A Little Egret was on the Slurry Lagoon late afternoon but flew away after unsuccessfully trying to see the Lapwings off. The male Pintail is still present and he seems to commute between the Large Gravel Pit and the Slurry Lagoon. The Starling roost was spectactular again with thousands of birds gathering on two particular pylons before coming in waves to roost in the Slurry reed bed. JMD.
Tag Archives: pintail
Golden Plover – 14th October
This morning there was lots of evidence of migration at the lagoons with a constant trickle of Skylarks flying over. One or two large flocks of Fieldfares also went through and some Redwings are already in the hawthorn hedges. A flock of thirteen Lesser Redpolls dropped onto the bushes on the Deep Pit banks and one or two Siskins are still going through. On the Slurry Lagoon the two Pintail are still present, one beginning to attain the winter plumage of a male, and the Teal and Shoveler are well into developing their winter plumages too. The Lapwing flock is building up as several small flocks came in to join them. Unlike the Lapwings a flock of 18 Golden Plover flew in but decided not to land and disappeared again over the neighbouring farmland. PS.
Curlew – 5th October
A Curlew spent some time on the Slurry Lagoon late this afternoon. Two Pintail are still present and a Water Rail was creeping along just inside the reeds. Geese numbers are building up as the sweetcorn fields are harvested. JMD.
Wheatear – 20th September
This morning there were two Wheatears on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, amongst the Coltsfoot. At the other end there was a Yellow-legged Gull and two Pintail are still present. RW.
Arctic Skua – 16th September
This morning at about 10.00 the Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon, walking along the front of the reed bed. There were also four Pintail and a Green Sandpiper present. On the river there were five Common Sandpipers and a Curlew. RW.
In the afternoon, about 15.00 all of the gulls flew up as an Arctic Skua came in. It bathed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before half-heartedly chasing a few Black-headed Gulls and then it flew off to the north-east. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling and so was a Water Rail, and some Swallows went through, going north. Two Buzzards spiralled over and several Yellow Wagtails went through. PS. RW.
Pintail – 14th September
This afternoon two Pintail and a Common Sandpiper were seen on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.
Smew – 20th February
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.
Pintail – 30th September
On the Lower Path this morning was a Willow Tit, and a Jay later flew over the site. The Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon and the Cetti’s Warbler could be heard singing from the Causeway. PS.
Caspian Gull – 27th September
During the ‘Patchwatch’ a Caspian Gull was tentatively identified on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present was a Dunlin, two Green Sandpipers, three Jays and the Pintail. There were still several species of warbler in evidence and a light passage of Skylarks and Meadow Pipits was noted. The Peregrine was seen again and two skeins of Pink-footed Geese were seen flying west. Seventy-six species of bird were noted during the day. PS.
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.