Highlight this morning was an adult Kittiwake which flew along the flash, across Ramsdales and off NE at 07:30!
Other birds included:
3 Shelducks which flew in from the E/SE and landed before heading off NW only to come back in a few minutes later. Two of them were second calendar year birds and the other probably an adult female.
2 Common Terns on one of the buoys (probably Ian's pair) flew off at about 9:20 but a pair (maybe same) were on the spit at about 12
Also of note on the spit at about 12
1 Shelduck - seen asleep at about 11 from the ruck
1 Common Sandpiper
1 Little Ringed Plover
1 Great Black-backed Gull
Warblers...
Chiffchaff - several
Willow Warbler - several/many
Blackcap - loads in the woods, getting more difficult to locate with the leaf growth
Cetti's - several, got a decent look at one of them
Whitethroat - 2, both on the ruck
Grasshopper - on the ruck in the valley below the lock door monument reeling away giving great views and getting attention (because of the reeling) from general members of the public - must have been Colin I met around here unless others also saw the Redstart
Reed - at least 6 in various places but all down in the reeds - no views
And most of the usually seen suspects
-- Edited by Michael Hood on Sunday 27th of April 2025 04:18:37 PM
Mid-morning, a female redstart was on the edge of the woodland behind Ramsdales hide from the main path. Also, grasshopper warbler reeling on the ruck near the monument
Highlights from first thing this morning included:
Drake Mandarin again in the centre of the flash with its Mallard pair
3 Shelduck flew through east at 07:29
Drake Goldeneye flew through NE at 07:25
A Whimbrel flew in from the west around 7am, landing on the spit to wash and preen before eventually flying back off low west at 07:27 (attached photo unfortunately looking into the sun!)
2 Common Terns
Swift numbers increased through the early morning, up to a maximum of 41 by 07:45
Much the same as Ian this morning although no Tree Pipit and only 1 Great Black Backed. In addition 2 x Little Ringed Plover, and 2 x adult summer plumage Mediterranean Gulls off the spit
Highlight was a Tree Pipit flushed close to the shoreline path on the ruck at 06:45 which flew off and dropped into the grassland on the centre of the ruck. A very rare spring record, in fact I can’t recall when my last one was!
Drake Mandarin in the middle of the flash with a pair of Mallard, later it swam off to the western end with the female Mallard in tow
This evening at Mossley Hall farm: Sedge warbler singing along with x2 Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Song thrush and Cetti's warbler. Also c.100 sand Martin flew overhead.
This mornings highlights included the female Garganey still on the Kidney pool, 3 Common tern and 2 Common Sandpiper on the spit. 2 Reeling Grasshopper warbler and at least 6 singing Cettis Warbler with 2 non singers accompanying 2 of these.
This morning 4 x Common Sandpiper, 2 x Redshank, 1 x Little Ringed Plover, 2 x Common Tern, 12 x Snipe, 3 x Little Egret, 6 x vocal Cetti's, 4 x Reed Warbler, 3 x Willow Tit and a Kingfisher
Early pm 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Ringed Plover, 1 Redshank, 1 White Wagtail, 3 Snipe all on the spit. F Garganey on kidney pond & 1 Little Egret. Numerous Sand Martin over main Flash.
This morning so far,
grasshopper warbler reeling north of canal, east of footbridge
female garganey still on kidney pond from viewing screen
reed warbler 1 kidney pond
common tern 3
redshank 2
sand martin 1000+
Additional highlights prior to 9.15 this morning included 2 Swallow over the horse paddocks between Byrom Lane and the flash. Single House Martin over the sailing club, 2 Common tern on the spit, singing Sedge Warbler at the west end and a reeling Grasshopper warbler just north of the canal between the footbridge and the golf course.
Female garganey still on kidney pond. 3 Black-tailed godwits 2 little ringed plovers 4 redshanks 1 common sandpiper 6 snipe 1 oystercatcher 1 common tern 40+ sand martins 2 Reed warblers, heard only in ramsdales Reed bed. 2 cettis warblers shown well. Good numbers of chiffchaffs, blackcaps & willow warblers on my walk around.
Late afternoon/early evening, female Garganey on the Kidney Pond, Reed Warbler in Ramsdales Reedebed, Common Tern, Common Sandpiper, 2 Redshanks, 3 Black-tailed Godwits eventually flying west.