Draft Nottinghamshire Minerals Local Plan

OBJECT to Sand and Gravel Provision MP2s Mill Hill nr Barton in Fabis

I have been recording the status of birds in the Barton in Fabis, Clifton Grove and Thrumpton areas since 1996 and on a regular basis since 2000.
I have spent on average 14hrs a week for twelve months of the year for the last 21yrs recording individual species that have all been submitted to the county recorder of Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers.
When submitting monthly records to the county recorder of the Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers grid references have never been submitted as they are not a requirement by the society, although these can all be submitted later if at all required.

The proposed gravel extraction plan would affect a number of resident, breeding and wintering species that can be found in the area.
This is my account of what species are found and will be affected in the area of the proposed sand and gravel plan.


Recording area names explained

Site names where I have seen each species are logged as areas that are known locally for example Brandshill, Barton Moor, Barton riverside fields etc. These names are explained in the recording area section below, as I gather there is some confusion as to the areas where I have recorded certain species.

The area of the proposed gravel extraction is in an area I visit on a daily basis, although the names of certain sites within the area that I use when recording my sightings are names that are known locally.
I will therefore try to explain these site names here:
Brandshill - Brandshill Grasslands.
Brandshill Moor - The large area opposite Brandshill Wood.
Brandshill Ponds - Borrowers Pits
Barton riverside fields - the field next to the river either side of the bridlepath from Chestnut Lane.
The Rough Wood - Woodland directly below Burrows Farm.
Rough Wood hedgerow - The hedgerow that runs with the footpath from Fox Covert. Lane to Brandshill Wood, much of which forms te western boundary to Brandshill Grassland.
Burrows Farm - Marshalls.
David's Lane - Fox Covert Lane.
Yellow Gate Pond - The small pond by the yellow security gate along Fox Covert Lane.

Resident, Breeding and Wintering species

The following is a summary of some of the more notable resident, breeding and wintering species which will potentially be affected by the proposed works, and not a complete list of species that i have found and recorded here.

Resident species of site importance

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Water Rail Railus aquaticus
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Stock Dove Columba oenas
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Little Owl Athene noctua
Tawny Owl Strix alucorey
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Raven Corvus corax
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Linnet Linaria cannabina
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus


Breeding Species that have regularly bred/signs of breeding on more than one occasion in the last 5 years

Grey Partridge Perdix perdix
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Water Rail Railus aquaticus
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Stock Dove Columba oenas
Cuckoo Cuculus canonus
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Little Owl Athene noctua
Tawny Owl Strix alucorey
Long-eared Owl Asio otus
Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
Green Woodpecker Picus viridis
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
Raven Corvus corax
Marsh Tit Poecile palustris
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Sand Martin Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
Lesser Whitethroat Sylvia curruca
Grasshopper Warbler Locustella naevia
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea
Linnet Linaria cannabina
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus


Grey Partridge Perdix perdix is a declining farmland species that find the area particularly attractive and breed in small numbers. Areas they favour for breeding are the undisturbed area of the Brandshill grasslands. Over the last five years I have regularly observed grey partridge displaying at the top of Brandshill Grassland on its eastern boundary. There is also suitable breeding/nesting habitat at the base of the hedgerows surrounding the field. I have also noted that the numbers of grey partridge have significantly increased in this, and the surrounding area. As the species is not reared and released for shooting, this increase in numbers indicates they are breeding successfully. This species would suffer severely from disturbance by the proposed plan on the Brandshill grasslands.

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis A pair have regularly bred at Branshill Ponds [Barton Borrow Pits] over the last ten years and I have observed both their nests and the adults with young.

Water Rail Railus aquaticus Have been observed and heard at Branshill Ponds [Barton Borrow Pits], they can often be heard them calling during the breeding season, although I cannot confirm breeding as they are such a shy and secretive species. From my observations I would describe the habitat around this pond as optimal for these species.

Lapwing Vanellus vanellus is another declining farmland breeding species that breeds in good numbers and would suffer severely from disturbance.

Cuckoo Cuculus canonus As dunnock is a favoured host species of cuckoo, I do not think it unreasonable to suggest that the cuckoos on the Barton site are using the nests of this species for egg laying. Singing male dunnocks were recorded in all three breeding bird surveys: two on 14/4/15, four on 12/5/15 and five on 3/6/15. As all were observed in or close to suitable breeding habitat, I think it reasonable to believe that cuckoos were using the nests of dunnocks as a host for egg laying. Juveniles have been seen in the area with the most recent recorded 13/8/17 sat on a post at the base of Brandshill Grassland which then flew along the hedge in the direction of Brandshill Wood.
Barn Owl Tyto alba, Little Owl Athene noctua, Tawny Owl Strix alucorey and Long-eared Owl Asio otus have all bred in the area in recent years.
Barn Owl Tyto alba and Little Owl Athene noctua have both been helped by erecting nestboxes throughout the area. Two nestboxes for both Barn Owl Tyto alba and Little Owl Athene noctua are currently within or adjoining the proposed gravel plan area, with all four nestboxes annually fledging a number of young owlets.

Tawny Owl Strix alucorey are without doubt breeding in Brandshill Wood with pairs heard calling regularly throughout the breeding season. Newly fledged Tawny Owl chicks have also been seen in the area of Barton Flash so they must have bred in the vicinity.

Long-eared Owl Asio otus is without doubt the rarest and hardest species of owl to find in the area. I have only seen single birds on two occasions in the breeding season, although the "squeaky gate" calls of young owls have been heard on one occasion June 2006 from Brandshill Wood proving that this species has bred in the area.

Kingfisher Alcedo atthis breed annually in the river banks in front of Barton Island.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor is a still hanging on as a breeding species in the area. Although nests have never been found males have been seen displaying and calling for females on the edge of Brandshill Wood and from the large Oak below the Brandshill Grasslands.

Kestrel Falco tinnunculus is another declining species that breeds in small numbers, with a recent pair fledging five young this year from one of the Barn Owl Tyto alba boxes.

Raven Corvus corax successfully bred for the first time this year in Brandshill Wood, fledging five juveniles. Raven first started to colonise the area in September 2011 with sightings becoming more regular in 2012/13. By 2015 ravens had become an established resident in the area, and were seen or heard on almost every visit. Breeding was first confirmed in 2017, although pairs had been seen displaying during previous years and breeding was suspected.

Marsh Tit Poecile palustris This species has never been numerous in the area and numbers have declined over the last 10 years. Breeding has never been proven but foraging birds in the breeding season have been noted in the wet woodland areas collecting insects. These areas include the ditch that runs below the Rough Wood, the trees growing up around the footpath adjacent to the hedge at the base of Brandshill Grassland G9 and T92 and the willows on the edge of Barton Flash. Winter records for marsh tits are slightly more widespread than those for the breeding season, partly because they are easier to see when there is no foliage on the trees. Marsh tit would suffer severely as many of their preferred foraging sites in the breeding season are within the survey area.

Skylark Alauda arvensis breeds in good numbers throughout the application site.

Sand Martin Riparia riparia regulary breed in a small colony on in the river bank facing Barton Island.

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica will breed in any suitable out building and regularly breed in the stables of Burrows Farm.

Phylloscopus, Sylvia, Locustella and Acrocephalus Warblers breed in good numbers below the Brandshill grasslands, Brandshill Ponds, Holme Pit and any others suitable habitats in the area.

Song Thrush Turdus philomelos is a declining species nationwide but still breeds here in good numbers particularly in the Barton Flash and Rough Wood/Brandshill grasslands area

Tree Sparrow Passer montanus favour areas with scattered trees for breeding rather than woodland as stated. It is a species that has been helped to breed in the area by erecting suitable nest boxes. In October 2006 I placed a number of nest-boxes in suitable locations to try and tempt pairs to breed. Success was achieved in the first season with five nest-boxes occupied and several pairs having second broods. Two such nest boxes are on the survey site situated close to Barton Flash and tree sparrows have bred in these boxes every year since 2006.
In the winter months Tree Sparrow gather in mixed bunting and finch flocks to feed on the many seed heads and the stubble fields within the survey area.

House Sparrow Passer domesticus nests every year in the barns and sheds of Burrows Farm which is very close to the site boundary. I have regularly observed house sparrows using the habitat within the site to forage for insects during the breeding season. I have also observed them in mixed flocks of finches and buntings, foraging among suitable habitat within the site during the winter.

Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava favours oil seed rape and cereal crops for breeding, and has bred in abundance when these crops are planted.

Linnet Linaria cannabina, Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella find the areas of the Brandshill grasslands, Barton Flash and the many drainage dykes very favourable for breeding

Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus breeds annually around Barton Flash and Brandshill Ponds with singing males noted in several territorys.



Regular winter visitors/increases of species populations

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus
Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus
White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons
Gadwall Anus stepera
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope
Eurasian Teal Anus crecca
Shoveler Anus clypeata
Common Pochard Aythya ferina
Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula
Goosander Mergus merganser
Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Merlin Falco columbarius
Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria
Lapwing Vanellus vanellus
Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago
Woodcock Scolopax rusticola
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus
Skylark Alauda arvensis
Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis
Stonechat Saxicola torquata
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris
Redwing Turdus iliacus
Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Siskin Carduelis spinus
Linnet Linaria cannabina

Whooper Swan Cygnus cygnus, Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus and White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons are regular winter visitors that fly over the site although small numbers of these species regularly stop over at the site to feed on the various crops and grassy fields.
Small numbers of these species stay in the area for the winter attracted by a good food supply and safety within the large numbers of wintering feral geese and herds of Mute Swan Cygnus olor.

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope are also regular visitors to the area grazing on the grassy fields by Barton Island and the riverside field either side of the bridlepath from Chestnut Lane.

Eurasian Teal Anus crecca, Shoveler Anus clypeata and Gadwall Anus stepera like areas of water with lots of cover to feed in safety and can be found on all small water bodies within the area particularly favouring the safety of Barton Flash.

Common Pochard Aythya ferina, Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula and Goosander Mergus merganser are only found on the river with large numbers in extreme weather when the gravel pits freeze on the Attenborough Nature Reserve.

Bittern Botaurus stellaris has been a regular winter visitor on Holme Pit since 2009 with more than one bird recorded in anyone year. I have also seen singles feeding in the drainage dykes and Barton Flash area. A single female bird was also trapped and ringed and was seen to return for the following 2 winters at Holme Pit.

Merlin Falco columbarius an annual winter visitor that has been seen hunting regularly on Brandshill grasslands and the Barton riverside fields.

Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria and Lapwing Vanellus vanellus find the areas farmland and pasture good places to spend the winter months. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus increase in numbers in the winter months with large numbers arriving from other location to spend the winter here. Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria are less abundant and regular with often just c.20 birds staying the winter although large flocks of up to 500 have been seen on several occasions.

Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago and the scarcer Jack Snipe Lymnocryptes minimus are both annual winter visitors favouring the many drainage dykes and Barton Flash.

Woodcock Scolopax rusticola can be found feeding in the early mornings favouring areas close to cover, the areas hedgerows along the Barton riverside fields, Barton Flash and Brandshill are all favourite locations for this species and they roost in the daylight hours within Brandshill Wood and other areas of seclusion.

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus is an irruptive species that frequents the area every few winters and finds hunting the area around Barton Flash to its likeing.

Skylark Alauda arvensis and Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis both increase in numbers with large flocks been a regular occurrence each winter.

Stonechat Saxicola torquata was once a very regular winter visitor with up to four pairs spending the winter here. Recent cold winters hit them hard but they are now starting to recover with two pairs found in the last two wintering on the Barton riverside fields and Barton Flash areas.

Winter Thrushes are well represented with large numbers of Fieldfare Turdus pilaris and Redwing Turdus iliacus feeding on Hawthorns and pasture throughout the winter.

Starling Sturnus vulgaris numbers increase from late autumn onwards feeding on pasture and any other suitable areas. Favoured areas are the Barton riverside fields and the Barton Flash area.

Siskin Carduelis spinus have never been an abundant species in this part of the area but have often been seen feeding on Alders in the many copses scattered in the area.

Linnet Linaria cannabina flocks build up in the winter months and can be seen feeding throughout on many fields in this area.

Passage Migrants

A number of passerine passage migrants use the area as a refuelling point on both spring and autumn passage.
A very Notable species that occurs annually are Ring Ouzel Turdus torquatus that arrive on the Brandshill grasslands in the last two weeks April. As many as five of these mountain blackbirds annually stop over to feed up for around two weeks .
Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, Whinchat Saxicola rubetra, Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis to name a few are also regular passage migrants that depend on this area as a refuelling point and respite in migration.