Dearne Valley Sunday 28th February

Adwick Washland

A lot colder this Sunday rather than last and gloves were back on, sunny and pleasant though and felt quite spring like. The birds have responded to the conditions and many Lapwings were back on territory and displaying, also I saw my first Ringed Plover of the year and first Redshank at Adwick this year. Full list :- Little Egret 1, Shelduck 4, Teal 88, Wigeon 67, Gadwall 46, Lapwing c150, Redshank 1, Ringed Plover 1, Snipe 1, Little Owl 1 (Gary Stones).

Bolton Ings

With news of Fridays pair of Red Crested Pochards being relocated on Bolton me and Gary decided to have a look. The birds were quickly located at the very western edge of the main pool and provided reasonable views in the sunshine. Also noted today were a pair of Goldeneye and a single Oystercatcher.

Old Moor

Onto Old Moor for the roost but first stop the Mere for the returning adult male Mediterranean Gull, couldn't find it at first but then Gary picked it up in it's usual place on island 1. He is already in full summer plumage and looking splendid, this is his seventh year with us after first being seen in 2010. I say the same thing every year, he has never attracted a mate but hopefully this year he will. There was a pair of Goldeneye displaying on the Mere and the 2 Whooper Swans could be seen on the Wader Scrape from the Mere hide. Onto the Wader Scrape for a closer look at the Whoopers, also on the Wader Scrape were 2 Goldeneye with 26 Goosanders and 2 Oystercatchers. Onto the Main Marsh for the roost but first there looked to be an increase in Shoveler from last week and a quick count revealed 118 but probably more. Also on the Main Marsh were 2 Shelduck, 2 Oystercatchers and 6 Snipe. The roost again was good with 47 Cormorants coming in with some smart looking individuals and 8 Little Egrets, 4 of the Egrets were feeding on the Main Marsh pre-roost and a further 4 came in from up the valley. Last year on this date by comparison 5 Cormorants and 4 Egrets roosted.

Other species recorded in the Old Moor area today included adult Yellow Legged Gull, pair of Bearded Tits, 10 Water Rails, Cetti's Warbler and Curlew.