The accounts feature numerous photographs and graphs showing migration patterns, peak occurrences and breeding successes. Earliest arrival dates for both Summer and Winter migrants are also provided.

At the end of 2007, the Eakring area had a total of 175 species on it's list. This includes just four species which have been known to occur historically, but for which there have been no records since before 1998. These are Corn Crake, Nightingale, Wryneck (Kersall 1984) and Pied Flycatcher (Eakring 1996)

The bird came in from the north-east at 10:40am. Wind was moderate north-westerly with almost unbroken sunshine. It was already quite close when first observed and went directly over both observers at it's closest approach, with views to within 25-30m - and then headed towards Eakring village. It was then 'pestered' by a corvid and descended close to the ground in the pastures area and was lost to view behind the hedge. It re-appeared briefly over same hedge, but was then lost behind trees and not seen again.

The highest ever single day count was 1 833 moving south-east on October 26th 1999. Other high counts were 624 north-west on February 14th and 713 flying east and south-east on November 16th 2003

Wigeon have typically produced the greatest numbers during the early Autumn, with the first birds at Eakring Flash usually appearing in September. The earliest Autumn date is July 19th 1999 and there is also one other July date. Wigeon are rare here during the early months of the year, with occasional records coming in February and usually involving pairs.

The highest ever count was a flock of 60 moving west over Eakring Flash on September 11th 1999.

An extremely high count came in 1999, following an overnight arrival of 35 at Eakring Flash on September 1st, with numbers peaking a few days later at 46 on September 4th. The only other similar count, was of 30 on Eakring Flash, January 20th 2005.

The first returning birds have occurred from late July, but it's usually mid-August onwards. Numbers fluctuate during September and October and the first real influxes follow the onset of colder weather.

One at Eakring Flash August 26th 1998; One at Eakring Flash August 29th; A male moving east October 24th 1999; A female at Eakring Flash August 31-September 1st and again on September 9th 2000; An eclipse drake at Eakring Flash on September 25th and 29th; A pair at Eakring Flash October 10th; Two eclipse drakes October 13th 2001; One moving north over Eakring Flash September 5th; A pair at Eakring Flash November 21st 2002; Two at Eakring Flash September 9-12th; Three at Eakring Flash September 13th; One at Eakring Flash October 10th 2003; One at Eakring Flash August 31st 2004; Two males at Eakring Flash February 20th; One at Eakring Flash August 11th 2005.

The first Goosander occasionally arrive from mid-November, but it's usually during cold weather at the end of December, before the number of records increase in regularity. The earliest bird was on October 28th 2003 and there have been a couple of records in May, with ten north-east over Eakring Flash, May 5th 2004 and a female moving north-west, May 20th 2006.

Highest counts came in 2005, producing a maximum of eight at Eakring Flash on March 3rd and seven on March 6th.

Not surprisingly there has been a much better showing in the Autumn. August has produced records of five individuals including two seperate birds on August 21st 2002. One of these spent some time perched in the dead trees in the centre of Eakring Flash, before being driven off by corvids. The other August records were on August 8th 2000, August 12th and 18th 2003. September has produced birds on September 24th 2000, September 4th 2001 and September 4th 2004. The sole July date was July 27th 2003.

It was another five years before Hen Harier was recorded in the area again, when another male was present in the Park Farm/Eakring Meadows area, from March 29-31st 2004. A female/immature was at Eakring Flash on February 5th and then a week later at Eakring Meadows on February 12th 2007.

Breeding first took place in 2004, when a pair successfully raised two young. This was apparently being the first time that Common Buzzards had bred here since the early 1990's and was certainly the first time since 1998. The same pair has since gone on to breed again in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Typically there are one or two birds regularly in the area at any one time and these are frequently joined by birds from the Kirklington, Laxton and Rufford areas nearby and also by genuine migrants.

The period 1998 through to and including 2003, only managed to produce single records, apart from two in both 2001 and 2003. The only blank year for Merlin came in 2004. At this stage Merlin remained an extremely difficult species to catch up with here, but that changed with three late Winter/early Spring records in 2005. This meant a real increase in the number of sightings over previous years and the same number of records was repeated again in 2006. There were five records in 2007, making it the best year for the species.

Occasionally birds have spent several days in the area and one particular female which arrived as an immature bird in December 2002, subsequently returned each Winter until March 2007, but failed to return later the same year. A recent long-staying individual was an immature male which favoured the Eakring Flash/Leyfields area from September 21-December 25th 2007. Photographs of this bird in trees at Eakring Flash, later showed that this bird had been rung.

In the late 1990's, accumulated area counts only ever reached double figures on one occasion and coveys totalling more than seven birds were rare, but by 2003, the wintering Grey Partridge population ranged from 17-20+ birds. Counts continued to show an increase and by late 2007, the wintering numbers were believed to be around 30 birds.

Record numbers of Quail were then present in 2001, attracting numerous listeners on fine evenings during their lengthy stay around both Tug Bridge and Eakring Field Farms. Contrary to popular belief, these birds had not been released for shooting. These birds were meticulously mapped throughout the Summer and it was found that there was a genuine pattern to the arrivals of further birds. All arrivals occurred during anti-cyclonic weather and light easterly winds.

The first calling male was in Oil Seed Rape at Eakring Field Farm from May 26th, with a second bird present at nearby Parkhill Plantation from May 29-June 7th. On June 8th, a third bird was discovered in the Eakring Meadows area, calling distantly from the stubble field opposite the Kersall end of the reserve. This bird was rarely noted after it's initial discovery. June 10th saw another influx take place, when a total of seven birds were found calling at Eakring Field Farm, Parkhill Plantation, Penny Pasture Common.and two sites along the Kneesall Road. By the 18th, some nine males had been located.

Birds remained in their respective areas after arrival and territories were found to be suprisingly small, probably little more than 50 square yards. Calling was most consistant and energetic from arrival and for a period of around 4/5 days. It was found that periods of song from long-staying males, gradually shortened (sometimes to only two or three times an evening) a week after arrival and that in all cases, males often ceased to call entirely for lengthy periods (sometimes lasting for over a week) leading to the impression that the birds had left the area. In most cases however, influxes of new birds, produced a resumption (though quite short-lived) in active calling from earlier arriving males. Both major arrivals, on June 10th and July 4th, occurred during spells of fine warm weather and easterly based winds, associated with high pressure systems over the UK and nearby Continent at the time.

Quail remained in the area well into August, when calling males were heard at Eakring Flash briefly on the 18th. These records clearly relate to birds which relocated, after the harvesting of crops around Eakring Field and Tug Bridge Farms.

The following year, a single male was calling near Lound Wood on June 25th 2002. There were no further records till 2005, when a male arrived at Eakring Flash on May 12th, with two males present at Eakring Flash from May 13-15th.

What certainly surprised many people, was the fact that such a small area of water could attract a Spotted Crake in the first place, yet the habitat at the time was more than suitable and this was a species that I had personally always considered likely. It was also the longest staying of any Spotted Crake recorded to date in Nottinghamshire and there were several others at many other sites across the UK at the time.

One at Eakring Flash on September 2nd 2002, is the earliest Autumn date. Birds have rarely stayed much later than February, but there are a couple of records for March, including singles at Eakring Flash from March 21-30th 2004 and March 11-24th 2006. Three at Eakring Flash on November 2nd 2007, is so far the largest proven count.

1998 saw a total of 12 Spring records, with another six birds in the Autumn, between two juveniles on July 25th and a single moving south September 12th. Since then, all of the 22 records up to 2007, have involved brief passage birds with April taking up the bulk of the records.

450 in fields north of Red Hill on February 9th 2001 and 278 at Eakring Field Farm/Eakring Meadows September 4th 2004, were the largest counts by far. Lapwing have proved to be one of the few species to produce regular movements associated with cold weather during the Winter, with 1 290 noted moving south-west between December 28-31st 2000.

An aberrant Lapwing seen on October 14th 2002, lacked any green pigmentation in its feathers.

The first arrivals have usually appeared in October and November, then followed by a lack of records in December. The peak months for Jack Snipe have always been early in the year, most especially in February. Notable counts have been five at Eakring Meadows from March 6-11th, with six at present on March 12th 2002 and six again at Eakring Meadows on February 6th 2005.

Away from these two years, Greenshank have proved to be scarce passage birds and most records have come in the early Autumn, but there are no post-2006 records. Late birds were singles at Eakring Flash on October 13th 2002 and September 27-29th 2003.

Five at Eakring Flash August 10th 1998 was the largest count.

Although an extremely common species here, large numbers are very rare and I could find reference to just four three-figure counts since 1998. Many of the area's records typically involve small groups or less. A north or north-easterly passage is often noted during late February through to April, with odd birds appearing during May and occasionally June, but it is often during August that records increase in regularity. Many Autumn records involve birds moving west or south-west. The only large counts include:- 388 arriving from the east on July 23rd 2000; 500 Jan 1st 2001; 61 Mar 5th 2005; 119 west Feb 19th 2007.

Common Gull numbers generally peaked here in November, but there were occasionally good counts early in the year. Groups regularly fed over winter cereal fields, particularly if the weather has been wet. Common Gull counts of over 30 are significant counts at Eakring.

There have been just two records from late April-early July which are a 2cy on June 3rd 2000 and an adult on April 23rd 2005. The most notable influx was of 46 on the extremely early date of July 23rd 2000, coinciding with a period of overcast weather, north-easterly winds and a large influx of Black-headed Gulls. The highest count was of 122 on December 8th 2007, including one group alone of 67 at Eakring Flash.

Other notable counts include:- 36 on January 23rd and 31 on Nov 7th 2000; An influx during the third week of January with counts of 50+ on both 21st and 23rd, with 83 on 22nd and 74 on 28th and 76 present on Feb 11th 2003; A very high count of 97 at Leyfields, with many birds coming in from the south on March 21st 2006; Good site counts of 49 at Leyfields/Eakring Flash on November 16th and 62 on November 17th, before 75 at Eakring Flash and Church Hill on November 25th 2007.

The commonest of the larger gulls. Lesser Black-backed Gull numbers reach a pronounced peak between early July and late October. A high northerly movement was often noted during the Spring (March-May) but only small numbers were recorded during this time. A record count of 828 Lesser Black-backed Gulls was made in fields at Eakring Field Farm on September 8th 2007. Other notable counts during the last ten years include the following:- 224 July 25th, followed by 420 on August 31st 2000; A large count of 750+ was made on August 18th 2002; 300-400 on August 20th 2003; Two good counts of 250+ on August 12th and 300+ on September 9th 2006; 564 on August 5th preceded the area's largest ever count. 350 were noted on both October 4th and 27th 2007.

On October 19th 2002 a colour-ringed Lesser Black-backed Gull was present at Tug Bridge Farm. Research showed that it had been rung at South Walney NR in Cumbria in either 1998 or 1999.

Throughout the ten year period, there were two distinct arrival periods for Herring Gulls in the area. UK breeders (argenteus) were usually first noted from mid-late September, but occasionally earlier, although records were uncommon enough to be considered notable. Usually an indicator of the arrival of much colder weather in northern areas were Herring Gulls of Scandinavian origin, i.e. the nominate race argentatus, which started to move through from mid-November. This often coincided with an increase in the number of Great Black-backed Gulls moving through.

Herring Gulls proved to be rare in large numbers, but it occurred almost daily throughout the Winter. Late-April and May records were unusual. There were just four counts from the area between 1998 and 2007 that actually reach three figures. Notable counts were 126 on November 9th 2000, 136 moving south-west January 1st and 80 at Leyfields on December 6th 2001, 68 west on January 6th and 95 in fields at Eakring Flash on November 21st 2003, 104 on January 22nd 2005, 86 on January 29th 2006 and a record 166 south-west on November 25th 2007.

2007 represented a particularly good year for Yellow-legged Gulls here, but there seemed no general increase in numbers across Nottinghamshire at the time. Opposingly, there were no records for 2004 and just one record in 2005. A count of six on September 8th 2007, is the highest Yellow-legged Gull count to date.

An adult August 15th, An adult September 3rd, 1998; A 2nd summer south-west July 24th, An adult Eakring Flash July 30th, An adult north-east August 7th, two adults Tug-Bridge Farm, September 5th, Three adults, Eakring Field Farm September 13th, Four adults, Eakring Field Farm September 19th 1999; An adult moving north-east July 16th, An adult moving north-east July 25th, A 3rd Summer moving south-west on September 23rd 2000; A 1st Winter in the Eakring Flash area on January 20th, A 1st Winter at Eakring Flash, February 9th, An adult and a 3rd Winter near Parkhill Plantation September 8-11th, An adult moving south-west October 7th, An adult in fields at Red Hill October 19th 2001; An adult at Church Hill September 4th, An adult September 12-13th, An adult September 18-21st, Two adults at Tug Bridge Farm October 11th, An adult at Eakring Flash October 16th 2002; An adult near Eakring Meadows September 11th, Two adults October 11th, An adult at Eakring Flash October 13-16th 2003; Two (a 2nd Summer and 3rd Summer) in fields near Eakring Flash July 24th 2005; A 3rd Summer near Eakring Flash July 29th, An adult and a 3rd Summer in fields north of Leyfields August 12th, An adult at Eakring Field Farm August 19th, An adult at Park Farm/Eakring Field Farm September 5th 2006; One in fields near Leyfields and Church Hill August 4-5th, Two in fields at Church Hill August 9th, A 2cy near Eakring Flash, August 18th, Three adults at Church Hill August 23rd, A 1cy in fields between Eakring and Kneesall August 25th, Five in the area, including a 1cy, 3cy and three adults at Church Hill and near Eakring Field Farm September 3rd, Three at Church Hill including two adults and a 3cy bird September 5th, Six, including two adult females, two adult males, a 2cy male and a 1cy male at Eakring Field Farm September 8th, Five (two adult females, one adult male, a 1cy female and a 1cy male) at Eakring Field Farm September 9th, An adult near Eakring Field Farm September 17th, An adult female at Church Hill September 26th, A 3cy bird near Leyfields October 4th, An adult at Park Farm October 6th, Two adults at Church Hill October 13th, An adult and a 1cy at Church Hill October 14th 2007.

Great Black-backed Gulls are rare in numbers at Eakring. Since 1998, there have been just three counts including 49 on November 9th 2000, 77 moving south-west on January 10th 2004 and 50 moving south-west on November 25th 2007. Influxes seem to coincide with the arrival of argentatus Herring Gulls.

There is just one Summer record and the first birds rarely appear before the end of September. An increase in sightings usually comes during early November of most years, but Great Black-backed Gulls are not recorded on a daily basis, even during the depths of Winter.

Over 31 500 Wood Pigeon have been counted during Autumn movements, with seasonal totals being much higher from 1998-2001. Largest movements have coincided with the first real frosts in late October and early November and always during fine weather. In 1998, a total of 10 564 Wood Pigeon moved south over a three day period on October 29-30th and November 1st.

A completely white bird was present at Eakring Flash on December 15th 2007.

The Oil Bore Holes site, on the western-edge of Eakring village is the only one of these to have been used consistently since 1998, with a second pair here breeding from 1998-2002. A pair nested at High Trees (on the eastern-edge of Eakring) from 1998-2003 and although a male was present there in 2004, there was no evidence of breeding and it has remained unused since. A site at Kersall held successful breeding in 2004 and 2005, but they failed to return the following year. In recent years, possible breeders have frequented an area on the western side of Red Hill in 2005, the pastures area between Eakring village and Eakring Flash since 2006 and at Tug Bridge Farm in 2007. A pair with two young were present at this site on one August 2007 date, but were believed not to have been locally bred and there was certainly no supporting evidence of this.

Both periods of migration are distinctly different. Spring migrants have generally moved through the area between April 29th and May 25th. There are a few exceptions to these dates, with an extremely early bird through on April 18th 2000 (one of the earliest ever Turtle Dove in Nottinghamshire) and there are odd migrants occasionally noted within the first week of June.

1999 was an excellent year for migrant Turtle Doves during both migration periods, although there were still only three breeding pairs in the area.

A rare build-up of 22 Turtle Dove at Eakring Field Farm on September 2nd 2003, remains the highest ever count here.

It was in 2003 when the number of Cuckoo records here first dropped. At first I thought that this may just simply be down to it being a poor year, but worse followed a year later, when there were slightly fewer records. The general decline in the number of Cuckoos across the UK is now well known and accepted. There is no physical reason to explain this decline, but it possibly corresponds to a decline in one or more of the Cuckoo's host species.