This morning a Great Reed Warbler was singing in the north-east corner of the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. It was keeping low and not seen but singing frequently. Also seen were a Redshank and an Oystercatcher and a very brief view of a Hairy Dragonfly. PS.
All posts by Pete Smith
Red Kite – 8th May
This morning, during the bird count, a Red Kite was seen. There was also a Jay and two Cuckoos. Eleven Garden Warblers and three Grasshopper Warblers were also heard. PS.
Cuckoo – 7th May
At least four Cuckoos moved through the site this morning, going north. Garden Warbler numbers have now reached 11 singing males and Reed and Sedge Warblers are present in substantial numbers now too. PS.
Whinchat – 3rd May
Early this afternoon there were two Whinchats at the back of the Wader Scrape. In the field beyond were three Yellow Wagtails and a Wheatear. RW.
Later on the Whinchats and Wheatear were still present. Along the Deep Pit bank under the pylons two Garden Warblers were singing and by the railway bridge ten Swifts were hawking insects. At the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon there was a female Redstart. PS.
Whinchat – 2nd May
This morning there was a report of a Whinchat on the Deep Pit fence posts below the power lines. Two Grasshopper Warblers were reeling, one by the Hump and the other by Willow Pond. Some Swifts were passing through with some House Martins and a Shelduck flew through upriver. PS.
Swift – 1st May
This morning there were at least twelve Swifts over the reserve. Two Grasshopper Warblers were singing, near the railway bridge and near the Small Gravel Pit, and lots more warblers were singing. SC.
Marsh Harrier – 29th April
This morning a male Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the Slurry Lagoon reed bed, but was later seen off by three Carrion Crows. A Grasshopper Warbler was heard reeling close to the railway bridge. PS.
Redstart – 27th April
This afternoon a female Redstart was found. Also three male Wheatears were on the ploughed field beyond the Wader Scrape. Forty-two Swallows were over the Large Gravel Pit and a Little Ringed Plover was on the riverside flood. RW.
Common Sandpiper – 24th April
This morning there was still one Common Sandpiper on the river and a Grasshopper Warbler was singing near the Willow Pond. A Wheatear was in the field beyond the Wader Scrape but the four Yellow Wagtails and Wheatear were gone from the potato field across the river. PS.
Egyptian Goose – 19th April
This morning at least 11 Willow Warblers were singing and many more Blackcaps were in. Three Water Rails were heard and an Egyptian goose flew over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
In the Afternoon a male Redstart was found on the Causeway bank, two Yellow Wagtails and nine Wheatears were in the field beyond the Wader Scrape and four Common Terns were on the tern platforms. JMD.