This morning there was a light passage of Skylarks and Swallows. Three Golden Plover and a Lapwing also flew over. A Raven was calling from a pylon and later a Redwing flew over and some were on the Hawthorns along the Lower Path. A Mistle Thrush flew over (an unusual bird for the site) and six Water Rail were heard calling from different reed-beds. Towards late morning a Cream-top Marsh Harrier was seen in the distance as it left the site. PS.
Raven – Pete Smith
This morning a juvenile Arctic Tern paid a brief visit to the Deep Pit. JV.
Juvenile Arctic Tern – Jason Vickers.
This morning a male Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon . Over-night some additional Shoveler and Wigeon had also arrived. PS.
Pintail Jason Vickers.
This morning the foggy conditions made it difficult to see, but what sounded like a fairly substantial skein of Pink-footed Geese was heard flying over. PS
In the afternoon the sun came out and two Hobbies were seen over the Slurry Lagoon along with an impressive number of dragonflies of at least four species. JV
Hobby – Jason Vickers.
This morning the immature male Marsh Harrier was seen, mostly over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. For a brief period it was thought that two birds were present but one flew away. Later an Osprey circled over the Slurry Lagoon before continuing south. PS.
Marsh Harrier.
Osprey
This morning large numbers of Hirundines, mostly Swallows, were feeding low over the water bodies. A small number of winter ducks have already arrived, including Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal and a Great White Egret payed a brief visit. PS.
This morning the Marsh Harrier was seen again, dropping into the reed-bed. Later in the morning nine Turnstones were seen passing over the site. JV.
This morning a Black-tailed Godwit was on the Slurry Lagoon and a Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe were recorded. The Great White Egret and a Little Egret were seen as well as a Hobby, carrying prey, three Egyptian Geese, and the first Common Gull of the autumn. PS.
This morning a Black-tailed Godwit was seen as it circled the Slurry Lagoon. JV/RJP/NH.
Black-tailed Godwit – Neil Hodgkinson
Black-tailed Godwit – Reg Patterson
This morning two Hobbies were seen over the site. There were also four Peregrines and the Marsh Harrier was seen leaving its roost. Later on a Great White Egret was seen having a fracas with a Grey Heron and a Bittern flew across as it swapped reed-beds. JV/PS.
