Small numbers of hirundines and pipits were flying through to the south. The male Marsh Harrier was hunting over the reed-bed and a Hobby was seen over the Deep Pit. Later in the morning an Osprey was seen approaching, but was driven off by a flock of Carrion Crows. PS.
Osprey – JV.
This morning there were five Great White Egrets on the Slurry Lagoon. Later three flew off, but two then returned mid-morning. A Common Sandpiper was on a tern raft in the Deep Pit and a Hobby snatched a Reed Bunting and carried it away. PS.
Great White Egrets – – PS.
Common Sandpiper – – PS.
Very quiet at the lagoons today, although there were plenty of broods of young birds about. Mid-morning a Bittern was seen as it dropped into the reed-bed in the Deep Pit. PS.
Very early this morning a Tree Pipit was calling as it flew north, following the Trent. A Bittern flew from the Trent into the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed and an Osprey flew over on its migration. JV.
Later on, a Cuckoo was calling from the Deep Pit and a group of three Great White Egrets flew over the site , almost landing on the Slurry Lagoon before deciding to fly on. The Cuckoo continued flying around the Large Gravel Pit, still calling and a second Cuckoo was heard in the distance. Later the Cuckoo came back to the Slurry Lagoon and then a female flew from the reed-bed as the male flew around, still calling. Most of the warbler species were still singing well, especially a particular Garden Warbler. PS.
In the late morning a Hobby was hawking insects over the gravel pits. RJP.
Garden Warbler – PS.
Cuckoo – RJP.
Hobby – RJP.
This morning there were two Cuckoos seen in the Deep Pit. It was not possible to say for certain if they were a male and a female or two males. Later a Great White Egret flew over to the north and then three Red Kites also flew over to the north. The Deep Pit had three Oystercatchers on one of its Tern Rafts and eight Egyptian Geese also flew into the Deep Pit. On the bank a teneral Emperor Dragonfly was resting in some tall grass. PS.
Later a Marsh Harrier was reported from the Deep Pit. RJP.
Teneral Emperor Dragonfly. PS.
Early this morning there were two Hobbies hawking around the lagoons. About mid-morning up to three Arctic Terns flew through to the north. They were accompanied by around five Common Terns which seemed more preoccupied with courting. Later a Kittiwake was seen over the Deep Pit, on its way north east. Several small groups of Swifts flew through and, for a while , seven House Martins were feeding over the Slurry Lagoon and Causeway. PS.
Early on this morning five Little Gulls were in the Deep Pit. They soon left, but later on another group of nine Little Gulls flew straight through the Deep Pit. There were up to three Swallows by the railway bridge as well as one House Martin and several Sand Martins. The Red-crested Pochard was also still in the Deep Pit and two Great White Egrets flew over. JV. PS. MC.
This morning an Otter was seen in the Slurry Lagoon, a Red-crested Pochard was on the Deep Pit, a Great White Egret was on the Large Gravel Pit and a Marsh Harrier over the Slurry Lagoon. Later in the morning two Mediterranean Gulls were on the Deep Pit. There are many Chiffchaffs already on site and singing, along with several Blackcaps. JV – PS.
This morning a pair of Pintail were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Raven was heard calling and later seen to fly across the site and a very noisy Oystercatcher flew around the Deep Pit. PS.
This morning a juvenile Arctic Tern paid a brief visit to the Deep Pit. JV.
Juvenile Arctic Tern – Jason Vickers.