Tapping the glass on the Old Moor ‘Species-o-meter’ this evening produced a reading of 48 bird species and one terrific mammal! Here’s the summary…

Once again, bearded tits were seen (and heard) around the Reedbed Trail along with two marsh harriers, a Cetti’s warbler and - well, the peregrine was taken as ‘Red’.

The peregrine in question from Paul Peters via our Facebook Page…

Brilliant, blue skies meant today felt more like early spring and less like midwinter. Here’s the summary of birds seen during the day…

The Reedbed Trail was definitely one of the reserve ‘hotspots’ today and if you were lucky, there were five great birds to see over and above the supporting cast of wildfowl and reed buntings.

It was here that most visitors saw our semi-resident peregrine – left…

Regular visitors to Old Moor know that, as the season changes, so does the ‘mix’ of birds seen. Although I didn’t see all of them myself, today for example I reckon there were around 45 species of bird seen on the reserve. Here’s the summary…

But there is one small bird that I haven’t recorded on the sightings for some months now and I admit I’m getting a bit worried. So my question to…

Back from my Christmas break (very nice, thanks for asking) and ready to see out the year! In a moment, a look back at some of the highlights of 2018 and another remarkable year of sightings in the Dearne Valley.

But before all that, here’s the summary of birds seen today at Old Moor…

I’m bound to miss something from the year, but that’s because – wonderfully - there is so much to remember. – And, before…

Sadly those beardies were elusive today, though fellow volunteer and all-round good egg Rob Robinson did spot a male bird near the Reedbed Screen this morning.

Here’s a summary of the birds seen at Old Moor today…

Seen briefly today were three goosander heading from Bolton Ings towards the river; a lesser redpoll that seemed not to have stopped on the reserve; and – just up the road, at Wombwell I…

Hello again. Last Saturday our WEX group held their last meeting of the year. Unsurprisingly they had a Christmas party! Freddie was there and here is his report. Thanks very much Freddie for all your blogs this year and a thank you to Evelyn too.

This month at WEX we had our WEXMAS PARTY!!! Every Christmas at WEX we all gather together to do fun activities with…

In wintery conditions, the hardy watchers at Old Moor still managed to compile a creditable list of forty or so bird species today. Not at all bad - for mid-December. Now to dry off those notebooks!

Here’s the summary…

Paul Dennis visited Edderthorpe Flash and reported: five pochard, four shelduck, eighty or so lapwing, eleven mute swan, two common gull, four grey heron and three cormorant. Thanks Paul.

Mild, bright, still. Perfect for a walk down to the reedbeds where – well, you never know your luck do you?

Here’s the summary…

While many tried their luck with the beardies, there was another turn up and not that far away. Over at The Garganey Trust’s, Broomhill Flash (a short walk down the Trans Pennine Trail) four Egyptian goose were spotted.

Now we have had multiple Egyptian geese in the…

Evening Folks! It was another beautiful winter’s day in the Dearne Valley with plenty of sun - even if the big coats were finally getting some use.

First, the summary of the day’s sightings…

In the reedbeds today, along with that singing Cetti’s were (yet again) ‘pinging’ beardies. I’d almost given up hope of seeing them today when their calls alerted listeners to a location about 30m north of ‘Bittern…

For the third day in a row now, a small group of bearded tit have provided some exceptional views for visitors to Old Moor. Further details on that in a moment, but first the summary of sightings from today…

Not to take away the forty or so other bird species at Old Moor right now, but today the highlight for most visitors were those incredible beardies.

So, if you are a person who has yet to see these birds in…

What more could you want from Old Moor in December? - A (fairly) mild day with beautiful, clear sunshine; some brilliant bird sightings; and even a concert band playing carols!

Here’s the summary of sightings…

It was the perfect day for a saunter down to the reedbeds. After watching a kingfisher flashing along the channel in front of the Reedbed Screen; and a buzzard sunbathing; a Cetti’s warbler made us…

Sunshine may have been in short supply but it was mild at least and dry and there were an impressive fifty or more bird species at Old Moor today! Here’s the quick summary…

At Bolton Ings, John Seeviour reported: two mute swan, one great crested grebe, twelve mallard, three shoveler, three gadwall, four wigeon, twelve tufted duck, nine pochard, nine cormorant and two grey heron. There were also five common…

Turned out, it was a day of surprises at Old Moor today. Crisp frost and sunshine lasted for the best part of the morning with much of the action taking place against a blue, winter sky.

Here’s the summary…

Now the map above provides headlines for those that want just that, but today’s sightings book contained far more detail than I could fit beside it.

For example, in the Bird Garden, watchers saw…

It was great to see so many folk ignoring the pull of seasonal shopping in order to take in the delights of Old Moor today.

Here’s a summary of the birds seen…

And it was a surprisingly mild one with temperatures up around 13°C. It is true that the day was mostly overcast but, when the sun did break through, it was all the more welcome.

A cormorant on the Mere enjoying the winter sun

As well as four…

It was like a scene from a film. This afternoon the storm abated and the skies cleared. Not only were there rainbows, but a male hen harrier flew past watchers at Bolton Ings!

If anyone there spoke, it was probably to say, ‘Blimey! Look at that!’ ( -or something similar).

Here is today’s summary from Old Moor…

As I’ve already mentioned Bolton Ings, John Seeviour reported: three mute swan…

Though the morning was dry, this afternoon was so damp animals started to pair up! - Still that’s what hides and good boots are for. Here is today’s summary of birds seen at Old Moor…

News from elsewhere in the valley starts with a report from David Bamforth at Broomhill Flash. He recorded: three black-tailed godwit; a jack snipe; one dunlin and twenty-six shoveler. Thanks David.

Alan Stonier provided…

Hi Folks! Here’s the summary of birds seen today at Old Moor…

At Adwick Washland today, Nigel Smith reported: 7 grey heron, 1 little egret, 95 greylag goose, 190 Canada goose, 1 bean goose, 5 pink-footed goose (plus another 26 west), 15 mallard, 35 teal, 8 gadwall, 244 wigeon, 4 shelduck, 3 coot, 3 lapwing, 10 snipe and 2 buzzard. Thanks Nigel.

At Broomhill Flash, three white-fronted geese were reported…

Morning everybody, let's hope that this mist lifts before long today but in the meantime, I have a lovely read for you. It's from Freddie and it's the latest instalment of our fabulous WEX blog. 

Thanks very much Freddie & over to him... :) 

WEX BLOG

This time at WEX we did all about environmental issues and recycling. Firstly I got a big piece of brown paper and I drew different animal and bird tracks…

Hello there, it's time for those sightings once again. The Dearne Valley today has been full of fog and then mist. By the time I got there this afternoon it was misty,and a big improvement on this morning I was told!

I thought of it as 'atmospheric'...

Here's the sightings summary from Old Moor with the addition of the Tundra Bean Goose at Wombwell today. Clicking on the image will give a much better view…

Is there anything finer than coming in to the warm on a cold and wet day, after being out seeing some incredible birds? Luckily in the Dearne Valley today, you could do both!

Here’s the summary from Old Moor…

In among the yellowing leaves of Old Moor’s Bird Garden, a grey wagtail has now become a regular sight. Cyril Turner managed to catch him mid-strut. Thanks Cyril.

Grey wagtail on a better day…

Hello again, the excitement at Old Moor today has been about the arrival and good views of a Tundra Bean Goose. If you click on this link to a post on Twitter, hopefully you will get a good view of it too. Thanks to Ryan McClarence for sharing his photo on Twitter. 

Here's the sightings summary from today - click on the image for a larger and sharper view.... It seems to have shrunk a bit in the upgrade, but time will tell…

It was another busy Sunday at Old Moor with some intriguing sightings from both ‘on’ the reserve and ‘around’ it. But first the summary…

Gary Stones provide the sightings from Adwick Washland today. His report is here and includes some terrific photos of dunlin and buzzard. Thanks Gary.

At Old Moor, the day’s ‘headliners’ were sparrowhawk (Bird Garden and Wath Ings), peregrine (pylon and…

Morning everybody, I'm posting a blog on behalf of Ivy Sheryn who is the new Membership Recruitment Manager at Old Moor. She is  currently looking for some 'Welcome Volunteers' to join her team. 

A day being a Welcome Volunteer

I start my day at 9am when I walk into our Visitor Centre at Old Moor. Before I can start doing anything I make myself a cup of coffee as need my wakeup jolt in the mornings! Then I go…

Yet another mild and bright day in the Dearne Valley made for some great watching. Here’s a summary of the birds seen at Old Moor today…

At Bolton Ings, John Seeviour recorded: two mute swan and a juvenile, two little grebe, one great crested grebe, five mallard, two gadwall, one teal, forty-seven tufted duck, five pochard and 350 coot. With them were six cormorant, three grey heron, three herring gull,…

Hi Folks! It seems that our wonderful technical folk have got the new and improved Community platform up and running. And earlier than expected too! So, to give it a bit of a test, here are today's sightings...

As ever, sightings news from Bolton Ings came via John Seeviour and can be found here. Thanks John.

Jeff Wragg reported from Broomhill Flash that there were twenty-four snipe, one jack snipe, six red-legged…