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.
Tag Archives: 2010
Peregrine – 31st October
The Willow Tit and eight Redpoll were seen along the Lower Path this morning and one or two Siskins are still flying through. All three Cetti’s were heard singing, so let’s hope they all survive the winter. A Peregrine flew over the site putting everything to flight and landed on a pylon. Two Golden Plover were seen flying around the site before departing north and a Snipe went up while 300 Lapwing eventually settled down on the Slurry Lagoon again. The goose flock on the Severn Trent land also went up and the Rossi’s Goose was spotted amongst them again. PS.
Waxwings – 24th October
About nine skeins of Pinkies flew through to the east this morning, totalling approximately 1,200 to 1,500 birds. There were four Red-crested Pochards but no sign of the Ross’s Goose on the Large Gravel Pit. A flock of about 100 Fieldfares went through to the west , a Cetti’s was heard in the Haven and a Willow Tit was seen on the Lower Path. PS.
In the afternoon a flock of about twenty Waxwings flew across the site towards the retail park. RW.
Pink-footed Goose – 20th October
This morning there were lots of signs of birds migrating through the site. Several small flocks of Fieldfares went over, with a few Redwing. Amongst the finches going over was heard a Redpoll, Siskin and Brambling, plus three Tree Sparrows went through. A Swallow flew over the Deep Pit, where a drake Golden-eye had attached itself to a small Tufty flock. The stoccato calls of about 200 Pink-footed Geese attracted my attention as they flew through to the east. PS.
Bearded Tit – 19th October
As I stood on the Causeway this morning an explosion of pinging calls alerted me to a female Bearded Tit, nerving herself up to crossing the gap in the reeds in front of the bench. She dashed across the gap and into the reeds, pinging twice more before returning to silent running. There were also five Redwing in the corner by the metal gates and two Cetti’s Warblers were singing, one in the Deep Pit and one by the Haven. The geese were in the furthest pasture field, across the river, too far away to tell if the Ross’s Goose was still with them. PS.
Ross’s Goose – 18th October
The Ross’s Goose was again present with the goose flock on the pasture fields across the river. When a jogger disturbed them they all came to land on the Large Gravel Pit, about 2,500 Grey-lag Geese and 1,000 Canada Geese, plus the Ross’s. Over the Slurry Lagoon about 5,000 Starlings smoked their way to and fro before settling in the reed beds, while two Sparrowhawks tried to snatch one for their evening meal. Two Cetti’s were heard but insignificant against the spectacle of the geese and the Starlings. PS.
Ross’s Goose – 17th October
This afternoon among the large flock of Greylags and Canadas in the field across the river was a Ross’s Goose – probably an escape and possibly the same bird that has been reported at Attenborough. Also the two Red-crested Pochard were still on the Large Gravel Pit and at least one Cetti’s Warbler was singing very well. JMD.
Golden Plover – 15th October
There were three Golden Plover amongst the Lapwings on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon. Also seen were three Swallows that spent the afternoon hawking insects near the footbridge and six Redpoll near the railway line. A Peregrine topped the pylon by the Large Gravel Pit, daring the starlings to congregate near it, and the two Red-crested Pochard were still on the Large Gravel Pit. PS.
Little Egret – 10th October
During the monthly bird count this morning a flock of eight Little Egrets flew downriver, through the reserve. Later a ninth bird settled for a short time on the Slurry Lagoon. A Peregrine was seen stooping at Wood Pigeons attracted by the maize spilt during the harvest and around three thousand Grey Lag and Canada geese were also gleening the stubble. A Curlew flew over the site and a Dunlin was on the Slurry. Other migrants seen were a small flock of Swallows, several Skylarks, some Redpoll and a Siskin. There were also three Cetti’s Warblers heard singing. PS.
Reed Warbler – 7th October
A Reed Warbler was feeding along the edge of the reed bed at the back of the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon; while two Green Sandpiper and a Ruff were on the water’s edge. Common Snipe numbers are slowly increasing with at least twelve seen today. The two Red-crested Pochard are still present on the Large Gravel Pit. A few insects are still about particularly Migrant Hawkers. JMD.