Hello there! I'm 'filling in' on the sightings blog this week as Andrew isn't blogging this week. It's been a lovely warm day at Old Moor with lots to report. Apologies in that I don't seem to have the blog template any more so I'll be typing a few lists...

I'll start with sightings from the Barnsley Birders via Twitter.

Early this morning they reported 2 drake garganey on the Mere. This…

It was as if somebody out there fired a starting pistol today – and everything happened all at once! You’ll see what I mean when you scan today’s summary of sightings…

Bolton Ings news is provided by non-other than John Seeviour and includes a lesser whitethroat, three goldeneye, six chiffchaff and four blackcap. A full listing can be found here. Thanks John.

Adwick Washland’s sightings from…

What do a marsh harrier, an Egyptian goose and a brambling have in common? …Give up? – They were all seen today at Old Moor of course!

Here’s the list…

At Bolton Ings, the news of the day included: six blackcap, one green woodpecker, a little egret and seven pochard. Full sightings from John Seeviour can be found here. Thanks John.

From Adwick Washland, Vin Browne reported both peregrine and…

If I was to ask you, ‘what colour is spring?’ what would you say? Despite overcast skies in the Dearne Valley today, there was plenty of colour about - and some of it had wings.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

The amazing Karen Williams was Houghton way this morning and recorded fifty-four snipe, eighteen lapwing, eighteen pairs of reed bunting and three yellowhammer at Little Houghton

Evening folks! On a day that felt more like winter than spring, here is the summary of sightings from Old Moor…

At the remarkable Adwick Washland today, Gary Stones reported: two wheatear (one female), one yellow wagtail, five grey partridge, eleven avocet and three swallow among a full list that can be found here. Thanks Gary.

The news from Bolton Ings was provided by John Seeviour. His sightings included: two…

As the winter ducks slowly depart, today Old Moor welcomed back another spring migrant, the blackcap.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

At Adwick Washland, Gary Stones provided sightings that included: seven avocet, twenty or more redshank, four ringed plover, one little ringed plover and a black-tailed godwit. The Egyptian and the pink-footed goose were still present and a blackcap could be found here…

Finally the lanes of Old Moor resound with the cheery songs of chiffchaff, robin, dunnock, tree sparrow, chaffinch, great and blue tit. Full on spring at last!

Things are moving at a pace and down on the Reedbed Trail, one mother proudly paraded her brood – a coot with three young and (unless you know differently) the first hatch of 2019.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

From Adwick Washland,…

Hello again. It's time once more for another of our WEX blogs. As per usual, it's written by the very knowledgeable Freddie and this time we have photos from WEX George. Thanks go to you both, great job!

This time at WEX we did all about why Swifts and other birds are in decline. Firstly, I did a word search on the theme of migration. Then, because there were a few new people, we played the name game. This is…

Before the all-important sightings from today, here’s a quick reminder of the events coming up throughout April at Old Moor. A complete list can be found here. In addition, there are a number of guided walks coming up, the next being April 2 or – if you are feeling even more adventurous – there’s a dawn chorus walk on April 28! Full details can be found on the events tab of our Facebook page.

Not one but two bitterns showed themselves at the same time this afternoon! Extremely lucky watchers in the Bittern Hide enjoyed brilliant views of these two enigmatic birds as they appeared together on the rear bank of the Mere.

Here is the summary of today’s sightings…

First thing this morning, keen-eyed observers saw a red kite sail over the Old Moor Visitor Centre heading south. And yes, those four…

Today Old Moor welcomed the Shropshire Ornithological Society – a group of canny birders who clearly know a good day when they see one!

Here’s the summary of sightings…

Not only were those four waxwings still around, near a certain supermarket, but today a black-necked grebe dropped into the main marsh at Wath Ings. Sadly, views of the grebe weren’t the best largely due to the sheer amount of sunlight…

I dunno, a couple of days of better weather and a spring equinox and everything changes!

Here is the summary of sightings from today…

From Bolton Ings, John Seeviour recorded eight chiffchaff, two green woodpecker and a jay among a full list that can be found here. Thanks John.

John Clarkson at Edderthorpe reported that the recent smew was still present along with a pintail, two oystercatcher, three redshank and…

Birds held back by those recent westerly winds are finally on the move and today once again it felt like spring at Old Moor.

Here’s the summary of sightings…

Since the end of last week, visitors to Old Moor have been doing a bit of a detour, via Aldi. And why not? After all, nature lovers have to shop. Ah, but it hasn’t been those low, low prices* that have drawn watchers to the nearby supermarket. No, the…

Finally, after months of waiting, there was one ‘sighting’ today that was especially welcome.

Regular readers will know that willow tit sightings at Old Moor have been in short supply of late. So, when I read that one had been heard singing just outside the entrance at 16:15, I was mightily relieved.

Not quite gone then?

It’s not just Old Moor of course, that’s why the willow tit is one of the subjects of…

UPDATED 15/03/19  - Sadly, the ‘Stars and Starlings’ event planned for this coming Saturday has been cancelled. If you have any questions regarding booking, please contact the Visitor Centre at Old Moor.

Here is the summary of sightings from today at Old Moor…

Sightings from Adwick Washland today included: four avocet, four ringed plover, twelve redshank and one oystercatcher and John Seeviour’s sightings…

Tuesday ‘hide guide’ and fellow volunteer Amanda Palethorpe found yet another gem at Old Moor today. And what a bird it was!

But first, here’s today’s summary of sightings…

On Wath Ings, around 09.30, Amanda spotted a northern fulmar towards the rear of the main marsh. Why was this unusual? Well, fulmar are almost exclusively sea birds and Old Moor is over fifty miles from the coast. There…

Old Moor welcomed Leigh Ornithological Society today. It was a real pleasure to spend time with this group as they explored the reserve in some of the most changeable weather we’ve had of late. Sorry about that folks, but you are welcome back anytime!

Here’s the summary of today’s sightings…

The bird news from just up the road at Adwick Washland came courtesy of Nigel Smith and included: eleven…

Always optimistic, if it was raining my grandad used to say, “Nice weather for ducks!” And today was definitely a ‘duck day’ at Old Moor!

Here’s the day’s summary of sightings…

One the most elegant ducks that visits the Dearne Valley must surely be the pintail. Long-necked and sporting a trademark tapering tail, these birds are mainly associated with the coast but, at this time…

Last week, BBC Radio Sheffield recorded a two-hour special at Old Moor for the Rob Rouse Sunday Show. As part of this, they interviewed Danielle Meyer, Gerald Lax, Paul Cowley and John Scatchard about the fantastic work that happens at your favourite reserve. Missed it? Fear not. Details in a moment but first today’s sightings…

Via the BBC’s podcast and catch up service, BBC Sounds, the Sunday show…

Finding a brambling at Old Moor today was laughably easy. Ten of these terrific winter visitors divided their time between the Bird Garden and the Tree Sparrow Farm throughout the day.

Here’s what else was seen around the reserve…

Over at Adwick Washland, Gary Stones reported: one chiffchaff, one little egret, nine redshank, five ringed plover, one snipe, two oystercatcher, two hundred lapwing, two grey…

Hello again, our WEX group met a week or so ago and once again we have lovely writing from Freddie who tells us all about what they did.

Over to Freddie :) 

This time at WEX we did all about different birds in different places and other RSPB reserves. Firstly, we listed all of the nature reserves that we could remember visiting. Here is a picture of my list:-

On the back of the sheet were 14) Whit Moor common and 15)…

If you saw tonight's title and completed the saying with ‘…a March hare’, then you are in for a treat in tonight’s blog! But first, the summary from Old Moor…

As you can see from the sightings above, there was a great range of species at Old Moor today. Bitterns could be heard in the reedbeds along with Cetti’s warbler and, if you looked hard enough, the two great crested gr…

People collect all sorts. For me, it’s words. So when I heard a report this morning about ‘phenological’ events, I was interested straightaway. But before all that, here are today’s sightings…

Turns out that, even though I didn’t know the word ‘phenology’, I’ve been aware of it my whole life and I bet you have too. It’s the study of the timing of natural events – when…

It was an extremely busy at Old Moor today: three parties – two coach, one birthday. The reserve welcomed watchers from Leeds Birding Group and RSPB Sutton Coldfield as well as Ava, now aged 8, and her friends and family.

Here’s what was seen out there on this sunny Sunday…

Many folk headed to the Tree Sparrow Farm first of all and found excellent views of both brambling and lesser redpoll. The latter…

Hello there, long time and all that! I offered to blog today given that Andrew is away.

So without further ado, here is the sightings picture from today. 

For me today, my highlights were through my macro lens - butterflies, bees, shieldbugs and ladybirds. 

This small tortoiseshell was feeding on blossom near to the VC. A delight to see :) 

I saw another small tortoiseshell near the path on the reedbed trail. A brimstone…