This morning about sixty Swifts were feeding over one corner of the Slurry Lagoon and three Curlews flew over to the north, calling. The female Pintail was still present on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
Tag Archives: 2017
Pintail – 27th June
This morning the female Pintail was still on the Slurry Lagoon as were the Shoveler pair and a Little Egret. There were also broods of Mallard and Gadwall. The first fledged Black-headed Gulls had also flown across from the Deep Pit. PS.
Raven – 25th June
This morning, during the Wildlife Walk, three Ravens flew over the Slurry Lagoon, towards Burton Joyce. One was an adult with heavily moulted wings and the other two were juveniles, with perfect wings and slightly shorter tails. PS.
Pyramidal Orchid – 23rd June
During the Wildlife Walk today, around thirty Pyramidal Orchids were found on the Deep pit bank. Also seen were several species of butterfly including Large and Essex Skippers, and a Hobby. PS.
Shoveler – 22nd June
Today the first Shoveler, a male and a female, arrived back on the Slurry Lagoon. There were also five Little Grebes and four Oystercatchers flew over. SC.
Pintail – 18th June
This morning a female Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon. The Slurry Lagoon also had Emperor, Black-tailed Skimmer and Four-spotted Chasers very active in front of the Causeway bench. PS.
Hobby – 11th June
This morning, during the Bird Count, a Cuckoo was calling for at least an hour. By the railway bridge a Hobby was seen trying very hard to flush out a Swallow over about ten minutes. A Painted Lady and a Ringlet were seen amongst other butterflies. PS.
Mediterranean Gull – 5th June
Early on this morning an adult Mediterranean Gull was on the site, it seemed to be inspecting the Black-headed Gull colony. It flew around the nests on the Slurry Lagoon and then the ones on the Deep Pit, calling, perhaps trying to find a mate. Anyway it was unlucky and soon flew off. Later a Hobby paid a surprise visit to the Swallows by the railway bridge. On the river there were five recently fledged Herons. PS.
Cuckoo – 29th May
This morning the Cuckoo was calling again from the ash trees beside the railway line and a Yellow Wagtail flew over the Causeway. On the Slurry Lagoon a second pair of Great Crested Grebes have produced a single chick and an Oystercatcher is sitting tight on eggs. PS.
Hobby – 21st May
This morning, during the Warbler Walk, nine warblers were seen or heard (just Grasshopper Warbler missing). A Hobby attacked the Swallows at the Railway Bridge, but they saw it coming. The Slurry Lagoon Mute Swans now have eight cygnets and there are several Coot families and the Great Crested Grebes on the Slurry Lagoon still have their chick. Earlier on, at about 08.00hrs a Cuckoo was singing from an ash tree beside the railway line. PS.