Tuesday, 31 January 2017

Wintersett 31.01.17

3 - 7 degrees with 8/8 grey cloud and drizzle.
Wintersett Res:  2 Cetti's Warblers were singing this morning - boathouse reeds and north bank.
There have been 99 bird species recorded in the Wintersett Area in January.

Barnsley Bird Study Group presents -

THURSDAY 2nd FEBRUARY 2017
at the Old Moor visitor centre, starting 7.15pm

All the way from Filey, MARK PEARSON giving an illustrated show on
 'FILEY BIRD OBSERVATORY'

All welcome, £2.50 cover charge includes interval drink

Newmillerdam - 31 January 2017

Damp and dark day. None of the teal seen today and the two pochard continue to keep well apart.

Black-headed gull (66), Canada goose (3), coot (33), goosander (6 2m/4f), kingfisher (1), little grebe (1), mallard (223), moorhen (12), mute swan (6), pochard (2), tufted duck (24), whooper swan (1).


The Edge 31/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 46 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, 130+ Wigeon, 79 Teal, 14 Gadwall, 10 Shoveler, 7 Mallard, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret,12 Moorhen, 6 Coot, 171 Golden Plover, 44 Lapwing, 52 BH Gull, 4 Common Gull, 2 Mistle Thrush, 4 Redwing, 6 Linnet, 1 Bullfinch and 2 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 1 Shelduck, 56 Shoveler, 42 Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 18 Pochard, 17 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 3 Goldeneye, 3 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 55 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 41 BH Gull, 2 Common Gull and 1 LBB Gull. Early morning PWK had a Jack Snipe flushed by a Sparrowhawk and a Green Sandpiper.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 4 Mute Swan, 25 Shoveler, 18 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 5m+3f Goldeneye, 5 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 202 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 6 BH Gull and 3 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron and 2 Willow Tit.

Monday, 30 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 30.01.16

1 - 5 degrees with 8/8 and a light south easterly.
Moorhouse/Back Lane: The male Firecrest was seen at 09.07hrs in the same area of the disused railway line in the thicket behind the old gate.
Disposal Point: Redpoll 50 and Mealy Redpoll 1.
Willow Wood WRes: Tawny Owl 1.
Wintersett Res. Roost:  The Gulls behaved well again but the Leucistic Black-headed Gull was the only notable picked  up today.

Lundwood Sewage Works Area

A few hours around the works this morning. Of note - on the filter beds were c.300 Black-headed Gulls (inc an adult with a white plastic ring which was just out of reading range) 2 Common Gulls, single Herring Gull, 20 Stock Doves, at least 20 Pied Wags, 3 Grey Wags, c.80 Jackdaw, and 35 Mallard. On the flood plain was a Green Sandpiper, 3 Common Snipe, 35 Teal, 4 Gadwall, single Heron and a single Meadow Pipit. Also on site were 2 Song Thrush, 5 Red-legged Partridge and a Chiffchaff by the entrance gate. Seven Great Black-backed Gulls went over.
Cheers
Russ

Sunday, 29 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 29.01.17

-1 to 5 degrees,  cold start with with 4/8 cloud and a light, south easterly.
Moorhouse/Back Lane disused railway path: The elusive male FIRECREST showed briefly at 09.15 and 09.30hrs.  Willow Tit 1 and Siskin 2.
Cold Hiendley Res:  Water Rail 1.  Nuthatch 1 on edge of  HPWood.
Cold Hiendley Field: Skylark 150
Anglers CP: Little Grebe 5 + 2 WRes., 
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 32 + 1 CHRes. A singing male Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds and a calling bird was on the west bank. 
WRes. Gull Roost: The gulls behaved well tonight, enabling observers to pick up notables.
The dark juvenile Glaucous Gull was in at 16.05hrs, followed by an adult Mediterranean Gull at 16.10hrs and a 2nd W Mediterranean Gull at 16.20hrs.  A 1stW Herring Gull with a deformed bill was seen. Its upper mandible was extra long and extremely hooked.
Also present:- Herring Gull 1200,  Great Black-backed Gull 18 and Lesser Black-backed Gull 4.

Male Firecrest         Moorhouse/Back Lane   PMeredith
Mediterranean Gull adult  WRes.    SDenny
Glaucous Gull - dark juvenile    WRes     SDenny

Carlton Marsh

The Egrets didn't come in to roost, but the Bittern showed at16.46hrs and 2 Snipe left at dusk. - Dave Standish

Newmillerdam - 29 January 2017

Calm, dry and sunny this morning so the lakeside path was very busy. About 30% of the water was covered in thin ice.

In the fields by Park Plantation there were 100 woodpigeon mixed in with some carrion crows to one side of the bridleway and c20 rooks with some more crows to the other. There was also a flock of c30 redwing. At Seckar Wood there was a yellowhammer calling from an oak on the heathland and another bird was returning the call. Rook and yellowhammer were new for the year, bringing the list to 59.

A flock of 15 long-tailed tits were roaming the woodland as were c30 birds in a mixed flock of goldfinches, chaffinches and siskins.

Black-headed gull (228), Canada goose (21), common gull (2), coot (27), goosander (1f), herring gull (1), kingfisher (1), little grebe (2), mallard (241), moorhen (6), mute swan (6), pochard (2), teal (1), tufted duck (22), whooper swan (1).

Friday 27th
There were three teal on the lake on Friday. The two that have been here since the 20th and another male that was on its own. Just two Canada geese were on the lake. The two single pochards and the juvenile whooper swan were still present.

Low Barugh S.F. 29/1/17.

Chiffchaffs 8. 6 together in one bush included a pale bird thought to be a tristis. Also 70 Pied Wagtail, 6 Grey Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, Redpoll 1 over, Peregrine in the area.

Saturday, 28 January 2017

Wintersett Gull Roost 28.01.17

Wintersett Res. Roost was watched tonight but it was a shambles again.   The gulls were unsettled, flying around for no apparent reason.  No accurate counts could be made.  No notables were picked up.  

Friday, 27 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 27.01.16

-1 to 2 degrees with 8/8 cloud,  a hazy mist and a very cold, light south easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: Teal 35.  Swan Goose Hybrid (aka Chinese Goose) still present, in with Canada Geese.
Wintersett Res. Roost: Large number of big gulls but, unfortunately, no notables could be found.

Carlton Marsh

 2 Little Egrets came in to roost at 16.40hrs (they are not here during the day) - Dave Standish

The Edge 27/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 180+ Wigeon, 84 Teal, 6 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 10 Moorhen, c60 Golden Plover over south, 2 Lapwing, 59 BH Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 8 Pied Wagtail, c20 Linnet and 5 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 200+ Teal, 90+ Wigeon, 67 Shoveler, 31 Gadwall, 21 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 2 Cormorant, 39 Coot, 76 Golden Plover, 50+ Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 87 BH Gull and 7 Common Gull.
TPT- A pair of Pintail on the Fieldpool West could be seen from the trail. Also present were 1 Kingfisher, 5 Redpoll and 3 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 15 Gadwall, 11 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 3 Goldeneye, 2 Teal, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 182 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 63 BH Gull and 8 Common Gull.

Thursday, 26 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 26.01.17

A very cold minus 3 degrees, mainly cloudy with a few sunny spells and a biting south easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: Teal 16,  Snipe 4.
Wintersett Res: A male Cetti's Warbler was singing on the south west bank.
WRes. Roost: Large numbers of big gulls roosted tonight, 
Notables: The leucisitic Black-headed Gull was in at 16.10hrs.  The dark juvenile Glaucous Gull was picked up at 16.20hrs.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was seen at 16.30hrs.

Newmillerdam - 24, 25 & 26 January 2017

Tuesday 24th - about 65% of the water was covered with thin ice first thing.
A pair of pochard were new in and joined the existing pochard in the middle of the lake. The other pochard by the dam was also still in place. Teal not seen today.

Mallard (238), coot (30), tufted duck (28), Canada goose (24), mute swan (6), whooper swan (1), moorhen (10), goosander (2 - 1m/1f), pochard (4), kingfisher (2).

Wednesday 25th
The female pochard was not seen today.

Mute swan (6), goosander (3 - all female), pochard (3), little grebe (2), kingfisher (1), grey wagtail (2), also Canada geese, mallard, tufted duck, moorhen & coot, not counted today.

Thursday 26th - cold wind blowing from the south
Two herring gulls (1 adult/1 sub-adult) were new for the year and a flock of 30 goldfinches were flying between areas of woodland to the south-west of the lake.

Coot (26), goosander (7 -3m/4f), Canada goose (16), pochard (3), whooper swan (1), mute swan (6), tufted duck (25), moorhen (10), cormorant (1), little grebe (1), common gull (1), herring gull (2), teal (2) also mallard and black-headed gulls.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

Late Afternoon provided us with a Treecreeper, 2 Goldcrests, 3 Cormorants, Kingfisher, 2 Willow Tits, and 4 Water Rails. Bittern came out of its favourite reedbed and flew low to the far side of the marsh at 16.30hrs. Then a Little Egret came in to roost at 16.44hrs. (Dave Standish & CG)

Wintersett + Gull Roots 25.01.17


Anglers CP:  Canada Goose 205.  Swan Goose hybrid 1.  Goldeneye 56.  Goosander 35.  Barn Owl  1 at dusk.
Both Gull Roosts were watched tonight. Numbers were poor at Anglers CP and Graham Speight was frustrated again on WRes, with flighty birds tightly packed. 
Notables:A 2nd W  Mediterranean Gull on WRes and  Psycho, the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull flew onto ACP small raft at 17.00hrs
Area Totals:
Herring Gull                       1310       1100 WRes  +  210 ACP
Great Black-backed Gull         8             6 WRes  +      2 ACP
Lesser Black-backed Gull       5 ACP

Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 24.01.17


-2 - 4 degrees,  with 8/8 cloud and the odd sunny spell this afternoon, with a  light south westerly.
ICE: Anglers CP 15%.  Wintersett Res. 3%,  Cold Hiendley Res. 85%.
Anglers CP:  Shoveler 19 + 2 WRes.,  Wigeon 282,  Teal 38 + 1 CHR + 1 WRes..  A Swan Goose Hybrid was feeding with the Canadas mid morning.
Moorhouse/Back Lane: The FIRECREST was seen on disused railway at 08.25hrs and again by Paul and Ruth Thorp at 15.14 hrs.  See  https://twitter.com/CroftonBirder  for map.
Haw Park Wood:  Siskin 1  and Nuthatch 1.
Cold Hiendley Res: Kingfisher 1  and Grey Wagtail 1. 
Wintersett Res: Water Rail 1 on north bank.  Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male in boathouse reeds + 1 calling on west bank. 
WRes. Gull Roost:  Plenty of big gulls on before dark but still lots coming in after. 2 notables today. The adult Yellow-legged Gull was on a buoy near the boathouse at 16.00hrs.  The adult Iceland Gull was in at 16.35hrs. 


                              Swan Goose Hybrid         ACP                 AS   

Cudworth - Birkwood Estate

3 Bramblings (2 males) visited garden feeders in Stanley Street today! - Arthur Vincent

Monday, 23 January 2017

Cudworth - Rose Tree Estate

There were just 4 Waxwings on the Rowan this morning. There are practically no berries left so I think they will have gone by later today - Keith Bannister.

A little Egret was seen from a bus in Royston heading towards Pool Ings Lane at 16.30hrs - Dave Smith

Newmillerdam - 23 January 2017

No sign of either of the pochard today and only one female goosander sighted.

Canada goose (35), coot (32), goosander (1f), little grebe (2), mallard, moorhen (10), mute swan (6), teal (2), tufted duck (26), whooper swan (1).

Great spotted woodpecker drumming right by the lakeside path too.


Wintersett + Gull Roost 23.01.17

A frosty, very cold start -3 to 3 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a light south westerly. 
ICE: CHRes 85%,  WRes: 3%.
Wintersett Res:  Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male on the west bank. 
Moorhouse Lane:  A Firecrest was found by Chris Swaine mid afternoon.  It was with 4  Goldcrests  on the disused railway,  east of road bridge towards Big Pond.  It  wasn't the one that Archie ringed on 29.10.16 as this bird was ring free. 
Wintersett Res. Roost was checked.   Same old story, plenty of birds coming in but 100s coming in from the south east,  Hampole direction on dark.  Just one notable was picked up - the dark juvenile Glaucous  Gull at 16.30hrs. 
Here are a couple of Chris' Firecrest shots, taken with his new camera.  Great find!



Ingbirchworth

Nice to be out and about again and even managed a couple of miles walk.

Fullshaw - 1 Common Buzzard; 1 Collared Dove; c200 Starlings, and 2 Mistle Thrushes.

Ingbirchworth Reservoir - 1 Pink-footed Goose; 19 Greylag Geese; 308 Canada Geese; 38 Mallards; 5 Tufted Ducks; 4 Little Grebes; 5 Coots; 500+ Black-headed Gulls; 48 Common Gulls; 6 Herring Gulls; 1 adult Yellow-legged Gull; 3 Woodpigeons; 1+ Kingfisher(s); 7 Magpies; 5 Jackdaws; 8 Carrion Crows; 5 Blue Tits; 6 Great Tits; 2 Willow Tits; 11 Blackbirds; 1 Redwing; 1 Mistle Thrush; 4 Robins; 3 Dunnocks; 70+ Bramblings; 4 Chaffinches, and 1 Yellowhammer.

Midhope Reservoir 18 Mallards; 1 Tufted Duck, and 1 Little Grebe.

The Edge 23/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Shelduck, 240+ Wigeon, 31 Teal, 3 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Grey Heron, 6 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 128 Lapwing, c60 Golden Plover, 96 BH Gull, 6 Common Gull, 1 Sparrowhawk, 8 Pied Wagtail, 6+ Linnet and c10 Reed Bunting.
TPT - A singing Song Thrush, a calling Green Woodpecker, 1 Buzzard, 1 Jay, c30 Redpoll and c25 Goldfinch.
Bolton Ings - On th open water were 7 Mute Swan, 62 Tufted Duck, 32 Shoveler, 21 Mallard, 14 Teal, 11 Pochard, 3 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 191 Coot, 27 BH Gull and 16 Common Gull. Also present were 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Snipe and a flock of 6+ Long Tailed Tit.
Broomhill Flash - (per J.Seeviour) Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 2 Shelduck, 58 Wigeon, 58 Shoveler, 42 Gadwall, 28 Teal, 13+ Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 5 Common Gull, 2 LBB Gull and 1 Mediterranean Gull.

Sunday, 22 January 2017

BirdTrack Barnsley

In order to obtain as many bird records as possible, it has been suggested that BirdTrack may prove very useful in achieving this goal. In recent years, the submission of records by individual observers has become more infrequent, with the majority of records coming from local site reports. With the increasing popularity of Twitter, blogs etc, sightings are getting lost within the multitude of entries (although I am now keeping track of both on a daily basis).

Without regurgitating the information about BirdTrack, please find the link below which will explain what it is and how to join. However, I would like to stress that any species list from a site should also include noteworthy counts (a list of  just species isn't really useful data).

https://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/birdtrack/about

Again, if anyone has any records for 2014, 2015 and 2016, please email me these to ornithecocarl@gmail.com . Many thanks to everyone that has already done so.

Cheers,

Carl

Newmillerdam 22 January 2017

Hour and a half round the lake this morning. The whooper swan and pochard are still present, and a second pochard has also arrived, though this one much closer to the dam. The two teal were also seen again today.

Carlton Marsh

A Little Egret came in to roost at 16.05hrs and 25 Herald Moths wintering nearby was a  new maximum. Also here a Peacock butterfly and at least 30 Honey bees - Ralph Hibbert/CG

Cudworth - Rose Tree Estate
7 Waxwings were last seen heading east at 13.38hrs - Geoff Miller

Cudworth Common
A Little Egret left here towards Brierley at 13.34hrs - Keith Bannister

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 22.01.17

-1 to 4 degrees, dull  with 7/8 cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP:  A Barn Owl was seen at dawn.  A Golden Plover flew over. A Water Rail  was in the south west corner.   Siskin 4.
Golf Course Field:  Snipe 3 and  Jack Snipe  4
Wintersett Res: A male Cetti's Warbler was singing  in the  boathouse reeds.   A Little Egret flew over south.     Wigeon 45.
Cold Hiendley Field:  Skylark 320. 
Birds ringed today: Redwing 7,  Goldfinch 1,  Great Tit 1 and  Blue Tit 1. 
Both Gull Roosts were observed this afternoon:  The adult Iceland Gull was in from  14.40hrs to dusk.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was the only other notable picked up.
Totals:   Great Black-backed Gull       80              60  ACP  +   20  WRes.
               Herring Gull                       1920          1020 ACP  +  900 WRes. 
               Lesser Black-backed Gull        8                5 ACP  +      3 WRes.
 
Jack Snipe    GCField     CSwaine

Woolley Dam circ. 22/1/17.

Very steady but enjoyable with 600+ Woodpigeon, Teal 10, GS Pecker 2, Buzzard 2, Redpoll 1, Tcreeper 1, Redwing 15, Fieldfare 4.

Cudworth - Rose Tree Estate

There were still 10 Waxwings feeding at 08.23hrs - Keith Bannister

Saturday, 21 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 21.01.17

2- 6 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a very light south easterly.
Anglers CP: 83 Pink-footed Geese flew west at 09.05hrs.  A Jack Snipe and 2 Snipe were in the golf course field.  26 Redwings were in the back field.  Lapwing 80.
Cold Hiendley Field: Just 70 Skylarks were seen today with  hardly any corvids and Feral Pigeons remaining.  Shooters  and crop spraying are the cause of the massive decline in numbers.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 2 singing males - boathouse reeds and west bank.  Golden Plover 1 over.
Both Gull Roosts were watched today.  There were plenty of big gulls on Anglers CP.  Just one notable,  the usual adult Caspian Gull,  in at 16.30hrs.  Wintersett Res. roost was a total disaster with hardly any large gulls until after dark,  when (typically) loads  piled in!

Newmillerdam - 21 January 2017

Hardly seemed to get light at all today, but it was a calm and mild day nonetheless. No sign of yesterday's goldeneye or teal.

A flock of c50 redwing were at Hill Top off Lodge Lane and there were much smaller flocks of goldfinch (10), siskin (15) and long-tailed tit (8) throughout the woodland.

Coot (32), little grebe (2), mute swan (6), whooper swan (1), Canada goose (31), goosander (9 - 3m/6f), kingfisher (1), moorhen (12), pochard (1), tufted duck (38), mallard & black-headed gull.

A good figure of 39 species were seen today including kestel, great spotted woodpecker and a song thrush belting out the tunes.

Low Barugh Sewage Farm 21/1/17.

No sign of this mornings water pipit but Peregrine, Chiffchaff, Green Sandpiper, 50 ish Pied Wagtail, 4 Grey Wagtail, 20 Meadow Pipit, pair Gadwall, pair Reed Bunting, 14 C Snipe flushed from small reedbed just s. of fence.

Cudworth - Rose Tree Estate

There were still 9 Waxwings at 13.29hrs -Keith Bannister

Friday, 20 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

Somebody switched on the light today so we could see after nearly a week of low cloud. 40 Pink Feet Geese flew west at 08.05hrs (Keith Bannister) Our resident Buzzard pair were perched up together, Water Rail, Coal Tit, Song Thrush, Willow Tit, 2 Cormorant, 2 Mute Swans north were in addition to the residents and 10 Greylags came in at dusk. 

Cudworth - Rose Tree Estate
The Waxwing flock dwindled today from 16 this morning to 9 by late afternoon, most of the berries have been eaten. Today's sunshine allowed us to see them in their finery. (Geoff Miller et al)

Wintersett + Gull Roost 20.01.17

A much brighter day,  5 degrees with 0/8 clear sky and a very light south easterly.
Anglers CP:  Green Woodpecker 1  and Shoveler 17 + 2 WRes,
Wintersett Res:  2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese flew west, 110 at 09.30hrs  + 110 at 09.40hrs.  4 Cetti's Warblers were around the Res today.  3 singing males- north bank, boathouse reeds and west bank. Another bird was calling on the east bank.
WRes Gull Roost: Guest observer Jonathan Holliday  picked up the 3rdW Iceland Gull  at 16.30hrs.   He also got these great shots. 

3rdW Iceland Gull     WRes       JHolliday

 Cold Hiendley Res. looking grand this evening    JHolliday

Newmillerdam - 20 January 2017

A pair of goldeneye were on the lake today, as well as two teal. Both new records for the year.

Black-headed gull (120), little grebe (1), mute swan (6), teal (2), whooper swan (1), Canada goose (35), coot (26), goldeneye (2), goosander (6 - 3m/3f), kingfisher (1), moorhen (9), siskin (5), tufted duck (35).

The whooper swan was ringed last Sunday and interestingly of the five cygnets with the female adult, only four are hers, the other W42199/299Y was ringed in August at Wombwell Canal.

The Edge 20/01/2017

Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 104 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 3 Shelduck, 55 Wigeon, 47 Shoveler, 29 Mallard, 23 Teal, 20+ Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Cormorant, 1 Peregrine, 25 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 54 Lapwing, 5 Golden Plover 82 BH Gull, 4 Common Gull and 1 LBB Gull.
TPT - 2 singing Song Thrush, 1 Jay and 1 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 49 Tufted Duck, 11 Shoveler, 7 Pochard, 6 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 2m+1f Goldeneye, 2 Goosander, 207 Coot, 48 BH Gull, 26 Common Gull and 1 Herring Gull. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Woodpecker and 2 Willow Tit.

Green Moor - 20-01-2017

Waxwings 60+ at Green Moor (my home); fantastic, birds present on 19th also, left at 9 am today as most of food gone on Chapel Lane.








Thursday, 19 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 19.01.17

5 - 8 degrees, calm with  with 8/8 cloud this morning.
Anglers CP:  Pink-footed Goose 1,  Ruff 1,  Teal 19 and Shoveler 13.
Wintersett Res:  3 singing male Cetti's Warblers - north bank,  boathouse reeds and west bank.   Wigeon 32 and Goosander 6.
Both Gull Roosts were checked:  Good numbers of birds on Wintersett Res with a huge number of big gulls arriving from Hampole on dark.  Very frustrating.   Only one notable was picked up, a 3rdW Iceland Gull at 16.35hrs.

Carlton Marsh

Busy scrub bashing today so not much time to watch. However, there were 2 Cormorants, Kingfisher, 9 Tufted Duck, Water Rail and later a Little Egret came in to roost at 16.30hrs (Dave Standish)

The Edge 19/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 4 Greylag, 4 Shelduck, 120+ Wigeon, 23 Teal, 17 Mallard, 11 Shoveler, 7 Gadwall, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 11 Moorhen, 4 Coot, 124 Golden Plover, 16 Lapwing, 16 BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 24 Linnet and 5 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 93 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 39 Teal, 31 Shoveler, 28+ Wigeon, 21 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 1 Goldeneye, 6 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 19 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 53 Lapwing, 34 BH Gull and 6 Common Gull.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 3 Mute Swan, 27 Shoveler, 22 Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 4m+2f Goosander, 3m+2f Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 219 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 32 BH Gull, 26 Common Gull and 1 Herring Gull. Also present were 2 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Goldcrest, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Greenfinch and  10 Lesser Redpoll.

Cudworth

The Waxwing flock had increased to 45 by 12.15hrs. (Keith Bannister) If they are not in the berry tree on Rose Tree Avenue they will be on nearby tall trees at the Health Centre.

Adwick Washlands - 19-01-2017

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH

Finally after 4 starts at dawn, bad light and rain and a number of encounters got close enough (pure luck) to get a few average photos...here you go..


















Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

2 Little Egrets came in to roost at dusk. (Dave Standish)

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 18.01.17

6 - 8 degrees,  8/8 lighter cloud with an occasional sunny break, and a very light westerly.
Disposal Point: Redpoll 60.
Anglers CP: A Ruff,  on the shallows with the Lapwings,  was picked up by visitors and identified by Mark Dillingham.    A  Pink-footed Goose was in the back field with the Canadas and then  flew on to the south bank.  Redwing 20.   Shoveler 14 + 5 WRes..
                              Pink-footed Goose      ACP        CSwaine

 Wintersett Res: The male Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.
Both Gull Roosts were checked today, but, yet again, it was very frustrating because birds were switching between waters.  There were good numbers of big gulls on WRes. but they were swimming around in a tight pack and this reduced all chances of picking up notables to zero. Also, lots of birds were coming in late when it was dark. 
Of interest: 22 Waxwings were near the Slipper in Crofton this morning, but the group split up and some went to other parts of the village. By late afternoon there were 30  birds present.  Chris Swaine et al were interviewed  at Anglers CP, and then broadcast on Radio Leeds!
https://twitter.com/@Croftonbirder

Cudworth

There are at least 38 Waxwings feeding on a Swedish Rowan in Rose Tree Avenue. Two Mistle Thrushes are guarding the tree and interrupt their feeding. When they are not feeding they move to tall trees in the Avenue and at the back of the Health Centre. Apparently they have been seen there for the past 4 days at least.

Silverstone Avenue
4 Waxwings were seen here at 15.53hrs (Keith Bannister) This site is approxamately a quarter of a mile east of Rose Tree Avenue off Belle Green Lane. 

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

150 Pink Feet flew west at 10.05hrs (Russ Boland)

Lundwood
400 plus Pink Feet flew west at 10.05hrs (Chris Parkin)

Newtown Cudworth
7 Pink Feet flew West at 10.14hrs. (CG)

Upper Cudworth
25 Waxwings were hanging out in a Silver Birch opposite Dootson's garage on the entrance to the Rose Tree Estate from 15.50hrs. The were dropping into a nearby garden and may have roosted. (Geoff Miller)

Ardagh Glass - Monk Bretton
A Peregrine Falcon was seen here at 15.22hrs. (Dave Smith) 

Wintersett + Gull Roost 17.01.17

5 - 6 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP:  Shelduck 3.
Wintersett Res: 3 skeins of Pink-footed Geese  flew west - 37  at 09.10hrs  + 61 at 09.55hrs + 200 at 10.05hrs.     2 singing male Cetti's Warblers - boathouse reeds and west bank.  An adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the  boathouse slipway.
WRes.Roost: Plenty of birds were in tonight, including the leucistic Black-headed Gull and 2 Iceland Gulls - a 3rd W in at 16.00hrs and an adult in at 16.15hrs.
Of interest: 30 Waxwings were seen at Crofton - not far outside the recording area.

The Edge 17/01/2017

A good day for the movement of Pink Footed Geese. K.Fisher estimated c685 birds in the 5 skeins that passed through the valley heading west between 9.30am and 10.30am. The largest group of c175 birds passed through at 9.45am.
Wombwell Ings - Present were 4 Shelduck,  c150 Wigeon, 70+ Teal, 14 Mallard, 8 Shoveler,  6 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 9 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 176 Golden Plover, 71  Lapwing, 25 BH Gull, 3 Common Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Mistle Thrush, 1 Stonechat (K.Fisher), c20 Linnet, c10 Reed Bunting and 1 Yellowhammer.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 7 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 45+ Shoveler, 27 Gadwall, 22 Teal, 13+ Wigeon, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard,  1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 18 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 14 Lapwing, 28 BH Gull, 4 Common Gull and 2 Herring Gull.
Bolton Ings-  On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 24 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 9 Pochard, 8 Shoveler, 5 Goosander, 5 Goldeneye, 4 Gadwall, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 232 Coot, 1 Cormorant, 22 Common Gull and 11 BH Gull. Also present were 9 Snipe and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Monday, 16 January 2017

Wintersett Gull Roost 16.01.17

5 degrees with 8/8 grey cloud and drizzle from mid morning.
Anglers CP Gull Roost:  Lots of gulls came in today, including many small ones.  Conditions were very murky but a 3rd W Iceland Gull was picked up at 16.35hrs.   Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull appeared on the small raft at 16.45hrs.

Carlton Marsh

Today 'Blue Monday' certainly was pretty dismal. These were the best birds today, 6 Lapwing, 8 Greylags, 8 Teal, 16 Bullfinch, 8 Tufted Duck and Little Egret. (Rod Heeley)

Cudworth
c20 Waxwings came in low from the east over Park Avenue towards the Park at 16.46hrs. (Geoff Miller)

The Edge 16/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Highlight was six Whooper Swans on the main flash. Also present were 3 immature Mute Swans, 3 Shelduck, 70+ Wigeon, 35 Teal, 13 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 2 Pochard, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 7 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 175 Golden Plover, 69 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 27 BH Gull, 3 Common Gull and 1 Pied Wagtail .
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 3 Greylag, c45 Shoveler, c40 Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 18 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 8 Pochard, 3 Mallard, 2f Goldeneye, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 12 Coot, 41 Lapwing, 3 Snipe, 31 BH Gull and 4 Common Gull.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 19 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 6 Pochard, 2 Goosander, 2 Goldeneye, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 216 Coot, 9 Common Gull and 2 BH Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpecker and 2 Willow Tit.

Sunday, 15 January 2017

Wintersett 15.01.17

5 - 8 degrees,  8/8  grey cloud,  drizzle and a cool north westerly.
Wintersett Res:  80 Yellowhammers  were in the SW field.  Goosander 10.   Wigeon 14.  2 singing, male Cetti's Warblers -  boathouse reeds and west bank.
Gull Roosts were frustrating again this afternoon.  Poor numbers of birds came in early.  Notables were all at WRes.   A  1st W Iceland Gull flew SW over with 2 Herring Gulls at 15.10hrs.  Large numbers of birds  started arriving , from the south east,  at dark.  A 3rd W Iceland Gull was picked up at 16.45 hrs!  The usual adult Yellow-legged Gull was in.
Area Totals:
Great Black-backed Gull          200       100   WRes   +  100  ACP
Herring Gull                           1600      1050  WRes  +  550  ACP

Walton Hall WeBS January 2017

Here are the WeBS totals for Walton Hall  14.01.17

Mute Swan  1,   Canada Goose  82,   Cormorant  2,   Teal  1,   Mallard  17,   Tutfed Duck  2,   Pochard  1,   Moorhen  6,   Coot  64,   Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult. 

Wintersett WeBS January 2017

Here are the WeBS totals for the Wintersett Area 14.01.17

Mute Swan 6,   Canada Goose  116,   Greylag Goose 146,   Cormorant   12,   Great Crested Grebe 13,   Little Grebe  7,   Teal  8,   Mallard  22,   Wigeon  224,   Gadwall  9,   Shoveler  4,   Tufted Duck  101,   Pochard  21,   Goldeneye  45,   Goosander  7,   Moorhen  14,   Coot  332,   Water Rail  3,   Grey Heron  6,   Lapwing  20,   Snipe  6,   Kingfisher 1.

Low Barugh Sewage Farm, 15/1/17.

No sign of yesterdays Water Pipit but still good birding with Green Sandpiper, 8+ Chiffchaffs possibly into double figures with 5 together in one small bush. Pied Wagtails 70, Grey Wagtail 5, Meadow Pipit 10, Teal 8, 7 Lapwing over w. The Magpie roost had about 70 birds. The Pied Wagtails here are thought to roost in the town centre with a similar number in last nights roost on kendray street.

Edderthorpe January WeBS counts

These are a few of the highlights from todays counts (which were quickly abandoned mid morning when the thrush was discovered and completed later in the day).
Houghton Washland was pretty much devoid of wildfowl due to the intensive shooting taking place a couple of few fields away. Fortunately most birds hopped over to Edderthorpe;-
Shelduck 1, Mallard 210, Teal 390, Pintail 2 drakes, wigeon 256, Gadwall 54, Shoveler 79, Cormorant 7, Lapwing 209.

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH AT ADWICK



This stunning Black-throated Thrush was found early this morning at Adwick-on-Dearne RSPB Reserve by Adam Hutt and RSPB Warden Heather Bennett who were doing a monthly WeBS wildfowl count at the time. The top and lower photo's were taken by Adam at the time he first discovered the bird in the short grass field. The middle flight shot is by Jeff Wragg, taken later in the morning as the bird became more elusive.
It showed on and off for much of the rainy morning before disappearing for a couple of hours early afternoon, then reappearing in the same area mid afternoon.
A cracking find and the first ever record in the Barnsley recording area.
No doubt better photo's will surface later but these were the first taken.

Newmillerdam - 15 January 2017

Light rain most of the morning, which made it a pretty grotty day birding. The whooper swan and pochard did the decent thing and hung around for the WeBS count, so that was a plus.

Black-headed gull (6), Canada goose (28), coot (20), little grebe (1), mallard (239), moorhen (8), whooper swan (1), goosander (8 - 4m/4f), mute swan (5), pochard (1), tufted duck (32).

Saw kingfisher four times today. Initially one on the western bank, further north than I'd normally see, then a pair together in the usual spot by the southern bridge, then finally a bird on the bank by the sluice. I took this to be three birds, as the pair and the final sighting couldn't have been further apart and still on the same site. I'd have thought it unlikely to be one of the pair, but could easily have been the one I saw first off.

Cudworth

5 Waxwings alighted briefly in Geoff Miller's Garden in Beech Avenue, before leaving towards the nearby Rose Tree Estate at 09.26hrs.

Saturday, 14 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

It was a beautiful day for a nostalgic walk round with John Armitage. (JSA) John came to live in Farfield Cottages (opposite  the car park entrance) with his parents in 1959 until 1969. During that time he was heavily involved with the Wakefield Naturalist Society and the Wintersett Reservoirs, ringing hundreds of birds with Pete Smith and others. In later years he worked for the RSPB as the North West Regional Organiser and was based at Huddersfield. After spending the past 16 years north of the border, John now lives on the Moorland fringe in the Barnsley area.
So, the wetland that he knew at Carlton marsh is totally different to how he remembers it, but in a positive way. It was a very enjoyable morning.
The following are just some of the birds we saw. 7 Tufted Duck, c20 Gadwall, Teal, Grey Heron, Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Dabchick, 5 Bullfinch, Willow Tit, 5 Common Gull, 10 Jackdaw and a Fox patrolling the wader scrape. Other observers reported Song Thrush, Redwing and Siskin. The latter is our first for 2017!
If you want read John's blog - www.birdingodyssey.blogspot.com which includes blues man John Law on guitar.

Male Siskin (Richard Laverack)

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 14.01.17

0 - 5 degrees with 8/8 and a cool north westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Barn Owl 1 at dawn.  A Pink-footed Goose flew NW at 09.56hrs
Woodcock 1  + 1 WRes..
Santingley: Redwing 28
Disposal Point: Redpoll 80 + Meadow Pipit 1
Wintersett Res:  Cetti's Warbler 1 male north bank + 1 south east corner.
Walton Hall: Psycho, the usual Adult Yellow-legged Gull,  was on  the lake  mid afternoon and then flew into ACP to roost late afternoon.
Both Gull Roosts were watched this afternoon.  At WRes. lots of large gulls were flying in just before dark.   A combination of late arrivals,  birds moving to different areas of the lake and then swimming in close formation hindered viewing,.  Just one one notable was picked up - the adult Caspian Gull with the bill spot. 
Area Totals: Great Black-backed Gull      440        300  WRes  + 140 ACP
                      Herring Gull                        2533      2500  WRes  +   33  ACP
                      Lesser Black-backed Gull        6            5  WRes   +     1  ACP

Newmillerdam - 14 January 2017

About 15% of the water (at the southern end) was covered in thin ice this morning, reducing to about 5% by mid afternoon. The sunny and calm weather made it a great day for birding at Newmillerdam with plenty of noise from nuthatch, mistle thrush and a song thrush in full voice.

A flock of c40 redwing were in the trees by the village green and a mixed flock of goldfinch (c30), siskin (c10) and brambling (c5) were in the arboretum, as was a great spotted woodpecker.

The whooper swan and pochard were still present and will hopefully still be present in the morning, so I can get something different on the WeBS count!

A cormorant left flying north at 13:35, but I hadn't seen it earlier in the day and a couple of buzzards were soaring over the southern end of the lake, before leaving east.

A single common gull was stood on the ice this morning in with the black-headed gulls.

Also Canada goose (34), coot (24), tufted duck (24), goosander (8 - 3m/5f), moorhen (5), little grebe (1), kingfisher (1) and mallard on the water.

My personal best of 44 species here today including three new for the year (brambling,common gull & siskin) brought the Newmillerdam year total to 54.

Wilthorpe Marsh 14/1/17.

The second record for the area was a Water Pipit with a few Meadow Pipits on wires before dropping down on the dyke to drink where it showed again briefly but lost to view and thought to have gone to the sewage farm. Also 2 possibly 3 Chiffchaffs on the river included a common showing well. Central marsh area was flushed with 1 Jack and 9 Common Snipe + 1 Rail. Oxbow pond had fem. Pintail, drk. Wigeon and 35+ grazing Moorhen. Little Owl was in its favourite oak at the w end and Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel completed the bop.

Friday, 13 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 13.01.17

0 - 5 degrees with 4/8 cloud and a cold north westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: A RAVEN flew north at 10.50hrs.  7 Golden Plover flew south.
Disposal Point: Buzzard 2,  Fieldfare 16,  Redwing 21, including one dark, Icelandic type bird.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male on west bank.
WRes. Gull Roost was frustrating again today.  Plenty of birds, but lots of large gulls flying in at dark.  No notables picked up.

                         Raven                   ACP    CSwaine

Dark  Icelandic type  Redwing      CSwaine

Newmillerdam - 13 January 2017

The juvenile whooper swan was still with the local mute swans. Another notable record for Newmillerdam today was a single pochard, only the second time I've seen one here.

A juvenile cormorant was also present.

Canada goose (33), coot (27), mute swan (6), tufted duck (30), goosander (9), moorhen (10), little grebe (2), kingfisher (1), grey heron (1) and mallard on the lake. A kestrel was on the wires at Pennine Community.

Carlton Marsh

As usual our area missed the bad weather affecting many other parts of the country, in fact it was quite a pleasant day. Birds included Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Willow Tit, Little Owl and 9 Tufted Duck. Bittern flew in from the southern part of the reserve at 14.30hrs and was seen again at 15.00hrs making another short flight into the reed beds. (Rod Heeley et al)
Moles are very active right now looking for mates and Candlesnuff fungus is evident on tree stumps in the car park.  

Thursday, 12 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 12.01.17

3 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cold westerly.
Anglers CP:  200 Pink-feet flew west at 12.00hrs.  Greylag Goose 157,  Canada X Greylag Hybrids 5.  Goosander 17.
Both Gull Roosts were watched tonight, but numbers of birds,  and viewing conditions were poor.  (Only 50 birds were on ACP at 16.00hrs.)   The only notable was a 3rdW Iceland Gull on WRes. at 16.05hrs. 

Carlton Marsh

Little Egret roosted again last night. (Ian Pickard) It was a very good afternoon, 6 Tufted Duck were new in and a Peregrine showed at 15.15hrs. Buzzard was on his usual perch, Water Rail and Kingfisher showed in front of the hide and a Pipistrelle was airborne at dusk. Barn Owl was hunting from 16.00 to 16.15hrs. (Dave Standish/Ian Hey)

Carlton Village
3 Goosander flew north at 09.15hrs (Dave Smith)

Upper Cudworth
2 Waxwings were seen on Park Avenue at 10.44hrs. They flew in the direction of Cudworth Park shortly after. (Geoff Miller) 

Newmillerdam - 12 January 2017

A single juvenile whooper swan was in with the resident family of swans and quite an exciting find today.


It was quiet round the lake, with the lunchtime rain keeping people away, resulting in a flock of long-tailed tits (10), goldcrest, goldfinch and chaffinch all quite low down in the trees by the circular footpath.

On the lake were Canada goose (35), goosander (10 - 5m/5f), coot (30), tufted duck (35), moorhen (11), little grebe (3), kingfisher (1).

A covey of 6 grey partridge spent the afternoon out in the open in the fields at Boyne Hill Farm yesterday before heading to the cover of the hedgerow at dusk.

The Edge 12/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 194 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag, 3 Shelduck, c250 Wigeon, 18 Teal, 11 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 2 Goosander, 11 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 254 Golden Plover, 41 Lapwing, 73 BH Gull, 2 Common Gull, 10 Pied Wagtail, 1 Mistle Thrush, c10 Long Tailed Tit, 2 Bullfinch  and 6+ Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted Were 2 Mute Swan, 11 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 40+ Wigeon, 30+ Teal, 28 Gadwall, 20+ Shoveler, 13 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 3 Red Legged Partridge, 8 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 42 Lapwing, 5 Golden Plover, 46 BH Gull, 5 Common Gull and 1 LBB Gull.
TPT - A Mealy Redpoll was amongst a flock of c30 Lesser Redpoll. Also present were 1 Jay, 1 Goldcrest and 1 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 15 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 7 Shoveler, 5 Gadwall, 5 Goossander, 4 Goldeneye, 2 Pochard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 222 Coot, 8 Common Gull and 5 BH Gull. Also present were 27 Canada Geese, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Willow Tit.

Wednesday, 11 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roost 11.01.17

5 degrees,with 2/8 cloud and a very strong gusty westerly.
Anglers CP: Pochard 37.  Cormorant 15.
Wintersett Res: .Water Rail 1 boathouse reeds.
WRes. Roost:  The leucistic Black-headed Gull was in.   A 2nd W Mediterraean Gull was in at 15.40hrs. 

The Edge 11/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 1 Mute Swan, 165 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 4 Shelduck, c120 Wigeon, 28 Teal, 12 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 4 Goosander, 3 Grey Heron, 4 Moorhen, c40 Golden Plover, 23 Lapwing, 102 BH Gull, 3 Common Gull and 2 Mistle Thrush.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 31 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 50+ Teal, 25+ Wigeon, 25 Shoveler, 12 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 2 Goldeneye, 2 Cormorant, 13 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine, 60+ Lapwing, 45 Golden Plover, 54 BH Gull, 19 LBB Gull over, 17 GBB Gull over, and 10 Common Gull.
TPT -12 Redpoll and 2 Bullfinch. John Law also had a Mealy Redpoll in with a flock of 20 Redpoll.
Bolton Ings -On the open water were 2 Mute Swan, 34 Tufted Duck, 13 Mallard, 12 Pochard, 7 Goldeneye, 5 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 5 Goosander, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 233 Coot, 50 BH Gull, 10 Common Gull and 2 Herring Gull. Also present were 2 Kestrel, 2 Willow Tit, 1 Siskin and 1 Bullfinch.

Ingbirchworth 11.11.17



White-fronted Geese at Ingbirchworth  - Ron Marshall

WAXWING - Langsett Barn - 10-01-2017

10-01-2017 - LANGSETT BARN

A flying visit to the Waxwing flock which was around 70 when I arrived. I was informed it had been up to 105 that morning. Poor light but the birds were very settled and finished off the berries in quick time. A few photos. If you are interested there are a few more to look at on my blog    garrobirds.blogspot.co.uk























Tuesday, 10 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

New in this morning was a male Pochard. This afternoon both our resident Buzzards were sat side by side in a low hawthorn.  (one smaller than the other, which I took to be the male) On the feeders were Coal Tit, Willow Tit and a gang of Long-tailed Tits. A Cormorant flew in and at least 2 Water Rails called.
Bittern came out at 15.00hrs (I had just left) and posed until close to darkness when it climbed the reeds. (Dave Standish)

Nether Cudworth Sewage works
This morning there were c120 Pied Wagtails, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Linnet, 3 Meadow Pipits, 1 Redpoll and 3 Chiffchaff feeding together.

Wintersett + Gull Roost. 10.01.17

5 - 7 degrees with 8/8 and a cold, gusty westerly.
Anglers CP: Green Woodpecker 2 + 1 MLPond + 1 Disposal Point.
Disposal Point: Redpoll 40.
Wintersett Res:  Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male west bank marsh + 1 west bank.
WRes. Gull Roost: Gull numbers were poor tonight.  It got dark early and made viewing difficult.
Just one notable was picked up.  A 3rdW Iceland Gull flew in at 16.20hrs.

The Edge 10/01/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 1 Mute Swan, 117 Canada Geese, 191 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 21 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 3 Goosander, 2 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 11 Moorhen, 1 Coot, 192 Golden Plover, 35 Lapwing, 58 BH Gull, 3 Common Gull, 2 Reed Bunting and 5 Redwing. K.Fisher had a male Stonechat near the corner pond.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 195 Canada Geese, 42 Teal, 39 Gadwall, 25 Wigeon, 23 Shoveler, 15 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 4 Mallard, 2f Goldeneye, 1 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 11 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 63 Lapwing, 15 Snipe, 35 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull.
TPT - 12 Redpoll and 1 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 5 Mute Swan, 29 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 11 Shoveler, 7 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 5 Teal, 2m +1f Goldeneye, 1m Goosander, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 216 Coot, 24 BH Gull and 3 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 2 Green Woodpecker, 2 Willow Tit and 1 Bullfinch.

Monday, 9 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

A Fox was hunting the embankment and Bittern showed well again from 15.29hrs until darkness fell - seen from the hide. (Dave Smith/Dave Standish)

The Michael Clegg Memorial Birdrace 2017

This annual event, in memory of the late Barnsley naturalist is held in early January to raise funds for conservation projects in Yorkshire. Teams from all around Yorkshire spend the day recording as many bird species as possible in their chosen recording areas and the 'winners' are the team who record most on the day. This year, three teams covering the Barnsley recording area took part, two had free reign to travel within the boundaries and one stuck to the Lower Dearne Valley (chiefly Old Moor) and saved valuable time not travelling in the vehicle.
The two 'travelling' teams scored totals of 92 and 87 respectively whilst the Dearne Valley team recorded a magnificent 90 in their relatively small area. Highlights from the day included;- White-fronted Goose, Pintail, Jack Snipe, Mediterranean Gull, Glaucous Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Ring-necked Parakeet, Cettis Warbler, Bearded Tit, Crossbill.
The three teams between them recorded a total of 106 species and other species recorded on the day but not by the three teams included;- Bittern, Iceland Gull, Waxwing, Dipper, Chiffchaff and Raven,
A minimum of 112 species were recorded in the Barnsley area on the day, probably a record for any day in January, ever.

The highest scorers in the whole event were a team in the York area who recorded 105 species, closely followed by the Goole area with 98 species. A total of 18 teams took part and are raising money to help the 'Yorkshire Twite Recovery Project' this year.

Sunday, 8 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 08.01.17

6 - 8 degrees, calm with 8/8 cloud.
Anglers CP: Green Woodpecker 1. Cormorant 10. Shoveler 8.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 1 ringed male, boathouse reeds + 1 south east corner. Water Rail 1 south east corner+ 1 boathouse reeds.  Goosander 6Yellowhammer 31 south west field.
ACP Gull Roost Notables:  A juvenile Iceland Gull flew south at 14.37hrs.  An adult and a 1stW Yellow-legged Gull were in.   2 juvenile Glaucous Gulls flew in - the dark one  at 15.50hrs and the pale one at 16.20hrs.
WRes. Gull Roost: An adult Mediterranean Gull was picked up at 15.30hrs and an adult Yellow-legged Gull was in.  A Woodcock flew over at dusk. 

Caspian Gull video Anglers CP 01Jan2017 (+ small dark LBB Gull)
per Jonathan Wasse@JohnoGull

Carlton Marsh

This  afternoon with Dave Standish - Buzzard, Kestrel, Great Spot Woodpecker, Kingfisher, 2 Jay, 2 Willow Tit, 20 Jackdaw a few GBB Gull & Herring Gull going SW and 4 Water Rail. Bittern gave really good views from the hide when it came out to its favourite preening spot at 15.50hrs. It did a bit of feeding and a lot of preening, standing seemingly content for 45 minutes, before climbing the reeds for 5 minutes. Then when it was almost dark, it disappeared back into the reeds.

Saturday, 7 January 2017

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 07.01.17

6 - 9 degrees, with 5/8 - 8/8 cloud this morning and a very light westerly. 
Anglers CP: A Brambling flew over..
Birds ringed today included a Mealy Redpoll,  11 Lesser Redpoll,  4 Chaffinch and 1 Reed Bunting.
Cold Hiendley area:  Grey Wagtail 1.  Grey Partridge 11.  Chiffchaff 1.
Haw Park Wood: Siskin 35  + 2 ACP.  Nuthatch 3.  Treecreeper 2.  Goldcrest 10 + 1 HPLane.
Wintersett Res: 331 Pink-footed Geese going west -   100 + 130 at 08.50hrs + 50 at 10.20 + 51 at 15.00hrs.  38 Golden Plover flew over west.   2 male Cetti's Warblers - boathouse reeds and west bank.   Water Rail 2 + 1 CHRes.
WRes. Gull Roost: 
Notables: Visiting birder, Daniel Langston, picked up a pale juvenile Glaucous Gull flying in at 15.25hrs.  It left south at 15.35hrs.   An adult Yellow-legged Gull was picked up at 15.55hrs.  A dark juvenile Glaucous Gull (looked like bird from Wednesday 4th) was in from 16.20hrs.  An adult Mediterranean Gull was seen at 16.40hrs and a 1st W Caspian Gull was also seen.
Totals: Great Black-backed Gull 140,  Herring Gull 1500,   Lesser Black-backed Gull 7.  At dark lots of big gulls were still coming in from Hampole.
Other Critters: A large Bat was over WRes. at dusk.  A Weasel was seen on Haw Park Lane. 

                                    Juvenile Glaucous Gull              WRes.   CSwaine

                         Pale   Juvenile Glaucous Gull            WRes,  SDenny    


   Juvenile Glaucous Gull                           WRes.   CSwaine

Tarn center 7/1/17.

Struggled to find the time to do any shopping with the Waxwing flock around the 30 figure when they flew up Sheffield rd. around 2-30pm. Peregrine which looked like an adult was perched preening on the eastgate side of the new tech. opposite the chronicle building. The Pied Wagtail flock was in good numbers late last night on kendray street.

Carlton Marsh

Around 120 Pink Feet flew NW over Cudworth at 14.42hrs then over Carlton Marsh. (K. Bannister/C. Parkin)

Newmillerdam - 7 January 2017

Calm, dry day and all the ice had gone from the lake.

100 pink-footed geese flew overhead west at 9am which was a nice start. Visited Seckar Wood and picked up green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker and kestrel on the heathland and redwing (5) in the fields west of the wood.

On the lake at Newmillerdam, Canada goose (31), moorhen (8), coot (32), goosander (10 - 5m/5f), grey heron (1), tufted duck (27), mallard and mute swan (6).

The mute swans are 1 adult and 5 of last summer's sygnets. The other adult was seen dead in the water today. The corpse looked in reasonable condition, so I'd imagine it must have died in late December.

Plenty of chatter from coal tits today (8) and a mistle thrush in the arboretum. Also picked up my first jays (3) from the site this year. Another kestrel was sat on the wires again at Pennine Community off Wood Lane.

Friday, 6 January 2017

Newmillerdam - 6 January 2017

About 20% of the lake was covered in a thin layer of ice that the mute swans cracked their way through.

Highlight was a great spotted woodpecker in Bushcliff Wood to add to the year list.

Also treecreeper (3), goldcrest (5), little grebe (3), kingfisher, Canada goose (29),coal tit, goosander (2m, 2f) and tufted duck (37).

Carlton Marsh

No reports for today, but this is the photo that should have gone in the Barnsley Chronicle a couple of weeks ago. We don't normally seek publicity, but on this occasion it had to be commemorated. Thanks to a bit of cajoling from our local elected member, it appeared in this week's edition. For those of you who don't get the Chronicle, here are the names of the people on it.
Standing from left to right Rod Heeley, Dick Laverack, Ralph Hibbert, Chris Parkin, Ziggy Golebewski, Russ Boland (at the back), Councillor Charlie Wraith, John Coldwell & Dave Tattershall.
The three stooges at the front are the founding members of Carlton Marsh, Keith Bannister, Cliff Gorman & Eric M. Bennett.


Royston
80 Pink Feet  flew west at 10.45hrs (R. J. Boland)

Ardagh Glass- Monk Bretton
A Peregrine Falcon circled the chimney nearest to Carlton before landing on it at 14.30hrs. (D. M. Smith)

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 06.01.17

2 - 3 degrees, with 8/8 cloud and a cold westerly breeze.
Ice: CHRes 80% ,  WRes 5%,  ACP 0%
Wintersett Res:  90 Pink-footed Geese flew over west at 10.40hrs.  Linnet 1 over.  Cetti's Warbler 1 singing male west bank.
Anglers CP:  A Dunlin flew over.  Green Woodpecker 1.  Wigeon 192 + 15 WRes..  Teal  24 + 15 WRes..   Pochard 32 + 4 WRes..  Gadwall 8 + 7 WRes.  Shoveler 8.
WRes Gull Roost: Lots of big gulls in tonight.
Notables: The leucisitc,  adult Black-headed Gull  was in at 15.25hrs,  an adult Mediterranean Gull at 15.35hrs.  A 3rd W Caspian Gull was picked up at 15.53hrs and the 3rd W Iceland  Gull was in at 16.12hrs. 

Thursday, 5 January 2017

Carlton Marsh

The water surface was 95% iced over. The best bits today were Goldcrest, Willow Tit, Little Egret came in to roost at 16.35hrs and Bittern flew in from Bleachcroft Farm  to roost at 16.40hrs. (Dick Laverack & CG)

Upper Cudworth
A female Brambling came to feed in Geoff Miller's garden this afternoon!

Wintersett + Gull Roosts 05.01.17

-1  to 3 degrees, cold and calm with clear blue sky.
ICE:   WRes 30%,   CHRes: 75%    ACP 0%
Anglers CP:   37 Golden Plover flew over.   Wigeon 161. Green Woodpecker 1.  Barn Owl 1.  Woodcock 1 at dusk.    
Wintersett Res:  A singing male Cetti's warbler was on the west bank.  Grey Partridge 6.  A Peregrine flew over at 15.20hrs.  A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds + 1 ACP.
Haw Park Wood: Siskin 8.
Both Gull Roosts were watched tonight - per Pete Smith and Kev Denny.
WRes: A 2ndW Caspian Gull was in at 16.25hrs.
ACP: A 3rdW Iceland Gull flew north at 14.35hrs, then returned to roost at 15.40hrs. Great Black-backed Gull  130,   Herring Gull 370 and Lesser Black-backed Gull 1.