A Woodcock was seen this afternoon close to the Large Gravel Pit, where there were unusually high numbers of Tufted Duck present. The Tufted Duck/Pochard hybrid was also seen on the river. PS
Tag Archives: Large Gravel Pit
Goosander – 27th January
This afternoon a Peregrine flew from the river over the Large Gravel Pit, causing consternation amongst the Wigeon. Later a Little Egret was seen standing quietly in a corner of the same pit and towards dusk two male Goosander were also seen swimming and diving on the pit. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed and several Water Rail were calling or seen at several parts of the site. PS.
Cetti’s – 28th December
A Cetti’s Warbler was singing quite strongly in the Deep Pit this morning. The Slurry is still frozen solid but both the Large Gravel Pit and the Deep Pit have small areas of open water in which all the birds are gathering. A few Redwing and Fieldfare in the the hawthorn bushes but not the large flocks of the past few days. JMD.
Winter Solstice – 21st December
It was beautiful at the Lagoons today. The Slurry is completely frozen and the Large Gravel Pit it partially frozen so the birds are more concentrated. The cold weather has pushed in large numbers of winter thrushes particularly Redwing and Fieldfare attracted by the abundance of hawthorn berries and in S.T. fields a flock of approximately 130 Golden Plover was resting. JMD.
Mediterranean Gull – 19th December
An adult winter Mediterranean Gull was seen on the Large Gravel Pit this afternoon. RW.
Little Egret – 15th November
A Little Egret was seen this morning in the large willow tree beside the Large Gravel Pit. It later flew to the dead ash trees beside the Slurry Lagoon but was chased back to its previous perch by a Carrion Crow. A Tawny Owl was found at its roost in the Deep Pit by several Blackbirds, there were also two Cetti’s Warblers singing nearby. In the reed bed on the Slurry Lagoon three Water Rail were heard calling and two Snipe were also seen here along with good numbers of Teal and Shoveler. A Peregrine was hunting over nearby fields, putting up clouds of pigeons, gulls, Lapwings and corvids. PS.
Goldeneye – 28th October
This morning there were two Cetti’s Warblers in song on the Slurry Lagoon. There were also two Goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit and 25 Golden Plover were present. RW.
Mediterranean Gull – 17th October
A 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull was present on the Large Gravel Pit this morning. The Jack Snipe and Dunlin were still present on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon, and about 18 Lesser Redpoll flew over. RW.
Common Redstart – 24th September
A female Common Redstart was in bushes in the Large Gravel Pit area this afternoon and at least two Roesel’s Bush Crickets were ‘singing’ at approximately G3. The Pintail was still present on the Slurry Lagoon and the Cetti’s gave a brief burst of song mid morning. JMD.
Cetti’s Warbler – 2nd August
Two Cetti’s Warblers were seen feeding at least two young birds in the Deep Pit this morning. There were lots of other warblers present too. A Black-tailed Godwit also put in a brief appearance on the Slurry Lagoon and four Small Red-eyed Damselflies were seen on the Large Gravel Pit.