Monday 31 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

This morning c30 Siskins (JP)

This afternoon with Paul and Ruth Thorpe at the wader scrape, 4 Shoveler, 1 Little Egret, 18 Lapwings, 35 Goldfinches on Knapweed. 2 juv. Whinchats feeding on the dike side in low scrub on the east side. They were the first since September 2015. A juv. Redstart was feeding from a large Hawthorn near them.

Today's butterfly count from Chris Parkin included, 2 Painted Lady, 9 Red Admiral, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 5 Meadow Brown, 13 Speckled Wood, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 7 Large White, 4 Small White and 2 GV White. There up to 25 Silver Y moths and 1 Mint moth (Pyrausta aurata) 

This evening c300 Canada and 110 Greylag Geese were feeding on stubble in a field overlooking the marsh. (JP) This is a new maximum for Greylag here beating the previous record of 60 south in 2016.

 A little later there was an estimated 400 Canada Geese on the stubble field and c1000 Swallows roosted in the reed beds. A Tawny Owl flew over the scrape at dusk. (Dave Standish)

Yesterday at Lttleworth Park 

102 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Small Copper, 9 Common  Blue, 12 Small Heath and c30 Silver Y moths. (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 31.08.20

13 - 18 degrees with 5/8 cloud and a light south westerly.
Anglers CP + Vis.Mig: per @grayspeight
A Ruff  went east.  Crossbill 12 south,  Swallow 115 south.  2 Hobby and a Peregrine over. Common Buzzard 20.  Caspian Gull 1 juvenile (a real whopper),  Great Blackbacked Gull 2.  Greylag Goose 219.  Shoveler 11. Pochard 77.  Goldeneye 4.  Wigeon 1.  Great Crested Grebe 37 + 30 WRes..  Redshank 1.  Lapwing 250,   
Wintersett Res: per Pete Smith and @BeckyBailey101  
A Water Rail was in the west bank marsh.  Willow Tit 1 west bank.  Siskin 2 + 1 south over west bank clump. Swift 8.  Sand Martin 30.  House Martin100
79 birds were ringed this morning. Highlights were - 8 Blackcap, 1 Whitethroat, 7 Reed Warbler, 2 Sedge Warbler,  7 Willow Warbler,   32 Chiffchaff, 5 Sand Martin,  1 Cettis Warbler. 

Sunday 30 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

A walk round with Dave Standish this evening produced 3 Swifts, 2 Shovelers, 18 Lapwings, 40 Canada south and 24 north, 2 Water Rails called from the reedbeds and 2 Tawny Owls flew out of their roost giving cracking views as the flew by us in good light. Then c400 Swallows came in to roost.

There were 2 Foxes near the wader scrape view point and 2 more at the back of the w. scrape at the same time!

Wintersett + Ringing 30.08.20

9 - 15 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cold north easterlywind.
Anglers CP: Siskin 2 over.  Redshank 2 flew north at 07.26hrs, 1 seen later on shallows.  Yellow Wagtail 1 over.   Swift 3.  Gadwall 34.  Wigeon 4.
Wintersett Res: Pochard 52.
33 birds were ringed this morning; Highlights 5 Blackcap, 1 Garden Warbler,  2 Reed Warbler, 5 Goldfinch, 1 Linnet, 9 Willow Warbler, 5 Chiffchaff, 1 Song Thrush.

Ewden valley, G and J Wasse, S Green.

Cold in unseasonal winds but excellent light. Juv Goshawk showed quite well behind the lodge and a cc Marsh Harrier a few times were the best raptors. Also 2 juv Peregrines which were together at one stage, 2 Sparrowhawks, 8+ C Buzzards, 6 Kestrels. Ravens 10+, Siskin flock c 60, Stonechat c 3. Passage s. were c30 Swallow, c 15 House Martin, 1 Swift, c 140 Meadow Pipits includes a flock of about 100.

Saturday 29 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

This morning 18 Lapwings, 4 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 10 Siskins, Goldcrest, Great Spot Woodpecker, Kestrel, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, 2 Greenfinches, Goldfinch feeding a fledged young and 5 Swifts north. (JP/CG)

This evening 6 Swifts, and a Barn Owl hunting the wader scrape area. It left west after it caught a vole. (Dave Standish)

Wintersett 29.08.20

A cool 10 - 12 degrees, with 6/8 to 8/8 cloud and a fresh northerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Swift 20.  Yellow Wagtail 3 in fields.  Teal 1.   
Wintersett Res: Pochard 44 + 3 ACP.  Sand Martin 40.  Goldeneye 4 females.  A juvenile Peregrine caught a Swift and ate it in the west bank field.  A Whitethroat in SW area.
Cold Hiendley: Gadwall 162.  Shoveler 3.
Lepidoptera: A Painted Lady was on the Dam Wall Wintersett Res.  A Red Admiral, a  Speckled Wood and 2 Large White were on bramble at the edge of the Willow Wood.

 Peregrine  devouring a Swift  CHfield.   ASmith

Friday 28 August 2020

Wintersett 28.08.20

11-13 degrees, with rain at first, 8/8 cloud  and a cool, light northerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Wigeon 4.  Teal 5.  Shoveler 1.  Swift 12.  Great Black-backed Gull 1 immature.  Wintersett Res: Arctic Tern 2 juveniles briefly, late morning.  Swallow 200.  House Martin 200.  Hobby 1.

LAMMERGEIER (retrospective)

Lammergeier from July - Aug (note reference to the Graham Speight post on 16th July - apologies to Graham for the delay)

A few images and video from the previous location along Dukes Road and the nearby roost. I have added a few also from its recent position at Crowden as these are a bit better - hopefully of interest to members.
























Thursday 27 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

This morning 18 Lapwings, 6 Sand Martins south, possible adult Yellow-legged Gull flushed by machinery before had chance to I.D. properly and Sparrowhawk and few Siskins. (Dave Standish/JP)

I had 4 Teal, a singing Goldrest, the first of autumn, a male Vapourer and 1 Silver Y moth. (CG)

This evening 2 Little Egrets, 2 Grey Partridges and 30 Canada Geese flew down the valley. (JP)

Wintersett + Ringing 27.08.20

12 - 15 degrees, with 8/8 cloud and a light, easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: 220 Linnet were in the CP field. A Nuthatch was on Haw Park Lane.
Going south: Redpoll 1,  Siskin 10,  Meadow Pipit 1.
85 Birds were ringed this morning.
Highlights were:- Willow Warbler 5,  Chiffchaff 16,  Reed Warbler 7,  Blackcap 16,  Goldfinch 8 and Linnet 21.
Lepidoptera: A Painted Lady was on the west bank WRes.. 

Wednesday 26 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

 Mot much change here, 6 Greylags, Green Sandpiper, 10 Swift, c60 Goldfinch and Buzzard (JP).

Wintersett 26.08.20

14 - 17 degrees with sun,  variable light cloud and a cool west north westerly breeze.
Anglers CP:  The highlight today was an juvenile Spoonbill  seen by Steve Denny, flying west over the country Park at 14:25, then circling the Pol field, before leaving north west.  Gray Speight managed to get onto it from  the car park!   It was picked up at 14.35hrs going west  at Pugneys by Ian Beveridge @fisermanian.    An adult Common Tern flew north at 10.45hrs.  A juvenile, male Peregrine flew over at 11.14hrs.  A Goosander went west.   An adult Yellow-legged Gull flew west + an adult and a sub adult were on the water.  Teal 8.  Wigeon 1.  Swift 8. Common Sandpiper 1.  Herring Gull 180.  Lesser Blackbacked Gull 150.  Yellow Wagtail 1.  Hobby 1.
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 4 females.  Mallard 180 + 80 ACP.  Shoveler 2.  Sand Martin 30 .  220 Linnet were in the Ruin field.

Tuesday 25 August 2020

Wintersett 25.08.20

15 - 16 degrees, cold, dull and damp, with 8/8 cloud, drizzle in the morning, prolonged rain in the afternoon and a moderate to strong westerly wind.
Anglers CP: A Hobby flew over.  A Tree Pipit flew over at 11.50hrs.  Goldfinch 180.
Wintersett Res:  Wigeon 3.  Pochard 32 + 21 ACP.  Goldfinch 180.

Monday 24 August 2020

Wintersett + Ringing + Gull Roost 24.08.20

15 - 19 degrees with sun,  5/8 cloud and a north easterly wind.
Wintersett Res: A Water Rail was in the west bank marsh.   2 Willow Tit  on the west bank.  Swift 17.  Shoveler 7.  A Crossbill flew over at 10.17hrs.
62 Birds were ringed today: Willow Warbler 10   Chiffchaff 14   Reed Warbler 5   Sedge Warbler 2   Whitethroat 2   Blackcap 6.  Garden Warbler 1   Goldfinch 14.
Wintersett Res Gull roost tonight, per @StevieD131  
Yellow Legged Gull 3 adults,  Lesser Black-backed Gull 172,  Herring Gull 186,  Common Gull 1. A Greenshank flew over to Anglers Country Park.

Carlton Marsh

8 Canada Geese and 2 Greylags came in off the fields first thing. 2 Cormorants flew south, 2 Kingfishers, Siskin, Willow Tit narrowly evaded capture, Treecreeper, Coal Tit, Green and Great Spot Woodpecker, Greenfinch, Sparrowhawk and Buzzard. (JP/CG)

Woolley 
Numbers are decreasing fast now 1 Brown Argus, 4 Small copper, 21 Common Blue, 32 Small Heath, 27 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Gatekeeper, 23 Speckled Wood and 1 Red Admiral. (Chris Parkin)


24/8/20 Ewden Height + Midhope Res

Ewden Height: 5 Tree Pipit south, 27 Meadow Pipit south with c23 resident, 41 LBBG S/SE in small groups, 3 Lesser Redpoll, Common Whitethroat

Midhope Res: 7 Little Grebe, 2 Tufted Duck, Teal

Sunday 23 August 2020

Low Moor/ Midhope 23/8/20.

Good start but ruined by rain after 20 minutes. Merlin 1 towards langsett res found and chased by Swallows. Crossbill 6, Raven 3, C Buzzard 1, Siskin 2, Meadow Pipit 2.

Carlton Marsh

Todays highlights were 30 Canada Geese, 14 Lapwuing, Green Sandpiper, Kingfisher, Willow Tit, Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10 Chiffchaff, 2 Willow Warbler and 1 Swift. (JP)

Wintersett WeBS August 2020

Here are the  Wintersett WeBS counts for August 2020.

Great Crested Grebe 74.  Little Grebe 7.  Black-necked Grebe 1.  Mute Swan 44.  Canada Goose 272.  Greylag Goose 162.  Cormorant 12.  Coot 388.  Moorhen 22.  Mallard 177.  Shoveler 5.  Goldeneye 4.  Teal 5.  Gadwall 100,  Grey Heron 4.  Lapwing 106.  Pochard 32.  Tufted Duck 286.

Wintersett 23.08.20

15 - 20 degrees with varying cloud and a westerly breeze.
Anglers CP:  Lots of gulls in today.  Lesser Black-backed Gull 280.  Herring Gull 350.  Great Black-backed Gull 3.  Common Gull 1.  Mediterranean Gull 1 juvenile. Black-necked Grebe 1 juvenile. A Snipe flew south.
52 birds were ringed at Anglers CP: Highlightswere:
14 Chiffchaff, 13 Willow Warbler (of which 10 were adults), 12 Blackcap, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet, 1 Tree Sparrow and a female Redstart.
Cold Hiendley Res: A Tree Pipit flew south.  
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 1, then seen ACP. A juvenile Peregrine and 60 Linnets were in the ruin field. Swift 15 + 2 ACP.  
Lepidoptera: A Small Heath and a Gatekeeper at ACP. 

Redstart female  Anglers CP    RBailey



Saturday 22 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

Last night (21/8) 4 Swifts, 9 Canada Geese south and c350 Swallows came in to roost.

Today Little Egret, Green Sandpiper, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Teal, 45 Gadwall, 6 Linnet and 4 Siskin. (JP)

3 Red-eared Terrapins were in the main scrape. (D. Standish/CG)

Insects included 2 male Vapourer Moths.

20 Swifts feeding over the marsh before dusk. (Dave Standish)

Wintersett 22.08.20

16 - 19 degrees,with variable cloud, rain showers in the afternoon, and a moderate south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: A Greenshank and a juvenile Mediterranean Gull  were in the shallows.  Teal 4.  Swift 3.  Snipe 2.
Wintersett Res: Ringed Plover 1 over at 11.38hrs.  Goldeneye 4 females in wing moult.   
Cold Hiendley Res: Tufted Duck 226 and 5 young, nearly fledged, on WRes.. Gadwall 88 + 4 ACP.  Goldfinch 60.
Mustelid: Weasel 1 ACP. 

Friday 21 August 2020

Wintersett 21.08.20

17 - 20 degrees with variable cloud and a moderate, gusty, south westerly wind.
Anglers CP: Ringed Plover 1.  Teal 5.  Mallard 206 + 24 WRes.  Great Crested Grebe 32 + 34 WRes. + 3 CHRes..  Greylag Goose 174.  Lapwing 200.  Cormorant 13.  A juvenile Peregrine and a Hobby flew over. 
ACP Vis.Mig: 58 Swift south.
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 4 female.  Great Black-backed Gull 1.  Sand Martin 12.  

Carlton Marsh

This morning Green Sandpiper, 3 Dabchick, 4 Bullfinch and 4 Juv/female Crossbills calling flew south. (JP)  

Thursday 20 August 2020

Wintersett 20.08.20

17 - 21 degrees with variable cloud and a moderate southerly breeze.
Anglers CP: A Tree Pipit flew over at 08.20hrs. Swift 21 south.  A Curlew flew over and left south at 10.55hrs.   Teal 3.  A Red Kite flew over Stubbs Wood and left north east at 15.45hrs. A Yellow Wagtail flew east. 
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 4 females.  A Cetti's Warbler brood were on the north bank + another brood were in the south east corner.  Little Grebe 7. A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.  
Botany Bay: Kingfisher 1. 
Cold Hiendley Res: Gadwall 42.  A juvenile Peregrine flew over and a Hobby was feeding over. 
Lepidoptera: Meadow Brown 1 ACP.  At WRes. - A Small Tortoiseshell,  a Small Copper, a Peacock,  a Gatekeeper, a male Common Blue and a Green-veined White 
Odonata: 2 male Small Red-eyed Damselflies and a male Blue-tailed Damselfly were on Botany Bay.  A male Emperor was on the north east bank WRes..

Carlton Marsh

Pretty much the same here this morning Little Egret, Cormorant east, Green Sandpiper, Willow Tit and 6 Siskins (JP) The rest of us were repairing the fence on the western meadow and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust were cutting stumps of trees that we cut last winter in readiness for a tractor coming to cut it next week.

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct

A high count of 83 Speckled Wood, 57 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Red Admiral, 4 Comma, 1 Brown Argus and 4 Small Copper. Also 3 Southern Hawker and a Grass Snake (Chris Parkin)

Les Corral had a Painted Lady in his Cudworth garden again.

Ewden valley 20/8/20.

Very breezy but good light. Surprisingly hardly any southerly movement with only a pair of House Martins, c 92 Meadow Pipits and 3 blogging Swallows at the bottom end. Raptors, presumably the first of the year for this area a rt Hen Harrier, cc Marsh Harrier, Merlin 1 preening then chasing Pipits. C Buzzard 6, Kestrel 5. Raven c 10, Golden Plover 1 e., Stonechat 5. Very low flying jet on the way up was thought to have been a Typhoon.

Wednesday 19 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

Present this morning Little Egret, Cormorant south, 6 Lapwings, Green Sandpiper, a singing Reed Warbler, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel and Buzzard. (JP)

Wintersett Ringing Recovery per Becky Bailey


A Sedge Warbler ADJ4320 was ringed as an adult (F) on 21/07/19 @Wintersett1
 and retrapped by ringers at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth on 04/08/20 
- a move of 323km south, if you ignore its trip to Africa and back!

View image on Twitter

Wintersett + Ringing 19.08.20

17 - 19 degrees with 8/8 cloud,  heavy rain showers in the afternoon and a moderate south easterly breeze.
Wintersett Res: Yellow Wagtail 2 south.  Mediterranean Gull 1 juvenile at 08.20hrs.  A Great White Egret flew north at 09.15hrs.  Goldeneye 4 females. Great Crested Grebe 34 + 3 CHRes. + 30 ACP.  A Water Rail was on the west bank.
Anglers CP + VisMig:  A juvenile Peregrine flew over.  11 Swift went south.  Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.  Little Grebe 1.
98 Birds were ringed at Wintersett Res:  Willow Warbler 17.  Reed Warbler 7.  Whitethroat 10.  Garden Warbler 4.  Chiffchaff 31.  Sedge Warbler 3. Blackcap 16. Cetti's Warbler 3 Yellowhammer 1.

Tuesday 18 August 2020

Another Rose-coloured Starling in Barnsley!

This photograph was taken by Mr & Mrs Marsden in their Hoylandswaine garden on Chapel Road. The photograph was taken on 28th June and the bird was present from 26th to 28th June 2020.

The sighting has just come to light this week when the photograph was shown to Hoylandswaine resident Alan Archer and clearly shows an adult type Rose-coloured Starling.

This is the fourth record in the Barnsley area during the 2020 invasion into the UK and follows these earlier ones;-

Cudworth, 4th to 6th June

Adwick, 7th June

Birdwell, 8th to 16th June

Wintersett + Vis.Mig. + Moths 18.08.20

15 - 20 degrees, dull and rainy start with 8/8 cloud and a westerly breeze.  Dry towards midday with sunny spells  and a light westerly.
Anglers CP + Vis.Mig: A Little Egret flew south.  A Greenshank dropped in the shallows at 12.05hrs.  Swift 23 south.  Lapwing 240.   Teal 2.  Shoveler 4.
Overnight moth trapping produced: A Small Mottled Willow which is a southern European migrant,  is the 4th record for Wintersett.  An Oak Nycteoline, a Crescent and 2 Angle-striped Sallow were the supporting cast.  A beetle Nicrophorus humator was also caught overnight.
Small Mottled Willow  4th record for Wintersett  PSmith 17.08.20
Nicrophorus humator   Anglers CP  ASmith 18.08.20

Monday 17 August 2020

Wintersett + VisMig: 17.08.20

16 - 19 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a south westerly breeze.
VisMig: Siskin 18 south.  Black-tailed Godwit 7 flew north at 12.18hrs.
Crossbill 5 flew west south west over car park at 12.18 hrs. Curlew 1 south. Ringed Plover 1 south at 10.22hrs. 
Anglers CP: Pochard 43.  Great Crested Grebe 31 + 33 WRes. + 3 CHRes.   Lapwing 210.  Goldfinch 170.    Hobby 1 juvenile flew southeast.
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 3 females.  Kingfisher 1.  Sedge Warbler 1 adult feeding 2 juveniles on west bank. 
Cold Hiendley Res: Wigeon 1. Gadwall 41.  Great Crested Grebe 4 young.  Tufted Duck 255 + 42 WRes. + 23 ACP. 
Ryhill: Swift 2 left a breeding site. 

Carlton Marsh

Rain yesterday flooded the wader scrape. However, 3 Little Egrets, Kingfisher and a pair of Little Grebes with 1 juve. were present this morning. 60 House Sparrows were in a field nearby. (JP) 

This afternoon, with Dave Smith, Dave Standish and Les Corrall, was better for insects. At least 6 Brown Hawker (4 together), 3 Migrant Hawker, 2m Emperor, 1m Ruddy Darter, 3 pairs of Common Darter, 3 Emeral and several Blue-tailed Damsels and a Great Diving Beetle. Birds included Siskin, Great Spot Woodpecker, Willow Warbler and Chiffchaff. 2 Foxes were feeding on Blackberries.

On the western meadow 8 Silver Y and 1 Straw Dot Moth along with 1 Small Copper, 1 Meadow Brown, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Peacock and 1 Comma were feeding on Buddlejas. 

Les Corrall had a Painted Lady in his Cudworth garden at mid-day.

Littleworth-Monk Bretton Meadow Brown peaked at 353, Common Blue 45 (best count this year here), Small Heath 68, Brown Argus 2, Gatekeeper 76 and Small Tortoiseshell 12. (Chris Parkin)

Meanwhile Geoff Miller reported 6 Swifts with one nest site still being used at the Beech Avenue, Cudworth colony.

Low Moor/ Midhope 17/8/20.

Couple of hours this aft. had Red Kite 1, Peregrine 1, Sparrowhawk 1 pair, C Buzzard 6, Kestrel 2. Crossbill 8, Raven 6. Waders through, Lapwing c 50 n., Curlew 1 w.

Sunday 16 August 2020

Wintersett 16.08.20

Cool, 15 - 18 degrees with drizzle, 8/8 cloud and a light north easterly.  Heavier rain showers in the afternoon.
Anglers CP: Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.  Kingfisher 1. 
Wintersett Res:A brood of Cetti's Warbler  was on the north bank.    Goldeneye 2 female.

Carlton Marsh

 A quick visit this evening by Dave Standish produced 12 Swifts and several hundred Swallows roosting. Kingfisher, Little Egret, 17 Lapwings and a Green Sandpiper on the wader scrape.

Saturday 15 August 2020

Carlton Marsh Friday 14/8/20

 An estimated 750 Swallows came in to roost. (Dave Smith)

A Mothing session with H.E. Beaumont, Chris Parkin and Dave Smith provided more 59 (41 macro) species. Yellow-barred Brindle and Brown-veined Wainscot were new for the reserve. 

Flame Carpet
Fen Wainscot
White Satin
 
Yellow-barred Brindle
Today 4 Little Egrets, 1 Green Sandpiper, 17 Lapwings, 1 Swift, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Wintersett + 2 new for year + Ringing 15.08.20

14 - 18 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cool, light, north easterly.
Wintersett Res: A Great White Egret flew over north at 09.25hrs. (New for year)
Anglers CP: Swift 2.  A Peregrine flew over. 
Botany Bay/ Dockshire field:  A Whinchat was seen at midday. (New for year)
68 Birds were ringed: Chiffchaff 16.  Willow Warbler 15.  Whitethroat 7.  Blackcap 7.  Reed Warbler 2.  Linnet 1.

Whinchat       Dockshire Field,Botany Bay      15.08.20     CSwaine

Friday 14 August 2020

Wintersett 14.08.20

17 - 20 degrees with sun,  3/8 cloud and a light north easterly.
 Haw Park Wood: Spotted Flycatcher 1 (CS). 
Anglers CP: Greylag Goose 172.  Great Crested Grebe 22 + 30 WRes.+ 2 CHRes..  Teal 1.  Common Sandpiper 1.  Mallard 236. A juvenile Peregrine was in the fields.(CS).  Goldfinch 100.
Wintersett Res:A Willow Tit was near the boathouse bench.(CS)
Lepidoptera ACP: Meadow Brown 1+.  Common Blue 1 male.  Gatekeeper 1.  Small Heath 1. 
FYI:  Link to Maps of the Area with  local names by Chris Swaine. 
https://twitter.com/CroftonBirder/status/1294179814128209922

Carlton Marsh

This morning 6 Little Egrets (3 left SE), 2 Green Sandpipers left south and a Adult Yellow Legged Gull alighted on one of the goal posts on the wader scrape before leaving north 10 minutes later. Also of note 2 Willow Tits. (JP/K. Bannister)

Thursday 13 August 2020

Wintersett + another 1st record! 13.08.20

17 - 23 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a cool north easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: A juvenile Mediterranean Gull was in the shallows.  Video link:  https://twitter.com/i/status/1293846252392796162 .   Common Sandpiper 2.   Mallard 292 + 23 WRes.. Pochard 28 + 1 WRes.. Teal 3.  Greylag Goose 175.  Cormorant 13. 
Wintersett Res: A Ringed Plover flew over.  A calling Tree Pipit flew south over west bank at 12:22 hrs. Goldeneye 4 females.  Swift 1. 
Lepidoptera:  2 Gatekeeper were on the east bank WRes..  
Odonata: A Migrant Hawker was over the boathouse reeds. 
Overnight moth trapping:   Haworth's Minor 1 - the 1st Record for Wintersett.  
Maiden's Blush 1. The 4th record for the area.  Ear Moth agg.   Campion 2.  Old Lady 1.  Orange Swift 1.  Northern Spinach 1.  Beautiful Hook-tip 1.  Scarce Footman 1  Oak Hook-tip 2. 
Blog post for 12.08.20 has been updated with moth records. 
Haworth's Minor  1st record for Wintersett  13.08.20  ASmith
Haworth's Minor  1st record for Wintersett  13.08.20  ASmith
Maiden's Blush   4th record for Wintersett   13.08.20   ASmith

 Mediterranean Gull juvenile   ACP shallows   13.08.20  SDenny
 Mediterranean Gull juvenile   ACP shallows   13.08.20  SDenny

Wilthorpe Marsh 13/8/20.

Oxbow pond. - Common Sand 1, Green Sand 3 C Snipe 1. Parakeet 7 with 9 here recently per P.Middleton remains the best count so far. West end had Green Sand flushed off the dyke and Willow Tit at end of canal.

Carlton Marsh

4 possibly 6 Little Egrets were seen on different parts of the reserve this morning. Two very vocal Green Sandpipers, 8 Teal, 10 Lapings and c150 BH Gulls and 2 LBB Gulls were on the wader scrape.

Elsewhere 2 or more Siskins, 2 Kingfishers, 6 Linnet and a Little Owl called. (JP)

Wednesday 12 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

Not much change 1 Green Sandpiper, 2 Little Egrets, 8 Teal, 12 Lapwings, 1 Swift, 6 Siskin south and Buzzard. (JP/K. Bannister)

Insects included 2 Gatekeeper, 1 Common Blue and 1 Southern Hawker.

Thanks to guidance from Oycera. I now beleive this to be Pimpla rufipes a species of Ichneumon wasp. It was found in Rod Heeley's home on Barnsley Road/Bow Street Cudworth today.


 

Wintersett + Ringing + Gull Roost + Moths 12.08.20

21 - 29 degrees, very hot and humid again, with a light easterly breeze.
Anglers CP: A Golden Plover flew over.  Yellow Wagtail 1 over + 2 over east bank field and 1 WRes..    
Wintersett Res: Greylag Goose 12.  Pochard 6.  Goldeneye 3 females.  A brood of Cetti's was on  the north bank and another brood was on the east bank.  Tufted Duck 5 large young.
Odonata: Emperor 1 north bank WRes..
Lepidoptera WRes..: A Gatekeeper was in the north east corner. A Small Copper was on the west bank.   A Meadow Brown was on the north west bank.
21 Birds were ringed today:  Chiffchaff 5.  Willow Warbler 5.  Blackcap 3,  Reed Warbler 2,  Whitethroat 1 and Lesser Whitethroat 1.
Wintersett Res. Gull Roost: Psycho, the resident Yellow-legged Gull was seeing off yachts & all comers and  a juvenile Mediterranen  Gull were notable tonight.
 https://twitter.com/StevieD131/status/1293648685012848641
Overnight moth trapping produced:  Pine Hawk-moth 1.  Bordered Beauty 1.  Angle-striped Sallow 1.  Campion 1.  Silky Wainscott 1.  Scarce Footman 1.  Oak Hook-tip 4.  Dusky Thorn 5.

Tuesday 11 August 2020

11/8/20 Ewden Height

An evening visit from 17.30 to 19.00 in amazingly warm, calm, sunny weather was birdless for spells but eventually produced a decent list:

Peregrine - seen at the horizon over Broomhead Moor.

Curlew - 2 together in adjacent fields calling. Swallow - 5, Kestrel -2 (ad+juv), Mistle Thrush - 3 (ad + 2 juvs), Meadow Pipit - 7, Stock Dove, Siskin - 1+, Buzzard, Linnet - 6, Goldfinch - 4, Raven, Willow Warbler - 5 (juvs + briefly singing adult), LBBG - 2 ads NW towards Langsett Res.


Carlton Marsh

 This morning 5 Little Egrets, 15 LBB Gulls, c200 BH Gulls, Water Rail, Willow Tit, Coal Tit, 2 Siskin and Great Spot Woodpecker. (JP)

Wintersett + Ringing 11.08.20

A very hot 20 - 30 degrees,  0/8 sunny with light high cloud in the afternoon and a welcome light cool north easterly.
Anglers CP: Teal 4.  Common Sandpiper 1.
Wintersett Res: Common Tern 1.  A brood of Cetti's Warblers were around the boathouse bench area.  Pochard 4.   
48 Birds were ringed: 10 Chiffchaff,  10 Willow Warbler,  6 Blackcap,  2 Garden Warbler,  2 Whitethroat,  2 Reed Warbler,  1 Sedge Warbler,  5 Goldfinch and 1 Tree Sparrow.         

Monday 10 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape today 2 Little Egret, 1 Green Sandpiper, 13 Lapwing, Kingfisher, 4 Teal, a pair of Dachick feeding 1 young,13 LBB and 7 Herring Gulls. Buzzard and Sparrowhawk flushed everything at one point.

Insects included 8 Gatekeeper, 16 Speckled Wood, 5 GV White and just 5 Peacock. Shaded Broad Bar and Dark Twinpot Carpet Moths were flushed and 4 Brown Hawker, 1m Black-tailed Skimmer and 1m Banded Demoiselle were of note.

 Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton 

17 species of butterfly included a second brood of Dingy Skipper, 47 Small Heath, 2 Brown Argus, 25 Common Blue, 4 Small Copper, 253 Meadow Brown, 115 Gatekeeper and 40 Silver Y moths. (Chris Parkin)

For the Doncaster area birders, Keith Bannister saw 2 Red Kites thermalling between Hooton Pagnell and Brodsworth at 09.30hrs.

 

Wintersett 10.08.20

Hot and sunny, with cloud increasing in the afternoon and a very light north easterly.
Wintersett Res: Teal 1 + 1 ACP.
Anglers CP: Cormorant 12.  Pochard 5.  Grey Wagtail 1.  A Leucisitic Greylag Goose was in this morning. Mallard 141. 
Odonata: Steve Denny had a male LESSER  EMPEROR on the Willow Wood track, WRes. early this morning.  2 male Black-tailed Skimmer  at Anglers CP - one on east bank and one on the west bank.
Lepidoptera: A Small Copper and a  Small Tortoiseshell were on the east bank Anglers CP.

Male Lesser Emperor      Willow Wood WRes,     SDenny

10/8/20 Various sites

 Early fog meant the planned vis-mig session was cancelled so I checked out a few sites in the area:

Langsett Res - Green Sandpiper, 2 Willow Warbler singing, 7+ Siskin, 2 Bullfinch, 50+ BHG incl. 5 juvs., Tree Pipit south, 1+ Crossbill, 3+ Jay, Goldcrest singing, 4 LBBG, 2 deer (Roe?) jostling near shore line.

Barn side Moor - Curlew alarming, 2 Linnet

Midhope Res. - Little Grebe, 4 juv Willow Warblers

Low Moor - Buzzard, Meadow Pipit

Under bank Res. - 3 Goldcrest singing, juvenile Grey Heron

Wharncliffe Chase (farmland to north) - Yellowhammer singing, Chiffchaff singing, 20+ MeadowPipit, 3 Tree Pipit (with Mipits), 7 Linnet, Buzzard, Grey Heron, 8 Goldfinch, Stock Dove, Greenfinch, Sparrowhawk 

Sunday 9 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

 2 Little Egret and a Green Sandpiper on the wader scrape this evening. Elsewhere Kingfisher, Great Spot Woodpecker, Kestrel, Buzzard and c100 Swallow in to roost at 20.44hrs. (Dave Standish)

Low Moor/ Midhope 9/8/20. G and J Wasse, I Martin, S Green.

Hazy light today with an aggressive Peregrine chasing Pigeons, other raptors and a LBB Gull. Also Marsh Harrier 1, Merlin 1, C Buzzard 7, Kestrel 5. Raven 4, 32 LBB Gull e., Curlew 2. Crossbills mobile c 21, Tree Pipit 1, Meadow Pipit c 35, Mistle Thrush flock 12. Redpoll 2, GS Pecker 1, calling Nuthatch midhope res.

Wilthorpe Marsh 9/8/20.

This morning, Whinchat at w end. Green Sand 1, 2 L Egret, 1 Parakeet. GS and G Peckers, Willow Tit on canal.

Wintersett Res. 09.08.20

15 - 20 degrees with 4/8 high cloud and a cool north easterly.
Wintersett Res: Mandarin Duck 1 juvenile drake . Pochard 4.  Cetti's Warbler brood in boathouse reeds.  Curlew 2 north.  Common Gull 1 adult.  Siskin 1 over.  Yellow-legged Gull 1 juvenile.
Anglers CP: A  Green Sandpiper flew over.   Little Egret 1 north.  18 Crossbills flew north east over the car park at 12.15hrs.  Great Crested Grebe 22 + 1 young WRes.  + 4 young CHRes..  Common Tern 2.  Goldfinch 70.  Teal 9 + 1 WRes..  Cormorant 10 + 3 WRes..   3 juvenile Yellow Wagtails were on the north bank.

Mandarin drake     WRes.     SDenny
Yellow-legged Gull  WRes.   SDenny

Saturday 8 August 2020

Woolley

 15 species of butterfly included 6 Small Copper, 14 Common Blue, 3 Brown Argus, 8 Small Heath and 93 Gatekeeper. (Chris Parkin)

Low Moor/Midhope 8/8/20, P Middleton, S Green.

Good light with plenty cloud cover. Marsh Harrier 3 together over Pike Lowe then lost to view high. Hobby 1 catching insects. Sparrowhawk 1, C Buzzard 5, Kestrel 5+. Crossbill c 12 mobile, Raven 1, LBB Gull 6. Waders now scarce with 2 Curlew, Golden Plover 1. Grey Heron 1, GS Pecker 1, Mistle Thrush flock 15, Siskin total c33.

Wintersett + Ringing 08.08.20

17 - 21 degrees,  hot and humid, with sun and light, but increasing, cloud and a gentle breeze from the north east.
Anglers CP: A calling Crossbill flew over south east
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 2 females.  A juvenile Water Rail was in the west bank marsh. Tufted Duck 5 young.  A brood of Cetti's on west bank.  Hobby 1.  
Cold Hiendley Res: Gadwall 23.  Great Crested Grebe 3 young + 1 adult in wing moult WRes..  Little Grebe 1. 
75 birds were ringed today: Highlights were - 11 Blackcap.  Garden Warbler 4.  Whitethroat 4.  Lesser Whitethroat 1.  Reed Warbler 16.  Sedge Warbler 9.  Chiffchaff 14.  Willow Warbler 7 and Cetti's Warbler 1 adult female.

Friday 7 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

This evening 2 Little Egrets and a Kingfisher were on the wader scrape and 3 more Kingfishers were on the main scrape. c100 Swifts drifted south and c300 Swallows roosted in Common Reed. A Tawny Owl called at dusk and Emperor and Migrant Hawker were still flying and a Purple Hairstreak was dancing around the top of an Oak tree.

A Humming Bird Hawk-Moth was feeding on Buddlea in Les Corrall's Cudworth garden this morning.

Wintersett - Another 1st Record 07.08.20

 Steve Denny was on the concrete chamber, west bank Wintersett Res. this morning, when this beetle flew onto his shirt.  Many thanks to Mike Denton who confirmed that this is the FIRST RECORD, of this species,  for the Wintersett Area!

The beetle is Sermyllasa halensis.  It's new for Wintersett - the 726th beetle species to be recorded there. It feeds on bedstraw Galium spp. and is widespread but local, more so in northern England and rare in Scotland.

 Sermyllasa halensis on west bank 
Wintersett Res. SDenny  07.08.20

Wintersett + Insects 07.08.20

23 - 27 degrees,  extremely hot and humid with 4/8 cloud and a very light south westerly.
Anglers CP: Cormorant 9.  Common Sandpiper 3.
Wintersett Res: Goldeneye 3 females. The eclipse drake Mandarin was on the slipway.  
Reptile: A Grass snake crossed Haw Park Lane,  from the wheat field.
Moth trapping overnight revealed: Dusky Thorn 2.  Yellow-barred Brindle 1.  Oak Hook-tip 1. Double Lobed 1.  Southern Wainscott 1.   John Gardener had a Hummingbird Hawk-moth in his trap in Ryhill.
Hummingbird Hawk-moth  Ryhill @Wildscenes 06.08.20
 Lepidoptera: A Purple Hairstreak was in Pits Wood.
OdonataMoorhouse Lane Pond: Ruddy Darter 3.  Emperor 3.  Small Red-eyed Damselfly 20.  Azure Damselfly 1 male.
Small Red- Eyed Damselfly     MLPond  MHemingway
Small Red- Eyed Damselflies     MLPond  MHemingway
Small Red- Eyed Damselfly     MLPond  MHemingway

Ruddy Darter  MLPond   ASmith

Thursday 6 August 2020

Wintersett + Ringing 06.08.20

19 - 24 degrees with sun and varying cloud and a warm, light south westerly.
Wintersett Res: Black-necked Grebe 1.  Goldeneye 2 females. A Little Egret flew over this evening - per John Gardner.
Anglers CP: Green Sandpiper 1 flew over at 07.04hrs.   Common Sandpiper 3. The eclipse, drake Mandarin Grey was on an island in front of the hide.   Grey Wagtail 1. Yellow Wagtail 1.    Great Crested Grebe 18.  Canada Goose 191.  Greylag Goose 55.  Common Tern 2.  Pochard 2. 
37 birds were ringed: Chiffchaff 8.  Willow Warbler 8.  Blackcap 4.  Reed Warbler 3.  Whitethroat 1.  Garden Warbler 1.  Lesser Whitethroat 1.  Treecreeper 1.  Tree Sparrow 4. 
Lepidoptera: Brimstone 1male ACP.

Wednesday 5 August 2020

Cudworth Common

A walk with Les Corrall this afternoon saw a steady trickle of Swifts moving SW. Butterflies included 5 Gatekeeper, 7 Common Blue, 7 Peacock, 14 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Skipper and 1 Purple Hairstreak.

 Purple Hairstreak 

Ferrymoor Flash (Sash Pond)
A pair of Great Crested Grebes had 1 full grown stripy juvenile with them.

Wintersett 05.08.20

18 - 21 degrees, with varying cloud and a warm south westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 1.  Common Tern 1 + 2 WRes..
Wintersett Res: Black-necked Grebe 1 juvenile.  Little Grebe 5.  Tufted Duck 5 medium young. Pochard 1.  Goldeneye 3 females.
Cold Hiendley Res: Mandarin 1 eclipse drake.
Lepidoptera: Meadow Brown 1 west bank WRes..

Tuesday 4 August 2020

Wintersett + Ringing + Gull Roost 04.08.20

16 - 19 degrees with increasing cloud and a strengthening, cool, south westerly.
Wintersett Res:  Black-necked Grebe 1.  Goldeneye 3 females.  Mandarin 1 eclipse drake.
Anglers CP: Shoveler 4.  Common Sandpiper 3.
28 Birds were ringed:  Blackcap 5.  Reed Warbler 5.  Sedge Warbler 1.  Goldfinch 2.  Bullfinch 2.  Willow Warbler 5.  Chiffchaff 7.
Gull Roost at Wintersett Res. is beginning to build up.
Tonight we had 900 Black-headed Gull, 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 38 Herring Gull  and 1 Great Black-backed Gull  per  @StevieD131


Monday 3 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

This evening at least, 2 Kingfishers, 3 Grey Herons, 1 juv Teal, Tufted Duck broods of 5, 5, and 10, 125 BH Gulls, 45 Mallard,30 Gadwall and 1 Little Egret. (Dave Smith)

4 Little Egrets on the wader scrape at 20.30hrs (Dave Standish)

A large very dark raptor north over upper Cudworth at 10am was thought to be a Marsh Harrier. (Geoff Miller)

C200 Swifts over Carlton drifted south when an adult female Peregrine swooped through them before landing on a nearby pylon. (Dave Smith)

Wintersett 03.08.20

17 - 20 degrees with sun,  increasing cloud and a gentle north westerly.
Anglers CP: Common Sandpiper 2.
Wintersett Res: The Black-necked Grebe still present. Great Crested Grebe 32 + 16 ACP + 4 CHRes..  There are now 3 female Goldeneye.  Little Grebe 6 + 2 ACP.  Pochard 3.  Herring Gull 7. 
Mustelid: 2 squealing Stoats came chasing in from the field along the edge  of the car park this morning. 



Sunday 2 August 2020

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape first thing 6 motherless Tufted Ducks all thriving nonetheless, and Little Egret. A female Tufted on the main scrape strarted off with 13 ducklings, which are now 10. (K. Bannister) Soon after an adult Yellow-legged Gull (Psyco?) was with other large gulls on the wader scrape. (JP)

This afternoon's butterflies included 5 Red Admiral, 6 Comma, 72 Peacock and 54 Gatekeeper. A male Large Red Damsefly was notable. (Chris Parkin), 


Ewden valley 2/8/20. G and J Wasse, S Green.

Cold at times in the strong breeze but very good light. Fully grown juv Cuckoo showed well perched in a rowan being fed by Meadow Pipits. cc Marsh Harrier 1, Hobby 2 ad.+ juv., C Buzzard 7, Kestrel 4. Raven 7, Stonechat 6+, LBB Gull 1, Curlew 1, GS Pecker 1. Tree Pipit 1, Meadow Pipit big reduction, c30. Whitethroat 1.

Wintersett 02.08.20

14 - 20 degrees, cloud slowly increasing through the day with  cooling, light north westerly breeze.
Anglers CP: An Adult Yellow-legged Gull (Psycho) left and flew towards Walton Hall.  Cormorant 9.  Common Sandpiper 3. 
Wintersett Res: Great Crested Grebe 58 (38 + 14 ACP + 6 CHRes.)  Goldeneye 2 females.   Mandarin 1 eclipse drake.  Tufted Duck 247 + 2ACP.  Gadwall 21 (incl CHREs..) + 2 ACP.
Mallard 102 (incl. CHRes.) + 31 ACP.   Common Gull 2 flew over..  Common Tern 3.

Saturday 1 August 2020

Wintersett + Ringing 01.08.20

HAPPY YORKSHIRE DAY!
13 - 20 degrees with 0/8, but increasing cloud and a light westerly.
Anglers CP: Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.  Common Sandpiper 4. 
Anglers CP VisMig: A calling Red Knot flew south over, then left west over CHRes. at 07.50hrs. 51 67 birds were ringed at Wintersett Res. this morning:
The highlight  was a juvenile Water Rail, whose primaries were not fully grown,  which indicates this is a locally bred bird.   Reed Warbler 9,  Sedge Warbler 7,  Garden Warbler. 2,  Blackcap 7,  Reed Bunting 4, Chiffchaff 9,  Willow Warbler 21.
Wintersett Res:  2 Hobbies were hunting over the ruin field at 04.30 a.m. A Marsh Harrier flew over at 05.28hrs.   An Oystercatcher flew over.  Water Rail 1 in west bank marsh.  Mandarin 1 eclipse drake.  Goldeneye 2 females.  Little Gull 5.  Tufted Duck 5 medium young.  Canada Goose 39.  Greylag Goose 1.  Grey Wagtail 1.
 Lepidoptera: A Brown Argus  was on the west bank WRes..  Essex Skipper 2 Moorhouse Lane Pond.

Juvenile Water Rail ringed at Wintersett Res       RBailey

Low Moor/Midhope 1/8/20. G and J Wasse, P Middleton, S Green.

Productive couple of hours this aft in good light. Hobby 2 together, Merlin over pike lowe, Red Kite 1, C Buzzard 5, Kestrel 4. Crossbill 6, Raven 5, Lapwing flock c150. Most of the breeding waders getting scarce so 2 Curlew welcome and a Snipe dropped in.

Carlton Marsh

Last nights moth trapping with Dave Smith produced 38 macro species and 9 micros. The highlights were Antler Moth, Blue - borderd Carpet, Dingy Shears, Dingy Shell, Scalloped Hook-tip, Oak Hook-tip, Small Phoenix and True Lover's Knot. Micro's included Brown China mark.

 Blue-bordered Carpet
Dingy Shears
Today a Willow Tit was heard again along with the first Green Woodpecker of the year. (JP) 3 Little Egrets were present this evening (Dave Tattershall) along with a single Teal, juv. Sparrowhawk, 2 Kingfisher, 10 Lapwings and c75 Swallows at dusk.
2 + 2 Foxes were hunting at dusk.