Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe,  Drake Smew, Greenland White-fronted Goose.
Anglers - Drake American Wigeon, 2 Shelduck, 13 Snipe and 1 Jack Snipe.

Bramblings

20+ Bramblings at Millstones Wood at midday: plus 1 Long-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker and Lesser Redpoll - making it a productive 4hr walk (crawl 'round) in the Whitwell Moor, Millstones Wood & Bolsterstone area.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Drake Smew,  Black-necked Grebe, Greenland White-fronted Goose.  1 Bittern showing  well mid morning.

Anglers - American Wigeon, 4 Pink-footed Geese

Steady in the Little Don Valley.

Apart from 4+ singing male Crossbills at Langsett Banks there was little of note here today.

Langsett Reservoir - 66 Mallard.
Underbank Reservoir - 50 Mallard, 9 Tufted Ducks and 2 Great Crested Grebes.

EDDERTHORPE FLASH 28 FEB 2012

Pintail 2 Shelduck 8 Oystercatcher 3 Ringed Plover 2 Dunlin 5 Snipe 3. Redshank 1 Goldenplover 846 Buzzard 1 Lapwing 360 Shoveler 28 Gadwall 18 Goosander 2 Tufted Duck 31 Pochard 25 Wigeon 56 Greylag Goose 76

Old Moor - Little Egret still.

Ivan Martin reports lots of birds at Edderthorpe Flash including 9 Goosanders, 8 Shelduck, pair of Pintail, 2 Ringed Plover 2 Dunlin.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Drake Smew,  Black-necked Grebe, Greenland White-fronted Goose.  1 Bittern showing well at 10.40 am.

Anglers - American Wigeon

BARNSLEY BIRD STUDY GROUP MEETING

This coming Thursday 1st March from 7.15 pm at the Old Moor RSPB visitor centre. Carl Dixon will tell us about his recent visit to Borneo in search of birds and animals. The 2010 Barnsley Bird Report has just come back from the printers and will be on sale at the Meeting. Everyone is welcome, £2.50 entrance charge.

Tree Sparrows

Got rained off at Royd Moor Reservoir so I decided to have a cuppa and a sarnie at the cafe at Windmill Nurseries at Royd Moor. I was surprised to find 6+ Tree Spaarows on the feeders there. I'll keep an eye on them as there could be a new breeding colony here or nearby (if three pairs constitutes a colony).

Upland Reservoirs

Spicer House Lane - mixed flock c300 Starlings and c300 Fieldfares.
Broadstones Reservoir - c200 Common Gulls.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - c50 Common Gulls, 1 Cormorant and 4 singing Reed Buntings.
Royd Moor Reservoir - 1 Cormorant, c300 Black-headed Gulls, 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1 Little Grebe, 96 Canada Geese, 21 Greylag Geese, 18 Mallard, 1 drake Tufted Duck, c200 Starlings and 1 Willow Tit.

Big News from the Dearne Valley

The Dearne Valley has been chosen as one of only 12 Nature Improvement Areas in England. There was something like 80 applications.

The whole scheme is for a £2.5 million pound project and DEFRA have stumped up nearly £560,000 as part of the NIA bid. There is also £200,000 confirmed by The Environment Agency as well.

Congratulations to Pete Wall (RSPB) and the rest of the guys working on the Dearne Valley Green Heart Project.

PS - The Humberhead Levels has also won Nature Improvement Area status; which should be really good news for the guys watching Thorne and Hatfield Moors.

Dodworth

am - female Blackcap in gardens near station barrier.

Old Moor - Bittern, Little Egret, Cetti's. Woodcock flushed from Slag Birches (JMT).

Green Woodpecker, 'digi-binned' - Mick Turton

Wintersett extra

Both Bitterns were roosting in their respective reedbeds this evening (6pm). A good count of 109 Goldeneye. The gull roost was quite poor with;- GBBGull 7, LBBGull 8 and Herring Gull 80.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Drake Smew, Black-necked Grebe
Anglers - American Wigeon, 4 oystercatchers, 1 redshank, 44 goosanders
Vis. Mig. 2nd winter Iceland Gull NW at 8.56am
               130 pink footed geese at 9.55 am
               11 skylarks flew NW
 also 300 Golden Plover blogging around Haw Park Wood.             




             

Wintersett photos from today

Great Crested Grebes - Ron Marshall

Drake Smew - Ron Marshall

Edderthorpe Flash

This morning on the Flash;- Greylag Goose 91, Shelduck 3, Pintail 2, Shoveler 24, Pochard 32, Oystercatcher 2, Ringed Plover 2, Golden Plover 355, Dunlin 1.

Bolton Ings - 25th February

Loads of birds this morning on Bolton Ings, in stark contrast to 3 weeks ago when it was 90% frozen. No ice or frost this morning 8c but quite windy making lots of the ducks sheltering and difficult to count. Highlights being my first curlew of year flying west at 9.30, 6 Goldeneye and 515 Black Headed Gulls (my highest count ever). Full list as follows, Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 26, Grey Lag Goose 4, Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Grebe 6, Cormorant 25, Mallard 12, Teal 9, Gadwall 37, Wigeon 12, Shoveler 5, Tufted Duck 59, Pochard 17, Goldeneye 6(1 drake), Goosander 8, Coot 191, Moorhen 6, Black Headed Gull 515, Common Gull 24, LBB Gull 1, Curlew 1, Green Sandpiper 2, Redshank 3, Oystercatcher 1, Lapwing 5, Sparrowhawk 2, Kestrel 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Skylark 2.

Ingbirchworth

Peregrine hunting over fields west of Res. am. Cormorant on Res.

The Moors Today

A very poor day for raptors;-1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 3 Sparrowhawks and 2 Kestrels were the reward for 9 hours looking!! A minimum of 3 Ravens over Midhope and 59 Curlews down in fields here were good. Snipe were chipping at Midhope and Golden Plovers were displaying over Ewden. A male and a female Black Grouse were on the moor at Ewden Heights.
A goose flock at Scout Dike held;- Canada 254, Greylag 2 and a presumed Canada/Greylag hybrid. Also 23 Curlews were in fields here.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Drake Smew, Black-necked Grebe, Greenland White-fronted Goose.

Anglers - American Wigeon, 2 curlew, 4 oystercatchers, 5 buzzards.

Vis. Mig. - 160 Pink-footed Geese flying north west.

Wilthorpe Marsh

No need to jack it in. Up to 5 jack snipe this month so far.

Low Barugh S.F.

Water pipit early aft. on filter beds but shy and elusive. Pair of oystercatchers back.

I 'Mealy' forgot!

Forgot yesterday, 50 Lesser and two 'Mealy Redpolls' Broomhill New Park at Gypsy Marsh end.

Today so far - Little Egret, Cetti's Old Moor, 2 Little Grebes, Green Sand, Little Owl, Broomhill, 2 Shelduck Wombwell Ings, 6 G C Grebes Manvers, 8 Goosanders, 6 G C Grebes, Elsecar Res. Not checked Bolton Ings - there's just not much time for birding when your working!

Broomhead Reservoir

Gull roost tonight of 5 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 50 Common Gulls, 204 Herring Gulls, 73 Great Black-backed Gulls, 1141 Black-headed Gulls and 1 adult Mediterranean Gull,

Ferry Moor Lake

10 Pochard, 3 Goosander, Kingfisher, Skylarks singing.

Three Green Sandpipers and an Oystercatcher on Broomhill this afternoon.On Edderthorpe, Dunlin, 370 Golden Plovers and a drake Pintail.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe, Drake Smew.

Anglers - American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 4 Oystercatchers

And then there were two............

Old Moor - 1+ Bittern roosted at Reedbeds + Cetti's. Little Egret, 62 Goosanders on Mere + 7 Goldeneye.

The pair of Lesser Black-backed Gulls that nested last year? - Keith Pickering

Low Barugh S.F.

W. PIPIT, last seen on the 12th by Jeff Lunn.

Lesser Black-back?

Great Spotted Woodpecker at Broomhead today - Ron Marshall

Signs of spring with the milder weather. Bolton Ings had Brimstone and Peacock butterfly as well as Bumble Bee (JES). Meanwhile at Old Moor the Black-headed Gulls were back en-mass on the islands with several displaying. And interestingly an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was stood on sentry duty on the island where they nested last year, although that might just be coincidence as large gulls have a habit of landing on there anyway. Other birds included Little Egret, Peregrine, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers, Dunlin and the Cetti's Warbler. Two Green Sands were at Broomhill Flash.

Stu Green reports that another birder saw the Water Pipit on 12th at Lower Barugh SF by looking through the fence on the west side.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe, Greenland White-fronted Goose, Drake Smew
Anglers - American Wigeon, 41 Goosanders.
Stubbs Wood -1 pair Crossbills

23rd February 2012

Elsecar Reservoir
5 Goosanders, 23 Coot, 39 Mallard, 2 Mute Swans and 5 Great Crested Grebes.

Parfitt and friends!

Old Moor - Little Egret, 47 Goosanders, 8 Goldeneye, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers.

Bolton Ings - 39 Cormorants.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe.
Anglers - Greenland White-fronted Goose, American Wigeon,  3 Oystercatchers, 1 Redshank

Ewden again

Bill Underwood saw two male Black Grouse in the usual area here yesterday and they were chasing around so hopefully they will be lekking soon and we will have a idea of how many are still alive!

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe.
Anglers - American Wigeon, 1 redshank, 3 oystercatchers.
Car Park - Red Admiral

Rough-legs - you bet!

Got up this morning, the sun was shining so thought I'd have a change and head to the moors along with Jim T. We began with a walk out to look for Black Grouse, but I had forgot my golden rule I used to apply when I did the moors regular - look at any sign of bad weather on the lowland and then X by four!  The wind was so strong that the chances of picking up a Black Grouse or anything else for that matter seemed remote. Fortunately, when we dropped down a bit to view out from Ewden Heights we had enough shelter to just call it blustery. Early afternoon the Rough-legged Buzzard showed up quite close to the road over the valley before landing on the moorland behind. After a while it headed off towards Upper Commons, hugging the moorland as it did so and landing again briefly on at least four occasions before we lost it over the ridge. Job done, so we decided to take a walk out along Dukes Road and before we knew it, (well maybe not, actually), we had completed the c four mile circuit that takes you past the Shooting Lodge, back to Ewden Heights, and back to Dukes Road. Five Rough-legs at least then! Never done that walk before but was very impressed with it (not least, the scenery) and would certainly recommend it. A few birds too, shed-loads of Red Grouse (or should that be shooting lodge-loads?), 2 Common Buzzards, female Peregrine, a couple of Crossbills (appeared to have been drinking at one of the bog pools) and perhaps the biggest surprise, 4 Golden Plovers. No Curlews though. Finished the trip with a quick look at Broomhead Res (7+ Goosanders) and a visit to the Rushy Lane feeders which were alive with birds and included good numbers of Siskins in the adjacent trees.

News from Old Moor = Little Egret, Peregrine, 3 Oystercatchers, 2 Ringed Plovers Cetti's (singing)

All quiet

Old Moor - Little Egret, 50+ Goosander, 6 Goldeneye, 3 Oystercatchers, Cetti's Warbler.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Greenland White-fronted Goose, Drake Smew, Black-necked Grebe. Little Egret flew south at 10.27.
Anglers - American Wigeon, Male Pintail, Curlew, Redshank, Oystercatcher.

Roughleg

Juvenile at Ewden/Ewden Height at 12:45hrs, was also reported here yesterday.

Other bits
Ingbirchworth Common - c200 Lapwings and c400 Starlings.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 33 Mallard.
Annat Royd Lane - 388 Canada Geese (yes, sadly I did count them), 1 Greylag Goose, c200 Fieldfare and c350 Starliungs.

LSW Feb 19th.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker today at Wortley Top Forge plus lots of nuthatches,assorted tits and treecreepers including two interacting (mating or squabbling?)
One Dipper on Don at Deepcar.

Spring is on its way

WINTERSETT
The Black-necked Grebe and drake Smew are still in residence on the Top Res along with the 'Greenland' White-front in the surrounding fields. The drake American Wigeon is on the country park lake with his Eurasian female mate. Wigeon are down to 443 and Goosanders to 56. On the country park are;- Oystercatcher, Redshank, Curlew and Ringed Plover. The gull roost attracted GBBGull 21, LBBGull 12 and Herring Gull 500 mostly on the park lake tonight. And at dusk a Bittern was roosting in the top res reedbeds. A pair of Crossbills were again seen in Haw Park. The best real sign of spring was a extreamly early Red Admiral by the Top Res.
EDDERTHORPE FLASH
A wildfowl count today yielded;- Mallard 170, Shoveler 39, Gadwall 27, Teal 60, Pintail 3, Tufted 23, Pochard 35, Shelduck 3, Wigeon 85, Goosander 6, Greylag 93, Canada G 42, Lapwing 270, Golden Plover 47, Dunlin 1, Snipe 2,

curlews plus

5 curlews dropped into fields at Midhope in front of a small gathering of Barnsley birders this pm. Only buzzard and 2 sparrowhawks on the BOP front here, with buzzard at Winscar.

Jacked it in!

At least 40 Golden Plover in Broomhill area + Green Sandpiper. A search for Jack Snipe on Gypsy Marsh and Wombwell Ings yielded only Commons, 3 and 2 respectively.

Old Moor: 8+ Water Rail on Reedbeds (one in partial song) + Cetti's still. Little Egret, Peregrine, 2 Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover, Curlew (reported). 40+ Goosanders roosted + 11 Goldeneye. Woodcock at dusk.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe, 1 Drake Smew.  5 Dunlin flew W 3.11pm, then 2 more at 3.28pm.
Anglers - Greenland White-fronted Goose,  Drake American Wigeon.

From around the Moors

No sign of the Rough-legged Buzzard today - presumably the bird reported to the west in Derbyshire today is 'our' wandering bird. A couple of Common Buzzards and Peregrine were over Midhope, as was a Raven. Four Curlews are back near Barnside Moor, and Crossbills were singing and nestbuilding at Broomhead and by the roadside at Midhope.

Low Baurgh S.F.

No sign w. pipit this a.m. but green sand.

Saturday am - Curlew, Old Moor on Field Pool. Little Owl + Green Sand, Broomhill Flash.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - 2 Drake Smew, Black-necked Grebe.

Anglers - American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 Redshank.

Vis. Mig. - 130 Pink-footed Geese NW 10.25,  Merlin flew NW 12.20,  20 Skylark flew NW.

hot and cold

News from Old Moor today: Cetti's Warbler, 2 Oystercatchers, Green Sandpiper and the colour-ringed Little Egret. Does anybody know where it was rung? Maybe the Barnsley Blade would have the best chance - Custard Power!

The colour-ringed Little Egret on the Wader Scrape this morning - Keith Pickering

Other news of interest included 5 Ringed Plovers at Edderthorpe Flash and a Jack Snipe at Old Moor. The latter was skulking in a fridge however, having been picked up dead yesterday on Gypsy Marsh, a former stronghold of this secretive wader. Interesting, if sad.

OMA

Not too much news from the Old Moor area today:

Old Moor - Little Egret, 2 Oystercatchers, Ringed Plover.

Bolton Ings - 5 Goldeneye.

Broomhill - 2 Little Owls

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - 1 Bittern, 2 Drake and 1 Redhead Smew (Note - also 2 Drake Smew, Pugneys), Black-necked Grebe.
Anglers - Drake American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2 oystercatchers, 1 redshank

I know nothing!

The Pager says: 1+ Iceland Gull reported NE of Broomhill in ploughed field at 11.20am with Black-headed Gulls. Nobody local seems to know anything about this rather strange report eg 1+ and no age given, but if you do please let us know. Bird/s looked for since but not seen.

Old Moor today: Cetti's, Little Egret, 2 Oystercatchers, Dunlin.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - 2 Drake and 1 Redhead Smew, Black-necked Grebe.
Anglers - American Wigeon, 1 oystercatcher, 1 dunlin

ICE AGE COMBACK

The birds are returning to Edderthorpe Flash after a period of frozen water. It is now looking, good ready for the spring arrivals. In fact all the Dearne Valley corridor is looking quite impressive. Goo sander 12, Shelduck 4, Teal 86, Shoveler 38, Wigeon 95, Pochard 35, Gadwall 18, Greylag Goose 7, Tufted Duck 29, Golden Plover 8, Lapwing 131

14th February - Grimethorpe

Ferry Moor Lake
Pochard 3, Shoveler 1 pair, Tufted Duck 8, Teal 3 pairs, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Greylag Geese, Mallards, Moorhen, Coot, et al

Spring Hill Road, Grimethorpe; Skylark, 6 Linnet

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe, Drake Smew, Redhead Smew.
Anglers - American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 Dunlin. Also the first curlew of spring flew over and the first two oystercatchers arrived.

Tuesday so far:

Most of the ice now gone. Old Moor = 2 Oystercatchers.

Wombwell Ings = Ringed Plover.

Broomhill Flash = 6 Goldeneye. Pair of Little Owls reported.

Adwick

Male merlin hunting mipits over the site this morning.

The Cetti's Warbler at the Reedbeds today - Daniel Langston

low barugh s.f. water pipit saturday morning, no sign sunday but j, snipe w.m. Today ewden valley rl buzzard with 2common buzzards + peregrine. Hen harrier ringtail + raven upper commons.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe,  1 Drake Smew, 1 Redhead Smew.

Anglers - American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 1 Dunlin

Wintersett, you were warned!

Don't say I didn't tell you! The gull roost at Old Moor increased by one, with the arrival of a first-winter (or juvenile, depending on your preference) Glaucous Gull. Well actually, it was photographed flying over 'the roost'  at 3.21pm heading towards Featherstone............. Other news included two Little Egrets and the Cetti's Warbler showing well. A pipit that flew over Manvers Way towards Old Moor could well of been a Water Pipit and thorough checking of the Field Pools might just pay off. The Goosander roost reached a new winter peak 97. Still plenty of common birds on Broomhill including at least two Goldeneye. The ice is now breaking up there and likewise at Manvers which has about 70% open water though not much bird wise.

Wintersett

The Black-necked Grebe along with a drake and redhead Smew was showing very well on Wintersett res . The Bittern was seen briefley in flight over the boathouse reedbed midday and also seen tonight roosting in the same location. Other birds included 12 Goosander, 49 Goldeneye and Water Rail.

American Wigeon and Greenland Whitefront still on Anglers along with 30 Goosander. High counts of 570 Wigeon and 230 Gadwall were also obtained.

Smew and Black-necked Grebe on Wintersett. Carl Dixon

gull ible?

About 80 Goosanders had arrived to roost on the Mere by dark but no sign of RBM which departed this morning. The Little Egret also flew in to its usual roost spot on the river and a Barn Owl was also hunting. Meanwhile the gull roost on the Mere had increased dramatically with no less than five Herring Gulls and a Great Black-back. Look out Wintersett! News from earlier in the day included a Bittern feeding in the small bit of open water on Bolton Ings and the Little Egret there too. Three Goldcrests and a Tree Creeper were seen on Warbler Way. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was seen on the Mere and the first Curlew of the year passed through there late afternoon.

Meanwhile the Rough-leg was again at Ewden Heights this morning where at least two cock Black Grouse were seen yesterday, quashing rumours that only one remained.

Rough-legged Buzzard showed well up Ewden Valley from c10:00 to at least 11:15 watched  from pull-in half way down hill. Spent most of its time chasing or being mobbed by a Common Buzzard. Peregrine along ridge and a couple of Ravens. On Broomhill Flash, 272 Teal  were the highlight.

pre-church news

Early morning from Old Moor - Little Egret, 92 Goosanders, Red-breasted Merganser (redhead, roosted overnight on Mere). Also last night, Bittern, Woodcock.

More from the Moors

Viewing from the Langsett/Midhope carpark area this mid-afternoon produced;- 2 male Goshawks including one sat on a wall, ringtail Hen Harrier, Common Buzzard and a Peregrine. A couple of flyover Woodcocks and a few Crossbills in the pines.

Ewden Heights -pm Rough-leg

Rough-legged Buzzard seen with a couple of Common Buzzards this pm. The views were, er, cr*ppling (insert letter of choice). It had shown earlier.

Mick Cunningham

Wintersett

Minus 5 degrees with sunny spells.

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe.  New in - Redhead Smew.

Anglers - Greenland White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose, American Wigeon and  2 Woodcock.

Haw Park - Lesser-spotted Woodpecker gave good views late morning and early afternoon in fenced larch plantation north of woodyard.

Duck Count Totals:  Teal 156, Wigeon 511, Gadwall 185, Mallard 138, Goldeneye 36, Pochard 85, Mute Swan 51, Coot 572, Great-crested Grebe 13

Pinks so far

Only news so far today from Old Moor area, two skeins of Pink-feet through by mid-day totaling 130+.

Adwick

Peregrine hunting over the site. Couple of sparrowhawks amongst the finch flock and a kingfisher along Crane Well Dike.

Wintersett

Slightly less ice today.
Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe.
Anglers - American Wigeon,  Greenland White-fronted Goose, Pink-footed Goose.

blog update

No further reports of Hen Harrier in Old Moor area by late afternoon and little else reported.

Pager: American Wigeon and Black-necked Grebe still at Wintersett.

Low Baurgh S.F.

water pipit again this aft.

Blog in?

Working local can have advantages sometimes, and this morning was one of those. Driving towards Goldthorpe from Darfield at just after 11am I noticed an interesting looking raptor low over fields. It was low, and holding its wings 'V shaped' and suggeted perhaps it was a Hen Harrier a species of which there is currently a bit of an influx in the UK.  A quick pull in at the next lay-bye and a brief scan around yielded nothing, and with such brief views there would be no way I could claim it. Fortunately however, John Seeviour, et al were in the 'Shag Hide' viewing over Bolton so I told him to keep an eye out for it. About 30 mins later Seev rang to say a ringtail Hen Harrier had flown around over Bolton before heading off back towards the 'Goldie fields' which is roughly where I first saw it. So, in short it may be 'blogging' around. Little Egret also still on Bolton.

Not the 5 o'clock Smews!

The Goosander roost at Old Moor reached a healthy 65 this evening but sadly no Smews. The Little Egret also roosted and a Barn Owl was flying about.

Woodcock at Adwick Washlands.

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Bittern gave good views as it flew between reed beds 9.15am. Black-necked Grebe still present.

Anglers -  2 Smew flew over lake leaving south, mid morning.   American Wigeon, Pink-footed goose present.

Haw Park Wood - Male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker was showing well from 10 - 11.30 around woodyard, mainly to right hand side.

Adwick Washland on the up

Its great bird habitat already and it can only get better once the excavators have finished their work and shallow flooding is allowed on here.

Low Barugh Sewage Farm

No sign of water pipit this a.m. or yesterday p.m.

Hot News or Maybe Cold?

A pair of Smew flying round Edderthorpe Flash this morning before apparently landing on River Dearne at Houghton Washlands. A possibility to join the Goosander roost at Old Moor this evening?

Wintersett

A quiet day for Wintersett today. 

Top Res 85% ice.  Black-necked Grebe, 2 Pink-footed Geese.

Anglers 80% ice. American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose.

Vis. Mig. 190 Pink-footed Geese flew NW.

The Diggers Have Landed

At long last the excavators have arrived on Adwick Washland.
Fingers crossed they will create something that will be the focus of our attention for many years to come.

Broomhill Flash - 650 Canada Geese, 3 Greylags, 3 Shelduck, Little Owl.

Old Moor - Cetti's Warbler, 53 Goosanders roosted (57 last night + Little Egret). Male Marsh Harrier reported from Mere Hide, (no times given).

Wintersett

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe, drake Smew, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2 Pink-footed Geese.    Also Bittern, Woodcock, Dunlin at dusk.

Haw Park Wood - Male Lesser-spotted Woodpecker.  Between 10 and 12 o'clock appears to be best for sightings - through entrance, right of woodyard with tit flock.

Anglers Country Park - American Wigeon, Dunlin.    Knot standing on ice with gulls 3.20pm

Tuesday 7th

Broomhill Flash - 82 Teal, 3 Shelduck, Little Owl

Pager News: 25+ Waxwings, Wentworth south of Garden Centre on Hague Lane.

Wintersett

Another good day after an unpromising very misty start.
Wintersett Res - Greenland White-fronted Goose, Black-necked Grebe, 1 Dunlin, 1 Redshank, 1 drake Smew,  1 Redhead Smew (briefly), 2 Bitterns.
Haw Park Wood - 2 Crossbills,  1 male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker.
Anglers Country Park - American Wigeon, 2 Pink-footed Geese, 2 Dunlin, 2 Knot dropped in and left SW at 3.50pm.

Ice, Ice, baby.

Old Moor area: Little Egret Bolton, two Pintails Old Moor + Cetti's. 52 Goosanders roosted.
Broomhill Flash = 3 Shelduck, 2 Goldeneye, 4 Golden Plovers, Dunlin.

Belated news: Yesterday, asio owl, Old Moor by reservoir at 4pm.

Pager News today: Wintersett - Bittern, Black-n Grebe, Yank Wigeon, drake Smew, 'Greenland Whitefront'. 'Nordic Jackdaw' Anglers on shoreline.

Netherwood - 6th February

3 Roe Deer crossed road in front of car at 11.00 am this morning.

ADWICK WASHLANDS Cormorant 5, Grey Partridge 11, Linnet c250, Skylark 50, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting c150, Tree Sparrow 2, Kestrel 1, Bullfinch 4, Fieldfare, Redwing small numbers.

Wintersett

Anglers Country Park - American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted Goose, 2 Pink-footed goose, 1 Dunlin, 6 pintails dropped in and  left west at 1.55pm

Wintersett Res - Black-necked Grebe but no sign of Smew.  2 Bitterns roosting in trees at dusk due to frozen reedbeds.

Counts -177 Gadwall, 122 Teal

Vis. Mig. 2 Dunlin SW, 1 Grey Plover NW 2.27pm, 1 Shelduck SW 3.10pm,

Barnsley Birdwatcher's Group

Roy Bedford is giving a presentation on 'Butterfly Conservation' on Monday 6th February 7pm at Highstone Farm, Race Common Lane, Barnsley S706NN. Entrance £1.50. All are welcome.

Bolton Ings and Manvers Lake - 4th February

Had an early morning visit onto Bolton Ings and Manvers Lake yesterday before the snow came, very cold, -7c and with Bolton 90% frozen made the birds a bit easier to count unlike Old Moor. Highlights being the Little Egret feeding in the dyke near the Goldie Fields, superb views of a pair of Sparrowhawks displaying and 289 Coots (my highest count since December 09). Other sightings being Grey Heron 2, Little Egret 1, Mute Swan 7, Grey Lag Goose 24, Canada Goose 7, Mallard 10, Teal 6, Gadwall 17, Tufted Duck 10, Pochard 5, Goosander 10, Coot 289, Moorhen 5, Snipe 1, Black Headed Gull 56, Common Gull 11, Sparrowhawk 2, Kestrel 1, Green Woodpecker 1. I then had a walk to Manvers Lake as there is usually a fair amount of open water during cold weather. Got there just before 2 boats went out and flushed all the diving ducks towards Old Moor, sightings being Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 38, Great Crested Grebe 4, Mallard 43, Tufted Duck 44, Pochard 15, Goldeneye 2, Coot 25, Moorhen 11, Black Headed Gull 210, Common Gull 42 and finally Green Woodpecker 1.

Tree Creeper, photographed at Broomhead yesterday - Ron Marshall

Wintersett Res - pm

Light snow flurries for past 2 hours.   6 knot over Anglers Country Park  3.35 left east.

Wintersett Res

Black-necked grebe and drake smew made it through the night on Top Res 2 where a central pool, and small east bank pool stayed clear.   American Wigeon, Greenland White-fronted goose and 2 pink-footed made it through on Anglers lake which was 20% clear.   New in were 9 pintails.

Tight as a ducks.........

With more than 90% of Old Moor frozen most of the wildfowl were huddled tightly together meaning it would have been very easy to miss something. Counting was also difficult and the following numbers were very much a bare minimum: Greylag 25, Wigeon 800, Teal 400, Gadwall 260, Tufted 24, Pochard 22, Shoveler 8, Goosander 8. About 100 Lapwing and two Dunlin were stood on the ice. The Tree Sparrow farm was very busy with a couple of Linnets among the many finches, buntings and sparrows. There was also a small but noticeable movement of Fieldfare southwest. Reedbeds not visited.

Wintersett Res - late morning

Black-necked grebe spotted on east bank - not diving.  Will it last another freezing night?
96 Goldeneye present. 

Wintersett Res

The top res is about 80% frozen but still holds a drake Smew and a Bittern was looking rather miserable sat up in the reeds wondering what to do next. No sign of the Black-necked Grebe but this is no surprise as it was calling a lot yesterday clearly aware of the freezing conditions coming overnight. On the country park the drake American Wigeon and the 'Greenland' White-front are still in residence. Teal are up to 118.

A touch of frost?

Despite having to work overtime the lengthening daylight hours gave me enough time to visit Old Moor Reedbeds for the last hour in what looked like a good Bittern day. The Cetti's had been singing near the old hide and at least 6 Water Rails were evident often scurrying across the ice. A good number of Goosanders came in and I suspect had someone been counting at the Mere we might have tallied a year maximum. At just after 5pm the/a Little Egret flew and appeared to roost up in bushes near the River Dearne. Just then my boss rang - adult Med' Gull roosting at Broomhead Res! Meanwhile, back to business, and at about 5.20 a Bittern flew around before appearing to drop onto Reedbed 5. One had been seen earlier in the day in front of the Bittern Hide of all places! Time to leave, and a nice finish with a Tawny Owl 'keeping guard' in the large tree straight out from the Bird Garden Hide. And with a Glossy Ibis heading our way, who knows what tomorrow might bring?

Adwick: 400 Linnets, 100 Reed Buntings, 70 Yellowhammers, 30 Grey Partridges, two Buzzards and a single Corn Bunting.

RLB Feb 3rd

From the road below Ewden Height - after an hour of nothing but Fieldfares the Rough legged Buzzard appeared at 1pm and showed well on and off for a half hour on the grass and flying low. At 1.30 it was mobbed by 2 Common Buzzards and the three put on a spectacular high flying show for the next 15 minutes.

Wintersett Res

Still present 

Wintersett Res: Black-necked Grebe,   Drake Smew

Anglers CP: American Wigeon,   Greenland White-fronted Goose

Vis. Mig: 2 Whooper swans flew north,    200 Pink-footed Geese flew north west.

Cut and paste?

Old Moor today - Bittern, Cetti's still at Reedbeds. Colour-ringed Little Egret still, 3 Dunlin, Green Sand.

Pager News: American Wigeon still at Wintersett.

Fell asleep two weeks ago, just woke up..........................

rough legged buzzard

showing well in the ewden valley from at least 1pm onwards + raven. probably best viewed from the road below ewden height.

Wintersett Res

Yank Wigeon and Greenland White-front still on country park and Black-necked Grebe and drake Smew on top res. Influx of wildfowl with cold weather;- Gadwall 185 Teal 88, and a couple of Dunlin. Two Peregrines went over the country park mid morning.