Wintersett 05.05.17

7 - 11 degrees with decreasing cloud to 3/8, sun but a cold strong north to north easterly wind.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 2.  Curlew 1.  Yellow Wagtail 1 male.  Wigeon 1 pair.  Canada Goose  brood of 6.  A Grasshopper Warbler was reeling in the back field.
Wintersett Res: Cuckoo 1 singing.  Sedge Warbler 3 m north east bank.   Swift 100 and Cetti's Warbler 6 males.
Here's a couple of photos from Wintersett  yesterday - per Chris Swaine

                                 Whitethroat                                     CSwaine

Sedge  Warbler                            CSwaine

The Edge 04/ 05/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 4 Mute Swan, 23 +6y Greylag, 22 Canada Geese, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 4 Shelduck, 27 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 15 Mallard, 5 Wigeon, 4 Shoveler, 11 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Kestrel, 8 Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Little Ringed Plover, 36 BH Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 Mistle Thrush and 3 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 14 Canada Geese, 4 Greylag, 10 Tufted Duck, 7 Gadwall, 6 Pochard, 3 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 15 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 7 Lapwing, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 13 Herring Gull and 3 LBB Gull.
TPT - Singing males included 8 Willow Warbler,7 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap and 1 Lesser Whitethroat. Also 1 Buzzard.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 5 Greylag, 3 Canada Geese, 11 Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard, 4 Gadwall, 2 Mallard, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe,37 Coot , c300 BH Gull and 1 LBB Gull. Also present were 2 Kingfisher, 1 reeling Grasshopper Warbler  and three singing Whitethroat.

Wintersett 04.05.17

5 - 14 degrees with 4/8 decreasing cloud,  sunny in afternoon with a cooling strong north easterly wind.
Anglers CP:  Black-necked Grebe 2 diving frequently, so can be elusive.  .  Common Tern 7.  A Peregrine flew over at 12.20hrs.
Moorhouse Lane Pond:  Lesser Whitethroat 1 male.
Wintersett Res:  A drake Common Scoter was new in today.   Cuckoo 1 male singing all around. Cetti's Warbler 6 males.  Redpoll 1 over.  A Grasshopper Warbler  flushed again west bank. 
Lepidoptera:  A Large White butterfly was on the north west bank.

Carlton Marsh

Jim Plant was on the early turn today, which saw the arrival of our first Garden Warbler. Also present 2 LRP, 2 Redshank, Little Egret, 2 Willow Tit and Cuckoo.

This afternoon Buzzard, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and c40 House Martins feeding over the marsh, held back by the N. Easterly. None have returned to the local housing estates yet, so these are expected to keep going.

Broomhill Flash Bar-tailed Godwits 03.05.17

Ron Marshall's been at Broomhill Flash.  Beautiful plumage!

Wintersett 03.05.17

6 - 12 degrees with 6/8 cloud and a fresh north easterly.
Anglers CP: Common Tern 4.  Arctic Tern 6.   Black-necked Grebe 2.  Canada Goose 4 pairs + 1st young.  Wigeon 4m + 1f.. Mallard  6 small + 7 very small young.
Wintersett Res: Cuckoo 1 singing all around.  Sedge Warbler 8 singing males.  Grasshopper Warbler 1 flushed west bank.  Willow Tit 1 ruin area.  
Haw Park Wood: Redpoll 2. 

Midhope area today

In Cliffe Wood a very obliging male Pied Flycatcher along with a female.  Also male Redstart.
Along at junction of Gilroyd Lane and Mortimer Road I had a Pipit which I thought looked like a Tree Pipit but the hind claw tells me it is more likely a Mipit.

The Edge 03/05/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 1 Mute Swan, 22 Canada Geese, 12+6y Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 3 Shelduck, 33 Gadwall, 23 Tufted Duck, 14 Mallard, 4 Wigeon, 3 Shoveler, 1 Grey Heron, 7 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 1 Buzzard, 8+ Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 3 Redshank, 2 Dunlin, 2 Common Sandpiper, 1 Bar Tailed Godwit, 28 BH Gull, 2 Swift, 8 Skylark, 1 White Wagtail, 1 Yellow Wagtail and 2 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Present were 2 Mute Swan, 28 Canada Geese, 2 Greylag, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Pochard, 7 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 2 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 15 Coot, 2 Buzzard, 1 Peregrine through 10.25am, 9 Lapwing, 1 Snipe, 13+ Herring Gull, 2 LBB Gull, 2 Swift  and 3 Mistle Thrush.
TPT - Singing males included 11 Willow Warbler, 8 Chiffchaff, 5 Blackcap, 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 1 Song Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 6 Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, 17 Tufted Duck, 13 Pochard, 9 Mallard, 7 Gadwall, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 39+1y Coot, 300+ BH Gull, 1 Herring Gull, 1 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 1 Buzzard, 1 Kestrel, 1 Kingfisher, 4 Whitethroat, 1 Sedge Warbler and 1 Cetti's Warbler.

Scout Dyke Res

Garden Warbler 1 singing, Blackcap 1, Whitethroat 2, Willow Warbler 4, Chiffchaff 2, Yellowhammer 2 singing males, Curlew 1

Carlton Marsh

A Yellow Wagtail on the Wader Scrape at 06.45hrs left north at 0.700hrs. Also here LRP, Redshank, a pair of Greylags with 6 goslings and Lesser Whitethroat. A Cuckoo was singing first thing along with 12 Blackcaps, 7 Reed Warblers and 5 Sedge Warblers.

This afternoon 2 Peregrines were seen together nearby (Dave Smith) and 4 Swifts arrived, our first. (Dave Standish)

South Kirkby Tip

Wheatear, Cuckoo and Green Woodpecker. Butterflies included Dingy Skipper. (Les Corrall/R. Hibbert

Wintersett 02.05.17

5 - 12 degrees with 8/8 cloud this morning and a light north easterly. Sunny spells this afternoon.
Anglers CP:  Black Tern 1.  Arctic Tern 1.  Common Tern 2.   Black-necked Grebe 2 still present.  Little Ringed Plover 1.   Redpoll 1 north + 4 flew south west.  Cormorant 2.   Wigeon 1 pair.   Mallard Ducklings  6 small and 9 very small.
Wintersett Res: Yellow Wagtail 1 north  bank + 2 went north.    Sedge Warbler 7 males in the area. Curlew 1 north + 2 ACP.    Cetti's Warbler 6 singing males.   Tufted Duck 55.  Willow Tit 1 east bank.
Cold Hiendley Res: A Cuckoo was singing on CHRes and then moved  onto WRes.
Additional Information received for Saturday 29th April.  A Party of 2 Dunlin and a LITTLE  STINT flew into ACP shallows at 16.00hrs, landed briefly and the flew off south per Steve Peel.

The Edge 02/05/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 16+6y Greylag, 6 Canada Geese, 3 Shelduck, 34 Gadwall, 15 Tufted Duck, 12 Mallard, 6 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon, 4 Teal, 11 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 6+ Lapwing, 6 Avocet, 3 Redshank, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 2 Oystercatcher, 17 BH Gull, 4+ Skylark and 5 Linnet.
Broomhill Flash - Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 8 Canada Geese, 6 Greylag, 12 Tufted Duck, 9 Gadwall, 8 Mallard, 7 Pochard, 2 Shoveler, 1 Teal, 1 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 3 Red Legged Partridge, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Little Grebe, 16 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 7 Lapwing,  4 Avocet, 2 Oystercatcher, 3 Herring Gull, 60+ Swift and 3 Mistle Thrush.
TPT - Singing males  10 Willow Warbler, 9 Chiffchaff, 6 Blackcap and 2 Lesser Whitethroat ( one either side of Old Moor RSPB entrance ). Also 3 Bullfinch.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 10 Greylag, 2 Canada Geese, 14 Tufted Duck, 6 Gadwall, 4 Mallard, 4 Pochard, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 39 Coot and 320+ BH Gull. Also present were 2 Kestrel, 1 LBB Gull, 3 Whitethroat, 2 reeling Grasshopper Warbler and 1 Sedge Warbler.

Carlton Marsh

Today's birds were LRP 2, Redshank 2, Buzzard 2 and a single Redpoll. Warblers included Lesser Whitethroat 2, Whitethroat 4, Sedge Warbler 3, Reed Warbler 7 and Cuckoo all singing. (CG/Jim Plant)

Butterflies included our first Dingy Skipper and Small Copper of the year. (Chris Parkin)

Wintersett 01.05.16

4 - 14 degrees with 8/8 cloud and a perishing north easterly this morning,  Cloud broke up and wind turned to south easterly late morning, then warm and sunny afternoon.
Anglers CP:  2 Black-necked Grebe in summer plumage were new in.  Common Tern 14,  Arctic Tern 5.  The immature male Long-tailed Duck still present.  A Turnstone on the shallows was joined by 3 more at 10.55hrs.  Common Sandpiper 2.  Little Ringed Plover 2.  Yellow Wagtail 3 over + 1 north bank WRes. + 4 CH Sewage Farm.  Goldeneye 1 immature male + 1 female.  Wigeon 1 pair.  Teal 1 male. Shoveler 1 male.  A Hobby flew east.  Curlew 2.  Dunlin 1 + 3 south at 11.18hrs.  Lesser Whitethroat 1 male.
Going north:  2 Shelduck at 10.50hrs.   11 Great Black-backed Gulls.  6 Herring Gulls.  3 Redpoll.  and a Whimbrel at 11.35hrs.
Cold Hiendley SF: Grey Wagtail 1.
Wintersett Res:  60 Swift were over.
Lepidoptera West bank WRes:  Orange-tip  25,  Speckled Wood 4,  Brimstone 1,  Green-veined White 2 and Small White 3.  per Carlton Dream Team.

Low Moor 1/5/17, D Simmonite S Green.

Cold at times when the sun went in but good light. Seen were 20+ Crossbills with an adult male feeding a juv with pine cone. Raptors were 1 pair of Merlin, Peregrine at least 3 times, Buzzard 7+, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 4. Also, Raven 5, Snipe 4, Oystercatcher 5, Golden Plover 1, Yellow Wagtail 1 down, Redpoll 1, Greylag goslings 24+, 2 Roe Deer.

The Edge 01/05/2017

Wombwell Ings - Present were 7+6y Greylag, 4 Canada Geese, 2 Shelduck, 36 Gadwall, 17 Tufted Duck, 16 Mallard, 4 Teal, 2 Wigeon, 2 Shoveler, 1 female Pintail, 11 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 6+ Lapwing,  3 Redshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 2 Avocet, 2 Dunlin, 2 Little Ringed Plover, 18 BH Gull, 1 Common Tern, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 4+ Skylark, 2 Rook and 5 Linnet.
Warbler Way - Singing males included 22 Chiffchaff, 14 Willow Warbler, 8 Blackcap, 6 Whitethroat, 3 Sedge Warbler, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Song Thrush and 1 Mistle Thrush.
Bolton Ings - On the open water were 1 Mute Swan, 15 Greylag, 7 Canada Geese, 31 Tufted Duck, 11 Pochard, 8 Mallard, 6 Gadwall, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Little Grebe, 41+ 3y Coot, 260+ BH Gull, 2 LBB Gull and 1 Common Gull. Also present were 4 Cormorant, 1 Buzzard, 1 Willow Tit and 3 Bullfinch.
Broomhill Flash - Highlight was the two Black Tern which left when the weather improved about 12.30pm. Noted were 2 Mute Swan, 26 Canada Geese, 13 Greylag, 1 Pink Footed Goose, 22 Gadwall, 16 Tufted Duck, 8 Mallard, 7 Pochard, 2 Teal, 1 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon, 6 Little Grebe, 2 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Red Legged Partridge, 1 Cormorant, 1 Peregrine over 1pm, 16 Coot, 2 Moorhen, 5+ Lapwing , 2 Snipe and 4 Herring Gull. Seen earlier in the morning were 2 Turnstone, 2 Oystercatcher and 1 Greenshank.

Wintersett Another EPIC VIS.MIG DAY 30.04.17

5 - 13 degrees with 7/8 cloud and a light to moderate south easterly to easterly wind.  A very promising weather system that delivered much more than we hoped.
Wintersett ResVis. Mig.  
 06.30hrs A Yellow Wagtail was on the north bank  + 1 flew over ACP 
 06.35hrs A Black Tern in summer plumage and 3 Common Tern were in  and a Dunlin flew north
Wintersett Res:  5 male Cetti's Warblers and 6 male Sedge Warblers were singing.  A male Wheatear was in the SW corner.
Botany Bay Area:  A Cuckoo was calling from 08.00hrs to late morning.
Anglers CP  Vis. Mig. 06.20 hrs - 18.30hrs
06.40hrs  3 more  Black Tern came in and  all 4 left east at 07.08hrs,
07.03hrs  5  Black Tern flew south from ACP to WRes. Then left east at 07.08hrs. 
07.20hrs  3 Dunlin and a Sanderling flew east.
07.45hrs 2 Bar-tailed Godwit flew in. They left north at 13.45hrs.  
07.55hrs 2 Black Tern came in.
08.00hrs 2 pair of Pintail flew in and stayed for the day. 
An Arctic Tern  flew in  and 17 Common Tern were counted.
09..07  A Red Kite drifted over east and the same bird was seen over Haw Park Wood at 14.15hrs.  It was then seen flying from HPWood to ACP fields at 14.55hrs.
10.15hrs A Cream Crowned Marsh Harrier flew through.
11.05hrs 9 Black Tern seen at 09,45hrs on WRes flew in and around until late afternoon at least. 
13.13hrs 1 Turnstone+ 2 Dunlin over.
13.30hrs  An Avocet flew in to shallows then left south at 13.40hrs.
18:30   11 Black Terns  still present.
Anglers CP:
The immature male Long-tailed Duck was on WRes. first thing,  but then flew to ACP,  diving around the lake, associating with a female Goldeneye.   A Dunlin and 2 Common Sandpipers were around the shallows.  Little Ringed Plover 2 A pair of Wigeon and 2 Goldeneye (Imm Male +1  female)still present.  Teal 1 male. Curlew 3. Mallard 6 vs young.   3 Hobby over.   Mandarin Duck 1 m.  Redpoll 15.
 I think you'll agree that today was an epic day at Wintersett.  We had 20 Common Tern,  20 Black Tern ,  10 species of wader, 6 species of raptor. 5 were new birds for the year list:- Black Tern  Bartailed Godwit , Turnstone, Mandarin and Little Stint.
Additional information received 02.05.17  for Saturday 29th April.  A Party of 2 Dunlin and a Little Stint  flew into ACP shallows at 16.00hrs, landed briefly and the flew off south per Steve Peel.  Numbers have been adjusted accordingly.
Here are a few pics of  migrants taken by Chris Swaine

                          Bar-tailed Godwit   ACP                        CSwaine

                                          Black Tern        ACP                CSwaine

                                    Pintail                    ACP     CSwaine

In April we added 33 new birds to the Wintersett  year list, bringing the year to date total to 147.

Carlton Marsh

An early start produced our first Oystercatcher of the year, but it was chased off by Lapwings 5 minutes  later. Also present 2 LRP, 2 Redshank, 2 Buzzard, Peregrine, Sedge Warbler and 4 singing Whitethroats. A pair of Greylags had 2 goslings.

Photos by Richard Laverack

Hordron 30/4/17. +.

Upper Hordron barn and return. Cold and windy and shelter taken at the barn on the west gable. Another enjoyable afternoons birding here with male Merlin hunting close a few times and seen down twice. Also, - cc Marsh Harrier went e. towards mickleden, Buzzard 5, Kestrel 2, Raven total 7 includes a kettle of 6, Ring Ouzel 9, Wheatear 3, Crossbill 4 in the first plantation at the stream were still there on return with some cracking views of Siskins here. Golden Plover 1 over calling, chipping Snipe 1 barmings area and 4+ Stock Dove. Late Friday at Wilthorpe Marsh a very small area of dry mud had 1 pair of LRPs, breeding Lapwing and 2 calling Rails. Tarn center Pied Wagtail roost down to 25 with 100ish on the previous Friday opposite the No 7 pub.

Wintersett - Boathouse Reeds Cetti's Warbler 30.04.17

Many thanks to Gerry McShane for these fantastic shots of the male Cetti's Warbler  around the boathouse bench area Wintersett Res..