Trip reports

Car trip to Potteric Carr, South Yorkshire

Sunday, 27 November 2011

Undeterred the weather nine members met at the centre and very soon they were scanning Decoy marsh for the elusive Bittern which had been reported there. They soon picked out Teal, Shovellor, Coot and Moorhen on the water, but no Bittern. Moving on, they found a Goldcrest, with Blue and Great tit and observed a small flock of one of our winter visitors, the Redwing.

At Huxter Well marsh we saw three Whooper swans, Shelduck, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted duck, Lapwing and Greylag goose, along with Grey heron. There were several mobile Jays in the area, and the only raptor of the day that was seen was a Buzzard soaring above the marsh. We also had views of two Green woodpeckers on the marsh. Moving on to Willow Pool Hide, watching Long tailed tits along the way, several of the group had very good views of a Tree creeper. The feeding station was busy with Reed Bunting, Coal, Blue, Great, and Willow tit, Goldfinch and a female Great spotted woodpecker. Gulls seen were Black headed, Herring, Lesser and Greater black backed gull.

The wind was not good for birds, and both Piper and Low Ellers had very little water in them, but the group did record 40 species of bird on the day and they left having had a very enjoyable outing.

They will be returning to the reserve on March 21st when hopefully the Bittern will be more active.

Pete Furniss