14/07/2011 - 1 adult Common Gull flew SW at 6pm

26/06/2011 - 2 Groppers and 1 Lesser Whitethroat singing near dusk, hope they're planning brood number two!
27/06/2011 - 1 Tawny Owl active around the gardens after dark

Great stuff Joe

Joe Wynn wrote:

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Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Chiffchaff nesting in a nest box, do they actually do that?

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don't know, but it was hopping about it with a beak full of nesting material, so probably is in the same tree, though don't know whether it was in the box or not

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They don't nest in boxes Joe and the nests are either on the ground or very close to it in thick bushes/vegetation.

Ian McKerchar wrote:

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Chiffchaff nesting in a nest box, do they actually do that?

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don't know, but it was hopping about it with a beak full of nesting material, so probably is in the same tree, though don't know whether it was in the box or not

Nice Chiffchaff collecting nesting material from wicker lane, possibly nesting in a nest box near St. Ambrose school.

Lesser Whitethroat singing away early afternoon in Newall Green fields

02/05/2011 - 1 Hobby through westwards at 2pm, also 1 House Martin north

23/04/2011 - 7-9am:

1 Teal
2 Wheatears
5 Grasshopper Warblers
1 Lesser Whitethroat

16/04/11 - 07.15 - 09.15 a pleasant sunny morning stroll around Newall Green fields with Henry produced Blackcap, Lesser and Common Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and cracking views of a reeling Grasshopper warbler as well as at least three others reeling in different sections of the fields. Thanks for the "tour" Henry

14/04/2011 - 8-9.30am:

2 Oystercatchers - by the large marl pit in the Davenport Green fields
4 Lapwings
4 Swallows
6 Grasshopper Warblers - 5 in the Newall Green fields, and 1 in the Davenport Green fields for the first time
3 Willow Warblers - mostly migrant males

11/04/2011 - 6-7am:

1 Whitethroat
5 Grasshopper Warblers

10/04/2011 - quick afternoon wander around the sheep fields:

1 Wheatear
1 Linnet
4 Swallows

2 male Redstarts still present at 6.30pm with Phil Owen

Quick visit this morning with dog:

1 Grasshopper Warbler - Cracking views as it reeled away
1 Willow Warbler amongst the many Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps

04/04/2011 - A few interesting observations around the garden today included a pair of Nuthatches repeatedly visiting the margins of the garden pond, collecting mud and flying up to an old squirrel drey, reducing the large hole to a more suitable size. They attempted to nest here last year but weren't successful so really hoping this year all goes to plan for them. 2 Magpies were later seen on the front doorstep of the house knicking straw from the doormat presumably for a nest somewhere in the vicinity and finally a Blue Tit took dog fur which i'd put out in the hope that the passerines would line their nests with it. Acitivity is certainly picking up now.


-- Edited by Henry Cook on Monday 4th of April 2011 07:27:15 PM

02/04/2011 - 4-5pm a productive walk in the sheep fields: 1 Willow Warbler - first of year here 1 Red-legged Partridge 2 Pheasants - 1f 1 Linnet 1 Meadow Pipit 1 Lesser Redpoll 1 Redwing 4 Buzzards 1 Kestrel

31/03/2011 - 8-10am: 2 Blackcaps - singing males 7 Chiffchaffs - all singing males 6 Meadow Pipits 1 Reed Bunting

A pair of Buzzards circling right above hale road at 1130 this morning, looked to be a pair.

7.30am-9.30am:

Much the same as yesterday with the addition of 3 Lapwings, a Kestrel and Buzzard on the Sheep fields.

Strangely quiet early on, perhaps the clock change had an effect on the birds!!

-- Edited by Phil Owen on Sunday 27th of March 2011 12:18:57 PM

25/03/2011 - Wind direction veered around this afternoon and picked up so I headed out with the dog in the hope of some visible migration. Whilst migrants were obviously on the move the long hoped-for Wheatear/hirundine didn't materialise. Viz-mig totals:

c110 Woodpigeons
1 Stock Dove
32 Meadow Pipits - flew through northwards in one loose flock
1 Pied Wagtail
1 Linnet
1 Skylark

19/03/2011 - Covered most of the area with Phil Owen this morning:

4 Chiffchaffs - returned in numbers overnight, earliest back by 4 days
2 Skylarks
3 Meadow Pipits
1 Reed Bunting
2 Canada Geese
2 Stock Doves
4 Buzzards
1 Kestrel
30+ Redwings

-- Edited by Henry Cook on Saturday 19th of March 2011 12:31:16 PM

15/03/2011 - 7-9am with Phil Owen covering Crowland Hill, Newall Green grasslands and Davenport Green sheep fields:

1 Grey Wagtail - over northwards, first of spring here
1 Meadow Pipit
1 Reed Bunting
5 Buzzards
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls
1 Teal - drake in the marl pits
2 Moorhens
9 Stock Doves
10+ Fieldfares
30+ Redwings

11/03/2011 - feeding flock in the sheep fields still growing:

190+ Redwings
2 Fieldfares
4 Mistle Thrushes
2 Blackbirds
c120 Starlings
2 Stock Doves
c40 Woodpigeons
6 Goldfinches