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)

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights on the scrapes included 3 Mute Swans (1 Cygnet), Little Egret, Snipe and Oystercatcher (JP).

Also present Coal Tit and 2 Buzzard. 

Our wildlife group were busy this morning clearing the steps to the embankment, and dead hedging from recently cut down trees (CMWG). 

Carlton Marsh

In perfect flying conditions c100 Whooper Swans flew north at 08.26hrs on the their return migration (Neil Lunn). 

They were seen moments earlier over Edderthorpe Flash in the Dearne valley, and later going over the Wintersett Lakes (Alan Stonier).

Carlton Marsh

BMBC Rangers were on site this morning to put some new signage up. They also felled a large Willow that was obscuring views over the Western Meadow from the Midland Pond viewpoint.

 

Before 

After 

With spring - like conditions insects responded with 3m Brimstone 7 Peacocks and an Orange Underwing Moth that alighted to feed, presumably on minerals in the soil (CG).

 

Orange Underwing Moth (CG)
 

Dearne Valley Park - Hoyle Mill

 47 Peacock, 12 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Comma and a Dark edged Bee Fly (Chris Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh

As spring is just around the corner and time for wild flowers to grow, I have asked the grazier to take the sheep off the Western Meadow for now. He will be taking them home on Saturday.

Today's sightings on and around the scrapes included 3 Little Grebes, 20 Canada Geese, 7 Greylags, 1 Little Egret, 2 Water Rails, 2 Cormorants and 3 Cetti's Warblers.

Also present 6 Chiffchaffs, 25 singing Robins, 2 Siskins, 1 Redpoll, 3 Linnets (first since last autumn), 6 Yellowhammers, Great Spot Woodpecker, 3 Starlings and 28 Jackdaws (K. Bannister/CG). 

Carlton Marsh

The only sightings today were from Keith Bannister on his walk round this morning. Apart from the usual wildfowl 3 Skylark were singing, and 8 Redwings, 1 Red-legged Partridge and a female Yellow Bunting were seen in a nearby horse pasture.

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights with Richard Laverack were 2 Red Kites at 11.20hrs, 1 left south, the other was still floating around over our heads at 12.20hrs. 

Also 4 Buzzards riding the thermals, Grey Wagtail (the first this year), 3 Cetti's Warblers,  single Redpoll and Siskin, 30+ Canada geese, 6 Greylags, 14 Teal and a Tawny Owl called.

3 Redwings were in Wigleys horse pasture at first light (Keith Bannister).

Insects on show at mid-day were 2 Peacock, 6 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell and an early Dark-edged Bee Fly (Chris Parkin).

                                              Primroses 

Carlton Marsh

The following photographs of Little Egret, Mistle Thrush & Wren were kindly supplied by Harold Heath & Clive Mitchell.