Ten members enjoyed a warm, wind and bird free visit to some of the RSPB reserves in the Dearne Valley. Bird free sounds pretty bad – well 50 species were identified but there was little that was unusual, a fact that was bemoaned by another Ogston member who often volunteers at Old Moor so knows the place intimately.
We started at Edderthorpe Flash where the only bird of note was a Pintail, observed by Hilary who had been there since the break of day, but by the time the trip started, it had disappeared leaving just more common species of wildfowl.
Then onto Wombwell Ings where the start was delayed by folks following their SATNAVs ending up at the wrong place. However, since the reserve has been fenced, to distance humans and dogs from the wildlife, this place usually delivers an interesting variety. On this occasion, there were Dunlin, a Ringed Plover, Green Sandpiper and a flock of Linnets. Also a Kestrel – our first raptor of the day.
And then to Old Moor where we saw a further 3 Green Sandpipers, a single Redshank and a Great Egret. Three of the group who had had to leave early, also saw a flock of Pink-footed Geese fly over and, to their great surprise, a Cettis Warbler singing from the top of a tree.
Now for a few lovely photos courtesy of Hilary Hodkinson.

Pintail at Edderthorpe Flash

Green Sandpiper at Wombwell Ings

Dunlin at Wombwell Ings

Linnet at Wombwell Ings

Great White Egret at Old Moor

Wigeon at Old Moor

Gadwall at Old Moor

8 members made the journey to Frampton Marsh and experienced superb birding. Only the leader was late having not read his own instructions. The birding this year was unusual in that there was little to see from the sea wall and little to the north of the 360 hide.  However, the rest of the reserve made up for this. In all 54 species were seen the best of which were 23+ Spoonbills, 3 Curlew Sandpipers still with vestiges of

Curlew Sandpiper

summer plumage, 6 Great Egrets, a Spotted Redshank, Common, Wood and Green

Spotted Redshank

Wood Sandpiper

Sandpipers and a lifer for all in the form of the vagrant Bar-headed Goose which, almost hidden at a distance in long grass, was spotted by Mike – an impressive effort.

Bar-headed Goose taken at great distance

What was pleasing to see was the numbers of juvenile Avocets, Little Ringed Plovers and Yellow Wagtails – seemingly a successful breeding season. Also of interest was seeing 2 Hobbies pursuing Sand martins, although with no obvious success and Sand Martin chicks at the exit from their nesting tunnel, waiting to be fed.

Thanks to Hilary Hodkinson for the photos.

On a chilly, cloudy day but with a gentle breeze, 10 members visited Annesley Pit Top Nature Reserve and over the next 3 hours were treated to some excellent birding. It started well when a Sparrowhawk and a Whitethroat were seen from the car park. On the track up to the top lake, the wood to the left was alive with warblers with Blackcaps, a Chiffchaff and a Garden Warbler all being heard but not seen. Upon arriving at the lake, we were treated to our first sightings of the iconic Black-necked Grebes. Eventually 7 were identified but there could well have been more. In addition,

Adult Black-necked Grebeall the common hirundines were present as were Swifts and both Sedge and Reed Warblers. At the lowest point of the reserve, we turned off the main track and headed east, coming upon the most stunning wildflower meadow crammed with kidney vetch and ox-eye daisies but sadly not a singlebutterfly – just too cold. Beyond, to the top of a slight rise, came the icing on the cake; here we were treated to quite a lengthy

Garden Warblersighting of not one but two Garden Warblers with an adjacent Blackcap for comparison. Initially, confusion was caused when ‘Merlin’ declared it to be a Woodlark which caused much mirth and ‘dissing’ of Merlin. A few moments later, a

Bird on a wire – Woodlarkbird on a high pylon wire was scoped and found to be a Woodlark. (Jury now having to reconsider the worth of Merlin). Back on the main reserve, an LRP was spotted, but disappointingly, other than a Kestrel and an unidentified raptor, no other birds of prey were seen – possibly another product of low temperatures.

Total of 45 species seen. Thanks to Steve Sutcliffe for the bird photos and the meadow by Dave Griffin. 

On a cold, breezy evening, 22 members arrived at the Flash Lane parking spot, fortunately, most dressed in their winter birding gear. At 9 pm we set off to walk the few hundred metres to the viewing spot. Disappointingly, with the exception of a couple of Black Birds, the place was silent except for the sound of the wind in the trees. Not put off by this lack of avian life, the assembled multitude stood alert and patient and this was eventually rewarded at about 9:30 pm with the appearance of a couple of Woodcock flying above the trees. We then had fairly frequent sightings of Woodcock although it was impossible to know whether it was the same bird doing circuits or different ones. At about 9:45 pm, the sharp of hearing picked up the first churring sounds of a nearby Nightjar. Subsequently, we were entertained by a number of fly passes, more churring and also occasionally the yapping type call of the Nightjar. On one occasion, one bird perched on the top of a nearby dead tree trunk. Based on sound alone, there were two males in the near vicinity. At just gone 10:00, our leader, Steve Slack called time and sent us home to defrost. A very successful trip and very well attended too.

No photos – too dark!

This trip was rescheduled at the last minute from the Wednesday to the Thursday which sadly meant that a number of folks couldn’t go.  However, it did prove to be a good move because the weather on Thursday was excellent.
Two members who had signed up for Wednesday and couldn’t change, nonetheless, braved the weather and did see all that we’d hoped for minus any raptors but the rain started at 11:00!
The trip – while waiting in the car park for all to assemble, we saw a number of different

Someone’s taking Ring Ouzels too seriously

species including a close view of what was for some, the season’s first Willow Warbler. After we set off up Jarvis Clough, it was immediately apparent that we’d had an extremely wet winter with even the normally dry parts very muddy. However, the day’s fine weather with a fair breeze did bring out the raptors with sightings of first a Red Kite, then a Buzzard and Kestrel and finally a Peregrine flew overhead and all that in the first 15 minutes.
At the head of Jarvis Clough, a pair of Ring Ouzels were spotted (a lifer for one of us) although at 300 metres, they didn’t look very big even in the scope. From there, the group made its way towards Stanage Edge, entertained by the evocative sounds of the many Curlews, the occasional Red Grouse and plenty of Meadow Pipits.

The early start brought on the lunch stop before midday, sitting on convenient gritstone boulders just below the Edge. As is often the case, staying still for a while allows you to see more than if you’re continuously on the move, and so it was; with Ring Ouzels, Wheatears and Meadow Pipits popping up all around us. In addition, we were further entertained by the appearance of 5 Ravens and a Red Kite being remorselessly harassed by crows. And as the icing on the cake, a Peregrine circled overhead giving members neck ache for a couple of minutes.
At the end of the trip, one of the party popped over to the moor on the north side of the A57 and saw a Ring Ouzel in the side valley a couple of hundred metres up the track and also heard a Snipe ‘chipping’.

Summary – 7 members saw 29 species – an excellent trip!
Photos thanks to Dave Griffin and Martin Kaye.

Seven members met up at Budby Pumping Station on a cold misty morning but fortunately there was no wind.  During the walk from there to the Common, we encountered typical woodland birds including Jay and a small flock of Siskin while in the field to the left of the track, Red-legged Partridge were spotted.  Once on the heathland area, it was very much a case of bird with one’s ears rather than eyes.  A Buzzard was heard ‘mewing’, a Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming and a Song Thrush gave a distant operatic performance from a hidden perch.  To really rub it in, at least one Green Woodpecker was ‘yaffling’ from just out of sight every few minutes as we completed our circuit of the Common.  While we should have been pleased that at least this year, we could hear some bird song (last year it was as silent as the grave), it was nonetheless dispiriting to think that we weren’t going to see Woodlark. And then, just the faintest hint of that tell tale descending set of notes. We paused and listened, and it came again. We

Woodlark spotting

were onto it. Arriving at a strategically placed seat, we stopped.  The weather was improving as the clouds began to part allowing the sun and a bit of warmth to filter through.  Initially distracted by a Green Woodpecker posing at the top of a nearby tree, one of the party noticed a potential Woodlark at the top of an oak.  Sadly scoping it came up with Meadow Pipit instead, but then a couple of sharp eyed individuals saw a couple of Pipit type birds drop down onto some bare earth.  This time, the scope revealed two stunning Woodlark and everyone was able to feast their eyes on them. Then to cap it all,

one of them gave the full singing display rising higher and higher into the blue sky. The cloud then closed in and all went quiet upon the Common so we left for Welbeck.
Here, the sun never truly burnt off the mist and while we saw up to 6 Buzzards and 2 Red Kites in the air at a time, there was little else of note.

All in all, 39 species. Group photo B Padley, Green Woodpecker & Woodlark M Kaye using a toy camera on a scope.