Sightings July 2010
Saturday 31st July
3 Hobby were seen pursuing a large flock of Common Swift that were feeding over Branshill Wood this morning for over 20 min's, with all 3 birds circling to great heights before turning and stooping into the flock. On the river in front of Barton Island was a very unseasonable Common Pochard, possibly the first summer record here. The 2 Juvenile Little Owl were still in the same location but more elusive today. 2 singing Chiffchaff and a calling Tawny Owl were heard in Clifton Wood.
Pochard - Barton Island
Friday 30th July
The 2 Juvenile and 1 adult Little Owl were showing very well this evening. The Juveniles are now starting to look more like adults having now lost most of the fluffy down feathers, but the underparts are much greyer compeared to adults white dark streaked underparts. A single Barn Owl was seen over Branshill Moor late evening also several calling Tawny Owl's from Branshill Wood.
Little Owl's - Clifton Grove
Sunday 25th July
2 Hobby again over Branshill Moor late morning before they both flew off towards Clifton Wood. 3 Little Egret seen distantly from Barton Flash, in flight over the river at Attenborough. 2 Juv Little Owl again but very hard to see in the middle of a Willow Tree.
Saturday 24th July
2 adult Hobby hawking Dragonflies over Branshill Moor this morning showing very well but distantly. 8 Common Buzzard and the Red-tail over Branshill Wood with at least 4 Juvenile birds. Finally managed to locate and get a bit closer to the 2 Juv Little Owls this morning. They were both found out in the open sunning themselves on an old Ash Tree near to this years nest site. 2 Sedge Warbler on Branshill Ponds were seen feeding 2 newly fledged Juveniles. 3 Grey Wagtail and a single Common Sandpiper feeding on the steps of Beeston Weir.
Juvenile Little Owls - Clifton Grove
Tuesday 20th July
A Common Sandpiper was feeding along the river bank at Barton this evening, also 15 Lapwing and several Juv B.H.Gull on a very dry Cottages Flash. 3 Little Owl's (1 adult/2 Juveniles) but very well hidden in willow tree. 2 Juvenile Common Buzzard again over Branshill Wood.
Common Sandpiper - Barton-in-Fabis
Sunday 18th July
A single Little Egret was seen distantly from Foxcovet Lane flying over Barton Flash this morning and then over the river towards Attenborough. No sign of any Juvenile Little Owl at yesterdays location but one adult bird seen briefly. 5 Common Buzzard over Branshill wood that included 2 Juveniles.
Little - over Barton Flash
Saturday 17th July
2 Hobby over Branshill Wood for most of the morning today but staying very high over the wood. A Juvenile Little Owl was seen this morning near one of this years breeding sites but quickly disappeared into nearby willows. As i put my camera back over my shoulder another Juv Little Owl appeared from a different tree flying straight towards me and straight over my head. I was truly gutted having just blew my best ever opportunity of photographing a flying Little Owl.
Thursday 15th July
A single Common Sandpiper seen on several occasions along the river-bank at Clifton Grove, also 3 different Kingfisher's noted on the river (T.Shields).
Wednesday 14th July
A late evening walk after heavy rain storms produced the first Black-tailed Godwit of the year. 2 adults were seen to fly up river and land briefly on Cottages Flash at 8.15pm before flying off high to the West 5 mins later. Also many Common Tern on the river this evening.
14th July - Over Cottages Flash
Sunday 11th July
A Common Crane was reported circling high over Attenborough at 11.50am before drifting of in a N/E direction (Rare Bird Alert). It would have been almost certainly viewable from the riverside at Barton-in-Fabis, but once again this species has eluded me as I was over at Holme Pit trying to photograph Juv Sedge Warbler when it was circling over.
Saturday 10th July
4 Juvenile Corn Bunting on Barton Lane this morning, also several singing males along the lane. 5 Yellow Wagtail high over towards the Drift. Several Juvenile Common Tern along the river at Barton. Good numbers of Brown Hawker Aeshna grandis, Banded Demoiselle Calopteryx splendens and other unidentified Dragonflies. Also Six-Spot Burnet Zygaena filipendulae, Cinnabar Moth Tyria jacobaea and lots of Cinnabar caterpillars on the Ragwort.
Aeshna grandis
Zygaena filipendulae
Tyria jacobaea
Tuesday 6th July
3 Corn Bunting on Barton Lane with a further 2 singing males near Plowrights farm. C10 Grey Partridge flushed further along Barton Lane and good numbers of Skylark in the area.
The Red tailed Hawk was over branshill wood, 4 Common Buzzard throughout, Sedge Warblers, Reed Warblers and Reed Buntings at holme pit, and around 6 Lapwing on the cattle field behind holme pit. (T.Shields)
Sunday 4th July
3 Juv Yellow Wagtail on the side of the track to the Drift this morning, also 4 Common Buzzard over Heart Leas Plantation. 2 singing Corn Bunting along Barton Lane. 4 Lesser Black backed Gull and good numbers of Common Tern on the river near Beeston Weir. Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Blackcap noted in the hedge-row near the Rough Wood.
Willow Warbler - near the Rough Wood.
Friday 2nd July
2 Hobby high over the Grove this evening, but the sighting of the evening was my first Hummingbird Hawkmoth in Nottinghamshire seen feeding on flowers in back gardens behind the grove.
Hummingbird Hawkmoth - Clifton Grove