Brilliant sunshine but cold, brisk winds brought a scattered picture of sightings today in the Dearne Valley.

Here is the summary…

It was good to see that the great white egret was once again showing at Edderthorpe Flash and to hear that the scaup was still being reported on Manvers Lake.

An extra male stonechat joined the recent pair at Adwick Washland and it was good to know there were still plenty of field…

It was yet another squally day in the Dearne Valley though there were some periods of spring-like sunshine too. With March only four days away, it seems that this year winter is reluctant to leave.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

At Old Moor, most of the sightings came from the Wader Scrape today. Here once again an adult Caspian gull was recorded. Sadly, it wasn’t around for my visit but the larger…

After an unpromising start, it turned out to be quite a decent day for watchers at Old Moor. Out of the wind, there was some warmth to that sunshine and a few surprises of the feathered kind!

Here’s today’s summary…

Starting at the remarkable Adwick Washland, the season’s first avocet was again present along with two redshank, two oystercatcher and the long-staying stonechat pair.

And speaking…

When the weather did let up today, you could believe that spring is just around the corner. Only just over a week, and it’ll be March! And the black-headed gulls know it. Today I estimate there were fifty or so on the reserve, hoping to secure the best position for nesting.

But, before I get ahead of myself, here is the sightings summary…

In the Tree Sparrow Farm today, it was good to see two lesser red…

What a day! Just in case you missed that title, today was a bit of a red letter day in the Dearne Valley. More details in a minute but first, here’s the summary of sightings…

For some while now, birding folk will have been aware that a very handsome ring-necked duck has been frequenting the South Kirby area. Very recently, he’s had a companion in the form of drake ferruginous duck. Today, just to keep…

With Storm Dennis still chuntering and spluttering, today was always going to be a bit tricky. Yet I maintain that it’s well worth getting out on a wild day. Something unexpected always seems to turn up.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Walk Old Moor’s Reedbed Trail enough times and you’re bound to hear the idea that bearded tit don’t show well on a rough day. Yet today visitors enjoyed…

Evening Folks! What with all the site developments and the recent rains, I'd recommend stout boots or wellies for most of the trails at present! And today's news was that - with a break between storms and a bit of sun - both beardies and bittern showed nicely.

Other than that, the sightings were as follows...

Evening Folks! I don’t know if today’s weather was the back end of Ciara or Dennis’ first rumblings. Either way, it was wintery out there!

Despite the best efforts of some of Old Moor's most reliable watchers, there was little change on the reserve today. So, here is tonight’s quick sightings update…

Right on time, Storm Ciara swept in and made her presence felt. Not only was there yet more flooding but the roads were soon strewn with wind-prunings and debris of all sorts. Nonetheless, there were a few hardy watchers at Old Moor, ready to provide some sightings…

In the Bird Garden today, those sheltering in the Visitor Centre watched a sparrowhawk dive headlong towards the largest window. Thankfully it wasn…

After days of little change, today we finally saw some movement. Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Several groups of pink-footed geese through the valley today and the arrival of an oystercatcher on the Wader Scrape (to join yesterday’s green sandpiper) meant that spring seemed that bit nearer.

Also today, a marsh harrier paid a couple of visits across the reedbeds at the back of the Mere. The…

Evening folks! I think bright and blustery sums up the day – and in terms of Old Moor’s current birds, little change.

Here’s the summary of sightings…

News from the satellite reserves included a sighting of great white egret at Adwick Washland and the recent scaup on Bolton Ings. Though those north westerlies were strong through the valley this morning, they didn’t seem to be winds of change…

Today Old Moor welcomed the South Yorkshire branch of the British Naturalists’ Association, a group of experienced watchers who, by all accounts, chose an excellent day for their visit. Emboldened by a bit of sunshine, many of the bird species being seen at the moment, showed beautifully. As ever, there were also a few surprises.

Here’s the summary of sightings from today…

A respectable winter total…

Evening Folks! It’s another of those ‘two-for-one’ blogs tonight. The first bit is me and the sightings. The second part comes from Liz Harding, Old Moor’s Community and Volunteer Engagement Officer. She will be giving you an update on how the ‘Giving Nature a Home in the Dearne’ project is coming on.

So, first a quick update on the sightings – no change. That quick enough for ya? -…

It was hard to know which was moving faster – the work to transform ponds, paths, car park and play area; or the weather! Close, but my money was on Mother Nature as she threw a bit of everything at Old Moor today.

Here’s the summary of sightings…

As watchers, we had to work fast. One minute perfect conditions to see everything as far as the flood bank: the next, the lights were turned off and we struggled…

The dunnock and robin have been singing for a while now and today – even in the rain – the great tit joined in. It may still be mid-winter, but you don’t have to look very far for signs of early spring.

Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Most of the birds at Old Moor only seem to see us humans as threats, but one species at this time of year spots us coming a mile off – and for very…

Hello again, it's time for our monthly blog from our WEX group. As per usual, Freddie has written some lovely words about what they did at their recent meeting. Thanks once again Freddie. :) 

WEX BLOG

This time at WEX we were making bird feeders because it is nearly time for the annual RSPB big garden bird watch! The big garden bird watch is a survey that anyone can get involved with of different species of garden…

Well, this is just getting silly now! Today twelve bearded tits happily fed in the sunshine, six feet from a small crowd of watchers, FOR THREE HOURS!

I mean, these birds are supposed to be tricky to find, flighty, easily spooked! More details in a moment but first, for those in a hurry, here’s the summary of sightings from today…

On Bolton Ings today it was great to see a pair of pintail reported along…

“I can’t believe I was so lucky!” remarked one visitor as they left Old Moor this afternoon.

We had been sharing sightings from the day – a day when once again, there were superb views of bearded tit on the Reedbed Trail. More detail on that in a moment, but first here is today’s summary of sightings…

Visitors to Old Moor today recorded at least six - though some saw twelve - bearded…

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…

Evening Folks! Here is today’s summary of sightings…

Despite the dismal weather today, two bearded tit were seen on the Reedbed Trail along with a very confiding kestrel. Other birds of prey seen today were buzzard and, first thing, a barn owl hunting near the Tree Sparrow Farm.

Eighty great black-backed gull were counted leaving the Bolton Ings roost early this morning along with the recent Caspian.

Storm Brendan may have cleared Old Moor of all but the most determined visitors today, but yet there were sightings! For me the most surprising birds at Old Moor today were some of the most humble – tree sparrows in (surprisingly) the Tree Sparrow Farm. But I am getting ahead of myself, here is the summary of sightings…

At a similarly cold and blustery Edderthorpe today, the recent great white egret was…

Old Moor welcomed the High Peak Local RSPB Group today and they picked a great day to explore the Dearne Valley! Not only did the early rain soon clear, but they timed their visit to Old Moor’s reedbeds to perfection!

Here’s today’s summary of sightings…

In fact, there were so many sightings today, that I couldn’t fit them all on the map. So, here’s a few extras.

At Wombwell Ings were…

A day when Old Moor was not only busy with birds, but with work starting on the car park, the play area and the wildlife ponds.

Here’s the summary of sightings from the day…

Ever wondered why this blog gets published about nine in the evening? – It’s to allow time for all those late sightings to come in. And tonight was a case in point. Around dusk tonight, on Bolton Ings, there was the ‘other…

Behind the scenes, from first light, the volunteers and staff at Old Moor prepare the reserve for the day ahead. Most of this work goes unseen but not – I know – unappreciated. And part of that preparation is to walk the lanes and make the first observations of the day.

Here is tonight’s summary of sightings…

So, when early birder Paul Gould, checked Wath Ings this morning and found more than…

With the holidays well and truly over and the New Year only five days old, today was a busy one in the Dearne Valley. Watchers were out in force and even got to enjoy some January sun.

Here is that summary of sightings…

First of all, you might have noticed a number of marsh harrier sightings in the summary above. This is the same bird that, as far as I can make out, started hunting this morning at Adwick Wash…