A Greenshank and three Yellow-legged Gulls were present on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon. RW.
Tag Archives: 2011
Pochard – 4th July
A female Pochard was seen on the Slurry Lagoon with a new brood of three ducklings today. There was also a Green Sandpiper close to the reeds. Several Brown Hawkers were seen as well as good numbers of Ringlets and Small Skippers. PS.
Black-tailed Godwit – 2nd July
This morning ten Black-tailed Godwits arrived on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Mediterranean Gull – 30th June
An adult Med Gull was preening for some time on the Slurry Lagoon late afternoon. Also present was a Black-tailed Godwit and a Green Sandpiper plus an adult Little Ringed Plover. The Gadwall reported the other day with eleven ducklings has increased her brood to an incredible fourteen! JMD.
Green Sandpiper – 27th June
This morning two Green Sandpipers and three Little Egrets were on the Slurry Lagoon. There was also a Brown Hawker and thirty Six-belted Clearwings. RW.
Later in the afternoon a Black-tailed Godwit arrived on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Red-crested Pochard – 24th June
There are still eight Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was calling from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed to the south of the bench on the Causeway. By the railway bridge, on the up-river side, a Willow Tit without a tail was seen and heard calling. At first I thought it was a juvenile but it more likely had a close encounter with a Sparrowhawk. A Hobby did a magnificent stoop, half the length of the Lower Path, and rose with what looked like a warbler, perhaps a Chiffchaff, in its talons. It flew off with it in the direction of Holme Pierrepont. PS
Red-crested Pochard – 22nd June
This morning there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present were the two male Wigeon and a male Shoveler. The Gadwall still has all eleven of her ducklings and a Mallard now has five. There is still no sign of the Pochard ducklings though. Two recently fledged Common Terns were dipping for insects from the water surface. PS.
Pyramidal Orchid – 17th June
There are now several Pyramidal Orchids in flower on the site and the Spotted Orchids are doing very well this year. In the morning three foxes came out to play on the shore of the Slurry Lagoon, much to the consternation of the assembled ducks. PS.
Common Tern – 15th June
The first of the juvenile Common Terns has made it onto the Slurry Lagoon. It was expertly picking insects from the waters surface while its parents were aggressively attacking passing crows. The Gadwall duck still had all eleven of her ducklings with her. Also present were a pair of Teal and now two male Wigeon. PS.
Dunlin – 30th May
This morning the rain persuaded some passing waders to pause on the Slurry Lagoon. Four Dunlin and three Ringed Plover were feeding on the exposed mud. Nine species of warbler were seen or heard and several were feeding fledglings and there were fledgling Swallows by the railway bridge. PS. AE.