Low Moor/Midhope 31/12/23.

G and J Wasse, S Green. Showery but good light inbetween. Merlin 1 fem. type, C Buzzard 6, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 2. Barn Owl hunting early from about 1 pm. Raven 1, Fieldfare 300+, Redwing 50+, Linnet flock 200+ on wires and fields on midhope lane. Lapwing flock c70, Siskin 7.

Carlton Marsh

 c110 Pink Feet flew west at 12.10hrs. 

Finches included c50 Redpoll, 17 Siskin, c30 Goldfinch. 

30 Fieldfare was the most we've had this year! 

Also present 2 Goldcrest, a singing Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail and a Great Spotted Woodpecker.

3 Cormorant and 11 Tufted Duck (7m), were on Bleachcroft Farm Pond (R. Laverack/C. Parkin/CG).

Wintersett 31.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A 2nd Winter Mediterranean Gull was seen at dawn. (GJS).

Anglers CP:

Goosander 6.   3 Nuthatch were in the car park.   

A Water Rail was in the south west corner.   Siskin 14.

3 Tree Sparrows and 3 Yellowhammers were at the Pol feeders.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Kingfisher 1.   A Cetti's Warbler was heard on the south bank.

A cream-crowned Marsh Harrier flew south over CHRes. at 12.10hrs. (GJS, PS, AS).

Carlton Marsh

 3 Little Egrets were present this morning (Keith Bannister).

Wintersett 29.12.2023

Anglers CP:  

Shoveler 1 male.

Pol Feeding Station

Siskin 1.   Tree Sparrow 1.   Yellow Bunting 1.

Wintersett Res:

Goosander 2 males.   28 Pink-footed Geese flew over  west.

60 Redwing flew over north west.

Carlton Marsh

 Its still very quiet, the only birds of note today were 3 Greylag south, Kingfisher and 20 Redpolls (D. Standish/CG).

Wintersett 27.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A 1st W Drake Scaup was seen on Wintersett Reservoir this morning,  off the west bank.

Great Crested Grebe 3 + 2 Cold Hiendley Res.

Anglers CP:

2  Canada Goose X Greylag Goose hybrids were on this morning.

Low Cudworth

 c200 Pink Feet Geese NW at 10.40hrs (R. Laverack/L. Corrall). 

Carlton Marsh
Drake Goosander, Cormorant, Kestrel, 11 Redwing, Siskin and 5 Redpoll (CG/C. Parkin).

Wintersett 26.12.2023

Anglers CP:

Shoveler 5.  

2 Tree Sparrows and a female Brambling were on the Pol Feeders.

Wigeon 229 + 10 CHRes. + 10 Moorhouse Lane Pond + 24 WRes.. 

Little Grebe 2 + 1 CHRes.. 

Wintersett Res:

Goldeneye 65 + 30 ACP + 17 CHRes.   

Gadwall  61 CHRes.. + 8 WRes.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Great Crested Grebe 2 + 2 ACP.

Haw Park Wood:

2 Nuthatch on trees at Blue Bridge. 

Old Royston Canal: 

Mallard 28 + 6ACP  + 5 CHRes. + 15 WRes..

Carlton Marsh

This morning c70 Pink Feet flew NW at 10.34hrs and 2 drake Goosander and a Redhead were on Bleachcroft Farm Pond (CG).

This afternoon a Little Egret flew south ((D. Standish) and c80 Pink Feet flew west at 13.40hrs (C. Parkin). 

Cudworth TPT to Ardsley Viaduct
25 Siskin, Great Spot Woodpecker, 12 Fieldfare & Buzzard (C. Parkin).

Wilthorpe Marsh 25/12/23.

P Middleton, S Green. Productive morning for Pinkfeet in the area with c 600 seen. 3 skeins over the marsh late morning and c 300 over Mapplewell at 9am. Stonechat 2, Raven 1, Redpoll flock 10, Siskin 5, Greenfinch 5, Chaffinch 4. L Egret 4, Cetti's 2, Stock Dove 21.

Wintersett 25.12.2023

Anglers CP:

A male Brambling was on the Pol feeders.   

70 Pink-footed Geese flew east + 110 flew west.

Shoveler 3.   Siskin 12.   

Wintersett Res:

A male Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Kingfisher 1.

Carlton Marsh

 31 Teal were on the wader scrape and a Drake and 'Redhead' Goosander were on Bleachcroft Farm Pond.

Carlton Marsh

 On the water 2 drake Goosander (Bleachcroft Farm Pond), 22 Teal, 1 Cormorant (Chris Parkin).

Also 4 Redwing, 2 Siskin, 4 Mistle Thrush (1 singing) and 25 Goldfinch (CP/CG).

A Small Tortoiseshell, out in the mild weather, was found in Low Cudworth (CG). 

Wintersett 22.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A Water Rail was heard near the boathouse bench,

Haw Park Lane:

A male Brambling was in Haw Park Lane field. 

Anglers CP: 

Woodcock 1.

Wintersett - Island clearing 20.12.2023 + 21.12.2023

20.12.2023 Anglers CP:

A small group Wintersettt regulars worked with 2 Rangers to clear

some of the islands in front of the hide this morning. 

21.12.2023 Anglers CP:

Teal 37   Shoveler 2   Little Grebe 4. 

Wilthorpe Marsh west 19/12/23.

Very steady with most birds in the sewage farm area. Chiffchaff 1, Goldcrest 4, L Egret 4, Redwing c 100, just 1 Fieldfare the best.

Carlton Marsh

2 Little Egret, 13 Teal, 4 Tufted Duck, 1 drake Goosander (Bleachcroft Pond), 3 Redpoll, 1 Siskin (K. Bannister/CG).

Wintersett 19.12.2023

Anglers CP:

Black-headed Gull 1 adult, white with black wing tips.

11 Redwing flew west. 

Wintersettt Res:

Goosander 1 male.  Shoveler 3. 

Carlton Marsh

It was another lovely day, but not a lot to see. 2 Cormorants, 3 Cetti's Warbler sang, 2 Siskins,

2 Water Rails called, a Mistle Thrush sang and 14 Canada Geese and a Greylag were present.

(L & A Corrall/CG).

Wintersett WeBS - December 2023

Here are the Wintersett WeBS counts for December 2023

Mute Swan 18   Canada Goose 42   Greylag Goose 2   

Cormorant 15   Coot 193   Moorhen 22   Water Rail 1   

Great Crested Grebe 5   Little Grebe 7   Mallard 32   

Teal 36   Wigeon 150   Gadwall 89   Shoveler 1   Tufted Duck 219

Pochard 26   Goldeneye 73   Goosander 17   Grey Heron 7   

Lapwing 50  Snipe 5.

Ferrymoor Flash - Grimethorpe

 2 drake Goosanders, Grey Wagtail, Kingfisher, Great Spot Woodpecker and 5 Linnets flew over.

Cudworth Common 
A few Redpoll with a Tit flock, Green Woodpecker and a Mistle Thrush sang.

Low Cudworth to Littleworth Park
20 Fieldfares, 9 Redwings, 4 Siskins, 2 Greenfinches, 2 Coal Tits, 4 Bullfinches, 15 Linnets and 4 Chaffinches (C. Parkin).

Carlton
A Pale Brindled Beauty was attracted to Dave Smith's moth trap last night!

Pale Brindled Beauty

Wintersett + Walton Hall 17.12.2023

Anglers CP:

Shoveler 4.  

Cold Hiendley Res:

A Cetti's Warbler was on the south bank.

Walton Hall - 10.15 - 10.35hrs.

Greylag Goose 84.  Grey Heron 1.  Mute Swan 12.  

Canada Goose 65.   Great Crested Grebe 1.  Coot 59,

Tufted Duck 6.   Mallard 39.   Moorhen 4.   

Shoveler 2.  Cormorant 4.

Low Moor/Midhope 16/12/23.

2 to 4pm. Very windy with poor light but a scenic sunset behind Pike Lowe at the end. Pinkfeet c 200 e at 2-30pm, Golden Plover flock c20 seen a couple of times in flight. Fieldfare c 200 came in to roost, C Buzzard 3.

Carlton Marsh

3 Water Rails and a Cetti's Warbler called from the reedbeds. Single Redpoll and Siskin flew around. 

22 Teal were on the wader scrape and 2 drake Goosanders were on Bleachcroft Farm pond. 

52 Jackdaws were on a nearby field (C. Parkin/CG).

Locally a Small Tortoiseshell was tempted out of hibernation by the mild temperatures and sunshine in Les Corrall's Low Cudworth garden.

Wintersett 16.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.

Anglers CP:

80 Pink-footed Geese flew over east.

A Raven flew over west. 

A Cetti's Warbler was on the east bank.

Wintersett 15.12.2023

Anglers CP:

6 Siskin were on the Pol.   A Treecreeper was in the car park.

A female Pintail was on the lake this morning. 

A Red Kite flew south.   Green Woodpecker 1.   

Little Grebe 5 + 1 WRes..

Water Rail 1 in south west corner  +  1 in boathouse reeds  W.Res..

Cold Hiendley Res:

Kingfisher 1.   A male Cetti's Warbler was on the south bank.

Low Moor/Midhope 13/12/23.

1-30 till 4 pm. Red Kite 1, Sparrowhawk 1, C Buzzard 1, Kestrel 3+. Raven 2, Linnet flock c200, Fieldfare c 25.

Wintersett 13.12.2023

Anglers CP: 

Two birds of note this morning:  

A Jack Snipe flew up from the east bank

and a Raven flew over at 11.27hrs.

Elsecar

For your interest, a Mute Swan, darvic ring 295Y, was found dead on Elsecar Reservoir by Russ Boland on the 4th of December 2023. It was ringed at Stockton on Tees on the 19th of August 2014 in its 2nd calendar year.

Woolley Dam 11/12/23.

Grey Heron 13, Teal 11, Woodpigeon c 500. GS Pecker 1, Skylark 2.

Wintersett 11.12.2023

Anglers CP:

A Raven flew over several times, from 11.35hrs to 12.00hrs.

A 2nd bird flew in from the south,  

then U turned back south at 11.58hrs.  

A Red Kite flew over at 12.05hrs. 

An adult Yellow-legged Gull flew over at 12.15hrs.  

(Probably Psycho!).

Wilthorpe Marsh 10/12/23.

C Dixon, S Green. - Raven 2, Peregrine 1 male, L Egret 5, L Grebe 3, Goosander 2, Teal 13. Goldcrest c 12, Goldfinch c25, G Pecker 1. Roe Deer 2.

Wintersett 10.12.2023

Anglers CP:

Little Grebe 5 + 1 WRes.   Goosander 2.   

Wintersett Res:

A Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.

A Treecreeper  and 30 Lesser Redpoll were in the Willow Wood.

Carlton Marsh

 Cormorant, Kingfisher, Buzzard and 2 Cetti's Warbler sang. A pair of Tawny Owls were calling to each other at dusk, but no sign of a Bittern yet (Dave Standish).

Yesterday 3 December Moths and a Winter Moth were caught in Dave Smith's Carlton garden.

December Moth (Dave Smith)

Carlton Marsh

Barnsley Council Countryside Rangers did a great job yesterday as usual cutting back scrub at the viewing points along the embankment. Today Yorkshire Wildlife Trust were on our Western Meadow removing scrub and trees in readiness for it to be fenced in the New Year. Then we can finally get it grazed with cattle. 

A Woodcock was flushed this morning (Neil Lunn). More flooding seems have left little in the way of wildfowl on, except for a few Gadwall and a Shoveler. A Kingfisher was present and a Grey Wagtail flew west at dusk. 17 Redwings and 40 Magpies roosted (CG).

Wintersett 07.12.2023

 Anglers CP:

A Tree Sparrow was at the Pol Feeders,

Wintersett Res: 

Little Grebe 1. 

Pochard 13 + 16 CHRes..

Cold Hiendley Res:

Shoveler  2.

Carlton Marsh

All water areas have been largely frozen of late. A Tawny Owl was roosting in a Hawthorn this morning. Also present Great Spot Woodpecker, Goldcrest, Siskin, 12 Redwing and a Water Rail called (L & A Corrall).

A quick walk over Cudworth Common only provided a Green Woodpecker and a Grey Wagtail. The open water was frozen over.

Wintersett + Ice 06.12.2023

ICE :  ACP 1%.    WRes..85%   CHRes: 80%

Anglers CP:

A Brambling was in the car park.   Great Crested Grebe 4.

Cormorant 25.   Shoveler 3.

Wintersett Res:

A Bittern and a Water Rail were in the boathouse reeds

at 15.10 hrs. 

A male Cetti's Warbler was on the north bank. 

Carlton Marsh

At least 4 Water Rails called at dusk. A few Redwings roosted with Blackbirds and 6 Buntings that came in to roost were thought to be Yellow Buntings (CG/D. Standish).

Wintersett 05.12.2023

Anglers CP:

24 Skylarks were in the Pol field.

A Weasel was seen near the Pol.

Wintersett Res:

Pochard 10.

Wintersett 04.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A Bittern was roosting in the boathouse reeds,   

dropped down at 08.04hrs. 

Anglers CP:

Teal 53.

Wilthorpe Marsh 3/12/23.

Very steady. Common Snipe 7, Grey Partridge 3, Teal c 60, Meadow Pipit 1, Green Pecker 2, Fieldfare 2 the best.

Wintersett - Ringing Recovery - Becky Bailey @BeckyBailey101 ·

Wintersett Ringing Recovery - Becky Bailey    ·

Black-headed gull 5441604 

was found dead at Wintersett on 2/11/23;

It was ringed as a pullus in Hallig-Norderoog, 

Nordfriesische Inseln, Germany on 2/7/16; 

656km West (2679 days). 

Wintersett 03.12.2023

Anglers CP:

Canada Goose 325.  Greylag Goose 100.

Skylark 8 flew north.  Little Grebe  5.  Siskin 10.

Wintersett Res:

A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.

Great Crested Grebe 4 + 1 Anglers CP. 

Carlton Marsh

c100 Pink Feet Geese NW at 16.05hrs (yesterday) (CG) and 20 west at 14.15hrs today (K. Bannister). Also Cetti's Warbler. 10 Lesser Redpolls.

Wintersett + Anglers CP Gull Roost. 02.12.2023

Wintersett Res:

A Bittern was in the boathouse reeds at 08.59hrs.

A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.  

Cold Hiendley Res:

Cetti's Warbler 1 male on north bank + 1 male on south bank.  

Anglers CP:

Shoveler 4   Cormorant 8   Great Crested Grebe 3   Siskin 1.

A Waxwing flew north at 10.20hrs. 

ACP Gull Roost:  (photos - Steve Denny)

There was an influx of 250 Herring Gulls in to the CP roost,    

from fewer than 20 in recent weeks.  

 

 A 1st winter Caspian Gull was with them.  

 

                and an Egyptian Goose came in to roost at 16:00 hrs             

Wintersett 01.12. 2023

Wintersett Res:

A Bittern was seen briefly in the boathouse reeds (SD).

2 Skylarks flew over.

Anglers CP:

Stock Dove 25.   Little Grebe 3 + 1 CHRes..

Cold Hiendley Res: 

Gadwall 117 + 6 ACP.  Cormorant 4.

Wigeon 328 - (68 CHRes + 18 WRes. + 242 ACP)

Great Crested Grebe  2 CHRes.+ 1 WRes. + 1 ACP.

Shoveler 1 CHRes. + 2 ACP.