Sightings July 2009
Friday 31st July
Sightings from John Hall & Ken James
Kingfisher on Holme Pit, It flew into the reeds at the back of the raft. Also a possible Water rail calling from the reed-beds
Monday 27th July
Barn Owl hunting along Fairham Brook this evening in fading light on Clifton Pastures. 2 Corn Bunting near the set-aside area of the pastures. 12 Yellow Wagtail in the area.
Barn Owl - Clifton Pastures
Sunday 26th July
4 Common Tern, 3 Reed Warbler and the pair of Mute Swan now with 6 remaining cygnets on Holme Pit this morning. Very quite in the area this weekend.
Saturday 25th July
1 Oystercatcher on the flash at Barton this morning. 2 Juvenile Common Buzzard near Clifton Wood.
Friday 24th July
Sightings from James Christmas: I had a quick walk along Gotham lane this morning but got cut short due to rain.A Jay flew from trees on road side to the drift plantation,3 corn bunting near Gotham lay-by,3 yellow wagtail(1 juvenile) on the pastures,3 common buzzard over the drift and 2 skylark.
Monday 20th July
1 Hobby, 4 Common Buzzard and the Red-tailed Hawk over Branshill wood this evening. 2 Tree Sparrow near Barton village and a very showy Juvenile Green Woodpecker in the area.
Juvenile Green Woodpecker - Barton-in-Fabis
Sunday 19th July
12 Black-tailed Godwit briefly on the flash in the corner of the field with cows early morning then all flew over the river to Attenborough also the Common Sandpiper again feeding along the edge of the river near the flash.
Saturday 18th July
A single Common Sandpiper was seen feeding at the side of the river near the flash at Barton-in-Fabis this morning. Also 2 Hobby over Branshill Wood and 5 Common Buzzard.
Common Sandpiper - Barton-in-Fabis
Tuesday 14th July
63 Northern Lapwing, 215 Black Headed Gull , 1 Lesser Black Backed Gull and 7 Grey Heron feeding on newly cut field off Foxcovet Lane at the rear of Holme Pit this evening. The Mute Swan pair on Holme pit are now down to five cygnets.
Sunday 12th July
4 Barn Owl showing very well this evening at an undisclosed location in the area. 8 Common Buzzard over branshill wood this afternoon consisting of 5 adults and 3 juveniles also the Red-tailed Hawk over the wood. Pair of Sedge Warbler feeding young near branshill Ponds and lots of young Common Whitethroat in the area plus some very worn looking adults. A possible Yellow Legged Gull over Barton Flash this afternoon but a bit to distant for a positive Id
Saturday 11th July
1 Little Owl in an undisclosed location on Gotham Moor this morning, also up to 15 Yellow Wagtail in the area. Good numbers of Linnet and Yellowhammer along moor lane. Very quite along the river between Barton and Clifton Grove this afternoon. 2 Juvenile Common Buzzard over Heart leas plantation off Barton Lane also 5 singing Corn Bunting in the area.
showing aggression to a second male Corn Bunting
Wednesday 8th July
A walk along Gotham Moor and Clifton Pastures this evening looking for Quail proved fruitless. There was again large numbers of singing Yellowhammer along Moor lane, also 4 Yellow Wagtail, 12 singing Skylark , 8 male Reed Bunting and 4 Corn Bunting on the pastures.
Sighting from Clifton Pastures this morning from James Christmas were: I'v been keeping an eye out for Quail after unfortunately coming across a dead one on the pastures last summer. Sightings this morning were...Hobby mobbing a Buzzard at back of small wood with 2 more buzzard on far side of brook.3 sedge warbler nr brook also in same area were 12 reed bunting,4 skylark,2 grey partridge,2 greenfinch,2 linnet and 4 goldfinch.also today 14 common whitethroat counted on walk down to the brook.
Yellowhammer and Corn Bunting - Gotham Moor/Clifton Pastures
Monday 6th July
No sign of any Quail this evening on a brief search whilst dodging heavy rain showers.
Sunday 5th July
2 Quail at 7.30pm on Clifton Pastures calling from the area near the drainage dykes on the footpath bend near Fairham Brook. Also 8 Corn Bunting in various locations and 1 Barn Owl hunting along the brook. Earlier today were 3 Juvenile Common Buzzard at the back of Holme Pit. 2 Hobby over the set-aside near the Rough Wood
Saturday 4th July
6 Lesser Whitethroat (2 adult 4 juvs)this morning in the hedgerow by Barton Village. A single Oystercatcher on Cottages flash.
Friday 3rd July
1 Hobby on Clifton Pastures this evening also several singing Corn Bunting in the area. A late evening walk over Gotham Moor produced good numbers of Yellowhammer with singing males nearly every 50 metres along moor lane and along the railway line, also several Yellow Wagtail in the area.
Thursday 2nd July
4 calling Tawny Owl late evening in Branshill Wood also a large number of c300 Swift feeding over the wood. 4 newly fledged Song Thrush near the ponds.