All posts by Pete Smith

Stonechat – 17th February

February 17, 2019Recent wildlife sightings17th February, 2019, Slurry Lagoon, StonechatPete Smith

This morning a male Stonechat was seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. JF.

Comma – 11th February

February 11, 2019Recent wildlife sightings11th February, 2019, Cettis Warbler, Comma, greenfinch, Lesser Redpoll, Slurry Lagoon, Song Thrush, Wheelchair RampPete Smith

This morning there were thirty Lesser Redpolls in the birches on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, twenty Greenfinches came out of the roost at Rossi’s, six Song Thrushes and three Cetti’s Warblers were singing and a Comma flew across the Wheelchair Ramp. PS.

Bearded Tit – 6th February

February 6, 2019Recent wildlife sightings2019, 6th February, Bearded Tit, Common Snipe, Lesser Redpoll, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

About forty Lesser Redpolls were seen in the late morning. There were also nine Common Snipe on the Slurry Lagoon. In the late afternoon a Bearded Tit was heard at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Yellow-legged Gull – 1st February

February 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st February, 2019, Black Swan, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Deep Pit, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesse Black-backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This morning the three water bodies were all mostly frozen over. There were a lot of gulls resting on the ice, including Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed. Amongst one group of Black-headed Gulls on the Deep Pit was a Yellow-legged Gull. Also a pair of Black Swans have arrived from somewhere and are on the Deep Pit. At the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon a flock of about thirty Lesser Redpolls were feeding in the Birch trees. PS.

Bittern – 14th January

January 14, 2019Recent wildlife sightings14th January, 2019, Bittern, Chiffchaff, Lesser Redpoll, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a Peregrine was seen on the new pylon. A Bittern was seen flying over the Slurry Lagoon and the 21 Lesser Redpolls were again feeding in birches at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. The Ouse Dyke had up to four Chiffchaffs along it from Teal Close to the footbridge. PS.

Lesser Redpoll – 8th January

January 12, 2019Recent wildlife sightingsBullfinch, Lesser Redpoll, peregrine, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a Peregrine flew along the pylons before perching on one across the river. At the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon 21 Lesser Redpoll were feeding on Birch seeds with one female Bullfinch. PS.

Peregrine – 6th January

January 6, 2019Recent wildlife sightings6th January, Canada Goose, Caueway, Cettis Warbler, Greylag Goose, peregrine, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning there were hundreds of Greylag and Canada Geese roosting on the Slurry Lagoon. They left en-mass as the morning lightened up. The new pylon had the two Peregrines on it for much of the morning, the female catching a gull and taking it up there to feed on. A Water Rail flew across in front of the Causeway bench and several Cetti’s were singing. PS.

Raven – 1st January

January 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st January, 2019, Cettis Warbler, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, water railPete Smith

This morning things were pretty quiet at the lagoons. There were a lot of gulls passing through that paused briefly on the Slurry Lagoon. Several Water Rail were heard and one flew across in front of the Causeway bench. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard singing. Two Ravens flew along the river to the pylons to perch for a while. Later a single Raven flew low over the Deep Pit. PS.

Egyptian Goose – 30th December

December 30, 2018Recent wildlife sightings30th December, Canada Goose, Cettis Warbler, Egyptian Goose, Greylag Goose, peregrine, Pink-footed Goose, water railPete Smith

This morning two Peregrines were on the pylons. Two Egyptian Geese and a Pink-footed Goose were amongst the Greylags and Canadas. Seven singing Cetti’s Warblers and five Water Rail were heard. PS

Barn Owl – 26th December

December 26, 2018Recent wildlife sightings26th December, Barn Owl, Cettis Warbler, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, water railPete Smith

This morning at dawn a Barn Owl was seen hunting near the Gravel Pits and a Peregrine was on the new pylon. Up to eight Water Rail were heard (with one seen) and three Cetti’s Warblers were singing. One Snipe was seen in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. PS.