Tag Archives: Slurry Lagoon

Curlew Sandpiper – 2nd September

September 2, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsCauseway, Curlew Sandpiper, greenshank, House Martin, Marsh Harrier, Ruff, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, warblers, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

This morning the two Ruff and the Greenshank had been joined by a juvenile Curlew Sandpiper and there was briefly a Wigeon, all on the Slurry Lagoon. The male Marsh Harrier was seen a few times as it popped out of or dropped into the reed-bed. There was a fairly strong passage of Sand and House Martins and small groups of assorted warblers were in the bushes. The reeds in front of the Causeway benches have been cut, so there were several views of scuttling Water Rails. PS.

Juvenile Water Rail – Jason Vickers

Great White Egret – 21st July

July 21, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsCommon Sandpiper, Deep Pit, Great White Egret, Hobby, Reed Bunting, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning there were five Great White Egrets on the Slurry Lagoon. Later three flew off, but two then returned mid-morning. A Common Sandpiper was on a tern raft in the Deep Pit and a Hobby snatched a Reed Bunting and carried it away. PS.

Great White Egrets – – PS.

Common Sandpiper – – PS.

Osprey – 23rd May

May 23, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBittern, cuckoo, Deep Pit, Great White Egret, Hobby, Large Gravel Pit, Osprey, Slurry Lagoon, Tree Pipit, warblersPete Smith

Very early this morning a Tree Pipit was calling as it flew north, following the Trent. A Bittern flew from the Trent into the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed and an Osprey flew over on its migration. JV.

Later on, a Cuckoo was calling from the Deep Pit and a group of three Great White Egrets flew over the site , almost landing on the Slurry Lagoon before deciding to fly on. The Cuckoo continued flying around the Large Gravel Pit, still calling and a second Cuckoo was heard in the distance. Later the Cuckoo came back to the Slurry Lagoon and then a female flew from the reed-bed as the male flew around, still calling. Most of the warbler species were still singing well, especially a particular Garden Warbler. PS.

In the late morning a Hobby was hawking insects over the gravel pits. RJP.

Garden Warbler – PS.

Cuckoo – RJP.

Hobby – RJP.

Arctic Tern – 5th May

May 5, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsArctic Tern, Causeway, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Hobby, House Martin, Kittiwake, Slurry Lagoon, SwiftPete Smith

Early this morning there were two Hobbies hawking around the lagoons. About mid-morning up to three Arctic Terns flew through to the north. They were accompanied by around five Common Terns which seemed more preoccupied with courting. Later a Kittiwake was seen over the Deep Pit, on its way north east. Several small groups of Swifts flew through and, for a while , seven House Martins were feeding over the Slurry Lagoon and Causeway. PS.

Hobby – 2nd May

May 2, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsHobby, Slurry Lagoon, SwiftPete Smith

This morning there were up to four Hobbies catching emerging insects over the Slurry Lagoon. At one stage a group of about thirteen Swifts were passing through but paused to join them. PS. JV.

Hobby catching damselfly. JV.

Red-crested Pochard – 31st March

March 31, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBlackcap, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Greta White Egret, Large Gravel Pit, Marsh Harrier, Otter, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning an Otter was seen in the Slurry Lagoon, a Red-crested Pochard was on the Deep Pit, a Great White Egret was on the Large Gravel Pit and a Marsh Harrier over the Slurry Lagoon. Later in the morning two Mediterranean Gulls were on the Deep Pit. There are many Chiffchaffs already on site and singing, along with several Blackcaps. JV – PS.

Pintail – 16th February

February 16, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsDeep Pit, Oystercatcher, pintail, Raven, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a pair of Pintail were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Raven was heard calling and later seen to fly across the site and a very noisy Oystercatcher flew around the Deep Pit. PS.

Otter – 12th February

February 12, 2025Recent wildlife sightingsBittern, Buzzard, Great White Egret, Otter, Peregrine Falcon, Slurry Lagoon, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning two male Peregrines flew over the site in a territorial dispute. On the Slurry Lagoon the ducks and gulls were very unsettled. Eventually an Otter showed itself as the culprit, as it also flushed a Bittern from the reed-bed. Later in the morning a Buzzard flew across the Wader Scrape and was set upon by a male and a female Peregrine who made spectacular stoops and forced an ignominious retreat back to the plantation. A Great White Egret was seen at the back of the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Bittern – 9th December

December 9, 2024Recent wildlife sightingsBittern, Ecopark, Red Kite, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

This morning a Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon. Later on a Red Kite was seen over the Ecopark. RJP/SW

Woodcock – 3rd December

December 3, 2024Recent wildlife sightingsChiffchaff, Fieldfare, Goosander, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, Wader Scrape, WoodcockPete Smith

This morning two Chiffchaffs were calling from the Slurry Lagoon north path, where a Woodcock was disturbed and flew through the trees down the bank. A Peregrine was on the new pylon and a Great White Egret and Little Egret were on the Ouse Dyke near the Wader Scrape. A male Goosander was on the Slurry Lagoon and two Fieldfares flew over. PS.