Tag Archives: birds

Little Egret – 28th November

November 28, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 28th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, tealPete Smith

At dusk the gull roost contained about 500 birds, consisting mainly of Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. there were also around 200 Teal and 70 Shoveler. Two Little Egrets and two Shelduck were also present and the Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly from the reed bed that the Starlings were roosting in. PS.

White-fronted Goose – 21st November

November 21, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 21st November, birds, Canada Goose, Golden Plover, Grey-lag Goose, Tawny Owl, White-fronted GooosePete Smith

As the light faded this evening the Grey-lag and Canada Geese started to arrive to roost on the Large Gravel Pit and Slurry Lagoon. When it was almost dark the White-fronted Geese were heard and about twenty-four birds were picked out against the dim sky as they came in to roost on the large Gravel Pit. As I walked off a female Tawny Owl was heard and, a little later, some Golden Plover were heard as they flew in. PS.

Red-crested Pochard – 18th November

November 18, 2011Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2011, birds, Caspian gull, Golden Plover, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Pink-footed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Lagoon, White-fronted GoosePete Smith

This afternoon there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit, as well as two Little Egrets. The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon again held the Caspian Gull as well as a flock of 267 Golden Plover and there was a pair of Pintail and a Shelduck. On the pasture field across the river there were four Pink-footed Geese and, as dusk fell, twenty-seven White-fronted Geese came to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. PS. RW.

White-fronted Goose – 17th November

November 17, 2011Recent wildlife sightings17th November, 2011, birds, Caspian gull, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Golden Plover, kingfisher, Slurry Lagoon, Sparrowhawk, White-fronted GoosePete Smith

The gull roost contained the adult Caspian Gull again this afternoon. There were also over forty Golden Plover on the Slurry. The Starling roost was again attacked by a very persistant Sparrowhawk and a Kingfisher flew between the reed beds. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep Pit. At dusk twenty-two White-fronted Geese flew in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Rock Pipit – 7th November

November 7, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 7th November, birds, Dunlin, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, pintail, Rock Pipit, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

A Rock Pipit paused briefly on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon, where there were also three Dunlins and a Little Egret and later, an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The Pintail is still on the Large Gravel Pit. RW.

Arctic Skua – 16th September

September 16, 2011Recent wildlife sightings16th September, 2011, Arctic Skua, birds, Bittern, Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, pintail, Swallow, water rail, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning at about 10.00 the Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon, walking along the front of the reed bed. There were also four Pintail and a Green Sandpiper present. On the river there were five Common Sandpipers and a Curlew. RW.

In the afternoon, about 15.00 all of the gulls flew up as an Arctic Skua came in. It bathed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before half-heartedly chasing a few Black-headed Gulls and then it flew off to the north-east. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling and so was a Water Rail, and some Swallows went through, going north. Two Buzzards spiralled over and several Yellow Wagtails went through. PS. RW.

Ruff – 8th September

September 9, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 8th September, birds, Black-headed Gull, Dunlin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ruff, Sand Martin, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This evening two Ruff and two Dunlin dropped in, onto the Slurry Lagoon. There were also about 120 Sand Martins, 340 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 1,000 Black-headed Gulls. RW.

Greenshank – 4th September

September 4, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 4th September, birds, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Clouded Yellow, Deep Pit, greenshank, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Ringed Plover, Lower Path, Reed Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe Little Egret, WhitethroatPete Smith

This morning there were lots of warblers along the Lower Path and in the Deep Pit, including several Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat, Blackcap, Reed Warbler and Chiffchaff. On the Slurry Lagoon there were two Little Ringed Plover, two Snipe, two Greenshank and two Little Egrets. PS.AE.CH.RW.

In the early afternoon a Clouded Yellow was seen on the east bank of the Deep Pit, near the seat. RW.

Bittern – 2nd September

September 2, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 2nd September, birds, Bittern, butterfly, Cettis Warbler, Clouded Yellow, Little Egret, Shoveler, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A Bittern has been seen twice this morning as it flew between the reed beds on the Slurry Lagoon. Also on the Slurry Lagoon were 41 Shoveler, a Little Egret and a Cetti’s Warbler. Later a Clouded Yellow was seen flying along the pathway. RW.

Mediterranean Gull – 31st August

August 31, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 31st August, birds, Buzzard, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Dunlin, greenshank, Hobby, Mediterranean Gull, Slurry Lagoon, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, on the Slurry Lagoon there was a juvenile/1st winter Mediterranean Gull, with a white colour ring. Also present were two Greenshank, two juvenile Little Ringed Plover, two Dunlin and two Water Rail. There were either one or two Cetti’s Warblers present in the Deep Pit and a Hobby flew over. Overhead there were nine Common Buzzards flying together. RW.