Catcott Lows

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
24 December 2023 14:11
 

Always worth walking down the track to the Lows hide: a goldfinch charm in the alders, also dropping down to feed on the track; the three lesser redpoll and single siskin with them preferring to stay up in the trees. Approaching the hide a scan of the marsh picked out a peregrine which stayed for a few minutes, as well as the usual marsh harrier. Duck numbers similar to 9th December, although twice as many teal and a few mallard.

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
09 December 2023 11:59
 

Plenty of duck from the Lows hide this morning: 400 wigeon, 70 teal, 35 shoveler and a single male pintail. Two marsh harriers putting up small groups of snipe.

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
26 November 2023 19:28
 

6 days ago just a handful of mallard from the Lows hide. This afternoon 125 wigeon and single figure teal and shoveler.

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
29 October 2023 16:11
 

A lovely male hen harrier drifting over the Lows this afternoon. Two marsh harriers and a few fieldfare. Still no duckā€¦

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
25 October 2023 18:40
 

Arrived at the Lows hide at 1720 this evening where a fellow-birder had just seen a ring-tail hen harrier. Hoping that it would show again we watched a barn owl hunting over the Lows for half an hour. Not sure if the owl put up the harrier, but it did reappear for 5 minutes, pursued some of the time by the owl. Harrier dropped into the vegetation about 1750, quite probably to roost.

 
Mat Ridley
 
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Mat Ridley
Total Posts:  30
Joined  12-07-2023
 
 
 
13 July 2023 22:19
 

A busy 10 minutes at the Catcott Lows hide yesterday evening (12th).  A hobby hunting over the far end towards Canada Farm at 2115 hrs (this seems to be a favoured area). A few minutes later a barn owl drifted past, a few yards from the hide window. Then a female sparrowhawk landed in the rushy margins on the far side of the pool and sat there for a couple of minutes, presumably contemplating the kill it had missed. The barn owl, meanwhile, had returned to sit on a fence 150 yards away. It was still sitting there when I left at 2150.

 
Alison Everett
 
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Alison Everett
Total Posts:  247
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
19 April 2022 17:05
 

4 Glossy Ibis were present this morning before flying off and circling around a few times before heading off in eastwards. Also 5 Redshank present.

 
Alison Everett
 
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Alison Everett
Total Posts:  247
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
18 April 2022 20:48
 

2 Little Ringed Plover were on the mud this afternoon, also 4 Redshank, 8-10 Lapwing, pair of Garganey and few Swallow flew through. Still a few Shoveller, Pintail and Teal about. A Sedge Warbler was singing near the car park.

 
Alison Everett
 
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Alison Everett
Total Posts:  247
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
15 April 2022 16:13
 

A flock of about 30 Sand Martin flew through this morning, only waders were the Lapwing and 2 Redshank. Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler singing in the fen/heath area along with numerous Chiff Chaff, Blackcap and Willow Warblers and a Bittern was seen from the tower hide.

 
Alison Everett
 
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Alison Everett
Total Posts:  247
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
12 April 2022 08:26
 

Yesterday evening (11/04) there were 4 Redshank, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 drake Garganey along with the Lapwing and remaining ducks. A few Willow Warblers were singing in the heath area along with the Chiff Chaff and Blackcaps that have been singing for a few weeks. A   booming Bittern was heard from the main hide , not sure if from Canada Farm or Catcott fen.

 
James Gibbs
 
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James Gibbs
Total Posts:  139
Joined  03-12-2015
 
 
 
09 April 2022 16:34
 

Catcott Lows this morning 09-04-3033
A bright sunny day and a good selection of birds seen
Marsh harrier male at a distance.
Grey heron.
Great white Egret ,two
Little Egrets.
Cattle Egrets 2
Lapwing three.
Redshank, two very active.
Pintail male
Shoveler.
Gadwall,Mallard, and Wigeon, in small numbers.
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James Gibbs
 
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James Gibbs
Total Posts:  139
Joined  03-12-2015
 
 
 
09 April 2022 15:36
 

Catcott Lows this morning 09-04-3033
A bright sunny day and a good selection of birds seen
Marsh harrier male at a distance.
Grey heron.
Great white Egret ,two
Little Egrets.
Cattle Egrets 2
Lapwing three.
Redshank, two very active.
Pintail male
Shoveler.
Gadwall,Mallard, and Wigeon, in small numbers.

 
Alan Ashman
 
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Alan Ashman
Total Posts:  388
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
22 January 2020 21:19
 

Two Water Pipits and a ring-tailed Hen harrier were the highlights after the mist lifted today.

 
Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
 
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Jeff Hazell (Levels-birder)
Total Posts:  670
Joined  01-12-2015
 
 
 
06 January 2020 18:24
 

6-Jan-2020  
On an early evening, when rain had moved away leaving a clear blue sky, at 16:25 the ringtail Hen Harrier flew R to L in front of the car park hide, then turned and flew away low over the marsh scattering Wigeon until reaching the far end of the reserve when it turned left and disappeared to the north. Also present one. probably 2, Egyptian Geese and 7 Grt White Egrets. Others reported a Merlin earlier this afternoon, before 15:00 hrs.

 
Ronald Westmaas
 
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Ronald Westmaas
Total Posts:  4
Joined  18-10-2019
 
 
 
04 January 2020 19:00
 

04.01.20 15.35.Ringtail at far end of reserve. Hunted for several minutes (in fast fading light).