Thursday 27 September 2012

The Edge

Broomhill Flash Mid am- Water level about 3 inches higher than yesterday even though Mick Rushton opened the sluice gates at 3.45 pm on Wednesday( Thanks for opening and locking up the hide each day). His reward was a fine view of a ' flushed'  Short Eared Owl. Today's sightings included 62 Gadwall, 42 Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 5 Teal, 4 Wigeon, 4 Mute Swan, 15 Cormorant, 8 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 10 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Swallow, 100 Golden Plover flying towards Old Moor and a Short Eared Owl at 7.40am(by Mick Rushton again but this time no boot involved). A Wheatear was feeding on the manure heap at the end of the lane alongside Clegg's Meadow.

Wombwell Ings-  Not put off by the smell of rotting vegetation, a result of the Bulling Dyke being dredged, the '3 Stooges' ventured onto the Ings. The increased number of birds suggests improved food supplies in the water and bodes well for next year. Birds seen included 150+ Lapwing, 100+ Golden Plover, 8+ Snipe, 3 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 11 Cormorant, 5 Little Grebe, 7 Gadwall, 8 Wigeon, 24 Teal, 1 Mute Swan+3 cygnets, 2 Greylag Goose, 12 House Martin, 2 Buzzard, 12 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, and 1 Kingfisher. A skein of 150 to 200 Pink Footed Geese flew east at 12.25pm.

3 comments:

Barnsley Blade said...

Is that 5 Little Egrets in total Alan? If so equals most this year I think.

Alan Whitehouse said...

Cannot be sure whether any movement between Broomhill and Ings so can only say what little Egrets were present at each venue.

Barnsley Blade said...

Cheers Alan