Tag Archives: Large Gravel Pit

Barn Owl – 18th March

March 19, 2011Recent wildlife sightings18th March, 2011, Barn Owl, birds, butterflies, Chiffchaff, Large Gravel PitPete Smith

A Barn Owl was seen again this evening at about 16.30, hunting around the Large Gravel Pit. Three to four Chiffchaffs were present and four Commas and two Small Tortoiseshells were also seen. PS.

Chiffchaff – 13th March

March 13, 2011Recent wildlife sightings13th March, 2011, birds, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Golden-eye, Goosander, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, Ouse Dyke, Severn/Trent land, SiskinPete Smith

At last the first spring migrant has arrived. A Chiffchaff was seen in the willows along the Ouse Dyke path this morning, along with two Goldcrests and three Siskins. On the Large Gravel Pit the Golden-eyes were displaying, as were some Lapwings on the Severn/Trent land. A female Goosander was on the river and a flock of Golden Plover were heard calling from towards Stoke Bardolph. PS.

Smew – 20th February

February 20, 2011Recent wildlife sightingsColtsfoot, Curlew, Large Gravel Pit, Merlin, pintail, Slurry Lagoon, SmewPete Smith

Spring is in the air – at least I found my first open Coltsfoot of the year. A female Smew was found on the Slurry Lagoon this morning and as we looked at her a male Pintail also arrived. The Smew took off but was relocated on the Large Gravel Pit. Later on a Curlew flew through and a Merlin was seen hunting the reserve. PS AE DM.

Barn Owl – 14th January

January 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th January, 2011, Barn Owl, Gadwall, Large Gravel Pit, Lower Path, weasel, Willow tit, YellowhammerPete Smith

The Barn Owl was back over the grassland around the two gravel pits again this evening. It did not stay for as long this time though. There were approaching 200 Gadwall on the Large Fishing Pit and a Yellowhammer mobbed a Weasel in the grass in front of us as we watched the owl. The Willow Tit was heard again along the Lower Path. PS. DM.

Barn Owl – 13th January

January 13, 2011Recent wildlife sightings13th January, 2011, Barn Owl, Coot, ducks, Gadwall, Large Gravel Pit, WigeonPete Smith

Late this afternoon a Barn Owl was watched for about twenty minutes as it quartered the grass between the Large Gravel Pit and the river, several times pursued by a crow. It dropped onto something in the grass several times but it was not possible to see what it was catching, but it must be hungry to be hunting in daylight when the nights are so long. The northern end of the Large Gravel Pit (the end that was longest under the ice) was covered in wildfowl, mostly Gadwall, Wigeon and Coot. Both the other two water bodies are now more or less ice free. PS.

(At last A BARN OWL on the site for PS – Hurrah – AE)

Glaucous Gull – 12th January

January 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th January, 2011, birds, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Glaucous Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mitigation Field, Slurry Lagoon, Tree Sparrow, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, as I worked in the Deep Pit with my volunteer, a Black Swan flew over the site, with three Mute Swans, giving a pathetic squeak as it passed. Later two adult and two juvenile Mute Swans landed on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, skidding as they landed accompanied by hilarious screaming from a Water Rail. As we were preparing to go, an immature Glaucous Gull flew over the site, possibly from the Large Gravel Pit, and headed towards Holme Pierrepont. PS. DM.

Earlier in the day two Tree Sparrows were seen in S.T. hedge line near to the Mitigation Field. JMD.

Peregrine – 26th November

November 26, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 26th November, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Red-crested PochardJacqueline

The Peregrine was sitting on his favourite pylon this afternoon making sorties over the ploughed field but I didn’t see him catch anything. In the Ouse Dyke two Little Egrets were again fishing and on the Large Gravel Pit the five Red-crested Pochard are still present. JMD.

Little Egrets – 21st November

November 21, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 21st November, birds, Cettis Warbler, Golden Plover, Large Gravel Pit, Lesser Redpoll, Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

At least four Little Egrets have been attracted to the Ouse Dyke by the shoal of Dace. There were two male and two female Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit, three Golden Plover flew over and four Lesser Redpoll were present. One Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Later in the afternoon another male Red-crested Pochard was spotted bringing the total to five – three males and two females. As dusk approached skein after skein of geese flew in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. JMD.

Goosander – 19th November

November 19, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, Cettis Warbler, Goosander, lagoons, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonJacqueline

A male Goosander was on the Trent early afternoon and later two Little Egrets flying together loomed out of the mist to be swallowed up again almost instantly. The two Red-crested Pochard were again present on the Large Gravel Pit but with conditions deteriorating it was impossible to see across the Slurry Lagoon and only the shapes of geese flying in to roost were discernible. However the weather didn’t put off the Cetti’s as at least one was singing from the east side of the Slurry. JMD.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.