Dearne Valley Weekender

Friday Night - August 29th - Old Moor

Main Marsh - Wigeon 6, Dunlin 2, Peregrine 1, Common Tern 1, LBB Gull 15.

Roost in willow on Willow Pool - Grey Heron 1, Cormorant 20, Little Egret 16.

Tonight the Egrets came in as follows - 2 at 19.33, 2 at 19.46, 1 at 19.50, 2 at 20.03, 1 at 20.07, 1 at 20.12, 4 at 20.19, 2 at 20.22 and finally 1 at 20.34. 10 birds came in from down the valley and 6 birds from up the valley.

Saturday Morning - August 30th - Old Moor

I arrived at the Wath Ings hide at 05.25, The Egrets started calling at 05.30 and the first 5 of 19 left down the valley at 05.36. These were followed by 1 at 05.43, 4 at 05.47, 3 at 05.51 and 6 at 06.11. This morning 11 birds left up the valley and 8 birds down the valley. The last 9 to leave flew out of the willows and onto the mud on the Willow Pool giving great views as they woke up. Also seen this morning were the following:- Spotted Redshank 2, Black Tailed Godwit 7, Ruff 3, Dunlin 3, Green Sandpiper 10, Common Sandpiper 2, LRP 2, Wigeon 6, Peregrine 1, Chiffchaff 1 singing behind hide and a group of 13 Cormorants flew in from down the valley.

Sunday Morning - August 31st - Bolton Ings

A late start this morning, 10.00 am when I set off, the highlight today was a bird I didn't see. A Marsh Harrier seen by Cliff dropping into the reeds at 11.50 before I could get on it. Good counts of 13 Great Crested Grebes and 341 Coot as well as 2 singing Chiffchaffs. Full list - Grey Heron 2, Mute Swan 18, Canada Goose 2, Grey Lag Goose 4, Cormorant 5, Great crested Grebe 13, Little Grebe 23, Mallard 32, Gadwall 76, Wigeon 1, Shoveler 12, Tufted Duck 30, Pochard 4, Coot 341, Moorhen 10, Lapwing 57, Black Headed Gull 3, Kestrel 1, Sparrowhawk 2, Green Woodpecker 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Grey Wagtail1, Chiffchaff 2.

Sunday Night - August 31st - Old Moor

Mere/Main Marsh - Drake Garganey, Spotted Redshank 7, Greenshank 1, Redshank 1, Black Tailed Godwit 13, Ruff 4, Dunlin 6, Green Sandpiper 8, Common Sandpiper 1, Ringed Plover 1, LRP 2, Peregrine 1, Barn Owl 1.

Roost in willows on Willow Pool - Grey Heron 3, Cormorant 15+, Little Egret 21.

Tonight the Egrets came in as follows - 1 already in, 1 at 19.32, 1 at 20.06, 1 at 20.12, 1 at 20.15, 2 at 20.22, 9 at 20.25, 1 at 20.27, 1 at 20.33, 1 at 20.35 and finally 1 at 20.42. Tonight 10 birds came in from down the valley and 11 birds from up the valley. Some interesting behaviour seen tonight, the bird already in flew out onto the Main Marsh, it was continuously calling and eventually the 2nd bird in joined it. After more calling by both birds they took off and flew higher and higher until out of sight, still calling. They then dropped back in and after doing the same routine another twice they settled in to roost. Are they preparing to leave?