Cress Marsh 2023

18th November
Weather: Overcast, cool, SE wind
Time on site: 12:40 - 16:20

A visit to the site earlier this afternoon found the following present:

Carrion Crow    6
Common Sandpiper    1 - feeding on the lagoon shore
Cormorant    1 - on the lagoon
Curlew    2 - both on the "Pylon" scrapes
Gadwall    10 - all on the lagoon
Great Black-back Gull    4 - all resting on the lagoon bank
Kestrel    1 - hunting over the field behind the site
Lapwing    19 
Little Egret    1 - on the "Pylon" scrapes
Little Grebe    6 - one on the "Pylon" scrapes and five on the lagoon
Magpie    2
Mallard    32 - twenty-six on the "Fields" scrapes, three on the "Pylon" scrapes and three on the lagoon
Meadow Pipit    4 - all on the "Pylon" scrapes area of the site
Mute Swan    15 - four on the "Field" scrapes, two on the "Pylon" scrapes and nine on the lagoon.
Pied Wagtail    3
Shoveler    9 - all on the "Field" scrapes
Teal    9 - all on the "Field" scrapes
Wigeon    30 - sixteen on the "Field" scrapes and fourteen on the "Pylon" scrapes
Roe Deer    2 - both feeding on the "Hide" scrapes area.
 

5th November
Weather: Sunny, cool, W wind
Time on site: 13:05-14:55

My first visit to the site in just over a month and I was pleased to see that after the recent spell of very wet weather, all of the scrapes and main lagoon are holding good volumes of water.

Noted during my visit were:

Buzzard    1 - flew across the site
Cormorant    2 - both resting on the "Pylon" scrapes
Great Black-back Gull    1 - on the lagoon
Greylag Goose    21 - all on the lagoon
Herring Gull    15 - all on one of the islands in the lagoon
Linnet    8 - a small flock seen feeding on the "Pylon" scrapes area
Little Egret    3 - two on the "Pylon" scrapes and a third flew onto site, landing behind the far bank of the lagoon
Little Grebe    8 - all on the lagoon
Magpie    2
Mallard    38 - thirty-two on the "Field" scrapes and six on the lagoon
Meadow Pipit    3 
Mute Swan    22 - twelve on the "Field" scrapes, two on the "Pylon" scrapes and eight on the lagoon
Pied Wagtail    2
Shoveler    3 - all on the "Field" scrapes
Starling    80 - a flock flew in and perched on one of the electricity pylons located in the "Pylon" scrape area of the site.
Stonechat    2 - a pair seen perched on the fence next the path to the hide
Teal    44 - all on the "Field" scrapes
Tufted Duck    5 - all on the lagoon
Wigeon    14 - all on the "Pylon" scrapes
Wood Pigeon    36

Roe Deer    2 - one feeding in the "Field" scrapes area, the other in the "Pylon" scrapes area.
 

1st October
Weather: Overcast, warm, SW breeze
Time on site: 17:40-18:35

A brief visit to the site earlier this evening found the following present:

Canada Goose    30 - all on the lagoon
Carrion Crow    4
Collared Dove    2
Common Gull    80 - several flocks flew over Cress Marsh from inland towards the Humber
Curlew    1 - on the "Field" scrapes
Gadwall    47 - ten on the "Field" scrapes, three on the "Pylon" scrapes and thirty-four on the lagoon.
Grey Heron    1 - on the "Pylon" scrapes
Greylag Goose    16 - all on the lagoon
Little Egret    3 - one feeding on the "Field" scrapes and two feeding on the "Pylon" scrapes
Little Grebe    7 - all on the lagoon
Magpie    2
Mallard    2 - a pair on the "Pylon" scrapes
Mute Swan    24 - three on the "Pylon" scrapes and twenty-one on the lagoon
Pheasant    1
Pied Wagtail    1
Robin    1
Shoveler    15 - nine on the "Field" scrapes and six on the lagoon
Stonechat    1 - perched on the fence alongside the path to the hide
Teal    1 - one on the "Field" scrapes
Tufted Duck    2 - pair on the lagoon

Roe Deer    1 - one feeding in the "Field" scrapes area of the site.
 

Such works on improving pools and ditches is always best done in early autumn when usually the water level is towards its lowest but the ground is reasonably soft.
This makes judging the depths and margins easier to judge for the best results , and operating  machinery do not leave deep ruts across access areas which when
dry in the summer can be  a risk for livestock  people and wheeled vehicles  if covered with growth and unseen.

regards John

Fingers crossed the work being carried out does help the site become more attractive to waders.

it’s a bit unfortunate from a local birding perspective that during autumn wader migration season the above is taking place at the same time as no access to the Novartis site and adjacent mudflats.

Chris 

It is quite annoying that we are not being told about the work schedules. Twice now I have made the journey, only to turn back because of workmen on site.