All posts by Pete Smith

Marsh Harrier – 25th April

April 25, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 25th April, Buzzard, Marsh Harrier, Slurry LagooonPete Smith

This afternoon a female/immature male Marsh Harrier spent a few minutes resting in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed before being escorted from the premises by two Buzzards. RW.

Hobby – 23rd April

April 23, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 23rd April, Brimstone, Comma, Common Sandpiper, Green-veined White, Hobby, Large Gravel Pit, Little Ringed Plover, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Wader Scrape, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

Early this afternoon a Hobby was seen hawking butterflies around the Large Gravel Pit and a Whimbrel settled briefly on the Wader Scrape. RW.

There were also at least five Little Ringed Plover and a Common Sandpiper on the Wader Scrape and two Common Sandpipers and two Yellow Wagtails on the river bank. Twelve Peacocks, three Green-veined Whites, three Commas, three Small Tortoiseshells and two Brimstones were also seen. PS.

Also early afternoon four Yellow Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. JMD.

Lesser Scaup – 21st April

April 21, 2013Recent wildlife sightings10th April, Common Sandpiper, cuckoo, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Scaup, Lesser Whitethroat, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

An adult male Lesser Scaup was seen today, feeding with a small flock of Tufted Duck on the Slurry Lagoon. It was also mate guarding the only female in the flock. Also seen were Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, Little Ringed Plover and Common Sandpiper. CH, RW.

In the afternoon a Cuckoo flew over the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

White Wagtail – 19th April

April 19, 2013Recent wildlife sightings19th April, 2013, Common Sandpiper, Deep Pit, House Martin, Marsh Tit, Wader Scrape, Wheatear, White WagtailPete Smith

This morning there were House Martins with the other hirundines over the river, along with three Common Sandpipers, and a Marsh Tit was found in the Deep Pit. In the afternoon a male Wheatear was on the field across the river and two White Wagtails were on the Wader Scrape. RW.

Yellow Wagtail – 18th April

April 18, 2013Recent wildlife sightings18th April, 2013, Chiffchaff, Common Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Lower Path, Redstart, Wader Scrape, Willow Warbler, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

Earlier this morning, two Yellow Wagtails flew south, over the site near the Wader Scrape. A Common Sandpiper was with the Little Ringed Plovers on the Wader Scrape. A male Redstart was on the Lower Path, close to the gates, as well as several Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the railway end of the Causeway. PS.

Kittiwake – 17th April

April 17, 2013Recent wildlife sightings17th April, 2013, Kittiwake, Lesser Whitethroat, Redstart, Reed Warbler, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a Kittiwake flew through to the north. RW.

A Redstart was seen at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.

A Lesser Whitethroat and two Reed Warblers were heard along the Slurry Lagoon path. PS.

Redstart – 16th April

April 16, 2013Recent wildlife sightings16th April, 2013, Bee Fly, Blackcap, Common Sandpiper, Grasshopper Warbler, Ivy, kingfisher, Peacock, Redstart, Sedge Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Wheatear, Whitethroat, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a male Yellow Wagtail was seen flying over the Slurry Lagoon and a female Wheatear was on the dry end. Along the bank towards the Causeway two male Redstarts were seen and another male was on the railway embankment. Three Whitethroats, two Sedge Warblers and a Grasshopper Warbler were also present and along the river bank three Kingfishers and a Common Sandpiper were seen. There were also lots more Willow Warblers and Blackcaps in, two male Blackcaps were watched eating Ivy berries. The only insects of note were a Peacock and two Bee Flies. PS.

Bee Fly - Bombylius major — Bee Fly – Bombylius major

Sedge Warbler – 15th April

April 15, 2013Recent wildlife sightings15th April, 2013, Blackcap, Common Tern, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Sedge Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Toad, Wader Scrape, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning a Sedge Warbler was heard singing in the Deep Pit and several Willow Warblers were seen and heard. RW.

In the afternoon six Common Terns were in the Deep Pit and seven Little Ringed Plover were on the Wader Scrape. Four Oystercatchers flew over, calling and displaying and Swallows were seen going into the nest sites under the railway bridge. A pair of Blackcaps and five Willow Warblers were seen along the Lower Path and Toads were seen crossing it on their way to the Slurry Lagoon. PS, RW.

Black Redstart – 12th April

April 12, 2013Recent wildlife sightings12th April, 2013, Barn Owl, Black Redstart, Curlew, Deep Pit, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning a female/1st summer male Black Redstart was seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. Three Wheatears were on the Severn Trent fields. Later there was a Willow Warbler singing in the Deep Pit and seven Little Ringed Plover on the Wader Scrape. RW.

In the afternoon there were two female/1st summer male Black Redstarts on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon and five Sand Martins and a Swallow passed through. PS.

In the early evening a Curlew flew through, a Green Sandpiper was on a riverside flood and the Barn Owl was hunting over the reserve. RW.

Twite – 10th April

April 10, 2013Recent wildlife sightings10th April, 2013, Deep Pit, Little Egret, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Twite, Wader ScrapePete Smith

Early this afternoon a Twite was tentatively identified on the Wader Scrape. At least five Little Ringed Plover were present and a Little Egret. Later the Twite returned giving good views and the identification was confirmed. Three Sand Martins were briefly seen over the Deep Pit. PS.