Index: trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/downloadtasks/DownloadNotesTask.java
===================================================================
--- trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/downloadtasks/DownloadNotesTask.java	(revision 15331)
+++ trunk/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/actions/downloadtasks/DownloadNotesTask.java	(revision 15332)
@@ -53,4 +53,7 @@
     private NoteLayer noteLayer;
 
+    /** This allows subclasses to ignore this warning */
+    protected boolean warnAboutEmptyArea = true;
+
     /**
      * Download a specific note by its id.
@@ -125,5 +128,11 @@
         protected void finish() {
             rememberDownloadedData(new NoteData(notesData));
-            if (isCanceled() || isFailed() || notesData == null || notesData.isEmpty()) {
+            if (isCanceled() || isFailed() || notesData == null) {
+                return;
+            }
+            if (notesData.isEmpty()) {
+                if (warnAboutEmptyArea) {
+                    rememberErrorMessage(tr("No notes found in this area."));
+                }
                 return;
             }