Tag Archives: Deep Pit

Red-crested Pochard – 7th April

April 7, 2019Recent wildlife sightings2019, 7th April, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Large Gravel Pit, Red-crested Pochard, Sand Martin, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning there were still around twenty Sand Martins and a Swallow by the railway bridge. A mixed flock of Starlings and about twenty-five Fieldfares were also present. The Willow Warbler was still in the Deep Pit and a male Red-crested Pochard was on the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Willow Warbler – 6th April

April 6, 2019Recent wildlife sightings2019, 6th April, Blackcap, Deep Pit, Little Ringed Plover, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning a Little Ringed Plover was seen flying over the Slurry Lagoon dry end towards the ‘Eco-Park’. Thirty Sand Martins and a Swallow were foraging beside the railway bridge and lots more Blackcaps had arrived. There was a Willow Warbler singing in the north end of the Deep Pit and later in the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Yellow-legged Gull – 1st February

February 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st February, 2019, Black Swan, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Deep Pit, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Lesse Black-backed Gull, Lesser Redpoll, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This morning the three water bodies were all mostly frozen over. There were a lot of gulls resting on the ice, including Great Black-backed, Lesser Black-backed, Herring, Common and Black-headed. Amongst one group of Black-headed Gulls on the Deep Pit was a Yellow-legged Gull. Also a pair of Black Swans have arrived from somewhere and are on the Deep Pit. At the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon a flock of about thirty Lesser Redpolls were feeding in the Birch trees. PS.

Goosander – 9th December

December 9, 2018Recent wildlife sightings2018, 9th December, Blackbird, Deep Pit, Golden Plover, Goosander, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Redwing, TreecreeperPete Smith

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.

Peregrine – 30th September

September 30, 2018Recent wildlife sightings2018, 30th September, Canada Goose, Deep Pit, Egyptian Goose, Great White Egret, Greylag Goose, peregrine, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning the Great White Egret was still on the Slurry Lagoon, and two Egyptian Geese were amongst the vast flock of Greylags and Canadas. A Peregrine flew in from the south over the Deep Pit and was set upon by two more Peregrines in a spectacular aerial battle. All three birds eventually disappearing towards the north-east. PS.

Hobby – 24th September

September 24, 2018Recent wildlife sightings2018, 24th September, Deep Pit, great spotted woodpecker, Hobby, House Martin, WigeonPete Smith

This afternoon, during the bird walk, a Hobby was seen catching dragonflies over the Deep Pit. In the morning, eight House Martin, two Great-spotted Woodpecker and two Wigeon were seen. PS.

Great White Egret – 16th September

September 16, 2018Recent wildlife sightings16th September, 2018, Deep Pit, Great White Egret, Hobby, Railway Bridge, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, SwallowPete Smith

The Great White Egret was still on the Slurry Lagoon this morning. A light passage of Swallows was noticed and some Sand Martins were near the railway bridge. These were attacked by a Hobby, which appeared to have caught something. Later the same or another Hobby was seen, again attacking the Sand Martins, over the Deep Pit. PS.

Marsh Tit – 1st September

September 2, 2018Recent wildlife sightings1st September, 2018, Deep Pit, Marsh Tit, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow tit, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a Spotted Flycatcher and a Willow Tit were on the south side of the Deep Pit. A Marsh Tit was on the north side of the Slurry Lagoon and nine Snipe were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Raven flew over to the north-west and two Yellow Wagtails flew over. RW.

Red Kite – 2nd July

July 2, 2018Recent wildlife sightings2018, 2nd July, Bittern, Deep Pit, dragonflies, Raven., Red Kite, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a Raven flew over the Slurry Lagoon, chased by some crows. A Bittern was in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. It flew from near the bench to the reeds along the northern edge of the water. Later a Red Kite appeared over the Deep Pit sending the breeding terns into a frenzy. The terns quickly climbed right up to it and began to mob it, turning it in the direction of Colwick Park.

There were also plenty of dragonflies with four Broad-bodied Chasers, three Black-tailed Skimmers, four Emperors, three Southern Hawkers, ten Brown Hawkers, two Four-spotted Chasers and a Ruddy Darter. PS.

Cuckoo – 6th May

May 6, 2018Recent wildlife sightings2018, 6th May, cuckoo, Deep Pit, Green Hairstreak, Hairy Dragonfly, Lapwing, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning a Cuckoo called from the Ash trees along the railway embankment. Two Shelduck were across the river on the flooded field and two Oystercatchers and four Lapwings were on the Wader Scrape. On the Deep Pit bank, opposite the junction box, up to five Green Hairstreaks were flying and by the Gravel Pits a teneral male Hairy Dragonfly was found. PS.