The Green Sandpiper was heard calling early in the afternoon as it left the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were five Black-tailed Godwits feeding and resting on the Slurry Lagoon, in the shallow water. There were also about six hundred Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the female Pochard still has all three ducklings. PS.
All posts by Pete Smith
Yellow-legged Gull – 13th July
This afternoon the gull roost on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon contained three Yellow-legged Gulls amongst the Lesser Black-backs. On the wet end there was a Green Sandpiper and two Oystercatchers flew over the Deep Pit. PS.
Black-tailed Godwit – 11th July
The Slurry Lagoon was a hive of activity this afternoon with young ducks, grebes and coots with their parents across almost the whole of its surface. At the back with some Lapwings were two Black-tailed Godwit and a fairly good roost of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, PS.
Greenshank – 9th July
A Greenshank and three Yellow-legged Gulls were present on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon. RW.
Pochard – 4th July
A female Pochard was seen on the Slurry Lagoon with a new brood of three ducklings today. There was also a Green Sandpiper close to the reeds. Several Brown Hawkers were seen as well as good numbers of Ringlets and Small Skippers. PS.
Black-tailed Godwit – 2nd July
This morning ten Black-tailed Godwits arrived on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Green Sandpiper – 27th June
This morning two Green Sandpipers and three Little Egrets were on the Slurry Lagoon. There was also a Brown Hawker and thirty Six-belted Clearwings. RW.
Later in the afternoon a Black-tailed Godwit arrived on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Red-crested Pochard – 24th June
There are still eight Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was calling from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed to the south of the bench on the Causeway. By the railway bridge, on the up-river side, a Willow Tit without a tail was seen and heard calling. At first I thought it was a juvenile but it more likely had a close encounter with a Sparrowhawk. A Hobby did a magnificent stoop, half the length of the Lower Path, and rose with what looked like a warbler, perhaps a Chiffchaff, in its talons. It flew off with it in the direction of Holme Pierrepont. PS
Red-crested Pochard – 22nd June
This morning there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present were the two male Wigeon and a male Shoveler. The Gadwall still has all eleven of her ducklings and a Mallard now has five. There is still no sign of the Pochard ducklings though. Two recently fledged Common Terns were dipping for insects from the water surface. PS.
Pyramidal Orchid – 17th June
There are now several Pyramidal Orchids in flower on the site and the Spotted Orchids are doing very well this year. In the morning three foxes came out to play on the shore of the Slurry Lagoon, much to the consternation of the assembled ducks. PS.