The mighty Norman ..

Day 262 #365DaysWild

Wetland Bird Surveys (WeBS) at the Mill Lakes, Bestwood Village, Nottinghamshire.

It is always a pleasure talking to Norman Hayes. Norman is now in his 83rd year but his relentless recording of bird numbers continues. His long, uninterrupted recording of the birds of Bestwood inspired the Friends of Bestwood Country Park to create its’ hugely  successful Wildlife Group. 

We chatted about his WeBS counts over the years.

Norman explaining the difference in the shapes
of elephants and mammoths backs ..

He’s done the WeBS at the Mill Lakes since the lakes were first formed in the 1970’s.

His WeBS records show several gradual but serious declines over the past twenty years.

In 1983, Norman recorded 23 little grebe. In 2023 this had fallen to five birds.

Ruddy duck are now extinct due to culling. His highest count of ruddy duck (formerly a breeding bird with us) was 26 birds in September 1991.

He’s seen a big decline in pochard. In 1999 he counted a peak of 26 birds but this year zero.

Shoveler reached 22 in the same year but now he records only single birds.

In December 1999 his highest count for teal was 49 and now the highest count is up to 20.

The current highest count for coot is 15 but in 1999 the highest count was 132.

Little egrets are now present. 

Greylag have increased with the highest count being 156 birds in October 2023. Greylag were unrecorded in Norman’s first years of counting.

A days birding with Norman and Ray Fox.

During his time birdwatching around the lakes he’s seen black swan and breeding heron. He noted four calling turtle doves at the Mill Lakes in June 1993. 

Marsh and willow tits bred here. Willow tits raised three young in July 2014. Hearing marsh warbler in song was a particular highlight.

Heron appear to be nesting with us again for the first time in years.

Norman’s unabated enthusiasm continues. As we sat reminiscing about his WeBS counts our conversation was suddenly interrupted as he spotted a pair of red-legged partridges on the lawn! 

✔️His first for the year.

Norman Hayes: a Nottinghamshire birding legend.

The Wildlife Group is currently working with the Rivers Trust and Severn Trent to monitor pollution in the River Leen and Mill Lakes.