All posts by Pete Smith

Shelduck – 19th January

January 19, 2015Recent wildlife sightings19th January, 2015, Cettis Warbler, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water railPete Smith

A very cold day at the lagoons. The Teal on the Slurry Lagoon were all out, standing on the ice. They were joined briefly at midday by a pair of Shelduck. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard as well as about seven Water Rail. PS.

Goosander – 18th January

January 18, 2015Recent wildlife sightings18th January, 2015, Chiffchaff, Goosander, Green Sandpiper, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Stonechat, Treecreeper, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

This morning there were three Chiffchaffs along the Ouse Dyke, the Green Sandpiper was also seen and a Treecreeper, two Little Egrets and three Water Rails. On the Large Gravel Pit there were three Goosander amongst the Wigeon. On the weedy patch in front of the substation there were a male and female Stonechat. PS.

Green Sandpiper – 11th January

January 11, 2015Recent wildlife sightings11th January, 2015, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Tree creeper, Wader Scrape, water rail, Willow PondPete Smith

This morning, during the Monthly Bird Count, a Treecreeper was found on the willows at Willow Pond. The Ouse Dyke again proved to be the most rewarding spot, with a Green Sandpiper feeding on a muddy patch, also a Water Rail was seen and two Chiffchaffs. Two Little Egrets were on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Chiffchaff along Ouse Dyke, by John Elwell

Chiffchaff – 4th January

January 4, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 4th January, Chiffchaff, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Treecreeper, water railPete Smith

This morning in the frost several small birds were feeding along the Ouse Dyke. Two Water Rail were feeding along the stream and hiding on the far bank. Both were right out in the open when first seen. A Treecreeper was flitting along the trees on the far bank, mousing its way up an elderberry trunk. Two Chiffchaffs were feeding in the low vegetation, moving together along the bank of the stream, and a third was seen further along. The Little Egret was also present and seemingly bolder than usual. PS.

Redshank – 14th December

December 14, 2014Recent wildlife sightings14th December, 2014, Geese, Jackdaw, Ouse Dyke, Redshank, Rook, Slurry Lagoon, Wood PigeonPete Smith

During the Monthly Bird Count, hundreds of Jackdaws and Rooks were seen flying over from their roost, 1,000 or more geese left their roost on the Slurry Lagoon and a flock of about 2,000 Wood Pigeons was seen on Severn/Trent Land. A Redshank was seen briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and two Little Egrets were feeding along the Ouse Dyke. PS.

Barn Owl – 13th December

December 14, 2014Recent wildlife sightings13th December, 2014, Barn Owl, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This evening a Barn Owl was seen hunting near the Wader Scrape and about 600 Starlings came in to roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. RW.

Whooper Swan – 30th November

November 30, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 30th November, Slurry Lagoon, Whooper SwanPete Smith

Late this afternoon a Whooper Swan was seen on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.

Whooper Swan on the Slurry Lagoon - 30th November 2014 — Whooper Swan on the Slurry Lagoon – 30th November 2014 – JMD

Raven – 24th November

November 24, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 24th November, Barnacle goose, Canada Goose, Deep Pit, Grey-lag Goose, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, Starling, water railPete Smith

This afternoon a Raven paid a brief visit to the lagoons, flying over the Deep Pit before doing a u-turn and flying back the way it had come. The Starling roost contained about 4,500 birds this evening and a Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the seat. Over 1,000 geese came in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon as it got dark. They were mainly Grey-lag with Canadas, and there was one Barnacle Goose with them. PS.

Stonechat – 5th November

November 5, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 5th November, Bittern, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, pintail, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, Srarling, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning a male Stonechat was seen on the tall weeds between the sub-station and the Wader Scrape. There have been up to three in this area for some weeks now. The two Pintail were still resident on the Slurry Lagoon and good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares were in evidence. PS. In the evening a Bittern was seen in the Deep Pit, flushed by the roosting Starlings. RW.

Swallow – 3rd November

November 3, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 3rd November, Causeway, Corvids, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, Swallow, water railPete Smith

This evening the Starling roost was really spectacular as about 8,500 birds came in to roost. Hundreds of corvids were flying across the site and then about 1,500 Canada and Grey-lag Geese arrived en mass on the Slurry Lagoon. As this was all going on a juvenile Swallow came in from the north and circled the lagoon a few times, as if making up its mind whether to join the Starlings or not, but then flew off to the north. A Sparrowhawk was seen three times trying to catch a Starling from the roost and a Water Rail flew across the gap in the reeds in front of the Causeway bench. PS.