk, disturbed by something)

416 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

11 Great Black-backed Gulls

Also, one tit, unsure of the actual species, photographer or ‘birder’ but either way he felt it a good idea to walk up the spit to photograph something (and yes, he very clearly knew he shouldn’t be there) not caring less that he wilfully disturbed every roosting Lapwing, Oystercatcher and an awful lot of gulls. Photos below (taken from the opposite side of the flash!), if you know the tit please do let him know he is one.

17th February 2025. 09:30 - 11:30 hrs. Sightings included:

Great White Egret (1) from Ramsdales Hide
Drake Mandarin Duck (1) on canal near marina
Grey Heron (3)
Goosander (5)
Lapwing (100 plus)
Oystercatcher (4)
Teal (30)
Gadwall (10)
Cormorant (30)
Nuthatch (1)
Bullfinch (5)
Reed Bunting (4)
Great Spotted Woodpecker (1)
Great Black Backed Gull (2)
Pied Wagtail (1)
Tufted Duck (20)
Little Grebe (2)
Shoveler (2)

Visit to the Flash today from 11.30 to 1.30 and I was hoping to add a few ticks to my 2025 list which I would  struggle to get in Northern Ireland. Recently the Flash has been a bit disappointing but today it was better than I expected. Started off in Pengy's hide which had no feeders so I was fearing the worst, but Bunting hide was good and I nailed nuthatch, stock dove, willow tit and eventually great spotted woodpecker. Pleasantly surprised at the fact there were no squirrels at all - well done someone!! There were also good views of reed bunting and bullfinch as well as three robins at the same time  and a nice wee flock of long-tailed tits. The walk round was quiet and we came to Ramsdales and saw not one, but two great white egrets  on the scrape, as well as goosander. We then added lapwing, oystercatcher and goldeneye before an excellent lunch at the café. I know the reserve has had its fair share of criticism lately but as an occasional visitor looking to see specific birds it delivered today. The lack of squirrels was an unexpected bonus as I could concentrate on the birds for a change. Missed out on water rail, but I really shouldn't be greedy as it's a long shot even at the best of times. The spit is looking well and water levels were low in all the ponds - particularly at Ramsdales.  This was presumably due to the dry cold spell which meant the walk round was not a puddle jumping exercise. I hope to be back in the spring, but can enjoy the walk without chasing ticks!!

-- Edited by Derek Polley on Saturday 15th of February 2025 09:45:15 PM

This late afternoon:

17 Oystercatchers

c510 Lapwings around the spit, though many flew off west close to dusk

1 Little Egret in Ramsdales Scrape

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls

1 second winter (third calendar year if you like) Yellow-legged Gull, very advanced in moult on the back and wings though curiously apart from the scapulars which were fully retained. Also, typically for this time of year and similar to last week's bird, associating with (returning?) Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

This late afternoon up to dark:

51 Goldeneye in a single flock at the western end at dusk

22 Goosander

2 Great White Egrets

1 Little Egret

17 Oystercatchers at dusk; 15 roosting on the spit and 2 on the jetty by the sailing club

2310 Herring Gulls

2 adult Mediterranean Gulls

Great White Egret from Ramsdale Hide 12 noon today. 

Also thanks to all those that helped me find my phone!

Early this morning:

1 Great White Egret

10 Goosander

1 Woodcock

10 Redwings

1 Raven

2 Shelduck

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

 

Late afternoon today:

21 Goosander

23 Goldeneye

2 Oystercatchers

First winter Caspian Gull

2370 Herring Gulls

Usual adult Mediterranean Gull just off Sorrow Cow Farm

Sightings from this morning included, 2+ Great White Egret, 3+ Little egret, 4 Greylag geese, single Linnet flew north over the West end, c.30 Redwing in paddocks at Mossley Hall, single Skylark and 8 + Meadow Pipit on the ruck.

Adult Iceland Gull roosted this evening, also adult Mediterranean Gull and five Pochard.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

Just prior to dusk yesterday in Ramsdales Reed bed/lagoon contained 3 Great White Egret, 2 Little Egret, 5 Grey Heron,1 Water Rail & there was a brief burst off song from the Cettis Warbler

AM/EARLY PM OF NOTE North bank and West end plus canal from west end back to North bank With Karl Bishop 

no sign of Slavonian Grebe for us 

Great White Egret - 4 

Little Egret - 5

Treecreeper- 2

Goldcrest -1

Great Crested Grebe - 30+

Goldeneye-20+

Oystercatcher-1

Cormorant - c50

Snipe -8

Mandarin Duck - 1 Pair on Canal half way from Common lane to Plank Lane 

Willow Tit - 2

Plenty Shoveler and Teal 

Black-necked Grebe by Horrocks Hide at 12:15

Info thanks to John Dixon

This mid-afternoon:

2 drake Pochard

1 Great White Egret by Horrocks Scrape

Singing Goldcrest by Sorrow Cow Farm

Pair of Wigeon

Resident Oystercatcher being aggressive (or perhaps lustful!) towards anything near to it.

Still a good portion of the eastern half of the flash frozen.

This morning whilst doing some maintenance work at the flash includes: 1 Raven over heading west 1 Kestrel Cettis warbler singing near viewing Screen towards Ramsadale

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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This afternoon saw a total of 66 Shovelers, with a good number at the small open area at the western end.

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 and no gull roost with 1200+ large gulls coming from the NE and going straight over SW (towards the Mersey) up to c3:45pm

This afternoon Most of flash frozen except for small area around Horrocks spit and car park area. Lots of birds concentrated in small areas: 300+ Mallard 2 Great egrets 34 Shoveler 144 Teal 64 Gadwall 34 Goldeneye 10 Goosander 3 Snipe 8 Grey herons 1 Kingfisher on Westleigh brook 2 Willow tit sightings Bunting hide

This early morning, 2 Woodcocks, 17 Fieldfares, 2 Goosanders, 20 Pink-footed Geese over west and 2 Willow Tits.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

This late afternoon up to dark:

23 Greylag Geese again around the spit and flew off S/SW at 3:35pm

5 Pochard at the western end, including two females

1 pristine first-winter Caspian Gull

96 Great Black-backed Gulls

3110 Herring Gulls

1 adult Mediterranean Gull

This morning's highlights included 4 scattered sightings of Great White Egret which could feasibly have all related to one roaming bird, at least 3 Little Egret. 8 Pink footed Geese flew west c. 10am, 23 Greylag geese on the spit. c. 20 Siskin over the west end of the ruck, and small numbers of Redwing in various locations around the site. A lot of paths flooded but the water moving about the area very quickly so some were passable an hour after being under a foot or so of water.

Mid-afternoon today up to dusk:

54 Greylag Geese, all of which flew off SW at dusk

32 Goldeneye, with a flock 23 at the western end at dusk containing many furiously displaying drakes

6 Goosander

3 Great White Egrets

2 Little Egrets

153 Lapwings

1 adult Mediterranean Gull (which was not the adult which roosted last night)

74 Great Black-backed Gulls but otherwise a relatively small gull roost which was to be expected for a Sunday in between Christmas and New Year.

This afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull roosted.

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

30 Redwing by Sorrowcow pond 2 Tawny owl heard near Sandy Lane, Lowton Common Willow tit in bunting hide despite no food at feeding station.

This morning a pair of mandarins were displaying at Plank lane marina. This is presumably the long staying male and and the female from a few weeks ago. I'm assuming that this also the same male that was seen displaying to a pair of mallard in Ramsdales yesterday.

Also this morning, single great white egret and little egret.