Category Archives: Recent wildlife sightings

Recent wildlife sightings at the Netherfield Lagoons Local Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire as submitted by members of the Netherfield Wildlife Group.

Golden Plover – 28th November

November 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 28th November, Coot, Deep Pit, Golden Plover, Gravel Pits, Lapwing, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

The two Little Egrets were on the Ouse Dyke again this morning and what was probably one of them was later seen in the Deep Pit. The Slurry Lagoon and Gravel Pits are mostly frozen over now but most of the Deep Pit is still clear. Most of the Coots on the Large Gravel Pit are concentrated into one small area of clear water and the Red-crested Pochard have gone. The Teal have moved to the Deep Pit and a flock of Lapwings are sitting on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, which is completely frozen over. Eleven Golden Plover looked like they were going to join the Lapwings but eventually flew away. PS.

Peregrine – 26th November

November 26, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 26th November, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Red-crested PochardJacqueline

The Peregrine was sitting on his favourite pylon this afternoon making sorties over the ploughed field but I didn’t see him catch anything. In the Ouse Dyke two Little Egrets were again fishing and on the Large Gravel Pit the five Red-crested Pochard are still present. JMD.

Little Egrets – 21st November

November 21, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 21st November, birds, Cettis Warbler, Golden Plover, Large Gravel Pit, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

At least four Little Egrets have been attracted to the Ouse Dyke by the shoal of Dace. There were two male and two female Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit, three Golden Plover flew over and four Lesser Redpoll were present. One Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Later in the afternoon another male Red-crested Pochard was spotted bringing the total to five – three males and two females. As dusk approached skein after skein of geese flew in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.

Little Egrets – 20th November

November 20, 2010Recent wildlife sightingsNeil

Two Little Egrets and a Kingfisher were in the Ouse Dyke this afternoon attracted by a shoal of at least 2,000 small fish. 3 male and 2 female Goldeneye were on the Deep Pit & Large Gravel Pit. A Shelduck was on the slurry lagoon with 200+ Lapwing, 2 Oystercatchers and 2 Snipe. At least one Cetti’s Warbler still singing occasionally and 2 Water Rails calling as dusk approached. NM

Goosander – 19th November

November 19, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, Cettis Warbler, Goosander, lagoons, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonJacqueline

A male Goosander was on the Trent early afternoon and later two Little Egrets flying together loomed out of the mist to be swallowed up again almost instantly. The two Red-crested Pochard were again present on the Large Gravel Pit but with conditions deteriorating it was impossible to see across the Slurry Lagoon and only the shapes of geese flying in to roost were discernible. However the weather didn’t put off the Cetti’s as at least one was singing from the east side of the Slurry. JMD.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.

Merlin – 9th November

November 9, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 9th November, birds, crows, Deep Pit, gulls, Merlin, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, StarlingsPete Smith

A male Merlin was seen today coming from the Railway Land and accelerating into the Deep Pit, its wings whirring round like propellers. The fields where the sweet corn has recently been harvested were covered with birds and flocks of geese, ducks, crows and starlings were filling the air above them. A Peregrine sliced through this spectacle and flew up to its favoured perch on one of the pylons. On the Slurry Lagoon the roost of “large gulls” had increased significantly in size. PS.

Woodcock – 7th November

November 7, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 7th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Geese, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, peregrine, Snipe, WoodcockPete Smith

A Woodcock was flushed from near the metal gates this morning and two Snipe flew over the Lower Path, calling. All three Cetti’s were heard singing but there was no sign of the Red-crested Pochard, or the Ross’s Goose, despite most of the Grey-lag and Canada Goose flock coming onto the Large Gravel Pit. A Peregrine flew through, causing mayhem. It put up the Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon before dropping into the Deep Pit, screaming as it went, and then flying up to perch on a pylon.

Starling Roost – 1st November

November 1, 2010Recent wildlife sightings1st November, 2010, Cettis Warbler, Red-crested Pochard, StarlingJacqueline

Starling numbers are building and tonight the Roost was spectacular with perhaps 5,000 birds in total coming over in wave after wave to join together in a fantastic aerial display which not only looked great but sounded great too. A Cetti’s was joining in and on the Large Gravel Pit at least one Red-crested Pochard is still present. JMD.

Starlings

October 31, 2010Recent wildlife sightingsSimon

This evening a very large flock of starlings came into roost in the reed bed, easily over 2000. The photo is just of a portion of the whole flock, I didn’t have a wide angled lens with me, so couldn’t fit them all in. A Sparrowhawk was seen to harass them as they gathered on the pylons and I saw it catch one in mid flight. A Sparrowhawk was also seen patrolling above the reed bed after the Starlings had settled.