The ‘Bird Walk – Migrants’ went well today with eight of us present. We saw Chiffchaffs, Willow Warblers, Blackcaps, Whitethroats, Sedge Warblers and Cetti’s Warblers. There were Swallows and Sand Martins by the railway bridge. As the morning warmed up butterflies emerged with Brimstone, Orange-tip, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Green Hairstreak and Holly Blue all seen.
Lots of migrants fresh in today. The first Grasshopper Warbler of the year was reeling just east of the railway bridge, 2 Sedge Warblers were singing under the pylons. Lots of hirundines, Willow Warblers and Blackcaps. 2 Jack Snipe were sat together on the Ecopark. MC.
This morning, during the Bird Count, a Swallow was seen by the railway bridge, investigating the nest sites underneath. Five Willow Warblers were heard and a pair of Kingfishers were seen checking out a nest site on the river. Some female Orange-tips and a male Holly Blue were also seen. PS.
This morning the Little Ringed Plover was on the Severn/Trent field, close to the Ecopark. A female Marsh Harrier was hunting over the Slurry Lagoon reed-bed until it drifted off to the south-west. A Snipe was on the Wader Scrape and a Willow Warbler was singing near the Reed-bed Walk. Briefly two Sand Martins were hawking insects over the Slurry Lagoon. PS.
This morning the two Willow Warblers were both singing from the same spots as yesterday. There were at least twenty Tawny Mining Bees sunning themselves on the posts along the Causeway. PS.
In the afternoon a female Marsh Harrier was seen hunting over the Slurry Lagoon , also seen were a displaying Little Ringed Plover, a Green Sandpiper and Jacksnipe. MC.
This morning two Willow Warblers were heard, rather half-heartedly, singing. The male Pintail showed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before disappearing into the reeds and five Oystercatchers flew over in a high and very noisy display flight. PS.
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.
This morning there were two Swifts with the hirundines feeding over the Slurry Lagoon and Deep Pit. Four Garden Warblers and five Willow Warblers were heard singing. PS.
In the late afternoon an Osprey flew over the Deep Pit, mobbed by at least twelve Common Terns. The Ecopark had one Wood Sandpiper, one Ringed Plover and a Dunlin. RW.
At least three Reed Warblers were singing in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. Also there were Sedge Warblers, Willow Warblers, Whitethroats, Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs. A Redshank was heard calling around the Large Gravel Pit. IEP.
This morning there was a Whitethroat near the Large Gravel Pit as well as plenty of singing Blackcaps, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs. A Green Sandpiper flew over the Slurry Lagoon and was later seen again on the Eco-park, along with three Little Ringed Plovers. IP.