More Song Thrush

Had a quick walk out towards Bestwood Lodge before work. Nothing of note before sunrise, but two singing male Song Thrush around the Land Management Complex as the sun came up, which may well be new territories for my records. Headed back for a brief walk around the Pit Tip Top and flushed a Skylark from the grass alongside the main path at the western edge. A flock of around 30 Siskin were flitting about over the main Pit Tip Plantation. Coming back round the north east edge, two Green Woodpecker flew from a tree at the edge of the woodland: One heading to the main Plantation, and the other out onto the Grassland. Also met Mick again on the track to Bestwood Lodge on his way to work, and Norman on his way to Goosedale via Lamin's Lane, just before getting back.

Returning Redwing

Setting out at sunrise, good numbers of Woodpigeon were going over the Pit Tip Top, roughly 500 birds. At Dawson's Corner, I was happy to see the return of last winter's Redwing flock, with around ten birds in the trees that back onto Farmer Fox's Cow Field. Along the Sustrans path a singing male Song Thrush was in the same spot as last year, and another was singing just over the footbridge to the Mill Lakes.

An adult Great Crested Grebe in breeding plumage was near the Vehicle Bridge, and a female and one other Bullfinch was in the trees on the bank of the lake to the north of the Peninsula. Small numbers of Teal were about, and around 25 Pochard were spread from one end of the lake to the other. There also seemed to be a good helping of Tufted Duck about today.

I met up with Norman, but the others weren't about. The Greylag Goose flock numbered 36, and congregated on and around Mud Island, which included three pale hybrid-type birds. Just two Common Snipe were seen on the far bank, but Mud Island had been cleared of most of the vegetation and there really wasn't any cover.

We headed up to the Leen Pastures and caught onto a flock of 20-30 Golden Plover that flew west over the ride. Two Willow Tit were calling and feeding on peanuts at the Feeding Station - my first of the year. Heading back to the Woodland we were on the lookout for Yellowhammer and Meadow Pipit, but without luck. Two House Sparrow were mating on the roof of a house in Bestwood Village, though!

We finished off in the woods around the Triangle and the Three Ponds. Two Great Spotted Woodpecker were heard drumming around here, and small numbers of Goldcrest were in the yews, including one feeding so close to us we could see it amazingly well without the bins - a shame I hadn't had the camera out. Two Nuthatch were in the area, and a group of Chaffinch and Siskin were also around the ponds. Heading back, I got some brief views of a Treecreeper on one of the larger trees to end the morning.

An Early Greylag Flock

This morning wasn't too bad weather-wise, but after all the recent rain the ground was very wet and the water levels were high at the Mill Lakes. I didn't pick anything up on the way down to the lake, because it was too dark, and I was on the Peninsula for first light.

There were 26 Greylag Goose on the water at the north end and another three flew in to join them. At sunrise, all but two flew off, and the two stragglers didn't leave it too long before going too - probably a nice grazing ground to head to. A similar-sized flock of Canada Goose were also present, but they suck around whilst I was there. A single Great Crested Grebe was to the north of the Peninsula, and a Grey Heron was "on" the flooded Mud Island. A single Common Snipe had managed to find a dry spot to roost, and six others were stood in two threes along the far bank.

Heading back I picked out a handful of the Pochard group that remain along the far side, and a single Cormorant was on the post at Tern Island, whilst two others flew over to the north. A single male Bullfinch was in the trees between the Dipping Ponds and the main path, and a Dunnock and Goldfinch flock were seen heading back along the Sustrans path.

This morning I headed around the woodland and got some footage of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming in an oak tree near the Triangle. A Nuthatch was in this area too, but didn't show well. Nearer the Three Ponds a tit flock was moving through, and three Goldcrest and a Treecreeper were amongst them. I had a look around Bestwood Lodge Gardens, but it was quiet, so I moved on.

I headed to Moira Plantation, which is an area that I'm not very familiar with, and have never visited out of summer. A male Pheasant flushed from the path and flew across the farmer's field to the wood at the other side. Also along the path were a Wren and two Dunnock, with a single Jay in the trees. Looking out over the fallow farmer's field at the top, I picked out a few Mistle Thrush moving, and got a bit of footage. Whilst surveying the trees and hedgerows in the distance, a handful of Fieldfare and Redwing flew in to join the Mistle Thrush. There were large numbers of small birds in the hedgerow at the far side and feeding in the field, but too far to identify. However, a small group of Goldfinch were doing the same thing from the hedgerow near me, so that would have been my best guess.

Heading over to the Pit Tip, I picked up the Treecreeper again in the same area, two Jay were at Ted Heath, and another Nuthatch was at the start of Front Line. A single Cormorant was over high, heading towards Mill Lakes, and a Grey Heron flew over from that direction to Warren Hill. A group of twelve Great Black-backed Gull were over to the north of the Pit Tip, heading WNW. I finished the morning off with another year tick, with a male Reed Bunting that was calling from the top of a tree to alongside the Pit Tip Plantation.

Kestrel for the Year

A quick pre-work visit to the Pit Tip showed that the Siskin flock was still present around the back of the Plantation, with a couple of Goldfinch amongst them. A male Kestrel over the Plantation was my first of the year, and a single Cormorant went over towards the Mill Lakes. Three Green Woodpecker were seen near the eastern side of the main Plantation and on the nearby Grassland , and at least one Skylark was heard in the grass.

Footage of the Water Rail

My first visit to the Mill Lakes in the hope of boosting my year list early on and catching up with the other regular birders for the latest news. The only thing about on the way there was a family party of three Bullfinch in a tree at Dawson's Corner. I walked most of the way in the dark, catching up with Norman at the Reedbed Boardwalk entrance.

The Pochard flock had increased, with around fifteen birds present and scattered over the water in small groups. By the Dipping ponds I was quick to pick up on a flock of around forty Golden Plover as they flew low heading south, over the grassy area, presumably from the fallow field near the main entrance. A great start to the morning. Two Cormorant flew in, then two - presumably the same birds - were seen sat at top of a tree on Greylag Island - the first time I've seen them in trees here.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was heard drumming from the Willow Carr, and one was then seen in the trees near the Peninsula. Two Common Snipe were at the edge of Mud Island, and the odd Teal was nearby too. The main Siskin flock of around sixty birds were in the trees opposite the Peninsula, and other smaller groups were around too. There was no sign of the other regulars, so we went on, stopping to look at Mud Island again further up. First I got onto another Common Snipe, as it headed off the island and literally swam the channel to the far bank. Next I was onto the pair of Kingfisher, showing really well on a branch of the far bank, then I was onto the Water Rail too - I was on a roll. The Water Rail showed well for us as it emerged from a clump of branches and ran over Mud Island into the reeds on the far bank. Better still, I filmed it!

From the far side we picked out two Common Gull on the water amongst rather small numbers of Black-headed Gull. A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was at the top of tree along back ride. From the southern bank near the Vehicle Bridge, a single Great Crested Grebe was in the middle of the lake, and a Little Grebe was just off Tern Island.

Heading back via the Horse Paddock route with Norman, he picked up a single Stock Dove as it flew over the farmer's field behind Broad Valley Stables'. A large flock of around a hundred Woodpigeon went over Parkside Pasture, and four Mistle Thrush were in the field by the entrance to Bestwood Quarry.

A Good Start to 2008

I decided to start the new year off without a trip to the Mill Lakes, instead favouring the Pit Tip, Woodland, and Lamin's Lane. A surprising sound on the Pit Tip Top was one of several Skylark in song, with one singing male up for close to ten minutes. Several gull groups went over, including both Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull. A single Pied Wagtail flew over, and a female Green Woodpecker was on a fence post of the main Plantation. Whilst watching a single Lesser Redpoll in one of the smaller plantations, a male Sparrowhawk was hunting the finches, and flew into the Pit Tip Plantation, flushing a flock of around forty finches, which were mainly Siskin and Lesser Redpoll. Another flock came in later, from the direction of Rise Park, the total being around 65 birds.

Moving on to the woodland, a couple of Coal Tit were on the feeders at Alexandra Lodge, and heading up behind the lodge, I bumped into the local farmer that I know from the Friends of group. In the distance I could make out a male Great Spotted Woodpecker perched at the top of an oak tree at the back of the quarry near Warrenhill Plantation. Shortly afterwards, two were fighting briefly at the top of a tree: one bird called loudly as it flew in, and the other seemed to be defending its territory. A couple of Jay were also in the plantation.

Coming out onto Lamin's Lane, I heard a familiar call, and later saw two male Pheasant in one of the fields. More notable for me was the group of four Red-legged Partridge at the edge of the same field, alongside the hedgerow - a patch bogey bird to tick off! Another Jay was bathing in a puddle along Lamin's Lane, and a couple of Pied Wagtail were on the road too. A good flock of about 36 Lapwing were in the fallow field, but before I got a good look something flushed them and they flew off with two unidentified waders amongst them - almost certainly Golden Plover, but too distant for a positive ID.

All in all, a good start to the year, with 28 species recorded without visiting the Mill Lakes, and finally catching up with those Red-legged Partridge.