This afternoon a male Stonechat was seen at the back of the Wader Scrape. Two Redwings flew over and four Water Rails were heard calling from the Slurry Lagoon reedbed. PS.
All posts by Pete Smith
Willow Tit – 4th October
On the Patch Watch today, 69 species were seen, including Willow Tit, Pink-footed Geese, Jay, Hobby and Mistle Thrush. PS.
Pintail – 1st October
Today there were five Pintail on the Large Gravel Pit with 260 Wigeon and there were 155 Shoveler on the Slurry Lagoon. 23 Redpoll were also seen. RW.
Pintail – 28th September
Today a Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon and at dusk three noctules were seen feeding high above the lagoon. About 600 Starlings came in to roost. RW.
Willow Tit – 26th September
This morning about 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over the site and a Willow Tit was seen along the Lower Path. The Willow Tit was seen again in the afternoon. PS.
Bittern – 25th September
A Bittern flew from the Deep Pit to the slurry Lagoon reed bed at dusk. a Hobby was also around and about 400 Starlings came in to roost in the reed bed. Earlier there had been a Dunlin and a Wheatear. RW.
Black-tailed Godwit – 20th September
This morning there was a female Wheatear on the fence beside the Deep Pit and a Black-tailed Godwit was on the Slurry Lagoon, until two hot-air balloons flushed everything off. There was a light passage of Swallows, some Meadow Pipits and Siskins with one or two Skylarks. PS.
In the afternoon a Greenshank stopped briefly and a Hobby was seen hawking dragonflies. RW.
Spotted Flycatcher – 19th September
This afternoon the Redstart was still present by the railway bridge and has been joined by two Spotted Flycatchers. In the evening a Bittern was seen crossing the Deep Pit. A Peregrine and a Barn Owl were also seen and the Starling roost had built to about 600. RW.
Redstart – 18th September
During the Bird Walk this afternoon a Ruff and a Snipe were on the Slurry Lagoon and lots of warblers were seen. These included Reed and Sedge plus a group of about fifteen Chiffchaffs. On the top of the railway bridge a female Redstart was seen feeding. PS.
Bittern – 15th September
This afternoon a Bittern was seen in the Deep Pit. In the scrub between the substation and the reserve, three Whinchat, a male Stonechat and two Wheatears were also present. PS.