The WIM Man Goes Over the Top

Ok, so you knew that anyway, but I had to think of a title and couldn't use the dreaded day it is today could I? So, with a nice forecast for today I decided to pencil in a trip onto the moors and over the tops, something I used to do almost every weekend in winter during the 80s before the bright lights of Scarborough finally sucked (or should that be suckered?) me in. When I used to visit the moorlands frequent I always had a golden rule – get up, look at the weather at home and then multiply by three times as bad. So when I checked this morning and saw it looked good a simple calculation was all it took – 3x good = just possibly ‘birdable’ on the moors! I decided to go for it. Arriving at Flouch car park I was stunned to be greeted by a beautiful sunny day. The only thing tempering my enthusiasm was the fact that Jim had been unable to make it. This was going to be a long day without a hint of a Potters pork pie or Uncle Joe’s mint I thought. And so off I went, down Brook House Lane and along the valley. There was more than a passing dream of stumbling across a Nutcracker, but in reality there was nothing better than shed-loads of Red Grouse and the odd tit around the footpath (please, no comments!). 

Red Grouse - shed-loads!

Reaching the Swinden Plantation ‘reminiscing-mode’ started to kick in. This was the spot where I stumbled across a Parrot Crossbill in early 1983 (before you even think it, they stayed and attempted to breed!). And then it was off on the steep climb onto the tops. It was here in the 80s that I saw what was surely the only truly wild Red Kite to be recorded in the Barnsley area (can’t wait for the comments!). By the time I’d reached the top I was sweating heavily and pretty much breathless, something I’m sure my five-a-side colleagues were unaware I was capable of. This has always been a great place to scan for raptors so I sat down and did just that and was soon reminded of where I would be in a week’s time. Manchester Airport! I looked over towards Mickledon Beck, scene of Britain’s first Marmora’s Warbler back in 1982. I bowed a couple of times and then burst into laughter as I recalled one of those moments you just never forget. The finder you see, had allegedly (my italics, your honour!) been up there with someone he definitely shouldn’t have been, doing something he definitely should have been. “He says he’s had a Marmora’s” I said. “Did he say anything about the sex?” was the reply. Absolutely priceless! 

Mickledon Beck - Are we not worthy?

Just then I noticed a couple of large birds going along the ridge and knew they were Ravens but my 80s brain (yes, I had one then) must have kicked in and I grabbed the scope just to be sure. Back then, claiming a Raven on the moors was like pressing the self-destruct button, leaving you exposed to a lifetime of ridicule. They are so common up here nowadays that only someone who has claimed one in the lowlands can understand the stigma that’s attached to it! Next came a Buzzard (another former rarity) followed quickly by a Peregrine, another bird you wouldn’t of wasted time claiming in the 80s unless the recorder was with you or you made jolly good cakes.

A couple of Buzzards, something of a rarity in the 80s.

An hour and six Buzzards later and it was time to head over to North America Wood. Incredibly, it had all about gone. Can anyone enlighten me as to what happened and why? I cursed a bit, recalling the massive Goshawk nest that was once there, fenced off like an 80s football ground. It was not until the recent re-emergence of the ‘Hillsborough disaster’ (fodder here for the Barnsley Blade or Upland Tyke surely?) that I realised that those fences were not designed to make sure you stayed and suffered the whole match. Must be something to do with the team I support, surely? 

The remains of North America Wood. Budgie would turn in her grave!

Anyway, I carried on to Upper Midhope (where there was nice flock of Fieldfares) and reached the dam wall of Langsett Reservoir. At least this was still how I remembered it. Birdless! 

Langsett Reservoir, just as I remember it - birdless!

By the time I had reached the main road Dave Waddington was on the phone giving me the Old Moor update and the traffic was relentless. My head blew! I noticed a new footpath (when I say new, it wasn’t there 30 years ago I’m sure!) that ran from Langsett Car park along the reservoir so I took that. A Nuthatch called from the car park and when I got back to Brook House Lane a Crossbill flew over. Back at the car some seven hours later I thought to myself just how much I’d enjoyed it. Just enough time to finish off at the Broomhead gull roost to look for the first-winter ‘Glauc’. I gave it an hour but nothing. Time for work. A short while after I left it came in. Frustration, that’s the moors I remember. And finally, before Upland Tyke tells me to ‘try looking harder’, this really was the hardest I could look. Sorry!

No wonder Millwall didn't run!

News from Old Moor today: Bittern, 3 Whooper Swans left west 16.00, 64 Goosanders, 2 Goldeneye, 250 Golden Plover, 2 Green Sandpipers, Woodcock (over Reedbeds), Barn Owl, 3 Brambling.

The three Whoopers at Old Moor today, above Jim Thompson, below Keith Pickering.

 And finally Adwick Wash: 4 Buzzards, Green Sand, 20 Skylarks, 60+ Linnets, 20 Waxwings (came in to drink).