Tag Archives: Starling

Mandarin – 19th October

October 19, 2015Recent wildlife sightings19th October, 2015, Bearded Tit, Black Swan, Deep Pit, Grey-lag Goose, Mandarin, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Starling, water railPete Smith

This evening, whilst watching about 5,000 Starlings come in to roost, a strange looking duck came in with a squadron of Grey-lag Geese. It stayed with the flock as they flew over and was still with them when they returned to land on the Slurry Lagoon. Looking through a scope it was clear to see it was a drake Mandarin. There were also three Snipe and up to five Water Rail, one showing quite well by the bench. Earlier a 1st winter Bearded Tit was also seen in the reed bed. PS.

Later on the Black Swan came in to roost in the Deep Pit. RW.

Black Swan – 15th October

October 15, 2015Recent wildlife sightings15th October, 2015, Black Swan, Slurry Lagoon, StarlingPete Smith

At about midday a Black Swan was on the Slurry Lagoon. In the evening several thousand Starlings came in to roost.

Murmuration 15th October - Jack Dennison — Murmuration 15th October – Jack Dennison

Pintail – 28th September

September 28, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 28th September, Nocutle, pintail, Slurry Lagoon, StarlingPete Smith

Today a Pintail was on the Slurry Lagoon and at dusk three noctules were seen feeding high above the lagoon. About 600 Starlings came in to roost. RW.

Bittern – 25th September

September 25, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 25th September, Bittern, Deep Pit, Dunlin, Hobby, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, WheatearPete Smith

A Bittern flew from the Deep Pit to the slurry Lagoon reed bed at dusk. a Hobby was also around and about 400 Starlings came in to roost in the reed bed. Earlier there had been a Dunlin and a Wheatear. RW.

Spotted Flycatcher – 19th September

September 19, 2015Recent wildlife sightings19th September, 2015, Barn Owl, Bittern, Deep Pit, peregrine, Redstart, Spotted Flycatcher, StarlingPete Smith

This afternoon the Redstart was still present by the railway bridge and has been joined by two Spotted Flycatchers. In the evening a Bittern was seen crossing the Deep Pit. A Peregrine and a Barn Owl were also seen and the Starling roost had built to about 600. RW.

Barn Owl – 28th August

August 30, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 28th August, Barn Owl, Hobby, Noctule, Pipistrelle, Starling, Wader ScrapePete Smith

At about 8.50 this evening a Barn Owl was seen hunting around the Wader Scrape. A Hobby was also seen. About 4,000 Starlings came in to roost and both Noctule and Pipistrelle were flying. RW.

Barn Owl – 13th December

December 14, 2014Recent wildlife sightings13th December, 2014, Barn Owl, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This evening a Barn Owl was seen hunting near the Wader Scrape and about 600 Starlings came in to roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. RW.

Raven – 24th November

November 24, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 24th November, Barnacle goose, Canada Goose, Deep Pit, Grey-lag Goose, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, Starling, water railPete Smith

This afternoon a Raven paid a brief visit to the lagoons, flying over the Deep Pit before doing a u-turn and flying back the way it had come. The Starling roost contained about 4,500 birds this evening and a Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the seat. Over 1,000 geese came in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon as it got dark. They were mainly Grey-lag with Canadas, and there was one Barnacle Goose with them. PS.

Swallow – 3rd November

November 3, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 3rd November, Causeway, Corvids, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, Swallow, water railPete Smith

This evening the Starling roost was really spectacular as about 8,500 birds came in to roost. Hundreds of corvids were flying across the site and then about 1,500 Canada and Grey-lag Geese arrived en mass on the Slurry Lagoon. As this was all going on a juvenile Swallow came in from the north and circled the lagoon a few times, as if making up its mind whether to join the Starlings or not, but then flew off to the north. A Sparrowhawk was seen three times trying to catch a Starling from the roost and a Water Rail flew across the gap in the reeds in front of the Causeway bench. PS.

Woodcock – 28th November

November 28, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 28th November, Cettis Warbler, Crow, Deep Pit, Geese, Starling, water rail, WoodcockPete Smith

This evening, as the geese, starlings and crows went to roost a Woodcock flew past in the Deep Pit. There were two Cetti’s Warblers singing and at least six Water Rail were calling. PS.