Tag Archives: Willow tit

Red-crested Pochard – 24th June

June 24, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 24th June, birds, Chiffchaff, Hobby, Red-crested Pochard, Slurry Lagoon, Sparrowhawk, water rail, Willow titPete Smith

There are still eight Red-crested Pochard on the Slurry Lagoon. A Water Rail was calling from the Slurry Lagoon reed bed to the south of the bench on the Causeway. By the railway bridge, on the up-river side, a Willow Tit without a tail was seen and heard calling. At first I thought it was a juvenile but it more likely had a close encounter with a Sparrowhawk. A Hobby did a magnificent stoop, half the length of the Lower Path, and rose with what looked like a warbler, perhaps a Chiffchaff, in its talons. It flew off with it in the direction of Holme Pierrepont. PS

Cetti’s Warbler – 6th March

March 6, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 6th March, birds, Deep Pit, Grey Wagtail, Lower Path, peregrine, Pied Wagtail, Slurry Lagoon, water rail, Willow titPete Smith

A cold wind was blowing as we walked around the site today but a pair of Grey Wagtails and a pair of Pied Wagtails did not seem too bothered by it, even though the male Grey Wagtail’s tail was blown right over his back at one time. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep pit and the pair of Peregrines was perched on a pylon ( is this a different pair to those seen on the Newton Building ?). Three Water Rail were heard on the Slurry Lagoon and a Willow Tit was heard along the Lower Path. PS/AE/AR/DG/PG/RW.

Barn Owl – 14th January

January 14, 2011Recent wildlife sightings14th January, 2011, Barn Owl, Gadwall, Large Gravel Pit, Lower Path, weasel, Willow tit, YellowhammerPete Smith

The Barn Owl was back over the grassland around the two gravel pits again this evening. It did not stay for as long this time though. There were approaching 200 Gadwall on the Large Fishing Pit and a Yellowhammer mobbed a Weasel in the grass in front of us as we watched the owl. The Willow Tit was heard again along the Lower Path. PS. DM.

Merlin – 6th January

January 6, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 6th January, birds, Cettis Warbler, Merlin, peregrine, Small Gravel Pit, water rail, Willow titPete Smith

This morning up to six Water Rail were heard or seen around the site. A Peregrine flew over and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling near the Small Gravel Pit. DM.

This afternoon a Willow Tit was seen near the Irish Bridge, AE, and a Merlin flew over towards Colwick, PS, DM.

Goosander – 28th December

December 28, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, Blackbird, Brambling, Deep Pit, Fieldfare, Goldeneye, Goosander, Lower Path, Redwing, Slurry Lagoon. 28th December, Willow titPete Smith

The Ouse Dyke has lost its Little Egrets for the time being, but a nice male Brambling was in the hedge alondside it this morning. There were still lots of winter thrushes about, mostly Redwings and Blackbirds with just a few Fieldfares. On the river were some Goldeneyes and then two immature male and a female Goosander swam into view. A Willow Tit was noted along the Lower Path. The Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit are still frozen but there is little sign of snow on the ground now. PS/AE.

Peregrine – 31st October

October 31, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 31st October, birds, Cettis Warbler, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Lower Path, peregrine, Redpoll, Rossi's Goose, Siskin, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Willow titPete Smith

The Willow Tit and eight Redpoll were seen along the Lower Path this morning and one or two Siskins are still flying through. All three Cetti’s were heard singing, so let’s hope they all survive the winter. A Peregrine flew over the site putting everything to flight and landed on a pylon. Two Golden Plover were seen flying around the site before departing north and a Snipe went up while 300 Lapwing eventually settled down on the Slurry Lagoon again. The goose flock on the Severn Trent land also went up and the Rossi’s Goose was spotted amongst them again. PS.

Waxwings – 24th October

October 24, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 24th October, birds, Cettis Warbler, Fielfare, Large Gravel Pit, Lower Path, Pink-footed Goose, Red-crested Pochard, Waxwing, Willow titPete Smith

About nine skeins of Pinkies flew through to the east this morning, totalling approximately 1,200 to 1,500 birds. There were four Red-crested Pochards but no sign of the Ross’s Goose on the Large Gravel Pit. A flock of about 100 Fieldfares went through to the west , a Cetti’s was heard in the Haven and a Willow Tit was seen on the Lower Path. PS.

In the afternoon a flock of about twenty Waxwings flew across the site towards the retail park. RW.

Ruff – 5th September

September 5, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 5th September, birds, Lapwing, Little Stint, Lower Path, peregrine, Ruff, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Swifts, warblers, Wigeon, Willow titPete Smith

Two juvenile Ruff, a male and a female, were on the Slurry Lagoon this morning. A Peregrine sliced through the Lapwing flock but didn’t manage to catch anything and ten Wigeon arrived to rest on the lagoon. A large flock of Swallows passed through late morning, accompanied by three Swifts and the Willow Tit was present along the Lower Path again with a large flock of other tits, Blackcaps, Whitethroats and Chiffchaffs. Two Snipe were also seen flying over. PS. AE.

In the early afternoon a juvenile Little Stint and a juvenile Ruff were present. RW.

Marsh Harrier – 3rd September

September 3, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 3rd September, birds, Hobby, Lower Path, Marsh Harrier, Reed Warbler, Willow titPete Smith

This afternoon a juvenile or female Marsh Harrier flew across the site, scattering gulls and ducks. There were still several warblers about and some Reed Warblers were still feeding young. A Willow Tit was heard from the Lower Path and a Hobby was seen hawking dragonflies. RW. PS.

Little Stint – 23rd August

August 23, 2010Recent wildlife sightings2010, 23rd August, birds, Chiffchaff, Lapwing, Little Stint, Lower Path, Redshank, Slurry Lagoon, Snipe, Willow titPete Smith

There was a Willow Tit and several very smart juvenile Chiffchaffs along the Lower Path today. On the Slurry Lagoon the Lapwings kept chasing a Little Stint, that only wanted to have a snooze. The Lapwings also chased a Redshank until it found a corner well away from them. Two Snipe were also present, dwarfing the Little Stint as the three flew over the site together to avoid the pursuing Lapwings. JMD. PS.