Tag Archives: Deep Pit

Glaucous Gull – 12th January

January 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th January, 2011, birds, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Glaucous Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mitigation Field, Slurry Lagoon, Tree Sparrow, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, as I worked in the Deep Pit with my volunteer, a Black Swan flew over the site, with three Mute Swans, giving a pathetic squeak as it passed. Later two adult and two juvenile Mute Swans landed on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, skidding as they landed accompanied by hilarious screaming from a Water Rail. As we were preparing to go, an immature Glaucous Gull flew over the site, possibly from the Large Gravel Pit, and headed towards Holme Pierrepont. PS. DM.

Earlier in the day two Tree Sparrows were seen in S.T. hedge line near to the Mitigation Field. JMD.

Goosander – 28th December

December 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, Blackbird, Brambling, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Goosander, Lower Path, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon. 28th December, Willow titPete Smith

The Ouse Dyke has lost its Little Egrets for the time being, but a nice male Brambling was in the hedge alondside it this morning. There were still lots of winter thrushes about, mostly Redwings and Blackbirds with just a few Fieldfares. On the river were some Goldeneyes and then two immature male and a female Goosander swam into view. A Willow Tit was noted along the Lower Path. The Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit are still frozen but there is little sign of snow on the ground now. PS/AE.

Golden Plover – 28th November

November 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 28th November, Coot, Deep Pit, Golden Plover, Gravel Pits, Lapwing, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

The two Little Egrets were on the Ouse Dyke again this morning and what was probably one of them was later seen in the Deep Pit. The Slurry Lagoon and Gravel Pits are mostly frozen over now but most of the Deep Pit is still clear. Most of the Coots on the Large Gravel Pit are concentrated into one small area of clear water and the Red-crested Pochard have gone. The Teal have moved to the Deep Pit and a flock of Lapwings are sitting on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, which is completely frozen over. Eleven Golden Plover looked like they were going to join the Lapwings but eventually flew away. PS.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.

Merlin – 9th November

November 9, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 9th November, birds, crows, Deep Pit, gulls, Merlin, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, StarlingsPete Smith

A male Merlin was seen today coming from the Railway Land and accelerating into the Deep Pit, its wings whirring round like propellers. The fields where the sweet corn has recently been harvested were covered with birds and flocks of geese, ducks, crows and starlings were filling the air above them. A Peregrine sliced through this spectacle and flew up to its favoured perch on one of the pylons. On the Slurry Lagoon the roost of “large gulls” had increased significantly in size. PS.

Woodcock – 7th November

November 7, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 7th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Geese, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, peregrine, Snipe, WoodcockPete Smith

A Woodcock was flushed from near the metal gates this morning and two Snipe flew over the Lower Path, calling. All three Cetti’s were heard singing but there was no sign of the Red-crested Pochard, or the Ross’s Goose, despite most of the Grey-lag and Canada Goose flock coming onto the Large Gravel Pit. A Peregrine flew through, causing mayhem. It put up the Lapwings and Black-headed Gulls on the Slurry Lagoon before dropping into the Deep Pit, screaming as it went, and then flying up to perch on a pylon.

Pink-footed Goose – 20th October

October 20, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 20th October, birds, Brambling, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Pink-footed Goose, Redpoll, Redwing, Siskin, Swallow, Tree SparrowPete Smith

This morning there were lots of signs of birds migrating through the site. Several small flocks of Fieldfares went over, with a few Redwing. Amongst the finches going over was heard a Redpoll, Siskin and Brambling, plus three Tree Sparrows went through. A Swallow flew over the Deep Pit, where a drake Golden-eye had attached itself to a small Tufty flock. The stoccato calls of about 200 Pink-footed Geese attracted my attention as they flew through to the east. PS.

Bearded Tit – 19th October

October 19, 2010Recent wildlife sightings19th October, 2010, Bearded Tit, birds, Causeway, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Haven, Redwing, Ross's GoosePete Smith

As I stood on the Causeway this morning an explosion of pinging calls alerted me to a female Bearded Tit, nerving herself up to crossing the gap in the reeds in front of the bench. She dashed across the gap and into the reeds, pinging twice more before returning to silent running. There were also five Redwing in the corner by the metal gates and two Cetti’s Warblers were singing, one in the Deep Pit and one by the Haven. The geese were in the furthest pasture field, across the river, too far away to tell if the Ross’s Goose was still with them. PS.

Marsh Harrier – 27th September

September 27, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 27th September, Deep Pit, Lapwings, Marsh Harrier, river, Slurry LagoonJacqueline

A Marsh Harrier flew over the Slurry Lagoon at about 3.30 p.m. this afternoon. It was a cream-crown and probably a juvenile bird. It put up every bird on the Slurry as it flew over the reed beds for some minutes being persued particularly by the Lapwings until they chased it over S.T. land. However a few minutes later it came back for a second try but again the Lapwings chased it away and this time it flew over the Deep Pit and down the river. JMD.

Greenshank – 26th July

July 26, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 26th July, birds, Caspian gull, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Green Sandpiper, greenshank, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This afternoon on the Slurry Lagoon there was a Greenshank, a Green Sandpiper and a probable Caspian Gull. Most of the terns had gone with only one present on one of the breeding platforms for part of the afternoon. RW, PS.