Findern Footpaths Group
Sightings
Findern Footpaths Group keep a record of all wildlife sightings, alive or dead, in our area. If you see anything please let us know either by e-mail to sightings@findernfootpaths.co.uk or drop a note into the letter box at the Parish Rooms.
For a wildlife record to be useful for conservation purposes it must have 3 key elements:
WHAT – what species have you seen, be as specific as possible.
WHERE – location with a grid reference, what 3 words or post code if possible.
WHEN – time and date
Recent Sightings
March
4th – 1 Kestrel seen NE of Hicklins bridge, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Redwing and 1 Chiffchaff seen and heard at the treatment works, 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing in the treatment works reed bed, 3 Greenfinch seen Hillside garden, 1 Siskin seen N Stanhope Wood reed bed, 2 male Reed Bunting seen at the treatment works
6th – pair of Gadwall and 1 Teal seen Blakemere Farm flood, 4 Stock Dove seen N of Bakeacre Lane, 1 Song Thrush singing east of Spring Farm, Doles Lane
7th – 1 Little Grebe, 1 male Gadwall and 3 Tufted Duck seen on Mercia Marina pond, 4 Cormorant seen in the vicinity of the marina and the pond, 1 Goosander seen at the marina, 1 male Grey Heron seen canal side N of the Ballast Hole Pond, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker seen near the Ballast Hole Pond, 60+ Redwing seen Crow Park Way opposite the stables, 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing near Mercia Marina pond, the first sighting in this location
February
1st – 1 Grey Heron and 1 Stock Dove seen SW of Watson’s bridge, 1 Grey Wagtail and 20+ Pied Wagtail seen at the treatment works, 1 Song Thrush seen Clovermead, Common Piece Lane, 1 Song Thrush seen S of the treatment works, 1 Mistle Thrush seen Findern Churchyard, 1 Coat Tit seen on bird feeders Crow Park Way, 2 Siskin seen at Stanhope Hole Conservation Area, c20 Linnet seen in the horse paddock N of Crow Park Way, 1 male Bullfinch seen A50 embankment N of the treatment works, 1 Reed Bunting seen Stanhope Wood reed bed and a male and female seen at the treatment works
2nd – 3 Teal and 1 male Reed Bunting seen in flood Blakemere Farm, 1 Red-legged Partridge seen in the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane, c120 Rook seen S of Lansdowne Farm, Bakeacre Lane (the largest count for Findern), 1 Greenfinch seen Hillside garden
3rd – 1 Grey Wagtail seen at the treatment works, 1 Song Thrush singing Clovermead Common Piece Lane, c10 Long-tailed tit seen Stanhope Hole Conservation Area, 4 Cormorant, 3 Tufted Duck and 1 Little Grebe seen Mercia Marina pond, 8 Tufted Duck and 1 redheaded Goosander seen at the Marina itself, 1 female Bullfinch seen N of King George V playing field
January 2024
6th – 5 Meadow Pipit, 1 Grey Wagtail and a pair of Reed Bunting seen at the treatment works, 1 Song Thrush and 3 Redwing seen at Clovermead, Common Piece Lane and 5 Greenfinch seen in Findern Churchyard
12th – 4 Cormorant and a pair of Tufted Duck seen at Mercia Marina, 1 Grey Heron seen flying S over Marina pond, c8 Long-tailed Tit seen Upper Heath Lane near A50 bridge, 1 Coal tit and 5 Linnet seen canal side W of Nadee
22nd – 1 Kestrel seen A38 roundabout Findern, 14+ Teal seen on flood water Blakemere Farm, 3 Red-legged Partridge seen opp Lansdowne Farm and 1 Song Thrush singing Bakeacre Lane
27th – 1 Red Kite flying over Findern Church
30th – 3 Grey Wagtail seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works. Pair of Great Spotted Woodpecker seen at Dobbies Garden Centre, Burton Road
December 2023
6th – 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker seen on garden feeder Aults Close
8th – pair of Goosander seen on the canal W of Hicklin’s bridge, 17 Moorhen (a record count) and 1 Meadow Pipit seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and 1 Coal Tit seen Common Piece Lane near Clovermead, 1 Goldcrest seen at the treatment works and 1 Greenfinch seen on garden feeder Hillside (becoming quite scarce)
10th – 6+ Teal seen on flood water Blakemere Farm, 3 Meadow Pipit seen in horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane
14th 7 Cormorant seen on pylon S of Marina, 1 Grey Heron seen adjacent to white footbridge, 1 Tufted Duck seen at Mercia Marina (scarce at this site now), 1 Kingfisher seen on the canal just W of Hicklin’s bridge, 5 Meadow Pipit seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works, 7+ Long-tailed tit seen at the Ballast Hole Pond, 1 Siskin seen feeding with Goldfinches at the marina pond.
29th – 1 Kestrel and 1 Song Thrush seen N of common Piece Lane, 2 Mistle Thrush seen feeding on rowan Lower Green, 2 Reed Bunting seen at the treatment works.
November
3rd – 1 Little Grebe seen Mercia Marina pond, 3 Cormorant seen on the pylon S of Marina pond, 2 adult and 7 cygnet Mute Swan seen on the canal by the Nadee, 2 Mute Swan adults seen Marina pond
7th – 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull see with a flock of Black headed gulls in the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane, 1 Stock Dove seen with a flock of Wood Pigeon NE end of Bakeacre Lane, 1 Song Thrush seen in the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane and another seen opp Lansdown Farm
14th – 3 Red-legged Partridge seen I the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane, 5+ Fieldfare seen S of Lansdown Farm Bakeacre Lane, 1 Sparrowhawk seen over Hillside garden
16th – 1 Mistle Thrush seen in Findern Churchyard, 1 Goldcrest seen Crow Park Way, 1 Chiffchaff seen at the treatment works and 10+ Long-tailed Tit seen canal side S of the treatment works
25th – 5+ Teal seen on flood water Blakemere Farm, 1 Grey Heron seen in the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane
26th – 2 Grey Heron seen perched in tree cattle field SW of the treatment works, 1 Sparrowhawk seen flying just above the ground Hillside, 1 Peregrine seen perched on the rim of a cooling tower Willington Power Station, 1 Kingfisher seen between Nadee and Ballast Hole Pond (first sighting this year), 1 Grey Wagtail seen at the treatment works, c50 Goldfinch seen feeding in Alders at the Ballast Hole Pond
October
4th – 1 male Kestrel seen over field W of Watson’s bridge, 5 Skylark seen in the stubble field NE of Hicklin’s bridge before being disturbed by a dog walker, 1 Chiffchaff seen Common Piece Lane, 1 Coal Tit seen on feeders Crow Park Way (1st sighting this year), 18 Red Admiral and 1 Painted Lady butterfly seen feeding on ivy Common Piece Lane (1st sighting of the Painted Lady this year)
5th – 1 Cormorant seen on pylon S of Mercia Marina pond, 3 Gadwall seen on the pond, 2 Long-tailed tit seen Cote Close
25th – 7 Gadwall seen on Mercia Marina pond, 1 Buzzard seen perched on hedge S of Nadee, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Redwing seen canal side between Nadee and the white foot bridge
September
13th – 1 male Kestrel seen NE of Hicklin’s bridge, 1 Chiffchaff heard near Hicklin’s bridge
21st – 1 Grey Heron seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works and another seen in the horse paddock N of Crow Park Way, 2 Swallows seen perched on wires and 2 House Martin seen Common Piece Lane near Clovermead, 1 Cetti’s Warbler heard Stanhope Wood reed bed, 4 Chiffchaff seen in the canal area, 23 Red Admiral and 5 Comma butterflies seen feeding on ivy SE Findern
August
23rd – 1 Lizard under wood pile Hillside garden
29th - 1 male Sparrowhawk seen over Hillside garden, 4 House Martin seen Common Piece Lane and 1 Cetti’s Warbler heard Stanhope Wood reed bed
July
3rd – 1 Little Egret seen flying West over Hillside garden
12th – 12 Swift and 2 Swallow seen flying West over Mercia Marina, 6 House Martin seen North of Common Piece Lane near Clovermead, 1 Cetti’s Warbler heard in Stanhope Wood reed bed.
June
6th – Family of 4 Hedgehogs thriving in back garden Wren Park Close, 1 Hedgehog regular visitor to back garden Ault’sClose
7th – 3 Lapwing and 3 Swallow seen in the cultivated field SW of Watson’s Bridge, 1 Song Thrush seen N of Common Piece Lane opp Clovermead, 1 Cetti’s Warbler and 1 Reed Bunting seen Stanhope Wood reed bed, 1 Treecreeper seen at the bottom of Cote Close and 4 Chimney Sweeper moths seen in Cote Close, the first sighting this year, 1 Hedgehog seen Porter’s Lane
8th – 1 Little Grebe seen on Mercia Marina pond, 3 Mute Swan seen on the canal by the Nadee, 4 House Marin seen over Porter’s Lane and 1 Jay seen over Upper Heath Lane.
29th – 1 Oystercatcher seen in the cattle field SW of Watson’s Bridge, 1 Stock Dove seen in a field W of Watson’s Bridge, 2 Swift (1st sighting in Findern this year) seen N of Common Piece Lane near Clovermead, 2 House Martin seen feeding over Clovermead, 1 Common Whitethroat singing Willington Road, 1 Comma butterfly (1st of a new brood) seen at Mercia Marina pond, 1 Gatekeeper (1st sighting this year) seen near the marina pond and 1 Banded Demoiselle seen canal side between Nadee and the white footbridge
May
3rd – 1 female Kestrel seen NE of Common Piece Lane, 1 House Martin seen N of Common Piece Lane opp Clovermead (1st sighting this year), 1 Mistle Thrush seen in the horse paddock N of Crow Park Way, 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing and 1 male Reed Bunting seen Stanhope Wood reed bed.
4th – Pair of Tufted Duck seen on Mercia Marina Pond and 3 Swallow seen over the pond, 1 Willow Warbler singing at the junction of Upper Heath Lane and Willington Road.
6th – All seen and/or heard on our Dawn Chorus walk: - Song Thrush. Wren, Blackbird, Jay, Reed Warbler, Reed Bunting, Cetti’s Warbler, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper (2), Jackdaw, Chiff Chaff, Garden Warbler, Blackcap, Moorhen, Coot, Wood Pigeon, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Robin, Raven, Carrion Crow, Canada Goose, Heron, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Starling, Pheasant, Collared Dove, Whitethroat, Long Tailed Tit, Pied Wagtail, Magpie, Kestrel and Mallard – altogether 36 species.
29th – 1 Red Kite seen over Buckford Lane
April 2023
3rd – 1 Grey Heron flying SW over Watson’s Bridge, 4 Meadow Pipit seen in cattle field SW of the treatment works, 1 Grey Wagtail seen at the treatment works, 1 Blackcap singing Cote Close, 2 Goldcrest seen in pine tree bottom of Common Piece Lane, 4 Reed Bunting seen Stanhope Wood reed bed
4th – 1 Little Grebe and 5 Tufted Duck seen on Mercia Marina pond, 1 Red Kite and 1 Buzzard seen circling over the pond
6th – 3 Teal seen Blakemere Farm flood, Bakeacre Lane
7th – 1 Oystercatcher seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works
18th – 2 Lapwing displaying opp Blakemere Farm, 2 Blackcap and 1 Willow Warbler singing Bakeacre Lane, first of the Willow Warbler this year
25th – 1 Grey Heron seen in field SW of the treatment works, 1 Peregrine seen perched on the rim of the cooling towers, 1 Cetti’s Warbler seen Stanhope Wood reed bed, 1 Willow Warbler singing E of the treatment works
30th – 1 Common Whitethroat singing just N of Stanhope Wood reed bed, 1 Garden Warbler singing just S of the reed bed (both the first this year), 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing and a pair of Reed Bunting seen in the reed bed
March 2023
2nd - 3 Meadow pipit seen in the cattle field SW of the Sewage treatment works, Grey Wagtail seen in the sewage treatment works, 100+ Pied Wagtail seen in the cattle field SW of the Sewage treatment works, Song Thrush singing in Common Piece lane near Clovermead, Song Thrush singing in Stanhope Wood, Male read bunting seen in the cattle field SW of the Sewage treatment works.
7th - 6 teal Blakemere farm flood, about 50 Redwing Bakeacre lane, 3 Yellowhammer end of Bakeacre lane, Kestrel A38 Island. 3 Tufted duck at Mercia marina, ! Peregrine Falcon Willington Cooling towers. 1 Common gull in field west of Upper Heath Lane.
14th - 15 Teal Blakemere Farm flood, 1 lapwing Horse paddock North of Bakeacre Lane, 40 very mobile Redwing Bakeacre Lane, 1 singing Song Thrush Bakeacre lane, 1 male Blackcap Hillside garden, 1 grey Heron cattle field SW of Sewage Treatment Works, 1 Chiffchaff singing north of the Sewage Treatment Works (first song of the year). 5 Reed Buntings at the Sewage Treatment Works.
17th - 1 Little Grebe and 1 male Tufted Duck on the Marina pond, pair of Buzzards SW of Watsons Bridge, 1 pair of Kestrels SW of Watsons Bridge. 1 singing Chiffchaff north of Stanhope Wood.
February 2023
1st – 1 Grey Heron seen flying over Hillside
3rd – 12+ Teal seen on floodwater Blakemere Farm, 3 Stock Dove seen in the horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane, 1 Fieldfare seen feeding on apples at Blakemere Farm and 2 Linnet and c20 Yellowhammer seen feeding in stubble at the end of Bakeacre Lane
9th – 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing and 2 Skylark seen in the stubble field NE of Hicklin’s bridge, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Chiffchaff seen at the treatment works, 1 Song Thrush singing near Clovermead on Common Piece Lane and another in Stanhope Wood, 1 Goldcrest seen in Stanhope Hole Conservation Area
23rd – 1 Grey Wagtail seen at the treatment works, c120+ Pied Wagtail seen at the treatment works and the adjacent cattle field, 1 male Reed Bunting seen Stanhope Wood reed bed.
January 2023
2nd – 1 Cormorant seen fishing and 7 Tufted Duck seen at Mercia Marina, c12 Redwing seen Watson’s bridge, 1 Mistle Thrush seen N of Willington Road, 1 male Blackcap and 1 male Greenfinch seen in a garden on Hillside
6th – 1 Buzzard seen over Stanhope Wood, 2 Meadow Pipit and 60+ Pied Wagtail seen in the cattle field SW of the treatment works, 1 Mistle Thrush singing in Findern Churchyard
12th – 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and c40 very mobile Redwing seen Bakeacre Lane
28th – 25+ Teal seen in flood water Blakemere Farm, c100 Redwing seen in horse paddock N of Bakeacre Lane and 1 Goldcrest seen off Bakeacre Lane
31st – 1 Peregrine seen on the cooling towers Willington Power Station
December 2022
6th – 13+ Teal and 3 Snipe seen on floodwater Blakemere Farm, Bakeacre Lane, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker seen near Thrushton Farm, Bakeacre Lane
8th – 1 Mistle Thrush seen in Findern Churchyard, the first sighting since May, c10 Long-tailed Tit seen between the white footbridge and the Nadee, 3 Siskin seen feeding with a flock of Goldfinch at the Ballast Hole Pond
13th – 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit and 1 Song Thrush seen at the treatment works, 2 Lapwing seen flying W over Common Piece Lane, 1 Song Thrush seen on Findern village green
15th 2 Lapwing seen flying W over Common Piece Lane, 1 Song Thrush seen on the village green
29th – 1 Chiffchaff seen in the reed bed in the treatment works
November 2022
1st – 1 Cormorant flying S over Mercia Marina, c20 Redwing seen between the white footbridge and Nadee 1 Goldcrest seen at the treatment works, c10 Long-tailed tit seen canal side just E of Nadee
3rd – 1 Hedgehog seen in Mill Close at 11 am
10th – 1 Sparrowhawk seen Hillside garden
11th – 150+ Pink-footed geese seen flying SE over Hillside garden
18th – 1 Egyptian goose seen at Mercia Marina, the first sighting in Findern
19th – 1 Kestrel seen Bakeacre Lane
28th – 1 Cormorant seen at Mercia Marina and 1 Song Thrush seen off Upper Heath Lane, the first sighting since July