Tag Archives: Redwing

Brambling – 18th October

October 18, 2013Recent wildlife sightings18th October, 2013, Brambling, Chaffinch, Egyptian Goose, goldfinch, greenfinch, Meadow Pipit, peregrine, pintail, Redpoll, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

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.

Wheatear – 6th October

October 6, 2013Recent wildlife sightingsBrimstone, Comma, Jack Snipe, pintail, Red Admiral, Red-crested Pochard, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, WheatearPete Smith

The Patchwatch was held today and there were definite signs of passage as Skylarks, Meadow Pipits, Swallows, Song Thrushes and the first Redwings flew through. The Jack Snipe was still by the seat on the Causeway and a Wheatear was seen perched on the seat by the river steps. On the Slurry Lagoon there were still three Pintail and a Red-crested Pochard. Butterflies were about too with Brimstone, Red Admiral, Comma, Small Tortoiseshell and a very late Meadow Brown. Over 70 species of bird were seen during the day. PS.

Goosander – 1st January

January 1, 2013Recent wildlife sightings1st January, 2013, Blackbird, Goosander, Little Egret, RedwingPete Smith

A male Goosander flew up river over the railway bridge this morning. Most of the winter thrushes have gone now, only a few Redwings and Blackbirds remain. They’ve stripped most of the berries and the Blackbirds are eating the rose hips. Three Little Egrets were also seen, along the Ouse Dyke. PS.

Waxwing – 2nd December

December 2, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 2nd December, Fieldfare, goldfinch, Goosander, Lapwing, Little Egret, Lower Path, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Redpoll, Redshank, Redwing, Siskin, Snipe, WaxwingPete Smith

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

November 4, 2012Recent wildlife sightings10th february, 2012, 4th November, Brambling, Redpoll, Redwing, Short-eared Owl, Siskin, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

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

October 28, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 28th October, Bearded Tit, Chiffchaff, Fieldfare, Little Egret, Redpoll, Redwing, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

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.

Smew – 22nd January

January 22, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 22nd January, birds, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, SmewPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had a Red-head Smew on it this morning. Also found were up to ten Goldeneye and there were five Little Egrets. In the bushes beside the Slurry Lagoon there were good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares and a Redpoll was heard calling as it flew over. AE.CH.PS.

Chiffchaff – 26th December

December 26, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 26th December, birds, Blackbird, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Little Egret, Lowere Path, RedwingPete Smith

This morning a Chiffchaff was seen foraging along the Lower Path. There were also large flocks of Redwings, Fieldfares and smaller numbers of Blackbirds feeding on the Hawthorn berries. There were up to four Little Egrets along the Ouse Dyke and a Cetti’s Warbler was singing from the Deep Pit. PS.

Peregrine – 18th December

December 18, 2011Recent wildlife sightings18th December, 2011, birds, Black-headed Gull, Blackbird, Cettis Warbler, Fieilfare, Lapwing, peregrine, Redwing, tealPete Smith

This morning the frost had taken a hold of the site and thin ice was forming on most of the lagoons. There were large flocks of winter thrushes, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. By the Gravel Pits there were two Cetti’s Warblers and the Slurry Lagoon held over 300 Teal with Black-headed Gulls and Lapwings. A Peregrine flew low across the bank in front of us, skimming the tops of the reeds, directly at the flocks of birds, which erupted into the air as one. In the confusion the Peregrine missed its mark and withdrew to the top of a pylon. PS.

Golden Plover – 14th October

October 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th October, 2011, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, pintail, Redwing, Shoveler, Siskin, Skylark, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

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.