Tag Archives: Sand Martin

Cattle Egret – 9th April

April 9, 2024Recent wildlife sightings2024, 9th April, Cattle Egret, House Martin, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning there were plenty of hirundines about and Willow, Sedge and Reed Warblers singing. In mid-morning seven Cattle Egrets flew north, along the river and then crossed the pylon path and returned whence they came except for one that landed in a riverside ash tree, where Black-headed Gulls proceeded to mob it. It then flew over the power lines and into a Deep Pit willow, where it stayed. PS.

Cattle Egrets – Neil Hodgkinson

Cattle Egret – Peter Smith

In the evening four House Martins were seen near the railway bridge. MC.

Little Gull – 6th April

April 7, 2024Recent wildlife sightings2024, 6th April, Deep Pit, Little Gull, Sand Martin, Scaup, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning there were five Willow Warblers singing and a Swallow was seen with four Sand Martins. There was also a report of a Scaup. PD.

Later a 1st summer Little Gull was flying over the Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit. MC.

Little Gull – Miles Cluff

Willow Emerald – 25th September

September 25, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 25th September, Boundary Hedge, Comma, hirundines, Hobby, Raven, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagooon, Willow EmeraldPete Smith

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

Wheatear – 27th August

August 27, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 27th August, Causeway, House Martin, Sand Martin, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Wheatear, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a single and later a pair of Yellow Wagtails flew over the site towards the south. On the Causeway path a Wheatear was foraging for food and a flock of hirundines, including at least 20 House Martins, was feeding overhead. From time to time a group of Swallows or Sand Martins would join them before moving on south. Later fourteen Shoveler flew in and settled on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Wheatear. PS.

Sand Martin – 26th March

March 27, 2023Recent wildlife sightings2023, 26th March, Oystercatcher, Sand MartinPete Smith

This morning five Sand Martins were seen over the river by the railway bridge. On the flash, across the river there were two Oystercatchers. SC

Green Hairstreak – 14th April

April 14, 2022Recent wildlife sightings14th April, 2022, Blackcap, Brimstone, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Green Hairstreak, Holly Blue, Orange Tip., Peacock, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Small Tortoiseshell, Swallow, Whitethroat, Willow WarblerPete Smith

The ‘Bird Walk – Migrants’ went well today with eight of us present. We saw Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers. There were Swallows and Sand Martins by the railway bridge. As the morning warmed up butterflies emerged with Brimstone, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue all seen.

Sand Martin – 7th April

April 7, 2022Recent wildlife sightings2022, 7th April, Ecopark, Little Ringed Plover, Marsh Harrier, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Wader Scrape, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning the Little Ringed Plover was on the Severn/Trent field, close to the Ecopark. A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed until it drifted off to the south-west. A Snipe was on the Wader Scrape and a Willow Warbler was singing near the Reed-bed Walk. Briefly two Sand Martins were hawking insects over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Red Kite – 1st April

April 1, 2021Recent wildlife sightings1st April, 2021, Blackcap, Red Kite, Reed-bed Safari Path, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning the warm weather from the last two days had brought in a few new migrants. A Sedge Warbler was heard near the viewing screen on the Reed-bed Safari Path. A Willow Warbler and five Blackcaps were also singing and there were three Swallows and over twenty Sand Martins over the Slurry Lagoon. The Red Kite was seen across the river near the railway bridge. IP.

Osprey – 30th March

March 30, 2021Recent wildlife sightings2021, 30th March, Blackcap, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Little Ringed Plover, Orange-tip, Osprey, Sand Martin, ShelduckPete Smith

This morning there were two Shelduck on the Deep Pit. There are now seven Sand Martins by the railway bridge, and there were two Blackcaps, six Chiffchaffs and eight Cetti’s Warblers singing. DM.

Later on an Osprey was seen flying over the site JDn.

An Orange-tip was seen and four Little Ringed Plovers were on the Eco-park. RW.

Blackcap – 29th March

March 29, 2021Recent wildlife sightingsBlackcap, Brimstone, Chiffchaff, Lapwing, Mistle Thrush, Peacock, Roe Deer, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Small Tortoiseshell, Small White, ToadPete Smith

This morning there were two Blackcaps singing, six Sand Martin’s by the bridge on the river, ten singing Chiffchaff and two Mistle Thrushes, three Lapwing and three Shelduck on the Eco Park area. Also lots of butterflies;
1 Small White,
10 Small Tortoiseshell.
11 Brimstone
10 Peacock
Also 2 Toads and 3 Roe Deer. SC/PG.