All posts by Pete Smith

Bittern – 18th September

September 18, 2025Recent wildlife sightings, UncategorizedPete Smith

This morning a Water Rail showed well in front of the Causeway benches. Further out in the water a Yellow-bellied Slider was seen. A female Marsh Harrier hunted for a short while over the Slurry Lagoon reed-beds and a Bittern was seen crossing the water from one reed-bed to another. Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard and Teal were all present on the Slurry Lagoon, but no diving ducks. Several groups of warblers and tits were seen about the site, small numbers of Swallows were passing through to the south and over fifty Siskins, in small flocks, were also flying south. PS.

Spoonbill – 14th September

September 14, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBlackcap, Chiffchaff, Lesser Whitethroat, Reed Warbler, Robin, Spoonbill, Wigeon, WrenPete Smith

This morning, during the Bird Count, four Spoonbills flew over the site towards the SW. There were more Wigeon arriving and still some warblers about, with Chiffchaffs still abundant, but also some Blackcaps, Lesser Whitethroats and a Reed Warbler. Robins could be heard singing all over the site but Wrens and Dunnocks were keeping silent and hardly recorded. PS.

Osprey – 11th September

September 11, 2025Recent wildlife sightingscarrion crow, Deep Pit, hirundines, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Osprey, pipitsPete Smith

Small numbers of hirundines and pipits were flying through to the south. The male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reed-bed and a Hobby was seen over the Deep Pit. Later in the morning an Osprey was seen approaching, but was driven off by a flock of Carrion Crows. PS.

Osprey – JV.

Pintail – 10th September

September 11, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBlack-tailed godwit, Common Tern, Marsh Harrier, Martin, pintail, SwallowPete Smith

This morning a variety of birds were seen flying through on migration, including a flock of over 100 Swallows and Martins. Also seen were a Common Tern over the Slurry Lagoon, a male, eclipse Pintail that landed for a short while on the Slurry Lagoon and a Black-tailed Godwit that paused briefly, also on the Slurry Lagoon. The male Marsh Harrier was also seen over the reed-bed. JV.

Pintail – JV.

Marsh Harrier – JV.

Glossy Ibis – 8th September

September 8, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsGlossy Ibis, kingfisher, Little Egret, Slurry Lagoon CausewayPete Smith

This morning’s highlights from the Causeway benches were some Little Egrets and Kingfishers, until a flock of thirty-two Glossy Ibis flew in and landed at the back of the lagoon. They fed for a while before resting and, at one stage, they nearly all disappeared into the reeds. They then fed again but, after about thirty minutes, they all took off and flew out of sight. PS.

Thirty-two Glossy Ibis. PS.

A part of the flock. PS.

Garganey – 3rd September

September 3, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsCurlew Sandpiper, Garganey, greenshank, Marsh Harrier, Ruff, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning the Curlew Sandpiper was still present, along with the Greenshank and two Ruff. A Garganey, probably a female or juvenile, was on the Slurry Lagoon and the male and a female Marsh Harrier were seen. JV.

Curlew Sandpiper – 2nd September

September 2, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsCauseway, Curlew Sandpiper, greenshank, House Martin, Marsh Harrier, Ruff, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, warblers, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

This morning the two Ruff and the Greenshank had been joined by a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and there was briefly a Wigeon, all on the Slurry Lagoon. The male Marsh Harrier was seen a few times as it popped out of or dropped into the reed-bed. There was a fairly strong passage of Sand and House Martins and small groups of assorted warblers were in the bushes. The reeds in front of the Causeway benches have been cut, so there were several views of scuttling Water Rails. PS.

Juvenile Water Rail – Jason Vickers

Great White Egret – 21st July

July 21, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsCommon Sandpiper, Deep Pit, Great White Egret, Hobby, Reed Bunting, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning there were five Great White Egrets on the Slurry Lagoon. Later three flew off, but two then returned mid-morning. A Common Sandpiper was on a tern raft in the Deep Pit and a Hobby snatched a Reed Bunting and carried it away. PS.

Great White Egrets – – PS.

Common Sandpiper – – PS.

Marsh Harrier – 10th July

July 10, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsPete Smith

This morning broods of young Reed Warblers were much in evidence. Several of the Black-headed Gull and Common Tern chicks have fledged and were flying around the pits. There is a brood of Tufted Ducks for the second year running on the Slurry Lagoon. In the late morning a juvenile Marsh Harrier caused a stir amongst the gulls and ducks as it quartered the Slurry Lagoon. Both butterflies and dragonflies are putting on a good performance and the first Migrant Hawker of the year was seen. PS.

Juvenile Marsh Harrier – apologies for the poor quality. My camera was working at its limits. PS.

Bittern – 23rd June

June 23, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBittern, Deep PitPete Smith

Very quiet at the lagoons today, although there were plenty of broods of young birds about. Mid-morning a Bittern was seen as it dropped into the reed-bed in the Deep Pit. PS.