Cudworth to Ardsley Viaiduct via The Trans Pennine Trail

Buzzard, 43 Red - legged Partridges, 5 Redwings and 1 Goldcrest.

Also of note hibernating in the nearby rocks 17 Peacock butterflies, 15 Herald Moths (more than ever before), and 2 White-tailed Bumble Bees (Chris Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

We were busy this morning finishing laying a hawthorn hedge near Elaine's seat on the embankment. There we heard a Siskin, Redpoll and a Great Spotted Woodpecker before the rain got heavier.

But before that Harold Heath and Clive Mitchell saw a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk and I found more evidence of Willow Emerald egg galls on some Willow twigs. 

                       Willow Emerald Damselfly egg galls (CG)

                                Melvyn White & Simon Cox hedge laying

Carlton Marsh

 25 Golden Plover alighted in a stubble field on the eastern side of the marsh at 09.25hrs (JP).

                                          Shoveler (John Finch)

Carlton Marsh

42 Canada Geese, c20 Teal, 1 drake Shoveler and 20 Gadawll were on the wader scrape. A Cormorant was on the main scrape with a Kingfisher.

A single Redpoll was present.

A walk around after dark provided  male and female Tawny Owl calling to each other (D. Standish/CG). 

Carlton Marsh

The valley bottom is well flooded now. Bullfinch is not a bird we have seen much of this year.

     Female Bullfinch and a winter plumaged Black Headed Gull (Simon Cox)

Carlton Marsh

A 'Redhead' Goosander was on the main scrape today and 15 Lapwings on the wader scrape were the first since the beginning of September! (Dave Standish et al)

                               Goosander (Simon Cox)

Carlton Marsh

The juvenile Kingfisher showed well again this morning in front of the hide.

The 2 Mute Swans had moved onto the Whin pool, 25 Gadwall and 3 Common Gulls were on the wader scrape. 

Also present 25 Redwings, 2 Siskins, and 15 Goldfinches. 

                               Juv. Kingfisher (Simon Cox)

Carlton Marsh

We are now at a very quiet time of year, and with so much water around the wildfowl is spoiled for choice as to where to be.

So today just two reports were received from K. Bannister & Chris Parkin.

A Tawny Owl called at daybreak (KB)

12 Greylags, 4 Teal, 10 Redwings and a late White-tailed Bumble Bee (CP).

Carlton Marsh

The stand out birds today were; Little Egret and 2 Woodcock (Neil Lunn).

Carlton Marsh

Not much to report today; 8 Greylags, 5 Canada Geese, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, and single Shoveler and Tufted Duck, the latter the first since September.

Also single Redpoll and Siskin, and 5 Yellow Buntings.

Scrub was removed on Friday to allow more light in to the embankment (BMBC Rangers & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Volunteers).

                                          R.J. Boland

Carlton Marsh

21/11/25

A Tawny Owl called at dawn (K. Bannister).

A few Redwings were seen east of the reserve, and around 6 were feeding in Haws on the reserve embankment. Also 12 Yellow Buntings were feeding in a stubble field.

 

Locally a Chiffchaff sang in an allotment on Albert Street, Cudworth which is about 3/4 of a mile to the east. Also there c70 House Sparrows and c60 Starlings (JP).

 

 Redwing (Simon Cox)

22/11/25

Today's highlights were Little Egret, Woodcock and Kingfisher (Neil Lunn/Simon Cox)

 

Female Kingfisher (Simon Cox)

Carlton Marsh

36 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag Geese and 5 Shoveler were amongst the wildfowl on the scrapes today.

A Redpoll and a few Siskins were amongst the Goldfinches in the car park and c20 Redwings were feeding on Haws on the embankment. 

 A Common Darter in slow motion from 13/11/25 (Tony Devoy)

Carlton Marsh & Cudworth

Carlton Marsh Friday 14/11/25

A Barn Owl was hunting the field behind the cottages at 3pm. 

 

Saturday 15/11/25 

The reserve was well flooded after Storm Claudia. A Water Rail made a brief flight to an adjacent reed bed and c10 Teal were with Mallard and Gadwall.

 

A Woodcock was the first of this winter (Neil Lunn).

 

Cudworth 

13/11/25 In my garden a male December Moth & a very late Dark Arches.

 

December Moth

  15/11/25 The migrant micro moth Rusty Dot Pearl (Udea ferrugalis) was resting on my door.  

Carlton Marsh

Apart from strimming part of the embankment our main focus this morning was to look for the Willow Emerald before the weather changes. They didn't let us down 2 were seen near the hide as they basked and made short flights in the warmth of the sun. 3 Common Darters were also seen (M. White/C. Parkin/CG).

                 This record shot was taken by Carl Pickersgill

Also present Cormorant, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail and Coal Tit. Not forgetting the hoverfly Eupeodes luniger, which is only our 3rd record (Chris Parkin).

J                            Juvenile Kingfisher (Carl Pickersgill)

Chris Parkin also saw 2 red Admirals in Cudworth Park. 

Cudworth Common

A Woodcock was flushed near the wind turbine (Arthur  Vincent).

Carlton Marsh

A Barn Owl was hunting and screeching over the field at the back of the cottages at 06.45hrs (Harold Heath/Clive Mitchell).

Also of note 3 Redpolls, single Siskin, Grey Wagtail and 4 Shovelers. 

Before the sun went in around mid-day a Common Darter and a Willow Emerald were seen briefly (C. Parkin/S. Cox). Will this this be the last date for the Willow Emerald as rain is forecast for the next couple of days? Watch this space, as they say.

Carlton Marsh

5 Shovelers and a Common Gull were on the wader scrape. Single Redpoll & Siskin called along with 2 Water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warblers. 

4 Redwings and a Fieldfare flew NE. 

There was no sign of the Willow Emerald as it was cloudy and cooler than of late.

Carlton Marsh

This morning 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew east, followed by c150 Pink Feet Geese east at 11.10 hrs (K. Bannister/JP).

5 Shovelers, Cormorant, Grey Wagtail, 3 Water Rails, 3 Cetti's Warblers and a Kingfisher were present. Along with 3 Redpolls, Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard and 2 Redwings.

Insects included 4 Willow Emeralds, 1m Migrant Hawker, and 2 Common Darters, all enjoying the amazing warm sunny conditions (R. Laverack/CG/C. Parkin).  

             The recently laid hedge to the car park (Jasper Pratchek)

            Grey Heron with freshly caught Perch (Simon Cox).

Carlton Marsh & Cudworth

50 Pink Feet Geese flew east at 10.20hrs (JP). 

Cudworth

A late flying Red Admiral was seen near Abbey Vets at mid-day (C. Parkin).

Moths caught in my garden last night (6/11/25) included December Moth, Yellow -tail, Red Green Carpet and Feathered Thorn (CG).

                                  Feathered Thorn male

Carlton Marsh

Pink Feet were moving through this morning c300 west at 08.28hrs (K. Bannister), 50 NW at 09.35hrs + 40 NW at  10.45hrs (JP) & c140 NW over Low Cudworth at 11.40hrs (R. Laverack).

Also of note 15 Skylarks, 10 Linnets and 6 Yellow Hammers on the stubble fields (JP).

A Kingfisher was on the scrape and a Coal Tit was in the car park.

A single Willow Emerald made short and very brief flights near the hide just before mid-day (CG). 

Cudworth Moths (5/11/25) 

From my garden 

Scarce Umber (male)

Yellow-tail (male)

Carlton Marsh

A Bittern thought to have flown from the reserve headed SE over Cudworth's New Cemetery at 08.00hrs. Perhaps towards Edderthorpe Flash (JP).

Around mid-day the temperature peaked at a phenomenal 17c to 18c thereby allowing at least one Willow Emerald to fly for a while. This hardy insect was languishing on a dead Buddlea flower head near the dike a few yards from the bird hide. 

Also of note Common Darter male and a Speckled Wood butterfly (Chris Parkin).

                                      Male willow Emerald (CP)

               Red Cracked Bolete (Xerocomellus chrysenteron) (CP)