Tag Archives: Swallow

Wheatear – 14th April

April 14, 2012Recent wildlife sightings14th April, 2012, birds, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Railway Bridge, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, WheatearPete Smith

Although beautifully sunny there was still a cold north wind blowing so not much migration was noted. A Swallow investigated the nest sites under the railway bridge, so it might be the first one of our birds back. Several Sand Martins flew through and there was a northward passage of Skylarks. Six Common Terns were on the Deep Pit and two Sedge Warblers were singing. On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon were a very smart pair of Wheatears. PS.

Yellow Wagtail – 13th April

April 13, 2012Recent wildlife sightings13th April, 2012, birds, Causeway, Common Tern, Deep Pit, House Martin, Redpoll, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning was cool and over cast and not very promising for migrant spotting. Towards mid-morning the clouds started to break up and the sun nearly shone. Over the Deep Pit eight Common Terns squabbled and chased before two pairs settled on the breeding platforms. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit, along the Causeway. Most other migrants flew through, including four Swallows, two Sand Martins, a House Martin, three Yellow Wagtails and a Lesser Redpoll. PS.

This egg was found on the Causeway, it had been predated by a Magpie. It is about 25cm long. Can anybody identify it ?

Wheatear – 8th April

April 8, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 8th April, birds, Blackcap, Buzzard, Chiffchaff, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Swallow, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning, on the monthly bird count, there were several new birds in, including five Willow Warblers, four Sand Martins, a Swallow and a Wheatear. More Chiffchaffs had arrived and also more Blackcaps. Three Buzzards and two Shelduck were also seen. PS.

Arctic Skua – 16th September

September 16, 2011Recent wildlife sightings16th September, 2011, Arctic Skua, birds, Bittern, Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, pintail, Swallow, water rail, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning at about 10.00 the Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon, walking along the front of the reed bed. There were also four Pintail and a Green Sandpiper present. On the river there were five Common Sandpipers and a Curlew. RW.

In the afternoon, about 15.00 all of the gulls flew up as an Arctic Skua came in. It bathed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before half-heartedly chasing a few Black-headed Gulls and then it flew off to the north-east. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling and so was a Water Rail, and some Swallows went through, going north. Two Buzzards spiralled over and several Yellow Wagtails went through. PS. RW.

Greenshank – 22nd August

August 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd August, birds, Common Tern, Dunlin, greenshank, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Reed Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This afternoon the Swallows and House Martins were gathered on the wires by the railway bridge when they all took off in alarm as a Hobby made an appearance. They all flew together and kept above and behind it, some making stoops to drive it away. The Hobby seemed unconcerned, making a couple of stoops of its own, probably at dragonflies. Suddenly the swallows were making a lot more noise and then the Hobby flew up out of its stoop with one of them in its talons. The Slurry Lagoon was a lot more peaceful with several each of Shoveler and Teal feeding on the water and a Dunlin and a Little Ringed Plover on the shore and a family of Reed Warblers were feeding in the reeds. The Lesser Black-backed Gull flock contained a Herring Gull and a Yellow-legged Gull plus a couple of Common Terns and later a Greenshank called three times as it flew over the site. PS.

Dunlin – 30th May

May 30, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 30th May, birds, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, SwallowPete Smith

This morning the rain persuaded some passing waders to pause on the Slurry Lagoon. Four Dunlin and three Ringed Plover were feeding on the exposed mud. Nine species of warbler were seen or heard and several were feeding fledglings and there were fledgling Swallows by the railway bridge. PS. AE.

Common Sandpiper – 19th April

April 19, 2011Recent wildlife sightings19th April, 2011, birds, Common Sandpiper, Dunlin, House Martin, SwallowPete Smith

This afternoon a small Calidrid wader, probably a Dunlin, flew around the Slurry Lagoon several times before flying off to the north-east. There was a Common Sandpiper on the river bank and towards evening, during a Hirundine raptor alert, a House Martin was seen high above the Swallows. PS. JMD.

Red Kite – 10th April

April 10, 2011Recent wildlife sightings10th April, 2011, birds, Grasshopper Warbler, Red Kite, Reed Warbler, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, SwallowPete Smith

Good numbers of migrants have come in over the weekend, and there were four Grasshopper Warblers and several Reed and Sedge Warblers present. The Sand Martin numbers have reached the sixties and one or two more Swallows have arrived. During the morning a Red Kite was seen flying north, along the line if the pylons, high above the reserve. NWG RW.

Waxwings – 7th April

April 7, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 7th April, birds, Common Tern, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Waxwing, WhitethroatPete Smith

This afternoon there were plenty of signs of summer migrants arriving as five Swallows were at their breeding site, under the railway bridge. There were three Common Terns on the tern platforms and several Whitethroats singing from the brambles. Two Sedge Warblers were heard, singing from deep cover and dozens of Sand Martins were feeding over the pits. Despite all these signs of the burgeoning spring the unmistakable trilling of Waxwings was heard and a flock of about forty flew across the river by the railway bridge.

Friends greet each other on the Causeway.

Swallow – 25th March

March 25, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 25th March, Chiffchaff, Red Admiral, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, WheatearPete Smith

This morning a Swallow flew straight through over the site. NM.

There were also several Sand Martins and Chiffchaffs and another Wheatear was seen on the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. Several butterflies were seen including a Red Admiral. PS.