Carlton Marsh

All the open water areas are still frozen over due to the cold spell.

On the wader scrape 6 LBB Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull.

Elsewhere 6 Redpolls, Song Thrush, 40 Redwings, Treecreeper and Water Rail (L. & A. Corrall/M/ White).  

Carlton Marsh

Most of the open areas were iced over, so most of the wildfowl had left except 56 Canada Geese and 15 Greylags.

However, at least 2 Redpolls, 6 Siskins, c50 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings and 2 Great Spot woodpeckers were on show, and 2 Cetti's Warblers sang (R. Laverack/CG).

A Red Kite was seen over Brierley (C. Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh & Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

The only reports received today were of 55 Teal, the largest group since 9th of September 2021! There appeared to be more Robins than usual. A cold weather influx? (R. J. Boland).

Littleworth Park

My first Redpolls (2) for this site, and 4 Siskins, 32 Redwings and a Song Thrush (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

3 Little Egrets and an adult Whooper Swan were on the wader scrape first thing along with a pair of Shoveler, 38 Teal, 50 Canada geese, 2 Cormorants, 12 Greylags and 2 Herons. 

Elsewhere 1 Fieldfare, 72 Redwings, 24 Goldfinches, c20 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Siskins and a Goldcrest (N. Lunn/S. Grove/K.Bannister/C. Parkin/CG). 

Carlton Marsh

75 Canada and 21 Greylag Geese were on the scrapes today. Also present Kingfisher, 30 Lesser Redpolls, Coal Tit, and 25 Redwings.

A Fox was on the prowl (R. Laverack).

Carlton Marsh

It's quiet at the moment, however there are more geese wintering than ever before. Today 48 Canadas and 15 Greylags. Also present Cormorant, 15 Teal and similar counts of Mallard and Gadwall. A Great Spotted Woodpecker called.

Carlton Marsh & Cudworth Common

A Tawny Owl called at dawn, c70 Lesser Redpolls were feeding in Birch trees and 2 Tufted Duck drakes and a Dabchick were on Bleachcroft Farm pond (K. Bannister). 

Around mid-day 32 Redwings, 14 Fieldfares, Treecreeper, Kingfisher, 4 Siskins and a Buzzard were on show (Chris Parkin).

Ferrymoor Flash

Drake and 'Redhead' Goosander, Mute Swans with 2 cygnets, 1m Tufted Duck, 11 Teal and 2 Cormorants. A Little Egret flew north.

 

Cudworth Common 

c50 Redwings, 25 Fieldfares, 70 Starlings on pylon wires, and 10 Lesser Redpolls in Birch trees (CG). 

Carlton Marsh & Ardsley Viaduct

Bleachcroft Farm Pond - Cudworth

2 Tufted Ducks and a Little Grebe. 

 

Carlton Marsh

5 Wigeon flew south after being disturbed by one of 3 Foxes from the wader scrape.

 

Kingfisher regurgitating a pellet on Tuesday 23/12/25 (Clive Mitchell)

 

Ardsley Viaduct along TPT from Cudworth 

Lapwing 18, Fieldfare 24, 16 Redwings, 2 Greenfinches and 22 Red-legged Partridges (locally relesed for shooting) (Chris Parkin).

 

Carlton Marsh - Merry Christmas

On the wader scrape today Little Egret, 36 Canada geese, 6 Greylags, 6 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 28 Teal and 2 Cormorants.

6 Tufted Duck were on Bleachcroft Pond and 32 Jackdaws and a Mistle Thrush sang from the fields there. 

Elsewhere c100 Lesser Redpolls in Birch set a new record!

Female Great Spot Woodpecker, 20 Redwings, 2 Fieldfares, and 4 Siskins were in the car park plantation (Chris Parkin/CG).

Carlton Marsh

It was obvious that an influx of birds had arrived with the colder weather. This morning 46 Fieldfares, 22 Redwings, 18 Siskins and 25 Goldfinches were feeding in the trees. 

A Great Crested Grebe and a Kingfisher were on Bleachcroft Farm Pond (Chris Parkin).

This afternoon 3 Cormorants, 25 Teal and 27 Canada geese were on the wader scrape.

Feeding in the Silver birch trees were c60 Lesser Redpolls. On checking the database, they equalled the all time maximums of 13th of November 2010 and 18th of December 2012!

3 Water Rails called from the main marsh along with a singing Cetti's Warbler (CG).

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls.

On the marsh Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail. 

Elsewhere 2 Song Thrush singing and a 1 Fieldfare (A. Corrall).

Carlton Marsh

c120 Pink Feet were first picked up over the Birkwood Estate, Cudworth shortly before they flew NW over the reserve at 08.50hrs (A. Vincent/JP). 

This afternoon in the gloom on the wader scrape c60 Canada Geese, 2 Cormorant, drake Shoveler, 15 Teal and 17 Pheasants.

On the marsh 3 Water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warblers called (CG).

Carlton Marsh

We were busy hedge laying again this morning on the embankment. 

Nearby in the marsh 2 Cetti's sang and 2 Water Rails called. 

62 Canada Geese, 20+ Mallards c50 BH Gulls and 3 adult Common Gulls were on the wader scrape with 2 Cormorants.

Passerine interest included single Redoll, Coal Tit and 6 Redwings.

A female Sparrowhawk was hunting, and 2 Song Thrush were singing despite the cold damp conditions (Richard Laverack/CG).

Carlton Marsh

There may be some disruption on the embanment tomorrow as BMBC Rangers carry out essential management.

Carlton Marsh Wildlife Group were on site this morning. The only bird report received today was of 10 Redwings and a Treecreeper near Elaine's seat (Melvyn White).  

Carlton Marsh

A late afternoon walk round produced 53 Canada Geese and 6 Greylags on the wader scrape with a Cormorant and a small number of Teal, Gadwall and mallard. A Tufted Duck was on Bleachcroft Farm Pond.

Elsewhere 2 Water Rails, Cetti's Warbler and Great Spotted Woodpecker. I stayed until dusk, but no sign of a Bittern. 

Carlton Marsh

On the scrapes 1 adult LBB Gull, 57 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag Geese, 13 Teal, 15 Gadwall and 2 Cormorants.

Also of note c20 Redpolls in Birch trees the biggest count this year. 3 Redwings and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (K. Bannister/CG).  

Carlton Marsh

This morning on the scrapes 1 LBB Gull, 4 Herring Gulls, 26 Teal, 72 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag Geese, Cormorant and 4 Black Swans (3 cygnets) bred locally at Bleachcroft Farm (Chris parkin).

Carlton Marsh

A drake Goosander was on Bleachcroft Farm pond this morning (K. Bannister).

At 09.30hrs c250 Pink Feet Geese flew NW over Keith's home, in Cudworth, heading towards the reserve.

Carlton Marsh

Our wildlife group was busy this morning with one team scrub cutting along the embankment and the other laying a short piece of hedge.

A 'Redhead' Goosander was on the Whin Pool and 34 Canada Geese were on the wader scrape, A few Siskins and a Redpoll were moving around and a Treecreeper was found near the car park pond (P. Rawson/CG/M. White).

A Fox was hunting around the wader scrape. 

Carlton Marsh

Today's best 11 Pied Wagtails, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Siskins, Cormorant and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee (K. Bannister/C. Parkin).

On Monday and Tuesday Russ Boland arranged for  a 'Truxor' reed cutting machine to work on the scrape. The reeds were dominating restricting views from the hide. It's a wonderful piece of machinery designed for just this kind of job.

 Before (CG)

                                                 After

 R.J. Boland)