Bird news for September 2008

September 1st

An excellent morning, although still quite quiet. Bird of the morning was a juvenile Goshawk which showed well in the Eakring Meadows area, before flying towards Parkhill Plantation and landing in an Oak. Other raptors included numerous Common Buzzards around the area, a Hobby west and a juvenile male Peregrine south-west, both at 07:45h. The juvenile female Peregrine (first seen on August 30th) again appeared in the area mid-morning over Leyfields and Lound Wood.

The Redstart was again at Penny Pasture Common and showed well enough to finally be aged as a 1st Winter male. It was still favouring the hedge along the northern boundary fence, but did actually get in the Hawthorns this morning. Warblers around Eakring Meadows/Penny Pasture Common and other sites in the areas included 12 Chiffchaff, two Lesser Whitethroat, five Whitethroat and a Blackcap. Some signs of visible migration increasing this morning, with four Siskin (earliest ever in Autumn here) two Sand Martin, 67 Swallow, seven Meadow Pipit and a late Swift all south.

Two Teal at Eakring Flash were the first of the Autumn.

Another good morning, with continuing signs of an increase in migration counts although the current breezy conditions are'nt helping.

Best birds of the morning were the 1st Winter male Redstart still at Penny Pasture Common and showing better today, plus a female Redstart present along a hedge near Eakring Flash with a juvenile Whinchat. A Tree Pipit was at Penny Pasture Common before flying off south-west and an adult and juvenile Hobby were chasing another late Swift south over Eakring Field Farm. There were single Willow Warblers at Penny Pasture Common and Eakring Flash this morning, with two Lesser Whitethroats at the former mentioned site.

Visible migration totals included three Turtle Dove south over Eakring Flash and another at Eakring Field Farm which later went south-east, three Yellow Wagtail, eight Meadow Pipit, 140 House Martin south and south-east and 40 Swallow west and south. Two Sand Martin were at Eakring Flash.

September 3rd

A much quieter morning with very little moving through, although three Turtle Doves included one over Eakring Flash south and two (both singles) south-west over Penny Pasture Common. There was no sign of the 1st Winter male Redstart at Penny Pasture Common, but there was a female Redstart there today and a Tree Pipit south. Good numbers of Chiffchaff at both Eakring Flash and Penny Pasture Common, along with two Lesser Whitethroat at the latter site and still one Willow Warbler.

September 6th

A late morning visit to the area today, proved quite productive with a Whinchat at Penny Pasture Common and then a Common Crossbill low south-east over Eakring Flash. Fewer warblers noted at either site, just a single Lesser Whitethroat and a handful of Chiffchaffs. Turtle Doves continue to be noted, with one at Kersall and another east over Penny Pasture Common.

Hirundine migration continues and mainly small groups of both House Martin and Swallow, moved through the area during this morning's visit. Movements only stopped during a period of rain early morning and counts of 129 House Martin and 60 Swallow were reached, with three Sand Martin also noted.

Still good numbers of Chiffchaffs at both Eakring Flash and Penny Pasture Common, with a late Willow Warbler at the latter site in with a large tit flock.Single Lesser Whitethroats were at both sites.

The morning's best birds were a Green Sandpiper which landed briefly at Penny Pasture Common (09:50h) before continuing south-west, whilst a Whinchat and a Wheatear, both arrived at Eakring Flash during the rain.

A very large count of 47 Tree Sparrows were at Penny Pasture Common/Eakring Field Farm.

Long periods were spent in the area today, with interest in the form of a steady stream of hirundines moving through, plus it turned out to be a notable day for raptors.

The best of the morning's visible migration counts were 135 Swallow, 124 Meadow Pipit, 38 Linnet and 35 Siskin south and south-east. Other migrants included three Lesser Redpoll west, 15 Chaffinch west and south-west and five Sky Lark south. There was a scattering of Chiffchaffs at all of the usual sites, with singles of Blackcap, Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat at Penny Pasture Common. A Spotted Flycatcher was also at Penny Pasture Common and a Grey Wagtail was at Eakring Flash. The best raptor of the day was undoubtedly the Short-eared Owl which was at present at Penny Pasture Common for an hour at least mid-morning. It spent much of the time hunting, but was initially sat on one of the boundary fence posts and proving to be unusually confiding. A minimum of 17 Common Buzzards were over Red Hill late morning and although some of these birds were definitely responsible for some sightings later in the afternoon, it is likely that the day's count was over 20 birds. A wing-tagged Red Kite remained well north of Lound Wood, circling for ten minutes from 14:20h, before drifting off high north. The bird had a white tag on it's left wing. A Hobby flew south-west during the morning, with another hawking insects high over Lound Wood mid-afternoon.

September 14th

Early morning was fogged out, but the onset of the low cloud lifting, meant that there was a short-lived passage of 133 Meadow Pipit, 145 House Martin and 398 Swallow south and south-east. There is an obvious influx of Siskin at the moment with good numbers moving through (noted at some other UK sites) with 59 south-east and south-west, including one group of 32 birds. Other migrants through were a single Turtle Dove, Yellow Wagtail and Tree Pipit south-east and a late Swift. A Redstart was at Tug Bridge Farm, with a late Willow Warbler and a couple of Chiffchaffs there. Two Spotted Flycatchers were in the group of trees at the top of Red Hill.

Raptors this morning and during the early afternoon included a minimum of ten Common Buzzards, some of which went high south. Two Hobby were in the area, with one west early morning and one over Red Hill early afternoon. The Short-eared Owl was again at Penny Pasture Common this morning, although more elusive today.

A Green Sandpiper was at Penny Pasture Common and a Snipe flew south-west..

September 18th

A day which produced a decent passage of 155 Swallow and 335 Meadow Pipit south and south-east throughout the morning. All other migrants appeared in low numbers, including ten Siskin through and a single Turtle Dove. Coal Tits continue to move through the area, with single birds briefly at Eakring Flash and Red Hill. Small numbers of warblers at most sites today, with the best count being Chiffchaff (eight) and a late Willow Warbler at Eakring Flash was notable. 20 Tree Sparrow were at Red Hill.

Raptors today included a single Hobby south and 11 Common Buzzard together in the Lound Wood and Red Hill areas.

September 20th

There was an almost continuous trickle of Meadow Pipits again this morning, with a total of 227 south-east. Very little else overhead in terms of numbers and even Swallows only just made double figures. A Hobby drifted south-west over Red Hill early afternoon, but the highlight today were the two Raven which flew low over Red Hill heading south. Surprisingly, this was the first ever record for the area and one that was long overdue, given the number of Raven sightings in Nottinghamshire over recent years.

Huge numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the Leyfields area this morning, with a minimum count of 1 200 birds early afternoon.

September 21st

Fewer birds in and over the area this morning, but it was'nt without it's highlight, when an adult female Honey Buzzard drifted high south over Red Hill from 10:50-11:05h. The bird was initially seen flying quite low and direct, coming in from the north, but gradually gained height over Red Hill before eventually drifting off. This is the first Honey Buzzard seen here since one on September 7th 2003 and occurs at the same time as many were being noted in eastern areas of the UK over the previous few days.

Much smaller numbers of gulls in some of the fields today, but an adult Yellow-legged Gull was opposite Eakring Field Farm with Lesser Black-backed Gulls, one adult of which had a black Darvic ring with yellow digits (unreadable at distance)

Visible migration was limited to a steady trickle of Meadow Pipits and slightly more Swallows than there were yesterday. Some of the morning's totals included 212 Meadow Pipit, 58 Swallow and 20 Siskin all south. Few warblers around the usual sites, but there was a Lesser Whitethroat at Eakring Flash and Goldcrests and Coal Tits are moving through.

September 25th

Very few birds noted moving through this morning, but there was a Redwing over and an increase in Chiffchaff numbers at Eakring Flash and Penny Pasture Common today, with at least nine present. The only other warbler seen, was a late Lesser Whitethroat along the old hedge at Eakring Flash. Five adult Yellow-legged Gulls were in fields in the Red Hill area, with 200 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

There looked as though there would be plenty moving though this morning, but then the fog rolled in and halted most migrant movements. Even after the fog lifted, few birds were moving and so much of the area was well covered on foot today. A 1st Winter Stonechat was the highlight at Eakring Meadows and further indication that many birds are passing through the area.

A scattering of common migrants, included single Chiffchaff at Eakring Meadows and at most other sites visited, but it was noticable that many birds had moved on over the past day or so. The only other warblers were two Blackcap at Eakring Meadows.

Other birds today included a calling Water Rail at Eakring Flash, a single Common Buzzard at Penny Pasture Common and a Snipe high west, with one in fields near Eakring Flash.

Heavily overcast conditions with poor visibility this morning, saw little moving through, but an increase in birds on the ground. At Eakring Flash, a flock of Meadow Pipits totalled 82, which is very unusual for this time of year here. Also good numbers of Pied Wagtails in some of the cultivated fields, including two White Wagtails opposite Eakring Field Farm, before flying off south-west.

Late hirundines included 18 Swallows at Eakring Field Farm and three House Martin at Tug Bridge Farm.

A walk around Eakring village, Eakring Flash and Eakring Meadows produced nine Chiffchaffs and 13 Goldcrests, with two late Lesser Whitethroats also at Eakring Flash. Three Redwing were over Eakring village and there was an obvious increase in Song Thrush numbers.

The Water Rail was again at Eakring Flash and two Snipe flew high north over there. Golden Plovers included seven at Park Farm in the morning and nine south during the afternoon, when a dark-phase juvenile Honey Buzzard circled over Red Hill at the onset of clearer weather, gained height and drifted off high (over the cloud-base) north-east at 14:40-14:48h.

Eakring Bird news
September 2008
Featuring news and sightings from Eakring