Tag Archives: Shelduck

Garganey – 13th May

May 13, 2012Recent wildlife sightings12th April 2012, 13th May, Garganey, Hobby, Little Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, Wader Scrape, WheatearPete Smith

This morning there were eight Shelduck and a male Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. The Wader Scrape had two Little Ringed Plover and two Oystercatchers as well as two Wheatears. There were plenty of warblers singing but still no Grasshopper Warbler. Later in the morning a Hobby flew over near the railway bridge. PS et al.

Black Tern – 30th April

April 30, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 30th April, Black Tern, Deep Pit, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

This afternoon there were signs that some more migrants had arrived with four Lesser Whitethroats in song. There were still no Garden Warblers or Grasshopper Warblers but in the Deep Pit a Black Tern was hawking for insects. It had a very buoyant flight as it rose above the water, flying into the wind. When it spotted an insect it dived like a falcon, probably catching a St. Marks Fly. There was a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Slurry Lagoon and two Shelduck, but no sign of any Teal. PS.

Wheatear – 8th April

April 8, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 8th April, birds, Blackcap, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Swallow, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning, on the monthly bird count, there were several new birds in, including five Willow Warblers, four Sand Martins, a Swallow and a Wheatear. More Chiffchaffs had arrived and also more Blackcaps. Three Buzzards and two Shelduck were also seen. PS.

Wheatear – 18th March

March 18, 2012Recent wildlife sightings18th March, 2012, birds, Chiffchaff, peregrine, Redshank, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, WheatearPete Smith

The sleet and rain this morning has put some migrants down and the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon had two cracking male Wheatears on it. There were also six Chiffchaffs, three of them singing. A Redshank and four Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon and two Peregrines flew along the line of the pylons. PS.

Chiffchaff – 15th March

March 15, 2012Recent wildlife sightings15th March, 2012, birds, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Meadow Pipit, Shelduck, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This afternoon, during the brief sunny spell, a Chiffchaff was heard singing in the Deep Pit, also four Meadow pipits flew over. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard singing and a Shelduck is still on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Whooper Swan – 19th February

February 19, 2012Recent wildlife sightings19th February, 2012, birds, Deep Pit, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Whooper SwanPete Smith

Six Whooper Swans flew north-east over the reserve this morning. There were two Little Egrets in the willow on the Large Gravel Pit and three Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was seen briefly as it flew from cover to cover in the Deep Pit. AE. PS.

Shelduck – 16th February

February 16, 2012Recent wildlife sightings16th February, 2012, birds, Shelduck, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The cold weather of the last week or so froze all of the water bodies so that the gulls and ducks had to move to the river so that the site has been very quiet for a little while. Today a Shelduck was feeding on the Slurry Lagoon and there are now more ducks and gulls about as the ice has melted. Soon we will be looking out for Wheatears and Sand Martins. PS.

Goosander – 7th December

December 7, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 7th December, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Goosander, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, teal, WigeonPete Smith

This afternoon there were two female Goosander on the Large Gravel Pit, along with four female Goldeneye and some Gadwall and Wigeon. On the Deep Pit there were five male Goldeneye and several Mallard. The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon contained an estimated 700 Greater Black-backs and at least twice as many Herring Gulls. There were well in excess of 2,000 birds. There were still good numbers of Shoveler and Teal as well as a Shelduck. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. PS.

Little Egret – 28th November

November 28, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 28th November, birds, Black-headed Gull, Cettis Warbler, Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Little Egret, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, tealPete Smith

At dusk the gull roost contained about 500 birds, consisting mainly of Black-headed, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. there were also around 200 Teal and 70 Shoveler. Two Little Egrets and two Shelduck were also present and the Cetti’s Warbler sang briefly from the reed bed that the Starlings were roosting in. PS.

White-fronted Goose – 15th November

November 15, 2011Recent wildlife sightings15th November, 2011, Little Egret, Shelduck, Slurry Lagon, water rail, White-fronted Goose, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This evening, as the Grey-lag and Canada Geese flew in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon, a softer, more musical note was heard amongst the other, more raucous calls. Five, smaller geese came in and landed. In the poor light the white blaze of a White-fronted Goose could be seen on one of them, but not the others, and they are probably one adult and four juveniles. Several hundred more Grey-lag and Canada Geese came in but the White-fronts kept slightly apart, and then the calls of two more were heard as they joined the other five. Unfortunately it was too dark by this time to see if they were adult or juvenile. Also present were a Little Egret, a Shelduck, two Yellow-legged Gulls and several Water Rails. PS, RW, TK.