Saturday 1 January 2022

Carlton Marsh

Today's sightings included 10 Common Gull and 10 Herring Gulls on the wader scrape with 3 adult LBB Gulls moving south at 12.23hrs. Also present 2 Cormorants, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, Grey Wagtail, 4 Siskins, 25 Goldfinches and Green Woodpecker (K. Bannister/JP/C. Parkin/CG).

Looking back, 2021 was a good year for this site. It became a 'Site of Special Scientific Interest, thereby protecting it more from greedy developers. The Reserve also received a 'Cetificate of Excellence' in the Yorkshire in Bloom Awards, and to top it off, our wildlife group won a prestigious award in the 'Love Where Live' category at the Proud of Barnsley Awards.

A massive thankyou to all our observers and supporters

The highlights for me in 2021 were;

Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult 6th January

Bittern from 24th February to 20th March

Grasshopper Warbler 19th April

Spoonbill 1 north 17th May

Marsh Harrier on 17th May & 14th September

Spotted Flycatcher 1 on 31st May & 1 22nd September

Mediterranean Gull 1 adult on 21st July

Whinchat 1 adult & 1 juvenile 12th to 15th  September 

Hobby 1 12th September

Brambling 2 on 20th September

Tree Pipit 1 6th October

Common Crane 3 south on 10th October

Marsh Tit 1 16th October

Rock Pipit 1 west 16th October

Not forgetting the outstanding 'Hepatic' female Cuckoo from 30th April to 10th June

Up to  6 singing Cetti's Warblers

New Moths included Coronet on 14th July and Freyer's Pug on 7th June.

Coronet (CG)

Silver Washed Fritillary was new to the list on 28th July (Les Corrall).

Broad-leaved Helleborine was also new (Chris Parkin)

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