This evening about 10,000 Starlings came in to roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. Two Barn Owls were seen hunting along the Boundary Hedge and a Peregrine was on the new pylon. PS.
Category Archives: Recent wildlife sightings
Starling – 31st October
At the lagoons this evening the Starling roost attracted about 6,000 birds. One Sparrowhawk was seen trying to snatch a late supper and two Barn Owls were seen flying along the Boundary Hedge. Several thousand geese also came in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. Earlier lots of winter thrushes were seen, including Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds, a Woodcock was seen and the Bearded Tits were heard calling in the reed bed. PS.
Bearded Tit – 29th October
This afternoon a male and three female Bearded Tits were seen in the reedbed on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Redwing – 23rd October
This morning there were quite a few Redwings at the lagoons, with more arriving as the morning went on. There was a flock of thirteen Redpolls and about three Siskins passed over as well as several small groups of Skylarks. PS.
Barn Owl – 8th October
This morning, during the bird count, a Barn Owl was seen. Also two Ravens were on the pylons, Siskin and Redpoll were about as well as one Tree Sparrow along the Lower Path. Eight Snipe were seen dropping into the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. By the Small Gravel Pit a late Garden warbler was sunning itself. PS.
Stonechat – 3rd October
This morning a female Stonechat was on the fence beside the Deep Pit, on the pylon side. It was foraging on the inner bank of the pit. PS.
Bittern – 27th September
Today a Bittern was reported in the Deep Pit. At about 16.15 a Bittern was seen flying between reed beds on the Slurry Lagoon. Whether it was the same or another bird is not known. PS.
Black Tern – 24th September
This morning, during the Bird Walk, a Black Tern was watched for about twenty minutes, hawking insects over the Deep Pit. Also seen were a Raven and two Lesser Redpolls. There was a light passage of Swallows, House Martins and Meadow Pipits, with fifty-five Swallows, twenty House Martins and seven Meadow Pipits seen flying over to the south. There were also good numbers of Migrant Hawkers seen. PS.
Nuthatch – 17th September
This morning a Nuthatch flew along the river at tree-top height. A 1st for site. Also seen were two Ravens, on the pylons, a Hobby hawking insects over the Slurry Lagoon while a Snipe dropped into the reed-bed. There was still a light passage of swallows and martins. PS.
In the afternoon there were four Ravens present. RW.
Pink-footed Goose – 16th September
This morning thirty Pink-footed Geese flew east over the site. Also seen were two Ravens, a passage of 280 Swallows and a Yellow Wagtail and a Snipe on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.