Carlton Marsh

It was obvious that an influx of birds had arrived with the colder weather. This morning 46 Fieldfares, 22 Redwings, 18 Siskins and 25 Goldfinches were feeding in the trees. 

A Great Crested Grebe and a Kingfisher were on Bleachcroft Farm Pond (Chris Parkin).

This afternoon 3 Cormorants, 25 Teal and 27 Canada geese were on the wader scrape.

Feeding in the Silver birch trees were c60 Lesser Redpolls. On checking the database, they equalled the all time maximums of 13th of November 2010 and 18th of December 2012!

3 Water Rails called from the main marsh along with a singing Cetti's Warbler (CG).

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape 2 Herring Gulls, 2 Common Gulls.

On the marsh Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail. 

Elsewhere 2 Song Thrush singing and a 1 Fieldfare (A. Corrall).

Carlton Marsh

c120 Pink Feet were first picked up over the Birkwood Estate, Cudworth shortly before they flew NW over the reserve at 08.50hrs (A. Vincent/JP). 

This afternoon in the gloom on the wader scrape c60 Canada Geese, 2 Cormorant, drake Shoveler, 15 Teal and 17 Pheasants.

On the marsh 3 Water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warblers called (CG).

Carlton Marsh

We were busy hedge laying again this morning on the embankment. 

Nearby in the marsh 2 Cetti's sang and 2 Water Rails called. 

62 Canada Geese, 20+ Mallards c50 BH Gulls and 3 adult Common Gulls were on the wader scrape with 2 Cormorants.

Passerine interest included single Redoll, Coal Tit and 6 Redwings.

A female Sparrowhawk was hunting, and 2 Song Thrush were singing despite the cold damp conditions (Richard Laverack/CG).

Carlton Marsh

There may be some disruption on the embanment tomorrow as BMBC Rangers carry out essential management.

Carlton Marsh Wildlife Group were on site this morning. The only bird report received today was of 10 Redwings and a Treecreeper near Elaine's seat (Melvyn White).  

Carlton Marsh

A late afternoon walk round produced 53 Canada Geese and 6 Greylags on the wader scrape with a Cormorant and a small number of Teal, Gadwall and mallard. A Tufted Duck was on Bleachcroft Farm Pond.

Elsewhere 2 Water Rails, Cetti's Warbler and Great Spotted Woodpecker. I stayed until dusk, but no sign of a Bittern. 

Carlton Marsh

On the scrapes 1 adult LBB Gull, 57 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag Geese, 13 Teal, 15 Gadwall and 2 Cormorants.

Also of note c20 Redpolls in Birch trees the biggest count this year. 3 Redwings and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (K. Bannister/CG).  

Carlton Marsh

This morning on the scrapes 1 LBB Gull, 4 Herring Gulls, 26 Teal, 72 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag Geese, Cormorant and 4 Black Swans (3 cygnets) bred locally at Bleachcroft Farm (Chris parkin).

Carlton Marsh

A drake Goosander was on Bleachcroft Farm pond this morning (K. Bannister).

At 09.30hrs c250 Pink Feet Geese flew NW over Keith's home, in Cudworth, heading towards the reserve.

Carlton Marsh

Our wildlife group was busy this morning with one team scrub cutting along the embankment and the other laying a short piece of hedge.

A 'Redhead' Goosander was on the Whin Pool and 34 Canada Geese were on the wader scrape, A few Siskins and a Redpoll were moving around and a Treecreeper was found near the car park pond (P. Rawson/CG/M. White).

A Fox was hunting around the wader scrape. 

Carlton Marsh

Today's best 11 Pied Wagtails, 2 Fieldfares, 2 Siskins, Cormorant and a Buff-tailed Bumble Bee (K. Bannister/C. Parkin).

On Monday and Tuesday Russ Boland arranged for  a 'Truxor' reed cutting machine to work on the scrape. The reeds were dominating restricting views from the hide. It's a wonderful piece of machinery designed for just this kind of job.

 Before (CG)

                                                 After

 R.J. Boland)

Carlton Marsh

42 Canada Geese, 10 Greylag Geese and 21 Teal were on the wader scrape. 

Also Kingfisher, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers. 35 Redwings, 2 Jays and 1 Siskin.

Tucked away for the winter in a darkened place 4 Peacock butterflies and 9 Herald Moths (K. Bannister/CG/C. Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh

Not the best day for being out and about weather wise. The only reports today were of a Woodcock flushed along the Ardagh Glass rail branch line (N. Lunn) and single Tufted and Shoveler were among the wildfowl (K. Bannister).

Thought to be Bleeding Broad-leaved Crust (Stereum rugosum)

Carlton Marsh

Most of the wildfowl was on the flooded wader scrape for the WEBS wildfowl counts, 5 Tufted Duck, 16 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag Geese, Cormorant, 16 Mallard, 10 Gadwall, 12 Teal, 4 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 25 Black Headed Gulls. 

In addition 3 Water Rails called, 3 Cetti's Warbler's sang and a Snipe flew over.

Also Song Thrush, 2 Redpolls, Siskin and 5 Redwings and 4 LBB. Gulls flew SE.. 

                    Elder Whitewash fungi on this Elder stump

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)