Tag Archives: Wheatear

Wheatear – 22nd March

March 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd March, Brimstone, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Grey Plover, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, Toad, WheatearPete Smith

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.

Wheatear – 14th March

March 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th March, 2011, birds, Blackcap, Cettis Warbler, Chiffchaff, Deep Pit, Shelduck, Slurry Lagoon, WheatearPete Smith

Today a Wheatear was seen briefly on a fence post by the Deep Pit, but flew off towards the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon. A Chiffchaff was present and a Blackcap was heard singing. The Cetti’s Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit and a Shelduck was on the Slurry Lagoon. DM.

Lincolnshire 2010

January 19, 2011Uncategorized2010, Barn Owl, bird, birds, black swans, Black-tailed godwit, frampton, Garden Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, lincoln, lincolnshire, Little Ringed Plovers, nightingale, peregrine, red legged partridge, ringed plovers, rspb, Sparrowhawk, Stoat, trips, Wheatear, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailCarol

After having picked up various passengers the two cars left Nottingham at about 8.15 am and we made our way to Whisby Nature Park near Lincoln for 9.15 am were we met up with Jack Driver. The early rain that fell on Nottinghamshire was now falling on Lincolnshire so we donned our waterproofs and set off to find our target bird of the day – Nightingale.

According to the sightings board there were six singing males on the site. Looking on the nearest lake Pete found a pair of Little Ringed Plovers changing over nest duties while in the background a Nightingale was singing. A Sparrowhawk shot past the group so fast that not all of us managed to see it. We looked for the singing Nightingale without success so it was decided to go to the area where I had seen them on previous visits.

Having turned the corner at the northern end of Coot Lake we were deafened as one was singing very close to the path and it wasn’t long before Pete had found it. What a stunning bird – in full view. The problem was that not all the group had seen it and nobody had brought a camera as it was thought that they would only be heard and not seen.

We moved on, hearing three or four more before Pete again located one competing with a very high pitched Grasshopper Warbler, that not all the group could hear, and a Garden Warbler. The Nightingale was about 50 metres away over the railway. After watching the Nightingale I decided that I would leave the group and see if I could see or hear the Grasshopper Warbler on my own. I managed, after a few minutes, to get a short snatch of its song before the Nightingale drowned it out again. We made our way back to the car park, the sun shining now. Three Nightingale were seen with at least a further five heard.

With the trip list now standing at 26 we said our goodbyes to Jack Driver and made our way to RSPB Frampton near Boston, seeing Red-legged Partridge and Hare on the way.

The first birds seen at Frampton were a pair of Black Swans, obviously escaped from a collection but seemed to be doing well in the wild. We were surprised to see that the Brent Geese were still in the area as we had expected them to have gone to their breeding grounds by now. After a break for lunch and a cuppa we set off down the path towards the hides. On a small tree a Corn Bunting was singing while a Whimbrel was seen to land on the wet meadow. Steve spotted a Stoat as it ran from the meadow and over the road – our second mammal of the day. As it tried to rain again we made our way towards the first hide but stopped again as a photogenic Corn Bunting sat on a post for us. As we were about to go into the hide several Twite were seen on the wires. In all we counted 15. We were told that during the winter there were several hundred on the reserve. Also seen from the hide were two White Wagtail, Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit. Meadow Pits were singing as we left the hide to go back to the cars. Jackie spotted a female Wheatear on a fence post. From the car park I looked at the Barn Owl box through my binoculars and thought I saw part of the face of the Barn Owl. Sure enough as soon as a telescope was trained on the box the head of the bird could be seen. We were doing well as we had seen 63 species on the day.

We made our way north of Boston to Freiston RSPB reserve. Upon arriving we noticed a Pale-bellied Brent Goose in among the Dark-bellied. Although only a sub-species I would not be surprised if it is not split in a few years time to be a species in its own right.

We made our way to the sea wall as high tide was due at about 4.00 pm. The tide didn’t cover the marsh but birds were being moved all the while giving reasonable views of Knot, Eider, Curlew and Grey Plover. A Peregrine was seen as were two Fulmar. Near the car park the fields were scanned and Jackie spotted a fairly distant Yellow Wagtail.

Overall 81 bird species were seen taking the year’s list to 137 compared with 102 this time last year. The mammal list is at 6 (5 in 2009). Only one butterfly has been seen that of a Large White. This time last year 8 had been seen.

Red Kite – 20th March

March 20, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 20th March, birds, Chiffchaff, Golden Plover, Oystercatcher, Red Kite, Sand Martin, Slurry Lagoon, WheatearPete Smith

This morning there were two male Wheatears at the top end of the Slurry Lagoon, a Sand Martin and a Chiffchaff. Two Oystercatchers flew over and there were 73 Golden Plover on the Severn Trent field. At about 12.50 a Red Kite flew over the site, heading south. Later in the day 13 Sand Martins and 6 Snipe were seen. RW.

Pintail – 5th September

September 5, 2009Recent wildlife sightingsbirds, pintail, sightings, water rail, Wheatear, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

A pintail was seen at the lagoons today along with 2 Water Rail, 3 Yellow-legged Gulls and a Wheatear. PS.

Butterfly Walk 23rd August 2009

September 1, 2009Uncategorized2009, 23rd August, august, birds, Brown Argus, bund, butterflies, butterfly, Butterfly Walk, day, Deep Pit, dragonflies, Gravel Pit, group, Hobby, lagoons, river, Slurry Lagoon, walk, warblers, Wheatear, WhinchatSimon

A very warm and sunny day slightly spoilt by a strong south westerly breeze which kept the butterflies from flying. A group of seven of us set off along the Ouse Dyke where we encountered the usual selection of large, small and green-veined whites, speckled wood butterflies along with common darter, brown hawker and southern hawker dragonflies. We were even greeted by the call of the resident kingfisher as it speed off up the path.

On entering the site we soon found the first of our target species of common blue, which it became apparent are very abundant all around the site as there is plenty of birds-foot trefoil on the bank tops and sides. The next of our target species for the day was the small copper, only one of these was located at the top of a bank I know from previous visits to be one of the best places to find them. Unfortunately we weren’t so lucky with the small heath which failed to show at all, probably due to the wind whipping across the site.

Dropping down to the river bank to get some shelter from the wind we encountered our next target, brown argus. Or at least the back markers did, by the time the rest of us had backtracked it had disappeared into the long grass. However, we did all get to see this small butterfly later as altogether we encountered six in various parts of the lagoons.

The walk continued in the shelter of the hedge bordering the back of the gravel pits where plenty of common blue damselflies along with other butterflies and dragonflies were taking advantage of the windbreak offered by the hedge. Our return to the site found more brown argus on the central bund between the deep pit and the slurry lagoon, and also along the bottom pathe following the railway line.

By the end of the walk we had encountered ten butterfly species, including those mentioned above along with small tortoiseshell, brimstone, meadow brown and painted lady. Other highlights included two hobby, wheatear, whinchat and various warblers.

Whinchat and Wheatear – 23rd August

August 23, 2009Recent wildlife sightings2009, 23rd August, birds, Brown Argus, Deep Pit, Hobby, insects, long-winged coneheads, Railway Bridge, warblers, Wheatear, Whinchat, Willow titPete Smith

A Whinchat and a Wheatear were seen this morning, both on the Deep Pit fence by the Railway Bridge, though not at the same time. Two Hobbies were also seen here. About six Brown Argus were seen around the site and more Long-winged Coneheads, as well as several Migrant Hawkers, Brown Hawkers and a Southern Hawker. The Lower Path had a flock of warblers, containing Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff, plus two Willow Tits.