This morning some Bearded Tits were heard calling in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. Eight Golden Plover nearly joined the Lapwings on the Slurry Lagoon before flying off to the SE, a Brambling was seen on the Causeway and two Golden-eye flew around the site before landing on the Large Gravel Pit. Three flocks of Fieldfares flew through and there was a small arrival of Goldcrests. Four Chiffchaff were along the Ouse Dyke and also seen were several Redpoll, Siskins, a Mistle Thrush and a Jay. PS.
Tag Archives: Redpoll
Bearded Tit – 18th October
Pintail – 1st October
Today there were five Pintail on the Large Gravel Pit with 260 Wigeon and there were 155 Shoveler on the Slurry Lagoon. 23 Redpoll were also seen. RW.
Brambling – 18th October
A large finch and bunting flock has formed at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, mostly consisting of Reed Buntings and Goldfinches but also containing a few Green Finches and Chaffinches, with one male Brambling. Also present were a few Meadow Pipits. On the Slurry Lagoon a Redshank was present early on and later five Egyptian Geese flew in and at least one Pintail is still present. Two Peregrines, probably both males, flew over calling loudly, one making occasional stoops at the other, talons outstretched. Also seen were two Redpoll and two small flocks of Redwings. PS.
Chiffchaff – 6th January
This morning there was a flock of about 40 Redpoll on the Ouse Dyke, near the Boundary Hedge. They were feeding along the banks on the seeds of stinging nettles. Near the signal box on the railway embankment around 20 Waxwings were feeding on the far side and flying up into the ash trees. Along the Ouse Dyke, between the footbridge and Teal Close there were five Chiffchaffs. The first were two together which were normal colouring but there were then three single birds and two of them were quite pale and one was very green and showed a wing bar. All of them, however, were pumping their tails. PS.
Waxwing – 2nd December
This morning there were large flocks of thrushes and finches along the railway embankment. There were hundreds of Redwings with smaller numbers of Fieldfares and amongst the thrush flock were twelve Waxwings. About thirty Linnets were in a flock with Goldfinches and a few Redpolls. Near the ford on the Lower Path a Treecreeper was investigating the bark on an ash tree. Across the river seven Herons stood amongst the still puddled fields with flocks of Black-headed Gulls and Grey-lag Geese. Amongst them were a few Lapwings and two Redshank. In some Alders between the Boundary Hedge and the Ouse Dyke, three Siskins were feeding with Goldfinches and on the Ouse Dyke bank five Redpoll were feeding on stinging nettle seeds. One male had a beautiful, soft, rose-pink breast. Along the Ouse Dyke three Little Egrets were feeding and ten Snipe circled around before settling near the National Grid development. A Peregrine was also seen over the Severn/Trent land. In the afternoon two Goosander were seen flying up river. PS.
Short-eared Owl – 4th November
This morning was cold and frosty and fairly quiet at the lagoons. Near the steps down to the Ouse Dyke footbridge the ‘dzweee’ call of a Brambling attracted attention to a splendid male in a hawthorn bush. There were several Redpolls, some Siskins, Fieldfares and Redwings about as well. In the late morning a Short-eared Owl was seen flying high over the Slurry Lagoon reed bed, pursued by some crows and a gull. It flew out towards Burton Joyce but then veered back and came right overhead again and was last seen disappearing towards Ratcliffe, crows still in pursuit. PS.
Bearded Tit – 28th October
A Bearded Tit was heard in the reed bed in the NE corner of the Slurry Lagoon this morning. It was later seen by another observer as it flew out into the centre of the reed bed on the dry end. There were also two Little Egrets, several Redpolls, and a Chiffchaff. Redwing and Fieldfares were also seen in small numbers. PS.
Green-winged Teal – Patchwatch day – 14th October
Today, during the Patchwatch, 74 species of bird were seen on the site. There were good numbers of Lesser Redpoll about as well as Song Thrushes and Skylarks. The highlight was provided by a male Green-winged Teal on the Slurry Lagoon with about 150 Eurasian Teal. Other good site finds were three Jays, a Tree Sparrow and a very late Sand Martin, plus two skeins of about 65 each of Pink-footed Geese flew over to the east. PS.
Yellow Wagtail – 13th April
This morning was cool and over cast and not very promising for migrant spotting. Towards mid-morning the clouds started to break up and the sun nearly shone. Over the Deep Pit eight Common Terns squabbled and chased before two pairs settled on the breeding platforms. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit, along the Causeway. Most other migrants flew through, including four Swallows, two Sand Martins, a House Martin, three Yellow Wagtails and a Lesser Redpoll. PS.
This egg was found on the Causeway, it had been predated by a Magpie. It is about 25cm long. Can anybody identify it ?
Peregrine – 31st October
The Willow Tit and eight Redpoll were seen along the Lower Path this morning and one or two Siskins are still flying through. All three Cetti’s were heard singing, so let’s hope they all survive the winter. A Peregrine flew over the site putting everything to flight and landed on a pylon. Two Golden Plover were seen flying around the site before departing north and a Snipe went up while 300 Lapwing eventually settled down on the Slurry Lagoon again. The goose flock on the Severn Trent land also went up and the Rossi’s Goose was spotted amongst them again. PS.