The Netherfield Wildlife Group » Large Gravel Pit

Smew – 22nd January

Peter — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 12:23:25 +0000

The Large Gravel Pit had a Red-head Smew on it this morning. Also found were up to ten Goldeneye and there were five Little Egrets. In the bushes beside the Slurry Lagoon there were good numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares and a Redpoll was heard calling as it flew over. AE.CH.PS.

Egyptian Goose – 10th January

Peter — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:42:17 +0000

This afternoon there were two Water Rail showing well around the edge of the Large Gravel Pit and a Cetti’s warbler was scolding near the Willow Pond. Three Egyptian Geese flew over towards Attenborough. RW.

In the late afternoon a Merlin flew the length of the Deep Pit before diving towards the bushes at its southern end. Six Little Egrets were seen leaving the Large Gravel Pit, probably to go to roost and a Cetti’s Warbler was heard in the Deep pit. PS.

The Siberian Chiffchaff was again reported along the Ouse Dyke.

Siberian Chiffchaff – 2nd December

Peter — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:35:58 +0000

The Siberian Chiffchaff was again present along the Ouse Dyke today. There were three Little Egrets on the Large Gravel Pit. RW.

Iceland Gull – 27th December

Peter — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:57:42 +0000

At about mid-day a first winter Iceland Gull joined the gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon. It spent some time bathing and then rested on the shore. About forty Golden Plovers flew over at about the same time and a Peregrine had flushed the roost shortly before. There were two Cetti’s Warblers, one calling one singing, and several Water Rail calling from around all the water bodies. Three Little Egrets were seen on the large willow beside the Large Gravel Pit. PS.

Goosander – 11th December

Peter — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:44:16 +0000

This morning, during the bird count, two male Goosanders flew over the reserve and later a female landed on the Large Gravel Pit. Three Cetti’s Warblers were heard and there were three Little Egrets on the Ouse Dyke. Good numbers of winter thrushes and various ducks were also present. PS.

Goosander – 7th December

Peter — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:09:33 +0000

This afternoon there were two female Goosander on the Large Gravel Pit, along with four female Goldeneye and some Gadwall and Wigeon. On the Deep Pit there were five male Goldeneye and several Mallard. The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon contained an estimated 700 Greater Black-backs and at least twice as many Herring Gulls. There were well in excess of 2,000 birds. There were still good numbers of Shoveler and Teal as well as a Shelduck. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard calling in the Slurry Lagoon reed bed. PS.

Red-crested Pochard – 18th November

Peter — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 17:42:22 +0000

This afternoon there were seven Red-crested Pochard on the Large Gravel Pit, as well as two Little Egrets. The gull roost on the Slurry Lagoon again held the Caspian Gull as well as a flock of 267 Golden Plover and there was a pair of Pintail and a Shelduck. On the pasture field across the river there were four Pink-footed Geese and, as dusk fell, twenty-seven White-fronted Geese came to roost on the Slurry Lagoon. PS. RW.

Rock Pipit – 7th November

Peter — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:36:56 +0000

A Rock Pipit paused briefly on the Slurry Lagoon this afternoon, where there were also three Dunlins and a Little Egret and later, an adult Yellow-legged Gull. The Pintail is still on the Large Gravel Pit. RW.

Mediterranean Gull – 3rd November

Peter — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:10:26 +0000

The gull roost contained a first winter Mediterranean Gull and an adult Yellow-legged Gull this afternoon. Several Water Rails were heard or seen across the site, as were hunting Sparrowhawks. One Sparrowhawk was seen to fly into the Starling roost causing them to move across the Slurry Lagoon to another reed bed. As the light failed a massive flock of Grey-lag Geese rose unseen from the harvested maize field, where they had been feeding, to move to the Large Gravel Pit, to roost. The noise they made cackling and screeching was very impressive. RW, PS.

Starling – 31st October

Peter — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 17:52:18 +0000

As the light dimmed, at about 16.15, the Starlings began to arrive to roost. A group of about 1,000 formed and did an aerial display, then decided to have a mass bathe amongst the gull roost. Another group of about 1,000 arrived and then both groups amalgamated and smoked into the reed bed. Then lots of smaller groups of fifty to 200 birds arrived, mostly from the east and dived spectacularly into the reed beds to join the others. This carried on for about thirty minutes until I estimated about 4,500 birds were in the roost. Whilst this was happening there were echelons of Grey-lag and Canada Geese arriving to roost on the Large Gravel Pit and the numbers grew to about 1,200 Grey-lag and about 800 Canadas. On the Slurry Lagoon the gull roost reached in excess of 1,000 birds but the light did not make counting them practical. A Water Rail flew across the gap in the reed beds in front of the bench and the Cetti’s was in good voice. PS.