The Slurry Lagoon was very quiet this morning, mainly covered with Black-headed Gulls, there are few ducks around. A female Goosander did fly over but, otherwise, it was just a male Shoveler and a pair of Gadwall, plus the swans. Across the river the very pale Buzzard was sitting in a tree near the viaduct. From this distance its front looked completely white. (As the very poor photo shows.) There were still plenty of winter thrushes about, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. PS.
There were plenty of winter thrushes about today but the frozen Slurry Lagoon had only about 30 Teal and a large flock of Black-headed and Herring Gulls to show. A Water Rail did slip on the ice as it crossed the space in front of the Causeway benches. In the Deep Pit the very pale Buzzard was sat in a willow, hoping to catch some unwary prey. PS.
Buzzard – PS
This morning was very quiet at the lagoons, with very few ducks on the Slurry Lagoon. There was a female Pochard on the Deep Pit and a female Goosander flew over. The Large Gravel Pit did slightly better with some Wigeon and some Goldeneye, including a splendid male. There were plenty of Redwing about and even a few Fieldfares put in an appearance. PS.
The Marsh Harrier left the roost quite early this morning, setting off to hunt further down the Trent Valley. There were no ducks on the Slurry Lagoon other than fifteen Shoveler and nine Teal. There were plenty of Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls and one Lesser Black-backed Gull. A Carrion Crow noticed a dead Perch floating in the water and nearly landed on the water, but thought better of it. Eventually some Black-headed Gulls showed an interest but seemed afraid of the fish. Only one bird plucked up the courage to investigate it. PS.
Black-headed Gull and Perch. PS.
Half of the Slurry Lagoon was under ice this morning. There were a few Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler but mostly there were Black-headed Gulls with a few Herring and Common Gulls. The Marsh Harrier showed several times as it hunted over the reed-beds but it and a Buzzard were mobbed by crows as they looked for a meal. Two Egyptian Geese flew into the Deep Pit and a confiding Green Woodpecker was seen digging for ants. PS.
Marsh Harrier PS.
Green Woodpecker PS.
The cream-top Marsh Harrier was seen again this morning, quartering the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. There was a Peregrine on the new pylon and Cetti’s Warbler and Reed Bunting performed well in front of the Causeway benches. Later a Raven flew over the site, practising its barrel-rolls.
Cetti’s Warbler – PS.
Reed Bunting – PS.
There were still at least three male Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon, still slowly emerging from their eclipse plumage. A female Goosander briefly circled the Slurry Lagoon before flying off. Two Chiffchaffs were still singing from either end of the Deep Pit and good numbers of Redwing were in the hawthorn bushes. PS.
Pintail in almost complete winter plumage. PS.
There are still at least four male and one female Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon. A flock of thirty Pink-footed Geese flew east and, late morning, a cream-top Marsh Harrier quartered the reed-bed. PS.
Early on there was a Great White Egret on the Slurry Lagoon, plus three Snipe and a Pintail. By mid-morning a Bittern was seen on the Large Gravel Pit and a flock of 100 Cormorants. A cream-top Marsh Harrier worked its way through the site, hunting, a Blackcap was by the railway bridge and a pair of Ravens flew across the Slurry Lagoon. Three Glossy Ibis then put in an appearance, landing on the Slurry Lagoon. They then flew around the site before returning to the Slurry Lagoon. Small flocks of Fieldfares flew through and some Redwings were in the Causeway Hawthorn bushes.
Glossy Ibis – PS.
There are now seven Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon plus one smart male Pochard. A Shelduck has also been seen. JV.
Later on there were two Stonechats and six Snipe on the Eco Park and a Brambling flew over. The Pintail and Shelduck were still there, on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as six Snipe. A Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the Deep Pit and a Red Kite flew over. There were still two Goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit. Quite a few Redwing and Redpoll were around too. MC.