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.
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.
On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon there were two very tired looking Little Ringed Plovers. One or two Swallows were about as well as three Sand Martins and there were six Little Egrets on the Wader Scrape. PS.
This morning there were three Oystercatchers on the Wader Scrape. There were also two Little Egrets, 30 Gadwall and some Lapwings. A Redshank flew through to the east and a Peacock butterfly was near the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning there were three Little Egrets along the Ouse Dyke but no sign of the Green Sandpiper. A female Peregrine flew low, right through the Deep Pit and then up and over the signal box and a little later the male Peregrine was seen taking repeated stoops at a Buzzard. On the Wader Scrape the male Stonechat was still to be seen and the first Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine flowers are now out. PS.
There were five Little Egrets together along the Ouse Dyke this morning. The Green Sandpiper was in its usual place and two Chiffchaffs were feeding together. On the hedge between the Wader Scrape and the bottom of the Deep Pit bank the male Stonechat was showing well. PS.
The Green Sandpiper was in its usual spot again this morning, on the Ouse Dyke. There was also a Grey Wagtail, Water Rail, Kingfisher and Little Egret. The bird table at the end of the Causeway is attracting a good mixed flock, including six Reed Buntings. Please feel free to bring food to replenish the bird table. PS.
During this morning’s bird count the Ouse Dyke was again very productive, with Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and two Water Rails being seen. On the Wader Scrape a male Stonechat was spotted and a Peregrine flew over, along the pylons. More Water Rails were seen and heard and several Cetti’s Warblers were recorded. PS.
The Green Sandpiper was again seen along the Ouse Dyke this morning, along with a Chiffchaff and a Little Egret. There were seven goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit. PS
This morning, along the Ouse Dyke, the Green Sandpiper was seen on its usual patch of mud, there were also two Chiffchaffs, two Water Rails and two Little Egrets. On the bank of the Ouse Dyke, near the substation the male Stonechat was seen. PS.