Dearne Valley Weekender

Old Moor - Saturday 16th January

My weekend started early, I arrived at the Wader Scrape hide at 07.45 on Saturday morning hoping to see birds leaving the roost. Some Goosanders had probably left when I arrived but I counted a reasonable 32 birds. The Cormorants were more lazy and the sun was up when they started to leave, a great sight as 27 left together, final count was 47. I couldn't see any Little Egrets in the trees but eventually 4 left and made a quick dash onto the River Dearne. The weather was cold and dry with a clear blue sky, the temperature was hovering about freezing which meant a lot of ice. The Main Marsh was 95% ice and on the only free water 24 Shovelers were snoozing. The Wader Scrape was 50% ice but the Mere was ice free. On the Mere were 4 female Goldeneye and the wintering Ruff. I had a walk round to the Reedbeds where there were another 16 Shoveler and also a Water Rail calling.

In the late afternoon I returned to the Reedbeds hoping to see a Bittern, no such luck. However I was rewarded with at least 5 Cetti's Warblers, 3 singing males and a further 2 calling. 2 birds were seen chasing each other through the reeds. The snow had started to fall when I was leaving.

Bolton Ings - Sunday 17th January

The snow had stopped but had put a couple of inches down. I wandered onto Bolton Ings to count the wildfowl etc. as today was WeBS count day. The Western pool was 95% ice and held very few birds, the Eastern pool was 50% ice and counting was a little easier as none of the birds were in the reeds. Fairly quiet today with no real highlights although 22 Pochard were added to the International count. Full list :- Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 1, Mute Swan 8, Great Crested Grebe 1, Little Grebe 4, Mallard 45, Teal 20, Gadwall 4, Shoveler 2, Pochard 22 (12 drakes, 10 ducks), Tufted Duck 30, Goldeneye 3, Goosander 4, Coot 174, Moorhen 3, Lapwing c100, Snipe 8, Black Headed Gull 71, Common Gull 2, Barn Owl 1, Green Woodpecker 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Kingfisher 1, Skylark 1, Meadow Pipit 1.

Adwick Washland - Sunday 17th January

Sunday afternoon I called in at Adwick to do the count, even more ice here, 99%. Many of the birds have moved out but I managed to see the folowing:- Little Egret 1, Shelduck 3, Mallard 14, Wigeon 11, Teal 68, Goosander 5, Lapwing 55, Coot 6, Moorhen 9, Kingfisher 1, Grey Wagtail 1, Black Headed Gull 26, Common Gull 6, Yellowhammer 30+.

Old Moor - Sunday 17th January

I made my way to the Wader Scrape hide for the roost tonight. The ice level had increased on the Wader Scrape to 95% which had moved the roosting Goosanders onto the Mere, a great count of 58 birds were seen along with 5 Goldeneye. The Ruff was still present. Roosting in the willows were 49
Cormorants and 5 Little Egrets. A Goldcrest was in a small gorse bush nearly under the hide.