In the early afternoon a female/first winter male Black Redstart was seen on the fence posts at the north end of the Slurry Lagoon. Later on there were 68 migrating Common Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Tag Archives: birds
Red Kite – 25th March
As the air warmed up and thermals began to form the raptors began to soar into the sky. By midday there were twelve Buzzards circling and then two Red Kites soared over the site. There were also two Sparrowhawks, a Kestrel, and two Peregrines and a Rough-legged Buzzard that drifted off towards Gedling pit top. Eight Chiffchaffs were singing as well as a Blackcap and several Sand Martins passed through. PS.
Wheatear – 18th March
The sleet and rain this morning has put some migrants down and the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon had two cracking male Wheatears on it. There were also six Chiffchaffs, three of them singing. A Redshank and four Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon and two Peregrines flew along the line of the pylons. PS.
Chiffchaff – 15th March
This afternoon, during the brief sunny spell, a Chiffchaff was heard singing in the Deep Pit, also four Meadow pipits flew over. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing and a Shelduck is still on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Peregrine – 14th March
This afternoon three Peregrines were over the reserve. They drew attention to themselves by very loud and agitated calling. Two were males and one a female, and they perched for a while on the pylons, calling the whole time. One male swooped at the other male and drove it off. It then landed on a pylon above the female, still calling agitatedly. Shortly it flew off along the wires and the female followed it, stooping at it half-heartedly before flying off following the other male. The remaining male then settled on a pylon. PS.
Whooper Swan – 19th February
Six Whooper Swans flew north-east over the reserve this morning. There were two Little Egrets in the willow on the Large Gravel Pit and three Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was seen briefly as it flew from cover to cover in the Deep Pit. AE. PS.
Shelduck – 16th February
The cold weather of the last week or so froze all of the water bodies so that the gulls and ducks had to move to the river so that the site has been very quiet for a little while. Today a Shelduck was feeding on the Slurry Lagoon and there are now more ducks and gulls about as the ice has melted. Soon we will be looking out for Wheatears and Sand Martins. PS.
Smew – 22nd January
The Large Gravel Pit had a Red-head Smew on it this morning. Also found were up to ten Goldeneye and there were five Little Egrets. In the bushes beside the Slurry Lagoon there were good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares and a Redpoll was heard calling as it flew over. AE.CH.PS.
Jack Snipe – 15th January
This morning there was a Jack snipe, flushed from beside the Large Gravel Pit. There was also a Common Snipe in the Deep Pit. By the Slurry Lagoon a Golden Plover called as it flew over and there was a small flock of Linnets. Along the Willow Walk a Goldcrest was briefly seen. PS.
Egyptian Goose – 10th January
This afternoon there were two Water Rail showing well around the edge of the Large Gravel Pit and a Cetti’s warbler was scolding near the Willow Pond. Three Egyptian Geese flew over towards Attenborough. RW.
In the late afternoon a Merlin flew the length of the Deep Pit before diving towards the bushes at its southern end. Six Little Egrets were seen leaving the Large Gravel Pit, probably to go to roost and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep pit. PS.
The Siberian Chiffchaff was again reported along the Ouse Dyke.