Carlton Marsh

On the scrapes 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Dabchick, 2 LBB Gull, 1m Shoveler and 4 Snipe. A male Wheatear was on tilled land, and a Golden Plover flew over the top field (JP/CG).

2 Cetti's Warblers sang, and 5 Jays flying together in the morning was unusual. They were seen together again in the afternoon (CG/R. Laverack).

82 bird species were recorded this March, which beat the previous record of 80 in 1994! Well done everybody.

Butterflies included our first Orange-tip of the year and 3m Brimstone (R. Laverack).

Wintersett Sightings 31.03.2025

 Anglers CP:

A Little Egret flew north.    Wigeon 12.   Teal 12.

Shoveler 5.   Snipe 1.   Cetti's Warbler 1 south west corner.

2 Yellowhammers were at Pol feeders.  

Wintersett Res:

Pochard 1 male.

A Grass Snake was seen in the area.

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape this morning Little Egret, 5 Snipe, 2m Shoveler (S. Cox/J. Finch).

5 Linnets and a Fieldfare were on a nearby field (K. Bannister). 

                                      Little Egret (Simon Cox)

 

Wintersett Sightings: 30th March 2025

 Anglers CP:

Wigeon 13.   Snipe 1.   Shoveler 3.   Teal 8.

Wintersett Res:

Sand Martin 4.    1st Coot sat on it's nest.

Cetti's Warbler 6 males.   

Butterflies:

Speckled Wood 1.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Grey Wagtail 1.

Carlton Marsh

Our first Swallows arrived today. One was over the wader scrape at 10.23hrs (CG) and another was seen later in the day at 18.20hrs (D. Standish).

19 Chiffchaffs were singing.

Wintersett Sightings 29th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

Sand Martin 2.   Swallow 1.   Blackcap 1 male.

Curlew 1 over.   Teal 4.   Gadwall 17.   Wigeon 13.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Redwing 63 north.   Blackcap 7 males.

Cetti's Warbler 4 males.   Gadwall 10.   Wigeon 6.  Sand Martin 6.

Wintersett Sightings - 28.03.2025

Anglers CP: 

Black-necked Grebe 3.   House Martin 1.   Blackcap 1 male.

Wigeon 17.   Shoveler 7.   Teal 4.   

Yellowhammer 1 on Pol Feeders.

Wintersett Res:

Curlew 1 west.  Wigeon 2.   Meadow Pipit 40.

Cetti's Warbler 5 males.  Blackcap 1 male.

Moth:

Orange Underwing 1.

Carlton Marsh & Storrs Mill

Carlton Marsh

Not much to report as we were busy scrub bashing. However, 3 pairs of Shoveler, 2 Cormorants, a Dabchick and a Lapwing were on the scrapes (N. Lunn/CG).

 

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct (via the Dearne) 

Sand Martin (A. Vincent), Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Cormorant, and a Mallard nest with 12 eggs.

Insects included 33 Peacock, 12 Small Tort. 16 Comma, 8m Brimstone, 3 Orange-tip, 1 Orange Underwing moth and 8 Dark-edged Bee Fly.  A pair of Grass snakes were mating (Chris Parkin).

Wintersett Sightings 27.03.2025

Anglers Country Park:

Wigeon 22.   Teal 3.   Shoveler 2.    Snipe 2.

Wintersett Res:

Blackcap 1 male.   Cetti's Warbler 4 males.  Water Rail 1. 

Wintersett Sightings 26.03.2025

 Anglers CP:

Little Ringed Plover 1 in shallows.

Tawny Owl 1.   Snipe 9.   Wigeon 42.  Teal 19. 

Wintersett Res:

Golden Plover  31 west.   

Redwing 32.   Meadow Pipit 42 north.  

Goosander 1 male.   Blackcap 1 male.

Carlton Marsh

Another beautiful warm spring day produced 27 Peacock, 14 Comma, 5m Brimstone, 1 Small White, 1 Speckled Wood and 2 Dark-edged Bee Fly (C. Parkin).

Our first Blackcap was singing in the car park, 5 Buzzards were in the air, 3 Cetti's Warbler sang and a Redshank flew west (L & A Corrall/JP).

Wintersett Sightings 25.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Goosander 1 male flew east.   Shoveler 4 males + 3 females.

Teal 16.   Snipe 1.   Meadow Pipit 50 north.   Sand Martin 13 north.

Moorhouse Lane Ponds:

Great White Egret 1.

Moths:

Early Tooth-striped Moth 1  -  (at the security Lights).

Wintersett Sightings 24.03.2025

Anglers CP: 

Kittiwake 1 adult.   Rock Pipit 1.   A Merlin flew north west.

Swallow 1.   Snipe 9.   Pochard 8.   Shoveler 5.   Teal 12.

Goldeneye 31.   Great Crested Grebe 2.   Red Kite 1.  Curlew 1.

Wintersett Res:

Cetti's Warblers 4 singing males.   Goldeneye 71.   

Great Crested Grebe 6.    Blackcap 1 male.  Water Rail 1.

Kingfisher 1.   Treecreeper 2.   Tawny Owl 2.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Curlew - 1 flew south west.   Cetti's Warbler 1 male.

Goldeneye 10.   Great Crested Grebe 7.

31 Singing Chiffchaffs were throughout the area! 

Wintersett Sightings - 23.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Great White Egret 1.   Little Egret 1.   Swallow 1.

Sand Martin 3.   Shoveler 3 males + 1 female.

Teal 17.   Pochard 4 males + 4 females. 

Wintersett Res:

Sand Martin 1.   Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male.  

Wintersett Sightings 22.03.2025

Anglers CP: 

Shoveler 11 males + 5 females.    Pochard 4 males + 4 females.

Wigeon 192.   Teal 10.   Snipe 3.   Redwing 1. 

Wintersett Res:

Wigeon 29.   Blackcap 1 singing male.

Cettis Warbler 4 singing males. 

Cold Hiendley Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male. 

Carlton Marsh

Tilled land east of the reserve produced 20 Carrion Crows, 10 Mistle Thrushes, c30 Linnets, 10 Pied Wagtails, 6 Skylarks and a Little Ringed Plover north (JP).

Low Cudworth to Storrs Mill (via the old Midland Railway)

Red Kite, 4 Buzzards, 4 Grey Wagtails, 4 Grey Partridges, 4 Lapwings and 2 Coal Tits.

Also 3 Peacock, 5 Small Tort. 15 Comma, 2m Brimstone and a very early Orange-tip (my earliest ever anywhere). 2 Short-tailed Field Voles, 2 Dark-edged Bee-fly and a female Grass Snake. Wood Anemone is just coming into flower (C. Parkin). 

Wintersett Sightings 21st March 2025

Anglers CP: 

A Spoonbill flew high north at 06.10hrs.  

Woodcock 2.   Pochard 9.   Shoveler 14.   Wigeon 187.

Teal 9.   Lapwing 21.   Snipe 1.  Redwing 30. 

Wintersett Res:

Kingfisher 1.   Cetti's Warbler 2 singing males.

Water Rail 1.   Grey Wagtail 2.

Haw Park:

Redpoll 2.   

Moorhouse Lane Ponds:

Great White Egret 1.

Walton Hall:

Whooper Swan 1 adult. 

Carlton Marsh

New in this morning a pair of Shoveler and a Green Sandpiper on the wader scrape. 14 Herring Gulls and 4 LBB Gulls were also present (J. Finch/CG).

                             Both photos of Buzzard by Simon Cox

Additional this afternoon a Treecreeper.

Butterflies were out in force today with 7 Brimstone (all males), 7 Peacock, 5 Small Tort. 23 Comma and a Small White. Not forgetting 2 Bee Fly (C. Parkin).

Wintersett 20th March 2025

Anglers CP:

2 Red Kites flew east at 09.20hrs.    Wigeon 184. 

Teal 10.   Pochard 5.   Snipe 6.

Butterflies ACP: 

Large White 1.   Comma 2.   Peacock 1.  Brimstone 1 male. 

Wintersett Res:

A Great White Egret was on Botany Bay. 

Wigeon 22.   Cetti's Warbler 3 males.

Redwing 3.  

Butterfly -  Small Tortoiseshell 1. 

Carlton Marsh & Dearne Valley Park

Carlton Marsh

The usual ducks and geese were busy arguing over nest sites. The best of the rest were an adult 'Sinensis' Cormorant, 2 Snipe, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers and 14 Pied wagtails on tilled land nearby (J. Finch/CG).

 

Dearne Valley Park - Hoyle Mill 

4 Grey Wagtails, 16 Greylag Geese, a breeding pair of Mute Swans and 4 cygnets.

20 Comma and 5 Small Tortoiseshells were abroad and Scarlet Elf Cup fungi was common 

(C. Parkin)

Wintersett Sightings 19.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Redshank 2.   Shoveler 6.   Teal 8.   Pochard 7.   Tufted Duck 28.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Tawny Owl 1.   Wigeon 22.

Pochard 3.   Tufted Duck 113.

 

 

Carlton Marsh

A 'Cream Crown' Marsh Harrier came in over the top fields from the north, but left at 09.15hrs after being harassed by gulls (JP).

Wintersett March WeBS. 2025

Wintersett - March WeBS.

Mute Swan 12.   Canada Goose 21.   Greylag Goose 1.  

Cormorant 16.   Great Crested Grebe 14.   Coot 93.   Moorhen 22.

Mallard 74.   Teal 12.   Shoveler 4.   Gadwall 22.   Wigeon 243.   

Tufted Duck 125.   Pochard 16.   Goldeneye 110.   Goosander 1.   

Lapwing 36.   Oystercatcher 4.   Snipe 12.   Grey Heron 3.   

Great White Egret 1.   Kingfisher 1.  Yellow-legged Gull 1 4th Winter.

Wintersett Sightings 18.03.2025

 Anglers CP:

 Shoveler 2 males.   Goosander 1 Redhead.   Snipe 2.

 Wintersett Res: 

Pochard 3.   Gadwall 6.   Cetti's Warbler 2 males.

Carlton Marsh

A Yellow-legged Gull was on the fields this morning, as the farmer ploughed (JP).

2 Cormorants, 6 Common Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls were on the scrapes (R. Laverack).

Wintersett Sightings - 17th March 2025.

 Anglers CP:

Teal 15.   Shoveler 3 males.   Pochard 13.

Wintersett Res: 

32 Meadow Pipits in north bank field.

Botany Bay:  Great White Egret  1.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Cetti's Warbler 1 male.  

Carlton Marsh

3 Snipe, Little Egret, 2 Cormorants and 3 LBB Gulls were on the scrapes. 6 Chiffchaffs and 2 Cetti's warblers sang (J. Finch/N. Lunn/CG).

The sheep have now gone to pastures new!

Wintersett Bird Sightings 16.03.2025

Anglers CP: 

Whooper Swan 31.   Yellow-legged Gull 1 4th Winter.

Shoveler 8.   Pochard 13.   Goosander 1.   Teal 12.   

Snipe 1.   Lapwing 22.

Wintersett Res:

Water Rail 1.   Pochard 4.   Wigeon 26.   Grey Wagtail 1.

Cetti's Warbler 3 singing males. 

Cold Hiendley Res:

Great White Egret 1. 

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape this morning 2 LBB Gulls, 1 Herring Gull, c500 B.H. Gulls.

Also of interest 2 Mute Swans mating, 2 Redwings and 55 Pink Feet geese very high west at 09.10hrs (J. Finch/C.Parkin/CG).

                             Sparrowhawk (Simon Cox)

 Sadly one of the 7 sheep on the Western Meadow was found dead. The rest will be taken off tomorrow to allow spring flowers to grow. 

Wintersett 15th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

Yellow-legged Gull 1 x 4th Winter.

Goosander 1 Redhead.   Shoveler 3

Snipe 11. 

Wintersett Res:

Grey Wagtail 1 male.    Redwing 3.   Grey Heron 3.

Kingfisher 1.   Pochard 5.  3 singing male Cetti's Warblers.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Cetti's Warbler 1.   Fieldfare 10.

Moorhouse Lane Ponds:

Great White Egret 1.

Walton Hall Game Crop:

Linnet 250. 

Wintersett - 14th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

A 4th Winter Yellow-legged Gull was in the shallows.

Shoveler 3 males and 3 females.   Pochard 12.   Snipe 4.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Wigeon 24.   Pochard 3. 

Meadow Pipit 23 on north bank WRes. 

Cetti's Warbler 2 males.

Fieldfare 1.    Redwing 1.

Carlton Marsh

 7 Snipe and a Little Egret on the wader scrape were today's best (John Finch).

                          A record shot of Snipe (Simon Cox)

Wintersett 13th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

25 Goldfinch and 1 Yellowhammer were in the Pol field.

Snipe 2.   Teal 5.     Shoveler 1.   Cormorant 15.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1.   Grey Wagtail 1.   

Cetti's Warbler  3 singing males.   Pochard 1.

Cold Hiendley Res: 

Goosander 1. 

Wintersett Sightings 12th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

Peregrine 1 over.   Teal 11.   Great Black-backed Gull 1 adult.

Yellowhammer  1 on Pol feeders. 

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1 on Botany.  Red Kite 1 over.

Fieldfare 30.   Wigeon 21.  Cetti's Warbler 3 singing males. 

Cold Hiendley Res:

1 redhead Goosander. 

Carlton Marsh

Additional sightings for 10/3/25

Red Kite 15.30hrs in a tree on Northern Meadow before it left west. 

Also 2 Lapwings, 2 LBB Gulls and 2 Herring Gulls, Treecreeper and a Goldcrest (Andrew Corrall).

Wintersett Sightings 11.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Teal 8.   Shoveler 2.   Snipe 5.

Wintersett Res:

A Great White Egret was on Botany.

Carlton Marsh

 New in this morning 3 Snipe (John Finch). Also 2 singing Mistle Thrush and 2 Cormorants.

                              Grey Heron (Simon Cox)

                               Bullfinch (Simon Cox)

Wintersett Sightings - 10.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Shoveler 6.   Teal 4.   Cormorant 13.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1 on Botany.    Cetti's Warbler 2.

Wintersett Sightings - March 9th 2025

Anglers CP: 

Whooper  Swan 36.

Pink-footed Goose - 115 flew north east.

Goosander 1.   Teal 7.   Shoveler 3.

Snipe 6.   Lapwing 46.

Wintersett Res:

Water Rail 1.   Cetti's Warbler 2. 

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights were Green Sandpiper (wader scrape) 12.30hrs, 3 Water Rails, 1 adult Cormorant (Sinensis type), 4 singing Cetti's warblers, 6 singing Chiffchaffs, 5 Buzzards and 2 Lapwings (CG).

Also 4 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3m Brimstone and 19 Comma (C. Parkin). 

Then at dusk the Bittern made a short flight from the reed bed in the scrape alighting in front of Elaine's seat at 18.20hrs (D. Standish).

Wintersett - March 8th 2025

Anglers CP:

Curlew 1 flying north.   Oystercatcher 6.

Shoveler 5.   Yellowhammer 1.  Chiffchaff 4 singing males.

Wintersett Res:

Whooper Swan 1 adult.   Water Rail 1.  

Cetti's Warbler 3 singing males.

Chiffchaff 8 singing males. 

Walton Hall:

Oystercatcher 2.   Chiffchaff 1 male.   Yellowhammer 2 pairs.

In the game crop field.

Stock Dove 50.    Linnet 150   Chaffinch 90.

Haw Park Lane - Butterflies:

Male Brimstone 1.   Peacock 1. 

Carlton Marsh

 2 Singing Chiffchaffs were new in today. A Lapwing and a Greenfinch were also of note.

A Peacock and a Small Tortoiseshell were enjoying the spring sunshine (Andrew Corrall). 

A male Brimstone butterfly was flying in Les Corrall's Low Cudworth Garden.

Wintersett Sightings - 07.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Pochard 31.   Shoveler 6.   Teal 12.  Chiffchaff 2. 

Wintersett Res:

Chiffchaff 3.   Pochard 8.   Cetti's Warbler 1.

Whooper Swan 1 adult.  Goosander 1 male.  

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct

2 Buzzard, 4 Grey Partridge, 19 Red-legged Partridge and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Also 2m Brimstone, 1 Peacock and 4 Comma. 

The first Bluebells are in flower (Chris Parkin).

Wintersett - March 6th 2025

Anglers CP: 

Chiffchaff 1 singing male.   Pochard 31.   Great Crested Grebe 6.

Shoveler 2.   Lapwing 35.

Wintersett Res:

Whooper Swan 1 adult + 5 flew north.

Great Crested Grebe 7.   Pochard 4.

Chiffchaff 2 singing males.

Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male.

Butterfly:   Comma 1, 

Cold Hiendley Res.

Great Crested Grebe 6. 

Carlton Marsh

Carlton Marsh

A Comma and a Small Tortoiseshell were feeding on the flowers of Bullace. 

 

Of interest 2 Little Grebes, Cormorant, LBB and Common Gull. 3 Linnets and 3 Skylarks were in a nearby stubble field (K. Bannister/JP/CG).

 

Low Cudworth

A Red Kite flew low over Quarry Vale north at 15.15hrs (A. Corrall).

 

Dearne Valley Park - Hoyle Mill 

Birds included 14 Greylags and 4 Grey Wagtails.

Also present single Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Comma and 1 Orange Underwing moth ( C. Parkin). 

Wintersett - Sightings for March 5th 2025

Anglers CP: 

Chiffchaff 1 singing male.   Goosander 3.   Goldeneye 26.

Great Crested Grebe 9.   Snipe 6.   Redwing 10.

Butterflies:

Small Tortoiseshell  1.   Brimstone 1 male.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1 on Botany Bay.

Goldeneye 55.   Great Crested Grebe 1.

Cetti's Warbler 4.   Chiffchaff 1 singing male.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Whooper Swan 1 adult.  Goldeneye 4.

Great Crested Grebe 3.

Carlton Marsh

The first butterflies of the year were feeding on Blackthorn - 2 Comma and 1 Peacock (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett - Tues 4th March 2025

Anglers CP: 

Shoveler 8.   Goosander 1 flying south.

Lapwing 30.   Teal 11.   Grey Wagtail 1. 

Redpoll 1.   1 Chiffchaff singing. 

Wintersett Res:

Shoveler 2.   Cetti's Warbler 1. 

Carlton Marsh

A walk down towards dusk saw 14 Yellow Buntings come into roost in Common Reed, Water Rail called, a Cettis Warbler sang as 6 Greylags came in  off the fields.

A Pipistrelle Bat was flying at dusk (S. Cox/CG).

                             Yellow Buntings (Simon Cox)

 

Wintersett 03.03.2025

Anglers CP:

Great White Egret 1.  

Whooper Swan - 5 flew over,  and landed on Wintersett Res.

Cormorant 12. 

Moths:

Dotted Border 1.   March Moth 3. 

Shoulder Stripe 3.

Wintersett Res: 

Kingfisher 1.   Cetti's Warbler 1.

Wintersett Sightings - March 2nd 2025

Anglers CP:

Stonechat 1 male in north west corner.

Chiffchaff 1 singing.

Yellowhammer 1 on Pol feeders.

Little Grebe 1.  Great Crested Grebe 7.

Wigeon 251.   Gadwall 14.   Teal 8.  Pochard 62.

Goosander 1.   Snipe 7.   Redwing 1.

Wintersett Res:

Black necked Grebe 2 in south east corner.

Great White Egret 1.   Whooper Swan 1 adult.

Wigeon 20.   Teal 2.   Gadwall 2.    

Great Crested Grebe 2.    Pochard 1.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Great Crested Grebe 6.

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights c100 Pink Feet NW at 8.44hrs + c120 west at 10.00hrs. 

On the scrapes 52 Canada Geese, 10 Greylags, 16 Teal, 16 Tufted Ducks, 2 Common Gulls, Kingfisher, Dabchick, Kingfisher and Cetti's Warbler.

A Great Spotted Woodpecker was 'drumming' and a Collared Dove put in an appearance (a scarce bird here) 

A Fox was on the prowl and a dead Peacock butterfly was found (CG/C. Parkin).

Wintersett Sightings - 01.03.2025

Anglers CP: 

Shoveler 2.  Kingfisher 1.

Wintersett Res:

Great White Egret 1.

Pink-footed Geese 45 flew north west.

Pochard 2.   Goosander 1.

Cetti's Warbler 1.