Tag Archives: water rail

Water Rail – 24th July

July 24, 2021Recent wildlife sightings2021, 24th July, Causeway, Great-spotted Woodpecker, green woodpecker, greenfinch, Swift, water railPete Smith

This morning about twenty-two Swifts were feeding over the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail fluttered between the reed-beds in front of the bench on the Causeway. There were family parties of Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers and a Greenfinch was leading a juvenile about the site. PS.

Red Kite – 27th May

May 27, 2021Recent wildlife sightingsBlackcap, Blue-tailed Damselfly, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Common Blue Damselfly, cuckoo, Four-spotted Chaser, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Pylon Path, Red Kite, Red-eyed Damselfly, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Whitethroat, Willow WarblerPete Smith

This morning the hepatic female Cuckoo was seen on the Slurry Lagoon. A Hobby was joined by a Red Kite as they both hawked for damselflies above the Pylon Path. All ten warbler species were heard singing, ( Cetti’s, Willow, Reed, Sedge, Garden, Grasshopper, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat, Blackcap and Chiffchaff.) some in good numbers. Later two Hobbies were hawking damselflies over the Slurry Lagoon and a Water Rail was heard chipping from the reed bed. The damselflies included Red-eyed, Common Blue and Blue-tailed plus a Four-spotted Chaser was seen. PS.

Bittern – 8th September

September 8, 2020Recent wildlife sightings2020, 8th September, Barn Owl, Bittern, Garganey, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Noctule, Pipistrelle, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, water railPete Smith

Late this afternoon the Bittern was seen again, flying across the Slurry Lagoon. The Garganey was still present, along with a Water Rail, Green Sandpiper, Snipe and four Little Egrets. JDn.

In the evening two Bitterns were seen. At dusk a Barn Owl was seen as well as a Pipistrelle and a Noctule at nightfall. RW.

Barn Owl – 22nd January

January 22, 2020Recent wildlife sightings2020, 22nd January, Barn Owl, Green Sandpiper, Roe Deer, Treecreeper, water railPete Smith

This evening a Barn Owl was seen hunting over the reserve. There were also four Water Rail, a Treecreeper, a Green Sandpiper and three Roe Deer. MT.

Barn Owl – 22nd December

December 22, 2019Recent wildlife sightings2019, 22nd December, Barn Owl, Goldeneye, Large Gravel Pit, water railPete Smith

This morning the Barn Owl was still out hunting over the seed-crop field. Two fine drake Goldeneye were on the Large Gravel Pit and at least three Water Rail were calling in the reed beds. PS.

Ruddy Shelduck – 1st December

December 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st December, 2019, Common Snipe, Goosander, peregrine, Pink-footed Goose, Ruddy Shelduck, water railPete Smith

This morning two Ruddy Shelduck and twenty Common Snipe were seen on the Ecopark pool. Two female Goosanders flew over and a skein of 120 Pink-footed Geese went to the west. Two Peregrines were seen hunting from the pylons and four Water Rail were heard calling from the reed-beds. PS.

Also two Green Sandpipers on the Ecopark and two Bearded Tits in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. RW.

Green Sandpiper – 10th November

November 10, 2019Recent wildlife sightings10th November, 2019, Boundary Hedge, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, peregrine, Treecreeper, water railPete Smith

This morning, during the Bird Count, eleven Water Rail were heard calling around the reserve. Two Peregrines were on the new pylon and a Treecreeper was seen along the Boundary Hedge. On the Eco-park there were four Little Egrets and two Green Sandpipers. PS.

Marsh Harrier – 3rd November

November 3, 2019Recent wildlife sightings2019, 3rd November, Cettis Warbler, Fieldfare, Marsh Harrier, peregrine, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon, water railPete Smith

This morning a cream-top Marsh Harrier was seen in the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed. It was present for a good part of the morning. A female Peregrine was seen on one of the pylons and there were a few Redwings and Fieldfares about. Several Water Rail were heard calling from the reed-beds and at least six Cetti’s Warblers were singing. PS.

Red Kite – 10th April

April 10, 2019Recent wildlife sightings10th April, 2019, Causeway, House Martin, Lower Path, Red Kite, water railPete Smith

This morning, during the RSPB walk, a Water Rail flew across the gap in front of the Causeway bench. A Red Kite flew to the west, high above the site and four House Martins were foraging above the Lower Path, close to the signal box. PS

Raven – 1st January

January 1, 2019Recent wildlife sightings1st January, 2019, Cettis Warbler, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, water railPete Smith

This morning things were pretty quiet at the lagoons. There were a lot of gulls passing through that paused briefly on the Slurry Lagoon. Several Water Rail were heard and one flew across in front of the Causeway bench. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard singing. Two Ravens flew along the river to the pylons to perch for a while. Later a single Raven flew low over the Deep Pit. PS.