Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Confusing bill!


The Spoonbill on Wombwell Ings this afternoon - Jim Thompson
Decided on peaceful evening visit to Old Moor, guessing that it would be pretty much uncovered due to the lure of the Spoonbill over on Wombwell Ings (which I had seen earlier, albeit at about a miles distance). The Bittern was 'knocking it out' almost non stop and was easily audible from every hide on the reserve. Other birds included Goosander, 2 LRP, 9 Avocets, 2 Black-tailed Godwits and the adult Med' Gull strutting its stuff. Passed a couple of 'casuals' one of who told me there was supposed to be a Spoonbill on Wath Ings and the other who said there had been two, however, having just spoke to Chris Harris who told me it was still on Wombwell I assumed there was some confusion with this mornings sighting. A short while later however and this bird was getting chased (by Black-heads) around the Field Pool.

The Spoonbill at Old Moor this evening - John Hewitt
This bird appears to be a first-summer but what about the bird on Wombwell? Unfortunately Chris had just left and with nobody else on channel or answering their phone I was left unsure. Did anyone see the Wombwell bird fly and if so did it look like this?

Other birds today: Two Hobbies were seen up together by a reliable observer 'somewhere in the area'. And the Ruff had moved onto Wombwell Ings where there were also 2 Little Egrets and 3 Dunlin.

Carlton Marsh

Ron Marshall - The 4 Fox cubs are now showing outside the Earth at various times of the day. (Looking over the marsh from the first seat if you want to photograph them)

First ringing session of the year this evening produced 3 Willow Warblers, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and 2 Wrens.
Buzzard was always present, 2 Greylag flew south and Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming.

We failed to see or hear an April Cuckoo, although they have been seen locally. The last time this happened was way back in 1981. Our latest ever arrival was in the spring of 1980 on May 22nd.
A male sang at Low Cudworth this morning at 05.20hrs. (Ziggy Golebiewski)  

Chiffchaff (Alwyn Timms)

Warbler Way and Bolton Ings early p.m.

The singing birds on Warbler Way were.

9 Whitethroat, 5 Wren, 12 Willow Warbler, 11 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Bullfinch, 4 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler and 3 Robin.



Bolton Ings

3 Oystercatcher, 12 Little Grebe, 11 Mallard, 52 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 6 Great-crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 43 Gadwall, 3 Shovelor, 5 Greylag Goose, 2 Kingfisher (1 on river).

Broomhill Flash

A bit of a cold start this morning but soon warmed up and news of a Spoonbill on Wombwell as well, happy days!

The sightings for Broomhill are as follows.

1 Ruff,1 Snipe, 15 Tufted Duck, 15 Gadwall, 9 Little Grebe, 2 Shovelor, 5 Mute Swan, 6 Mallard + 10 young, 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Dunock, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Swallow, 1 Sand Martin, 3 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 4 Brown Hare.

Midhopestones - Stocksbridge

Midhopestones - a pair of Moorhen and a pair of Coot on the River Little Don.
Underbank Reservoir - 33 drake Mallards & a female with 5 duckings (first brood in the Little Don Valley this year), 1 Cormorant, a pair of Great Crested Grebe, two pairs of Moorhen, two pairs of Coot, 1 singing Garden Warbler, 3 singing Blackcaps, 9 singing Chiffchaffs and 31 singing Willow Warblers.
Stocksbridge - 1 Swallow singing from wires at Cross Lane (unusual here).

Wintersett 30.04.13 already!

Sunny, still and a warm 11 degrees.  A very quiet day here.
Anglers CP:  The 3rd W Yellow-legged Gull has reappeared after an absence of 3 days.  No sign of the 3rd W Lesser Black-backed Gull though.  2  Common Terns were flying around early doors.  Still 6 Goldeneye present.
Wintersett Res:  Grasshopper Warbler 1 reeling  Yellow Wagtail 2 and Garden Warbler3.

Cudworth Common

A walk round this morning with Les Corrall & Ralph Hibbert produced 2 Cuckoos, a Lesser Whitethroat and 8 Skylarks singing, 5 Wheatears (3m 2f) 1 Dunlin, 3 Ringed Plover, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Grebe and 1 White Wagtail.

Upland & Moorland Waters

Windleden - at least ten Lapwings sitting and 1 Snipe chippering.
Upper Windleden Reservoir - 13 Canada Geese.
Winscar Reservoir - 25+ Canada Geese, 70+ Mallards, 6 Oystercatchers, c30 Black-headed Gul (at least 5 sitting), 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and 3 singing Reed Buntings.
Harden Reservoir - 1 Cuckoo.
Broadstones Reservoir - 2 Grey Partridge (per Nick Mallinson).
Whitley Common - 3 Wheatears.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 20+ Mallards, 2 drake Common Scoters (per Nick Mallinson), 2 Little Grebes, 2 Great Crested Grebes and 2 Wheatears.
Castle Dam - 12 Canada Geese, 5 Mallards and 8 Coots (4 sitting).

Mammals
Single Brown Hares at Whitley Edge and Fullshaw.

Spoonbill

Breaking news - a Spoonbill on Wombwell Ings currently. It was on the Main Marsh from 10.30 to 11.30 but has now flown onto Wombwell.    
Earlier news today - Old Moor - Black Tailed Godwit 2, LRP 2, Avocet 12+, Med Gull, Bittern, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Jay 5 south. Wombwell Ings - Avocet 2.

Edderthorpe & Houghton, Tuesday rnorning

Pink-footed Goose 2, Shelduck 7, Wigeon 2, Avocet 8, Ringed Plover 3, Dunlin 2, Greenshank 1, Common Sand 2, Cuckoo 1, Yellow Wagtail 1.

Monday, 29 April 2013

Broomhill Flash

Heres a couple of updates for Broomhill Flash for Sunday & Monday.

Monday 29th

1 Redshank, 9 Little Grebe, 15 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard+ 8 Young, 1 Little owl, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 2 Swallow.

Sunday 28th

1 Redshank, 7 Lapwing, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Great-crested Grebe, 5 Gadwall, 2 Shovelor, 5 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 20 Coot, 2 Moorhen, c250 Black-headed Gull, 14 Canada Goose, 1 Reed Bunting, 2 Skylark, 1 Kestrel, 1 Little owl, 4 Brown Hare.

Rabbit Ings

Today's highlights were 4 Wheatears (3m 1f) and a Ruby Tiger Moth. (Ray Dye)

Monday's migrants

Evening visit to Wombwell Ings with pretty much the same stuff as Jeff Wragg's earlier visit: Wigeon pair, LRP 4, RP 2, Redshank 10, Dunlin 5, Avocet 4, Common Sand 1, Yellow Wag 5, Pied Wag 19, White Wag 3.

News from Old Moor today: Bittern, Goosander 1, Avocet 7, Common Sand 2, Black-tailed Godwit 2, Sanderling 1, Arctic Tern 3 (morning), Med' Gull adult.

Edderthorpe: SE Owl this eve (NS/BB)

Barnsley Town End: still 30+ Waxwings in Blenhiem Road / Raceommon Road area today (Dave Standring).

Carlton Marsh

This morning 3 Reed Warblers and a Sedge Warbler were singing more strongly and single Redpoll and Siskin were present.
It's always a delight to see a Water Vole, one swam across the scrape in to the reeds.
Blackcap (Alwyn Timms)
Cudworth Common
This afternoon a Cuckoo was singing at long last. A Meadow Pipit was displaying with the Skylarks and 2 Ringed Plover and 2 Redshanks were in situ. Just outside the Symphony boundary were 2 Little Ringed Plovers and a female Wheatear.

Ferrymoor Flash
Held back by the moderate Westerlys were c30 Swallows, 7 Sand Martins and 4 House Martins. 2 Little Ringed Plover were present as well as a Cormorant and a Whitethroat. A Mute Swan was 'sitting' and 16 Greylags were amongst the Canada Geese. 8 Lesser Black Backed Gulls flew north as I was leaving. 

Wintersett 29.04.13

Sunny but with a cold west wind.
I'm as high as a kite on fresh air today, after spending 5 days in London, and the highlight for me today was the replacement bench on Wintersett Res., made by the very talented Mr Speight.  Thanks Graham it's just perfect!  
Wintersett Res: The brood of 11 Mallard ducklings are down to 2 +  a brood of  6 very small ducklings are on Walton Hall lake.   Goldeneye 2 + 4 ACP and Great Black-backed Gull 2 N. 
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1
Cold Hiendley Res: 2 male Yellow Wagtail
Haw Park Wood: Redpoll 1, Siskin 2,  Goldcrest 1 male and Crossbill 4, (are they breeding here?).
Butterflies: A Green-veined White was near the boathouse and the first Orange Tip of the year was seen by John Baxter at CHRes.

Anglers CP Photos

Thank to Lynz  Harston  who sent these photos to share - including a great cormorant sequence.
3rd W Yellow-legged Gull                  Lynz Harston

3rd W Yellow-legged Gull           Lynz Harston

                                                                         Lynz  Harston
                                                                            Lynz  Harston
                                                                           Lynz  Harston

Ringing Recoveries

Three ringing recoveries have just been recieved from the BTO and all concern nestlings ringed in the lower Dearne Valley:-
A Lapwing (DK93227) ringed at Wombwell Ings on 26th April 2012 was found long dead by the River Dearne at Darfield on 6th February 2013.
A Sand Martin (L488222) ringed as at Old Moor (Mere) on 5th June 2012 was controlled at Wintersett Reservoir on 31st August 2012. 12 km NNW.
A Sand Martin (L488233) ringed as at Old Moor (Mere) on 17th August 2012 was controlled at Icklesham, Hastings (East Sussex) on 18th September 2012. 323 km SSE.

Whitley & Ingbirchworth

Whitley Edge - 2 Oystercatchers, 5 Golden Plovers, 8 Wheatears (3+ Greenland) and 4 Pied Wagtails.
Whitley Common - 1 male Whinchat and 1 male Wheatear.
Broadstones Reservoir - 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Moorhens and 1 Dunlin.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 26 Mallards, 2 Little Grebes, 35+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Moorhens, at least six pairs of Coot, 4 Common Swifts, 2 Sand Martins, 100+ Barn Swallows, 20+ House Martins and 3 Wheatears (1 Greenland).
Midhope Reservoir - 1 drake Teal.

Mammals
1 Brown Hare at Whitley Edge and 5 under the walls at Broadstones Res.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

Bolton Ings et al - 28th April

Weather mixed today, warm when sun came out but a cold strong wind, 9c when I started out this morning only rising to 11c this afternoon. Birdwise very quiet again but I did hear my first Grasshopper Warbler and Reed Warbler of the year. The Gropper was behind the hide and was seen very well by other observers later. Pochard were very frisky with 14 drakes and 5 ducks, bodes well for breeding success. Contrary to last week 2 Redshank were present and a solitary Lapwing was displaying to itself. 5 Oystercatchers could mean 3 pairs and 1 bird could be seen sitting on one of the islands. On the down side Gadwall were down to 33 (109 2 weeks ago) and no raptors seen today.  Full list :- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 23, Grey Lag Goose 13, Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Grebe 14, Mallard 8, Gadwall 33, Tufted Duck 55, Pochard 19, Coot 64, Moorhen 1, Lapwing 1, Oystercatcher 5, Redshank 2, Black Headed Gull 828, Common Gull 1, Jay 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Swift 29, Swallow 1, Willow Warbler 13, Chiffchaff 11, Whitethroat 8, Blackcap 6, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Reed warbler 1.

From the old railway line I could see 4 Avocets on the wader scrape plus the Med Gull.

A walk onto Wombwell ings produced the following :- Little Egret 2, Avocet 2, Redshank 10, LRP 2, Wigeon 2, Yellow Wag 1 and a brood of 11 Mallard.


evening update

A cold visit to Old Moor with not too much to show for it. Highlights: 2 Wigeon, 7 Avocet, Dunlin, ad Med' Gull, c100 Swifts. Additional sightings from this morning included Bittern, adult Kittiwake east and two Grasshopper Warblers. Birds on Wombwell Ings included 2 Little Egrets, 4 LRP and a Greenshank.

Wombwell Ings

A short 45 min trip late morning on to the hide gave a pair of Whinchat perched on an old dock stalk infront of the hide, pair of Little Egret, pair of Avocets ( these were mating yesterday evening), 2 broods (14 each) of mallard ducklings in Bulling Dike, 6 Swifts flying overhead.
Also 8 Redshank.
Steve

low Moor 28/04/13

A dire day today with the wind howling across the moor with the extra bonus of horizontal rain later on in the day ..

Best bird was a woodcock and the only bird of prey we managed was a  kestrel ..Due to the ever increasing risk of losing the will to live we decided to take a walk to Cliff Wood to see what was about .. Not a lot there either and it was a bit disheartening to see the state of quite a few of the nestboxes ..

Highlight of the day was a pair of pied flycatchers which were along the track beside Midhope Cliff ..

Wintersett, Sunday.

 New in today is a breeding plumaged Black-necked Grebe on the Country Park lake. There are still 15 Goldeneye around the lakes, 4 Shelduck flew west in the morning as did 7 Golden Plovers in the afternoon and 4 Great Black-backed Gulls through the day. A single Common Sandpiper remains, at least 75 Swifts fed over Wintersett village, 3 Garden Warblers have recently arrived and a single Siskin flew in the direction of Haw Park.

Castle Dam 28/04

Productive afternoon with Whinchat feeding in grass adjacent to pool. 19 Wheatears too with a number of Greenland-types.

Also: 2 Curlew, 2 Golden Plover, Swallow 10, Willow Warbler 3

Edderthorpe Flash 28-April 2013

Return of long johns and overcoats. RSPB take note, a well positioned vandal proof hide or screen would be greatly appreciated by most birders,before it's two brass monkeys too late. Morning news, 1 Greenshank, 8 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 1 Ringed Plover, 4 Snipe, 7 Redshank, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Wheatear, 2 Shelduck, 2 Common Whitethroat and 1 Cuckoo.

Wheatears

Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 22 Northern Wheatears in fields surrounding the reservoir with most looking like Greenlands - per Mick Cunningham.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

Broomhill Late Additions

Late additions for Broomhill Flash are,
3 Pochard (2 Drake), 3 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Little Owl, 1 Kestrel, 2 Greylag Goose, 2 Snipe.

Lesser Redpoll at Green Moor 27-04-13

A Lesser Redpoll fest today with at least 20+ birds in the garden. Two Willow Tits, 1 Yellowhammer and a single male Siskin. At least three different Redpoll had rings as you can see. Someone might be able to give me information on this...hopefully??






Winscar & Ingbirchworth Area

Winscar Reservoir - 1 male Marsh Harrier and 1 Cuckoo.
Whitley Common - 1 Whinchat on the airfield.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 White Wagtail.
Scout Dike Reservoir - 1 Common Whitethroat and 12 Wheatears.
per Mick Cunningham & Nick Mallinson.

Low Moor 27/04/2013

A steady day today for myself and Mr Tyke ..

Results were 4 common buzzards, at least 1 sparrowhawk, a peregrine and a raven .. The usual mippets, curlews, lapwings and snipe are all still present ..

A belated report from Mr Tyke for Thursday was of a yellow wag and 25+ crossbills ..


Wintersett Double date


Thursdays Wood Warbler was relocated by the boathouse on Friday and was singing strongly there again today, although on both days it had packed in for the day by around 8 o’clock. There were new male Groppers reeling on the Pol and the west bank of Wintersett reservoir yesterday and today respectively. A Garden Warbler was new for the year yesterday by Wintersett res, bringing the day total of warblers to 10 species, which is something of an event. The male Whinchat is still in the Country Park fields today. A Whimbrel was also there yesterday, with an Arctic Tern on Wintersett res and a Snipe on the Country Park.

Today the other highlights were 50 Sand Martins, 150 Swallows and 30 House Martins. 50 Linnets were on the north bank of Wintersett res, with 11 Goldeneye there and a pair of Shoveler there. A Nuthatch was also seen in the Willow Wood by the boathouse.

Saturday Sofa

No real change this morning, Bittern still booming at Old Moor + adult Med' Gull. Plenty of Avocets scattered about and a few more Reed Warblers in. Birds on Wombwell Ings included several Yellow and a couple of White Wagtails.

Yellow Wagtail on Wombwell Ings - Jeff Wragg
Additional news for just after I left was of a Hobby over The Mere late morning.

BROOMHILL FLASH EARLY DOORS

Hi here are the sightings for Broomhill Flash from 6.15 - 7.30.

1 Redshank, 2 Shovelor, 4 Gadwall, 11 Little grebe, 2 Great-crested grebe, 10 Mallard, 2 Mute Swan, 18 Canada Goose, 12 Lapwing (sitting), 18 Coot, 7 Moorhen, c180 Black-headed Gull, 9 Swallow, 7 Brown Hare, 1 Rabbit.

Friday, 26 April 2013

Some of the 'Blackwits' at Old Moor today - Keith Pickering
Not too much change at Old Moor this afternoon although still more than 30 Black-tailed Godwits present. A Bittern was also seen in flight a couple of times.

Relocated

The pair of Garganey that were  on Adwick Wash have relocated just over the river Dearne to the small pond between Adwick tips. There at 5 pm.

Moorland Round-up

Winscar Reservoir - c30 Canada Geese, c70 Mallards, 3+ Oystercatchers sitting, 15+ Black-headed Gulls (4+ looked to be sitting), 1 third-year Lesser Black-backed Gull and 2 Common Sandpipers
Snailsden Reservoir - 1 Common Redshank and 1 Common Sandpiper.
Broadstones Reservoir - 2 Mallards, 1 Great Crested Grebe and 2 Moorhens
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 16 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, two pairs of Little Grebe, 3 Moorhens,  six pairs of Coot, 2 Swifts, 50+ Barn Swallows and c5 House Martins.
Midhope Reservoir - 8 Greylag Geese, 1 Pink-footed Goose, 9 Mallards, two pairs of Teal, 2 Little Grebes and 2 Moorhens

Couldn't resist taking this shot of a female Red Grouse on the way home.

Female Red Grouse at Whitwell Moor

Adwick washlands (08.30)

Black-t-Godwit 12, Dunlin 14, Avocet 4, Spotted Redshank 1, LRP 2, Redshank 6 pair, Cuckoo 1, White Wagtail 3, Yellow Wagtail 4, Swift 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2.
Little Egret 2 reported from yesterday.

Moor early Friday news

Old Moor: (per Dave Waddington). Bittern, Ringed Plover 3, Avocet 10, Dunlin 4, Black-tailed Godwit 53, Redshank 29, Med' Gull 1.

Edderthorpe, Friday morning

Shelduck 2, Wigeon 6, Avocet 8, Dunlin 6, Common Sand 4, Ringed Plover 3, Greenshank 1, Redshank 6, Snipe 3, Cuckoo 1 and White Wagtail 1.

Thursday, 25 April 2013

Wombwell Ings

13.15hrs 2 Shelduck + 2 flying towards Broomhill Flash, 5 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 LRP, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 4 White Wagtail, 2 House Martin, 3 Sand Martin and c6 Swallow.

Broomhill Flash
Arctic Tern flew in at 14.00hrs and was still there on leaving 10 minutes later.

forget-me-knot

As usual I forgot the Knot which remains on the Wader Scrape. Thanks to Barnsley Blade for reminding me and who also had 61 Swifts, 2 Goosanders but only 2 Dunlin later on.

Broomhill Flash

From todays logbook we have:-

6 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Pink-footed Goose, 10 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Little Owl and 1 Arctic Tern.

Wintersett Thursday 25th April


Wintersett Res - The day had a fantastic start with a singing Wood Warbler in Pits Wood on the south bank of the Top Res at 07.00 hrs. Unfortunately, is appeared to have moved on and wasn’t seen again. A Whimbrel flew south at 07.40 hrs and another, or the same flew north two hours later. Other numbers present were Common Sandpiper 2 Top Res, Curlew 1 , Linnet 25, Little Owl 1 Botany Bay, Grasshopper Warbler 2 plus a new male on the Country Park.

Anglers CP – Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 1, Lesser Whitethroat 2 (& 1 MHL Ponds), Swift 42, Dabchick 4, Greylag 6, Oystercatcher 5, Redpoll 2 (& 1 Top Res). The 3rd summer Yellow-legged Gull and LBB Gull were present most of the day.

Afternoon movements – The showers produced more good stuff during the afternoon. Dunlin 12 (in 5 parties), Wheatear 1 flew east over the Country Park, Ringed Plover 1 north, Whinchat 1 male Country Park fields. At 13.40 2 Sandwich Terns dropped onto the Country Park, moved to the Top Res where they were sat on the buoys then left west at 13.56. A Green Sandpiper dropped onto the Park Lake shallows at 15.28 and left west five minutes later.

Moth Trap – Several Common and Small Quakers again, 1 Twin-spotted Quaker, 1 Powdered Quaker, 2 Brindled Pug, 1 Shoulder-stripe, 1 Pine Beauty, 3 Hebrew Character, 4 Clouded Drab, 5 Early tooth-striped.

Pictures courtesy of  Gerry McShane



so..............gud

An evening visit to Old Moor the highlight being 22+ Dunlin. Otherwise pretty much status quo although 20+ Swifts came down with the cooling weather. Also, Bittern 'booming' regular, Goosander, 3 Ringed Plover,Common Sand, Med' Gull, 2 Common Terns. So not a great deal but it feels good to be back birding!

Adwick Wash: pair Garganey + Spot Red still.

Edderthorpe: Black-tailed Godwit 14 (Gaz Ump), Whimbrel 1

And a couple of bits that went in one ear n came out 'tother' yesterday:

Reed Warbler Reedbeds (where the 'balmy Bittern' was safely relieved of its indignity).
Whinchat Edderthorpe.

Edderthorpe, Thursday.

Black-tailed Godwit 13 dropped in at 09.20. 6 Dunlin and a Greenshank were also present along with a White Wagtail. ( Al Stonier).

Quiet at Elsecar

Elsecar Reservoir - 2 Canada Geese, c60 Mallards, 1 drake Tufted Duck, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhens, 8 Coots and 1 Blackcap singing by the overflow.

Black Grouse hanging on......

Decided on a early morning visit to Ewden to see how/if the Black Grouse are doing. A solitary male Blackcock was lekking with himself out on the moor viewed from Barnside. His loud bubbling calls could be clearly heard drifting over the moors, so if any other birds are still up here they chose to ignore him. By 06.30 he'd presumably had enough and flew off over the moors, so if you want to see this you probably have to be here early! Lots of displaying Curlews and a singing Cuckoo made for a enjoyable dawn.

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Moor Madness?

Spotted Redshank, Adwick - Keith Pickering. The photo shows the bird to be in transitional-plumage.

Back to the 'man-flu pit' again for me tonight (yes, a slight improvement on last night!) meant only pre-work visits to Broomhill Flash and Manvers Lake, with little to show for it. Others were more fortunate and from the bits I have picked up the most exciting news was that a Bittern managed to squeeze into one of the reed planting cages on the Reedbeds and had to be released. Amazing!

The Adwick stuff was still present late afternoon when two Whimbrel flew west.

A White Wag' at Adwick today - Keith Pickering.

Wintersett Weds 24th April


Anglers CP – Ring Ousel on Pol, Shelduck 2, Pochard 1, YL Gull and LBB Gull pair, Common Sand 1, Curlew 1, Wigeon 1 drake, Dunlin 1 over, Snipe 1, Oystercatcher 6, Water Rail 1, Goldeneye 15, Siskin 1 over, Redpoll 1 over, Yellow Wagtail 1 north.

Wintersett Res – Arctic Term 1 early morning, Cormorant 3 SE, Goldeneye 7, Nuthatch 1 Pits Wood, Redpoll 1, Sedge Warbler 3 plus 3 CP, Swift 5, Reed Warbler 2. Bird of the day was a summer plumaged Grey Plover that flew towards the Country Park over the Top Res at 12.00 hrs.

Moths – Several of Common Quaker, Small Quaker, 2 Powdered Quaker, 1 Clouded Drab, 1 Early Tooth-striped. Its rather late for these kinds of numbers, which are more typical of March, illustrating the lateness of the spring.