Ben's Bestwood Birding

Apr 15th

2011-04-15T21:32:00.001Z

Woodland: 2 Tawny Owl [pair calling from near a nest box at 8:30pm]

Apr 8th

2011-04-08T21:42:00.001Z

Pit Tip: 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat [both at Dawson's Corner and firsts of the year]
Mill Lakes: 1 Common Buzzard [back of the Reedbed], 1 Blackcap, 1+ Common Snipe [flushed from Dipping Ponds and seen near Mud Island], 3 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [over Reedbed NW]
Broad Valley: 1 NORTHERN WHEATEAR [male in Spinney Field], 1 Common Buzzard [on telegraph pole at Quarry entrance]

Northern Wheatear [Male - Spinney Field]

Apr 6th

2011-04-06T21:45:00.001Z

Pit Tip: 4+ Skylark, 7+ Meadow Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Black-headed Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mallard [over Main Plantation]
Woodland: 3 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackcap, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

Blackcap [Male - Woodland/Sidings]

Mar 25th

2011-03-25T21:21:00.019Z

Woodland: 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 1 Chiffchaff [Ferny Wood], 1 Coal Tit, 5 Nuthatch, 1+ Siskin [Three Ponds]
Lamin's Lane: 2+ Common Buzzard, 32 Lapwing, 3+ Yellowhammer, 12+ Linnet, 5 Tree Sparrow, 1 Skylark

Mar 22nd

2011-03-22T22:17:00.001Z

Woodland: 2 Goldcrest, 2 Long-tailed Tit [collecting nest material], 1 Nuthatch, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Pit Tip: 4+ Skylark, 4+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Chiffchaff

Mar 12th

2011-03-12T23:39:00.002Z

Noteworthy from this morning's walk was a very evident presence of Great Tit totalling in excess of 55 birds around the site. Two Tree Sparrow in the hedgerow at the Quarry Entrance were my first record of birds within the official park boundary. Small groups of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll were present around Mill Lakes and Leen Pastures, with a flock of the latter at Willow Pools potentially containing the odd Mealy.

Mar 8th

2011-03-08T22:19:00.003Z

Lamin's Lane: c.50 Golden Plover [Top Woods Ground], 3 Lapwing [Killarney View Field], 2 Yellowhammer, 3 Tree Sparrow, 7 Chaffinch, 2+ Greenfinch, 5+ Goldfinch, 1 Siskin [drinking from puddle], 1 Pied Wagtail [Killarney View Field]
Woodland: 3 Stock Dove, 2 Green Woodpecker, 7 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 4+ Song Thrush, 2 Nuthatch

Mar 6th

2011-03-06T22:27:00.014Z

Pit Tip: 1 Buzzard [Dawsons Corner Horse Paddock], 1 Green Woodpecker, c.25 Redwing, Skylark
Mill Lakes: 1 MANDARIN DUCK [with Greylags near Heron Viewpoint], c.18 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 8+ Pochard , 1 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant [inc. white-headed bird], 1 Grey Heron, 2 Common Snipe, c.200 Black-headed Gull, 4+ Common Gull, 1 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL [3cy circling low over Mill Lakes], 1 Goldcrest, Siskin, Goldfinch, Song Thrush
Leen Pastures: 1 WOODCOCK [Probable flushed from behind Leen Pastures Feeding Station], 1 Coal Tit, 1 Willow Tit, Jay, Bullfinch, Siskin, Goldfinch
Woodland: 1 Stock Dove, 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great Black-backed Gull [3rd Calendar Year - Mill Lakes]

Mar 3rd

2011-03-03T21:45:00.002Z

Pit Tip: 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Sparrowhawk [Rise Park Conservation Area], 1 Chaffinch, 2 Brown Hare
Woodland: 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Nuthatch

Mar 2nd

2011-03-02T20:28:00.003Z

Pit Tip: 1 Bullfinch, 2 Green Woodpecker [pair with nesting nesting material]
Woodland: 1 Tawny Owl [calling from direction of Big Wood School at 8:45pm]

Feb 1st

2011-02-01T20:21:00.001Z

Pit Tip: Has a quick look for the Redpolls agin today at lunchtime, but only managed distant views of the flock. Also on the Pit Tip were a handful of Redwing in Miller's End Conservation Area.

Jan 30th

2011-01-30T23:48:00.001Z

Found my first ever MEALY REDPOLL at Vincent's View this morning. The bird stood out from the rest as notably paler and larger. Luckily it wasn't shy, and was the closest redpoll in the flock of lessers.

Mealy Redpoll [Male - Vincent's View]

Elsewhere...
Mill Lakes: 6+ Common Snipe [Mud Island], 150 Black-headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 1 Treecreeper [Willow Pools]
Leen Pastures: 1 Willow Tit [Feeding Station]
Broad Valley: 5+ Fieldfare, 30 Redwing

Jan 10th

2011-01-10T21:16:00.002Z

Warren Hill: 63 WAXWING [Initially seen at 12:20 between Gerard Close Entrance and Hatton Close Entrance. Flock were visiting trees on edge of park and TV aerials of adjacent houses before settling in the large oak on Finsbury Road. Birds were flushed by a Sparrowhawk soonafter and could not be relocated until 14:15, when they returned to the oak], 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Nuthatch [Garden feeder on Finsbury Road]

Jan 9th

2011-01-09T20:59:00.002Z

Warren Hill: 4 WAXWING [Seen briefly from home at 12pm and again at 2pm in trees along the edge of the park between Gerard Close Entrance and Hatton Close Entrance], c.80 Redwing, 2 Lapwing 2 [flying high over Woodland] 1 Common Buzzard [S over Woodland being mobbed by Carrion Crows]

Jan 7th

2011-01-07T21:43:00.002Z

Pit Tip: GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL, Lesser Black-backed Gull
Mill Lakes: c.150 Siskin, c.40 Goldfinch, 1 Bullfinch, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Gadwall
Leen Pastures: 1 Willow Tit

Jan 6th

2011-01-06T17:12:00.002Z

Mill Lakes: 4 Little Grebe [personal max site count], c.100 Siskin

49 species was a pretty good start to the new year.

Nov 28th

2010-11-28T21:53:00.004Z

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

2010-11-27T22:05:00.003Z

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

2010-11-21T22:32:00.001Z

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

Nov 7th

2010-11-07T22:30:00.003Z

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

Nov 1st

2010-11-01T22:25:00.002Z

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

2010-10-31T20:47:00.001Z

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

Oct 31st AM

2010-10-31T20:26:00.004Z

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

2010-10-27T18:35:00.006Z

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

Oct 21st

2010-10-21T18:50:00.002Z

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

Oct 12th

2010-10-12T19:56:00.007Z

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

Oct 9th

2010-10-09T20:33:00.003Z

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

Oct 7th

2010-10-07T21:46:00.037Z

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

2010-10-06T21:29:00.001Z

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

Oct 5th

2010-10-05T21:20:00.002Z

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

2010-10-04T20:32:00.001Z

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

2010-09-25T21:35:00.001Z

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

2010-09-19T22:11:00.001Z

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

2010-09-18T21:07:00.015Z

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

Sep 12th

2010-09-12T21:53:00.010Z

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

2010-09-11T20:49:00.001Z

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

2010-09-07T21:19:00.002Z

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

2010-09-06T20:13:00.002Z

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

2010-09-03T20:30:00.001Z

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

Aug 30th

2010-08-30T21:34:00.001Z

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

2010-08-25T21:04:00.001Z

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

Aug 19th

2010-08-19T20:49:00.010Z

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

2010-07-27T20:45:00.002Z

Bestwood Quarry: 1+ Garden Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler

Jul 18th

2010-07-18T20:43:00.011Z

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

2010-07-14T20:26:00.006Z

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

Jul 12th

2010-07-12T19:59:00.012Z

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

2010-07-11T20:53:00.001Z

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

2010-06-04T20:42:00.000Z

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

2010-06-01T20:45:00.001Z

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

May 24th

2010-05-24T20:36:00.022Z

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

2010-05-09T21:20:00.004Z

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

2010-05-01T21:18:00.021Z

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

2010-04-26T21:31:00.028Z

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

2010-04-26T20:37:00.010Z

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

Apr 25th

2010-04-25T20:38:00.001Z

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

2010-04-22T19:45:00.014Z

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

Apr 21th

2010-04-21T19:40:00.024Z

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

2010-04-13T21:13:00.004Z

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

2010-04-07T21:54:00.003Z

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

2010-04-04T21:52:00.000Z

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

2010-04-02T20:33:00.018Z

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

2010-03-26T20:50:00.006Z

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

Mar 24th

2010-03-24T21:54:00.010Z

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

Mar 18th

2010-03-18T20:12:00.012Z

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

2010-03-17T00:30:00.022Z

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

2010-03-02T22:04:00.005Z

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

Feb 28th

2010-02-28T22:34:00.018Z

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

2010-02-21T23:38:00.024Z

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

2010-02-18T21:03:00.010Z

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

Feb 17th

2010-02-17T21:15:00.012Z

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

Feb 10th

2010-02-10T23:36:00.010Z

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

2010-02-07T20:52:00.016Z

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

2010-02-02T22:03:00.017Z

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

2010-01-27T20:30:00.016Z

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

Jan 24th

2010-01-24T21:58:00.015Z

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

Jan 17th

2010-01-17T22:40:00.009Z

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

2010-01-10T21:32:00.001Z

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

2010-01-02T23:58:00.007Z

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.

Winter Passage

2009-12-12T11:56:00.023Z

A north-west passage of Lesser Black-backed Gull was evident this morning with small numbers over the Pit Tip throughout the morning, including groups of eight and four birds, and several singles. At Leen Pastures two Willow Tit were at the Feeding Station, a large Goldfinch flock of around 200 birds was at the north pasture with at least 40 Siskin. A male Yellowhammer was on a hedgerow in Broad Valley.

Return of the Golden Plover

2009-12-08T21:29:00.006Z

Thirteen Common Pheasant in Woodside Liveries - ten of the eleven males were the melanistic type. A small flock of Fieldfare with a single Redwing flew south down Lamin's Lane towards the Woodland. The main highlight of the morning was a flock of 57 Golden Plover. Several Lapwing were also around Top Woods Ground.

Chasing the Winter

2009-12-04T22:47:00.004Z

A small flock of 40 Siskin were around the east side of lake being chased by a Sparrowhawk, with a few Redwing and six Common Snipe also present. A Kingfisher flew south past the end of the Peninsula, and three Common Gull were in Broad Valley Paddocks.

No Shoveler

2009-11-25T22:25:00.007Z

No Shoveler seen at all this morning. A single Kingfisher was flying over the lake, and finches were down to 30 Siskin with the odd Lesser Redpoll by the Dipping Ponds. Three male Pheasant were in Spinney Field, and a Grey Heron flew over it. There was a Mistle Thrush at the Triangle and Goldcrest were heard in the yews there too.

Two Shoveler

2009-11-22T21:13:00.007Z

A pair of Shoveler were near the bank around Willow Carr, and three male Goosander flew over low to the south down the Leen. Two Little Grebe and three Great Crested Grebe were on the lake with two Cormorant high over south-west. Good-sized finch flocks at the lakes contained 100 Goldfinch, 70 Siskin, and just ten Lesser Redpoll, with a Sparrowhawk hunting through them. Another Sparrowhawk was hunting the flock of Redwing near Khalsa Wood. A Grey Wagtail flew over Leen Pastures towards Mill Lakes.

One Shoveler

2009-11-05T22:03:00.005Z

At Mill Lakes at least one male Shoveler was at the southern end of the lake with seven Pochard. Fifteen Lesser Redpoll were in alders at the entrance to the Dipping Ponds, and the young juvenile Great Crested Grebe from the second brood was with one of its parents. At least twenty Common Snipe were showing on Mud Island, and a Grey Wagtail went over the Peninsula.

Two Remainder One

2009-10-28T21:50:00.006Z

At least one Red-crested Pochard remains at the south end of the lake. A male Grey Wagtail flew downstream at the wooden footbridge and landed on a bit of piping in the water and then fed, picking off flies from above the water. At least one Willow Tit was seen whilst filling up the feeders at Leen Pastures Feeding Station.

Pit Tip and Dawson's Corner

2009-10-22T19:25:00.004Z

On the Pit Tip a Sparrowhawk was hunting in Rise Park Conservation Area and there were several small flocks of Goldfinch feeding around the Pit Tip Pond. At Dawson's Corner there was a Song Thrush, about ten Redwing feeding on elders, and at least three Bullfinch.

An Odd Pair of Pochards

2009-10-11T21:34:00.007Z

A pair of male Red-crested Pochard were at the south end of the lake this morning. One in breeding plumage, the other in eclipse plumage. These are the first potentially wild birds I've encountered, with Arnot Hill Park's birds certainly being feral. Also of note were two Little Grebe fishing off the bank of Tupelo Island, and confirmation that the pair of Great Crested Grebe have had a second brood with the two adults seen with a young juvenile, and the more mature juvenile also seen. At Leen Pastures, at least one Siskin was present in the alders with a flock of Goldfinch. On Broad Valley Horse Paddocks ten Meadow Pipit were feeding in with at least ten Pied Wagtails - cleary Autumn passage migrants.

Leen Pastures Feeding Station - Revived

2009-10-10T20:49:00.004Z

This afternoon I installed the new feeders provided by the Friends of Bestwood group. In an hour and a half around the feeding station there were two Sparrowhawk overhead and in the trees at Leen Pastures, and a single Common Buzzard was flushed from a tree Leen Woodland. All five tit species were present at the feeders with a flock of Long-tailed Tit moving through, and both Coal Tit and Willow Tit visiting the seed feeder whilst Blue Tit and Great Tit preferred the peanuts. Jay and Magpie also showed interest in the feeding station with one or two visiting the table. A late House Martin flew south over Leen Pastures, and at least five Common Snipe were showing on the banks of Mud Island.

Birthday Birding

2009-10-07T20:36:00.004Z

A nice long walk about most parts of the park had a few highlights, including the first Redwing of the autumn as three flew north-east over the Pit Tip Plantation. A Kingfisher flew upstream under the Vehicle Bridge, and an adult and 2nd-winter Lesser Black-backed Gull were on the lake at the north end. At least two Willow Tit at Leen Pastures and, from the top of the Quarry, a single Common Buzzard was soaring over the fields at Broad Valley.

Quick Pit Tip

2009-10-06T20:16:00.004Z

Single Sparrowhawk hunting over Pit Tip, with single Green Woodpecker and a group of ten Meadow Pipit on the Pit Tip Grassland. No sign of yesterday's Stonechat - the heavy rain has probably moved it on.

Stonechat

2009-10-05T20:08:00.008Z

Spent the day volunteering with the rangers. Before starting I walked around the Pit Tip Plantation and had a flock of at least 195 Goldfinch feeding in alder near the Pit Tip Pond. At lunchtime there was a singing male Chiffchaff at the entrance to the Quarry. At the end of the day I walked around the Pit Tip again and had three Stock Dove drinking at the Pit Tip Pond, then Steve called to say he'd just got onto a Stonechat that Norman had found near Dawson's Corner Conservation Area, so I legged it down there to connect with the bird. I could make it out at distance, but it flushed as I got nearer. Steve left, and I waited it out in the grass opposite the fence where it was last seen. After around five minutes it reappeared - a female or first winter male - and I managed some decent photos, before leaving as the sun was setting.

A Little Buzzing

2009-10-01T21:03:00.007Z

Another morning's walk around the Pit Tip before work, only produced one notable sighting. A Common Buzzard was perched on a fence post of the temporary horse fence in Dawson's Corner Horse Paddock at 07:45. The bird appeared to be looking for prey on the ground when it was flushed by horses. After flying to another post, it was again flushed by the horses and flew up into one of the surrounding trees. It was then mobbed by a Magpie and flew towards the far (SW) corner of the field where it was lost from view. To date, this is the only perched buzzard I've encountered within the park's recording area. Another Common Buzzard flew low over Warren Hill and north over the woodland around Ludgate Close at approximately 4:30pm.

In the Making

2009-09-25T19:41:00.003Z

A quick morning walk around the Pit Tip Grasslands with my daughter was much the same as yesterday, with four Green Woodpecker, several Meadow Pipit, Jay and Goldfinch. A single Barn Swallow flew low over the Grasslands, and two groups of Pied Wagtail (nine and six birds) flew low south over the Pit Tip Top around 7:15am.

Greylag Flock

2009-09-24T20:55:00.004Z

A short Pit Tip walk this morning produced a late Barn Swallow over to the south, several Meadow Pipit and Skylark passing through, and a group of five low-flying Pied Wagtail to the south west. A Chiffchaff was singing again, and a flock of forty seven Greylag Goose were flying low, southwards along the Leen Valley.

Autumn Arrives

2009-09-20T22:06:00.008Z

Teal were in good numbers this morning, with at least twelve at the north end of lake, and smaller groups at the southern end. The first Shoveler of the Autumn (and a year tick) was an eclipse male at the south end, and three Common Snipe were showing on Mud Island. Amongst the 120 or so Black-headed Gull on the water at the north end of the lake was an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in winter plumage, the first I've ever seen on the lake. It remained throughout the early morning, but had gone by 9:30am.

At least two Kingfisher were present, with a single flying between perches at the north end of the lake, and one bird was being chased up stream by another at Kingfisher Corner. A female Bullfinch was on the ground near Willow Pools, and exactly twenty five Lapwing were in Morris's Field with groups of Black-headed Gull and Jackdaw.

Warblers were still lingering and singing with three Blackcap feeding in elder at Dawson's Corner, Chiffchaff at the Reedbed Boardwalk, and late Willow Warbler at both Leen Pastures and Bestwood Quarry Plateaux. A Willow Tit and a charm of Goldfinch were also at Leen Pastures, and a female Sparrowhawk was on Biffa Bank at the Quarry.

At the Ferny Wood Viewpoint, at least six Common Buzzard were seen soaring in two groups of three high to the north that later joined together to form a group of six. At 1:45pm at least two Common Buzzard were very high over Warren Hill - one being a dark morph adult bird.

Lucky Charm

2009-09-18T22:00:00.003Z

Another Pit Top visit before work produced much of the same species typically seen in the area. This included a resident Meadow Pipit flock of around ten birds, flyover Black-headed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull (N and ESE respectively), a female Sparrowhawk hunting around the Plantation, and at least four Green Woodpecker - including two juveniles. At Dawson's Corner, a female Blackcap was seen feeding in the alders by the west entrance gate, and on my way to the bus stop a single group of at least sixty Goldfinch were seen just south of the Pit Tip.

Standing Room Only

2009-09-10T22:34:00.001Z

A pretty dismal morning bird-wise. Barely nothing moving over the Pit Tip, so headed to Lamin's Lane, and got more of nothing. Can't complain about the sunny calm weather, but it has a tendency to be bad for birding! Highlight was a pair of juvenile Common Pheasant stood - yes stood - on a metal gate along Lamin's Lane. Would of made a great photo, but I wasn't quick enough and just caught the second one falling off.

Vis. Mig. Again

2009-09-08T20:57:00.004Z

Yet more vis. mig. this morning before work, but notably reduced movements. Most of the usual suspects sticking around on the Pit Tip. A small Meadow Pipit passage SSW, with only a handful sticking on the Grassland. The most notable movements were hirundines, as a dozen Barn Swallow were hawking insects over the Pit Tip Top with twenty House Martin, and a forty of the latter high over to the south in one group.

Vis. Mig. Hit

2009-09-05T20:49:00.004Z

Another try at vis. migging on this Pit Tip this morning proved slightly more successful with two Sand Martin low over heading south, and singles of Common Whitethroat and Chiffchaff stuck down. Good numbers of Meadow Pipit were moving with a fairly decent fortyish birds on the Grassland and another ten straight over south. Also of note were a female Sparrowhawk being mobbed by two Magpie in the Plantation, a single Kestrel hunting low over the Pit Tip Top, a juvenile Green Woodpecker alarm calling from the Planatation, and my first Skylark since they stopped singing.

Vis. Mig. Miss

2009-09-04T19:36:00.005Z

Very poor vis. mig. over the Pit Tip before work this morning, with little but a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gull passing over. On the deck there were 11 Meadow Pipit, and late singing males of Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler(!). At Ferny Wood, at least three Sparrowhawk were seen distantly from the watchpoint 'playing' over Crimea Wood.