Nosterfield Nature Reserve - Trip Report

Five members attended on a very warm sunny day starting at the Nature Reserve car park at 09.30.

A good selection of waders were present viewed from the screen. 2 Greenshank, 4 Ruff, 5 Golden Plover, 1 Dunlin, 2 Snipe, 2 Redshank, 5 Ringed Plover, 1 Black-tailed Godwit plus large numbers of Lapwings and Curlews. One unidentified wader seen at a distance was later identified as a Pectoral Sandpiper. They are annual vagrants to the UK from North America. Ducks included Gadwall, Shoveler, Mallard and a Garganey. The heron family was well represented by 2 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egrets and a fly by Great Egret which circled high and flew away to the West. Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Black-headed Gulls were here in low numbers. The only birds of prey were a pair of Sparrowhawks which perched on fence posts after spooking all the Lapwing.

A walk along the North path gave us good views of a Hobby hunting dragonflies plus a Red Kite and two Buzzards. Passerines included a pair of Mistle Thrushes, a Blackbird, Blue Tit, Long-tailed Tit and Dunnock.

Ladybridge lake can only be viewed from the roadside gateway. We found our first Cormorant here with 3 Mute Swans, Tufted Ducks and 4 Little Grebes. One Swallow flew over. A Kestrel was perched on a fence post which then flew off over the water disturbing a female Marsh Harrier. The harrier then proceeded to hunt low over the water terrifying moorhens and ducks. Across to our left a female Stonechat was feeding from a fence post.

Due to changed quarry use, Lingham Water has become very over grown with saplings and vegetation on the flat sandy shore line. Most of the shore line is not visible now. On the water a pair of Mute Swans had four large cygnets accompanied by a Black Swan. Also Mallards, Tufted Ducks and our only Pochard – a female. Chiffchaff, Blue Tit, Great Tit and a group of Long-tailed Tits were in the trees near the viewing screen.

Flask and Kiln Lakes held 38 Curlews, 5 Great-crested Grebes, Little Grebes, a Herring Gull, Black-headed Gulls, Greylag Geese and 15 Mute Swans.

We then ventured to the Reed-bed screen, the furthest point on our visit and only saw 1 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Mallard and 1 Teal. Unfortunately the Ospreys of summer seem to have departed.

Mike Smithson

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