Tag Archives: 12th March

Bittern – 12th March

March 13, 2017Recent wildlife sightings12th March, 2017, Bittern, Cetti's Warbler, ChiffchaffPete Smith

This evening a Bittern flew out of the reed bed and circled up high before flying off to the West. RW.

Today during the bird count 16 Chiffchaffs were recorded and seven Cetti’s Warblers. PS.

Peregrine – 12th March

March 12, 2016Recent wildlife sightings12th March, 2016, Black-headed Gull, Buzzard, Cettis Warbler, Kestrel, Little Egret, peregrine, Wader Scrape, water railPete Smith

This morning there was a strong passage of Black-headed Gulls to the east. A Peregrine was on a pylon and later spiralled over the site. Also seen were a pair of Kestrels and of Buzzards, six Water Rail were heard plus five Cetti’s Warblers. Four Little Egrets were on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Barn Owl – 12th March

March 12, 2013Recent wildlife sightings12th March, 2013, Barn OwlPete Smith

As I walked around the north-east corner of the Deep Pit I saw the Barn Owl flying across it, being chased by a Magpie. It flew towards the Large Gravel Pit and then turned to follow the bank towards me. It was a very bright bird, the buff on its wings and head being almost orange. The middle of its back was grey and its tail very pale. It flew right past me and then over the Slurry Lagoon and out of sight. A little later it reappeared with a small mammal in its talons, landed in an elder tree and swallowed its prey before flying off to look for more. It seemed a very confiding bird as it practically ignored my presence. On the Slurry Lagoon there was a Shelduck, and some Coltsfoot was out along the side of the path. PS.

Marsh Harrier – 2nd May

May 2, 2010Recent wildlife sightings12th March, Common Sandpiper, Common Tern, cuckoo, Garden Warbler, kingfisher, Kittiwake, Marsh Harrier, Swift, WhimbrelPete Smith

This morning a female Marsh Harrier was watched for nearly an hour as it hunted over the Slurry Lagoon. It very nearly caught a Moorhen, which had to dive repeatedly to escape and was saved in the end by an angry Coot. Several times the Harrier settled in the reed bed and was still there when I left. A Cuckoo sang from the Deep Pit posts and at least three Garden Warblers were also singing. (All ten breeding species of warbler can be heard.) On the river a Common Sandpiper and two Kingfishers were seen and possibly another two were heard and the tern rafts are occupied by up to ten terns. PS.

The Marsh Harrier was still present late morning, showing very much the same behaviour as earlier, and 25 Swifts were seen. In the early afternoon a Kittiwake flew through to the east and a Whimbrel to the north east and at least 120 Swifts passed through. RW.

Cetti’s Warbler – 12th March

March 12, 2010Recent wildlife sightings12th March, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A Cetti’s Warbler was singing in the SE corner of the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon. PS.