April 2013
Tuesday 2nd
2 Kingfisher were at the nest site on Piper Marsh plus one was seen flying under the footbridge over Mother Drain later. A Song Thrush was collecting mud from the Mother Drain bank near the footbridge. A Common Snipe was flying over Central Grassland and also a Skylark was singing here. 2 Redshank on were Cell 3b. A pair of Great Crested Grebe were on the WEST SCRAPE!!
A Bittern was on Low Ellers at 11:45am (Michael Bird).
Monday 1st
23 Whooper Swan flew over Huxter Well Marsh going north west at 8.25am (Tony Elliott).
March 2013
Sunday 31st
At nearby Lakeside a flock of between 6000 and 6500 Starlings flew over at 6.40am this morning, they formed a huge horse shoe several hundred yards long and from the direction fresh from roosting at Potteric (Tony Elliott).
Susan & Allan Parker / Ken Woolley report:-
A Jay flew across the access track at about 09.10 and two cock Pheasant were that engrossed in a 'punch-up' on the bridge into the Field Centre car that parking was delayed by 10 minutes!!
Old Eaa Hide produced a Little Grebe, a pair of Mute Swan, c4 Gadwall, a pair of Tufted Duck, a few Teal and Mallard plus the usual numbers of Black-headed Gull.
From Low Ellers Hide we noted 15 Shoveler mainly males, c40 Black-headed gull, c30 Coot plus smaller numbers of Gadwall and Coot.
A walk round Childers Wood and Corbett Wood produced 3 Wren, 2 Dunnock 2 Blackbird, a single Treecreeper. a very colourful cock Pheasant and the odd Blue Tit and Great Tit. A Chiffchaff was the only singing bird in Corbett Wood. Childers Wood was noticeable by its lack of any singing birds!!
A Goldfinch was noted near the east end of Old Eaa.
Willow Pool hide had less small birds than usual but several Reed Bunting, a single Willow Tit and a single Coal Tit were noted. A Canada Goose appeared to sitting on a nest on the island just to the left of the hide. A total of 7 pair of Teal were out on the water.
A Wren and a Song Thrush were between the 'underbridge' and the railway viaduct. A pair of Oystercatcher flew over Hawthorn Field calling noisily.
Piper Marsh Hide had 3 male and a single female Pochard, 2 male and a female Tufted Duck, c8 Gadwall mainly in pairs, c12 Teal, 8 male and 2 female Shoveler, a pair of Mute Swan with one bird sitting on a nest, a single Great Crested Grebe, a Buzzard was in flight being mobbed by a Carrion Crow, a single Snipe was roosting on a small island, a female Sparrowhawk flew through just above the reeds and later a second female flew into the back right hand corner, landed and proceeded to preen.
Mitchell Hide had c600 Black-headed Gull, c12 Common Gull, 2 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 2 adult and an immature Lesser Black-backed Gull, 4 adult and 2 1st year Herring Gull, 4 Cormorant roosting on the nest raft, 3 female Goldeneye , 2 Tufted Duck, 4 Pochard, 12 male and 1 female Shoveler, small numbers of Teal, Gadwall and Mallard, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Little Grebe was heard, a single Little Egret , c15 Lapwing, 3 Redshank and 2 Snipe.
The Central Grassland had a singing Skylark in flight and a flock of c20 Starling. Two Long-tailed Tit were noted on Rossington Bank South.
A Goldcrest was noted near the entrance (Daz Watson).
Pairs of Goldcrest were at Decoy Marsh, Black Carr Field and Hawthorn Bank Bridge. A Treecreeper was along Hawthorn Bank and two Water Rail were calling in Piper Marsh (Dave Round).
Willow Tit \t Willow Pool feeders © Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 30th
A Little Ringed Plover was on Huxter Well Cell 2a at 6.20am this morning and the pair of Avocet were still on there. A Little Egret flew over Hawthorn Field earlier. Three Redshank were on Cell 2a along with 3 Oystercatcher. 14 Great-Black Backed Gull had roosted on Cell 2b with 8 Herring Gull. At 8.15am 3 female Goldeneye dropped into the same cell (Tony Elliott).
A Blackcap was singing near Willow Pool hide. Cetti's Warbler was singing near to Decoy Marsh hide. Other birds singing include Wren and Blue and Great Tit but the number of singing birds much less than one would expect at this time of year (John & Maureen Hancox).
A male Marsh Harrier flew through Huxter Well Marsh at 12.30pm. 2 Avocet were on Huxter Well Marsh along with 2 Snipe on the Lagoon . A Chiffchaff was in song (found by Richard Scott). A Cetti's Warbler sang in Decoy Marsh and a Water Rail was also heard here. A Kingfisher was on Mother Drain (Dave Carroll).
Friday 29th
A pair of Avocet were on the Huxter Well Lagoon this morning at 6.10 am, later they were on Cell 2a with 3 Redshank (Tony Elliott).
Avocet (archive image) © Allan Parker ARPS
Thursday 28th
Michael Bird reports:-
I have been for my usual walk today around Potteric Carr, do not usually see very much but today I was quite lucky. I saw a Kingfisher dive in from its usual perch under the railway bridge over Mother Drain and catch quite a large fish.
2 Redshank were on the Huxter Well Marsh Lagoon but they flew off to Cell 3b, numbers were up to 3 later and 2 Oystercatcher were on the islands of Cell 2b.
I met a visitor in Piper Marsh hide, he had not seen a Bittern but as he left he said you will see one now and not 5 minutes s later at 10:15 one flew from the left cut reeds into the far right corner, chased all the way by several Black Headed Gull. One, maybe 2 Treecreeper were among a tit flock along 'Butterfly Alley'.
Wednesday 27th
Richard Scott reports:-
Huxter Well Marsh:- 11 Common Gull, 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 19 Herring Gull , 2 Great Black-backed Gull and 1 adult or 2nd summer Mediterranean Gull on the embankment between Cells 2b and 3a. 5 Shelduck, 19 Wigeon, 2 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin, Cell 3b , 2 Snipe, Lagoon , 2 Redshank, Cell 3b , 3 Buzzard .
1 Treecreeper singing at the Warden's car park
Mark said he had 14 Snipe on the East Scrape and a
Bittern
on Willow Marsh.
I didn't get to see the wing tips on the
Mediterranean Gull
so couldn't age it. It was behind a Black-headed Gull at the time and I took my eye off it for a minute and it was gone!!!
Tuesday 26th
Report from Susan & Allan Parker plus Ken Woolley:-
A Song Thrush was near the Pumping Station and was later seen bashing the shell off a snail.
A Kingfisher was on Mother Drain seen from the 'under bridge' it was just past the second railway bridge perched on a branch over hanging the water. Later 2 were present (Adrian Andruchiw).
Piper Marsh Hide:- A Bittern flew from the east (right) side of the hide in to the reed bed in left hand corner at 09.45 (Barry Wardley) and was noted making two or three other flights during the morning. Also noted here were 2 Grey Heron, the usual pair of Mute Swan, now nest building, both male and female Kingfisher both of which spent some time in the nest hole, 3 male plus a single female Pochard, a pair of Gadwall, 3 male and 2 female Tufted Duck, 2 pair of Shoveler, along with several Mallard and Teal. 12 Canada Geese flew over heading north, 3 Greylag in flight appeared to be heading towards Huxter Well Marsh, a Buzzard was circling round again to the north and a Chiffchaff gave excellent views feeding in the cut reeds in front of the hide.
West Scrape:- A single Great Crested Grebe, 1 adult Common Gull still in winter plumage, c20 Black-headed Gull, c20 Gadwall, 3 male and 1 female Tufted Duck, and a pair of Shoveler. A single male Lapwing was on the bank in front of the hide and 2 male Pheasant were on the far bank.
Mitchell Hide:- Numerous gulls were noted and included 2 immature 1st year Great Black-backed Gull, c15 1st year Herring Gull plus a single adult and on the nesting raft an adult pair along with 3 roosting Cormorant, Common Gull numbered at least 13, 2 pair of adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 29 Lapwing were roosting on one of the islands with the other gulls. A Great Crested Grebe was in flight before landing on one of the lagoons. Duck included small numbers of Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Gadwall, Mallard and Teal.
On our return past Black Carr Wood we came across a single Goldcrest and a single female Siskin. Willow Pool feeding station had all the usual small birds.
On Huxter Well Marsh a single Redshank was briefly on the Lagoon, before it flew back towards Cell 2b (Michael Bird).
Monday 25th
The image below of a Great Crested Grebe (possibly a male,) which as been on its own on Piper Marsh for about three weeks, was taken yesterday by Barry Wardley.
Great Crested Grebe on Piper Marsh © Barry Wardley
Sunday 24th
Col Neale reports:-
Bitterly cold wind again. Around Sedum House were Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, 4 Siskin, 6 Redpoll, c20 Goldfinch and 1 Kestrel.
On Decoy Marsh there were Shoveler, Mallard, Teal, Coot and a single Redwing .
Old Eaa held 2 Shelduck, Tufted Duck, and Gadwall.
2 cold hours in Piper Marsh produced 1 Shelduck, 2 Grey Heron, 2 Oystercatcher, the Kingfisher pair, Pochard, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, 10+ Fieldfare flew over and a Chiffchaff was feeding in the reed stubble.
Walked to Roger Mitchell hide to warm up. Lots of Black-headed Gull, with a few Common Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. A single Snipe, 1 Kestrel, 1 Cormorant and c20 Lapwing.
Another hour in Piper Marsh and finally the Bittern flew from the rear, across the water and landed in the reedbed behind the right of the island. 2 Buzzard flew over.
Thursday 21st
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
The first day of Spring felt more like January, bitterly cold and only marginally warmer when the sun came out. My own observations, plus others I was made aware of, produced the following highlights:
Up to two
Bittern
seen by visitors at Piper Marsh; 2 female
Goldeneye
on Huxter Well 1b; a pair of Redshank on 3b; Sue Bird reported a pair of Oystercatcher on Cell 2a; Sue, Roger and I watched 4
Buzzard
over Huxter Well in late morning and there was another over the M18 in the afternoon;
Kingfisher
was present at the usual nest site at Piper Marsh; single Goldcrest were seen near Decoy Marsh and in one of the pines on Black Carr Field.
Allan Parker reports:-
Today saw Susan and myself on the Reserve with the Sheffield Thursday Birders Group (my old WEA class) and the following is a record of our sightings.
Decoy Marsh Hide: A breeding colony of Black-headed Gull were establishing themselves on the small islands to the right of the hide other birds were few but we noted a pair of Gadwall, 2 male Mallard and the odd Coot and Moorhen.
Old Eaa Hide: A pair of Shelduck plus small numbers of Teal, Tufted Duck, Mallard, 2 male Shoveler, Pochard and a Little Grebe as well as the ever present Black-headed Gulls and a pair of Mute Swan. In the same area we noted a small flock of Long-tailed Tit and a single female Siskin.
Willow Pool Hide: All the usual small birds coming to the feeders which included a single Coal Tit, 2 Willow Tit and several Reed Buntings.
Piper Marsh Hide: A pair of Sparrowhawk were over Black Carr Wood and two Buzzard were over the far side of the Marsh. Out on the water were small numbers of the usual duck which included Teal, Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, 5 Pochard and gathering of 10 Shoveler. The single Great Crested Grebe was still present along with a Grey Heron. Both the male and female Kingfisher put in appearances at the nest site.
East Scrape had a single Little Egret .
West Scrape Hide: Again large numbers of Black-headed Gull, 5 adult Common Gull, 25 Gadwall, 3 Tufted Duck, 5 shoveler, 2 Lapwing and 2 1st year Lesser Black-backed Gull in flight.
Mitchell Hide: Yet again large numbers of Black-headed Gull, several Common Gull mainly adults but at least one 1st year bird, 4 Great Black-backed Gull consisted of a 1st year bird, a 3rd year bird and two adults in breeding plumage, about a dozen Herring Gull were a mixture of immature and adult birds with to of the adults again present on the nesting raft. Two pair of adult Lesser Black-backed Gull were noted with several 1st year birds also present. Both Little Grebe and Great Crested Grebe were seen but just singles of each. 2 Redshank and c20 Lapwing were on the lagoon to the west of the hide. The usual duck were noted with a gathering of 12 male Shoveler. Two Buzzard were over the motorway.
Hawthorn Bank Hide: 6 Shoveler 3 Pochard, c15 Wigeon and the usual Black-headed Gull colony on the islands. A pair of Great Crested Grebe also seen.
Duchess Hide:- A single Common Gull, c12 immature Herring Gull, 2 pair of Shelduck, a Little Grebe and yet more Black-headed Gulls.
A Kingfisher flew west along Mother Drain returning east a few minutes later.
Long-tailed Tit were heard in several locations around the Reserve but in general small birds were noticeable by there absence.
Left, male Chaffinch and right female Reed Bunting at Willow Pool both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Tuesday 19th
Ken Woolley reports:-
4 Buzzards over Huxter Well Marsh;
Cetti's Warbler
heard on Old Eaa Marsh and 1
Kingfisher
usual place between railway bridges over Mother Drain (Helen Womack, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll). I also saw a male there in the afternoon plus male & female on Piper Marsh later on.
A brief view; too brief to identify, of a
warbler
flitting through the reeds to the right of Piper Marsh Hide; consensus of opinion was that it was probably a
Chiffchaff
(Brian Buckle & Michael Bird).
A
Bittern
was
on Piper Marsh about 10.00 am. It flew from the left hand side of the marsh and landed at the back of the marsh to the right of the marker post (
Daz Watson)
(I apologize if I have mis-remembered your name Daz)".
Report from Chris Bell:-
There were no reports of any booming Bittern at Potteric Carr yesterday.
1
Cetti's Warbler
heard at northern reedbed of Old Eaa.
2
Kingfisher
Piper Marsh
1
Little Egret
Huxter Well Marsh East Scrape at 12:30
2
Goldeneye
both female on the West Scrape at 12:30 and still there at 16:20.
2 Great Black-backed Gull Huxter Well Marsh Cell 1b at 13;00
2 Redshank Huxter Well Marsh Cell 3b at 13:00 . Seen to mate at 16:00.
2 Oystercatcher Huxter Well Marsh Cell 3b at 13:00 when they mated.
3+ Common Snipe Cell 3b at 13:00
22 Lapwing Cell 3b at 16:00
1
Kingfisher
15:00 under the railway bridge over Mother Drain then 2 at Piper Marsh not many minutes later?
1 Redwing St Catherine's Field at 16:30.
4 Shelduck noted
There were Lesser Black-backed, Herring and Common Gull plus plenty of duck.
Also noted were Moorhen and Black Headed Gull fights.
Sunday 17th
There was quite a bit of Kingfisher , in flight, activity in the area of Mother Drain between the Pumping Station and the 'underbridge' probably involving two birds. Piper Marsh had three roosting Grey Heron, two male and a female Pochard, three pair of Gadwall, two pair of Tufted Duck several Teal and Mallard, a pair of Mute Swan, a pair of Canada Goose holding territory on the island in front of the hide and a couple of pair of rather aggressive Coot. A pair of Buzzard circling round just to the north of Piper Marsh were under attack by a Carrion Crow. A single Great Crested Grebe was seen to chase and catch a large fish in the cut reed in front of the hide before returning to open water to swallow it, breakfast, dinner and evening meal all in one go!! (Allan Parker / Ken Woolley / Derek Bateson).
A Water Rail appeared to the left of Piper Marsh hide before flying across and into the reedbed to the right of the hide (Adrian Andruchiw)
A Bittern put in an appearance on the far side of Piper Marsh at 11.05 am (Sue Trout et al)
Thursday 14th
Ken Woolley reports:-
Visited Potteric Carr this afternoon to look at the drains that have been dredged. Looked in at Piper Marsh whilst I was there and had several indifferent views of a Bittern , this was about 3.00pm. I also heard what I think was a Bittern booming. There were two booms only seconds apart then a further one about five minutes or so later. All the booms were quite low in volume but the pitch and length were good. The main problem with the booms being low in volume; if in fact they were Bittern booms, was the amount of noise from the motorway etc. In addition to the above I saw a Kingfisher at the usual place but perched on the metal brackets under the railway bridge, also there were two at Piper Marsh.
Wednesday 13th
2 x Buzzard, Coal Tit, Willow Tit , Redpoll, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Cormorant, Greylag, 2 x Jay, 2 x Kingfisher (Piper Marsh island), Lapwing, Redshank (Duchess Hide), Little Grebe, Snipe, Gadwall, Pochard, Shelduck, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, Teal, Wigeon (Sue & Stan Cullen).
Willow Pool Hide had 2 Jay and Great Spotted Woodpecker . Mother Drain had a Kingfisher and Piper Marsh also had a Kingfisher (Diane Drury).
Tuesday 12th
40 Redwings in Short Lane Fields late afternoon (Richard Scott).
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
The weather today was cold, with occasional snow flurries. Walking from Sedum House, I soon spotted 3, possibly more, Redpoll, together with Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blackbird and various tit species. A single Redwing was in the hedge alongside Decoy Marsh, also 2 Bullfinch. Decoy Marsh itself had a pair of Little Grebe plus various common wildfowl and Mute Swan. A Wren investigated a tree stump. Old Eaa had a pair of Shelduck. The lighted crossing is temporarily blocked whilst improvements are carried out to the Childers area, so I continued on towards Loversall Bank and then paid a brief visit to Duchess Hide. A Sparrowhawk was seen over the Piper Marsh / Seven Arches Carr area but, as there was little else of note, I wandered back towards the centre. Outside Willow Pool Hide, a bird was singing quite loudly. A sort of merry jingle which I didn't recognise and clearly not a Goldfinch song. The bird soon appeared, a handsome cock Siskin. Quite a surprise.
After a warming lunch break, I wandered over to Piper Marsh. The hoped-for
Bittern
didn't show, although one was seen here in the morning (BB/MB). I continued on to Huxter Well, where I met up with Chris Bell in Mitchell Hide. Chris spotted an adult Great Black-backed Gull on Cell 1b but little else was seen so we walked back towards the centre. 2 Tree Creeper and a Goldcrest were in a mixes tit flock on Black Carr Field. Back at the cafe we met up with SB/RB/DC/HW. Sue and Dave had heard what could have been
Bittern
'booms' coming from the west end of the reserve. Roger had heard a Song Thrush singing near Willow Marsh. On the way back to the car park, along the western boundary, approximately 30 Redwing flew over in a southerly direction; a Song Thrush was singing in the hedgerow and a pair of Bullfinch were also seen.
Saturday 9th
A real sign of spring migration this morning with a Ringed Plover flying over Huxter Well Marsh, Cell 1b at 6.45am, ten minutes later two Dunlin were flying over the same cell. Three Goldeneye, a male and two females were on the West Scrape at 6.40am (later the male was displaying on Cell 1b). Nine Great-Black-backed Gull had roosted on Cell 1b with twenty-two Herring Gull, and later at 7.50am there were four Dunlin on the Lagoon (Tony Elliott).
On Huxter Well Marsh Cell 3b had a single Dunlin , one Snipe and three Oystercatcher. two Song Thrush were seen and heard at Sedum House and St Catherine's Copse (BGAB/MAB).
Below are two images taken in very dull, wet conditions at the Willow Pool feeding station by Paul Foster.
Left, Great Spotted Woodpecker female and right Willow Tit with Great Tit in background both images © Paul Foster
Thursday 7th
Willow Tit 2, Coal tit 2, Reed Bunting 6+ along with all the other usual birds at Willow Pool feeding station (Michael Bird).
Tuesday 5th
Childers Wood had a single Great Spotted Woodpecker and at least two Wren (Allan Parker)
The female Goldeneye on the West Scrape of Huxter Well Marsh now numbered three (Dave Carroll)
Monday 4th
Willow Pool had a Great Spotted Woodpecker and male & female Reed Bunting. Huxter Well Marsh had male and female Goldfinch (Diane Drury).
Sunday 3rd
Allan Parker / Ken Woolley report:-
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming in trees close to the Compound. A Song Thrush was singing in the large Hawthorn hedge next to the 'dragonfly ponds' in Loversall Field. At the Square Pond in Loversall Field a Blue Tit was collecting nest material in the form of Bullrush seed down and a male Reed bunting appeared to be territory there. Thirteen Greylag Geese were grazing on the large Loversall Carr Field despite all of the bangs created by the clay pigeon shooters who were in full spate!!!
A Willow Tit was calling from trees between the Field Centre and the Willow Pool feeding station. At 12:20 a Bittern flew from the east over Willow Pool and dropped into the Willow Marsh reedbeds. There were also reports, via a lady visitor, of a Bittern on Piper Marsh and another on Old Eaa both at around 12:00. At about 12.30 a small party c7 Siskin were in trees between the Field Centre and the Compound and a few minutes later a Jay flew across heading west.
A Bittern was seen today at 12 noon. The bird rose from reedbed on left hand side of the Old Eaa Hide and circled once before landing back in Old Eaa. (David and Julie Horncastle).
Ken Woolley reports:-
A Kingfisher (male) flew in from direction of Cottage Drain and landed in the usual place between the bridges on Mother Drain; it promptly caught a fish and flew with it east along Mother Drain towards Piper Marsh. I am told it has been seen several times today between the bridges and also at Piper Marsh. In addition I also saw eight Lesser Redpoll feeding in Birch trees by the Staff Car Park.
Saturday 2nd
A Bittern was seen on Low Ellers at 8:25 am plus a report of 2 Bittern on Piper Marsh no idea at what time and also a report of 2 Kingfisher at nest site on Piper Marsh in the morning.
A Redshank was on the lagoon 4 Shelduck and around 100 Lapwing were also on the Lagoon. A Treecreeper was seen near Warden's car park.
There were 3 sightings of Buzzard over M18.
2 Little Egret were on Huxter Well Marsh along with 5 Great Crested Grebe and a pair of Little Grebe. 2 Herring Gull on the raft in Cell 1b, 12 or more Wigeon were grazing on the bank between Cells 3a and 3b plus 4 grazing on an island in Cell 3b (Michael Bird).
February 2013
Tuesday 26th
Taken on Mother Drain between the railway bridges the image below, taken by Lynne Wattam, shows a pair of Kingfisher . The male is on the left (all dark bill) getting what appears to be a telling off' from the female (orange on the bill or 'a little bit of lipstick').
Kingfisher pair © Lynne Wattam
A dull damp day today at Potteric Carr. Birds seen included 6 Bullfinch outside the Decoy Marsh hide. A pair of Little Grebe on the marsh and Black-headed Gulls on the island. BGAB and KL had a Bittern fly in from the Loversall Pool area in the afternoon.
At Old Eaa, a Water Rail , came to edge of cut reeds in front and flew over to left-hand reeds.
Willow Pool:- 2 Willow Tit plus the usual birds.
Mother Drain had Kingfisher , Little Egret , Grey Heron.
Huxter Well Marsh Lagoon:- Redshank,2 Oyscatcher,4 Shelduck, c 200 Teal, 100 Black-headed Gull, Great Crested Grebe, 1 Grey Heron. Cell 2b:- Great Crested Grebe, 12 Wigeon. Cell 1b a Kingfisher flew over.
West Scrape:- 2 Little Egret on Bank, then later seen in Mother Drain from Iron Bridge.
Sedum House feeders had Redpoll and Goldfinch in good numbers. Jay were seen a couple of times (Michael Bird / Myong Suk)
Sunday 24th
Richard Scott reports:-
1
Kingfisher
Mother Drain
1 Sparrowhawk Piper Marsh
6 Buzzard seen from Hawthorn Bank
2 Kestrel M18/Huxter Well Marsh
7 Shelduck Lagoon Huxter Well Marsh
2
Little Egret
Huxter Well Marsh
Single
Water Rails
calling from Piper Marsh, Low Ellers and the Lagoon
13 Wigeon HWM
16 Common Gull Huxter Well Marsh
1 Common Gull Low Ellers
1
Treecreepe
r Warden's car park
A single Redwing was feeding on the ground near the Reserve entrance and a single Redshank flew towards the East Scrape on Huxter Well Marsh (Sue Cullen).
Susan & Allan Parker / Ken Woolley report:-
Two Goldcrest and two Jay were between the Pumping Station and the 'under bridge' and a Kingfisher was in the usual place between the bridges on Mother Drain. A small party of Long-tailed Tit were noted in the trees on the railway embankment and a pair of Oystercatcher flew over heading north-west.
Along the path towards the Piper Marsh hide we noted two Treecreeper .
From the Piper Marsh Hide we had the usual pair of Mute Swan, c12 Gadwall, c 20 Teal, c10 Mallard, 8 Shoveler mainly males, 5 Pochard, 3 males and 2 females and 3 male Reed Bunting in some sort of territorial dispute on the far side, There was a northerly movement of large gulls mainly Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull of various ages.
At 10:29 a Bittern flew from the south-west corner across the front of the hide dropping into the reeds in the south-east corner. Three minutes later it flew out climbing up over the trees before descending down and disappearing towards Seven Arches Carr. A Water Rail was calling from the reeds but didn't show.
The West Scrape held c150 Black-headed Gull, 8 Common Gull, a 1st winter Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1 adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, two Little Egret , a pair of Mute Swan and c20 Gadwall.
The view from the Mitchell Hide produced 3 Cormorant roosting on the raft along with a pair of Herring Gull, 2 adult pair of Mute Swan and 6 immature, a pair of Lesser Black-backed Gull, c30 Lapwing. All the usual duck species included c20 Shoveler, good numbers of Teal with smaller numbers of Gadwall, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard and a single Shelduck. Greylag numbered 14 and a Grey Heron was in flight heading towards Piper Marsh.
A female Kestrel was hunting over St. Catherine's Fields.
From St. Catherine's Hide a pair of Great Crested Grebe were together.
Hawthorn Hide revealed c12 Wigeon, a Little Grebe was heard and a Buzzard was noted in the far distance.
Duchess Hide had 4 pair of Shelduck roosting on the islands, c200 Teal, 10 Gadwall and a single Great Crested Grebe .
Following lunch we went round the western part of the Reserve.
Old Eaa produced small numbers of duck which included Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, 3 male Pochard and a single Tufted Duck.
Viewing from Childers Hide across Low Ellers Marsh produced the usual duck plus 2 Heron perched on the fence below the far railway embankment, a single Common Gull and c50 Coot.
The Alder and Birch trees around Sedum House produced 2 Siskin a male and a female, c20 Lesser Redpoll , c12 Goldfinch, Chaffinch, Blue Tit and Great Tit.
A Water Rail was heard calling in the area of Division Drain / Loversall Field Ponds and a single Kestrel flew over.
Loversall Bank Hide produced c20 Teal, a couple of pair of Gadwall, two Coot and a single Moorhen,
Willow Pool feeding station had all the usual small birds which included several Coal Tit and a single Willow Tit . Also noted were single male and female Great Spotted Woodpecker .
A Bittern was seen at Piper Marsh at about 1.30pm (Ian Heppenstall)
Left, Shoveler and right Gadwall flocks in flight both images © Sue Trout
(Note the flocks are of males chasing a single female, whose a lucky girl then!!!)
Bittern in flight at 10.29 this morning © Sue Trout
Saturday 23rd
2 Little Egret initially on Mother Drain and later on Huxter Well Marsh with a Black Swan, 15+ Shelduck, 2 Oystercatcher, 5 Common Gull and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull. A flock of 50+ Lapwing arrived mid afternoon. A male Kingfisher showed well on Mother Drain. Also seen were 2 Bullfinch, a female Great Spotted Woodpecker and 3 Jay (Col Neale)
Waiting for the Kingfisher to appear at Mother Drain and was delighted when we spotted two. Then near St. Catherine's Copse we spotted 4 Long Tailed Tit. Bullfinch near the bridge at Sedum House, a Goldcrest on the Green Trail near the Royal Mail building, and all the usual visitors at Willow Pool (Paul Foster / Helen Johnson).
High up in a group of Lombardy Poplars at the bottom of gardens adjoining Stoops Road / Ellers Avenue, a flock of 30 Waxwing gathered noisily. Initially their loud calls were mistaken for Longed Tailed Tit. They rested briefly before heading west in the direction of Potteric Carr ( John Evans) .
Left, Long-tailed Tit and right Kingfisher both images © Paul Foster
Friday 22nd
This image of a Jay was taken at the Willow Pool feeding station today by Paul Foster.
Jay © Paul Foster
Thursday 21st
This female Great Spotted Woodpecker was photographed today near the Willow Poll feeding station by David Jackson.
Great Spotted Woodpecker female © David Jackson
Wednesday 20th
Steve Furber reports:-
2 Goldeneye , 1 on Low Ellers and 1 on West Scrape. 2 Little Egret on East Scrape. 1 Cetti's Warbler calling from Old Eaa Marsh. 2 Water Rail calling - 1 from Old Eaa Marsh and 1 on Low Ellers. 2 Oystercatch er and 1 Redshank on Huxter Well Marsh. 2 Linnet in the 'Big Hedge' on Huxter Well Marsh.
Below are some of the images taken by Allen Holmes on the Reserve this week. They show a flock of Gadwall in flight which looks like five males chasing a female and below that a pair, with the male displaying to the female. Also shown are images of a Bittern in flight through the reeds and a pair of Shoveler copulating. Finally is an image of a Willow Tit one of the Potteric Carr specialities.
Allen doesn't say exactly where they were taken but I would guess the first four are from Piper Marsh and the Willow Tit from Willow Pool.
Gadwall flock © Allan Holmes
Gadwall pair with male displaying © Allen Holmes
Left, Bittern in flight and right, Shoveler pair mating both images © Allan Holmes
Willow Tit © Allen Holmes
Tuesday 19th
A single Jay flew across the north end of Cottage Drain, a small flock of Long-tailed Tit were in trees on Loversall Bank East and two Redwing were at the north end of Hawthorn Bank (Allan Parker).
A male Pintail was on Huxter Well Marsh, Cell 1B along with four Shelduck. Two Oystercatcher and c30 Shoveler were also on the Marsh. A Buzzard was over Rossington Carr Fields this morning. Bullfinch were noted along the path past St. Catherine's Fields, and a Kingfisher was on Mother Drain near the railway bridges. A Bittern was on Decoy Marsh at 2 :20pm (Michael Bird et al).
A Cetti's Warbler was heard in the usual area Decoy Marsh / Old Eaa Marsh (Dave Horncastle).
Ken Woolley reports:-
A Barn Owl was flying over Huxter Well Marsh (Roger Bird et al). I understand that other people also saw it and some say they saw two. Rob Mokryj and Barry Wardley saw three Bittern on Piper Marsh this afternoon.
Monday 18th
Taken yesterday (Sunday) from the Piper Marsh Hide by David Roberts are these images of Bittern and Mute Swan.
Bittern © David Roberts
Mute Swan © David Roberts
Sunday 17th
Siskin and Redpoll are still present on the Reserve in the area between Decoy Marsh and Old Eaa Marsh (Catherine & Steve Hunter)
A pair of Mistle Thrush were in one of the Oak trees on Black Carr Field and a Willow Tit was in trees next to the boardwalk to Willow Pool Hide (Allan Parker)
Two Bittern were performing throughout the day for a hide full of birdwatchers and photographers at Piper Marsh and a pair of Oystercatcher flew through. A Kingfisher was prospecting the nest hole on Piper Marsh and a Water Rail was heard calling from the reeds (Adrian Andruchiw / Susan Parker et al)
Two possibly three Little Egret were on Huxter Well Marsh and the female Goldeneye was still on the West Scrape. Two pair of Lesser Black-backed Gull and a pair of Great Crested Grebe, in full breeding plumage, were also noted. A Black Swan was also present (Susan Parker).
Two Buzzard were seen soaring over the northern side of the Reserve (Allan Parker).
A Kingfisher was in the usual place between the railway bridges over Mother Drain.
Left, Siskin feeding in Alder and right Dunnock both images © Russ Bridges
Left, male Reed Bunting are at various stages of moulting into breeding plumage and right one of the Reserve's confiding Robin both images © Allan Parker ARPS
Friday 15th
I spent the afternoon at Potteric today and was rewarded with good views of a
Bittern
at around 3pm. It suddenly, and briefly, appeared at the eastern end of the cut reed in front of Piper Marsh Hide, before flying to the reedbed at the western end of the marsh. There were several visitors in the hide at the time and all enjoyed the close-up views of this impressive bird in flight.
The female Goldeneye remains on West Scrape and a single Oystercatcher landed on the north bank of West Scrape (Ian Heppenstall).
Thursday 14th
Below are a couple of in flight Bittern image, taken today, by Rob Mokryj from the Piper Marsh hide.
Bittern both images © Rob Mokryj
Wednesday 13th
Two Bittern were seen today on Piper Marsh flying over the reeds at the far side (see image) Paul Paddock.
Bittern in flight, Piper Marsh © Paul Paddock
Sue & Stan Cullen report:-
There was a flock of Goldfinch near the entrance and 2 Bullfinch off the path near Royal Mail depot.
A Bittern was on Low Ellers seen from Childers Hide at 10.00am (noted landing on the now small reed island to left of centre, it was then seen flying right to the far right corner and turning along the reeds on right hand side where it landed.
A mixed flock of Siskin and Redpoll were flying between Alder trees but feeding on the railway embankment after Old Eaa Marsh towards the warden's car park.
Lots of activity on the feeders from Willow Pool hide including Willow Tit. (Very nice scones in the cafe).
A Kingfisher was in it’s usual place on Mother Drain through the railway bridge noted from the under-bridge.
A Bittern on Piper Marsh was seen, by a good number of happy people, before we arrived flying a circuit of the Marsh. Later about 11.30 am while we were there it flew from near the right hand side of the hide across to the centre of the far side and then along the back heading right with a couple more flights.
We made a quick visit to Mitchell Hide to see the gulls. Plenty of Black-headed Gull, about 10 Common Gull, a Lesser Black-backed Gull, 2 or 3 adult Herring Gull plus 2 immature birds, only other things noticed there was a group of about 10 Shoveler. As it had been snowing since Piper Marsh we decided to get back to the cafe before calling it a day.
Tuesday 12th
2 Bittern were seen at Piper Marsh early afternoon today, one perched in the reeds at the back and the other seen in flight before landing in the reeds at the eastern corner. I understand that 3 Bittern were seen here early morning. A single female Goldeneye was on the West Scrape in the afternoon. Small birds seemed a bit thin on the ground but 4 Bullfinch were noted in the hedgerow adjacent to Decoy Lake and a single Treecreeper was in Old Eaa scrub (Ian Heppenstall).
Monday 11th
Steve Furber reports:-
3 Bittern were reported at Piper Marsh this morning, 1 Oystercatcher on Huxter Well Marsh, 1 Herring Gull of the northern nominate race Larus argentatus argentatus on Huxter Well Marsh (see photo).
Herring Gull Larus argentatus argentatus of the nominate northern race © Steve Furber
The slightly darker mantle and large white 'mirrors' in the outer primaries, compared to the UK race Larus argentatus argenteus, show well in this image by Steve. This race breeds Denmark, Scandinavia, east to the Karin peninsula and the coast of the White Sea. A nice find at Potteric Carr by Steve.
Sunday 10th
At about 12.00 noon 2 Bittern flew in and landed on the west side of Low Ellers Marsh. Later in the day (2.15pm) at Piper Marsh 2 Bittern flew in to land and disappear into the reeds at the far side from the hide (Ann Ward).
1 Cetti's Warble r Old Eaa Marsh, 1 Water Rail Low Ellers Marsh, 2 Treecreeper and 14 Shelduck Huxter Well Marsh. The female Goldeneye was still on the West Scrape (Richard Scott).
Treecreeper recent image © Maggie Bruce
Saturday 9th
Seven Great Black-backed Gull had roosted on Cell 1b at 6.45am along with 21 Herring Gulls, 3 Lesser Black-backed and 2 Common Gull. A female Goldeneye dropped into West Scrape at 7.55am and with so much water, it was able to dive and feed on the scrape (Tony Elliott).
Friday 8th
I have it on good authority that 3 Bittern were on the Reserve on Tuesday morning, 2 seen on Piper Marsh plus one seen on Low Ellers Marsh.
One was also seen on Thursday (7th) morning on Piper Marsh (Michael Bird).
Thursday 7th
On the footpath between Decoy and Old Eaa Hides, a mixed flock of approximately 20 Redpoll and Siskin were feeding on Alder seeds, disturbed during recent high winds.
From the Duchess hide the following birds were visible, a single Grey Heron, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag Goose, 6 Coot, 4 Black Headed Gull . In the far distance, 3 Cormorants were visible on a raft in front of the Roger Mitchell Hide.
Viewed from the Railway Bridge nearest to the Duchess Hide, and looking North, a
Kingfisher
was perched over the water, ready to fish. It was observed for several minutes without entering the water before flying upstream towards the Pumping Station.
John & Gill Evans
Mixed Siskin / lesser Redpoll feeding on path © John & Gill Evans
Left, drake Teal at Decoy Marsh and right, Robin at Willow Pool © John & Gill Evans
Wednesday 6th
Below are three images taken by Maggie Bruce on her first visit to the Reserve and from the limited information received it would appear they were taken along the Green Route path in the vicinity of Decoy Marsh and Old EAA. They show Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Treecreeper.
Siskin © Maggie Bruce
Left, Lesser Redpoll and right, Treecreeper © Maggie Bruce
Sunday 3rd
Allan Parker and Ken Woolley report:-
A Kingfisher was perched in an Elder bush between the two railway bridges over Mother Drain and was seen from the underbridge at about 9.30am.
Piper Marsh had c8 Tufted Duck, 2 male plus a pair of Shoveler, c10 Mallard, 1 pair Mute Swan and c80 Teal. 3 Great Black-backed Gull an adult and 2 1st winter immature birds flew over going from east to west. A Wren flew across the front of the hide and into the reeds on the right hand side. A Bittern flew from the far right hand corner and landed in the reed bed on the far side opposite the hide at 9.50 am but hadn't re-appeared by the time we left at 10.15 am.
The West Scrape held c70 Black-headed Gull, 4 adult and a single 1st winter Common Gull, 1 pair Shoveler, 2 Teal and c12 Gadwall. With the clay pigeon shooters in action the duck were very flighty with a least 100 Teal flying round the area.
2 possibly 3 Snipe were in flight over the Central Grassland area, also noted here was a single Meadow Pipit and a pair of Canada Goose.
Seen from the Mitchell Hide were 9 Cormorant consisting of 2 adult and seven immature and 3 Shelduck plus all the other usual duck. Pochard and Shoveler numbers seemed to be up. A single pair of Greylag flew off heading west. A single Grey Heron flew across. Good numbers of adult and immature Mute Swan were still about.
4 Wigeon and c40 Pochard were seen from the path down from the 'viewing screen'. c60 large gulls were heading west, against the strong wind, and included Great Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull with a few Common Gull.
Hawthorn Bank hide had c15 Pochard and c10 Tufted Duck.
From the Duchess Hide a pair of Shelduck were noted making a total of 5 on Huxter Well Marsh.
A mixed tit flock was feeding along Hawthorn Bank and consisted of mainly Long-tailed Tit but with Great Tit and Blue Tit also present.
What was almost certainly a second Bittern was seen from Childers Wood hide overlooking Low Ellers at about 11.45 am (per Helen Ensor).
Richard Scott reports:-
1 Treecreeper singing Old Eaa Marsh
6 Goldcrest around the Reserve
2 Sparrowhawk
3
Buzzard
over M18
295 Herring Gull flying over heading North West
3 Lesser Black-backed Gull heading North West
173 Great Black-backed Gull again heading North West
3 Shelduck Huxter Well Marsh
350 Teal Huxter Well Marsh
92 Pochard Huxter Well Marsh
20 Tufted Duck Huxter Well Marsh
30 Wigeon Huxter Well Marsh
A male and redhead
Goosander
flew over
11 Cormorant on Huxter Well Marsh plus 6 flying over
1 Little Grebe HWM
1
Kingfisher
Huxter Well Marsh
1
Kingfisher
Mother Drain
Ken Woolley's afternoon Bittern sightings :--
Low Ellers Marsh.
12.50pm flew across the back reed bed, from the right into the far left corner and out of sight. At 1.00pm it appeared at the reed edge, in front of where it landed, walked a few yards left then went back into the reeds. 1.45pm it flew from left front of the hide into the centre of the back reed bed. 1.55pm it flew from near where it landed at 1.45pm to 30/40 yards left, showed at the reed edge for a minute or so then walked back into the reed bed. I left the hide at about 2.05pm.
Piper Marsh.
2.00pm Seen by Adrian Andruchiw as it flew very low down from the left, near the round reed bed, to the back reed bed and landed roughly in line with the candelabra birch tree then walked right and out of sight. 3.00pm Again seen by Adrian ( I missed it ) it flew a short way from left to right and landed in the centre of the back reed bed out of sight. 3.25pm It flew again from near where it landed at 3.00pm to the right reed bed, just left of the Kingfisher island, then walked out of sight. I left about 3.35pm.
This obviously confirms there are two
Bittern
currently present.
Saturday 2nd
A Black Swan was on Huxter Well Marsh this morning, noted as we drove past on the M18 motorway (Allan & Susan Parker).
A Bittern has been seen at Piper Marsh for the last couple of days. Good views of it in front of the hide were had on Friday we heard. Today it flew from the right and landed on the island in front of the hide at around 9:15am (Michael Bird)
A Tawny Owl was calling near the Pumping Station at 6.30am. Two Great-Black Backed Gull had roosted with three Herring Gull and four Lesser-Black Backed Gull on Huxter Well Cell 1b. At 8.10am a single redhead Goosander flew over Huxter Well going north west, coming from south east possibly the River Torne (Tony Elliott).
January 2013
Tuesday 29th
Ken Woolley reports:-
As the weather was far better than the forecast I went Bittern hunting and achieved zero sightings, the same as everyone else I understand. There was very little to report, a Cetti's Warbler was heard from Decoy Marsh Hide (Sue Bird / Dave Carroll), I saw a Snipe in front of the same hide, post lunch. There were 4 Bullfinch (3 male & 1 female) plus c15 Goldfinch at the western end of the Access Track and the Kingfisher was in the usual place under the railway bridges over Mother Drain.
Sunday 27th
A Water Rail was noted at Old Eaa and a 2nd winter Mediterranean Gull flew into Cell 2a on Huxter Well Marsh from the east at 11am and landed on the ice but remained for just 5 minutes (Richard Scott).
Allan Parker/ Ken Woolley report:-
A Kingfisher was under the railway bridges on Mother Drain early morning and a Willow Tit was at the Willow Pool feeders (Ken Woolley).
A finch flock numbering about 15 birds consisted of 4 Goldfinch, 4 Redpoll and about 7 Siskin feeding in the Alders at the east end of Old Eaa Marsh
From Childers Hide looking across Low Ellers the following were noted, c100 Coot, 5 Tufted Duck, 1 pair Shoveler, c20 Mallard and 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
A walk round Childers Wood produced a single male Great Spotted Woodpecker , a couple of Blackbird and little else.
Decoy Marsh was the place to be with a Kingfisher flying through and a Bittern flying from one area of reeds into the reeds to the left of the hide early morning (per Mick Rose)
Ken and myself were in the hide about 10.40 when Ken thought he saw movement in the reeds to the right of the hide a frustrating ten minutes follow before the Bittern was located moving left within the reeds, we then, along with a couple, were extremely lucky when the bird came out of the reeds on to the ice, dipping its bill into a hole in the ice then standing up in full view for several minutes before disappearing back into the reeds. It was also in view around 2.30pm as well (per Peter Bullock).
Bittern (archive image from a previous year) © Allan Parker ARPS
The Willow Pool feeders had the usual species which included c 10 Reed Bunting and numbers of Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Dunnock and Robin.
After lunch Ken and myself set off to walk round Huxter Well Marsh calling in first at Duchess Hide from here we had 5 Grey Heron roosting on one of the islands. Also present, on the mainly frozen water, were c9 Teal, 6 Shoveler and 2 adult plus a single first year Mute Swan. 2 adult Great Black-backed Gull, 1 adult and 1 1st winter Herring Gull were in flight heading west.
Noted from Hawthorn Bank hide were c30 Teal, 8 Gadwall, 6 Pochard 1pair + 4 males, 3 Wigeon, c10 Mallard, and 2 adult and 5 first year Mute Swan.
c6 Long-tailed Tit were in the Silver Birch alongside the motorway.
Seen from the Viewing Screen was a pair of Gadwall and 7 Mute Swan, a mix of adults and immature.
Next stop was the Mitchell Hide were we noted 5 Cormorant, 3 immature, 1 adult and the adult showing all the signs of the race sinensis , c30 Shoveler, several pair of Gadwall, 1 Shelduck, good numbers of Teal, and small numbers of Tufted Duck, Greylag and Canada Goose, c12 Black-headed Gull and a single adult Common Gull. Also noted were three Lapwing and a single Skylark flew across the front of the hide.
Piper Marsh held only a single pair of Mute Swan.
The Kingfisher was back near the railway bridges over Mother Drain in the afternoon (Peter Bullock)
Saturday 26th
Three Woodcock , a two and a one, five minutes apart flew left in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide at 7.10am. Nine Waxwing flew across the motorway and Central Grassland towards Bessacarr at 8.05am, a Sparrowhawk was thinking of displaying in the sun over Willow Pool later and a Water Rail flew across the Access Track on the way out (Tony Elliott).
Col Neale reports:-
Willow Pool - c10 Reed Bunting, c30 Chaffinch, 1 Willow Tit , 2 Jay and a Coal Tit.
Mother drain to Piper marsh - a flock of 25+ Long tailed Tit, a flock of 10 Goldfinch, a single Goldcrest, a Redwing and a Kingfisher .
Field Centre - a male Bullfinch and a Redpoll.
Huxter Well Marsh large numbers of Mallard, Gadwall and Teal, c35 Shoveler on the lagoon, only one pair of Wigeon and a single Pochard. 2 Grey Heron, half a dozen Lapwing, c10 Common Gull and a Kestrel flew over.
Decoy Marsh - at 3.20 a Bittern flew across the marsh and landed in the central reeds.
Thursday 24th
Allan Parker reports:-
My old WEA class, now the 'Thursday Birders', visited the Reserve today we had an extended walk around the area and identified a total of forty species.
Seen from Childers Hide, overlooking Low Ellers which was mainly frozen over, were the following: Black-headed Gull c40, Mallard c20, Mallard c20, Mute Swan 1 and Carrion Crow 3.
The Alder trees next to the path past Old Eaa had a single male Bullfinch and 2 Great Tit. Three Greylag flew over heading east.
Willow Pool Hide had all the usual birds which included: Willow Tit 2 , Coal Tit c6, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Jay 3, Reed Bunting c10 and at least 10 Moorhen.
2 Kingfisher were flying west along Mother Drain before detouring through the Warden's Car Park and round the Pumping Station.
A mixed tit flock, in Black Carr Wood, included single Treecreeper and Redpoll. Out of the wood along the path to Piper Marsh a single Goldcrest was in brambles along side the path.
Piper Marsh was frozen over with the exception of a very small area of open water containing a pair of Mute Swan and nothing else!! A single Kestrel flew over Mother Drain as we walked towards the 'Iron Bridge'.
Noted from the Mitchell Hide were Teal c120, Mallard c70, Shoveler c20, Shelduck 2, Greylag c40, Mute Swan 2 adults and 5 first year, Black-headed Gull c50 with some coming into breeding plumage and c10 Common Gull a mix of adult and immature birds. Also present were 3 Cormorant, one of which showed all the signs of the Continental race Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis .
Coming back along the path past Piper Marsh 6 Siskin were feeding in an Alder tree.
A single Grey Heron flew across the the frozen water in front of the Duchess Hide and noted in the far distance towards the motorway were several Pochard.
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
Small numbers of Redpoll and Goldfinch were feeding on fallen seeds on the footpath alongside Decoy Marsh. 2 Tree Creeper were in the same area. More Redpoll, plus Siskin, were seen in Childers Wood but only in very small numbers. The star bird of the day was a Bittern , spotted by Sue Bird, feeding in the reeds on the left hand side of Low Ellers Marsh. Although only just into the reeds, it was difficult to see, as is so often the case with Bitterns! Eventually, I managed a decent view of the bird with the aid of Sue's telescope. Roger Bird, Dave Carroll and Helen Womack also had good views of the Bittern . Most of the reserve's water bodies were frozen, or largely so. Huxter Well held good numbers of common wildfowl. A single Shelduck and a couple of Wigeon were noted. 2 visiting bird-watchers also reported a Water Rail calling in Decoy Marsh.
Tuesday 22nd
Ken Woolley reports:-
As the weather today bore no resemblance to yesterday's forecast I changed my mind and visited Potteric Carr to take what I hope would be pretty snow pictures. I noted a few birds in the morning and a lot more in the afternoon after it clouded over so here is my bird report :--
St. Catherine's Copse South; 1 Goldcrest.
Decoy Marsh Hide / Royal Mail Building; 40+ Siskin; c10 Redpoll; 3 or 4 Goldfinch; 2 or 3 Dunnock; 1 Song Thrush; 3 Redwing; 1 Fieldfare and c12 Blackbird.
Huxter Well Cell 2A; 16 Teal; 61 Mallard; 1 Moorhen; 5 Coot; 2 Adult & 5 juvenile Mute Swan; 1 Little Grebe.
St. Catherine's Field West; 1 Buzzard; 1 Fieldfare.
Huxter Well Cell 2B; 6 Teal; c110 Mallard; 20 Coot.
Huxter Well Cell 3A; 2 Adult & 1 juvenile. Mute Swan; 1 Coot.
Huxter Well Cell 3B; 20 Teal; 2 Gadwall; 2 Adult & 3 juvenile Mute Swan; 1 Coot plus 2 Fieldfare on the southern bank.
Huxter Well Cell 1B; 100+ Mallard; 100+ Teal; c50 Shoveler; 2 Adult & 5 juvenile Mute Swan (same lot from Cell 2A ?); 40+ Coot;
Gulls included numerous Black-headed Gull, a few Common Gull plus 1 adult & 1 juvenile Herring Gull.
Huxter Well Cell 1A; 1 Grey Heron.
Mother Drain by Huxter Well Triangle; 1 Grey Heron ( possibly the Cell 1A one ).
Bird Report from Keith Lynes and Howard Hunt :-
Mother Drain, 1 Kingfisher , Mitchell Hide, c60 Shoveler. Various Waters :-- 8 Wigeon. Hawthorn Field, c12 Redwing, Black Carr Wood, 1Treecreeper.
Sunday 20th
There was a mixed flock of around 10 each of Redpoll and Goldfinch feeding on the ground along the path adjacent Decoy Marsh. 30 Siskin were in Alders in the same area and 2 Bullfinch were in the hedgerow. 5 Bullfinch were along the footpath near Decoy Lake (Ian & Janet Heppenstall).
Saturday 19th
25 - 30 Fieldfare flew over Hawthorn Field heading north and a Kingfisher was perched on one of the metal brackets under the railway bridge over Mother Drain, noted from the 'under bridge' (Ken Woolley).
Wednesday 16th
Steve Furber reports:-
1 Woodcock flushed from near Piper Marsh Hide
2 Snipe over Huxter Well Marsh
1 Water Rail along Willow Bank
Noted around reserve were 10 Bullfinch, 8 Goldcrest, 1
Willow Tit
.
Tuesday 15th
Keith Lynes had a pair of Pintail on Huxter Well Marsh. I only had a small flock of Goldfinch and Redpoll feeding on weed seeds in front of Roger Mitchell Hide (Dave Carroll).
Ken Woolley reports:-
1 Song Thrush in Old Eaa Scrub.
25 Goldfinch by Field Centre Compound.
3 Goldfinch; 1 Redpoll & 1 Bullfinch (female) at the south edge of Balby Carr Copse.
8 Bullfinch ( 5 male & 3 female ) near the Royal Mail Building.
1 Little Grebe on Decoy Marsh.
Below are two images taken on the Reserve today by Russ Bridges. They are of Waxwing of which there were about 10 near the Mitchell Hide and this is also where he took the in flight shot of a Black-headed Gull.
Left, Waxwing and right, Black-headed Gull both images © Russ Bridges
Monday 14th
Below are more images from the camera of Paul Morgan all taken yesterday at the Willow Pool feeding station.
Left, Robin and right Dunnock both images © Paul Morgan
Left, male Blackbird and right, male Reed Bunting both images © Paul Morgan
Sunday 13th
Ian Heppenstall reports:-
Spent very little time walking around Potteric today but did see a Kingfisher on the Mother Drain near the wooden bridge, spotted earlier by KW. A tit flock in Childers Wood held at least 2 Goldcrest. Also in Childers Wood were 2 very vocal Great Spotted Woodpecker, several Wren, Dunnock, Robin and various Tit species. The Willow Pool feeding station was overrun with Grey Squirrels and small birds were very few in number.
Ken Woolley reports:-
Warden's Car Park. A small (c10) mixed flock of Goldfinch and Siskin.
Decoy Marsh Hide. In addition to the usual water fowl there was a Little Grebe and a Snipe.
Mother Drain (between the bridges). A single Kingfisher . I saw it just before lunch / thawing out and it was being watched by numerous people post lunch.
Hawthorn Bank. Two or three Redpoll.
Near the Royal Mail Building 4 Bullfinch (2 male & 2 female).
A Treecreeper was heard along Hawthorn Bank (Derek Bateson)
Left Siskin male and right, Bullfinch male both images © Paul Morgan
Tufted Duck pair on Piper Marsh © Paul Morgan
Saturday 12th
A Tawny Owl was calling near Decoy at 6.35am first thing, 9 Snipe were over Huxter Well Marsh at 8.10am and a female Goldeneye was in front of Hawthorne Bank Hide at 8.30am (see image). Tony Elliott.
Female Goldeneye © Tony Elliott
Friday 11th
Images taken this week on the Reserve are shown below. Firstly a rather nice image of a Dunnock by David Roberts taken at Willow Pool yesterday and also photographed at the same place but last Sunday 6th are images of Jay and male Great spotted Woodpecker by Russ Bridges.
Dunnock © David Roberts
Left, Jay and right male Great Spotted Woodpecker © Russ Bridges
Thursday 10th
A Bittern flew across Decoy Marsh this morning at 10.30am it was spooked by Coot and was photographed by Sue Trout.
Bittern at Decoy Marsh © Sue Trout
Wednesday 9th
Peter Dawson says nice to see some sunshine today for a change. Four Song Thrush were singing high up in Silver Birch trees at the start of Willow Bank. The sun shining on them made the arrow head markings on the breast show clearly - a distinction between them and the Mistle Thrush which has rounded spots.
Singing Song Thrush © Peter Dawson
Tuesday 8th
1 Jay Cottage Drain (Allan Parker et al)
2 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Allan Parker et al0
5 Bullfinch 4 female + 1 male Post Office building (Ken Woolley)
1 Treecreeper car park behind Field Centre (Ken Woolley)
1 Cetti's Warbler heard near Old Eaa Hide ( Mike Wilkinson) .
1 Willow Tit east of Willow Pool Hide (Ian Heppenstall.
Michael Bird reports:-
The Starling roost, which was in the reeds at Loversall Pool, took flight at 8:05 today, maybe 2 /3000 strong. A
Kingfisher
seen near wardens car park was flying down Mother Drain towards Seven Arches Carr from 'Iron Bridge'. A male Sparrowhawk took turns in perching on both of the little Oak trees on edge of Cell 1b spooking 50 lapwings before flying over the marsh into Piper Marsh scrub at around 10:00am. 5 Shelduck were on Cell 1b and another 2 later on the Lagoon. A pair of Wigeon were on Cell 1b plus approximately 20 more on Cell 2a. A Great Crested Grebe
in winter
plumage
was on Cell 2b , (BGAB/MAB).
Sunday 6th
Below is a list of birds seen by Richard Scott today on the Reserve today
1
Little Egret
- Huxter Well Marsh
4 Skylark - Central Grassland
7 Snipe - Central Grassland
2 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
1 Black Swan - Huxter Well Marsh
88 Shoveler - across reserve
52 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
41 Tufted Duck - across reserve
111 Pochard - across reserve
2 Great Crested Grebe - Huxter Well Marsh
182 Greylag Goose - HWM
285
Pink-footed Goose
(95 NW 10:00am, 125 west 10:40am, 65 west 10:43am)
1 Meadow Pipit - Huxter Well Marsh
1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
2 Sparrowhawk - Huxter Well Marsh
1 Kestrel - Huxter Well Marsh
1 Jay - Young Eaa
1
Cetti's Warbler
- Old Eaa
Morning records:-
A Great Spotted Woodpecker was 'drumming' on Loversall Bank not far from the Field Centre at 9.00am (Allan Parker /Derek Bateson / Ken Woolley)
A small finch flock in Alders at the east end of the Old Eaa reedbed consisted of 7 Lesser Redpoll, 2 Bullfinch and 4 Goldfinch (AP / DB / KW)
A Cetti's Warbler was heard near the Old Eaa hide (John Hancox / Ian Heppenstall)
20 Siskin were in Alders along the path near the Access track / Pumping Station (IH)
A Goldcrest was near the Decoy Marsh Hide (IH)
3 Bullfinch were along the path at the western end of the Reserve near Loversall Field (IH)
Afternoon records:-
3 Redwing were in trees next to Hawthorn Field (AP / KW)
Up to 3 male and a single female Reed Bunting were coming to the feeding station (AP / KW)
Piper Marsh held c25 Gadwall a few Teal, Mallard and a male and 2 female Tufted Duck (AP / KW)
2 Goldcrest were feeding next to the path near the 'Iron Bridge' (Paul Dowding)
The Wader Scrape had 4 Gadwall, c50 Black-headed Gull (some coming into breeding plumage) plus a single winter plumaged Common Gull (AP / KW)
Noted from the Mitchell Hide by AP / KW early afternoon were single Great Crested Grebe, c15 Pochard, c25 Shoveler, a pair of Shelduck, just 5 Wigeon (2 pair + a male), c15 Tufted Duck, c150 Greylag Goose and 4 Grey Heron roosting together.
A second Great Crested Grebe was noted on the lagoon in front of the viewing screen (AP / KW).
The lagoon in front of St. Catherine's Hide had a family party of Mute Swan consisting of the adult pair and five 1st year birds (AP / KW).
Below are three images taken today at the Willow Pool feeding station by Richard Adams.
Mute Swan pair © Richard Adams
Blue Tit © Richard Adams
Moorhen adult © Richard Adams
Thursday 3rd
A Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus in non-breeding plumage taken on Huxter Well Marsh today by Peter Dawson.
Great Crested Grebe © Peter Dawson
Tuesday 1st (New Year's Day)
A & S Parker / Ken Woolley report:-
In the morning a walk across to Childers Wood Hide produced little on Low Ellers but we noted a single Cormorant, several Pochard, Tufted Duck, Shoveler, Gadwall and about fifty gulls all Black-headed A walk round the wood was more productive and a large tit flock (c50) contained mainly Long-tailed Tit plus Great Tit, Blue Tit and Coal Tit. Also present with them were two possibly three Treecreeper. Along the bottom path a mixed flock (c50) of Siskin and Lesser Redpoll showed well ana a single Goldcrest was associating with them. There was no sign of the Water Rail heard and seen earlier in Childers Wood Marsh by Geoff and Lynn Facer.
Willow Pool Hide feeding station had single pairs of Mute Swan and Canada Goose. A single Willow Tit and a single female Reed Bunting were amongst the more common species coming to the feeders. Up to four Jay and ten Pheasant all female except for one male were also at the feeders.
In the afternoon a walk to Piper Marsh and then round Huxter Well Marsh produced little of note but we did record several Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull along with a small movement of Great Black-backed Gull and Herring Gull heading from the east to the west. Single Great Crested and Little Grebe were present with about twenty Wigeon. Large numbers of Greylag and Teal were seen along with smaller numbers of Gadwall, Mallard, Pochard and Tufted Duck. A single pair of Shelduck were noted on the lagoon in front of the Duchess Hide. Up to 250 Lapwing were very restless on and over the area. A male Kestrel was also in the area.
Other birds reported were a single Red Kite in flight over the Piper Marsh area mobbed by Carrion Crow at 11.15 am (Sue Richardson et all), a fly through by Goosander, a Kingfisher on Mother Drain (Richard Scott), Cetti's Warbler heard in the Decoy Marsh / Old Eaa area (John & Maureen Hancox), two Buzzard over the Low Ellers / Bessacarr area ( Michael Bird & Dave Carroll), 15 Siskin settled in Alder trees near the volunteers car park (D. Horncastle), forty Pink-footed Goose flew west over the Huxter Well viewing screen at 12.15pm and another Willow Tit was along Loversall Bank (John & Maureen Hancox).
John Evans reports:-
A flock of 30 Waxwing Bombycilia garrulus were clearly visible feeding on Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus berries in the hedgerow bordering the path between Potteric Carr and Doncaster Lakeside (from Bessacarr, head down Short Lane, take the path past the farm to the southern end of Lakeside, then turn left heading towards land bordering Potteric Carr), this morning at 11.30am. They gathered in the upper branches of Poplar trees, facing north into the breeze and then dropped down to feed acrobatically like parrots.
Waxwing flock © John Evans
December 2012
Sunday 30th
Didn't see too much bird-wise but there were 2 'redhead' Goosander on the Lagoon at around 2pm, although I understand they flew off shortly after I left Duchess Hide. Single Bittern were reported from Beeston Hide at around noon and then, again, at 3pm, the latter seen by Chris Bell. A Cetti's Warbler was heard calling this morning (Sue Bird). Nothing else out of the ordinary insofar as I am aware (Ian Heppenstall).
I got lucky today with 60+ Waxwing in the trees near the Reserve car park and later on in the day I had a very obliging Goldcrest showing down to 3ft (see images) (Mike Robinson)
Left and right, Waxwing both images © Mike Robinson
Left and right, Goldcrest both images © Mike Robinson
Thursday 27th
Two Whooper Swan were seen on Huxter Well Marsh from the Roger Mitchell hide, looking over to Piper Marsh (Louise Adams).
Sunday 23rd
A very brief visit to Potteric today produced a single Woodcock disturbed in Childers Wood; 3 Siskin, 1 Redpoll and 2 Goldfinch were together in the Alders adjacent Decoy Marsh and a single cock Bullfinch was near the Mother Drain footbridge by the reserve entrance. Good numbers of wildfowl and Coot are now present on Low Ellers but nothing unusual was seen. The recent heavy rain has flooded several parts of the reserve, including around the boardwalk by the Viaduct, Hawthorn Field and areas around the dragonfly ponds. Richard Scott had seen a Little Egret flying over Huxter Well this morning(Ian Heppenstall).
The only observation of birds I did was from Childers Hide and even then only a partial count. For the record in addition to Mallard and Shoveler there were some 30+ Teal; 8+ Wigeon and just over 100 Coot (Ken Woolley
Saturday 22nd
Volunteers will be covering the daily bird feeding at Willow Pool and Sedum House during the Reserve's four day closure over the period 25th—28th December.
Tuesday 18th
There was a a mixed flock of tit species feeding in the Birch trees along Loversall Bank which included Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit and Blue Tit and a very confiding Robin was near the pond dipping site (Allan Parker).
Chris Bell saw a Goldcrest Regulus regulus , in Willow Marsh, in front of Beeston Hide, which I also spotted later (Ken Woolley).
European Robin Erithacus rubecula taken with a 180mm macro + 1.4 extender © Allan Parker ARPS
Robin © Allan Parker ARPS
Saturday 15th
There were 11 Great-Black Backed Gull (7 adults, 4 1st winter) that had roosted on Cell 1b, at 7.10am. Also on here were 18 Herring Gull and 13 Lesser-Black Backed Gull. At 7.48am some 13,000 Starling came out of the reeds on the edge of Cell 1b,they must have relocated their roost because on recent nights they have been on Low Ellers (Tony Elliott).
Tuesday 11th
A mixed flock of Long-tailed Tit and Redpoll were feeding in Silver Birch trees along Willow Bank (Allan Parker / Derek Bateson)
Small parties of Redpoll and Siskin were present along the footpaths adjacent to both Decoy Marsh and Piper Marsh. Male and female Bullfinch were seen adjacent Black Carr Wood / Piper Marsh and a Kingfisher was along the Mother Drain. MB/BB had spotted a female Goldeneye on Huxter Well cell 1B and SB reported a Stonechat on Central Grassland (Ian Heppenstall).
Saturday 8th
07-45 Starling flock 10,000 plus flew high over Bessacarr heading east from overnight roost at Potteric Carr. On a daily basis, large groups of Starling are seen dashing low towards Potteric Carr around 16-00 hours to join the murmuration before sunset (flying east to west).
In a Bessacarr garden 3 Blackcap (2 female and 1 male) regularly visit feeders accompanied by up to 5 Reed Buntings and a mixed tit flock of Blue, Great and Coal tits. Up to 9 Redpoll regularly feed on Nyjer seed. (
John Evans)
A very accommodating Kestrel taken today near the 'Iron Bridge'. Totally unfazed by human presence. Image © Sue Trout
Tuesday 4th
Cetti's Warbler was heard in Old Eaa, Bullfinch, Siskin, Lesser Redpoll and Goldfinch were in small groups over the reserve. Woodcock was disturbed on the path edge in Black Carr Field. Only one pair of Wigeon were seen. A Kingfisher was on Mother Drain in the usual place. Willow Pool feeding station was busy with 14 Chaffinch, Willow Tit, Reed Buntings, Blue and Great Tits, 2 Jays, Great Spotted Woodpecker and the usual geese, ducks, Moorhen and corvids. Several Treecreeper and Goldcrest were with tit flocks. A Bittern flew on Willow Marsh at 14.40. The Starling roost was again spectacular on Low Ellers. 10000+ going in to roost at 16.10, giving excellent displays as two Sparrowhawk tried to take their last meal of the day!!!
Saturday 1st
A Woodcock was stood in the middle of the drive onto he Reserve at 6.35am. A female Goldeneye was feeding in front of St. Catherine's Hide, and I flushed another Woodcock near the ramp onto Hawthorn Bank. A Little Egret was on the drain and on way back to the carpark, a single Waxwing was feeding with 5 Bullfinch near the wooden footbridge that goes under railway and over Mother Drain (Tony Elliott).
Michael Bird reports:-
There is a report in Sedum House of a Bittern seen in Willow Marsh on Friday.
Today was quite a nice and surprisingly warm day when in the sun. The 3 Goldeneye were asleep on Cell 2b later in the morning, an adult female and 2 young. The Little Egret was still in the Mother Drain along with a Grey Heron. There were still some Redwing in the 'Big Hedge' and a Song thrush was in the hedge running through St Catherine's Field were the Hebridean sheep are now grazing. Most waters mostly were mainly frozen but Cell 1b still had plenty of open water along by the Mother Drain bank where most of the duck were congregated and other cells had some open water along sheltered reed edges.