Tag Archives: Large Gravel Pit

Redstart – 9th April

April 9, 2016Recent wildlife sightings2016, 9th April, Blackcap, Brimstone, Causeway, Chiffchaff, Large Gravel Pit, Plantation, Red Kite, Redstart, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Small Tortoiseshell, Swallow, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning a male Redstart was seen in the Plantation, near the Causeway end. A Sedge Warbler was singing down the bank and at least five Willow Warblers were singing around the site. Up to fifteen Chiffchaffs were singing and two Blackcaps, and a Swallow was with the Sand Martins by the railway bridge. At least two Wheatears were still on the ploughed field beyond the Wader Scrape and there was still one Goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit. A Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone were seen in flight. PS.

There was also a report of a distant view of a Red Kite, towards Carlton.

Barn Owl – 22nd February

February 22, 2016Recent wildlife sightings2016, 22nd February, Barn Owl, Large Gravel PitPete Smith

This afternoon, just before dusk, two Barn Owls were quartering the grassland beside the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Smew – 14th February

February 14, 2016Recent wildlife sightings14th February, 2016, Bittern, Large Gravel Pit, Slurry Lagoon, Smew, StonechatPete Smith

During this morning’s Bird Count a female Smew was seen on the Large Gravel Pit, a Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon and a Stonechat was on the rough ground beside the Ouse Dyke. PS

Pintail – 3rd January

January 3, 2016Recent wildlife sightings2016, 3rd January, Cettis Warbler, Golden-eye, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Mute Swan, pintail, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, Song Thrush, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

Happy New Year

This morning a drake Pintail touched down briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and the two Stonechats were together on the Wader Scrape. There were five Little Egrets and a herd of about forty Mute Swans across the river, upstream from the Railway Bridge, and a small flock of mixed Redwings and Song Thrushes on the Wader Scrape, with another four Song Thrushes singing around the reserve. Five Cetti’s Warblers were heard and eleven Golden-eye were on the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Goosander – 21st December

December 21, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 21st December, Goosander, Large Gravel Pit, StonechatPete Smith

This morning a female Goosander flew over the site before investigating the Large Gravel Pit. The two Stonechats were still on the substation plantation. PS.

Stonechat – 25th November

November 25, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 25th November, Barn Owl, Large Gravel Pit, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

Today there were two Stonechats on the Wader Scrape and the Barn Owl was seen by the Large Gravel Pit. JMD.

Jack Snipe – 23rd November

November 23, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 23rd November, Barn Owl, Black Swan, Brambling, Causeway, Jack Snipe, Large Gravel Pit, Lesser Redpoll, Lower Path, Slurry Lagoon, TreecreeperPete Smith

This morning, amongst the finches along the Slurry Lagoon north path, there were at least two Bramblings. Along the Lower Path, on willow herb growing in the Typhus Pool, there was a flock of about forty Lesser Redpoll. At the water’s edge in front of the bench on the Causeway, a Jack Snipe was flushed and the Black Swan is still in residence on the Large Gravel Pit. Also a Treecreeper was seen on the old hawthorns along Willow Walk. PS.

In the evening a Barn Owl was seen over the grassland next to the Large Gravel pit. JMD.

Mandarin – 21st November

November 21, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 21st November, great spotted woodpecker, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Mandarin, Riverside WalkPete Smith

This morning there were several hundred Grey-lag and Canada Geese feeding in the field beside the reserve. With them again was the Mandarin drake that seems to think it is a goose. There was a Great Spotted Woodpecker along the Riverside Walk and a Little Egret on the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Short-eared Owl – 8th November

November 8, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 8th November, Boundary Hedge, Large Gravel Pit, Muntjac, Redpoll, Redwing, Short-eared Owl, Wader ScrapePete Smith

During this morning’s Bird Count a Short-eared Owl was seen flying beside the Wader Scrape and then across the grassland beside the Large Gravel Pit, most of the time mobbed by crows. On the bank in front of the Wader Scrape two Muntjacs were also seen, a male pursuing a female, but they soon disappeared into the Boundary Hedge. There were also plenty of thrushes and finches about, with lots of Redpoll and Redwing. PS.

Woodcock – 25th October

October 25, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 25th October, Black Swan, Large Gravel Pit, Lesser Redpoll, Lower Path, WoodcockPete Smith

This morning the Black Swan was still on the Large Gravel Pit. A flock of about forty Lesser Redpoll were feeding on Willow Herb and Meadowsweet along the Lower Path. At one time one with a very pale rump was briefly seen. A Woodcock was flushed from the willows in the SE corner of the reserve, at the river end of the Boundary Hedge. PS.