Tag Archives: 2010

Barn Owl – 8th December

December 8, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 8th December, Barn Owl, birds, Curlew, Kestrel, Little Egret, Mitigation Field, Ouse Dyke, Snipe, Sparrowhawk, water railPete Smith

This afternoon a Barn Owl was seen along the Ouse Dyke. JMD.

The fishing spot is getting even more popular, with seven Little Egrets, four Herons and two Kingfishers trying their luck. Water Rail and Snipe were also seen.

Whilst looking over the ‘Mitigation’ field two Little Egrets flew past, then a Kestrel, then a male Sparrowhawk, which flew into a sunlit tree and fluffed out its white under-tail coverts like a pom-pom, then a female Sparrowhawk started quartering the field like a Harrier, landing on the ground twice as she formed her next plan of attack. Shortly afterwards a Curlew flew along the power lines and straight overhead. PS.

Brambling – 5th December

December 5, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 5th December, Brambling, Gadwall, greenfinch, Grey Heron, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, teal, Tufted DuckPete Smith

As the grip of winter tightens around the lagoons the Ouse Dyke has become an attractive area for the birds. At about 08.30hrs there were four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron paddling around chasing the small fish and a Kingfisher was also seen with them. The Deep Pit was the one with most open water, the Slurry Lagoon being completely frozen over, and held large numbers of Teal, with Gadwall and Tufties. There were plenty of finches about with over 100 Greenfinches and a Brambling was seen feeding on hops along the Ouse Dyke as we left the site. PS.

Little Egrets – 30th November

November 30, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 30th November, Common Snipe, Little Egret, Ouse DykeJacqueline

Four Little Egrets were in and out of the Ouse Dyke early afternoon and at least four Common Snipe also flew out of the Dyke. JMD.

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.

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.