Hello there, here is a little update of the news from Old Moor today.

We have news about both the grey phalarope and the spotted crake!

Volunteer Rob ‘spotted’ the spotted crake this morning from the Reedbed hide and others saw it at other times during the day. Rob told me of how he had been diligently scanning the edges around the mud from the hide with his scope. But all to no avail, no spotted crake could he see…

Another day of some extraordinary birds in the Dearne Valley! Here’s the summary of what was seen at Old Moor today…

Now, before I forget, we have reached that time again. Today is the last late opening for Old Moor. From tomorrow, the Visitor Centre and the reserve will close at 5pm. There will be reminders on site for visitors tomorrow (no doubt) but please don’t get caught out.

Just a short distance…

Twenty-one degrees Celsius, sunny and with only a light breeze: today felt like summer had returned to the Dearne Valley. Here’s a summary of what was seen at Old Moor and Bolton Ings today…

Amazingly, for the sixth day, the grey phalarope is still on Wath Ings! Although it is mostly keeping its distance and feeding in the far ‘right-hand corner’, most visitors are still able to get good views on this…

Some days at Old Moor are just exceptional and this must surely rank as one of them. The recent grey phalarope is still with us (fourth day), the spotted crake was also seen again today and not one, but two great white egret came in to roost tonight on the Willow Pool.

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

Watching the phalarope this morning, the bird seemed completely at ease in…

Over sixty miles inland, it’s hard to believe that for a third day, a grey phalarope was seen by visitors to Old Moor. Here’s the summary of birds recorded today…

So why all the fuss about a grey phalarope? Well, this is a bird that spends almost all its time at sea. It only travels to the lands of the high Arctic to breed. Then, after a very short breeding season, it heads back to the oceans off…

Hello there, after a bit of a summer holiday we have the 'return of the WEX blog!' The groups met last Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed their theme this month of 'butterflies and moths.' And why wouldn't they? Butterflies and moths are definite favourites of mine as I'm sure that you all know!

Over to Freddie & Evelyn. Great job once again both of you and thank you very much from everybody at Old…

Unsurprisingly the number one question from visitors to Old Moor at the moment is, “Is the spotted crake still about?”

The answer is a definite ‘Yes’. More on that one in a moment, but first the summary of today’s sightings…

Yes. Despite today’s blustery and wet weather, the crake was seen at least twice. The first sighting was at 10:05 and the last - that I know of - was at 16…

Although there was plenty going on all across the reserve today, for many visitors there was really only one story – the spotted crake! More on that in a minute, first here’s today’s summary of the birds seen…

When bird books use words like ‘shy’ and ‘secretive’ and ‘skulking’ you know that even a brief glimpse is a privilege. Luckily our spotted crake hasn’t read those books and showed beautifully…

After yesterday’s news, it was no surprise that Old Moor was a very busy place today with many watchers torn between Wath Ings and the Reedbed Hide. More of that in a moment, first a summary of what was seen today…

On Wath Ings, a great white egret dropped in for most of the morning, eventually flying off northwest around 11.30. As far as I know, it was not seen again today. However, also on the marsh…

Hi Folks! Yet another beautiful early autumn day with plenty to see. Here's a summary of the birds seen at (or very near) Old Moor today...

A chilly morning in the Dearne Valley eventually became another gloriously sunny afternoon. As ever, there was plenty going on. Here’s a summary of the birds seen at (and near to) Old Moor…

With the Wader Scrape being rotavated today to improve the supply of invertebrates, many of the birds had relocated to Wath Ings. Mind you, I did notice the juvenile shelduck standing its ground despite Jeff and the…

Old Moor welcomed a group of Stockport birders today as well as the Merseyside Naturalists Association. The latter were kind enough to share their list from the day and had recorded over sixty species of bird! That’s a very impressive total and a top visit I’d say!

Here’s a summary of what was seen around Old Moor today…

For many, the stars of Wath Ings were those two spotted redshank who…

We’ve reached that stage in the year when, while the mornings are definitely autumnal, those afternoons are a glorious reminder of that record-breaking summer! Worth saying then that, until we change the clocks, the reserve is open until 8pm.

Here’s a summary of what was seen at Old Moor today…

If you haven’t seen it on the picture above, at Wombwell Ings today a spotted flycatcher was found…

As well as many other visitors, Old Moor welcomed seventeen members of Haxby and Wigginton U3A Bird Group today. By all accounts they had a great day and, between them, clocked up an impressive list of sixty bird species! Top birding folks!

Here’s a summary of what was seen out there today…

Even for Old Moor, that’s an impressive list and today was indeed a special one. Not only has the autumn bird migration…

Technically it may be autumn, but summer isn’t quite ready to admit defeat yet. From yet another sunny, warm (and busy) one at Old Moor, here is the summary of today’s sightings…

I almost don’t know where to start today. Sightings came in thick and fast throughout the day and, as far as the birds were concerned, everything was a bit mobile. But then, they’ve got wings ya know…

Evening Folks! Here's a summary of the sightings from Old Moor today...

Hello again, it’s been a lovely warm day at Old Moor with plenty of sunshine which was enjoyed by all.

The ‘big’ news this week is that the juvenile dipper that was spotted in the river near the hide at Bolton last weekend has returned! And not only that, it’s been showing very well indeed. It’s only the second every recorded sighting of a dipper in the Dearne Valley. If you’d like to go and see it and you are…

Hello there, we had two spotted redshanks on Old Moor today. They flew around a bit giving some visitors close views but when I saw them (from the FPE), they were distant and asleep... 

Without further waffle here is the sightings map from Old Moor today. Click on the picture for a larger, sharper view.

In addition to that, there was another sighting of a nuthatch today. It was seen near the VC so that must be the…

On a very busy bank holiday Monday, here’s a summary of the birds seen around Old Moor today…

From Wombwell Ings, Gary Stones reported two spotted redshank, six black-tailed godwit, one greenshank, one snipe, twenty lapwing and four yellow wagtail. Thanks Gary.

Gary also sent news from Adwick Washland. There today were: short-eared owl, redstart (one female), one whinchat, sixteen yellow wagtail, one…

Finally, a damp day! Yes - well perhaps not everyone’s idea of the perfect bank holiday Sunday, but tomorrow looks far brighter for the Dearne Valley.

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

As ever, there was a lot going on out on the reserves though admittedly wet weather gear was required to enjoy it.

Kingfisher sightings are increasing at the moment with birds being seen at Old…

Hello again, it's been a great day for sightings at Old Moor with lots of fishing going on that I saw. I'm sure it goes on normally but it's not usual that I see so many successful catches.

I saw successful catches from little and great crested grebe, cormorant, little egret and grey heron. It's always a good few moments when you watch a bird trying to down a fish it has caught.

Here's a cormorant doing…

Evening folks! Here is a summary of the birds seen at Old Moor today...

Hello again, it’s once again time for the sightings and today we have good news of birds of prey sightings.

At Adwick there was an osprey at  briefly. A few people managed to see it and Karen (assist warden) tweeted that it had left Adwick and was heading towards Old Moor. Despite a lot of looking, we never managed to pick it up…every bird in a tree was a possible osprey…

Gary Haywood managed to see…

Hi folks! It may have been overcast for much of the day but visitors to Old Moor were far from downcast. Here’s a summary of the birds seen around the reserve today…

A bit more detail from the Dearne? No problem. But first a bit of an advanced plug for Old Moor’s Summer Fete.

Joyously, this weekend has a bank holiday at the end of it and on Monday 27 August, from 10.30 until 4pm, there will be additional…

Evening folks! With hardly a breath of wind, today Old Moor was almost eerily calm. One new bird sighting was a juvenile little gull - tracked to, seen and photographed on Wath Ings . Sadly, this new arrival did not stay much into the afternoon.

Here's a summary of what birds were seen on the reserve today...