Tag Archives: House Martin

Cattle Egret – 9th April

This morning there were plenty of hirundines about and Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers singing. In mid-morning seven Cattle Egrets flew north, along the river and then crossed the pylon path and returned whence they came except for one that landed in a riverside ash tree, where Black-headed Gulls proceeded to mob it. It then flew over the power lines and into a Deep Pit willow, where it stayed. PS.

Cattle Egrets – Neil Hodgkinson

Cattle Egret – Peter Smith

In the evening four House Martins were seen near the railway bridge. MC.

Wheatear – 27th August

This morning a single and later a pair of Yellow Wagtails flew over the site towards the south. On the Causeway path a Wheatear was foraging for food and a flock of hirundines, including at least 20 House Martins, was feeding overhead. From time to time a group of Swallows or Sand Martins would join them before moving on south. Later fourteen Shoveler flew in and settled on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Wheatear. PS.

Hobby – 4th September

This morning the Dunlin was still on the Slurry Lagoon with six Lapwings. There were ten Wigeon and a Hobby briefly harassed some migrating Swallows and House Martins. PS.

There was also one Snipe flying around over the Slurry Lagoon and, later, a Ringed Plover did the same before heading off SE. Two immature Yellow-legged Gulls were amongst the gull flock on the Slurry Lagoon. MC.

Marsh Harrier – 20th August

This morning the female Marsh Harrier was still in residence, and was seen several times quartering the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. Also on the Slurry Lagoon were an Egyptian Goose, two Black-tailed Godwits and a Green Sandpiper. Some Swallows passed through on passage and about twenty House Martins were feeding above the Causeway. PS.

Female Marsh Harrier – PS

Water Rail – 12th May

This morning a pair of Water Rail were seen on the Slurry Lagoon, with a chick. The Cuckoo was singing from the Slurry Lagoon and Large Gravel Pit all morning. Up to six Swifts were foraging over the north end of the Deep Pit and Slurry Lagoon, with sometimes a small flock of House Martins. RJP.

A Hobby was seen over the Slurry Lagoon and 3 LRPs a Greenshank and 2 Wood Sandpipers were on the Ecopark along with 2 Yellow Wagtails.  IEP.

Little Ringed Plover – 25th April

This morning a Little Ringed Plover was calling on the Ecopark. There was an Arctic Tern along the river and Deep Pit. A Green Sandpiper was over the river in the field with 2 Shelducks. A House Martin was over the Deep Pit and a Kingfisher was on the river near the bridge with a Grey Wagtail. A couple of Lesser Whitethroat were singing on site and a Cuckoo was in the Haven/Large Gravel Pit area.  IEP.