Sightings Archive

October 2008

Fri 31st Oct

Rufford Country Park - 6+ Redwing, 4+ Fieldfare [feeding on Yew berries behind the Orangery].
Gringley Carr - 1 Hen Harrier [ringtail], 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Merlin, 1 Peregrine, 300 Golden Plover, 5 Corn Bunting, 1 Stonechat, 1 Kingfisher, 300+ Fieldfare.
Arnot Hill Park - 100 Pink-footed Goose [East at 11:45], 32 Black-headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Greylag Goose, 35 Tufted Duck, 8 Red-crested Pochard, Goldcrest, Nuthatch, Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Brambling, Siskin, Greenfinch, Great Tit, Blue Tit, 40+ Redwing, 4 Grey Wagtail [seen daily in pond overflow area and on Bowling Green], 2 Pied Wagtail, Wren, 15 Collared Dove, Sparrowhawk, 2 Carrion Crow, 4 Magpie, Mistle Thrush.
Bennerley Marsh - 2 Stonechat [male & female], 12 Redwing, 10 Eurasian Teal, 3 Eurasian Wigeon, 60 Northern Lapwing.

Thu 30th Oct

Collingham - New Workings: 1 Little Egret, 1 Black-tailed Godwit [flew off at 07:50].
Langford Lowfields - 1 Common Greenshank.
Warren Hill - c.60 Fieldfare [flock over NW to Bestwood Country Park at 08:45].
Meden Pumping Station - Brambling [left side of bridge], Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Common Buzzard, Wren, Cormorant.

Wed 29th Oct

Clifton Pastures - 3 Common Buzzard, 8 Reed Bunting [Fairham Brook], 40+ Goldfinch, 4 Brambling [with Goldfinches], 12 Skylark, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Yellowhammer, 2 Common Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 20+ Red-legged Partridge, 4 Common Pheasant, 4 Stonechat [2 male & 2 female], 60+ Fieldfare, 11 Redwing, 200+ Northern Lapwing, 50+ Golden Plover [with Lapwings], 2 Grey Heron [Fairham Brook].

Tue 28th Oct

Clifton Pastures - 2 Golden Plover, 20+ Siskin, 4 Stonechat, 7 Brambling, 10+ Red-legged Partridge, 12 Skylark, 20+ Redwing [overhead].
Holme Pierrepont - A52 Pit: 1 Lesser Scaup [drake still early afternoon at west end of A52 Pit though distant. No general access to pit and keep out of surrounding fields], Greater Scaup [female].
Kilvington - West Lake: 1 Caspian Gull [3rd summer/4th winter].
Bestwood Country Park - Pit Tip: 1 Green Woodpecker, c.20 Siskin, 1 Herring Gull [juvenile over heading South], c.10 Redwing. Mill Lakes: c.50 Siskin, 3 Northern Shoveler, 2 Common Pochard, 3 Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant [3 over, 2 on Tern Island], 1 Common Snipe [on Mud Island], 300+ Woodpigeon [over high to the South], 1 Kingfisher. Bestwood Quarry: 1 Sparrowhawk [female], 1 Common Kestrel [male], c.15 Redwing, 1 Goldcrest, 10 Greenfinch, c.20 Siskin, 3 Yellowhammer. Woodland: 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker [drumming].
Ratcliffe on Soar - Peregrine [hunting].
Nuthall - c.40 Redwing [East].
Spalford Warren NWT - c.20 Common Crossbill, Lesser Redpoll, Siskin, Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit.

Mon 27th Oct

Holme Pierrepont - A52 Pit: 1 Lesser Scaup [drake. No general access to pit and keep out of surrounding fields].
Shelford - Rough-legged Buzzard [possible reported in a roadside field between Shelford and Radcliffe on Trent late afternoon].

Sun 26th Oct

Clifton Pastures - 1 Marsh Harrier [female quartering up and down Fairham Brook before heading towards Bunny].
Bennerley Marsh - 2 Stonechat [male & female], Grey Wagtail, 4 Reed Bunting, 80 Northern Lapwing, 1 Golden Plover, 2 Green Woodpecker.
Skegby - c.200 Golden Plover [Penniment Lane].
Arnot Hill Park - Golfinch, Siskin, 2 Brambling [2nd day], Chaffinch, Greenfinch, 6 Great Tit, 8 Grey Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtail, 6 Redwing, 56 Black-headed Gull, 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Greylag Goose, 6 Canada Goose, 32 Tufted Duck, 10 Red-crested Pochard [8 male & 2 female] 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, Starling [large flocks seen daily near bowling green], Tawny Owl [heard nightly near old railway line].
Langley Mill [Derbyshire] - c.250 Starling [waiting for their regular feed. Numbers up dramatically from the usual 5-10 birds that used to turn up].

Sat 25th Oct

Budby Pumping Station - Peregrine [female harrying a flock of Lapwing], Kingfisher, Merlin [flying West over the water], Eurasian Teal, Eurasian Wigeon, Redwing [small flock], Fieldfare [large flock], 2 Lesser Redpoll [males], Siskin, Goldfinch.
Kings Mill Reservoir - 2 Greylag Goose , 2 Common Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 20 Northern Lapwing, 1 Kestrel [young individual], 2 Black Swan.
Bennerley Marsh - 2 Stonechat [male and female], Common Buzzard, 5 Meadow Pipit, 90 Northern Lapwing.
Barton in Fabis Barn Owl.

Fri 24th Oct

Arnold - 1 Brambling [with ring on left leg]. Plus: 1 Unidentified finch [Chaffinch size; wings and back same as Chaffinch; yellow chest; white under belly; red face & crown - same red as robin].
Bennerley Marsh - 180 Northern Lapwing, 2 Eurasian Teal, Green Woodpecker, 5 Meadow Pipit. North Marsh: 2 Common Snipe, Kingfisher, 24 Redwing, 3 Jay.
Budby Pumping Station - 200+ Siskin, 4+ Brambling [with Siskin], Mistle Thrush.

Thu 23rd Oct

Kings Mill Reservoir - 1 Greater Scaup, Egyptian Goose, Long-tailed Tit.
Bennerley Marsh - Stonechat [male & female], 4 Grey Wagtail, 32 Pied Wagtail, 5 Linnet, Green Woodpecker, 200 Northern Lapwing, 16 Eurasian Teal, Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Rolleston - River Trent: 3 Stonechat [males], 4 Reed Bunting, 20+ Yellowhammer.

Sun 19th Oct

Bennerley Marsh - 3 Stonechat [male & 2 female], 6 Meadow Pipit, 8 Redwing, 12 Eurasian Teal, 120 Northern Lapwing.
Stanton on the Wolds - c.50 Starling, c.12 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing [all in same flock].
Barton in Fabis Osprey.

Sat 18th Oct

Bennerley Marsh - Common Buzzrd, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Common Snipe, 14 Eurasian Teal, 120 Northern Lapwing.
Budby Pumping Station - Eurasian Teal, Gadwall, Little Grebe, Long-tailed Tit, Sparrowhawk [female], Common Buzzard, Kingfisher, Linnet, Goldfinch, Treecreeper, Siskin.
East Leake - 8 Common Buzzard [near A6006], 50 Greylag Goose, 80 Northern Lapwing, 200 Black-headed Gull [west gravel pit].

Fri 17th Oct

Attenborough Nature Reserve - 140 Fieldfare [single flock to SW at dusk], 2 Common Snipe [Clifton Pit], 4 Red-crested Pochard [male and 3 females on Church Pond], 2 Marsh Tit [Delta], 3 Willow Tit.
Bennerley Marsh - 12 Redwing, 120 Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Teal, 3 Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker. North Marsh: 3 Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher.
Clumber Park - 3 Whooper Swan.

Thu 16th Oct

Attenborough Nature Reserve - 6 Common Snipe, 12 Eurasian Wigeon, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Common Buzzard.

Wed 15th Oct

Bennerley Marsh - 3 Stonechat [2 male & 1 female], 2 Goosander [male & female], 13 Golden Plover, 12 Eurasian Teal, 80 Northern Lapwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 2 Green Woodpecker, 3 Common Kestrel, Sparrowhawk.

Tue 14th Oct

Normanton on Trent - Great Grey Shrike [single at Trent Holmes], 2 Little Egret.
Arnot Hill Park - 40 Siskin, 20 Chaffinch, 2 Brambling, 6 Goldfinch, 14 Redwing, 4 Grey Wagtail, 1 Grey Heron, 9 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 25 Tufted Duck [number fluctuating daily], 2 Greylag Goose, 3 Black Swan, 1 Goldcrest, 1 Nuthatch.
Annesley Pit Top - Richard's Pipit [still present].

Sun 12th Oct

Barton in Fabis Whinchat.
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Garganey [same bird as 1st October].
Lound - 1 Snow Bunting [River Idle footpath].
Netherfield - Town Centre: 1 Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 9 Skylark [heading South in small flock], 2 Barn Swallow [heading South], 11 Siskin. Butterflies: 1 Red Admiral.
Kilvington New Lakes - 1 Little Egret, c.200 Golden Plover, c.150 Pink-footed Goose [over North at 10:45], 115 Northern Lapwing, 8 Grey Partridge, 1 Chiffchaff, 8 Northern Shoveler, 31 Eurasian Wigeon, 39 Tufted Duck, 27 Eurasian Teal, 79 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 Herring Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull, 1 Greater Black-backed Gull.
Welbeck Lakes - 18 Great Crested Grebe, Mistle Thrush, Green Woodpecker, Coal Tit, Willow Tit, Common Buzzard, Grey Heron, 2 Common Pochard [males].
Budby Pumping Station - 1 Raven [flew East to West], 1 Eurasian Teal [male], Kingfisher, 1 Chiffchaff, Little Grebe, 6 Northern Shoveler, Long-tailed Tit, 1 Bullfinch [male], 1 Mandarin Duck [female], 24 Gadwall, 14 Eurasian Teal, 1 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Merlin, 40+ Siskin, 30+ Lesser Redpoll, 1 Common Crossbill [over to North].
Burton Joyce - Common Buzzard.
Annesley Pit Top - Richard's Pipit.

Sat 11th Oct

Attenborough Nature Reserve - 1 Reed Warbler [Clifton Pond].
Budby Pumping Station - 100+ Siskin, Kingfisher, Goldfinch [flock], Linnet [small flock], 3 Grey Heron, Long-tailed Tit [flock], Red Kite [through site at 10:15], Gadwall, Green Woodpecker, 1 Barn Swallow [South], Jay, 1 Little Grebe [young bird], 3 Brambling.
Annesley Pit Top - Richard's Pipit.
Hoveringham - Black-necked Grebe [Sailing Lake], Little Egret [New Workings].
Meden Pumping Station - Common Kestrel, 10 Siskin [left side of bridge], Common Buzzard, Northern Lapwing, Brambling, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Eurasian Wigeon, 4 Eurasian Teal.

Fri 10th Oct

Bennerley Marsh - 2 Stonechat [male and female], Yellowhammer, 7 Meadow Pipit, Peregrine, 2 Common Snipe, 150 Northern Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 17 Eurasian Teal. North Marsh: Black-tailed Godwit, Jay, 2 Grey Wagtail.

Thu 9th Oct

Netherfield Lagoons - Black-necked Grebe [on Slurry Lagoon], 50 Eurasian Wigeon [on large Fishing Pit], 1 Kingfisher, 60 Eurasian Teal 11 Greylag Goose, 62+ Canada Goose, 20+ Northern Lapwing, 13 Northern Shoveler, 40+ Lesser Black-backed Gull Gull.
Bennerley Marsh - Stonechat [male], 4 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, 5 Jay, 2 Common Snipe, 40 Northern Lapwing, 18 Eurasian Teal.

Wed 8th Oct

Budby Pumping Station - c.30 Pink-footed Goose [over to East], 3 Cormorant [over to East].
Cotham Flash - 1 Jack Snipe.

Mon 6th Oct

Arnold - c.100 Pink-footed Goose [heading W at 09:00].
Ravenshead - c.55 Pink-footed Goose [heading NW at 09:00].
Bestwood Country Park - Pit Tip: 1 Sparrowhawk, Siskin [numerous], 1 Green Woodpecker, 7 Redwing [over to NW]. Mill Lakes: Siskin [several small flocks], 3+ Eurasian Teal. Leen Pastures: 1 Willow Tit. Bestwood Quarry: 6+ Pied Wagtail [in horse field], 2+ Green Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff. Main Woodland: 2+ Lesser Redpoll. Lamin's Lane: 3 Common Buzzard [over towards Redhill], 6+ Tree Sparrow.
Arnot Hill Park - 3 Black Swan [1 single Cob plus resident pair mating and courting], 1000+ Pink-footed Goose [flying over in Westerly direction at 09:00], 2 Greylag Geese, 3 Canada Goose, 25 Tufted Duck, 9 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Sparrowhawk, 4 Goldcrest, 2 Eurasian Nuthatch, 4 Grey Wagtail, 1 Jay, 6 Magpie, 2 Tawny Owl.

Sun 5th Oct

Bennerley Marsh - Barn Owl [dusk], 17 Eurasian Teal, 3 Green Woodpecker, 12 Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, 4 Barn Swallow [North Marsh].
Calverton - Common Buzzard [quartering ground over stubble/ploughed fields at Foxwood].
Welbeck Lakes - 15 Great Crested Grebe, Goshawk [attacking a Wood Pigeon], 1 Common Buzzard, Coal Tit, Eurasian Nuthatch, 25 Jackdaws, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stonechat [male], 3 Cormorant.
Budby Pumping Station - Kingfisher, 8 Northern Shoveler [2 male & 6 female], Willow Warbler, Siskin [flock], Little Grebe, Greater Black-backed Gull [over], Chiffchaff [singing], 3 Grey Heron, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Grey Wagtail, House Martin [small flock], Goldfinch, Linnet, Greenfinch, Bullfinch [single male], Commom Sandpiper.
Attenborough Nature Reserve- 2 Barn Swallow, Goldeneye [juvenile or eclipse drake on Clifton Pond], 150+ Northern Lapwing, Northern Shoveler, Eurasian Wigeon, Eurasian Teal, c.18 Tree Sparrow [on feeders], 2 Red-crested Pochard [pair].
Rolleston - River Trent: 1 Peregrine, 10 Greylag Goose, 20+ Golden Plover [over], 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Goldeneye [male & female].

Sat 4th Oct

Collingham - 4 Little Egret [New Workings].
Budby Pumping Station - Willow Warbler, House Martin [flock], Common Snipe, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Kingfisher, Siskins [large flock], 2+ Brambling [with Siskins], 3 Common Buzzard, Northern Shoveler, 3 Eurasian Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron.

Fri 3rd Oct

Calverton - 1 Red Kite, 2 Common Buzzard [with Kite on George's Lane in Calverton at 14:45].
Bennerley Marsh - c.3 Stonechat [1 male, 2 female at least], 10 Meadow Pipit, 120 Northern Lapwing.

Thu 2nd Oct

Kings Mill Reservoir - 2 Kingfisher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Greylag Goose, 1 Black Swan, 12 Ruddy Duck, 11 Teal, 1 Grey Wagtail.
Bennerley Marsh - 2 Stonechat [females], Hobby, 40 Eurasian Teal, 140 Northern Lapwing, Chiffchaff.

Wed 1st Oct

Attenborough Nature Reserve - Garganey [eclipse from Delta hide].
Bennerley Marsh - Common Buzzard, Northern Wheatear, 12 Meadow Pipit.
Bothamsall Flash - 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Green Sandpiper.
Kings Mill Reservoir - 11 Ruddy Duck, 3 Little Grebe, 2 Black Swan, 2 Herring Gull, 13 Eurasian Teal, 50+ Tufted Duck, 30 Northern Lapwing, 1 Grey Heron, 1 King fisher, 10 Bullfinch, 8 Siskin.

Many thanks to:

Sandy Aitken, Simon Barsby, Paul Bibby, Robin Brace, Nick Brown, Phil Burnham, Richard Challands, Jimmy Christmas, Paul Daft, Nigel Davies, Leslie Fisher, Graham Gamble, Robert Hoare, Chris Horton, Kevin Hutchby, Bob Jones, Dave Jones, William Laidler, Mandy Kendall, Steve Mathers, Paul Morris, Dave Morton, Ben Moss, James Owen, Bob Pacey, Dallas Roots, Jenny Smith, John Smith, Steve Smith, Mark Wand, Tony Wardell, Paul Wilcox.