There were a good number of ducks on the Large Gravel Pit today, including Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and two male Red-crested Pochard, one still in eclipse, as well as lots of Coots. Seven Swallows flew through and four more, possibly the remnants of our residents, were near the railway line. On the Slurry Lagoon the numbers of Teal and Shoveler continue to build and there were two juvenile Ruff amongst the Lapwing flock. PS.
Tag Archives: Lapwing
Ruff – 5th September
Two juvenile Ruff, a male and a female, were on the Slurry Lagoon this morning. A Peregrine sliced through the Lapwing flock but didn’t manage to catch anything and ten Wigeon arrived to rest on the lagoon. A large flock of Swallows passed through late morning, accompanied by three Swifts and the Willow Tit was present along the Lower Path again with a large flock of other tits, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs. Two Snipe were also seen flying over. PS. AE.
In the early afternoon a juvenile Little Stint and a juvenile Ruff were present. RW.
Little Stint – 23rd August
There was a Willow Tit and several very smart juvenile Chiffchaffs along the Lower Path today. On the Slurry Lagoon the Lapwings kept chasing a Little Stint, that only wanted to have a snooze. The Lapwings also chased a Redshank until it found a corner well away from them. Two Snipe were also present, dwarfing the Little Stint as the three flew over the site together to avoid the pursuing Lapwings. JMD. PS.
Little Egret – 22nd July
On the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon there were one Little Egret, 43 Common Tern, 102 Lapwing, one Common Sandpiper, two Green Sandpipers, two Yellow-legged Gulls and a Water Rail. RW.
Fox and Gulls – 4th July
The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon is beginning to build up again and today there were about sixty Black-headed Gulls, including about ten juveniles and several Lesser Black-backs. Suddenly a fox dashed out of the reed-bed, grabbed one and disappeared again. All of the gulls took to the air but soon settled back down again. Amongst the gulls were a few Lapwings and a Redshank. A Willow Tit was heard again along the Lower Path. PS.
Peregrine – 15th January
A Peregrine was seen this afternoon, catching a Redwing and carrying it to a pylon to eat. There was a large flock of Teal on the Deep Pit, possibly over 400, and a flock of 73 Lapwings joined them to rest on the ice. Four Meadow Pipits and a Yellowhammer were also seen. PS.
Dunlin – 2nd December
A Dunlin joined the Lapwings in their aerial manouvers over the Slurry Lagoon this evening, while up to seven Water Rail and two Cetti’s Warblers were calling. PS.