Cress Marsh 2022

18th September
Weather: Overcast, cool, N wind
Time on site: 16:15-18:00

A late afternoon visit to site found the following present:

Buzzard    1 - soaring over the site
Carrion Crow    5
Common Sandpiper    2 - both feeding on the lagoon shore
Goldfinch    40 - feeding along the path to the hide
Green Sandpiper    1 - feeding on the lagoon shore
Herring Gull    1
Kestrel    1 - hunting over the "Field Scrapes" area of the site
Linnet    20 - flock mobile around the site
Little Grebe    2 - both on the lagoon
Magpie    1
Mallard    3 - all on the lagoon
Meadow Pipit    1
Mute Swan    2 - both on the lagoon
Pheasant    1
Pink-footed Goose    3 - on the "Field Scrapes"
Shoveler    5 - all on the lagoon
Snipe    1 - on one of the islands in the lagoon
Stock Dove    1
Swallow    1
Teal    46 - all on the lagoon
Woodpigeon    81
Yellow Wagtail    1 - on the lagoon bank, in front of the hide
Roe Deer    3 - two on the "Pylon Scrapes" area and one on the "Field Scrapes" area of the site.
 

11th September
Weather: Sun, warm, SE breeze
Time on site: 15:00-16:30

Nice to see a few birds returning, now that there is more water on site. Noted during my visit this afternoon:

Buzzard    1 - soaring over site
Carrion Crow    3
Collared Dove    2
Common Sandpiper    2 - both feeding along the lagoon shore
Feral Pigeon    2
Gadwall    4 - all on the lagoon
Goldfinch    40 - flock, all feeding along the path to the hide
Kestrel    1 - hunting over the "Hide Scrapes" area of site
Lapwing    2 - both on the lagoon shore
Little Egret    1 - on the "Field Scrapes" area
Little Grebe    3 - all on the lagoon
Magpie    3
Mallard    15 - all on the lagoon
Mute Swan    1 - on the lagoon`
Pheasant    1
Reed Bunting    2 - perched in a Hawthorn tree next to the path to the hide
Stonechat    1 - perched on a fence post, along the path to the hide. First one I have seen on site this Autumn.
Teal    52 - all on the lagoon
Tufted Duck    2 - both on the lagoon
Woodpigeon    113 - feeding in a ploughed field next to the path to the hide
Roe Deer    1 - male, on the "Field Scrapes" area of site.

 

Lets hope the forecast rain does appear and gives a bit of help here. I understand they are looking at the pump situation, but a natural weather helping hand will be most welcome.

4th September
Weather: Overcast, warm, SE breeze
Time on site: 10:55-12:00

A visit to a very quiet Cress Marsh this morning, with the following being recorded:

Buzzard    1 - soaring over the site
Carrion Crow    1
Goldfinch    70 - flock feeding on plant seed heads alongside the path to the hide
Kestrel    1 - hunting over the "Hide Scrapes" area of site
Little Grebe    1 - on the lagoon
Pheasant    1
Pied Wagtail    2
Reed Bunting    1 - perched in Hawthorn bush along the path to the hide
Teal    4 - three roosting on the lagoon bank and one on the "Field Scrapes"
Woodpigeon    24
Roe Deer    4 - three on the "Field Scrapes" area and one (male) on one of the islands in the lagoon.

 

1st September
Weather: Sunny and warm. NE breeze
Time on site: 07:20-09:00

There is now water on site! Since my last post, NE Lincs Council have had contractors working on site, pumping water from a neighbouring drain via a mobile pump into the lagoon. The water level in the lagoon is now quite healthy, however, the scrapes around the site are still dry. I believe the contractors were also tasked with carrying out repairs to the site water pump.
The site is still relatively quiet. Seen during my visit this morning were:

Buzzard    2 - soaring over the site
Carrion Crow    2
Gadwall    6 - all on the lagoon
Goldfinch    100 - large flock feeding on seed heads on the "Pylon Scrapes" area of the site
Greylag Goose    2 - both on the "Field Scrapes" area of the site
Kestrel    1 - hunting over the "Hide Scrapes" area of the site
Linnet    40 - flock seen on the "Pylon Scrapes" area of the site
Little Grebe    2 - both on the lagoon
Mute Swan    2 - both on the lagoon
Peregrine    1 - seen stood in the middle of the ploughed field next to the path to the hide. Bird flew off towards Stallingborough Power Station chimney stacks
Pied Wagtail    4 - following the herd of cattle around site
Swallow    1
Teal    11 - all on the lagoon
Woodpigeon    41 
Yellow Wagtail    2 - with the Pied Wagtail, following the herd of cattle around site.
Roe Deer    1 - feeding in the "Hide Scrapes" area of site.

 

I believe that the pump is not working. I don't know whether the ditch from which the pump can draw water is  currently wet or dry.