This morning the Slurry Lagoon carried a good variety of ducks, including Shoveler, Teal, Goldeneye and Pochard, and three Goosander flew over. Also Water Rail and Cetti’s Warblers were heard. PS.
Tag Archives: Goosander
Goosander – 5th February
This morning the Jack Snipe was found again on the Wader Scrape. The male and female Stonechats were in front of the substation and a Goosander flew over the Deep Pit. On the Slurry Lagoon there was a large gull that looked very like a Yellow-legged Gull, but it decided to fly away before it could be conclusively identified. PS.
Barn Owl – 18th January
This afternoon a Barn Owl was seen hunting around the Gravel Pits and two Buzzards were perched untidily in a birch tree across the Wader Scrape. The Black Swan was still with the Mute Swans across the river and a Goosander flew over the site. Four Siskins were seen along the entrance path and 23 Linnets were near the railway bridge. PS.
Goosander – 21st December
This morning a female Goosander flew over the site before investigating the Large Gravel Pit. The two Stonechats were still on the substation plantation. PS.
Goosander – 18th January
This morning there were three Chiffchaffs along the Ouse Dyke, the Green Sandpiper was also seen and a Treecreeper, two Little Egrets and three Water Rails. On the Large Gravel Pit there were three Goosander amongst the Wigeon. On the weedy patch in front of the substation there were a male and female Stonechat. PS.
Goosander – 1st January
A male Goosander flew up river over the railway bridge this morning. Most of the winter thrushes have gone now, only a few Redwings and Blackbirds remain. They’ve stripped most of the berries and the Blackbirds are eating the rose hips. Three Little Egrets were also seen, along the Ouse Dyke. PS.
Waxwing – 2nd December
This morning there were large flocks of thrushes and finches along the railway embankment. There were hundreds of Redwings with smaller numbers of Fieldfares and amongst the thrush flock were twelve Waxwings. About thirty Linnets were in a flock with Goldfinches and a few Redpolls. Near the ford on the Lower Path a Treecreeper was investigating the bark on an ash tree. Across the river seven Herons stood amongst the still puddled fields with flocks of Black-headed Gulls and Grey-lag Geese. Amongst them were a few Lapwings and two Redshank. In some Alders between the Boundary Hedge and the Ouse Dyke, three Siskins were feeding with Goldfinches and on the Ouse Dyke bank five Redpoll were feeding on stinging nettle seeds. One male had a beautiful, soft, rose-pink breast. Along the Ouse Dyke three Little Egrets were feeding and ten Snipe circled around before settling near the National Grid development. A Peregrine was also seen over the Severn/Trent land. In the afternoon two Goosander were seen flying up river. PS.
Rough-legged Buzzard – 11th March
This morning, during the bird count, two Rough-legged Buzzards were seen flying over the site. A total of thirteen Common Buzzards were also seen, four Sparrowhawks and three Kestrels, with a Peregrine on Gedling church spire. On the river were a pair of Goosanders and a Lesser Redpoll was feeding in a riverside Ash tree. There were lots of insects about, including Buff-tailed and Red-tailed Bumblebees and Honey Bees, Brimstone, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies. PS et al.
Goosander – 26th February
This morning two male Goosander flew over the site. There was an Oystercatcher on the river bank and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Deep Pit.
Spring is in the air today. Several Seven-spot Ladybirds were seen and a queen bumblebee as well as Coltsfoot coming into flower. PS.
Goosander – 11th December
This morning, during the bird count, two male Goosanders flew over the reserve and later a female landed on the Large Gravel Pit. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard and there were three Little Egrets on the Ouse Dyke. Good numbers of winter thrushes and various ducks were also present. PS.