Tag Archives: 2011

Spotted Flycatcher – 28th August

August 28, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 28th August, Dunlin, Lower Path, Redstart, Slurry Lagoon, Spotted FlycatcherPete Smith

As we walked along the Lower Path early on this morning there were lots of warblers and tits feeding in the elderberry bushes. Near the Irish Bridge an immature Spotted Flycatcher was found and further along, near the signal box, an adult Spotted Flycatcher was also found. Then a Hobby was seen over the river which made several attempts to double back and capture one of the swallows which were harassing it. Later, as we tried to refind the flycatchers to show to some people, a Redstart chased a Chiffchaff around a hawthorn bush. All three birds were still around in the early afternoon. On the Slurry Lagoon there were five Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover . PS AE.

Greenshank – 22nd August

August 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd August, birds, Common Tern, Dunlin, greenshank, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Reed Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This afternoon the Swallows and House Martins were gathered on the wires by the railway bridge when they all took off in alarm as a Hobby made an appearance. They all flew together and kept above and behind it, some making stoops to drive it away. The Hobby seemed unconcerned, making a couple of stoops of its own, probably at dragonflies. Suddenly the swallows were making a lot more noise and then the Hobby flew up out of its stoop with one of them in its talons. The Slurry Lagoon was a lot more peaceful with several each of Shoveler and Teal feeding on the water and a Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover on the shore and a family of Reed Warblers were feeding in the reeds. The Lesser Black-backed Gull flock contained a Herring Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull plus a couple of Common Terns and later a Greenshank called three times as it flew over the site. PS.

Red Kite – 14th August

August 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th August, 2011, birds, Common Tern, Hobby, Red Kite, Slury Lagoon, warblersPete Smith

This morning, during the monthly bird count, a Red Kite paid a visit to the site. It flew low, over the Slurry Lagoon, before gaining height and drifting away over Carlton. Some Common Terns were moving north along the Trent Valley and a Hobby was seen alarming the Swallows beside the river. There were still plenty of warblers to see, several in family parties. PS.

Whimbrel – 12th August

August 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th August, 2011, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

During the course of the afternoon three separate Whimbrels flew through the site, going south. There were also a Ringed Plover and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the Slurry Lagoon.The flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls contained a Yellow-legged Gull, and several Yellow Wagtails flew through. In the Deep Pit at least two, possibly four, Cetti’s Warblers were heard giving their ‘tack-tack’ alarm calls. PS.

Whimbrel – 7th August

August 7, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 7th August, birds, fish, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Ten-spined Stickleback, Three-spined Loach, WhimbrelPete Smith

This morning a Whimbrel flew through and there were two juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and a Green Sandpiper on the Slurry lagoon. Later two Snipe and another Green Sandpiper came in.

The Pond Dipping session netted several interesting creepy crawlies and included a Three-spined Loach and a Ten-spined Stickleback. PS.

Green Sandpiper – 21st July

July 21, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 21st July, Green Sandpiper, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

Two Green Sandpipers flew, calling. over the site this afternoon. Two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the dry end of the slurry and a Green Sandpiper was at the back of the Slurry Lagoon. Later two more, or the same two, Green Sandpipers flew in from the fields, calling as they came. PS.

Little Ringed Plover – 20th July

July 20, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 20th July, Fox, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A juvenile Little Ringed Plover and a Green Sandpiper showed cool nerves when a fox-cub popped out of the reed bed, directly behind them on the Slurry lagoon this afternoon. Neither looked in the least concerned, so the fox ducked back into the reeds again. PS.

Black-tailed Godwit – 14th July

July 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th July, 2011, birds, Black-tailed godwit, Green Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Pochard, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The Green Sandpiper was heard calling early in the afternoon as it left the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were five Black-tailed Godwits feeding and resting on the Slurry Lagoon, in the shallow water. There were also about six hundred Lesser Black-backed Gulls and the female Pochard still has all three ducklings. PS.

Yellow-legged Gull – 13th July

July 13, 2011Recent wildlife sightings13th July, 2011, birds, Deep Pit, Green Sandpiper, Oystercatcher, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This afternoon the gull roost on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon contained three Yellow-legged Gulls amongst the Lesser Black-backs. On the wet end there was a Green Sandpiper and two Oystercatchers flew over the Deep Pit. PS.

Black-tailed Godwit – 11th July

July 11, 2011Recent wildlife sightings11th July, 2011, birds, Black-headed Gull, Black-tailed godwit, Coot Lesser Black-backed gull, ducks, Grebes, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The Slurry Lagoon was a hive of activity this afternoon with young ducks, grebes and coots with their parents across almost the whole of its surface. At the back with some Lapwings were two Black-tailed Godwit and a fairly good roost of Lesser Black-backed and Black-headed Gulls, PS.