Hi all, yesterday evening was a good time to be down at Cossington Meadows, as at around 6.00pm I had an Osprey flying over Plover meadow being mobbed by a number of birds. The Osprey slowly drifted south towards Cossington South/Wanlip North GPs, and was noted to briefly hover over the pits trying to catch a fish! (This sighting was a local patch tick for yours truly).
Following this sighting, ten minutes later while scanning the Plover meadow, I found a summer-plumaged Wood Sandpiper feeding at the muddy edges.
Other sightings on Plover meadow included the usual waders, and up to five recently hatched Lapwing chicks.
In conclusion, this was probably the best half an hour of birding down Cossington Meadows I've had for a couple years, and continues the Soar Valley excellent run of form of turning up unusual birds!
Friday, 9 May 2008
Cossington Meadows 8th May 2008
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Temminck's Stint: Wanlip Meadows
A Temminck's Stint has been dividing its time between the main scrape at Wanlip and the large puddle in the adjacent field since the 4th. Yesterday it was in the presence of a Whimbrel.
It has been reported via the RBA pager this morning at 05.50, however when I visited at 07.00 there was no sign. It can be quite elusive though so i wouldn't take that as gospel.
After yesterday, when six Black Tern were on Watermead South, there were none this morning.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Cossington Meadows: 28 April 2008
Saturday, 26 April 2008
Sightings over the last week 21st-23rd April.
Hi all, here is a list of the wildlife sightings I have seen down the Soar Valley in the last few days.
21st April 2008:
Watermead CP South
1 Swift,Common Tern and female Scaup still.
23rd April 2008:
Cossington Meadows LRWT
1 Ringed Plover on the Plover Meadow.
1 Grasshopper Warbler singing on the Lower Moor section, opposite Tern Pool.
Also good numbers of Whitethroats(6+), and Sedge Warblers were singing around the reserve.
Butterfly Sightings:Whilst walking around the reserve I saw at least six Small Tortoiseshells, a couple of Peacocks and a single Brimstone.
Watermead CP South
6 Common Terns, and female Scaup still.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
Once Bittern...
Yesterday's Bittern was flushed from the ditch between Tern lake and the upper marsh this morning. It flew towards the river and then was seen several more times in flight before flying towards the reedbed allowing a number of Soar valley listers connected with this reserve first.
Other highlights included 2 Little Egrets,a Redshank and a reeling Grasshopper warbler





