2010 Archive
Sightings September 2010
Sunday 5th September
An excellent number of scarce passerines into the area today with 2 Spotted Flycatcher found in Rough Wood early morning. Both birds showed well but later flew off towards Clifton Wood. A large mixed feeding flock of mainly Blackcap, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were found moving along the hedge-row near the Rough Wood and consisted of around 60 birds. 3 Hobby were around Branshill Wood and Branshill Moor at midday possibly attracted by a large Hirundine flock of up to C800 House Martin and Swallow over the maize field in front of Branshill Wood. 3 Whinchat were found along the hedge-row and fencing bordering the river-side fields just after midday and were still present when I left the area.
Another Whinchat was found on Clifton Pastures this morning near the foot-bridge (J.Christmas)
Later this afternoon a good selection of birds were seen by I.Blackmore ........
2 Spotted Flycatcher in trees opposite Clifton Hall as you go down the track to Trent Valley Way.
1 Kingfisher at Holme Pit
1 Whinchat on flood bank
2 Yellow Wagtail getting under the feet of the cattle
3 Hobby around Brandshill area, the best views I've ever had, a real treat, after the rain stopped they were more and more active.
Spotted Flycatcher - the Rough Wood
Whinchat - the River-side fields
Saturday 4th September
2 Hobby this morning showing well but distantly over Branshill Wood and Branshill Moor. 6 Common Buzzard and the Red-tail also over Branshill Wood. Still a good selection of warblers in the hedge-row near the Rough Wood but smaller numbers than yesterday. A walk over to Barton flash produced more newly arrived warblers with most common species present in good numbers in the hedge-row and brambles bordering the flash. 2 Little Egret seen in flight high over Beeston Weir gradually loosing height and dropping down over the river at Attenborough.
Lesser Whitethroat & Willow Warbler - The Rough Wood
Friday 3rd September
The Juvenile Hobby was again present hawking Dragonfly's over Branshill Wood this evening. 4 Teal on Branshill Ponds but no sign of any Garganey.
A large increase of Warblers in the area this evening with over 40 different birds that included Common Whitethroat,Lesser Whitethroat, Willow Warler, Chiffchaff and Blackcap all feeding on Elder Berrys and Black Berrys in the hedgerow near the Rough Wood.
Teal - Branshill Ponds
Wednesday 1st September
2 Garganey were found this evening at 7.30pm on Branshill Ponds. Both birds were either females or eclipse males. They were on the largest of the two ponds with a small group of Teal, but all flew to the far side of the pond as soon as I pointed my Camera at them( must have thought it was a shotgun) and disappeared under the over hanging vegetation and were only seen on one more occasion in failing light.
Only a very poor record shot was taken as I had just set the camera to a slow shutter as it was very poor light. As I pressed the shutter they flew up resulting in blurred very poor images but you can Just see the speculum that is thickly and evenly bordered with White.
Also this evening was a Juvenile Hobby over Branshill Wood and a single Common Swift over the Rough Wood with Hirundines.
Garganey - BranshillPonds