Late afternoon,

Little ringed plover 1 on the spit

Redshank 3 on the spit

Sand martin 30

 

This morning 3 x Black tailed Godwit, 7 x Redshank and 2 x Wigeon

Other birds this morning included, 2 singing Blackcap and a female also seen, 2 singing Willow warbler. 2 Black tailed Godwit in Ramsdales and at least 6 Redshank and 15 Snipe between here and Horrocks.

Female Brambling at the West end this morning, in trees between the flash and the recycling centre. 4 Wigeon also in the centre of the flash

First thing this morning, drake common scoter and 2 shelduck. 

Avocet and Kittiwake both still present at 9.10am also Blackcap singing near Lapwing hide and a couple of Snipe still on the scrapes.

Avocet now in Ramsdales

This morning:

1 Curlew flew over east (calling) at 07:55

11+ Redwings still around the western end of Ramsdales Ruck

Willow Warbler still singing from the same spot as yesterday on Ramsdales Ruck

3 Rooks flew over N together

 

This morning:

4 Redshanks

5 Sand Martins

9+ Meadow Pipits on Ramsdales Ruck

1 Willow Warbler singing at the very western end, close to Slag Lane

Six Sand Martins off the car park this morning.

Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Sand Martin this evening, Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Redshanks and four adult Mediterranean Gulls roosted 

Info thanks to Phil Rhodes

This morning’s highlights:

2 Little Egrets at the western end

8 Snipe on the mini spit

A pair of adult Great Black-backed Gulls

A flock of 22 Lesser Redpolls feeding on Ramsdales Ruck

Drake Common Scoter present this morning.

 Info thanks to Bill Harrison

Brief visit this afternoon there were 3 singing chiffchaff Also: Cettis warbler singing at Aspull common Kingfisher near car park Plenty of singing birds including nuthatch, great tit, robin, dunnock, Wren, coal tit, goldcrest

This morning:

2 pairs of Great Black-backed Gulls, one of which was feeding on a large dead fish at the western end

Pair of Mediterranean Gulls on the spit, briefly displaying 

2 Redshanks

4 Kingfishers

Flock of 14 Meadow Pipits feeding on Ramsdales ruck

4 Chiffchaffs (2 on Ramsdales Ruck and 2 at the rear of Teal Scrape)

 

Early this morning:

2 Greylag Geese in Ramsdales

1 Redshank

3 Great Black-backed Gulls, including a first winter on the spit

3 Kingfishers

7 Redwings feeding on Ramsdales Ruck

1 male Blackcap feeding at the top of a birch tree along the edge of Ramsdales Ruck

 

Cetti's warbler showing well just in front of Horrocks hide

Zoe Barrett wrote:

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Hi Ian, that's a shame about the cormorant. Has the bird been rescued?

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Unfortunately, at this point at least there’s little to no hope of rescuing the bird I’m afraid as it appears perfectly fit and Cormorants would never allow any approach close enough to attempt one, made worse by any such attempt necessitating a fairly long and completely exposed approach for its full duration.

Early this morning a Redshank appeared to fly straight through west. Around Ramsdales Ruck were two singing Skylarks but at least four birds in total with much chasing each around the ruck, 12 feeding Meadow Pipits, five singing Song Thrushes, four singing Reed Buntings, two singing Goldcrests and a singing Treecreeper. A pair of Great Black-backed Gulls were on the spit along with five Oystercatchers, five Goosander, a Kingfisher was on the jetties at the sailing club and Black-headed Gulls were already making nests on the nesting platform off the spit. Unfortunately, a young Cormorant had suffered a terrible fishing lure injury.

 

 

Nice couple of hours this morning in some sunshine first thing produced an undoubted highlight of a Jack Snipe flushed from the edge of the flash at the western end by a man trying to get his dog back. Also 2 Common Snipe flushed from same area. Other birds seen included (the?) single Great White egret still in the Ramsdales area, at least 2 Little egret, a near full summer plumaged adult Mediterranean Gull which flew from the car park end and landed right in front of Horrocks to bathe for a few minutes then flew to the far end of the spit. 12 Goosander and c. 80 Redwing still about and plenty of singing Song Thrush around the site.

Late afternoon up to dusk today:

14 Oystercatchers

Glorious adult Caspian Gull in the roost from 4:30pm but never stopped furiously bathing, which did allow some fantastic views of its characteristic primary pattern if nothing else, but everything was disturbed by a low flying helicopter and after settling again fairly briefly, as has been the case recently, the roost split into two again after a panicked 'dread' (with no visible reason) with half shifting off towards the East Bay and half off the Spit. Unfortunately, due to viewing distance and activity of the bird I mostly concentrated on video, some of which can be found on the website, with some primary pattern shots and videograbs attached here.

Significantly smaller numbers in the gull roost than recently though, including Black-headed Gulls. 

c300 Starlings circling Ramsdales but didn't see if they dropped into the reeded or not. On the 18th the flock was c500 strong again and did roost in Ramsdales Reedbed.

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