Tag Archives: Mandarin

Mandarin – 20th March

March 20, 2021Recent wildlife sightings2021, 20th March, Black-headed Gull, Deep Pit, Goosander, Mandarin, Poulter BrookPete Smith

This afternoon a male Mandarin was on the Trent, near the Poulter Brook, and a pair of Goosanders were nearby. There was a large aggregation of at least 500 Black-headed Gulls on the Deep Pit. JDn.

Mandarin – 2nd August

August 2, 2017Recent wildlife sightings2017, 2nd August, Mandarin, pintail, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This afternoon two female Mandarins were on the Slurry Lagoon. The female Pintail was also still present. JMD.

Golden Plover – 13th October

October 13, 2016Recent wildlife sightings13th October, 2016, Golden Plover, Greylag Goose, MandarinPete Smith

This morning the drake Mandarin was back with the Greylag Geese on the field across the river. Seven Golden Plover flew northwards across the site. PS.

Willow Tit – 22nd November

November 22, 2015Recent wildlife sightingsBlack Swan, Grey-lag Goose, Mandarin, peregrine, Redpoll, White-fronted Goose, Willow titPete Smith

This morning there were several hundred mainly Grey-lag Geese on the Large Gravel Pit. Amongst them was the Mandarin drake again and the Black Swan is still in residence. A young male Peregrine was hunting over the reserve and a Golden Plover flew over calling. Along the Lower Path there were some small finch flocks and a flock containing several Redpoll also had a Willow Tit tagging along. Four geese flying over separately from the other geese were possibly White-fronted Geese, but it wasn’t possible to get a good view of them to be certain. PS.

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.

Bittern – 20th October

October 20, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 20th October, Bittern, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Mandarin, Noctule, Pipistrelle, StarlingPete Smith

The Black Swan spent the day with two Mute Swans on the Deep Pit. In the evening the Mandarin arrived with its goose friends and flew across the site three times before they decided to roost somewhere else. About 5,000 Starlings came in to roost and later a Bittern was seen and a Tawny Owl was heard. Noctule and Pipistrelle were recorded on the bat detector. RW.

Mandarin – 19th October

October 19, 2015Recent wildlife sightings19th October, 2015, Bearded Tit, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Grey-lag Goose, Mandarin, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Starling, water railPete Smith

This evening, whilst watching about 5,000 Starlings come in to roost, a strange looking duck came in with a squadron of Grey-lag Geese. It stayed with the flock as they flew over and was still with them when they returned to land on the Slurry Lagoon. Looking through a scope it was clear to see it was a drake Mandarin. There were also three Snipe and up to five Water Rail, one showing quite well by the bench. Earlier a 1st winter Bearded Tit was also seen in the reed bed. PS.

Later on the Black Swan came in to roost in the Deep Pit. RW.