This morning two Oysrercatchers were on the flooded field across the river. A Curlew flew over the site to the north and two Ravens were seen flying north along the river valley. A Snipe, two Cetti’s Warblers and nine Pochard were on the Slurry Lagoon. Nine male and two female Brimstones were seen as well as a Tortoiseshell, Comma and putative Peacock.
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.
This morning a Chiffchaff was singing on the River Path and a Curlew flew over the Slurry Lagoon. At about 13.00 a female Bearded Tit was seen in the Deep Pit. PS.
The sun brought out the butterflies this morning with 11 Brimstones, 5 Peacocks, 2 Small Tortoiseshells, 1 Comma and 1 Orange-tip being seen. A Curlew called as it flew over and three Sand Martins were seen near the river, also a Blackcap sang briefly near the Haven. On the Slurry Lagoon two Shelduck were present first thing. PS.
This morning a female/1st summer male Black Redstart was seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. Three Wheatears were on the Severn Trent fields. Later there was a Willow Warbler singing in the Deep Pit and seven Little Ringed Plover on the Wader Scrape. RW.
In the afternoon there were two female/1st summer male Black Redstarts on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon and five Sand Martins and a Swallow passed through. PS.
In the early evening a Curlew flew through, a Green Sandpiper was on a riverside flood and the Barn Owl was hunting over the reserve. RW.
This morning the Little Ringed Plover was seen again on the Wader Scrape, along with 32 Gadwall, 2 Teal and a male Goldeneye. A Curlew flew over the site and there was a mixed flock of Pied Wagtails and Meadow Pipits on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning as we arrived to start the bird count, a Curlew was calling as it flew from the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were well over 350 Swallows and House Martins by the railway bridge, as migrants paused to feed and rest. Two Hobbies made an appearance but the hirundines were too alert for them, so they had to content themselves with catching some of the dragonflies that were flying abundantly today. There were several groups of warblers and tits and Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were passing through on migration. PS.
A Curlew flew over the reserve calling in lovely liquid notes. It settled on the Slurry Lagoon to rest and preen. Also on the Slurry Lagoon were several Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Pochard and a male Shoveler. PS.
There was a good arrival of migrants over the last two days with warbler numbers shooting up. The reed beds hold several Reed and Sedge Warblers and several Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers have arrived. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts have been passing through in good numbers all day. In the morning a Curlew flew over the site and a Little Egret made an appearance. In the late afternoon a Marsh Harrier flew in and possibly stayed to roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. RW.
The rain was unrelenting today but there were still more Swallows over the Slurry Lagoon than I had seen so far this spring, plus two House Martins. A Lesser Whitethroat sang and then showed itself in the bushes at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, near the steps and a Curlew called as it circled somewhere overhead, but it couldn’t be seen. PS.