Nine members met at the visitor centre car park. The day started overcast but the sun soon shone through giving us a warm dry day. From the car park and adjacent reed bed there was a Blackcap, Dunnock, Goldfinches, Chiffchaff, Blue Tit and Robin in the hedge. A Reed Bunting, Whitethroat and Sedge Warbler were singing in the reed bed and the rough vegetation. On the water we could see two Shelducks, a Little Grebe, Black-headed Gulls, Cormorants, Mallards and Tufted Ducks. A Little Egret flew overhead with several Cormorants. A Holly Blue butterfly was also seen at the car park.
Walking past the visitor centre through the trees to the first hide we heard a Green Woodpecker in the distance. In the trees there were numerous Woodpigeons, a male Blackcap singing, a Long-tailed and a Great Tit.
The first hide looks over two pools and a reed bed. A Grey Heron was hunting along with two Little Egrets to the right in the margins. Two Moorhens were in the reed bed. The sand martin nesting wall was vacant for some reason. It would normally be active at this time. In the distance we could see a Spoonbill which we would get better views of later on our walk. A Red Kite flew past, a Kestrel was perched on a fence post and two Jays were in the trees at the back of the pools. Carrion Crows and Jackdaws were seen here and throughout the day.
As we walked through the next wooded area Willow Warblers were heard singing all along the footpath. A Sparrowhawk flew overhead. In an open area by the dipping pool a Whitethroat gave us some good views perched on some rough vegetation. Holly Blues, Orange Tips, a Comma and Brimstone butterflies were also in this open patch. Further along the path a pair of Coots were in the drain with six very small chicks.
The next viewing area over looks a pool on the side of the coal tip. A pair of raptors were seen soaring very high. Identified as a pair of Peregrine Falcons they eventually drifted away. On the water there was a pair of Canada Geese, two Pochards, two Gadwalls, four Tufted Ducks, Mallards and Little and Great-crested Grebes. Numerous Swifts and Swallows were flying overhead. A cuckoo gave a brief fly-by for two members and a Buzzard flew over head.
The walk along the Coal Tip path had two Cetti’s Warblers and Willow Warblers singing. Brimstone butterflies were over the rough grass bank and two Small Coppers.
The pools on top of the coal tip had 22 Pochards, only one female with all the drakes. Two Common Terns were fishing as Little and Great-crested Grebes were diving on the water. Two Coot families were on the second pool with Mallards, Gadwalls and Black-headed Gulls. A Water Rail was heard squealing in the reed bed with singing Reed Warblers and a Reed Bunting. Further along the other side of the pools two Cettis Warblers were singing in the waterside bushes. We only managed to see one Cetti’s on our walk.
We could look over the heronry which had a good number of Grey Herons and Cormorants nesting with some young visible. Only one Spoonbill could be seen in the tree tops. 15 Mute Swans were in the crop field across the road with a gaggle of Canada Geese and Greylags. A small bird on the footpath ran into the grass which turned out to be a Skylark collecting food for it’s young. We then returned to the visitor centre and had our lunch at the picnic tables.
We then drove to Lin Dyke. Three Cetti’s Warblers, a Whitethroat, Chaffinch, Garden Warbler and Willow Warblers were seen along the footpath. The Garden Warbler gave us a good singing performance sat in a tree top. Four Lapwings and a single Oystercatcher were over the fields and marsh next to Spoonbill Flash. Two Common Terns were perched on fence posts in the water. Ducks included numerous Gadwall, Shelducks, Tufted Ducks, two Shovelers, Mallards and 48 Mute Swans. Two Little Egrets flew over. Two Avocets were on the Flash at the end of the footpath and a Great-spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming in the trees next to the canal. Finally, on our return to Spoonbill Flash a Little-ringed Plover flew onto a small island in front of the screen and a smart male Marsh Harrier flew along the ridge to our right. We then returned to our cars all having had an enjoyable day with a species total of 61. Thank you to all who attended and made the day.
Mike Smithson
