Tag Archives: teal

Golden Plover – 14th October

October 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th October, 2011, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Lesser Redpoll, pintail, Redwing, Shoveler, Siskin, Skylark, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

This morning there was lots of evidence of migration at the lagoons with a constant trickle of Skylarks flying over. One or two large flocks of Fieldfares also went through and some Redwings are already in the hawthorn hedges. A flock of thirteen Lesser Redpolls dropped onto the bushes on the Deep Pit banks and one or two Siskins are still going through. On the Slurry Lagoon the two Pintail are still present, one beginning to attain the winter plumage of a male, and the Teal and Shoveler are well into developing their winter plumages too. The Lapwing flock is building up as several small flocks came in to join them. Unlike the Lapwings a flock of 18 Golden Plover flew in but decided not to land and disappeared again over the neighbouring farmland. PS.

Common Tern – 15th June

June 15, 2011Recent wildlife sightings15th June, 2011, Common Tern, Gadwall, Slurry Lagoon, teal, WigeonPete Smith

The first of the juvenile Common Terns has made it onto the Slurry Lagoon. It was expertly picking insects from the waters surface while its parents were aggressively attacking passing crows. The Gadwall duck still had all eleven of her ducklings with her. Also present were a pair of Teal and now two male Wigeon. PS.

Common Tern – 1st April

April 1, 2011Recent wildlife sightings1st April, 2011, birds, Chiffchaff, Common Tern, Deep Pit, Sand Martin, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, Wheatear, Willow WarblerPete Smith

A Common Tern was resting on one of the tern platforms this afternoon. As we watched it a Willow Warbler started to sing on the Causeway bank, inside the Deep Pit. The Cetti’s Warbler and a Chiffchaff were also singing there. There were several Chiffchaffs singing around the site and some Sand Martins were flying overhead. On the Slurry Lagoon there were still some Teal and Shoveler and a Shelduck later joined them. On the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon there was a female Wheatear. PS. DG. RW.

Brambling – 5th December

December 5, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 5th December, Brambling, Gadwall, greenfinch, Grey Heron, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, teal, Tufted DuckPete Smith

As the grip of winter tightens around the lagoons the Ouse Dyke has become an attractive area for the birds. At about 08.30hrs there were four Little Egrets and a Grey Heron paddling around chasing the small fish and a Kingfisher was also seen with them. The Deep Pit was the one with most open water, the Slurry Lagoon being completely frozen over, and held large numbers of Teal, with Gadwall and Tufties. There were plenty of finches about with over 100 Greenfinches and a Brambling was seen feeding on hops along the Ouse Dyke as we left the site. PS.

Golden Plover – 28th November

November 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 28th November, Coot, Deep Pit, Golden Plover, Gravel Pits, Lapwing, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Lagoon, tealPete Smith

The two Little Egrets were on the Ouse Dyke again this morning and what was probably one of them was later seen in the Deep Pit. The Slurry Lagoon and Gravel Pits are mostly frozen over now but most of the Deep Pit is still clear. Most of the Coots on the Large Gravel Pit are concentrated into one small area of clear water and the Red-crested Pochard have gone. The Teal have moved to the Deep Pit and a flock of Lapwings are sitting on the ice on the Slurry Lagoon, which is completely frozen over. Eleven Golden Plover looked like they were going to join the Lapwings but eventually flew away. PS.

Shelduck – 18th November

November 18, 2010Recent wildlife sightings18th November, 2010, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, Mallard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, teal, water rail, WigeonPete Smith

The Large Gravel Pit had over 200 Coots on it this afternoon with good numbers of Gadwall and some Wigeon. Amongst the throng was an out of place Shelduck. They normally prefer the Slurry Lagoon, which had good numbers of Shoveler and Teal on it as well as the gull roost. On the Deep Pit were about 50 Mallard and a male Goldeneye, and Cetti’s and Water Rail were heard calling.

Red-crested Pochard – 28th September

September 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 28th September, birds, Coot, Gadwall, Lapwing, Large Gravel Pit, Red-crested Pochard, Ruff, Shoveler, Slurry Lagoon, Swallow, teal, Tufted Duck, WigeonPete Smith

There were a good number of ducks on the Large Gravel Pit today, including Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Wigeon and two male Red-crested Pochard, one still in eclipse, as well as lots of Coots. Seven Swallows flew through and four more, possibly the remnants of our residents, were near the railway line. On the Slurry Lagoon the numbers of Teal and Shoveler continue to build and there were two juvenile Ruff amongst the Lapwing flock. PS.

Iceland Gull – 1st January

January 1, 2010Recent wildlife sightings1st January, 2010, birds, Bitterns, Cetti's Warbler, Deep Pit, ducks, Iceland Gull, teal, water railPete Smith

The Deep Pit was the most productive area at the lagoons this afternoon, with a second winter Iceland Gull staying for about an hour amongst the other Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls. A Bittern was also showing well for most of the afternoon, on and off, and was eventually seen going to roost in a reed bed. Several Water Rail were seen running across the ice and as dusk approached several more were heard calling. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard briefly singing and later another was calling. A good selection of ducks was present, with large numbers of Teal. RW.

Lots to see at the Lagoons today – 23rd December

December 23, 2009Recent wildlife sightings2009, Cetti's Warbler, Common Snipe, december, Fieldfare, goldfinch, greenfinch, linnet, peregrine, Redwing, teal, water railDarren.Matthews

There were good numbers of Redwing around 350-400, 50+ Fieldfare, 1 Peregrine sat on the arms of one of the pylons on Severn Trent land, over 350 E.Teal, 40+Greenfinch near Rossi’s,a single Common Snipe, 2 Water Rail, 1 Cettis Warbler calling briefly from the Deep Water Lagoon bank, 75+Goldfinch mixed in with smaller numbers of Greenfinch and Linnet.(DM)