For only the ninth time in the birding records of the Dearne Valley, has a red-necked phalarope been recorded. The first was way back in 1974 so you can begin to see how significant this sighting is to the area.
Even more amazingly, today was only the second time in that period that a red-necked phalarope has stayed around for two consecutive days!
So, when tired motorists in Broomhill stopped to ask me where Broomhill Flash was, I immediately reassured them with, “The red-necked phalarope is still here and still showing well, albeit distantly.”
Their tense expressions turned to relief and, knowing they were close to their quarry, any tiredness straightway disappeared.
Here’s what all the fuss is about…
The red-necked phalarope as seen yesterday on the Wader Scrape at Old Moor. A super video from Ian Morris. Thanks Ian.
So, starting at Broomhill Flash, today there was one, male red-necked phalarope feeding near the furthest tern raft.
On Bolton Ings were two mute swan, two Canada geese, fourteen greylag, twenty-three gadwall, forty-two tufted duck, nine pochard (three females), ten mallard, four great crested grebe, eight little grebe, one common gull and around 520 black-headed gull.
On Edderthorpe were two black-tailed godwit, one little ringed plover, six ringed plover and a whimbrel.
A red kite was reported over Wombwell Ings this afternoon whilst at Adwick Washland were: four grey heron, three little egret, four mute swan, twenty-eight Canada geese, twenty-five greylags, thirty-seven mallard, two teal, five shoveler, twenty-five gadwall, one garganey, fifteen tufted duck, thirty-seven coot and twenty-four moorhen.
There were also twenty-nine avocet, forty-eight lapwing, twenty redshank, two oystercatcher, two curlew, three ringed plover, ten black-headed gull, two buzzard, one hobby, seven grey partridge, three reed warbler, five sedge warbler, three lesser whitethroat, three common whitethroat, three willow warbler and a chiffchaff. My thanks to Nigel Smith for those sightings.
I mean, just look at that! A crackin’ phalarope pic from Gary Stones. Thanks Gary.
Back at Old Moor, the other big news story of the day was that the recent glossy ibis was also still around and showing well. Initially it was by the screen near Field Pool East it relocated in the middle of the day to the long grass at the back of the Wath Ings ‘spit’.
Other headliners from Old Moor included the bitterns, of course. Not only was a male continuing to boom throughout the day, but the three nests are progressing nicely with three females making any number of feeding flights around the reserve. In other words, if you haven’t already done so, now is the time to see your bitterns!
No gull is an island. - Well, except this one.
On the Field Pool today were one little egret, two black-tailed godwit, three redshank and one (very lingering) teal.
On the Wader Scrape were four common tern, one avocet and an oystercatcher.
Finally, to the Mere where there were: two Mediterranean gull (still sitting tight), nine lesser black-backed gull and one oystercatcher along with sand martin and a small explosion of newly hatched goslings.
Hoping to avoid cute on a visit to Old Moor? Think again.
And that, it pretty much that as far as sightings go today. Could this phalarope be a record-breaker and stay for a third day? According to one local pundit, the chance is ‘slim’. Still, you never know…
In all the excitement of the day, I completely forgot to mention that it was another sunny and warm one here. I suspect, by the end of it, it won’t be just the phalarope that’s red-necked!
Until next time.