Monday, 28 September 2020

28/9/20 Ewden Height vismig + Merlin chase

A watch before work 7.05 to 8.40 on a fine crisp Autumnal morning. 

A group of 7 Redwing were calling upon arrival and remained local during the watch. A Merlin chased a passing Skylark which managed to escape. It was interesting to hear the larks alarm call which alerted other birds including a group of 4 House Martin’s which I hadn’t previously picked up.

A Yellow Wagtail type passed over with some Mipits but didn’t call so it would have to go down as a maybe.

Locally, a family party of 5 Stonechats fed and there was a mixed finch group to include 4 Greenfinch and 7 Goldfinch. 3 Ravens passed locally west.

Moving south - 135 Meadow Pipit, 19 Chaffinch, 11 Pied Wagtail, 5 Crossbill, 7 Linnet, 4 House Martin, 5 Skylark, 2 Song Thrush, 3 Starling, 1 Siskin.

Sunday, 27 September 2020

Wintersett + Vis.Mig. 27.09.20

 7 - 14 degrees with sun,  light cloud and a moderate north westerly breeze.

Wintersett Res.Vis.Mig.:  

Going west: 211 Redwing - the first of this autumn!  Snipe 5.

Going south east: Pink-footed Goose 70

Going south: Cormorant 4.  Common Buzzard 2.  

Anglers CP: Black-necked Grebe 2 + 1 WRes.

Wintersett Res: 3 Swifts were over and around the area. House Martin 2.  Chiffchaff 2 + 1 ACP.  Goldenye 4 females.  

Willow Wood Field: 55 alba Wagtails - all appeared to be Pied per GJS + PS.    This evening SD counted  75 Alba Wagtails and 60 Linnet here and  40 Meadow Pipits grounded in Cold Hiendley/Clump field

Insect: A European Hornet, Vespa Crabro, was seen on Haw Park Lane. 

 

Carlton Marsh

This morning 2 Snipe, White Wagtail on tilled field, 23 Shoveler, 2 adult Common Gull (wader scrape), 4 Grey Partridge, Cormorant north, Grey Wagtail over, 5 Chiffchaff, (1 singing), 3 Coal Tit, Treecreeper and male and female Blackcap feeding on Blackberries. (JP/D. Standish/M. Weir/CG)

A Swallow at dusk probably roosted. (Dave Standish)

Low Moor/ Midhope 27/9/20 . J Wasse, S Green.

Dry with very good light and again very steady birding. Raptors, - Red Kite 1, Merlin 1, Sparrowhawk 1, C Buzzard 8, Kestrel 4. Plus, Raven 7, Crossbill total 18, Redwing 18, Swallow 15. Meadow Pipit c 46 s, Skylark 2 s, Goldfinch flock c 50, Linnet 10, Siskin 4, Redpoll 3.

Saturday, 26 September 2020

Wintersett + VisMig - It's been quite a day!! 26.09.20

A much cooler, 10 degrees with varying cloud and a cool northerly breeze.

Anglers CP: Black-necked Grebe 3.  Chiffchaff 4 + 8WRes.  Swallow 7 around + 15 south. House Martin 12.  Redshank 1.  

Wintersett Res.:  A flock of 70 alba wagtails were in the field by the Willow Woodleast , 10 of which were White Wagtails,  brought in by the strong northerly winds from Iceland.    Little Grebe 13 WRes. + 4 ACP.  A Reed Warbler was in the boathouse reeds.  Cetti's Warbler 3 males - northbank, Botany Bay and north east corner.  Kingfisher 1.  Goldeneye 4 females.  Swift 3.  2 Willow Tit on west bank.   

Cold Hiendley Res and VisMig: An Avocet flew in and landed on Cold Hiendley Res.at 14.10hrs and then flew onto Wintersett Res and landed on water in the north west corner, before flying off northwards at 14.15hrs.   4 adult Whooper Swans flew into CHRes.  at 12.45hrs. where they remained until 16.20hrs, when they left eastwards.  150 Skylarks and 150 Meadow Pipits were in the fields.  Blackcap 1 m + 1 f. 

 Wintersett Res and VisMig:  110 Pink-footed Geese flew north west at 14.55hrs.  5 Barnacle Geese  flew north over Cold Hiendley village at 16.02hrs..  Another single Barnacle Goose came in from the north, calling at 17.35hrs, circled the Res. until 17.43hrs, then also left north. These will be wild birds, moving from Svalbard to Caerlaverock in SW Scotland, where they winter.  Our birds tie in with many others reported flying north along the Yorkshire coast, that are re-locating,  after being forced southwards by the gale force northerly winds, in the north sea.   A Rock Pipit flew  south.   A Crossbill flew west.  9 Snipe  and a Golden Plover went west.    15 Swallow south.  Redshank 1. Meadow Pipits 68

Lepidoptera WRes: 2 Red Admiral - Willow Wood and north east corner.  3 Speckled Wood in Willow Wood and a Small White on west bank.   

Insect:  A European Hornet- Vespa crabro was in the boathouse reeds.  


Carlton Marsh

Yesterday 25/9/20 An influx of duck saw 95 Gadwall and 24 Shoveler. A Yellow Wagtail, c70 Meadow Pipits and 10 Skylarks were on a field nearby. (JP)

Today Saturday 26/9/20
This morning 24 Shovelers, c100 BH Gulls, 14 Lapwings, 1 Kingfisher, 1 LBB Gull, 4 Siskin, 2 Chiffchaffs and a male Stonechat at the back of the wader scrape. (JP)

Despite the cold temperatures 1 Red Admiral, 3 Comma, 2 Speckled Wood and 4 Small Copper managed to emerge when the sun briefly shone. (C. Parkin)

This evening Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and 2 Swallows. (JP)

Friday, 25 September 2020

Wintersett + VisMig. 25.09.20

 10 - 15 degrees with varying cloud and a strong, northerly wind, with  gusts of30+ mph!

Anglers CP Visible Migration: per   @grayspeight   Some good migration, in strong northerly winds, this morning - Whooper Swan 5 (2,3).   Pink footed Goose 635,  in 15 skeins,  all heading south-east. 

Anglers CP: 3 Black-necked Grebes still present.  Little Grebe 4.  

Wintersett Res: Pochard 105.  A juvenile Hobby was catching dragonflies over the boathouse reeds this afternoon.  Chiffchaff 1.

Botany Bay: per  @StevieD131   A Hobby and a Peregrine flew over this morning. 

 

Thursday, 24 September 2020

Carlton Marsh

Today 2 Little Egrets, 4 Mute Swans, 8 Shovelers, 4 Siskins, 2 Coal Tits, 10 Meadow Pipits on the fields, with 4 Grey Partridges and 4 Mistle Thrushes. 3 Swallows were seen this evening. (JP/K. Bannister/D. Standish)

Wintersett + Vis.Mig. 24.09.20

 6 - 14 degrees, cooler today,  with 6/8 cloud and a light northerly.

Anglers CP Vis.Mig.  06.45hrs - 13.15hrs: per  @grayspeight

Going south: Pink-footed Goose 1. Dunlin 2.  Meadow Pipit 2120.  Swallow 43.  House Martin 19.  Alba Wagtail  22.  Grey Wagtail 1.  Siskin 64.   

Anglers CP:  Black-necked Grebe 3.  Lapwing 230. per  @grayspeight

Wintersett Res:

 Mediterranean Gull 1 adult.  25 Linnets in ruin field   Tawny Owl 1 female.  per @Croftonbirder

Goldeneye 4.  Water Rail 4.  Peregrine 1.  Hobby 1.  Reed Warbler 1. Willow Tit 1.  per @grayspeight

Wintersett Res. Gull Roost.  A 1stW Mediterranean Gull was in  tonight.  per @StevieD131

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Wintersett 23.09.20

 9 - 13 degrees, cool,  with  8/8 cloud,  steady rain  from 09.00hrs until late afternoon,  and a light north westerly.

Anglers CP:  Black-necked Grebe 3 juveniles. .  Little Grebe 3.  Grey Wagtail 2.  Stock Dove 1. 

                                       Black-necked Grebe juveniles  Anglers CP  23.09.20  ASmith

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Carlton Marsh

 A Wheatear was on a ploughed field this morning. On the wader scrape 6 Shoveler, 6 LBB Gull and 3 Herring Gull. Coal Tit, 10 Siskin and a Water Rail were also present. (JP)

Littleworth Park-Monk Bretton
1 Meadow Brown, 1 Small Heath, 1 Common Blue, 3 Small Copper and 13 Speckled Wood. With the weather turning cooler and wetter, it might be the last time we see some these butterflies this year.
(Chris Parkin)


Wintersett + Spitfire 22.09.20

 14 - 20 degrees,  hot and sunny with a light, south westerly breeze.

Anglers CP:  A Little Egret flew south at 07.08hrs .  Black-necked Grebes 3.   Little Grebe 3.  Snipe 1.

Insect:  2 European Hornets still around ivy on Stubbs Wall, Haw Park Wood.   

At 11.38hrs the NHS Spitfire flew overhead VisMig Hill, Anglers CP, then shortly after over Steve Denny's garden (see photo),  circled twice over Pinderfields Hospital, then left north. 

 
NHS Spitfire      SDenny   22.09.20

 


Monday, 21 September 2020

Carlton Marsh

c10 LBB Gull, Little Egret, a mixed flock Linnet and Meadow Pipits, Buzzard, Kestrel and a Yellow Wagtail. (JP/K. Bannister)

Storrs Mill to Ardsley Viaduct
Green Woodpecker and 2 Buzzards. Butterflies included 3 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 1 S. Tortoiseshell, 6 Small Copper, 16 Speckled Wood and 1 Common Blue. No Commas reflects what a poor year they are having. The footbridge over the Dearne under the viaduct has been damaged and pushed into the river. (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett + Gull Roost 21.09.20

 14 - 19 degrees, warm, with sun and a light south westerly.

 Very quiet here today.

Wintersett Gull Roost: A 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was in with 2 Yellow-legged Gulls. . 

Wintersett Res: Goosander 1 redhead.  Little Grebe 5 + 3 CHRes.. 

Lepidoptera: Comma 2 + 1 Large White Pits Wood Ivy.    10 + Large White on west bank WRes..

Sunday, 20 September 2020

Carlton Marsh

Today's sightings included 6 LBB Gulls, 6 Shovelers, 3 Kingfishers, 1 Golden Plover south. On the fields, 30 Goldfinches, c100 Linnets, 30 Alba Wagtails, c50 Meadow Pipits and 1 Yellow Wagtail, our first this year! (JP)

Ewden valley 20/9/20.

Good conditions but very steady birding. Peregrine 3 probably 4, Sparrowhawk 1 pair, C Buzzard c 5, Kestrel 6. Raven 5, Stonechat 3, Redpoll 1, Siskin 1. Good for Linnets with a total of around 300 includes a flock of c 200. Meadow Pipit 75 s. + a pair of Skylarks.

Wintersett + VisMig 20.09.20

 11 - 18 degrees, sunny with 2/8 cloud and a light east north easterly.

Anglers CP:  An adult Common Crane  drifted slowly north east over Moorhouse Lane Ponds, to the east side of ACP at 07.40hrs  (PMeredith).  Black-necked Grebe 3 juveniles. An immature Great Blackbacked Gull  flew north.  A Mediterranean Gull flew south west at 10.35hrs.  Lapwing 250.  Snipe 1 over.  Reed Warbler 2 east bank. 

Wintersett Res: Pochard 107 + 16 ACP.  Goldeneye 4 females.  

Common Crane going north over Edderthorpe Flash    07.08hrs  20.09.20   ASmith

Saturday, 19 September 2020

Carlton Marsh

A Common Crane was calling over fields on rising ground near the reserve at 07.20hrs, our second record and the first since 1993! Also adult Yellow-legged Gull and 2 Buzzards grubbing about on the ploughed field. A Golden Plover flew north and a Redshank south. 20 Skylarks and 10 Meadow Pipits were also of note. (JP)

Butterflies included 10 Small Copper, the largest count so far this year. 6 Comma, 8 Red Admiral, 21 Speckled Wood, 5 Small White, 27 White sp. (Green Veined or Small White) and a Lesser Treble Bar Moth. (Chris Parkin) 

Wintersett 19.09.20

 12 - 17 degrees with 6/8 cloud and a cool north easterly. 

Anglers CP: Black-necked Grebe 2.  Peregrine 1.  House Martin 25. 

Wintersett Res: Cetti's Warbler 4 singing males. A Curlew Sandpiper flew over at 16.15 hrs, then flew off high south at 16.18hrs.  

Lepidoptera: Speckled Wood,  Green-veined White and Small White - all WRes..

Wintersett WeBS count for September 2020.

Great Crested Grebe 49.   Black-necked Grebe 2.   Little Grebe 7.  Coot 771.  Moorhen 22.  Mute Swan 50.  Canada Goose 8.  Greylag Goose 25.  Mallard 72.  Teal 26.  Gadwall 376 (record count).  Wigeon 116.  Shoveler 30.  Tufted Duck 328.  Pochard 80.  Goldeneye 4.  Cormorant 22.  Grey Heron 3.  Lapwing 61.