Wintersett Ringing Recovery 30.07.18

 Ringing reovery at Anglers CP:

A 1st yr Lesser Redpoll ringed at Anglers CP on 26/10/17 and
recaptured at Hazeley Heath, Hampshire on 01/04/18 - flew 260km south in 157 days.

Wintersett 31.07.18

17 - 20 degrees with 4/8 but increasing cloud and a south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 6.  Common Gull 2 adults.  Great Crested Grebe 38, but no gulls roosting yet!
Haw Park Wood: A Nuthatch was heard in the woodyard.
Cold Hiendley Res:  3 Mallard broods - 5 large + 2 small  + 3 L/fledged.  The female Goldeneye has returned for the third year running.  Pochard 1.   Gadwall 3 large young + 7 L/fledged young WRes..
Wintersett Res: Common Sandpiper 2 + 1 ACP.
Lepidoptera: Painted Lady 1  and Small Copper 1 WRes.  A Brown Argus and a Green-veined White were seen at CHRes..

The Edge 31/07/2018

Wombwell Ings -Present were 17 Greylag, 11 Canada Geese, 13 Mallard, 2 Teal, 21 Little Egret, 12 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 1 Buzzard, 1+3y Moorhen, 21 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 118 BH Gull, 2 Common Tern, 3 Mistle Thrush, 3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler, 2 Linnet  and 1 Yellowhammer.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 17 Canada Geese, 52 Mallard, 17 Gadwall, 9+7y Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 1+10y Shoveler, 5 Cormorant, 24 Little Grebe, 19 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard,  134 Coot, 11 Moorhen, 25+ Lapwing, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Snipe and 2 Common Tern.

Wintersett 30.07.18

17 - 21 degrees with sun 6/8  cloud and a south westerly breeze.
Wintersett Res: Common Sandpiper 1 + 1 ACP.     The Great Crested Grebe in the south east corner has 3 young.    Little Grebe 1.  Shoveler 1.
Anglers CP: A juvenile Yellow-legged Gull flew in to the shallows at  09.45hrs . It explored the rafts, and was still present mid afternoon.  Common Tern 7 adults.  Pochard 4.  Herring Gull 8.
Lepidoptera: Holly Blue 1 ACP. 
Odoanta:  Black-tailed Skimmer 1 male ACP. 

                      Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull     ACP     ASmith

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull underwing    ACP     ASmith

Juvenile Yellow-legged Gull     ACP     ASmith

The Edge 30/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 26 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 21 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 11 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 1 Moorhen, 2 Kestrel, 21 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank, 1 Black Tailed Godwit, 95 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern, 6+ Pied Wagtail, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Linnet, 2 Reed Bunting and 1 Yellowhammer.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 25 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 44 Mallard, 14 Gadwall, 8+9y Tufted Duck, 1+10y Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 24 Little Grebe, 13 Cormorant, 21 Little Egret, 178 Coot, 18 Moorhen, 2 Kestrel, 26 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 23 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern and 1 Yellowhammer.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 115 Greylag, 75 Canada Geese, 14 Gadwall, 10 Pochard, 8+9y Tufted Duck, 5 Mallard, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 139 Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Lapwing, 1 Whitethroat, 30+ Goldfinch and 2 Linnet.

Wintersett 29.07.18

16 - 19 degrees, with steady rain until early afternoon, then sunny spells with a moderate south westerly wind throughout.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 5.  Common Gull 2.  Common Tern 3.  Cormorant 5. Pochard 1.  Shoveler 1.  Grey Wagtail 1.  A Little Egret flew into the shallows at 11.40hrs and left south at 11.47hrs.
Cold Hiendley Res:  Gadwall 23 + 3 large young.

Low Moor 29/7/18.

Dry from about 2-30pm but very steady birding. Red Kites the highlight with 4, possibly 5, which includes a group of 3 together.

Carlton Marsh

Everything on the wader scrape, including 4 Little Egrets, were flushed this afternoon by a shooter on private land adjacent to it! (Dave Standish)

Wintersett 28.07.18

16 - 18 degrees, a shower early morning,  then mostly cloudy, with a few suny spells and a gusty south westerly.
Anglers CP: Dunlin 1 juvenile.  Common Sandpiper 2.  Common Tern 2.  Yellow Wagtail 1.  Sand Martin 30.

Yesterday's  rain came too  late for many of the trees at Anglers CP     ASmith

Low Moor + 28/7/18.

Greeted by horizontal torrential rain this aft. Also a shocking hail storm not long after. Inbetween, good light with 3 Red Kites together, possibly 4. Also Hobby found by the Swallows, C Buzzard 3, Kestrel 2. Hobby last night in Staincross took same flight path as the one on the 16th.

Carlton Marsh

31 Whimbrel flew west at 0.6.50hrs (Keith Bannister) and a juv Med Gull visited the wader scrape from 14.41hrs to 15.00hrs (Chris Parkin). It left north after disturbance from shooters in adjacent field!

Carlton Marsh

Today's highlight was a juv Med Gull on the wader scrape from 14.37hrs to 15.39hrs. (Dave Smith) It left south. An adult Common Gull came in around the same time. Also present Green & Great Spot Woodpecker and a Peregrine flew SW. A male Southern Hawker was patrolling its territory.

Juvenile Med Gull (Dave Smith)

The Edge 28/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 27 Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 80 Mallard, 3 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 55 Little Egret, 17 Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 1+4y Moorhen, 17 Lapwing, 3 Black Tailed Godwit, 3 Snipe, 1 Greenshank, 68 BH Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Reed Bunting and 1 Yellowhammer. In Broomhill Park were 9 Mistle Thrush and 1 singing Chiffchaff.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 46 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 24 Mallard, 7+9y Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 1+10y Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 23 Little Grebe, 5 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 1 Barn Owl, 215 Coot, 8 Moorhen, 14 Lapwing, 6 Snipe, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Oystercatcher, 26 BH Gull and 1 Yellowhammer.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 131 Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, 31 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 12 Pochard, 11+7y Tufted Duck, 4 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 7 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 117 Coot, 1+2y Moorhen and 4 BH Gull. Also present were 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Green Woodpecker, 1 Common Tern, 1 Jay,1 Grey Wagtail and 30+ Goldfinch.

Wintersett + Evening Update 27.07.18

20 - 28 degrees with sun and scattered , then increasing cloud and a southerly breeze.  Thunder, lightning, brief but heavy rain showers on and off  from 09.20 - 09.50hrs. Very hot and humid.
Wintersett Res:  Common Tern 2 + 1 ACP.   A brood of Cetti's young were on the NE bank and another brood of Cetti's young were heard in Botany Hedge. 
Anglers CP Evening: Tufted Duck 43.  Great Crested Grebe 28.  Dunlin 1. Pochard 1. 
Lepidoptera: Purple Hairstreak 1 flying low over WRes..  Holly Blue 1 Botany.
Odonata: Emperor 1 male east bank WRes..
Lunar Eclipse: Unfortunately, cloud cover prevented any sighting of the century's longest (1 hour 43 minutes)  Blood Moon.

Wintersett 26.07.18

15 - 26 degrees with sun and variable cloud and a south easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: Shoveler 2.   Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.  A Red Kite flew ovr Crofton towards ACP; 
Wintersett Res: Canada Goose 17.   8 Black-tailed Godwit flew over , then left west at 14.30hrs.
Odonata: A Black Tailed Skimmer was in the Willow Wood WRes..  2 Emerald Damselfies were on the Dispoasal Point.  4 Emeperors and lots of Ruddy Darters were on Moorhouse Lane Pond. 

Lepidoptera:  3 Small Skippers were on the Disposal Point + 10 on ML Pond.  A Common Blue was on the Disposal Point.   A Painted Lady and a Brown Argus were at MLPond.  A Purple Hairstreak was seen at Pits Wood.
82 Birds were ringed: Highlights were - 18 Chiffchaff   15 Willow Warbler  11 Blackcap   4 Whitethroat   3 Lesser Whitethroat   5 Reed Warbler and 2 Garden Warbler.

Long-winged Conehead

Found this morning near Edderthorpe, a couple of Long-winged Coneheads, new to the Barnsley area, as far as I am aware.

The Edge 26/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 7 Canada Geese, 56 Mallard, 50 Little Egret, 16 Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 1+4y Moorhen, 13 Lapwing, 1 Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 1 Common Sandpiper, 105 BH Gull, 1 Pied Wagtail, 2 Sedge Warbler, 1 Blackcap, 2 Reed Bunting  and 1 Yellowhammer. Early AM Keith Fisher also had a Marsh Harrier over the corner pond, a Lesser Whitethroat along the Bulling Dyke and a Little Tern which due to harassment from BH Gulls left eastwards at 6.30am.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 70 Canada Geese, 57 Mallard, 18 Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 1+11y Shoveler, 24 Little Grebe, 8 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 127 Coot, 11 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Kestrel  and 1 Buzzard.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 107 Greylag, 39 Canada Geese, 41 Gadwall, 13 Mallard, 13 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 1 Shoveler, 4 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 114 Coot, 1+1y Moorhen, 4 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull. Also present were 1 Little  Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Lapwing, 1 Common Tern, 1 Greater Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Blackcap. Early AM K.Fisher also had a juvenile Bittern.

Not much time today busy with habitat management. A Water Rail called, Willow Warbler and Cetti's were singing again and 2 Treecreepers were seen. There are still plenty of large and small gulls coming onto the wader scrape, but nothing unusual. (Dave Smith)

3 Brown Hawkers, 2 Southern Hawkers and 2 Broad Bodied Chasers were in evidence along with Gatekeeper and Peacock butterflies.

Hugset Wood

A Silver Washed Fritillary was feeding on a Buddleja this morning near the cottage, at the end of the lane, after turning left under the motorway from Higham crossroads. Also on the same bush Painted Lady and 2 Red Admirals. 7 White Letter Hairstreak's were in the wood itself around the top of Wych Elms (Ralph Hibbert/Les Corrall).

 Les Corrall

Wintersett 25.07.18

16 - 21 degrees with sun but increasing cloud and a light north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1.  Great Crested Grebe 20.  Common Gull 1 adult.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 3.  Cetti's Warbler 1 in ruin area.
Lepidoptera WRes: 2 Holly Blues - Boathouse and Botany.  A Purple Hairstreak 1 north east area. 
Odonata WRes: A male Lesser Emperor was off the west bank at 17.25hrs.  A Common Darter and a Black-tailed Skimmer were off the north bank.  A male Emperor was offf the south bank.

The Edge 25/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 78 Mallard, 36 Little Egret, 10 Grey Heron, 2 Coot, 1+2y Moorhen, 14 Lapwing, 10 Ringed Plover over ( P. Kent early AM ), 1 Greenshank, 1 Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 22 BH Gull,  3 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Linnet and 1 Reed Bunting.
 Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 16 Canada Geese, 1 Greylag, 28 Gadwall, 9+11y Tufted Duck, 9 Mallard, 1 Pochard, 23 Little Grebe, 9 Cormorant, 3 Little Egret, 136 Coot, 4 Moorhen, 11 Lapwing, 2 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 38 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern and 4 Kestrel.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+1y Mute Swan, 52 Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 24 Gadwall, 15 Pochard, 10+6y Tufted Duck, 7 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 121+5y Coot, 1+2y Moorhen and 11 BH Gull. Also present were 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Lapwing, 2 Common Tern, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Blackcap and c30 Goldfinch.

Wintersett 24.07.18

17 - 22 degrees with sun, increasing cloud and a light north westerly.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 1.  Mediterranean Gull 1 juvenile. 
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 1.  Herring Gull 16.
76 Birds were ringed.  Highlights were:- Blackcap 21   Garden Warbler 3   Whitethroat 1   Reed Warbler 8    Chiffchaff 17.  Willow Warbler 6.   Yellowhammer 2.
Odonata: A Migrant Hawker was on the Pol, ACP.
Overnight moth trapping highlights:  Fen Wainscot 1.   Olive 2.   Angle-striped Sallow.   Scarce Footman 2  and Dingy Footman 2,

Carlton Marsh - update

Bittern flew across the main scrape (nearest to the car park) to far left hand corner at 10.55hrs. Also Snipe. No sign of Iceland yet at 11.25hrs. (Richard Laverack)

I called back at 19.00hrs while 20.00hrs, but no sign of Iceland Gull, perhaps it has finally moved on? (CG)
Paul Thorpe and his wife saw a Treecreeper this morning.

Carlton Marsh

Two local birders were disappointed at missing the Iceland Gull this morning. It doesn't tend to come in until mid to late morning. It wasn't there when I left at 09.00hrs.after an early ringing session. 11 Reed Warblers, Sedge Warbler, Bullfinch, Reed Bunting and a Cetti's Warbler ringed.

 Cetti's Warbler 

Wintersett 23.07.18

20 - 25 degrees, hot and humid, mostly sunny with increasing cloud late afternoon and and light south westerly.
Wintersett Res: A Hobby flew over.   Common Tern 1.
Cold Hiendley Res: Shelduck 3 immatures.  
Anglers CP:  A summer plumaged, adult LITTLE  GULL was in from 10.45hrs and still present at 17.00hrs.   Common Gull 1 adult.  Lesser Black-backed Gull 5.  Herring Gull 18.  A Meadow Pipit flew south east.  Yellow Wagtail 2.  Grey Heron 3.
Lepidoptera ACP: Meadow Brown 1.  Holly Blue 1.  Brimstone 1 male.
Odonata ACP: Black-tailed Skimmer 1 male.

The Edge 23/07/2018

Wombwell Ings -Present were 26 Greylag, 9 Canada Geese, 73 Mallard, 3 Cormorant, 24 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Coot, 1+4y Moorhen, 21 Lapwing, 51 BH Gull, 1 Skylark, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Linnet, 2 Yellowhammer and 2 Reed Bunting.
 Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 69 Canada Geese, 7 Greylag, 23 Mallard, 15 Gadwall, 9+15y Tufted Duck, 2 Pochard, 1+10y Shoveler, 26 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 6 Little Egret, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Peregrine, 1 Kestrel, 134+9y Coot, 5+4y Moorhen, 15 Lapwing, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Snipe, 1 Common Tern and 1 Yellowhammer.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 85 Greylag, 11 Canada Geese, 34 Gadwall, 11 Mallard, 17+10y Tufted Duck, 5m+4f Pochard, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 136 Coot and 81 BH Gull. Also present were 3 Little Egret over, 1 cc Marsh Harrier, 1 LBB Gull, 1 Common Tern, 1 Jay, 3 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcap, 1 Sedge Warbler and 2 Bullfinch.

Carlton Marsh

Iceland Gull was present yesterday from at least 13.00hrs to 15.00hrs CG. GJ Speight also saw it from the bypass along with a juv Yellow-legged Gull. The Iceland was also present today at 11.04hrs (DM Smith) and this afternoon (K. Bannister) along with visiting birders. A new brood of 7 Tufted Duck this afternoon (Rod Heeley).

Kris Dutheridge the best bus to catch from Barnsley. Any Cudworth/Grimethorpe bus, alighting at Manor Road, Cudworth bus stop. walk back down the hill, turn right over the roundabout, climb up the disused rail embankment and follow it for half a mile until you get to the nature reserve.

I have been asked by the parks (and nature reserve) manager, Russ Boland, for people not to view the scrape from the Bleachcroft Farm entrance on the bypass. It's a private entrance and parking here could lead to retaliation by the farmer on what we are trying to do. Thankyou for your co-operation. You can park in the official car park on Shaw Lane or for a quicker route park in the lay bye near Cudworth bridges, cross over the roundabout on foot onto the disused rail embankment as described above.

Another record shot from Sunday 22nd. Could the bird on the left of it be a juv Y.L. Gull?

Ewden valley 22/7/18.

Very steady with strong wind at the lodge and low cloud not helping. Red Kite, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel plentiful, 6+, C Buzzard 5. Party of 15 juv. Curlew, 5+ Golden Plover down near the entrance gate with 2 adults alarming with probable nearby young. 60 Swifts south with a similar number of Swallows + 1 House Martin. Siskin 4, Redpoll 1.

Wintersett 22.07.18

16 - 22 degrees with 4/8 cloud and a light westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: A juvenile Peregrine flew over twice.  Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.  A Common Gull was on the shallows.  Shoveler 1 + 2 WRes..  Pochard 1.  Common Tern 3.  Yellow Wagtail 1 juvenile.  Grey Wagtail 1 juvenile + 3 CHRes spillway.  Snipe 1.  Oystercatcher 1.
At 11.20hrs large gulls started to drop in to bathe:- Herring Gull 75,  Lesser Black-backed Gull 30  and a  juvenile Mediterranean Gull.  At 11.27 hrs an adult, summer plumaged Mediterraean Gull dropped in, bathed briefly, and left south.  The juvenile Mediterranean Gull then flew to the rock wall and showed its yellow DARVIC  2J11.  This bird was ringed as a chick at Old Moor on 21st June 2018 and was still present on 18th July.  It was then seen at Norfolk Bridge, Sheffield on the 19th July 2018 per Andy Deighton
Cold Hiendley Res: Tufted Duck 197 + 42 ACP + 4 WRes..  
Wintersett Res: Common Sandpiper 6. A Cetti's Warbler was 'alarming' in the ruin area.

Mediterranean  Gull juvenile  with DARVIC 2J11    ACP  GJSpeight

Wintersett 21.07.18

18 - 22 degrees, cloudy with occasional sunny spells and a light westerly.
Wintersett Res: Yellow Wagtail 1.  Common Tern 4.  A Water Rail and a Cetti's Warbler were on the west bank.
Haw Park Lane: A juvenile Tawny Owl was calling. 
Anglers CP:  Swifts were on the move with 255 going south.   A cream crown Marsh Harrier flew north from 10.10 to 10.20hrs with another one flying much higher.  A Little Egret flew north at 10.55hrs.  A Hobby flew over.
90 birds were ringed today: Highlights included:
18 Blackcap   3 Garden Warbler  2 Whitethroat  1 Sedge Warbler  9 Reed Warbler  13 Willow Warbler   20 Chiffchaff   12 Swallow  1 Treecreeper and 1 Jay.
Lepidoptera: A Brown Argus was seen at Moorhouse Lane Pond. 
Odonata: Migrant Hawker  1 ACP.

              Male Swallow                    WRes   RBailey

Carlton Marsh

I was at Cudworth 'Tea in the park' until 3pm promoting the reserve on a stall, but I received a call from Richard Laverack and Jim Plant at 09.44hrs to say that the Iceland Gull was on the wader scrape with a 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull. As luck happens Geoff Miller was with me so we scoped both birds looking down onto the new wader scrape from the park railings. 

It is a bird I have been waiting to see here for a very long time. I missed the only previous bird,  an adult with a broken leg on 1/11/81, John J. Jackson.  The same bird was seen again at Bleachcroft pond heading NE on 3/11/81, John C. Clarkson. Today's bird was a site tick for all the regulars.

Anybody with expertise on YL Gull and Caspian Gull juvs, I am sure will find one amongst the many Herring and LBB Gulls frequenting the wader scrape on a daily basis.

Also present was 2 Little Egrets, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, a singing Lesser Whitethroat and a Fox.

2nd summer Mediterranean Gull (Dave Smith)

The Edge 20/07/2018

Wombwell Ings -Present were 2 Mute Swan, 17 Greylag, 16 Canada Geese, 68 Mallard, 29 Little Egret, 7 Grey Heron, 2 Kestrel, 2 Coot, 2+2y Moorhen, 15 Lapwing, 3 Oystercatcher, 1 Common Sandpiper, 58 BH Gull, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Reed Bunting and 1 Yellowhammer.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 59 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 18+18y Tufted Duck, 11+6y Mallard, 1+10y Shoveler, 3+7y Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 23 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 4 Kestrel, 128+9y Coot, 7+4y Moorhen, 9 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Snipe.
TPT - Singing males 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+1y Mute Swan, 59 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 48 Gadwall, 8m+4f Pochard, 10+3y Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 3 Shoveler, 2 Teal, 8+ Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 128+5y Coot, 1+2y Moorhen, 16 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 3 Grey Wagtail and 1 Willow Tit.

Carlton Marsh

Reference Ian Morris tweet. Thankyou Ian for your kind comments about the site, really much appreciated, as the handful of volunteers here work very hard to keep the status quo. I am glad you managed to see the Iceland Gull, it's a beautiful bird. I didn't get down today so nothing to report.

Wintersett 20.07.18

20 - 26 degrees,  very hot with increasing cloud and a light,  north westerly. 
Anglers CP: Common Gull 1.  Oystercatcher 1.  Common Sandpiper 2. Teal 1.  Little Egret 2 landed on north west bank, left west after being flushed by dogs, 5 minutes later.
Wintersett Res:  Common Tern 2.   Great Crested Grebes have hatched young in south east corner.  A brood of Cetti's Warblers were on the east bank.
Disposal Point:  Green Woodpecker 1 adult + 1 juvenile.  
Noc.Mig: A Redshank flew over ACP at 00.50hrs.
Lepidoptera 
ACP:  Small Skipper 1. 
WRes: Purple Hairstreak 1 boathouse + 1 north east bank.    Holly Blue 1 south east corner.
Odonata: Ruddy Darter 1 Botany.   Southern Hawker 1 south east corner WRes.

                              Holly Blue     SE WRes                       ASmith

                                            Ruddy Darter     NB WRes        ASmith 

Woolley Colliery

 

Brachymeria tibialis

This amazing looking chalcid wasp (note the hind 'thighs')  that attacks the pupae of Burnet
moths, was found yesterday. A recent arrival in the UK, this is most likely a first for northern England.

Wintersett 19.07.18

17 - 21 degrees, with sun, scattered cloud and a light north westerly.
Anglers CP:  Oystercatcher 1.   Yellow Wagtail 1.   Shoveler 2.  Common Sandpiper 1.
Lepidoptera 
ACP: Brown Argus 1.  Brimstone 1 male.  Small Skipper 1. Holly Blue 1.
Haw Park Lane Wood: Purple Hairstreak 6.
79 birds were ringed at ACP this morning. Highlights were:
12 Blackcaps.  2 Garden Warbler.   2 Whitethroat    1 Lesser Whitethroat   3  Reed Warbler   20 Chiffchaff      13  Willow Warbler    1 Treecreeper   6 Tree Sparrow   2  Willow Tit  and a very early Lesser Redpoll.  This is the first July record for many years.

                                          Lesser Redpoll    ACP                                ASmith           

Carlton Marsh

In answer to Ian Morris's tweet. 

Ian the site is owned by Barnsley Council and run largely by volunteers. The hide is locked unless one of the volunteers is present. However, if wish to make visits a key can be obtained from the Parks officer at BMBC Russ Boland. TEl. 01226 773136. 

I don't have a fancy phone to tweet on so I blog instead, which may be put on later. If we have something a bit different, as happened on Sunday 15th, I get one of the lads to tweet the info. Most of the time people from elsewhere don't bother coming anyway, but now you have highlighted it, I will make sure that when the gull is seen again you will know about it.

You wouldn't have seen it from the hide, as it is on the wader scrape right at the far end of the reserve following the disused railway embankment.

I thank you for interest and hope to see you down there soon.

Cliff

The Edge 19/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 32 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 67 Mallard, 1 Gadwall, 1 Cormorant, 29 Little Egret, 8 Grey Heron, 1 Kestrel, 2 Coot, 1+2y Moorhen, 12 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher, 39 BH Gull, 1 Meadow Pipit, 1 Yellowhammer and 1 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 48 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 20+11y Tufted Duck, 18+6y Mallard, 2 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 23 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Kestrel, 1 Barn Owl, 136+17y Coot, 4 Moorhen, 9 Lapwing, 1 Oystercatcher and 1 Snipe.
TPT- 3 Whitethroat, 1 Chiffchaff and 1 Jay.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+4y Mute Swan, 78 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, 58 Gadwall, 12+11y Tufted Duck, 7m+4f Pochard, 9 Mallard, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 4 Cormorant, 119+7y Coot and 1 Moorhen. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 3 Common Tern, 4 LBB Gull, 1 Kingfisher, 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Carlton Marsh

Iceland Gull on the wader scrape at 11.30hrs and still here when we left at 12.30hrs with 22 Herring Gulls, 48 LBB Gulls and c200 B.H. Gulls. Also here 2 Willow Tits amongst a group titmice. On the main marsh, 2 Kingfishers, a new brood of Gadwall (2) and a new brood of Moorhen (4).

Insects included Silver Y Moth, Banded Demoiselle, Emperor and 3 Brown Hawkers. The Sawfly Tenthredo scrophulariae was feeding on Figwort. 

All Photos taken by Dave Smith

 Iceland Gull

I know where your Med Gull is!

Received a message from Andy Deighton this afternoon concerning a colour ringed Mediterranean Gull. Details are:

colour ringed  pulli    21-06-2018  Old Moor.
Yellow           sighted 18-07-2018  Old Moor.
2J11              sighted 19-07-2018  Norfolk Bridge, Burngrieve, Sheffield.
                                                       c15 kms SSW.

Wintersett 18.07.18

17 - 19 degrees with scattered light cloud and a warm south westerly breeze.
Wintersett: Barn Owl 1.
Wintersett Res:  3 Redshank were in at 05.00hrs and left west at 06.45hrs.  A Water Rail was calling from the west bank marsh.  Common Tern 2.  Little Grebe 1 + 1 ACP.   Mallard young 9 s + 1 s + 7s.
51 Birds were ringed WRes. this morning.   Grasshopper Warbler 1 juvenile.  Chiffchaff 12.  Willow Warbler 1.  Reed Warbler 14.  Sedge Warbler 1.  Blackcap 4.  Treecreeper 1.  Yellowhammer  1.  Whitethroat 2.  Willow Tit 1.  Reed Bunting 5.

Wintersett Catch Up 13th to 17th July 2018

Just back from a short family holiday in beautiful Dentdale, North Yorkshire.

Weather at Wintersett mostly warm/hot and dry with temperature in the high teens to mid twenties.

 Friday 13th July
Anglers CP:  The Mute Swans on the east bank are now down to 2 young.  Common Tern 2.  Common Sandpiper 1.  Yellow Wagtail 1   
Wintersett Res: Shoveler 3.
   
Saturday 14th July 
Wintersett Res: An adult Cetti's Warbler was alarm calling to a brood of stumpy tailed, fledged young in the south east corner.   A female Grasshopper Warbler and 4 Garden Warblers were ringed on the north east bank.  An adult Grey Wagtail with 2 juveniles was on the spillway.
Lepidoptera:
WRes: Steve Denny found the first Essex Skipper since 2009, on the dam wall.  A Purple Hairstreak was on the west bank.
ACP: Meadow Brown 1.  Small Skipper 1.

 Sunday 15th July 
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 2.  Cormorant 22 over.  Common Tern 6.   Barn Owl 1.
WRes: The brood of Cetti's Warblers were on the east bank. Sand Martin 3.    
83 Birds were ringed this morning. Highlights were: 14 Blackcap.  5 Garden Warbler.  11 Reed Warbler.  23 Chiffchaff and 8 Willow Warbler.
Lepidoptera ACP: A Holly Blue was on the Pol.    Small Copper 1.
Odonata: Southern Hawker 1 female Haw Park.   Black-tailed Skimmer 1 male north bank WRes.

Monday 16th July
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1.
WRes: Little Grebe 2.  Common Tern 2.  Mallard 9 small young.
Lepidoptera: A Small Copper was on the north bank WRes..

Tuesday 17th July
Anglers CP: Snipe 1.  Oystercatcher 1.  Grey Wagtail 1.  Sand Martin 6.
Lepidoptera WRes: Purple Hairstreak 1.  Green-veined White 1.
Odonata: Black-tailed Skimmer 1 male ACP.  Emperor 1 male Botany.

Wintersett WeBS July 2018

Here are the July 2018  WeBS totals for the Wintersett Area.

Mute Swan 42 + 2 y   Canada Goose 87   Greylag Goose 34  Cormorant 3   Coot 144   Moorhen 6    Mallard 74 + 1 vs young   Gadwall 4   Tufted Duck 184  Teal 8   Great Crested Grebe 32  Little Grebe 4  Lapwing 60   Grey Heron 1. 

Carlton Marsh

This afternoon a male Peregrine scattered everything on the wader scrape including good numbers of Herring and LBB Gulls. The Iceland Gull wasn't present. (Dave Smith) 

A female Gadwall has a new brood of 7 small young.

Earlier a female Peregrine chased a LBB Gull over Dave Smith's home in Carlton at 10.25hrs. The gull squealed like a child, but it got away towards Royston. The Peregrine left SE followed by a Buzzard heading north.

This afternoon Arthur Vincent was awe struck watching hundreds of winged ants take to the wing in his and other gardens on Stanley Street, Cudworth, as loads of Black Headed Gulls circled above picking them off at will.

Then just before dusk in my Cudworth garden, a Little Owl alighted on the guttering, only to be attacked by 2 male Blackbirds that made it dash into the trees for cover!

The Edge 18/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 15 Canada Geese, 11 Greylag, 48 Mallard, 5 Gadwall, 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Cormorant, 12 Little Egret, 6 Grey Heron, 2+4y Moorhen, 2 Coot, 11 Lapwing, 1 Common Sandpiper, 32 BH Gull, 1 LBB Gull, 6 Skylark, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Sedge Warbler, 2 Reed Bunting and 1 Yellowhammer.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 52 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 18 Gadwall, 16 Mallard, 16+29y Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 27 Little Grebe, 2 Cormorant, 2 Little Egret, 2 Grey Heron, 116+17y Coot, 3 Moorhen, 1 Peregrine, 1 Buzzard, 5 Kestrel, 3 Sparrowhawk, 11 Lapwing, 46 BH Gull and 1 Kingfisher.
TPT - Highlight was seeing a Common Crane rising on a thermal over Old Moor Rspb before heading east towards Adwick Washlands. Singing males 5 Blackcap, 3 Whitethroat and 1 Chiffchaff.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+2y Mute Swan, 12 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 35 Gadwall, 7m+3f Pochard, 7+3y Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 124+7y Coot, 1 Moorhen, 5+3juv LBB Gull  and 1 Common Tern. Also present were 3 Cormorant, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Marsh Harrier, 1 Kestrel and 1 Kingfisher.

Carlton Marsh

21 birds ringed this morning included 10 Reed Warblers, 1 Whitethroat, 2 Blackcaps 1 Sedge Warbler and 4 Chiffchaffs. Reed Warbler Y392739 was ringed here as a juvenile on 4/8/14.

A return visit this evening saw the 1st summer Iceland Gull on the wader scrape at 19.15hrs. It was flushed by grazing horses at 19.30hrs, but not sure which way it went. An adult BH Gull was present with a white Darvic ring right leg, but too far away to read it.

Iceland Gull (CG)

July Hobby increase.

One found by the shooting lodge Swallows in the ewden valley on the 7th and it or another yesterday carrying a prey item and being mobbed by 6+ Swallows in the same place. One found by Swallows this evening went west over Staincross.

Carlton Marsh

The Iceland Gull was relocated at a glass recycling plant on the Carlton Industrial estate at 11.45hrs (R. J. Boland)

Butterfly counts today were Peacock 151, Painted Lady 1, Red Admiral 5, Comma 12, Purple Hairstreak 1, Brown Argus 4, Small Copper 5, and Holly Blue 5,
(Chris Parkin)

Carlton Marsh

A nice surprise today, a 1st summer Iceland Gull! It came onto the Wader Scrape at 12.09hrs and was still present when I left at 14.30hrs. It was a site tick for Keith Bannister, Jim Plant, Dave Standish and Chris Parkin. Jim was on a roll having seen the Audouins Gull at Sheffield yesterday and the Greater Sand Plover at the coast this morning.
Also present 35 LBB Gulls, 20 Herring Gulls, Coal Tit singing, Lesser Whitethroat singing and Willow Tit 2 + 2 calling

All photographs of Iceland Gull by Dave Standish

Butterflies included 20 peacock, 6 Comma, 1 Holly Blue, 2 Purple Hairstreak and 2 Red Admiral.

Carlton Marsh

New in today- Green Sandpiper, on the wader scrape (Jim Plant). There were 57 LBB Gulls, 30 Herring Gulls and c250 BH Gulls.

Storrs Mill area
18 species of butterfly included Small Copper 12, Holly Blue 7, Purple Hairstreak 16, Brown Argus 2, Brimstone 2, Comma 25, Red Admiral 3 and Peacock 22.
Buzzard and Kingfisher were around and there were 12 Little Egrets on Edderthorpe Flash (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 12.07.18

15 - 19 degrees with 4/8 cloud and a light north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 1.
Wintersett Res: Oystercatcher 1.
Cold Hiendley Res: Gadwall 5 small young down to 4 seconds later, when a fish took one!  Tufted Duck 1 male in wing moult.  Mallard 4 young. 
Haw Park Wood: Nuthatch 1 + 2 Fox Well

Carlton Marsh

A Common Sandpiper was feeding in the shallows on the main marsh and 40 LBB Gulls, 30 Herring Gulls and 120 BH Gulls were on the wader scrape. Kingfisher and Peregrine were around. (Les Corrall/Ralph Hibbert)

Wintersett 11.07.18

15 - 21 degrees with 4/8 but increasing cloud and a light easterly.
Wintersett Res: A male Grasshopper warbler was reeling this morning + juveniles, and still reeling late morning on the north east bank.  Common Tern 4.  Mallard 8 small young.  Little Grebe 2.

Wintersett 10.07.18

15 - 20 degrees with 7/8 but decreasing cloud and a light north easterly.
Wintersett Res: Common Sandpiper 1.  Mallard 56 + 10 ACP.  Little Grebe 1 adult. 
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2.  Sand Martin 10.  Grey Wagtail 2.
Haw Park Wood: Grass Snake 1.

Scarce Butterflies in the Barnsley recording area.

Photos by Geoff Carr.
At least 15 Brown Argus recorded at Lundwood in May by Geoff Carr and Jeff Lunn. The site was revisited recently and the habitat completely dried out with no butterflies seen - lets hope the colony survives.

Photo by Geoff Carr
25-30 Essex Skipper around the Park Hill area, Wombwell last week and found by Jeff Lunn and Geoff Carr.
And.....Marbled White now at Adwick on the old tip site per Ken Foundation and Jeff Lunn.

Ringed Robin Recovery per Becky Bailey 08.07.18

We don't get many recoveries of robins, but one came in this week:
S396912 was ringed at Winterset on 06/09/16
and recaptured by Sorby Breck Ringing Group,  just down the M1 in Woodhouse,
on 12/05/18 and showing signs of breeding.

Wintersett 09.07.18

15 - 18 degrees with sun and scattered, but increasing cloud, with a light north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2.  Great Crested Grebe 10.  Oystercatcher 1.
Overnight moth trapping highlights: Pine Hawk moth 1.  Clay Triple-lines 1.  Dingy Shell 1.  Pinion Streaked Snout 2.  Purple Clay 1.  Scallop Shell 1.  Dingy Shears 3.  Dingy Footman 13.  Scarce Footman 5.

White Plume Moth

In answer to Ziggy. Yes White Plume Moth is quite common.

Wintersett 08.07.18

18 - 24 degrees with light scattered cloud and a light north westerly.
Anglers CP: Hobby 1 north.  Common Tern 2.  Pochard 2.
Wintersett Res: Mallard 8 small young.   Grasshopper Warbler 1m on west bank.
Cold Hiendley Res: Tufted Duck 114 coming in to moult. 
Odonata WRes: A male Lesser Emperor was seen from the south bank and again from the south east corner bench.   Four Spotted Chaser  1.   White letter Hairstreak 1 north east corner.
Lepidoptera: There was a large movement of Small White Butterflies with some Large Whites going north east over Wintersett Res. from 11.00hrs.

Mortimer road, dukes road, ewden valley, 8/7/18.

Not many birds in near perfect conditions. Ewden shooting lodge the most productive with a Merlin mobbing a Red Kite a few times. 2 Red Kites seen together and possibly 3 in the area. 5 C Buzzards and 2 Kestrels completed the raptors. 5 Ravens, 3 Siskins and 42 Meadow Pipits counted on the walk.

Woolley Colliery - correction

The second local record - one was recorded by Andy Godfrey from Mapplewell in 2014.

Woolley Colliery

A new species of solitary wasp for the Barnsley area, Cerceris rybyensis.

Wintersett 07.07.2018

17 - 23 degrees with 0/8 cloud and a light north westerly.
Wintersett Res: 2 male Grasshopper Warblers were reeling - west bank and north east bank.  A Yellow Wagtail flew over west bank.  Common Tern 3.  Willow Tit 1 north bank.
44 birds were ringed this morning.  Highlights were:  5 Blackcap ,  2 Garden Warbler,   6  Whitethroat,   1 Lesser Whitethroat,  9 Reed Warbler,  1 Sedge Warbler,  5 Willow Warbler,   3 Chiffchaff,  1 Grasshopper Warbler,  2 Treecreeper and 1 Coal Tit.   A male Cetti's Warbler was retrapped on the west bank.
Lepidoptera: Purple Hairstreaks were seen in Haw Park Lane Wood and in Haw Park Wood per @StevieD131
Odonata: A Broad -bodied Chaser was in the Willow Wood, WRes.
2  male Lesser Emperors were seen from the south east corner WRes.  per @Fitzybirder.

Ewden valley 7/7/18.

Late a.m. early aft. Very cloudy so excellent light at times. Hobby 1, at last. Red Kite 1 constant, C Buzzard 4, Kestrel 3. Raven 2, Siskin 2, Meadow Pipit 15 and 1 juv Curlew down, near adult size.

River Dearne, Storrs Mill

On another beautiful sunny day. These white butterflies were coming down to take minerals from the edge of the water. There was as many as 50 Green Veined and Small White.

(Brian Dearnley)

A Kingfisher shot under the bridge and there were around 20 male Banded Demoiselles and a Brown Hawker.

Wintersett + Good and Bad News 06.07.18

18 - 22 degrees with 2/8 cloud and a light north easterly.
Wintersett Res: 2 Redshank were on the boathouse slipway.  A Nuthatch was near the boathouse bench + another was in HPWood.  
Cold Hiendley Res: Mute Swan 35 + 2 WRes.    Gadwall 4 vs young + 5 small young.
Mallard young in the area:  WRes: 10vs.    CHRes: 10 vs + 5 vs + 5 m + 2 large + 3 fledged
Lepidoptera: Large Skipper 1 west bank WRes..
Bad news: A Mink was eating the eggs of a Coot, from a nest on the edge of the algae/weed, CHRes..  This could explain why we have no young Coot or Great Crested Grebe in the area.

Mink eating eggs from a Coot nest   CHRes.   ASmith

 Good News: I found the first Bee Orchid forAnglers CP yesterday.

First Bee Orchid for ACP   ASmith

The Edge 06/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 3 Mute Swan, 29 Gadwall, 9 Mallard, 1 Teal, 2 Cormorant, 7 Grey Heron, 2 Little Egret, 2 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 4+3y Moorhen, 2 Coot, 8 Lapwing, 56 BH Gull, 2 Skylark, 1 Pied Wagtail, 3 Sedge Warbler,  3 Reed Bunting and 1 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 56 Canada Geese, 3 Greylag, 16+6y+4y Tufted Duck, 13+8y+6y Gadwall, 6 Mallard, 4 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Pochard, 17 Little Grebe, 2 Buzzard, 1+1y Kestrel, 101+12y Coot, 3 Moorhen, 10+3y Lapwing and 1 LBB Gull.
TPT - Singing males 6 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+8y Mute Swan, 3 Greylag, 75 Gadwall, 17m+3f+2y Pochard, 10+6y Tufted Duck, 1 Mallard, 5 Little Grebe, 4 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant and 123+17y Coot. Also present were 4 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel and 3 LBB Gull.

Wintersett 05.07.18

16 - 23 degrees with 0/8 cloud and a light north easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: Oystercatcher 2.  Common Tern 2 on old, small raft.
Wintersett Res: 2 juvenile Little Ringed Plovers (new for year) and a Common Sandpiper were on the boathouse slipway.  A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the north east corner.  10 vs Mallard ducklings were off the south bank.
Lepidoptera: A White letter Hairstreak was on Wych Elm, on the roadside at the north east corner.
A Softshell Turtle, seen more than 4 years ago ( 21.05.2014), was found by Pete Smith this morning at Wintersett Res.  It was basking in the water off the fishing platform nearest to the boathouse bench.  "With their long snout and tubelike nostrils, these turtles can "snorkel" in shallow water" per Wikipedia

            Softshell Turtle        WRes   ASmith

Here's the original blog post from 21st May 2014
A 20cm grey/brown Soft-shelled  Turtle was basking in the shallow water off the north bank of WintersettRes this morning.  It was well camouflaged against the mud.  It was probably an unwanted pet and could have been here since the Ninja Turtle craze in the 1990s.

The Edge 05/07/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 19+6y Mallard, 18 Gadwall, 1 Teal, 1 Cormorant, 12 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 2 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 10 Lapwing, 1 Skylark, 2 Sedge Warbler and 3 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 45 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 33+8y Gadwall, 11+9y+6y Tufted Duck, 7 Teal, 4+6y Mallard, 1 Pochard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Cormorant, 4+2y Kestrel, 97+17y Coot, 2 Moorhen, 9 Lapwing and 1 Oystercatcher.
TPT - Singing males 6 Blackcap,2 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat and 1 Sedge Warbler. Also present were 1 Sparrowhawk and 1 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+8y Mute Swan, 76 Gadwall, 9m+2f+5y Pochard, 9+10y Tufted Duck, 7 Mallard, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 3 Cormorant and 91+12y Coot. Also present were 3 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron, 1 Grey Partridge, 2 LBB Gull, 14 Black Tailed Godwit, 2 Kingfisher and 2 Grey Wagtail.

Carlton Marsh

Ringing this morning saw the return of Y392572, a male, ringed here 29/6/13. That makes him at least 6 years old, as he was an adult when ringed. Also cock Reed Bunting Z171843 adult ringed at Wintersett. Details to come later.
Yesterday 2 LRP were on the wader scrape (K. Bannister). Today 44 LBB Gulls and c70 Herring Gulls.

Wintersett + NocMig + Ringing 04.07.18

18 - 22 degree, sun with scattered cloud and a light south easterly.
Wintersett NocMig: A Redshank called at 22.30hrs last night.
Wintersett Res:  A Cetti's Warbler was singing occasionally and a Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the west bank.
A total of 84 Birds were ringed this morning:  Highlights were: 24 Blackcaps.  9 Garden Warblers.  1 Whitethroat.  1 Lesser Whitethroat.  7 Reed Warblers.  14 Willow Warblers.   17 Chiffchaff  and 1 Yellowhammer. 
Anglers CP: 3 Oystercatcher.   2 Common Tern on small, old raft. 
Lepidoptera: A Lunar Hornet Moth was on a net at 10.00hrs WRes.

The Edge 04/07/2018

Wombwell Ings - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 21+7y Mallard, 12 Gadwall, 2 Cormorant, 6 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 2 Coot, 1+1y Moorhen, 9 Lapwing, 2 Oystercatcher, 55 BH Gull, 1 Skylark, 2 Sedge Warbler, 3 Linnet and 1 Reed Bunting.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2+4y Mute Swan, 7 Canada Geese, 17+12y Tufted Duck, 9+7y Mallard, 9+8y Gadwall, 5 Teal, 10 Little Grebe, 56 Coot, 2+1y Moorhen, 7 Lapwing, 1 Herring Gull and 1 LBB Gull.
TPT - Singing males 5 Blackcap, 4 Chiffchaff, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 2+8y Mute Swan, 43 Gadwall, 12m+2f+2y Pochard, 7+8y Tufted Duck, 4 Mallard, 2 Teal, 4 Little Grebe, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Cormorant and 107+9y Coot. Also present were 1 Little Egret, 1 Kestrel, 3 LBB Gull and 1 Common Tern.

Wintersett 03.07.17

16 - 21 degrees with a little high thin, but decreasing, cloud this morning and a north easterly breeze.
Wintersett Res: A Grasshopper Warbler.was reeling in the north east corner.  Little Grebe 1.   
Anglers CP: Common Tern 3.  Common Gull 1 1st summer.  Oystercatcher 3 +2 WRes..  Grey Wagtail 2.
Odonata:   No sign of Lesser Emperor today.
Lepidoptera: White letter Hairstreak 1 north east area WRes.

Carlton Marsh

2 Little Ringed Plovers were on the wader scrape along with 12 LBB Gulls, 6 Herring Gulls and the first juv. Black Headed Gulls from elsewhere. 2 Sedge warblers were singing from the marsh and around 6 Herons were feeding in the shallows.

Butterflies included Red Admiral and 2 Gatekeepers.

2 Banded Demoiselles were flitting over the dike.

South Kirkby Tip (Chris Parkin)
Marbled White 5, Painted Lady, Gatekeeper 123 and Black-tailed Skimmer.

Wintersett + Evening Update 02.07.2018

16 - 23 degrees with a few scattered clouds this morning, and a north easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 3.  Pochard 1.  Little Grebe 1.  Great Crested Grebe 6.  Grey Watail 1.
Wintersett Res: Oystercatcher 2.  A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling on the north east bank.  Tufted Duck 36.
Cold Hiendley Res:  A Curlew flew over west at 20.30 hrs. 
Lepidoptera: White Letter Hairstreak 2  NE  WRes.   In the evening 39 Purple Hairstreak were counted from Station Road Pits Wood via west bank track to Haw Park Lane Oak Wood.
Odonata: A male Lesser Emperor was off the SE bank WRes at 11.08hrs. Still present at 16.30hrs  per @scraggybirder. A Four Spotted Chaser was in the NW field edge WRes.   

Carlton Marsh

Not much time today we were showing the Yorkshire in Bloom judge around the reserve. We will have to wait until September for the outcome.

We did manage to see 3 broods of Tufted Duck totalling 22 young and several Grey Herons including 1 that shows a good deal of melanism.

Wintersett 01.07.18

16 - 22 degrees with 2/8 thin high cloud and a light north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Gull 1.  Common Tern 1.  Little Grebe 1.  Oystercatcher 3.  Cormorant 2.  Mallard 6 fledged young.  Reed Warbler 2 males west bank.
Lepidoptera: Brimstone 1 female ACP
Odonata: Southern Hawker 1 ACP.

Carlton Marsh

There were at least 6 Grey Herons (one very dark individual), Kingfisher, Mute Swans still with 2 cygnets and groups of Canada and Greylag geese with their young. Two drake Teal were on the main scrape.

Dragonflies included at least 8 male Broad-bodied Chasers, Emperor and Brown Hawker (2)

The Yorkshire in Bloom judge arrives at 09.30hrs tomorrow if anyone wants to be there.

Cudworth Station area

A Hummingbird Hawk-moth and 32 Small Tortoiseshells were feeding on Valerian and a Purple Hairstreak was flying around the top of an Oak (Chris Parkin).