During the monthly bird count this morning a flock of eight Little Egrets flew downriver, through the reserve. Later a ninth bird settled for a short time on the Slurry Lagoon. A Peregrine was seen stooping at Wood Pigeons attracted by the maize spilt during the harvest and around three thousand Grey Lag and Canada geese were also gleening the stubble. A Curlew flew over the site and a Dunlin was on the Slurry. Other migrants seen were a small flock of Swallows, several Skylarks, some Redpoll and a Siskin. There were also three Cetti’s Warblers heard singing. PS.
Tag Archives: Siskin
Little Egret – 10th October
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.
Redwing and Brambling – 14th October
Good day for passage today with 35 Redwing SW, 2 Brambling, 2 Redpoll, 1 Jay, 7 Siskin and 30 Golden Plover flying over.
Later in the day 56 Fieldfare went through, a Yellow-legged Gull settled on the Slurry Lagoon with around 1,000 Grey-lag Geese and about 2,000 Starlings came in to roost in the reed bed. RW.