Old Moor & Dearne Valley

Photo: Spoonbill

Bridgeman — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:05:00 GMT

A bit of a distant shot I'm afraid (where's a 500mm lens when you need one?!) but at least it was awake! At Wombwell Ings this afternoon.

Photo: Pink-foot

Bridgeman — Sun, 19 May 2013 17:01:00 GMT

Again, at Wombwell Ings this afternoon with a bunch of greylags.

Photo: Lapwing & chicks

Bridgeman — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:59:00 GMT

At Wombwell Ings this afternoon. Gorgeous little balls of fluff. Unfortunately a bit far off to get a really nice shot.

Blog post: Sunday...and again!

Nicola_volunteer — Sun, 19 May 2013 16:51:00 GMT

Well, was at OM this aft and sightings book gave me a telling off for not taking it's photo yesterday... so how could I resist?

Here it is in all it's glory! :)

First half of the page!

...and the 2nd bit......

...and a photo from me, bit chuffed to get a photo of a sedge warbler from Wath Ings :)

...and an orange tip butterfly in the ponds area :)

Hope you had a fab Sunday... see you next weekend :)

Blog post: Saturday Sightings....sort of :)

Nicola_volunteer — Sun, 19 May 2013 06:44:00 GMT

The 'sort of' in the title means that I completely forgot to take a photo of the sightings book as I normally do....so, it's from memory!

The first thing I heard as I got out of my car was the bittern booming! Paul P was on bittern watch yesterday and took this fab photo. Thanks Paul :)

In the Garden Hide I saw.... a robin, male and female bullfinches, chaffinches, m/f mallards, a male pheasant and pair of great tits chasing each other around near the hide....

John Frost took this photo of a robin. Thanks John :)

I heard....lots of noise in the bushes and boxes around the Tree Sparrow Farm....chicks to be fed!

As I was on the way down the path to the Family Hide I got chatting as you do, then a pager went off, little gull just in front of the Family Hide...guess where I went next!

Little gulls are very cute, no doubt at all. It had landed in the mud so close to the hide, it flew around, came back, stayed for a bit and then flew off again. Here are a couple of photos I took.

Also from the Family Hide I saw a redshank, black headed gulls, a moorhen and a little rabbit ...

Just outside the Family Hide there was a male blackcap flying back and forth giving an alarm call, we couldn't work out why.

From the first Field Pool hide I saw 2 chaffinches, many sand martins zooming over the water, a great crested grebe, a little grebe and 2 Canada Geese.

Here's a photo of the great crested grebe, beautiful birds :)

The Canada Geese were comical to watch, they kept flying at each other...this one seemed to nearly land on top of the other...much squawking and splashing!

On the way down to the Wader Scrape the bog bean is flowering, the gorse is very fragrant and there was a sedge warbler singing. There were also many swifts, martins and swallows flying overhead, some so close that it seemed they might have flown straight into me! Thrilling :)

There was a pair of pintail showing from the Wader Scrape yesterday, too far for a photo but great views in binoculars! Here's the RSPB page about them for info and what they look like should they still be there today.

Also from the W/S were the Canada Geese with goslings... growing up fast but still very gorgeous!

Right in front of the hide was this lovely lapwing.

I also saw, tufted ducks, lesser black backed gulls, there were avocets, greylags and all the usual suspects.

On our FB page Eric said he'd seen a kingfisher as well as the bittern...how fab!

Next I went to Wath Ings and again heard, but didn't see, a sedge warbler. I loved Wath Ings yesterday, there were just so many sand and house martins, swallows and swifts zooming around, an absolute pleasure to watch...a definite highlight of my day!

I also caught a few glimpses of a sedge warbler flitting around the reeds right in front of the hide.

From my memory of the sightings book there was also a peregrine seen.

The bog bean is also flowering around the ponds area, here's what to look out for.

The cowslips are still flowering and definitely brightened up the grey day we had yesterday.

There were a pair of mallards in this area and I took this photo of the male, also enjoying the cowslips it seemed to me :)

That's it for today, please do add any more sightings from yesterday that I have missed...

Enjoy your visit if you come along today, our cafe does a great Sunday lunch!

Photo: Bittern

Paulp — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:32:00 GMT

Landing to the left of the Bittern Hide.

Photo: Bittern

Paulp — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:30:00 GMT

6 flights between 09:30 and 12:30 on 18th May 2013. A very busy mum!

Photo: Bittern from Bitternwatch Hide

Paulp — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:29:00 GMT

Approx 10:00, 18th May 2013.

Photo: A Yank in the UK (2)

Old Hilmian — Sat, 18 May 2013 15:12:00 GMT

Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus).

This lovely white flowered shrub can be seen just outside the Visitor Centre in the border between the garden path and the lawn.

Both the Clove Currant and the Thimbleberry are native to North America and are rarely seen in the wild in the UK. So how do they come to be at Old Moor? Probably the most likely explanation is that they are cultivars planted by a previous site management (Barnsley MBC?) in order to provide an instant attraction in the early days of the site. This does not detract from their beauty though, and they are most worthy of a place on the Reserve.

Photo: A Yank in the UK (1)

Old Hilmian — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:54:00 GMT

Clove Currant (Ribes odoratum), also known as Golden Currant (Ribes aureum).

This striking fragrant shrub with its distinct scent of cloves can be found down the side of the car park on the path to the TPT.

Blog post: Weekend!

Nicola_volunteer — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:20:00 GMT

Hello, it's the weekend again so today's blog, as usual, is full of your fab photos!

There have been quite a few interesting 'landings' from birds this week. On Wednesday we had turnstones, dunlin, grey plover, bar tailed godwits (black tailed godwits are our more usual visitors) black necked grebes, arctic terns plus all the usual birds you may find at OM...pretty good day to visit if you went on Wednesday! I've put links in the bird names to the RSPB webpage about them if you'd like a bit more info.

The Barnsley Bird Sightings blog has a few photos from Wednesday on it if you fancy having a look!

Jason Fisher shared his photo of the two black necked grebes, fab to see, thanks Jason!

Jason also took a photo of one of the visiting arctic terns...thank you again! :) Terns are so graceful to watch, another of my favourite birdie things... I have quite a few!

John Sanderson sent me a couple of photos from his visit this week. Big wow to this wonderful shot of a male pheasant, stunning! Thank you John :)

Our bittern watch is still in place, Paul P was on a watch in the raised hide in the reeds ( by invite via Kate only, not for general access) and had a few bittern sightings. He shared this photo of one he saw in flight. Thank you Paul!

Russ Bridges has been visiting again and taking more fab photos... here's one he shared (via his mum Linda) on FB...a landing shelduck!

From our gallery on this site, 'Stewpid'... uploaded a wonderful photo of a sedge warbler taken near Wath Ings... thank you 'Stew!'

There's been a report of a little grebe with chicks.... big awww if you get to see them, just gorgeous, especially when the chicks are being carried around by their parents! Ian Butler took this photo of a little grebe, thank you Ian. :)

Coots have been at war again.....Alan Foster shared this photo with us, thanks Alan!

Barbara Heron shared a couple of photos of her visit on our FB page. Thank you Barbara!

Firstly a linnet..

And secondly another of the 'big aww...' photos of the little goslings stumbling along. :)

Finally this week, such a gorgeous photo from Margaret Ryles, thank you Margaret, definitely brought a smile to my day :)

We hope to see you at OM this week, light rain forecast today but we have hides!

Enjoy your visit if you do come along and we'd love to see your photos...

Blog post: Raptorfest ...

Dave Simmonite — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:27:00 GMT

Hello friends ;-)

Friday at last .. All good things come to those who wait apparently ?

Today's news is a '2 pronged' affair .. One prong belonging to Titchers and the other one to Tree Sparrow ..

Here is the Titchers version ..

Old Moor first ..

There was a pink-footed goose on the Wader Scrape and 4 Mediterranean gulls seen on the Mere ..

A common tern was reported from Wath Ings and there were 3 male and a female bullfinches in the Bird Garden ...

A no-fixed abode was of a greylag goose who had 8 wee goslings ;-)

Over on Wombwell Ings were a pink-footed goose (same one?) and a whimbrel while over on Broomhill Flash was a hobby ..

And so to prong number 2 ..

Treespers was on Bittern watch today and was accompanied by 'Eagle Eye Wad' the Old Moor Warden ..

Here is how they fared ..

The female bittern was seen a total of 6 times and the male bird was booming regularly ..

A 'cream crown' marsh harrier was seen passing over at around 2pm and a hobby was seen catching a swift while being harassed by a sparrowhawk .. How impressive is that !!

There has also been an immature female peregrine hanging around and 2 common buzzards were seen over Bolton Tip ..

Little grebes were seen carrying fish into the reeds to feed youngsters and there are still 2 great-crested grebes present too ..

A final report from Treespers was of a jay which she spotted near to the Wildlife Ponds ..

I reckon that 'prong 2' was easily the winner there ;-)

Wish I had eagle eyes ..

Mine will slightly less reliable by the end of this evening .. :-)

Have a great weekend everyone !

Bert xxx

Photo: The Gentler Side

stewpid — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:15:00 GMT

Photo: Menacing or what.

stewpid — Thu, 16 May 2013 18:13:00 GMT

Sedge Warbler taken at Wath Ings hide.

Blog post: Back .. I think .. ?

Dave Simmonite — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:17:00 GMT

Quick !! .. Get the sightings on before the Website throws another 'wobbly' !!

Hi readers ;-)

I'm back once more to shower you with sightings ..

Only a small umbrella required today though ..

Starting with Old Moor ..

A common buzzard was seen passing over and then there were 4 Mediterranean gulls seen on the Mere along with numerous sand martins ...

A total of 10 avocets were reported from the Mere and 3 common terns were also present ..

On Wath Ings were a black-tailed godwit and a late pink-footed goose .. Not 'late' as in dead .. 'late' as in 'how come it's still here?' ;-)

The male bittern was heard booming in the reedbeds and then along Green Lane were blackcaps, a whitethroat, siskins and a sedge warbler ...

Butterflies today were 3 orange tip, 3 green-veined white, 3 brimstone and 4 peacock ..

There was also an alderfly and a female common blue damselfly (which was lilac in colour) .. I'll pass on that one ..

Ask me one on sport ..

Finally, there were male and female yellow wagtails seen on Wombwell Ings and a peregrine falcon was seen over Broomhill Flash ..

OK .. Done am I ..

Have a great evening friends ;-)

Bert xxx

Photo: one from the archive`s

pikingpirate — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:29:00 GMT

Blog post: Website Woes ..

Dave Simmonite — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:15:00 GMT

Greetings readers ..

Apologies for the lack of news yesterday but I was unable to get on the RSPB Website ...

Sick it was ..

Some good stuff today though !!

A red kite was seen passing over Bolton Ings late morning which was doubtless great to see ;-)

On Old Moor were ..

Wath Ings had 6 sanderlings, 15 turnstones and 3 gadwall ..

There were 2 black-necked grebes seen on the Mere along with 4 Mediterranean gulls ..

A total of 3 grey plovers were reported from the Wader Scrape along with avocets and shovelers were seen on the Field Pool ..

Today's no fixed abodes were numerous dunlins, 2 bar-tailed godwits, 6 Arctic terns and a wood sandpiper (which I think was a 'flyover')

The male bittern was heard booming in the reedbeds and the/one of the female bitterns was seen flying around on numerous occasions throughout the day ...

A pretty good day for the lucky visitors I reckon !!

Me ? .. Well I just went to work ...

Aye .....

Have a great evening everyone ;-)

Bert xxxx

Blog post: Was That Summer We Just Had ?

Dave Simmonite — Mon, 13 May 2013 18:14:00 GMT

Hi readers ..

Back am I ...

A nice 4 days holiday was had with some good stuff seen too :-)

Speaking of stuff being seen .. Here's today's report ..

Old Moor for starters ..

Flowers seen were ladies smock, birdsfoot trefoil, red clover and hawthorn .. Butterflies present were orange tip, large white, green veined white and brimstone ..

Thanks Titchers !

Bird stuff now ..

On the Wader Scrape were ringed plover, 2 little-ringed plovers, a sanderling, a dunlin and 6 avocets ..

Wath Ings had a pink-footed goose and another little-ringed plover was seen on the Mere ..

There were 4 wheatears seen on the Field Pool and a peregrine falcon was seen passing over the reedbeds .. One of the bitterns was also seen flying over the reedbeds and booming was also heard from the male bird ..

A hobby was seen over Bolton Ings which is great !! .. Unless you are a hirundine !!

A female wheatear was seen on Wombwell Ings and a final report was of a 1st Winter little gull which seems to have been traveling a wee bit as it was seen on both Broomhill Flash and Bolton Ings ...

There was also a common tern and an Arctic tern seen on Broomhill Flash (as per Barnsley Bird Sightings Blog) ..

So there you have it for today friends ..

Have a great evening everyone ;-)

Bert xxxx

Photo: Bittern from Bitternwatch Hide

Paulp — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:04:00 GMT

Snatched this shot at 09:40. Not as sharp as I'd like - hopefully will do better next time!

Photo: Fox

webbo — Sun, 12 May 2013 13:34:00 GMT

It's bird related if you look close you can see it's two legs hanging out of it's mouth Taken at Anglers this morning