The Slurry Lagoon was very quiet this morning, mainly covered with Black-headed Gulls, there are few ducks around. A female Goosander did fly over but, otherwise, it was just a male Shoveler and a pair of Gadwall, plus the swans. Across the river the very pale Buzzard was sitting in a tree near the viaduct. From this distance its front looked completely white. (As the very poor photo shows.) There were still plenty of winter thrushes about, Redwings, Fieldfares and Blackbirds. PS.
The Marsh Harrier left the roost quite early this morning, setting off to hunt further down the Trent Valley. There were no ducks on the Slurry Lagoon other than fifteen Shoveler and nine Teal. There were plenty of Black-headed, Common and Herring Gulls and one Lesser Black-backed Gull. A Carrion Crow noticed a dead Perch floating in the water and nearly landed on the water, but thought better of it. Eventually some Black-headed Gulls showed an interest but seemed afraid of the fish. Only one bird plucked up the courage to investigate it. PS.
Black-headed Gull and Perch. PS.
Half of the Slurry Lagoon was under ice this morning. There were a few Teal, Wigeon and Shoveler but mostly there were Black-headed Gulls with a few Herring and Common Gulls. The Marsh Harrier showed several times as it hunted over the reed-beds but it and a Buzzard were mobbed by crows as they looked for a meal. Two Egyptian Geese flew into the Deep Pit and a confiding Green Woodpecker was seen digging for ants. PS.
Marsh Harrier PS.
Green Woodpecker PS.
This morning a male Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon . Over-night some additional Shoveler and Wigeon had also arrived. PS.
Pintail Jason Vickers.
This morning large numbers of Hirundines, mostly Swallows, were feeding low over the water bodies. A small number of winter ducks have already arrived, including Shoveler, Wigeon and Teal and a Great White Egret payed a brief visit. PS.
This morning 18 Common Snipe were circling over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed before dropping in. A flock of 16 Lapwings flew over the Deep Pit and there were seven species of duck on the Slurry Lagoon, including Pochard, Shoveler, Teal and Wigeon. Later two pairs of Egyptian Geese stopped off on the Slurry Lagoon for a bathe. PS.
This morning there were five Wigeon on the Slurry Lagoon. Up to 36 Shoveler were also there and about forty Swallows passed to the south in small family groups. A Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the Causeway benches and two others were heard. There were still two Common Terns on the Deep Pit and large flocks of warblers, mostly Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, were about. PS.
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.
This morning a female Shoveler led six newly hatched ducklings across the Slurry Lagoon, in front of the Causeway bench. There were also up to ten young Little Grebes and a well grown Great Crested Grebe chick. PS.
This morning a Hobby flew over the Slurry Lagoon. A little later a superb adult male Marsh Harrier investigated the reed beds, but was driven off by the Common Terns. The male and female Shoveler were also still present. PS