We were busy this morning finishing laying a hawthorn hedge near Elaine's seat on the embankment. There we heard a Siskin, Redpoll and a Great Spotted Woodpecker before the rain got heavier.
But before that Harold Heath and Clive Mitchell saw a Kestrel and Sparrowhawk and I found more evidence of Willow Emerald egg galls on some Willow twigs.
25 Golden Plover alighted in a stubble field on the eastern side of the marsh at 09.25hrs (JP).
42 Canada Geese, c20 Teal, 1 drake Shoveler and 20 Gadawll were on the wader scrape. A Cormorant was on the main scrape with a Kingfisher.
A single Redpoll was present.
A walk around after dark provided male and female Tawny Owl calling to each other (D. Standish/CG).
The valley bottom is well flooded now. Bullfinch is not a bird we have seen much of this year.
A 'Redhead' Goosander was on the main scrape today and 15 Lapwings on the wader scrape were the first since the beginning of September! (Dave Standish et al)
The juvenile Kingfisher showed well again this morning in front of the hide.
The 2 Mute Swans had moved onto the Whin pool, 25 Gadwall and 3 Common Gulls were on the wader scrape.
Also present 25 Redwings, 2 Siskins, and 15 Goldfinches.
We are now at a very quiet time of year, and with so much water around the wildfowl is spoiled for choice as to where to be.
So today just two reports were received from K. Bannister & Chris Parkin.
A Tawny Owl called at daybreak (KB)
12 Greylags, 4 Teal, 10 Redwings and a late White-tailed Bumble Bee (CP).
Not much to report today; 8 Greylags, 5 Canada Geese, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler, and single Shoveler and Tufted Duck, the latter the first since September.
Also single Redpoll and Siskin, and 5 Yellow Buntings.
Scrub was removed on Friday to allow more light in to the embankment (BMBC Rangers & Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Volunteers).
36 Canada Geese, 12 Greylag Geese and 5 Shoveler were amongst the wildfowl on the scrapes today.
A Redpoll and a few Siskins were amongst the Goldfinches in the car park and c20 Redwings were feeding on Haws on the embankment.
Apart from strimming part of the embankment our main focus this morning was to look for the Willow Emerald before the weather changes. They didn't let us down 2 were seen near the hide as they basked and made short flights in the warmth of the sun. 3 Common Darters were also seen (M. White/C. Parkin/CG).
Also present Cormorant, Kingfisher, Cetti's Warbler, Water Rail and Coal Tit. Not forgetting the hoverfly Eupeodes luniger, which is only our 3rd record (Chris Parkin).
Chris Parkin also saw 2 red Admirals in Cudworth Park.
A Barn Owl was hunting and screeching over the field at the back of the cottages at 06.45hrs (Harold Heath/Clive Mitchell).
Also of note 3 Redpolls, single Siskin, Grey Wagtail and 4 Shovelers.
Before the sun went in around mid-day a Common Darter and a Willow Emerald were seen briefly (C. Parkin/S. Cox). Will this this be the last date for the Willow Emerald as rain is forecast for the next couple of days? Watch this space, as they say.
5 Shovelers and a Common Gull were on the wader scrape. Single Redpoll & Siskin called along with 2 Water Rails and 2 Cetti's Warblers.
4 Redwings and a Fieldfare flew NE.
There was no sign of the Willow Emerald as it was cloudy and cooler than of late.
This morning 9 Lesser Black-backed Gulls flew east, followed by c150 Pink Feet Geese east at 11.10 hrs (K. Bannister/JP).
5 Shovelers, Cormorant, Grey Wagtail, 3 Water Rails, 3 Cetti's Warblers and a Kingfisher were present. Along with 3 Redpolls, Siskin, Mistle Thrush, Buzzard and 2 Redwings.
Insects included 4 Willow Emeralds, 1m Migrant Hawker, and 2 Common Darters, all enjoying the amazing warm sunny conditions (R. Laverack/CG/C. Parkin).
50 Pink Feet Geese flew east at 10.20hrs (JP).
Moths caught in my garden last night (6/11/25) included December Moth, Yellow -tail, Red Green Carpet and Feathered Thorn (CG).
Pink Feet were moving through this morning c300 west at 08.28hrs (K. Bannister), 50 NW at 09.35hrs + 40 NW at 10.45hrs (JP) & c140 NW over Low Cudworth at 11.40hrs (R. Laverack).
Also of note 15 Skylarks, 10 Linnets and 6 Yellow Hammers on the stubble fields (JP).
A Kingfisher was on the scrape and a Coal Tit was in the car park.
A single Willow Emerald made short and very brief flights near the hide just before mid-day (CG).
A Bittern thought to have flown from the reserve headed SE over Cudworth's New Cemetery at 08.00hrs. Perhaps towards Edderthorpe Flash (JP).
Around mid-day the temperature peaked at a phenomenal 17c to 18c thereby allowing at least one Willow Emerald to fly for a while. This hardy insect was languishing on a dead Buddlea flower head near the dike a few yards from the bird hide.
Also of note Common Darter male and a Speckled Wood butterfly (Chris Parkin).
c100 Pink Feet flew west at 08.20hrs and c130 went east at 10.20hrs (A. Corrall/R. Laverack).
A female Blackcap was in Les Corrall's large, beautiful garden at 10.55hrs (Andrew Corrall).
8 Skylarks and 2 Meadow Pipits moved through early this morning (K. Bannister).
Late morning A Green Woodpecker was in the car park with single Redpoll, Linnet and Siskin.
Elsewhere Kingfisher, Goldcrest, Cetti's Warbler, 2 Water Rails called.
The highlight today for me was seeing 2 possibly 3 Willow Emeralds in a sun trap near the hide. These are the first ever November records for this site! (CG)
A Great White Egret came in from the north at around 1105hrs and alighted for a couple of minutes before returning north (Harold Heath/Clive Mitchell).
Also present 10 Redpolls, Great Spot Woodpecker, Water Rail, Cetti's Warbler and 2 Sparrowhawks (Les & Andrew Corrall).
Earlier c40 Pink Feet flew north towards the reserve at 09.30hrs (A. Vincent).
Our wildlife group was busy this morning strimming on the embankment.
After and during working at least 3 Cetti's Warblers sang, 2 Water Rails called a few Siskins and a Redpoll were audible, and a 'Redhead' Goosander seen at dawn left sometime during the morning.
We didn't see any Willow Emeralds, but the sun had gone in by mid-day making it more difficult. However, a search of some small Willows they had recently frequented revealed some freshly made galls made by the female while impregnating her eggs in to the bark of twigs no more than a quarter of an inch thick (CG/Melvyn White). This is final proof that they are breeding here, after a 3 year search!
The Barn Owl was hunting behind the cottages at first light before heading NE towards Shafton. 6 Shovelers and 2 'Redhead' Goosanders stayed all day (Keith Bannister).
This afternoon Kingfisher, 2 Redpolls and 3 Siskins (CG).
A quick visit around mid-day produced single Red Admiral and Small Copper + 3 Willow Emerald Damselflies. A Buzzard was lurking in the car park trees (C. Parkin).
A Barn Owl was hunting again at 07.45hrs (behind the cottages) (K. Bannister).
During the morning a Green Woodpecker was on the Northern Meadow and a Red Kite flew south (H. Heath/C. Mitchell/S. Cox).
From the hide a Kingfisher was watched for quite awhile diving for fish (H. Heath/C. Mitchell).
A Green Sandpiper was on the wader scrape at 07.30hrs as a Raven flew west calling (Neil Lunn/Keith Bannister).
200+ Pink Feet Geese flew east at 10.05hrs (JP).
130 Pink Feet flew west at 13.39hrs. Also of note 5 Shoveler, 10 Siskins and 2 Goldcrests (CG).
This mornings best was 6 Siskins, 2 Redpolls, Grey Wagtail and Great Spotted Woodpecker, all in the car park.
A Treecreeper and a Small Tortoiseshell were seen on the embankment (GM Carr/CG et al)
The Barn Owl was hunting behind the cottages again at 07.00hrs (Keith Bannister).
Around mid-day a Kingfisher was observed from the hide fishing from a post. It took all of 30 minutes to catch a Stickleback.
Butterflies on show were Red Admiral, Small Copper and 5 Speckled Wood.
3 Willow Emeralds were also of note and the first Wood Blewits were found. (Chris Parkin).
2 Tawny Owls were calling again at dawn (K. Bannister).
2 of the Willow Emeralds that were on a Willow branch when I left at 16.00hrs yesterday were still in exactly the same position despite all the overnight rain! As the sun came out during late morning, they began to exercise their wings a little and were still there when we left (M.White/S. Cox/CG).
A Firecrest was seen briefly in Les Corrall's White Cross Road, Cudworth garden this morning by his son Andrew Corrall.
Last night the migrant moth Dark Sword Grass was at the side of the M V light trap in my Cudworth garden. This is my 3rd record of it and the first since September 2001!
A Barn Owl was hunting the field behind Farfield Cottages at dawn (K. Bannister).
At mid-day a female Peregrine Falcon flashed at a bird near the hide, and a Kingfisher was present.
A Migrant Hawker was on the wing and several pairs of Common Darter were in tandem egg laying. Also of note 1 Red Admiral and 6 Speckled wood (C. Parkin).
The afternoon session provided 15 Teal, a Cormorant, 5 Water Rails called, a Grey Wagtail flew over, 3 Cetti's Warbler's sang, and a Coal Tit was amongst a group of roaming Titmice.
2 pairs of Willow Emerald were in the 'Wheel' position, the females appeared to be ovipositing into the bark of Willow, on the right side of the hide (CG).
.jpg)
A Bittern came in from the marsh towards the hide at 17.49hrs and landed in a reed bed to the left of the hide not far from its usual haunt.
This is the first sighting of it since the 6th of October. It was still there after the light faded (Dave Standish).
A Tawny Owl called at dawn and again at dusk (K. Bannister).
40 Canada Geese were on the wader scrape and 6 Shovelers were on the Whin Pool.
This afternoon a female Blackcap, 3 Song Thrush and 3 Water Rails called.
As the light began to fade c60 Starlings roosted and 4 Great White Egrets flew south at 17.45hrs. A record maximum!
Our group was busy this morning mowing/strimming the grass in the car park/hide areas and also strimming behind the double seats.
80 Canada Geese were languishing on the scrape and 8 Shovelers were on the Whin pool.
Also of note Great Spot Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail and Treecreeper.
Several Toadlets were found near the School Pond (M. White/CG).
A nice surprise for JP this morning when a Fieldfare flew from the little bridge over the dike towards Sunny Bank, it was the first for the autumn, and unusual in that it arrived before the first Redwing.
c100 B.H. Gulls were on a tilled to the east, 30 Starlings passed over, a Redpoll called and 2 Little Egrets were on the wader scrape (JP/K. Bannister)
Peter and Annefie Roberts ansd 2 oth members of the Barnsley Narturalists Group visited to look specifically for plant galls.
Here's what they found;
On the trees near the Ralph Hibbert’s seat we found quite a lot of Common spangle galls, which are caused by the gall wasp Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (asexual generation).
These galls were on your photo’s, I believe, little hairy discs with a pimple in the middle. The galls, like most, fall in Autumn from the leaves and stay during the winter in the leaf litter, where the insects continue to mature. The adult gall wasps emerge in the Spring and will then be laying their eggs, in this case on the male catkins, to produce galls of the sexual generation.
Other species we found on Oak around the reserve were:
Knopper gall, induced by the sexual generation of the gall wasp Andricus quercusramuli.
Silk button spangle galls, caused by the gall wasp Neuroterus numismalis. These galls have been very prolific this year and some of the Oak leaves are completely covered with them underneath.
A number of Marble galls, caused by the gall wasp Andricus kollari,
Some Artichoke galls, caused by the gall wasp Andricus foecundatrix,
Some Cola nut galls, caused by the gall wasp Andricus lignicolus,
A few Pea galls from the asexual generation of the gall wasp Cynips divisa,
and the tiny egg-shaped galls on the veins of oak leaves of the gall wasp Neuroterus anthracinus (better seen with a magnifier) .
On Alder we found the distinctive pouches near the main veins of Alder leaves, caused by the gall mite Eriophyes inangulis
On Phragmatites, Lesley found us the Cigar galls, caused by the fly Lipara lucens.
A Little Egret on the wader scrape was the first since 9/8/25! (Karen Pickard/Richard Laverack).
Stubble fields to the east produced c60 Linnets, 3 Yellow Buntings, a Red-legged Partridge, a handful of Skylarks and 3 Herring Gulls. Once again demonstrating how important spilled seed on arable land is. Due to the recent drought, the farmer has delayed ploughing/harrowing to plant a new crop because the ground is so hard (JP).
This morning 6 Teal, 6 Shoveler, Kingfisher, 16 Greylags with Canadas, Cetti's Warbler and Water Rail.
Also a small group of Siskins.
In 2023 YWT obtained funding to fence the meadow, so that our Parks Officer, Russ Boland could get a sheep farmer to come and graze it from the latter part of 2024. It is our intention to put cattle on during the summer months, we couldn’t in 2025 because of the severe drought.
In 2023, Dave Smith moved to Amble in Northumberland. Dave was a staunch member of our group. He co-wrote our Annual Natural History Report with me from 1983 to 2024 and spent countless hours birding and ringing here. Needless to say, his input in the data base is much missed.
The reserve has always been managed by a small group of volunteers with help from BMBC Rangers, and for the last 10 years by YWT volunteers.
Down the years we have lost people who have died, notably Robert Laverack, Steve darcy, Frank Hardy, Ernest Jobling, Brian Morton, Phil Wordsworth, Ralph Hibbert, Elaine Evans and Councillor Charles C. Wraith MBE.
Our wildlife group meets every Thursday to do management tasks to keep the site looking at its wild best. Without our dedicated wildlife observers there would be no database. Not forgetting my old friend and founder member, Keith Bannister, who diligently makes sure that the main gate to the car park is opened every morning come rain or shine, and Dave or Claire Richardson, who shut the gate every night.
There have been several officers in charge from the BMBC Parks Department to manage the site over the years, namely Eric Bennett, Geoff Carr, Philip Tierney Kitchener, Nigel Labdon, Brian Hearne, Trevor Mayne and since 2011, Russ Boland. Their role as officers for the Council has been essential for us to gain access to gain grants and Section 106 money, Green Flag and Yorkshire in Bloom Awards and a whole host of other things now help the site gain more status and protection against development to the benefit of wildlife and visitors.
If you wish to send in your sightings my email is cliff1947@hotmail.co.uk
