Recent sightings

Friday, 5 February 2010

A walk around Old Moor today produced plenty to see ...

The garden feeders had chaffinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tits, tree sparrows, blackbirds, robins, a dunnock, woodpigeons and collared doves.

The sacrificial crop area had linnets, reed buntings, greenfinches, blackbirds, robins and pheasants.

The Field Pool had Canada geese, gadwalls, mallards, wigeons, a shoveler, teals, mute swans, coots, moorhens, pheasants, a kingfisher and a pied wagtail.

Wath Ings had Canada geese, pochards, mallards, teals, tufted ducks, moorhens, coots, a grey heron, pheasants, mute swans, woodpigeons.  A water rail was spotted right in front of the hide.

The Wader Scrape had black-headed gulls, gadwalls, wigeons, mallards, teals, tufted ducks, goldeneyes, shovelers, goosanders, coots, moorhens, golden plovers and lapwings.

The Mere had mallards, teals, gadwalls, wigeons, tufted ducks, a great-crested grebe, coots, moorhens,  goosanders, both black-headed and common gulls, cormorants, lapwings, stock doves, linnets and a fieldfare.

Walking along the paths in between the hides also offered plenty to see with goldfinches, yellowhammers, long-tailed tits, great tits, blue tits, linnets, reed buntings and a green woodpecker ...

A whooper swan was reported from Bolton Ings and Wombwell Ings had a little egret.

Thursday, 4 February 2010

Reports from Old Moor are even more scarce today !

The feeder area had siskins but no report of the male brambling today ..

There is a male pintail among the usual residents of the Mere which is well worth seeing as it is one of our more handsome 'dabbling' ducks.

Pintail	Siskin

Sunday, 31 January 2010

Plenty to see today on my usual weekly trudge ...

Edderthorpe Flash had coots, moorhens, mallards, teals, wigeons, shovelers, black-headed and common gulls, mute swans, Canada geese, greylag geese, lapwings .. the Ross's goose is still present. As the reserve was frozen over the tufted ducks were now on the river along with a little grebe. A ruff was also seen during the morning.

Bolton Ings had Canada geese, mute swans, mallards, pochards, goldeneyes, tufted ducks, shovelers, teals, goosanders, coots, moorhens, a kestrel, a small flock of grey partridges. There were also bullfinches, great tits and blue tits present in the bordering trees.

Wombwell was fairly quiet but there was still enough to keep me going. Present were, lapwings, a dunlin, grey herons, mallards, teals, a small flock of grey partridges, jackdaws.

Old Moor;

The garden feeders were very busy with chaffinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, tree sparrows, great tits, blue tits, 2 willow tits, long-tailed tits, robins, 2 redwings, a moorhen was clearing up on the ground below but the undoubted star of the day was a handsome male brambling.

The sacrificial crop area had a great-spotted woodpecker, chaffinches, reed buntings, yellowhammers, tree sparrows, robins, blackbirds, a sparrowhawk thrilled us with a high speed 'flypast' collecting a spot of lunch as it did so !!

Wath Ings was frozen over but still had grey herons, mute swans, Canada geese, coots, mallards, wigeons, teals, pheasants. The whooper swan was present in the early afternoon but disappeared after a while probably due to the lack of clear water.

The Field pool was also frozen, present were coots, moorhens, shovelers, pheasants and a single snipe.

The Wader Scrape (frozen) had wigeons, a gadwall, Canada geese, pheasants and woodpigeons.

The Mere had plenty of clear water and had mute swans, mallards, teals, wigeons, tufted ducks, gadwalls, shovelers, a shelduck, coots, moorhens, goosanders, pochards, a great-crested grebe, cormorants, lapwings, black-headed gulls, common gulls and a great black-backed gull. There were also pheasants and stock doves feeding by the water's edge.

Wednesday, 3 February 2010

Old Moor today;

Reports were very sparse today but I am able to confirm that the male brambling is still on site and was flitting between the garden feeder area and the sacrificial crop area.

The sacrificial crop area still has yellowhammers, reed buntings, chaffinches, greenfinches and tree sparrows.

Tuesday, 2 February 2010

First of all ..

Apologies for the missing report for Sunday 31st. It was submitted as normal but for some reason it hasn't been published ?

Old Moor today;

The brambling was seen in the feeder area this morning along with chaffinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, long-tailed tits, great tits, blue tits and a willow tit.

The barn owl was seen hunting over the back of Wath Ings.

The sacrificial crop area was busy with yellowhammers, reed buntings, linnets, tree sparrows, chaffinches and greenfinches.

The Mere had lots to see with pochards, mallards, gadwalls, tufted ducks, teals, shovelers, goosanders, a shelduck and redshanks.  

Monday, 1 February 2010

Old Moor today;

The garden feeder area was busy again with bullfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, great tits, blue tits, a willow tit and happily the male brambling was still present.

The whooper swan was seen on the Field Pool.

The Wader Scrape had a ringed plover.

The sacrificial crop area was very busy with yellowhammers, reed buntings, 30 linnets, 6 siskins, 24 redpolls and 4 song thrushes.

Wath Ings had goldeneyes.

No reports from the Mere today but  Sunday's report will be reasonably accurate as regards the species present.

Saturday, 30 January 2010

Old Moor had plenty to offer again today ..

The feeder area had chaffinches, bullfinches, great tits, blue tits, long-tailed tits and collared doves.

The sacrificial crop area had goldfinches, yellowhammers, reed buntings, linnets, a dunnock, robins, moorhens, pheasants, blackbirds and a great-spotted woodpecker was seen rummaging around in one of the nestboxes.

The Field Pool had mute swans, mallards, gadwalls, coots, moorhens and Canada geese.

Wath Ings still has the whooper swan and also present were pochards, mallards, wigeons, teals, tufted ducks, Canada geese, redshanks and a kestrel.

The Wader Scrape had goosanders, mallards, teals, shovelers, wigeons, coots, moorhens and 2 dunlin.

The Mere had cormorants, goosanders, shovelers, wigeons, mallards, gadwalls, teals, pochards, tufted ducks, mute swans, lapwings, coots, moorhens, a great-crested grebe, common and black-headed gulls, linnets, jackdaws, carrion crows, magpies, pheasants, stock doves, a redshank, a kestrel and a sparrowhawk.

Wombwell Ings is still frozen but there was a curlew and a small flock of golden plovers present this morning.

Friday, 29 January 2010

I had a stroll around Old Moor today and there was plenty to see.

The garden feeder area had great tits, blue tits, a willow tit, bullfinches, chaffinches, greenfinches, tree sparrows, robins, a wren, collared doves and blackbirds.

The sacrificial crop area had yellowhammers, reed buntings, chaffinches, a dunnock, robins and pheasants.

The Reedbed hide had mallards, teals, gadwalls, tufted ducks and coots.

Wath Ings still has the whooper swan, along with teals, tufted ducks, mallards, pochards, gadwalls, wigeons, coots, moorhens, 3 redshanks, Canada geese, a grey heron, pheasants and a kestrel. No sign of the barn owl today but I did have to leave quite early so there is every chance it will have appeared at some point.

The Wader Scrape had goosanders, coots, moorhens, tufted ducks, mallards, teals, wigeons, shovelers, pochards, gadwalls, Canada geese, lapwings, both common and black-headed gulls, woodpigeons, stock doves, linnets and pheasants.

The Mere had cormorants, wigeons, goldeneyes, mallards, gadwalls, teals, coots, moorhens, lapwings and  both common and black-headed gulls.

The Field Pool had mallards, wigeons, teals, gadwalls, coots, moorhens and mute swans.

Not a bad 2 hours really !!

Thursday, 28 January 2010

No reports yesterday but today has been a little better ...

Old Moor;

Wath Ings still has the whooper swan and also present was a flock of greylag geese.

The Mere had goosanders, goldeneyes, mallards, pochards, teals, wigeons, gadwalls, shovelers, a shelduck, coots, moorhens.

Edderthorpe Flash still had the Ross's goose at 9:30 this morning but no reports since then.

Tuesday, 26 January 2010

Reports were very sparse again today ...

Old Moor still has the whooper swan on Wath Ings.

The Wader Scrape has a redshank and a new arrival in the shape of a ringed plover !

There were 2 barn owls seen, one over the back of the Mere and one alongside the Field Pool.

Again, I can say that the Mere will doubtless be very well populated with goosanders, mallards , teals, shovelers, tufted ducks, wigeons, gadwalls, coots, moorhens, cormorants and more ....

Goosander	Ringed plover

Monday, 25 January 2010

I,m afraid that reports were scare today ..

On Old Moor Wath Ings still has the whooper swan and 2 redshanks. The barn owl was reported once more.

There are 3 ruddy ducks on the Mere and it can be safely assumed that a majority of yesterday's report will also apply here.

The Ross's goose was on Edderthorpe Flash until 3pm but was then seen to fly off in the direction of Old Moor.

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Whoops !

Forgot to mention that Wath Ings (Old Moor)  still has the whooper swan ....

Sorry ..

Sunday, 24 January 2010

Today's walk of the reserves began with a spot of 'cattle rustling' on Gypsy Marsh due to one of them seeing some greener grass on the other side of the fence and then breaking out to get it !

Then it was back to normal ...

Edderthorpe Flash had mallards, wigeons, teals, shovelers, pochards, tufted ducks, goldeneyes, coots, moorhens, goosanders, grey herons, both black-headed and common gulls, a good sized flock of greylag geese were in the field alongside the reserve and mixed in among them was a ross's goose. A green woodpecker was seen on the West side of the reserve.

Bolton Ings had mute swans, grey herons, mallards, teals, gadwalls, shovelers, goldeneyes, tufted ducks, pochards, goosanders, coots,  moorhens, Canada geese, black-headed and common gulls. Alongside in the surrounding hedgerows were a kestrel, long-tailed tits, lesser redpolls, bullfinches, a willow tit.  2 green woodpeckers were also seen.

Old Moor;

The feeder area had bullfinches, great tits, blue tits, a willow tit, chaffinches.

The sacrificial crop area had yellowhammers, reed buntings, tree sparrows, robins, stock doves, wood pigeons, pheasants, coots.

The Field Pool had mallards, teals, wigeons, shovelers, gadwalls, coots, moorhens, lapwings. A kestrel was also seen hunting on the edge of the pool.

Wath Ings had Canada geese, coots, moorhens, mallards, teals, wigeons, pochards, tufted ducks, lapwings. The barn owl was again seen hunting over the far side of the reserve.

The Wader Scrape had goosanders, wigeons, gadwalls, mallards, tufted ducks, shovelers, coots, lapwings, pheasants.

The Mere had mallards, wigeons, teals, gadwalls, tufted ducks, pochards, a great-crested grebe, coots, moorhens, lapwings, mute swans, Canada geese, black-headed and common gulls. A sparrowhawk was seen and there were  also 2 barn owls seen hunting over the far side of the mere as the daylight faded.

Sadly no report from Wombwell as the 'cattle rustling' took longer than anticipated ....

Friday, 22 January 2010

I managed to get on site today and there was plenty to report despite having to peer through the thick fog to see what was present!

Old Moor.

The garden feeder area was very busy with great tits, blue tits, a willow tit, chaffinches, greenfinches, bullfinches, a dunnock, robins, tree sparrows and blackbirds. A moorhen was back mopping up the scraps from below the feeders and now a mallard has joined in!

The sacrificial crop area was also very busy with good numbers of yellowhammers, reed buntings, linnets, chaffinches, greenfinches, moorhens and pheasants.

The Field Pool had mute swans, shovelers, teals, tufted ducks, gadwalls, wigeons, mallards, coots, moorhens and pheasants.

Wath Ings still has the whooper swan along with gadwalls, teals, wigeons, mallards, tufted ducks, coots, moorhens, a great crested grebe, Canada geese and pheasants.

The Wader Scrape had shovelers, wigeons, tufted ducks, coots and goosanders.

The Mere had tufted ducks, mallards, wigeons, gadwalls, a pochard, coots, moorhens, a female goosander, a good sized flock of 151 lapwings, cormorants, both black-headed and common gulls, stock doves and carrion crows.

Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Wombwell Ings had a report of 2 redshanks and a curlew today.

Old Moor;

The whooper swan is still feeding on Wath Ings

The sacrificial crop area is busy, as is normal at the moment, with good numbers of yellowhammers, reed buntings and linnets.

The Mere is well populated with goosanders, goldeneyes, mallards, wigeons, gadwalls, teals, tufted ducks, shovelers, black-headed gulls, common gulls, cormorants.

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Reports were thin on the ground today so unfortunately there is little to be able to report ...

The sacrificial crop area had yellowhammers, reed buntings, tree sparrows and redpolls. A report was submitted of a possible mealy redpoll included in the flock.

The whooper swan is still present on Wath Ings.

No reports from the Mere again but Sunday's report will still apply in a majority (if not all) of the species reported.

Monday, 18 January 2010

Today on Old Moor ...

The garden feeders had great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, tree sparrows, bullfinches and a willow tit.

The sacrificial crop area had good numbers of yellowhammers, tree sparrows, reed buntings, chaffinches and bullfinches.

Wath Ings had a sparrowhawk, a juvenile peregrine falcon, 2 redshanks, both male and female goldeneyes and the whooper swan is still present.

No reports today from the Mere but reading yesterday's post will most likely give you a pretty accurate picture of the species which can be found there.

No reports of  the barn owl but as it is spotted almost every day at the moment the chances of a sighting are still extremely good.

Sunday, 17 January 2010

The normal 'Sunday trudge' today ...

Gypsy Marsh was quiet with just a few long-tailed tits to report.

Bolton Ings was still frozen solid and there were just 5 greylag geese sitting on the ice. Alongside the reserve was a sparrowhawk, bullfinches, great tits, blue tits, a green woodpecker, also a good sized mixed flock of goldfinches and lesser redpolls.

Wombwell Ings had the odd clear patch and present were both common and black-headed gulls, goosanders, teals, shovelers, wigeons, mallards, grey herons, a huge flock of a few hundred Canada geese with a single greylag amongst them, redwings, fieldfares, pied wagtails, lapwings and a flock of grey partridges.

Edderthorpe Flash is also thawing well and had pochards, mallards, tufted ducks, teals, wigeons, shovelers, gadwalls, grey herons, cormorants, coots, moorhens. Also seen was a green woodpecker, long-tailed tits, 2 jays, a peregrine falcon.

Old Moor.

The sacrificial crop area had linnets, yellowhammers, reed buntings, greenfinches, bullfinches, tree sparrows.

The garden feeder area had tree sparrows, greenfinches, great tits, blue tits, chaffinches.

Wath Ings still has the whooper swan along with 2 redshanks, mallards, Canada geese, grey herons, pheasants, a sparrowhawk, a kestrel, the water rail was seen again as was the barn owl.

The Field Pool had mute swans, a shoveler, mallards, teals, coots, moorhens, a kestrel and a sparrowhawk.

The Wader Scrape is still frozen but there is a bit of clear water over the back LHS, here were goldeneyes,  goosanders, mallards, coots, black-headed gulls.

The Mere is beginning to clear and there was plenty to see. There were mallards, gadwalls, teals, goldeneyes, tufted ducks, wigeons, pochards, shovelers, coots, moorhens, a great-crested grebe, goosanders, mute swans. No sign of the drake pintail today.

As the daylight faded there were 2 barn owls over the back of the Mere.

Today's weBs count results were;

1 great-crested grebe, 11 cormorants, 6 mute swans, 1 whooper swan, 67 wigeons, 23 gadwalls, 261 teals, 117 mallards, 2 shovelers, 6 pochards, 44 tufted ducks, 8 goldeneyes, 243 coots, 21 moorhens (approx, 27 lapwings and 60 + goosanders.

Thanks go out as usual to those involved.

Saturday, 16 January 2010

Managed a trip to Old Moor today..

The Mere had a little more clear water today thanks to the thaw.

Present were 2 redshanks, mallards, gadwalls, wigeons, tufted ducks, goldeneyes, shovelers, pochards, teals, coots, moorhens, goosanders, the drake pintail is still present, black-headed gulls, common gulls, herring gulls, greater black-backed gulls, cormorants, Canada geese and a grey heron. Stock doves were on the far side and a good sized flock of linnets were seen on one of the islands.

The Field Pool had fieldfares, mallards, teals, shovelers, mute swans, moorhens, pheasants, pied wagtails and a pleasant surprise was a green sandpiper.

Wath Ings had Canada geese, mallards, gadwalls, teals, shovelers, a grey heron, pheasants, a green woodpecker, a sparrowhawk. More noteworthy additions were a whooper swan, the barn owl hunting over the far side and good views of a water rail right in front of the hide.

The sacrificial crop area had yellowhammers, tree sparrows, chaffinches, reed buntings, greenfinches and a robin.

The garden feeder area had bullfinches, greenfinches, chaffinches, great tits, blue tits.

A pretty good day !

Thursday, 14 January 2010

Today has been quiet again with just Yellowhammers being reported from the sacrificial crop area ..

A welcome addition on the Mere is a drake pintail which is one of our more handsome and elegant 'dabbling' ducks.

Well worth a look if you have never seen one ...

Pintail