Tag Archives: Willow tit

Spotted Flycatcher – 22nd August

This morning as we walked along the Lower Path four Jays sneaked into the canopy of the ash trees while a a Buzzard called overhead. There were several immature Reed Warblers, Sedge Warblers, Blackcaps and Whitethroats and a Lesser Whitethroat and Willow Tit in the bushes between the path and the railway line. Near to the signal box a Spotted Flycatcher was perched on the wires and then in the hawthorn bushes, and a Stoat ran across the path. By the river the Swallows’ alarm calls alerted us to a Hobby. PS.

A Little Egret was seen briefly on the Slurry Lagoon and several Roesel’s Bush-crickets were found on the Causeway. By the Small Gravel Pit an Emperor, Migrant Hawker, Brown Hawker and Common Darter were seen. PS.

Black-tailed Godwit – 2nd August

There were three Black-tailed Godwits, five Dunlin, five Yellow-legged Gulls and a Caspian Gull on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon. Both Roesel’s Bush Crickets and Long-winged Coneheads were found and a Willow Tit was heard along the Lower Path. PS.

In the evening a juvenile Mediterranean Gull, three Green Sandpipers, a Snipe and a Water Rail were present on the Slurry Lagoon. RW.

Fox and Gulls – 4th July

The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon is beginning to build up again and today there were about sixty Black-headed Gulls, including about ten juveniles and several Lesser Black-backs. Suddenly a fox dashed out of the reed-bed, grabbed one and disappeared again. All of the gulls took to the air but soon settled back down again. Amongst the gulls were a few Lapwings and a Redshank. A Willow Tit was heard again along the Lower Path. PS.

Stonechat – 23rd October

This morning a male and female Stonechat were on the outside of the Deep Pit bank, at its north eastern corner. Inside the Deep Pit bank two Cetti’s Warblers were showing well together. On the Slurry Lagoon was a Dunlin and a Snipe and several Water Rail were calling. Two Redwing, six Siskin and a Redpoll flew over and about sixty Golden Plovers came in to rest on the Slurry Lagoon. The Willow Tit was showing well on the Lower Path. PS.

At the other end of the day the Starling roost is building up to quite a spectacle with thousands of birds flying in to roost in the Slurry reed beds. This evening so much activity attracted a Sparrowhawk who after one or two unsuccessful passes over the reeds sat in a bush and watched as the Starlings, aware of her presence, flew straight into the reeds. JMD.

Whinchat and Wheatear – 23rd August

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.