Lower Ure Conservation Trust
Nosterfield Bird Review August 2024
by Andrew (Andy) M Hanby
Bittern Matthew McCormack
The first day of the month was a thematic prequel for continuing threads, with 202 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and a Bittern. Both species were then part of the back-drop, with two Bittern seen on three dates.
Garganey John MacLoughlin
The next day, Garganey, Osprey and the family of four Marsh Harriers were all seen and continued to be seen till the month’s end, with two Garganey from 23rd to 26th. There were 24 bird days of Osprey – with up to three birds on any one day and a minimum of six different individuals throughout the period.
Osprey Dave Ward
Regular sightings of up to two Hobbies, two Red Kites and multiple Common Buzzards added to the raptor density.
Hobby Dave Ward
Egrets continued to add to the Carmargue-like atmosphere of the area, with a count of 59 Little Egrets on 4th being a new record for the recording area, which was soon surpassed by 63 on 12th!
Waders were represented by low numbers of the usual suspects, so therefore two Sanderling on 9th were a welcome surprise. The next day was also of interest, with a nice adult Yellow-legged Gull on Flasks Lake and two feral Snow Geese on the Reserve.
Snow Goose Dave Ward
The first sighting of Great White Egret for the month occurred on 11th, this species was then reported almost daily until the month’s end, with two on 13th, 28th and 31st. Observations elsewhere suggest that some autumnal movement was starting to take place.
Five Tree Sparrows on 16th were a very welcome sight. This species’ claim to territory in the recording area seems to be weakening on a yearly basis – it would be such a shame to lose them. At the other end of the ‘numbers spectrum’ was a veritable Christmas feast of 1826 Greylag Geese counted the very next day.
The Birdguides website announced the presence of a Black Tern on 21st, but, sadly, no other details were forthcoming. The adult Yellow-legged Gull reappeared at Flasks Lake on 23rd, whilst the following day saw some notable visible migration, with two Tree Pipits and 27 Black-tailed Godwits moving south. This all coincided with the appearance of a Sanderling on the Reserve.
Yellow-legged Gull Tim Jones
Three Egyptian Geese on the Reserve on 31st concluded a very interesting month.
Marsh Harrier Ian Webster
Andy Hanby
20/09/24