Local Reports
- 2006 Midweek break at Thoresby Hall (6th - 10th March 2006)
- 2005 Midweek break at Thoresby Hall (15th February 2005)
- Midweek walk around Lound (9th July 2004)
A March break in Nottinghamshire 6 - 10 March 2006
Trip Total 82 species - without trying too hard! - Steve Graham
Here is a summary of sightings following our 5 day break at Thorseby Hall in early March. Despite regular rain and cold winds I had an excellent few days birdwatching. Fortunately the early mornings were dry and allowed me to explore the extensive grounds of Thorseby before breakfast. Please note there is no public access to the Thorseby estate unless you are a hotel guest.
06/03/06 Arrived at the hotel mid-afternoon, had a quick stroll around the grounds and recorded 28 species including drumming GSW.
07/03/06 Pre-breakfast stroll around the grounds, produced an amazing 48 species with probably one of my best ever hours birding. Highlights included all 3 woodpeckers with good views of drumming LS & GSW. Single female Hawfinch was seen along with a pair of Crossbill which looked very out of place sat at the top of a bare broadleaf tree. With Nuthatch, Treecreeper and Jay picked up most of the tricky woodland species before breakfast! After breakfast did a 34.5 mile cycle ride in cold and wet conditions via Budby,Clumber,and Rufford CP. 2 Hawfinch seen at Rufford but tree felling in the car park could have disturbed them. Despite the weather, ended the day on 66 species, other highlights included c10 Tree Sparrows near Budby along with a few Brambling at the water treatment plant, c40 Ruddy Duck still hanging on at Thorseby, also seen Sparrowhawk and 2 Common Buzzard in poor conditions. A fly-over Redpoll at Budby was my only one of the week. A mixed flock of c500 Redwing and Fieldfare were present at Thorseby but were very scarce elsewhere.
08/03/06 Another pre-breakfast walk produced an amazing 53 species. Highlights included a record 11 Hawfinch, pair of Grey Wagtail on the weir, LSW calling but not drumming today. Other birds included 20 Lapwing over, Water Rail flushed by bridge on the estate. Then had a trip over to Whisby Nature Park (Lincs), day list 69 species.
09/03/06 Another pre-breakfast walk on a drier brighter day produced 6 Hawfinch, 2 LSW drumming and 5 GSW. After breakfast then did a 28.5 mile cycle ride via Budby Common, Welbeck and Clumber Park. An excellent day with plenty of bird activity on Budby Common unlike the Tuesday with at least 15 Woodlark singing along with several Linnets and good numbers of Yellowhammer and Reed Bunting. c12+ Tree Sparrows seen again near Budby and small numbers also present at Hatfield Farm near Norton. At Welbeck a visiting Sheffield birder had seen 9 Common Buzzard and a pair of Goshawk displaying. A Clumber Park had a single Marsh Tit and a pair of Grey Partridge were flushed near the weir amongst the 65 species seen on the day.
A fantastic few days birding in a beautiful area.
Steve Graham Visiting Huddersfield Birdwatcher
A February week in Nottinghamshire 15th February 2005
Steve Graham
Please find a summary of sightings following our 5 day break at Thorseby Hall in mid February:
15/02/05 Pre-breakfast stroll around the grounds, most notable sighting was an Adult Caspian Gull on the Lake. The bird was seen at a reasonable distance through binoculars and the following points were noted:
Mantle as Common Gull, size approaching Herring Gull, crown flat, head gleaming white and forehead gently sloping to bill. Bill noticeably long and parallel with small gonydeal area and eye dark.Long primary projection and one of outermost primaries had a large mirror on it whilst the other primaries appeared to have small mirrors. The bird took off briefly and dull yellow legs were noted. Single female Brambling and single Ruddy Duck also seen.
15/02/05 Cycling around Clumber Park, despite several searches no sign of the Great Grey Shrike. A pair of Stonchat were in front of the hide near the weir. In the wetland area near the ford there were several Reed Bunting along with 25 Linnets and several Skylark flushed by a hunting Sparrowhawk. 3 Sparrowhawks were seen in total with 2 birds hunting and 1 displaying. Several Buzzards were seen and they were also noted mewing and displaying. 2 Eygptian Geese seen too.
16/02/05 Pre-breakfast stroll around the grounds again produced, 3 Hawfinch, 2 Shelduck and calling Green Woodpecker.
Later visted Colwick CP, c80 Ruddy Duck, Kingfisher, drake Red-crested Pochard, 10 Goldeneye and a single ringed adult LBBGull.
17/02/05 A damp/drizzly day actually produced by best day list for the week. Pre-breakfast walk around the grounds produced, Grey Wagtail, Adult Caspian Gull, Goosander (pr), 5 Shelduck, 2 Eygptian Geese, c20 singing Song Thrush and 50+ Brambling.
I am quite keen on farmland birds so then did a 25 mile circular bike ride searching likely spots for farmland species. I also visited Welbeck Raptor Viewpoint, Budby but due to the weather both very quiet also called in at Rufford Country Park.
Tree Sparrow - c20 were seen visiting a birdtable at High Hatfield near Norton. 3 Yellowhammer present along with Reed Bunting in the small wetland area immediately east of Norton. I have found Yellowhammer to be a tricky species in the area?
Tree Sparrow - c10 birds were present at Holborn Hill near Budby. Budby Common was very quiet but 3 Treecreeper, Nuthatch and Coal Tits were at the feeding station.
Grey Partridge - 1 pair were found immediately north of Boughton in a field between the minor road and the River Maun. These are the first I have seen in the area.
Rufford Country Park - single Eygptian Goose, c30 Siskin.
I had an excellent few days and managed a creditable 82 species without trying too hard.
Hope the records are of use.
Best Regards, Steve Graham Visiting Huddersfield Birdwatcher.
Midweek walk around Lound 9th July 2004
The first meet of the SAGANOTTS took place at Lound on Friday the 9th July, the men almost being outnumbered by the females on the walk. The weather was not conductive to seeing smal birds, but nevertheless birds like Sedge Warbler, Common Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, Yellow Wagtail and Spotted Flycatcher were seen. There were plenty of Swifts wheeling in the air with lesser numbers of House Martins and Swallows joining them. On the pits, apart from the expected widfowl such as Canada Geese, Coots (lots of) and Mallards, were Shelduck, Teal, Pochard, Green Sandpiper and Little ringed Plover. The walk lasted somewhat longer than its advertised two hours which shows how tough the older element of the NBW can be in inclement weather. (contributed by Derek Huskisson)
Last updated 14st March 2006
