Bennerley Marsh Wildlife 2009

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T18:57:00.001Z

Well, that's my first full year at Bennerley and now I’ve got to know my way around I’m looking forward to 2010 and the only thing left to do for 2009 is to wish everyone, A Happy New year and good luck with the birds and other wildlife. Dave J.

Sightings

2009-12-31T18:31:00.001Z

70 Black-Headed Gull, 6 Common Gull, 150 Lapwing, 33 Wigeon, 16 Teal, Green Woodpecker, Jay, 12 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Bullfinch. Chat Corner. Jack Snipe, 3 Common Snipe, 2 Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, 3 Reed Bunting, 2 Goosander. North Marsh. Jack Snipe, 11 Snipe, Green Sandpiper, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Goosander.

Sightings

2009-12-27T18:51:00.001Z

2 Kestrel, 9 Cormorant, 7 Pheasant, 3 Grey Partridge, 2 Chiffchaff, 60 Black- Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull , 60 Lapwing, Redshank, 83 Teal, 53 Wigeon, 30 Redwing, 5 Mistle Thrush, 3 Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher.

Sightings

2009-12-26T19:44:00.001Z

90 Black-Headed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 45 Wigeon, 90 Lapwing, 50 Golden Plover, Green Woodpecker, 30 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, Tawny Owl. Water Treatment Works. 65 Pied Wagtail, 9 Meadow Pipit, Fieldfare. Chat Corner. 2 Kestrel, 2 Snipe, Barn Owl.

Sightings

2009-12-25T18:28:00.001Z

30 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 64 Lapwing, 44 Wigeon, 130 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, 8 Mistle Thrush, Chat Corner. 2 Meadow Pipit, Reed Bunting, Short-Eared Owl, 2 Kestrel. North Marsh. 9 Snipe, 40 Lapwing, 2 Teal, 47 Fieldfare, 25 Redwing, 60 Jackdaw.

Sightings

2009-12-24T10:46:00.000Z

35 Wigeon, 70 Lapwing, Snipe, 2 Kestrel, 70 Jackdaw, 40 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.

Sightings

2009-12-23T18:01:00.001Z

85 Lapwing, 7 Snipe, 125 Redwing, 20 Fieldfare, 5 Mistle thrush, 2 Jay, 2 Kestrel, 2 Stonechat [m/f] 2 Barn Owl, 10 Teal, 7 Wigeon, 4 Cormorant, 120 Jackdaw.

Sightings

2009-12-20T18:16:00.001Z

10 Golden Plover, 50 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 30 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 95 Redwing, 2 Bullfinch, 6 Goldfinch.

Chat Corner. Jack Snipe, 3 Snipe, 70 Lapwing, 2 Stonechat [male’s] 2 Cormorant, 3 Teal. Thanks to CL.

Sighting

2009-12-19T18:20:00.001Z

African Grey Parrot [now recaptured] 48 Wigeon, 7 Teal, 80 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 60 Lapwing, 15 Golden Plover, 4 Snipe, 2 Pheasant, 4 Stonechat, 3 Bullfinch, 190 Redwing, 5 Fieldfare, Short-Eared Owl, Barn Owl, Kestrel, Coal Tit, Willow Tit.

Sightings

2009-12-18T18:20:00.001Z

50 Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 Common Gull, 42 Wigeon, Shoveler, 70 Lapwing, 95 Golden Plover, 10 Snipe, 75 Redwing, 8 Fieldfare, 3 Green Woodpecker, 3 Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl, African Grey Parrot.

North Marsh. 5 Fieldfare, 3 Redwing, 3 Snipe, 6 Pheasant.

Lapwings

2009-12-16T12:10:00.000Z

Lapwings are a fairly common sight over Bennerley Marsh in winter, but in past years there were many times more.

A few pairs breed in the spring, sadly, there is some disturbance of various sorts, so not all the chicks survive.

Garden List-2009 [in, thro’ over, or seen from]]

2009-12-16T12:04:00.001Z

Cormorant, Grey Heron, Common Crane, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Mallard, Teal, Sparrow Hawk, Common Buzzard, Hobby, Kestrel, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Black-Headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Tern, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Swift, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Skylark, Sand Martin, Swallow, House Martin, Meadow Pipit, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Waxwing, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Black Bird, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Red Wing, Mistle Thrush, Chiffchaff, Whitethroat, Long-Tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Coal Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Starling, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Rook, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Siskin, Goldfinch, Bullfinch,

The Bennerley Bird List-2009

2009-12-14T17:18:00.001Z

* B denotes some breeding evidence.

Mute Swan [B] , Whooper Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard [B] Shoveler, Tufted Duck [B] Goosander, Grey Partridge [B] Red-Legged Partridge, Pheasant [B] Little Grebe [B] Cormorant, Little Egret, Grey Heron [B] Goshawk, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Kestrel [B] Merlin, Hobby, Peregrine Falcon, Water Rail, Moorhen [B] Coot [B] Little Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Lapwing [B] Knot, Dunlin, Jack Snipe, Snipe, Woodcock, Redshank, Green Sandpiper, Black-Headed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Herring Gull, Yellow Legged Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, Common Tern, Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon [B] Stock Dove [B] Wood Pigeon [B] Collared Dove, Cuckoo, [B] Barn Owl [B] Short-Eared Owl, Swift [B] Green Woodpecker [B] Great Spotted Woodpecker [B] Skylark [B] Sand Martin [B] Swallow [B] House Martin [B] Meadow Pipit [B] Water Pipit, Grey Wagtail [B] Pied Wagtail [B] Waxwing, Wren [B] Dunnock [B] Robin [B] Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird [B] Fieldfare, Song Thrush [B] Redwing, Mistle Thrush, Cetti’s Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler [B] Sedge Warbler [B] Reed Warbler [B] Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat [B] Whitethroat [B] Chiffchaff [B] Willow Warbler [B] Goldcrest, Long-Tailed Tit [B] Blue Tit [B] Great Tit [B] Coal tit, Willow Tit, Marsh Tit, Tree Creeper, Jay [B] Magpie [B] Jackdaw [B] Rook, Carrion Crow [B] Starling [B] House Sparrow [B] Chaffinch [B] Greenfinch [B] Goldfinch [B] Siskin, Linnet, Lesser Redpoll, Bullfinch [B] Yellow Hammer, Reed Bunting [B] Corn Bunting

Bennerley Marsh-Butterfly List-2009

2009-12-14T17:16:00.001Z

Speckled Wood, Meadow Brown, Gatekeeper, Ringlet, Red Admiral, Painted Lady, Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, Common Blue, Holly Blue, Small Copper, Large White, Small White, Green-Veined White, Orange Tip, Brimstone, Dingy Skipper, Small Skipper, Large Skipper.

Bennerley Marsh- Dragonfly List-2009

2009-12-14T17:14:00.001Z

Banded Demoiselle, Emerald Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Red-eyed Damselfly, Azure Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Blue-Tailed Damselfly, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Brown Hawker, Emperor, Four-Spotted Chaser, Broad-Bodied Chaser, Black-Tailed Skimmer, Common Darter.

Sightings

2009-12-13T18:30:00.001Z

200 Black-Headed Gull, 7 Common Gull, Herring Gull, 70 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, Jack Snipe, 40 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 70 Redwing, Fieldfare, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Stonechat [2 male/2 female] 3 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, Green Woodpecker, 192 Jackdaw, 2 Sparrow Hawk, 2 Kestrel, Barn Owl.

Short-Eared Owl

2009-12-13T18:18:00.000Z

These pics. are a little better than my last effort !

I spent a long time stalking, this owl, which is not easy with an excitable spaniel in tow !

I am in no way a good photographer, my most important piece of kit is luck, but I’ve spent quite a few years trying trying to snap this species.

Sightings

2009-12-09T18:06:00.001Z

46 Wigeon, 14 Teal, 58 Lapwing, 120 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 30 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 14 Greenfinch, 2 Great-Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Green Woodpecker, 9 Grey Partridge, 3 Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl, Barn Owl.

Short-Eared Owl

2009-12-09T10:20:00.000Z

Best I could do with this-for now! I'll keep trying.

Sightings

2009-12-08T17:31:00.001Z

39 Wigeon, 27 Teal, 55 Lapwing, Redshank, 4 Snipe, 28 Redwing, 3 Mistle Thrush, 14 Greenfinch, 17 Meadow Pipit, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, Barn Owl.

Sightings

2009-12-06T18:38:00.000Z

110 Black-Headed Gull, 12 Common Gull, 220 Lapwing, 8 Snipe, 100 Teal, 41 Wigeon, 6 Shoveler, 39 Redwing, 14 Fieldfare, 89 Pied Wagtail,100 Starling, 5 Bullfinch, 8 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, Stonechat [fem.] Green Woodpecker, 2 Kestrel, Barn Owl.

Sightings

2009-12-05T19:17:00.001Z

Short-Eared Owl, Tawny Owl, 3 Kestrel, Buzzard, 4 Stonechat [2m. 2f.] 5 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting, 22 Fieldfare, 18 Redwing, Kingfisher, 2 Bullfinch, 160 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Great Black-Backed Gull, 260 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 48 Wigeon, 8 Teal.

North Marsh. Jack Snipe, 2 Snipe, 15 Goldfinch, 9 Redwing, 80 Pied Wagtail, 3 Grey Wagtail, 250 mixed flock Rook/Jackdaw.

Sightings

2009-12-04T17:42:00.001Z

80 Black-Headed Gull, 80 Lapwing, Common Snipe, 39 Wigeon, 3 Teal, 3 Pheasant, 3 Cormorant, 27 Redwing, 2 Meadow Pipit, 9 Greenfinch, 2 Bullfinch, Jay, 25 Rook, 45 Jackdaw, 3 Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl.

Bennerley Butterflies

2009-12-04T09:54:00.000Z

More Memories

2009-12-03T19:31:00.000Z

Orchids are found at Bennerley mostly on an old railway embankment.

Sadly, my knowledge of these beautiful plants is somewhat limited. I know there are Common Spotted, Marsh etc, but the only one I’m sure about is Bee Orchid and I haven’t seen any this year !

In the Summer the whole embankment is covered with these flowers, it really is an amazing spectacle

Spring And Summer Memories

2009-12-03T18:19:00.001Z

A Dingy Skipper butterfly, when I first came across this specie's I took it for a moth ! this apparently is normal. This uncommon butterfly was found in two locations and is a Bennerley star. Another star is Large Red Damselfly, This species is fairly numerous around three old settling ponds.

I think I may also have found Small Red Damselfly, but these are somewhat rarer, were smaller, red and had none or little of the black markings Large has. Finally for this post, the most common of the three, but still a star, the very lovable Grass Snake.

Sightings

2009-12-02T17:20:00.000Z

130 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 70 Wigeon, 26 Teal, 100 Lapwing, Jack Snipe, 2 Kingfisher, 21 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush. 30 Goldfinch, 2 Bullfinch, 2 Stonechat [male/female] 90 Jackdaw, 3 Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl.

Kestrel

2009-12-01T18:32:00.001Z

this Kestrel Was Probably hatched on the viaduct, along with several other species of bird, pigeons, Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker and probably bats and who knows what else.

Sightings

2009-12-01T17:31:00.001Z

80 Black-Headed Gull, 2 Cormorant, 25 Lapwing, Song Thrush, 2 Mistle Thrush, 7 Redwing, Green Woodpecker, 32 Jackdaw, Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl.

Stonechat

2009-11-30T20:07:00.001Z

taken at Chat Corner.

Mute Swan

2009-11-30T20:01:00.000Z

taken on the Erewash Canal

Sightings

2009-11-29T17:18:00.000Z

240, Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 90 Lapwing, 25 Golden Plover, 3 Snipe, Redshank, 9 Pied Wagtail, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Kingfisher, 3 Meadow Pipit, Linnet, 56 Wigeon, 30 Teal, Short-Eared Owl, 3 Stonechat [1 male/2 female] North Marsh. 16 Redwing, 5 Pheasant, 4 Snipe, Jack Snipe.

Sightings

2009-11-27T09:24:00.000Z

130, Black-Headed Gull, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 46 Wigeon, 33 Teal, 40 Lapwing, 10 Snipe, Woodcock, 5 Redwing, 2 Stonechat, 28 Long-Tailed Tit, 2 Willow Tit, 6 Meadow Pipit, Green Woodpecker, Kestrel, Short-Eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl.

Sightings

2009-11-25T20:01:00.000Z

170 Black-Headed Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, 47 Wigeon, 33 Teal, 5 Golden Plover, Redshank, 3 Snipe, 32 Pied Wagtail, 6 Meadow Pipit, 5 Reed Bunting, Kestrel.

Sightings

2009-11-24T19:41:00.000Z

150, Black-Headed Gull, 2 Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Common Gull, Canada Goose, 32 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 9 Snipe, 4 Grey Heron, Stonechat [female] 18 Pied Wagtail, 3 Reed Bunting, Sparrow Hawk [female] Kestrel, Short Eared Owl, 2 Barn Owl.