Monday 28 February 2022

Wintersett 28.02.2022

 Another quiet day!

Anglers CP:

Redwing 5.

Wintersett Res:

3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were in the wood behind the boathouse bench. 

28/2/22 Wharncliffe Chase

A Red Kite appeared from nowhere at 8.30 just as I was packing up and gave good views for 10 mins. It came from the Wharncliffe Res area and drifted over the fields bordering Bank Lane before flying towards the shooting lodge where it settled in trees at the bottom of the drive. It then headed towards the southern end of Wharncliffe Chase and was lost from view.

Also Skylark, 2 Yellowhammer, Redwing, Common Gull, Buzzard, Kestrel




Sunday 27 February 2022

Wilthorpe Marsh w end. 27/2/22.

Raven 3 together with possibly 4 in the area. Singing Chiffchaff 1 and a calling Parakeet again in the Swallow Hill farm area. Goldcrest 1 pair, Oystercatcher 1, C Snipe 2 flushed, L Egret 1, Lapwing 15 down. Goosander 1 male presumed same which as been regular all month. 1 singing Cetti's.

Wintersett 27.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

21 Whooper Swans were on at 07.15hrs.  They left north west at 07.55hrs.

Gadwall 14.  Shoveler 11.   Great Crested Grebe 5.  

Wintersett Res:

A Cetti's Warbler was on the east  bank.  Goosander 9.  

A Linnet flew over.    Goldeneye 85.

Wintersett 26.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Siskin 1.   Shoveler 7.   

Wintersett Res:

Little Grebe 1.  Goosander 18.  Pochard 46.

Saturday 26 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

The Canada Goose flock increased to 21, Greylag to 5. Also present Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel, 1m1f Sparrowhawk, 2 Green Woodpecker 'Yaffling' in the process of pairing up. 9 Herring and 3 Common Gulls all looking well in their breeding plumage (R Laverack/CG).

Only one Herald Moth was left in their winter hideaway (C. Parkin)

Friday 25 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

This morning 2 Cetti's Warbler sang, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker called, 4 Grey Partridge were on the fields, 2 Cormorant, 36 Teal, 13 Tufted Duck and a drake Goosander flew north (JP/K. Bannister).

This afternoon a 'Band' of 4 Jays, Water Rail and Tawny Owl. 

A Pipistrelle Bat was flying at dusk and a Dog Fox was barking (D. Standish/D Smith).

Jay (Dave Smith)
Ardsley Viaduct area
c100 Lapwing, 1 Red-legged Partridge, 3 Buzzards. Also 2 hibernating Peacock butterfly and 3 Herald Moths (C. Parkin).

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton 
56 Magpies & Frogs mating (C. Parkin)

Wintersett 25.02.2022

 Wintersett Res:

Shoveler 22 + 2 Anglers CP.  

Haw Park Lane Wood:

Redwing 8.

Anglers CP:

Siskin 1.  Woodcock 1.

The nest boxes on the Woodland Walk were cleared out this morning.

A beetle Dromius quadrimaculatus, was a 5th record for the area.

A spider, Metellina merianae was  found in one box

                                          Metellina merianae,  Anglers CP 

                                            25.02.2022  Georgie Wightman

Thursday 24 February 2022

Wintersett 24.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

A Curlew was in the shallows this morning.   Siskin 3.  

Shoveler 12 + 4 WRes..  Redwing 5.

All photos taken by Steve Denny   https://twitter.com/StevieD131



Wednesday 23 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

56 Gadwall was a pretty decent count, 4 Greylag, 2 Cormorant, Treecreeper, Coal Tit and a single Redpoll over. (JP/S. Grove/C. Parkin/CG). A pair of Buzzards were seen mating (G. Shearing)

A Bittern came in from the south at 17.58hrs to roost in the reed bed in front of Elaine's seat (Dave Standish) and a Tawny Owl called.

Wintersett 23.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Two sightings of Merlin  this morning and 120 Pink-footed Geese flew northwest. 

Oystercatcher 4. 

Wintersett Res:

Shoveler 13 + 6 Anglers CP.   A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.

Tuesday 22 February 2022

Ferrymoor Flash

The best there today was 1m Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 10 Teal, 1 Cormorant (adult sinensis), 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull and a Grey Wagtail.

Carlton Marsh
Can anybody identify this fungi/mould that is growing on the old disused rail embankment on soil on the edge, I believe it was there last year too.


Wintersett 22.02.2022

 Cold Hiendley Res:

Goosander 8.  Redwing 1.

Anglers CP:

A 1st Winter Mediterranean Gull was in the shallows this morning.   Snipe 5.

                                  Mediterranean Gull  1st Winter  Anglers CP  SDenny

Monday 21 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

Still very quiet here wildfowl in low numbers as there is plenty of flood water to choose from in the locality. Best today was 3 Buzzards up together, Green Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Goldcrest, Kingfisher and Cetti's Warbler. (L & Corrall/CG).


Dearne Valley Park
1 Fieldfare, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kingfisher. The flowers of Lesser Celandine and Coltsfoot were in bloom. 
(C. Parkin)

Sunday 20 February 2022

Wintersett WeBS February 2022

 Here is the Wintersett WeBS count for February 2022.

Mute Swan 6.  Canada Goose 23.   Cormorant 14.   Coot 128.   

Moorhen 18.  Mallard 35.   Teal 20.   Wigeon 318.   Shoveler 11.   

Gadwall 5.   Tufted Duck 147.   Pochard 85.   Goldeneye 126.   

Goosander 26.   Great Crested Grebe 17.   Grey Heron 3.

Lapwing 100.   Snipe 8.   Oystercatcher 5.

Thursday 17 February 2022

Wintersett 17.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Pochard 65 + 28 WRes..    Oystercatcher 4.  

Wintersett Res.

Canada Goose 3.  Shoveler 9.  Goosander 3 + 5 CHRes..  

Tuesday 15 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

February is traditionally a quiet month here. Today's best was 3 Little Egrets, 2 Water Rails (seen), 26 Herring Gulls, 6 Common Gulls, Peregrine, Great Spot Woodpecker and 2 singing Song Thrushes (JP/L & A Corrall/GG).

Wintersett 15.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Woodcock  1.   Shoveler 10.  

Monday 14 February 2022

Carlton Marsh & Ferrymoor Flash

Carlton Marsh
Little Egret, Grey Wagtail and c180 Pink Feet Geese NW at 17.05hrs (D. Standish/C. Parkin).

Ferrymoor Flash 
As well as the resident pair of Mute Swans, 7 Pochard (5m), 11 Tufted Duck, 1 Great Created Grebe, Male and female Goosander and 25 Lapwing south (CG).

Wintersett 14.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Oystercatcher 3.  Shoveler 7.  Snipe 12.    Cormorant 18.

Wintersett Res:

A 2ndW Iceland  Gull was in the Wintersett Res. gull roost tonight,  before being flushed by a Sparrowhawk.

It was seen later in the roost at Old Moor.

2nd Winter Iceland Gull in WRes. Roost  14.02.2022  SDenny.  

Wintersett 13.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

5 Tree Sparrows,  2 female Siskin and 2 Lesser Redpoll were at the feeding station.

Shelduck  2.  Shoveler 3 + 2 WRes..

Sunday 13 February 2022

Wilthorpe Marsh 13/2/22.

Oystercatcher 1 pair have returned. 1 pair of Grey Partridge, Raven 1 pair, 13 Redwing, 1 Cetti's.

Saturday 12 February 2022

Wintersett 12.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

110 Pink-footed Geese  flew west north west.

Visiting birder,  Ben Armstrong  saw a Merlin fly over this morning. 

Walton Hall:

Psycho the adult Yellow-legged Gull was in this morning. 

Wigeon 1 male and 1 female.

Friday 11 February 2022

Wintersett 11.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Oystercatcher 3.   Little Grebe 1 +1 WRes..  

Wintersettt Res:

Goosander 16 + 3 CHRes..   A Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.

Wilthorpe Marsh 11/2/22.

Very steady. Raven 2, Goosander male on river, L Egret 1, a few scarce winter thrushes grazing today were 3 Fieldfare and c7 Redwings. Goldcrest 2.

Wednesday 9 February 2022

Low Moor/Midhope 9/2/22.

Curlew 1 down this aft. Not much else after a couple hours with 1 Raven, 2 C Buzzards, 2 Kestrels.

Wilthorpe Marsh 9/2/22.

Water Pipit showed well in the sun until flushed by a dog walker. Jack Snipe 2, Raven 2, Goldcrest 3. 1 male Siskin showed well briefly.

Wintersett 09.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

2 Whooper Swans flew south east at 08.00hrs.   Shoveler 5.   Oystercatcher 2.  

Wintersett Res.

Goldeneye 95 + 10 CHRes. + 67 ACP.    Pochard 33 +  5 CHRes. +  106 ACP.

Great Crested Grebe  16 +  5 CHRes.  +  1 ACP.

A Woodcock was on the west bank.    A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.

Tuesday 8 February 2022

Woolley Dam, Wilthorpe Marsh 8/2/22.

Very quiet at both sites with little news. Woolley Dam, - 17 Grey Herons, 5 Teal the best. Wilthorpe, - 2 Grey Partridge, 1 Raven.

Wintersett 08.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

2  Oystercatchers, one from each territory,  were on the shallows this morning, including the ringed female that bred here last year.  

                          Image                         Oystercatcher female  Anglers CP 08.02.2022  @stphotography99

Monday 7 February 2022

Wilthorpe Marsh 7/2/22.

Very steady with Water Pipit 1, Parakeet flew e down the valley towards tinkers pond. Not much else with 1 Redpoll over, 2 Goldcrests.

Carlton Marsh

 A Woodcock was flushed this morning from the embankment and a Little Egret was on the wader scrape (Keith Bannister).

A little later Green Woodpecker called, 20 Siskin were in the car park and 6 Tufted Duck were on the scrape (Les & Andrew Corrall).

This afternoon towards dusk a Linnet flew south, 15 + 3 Yellow Buntings came in to roost in Common Reed, a Cetti's Warbler sang and a Tawny Owl called before it flew within 10 yards of me in the fading light. The Mute Swan that came in on the 5th is Y227, he was ringed as an adult at Doncaster Lakeside in 2015 (CG).

Lundwood Sewage Farm
14 Fieldfares, 1 Redwing, 4 Buzzards in the air together and 62 Magpies in the area (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 07.02.2022

 Anglers CP:

Oystercatcher 1.   A Green Woodpecker and 2 Greenfinch were on the Pol. 

Cormorant 18.  Shoveler 5.  Pochard 110.

2 Siskin and 1 Lesser Redpoll were on the feeders. 

Wintersett Res:

Goosander 6.

Sunday 6 February 2022

Wilthorpe Marsh 6/2/22.

Every bird felt like a bonus in shocking winds with hail and rain. Flooded fields at the oxbow pond area didn't hold much new apart from Gulls with a few Herrings and Commons with c 150 Black Headed. The drk. Cinnamon Teal was showing. Nearby 2 Ravens, 2 L Egrets, 2 Goldcrests.

Saturday 5 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

This mornings best was 10 Herring Gull, 6 Common Gull, 7 Starling, 7 Redwings, 40 Linnets, 30 Skylarks and 2 Grey Partridge (JP/R. Laverack).

Friday 4 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

 Two Little Egrets, 25 Siskin, Goldcrest and a Redwing today (L & A Corrall/R. Laverack).

Wilthorpe Marsh 4/2/22.

Horizontal rain at times in yet another shocking northerly airflow. Peregrine the highlight hunting the w end and perching on pylons. Raven 1, C Snipe 1, Redwing c 20, Kingfisher 1, singing Little Owl recently. No sign of any Pipits.

Thursday 3 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape 2 Little Egrets,12 Herring Gulls. Elsewhere 2 Fieldfares, 2 Treecreepers, Goldcrest, 20 Siskins and Cetti's Warbler. (LC/AC/RL). 

Wednesday 2 February 2022

Carlton Marsh & Cudworth Common

Two more adult Mute Swans joined the adult and 2 cygnets. 32 Herring Gulls, 26 Teal and a Dabchick were also present. 9 Siskin were feeding on Alders seeds (Chris Parkin).

Cudworth Common
A pair of Wigeon were on the ponds with 2 Mute Swans. 

Ferrymoor Flash
c30 Canada Geese, 5 drake Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck and 6 Teal. A Little Egret came off the dike and left south.
Towards dusk c100 Pied Wagtails flew west at 16.45hrs flowed by another 50 +10 + 15. They may have been heading for Ardagh Glassworks where they have roosted in the past?
Around 20 Magpies roosted in Birch and Willow (CG).

Tuesday 1 February 2022

Carlton Marsh

 4 Raptors this afternoon Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard. Also Green Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Snipe and 30 Stock Doves in to roost (K. Bannister/CG).

The 3 Swans that came in on Sunday are Y229 female that spent most of 2019 & 2020 here with her 2 cygnets OY03 & OY04.

Wilthorpe Marsh 1/2/22.

Water Pipit 1 showing well on mud. Probably the only wintering bird this time resulting in far fewer sightings. Cinnamon Teal 1 male, singing Cetti's 1. Not much else wanting to show in the shocking winds apart from LT Tits, c 20.