This afternoon a Little Gull was seen passing over the site with a flock of Black-headed Gulls. In the morning two Grasshopper Warblers were found and more Sedge Warblers and Whitethroats had arrived. In the afternoon there were two Wheatears on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. RW/DM.
This afternoon there were plenty of signs of summer migrants arriving as five Swallows were at their breeding site, under the railway bridge. There were three Common Terns on the tern platforms and several Whitethroats singing from the brambles. Two Sedge Warblers were heard, singing from deep cover and dozens of Sand Martins were feeding over the pits. Despite all these signs of the burgeoning spring the unmistakable trilling of Waxwings was heard and a flock of about forty flew across the river by the railway bridge.
A Common Tern was resting on one of the tern platforms this afternoon. As we watched it a Willow Warbler started to sing on the Causeway bank, inside the Deep Pit. The Cetti’s Warbler and a Chiffchaff were also singing there. There were several Chiffchaffs singing around the site and some Sand Martins were flying overhead. On the Slurry Lagoon there were still some Teal and Shoveler and a Shelduck later joined them. On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon there was a female Wheatear. PS. DG. RW.
This afternoon a Common Tern flew upstream, over the site. Other migrants were scarce, only the Chiffchaffs giving themselves away. JMD. PS.
This morning a Willow Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit. A Blackcap was also heard and up to seven Chiffchaffs. RW.
This morning a Swallow flew straight through over the site. NM.
There were also several Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs and another Wheatear was seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. Several butterflies were seen including a Red Admiral. PS.
This morning a male Wheatear was briefly seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, before it disappeared between the reed beds. A Sand Martin flew over the site and up to four Chiffchaffs were singing. There were still one or two Toads about on the path on the south-western side of the Slurry Lagoon and one grim sighting was of one held limply in a crow’s beak. A brilliant male Brimstone was seen flying into the Deep Pit. PS.
In the afternoon a Grey Plover was heard calling as it flew over and the Wheatear was seen again on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
The Barn Owl was seen hunting around the Large Gravel Pit from about 17.40 and four Sand Martins were seen over the river. At least 110 toads were seen on the eastern side of the Slurry Lagoon, crossing the path at nightfall. Two or three bats were also seen feeding. RW.
A Barn Owl was seen again this evening at about 16.30, hunting around the Large Gravel Pit. Three to four Chiffchaffs were present and four Commas and two Small Tortoiseshells were also seen. PS.
A female Goosander was seen on the river, just downstream from the railway bridge, this afternoon. there was also a male Wigeon present, apparently the only one left. Further downstream there was an Oystercatcher resting on the bank. Earlier on a Buzzard got the Crows in a tizz as it flew low over the site. PS.