Tag Archives: Gadwall

Curlew – 17th March

March 17, 2013Recent wildlife sightings17th March, 2013, Curlew, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Little Ringed Plover, Meadow Pipit, Pied Wagtail, Slurry Lagoon, teal, Wader ScrapePete Smith

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.

Pintail – 16th September

September 16, 2012Recent wildlife sightings16th September, 2012, Gadwall, House Martin, Large Gravel Pit, Lower Path, Meadow Pipit, Migrant Hawker, Muntjac, pintail, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, teal, Wigeon, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning there was a female Pintail and a female Golden-eye on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as three Red-crested Pochards and good numbers of Gadwall, Shoveler and Teal. There were about 80 Wigeon on the Large Gravel Pit and Swallows, House Martins, Meadow Pipits and Yellow Wagtails were passing through. On the Lower Path a Muntjac was seen. In the afternoon a swarm of Migrant Hawkers was seen along the Lower Path. PS.

Curlew – 1st June

June 1, 2012Recent wildlife sightings1st June, 2012, Curlew, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Tufted DuckPete Smith

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.

Goosander – 7th December

December 7, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 7th December, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, teal, WigeonPete Smith

This afternoon there were two female Goosander on the Large Gravel Pit, along with four female Goldeneye and some Gadwall and Wigeon. On the Deep Pit there were five male Goldeneye and several Mallard. The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon contained an estimated 700 Greater Black-backs and at least twice as many Herring Gulls. There were well in excess of 2,000 birds. There were still good numbers of Shoveler and Teal as well as a Shelduck. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. PS.

Green Sandpiper – 4th July

July 4, 2011Recent wildlife sightings4th July, Gadwall, Green Sandpiper, Little Ringed Plover, Pochard, Slurry LagoonJacqueline

The Green Sandpiper is still present but likes to hide behind the roosting ducks on the extreme left hand side of the Slurry Lagoon. A Little Ringed Plover tried to feed along the water’s edge but was chased away by the Common Terns. The Gadwall ducklings are doing well and have been joined by a new brood of Pochard ducklings today. JMD.

Red-crested Pochard – 22nd June

June 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd June, birds, Common Tern, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, WigeonPete Smith

This morning there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present were the two male Wigeon and a male Shoveler. The Gadwall still has all eleven of her ducklings and a Mallard now has five. There is still no sign of the Pochard ducklings though. Two recently fledged Common Terns were dipping for insects from the water surface. PS.

Common Tern – 15th June

June 15, 2011Recent wildlife sightings15th June, 2011, Common Tern, Gadwall, Slurry Lagoon, teal, WigeonPete Smith

The first of the juvenile Common Terns has made it onto the Slurry Lagoon. It was expertly picking insects from the waters surface while its parents were aggressively attacking passing crows. The Gadwall duck still had all eleven of her ducklings with her. Also present were a pair of Teal and now two male Wigeon. PS.

Pochard – 11th June

June 11, 2011Recent wildlife sightingsBlack-tailed Skimmer, Four-spotted Chaser, Gadwall, Meadow Brown, Pochard, Red-tipped ClearwingPete Smith

This afternoon a female Pochard was seen on the Slurry Lagoon with seven ducklings. There is also a Gadwall with eleven ducklings. There were three Red-tipped Clearwings, a Meadow Brown, a Four-spotted Chaser and a Black-tailed Skimmer RW.

The Orchid Walk went well and several more Bee Orchids were found. JC.

Barn Owl – 14th January

January 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th January, 2011, Barn Owl, Gadwall, Large Gravel Pit, Lower Path, weasel, Willow tit, YellowhammerPete Smith

The Barn Owl was back over the grassland around the two gravel pits again this evening. It did not stay for as long this time though. There were approaching 200 Gadwall on the Large Fishing Pit and a Yellowhammer mobbed a Weasel in the grass in front of us as we watched the owl. The Willow Tit was heard again along the Lower Path. PS. DM.

Barn Owl – 13th January

January 13, 2011Recent wildlife sightings13th January, 2011, Barn Owl, Coot, ducks, Gadwall, Large Gravel Pit, WigeonPete Smith

Late this afternoon a Barn Owl was watched for about twenty minutes as it quartered the grass between the Large Gravel Pit and the river, several times pursued by a crow. It dropped onto something in the grass several times but it was not possible to see what it was catching, but it must be hungry to be hunting in daylight when the nights are so long. The northern end of the Large Gravel Pit (the end that was longest under the ice) was covered in wildfowl, mostly Gadwall, Wigeon and Coot. Both the other two water bodies are now more or less ice free. PS.

(At last A BARN OWL on the site for PS – Hurrah – AE)