Wintersett 30.04.14

11°C,  cloudy but warm with a light south westerly.
Anglers CP:  A 1st Summer Little Gull was in at 12.15hrs. 2 Cuckoos were heard (Hare Park and Pits Wood),  Teal 1m + 1 f,  Cormorant 1.
Wintersett Res:  Common Scoter 4 ( 3m + 1f),  Common Tern 2,  Grasshopper 2 m and Yellow Wagtail 1m, Kingfisher 1.  
Moth trapping overnight produced: Brindled Beauty,  Purple Thorn,  Powdered Quaker,  Brindled Pug and Early Tooth-striped.
A good selection of photos today - by Paul Meredith

Common Scoter      WRes.

Grasshopper Warbler

Brindled Beauty

The Edge 30th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM- Present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Mute Swan, 35 Canada Geese, 26 Greylag, 5 Shelduck, 34 Gadwall, 18 Mallard, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 4 Redshank, 12 Lapwing+4y, 4 Dunlin(present 9.32 to 9.34am), 3 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Avocet,  2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 5 Red Legged Partridge, 5 Skylark, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Whitethroat.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Mick Rushton went 2-1 up to lead me in the comical fall contest but this time he landed on dry land. Warbler Way lived up to its name with singing males including 12 Chiffchaff, 10 Willow Warbler, 10 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 2 Yellowhammer, 1 Song Thrush and 1 yaffling Green Woodpecker. On the open water were 2 Black Necked Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 34 Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 9 Pochard, 8 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, c 400 BH Gull  and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 11 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4 Mediterranean Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 2 Common Tern (flew east at 1.14pm), 1 Oystercatcher and 2 Kingfisher.
A large red Damselfly was seen on Warbler Way.

Ingbirchworth - Midhope

Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 28 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little Grebes, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 3 pairs of Moorhens, 14 Coots, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Black-headed Gull.
Langsett Reservoir - c20 Canada Geese, 11 Mallards, 2 Oystercatchers and 3+ Common Sandpipers.
Upper Midhope - 1 Red-legged Partridge.
Low Moor - a pair of Red-legged Partridge, c10 Lapwing chicks and 4+ Common Snipe.
Midhope Reservoir - 12 Greylag Geese, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards and c20 Siskins.

Adwick mid-morning

Garganey 1 pair still present, to the left of the viewpoint, Dunlin 4 west around 09.00, Common Sandpiper 1, Wheatear 1, Yellow Wagtail 5, White Wagtail 1, Little Owl 1.

Wharncliffe Redstarts

Counted 4 males and 1 female yesterday ..

There were 2 separate singing males in 'The Height', 1 male plus 1 female in the normal area round Wharncliffe Farm and then a final singing male on the 'rocher' to the east of the farm. There were previously 2 females around the farm so there's every chance that the other one is still around somewhere. Also, a singing male ring ouzel was beside the path leading to the farm ..

Adwick a.m.

No sign of Bar-tailed Godwit.  Avocets down from 16 yesterday to 9.  Hobby flew E. at 9.45.  Small passage of House Martins and Sand Martins.  Common Sandpiper 1; Shelduck 2.

General increase in warbler numbers.

The Edge 29th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM-  Located by Paul White c8.10am, 2 Sandwich Terns departed NNW at 9.58am. Also present were 3 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 1 Mute Swan, 13 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 22 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck, 10+ Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 20+ Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 5 Skylark and 3 Linnet. Additions from a mid afternoon visit included 5 Avocet, 2 more LRP, 2 Wigeon, 4 Pied Wagtail, 1 White Wagtail and the first Lapwing chick in the back field.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- On the open water were 1 Cormorant, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 33 Tufted Duck, 14 Pochard, 7 Gadwall, 5 Mallard + a brood of 5 ducklings, 2 Shoveler, 1 LBB Gull  and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 8 Greylag, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher and 1 Grey Wagtail.
TPT- Singing males included 6 Whitethroat, 5 Blackcap, 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Wintersett 29.04.14

Todays7°C, cool, misty and still until late morning,  then cleared quickly to 20°C and sunny by noon.
Anglers CP:  A 1st Summer Little Gull was on the lake at 13.10hrs,  a Whimbrel went over at 13.30hrs.. Cuckoo 1 male, Little Ringed Plover 1, Water Rail 1, Teal 1 male and 1 female and  Snipe 1
Wintersett Res: Grasshopper Warbler 1 male, Kingfisher 1.  Also in the surrounding area  Grey Partridge 3 and Red-legged Partridge 2.

1st Summer Little Gull     ACP             PMeredith

Little Gull  leaving north at 16.35hrs.         PMeredith

Langsett/Cliff Wood 28/04/13

Belated 'velvet' pics from yesterday ..

There are now at least 4 common sandpipers on Langsett  ..

Male pied fly in Cliff Wood seen to be a ringed bird ..

Also, 2 grey wags were seen up at the neck end of Langsett Res ...

Wintersett 28.04.14

After the last few days of ideal weather conditions for dropping good birds produced not much at all.
A calm, hot and sunny day with  blue skies and scattered cloud,  20°C at midday, brought in 4 Little Gulls.  The first two, an adult in summer plumage and a 1st Summer,  flew in to Wintersett Res. from the south at 10.40hrs.  They had gone by 11.40hrs.  Two summer plumage adult birds were on Anglers CP lake at 13.45 and were still present at 16.00hrs.
Also at Wintersett Res:  Common Tern 3.  Singing males: Sedge Warbler 4 and Grasshopper Warbler 3.
All photos by Paul Meredith

Record shot - Adult and 1st Summer Little Gull      WRes.

Adult Little Gull            ACP

Adult Little Gull                 ACP

Whimbrel

Flight Hill - 1 Whimbrel down.
per Mick Cunningham.

Adwick washlands (am)

Garganey 1 pair, Shelduck 4, Teal 2,, Shoveler 10, Gadwall 16, Bar-t-Godwit 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Snipe 1 drumming, Lapwing lots of young birds now showing, LRP 4, Ringed Plover 2, Yellow Wagtail 1, Linnet c20, Green Woodpecker 2.

JMT does it again

A voice message today from Mick Turton to say that 3 Velvet Scoters were on Langsett and  got the day off to a good start. Only had 45mins up there though due to other commitments. They were still there when I left at 10:00hrs.
Langsett Reservoir - 33 Canada Geese, c20 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 3 (2 immature? drakes & 1 female) Velvet Scoters and 2+ Common Sandpipers,
Coincidently  Mick had the last ones seen here on 7th January 1979. .

Edderthorpe, Monday morning....

Not much change from yesterday morning;- Shelduck 4, Little Egret 1, Greenshank 1, Redshank 4, LRP 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Yellow Wagtail 1.

40 Years Ago Tomorrow

On the 28th April 1974 there were 2 Avocets at Broomhill Flash, I saw them on my very first visit to the Wath Ings (Old Moor) area. A couple of weeks earlier my Biology teacher (sorry I can't remember her name) had 2 copies of the Barnsley Area Bird Report for sale, I bought one and couldn't believe what I read, the birds that were seen in the Barnsley area. I remember reading that Herons were seen and I had only ever seen them on the Norfolk Broads on holiday. Another boy in my class, Ian Neville, bought the other report and told me he was going birdwatching on the following Sunday. I decided to go with him not really knowing where we were going.

On the Sunday morning we caught the first bus from Barnsley to Wombwell at Stairfoot (no roundabout in those days), incredibly, to me anyway, there were another 2 birdwatchers on the bus, Dave Standring and his son Chris. Not long after getting off the bus we approached Broomhill Flash (its not much different these days) where Dave pointed out the Avocets. He seemed to be very excited and I remember him saying you needed to go to Minsmere to see Avocets, I couldn't understand what all the fuss was about. Myself and Ian carried on to Wath Ings and then Bolton Ings, I don't know what Dave and Chris did. I can't remember much more about the day apart from telling John Hewitt about the Avocets and seeing him hobbling across the coal waste on his crutches! The days events must have made a lasting impression on me as I soon became a Wath regular.

We had to wait a long time for another Avocet in the area and incredibly it was 25 years to the day (28th April 1999) before I saw my next one on Wombwell Ings. Thankfully they are more regular nowadays, 5 on the Wader Scrape tonight for instance.

Therefore today is the last day of my first 40 years going down to Wath. Here's to the next 40 years, put the date in your diary, 28th April 2054, I will only be 94!!!!!!

Bolton Ings et al - Sunday 27th April 2014

9c at 07.30 this morning when I started out but it felt much colder and I needed my gloves on all day. Dull and misty with a strong cold easterly but at least it was dry. The day seemed quiet with no real highlights but the 2 Black Necked Grebes were still present and I heard my first Grasshopper Warbler and Lesser Whitethroats. Also the first broods of Grey Lags and Mallard were seen. Full list :- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 7, Canada Goose 20, Grey Lag Goose 30 + 7y, Great Crested Grebe 4, Little Grebe 12, Black Necked Grebe 2, Mallard 15 + 8y, Gadwall 8, Shoveler 3, Tufted Duck 60, Pochard 23, Coot 90, Moorhen 4, Lapwing 6, Oystercatcher 2, Redshank 1, Black Headed Gull 448, Common Gull 1, Kestrel 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Jay 1, Kingfisher 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Swallow 20, Sand Martin 5, Willow Warbler 19, Chiffchaff 14, Blackcap 12, Sedge Warbler 5, Lesser Whitethroat 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1.

Looking onto Wombwell Ings from the Old Road I could see the Greenshank and the LRP.

Onto Broomhill Village Pond where the Grasshopper Warbler was still reeling but I couldn't see it.

Old Moor this evening - Bittern 1 booming, Mediterranean Gull 4 (2 adults and 2 1st summers - 2E26 not seen), Common Tern 3, Avocet 5, Dunlin 2, Wigeon 2.

Carlton Marsh

Warblers in song this morning included 2 Sedge Warblers, 4 Reed Warblers and c10 Blackcaps. An adult Herring Gull heading SW was the first for a while, and our first Swift returned this afternoon. (Chris Parkin) Buzzard was also present.

Wintersett 27.04.14

7°C with a light but cold easterly, 8/8 cloud at 08.00hrs.  Bright and sunny by noon.
Anglers CP: Whimbrel 2 over at 11.30hrs. An Arctic Tern came in briefly at 13.45hrs.  Common Tern 1 over, Grey Wagtail 1,  Little Ringed Plover 1 over,  Snipe 2 and  Teal 1 male and 1 female.  Common Gull 1,  Herring Gull 1.
Wintersett Res: Singing males: Grasshopper Warbler 1 and Sedge Warbler 1.  Pochard 1 male and 1 female.
Insects:  Holly Blue 1 ACP and Bee-fly 1 WRes at 16.00hrs.
Thanks to Lynz Harston for a great sequence of Great Crested Grebes at Anglers CP this morning.

Which is better?     Two's company,

or three's a crowd.

There's only one way to find out!   FIGHT!!!!!

Edderthorpe area, Sunday

An early start at Houghton Washlands and as I arrived all the Lapwings and ducks were in the air in a panic state. Sat in the middle of the field/marsh was a immature Peregrine, no wonder were not seeing much here if this is happening regular. Edderthorpe itself was less disturbed and held;- 2 Little Egrets, 2 Shelduck, 12 Teal, 70 Tufted, 6 Cormorants, 1 Golden Plover, 1 Greenshank, 2 LRPs, 2 Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Swifts amongst the hirundines, 6 Reed Warblers. The first Lapwing chicks have hatched at Symphony. WENTWORTH; a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was calling and showing here this morning (John Clarkson).

Elsecar - Common Tern today a few photos

A drive by photo opportunity with a single Common Tern, 4 x Great Crested Grebes, Blackcap singing. A few grainy shots for reference.

27/4/14 Wharncliffe Chase and woodland edge

Highlights of a 3 hour circuit this morning were:

Willow Warbler - 19 singing
Blackcap - 4 singing
Yellowhammer - 3 singing
Skylark - 15+
Tree Pipit - 8 singing
Curlew - 4
Lesser Black Backed Gull - 1 north
Lapwing - 4
Reed Bunting - 8 (7 males)
Wheatear - 6
Green Woodpecker - 1
Buzzard - 1

Edderthorpe Flash 27 May

This morning 2 Little Egret, 1 Greenshank, 1 summer plumage Golden Plover, Common Sandpiper and a swift.

Mick's Bits

Harden Moor - 3 Golden Plover
Winscar Reservoir - 1 Little Ringed Plover.
Hartcliff Hill - 1 Wheatear.
Flight Hill - 2 Snipe and 1 Wheatear,
per Mick Cunningham.

Carlton Marsh

A Wheatear was in a nearby bean field this afternoon. (Jim Plant)

Wintersett 26.04.14

7°C grey drizzly showers and cool this morning,  warmed up by midday with a short spells of sunshine.
Anglers CP:  A Dunlin flew in at 08.50hrs,  Arctic Tern 6, Common Tern 1.  A Little Ringed Plover went NE, and a Ringed Plover went over.  Swift 12,  Swallow 120,  Common Sandpiper 3,  Snipe 4,  Shelduck 4 S,  Goldeneye 1 female + 1 adult male WRes., Teal 1 male and 1 female, Great Black-backed Gull 2 over and a bird we've seen before came in,  Yellow ringed K627, a 1st W Black-headed Gull.   A Peregrine flew over Hare Park and a Green Woodpecker  and a Little Owl were in the  Disp. Pt. area.
Wintersett Res:  A surprising total, for this date,  of 11 males and 1 female Yellow Wagtail were in the surrounding wheat fields! This species seem to be adapting well to the new farming regime around here.   A Siskin went south and a Mallard had 11 very small young.  Kingfisher 1. Singing males: Grasshopper Warbler 2 + 1 Disp. Pt. and  Sedge Warbler 1.

Whitley Edge & Common

Had an hour looking for Dotterel or anything else or that matter but very disappointing (but not if you are into corvids).
Whitley Edge - c40 Jackdaws and 50+ Carrion Crows.
Whitley Common - 2 Wheaters on the airfield.

(To the tweeters @barnsleybsg - I have already forwarded the Wheatear record -yes I have got the knack - what's this about old dogs and new tricks?).

Adwick wash am.

The pair of Garganey were in the small pool with the black pipe viewable from the western end cattle pens. On the Dearne a pair of Grey Wagtails were feeding young near mexboro rd bridge at Bolton.

Wintersett 25.04.14

8°C, misty start, cleared by 08.30, grey with a cold northerly, steady rain by midday until mid afternoon.
Wintersett Res: A Whimbrel  flew over 06.45 - 06.55hrs and left SW.   Arctic Tern 4 + 1 ACP,   Yellow Wagtail 1 N and  Goldeneye 1 adult male + 1 female ACP.   Singing males:  Grasshopper Warbler 2 + 1 MHLPonds and  Sedge Warbler 2.
Disposal Point area:  Little Owl 1,   Feral Pigeon 4 (year tick!),  Great Crested Grebe 2 displaying.
Anglers CP:  Little Ringed Plover 1,  Redshank 2, Common Sandpiper 1,   Snipe 3,  Teal 1 male and 1 female and Swift 6.
Mammals: A Hare was in ACP field.

The Edge 25th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM- Preent were 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 20 Mute Swan, 51 Canada Geese, 23 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 41 Gadwall, 22 Tufted Duck, 15 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 15+ Lapwing, 3 Redshank, 3 Snipe, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 16 LBB Gull over south at 10am, c50 Swallow, c15 House Martin, 5 Sand Martin, 5 Skylark and 1 Linnet.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- On the open water were 2 Black Necked Grebe, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 34 Tufted Duck, 17 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, c400 BH Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 11 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 1 Snipe and 3 flyover LBB Gull.
TPT- Singing males included, 5 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.

Scout Dike & Ingbirchworth

Scout Dike Reservoir - 5 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes, 5 Great Crested Grebes, two pairs of Moorhen, 10 Coots, 2 Blackcaps, 3 Whitethroats, 2 Chiffchaffs, 34 Willow Warblers, 5 Reed Buntings and 3 Yellowhammers.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 4 Canada Geese, 22 Mallards, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 1 Common Snipe, 200+ Swallows, c30 House Martins, 3 Yellowhammers and 3 Reed Buntings..

Rabbit Ings

Yellow Wagtail this afternoon. A Grass Snake was also seen near the large pond. (Ray Dye)

Carlton Marsh

First visit of the day at 17.00hrs produced our first Reed Warbler, Garden Warbler and Whitethroat, at last, and a new Lesser Whitethroat was singing. 2 Water Rails and Cuckoo were calling. (Jim Plant)

By 20.00hrs 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Sedge Warblers and 2 Whitethroats were singing. Also present 2 Grey Wagtails, Willow Tit and 2 Water Voles together.

Wintersett - Black and Blue 24.04.14

Very misty start 8°, up to 15°C and sunny by 09.00hrs. 
Wintersett Res:  A summer plumage BLACK TERN  put on a good display at 11.00hrs and was still around late afternoon.  Common Tern 2, Great Black-backed Gull 2 NW,  Pochard 1 male, Shoveler 4 male and 1 female,  2 broods Mallard 9 vs + 11 and Kingfisher 1.  Singing males: Grasshopper Warbler 2, Cetti's Warbler 1, Garden Warbler 1 + 1 ACP and Reed Warbler 2ACP.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 4,  White Wagtail , Yellow Wagtail 1,  Shelduck 2, Teal 1male and 1 female,  Goldeneye 1 adult male and 1 female, Green Woodpecker 1 male and Water Rail 1.
Haw Park Wood:  Siskin 1  
Insects:  Bee-fly 1 WRes., and the 1st  HOLLY  BLUE  ACP.
Thanks to Lynz Harston for the following photo.

Mute Swan with at least 5 eggs    

The Edge 24th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid/late AM-Present were 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 4 Mute Swan, 42 Canada Geese, 23 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 42 Gadwall, 25 Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 20+ Lapwing, 4 Redshank, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1m+1f Wheatear, 1 calling Green Woodpecker from canyon, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Singing males on Warbler Way included 11 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, and 4 Whitethroat. On the open water were 2 Black Necked Grebe, 7 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 33 Tufted Duck, 17 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 400+ BH Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 11 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank and 3 Buzzard.

Elsecar

Elsecar Reservoir (11:45) - 6 Canada Geese, c50 Mallards, 1 drake Tufted Duck, 8 Great Crested Grebes, 6 Moorhens, 8 Coots and 10 Black-headed Gull.

Edderthorpe Flash

Cuckoo singing, Grasshopper Warbler singing (north end) Little Egret and 3 Grass Snakes together included a definite male. (south side)

Cudworth Common
Wheatear female

Symphony
Ringed Plover 1 and the first Lapwing chick.

(Les Corrall)

Wintersett 23.04.14

14°C,  warm, sunny spells with a light south easterly.
Anglers CP: Singing males: Sedge Warbler 1,  Garden Warbler 1 and Lesser Whitethroat 1 + 1 WRes.. Fieldfare 1, Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 1, Goldeneye 1 male + 1 female WRes.,  Teal 1 male, Oystercatcher 5,  Green Woodpecker 1 male,  Grey Partridge 2,  Grey Wagtail 1 S and Buzzard 5 + 3 HPWood.  A Brambling was in the Vis Mig Hill area this evening.
Wintersett Res: Cuckoo 1 male,  Grasshopper Warbler 1 male + 1 MHLPonds and Willow Tit 1.

The Edge 23rd Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM- Present were 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret(flew east 9.10am), 4 Mute Swan, 18 Canada, Geese, 10 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose,  3 Shelduck, 32 Gadwall, 22 Tufted Duck, 10 Mallard, 6 Teal, 4 Pochard, 4 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 6 Redshank, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 5 Skylark, 1m+1f Wheatear, 3 Linnet, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Song Thrush and 2 Common Whitethroat. Additions from a late afternoon visit were 1 Whinchat ( found by J.Thompson c 11am ), 3 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Little Egret and 3 Linnet.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- On the open water were 2 Black Necked Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 48 Tufted Duck, 15 Pochard, 5 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler and 400+ BH Gull. Also present were 10 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 2 Buzzard and 1 Oystercatcher. Singing males on Warbler Way included 11 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 9 Blackcap, 3 Common Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush. A booming Bittern on Old Moor was heard at 2pm.

Just Like Scandinavia

More Hall Reservoir - 64 Mallards + 1 female with 4 ducklings, five pairs of Moorhen, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Garden Warblers and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Broomhead Reservoir - 8 Mallards, 1 Cormorant, five pairs of Moorhen, a pair of Coot, a pair of Grey Wagtail feeding young, 1 singing Brambling, 5 singing Siskins, 1 singing Two-barred Crossbill and c10 Common Crossbills (some singing).

Edderthorpe Flash Wed am

Little Egret, Greenshank, Egyptian Goose, 2 Shelduck, 5 Redshank and 4 Snipe.

Wilthorpe Marsh early a.m.

Little Ringed Plover displaying over industrial est. viewed from w. end. A lot of migrant warblers are here but some species haven't arrived yet so early May will give a more accurate picture.

Adwick am

2 Garganey still on the pool at the western end of the reserve. Far bank. 16 Avocets, 3 sitting. 3 broods of young Lapwing seen.

The late Edgetra 22nd Apr

Sorry for the late post. Got home at 5.10pm to find out I was going to Owlerton Dogs at 5.30pm.
Wombwell Ings mid AM- T.Hibberd who relocated the Bar Tailed Godwit also had 3 Yellow Wagtail early AM. Also present were 1 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 7 Mute Swan, 25 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 39 Gadwall, 21 Tufted Duck, 16 Mallard, 7 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 12+ Lapwing, 6 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 27 BH Gull, 120+ Hirundines(75% Swallow, 20% Sand Martin and 5% House Martin), 4 Red Legged Partridge, 1 Mistle Thrush and 1 Song Thrush. A mid PM visit noted that the Barwit was still showing well on the grass at the eastern end of the side pool. Additional to the morning count were 1 female Wheatear, 1 Cormorant and 2 Linnet.
 Bolton Ings late AM/early PM-On the open water were 1 Black Necked Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 31 Tufted Duck, 17 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 5 Mallard, 400+ BH Gull and 2 Common Gull. Also present were 13 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 3 LBB Gull, 1 Swift(12.55pm) and 2 Grey Wagtail.
TPT-Singing males included 5 Willow Warbler, 3 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap + 2 Bullfinch and 1 Jay.
Broomhill Flash mid PM- Noted were 5 Little Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 55 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 29 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 2 Pochard and 2 Red Legged Partridge.
Mick Turton had a group of 13 Arctic Tern fly through at 10.30 am which added to the 4 he had seen earlier.

Carlton Marsh

New in today Common Sandpiper.

Wintersett Terns, Meds and Cuckoo 22.04.14

Back in wellies today. 9°C, grey, damp start with increasingly heavy showers.  Sunny by 17.00hrs.
A  CUCKOO was heard on the Disposal Point.
Old Royston Flash Area: Red-legged Partridge 2
Anglers CP:  A total of 17 Arctic Terns and a Common Tern around the area.  2 Adult Mediterranean Gulls flew in at 14.30 and left west at 14.50hrs One was wearing a yellow DARVIC (unreadable) on left leg and a metal one on the right leg.  Yellow-legged Gull adult and Leser Black-backed Gull.  Common Sandpiper 2, Snipe 4, Dunlin 2,  Garden Warber 1,  Little Ringed Plover 1 + 1 over at 09.17hrs., Yellow Wagtail 1 over + 1 NW + 1 ORFlash.   Goldeneye 1 male + a pair on WRes.,  Teal 1 male.
All photos by Paul Meredith

Adult Mediterranean Gull     AnglersCP

Adult Mediterranean Gulls     Anglers CP

Arctic Tern                    Anglers CP

Adwick washlands (am)

Garganey 1 pair early am (M Gough), male seen later to the left of the viewpoint,  Little Egret 1.

Bit of belated news.

saturday 19-4-14,wilthorpe marsh- hobby at w end towards industrial est. 2 calling cuckoos. On to midhope for the afternoon, a bit disapointing but a good selection, 3 buzzards, 2 kestrels, 1 sparrowhawk, a pair cf crossbills again showing well, goldfinch 16, siskin 12, willow warbler 1, curlew 10, gs pecker drumming, snipe 2, swallow 12, house martin 1, oystercatcher 2, greylag 9, lapwing 10, rl partridge 1. monday 21st at wilthorpe marsh had little ringed plover at w end, 2 displaying lapwings, 3 displaying lapwings at e end. 3 calling water rails- 1 at oxbows, 1 central, 1 at w end.

Edderthorpe, Tuesday

Cold, wet and misty. And it still failed to deliver anything new here at dawn! The Egyptian Goose is still present - roosting on the Flash before heading over to Houghton. Shelduck 2, Common Sandpiper 1, and Yellow Wagtail 2.

Half Wits find Bar Wit

Today's Bar tailed Godwit Wombwell Ings. Nice one Alan. 

Adwick washlands (am)

Grey Heron 2, Shelduck 4, Shoveler 8, Tufted 10, Teal 2, Curlew 2 west at c11.00, Dunlin 2, LRP 5, Ringed Plover 4, Redshank 12, Grey Partridge 2 pair, Yellow Wagtail 2, Grasshopper Warbler 1 (Adwick tip), Lesser Whitethroat 1, also reported from yesterday 1 pr Lapwing seen with young.

Wintersett 21.04.14

7° - 11°C,overcast until late morning, then sunny until mid afternoon. Cold north easterly.
Anglers CP: A Whimbrel flew north at 08.25hrs.,  Common Tern 1,  Great Black-backed Gull 6 N,  Grey Partridge 3 and Yellow Wagtail 1.
Old Royston Flash Area: Red-legged Partridge 2
Haw Park Wood:  Siskin 1 and Brambling 1
Wintersett Res: Mallard with 6 very small young,  Goldeneye 2 + 4 ACP, Meadow Pipit 1 over,  Singing males: Grasshopper Warbler 2,  Lesser Whitethroat 1 + 1 ACP.

The Edge 21st Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM-Present were 3 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 5 Mute Swan, 47 Canada Geese, 9 Greylag, 36 Gadwall, 15 Mallard, 11 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 15+ Lapwing, 6 Redshank, 4 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Curlew, 3 Dunlin, 2 Avocet, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit( still present at 2.30pm but elusive), 26 BH Gull, 5 Skylark, 1 female Wheatear and 1 Mistle Thrush. Wath Coot and Dave Pickering also had (early AM)  2 Shelduck, 1 Greenshank, 3 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Whitethroat and 1 calling Cuckoo (c8.20am). A phone call at 10am from Barnsley Blade alerted us to a Red Kite which was located flying west over the brickworks.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Highlight was the 3 Black Necked Grebe found by Wath Coot. On the open water were 3 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Little Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 52 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 9 Pochard, 9 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, c500 BH Gull, 2 Common Gull, 1 LBB Gull and Coot broods(4,3 and 2). Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 15 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 3 Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Grey Wagtail.
Warbler Way- Singing  males included, 12 Chiffchaff, 12 Willow Warbler, 5+ Blackcap and 2 Whitethroat.

Gunthwaite & Ingbirchworth

Gunthwaite Dam - 1 Canada Goose, 5 Mallards, 3 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Little Grebe, a pair of Moorhen and 2 Coots.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 2 Canada Geese, 38 Mallards + 1 female with 9 ducklings, 9 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Moorhens, 10 Coots, 5 Reed Buntings and 2 Yellowhammers.
Midhope Reservoir - 10 Greylag Geese, 3 Canada Geese, one pair of Teal, 7 Mallards, 3 Little Grebes and 1 Moorhen.

Ewden Lodge & Low Moor

Ewden Lodge (private) - 2 Ravens and 1 male Ring Ouzel singing.
Pike Lowe - 1 Raven W.
Low Moor, Upper Midhope - 1 Red Kite drifted SE at 11:51-11:57 and 1 Redshank (Dave's first record for the Dark Peak in four years of of the Peak District Wader Survey)
per Dave Pearce.

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Dippers

Stocksbridge - a par of Dipper on the River Little Don by the Tata steelworks - per Steve Rutter.
This is the first time Dippers have bred on this section of the river since the draining of Winscar Reservoir muddied the River Don about twenty years ago; forcing pairs off the Don as far downstream as Thurgoland.

Bolton Ings et al - Sunday 20th April

Had an early start this morning at 06.30 on WeBS count day. 6c when I set off, cloudy, grey with a strong sometimes very strong northerly. A heavy shower mid morning but then brightened up and temp. up to 12c. The Pink Footed Goose still present, a Green Sandpiper was on the river and my first Sedge Warbler of the year. Also seen was the first Coot chick, just the one. Full list :- Grey Heron 3, Mute Swan 7, Canada Goose 18, Grey Lag Goose 10, Pink Footed Goose 1, Cormorant 1, Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Grebe 12, Mallard 12, Gadwall 22, Shoveler 9, Tufted Duck 45, Pochard 17, Coot 74+1 chick, Moorhen 8, Lapwing 4, Snipe 1, Oystercatcher 6, Green Sandpiper 1, Black Headed Gull 428, Common Gull 1, Herring Gull 1, LBB Gull 2, Grey Wagtail 1, Willow Tit 1, Chiffchaff 14, Willow Warbler 19, Blackcap 11, Sedge Warbler 1, Swallow 6, Sand Martin 1.

After Bolton had a walk down the valley to Adwick Washlands to carry out the WeBS count. Its a long way and further than I thought but it gave me the chance to get a good warbler count. Full list :- Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 2, Grey Lag Goose 4, Little Grebe 2, Mallard 21, Gadwall 34, Shoveler 11, Teal 4, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 18, Moorhen 22, Lapwing 54, Snipe 3, Avocet 16, Little Ringed Plover 6, Ringed Plover 4, Redshank 9, Kestrel 2, Swallow 6, Sand Martin 4, Grey Wagtail 1, Willow Warbler 36, Chiffchaff 6, Blackcap 5, Whitethroat 2.

Old Moor today - Mediterranean Gull 4 adults + 2 first summers, Bittern 2 booming, Avocet 3, Green Sandpiper 1, Arctic Tern 5, Swift 1.

Wombwell Ings today - Greenshank 1, Little Ringed Plover 6.

Selected WeBS counts - Tufted Duck 229, Gadwall 192, Teal 12, Wigeon 4, Little Grebe 57, Pochard 42, Black headed Gull c5200.

Wintersett 20.04 14

5° - 11°C,  cloudy this morning with some sunny spells from midday.  Brisk, very cold NE wind.
Anglers CP:  The Grey Plover is still present,  Arctic Tern 2 + 1 WRes at 14.20hrs.,  Common Tern 1 in at 14.47hrs.  Common Sandpiper 2,  Ringed Plover 1 over at 08.45hrs,  Little Ringed Plover 1,   Swift  4,  Goldeneye 1 adult male, 1 immature male and 3 females,  Teal 1 male,  Green Woodpecker 1, Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult and Common Gull 1.
Wintersett Res:  2 Little Egret flew north at 10.03hrs.  Little Ringed Plover 1 over  at 10.05hrs.. Willow Tit 2.  Singing males :Garden Warbler 1,  Reed Warbler 2,  Grasshopper Warbler 1,  Whitethroat 2,  Lesser Whitethroat 1 and Cetti's Warbler 1. Yellow Wagtail 1 NE. and Great Black-backed Gull 1 N.  Sand Martin 300 + 50 ACP,  House Martins 30 + 30 ACP,  Swallow 10 + 50 ACP + 10 CHREs.,

Edderthorpe, Cudworth Common, Sunday

National WEBS count day. A bitterly cold north wind and cloud to begin with, slowly warming later in the day. Below are selected highlights;- Edderthorpe and Houghton Egyptian Goose 1 on Houghton, Greylag Goose 13, Shelduck 2, Mallard 110, Gadwall 80, Teal 13, Shoveler 6, Tufted 32, Coot 64, Moorhen 36, Lapwing 66, Greenshank 1, Redshank 9, Avocet 2, Common Sandpiper 1, Snipe 1, Little Grebe 4, Arctic Tern 2 north at 09.30, Lesser Whitethroat 2. Cudworth Common and Ferrymoor Greylag Goose 18, Canada Goose 14, Mallard 40, Gadwall 10, Tufted 9, Moorhen 20, Little Grebe 4, Oystercatcher 2, Lapwing 37, LRP 2, Ringed Plover 2, Redshank 6, Cuckoo 1.

Marsh Harrier

1 creamcrown Marsh Harrier passed W up on the tops
per Mick Cunningham.

Underbank

Underbank Reservoir - a pair Great Crested Grebe, a pair of Coot, 1 Arctic Tern leaving NE and 4+ singing Siskins.

More Mediterranean Magic

Following Thursdays 6 Mediterranean Gulls at Old Moor there are now 7 birds present. We suspected 7 yesterday and today it was confirmed when the 2 full winged and ringed adults were seen together on Island 1. Just to recap the 7 birds are as follows:- 2E26 and his one legged mate on island 2, the 3 ringed adults and the unringed first summer on island 1, these have been seen displaying to each other but sexes not determined yet. The 7th bird is the first summer with the red darvic ring which frequents the central banking.

Also seen at Old Moor today were Curlew 1, Little Ringed Plover 3, Common Sandpiper 1, Snipe 1, Wigeon pair, Peregrine and a booming Bittern.

Wombwell ings - Greenshank 2, Ruff 1, Little Ringed Plover 1, White Wagtail 1.

Broomhill Flash - Arctic Tern 1 at 17.30 flew towards Wombwell Ings then towards Old Moor.

WeBS count day tomorrow so I will get the abacus out.

Carlton Marsh

New for today were Sedge Warbler (1 singing) and 2 House Martins.

River Don @Deepcar

A pair of dippers carrying nesting material and pair of grey wagtails feeding young in a nest on R Don nr Soughley Bridge plus kingfisher this afternoon

Wintersett WeBS count April 2014

Mute Swan  12, Canada Goose 23,  Greylag Goose 2,  Cormorant 2, Goldeneye 4,  Tufted Duck 133, Mallard 36,  Gadwall 29,  Teal 3,  Coot 75,  Moorhen 17 and Great Crested Grebe 19.

Wintersett 19.04.14

3 - 9°C,  8/8 grey,  with a very cold easterly. 
Anglers CP:  An Arctic Tern came in at 09.35 hrs, followed by a Grey Plover at 09.45hrs  Common Sandpiper 2, Little Ringed Plover 1,  Redshank 1, Snipe 3,  Lapwing 8,  Greylag 2 Swift 2,  Meadow Pipit 1 over, Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult, Oystercatcher 6 and a Goosander redhead west at 11.30hrs.
Wintersett Res:  Singing males in the area were:   A Garden Warbler and a  Sedge Warbler 1sts for the year.  Reed Warbler 2,  Cetti's Warbler 1 ,  Whitethroat 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 1 and Yellow Wagtail 1.   Little Owl 1,
Haw Park Wood: Brambling 4
Mammals:  Hare 2 ACP and Fox 1 Pol.
Insect:  Bee-fly 1 WRes and Small White Butterfly ACP
All photos by Paul Meredith.
 

Grey Plover                        ACP

Grey Plover            ACP

Arctic Tern                                       ACP

Edderthorpe, Good (well decent) Friday..

The Flash was watched morning and evening with the highlights being;- Shelduck 2, Mallard 110 plus the first brood of 7 young, Teal 25, Goosander 2, a/the Egyptian Goose flew in at dusk 20.45 to roost on the islands, Greenshank 2, LRP 4, Ringed Plover 1, Common Sand 1, Lapwing 66, Oystercatcher 2, Snipe 6, Common Buzzard 8, Cuckoo 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1 - behind Symphony, Yellow Wagtail 1, Whitethroat 1,

Carlton Marsh

A Cuckoo was singing good and strong, especially this morning. Then a Red Kite flew north up the marsh at 09.30hrs. ( Jim Plant) I missed it again! Also of note 2 Buzzards, 2 Coal Tits, but no Whitethroat yet.

Cudworth
A Swift flew north over Bow Street at 08.15hrs followed by another or the same one at 09.20hrs. ( Rod Heeley)

Mandarin

More Hall Tip - 1 drake Mandarin Duck on the River Don again today (per SBSG website). I have been reliably informed that this drake can be seen regularly between here at Tin Mill Rocher, Deepcar, where it is regularly seen on Tin Mill Fishing Ponds.

Edderthorpe Flash

This morning, 2 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler.

Wintersett Afternoon Delight - 18.04.14

2 - 11°C by midday,  but felt much cooler with a moderate northerly.
A quiet morning was livened up this afternoon by the appearance of a SCANDINAVIAN  ROCK PIPIT on the shallow at Anglers CP.  As we set off to leave, an obliging TREE PIPIT gave brief, but brilliant close views in trees behind the hide before leaving north at 13.50hrs.  A White Wagtail also dropped in this afternoon before leaving NW at 15.40hrs.  All photos by Paul Meredith

Scandinavian Rock Pipit   ACP

Tree Pipit             ACP

Tree Pipit     ACP

Wintersett Res: The first Reed Warbler  of the year was in the SW corner.  Cetti's Warbler 1 male.  Up to 8 Whitethroats were around the area (3 MHLPonds + 4 Disp. Point + 1 Canal flash).  Grasshopper Warbler 1 male MHLPonds,  Lesser Whitethroat 2  male + 1 Botany + 1 Canal Flash,  Willow Tit 1 + 1 Disp.Point,  Little Owl 1,  The first 2 Mallard broods, c.11 + c.7y , were seen.
Haw Park Wood:  Brambling 10.
Old Royston Flash: Yellow Wagtail 1 male.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 2,  Swift 2,  Redshank 1, Goldeneye 1 male and 1 female + 1 male WRes., Teal 1 male and 1 female,  Oystercatcher 4, Snipe 1

Insects: The first Large White butterfly was on the Disposal Point.    1 Bee-fly  at 12.05 hrs had increased to 4 by 14.50hrs at WRes.

Bee-fly  Bombylius major         WRes.

Bee-fly  Bombylius major      WRes.

First Whinchat

Whitley Common - no signs of yesterdays Whimbrel, 1 Whinchat and "a few" Wheatears moving N.
per John McLoughlin via Twitter.

Mediterranean Magic

At Old Moor today 6 Mediterranean Gulls were seen on the Mere. The regular late shift, myself and Wath Coot saw 5 birds this evening but we couldn't find the red ringed first summer seen and photographed this afternoon. The birds we did see were as follows - 2E26 and his one legged mate on Island 2, the ringed adult male with the missing primary commuting between Islands 1 and 2, the full winged ringed adult on Island 1 and the unringed first summer also on Island 1. A great sight and who knows how many we will end up with, some may even breed if they can sort themselves out.

2 Bitterns booming 'loud and proud' throughout, a Common Sandpiper on the Reedbeds, a Little Ringed Plover on the Field Pools and a Dunlin on the Wader Scrape.

Continuing with the Gull theme, an adult Black Headed Gull with a white Darvic on its right leg seen on the Field Pools but too far away to read the ring number.

Wintersett - Not bad Thursday 17.04.14

7°C,  cold and overcast with a brisk westerly. 
The day got off to a good start with 2 Red Legged Partridges at Ellis Laithe, the first sighting of this species here for 2 years!  Then there was a Black-tailed Godwit on the shallows at Anglers CP along with the adult YL and LBb Gulls. A walk round Wintersett Res brought, in the space of 3 minutes,  a Yellow Wagtail N,  the first SWIFT and a Greenshank NW at 09.55hrs.     A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling and displaying in the NE corner.  The first 2 Whitethroats were in the west bank corner and the Cetti's was also belting it out.  Onto Haw Park Wood where  there was a flock of 14 Bramblings and 20 Redpoll.
Also seen in the area today were: 
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1,  Snipe 1, Curlew 2 and Little Ringed Plover 2.  Herring Gull 1 and Great Black-backed Gull 8 over,  Teal 2 male + 1 female, Goldeneye 1 male + 3 female,    
Wintersett Res: Meadow Pipit 2 N.
Cold Hiendley Res: Willow Tit 2.
Old Royston Flash:  Lesser White throat 1

Carlton Marsh

A Cuckoo was singing in the Western Meadow briefly from 18.40hrs. (Dave Standish)

The Edge 17th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM- Present were 2 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 58 Canada Geese, 9 Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 28 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 4 Teal, 3 Shoveler, 2 Wigeon, 4 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Ringed Plover, 35 BH Gull, 1 Kestrel, 9 Swallow, 4 Sand Martin, 3 House Martin and 1 White Wagtail.
Bolton Ings late AM/early PM-On the open water were a Coot with 3 young, 7 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 39 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 10 Gadwall, 10 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, c500 BH Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 21 Canada Geese, 10 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 3 Oystercatcher,  2 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Green Woodpecker, 4 House Martin, 3 Swallow and 1 Sand Martin.
Warbler Way-Singing males included 9 Chiffchaff, 9 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap, 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush. Also heard a 'booming' Bittern c12.30pm.
Broomhill Flash early PM- Noted were 4 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 31 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 3 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 2 Kestrel and 2 Red Legged Partridge. A Common Sandpiper was seen early AM. Jim Thompson saw a Little Owl on the top lane mid AM.

Cudworth

Whitethroat returns to the Common,

Symphony 
Wheater (male) 2 Ringed Plover and 2  Red legged Partridge. (Les Corrall)

Elsecar & Ingbirchworth

Elsecar Reservoir - 2 Canada Geese, c70 Mallards, 4 Tufted Ducks, 7 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Moorhens, 10 Coots, 15+ Black-headed Gulls, 2 Sand Martins and c50 Swallows.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 21 Mallards, 6 Tufted Ducks, 2 Little Grebes, 3 Great Crested Grebes, 18 Coots, 30+ Swallows, 10+ House Martins and 1 male Wheatear.
Whitley Common - 10 Lapwings, 1 Whimbrel and 2 Curlews on the 'airfield'.

Edderthorpe Flash 17 April am

1 Greenshank, 1 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Dunlin, 7 Redshank, 2 Shelduck, 50+ Swallows and 5 House Martins.

Low Barugh

Lesser Whitethroat singing and showing very well by electricity sub-station a.m.

Cudworth

A Peregrine Falcon flew over Beech Avenue at 16.50hrs. (Geoff Miller)

Wintersett pm update 16.04.14

Anglers CP: An  Arctic Tern dropped in at 14.30hrs and a Red Kite flew north at 16.00 hrs.
Water Rail 1,  adult Yellow-legged Gull and adult Lesser Black-backed Gull.

Cliff Wood to Barnside Lodge

Cliff Wood - 1 Raven NE, 4 Nuthatch, 3 Treecreepers and 4 Siskins.
Low Moor, Upper Midhope - 2 Red-legged Partridge, 4 Snipe, 1 male Wheatear, 1 male Yellow Wagtail, 4 Pied Wagtails and 55+ Meadow Pipits.
Midhope Reservoir - 4 Greylag Geese, two pairs of Teal, 6 Mallards, a pair of Moorhen, two pairs of Little Grebe and 6 Common Crossbills (including juveniles).

The Edge 16th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM-Present were 4 Grey Heron, 5 Mute Swan, 40 Canada Geese, 16 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 31 Gadwall, 24 Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 7 Shoveler,  6 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 10+ Lapwing, 6 Redshank, 2 Curlew, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 47 BH Gull, 5 Swallow, 1 House Martin, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Song Thrush, 5 Skylark, 2 Chiffchaff and 1 Willow Warbler.
Bolton Ings late AM/earlyPM- On the open water were 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Mute Swan, 41 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 6 Pochard, 500+ BH Gull and 2 LBB Gull. Also present were 15 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel and 2 Jay. Singing males along  Warbler Way included 15 Chiffchaff, 12 Willow Warbler , 12 Wren, 9 Blackcap, 5 Chaffinch, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Common Whitethroat.
Broomhill Flash early PM-Noted were 2 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 19 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 1m Shoveler, 1m Pochard, 1Kestrel and 2 Red Legged Partridge.

Wintersett 16.04.14

15°C and sunny at midday.  The sun brought out hordes of visitors.
Anglers CP:  Dunlin 1,  Common Sandpiper 1,  Little Ringed Plover 1 Snipe 1, Teal 1 female and Grey Partridge 2
Old Royston Flash: Wheatear 1male.
Haw Park Wood: Nuthatch 1,  Redpoll 7 and  Brambling 2
Wintersett Res:   Grasshopper Warbler 3 male, Cetti's Warbler 1 male,  Lesser Whitethroat 1 male,  Shoveler 2 male,  Goldeneye 3 + 1 ACP and Pochard 1 male.
Insect: A Bee-fly,  Bombylius major,  was near the boathouse reedbed at 11.50hrs.

Adwick late news yesterday

Cuckoo 1 (Paul Shepherd, J. Little)

Edderthorpe Flash 16 April

Sunny mid morning with a cool breeze. 2 Yellow Wagtail, 1 Greenshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 4 Avocet, 7 Redshank, 5 Snipe, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shelduck and a few Swallows.

Tuesday highlights

Old Moor: Bittern 2, Common Sand, Med Gull 4.

Adwick: LRP 8, Curlew, (Presumed) Little Stint (still mostly distant), White Wag 4. No reports of yesterday's Ring Ouzel.

Mandarin

More Hall Tip - 1 drake Mandarin Duck on the River Don.
per SBSG website.

The Edge 15th Apr

Wombwell Ings mid AM- Present were 2 Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 29 Canada Geese, 15 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 33 Gadwall, 27 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 9 Shoveler, 4 Teal, 2 Grey Partridge, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 15+ Lapwing, 6 Redshank, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 72 BH Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Mistle Thrush.
Broomhill Flash late AM- Noted were 6 Little Grebe, 2 Mute Swan, 15 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 27 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 130+ BH Gull and 3 Red Legged Partridge.
Wombwell Ings late AM/early PM- Highlight was 5 Buzzards low over the eastern end. One easily distinguishable bird has a missing secondary in each wing. On the open water were 8 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swan, 11 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 30 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 8 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 1 Shoveler and 574 BH Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Grey Wagtail.
TPT- Singing males included 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 4 Willow Warbler, 1 Common Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.

A Willow Day

A walk around each of  the Ingbirchworth group of reservoirs produced a total of 78+ Willow Warblers and 3 Willow Tits. This gives a total of four (possibly five) birds holding territories around the reservoirs.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 1 Greylag Goose, 3 Canada Geese, 24 Mallards, 7 Tufted Ducks, a pair of Goldeneye, 3 Great Crested Grebes, four pairs of Moorhen, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Common Gull, 1 Blackcap, 2 Common Whitethroats, 18 Willow Warblers,15 Wheatears, 3 Yellowhammers and 3 Reed Buntings.
Ingbirchworth Fishing Pond - a pair of Canada Geese and 3 drake Mallards.
Royd Moor Reservoir - 1 drake Teal, 4 Mallards, a pair of Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, a pair of Great Crested Grebe, 1 Kestrel, five pairs of Moorhen, 1 Oystercatcher, 3 Blackcaps, 35 Willow Warblers, 3 Yellowhammers and 5 Reed Buntings.
Scout Dike Reservoir - 10 Mallards including 1 drake Mallard paired with a Muscovy Duck x Mallard hybrid, 3 Tufted Ducks, 4 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Moorhens, 15 Coots, 2 Blackcaps and 22+ Willow Warblers.
Langsett Reservoir (from the dam wall) - 13+ Canada Geese and 1 Canada Goose x Greylag Goose.
Midhope Reservoir - 4 (a pair + 2 drakes) Teal, 7 Mallards, a pair of Little Grebe and a pair of Moorhen.
Barnside - 5 Greylag Geese and 1 Snipe.

Wintersett 15.04.14

0°C  frosty start, but blue sky and sunshine prevailed,  temperature rose to 17°C.
Wintersett Res: Lesser Whitethroat 1 male, Cetti's Warbler 1 male,  Grasshopper Warbler 1 male,  Greylay Goose 6 over,  Little Owl 1,  Goldeneye 10 + 6 ACP, 
Cold Hiendley Res:  Grey Wagtail 1
Anglers CP: The 1st of the year Yellow Wagtail flew north at 07.20hrs, and the second went north at 11.40 hrs. Dunlin 1,  Common Sandpiper 1,   Teal 1 male + 2 female.  Stock Dove 2 + 12 going east and Common Gull 1 north.    9  Buzzards were up at once.
Haw Park Wood:  50 Golden Plover flew over. 
Lepidoptera:  Green-veined White 1 HPLane,  Large White 1 ACP  and Orange Underwing 1.

Edderthorpe, Tuesday a.m.

A frosty and misty start to what looks like is going to be a glorious weather day. The Egyptian Goose is back on the Flash. Oystercatcher 1, Greenshank 1, Ringed Plover 2, Snipe 9, but most of the water remained shrouded in mist to my leaving. Tawny Owl 1.

A few extras

Old Moor: 2 Bitterns, 2 Med' Gulls, 2 Dunlin.

Adwick: male Ring Ouzel this evening.

Wintersett 14.04.14

10°C,  sunny but with a cool and gusty south westerly.
Anglers CP: Little Ringed Plover 1 NW at 08.40hrs,  Common Sandpiper 2,  Curlew 1 + 1 SW,  Snipe 3 and Teal 1 male + 2 female.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 1 male,  Pochard 1 drake,  Buzzard 2,  Little Owl 1,  Green Woodpecker 1 male. 
Haw Park Wood:  BRAMBLING 1 male + 3 female,  Siskin 1,  Redpoll 20.
.

Gentle Reminder - Part 2

Further to my post yesterday,  I have been asked to add the following link after some were seen tape luring birds in territory! 
For those who need further information/guidelines regarding sensitive birding go to
http://rarebirdnetwork.co.uk/2012/12/
and scroll down the right hand side to  'popular posts'.
There is an article called Social Media and the risk of disturbance to Rare Breeding Birds which has the protection laws, species and timings information.

For the majority who know all this - please lead by example.  

ADWICK AFTERNOON STINT.

Avocet 15+;  LRP 6+; Oystercatcher 2; Dunlin 2; Ringed Plover 2; White Wagtail 2+; Yellow Wagtail 2; wallow 3+; Sand Martin 2; Ring Ousel 1 male.

A distant stint with the two Dunlin was quite grey-looking and thought to be Temminck''s at first, but later consensus moved towards Little Stint when it came marginally closer. 

Cliff Wood, Low Moor and Broomhead

Cliff Wood - 1 Pied Flycatcher showed well, G.S Woodpecker, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Mistle Thrush, Swallow


Low Moor - 3 Crossbill, Snipe, Curlew, Lapwing, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Red-Legged Partridge, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel


Broomhead - No sign of Two Barreds or Common Crossbills. G.S Woodpecker, Siskin, Nuthatch, Coal Tit, male and female Blackcap

Sunday 13-4-14

Wilthorpe Marsh a.m. Pair of goosanders on river and house martin at sewage farm. No sign of l.e. owl since 28th march. Up to the moors via kexboro with 4 curlews still present on upperfield lane which were here on 23rd february. Arrived at low moor at 12-15pm and raptors were hard to come by so an osprey showing well over midhope res. at 2-50pm was welcome.It showed again at 3pm over upper midhope village as it headed for langsett. Also seen were buzzard 2, kestrel 2, sparrowhawk 1,lbb gull 7,crossbill 3 showing well in tree behind watchpoint, raven 1, grey heron 1, siskin 10, swallow 2, snipe 4 displaying, lapwing 5 displaying, greylag 7 looks like the pink foots moved on.

Carlton Marsh

New in today Lesser Whitethroat beating our previous record in 2009 by 1 day. L. B.B Gull 2 + 2 north, and a steady passage of Swallows and Sand Martins. Also present 2 Willow Tit, 2 Coal Tit, Buzzard, Little Owl and Brimstone and Comma butterfly.

Tony Guest sent me this photo. It was when we went to Humberston around Easter time about 25 years ago. We saw practically nothing until a White-tailed Eagle flew over the caravan park, making it a memorable weekend. It was later accepted by British Birds.

Me, Geoff Miller, Tony Guest

Gentle Reminder

 I came across this  new site on Twitter - Birders against Wildlife Crime.   They have this reminder which I think is very appropriate at this time of year.


We birders often have ‘insider’ knowledge of nesting birds and therefore we have a particular responsibility to be careful with that information.
Egg thieves are known to mingle with birders looking to pick up information, and follow birding forums and birding websites.
Please do not make it easy for egg thieves by openly discussing or posting information about the location of breeding birds – even if the breeding season is over (the thieves will monitor the site for the birds to return the following year).
The identity of anyone suspected of being an egg thief should be made known to the police.

Also, please think twice before posting Grid References for locally sensitive bird species, so that they are not overwhelmed with listers and photographers.

Wintersett 13.04.14

8°C, scattered cloud,  warm in the sun, but cool in the brisk westerly.
 Wintersett Res: A juvenile Iceland Gull went north over at 08.43 hrs  and then over ACP at 08.45hrs giving all the locals good views.   Cetti's Warbler 1 male.  Sand Martin 180 and then increased to 280 by late afternoon.  Kingfisher 1 (Botany) and Lesser Whitethroat 1 male. 
Big Gulls were moving north or north west. Lesser Black-backed 51,  Herring 42,  Great Black-backed 1.
Cold Hiendley Res: Swallow 20.
Haw Park Wood: Siskin 1.
Anglers CP: An Egyptian Goose, a Common Sandpiper, a White Wagtail and a Dunlin were all new in.  Redshank 1, Cormorant 16, Snipe 2,  Teal 3, House Martin 5,  Goosander 1 W, Goldeneye 6 + 7 WRes.,  Golden Plover 10 (George's field).  The adult Lesser Black-backed and the adult Yellow-legged Gulls came in this afternoon.  There are several Canada Goose eggshells on the islands!
Butterflies:  Speckled Wood 1 ACP + 1 WRes.,  Brimstone male 1 WRes.,  Orange Tip 1 ACP + 1 Disp. Pt. and large numbers of Peacock around the area.

Iceland Gull                           PMeredith

Low Moor 13/4/14

Osprey over at 3pm as per message from Upland Tyke.

Male Garganey at Old Moor today

A few reasonable shots of the Male Garganey at Old Moor today which appeared 20 seconds after we entered the Family Hide; that doesn't normally happen to me!!

Also 2 Blackcap, 2 x Willow Warbler, 3+ Chiffchaff