Tag Archives: Wader Scrape

Oystercatcher – 5th April

April 5, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 5th April, Gadwall, Little Egret, Oystercatcher, Peacock, Redshank, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning there were three Oystercatchers on the Wader Scrape. There were also two Little Egrets, 30 Gadwall and some Lapwings. A Redshank flew through to the east and a Peacock butterfly was near the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. PS.

Peregrine – 1st March

March 1, 2015Recent wildlife sightings1st March, 2015, Buzzard, Coltsfoot, Green Sandpiper, lesser celandine, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning there were three Little Egrets along the Ouse Dyke but no sign of the Green Sandpiper. A female Peregrine flew low, right through the Deep Pit and then up and over the signal box and a little later the male Peregrine was seen taking repeated stoops at a Buzzard. On the Wader Scrape the male Stonechat was still to be seen and the first Coltsfoot and Lesser Celandine flowers are now out. PS.

Stonechat – 22nd February

February 22, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 22nd February, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

There were five Little Egrets together along the Ouse Dyke this morning. The Green Sandpiper was in its usual place and two Chiffchaffs were feeding together. On the hedge between the Wader Scrape and the bottom of the Deep Pit bank the male Stonechat was showing well. PS.

Barn Owl – 20th February

February 20, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 20th February, Barn Owl, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This evening a Barn Owl was seen hunting over the Wader Scrape field, close to the freshly erected Barn Owl box. Let’s hope it noticed it. A Shelduck was briefly on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Stonechat – 8th February

February 8, 2015Recent wildlife sightings2015, 8th February, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, Grey Wagtail, kingfisher, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, peregrine, Stonechat, Wader Scrape, water railPete Smith

During this morning’s bird count the Ouse Dyke was again very productive, with Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Chiffchaff, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail and two Water Rails being seen. On the Wader Scrape a male Stonechat was spotted and a Peregrine flew over, along the pylons. More Water Rails were seen and heard and several Cetti’s Warblers were recorded. PS.

Green Sandpiper – 11th January

January 11, 2015Recent wildlife sightings11th January, 2015, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Tree creeper, Wader Scrape, water rail, Willow PondPete Smith

This morning, during the Monthly Bird Count, a Treecreeper was found on the willows at Willow Pond. The Ouse Dyke again proved to be the most rewarding spot, with a Green Sandpiper feeding on a muddy patch, also a Water Rail was seen and two Chiffchaffs. Two Little Egrets were on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Chiffchaff along Ouse Dyke, by John Elwell

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.

Stonechat – 5th November

November 5, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 5th November, Bittern, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, pintail, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, Srarling, Stonechat, Wader ScrapePete Smith

This morning a male Stonechat was seen on the tall weeds between the sub-station and the Wader Scrape. There have been up to three in this area for some weeks now. The two Pintail were still resident on the Slurry Lagoon and good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares were in evidence. PS. In the evening a Bittern was seen in the Deep Pit, flushed by the roosting Starlings. RW.

Spotted Flycatcher – 2nd September

September 2, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 2nd September, Causeway, Spotted Flycatcher, Wader Scrape, WhinchatPete Smith

All day a Whinchat sat on the same piece of dock on the Wader Scrape, occasionally turning around or sallying forth after an insect, but always returning to the same perch. On the Causeway a Spotted Flycatcher paused briefly on the fence, dropping down, Robin-like, to catch an ant in the grass, before returning to the fence to eat it. It was a flying ant and I think the Whinchat was hunting the same prey. Black-headed Gulls were also hunting the flying ants, and so were squadrons of Migrant Hawkers. PS.

Whinchat – 31st August

September 1, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 31st August, greenshank, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Spotted Flycatcher, Wader Scrape, WhinchatPete Smith

This morning there was a Spotted Flycatcher in the willows at the river end of the Boundary Hedge. A Greenshank flew over the Slurry Lagoon but did not stay. In the afternoon three Whinchats spent some time feeding along the Ouse Dyke bank at the back of the Wader Scrape and the Lancaster Bomber visiting the Gedling Show flushed two Snipe from the Slurry Lagoon as it flew over the site. PS.