This morning there was a White Wagtail on the wader scrape with a Common Sandpiper and seven Little Ringed Plovers. Seven Common Terns were on the platforms, a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in the south-west corner of the deep pit and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling nearby. Swallows and Sand Martins were on the river and a male and 2 female Wheatears were on the field east of the railway bridge. Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers were numerous with at least six Common Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Cetti’s Warblers also singing. NM

In the late afternoon a Barn Owl was watched hunting around the northern end of the large gravel pit and was seen to make a successful kill, swallowing the unfortunate rodent whole on the ground before resuming its quartering flight along the hedgerow.  Two Chiffchaffs and a Treecreeper were feeding along the Ouse Dyke and at least 250 Fieldfares and 130 Redwing were feeding in the fields and around the reserve. Several Blackbirds were feeding on the decaying bark chip mounds by the Railway Bridge and 3 Redpoll and 14 Linnets were seen in this area. As the light faded a male Sparrowhawk made a final hunting sortie along the plantation. NM

One of the Chiffchaff feeding along the Ouse Dyke bank just above the water line this morning. NM

This morning a Great White Egret flew over the railway bridge from the potato field currently being harvested. It went over the bridge and appeared to drop back into the stream by the line of willow trees but out of sight. The drake Green-Winged Teal was along the reed edge of the Slurry Lagoon and there was a light passage of Fieldfares and Redwings. Two Siskin flew over calling along with several Skylarks and a flock of 60 Lapwing circled the site before heading north-east over the fields. The large flock of Greylags and Canada Geese were still in the fields and flew noisily onto the Slurry Lagoon mid-morning.  NM

A superb male Common Redstart added some much needed colour to a rather grey morning with squally showers, it showed well but briefly on the inside of the Deep Pit bank at the southern end before diving into cover as more rain approached. Seven Common Swift and 11 Sand Martin passed through and 2 Oystercatchers were on one of the Tern platforms.  NM

This afternoon a Common Sandpiper was on the stony areas at the southern end of the Deep Pit and a Little Ringed Plover flew over the new pools on the field north of the Deep Pit, calling in flight before appearing to drop into the works compound. Also on site today, 10 Common Tern, 3 Swallow, 4 Reed Warblers, 2 Cetti’s Warblers, 8+ singing Blackcap, numerous Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs and 3 female Goldeneye on the Deep Pit.  NM

A bright sunny morning but with a cold northerly wind, a Reed Warbler was singing and showing occassionally in the small reedbed at the Haven, a nearby Common Whitethroat was a bit more showy on the outside of the deep pit bank. 4 Common Terns were resting on the platforms, 3 Swallows by the bridge and 6 Sand Martins by the river, 2 Cetti’s Warblers in full song, several Blackcaps and lots of Willow Warblers & Chiffchaffs and 1 Common Buzzard flew through being mobbed by 2 Carrion Crows.                    NM

A small flock of 13 Bramblings were seen this morning along the path by the slurry lagoon between the footbridge and the plantation. A single Little Egret was in the stubble field by the ouse dyke and a Grey Wagtail was feeding along the dyke banks. At 9:30am 2 Curlew circled the slurry lagoon 3 times before heading of to the north-east.    NM

Two Little Egrets and a Kingfisher were in the Ouse Dyke this afternoon attracted by a shoal of at least 2,000 small fish. 3 male and 2 female Goldeneye were on the Deep Pit & Large Gravel Pit. A Shelduck was on the slurry lagoon with 200+ Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers  and 2 Snipe. At least one Cetti’s Warbler still singing occasionally and 2 Water Rails calling as dusk approached. NM

3 singing by large gravel pit, also 3 Sedge Warblers, 1 Common Whitethroat, 6 Blackcap, 1 Sparrowhawk & 4 Oystercatchers. NM