Clumber Park (1 Viewer)

[birdman]

Taking John J's advice, with a view to making inroads into my UK wishlist, me and my partner took a trip to Clumber Park on Sunday.

We arrived at 0850 and left at 1310 – the weather was cool, breezy and overcast, but we managed to avoid the rain.

The list below includes species seen on the journey to and from.

Outbound
Pied Wagtail
Lapwing (Flock of 100-200)
Magpie

Car Park
Woodpigeon
Great Tit
Blackbird
Robin
Chaffinch
Goldcrest
Mistle Thrush

Chapel Wood
Long-tailed Tit
Hawfinch
Nuthatch
Blue Tit
Dunnock
Treecreeper
Coal Tit

Lake
Coot
Tufted Duck
Moorhen
Grey Heron
Mallard
Greylag Goose
(Little Grebe)
Gadwall
Black-headed Gull
Pochard
Great Crested Grebe
Ruddy Duck
Canada Goose
Mute Swan

Shop
Jackdaw
House Sparrow

Off New Road
Carrion Crow
Green Woodpecker

Homebound
Kestrel

I didn't actually catch sight of the Little Grebe myself, but my good lady got good views (I was too busy messing with the camera!)

However, the Hawfinch was the one on the wishlist, so I'm happy to transfer that from my Lifelist to my UKList (muchas gracias John J) – and it's been a fair while since we got views of Nuthatches and Treecreepers, so we were quite pleased with ourselves!

BTW - I took plenty of photos, but as I don't have digital equipment (and I'm not a very good photographer!) you'll have to wait until I find out if there is anything I can scan and post!

 

[Doug]

Hi Birdman. I enjoyed your list and as we live close tyo Clumber I would like to see the Hawfinch. I have looked on the Explorer OS map and can't find 'Chapel Wood' marked - could you point me in the right direction? Were the birds easy to locate? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[birdman]

Sorry for the confusion Doug, but by "Chapel Wood" I simply mean the the wooded area close to the chapel (and shop and lake).

John J alerted me to the Hawfinches, as I had never seen them in the UK before - in spite of numerous visits to Clumber! - and this was the first time I visited with the express intention of trying to see any.

I actually saw 1, although I understand there were a few more - so in terms of numbers, probably not that easy to find - but in terms of a succesful sighting, well, I suppose it was 1 out of 1!

The one I saw, was high in the (leafless) trees, and so fairly easy to id - but it was very much a case of checking everything that moved.

Let me know how you get on!

 

[Doug]

Cheers Birdman - I hope I have your good fortune

 

[Andrew]

There is a Chapel Wood in North Devon though if you want one.

 

[birdman]

Here's the first photo from my Clumber Trip...

My apologied for the filename... but what else could I call them

PS. That's a rhetorical question!

PPS. I'll eventually move them to the Gallery

(Photo moved to Gallery)

 

[birdman]

No.2

(Photo moved to Gallery)

 

[birdman]

No.3

(Photo moved to Gallery)

 

[birdman]

And No.4

(Photo moved to Gallery)

 

[Stuart]

Sounds like you had a good day, but for me in deepest Devon where about's is this clumber park ??

 

[Reader]

Birdman

Glad to be of assistance. Only one Hawfinch!! There were up to 12 reported there the other day.

Anyone else interested in going there that doesn't know where it is, well here are the directions.

Firstly Clumber park is just slightly south east of Worksop in Nottinghamshire. The Landranger map to get is No 120 and Clumber Parks chapel area is: SK 626 746. It is on the shore of the lake. You park up by the side of the chapel (there is a fee payable to get into that area) and walk past the chapel until yo see the water. Look into the trees that are on the lake side. You will stand right under them. (One tip - when you get out of the car in the car park scan the surrounding trees as I have seen them there as well).

A bit further into the year you should visit an area close by. It is known as the Welbeck Raptor viewpoint. This is situated at somewhere near to SK580 720. The road you park on is actually the continuation of the road coming out of Clumber park. Once the raptor season is in full swing you will find the viewpoint easy as there will be plenty of birders there with their scopes up. June is as good a time as any. Honey Buzzards and Osprey are amongst the regular visitors here but almost anything can turn up.

Clumber Park is also right at the northern tip of Sherwood Forest and there are many places to visit around there that can produce. You have a series of good pools just north of Retford which is about 10-15 miles north east of Clumber park. Also South west of Clumber you have Thoresby Lake (SK 630 625). Near to this lake you also have Budby Forest and Budby Common, so you see that there is plenty on offer in this area. There are even more places nearby but these few sites should cover most birders needs on a visit.

 

[digi-birder]

Budby Common great for Nightjars - almost guaranteed.

 

[qwark]

Hi John J and Birdman
Brilliant information! I have been to Clumber Park years ago, and your posting has reminded me of what I have missed. Can you tell me the best time to go and see the raptors. Thanks
Qwark

 

[Reader]

I am not certain of when it all kicks off but I think that it is about mid-May onwards. I have certainly had Honey Buzzards in June there. I suspect digi-birder might know a bit more than me.

 

[Paul 42]

Glad to see I'm not the only one that notes birds seen on the way to and from a site! I usually get loads of "Buzzards", Kestrels and Herons in a 45 minute trip to my favourite site. I say "Buzzards" because it's hard to I.D. properly at 120Kph on the motorway!!!

 

[digi-birder]

JohnJ,

In answer to your post, I don't know a great deal more about the Clumber Park area and Welbeck watchpoint as I haven't been there in a long while. I really ought to go to more local places instead of dashing all round the country.

I asked around and the best time for the Honey Buzzards is from late May onwards to June/July. Also seen there in the past at various times - Red Kite, Common Buzzard, Osprey, Goshawk and Hobby.

On Sunday there were 12 Hawfinch reported in Clumber Park and some were still there yesterday.

 

[simontucker]

Wot no Great Grey Shrike?

I love Clumber Park - only been there once but had a fabulous day's birding. Saw Hawfinches and Great Grey Shrike - sadly that was four years ago now.

 

[birdman]

Yeah, Simon,

I like Clumber too - and luckily for me it's local.

I suppose local haunts can get a bit too familiar, but one of the things I like about it, is that there is something (birdwise) for just about everyone.

And by that, I mean there's enough easy stuff that's of interest to please even my daughter!

All I've got to do now, is keep me old eyes peeled for the GGS!



Thanks for the conrgrats. Gaye - it was a nice morning and a bit.

We combined it with a bit of a walk through the woods - and tea and cake at the shop.

Clumber is Europe's 2nd largest Country Park. I don't know if you have the same concept over there. It's not National Park like our Lake District or the US's Yellowstone (sorry, don't know any Canadian examples!), but rather a large bit of managed "countryside" where everyone and their dog can go and have a barbie, play cricket, fly a kite, ride a bike - that kind of thing.

Everyone does, too, but fortunately there's enough space that you can get usually get some peace and quiet - and there's quite a nice selection of the birdies.

Also, there's a shallow lake roughly in the centre, where waterfowl gather- particularly Canada Geese (plse see photo in Gallery) - that have become quite tolerant of we humans. Good practice for the kids!

I'm glad you like the photos of the Robin. I'm not a photographer at all, but I love to try. This is the first time I have ever put anything of mine on show - and I appreciate the quality ain't great, but I liked his poses - especially, as you say, the perky one.

(Do you get them at all in Canada? You must surely know he's our Christmas Card bird!)

Basically, I set up the camera on the tripod - focused in on the bench, and just hit the cable release when they came down for a bite. I'm sure you'll appreciate they don't hang around, so plenty of rejects!!! (In fact, the photo of the nuthatch should really have been a reject, but I just think they're such lovely birds!).

Over the weeks/months/years(!) I'll continue doing pretty much the same thing - and hope to improve the old portfolio!