This morning, during the Bird Count, a Swallow was seen by the railway bridge, investigating the nest sites underneath. Five Willow Warblers were heard and a pair of Kingfishers were seen checking out a nest site on the river. Some female Orange-tips and a male Holly Blue were also seen. PS.
This morning the Little Ringed Plover was on the Severn/Trent field, close to the Ecopark. A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed until it drifted off to the south-west. A Snipe was on the Wader Scrape and a Willow Warbler was singing near the Reed-bed Walk. Briefly two Sand Martins were hawking insects over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning the two Willow Warblers were both singing from the same spots as yesterday. There were at least twenty Tawny Mining Bees sunning themselves on the posts along the Causeway. PS.
In the afternoon a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the Slurry Lagoon , also seen were a displaying Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and Jacksnipe. MC.
This morning two Willow Warblers were heard, rather half-heartedly, singing. The male Pintail showed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before disappearing into the reeds and five Oystercatchers flew over in a high and very noisy display flight. PS.
This morning a Curlew flew over the site, calling twice. It circled the Wader Scrape before continuing north. The drake Pintail was still on the Slurry Lagoon and an Oystercatcher was across the river on the flash. PS.
This morning a Kittiwake flew in with a small flock of Common Gulls and spent some time on the Slurry Lagoon before they all carried on up-river. Two Lapwings were displaying over the Severn/Trent land and a Ruddy Shelduck flew over. PS.
This evening a Green Sandpiper was seen on the flash, across the river. JDn.
This morning the male Pintail had moved from the Ecopark Pool to the Slurry Lagoon. Three Blackcaps were singing along the Lower Path, two Water Rails were heard, a Peregrine flew over the site and two Roe Deer were seen in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. PS.
This morning there were two male and two female Blackcaps along the Lower Path. On the Large Gravel Pit there was a female Goosander. The Blackthorn by the steps down to the metal footbridge attracted several butterflies including three Small Tortoiseshells, two Commas and a Peacock, as well as several Bee Flies and some hoverflies and bees. PS.
Mid-afternoon three male Emperor Moths were attracted to a pheromone lure. RW.