Half of the Slurry Lagoon was under ice this morning. There were a few Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler but mostly there were Black-headed Gulls with a few Herring and Common Gulls. The Marsh Harrier showed several times as it hunted over the reed-beds but it and a Buzzard were mobbed by crows as they looked for a meal. Two Egyptian Geese flew into the Deep Pit and a confiding Green Woodpecker was seen digging for ants. PS.
Marsh Harrier PS.
Green Woodpecker PS.
This morning there were six Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon and two Dunlin on the beach behind it. Later a Red Kite also flew over. JV.
Pintail – JV.
This morning a Water Rail showed well in front of the Causeway benches. Further out in the water a Yellow-bellied Slider was seen. A female Marsh Harrier hunted for a short while over the Slurry Lagoon reed-beds and a Bittern was seen crossing the water from one reed-bed to another. Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Mallard and Teal were all present on the Slurry Lagoon, but no diving ducks. Several groups of warblers and tits were seen about the site, small numbers of Swallows were passing through to the south and over fifty Siskins, in small flocks, were also flying south. PS.
This morning there were three Kittiwakes on the Deep Pit, two adults and an immature. There were also three singing Lesser Whitethroats, a Swift and a Peregrine. JV
Kittiwakes – Jason Vickers
Today – during a very wet Patchwatch – 70 species were recorded, including two Arctic Terns, a Curlew, Dunlin, Green Sandpiper, Teal, Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler. Also there were hundreds of Hirundines seen hawking insects over all three bodies of water. PS.
Later a Red Kite and a Swift were seen. RW.
The juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen again this morning, pursued by crows until it dropped into the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. Also a calling Green Sandpiper flew over the Slurry Lagoon towards the Ecopark, followed later by two Common Snipe and a Water Rail made its dash across the gap in front of the Causeway bench. PS.
This morning a juvenile Little Ringed Plover was on the mud in front of the Slurry Lagoon reeds. Amongst the Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon was one Yellow-legged Gull. PS.
This morning a Great White Egret flew onto the Slurry Lagoon. Later it flew off to the S. On the Large Gravel Pit the Black-headed Gulls were hawking insects over the water and were joined by one 1st summer and two adult Little Gulls. PS.
This evening a Green Sandpiper was seen on the flash, across the river. JDn.
This morning a Red Kite, accompanied by five Jackdaws, was seen circling high over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
