Tag Archives: water rail

Raven – 24th November

November 24, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 24th November, Barnacle goose, Canada Goose, Deep Pit, Grey-lag Goose, Raven., Slurry Lagoon, Starling, water railPete Smith

This afternoon a Raven paid a brief visit to the lagoons, flying over the Deep Pit before doing a u-turn and flying back the way it had come. The Starling roost contained about 4,500 birds this evening and a Water Rail dashed across the gap in front of the seat. Over 1,000 geese came in to roost on the Slurry Lagoon as it got dark. They were mainly Grey-lag with Canadas, and there was one Barnacle Goose with them. PS.

Swallow – 3rd November

November 3, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 3rd November, Causeway, Corvids, Slurry Lagoon, Starling, Swallow, water railPete Smith

This evening the Starling roost was really spectacular as about 8,500 birds came in to roost. Hundreds of corvids were flying across the site and then about 1,500 Canada and Grey-lag Geese arrived en mass on the Slurry Lagoon. As this was all going on a juvenile Swallow came in from the north and circled the lagoon a few times, as if making up its mind whether to join the Starlings or not, but then flew off to the north. A Sparrowhawk was seen three times trying to catch a Starling from the roost and a Water Rail flew across the gap in the reeds in front of the Causeway bench. PS.

Mediterranean Gull – 4th August

August 4, 2014Recent wildlife sightings2014, 4th August, Common Sandpiper, Garganey, Little Egret, Mediterranean Gull, Slurry Lagoon, Wader Scrape, water railPete Smith

This afternoon there was a Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. Also seen was a small, juvenile Water Rail and a Little Egret. A Common Sandpiper was on the Wader Scrape and in the late afternoon a juvenile Mediterranean Gull was seen on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Woodcock – 28th November

November 28, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 28th November, Cettis Warbler, Crow, Deep Pit, Geese, Starling, water rail, WoodcockPete Smith

This evening, as the geese, starlings and crows went to roost a Woodcock flew past in the Deep Pit. There were two Cetti’s Warblers singing and at least six Water Rail were calling. PS.

Tawny Owl – 27th November

November 27, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 27th November, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Snipe, Tawny Owl, water railPete Smith

This evening there were at least four Cetti’s Warblers singing on the site and several Water Rail were calling from the reed beds. Two Tawny Owls flew over the reed bed in the Deep Pit and some Snipe were heard as they flew against the dark sky. PS.

Water Rail – 26th July

July 26, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 26th July, Gadwall, Mallard, Slurry Lagoon, water railPete Smith

This afternoon, on the Slurry Lagoon, a Water Rail with two chicks was seen at the edge of the reed bed. There were also three Gadwall broods and a brood of Mallards. RW, JMD.

Mediterranean Gull – 20th July

July 20, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 20th July, Maditerranean Gull, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

This afternoon, in the gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon, there was an adult Mediterranean Gull. Also an adult and an immature Yellow-legged Gull and a Water Rail. RW.

Little Ringed Plover – 20th March

March 20, 2013Recent wildlife sightings2013, 20th March, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Gadwall, Goldeneye, Haven, Lapwing chicks, Large Gravel Pit, linnet, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Wader Scrape, water railPete Smith

The Little Ringed Plover is still on the Wader Scrape, along with a Lapwing, 24 Gadwall and a male Goldeneye. Two Cetti’s Warblers were heard, one in the Haven, the other in the Deep Pit, as well as several Water Rail and there were two Snipe near the Large Gravel Pit. In an ash tree on the railway embankment there was a pre-roost flock of 57 Linnets. PS.

Little Egret – 25th November

November 25, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 25th November, Barn Owl, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, ducks, Goldcrest, Little Egret, Ouse Dyke, Plantation, Slurry Lagoon, Thrushes, Toad, Trent, water railPete Smith

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.

Whooper Swan – 19th February

February 19, 2012Recent wildlife sightings19th February, 2012, birds, Deep Pit, Large Gravel Pit, Little Egret, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Whooper SwanPete Smith

Six Whooper Swans flew north-east over the reserve this morning. There were two Little Egrets in the willow on the Large Gravel Pit and three Shelduck were on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was seen briefly as it flew from cover to cover in the Deep Pit. AE. PS.