Posted: Thursday 5th January 2012 by WildlifeSightings
Whooper swans at Wheldrake Ings - Credit Martin Batt
25 January
Nidderdale: Lots of grouse and a kestrel was seen whilst surveying with the Yorkshire Peat Partnership.
23 January
YWT Denaby Ings: there were several birds about including a treecreeper, four male and two female goosanders, three shelduck. A willow tit was seen on the feeder, along with a coal tit, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, robin and chaffinch. A water rail also showed for about 30 seconds, walking along the reed edge alongside Pastures Road. All were seen by member Tina Langford.
22 January
Carr House Farm: During a lovely winter walk led by YWT Jon Traill several herons were spotted amongst the trees, three hares running across the fields and a woodcock in the morning.
19 January
YWT Sprotbrough Flash: In Pot Ridings Wood this afternoon there were plenty of sightings to be had including a chiffchaff, nuthatch, goldcrests, coal tit, Raven calling overhead, redwings, sparrowhawk; whilst by the riverside fieldfares, bullfinches, buzzard, 2 little grebes were seen by member Tina Langford.
YWT Snake Holme Pastures: During a school trip year 5's and River Hull Project Officer Jon Traill spotted a water rail and three little egrets.
Hemp Holme: A short-eared owl was spotted here, near to well known spot, Tophill Low.
10 January
YWT Wheldrake Ings: 21 shelducks were an unusual sight so early in the year on the floods. Also present this morning were 23 pink-footed geese, 1 whooper swan, c30 pintails, 23 curlews and thousands of teal and wigeon, a fine sight in the winter sunshine.
The buzzard species mentioned below was seen well today, and has been identified as an unusually-marked common buzzard.
9 January
YWT Potteric Carr: a tundra bean goose was on Huxter Well Marsh today.
8 January
YWT Askham Bog: the first hazel catkins were seen on the reserve, by the boardwalk. Also, a woodcock was flushed from near the boardwalk, whilst several lesser redpolls, siskins, willow tits and marsh tits were seen around the site.
YWT Wheldrake Ings: 5 roe deer present. 2 short-eared owls were hunting over the reserve late in the afternoon. Also present, 16 curlew, 2 goldeneye, 2 peregrines and a marsh harrier. A buzzard has been seen in the area recently which some observers consider may be a rough-legged buzzard.
YWT Filey Dams: the female smew was reported again.
7 January
Cononley Ings: A large hare seen by member Shaun Radcliffe
5 January
YWT Staveley: Before Christmas, photographers trying to get close to the roosting long-eared owls have flushed the owls and they have not returned. If you come across roosting owls, please do not try to get too close.
Carl Watts, Staveley Community Outreach Officer
YWT Snakeholm Pastures (near Driffield): 2 little egrets have been seen on the River Hull recently plus a water rail.
YWT Kiplingcotes: Brown hares have been seen boxing on the reserve, a sure sign of spring!
River Hull Valley: At least four short-eared owls have been seen regularly over grassland in the area.
Jon Traill, Conservation Project Manager
4 January
YWT Potteric Carr: Sadly no sign of the ring-necked duck today and it was noted that numbers of other ducks such as pochard and tufted duck were down on the previous day.
3 January
YWT Potteric Carr: A female ring-necked duck is present on Huxter Well Marsh, viewable from St. Catherine's Hide - for more information see here.
1 January 2012
YWT Wheldrake Ings: Up to 90 whooper swans have been gathering to roost on the floods. Some linger during the day but many fly off to feed in the fields. Also present are 10 ruff, 10 curlew and 25 dunlin. There are is still a large flock of white-fronted geese and tundra bean geese in the area.
YWT Potteric Carr: A bittern was seen again on New Year's Day along with two peregrines and a little egret.
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