There were still at least three male Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon, still slowly emerging from their eclipse plumage. A female Goosander briefly circled the Slurry Lagoon before flying off. Two Chiffchaffs were still singing from either end of the Deep Pit and good numbers of Redwing were in the hawthorn bushes. PS.
Pintail in almost complete winter plumage. PS.
Early on there was a Great White Egret on the Slurry Lagoon, plus three Snipe and a Pintail. By mid-morning a Bittern was seen on the Large Gravel Pit and a flock of 100 Cormorants. A cream-top Marsh Harrier worked its way through the site, hunting, a Blackcap was by the railway bridge and a pair of Ravens flew across the Slurry Lagoon. Three Glossy Ibis then put in an appearance, landing on the Slurry Lagoon. They then flew around the site before returning to the Slurry Lagoon. Small flocks of Fieldfares flew through and some Redwings were in the Causeway Hawthorn bushes.
Glossy Ibis – PS.
There are now seven Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon plus one smart male Pochard. A Shelduck has also been seen. JV.
Later on there were two Stonechats and six Snipe on the Eco Park and a Brambling flew over. The Pintail and Shelduck were still there, on the Slurry Lagoon, as well as six Snipe. A Caspian Gull and two Yellow-legged Gulls were on the Deep Pit and a Red Kite flew over. There were still two Goldeneye on the Large Gravel Pit. Quite a few Redwing and Redpoll were around too. MC.
A Stonechat was seen in the reed-bed in front of the Causeway benches and later, probably the same bird, was seen on the gate to the Wader Scrape. There were three Dunlin and three Pintail on the Slurry Lagoon and, early on, a Marsh Harrier was seen and thee Whooper Swans flew over. The Skylark passage continued overhead and Redwing were seen in good numbers with a few Fieldfare. PS. JV.
This morning a Bittern was seen flying into the Large Gravel Pit reeds and two female Goldeneye were on the Large Gravel Pit and the Pintails are still on the Slurry Lagoon. Several small flocks of Redwing and some Fieldfares were seen flying over and in the hawthorns. Flocks of Long-tailed Tits were still containing Chiffchaffs and three Swallows were feeding over the Slurry Lagoon. PS. JV.
Pintail – male – PS.
Goldeneye – PS.
This morning three female Common Scoters were on the Deep Pit, seven Whooper Swans flew through to the north as well as seven Great White Egrets, three of which spent some time on the Slurry Lagoon. A Fieldfare was eating berries in the Causeway bushes behind the benches and seventy Redwings flew in from the north, turned around and flew back again. The two Pintail were still feeding on the Slurry Lagoon. PS. JV.
Common Scoters – JV.
Whooper Swans – JV.
This morning, as the sun rose, two cream-top Marsh Harriers were seen leaving their roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. There were at least 50 Wigeon on the Slurry Lagoon and later two Bearded Reedlings flew across in front of the bench. Two Redpoll flew over and, along the Pylon Path, first a Brambling, then about 80 Redwing flew over.
This morning there was a light passage of Skylarks and Swallows. Three Golden Plover and a Lapwing also flew over. A Raven was calling from a pylon and later a Redwing flew over and some were on the Hawthorns along the Lower Path. A Mistle Thrush flew over (an unusual bird for the site) and six Water Rail were heard calling from different reed-beds. Towards late morning a Cream-top Marsh Harrier was seen in the distance as it left the site. PS.
Raven – Pete Smith
This morning, amongst the Fieldfares and Redwings, four Waxwings were seen at the southern end of the Causeway, before moving to hawthorns below the Pylon Path. NH.
This morning three Goosander flew over the reserve. A Peregrine was on the new pylon and there were good numbers of Redwing and Blackbird about. PS.