NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

HIGHLIGHTS: The tundra Bean Goose was at Thrumpton and Attenborough until the 15th. Up to eight were at Lound (4th-12th). A Black-throated Diver was at Holme Pierrepont (15th) and quickly relocated to Hoveringham (to 21st). LOUND: Up to 20 White-fronted Geese were present throughout, as well as 93 Whooper Swans, and a skein of 154 Pinkfeet was noted. Two Great White Egrets were seen. Waders included four Ruff, a Green Sandpiper, two Ringed Plovers, a Curlew, Grey Plover and Woodcock. A Black-necked Grebe was noted, as well as some Pintail. Raptors included up to three Short-eared Owls, a Red Kite, Merlin, Marsh Harrier and Peregrine. Up to 20 Bramblings were noted, and a Waxwing was in a private garden in the village. A Firecrest was seen (20th). ATTENBOROUGH: Two White-fronted Geese were seen (1st & 24th). A Bittern was seen early in the month. Forty Whooper Swans passed through (13th). Up to three Pintail were seen. A Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was seen (8th) and a Firecrest was also noted. LANGFORD LOWFIELDS: A White-fronted Goose was seen along with two Pintail. Two Bitterns were noted and a Great White Egret. Up to two Redshanks were noted. Bearded Tits peaked at five, and three Stonechats were seen. A Firecrest was seen (22nd). A Marsh Harrier was also seen. HOVERINGHAM: The gull roost was productive with up to two Glaucous and two Caspians, as well as several Med Gulls, and a Yellow-legged Gull. Two Smew were present, plus five Whitefronts and three Whooper Swans. An early Turnstone was noted (13th), and a Jack Snipe the next day, and two Curlew were noted. A Black-necked Grebe was present until the 19th and a Red-breasted Merganser was present throughout. A Red Kite flew through (14th). OTHER SIGHTINGS: Whooper Swans were widespread with four at Barton throughout, and others at Mansfield, Gringley (30 and 55) and two at Bassingfield. White-fronted Geese numbered 45 at Annesley, with others at Girton, Besthorpe and Barton. Three hundred Pinkfeet flew over Clumber. A Slavonian Grebe was at Collingham. Cotham Tip held up to three Glaucous Gulls, and Iceland and some Caspians and Yellow-legs. A Caspian was also at Holme Pierrepont. Two Scaup remained at Kilvington, and others were at Girton and Collingham. Smew were at Collingham and Kilvington, and five were at Holme Pierrepont. The Eakring Garganey remained. Two Jack Snipe were at Holme Pierrepont and Netherfield, and 30-plus Snipe were seen at both sites the same morning, and 54 were seen at Hodsock. A Common Sandpiper wintered at Holme Pierrepont and another was at Stoke Bardolph. Five Curlew were at Collingham, and others were seen at Holme Pierrepont, Gunthorpe and Gringley, while 160 Golden Plovers were at Bennerley Marsh. A Black-tailed Godwit was at Besthorpe. Up to six Short-eared Owls were at Kilvington, and Red Kites were in several localities, A Hen Harrier was seen around the Carrlands in the north, and Goshawks were at Welbeck Watchpoint and Annesley Pit Top. Waxwings were widespread, with 126 at Edwinstowe, 70 at King’s Clipstone, 100 in Mansfield and 95 in Hucknall, plus many more elsewhere. A Ring-necked Parakeet was at the Forest Recreation Ground, Nottingham. Stonechat were at Holme Pierrepont, Barton in Fabis, Gedling Pit and up to three at Netherfield. Up to 10 Hawfinches were noted at Rufford. A Black Redstart was at Compton Acres in West Bridgford, and a Great Grey Shrike put in a brief appearance at Normanton on Soar. Tom Shields