I knew it was going to be a good one even before I set off for the Dearne Valley this morning. It’s a Wetland Bird Survey (or WeBS) day which means that the valley receives a very thorough scrutiny from our most experienced watchers.
And they’d started early.
Karen Williams, Old Moor’s Assistant Warden, posted a message well before eight o’clock that a common whitethroat was on the Trans Pennine Trail between Old Moor and Bolton. A few minutes later Barnsley Birders tweeted that, in the Reedbeds at Old Moor, there was, among other things, a reed warbler.
It seemed two of our spring migrants were back from sub-Saharan Africa; had been seen; and recorded - and I hadn’t even had my breakfast!
Once you get your eye in, those Med gulls really stand out
The early birders at Old Moor concentrated on the Reedbed Trail where they found: six great crested grebe, twelve little grebe, nineteen pochard, twenty-three tufted duck, one mute swan, six water rail, two bittern and that reed warbler, the first of the year.
On ‘Warbler Way’ and at Bolton Ings were: two Cetti’s warbler, eleven chiffchaff, fourteen blackcap, five willow warbler, two reed warbler, six pairs of bullfinch, six pairs of reed bunting, a green woodpecker, three song thrush. two goldcrest, one buzzard and two kestrel.
On Edderthorpe an arctic tern was spotted around 10.40 and over at Adwick Washland Donna Barney reported three garganey, two male and a female. Thanks Donna.
A buzzard over Old Moor - anything but common!
Karen was by now surveying the Houghton area and her report included: fourteen yellowhammer, seven skylark, forty-five meadow pipit, two swallow, two chiffchaff, four buzzard, four kestrel, a green woodpecker and 210 (or more) woodpigeon feeding on the grasslands.
Nigel Smith was at Adwick and his report included: one wheatear, one water rail, eleven avocet, 126 lapwing, two ringed plover, thirty or more redshank, two oystercatcher, nine grey partridge and four yellow wagtail. Thanks Nigel.
Those two black-necked grebe on the Mere today
Meanwhile back at Old Moor, on the Mere there were two black-necked grebe throughout the day. With them were six lesser black-backed gull, two shelduck, one cormorant, six Mediterranean gull and five little gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus).
Visitors that ventured towards the Reedbed Screen picked up a bittern booming today along with at least one bearded tit.
On Green Lane there were two song thrush, three chiffchaff, two willow warbler, a lesser whitethroat and a pair of blackcap singing away.
On the Wader Scrape a common sandpiper was seen today by many watchers along with a little egret.
One of five little gulls over the Mere this afternoon
Old Moor welcomed two birding groups today, one from Stockport and the other from the Wirral. By all accounts both had a great day and also helped to provide details for tonight’s sightings.
It’s always interesting to see a place you know well through other people’s eyes so when I asked what the highlight of the day had been, I expected a very different answer to the one I got.
It turns out that for many visitors today, the ‘standout’ sighting was when they finally got to see a tree sparrow! Yep, in case we forget, that particular Old Moor resident is a rare bird indeed for some!
Until next time.