April
Erewash Meadows. Highlights this month included a Little Egret on Railway Marsh on the 7th, a Green Sandpiper seen at both ends of the reserve on 18th and 19th, and a Marsh Harrier seen on the 30th.
Wildfowl numbers were predictably lower this month, 16 Teal early in the month but diminishing throughout, 6 or 7 Gadwall present throughout the month, joined by Mandarin on the 22nd to 25th. 2 Little Grebe also present throughout, along with a steady number of Mallard, 2 Shoveler and 2 Great Crested Grebe on Brinsley Flash. The Pink-foot was also present again all month, with about 20 Greylag (with Goslings on the 25th) and at least 4 Canada Geese. The two (at least) resident Grey Heron also persisted.
Warblers started to increase, a singing warbler species counted on a 2 hour (08-15 to 10-15) circuit of the reserve on the 24th gave – 11 Whitethroats,10 Willow Warblers, 7 Chiffchaff, 4 each of Blackcap and Sedge Warblers, 3 Lesser Whitethroats and 1 Grasshopper Warbler. All 3 Hirundine species were recorded, first date for Sand Martin being the 6th (as far as I know).
Other sightings of note; a flock of 46 Linnets at the top end of the reserve were presumed to be the ones frequenting the area since January, Little Owls seen regularly, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard all regular, and at least 5 Skylark noted. Up to 8 Tree Sparrows also noted at the Jacksdale end of the canal, 5 Bullfinch on the 6th (with lower numbers throughout the month), the regular pair of Grey Partridge were also seen on several occasions.
Highest daily species count was 53 on the 24th.
Mammals: 2 Hares noted on the 4th and several bats (at least 2 species) noted from the 6th.
Butterflies: only records I have are of Small Tortoiseshell but must be more.
Other: Grass Snakes seen on a few occasions and Frog Spawn noted in “Taylors” area.
Bennerley Marsh Monthly Report – April.
At the beginning of the month the winter residents had thinned out some what, Wigeon were down to about ten and falling by the day, a similar story for teal, two or three Shoveler made sporadic appearances and a female Goosander showed on the River Erewash on the 4th .
Migration was under way with a Yellow Wagtail on the 3rd along with 20 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, plus Buzzard and 2 Grey partridge.
By the 8th Swallow and Sand Martin were drifting in, as were Chiffchaff and more Meadow Pipit. 160 Golden Plover were on the marsh, but only 9 Lapwing.
32 Sand Martin at Shipley on the 9th, with a handful of Swallows and 3 Chiffchaff.
Still 100 Golden Plover on the 11th and Willow Warblers had arrived.
At Bentlleys Plantation on the 16th a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was drumming and calling, plus 2 Blackcap, a Chiffchaff and 2 Buzzard.
Back at Chat Corner the first Grasshopper Warbler had arrived, also, a Whitethroat and a couple of Willow Warblers.
A Green Sandpiper was on the marsh on the 17th along with 12 Lapwing, a male and female Gadwall, 4 Willow Warbler and 7 Chiffchaff.
Grasshopper Warbler, 7 Reed Bunting, 5 Meadow Pipit, 5 Skylark, Green Woodpecker and a Buzzard were at Chat Corner.
A handsome Shelduck was present on the marsh on the 20th along with 11 Teal and lapwing numbers down to about 16.
Sedge Warbler was at Tathams Pond on the 21st with 3 Reed Bunting, at Shipley Gate, 40 Sand Martin and 7 Swallow. 6 Swallow and 8 Sand Martin on the North Marsh. Shelduck and 7 Teal back at Bennerley.
3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap, Green Woodpecker, 16 Lapwing and 4 Teal at Bennerley, a single Wheatear at Chat Corner, plus, 2 Skylark, 3 Reed Bunting and a
Green Woodpecker
The 30th produced 2 garden Warblers, 2 Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and a surprise visit from a Barn Owl. A grasshopper warbler was at Chat Corner and 4 Reed Warbler were at Tathams Pond along with 2 Sedge Warbler and 2 Whitethroat.
By mid month Great Crested Newts were showing in decent numbers, Grass Snakes were around and insects were on the wing. Butterflies. Orange Tip, Large, Small and Green Vein Whites, Peacocks, Small Tortoiseshells, Brimstones, Comma’s plus Buff Tailed and Red tailed Bumble Bees.
March
Erewash Meadows. The site remained flooded and muddy nearly all month. The Pink-footed Goose and female Goosander continued to be seen, the former was present all month and the latter til at least the 26th. 9 Goosander were present on Brinsley Flash on the 17th and 3 Pink Foot were recorded on the 19th. On the 12th a Hen Harrier was seen to fly over and another unidentified Harrier on the 19th.
Wildfowl numbers remained high with c80 Widgeon at the start of the month, and still double figure Teal (40 present on the 5th) and up to 8 Shoveler. Also 3 Mandarin (2 drakes) present on the 25th, at least 3 pairs of Gadwall, 8 Tufted Ducks present, also up to 8 Mallard, plus a Shelduck on the 13th, and at least 2 little Grebe nearly all month. Canada Goose (high count 4 – though this seems low) and Greylag Goose (high count 24). Waders were represented by a returning Redshank to Aldercar from the 17th and displaying lapwing from the start of the month – also two Snipe on Forge Pond on the 9th. 3 Water Rail were recorded on the 5th.
Warber-wise, posible Chiff-chaff were seen on the 6th but first definite recorded on the 20th, with up to four by the end of the month. Hirundines: At least 3 Swallows seen on the 31st.
Fieldfare well seen with highest count of 70 at the start of the month and 4 Redwing on the 25th. Small Passerine numbers were reportedly down at the start of the month, especially Wrens, but good numbers of Tits (inc Willow) at the feeders on Stoney Lane. A Coal Tit was seen on the 25th, a scarce species for the reserve. Chaffinch numbers still noticably high, and blackbirds doing well. Green and Greater Spotted Woodpeckers also sighted often, Dunnock, Goldfinch and Greenfinch were also regular, as were a pair of Bullfinch. Three siskin were spotted on the 12th.
A pair of Grey Partridge were present nearly all month and were joined by Red-legged on the 25th. Skylark singing on the 19th. Also Kingfisher seen on Jacksdale Canal since the willows were cleared.
Regular Kestrel seen all month and also Little Owl seen several times over the month, at least 2 Buzzard also regular over the reserve – with 3 the highest count of the month.
Mammals: 5 Hares on the 19th, with singles on other dates.
Butterflies: First was Small Tortoiseshell on the 19th.
Bennerley Marsh. The only Jack Snipe seen was on the 2nd. Common Snipe were present in one’s and two’s until month’s end. Wigeon numbers peaked at 90 and then tailed off with 10 on the 28th. Teal reached 35 and then steadied at
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