Happy Fourth! - Sightings, 19 Jan

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 Gary.

On Bolton Ings, the recent Caspian Gull was reported once again along with good numbers of duck and a Cetti’s warbler. If you’ve never ventured to the Cormorant View hide at Bolton, just cross the stream at the back of Old Moor’s car park, turn left and keep walking.

Plenty of long-tailed tits around the Tree Sparrow Farm today

Meanwhile on Old Moor itself, the stars of the show were once again those bearded tit! Near enough everyone who walked the Reedbed Trail today saw beardies! Two groups of birds seemed to be present: a four and a five, both with a mix of males and females.

I was asked today how long the beardies have been at Old Moor and whether they’ve bred. The answer to the first question is precisely four years – to the day!

As for breeding, yes, watchers have regularly seen juvenile birds from the second year of their residency. In fact beardies often seem to produce more than one brood per year.

So, to mark the fourth anniversary of the arrival of this charming species that has brought so much pleasure to watchers on the reserve, they’ll be no prizes for guessing tonight’s final picture…

Until next time.