Sightings Archive

March 2008

Mon 31st Mar

• Bestwood Country Park - Mill Lakes: 1 Blackcap [male on edge of Reed-bed], 1 Chiffchaff, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Common Snipe.
• Sibthorpe - 2 Northern Wheatear [good view of a pair from roadside between Longhedge Lane and village].

Sun 30th Mar

• Holme Pierrepont - Blott's Pit: 6 Common Redshank, 22 Common Goldeneye, 2 Common Buzzard. A52 Pit: 250 Eurasian Wigeon, 47 Common Goldeneye, 27 Northern Shoveler, 2 Common Shelduck, 5 Common Redshank, Oystercatcher, 2 Water Rail, 3 Chiffchaff, 8 Fieldfare.
• Burton Joyce - 3 Swallow [River Trent].
• Oxton - 4 Common Buzzard, 50+ Fieldfare,4 Yellowhammer.

Sat 29th Mar

• Skegby - Teversal Trail: 2 Treecreeper [pair], Chiffchaff [several singing].
• Stanton on the Wolds - 1 Red Kite [over at low level and mobbed by Jackdaws. Seen well for 2 minutes. Possibly a juvenile, tail clearly forked and rufous but a bit ragged and not as deeply forked as some adults].
• Grove Farm - 4 Goosander, 5 Fieldfare.
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - Delta: 19 Sand Martin, 37 Fieldfare [over]. Delta Gate: Willow Tit, Marsh Tit. Main Pond: c.200 Sand Martin, 19 Goosander, 5 Goldeneye. Tween Pond: 2 Common Shelduck. Church Pond: 32 Shoveler.
• Eakring - Eakring Flash: 1 Eurasian Stonechat [female]. Penny Pasture: 2 Eurasian Stonechat [males]. Eakring Meadows: 2 Jack Snipe, 30+ Common Snipe.

Fri 28th Mar

• Netherfield Lagoons - Flyash Pit: Bittern [flew into reed bed at 12:00], 2 Common Snipe, 27 Northern Shoveler, 18 Gadwall, 11 Common Pochard, 4 Redwing, 2 Grey Wagtail.
• Burton Meadows - 2 Oystercatcher.
• Gunthorpe - 4 Oystercatcher [Shelford Side], Common Redshank, c.600 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Egyptian Geese, Barnacle Goose.
• Stanton on the Wolds - 3 Swallow [over].

Thu 27th Mar

• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 2 Chiffchaff [Beeston Pond and Delta Sanctuary], Dunlin [Clifton Pit], 2 Oystercatcher [Clifton Pit, 6 Common Shelduck, 11 Common Goldeneye [Church Pond], 2 Red-crested Pochard [pair on Coneries Pond], Green Woodpecker [Old Car Park], 10 Goosander [Main Pond].
• Crossland Meadow - Willow Warbler [eastern side of estate in gully], 15 Sand Martin.
• Colwick Country Park - West Lake: 2 Common Goldeneye [male & female], 16 Eurasian Wigeon. Trout Lake: 2 Red-crested Pochard [male & female], Mandarin Duck, Chiffchaff. Loop Bank: 2 Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, 2 Siskin. Nature Reserve: Chiffchaff, Willow Tit.

Wed 26th Mar

• Tophouse Farm - 68 European Golden Plover [flying above Lamin's Lane near A60].
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 2 Common Redshank [Clifton Pond].
• Netherfield Lagoons - 44 Shoveler, 37 Fieldfare, 65+ Greenfinch [at dusk in flock heading for roost in laurel bushes near old entrance at Rossi's warehouse], 11 Eurasian Wigeon, 32 Mute Swan [on Severn Trent farmland], 3 Common Goldeneye, 4 Eurasian Teal, 3 Sand Martin [heading North].
• South Clifton - 1 Barn Owl [along the A1133].

Tue 25th Mar

• Ruddington Country Park - 2 Barn Owl [18:00].
• Sturton le Steeple - 1 Barn Owl.
• Leverton Hills - 1 Common Buzzard.
• New Basford - River Leen: Chiffchaff [male singing between Church and tram stop].
• Wollaton Park - Harrow Road Walk: 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Jay, 1 Redwing
• Sutton Bonington - Hungary Lane: Tree Sparrow, 3 Red-legged Partridge.
• East Leake - 2 Siskin [on garden feeder].
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 3 Red-crested Pochard [1 male & 2 female on Coneries Pond near to the Visitor Centre], 20+ Sand Martin [Coneries Pond].

Mon 24th Mar

• Laxton Common - 1 Barn Owl [SK688668].
• Clumber Park - 1 Common Buzzard.
• Budby Common - Great Grey Shrike, 2 Brambling.
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 4 Common Shelduck [2 on Clifton Pond and 2 on Tween Pond Scrape], 3 Willow Tit [near Delta gate].
• Cotgrave - 2 Chiffchaff [Grantham Canal].
• Holme Pierrepont - A52 Pit: 2 Common Shelduck, 27 Common Goldeneye, 300 Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Common Redshank, 60 Sand Martin.
• Granby - 1 Eurasian Stonechat, 135 Fieldfare, 1 Willow Tit, 3 Brambling, 1 Lesser Redpoll, Meadow Pipit [a steady passage flying north].
• Bentinck Void - Chiffchaff [for 3rd day]. Plus: 2 Roe Deer.

Sun 23rd Mar

• Attenborough Nature Reserve - c.130 Sand Martin [feeding over Church Pond mid-afternoon], 1 Brambling [calling from tree top in the "Education Wood" beside Church Pond], 4 Common Shelduck, 25 Shoveler, 18 Common Goldeneye 18 [Clifton and Church Ponds].
• Budby - 1 Eurasian Stonechat [male in fields near pumping ststion].
• Stanton on the Wolds - 1 Siskin [male in Greenfinch flock].
• Grantham Canal - Chiffchaff.
• Holme Pierrepont - A52 Pit: 2 Common Shelduck, 2 Smew [male & female], 5 Common Redshank, 2 Chiffchaff, Eurasian Stonechat [male], 2 Fieldfare, 18 Sand Martin. Blott's Pit: 32 Sand Martin, 2 Common Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 2 Common Shelduck, 2 Goosander [high to NE], Common Buzzard.
• Bestwood Country Park - Lamin's Lane: 72 European Golden Plover, 10+ Lapwing, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 2+ Tree Sparrow.
• Hoveringham - 2 Kittiwake [Railway Lake].

Sat 22nd Mar

• Warren Hill - 22 Siskin [on garden feeding station during snow].
• Hoveringham - New Workings Pit: 2 Shelduck, 24 Eurasian Wigeon, Common Redshank. Railway Lake: Little Egret, 7 Common Redshank, 19 Common Goldeneye, Common Buzzard, Chiffchaff. Farm Pit: 3 Egyptian Goose [plus 7 goslings]. Sailing Lake: 100 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Common Redshank, 120 Pied Wagtail, 70 Reed Bunting, 2 Ringed Plover [field flashes] 2 Oystercatcher. River Lake: Tawny Owl.

Fri 21st Mar

• Colwick Country Park - West Lake: 15 Eurasian Wigeon. Trout Lake: 2 Red-crested Pochard, 14 Common Gull, 3 Common Goldeneye. Loop Bank: Chiffchaff, 3 Mistle Thrush.
• Netherfield Lagoons - Deep Pit: Shelduck [over & NE.] Slurry Lagoon: 28 Shoveler. Ouse Dyke: Chiffchaff.

Thu 20th Mar

• Rufford Country Park - 4 Goldcrest [path to ice houses], Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Marsh Tit [around the ice house], 1 Red-crested Pochard [1 female along lake walk].
• Budby Common - Skylark [displaying] , 2 Eurasian Stonechat, 2 Jay, Firecrest, 2 Bullfinch, 4 Red-legged Partridge, Common Buzzard.
• Colwick Country Park - West Lake: 32 Redwing [over to NE], 15 Eurasian Wigeon. Trout Lake: 27 Sand Martin, 3 Common Goldeneye, 2 Gadwall, 2 Mistle Thrush.

Wed 19th Mar

• Kings Mill Reservoir - 2 Chiffchaff [showing well, feeding on flying insects], Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, Long Tailed Tit.
• Arnold - Chiffchaff [singing on Douro Drive].
• Headon Clump - 1 Barn Owl.
• Bevercotes - 2 Common Buzzard.

Tue 18th Mar

• Kings Mill Reservoir - 2 Chiffchaff [showing well, feeding on flying insects], Common Snipe, Grey Wagtail, Long Tailed Tit.

Mon 17th Mar

• Bestwood Mill Lakes - 4 Bullfinch [2 male & 2 female as a group], 2 Common Shelduck, 6 Eurasian Teal, 1 Mistle Thrush.
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - c.70 Sand Martin [40 Church Pond, 20 Clifton Pond, 10 scattered around various parts of the Reserve].
• Treswell - 1 Barn Owl [East of Treswell Wood].
• Skegby - 2 Willow Tit [pair on Teversal Trail].

Sun 16th Mar

• Holme Pierrepont - Blott's Pit: Common Buzzard, 21 COmmon Goldeneye. A52 Pit: Woodcock [over A52 road to NW], 4 Sand Martin, Lesser Redpoll, 550 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Common Shelduck, 3 Common Redshank.

Sat 15th Mar

• Beechdale - 2 Common Crane [an unconfirmed report of birds circling over swimming baths, calling. Flew towards Bilborough].
• Gedling Pit Top - 1 Common Buzzard.
• Grove Farm - 2 Goosander.
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - Delta Gate: 3 Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit. Delta: Chiffchaff, 10 Shoveler, 1 Bittern [roosting late afternoon in reeds visible from the bund]. Main Pond: 7 Goosander. Clifton Pond: 5 Goosander, 8 Goldeneye, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Redshank. Tween Pond: 2 Common Shelduck. Sailing Pit: Grey Wagtail. Erewash Field: 3 Eurasian Stonechat. Barton Flash: 28 Eurasian Wigeon. Church Pond: 2 Red-crested Pochard, 4 Sand Martin [15:15].
• North Leverton - 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Goldfinch.

Fri 14th Mar

• Upper Saxondale - 2 Firecrest [in bushes and trees next to the East Restaurant on Westminster Drive. At least 1 present all day.]
• Collingham - New Workings: 2 Mandarin Duck [male], 70+ Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Dunlin, 1 Green Sandpiper.
• Kilvington - New Lake: 2 Pink-footed Goose, 5 Greater Scaup. Kilvington Flash: 1 Dunlin.
• Stanley - c.350 Golden Plover [in fields between Stanley and Hardwick Inn].
• Holme Pierrepont - Brent Goose [viewed from Colwick].
• Colwick Country Park - West Lake: 54 Eurasian Wigeon. Trout Lake: 41 Common Gull, 7 Great Black-backed Gull, 6 Common Goldeneye. Loop Bank: Goldcrest, 6 Redwing. Nature Reserve: Chiffchaff, Great Spotted Woodpecker.
• Netherfield Lagoons - Large Gravel Pit: 3 Common Goldeneye, 10 Common Pochard, Common Snipe, Water Rail. Deep Pit: Common Snipe. Slurry Lagoon: Water Rail, 6 Shoveler, 4 Goosander [over].

Thu 13th Mar

• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 3 Sand Martin [to NE past delta hide this evening].
• Nottingham Trent University Brackenhurst Campus - 1 Eurasian Stonechat.
• Budby Common - Great Grey Shrike.

Wed 12th Mar

• Barton-in-Fabis - Yellow Wagtail [unconfirmed report on hedgerow near A453].
• Bulcote - Woodcock [in hedge-bottom near Severn Trent complex].

Tue 11th Mar

• Holme Pierrepont - Rowing Course: Lesser Redpoll [feeding with Chaffinches on grass bank by the large information board]. 2 Common Redshank, 4 Gadwall, 8 Common Goldeneye, Grey Wagtail [at water's edge at South end near the boat sheds].

Mon 10th Mar

• Arnot Hill Park - 2 Tufted Duck [pair], 7 Black Swan [including 3 cygnets], 15 Tree Sparrow, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Sparrowhawk [male], 19 Moorhen, 15+ Redwing.
• East Leake - Short-eared Owl [Castle Hill at 18:00 just before double bend and bridge over brook].
• Sutton Bonington - Garden Feeders: Brambling [female], 7 Siskin, 2 Reed Bunting [pair], Tree Sparrow.
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - Red-crested Pochard [pair on Church Pond in Barton Lane railway track corner sheltering from wind].

Sun 9th Mar

• Attenborough Nature Reserve - c.100 Fieldfare [to SW].
• Bestwood Country Park - Mill Lakes: 2 Sand Martin [over farmer's field], 2 Yellowhammer [in farmer's field]. Bestwood Quarry: 2 Sand Martin [again, over farmer's field], 1 Grey Partridge, 3+ Linnet, 7+ Redwing, 1 Fieldfare, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Green Woodpecker.
• Holme Pierrepont - Fingers Ponds:- 2 Sand Martin, 4 Smew [1 male & 3 female]. Blott's Pit: 80 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Common Redshank, Common Snipe. A52 Pit: c.500 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Common Shelduck, 5 Common Redshank, Oystercatcher, Water Rail, Chiffchaff.
• Moorgreen - 2 Common Buzzard.

Sat 8th Mar

• Beeston Wier Fields . 2 Eurasian Stonechat [male & female], Goosander [male], c.15 Linnet, 6 Magpie, 3 Woodpigeon, 4 Cormorant, c.100 Black-headed Gull, 3 Mallard.
• Colwick Country Park - 1 Herring Gull [4th winter/adult showing wing patternation of the arctic form of Larus a argentatus - reduced black on wing tip, especially primaries 9 and 10 - much as in Thayer's Gull].
• Colwick - 2 Sparrowhawk [display flight].
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - 3 Mute Swan, c.100 Mallard, 2 Eurasian Teal [male & female], 3 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Egyptian Goose, 30 Canada Goose, 4 Greylag Goose [albino variants], 32 Northern Shoveler, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Common Shelduck, 3 Cormarant, c.250 Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Dunnock, 4 Tree Sparrow, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit, 4 Great Tit, Robin, 6 Woodpigeon. Main Pond: 7 Goosander. Clifton Pit: 2 Common Shelduck, 7 Common Goldeneye. Erewash Field: 2 Common Snipe. Tween Pond: 2 Common Shelduck. Delta: Water Rail. Works Pond: 19 Goosander [dusk] + Barton Flash: 80 Eurasian Wigeon.

Fri 7th Mar

• Sherwood Forest - Marsh Tit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper.
• Budby Common - Great Grey Shrike, Common Buzzard, 3 Eurasian Stonechat, 2 Meadow Pipit, 2 Green Woodpecker.
• Budby Pumping Station - 5 Brambling, 3 Eurasian Teal, Gadwall.

Thu 6th Mar

• Clumber Park - 1 Hawfinch, 1 Water Rail, 1 Grey Wagtail.
• Bestwood Country Park - Big Wood: 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker [all drumming], 1 Treecreeper. Lamin's Lane: 30 European Golden Plover, 17 Northern Lapwing, 16 Redwing, 1 Cormorant, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Yellowhammer, 4 Pheasant [all male, including 1 “green type”].
• Collingham Gravel Pits - New Workings: 1 Green Sandpiper, 50 Redwing.
• Langford Lowfields - 4 Northern Pintail.
• Moorgreen - Common Buzzard.
• Holme Pierrepont - Rowing Course: c.100 Pied Wagtail, c.50 Gadwall [25 pairs], 2 Common Goldeneye [pair], 3 Common Redshank. 3 Reed Bunting [beside the Ski Lagoon], 2 Common Shelduck [pair on the River].

Tue 4th Mar

• Nuthall - 1 Barn Owl [Kimberley Road].
• Moorgreen - Beauvale Priory: 5 Common Buzzard [circling high over priory], 3 Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk [female on Blackbird], 50+ Rook, Jackdaw [numerous].
• Attenborough Nature Reserve - Bittern [1, possibly 2 birds present. Showing well, if briefly, from Delta Hide. Flew in at about 15:25 and hung around in the reeds for a few seconds before disappearing. Reappeared about twenty minutes later at the front edge of the reedbed for a couple of minutes.
• Hoveringham - Railway Lake: Eurasian Stonechat, 5 Common Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Green Sandpiper.

Mon 3rd Mar

• Sutton Bonington - Park Lane: 1 Brambling [first for this garden], 7 Siskin, [present for around 2 weeks], Reed Bunting [pair], 8 Goldfinch, 15+ Chaffinch, 5+ Greenfinch.
• Clumber Park - Great Grey Shrike.
• Budby Common - Great Grey Shrike.
• Holme Pierrepont - 1 Brent Goose [viewed from Colwick Hall].
• Colwick Country Park - Trout Lake: Mediterranean Gull [adult], Lesser Black-backed Gull [log boom], Yellow-Legged Gull. West Lake: 24 Eurasian Wigeon. Migrant Trap: 3 Siskin. Nature Reserve: 5 Redwing.
• Hoveringham - Sailing Lake: 1 Glaucous Gull [2nd winter into the roost], 1 Whooper Swan [in field by entrance gate].

Sun 2nd Mar

• Bentinck Void - 4 Eurasian Stonechat.
• Holme Pierrepont - Brent Goose, 36 Fieldfare [horse paddock opposite Colwick Hall]. Blott's Pit: 2 Common Redshank, 9 Common Goldeneye, 19 Eurasian Wigeon. A52 Pit: Eurasian Stonechat [female], 2 Shelduck [over to East], Smew [female over to West], 3 Common Redshank, 9 Siskin.

Sat 1st Mar

• Hoveringham Gravel Pits - New Workings Lake: 3 Common Redshank, 24 Eurasian Wigeon, 5 Common Goldeneye. Railway Lake: 4 Common Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 10 Goosander. Gibsmere Farm: Eurasian Stonechat [male], 2 Common Buzzard. River Lake: Tawny Owl. Sailing Lake: 3 Glaucous Gull, Whooper Swan [main gate].

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Many thanks to:

Jerry Abbott, Rob Ackrill, Sandy Aitken, Mervyn Bartle, Robin Brace, Philip Burnham, Andy Capstick, Adam Cormack, Rod Dean, Pete George, Stewart Harrison, Chris Hughes, Kevin Hutchby, Tony Irons, Dave Jones, Pete Leonard, Malcolm Macdonald, Steve Mathers, Darren Matthews, Tom Moody, Ben Moss, James Owen, Michael Parker, Jason Reece, Pete Sadler, Tim Sexton, Jenny Smith, John Smith, Steve Smith, Darren Starling, Ken Stevenson, Philip Taylor, Katie Thorpe, David Viles, Mark Wand, Tony Wardell, John Wilson, John Wolff, Paul Wilcox.