Carlton Marsh

A Whitethroat was singing this morning (JP), and a Common Sandpiper called in to the main scrape this evening (Dave Standish).

Carlton Marsh

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) 

                                                    Carder Bee 

                                      Mink with Rabbit

Littleworth Park

A male Wheatear was the highlight of this visit (Chris Parkin).

 

Carlton Marsh

8 singing Blackcaps, 2 Reed Warblers, 10 Skylarks, 3 Linnets, 3 Yellow Buntings Greylag Goose with 1 young (Andrew Corrall)

Also 2 Foxes.

               Female Blackcap & Pheasants (Clive Mitchell)

                            Small Tortoiseshell (Jim Finnerty)

Cudworth Common 

Male Wheatear (CG).

Carlton Marsh

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.

Carlton Marsh

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).

My first ringing session with P.B. Wordsworth began here in the spring of 1976, so this is my 50th year of ringing at Carlton Marsh. It was quality rather than quantity with a Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Redpoll, and 2 Cettis Warblers. One of the latter was ringed as a juvenile male on 23rd of October 2023 in the same net ride (CG)

                               Adult male Cetti's Warbler

                                        Lesser Redpoll
 

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct

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).

Carlton Marsh

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).

                                   Dark-edged Bee Fly (CG)

A Holly Blue was flying in Les Corrall's Low Cudworth garden.

 

Woolley Tip

2 Buzzards, and 2 Grey Partridges.

 

31 Peacocks, 3 Speckled Wood and 4 Orange-tips. 

Also a very early Blue-tailed Damselfly (C. Parkin).

 

                                 Blue-tailed Damselfly (C. Parkin)
 

Carlton Marsh

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).

Carlton Marsh

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. 

                                     St George's Mushroom

Carlton Marsh

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)

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

8 Smooth Newts, 2 of them in the mating ritual. The male deposited a sperm packet on the pond floor before guiding the female over it to pick it up with her cloaca (Chris Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh

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).

       Marsh Marigold reintroduced to the northen meadow pond (R.J. Boland).

Dearne Valley Park - Hoyle Mill

2 Grey Wagtails were the only birds of note.

 

Butterflies included 53 Peacock, 7 Small Tort. 16 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood, 3m Brimstone and 2 Orange-tips.

The first Bluebells and Yellow Archangel were in flower (Chris Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

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).

               Twin Spot Quaker my Cudworth garden (CG)
 

Carlton Marsh

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)!

                                    Speckled Wood (C. Parkin)

                                     Common Morel (C. Parkin)

                                   Common Scotor (CG)

Carlton Marsh

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).

Carlton Marsh

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. 

Carlton Marsh

A Peregrine Falcon was bathing and didn't readily fly away on approach.

A Sparrowhawk had a few tail feathers missing.

Also present with the Goose flock, 2 Little Grebes, 9 pairs of Gadwall and a Cormorant. 

Insects included 2 Dark-edged Bee Fly and a Great Diving Beetle.

Not forgetting 4 Smooth Newts (Chris Parkin).  

Carlton Marsh

Today's sighting included a single Redpoll, L.B.B.Gull, 2 Little Grebes, 3 singing Chiffchaffs and 3 Cetti's Warblers (L & Corrall).

Also Little Egret and Coat Tit. Our new pair of Mutes Swans gave an elaborate courtship display again before mating.

2 Small White butterflies were flying in Chris Parkin's Barnsley Road, Cudworth garden. 

         Cormorant with a nice Roach (Clive Mitchell) library picture

Carlton Marsh Monday 23/3/26

 A Red Kite over the east fields alighted in a tree at the side of the road at 11.20hrs.

Also present Red-legged Partridge, 2 Lapwings, 3 Chiffchaffs, 6 Tufted Ducks, Cormorant, Little Grebe (R. Laverack).

The new pair of Mute Swans were seen to mate on the scrape (R. & L. Frost/P. Rawson)  

Carlton Marsh

The sheep were taken off the Western Meadow this afternoon by the grazier.

Little Egret 3 (2 north), Cormorant, 2 Buzzards (Chris Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh Saturday 21/3/26

The wildfowl counts today included 10 Greylags, 28 Canada Geese, Water Rail, Kingfisher, 2 Mute Swans, 9 Teal, Little Egret, Little Grebe, drake Goosander, 2 Avocets, Lapwing and 3 Black Swans.

Also of note Great Spotted Woodpecker 'drumming, 3 Cetti's Warblers, Siskin, 5 Buzzards (R. Laverack/K. Bannister/G. Miller/CG).

Insects on show were 7 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and a Great Diving Beetle (C. Parkin). 

 

Cetti's Warbler (Helen Todd)