Tag Archives: Yellow Wagtail

Curlew – 9th September

September 9, 2012Recent wildlife sightings2012, 9th September, Curlew, Hobby, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning as we arrived to start the bird count, a Curlew was calling as it flew from the Slurry Lagoon. Later there were well over 350 Swallows and House Martins by the railway bridge, as migrants paused to feed and rest. Two Hobbies made an appearance but the hirundines were too alert for them, so they had to content themselves with catching some of the dragonflies that were flying abundantly today. There were several groups of warblers and tits and Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were passing through on migration. PS.

Yellow Wagtail – 13th April

April 13, 2012Recent wildlife sightings13th April, 2012, birds, Causeway, Common Tern, Deep Pit, House Martin, Redpoll, Sand Martin, Sedge Warbler, Swallow, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning was cool and over cast and not very promising for migrant spotting. Towards mid-morning the clouds started to break up and the sun nearly shone. Over the Deep Pit eight Common Terns squabbled and chased before two pairs settled on the breeding platforms. A Sedge Warbler was singing in the Deep Pit, along the Causeway. Most other migrants flew through, including four Swallows, two Sand Martins, a House Martin, three Yellow Wagtails and a Lesser Redpoll. PS.

This egg was found on the Causeway, it had been predated by a Magpie. It is about 25cm long. Can anybody identify it ?

Arctic Skua – 16th September

September 16, 2011Recent wildlife sightings16th September, 2011, Arctic Skua, birds, Bittern, Buzzard, Common Sandpiper, Curlew, Green Sandpiper, pintail, Swallow, water rail, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning at about 10.00 the Bittern was seen on the Slurry Lagoon, walking along the front of the reed bed. There were also four Pintail and a Green Sandpiper present. On the river there were five Common Sandpipers and a Curlew. RW.

In the afternoon, about 15.00 all of the gulls flew up as an Arctic Skua came in. It bathed briefly on the Slurry Lagoon before half-heartedly chasing a few Black-headed Gulls and then it flew off to the north-east. The Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling and so was a Water Rail, and some Swallows went through, going north. Two Buzzards spiralled over and several Yellow Wagtails went through. PS. RW.

Whimbrel – 12th August

August 12, 2011Recent wildlife sightings12th August, 2011, birds, Cettis Warbler, Deep Pit, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Little Ringed Plover, Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, Whimbrel, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-legged GullPete Smith

During the course of the afternoon three separate Whimbrels flew through the site, going south. There were also a Ringed Plover and a juvenile Little Ringed Plover on the Slurry Lagoon.The flock of Lesser Black-backed Gulls contained a Yellow-legged Gull, and several Yellow Wagtails flew through. In the Deep Pit at least two, possibly four, Cetti’s Warblers were heard giving their ‘tack-tack’ alarm calls. PS.

Dunlin – 23rd May

May 23, 2011Recent wildlife sightings23rd May, Cetti's, cuckoo, Dunlin, Slurry, Yellow WagtailJacqueline

A single Dunlin was feeding along the Slurry edge this evening while behind him two Yellow Wagtails were weaving in and out of the reeds. The Cetti’s was calling well and a Cuckoo managed to cling on to a branch of a tree in the Deep Pit and sing at the same time and again Swifts were zooming around coming very low over the Site. JMD.

Little Ringed Plover – 17th May

May 17, 2011Recent wildlife sightings17th May, 2011, birds, Grasshopper Warbler, Gravel Pits, Little Ringed Plover, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

The Little Ringed Plover was back, displaying over the dry end of the Slurry this afternoon. Later it was seen feeding at the wet end. The pair of Yellow Wagtails were on the Causeway again and a Grasshopper Warbler was singing at the back of the Gravel Pits. PS.

Nightingale – 15th May

May 15, 2011Recent wildlife sightings15th May, 2011, Causeway, Deep Pit, Grey Wagtail, Marsh Orchid, nightingale, Oystercatcher, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning the brief, but distinct, notes of a Nightingale were heard coming from a bushy willow in the north end of the Deep Pit. It sang very sporadically and did not show at all. There were also all ten species of warbler singing and lots of Swifts swooping and screaming overhead. On the river there were two Oystercatchers and a Grey Wagtail while two Yellow Wagtails were seen on the Causeway. There are already some Marsh Orchids in flower. PS.

Greenshank – 2nd May

May 2, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2010, 2nd May, birds, cuckoo, Dunlin, Garganey, greenshank, peregrine, Slurry Lagoon, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a Greenshank briefly joined the Dunlin and Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. A Peregrine caused panic amongst the feral pigeons and Carrion Crows, and two male Cuckoos were around the Gravel and Deep Pits. Good numbers of warblers were counted and one or two Yellow Wagtails flew across the site. PS.

Marsh Harrier – 22nd April

April 22, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 22nd April, birds, cuckoo, Curlew, Goosander, Hobby, Marsh Harrier, Whimbrel, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

This morning a pair of Lesser Whitethroat were found on the corner of the Slurry Lagoon by the steps. On the river near the bend a female Goosander was resting on the bank and a Curlew, followed by a Whimbrel flew through. A female Marsh Harrier appeared over the Slurry Lagoon, alarming all of the ducks, before quartering the reed beds. After a while it landed in the reed bed but was seen leaving the site a few minutes later. A Yellow Wagtail was also seen and the Cuckoo returned to the Deep Pit fence posts. PS. RW.

In the early afternoon a Hobby drifted through to the east. RW.

Cuckoo – 20th April

April 20, 2011Recent wildlife sightings2011, 20th April, birds, Common Tern, cuckoo, House Martin, Yellow WagtailPete Smith

At last a Cuckoo has arrived on site. He called from the willows around the gravel pits and then found the posts around the Deep Pit. There were also four Yellow Wagtails fifteen Common Terns and a House Martin. RW. JMD. PS.