The Netherfield Wildlife Group » Recent sightings

Hobby – 17th May

Peter — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:35:32 +0000

There were a large number of Swifts feeding over the site this morning, with smaller numbers of hirundines. By the railway bridge a Hobby appeared and stooped towards the Large Gravel Pit. A Cuckoo was calling and an Oystercatcher was on the Wader Scrape. PS.

Garganey – 13th May

Peter — Sun, 13 May 2012 13:15:56 +0000

This morning there were eight Shelduck and a male Garganey on the Slurry Lagoon. The Wader Scrape had two Little Ringed Plover and two Oystercatchers as well as two Wheatears. There were plenty of warblers singing but still no Grasshopper Warbler. Later in the morning a Hobby flew over near the railway bridge. PS et al.

Marsh Harrier – 4th May

Peter — Fri, 04 May 2012 19:09:35 +0000

There was a good arrival of migrants over the last two days with warbler numbers shooting up. The reed beds hold several Reed and Sedge Warblers and several Lesser Whitethroats and Garden Warblers have arrived. Swallows, House Martins and Swifts have been passing through in good numbers all day. In the morning a Curlew flew over the site and a Little Egret made an appearance. In the late afternoon a Marsh Harrier flew in and possibly stayed to roost in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. RW.

Garden Warbler – 2nd May

Jacqueline — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:08:11 +0000

A Garden Warbler was feeding and calling in bushes close to the Ouse Dyke bridge early afternoon. JMD.

A second Garden Warbler was singing and showing well by the riverside, and two Cuckoos were heard calling. The warm weather also tempted some butterflies out and 5 Brimstones, 11 Orange Tips and 8 Green-veined Whites were counted. PS.

Cuckoo – 30th April

Jacqueline — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:05:50 +0000

A Cuckoo was heard today in the area between the Large Gravel Pit and the river. DG.

Grasshopper Warbler – 30th April

carol — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:31:56 +0000

At 1.30pm a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in bushes at the railway end of the dry slurry lagoon. ML

Black Tern – 30th April

Peter — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:13:48 +0000

This afternoon there were signs that some more migrants had arrived with four Lesser Whitethroats in song. There were still no Garden Warblers or Grasshopper Warblers but in the Deep Pit a Black Tern was hawking for insects. It had a very buoyant flight as it rose above the water, flying into the wind. When it spotted an insect it dived like a falcon, probably catching a St. Marks Fly. There was a Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Slurry Lagoon and two Shelduck, but no sign of any Teal. PS.

Common Redstart – 28th April

Neil — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:57:11 +0000

A superb male Common Redstart added some much needed colour to a rather grey morning with squally showers, it showed well but briefly on the inside of the Deep Pit bank at the southern end before diving into cover as more rain approached. Seven Common Swift and 11 Sand Martin passed through and 2 Oystercatchers were on one of the Tern platforms. NM

Lesser Whitethroat – 27th April

Peter — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:11:50 +0000

The rain was unrelenting today but there were still more Swallows over the Slurry Lagoon than I had seen so far this spring, plus two House Martins. A Lesser Whitethroat sang and then showed itself in the bushes at the dry end of the Slurry Lagoon, near the steps and a Curlew called as it circled somewhere overhead, but it couldn’t be seen. PS.

Lesser Whitethroat – 27th April

Jacqueline — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:59:03 +0000

Early afternoon a Lesser Whitethroat was singing and showing quite well in bushes to the east of the Slurry Lagoon. Two L.R.P.s flew from our Wader Scrape towards the Sub-Station workings. JMD.