This morning a Mediterranean Gull paid a brief visit to the Slurry Lagoon. A Raven flew along the river to the Enva site. During a brief spell of sunshine two male Toads, a male and a female Brimstone and a Peacock were seen – Spring is Springing! PS.
Mediterranean Gull – JV.
This morning there were two Blackcaps singing, six Sand Martin’s by the bridge on the river, ten singing Chiffchaff and two Mistle Thrushes, three Lapwing and three Shelduck on the Eco Park area. Also lots of butterflies;
1 Small White,
10 Small Tortoiseshell.
11 Brimstone
10 Peacock
Also 2 Toads and 3 Roe Deer. SC/PG.
This morning a Sedge Warbler was heard singing in the Deep Pit and several Willow Warblers were seen and heard. RW.
In the afternoon six Common Terns were in the Deep Pit and seven Little Ringed Plover were on the Wader Scrape. Four Oystercatchers flew over, calling and displaying and Swallows were seen going into the nest sites under the railway bridge. A pair of Blackcaps and five Willow Warblers were seen along the Lower Path and Toads were seen crossing it on their way to the Slurry Lagoon. PS, RW.
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.
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.
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.