On the scrapes were 13 Tufted Duck (6 at Bleachcroft), 24 Teal, 7 Common Gull.
On the nearby fields 17 Fieldfare, and in the car park, Treecreeper, 20 Siskin with a single Redpoll and a Great Spotted Woodpecker (L. & A. Corrall).
A total of 63 species for January.
My first moth of the year when it came to the patio window after dark.
Wintersett Res:
140 Pink-footed Geese flew over west.
2 Goosanders were seen this morning.
Steve Denny:
1st winter Med Gull riding the peaks & troughs
in the Wintersett (Top Res roost) with the adult also making an appearance.
Lesser Black Backed Gulls going up at 15,
Great Black Backed Gulls going down at just 4.
It was nice to see the sun out after the mist and rain yesterday!
Today's sightings included 14 Tufted Duck (9 at Bleachcroft Farm Pond), 10 Canada Geese included a hybrid) and a Cetti's Warbler sang.
On the fields were 30 Starlings, 30 Fieldfares, 12 Redwings and c80 Linnets.
Also present Treecreeper, Goldcrest, c35 Siskins with 1 Redpoll, 10 Chaffinches, 2 Song Thrushes and 2 Skylarks.
Later at dusk c30 Yellow Buntings came in to roost, 5 Tawny Owls called (3m) and 2 Water Rails called.
(K. Bannister/L. A. Corrall/D. Standish/CG)
Wintersett Res:
100 Pink-footed Geese flew over west + 31 flew north west.
A male Cetti's Warbler was in the west bank marsh.
Cold Hiendley Res:
A male Goosander was on this morning.
Anglers CP:
The drake Scaup still present. An adult Peregrine flew over.
Haw Park Wood:
50 Redwing were around the canal area.
3 Herald moths were tucked up in their winter hideaway, but that's way down from 24 on the 25th of November 2023! (Chris Parkin).
Anglers CP:
The 1st W male Scaup still present.
Wintersett Res :
An Oystercatcher was on the boathouse slipway.
A Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse bench reeds.
Anglers CP:
The Scaup still present - J.Holliday
100 Pink-footed Geese flew north west at 09.50hrs - S.Denny
1035 Pink-footed Geese flew west in 12 skeins, mostly 09.50 - 10.20hrs. (GJS)
Goldeneye 143 - (84 WRes. + 10 CHRes. + 49ACP). (PS)
Pochard 14. Scaup 1. Oystercatcher 1 ringed female. (PS)
Wintersett Res: - G.Speight
Goosander 3. Great Crested Grebe 12.
A 1st W Caspian Gull was in early.
Red Kite 1 south. Oystercatcher 1.
Green Woodpecker 1 west bank.
This morning Grey Wagtail, Cormorant, drake Goosander (Bleachcroft Pond), 13 Canada Geese, Water Rail, 10 Fieldfare, 1 Redwing, 5 Starling east and a Kestrel.
Anglers CP:
Siskin 5.
Oystercatcher 1 ringed female bird (south pair back).
Bang on time!! It's returned on the 27th for the last three years now - Steve Denny
Scaup 1 1stW male. Shoveler 1 male + 1 female.
Going west: Pink-footed Goose 125.
Wintersett Res:
Cetti's Warbler 1 in south west corner.
89 Goldeneye were on at dusk.
Anglers CP:
Still very quiet here.
The 1st Winter male Scaup and 2 Little Grebes were notables this morning.
A juvenile Great Black backed Gull was in the shallows yesterday - Simon Cooper.
Anglers CP:
The 1st W male Scaup still present. Snipe 21.
Wintersett Res:
A 1st Winter Caspian Gull was in the roost tonight.
Photo - Steve Denny.
Cold Hiendley Res:
Goosander 7.
Anglers CP:
The 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
Wigeon 294 + 14 WRes..
Wintersett Res:
A Woodcock was on the west bank.
Anglers CP:
The 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
40 Redwings were seen this morning.
The only birds of note today were c80 thrushes that included mostly Fieldfare with a few Redwing and Mistle Thrush. 2 Red-legged Partridge were in a horse pasture near the stables (Stephen Grove).
Anglers CP:
The 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
Wintersett Res:
Very challenging conditions today, but an adult Iceland Gull and a 1st winter Caspian Gull
were in the Top Res roost tonight. (Steve Denny)
Pity they just missed the #WinGSweekend counts.
Anglers CP:
The 1stW male Scaup was the only bird of note on a very windy day.
Photo- Steve Denny
Broomhill Flash Twitch: AS. PS. AO.
A Lesser White-fronted Goose was on today.
Present today 2 drake Shoveler, Cormorant, Treecreeper, Buzzard and a Mink on the ice with a fish (K. Bannister/C. Parkin).
Anglers CP: 6 degrees C
A 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
An Oystercatcher is the first spring migrant in the shallows!
An Oystercatcher 18th January 1997 is the earliest, but was a migrant, as was one on the 19th January 1980.
The earliest a breeding bird has returned seems to be
27th January in 2018 and 2020. So if it's a breeder it's the earliest!
Wintersett Res:
A Cetti's Warbler was on the west bank.
Wntersett Res. Gull Roost:
An adult Mediterranean Gull was in the roost tonight.
New in today our first Shoveler of the year. 36 Fieldfares and 2 Redwings were feeding in a nearby field while 2 Buzzards watched on (K. Bannister).
A female Blackcap visited Karen Pickard's Monk Bretton garden (after a male last week).
On Wednesday 17th, 3 skeins of Pink Feet, c150 in each skein, flew west at 08.50hrs (K. Bannister).
On Thursday18th, our group put up 3 more Great Tit/Blue Tit, 1 Robin and a Woodpecker nest box up on the south side of the reserve. A colonial nest box for House Sparrows was placed in the car park. Our thanks to John Finch for the superbly made stone fronted boxes.
12 Chaffinch and a Grey Wagtail entertained at Littleworth Park, Monk Bretton, and 2 Kingfishers were on Cudworth dike near the old railway station (C. Parkin).
Wintersett Res.
Shoveler 14 + 7 Anglers CP. Wigeon 20 + 324 Anglers CP.
Pochard 21 + 25 Anglers CP.
Anglers CP:
Teal 48. Greylag Goose 119.
Little Grebe 2 + 1 WRes. Scaup 1 1stW male.
Goosander 10. Peregrine 1 adult male.
Anglers CP + Wintersett Res. + Cold Hiendley Res:
0 degrees C + ICE: ACP 15%, WRes. 85%, CHRes. 95%
Great Crested Grebe 12 + 1 WRes.. Shoveler 6 + 12 WRes.
Pochard 17 + 19 WRes + 8 CHRes.
Gadwall 46 + 14 WRes. + 59 CHRes..
Canada Goose 248. Little Grebe 2. Wigeon 287 + 17 WRes..
Scaup 1 1st Winter male. Goosander 1 redhead + 1male CHRes..
Redwing 30. Fieldfare 30. Skylark 70 in CP field.
Mallard 34 + CHRes. + 11 + WRes. 21 Cormorant 17.
WRes: A Green Woodpecker was on the west bank.
-2 degrees C + ICE: ACP 1%, WRes. 85%, CHRes. 95%
Anglers CP:
A Short-eared Owl flew over and dropped into the Pol field at 09.42 hrs. (PS,AS)
It had been flushed shortly before on the path to the main hide, 09.28 hrs, (SC)
The 1stW male Scaup still present. Teal 41. Greylag Goose 38. Snipe 18.
Great Crested Grebe 5 + 1 WRes. Little Grebe 2.
Wintersett Res:
A Green Woodpecker flew over the west bank.
Pochard 16. Shoveler 6.
Wintersett Res. + Gull Roost
50 Great Black-backed Gulls were on at dawn.
Shoveler 5. Goldeneye 70 + 36 ACP.
Evening Gull Roost:
An increase in Herring Gulls over last three days,
presumably due to the cold weather & northerly wind.
634 Herring Gulls, 35 Great Black-backed Gulls
and 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in WRes. roost - Steve Denny.
Anglers CP:
The 1stW male Scaup still present.
A Peregrine flew over the CP fields.
5m 2f Tufted Ducks, Cetti's Warbler, 20 Starlings, Grey Wagtail, 10 Fieldfare and 5 Mistle Thrushes.
Anglers CP:
4 Siskin were at the Pol feeding station.
The 1stW Scaup still present. Cormorant 12.
Anglers CP:
Greenfinch 6 in the car park.
Scaup 1x 1st Winter male. Teal 11.
3 Yellow Buntings were at the Pol Feeders.
A male Merlin flew over the car park. .
Going east: 4 Pink-footed Geese.
Going west: 69 Pink-footed Geese.Cold Hiendley:
A Barn Owl flew along the road at dawn.
Wintersett Res Gull Roost:
441 Herring Gulls were inthe roost tonight!
Of note: A 1stW Glaucous Gull was in the Swillington Roost tonight!
9 Canada Geese, 2 Greylags, 3 Common Gulls, 25 BH. Gulls, 6 Coot, 1 Cormorant, 3 Water Rails, 3 pairs of Tufted Duck, 8 Gadwall, 8 Teal, drake Goosander (Bleachcroft Farm Pond).
Also Buzzard, 2 Siskin, 1 Redpoll (C. Parkin/CG)
Walton Hall WeBs for January 2024. 10.30 - 11.00hrs.
Greylag Goose 102. Canada Goose 48. Mallard 8. Cormorant 1.
Mute Swan 12. Tufted Duck 2. Coot 56. Gadwall 4.
Wigeon 1 female. Moorhen 4. Grey Heron 1.
Wintersett WeBS for January 2024.
Mute Swan 4. Canada Goose 104. Greylag Goose 2.
Cormorant 13. Coot 138. Moorhen 10. Mallard 52.
Gadwall 35. Teal 4. Wigeon 187. Pochard 16.
Tufted Duck 146. Goldeneye 71, Goosander 7.
Great Crested Grebe 12. Little Grebe 3.
Lapwing 38. Scaup 1.
Wintersett Res. Gull Roost:
Great Black-backed Gull 7. Lesser Black-backed Gull 4.
Herring Gull 190. Yellow-legged Gull 1 adult.
Common Gull 1800. Black-headed Gull 9500.
Anglers CP:
ZERO Gulls roosting tonight!
A Brambling called from a tree on the old Midland Railway north of Storrs Mill at mid-day.
Anglers CP:
Snipe 37. Jack Snipe 1.
Teal 20. Scaup 1 x 1stW male.
2 Yellowhammers were in the Pol field.
Canada Goose 77. Greylag Goose 1.
Wintersett Res:
Shoveler 5, then flew to ACP. Wigeon 28,
A Cetti's Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.
Anglers CP:
Snipe 29.
The 1stW male Scaup still present.
7 Whoopers flew NW at 16:18.
Wintersett Res. Roost:
240 Herring Gulls,
9 Great Black-backed Gulls and 4 Lesser Black-backed Gulls in the roost tonight.
Anglers CP:
The 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
Wintersett Res:
A Merlin flew over, left south west at 15.00hrs. (SDenny)
Anglers CP:
Immature drake Scaup still present.
40 Stock Doves were in the Pol field.
A Yellow Bunting was at the Pol Feeders.
Anglers CP:
The 1stW male Scaup still present.
Wintersett Res:
Shelduck 1. Shoveler 5.
3 Whooper Swans flew over south east.
A male Cetti's Warbler was in the west bank marsh.
71 Pink-footed Geese flew over north.
Chris Swaine did a solo Bird Race today:
Moorhouse Lane Big Pond: Cetti's Warbler 1.
Disposal Point: Woodcock 2. Barn Owl 1.
Cold Hiendley Res:
Shoveler 1. A Pair of Raven flew over Cold Hiendley, in the direction of Ellis Laithe.
Cold Hiendley Sewage:
Wintersett Res. Going over north west:
2 Skeins of Pink-footed Goose 120 + 60.
Haw Park Wood: Nothing!
Anglers CP:
2 Shelducks. 3 Tree Sparrows and 2 Yellow Buntings were on the Pol feeders.
Goosander 1 male + 1 redhead. Little Grebe 2.
A Water Rail was on the west bank + 1 in boathouse reeds WRes..
Of note today 2 Goldcrests, 12 Siskins, 3 Water Rails, Cetti's Warbler, Song Thrush and Tawny Owl sang.
As dusk approached a Bank Vole came to food put down for the birds, an a Fox was on the prowl (C. Parkin/D. Standish/CG).
Anglers CP:
A Water Rail was in the south west corner.
Greenfinch 2. Fieldfare 100 in ACP fields.
Little Grebe 1. Goosander 1 redhead + 2 males Wintersett Res..
Wintersett Res:
2 Water Rails - 1 north bank + 1 Boathouse reeds.
4 Little Egrets were on the wader scrape and a drake Goosander was on Bleachcroft Farm Pond (K. Bannister).
Anglers CP:
3 Tree Sparrows were at the Pol feeders.
A Redhead Goosander here + 2 male Goosanders on Wintersett Res..
Pink-footed Geese: 110 east + 200 west.
Wintersett Res:
A Water Rail was in the boathouse reeds.
The 1st Winter male Scaup still present.
Haw Park Lane:
A Waxwing was reported on Haw Park Lane by Bird Guides.
Anglers CP:
Jack Snipe 1. Snipe 28. Woodcock 1.
A skein of 220 Pink-footed Geese flew over west at 16.15hrs.
Wintersett Res:
A 1stW Caspian Gull on a buoy at dawn.
Sue Billcliffe posted Geese flying over on Twitter Jan 4th 2024: Follow link below for photos.
Wintersett Res:
A Peregrine flew over.
2 Skeins of Pink-footed Geese - 58 north west + 80 west.
Scaup 1 1stW male, moved to Cold Hiendley Res. when disturbed by boats.
Anglers CP:
Great Crested Grebe 2. Little Grebe 4
Going west: 2 skeins of Pink-footed Geese 140 + 40
Wintersett Res:
The 1st W male Scaup still present.
Wigeon 22. Pochard 15 + 2 CHRes..
37 Canada Geese were new in and 30 Siskins were preening, some singing in the sunshine (D. Standish/CG).
A male Blackcap was feeding on Pyracantha berries in Karen Pickard's Monk Bretton garden.
117 species were identified in 2023.
The highlights were Goldeneye (November), Garganey (May-July - bred), Jack Snipe (January),
Wood Sandpiper (July), Spotted Redshank (June), Dunlin (September-October), Caspian Gull (June),
Hobby (May-June-July), Red Kite (February-May-June), Marsh Harrier (May), Tree Pipit (August),
Raven (September-November).
A Happy New Year to you all, and a very big thank you to everyone who sent in their sightings in 2023.
Anglers CP: per Pete Smith
A Red Kite flew over the north bank fields.
3 Tree Sparrows were at the Pol feeders.
Snipe 3.
Wintersett Res. Gull Roost - per Graham Speight
Great Black-backed Gull 10. Lesser Black-backed Gull 2.
Herring Gull 320.
All Gulls came in late - not surprising after the fireworks last night!
Pink-footed Goose 10 flew west.
Cold Hiendley Skylark Field:
20 Skylarks and 50 Meadow Pippits were in today.
76 species of bird were seen today in the Wintersettt Area
(Anglers CP, Haw Park Wood, Cold Hiendley Res. Wintersett Res.)
1. Yellowhammer 26. Lapwing 51. Coal Tit
2. Magpie 27. Pied Wagtail 52. Goldcrest
3. Reed Bunting 28. Canada Goose 53. Shoveler
4. Tree Sparrow 29. Greylag Goose 54. Bullfinch
5. House Sparrow 30. Moorhen 55. Song Thrush
6. Dunnock 31. Kingfisher 56. Gadwall
7. Robin 32. Coot 57. Feral Pigeon
8. Blackbird 33. Goldeneye 58. Great Black-backed Gull
9. Chaffinch 34. Fieldfare 59. Starling
10. Blue Tit 35. Tufted Duck 60. Lesser Redpoll
11. Great Tit 36. Redwing 61. Rook
12.. Long-tailed Tit 37. Pochard 62. Mute Swan
13. Jackdaw 38. Mistle Thrush 63. Red Kite
14. Crow 39. Wigeon 64. Meadow Pipit
15 Jay 40. Common Gull 66. Great Spotted Woodpecker
16. Pheasant 41. Goosander 67. Siskin
17. Wren 42. Nuthatch 68. Treecreeper
18. Cormorant 43. Teal 69. Grey Wagtail
19. Herring Gull 44. Sparrowhawk 70. Scaup (1 imm. male WRes)
20.Herring Gull 45. Buzzard 71. Little Grebe
21. Wood Pigeon 46. Great Crested Grebe 72. Grey Partridge 11.
22 Stock Dove 47. Grey Heron 73. Skylark
23 Black-headed Gull 48. Kestrel 74. Pink-footed Goose
24. Goldfinch 49. Snipe 75. Great Black backed Gull
25. Mallard 50. Cetti's Warbler 76. Lesser Black backed Gull.
The Old Moor & Broomhill Area (Wath Area) Year List total for 2023 amounted to 180 species. A new area record beating the existing record of 179 set in 2017. The highlights included Ring necked Duck, Quail, Red throated Divers, Cattle Egrets, Common Cranes, Black winged Stilts, Dipper, Pied Flycatcher, Short eared Owl, Little Tern, Brent Goose, Corn Bunting & Snow Bunting. Breeding highlights included Cormorant & Buzzard confirmed breeding for the first time, and Bittern, Marsh Harrier & Bearded Tit all bred successfully again this year. Sadly all is not well and others species are declining rapidly, there were very few records of previously regular breeding species like Grey Partridge, Willow Tit & Tree Sparrow. Two new species Marsh Warbler & Great Northern Diver were added to the area list which now stands at 262. Thanks to Old Moor RSPB, Garganey Trust and everyone else who have contributed time, effort and sightings. Happy New Year & Best Wishes for a bird filled 2024.
OLD MOOR & BROOMHILL AREA YEAR LIST SOFA 2023
JANUARY 2023
1)Mute Swan, 2)Whooper Swan, 3)Pink-footed Goose, 4)Greylag Goose, 5)Canada Goose, 6)Brent Goose, 7)Egyptian Goose, 8)Shelduck, 9)Wigeon, 10)Gadwall, 11)Teal, 12)Mallard, 13)Pintail, 14)Shoveler, 15)Pochard, 16)Tufted Duck, 17)Scaup, 18)Goldeneye, 19)Goosander, 20)Red legged Partridge, 21)Pheasant, 22)Little Grebe, 23)Great Crested Grebe, 24)Cormorant, 25)Bittern, 26)Little Egret, 27)Grey Heron, 28)Red Kite, 29)Marsh Harrier, 30)Sparrowhawk, 31)Buzzard, 32)Kestrel, 33)Peregrine, 34)Water Rail, 35)Moorhen, 36)Coot, 37)Oystercatcher, 38)Golden Plover, 39)Lapwing, 40)Dunlin, 41)Jack Snipe, 42)Snipe, 43)Woodcock, 44)Green Sandpiper, 45)Little Gull, 46)Black headed Gull, 47)Common Gull, 48)Herring Gull, 49)Yellow legged Gull, 50)Caspian Gull, 51)Lesser Black backed Gull, 52)Great Black backed Gull, 53)Feral Pigeon, 54)Stock Dove, 55)Woodpigeon, 56)Collared Dove, 57)Barn Owl, 58)Tawny Owl, 59)Kingfisher, 60)Green Woodpecker, 61)Great Spotted Woodpecker, 62)Skylark, 63)Meadow Pipit, 64)Water Pipit, 65)Grey Wagtail, 66)Pied Wagtail, 67)Wren, 68)Dunnock, 69)Robin, 70)Stonechat, 71)Blackbird, 72)Fieldfare, 73)Song Thrush, 74)Redwing, 75)Mistle Thrush, 76)Cetti’s Warbler, 77)Chiffchaff, 78)Goldcrest, 79)Bearded Tit, 80)Long tailed Tit, 81)Coal Tit, 82)Blue Tit, 83)Great Tit, 84)Treecreeper, 85)Jay, 86)Magpie, 87)Jackdaw, 88)Rook, 89)Carrion Crow, 90)Raven, 91)Starling, 92)House Sparrow, 93)Chaffinch, 94)Brambling, 95)Greenfinch, 96)Goldfinch, 97)Siskin, 98)Linnet, 99)Lesser Redpoll, 100)Mealy Redpoll, 101)Bullfinch, 102)Yellowhammer, 103)Reed Bunting.
FEBRUARY 2023
104)Black tailed Godwit (3 OM on 7th), 105)Ringed Plover (1 WI on 9th), 106)Kittiwake (1 ad WI on 13th), 107)Redshank (1 WI on 16th), 108)Curlew (1 BH/WI on 17th), 109)Great White Egret (1 east OM on 21st), 110)Avocet (4 OM on 21st), 111)Barnacle Goose (18 OM/WS on 27th), 112)Merlin (1 BI on 28th).
MARCH 2023
113)Rock Pipit ‘Scandi’ (1 W/S on 6th), 114)Sand Martin (2 OM on 11th), 115)Little Ringed Plover (2 WI on 14th), 116)Mediterranean Gull (2 OM on 17th), 117)Wheatear (1 (f) WI on 18th), 118)Grey Partridge (2 BH on 19th), 119)Ring necked Duck (1 male MM/OM on 20th), 120)House Martin (1 BH on 24th), 121)Spoonbill (1 MM on 25th), 122)Swallow (1 BH on 28th), 123)Willow Warbler (1 BH + 1 OM on 29th), 124)Osprey (1 north OM on 29th), 125)Common Scoter (1 (m) MM on 31st), 126)Little Owl (1 BH on 31st), 127)Black necked Grebe (2 BH on 31st).
APRIL 2023
128)Blackcap (1 BHP on 3rd), 129)Yellow Wagtail (1 Fleet on 11th), 130)Reed Warbler (1 OM on 12th), 131)Common Sandpiper (1 OM on 14th), 132)Common Tern (1 W/S on 16th), 133)Turnstone (1 OM on 18th), 134)Bar tailed Godwit (1 OM on 18th), 135)Arctic Tern (2 OM on 19th), 136)Swift (1 BH on 20th), 137)Sedge Warbler (2 WI on 23rd), 138)Whitethroat (1 BWP + 1 Cat Hill on 24th), 139)Lesser Whitethroat (1 OM on 24th), 140)Cuckoo (1 OM on 25th), 141)Wood Sandpiper (1 WI on 26th), 142)Whimbrel (4 BH/OM on 27th), 143)Redstart (1 WW on 27th), 144)Greenshank (1 WI on 27th), 145)Garganey (1 (m) BH on 28th), 146)Whinchat (4 Fleet/WI on 30th).
MAY 2023
147)Garden Warbler (1 OM on 1st), 148)Hobby (1 OM on 2nd), 149)Common Crane (2 BH/OM on 3rd), 150)Little Tern (1 OM/WI ? BH on 4th), 151)Sanderling (1 OM + 1 WI on 4th), 152)Ruff (1 WI on 4th), 153)Grey Plover (1 OM on 5th), 154)Grasshopper Warbler (1 MM on 11th), 155)Spotted Redshank (1 BH/WI on 22nd), 156)Mandarin (20 (broods of 11y & 7y) on River Dearne on 26th), 157)Black winged Stilt (2 OM on 29th May).
JUNE 2023
158)Black Tern (3 OM on 1st), 159)Marsh Warbler (1 BHV on 10th), 160)Little Stint (1 WS on 13th), 161)Dipper (1 Darfield Bridge on 18th), 162)Quail (1 heard OM on 20th), 163)Long-eared Owl (1 juv SW on 22nd June).
JULY 2023
164)Cattle Egret (1 WI/BH on 17th), 165)Pied Flycatcher (1 OM on 22nd).
AUGUST 2023
166)Tree Pipit (1 WI on 21st), 167)Willow Tit (1 OM on 22nd), 168)Sandwich Tern 1 WI on 23rd), 169)Spotted Flycatcher (2 BHP on 23rd August), 170)Ring necked Parakeet (1 BHP on 24th), 171)Tree Sparrow (1 Big Hedge on 27th).
SEPTEMBER 2023
172)Curlew Sandpiper (1 MM on 5th), 173)Knot (1 OM on 16th).
OCTOBER 2023
174)Nuthatch (Reported earlier in year Cliff Road), 175)Short eared Owl (1 Cortonwood/OM on 14th), 176)White-fronted Goose (8 over area on 21st), 177)Corn Bunting (1 Big Hedge on 26th).
NOVEMBER 2023
178)Red-throated Diver (1 WI on 3rd), 179)Snow Bunting (1 WI on 22nd).
DECEMBER 2023
180)Great Northern Diver (1 OM/ML on 1st),
