2010 Archive
Sightings August 2010
Monday 30th August
A significant passage of Yellow Wagtail through the area this morning with a flock of c30 calling birds high over Barton Flash heading west. A single female Northern Wheatear was on the river side fields but no sign of any whinchat. A Juvenile Little Owl was seen sat out in the morning sun at the usual site.
An afternoon visit to Clifton Pastures again saw an increase in Yellow Wagtail with 26 birds found feeding on a newly ploughed field, before they all flew off high to the S/W. Also on newly Ploughed fields either side of Gotham Road were large numbers of Gulls. A count of 254 Lesser Black-Backed Gull and over 400 Black-headed Gull was an excellent site record.
Juv Little Owl - Clifton Grove
Sunday 29th August
A notable passerine movement today with four Whinchat found at midday on the fencing below the flood bank bordering the riverside fields Barton-in-Fabis. All four birds were very unapproachable and remained distant so I decided to leave them to feed unharrassed. Also this morning were 3 Northern Wheatear in the field directly behind Cottages Flash consisting of two females and a male.
Earlier this morning was my first sighting of Green Sandpiper on the patch since August 2004. It was flushed from the side of the river close to Cottages Flash and flew up river.
Northern Wheatear's - Barton-in-Fabis
Saturday 28th August
Very quite on the Patch today with little seen all day. Highlight of the day was 3 Lesser Whitethroat in the hedgerow between Branshill Wood and the Rough Wood and a single Grey Wagtail on the steps of Beestone Weir.
Wednesday 25th August
A Hobby was hunting on branshill moor, at holme pit there were several reed warblers still active towards the cow-drink end, and by the weir there was a couple of sedge warblers, a Green Sandpiper and in the brambles there was a good diversity of finches and warblers. including several pairs of Linnet. 4 Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were seen across the area too, as well as several green woodpeckers. Also, in a mature oak tree near the rough wood i counted seven seperate species - chiffchaff, blackcap, whitethroat, blue tit, long tailed tit, chaffinch, and most interesting for me, a treecreeper my first of the area.(T.Shields)
(The Green Sandpiper seen this morning by T.Shields is the first record here since 2004.)
A visit to Clifton Pastures late afternoon produced a record count of 122 Lesser Black-Backed Gull feeding on a newly ploughed field just off the Gotham Road, also c300 B.H.Gull and large numbers of Pied Wagtail on the same field.
A female Northern Wheatear was on the riverside fields Barton-in-Fabis this evening on the fencing near the flood-bank. A single Common Swift was noted in a large Hirundine flock over Branshill Wood. Small numbers of common Warblers in the hedgerow near the Rough Wood. 3 Juvenile and 4 adult Common Buzzard sheltering from the rain in the small copse on the edge of Branshill Moor
female Northern Wheatear - Barton-in-Fabis
Monday 23rd August
A single Whinchat was present on the riverside fields on barb-wire fencing near the flood-bank this evening, and is possibly one of the birds that was seen in the same location on Saturday. Also this evening were C60 Skylark in the stubble field in front of Branshill Wood.
Whinchat - Barton-in-Fabis
Sunday 22nd August
A very close encounter with a Hobby this morning hawking Dragonfly's over Holme Pit before heading off over Clifton Wood.(A.Kelly)
Saturday 21st August
After a heavy downpour this afternoon there was a mini fall of 9 Northern Wheatear and 2 Whinchat on the river-side fields either side to Cottages Flash. A count of nine Northern Wheatear is by far the largest number recorded here on autumn passage. Three birds quickly moved on and were seen fly off over the river with the remaining six birds still present when I left the area. Also 2 Whincat were found in the same area with one on fence posts bordering the river-side fields and a second in the hedge-row favoring the area near the flood-bank.
Also this afternoon was a single Juvenile Hobby hawking Dragonfly's over Branshill Moor. A single Barn Owl peering out of a nest box at an undisclosed location was good to see as all nest boxes in the area have failed this year.
Northern Wheatear's and Whinchat's - Barton-in-Fabis
Sunday 8th - 15th August
It has been very quite in the area for the last week with nothing worth reporting and no signs of any migration. A small number of Blackcap, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat feeding on Black Berries this morning and a small flock of Skylark through to the west.
Saturday 7th August
The Common Pochard was again present on the river near Barton Island this morning. 4 Little Owl, 2 adults and 2 Juveniles in willow trees near to this years nest site, these realy are stunning birds. A singing Willow Warbler in the hedge-row between Branshill and the Rough Wood also 1 Lesser Whitethroat and several Chiffchaff and Common Whitethroat. 2 Hobby briefly over Holme Pit at midday.
Juvenile Little Owl - Clifton grove
Thursday 5th August
Pulling in to the Gotham Layby on my way home from work at 4.00pm, I had an amazing close encounter with the cream crowned Marsh Harrier that has been in the area for the last few days. It was hunting over the corn field on Clifton Pastures just feet away from the Layby. I watched this stunning bird at such close quarters that at times I couldn't get the whole bird in the binoculars. After a few minutes it dropped down into the field successfully catching some bird species as there was feathers flying everywhere. After 10mins of waiting for it to reappear I decided a quick 5min drive home to pick up my camera, as this was such an amazing photography opportunity. Arriving back at the Layby in record time I sat watching the spot where the Harrier had landed but after an hour there was still no sign. I decided to walk out into the field but the Harrier had gone, disappeared in the 5mins I had left the sight.
On a return visit at 7.00pm I managed to relocated the Harrier flying up and down the Fairham Brook. By the time I had walked down to the Brook the light was failing but I did manage to get a few record shots, but nothing like the ones I could have got earlier this afternoon.
Also this evening on the Pastures were 5 Yellow Wagtail, 7 Corn Bunting, 1 Hobby, 6 Common Buzzard and a covey of 7 Grey Partridge.
Marsh Harrier - Clifton Pastures
Tuesday 3rd August
2 Hobby and a adult Peregrine this evening on Clifton Pastures but no sign of yesterdays Marsh Harrier. A flock of 16 Corn Bunting on Clifton Pastures in the corn field behind the Gotham Road layby was the largest group seen this year
Monday 2nd August
A Cream crowned Marsh Harrier was quartering fields along Fairham Brook this evening. Ranging widely along the brook from Gotham Moor and Clifton Pastures. Showed well but distantly, as I was viewing from the Gotham Layby. It was last seen at around 9.00pm when it dropped down into a corn field near the brook presumably to roost.
Earlier this evening C170 Northern Lapwing over Barton Flash, 3 Lesser Black backed Gull on Beeston Weir and a single adult Little Owl near the Yellow Gate.