Day two of the Dearne’s notable double act began with snow flurries and biting cold. Not that this daunted the faithful who arrived at Wombwell Ings to see both Richard’s pipit and yellow-browed warbler.
In fact, a trip to the Dearne Valley today could have yielded the two birds above as well as a hawfinch (Broomhill), a white-fronted goose (Adwick), marsh and willow tits (Bolton) and a Med. gull (Edderthorpe) as all were showing throughout the day.
But I digress. Back to Wombwell where watchers didn’t know which way to turn: to the right, and the hedge beside the river for yellow-browed warbler; or to the left, and the grassland with its promise of the Richard’s pipit.
Obviously I turned to the right
The great news is that both showed well today. The warbler was relatively easy to pick up, once you’d found which bit of the hedge it was using to feed (it’s only a short stretch). The pipit was more difficult and was seen off and on partly due to the area that watchers had to scan and partly due to its turn of speed!
And now, I hear tell that a third bird joined the list of ‘reasons to go to Wombwell Ings’. Late this afternoon, a firecrest was picked up most probably as watchers scanned for the yellow-brow. Sadly – as yet – I have no photograph of that one though I’m sure it’s only a matter of time! Seen twice at close range, the firecrest then did a bit of a disappearing act round about dusk but, given the number of watchers visiting the ings at present, I suspect it will be found again tomorrow.
Also on Wombwell Ings today were: three goldcrest, one ringed plover and around 180 golden plover.
Plenty of reed buntings at Field Pool East's Screen today
John Clarkson at Edderthorpe this morning reported that the adult Mediterranean gull was at the north end of the flash and that fourteen shelduck (a new record) and a male pintail could also be found there. Thanks John.
Meanwhile, at Bolton Ings, John Seeviour found: two mute swan, two great crested grebe, one little grebe, twelve mallard, twenty-seven gadwall, two teal, twenty-six shoveler, forty-eight tufted duck, thirty-seven pochard, two goldeneye (one female), one redshank, one snipe, a pink-footed goose, one buzzard, a marsh harrier, one male stonechat, a marsh tit, two grey wagtail and a song thrush. Thanks John.
That ruby eye caught my attention in the Bird Garden this afternoon
All of which takes us to Old Moor itself. Seen here today were: thirty cormorant, three oystercatcher, one little egret, a marsh harrier, one snipe, two male pochard, three shelduck, one common gull, a water rail and two goldeneye (one female). These, of course, alongside a long list of more predictable species for this time of year. In fact, the species count at Old Moor today was fifty-seven.
But, as my shilling has almost run out and it's hard to explain in 2018 both what a shilling is, and what I need it for, I'd best be off. Until next time.