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

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