Edderthorpe 9th.May
1st.Mallard juvs.8@ south end, 5 Whimbrel north, still 8 Lapwing juvs. loads of Swift, 1 avocet on Houghton wash.

Edderthorpe Flash, early morning

Little of note this morning;- Great Crested Grebe 1, Shelduck 2, Shoveler 5, Pochard 3, Avocet 1, LRP 2, Common Tern 2.

Carlton Marsh

Grasshopper Warbler 'reeling', Cuckoo singing and our first Dingy Skipper butterfly of the year (J. Coldwell)
This evening 2 Wheatear & Brown Hare.

Old Moor update

Glyn Hudson sent us these two stunning photos of a Bittern taken at the Reedbeds at about 3pm today. Both Med' Gulls were still present tonight but Bittern apart, nothing different.

Meanwhile, a Whimbrel was at Edderthorpe Flash this afternoon.

Bittern, Old Moor - Glyn Hudson

Bittern, Old Moor - Glyn Hudson

Moors 6-5-12

Ewden valley. fem. ring ouzel flushed near shooting lodge. No sign of any whinchats or raptors.

Belgian Delight- Wintersett 08.05.12

The highlights of a generally quiet day were: A Belgian ringed Sedge Warbler was caught and a Grasshopper Warbler was ringed at Wintersett Res.   The first nestling Tree Sparrows were ringed from the nest boxes at Anglers CP (see below - Tiny cutie.).  A late Fieldfare flew east at 06.30hrs.
Wintersett Res - Common Tern 4,  Arctic Tern 2, Shelduck 3 flew east at 09.20 and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
Anglers CP - Dunlin 2
 

LITTLE DON VALLEY.  Buzzard 1, Common Sandpiper 5 (3 Langsett res 3, Little Don Valley 2), Curlew 4, Redstart 2 males singing, Ring Ouzel 1 male, Cuckoo 1, Stonechat 2,  male and female, Dipper 1, Grey Wagtail 2, Mistle Thrush 7.

Will they or won't they

A Fieldfare was singing at Delmont Grange (Dog & Partridge) this morning - strange enough for early May - but a second bird was on the wall nearby.
Elsewhere:-
Langsett Banks - 2 singing Redstarts, 2 singing Whitethroats (unusual) and 3 singing Garden Warblers.
Langsett Reservoir - at least three pairs Common Sandpipers.
Langsett - 1 Spotted Flycatcher near the car park.
Upper Midhope - 1 singing Tree Pipit.
Midhope Reservoir - a pair of Greylag Geese + 5 goslings, a pair of Little Grebes, a pair of Common Sandpipers and 1 tatty Common Buzzard.
Midhopestones - a pair Grey Partridges, 1 sitting Oystercatcher and 17 Curlews.

A fairly quiet morning at Old Moor. Two Med' Gulls were still around (ad + 2 cy). Few waders so far (apart from breeders) although there was a Common Sand but no sign of the Wood Sand. A Common Buzzard passed through mid-morning when the semi-resident Little Gull  popped into Broomhill Flash briefly.

This Common Buzzard was over Old Moor for a while this morning before being escorted off by Black-headed Gulls - John Hewitt

Meanwhile, at least two Wheatears were present at Adwick Wash.

Wheatear - Jim Thompson. One of the 11 present in the Old Moor area on 30th April

Ewden

Awoke to clear skies after overnight rain so decided to head to the uplands and see how the Black Grouse are doing. Arrived at Ewden at dawn (05.30) and walk out onto the moor;- eventually found 3 single Black Grouse, well spaced-out and lekking with themselves (know the feeling), but not seeming to want to interact with each other and no calls were heard, unlike in previous years when they are very vocal. Lots of Curlew, chipping Snipe and a couple of Cuckoos made for a enjoyable morning (until work summoned).

upland wheatears and a garden visitor

Wheatears – 3 around Harden hamlet. Might be some Greenlanders soon given weather. LRP in an unlikely looking breeding site. Black-headed Gulls – down to a pair on Harden, sev on Winscar.

Common sand dropped out of sky about 4pm attracted to garden pond. Landed on driveway but flushed into n'bour’s garden by a car where it fed on drive, photographed by my wife. First of the year, as I’ve not been around much last 2 weeks. Nice of it to call in.

Bolton Ings - 7th May

Paid an early morning visit to Bolton Ings for the first time since 15th April, weather was good, blue skies no rain but still only 6c. Highlights were Wheatear at western end, 21 Pochard including 6 females and my first Grasshopper Warbler, Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat of the year. Not many young birds about but did see Canada Goose, Grey Lag Goose and Coot young. Still 3 pairs of Oystercatchers present, a pair of Common Terns on the island where they nested last year and 833 Black Headed Gulls counted, over 100 less than last visit although all these seem to be nesting now. Full list as follows:- Mute Swan 4, Canada Goose 23 (broods of 2 and 4), Grey Lag Goose 14 (broods of 2 and 3), Great Crested Grebe 3, Little Grebe 8, Mallard 12, Gadwall 18, Tufted Duck 44, Pochard 21 (15 males, 6 females), Coot 60 (broods of 2, 2, 2, 1 and 1), Moorhen 4, Buzzard 1, Kestrel 2, Lapwing 12, Oystercatcher 6, Black Headed Gull 833, Common Gull 1, LBB Gull 6, Common Tern 2, Wheatear 1, Willow Warbler 13, Blackcap 10, Chiffchaff 10, Whitethroat 6, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1, Sedge Warbler 2, Reed Warbler 1. Had a brief visit to Old Moor after and had great views of the newly arrived adult Med Gull from the mere hide.

Bathing Beauties at Wintersett 07.05.12

44 Arctic Terns dropped in to freshen up before continuing their pole to pole migration.
(Paul Meredith)

evening update

Old Moor - Wood Sand still + 2 Ringed Plovers, 2 Med' Gulls (adult + 2 cy).

The Little Gull (2 cy) visited Broomhill Flash again this afternoon.

This Little Gull photographed at Broomhill Flash this afternoon has been touring the Dearne Valley since at least 25th April. All photographs - John Hewitt

Carlton Marsh

This morning Yellow Wagtail 1 north (G. Miller) 2 Wheatear still present (J. Plant)

Edderthorpe early morning

Goosander 1, Pochard 1, Ringed Plover 1. On Houghton Wash;- Avocet 1, LRP 1, Little Gull 1 first-summer, Wheatear 1.

And even more Arctic Terns

At Wintersett;- a flock of 44 Arctic Terns dropped onto the Country Park lake at 14.15 during a light shower and bathed and fed for 30 minutes before heading off high to the north-east. Also 6 Common Terns are present, 2 Common Sands, 2 Hobbies over the Country Park in the morning and 550 Swifts were feeding over the area.

Ingbirchworth reservoirs

Broadstones Reservoir - a pair of Oystercatchers, 2 Wheatears and 1 Whinchat.
Royd Moor Reservoir - 1 drake Goldeneye, 1 adult Cormorant and 1 Great Crested Grebe.
Scout Dike Reservoir - c50 House Martins and 1 Lesser Whitethroat.

No sign of the Bar-tailed Godwit at Whitley Edge.

May Day, Mid Day

Old Moor this morning = Ringed Plover 1, LRP 1, Wood Sand 1 (early am), Dunlin 1 Med Gull adult (new in), Yellow Wag 1, Grasshopper Warbler 1 (by Mere Hide), Reed Warbler 2.

Wombwell Ings = Avocet 1, Yellow Wag 2, Garden Warbler 1 (Broomhill Park).

Broomhill Flash = Common Tern 2.

Bolton Ings = Pochard 21, Wheatear 1.

Houghton Wash = Little Gull (2 cy).

Male Yellow Wagtail in front of the Mere Hide this morning - John Hewitt

Carlton Marsh

4 Buzzards drifting south at 15.55 and 1 north at 16.20. Also Garden Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and Grasshopper Warbler reeling