This morning was very quiet at the lagoons, with very few ducks on the Slurry Lagoon. There was a female Pochard on the Deep Pit and a female Goosander flew over. The Large Gravel Pit did slightly better with some Wigeon and some Goldeneye, including a splendid male. There were plenty of Redwing about and even a few Fieldfares put in an appearance. PS.
Early on there was a Great White Egret on the Slurry Lagoon, plus three Snipe and a Pintail. By mid-morning a Bittern was seen on the Large Gravel Pit and a flock of 100 Cormorants. A cream-top Marsh Harrier worked its way through the site, hunting, a Blackcap was by the railway bridge and a pair of Ravens flew across the Slurry Lagoon. Three Glossy Ibis then put in an appearance, landing on the Slurry Lagoon. They then flew around the site before returning to the Slurry Lagoon. Small flocks of Fieldfares flew through and some Redwings were in the Causeway Hawthorn bushes.
Glossy Ibis – PS.
There are now seven Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon plus one smart male Pochard. A Shelduck has also been seen. JV.
Later on there were two Stonechats and six Snipe on the Eco Park and a Brambling flew over. The Pintail and Shelduck were still there, on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as six Snipe. A Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the Deep Pit and a Red Kite flew over. There were still two Goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit. Quite a few Redwing and Redpoll were around too. MC.
This morning a Bittern was seen flying into the Large Gravel Pit reeds and two female Goldeneye were on the Large Gravel Pit and the Pintails are still on the Slurry Lagoon. Several small flocks of Redwing and some Fieldfares were seen flying over and in the hawthorns. Flocks of Long-tailed Tits were still containing Chiffchaffs and three Swallows were feeding over the Slurry Lagoon. PS. JV.
Pintail – male – PS.
Goldeneye – 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.
This morning an Otter was seen in the Slurry Lagoon, a Red-crested Pochard was on the Deep Pit, a Great White Egret was on the Large Gravel Pit and a Marsh Harrier over the Slurry Lagoon. Later in the morning two Mediterranean Gulls were on the Deep Pit. There are many Chiffchaffs already on site and singing, along with several Blackcaps. JV – PS.
This morning the Starlings were seen leaving the Deep Pit and Slurry Lagoon reed-beds in very large numbers. The wing-tagged Marsh Harrier had spent the night again too. JV.
A Great White Egret was seen as it departed the Large Gravel Pit. RJP.
This morning, during the Monthly Bird Count, a flock of 26 Goosander flew over the Large Gravel Pit. In the Severn/Trent plantation a flock of Siskin, Redpoll and Goldfinch were feeding in the Alders. PS.
This morning a Bittern was seen, flying over the Large Gravel Pit. There was also a report of a Marsh Harrier over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed at about mid-day. RJP.
This morning three Whooper Swans circled the site before deciding to fly off high to the east. A Bittern was seen in the reed-bed at the north end of the Large Gravel Pit and three Ravens were seen on the pylons. At least four Common Gulls were on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
