Tag Archives: Slurry Lagoon

Wheatear – 22nd March

March 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd March, Brimstone, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Grey Plover, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Toad, WheatearPete Smith

This morning a male Wheatear was briefly seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, before it disappeared between the reed beds. A Sand Martin flew over the site and up to four Chiffchaffs were singing. There were still one or two Toads about on the path on the south-western side of the Slurry Lagoon and one grim sighting was of one held limply in a crow’s beak. A brilliant male Brimstone was seen flying into the Deep Pit. PS.

In the afternoon a Grey Plover was heard calling as it flew over and the Wheatear was seen again on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Sand Martins – 21st March

March 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 21st March, Barn Owl, bat, birds, Large Gravel Pit, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, ToadPete Smith

The Barn Owl was seen hunting around the Large Gravel Pit from about 17.40 and four Sand Martins were seen over the river. At least 110 toads were seen on the eastern side of the Slurry Lagoon, crossing the path at nightfall. Two or three bats were also seen feeding. RW.

Black-tailed Godwit – 15th March

March 15, 2011Recent wildlife sightings15th March, 2011, birds, Black-tailed godwit, Cettis Warbler, greenfinch, Shelduck, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

A Black-tailed Godwit circled the Slurry Lagoon this evening, but I think the water was too deep for it and it disappeared towards Colwick. The Cetti’s Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit, the Shelduck was still on the Slurry Lagoon and a flock of about eighty Greenfinches came in to roost at the back of Rossi’s. PS.

Wheatear – 14th March

March 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th March, 2011, birds, Blackcap, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, WheatearPete Smith

Today a Wheatear was seen briefly on a fence post by the Deep Pit, but flew off towards the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. A Chiffchaff was present and a Blackcap was heard singing. The Cetti’s Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit and a Shelduck was on the Slurry Lagoon. DM.

Cetti’s Warbler – 6th March

March 6, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 6th March, birds, Deep Pit, Grey Wagtail, Lower Path, peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Willow titPete Smith

A cold wind was blowing as we walked around the site today but a pair of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Pied Wagtails did not seem too bothered by it, even though the male Grey Wagtail’s tail was blown right over his back at one time. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep pit and the pair of Peregrines was perched on a pylon ( is this a different pair to those seen on the Newton Building ?). Three Water Rail were heard on the Slurry Lagoon and a Willow Tit was heard along the Lower Path. PS/AE/AR/DG/PG/RW.

Smew – 20th February

February 20, 2011Recent wildlife sightingsColtsfoot, Curlew, Large Gravel Pit, Merlin, pintail, Slurry Lagoon, SmewPete Smith

Spring is in the air – at least I found my first open Coltsfoot of the year. A female Smew was found on the Slurry Lagoon this morning and as we looked at her a male Pintail also arrived. The Smew took off but was relocated on the Large Gravel Pit. Later on a Curlew flew through and a Merlin was seen hunting the reserve. PS AE DM.

Cetti’s Warbler – 1st February

February 1, 2011Recent wildlife sightings1st February, 2011, Barn Owl, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, peregrine, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

Whilst waiting for the Barn Owl to start hunting a Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep Pit. Eventually the Barn Owl showed and the pair of Peregrines were perched together on a pylon. A fair sized flock of large gulls accumulated on the, again frozen, Slurry lagoon, but no white winged gulls were noted. PS.

Woodcock – 24th January

January 24, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 24th January, Barn Owl, birds, Cettis Warbler, peregrine, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, WoodcockPete Smith

This afternoon we installed a bird feeder at the foot of the Slurry Lagoon bank on the Severn/Trent side. Whilst working we flushed a Woodcock from amongst the trees of the Plantation. Later a Peregrine flew overhead and then perched up on a pylon and the Barn Owl spent some time hunting beside the gravel pits and across the Severn/Trent land and also amongst the trees of the Plantation. A Shelduck was on the Slurry Lagoon where, as the light was fading, a Cetti’s Warbler rattled out its explosive song. As we left the site another Woodcock flew across the Car Auction site towards the Severn/Trent fields. AE. DM. PS.

Glaucous Gull – 12th January

January 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th January, 2011, birds, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Glaucous Gull, Large Gravel Pit, Mitigation Field, Slurry Lagoon, Tree Sparrow, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, as I worked in the Deep Pit with my volunteer, a Black Swan flew over the site, with three Mute Swans, giving a pathetic squeak as it passed. Later two adult and two juvenile Mute Swans landed on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, skidding as they landed accompanied by hilarious screaming from a Water Rail. As we were preparing to go, an immature Glaucous Gull flew over the site, possibly from the Large Gravel Pit, and headed towards Holme Pierrepont. PS. DM.

Earlier in the day two Tree Sparrows were seen in S.T. hedge line near to the Mitigation Field. JMD.

Brambling – 17th December

December 17, 2010Recent wildlife sightings17th December, 2010, birds, Brambling, Heron, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Slurry LagoonPete Smith

The Ouse Dyke is loosing its attraction to fishing birds now and only two Little Egrets were seen this afternoon, with two Herons and a Kingfisher. There were five Bramblings in the bushes on the north bank of the Slurry Lagoon and some were heard calling by the Haven. PS.