Wintersett 30.06.17

11 - 13 degrees, cool with intermittent drizzle, 8/8 cloud and a light north westerly.
Anglers CP:  A Black Tern and 8 Common Tern were flying around.  Grey Wagtail 1.  Wigeon 1 female.
Wintersett Res: Oystercatcher 1.  A male Cetti's Warbler was singing on the ruin.
Mammal: A freshly dead hedgehog was on Ferry Top Lane.

Edderthorpe, weekly roundup

The water levels remain low on Edderthorpe Flash but the Wednesday/Thursday rains came just in time for Houghton Washland which was down to just two small pools of water on Tuesday and would have been dry by this coming weekend, but is now quite full again with no exposed mud edges.

The young Shelduck chick is close to fledging, the Shoveler brood from Houghton have relocated to Edderthorpe and there's another newer brood here too. Gadwall broods are at six and Mallard at 13, but disappointingly no Tufted broods yet - not really surprising with a Mink running riot on the river.

Waders have been the undoubted highlight with autumn passage already underway;
The family party of five Avocets moved from Houghton to Edderthorpe and were joined by another family party of five which bred and reared their three young at Adwick, further down the valley. Two more joined them on Wednesday and the flock was up to 13 by Thursday and Friday.
Oystercatchers peaked at seven on Sunday. Two fine male Ruff arrived on Tuesday staying to Friday at least. A Curlew is present most early mornings and seems to be roosting here.
Ringed Plovers peaked at 17 on Tuesday (8 juveniles) and Little Ringed Plovers on Wednesday when eight were present (3 juvs). Green Sandpipers up to three are usually on Houghton and the first returning Common Sandpiper was today. A maximum of five Redshank and the only Dunlin was on Wednesday as were the first returning Black-tailed Godwits when seven were present.

Wintersett 29.06.17

11 - 13 degrees with drizzly start. Dry from mid morning with 8/8 cloud and a light north westerly.
Anglers CP:  Common Tern 5.  Oystercatcher 2,  Coot 45.
Moorhouse Lane Ponds: Gadwall  11 small young on Big Pond.  3 small/medium on Skimmer Pond.
Wintersett Res:  A Curlew  flew over high SW at 19:00.
Mammal: A Stoat ran across Haw Park Lane.

Wintersett 28.06.17

11 degrees with  rain all day and a cool north easterly.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 2.  Common Tern 5.  Wigeon 1 female.
Wintersett Res: Cormorant 1.

Wintersett 27.06.17

Cool 10-14 degrees, drizzly start, with 8/8 cloud.  Dry but dull by mid morning with  a cool easterly breeze.  Drizzly rain again by late morning.
Anglers CP:  A male Yellow Wagtail was feeding 3 fledged young on the north east rock edge.  Common Tern 8.  Oystercatcher 2.   Wigeon 1 female.   A Willow Tit was in the south west corner 16.35hrs.
Wintersett Res:  A brood of young Cetti's Warblers were heard in the ruin area, with the male Cetti's Warbler alarming.

Wintersett 26.06.17

13 - 16 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a south easterly breeze.
Wintersett Res: 12 Sand Martins flew south west - the first Autumn movers.  3 Oystercatchers flew over.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 3.
Ringing Highlights: Cetti's Warbler 1 juvenile male.  Goldcrest 1 juvenile.  11 Blackcap.  3 Garden Warbler.   5 Reed Warbler .    9 Chiffchaff .   2 Whitethroat  and 5 Willow Warblers.

Carlton Marsh

A couple of shots sent in by Tony Harding today.

 Blue-tailed Damselfly

Vixen & cub

Wintersett 25.05.16

Up to 16 degrees with  8/8, but decreasing, cloud and a cool westerly wind.
Anglers CP:  A Little Egret dropped into the shallows at 09.45hrs and left west at 09.58hrs.
Common Tern 8.  Grey Wagtail 2.  Wigeon 1 female.  Oystercatcher 2 adults.  Canada Goose 14 young. 
Odonata:  Ruddy Darter 4  tenerals - first for the year.   MLPonds 

                       Ruddy Darter teneral                   MLPond    ASmith

Hordron Road to Upper and return, 25/6/17.

Drizzle the problem here and almost a disaster when the rain got worse. Refuge was taken in the upper hordron barn with the weather clearing at 1-30 with good light. Barmings area had 1 chipping Snipe, Oystercatcher, Golden Plover, 2 juv Red Grouse and 2 Kestrels. Further up just before the long moor clough stream a family party of Stonechats with a male and 2 juvs showing. Lower hordron barn area had male Wheatear, 1 chipping Snipe, C Buzzard 3, Stock Dove 1 pair. Upper hordron barn area had 1 possibly 2 Merlin, 1 imm. Peregrine, 5 C Buzzard, 1 Kestrel. Raven 1 pair, Golden Plover 2, Stock Dove 1 pair, 13 LBB Gulls which spent all aft.on the moor. Also Mistle Thrush 6, 2 Redpoll over, 1 male Reed Bunting, 1 Lapwing chick, trickle of 15 Swifts going w. late aft. I assume the Ring Ouzels have gone with none seen anywhere.

Wintersett Saturday 24.06.17

A quiet day.
A Hobby was hunting near Santingley at 09.35hrs.  A Red Kite flew south over Moorhouse Lane Ponds at 10.00hrs.    The Pink-footed Goose is with the Greylag Geese on Anglers CP.
Odonata: Wintersett Res:  A Migrant Hawker was off the south west bank and a Brown Hawker was off the west bank. 

Reed Warbler with Chimney Sweeper Moth   WRes   23.06.17   CSwaine

Carlton Marsh

A full grown immature Greylag succumbed to a Dog Fox this morning near the wader scrape. It cached its kill before taking the cubs to look at it. Garden Warbler, Buzzard and Peregrine were the only birds of note today.
Insects
Chris Parkin counted 14 species of butterfly that included 15 Comma, 14 Small Skipper, 6 Red Admiral, Small Copper and 324 Ringlets.
I saw our first Brown Hawker, Banded Demoiselle and 3 Southern Hawkers.

Saturday 24/6/17.

Nothing at all audible at Wilthorpe Marsh just after midnight. Couple of hours at Low Moor this aft just produced the usual stuff with a Curlew chick showing close and 2 displaying Snipe showing well. Also, 2 Oystercatchers, 4 LBB Gulls, Siskin 2, Buzzard, Kestrel. At Broadstones res. a Red Kite went north at 4-15pm and 2 Quail still singing.

Wintersett 23.06.17

16 - 18 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a  moderate south westerly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2.  Grey Wagtail 1.  Pink-footed Goose 1.
Walton Hall: Red Crested Pochard 1 eclipse drake.  3 young Green Woodpeckers were just out of the nest.
Haw Park Wood: A Red Kite flew in at 16.30hrs.

Juvenile Green Woodpecker    WHWood    ASmith

Wintersett 22.06.17

15 - 18 degrees with 8/8, but decreasing cloud this morning, sunny spells this afternoon.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2.  Pochard 1 male.  Gadwall 10.  Oystercatcher 3.
Haw Park Wood: Willow Tit 1.
Botany Bay: Mallard 7 large/fledged young.
Wintersett Res: Great Crested Grebe 1 sitting. 
Overnight Moth Highlights: Blackneck 1.  Beautiful Hooktip 1.  Dingy Shears 1.

Langsett 20/6/17

Richard Laverack sent me these photos from the Langsett area (yesterday) . We saw Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Curlew, Spotted Flycatcher, Wheatear, Dipper and Grey Wagtail.  Raptors included Buzzard and Sparrowhawk. There were at least 20 Mistle Thrushes and I thought I heard a Nightjar 'churring' at the far side of the Res. where they have the cut trees down? 

Wintersett 21.06.17

17 - 21 degrees with sunshine, scattered but increasing cloud and a light southerly.
Anglers CP:  Common Sandpiper 1.  Black-necked Grebe 1 in summer plumage.  Common Tern 3.  Grey Wagtail 1.  Pink-footed Goose 1.
(A late addition)  A calling Green Sandpiper flew south ACP at 22.40hrs. 
Odonata: The male Lesser Emperor and the male Red-veined Darter were off the south and east bank at Anglers CP.     A male Lesser Emperor was viewable from the bench in Pits Wood,  on the south east bank, Wintersett Res. from 15.00 - 15.30hrs.

Wintersett 20.06.17

15 - 18 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a light north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 1.  Pochard 1 drake.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Greylag Goose 70.  Canada Goose 126.  Canada X Greylag Hybrid 4.  Grey Wagtail 1 south.
Wintersett Res: Herring Gull 1.  Cetti's Warbler 2 males - north bank and west bank.
Ringing Highlights: Green Woodpecker 1 adult male.  Willow Warbler 5.  Chiffchaff 4.  Willow Tit 2.  Reed Warbler 3.  Garden Warbler 3.  Blackcap 3.  Long-tailed Tit 6. 
Overnight Moth trapping produced:  Red-necked Footman - 2nd record for this site.  The Shark 1.  Dingy Shell 1.  Dingy Shears 1. 

 Adult male Green Woodpecker   JHolliday

 Juvenile  Long-tailed Tit      JHolliday

Red-necked Footman    2nd site record      JHolliday

Carlton Marsh

Geoff Carr came this evening to ring our Barn Owl owlets. There were just 2 huddled up together. On route we noticed at least 100 Small Tortoiseshell larvae on a nettle patch. A kingfisher was busy nearby and  a shoal of about 20 Chub were coming up for flies.

Wintersett 19.06.17

18 - 22 degrees with scattered cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 4 adults + 2 young.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Wigeon 1 female.  Herring Gull 5 .
Golf Course Pond: Greylag Goose 23 large young.
Overnight Moth trapping produced a good variety:  Beautiful Hook-tip 4.  Marbled White Spot 2.  Green Silver-lines 1.  Scallop Shell 2,  Dingy Footman 1.  Golden Plusia 1.  Small Yellow Wave 1.  Lilac Beauty 1.  Clay Triple-lines 1.  Pinion-streaked Snout 2.  Beautiful Carpet 1.  Pine Carpet 1. 
Odonata:
The Lesser Emperor and the male Red-veined Darter  were present off the eastern bank ACP. 
2 Four Spotted Chaser,  a Large Red Damselfly  and a pair of Broad bodied Chasers were on the GCPonds. 
Mustelid:  The Mink is still frequenting the islands, swimming underwater to avoid being mobbed!

Four-spotted Chaser      GCPond   ASmith

Edderthorpe & Houghton

Slowly getting a bit of an autumnal feel down here the last week, more especially this morning when the first Green Sandpiper has returned. Good news is that Avocets have reared young for the first time in six years - the pair hatched 4 eggs and despite low water levels and a marauding Fox family have managed to rear three of the chicks to the flying stage, they took their first short flights this morning. The pair of Shelduck are well on the way to fledging their single chick too.
Teal began arriving back last week with up to 4 present and there are up to 18 Shoveler in various stages of moult with at least 1 brood of chicks around.
Ringed Plovers are slowly building up, mostly birds from the nearby Symphony fenced area, peaking at 12 this morning and with a good number of juveniles amongst them. LRPs are present with up to 4 adults but no juveniles have appeared yet. Redshank peaked at 14 last week, all adults with no fledged juveniles seen yet.
Large gulls are coming in to loaf around the flash mid morning which is unusual here at this time of year - up to 80 Lesser Black-backs and 21 Herrings and all (except the semi-resident pair of LBBGs) are immatures in various grotty stages of moult and wear. A pair of Common Terns made a brief visit this morning.
The last singing Cuckoo (up to now) was heard on the 12th.

Moorland news 17th, 18th June 2017.

Very steady at low moor Saturday aft. but excellent views of 3 displaying Snipe. Also Sparrowhawk with prey, chased into midhope res. woods by about 20 Swallows, Buzzard 1, Kestrel 1, Siskin 2, Jay 1. Some low life has stolen the feeding station seed feeder. On the way here a Green Pecker was at the bypass entrance to fox valley shopping centre. On Saturday night birds in evidence but only Woodcocks showing. - Ewden stone circle track to first stone wall, 1 churring Nightjar, 1 roding Woodcock, 1 calling Golden Plover,1 displaying Snipe, 1 ad. Tawny Owl over Mortimer road on the way to Gill Royd Lane junction. Here, 1 churring Nightjar, 1 roding Woodcock, 2 displaying Snipe, 1 calling Golden Plover. Nearby in Spring Moor wood 4 calling juv. Long Eared Owls. On Gill Royd Lane, 1 calling juv Tawny Owl. Today in the ewden valley, very steady but 3 Hobbys. 1pair were hawking insects in the white carr area and another rear of the lodge over broomhead moor. Also, 2 Kestrels, hard to believe no Buzzards, 1 displaying Snipe, 2 calling Golden Plovers, 5 Red Grouse chicks, 3 Meadow Pipit fledglings.

Wintersett + Damsels and Dragons 18.06.17

18  to 26 degrees with sunshine and a light westerly breeze.
Anglers CP:  Common Tern 6 + 2 WRes.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Greylag Goose 64. Wigeon 1 female. Gadwall 2 small young. Pochard 1.
Botany Area:  A male Yellow Wagtail was on George's path.
Moorhouse Lane Ponds: Mallard 4 small young.
Wintersett Res:  A Cuckoo and a Grasshopper Warbler were heard on the north east bank.
Overnight Moth Highlights: Beautiful Hooktip 3,  Scarce Silver-lines `,  Marbled White Spot 1,  Dingy Shell 1,  Beautiful Carpet 1 and Pinion-streaked Snout 1.
Odonata: There was a good variety, but very low numbers of Dragonflies and Damselflies considering the weather was spot on!
At ACP: A male LESSER  EMPEROR was very mobile off the east bank.   A rare for here, Banded Demoiselle was seen off the south bank by Mick Hemingway.  Red-veined Darter 1 male.
Moorhouse Lane/Disposal Point Area. : Azure Damselfly 1 male.  Large Red Damselfly 1.

Record shots but easily identifiable

 Lesser Emperor Dragonfly 

taken by Paul Meredith.  Anglers CP

Wintersett Saturday 17.06.17

Up to 26 degrees,hot and sunny with a little scattered cloud and a very light south westerly.
Cold Hiendley Res: Black-headed Gull 1 juvenile.
Wintersett Res: Black-necked Grebe 2 in summer plumage.  A male Cuckoo was singing in the south west corner. Common Tern 1 + 3 ACP.
Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1.  Greylag 63 in wing moult.  Canada Goose 15 young.  Great Crested Grebe 4.   2 Lapwing chicks were in the Golf Course field.
Odonata:  Red-veined Darter 1 male and Brown Hawker 1 ACP.

                       Male Red-veined Darter                     ACP      PMeredith

Carlton Marsh

On the warmest June day so far 27c, Garden Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Buzzard, Collared Dove (a scarce bird here) 2 Goldcrest in Scots Pine, is also unusual at this time of year! LRP and Lapwing are back on the wader scrape after the floods recently.

 Willow Tit

Sedge Warbler

A Bank Vole was happily feeding 3ft up in an Elder on the fresh green leaves.

Insects included 10 Ringlet, 4 Meadow Brown, 6 Large Skipper, a female Black-tailed Skimmer, a male Broad -bodied Chaser and 10+ Four Spotted Chasers.

 Female Black-tailed Skimmer

Ringlet

Wader Scrape

The 2 Med Gulls briefly at Old Moor mid-aft.

Wintersett 16.06.17

16 - 23 degrees with scattered cloud and a westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1.  Cormorant 4.  Wigeon 1 female.  Great Crested Grebe 3.  Common Tern 4.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull, was flying around at 10.40hrs. The mink was seen again today. It attempted to predate an adult Coot,  but failed.

The Edge 16/06/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 4 Mute Swan, 2+6y Greylag, 2 Shelduck, 28 Gadwall, 12 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, 9 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 9 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 26 BH Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 drumming Greater Spotted Woodpecker on Doveside, 5 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Linnet and 2 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 53+2y Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 21 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 3 Little Grebe, 38 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 55 BH Gull and 1 Common Tern.
TPT - Singing males 7 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap and 2 Whitethroat.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 24 Gadwall, 19 Tufted Duck, 14+3y Pochard, 7+6y Mallard, 3+2y Great Crested Grebe, 3+1y Little Grebe, 53+3y Coot, 1 Moorhen, 140+ BH Gull (with 14 young visible on the islands) and 7 LBB Gull. Also present were 1 Buzzard and 1 Green Woodpecker.

Wintersett 15.06.17

17 - 24 degrees with scattered cloud and a light south westerly.
Wintersett Res: Herring Gull 8.  Greylag Goose 3.  Common Tern 2 + 3 ACP.   Mallard 5 young.
Anglers CP: Wigeon 1 female.  Pink-footed Goose 1.   A bit of Autumn movement  with 4 Curlews west at 17.00hrs.   The mink was on the right hand island in front of the hide.  It swam across to the bank and, presumably, made its way southwards along the edge, because the Oystercatchers feeding in the area didn't alarm call.
Lepidoptera: The first Ringlet was flying in the Millenium Copse behind the hide.

Carlton Marsh

Busy today so not much time to look. Cuckoo, Coal Tit and Little Grebe were calling while broods of Mallard, Gadwall, Coot, Canada Goose, Greylag and Grey Wagtail were tended by the adults.

Butterflies included 17 Ringlets, male Brimstone, 3 Red Admiral, and 7 Common Blue. Emperor Dragonfly and Banded Demoiselle were on the wing and the first 5 Spot Burnet Moth was also airborne. (Chis Parkin/CG)

Rod Heeley, CG, Keith Bannister, Dave Tattershall and Dave Smith

Cudworth

A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was feeding on Honeysuckle in Geoff Miller's garden this evening and 3 were feeding on Spur Valerian on the railway, near Cudworth Station earlier. (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 14.06.17

A humid 16 - 20 degrees, with scattered, increasing cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP:  The first thing I saw when I looked from the hide was a mink on the Sand Martin Box!  Two pairs of Sand Martins were flying around desperate to feed their young, sadly, to no avail.   Common Tern 6 +2 WRes.
Ringing Highlights: Blackcap 14.  Chiffchaff 12.  Tree Creeper 3.  Cetti's Warbler 2 (an adult female and a juvenile, on the ruin),  Garden Warbler 1,  Whitethroat 1,  Reed Warbler 1,  Coal Tit 1 and Willow Tit 1.
Lepidoptera:   Meadow Brown and Large Skippers were seen in small numbers   6 Chimmney Sweeper moths were on the north east bank WRes. 
Odonata:  Emperor 1 and Four-spotted Chaser 3. 

            Mink predating Sand Martin                       ACP   ASmith

The Edge 13/06/2017

Broomhill Flash late AM- Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 41 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 31 Tufted Duck, 21 Gadwall, 20+ Mallard, 4 Pochard, 1 male Wigeon, 4 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, 40 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 11 Lapwing, 72 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull.
TPT - Singing males 9 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Blackcap, 4 Whitethroat, and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Also 1 drumming Greater Spotted Woodpecker and 5 recently fledged Blackcap being fed by their parents.
Bolton Ings  early PM - On the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 19 Tufted Duck, 7+5y Pochard, 5 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 4+4y Great Crested Grebe, 6+2y Little Grebe, 56+6y Coot, 130+ BH Gull ( with 14 young visible on the islands ) and 2 LBB Gull. Also present 1 Kestrel.
Wombwell Ings mid afternoon - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 3+6y Greylag, 22 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 7 Mallard, 5 Shoveler, 8 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 7 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 18 BH Gull, 4 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail and 3 Linnet.

Broadstones 13th June

 

Stonechat showing well at midday as well as Whitethroats, Willow Warblers and Linnets

Wintersett 13.06.17

A very warm and humid morning. Up to 19 degrees this afternoon with 8/8 but diminishing cloud and a moderate south westerly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 8.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Grey Wagtail 1.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's  Warbler 4 males heard.

Wintersett 12.06.17

12 degrees with 8/8 grey drizzly cloud and a gusty westerly.
Anglers CP: A Pink-footed Goose was in with the Canadas and Greylags this morning.  Common Tern 3 + 5 WRes..  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull, was mobbed by the nesting Black-headed Gulls, as he flew around the shallows.  Oystercatcher 3 young.  Teal 1 male.  Wigeon 1 female.  Gadwall 10.  A very lucky  Canada Gosling escaped from an attack by a  male Mute Swan.

Cudworth Common & the Symphony enclosure

The fenced area around the Symphony factory at Cudworth Common gives a good illustration of what birds could be breeding if predators, dogs and human disturbance are either removed or kept to a minimum. The following are all breeding within the confines of this fenced area;-
Greylag Goose 2 broods.  Lapwing 13 pairs with another pair on the Common - early broods do not appear to have fared well with most young perishing, however, many birds are again sitting on eggs and a few broods are appearing again. Ringed Plover 8 pairs with some young already fledged, a few broods of chicks and at least 1 pair still sitting on eggs. Little Ringed Plover 2 pairs present. Redshank 2 pairs with another pair with chicks on the Common. Skylarks are common in the area as well as over the Common (there are very few places Skylark could be classed as common around the Barnsley area).
Unfortunately the ponds on the adjacent Cudworth Common have been badly disturbed this year. Low water levels has seen much of the water areas dry up and has made the islands easily accessible to dogs and humans. Trail bikes, quad bikes and even 4WD vehicles have been driven all over the site and very little wildlife is on there this summer. Mute Swans have still hatched 5 cygnets though and a pair of Redshank  have chicks.

Unfortunately the 

The Edge 12/06/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 3+6y Greylag, 14 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 6 Tufted Duck, 2 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 11 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 8 Lapwing, 3 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 16 BH Gull, 3 Skylark and 4 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 34 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 23 Tufted Duck, 19 Gadwall, 18 Mallard, 10 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Little Grebe, 37 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 11 Lapwing, 1 Sparrowhawk, 68 BH Gull and 2 LBB Gull.
TPT - Singing males 5 Chiffchaff, 4 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 4 Greylag, 1 Canada Goose, 16 Tufted Duck, 10 Gadwall, 4+3y Pochard, 4 Mallard, 9+4y Little Grebe, 4+4y Great Crested Grebe, 57+5y Coot, 160+ BH Gull, 5 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 1 Green Woodpecker, 100+ Swift and 1 singing Sedge Warbler.

Wintersett WeBS for June 2017

Here are the WeBS counts for the Wintersett Area 11th June 2017

Mute Swan 8 + 12 young.   Canada Goose 124 + 18 young.   Greylag Goose 50.   Canada Goose X Greylag Goose Hybrid 4.   Great Crested Grebe 16.   Coot 86.   Moorhen 7.   Mallard 68.   Gadwall 5.   Tufted Duck 24.   Cormorant 2.   Lapwing 20.   Oystercatcher 5.   Common Tern 6.   Arctic Tern 1 (1st summer).  Little Ringed Plover 1.

Wintersett 11.06.17

12 - 15 degrees with sunshine and scattered cloud with a moderate, gusty, south westerly.
Wintersett Res: Arctic Tern 1.   Common Tern 6.  Cetti's Warbler 4 males heard.
Anglers CP:  Oystercatcher 5.  A Little Ringed Plover flew west.  Green Woodpecker 1.

Wilthorpe Marsh 10/6/17.

Very quiet here but still a couple of suprises with a Little Egret with plume. Not seen before here in the breeding season and not expected till autumn. A wing damaged LBB Gull was on an island on the river but sadly didn't look capable of flying. Also, 2 Oystercatchers, feeding party of 50+ House Martin, feeding party 12 Stock Doves, 1 ad. Green Pecker, 2 breeding pairs of Kestrels with 1 pair on pylon and the other in a building on edge of industrial estate.

Wintersett 10.06.17

Mild, 10 - 13 degrees with 8/8 cloud and drizzly rain until late morning.
Anglers CP:  Common Tern 6.  Teal 1 drake.  Lapwing 48 adults on the shallows.  Oystercatcher 3 young, but one with an injured wing.
Walton Hall:  Red-crested Pochard 1 drake.  Wigeon 1.  Gadwall 10   Mute Swan 7 young. 

Wintersett 09.06.17

10 - 12 degrees with scattered cloud and a westerly breeze.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 2. 
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 7 adults + 3 young.   Curlew 1 in back field.

Ringing Recovery

Sand Martin
L488465   pullus    11/06/2013   Old Moor.
              controlled  09/05/2017  Carr Vale, Bolsover (Derbyshire).

sexed as a male.   34 km S.   1428 days.

Carlton Marsh

This a recent photograph celebrating 40 years of our Annual Natural History Report.

Dave Smith & CG (Scott Bairstow)

 Tony Harding sent in these shots of Fox today.

Wintersett 08.06.17

Warm, 12 - 15 degrees with scattered , then increasing cloud,  and a south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Teal 1 male.  Common Tern  2 + 2 WRes.. 
Pits Wood: Goldcrest 1 male.
Wintersett Res:  4/6 Cetti's Warblers were heard today - north bank, north east bank,  west bank and ruin.

The Edge 08/06/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 21 Canada Geese, 13 +6y Greylag, 15 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 8 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 5 Lapwing, 3 Redshank, 12 BH Gull, 40+ Swift, 50+ House Martin, 4 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail and 4 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Highlight was a Barn Owl hunting over Clegg's Meadow and the old tip. Also present were 2+6y Mute Swan, 33+2y Canada Geese, 29 Tufted Duck, 18 Mallard, 13 Gadwall, 4 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Little Egret, 33 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 5 Lapwing, 43 BH Gull and 1 Herring Gull.
TPT - Singing males 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap and 2 Song Thrush. A Kingfisher was seen along Knoll Beck.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 18 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 3+1y Great Crested Grebe, 7+4y Little Grebe, 49 Coot, 130+ BH Gull and 2 LBB Gull. A pleasing sight was over 200 Swift hawking low over the eastern  pool for insects. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Kestrel, 1 Jay, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Whitethroat and 2 Bullfinch.

Wintersett 07.06.17

10 -14 degrees with scattered cloud and a moderate to strong south westerly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 5 + 1 WRes..   The 3 young Oystercatchers are growing fast. (The 3rd young has avoided detection for the past 5 days!)  Cormorant 2.   Mallard young 8 small/medium + 5 medium/large WRes,,
Wintersett Res:  Part of the  dead crack willow, on the edge of the road,  came down overnight but was cleared away by 08.30hrs.  The nest of the Great-crested Grebe on the north east bank has been washed away by the strong winds. 
Lepidoptera: A Brown Argus was on the sheltered area between the west bank and the ruin area.

3 young Oystercatchers - spot the master of disguise.       ACP  ASmith  

Wintersett 06.06.17

10 degrees, cool with steady rain for most of the morning and a gusty, strengthening westerly.
Anglers CP:  Common Tern 3 + 3 WRes..  Oystercatcher 2 young.  Mallard young 4 small + 2 medium/large + 1 large, also 8 small on Botany Bay.
Wintersett Res: House Martin 100.

The Edge 06/06/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 35 Canada Geese, 17+6y Greylag, 21 Gadwall, 13 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Grey Heron, 10 Coot, 3 Moorhen, 12 Lapwing, 3 Redshank, 12 BH Gull, 2 singing Skylark, 3 Pied Wagtail, 4 Linnet and 2 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 59+2y Canada Geese, 29 Tufted Duck, 27 Mallard, 10 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 29 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 8 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 24 BH Gull, 4 LBB Gull and 1 Herring Gull.
TPT - Singing males 7 Chiffchaff, 6 Willow Warbler, 3 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 17 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 6 Mallard, 3+1y Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 42 Coot, 170+ BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Carlton Marsh

The only things of note reported today were LRP, Brown Hare and Hedgehog. (K Bannister/Rod Heeley)

The Edge 05/06/2017

Wombwell Ings - Nice to be back on the Ings after a week's birdwatching in the Cairngorms and then a week in the Peak District with the family. A quiet reintroduction to the Edge with 1 Mute Swan, 29 Canada Geese, 15 Greylag, 23 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 8 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 9 Lapwing, 2 Redshank, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 2 Skylark, 7+ Pied Wagtail and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 18 Canada Geese, 23 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 7 Pochard, 6 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Kestrel,  28 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 44 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull, 1 Herring Gull and 1 Common Tern.
TPT - According to Seev  birds more vocal today than during the past week with 8 Willow Warbler, 6 Chiffchaff, 2 Blackcap and 2 Song Thrush singing.
Bolton Ings - Highlight was a Bittern. Typically its location was given  away by the circling Black Headed Gulls as it made a short flight along the front edge of the east pool at 11.30am. About 20 minutes later circling gulls again gave its position as it flew towards Old Moor. On the the open water were 2+6y Mute Swan, 17 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 5 Pochard, 3 Mallard, 5+5y Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 40+2y Coot, 150+ BH Gull and 3 LBB Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Song Thrush, 2 White Throat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 2 Reed Bunting.

Wintersett 05.06.17

10 - 14 degrees with 8/8 cloud and rain from 10.00hrs with a south westerly wind.
Anglers CP:  Gadwall 10 + 2 WRes.. Oystercatcher 2 young.  Black-headed Gulls with young all appear to have failed.  Just one adult Black-headed Gull is sitting on an island.
Wintersett Res:  A mesmerising, swirling flock of 800 Swifts were feeding over and around. the water.   Common Tern 6.

Carlton Marsh

A big thank you to members of our Wildlife Group, who did a fantastic cleaning up job in the car park area recently, in readiness for the Yorkshire In bloom Competition coming up soon.
Two Little Ringed Plovers were seen copulating this morning on the Wader Scrape (Jim Plant). Also of note today, Grey Wagtail and Peregrine.
A Large Skipper butterfly was our first this year.

Carlton Memorial Lake
Common Tern (Dave Smith)

Cudworth
A Humming-bird Hawk-moth was in Chris Parkin's Barnsley Road garden feeding on Spur Valerian and Verbena.

Wintersett DNA Results for the interesting Chiffchaff of 20.05.17

Many thanks to Dr J. Martin Collinson for the DNA analysis and speedy result of the interesting Chiffchaff caught and ringed at Wintersett on 20.05.17.

Here's the reply:-
"Your Chiffie (Wintersett Res, 20 May 2017 – our ref CC211) came in just as we were doing a batch of chiffies so we were able to do it straight away. I’m afraid its cytb sequence was nominate collybita rather than ibericus.  Of course that doesn’t rule out a hybrid, but if it seems the in hand criteria need tweaking I’ll happily contribute to writing this bird up."

Here are the  pictures showing the Chiffchaff with many of the 'ibericus' features.   + comments made at the time.
Comment by  GJ Speight
strikingly long bill with all yellowish under mandible
lack of a pale eyering
bright yellow soles to feet
lemony wash to vent
can't see the rump but it ought to be slightly brighter than the rest of the upperparts
these are all pro Iberian features.
Comment by P Smith
Also note the long supercilium being bright yellow and broad in front of the eye. Another good feature of Iberian Chiffchaff.

Low Moor 4/6/17.

11-45am to 4-30pm. Greeted by high winds and heavy rain. Changing weather with sun but sometimes cold. Falcons were Hobby, Peregrine and 2 Kestrels. Also 6 C Buzzards, displaying Snipe 6, 100+ House Martins, Siskin 5, LBB Gull 7, Oystercatcher 2, Jay 1.

Wintersett 04.06.17

10 - 15 degrees with scattered cloud and a westerly breeze. Short drizzly showers in the afternoon.
Anglers CP:  Oystercatcher  4 adults + 2 young
Wintersett Res: A Cuckoo was singing on the north east bank.  Common Tern 1.   Tawny Owl 1fledged young.   11 Tree Sparrow juveniles were near the boathouse.  6  male Cetti's Warblers were singing this morning.  
Lepidoptera:  Painted Lady 1 Disp. Pt and 1 Wsett Village.,  Common Blue 2,  Small Heath 1     Orange Tip 1 WRes.    Dingy Skipper 2.
Odonata:  2 Red-eyed Damselflies  BotanyBay.

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlights were; Gadwall with 8 new very small young, Coot with 8 new young, Oystercatcher south at 19.41hrs, 2 singing Garden Warblers, 3 Buzzards, Barn Owl hunting from 21.20hrs and the first of this year's juv Kingfishers were ringed. We have a Reed Warbler that does a cracking imitation of a Bullfinch, before reverting back to its usual song!

Well done with catching the Marsh Warbler Pete, I remember seeing the one you had near the ruin 28 years ago. It only seems like yesterday.

Wintersett 4th record Marsh Warbler 03.06.17

16 - 19 degrees with sun, scattered cloud and a very light westerly. 
Wintersett Res: A MARSH WARBLER was singing at 06.30hrs,  and later,  caught and ringed.  It wasn't seen or heard after release.  This is the 4th record for this area, the last being 28 years ago!   A juvenile Nuthatch and 4 independent juvenile Chiffchaffs were also caught and ringed.  The first brood of  young Cetti's Warblers were heard calling on the west bank.  A Kingfisher called off the north bank.
Walton Hall: The drake Red-crested Pochard has relocated to Walton Hall lake.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 4 aduts + 2 young.  Mute Swan 4 + 5 young.  Grey Wagtail 2.  Greylag Goose 42.
Ringing highlights: Marsh Warbler 1.  Reed Warbler 2.  Garden Warbler 1.  Whitethroat 1.  Lesser Whitethroat 1.  Chiffchaff 4.  Nuthatch 1.  Blackbird 1.
Odonata: A Broad-bodied Chaser was cruising the west bank WRes..
Here's a great selection of in the hand photos of the Marsh Warbler,  taken by Jonathan Holliday.

Nuthatch  juvenile                             WRes    JHolliday

Wintersett 01.06.17

16 - 19 degrees with sun and scattered, but increasing cloud, and a westerly breeze.
Moorhouse Lane Big Pond:  The drake Scaup is still present.
Disposal Point: Grey Partridge 2. 
Anglers CP:  Little Ringed Plover 1.  Willow Tit  2.    Teal 1 male.  Oystercatcher 3 young.
Wintersett Res: Just 2 Cetti's Warblers singing quietly today - NE bank and Ruin area.   Archie had excellent news from the NE bank this morning. He  caught and ringed a female Grasshopper Warbler with a brood patch.   A Barn Owl flew over low, towards Cold Hiendley Res. at 19.14hrs.
In May we added 4 new birds to the Wintersett  year list, bringing the year to date total to 151