This morning there was still a steady passage of Hirundines, including some Sand Martins. Two Ravens were seen several times and there were three Hobbies catching dragonflies. Along the Boundary Hedge there were several dragonflies including at least seven Willow Emeralds. On the north path beside the Slurry Lagoon an unusually dark Comma was seen. PS.
Willow Emerald
This morning, during the Bird Walk, two ravens were on the pylons and also crossed and re-crossed the site several times. A Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the Causeway benches, a female Marsh Harrier flew over the site but continued over the river, and a Hobby was over the Small Gravel Pit. Also the first few Siskins were heard passing over-head. PS.
Ravens.
This morning the male, eclipse Garganey was on the Slurry Lagoon again. Three Egyptian Geese flew through and a Raven ‘cronked’ as it flew across the river. Later in the morning a Sandwich Tern called as it flew NE over the site. PS.
Male, eclipse Garganey with two male, eclipse Shoveler.
This morning a Raven was perched on the Small Gravel Pit pylon. Later a Hobby was hawking insects over the Large Gravel Pit and Deep Pit. RJP.
This morning there were eighteen Whooper Swans on the Slurry Lagoon. Four Bearded Reedlings were seen in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed, a Peregrine passed through and there were four Sand Martins by the railway bridge. PD.
Later a group of seven Buzzards were displaying and tussling in the same thermal. First a Raven joined them and later a Red Kite flew through them without reacting. The Whooper Swans left at about 11.30. PS.
In the late afternoon a Blackcap was singing from the Causeway. RJP.
This morning both Peregrines were on the new pylon. Two Ravens flew over the Slurry Lagoon towards the Enva plant and an Egyptian Goose flew over towards the north. PS.
Later a Goosander was seen on the river. RJP.
In the afternoon the Bearded Reedlings were heard on the east side of the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed and a Pink-footed Goose was seen with the Greylag flock across the river. MC.
This morning, during the Monthly Birdcount, four Whooper Swans circled over the Deep Pit. They very nearly landed, but thought better of it. The Marsh Harrier was seen again, being mobbed by crows in the Deep Pit and later flying high over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed and a Raven was also seen over the Slurry Lagoon. Over the Ecopark a Ring-necked Parakeet was seen. PS.
This morning a male Goosander circled the site and two Ravens were about most of the morning. The Bearded Reedlings were heard, but not seen, from the Causeway. PS.
This morning a Great White Egret flew over the site and a Raven was seen and heard a few times as it foraged about. Near the Causeway bench, two male and two female Bearded Reedlings were seen in the nearby reedbed. PS.
This morning there was a massive passage of Fieldfares and Redwings, with hundreds flying overhead. Also seen were a Red Kite and a Raven. On the Slurry Lagoon a Dunlin appeared, and the Pintail and Garganey were still present and a single Bearded Reedling was seen flying twice across in front of the Causeway bench. PS.
In the afternoon a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was on the Slurry Lagoon and a male and female Bearded Reedling showed down to a few metres. Later on a juvenile Marsh Harrier was seen hunting the Slurry Lagoon. MC.
