Waders - At Last!

Bright with a gentle breeze was perfect weather for a morning walk. I set off early down the Pit Tip lane before dawn, seeing very little, except Blackbird, Magpie and Carrion Crow. Along the bottom was a singing Robin and at Dawson's Corner a Kestrel was hunting in the overgrowth (probably a male). There were plenty of probable Redwing too, but the light wasn't good enough to tell yet. Along the Sustrans path a single Song Thrush was singing.

At the Mill Lakes the Greylag Goose was in its usual spot with a Great Crested Grebe. Taking the anti-clockwise path, no Cormorant were around today, but a Grey Heron was in the reeds on the far side. A couple of Rabbit were around the Dipping Ponds, probably as it was still early. The Pochard flock was split in two and no sign of the recent Ruddy Duck amongst it. Several Teal were also around the far bank with a few Gadwall. A Song Thrush was singing and showing quite well around the Willow Carr.

The Peninsula didn't show too much today, a juvenile Great Crested Grebe and many Tufted Duck. Walking up towards the bridge, I stopped to get good views of the Mud Island to check for the reported Snipe. After seeing a few movements and setting the camera up, I caught sight of the Kingfisher again; flying from the river and clockwise around the shore of the lake. I'd spotted a couple of movements on the edge of the mud, which turned out to be Snipe, but the footage was poor.

I met a local birder who I'd seen before, but not talked to (other than a quick hello). I asked him if he'd seen anything and we got talking about the site and what could be seen and where. Norman (that was his name) had been coming to the site since he was a kid (I think) and remembered it before it was a lake (just a large reedbed on the river Leen). He told me about all the birds that used to breed in and around the site and gave me a few hints on where to find birds such as Pheasant, Grey Partridge and some plover species. We walked back down to the peninsula where he thought we might get a better chance at seeing the Snipe, but no luck on that score. However, he did pick out a Common Gull from the flock of Black-headed Gull, which was a site first - I think they'll arrive in greater numbers soon though. He also told me about his friend Ralph, which turns out to be the guy I found listed on Surfbirds for his Mill Lakes patch list. Ralph had apparently set up a feeding station at the Water Meadow, which I later found. After speaking with Norman, I went back to look for the Snipe and head up to the Water Meadow. Just as the sun was up high enough to hit the mud flat island the Snipe started to come out. At most I picked out six together, but there were probably more in the undergrowth.

Common Snipe

I headed up to the Water Meadow along the side of the river seeing a pair of Wren in the scrub of the wood. A pair of Goldfinch were up in the trees with some Blue Tit and Great Tit. No sign of any Long-tailed Tit all day today, but I did spend most of my time looking at the Snipe. A single Bullfinch could be seen high up in a tree (through the branches) as I approached the Water Meadow gate, and there seemed to be good numbers of birds around. The new feeding station seemed to be doing its job well, as a couple of Willow Tit were feeding there. Also a single Goldcrest was showing well in the trees by the rail track.

Willow Tit [honestly!]

On the way back from the Water Meadow I met a couple who were watching the lake from the west side. It seemed as if they didn't know the site or what to see there too well, so I let them know about the Snipe, which they seemed very interested in. Just after leaving them I met yet another birder who seemed more experienced, but was relatively new to the site. We chatted as we walked back around and over the bridge. He'd been a member of Ogston Bird Club (Derbyshire) and was now living nearby. He mentioned that he'd been to Goosedale quite a bit and some farm nearby, maybe it was Westhouse Farm or Grange Farm?

On the way back plenty of Rook were in the fields at the bottom of the Pit Top and a Sparrowhawk (probable male) was being mobbed by a crow above the Pit Top. On the path between the narrow conservation areas, a female Reed Bunting (probably first winter) flew straight in front of me and landed on the hedgerow fence. It disappeared into the hedge, but stopped long enough for me to get some footage. For me, this was a pretty good sighting, as I've only seen them once before and that was at the Mill Lakes - a more likely habitat.

Female Reed Bunting

I decided to walk around the main conservation area with the hope of adding a Green Woodpecker or Skylark to the list, but nothing new was to be seen. It was around this point that the sole came off my walking boot, making it both noisy and a pain to walk. However, I did catch sight of a probable Kestrel on the way back into The Warren, although from the silhouette the tail looked unusually long. Just before leaving the park I caught sight of a Sparrowhawk (probably male) sitting in a tree by the exit (in the garden of the bungalow), and managed to get some close footage before it flew away.

Female Sparrowhawk

A great day by my standards, with 38 species recorded and two additions to my patch list in the form of Snipe and Common Gull. It was also nice to meet so many other birders on this relatively small patch.

Plenty of Goldcrests

Today was overcast, and I took a short walk in the woods. Behind the houses in Warren Hill. I saw a Jay in the path and a group of Chaffinch at the edge of Big Wood School Field. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were in the trees there: the first was probably a female with its black head stripe, but the view was not so great; and the second was a male. A few Coal Tit were seen in the hedges that border the park on the way to the Three Ponds.

I headed on towards the Three Ponds and found more Great Spotted Woodpecker and a Nuthatch. Also, a couple of Goldcrest were at the main gravel track area. I walked down the track and up First Valley which showed more Goldcrest, but I had trouble getting close enough for decent footage [as you can see]. In total, I recorded 18 species in the woods, which isn't too bad.

Glad I Went Back

Today I went back to the Mill Lakes to try and track down the Ruddy Duck again. I didn't spend much time recording on the way down there, but the Green Woodpecker was at the top of the very same tree on the Pit Tip. A large flock of House Sparrow (circa 20) were in a tree backing on to a garden in Rise Park, and a Sparrowhawk was over the fields near Dawson's Corner.

I went straight to the place where the Ruddy Duck was seen on Wednesday, but didn't see it. Not many Pochard were there either, so it might have been elsewhere or at the other side of the island. A single Cormorant was at Tern Island and a Grey Heron could be seen in a patch of reeds at the far side. I headed further around in the anti-clockwise direction trying to track down the Ruddy Duck and picked out more drake Teal.

The trees around the swamp and picnic area had the usual Goldfinch flocks, but bird of the day came in the form of a Lesser Redpoll flock, being life tick for me. At first a few birds were seen in a tree by the lake near the sign, and later a larger flock were on the Peninsula. The flock consisted of both male and female with one bird seen with a very pink breast in the V-shape, which I thought might have been a Linnet at the time, although it was probably just a strongly coloured male. I think it's time to become more acquainted with these finch species which seem to elude me! I noted on at least some of the birds a black bib, red forehead, single (or dominant) paler wing bar and streaking on the sides of the breast - definitely Lesser Redpoll. I got some footage, but it doesn't show anything other than silhouettes against the bright sky.

A typical pair of Bullfinch were in the hedge at the Leen Pastures and heading back I managed to relocate the single Ruddy Duck - probably a winter male. For a relatively quick visit, 35 species is a nice total for me, especially with the Lesser Redpoll life tick.

Ruddy difficult to ID

The weather was overcast with strong winds, so there was a chance everything would be hiding away. On entering the park I saw a single Greenfinch in a Goldfinch flock, and walked along the back of the Pit Tip seeing Blue Tit, Great Tit and a single Coal Tit. A Green Woodpecker was perched at the top of one of the small trees on the edge of the woodland, and I also saw a single Jay here. I followed the lane around the Pit Tip down to see plenty of Blackbird in the hedges and Rook in the fields. At Dawson's Corner were plenty of Redwing, a Song Thrush, and a flyover from a Cormorant.

I arrived at the Mill Lakes to see that a new fence had been put up by the Vehicle Bridge to prevent anyone walking down the river path which gives views over the Reedbed. On the near side the Reedbed Boardwalk had been cleared, but it doesn't give very good views. The single Greylag Goose was in its usual spot, and I decided to take the anti-clockwise path for once.

A pair of Bullfinch were in the trees/hedges, but the views weren't good. Whilst trying to get some better views I managed the best footage yet of a flock of Long-tailed Tit, which literally surrounded me at one point, coming as close as 2m away. I disturbed a couple of Cormorant around the next corner, and they flew off towards Tern Island. I also got some better footage of Teal here, but they didn't hang around for long. I counted five or more males and at least one female.

Heading up to the Leen Pastures didn't produce much today. Some kids on bikes were around, so that probably scared everything off before I got there. Another pair of Bullfinch were in the hedge that borders the meadow and a probable Goldfinch too. There were some birds calling on the railway siding, but they were well hidden from view.

Heading back down the east side of the lake showed the usual pair of Great Crested Grebe and whilst looking for other usual species, I came across the elusive Little Grebe south of the Peninsula. The group of Pochard was mostly male, but at least one female was visible. Mixed in with them was an odd looking cream-coloured duck, which proved difficult to identify as (or at least confirm my suspicions that it was) a winter male Ruddy Duck - a patch first, surprisingly.

On the way back to the bridge, a single male Chaffinch was around the small marsh pool and a Sparrowhawk was chasing some Woodpigeon around. This brought the day's total to 35 species, including a patch tick in the form of the Ruddy Duck.

A busy lunchtime in the woods

Today I took the same route as on Wednesday, but didn't go further than the so-called Toxic Pond, on Main Drive. It was lunchtime, and the paths were quite busy with walkers. At the corner of the Big Wood School Field were ten Chaffinch, and several Blue Tit and Great Tit. Further along were lots of Blackbird, a couple of Song Thrush, a Wren and a Nuthatch. Near the ponds there was a single Robin, another Wren, and a Treecreeper above the gate that leads onto the main road.

On the way back a small flock of Redwing were in the tops of the tall trees behind the Three Ponds, as were a couple of Jay and a single Dunnock too. Some Coal Tit were in the hedge along the driveway of the large private house, and behind the house there was another Nuthatch in a very large old tree, as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker. Behind Warren Hill another Great Spotted Woodpecker was in the branches of some trees that overhang the gardens of the first houses. A nice short walk on a cold but sunny day, with 18 different species seen in the woods.

The "Posh" End

It was a reasonable afternoon for a short walk, so I decided to familiarize myself with the area around Bestwood Lodge, which is now a posh looking hotel - it's not that posh, though!

I walked along the path behind Warren Hill seeing lots of Chaffinch at their stronghold, the garden next to Big Wood School Field. There were also Great Tit, Blue Tit and a single Coal Tit there too. Walking on towards the lodge, I stopped around the Main Gate. One tree here attracted lots of attention with all four of the commoner tits, a couple of Goldcrest, two Nuthatch and one Treecreeper. With good views of all, it was typical that I'd left the video camera at home. I didn't realize at the time, but this was just by the tree I'd seen and filmed my first Nuthatch in the park.

This area seemed to be that of the Three Ponds that the experienced birder was describing to me on Saturday - to me it's more like a small bog, though. Anyway, after fifteen minutes or so here, I went on to the lodge area in the hope of seeing some woodpeckers. At this time of day I wasn't going to have much luck with anything other than a timid Jay at the back of the housing estate, but at least I've become more familiar with the area.

On the way back it was starting to rain and not much was around. A single Dunnock was at the side of the path in a woodpile with a Robin. Lots of Chaffinch and tits were still at the corner of the school field, but the light was fading, so didn't stop to look. A little past here a noise above caught my attention and looked up to see a Great Spotted Woodpecker. In the trees by the exit there were about ten Goldfinch and a single Greenfinch - it seemed the rain had brought them into the trees from the nearby gardens. In all I managed 21 species; mainly woodland birds, with good views of the Treecreeper and Goldcrest.

The Water Meadow Willow

Starting out on the near side of the Pit Tip, I heard the Song Thrush in the same area as yesterday. A Green Woodpecker was at the top of a small nearby tree as I approached to find the Song Thrush, and a Robin was at the top of a nearby gorse bush.

I carried on to the Dunvegan Drive entrance and down the lane seeing many Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird, three Starling, a single House Sparrow and a single Wren. I met a more experienced birder walking his dog and he gave me a few tips on seeing Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in Big Wood near the three ranger-created ponds and around the Bestwood Lodge. Around the farm paths there were plenty of Redwing and a Sparrowhawk (a female, I think) was hunting low in the bushes. I heard another Song Thrush behind the houses on the Sustrans path to the Mill Lakes.

A Greylag Goose flew off as I walked down to the lake. Another was on Tern Island with a Cormorant, whilst another Cormorant flew around, eventually landing on Tern Island too. I think most of the usual residents were around, but didn't spend too much time looking today. I caught sight of a group of Pochard and then a possible small group of Teal/Gadwall, but didn't get chance to make a positive ID, as they were at the far side of the lake, where there's better cover.

On the main path along the side of the marshy area one of the regulars with some bins was looking up in the trees. Said he was looking at Goldfinch, and sure enough there was a flock of six or more moving through the trees. I watched them for a couple of minutes after he'd left and picked out some streaked pale cream/brown birds with a yellow/greenish head marking. I thought these might have been a Siskin, and tried to capture some footage for later ID. Unfortunately it was against a bright sky, so only the silhouettes could be seen. Despite the time of year, I didn't rule out the possibility of it being a juvenile Goldfinch, so without anything better to go on, I left it at that.

Near the Leen Pastures I found my bird of the day in the form of a calling Willow Tit at the river's edge, which didn't hang around long enough for me to get any footage. I also saw a single Dunnock up here (a juvenile, I think), more Redwing, lots of Long-tailed Tit and more of the other two common tits. There were quite a lot of Bullfinch around today, I managed to see a pair alongside the river, two females at the Leen Pastures gate, and another pair on my way back to the lake. I was hoping for a better chance of Redwing and Bullfinch footage at least, but cut the trip short to catch a lift home with the family.

My first Willow Tit since the start of recording gave another patch tit, and a count of 32 species made for a reasonable trip.

A Heron from the Woods

An overcast, but bright morning saw me stroll around the Pit Tip and back through the woods, giving a total of 19 species, which isn't too bad for the woodlands. On the Pit Tip there were many Blue Tit, Great Tit and Long-tailed Tit with two Coal Tit amongst them. Also, the first Song Thrush I've heard singing up here, and a Green Woodpecker in flight just as I arrived.

In Big Wood there were more Goldcrest than I usually see, and in several areas too. Lots of Jay could be seen, since most of the leaves are now gone. There were lots of Redwing around the Barbecue Area, and a single Nuthatch here too. Along Main Drive I saw more Goldcrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker, and a Grey Heron flying over.