Hello again, I had a quickish visit to Old Moor this aft and just went down to the reedbeds. It was cold! That icy wind is back so wrap up warm if you are planning a visit soon, it doesn't look as though it's going to get warmer anytime soon.
News from Twitter today started with the sighting of 13 Whoopers by Jeff Wragg. They went west over Wombwell and a larger group (20+) were in the distance over Netherwood at about quarter to nine.
Alan Stonier then tweeted that 11 whoopers had dropped in at Edderthorpe. Further sightings from Alan from here today were: 2 oystercatchers, 12 redpoll, 8 goldfinch, a nuthatch, 5 shelduck , 28 pochard, 9 greylag geese, and 4 mute swans.
The Barnsley Birders tweeted the next sighting - an adult med gull on island 1 on the Mere.
John Seeviour was at Bolton Ings today and tweeted these sightings - 2 mute swans, 2 great crested grebes, 2 little grebes, 7 mallard, 17 gadwall, 12 shovelor, 30 tufted duck, 20 pochard, 3 goldeneye, 5 goosander, 12 cormorant, a common gull, 43 black headed gulls, 197 coot, a buzzard, a marsh tit, a song thrush and a jay.
Next to the sightings from Adwick via Twitter and the Barnsley Birders. Here today there were - 2 whoopers on the bottom eastern pond this morning and also 28 whoopers flying over north west at 09.10,. Then there was a white fronted goose, a pink footed goose, a shelduck, 2 goosander, 2 ringed plover, 2 snipe, a water rail and a grey partridge.
Thanks go to all who tweet sightings from the Dearne Valley.
Time for a photo after all that I reckon - a very fine looking male reed bunting which was taken in the bird garden this week.
Next to the sightings from the book at Old Moor and I'm posting a photo of the book today.
A pretty busy day as you can see. I heard pinging as I was sitting at the reedbed screen. Great I thought! I waited patiently near a little channel in the reeds to the left of the hide in the hope that I might seem them here if they flitted across. Well, I did too! It was the briefest of brief sightings however but 3 beardies nevertheless. :)
I also had great views of a cream crown marsh harrier from here today. It hunted, soared, hovered and dived. Great to watch on a chilly afternoon with an icy wind!
That's it for today unless you know any different.
I'll finish today with a link to a blog I wrote earlier... I know, two on one day! It's the latest WEX blog from our young enthusiasts, Freddie & Evelyn. It's most definitely worth a read and I reckon you might learn a thing or two about the different beaks that birds have and why. It's amazing to think that they are only 8 years old... Here's the link.