There were five Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit this afternoon. In the evening the Starlings, Geese and Crows put on a spectacle with thousands of birds coming in to roost or passing over on their way to their roost sites. The roosts attracted the usual raptors with Peregrine, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard putting in an appearance and a Jack snipe was briefly seen. PS.
All posts by Pete Smith
Golden Plover – 8th October
This evening, at about 7.30, a Barn Owl was seen, hunting along the Causeway. Later a Tawny Owl was also seen and 21 golden Plover came in to the Slurry Lagoon. Noctule and Pipistrelle were also flying overhead and detected on a bat box. RW.
Spotted Flycatcher – 2nd September
All day a Whinchat sat on the same piece of dock on the Wader Scrape, occasionally turning around or sallying forth after an insect, but always returning to the same perch. On the Causeway a Spotted Flycatcher paused briefly on the fence, dropping down, Robin-like, to catch an ant in the grass, before returning to the fence to eat it. It was a flying ant and I think the Whinchat was hunting the same prey. Black-headed Gulls were also hunting the flying ants, and so were squadrons of Migrant Hawkers. PS.
Whinchat – 31st August
This morning there was a Spotted Flycatcher in the willows at the river end of the Boundary Hedge. A Greenshank flew over the Slurry Lagoon but did not stay. In the afternoon three Whinchats spent some time feeding along the Ouse Dyke bank at the back of the Wader Scrape and the Lancaster Bomber visiting the Gedling Show flushed two Snipe from the Slurry Lagoon as it flew over the site. PS.
Garganey – 29th August
A Garganey is still present on the Wader Scrape and a Hobby was seen chasing the Swallows by the railway bridge. On the Ouse Dyke the Green Sandpiper was seen to be still in residence. There are also several dragonflies about with Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Ruddy Darter, Common Darter, Banded Demoiselle and Common Blue Damselflies all being seen. SC.
Bittern – 28th August
A Bittern was seen in the Haven, late this afternoon. JMD.
Greenshank – 27th August
Two Greenshank flew around the Slurry Lagoon before settling on the Wader Scrape this afternoon. A Hobby was seen chasing the migrating hirundines that were feeding near the railway bridge and a Clouded Yellow butterfly flew across the site heading north. RW.
Hobby – 17th August
A Hobby was seen this morning by the railway bridge and a Garganey was still on the Slurry Lagoon. Several warblers were seen in small flocks which included one Garden Warbler. PS.
Marsh Harrier – 16th August
A female/immature Marsh Harrier was seen quartering the Slurry Lagoon reed bed this afternoon. JMD.
Mediterranean Gull – 4th August
This afternoon there was a Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. Also seen was a small, juvenile Water Rail and a Little Egret. A Common Sandpiper was on the Wader Scrape and in the late afternoon a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was seen on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.