The Slurry Lagoon was very quiet this morning, mainly covered with Black-headed Gulls, there are few ducks around. A female Goosander did fly over but, otherwise, it was just a male Shoveler and a pair of Gadwall, plus the swans. Across the river the very pale Buzzard was sitting in a tree near the viaduct. From this distance its front looked completely white. (As the very poor photo shows.) There were still plenty of winter thrushes about, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. PS.
This morning three Goosander flew over the reserve. A Peregrine was on the new pylon and there were good numbers of Redwing and Blackbird about. PS.
This morning there were even more Redwings and Blackbirds on the site and these attracted a Merlin which swooped down the Pylon Bank, towards the Small Gravel Pit, as it tried to catch one. Sparrowhawks were also hunting and some Redwing breast feathers were found on the path. A Pink-footed Goose was with the Greylag flock across the river and a pair of Goosander flew over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning there were, as usual, good numbers of Greylag and Canada Geese and Mallards on the Slurry Lagoon, which went off to feed fairly early on. The hedgerows were full of thrushes, mostly Redwings, Blackbirds and Fieldfares. A flock of about three hundred Lapwings flew over with a flock of about fifty Golden Plovers, probably the ones from Holme Pierrepont. There were two Snipe on the Slurry Lagoon, an Egyptian Goose flew over and six Goldeneye were on the Large Gravel Pit. PS.
This morning, during the Bird Count, two female Goosanders landed on the Deep Pit. Also recorded were a Chiffchaff, Treecreeper and a lone Golden Plover. There were plenty of winter thrushes about too, with high numbers especially of Redwings and Blackbirds. A short stretch of the Ouse Dyke held seven Little Egrets and a Kingfisher. PS.
At the lagoons this evening the Starling roost attracted about 6,000 birds. One Sparrowhawk was seen trying to snatch a late supper and two Barn Owls were seen flying along the Boundary Hedge. Several thousand geese also came in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. Earlier lots of winter thrushes were seen, including Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds, a Woodcock was seen and the Bearded Tits were heard calling in the reed bed. PS.
This morning the Bittern was seen in the Deep Pit, flying into a reed bed. There were also four Little Egrets on the Ouse Dyke and good numbers of winter thrushes, Blackbirds, Redwings and Fieldfares. A Weasel was also seen on the bank of the Deep Pit, crossing to and fro. PS.
A male Goosander flew up river over the railway bridge this morning. Most of the winter thrushes have gone now, only a few Redwings and Blackbirds remain. They’ve stripped most of the berries and the Blackbirds are eating the rose hips. Three Little Egrets were also seen, along the Ouse Dyke. PS.
This morning a Chiffchaff was seen foraging along the Lower Path. There were also large flocks of Redwings, Fieldfares and smaller numbers of Blackbirds feeding on the Hawthorn berries. There were up to four Little Egrets along the Ouse Dyke and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Deep Pit. PS.
This morning the frost had taken a hold of the site and thin ice was forming on most of the lagoons. There were large flocks of winter thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. By the Gravel Pits there were two Cetti’s Warblers and the Slurry Lagoon held over 300 Teal with Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings. A Peregrine flew low across the bank in front of us, skimming the tops of the reeds, directly at the flocks of birds, which erupted into the air as one. In the confusion the Peregrine missed its mark and withdrew to the top of a pylon. PS.