Today's sighting included 2 singing Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 2 Little Grebes.
On the wader scrape 2 Swallows, 2 Sand Martins, 2 Shovelers and an Oystercatcher (M. White/L & A Corrall).
4 Lapwings, Cormorant, 2 Buzzards, 3 Red - legged Partridges, 2 Swallows, 5 House Martins, 8 Sand Martins (nesting in river bank), 2 Grey Wagtails, and 4 singing Blackcaps.
Insects included 46 Peacock, 12 Small Tort., 7 Comma, 44m Orange-tip and 3m Brimstone. also Green and Sloe Shield Bugs.
And a Grass Snake (Chris Parkin).
The Avocet, Common Sandpiper and 2 Oystercatchers were all still present on the wader scrape, the latter mated before leaving south at 19.15hrs (et al).
Also present 5 Teal, a pair of Shovelers, 2 Little Grebes, Red-legged Partridge and 3 Swallows.
A Buzzard flew over the wader scrape carrying a small prey item. 4 Cetti's Warblers sang.
All photos by courtesy of Simon Cox
On the wader scrape this morning Avocet at 06.30hrs (Neil Lunn), Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatchers, and a pair of Shovelers (Keith Bannister).
A little later Snipe, 3 LBB Gulls, 4 Herring Gulls, and this year's first Little ringed Plover (JP).
A Goldcrest sang and towards mid-day 3 Swallows were feeding over the main scrape, and a Red Kite drifted over the Car park (Phil Bulpin).
This afternoon the Common Sand and Avocet were still in situ and an additional Oystercatcher came in and was quickly chased off leaving the original 2 to mate (CG).
Dearne Valley Park
Grey Wagtail, 14 Greylag Geese, Mute Swan pair, the female on a nest. 2 Pairs of Moorhen had 2 + 3 young.
Also 3 Holly Blue, 30 Peacock, 1m Brimstone, 14m Orange-tip and loads of Frog tadpoles (Chris Parkin).
A Common Sandpiper was on the wader scrape this morning with an Oystercatcher. 3 Whitethroats sang (JP).
A 'Cream Crown' Marsh Harrier quartered over the reed beds in the marsh for about 30 minutes (Phil Bulpin).
Around mid-day Kingfisher, 2 Treecreepers and a Great Spot Woodpecker.
Insects included 27 Peacock, 2 Comma, 13 Speckled Wood, 1m Brimstone, 29m Orange-tip, 4 Small White, 2 Gren Veined White and a Squash Bug (Chris Parkin).
A Whitethroat was singing this morning (JP), and a Common Sandpiper called in to the main scrape this evening (Dave Standish).
2 Oystercatchers, 2 Little Grebes and 5 Teal were on the wader scrape this morning.
A Tawny Owl sang from a stand of Hawthorns mid-morning.
This evening 12 Swallows were feeding on the scrape just before a very heavy shower (S. Cox/M. Littlewood).
A Mink dived into the Western Meadow Pond for dead dead Rabbit which was chased by a Canada goose into nearby scrub. (Simon Cox).
The male of a pair of Mute Swans that spent a week here in February and again in March was wearing a red Darvic ring. Tony Devoy photographed the ring number Y686.
Swan Rescue confirmed it was ringed as an adult male in August 2010 at Rossington, Doncaster.
Photographs by Simon Cox)
8 singing Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 3 Linnets, 3 Yellow Buntings Greylag Goose with 1 young (Andrew Corrall)
Also 2 Foxes.
Today's sightings included Little Egret, a Mallard with 4 new very small young and 2 Swallows on the wader scrape.
New in today 2 singing Willow Warblers and a very early Reed Warbler singing sporadically in the reed beds out from Ralph Hibbert's seat.
A pair of Sparrowhawks were displaying over the scrape. (S. Cox/CG)
Our wildlife group were busy this morning sectioning off part of the embankment to help wild flowers recolonise. Hopefully Yellow Rattle, Marjoram, Birds Foot Trefoil, Agrimony etc will return. The shade from the trees saw their demise.
On the wader scrape this morning 4 Lapwings, Oystercatcher, 2 Little Grebes, a Kingfisher and 2 Red-legged Partridges (S. Cox/A Corrall).
This afternoon/evening Grey Partridge and Little Egret.
Butterflies included 21m Orange-tips, 8m Brimstone, 2 Comma, 43 peacock, Holly Blue, 5 Speckled Wood and 6 S. Tortoiseshell (C. Parkin).
Following the River Dearne - Little Egret, 2 Buzzards, 2 Lapwings, 2 Grey Wagtails, 6 Sand Martins (nesting in the bank), 1 House Martin, 2 Red - legged Partridges and a Mallard nest with 11 eggs.
Also a Bank Vole, 1 Holly Blue, 59 Peacock, 8 Comma, 7 S. Tortoiseshell, 3 Speckled Wood, 17m 1f Brimstone, Orange-tip 23m 1f and 9 White species (Chris. Parkin).
On the wader scrape 5 Teal, Canada and Greylag geese, 2 Little Grebes and an Oystercatcher.
Elsewhere Kingfisher, 6 singing Blackcaps, 2 Yellow Buntings, 3 Mistle Thrushes, single Red-legged Partridge and Redpoll.
Insects include 2 Dark edged Bee Fly, single Comma, Brimstone and Small Tortoiseshell (A. Corrall/M. Littlewood/CG).
The first brood of Mallard (12) were on the wader scrape with 5 Teal, 2 Snipe, a Little Egret, 2 Herring Gulls and a Little Grebe. An Oystercatcher flew south.
5 Cetti's Warbler sang and a Greenfinch called (JP/CG).
Yesterday's Sedge Warbler sang briefly this morning. 11 Chiffchaffs, 3 Blackcaps, and 4 Mistle Thrushes also sang.
2 Snipe, 2 Teal and a Fox were on the wader scrape (R. Laverack/C. Parkin/CG).
Also 2 Smooth Newts and 4 Dark edged Be Fly.
Several St. George's Mushroom were fruiting and Broom and Bluebell were in flower.
2 Egrets were on the wader scrape this morning, but the find of the day was a Sedge Warbler singing from the Whin pool. This bird has equalled the earliest ever of 3rd April 1999! (Andrew Corrall)
3 Blackcaps were singing, 3 Buzzards were airborne before the female alighted and was mated twice within 10 minutes.
2 Little Egrets and 2 pairs of Little Grebes, one bird collecting nest material, on the wader scrape.
A Grey Partridge on a tilled field is not easy to find these days.
A male Orange-tip was the first this year. Also present at least 6 Peacocks and 2 Small Tortoiseshells (contributors JP/A Corrall/R. Laverack/J Finch/CG).
Today's highlights were Little egret, 30 Herring Gulls, Water Rail, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 12 Skylarks, 3 Yellow Buntings and a male Blackcap (A Corrall/JP/R. Laverack).
Today's best were Little Egret, Wheatear, 26 Carrion Cows and a Common Scotor that had relocated to the main scrape from Bleachcroft Farm Pond (K. Bannister/ JP/A. Corrall).
With the weather warming there were plenty of insects on show including an early Speckled Wood butterfly, single Small Tortoiseshell, Green Veined and Small White, 34 Peacock, 8 Comma, 8m Brimstone, 13 Dark-edged Bee Fly (a new record maximum), and a Tawny Ming Bee.
Also of note 3 Smooth Newts and the scarce Morel fungi, which has not been seen here since 1996 (Chris Parkin)!
Evidence of migration today saw a female Common Scotor on Bleachcroft Farm Pond from at least 14.25hrs (CG et al) to 17.50hrs. before it left north (R. Laverack/H. Heath/C. Mitchell). This was first for 37 years!
A Swallow flashed through this afternoon followed by 2 Sand Martins, and a male Wheatear was on a recently tilled field (CG/K. Bannister).
Today's sightings included 2 Little Egrets, 3 Little Grebes, 2 Mute Swans, 4 Tufted Ducks, 2 Teal and at least 2 pairs of Canada Geese are on nests.
6 Chiffchaffs and a Mistle Thrush were singing.
The fist Wood Anemones are in flower.
