17th September 2008

Highlights:
Jay, Common Gull and Kingfisher - Stewartby Lake
Low flying hot-air balloon over the gull roost in the evening.

Greylag Geese - near the Pillinge Two more photos of the Grey Heron, taken near the cafe
Rose Bay Willowherb

16th September 2008

Highlights:

Kingfisher at Gullwatch (Kingfishers are being very conspicuous at present. Regularly seen from the Gullwatch, the bank of Stewartby Lake nearest to Visitors Centre and around the Pillinge)

2 Pintail - in the middle of the Pillinge.

Another OSPREY! (see around 4pm over Stewartby Lake, and seen again by others over Rookery about an hour later)

Second Osprey in 3 days! This one was over Stwatby Lake

Very dodgy photo of two distant female-type Pintail on the Pillinge.
Grey Heron - This bird is spending a lot of time feeding in the pond in front of the cafe.

15th September 2008

Highlights:
Jay, Hobby, Kestrel and Green Sandpiper - all near Visitors Centre
Common Sandpiper - Stewartby Lake.
Southern Hawker - Near Pillinge
Small Tortoiseshell - Sensory Garden, near Vistors Centre.

14th September 2008

7.10am -5pm

Highlights:

Common Gull and Long-tailed Tits - Gullwatch

Grey Wagtail - Sewage Works

2 Stonechats and 1 Whinchat - Between Wetlands 9 and 3

OSPREY!, 4+ Buzzards and Jay -all from in front of cafe

Osprey -seen from infront of cafe at about 1pm

Osprey being mobbed by a Common Buzzard

Brimstone - near the Pillinge

Migrant Hawker - near Bramble Wood.

30th August 2008

8am -4.30pm (Gullwatch - sewage works - visitors centre - access track)

and Gullwatch 7pm-8pm

Highlights:

Gullwatch (8am -11.30am)

A group of c.23 Black Terns were present all day. As usual they spent most of the time flying near the centre of the lake.

3 Oystercatchers flew over the far side of the lake about 9.30am.

A Little Egret flew over me near the sewage works heading towards Stewartby Lake about noon.

Neil Wright found a Marsh Harrier circling over the Stewartby rubbish tip and a Peregrine on one of the brickwork chimneys about 1pm.

There were many Small Red-eyed Damselflies on the long pit that runs parallel to the access track and probably the same Marsh Harrier as seen earlier was circling over wetland 9 about 3.55pm.

Gullwatch (7pm -8pm)

Black Terns still present

Two of the Black Terns.

Marsh Harrier - seen over wetland 9 near the access track

Small Red-eyed Damselfly.

Common Tern - patrolling the edge of Stewartby Lake.

Goldfinch - near sewage works.

24th August 2008

12 noon - 6.15pm Visitors Centre - Pillinge - Millbrook Station - Jubilee Cottages

Highlights:
Kingfisher - Stunning views of one perched by the edge of the Pillinge
Sparrowhawk - very close fly-past by two at the Pillinge
Small Heath - near Pillinge
Pochard - one male at Pillinge

Male Kingfisher - near Pillinge
Sparrowhawk - one of two near Pillinge Small Heath - near Pillinge

23rd August 2008

8am - 3pm Gullwatch - Pillinge - Visitors Centre
Highlights:
Speckled Wood - Marston corner of Stewartby Lake
Turtle Dove - near sewage works
Hobby - Pillinge
Male and female Pochard - Pillinge
3+ Buzzards - over Rookery
Copper Underwing or Svensson's Copper Underwing - Pillinge hide
Ruddy Darter - near Pillinge
Common Darter - many throughout walk
Migrant Hawker -several
Brown Hawker - several



Male Ruddy Darter


Male Migrant Hawker - near sensory garden

Two photos of the same Common Blue - near the Pillinge


Female Common Darter - near Visitors Centre
Copper Underwing or Svensson's Copper Underwing - in Pillinge hide