Perseverance pays off

I've visited Collingham Pits on the previous three evenings, primarily in the hope of a half-decent wader. However, Mons Pool has barely had a Lapwing on it, and the rest of the site hasn't been much better, although there were 2 Common Sands on Ferry Lane Lake yesterday, as well as my first patch Swifts of the year, and a less expected 2nd S Yellow-legged Gull.

Another spin out to the patch tonight was looking like it was going to continue in a similar, almost wader-less vein, with my first check of Ferry Lane Lake only producing a single Common Sand (although there were lots of Gadwall around), and Mons Pool again uninspiring. But a second check of Ferry Lane Lake on my way out finally paid dividends, with a fresh-in Sanderling on one of the gravel islands that are slowly reappearing in the lake. Excellent!

Sanderling

Hunting for plants in Wellow Wood

At this time of year there are few better places to be than an English woodland, and in Nottinghamshire, there are few better woodlands than Wellow Wood. This large site, near Ollerton, is a SSSI, and although parts of it have been messed around with in the past (in terms of the tree species that have been planted), it retains a very rich ground flora. It was therefore an excellent venue for a botanical ID session run by Dave Wood and Rob Johnson from the Nottinghamshire Biological and Geological Records Centre today, which I attended along with a couple of others (including Carl C). 

Wellow Wood

As well as carpets of Wood Anemones, Bluebells and Ransoms, other nice plants included Moschatel and several county rarities - Wood Vetch, Alternate-leaved Golden Saxifrage, and Herb Paris. We found the latter in decent numbers at 5 discrete colonies - apparently an increase compared to the last survey. Only the second time I've seen this plant in Notts (or anywhere in the UK in fact), it is a very photogenic plant.

Ransoms

Moschatel 

Herb Paris

Herb Paris

On the bird front, we recorded Marsh Tits in four locations in the wood, and given its size, I'm sure there must be more.

Dotterel at Gringley

East Markham is a nice little village south-east of Retford, and is the location of my BBS square. I had a nice stroll around there this morning, with a pair of Grey Partridges the highlight, as well as 4 singing Blackcaps. As I was already halfway to Gringley, I decided to go and see the 6 Dotterel that are currently occupying a peafield on Gringley Carr. Well worth it, although they were a little distant and even at 9am the heat haze was quite bad. There was at least one nice smart female amongst them.

Dotterel on Gringley Carr

A brief visit to Collingham Pits then produced two patch yearticks; a genuine, 100% Feral Pigeon (on its own, flying south-west) and a Garden Warbler singing on the island at Mons Pool, where I also counted 63 Cormorant nests - somewhat down on my count of 90 last year. 

First Grizzled Skippers of 2013

The problem with this time of year is that there is too much to go and look for; and with the first Grizzled Skipper sighting of the year in Notts at the end of last week, the skipper-seeking season has begun already. So this afternoon I made a speculative visit to Staunton Quarry and was reward with four Grizzled Skippers. Pleasingly, three of these were in two of the scallops cut into the scrub as part of the ongoing SITA funded project for this species - more details on the Notts BAGs website. 

Grizzled Skipper at Staunton Quarry

My first Comma of the year was nice, but better still were a pair of Marsh Tits; these were rather unexpected, as I have been hoping for Willow Tit here. They were plucking cherry blossoms although I'm not clear if they were eating part of the flower itself  or insect that they contained. Nearby, there were at least 2 (possibly 3) more Grizzled Skippers on the disused railway line near Cotham, which Carl C put me onto, and I had my first two Speckled Woods of the year here.

Another Grizzled Skipper

Earlier in the day, Girton Pits produced the second Marsh Harrier in as many visits, plus several Garden Warblers (they must be in on my patch by now...), but no Willow Tits - I spent quite a while in the area where one was singing strongly last week, but no joy. There were, however, lots of Orange-tips around and good numbers of Peacocks.

Peacock

Missing migrants

Another early start in Sherwood Forest NNR looking for Redstarts; after nearly 5 hours I had located 12 territories (not 11 as I originally thought - I didn't draw the last one on my map!). These included 3 in the south-western part of the site, which I have not surveyed before. Redstarts are definitely in my top 10, and I was great to be able to spend the time time properly watching these birds. 

Other things of note included a similar selection to last time, minus any Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. However, I did, rather unusually, come across a Sedge Warbler singing from a dead hedge, as well as my first Garden Warbler of the year. I then treated myself to an All Day Breakfast at the Forest Table to round off a good morning. 

After a bit of a break, I had a good walk around Collingham Pits. Best were 4 Common Terns and 2 Dunlin on Ferry Lane Lake, and c.15 newly excavated Sand Martin nest holes in the new workings at Northcroft Pond, but I was surprised not to see any Swifts, or to get a Garden Warbler; and I'm expecting a Turtle Dove any time now! 

My big conundrum, however, relates to Feral Pigeons, as species which I need for my Patchwork Challenge list. Last week I saw a few flying north, then realised there were lots flying north and that in fact they must be homing pigeons. Today, I picked up one flying south, before again noting several flying north - surely more homing pigeons; but what about the one going south? A Feral Pigeon or a disorientated homing pigeon?!

Kilvo and Cotham

On the way home from work tonight, a quick stop at Kilvington Lakes produced a 2nd S Yellow-legged Gull with a few GBB's, plus single Dunlin and 2 Swifts. The visit was slightly spoilt by having to watch two dog walkers walk round the perimeter of the lake, flushing birds, including a nesting Oystercatcher who was off her nest for the best part of 15 minutes. An that's not to mention the LRP's! 

Yellow-legged Gull

Cotham Flash was rather quiet; 4 Yellow Wags are probably breeders, so my chances of a Blue-head now look lost, and there were no Wheatears. A pair of Coot and 2 cootlings were on the Flash itself, and there were at least 12 Lapwing in the adjacent field. 

Early in Sherwood

Whilst I always struggle to get up early, being in Sherwood Forest NNR shortly after dawn is a great experience. My main goal was to map Redstart territories, as in previous years, and I managed to find 6 in the north-western sector of the site, with three singing simultaneously at the southern end of 'Redstart Alley'. Another visit (or two) is in order to try and find more - comparing notes with Carl C has already indicated that there a few territories out there I missed this morning (and vice versa).

'Redstart Alley'

Other good birds included two Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers, a distant singing Woodlark, a few Tree Pipits, lots of Lesser Redpolls buzzing around overhead, several fly-over Crossbills, and more unexpectedly, Mandarin Ducks in two locations, and evidently looking for nest sites in the old trees. Their ducklings will have a long trek to the nearest waterbody when they hatch!

Male Mandarin