Carlton Marsh & South Kirkby Industrial Park

Carlton Marsh

7 members of the Sorby Breck Group visited today. Here are just a few of the species they found. 2 Common Tern from 15.30hrs. 2 Oystercatchers were on the wader scrape with 20 Herring gulls.

16 Burnet Companion moths and 1 micro Nemophora degeerella. 

Butterflies, 4 Common Blue, 1 Small Heath, 1 Red Admiral, 6 Speckled Wood. 

Dragonflies included 5 4 Four Spot Chasers, 1f Broad-bodied Chaser, 2 Large Red Damsels and Azure was abundant. 

Roesel's Bush Cricket, Conehead larvae, and a Common Grasshopper. A Cellar Spider was languishing in the toilet block and a Spotted Longhorn Beetle was on Hogweed.

                   Spotted Longhorn Beetle (Ruptela maculata)

 Common Spotted, Southern Marsh and a single Bee Orchid. A surprise Bilberry plant found growing in the southern meadow is new  to the data base.

South Kirkby Industrial Park

My first Meadow Brown of the year, 2 S. Tortoiseshell from a new brood, 8 Large Skipper, 2 Brown Argus, 39 Common Blue, 2m Brimstone, 14 species in all. 

Moths included single Forrester, Blood vein, Mother Shipton, Burnet Companion, N.B. 5 Spot Burnet Moth, Straw Dot, Mother Shipton, 6 Yellow Shell and a Drinker moth larvae. Also 2m 1f Broad-bodied Chaser (C. Parkin).

Wintersett May 31st 2025

 Anglers CP:

Ringed Plover 1.

Little Ringed Plover 1.

Teal 1 male.

Common Tern 1. 

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern  2

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Carlton Marsh

2 Common Terns visited the scrape again this morning and again this evening from18.00hrs to at least 20.00hrs (K. Bannister/CG). 

3 Oystercatchers flew south at 08.36hrs and a fresh dead Common Shrew was found (K. Bannister/J. Finch). 

A Little Ringed Plover was on the wader scrape at dusk (CG). 

Carlton Marsh Update

2 Common Terns returned to the scrape at 17.39hrs, they left east at 19.12hrs.  

The 4 Oystercatchers were still on the wader scrape on leaving at 18.15hrs and 2 Little Ringed Plovers were present from 18.13hrs (Simon Cox).

 The presumed male Common Tern presenting a fish to the female 

                                          Adult Oystercatchers

                                              Little Ringed Plovers

 Photos by Simon Cox

Carlton Marsh

2 Common Terns were feeding over the scrape at 08.00hrs (Rob & Lynne Frost). 

4 adult Oystercatchers alighted on the wader scrape at 12.50hrs (CG) and an LRP was seen here earlier. A  Goldcrest sang near the viewing point (L & A Corrall).

Wintersett Sightings 29th May 2025

Anglers CP:

Ringed Plover 1.

Little Ringed Plover 1.

Teal 1 male

Shoveler 1 male

Common Tern 1.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 2.

Carlton Marsh & Woolley

2 Common Terns were feeding over the scrape at 06.40hrs (K. Bannister).

Woolley

38 Small Blue were counted, but surprisingly there was no Kidney Vetch for them to feed on, so they must be using Birds-foot Trefoil or something similar for now. 

 

Also 20 Common Blue, 1m & 1f Orange-tip, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and 2 Squash Bugs (C. Parkin).

Carlton Marsh

 2 Oystercatchers flew NE at 16.20hrs (JP).

              A very nice female Broad-bodied Chaser (S. Cox)

                       One of yesterday's Common Terns (S. Cox)

Anglers CP sightings 27.05.2025

 Anglers CP:

A Spoonbill and 2 adult Mediterranean Gulls flew south over ACP..  

Oystercatcher 5.  Little Ringed Plover 1 on shallows.    Cormorant 1 ACP.

7 Goslings and 4 small ducklings were in the shallows.

Carlton Marsh

2 Common Terns visited the scrape again, 2 LRP were on the wader scrape this morning and just 1 this afternoon. 

A Cormorant flew north and a Peregrine south. 

2 Cetti's Warbler and a Goldcrest sang, and 6 House Martins were feeding over the Western Meadow (L & A Corrall/CG).

Wintersett Sightings - 26.05.2025

Wintersett:

Goldeneye 1.   Common Tern 13.   

Swift 100  + 120 ACP.

Anglers CP: 

Redshank 1.   Dunlin 1. 

Shoveler 1 male.

Little Ringed Plover 1.

Oystercatcher 4.

Cormorant 1 in shallows.

Carlton Marsh

Two Common Terns were feeding on the scrape at 07.15hrs (K. Bannister) and a Little Egret called in at 10.10hrs (K. Pickard).

On the wader scrape Oystercatcher and 1 more south (JP).

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape Oystercatcher from 06.49hrs to at least 08.00hrs (N. Lunn/K. Bannister).

A Little Ringed Plover was there at 10.45hrs and later 10 Herring Gulls and 11 LBB Gulls alighted. Most were immatures (CG).

Wintersett Sightings - Saturday 24th May 2025

Cold Hiendley Reservoir:

Gadwall 3.   

Anglers CP:

 Black-necked Grebe 2.   Ringed Plover 1.

Little Ringed Plover 1.   Oystercatcher 4.

Butterfly sightings etc. from 16th May 2025

All sightings are from Chris Parkin.

Carlton Marsh 17th May 2025, 13 Dingy Skipper, 1 Brown Argus, 5 Small Copper and 34 Burnet Companion. 

Littleworth Park 19th May 1 Large Skipper, 2 Red Admiral, 18 Dingy Skipper, 7 Burnet Companion, 12 Mother Shipton.

Royd Moor 20th May 15 Wall Brown,1 Large Skipper.

Carlecoates 20th May 2 Whinchat, Cuckoo, 4 Wall Brown, 4 Small Copper, 8 Small Heath, 10 Green Hairstreak. Also Curlew 4 with chick close by.

Barrow 22nd  May 1 Painted Lady, 78 Small Heath, 12 Dingy Skipper, 22 Burnet Companion and 1 Forester moth.

South Kirkby 23rd May 107 Common Blue, 12 Brimstone (8m), 5 Brown Argus, 21 Dingy Skipper, 2 Burnet Companion, 8 Mother Shipton, 14 Cinnabar moth and 2 Grey Partridge.

Wintersett May WeBs count. 23.05.2025

Mute Swan 7.   Canada Goose 86.   Greylag Goose 11.

Cormorant 1.   Great Crested Grebe 11.   Coot 77.

Moorhen 13.   Mallard 47.   Gadwall 16.  Tufted Duck 22.

Goldeneye 1.   Common Term 4.   Oystercatcher 4.  Lapwing 3.   

Little Ringed Plover 1.    Kingfisher 1.   Grey Heron 1.

Wintersett Sightings 23.05.2025

Anglers CP: 

A Little Egret flew north.  

Oystercatcher 5.    Little Ringed Plover 1 in the shallows.

7 Goslings and 4 small ducklings were in the shallows.

Wintersett Res:

Goldeneye 1 female.  Common Tern 4.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Kingfisher 1.   Grey Heron 1.  Cetti's Warbler 1 male.

Wintersett 22.05.2025

Anglers CP:

Little Ringed Plover 1.   Common Tern 2,

Oystercatcher 4,    Swift 120.   Sand Martin 3,

Wintersett Res:

Cuckoo 1 male.   Common Tern 9.   Swift  70.

Wintersett Bird Sightings - May 21st 2025

Wintersett Res:

Black Tern 1.   Common Tern 17.

Hobby 8.   Shoveler 1 male.

Swift 90.   

Anglers CP:

Teal 2.

Little Ringed Plover 2.

Cuckoo 1 male.

Swift 60.

Wintersett April 19th 2025

 Anglers CP:

Little Gull 1 adult on the shallows, along with a Curlew,

a Little Ringed Plover and    Common Sandpiper 2.

Goldeneye 1 female.  Lesser Whitethroat  1 male on Pol.

Wintersett Res: 

White Wagtail 4 in north bank field.

Goldeneye 1 female.  Sedge Warbler 4 males.

Whitethroat 2 males.  

Reed Warbler 6 males.   Lesser Whitethroat  1 male.

Arctic Tern 1.  White Wagtail 3 in north bank field

Same Little Gull was seen.  

Cuckoo 1 male.   Hobby 6.  Goldeneye 1 female.

Grey Wagtail 5.   Common Tern 7.   Swift 70.

Wintersett Res:

Same Little Gull was seen.   Sedge Warbler 10 males.

Reed Warbler 8 males.  Arctic Tern 1.

Dragonflies:

Hairy Dragonflies 3.  4 Spotted Chaser 2.

Red-eyed Damselfly 1.

Wintersett Sightings - Monday 19th May 2025

Wintersett Res:

An Osprey was circling over between 08.20 - 08.30 hrs,

then drifted off north west.

Cuckoo  1 male.  Shoveler 1 male + 1 female.

Common Tern 7.  Goldeneye 1 female. 

Sand Martin 60.  Green Woodpecker 1.

Sedge Warbler 8 singing males.

Anglers Country Park:

2 Red Kites flew east.   Shelduck 1.   Hobby 4.

Greylag Goose 41.   Canada Goose 40.

Little Ringed Plover 1.   Starling 30.

An Avocet was on the shallows.   Little Gull 1 adult.

Wintersett May 18th 2025

Wintersett Res:

An Osprey circled over with a fish, between 08.20hrs - 08,30hrs,

then drifted off north west.  

Cuckoo 1 male.  Shoveler 1 male + 1 female.

Goldeneye 1 female.    Common Tern 7.

Anglers CP:

An Avocet was on the shallows.

A Little Gull adult remained from yesterday, 

Common Tern 1.  A Great White Egret flew over.

Dunlin 1.  Little Ringed Plover 1. 

White Wagtail 1.

Red Kite 2 flew east.  Shelduck 1.

Hobby 4.  Greylag Goose  41.

Canada Geese 40.  Little Ringed Plover 1. 

Starling 30.

Wintersett Res:

A Cuckoo was on the north bank.

Green Woodpecker 1.

Sedge Warbler  8 singing males.

18.05.2025 - Wintersett Sightings

Moorhouse Lane Ponds:

An Osprey flew over with a fish - 12.30hrs.

Hen Harrier 1 adult male flew south at 12.40hrs.  (T. Wilson)

Anglers CP:

Pochard 1 male.   Cormorant 1.

Oystercatcher  5 adults +  1 young.  

Wintersett Res:

A Cuckoo was  calling on the north bank.

Common Tern 10.  Little Gull 1 x 1st summer from 3.10 p.m.

Black-headed Gull  - 230 feeding on insects.

Herring Gull 80.  Pochard 1 male.  

Lesser Whitethroat 1 male.  Hobby 2.

Wintersett Odonata 16.05.2025

Wintersett Res:

Hairy Dragonfly 2 males.

Red-eyed Damselflies - 7 males off north bank.

8 males + 1 female,   Botany Bay.

Pol boardwalk pond:

Large Red damselfly 2 males + 1 female.

Butterflies:

Wintersett Res:

1 Red Admiral ,  1 Orange Tip 

Anglers CP:

4 Brimstone.

Carlton Marsh

On the wader scrape 7 Herring Gulls, 2 Lapwings, 10 Greylags and a Little Ringed Plover (CG).

2 Grey Wagtails that alighted on the embankment were new for this month (MW).

Butterflies included this year's first Red Admiral in pristine condition, 8 Dingy Skipper, 3 Small Heath, 5 Common Blue, & 1 Small Copper. 12 Burnet Moths were on the Western Meadow (C. Parkin). 

               Burnet Companion moth taken recently (R. Laverack)

 

Wintersett Sightings 15.05.2025

Anglers CP:

Little Ringed Plover 1.   Oystercatcher 1 young.

Herring  Gull  18.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 8.  Goldeneye 1 female.

Hobby 1 adult.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Shoveler 1 male + 1 female.

Wintersett Sighting - 14.05.2025

Anglers CP: 

A Little Ringed Plover  was the notable bird seen  at ACP this morning!

Wintersett May 13th 2025

Anglers CP: 

Little  Ringed Plover 1.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 3.   Goldeneye 1 female.  Hobby 2.

Butterflies:

Holly Blue 1.   Wall Brown 1 on Haw Park Lane Hill.

Carlton Marsh & Woolley

Carlton Marsh

LRP, 4 LBB Gulls, Little Egret, Cuckoo and 2 Lesser Whitethroats singing along with 3 more just outside the recording area (JP/ J. Finch).

Yesterday an Oystercatcher flew east and Red-legged Partridge was seen (JP). 

Woolley

Worryingly no Small Blues were seen at this favoured site, possibly because Kidney Vetch is late flowering this year!  However, 2 Brown Argus, 36 Common Blue, 1m Brimstone, 1 Small Copper, 20 Dingy Skipper, and 17 Small Heath were flying. A Straw Dot and a Silver Y moth were also present (C. Parkin).

 

The 2024 Annual Report is available in the bird hide.

Cliffe Wood -Langset & Barrow Reclamation -Worsbro

Cliffe Wood

1m1f Pied Flycatcher, singing Redstart, Nuthatch, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Mistle Thrush. 

 

Also present Great Spot Woodpecker, a fly over Siskin and 2 Wall Brown butterflies near the road (L & A Corrall/M.White/CG).

 

Barrow 

A good count of 72 Small Heath, 21 Dingy Skipper, 2 Common Blue.

7 Burnet Companion Moth, Green Carpet, Small Yellow Underwing and loads of tadpoles (C. Parkin).

Wintersett Sightings 12th May 2025

 Anglers CP:

 A Grasshopper Warbler  was singing on the east bank.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 1.   Little Grebe 1.

Butterfly - Anglers CP:

Holly Blue 1.

Cudworth - Moths

Last nights catch in my garden Buff Tip, Scalloped Hook-tip, Lime Hawk Moth, Poplar Hawk Moth.

                                                          Buff Tip

 

Lime Hawk Moth         

Poplar Hawk Moth

Wintersett Sightings Sunday - 11. 05. 2025

 Anglers CP:

Oystercatcher 2 young +  1 young.

Gadwall 10.

Disposal Point:

Dingy Skipper 5.

Moorhouse Lane Ponds:

Azure Damselfly 1.   Small Copper 1.

Small Yellow Underwing  1.

Wintersett Sightings 10th May 2025

Wintersett Res:

Marsh Harrier  - 1 cream crown hunting over Reed beds 07.40 - 08.00 hrs.

Whimbrel 1 flew north.  Hobby 1,   Common Tern 2.

Anglers CP:

Common  Sandpiper 1.  Little Ringed Plover 1.

Cormorant 2,

Butterflies:

Red Admiral 1.   Holly Blue 1.

Several Brimstones!

Carlton Marsh & South Kirkby

Carlton Marsh

The Cuckoo sang well this morning and our resident female Mute Swan was on her nest.

 

Insects included a male Hairy Dragonfly, a female Broad-bodied Chaser and 2 Four Spot Chasers. 

6 Burnet Companion Moths and a Dingy Skipper were abroad (R. Laverack/CG).

 

South Kirkby Industrial Park

3 Mistle Thrush, Little Egret and 2 Grey Herons.

 

Butterflies included 53 Dingy Skipper, 19 Common Blue, 16 Small Heath, and 9 Brimstone (6m). 

Moths flushed were Common Carpet, Green Carpet, 4 Cinnabar and 1 Burnet Companion, a new site for this insect. Also present 3 Large Red Damselfly and 3 Thick-legged Beetle (C. Parkin)  

Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton & Cudworth Common

A butterfly survey produced 1m 1f Common Blue, 26 Speckled Wood, 31 Dingy Skipper, 13 Small Heath, 2 Holly Blue, 1 Small Copper, 2m Brimstone and 15 Orange-tip. 

Day flying moths included 4 Burnet Companion, 7 Mother Shipton and 2 Small Yellow Underwing. 2f Broad-bodied Chaser were also of note (Chris Parkin).

Cudworth Common 

A singing Garden Warbler was new in. (There was also 1 singing at the Dearne entrance gate to Edderthorpe Flash).

 

Butterflies included 1 Small Copper, 5m 1f Brimstone, 1m Common Blue and 1 Red Admiral (my first this year anywhere). (CG)

Wintersett - Friday 09.05.2025

Anglers CP: 

Oystercatcher 2 young.    Common Tern 2,

Yellow Wagtail 1.  

Butterfly:-  Common Blue 1 male.

Wintersett Res:

Hobby - 3 adults catching insects.

Dragonfly:

A pair of Red-eyed Damselflies were on Botany.

Wintersett 08th May 2025

Anglers CP:

Common Sandpiper 1.   Common Tern 2.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 12.   Little Grebe 1.

Goldeneye 1 female. 

Carlton Marsh Update for Tuesday 6th May

Kingfisher, 4 Spot Chaser, 2m Broad-bodied Chaser, 1 Large Red Damselfly, 10 Burnett Companion, 2 Mother Shipton & 1 Small Yellow Underwing.

Butterflies included 10 Peacock, 37 Speckled Wood, 13 Dingy Skipper, 3 Small Copper, 1m Brimstone, 13 Orange-tip, 17 Large White, 5 Small White and 7 Green Veined White (Chris Parkin). 

                               White Pinion Spotted (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett Bird Sightings 7th May 2025

Anglers CP:  8th May 2025

Ringed Plover 1.  Little Ringed Plover 2.

Common Sandpiper 1.    Oystercatcher  2 young.

Greylag Goose 7.   Common Tern 4. 

Little Ringed Plover 1.   Shoveler 1 male.

Wintersett Res:

Cuckoo 1 male.

  

Common Tern 3.

Little Grebe 1.  Goldeneye 1 female,  Hobby 1,

Common Tern 7.   Mediterranean Gull  1  2nd summer.

Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.

Butterflies:

Wall Brown  2 west bank,  Wintersett Res:

Red-eyed Damselfly  1 male Botany.  

Carlton Marsh

This morning female Peregrine, Cuckoo, Oystercatcher, LRP, Common Sandpiper and Sand Martin were the notables (JP).

Cuckoo was still showing well this evening and the LRP was still on the wader scrape (S. Cox). 

                                             Fox (Simon Cox)

Wintersett Bird Sightings - Tuesday 6th May 2025.

Anglers CP:

Ringed Plover 1.   Little Ringed Plover 2.

Common Sandpiper 1.   Oystercatcher 2 young.

Greylag Goose 7.

Wintersett Res:

Hobby 1.   Goldeneye 1 female.

Common Tern 4.

Lepidoptera:

Wall Brown 2 west bank Wintersett Res.

Red-eyed Damselfly 1 male Botany Bay.

Wintersett 5th May 2025

Anglers CP: 

Ringed Plover 1.   Little Ringed Plover 2.

Common Sandpiper 1.   Cuckoo 1 male.

Hobby 1.

Wintersett Res:

Arctic Tern 1.   Common Tern 12.   Hobby 2.

Carlton Marsh

A Little Ringed Ringed Plover and a Cuckoo were the only birds of note, as most of the returning migrant passerines are settling down to breed (K. Bannnister/JP).

Wintersett sightings, May 4th 2025

 Anglers CP:

Common Sandpiper 1.   

Sedge Warbler 6 males on east bank.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 8.   Lesser Whitethroat 1 male.

Cold Hiendley Res:

Cetti's Warbler 1 male (by sewage works).

Grey Wagtail,  1 carrying food at sewage works,

a pair and 3 young on spillway.

Canada Goose 1.

Carlton Marsh

2 Little Ringed Plover were on the wader scrape. 

At least 6 Whitethroats, 9 Blackcaps, 12 Chiffchaffs, 2 Sedge Warblers and 6 Reed Warblers were singing.

Little Ringed Plover (Simon Cox).

 

Carlton Marsh & Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

A Little Ringed Plover was on the wader scrape this morning (JP).

A breeding female Long-tailed Tit ringed here on 8th July 2024 was re trapped at nearby Rabbit Ings (D & A Pointon).

A male Cetti's Warbler ringed at Carlton Marsh on 5th November 2023 was re trapped in breeding condition today (CG).

                                                 Cetti's Warbler

Littleworth Park

 9 Swift.

Insects included 1m Brimstone, 42 Dingy Skipper, 2 Small Copper, 1 Small Heath, 43 Speckled Wood, 1 Burnet Companion & 6 Mother Shipton Moth, 1 Small Yellow Underwing, 3 Four Spot Chaser, 2 Squash Bug, not forgetting 10 Smooth Newts (C. Parkin)

Wintersett Sightings 2nd May 2025

Anglers CP: 

Common Sandpiper 1.   Snipe 1.

Wintersett Res:

Common Tern 4.   Common Sandpiper 1.

Goldeneye 1 female.

Dragonflies:

4 Spotted Chaser 1.  Blue-tailed  Damselfly 1.

Common Blue Damselfly 3.

Red-eyed Damselfly,  1 male Botany Bay.

Butterflies:  at Disposal Point.

Common Blue - 2 

Small Copper - 1. 

Cudworth & South Kirkby

 Last night moths in the garden included Waved Umber, 2 Pale Tussocks, 2 Lime Hawk Moths 2 Shuttle Shaped Darts and a Figure of Eighty.

 

Figure of Eighty

Lime Hawk Moth

Pale Tussock

Waved Umber

 

South Kirkby Industrial Park

2 Small Heath, 51 Dingy Skipper, 9 Brimstone (3f), 2 Small Copper, and 32 Orange-tip. Plus 3 Large Red Damselfly (Chis Parkin). He also trapped a Waved Umber in his garden last night, which was new for us both!

Wintersett Sightings - 1st May 2025

Anglers CP:

Greenshank 1 briefly.  Common Sandpiper 2.

Great White Egret 1.   Teal 2.  Common Tern 1. 

Gadwall 9 males.

Wintersett Res:

A Ringed Plover flew north.  

Common Tern 3.   Goldeneye 1 female.

Haw Park:

Green Woodpecker 1.

Butterflies:

Holly Blue 2  Anglers CP.

Dragonflies:

4 Spot Chaser  1 Anglers CP.