Today, during the Patchwatch, 74 species of bird were seen on the site. There were good numbers of Lesser Redpoll about as well as Song Thrushes and Skylarks. The highlight was provided by a male Green-winged Teal on the Slurry Lagoon with about 150 Eurasian Teal. Other good site finds were three Jays, a Tree Sparrow and a very late Sand Martin, plus two skeins of about 65 each of Pink-footed Geese flew over to the east. PS.
Category Archives: Recent wildlife sightings
Raven – 22nd September
Late this morning two Ravens were seen flying over the site. In the afternoon there were four Little Egrets, a Curlew, 12 Snipe, two Water Rails and two Cetti’s Warblers. RW.
Honey Buzzard – 22nd September
This morning a Honey Buzzard was watched as it passed more or less directly overhead at about 100 feet before flying off towards the southeast. There was a good passage of hirundines moving west along the Trent and a Goldcrest was also seen. PD,LD.
Pintail – 18th September
The Pintail is still present on the Slurry Lagoon and the Goldeneye is on the Deep Pit. Some Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits are still passing through but there are very few Swallows about. Some Siskins were also heard passing over. PS
Pintail – 16th September
This morning there was a female Pintail and a female Golden-eye on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as three Red-crested Pochards and good numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal. There were about 80 Wigeon on the Large Gravel Pit and Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails were passing through. On the Lower Path a Muntjac was seen. In the afternoon a swarm of Migrant Hawkers was seen along the Lower Path. PS.
Curlew – 9th September
This morning as we arrived to start the bird count, a Curlew was calling as it flew from the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were well over 350 Swallows and House Martins by the railway bridge, as migrants paused to feed and rest. Two Hobbies made an appearance but the hirundines were too alert for them, so they had to content themselves with catching some of the dragonflies that were flying abundantly today. There were several groups of warblers and tits and Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were passing through on migration. PS.
Whinchat – 28th August
There was a report this morning of a Whinchat seen on the Deep Pit fence posts near the railway bridge. Also a group of 25 to 35 Black-tailed Godwits flew through and a Hobby was seen.
Spotted Flycatcher – 26th August
This morning in the bushes by the railway bridge a large flock of warblers and finches was feeding. Amongst them were two Spotted Flycatchers, one being chased vigorously by a juvenile Chiffchaff. There were also three more Chiffchaffs, two Lesser Whitethroats, five Whitethroats, two Blackcaps, two Willow Warblers and two Reed Warblers. The finches were family parties of Greenfinches, Chaffinches, Linnets and Goldfinches. Two Yellow Wagtails were with finches and warblers along the Boundary Hedge and another Yellow Wagtail flew over the Causeway. At about midday a Hobby attacked the Swallows by the Railway Bridge, but was unsuccessful although it was seen to stoop several times. PS.
Yellow-legged Gull – 23rd August
A Yellow-legged Gull was among the Lesser Black-backs on the dry end of the Slurry late this afternoon. Still one Red-crested Pochard present on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.
Spotted Redshank – 19th August
Late afternoon a Spotted Redshank was feeding right at the back of the Slurry Lagoon almost hidden by the vegetation – it flew off towards the Wader Scrape but couldn’t be relocated. Still one Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.