As with all reports of rare and scarce birds they are subject to ratification by the respective rarities committees

MAY:

16th:

The usual suspects were on show this morning; Lots of Skylark and Yellowhammer, several Stock Dove, Linnet and half a dozen Common Whitethroat all around Northfield Lane. On Rushmead Lane there were several Corn Bunting, a couple of male Pied Wagtails, a hand full of Red-legged Partridge and a very obliging Yellowhammer. So having put some new batteries in me 'box brownie'...! That brightened up a dull day.

Yellowhammer on Rushmead Lane. May 2008.  © Martyn Hayes.

14th:

There were at least four Spotted Flycatchers in the first 150 metres from the bridge repairs at Broadmead Brook heading east this morning and both Green & Great Spotted Woodpeckers were heard there. A Grey Partridge was flushed near Motocross Bushes. (Don Smith)

An impressive 152 Stock Doves were present in two locations today; 106 near Rushmead Farm and 46 on West Littleton Road. (Rob Laughton)

11th:

The highlight this morning was two Grey Partridge flushed from Northfield Lane around mid-day. Still plenty of Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer and Linnet generally. Up to six Common Whitethroats holding territories around the patch.

In addition there was another Garden Warbler south west of the village and a Hobby on the wide track east of West Littleton this afternoon. (John Barnett)

10th:

A Little Owl was seen near the derelict cottages on Rushmead Lane. Also,  10 Corn Buntings near Rushmead Farm, lots of Whitethroats singing along with Skylarks. A female Stonechat near Rushmead Farm. 20+ Yellowhammers and Linnets. A few Swallows and Pied Wagtails. 5+ Buzzards and lots of young Rooks. 4 Stock Doves, 2 Red Legged Partridge and 2 Pheasant. (Pete Coslett & Tony Vincent)

A Hobby flew up Broadmead Brook at 15:30 towards West Littleton. Also; Stock Dove 68,  Whitethroat 2, Yellowhammer 20+, Corn Bunting 10+, Mallard 2, Chiffchaff and Blackcap. (Rob Laughton)

9th:

Spotted Flycatcher male singing on the south side of Shire Hill before the road works this evening just before the heavy thunderstorms. Also; 50 Swallow, 20 House Martin, 20 Corn Bunting, Goldcrest, 2 Chiffchaff, 20 Yellowhammer, 4 Buzzard and 2 Whitethroat. (Rob Laughton)

Spotted Flycatcher at Shire Hill. May 2008.  © Rob Laughton.

8th:

The highlight from West Littleton Road, at the first bend off A420 was a pair of Grey Partridge in the field south of the allotment gardens, near the wall by the large shed. (Don Smith)

Ringswell Valley; a Garden Warbler singing and showing on & off, Lesser Whitethroat singing,  4 Common Whitethroat, Nuthatch, Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Willow Warbler. In the Rushmead Lane area; 2 Common Whitethroat, 20+ Swallow, 5 House Martin, 2 Mallard on Rushmead Flash, 5 Stock Dove,  10 Corn Bunting and 20+ Yellowhammer. (Rob Laughton)

7th:

This mornings visit: The Corn Bunting on the wire along Northfield Lane, captured this morning's tone, birds singing everywhere in the appreciation of the warm day. On Tormarton Road, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 5 Stock Doves and many Skylarks. At Rushmead Lane corner; 15 Corn Buntings, 6 Yellowhammers, several Whitethroat, Linnets, Meadow Pipits, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Song Thrush. Several Chiffchaffs down by the road closure at Shirehill. In West Littleton Road and Northfield Lane; several Corn Buntings, 7 Buzzards and a Wheatear (F) from the latter. Swallows and House Martins in buildings off Hitchin Lane, possibly nesting. (Len Ingram & Don Smith)

Corn Bunting on Northfield Lane. May 2008. © Don Smith.

6th:

Marshfield this morning; 1 Garden Warbler singing and showing well on the track to Ringswell Valley. 4 Lesser Whitethroat (1 singing 3 unusually seen fighting presumably over territory's), 1 Nuthatch, 2 Great spotted Woodpecker, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Common Whitethroat and a Wheatear along West Littleton Road. (Rob Laughton)

5th:

Lots of Skylark, Corn Bunting and Yellowhammer around this morning. A female Whinchat was at Northfield Lane along with six or seven Wheatear as well as plenty of Swallows, House Martins and Swifts. Up to five Common Whitethroat were singing along the various tracks north of the village. To the south of the village a Garden Warbler by the path down from the skate park along the path down to the stream. Also Whitethroat and Lesser Whitethroat at Ringswell  plus lots of Willow Warblers. (John Barnett)

Whinchat on Northfield Lane. May 2008. © Rob Laughton.

At Marshfield today; 7 Wheatear, 56 Stock Dove in one flock north of Rushmead Farm, 55 Corn Bunting (including 15 singing males), 1 Sparrowhawk (male),  20+ Swifts,  10 House Martin,  5 Common Whitethroat and 20+ Yellowhammer. (Rob Laughton)

3rd:

At least 15 Wheatears seen, 6 in fields by Rushmead Farm, 4 in fields along Rushmead Lane and the rest along the West Littleton Road. An excellent male Whinchat behind the chicken farm on Rushmead Lane. A few Whitethroats by Rushmead Farm, lots of Skylarks singing and a few Corn Buntings. 20+ Yellowhammers and 22 Stock Doves in fields behind Rushmead Farm. 5 Buzzards, 10+ Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Many Swallows, Linnets and a few Pied Wagtails. Greenfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinch seen and all the usual corvids. (Pete Coslett & Tony Vincent)

1st:

A fairly slow start to May on the patch; A Wheatear female (Rushmead Lane), 2 Corn Bunting, 20 Yellowhammer and 5 Swallows.

Click here for previous months patch news

THE BIRDS - 2008 Year List -  91

Barn Owl, Blackbird, Blackcap, Black-headed Gull, Blue Tit, Brambling, Bullfinch, Canada Goose, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Collared Dove, Common Buzzard, Common Gull, Common Whitethroat, Coot, Corn Bunting, Dunnock, Fieldfare, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Golden Plover, Goldfinch, Goshawk, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Great Tit, Greenfinch, Green Woodpecker, Grey Heron, Grey Partridge, Grey Wagtail, Herring Gull, Hobby, House Martin, House Sparrow, Jackdaw, Jay, Kestrel, Lapland Bunting, Lapwing, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Whitethroat, Little Owl, Linnet, Long-tailed Tit, Marsh Tit, Magpie, Mallard, Meadow Pipit, Merlin, Mistle Thrush, Moorhen, Mute Swan, Nordic Jackdaw, Nuthatch, Peregrine, Pheasant, Pied Flycatcher, Pied Wagtail, Raven, Red Kite, Red-legged Partridge, Redwing, Reed Bunting, Robin, Rook, Sand Martin, Short-eared Owl, Siskin, Skylark, Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove, Stonechat, Sparrowhawk, Spotted Flycatcher, Swallow, Swift, Tawny Owl, Treecreeper, Tree Pipit, Wheatear, Whinchat, White Wagtail, Willow Warbler, Woodcock, Woodpigeon, Wren, Yellowhammer and Yellow Wagtail.

Home