Bennerley Marsh Wildlife-2010

The Last Post

2010-12-31T13:48:00.001Z

Well for this year at least. and what a year it has been, lots of wildlife, The Bennerley Boys adventures, which incidentally are quite brilliant and lots of behind the scenes stuff. On the last point, i think all of us involved with various parts of the Erewash Valley shouldn’t get complacent and remain tenacious in our aim to support and protect the various habitat's and wildlife in our valley.

I see our ranks are swelling and that can’t be bad, its always good to have new people on board and of course that means our pool of expertise is expanding in all areas. Take photography, we are extremely fortunate to have Paul among us, his tutorials, advice, hints and tips at the drop of a key stroke have been invaluable to quite a few of us, so many thanks to Paul.

What about the Erewash Valley Wildlife web site ? It started with two blokes having a natter in a field and now its as good as any web site of it’s type on the web, full of information, sightings, reports, photos etc. and its all down to webmeister Chris and the contributors, but especially Chris who I know puts many hours into this project, many thanks. Let me not forget the Bennerley Boys, a few great outings this year, lets hope for many more in the new year.

I’ll be moving my blogging activity's over to Word press for next year, I think it will give me more scope, i think for photos and other stuff, so my little ship might be a little unsteady for a while until get into it and so that's it for this year, keep following the website, the blogs and of course the brilliant wild life of our own Erewash Valley, happy wildlife watching and have a great new year.

Buzzard & Cormorant At Great Distance

2010-12-31T09:14:00.003Z

Great Spotted Woodpecker

2010-12-29T18:59:00.001Z

Birding By Ear

2010-12-29T18:54:00.001Z

It was hard today to know if there were any birds about, there were, if you listened, lots of corvids but i couldn’t see many, but I could hear four different species of crow. The fog that covered the Shipley was somewhat eerie, I could actually hear Goldcrest, a species that at my age is difficult, in fact anything that sounds like an high-end tweeter is getting difficult unless conditions are just right, IE. no wind, no traffic noise etc.

Thanks to a few very willing subjects around feeders in the small nature reserve at Mapperley I thought I’d try out a few tip regarding ISO settings on the camera. So, at settings between ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 and lots of focal length, I gave it a whirl. With the fog and the un-helpful light, I wasn’t expecting much, but things turned out better than I thought, i can almost see where I’m going now with this photography !

Shipley Wood. 30 Lesser Redpoll. 5 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, Sparrow Hawk. Mapperley NR. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Coal Tit, 2 Goldcrest. 25 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare.

Rockin’ Robin

2010-12-29T18:26:00.001Z

Waxwing

2010-12-28T19:22:00.001Z

Waxwings A ’Swimming !

2010-12-28T17:41:00.001Z

First birds of the day and in fairly modern parlance, “how cool is that” I spoke to a friend on the phone and we both realised they had been without a decent water supply for weeks. So’ that's nice !

Stensons Lock, River Erewash, Cotmanhay. 130 Waxwing, Botany Bay. 10 Redwing, Bullfinch. Bennerley Marsh. 65 Wigeon, 11 Teal, 20 Lapwing, 25 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, 7 Bullfinch. Chat Corner. Buzzard, 8 Redwing, 15 Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit.

Waxwings Having Fun

2010-12-28T11:28:00.000Z

My first attempt at video, waxwings frolicking in a puddle at Stensons Lock, Cotmanhay, a sight just too good to miss !

Waxwings at Halls Lane. By John Stretton

2010-12-26T14:25:00.001Z

Redwing

2010-12-25T10:28:00.000Z

Wood Pigeon

2010-12-25T10:27:00.000Z

Bold Renadine

2010-12-25T10:20:00.000Z

Ho, Ho, Ho !

2010-12-25T10:06:00.000Z

I think the birds were taking it easy on this Christmas day, mostly Redwings but over at Shipley at dusk hundreds of corvids, Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws noisily going to roost at Mapperley.

Cotmanhay. 30 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush. Botany Bay. Great Spotted Woodpecker, 60 Redwing, 3 Bullfinch, 10 Long-Tailed Tit, 2 Common Gull. Tathams Pond. 50 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare, Grey Heron.

Snipe

2010-12-24T19:56:00.001Z

Lapwing

2010-12-24T19:55:00.001Z

Boldly Bennerley

2010-12-24T19:54:00.001Z

Took a few snaps thro’ the railings of the Water Treatment Works, plus a few from the garden in lieu of not getting any of the little owl, I swear that little so and so knows I'm on my way with the camera ! He sort of grins and off he go’s . One day, one day !

Cotmanhay. 40 Redwing. Bennerley Marsh. 2 Grey Heron, 8 Lapwing, 6 Black-Headed Gull, 6 Goosander, 4 Wigeon, 30 Fieldfare, 50 Redwing, Sparrow Hawk. Water Treatment Works. Little Owl, 6 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 5 Meadow Pipit, Grey wagtail, 90 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 6 Teal. Chat Corner. 5 Mistle Thrush, 45 Redwing, Sparrow Hawk, 2 teal.

Blue Tit

2010-12-24T19:40:00.001Z

Starling

2010-12-24T19:39:00.001Z

Blackbird

2010-12-24T19:37:00.001Z

A Very Happy Christmas To All

2010-12-21T09:12:00.001Z

Redwing

2010-12-19T19:10:00.001Z

A Not Very Good Little Owl

2010-12-19T19:08:00.001Z

Frost & Ice

2010-12-19T19:06:00.001Z

Cold and frosty again today with lots of Redwing. I caught up with the Little Owl again and it promptly vanished again before i got the range, just managed a couple of poor shots, but I will get the little rascal !

Cotmanhay. 30 Waxwings, Coal Tit [garden] Botany Bay. 5 Bullfinch, 8 Greenfinch, 25 Redwing, Goldcrest, 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gull. Chat Corner. 150 Redwing, 35 Fieldfare, 6 Mistle Thrush, Buzzard, 4 Teal, 3 Cormorant. Water Treatment Works. Little Owl, 70 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, 4 Lapwing, 30 Redwing, 4 Fieldfare.

Wood Carvings At Shipley Park

2010-12-18T19:54:00.001Z

All Hunkered Down

2010-12-18T19:44:00.001Z

Very cold and not much about today, there wasn’t a square meter of free water on Shipley Lake, completely frozen ! not as much as a Moorhen. I decided to become tourist and took a few tourist snaps.

Cotmanhay. Grey Wagtail [garden] 150 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thtrush. Shipley Park. 2 jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker.

Bennerley Ramble

2010-12-17T17:28:00.001Z

No photos today, tried to snap a Little Owl, it sat watching me and as soon as I had the camera out and set up, guess what ? yep’ of he went ! Redwings everywhere today, lots of em’ and the bush the Waxwings were feasting on, a white berried Mountain Ash- I think, at Halls Lane appears to have been stripped, not one showing today in that area, but Golden Plover on the marsh was nice, even if it was just a few.

Cotmanhay. 60 Redwing. Bennerley Marsh. 230 Redwing, 60 Lapwing, 35 Golden Plover, 110 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull. Water Treatment Works. Little Owl, Grey Wagtail, 35 Pied Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Lapwing, 220 Redwing. 5 Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Snipe. Chat Corner. Barn Owl, Kestrel, 2 Reed Bunting, 4 Fieldfare.

Cotmanhay

2010-12-16T10:25:00.001Z

7o Redwing [in garden]

Fungi

2010-12-15T15:15:00.000Z

Inkcap.

Muchbinding In The Marsh

2010-12-15T15:11:00.001Z

Cotmanhay. 14 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Bullfinch, 95 Black-Headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, Herring Gull. Botany Bay. 60 Redwing, 6 Fieldfare, 2 Willow Tit, Sparrow Hawk. Bennerley Marsh, 35 Wigeon, 5 Shoveler, 65 Lapwing, Snipe, Teal, 3 Grey Heron, 120 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 30 Redwing. Marsh Tit, 35 Long-Tailed Tit. Bennerley South, 11 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler.

Bennerley Marsh

2010-12-15T09:52:00.000Z

Green Sandpiper reported by Simon Horsnall.

Ey up! you know where you can stick that camera !

2010-12-13T19:43:00.001Z

Disused Sluice At Bennerley Marsh

2010-12-13T19:40:00.001Z

Blue Moon

2010-12-13T18:13:00.001Z

Generally Bennerley

2010-12-13T18:11:00.001Z

Late out to day and too busy learning photography skills.

Botany Bay. 50 Redwing, 16 Linnet, 9 Greenfinch, 2 Pheasant. Chat Corner. 25 Redwing, Lesser black-Backed Gull. Bennerley Marsh. 2 Jack Snipe. Plus. Barn Owl seen at Chat Corner yesterday evening by regular walker.

David Baily I Am Not !

2010-12-13T14:43:00.001Z

A few pics.shot in raw format and the first real attempt at shooting and editing in the raw, so to speak.

Mandarin At Colwick Country Park

2010-12-11T19:18:00.001Z

Goldeneye At Holme Pierrepont

2010-12-11T19:14:00.001Z

Grey Squirrel

2010-12-11T19:12:00.001Z

Bennerley Boys On Tour

2010-12-11T19:11:00.001Z

A full complement of Bennerley Boys out to day on a nostalgic trip round my old stomping ground, the Trent valley in Nottinghamshire, namely, Netherfield and Colwick. Lots to see, Wildfowl, Raptors, Little Egrets, Bramblings, a Fox and one Grey Squirrel. A really nice day out marred only by the light fading rapidly before we could get any gull watching in.

Netherfield. 5 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 5 Whooper Swan, 70 Wigeon, 50 Teal, 30 Gadwall, 6 Little Grebe, 8 Herring Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Kingfisher, 5 Brambling, 16 Linnet, 5 Reed Bunting, Yellow Hammer, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Buzzard, 3 Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel. Colwick CP. Mandarin Duck [m.] 6 Goldeneye, 2 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 20 Gadwall, 80 Wigeon, 3 Goldeneye, 4 Little Grebe, Black Swan, 18 Lapwing. Holme Pierrepont/Rowing Course. 14 Goldeneye, 70 Gadwall, 3 Teal, 2 Redshank.

Black Swan At Colwick Country Park

2010-12-11T18:42:00.001Z

Wildfowl At Netherfield

2010-12-11T18:37:00.001Z

Waxwing Sunset

2010-12-05T19:08:00.001Z

Waxwings

2010-12-05T19:05:00.001Z

Found Some, At Last !

2010-12-05T19:00:00.001Z

Finally connected with Waxwing today, over at Giltbrook, about one hundred and thirty, the first group I came upon numbered fourteen and then the main body at the top of Halls lane.

Cotmanhay. Coal Tit, 3 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 8 Green Finch. Bennerley Marsh. 90 Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 2 Grey Heron, 38 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 3 Wigeon, 2 Teal, Little Grebe. Water Treatment Works. 250 Black-Headed Gull, Redshank, 30 Redwing, 9 Fieldfare, 2 Grey Wagtail, 45 Rook. Halls lane, Giltbrook. 130 Waxwing.

Bennerley Through The Fog

2010-12-05T18:40:00.001Z

Odd Bod!

2010-12-05T18:28:00.001Z

Garden Feeders

2010-12-04T17:11:00.001Z

Local Patch

2010-12-04T17:10:00.001Z

Cotmanhay. Coal Tit, 45 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 12 Green Finch, 5 Bullfinch, Great-Spotted Woodpecker. Bennerley Marsh. 50 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 80 Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 7 Redwing, 5 Reed Bunting, 5 Bullfinch, Kestrel, Jay, 8 Teal. Bennerley South. 44 Wigeon. Chat Corner. 2 Kestrel, 8 Fieldfare, 7 Redwing, 190 Wood Pigeon. Botany Bay. 40 Redwing, 4 Reed Bunting, 2 Pheasant, Buzzard.

Black Bird

2010-12-03T18:08:00.001Z

This Black Bird had a thick twig running from bottom middle right through to top middle and a smaller red twig along its tail, so i removed them, good, in 'it, couldn’t sort the back-ground though !

Semi Auto

2010-12-03T17:46:00.001Z

I was out today to practise with the camera and not using full automatic settings, using settings like manual, aperture priority and shutter speed priority, I’m not too disappointed with the results so I’ll keep at it.

Cotmanhay. Coal Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 5 Redwing. Botany Bay. 12 Redwing, Grey Heron. 8 Long-Tailed Tit, 5 Goldfinch, 2 Common Gull, 130 Wood Pigeon. Chat Corner. Goosander [f. over] Buzzard, Kestrel, 20 Redwing, 80 Jackdaw.

Refuge

2010-12-03T17:30:00.001Z

Winter At Bennerley

2010-12-01T21:03:00.001Z

Feeding Frenzy On The Erewash Canal

2010-12-01T20:50:00.001Z

Collared Doves in My Garden

2010-12-01T19:05:00.001Z

Gulls On The Erewash Canal

2010-12-01T19:02:00.001Z

Birding In A Snow Storm–Almost

2010-12-01T18:58:00.001Z

What a day, I was out in the snow and really enjoyed it and there were birds about. Ravens, Buzzards, Snipe and all manner of avian kind. I had to check the Ravens call, it was one I wasn’t quite sure about, not the “cronk” I’m familiar with, but it checked out, plus the size difference between the Ravens and the Crows escorting them from the area was obvious.

Cotmanhay. Grey Wagtail [garden] 15 Goldfinch, 7 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Redwing, 2 Mistlle Thrush Botany bay. 4 Goosander[over] Grey Heron, 13 Goldfinch, 12 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush. Chat Corner. 30 Redwing, Bullfinch, 5 Meadow Pipit, 4 Reed Bunting, Kestrel, 2 Buzzard, Common Snipe, Jack Snipe [over] 14 Pink-Footed Goose [over to north west] Bennerley Marsh. 65 Lapwing, Common Snipe, 60 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 15 Wigeon, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Raven [over & east]

Dunnock

2010-12-01T18:19:00.001Z

My Garden.

Don't Forget To Feed The Birds

2010-12-01T18:15:00.001Z

Please !

Rolling In The Snow

2010-11-30T16:58:00.001Z

Not me you understand, Dougie’s the one who likes rolling in the snow, loves it in fact ! Tuesday is pension day and shopping day but I usually get some kind of birding in and in fact today I was again searching the car parks of Ilkeston and Ebenezer Street for Waxwing and again not a one. In what appears to be a Waxwing irruption year, you’d think there would be a couple hanging around Ilkeston, still a decent sized skein of Pink-Footed Geese made up for the lack of Waxwings. These Geese were probably the same birds that were seen at Belper not long after my sighting and possibly crossed the English Channel earlier this morning, they came from the east and headed north west [ish] and could have ended up at Carsington, who knows ?

Cotmanhay. Lesser Redpoll, Coal Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush, 3 Redwing. Bennerley Marsh. 90 Black-headed Gull, 70 Wigeon, 60 Lapwing. 20 Golden Plover, 2 Common Snipe, 4 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, , 4 Jay. Chat Corner. Common Snipe, 2 Redwing. Botany bay. 6 Redwing, Bullfinch.

Ilkeston

2010-11-30T12:51:00.001Z

350 Pink-Footed Geese [ over high in three waves & NW]

No Place To Go

2010-11-28T18:59:00.001Z

Repeat Performance

2010-11-28T18:56:00.001Z

More or less the same plan as yesterday, I wanted a few more photo’s of Lesser Redpoll, with a bit more detail but I couldn’t beat yesterdays efforts. There seemed to be more ice today on Shipley Lake, there was just the one area of free water for the wildfowl to swim and consequently less birds than yesterday.

Bennerley Marsh. 130 Lapwing, 6 Common Snipe, 2 Redwing, 3 Fieldfare, Common Gull. Botany Bay. 3 Bullfinch, 8 Redwing. Shipley Wood. 2 Goldcrest, Treecreeper, 35 Long-Tailed Tit. Shipley Park. 38 Lesser Redpoll, 9 Siskin. Shipley Lake. 35 Wigeon, 7 Shoveler, 12 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 18 Lapwing, Grey Heron, 4 Cormorant.

Lapwings On Ice

2010-11-28T18:52:00.001Z

Shipley

2010-11-28T18:51:00.001Z

Lesser Redpolls

2010-11-27T19:02:00.001Z

Shipley In The Snow

2010-11-27T18:59:00.001Z

Hurried through Botany bay en- route to Shipley and the first bird I saw was a male Bullfinch looking resplendent against the snow, a few Redwing next and then a Willow Tit and I couldn’t help but notice how the pale wing panel showed up really well in the snow influenced light, even from a distance. A Fox ambled slowly across the open area of Botany, had a quick look at Dougie and me, decided we were not a threat and ambled on.

I reached Shipley Wood and found not much about, a lonely Coal Tit was it ! a better scene on the woodland edge with Jays, a flock of Lesser Redpoll and a few Siskin, I even managed a few photo’s. Shipley Lake was well frozen with the wildfowl concentrated in just a couple or areas, Pochard, Wigeon, Gadwall and a handful each of Shoveler and Teal. No Goosander or Smew sadly.

Botany Bay. 3 Bullfinch [m. 2 f.] 6 Redwing, Willow Tit, 12 Long Tailed Tit, 30 House Sparrow, Plus. Fox. Shipley Wood. Coal Tit, 2 Jay, 35 Lesser Redpoll, 17 Siskin. Shipley Lake. 7 Gadwall, 35 Pochard, 45 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 4 Shoveler, 32 Lapwing, 200 Black-Headed Gull, 5 Great- Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker. Shipley Park. Sparrow Hawk, 300 Jackdaw.

Shipley Wood

2010-11-27T18:46:00.001Z

In DH Lawrence's Steps

2010-11-26T19:12:00.001Z

One of my regular walks, more or less cross country from Bennerley Marsh to Moorgreen via Giltbrook, Newthorpe and Greasley. Greasley church Yard is always worth a look but not today, no Firecrest at Moorgreen either but I’m pretty sure there will be one about while the cold weather is with us.

Cotmanhay. 7 Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, 2 Mistle Thrush [gardens feeders] 7 Bullfinch, 6 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush. Botany Bay. 3 Siskin, 2 Redwing. Chat Corner. 4 Common Snipe, 14 Redwing. Halls Lane End. Merlin [male with prey] Green Woodpecker. Moorgreen Reservoir. 25 Pochard, 130 Canada Goose, 80 Greylag Goose, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, Tree Creeper, Common Buzzard.

Int’ Bennerley Brilliant !

2010-11-25T16:22:00.001Z

Well not that brilliant. but i did find a Little Owl, OK not rare but it’s the best bird I’ve had at Bennerley for a while, so that's good and any way I like Little Owls. Add to that a few “northern thrushes” a few Snipe and it wasn’t a bad walk.

I took a walk yesterday to do my Christmas shopping, one item and that's it, I’ll let my personal shopper do the rest while I get on with the birding ! I don’t really do Christmas, I’d rather be out birding and that's why I was out for a walk, looking for Waxwing. I looked behind the Ilkeston shopping centre, in the car park, Tesco's car park and finally on Ebenezer Street, the usual Ilkeston Waxwing hotspot, not a one !

Botany Bay. 8 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare, 2 Bullfinch. Chat Corner. 5 Fieldfare, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel, 4 Common Snipe. Halls Lane End. 45 Redwing, 30 Goldfinch, 3 Teal [R.Erewash] Water Treatment Works. Little Owl, 4 Grey Wagtail, 60 Pied Wagtail.

Where Are They All ?

2010-11-23T17:10:00.001Z

Another quiet day at Bennerley, I thought a flock of Wigeon over the house was a good omen, but it wasn’t to be. If Golden Plover don’t arrive during the forecasted cold spell, I’ll start to worry a little, it seems that regular birds like Stonechat and Redshank have had a quick look and cleared off.

Cotmanhay. 70 Wigeon [over & west] 2 Mistle Thrush, 10 Redwing, Coal Tit, Green Woodpecker. Bennerley Marsh. 100 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 2 Common Snipe, 22 Lapwing, 6 Pied Wagtail, Grey Heron. Chat Corner. 2 Common Snipe,30 Fieldfare, 20 Redwing, Song Thrush, Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Kestrel. Botany Bay. Common Snipe.

Willow Tit & Reed Bunting

2010-11-21T19:33:00.001Z

Carr Vale Nature Reserve, Derbyshire.

Whooper Swan

2010-11-21T19:30:00.001Z

Idle Valley Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire.

Whooper Swan & Mute Swan

2010-11-21T19:26:00.001Z

Idle Valley Nature Reserve, Nottinghamshire.

The Bennerley Boys Ride–Less Two !

2010-11-21T19:22:00.001Z

Headed off to north Nottinghamshire and the Idle Valley Nature Reserve, less one member, Jim couldn’t make this trip so that was a bit of a downer, Jim is our most knowledgeable member and he owns all the books ! Still, we managed without him and battled on through a grey drizzly day. There were decent numbers of wildfowl including Whooper Swans, Goosander and Goldeneye. Waders were a bit thin on the scrapes and islands, around six hundred Lapwing in one group and smaller groups scattered around the site, but only a few Golden Plover and even less Redshank. Highlight of the day was a Great White Egret that showed itself briefly, we had already seen its smaller cousin Little Egret and Great White was our target bird for the day.

We stuck the weather a little longer, had a cup of tea and moved on to Bolsover, Derbyshire and Carr Vale Nature Reserve. This is a pleasant reserve and we spent the last hour or so of daylight picking up bits and bobs like Willow tit and Reed Bunting, we looked for Little Owl and hoped for Bittern but neither showed, another cup of tea and with the light gone we headed for home.

Lound GPs & Idle Valley NR. Great White Egret, Little Egret, 7 Whooper Swan, 700 Greylag Goose, 3 Shelduck, 3 Goosander, 4 Goldeneye, 40 Gadwall, 30 Teal, 55 Shoveler, 20 Pochard, 50 Gadwall, 600 Lapwing, 7 Golden Plover, 2 Redshank, 30 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 20 Great Black-Backed Gull, 5 Fieldfare, Goldcrest, Sparrow Hawk, Kestrel. Carr Vale NR. 120 Wigeon, 20 Teal, 12 Redwing, 2 Willow Tit, 6 Reed Bunting.

Whooper Swans Getting Airborn

2010-11-21T18:44:00.001Z

Idle Valley NR. Notts.

Fungi

2010-11-21T18:41:00.001Z

Idle Valley NR.

Grey Heron

2010-11-20T19:26:00.001Z

Nottingham Canal at Cossall

Another Grey Day

2010-11-20T19:21:00.001Z

Chat Corner. Kestrel, 2 Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail. Bennerley Marsh. !6 Lapwing, 80 Black-Headed Gull. 3 Common Gull, Grey Heron. Bennerley South. 11 Teal. Cossall. 5 Redwing, 4 Mistle Thrush, 10 Lapwing, 100 Black-Headed Gull, Jay. Stanton. 250 Black-Headed Gull, 15 Redwing, Kestrel. Straws Bridge. 2 Shoveler, Pochard [f.] 60 Canada Goose, 2 Song Thrush.

A Foggy Day At Bennerley

2010-11-19T17:32:00.001Z

Not much around today or at least not that I could see, I managed a small flock of Lapwing just as the fog came down with a vengeance over the marsh, I thought If I can’t see ‘em I could try and dislodge a few and so I set off on a paddling all over the coal site – nothing !

Cotmanhay. 60 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull. Botany Bay. 12 Redwing, 2 Fieldfare. Chat Corner. 2 Reed Bunting, 3 Meadow Pipit, 35 Goldfinch, 3 Pheasant. Water Treatment Works. 6 Pied Wagtail, Grey Wagtail, Meadow Pipit. Bennerley Marsh. 38 Lapwing, 50 Black-Headed Gull.

Brisk & Bracing

2010-11-18T14:04:00.001Z

A quick morning walk turn up a few of the more common species and it was fun chasing three Goldcrest to check if one was a Firecrest – it wasn't !

Cotmanhay. 80 Black-Headed Gull, 5 Common Gull, 3 Bullfinch, 11 Greenfinch. Bennerley Marsh. 17 Lapwing, 3 Common Snipe, 26 Wigeon, 80 Black-headed gull, 2 Grey Heron, 5 Bullfinch, 10 Redwing, 2 Jay. Bennerley South. 22 Teal. Chat Corner. 3 Common Snipe, 6 Meadow Pipit, 3 Reed Bunting, 3 Cormorant, 2 Herring Gull. Botany Bay. 3 Goldcrest, 4 Bullfinch, 7 Redwing, Fieldfare, 2 Cormorant.

Bennerley Marsh From The Viaduct

2010-11-14T18:21:00.001Z

Sunday Promenade

2010-11-14T18:20:00.001Z

Cotmanhay. 12 Siskin, Coal Tit, 100 Black-Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, Herring Gull. Bennerley Marsh. 120 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Common Gull, Sparrow Hawk, 17 Meadow Pipit. Bennerley South. 18 Teal. Water Treatment Works. 40 Redwing, 18 Fieldfare, 3 Grey Wagtail, 2 Goldcrest. Botany Bay. Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Bullfinch. Chat Corner. 3 Common Snipe, 9 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 25 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, Grey Partridge, 160 Jackdaw.

Common Darter

2010-11-13T16:42:00.001Z

The Bennerley Marsh Damselfly & Dragonfly List

2010-11-13T16:38:00.001Z

Damselflies.

Emerald
Large Red
Common Blue
Blue-Tailed
Red-Eyed

Dragonflies.

Common Hawker
Migrant Hawker
Southern Hawker
Brown Hawker
Emperor
Four-Spotted Chaser
Broad-Bodied Chaser
Black-Tailed Skimmer
Common Darter
Ruddy Darter

Small Copper

2010-11-13T15:22:00.001Z

The Bennerley Marsh Butterfly List - 2010

2010-11-13T15:12:00.002Z

Brimstone
Large White
Small White
Green-Veined White
Orange Tip
Comma
Small Tortoiseshell
Peacock
Red Admiral
Painted Lady
Ringlet
Gate Keeper
Meadow Brown
Speckled Wood
Small Copper
Common Blue
Holly Blue
Large Skipper
Small Skipper
Essex Skipper
Dingy Skipper

Bennerley Marsh

2010-11-12T19:01:00.001Z

That looks better

A Better Sort Of Day

2010-11-12T18:57:00.001Z

Actually got to see a few birds today, it’s amazing what a drop of water can do ! On the marsh itself a small group of Redshank and on the coal plant a Jack Snipe were the highlights.

Cotmanhay. Common Buzzard, Herring Gull, Common Gull, 15 Fieldfare, 3 Coal Tit [garden feeder] Bennerley Marsh. Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, 4 Redshank, 6 Lapwing, 110 Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 20 Pied Wagtail, 15 Meadow Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk. Bennerley South. 32 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 2 Gadwall. Chat Corner. 2 Common Snipe, 7 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, Kestrel, 25 Redwing, 12 Fieldfare. Bentley Plantation. Common Buzzard. Shipley Hall. 10 Mistle Thrush, 30 Redwing, Nuthatch. Shipley Lake. 22 Gadwall, 8 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 5 Wigeon, 3 Grey Heron.

Cute Coot

2010-11-10T18:25:00.001Z

Erewash Canal, Cotmanhay.

Land For Sale

2010-11-10T18:00:00.001Z

An area of land south of Bennerley Marsh, i call it “Bennerley South” is up for sale, described as grazing land.

Water, Water Everywhere

2010-11-10T17:55:00.001Z

Lots of water at Bennerley today but sadly not a lot to see, although a few wintering species are back, Wigeon, Snipe, Fieldfare and Redwing, not great numbers, but back never the less. Someone pointed me in the direction of a “small eagle” so of I went to investigate expecting one of our resident Buzzards, or maybe if I was lucky, a Rough Legged Buzzard, ‘nope, neither, a Harris Hawk strapped to a guys wrist !

Bennerley Marsh. 2 Jack Snipe, 28 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 80 Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black=Backed Gull, Kestrel. Chat Corner. 9 Common Snipe, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 6 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, Kestrel. Halls Lane End. 20 Fieldfare, 12 Redwing, 5 Common Pheasant, Grey Partridge. Botany Bay. 25 Long Tailed Tit, 7 Redwing.

Robin

2010-11-07T20:46:00.001Z

Aldercar Flash.

Willow Tit

2010-11-07T20:44:00.001Z

Aldercar Flash

Reed Bunting

2010-11-07T20:42:00.001Z

Aldercar Flash.

Down In The Valley

2010-11-07T20:33:00.001Z

Had a wander along the valley from Cotmanhay to Erewash Meadows, a slow start but things picked up as i went merrily along my way. Lots of “northern thrush's” in the tree tops, a gunshot rang out and put the lot up but they soon settled again.

Cotmanhay. 45 Pink Footed Goose, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Bullfinch. Chat Corner. Kestrel, 2 Meadow Pipit. Eastwood Lock. Great Spotted Woodpecker, Jay, Bullfinch. Aldercar flash. 18 Wigeon, 10 Teal, 2 Willow Tit, Coal Tit, Reed Bunt 15 Redwing. Erewash Meadows. 9 Common Snipe, Barn Owl, 2 Sparrow Hawk, 20 Teal, 2 Grey Heron, 90 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 9 Common Pheasant.

Fieldfare

2010-11-07T20:17:00.001Z

Erewash Meadows

Wigeon

2010-11-07T20:13:00.001Z

Aldercar Flash

Pink Footed Goose

2010-11-07T10:31:00.001Z

45 over and west at Cotmanhay. 10:28 hrs.

Kestrel

2010-11-06T19:13:00.001Z

Mallard

2010-11-06T19:11:00.001Z