Attenborough Reserve, Nottingham

Tuesday 2 July

Having met up with Chris Bell at the Attenborough reserve entrance at 10.30 we then enjoyed a very pleasant four hours plus wandering the site and probably covering about six or seven kilometres.  Whilst I awaited Chris's arrival I recorded a number of Reed Warblers in the reeds of the pond opposite the car park near the level crossing in Barton Lane along with Carrion Crow, Coot and Wood Pigeon.  The water of this relatively small pool aloud a number of Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Mallard.  Towards the back both Greylag Goose and Mute Swan, the dominant pair of species at the reserve.

One of the main Attenborough pools

Once we had sorted purses out we undertook an anti-clockwise circuit and had soon added a Pied Wagtail on the other side of the railway tracks plus the first of many Blackbird and numerous Wood Pigeon.  Many small birds calling including Blackcap, Whitethroat and Song Thrush as we made our way along whilst on the water to our left the first Great Crested Grebe and some very vocal Cetti's Warblers.  To our left a number of Magpies in the clearing along with a handful of Jackdaw passing over and a Buzzard circling to our right.  Chris even managed to pick up the Jay the dashed across the track in front of us.  We could hear our first Chiffchaff of the day and the a Greenfinch in the tree top and a small number of Common Swift feeding above.

Over the next pool we found a good number off feeding Sand Martin at which point Chris informed me that the artificial nesting site had been predated by local mink and there was certainly no evidence of any Sand Martins at the nest site when we ended our tour at the Visitors Centre.  On the water itself a number of Coot and more Great Crested Grebes.  The first Cormorant of the day flew over towards its communal roost and then a small flock of Canada Geese.  Up in the trees a family party of Long-tailed Tits and a single Collared Dove.

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea

A stop at the Kingfisher Hide duly produced a single Kingfisher and three Little Egret along with the first Heron and yet more Greylag Geese, Coot, Mallard and Reed Warblers.  As well as Black-headed we also had a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls along with. number of Common Tern.

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

Moving to the Tower Hide we stopped to observe both Heron and three Little Egrets plus a feeding Green Sandpiper.

Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus

 It was whilst at the hide having our picnic lunch that we were joined by Chris's friend Mike Lee for the rest of the session.  From the top of the tower we found a pair of Linnets to the left and on the main water nesting Common Terns and a plentiful supply of Coot plus both Canada and Greylag Geese.  Both Moorhen and Little Grebe were recorded and then couple of Kingfishers flashed across the back of the water and one remained in full, distant, view.  Whilst looking over the water we saw the arrival of eight Black-tailed Godwit which spent much time circling around the water.

Most of the flighty Black-tailed Godwit Limosa limosa with Canada Geese Branta canadensis on the water

Below, in the reeds, more Reed Warbler plus Reed Bunting.  A pair of Goldfinch few past the hide and then we picked up the handful of Lapwing.  Even a couple of Starling came to join in the fun and games whilst the Common Tern were busy fishing.

Common Tern Sterna hirundo

Continuing on we eventually found our first Tufted Ducks and then a small party of Chaffinches.  A family of Great Tits were feeding in the tree in front of us and then, as we made our way back to the Visitors Centre, first a Robin followed by a Wren in the village of Attenborough itself but only only seen by Chris.

Whilst enjoying a rewarding cup of coffee at the Visitors centre checking out the activity over the lake which included scores of Canada plus a smaller number of Greylag Geese, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and feeding Common Tern that we actually saw our final birds of the day. An adult and well-grown juvenile Egyptian Goose in the company of his larger cousins along with a few Tufted Ducks and Mallard.  On the feeders a couple of Tree Sparrow and Chris even managed to find a pair of Yellow Wagtails on one of the small islands opposite then cafe.

Little Egret Egretta garzetta

So, a very enjoyable day in great company and a total of 48 species recorded.

Birds seen:
Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Egyptian Goose, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, Little Egret, Heron, Buzzard, Moorhen, Coot, Lapwing, Black-tailed Godwit, Green Sandpiper, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Common Tern, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Common Swift, Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Wren, Robin, Blackbird, Song Thrush, Cetti's Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Jay, Magpie, Jackdaw, Carrion Crow, Starling, Tree Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Reed Bunting.

Check out the accompanying website at http://www.birdingaxarquia.weebly.com for the latest sightings, photographs and additional information