As we enter the autumn many of our summer visitors have left for warmer climes. We await the invasion of Pink Feet Geese and northern thrushes and the possibility of an unusual duck species.
It has been quiet over recent days, the only birds of note being 7 Red-legged Partridge on 5th, 2 Goldcrests and a single Collared Dove on the 8th (its a scarce bird here), and Little Egret, Kingfisher and this autumn's first Redwing on the 9th (K. Bannister/JP/L&A Corrall).
Last nights moths in my Cudworth garden included 6 Lunar Underwings, Shuttle Shaped Dart, Light Emerald, Angle Shades and The Vestal (my first since October 1995)! And 2 Willow Emeralds.
Today's sightings in pictures by Harold Heath & Clive Mitchell.
2 Shovelers and 25 Teal were on the wader scrape. 30 Skylarks were on the east fields this morning (JP).
Last night members of our wildlife group attended the Town hall to receive a Platinum Award from the Yorkshire in Bloom competition.
The plaque below was also presented to the founding members of the reserve to celebrate its 50th year.
A Little Egret was present (K. Bannister).
Both Truxor machines were busy again this morning (R. J. Boland)
Grey Wagtail, 25 Teal, Kingfisher, Great Spot Woodpecker, 2 singing Cetti's Warblers, 2 Water Rails called. (CG).
6 Yellow Buntings were on the east fields and a Yellow Wagtail flew south (JP).
3 pairs of Willow Emerald in tandem, Brown Hawker, Ruddy Darter and Migrant Hawker.
Willow Emerald
2 Tawny Owls called at dusk along with 3 Water Rails. 7 Starlings came in to roost.
Birds ringed included 2 Goldcrests, 2 Cetti's warblers, 3 Chiffchaffs and 5 Blackcaps.
A Red Kite flew low over the northern meadow.
Butterflies included 7 Red Admiral, 12 Speckled Wood, 3 Common Blue and 2 Small Copper (Chris Parkin).
The Truxor reed cutting machine hard at work (Melvyn White)
3 Shovelers were present this morning and an Egret species flew over in the distance (Keith Bannister).
At dusk this evening a Bittern came in from the south and alighted in a reed bed near the hide. After a few minutes it got up and began giving an aerial display, croaking as it circled the scrape at height, before leaving south. Normally this behaviour is only given by overwintering birds when they finally leave in March (Dave Standish).
This despite the reserve being disturbed by 2 Truxor machines removing excess reeds during the day!
A Curlew flew east mid morning and a steady stream of Skylarks were moving south, (JP).
A moth session with Chris Parkin produced 9 species of macro that included Lunar Underwing, Angle Shades, Barred Sallow, Old Lady and Black Rustic. Earlier a Noctule Bat was feeding over the scrape.
A Shelduck was on the wader scrape.
Also of note Little Egret south, Greenfinch, 3 Coal Tits, 2 Buzzards and a Sparrowhawk.
I have been catching moths for the past 42 years. During that time I have caught some fabulous looking species, but I never dared to dream I would ever catch a Clifden Nonpareil (Catocala fraxini). Thanks to the gift of a moth trap from Paul Thorpe via his cousin, the late Graham Guest.
Also in the trap was a late Swallow-tailed Moth, a Lesser Yellow Underwing, a Small Dusty Wave and 2 Box Tree moths.
A Red Kite drifted west at 14.00hrs.
Butterflies included 5 Small Copper, 10 Speckled Wood and single Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Brown Argus (Chris Parkin).
A Red Kite flew south around 10.45hrs (Dave Standish) and a Peregrine was resting on a chimney ladder at Ardagh Glassworks.
Carlton Marsh was officially given the status of a 'Local Nature Reserve' 50 years ago in December 1976. So we decided to celebrate the event while the weather was still warm. The Mayor of Barnsley attended with Russ Boland and other council officials along with birders and naturalists who have been involved with the reserve down the years, for a photo shoot this morning. Eric Bennett, one of the three founding members came down from Leeds. Dave Smith travelled all the way down from Amble in Northumberland, and back, to join us. A big thank you to everyone who attended to mark this momentus occasion.
Below are some of the photographs taken by my daughter Claire Griffiths.
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A male Lady Amhirst's Pheasant was found in Birk Ings Wood (locally known as the 'Little Wood') which is opposite Ring Farm police stables. (per Geoff Miller) As you might expect it was very approachable calling its head off.
A male Shelduck was still on the wader scrape at 07.27hrs (K. Bannister).
c100 Black Headed Gulls, c6 Skylarks and a Buzzard were in a stubble field and a Yellow Wagtail headed south.
Of interest up to 80 House Sparrows were in a field on nearby Royston Road (JP).
A Humming Bird Hawk moth visited Chris Parkin's garden on 11/9/26
