Parachuting

A short trip to Bestwood Quarry this morning produced my first juvenile Green Woodpecker of the year, flying around in circles near the birch plantation. Two Garden Warbler were on the hillside there, along with a singing male Common Whitethroat. On the way to the Quarry, two relatively-tame Jay were together on the ground along Front Line - probably juveniles, and an adult male and a juvenile Common Whitethroat were at Dawson's corner. The highlight of my morning was seeing a male Meadow Pipit displaying from the top of small tree in Parkside Pasture. It was the first time I've had good views of their parachuting display, and even phonescoped a few shots. Sadly, the only shot that even had the bird in frame wasn't exactly "framed" well!

Pair of Stiff Tails

First thing on the Pit Tip Top a Meadow Pipit was on the main ride, and a Blackcap was singing on the woodland edge, whilst a group of five Lesser Black-backed Gull flew over to the north east. At the Reedbed, an adult male Reed Bunting flew up from the reeds to a tree in the middle, but there was no sign of any of the Reed Warbler. A pair of Garden Warbler were on the island closest to the Willow Carr, and a male Gadwall was still at the north end of the lake. A pair of Ruddy Duck were present, and I was lucky enough to see the male displaying to the female (rather than to another male, like last year!). A male Blackcap was feeding in the nettles opposite the Dipping Ponds gate, and two adult Carrion Crow were mobbing a Magpie at the north end, with a recently-fledged juvenile hiding in the long grass, and seemingly unable to fly off.

Over at the Golf Course, a male Kestrel flushed from the ground in the south-west corner, and there were still no signs of any young around the Mute Swan nest, but the pair were still at the nest. A Mistle Thrush was on the nearby fairway, and another was back at Broad Valley Stables' Horse Paddock , with a single Tree Sparrow calling from a tree along the path.

First Tern of the Year

The male Reed Bunting was again singing on the Pit Tip Top at sunrise, and a single Meadow Pipit was also present. At the Mill Lakes a pair of Gadwall were on Mud Island again , and a juvenile Grey Heron was in the shallows near Greylag Island. Highlight of the morning was brief, in form of a Common Tern over the north end of the Mill Lakes, heading ENE at around 6:30am. On the way home an adult Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen feeding a juvenile male along the back of Warren Hill.

A Great Escape at Mill Lakes

This morning I got some shots of a male Reed Bunting as it sat singing from on the Pit Tip Top. A Meadow Pipit was also perched on a small tree on the Pit Tip Top. Heading down to the Cow Gates, a female Green Woodpecker was sat on one of the fence posts and flushed to another fence post in the middle of the Cow Field. As I walked along the Sustrans path to the Mill Lakes a Tawny Owl called twice from the Reedbed area well after sunrise. The Reedbed Boardwalk produced at least two Reed Warbler (one singing male), and my first Lesser Whitethroat of the year, which flew from the back of the Reedbed to a willow near the gate, showing well and calling several times.

Coming back out to the lake I met Norman, and we walked around the usual route. The Great Crested Grebe are nesting at a new location off Greylag Island, and now three Gadwall (2 males and a female) were at the north end of the lake. Highlight of the morning was my first ever Ring-necked Parakeet - too bad it was probably an escape. It flew low over the north end of the lake, calling two or three times and heading in the Hucknall direction. Coming back over by Board Valley Stables, the sun was shining gloriously and Norman picked up on two Common Buzzard soaring together over Moor Road, and drifting over towards the Quarry - a fantastic sight. To finish the morning off, a single Pied Wagtail was feeding in Broad Valley Stables' Horse Paddock, and a Great Spotted Woodpecker was on the large birch at Calluna Clearing.

Highlights from Before the Rain

This morning's visit to the Mill Lakes produced a male Kestrel hunting over the Pit Tip Top at 5am, and a singing male Blackcap on the edge of the woodland. The usual Common Whitethroat was singing at Dawson's Corner, and a singing male Reed Warbler was near the Reedbed Boardwalk. On the lake, a summer plumage male Ruddy Duck was north of the Peninsula and a female Gadwall was at the north end throughout the morning. A Common Buzzard drifted over to the south, being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, and the female Little Ringed Plover was nearby. A pair of Coot have nested on the small 'tree root' island near to Mud Island and the shingle island, and have at least three young. Two Grey Heron were in the nest, at least one being a juvenile. The rain came in at around 7am, so I headed home early.

Full House at the Quarry

This morning I worked the Bestwood Quarry area in the hope of some scarcer summer visitors - a certain falcon comes to mind! The usual species were all present including some good views of the more and more numerous Linnet. A Sparrowhawk was hunting the area and several Lapwing flew over in singles, often calling as they went. Both common woodpecker species were on show, and good numbers of Common Swift and House Martin could be seen over the woodland and at the top of the hillside.

From the top of the quarry (and scope assisted) I could make out at least one Tree Sparrow on the feeder tree of the house along Lamin's Lane. A Yellowhammer was on the wires over the farmer's field, and a falcon flying towards me and perching up on a telegraph pole had me rushing to focus the scope in apprehension of a scarce species, but I'll settle for some half-decent views of a female Kestrel, before she took off to hunt over the adjacent field. Thirty seven species for that area alone is pretty good going.

Golf Course Birding

This morning's walk focussed around the Mill Lakes area and I spent most of the time looking for signs of breeding. At least three Reed Warbler were singing around the Reedbed Boardwalk, and plenty of hirundines were over the water, including four or more Sand Martin and about thirty House Martin. The male Little Ringed Plover was again on Mud Island with the female also nearby. A single 1st summer Black-headed Gull was over the lake to the north.

Good numbers of Canada Goose were present, with about ten adults on the field by main entrance of Mill Lakes, two adults with fourteen young seen at the northern end of lake, and another two adults with four young on the Golf Course. Also on the Golf Course were a pair of breeding Mute Swan, and a single male Gadwall on the small pond, and successfully breeding Mallard. A male Kestrel was hunting over a group of trees to the north, and three Mistle Thrush were feeding on the fairways.