All posts by Pete Smith

Water Shrew – 23rd April

April 23, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 23rd April, Haven, Small Gravel Pit, Water ShrewPete Smith

A Water Shrew was seen today beside the pond between the Small Gravel Pit and the Haven. RW.

Marsh Harrier – 21st April

April 21, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 21st April, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Gull, Marsh Harrier, WhimbrelPete Smith

This morning a Whimbrel flew through calling and a Grasshopper Warbler was in the corner of the Slurry Lagoon. In the afternoon two Marsh Harriers went through and also two Little Gulls. There are now at least three Lesser Whitethroats on site. PS.

Lesser Whitethroat – 19th April

April 19, 2015Recent wildlife sightings19th April, 2015, Lesser Whitethroat, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Slurry Lagon, Wader Scrape, Wheatear, WhitethroatPete Smith

This morning more warblers had arrived on site and a Lesser Whitethroat was singing in bushes on the south side of the Slurry Lagoon dry end and two Whitethroats were also singing, near the river and Wader Scrape. There was also a mixed flock of hirundines over the Deep Pit and railway bridge. Five Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon early on before flying off NE but were later replaced with two more. A Wheatear was on the Wader Scrape with two Oystercatchers. PS.

Pied Flycatcher – 12th April

April 12, 2015Recent wildlife sightings12th April, 2015, Blackcap, Boundary Hedge, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper, Deep Pit, Garden Warbler, House Martin, Jay, Little Ringed Plover, Pied Flycatcher, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Willow Pond, Willow Warbler, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a lot of migrants were about and a Pied Flycatcher was found in the Boundary hedge. It later moved along the hedge to Willow Pond. There were also two Little Ringed Plovers on the Wader Scrape, two Common Terns in the Deep Pit, a Common Sandpiper on the river bank, two Yellow Wagtails on the Causeway and there were lots more warblers about including Willow, Sedge and Garden Warblers and Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. There were a few Swallows and Sand Martins and one House Martin. Also seen were a Jay and a singing Treecreeper. PS.

Pied Flycatcher in Boundary Hedge by Michael Wormall.

Sedge Warbler – 11th April

April 11, 2015Recent wildlife sightings11th April, 2015, Blackcap, Haven, Sedge Warbler, Wader Scrape, Willow Warbler, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Haven this morning. There were also eight singing Willow Warblers and six singing Blackcaps. Two Oystercatchers were on the Wader Scrape. PS.

In the afternoon two Yellow Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. SC.

Willow Warbler – 9th April

April 9, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 9th April, Deep Pit, Willow WarblerPete Smith

Early this afternoon a Willow Warbler was heard singing by the Causeway in the Deep Pit. TL.

Little Ringed Plover – 7th April

April 7, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 7th April, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Wader ScrapePete Smith

On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon there were two very tired looking Little Ringed Plovers. One or two Swallows were about as well as three Sand Martins and there were six Little Egrets on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Curlew – 6th April

April 6, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 6th April, Blackcap, Brimstone, Comma, Curlew, Haven, Orange Tip., Peacock, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, Small TortoiseshellPete Smith

The sun brought out the butterflies this morning with 11 Brimstones, 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Comma and 1 Orange-tip being seen. A Curlew called as it flew over and three Sand Martins were seen near the river, also a Blackcap sang briefly near the Haven. On the Slurry Lagoon two Shelduck were present first thing. PS.

Oystercatcher – 5th April

April 5, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 5th April, Gadwall, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Peacock, Redshank, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning there were three Oystercatchers on the Wader Scrape. There were also two Little Egrets, 30 Gadwall and some Lapwings. A Redshank flew through to the east and a Peacock butterfly was near the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Whooper Swan – 22nd March

March 22, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 22nd March, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Whooper SwanPete Smith

This morning, at about 07.15, 120 Whooper Swans flew west over the site. Later a Whooper Swan was seen in the Deep Pit and was still there at 12.00. There were about 20 Chiffchaffs on the site, some singing and others just feeding. PS>