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 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.
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.
This morning there were up to four Hobbies catching emerging insects over the Slurry Lagoon. At one stage a group of about thirteen Swifts were passing through but paused to join them. PS. JV.
Hobby catching damselfly. JV.
This morning the foggy conditions made it difficult to see, but what sounded like a fairly substantial skein of Pink-footed Geese was heard flying over. PS
In the afternoon the sun came out and two Hobbies were seen over the Slurry Lagoon along with an impressive number of dragonflies of at least four species. JV
Hobby – Jason Vickers.
This morning a Black-tailed Godwit was on the Slurry Lagoon and a Green Sandpiper and Common Snipe were recorded. The Great White Egret and a Little Egret were seen as well as a Hobby, carrying prey, three Egyptian Geese, and the first Common Gull of the autumn. PS.
This morning two Hobbies were seen over the site. There were also four Peregrines and the Marsh Harrier was seen leaving its roost. Later on a Great White Egret was seen having a fracas with a Grey Heron and a Bittern flew across as it swapped reed-beds. JV/PS.
Great White Egret and Grey Heron – Pete Smith.
This morning, during the Bird Count, a Purple Heron was seen flying over the site. It later appeared at Langford Lowfields. Also seen was a Sandwich Tern that spent a few minutes over the Common Tern rafts before continuing its journey north. A Hobby was seen over the Deep Pit and the Grasshopper Warbler was still singing on the Ecopark and there were good numbers seen of most of the other warbler species. Some dragonfly species were also seen, including several Hairy Dragonflies. PS.
This morning between four and six Hobbies were seen over the Gravel Pits. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the Ecopark. JV.
Grasshopper Warbler – Jason Vickers.
In the late afternoon two Dingy Skippers were seen on the Butterfly Bank. JDn.
Dingy Skipper – Jackie Dennison.