Wintersett 31.07.15

Anglers CP: Greenshank 1 over,  Siskin 1 over, Yellow Wagtail 1 over,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Cormorant 5 and Oystercatcher 1 adult + 1 juvenile.
37 birds were ringed this morning, including: 3 Garden Warbler,  3 Lesser Whitethroat,  6 Blackcaps, 6 Willow Warbler and 5 Chiffchaff.
Wintersett Res: Common Gull 1,  Dunlin 1 adult and Common Tern .9

Langsett

Langsett Reservoir - 3 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag x Canada Goose, 31 Mallards, 3 Tufted Ducks, 4 Grey Herons and 1 Common Sandpiper. Disappointing numbers in the gull roost with 88 Black-headed Gulls and 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls,

Carlton Marsh

Thanks to Russ Boland and Rod Heeley the ringing rides were strimmed this morning as well as the area in front of the hide.

This evenings ringing session produced 16 new birds that included 5 Willow Warblers, 3 Reed Warblers, 2 Bullfinch, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Whitethroat. A juvenile Kingfisher ringed on 9th July was retrapped. 

A Green Woodpecker family was present and as the evening came to close Noctule and Pipistrelle bats were abroad.

 

Photos by Trevor Kemp

 

 Willow Warbler & Chiffchaff

Chiffchaff

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Another good evening at Old Moor tonight, 28 Little Egrets came into roost tonight, because of the good weather and the full moon the Egrets were late coming in tonight. At 9 0'clock there were only 7 birds in, they came in tonight as follows:- 1 already in, 2 @ 19.40, 1 @ 19.44, 1 @ 20.24, 1 @ 20.39, 1 @ 20.44, 5 @ 21.01, 3 @ 21.02, 1 @ 21.07, 2 @ 21.11, 3 @ 21.15, 1 @ 21.17, 2 @ 21.20, 2 @ 21.24 and finally 1 @ 21.29. Tonight 5 birds came in from down the valley and the rest from up the valley, in addition 1 bird flew over the roost and straight down the valley.

Also tonight a Bittern flew up the river onto the reedbeds mobbed by the Lessers and 4 Barn Owls were out hunting. Other sightings included Shelduck 2 juvs, Avocet 1 juv, Oystercatcher 5, Redshank 12, Dunlin 3, Black Tailed Godwit 1, Green Sandpiper 2, Common Sandpiper 4 and Common Tern 3 juvs and 2 adults.

Wintersett 30.07.15

11- 14°C,  cold with 8/8 cloud and rain for most of the morning.  Sunny intervals early afternoon.
Anglers CP: Bird of the day was a pristine adult Arctic Tern that flew in briefly at 10.30hrs.  Grey Wagtail 2.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 11.

Phallus impudicus  Common Stinkhorn    HPW  AS

 

                                                       

Wintersett 29.07.15

15°C with 6/8 cloud and a strengthening north westerly.  A short shower early afternoon.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 7,  Cormorant 3,  Greylag Goose 12 and  Canada Goose 32.
Stubbs Wood Area:  A juvenile Cuckoo flew over.
Anglers CP: A Hobby was seen early this morning. Grey Wagtail 1,  Gadwall 1,  Siskin 1 over + 1 HPWood,  Grey Partridge 3.   It looks like the Great Crested Grebe nest on the shallows has failed. 

Scout Dike - Midhope

Scout Dike Reservoir - 34 Mallards, 14 Tufted Ducks, 1 Little Grebe, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Common Buzzards, 8+ Moorhens, 23 Coots, 120+ Lapwings, 1 Curlew SE. 1 Willow Tit, good numbers of young warblers at the Maze Brook inlet and 2 juvenile Grey Wagtails.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 47 Canada Geese, 51 Mallards, 5 Tufted Ducks, 4 Moorhens, 9 Coots, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, c80 Black-headed Gulls, 1 adult Kittiwake, 1 adult Common Gull, 62 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 4 Swifts and c40 House Martins.
Midhope Reservoir - 4 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag Geese, 2 Teal, 31 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Little Grebes and 2 Moorhens.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Another record breaking evening tonight at Old Moor with 30 (Thirty) Little Egrets coming into roost. There was 1 Egret already in when I arrived at the Wath Ings hide at 19.30 and the others came in as follows :- 1 @ 19.31, 8 @ 19.58, 2 @ 20.01, 1 @ 20.08, 1 @ 20.17, 2 @ 20.29, 1 @ 20.55, 3 @ 21.00, 1 @ 21.04, 1 @ 21.05, 2 @ 21.08, 1 @ 21.16, 1 @ 21.21, 3 @ 21.24, 1 @ 21.30 and finally 1 @ 21.35. Tonight 6 came in from down the valley and the rest from up the valley, of interest 20 were seen today at Edderthorpe and 1 at Pogmoor.

Thankfully I had plenty of help tonight from Jeff Wragg, Kris Dutheridge and Dave Waddington, thanks Guys.

Still no news from lower down the valley at Denaby.

Edderthorpe, Tuesday

A noticeable bit of movement here today with a few decent waders on the move. Two Sanderling and five Dunlin are new and were present much of the day. A Whimbrel came in briefly at 06.35 before continuing northwards. Black-tailed Godwits started at 20 early morning and were up to 22 mid afternoon. Greenshank 1, Redshank 1, Lapwing 245, Ringed Plover 1, LRP 3, Common Sandpiper 3 and Green Sandpiper 6 were also present. Little Egrets had built up to 20 by 07.00, a juvenile Shelduck remains and the geese are quickly building up after what looks like a successful breeding season, Canada 118 and Greylag 149.

Wintersett 28.07.15

13 -17°C with 8/8 cloud, a cool light north easterly  and light drizzle for most of the morning.
Anglers CP: Grey Wagtail 1,  Yellow Wagtail 1,  Oystercatcher 2 adults, Cormorant 3 + 2 WRes, Greylag Goose 86 and Tufted Duck 3 vs young.  Mallard 96 + 36 WRes, 1 vs young + 3 m young ACP + 5 fledged young Botany Bay.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 11.

Castle Dam - Midhope

Castle Dam, Penistone - 1 Greylag Goose, 10 Canada Geese, 4 Mallards, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Moorhens, 17 Coots, 11 Lapwings and c50 House Martins.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 32 Canada Geese, 51 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 4 Moorhens, 9 Coots, 1 Oystercatcher, 2 adult Little Ringed Plovers, 4 Common Sandpipers, c80 Black-headed Gulls, 1 adult Common Gull, 58 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 1 juvenile Yellow-legged Gull, 30+ Swifts, 150+ Swallows, 250+ House Martins and c7 Pied Wagtails.
Royd Moor Hill - 2 Kestrels.
Midhope Reservoir - 1 Greylag Goose, 8 Teal, 38 Mallards, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Common Sandpiper, 10+ Swallows and 1 Sand Martin.

Bretton 28/7/15.

Water levels are still reduced on the lower lake so still the chance of a wader but nowt this aft. 2 Common Terns were present, an adult regularly feeding small fish to a faded juvenile. Also 3 possibly 4 GS Woodpeckers, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel. Never thought I would get attacked by an adult tern here so don't get too close to the juveniles.

Broomhill Flash

Mute Swan 2 & 5 juv, Little Grebe 11, Snipe 2, Shelduck 1, Ringed Plover 1, Little Egret 4, Yellow Wagtail 2, Water Rail 1, Green Sandpiper 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Hobby 1 (16.30 flew east).

Wintersett 27.07.15

12 - 15°C, drab and dismal,  8/8 and light drizzle from mid morning until early afternoon. 
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 12.
Anglers CP: Grey Wagtail 1,  Mallard 1 fledged young + 3 my and Tufted Duck 4 vs young.

Soggy Sunday - Adwick & Old Moor

Called at Adwick Washland late afternoon to see if the rain had brought anything in and to check if any Little Egrets were there. I located 4 Egrets which were all still present when I left, also 2 adult & 2 juvenile Avocets from Old Moor, 4 Green Sandpipers, 1 Lapwing, 1 Snipe and c75 Goldfinches.

Onto Old Moor and on the Wader Scrape were the following:- Shelduck juvenile, Wigeon 1, Lapwing, Oystercatcher 1, Avocet 1 juvenile, LRP 3, Sanderling 1, Common Sandpiper 3, Green Sandpiper 1, Snipe 1, Redshank 7 + 2 on Main Marsh. I heard a Whimbrel flying over but couldn't see it.

The roost tonight had Cormorant 10 and Little Egret 28. The Egrets tonight came in as follows :- 1 @ 19.21, 2 @ 19.55, 4 @ 19.58, 1 @ 20.11, 1 @ 20.13, 7 @ 20.19, 2 @ 20.25, 2 @ 20.27, 2 @ 20.31, 3 @ 20.41, 1 @ 20.47, 1 @ 21.10 and finally 1 @ 21.14. Because of the weather the Egrets came in earlier than they have recently, tonight I watched from the Wader Scrape hide for a change. All the Egrets came in from up the valley tonight, 20 have been present on Edderthorpe today. Therefore the 4 I saw at Adwick (5 seen by Gary Stones later) either didn't roost at Old Moor or I missed them. If they aren't roosting at Old Moor they must be going to Denaby, can anyone help with any reports from Denaby.

Wintersett 26.07.15

A much cooler 9 - 14°C with 5/8 cloud and a light north easterly this morning.  Light rain all afternoon.
Anglers CP: Siskin 1over,  Dunlin 1 over,  Redshank 1,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Common Tern 4,   Oystercatcher 1 adult + 1 juv., T ufted Duck 4 vs young,  Teal 1,  Little Grebe 1,  Sand Martin 120 and Swift 200 in area.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull flew around the shallows briefly at 13.40hrs.
36 birds were ringed this morning, including: Blackcap 8,  Lesser Whitethroat 1,  Chiffchaff 5,  WillowWarbler 10, Sedge Warbler 2 and Reed Warbler 5.

Wilthorpe Marsh 26/7/15.

Very steady. 3 Green Sandpipers oxbow pond. 2 Willow Tits together on river SE 335 089. The Barnsley town centre Pied Wagtail roost is still on Market Hill with birds going into all 4 trees adjacent to the no. 7 pub last night.

Carlton Marsh

A Common Tern spent 5 minutes flying over the scrape before leaving south at 09.55hrs. This is new for this year and the first since April 2010!
Also present Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, Buzzard and 2 Kingfisher (Jim Plant Keith Webster)

I thought you might like to see this rather nice insect that came to my garden light trap last night.

 White Satin Moth

White Satin

Common Tern (Keith Webster)



Carlton Marsh

Buzzard 2, Little Egret 2, Green Sandpiper 2, Kingfisher 3, Little Owl 2 and a new brood of 6 Tufted Duck.
A male Ruddy Darter was the first this year.

Ewden, 24/25th July 2015.

Last night at 10-30pm at stone circle track 3 Nightjars. 1 near the entrance gate churring and showing and 2 further up the track. 3 partys of juv calling Tawny Owls at ewden beck, broomhead hall wood and the others at low moor/ midhope. No sign of any Nightjars in midhope areas. Today at ewden 11am to 5pm, 4 species of falcon at the shooting lodge- Hobby 1, Peregrine 1, Merlin 1, Kestrel 6, + Common Buzzard 4, Raven 2, Jay 1, Stock Dove 5, a family party of Stonechats near the s bends, 1 Common Gull with a LBB Gull. Annoyingly a lapse in concentration at packing up time had a large brown raptor go low over broomhead moor, behind shooting lodge which was possibly a juv Goshawk.

Wintersett 25.07.15

13 - 18°C with 4/8 cloud and a cool, light westerly.
Wintersett Res : 6 Crossbill going NE at 12.55hrs were new for the year.  Common Tern 8,  Little Grebe 1 + 1 ACP.
Anglers CP: Siskin 1 over,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Cormorant 4,  Tufted Duck 4 VS young,  Mallard 4 vs young + 3 m young.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Another great day at Old Moor with the discovery of an adult Night Heron, we couldn't relocate it tonight despite quite a few birders looking until dark. The second record for Old Moor following the juvenile in the summer of 2013, could it be this bird returning?

Anyway back to the roost tonight, Grey Heron 2, Cormorant 11+ & Little Egret 26 were counted roosting. 8 Egrets had been seen coming by the time I arrived at 20.00, however shortly after 5 birds left which left 3 in. Further Egrets arrived as follows :- 4 @ 20.38, 2 @ 20.39, 1 @ 20.43, 10 @ 20.50, 2 @ 20.52, 1 @ 20.58, 1 @ 21.06, 1 @ 21.15 and finally 1 @ 21.32. Didn't note directions tonight but more birds seemed to come in from down the valley than recent. 5 Little Egrets were present at Adwick Washland at 19.00 (per Gary Stones).

Wintersett 24.07.15

13 - 16°C , humid with 8/8 cloud and a light north easterly.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 4,  Grey Wagtail 1 and Kingfisher 1. 
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 1 adult + 1 juvenile and  Siskin 1 over.
67 birds were ringed today, including: Willow Warbler 20,  Chiffchaff 12,  Blackcap 5,  Garden Warbler 3,  Reed Warbler 7 and Reed Bunting 6.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Great news tonight with the Little Egret record being broken with 28 birds roosting in the willows on the Willow Pool. 5 birds were already in at 19.45 when I arrived in the Wath Ings hide and further birds came in as follows:- 1 @ 20.03, 1 @ 20.12, 1 @ 20.23, 1 @ 20.31, 1 @ 20.40, 8 @ 20.42, 2 @ 20.48, 2 @ 21.02, 1 @ 21.15, 1 @ 21.23, 1 @ 21.45, 1 @ 21.52 and finally 2 @ 21.55. Tonight all the birds came in from up the valley apart from the last 2. During the day today 18 Egrets have been present at Edderthorpe and about 6 have been at Old Moor which ties in nicely with the roost tonight. This day last year the roost had 15 birds and the maximum of 26 was recorded on the 23rd August, therefore another Month to go until the peak date last year.

Other birds seen tonight included, Wader Scrape - Wigeon 1, Avocet 2a+3j, Oystercatcher 6, Redshank 5, Common Sandpiper 3, LRP 2 juvs. Main Marsh - Black Tailed Godwit 2 + 7 dropped in late on, Green Sandpiper 2, Snipe 2, Redshank 3, Barn Owl 1.

Carlton Marsh

A Little Egret this morning was joined by 2 more this afternoon and a Green Sandpiper was present all day. At least 3 Treecreepers were feeding in the car park plantation.

Butterflies included 1 Purple Hairstreak, 17 Gatekeeper and 2 Comma.

Wintersett 23.07.15

13 - 16°C with 6/8 cloud and a  south westerly breeze.  Very quiet again today. 
Haw Park Wood: A Hobby was mobbing a Buzzard at 13.45hrs.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 3
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 1 adult + 1 juvenile.

Wintersett 22.07.15

16 - 20°C and calm with 8/8 cloud. A couple of light showers late morning.
 Anglers CP: Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult over,  Cormorant 1,  Grey Wagtail 2,  Great Crested Grebe 9,  Coot 249 (119 ACP + 110 WRes + 20 CHRes)
Wintersett Res:  Grasshopper Warbler 1.  Common Tern 10,  Yellow Wagtail 1 over and Shoveler 1.
45 birds were ringed today including: Grey Wagtail 1,  Willow Warbler 8,  Chiffchaff 6,  Swallow 13,  Reed Warbler 5,  Blackcap 2 and Garden Warbler 1.

Barrow Tip- Worsbro

A moth session last night with Harry Beaumont, Chris Parkin, me and members of Sorby and Barnsley Naturalists Societies produced 40 species of macro and 9 species of micro moths. The highlights were Marbled White Spot, True Lovers Knot, Scarce Footman (15), Ghost Swift, Large Twin Spot Carpet, Lesser Swallow Prominent and Peach Blossom. A micro of note was the beautifully marked Lozotaeniodes formosanus, a pine feeder.

 True Lovers Knot

 Marbled White Spot

 Plain Wave

Scarce Footman

Langsett

Langsett Reservoir - 18 Canada Geese, 2 Teal, 16 Mallards, 8 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Heron E, 1 Kestrel and 3 Common Sandpipers. The gull roost was very disappointing (virtually non-existent) with 34 Black-headed Gulls and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

The Edge 21st July

Generally a quiet day at all sites visited.
Wombwell Ings - Present 1 Canada Goose + 1 hybrid, 29 Mallard, 4 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Grebe, 1 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 55 Lapwing, 36 BH Gull and 2 Linnet.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 6 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Yellowhammer. Also present were 1 Cormorant over, 2 Green Woodpecker, 1 Jay and a party of 13+ Long Tailed Tit.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan +7 cygnets, 5 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 49 Gadwall, 25 Mallard, 17+36y Tufted Duck, 3+2y Pochard, 2 Shelduck, 15+5y Little Grebe, 4+2y Great Crested Grebe, 196+18y Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Common Gull and 2 LBB Gull. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Kestrel.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 37 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag, 10+6y Gadwall, 7+16y Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 3 Pochard, 10 Little Grebe, 102+3y Coot, 5 Moorhen, 38 Lapwing, 1 Snipe and 1 Kestrel.

Wintersett 21.07.15

16 -20°C with 8/8 cloud to late morning and a SW breeze, then sunny intervals until late afternoon.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Common Tern 3 and Sand Martin 130.
Best news today is that an unprecedented second brood of 8 young Tree Sparrows were ringed this morning.  This pair  only produced 1 young from their first brood. Area largest brood prior to this was 7.
Wintersett Res Butterfly counts per Ralph Hibbert and Les Corral.    Small Tortoiseshell 76,  Gatekeeper 40+,  Comma 1 and Peacock 6 at least.  Meadow Brown and Ringlet also evident. 

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Arrived late again tonight so went straight to Wath Ings hide, as last night 21 Little Egrets were counted coming into roost. 2 birds were already in when I arrived and the others came in as follows :- 6 @ 20.43, 2 @ 20.45, 2 @ 20.46, 1 @ 20.59, 2 @ 21.15, 1 @ 21.23, 2 @ 21.24, 1 @ 21.38, 1 @ 21.40 and finally 1 @ 21.52. All the Egrets came in from up the valley tonight and as previous nights the last one's in appear to be juveniles.

I could have missed some Egrets tonight as I was distracted by a Hobby putting on a fine show, first picked up chasing waders on the Main Marsh and then settling in Slag Willows. Disturbed by about a dozen Magpies and then had an aerial battle with them for about 10 minutes and eventually lost to view over Bolton. The target for the Hobby was mainly a LRP which escaped, also on the Main Marsh was Black Tailed Godwit 1, Snipe 6, Green Sandpiper 1 & Redshank 2 adults + 3 juveniles. The Shoveler broods are still surviving and a Barn Owl was hunting.

Wintersett 20.07.15

13 - 20°C,  mainly cloudy with a few short sunny spells and a southerly breeze.  A short downpour at midday.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 6 adults + 2 juvs,  Oystercatcher 2,  Grey Wagtail 1.
Wintersett Res:  Yellow Wagtail 1 over and Siskin 1 south.
49 birds were ringed this morning, including: a juvenile Grasshopper Warbler,  12 Willow Warbler,  7 Chiffchaff,  6 Blackcap,  3 Garden Warbler,  2 Sedge Warbler and a Treecreeper.
Butterflies: A Purple Hairstreak was seen near the Pol, ACP.   Meadow Browns were in abundance on vegetation all around the lake.   I counted 77 on one small area of thistles on the north bank.

Royd Moor - More Hall

Royd Moor Reservoir - 5 Canada Geese, 11 Mallards, 8 Tufted Ducks, 2 juvenile Cormorants, 2 Little Grebes + 2 young, 2 Great Crested Grebes + 2 young, 4 Moorhens (all adults), 10+ Blackcaps and 2 singing Yellowhammers.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 15 Canada Geese, 63 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Moorhens, 6 Coots, 5 Little Ringed Plovers (all adults), 1 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpipers, 30+ Black-headed Gulls, 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 3 (1 juvenile, 1 third-summer & 1 adult) Yellow-legged Gulls, c80 House Martins and 5+ Pied Wagtails.
Midhope Reservoir - 3 Canada Geese, 23 Greylag Geese, 11 Teal, 28 Mallards, 2 Tufted Ducks and 1 Hobby,
Broomhead Reservoir - 2 Canada Geese, 3 Mallards, 3 Moorhens, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 3 Common Sandpipers.
More Hall Reservoir - 1 Canada Geese, 116 Mallards, 1 Cormorant, 2 Great crested grebes, 10 Moorhens, 2 Coots, c50 Swallows feeding over a recently cut grass field and 11 Long-tailed Tits.

Carlton Marsh

4 Little Egrets this morning reduced to 3 this afternoon. A new brood of 6 Tufted Ducks and 3 Yellow Wagtails present. (Keith Bannister)

A Siskin flew NW at 15.45hrs.

The Edge 20th July

Wombwel Ings - Present were 16 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 52 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 4 Wigeon, 2 Tufted Duck, 3 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 34 Lapwing, 42 BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, c20 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 2 singing Sedge Warbler and 1 Song Thrush.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 5 Blackcap, 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 yaffling Green Woodpecker.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 4 Mute Swan + 12 cygnets, 16 Canada Geese, 99 Gadwall, 15+22y Tufted Duck, 17 Mallard, 12 Pochard, 173+14y Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Grey Heron, 3+2y Great Crested Grebe, 11+6y Little Grebe and 2 LBB Gull. Also present were 2 Lapwing and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 29 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 19+15y Gadwall, 9+16y Tufted Duck, 7 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 139+4y Coot, 9 Moorhen, 12 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel, 68 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 1 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper and 3 LBB Gull.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Arrived late tonight therefore went straight to the Wath Ings Hide for the Egret roost. A good roost again tonight with numbers steadily building up with 21 birds roosting tonight. 3 birds were already in when I arrived and they then came in as follows :- 1 @ 20.34, 4 @ 20.55, 3 @ 20.57, 2 @ 20.59, 1 @ 21.13, 1 @ 21.20, 1 @ 21.23, 1 @ 21.24, 2 @ 21.36, 1 @ 21.40 and finally 1 @ 21.50. All the birds tonight came from up the valley apart from 1 and nearly all the birds are adults.

A major surprise were 3 Pintail that swam out from under the willows and also 3 adult and 5 juvenile Redshank on the Main Marsh, the young Redshank are not fully grown but can fly and look strange with their small wings. Also on the mud were Snipe 1 and Green Sandpiper 2, Black Tailed Godwit 7 flew south and a Barn Owl was hunting.

Again it was pleasing to see many broods of wildfowl, 3 broods of Shoveler 6, 5 & 4 and the Motherless Tufted Duck brood of 4 are still surviving.

Bolton Ings - Sunday 19th July 2015

WeBS count today so I started out at 09.00, weather was blustery with the skies threatening rain, at 09.30 the monsoon arrived and I got soaked. Undeterred I carried on, the highlights today were 2 sightings of the female Bittern flying over and then dropping into the reeds, a Buzzard was up over Bolton Tip and it was pleasing to see so many broods of wildfowl etc. Full list :- Grey Heron 2, Little Egret 3, Bittern 1, Mute Swan 3a + 7y, Canada Goose 16, Grey Lag Goose 1, Great Crested Grebe 3a + 1y, Little Grebe 18a + 17y, Mallard 26, Gadwall 93 + broods of 17, 9 & 2, Pochard 14 + broods of 4 & 2, Tufted Duck 11 + broods of 11, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3 & 3, Coot 201a + 33y, Moorhen 8, Black Headed Gull 32a + 13y, LBB Gull 2, Buzzard 1, Green Woodpecker 2, Yellowhammer 1 male, Blackcap 4 male, Chiffchaff 3 male.

Wilthorpe Marsh, Low Moor/Midhope, 19/7/15.

Wilthorpe Marsh - very quiet but 4 Green Sandpipers, calling Water Rail and 1 GS Woodpecker at the oxbow. Low Moor/Midhope - steady and quite windy. 1-30pm to 5-00pm. Hobby 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Buzzard 2, Kestrel 3, Crossbill 1 over towards langsett, Siskin 5, Sand Martin 1, House Martin 10, Swift 53 counted going e. to w.

Carlton Marsh

This afternoon 1 Little Egret and 3 Redshank were feeding on the wader scrape at 14.00hrs, but the water levels were very low. So after opening the sluice I returned one hour later and by that time there was a Grey Heron and 2 more Little Egrets, competing for food around the inlet pipe. 4 Yellow Wagtails were feeding on the mud.

 

Wild flower seed, provided by the Dearne Valley Green Heart project, was scattered around the wader scrape earlier in the year and is now in flower. Corn Cockle, Cornflower and loads of Common Hemp Nettle and Corn Marigold are just a few.

 

A Kingfisher and a Sand Martin were flying over the main scrape and 2 Little Owls were on their usual perches.  

 

A Stoat was seen near the hide, but a photographer having set up his camera for Kingfisher, on a stick perch, to try get the perfect shot, spent 4 hours to no avail, it was on the scrape!

 

Butterflies included 5 Comma, 2 Red Admiral and 10 Small Tortoiseshell.

 

Southern Hawker (2) and Black-tailed Skimmer (1) were patrolling their respective territories.

Wintersett 19.07.15

12 - 16°C with 4/8 cloud and a gusty south westerly this morning.  Pretty quiet here.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 3,  Cormorant 3,  Sand Martin 100,  Common Tern 2 adults,  Grey Wagtail 1 + 1 WRes. and Herring Gull 1 2nd summer.

Carlton Marsh

Little Owl 1 adult + 1 immature. There were 3 Redshank, Little Egret and 3 juv Yellow Wagtails on the wader scrape this evening.

Wintersett WeBS Totals for July 2015

Wintersett Webs Totals for July are:
Canada Goose 100,   Greylag Goose 30,   Mallard 74,   Coot 225,   Great Crested Grebe 12,   Mute Swan 5 adults + 4y,   Moorhen 6,   Tufted Duck 126,  Teal 1,   Little Grebe 1,  Lapwing 15,  Common Tern 2

Wintersett 18.07.15

16-19°C  with 4/8 cloud and a moderate south westerly wind.
Anglers CP:  Sand Martin 50,  Common Tern 2,  Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult, Siskin 1 west and Grey Wagtail 1.

Reed Bunting with Damselfly     ACP   LHarston

Edderthorpe -the week

And no, I did not mean weak in the title. It,s been a good but little changing week with most counts the same throughout the week although Little Ringed Plover numbers are dwindling by the day with most of the adults now departed and juveniles remaining. Little Egrets peaked at 17 on Saturday 18th with usually up to 10 most days. A juvenile Shelduck was present on Saturday but not much else duck-wise. An influx of Little Grebes mid week with up to 10 on the Flash, but as usual the waders were the main headline grabbers. Black-tailed Godwits were present a few days with max of 9 on Friday, a single Greenshank most of the week, same a single Redshank and 2 adult Ruff were new in on Friday. The first Dunlin of autumn arrived on Saturday and Lapwings have built up to 252 by this weekend. Green Sandpipers are usually on Houghton Washland with 6 or 7 usually there and 4 Common Sandpipers are around the Flash daily. There are usually around 20 Ringed Plovers on the Flash with a peak of 24 and Little Ringed Plovers peaked at 16 midweek but are down to 8 on Saturday. An adult Mediterranean Gull was present on Wednesday and 250 Swifts were feeding over the area on Saturday.

Ewden, stone circle track 17/7/15.

10-30 PM. Cold and windy but no cloud offering excellent light. 2+ Nightjars churring and showing. Golden Plover 1. Nothing heard at midhope/ barnside moor areas with brief stops on way home.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

The evening started well tonight with 15 Black Tailed Godwits on the Wader Scrape building up to 27 by 19.30 when I left to Wath Ings. Returning later at least 32 Godwits were present, in addition a further 17 flew down the valley at 20.30. Also on the Wader Scrape were 2 Little Ringed Plovers, Common Sand and 4 adult + 3 juv Avocets.

On the Main Marsh were Wood Sandpiper, 4 Green Sandpipers and a Redshank, a Barn Owl was hunting. 2 broods of 6 Shoveler Ducklings are still surviving.

Roosting in the Willows tonight were Grey Heron 3, Cormorant 19 and Little Egret 18. The Egrets behaviour this week has been mixed and tonight was no exception. 4 birds were in early but at 20.30 they left and at 21.00 there were no birds in the roost. However after then they came in as follows :- 1 @ 21.02, 5 @ 21.07, 1 @21.08, 2 @ 21.09, 2 @ 21.11, 2 @ 21.13, 1 @ 21.15, 2 @ 21.28 and finally 2 @ 21.29. Tonight 16 birds came in from up the valley and 2 from down the valley. the last 2 birds in were thought to be juveniles.

Wintersett Ringing Recovery

An adult CHIFFCHAFF  ringed on 15.02.15
at Las Canas, Viana, 42°29' N,  2°24' W (Navarra) SPAIN
was retrapped at Wintersett Res on 23.04.15 at a distance of 1,239 kms to the north.

Wintersett 17.07.15

16 - 21°C,  warm and humid with 4/8 and increasing cloud cover and a strengthening south westerly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2 adults,  Cormorant 4.
Cold Hiendley Res: Pochard 2 male.
Overnight moths included: Gothic,  Lilac Beauty,  Campion,  Grey Arches,  True Lover's Knot,  Plain Wave and 2 Scarce Footman.
Recent  Butterfly Counts by Ralph Hibbert produced: 
120 Purple Hairstreak at Notton Wood, evening of 15.07.15
90 White Letter Hairstreak at Hugset Wood on 16.07.15.

          Grey Arches    ACP  ASmith

The Edge 17th July

Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 39 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 4+9y Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Grey Heron,10 Little Grebe, 129 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 31 Lapwing, 4 Black Tailed Godwit (through east at 9am ), 3 Kestrel, 2 Little Owl, a flock of 50+ Goldfinch and 1 Fox.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 3 Mute Swan +7 cygnets, 13 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 129 Gadwall, 18 Pochard, 17 Mallard, 12+9y Tufted Duck, 12+3y Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 123 Coot and 2 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Little Egret(through west at 11.45am), 2 Kestrel, 1 Hobby and 1 LBB Gull.
Wombwell Ings - Present were 12 Greylag Geese, 1 Canada Goose, 18 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1+1y Little Grebe, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 25 Lapwing, 21 BH Gull, 1 Skylark and1 Pied Wagtail.

Carlton Marsh

Last night's moth session produced 33 species of macro moth, which included Common Emerald, Swallowtail, V Pug, Light Emerald, Large Emerald. Beautiful Hook-tip (3) Marbled White Spot and Dingy/Buff Footman were new to the list. Plume moth (Adaina microdactyla) was also new.

After dark Tawny Owl and Long Eared Owl were calling and a Fox was barking. Pipistrelle and Noctule Bat were flying.

 Beautiful Hook-tip

Dingy Footman

V Pug

 

Today 2 Little Egrets, 3 Redshank, Grey Wagtail and Little Owl 



The Edge 16th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Greylag, 39 Mallard, 12 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon, 5 Grey Heron, 3 Little Egret, 4 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 30 Lapwing, 31 BH Gull and 3 Skylark.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 43 Canada Geese, 6+6y Gadwall, 7+12y Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 8 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 113 Coot, 5+1y Moorhen, 32 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 4 Kestrel, 2 LBB Gull, 1 Common Gull and 1 Barn Owl.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Yellowhammer. Also seen were a party of 5 feeding Garden Warbler and a brief view of a Bittern( 12pm ) as it flew from Old Moor to Bolton Ings .
Bolton Ings -Highlights were the extensive views of a Bittern as it flew back to Old Moor at 1pm and 5 Black Tailed Godwit  still in summer plumage. On the open water were 3 Mute Swan + 7 cygnets, 28 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 174+5y Gadwall, 20+32y Tufted Duck, 16+3y Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 6+4y Great Crested Grebe, 7+3y Little Grebe, 222+14y Coot, and 4+2y Moorhen. Also present were 1 LBB Gull, 1 Lapwing  and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Wintersett 16.07.15

17 - 20°C  with  4/8 cloud and a cooling north easterly breeze, but then sunshine with varying amounts of cloud cover from mid morning.  This afternoon - more cloud and the wind changed to easterly.
Anglers CP:  Grey Wagtail 2,  Siskin 1 over, Common Tern 1 adult, Common Gull 1 adult, Cormorant 2 + 1 WRes.  A female Mallard has 5/8 surviving young.   A circling  group of  alarming Black-headed Gulls   alerted us to a juvenile MINK  on rocks on the SE bank.
Odonata: A Four-spotted Chaser was on Big Pond Moorhouse Lane.  
A male Broad-bodied Chaser  was near the Golf Course Pond.
3 male Red-veined Darter were off the east bank Anglers CP.   Best views are in sunshine, over flat water when the wind is E to SE.
The male Lesser Emperor was seen patrolling over flat calm areas of water around the Water Crowfoot beds that are just breaking the surface.   Best views are from Graham's bench in the SE/Pits Wood corner of  WRes,   when the wind is from the southern quarter and the sun is shining.

                 Juvenile Mink       ACP                  ASmith

Carlton Marsh

3 Little Egrets, 2 Redshank and several Lapwings on the new wader scrape this morning, still 2 Little Egrets there 4pm. Also of note Grey and Yellow Wagtail.

A Brown Hawker attacked a Gatekeeper and one of the Whites species leaving them stunned on the floor. (Keith Bannister)

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights were 2 Redshank, 24 Lapwing,  2 Sand Martin, Meadow Pipit displaying, 25 Linnet and 5 Grey Heron.

 

Emperor, Southern Hawker and Black-tailed Skimmer were on show and this year's first Purple Hairstreak was flying around the top of an Oak tree. Gatekeeper is gradually increasing in number and small numbers of Comma from the new brood are becoming more obvious

Wintersett 15.07.15

15 - 21°C with 2/8 cloud and a cooling, north westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2 and Common Gull 1.
Wintersett Res: Grey Wagtail 1 south,  Siskin 1 over and Mallard with very small young.
Odonata: A Migrant Hawker was off the west bank WRes. 

Wintersett - catch up 10th - 14th July 2015

I'm back from jaunting around the Peak District.   Here are the highlights from Wintersett while I've been away.
Friday 10th July:  A male Lesser Emperor Dragonfly was seen at 13.30, south bank WRes.  This is the first one seen here since 2011.   (Not 2007 as I tweeted on the day -  apologies to Ralph, Les and Steve M.)  
Thanks for blogging the weekend sightings Graham.
Saturday 11th - Overnight mothing notables included: Gold Spangle,  Muslin Footman,  Silky Wainscott,  Purple Clay,  Marbled White Spot,  Dingy Footman,  Blackneck,  Scarce Footman 3 and Pine Carpet.  
Sunday 12th - Overnight mothing notables included: Beautiful Carpet, Lilac Beauty 2,  Clay Triple-lines, Scarce Footman and Plain Wave.
Monday 13th July: Greylag Goose 79,  Canada Goose 73,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Common Tern 1,  Water Rail 1 adult + 2 young calling,  Gadwall 1f + 3 small young.
Overnight  mothing notables included: Green Arches,  Grey Arches,  Scallop Shell,  Blackneck,  Marbled White Spot,  Silky Wainscott,  Scarce Footman 4,  Dingy Footman 4, Dingy Shears and  a migrant micro Rush Veneer.  
14th July: Siskin 1 over,  Common Tern 4.  The Lesser Emperor was seen again at 13.10hrs Wres. 5 Purple Hairstreak butterflies were seen in the evening. Haw Park Lane. 

The Edge 15th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 9 Greylag, 19 Mallard, 16 Gadwall, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 45 Lapwing, 1 adult Greenshank, 14 BH Gull, 2 Skylark, c20 House Martin and 3 Pied Wagtail.
 Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 27 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 5+14y Gadwall, 6+15y Tufted Duck, 3+1y Mallard, 1 Pochard, 11+2y Little Grebe, 127 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 41 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 3 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard and 1 LBB Gull.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 7 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.
 Bolton Ings - Highlight was an extended view at 1.30pm  of a Bittern as it flew west along the northern side of the east pool.On the open water were 3 Mute Swan +11 cygnets, 35 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 47+10y Gadwall, 15+5y Tufted Duck, 15 Mallard, 9 Pochard, 12+7y Little Grebe, 3+1y Great Crested Grebe, 185 +15y Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Common Gull and 2 LBB Gull. Also present were 4+ Grey Heron,1 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Tern, 2 Kingfisher and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Hazelhead - Ingbirchworth

Low Moor, Hazelhead - 1 Short-eared Owl.
Winscar Reservoir - 62 Canada Geese, 80+ Mallards + 2 new ducklings, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Oystercatchers, 1 Common Sandpiper, 42 Black-headed Gulls + 1 juvenile still being fed by an adult, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls and two pairs of Stock Dove.
Broadstone Reservoir - 4 Tufted Ducks.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 14 Canada Geese, 69 Mallards, 3 Tufted Ducks, 1 Moorhen,3 Coots, 2 adult Little Ringed Plovers, 3 Common Sandpipers, 17 Lesser Black-backed Gulls,c20 House Martins (10+ juveniles) and c12 Pied Wagtails.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

The evening started well tonight with 4 Whimbrel going West over the Reedbeds pointed out by the departing Teatime Team. Also finished well with a Black Tailed Godwit dropping onto the Wader Scrape at 22.00, at least 2 Common Sandpipers were calling and a Redshank was mobbing me as I left along Green Lane. Earlier on the Main Marsh the Wood Sandpiper was still present with 2 Green Sands and 2 Barn Owls were hunting. A brood of 5 Tufted Ducklings had no mum and a female Gadwall had a brood of 3 Gadwall and 2 Tufted Ducklings.

The roost tonight had Grey Heron 4, Cormorant 14 & Little Egret 15. I actually only saw 7 Egrets come in tonight as follows - 2 @ 20.06, 2 @ 20.15, 1@ 20.42, 1 @ 20.53 and finally 1 @ 21.03. However there were at least 3 Egrets in when I arrived and later 14 birds were counted by DMW looking from the River whilst 1 was still feeding on the Wader Scrape. All the Egrets apart from 1 came in from up the valley tonight and 1 juvenile was identified.

Carlton Marsh

A Little Egret was enticed back on to the wader scrape with the reduced water levels, along with Redshank and 24 Lapwing. A Buzzard spent most of the day on a fence post overseeing all this activity.
A curlew flew west at 200.00hrs (G. Miller)
Large Twin Spot Carpet moth and Dingy Shears were found near the hide and a Humming-bird Hawk Moth visited Ray Dye's garden at Smithies at 11.00hrs this morning.

Large Twin Spot Carpet

Dingy Shears

 

 

The Edge 14th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 9 Greylag, 5 Canada Geese, 39 Gadwall, 15 Mallard, 1+10y Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 35 Lapwing, 1 juvenile Greenshank, 1 Kestrel, 8 BH Gull and 2 Skylark.
Broomhill Flash - Highlight was the Barn Owl hunting over Cleggs Meadow at 10.30am but nearly as good  was the 4 young Kestrel making practice flights from the top of the eastern owl box. Also noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 47 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 4+14y Gadwall, 5 Mallard, 2+4y Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 122 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 9 Little Grebe, 62 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 2 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull.
Warbler Way -Singing males included 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 4 Sedge Warbler, 3 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler ( +1 catching food for young ) and 2 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 5 Mute Swan +12 cygnets, 9 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag, 123+5y Gadwall, 18 Mallard, 15+32y Tufted Duck, 1 Wigeon, 6+8y Little Grebe, 6+3y Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 4 Grey Heron, 162+24y Coot and 4 Moorhen. Also present were 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Lapwing, 1 Kestrel, 2 LBB Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Jay. On the R. Dearne, from the five arches bridge, 2 Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtail were seen.

Old Moor Nocturnal Report

Great news, new laptop purchased, so I can blog more frequently, not sure that is great news?

Highlight tonight was a Wood Sandpiper that dropped onto the Main Marsh at 21.00 just before the rain set in. It joined 2 Green Sandpipers and 1 Common Sandpiper.

Roosting in the willows were 15 Cormorants and 14 Little Egrets. The Egrets came in as follows:- 2 already in, 1 @ 19.55, 2 @ 20.01, 1 @ 20.20, 3 @ 20.22, 1 @ 20.25, 1 @ 20.29, 1 @ 21.00 and finally 2 @ 21.05. All the Egrets were in before the rain and tonight they all came from up the valley apart from 2. Interestingly one bird was colour ringed, a red/orange ring on the right leg I think, I only saw it in flight, could it be FJ?

Before I left there were 11 Oystercatchers on the Wader Scrape. Also the brood of 6 Shoveler were still present and there was a further brood of 6 well grown ducklings on the Willow Pool.

The Edge 13th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 11 Greylag, 26 Gadwall, 17 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Partridge,1 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 21 Lapwing, 8 BH Gull, 2 Skylark and 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
 Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 34+2y Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 7+13y Gadwall, 3+5y Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 7 Little Grebe, 108 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 38 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Kestrel, 2 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 7 Chiffchaff, 7 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, 4 Sedge Warbler and 2 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings -On the open water were 2 Mute Swan +7 cygnets, 138 Gadwall, 16+19y Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 13 Pochard, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Great Crested + 1 newly hatched young, 3 Little Grebe, 157 Coot and 5+2y Moorhen,

Carlton Marsh

The sluice in the new scrape on the southern meadow was opened yesterday morning. Today with much reduced water levels 3 Redshank were feeding and an Oystercatcher was chasing a Buzzard off. Also present Lapwing, Kingfisher and Tufted Duck.

 

In the main marsh 3 pairs of Dabchick had broods of 3, 1 and 1. There were new broods of Gadwall (10) and Moorhen (4).

Wintersett weekend

Your usual correspondent is once again on her holidays, apologies for lumping the days together. Two adult Black-necked Grebes spent Saturday on the Top Res but were gone by Sunday. Five breeding plumaged Black-tailed Godwits circled the Country Park on Sunday morning trying to find somewhere safe to land but gave up and left eastwards. Common Tern 4, Common Gull 1, and highlight of a Saturday ringing session was a Grasshopper Warbler.

Edderthorpe weekend

Still lots of birds, particularly waders to see although not much change from last week;- Little Egret 7, Oystercatcher 2, Lapwing 159, Ringed Plover 24 (all adults), Little Ringed Plover 18 (8 juveniles), Common Sandpiper 9, Green Sandpiper 7 (usually on Houghton Washland), Redshank 2, Curlew 1, Common Snipe 13, Yellow Wagtail 1.

Wilthorpe Marsh / Low Moor, Midhope. 12/7/15.

A very quiet weekend for birds. Highlights were, - yesterday at Wilthorpe Marsh, 3 Green Sandpipers, 1 G.Woodpecker, 1 GS Woodpecker, 1 Willow Tit all at the oxbow lake + 1 Willow Tit at the sewage farm. Today at Low Moor/ Midhope, joined D. Simmonite at 1-50pm till 5-10pm - Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 4, Buzzard 4, Siskin 10+ some showing well on the stone walls, Oystercatcher 2, GS Woodpecker 1, chipping Snipe down to 1 possibly 2. Still a movement of Swifts going e. to w. 113+ counted.

Hills and Reservoirs

A brief early(ish) call at Inbirchworth this morning revealed 6 Little Ringed plovers (at least one juv.) and Greenshank. There's a promising looking shoreline around the res at the moment but I recommend a very early visit to beat the dog walkers - something like 5am should be ok!
Of note at Scout Dike were 18 Tufted Duck and 6 well-grown juv. Great Crested Grebes. At Hartcliff - 25 Golden Plover, single Redpoll over and single Spotted Fly in the copse by the farmhouse.

Sad news about Mike Richardson recently. I'd very much like to donate to the memorial bench which was mentioned. If someone would direct me to where it needs to go then that would be good.

Cheers
Russ
http://shapesthatsometimesfly.blogspot.co.uk/

Midhope/ Low Moor 10/7/15.

10pm till 11pm. Nightjar on bosvilles piece audible from road just s. of midhope res. Not seen but churring and heard wing clapping. Also at least 1 chipping and displaying Snipe, 4 begging Tawny Owl juvs, Oystercatcher 1, Curlew 1, and 4+ Golden Plover on barnside moor.

Carlton Marsh

On Wednesday morning Martin Fish from the North of England Horticultural Society arrived to adjudicate on the merits of the reserve on behalf of Yorkshire in Bloom. We won't know the outcome of his findings until September.

Martin Fish 3rd from right (D.M Smith)

Last night's ringing session produced a catch of 12 birds, which included a Reed Bunting that I believe is a Wintersett ringed bird Z171777 adult male in breeding condition. Can you give me the details Pete?  Two juvenile Kingfishers were ringed making a total of 5 (4 juvs and 1 adult male) since May 13th. Another indication that breeding has taken place.

Today, a Yellow Wagtail on the main marsh was the first this year (Keith Bannister) and a Grey Wagtail was also present. Photos by Richard Laverack.

Wombwell Road, Stairfoot
This Peach Blossom moth was found by my grandson Scott Gorman on the floor outside B&M. This moth is found only locally in Barnsley. I have never caught at Carlton Marsh or at home.

Edderthorpe & Houghton

Still loads of exposed mud and plenty of waders to look through on Edderthorpe Flash. Little Egret 10, Little Ringed Plover 17 including 7 juveniles, Ringed Plover 25 all adults, Greenshank 1, Redshank 3, Common Sandpiper 11, Green Sandpiper 4 (more often on Houghton), Common Snipe 5, Yellow Wagtail 2.

A lack of Swallows

Most years there are good numbers of Swallows in Broomhill park, along the Bulling Dyke, over the tall trees on Old Pontefract Road and on the telephone wires in Broomhill village. Today I only saw 3 Swallows ( a consistent number over the past few weeks ) walking on and off Wombwell Ings. Is this lack of Swallows a local issue or is it a Barnsley area problem?

The Edge 10th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 1 Greylag, 33 Gadwall, 21+2y Mallard, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 25 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 24 BH Gull, 2 Skylark and 2 Linnet. A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the field across from the Old Moor Tavern.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 10 Blackcap, 7 Chiffchaff, 5 Whitethroat, 2 Willow Warbler, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Grasshopper Warbler, 1 Garden Warbler and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 3 Mute Swan + 7 cygnets, 27 Canada Geese, 29 Gadwall, 9+2y Pochard, 7+2y Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 119 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 7+2y Great Crested Grebe and 4+1y Little Grebe. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 10 Lapwing, 1 Common Tern and 3 LBB Gull. 
Broomhill Flash -Noted were 2 Mute Swan+5 cygnets, 34+2y Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 22+24y Gadwall, 7+5y Tufted Duck, 5+2y Mallard, 2 Pochard, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 109 Coot, 9 Little Grebe, 38 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Kestrel and 5 LBB Gull.

Wintersett 10.07.15

18 - 23°C very warm and humid, with scattered cloud and a light southerly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 1 adult,  Mallard 8 medium young + 5 small young Disp.Pt..
PSYCHO - the adult Yellow-legged Gull paid a visit late afternoon.
Moorhouse Lane Ponds:  Siskin 2,  Gadwall 1 f + 13 young.
Odonata:  A male LESSER  EMPEROR was seen off the south bank WRes at 13.30hrs.  The last one seen was in 2007.
Moth trappng overnight produced a SMALL  MOTTLED WILLOW which is a migrant from southern Europe.  This ties in with  7 on the 8th and 18 caught last night at Bawdsey Hall, Suffolk. Others of interest: Scarce Silver-lines,  Scallop Shell,  Scarce Footman and  Dingy Shears.

            Scarce Silver-lines                  ACP     ASmith

        Clay Triple-lines        ACP     ASmith

Dingy Shears         ACP     ASmith

Wintersett 09.07.15

11 - 16°C with scattered cloud and a cool light westerly.
Anglers CP:  Greylag Goose 73,  Canada Goose 102,  Lapwing 42,  Cormorant 2.
Cold Hiendley Res: A Tufted Duck female still has 2 very small young.
Wintersett Res:  Grashopper Warbler 1 male reeling.
41 birds were ringed this morning, including 4 Whitethroat,  7 Blackcap,  6 Reed Warbler,  9 Chiffchaff,  4 Willow Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.
Butterflies: Lots of Meadow Brown on ACP  thistles today. Also seen in the area Small Tortoisehell,  Ringlet,  Gatekeeper, Large Skipper, one Red Admiral, one Peacock and one White sp.
Odonata: Black-tailed Skimmer 1 m + 1 f  ACP.

                    Small Tortoiseshell    ACP                  ASmith

Old Moor Sofa

Apologies again, forgot to add comparison sites on last nights blog, here they are:-

Lound, Nottinghamshire - 157.
Swillington Ings, West Yorkshire - 163.
Upton Warren, Worcestershire - 130.
Hatfield Moors, South Yorkshire - 157.
Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire - 152.

Elsecar

Elsecar Reservoir - c70 Mallards, 5 Tufted Ducks, 1 Grey Heron, 8 Great Crested Grebes + 2 young, 4 Moorhens, 15 Coots, 1 singing Reed Warbler and 1 male Grey Wagtail.

Old Moor Sofa

Again apologies for late blog, still too busy/lazy to sort my problems out.

An update on the number of species recorded in the Old Moor Area this year, at the end of April the total was 138.

A further 6 species were added in May as follows:- Garganey on 2nd (139), Bar Tailed Godwit on 11th (140), Arctic Tern on 12th (141), Turnstone on 12th (142), Sanderling on 12th (143) and Curlew Sandpiper on 27th (144).

Therfore at the end of May the total was 144.

A further 5 species were added in June as follows:- Common Crane on 8th (145), Gull Billed Tern on 16th (146), Long eared Owl on 19th (147), Red Necked Phalarope on 20th (148) and Little Bittern on 30th (149).

Therefore at the end of June the total was 149.

Already in July a further 3 species have been added:- Black Necked Grebe on 4th (150), American Wigeon also on 4th (151) and Greenshank yesterday (152).

In my last blog I mentioned the very poor spring we were having and it continued up untill the 15th June. I also mentioned that things could change tomorrow and on the morning of the 16th June the spring/summer/year really got going. Dave Waddington found a Gull Billed Tern on the Wader Scrape and eventually everybody who wanted to got great views as it stayed untill dusk.

Then on the afternoon of the 30th whilst Bittern monitoring Keith Pickering saw and photographed a male Little Bittern on the reedbeds. What followed has been well documented and again everyone has seen the bird who wished to, one of my memories will be arriving at the Old Moor Car Park just after 5.00 am seeing loads of cars already there with only standing room in the Bittern Hide. Surely never to be repeated or will it............

On the 5th day of the Little Bittern (Saturday 4th July) things got even better when John McLoughlin found a drake American Wigeon on the Main Marsh, there was also the first Black Necked Grebe of the year on the Mere. One of the best days ever?

So a day at Old Moor now you could see Little Bittern, American Wigeon, Bittern, Avocets, Little Egrets etc etc. Not bad for a puddle at the side of a stream.

Now looking forward to the Autumn.

The Edge 8th July

Wombwell Ings - Present were 12 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 1+11y Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 2 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 39 Lapwing, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Kestrel, 2 Skylark and 1 Linnet.
 Warbler Way - Singing males included 8 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap, 5 Whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Song Thrush. No Willow Warblers were heard on either leg of the return walk.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 3 Mute Swan +11 cygnets, 12 Greylag, 9 Canada Geese, 122+22y Gadwall, 8+16y Tufted Duck, 11+4y Pochard, 4+1y Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Grebe, 117 Coot and 2 Moorhen. Also present were 2 Lapwing, 1 Redshank, 1 Kestrel and 1 LBB Gull.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan + 5 cygnets, 21 Canada Geese, 7+26y Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 2+2y Mallard, 2 Pochard, 125 Coot, 9 Moorhen, 35 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, and 1 LBB Gull. Earlier, Mick Rushton also had 6 Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover and 1 Green Sandpiper.

Wintersett 08.07.15

11 - 16°C,  much cooler today, with intermittent showers from mid morning and a strengthening westerly.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 2,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Common Sandpiper 1 + 1 ACP. 
Cold Hiendley Res: The first brood of Tufted Duck this year had just 2 ducklings.
Haw Park Wood: Siskin 2.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 2 adults + 1 juvenile.  Sand Martin 60  + 3 nest holes have fledged young.

Gunthwaite - Midhope

Gunthwaite Dam - pair Canada Geese + 4 goslings, 8 Mallards, pair Tufted Ducks, Little Grebe + 2y, 2 Moorhens, 4 Coots, 1 s Chiffchaff, 2 s Blackcaps, 1 s Common Whitethroat and 1 Spotted Flycatcher.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 14 Canada Geese, 49 Mallards, 1 Tufted Duck, 2 Little Grebes,3 Moorhens, 7 Coots, 40+ Black-headed Gulls (including 10+ juveniles), 56 Lesser Black-backed Gulls, 2 (1 second-summer & 1 adult) Yellow-legged Gulls and 10+ Common Swifts.
Whitley Common - c10 (6+ juveniles) House Sparrows.
Midhope Reservoir - 64 Greylag Geese, 3 Canada Geese,  8 Mallard + brood 5 ducklings, 2 Teal + broods 5 + 3 ducklings, 1 drake Tufted Tufted, 4 Little Grebe + 2 young, 2 Moorhens and 25+ Swallows.
Whitwell, Stocksbridge - 30+ House Martins.

The Edge 7th July

Wombwell Ings -  Very quiet with 7 Greylag, 15 Gadwall, 1+11y Shoveler, 1 Mallard, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret. 2 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 26 Lapwing, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 33 BH Gull, 2 Skylark, 30+ Swift, 2 Swallow and a flock of 25+ Goldfinch.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 8 Blackcap. 7 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 6 Whitethroat, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - Highlight was the slow steady flight of a Bittern all the way down the eastern pond and its return flight to Old Moor 40 minutes later. On the open water were 3 Mute Swan + 3 cygnets, 12 Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, 125 Gadwall, 24+15y Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 12 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Little Grebe, 142 Coot, 7 Moorhen and 150+ BH Gull. Also present were 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret and 1 LBB Gull.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 26 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 8+8y Mallard, 11 +4y Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 107 Coot, 5 Moorhen, 81 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Gull and 1 Kestrel.

Wintersett Ringing Recoveries.

Two recoveries of  BLACKCAP were received recently.

A first year female ringed at Wintersett  Reservoir on 19.09.09
was retrapped at Illa d'en Colom, Mao,  39° 57' N  4° 16' E (Menorca)  SPAIN
on 29.04.10 at a distance of 1,579 kms  SSE.

A juvenile male ringed at Wintersett Reservoir on 14.09.13
was retrapped at Frasnes-lez- Buissenal  50° 40' N  3°36' E  (Hainaut)  BELGIUM
on 13.04.14 at a distance of 475 kms SE.

Wintersett 07.07.15

16 - 19°C,  8/8 with a shower mid morning and one at midday.   Then 5/8 cloud and a light westerly.
Anglers CP:  Common Sandpiper 1,  Water Rail 1,  Mallard 8 very small + 1 large young.
Butterflies:  There were plenty of Meadow Brown and Ringlets around the area.   Ralph Hibbert and Les Corrall counted 30 Small Tortoiseshell on WRes..

Edderthorpe, Monday

Waders are slowly building up on the large expanses of mud on the Flash. Little Ringed Plovers usually peak in the first half of this month and numbers are building up very nicely, 24 were present this morning including 7 juveniles. Ringed Plover 18 is a good total for early July, Redshank 3, Greenshank 1, Curlew 1, Common Sandpiper 6, Green Sandpiper 6 and Common Snipe 10 were all counted. Little Egret peaked at 8 and Shoveler are up to 15 with some young now fledging.

Carlton Marsh

Busy today again preparing the site for the 'Yorkshire In Bloom' competition this coming Wednesday. We are entered in the 'Open Spaces' category. Judging begins at 09.30hrs starting in the car park. It would look better if more of our volunteers turned up. Refreshments will be served at Bow Street, Cudworth, Council offices at 10.30hrs. all welcome.

A quick look round this morning saw new broods of Tufted Duck (6) and Little Grebe (3)

Somert un nowt

Elsecar Reservoir - 64 Mallards, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Great Crested Grebes, 7 Moorhens and 14 Coots.
Castle Dam, Penistone - 1 Mute Swan (still), 1 Canada Goose, 11 Mallards, 2 Moorhens, 14 Coots and 15+ House Martins.

Wintersett 06.07.15

15 - 20°C,  warm but cloudy with a couple of light showers from mid morning.
Anglers CP: A small influx of  6 Common Sandpiper + 1 WRes.  Water Rail 1,  Cormorant 2,  Grey Wagtail 1 and a  Mallard  with 3 vs young.   There were 30 Sand Martin including the first autumn,  birds dispersing from other colonies.
Butterfly:  The first GATEKEEPER of the year was seen on the Pol.

Wintersett 05.07.15

15 - 22°,  warm with scattered cloud and a light easterly this morning.  Short sharp thunderstorm at 16.00hrs.   No megas but a very good variety of species here.
 Wintersett Res: A Black-necked Grebe was out in the middle this morning until the boats came out. (Old Moor Bird?   Tell the Little Bittern we also have reeds and the fish have spawned.)   Common Tern 1 and Kingfisher 1.
40 birds were ringed this morning, including: 13 Chiffchaff,  10 Willow Warbler,  6 Blackcap,  5 Whitethroat and 1 Garden Warbler. 
Anglers CP:  A REDSTART near the hide, was new for the year list.  Grey Wagtail 3 juv.,  Yellow Wagtail 1m,  Curlew 1,  Oystercatcher 2 adults + 1 juv.,  Cormorant 1,  Gadwall 3,  Coot 79,  Greylag Goose 61,  Canada Goose 82.  There was lots of activity around the Sand Martin Box with more birds prospecting.
Odonata:   A male BANDED DEMOISELLE was seen on a Bramble patch WRes.  This species hasn't been seen here for a number of years.  4 male Red-veined Darter were off the east bank ACP  and a Southern Hawker was in the Pits Wood area. 

Little Bittern a few more photos from Old Moor

Climbing through the tree before flying off

Sunday 5/7/15.

Nowt to match yesterdays excitement at Old Moor but a few snippets were, - Wilthorpe Marsh, very quiet with 3 Green Sandpipers and a pair of Teal at the oxbow lake. 2 separate Willow Tits on the river at SE 339085 and 335089. Teamed up with Simmo at Low Moor / Midhope at 12-50 pm till just before 4-00 pm when strong wind and heavy rain halted the birding. Birds hard to come by now the breedings dropping off, - a Red Kite drifted e. towards Stocksbridge at 2-15 pm., Buzzard 2, Kestrel thought to be 5+, Crossbill 1+ heard only, Siskin 16+, Oystercatcher a party of 4, GS Woodpecker 1, LBB Gull 1, Snipe 3, still a trickle of Swifts e. to w. 150 + counted.

Little Bittern, Old Moor RSPB

The Little Bittern showed very well this morning (Sunday) at Old Moor, flying around, perching in trees and lots of (quiet) calling. Many thanks to all RSPB staff for opening up the Reserve over the last week at unsociable hours and giving many birders the chance to see this cracking bird.

Little Bittern encounter

Little Bittern dropped in to pools behind Bittern Hide and could be heard calling prior to climbing up into a tree for a few minutes. After about 100+ shots the bird took off again. These are the first few (probably the best I could get but not that sharp).

Edderthorpe & Houghton Saturday

Despite being completely overwhelmed by events at that other RSPB reserve a little further down the Dearne Valley, it remains good birding here. Little Egret 4, Teal up to 20, Greenshank 1, Redshank 3, Green Sandpiper 5, Common Sandpiper 1, Little Ringed Plover 12 (inc 3 juvs), Ringed Plover 13 (no juvs), Oystercatcher 1, Common Snipe 7.

South Kirkby Tip

Marbled White 1, Gatekeeper 12, Small Tortoiseshell 39,  Meadow Brown 604, Ringlet 769 and Large Skipper 117.

Moths included Barred Yellow and Bloodvein.

(Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 03.07.15

16 - 22°C,  warm and sunny with a very light south westerly.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 2 adults + 1 juvenile.
Botany Bay: Siskin 1 over.
Butterfly:  A White-letter Hairstreak was seen at Botany Farm.
Odonata:  A total of 5 male Red-veined Darters were seen off the east bank of Anglers CP lake today. These are rare migrants from the continent that usually turn up in hot south easterly winds in June and July.  They favour patrolling  areas of flat ,calm water. Good views can be had when they perch on vegetation and rocks at the edge of the lake.   There have been several records in the Wintersett area in the past, but no records since 2007.  It look as if an influx is underway at the moment.

Carlton Marsh

Another lovely day with a high of 24.5c. 2 Buzzards were up this morning and this afternoon several sightings of Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Gadwall with about 9 new young.

Dragonflies included Broad Bodied Chaser, Four spot Chaser, Emperor and Southern Hawker. No sign of any Red Vein Darters yet, but there was a Common Darter female on the wing.

A Beautiful China-mark moth was flying around one of the dried ponds.

Cudworth
A Humming-bird Hawk Moth was feeding on Honeysuckle in Geoff Miller's garden around mi-day.

The Edge 3rd July

After the third failed 4 hour stint trying to see the Little Bittern (my painful left knee tells when I've had enough), I decided to start my tour of the Edge at 9.45am.
TPT - Singing males included 6 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Reed Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2 Mute Swan + 7 cygnets, 16 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, 117 Gadwall, 18 Pochard, 8 + 8y Tufted Duck, 3+5y Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 3+2y Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 139 Coot, 2 Moorhen and 1 LBB Gull.
Wombwell Ings -I was warned that there was  very little on. Present were 4 Mallard, 1+10y Gadwall, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Coot,1 Moorhen,10 Lapwing,  5 BH Gull, 10+ House Martin, 1 Swift, 2 Swallow, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Broomhill Flash -Noted were 2 Mute Swan +5 cygnets, 29+3y Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 17+5y Gadwall, 8+3y Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 105 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 3+2y Little Grebe, 63 Lapwing and 1 Kestrel.

Wintersett 02.07.15

A very comfortable 16 -20°,with sunny intervals, scattered cloud and a  light westerly.
Anglers CP: Curlew 2,  Common Sandpiper 1,  Water Rail 1,  Common Gull 1 1st summer and Oystercatcher 2 adults and 1 juvenile.
Sand Martin Box ACP:  Holes at Middle 4 and Bottom 7 have young at entrance,  Bottom 8 has a breeding pair.   Two new prospectors are looking at Middle 6  and Bottom 6.
Wintersett Res: Hobby 1 adult over at 09.20hrs,  Common Tern 1,  Siskin 2over,  Grasshopper Warbler 1 m and Gadwall 1m + vs young.
Birds ringed today included:- Blackcap 5, Garden Warbler 4,  Chiffchaff 14 and Willow Warbler 5.
Odonata: Brown Hawker 1 ACP and Broad-bodied Chaser 1 m Golf Course Pond.

Mike Richardson

The funeral of Mike Richardson will be held at Barnsley Crematorium, Ardsley on Thursday 9th July at 2.10 pm with a reception afterwards at the Manvers Arms in Adwick on Dearne to celebrate Mikes life. Donations at the funeral will go towards a memorial bench.

Edderthorpe & Houghton, Thursday

It is feeling quite autumnal here at the moment with a few waders and ducks starting to return. On the Flash are;- Little Egret 4, Ringed Plover 10, LRP 7, Common Sandpiper 1, Common Snipe 1, Teal 11. On Houghton Washland;- Little Egret 1, Greenshank 1, Redshank 3, Green Sandpiper 5, Common Snipe 8 and loads of young dabbling ducks. All four recent Lapwing broods are doing well.

Winscar - Ingbirchworth

Upper Windleden Reservoir - 13 Canada Geese.
Winscar Reservoir - 63 Canada Geese, 1 drake Tufted Duck and at 8+ juvenile Black-headed Gulls.
Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 13 Canada Geese, 53 Mallards + 10y+7y,3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebes, 4 Moorhens, 4 Coots, 2 Common Sandpipers, 30+ House Martins and two fp of Pied Wagtails (4y + 3y).

Wintersett 01.07.15

16 - 31.7°C,  the hottest day on recorded at Ryhill,  sunny with a light south easterly.
Anglers CP: Teal 1 m,  Willow Tit 1 and Oystercatcher 2 adults + 1 juvenile.
Overnight moth trapping: Lilac Beauty,  Beautiful Carpet,  Small Yellow Wave,  Sandy Carpet and Marbled White Spot.
Odonata: Common Darter 1m,  Emperor 1m + 1f and Black-tailed Skimmer 20.