There were plenty of winter thrushes about today but the frozen Slurry Lagoon had only about 30 Teal and a large flock of Black-headed and Herring Gulls to show. A Water Rail did slip on the ice as it crossed the space in front of the Causeway benches. In the Deep Pit the very pale Buzzard was sat in a willow, hoping to catch some unwary prey. PS.
Buzzard – PS
This morning, during the Monthly Bird Count, a Great White Egret was seen over the Large Gravel Pit and eight Goldeneye were swimming on the Deep Pit. Several Chiffchaffs were heard singing and there were still some winter thrushes about. A Treecreeper was seen along the Ouse Dyke, three Kingfishers were seen, and a Stoat was on the Causeway. NWG.
There were lots of thrushes and finches feeding on the site this morning. Three Little Egrets were on the Ouse Dyke and Wader Scrape and four Egyptian Geese flew over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning the results of last night’s rain were obvious as you looked along the Ouse Dyke. It had obviously burst its banks during the night but was now running high and muddy in its course. The Trent was also swollen and had spread across nearby fields. Five Little Egrets were together in the Ouse Dyke. Two Chiffchaffs were found and a Goldcrest. There were also plenty of ducks and winter thrushes about.
Later, in the afternoon, two crows chased a Barn Owl along the Ouse Dyke and into the Plantation. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard singing and four Water Rail were squabbling in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed and a Toad was seen, crawling across the Slurry Lagoon path. PS.