Tag Archives: Shoveler

Curlew – 1st June

June 1, 2012Recent wildlife sightings1st June, 2012, Curlew, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Tufted DuckPete Smith

A Curlew flew over the reserve calling in lovely liquid notes. It settled on the Slurry Lagoon to rest and preen. Also on the Slurry Lagoon were several Mallard, Gadwall, Tufted Ducks, Pochard and a male Shoveler. 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.

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.

Bittern – 2nd September

September 2, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 2nd September, birds, Bittern, butterfly, Cettis Warbler, Clouded Yellow, Little Egret, Shoveler, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A Bittern has been seen twice this morning as it flew between the reed beds on the Slurry Lagoon. Also on the Slurry Lagoon were 41 Shoveler, a Little Egret and a Cetti’s Warbler. Later a Clouded Yellow was seen flying along the pathway. RW.

Red-crested Pochard – 22nd June

June 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd June, birds, Common Tern, Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, WigeonPete Smith

This morning there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. Also present were the two male Wigeon and a male Shoveler. The Gadwall still has all eleven of her ducklings and a Mallard now has five. There is still no sign of the Pochard ducklings though. Two recently fledged Common Terns were dipping for insects from the water surface. PS.

Common Tern – 1st April

April 1, 2011Recent wildlife sightings1st April, 2011, birds, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

A Common Tern was resting on one of the tern platforms this afternoon. As we watched it a Willow Warbler started to sing on the Causeway bank, inside the Deep Pit. The Cetti’s Warbler and a Chiffchaff were also singing there. There were several Chiffchaffs singing around the site and some Sand Martins were flying overhead. On the Slurry Lagoon there were still some Teal and Shoveler and a Shelduck later joined them. On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon there was a female Wheatear. PS. DG. RW.

Oystercatcher – 18th February

February 18, 2011Recent wildlife sightingsBarn Owl, Goldeneye, Oystercatcher, Shoveler, water railPete Smith

An Oystercatcher was seen and heard calling very loudly along the river this afternoon. The Barn Owl was present again and a Water Rail was heard on the Slurry Lagoon. There were four Goldeneyes on the Large Gravel Pit and 49 Shoveler on the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.

Red-crested Pochard – 28th September

September 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 28th September, birds, Coot, Gadwall, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, Red-crested Pochard, Ruff, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, teal, Tufted Duck, WigeonPete Smith

There were a good number of ducks on the Large Gravel Pit today, including Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and two male Red-crested Pochard, one still in eclipse, as well as lots of Coots. Seven Swallows flew through and four more, possibly the remnants of our residents, were near the railway line. On the Slurry Lagoon the numbers of Teal and Shoveler continue to build and there were two juvenile Ruff amongst the Lapwing flock. PS.

Wood Sandpiper – 14th July

July 14, 2010Recent wildlife sightings14th July, 2010, birds, butterflies, crickets, Essex Skipper, Little Ringed Plover, Long-winged Conehead, Mediterranean Gull, Redshank, Shoveler, Wood SandpiperPete Smith

A Wood Sandpiper was seen briefly this afternoon on the Slurry Lagoon, a Redshank and a Yellow-legged Gull were also present. At the north end of the Slurry Lagoon there was an Essex Skipper along with three male and one female Long-winged Coneheads.

Later in the afternoon an adult Mediterranean Gull, three juvenile Little Ringed Plovers and two Shoveler visited the Slurry Lagoon. RW.