Nov 28th

Warren Hill: A search of the area this morning failed to relocate the Waxwings, but the news services are reporting 21 still at Big Wood School this evening.

Woodland: 1 Pied Wagtail [Path by Three Ponds - unusual location, obviously provoked by the weather conditions], 1 Song Thrush [Khalsa Wood], 1+ Redwing [Khalsa Wood], 2 Nuthatch

Nov 27th

Warren Hill: From the house this afternoon at 14:40, 23 WAXWING circled Bewcastle Road (between junctions with Finsbury Road and Stockdale Close) for several minutes. Thereafter, I was unable to locate them in any of the usual haunts around Warren Hill.

Nov 21st

Woodland: c.25 Golden Plover [Flock flying high E over the Woodland - seen from home]

Nov 7th

Warren Hill: c.140 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE [2 skeins of c.70 WNW - seen from home]

Nov 1st

Warren Hill: 2 WAXWING [In small tree at junction of Thompson Gardens and Bewcastle Road opposite the Duke of St Albans pub - seen from the bus at 08:05]

Oct 31st PM

Warren Hill: 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [S over Woodland and Warren Hill]

Oct 31st AM

Mill Lakes: 1 MANDARIN DUCK, 2 Wigeon, 3 Red-crested Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3+ Common Gull, c.15 Siskin
Leen Pastures: 3+ Lesser Black-backed Gull
Pit Tip: 40+ Fieldfare, c.20 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch

Oct 27th

Lamin's Lane: 12 Red-legged Partridge [Top Breck], 26+ Fieldfare [Over WSW], 2+ Tree Sparrow

Oct 21st

Pit Tip: c.18 Fieldfare [over W], 3 Redwing [over SW]

Oct 12th

Lamin's Lane: 39 Golden Plover [Top Woods Ground], 2+ Lapwing, Linnet

Oct 9th

Warren Hill: c.500 Starling [Pillar-like cloud-formation seen briefly above Church Field Plantation]

Oct 7th

Pit Tip [Vis. Mig. over Grassland]: 23 Skylark, 3 Linnet, 22 Meadow Pipit, 7 Pied Wagtail
Mill Lakes [Dipping Ponds]: 3 Bullfinch [f, m, j], 1 Willow Tit, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Song Thrush
Broad Valley [Vis. Mig.]: 9 Pied Wagtail, 3 Sand Martin
Bestwood Quarry: 4 Common Buzzard [inc adult and juv.], 1 Sparrowhawk

54 Species Recorded

Oct 6th

Woodland [from home]: 1 Buzzard [over to Pit Tip], 1 Kestrel [over S]

Oct 5th

Pit Tip [vis. mig.]: 12 Redwing [S], 3 Linnet [S], 10 Meadow Pipit
Mill Lakes: 1 Mandarin, 2 Wigeon, 1 Red-crested Pochard [Leucistic female], 1 Pochard [Female], 1 , Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Common Snipe, 1 House Martin [low S over lake]
Leen Pastures: 2 Reed Bunting
Quarry: 1 Buzzard, 1 Chiffchaff [singing]

Mammals: 1 Weasel [Leen Pastures]
Insects: 1 Hornet [Main Drive]

Oct 4th

8am@Pit Tip:
1 Common Snipe [flushed from grassland in fog and flew NW], 20 Siskin [W over plantation], 5 Pied Wagtail [over SW], 5+ Skylark, 6+ Meadow Pipit

12:30pm@Quarry:
1 Common Buzzard [low over paddocks]

4pm@Pit Tip:
20 Siskin [E over plantation], 2-3 Barn Swallow [low S over grassland], 1 Sparrowhawk [mobbed to W], 3 Common Buzzard [soaring to NW]

Insects:
1 Common Darter [male at pool near entrance to Quarry], 1 Red Admiral [Quarry], 1 Peacock [horse trail onto Pit Tip], 1 Comma [near Winding House]

Sep 25th

Mill Lakes: 1 RED-CRESTED POCHARD, 1 WATER RAIL [Mud Island], 1 Common Snipe [Mud Island], 1 Grey Wagtail [Juv/1w on Mud Island], 1 Chiffchaff [Singing], 19 Teal
Pit Tip: 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull [Adult and 3w bird over NNE], 3 Skylark, 3 Barn Swallow [Low SW], 8 Meadow Pipit
Woodland: 2 Goldcrest

Sep 19th

Mill Lakes: 6 RED-CRESTED POCHARD [probably 3 eclipse male, 1 leucistic female, 1 female, 1 juvenile], 1 MANDARIN DUCK [post-eclipse male associating with Greylag again], 3 Wigeon, 1 Shoveler, 10+ Gadwall, 7 Teal, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Kestrel, 1 Chiffchaff

Sep 18th

Pit Tip: 1+ Common Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 6 Meadow Pipit, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

Sep 12th

Mill Lakes: 2 Wigeon [Eclipse male and female], 6 Shoveler [Three pairs], 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Wagtail [Over N end of lake to Golf Course]

Sep 11th

A Common Buzzard came over Warren Hill at 11am this morning, had a quick look over the Pit Tip, and then departed north east over the Woodland. In the early evening, a single House Martin was hawking insects high above Warren Hill.

Sep 7th

Mill Lakes: 1 Chiffchaff [Singing]
Broad Valley: 10 Grey Partridge [Spinney Field], 1 Sparrowhawk [Female]
Woodland [Khalsa Wood]: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4+ Song Thrush, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Goldcrest

Sep 6th

Pit Tip: 1 Kestrel [female hunting from fence posts], 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull [over N], 1 GREAT BLACK_BACKED GULL [over ENE], 300+ House Martin [high over N side of Pit Tip], 4 Meadow Pipit
Woodland: 4 Stock Dove [Big Wood School Playing Field], 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Treecreeper

Sep 3rd

Woodland: 25+ Long-tailed Tit [Woodside Liveries]

Aug 30th

Pit Tip: 9+ Lesser Black-backed Gull [N up Leen Valley]
Mill Lakes: 2 Shoveler, 1 Ruddy Duck, 1 Whitethroat [Dipping Ponds], 1 Chiffchaff
Broad Valley: 1 Kestrel, 1 Meadow Pipit, 3+ Pied Wagtail
Bestwood Quarry: 1 Sparrowhawk [Male over Bramley Wood], 1 Common Buzzard [Over Crimea Plantation]

Aug 25th

Woodland: 5+ Lesser Black-backed Gull [Adults in Big Wood School Playing Fields]
Broad Valley: 3 Pied Wagtail [Juveniles]

Aug 19th

Pit Tip: 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull [over], 2 Linnet [Dawson's Corner]
Mill Lakes: 11 Teal, 1 Common Pochard
Leen Pastures: 1 Willow Tit

Jul 27th

Bestwood Quarry: 1+ Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler

Jul 18th

Mill Lakes: 1 MANDARIN DUCK [Eclipse male roosting on shore of on Greylag Island], 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron
Broad Valley: 2 Little Owl, 6+ Mistle Thrush, 1 Yellowhammer

Jul 14th

Pit Tip: 2+ Meadow Pipit [Including juv. before thunderstorm]

Jul 12th

Mill Lakes: 1 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe [juv], c.25 Black-headed Gull, c.50 Common Swift, c.5 House Martin
Broad Valley: 1 Little Owl

Jul 11th

Pit Tip: 4+ Skylark, 1 Common Whitethroat
Mill Lakes: 1 Teal, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 30 Black-headed Gull [29 on water included 2 juvs], 10+ House Martin, 2+ Reed Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat, 1 Bullfinch
Leen Pastures: 1 Green Woodpecker
Broad Valley: 2+ Skylark

Jun 4th

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER, 2+ Reed Warbler, 1 Shelduck, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Grey Heron [At nest]

Leen Pastures: 1 Kestrel [over Golf Course]

Jun 1st

Mill Lakes: 1 Shelduck, 3 Grey Heron [over Reedbed], 2+ Reed Warbler

May 24th

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER [still singing], 1 MANDARIN DUCK [Male briefly by Vehicle Bridge], 2 Great Crested Grebe [Adult carrying chick], 1+ Reed Warbler [Reedbed Boardwalk], 1 Common Whitethroat [Dipping Ponds]

May 9th

Lamin's Lane: 3 Common Buzzard [1 NE over Killarney View Field mobbed by corvid, pair W over Violet Hill and mobbed by corvids over Arable Old Warren]
Woodland: 1 Common Buzzard [E over Ferny Wood Watchpoint], 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull [High SE over Crimea Wood from Ferny Wood Watchpoint]

May 1st

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER, 1 MANDARIN DUCK [Displaying male associating with Greylag family], 1 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE [On N part of lake], 1 Shelduck [On Tupelo Island], 1 Great Crested Grebe [Adult on nest], 1+ Sedge WarblerLeen Pastures: 6 Common Swift [High over Leen Pastures], 5+ Common Whitethroat

Apr 26th

Pit Tip: 3+ Skylark, 1+ Meadow Pipit, 3 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat , 2 Willow Warbler

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER, 2 Shelduck, 1 Teal, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat

Apr 26th

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER, 1 MANDARIN DUCK

Apr 25th

Mill Lakes: 1 GRASSHOPPER WARBLER [Singing male heard in PM from scrub along NW bank], 1 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron [Adult on nest], 1 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe [Adult on nest]

Apr 22nd

Lamin's Lane: 3 YELLOW WAGTAIL and 5 Pied Wagtail remain in Killarney View Field this morning, along with 4 Meadow Pipit

Apr 21th

Lamin's Lane: 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR [Single female feeding in Killarney View Field], 9 YELLOW WAGTAIL [All of nominate British race feeding in Killarney View Field], 9 Pied Wagtail, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Common Buzzard [Mobbed by Yellow Wagtails] 8+ Lapwing, 4+ Stock Dove, 12+ Barn Swallow, 4+ Tree Sparrow

Apr 13th

Pit Tip: 2+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Willow Warbler
Broad Valley: 1 Grey Heron [Roof tops of Bestwood Village]
Bestwood Quarry: 3 Willow Warbler [All singing males], 7+ Linnet
Woodland: 1 Nuthatch [Bluebell Hollow]

Apr 7th

Pit Tip: 1 Sparrowhawk [W over Miller's End Conservation Area], 5+ Meadow Pipit
Lamin's Lane: 2 Red-legged Partridge [Little Birstley Green], c.200 Golden Plover, c.15 Lapwing

Apr 4th

Pit Tip: 2 Meadow Pipit, 1+ Common Whitethroat, 1+ Willow Warbler

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER, 1 MANDARIN DUCK, 1 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE, 1 Lesser Whitethroat [Male singing on Willow Island], 1+ Sedge Warbler, 2 Shelduck, 1 Great Crested Grebe [Adult on nest], 4 Grey Heron [Adults seen together from Heron Viewpoint], 4 House Martin
Broad Valley: 1 Yellowhammer [Male in Spinney Field]

CETTI'S WARBLER [Male - Mill Lakes]

Apr 2nd

Mill Lakes: 1 CETTI'S WARBLER [Reedbed Boardwalk], 1 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE [Still in Morris's Field with Greylag flock], 1 Common Snipe [On far bank behind Mud Island], 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull [Single over N]

Mar 26th

Lamin's Lane: c.500 Golden Plover [Top Woods Ground at lunchtime], c.15 Lapwing

Mar 24th

Pit Tip: 1 Chiffchaff [Singing male at The Warren]

Mar 18th

Lamin's Lane: 1 Pheasant [Leuceistic bird again in Woodside Liveries], 1 Kestrel, 46 Golden Plover, c.15 Lapwing
Woodland: 2 Stock Dove, 30+ Redwing [Near Warren House]

Mar 17th

Lamin's Lane: 1 PEREGRINE [Adult hunting Golden Plover flock], 100-150 Golden Plover, c.15 Lapwing, Pheasant [1 leucistic male with full white plumage], 1 Common Buzzard, 2 Tree Sparrow, 1+ Linnet, 2+ Yellowhammer
Woodland: c.40 Redwing, 2 Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper

Mar 2nd

Mill Lakes: 1 PINK-FOOTED GOOSE [Grazing in Morris's Field with Greylags], 1 Kingfisher

Feb 28th

Mill Lakes: 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8+ Common Snipe, 14 Redwing [behind Willow Carr], 4+ Bullfinch
Leen Pastures: 50+ Siskin [Railway Embankment]
Broad Valley: c.70 Fieldfare [Flock in Paddocks]

Feb 21st

Pit Tip: 1 WOODCOCK [near Pit Tip Pond], 40+ Skylark [flock over to S in light snowfall], c.150 Lesser Redpoll [near Pit Tip Pond]
Broad Valley: c.40 Fieldfare [over SW], 3+ Reed Bunting [in trees behind stables]
Mill Lakes: 1 GOOSANDER [Eclipse male on middle part of lake, later flew off S], 5+ Common Snipe [circling lake during snowfall]
Woodland: c.40 Redwing [Khalsa Wood area]

Feb 18th

Woodland: 3+ Goldcrest [Woodman's Path], 5+Coal Tit, 3+ Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper

Feb 17th

Woodland: c.40 Redwing [by Warren House], 1+ Goldcrest [Woodman's Path] 1+ Nuthatch, 1 Treecreeper [Woodman's Path]

Feb 10th

Mill Lakes: 1 Water Rail [Moor Road Pool], 30+ Lesser Redpoll, 19 Greylag Goose, 19 Canada Goose
Broad Valley: c.8 Fieldfare, c.12 Redwing

Feb 7th

Mill Lakes: 7+ Common Snipe, c.120 Black-headed Gull [on lake], 1 Willow Tit, 50 Siskin, 100+ Lesser Redpoll
Leen Pastures: 1 WOODCOCK, 1 Reed Bunting, 200+ Siskin, c.30 Lesser Redpoll
Woodland: 1 Sparrowhawk [flew very low across Main Drive]

Feb 2nd

Leen Pastures: 1 Buzzard
Mill Lakes: 1 Water Rail [Moor Road Pool], 1 Willow Tit [Vehicle Bridge], 5+ Snipe, 5+ Lesser Redpoll
Broad Valley: 1 Redwing

Jan 27th

Woodland: 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Nuthatch, 4 Bullfinch [Sycamore Coppice]
Lamin's Lane: 8 Fieldfare

Jan 24th

Pit Tip: 1 Reed Bunting [Male feeding on path at Millers End Conservation Area]
Woodland: 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch

Jan 17th

Mill Lakes: 1 WIGEON [Male off Willow Point], 1 Little Grebe, 1+ Willow Tit [Leen Pastures Feeding Station], 300+ Siskin [Peninsula, Dipping Ponds and Leen Pastures]
Broad Valley: 5+ Yellowhammer [Spinney Field], 2 LITTLE OWL
Woodland: 1+ Herring Gull [flew over calling over near Ferny Wood]

Record Numbers

Another great morning with a single male Wigeon on the ice at the southern end of the lake and two Shelduck on the north part. Gull numbers are at an all-time high with 500 Black-headed Gull and 50 Common Gull at the north end of the lake - at least fifty were moving low north over the Pit Tip at dawn with other gulls. Also at Mill Lakes was a large mobile flock of 120 Lesser Redpoll commuting between alders on islands, and around Willow Pools.

Starting 2010 on a High

A nice start to the year with around 30 Lesser Redpoll feeding in alder by the gate of the Pit Tip Plantation, and four Herring Gull south over the Pit Tip at sunrise. At the Mill Lakes four Pink-footed Goose flew high over the lake heading SSW at 10:01am, just before the first snow came in from the north. On the ice of the lake were 300 Black-headed Gull and around fifteen Common Gull.