Carlton Marsh & Storrs Mill

The level in the wader scrape has increased dramatically over recent days, but there is a shallow area on the periphery.

A Greenshank spent the day there with 6 Teal and 4 Lapwings. 2 juvenile Buzzards called from the same area and a Peregrine Falcon flew from Cudworth Park towards Bleachcroft Farm (JP).

Also of interest Kingfisher, Chiffchaff, Water Rail and Cetti's Warbler.

Insects included 1m Ruddy Darter, 5 Common Darter, several Migrant Hawker, and 3 Willow Emeralds (CG).

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct via River Dearne 

Buzzard, 5 Grey Heron, 55 Mallard and 35 Goldfinches.  

 

Insects included 3 Painted Lady, 10 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 36 Speckled Wood, 8 Common Blue, 9 Brown Argus, 7 Small Copper, 1 Humming Bird Hawk Moth and a Hornet (C. Parkin)

 

                 Humming bird Hawk Moth (Chris Parkin)

Carlton Marsh

The highlights of the past week from 28th of August to September 3rd.

28th August  

A Cream Crown Marsh Harrier flow low over the reeds south at 20.14hrs (D. Standish). 

 

30th August

Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher and 6 Buzzards. Insects included a Clouded Yellow, 16 Painted Lady, 6 Meadow Brown, 5 Brown Argus, 7 Small Copper and lots of Migrant Hawkers (C. Parkin).

Also Little Egret, 2 Greenshanks & 1 Shoveler (K. Bannister).

 

September 

1st Cream Crown Marsh Harrier north over fields harassed by a Buzzard (JP).

2nd Greenshank (JP).

3rd Greenshank (J. Finch) and a Sandwich Tern called as it flew over the east fields at 09.50hrs (JP). 

                                   Greenshank (John Finch)

Littleworth Park Monk Bretton

September 1st 

Clouded Yellow, 12 Brown Argus, 12 Common Blue, 9 Small Copper and 30 Goldfinches (C. Parkin). 

 

Carlton Marsh

2 Green Sandpipers were on the wader scrape this morning (John Finch). And a Grey Wagtail was on the dike (K. Bannister).

                                  Green Sandpipers (J. Finch)

Carlton Marsh

This morning Little Egret, 3 Water Rail (D. Standish) Also 2 Greenshank (wader scrape) K. Bannister.

This evening 10 House Martins, c40 Swallows, 90 Canada Geese (D. Standish).

15 Blackcaps, 3 Reed Warblers and 2 Chiffchaffs were ringed (CG). 

Littleworth Park

22 Meadow Brown, 31 Common Blue, 19 Small Heath, 4 Brown Argus, 6 Small Copper (C. Parkin).. 

Carlton Marsh

90 Canada Geese and Kingfisher. 8 Herring Gulls flew south.

Insects included 2 Brown Hawker, 2 Ruddy Darter, 1 Willow Emerald, 1f Small Red-eyed Damselfly, 5 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Copper, 2 Painted Lady.

                                         Willow Emerald

               Devil's Bit Scabious thriving in the Northern Meadow

Carlton Marsh

A Little Egret was on the wader scrape this morning (J. Finch) and a Bittern flew over the reedbeds in the main scrape this evening at 19.30hrs (Dave Standish).

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct

2 Buzzards, 1 Cormorant.

 

4 Painted Lady, 12 Red Admiral, 83 Speckled Wood, 2 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Heath, very good numbers of Common Blue, 16 and 13 Brown Argus, and 12 Small Copper (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh & South Kirkby

Carlton Marsh

The wader scrape held 2 Greenshanks, 3 Lapwings, 8 Teal and 10+ Gadwall. 

 

on the mains scrape the resident Mute Swans were accompanied by an adult Little Grebe, Grey Heron Kingfisher, c20 Gadwall, Cetti's Warbler, 2 juvenile Buzzards and a Whitethroat.

 

A migrating Redshank called as it flew over the east fields (JP). 

 

Insects included single Peacock and Comma, 6 Speckled Wood, Brown & Southern Hawker, 2m Ruddy Darter, and 2 Willow Emerald in tandem (CG).

 

South Kirkby Industrial Park

29 Small Heath, 35 Common Blue, 13 Brown Argus, and 8 Small Copper (C. Parkin).

 

Carlton Marsh Insects 21/8/26

Carlton Marsh

10 Painted Lady, 1 Comma (2nd brood), 13 Small Heath, 3 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 3 Small Copper, 10 Hornet Mimic Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), 2 Silver Y & 1 Yellow Shell Moth.

Carlton 4 & 5 Colliery Site

4 Painted Lady, 4 Red Admiral and a Clouded Yellow on Buddlea (Chris Parkin). 

Carlton Marsh

3 Greenshanks were on the wader scrape all day and were joined by a Green Sandpiper this evening, along with 6 Teal (K. Bannister/J. Finch).

A Red-legged Partridge sang nearby, c50 Canada Geese and 30 Mallards were feeding in a stubble field and 12 Swallows came into roost (CG).

                                   Green Sandpiper (John Finch)

                                    Greenshanks (John Finch)

Carlton Marsh

4 Greenshanks (the highest number since 1998 when there were 5), 1 Little Egret and 2 Kingfishers were on the wader scrape at 09.20hrs (K. Bannister et al). 

A total of 44 Gadwall were also present (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

 The highlights of today were 2 Greenshanks and a Snipe on the wader scrape (K. Bannister).

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

Despite the cloud cover butterflies included 1 Painted Lady, 36 Meadow Brown, 19 Small Heath, 21 Common Blue, 17 Brown Argus and 8 Small Copper + 1 silver Y moth (Chris Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

4 Red Underwings, 1 Old Lady and 10 Copper Underwings were taken on sugar bait last night (CG) 

                                                              Red Underwing

 This morning 2 Snipe and a Greenshank were on the wader scrape at 09.41hrs (John Finch)

 

Snipe (J. Finch)

Greenshank (J. Finch)

It left east at 10.00hrs (JP).

 

 Butterflies included 15 Painted Lady, 14 Red Admiral, 9 Speckled Wood, 6 Small Copper,8 Small Heath, 19 Common Blue,3 Brown Argus, 20 Meadow Brown. Also Ruddy Darter and

Willow Emerald on the dike (Chris Parkin). 

 

Carlton Marsh

The Greenshank spent its third day on the wader scrape with 2 Snipe and a Lapwing. If it doesn't rain soon it's in danger of drying up (John Finch).

Also present Coal Tit and Kingfisher.

The first Willow Emerald of the year was on the dike near the hide with 1m &1f Small Red-eyed Damselfly (CG).

 

 Greenshank (J. Finch)

 

2 Snipe (J.Finch)
 

Carlton Marsh

A Common Tern visited the scrape this morning and the Greenshank from yesterday was still on the wader scrape (N. Lunn/J. Finch).

                                        Common Tern (J. Finch)

                                               Greenshank (J. Finch).

Carlton Marsh Monday 10/8/26

c30 Swallows came in to roost, 3 Swift flew through before dusk, A juv. Tawny Owl called. Also Great Spot Woodpecker, Water Rail called.

                                     Garden Warbler (CG)

Tuesday 11/8/26

A Greenshank was on the wader scrape most of the day (K.Bannister/J. Finch). 

 

The BMBC Rangers cut back the vegetation on the island in the scrape.It didn't bother the resident Mute Swans and Canada and Greylag flock. 

Still present on the dike 2 female Small Red-eyed Damselflies, several Blue-tailed, Emerald, Emperor and Brown Hawker as well as male Ruddy Darters.

                                   BMBC Rangers (R. J. Boland)
 

                                 Greenshank (John Finch)

                                        Ruddy Darter male (CG)

Carlton Marsh

2 juvenile Buzzards and at least 2 juvenile Sparrowhawks were calling.

A Little Grebe, 12 Greylags and 20 Canada Geese were on the scrape with 20 + Gadwall and 2 Mute Swans.

Butterflies included a Clouded Yellow feeding on Devil's Bit Scabious (CG), 10 Painted Lady, 12 Red Admiral, 62 Meadow Brown, 16 Gatekeeper, 9 Speckled Wood, 5 Small Heath, 36 Common Blue, 7 Small Copper, and 1 Brown Argus.

1 male and a female Small Red-eyed Damselfly (the female ovipositing), c10m 1f Ruddy Darter, 2m Emperor and 1 Migrant Hawker (C. Parkin).

                               Clouded Yellow (CG)
 

Carlton Marsh & Cudworth

Our wildlife group was busy cutting back regenerating scrub this morning.

A pair of Little Grebes have at least 1 very very small young that was almost gobbled up by a Black Headed Gull, it just managed to dive to safety. 4 Teal and c40 Gadwall were amongst the wildfowl present.

Cudworth's old rail station site 

A Humming Bird Hawk Moth was found grounded here. We don't often see them resting like this (Chris Parkin).

 

                       Humming Bird Hawk Moth (C. Parkin)

Carlton Marsh & Thurlstone & Cudworth

 Mixed flock of 50 Canad and Greylag on scrape, Kingfisher. A Snipe was on the wader scrape at 07.18hrs (Neil Lunn).

2m & 1f Small Red-eyed Damsel on the dike (CG).

Thurlstone

 23 Wall Brown, 2 Pained Lady, 2 Holly Blue and 3 Small Copper (C. Parkin). 

 

Upper Cudworth

Another Humming Bird Hawk Moth and a Painted Lady were feeding on Geoff Miller's Buddlea this evening, This Hawk moth has been seen regularly in Les Corrall's Low Cudworth garden over recent weeks. 

 

Also in Low Cudworth recently an infestation of Box Tree Moth larvae in Chris Parkin Jnr's garden.

                               Box Tree Moth larvae (C. Parkin junior)
 

 

Carlton Marsh

A Green Sandpiper was on the wader scrape at 07.33hrs (K. Bannister).

Also 2 Goldcrest, 6 Red-legged Partridge (3 juvs), 2 Buzzard,  Little Grebe.

4 Ruddy Darter, 6 Common Darter, 3 Common Blue and Nursery Web Spider (L & Corrall). 

In the evening 2 Water Rail called, c75 Swallows roosted and 7 Swifts Flew west.

10 Purple Hairstreaks were flying around the tops of Oak (CG).