Today, during the Patchwatch, 74 species of bird were seen on the site. There were good numbers of Lesser Redpoll about as well as Song Thrushes and Skylarks. The highlight was provided by a male Green-winged Teal on the Slurry Lagoon with about 150 Eurasian Teal. Other good site finds were three Jays, a Tree Sparrow and a very late Sand Martin, plus two skeins of about 65 each of Pink-footed Geese flew over to the east. PS.
All posts by Pete Smith
Raven – 22nd September
Late this morning two Ravens were seen flying over the site. In the afternoon there were four Little Egrets, a Curlew, 12 Snipe, two Water Rails and two Cetti’s Warblers. RW.
Pintail – 18th September
The Pintail is still present on the Slurry Lagoon and the Goldeneye is on the Deep Pit. Some Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits are still passing through but there are very few Swallows about. Some Siskins were also heard passing over. PS
Pintail – 16th September
This morning there was a female Pintail and a female Golden-eye on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as three Red-crested Pochards and good numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal. There were about 80 Wigeon on the Large Gravel Pit and Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails were passing through. On the Lower Path a Muntjac was seen. In the afternoon a swarm of Migrant Hawkers was seen along the Lower Path. PS.
Curlew – 9th September
This morning as we arrived to start the bird count, a Curlew was calling as it flew from the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were well over 350 Swallows and House Martins by the railway bridge, as migrants paused to feed and rest. Two Hobbies made an appearance but the hirundines were too alert for them, so they had to content themselves with catching some of the dragonflies that were flying abundantly today. There were several groups of warblers and tits and Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were passing through on migration. PS.
Whinchat – 28th August
There was a report this morning of a Whinchat seen on the Deep Pit fence posts near the railway bridge. Also a group of 25 to 35 Black-tailed Godwits flew through and a Hobby was seen.
Cricket and Grasshopper Walk – Sunday 19th August
Five intrepid orthopterists met by the footbridge at the alloted hour to see what orthopteran delights the site held in store for them. The weather was warm and sunny, just right, and a great improvment on the rain that cancelled the Wednesday walk.
As usual the first insects were searched for by the bench, at the top of the steps. Here we very soon found Meadow Grasshopper, Field Grasshopper and Long-winged Conehead. Attention was drawn to the pronotum on the two grasshoppers so that the differences in the two species could be seen. I managed to persuade a Long-winged Conehead to sit on my finger so that everybody got a good view of one.
The other main target was the Roesel’s Bush Cricket, which prefers the banks around the Deep Pit, so we set off along the south side of the Slurry Lagoon. As we progressed, opposite the railway embankment, the path was beside a wide grassy area where more Meadow and Field Grasshoppers were seen. In the brambles at the top of the bank a Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens was found and several hoverflies, including Helophilus trivittatus and Sphaerophoria scripta. Further on, as we passed the Deep Pit there were Common Blue and Small Copper butterflies to see.
We were fortunate to have one member of the party who could actually hear the crickets stridulating (We have tried ‘bat boxes’ but they are non directional and frustratingly tell you there are crickets about but not where they are.), its normally a good idea to have some kids in tow to do this for you. Soon there were Roesel’s Bush Crickets being found by the bucket load. They were mainly at the top of the grassy bank as we looked towards the gravel pits and we were soon getting excellent views of them.
With the excitement of seeing so many crickets, the walk leader forgot to search for Slender Ground Hoppers, which are fairly common on the site and often found on the edge of the Small Gravel Pit. Other than that the group had an enjoyable walk and were well pleased with the insects that they had seen.
Cricket and Grasshopper Walk – 19th August
Five intrepid orthopterists met by the footbridge at the alloted hour to see what orthopteran delights the site held in store for them. The weather was warm and sunny, just right, and a great improvment on the rain that cancelled the Wednesday walk.
As usual the first insects were searched for by the bench, at the top of the steps. Here we very soon found Meadow Grasshopper, Field Grasshopper and Long-winged Conehead. Attention was drawn to the pronotum on the two grasshoppers so that the differences in the two species could be seen. I managed to persuade a Long-winged Conehead to sit on my finger so that everybody got a good view of one.
The other main target was the Roesel’s Bush Cricket, which prefers the banks around the Deep Pit, so we set off along the south side of the Slurry Lagoon. As we progressed, opposite the railway embankment, the path was beside a wide grassy area where more Meadow and Field Grasshoppers were seen. In the brambles at the top of the bank a Spiked Shieldbug Picromerus bidens was found and several hoverflies, including Helophilus trivittatus and Sphaerophoria scripta. Further on, as we passed the Deep Pit there were Common Blue and Small Copper butterflies to see.
We were fortunate to have one member of the party who could actually hear the crickets stridulating (We have tried ‘bat boxes’ but they are non directional and frustratingly tell you there are crickets about but not where they are.), its normally a good idea to have some kids in tow to do this for you. Soon there were Roesel’s Bush Crickets being found by the bucket load. They were mainly at the top of the grassy bank as we looked towards the gravel pits and we were soon getting excellent views of them.
With the excitement of seeing so many crickets, the walk leader forgot to search for Slender Ground Hoppers, which are fairly common on the site and often found on the edge of the Small Gravel Pit. Other than that the group had an enjoyable walk and were well pleased with the insects that they had seen.
Spotted Flycatcher – 26th August
This morning in the bushes by the railway bridge a large flock of warblers and finches was feeding. Amongst them were two Spotted Flycatchers, one being chased vigorously by a juvenile Chiffchaff. There were also three more Chiffchaffs, two Lesser Whitethroats, five Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, two Willow Warblers and two Reed Warblers. The finches were family parties of Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Linnets and Goldfinches. Two Yellow Wagtails were with finches and warblers along the Boundary Hedge and another Yellow Wagtail flew over the Causeway. At about midday a Hobby attacked the Swallows by the Railway Bridge, but was unsuccessful although it was seen to stoop several times. PS.
Pond Dipping – 8th and 12th August
Once again the Small Gravel Pit was used for this event. On 8th there were five people present, but none were children whilst on 12th there were eight people, including two small children. We went through the ‘OPAL’ water quality routine again and the water was judged to be of very high quality and almost neutral pH.
Water slaters, damselfly larvae and water bugs were plentiful and each dip included at least a few of all of these. The best finds on 8th were two three-spined loach and a newt tadpole. Also found were a caddis fly larva, common shrimp, ramshorn and common pond snails and some water beetles.
Step in the kids, Katie and Alex, on 12th. Alex proved to be a master fisherman and on almost every dip he caught one or two, and once even three, newt tadpoles. His final tally was at least twelve. The two between them caught about five three-spined loach and two ten-spined sticklebacks. There were also plenty of damselfly larvae, water slaters, caddis fly larvae, water beetles, leeches, shrimps, water boatmen and a water scorpion. Frog and toad were also recorded and brown hawkers and common blue damselflies were seen egg laying. At one point a black-tailed skimmer rocketed out of the poolside vegetation. We assumed that it had just emerged from the pool but could not find the exuvia when we searched for it.
All in all these were two successful events and good fun to participate in.