Tag Archives: Dunlin

Spotted Flycatcher – 28th August

August 28, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 28th August, Dunlin, Lower Path, Redstart, Slurry Lagoon, Spotted FlycatcherPete Smith

As we walked along the Lower Path early on this morning there were lots of warblers and tits feeding in the elderberry bushes. Near the Irish Bridge an immature Spotted Flycatcher was found and further along, near the signal box, an adult Spotted Flycatcher was also found. Then a Hobby was seen over the river which made several attempts to double back and capture one of the swallows which were harassing it. Later, as we tried to refind the flycatchers to show to some people, a Redstart chased a Chiffchaff around a hawthorn bush. All three birds were still around in the early afternoon. On the Slurry Lagoon there were five Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover . PS AE.

Dunlin – 25th August

August 25, 2011Recent wildlife sightings25th August, Common Buzzard, Common Snipe, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, SlurryJacqueline

This afternoon two Dunlin, two Little Ringed Plover, one Ringed Plover and a Common Snipe were all feeding along the Slurry Lagoon waterline while a Common Buzzard circled lazily on the thermals. JMD.

Later they were joined by a Little Egret and two more Dunlin. PS.

Greenshank – 22nd August

August 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd August, birds, Common Tern, Dunlin, greenshank, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Reed Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This afternoon the Swallows and House Martins were gathered on the wires by the railway bridge when they all took off in alarm as a Hobby made an appearance. They all flew together and kept above and behind it, some making stoops to drive it away. The Hobby seemed unconcerned, making a couple of stoops of its own, probably at dragonflies. Suddenly the swallows were making a lot more noise and then the Hobby flew up out of its stoop with one of them in its talons. The Slurry Lagoon was a lot more peaceful with several each of Shoveler and Teal feeding on the water and a Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover on the shore and a family of Reed Warblers were feeding in the reeds. The Lesser Black-backed Gull flock contained a Herring Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull plus a couple of Common Terns and later a Greenshank called three times as it flew over the site. PS.

Dunlin – 9th August

August 9, 2011Recent wildlife sightings9th August, Common Tern, Cormorant, Dunlin, Little Ringed Plover, SlurryJacqueline

A single Dunlin was feeding along the Slurry shoreline this afternoon and two Little Ringed Plovers were again on the Slurry. The Terns appear to have abandoned the Tern Platforms now their young have fledged and the Cormorants have been quick to take them over. JMD.

Dunlin – 30th May

May 30, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 30th May, birds, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, SwallowPete Smith

This morning the rain persuaded some passing waders to pause on the Slurry Lagoon. Four Dunlin and three Ringed Plover were feeding on the exposed mud. Nine species of warbler were seen or heard and several were feeding fledglings and there were fledgling Swallows by the railway bridge. PS. AE.

Dunlin – 23rd May

May 23, 2011Recent wildlife sightings23rd May, Cetti's, cuckoo, Dunlin, Slurry, Yellow WagtailJacqueline

A single Dunlin was feeding along the Slurry edge this evening while behind him two Yellow Wagtails were weaving in and out of the reeds. The Cetti’s was calling well and a Cuckoo managed to cling on to a branch of a tree in the Deep Pit and sing at the same time and again Swifts were zooming around coming very low over the Site. JMD.

Greenshank – 2nd May

May 2, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2010, 2nd May, birds, cuckoo, Dunlin, Garganey, greenshank, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a Greenshank briefly joined the Dunlin and Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. A Peregrine caused panic amongst the feral pigeons and Carrion Crows, and two male Cuckoos were around the Gravel and Deep Pits. Good numbers of warblers were counted and one or two Yellow Wagtails flew across the site. PS.

Common Sandpiper – 19th April

April 19, 2011Recent wildlife sightings19th April, 2011, birds, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, House Martin, SwallowPete Smith

This afternoon a small Calidrid wader, probably a Dunlin, flew around the Slurry Lagoon several times before flying off to the north-east. There was a Common Sandpiper on the river bank and towards evening, during a Hirundine raptor alert, a House Martin was seen high above the Swallows. PS. JMD.

Little Egret – 10th October

October 10, 2010Recent wildlife sightings10th October, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Curlew, Dunlin, Geese, Little Egret, peregrine, Redpoll, Siskin, Skylark, Slurry Lagoon, SwallowPete Smith

During the monthly bird count this morning a flock of eight Little Egrets flew downriver, through the reserve. Later a ninth bird settled for a short time on the Slurry Lagoon. A Peregrine was seen stooping at Wood Pigeons attracted by the maize spilt during the harvest and around three thousand Grey Lag and Canada geese were also gleening the stubble. A Curlew flew over the site and a Dunlin was on the Slurry. Other migrants seen were a small flock of Swallows, several Skylarks, some Redpoll and a Siskin. There were also three Cetti’s Warblers heard singing. PS.

Red-crested Pochard – 30th September

September 30, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 30th September, birds, Buzzard, Dunlin, Large Gravel Pit, Red-crested Pochard, Rook, Ruff, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The two male Red-crested Pochard are still on the Large Gravel Pit. The one in eclipse has been moulting and is showing some of its winter plumage now. A Ruff and three Dunlin were on the Slurry Lagoon and a Buzzard, drifting over the site, found itself surrounded by Rooks and being buffeted from all angles. PS.