Carlton Marsh

The highlights of this mornings walk were 1 Singing Chiffchaff, 15 Redwings, c20 Redpolls, c25 Siskins, Peregrine Falcon (JP) and a calling Raven north at 12.25hrs (R. Laverack/K. Bannister/CG).

Carlton Marsh

10 Fieldfares were in a nearby hedgerow with 2 beautiful male Yellow Buntings (K. Bannister)

                         Bullace in full bloom on the embankment

 

 Primroses near the school pond

                                 Kingfisher near the scrape (Harold Heath)

Carlton Marsh

Sightings today included 3 Snipe (2 wader scrape), 30 Canada Geese, 4 Greylags, 2 Siskins, Redpoll, 2 Kingfishers, Dabchick, Great Spot Woodpecker, 25 Jackdaws and 2 Buzzards (Harold Heath/Clive Mitchell/John Finch/CG).

Also Peacock butterfly. The following photos were all taken by Clive Mitchell.

                                   Common Buzzard

                                                 Adult Cormorant

Dearne Valley Park 

2 Grey Wagtails, and butterflies, a male Brimstone, 2 Peacocks, and a Comma (Chris Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh

This morning 15 Redwings were feeding in Wigley's horse pasture (K. Bannister).

2 pairs of Shoveler (Whin Pool), c10 Tufted Ducks, 30 Canada Geese, 8 Greylags, Kingfisher, 

Lapwing south, 2 Buzzards, male Bullfinch and 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. (S. Cox/H. Hearth/C. Mitchell/P. Bulpin).

This afternoon Redpoll, 2 Siskins, Blackbirds feeding on Ivy berries, 2 Little Grebes still in winter plumage (wader scrape), Snipe, 2 water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warbles called, and 2 pairs of Red -legged Partridges were on fields nearby (CG).

 Male Reed Bunting feeding in newly laid Dead hedge (H.Heath/C. Mitchell)

                         Male Great Spotted Woodpecker (Phil Bulpin)

                        Female Great Spotted Woodpecker (PB)

 

This is what we don't want to see! 3 people took it upon themselves to go into the Western Meadow. They said they didn't know it was a nature reserve. The only way they can access this meadow is by climbing the gates that say, 'No Access to The Public Conservation Area.

The only people allowed in the meadow are the sheep/cattle grazier, BMBC Rangers, Our Rangers and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust on management or survey work. 

Thanks to Harold Heath and Clive Mitchell for removing them! 

 

Carlton Marsh

This morning 3 Snipe, 12 Teal, 18 Tufted Ducks, 35 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag Geese,Water Rail, 2 Cetti's Warblers, Cormorant and Little Egret.

Also 2 Great Spot Woodpeckers, 5 Siskin, and a Red Kite south (JP/ R. Laverack/S. Cox/R. Frost).  

                                   Little Egret (Simon Cox)

Carlton Marsh

20 Redwings were feeding in a nearby pasture, Cormorant, Tufted Duck Canada Geese and Greylag Geese.

                                       Gadwall (S. Cox)

 Low Cudworth

                   Oak Beauty came to my garden MV lamp (CG).

Carlton Marsh

Today's sightings included 48 Canada geese, Water Rail, 3 singing Cetti's warblers, 1 Mistle Thrush, 2 Chiffchaffs, 2 LBB Gulls and 3 Great Spot Woodpeckers chasing each other in courtship, and drumming (C. Parkin/CG).

Carlton Marsh

A Redshank on the wader scrape was new in today (JP).

3 Chiffchaffs were feeding together in the same tree (S. Cox).

 

Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) Terry Smith

 

Chiffchaff (Simon Cox) 

Carlton Marsh

The White Fronted Goose was on the pasture behind the wader scrape this morning (JP).

4 Little Egrets on the wader scrape with 2 LBB Gulls and 2 singing Chiffchaffs near the double seats suggests inward migration (K. Bannister/JP).

c150 Pink Feet Geese flew west at 07.45hrs (K. Bannister).

Also present 3 singing Reed Buntings, Water Rail and 2 singing Cetti's Warblers (JP).

A Peacock butterfly was on the wing (S. cox).

 Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum) Simon Cox

 

 Dearne Valley Country Park 

2 Peacock butterflies were on the wing and Coltsfoot was in flower (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

The White Fronted Goose spent its 5th day moving between the Whin Pool and the Wader Scrape (L & R Frost/G. Miller et al).

Also of interest 3 Cettis warblers , 3 Cormorants, 2 Goldcrests and a singing Mistle Thrush (L & Corrall).

The year's first Buff-tailed Bumble Bee and the day flying Orange Underwing moth were enjoying the warmth of the sun (CG/C. Par

                    False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea) CG

Carlton Marsh & Littleworth Park

The White Fronted Goose was on the wader scrape before returning to a nearby stubble field (T. Smith/A. Corrall).

Single Greenfinch and Redpoll, 2 Bullfinches. 

                             Sparrowhawk H. Heath/C. Mitchell

Low Cudworth

Red Admiral in Les Corrall's garden 

 

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

30 Goldfinch, 3 Greenfinches, Buzzard and loads of frog spawn (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

The White Fronted Goose was in the same stubble field this morning (Simon Cox), but it moved to a pasture at the back of the wader scrape this afternoon feeding with the goose flock.(Rob & Lynne Frost)

A Great White Egret alighted on the wader scrape at 09.10hrs (Simon Cox et al).

This afternoon c150 Pink Feet Geese headed NW at 14.00hrs (CG).

Other notables were Treecreeper, Kestrel, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers,  3 Fieldfares, and single Siskin and Redpoll (S. Cox/C. Parkin/CG).

A Comma butterfly was on the wing in the warm sunshine around mid-day (Chris Parkin) 

 

 Great White Egret (Simon Cox)

             

 

Wren (S. Cox)

Carlton Marsh

The Russian White-fronted Goose was relocated at around 11.30hrs with 7 Greylags and 45 Canada Geese in a stubble field on the Cudworth side of the Shaw Dyke (Chris Parkin et al).

                     Russian White Fronted Goose (Simon Cox)

Also of interest 5 Buzzards, 2 Red-legged Partridges, 12 Tufted Ducks (7m), Kingfisher, 3 singing Cetti's Warblers, 2 Water Rails, 3 singing Skylarks and 3 Great Spot Woodpeckers. 

(C. Parkin/R. Laverack/S. Cox/M. White/JP)

Carlton Marsh

This morning a Peregrine Falcon was at Ardagh Glassworks and a Mink was seen near the double seats on the embankment at the marsh (N. Lunn/C. Mitchell/H.Heath).

This afternoon Treecreeper, 2 Water Rails and 3 Jays (R. Frost).

14 (8m) Tufted Ducks, 6 Coot, 2 Mute Swans and 2 Cormorants. 

30 Canada Geese, 8 Greylags and an adult Russian White fronted Goose were feeding in a stubble field just east of the double seats from 16.30hrs. The latter a new species for the reserve!

      Adult Russian White-fronted Goose (phone record shot) (CG).

 The first Daffodil and Primrose were almost in full bloom and a single Elf Cup, were all found in the car park (CG). 

                                            Elf Cup (CG).
 

 

Carlton Marsh

February is arguably the quietest month of the year. 

Today was typical, with 11 Tufted Ducks (6 males), 11 Canada Geese, 4 Greylags, Kingfisher, Great Spot Woodpecker, Goldcrest. 

Perhaps not so typical 4 captive bred Black Swans at Bleachcroft Farm (Richard Laverack).

Carlton Marsh & Littleworth Park

The pair of Mute Swans have been here nearly a week now. Lets hope they settle and breed.

The highlights of today were Little Grebe and Redpoll (S. Cox).

                                  Little Grebe (S. Cox).

                                    Redpoll (S. Cox).

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

6 Red - legged Partridges, 2 Buzzards, Sparrowhawk, 2 Greenfinches and 7 Rabbits (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

It was another relatively quiet day, the highlights being 15 Canada Geese, 4 Greylags, 16 Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe, Redwing, Redpoll, Great Spot Woodpecker (drumming), 2 Bullfinches, Mistle Thrush and 120 Pink Feet Geese north at 16.40hrs (R. Laverack/CG).

Also 2 Foxes on the prowl (L & R Frost) and Oyster Fungi growing on a dead Rowan tree in the car park. 

                                        The first Crocus

                             Kingfisher from Saturday (Simon Cox)
 

                        Oyster Fungi on a dead Rowan today (CG).

If you would like to spend half an hour of mindful moments take a look on You Tube at Tony Devoy's latest film called, 'King&Queenfishers of Carlton Marsh'. I can't recommend this film highly enough. Well done Tony.

Carlton Marsh

Today's sightings on a lovely sunny day included 15 (9m) Tufted Ducks, 15 Canad Geese, 3 Greylags, Cormorant, Kingfisher, 4 Water Rails called, Little Grebe (the first this year), 2 Mute Swans, Grey Heron, Great Spot Woodpecker, 6 Redpolls, Coal Tit, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel. Buzzard, and a Fox.

The first Crocuses are out along with Snowdrops, and a Daffodil is almost in flower (R. Laverack/S. Cox/C. Parkin/CG). 

Jews Ear Fungi (Simon Cox)

 

                                          Sparrowhawk (SC)
 

                          The new resident Mute Swans (P. Rawson)

Carlton Marsh

2 Mute Swans were new in to the scrape this morning (Pete Rawson).

Our wildlife group was very busy again today coppicing and dead-hedge laying along the embankment (Dave Tattershall/Jim Finnerty/Melvyn White/Simon Cox).

                                         (Jim Finnerty)

Cudworth

 A Cormorant and a Great Spot Woodpecker was present this morning (K. Bannister).

A skein of Pink Feet Geese headed NW over Low Cudworth at 16.25hrs heading in the direction of Carlton Marsh (CG).

Please be aware that some of my friends have been receiving e-mails saying that I am ill and need a favour. Ignore them. If you have any sightings etc please send them by the phone messaging service or by Whats Ap.

Thank you