Wintersett Gulls 07.02.14

Anglers CP roost held the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull and a 1st W Yellow-legged Gull.  2 Barn Owls were at Wintersett.

The Edge 7th Feb

Broomhill Flash late AM- Present were 1 flyover Cormorant, 4a+3j Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 18 Gadwall, 11 Teal, 10 Tufted Duck, 6 Mallard, 3f Goldeneye, pair of Shoveler, 117 BH Gull, 5 Common Gull, 2 Kestrel, 1 Sparrowhawk and 3 Skylark.


Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Present were 1 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe, 4a+4j Mute Swan, 17 Mallard, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Wigeon, 6 Gadwall, 3 Pochard, 1m+1f Goosander, 1m+1f Goldeneye, 188 BH Gull, 13 Common Gull, 1a+1j LBB Gull, c100 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard and 1 Kestrel.


Trans Pennine Trail- 5 Redpoll, 3 Bullfinch and 1 Siskin.


Wombwell Ings mid PM- Noted were 10 Grey Heron, 1 Cormorant, 3a+3j Mute Swan, c250 Canada Geese, 150+ Wigeon, 50+ Teal, 6 Gadwall, 5 Mallard, 3 Tufted Duck, 1m+1f Goosander, 1 m Shoveler, 100+ BH Gull, 23 Lapwing, 1 Kingfisher and 5 Skylark.

Not had any news from Old Moor today.

Broomhill Flash: 3 Goldeneye and the alleged 1 of 7 (male)!

Wombwell Ings and Manvers Lake both covered - little change.

Broomhead Reservoir gull roost (Roy Twigg): 652 Herring, first-winter Iceland Gull.

Wintersett 07.02.14

4°C,  sunny with a cool westerly.
Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 1,  Willow Tit 1 and Kingfisher 1
Anglers CP:  Oystercatcher 1,  Cormorant 24 and  Greylag Goose 101
Haw Park Wood: Tawny Owl 1 calling.   5 Buzzards ( 3 + 2) circled over slowly, west + 1 ACP and Green Woodpecker 1 calling.

Broomhead

Broomhead Reservoir - 1 first-winter Iceland Gull and 1 adult Kumlien's Gulls roosted tonight.
per SBSG website.

Carlton Marsh

Scrub bashing day to maintain open views of the 'Whin Pool'. On the scrape were 2 Tufted Duck, our first of the year. Also Little Grebe, Siskin, Willow Tit, Jay, 8 Jackdaws, 10 Herring Gulls south, 2 Sparrowhawks and 2 Buzzards.

Wintersett Spring Heralds 06.02.14

7°C  and sunny this morning with a light north easterly.
Within a minute of arriving at Anglers CP this morning an adult Peregrine had put up the birds from the islands. A Dunlin was with the flock of Lapwings and the first Oystercatcher to return flew low over the lake. Skylarks were serenading and hedgrows were full of birdsong.   Spring is on its way!
Also a Linnet flew NW and 88 Pochard were present.
The Anglers CP Gull Roost had only  one notable this afternoon,  the usual adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Yellowhammers ....beat that!!

Forgot to send this in but yesterday I had 95 Yellowhammer in a feeding flock on a stubble field (rare habitat now-days) off Silkstone Wagon Road. I did 3 counts to try to get over100 but had to stick to a 95 max. I see Cliff had 40 at Carlton so it would be interesting if there are other large groups in the Barnsley area. Any info?

Carlton Marsh

Before the rain 40 Yellowhammers and 6 Skylarks were still present. (Rod Heeley)

Wintersett 05.02.14

6°C,  grey but dry this morning, with a strengthening south westerly and then rain showers on an off from midday until dark.
Wintersett Res:  Gadwall 8 + 6 ACP,  Shoveler 10. 
Despite the appalling weather conditions, both gull roosts were checked today.  A 1st W Caspian Gull, (the small bird from yesterday) was in the roost on  WRes from 17.05hrs.  The usual adult Yellow-legged Gull was on Walton Hall lake at 11.20hrs and then came to Anglers CP roost from 16.10hrs.

Sweet FA (Cup!)

The only news I have for today as follows: Old Moor: Peregrine, Brambling.
Broomhead: 10+ Crossbills, adult Kumlien's Gull roosted on Res again.

The Edge 5th Feb

Broomhill Flash mid AM- Rather quiet with 3 Cormorant, 3a+4j Mute Swan, c70 Canada Geese, 26 Gadwall, 12 Tufted Duck, 5 Teal, 2f Goldeneye, c120 BH Gull, 5 Common Gull, 31 Lapwing, 2 Kestrel, 16 Grey Partridge and 1 Mistle Thrush( Clegg's Meadow ).


Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Present were 2 Cormorant, 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4a+4j Mute Swan, 9 Canada Geese, 12 Pochard, 8 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 5 Mallard, 3m+2f Shoveler, 2m+3f Goldeneye, 2 Wigeon, 158 BH Gull, 10 Herring Gull, 5 Common Gull and 106 Lapwing.


Trans Pennine Trail- 1 flyover Grey Heron, 1 Jay and c20 Redpoll.

Carlton Marsh

Plenty of duck on today including 2 Goosander and Little Grebe. Also present 2 Buzzards, 2 Little Owls, 2 Siskins, c100 Redwings, 6 Fieldfares, 2 Great Spot Woodpeckers and 2 Willow Tits.

Unfortunately the stubble field has been ploughed! but hopefully the birds using it will have moved onto another set-aside nearby. 

Cudworth

A Song Thrush was singing in the quarry near Cudworth Bridges and Keith Bannister had a Small Tortoiseshell in his garden!

Broomhead

At least five 'very vocal' Two-barred Crossbills were at Broomhead this afternoon as well as 30+ Commons. The adult Kumlien's Gull roosted on the Reservoir having been seen at Shirecliffe Tip during the day (Sheffield area).

I will hopefully be bringing some copies of the Breeding Birds of the Sheffield area (Bird Atlas) to the BBSG meeting on Thursday which will available for £20 and thus a substantial saving on postage. First come, first served and for those who have already ordered, your copy is reserved for you.

Wintersett Gulls 04.02.14

2  1st W Caspian Gulls  graced Anglers CP roost this afternoon.  Last nights bird came in at 16.20 hrs and a smaller bird flew in at 16.50hrs.  Both remained until dark.  Also a 3rd W Yellow-legged Gull was in at 16.30hrs.  Unusally, the usual  adult Yellow-legged Gull was absent.

The Edge 4th Feb

Wombwell Ings mid AM- From a distance looked like yesterday' s family of swans but got a pleasant surprise when I saw 3 Whooper Swans(2adult+1 juv) in front of the hide. Also present were 2 Grey Heron, 150+ Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, c 200 Wigeon, 32 Teal, 15 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 4 Tufted Duck, 1f Goosander, 145 BH Gull, 20+ Redwing, 2 Reed Bunting and 2 Skylark. A close and prolonged view of a Stoat with it's prey.


Broomhill Flash late AM- Noted were 1 Cormorant, 1a+4j Mute Swan, 70+ Canada Geese, 38 Gadwall, 14 Tufted Duck, 9 Teal, 6 Mallard, 3f Goldeneye, 1m Pochard, 81 BH Gull, 1 Common Gull, 3 flyover LBB Gull, 39 Lapwing, distant Buzzard over Cat Hill, 2 flyover Yellowhammer and 1 Hare.


 Bolton Ings late AM/early PM- Only 'Wanderer' today. Present were 3 Little Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4a+1j Mute Swan, 73 Greylag, 14 Canada Geese, 13 Pochard, 10 Teal, 8 Wigeon, 8 Gadwall, 7 Tufted Duck, 3 pair Goosander, 3 displaying male+3 female Goldeneye, 5 Mallard, 220+ BH Gull, 8 Common Gull, 1 juv LBB Gull, 101 Lapwing, 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk , 1 Kestrel and 1 Jay.

Wintersett 04.02.14

3°C,  sunny with a  cold south easterly.
Anglers CP:  Golden Plover 1 W.  Dunlin 2 in at 09.30hrs.  Little Owl 1 at Santingley
Wintersett Res:  Cetti's Warbler 1,  Grey Wagtail 1,  Willow Tit 1 south bank + 1 west bank, Treecreeper 1. 
Haw Park Wood: Crossbill 15,  Siskin 7.

Castle Dam

Castle Dam - 15 Wigeon, 3 Mallards, 16 Coots and 271 Black-headed Gulls.
per Brian Penistone.

Rabbit Ings............... 8-)

Had a walk round Rabbit Ings this afternoon. Quite a few Yellowhammer, Reed Buntings and Dunnock. Also Mistle Thrush 2, Long Tailed and Great Tits,Pied Wagtails 8, Kestrels 2 and a pair of Stonechat on path...... :-)

Wintersett 03.02.14

2°C,  cool and grey.
Anglers CP: Mute Swan 6 + 1 WRes + 2 CHRes.   A Water Rail and 6 Snipe were on Pol.   Siskin 1 SE.
ACP Gull Roost was really slow to get going this afternoon.    A 1st W Caspian Gull flew in at 16.55hrs - until dark.  The usual Yellow-legged Gull came in at 17.20hrs.

1st W Caspo   record shot                         ASmith