Sightings April 2010
Tuesday 27th April
2 Jays on the track leading to the weir, 1 stayed feeding in the middle of the track 20 yds in front of me. A least 6 mainly Common Whitethroats in the scrub below the weir and 3 Sedge Warblers in the same area. 1 Grasshopper Warbler and another calling in the Brambles around Branshill ponds. 3 Blackcaps and a Lesser Whitethroat in the same area. Ring Ouzel still on Brandshill moor (just past the style), saw 3 or 4 birds very fleeting. One Reed Warbler at the edge at Holme pit and more calling from the island.(R.Gimson)
Monday 26th April
Sightings from T.Sheilds
Saturday 24th April
5 Ring Ouzel reported from Branshill/Branshill moor this morning also singing Grasshopper Warbler in the area(Nott,s Birdnews)
Blackcap and Chiffchaff singing near river in clifton grove, several Reed Bunting and lots of singing Reed Warbler on Holme Pit, along with 5 new Coot chicks being fed by their parents. Northern Wheatear sat atop telegraph pole on fox covet lane. Lots of singing Skylark on weir field along with a good number of displaying Lapwing. Whitethroat spotted in brambles between the bend in the trent and the cow field gate.(T.Sheilds)
Friday 23rd April
A number of excellent migrants in the area today with 2 Ring Ouzel between the Rough Wood and Branshill Wood, with both birds ranging between Branshill and Branshill Moor and could be very elusive but showed well with persistence. A reeling Grasshopper warbler was in brambles near Barton Flash but very was elusive. 2 Northern Wheatear were found near Barton Flash this morning but had moved to the riverside field next to Cottages Flash late afternoon. 2 Little Ringed Plover still on Cottages Flash. 12 Yellow Wagtail and a single White Wagtail in Fields behind Burrows Farm. A singing Cuckoo heard from Barton Flash. Singing Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warbler and Garden Wabler in the hedgerow near the Rough Wood.
male & female Ring Ouzel - Branshill & Branshill Moor
Northern Wheatear - Barton Flash
Thursday 22nd April
Sightings from I.Blackmoor for this afternoon
2 Little Ringed Plover cottages flash along with 2 NorthernLapwing..
2 Common Whitethroat rough wood along with the first Lesser Whitethroat of the year on Branshill Moor
lots of hirundines and 2 Yellow Wagtail flying over to attenborough.
Reeling Grasshopper Warblers possibly coming from over the river at Attenborough. Finally caught up with 3 Corn Bunting on barton road along with 2 Grey Partridge which I flushed!
Wednesday 21st April
Rather quite this evening after yesterday, but there was a notable increase in Common Whitethroat and Willow Warbler around the Rough Wood. 1 Little Owl again at the undisclosed breeding sight and 2 Barn Owl again at a undisclosed location. 3 singing Corn Bunting in full song on Barton Lane late evening showing very well.
Corn Bunting - Barton Lane
Tuesday 20th April
2 Common Redstart and 4 Ring Ouzels were found this evening on Branshill Moor. Walking down to the Rough Wood I saw a Ring Ouzel fly from Branshill and drop over the Branshill Moor side of the hedgerow between the Rough Wood and Branshill Wood. As I walked along the hedgerow I saw a flash of red from the willows. A stunning male Common Redstart was sat out in the open and was then briefly joined by a second before they both flew into the hedgerow. Scanning the area in front of me I picked up 2 male Ring Ouzel feeding near the dyke but both birds flew over towards Branshill as I edged closer. Going back on the other side of the hedgerow two different Ring Ouzels were found sat in the hedgerow, a male and female. All 4 birds showed well from 6.30pm till dusk but were very easily flushed, but showed well at distant. A single Redstart was seen in the Roughwood after the sighting of the two males but were otherwise very elusive. Amazingly The only other record of Ring Ouzel here was on the 20th April 2008 at the exact location as tonight's birds.
Also this evening were 2 Little Ringed Plover on Cottages Flash and 1 Yellow Wagtail. A large movement of C300 Sand and House Martin were also seen heading west near the river at Barton-in-Fabis.
male Common Redstart - Branshill Moor
male and female
Ring Ouzels - Branshill and Branshill Moor.
Monday 19th April
C15 Artic Tern's through Beeston Weir at 6.30pm this evening heading down river towards the Grove. 2 Yellow Wagtail and a single White Wagtail on the Weir Field. 2 hunting Barn Owl behind Holme Pit prio to dusk.
Sunday 18th April
Continuing migration to the area this morning, some overnight arrivals but most species are only just trickling in. A singing Cuckoo was in the area of the wet marsh behind Holme Pit but stayed distant. 3 singing Willow Warbler in the Rough Wood, a single Sedge Warbler was singing in the wet dyke area on Foxcovet Lane, 2 Common Whitethroat in brambles near the Rough Wood and a very early Hobby over Branshill Wood heading east.
2 Common Shelduck flew over Cottages Flash mid morning and the pair of Little Ringed Plover were still present on the flash. 6 Common Buzzard and the Red-tailed Hawk soaring high over Branshill wood . An interesting sighting of 2 Grey Heron copulating in Branshill wood was the first sighting in the woodland since the collapse of the heronry in 2007.
On a return visit early evening the Ross's Goose was again in the riverside field next to Cottages Flash with Greylags. Also this evening on Barton Lane were 3 singing Corn Bunting and a Peregrine over towards the Drift in pursuit of a Woodpigeon.
Common Shelduck - over Cottages Flash
Blackcap - the Rough Wood
Willow Warbler - the Rough Wood
Common Whitethroat - near the Rough Wood
Saturday 17th April
A adult male Ross's Goose was found in fields next to Cottages Flash at 11.00am this morning. The status of this bird is unknown but is most likely to be of feral origin, but a very smart looking bird.
Also this morning the pair of Little Ringed Plover were still present on the flash but the female was seen to fly over the river to Attenborough. A singing Willow Warbler was in the location of the Rough Wood and lots of singing Chiffcaff and Blackcap throughout. A single Little Owl was present at the undisclosed breeding sight.
The Ross's Goose still present on the river near Cottages Flash on a return visit late afternoon also a single White Wagtail feeding on the far side of the flash. 4 singing Corn Bunting on Barton Lane late evening.
Ross's Goose - near Cottages Flash
Monday 12th APRIL
The 2 Little Ringed Plover still on Cottages Flash this evening and looking settled. 2 Oystercatcher again in the field next to the flash. 2 Little Owl sat out in the evening sun at the potential breeding site, viewed from a sensible distance. A potential Green Woodpecker nest site with a male watched excavating nesting hole. 6 Corn Bunting late evening along Barton Lane showing very well, also 3 Tree Sparrow in the hedgerow on Barton Lane.
Corn Bunting - Barton Lane
Sunday 11th April
Summer migrants continue to arrive, with a singing Cuckoo in the area of willows near Barton Flash. 2 singing Sedge Warbler in brambles near Beeston Weir. The male Little Ringed Plover was today joined by a female on Cottages Flash, also 2 Oystercatcher on the flash. A Little Owl was seen in willow trees away from the two undisclosed breeding sites. 3 singing Corn Bunting were in full song along Barton Lane late morning.
Little Ringed Plover - Cottages Flash
Saturday 10th April
New migrants this morning were a single Common Whitethroat singing by the small pond opposite the Rough Wood and a Yellow Wagtail in the newly worked field off manor road Barton-in-Fabis. The male Little Ringed Plover was again seen feeding on the far side of Cottages Flash. Also on the flash were 3 Oystercatcher with a courting pair that were observed mating on several occasions. A third bird flew in to join the pair but was quickly chased off. 3 Common Kingfisher flew up the river near Barton Island also good numbers of Sand Martin and Swallow in the area.
Oystercatcher - Cottages Flash
Thursday 8th April
The Common Sandpiper again present along the river-bank near Cottages Flash early evening, but otherwise very quite in the area.
Wednesday 7th April
More new arrivals today with a single Common Sandpiper found feeding along the river-bank near Cottages Flash late afternoon. Also 2 White Wagtail feeding on the far side of the flash, one of the two birds was a stunning very well marked male. A single male Northern Wheatear again in the ploughed field opposite Branshill Ponds. Other sightings late afternoon were 2 Oystercatcher and 2 Teal on Cottages Flash, 2 pairs of displaying Common Buzzard over Branshill Wood and good numbers of singing Chiffchaff and Blackcap.
Common Sandpiper - Barton-in-Fabis
Tuesday 6th April
Newly arriving migrants today include White Wagtail, Northern Wheatearand several new Chiffchaff.
2 White Wagtail were on the Weir Field with 5 Pied Wagtail early morning before flying off high S/W. Chiffchaff numbers have increased considerably overnight with 12 singing between the Grove and the Rough Wood. C70 Sand Martin near Barton Island with plenty of birds excavating the river bank, also many Barn Swallow throughout the area. A single Oystercatcher on Cottages Flash and 2 displaying Lapwing. 2 male Northern Wheatear were found in the ploughed field opposite Branshill ponds on a return visit late afternoon, with a third bird on the flood-bank behind the ploughed field.
A Red Kite was reported flying south along the river yesterday morning seen from Attenborough (Nott's Birdnews) and probably the same bird was seen above the A453 just Thrumpton side of power station, at 1.15 today. About 50 feet above the road (A.Ford).
the Weir Field
Monday 5th April
2 Oystercatcher in fields near Cottages Flash and 6 Pied Wagtail on the flash. 5 Tree Sparrow in the hedgerow and trees next to the river-side chalet. Several Sand Martin still showing interest in the river bank next to Barton Island. 12 Meadow Pipit near Barton Flash and a single Egyptian Goose on the flash.
Meadow Pipit - Barton Flash
Sunday 4th April
The first Willow Warbler of the year wasfound singing from the Rough Wood this morning. Checking on the two Little Owl sites produced 2 birds at each sight. 12 Fieldfare again feeding in the sheep fields near the chalet. A White Wagtail was seen on the roof of Plowrights Farm Barton Lane, also 2 Corn Bunting in the area.
Little Owl - sites undisclosed
Saturday 3rd April A large influx of Barn Swallow into the area this morning with birds seen in most locations. Several pairs of Sand Martin were excavating then river bank near barton island. 5 Corn Bunting were seen in the same tree late afternoon on the Clifton end of the Gotham Road.
Friday 2nd April
Good numbers of Hirundines in the area this morning with C200 Sand Martin, 12 Swallow and a single House Martin all over the river near Barton Island. A small flock of 16 Fieldfare were feeding in the sheep fields near the riverside chalet. 2 singing Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap near Branshill Ponds and 2 Blackcap in Clifton Woods.
A Little Egret and a male Little Ringed Plover were on Cottages Flash late afternoon. The Little Egret was flushed from the flash as I approached along the hedgerow and flew off towards Barton-in-Fabis. The Little Ringed Plover was found feeding at the far side of the flash and was still present when I left the area at 7.00pm. Also on the flash were 12 Teal and 4 Gadwall. 2 Barn Owl were seen hunting over Brandshill moor prior to dusk.
Little Egret - Over Cottages Flash
Little Ringed Plover - Cottages Flash
Thursday 1st April
A large movement of C250 Sand Martin from6.00 - 6.30 am this morning heading S/W down the river from Clifton Bridge in three seperate groups.
Late news from yesterday of a Peregrine at 4.20 pm circling the cooling towers at the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station (D.Roots).