The Ouse Dyke has lost its Little Egrets for the time being, but a nice male Brambling was in the hedge alondside it this morning. There were still lots of winter thrushes about, mostly Redwings and Blackbirds with just a few Fieldfares. On the river were some Goldeneyes and then two immature male and a female Goosander swam into view. A Willow Tit was noted along the Lower Path. The Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit are still frozen but there is little sign of snow on the ground now. PS/AE.
Tag Archives: Redwing
Goosander – 28th December
Pink-footed Goose – 20th October
This morning there were lots of signs of birds migrating through the site. Several small flocks of Fieldfares went over, with a few Redwing. Amongst the finches going over was heard a Redpoll, Siskin and Brambling, plus three Tree Sparrows went through. A Swallow flew over the Deep Pit, where a drake Golden-eye had attached itself to a small Tufty flock. The stoccato calls of about 200 Pink-footed Geese attracted my attention as they flew through to the east. PS.
Bearded Tit – 19th October
As I stood on the Causeway this morning an explosion of pinging calls alerted me to a female Bearded Tit, nerving herself up to crossing the gap in the reeds in front of the bench. She dashed across the gap and into the reeds, pinging twice more before returning to silent running. There were also five Redwing in the corner by the metal gates and two Cetti’s Warblers were singing, one in the Deep Pit and one by the Haven. The geese were in the furthest pasture field, across the river, too far away to tell if the Ross’s Goose was still with them. PS.
Peregrine – 15th January
A Peregrine was seen this afternoon, catching a Redwing and carrying it to a pylon to eat. There was a large flock of Teal on the Deep Pit, possibly over 400, and a flock of 73 Lapwings joined them to rest on the ice. Four Meadow Pipits and a Yellowhammer were also seen. PS.
Cetti’s – 28th December
A Cetti’s Warbler was singing quite strongly in the Deep Pit this morning. The Slurry is still frozen solid but both the Large Gravel Pit and the Deep Pit have small areas of open water in which all the birds are gathering. A few Redwing and Fieldfare in the the hawthorn bushes but not the large flocks of the past few days. JMD.
Lots to see at the Lagoons today – 23rd December
There were good numbers of Redwing around 350-400, 50+ Fieldfare, 1 Peregrine sat on the arms of one of the pylons on Severn Trent land, over 350 E.Teal, 40+Greenfinch near Rossi’s,a single Common Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cettis Warbler calling briefly from the Deep Water Lagoon bank, 75+Goldfinch mixed in with smaller numbers of Greenfinch and Linnet.(DM)
Winter Solstice – 21st December
It was beautiful at the Lagoons today. The Slurry is completely frozen and the Large Gravel Pit it partially frozen so the birds are more concentrated. The cold weather has pushed in large numbers of winter thrushes particularly Redwing and Fieldfare attracted by the abundance of hawthorn berries and in S.T. fields a flock of approximately 130 Golden Plover was resting. JMD.
Goosander – 13th December
During this morning’s Bird Count a male Goosander flew over the Large Gravel Pit and approximately fifty Pink-footed Geese flew west. There were good numbers of Redwings and Blackbirds and a Buzzard circled quite low over the Slurry Lagoon. The Cetti’s Warblers were heard in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed and the Deep pit and around eight Water Rail were also heard. The large Gravel Pit also had four Golden-eye on it and thirty-six Wigeon. PS
Tawny Owl – 8th December
About 70 Wigeon flew NE over the reserve this evening. As dusk approached Redwings came into the Deep Pit scrub to roost. Up to seven Water Rail were calling and three Cetti’s Warblers. As it got darker a Tawny Owl hooted. PS.
Stonechat – 23rd October
This morning a male and female Stonechat were on the outside of the Deep Pit bank, at its north eastern corner. Inside the Deep Pit bank two Cetti’s Warblers were showing well together. On the Slurry Lagoon was a Dunlin and a Snipe and several Water Rail were calling. Two Redwing, six Siskin and a Redpoll flew over and about sixty Golden Plovers came in to rest on the Slurry Lagoon. The Willow Tit was showing well on the Lower Path. PS.
At the other end of the day the Starling roost is building up to quite a spectacle with thousands of birds flying in to roost in the Slurry reed beds. This evening so much activity attracted a Sparrowhawk who after one or two unsuccessful passes over the reeds sat in a bush and watched as the Starlings, aware of her presence, flew straight into the reeds. JMD.