Dearne Valley

The dunnock and robin have been singing for a while now and today – even in the rain – the great tit joined in. It may still be mid-winter, but you don’t have to look very far for signs of early spring.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Most of the birds at Old Moor only seem to see us humans as threats, but one species at this time of year spots us coming a mile off – and for very…

Hello again, it's time for our monthly blog from our WEX group. As per usual, Freddie has written some lovely words about what they did at their recent meeting. Thanks once again Freddie. :) 

WEX BLOG

This time at WEX we were making bird feeders because it is nearly time for the annual RSPB big garden bird watch! The big garden bird watch is a survey that anyone can get involved with of different species of garden…

Well, this is just getting silly now! Today twelve bearded tits happily fed in the sunshine, six feet from a small crowd of watchers, FOR THREE HOURS!

I mean, these birds are supposed to be tricky to find, flighty, easily spooked! More details in a moment but first, for those in a hurry, here’s the summary of sightings from today…

On Bolton Ings today it was great to see a pair of pintail reported along…

“I can’t believe I was so lucky!” remarked one visitor as they left Old Moor this afternoon.

We had been sharing sightings from the day – a day when once again, there were superb views of bearded tit on the Reedbed Trail. More detail on that in a moment, but first here is today’s summary of sightings…

Visitors to Old Moor today recorded at least six - though some saw twelve - bearded…

Old Moor was a very busy place today, full of folk enjoying a bit of sun and the added sparkle of a frosty start.

Here’s today’s summary of sightings…

At Adwick Washland today, there were plenty of good sightings including two marsh harrier and a pair of stonechat. The latter could be seen feeding on the muck heaps at the western end of the reserve.

A dapper male stonechat from Gary Stones. Thanks…

Evening Folks! Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Despite the dismal weather today, two bearded tit were seen on the Reedbed Trail along with a very confiding kestrel. Other birds of prey seen today were buzzard and, first thing, a barn owl hunting near the Tree Sparrow Farm.

Eighty great black-backed gull were counted leaving the Bolton Ings roost early this morning along with the recent Caspian.

Storm Brendan may have cleared Old Moor of all but the most determined visitors today, but yet there were sightings! For me the most surprising birds at Old Moor today were some of the most humble – tree sparrows in (surprisingly) the Tree Sparrow Farm. But I am getting ahead of myself, here is the summary of sightings…

At a similarly cold and blustery Edderthorpe today, the recent great white egret was…

Old Moor welcomed the High Peak Local RSPB Group today and they picked a great day to explore the Dearne Valley! Not only did the early rain soon clear, but they timed their visit to Old Moor’s reedbeds to perfection!

Here’s today’s summary of sightings…

In fact, there were so many sightings today, that I couldn’t fit them all on the map. So, here’s a few extras.

At Wombwell Ings were…

A day when Old Moor was not only busy with birds, but with work starting on the car park, the play area and the wildlife ponds.

Here’s the summary of sightings from the day…

Ever wondered why this blog gets published about nine in the evening? – It’s to allow time for all those late sightings to come in. And tonight was a case in point. Around dusk tonight, on Bolton Ings, there was the ‘other…

Behind the scenes, from first light, the volunteers and staff at Old Moor prepare the reserve for the day ahead. Most of this work goes unseen but not – I know – unappreciated. And part of that preparation is to walk the lanes and make the first observations of the day.

Here is tonight’s summary of sightings…

So, when early birder Paul Gould, checked Wath Ings this morning and found more than…

With the holidays well and truly over and the New Year only five days old, today was a busy one in the Dearne Valley. Watchers were out in force and even got to enjoy some January sun.

Here is that summary of sightings…

First of all, you might have noticed a number of marsh harrier sightings in the summary above. This is the same bird that, as far as I can make out, started hunting this morning at Adwick Wash…

Evening Folks. So the year of perfect vision is upon us at last! At Old Moor, the eagle-eyed picked out a scaup on Wath Ings today!

Here is today’s summary…

So, if you missed the scaup that visited Old Moor on the Dec 8 last year, here is a second chance. First noticed about 13.00, the bird spent the afternoon in eastern corner of the main marsh and was seen best from Wath Ings Hide.

Other sightings today…

Another great day for bearded tit sightings! There was hardly a breath of wind this morning; perfect for scanning the Reedbed Trail for beardies.

Here’s today’s summary…

Of course, it’s not all about beardies: reed bunting were feeding on those reed heads; pochard, looking smart, were drawing attention in front of the hide; as were the little grebe, gadwall and the enigmatic Cetti’s warblers…

Hello there, I’m back once more with a blog of sightings from today, mainly from Old Moor.

The only satellite site news I have for you is from Ken Foundation who was at Adwick. He told us of 29 pink footed geese in the fields to the north of the reserve with the greylag flock (approx. 150).

At Old Moor the weather was pretty grey, or atmospheric as some like to say.

I’ll begin with the beardies. A flock of at least…

Hello there, it's been a while since I did a 'proper' blog and this one isn't quite that, but hopefully it's keeping things going. 

Firstly - Boxing Day. As far as I can tell, this is the first year in a long while that Old Moor will be opening on Boxing Day. The reserve will open at 11am and close at 5pm. So do come along for a bit of fresh air, exercise and of course, the wildlife. Also on Boxing…

Bearded tit were again seen well today at Old Moor as were those goldeneye and goosander.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

First news this morning was of sixty or so pink-footed geese flying through the Dearne Valley. This was followed by yet more sightings of those bearded tit on Old Moor’s Reedbed Trail. It seems the same pair were feeding near the ‘elbow’ of the trail, just before you turn…

Absolutely superb views of bearded tit today! To be fair, conditions were perfect: barely any wind; a bit of sun to bring them out; and no sign of any predators!

Here’s the summary of sightings from the day …

Early this morning a pair of bearded tit were reported feeding very close to the path on the Reedbed Trail.  If that wasn’t enough, watchers also picked up a barn owl hunting in the mists along…

I’ve been a bit lax this year; this is the only blog I’ve managed to do! I did start it a few months ago, but life got in the way so, here it is now … 3 blogs for the price of one!

Tree planting at Houghton.

January saw us erecting some fences and planting trees (a forest) at Houghton.

I think somewhere in the region of 5000 trees were planted, including the hedge in the picture below.

The hedge…

Well that one certainly blew away any cobwebs! It was a blustery winter’s day in the Dearne Valley today and one where it paid to keep a close eye on those dark clouds. But then, you’re never that far from shelter at Old Moor.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

I began my visit today with a walk to the Reedbed Hide. Here, along the edge of the meadow, before the path turns a right-angle to…

With just over a week to go to the shortest day, there was little change at Old Moor today. What is unusual is that, just down the road at Edderthorpe Flash, those two great white egrets seem determined to stay put. They were seen again today at the southern end of the flash.

Here is today’s summary…

One thing that never seems to change about this time of year is just how bold our robins become. Walk down…

Well, yes, okay – the weather forecasters did warn us! Today the Dearne Valley made Mordor look like quite a nice place for a picnic! I knew it was bad when I walked into a hide and was greeted by fellow watchers with, “Oh, here’s another idiot.”

Charming.

Joking aside, it was a pretty rough day out there yet there were still pearls to be found.

Here’s the summary of sightings…

After…

Old Moor welcomed a local RSPB group from Nottinghamshire today who very much seemed to enjoy their visit. Thanks, as always, to all visitors who shared their sightings with us today. It all helps with the ‘picture’ of the day.

Here is the summary…

At Adwick Washland, the news is that wellies are no longer required now that the flood waters are receding. Chief among the sightings there was the recent…

For good reasons, many birds are secretive. Bittern are famous for it. Bearded tit and water rail seem to go either way – either incredibly shy or surprisingly bold. If you’ve visited Old Moor and seen any of those three, count yourself lucky.

But if there’s one bird – and a regular at Old Moor – that takes the biscuit for being hard to spot it’s the jack snipe.

Here is today’s summary…

After all the rains of last week, it was heartening to see so many people at Old Moor today, enjoying the first sharp, sunny winter’s day.

Here’s the summary of sightings…

On the Reedbed Trail, a flock of some twenty or so long-tailed tit proved an acrobatic warm-up to views of the Dearne’s most elusive bird species. Three bittern were seen today – one on Old Moor, two at Bolton Ings. But…

Hello again, it's time once again for our monthly WEX blog written by Freddie, our very knowledgeable and enthusiastic writer. Thank you Freddie!

Over to him. :) 

This time at WEX we were doing a foraging hunt. Foraging is where you look round the natural environment for resources which might be of use to survive – to get food or build shelter, or even to make art.

We kicked off with puzzles or quizzes based…