Nick Crouch

A male Channel Wagtail on the east side of Phase 3 at Langford Lowfields on 21 April, showing powder blue head, broad flaring white supercilium and large white subocular patch.

A male Channel Wagtail on the east side of Phase 3 at Langford Lowfields on 21 April, showing powder blue head, broad flaring white supercilium and large white subocular patch.

A female flava wagtail on the east side of Phase 3 at Langford Lowfields on 21 April.

A Whimbrel on the Deep Water Pit at Langford Lowfields on 21 April

Another male Channel Wagtail in with the Yellow Wags at Langford Lowfields last night, this one rather showier than the one on the 16th! Also an eye-catching female flava, 19+ White Wagtails, 1 Whimbrel and a Short-eared Owl #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

It’s been a couple of years since I’ve come across one locally, so a Channel Wagtail amongst 11+ Yellow Wags and 15+ White Wags was the highlight of a visit to Langford Lowfields this morning. Also a Whimbrel thru N, 2 Dunlin, 1 Common Sand, 1 Greenshank #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Hooded Crow flying north up the East Dunes at Gibraltar Point

Red Kite passing south west over Mill Hill at Gibraltar Point

Green Hairstreak in the dune scrub at Gibraltar Point

Looking west from the ringing at Gibraltar Point

Spent yesterday morning dipping Subalpine Warbler at Gibraltar Point, but nice to pick up a Hooded Crow flying N and then back S as compensation (a Lincs tick if I kept a Lincs list). Also Yellow Wags, Gropper, male Hen Harrier and a SW movement of Buzzards and Red Kites #ukbirding #birds

Adult Little Gull at Langford Lowfields over Phase 2.

Adult Little Gull at Langford Lowfields over Phase 2.

Adult Little Gull at Langford Lowfields over Phase 2.

Greenshank on the Deep Water Pit at Langford Lowfields.

There was only one, and it could have been closer, but pleased to come across a Little Gull on Phase 2 at Langford Lowfields last night, having missed the big passage of them a few days ago! Also a more confiding Greenshank and 2 White Wagtails #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Sunrise over the Deep Water Pit at Langford Lowfields

The 2 Glossy Ibises in flight watched on by observers on Phase 3 at Langford Lowfields

Courting Great Crested Grebes at Langford Lowfields

Having suffered the frustration of missing all the Little Gull action on Friday stuck at work it was nice to spend much of today at Langford and Collingham. Best were 2 Med Gulls heading high north, 1 Greenshank, 1 Cattle Egret and the 2 long-staying Glossy Ibises #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Little Gull.

Little Gull.

Ruff (with Cormorant, Shelduck and Coot).

Avocet.

No Kittiwakes through Langford Lowfields when I was there today, but some nice birding here (and at Collingham Pits) over the weekend, including Friday’s Little Gull, my first LRP, Wheatear and Sand Martins of the spring, plus 1 Ruff, 1 Ringed Plover and 3 Avocets #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Just after sunrise at Langford Lowfields, Notts, looking over Phase 1

Glossy Ibis at Langford Lowfields, Notts.

A gorgeous morning for a circuit of Langford Lowfields, just missing a Sand Martin. The 2 Glossy Ibises showed well at times on Phase 1, but could disappear into the reeds - it’ll be interesting to see how long they stick around for… 12 Whooper Swans best of the rest #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Having failed at the weekend to relocate the 2 Glossy Ibises that were at Langford Lowfields briefly on Thursday, they were refound at Girton on Sunday. Today was my first chance to go and see them, looking smart in the early spring sun #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Bewick’s Swan (right) with two Whooper Swans on Gringley Carr, Notts.

Part of the Whooper Swan herd on Gringley Carr, Notts.

Corn Buntings (and a Linnet) in Gringley Carr, Notts.

Two redhead Smew on Wharf Pit at Collingham Pits, Notts.

An afternoon on the carrlands of north Notts, a Bewick’s Swan amongst 205 Whooper Swans and at least 25 Corn Buntings on Gringley Carr the highlight. Pulled in the 2 Smew in a downpour on the patch on the way home, reappeared after a three week absence #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Stonechat (1st W male) at Mons Pool, Notts

Stonechat (1st W male) at Mons Pool, Notts

Pink-footed and Russian White-fronted Geese at Girton Pits, Notts

Whooper Swans distantly at at Girton Pits, Notts

An obliging Stonechat digiscoped on the patch this afternoon. At Girton the gaggle of wild geese remain in the sheep fields, with the 5 Russian White-fronts and 8 Pink-feet today joined by 9 Whooper Swans #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

I’ve not down recently, but I think the perimeter path is open and accessible, but the Visitor Trail on the reserve itself remains closed…

The 5 Russian White-fronted Geese continue at Girton Pits. This part of the Trent Valley has an excellent track record for this species, but as my favourite goose they’re not taken for granted - although I wouldn’t say no to another Tundra Bean Goose or two… #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Three Russian White-fronted Geese (front) and two Pink-footed Geese (behind) with Mute Swans in the sheep fields at Girton Pits.

All five Russian White-fronted Geese and the two Pink-footed Geese behind.

Two of the Russian White-fronted Geese, including the bird with the heaviest belly barring.

Two Whooper Swans amongst the Mutes in the sheep fields at Girton Pits, the left hand bird a yellow ring (unreadable due to distance).

Better looks at the 5 Russian White-fronted Geese at Girton Pits this morning, now present for almost a month, plus 2 Pink-footed Geese and 2 Whooper Swans. At least one of the redhead Smew still at Collingham Pits. #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Cattle Egret (right) with one of five Little Egrets sheltering from Storm Éowyn behind a hedge on Besthorpe Meadow.

One of two redhead Smew on Wharf Pit at Collingham Pits, amongst other wildfowl.

The first local Cattle Egret of the year (found on Monday) sheltering from the wind behind a hedge at Besthorpe Meadow this afternoon. Nearby, the now 2 redhead Smew were on Wharf Pit again, having been at Mons Pool, although not associating with each other… #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Good numbers of wildfowl across the patch today following the recent flooding, including a total of 87 Pintail, plus the lingering redhead Smew at Collingham Pits and the 5 Russian White-fronts at Girton, as well as 6 Barnacle and 3 Pink-footed Geese and 9 Curlew #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

With the patch flooded, frozen and largely inaccessible, I had a change of scenery today and headed to the Dukeries to look for Hawfinches, at one site counting an impressive 51 (at least) as they flew from one tree group to another; quality birds, even in poor light #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Whooper and Mute Swans

A Greylag with an orange neck collar (NJL)

Pink-footed Geese

Redhead Smew

14 Whooper Swans at Girton this morning, but no sign of Wednesday’s White-fronts here, or in the feral geese at Collingham /Carlton - although a Greylag with a neck collar (orange NJL) was a first for me, alongside 11 Pink-feet. The redhead Smew continues on Wharf Pit #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

And just to be clear, I didn’t find this one!

Green-winged Teal at Langford Lowfields this evening, found earlier today. The 2nd for the site, turning up 21 years to the day since I found the 1st on 3 Jan 2004! This bird presumably the one that was found at Holme Pierrepont on New Years Day but not seen since #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Correction: 93 species (Common Gull double-counted). Final Notts total was 119 species.

An enjoyable day around Newark as part of a three-way bird race between Notts, Derbys and Leics. Personal total of 94 species (out of a Notts total of 118) included 5 Russian White-fronts at Girton, but had some silly misses and dipped the ‘nailed on’ Slav Grebe at Kilvington… #ukbirding #birds

Bridled Tern in Northumberland, Collared Flycatcher at Spurn, Caspian Tern at Finningley Quarry, Notts (self-found whilst twitching the Black-winged Pratincole, the same site also hosting a Lesser Yellowlegs a few weeks later) and Gull-billed Tern at Holme Pierrepont, Notts.

A Bar-tailed Godwit at Collingham Pits, Notts (one of multiple birds turning up in what was a very good spring for this species locally), Spoonbill at Mons Pool, Notts (several birds summering here alongside the breeding Cattle Egrets and Great White Egrets), a Black-throated Diver at Collingham Pits (my only patch tick of the year), and a local Little Owl.

Scilly birds - Great Shearwater, Wilson’s Petrel and Cory’s Shearwater, plus the bonus Cliff Swallow. Maybe a Scopoli’s Shearwater or South Polar Skua next time…

Richard’s Pipit and Honey Buzzard at Gibraltar Point, Lincs (the former the best find I could manage during the autumn, the latter one of three found over two visits), a Yellow-browned Warbler in my garden in Notts (maybe the most exciting moment of the year when I first heard this calling!), and the Pale-legged Leaf Warbler at Bempton Cliffs.

Some of my 2024 birding highlights - including a self-found Caspian Tern (in Notts), a garden YB Warbler, a few twitches, a week on Scilly in August and some autumn bird hunting in Lincs. On the patch, breeding Cattle and GW Egrets (1sts for Notts) and the first BT Diver were best #ukbirding #birds

A redhead Smew at Collingham Pits (on Wharf Pit) in Notts

After the early-winter excitement of the Black-throated Diver, it’s been slim pickings on the patch since, so I was pleased to come across this redhead Smew at Collingham Pits this morning, alongside a marked increase of Goldeneye (28) #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding

Slavonian Grebe still on the East Lake at Kilvington Lakes in Notts this afternoon. Present since 14th Dec, I finally made the effort to go and see it, 10 minutes down the road! #ukbirding #birds

How disappointing - I was hoping for something better from Santa 😂

Think they’re all in Notts!

There were 52 at Langford at the end of Oct, so presumably the same birds plus some additions, but yes, where have they all come from?!

A whopping 78 Egyptian Geese in Trent-side fields by the A1 at South Muskham in Notts today - certainly the highest local count, if not a county record. A single Whooper Swan at Girton yesterday (scarce round here so far this winter) was more satisfying, with an obliging Peregrine #ukbirding #birds

Ah, yes, it is a bit confusing. Unfortunately the tip at Cotham has ceased operating, which is a big loss to winter birding around here!

An increase in wildfowl across the patch since last weekend, but not holding anything unusual today. Finished off at Langford Lowfields with a 1stW Caspian Gull and another good Starling show, but the reported Hen Harrier didn’t come into roost #ukbirding #birds #nottsbirding