Wintersett 31.08.17

14 - 18 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cool north westerly.
Today Steve Denny and Paul Meredith counted a total of 91 Chiffchaffs and 14 Blackcaps  in the area.   This morning Chiffchaffs -  41 car park (and adjacent bits of HPLane), boathouse area (as far as bench) and north bank (up to and including just over road by Botany Bay)   24 between boathouse bench and west bank bridge.  This afternoon:14 between Botany railway path  and Disposal Point,

8 at north end of ACP and 4 near main hide. 

Blackcaps  5 this morning, 4 this afternoon.. Steve also had 5 on west bank WRes.

Wintersett Res:  2 Tree Pipits went south at 06.45hrs, 1 over ruin field and 1 over north bank. 

Cettis Warbler 1 'chacked'  north bank + 1 sang briefly on the north side of Botany Bay.  3 + Goldcrests  were in the boathouse area.  Treecreeper 1 .  Swift 26.  House Martin 100.   Tree Sparrow 70 on the north bank. Sedge Warbler 1 on west bank.   Willow Tit 1 south east corner.

Disposal Point: Coal Tit 1.

Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1.  Shoveler 2.

Odonata: 2 Black-tailed Skimmer, south end ACP  this afternoon.
In August we added 6 new birds to the Wintersett  year list, bringing the year to date total to 160.

The Edge 31/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Highlight was a cream -crowned Marsh Harrier that circled twice over the back field and the ings before heading north east over Cat Hill at 8.35am. Also present were 169 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 13 Gadwall, 4 Teal, 3 Tufted Duck, 3 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Moorhen, 214 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 11 BH Gull and 1 Pied Wagtail.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 274 Canada Geese, 29 Greylag, 174 Mallard, 90 Gadwall, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 4 Pochard, 20 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 122 Coot, 12 Moorhen, 25 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 BH Gull, 3 LBB Gull,1 Kingfisher, 2 Swift and 11 Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1+3y Mute Swan, 131 Greylag, 81 Canada Geese, 12 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 3 Mallard, 11 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 28 Lapwing and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Low Moor late aft. 31/8/17.

Bright and sunny with good amounts of cloud to block the sun. Very steady birding with Red Kite, Sprawk, C Buzzard 6, Kes 4, Curlew total 8 included a party of 4 all low e over res. Mistle Thrush flock 30, GS Pecker 1, Siskin 1, Reed Bunting 1 fem., LBB Gull 2.

Wintersett 30.08.17

13 - 18 degrees with 4/8 cloud and a cool north westerly.
Wintersett Res: A Tree Pipit flew over the west bank at 07.22hrs.    2 Whinchats were present on the north bank this evening.  Cetti's Warbler 1 male. A Black-tailed Godwit flew over at 11.28hrs and
5 more  and 5 Redshank flew south west this evening.  Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult. Swift 10.   (28 Chiffchaffs were counted from carpark to boathouse and north bank from 19.30 - 20.30hrs)
Disposal Point: A Peregrine was seen this morning.
Moorhouse Lane Pond:  3 Wigeon.
Ringers Pete, Jonathan and Archie had an excellent morning,
A total of 119 birds were ringed at Wintersett Res..  
Highlight was another TREE  PIPIT at 08.50hrs, the first to be ringed since 2008!  Also  43 Chiffchaffs,  9 Willow Warblers,  26 Blackcap,  a Garden Warbler, a Whitethroat, 9 Reed Warblers and 3 Sedge Warblers.
Wintersett Res Gull Roost: 68 Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  11 Yellow-legged Gulls. 13 Swifts over and a juvenile Hobby hunting at dusk.

 

Tree Pipit  Wintersett Res.  J.Holliday

                                                                

Whinchat   North bank,            Wintersett Res      CSwaine

The Edge 30/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 91 Canada Geese, 37 Greylag, 35 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck,  1 Mallard, 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron,  2 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk,  253 Lapwing, 2 Black Tailed Godwit,  14 BH Gull and 2 Pied Wagtail.
 Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan,  141 Canada Geese,  8 Greylag, 114 Gadwall, 144 Mallard, 8 Tufted Duck, 6 Pochard, 4 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 22 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 132 Coot, 10 Moorhen, 18 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 calling Greenshank over, 28 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 6 Swift  and 5 Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 167 Greylag, 28 Canada Geese, 13 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 7 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 47 Coot. Also present were 5 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker,  and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Carlton Marsh

Yesterday's Pochard was still on the main scrape and 3 Meadow Pipits flew south at 12.50hrs. Also present 2 Willow Tits, Whitethroat, Peregrine, Green Sandpiper, Little Egret, Buzzard and Gt. Spot Woodpecker

5 Red Admiral were feeding on the same Buddleja and a male Southern Hawker was very obliging allowing me to pick it up.

A Fox was on the prowl. The photographs were taken by Dave Standish.

Wintersett 29.08.17

14 - 16 degrees with showers up to 08.45hrs, then dry with  8/8 cloud, and a light north westerly.
Wintersett Res: A WHINCHAT was on Phragmites off the north bank - new for the year list.  The drake SCAUP is still present. Whitethroat 1.  Cormorant 2,  Swift 6,  Sedge Warbler 1,  Lesser Whitethroat 2.    30 Mute Swans were in the area - 5 WRes. + 13 CHRes.  + 12 ACP
Anglers CP: Yellow-legged Gull  2 adults,   Shoveler,  Mallard 115 + 10 WRes..  
Critters: A Green-veined White was on the SW bank WRes..   A juvenile Hedgehog  (deceased) was on FerryTop Lane, SE WRes..

                               Whinchat   (Record shot)     WRes             CSwaine

Wilthorpe Marsh 29/8/17.

Late aft. Oxbow pond - Green Sand 4, L.Egret, ad W Rail showing well, singing Blackcap. W end - Starling flock 200+. Top conditions on the river for fish watching with Chub showing from both footbridges.

'Birding in Kazakhstan'

A presentation by Colin and Linda Graham on Monday 4th September - 7pm at Highstone Farm.
All Welcome.

Directions to Highstone Farm (S70 6NN): From the M1, junction 37, take the A628 (Dodworth Road) to Barnsley. At the first main cross road and traffic lights turn right onto the A6133 (Broadway Road). At the 2nd set of traffic lights turn right onto Keresforth Hall Road, go past Locke Park car park and take the 2nd left (sharp turn) on to Race Common Lane (a no through road). Highstone Farm is approximately 0.3 mile on the right.

The Edge 29/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - The Environment Agency are doing some work on the ings, during the next 7-14 days, that  requires the use of heavy machinery,  so there may be some disturbance to birdlife. Please park sensibly on Highgate( Old Pontefract Road ) to allow easy access for heavy vehicles.
     Present were 3 Mute Swan, 208 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 45 Mallard, 28 Gadwall, 5 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 127 Lapwing, 1 calling Greenshank  and 33 BH Gull.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 43 Canada Geese, 34 Greylag, 115 Mallard, 85 Gadwall, 13 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 25+ Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 127 Coot, 13 Moorhen, 2 Buzzard, 25 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 BH Gull and 1 Swift.
Bolton Ings - Highlight was a Bittern climbing up the reeds to give good views for ten minutes at 12.32pm, before flying 150 metres west and landing in the reeds behind the left hand end of the left island. On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 2 Greylag, 14 Gadwall, 7 Mallard, 7 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 3 Shoveler, 8 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 LBB Gull and 57 Coot. Also present were 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 17 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 juvenile Green Woodpecker, 2 Swift, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Bullfinch.

Wintersett - Noctule Bat and Vapourer Moth from 27.08.17

A couple more pictures from Pits Wood Bats and Moths evening Sunday 27th August 2017 

Noctule Bat          Pits Wood                  CSwaine

Vapourer Moth  Pits Wood   APreece

Carlton Marsh

New in today was a Pochard in eclipse plumage. Also of note Kingfisher, Green Sandpiper, 4 Grey Heron, 2 Teal, Water Rail, Buzzard, 2 Willow Tit and Coal Tit. 2 Swifts were seen in Cudworth today.

A vixen and her 3 well-grown cubs were playing near the wader scrape.

Buterflies included Red Admiral 2, Peacock 1, G. V. White 2, and c20 Speckled Wood.
A second brood Flame Carpet Moth was disturbed from near the hide.

The Alder leaf Beetle seems to be ever present in large numbers on Alnus glutinosa.

The sawfly Tenthredo scrophulariae, determined J.D. Coldwell recently, is still being seen on around Common Figwort. A total of 4 together have been seen over the past week.

Royd Moor (Chris Parkin)
7 Wall Brown, 5 Small Copper and the Large Rose sawfly Arge pargana.

Wintersett + VisMig 28.08.17

17 - 20 degrees, sunny with 2/8 cloud and a south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP VisMig: 07.00 - 12.00hrs.  Hooray - Some movement today.  
Going south: Swallow 118.  Sand Martin 13.  House Martin 37.  Meadow Pipit 2. Yellow Wagtail 1 and  Grey Heron 1.   Linnet 6 west .  Lesser Black-backed Gull 66 north west.  11 Curlews flew in from the south at 09.10hrs, and left north west.   2 Black-tailed Godwit flew in at 10.30hrs.
Anglers CP: A Black Tern was flying between ACP and WRes. from 08.05, still present WRes late afternoon.   2 Nuthatch flew past watchpoint.  Whitethroat 1 on the Pol. Greylag Goose 109.  Psycho, the adult Yellow- legged Gull came in this afternoon.
Haw Park Wood: Hobby 3
Cold Hiendley Res: A drake Scaup was found by Pete Smith this afternoon.  Gadwall 101.  Shoveler 1 + 3 ACP.
Wintersett Res: Swift 6. 
Lepidoptera:  Red Admiral 1 ACP.

                      Black Tern       ACP                PMeredith

Ewden lodge and return 28/8/17.

The wind much stronger today and blowing straight down the valley making birds more difficult to see. Still, new in were 3 Spotted Flycatchers together in the first plantation on the way up and a Yellow Wagtail flew up the valley here low, calling. I got the Osprey message here but failed to see anything. Too windy at the lodge and not much expected but 2 cc Marsh Harriers were together over white carr. Also 6 C Buzzards, 5 Kestrels, 4 Ravens, 30 Meadow Pipits, Curlew 1. On the way down a single Stonechat was just past the s bend and a Whinchat possibly yesterdays, was in bracken just up from the dried up stream near the first stone wall.

The Edge 28/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 2 Canada Geese, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 73 Lapwing, 25 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 2 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, c30 House Martin, 1 Wheatear, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 139 Canada Geese, 41 Greylag, 1 Shelduck, 127 Gadwall, 83 Mallard, 11 Tufted Duck, 6 Shoveler, 5 Teal, 3 Pochard, 21 Little Grebe, 6 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 121 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 55 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 41 BH Gull and 1 Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, 12 Tufted Duck, 11 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 4 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 12 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe and 47 Coot. Also present were 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Swift and 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker.

Ewden lodge and return 27/8/17.

Top conditions, bright, good light, sunny and warm. At the entrance gate Nuthatch and Treecreeper with about 70 Swallows feeding up over the wood and moors. Steady trickle of House Martins and Swallows going south all afternoon up the valley. A bright coloured Whinchat possible moulting ad male was on the stone wall on right of track. Meadow Pipit total about 60 with some going s at the lodge. Raven total 4, Siskin 1 and a mobile pair of Curlews. Raptors were a cc Marsh Harrier showing well at times, firstly reported by Charlie Buller, 10+ C Buzzards with 11 up at the same time. Juv Peregrine showed a few times, Kestrel 6+, Sparrowhawk 1. Lastly a very high and distant ringtailed harrier went n. It showed a white rump eventually and was thought to be a Hen Harrier but impossible to be 100 per cent sure. Almost forgot, 5+ Stonechats at the s bend.

Wintersett + Evening update 27.08.17

17 - 19 degrees with 1/8 but increasing cloud, and a cool south westerly.
Anglers CP VisMig: 07.00 - 12.00hr  Going south Swallow 1.   Swift 1 + 9 blogging.  Meadow Pipit 1  + 1 west.  Where are all the birds?
Anglers CP: Canada X Greylag Goose hybrids 5.  Shoveler 3.  Pink-footed Goose 1. 14 Common buzzards in 2 kettles (8&6) were up late morning.
Wintersett Res: Hobby 1.  Water Rail 1 west bank. 
86 birds were ringed:  REDSTART 1 1st year male. (new for year).  Chiffchaff 30.  Willow Warbler 6.  Blackcap 12.  Garden Warbler 2  Reed Warbler 12.  Sedge Warbler 3.  Goldcrest 1.  Swallow 6.
BAT WALKs yesterday and today  in Pits Wood organised by Alan Preece, the owner,  revealed and confirmed  8 species of bat:- Brown Long-eared, Noctule,  Liesler's,  Common Pipistrelle,  Soprano Pipistrelle,  Daubentons,  a Whiskered/Brandts sp, and a  Nathusius'Pipistrelle  recorded on Chris Swaine's Echo Meter.
Moths trapped yesterday and today in Pits Wood were: Large Yellow Underwing,  Lesser Broad Bordered Large Yellow Underwing,  Six striped Rustic,  Green Carpet,  Square Spot Rustic, Snout, Vapourer, Copper/Svenson's Underwing and Straw Dot.

Nathusius' Pipistrelle Sonogram    Pits Wood.   CSwaine

3 cracking photos of the Redstart taken by ringer Becky Bailey.

Carlton Marsh

A Peregrine, 2 Little Egrets and a Green Sandpiper were present this evening.

Low Moor/ Wilthorpe 26/8/17.

Very quiet at both sites. 2pm to 4pm at Low Moor - pair of Ravens showed well, 5 Kestrels, Siskin, GS Pecker. Wilthorpe Marsh this am, Green Sand 1 and RN Parakeet heard only near tinkers pond spooked by soaring Kestrel.

Wintersett 26.08.17

15 - 18 degrees with clear sky at 08.00 but gradually increasing cloud  through the morning, and a cool north westerly again!
Anglers CP Vis Mig: 08.00 - 09.30hrs  Yellow Wagtail 1 and Swallow 1 both going south.
Anglers CP: An increase in Pochard from 12 yesterday to 41 this morning.   Swift 2.  Pink-footed Goose 1.
Wintersett Res: A Lesser Whitethroat was on the west bank.
Lepidoptera: A Green-veined White and a Red Admiral were at ACP.  A Common Blue and a Brown Argus were on the Disposal Point.  A Small Heath and a Small White were at Moorhouse Lane Big Pond. 
Odonata: , Common Darter,  Ruddy Darter and Emerald Damselfly were on the Disposal Point, Southern Hawker and Blue-tailed Damselfly were around Moorhouse Lane Big Pond.

Wintersett 25.08.17

17 - 19 degrees with sun, scattered cloud and a very light north westerly.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig. to 09.00hrs. Very quiet again. 6 Sand Martins,  6 Swallows and a Greenfinch south.
Anglers CP: Pochard 12.  Shoveler 4.
Wintersett Res: Little Grebe 1.  Common Tern 2 adults + 1 juvenile. A Cetti's Warbler was singing on the west bank, briefly.   Swift 1 flew over.  Meadow Pipit 1 south.
65 Birds were ringed today.  Highlights:- Chiffchaff 22,  Willow Warbler 4,  Blackcap 10,  Whitethroat 3,  Reed Warbler 8,  Sedge Warbler 1,  Goldcrest 1 and Goldfinch 7.   A Garden Warbler was retrapped.
Wintersett Res. Gull Roost is beginning to build up.
 94 Lesser Black-backed, 1500 Black-headedGulls,  3 adult Yellow-legged Gulls were roosting this evening.
Coleoptera: This beetle Anthocomus rufus was found on the west bank Wintersett Res by Pete Smith.and photgraphed by Jonathan Holliday

Anthocomus rufus

 

 

 

Wintersett 24.08.17

16 - 18 degrees with scattered cloud and a light westerly.
Anglers CP: Redshank 1.  Tree Sparrow 60.  Teal 3.  Little Grebe 5.  Pochard 8.  Lesser Black-backed Gull 117.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the small raft.
Wintersett Res: Swift 4.  Common Tern 2.  Water Rail 1.
50 birds were ringed today. Highlights were: Chiffchaff 23,  Willow Warbler 3,  Reed Warbler 2  Blackcap 2 and Whitethroat 1.

The Edge 24/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 9 Canada Geese, 4 Tufted Duck, 3 Teal, 2 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 1 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Moorhen, 2 Sparrowhawk, 185 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 Golden Plover, 24 BH Gull, c50 Goldfinch and 9 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 113 Canada Geese, 16 Greylag, 107 Gadwall, 56 Mallard, 17 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 23 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 141 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 2 Buzzard, 23 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 41 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 3+ Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - Highlight was a Bittern that flew west along the back edge of the east pool at 12.25pm, before dropping into the reeds. A few moments later it climbed up some reeds and gave very good views for about five minutes. On the open water were 2+3y Mute Swan, 4 Greylag, 3 Canada Geese, 10 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 10 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant and 58 Coot. Also present were 2 Kestrel, 2 Swift and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Bits from Higham

Yesterday
12 Swift in a tight feeding group early morning.
Today
9 Buzzard in two soaring columns, 3 Snipe sw, 17 Swift w, 3 Yellow Wagtail s, c50 House Martin s in two groups and a Hobby catching insects really high.
All in between some outside DIY!

Carlton Marsh

Looking back a Great Crested Grebe flew south on Monday 21st.  (K. Bannister) On Tuesday 22nd 2 Water Rails called, 3 Swifts were still here and 35 Canada Geese flew in.

Today Wednesday 23rd A single Teal, Kingfisher, Buzzard, Kestrel, Little Egret, Green Sandpiper and 2 Willow Tits.

Butterflies included 2 Red Admiral, 1 Comma and 1 Peacock.

Dragonflies on the wing were Brown Hawker, Emperor, Migrant Hawker and a male Banded Demoiselle.

Wintersett 23.08.17

16 degrees with 8/8 cloud, heavy rain, thunder and lightning, from 09.30 - 10.45hrs.
Cold Hiendley Res: A Green Sandpiper flew over at 07.30hrs.
Anglers CP: A flock of 6 Greenshank flew over in rain at 10.00hrs.  Pochard 8.  Teal 4.  Shoveler 1.  Little Grebe 4.
Wintersett Res: A redhead Goosander left west at 11.35hrs.  Common Tern 2.

The Edge 23/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 165 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 31 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 3 Moorhen, 198 Lapwing, 5 Dunlin, 3 juvenile Curlew ( Apologies for misidentifying them as Whimbrel ), 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 7 BH Gull and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 138 Canada Geese, 21 Greylag, 127 Gadwall, 97 Mallard, 11 Tufted Duck, 8 Shoveler, 5 Pochard, 25 Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 132 Coot, 7 Moorhen, 18 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper and 3+ Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+2y Mute Swan, 92 Canada Geese, 41 Greylag, 9 Gadwall, 5 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 7 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 47 Coot, 2 Moorhen and 1 LBB Gull. Also present were 1 Grey Hero, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 2 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 5 Swift and 2 Bullfinch.

Wintersett 22.08.17

16 - 19 degrees with 3/8 cloud and a very light southerly breeze.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig:to 07.45hrs  Going south - Sand Martin 81.  Swallow 1.  Swift 2. Disappointingly no waders.
Anglers CP:  Pochard 9,  Teal 3,  Common Tern 1 adult,  Pink-footed Goose 1 and Yellow Wagtail 1 over. 
83 birds were ringed today, including: 20 Chiffchaff,  18 Willow Warbler,  15  Blackcap,   9 Reed Warbler,  1  Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Whitethroat.

 

Alder Tongue Gall  Taphrina alni, caused by an ascomycete fungus infecting the scales of female alder catkins.  Information per @oxycera.  The alder tree behind Anglers CP main hide has at least 25 of these  plant galls on it.  Two more trees, on the main path going north.  have a small number of the same plant gall.

The Edge 22/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 83 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 41 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 4 Moorhen, 154 Lapwing, 9 Black Tailed Godwit, 5 Dunlin, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 7 BH Gull, 1 Wheatear, 2 Pied Wagtail, 2 Yellow Wagtail and 1 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 48 Canada Geese, 35 Greylag, 130+ Gadwall, 80+ Mallard, 10 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 20 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 119 Coot, 9 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk, 23 Lapwing, 5 Black Tailed Godwit, 5 Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper, 5 Red Legged Partridge and 12+ Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, 27 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 5 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 10 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 51 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Buzzard, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 4 Lapwing, 2 Jay and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

Wintersett 21.08.17

12 - 17 degrees, with 2/8 cloud and a cool southerly.
Disposal Point: A Spotted Flycatcher was to the left of the green barrier on the concrete path.     Peregrine 1 juvenile.
Moorhouse Lane Pond: Wigeon 1 female.  Willow Tit 1. Tufted ducklings 5.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 1. Cetti's Warbler 1 west bank. Yellow Wagtail 1 over.  Water Rail 1.
Haw Park Wood: Hobby  1 adult + 1 juvenile.
Cold Hiendley SF:Grey Wagtail 2. A mixed flock of 150 Goldfinch and 100 Linnets were feeding in the stubble fields
Anglers CP: Little Grebe 4 adults + 2 juveniles.  Pochard 2.  Pink-footed Goose 1. Green Woodpecker 1.
97 Birds were ringed today.  Highlights were: Chiffchaff 28,  Willow Warbler 7,  Whitethroat,  Lesser Whitethroat,  Garden Warbler 4,  Blackcap 16,   Grasshopper Warbler 1,  Sedge Warbler 2,  Reed Warbler 15,  Sand Martin 6,  Swallow 1 and Goldcrest 2 juveniles..
Lepidoptera: Speckled Wood 2.   Small White 1,  Green-veined White 4 and Small Tortoiseshell 1.

(Record Shot)    Spotted Flycatcher    Disposal Point.   CSwaine

Lesser Whitethroat ringed              WRes.    RBailey

The Edge 21/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 27 Canada Geese, 20 Mallard, 15 Gadwall, 6 Shoveler, 4 Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 3 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk, 214 Lapwing, 8 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Golden Plover, 31 BH Gull and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 39 Canada Geese, 29 Greylag, 150+ Gadwall, 70 Mallard, 9 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 23 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 117 Coot, 11 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 18 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper and 10+ Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1+1y Mute Swan, 10 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 10 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 2 Pochard, 15 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron and 49 Coot. Also present were 1 cream crowned Marsh Harrier, 1 Buzzard, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk, 3 Swift, 5 LBB Gull and 60+ Goldfinch.

Wintersett + VisMig 20.08.17

16 - 19 degrees with 1/8 cloud and a moderate, cold south west to westerly.
Anglers CP VisMig: 07.00 - 12.00hrs.  Not a lot moving again. A juvenile Arctic Tern flew south 07.15hrs. Dunlin 2 south.  Linnet 5 south.
Anglers CP: A Peregrine flew over.  A Merlin  flew west 11.35hrs.  Kestrel 3.   Pochard 5.  Pink-footed Goose 1. A female Grey Partridge with small young was in the Pol field.  Grey Wagtail 2.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull was on the small raft + 2 other adult/sub-adults were also around.  Common Gull 3 juveniles. Common Tern 1 adult + 3 WRes..   Lesser Black-backed Gull 3.
Haw Park Wood: 2 Hobbies were hawking over this morning,  and seen again this evening interacting over Cold Hiendley Res.   One was flying low over WRes. at 20.45hrs. Four species of falcon seen  in one day is a rare occurrence
Cold Hiendley Res: A SPOTTED FLYCATCHER was in the  hedge on the south east corner this afternoon, and still present at 20.00hrs. (new for the year list).
Critter: A partially eaten Grass Snake was seen in CHRes, SF field hedge.

                           Spotted Flycatcher                 CHRes     SDenny

                   Juvenile Common Gull              ACP    PMeredith

Ewden cabin and return + 20/8/17.

Ewden a bit too windy but dry with good spells of sunshine. 3 juv Ring Ouzels together showed well flying about near the lodge and then feeding on the track. Pair of Wheatears were showing well near the metal gate. 4 Stonechats were at the s bend but no sign of the recent Whinchat. Going south were 20 House Martins and a similar number of Barn Swallows. Total of 5 Curlews included a group of 4 blogging high, constantly calling, went west. 1 pair of Ravens showed a few times and raptors were 1 Red Kite, Peregrine 1 fem., 3 C Buzzards, 5 Kestrels. Very steady at Wilthorpe Marsh yesterday with 2 Green Sands and 2 Snipe showing well. Flock of 200 Woodpigeon and 1 Willow Tit on canal.

Carlton Marsh

Looking back over recent days a Spotted flycatcher was present on 18th (Dave Smith) Green Sandpiper, 3 Little Egret and Goldcrest on 19th (Jim Plant) and Peregrine and Willow Tit today (20th).

A Pipistrelle was out feeding in front of the hide from 11.07hrs to 11.47hrs!

Butterflies included 2 Red Admiral and Gatekeeper. A male Vapourer Moth was whizzing about in the sun.
Emperor, Migrant and Brown Hawker were present.

Wintersett 19.08.17

14 - 17 degrees with sun, 4/8 cloud, a cold westerly wind and a couple of short showers this morning.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig from 06.30 - 09.30 Nothing moving.
Anglers CP:  Pink-footed Goose 1. Cormorant 7. Wigeon 3. Pochard 4. Shoveler 1.  Little Grebe 4. Snipe 1.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull,  was on the small raft this afternoon. A Nuthatch visited the feeding station in the car park.
Haw Park Wood: Hobby 1.
Wintersett Res: Swift 40. Common Tern 3.
Lepidoptera: A Gatekeeper was on the west bank WRes.   A Red Admiral  was at ACP.

Dunford Bridge 19th Aug.

A new plant-gall for the Barnsley area (as far as I know), the spectacular tongue-like growth Taphrina alni, caused by an ascomycete fungus infecting the scales of female alder catkins.
Formerly rare but spreading.

The Edge 18/08/2017

Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 13 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 3 Pochard, 15 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant and 53 Coot. Also present were 1 Grey Heron, 3 Kestrel, 1 LBB Gull over, 1 yaffling Green Woodpecker and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Wombwell Ings early pm- Walked on to the sound of a singing Chiffchaff in the hawthorns alongside the Bulling Dyke. Present were 2 Mute Swan, 24 Greylag, 15 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 263 Lapwing, 4 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 54 BH Gull and 2 Linnet.

Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan,  57 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 33 Tufted Duck, 19 Mallard, 8 Pochard, 7 Shoveler, 21 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 138 Coot, 13 Moorhen, 2 Kestrel, 115 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 12 BH Gull and 1 juv Grey Wagtail. Also seen early AM by PWK were c120 Gadwall, 1f+1juv Peregrine, 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Snipe, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 4 LBB Gull and 8 Yellow Wagtail.

Silkstone Wagonway

At least 2 Spotted Flycatcher on the Wagonway and 9 Buzzards on the grassy bank above Low Mill Farm

Wintersett 17.08.17

16 - 19 degrees with 6/8 cloud and a south westerly wind.  Sunny and hot this afternoon for a couple of hours.
Anglers CP: Snipe 2, Teal 1,   Pochard 6.
Stubbs Wood: Sparrowhawk 1 young calling.  Buzzard 1.
Haw Park Wood: Hobby 1 juvenile.
Cold Hiendley Res: Little Grebe 2.  Shoveler 1.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 4.
Moorhouse Lane Pond: Wigeon 1 female,  Gadwall 29, Tufted Duck 5 medium young.
Lepidoptera MLPond:   Gatekeeper 1,  Small Heath 4 and Common Blue 2.
Odonata MLPond: Emperor 6,  Ruddy Darter 20,  Common Darter 4,  Blue-tailed Damselfly 3, Migrant Hawker 1 and Souther Hawker 1 female + 1 HPWood.

Wintersett 16.08.17

18 degrees with sun, light scattered cloud and a cool, light southwesterly.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig: A Tree Pipit flew south west at 07.00hrs. (new for the year list).
Anglers CP: Pochard 6.  Snipe 3.  Common Sandpiper 1,  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull came in, and was seen later on the small raft.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 2 ( 1 ad + 1 juv).  Grey Wagtail 1.
Odonata: Black-tailed Skimmer 1 ACP.

another one for Cliff

Is this a Hebrew Character?

On thistle at Low Moor watchpoint.

The Edge 16/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Highlight was the Spotted Flycatcher that Ken Foundation and I noticed briefly at 9.54am  in the hawthorns near the Broomhill Park kissing gate entrance. Also present were 1 Mute Swan, 35 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 33 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 3 Lapwing, 36 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash -2+6y Mute Swan, 8 Greylag, 5 Canada Geese, 73 Gadwall, 23 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 8 Pochard, 6 Shoveler, 18 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 10 Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 167 Coot, 27 Moorhen, 34 Lapwing, 4 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 1 Sparrowhawk, 34 BH Gull and 5 Yellow Wagtail.
 Bolton Ings - Best sighting was a Marsh Harrier being mobbed by three Kestrels over Bolton tip at high noon. On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 6 Gadwall, 6 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 1 Mallard, 10 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, and 41 Coot. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Lapwing, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Bullfinch and c50 Goldfinch.

The Edge 15/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 4 Mute Swan, 14 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 44 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 12 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 5 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 37 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Common Sandpiper, 29 BH Gull, 2 Pied Wagtail and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 3 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 76 Gadwall, 24 Tufted Duck, 11 Mallard, 11 Shoveler, 8 Pochard, 22 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 137 Coot, 10 Moorhen, 63 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 41 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull and 2 Pied Wagtail. Early AM Chaz also had 2 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel and 10+ Yellow Wagtail.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1+1y Mute Swan, 11 Gadwall, 10 Mallard, 7 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 9 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant and 81 Coot. Also present were 60+ Lapwing, 1 Buzzard, 1 Grey Heron,  2 Bullfinch, 2 singing Willow Warbler and 1 singing Chiffchaff.

Little Ringed Plovers

A total of  four pairs have bred at or close to moorland/upland reservoirs this year and fledged a total of 10+ chicks.
With the exception of a pair that bred close to an upland reservoir, all young fledged relatively late in late July & early August.
The reason for this was no doubt the unsuitability of the reservoir sites until the falling water levels in mid May produced a 'shoreline'.
This total is double that of the previous best years of 1978, 1984 and 1992.

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape today 4 Little Egret, 2 Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher and a Yellow Wagtail. (K. Bannister/Rod Heeley)

Wintersett WeBS August 2017.

Here are the Wintersett WeBS totals for August 2017.

Mute Swan 12 + 11 young   Canada Goose 28   Greylag Goose 3   Pink-footed Goose 1.   Cormorant 1   Great Crested Grebe 28   Little Grebe 8   Coot 265   Moorhen 16   Mallard 79   Gadwall 30  Shoveler 2  Tufted Duck 299   Pochard 5   Goldeneye 1 female   Lapwing 24   Common Sandpiper 1  Grey Heron 1.  

    

Wintersett 14.08.17

Rain from 08.30 until 10.30hrs.  Up to 17 degrees with decreasing cloud, short sunny spells and a south westerly wind.
Wintersett:  Little Owl 1.
Anglers CP: Pochard 4.  Little Grebe 1. Pink-footed Goose 1.  Yellow Wagtail 1 over.  Psycho the adult Yellow-legged Gull dropped in. 
Bird Ringing was cut short by the rain this morning: Garden Warbler 4,  Blackcap 6,  Willow Warbler19,  Whitethroat 2.

                                   Psycho                 ACP            ASmith

The Edge 14/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 5 Mute Swan, 61 Mallard, 8 Gadwall, 2 Shoveler, 2 Tufted Duck, 1 Teal, 3 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 5 Moorhen, 22 Lapwing, 3 Dunlin, 2 Black Tailed Godwit, 1 Green Sandpiper, 29 BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull and 2 Linnet.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+1y Mute Swan, 29 Greylag, 1 Canada Goose, 21 Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 6 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 8 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 31 Coot and 1 Common Tern. Also present were 2 Cormorant, 1 Kestrel, 69 Lapwing and 2 Green Sandpiper over.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 28 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 44 Gadwall, 25 Mallard, 18 Tufted Duck, 10 Pochard, 19 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 144 Coot, 14 Moorhen, 76 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 19 BH Gull and 2 LBB Gull.

Carlton Marsh

5 Little Egrets ( a new site record) and a Green Sandpiper were on the wader scrape this morning. Also present 2 Buzzard, 2 Kingfisher and Treecreeper.

Wintersett + VisMig: 13.08.17

14 degrees, sunny with 0/8 cloud 06.45hrs. A very cold south westerly was blowing so it was 2 coats colder on VisMigHill.  Cloud increased through the morning to 4/8.  Up to 19 degrees this afternoon.
Anglers CP VisMig: 06.45 - 12.00hrs.   Going south- 2 Little Egrets at 07.15hrs,  Swallow 3,  Sand Martin 7,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Yellow Wagtail 1,  Reed Bunting 1.
3 Cormorants flew south east.  2 adult Common Gulls flew west.
Anglers CP: A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was in at 08.10hrs.  Common Tern 2.  Pochard 1. Mallard 48.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  5 Black tailed Godwits dropped onto shallows at 15:20hrs.
Cold Hiendley SF: Grey Wagtail 6.  Yellow Wagtail 2.  Sparrowhawk 1 + 1 WRes.
Wintersett Res: A Cetti's Warbler was in the south west corner.  40 Linnets were in the south west field.
Haw Park Wood: 2 Hobbies were mobbing a Buzzard.  Nuthatch 2.
Critter:  A Weasel was seen in HPWood.

 Juvenile Mediterranean Gull     ACP    PMeredith

5 Black-tailed Godwits          ACP              SDenny

                                                     Weasel                   HPWood    CSwaine

Ewden lodge + 13/8/17.

Good conditions but surprisingly poor for raptors. A Whinchat was among 5 Stonechats near the s bend and another Stonechat was at the lodge. Fem. Redstart was on the plantation fence just on the left at the entrance gate. Curlew 2, a pair of Ravens showed well a few times and a Snipe was flushed near the s bend. Sparrowhawk 1, have been scarce this summer, C Buzzard total about 8 includes a kettle of 6. Kestrel 5, Stock Dove 2, juv. Bullfinch 1. Wilthorpe Marsh this a.m. very steady with 3 Green Sand, L Egret, 5 Willow Tits.

Wintersett + VisMig. 12.08.17

17 - 19 degrees, sunny and warm early start, but cloud increased to 5/8 by mid morning, with a cold, moderate south westerly wind.
Anglers CP VisMig: 06.15 - 12.00hrs An OSPREY flew south at 09.45hrs, mobbed by 3 Hobbies and a Buzzard over Haw Park Wood.  A Buzzard flew south.  Little Grebe 1. 
Anglers CP: Grey Partridge 2 young in fields.  Pochard 4.  Lapwing 180.  Peregrine 1 over 08.35hrs.  Pink-footed Goose 1. 
Moorhouse Lane Big Pond: Tufted Duck 4 vs young. 
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 2. Swift 100.  Sand Martin 400 in area.

Red Underwing       ACP   CSwaine

Broomhill Flash 11.08.17

An obliging Common Sandpiper  taken by Ron Marshall at Broomhill Flash.

Wintersett 11.08.17

15 - 17 degrees with 8/8, but decreasing cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP Vis Mig. 0500 - 07.30hrs  Dunlin 1 over and a Little Egret flew west.
Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1. Pochard 1 drake. Green Woodpecker 1. Buzzard 1 adult + 1 fledged juvenile.
Wintersett Res: Dunlin 3 over at 06.15hrs.   A BITTERN flew over north at 07.50hrs.  A juvenile, female Cetti'sWarbler was retrapped.  A Barn Owl flew over HPLane at dawn.
Cold Hiendley Res: Common Tern 2.
63 Birds were ringed this morning. Highlights were: Willow Warbler 13,  Chiffchaff 11.  Blackcap 7,  Garden Warbler,  Reed Warbler 8,  Whitethroat 4 and Sand Martin 15.

Carlton Marsh Update

A Spotted Flycatcher was sallying for insects at the back of the main scrape this evening. Also present 2 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, juv Sparrowhawk attacking Wood Pigeons (unsuccessfully), Peregrine, 3 Jays, 2 Green and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker and Water Rail.
A Painted Lady butterfly was in my garden.

Wintersett 10.08.17

14 - 18 degrees with decreasing cloud throughout the morning, sunny and warm with a westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1.  Pochard 1.  Cormorant 4. 
75 birds were ringed today.  Highlights were: Blackcap 16,  Reed Warbler 8,  Chiffchaff 11,  Willow Warbler 13,  Linnet 6,  Treecreeper 1 and Yellowhammer 1.
Lepidoptera: Meadow Brown 1 and Gatekeeper 1.

The Edge 10/08/2017

Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 54 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 45 Gadwall, 25 Mallard, 21 Tufted Duck, 16 Pochard, 19 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 99 Coot, 10 Moorhen, 1 Sparrowhawk, 61 Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe, 29 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Common Tern and 1 Kingfisher.
TPT - 2 singing Willow Warbler, 1 Song Thrush and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+3y Mute Swan, 13 Gadwall, 8 Pochard, 6 Tufted Duck, 3 Mallard, 12 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 39 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 4 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, and 11 Shoveler over.
Wombwell Ings early PM- Present were 1 Mute Swan, 22 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 3 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Moorhen, 73 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Kestrel, 3 BH Gull, 40+ Goldfinch and 3 Linnet.

Carlton Marsh 9/8/17

A Bittern was perched in a large Willow at the far side of the main scrape at 13.00hrs. (Tony Harding)

Record shot from Tony Harding

Today 10th Management work on wader scrape flushed Little Egret and Snipe. Ragwort pulling and strimming vegetation.

Wintersett 09.08.17 + Eddethorpe Cattle Egrets

The rain finally stopped at 07.30hrs.  13 - 17 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cool northerly breeze.
Anglers CP: A juvenile Peregrine flew over north east at 09.30hrs and another, or the same bird, flew high over at 11.05hrs .   2 Dunlin and a Common Sandpiper were on the shallows.  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull flew in to the small raft, calling.  The adult eclipse drake Wigeon,  a Little Grebe and the Pink-footed Goose still present.
Wintersett Res: 7 Common Tern,  40 Swift and 300 Sand Martin  were in the area as we got a call and a text to say that 3 Cattle Egrets were flying north from Edderthorpe. (Thanks Ivan Martin and John Hewitt) 
We dashed to the dam wall but  within minutes, another call told us the Cattle Egrets were back at Edderthorpe.  A quick twitch over, got us great views before the Cattle Egrets flew off again.  We stopped at a high point in Cold Hiendley on the way back to Wintersett and scanned for a while , but no luck.   The 3 Cattle Egrets are the first in the Barnsley Area.  Hopefully they'll join the roost at Old Moor tonight. 

Cattle Egrets at Edderthorpe      Gary Stones

more on Twitter @StonesGary

Added  15.08.17  The Cattle Egrets didn't fly into the  Old Moor Roost, and weren't picked up elsewhere.

Wintersett 08.08.17

12 - 14 degrees,  with rain, rain and more rain and a cool northerly breeze.
Anglers CP:  An adult, eclipse drake  Wigeon was on the rock wall.  Pochard 1 m + 1 f.  Teal 8. Little Grebe 1.  Greylag Goose 38.  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Yellow Wagtail 2. 
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 4. Shoveler 4.  Grey Wagtail 4.
Mammal: A Mink was under and around the Sand Martin Box this morning.

Wintersett Monday 07.08.17

Sunny spells with a cool westerly wind.
Anglers CP:  Pink-footed Goose 1.  Little Grebe 1 + 2 CHRes..
Cold Hiendley Res: Shoveler 4.  Goldeneye 1 female.
Moorhouse Lane Pond: Wigeon 1 female. 
Wintersett Res: Swift 20.  Common Tern 7.   Garden Warbler 1 on west bank. 
Lepidoptera WRes:  A Painted Lady was on the east bank.  Gatekeeper 1.  Meadow Brown 1.

The Edge 08/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 110 Mallard, 55 Gadwall, 3 Shoveler, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 6 Moorhen, 52 Lapwing, 2 Greenshank, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 12 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 3 Pied Wagtail and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 20+6y Tufted Duck, 18 Gadwall, 12 Mallard, 11 Pochard, 1+5y Shoveler, 25 Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 152 Coot, 13 Moorhen, 89 Lapwing, 2 Greenshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Oystercatcher, 1 Redshank, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 16 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull.

Carlton Marsh

A Bittern was seen on the main scrape from the hide at 16.55hrs. It flew from the disused railway side of the scrape to the opposite bank and 5 minutes later it took another flight to a reed bed a little further along. (Dave Smith)
Also present 3 Little Egret (wader scrape) 3 juv. Sparrowhawk, 3 Peregrine, 2 Water Rail and a Fox.

The Edge 07/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 25 Canada Geese, 36 Greylag, 89 Mallard, 10 Gadwall, 2 Pochard, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 5 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 42 Lapwing, 11 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 juvenile Yellow Wagtail, c40 Goldfinch  and 3 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 40 Canada Geese, 45+ Gadwall, 19 Mallard, 17 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 25 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, 16 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 153 Coot, 18 Moorhen, 65 Lapwing, 4 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 45 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 3 Common Tern and 1 Sparrowhawk.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 29 Greylag, 3 Canada Geese, 14 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 1 Mallard, 8 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe and 75 Coot. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 1 Common Tern, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Bullfinch.

Carlton Marsh

2 Little Egrets were on the wader scrape and a Green Sandpiper flew north at 07.45hrs. 40 birds ringed today included 12 Long-tailed Tits, 5 Reed Warbler, 4 Blackcap, 3 Willow Warbler, 2 Chiffchaff, 2 Goldfinch and a Willow Tit. In addition a Chiffchaff that was ringed at Wintersett.

Butterflies included counts of 42 Peacock, 20 Red Admiral, 10 Comma, 2 Holly Blue, 2 Common Blue and 1 Small Copper. (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 06.08.17

15 - 18 degrees with 7/8 cloud and a light south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP + Vis.Mig: 8 Blacktailed Godwit flew south west 07.45hrs.   4 + 6 Cormorantsflew high west (after 12 doing same yesterday evening).  A Great Crested Grebe flew high northeast which is a little unusual.  The Pink-footed Goose is flying again.
Critters:  A Meadow Brown and a Black-tailed Skimmer were at ACP. 

Great Crested Grebe   flying high north east  ACP        PMeredith

Wath Ings, pm.

Wood Sandpiper at Wath Ings this afternoon

Ewden valley lodge + return 6/8/17. + w.m. 5/8/17.

Ewden - Mostly dry but too windy with bird views brief or poor. Very strong wind with drizzle ending it around 3pm. Seen were a calling Ring Ouzel flying up the valley which landed on a rock briefly then lost. CC Marsh Harrier seen twice, Hobby a few times, C Buzzard 3, Kestrel 5. Stonechat 4, Raven 1 pair, Curlew 1 and 21 Lapwings on and over broomhead moor. Yesterday at Wilthorpe Marsh oxbow pond 5 Green Sand, Peregrine, Willow Tit. Also displaying C Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and dry conditions making for good Chub watching on the river with a shoal of 12.

Wintersett 05.08.17

14 - 17 degrees with 4/8 cloud and a cool westerly wind.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig 06.30 - 12.00hrs Very quiet all morning.  Dunlin 1 south west.  Whimbrel 2 west at 09.40hrs. Cormorant 12 west.
Anglers CP: Green Sandpiper 2 stayed all day , left south west at 19.30  Psycho, the adult Yellow-legged Gull dropped in after a long absence.  10 Black-tailed Godwit were in this evening followed by another at 20.40hrs.   900 Black-headed Gulls left to roost on WRes..
A juvenile Grasshopper Warbler was ringed and a juvenile, female Cetti's Warbler was retrapped.
Wintersett Res: Redshank 1 north. Common Tern 12.   Kingfisher 2.
Odonata: Migrant Hawker 1 north east bankWRes.

Edderthorpe & Houghton weekly update

Still ideal water levels on Edderthorpe Flash, Houghton remains pretty full of water with no/little muddy edge.
Wildfowl are congregating quickly as each day passes with a good spectacle now each early morning. Canada Geese are up to 256 and Greylag Geese 266 as August begins. Mallard are also in good numbers - 556 on 5th August and should increase more as the cereal fields are beginning to be harvested. Up to 2 Garganey (eclipse drake and a juvenile) have been present since 25th July and are usually on the near edge (to the old railway), but Teal are struggling to reach double figures yet. Shoveler are increasing each day with up to 60 present on 5th August, and Gadwall peaked at 105.

The most surprising occurrence was of 17 Avocet on 2nd August which included a colour-ringed bird (no details yet). This is the largest count ever from Edderthorpe, as expected they were gone the next day but the following day (4th) a group of 9 (no colour-ringed birds) were present. A single adult Black-tailed Godwit was present throughout. Good numbers of Common Sandpipers are passing through with peaks of 7 on a couple of days and up to 3 Green Sandpipers are usually on Houghton. Little Ringed Plovers have mostly departed with just 1 or 2 remaining and Ringed Plovers are now less than daily with just a few passage birds being seen. A Sanderling was grounded in heavy rain on 28th July with another on 5th August. The first juvenile Dunlin of autumn appeared on 1st August. Lapwing still remain jittery after the recent Peregrine attention but up to 377 have been present the last few days

Wintersett 04.08.17

15 - 17 degrees with sun, scattered cloud and a westerly breeze.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig: Greenshank 2 dropped in 08.00hrs, then left south west.  
Anglers CP: Little Egret 1.  Pochard 1.  Little Grebe 1 + 1  CHRes..  Common Sandpiper 1 + 1 CHRes.  Buzzard 1 adult + 1 juvenile in Hare Park area.  An adult Hobby flew over + a 1st summer Hobby was over Botany Bay.
Cold Hiendley Res: Shoveler 4.  Goldeneye 1 female in wing moult. Tufted Duck 196, with most in wing moult.  
Moorhouse Lane Big Pond: Wigeon 1 female.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 17.  An adult Arctic Tern was in the north east corner.
Lepidoptera: A range of butterflies were seen in the area this morning, but not in any great numbers.
Meadow Brown 1, Small White 4 CHRes..   Brown Argus 1,  Holly Blue 1,  Green-veined White 1 and Gatekeeper 1 west bank WRes..   Small Skipper east bank WRes..  Brimstone 2 ACP.
Critters: 2 Mink were seen at Anglers CP.

The Edge 04/08/2017

Wombwell Ings -  Present were 3 Mute Swan, 19 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 29 Mallard, 1+3y Tufted Duck, 2 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 40+ Lapwing, 52 BH Gull, 1 Skylark, 3 Pied Wagtail, 10 Linnet and 30+ Goldfinch.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 35 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 45+ Gadwall, 30+ Mallard, 23 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 1+6y Shoveler, 28 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 128 Coot, 18 Moorhen, 2 Kestrel, 121 Lapwing, 4 Snipe, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 28 BH Gull, 3 LBB Gull and 2 Common Tern.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1+1y Mute Swan, 5 Mallard, 5 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard,11 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 43 Coot and 2 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 100+ Sand Martin and 1 Grey Wagtail.

Carlton Marsh

A Little Egret was present and Grasshopper Warbler is still singing.

Littleworth Park (Monk Bretton reclaimed spoil tip)

A Skipper butterfly taken on Friday 28th July, by Chris Parkin, was confirmed as Essex Skipper by Steve Mattock and David Smith yesterday on photographic evidence (YNU).

A far as I know the only previous records for this locality are 3 at Wintersett in July 1996, which were the first for Yorkshire - taken by M. A. Thompson et al)

The Edge 03/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 9 Canada Geese, 37 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 1 Tufted  Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Garganey, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Moorhen, 46 Lapwing, 58 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern, 5 Pied Wagtail, 2 Linnet and c50 Goldfinch.
Broomhill Flash - Eigthth day of residence for the Wood Sandpiper. Noted were 2+6y  Mute Swan, 30 Canada Geese, 33+12y Gadwall, 32 Mallard, 21 Tufted Duck, 7 Pochard, 17 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 4 Little Egret, 128 Coot, 19 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 62 Lapwing, 5 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 11 BH Gull and 1 Common Tern. A Garganey noted early AM was seen flying towards Wombwell Ings at 9 o'clock.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+3y Mute Swan, 14 Tufted Duck, 13 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 1 Mallard, 6 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 71 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Kestrel, 100+ Sand Martin, 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Linnet and 100+ Goldfinch.

Wintersett 03.08.2017

16 - 18 degrees with mostly  8/8 cloud,  showers around midday and a moderate south westerly.
Anglers CP Vis.Mig: A Turnstone dropped on the shallows 07.40hrs.  A Greenshank flew over at 08.00hrs (new for the year list).  A Green Sandpiper flew south at 08.15hrs.  2 Little Egrets dropped in at 08.40hrs, then left west. Shoveler 4 over, then left west. Per Paul Meredith and Steve Denny.
Anglers CP: Pink-footed Goose 1. Pochard 1.  Little Grebe 1. 
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 22.  Sand Martin 300.

Wintersett 02.08.17

Up to 17 degrees with sun, scattered cloud and a south westerly breeze.  A couple of light drizzle showers during the morning.
Wintersett Res: A Hobby took a Sand Martin.  Cetti's Warbler 1 male.  Sand Martin 400.  Common Tern 19.
100 birds were ringed this morning including: Blackcap 8.  Garden Warbler 2.  Reed Warbler 9.  Sedge Warbler 4.  Whitethroat 5.  Willow Warbler 4.  Chiffchaff 18.  Sand Martin 38.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 1.  Pink-footed Goose 1.

The Edge 02/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Highlight was a pair of Garganey in eclipse plumage. Also present were 3 Mute Swan, 38 Canada Geese, 5 Greylag, 66 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 2+3y Tufted Duck. 1 Cormorant, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 24 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin, 51 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1+1y Mute Swan, 1 Canada Goose, 7 Pochard, 5 Tufted Duck, 5 Gadwall, 3 Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 8 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe and  61 Coot. May have been a raptor disturbing things on Old Moor because c150 Lapwing, 3 Redshank and 2 Dunlin flew in from that direction about 11.00am. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Kestrel, 2 Common Tern, 1 Jay and 1 Grey Wagtail.
Broomhill Flash - Arrived at Noon to find the Wood Sandpiper feeding along the north shore.Noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 27 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 46+19y Gadwall, 19+6y Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 4 Pochard, 2 Teal, 1+6y Shoveler, 21 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 6 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 118 Coot, 14 Moorhen, 45+ Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 4 Snipe, 24 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 1 Common Tern. Also seen mid-AM were 1 Greenshank, 1 Ringed Plover, 3 Kestrel and 1 Kingfisher.

Wintersett 01.08.17

HAPPY  YORKSHIRE DAY.    Up to 16 degrees with 8/8 cloud that broke up gradually throughout the morning.  Short shower early afternoon with a cool south westerly wind.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1.  Grey Wagtail 2,
Pits Wood: Treecreeper 1.
Wintersett Res: An Oystercatcher flew over south.  Common Tern 12. 
100 Birds were ringed this morning.  Highlights were:- 20 Blackcaps,  5 Garden Warblers,  7 Reed Warblers,  19 Chiffchaffs and 20 Willow Warblers.
In July we added 2 new birds to the Wintersett  year list, bringing the year to date total to 154.

The Edge 01/08/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 9 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 41 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 1+2y Tufted Duck, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 3 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 4 Lapwing, 2 Dunlin, 61 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Pied Wagtail, 50+ Godfinch and 7 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Owzat? A hat trick of very good birds on Yorkshire Day. Arrived to find the Wood Sandpiper in the usual area on the north side of the flash. Shortly afterwards a Garganey appeared on the near edge. At 10.35 an Osprey caused a stir when it flew in from the west but it circled to gain height then gradually drifted north towards Edderthorpe. Also noted were 2+6y Mute Swan, 37 Canada Geese, 45+8y Gadwall,  21+6y Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 5 Pochard, 1+6y Shoveler, 16 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 128 Coot, 14 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl, 100+ Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper and 1 Snipe.
 Bolton Ings - Highlight was a Bittern that dropped into the reeds on the north shore of the east pool. On the open water were 2+5y Mute Swan, 18 Gadwall, 8 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 2 Mallard, 9 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 64 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Kestrel, 1 Common Tern, 1 Grey Wagtail, c100 Goldfinch, c100 Sand Martin, 2 Blackcap and 1 Whitethroat.