Welcome to the Website of the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers
This page will be updated on a daily basis, to provide a convenient news service to scarce & rare birds found within the County Nottinghamshire.
The Sightings page and @Nottsbirders Twitter feed are intended to alert birders to scarcer species that they might be interested in seeing within the County.
Records of more common species are still very important, but should preferably be submitted to the county Recorder Keith Rainford Bullfinch194@gmail.com These records will then be added to the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers data-base, to be included in the monthly Newsletter and Annual Reports.
None of these reports have been verified or checked by the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers' Records Committee.
"Records of certain sensitive species may not appear here during the breeding season, unless publicised by site managers or where records relate to what are likely to be passage migrants or wandering non-breeding individuals rather than breeders. Species that this generally applies to include (but are not necessarily limited to): Avocet, Bearded Tit, Bittern, Black-necked Grebe, Black Redstart, Cetti's Warbler. Goshawk (except from Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint), Honey-buzzard (except from Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint), Marsh Harrier, Mediterranean Gull, Nightingale, Peregrine (except for Nottingham City Centre), Raven, Red Kite and Woodlark (except for Sherwood Forest NNR/Budby Common). For a range of other species, we will not include specific breeding information - this includes Barn Owl, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Little Ringed Plover, Nightjar, Turtle Dove and Willow Tit. Nevertheless, please submit your sightings anyway."
Please report your Latest Sightings to: nottsbirders@gmail.com or @NottsBirders on the Twitter feed.
Please remember to submit all sightings to Keith Rainford Bullfinch194@gmail.com each month, using the Excel spreadsheet that can be downloaded from the Recording page.
The Birdwatchers Code of Conduct.
The interests of the bird comes first, please follow the Birdwatchers code of conduct
Archived Sightings 2001 - 2023
Archived Sightings 2001 to 2023
Archived Sightings 2024
Species shown in bold Purple on this page are BBRC rarities or species recorded on less than ten occasions in the county. Bold Blue are rare and scarce county birds recorded less than annually that require a description or supporting details for the society’s archive. A full list of these species can be found on the Recording page. Red are species of interest. Bold Grey are unconfirmed sightings or a species of unknown origin.
136 Species have been recorded so far in 2024.
Updated 2nd March 2024.
Full List HERE
Helm Identification Guides
The Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America added to the Sales page.
Monday 18th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Cattle Egret, 30 Sand Martin [over Clifton Pit, this evening].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - 3 Redshank [single Mattersey Common, 2 Chainbridge Pit, this afternoon], Cattle Egret [Tiln North], 5 Curlew [over Tiln North], Common Redpoll, Lesser Redpoll [Parish Park].
Littleborough - HEN HARRIER [ringtail over nearby fields, 10:30].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead and Annesley CP] - MEALY REDPOLL [still coming to feeders before the Fishing Lake, mid-morning at least].
Mealy Redpoll - Annesley Pit Top © Paul Naylor.
Sunday 17th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Iceland Gull [juvenile, again Gull Island Clifton Pit 13:00 to 16:00 then flew off]; also 2 Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Curlew, 56 Goldeneye, 45 Goosander, 6 Sand Martin.
Bentinck Pit Tip - 9 JACK SNIPE, Sand Martin].
Langford Lowfields - 3 Cattle Egret, Black Swan, 3 Oystercatcher, 3 Curlew, Dunlin, 3 Sand Martin [this afternoon; note that the reserve is still closed due to high water levels, viewing permited from the perimeter path only].
Collingham Pits - 2 SMEW [redheads, Ferry Farm Lake, 14:27].
Sherwood Forest NNR - c.10 WAXWING [flew south-east over the forest 12:51].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead and Annesley CP] - MEALY REDPOLL [still coming to feeders before the Fishing Lake].
Saturday 16th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Iceland Gull [juvenile flew low east over the Visitor Centre 10:56, then settled on Gull Island Clifton Pit 13:07 at least].
Iceland Gull - Attenborough Nature Reserve © Simon Roberts.
Idle Washlands - Ferruginous Duck x Pochard hybrid, Oystercatcher, Redshank, 2 Great White Egret, 2 Red-legged Partridge, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Marsh Harrier, 2 Stock Dove [Slaynes Lane]. Todays Doncaster Birding
Balderton - WAXWING [single along the cycle track].
Holme Pierrepont - 2 Cattle Egret [A52 Pit]; also 2 SMEW [drake and redhead still present].
King's Mill Reservoir - Yellow-legged Gull [2nd-winter, to mid-morning at least].
Clifton Grove - 6 LITTLE GULL [flew north-east over Beeston Weir, 08:58].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead and Annesley CP] - MEALY REDPOLL [still at feeders before the Fishing Lake, this morning].
Langford Lowfields - Rock/Water Pipit [over east, 07:54].
Friday 15th March
Hoveringham - 4 KITTIWAKE [through Saiing Lake 12:10 then followed river upstream], Chiffchaff [singing Sailing Lake], Great White Egret [Railway Pit].
Thoresby - 5 WAXWING [still along Netherfield Lane briefly this morning].
Collingham - 2 Cattle Egret [still in field off Westfield Lane, 09:13].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead and Annesley CP] - MEALY REDPOLL [again by feeders before the Fishing Lake, this morning].
Stragglethorpe - 5 Oystercatcher [circling and calling above the Cemetery and adjacent fields 07:00].
Thursday 14th March
Thoresby - 20 WAXWING [still along Netherfield Lane tho mobile this afternoon].
Hoveringham - 15 Brambling [in seed fields on perimeter of village].
Rufford Pit Top - Redshank [circuit over the lakes, then lost to view 11:00].
Strawberry Hill Heath - 3 Chiffchaff [singing, 10:00].
Ratcliffe on Soar - Chiffchaff [singing briefly], also Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Siskin, Mistle Thrush.
Collingham Pits - 2 SMEW [redheads, Ferry Farm Lake, 09:40].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Clifton Pit 06:20 then flew off with Goosanders; returning to roost this evening], 2 Sand Martin [Clifton Pit, through west 07:00], 50 Goosander, 53 Shoveler, single Sand Martin [Clifton Pit this evening].
Wednesday 13th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Clifton Pit, late afternoon], 30 Goosander, 50+Goldeneye, 30 Shoveler.
King's Mill Reservoir - 2 Yellow-legged Gull [2nd-winters mid-morning].
Newark on Trent - 98 Wigeon, 10 Teal [A46 bypass lake].
Tuesday 12th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, left Clifton Pit 06:23; Main Pond 15:30 and back to Clifton Pit to roost this evening]; also 44 Goosander, 28 Shoveler, 2 Pintail.
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - 3 Cattle Egret, 2 Great White Egret, singing Chiffchaff [Neatholme area].[
Besthorpe NR - Pink-footed Goose [Mons Pool].
Monday 11th March
Hoveringham - ROCK PIPIT [Sailing Lake briefly before departing north-east]; also Cattle Egret, 2 Whooper Swan.
Welbeck Raptor Watchpoint - GOSHAWK [from the viewpoint, 13:45].
Idle Washlands WeBS+ - 29 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag Geese, 14 Mute Swan, 4 Shelduck, 162 Shoveler, 96 Gadwall, 650 Wigeon, 107 Mallard, 12 Pintail, 315 Teal, 37 Tufted Duck, 3 Moorhen, 73 Coot, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Oystercatcher, 71 Lapwing, 9 Ruff, 170 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 16 Redshank, 20 Black-headed Gull, 2 Cormorant, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Peregrine, 10 WAXWING [Hagg Lane Flash, briefly 11:20], Sand Martin, Treecreeper [Bawtry Flood/Newington Flash/Hagg Lane Flash/Unit 1; S. Yorks/Notts], 25 Canada Geese, 43 Greylag Geese, 19 Mute Swan, 2 Whooper Swan, Egyptian Goose, Shelduck, 87 Shoveler, 62 Gadwall, 170 Wigeon, 74 Mallard, 74 Teal, 496 Pochard, 257 Tufted Duck, 7 Goldeneye, Moorhen, 90 Coot, 2 Little Grebe, 11 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Oystercatcher, 40 Lapwing, Ringed Plover [west], Snipe, 170 Black-headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Great White Egret, Peregrine [Misson/Slaynes Lane/Unit 2]. Todays Doncaster Birding
King's Mill Reservoir - Chiffchaff [in trees on the right side of the path just past the cafe].
Barton in Fabis - 250+Fieldfare, 2 Stonechat [behind the A453 Balancing Pond].
Sunday 10th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Iceland Gull [juvenile again reported Clifton Pit; Bird info services report but no further details], SMEW [adult drake, mobile across the reserve this morning seen on Main Pond, Clifton Pit and Coneries].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - 11 Cattle Egret [Cross Lane Fishery, 11:00], 4 Great White Egret [Chainbridge Scrape West, 17:45].
Gringley Carr – 19 Brambling, Yellowhammer, 7 Reed Buntings, 3 Greenfinch, 2 Dunnock, 3 Goldfinch, 9 Chaffinch, 1 Blackbird, 2 Great Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 36 CORN BUNTING [on wires] Todays Doncaster Birding.
Osberton Estate - 3 MEALY REDPOLL [visiting garden feeders with 25 - 30 Lesser]; also 5 Brambling and up to 10 Siskin.
Mealy Redpoll - Osberton Estate © Andy Shooter.
Newark on Trent - 107 Lapwing, 3 Common Snipe, 29 Teal, 6 Shelduck [flooded field opposite rugby club].
Gonalston - Ruddy Shelduck.
Barton in Fabis - 2 Shelduck, 17 Teal, Dunlin, c.400 Fieldfare [flooded fields off Trentside, early morning].
Saturday 9th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Iceland Gull [juvenile Clifton Pit on Gull Island early afternoon to 16:14 at least], SMEW [adult drake, showing very well by the Visitor Centre early morning], Cattle Egret [Tween Pond from the screen, this morning], 3 Shelduck, 2 Great White Egret [Clifton Pit].
Iceland Gull - Attenborough Nature Reserve © Alan Clewes.
Smew - Attenborough Nature Reserve © Andy Hall.
Misson East - 59 Whooper Swan, 3 Egyptian Geese, 25 Pintail, 120 Shoveler, 175 Wigeon, 65 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 25 Dunlin, 3 Oystercatcher, 65 Lapwing, 3 Grey Wagtail.
Idle Washlands - 18 Cattle Egret, 2 Goldeneye [Slaynes Lane].
Gedling CP - WAXWING [flock reported again; Bird info services but no further details].
Ossington - TREE SPARROW [between Ossington and Sutton on Trent].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - Cattle Egret [single Tiln North].
King's Mill Reservoir - 15 Whooper Swan [09:35 - 16:00 at least]; also Yellow-legged Gull [2nd-summer].
Kilvington Lakes - 2 Whooper Swan [East Lake this morning].
Friday 8th March
Collingham Pits - c.270 Whooper Swan [north/north-west late afternoon; including a group around 200 which looked to have come up from fields west of the Trent].
Netherfield Lagoons - MEDITERRANEAN GULL [1st-winter], Black-tailed Godwit [on riverside flash, this afternoon].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Main Pond from the riverside screen, 13:11].
Hoveringham - Cattle Egret [still Sailing Lake].
Langford Lowfields - 500+Whooper Swan [through heading north this morning].
King's Mill Reservoir - 7 Whooper Swan [present to 11:30 at least].
Scaftworth - 2 LITTLE GULL [adults over flooded fields 10:15].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead & Annesley CP] - 13 Whooper Swan [heading north, 08:26].
Sherwood Forest NNR - 80 Whooper Swan [over 08:25].
Norwell - c.60 Whooper Swan [heading west, 07:50].
Woodborough - c.100 Whooper Swan [heading north-west, 07:47].
Newark on Trent - 60 Whooper Swan [heading north-west, 07:45], 2 Oystercatcher, 100+Lapwing, 5 Dunlin, 3 Shelduck [flooded field opposite the Rugby Club].
Thursday 7th March
Netherfield Lagoons - 23 LITTLE GULL [lingering over the Deep Pit 17:42 then flew north-east along the River Trent 17:45]
Holme Pierrepont - 20 LITTLE GULL [A52 Pit this afternoon, then flew north-east towards Netherfield, 17:33], 2 Avocet [Blotts Pit], Pink-footed Goose [in with Greylags, A52 Pit].
Little Gull - Holme Pierrepont © Alan Clewes.
Warsop -Merlin [over heading east 17:06].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Main Pond from the screen this morning/afternoon; then flew into Clifton Pit with Goosanders to roost, 17:00].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - Sand Martin, 2 Snipe [Neatholme Fen, early afternoon], 12 Red-crested Pochard, 2 Great White Egret [Neatholme area].
Wednesday 6th March
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Main Pond from the screen this morning/afternoon; then relocated to Clifton Pit this evening].
Hoveringham - Cattle Egret [Sailing Lake, 13:30 at least], 4 Brambling [seed fields by the village].
Holme Pierrepont - COMMON SCOTER [drake], 2 SMEW [drake and redhead], 1w GREATER SCAUP [A52 Pit early afternoon].
Sherwood Forest NNR - 8 Stonechat [4 pairs, Budby Common, 11:30].
Idle Washlands - 160 Dunlin, 5 Ruff, 8 Redshank [Slaynes Lane; flooded field between West Pit and the Mushroom Factory], 2 WAXWING [Hagg Lane on the Nott's/York's boundary, 10:30].
Clumber Park - MEDITERRANEAN GULL [Clumber Lake opposite the Chaple 10:30], 9 Hawfinch [in trees near the Chaple this morning].
West Bridgford - 12 Redwing [Central Avenue].
Tuesday 5th March
Misson East - 30 Whooper Swan, 8 Pintail, Dunlin.
Misson Springs [Finningley GP] - 210 Pink-footed Geese, 13 Curlew, Ruff, GBBG, Grey Wagtail.
Spalford Pit - 4 Pintail [2 pairs].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - 9 Cattle Egret [Tiln North, this morning].
Newark on Trent - 5 Shelduck, 150 Lapwing [flooded field opposite the Rugby Club].
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead & Annesley CP] - 2 Whooper Swan [Middle Lagoon, this morning].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Cattle Egret, Great White Egret [Coneries roost, early morning], Whooper Swan [over north, this morning], SMEW [adult drake, still on Main Pond from riverside screens, 14:30 at least], Blackcap.
Monday 4th March
East Bridgford - Hooded Crow [probable, Lammas Lane 12:30; and again briefly in flight on farm track north of the village looking south, 15:00].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, showing well on Main Pond displaying to a redhead Goosander, 14:58].
Kelham - 30+Whooper Swan [flooded field between Newark Rugby Club and Kelham Bridge, 14:30]; also 100+Lapwing, single Dunlin.
Misson East - 2 BEWICK'S SWAN [adults in with c.200 Whooper Swan, this morning]; also Curlew.
Rufford CP - Hawfinch [single from the main car park, 07:30], 7 Goosander [Main Lake], Grey Heron, Great-crested Grebe, Buzzard, Green Woodpecker, 5 Jay, 30+Redwing.
Sunday 3rd March
Collingham Pits - 2 SMEW [redheads Wharf Pit, this afternoon].
Girton - 14 Whooper Swan [fields north end of Girton].
Collingham/Langford - 4 Cattle Egret [still in residence on Westfield Lane].
Attenborough Nature Reserve - SMEW [adult drake, Main Pond from the screen late morning].
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - 6 Cattle Egret [Tiln North, late morning], Goldeneye [c.30 across the site], Goosander [drake on Water Ski Club lake drake & female Neatholme Scrape], Shoveler - c.60 across the site, inc c.40 at Neatholme Fen], Wigeon [c.200 across the site], Pochard [c.30 across the site], Red-crested Pochard [single Neatholme Scrape], Great White Egret [single Neatholme Fen, 2 on flooded area at Cross Lane], Little Egret [Neatholme Scrape], Marsh Harrier [female flew across Neatholme Scrape,approx 10.30], Oystercatcher [pairs Water Ski Pit, Doughty's Pit, Lower Sheep Fields, Bellmoor Lake], 15 Herring Gull [Bellmoor Lake], Redwing [c.20 near Bittern Pool], Chiffchaff [singing Bellmoor Lake; 2 heard Neatholme Fen], Siskin [c.10 on Chainbridge Lane], TREE SPARROW [c.15 on Chainbridge Lane].
Barton in Fabis - 2 Great White Egret, 4 Little Egret [on flood water off Manor Road, this morning]; also 4 Grey Partridge, Stonechat.
Bulwell - 2 Goosander [on the River Leen].
Hoveringham - Ruddy Shelduck [drake still on the River Trent near Ferry Farm].
Gedling CP - Stonechat, Reed Bunting.
Saturday 2nd March
Lound [Idle Valley NR] - House Martin [Chainbridge Scrape, Bird Information Services report], 7 Cattle Egret, 2 Water Rail, Green Woodpecker [Tiln Wood area], 5 Red-crested Pochard, 4 Great White Egret, Marsh Harrier [female], Chiffchaff [Neatholme area].
Elkesley - Whooper Swan [heard flying over but not seen], Great White Egret, Common Crossbill.
Sherwood Forest NNR - 3 Marsh Tit.
Attenborough Nature Reserve - Cattle Egret [Coneries, early morning].
Friday 1st March
Annesley Pit Top [Newstead & Annesley CP] - MEALY REDPOLL [near feeders before the first fishing lake, 09:05].
Hoveringham - Ruddy Shelduck [drake still on the River Trent near Ferry Farm].
Kelham - Goosander [Kelham Bridge].
Many thanks to:
Merv Bartle, Graham Beeley, Steve Beresford, Ian Bollen, Rich Box, Robin Brace, Mark Brown, Andrew Buckley, Paul Buxton, Pete Freeman, Steve Furber, Toby Carter, Alan Clewes, Miles Cluff, Ian Cowgill, Nick Crouch, Mark Dawson, David Elliott, Robin Elliott, John Ellis, Del Evans, Adrian Ford, Ade Fox, Richard Gratton, Indy Kiemel Greene, Andy Hall, Gareth Hirons, Gary Hobson, Paul Hobson, John Hopper, Dave Hursthouse Angela Janaway, Ian Livsey, John S. Mansfield, Dawn Marie, Martin McCallum, Ged Morley, Paul Naylor, Roy Nettleship, Peter Playle, Jason Pound, Andrew Przeslak, Simon Roberts, Alfie Seastron, Alan Scrimshaw, Andy Shooter, Edmund Staunton, Simon Thompson, Steve Thorpe, Mick Tring, David Tyldesley, Bob Usher, Michael Walker, Rich Ward, Steve Wilkinson, Peter Whitworth, Rob Woodward, Graham Wyvill.
Notts Rare and Scarce Whatapp Group, Lound Whatapp Group, Idle Washlands Whatapp Group, @NottsBirders Twitter Feed, RSPB Langford Lowfields, Netherfield Wildlife Group, Doncaster Birding.
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