Wednesday, 21 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

 The only report received today was of 80 Pink Feet Geese NW at 10.10hrs (Andrew Corrall).

And this fungi

                  Velvet Shank (Flammulina velutipes) Simon Cox).

 

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

Monday 19/1/26  
Goldcrest, and Oystercatcher west at 11.00hrs (Simon Cox).
 
Goldcrest in the mist (S. Cox)
Tuesday 20/1/26
Kingfisher, 50 Canada geese, 25 Teal, 2 Shovelers 1 Tufted Duck, 1 Siskin and 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (H. Heath/C. Mitchell).
 
Great Spotted Woodpecker female (Clive Mitchell)
Kingfisher (Clive Mitchell)
(Harold Heath)
 

Sunday, 18 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

The wildfowl counts today in the mist included 2 Shelducks, 54 Canada Geese, 8 Greylag Geese, 2 Shovelers, 25 Teal, 6 Tufted Ducks, a Cormorant and 44 Black Headed Gulls.

Also present Great Spot Woodpecker (3 yesterday), and 2 Redpolls, 

Cudworth 17/1/26
7 Redwings and a female Blackcap were in Les Corrall's garden. 

Friday, 16 January 2026

Cudworth to Ardsley Viaduct via the TPT

26 Red-legged Partridges, 32 Redwings, and c120 Lesser Redpolls (Chris Parkin).

Thursday, 15 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

This morning highlights - 110 Pink Feet Geese flew NW at 09.35hrs, 2 pairs of Shoveler were on the Whin Pool and 2 Herring Gulls flew south.

Elsewhere 65 Redpolls were feeding in the Birch trees and a single Siskin and a Cetti's warbler called CG/L & A Corrall)

Our wildlife group did a great job of coppicing and laying a dead hedge on both sides of the weather vane.
 
Royston Canal
A Tawny owl was found dead, caught in discarded fishing line, yesterday.  
 
Tawny Owl (Terry Smith)

Monday, 12 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

The ice is beginning to melt now allowing a few ducks to function. A pair of Shovelers, a few Gadwall, Mallard and Teal were present.

A Water Rail showed well when it went to investigate the Swan carcass. 

5 Fieldfares and c15 Redwings were gorging on Haws and 2 Lesser Redpolls were feeding on Birch seeds.

8 Greylag Geese were feeding in a stubble field and a female Sparrowhawk gave good views when it alighted in a tree on the embankment (CG/Steve Bethell).

                                  Lesser Redpoll (Simon Cox)

Littleworth Park
Today 14 Siskins, 2 Bullfinches, 1 Coal Tit, 35 Redwings and 12 Fieldfares (Chris Parkin). 
  

Saturday, 10 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

After another cold night the scrapes were still iced over consequently most of the wildfowl had left to find open water. However, 2 Water Rails called from the reed beds.

Elsewhere c50 Redwings, c6 Fieldfares, 3 Redpolls, and a Coal Tit were of note.

3 Foxes on the western meadow were very vocal indeed. The Dog barking and the Vixen screaming as he pursued her and eventually mated with her. A third Fox with a limp was just an onlooker. The mayhem went on for most of the morning (M. Littlewood/CG). 

A female Mink on the bank in front of the hide ran onto the ice (H.Heath/C Mitchell). 

         A recent photo of one of the many Lesser Redpolls we have had (Harold Heath)

                                       Coal Tit (Clive Mitchell) 
 
 
A record shot of the Mink against the backdrop of the sun (Harold Heath)

Friday, 9 January 2026

Cudworth

I have lived at my present address in the Newtown Area of Cudworth for just over 33 years. In that time I have heard or seen 99 species of bird in or near the garden or flying over. Today after some years, I finally clocked up 100 when a Great White Egret came up the Dearne Valley at 13.15hrs over my house still heading north! I never expected to see one of those when I came to live here in 1992.

Thursday, 8 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

Most of the open water was iced over, however a pair of Shoveler and several Teal managed to keep a small area free of ice.

The bad news is that one of our resident Mute Swans was dead on the ice in a place where it would have been dangerous for the local authority contractor to retrieve it for analysis.

c150 Pink Feet Geese flew NW at 12.02hrs. There were also 3 Redpolls, 6 Fieldfares and 40+ Redwings.  

               female Sparrowhawk 7/1/26 (C. Mitchell/H. Heath)

         Carlton marsh Wildlife Group constructing a dead hedge (R.J.Boland)

Tuesday, 6 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

All the open water areas are still frozen over due to the cold spell.

On the wader scrape 6 LBB Gulls, 2 Herring Gulls, 1 Common Gull.

Elsewhere 6 Redpolls, Song Thrush, 40 Redwings, Treecreeper and Water Rail (L. & A. Corrall/M/ White).  

Saturday, 3 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

Most of the open areas were iced over, so most of the wildfowl had left except 56 Canada Geese and 15 Greylags.

However, at least 2 Redpolls, 6 Siskins, c50 Redwings, 2 Reed Buntings and 2 Great Spot woodpeckers were on show, and 2 Cetti's Warblers sang (R. Laverack/CG).

A Red Kite was seen over Brierley (C. Parkin). 

Friday, 2 January 2026

Carlton Marsh & Littleworth Park - Monk Bretton

The only reports received today were of 55 Teal, the largest group since 9th of September 2021! There appeared to be more Robins than usual. A cold weather influx? (R. J. Boland).

Littleworth Park
My first Redpolls (2) for this site, and 4 Siskins, 32 Redwings and a Song Thrush (C. Parkin).

Thursday, 1 January 2026

Carlton Marsh

3 Little Egrets and an adult Whooper Swan were on the wader scrape first thing along with a pair of Shoveler, 38 Teal, 50 Canada geese, 2 Cormorants, 12 Greylags and 2 Herons. 

Elsewhere 1 Fieldfare, 72 Redwings, 24 Goldfinches, c20 Lesser Redpolls, 3 Siskins and a Goldcrest (N. Lunn/S. Grove/K.Bannister/C. Parkin/CG).