I probably say this a lot - but then I’m an optimistic sort - it was another excellent day in the Dearne Valley. Not only were some truly outstanding birds out there, but the sun shone and, even though we may get sleet tomorrow, today it felt like spring.
The oystercatchers clearly agreed, and already had nesting on their minds
On Broomhill Flash today there was one hawfinch, one goldeneye drake and a solitary oystercatcher.
Wombwell Ings provided excellent views of both yellow-browed warbler and firecrest. There were also nineteen whooper swans on the flash itself, one little egret, two shelduck, a stonechat nearby and all the usual supporting cast.
On Bolton Ings, John Seeviour reported: two great crested grebe, two mute swan, two mallard, eleven gadwall, fourteen shoveler, twenty-three tufted duck, five pochard, five goldeneye, ten goosander, twenty-two cormorant, one grey heron, 184 coot (yep, really), a marsh tit, two jay, one green woodpecker and two bullfinch. Thanks John.
That smart pintail drake
Whilst at Adwick Washland, Gary Stones recorded: a stonechat pair, six grey partridge, one curlew, one redshank, two ringed plover, eight snipe, around 120 laowing, one white-fronted goose, one pink-footed goose and two shelduck. Thanks Gary.
That, of course, takes us to Old Moor where sixty species of bird were reported today. As it turned out, it was a very changeable picture largely due to the work being done on the fences in preparation for the return of the cattle.
Nevertheless, the headline sightings today were: four goldeneye (two pairs) on the Mere and one pintail drake, one redshank, one green sandpiper, one dunlin and four oystercatcher (mostly) on the field pools.
Oh yes, and our old friend, the Mediterranean gull, could (mostly) be found on the Mere. This is a returning bird, ringed and with some features that will be familiar to those of us who have seen this bird before.
Our returning Med. Gull photographed by Keith Pickering. Thanks Keith.
In fact there were five species of gull at Old Moor today and I shall finish tonight with two of the others. Here a lesser black-backed gull is being seen off by a fearless black-headed gull. The latter arrived en masse just after the recent snows melted and are here to breed. It therefore makes complete sense for them to see off any potential predators. Corvids, herons (including any bittterns) and raptors will all get the same unfliching treatment. Best to start early I suppose...
Until next time.
They may be small but boy are they tenacious!