New Gravel pits near Hoveringham.

[glsammy]

Toady we went to look at a small relatively new gravel pit site near Hoveringham, Notts. It's only been open to the public for less than two years.
I've been there a couple of times recently, but only in passing.
I decided to leave my camera at home today and have a rare treat in actually looking at the birds instead of worrying about light, shutter speed and apertures!
We spent just an hour there and spotted over 30 species.
The work they've done on the site obviously suites many bird species. Not only is there obviously the main pit, but also a stream that runs around part of the site plus freshly planted small trees which is attracting large numbers of smaller birds to feed.

Here's a list of what we saw in that hour:

12+ Redwing
6 + Fieldfare
10+ Blackbirds
2 Song Thrush
2 Mistle Thrush
4 Robins
4 Wrens
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Kestrel
20+Goldfinch
2 Siskin
1 Redpoll
4 Great Tit
4 Blue Tit
2 Long tailed Tit
2 Dunnock
10+ Starlings
6 Chaffinch
Numerous Crows
1 Treecreeper
Water birds:
6 Little Egrets!
4 Mute Swans
1 Oystercatcher
20+ Teal
12+ Wigeon
12+ Coots
4 Cormorant
10+ Tufted Duck
1 Goldeneye
20+ Black headed Gulls
6 Mallards

Not too shabby at all, and all in easy reach from the main road.
Overall this site could become one of my favourite local areas.

[artdemole]

Nice Place to check the four seasons and all the enjoyment of the walk round.

[htcdude]

It's nice to see new sites that are flourishing, a good report Graham

Nige