Potteric Carr wildlife sightings 2019/20

Potteric Carr January

(C) Jono Leadley

Potteric Carr wildlife sightings 2019/2020

Daily wildlife sightings at Potteric Carr nature reserve.

Please send your Potteric Carr wildlife sightings and photos to pottericsightings@gmail.com

Click HERE for the sightings page for 2021 and then save as a favourite

    Sightings by month

    December 2020

    Sunset over Huxter Well Marsh © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sunset over Huxter Well Marsh © Lynda Christou 2020

    Siskin © David Shaw 2020

    Siskin © David Shaw 2020

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020

    Thursday 31st

    • gulls - no gull roost tonight due to Huxter Well Marsh being frozen
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • Starlings - all down by 16.28, some near the livestock shelter and others near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Siskin

    Ringing: 12 Redwing, 1 Blackbird, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Wren and a control Lesser Redpoll

    Carol Hall, David Shaw, Lynda Christou, Rebekah Beaumont

    Wednesday 30th

    • 110 Pink-footed Geese - W at 14.35
    • 8 Shelduck
    • 5 Wigeon
    • 1 Peregrine - over St. Caths/M18 14:20
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 1b
    • 400 Lapwing
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 4 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Fieldfare - W
    • 30 Redwing

    Richard Scott, Paul Paddock, Darren Wozencroft

    Tuesday 29th

    • 77 Pink-footed Geese - 70 W at 15.40 and 7 NE at 16.15
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 17 Wigeon
    • 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 800 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 150 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • Starlings - all down by 16.30 
    • 18 Fieldfare - W

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Monday 28th

    • 1 Bittern - flew over Discovery Zone at 5pm
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • Starlings - put on the good display from 4pm and were all down by 4.25
    • 30 Redwing - near the entrance
    • 30-40 Lesser Redpoll - in trees near the edge of Black Carr Field (Butterfly Alley)

    Ringing: 21 Redwing, 1 Robin, 5 Blue Tit and a 2018 retrap Song Thrush

    Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Lynda Christou, Rebekah Beaumont, Rachel Huxham, Steve Cash

    Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020

    Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 27th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 5 Wigeon
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 9 Common Gull - roosted
    • 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1000 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 200 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 30 Long-tailed Tit - Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Treecreeper

    Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

    Saturday 26th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 23 Pochard
    • 29 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 3 Fieldfare - W
    • 21 Redwing - S

    Richard Scott

    Robin © Derek Parker 2020

    Robin © Derek Parker 2020

    Wednesday 23rd

    • 14 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 7 Wigeon
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 200 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 2 Common Gull
    • 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 3b adult
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b
    • 50 Lesser Redpoll - Loversall Bank

    Darren Wozencroft

    Tuesday 22nd

    • 9 Shelduck - 7 on cell 1b and 2 on cell 2a
    • 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Little Egret - flew on to Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • c250 Lapwing - on cell 1b, where the water level has gone up and the island is getting smaller
    • 2 Dunlin - flew high from cell 1b 
    • 1 Snipe - Decoy Marsh 
    • 12+ Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Jay - Black Carr Wood 
    • 1 Goldcrest - in a mixed tit flock near Old Eaa
    • 75,000 Starling - put on an excellent show and were all in to roost by 4.17pm

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Sunday 20th

    • c80 Pink-footed Geese - south
    • 82 Shoveler - 70 on cell 1b and 12 on Decoy Marsh
    • 7 Little Egret - over Decoy Marsh at dawn so possibly roosted at Low Ellers
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - female landed on Piper Marsh for a drink
    • 3 Fieldfare
    • 20 Redwing 

    Allen Holmes

    Friday 18th

    • 8 Shelduck
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 8 Redwing
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll

    Darren Wozencroft

    Long-tailed Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Long-tailed Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Willow Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Willow Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 17th

    • 8 Shelduck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 1 Tawny Owl - seen
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Willow/Marsh Tit - near the VC
    • 30,000 Starling - started to gather at 3.50pm and went in to roost by 4.17pm taking 9 minutes to drop into the reedbed
    • 25 Fieldfare - SW
    • 50 Lesser Redpoll
    • 30 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird

    Wednesday 16th

    • 1 Willow Tit
    • Starlings - down to roost at 16.14
    • 100 Lesser Redpoll

    Mark Roberts, Lynda Christou, Gary Johnston

    Tuesday 15th

    • 1 Bittern
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at 16.34
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • Starlings - down to roost at 16.19
    • 4 Bullfinch
    • 30 Siskin

    Lynda Christou, Phil Goacher

    Monday 14th

    • 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - seen briefly in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Piper Marsh 
    • c300 Lapwing - on Huxter Well Marsh, were very unsettled 
    • 1 Woodcock
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the Access Track
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 1 Treecreeper - in a mixed tit flock in St Caths copse
    • Starlings - all down by 16.21
    • 8 Redwing - along Cottage Drain 
    • Siskin and Redpoll - small number feeding in the treetops

    Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll

    Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Sunday 13th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the Access Track at 16.21
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • Starlings - went to roost early at 15.55 due to the rain 

    Adrian Andruchiw, Lynda Christou

    Kingfisher © Rebekah Beaumont 2020

    Kingfisher © Rebekah Beaumont 2020

    Saturday 12th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Tawny Owl - seen and heard from a tree along the Access Track at 16.34
    • Starlings - went to roost at 16.14

    Ringing: 5 Redwing, 6 Blue Tit, 23 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Kingfisher

    Rebekah Beaumont, Lynda Christou, BirdGuides

    The total of 166 species of birds have been seen in 2020, which matches the total for 2019. See the November Listing for details.

    Friday 11th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 340 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe - cell 1b
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Bearded Tit - 2 males and 2 females in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Bullfinch - in trees next to Piper Marsh Hide
    • 50 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank

    • 5 Siskin

    Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft

    Great White Egret © Paul Paddock 2020

    Great White Egret © Paul Paddock 2020

    Thursday 10th

    • 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - short flight over reeds between cells 3a and 3b
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on cell 1b, then flew to Piper Marsh
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve

    Paul  Paddock

    Wednesday 9th

    • 9 Shelduck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc briefly over Huxterwell 14:00
    • 1 Buzzard - circling to south of M18
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - male
    • 4 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - SW across Huxterwell midday
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 16 Common Gull - roost
    • 2 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 80 Carrion Crow - roost
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - male and female Mitchell Hide
    • 8 Treecreeper
    • Starlings - down to roost by 16.12
    • 30 Blackbird
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 8 Redwing
    • 80 Lesser Redpoll
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 4 Reed Bunting

    Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Monday 7th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern - seen in flight
    • 1 Little Egret - Mother drain
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 230 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing in cell 4
    • 1 Blackcap - male with tit flock St.Cath's
    • 50,000 Starling - started to gather at 3.50pm and put on a good show. They gradually went in to roost by 4.18pm.
    • 3 Redwing
    • 11 Bullfinch
    • 2 Greenfinch
    • 60 Lesser Redpoll - around Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 2 Siskin

    Ringing: 19 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Song Thrush

    Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Gary Dyson, Rebekah Beaumont, David Shaw

    Square Pond in Loversall Field © Derek Parker 2020

    Square Pond in Loversall Field © Derek Parker 2020

    Sunday 6th

    • 640 Pink-footed Geese - 35 east 12.10, 65 north 12.15, 2 skeins of 100 each north 12.30, 200 west 12.40, 60 west 15.20, 80 circled low over Huxter Well Marsh 16.24
    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 1 Avocet
    • 9 Golden Plover - circled cell 1b, 5 departed west and 4 landed briefly
    • 1 Snipe
    • 2 Woodcock
    • 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 35 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 55 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Balby Carr Copse (near Sedum House) at 16.35
    • 6 Bearded Tit - 3 males and 3 females near Mitchell Hide
    • Starlings - went to roost 16.16
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - over
    • 1 Greenfinch - over

    Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft

    Details of a Darvic-ringed Herring Gull

    Jez Blackburn has sent us the history of 'Yellow 4G9B'.

    • Ringed at Daneshill Landfill Site, Nottinghamshire on 27/02/12
    • Seen at Potteric Carr on 28/11/17, 14/02/19, 02/03/19, 14/07/19
    Egyptian Geese © Allen Holmes 2020

    Egyptian Geese © Allen Holmes 2020

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Saturday 5th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - over West Scrape
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - stood at the base of the reeds on cell 1b and later flew past Mitchell Hide to cell 3b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 1b
    • 1 Avocet - cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 15 Common Gull - in the roost
    • 2 Tawny Owl - calling from the Access Track and Old Eaa/Childers Wood at 16.40
    • 6 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • Starling - the murmuration went to roost at cell 4 at 16.23

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Lynda Christou, Allen Holmes

    Friday 4th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b in the morning
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel - attacking a Buzzard along M18
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 1 Avocet - a very unseasonal bird on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • gull roost c.300 birds - no Iceland
    • 2 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 4 Bearded Tit - low in the reed edge on cell 3b
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • Starling - the birds went to roost at 16.11
    • 60 Lesser Redpoll - mobile Black Carr to Loversall Bank

    Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou

    Redwing © Richard Scott 2020

    Redwing © Richard Scott 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Paul Paddock 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Paul Paddock 2020

    Wednesday 2nd

    • 3 Whooper Swan - 2 adults and an immature departed cell 1b at 11.18 and flew west
    • 112 Pink-footed Geese - westerly movement involving 14 at 10.40, 70 at 11.36, 28 at 13.39
    • 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 110 Shoveler - cell 1b
    • 7 Little Egret - at dusk on cell 1b
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - flew low over Piper Marsh and landed on Mother Drain bank but flew off east. At dusk, dropped onto West Scrape before flying to cell 1b only to be chased off by a Grey Heron.
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 250 Lapwing - cell 1b
    • 1 Dunlin - with the Lapwing flock
    • 1 Woodcock
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 1 ICELAND GULL - 1st-winter arrived at the roost on cell 1b at 15.55
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from a tree next to the Access Track at 16.40
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - 2+ near Mitchell Hide, one seen from Hawthorn Bank Hide and one heard at East Scrape
    • 8 Fieldfare - Loversall Triangle
    • 70 Redwing - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - over
    • 8 Bullfinch
    • 100 Lesser Redpoll - Butterfly Alley
    • 8 Siskin - Beeston Plantation

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Paul Paddock, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou, Joseph Angus

    November 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    female Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    female Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    Monday 30th

    • 1 Pintail - male on cell 1b
    • 1 Goosander - male 'appeared' on cell 1b 15:50 departed SE within a few mins
    • 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 1b
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - were waiting for the Starlings to go in to roost on cell 4, causing much panic and interesting displays 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on Old Eaa
    • 3 Dunlin - cell on 1b
    • 4 Woodcock - seen in various locations
    • 30 Great Black-backed Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Cetti's warbler - singing at Old Eaa and Decoy Marsh
    • 10,000 Starling - went in to roost 16.11
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - low south over Mitchell Hide 14:55
    • 15 Lesser Redpoll - near Old Eaa Hide
    • 60 Siskin - Access Track

    Buffer Area

    • a male Goosander flew south over Short Lane Fields and Low Ellers at 12.25

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Helen Womack, Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Keith Follows,  Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Little Egret © Mark Dinnage 2020

    Little Egret © Mark Dinnage 2020

    Sunday 29th

    • 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1+ Pintail - male on cell 2a at lunchtime and the same or another male on the Lagoon mid afternoon
    • 2 Goldeneye - male and female on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 3a
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Tawny Owl - heard calling at 16.32
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 6 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • Starling - all down by 16.19
    • 100 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Lynda Christou

    Saturday 28th

    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1st-winter in the roost at 15.20, was just discernible in the murk

    Richard Scott

    Mute Swan © Mark Dinnage 2020

    Mute Swan © Mark Dinnage 2020

    Mandarins © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Mandarins © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Friday 27th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 2 Mandarin - male and female on Old Eaa. The only sighting this year.
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • c80 Shoveler - cell 1b
    • 1 Goldeneye - female on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flying over cell 1b 15:30
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - over cell 4
    • 4 Water Rail
    • 310 Lapwing
    • 14 Common Gull
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Access Track entrance & St Caths Field
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - good views from Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Blackcap - male along the Access Track
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 50,000 Starling - went in to roost at 4.20pm. They started to gather at 3.50pm.
    • 20 Redwing
    • 20 Lesser Redpoll 

    Buffer Area

    • 1 Little Egret in the drain on Short Lane

    Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft

    double-hoofed Hoof Fungus © Lesley Wilson 2020

    double-hoofed Hoof Fungus © Lesley Wilson 2020

    Thursday 26th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 4 Water Rail - calling at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - East Scrape
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Jay
    • 9 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Skylark
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 23 Long-tailed Tit
    • Starling - the birds went to roost at 16.22
    • 30 Blackbird - between Piper Marsh Drain and East Scrape
    • 12 Redwing
    • 2 Stonechat - male and female on the reed tops and fence near East Scrape Screen
    • 6 Bullfinch

    Richard Scott, Martin Warne, Gary Dyson, Mick Bellas, Chris Johnson, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou

    Wednesday 25th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 29 Wigeon
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 2 Woodcock
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF - in Big Hedge early afternoon. This is the 3rd record of this eastern subspecies.
    • Bearded Tit - several calling from Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 25 Redwing
    • 30 Lesser Redpoll - Loversall Delph

    Darren Wozencroft

    white Greylag Goose © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    white Greylag Goose © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Redwing © Lesley Wilson 2020

    Redwing © Lesley Wilson 2020

    Tuesday 24th

    • 200+ Greylag geese - including the white bird
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
    • 250+ Lapwing
    • 4 Woodcock
    • gull roost - decent numbers roosted but nothing of note
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the entrance at 16.46
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • Bearded Tit - heard from Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - heard
    • 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 10,000 Starling - put on an impressive show as they tried avoid becoming supper for a Sparrowhawk, before going to roost at 16.13
    • 30 Redwing - mainly along Piper Marsh Drain
    • 1 Greenfinch - VC feeders
    • 100+ Lesser Redpoll - in birch trees near Piper Marsh

    Mick Bellas, Dave Carroll, Michael Bird, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Gary Dyson, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw

    Highland on the marsh © Derek Parker 2020

    Highland on the marsh © Derek Parker 2020

    Monday 23rd

    • 225 Greylag Geese
    • 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 26 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 104 Shoveler - on Huxter Well Marsh of which 80 were on cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - south through Huxter Well Marsh at 12.15
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 270 Lapwing
    • 2 Snipe
    • 1 Common Gull - cell 1b
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - singles in Beeston Plantation and St Caths Copse
    • 1 Raven - seen from the Iron Bridge flying east
    • 7+ Bearded Tit - one in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide and at least 6 showing well in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 6 Goldcrest
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 5 Treecreeper
    • Starlings - went to roost at 16.11, still at cell 4 but closer to the livestock shelter
    • 30 Redwing - in hawthorns along Mother Drain
    • 60 Lesser Redpoll - along the Access Track, also small numbers in Beeston Plantation
    • Siskin - small numbers

    Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft

    Old Eaa © Lynda Christou 2020

    Old Eaa © Lynda Christou 2020

    Siskin © Richard Scott 2020

    Siskin © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 22nd

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 5 Pintail - 3 males and 2 females on cell 1b but all flew off at dusk.
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 330 Lapwing - cell 1b
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 15.30
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • Bearded Tit - a few calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 30 Redwing
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 15 Lesser Redpoll
    • 30 Goldfinch
    • 20 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson

    Saturday 21st

    • 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 3b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 8 Common Gull
    • 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 450 Herring Gull
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 15.45
    • 105 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • Bearded Tit - a few calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Chiffchaff - Hawthorn Field
    • 1 Treecreeper

    Richard Scott, Stuart Churchill, Antony Wilson

    Autumn Light © Derek Parker 2020

    Autumn Light © Derek Parker 2020

    Friday 20th

    • 210 Greylag Geese
    • 70 Pink-footed Geese - came into roost on Huxter Well Marsh at 16.35hrs. It is very unusual for large groups to alight on the reserve.
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail
    • 3 Bittern - 2 flew to cell 1a late morning, another(?) near Mitchell Hide 16:00hrs
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc's
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - calling
    • 215 Lapwing
    • 7 Ruff - arrived on cell 1b 11.45hrs staying a few minutes, departing east
    • 10 Common Gull - roost
    • 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 85 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 33 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Chiffchaff -  Ring Main
    • 30 Blackbird
    • 6 Fieldfare - SW
    • 80 Redwing - mainly around Hawthorn Field
    • 7 Bullfinch
    • 30 Lesser Redpoll
    • 15 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft, Keith Follows, Lynda Christou

    Thursday 19th

    • 40 Pink-footed Geese - flew roughly south over 4.20pm
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing from cell 4
    • 10,000+ Starlings - to roost at cell 4 at 4.14pm

    Lynda Christou, Sue and Roger Bird

    White-fronted Goose © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    White-fronted Goose © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Garganey © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Garganey © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Wednesday 18th

    • 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - adult of the race albifrons on cell 1b in the morning
    • 100 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 2 Egyptian Geese
    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - on the water's edge at cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh at 12.45
    • 150 Lapwing
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 16.00
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • Bearded Tit - several calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 40 Fieldfare - south
    • 20 Redwing
    • 5 Lesser Pedpoll
    • 10 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft, Gary Dyson, Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Mark Roberts

    Tuesday 17th

    • 1 Kestrel - hunting near the VC
    • 1 Tawny owl - calling 16.50

    Lynda Christou

    Monday 16th

    • 4 Whooper Swan - flew through in the morning
    • 132 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 3 Canada Geese - cell 1b
    • 7 Shelduck - 4 cell 1b, 3 West Scrape
    • 41 Mallard - an unusual number on Mother Drain
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a in the afternoon
    • 3 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Central Grassland
    • 2+ Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • c60 Lapwing - flew from Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - flew from Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • c3 Bearded Tit - heard in Huxter Well reedbeds while the grit trays were being filled
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - heard
    • 2 Chiffchaff - Pumping Station and Hawthorn Field, but may have been the same bird
    • 10,000 Starling - in to roost on cell 4 by 16.08
    • 5 Fieldfare
    • 70 Redwing
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - over
    • 2 Meadow Pipit
    • c20 Goldfinch/Lesser Redpoll - in trees near the compound

    Dave Carroll, Darren Wozencroft, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird

    Sunday 15th

    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 5 Pintail - 2 males and 3 females on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - landed in the reeds in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc present all day at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Kingfisher - Lagoon
    • 2 Jay - St Caths Copse
    • 2 Goldcrest - Loversal Triangle
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • Bearded Tit - some calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - near the under bridge
    • Starlings - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.27
    • 1 Song Thrush - having a bath in a puddle in the main carpark
    • 6 Redwing - near the under bridge
    • 6 Bullfinch
    • Lesser Redpoll - small numbers calling over St Caths Copse

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou

    Beeston Plantation © Derek Parker 2020

    Beeston Plantation © Derek Parker 2020

    Saturday 14th

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 9 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - to the starling murmuration
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Decoy Marsh after dark
    • 1 Coal Tit - Access Track
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Field
    • Starlings - went to roost at cell 4 by 16.05
    • 10 Siskin - Access Track

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Pintails © Richard Scott 2020

    Pintails © Richard Scott 2020

    Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    the usual view of the Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 12th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 35 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b and later on cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - flew from water's edge of cell 1b near Mitchell Hide over to reedbed near West Scrape
    • 4 Little Egret - on cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - both cc's over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 310 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 10 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Decoy Marsh after dark
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 10,000+ Starling - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.30

    Butterflies: 1 Peacock - Loversall Junction

    Odonata: 2 Migrant Hawker - Willow Marsh (latest since 2010), 41+ Common Darter

    Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou

    Wednesday 11th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 39 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Goosander - male on cell 1b departed south at 10:10hrs
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1b 16:00hrs
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - calling
    • 265 Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Skylark - east
    • 3 Pied Wagtail
    • 171 Fieldfare - east in flocks 28, 44, 58, 33 and 8 
    • 40 Redwing
    • 35 Lesser Redpoll
    • 12 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft

    Little Egret © Mick Woodward 2020

    Little Egret © Mick Woodward 2020

    Tuesday 10th

    • 100+ Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - perched in the reeds at the back of cell 1b then flew towards 2a/2b
    • 3 Little Egret - Mother Drain and cell 1b
    • 4 Little Grebe - cell 1b
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Corbett Wood
    • 100 Lapwing - cell 1b
    • 3 Snipe - cell 1b
    • 1 Woodcock - near Cottage Drain Hide
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near Willow Pool at 16.55
    • 1 Skylark - over
    • 5+ Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 10,000+ Starling - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.34
    • 25 Redwing
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing near VC
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - over
    • 1 Water/Rock Pipit - possible called as it flew from Decoy Lake towards Loversall Pool
    • 4 Bullfinch - near Decoy Marsh

    Odonata: 6 Common Darter near VC

    Butterflies: 1 Peacock

    Michael Bird, Richard Scott, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton, Mark Roberts

    Candlesnuff fungus © Lynda Christou 2020

    Candlesnuff fungus © Lynda Christou 2020

    Stinkhorn fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Stinkhorn fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Monday 9th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males still on cell 1b
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh at 15:10
    • 4 Water Rail
    • 150 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock - flushed Loversall Bank/Willow Marsh
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit - in a large tit flock
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 2 Treecreeper - in a tit flock near Old Eaa Hide
    • 25 Redwing
    • 3 Lesser Redpoll - over Willow Marsh 
    • 10 Siskin

    Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Geastrum michelianum © Martin Warne 2020

    Geastrum michelianum © Martin Warne 2020

    Helvella crispa © Martin Warne 2020

    Helvella crispa © Martin Warne 2020

    Oak Bush Cricket © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Oak Bush Cricket © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Sunday 8th

    • 250 Greylag Geese - West Scrape
    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Egret - one feeding in Mother Drain and one over at dusk
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - SE over at Central Grassland at dusk
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - East Scrape at dusk
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 1b and Decoy Lake
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 2 Snipe - cell 1b and Decoy Lake
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Jay
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 10000 Starling - went to roost at cell 4
    • 2 Fieldfare
    • 21 Redwing
    • 2 Bullfinch
    • 80 Lesser Redpoll
    • 7 Siskin

    Fungi: 2 Helvella crispa, 3 Geastrum michelianum (triplex)

    Other: Oak Bush Cricket in Beeston Plantation, which is scarce in Yorkshire.

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou, Andy Dalton, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Martin Warne

    Saturday 7th

    Foggy!

    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - sat on East Scrape screen waiting for the starling roost
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over St Caths Field

    Richard Scott

    Friday 6th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 3a
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - 2 at the Starling roost
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 1 Woodcock - near the Entrance at dusk
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 4 Bearded Tit - showing well from Mitchell Hide
    • 5000 Starling
    • 12 Redwing
    • 30 Lesser Redpoll

    Mammals: Stoat on the path between St Caths field & M18

    Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft

    Slime Mould (Trichia persimilis?) © Martin Warne 2020

    Slime Mould (Trichia persimilis?) © Martin Warne 2020

    Thursday 5th

    • 165 Greylag Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b then cell 2a
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 196 Lapwing
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Beeston Plantation and Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Jay
    • 2 Goldcrest - Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 4 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell, Duchess and Hawthorn Bank hides
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 17 Long-tailed Tit
    • 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • c50 Fieldfare - west
    • 50 Redwing - mainly on Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - Mother Drain/Overflow Car Park
    • 3 Bullfinch
    • 30 Lesser Redpoll
    • 1 Reed Bunting - cell 3b

    Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Martin Warne

    Wednesday 4th

    • 23 Pink-footed Geese - south
    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Wigeon - West Scrape
    • 2 Pintail- males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc's over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 3 Water Rail - calling on Huxter Well Marsh and Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Redshank - cell 1b
    • 2 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve

    Paul Paddock, Gary Dyson

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020

    Migrant Hawker © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Migrant Hawker © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Wigeon © Allen Holmes 2020

    Wigeon © Allen Holmes 2020

    Monday 2nd

    • 157 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 5 Little Grebe - Lagoon
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Bittern - 3 sightings around Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - caught a Coot but dropped it
    • 2+ Sparrowhawk - one to the Starling roost
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - through Huxter Well Marsh
    • 180 Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin - on cell 1b until dusk
    • 250 Wood Pigeon - coming into roost
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler  -  singing
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing in Loversall Delph and in Tit flock on M18 embankment
    • c10,000 Starling - went in to roost on cell 4 at 16.49
    • c330 Fieldfare - mostly east
    • 25 Redwing
    • 1 Brambling - over Black Carr Field

    Butterflies: 1 Speckled Wood - Wardens Car Park  (also seen by visitors near Pumping Station, probably latest for reserve?), 1 Peacock - Flutterby Garden

    Odonata: 1 Migrant Hawker, 45 Common Darter

    Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, visitor reports

    Common Darter (30th Oct) © David Shaw 2020

    Common Darter (30th Oct) © David Shaw 2020

    Sunday 1st

    • 1 Pink-footed Goose - flew in from the east, circled Huxter Well Marsh and returned east at 14.30
    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew across cell 1b
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - flew over Huxter Well Marsh towards the iPort
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Dunlin - briefly on cell 1b in the afternoon
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Chiffchaff - singing at Loversall Delph

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Ian Heppenstall, Gary Dyson, visitor reports

    October 2020

    Saturday 31st

    • 1 Whooper Swan - cell 1b, departed at 13:30
    • 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE - cell 1b in the afternoon. The 4th record for the Reserve, the last was in 2012.
    • 44 'Grey Geese' - W at 08:30
    • 165 Greylag Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 34 Wigeon
    • 5 Goosander - low over Huxter Well Marsh flying towards iPort at 16.15
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 18 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy late afternoon on cell 1b
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling after dark
    • 1 Raven - low over Huxterwell 13:15
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 1+ Bearded Tit  -  calling Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 26 Fieldfare - 3 and 23 south
    • 20 Redwing
    • 1 Stonechat - male on Central Grassland
    • 10 Siskin

    Odonata : 1 Migrant Hawker

    Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Lynda Christou

    Friday 30th

    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1b
    • 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc with large yellow shoulders
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - chased a Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on 2a
    • 3 Golden Plover - dropped onto cell 1b then flew off west
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - near Mitchell Hide, was chased by a Sparrowhawk causing panic.
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Black Carr Wood and Young Eaa
    • 2 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Field
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • Siskin and Redpoll - several calling

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Thursday 29th

    • 105 Greylag Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 34 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 4 Little Egret 
    • 1 Water Rail - in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 265 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 4 Common Gull - pre-roost
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 50 Long-tailed Tit - several flocks around the reserve
    • 2 Chiffchaff - Wardens Car Park and Loversall Delph
    • 1 Blackcap - male near Piper Marsh Drain
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 30 Blackbird
    • 72 Fieldfare - single flock SW
    • 25 Redwing
    • 60 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank
    • 10 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft

    Fly Agaric © David Shaw 2020

    Fly Agaric © David Shaw 2020

    Wednesday 28th

    • 5 Whooper Swan - SE low over the pumping station at 09.10
    • 7 Shelduck - 2 on Old Eaa and 5 on cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - adult male over Old Eaa
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2b
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 5 Skylark - over 
    • 100 Lesser Redpoll - flocks of 50 in the pumping station area and Piper Marsh Scrub/Seven Arches Carr
    • 40 Goldfinch - pumping station area
    • 30 Siskin - pumping station area

    Buffer Area

    • 50 Fieldfare in trees on Low Ellers Curve late afternoon

    Richard Scott, Barry Wardley, Jim Horsfall

    Magpie and Sheep © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Magpie and Sheep © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Tuesday 27th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2b
    • 8 Little Egret - six on Mother Drain
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 100 Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 9 Snipe
    • 6 Goldcrest
    • 10 Redwing
    • 1 Brambling - Piper Marsh track with mixed finch/tit flock
    • 30 Redpoll
    • 5 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft

    Monday 26th

    • 3 Whooper Swan - south at 11am
    • 5 Shelduck - one on Old Eaa and 2 on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Pintail - males on 1b
    • 1 Bittern
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2+ Sparrowhawk - including one to the Starling roost
    • 2+ Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk in Young Eaa
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 6 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • c10,000 Starling - started to gather at 16.25 and went in to roost at 16.54
    • 20 Blackbird
    • 30 Redwing
    • 35 Lesser Redpoll
    • 20 Siskin

    Odonata: 4 Migrant Hawker, 30 Common Darter

    Darren Wozencroft, Keith Follows, Lynda Christou, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird

    Mute Swan © Allen Holmes 2020

    Mute Swan © Allen Holmes 2020

    drake Teal © Allen Holmes 2020

    drake Teal © Allen Holmes 2020

    Sunday 25th

    • 575 Pink-footed Geese - 75 flew east at 15.40 and 500 high east in 3 skeins at 16.30
    • 3 Shelduck
    • 65 Wigeon
    • 180 Teal
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Goldeneye - Stilling Pond
    • 6 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 3+ Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 850 Black-headed Gull
    • 4 Common Gull
    • 95 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 90 Herring Gull
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - adult in the roost
    • 6 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 2 Kingfisher - flying together along Mother Drain
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 8 Skylark - south
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 5000 Starling - murmuration with 2 Sparrowhawks in attendence. Roosted at cell 4 before 5pm.
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - SW
    • 2 Brambling - south
    • 5 Bullfinch - Iron Bridge
    • 40 Lesser Redpoll
    • 40 Goldfinch

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, John Burdall, Lynda Christou

    Saturday 24th

    • 42 'Grey Geese' - presumed Pink-feet, flew east over the iPort
    • 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1a
    • 5 Little Egret - fishing in the Mother Drain with a Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Dunlin - briefly on cell 1b
    • 7 Snipe - cell 1b
    • 5000 Starling - murmuration over Central Grassland before going to roost at cell 4 at 17.50

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson

    Friday 23rd

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 65 Wigeon
    • 3 Pintail - Lagoon and cell 1b
    • 1 Goosander - male seen departing Huxter Well Marsh at 1420hrs heading south
    • 1 Bittern - flew from cell 1b to cell 3a
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - female
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 110 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Dunlin - over cell 1b, called, gained height and heading SW
    • 2 Common Gull
    • 1 Raven - perched near the pumping station and then flew noisily towards Low Ellers
    • 8 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing, one showing well at Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Chiffchaff - Access Track and St. Caths
    • 2 Blackcap - female along Access Track and a male at Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 30 Redwing
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll
    • 50 Siskin - Reedbed Filtration Ponds

    Gary Dyson, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

    Thursday 22nd

    • 1 Pintail - Lagoon
    • 1 Bittern - flew across Huxter Well Marsh and landed in cell 1b
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - seen in flight from West Scrape Hide
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
    • 12+ Siskin - pumping station trees

    Butterflies: 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone

    Sue Brook, Judith Craigmile, Sue Cullen

    Wednesday 21st

    • 47 Greylag Geese - West Scrape
    • 400+ Teal - West Scrape
    • 58 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 90 Gadwall - 60 on cell 1b and 30 plus the Brewer's Duck on Piper Marsh
    • 2 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 42 Shoveler - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1b
    • 3 Water Rail - calling from Decoy Marsh Hide
    • 1 Ruff - West Scrape
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - giving good views from Decoy Marsh Hide
    • 21 Blackbird - south
    • 20+ Redwing - south

    Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton

    Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Brewer's Duck © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Brewer's Duck © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Tuesday 20th

    • 1 'Brewer's Duck' - (Mallard x Gadwall) Piper Marsh
    • Teal - female with nasal saddle (TQ+T blue) was seen from Mitchell Hide. This bird was also seen on 14th. This is from the project in Portugal. I'm awaiting the history of this bird.
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - from Piper Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 8 Redwing - near Piper Marsh
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler

    Adrian Andruchiw

    Monday 19th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 84 Wigeon
    • 520 Teal
    • 2 Pintail - cell 1b most of the day
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b late morning
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 150 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1200 Black-headed Gull - roost
    • 10 Goldcrest
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 40 Redwing
    • 2 Pied Wagtail
    • 40 Redpoll
    • 15 Siskin

    Butterflies: 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock

    Odonata: 3 Migrant Hawker, 1 Common Darter

    Darren Wozencroft

    Witches Hat? © Derek Parker 2020

    Witches Hat? © Derek Parker 2020

    Green Woodpecker © Richard Scott 2020

    Green Woodpecker © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 18th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 85 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail
    • 2 GARGANEY
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 6 Water Rail
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 8 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 4 Bearded Tit
    • 2 Skylark
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 6 Fieldfare
    • 48 Redwing
    • 1 Brambling
    • 20 Lesser Redpoll
    • 40 Siskin

    Fungi: Several Shaggy Ink Cap, White Saddle. Parasol, Fly Agaric and Chicken-of-the-wood, plus 1 of what is probably Witches Hat

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue Bird, Derek Parker

    Saturday 17th

    • 330 Pink-footed Geese - flew east in 5 skeins between 16.55 and 17.10
    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 2 Pintail - cell 1b and 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Water Rail - Decoy Marsh and cell 2a
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Bearded Tit - male from Hawthorn Bank Hide

    Richard Scott, John Burdall, Richard Collis, Lynda Christou

    Friday 16th

    • 250 Pink-footed Geese - flew east at about 3pm
    • c100 Gadwall - on Piper Marsh, plus a Brewer's Duck (Mallard x Gadwall)
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Golden Plover - on cell 1b 
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - off main access
    • c30 Fieldfare

    Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Brian Buckle per Michael Bird

    Whooper Swans © Allen Holmes 2020

    Whooper Swans © Allen Holmes 2020

    Thursday 15th

    • 3 Whooper Swan - arrived on cell 1b early morning but not seen again
    • 75 Pink-footed Geese - NE over the VC at 12.03
    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 83 Wigeon
    • 3 Pintail - 2 on cell 1b and one on cell 2a
    • 3 Little Egret - over
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3+ Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 1b
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 8 Swallow - 5 south early morning and 3 east in the afternoon
    • 2 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 6 Fieldfare - west
    • 60 Redwing - mainly west

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes

    Cattle on West Scrape © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Cattle on West Scrape © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Wednesday 14th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 60 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - 5 sightings
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling 
    • 400 Lapwing
    • 1 Golden Plover - cell 1b in the morning
    • 2 Dunlin - one on cell 1b all day and one south at 1800hrs
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 7 Snipe
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 18 Bearded Tit - flock of 16 flew over cell 3b and 2 over 1b (5 more seen presumed same)
    • 7 Skylark
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Chiffchaff - Piper Track
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 3000 Starling
    • 10 Song Thrush
    • 60 Redwing
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - NE over Mitchell Hide
    • 8 Bullfinch
    • 45 Lesser Redpoll
    • 12 Siskin

    Butterflies : 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 4 Speckled Wood

    Odonata : 8 Migrant Hawker, 70 Common Darter

    Darren Wozencroft

    Goat Moth larva © David Shaw 2020

    Goat Moth larva © David Shaw 2020

    Rare moth larva photographed again at Potteric Carr

    It will be recalled that larvae of the rare and spectacular Goat Moth Cossus cossus were photographed crossing the Access Track on 2 different dates in August, 2019. This was a new reserve record of a nationally very scarce species.

    I’m delighted to report that a third larva was spotted and photographed by David Shaw on 20 August, 2020 (see photograph). It, too, was found crossing the Access Track in a similar location to the 2019 records. All 3 larvae were full-grown and, undoubtedly, would have been seeking out a suitable pupation site.

    Full grown larvae being found in the same location in consecutive years is evidence that we now have an established Goat Moth colony located in the vicinity of the Access Track. These colonies can be quite long lived, so there is every expectation that more larvae and, perhaps, adults will be discovered in future years.

    Ian Heppenstall (Volunteer moth recorder)  

    Tuesday 13th

    • 200 Greylag Geese - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Shelduck - cell 2a
    • 1 Pintail - cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Raven - SW
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit - Big Hedge
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling
    • 6 Skylark - NW
    • 1 Sand Martin - a very late bird at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 5 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 10 Blackbird - Big Hedge/Iron Bridge
    • 97 Fieldfare - 27 flew west after briefly landing in hawthorns and a flock of 70 landed in Big Hedge
    • 2 Stonechat - Central Grassland
    • 125 Redwing - mainly flying west but some landing in the hawthorns
    • 1 Brambling - with Siskins and Redpolls on Hawthorn Bank
    • 90 Lesser Redpoll - including a flock of 70 flying around

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Mick Bellas

    Monday 12th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh

    per BirdGuides

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 11th

    • 1 Shelduck - cell 2a
    • 64 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Curlew - over
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 9 Skylark - 5 NE and 4 SE
    • 7 Chiffchaff
    • 28 Fieldfare - west
    • 1 Song Thrush - west
    • 231 Redwing - west
    • 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Brambling - flew over calling. The first record of the year.
    • 5 Redpoll
    • 10 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts

    Whooper Swan © Richard Scott 2020

    Whooper Swan © Richard Scott 2020

    Saturday 10th

    • 1 Whooper Swan - arrived on cell 1b during heavy rain at 4.55pm and departed east 15mins later as soon as the rain cleared
    • 1 Shelduck
    • 52 Wigeon
    • 500 Teal
    • 1 Pintail - eclipse male on cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - came in high from the south and landed on cell 1a at 4.20pm
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 6 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 10 Lesser Redpoll
    • 2 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner, Lynda Christou

    Friday 9th

    • 1 Shelduck
    • 51 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - cell 2a
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Ruff - on cell 2a at 1pm
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 4 Chiffchaff
    • 6 Skylark - south
    • 2 Swallow - low south over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 9 Redwing - 4 south and 5 present
    • 25 Lesser Redpoll
    • 53 Siskin - groups of 20 and 30 south and 3 present
    • 5 Pied Wagtail

    Butterflies: 1 Small Copper

    Odonata: 5 Migrant Hawker, c25 Common Darter

    Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Steve Cash

    Thursday 8th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Ruff - cell 1b
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - in flight from West Scrape towards cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 6 Bearded Tit - 5 near Mitchell Hide and one calling near Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 30+ Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch - mixed flock feeding in trees on Willow Bank and Loversall Bank

    Sue Brook & Judith Craigmile

    Stonechat © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Stonechat © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Wednesday 7th

    • 1 Ruff - cell 1b
    • 5 Dunlin - 4 on cell 1b and one on cell 3b
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - still on cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide

    Gary Dyson, Adrian Andruchiw

    Tuesday 6th

    • 700 Teal - of which 450 were on West Scrape
    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female hunting on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Hawthorn Bank 
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
    • 500 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Ruff - West Scrape
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - cell 3b
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Snipe - West Scrape 
    • 2 Common Gull - cell 1b
    • 2 Goldcrest - along Piper Marsh Path
    • 6 Chiffchaff 

    Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

    Monday 5th

    • 28 Wigeon
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2b
    • 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
    • 8 Dunlin - on West Scrape at 18.00
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - still present. Seen on cell 1b at 12.50
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - Piper Marsh
    • 3 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 10 Lesser Redpoll - Iron Bridge
    • Siskin - several around the education centre

    Odonata: 20+ Common Darter, 1 male Migrant Hawker

    Butterflies: 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood

    Fungi: 4 White Saddle - Helvella crispa, 1 Shaggy Inkcap - Coprinus comatus, 1 Chicken of the Wood - Laetiporus sulphureus, 1 False Coral Fungi - Tremellodendron schweinitzii

    Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Derek Parker

    Shelduck © Richard Scott 2020

    Shelduck © Richard Scott 2020

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 4th

    • 15 Whooper Swan - briefly on cell 1b around noon
    • 1 Shelduck
    • 100 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Red-crested Pochard - male on cell 1b
    • 43 Pochard
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - up together
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - calling
    • 3 Dunlin - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Woodcock - Willow Bank
    • 3 Common Gull
    • 2 Swift - two late birds flew south together 
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 2 Skylark - over
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 6 Chiffchaff
    • 5 Blackbird - Big Hedge
    • 3 Song Thrush - flew from Big Hedge
    • 2 Redwing - over
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - West Scrape
    • 60 Redpoll - Iron Bridge area

    Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields

    • 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Grey Wagtail

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Sue Cullen, Mark Roberts, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird

    Saturday 3rd

    • 83 Greylag Geese
    • 1 Shelduck
    • 76 Wigeon
    • 300 Teal
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Red-crested Pochard - male on cell 1b. The first of the year.
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 450 Lapwing
    • 2 Golden Plover - West Scrape
    • 13 Dunlin - West Scrape, cell 1b, cell 3b
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 8 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Gull
    • 2 Redwing - dropped in to Hawthorn Field late afternoon

    Richard Scott

    Friday 2nd

    • 1 Shelduck - cell 2a
    • 41 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - hunting together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 500 Lapwing
    • 1 KNOT - on West Scrape late afternoon. The only sighting this year.
    • 8 Dunlin - numbers on West Scrape increased during the day from 4 up to 8 by late afternoon
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - West Scrape
    • 9 Snipe
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling cell 2b/3a
    • 1 Swallow - north
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Chiffchaff
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over
    • 3 Pied Wagtail
    • c30 Redpoll - Piper Marsh to Iron Bridge
    • c20 Siskin

    Butterflies: singles of Small and Green-veined White, Small Copper, Comma, Peacock and Speckled Wood

    Odonata: 3 Migrant Hawker, c50 Common Darter, 1 Brown Hawker

    Darren Wozencroft, Mick Bellas, Adrian Andruchiw

    Bearded Tits © Allen Holmes 2020

    Bearded Tits © Allen Holmes 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Allen Holmes 2020

    male Bearded Tit © Allen Holmes 2020

    Dunlin and Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020

    Dunlin and Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020

    Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020

    Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 1st

    • 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 53 Wigeon - mainly on cell 2a
    • 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - singles on cells 1b and 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Dunlin - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 1 LITTLE STINT - juv on West Scrape/cell 1b all day
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Greenshank - briefly on West Scrape in the morning
    • 9 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Gull
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit - VC
    • 13+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide then moved to the ring main
    • 1 Skylark - over
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 9 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 2 Mistle Thrush - over

    Allen Holmes, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

    September 2020

    Wednesday 30th

    • 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 2 Swallow - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler

    Paul Paddock

    Ypsolopha sequella © Derek Parker 2020

    Ypsolopha sequella © Derek Parker 2020

    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla © Derek Parker 2020

    Amblyptilia acanthadactyla © Derek Parker 2020

    Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 28th September

    After the recent quite chilly nights, it was a surprise to get one that was quite mild for the time of year. As a consequence, we were able to record a total of 28 species of moths, slightly above average for the end of September.

    No nationally or regionally rare or scarce moths were recorded, although a single Ypsolopha sylvella was good to see, as there are very few Potteric records of this species. A Small Blood-vein was a touch surprising, as its flight period is usually over before the end of September. Examples of Acleris laterana, Acleris emargana, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Common Marbled Carpet, Red-line Quaker and Straw Dot were amongst the species more typically associated with mid-Autumn.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Buzzard © Allen Holmes 2020

    Buzzard © Allen Holmes 2020

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020

    Tuesday 29th

    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 9 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • c200 Lesser Redpoll - arrived and splintered into several feeding flocks around Iron Bridge and Piper Marsh, feeding on Silver Birch. Possibly the highest count since 1976!

    Allen Holmes

    female Common Darter © Derek Parker 2020

    female Common Darter © Derek Parker 2020

    Typhlocyba quercus © Derek Parker 2020

    Typhlocyba quercus © Derek Parker 2020

    Sulphur Tufts © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sulphur Tufts © Lynda Christou 2020

    Monday 28th

    • 1 Whooper Swan - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 30+ Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Pintail - female
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel - on the pylons by the M18
    • 4+ Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on West Scrape
    • 303 Lapwing - West Scrape
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 11 Snipe - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Great Spotted woodpecker
    • 2 Jay - flew across Huxter Well Marsh
    • 13 Bearded Tit - mixed adults and young in the West Scrape area
    • 19 Swallow - south
    • 6+ Cetti's Warbler
    • 7 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Field
    • c60 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • c16 Goldfinch - main gate
    • 6 Redpoll
    • Siskin - singles calling in several places

    Ladybirds: 4 7-spot Ladybird, 3 Harlequin Ladybird

    Butterflies: 4 Large White

    Odonata: 7 Common Darter

    Bugs: 1 Typhlocyba quercus (tiny 3.5mm long Leafhopper)

    Fungi: 3 Shaggy Inkcap

    Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Derek Parker

    Sunday 27th

    • 22 Pink-footed Geese - NE
    • 1 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 31 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 12 Pintail - west
    • 2 GARGANEY - singles on cells 2a (Hawthorn Bank Hide) and 3a (Tofield Hide) at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson

    Whooper Swans © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Whooper Swans © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Saturday 26th

    • 2 Whooper Swan
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Dunlin

    Adrian Andruchiw

    Water Shrew © Andrew Leggett 2020

    Water Shrew © Andrew Leggett 2020

    Friday 25th 

    • 2 Canada Geese
    • 1 Shelduck    
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Snipe
    • 3 Jay
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler

    Mammals: Water Shrew (on path near Decoy Marsh Hide) and Common Shrew - from corpses on the paths

    Odonata: still plenty of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 1 Hobby

    Andrew Leggett, Ian Morris, David Shaw

    Thursday 24th

    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Hobby - mainly around the dead oak at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Kingfisher - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Raven - tussling with 4 Buzzards as it flew north low over Huxter Well Marsh/Piper Marsh
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 6+ Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap

    Andy Dalton, Gary Dyson

    Golden Plover and Lapwing © Richard Scott 2020

    Golden Plover and Lapwing © Richard Scott 2020

    Wednesday 23rd

    • 1 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 31 Wigeon - mainly on cell 2a
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - singles on the Lagoon and cell 2a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 3 Golden Plover - dropped into West Scrape during heavy rain in the afternoon
    • 3 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 25 Snipe - West Scrape and cell 1b
    • 1 Kingfisher - cell 1b
    • 1 Raven - flew south high
    • 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 13 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Grey Wagtail - flew south together
    • 9 Redpoll

    Richard Scott, Mick Bellas, visitor reports

    Rosy Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

    Rosy Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

    Black Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

    Black Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

    Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2020

    Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2020

    Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 21st September

    The night had been cooler than initially forecast and the catch was disappointing. The total of 18 species recorded is below average for this time of year and there was little of note to report apart from a single Phyllonorycter messaniella, the 5th reserve record of a species particularly associated with Holm Oak, which is not recorded on the reserve. It will, however, lay on other species of oak, such as Pedunculate Oak, which is a more likely pabulum at Potteric Carr.

    Amongst the other moth species recorded were Lunar Underwing, Large Wainscot, Black Rustic, Brindled Green, Rosy Rustic and Pinion-streaked Snout.

    Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Grass Snake © Lynda Christou 2020

    Grass Snake © Lynda Christou 2020

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020

    Tuesday 22nd

    • 22 Mute Swan - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby – hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 9 Snipe – West Scrape
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 13 Greenfinch – 10 in small flock SW, and 3 on the VC feeders

    Other: 6 Common Darter, Grass Snake

    Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton, Derek Parker, Lynda Christou

    Jay carrying acorn © Allen Holmes 2020

    Jay carrying acorn © Allen Holmes 2020

    Marsh Harrier © Allen Holmes 2020

    Marsh Harrier © Allen Holmes 2020

    Monday 21st

    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and cell 3b
    • 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK - West Scrape and cell 1b
    • 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
    • 9 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 10 Bearded Tit - 8 near Mitchell Hide and 2 at West Scrape
    • 8 Swallow - flew south in a single flock
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 7 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap
    • Meadow Pipit - small numbers flying south in the morning
    • 1 Linnet - over
    • Redpoll - single figures
    • Siskin - single figures

    Other: Walnut Orb-weaver spider, Grass Snake

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, visitor reports

    Sunday WeBS Count

    Mute Swan 25, Greylag Goose 6, Canada Goose 3, Wigeon 18, Gadwall 86, Teal 309, Pintail 1, Mallard 48, Garganey 3, Shoveler 120, Pochard 50, Tufted Duck 15, Cormorant 14, Little Egret 6, Grey Heron 5, Little Grebe 24, Great Crested Grebe 2, Water Rail 1, Moorhen 2, Coot 245, Lapwing 475, Ringed Plover 2, Turnstone 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Snipe 7

    Mark Roberts

    Spotted Redshank © Richard Scott 2020

    Spotted Redshank © Richard Scott 2020

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020

    Reed Warbler © Richard Scott 2020

    Reed Warbler © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 20th

    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b
    • 3 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Hobby
    • 2 Ringed Plover - one briefly on cell 1b in the morning and one on West Scrape in the afternoon
    • 1 TURNSTONE - departed West Scrape at 09.14
    • 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK - juv on West Scrape in the afternoon. The first sighting of the year.
    • 7 Snipe 
    • 1 Common Gull - juv on cell 1b
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - male and female near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 14 Chiffchaff
    • 5 Blackcap
    • 2 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 Stonechat - male perching in the reeds and willow saplings near Mitchell Hide. The first since March.
    • 12 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Redpoll

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

    Ringing totals: 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren

    Rebekah Beaumont

    record shot of Crane following Greylags © Allen Holmes 2020

    record shot of Crane following Greylags © Allen Holmes 2020

    Saturday 19th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 CRANE - flew east with 4 Greylags at 09.35
    • 4 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 3 Bearded Tit - in front of Tofield Hide

    Allen Holmes

    Common Inkcap © Lynda Christou 2020

    Common Inkcap © Lynda Christou 2020

    Friday 18th

    • 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 27 Wigeon
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 8 Little Egret - including the grey bird
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 OSPREY - flew SE over Huxter Well Marsh at 09.30 
    • 4 Jay
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 1 Swallow
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over West Scrape
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - Decoy Lake

    Richard Scott, visitor reports

    Garden Spider © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Garden Spider © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Thursday 17th

    • 1 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 12 Wigeon
    • 3 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and juv
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 Dunlin - dropped into cell 1b at 11.20 
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 4 Snipe
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the entrance at dusk
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Marsh/Willow Tit
    • 1 Skylark - west
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 19 Chiffchaff
    • 11 Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 4 Meadow Pipit - SE
    • 2 Redpoll
    • 10 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Pink-barred Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Pink-barred Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Angle Shades © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Angle Shades © Janet Heppenstall 2020

    Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 14th September

    Having been unable to undertake any trapping during the Spring and Summer months, it was a real pleasure to do so on Monday night. Although we are now well into Autumn, there are still plenty of moths to be found and we recorded 33 species. Particularly pleasing is the fact that one of these, Caloptilia semifascia, is a new reserve record.

    Caloptilia semifascia is a rare moth in Yorkshire, with only a handful of, mostly recent, scattered records. Its larvae feed on field maple, of which there is a good supply on the reserve, so there is every probability that it will become an established breeder in the near future.

    There was also a good range of autumnal species recorded, including Acleris rhombana, Acleris laterana, Light Emerald, Dusky Thorn, Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Barred Sallow, Centre-barred Sallow, Large Wainscot, Frosted Orange, Black Rustic, Rosy Rustic and Svensson’s Copper Underwing.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Mute Swan © Keith Horton 2020

    Mute Swan © Keith Horton 2020

    Marsh Harrier © Keith Horton 2020

    Marsh Harrier © Keith Horton 2020

    Tuesday 15th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - the first since 15th February
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Reed Warbler

    Keith Horton

    Robber Fly © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Robber Fly © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Common Darter © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Common Darter © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Monday 14th

    • Little Egret - the grey bird was seen
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Nuthatch - Rossington Bank
    • 6 Siskin

    Mark Roberts, Mike Bellas

    Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020

    Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020

    2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 13th

    • 11 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 146 Teal
    • 2 GARGANEY - feeding on cell 1b early morning before moving to cell 2a for a sleep
    • 5 Little Egret - including the grey bird
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 OSPREY - flew south at 12.15, circled once but continued straight through
    • 3+ Hobby - seen over Piper Marsh, Huxter Well Marsh, Hawthorn Bank and towards the iPort. No more than 3 seen up together but possibly 5 birds involved.
    • 3 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa and cell 2a (2)
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b and 2a
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - juv on cell 1b
    • 1 Stock Dove - south
    • 14 Swift - south
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 13 Swallow - south
    • 34 House Martin - south
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 17 Chiffchaff
    • 4 Blackcap
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - south
    • 6 Meadow Pipit - 3 on Central Grassland and 3 south
    • 1 Chaffinch - south
    • 14 Greenfinch - 2 around Seven Arches Carr/East Scrape and a flock of 12 flew east
    • 30 Redpoll - flying around Piper Marsh/Rossington Bank
    • 40 Siskin - odd ones around the reserve and a flock of 30 flew south

    Other: Grass Snake swam across cell 1b pursued by several Coots

    Richard Scott

    Friday 11th

    • 10 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 57 Teal - cell 2a
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - Old Eaa
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a

    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape

    • 72 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 56 West Scrape. 16 SW

    • 1 Tawny Owl - Access Track at dusk

    • 7 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Sand Martin

    • 2 Blackcap

    Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

    Hobby © Mick Woodward 2020

    Hobby © Mick Woodward 2020

    Red Admiral © Richard Scott 2020

    Red Admiral © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 10th

    • 16 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 2 Pintail - a moulting male and a female/imm on cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - in big oak on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh settling in the big oak and chasing dragonflies
    • 5 Water Rail - calling on Old Eaa, Seven Arches Carr and 3 around Huxter Well Marsh
    • c500 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 flew from Willow Marsh to Beeston Plantation and one calling in Triangle Plantation
    • Jays - very vocal and collecting acorns around the reserve
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 3 Willow Tit - singles around the reserve
    • 3 Swallow - over the Visitor Centre 
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing in Old Eaa, Seven Arches Carr and Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 50+ Chiffchaff
    • 15 Blackcap
    • 2 Grey Wagtail - south
    • 7 Bullfinch
    • 10+ Redpoll - Piper Marsh
    • 30+ Siskin - around the reserve

    Butterflies: Small Copper in Black Carr field and 2 Red Admirals on buddleias 
    Other: dead Water Shrew on Hawthorn bank 

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Sue Cullen, Chris Johnson

    Wednesday 9th

    • 3 Little Egret - including ‘grey’ bird at Huxter Well Marsh
    • Buzzard - over Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 3+ Swift - Huxter Well Marsh and Black Carr Field

    Paul Paddock

    Common Frog © Lynda Christou 2020

    Common Frog © Lynda Christou 2020

    Bittern © Barry Wardley 2020

    Bittern © Barry Wardley 2020

    Tuesday 8th

    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - flew over West Scrape towards Piper Marsh, where presumably the same bird was later seen
    • 2 Little Egret - cell 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - perched on fence post in Loversall Carr Fields
    • 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 2 Goldcrest- Willow Bank
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - West Scrape
    • 2 Willow Warbler - Willow Bank
    • 1 Treecreeper - Willow Bank

    Other: 3 Common Frogs 

    Sue Brook, Judith Craigmile, Lynda Christou

    Monday 7th (late afternoon/evening)

    • 1 Sparrowhawk - chasing a Hobby
    • 2 Hobby - hawking dragonflies over Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 20 Swift
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 50 Siskin - Hawthorn Bank

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Sunday 6th

    • 11 Wigeon
    • 133 Teal - West Scrape
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Hobby - hunting dragonflies low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Water Rail
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - back of cell 1b
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe
    • 2 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - calling from the reedbed nearest to Duchess Hide
    • 2 Swallow - south
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 23 Chiffchaff
    • 9 Blackcap
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 2 Whitethroat
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Field
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - west
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - SW
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - one on cell 3b and an alba flew over
    • 4 Meadow Pipit - south
    • 5 Bullfinch
    • 8+ Redpoll sp - 6 at Old Eaa and 2+ near Mitchell Hide
    • 40+ Siskin - several calling in Young Eaa, 18 south, 4 Seven Arches Carr

    Richard Scott

    Saturday 5th

    • 16 Wigeon
    • 131 Teal
    • 2 GARGANEY - on cell 2a all day
    • 52 Shoveler
    • 1 Bittern - flew over cell 1a in the afternoon
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - adult in the dead Oak at Huxter Well Marsh 1000hrs
    • 650 Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin - West Scrape in the afternoon
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull - singles and small groups moving west through the day
    • 42 Swift - 17 west in the morning, 25 over Huxter Well Marsh 1700hrs
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 16 Sand Martin
    • 6 Swallow - SW
    • 31 House Martin
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 14 Chiffchaff
    • 5 Blackcap
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - west over Mitchell 1030hrs and probably the same also west nr Tofield/cell 2b at 1050hrs
    • 1 alba Wagtail - West Scrape 1630hrs
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll - in the Alders on North end of Beeston flew to Willow Marsh
    • 5 Siskin

    Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, 8 Emerald Damselfly, 9 Common Bluet, 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 28 Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Black Darter - female Central Grassland, 2 Ruddy Darter, 135 Common Darter

    Butterflies : 2 Large White, 8 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 6 white sp., 1 Common Blue, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 4 Comma, 1 Meadow Brown, 5 Speckled Wood

    Darren Wozencroft

    Little Grebe © Richard Scott 2020

    Little Grebe © Richard Scott 2020

    Friday 4th

    • 13 Wigeon
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - Loversall Pool (seen from the viewing slots below the hide as the hide remains closed)
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male flew SE and cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel - M18
    • 605 Lapwing
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - at the back of cell 1b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - cell 3b
    • 50 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 2 Sand Martin
    • 14 House Martin
    • 2 Swallow - south
    • 50 Long-tailed Tit
    • 17 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Willow Warbler
    • 7+ Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Ring Main
    • 1 Nuthatch - near Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - Loversall Delph/dragonfly ponds
    • 1 Wheatear - on the right hand island in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide. The first sighting on the reserve this year.
    • 1 Redpoll sp - flew over Iron Bridge. The first since February.
    • 30 Goldfinch - VC
    • 30+ Siskin - 20 at the Pumping Station and others calling between Black Carr Wood and Seven Arches Carr

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

    Curlew (from Tuesday) © Barry Wardley 2020

    Curlew (from Tuesday) © Barry Wardley 2020

    Thursday 3rd

    • 1 Shelduck - over
    • 7 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 3 Pintail - one on cell 1b and 2 on West Scrape
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 7 Cormorant – cell 2b
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa and cell 1b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper – 2 West Scrape, 1 cell 1b
    • 200+ Coot - of which 193 were on cell 1b
    • 2 Kingfisher – Mother Drain and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Reed Warbler - West Scrape

    Richard Scott, Dave Carroll

    Avocet © Barry Wardley 2020

    Avocet © Barry Wardley 2020

    Chiffchaff © Richard Scott 2020

    Chiffchaff © Richard Scott 2020

    Wednesday 2nd

    • c30 Wigeon - cell 2a. A big increase in numbers today
    • 1 Pintail - cell 1b. The first returning bird.
    • 1 Bittern
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - hunting at Black Carr Field and Piper Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Sandpiper
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 5 Snipe
    • 12 Swift - south
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 5 Jay
    • 21 Swallow - south
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • Siskin - several calling at Old Eaa and Seven Arches Carr

    Richard Scott, Barry Wardley, Paul Paddock, Gary Dyson

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Tuesday 1st

    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 350 Lapwing
    • 1 Curlew - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper
    • 2 Green Sandpiper 
    • 1 Greenshank - arrived on West Scrape at 18.55 and stayed for ten minutes
    • 7 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap - m&f 
    • 2 Reed Warbler

    Odonata: 3 Southern Hawker, 9 Migrant Hawker, 3 Brown Hawker

    Darren Wozencroft, Barry Wardley

    August 2020

    Snipe © Richard Scott 2020

    Snipe © Richard Scott 2020

    Monday 31st

    • 10 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 1+ Bittern - one flew low across Central Grassland from cell 4 to cell 3b. Later one flew low over Central Grassland from West Scrape to cell 4.
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby - landed in a tree in Black Carr Field early morning
    • 8 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
    • 1 WHIMBREL - heard calling flying SW? over Huxter Well Marsh at 09.05
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe - cell 3b
    • 3 Common Tern - flew over the Access Track
    • 1 Kingfisher - East Scrape
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 12 Swallow - south
    • 1 Garden Warbler - Big Hedge
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 2 Whitethroat - singles in Big Hedge and near Iron Bridge
    • 8 Reed Warbler - calling around Huxter Well Marsh and one seen in Big Hedge
    • 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - one in Black Carr Field early morning and one near Iron Bridge
    • 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - in Black Carr Field early morning
    • 30+ Siskin - Sedum House to Young Eaa

    Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird

    Sunday 30th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - adult circling over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - juv NE over West Scrape
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from Loversall Pool
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Tern - juv on cell 1b
    • 1 Whitethroat - calling near Iron Bridge
    • 9 Siskin - Loversall Bank

    Richard Scott

    Saturday 29th

    • 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 3b
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - the female moulting the tail feathers
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a
    • 400 Lapwing
    • 5 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • wader sp - 3 small waders flew NW
    • 1 Common Tern - adult at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull - juv on cell 1b
    • Swift - small numbers going south
    • 3 Yellow Wagtail - SW low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Siskin - Access Track

    Richard Scott, Andy Dalton

    Friday 28th

    • 8 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 30 Sand Martin
    • 5 Swallow
    • 100 House Martin
    • 4 Chiffchaff
    • 30 Starling

    Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott

    Thursday 27th

    • 3 Shelduck - NW
    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - on the Lagoon then flew to cell 1a
    • 13 Pochard - cell 2a
    • Pheasant - with 3 small young in the butterfly garden
    • 16 Cormorant - 2 on cell 1b and 14 on cell 2a
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Grey Heron - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - the moulting female on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
    • 530 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - 2 on East Scrape and singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 10 Swift - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Goldcrest - in a large mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
    • 1 Coal Tit - in a large mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
    • House and Sand Martin - good numbers feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 6 Blackcap - calling and feeding on berries
    • 1 Reed Warbler - West Scrape
    • 2 Treecreeper - in mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
    • 30 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2+ Bullfinch - Hawthorn Bank
    • Siskin - calling in Old Eaa

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Tuesday 25th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female with the missing tail feathers
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Hobby - one flew high east in the morning and one was hunting low over Central Grassland in the afternoon
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 4 Curlew - SW at 13.50
    • 3 TURNSTONE - on cell 1b for 5 mins until they flew west at 13.25
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 4 Common Tern - 2 adults and 2 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 50 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain by the Access Track
    • 2 Willow/Marsh Tit - Loversall Triangle
    • 90 Sand Martin
    • 55 House Martin
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
    • 3 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft

    Green-veined Whites © Lynda Christou 2020

    Green-veined Whites © Lynda Christou 2020

    Monday 24th

    • 5 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - over Piper Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - up together over Seven Arches Carr
    • 5 Buzzard - seen from Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • c450 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Kingfisher - on Mother Drain at the entrance
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron bridge
    • 5 Jay
    • hirundines - continual movement SW
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing on Huxter Well Marsh
    • Chiffchaff - good numbers calling and singing
    • 6 Blackcap - calling and feeding on Elderberries
    • 1 Reed Warbler - along Loversall Bank
    • 2 Siskin - calling on Loversall Bank

    Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports

    Sunday 23rd

    • 5 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - one was seen on the Lagoon mid-afternoon and later 2 were briefly on West Scrape
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female with some missing tail feathers over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2+ Sparrowhawk
    • 5+ Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 2 Water Rail - Lagoon
    • 2 Ringed Plover - a juv was later joined by an adult on West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - adult on West Scrape
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - adult in winter plumage on West Scrape
    • 3 Dunlin- one flew through calling and 2 dropped onto West Scrape during a thunderstorm
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - East and West Scrape
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 18 Swift
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 in Young Eaa and one in Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Coal Tit - pumping station
    • 15+ Sand Martin
    • 2 Swallow
    • 40+ House Martin
    • 1+ Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 5 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Sedge Warbler - West Scrape
    • 1 Nuthatch- calling in Corbett Wood
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - over
    • 1 Greenfinch - VC
    • 4 Siskin - Young Eaa

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Ringing Totals

    15 Blackcap, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit. Robin, Wren, 2 Goldfinch, Chaffinch.

    Rebekah Beaumont

    WeBS Highlights

    • 559 Lapwing
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 24 Little Grebe
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 5 Wigeon
    • Duck numbers were underwhelming as you can imagine, with the species having by far the highest count being Gadwall at 251. 

    Mark Roberts

    female Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    female Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Saturday 22nd

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 82 Teal
    • 33 Shoveler
    • 23 Cormorant - cell 2a
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - pair over Black Carr/Piper and a female over Decoy Lake
    • 410 Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 12 Swift
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 11 Chiffchaff
    • 4 Blackcap
    • 1 Whitethroat
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Access Track
    • 2 Greenfinch - VC feeders
    • 2 Siskin - Access Track

    Odonata : 7 Banded Demoiselle, 10 Emerald Damselfly, c65 Common Bluet, 4 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c35 Small Redeye, 2 Southern Hawker, 21 Migrant Hawker, 4 hawker sp., 4 Emperor, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer. 1 Black Darter - male Decoy Lake, 9 Ruddy Dater, c140 Common Darter

    Butterflies : 1 Brimstone, 4 Large White, 6 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 16 white sp., 4 Common Blue, 7 Red Admiral, 21 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Meadow Brown, 2 Gatekeeper, 19 Speckled Wood

    Darren Wozencroft

    Friday 21st

    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 36 Swift - over Huxter Well/Piper Marsh
    • c30 Sand Martin
    • 3 Swallow
    • c10 House Martin
    • 6 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Goldcrest - Loversall Delph

    Other : 1 Common Frog, 1 Pipistrelle Bat

    Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou

    Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2020

    Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2020

    record shot of the 2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    record shot of the 2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 20th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - on the Lagoon but flew further into Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh/Piper Marsh 
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - up together over Black Carr field, one hunting over Huxter Well Marsh earlier
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • c400 Lapwing
    • 3+ Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/Piper Marsh
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 6 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the underbridge
    • 1 Swift
    • 9 House Martin
    • 8 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 4 Blackcap - calling
    • 1 Siskin - calling at the Pumping Station

    Butterflies: 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Red Admiral, 12 Common Blue (ring main bank), Green-veined Whites

    Odonata: Dozens of Migrant Hawkers hawking over St Catherine's. Huge increase would suggest a large hatch or possibly continental dragonflies boosting numbers.
    Amongst these were a few Southern Hawkers. 2 Emperors at Decoy lake, 2 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on vegetation by the footpath outside Mitchell Hide, plus a dozen or so from dipping platform on Decoy Lake. 1 Ruddy Darter, Common Darter widespread, 2 Black Darter along ring main path

    Other: Water Stick Insect from dipping platforms

    Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Allen Holmes

    Wednesday 19th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - on cell 3b in the evening
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 1 Sparrohawk
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 8+ Common Tern
    • 1 Cetti’s Warbler - Big Hedge

    Paul Paddock, Lynda Christou, Richard Scott

    Tuesday 18th

    • 1 Shelduck - juv on West Scrape
    • 1 Wigeon
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 3a
    • 8+ Little Egret - Willow Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel - female sat on top of bird feeders by the VC
    • 1 Dunlin - moulting adult on West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 5 Common Tern
    • 2 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Odonata : 5 Migrant Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer

    Mike Snook, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft

    Painted Lady © Sue Bird 2020

    Painted Lady © Sue Bird 2020

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Monday 17th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
    • 9 Little Egret - including the grey bird
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Water Rail - 2 showing on cell 3b and one calling from cell 2a
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Golden Plover - in the Lapwing flock on West Scrape. The first sighting of the year.
    • 4 Ringed Plover - cell 1b/West Scrape, all adults
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 3 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3
    • 2 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 7 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - chased by a Black-headed Gull over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 6 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Greenfinch - over
    • Siskin - several calling in Old Eaa

    Butterflies: 1 Painted Lady in the car park, 4+ Purple Hairstreaks on Oak in Black Carr Field, 2 Common Blue on Central Grassland

    Odonata: good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies in front of Piper Marsh Hide

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Lynda Christou

    Sunday 16th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 24 Cormorant - roosted in the dead trees at Old Eaa
    • 7 Little Egret - including the grey bird
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 3b and West Scrape
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 3 Ruff - West Scrape
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 8 Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 10 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 7 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Gull
    • 7 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat
    • 1 Whitethroat
    • 1 Sedge Warbler
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - south
    • 3 Pied Wagtail

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird

    2 Ruffs with Lapwings © Richard Scott 2020

    2 Ruffs with Lapwings © Richard Scott 2020

    Saturday 15th

    • Little Egret - the grey bird was on cell 1b
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 3 Ruff - West Scrape. The first sightings of the year.
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 3 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Gull - 2cy on cell 1b
    • 10 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 9 Siskin - Willow Marsh

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Tench speared by a Heron © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Tench speared by a Heron © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    History of sightings of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit seen on 19th July

    13-Aug-12 Ringed at Levington, River Orwell, Suffolk, SE England
    21-Jan-13 Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E England
    31-Jan-13 Mistley Walls, Stour Estuary, Manningtree, Essex, E England
    12-Feb-14 Stutton Mill, Stour Estuary, Manningtree, Suffolk, E England
    14-Feb-14 Stutton Mill, Stour Estuary, Manningtree, Suffolk, E England
    18-Feb-14 Stutton Mill, Stour Estuary, Manningtree, Suffolk, E England
    10-Mar-14 Fen Drayton Gravel Pit RSPB reserve, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E England
    30-Dec-15 Mistley Walls, Stour estuary, Essex, E England
    02-Apr-16 Mistley Walls, Stour estuary, Essex, E England
    19-Jul-20 Potteric Carr NR, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, E England

     

    Small Redeye © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Small Redeye © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    grey Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020

    grey Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 13th

    • 2 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 14 Little Egret - including the grey bird
    • 10 Grey Heron
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 526 Lapwing
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 6 Green Sandpiper
    • 2 Snipe - one over the Lagoon and one at Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 9 Common Tern
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Field and Corbett Wood
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 39 Chiffchaff
    • 8 Willow Warbler
    • 18 Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Nuthatch - calling in Black Carr Wood
    • 30 Siskin - Young Eaa

    Richard Scott, Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson

    Common Gull © Richard Scott 2020

    Common Gull © Richard Scott 2020

    Wednesday 12th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 83 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 13 Little Egret - including the one with grey on the wings
    • 10 Grey Heron
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - one calling over the Access Track and one on cell 3b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 1 Common Gull - adult on West Scrape
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 3 Siskin - Access Track

    Odonata: c.170 Small Redeye - Decoy Lake, Willow and Piper Marsh and cell 3a and a female Black Darter on Willow Bank.

    Other: 2 Grass Snakes at Loversall Delph and Willow Marsh

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Black Darter © Darren Ward 2020

    Black Darter © Darren Ward 2020

    Tuesday 11th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - cell 2b
    • 9 Little Egret - including one with grey on the wings
    • 11 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 7+ Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 SANDWICH TERN - during a shower at 11am one flew around calling in front of Mitchell Hide and appeared to land on West Scrape. Unfortunately, it flew off just as we walked into West Scrape Hide.
    • 9 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Nuthath - calling in Black Carr Wood
    • 30+ Siskin - Young Eaa/Access Track

    Odonata: 4 Migrant Hawker, 6 Southern Hawker, female Black Darter - Cottage Drain, c110 Small Redeye

    Other: Stoat downclimbing a large oak in the car park a

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Darren Wozencroft

    Monday 10th

    • 34 Teal - West Scrape
    • 12 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 9 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - hunting along the banks on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - juvenile perched in the dead tree on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon
    • c550 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 12 Common Tern
    • 1 House Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 3 Blackcap - calling
    • 2 Reed Warbler - calling
    • 1 Treecreeper - calling near Old Eaa

    Butterflies: 6 Purple Hairstreak on the big oak in Black Carr field, 3 Common Blue along the ring main/bridle path, 1 Painted Lady

    Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

    Curlew © Richard Scott 2020

    Curlew © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 9th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 GARGANEY - on the island on cell 1b in the afternoon
    • 14 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh and Seven Arches Carr
    • 12 Little Egret
    • 9 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 6 Ringed Plover - 4 on cell 1b briefly from 07.05 and 2 on cell 1b early afternoon
    • 1 Curlew - on West Scrape from 09.43
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 TURNSTONE - juv on cell 1b from 11.30 was joined by an adult at 11.55. One seen flying SE with a Ringed Plover at 13.00
    • 3 Dunlin - singles briefly on cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 7 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 6 Redshank - on cell 1b all day
    • 19 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 ARCTIC TERN - juv on cell 1b from 09.35
    • 1 Common Gull - 2cy east
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Field
    • 2+ Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling from St Caths Hide
    • 23 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 1 Nuthatch - calling in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Treecreeper

    Richard Scott, Richard Collis, Rob Mellor

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Common Darter © Allen Holmes 2020

    Common Darter © Allen Holmes 2020

    Saturday 8th

    • 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 14 Little Egret - including 12 together on Piper Marsh
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male over Willow Marsh and a juv over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b 
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 19 Common Tern - cell 1b
    • 5 Swift
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Odonata : 6 Banded Demoiselle, 16 Emerald Damselfly, 7 Azure Bluet, c100 Common Bluet, 9 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c100 Small Redeye - incl. 2 from Decoy Lake dipping platform. 5 Southern Hawker, 3 Migrant Hawker, 8 Brown Hawker, 11 Emperor, 1 Four-spot Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Black Darter - Decoy Lake, 14 Ruddy Darter, 58 Common Darter, 30+ darter sp.

    Butterflies : 1 skipper sp. 1 male Brimstone, 6 Large White, 10 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 11 white sp. 5 Purple Hairstreak, 10 Common Blue, 5 Red Admiral, 24 Peacock, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 32 Meadow Brown, 13 Gatekeeper, 7 Speckled Wood.

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou

    Brimstone © Allen Holmes 2020

    Brimstone © Allen Holmes 2020

    Banded Demoiselle © Allen Holmes 2020

    Banded Demoiselle © Allen Holmes 2020

    Friday 7th

    • 5 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - female and 2 juvs
    • 3 Avocet
    • 2+ Green Sandpiper

    Butterflies: 5 Brimstone, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red admiral

    Odonata: 1 Banded Demoiselle

    Allen Holmes, Adrian Andruchiw

    Thursday 6th (evening)

    • 2 Wigeon
    • 11 Little Egret
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from the Lagoon
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 37 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 200+ Swift - feeding beyond the M18

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020

    Wednesday 5th (early morning)

    • 2 Marsh Harrier - juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 25 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh

    Richard Scott

    Tuesday 4th (evening)

    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - juvs
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 22 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Siskin - over Young Eaa

    Richard Scott

    tagged Marsh Harrier © North West Norfolk Ringing Group 2020

    tagged Marsh Harrier © North West Norfolk Ringing Group 2020

    Details of the wing-tagged Marsh Harrier

    A wing-tagged juvenile Marsh Harrier was photographed at Potteric Carr on 31st July. Phil from the North West Norfolk Ringing Group has kindly sent us the history of the bird, as follows:

    This bird is indeed one of this years, and in fact is the first to be reported away from it's natal area.

    She was ringed and tagged on the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk and was one of three young in the nest, plus an infertile egg. Her two siblings were a male and female. I've attached a picture of her on the date of tagging which was 17.06.2020. For more information on the scheme take a look at our website at www.nwnrg.co.uk and follow the link to the Marsh Harrier project.

    4 Marsh Harriers over Piper Marsh © Eileen Gray 2020

    4 Marsh Harriers over Piper Marsh (taken on 1st August) © Eileen Gray 2020

    Monday 3rd

    • 2 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 74 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - adult and 3 juvs
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 740 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
    • 4 Black-tailed Godwit - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 6 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 32 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Swift
    • 1 Siskin - Old Eaa

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Garganey © Allen Holmes 2020

    Garganey © Allen Holmes 2020

    Green Sandpipers © Allen Holmes 2020

    Green Sandpipers © Allen Holmes 2020

    Saturday 1st

    • 4 Grey Heron - including 2 juveniles on West Scrape
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on West Scrape
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - juveniles over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 7 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the compound
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Cottage Drain
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling from Piper Marsh

    Allen Holmes, Eileen Gray

    July 2020

    Brown Argus © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Brown Argus © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Reed Warbler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Reed Warbler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    wing-tagged Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    wing-tagged Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Friday 31st

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 33 Teal
    • 1 GARGANEY - West Scrape
    • 35 Shoveler
    • 1 Little Egret on cell 1b
    • 11 Cormorant on cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - wing-tagged juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh. I've sent the details to the ringing scheme in Norfolk.
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Oystercatcher - West Scrape 
    • 2 Avocet - cell 1b
    • 646 Lapwing - 355 on West Scrape and 291 on cell 3b
    • 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 29+ Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 645 Black-headed Gull  - 352 on West Scrape and 293 on cell 1b
    • 12+ Common Tern - some bringing fish for young on cell 1b
    • 55 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Sand Martin - feeding low over cell 1b
    • 8 Chiffchaff - calling 
    • 7 Blackcap - calling
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing in the main carpark

    Butterflies: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary on the teasels at the link road end of Loversall Bank, 2 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 3 skipper sp., 2 Brimstone (m&f), 5 Large White, 7 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 7 white sp., 2 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus, 6 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 46 Peacock, 8 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 27 Meadow Brown, 36 Gatekeeper, 1 Ringlet, 5 Speckled Wood

    Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 5 Emerald Damselfly, 3 Azure Bluet, c50 Common Bluet, 21 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c.120 Redeye sp. mainly Small - from Cottage Drain Hide and Beeston Hide. 1 Migrant Hawker in Black Carr Field, 2 Southern Hawker, 2 hawker sp., 8 Brown Hawker, 12 Emperor, 1 Four-spot Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 6 Ruddy Darter, 13 Common Darter

    Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft

    Wednesday 26th

    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on cell 3b

    Allen Holmes

    Sunset over Carr Lodge © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sunset over Carr Lodge © Lynda Christou 2020

    Copper Underwing © Jim Horsfall 2020

    Copper Underwing © Jim Horsfall 2020

    Tuesday 28th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 27 Teal
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon at 17.45
    • 1 Little Egret - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 4 Avocet
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 12 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • Swift - small numbers moving SW 
    • 1 Kestrel - seen from Visitor Centre 
    • 1 Hobby one over Piper Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - over M18 seen from Willow Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush - on the path near Visitor Centre

    Moth: Copper Underwing on a fence post at East Scrape

    Roger and Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Mick Bellas, Jim Horsfall, Darren Wozencroft

    Bittern © Freddie Oxley 2020

    Bittern © Freddie Oxley 2020

    juvenile Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    juvenile Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Sunday 26th

    • 1 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Avocet
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape

    Chris Elliott, Leah Mayo, Nidge Nilsen

    Hobby © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Hobby © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Saturday 25th

    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Hobby
    • 3 Avocet
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 6 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 3 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Stock Dove

    Nidge Nilsen, John Burdall

    Black-tailed Godwits © Allen Holmes 2020

    Black-tailed Godwits © Allen Holmes 2020

    Comma © Allen Holmes 2020

    Comma © Allen Holmes 2020

    Grass Snake © Allen Holmes 2020

    Grass Snake © Allen Holmes 2020

    Friday 24th

    • 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 6 Little Egret
    • Great Crested Grebe - adult with a small juv on cell 1b (new brood)
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel - male
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
    • 395 Lapwing
    • 2 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 2 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 27 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 4 Pied Wagtail
    • 2 Siskin - Access Track

    Butterflies: 2 Comma, 2 Brimstone, 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 7 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral and c25 Peacock

    Odonata: 4 Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly

    Other: 3 Grass Snake, Southern Hawker, 2 Comma x 2

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

    Green Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Green Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020

    Thursday 23rd

    • 4 Wigeon
    • Great Crested Grebe - adult and small juv on cell 3a
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 320 Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape 
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 26 Common Tern
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh and Iron Bridge
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Bullfinch - Access Track
    • 1 Siskin - calling along the Access Track

    Richard Scott, Roger and Sue Bird

    Wasps nest © Lynda Christou 2020

    Wasps nest © Lynda Christou 2020

    Kingfisher © Malcolm Cook 2020

    Kingfisher © Malcolm Cook 2020

    male Marsh Harrier © Malcolm Cook 2020

    male Marsh Harrier © Malcolm Cook 2020

    Wednesday 22nd

    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs seen from Piper Marsh Hide
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 14 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 1 Common Sandpiper
    • 5 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh

    Malcolm Cook, Adrian Andruchiw

    juvenile Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    juvenile Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Tuesday 21st

    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 13 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b

    Butterflies: 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 5 Gatekeeper

    Sue Brook

    Purple Hairstreak © Allen Holmes 2020

    Purple Hairstreak © Allen Holmes 2020

    Monday 20th

    • 3 Wigeon
    • 5 Teal
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - including the 2 juvs
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 8+ Avocet
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Curlew - heard from Hawthorn Bank but couldn't be seen
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 1 Common Sandpiper
    • 6 Green Sandpiper
    • 18 Common Tern

    Butterflies: 2 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 10 Peacock, 6 Comma, 8 Gatekeeper

    Odonata: 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (female)

    Other: 1 Grass Snake

    Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

    Black-tailed Godwits © Richard Scott 2020

    Black-tailed Godwits © Richard Scott 2020

    Sunday 19th

    • 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 2+ Bittern - several sightings at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juveniles
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 3b and the Lagoon
    • 13 Avocet - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 340 Lapwing
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit - on cell 3b early morning. One was colour-ringed.
    • 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 16+ Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo - juv over the entrance
    • 1+ Kingfisher - cell 1b, East Scrape and Mother Drain
    • 4 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near VC
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - briefly on West Scrape
    • 1+ Siskin - calling along the Access Track

    Other: Grass Snake in the Mother Drain near the underbridge

    Saturday 18th

    • 5 Wigeon
    • 1 GARGANEY - Lagoon
    • Tufted Duck - female with 7 very small young on Stilling Pond (possibly those from cell 2a)
    • 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juvenile
    • 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
    • 7 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 340 Lapwing
    • 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 5+ Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Greenshank - over
    • 23 Common Tern - including 9 juvs
    • 20 Swift

    Friday 17th

    • 3 Wigeon
    • 11 Teal
    • 1 GARGANEY
    • 1 Bittern - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - sub-adult male
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 7 Avocet - 3a,4j on West Scrape
    • 380 Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed Plover - adult on 1b/3b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - on cell 1b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper
    • 18 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 20 Swift
    • 1 CROSSBILL - south at 10am

    Odonata : 1 Southern Hawker

    Thursday 16th

    • 1 GARGANEY - Lagoon
    • 1 Bittern - stood in the reeds at the back of cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby - Decoy Lake
    • 5 Avocet
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 10 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Bearded Tit - juv near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Siskin - calling in Young Eaa

    Tuesday 14th

    • 2 Wigeon
    • 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon and cell 3b
    • Tufted Duck - female with 7 very small young on cell 2a
    • 8 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - cell 2a
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs
    • 280 Lapwing
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - adult and 2 juvs on West Scrape
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 6 Green Sandpiper
    • 8 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 12 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Song Thrush - Piper Marsh Path
    • 2+ Siskin - calling in Black Carr Wood and Young Eaa
    Silver-washed Fritillary © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Silver-washed Fritillary © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    White-letter Hairstreak © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    White-letter Hairstreak © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Sunday 12th

    • 5 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1b
    • 5 Little Egret
    • Great Crested Grebe - independent juv on cell 3a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby
    • 2 Peregrine - male and female together. Female carrying prey
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from the Lagoon
    • 8 Avocet
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 290 Lapwing
    • 3 Green Sandpiper
    • 7 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Linnet - near Mitchell Hide

    Butterflies : 1 Large Skipper, 7 White-letter Hairstreak, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 6 Red Admiral, 5 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary. plus usual common species

    Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, c40 Small Redeye, 1+ Large Redeye, 3 Brown Hawker, 5 Emperor, 4 Four-spot Chaser, 8 Black-tailed Skimmer, c10 Common Darter

    Large Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Large Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Saturday 11th

    • 6 Wigeon
    • 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Hobby
    • 8 Avocet
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 20 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Raven - tumbling as it flew SE at 1.15pm
    • Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Butterflies : 1 Large Skipper, 12 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 16 skipper sp., 6 Large White, 15 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 15 white sp., 1f Brimstone, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Small Copper, 1 Painted Lady, 12 Red Admiral, 9 Comma, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 1m Silver-washed Fritillary, 59 Ringlet, 48 Meadow Brown, 5 Gatekeeper, 2 Speckled Wood.

    Odonata : 7 Emerald Damselfly, 2 Large Red Damselfly, c100 bluet sp. - at least 19 Azure and 21 Common, 16 Blue-tailed Damsel, 5 redeye sp., 3 Brown Hawker, 9 Emperor, 5 Four-spot Chaser, 1f Broad-bodied Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 3 Ruddy Darter, 12 Common Darter, 8 darter sp.

    Friday 10th

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • Little Grebe - pairs with 1 and 2 small young on the Lagoon
    • Great Crested Grebe - juv on cell 2b
    • 10 Avocet
    • 1 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - flew SE from Huxter Well Marsh at 06.35
    • 4 Redshank - arrived on West Scrape early morning but flew off
    • 18 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Old Eaa/Young Eaa
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing along the Access Track near Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Song Thrush - singing at Young Eaa and Hawthorn Field

    Thursday 9th

    • 3 Little Egret - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - juv on the fence at Decoy Lake
    • 10 Avocet - including 4 juvs
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh, West Scrape and 3 on cell 3b
    • Common Tern - 2 juvs on the Lagoon being fed
    • 1 Barn Owl - on the fence then around Decoy Lake
    • Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Wednesday 8th

    • 1 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 29 Teal
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • Little Grebe - independent juv on cell 2a
    • Great Crested Grebe - adult and juv on the Lagoon
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 10 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 3 Ringed Plover - West Scrape and cell 1b
    • 7 Little Ringed Plover - 5 adults and 2 juvs on West Scrape
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 12 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 12+ Swift - Huxter
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing
    • 3 Bearded Tit - from Roger Mitchell hide
    • 2 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh

    Tuesday 7th

    • 1 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
    • 10 Avocet
    • 2 Ringed Plover - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover - including a juv (from iPort?) on West Scrape
    • 3 Green Sandpiper
    • 9 Common Tern - including a juv (from iPort?)
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
    • 5 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
    • Siskin - several calling from Young Eaa and Black Carr Wood

    Sunday 5th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
    • 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 SPOONBILL - SE over A6182 into Potteric at 20.45
    • Little Grebe - pair with 2 small young on the Lagoon
    • Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 juvs and an orphaned juv on cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2+ Hobby - 2 at Huxter Well Marsh and one over Loversall Carr Fields 
    • 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 30 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
    • 20 Siskin - Access Track/pumping station

    Saturday 4th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon
    • 2 GARGANEY - eclipse male and female on the Lagoon
    • Pochard - female with 3 small juvs on Stilling Pond
    • 2 Little Egret
    • Little Grebe - adult and juv on cell 1a. Independent juv on Stilling Pond
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby
    • 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs on West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b and West Scrape 
    • 15 Common Tern
    • 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Siskin - Pumping Station

    Wednesday 1st

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
    • Pochard - female with a single juv on cell 2a
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 Hobby
    • 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs on West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 5 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher - Lagoon
    • 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide

    June 2020

    juvenile Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    juvenile Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

    Tuesday 30th

    • 8 Mute Swan - pair with 6 young Cell 2b
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 adults and 2 small young on cell 1b and 1 adult and 1 young on cell 2a
    • 2 Bittern - one flew over the Compound towards Willow Marsh. Possibly the same flew between Huxter Well Marsh and Willow Marsh. Another bird doing feeding flights.
    • 4 Little Egret - 3 on cell 3b and 1 on Piper Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Food-pass noted.
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
    • 9 Avocet - including 3 juvs at West Scrape
    • 75 Lapwing
    • 3 Ringed Plover - cell 2a/West Scrape
    • 7 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 adult and 2 young on Sedum House roof
    • 13 Common Tern
    • 1 Stock Dove - Black Carr Wood
    • 30 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
    • 1 Jay
    • 1 Hobby - adult chasing dragonflies over the Lagoon
    • 2 Jay - Access track 
    • 4 Bearded Tit - 3 near Mitchell Hide and one heard in front of Duchess hide
    • 3 Cetti’s Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn bank 
    • 2 Greenfinch - singing near entrance gate and the pumping station

    Other: Pyramidal Orchid flowering along pathside at Huxter Well Marsh

    Monday 29th

    • 1 Barn Owl - carrying prey from Carr Lodge towards Potteric
    • 30 Siskin - Compound

    Sunday 28th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2b
    • 1 Bittern - feeding flights
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Female took a juv black-headed gull
    • 1+ Hobby
    • 9 Avocet - 5 adults and 4 juvs
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Redshank
    • 15 Common Tern
    • 117+ Swift - 30 feeding over Huxter Well Marsh until is started raining. A steady southerly passage all morning was counted from 9-10am, totalling 87. 
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Goldcrest - singing along the Access Track and near Cottage Drain Hide
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing along the Access Track
    • 4 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
    • 1 CROSSBILL - west over the Access Track 06.35. The first since 2013.
    • 3+ Siskin - Compound, Pumping Station and Black Carr Wood

    Saturday 27th

    • 3 Shelduck - 2 on West Scrape and one over
    • 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 19 Teal - West Scrape
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - feeding flights
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 3 Hobby - up together over Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - calling at cell 1b
    • 7 Avocet - 4 adults and 3 juvs
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Ringed Plover
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 6 Black-tailed Godwit - in breeding plumage on West Scrape
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank
    • 15 Common Tern
    • 2 Mediterranean Gull - adults visited the gull colony early afternoon
    • 100+ Swift - many going south
    • 2+ Kingfisher - 2 together along Mother Drain and one over West Scrape
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Skylark - iPort
    • 4 Siskin - Young Eaa

    Friday 26th

    • 22 Teal
    • Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 small juvs on cell 1b
    • 1 Hobby
    • 10 Avocet - including 3 full grown juvs
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 4 Black-tailed Godwit - in breeding plumage on cell 3b but flew off at 4.45pm. Seen earlier in the day at the iPort
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain

    Thursday 25th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 19 Teal
    • 1 Bittern
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 7 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby
    • 4 Avocet - including a full grown juv
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 220 Lapwing
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 6 Little Ringed Plover - 4 SE from West Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Redshank
    • 9 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - East Scrape
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 7+ Bearded Tit - at least 3 calling in the reeds in front of Mitchell Hide and 7 flew past West Scrape Hide
    • 2 Swallow
    • 3 Pied Wagtail
    • 3 Siskin - Iron Bridge

    Odonata: 10 Banded Demoiselle (5m,5f), 6 Large Red Damselfly, 5 Emerald Damselfly, c500 Common/Azure Bluet, 29 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c50 Redeye sp. - of which min. 2 Large and min. 10 Small, 3 Hairy Hawker, 1m Common Hawker - male in Black Carr Field, 1 Brown Hawker, 19 Emperor Dragonfly, 22 Four-spot Chaser, 1f Broad-bodied Chaser, 49 Black-tailed Skimmer, 3 Ruddy Darter, 2 Common Darter, 2 darter sp.     17sp.!!!

    Butterflies: 19 Large Skipper, 3 Small Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper, 13 skipper sp., 5 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 8 white sp., 1 Purple Hairstreak, 1 blue sp., 6 Red Admiral, 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 13 Comma, 104 Meadow Brown, 38 Ringlet, 4 Speckled Wood.

    Wednesday 24th

    • 1 Bittern - flew across West Scrape towards cell 2b
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Ringed Plover
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 2 Redshank
    • 12 Common Tern
    • 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide

    Other: 1 Pike in Mother Drain, 1 Emperor Dragonfly

    Tuesday 23rd

    • 5 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b

    Monday 22nd

    • 6 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Siskin - compound

    Sunday 21st

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 6 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 330 Gadwall - Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
    • 1 Bittern - feeding flights
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Hobby - over Piper Marsh
    • 3 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher - over
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Stock Dove - singing near the viaduct
    • 10 Common Tern
    • 90 Swift
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
    • 5+ Bearded Tit - 3 seen but several calling near Mitchell Hide

    Friday 19th

    • 2 Wigeon
    • 10 Shoveler
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 13 Common Tern
    • 50 Swift
    • 2 Bearded Tit

    Saturday 13th

    • 11 Canada Geese
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2a. Primaries and body moult almost complete.
    • 2 Bittern - one calling as it flew around cell 1b followed around by a second bird
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Peregrine - adult flew low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Water Rail - adult and juv on cell 3b and one calling from cell 1b
    • 10 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 90 Lapwing - cell 3b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
    • 2 Redshank
    • 8 Common Tern
    • 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide

    Friday 12th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 4 Teal - West Scrape
    • 1 GARGANEY - partial eclipse male on cell 2a
    • 11 Shoveler
    • Pochard - female with 1 small juv on cell 2a
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 13 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - an early returning bird on West Scrape
    • 3 Redshank
    • 7 Common Tern
    • 1 Bearded Tit - female near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Garden Warbler - Access Track
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - 2 adults and 2 juvs

    Thursday 11th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 225+ Gadwall - 170 dropped into cell 1b, 50 Lagoon, 5 cell 3b, later 150 on Old Eaa may have been the birds from cell 1b 
    • 6 Teal - 5 m 1 f
    • 11 Shoveler - 8 m and 3 f
    • 5 Little Egret - Lagoon
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 16 Avocet
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 3 Common Tern

    Wednesday 10th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 12 Shoveler
    • 66 Pochard - plus 3 young on cell 3a
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b 
    • 1 Bittern - flying across cell 1a
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female around Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 29 Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 3 Redshank
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 20 Swift
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Tuesday 9th

    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
    • 90 Pochard - loafing on Lagoon islands
    • 7 Little Egret - 1 Piper Marsh, 2 cell 3b, 3 cell 1b and 1 cell 2b
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 1 Water Rail - heard West Scrape
    • Coot - with small young cell 1b
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape (iPort birds food provisioning)
    • 54 Lapwing - 24 West Scape, 30 cell 3b and a chick on one of the Lagoon islands
    • 1 Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
    • 2 Redshank - copulating cell 3b
    • 4 Common Tern
    • c70 pairs Black-headed Gull - on islands at cell 2b, small young in double figures
    • 60 Swift
    • 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti’s Warbler - singing birds well apart

    Sunday 7th

    • Mute Swan - the pair at the Lagoon have abandoned the nest
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 4 Shoveler - 3 males and a female
    • 1 Bittern
    • 4+ Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
    • 1 Hobby - caught a Swift low over the Lagoon
    • 3 Water Rail - one on West Scrape. Adult and juv on cell 3b
    • 9 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 6 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 3 Redshank
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo
    • 5+ Bearded Tit - several near Mitchell Hide and West Scrape
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • Reed Bunting - male feeding a juv near Mitchell Hide

    Saturday 6th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 77 Pochard
    • 1 Bittern - feeding flights noted
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 small young on cell 2a
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Male chased off a second female. 
    • 8 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Redshank
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - 3cy+ north over Huxter Well Marsh. The first sighting of the year.
    • 60 Swift
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 6 Greenfinch - 5 near the entrance and one singing near the pumping station

    Friday 5th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - feeding flights noted
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Water Rail - 2 calling near Mitchell Hide and one at West Scrape
    • 6 Avocet
    • 1 Ringed Plover
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover
    • 4 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 5 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - juv near Mitchell Hide

    Wednesday 3rd

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 3 Teal - male and 2 females on cell 3b
    • 1 GARGANEY - male on cell 2a and the Lagoon
    • 1 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 11 Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc moulting primaries
    • 1 Hobby - feeding low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - circled high and drifted towards the iPort
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from cell 4 and the Lagoon
    • 12 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • Lapwing - 2 small juvs on the Lagoon and a pair copulating on West Scrape
    • 5 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 5 Little Ringed Plover - 4 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b. A pair were both feigning injury when a magpie was close by.
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 4 Redshank - including a pair copulating on West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo - singing at Hawthorn Bank and Piper Marsh
    • 50 Swift
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Access Track
    • 5+ Bearded Tit - including a variant female with a streaky lateral crown stripe
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - male and juv on West Scrape

    Tuesday 2nd

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Teal
    • 3 Shoveler
    • 35 Pochard
    • 8 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • c70 Lapwing
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit - Cell 1b
    • 4 Redshank - 2 each on Cell 3b and West Scrape
    • 3 Common Tern

    Odonata : 9 Banded Demoiselle, 4 Large Red Damselfly, 00's Common & Azure Bluet, 29 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 5 Large Redeye - Cell 3a, 9 Hairy Hawker, 10 Emperor Dragonfly, 25 Four-spot Chaser, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser, 16 Black-tailed Skimmer, 9 Common Darter.

    Butterflies : 3 Large Skipper, 3 Common Blue, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 4 Meadow Brown, 2 Speckled Wood

    May 2020

    Cattle at Carr Lodge 10th May © Lynda Cristou 2020

    Cattle at Carr Lodge 10th May © Lynda Cristou 2020

    Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Sunday 31st

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - in flight
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh harrier - male and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
    • 7 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover - 2 pairs prospecting on West Scrape
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 4 Redshank - cell 3b
    • Black-headed Gull - several chicks on cell 2a
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 5 Bearded Tit - 3 males and 2 females together near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Seven Arches Carr

    Saturday 30th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - in flight
    • Great Crested Grebe - with 2 small young at cell 2b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Hobby
    • 3 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 58 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover - 2 pairs prospecting on West Scrape
    • 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 2 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - VC and Big Hedge
    • 1 Song Thrush - VC
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - Black Carr Field

    Wednesday 27th

    • 1 Cuckoo - Access Track

    Monday 25th

    • Mute Swan - pair with 7 cygnets on cell 1b
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 39 Pochard
    • 1 Bittern
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Kestrel - flew SE over Huxter Well Marsh carrying prey
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo - singing long Loversall Bank
    • 60 Swift
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Young Eaa and Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing
    • 1+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - singing along Hawthorn Bank

    Odonata : 9 Banded Demoiselle, 41 Large Red Damselfly, 145 Common Bluet, 553 Azure Bluet, 32 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 2 Large Redeye, 12 Hairy Hawker, 37 Four-spot Chaser, 5 Broad-bodied Chaser, 7 Black-t Skimmer.

    Butterflies : 3 Brimstone, 3 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Orange Tip, 3 white sp., 1 Small Copper, 6 Common Blue, 4 Peacock, 2 Comma.

    Sunday 24th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1+ Bittern - seen twice in flight at Huxter Well Marsh and also at Piper Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 7 Avocet
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Cuckoo
    • 100 Swift
    • 1 LITTLE SWIFT - first seen low over West Scrape at 09.20, again at 09.34 and then over cell 1b at 10.08. This represents the first record for the Reserve and the second for the Doncaster district. Subject to acceptance by BBRC.
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Bearded Tit - juvs together in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Sand Martin
    • 10 Swallow
    • 20 House Martin

    Account of finding the Little Swift

    On Sunday morning I had a bit of a lie in and was in no rush to go out birding. The skies were thick with cloud and it looked good for a decent wader to drop in. As I drove along White Rose Way, I was undecided about whether I should go to Potteric Carr or the iPort Lakes. As I approached the traffic lights near Potteric, I thought I would let the lights make the decision for me. If they were green I'd go straight on to the iPort or if they were red I'd do a left to Potteric. They were on red, decision made, I went to Potteric.

    As I was getting my gear out of the car, Mark Roberts arrived. I asked Mark if he wanted to head to Huxter Well Marsh with me. Mark said he would have a walk around Beeston Plantation first. I arrived at Duchess Hide to be greeted by someone sleeping in the hide! I then headed over to West Scrape Hide to check for waders. I started scanning the muddy margins through my binoculars and straight away saw 3 Black-tailed Godwits. As I continued to scan for waders, I noticed a bird flying low over the water at really close range. It was blackish and had a white rump and I initially thought "House Martin", but it quickly dawned on me I was looking at a small swift with a white rump.  Once I'd got over the initial shock, I knew it had to be a Little Swift, a species I've seen lots of before. To be sure, I carefully studied the tail shape and the extent of the white rump. Once I was 100% confident of the identification, I gave Mark a call. As I waited for Mark to arrive, I watched the Little Swift as it returned to fly around West Scrape. Mark eventually arrived, having speed-walked/jogged almost the full length of the reserve. After a few minutes of anxious searching, I picked up the bird over the adjacent cell 1b. As it flew back and forth amongst many swifts and hirundines, I got Mark onto it. It soon disappeared from view and was not seen again, despite searching for another 4 hours.

    Unfortunately, as the reserve was closed due to the Covid-19 lockdown, I took the decision to delay releasing the news of the bird. I was thrilled to find such a rare bird, which occurs less than annually in the UK, but keeping the news to myself really took the gloss off the experience.

    Richard Scott

    Saturday 23rd

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Teal - drake on the Lagoon
    • 1 GARGANEY - drake on the Lagoon
    • 42 Pochard
    • 27 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby
    • 3 Avocet
    • 1 Lapwing - on a nest at cell 2a
    • 2 Oystercatcher - one still on the nest at cell 2a
    • 1 SANDERLING - on cell 1b for just 10 mins during a brief shower from 15.05
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 100 Swift
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood

    Friday 22nd

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 78 Gadwall - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby
    • 3 Avocet
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 210 Swift
    • 1 Jay - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Pied Wagtail

    Buffer Area (Short Lane) - leucistic Dunnock still present and a singing Lesser Whitethroat

    Thursday 21st

    • 2 Barnacle Geese (of unknown origin) - cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 RED KITE - circled high over the reserve at 11.40
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 5 Avocet
    • 5 Oystercatcher - including the one sitting on cell 2a
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - juv Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Pied Wagtail

    Wednesday 20th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - seen in flight over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - females
    • 2 Hobby
    • 1 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher - one still sitting
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 TURNSTONE - cell 3b from mid morning into the afternoon
    • 2 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - 3 sightings
    • 1 Cuckoo - west end of reserve
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and East Scrape screen
    • 3 Swallow
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - VC
    • 1 Grasshopper Warbler - Central Grassland
    • 2 Treecreeper - singing along the Access Track and Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Mistle Thrush - Black Carr Field

    Sunday 17th

    • 8 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 OSPREY - over Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh at 08.20
    • 3 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 10 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2b
    • 3 Ringed Plover
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - sub adult
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 4 Stock Dove
    • 2 Cuckoo - singing
    • 60 Swift
    • 1 Jay
    • 1+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - singing at Cottage Drain
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - Huxter Well Masrsh
    • 1 White Wagtail
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 1 Greenfinch - Big Hedge
    • 2 Linnet - Central Grassland

    Saturday 16th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 3 Water Rail - seen at West Scrape, calling at east Scrape and cell 1b
    • 3 Avocet
    • 1 Ringed Plover - Lagoon
    • 2 Stock Dove
    • 1 Cuckoo - Piper Marsh
    • 70 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Jay

    Friday 15th

    • 1 Oystercatcher - sitting at cell 2b
    • 10 Black-tailed Godwit - east at 06.50
    • 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 300 Herring Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Great Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Cuckoo - one in flight at Piper Marsh and one singing along Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Treecreeper - singing along the Access Track

    Wednesday 13th

    • 2 Hobby
    • 1/2 Cuckoo - one at Loversall Field and an hour later one at Piper Marsh Scrub

    Sunday 10th

    • 5 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 1 Bittern- sat in a bunch of reeds at the edge of West Scrape
    • 3 Little Egret - West Scrape
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 8 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher - sitting on cell 2a
    • 1 GREY PLOVER - West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 3 Stock Dove - Central Grassland
    • 1 Cuckoo - singing from Piper Marsh
    • 50 Swift
    • 1 White Wagtail - cell 2a
    • 1 Pied Wagtail

    Saturday 9th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - took off from lagoon 
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail - West Scrape and Lagoon
    • 7 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Redshank
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 3cy
    • 2 Bearded tit

    Buffer Area (Short Lane Fields): Green Woodpecker 'yaffling'

    Friday 8th

    • Canada Goose - with 3 young Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 1 Bittern - flew across Huxter Well Marsh to the ring main
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher - one sitting on cell 2a and 2 on West Scrape
    • 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - 2 on cell 3b and one on West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Common Gull - both 2cy birds on cell 1b
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 4cy bird with a group of Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls on cell 1b
    • 1 SANDWICH TERN - east at 12.35
    • 4 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Bearded Tit - male and female
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge and VC
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - flew over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
    • 1 White Wagtail - cell 3b

    Butterflies : 4 Dingy Skipper - RBF Ponds

    Thursday 7th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 2 Hobby - hunting insects over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 11 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Bearded Tit - male near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing ring main bushes/M18

    Butterflies : 1 Dingy Skipper - RBF Ponds, 5 Brimstone, 6 Large White, 5 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 11 white sp., 18 Orange Tip, 23 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Speckled Wood

    Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, 67 Large Red Damselfly, 24 Common Blue, 111 Azure Blue, 15 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 7 Hairy Hawker, 5 Four-spot Chaser, 4 Broad-bodied Chaser

    Wednesday 6th

    • 3 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 130 Black-headed Gull - in the colony on cell 2a
    • 1 Cuckoo - hepatic morph female came in from the south west and perched briefly on the dead oak before flying to mother drain perching briefly again and carried on flying north east
    • 3+ Bearded Tit - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 13 Garden Warbler

    Monday 4th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 7 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2a
    • 10 Dunlin - West Scrape, including 7 which arrived at 16.25
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 2 Stock Dove
    • 100 Swift
    • 1 Bearded Tit

    Sunday 3rd

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
    • Coot - with 3 and 2 young on the Lagoon
    • 14 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 7 Oystercatcher - 2 at cell 2a (1 sitting) and 5 on West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Redshank
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 150 Swift
    • 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Garden Warbler

    Saturday 2nd

    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh 11:15 hrs
    • 8 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 70 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher

    Buffer Area: 3 Lesser Whitethroat - 1 at Short Lane Fields and 2 at Carr Lodge

    Friday 1st

    • 3 Common Tern
    • 3 Rook

    April 2020

    Thursday 30th
    Buffer Area ( Carr Lodge): 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing around the perimeter

    Wednesday 29th

    • 1 Wigeon - female on Old Eaa
    • 2 Bittern - one in flight around cell 1a and one perched in the reeds at West Scrape
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - m&f
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 CRANE - circled the reserve at 18.07 and departed west after 10 mins
    • 9 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Lagoon
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 3 Redshank
    • Black-headed Gull - about 35 pairs on cell 2a
    • 50 Swift
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 2 Bearded Tit - a pair flying above reeds around Mitchell Hide, male perched in reeds
    • 15 Sand Martin
    • 5 Swallow
    • 5 House Martin
    • 1 Garden Warbler - singing by the compound
    • 3 Lesser Whitethroat - singing near V.C., Lov. Delph Copse, Ringmain bushes, prob. another Rossington Carr end
    • 1 White Wagtail - Cell 3b islands 11: 30hrs, flew off east
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b

    Monday 27th

    • 17 Greylag Geese - adults on Rossington Carr Fields plus 14 Gosling's (2, 5, 7)
    • 1 Little Egret - flew over M18
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk 
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Rossington Carr Fields
    • 6 Lapwing - Rossington Carr Fields
    • 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby - hawking over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Jackdaw - feeding on Rossington Carr Fields
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 1 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 1 Willow Warbler - singing
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing
    • 1 Whitethroat - singing
    • 6 Reed Warbler - singing
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - Rossington Carr Fields
    • 2 Reed Bunting 

    Odonata: 1 Four Spot Chaser

    Sunday 26th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - booming from cell 1a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 12 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Ringed Plover
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Redshank - copulating on West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 Jay - Loversall Field
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 14 Cetti's Warbler
    • 22 Chiffchaff
    • 13 Willow Warbler
    • 29 Blackcap
    • 1 Garden Warbler - Piper Marsh Path
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - VC and Big Hedge
    • 8 Whitethroat
    • 3 Sedge Warbler
    • 28 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Fieldfare - Hawthorn Field

    Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 1 singing Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat

    Saturday 25th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - male on Huxter Well Marsh
    • Mallard - with 8 small young on cell 2a
    • Shoveler - pair copulating on cell 2a
    • 2 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh and a moulting female over Old Eaa
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - Decoy Lake, Lagoon, cell 4
    • 10 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh (no longer sitting)
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 2a/Lagoon
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 2 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Tern - on Huxter Well Marsh, probably from iPort
    • 6 Swift
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 5 Bearded Tit - flew across Central Grassland and landed in the reeds near East Scrape screen
    • 11 Swallow
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing at VC, Bridleway and Big Hedge
    • 5 Whitethroat
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Dunnock - leucistic bird on Short Lane
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland
    • 2 Linnet - Central Grassland

    Wednesday 22nd

    • 3 Wigeon
    • 70 Teal
    • 2/3 Bittern - in reeds 1b and flying across 1a/Lagoon, booming cell 4
    • 7 Avocet
    • 2 Redshank
    • 6 Swift
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near VC
    • 1 WHINCHAT - Iron Bridge

    Butterflies : 7 Brimstone, 23 Orange Tip, 2 Large White, 4 Small White, 8 Green-veined White, 20 Peacock, 2 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Speckled Wood

    Odonata : 11 Large Red Damselfly, 1 Azure Damselfly, 1 Common Blue Damselfly (all 4 species recorded so far this year have been earliest reserve records.)

    Tuesday 21st

    Buffer Area (Gladstones Fields): BAR-TAILED GODWIT in breeding plumage flew east over at 07:25

    Monday 20th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • Sunday 19th
    • 2 Bittern - one flew across cell 3b and one booming from cell 1a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Avocet 
    • 1 Oystercatcher - sitting
    • 1 Redshank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Willow Tit - calling
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling from cell 3b
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - north over Piper Marsh

    Butterflies : 9 Brimstone, 42 Orange Tip, 2 Large White, 6 Small White, 12 Green-veined White, 12 white sp., 36 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 11 Speckled Wood.

    Odonata : 1 Hairy Hawker (earliest VC record by 10 days), 13 Large Red Damselfly

    Saturday 18th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 2a and cell 4
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2a
    • 3 Ringed Plover - cell 2a including one nest-scraping
    • 8 WHIMBREL - flew NE at 11.55 during a rain shower
    • 2 Redshank - Central Grassland and later on the Lagoon
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Duchess Hide
    • 60 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Willow Warbler
    • 2 Sedge Warbler - Decoy Lake and cell 3b
    • 4 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Song Thrush - singing at Iron Bridge and cell 4 by the bridleway
    • 2 Mistle Thrush - Loversall Carr Fields
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - male on Central Grassland

    Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 9 Teal, 2 prs Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Mistle Thrush

    Friday 17th 

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - male on West Scrape
    • 62 Teal
    • 23 Shoveler
    • 1 Red-legged Partridge - at the western end of Access Track. Partridges are rare visitors to the reserve.
    • 1 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Avocet
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 8 Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed Plover - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - mating on West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 60 Sand Martin
    • 3 House Martin
    • 3 Swallow

    Thursday 16th

    • 4 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4 also 2 flew up from Willow Marsh, flew around and dropped back in
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - female displaying
    • 2 Buzzard - displaying
    • 8 Avocet - 4 pairs on West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - pair on West Scrape
    • 4 Redshank - pair on West Scrape
    • 1 Swallow - north
    • 10 Cetti's Warbler
    • 20 Chiffchaff
    • 9 Willow Warbler
    • 12 Blackcap
    • 1 Sedge Warbler
    • 5 Reed Warbler

    Butterflies : 5 Brimstone, 41 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 4 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 52 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma

    Odonata : 6 Large Red Damselfly

    Monday 13th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon - female on Old Eaa
    • 80 Teal
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration Ponds and cell 3b
    • 4 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher - sitting
    • 2 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing
    • 3+ Bearded Tit - including 2 males near Mitchell Hide
    • 20 Sand Martin
    • 3 Swallow
    • 3 House Martin
    • 6 Willow Warbler
    • 5 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Sedge Warbler

    Sunday 12th

    • 3 Marsh Harrier - 2 males and a female up over the reserve

    Saturday 11th

    • 3 Marsh Harrier - 2 males and a female up over the reserve

    Buffer Area: singing Treecreeper at Gladstone's Fields, Cetti's Warblers singing at Low Ellers Marsh, Low Ellers Curve and Short Lane Fields pond

    Friday 10th

    • 1 Bittern - booming Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape 1700hrs
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - male and female on cell 3b all day
    • 4 Redshank - West Scrape 1700hrs, when 2 departed
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 3 Swallow
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - females from Mitchell and Hawthorn Bank hides
    • 12 Willow Warbler
    • 1 Sedge Warbler - subsong Reedbed Filtration Ponds

    Reptiles/Amphibians : 2 Grass Snake - crossing Ringmain and Hawthorn Bank, single male Great Crested and Smooth Newts.

    Odonata : a Large Red Damselfly in Hawthorn Field was the earliest reserve record by five days (previous earliest 15th April 2007)

    Butterflies : 4 Brimstone, c20 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 3 Small White, 5 Green-veined White, c50 Peacock, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood

    Buffer Area (Short Lane): single Whitethroat and Swallow
    (Carr Lodge): 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 1 Jay

    Thursday 9th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 47 Shoveler
    • 2 Grey Partridge
    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • [2 escaped Sacred Ibis - circling over Central Grassland 12.50hrs, drifted south then headed east]
    • 10 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying over Hawthorn Bank/Huxter Well
    • 2 Water Rail - calling at cell 4 and Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 6 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 4 Oystercatcher - Lagoon
    • 12 Lapwing
    • 2 Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 6 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 2 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 4 Sand Martin
    • 1 Swallow
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 5 Willow Warbler
    • 16 Blackcap
    • 1 REDSTART - female in hedge alongside railway track near Old Eaa hide 14.50hrs

    Butterflies : first Speckled Wood of the year.

    Bumblebees : 3 Red-tailed, 3 Common Carder, 1 Tree, 1 Cuckoo sp. and c.25 White/Buff-tailed

    Wednesday 8th
    Buffer Area: male and female Marsh Harrier over Low Ellers, Cetti's Warbler at Short Lane Fields pond. In Stoven's Plantation: 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tit taking feathers into a nearly complete nest, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap , 2 Nuthatch

    Tuesday 7th

    • 8 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - m&f
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - 4 sightings
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel -  female VC
    • 12 Lapwing
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape then 2b
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Bearded Tit - m&f at cell 3b
    • 1 Sand Martin
    • 4 Willow Warbler
    • 12 Blackcap

    Butterflies : 4 Brimstone, 16 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 2 Green-veined White, 62 Peacock, 10 Comma, 17 Small Tortoiseshell.

    Monday 6th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 OSPREY - north low over the reserve at 5pm
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Tern - east
    • 200 Sand Martin

    Sunday 5th

    • 1 Bittern
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling Lagoon
    • 4 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 10 Lapwing
    • 6 SANDWICH TERN - east over Huxter Well Marsh at 13:40hrs. A record count.
    • 6 Sand Martin
    • 1 Swallow
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Pied Wagtail

    Butterflies : 7 Brimstone, 6 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 32 Peacock, 9 Comma, 9 Small Tortoiseshell.

    Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 25 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 1 RED KITE flew east at 11.50, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 1 singing Skylark, 1 Willow Warbler, 18 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Bullfinch
    (Short Lane): 1 Willow Warbler

    Saturday 4th

    • 10+ Shelduck
    • 15 Pochard - 10 males and 5 females
    • 39 Tufted Duck
    • 1+ Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe - 2 on cell 1b and 2 on cell 3a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 1a and cell 4
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 2 Bearded Tit - East Scrape
    • 1 Skylark - over
    • 6 Sand Martin
    • 13 Cetti's Warbler
    • 33 Chiffchaff
    • 7 Blackcap
    • 2 Treecreeper - singing in Black Carr Field and Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush - singing in Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing at Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - over
    • 5 Bullfinch - 3 Willow Bank and 2 at Rossington Bank

    Friday 3rd

    • 1 Goosander - female on the Lagoon
    • 2 Bittern - booming on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing
    • 1 Sand Martin
    • 16 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap
    • 3 Pied Wagtail

    Wednesday 1st

    • 2 Shelduck - Lagoon
    • 4 Gadwall - 2 pairs on the Lagoon
    • 50 Teal - 15 on Loversall Pool and 35 on the Lagoon
    • 26 Shoveler - Lagoon
    • 3 Goosander - over the VC towards Carr Lodge/iPort at 09.30am
    • 2 Bittern - one booming on Huxter Well Marsh and one flew around Decoy Lake and landed in reeds
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe - pair on the Lagoon
    • 2 Snipe - Decoy lake
    • 4 Stock Dove

    March 2020

    Monday 30th

    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 1 Blackcap 
    • 1 Redwing

    Saturday 28th

    • 12 Shelduck
    • 115 Teal
    • 104 Shoveler
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - cell 4, Seven Arches Carr, Stilling Pond
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 2 Snipe - cell 4 and near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Common Gull - over
    • 3 Stock Dove - singing at Hawthorn Field and 2 over
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Old Eaa
    • 3 Jay - over St Caths Field
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 7 Sand Martin
    • 14 Cetti's Warbler
    • 27 Chiffchaff
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 3 Treecreeper - 2 were singing
    • 1 Song Thrush - Loversall Delph

    Buffer Area (Short Lane Fields): 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Redwings

    Friday 27th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Snipe
    • 55 Redwing - Loversall Junction
    • 3 Blackcap

    Butterflies : 19 Peacock, 8 Comma, 8 Small Tortoiseshell

    Tuesday 24th

    • 2 Bittern
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 9 Avocet
    • 1 Redshank
    • 5 Sand Martin
    • 5 Redwing

    Butterflies : 5 Brimstone, 14 Peacock, 3 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Buffer Area (Gladstones Fields): 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 blackcap

    male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (taken on 19th March) © Rob Mellor 2020

    male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (taken on 19th March) © Rob Mellor 2020

    Muntjac © Pam Grimstone 2020

    Muntjac © Pam Grimstone 2020

    Stonechat © Darren Ward 2020

    Stonechat © Darren Ward 2020

    Monday 23rd

    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 8 Avocet
    • 2 Redshank

    Butterflies : 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock

    Mammals: Muntjac at Willow Pool

    Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Pam Grimstone

    Comma © Darren Ward 2020

    Comma © Darren Ward 2020

    Sunday 22nd

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - over Willow Pool
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 7 Snipe
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Stonechat - female
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Marsh Tit - Dipping Pond
    • 4 Bullfinch
    • 2 Greenfinch

    Darren Ward

    Carr Lodge

    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 2 Little Grebe
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2pr Lapwing
    • Noctule Bat flying around at 12 noon!

    Richard Scott

    Pheasant © Zafar Ali 2020

    Pheasant © Zafar Ali 2020

    Kestrel © Zafar Ali 2020

    Kestrel © Zafar Ali 2020

    Saturday 21st

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 108 Teal
    • 89 Shoveler 
    • 1 Bittern - flew across Huxterwell Cell 1b at 9:30hrs
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - 2m 1 f
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 8 Avocet
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 5 Lapwing 
    • 5 Snipe - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 6 Sand Martin
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing around reserve
    • 12 Chiffchaff - singing around reserve
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 40 Redwing
    • 2 Mistle Thrush - over St Caths Field
    • 3 Meadow Pipit
    • 4 Greenfinch - 3 at the V.C. feeders and 1 St. Caths 

    Amphibians : 1 Smooth Newt
    Mammals: 1 Roe Deer

    Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott

    Spring Day © Derek Parker 2020

    Spring Day © Derek Parker 2020

    Wild Daffodil © Allen Holmes 2020

    Wild Daffodil © Allen Holmes 2020

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020

    Friday 20th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 9 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 4 Snipe
    • 7 Sand Martin
    • 3 Redwing
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Chiffchaff

    Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 1 Bank Vole

    Reptiles : 2 Grass Snake - Loversall Delph

    Butterflies : 2 Comma, 1 Peacock

    Bees : female Tawny Mining Bee, 2 Tree Bumblebee, several White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee

    Flora : Wild Primrose, Cowslip, Ground Ivy, Lesser Celandine, Wild Daffodil, Colt's-foot.

    Allen Holmes, Derek Parker, Zafar Ali, Lynda Christou and Darren Wozencroft

    Early Thorn © Derek Parker 2020

    Early Thorn © Derek Parker 2020

    Yellow Horned © Derek Parker 2020

    Yellow Horned © Derek Parker 2020

    The Engrailed © Derek Parker 2020

    The Engrailed © Derek Parker 2020

    Moth Trapping Report for Tuesday Night, 17th March

    Following a very mild but rather wet and very breezy night, we were pleased with the numbers of moths trapped, of 14 species, albeit mostly common ones. Caloptilia stigmatella, Diurnea fagella, Early Thorn and Yellow Horned were additions to the 2020 list. There were good numbers of some species, for example 18 Small Quaker, 13 Common Quaker, 6 Hebrew Character and 4 each of Twin-spot Quaker and Clouded Drab.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Thursday 19th

    • Bittern - heard booming in the afternoon/evening

    Short Lane Fields - 1 Chiffchaff - singing, 1 Buzzard

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    Gadwall © Iain Macaulay 2020

    Gadwall © Iain Macaulay 2020

    Wednesday 18th

    • 10 Shelduck - Cell 1B Huxterwell
    • 1 Bittern - flying over Loversall Bank towards Willow Marsh
    • 1 Grey Heron - flying over Central Grasslands
    • 2 Little Egret - West Scrape and Cell 1B Huxter
    • 7 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - Cell 1B
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 3 Cetti’s Warbler singing around the reserve
    • 6 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 1 Marsh Tit - Black Carr Field

    Paul Paddock, Lynda Christou

    Tuesday 17th

    • 7 Shelduck – Huxter Well Marsh
    • Mallard – predated egg
    • 1 Bittern – Piper Marsh
    • 3 Grey Heron – East Scrape
    • 1 Little Egret – cell 1b
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Oystercatcher – Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Avocet – West Scrape
    • 2 Kingfisher – Mother Drain
    • 2 Jackdaw on feeders
    • 6 Cetti’s Warbler - singing
    • 8 Chiffchaff – singing

    Mammals : Weasel - seen twice

    Dave Carroll, Phil Goacher, Dave Harding and Iain Macaulay

    Monday 16th

    • 14 Shelduck
    • 60 Teal
    • 19 Shoveler
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - from VC mid-afternoon
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 6 Avocet
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 5 Sand Martin - briefly dropped into Decoy Lake around 1pm.
    • 2 Goldcrest

    Butterflies : Comma, Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone

    Rob Leach, Andy Dalton and Lynda Christou

    Sunday 15th

    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 4 Sand Martin - over Huxterwell in the evening

    Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner and Lynda Christou

    Stoven's Plantation

    • 2 Kingfisher on the drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 2 Jay
    • 4 Blue Tit were 2 pair
    • 2 Great Tit a pair
    • 4 Long-tailed Tit were 2 pairs
    • 2 Chiffchaff 
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Nuthatch
    • 3 Blackbird
    • 20 Redwing on Gladstone Fields
    • 1 Song Thrush 
    • 2 Mistle Thrush a pair
    • 3 Robin
    • 1 Chaffinch singing
    • 2 Bullfinch a pair

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Saturday 14th

    • 8 Whooper Swan - on cell 1 b
    • 8 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 34 Teal - West Scrape
    • 2 Bittern - booming 3 times around 14.45 Huxterwell and a female Piper Marsh 15:47 until at least 17:00
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Sand Martin - Piper Marsh

    Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

    Friday 13th

    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Redwing
    • 1 Stonechat - male, RBF Ponds
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 7 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Goldcrest

    Amphibians : 24 Common Frog - Piper Marsh

    Visitor reports, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird

    Thursday 12th

    • 2 Bittern one on the Lagoon and one flew on to cell 4
    • 2 Little Egret flew over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard over  M18
    • 1 Kestrel at the Visitor centre 
    • 2 Oystercatcher on 2a
    • 2 Kingfisher

    Sue and Roger Bird, Jim Horsfall, visitor reports.

    Wednesday 11th

    • 1 Peregrine - low over Huxterwell 16:55hrs
    • 2 Avocet - on West Scrape in the evening

    Mammals : Stoat - near the Visitor Centre

    Signs of Spring : the first Grass Snake, Small Tortoiseshell (2), Peacock and Tree Bumblebee of the year.

    Visitor reports, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft and Ian Heppenstall

    Acleris Cristana © Derek Parker

    Acleris Cristana © Derek Parker

    Oak Beauty © Derek Parker 2020

    Oak Beauty © Derek Parker 2020

    Water Carpet © Derek Parker 2020

    Water Carpet © Derek Parker 2020

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 7th March

    Despite the far from ideal overnight weather (mild but wet and with a stiff breeze), we were very satisfied with the 13 species we recorded, a decent total for early March. The star find was a single Acleris cristana, the second Potteric Carr record and a Yorkshire rarity, with just a handful of county records. We also trapped its close relative, Acleris hastiana, a rather more common species.

    The other moths trapped were all common and widespread late winter/early spring species, specifically: Agonopterix heracleana, March Moth, Engrailed, Water Carpet, Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Twin-spot Quaker, Small Quaker and Chestnut.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Buzzard © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Buzzard © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Early Dog-violet © Keith Lynes 2020

    Early Dog-violet © Keith Lynes 2020

    Tuesday 10th

    • 10 Shelduck on West Scrape 
    • 2 Wigeon on 2a 
    • 8 Cormorant on 2a 
    • 3 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Peregrine over the Visitor centre 
    • 2 Water Rail calling
    • 3 Snipe on Decoy Lake
    • 2 Redshank over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Lesser  Black-backed Gull adults on West Scrape 
    • 1 Stock Dove over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Kingfisher along Mother drain 
    • 2 Jay along the Access track 
    • 10 Magpie on Central Grassland
    • 2 Coal Tit at the under bridge
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 3 Chiffchaff  singles in Piper Marsh Scrub, Rossington Bank and the Access track 
    • 2 Treecreeper 
    • 1 Grey Wagtail on Mother drain at the entrance
    • 6 Bullfinch were 3 pairs

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton and Lynda Christou

    Monday 9th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 43 Shoveler
    • 92 Teal
    • 16 Gadwall
    • 34 Tufted Duck
    • 6 Pochard
    • 1 Bittern - Huxterwell
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 9 Lapwing
    • 4 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 1 Barn Owl - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Redwing
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Chiffchaff

    Keith Lynes. Rob Leach, Adrian Andruchiw and Chris Bell

    Sunday 8th

    • 8 Shelduck 
    • 166 Teal
    • 91 Shoveler
    • 48 Tufted Duck
    • 20 Pochard
    • 16 Cormorant
    • 1 Sparrowhawk 
    • 2 Buzzard 
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 4 Avocet - 3 on West Scrape and one on 2a
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 10 Redwing
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorne bank 
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 2 Song Thrush - feeding on the path in Main carpark 
    • 2 Greenfinch - on the feeders in the Butterfly garden 

    Adrian Andruchiw, Sue and Roger Bird, Paul Clover, Helen Womack and Mark Roberts

    Saturday 7th

    • 11 Whooper Swan - NW at 8:30hrs
    • 22 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 18 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - Lagoon late morning
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - calling
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Skylark - over
    • 10 Pied Wagtail - over at dusk
    • 5 Mistle Thrush
    • 9 Song Thrush
    • 3 Redwing
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve
    • 1 Chiffchaff - Loversall Bank
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Greenfinch

    Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer

    Butterflies : a male Brimstone in Black Carr Field

    Darren Wozencroft

    Sunset over Huxterwell © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sunset over Huxterwell © Lynda Christou 2020

    Reed Bunting © Pam Grimstone 2020

    Reed Bunting © Pam Grimstone 2020

    Friday 6th

    • 16 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - male
    • 3 Water Rail - calling after dark
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 5 Curlew - west at 17:30hrs
    • 1 Woodcock
    • 1 Snipe
    • 7 Redwing
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler

    Mammals : 1 Weasel - near the V.C/Car Park, 3 Roe Deer, 1 Muntjac

    Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou and Matthew Christou

    Dunnock © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Dunnock © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Kestrel © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Kestrel © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Thursday 5th

    • 15 Shelduck
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling at Piper Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Cetti’s Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper

    Adrian Andruchiw

    Tuesday 3rd

    • 6 Shelduck  4 on West Scrape and 2 on Old Ea
    • 1 Little Grebe from Willow Pool hide
    • 2 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk over Old Ea
    • 1 Marsh Harrier a male over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Buzzard 
    • 1 Kestrel from Visitor Centre 
    • 2 Water Rail calling on Willow Marsh and Old Ea 
    • 2 Avocet dropped on to West Scrape about 2pm
    • 6 Snipe on Love Island from the Visitor Centre 
    • 1 Herring Gull was harassing the few Black-headed Gulls that are setting up territories on Decoy Marsh
    • 4 Coal Tit 2 at Willow Pool feeders and 2 at the feeders in the Butterfly garden 
    • 1 Willow/Marsh Tit behind the hide at Willow Pool 
    • 1 Bearded Tit from St Caths hide
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler singing one from the Visitor Centre and one in Seven Arches Carr
    • Long-tailed Tit are very busy setting up their territories 
    • 1 Blackcap a male was seen near the viewing shelter at Decoy Lake
    • 3 Treecreeper singles in Piper Marsh Scrub, behind the compound and Loversal Bank
    • 3 Redwing near the Iron bridge
    • 2 Song Thrush feeding along the paths
    • 6 Bullfinch 
    • 2 Greenfinch a male and female to the feeders in the Butterfly Garden
    • 4 Reed Bunting a pair visiting Willow Pool feeders and the Butterfly garden feeders, one was singing in the Reedbed Filtration ponds

    Mammals : 2 Roe Deer along Loversall Bank

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Phil Goucher, Dave Harding, Helen Womack, Chris Bell, David Horncastle and visitor reports

    Monday 2nd

    • 18 Shelduck
    • 100 Teal
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh, one was actively hunting over the marsh
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Avocet on West Scrape 
    • 1 Woodcock in Beeston Plantation 
    • 10 Snipe on the island in front of the Visitor centre 
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male 
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Beeston Plantation a male
    • 12 Jackdaw in the main carpark 
    • 2 Mistle Thrush
    • 1 Willow Tit near Willow Pool late afternoon 
    • 2 Bullfinch near the Visitor centre 

    Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Rob Leach, Mark Roberts

    Sunday 1st

    • 16 Shelduck 
    • 2 Wigeon on 2a 
    • 165 Teal on 2a
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Little Egret - Mother drain 
    • 13 Cormorant - Cell 2a 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 40 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 130 Black-headed Gull on 1b early afternoon
    • 2 Common Gull on 1b
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Black Carr wood 
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler calling 
    • 1 Chiffchaff 
    • 3 Goldcrest 2 along Hawthorne bank and one along the M18/HW
    • 4 Treecreeper 
    • 10 Redwing in St Caths copse
    • 1 Song Thrush along Path near M18
    • 5 Bullfinch 
    • 15 Goldfinch from St Caths hide
    • 3 Reed Bunting to Willow Pool feeders

    Buffer Area : Curlew south over Short Lane/Low Ellers 17.30

    Low Ellers

    • Mute Swan – 6 (a pair with 4 imms) 
    • Greylag Goose 
    • Shoveler 3 (2m, 1f) 
    • Pochard 10 (6m, 4f)
    • Tufted Duck – 14 
    • Gadwall 3 (1m, 2f)
    • Coot – 7 
    • Moorhen - 1 Childers Marsh
    • Water Rail – 1 calling from Childers Marsh
    • Buzzard 1
    • Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2 
    • Black-headed Gull 2

    Sue and Roger Bird, Sue Cullen, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll and Richard Scott

    February 2020

    Saturday 29th

    • 12 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 300 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 15 Great Black-backed Gull- roosted
    • 1 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Willow or Marsh Tit - near Willow Pool
    • 3 Pied Wagtail - over

    Richard Scott, Chris Bell

    Wednesday 26th

    • 6 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - Huxterwell Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Barn Owl - near the V.C at dusk
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell Marsh

    Mammals : 1 Muntjac, 3 Roe Deer, 1 Brown Rat

    Lynda Christou, visitor reports

    Tuesday 25th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 5 Wigeon
    • 70 Shoveler
    • 80 Gadwall
    • 38 Pochard
    • 35 Tufted Duck
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - c/c
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 17 Lapwings
    • 2 Barn Owl
    • 1 Song Thrush - at the back of Decoy Lake
    • 5 Cettis Warbler - singing
    • 2 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll - Access Track
    • 2 Siskin - including one singing, Piper Marsh

    As part of the national Willow Tit survey in 2020 Potteric Carr returned no registrations today, but the survey continues through to mid-April. Reserve visitors are requested to report all sightings of Willow Tit in the sightings logbook which is located in the visitor centre.

    Keith Lynes. Michael Bird, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Lynda Christou and visitor reports.

    Monday 24th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese
    • 200 Teal
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
    • 1 Siskin

    Rob Leach, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

    Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Sunday 23rd

    • 8 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Wigeon - Cell 2a 
    • 3 Little Grebe - Cell 2 on 2a and one on Lagoon
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe - Cell 2a
    • 2 Bittern -  one on Lagoon and stood on the bank between 1b and 3b
    • 3 Little Egret  - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 12 Cormorant - Cell 2a
    • 2 Sparrowhawk 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier cc
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel 
    • 35 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Tawny Owl - near the Visitor Centre at dusk
    • 15 Redwing - Big Hedge
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 12 Long-tailed Tit - in front of St Caths hide
    • 2 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank and 
    • 2 Bullfinch
    • 1 Siskin
    • 4Reed Bunting - to the feeders 

    Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 50 Redwing

    Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott and visitor reports

    Iceland Gull © Richard Scott 2020

    Iceland Gull © Richard Scott 2020

    Roe Deer © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Roe Deer © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Saturday 22nd

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - flew towards the I-Port
    • 11 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Little Egret - NW late afternoon
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - high over the reserve 1225hrs
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - one at the Lagoon and 2 at Old Eaa
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 35 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock
    • 8 Common Gull - roosted
    • 5 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 32 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 215 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 1 ICELAND GULL - first-winter on cell 1b at dusk flew towards Lakeside after dark, where it had been seen in the morning (RJS, DW)
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - west at 1245hrs
    • 30 Redwing - St Caths Field
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Treecreeper - Access Track
    • 2 Rook - west
    • 1 Greenfinch - VC
    • 6 Bullfinch
    • 6 Reed Bunting

    Mammals : 2 Wood Mouse, 3 Bank Vole, 5 Roe Deer

    Michael Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott and Lynda Christou

    Wednesday 19th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 10 Cormorant
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Peregrine - Huxterwell
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Cetti’s Warbler - singing around the reserve
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Song Thrush

    Mammals : 5 Roe Deer

    Paul Paddock

    Tuesday 18th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 5 Wigeon
    • 126 Gadwall
    • 75 Shoveler
    • 150 Teal
    • 31 Pochard
    • 34 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 42 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock 
    • 1 Barn Owl - near the VC
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 4 Song Thrush 
    • 1 Cettis Warbler from St Catherines Hide.
    • 5 Bullfinch

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Dave Carroll and Jim Horsfall

    Storm Dennis flooding © Lynda Christou 2020

    Storm Dennis flooding © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sunday 16th

    • 1 Pink-footed Goose - east
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 30 Pochard
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - Loversall Pool and the Lagoon
    • 120 Lapwing - cell 2a
    • 6 Snipe - high west
    • 1 Willow Tit - singing
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Song Thrush - singing at the car park

    Richard Scott

    Saturday 15th

    • 12 Shelduck
    • 9 Wigeon
    • 1 Great Egret - Mother Drain
    • 2 Little Egret - over
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - hunting low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Common Gull - roosted
    • 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 330 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 38 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Collared Dove - over
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Treecreeper - Access Track
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - SW at dusk

    Richard Scott, Chris Bell

    Grey Squirrel © Lynda Christou 2020

    Grey Squirrel © Lynda Christou 2020

    Friday 14th

    • 16 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - both cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling Willow Marsh
    • 195 Lapwing
    • 7 Snipe
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 3 Redwing
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper

    Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou and Darren Wozencroft

    Rainbow over Piper Marsh © Malcom Cook 2020

    Rainbow over Piper Marsh © Malcom Cook 2020

    Thursday 13th

    Gadwall © Rob Leach

    Gadwall © Rob Leach

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Wednesday 12th

    • 12 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - Huxterwell Marsh
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxterwell Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 4 Moorhen
    • 1 Barn Owl - Loversall Bank/RBF Ponds
    • 50 Redwing
    • 1 Goldcrest

    Mammals : 3 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer, 1 Muntjac

    Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

    Wood Mouse © Lynda Christou 2020

    Wood Mouse © Lynda Christou 2020

    Storm Ciara damage © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Storm Ciara damage © Darren Wozencroft 2020

    Sunday 9th

    • 21 Mute Swan
    • 87 Greylag Geese
    • 2 Canada Geese
    • 2 Egyptian Geese - flew over Huxterwell 15:40hrs
    • 16 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 305 Gadwall
    • 171 Teal
    • 81 Mallard
    • 110 Shoveler
    • 55 Pochard
    • 58 Tufted Duck
    • 14 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern
    • 8 Little Egret - including 6 NW at dusk
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Moorhen
    • 118 Coot
    • 1 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 81 Lapwing - cell 2a
    • 14 Common Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 90 Herring Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Great Black-backed Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Meadow Pipit - over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 7 Redwing - St Caths 
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Greenfinch - over

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts and Darren Wozencroft

    Bank Vole © Ron Parke 2020

    Bank Vole © Ron Parke 2020

    Saturday 8th

    • 14 Shelduck - mainly West Scrape
    • 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell
    • 2 Sparrowhawk 
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Woodcock - Big Hedge at dusk
    • 1 Bearded Tit -  calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Treecreeper

    Mammals : 3 Bank Vole, 1 Roe Deer

    Bumblebees : a Buff-tailed (queen) near the V.C

    Darren Wozencroft and visitor reports

    Mother Drain at dawn © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Mother Drain at dawn © Nidge Nilsen 2020

    Friday 7th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. cream crown Huxterwell Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape mid morning
    • 8 Snipe

    Andy Dalton, visitor reports

    Goldcrest © Rob Burns 2020

    Goldcrest © Rob Burns 2020

    Thursday 6th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - flying the length of Mother drain from Hawthorne bank
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Oystercatcher - Huxterwell cell 2a
    • 3 Snipe
    • 1 Barn owl
    • 1 Chiffchaff - singing Piper Marsh Scrub
    • 1 Goldcrest - on the path from the Railway Bridge to Black Carr field

    Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, Roe Deer

    Butterflies : 1 Peacock - near to the Visitor Centre

    Rob Burns, Lynda Christou and Christopher Sigsworth

    Wednesday 5th

    • 1 Shelduck - Huxterwell cell 1b
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier (cream crowned) - Huxterwell Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard - Huxterwell Marsh
    • 2 Snipe
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler Singing
    • 2 Bearded Tit -Piper Marsh

    Mammals :1 Roe Deer, 1 Bank Vole

    Paul Paddock

    Tuesday 4th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 16 Wigeon
    • 32 Shoveler
    • 75 Teal
    • 54 Gadwall
    • 38 Tufted Duck
    • 37 Pochard
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 41 Lapwing
    • 1 Jay at Willow Pool feeders

    Keith Lynes, Lynda Christou

    The Chestnut © Derek Parker 2020

    The Chestnut © Derek Parker 2020

    Pale Brindled Beauty © Derek Parker 2020

    Pale Brindled Beauty © Derek Parker 2020

    Monday 3rd

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Bearded Tit - Mitchell Hide

    Rich Collis

     

    Moth Trapping Report for Friday Night, 31st January

    Although January and February are probably the quietest months of the year for moths, it can be worth having an occasional trapping session in order to record species which only fly at this time of year. You never get much and it was no surprise that we only trapped 5 common species, as follows:

    Tortricodes alternella 1

    Acleris ferrugana 1

    Pale Brindled Beauty 1

    Dotted Border 1

    Chestnut 4

    We also spotted a Mompha ssp. on the inside window of the Visitor Centre. It looked like, and proved to be, Mompha jurassicella. 

    Finally, a larval mine of Coptotriche marginea was noted on a bramble leaf near the Compound.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Great and Blue Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    Great and Blue Tit © Darren Ward 2020

    Saturday 1st  (night)

    Mammals : 1 Wood Mouse, 1 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer

    Darren Wozencroft

    January 2020

    Wednesday 29th

    • 1 Kestrel - near the VC

    Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 1 Sparrowhawk to the Starling roost, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing in drain, 50,000 Starling started to arrive about 4.30pm and went in to roost at 5.05pm on Low Ellers Marsh.

    Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou

    Tuesday 28th

    • 11 Shelduck
    • 35 Teal 
    • 20 Wigeon 
    • 50 Shoveler
    • 70 Gadwall
    • 8 Pochard
    • 14 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Aythya hybrid duck – cell 2b
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 8 Cormorant – cell 2a
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male,cc and immature – Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel – over Decoy Lake
    • 1 Water Rail – Loversall Pool
    • 83 Lapwing
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (m) – Willow Pool feeders
    • 3 Song Thrush
    • 30 Redwing
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Goldcrest – Loversall Triangle
    • 15 Chaffinch – near old wardens car park
    • 2 Reed Bunting – Willow Pool feeders

    Mammals : 4 Roe Deer

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Lynda Christou, Janet and Ian Heppenstall

    Sunday 26th

    • 36 Greylag Geese - on cell 1b at dusk
    • 11 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Little Egret - including 3 NW at dusk
    • 4 Grey Heron - cell 2a
    • 1 RED KITE - seen from Piper Marsh (RM)
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 23 Common Gull - roosted
    • 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 300 Herring Gull  - roosted
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 2cy (1st-winter) roosted (RJS)
    • 120 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Young Eaa after dark
    • 50,000 Starling - went to roost at 5pm

    Richard Scott, Rob Mellor

    Saturday 25th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - in flight from Duchess Hide
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 2 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 7 Redwing
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - heard on main path near Piper Marsh
    • 5 Goldcrest - 3 Access Track, 2 Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Bearded Tit - East Scrape
    • 4 Treecreeper

    Mammals : 1 Roe Deer

    Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner, Andy Dalton, John Purrington and visitor reports

    Friday 24th

    • 1 Bittern - Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell Marsh
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine - at the Starling roost
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 40,000 Starling - roosting birds 

    Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 6 Redwing, 60 Jackdaw, 20 Goldfinch, 12 House Sparrow

    Tina Langford, Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird

    Wood Jelly Ear © Lynda Christou 2020

    Wood Jelly Ear © Lynda Christou 2020

    Robin © Richard Scott 2020

    Robin © Richard Scott 2020

    Wednesday 22nd

    • 1 Little Egret – Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier cc – Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard – Access Track tree
    • 1 Water Rail – Willow Marsh
    • 3+ Bearded Tit – heard and later seen near Mitchell Hide 
    • 2 Jay – Mother Drain embankment
    • 1 Song Thrush – singing
    • 1 Cetti’s Warbler – singing

    Two new grit trays for Bearded Tits have been installed near Roger Mitchell Hide and Tofield Hide, adding to the ones located near Dutchess Hide and Beeston Hide.

    Dave Carroll, visitor reports.

    Tuesday 21st

    • 11 Shelduck
    • 80 Teal
    • 8 Wigeon
    • 150 Shoveler
    • 27 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxter Well Marsh, cc high east, male high south
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - Willow Marsh and Loversall Pool
    • 1 Moorhen in Mother Drain at the pumping station
    • 120 Lapwing
    • 2 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 28 Common Gull - roosted
    • 21 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 800 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 80 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at 5.15pm at Decoy Marsh near Sedum House
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 in Black Carr Wood, Hawthorn Bank, Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Redwing
    • 5 Song Thrush one on Piper Marsh path was carrying a snail and 4 Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler
    • 7 Goldcrest - 4 Black Carr Wood, 2 Short Lane and Beeston
    • 1 Coal Tit singing in Triangle Plantation
    • 7 Bearded Tit - including 2 males near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Central Grassland
    • 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood and Beeston
    • 50,000 Starling
    • 3 Reed Bunting from Totfield Hide

    Mammals : 1 Stoat on the path near 2b, 5 Roe Deer

    Butterflies : 1 Peacock

    Richard Scott, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Chip Rhodes, Janet and Ian Heppenstall.

    Bearded Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Bearded Tit © Richard Scott 2020

    Monday 20th

    • 9 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - including a pair displaying
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 3 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 4 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Treecreeper - 3 in Beeston Plantation and one in Black Carr Wood

     

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

    Sunday 19th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - over
    • 9 Shelduck
    • 10 Wigeon
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 5 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa and Beeston Plantation
    • 30 Redwing
    • 4 Mistle Thrush
    • 2 Coal Tit - Hawthorn Bank
    • 6+ Bearded Tit - Piper Marsh, also heard at East Scrape and Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Treecreeper - Black Carr Field, Loversall Bank and Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Raven - low over the reserve 11:45hrs and high west at 12:40hrs
    • 2 Jay
    • Siskin - heard around the Pumping Station

    Mammals : 4 Roe Deer

    Richard Scott, Keith Rich, Darren Wozencroft and visitor reports

    Saturday 18th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 30 Wigeon
    • 100 Shoveler
    • 40 Gadwall
    • 2 Little Grebe
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 4 Redwing

    Mammals : 5 Roe Deer

    Michael Bird

    Thursday 16th

    • 7 Shelduck on 2a
    • 2 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 60 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier on continually hunting on Huxter Well 
    • 1 Kestrel hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Treecreeper together along Willow bank 
    • 3 Bearded Tit from Mitchell hide 

    Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports 

    Tuesday 14th

    • 15 Whooper Swan - 10 adult and 5 juveniles,  flew on to 1b at 10.55 and left towards the Iport at 12.05
    • 5 Shelduck on 2a
    • 1 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 7 Cormorant on 2a
    • 1 Sparrowhawk to Willow Pool feeders 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier on Huxter Well Marsh. A female and juvenile male
    • 1 Buzzard Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 in Black Carr wood were chasing and displaying and one was on the feeders at Willow Pool
    • 1 Willow Tit at Willow Pool 
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 2 Goldcrest one in Black Carr Wood and one Hawthorn Field
    • 3 Treecreeper 2 at Hawthorn field and one at the main gate
    • 20 Redwing
    • 1 Song Thrush at the  Visitor centre 
    • 10 Bullfinch 4 at iron bridge and 6 near the visitor centre
    • 6 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Siskin in a mixed flock with Goldfinches near the pumping station 

    Mammals : 3 Roe Deer

    Sue Bird, Dougie Smith, Michael Bird, Phil Goucher, Nick Whitehouse, Carl Dutton, Sue Brookes and Lynda Christou

    Bullfinch © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Bullfinch © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

    Monday 13th

    • 50 Pink-footed Geese - west at 11:20hrs
    • 9 Shelduck
    • 39 Wigeon
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female at the Starling roost around 16:00hrs and one seen over Huxterwell in the morning
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine - over the V.C midday and again at dusk
    • 2 Kestrel - RBF ponds and Rossington Carr
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 9 Pied Wagtail - over V.C at dusk
    • 15 Redwing
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Goldcrest - Cottage Drain
    • 1 Willow Tit 
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 50,000 Starling - started gathering early at 15:30hrs but took an hour to go down, probably due to the presence of Buzzard, Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine in the vicinity
    • 4 Siskin

    Mammals : 2 Bank Vole

    Darren Wozencroft, Andy Dalton, Adrian Andruchiw, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

    Scarlet Elfcup © Lynda Christou 2020

    Scarlet Elfcup © Lynda Christou 2020

    Sunday 12th

    • 95 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 156 Gadwall
    • 124 Mallard
    • 112 Teal
    • 149 Shoveler
    • 61 Tufted Duck
    • 42 Pochard
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel - VC
    • 124 Coot
    • 2 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
    • 2 Song Thrush - singing on Low Ellers Bank at dusk
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 3 Goldcrest - St Caths Copse, Cottage Drain and Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 60,000 Starling - started to gather over Low Ellers Marsh and dropped in at 16.40
    • 3 Jay
    • 15 Siskin - Beeston Plantation
    • 1+ Lesser Redpoll in a small flock of Goldfinch and Siskin 
    • 10 Bullfinch together along Piper Marsh path 

    Mammals : 1 Roe Deer in St Caths Copse

    Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Mark Roberts

    Saturday 11th

    • 14 Mute Swan
    • 4 Pink-footed Geese - over
    • 10 Shelduck
    • 32 Wigeon
    • 75 Teal
    • 47 Mallard
    • 33 Shoveler
    • 19 Pochard
    • 21 Tufted Duck
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk 
    • 1 Peregrine - attacking the Starling roost at dusk over Low Ellers
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 65 Coot
    • 110 Lapwing
    • 19 Common Gull - roosted
    • 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 270 Herring Gull
    • 110 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 900 Woodpigeon - seen distantly to the east of the reserve
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling near West Scrape
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker- Willow Feeders and Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
    • 49 Redwing
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 240 Jackdaw - 140 distant to the east of the reserve 100 on the reserve at dusk
    • 50,000 Starling - roosted at Low Ellers and put on a good show as they were attacked repeatedly by a peregrine at dusk
    • 20 Goldfinch - near the Pumping Station
    • 1 Siskin - with the Goldfinches

    Mammals : 4 Roe Deer - Loversall Bank

    Darren Wozencroft, Adrian Andruchiw, Richard Scott, Tom Hibbert, Chris Bell and visitor reports

    Friday 10th

    • 5 Shelduck on 2a 
    • 20 Wigeon on 2a 
    • 1 Bittern flew from the Lagoon to 1a
    • 1 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier a female hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 1 Willow Tit at the Education Centre
    • 2 Treecreeper  one at Balby Copse and one in St Caths copse
    • 5 Bullfinch together in St Caths copse
    • 2 Siskin near the pumping station

    Mammals : Roe Deer from Hawthorn bank hide. Vole on the banking near Decoy Marsh Hide

    Fungi : Elfcup in St Caths Copse near the notice board

    Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Andy Dalton

    Tuesday 7th

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 16 Wigeon
    • 50Teal
    • 80 Gadwall
    • 200 Shoveler
    • 38 Tufted Duck
    • 35 Pochard
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel - in front of the VC
    • 60 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock - disturbed in Piper Marsh Scrub whilst checking Willow tit nest boxes
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 12 Redwing
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • c40,000 Starling went in to roost on Low Ellers Marsh at 4pm, plenty of murmuration due to 2 Sparrowhawk attacking the flock.
    • 6 Bullfinch

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird and Helen Womack

    Sunday 5th

    • 6 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 13 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 70 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Field

    Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 100 Wood Pigeon, 60 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 60,000 Starling went in to roost on Low Ellers Marsh at 4.25pm. They started to arrive at 3.55pm and put on an excellent spectacle.

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird

    Saturday 4th

    • 59 Greylag on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Shelduck on1b and later 2 on 2a possibly the same birds
    • 40 Wigeon on 2a
    • 3 Little Grebe on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk  one on Piper Marsh and one from the Visitor centre 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier a male and a female over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • c200 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Woodcock - 4 flushed around Loversall/Willow,  one in Beeston Plantation and one at dusk from the Visitor centre 
    • 3 Snipe on 2a 
    • 2 Common Gull on 1b 
    • 1 Kingfisher on Mother drain 
    • c60,000 Starling were seen from the Visitor centre. The majority dropped in to Low Ellers Marsh and some went in to Decoy Marsh.
    • 4 Redwing in Beeston Plantation

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll and Michael Bird

    Goldcrest © Darren Ward 2020

    Goldcrest © Darren Ward 2020

    Wednesday 1st

    • 10 Shelduck
    • 14 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Water Rail - calling along Mother Drain near the underbridge
    • 2 Snipe
    • 1 Tawny Owl perched in bushes along the path towards Decoy Marsh hide. Was mobbed by a tit flock, blackbirds and jays.
    • 1 Kingfisher - from Underbridge
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit - Willow Marsh 
    • 1 Coal Tit - Willow Pool
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston

    Richard Scott, Rich Collis, Sue Cullen, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll and Darren Wozencroft

    December 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Barry Wardley

    Marsh Harrier © Barry Wardley

    Tuesday 31st

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 120 Teal
    • 65 Shoveler
    • 70 Gadwall
    • 36 Pochard
    • 24 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Little Grebes
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 3 Marsh Harrier one male and two juveniles
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 200 Lapwing
    • 2 Redwing
    • 2 Cettis Warblers

    Mammals : 6 Roe Deer and 1 Stoat

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack and Barry Wardley

    Buffer Area : Carr Lodge - 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 8 Meadow Pipit, 170 Redwing

    Starling murmuration © Allen Holmes 2019
    Starling murmuration © Allen Holmes 2019

    Starling murmuration © Allen Holmes 2019

    Monday 30th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 14 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide 09:25hrs
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier -  male and cc on Huxterwell Marsh
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Peregrine - one chased a Snipe near the Visitor Centre 3p.m. then headed west and another hunting the Starlings over Huxterwell 4p.m.
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 115 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe - chased by a Peregrine from Decoy Lake
    • 2 Woodcock - flushed to Willow Marsh midday and another Big Hedge at dusk
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - briefly Hawthorn Bank 10:30hrs
    • 50 Redwing - Beeston Plantation
    • 4 Mistle Thrush - Loversall Carr Fields
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler 
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide 09:00hrs
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 5 Treecreeper
    • 50.000 Starling - many roosting on Decoy Marsh for the first time this winter
    • 8 Bullfinch

    Butterflies : a Small Tortoiseshell reported from the Warden's Car Park and a Peacock were both unseasonal but perhaps not too surprising considering the recent mild conditions.

    Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton plus visitor reports.

     

     

    Marsh Harriers © Roy Day 2019

    Marsh Harriers © Roy Day 2019

    Saturday 28th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 14 Wigeon
    • 2 Pintail - male and female on Huxterwell cell 1b
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and young male
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 200 Lapwing
    • 2 Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Coal Tit - Willow pool feeders
    • 50,000 Starling 

    Buffer Area : 2 Little Egret 110 Redwing - Short Lane

    Mammals : 6 Bank Vole and 1 Wood Mouse

    Michael Bird, Darren Wozencroft and Richard Scott

    Friday 27th

    • 6 Shelduck 
    • 8 Wigeon on 2a 
    • 8 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Grey Heron  5 on 2a and one on Decoy Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - around the Starling murmuration at dusk
    • 1 Kestrel over Decoy Lake later Willow Marsh and Huxterwell
    • 200 Lapwing over Huxter Well Marsh were continually disturbed by the Marsh Harrier 
    • 3 Snipe - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker to the Willow Pool feeders 
    • 2 Goldcrest one along Hawthorne bank and at the Iron bridge 
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler calling 
    • 1 Willow Tit - outside Field Centre/Old Cafe
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Treecreeper along Decoy Marsh path
    • 1 Song Thrush at the entrance 
    • 4 Bullfinch

    Buffer Area : 120 Redwing on Short Lane fields 

    Mammals : 4 Roe Deer and a bat sp (probable Pipistrelle) at dusk.

    Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft

    Tuesday 24th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 13 Wigeon
    • 4 Little Egret - St Caths Field
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Old Eaa/Childers Wood
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 200 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 220 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 3+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 60,000 Starling - roosted around the Lagoon

    Richard Scott

    Monday 23rd

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon
    • 72 Shoveler
    • 36 Pochard
    • Aythya hybrid - male (pochard x tufted duck)
    • 5 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - sparring with Marsh Harrier 1530 hrs over Huxterwell
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 1 Collared Dove - over
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 12 Redwing
    • 1 Mistle Thrush
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - included a male in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 7 Siskin - Pumping Sation

    Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 1 Roe Deer, 1 Rabbit, 1 Bank Vole

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Alfie Bloor and visitor reports

    Sunday 22nd

    • 50 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew by Mitchell Hide at 3.55pm and landed in reeds at cell 3b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier a male and female 
    • 3 Sparrowhawk -  chasing Starlings on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Kestrel - in front of the Visitor centre 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling in front of Duchess hide 
    • 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 250 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 160 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at Old Eaa at dusk
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker -  Beeston Plantation 
    • 3 Jay -  2 in St Caths copse and one in Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Goldcrest in St Caths copse 
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler singing in front of Duchess hide 
    • 15 Long-tailed Tit along Willow Bank 
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper in Beeston Plantation 
    • 50-80,000 Starling went in to roost to the left of Duchess Hide. An excellent spectacle!
    • 3 Song Thrush in Beeston Plantation 
    • 12 Redwing in Beeston Plantation 
    • 4 Bullfinch along  Willow Bank 

    Mammals : 2 Roe Deer in Loversall Carr Fields 

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird 

    Saturday 21st

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 18 Wigeon
    • 10 Little Egret - mainly on St Caths Field
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - attacking the starling murmuration
    • 3 Water Rail - one in Willow Marsh and 2 at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1000 Black-headed Gull - roosted
    • 11 Common Gull - roosted
    • 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 270 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 140 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted

    Mammals : 1 Stoat

    Richard Scott and Allen Holmes

    Water Rail © Michael Short 2019

    Water Rail © Michael Short 2019

    Tuesday 17th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 250+ Teal
    • 7 Little Egret incl 6 in Mother Drain late afternoon
    • 5 Grey Heron incl. 5 in Mother Drain late afternoon 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk 
    • 1 Kestrel along Willow bank 
    • 1 Water Rail calling on Huxter Well Marsh late afternoon
    • 200+ Lapwing - over
    • 2 Snipe 
    • 1 Kingfisher on Mother Drain 
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 6 Redwing
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Goldcrest in Piper Marsh Scrub
    • Bearded Tit - calling Huxterwell/Ringmain
    • 1 Song Thrush at the pumping station 
    • 6 Bullfinch - 2 at Willow Bank, pumping station and Piper Marsh Scrub 
    • Several Siskin calling at Piper Marsh Scrub

    Mammals : 6 Roe Deer

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird and Mark Roberts.

    Sunday 15th

    • c.490 Pink-footed Geese - 52 SW at 09.45hrs, 40 south at 15.00 and 400 flying around to the east of the reserve at 15.15. Many of these appeared to drop down onto Bessacarr Fields and of the remaining birds 150 flew west at 15.20
    • 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 113 Shoveler
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male in the afternoon and cc over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 10 Common Gull - roosted
    • 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 350 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 300 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain from the underbridge and Piper Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Central Grassland
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
    • 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - near Ironbridge with a tit flock
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit - Seven Arches Carr
    • 4 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Cell 4, 2 at Piper Marsh
    • 80,000 Starling into roost between the Lagoon and 2a. Started to arrive about 15.20 and were all in by 16.10 with a leucistic bird in the roost.
    • Siskin calling along Piper Marsh path and Cottage Drain

    Mammals : 8 Roe Deer

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

    Starlings © Ian Parnell

    Starlings © Ian Parnell

    Saturday 14th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 4 Wigeon
    • 3 Goosander - 2 males and a female arrived on Huxterwell cell 1b at 1130hrs
    • 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide at 1600hrs
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - killed a Starling at the roost
    • 2 Peregrine - at least one adult, both over Seven Arches Carr late morning
    • 1 Kestrel - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - calling infront Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 7 Lapwing
    • 2 Woodcock - St Cath's 1630hrs
    • 164 Great Black-backed Gull - roosting on Huxterwell cell 1b
    • 181 Herring Gull - roosting on Huxterwell cell 1b
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 8 Redwing
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • c50,000 Starling

    Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 5 Roe Deer

    Darren Wozencroft and Ian Parnell

    Friday 13th

    • 5 Shelduck on 2a
    • 7 Wigeon on 2a 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier a male hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard 
    • 2 Water Rail calling on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 60 Wood Pigeon went to roost on Piper Marsh 
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - Mother Drain
    • 1 Goldcrest feeding silently in Bramble next to Hawthorn Bank hide 
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 70,000 Starling went in to roost on 1a at 4pm. Duchess hide gave good views. 200 went in to roost in front of the visitor centre at 4.30pm
    • Small numbers of Blackbird and Redwing feeding on the last berries
    • 30 Siskin

    Sue and Roger Bird, Jim Horsfall and visitor reports

    December Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    December Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Friday Night, 6th December

    It is usual to undertake a final moth trapping in early winter, so as to record some of the very few species that only fly at this time of year. Normally, the final trapping session takes place around the middle of November. Unfortunately, this year the weather in November was so poor, either extremely wet or very cold, that trapping was out of the question. Hence the very late date for this year’s final trapping. This was not without consequences. It was no great surprise that we only trapped 3 individual moths. Single December Moth and Mottled Umber were, however, additions to the 2019 list. A Red-green Carpet was the third species recorded.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Monday 9th

    • 1 Red Kite - Junction 3 M18 11:30 a.m.

    Chris Needham per Twitter

     

    Sparrowhawk and Mallards © Darren Ward 2019

    Sparrowhawk and Mallards © Darren Ward 2019

    Goldcrest © Keith Horton 2019

    Goldcrest © Keith Horton 2019

    Saturday 7th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 29 Wigeon
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 90 Lapwing
    • 11 Common Gull
    • 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 400 Herring Gull
    • 250 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Bearded Tit - West Scrape
    • 40 Redwing
    • 5 Siskin

    Richard Scott

    Friday 6th

    • 1 Barn Owl - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Willow Tit

    Louise Hill, visitor reports

    Tuesday 3rd

    • 30 Greylag Goose
    • 170 Teal
    • 10 Wigeon
    • 14 Shoveler
    • 80 Gadwall
    • 17 Pochard
    • 29 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Goldeneye - fem/imm
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - at starling roost
    • 2 Marsh Harrier (cc and male) - male at starling roost
    • 1 Buzzard - at starling roost
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail -calling
    • 33 Lapwing
    • 7 Snipe – 4 Decoy Lake island, 2 Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 36 Redwing
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 3 Cetti’s Warbler - heard
    • 1 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 6 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 100,000 Starling - murmuration peaked at 4pm
    • 1 Siskin - over

    Butterflies : male Brimstone along Access Track 12:20pm

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton,  Andy Dalton and Mark Roberts

    Treecreeper © Darren Ward 2019

    Treecreeper © Darren Ward 2019

    Sunday 1st

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 15 Wigeon
    • 2 Marsh Harrier -  male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - caught a starling in the murmuration
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 55 Golden Plover - very distant circling over iPort at dusk
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 100,000 Starling
    • 70 Redwing
    • 1 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

    November 2019

    Saturday 30th

    • 68 Pink-footed Geese - 15 SW at 10.15a.m, then at 2.55p.m 10 flew NW & 43 SW
    • 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 13 Wigeon
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 6 Snipe
    • 720 Black-headed Gull - roosted
    • 9 Common Gull - roosted
    • 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 400 Herring Gull - roosted
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy roosted
    • 112 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Mistle Thrush
    • 30 Redwing
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - 4 calling and one singing
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Siskin

    Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 3 Roe Deer, Harvest Mouse nests were found at two locations at the east end of the reserve.

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Louise Hill, Adrian Andruchiw

    Friday 29th

    • 5 Shelduck on West Scrape 
    • 1 Water Rail calling on East Scrape 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier over Piper Marsh and later at Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 1 Sparrowhawk a male perched at the back of Piper Marsh chased Starlings at the roost
    • 4 Skylark over Piper Marsh
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 100,000+ Starling were spectacular due to the Sparrowhawk causing mayhem
    • 12 Redwing at the back of Piper Marsh 

    Sue and Roger Bird 

    Thursday 28th

    • 1 Goosander - male, Huxterwell
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier

    Sue Cullen

    Tuesday 26th

    • 250+ Greylag Geese
    • 1 Shelduck
    • 280+ Teal
    • 90+ Gadwall
    • 29 Wigeon
    • 18 Shoveler
    • 30 Tufted Duck
    • 11 Pochard
    • 2 Great Crested Grebes
    • 8 Little Egret - flew across Huxterwell Marsh at dusk
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Snipe from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Mistle Thrush
    • 50 Redwing
    • 70+ Goldfinch in Alders near the old wardens car park
    • 100.000 Starling b/w/ 15:45 and 16:15 hrs

    Mammals : 1 Roe Deer

    Keith Lynes, Sue Bird, Dave Carrol, Ian and Janet Heppenstall and Lynda Christou

     

    Sunday 24th

    • 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 91 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 36 Pochard - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Goosander - female flew south from Huxterwell over Gt Yorkshire Way at dusk
    • 7 Little Egret - St Caths Field
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine - over Huxterwell at 2p.m.
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Common Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 350 Herring Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 60 Great Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Old Eaa at dusk

    Richard Scott. Darren Wozencroft

    Sparrowhawk © Rob Burns

    Sparrowhawk © Rob Burns

    Thursday 21st

    • 11 Mute Swan
    • 25 Wigeon
    • 25 Shoveler
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - adult and juvenile over Huxterwell
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 9 Snipe
    • 30 Redwing - flock at Ironbridge
    • 1 Goldcrest - Access Track
    • 50+ mixed tit flock
    • 5 Jay
    • 3 Bullfinch

    Mammals : 1 Roe Deer

    Amphibians : 2 Common Frogs in Black Carr Field were unseasonal.

    Rob Burns, Lynda Christou, Sue and Roger Bird

     

    Mute Swan © Steve Ditch

    Mute Swan © Steve Ditch

    Tuesday 19th

    • 8 Wigeon
    • 100 Teal
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Little Grebe
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juv around Huxterwell Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk  - over Huxterwell Marsh
    • 50 Lapwing
    • 8 Snipe - Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 20 Redwing
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 6 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell/Ringmain
    • 2 Willow Tit - Willow Bank
    • 2 Treecreeper - at the end of Hawthorn Bank
    • 4 Jay
    • 10 Siskin
    • 3 Lesser Redpoll

    Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, 1 Roe Deer

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Phil Goacher, David Harding, Lynda Christou, Adrian Andruchiw, Mark Roberts and Darren Wozencroft

    Monday 18th

    • 1 Chiffchaff - Piper Marsh

    Dragonflies : 3 Common Darter

    visitor reports

    Sunday 17th

    • c200 Pink-footed Goose went NW at 11.30, distant over the M18 bridge
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 15 Wigeon
    • 202 Teal
    • 1 Sparrowhawk to the Starling roost
    • 1 Kestrel hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Peregrine chased Starlings going in to roost
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 2 Woodcock - St Cath's Copse
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker to Willow Pool feeders 
    • 3 Goldcrest along Cottage drain 
    • 100,000+ Starling went in to roost on Huxter Well Marsh with much murmuration due to the Peregrine. All were in by 15.55
    • c60 Redwing along Cottage drain 
    • 30 Siskin were in treetops along Willow Bank and later Cottage Drain

    Mammals : 3 Roe Deer, 2 near Decoy Marsh hide and one near Hawthorne field, a Weasel ran across the path near Decoy Marsh hide.

    Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

    Saturday 16th

    • 140 Pink-footed Geese - 90 ENE at 9.15am and 50 ENE at 3.10pm
    • 65 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh, 40 arrived mid-afternoon
    • 3 Little Egret - over at dusk
    • 1 Bittern - from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 10 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 120 Woodpigeon - Piper Marsh/Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Bearded Tit - heard from St Caths Hide
    • 10s of 1000s Starling - seen from Hawthorn Bank from 3.55pm
    • 30 Fieldfare - SW

    Mammals : a Weasel and a large bat sp. presumed Noctule feeding over high HWM from 12.35 for at least 30 mins.

    Richard Scott, visitor reports.

    Friday 15th

    • 4 Whooper Swan - dropped on to Cell 1b late afternoon then left NE 15 minutes later
    • 6 Wigeon 
    • 3 Little Egret - flew along Mother Drain at dusk
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - attacked starlings as they went in to roost
    • 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Snipe - Huxterwell Cell 2a
    • 6 Jay - were busy across the Reserve 
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 100,000 Starling - went in to roost between 15.45 and 16.20
    • 2 Redwing - Visitor Centre 

     

    Sue and Roger Bird

    St. Catherine's Field © Richard Scott

    St. Catherine's Field © Richard Scott

    Tuesday 12th

    • 1 Pintail - male
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier cream crown hunting Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Buzzard – hunting Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 12 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Cetti’s Warbler
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 Grey Wagtail
    • 12 Goldfinch

    Mammals : 1 Roe Deer

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton.

    Monday 11th

    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Willow Tit - Access Track, western end

    Mark Roberts

    Sunday 10th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - cell 3a
    • 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 184 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - over
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - from the VC
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 10 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Mistle Thrush
    • 2 Siskin

    Invertebrates : 1 Peacock - Loversall Bank.  12 Common Darter

    Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

    Red-crested Pochard © Richard Scott 2019

    Red-crested Pochard © Richard Scott 2019

    Friday 8th

    • 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 172 Teal - cell 2a
    • 1 Red-crested Pochard - drake on cell 2b
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine - at dusk chasing the Starlings
    • 26 Lapwing
    • 12 Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher - cell 2a
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 11 Fieldfare
    • 38 Redwing
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 100,000 Starling - at dusk Cell 3a, East Scrape
    • 5 Siskin - near the entrance

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

    Great Spotted Woodpecker

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Darren Ward 2019

    Thursday 7th

    • 1 Red-crested Pochard - cell 2b
    • 6 Little Egret - St Cath's Field
    • 2 Woodcock

    Andy Dalton, David Beresford, Dave Carroll

    Roe Deer © Steve Ditch 2019

    Roe Deer © Steve Ditch 2019

    Tuesday 5th

    • 106 Greylag Gese - cell 1b
    • 8 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 16 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 140 Teal - West Scrape 
    • 3 Goldeneye - female/imm. cell 1b
    • 1 Goosander - male on cell 2a
    • 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Kestrel - Willow Pool 
    • 4 Common Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Barn Owl - from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Kingfisher - Willow Pool
    • 3 Jay - Willow Pool feeders 
    • 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Coal Tit to Willow Pool feeders 
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing 

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes

    female Small White ¨© Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Small White ¨© Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Sunday 3rd

    • 120 Pink-footed Geese - ENE at 08.50
    • 6 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
    • 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll

    Other: 5 Bank Vole, 1 Small White was an exceptionally late record

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Saturday 2nd

    • 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 15 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 21 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott

    Friday 1st

    • 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 10 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - on cell 4 waiting for the Starlings to come in to roost
    • 3 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Water Rail - calling on East Scrape at dusk
    • 40 Lapwing - cell 1b
    • 6 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 2 Common Gull - cell 1b at 15.30
    • 22 Herring Gull - cell 1b at 15.30
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 25,000 Starling - went to roost on cell 4 between 16.00 and 16.15
    • 1 Siskin - over Willow Pool

    Sue and Roger Bird

    October 2019

    Sunset © Lynda Christou 2019

    Sunset © Lynda Christou 2019

    Great White Egrets © Allen Holmes 2019

    Great White Egrets © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 27th

    9 Whooper Swan - NE at 08.10
    4 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    3 GREAT WHITE EGRET - together on cell 3b very early morning but flew off
    1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    10 Buzzard
    3 Kestrel
    3 Sparrowhawk
    1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the entrance
    1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Piper Marsh
    3 Goldcrest - along the Access Track near the entrance
    1 Coal Tit - Loversall Field
    4+ Bearded Tit - at least 2 at Piper Marsh flew to Huxter Well Marsh and at least 2 near Mitchell Hide
    2 Chiffchaff - Cottage Drain and Big Hedge
    1 Treecreeper - Cottage Drain
    1000's Starling - left their roost at cell 4 at dawn
    12 Redwing - west
    1 Grey Wagtail - over West Scrape
    10 Bullfinch - including 4 south
    2 Siskin - over

    Other: 3 Migrant Hawker, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Muntjac along Piper Marsh path

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton

    Saturday 26th

    • 61 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
    • 3 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 26 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 14 Snipe - from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
    • 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool feeders
    • 10 Blackbird - Access Track/Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Stonechat - on the left island from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh

    Following the heavy rain, the paths around Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh have lots of puddles, so walking boots will be needed tomorrow. The path through Hawthorn Field is well flooded at both ends.

    Richard Scott

    Friday 25th

    • 8 Whooper Swan - on cell 1b in the afternoon

    Darren Wozencroft

    Feathered Thorn © Derek Parker 2019

    Feathered Thorn © Derek Parker 2019

    Frosted Orange © Derek Parker 2019

    Frosted Orange © Derek Parker 2019

    Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2019

    Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night 23rd October

    This turned out to be another, weather affected, and disappointing night’s moth trapping. We only logged 13 moths in total, involving 7 common autumn species, as listed below:

    • Acleris emargana (1)
    • November Moth (3)
    • Feathered Thorn (1)
    • Large wainscot (5)
    • Pink-barred Sallow (1)
    • Red-line Quaker (1)
    • Frosted Orange (1)

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet heppenstall

    Thursday 24th

    • 22 Mute Swan
    • 36 Greylag Geese
    • 3 Shelduck
    • 19 Wigeon
    • 60+ Gadwall
    • 78 Teal
    • 53 Shoveler
    • 35 Pochard
    • 37 Tufted Duck
    • 20 Cormorant
    • 2 Little Egret 
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 6 Little Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 20 Snipe - from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 50+ Lapwing
    • 60+ Black-headed Gull
    • 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 3 Herring gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 5 Jay
    • 6 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - at the entrance
    • 6 Bullfinch

    Other: 5 Roe Deer including a family of 4 in Beeston Plantation

    Buffer Area

    • Little Egret, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff at Short Lane Fields, 3 Goldcrest along the edge of Gladstone's Fields by the Red Path

    David Beresford, Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott

    Red Admiral © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Red Admiral © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Common Blue Damselfly © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Common Blue Damselfly © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Wednesday 23th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 19 Wigeon
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Fieldfare - south
    • 1 Bearded Tit

    Butterflies : 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 male Brimstone

    Odonata : 1 Common Blue Damselfly, c50 Common Darter

    Darren Wozencroft

    Stigmella glutinosae © Derek Parker 2019

    Stigmella glutinosae © Derek Parker 2019

    STIGMELLA GLUTINOSAE. A new moth record for Potteric Carr

    Almost all of the tiniest moths we have in this country are, in the larval stage, leaf-miners. Many of them belong to the family Nepticulidae. Autumn is the peak time for finding Nepticulid (‘Nep.’) mines and they are found on most native deciduous trees and shrubs.

    On 18 October, whilst searching for Nep. mines, I spotted an occupied mine on alder. Upon closer examination, it was clearly one or other of Stigmella glutinosae or Stigmella alnetella, neither of which had previously been recorded at Potteric Carr.

    I needed a closer look at the larva inside the mine, so I asked Trust volunteer and keen photographer, Derek Parker, to take a close up photograph of the larva. Derek’s excellent photograph provided the evidence I needed. The larva was that of Stigmella glutinosae. I still needed to get it checked by County Moth Recorder, Charles Fletcher. Thankfully, he agreed with the identification.

    Stigmella glutinosae is a scarce species in Yorkshire, recorded very thinly across the County,  most frequently in VC63.

    Ian Heppenstall

    Roe Deer © Darren Ward 2019

    Roe Deer © Darren Ward 2019

    Tuesday 22nd

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 35 Wigeon
    • 60+ Gadwall
    • 68 Teal
    • 45+ Shoveler
    • 45+ Pochard
    • 24 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Bittern
    • 12 Cormorant
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2+ Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - from Tofield Hide
    • 7 Lapwing
    • 3 Snipe
    • 2 Common Gull
    • 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Herring Gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 2 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 8 Bearded Tit - over the Stilling Pond
    • 2 Skylark - over
    • 1 Swallow - south
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Chiffchaff - calling near Mitchell hide 
    • 3 Treecreeper - one along link road and 2 in St Caths Copse
    • 3 Redwing - over Piper Marsh 
    • 2 Meadow Pipit - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Bullfinch - St Caths Copse
    • 1+ Brambling - Willow Pool feeders and the compound

    Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Phil Goucher, Dave Harding, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts, Dave Carroll, visitor report

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Lynda Christou 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Lynda Christou 2019

    Sunday 20th

    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders

    Lynda Christou

    Shaggy Parasol © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Shaggy Parasol © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Saturday 19th

    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 34 Wigeon
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - NW over the VC
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a and Old Eaa
    • 15 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 2 Common Gull
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 10+ Jay
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool
    • 2 Skylark - west
    • 10 Cetti's Warbler
    • 5 Chiffchaff
    • 24 Redwing
    • 4 Stonechat - Central Grassland
    • 10 Bullfinch
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll - Cottage Drain
    • 5 Siskin - over

    Other: 8 Roe Deer , 1 Red Admiral

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Lynda Christou

    Shoveler © Allen Holmes 2019

    Shoveler © Allen Holmes 2019

    Friday 18th

    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Kingfisher - Loversall Pool
    • 1 Jay
    • 1+ Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 4 Skylark - over
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler - including 3 calling at Loversall Pool
    • 1 Chiffchaff - heard near Loversall Delph
    • <10 Redwing - flew over in a flock

    Butterflies: Painted Lady (fresh looking) near the Dip-In shelter by Decoy Lake

    Richard Collis, Lynda Christou, Andy Dalton, Allen Holmes

    Thursday 17th

    • 21  Mute Swan
    • 9 Greylag Geese
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 41 Wigeon
    • 110+ Gadwall
    • 56 Teal
    • 45 Shoveler
    • 34 Pochard
    • 28 Tufted Duck
    • 9 Cormorant
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 9 Little Grebe 
    • 2  Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 150 Lapwing
    • 50+ Black-headed Gull
    • 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 6 Jay
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper

    Butterflies: male Brimstone, Small White, 2 Peacock and a Comma.

    Damselflies: a single Common Blue on Square Pond is the latest reserve record by 10 days (previous latest 7th October 2006). This is the fifth species of Odonata this year to make its latest ever appearance on the reserve in this mild autumn.

    David Beresford, Darren Wozencroft

    Snail sp. © Roy Day 2019

    Snail sp. © Roy Day 2019

    Wednesday 16th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - over VC towards Low Ellers
    • 2 Goldcrest - Access Track to Hawthorn Bank hide
    • 4 Chiffchaff - Access Track to Hawthorn Bank hide

    Other: 4+ Migrant Hawker, 1 Common Darter, Comma in the flutterby garden

    Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou

    a recent photo of Great White Egret © Steve Ditch 2019

    a recent photo of Great White Egret © Steve Ditch 2019

    Grass Snake © Andrew Thompson 2019

    Grass Snake © Andrew Thompson 2019

    Helvella crispa fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2019

    Helvella crispa fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2019

    Tuesday 15th

    • 21 Mute Swan - including 7 young
    • 24 Wigeon
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 60+ Teal
    • 70+ Shoveler
    • 23 Pochard
    • 32 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - at Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel - males over Decoy Lake had a territorial dispute
    • 200+ Lapwing
    • 7 Snipe
    • 2 Kingfisher - one on Mother Drain and one on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • (lots of) Bearded Tit - 8 males in front of Mitchel Hide, a group on East Scrape, birds calling near the VC
    • 7+ Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Chiffchaff
    • 260 Redwing - mainly SW
    • 1 Stonechat - male seen from Duchess Hide on the top of the reeds at the back of the Lagoon
    • 15 Siskin

    Other: Comma, 9 Migrant Hawker, Great Diving Beetle, Queen Hornet, 3 Roe Deer

    Rob Burns, Darren Wozencroft, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Sue Bird, David Carroll, Helen Womack, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Andy Dalton, visitor reports

    Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2019

    Snipe © Allen Holmes 2019

    Monday 14th

    • 3 Wigeon - West Scrape
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 8 Snipe - West scrape (6 were feeding on top of bank in front of hide)
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders

    Allen Holmes

    Stoat © Darren Ward 2019

    Stoat © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Diving Beetle © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Diving Beetle © Darren Ward 2019

    Sunday 13th (including WeBS count)

    • 2 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 21 Wigeon
    • 100 Gadwall
    • 74 Teal
    • 80 Mallard
    • 85 Shoveler
    • 58 Pochard
    • 34 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 15 Little Grebe
    • 4 Water Rail
    • 139 Coot
    • 210 Lapwing
    • 20 Snipe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - perched in small oak on cell 1b
    • 1 Buzzard - perched low in Hawthorns along Mother drain/cell 1b
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - flew across Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - at least 3 near Mitchell Hide (2 males) and one calling in front of Duchess Hide
    • 36 Skylark - north
    • 3 Swallow - NE
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 6 Chiffchaff
    • 6 Blackbird - in a mixed group of thrushes on hawthorns along Mother Drain/Huxter Well
    • 2 Song Thrush - in a mixed group of thrushes
    • 5 Redwing - in a mixed group of thrushes

    Other: 4 Roe Deer

    Mark Roberts, Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

    Kingfisher © Richard Scott 2019

    Kingfisher © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 12th

    • 13 Wigeon
    • 4 Sparrowhawk
    • 8 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 3 Water Rail
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 7 Chiffchaff
    • 15 Redwing

    Odonata: hundreds of Common Darters, dozens of Migrant Hawkers

    Other: Stoat, Great Diving Beetle, Grass Snake

    Richard Scott, Sean Marsden, Darren Ward, Andrew Thompson

    Friday 11th

    • 1 Bittern - flew high from cell 1a to cell 4 
    • 1 Little Egret 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon
    • 1 Kingfisher - in front of West Scrape hide
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
    • 2 Jay - from Duchess hide 
    • 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank 
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Duchess Hide 
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing in front of Duchess Hide and one on Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Chiffchaff - with a large tit flock near the underbridge 
    • 1 Song Thrush - along the Access Track 

    Dragonflies: 2 Migrant Hawker 

    Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports

    Dock Bug © Martin Warne 2019

    Dock Bug © Martin Warne 2019

    Spiked Shieldbug © Martin Warne 2019

    Spiked Shieldbug © Martin Warne 2019

    Thursday 10th

    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Chiffchaff

    Richard Collis

    Wednesday 9th

    Damselflies: a late Emerald at the square pond (the latest for the reserve after one on 7th October 2006)

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 1 Coal Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Speckled Wood butterfly

    Lynda Christou, Richard Scott

    Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Beaded Chestnut © Derek Parker 2019

    Beaded Chestnut © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night 7th October

    For various reasons, mostly weather related, no trapping had been undertaken since August. We were, therefore, keen to have a go on Monday night. The results, however, were disappointing. We might hope to see 20-25 species on a night’s trapping in early October, so the 8 species recorded was a really poor outcome.

    As might be expected, the moths recorded were all, generally common, autumn flying species and they are listed below:

    Red-green Carpet (2), Sallow (1), Lunar Underwing (1), Pink-barred Sallow (9), Large Wainscot (7), Red-line Quaker (3), Beaded Chestnut (3) and Black Rustic (1).

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Fungi spp © Martin Warne 2019

    Fungi spp © Martin Warne 2019

    Tuesday 8th

    • 40+ Wigeon
    • 100 Gadwall
    • 55+ Teal
    • 30+ Pochard
    • 11 Tufted Duck
    • 10 Shoveler
    • 1+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 8 Buzzard
    • 2+ Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - reported by visitor perched in the dead oak (the hobby not the visitor!)
    • 1 Peregrine - male flew low over Huxter Well Marsh hunting
    • 250+ Lapwing
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 5+ Jay
    • 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool feeders
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 40 Starling
    • 4 Meadow Pipit - over Central Grassland

    Butterflies: single Comma, Red Admiral and Peacock in the flutterby garden

    Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, Lynda Christou, Sue Bird, Helen Womack, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

    yesterday's Stonechat © Darren Ward 2019

    yesterday's Stonechat © Darren Ward 2019

    Monday 7th

    • 34 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 54 Gadwall - Old Eaa
    • 1 Little Egret - West Scrape 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - high over the Access Track 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Peregrine - a male causing mayhem on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • c200 Lapwing - on Huxter Well Marsh continually disturbed 
    • 10 Snipe -Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 2 Chiffchaff - calling 
    • 60 Goldfinch - in the trees between Childers Wood and Old Eaa

    Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

    Rufous Milkcap © Derek Parker 2019

    Rufous Milkcap © Derek Parker 2019

    Fly Agaric © Derek Parker 2019

    Fly Agaric © Derek Parker 2019

    Sunday 6th

    • 54 Wigeon
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 11 Snipe - including one SW
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 27 Swallow - south
    • 5 House Martin  - feeding high over Piper Marsh
    • 6 Chiffchaff
    • 94 Redwing - west and SW
    • 1 Stonechat - male on the island at Decoy Lake in front of the VC
    • 2 Siskin - Iron Bridge

    Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson

    Golden Plovers © Allen Holmes 2019

    Golden Plovers © Allen Holmes 2019

    Cicadellidae spp © Martin Warne 2019

    Cicadellidae spp © Martin Warne 2019

    Saturday 5th

    • 50 Pink-footed Geese - east at 10.30
    • 29 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - seen from Hawthorn Bank hide
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 19 Buzzard - 13 up together in the Beeston area and 6 to the east of the reserve
    • 4 Water Rail
    • 22 Golden Plover - West Scrape
    • 13 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Tawny Owl - Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Jay
    • 4+ Goldcrest
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 2+ Bearded Tit - 'pinging' at West Scrape
    • 8 Skylark - 5 NE and 3 over
    • 1 Swallow - south
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 3 Redwing - SW
    • 3 Mistle Thrush - south
    • 2 Grey Wagtail - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bullfinch
    • 2 Siskin - Access Track

    Other: 10 Common Darter, 2 Migrant Hawker, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Vapourer Moth 1 Loversall, 1 Silver Y Moth

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Martin Warne, Richard Pauline

    baby Bank Voles © Sue Bird 2019

    baby Bank Voles © Sue Bird 2019

    Friday 4th

    • 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Warsh
    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Young Eaa
    • 2 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a and West Scrape
    • 320 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 11 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - flew along Hawthorn Bank 
    • 2 Jay - collecting acorns
    • Bearded Tit - heard from Mitchell Hide (visitor)
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 3 Chiffchaff - at the Iron Bridge, 2 were singing
    • 2 Redwing - along the Access Track at 2.45pm
    • 3 Bullfinch - along Piper Marsh path
    • 3 Reed Bunting - dropped in to Huxter Well Marsh 

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Whooper Swan © Allen Holmes 2019

    Whooper Swan © Allen Holmes 2019

    Roe Deer fawn © Allen Holmes 2019

    Roe Deer fawn © Allen Holmes 2019

    Thursday 3rd

    • 1 WHOOPER SWAN - on cell 1b but left east at 8am (AH)
    • 14 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - flew across Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Kestrel - hunting over Central Grassland 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon 
    • 1 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 1 Tawny Owl - flew from the septic tank!
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders 
    • 4 Jay
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 1 Willow Tit - calling along Cottage drain 
    • 15+ Bearded Tit - at least 15 flew across cell 1a and dropped into cell 3a, later 11 were seen from Mitchell Hide and 4 were along the reed edge on the Lagoon
    • 1 Skylark - over Loversall Carr Fields 
    • 3 Chiffchaff - calling 
    • 7 Redwing - south

    Other: Roe Deer fawn still with spots

    Buffer Area

    • 6 Stock Dove went to roost at Low Ellers Curve, Chiffchiff calling at Short Lane

    Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes, Richard Scott, visitors

    Buzzard © Richard Scott 2019

    Buzzard © Richard Scott 2019

    Wednesday 2nd

    • 80 Pink-footed Geese - NE at 10.30
    • 24 Wigeon
    • 65 Shoveler - cell 1b
    • 54 Pochard
    • 67 Tufted Duck - 3 flocks arrived on Huxter Well Marsh. The largest count since January.
    • 1 Bittern - in the reeds at the back of cell 1b
    • 3+ Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on cell 3b during the morning but flew to Piper Marsh late afternoon
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - near the VC
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 9 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - reported
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from cells 2a and 3b
    • 3 Common Gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 4 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - in the dead oak from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling from Duchess Hide
    • 9 Skylark - 4 north and 5 south
    • 24 Swallow - south
    • 3 House Martin - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 18 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Blackcap
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 1 alba Wagtail - south

    Richard Scott, Paul Paddock, Tina Langford, Adrian Andruchiw, Gary Dyson, visitor reports

    Parasol Mushroom © Sue Bird 2019

    Parasol Mushroom © Sue Bird 2019

    Tuesday 1st

    • 27 Wigeon - 11 flew onto cell 1b and later 16 were on cell 2a
    • 66 Gadwall - Old Eaa
    • 11 Cormorant - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Bittern - flew across cell 1b and later flew to cell 1a
    • 6 Little Egret 
    • 2 Buzzard 
    • 1 Kestrel - hunting over Central Grassland 
    • 3 Water Rail - juvenile on East Scrape and 2 calling on cell 3b
    • 320 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 13 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Kingfisher - pumping station 
    • 5 Jay
    • 4 Goldcrest 
    • 1 Bearded Tit - in front of Mitchell Hide 
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 2 Chiffchaff - calling 
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - in front of Mitchell Hide 
    • 3 Bullfinch - along Piper Marsh path

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton

    September 2019

    Sunday 29th

    • 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - flew to the Lagoon
    • 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - cell 3b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Water Rail - West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 2 Golden Plover - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Redshank - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 14 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5+ Bearded Tit - including 2 males seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 10 Chiffchaff
    • 7 Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler - near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, visitor reports

    Red Admiral © Lynda Christou 2019

    Red Admiral © Lynda Christou 2019

    Saturday 28th

    • 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 8 Buzzard - including one south
    • 2 Kestrel - one catching dragonflies almost hobby-like
    • 1 Hobby - at times hanging in the wind almost kestrel-like
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 7 Snipe - including 2 south
    • 1 Common Tern - an adult arrived during heavy rain late morning and remained on Huxter Well Marsh into the afternoon
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy on cell 1b
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool
    • 3 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Coal Tit - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Marsh Tit - called several times on Hawthorn Bank near Mother Drain
    • 2 Skylark - south
    • 30 Swallow - south
    • 3 House Martin - south
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush - south
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 600 Meadow Pipit - south between 9am and 1pm. By far the largest count for the reserve.

    Butterflies: 4 Red Admiral, 1 Comma

    Richard Scott, Neil Sainthouse, Chris Bell, Lynda Christou

    Friday 27th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - overhead
    • 1 Coal Tit - between car park and Loversall Delph
    • 3 Chiffchaff - between car park and Loversall Delph
    • 5 Blackcap - between car park and Loversall Delph
    • 1 Treecreeper - between car park and Loversall Delph
    • 4 Meadow Pipit - overhead
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - overhead

    Andy Dalton

    Rosy Bonnet © Derek Parker 2019

    Rosy Bonnet © Derek Parker 2019

    Orange Peel Fungus © Derek Parker 2019

    Orange Peel Fungus © Derek Parker 2019

    Thursday 26th

    • 20 Mute Swan
    • 8 Wigeon
    • 80+ Gadwall
    • 160+ Teal
    • 43 Shoveler
    • 63 Pochard
    • 11 Tufted Duck
    • 10 Little Grebe
    • 4  Great Crested Grebe
    • 19 Cormorant
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - seen mobbing a buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - over Piper Marsh
    • 610+ Lapwing
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
    • 4 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 4 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Chiffchaff
    • 5 Blackcap
    • 1 Mistle Thrush

    David Beresford, Dave Carroll, Gary Dyson

    Chiffchaff © Allen Holmes 2019

    Chiffchaff © Allen Holmes 2019

    Wednesday 25th

    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - first seen on Piper Marsh but later flew off
    • c10 Bearded Tit - in front of Tofield Hide

    Gary Johnston

    Great White Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Great White Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Tuesday 24th

    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - one on cell 3b all day and one seen on cell 1b, West Scrape and Piper Marsh
    • 26 Wigeon - on and over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Water Rail - imm. at East Scrape, adult on West Scrape, adult and imm. on cell 3b
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Hobby - up together over Hawthorn Bank and Black Carr Field during a brief lull in the rain
    • 2 Dunlin - one on cell 1b and one south
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 18 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 1 Reed Warbler - East Scrape
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - cell 3b
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - cell 1b
    • 3 Greenfinch - Big Hedge

    Richard Scott, Richard Collis

    Great Crested Newt © Lynda Christou

    Great Crested Newt © Lynda Christou

    Monday 23rd

    • 7 Little Egret - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - from Tofield Hide
    • 5 Sparrowhawk - family party in dead oak tree chasing magpies and jays
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - Black Carr Field and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 5 Bullfinch

    Other: 1 Mole (deceased), 11 roe deer including 3 young, 1 Great Crested Newt

    Derek and Anna Parker, Richard Patterson, Lynda Christou

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 22nd

    • 20 Pink-footed Geese - on cell 1b
    • 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1a
    • 5 Little Egret
    • (2+ Great White Egret - 2 flew from iPort towards Potteric and shortly after one flew over Lakeside towards Potteric)
    • 11 Grey Heron
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Water Rail - imm. on cell 3b
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4+ Bearded Tit - in front of Mitchell Hide

    Neil Sainthouse, Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Chris Robinson, Darren Wozencroft

    Ringing totals for 21st - 9 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Blue Tit

    Rebekah Beaumont

    Golden Plovers © Richard Scott 2019

    Golden Plovers © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 21st

    • 19 Pink-footed Geese - cell 1b
    • 8 Wigeon
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1b
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Hobby - feeding over Hawthorn Bank and Willow Marsh, sometimes interacting with the kestrels
    • 15 Golden Plover - West Scrape
    • 3 Green Sandpiper
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 12+ Ring-necked Parakeet - flew over Huxter Well Marsh during the afternoon. By far the largest number seen at Potteric. (NS)
    • 11 Chiffchaff
    • 2 Willow Warbler
    • 2 Blackcap

    Other: Stoat at Iron Bridge, 2 Painted Lady, 3 Comma

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Lynda Christou, Neil Sainthouse, visitor reports

    Barnacle Goose © Allen Holmes 2019

    Barnacle Goose © Allen Holmes 2019

    Friday 20th

    • 19 Pink-footed Geese - departed cell 1b at 5.30pm
    • 1 Barnacle Goose - on Loversall Pool with a small group of canada geese, but gone by 9.30am
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - eclipse male on cell 1b
    • 5 Buzzard - up together east of Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1+ Hobby - over Willow Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh at 4.30pm
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher - Loversall Pool
    • 1 Bearded Tit - seen in flight in front of Duchess Hide
    • 1 Chiffchaff - singing at Iron Bridge
    • 2 Blackcap

    Other: 7 Roe Deer (3 young), 1 Silver Y moth, Weasel on the Access Track, 1 Black Darter  - male still at square pond, 3 Brown Hawker

    Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton, Rob Mellor, Darren Wozencroft

    Fox © Barry Wardley 2019

    Fox © Barry Wardley 2019

    Thursday 19th

    • 19 Pink-footed Geese - on West Scrape
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 8 Wigeon - West Scrape
    • 4 Little Egret  
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail - East Scrape and Piper Marsh
    • 700+ Lapwing
    • 1 Ringed plover - juv
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - East scrape
    • 4 Snipe - 2 on both cell 3b and West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher - cell 3b
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Chiffchaff 
    • 3 Blackcap
    • 1 Garden Warbler - close to Michell Hide
    • 2 Whitethroat
    • 1 Sedge Warbler
    • 1 Wheatear - East Scrape screen
    • 1 Grey Wagtail

    Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 8 Emerald Damselfly, 9 Common Blue Damselfly, 34 Migrant Hawker, 2 Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, 2 Black Darter, 9 Ruddy Darter, 210 Common Darter, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (latest ever record)

    Butterflies: 3 Brimstone, 4 Large White, 6 Small White, 9 white sp., 8 Comma, 5 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady,
    4 Speckled Wood

    Other: 2 Grass Snake, 2 Roe Deer

    David Beresford, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

    Muntjac © Amy Thompson 2019

    Muntjac © Amy Thompson 2019

    Wednesday 18th

    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide

    Other: Muntjac near Piper Marsh

    Amy Thompson

    Pink-footed Geese © Richard Scott 2019

    Pink-footed Geese © Richard Scott 2019

    Tuesday 17th

    • 26 Pink-footed Geese - 19 on cell 1b at 07.30, 6 west at 09.04, one on cell 1b with 29 greylags at 09.20. Nineteen is probably the highest number which have been grounded on the reserve.
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 68 Teal
    • 80 Pochard
    • 14 Tufted Duck
    • 22 Cormorant
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail - Lagoon and West Scrape
    • 870 Lapwing
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Jay - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 20 Chiffchaff
    • 6 Blackcap
    • 1 Whitethroat - Huxter Triangle (scrub to east of West Scrape)
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Huxter Triangle
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Grey Wagtail - singles south and west over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 20+ Goldfinch

    Butterflies: 1 Comma, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, 5 Small White

    Other: Grass Snake in Hawthorn Field, 3 Roe Deer and 2 Rabbit

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Barry Wardley, Dave Carroll

    Ringing Totals for Saturday 14th

    • 14 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit. Retraps: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit. Control: 1 Blackcap.
    • A Blackcap caught on 1st September was originally ringed by Doncaster Ringing Group on 21st July 2019 on Carr Lodge.

    Rebekah Beaumont

    Monday 16th

    • 46 Pink-footed Geese - west at 7.40am. These were later seen heading west over Norwood, Sheffield at 8.05am (per Martin Wells).
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Water Rail - immature on cell 1b and one calling at cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 7 Snipe - 5 West Scrape, one cell 3b, one Decoy Lake
    • 1000 Black-headed Gull - the roost was building up nicely until a marsh harrier flew over and all of the gulls flew off towards Lakeside
    • 4 Common Gull
    • 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Rook - west
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 2 Willow Tit - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Sedge Warbler - Big Hedge
    • 1 Treecreeper - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Wheatear - on a fence post between West Scrape and Central Grassland
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 30 Goldfinch - VC/Access Track

    Richard Scott

    Great Tit © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Tit © Darren Ward 2019

    Sunday 15th (including WeBS count)

    • 17 Pink-footed Geese - circled Huxter Well Marsh and flew east (11.25)
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 1 Wigeon
    • 120 Gadwall
    • 77 Teal
    • 78 Mallard
    • 90 Pochard
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 2 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration Ponds and the Lagoon
    • 162 Coot
    • 572 Lapwing
    • 1 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Snipe - including one flying SW
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Raven - SW over Hawthorn Bank. Only the second sighting of the year.
    • 3 Swallow - south
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Nuthatch - Young Eaa
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - SW
    • 1 Linnet - south

    Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

    Hornet © Darren Ward 2019

    Hornet © Darren Ward 2019

    Saturday 14th (includes Vis Mig 08.30 - 10.40)

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 8 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 1 MERLIN - female south at 10.19. The first sighting of the year.
    • 1+ Hobby - over Piper Marsh, Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 4
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 8 Snipe - 2 south-west and 6 on cell 3b
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 6 Swift - south
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Jay
    • 20 Sand Martin - south
    • 63 Swallow - south
    • 7 House Martin - south
    • 1 Treecreeper - singing in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Tree Sparrow - flew south-west and landed in Big Hedge. The first sighting of the year.
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - south-east
    • 1 alba Wagtail sp. - south
    • 99 Meadow Pipit - 8 on Central Grassland and 91 south
    • 11 Greenfinch - 9 south and singles at Big Hedge and VC
    • 5 Goldfinch - south

    Butterflies: Small White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Common Blue

    Odonata: Black Darter (Square Pond), Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Emerald Damselfly

    Other: Muntjac Deer on St. Catherine's Field path, 3 Roe Deer (female with 2 fawns) near dipping ponds

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Andy Bell

    Black Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Black Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Friday 13th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 27 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Common Gull - juv in the roost
    • 1 Swift
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Sand Martin
    • 18 Swallow
    • 2 House Martin
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - near the underbridge
    • 8 Meadow Pipit - SW

    Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 14 Emerald Damselfly, 13 Common Blue Damselfly, 29 Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Brown Hawker, 3 Black Darter (visitor centre and square pond), 21 Ruddy Darter, 265 Common Darter.

    Butterflies: 9 Red Admiral, 6 Comma, 2 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Large White, 17 Small/Green-veined Whites

    Richard Scott, Richard Collis, Tina Langford, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou

    Thursday 12th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 5 Wigeon
    • 144 Teal
    • 129 Mallard
    • 1 GARGANEY - from Duchess Hide
    • 52 Pochard
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1200 Black-headed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 2 Mediterranean Gull - juv/1st-winter and 2nd-winter on cell 1b at 7pm
    • 200 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk 
    • 10 Herring Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 2 Yellow-legged Gull - adult and near adult on Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 6 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Rook - south
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Duchess Hide
    • 2 Sand Martin
    • 2 Swallow
    • 18 House Martin
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 22 Chiffchaff
    • 7 Blackcap
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - over
    • 12 Meadow Pipit - south

    Richard Scott

    Wednesday 11th

    • 2 Shelduck - Lagoon/West Scrape
    • 4 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
    • 1 Curlew - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 3 Dunlin - 2 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
    • 3 Swift - through
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Willow Tit - between Reedbed Filtration Ponds and Loversall Pool
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over

    Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields

    • female Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler singing, 4 Chiffchaff calling

    Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

    family of Wood Mice in a peanut drum © Roger Bird 2019

    family of Wood Mice in a peanut drum © Roger Bird 2019

    Tuesday 10th

    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 5 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 120+ Gadwall
    • 40 Teal
    • 49 Pochard
    • 8 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Bittern - one flew across cell 1b, one was at the back of Piper Marsh near the depth guage and one was at Loversall Pool
    • 10 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 6 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - immature male on Piper Marsh
    • 3 Sparrowhawk -over Piper Marsh, 2 harassed the Marsh Harrier
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Hobby - watched from Mitchell Hide, gave excellent views from Duchess hide, present from mid morning
    • 1 Water Rail - Piper Marsh
    • 650+ Lapwing
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - 2 on Piper Marsh and later on cell 3b and 3 on West Scrape
    • 5 Snipe
    • 4 Swift - south
    • 3 Jay
    • 3 Goldcrest - one along Piper Marsh path and 2 at the under bridge
    • 1 Bearded Tit - juvenile at West Scrape
    • 5 Swallow - south
    • House Martin - small numbers continuously moving south
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 8 Chiffchaff - 7 calling and one singing
    • 1 Willow Warbler - calling
    • 3 Blackcap - calling
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Loversall Pool
    • 16 Goldfinch - near VC

    Other: 1 Lizard (probably Common), 3 Rabbit, 1 Muntjac at Piper Marsh, 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Barry Wardley,  Andy Dalton, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Lynda Christou

    Monday 9th

    • 2 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - a juvenile disturbed everything on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - heard from Duchess Hide
    • 450 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Curlew - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Dunlin - singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 7 Snipe - 6 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
    • 4 Swift - south
    • 4 Jay - very vocal and collecting and acorns
    • Sand Martin - a small number in with the House Martins
    • 6+ Swallow - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • c100 House Martin - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 2 Blackcap - calling

    Other: Roe Deer on the path to East Scrape

    Sue and Roger Bird, Rob Leach, Alan Jenness

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Sunday 8th

    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - one gave prolonged views on cell 3b from Mitchell Hide and one flew across cell 1a seen from Duchess Hide
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 10+ Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Black-tailed Godwit - juvs on cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - over
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 2 Swift - through
    • 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 2 Sand Martin - through
    • 14 Swallow - through
    • 3 House Martin - through
    • 1 Bearded Tit - heard from Duchess Hide
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 26 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 4 Blackcap
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 1 Whitethroat
    • 5 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Greenfinch - Huxter Well Marsh
    • Other: Muntjac along Piper Marsh path

    Butterflies/Moths: 1 Comma, 5 Large White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Silver Y, 1 The Drinker (larvae)

    Bugs: 1 Sloe Bug, 2 Green Shield Bug, 16 Dock Bug (11 which were late instar and 5 adult)

    Other: Chub in Mother Drain and a jack Pike in Cottage Drain

    Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Richardson, Darren Wozencroft, John Wozencroft, Roger and Sue Bird, Derek Parker, visitor reports

    Reed Warbler showing fault bar in the tail © Rebekah Beaumont 2019

    Reed Warbler showing fault bar in the tail © Rebekah Beaumont 2019

    Reed Warbler showing fault bar in the wing © Rebekah Beaumont 2019

    Reed Warbler showing fault bar in the wing © Rebekah Beaumont 2019

    Saturday 7th

    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - hunting together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - adult high over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 9 Snipe
    • 2 Common Tern - juvs
    • 1 Common Gull - cell 1b
    • 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 16 Herring Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - near adult on cell 1b
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 1 Bearded Tit - seen and heard from Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Sand Martin
    • 6 Swallow
    • 23 House Martin
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 28 Chiffchaff
    • 10 Blackcap
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 1 Whitethroat
    • 1 Sedge Warbler
    • 3 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over East Scrape
    • 9 Meadow Pipit - 2 on Central Grassland and 7 over

    Ringing totals: 7 Blackcap, 4 Robin, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Reed Warbler, 3 Blue Tit. Retraps - 2 Blackcap, Great Tit

    Other: Weasel on the path near Tofield Hide

    Richard Scott, Rebekah Beaumont, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Darren Wozencroft, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

    Nuthatch © Darren Ward 2019

    Nuthatch © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Darren Ward 2019

    Friday 6th

    • 45 Canada Geese - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 34 Teal - Piper Marsh
    • 9 Cormorant - cell 1b 
    • 1 Bittern - cell 1a
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and a male on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk 
    • 3 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Kestrel - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Hobby - chasing dragonflies and hirundines over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Water Rail - one calling on cell 2a and a juvenile feeding along the reed edge on West Scrape 
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe - West Scrape 
    • 3 Common Tern - juveniles on cell 2a
    • 25+ Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Kingfisher - one from Tofield Hide and later one on Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Jay - Piper Marsh path
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 1 Marsh Tit - calling in a large mixed flock of warblers and tits between the VC and Loversall Pool
    • 20+ Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Swallow
    • 50+ House Martin
    • 1 Cetti’s Warbler - singing in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide 
    • 9+ Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 8 Blackcap
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat
    • 1 Nuthatch - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - over
    • 1 Reed Bunting - on Central Grassland was disturbed by a fox

    Other: Fox on Central Grassland, Stoat along the path near St Caths Field and one in Loversall Field, 2 Roe Deer

    Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Darren Ward, visitor reports 

    spider and prey © Ron Parke 2019

    spider and prey © Ron Parke 2019

    Thursday 5th

    • 19  Mute Swan - inclusing 7 young
    • 16 Greylag Geese
    • 5 Canada Geese 
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 80 Teal
    • 12 Shoveler
    • 67 Pochard
    • 8 Tufted Duck 
    • 17 Cormorant
    • 2+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret  
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 9 Little Grebe 
    • 3  Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 700+ Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 35 Black-headed Gull 
    • 5 Common Tern
    • 5 Swift
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 1 Swallow
    • 20 House Martin
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 8  Chiffchaff 
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 1 Nuthatch - by Willow Pool Hide

    David Beresford, Andy Dalton, Mark Roberts

    Wednesday 4th

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. male
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Common Tern - 3 adults and 2 juvs
    • 105 Black-headed Gull - cell 2a
    • 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 1 Tawny Owl
    • 20 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 30+ Sand Martin
    • 30+ House Martin

    Other: Bank Vole, Muntjac in Black Carr Field

    Andy Dalton, Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Comma © Darren Ward 2019

    Comma © Darren Ward 2019

    Comma © Darren Ward 2019

    Comma © Darren Ward 2019

    Tuesday 3rd

    • 1 Wigeon
    • 165+ Gadwall
    • 60+ Teal
    • 60+ Pochard
    • 5 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Bittern - West Scrape, cell 1b and cell 3a
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Little Grebe
    • 10 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - over the compound
    • 780+ Lapwing
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/East Scrape
    • 6 Snipe - West Scrape
    • 5 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 50 Swift - through
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over Iron Bridge
    • 12 Sand Martin - through
    • 1 Swallow - through
    • 30 House Martin
    • 1 Wheatear - Central Grassland
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over Iron Bridge
    • 2+ Grey Wagtail - 2 near the pumping station/underbridge and one over Iron Bridge
    • 2 Meadow Pipit - south

    Butterflies: 6 Speckled Wood, 5 Red Admiral, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell 

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird

    Long-tailed Tit © Allen Holmes 2019

    Long-tailed Tit © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 1st

    • 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - stood at the edge of the reeds at the back of cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - sparring with 2 kestrels over West Scrape
    • 2 OSPREY - following heavy rain showers, one seen at long range from Hawthorn Bank Hide flew south at 12.50 and a second bird flew south over the compound at 1.20pm (RJS)
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - from Duchess Hide
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 11 Snipe
    • 7 Common Tern - 2 adults and 5 juvs
    • 45 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - West Scrape
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Sand Martin
    • 1 Swallow
    • 120 House Martin
    • 10 Blackcap - Loversall Field
    • 1 Garden Warbler - Loversall Field
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - Loversall Field
    • 1 Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 2 Sedge Warbler - West Scrape
    • 1 Reed Warbler - cell 3b
    • 1 Nuthatch - Loversall Delph

    Other: 1 Grass Snake Basking along Big Hedge, a shrew feeding next to Piper Marsh path

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Sue Cullen, Jenny Kingsland, visitor reports

    August 2019

    Saturday 31st

    • 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 57 Teal
    • 95 Mallard
    • 40 Shoveler
    • 20 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - East Scrape and cell 2a
    • 2 Greenshank - one SW at 06:30 and on cell 1b at 10.05
    • 5 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape/cell 3b
    • 5 Snipe
    • 8 Common Tern - 2 adults and 6 juvs
    • 80 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
    • 5 Sand Martin
    • 2 Swallow
    • 90 House Martin
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
    • 2 Reed Warbler - Iron Bridge
    • 8 Bullfinch - Iron Bridge

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack

    Cricket © Roy Day 2019

    Cricket sp © Roy Day 2019

    Friday 30th

    • 1 Wigeon
    • 1 Pintail - imm/female on cell 1b was only the second sighting of the year
    • 1 Hobby - access track at 8.10pm
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 3 Green Sandpiper
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 1 Tawny Owl - calling
    • 40 Swift

    Odonata: 17 Migrant Hawker,  3 Southern Hawker, report just received of a male LESSER EMPEROR on 17th August (Sarah and David Orwin per Darren Wozencroft) is the second sighting for Potteric

    Other: 1 Wood Mouse

    Derek Gaffney, Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Adrian Andruchhiw, Darren Wozencroft

    Stoat © Allen Holmes 2019

    Stoat © Allen Holmes 2019

    Thursday 29th

    • 300 Lapwing - West Scrape
    • 1 Greenshank - on West Scrape late afternoon
    • 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - in a tit flock along the access track near the pumping station

    Mark Roberts

    Common Darters © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Common Darters © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Common Spreadwing © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Common Spreadwing (Emerald Damselfly) © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Wednesday 28th (evening following a rainy afternoon)

    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 4 Snipe - 2 on West Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
    • 8 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 12 Swift

    There were very few birds on Huxter Well Marsh in the evening, e.g. only 2 Lapwings, wildfowl numbers much reduced and no roosting gulls.

    Richard Scott

    Celypha lacunana © Derek Parker 2019

    Celypha lacunana © Derek Parker 2019

    Blood-vein © Derek Parker 2019

    Blood-vein © Derek Parker 2019

    Bordered Beauty © Derek Parker 2019

    Bordered Beauty © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night 24th August

    When we examined the trap on Sunday morning, there were plenty of moths and a good variety (60 species) but, disappointingly, there was really very little to get excited about, no new records or scarce species to report.

    The most notable record was a single Tawny Speckled Pug. Not a rare species but, even so, this was the first reserve record for 19 years. The reason for the absence of records in the meantime could be because the foodplants – yarrow and sneezewort – are not particularly common in the vicinity of the trap site, although yarrow certainly occurs nearby.

    Also trapped were 2 Swammerdamia species, S.caesiella and S.pyrella. Again, not rare but not recorded every year.

    A single Bordered Beauty was certainly the most attractive species trapped.

    Late August is, typically, a time when a reduced range of species is counterbalanced by good numbers of individuals of many of the more common species. For example, we recorded 30 Large Yellow Underwing, 17 Setaceous Hebrew Character and 16 Square-spot Rustic.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019

    Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Tuesday 27th

    • 6 Wigeon - one on the Lagoon and 5 on cell 1b
    • 146 Gadwall
    • 32 Pochard
    • 16 Tufted Duck
    • 7 Pheasant - 2 family parties
    • 4 Bittern
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - over Old Eaa
    • 7 Water Rail
    • 675 Lapwing
    • 4 Green Sandpiper
    • 2 Snipe
    • 5 Common Tern - adult and 4 juvs
    • 8 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 7 Blackcap
    • 5 Garden Warbler
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat
    • 2 Whitethroat
    • 40 Starling
    • 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - one between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide and one at Willow Pool
    • 1 Wheatear - flew from the SE corner of Central Grassland
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
    • 9 Goldfinch – family parties at the butterfly garden

    Butterflies: 8 Speckled Wood, 25 Red Admiral, 7 Painted Lady, 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Common Blue, 1 Comma, 1 Small Copper

    Other: Stoat on the path between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide, Grass Snake, 8 Roe Deer

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Helen Womack, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Sue and Roger Bird, Chris Bell, Lynda Christou

    Goat Moth caterpillar © Norman Clarkson 2019

    Goat Moth caterpillar © Norman Clarkson 2019

    Second Goat Moth Caterpillar Found at Potteric Carr

    As a postscript to the recent blog report detailing the discovery on 15 August of a caterpillar of the very rare Goat Moth, I can now report that a second caterpillar was photographed on 24 August by Norman Clarkson. Like the first caterpillar, this second one was also spotted along the access track. It seems that we have a small colony established in the vicinity of the access track, which is excellent news for the reserve.

    With luck (admittedly, a lot of luck!), we might be able to attract an adult to the moth trap in June or July of next year!

    Ian Heppenstall

    Mint Leaf Beetle © Allen Holmes 2019

    Mint Leaf Beetle © Allen Holmes 2019

    Monday 26th

    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 1 GARGANEY - cell 3b
    • 1 Bittern - stood at the reed edge at cell 1b
    • 1 Water Rail - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 615 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Black-tailed Godwit - 5 adults on cell 3b for a few minutes from 9.30am and an adult on cell 3b from noon.
    • 7 Green Sandpiper - 5 on East Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
    • 10 Snipe
    • 4 Common Tern - adult and 3 juvs
    • 3 Stock Dove
    • 3 Swift
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Coal Tit - Iron Bridge
    • 2 Sedge Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - Cottage Drain near to the underbridge (AB)
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over

    Butterflies: 60 Red Admiral and 15 Painted Lady south-west, 1 Comma

    Buffer Area - Stoven's Plantation and hedgerows

    • 1 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper In a large mixed tit flock

    2 Song Thrush an adult and a juvenile along the path

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Bell, Simon Mitchell, Katie Smith, Sue and Roger Bird, Sharon Knott

    Lesser Whitethroat © Allen Holmes 2019

    Lesser Whitethroat © Allen Holmes 2019

    Garden Warbler © Allen Holmes 2019

    Garden Warbler © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 25th

    • 1 Wigeon - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 1 GARGANEY - on cell 3b from early morning and still present early afternoon.
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - female with 2 juvs over Black Carr Field
    • 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
    • 1+ Curlew - heard over Piper Marsh shortly after 2 were reported flying east at the iPort
    • 4 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 7 Snipe - 4 on West Scrape/Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 5 Jay - Loversall Pool
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Willow Warbler - Black Carr Field
    • 4 Blackcap
    • 1 Garden Warbler - Big Hedge
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
    • 3 Whitethroat
    • 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - in Black Carr Field at 8am (RJS). Presumably not the same bird as yesterday.
    • Song Thrush - one in Black Carr Wood and an adult with 3 juvs neat the VC
    • 100+ mixed warblers and tits worked their way along Big Hedge between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide before heading south through the willow scrub in Central Grassland

    Butterflies: 30 Red Admiral, 5 Painted Lady, 12 Common Blue (1 taken by Black-tailed Skimmer), 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Large white, 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White, 2 Peacock

    Other: freshly dead Hedgehog in Black Carr Field, 1 Grass Snake, 6 Roe Deer, 2 Mint Leaf Beetle

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson

    Great Crested Newt eating a dragonfly © Darren Ward 2019

    Great Crested Newt eating a dragonfly © Darren Ward 2019

    Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019

    Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 24th

    • 1 GARGANEY - on West Scrape early morning (RJS)
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1+ Marsh Harrier - juvs at Huxter Well Marsh and Loversall Carr Fields
    • 1 Hobby - in the dead oak from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Water Rail - juv on cell 3b
    • 1 Ruff - flew over West Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - cell 1b
    • 6 Common Tern - including 4 juvs
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Willow Tit - Loversall Delph
    • 3 Willow Warbler - including one singing
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
    • 1 Nuthatch - Loversall Triangle
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 4+ SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - at least 2 next to the compound early morning and 2 next to the Mother Drain at Iron Bridge in the afternoon (RJS)
    • 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - seen briefly in the copse at the back of Decoy Lake near the screen (DW)
    • 3 Greenfinch

    Other: several Red Admirals, Painted Lady, 10 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on Loverall Pool, male Black Darter at the square pond in Loversall Field (DW), Goat Moth caterpillar photographed on the access track (NC)

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft, Norman Clarkson, visitor reports

    Goat Moth caterpillar © India Ashfield 2019

    Goat Moth caterpillar © India Ashfield 2019

    Caterpillar of Rare Moth Found Recently at Potteric Carr

    On 15 August, 3 TNLs (Tomorrow's Natural Leaders) – India Ashfield, Rebecca Eyre and Jessica McMaster – found and photographed a large caterpillar on the access track. They tentatively identified it as a larva of the Goat Moth Cossus Cossus, an identification I was happy to confirm (see photograph).

    The Goat Moth (so called because the larva is supposed to smell of goat) is a scarce and declining species nationally, a Nationally Notable and BAP Priority Species. It is also extremely rare and local in Yorkshire. The only recent Yorkshire records prior to the Potteric record are all from the Doncaster area, specifically Rossington and, more recently, Austerfield. So this Potteric record is an important discovery. Potteric Carr is a typical location for the Goat Moth, which seems to prefer low-lying wetland areas, such as the Fens or, otherwise, ancient woodland locations, especially the New Forest.

    Goat Moth caterpillars feed within the trunks of various, usually deciduous, trees, with a preference for old and/or damaged trunks. Feeding continues for 3-4 years after which the full-grown larva will leave the trunk in search of a suitable place to pupate. The Potteric caterpillar will have been full-grown and seeking out a pupation site when discovered on the access track.
    The Goat Moth tends to create colonies in the same location year after year, so it is quite likely that other examples of the species will be found here in future years.

    Goat Moth is the 10th new Potteric Carr moth record, so far, in 2019, and a particularly important one.

    Ian Heppenstall

    Thursday 22nd

    • 19 Mute Swan - including 7 young 
    • 1 Wigeon
    • 130+ Gadwall - including 4 young
    • 37 Teal
    • 17 Shoveler
    • 37 Pochard
    • 10 Tufted Duck 
    • 12 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - from Cottage Drain hide
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 12 Little Grebe 
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juvenile on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk 
    • 3 Buzzard - from Hawthorn Bank hide 
    • 1 Kestrel - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Hobby - present all morning sat in the dead oak and chasing dragonflies
    • 580+ Lapwing
    • 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 3 Curlew - briefly on cell 1b in the evening
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - one on East Scrape 2 flitting between West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 1 Snipe
    • 5 Common Tern
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - juv moulting into 1st-winter with a pre-roost gathering of black-headed gulls on cell 1b
    • 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b in the evening
    • 70+ Swift - continuous movement SW
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler 
    • 15 Chiffchaff - included one singing along along Cottage Drain and 3 in a flock of Long-tailed Tit
    • Blackcap - family party in front of Duchess Hide
    • 1 Treecreeper - Loversall Delph

    Other: Pygmy Shrew, Stoat

    Sue and Roger Bird, David Beresford, Richard Scott

    Grass Snake © Darren Ward 2019

    Grass Snake © Darren Ward 2019

    Wednesday 21st

    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe - 2 adults and 2 juveniles on cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 4 Buzzard - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Peregrine - 2 over Carr Lodge and Huxter Well March
    • 2 Hobby - over Seven Arches Carr
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 20+ Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - cell 1b
    • 10+ Long-Tailed Tit - flock
    • 6 Sand Martin
    • 2 House Martin
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh

    Mark Roberts, Paul Paddock

    Meadow Grasshopper © Keith Lynes 2019

    Meadow Grasshopper © Keith Lynes 2019

    Tuesday 20th

    • 80+ Gadwall
    • 60 Pochard
    • 19 Tufted Duck - including 2 young
    • 3 Little Egret - 2 on Huxter Well and one on Piper Marsh
    • 9 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe - including 3 young
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - a new female over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard - 3 from Mitchell Hide included one with a white rump and 3 together on Loversall Carr Field
    • 1 Water Rail - dashing over the access track from Mother Drain towards Old Eaa
    • 350 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 2 Redshank - juveniles on cell 1b
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 80+ Swift - constant movement SW
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Jay - calling Loversall Bank
    • 100+ Sand Martin - continuous movement SW
    • 2 Swallow
    • 9 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 5 Blackcap - feeding on the brambles
    • 1 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood

    Butterflies: 1 Brown Argus, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Mick Bellas, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Tuesday Volunteers

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019

    Green Sandpiper © Allen Holmes 2019

    Green Sandpiper © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 18th

    • 11 Cormorant
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juv
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 300 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 40 Sand Martin

    Other: Grass Snake at the dipping pond

    Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Darren Ward

    Sparrowhawk © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sparrowhawk © Allen Holmes 2019

    Peregrine © Allen Holmes 2019

    Peregrine © Allen Holmes 2019

    Saturday 17th

    • 2 Marsh Harrier - 2+ cc over Huxter Well, 2 in the air together and 1 sparring with the Peregrine
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - from Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Hobby - chasing swifts and hirundines over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - youngster causing havoc on Huxter Well, with several failed attempts to take something.
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain

    Others: Roe deer - Mum and fawn Central Grassland, Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus, Bishop's mitre shieldbug Aelia acuminate, Common green shieldbug Palomena prasina final instar several seen

    Chris Elliot, Allen Holmes

    Friday 16th

    • 1 Wigeon - cell 3b
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - East Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Snipe - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Common Tern - including 2 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 90 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 100 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Swallow - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 110 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper - Access Track and Loversall Delph
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - over

    Richard Scott

    Thursday 15th

    • 11 Mute Swan - including 5 young
    • 67 Gadwall
    • 16 Teal
    • 26 Shoveler
    • 67 Pochard
    • 17 Tufted Duck
    • 6 Cormorant
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 10 Little Grebe 
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 4 Common Tern
    • 8 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 60+ Sand Martin
    • 3 House Martin
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler
    • 5 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 5 Whitethroat - including a family group of 4 near filtration ponds
    • 1 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Bullfinch
    • 20+ Goldfinch - flock near VC

    David Beresford

    Tuesday 13th

    • 150+ Gadwall
    • 22 Teal
    • 41 Pochard
    • 27 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - from Tofield Hide
    • 200+ Lapwing
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East and West Scrape
    • 12 Common Tern
    • 25 Swift - through
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 5 Jay
    • 10+ Great Tit - Loversall Bank
    • 1 Willow Tit - Access Track
    • 2 Marsh Tit - Loversall Bank
    • 100+ Sand Martin - through
    • 1 Swallow
    • 50+ House Martin
    • 1 Cetti's Warbler - Decoy Marsh
    • 30+ Long-tailed Tit - Loversall Bank
    • 5 Blackcap
    • 1 Garden Warbler
    • 6+ Whitethroat - singles at the Iron bridge and Tofield hide and a family party at Mitchell Hide 
    • 2 Reed Warbler
    • 6 Treecreeper - Loversall Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Bullfinch
    • 19 Goldfinch

    Butterflies: 6 Painted Lady, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Gatekeeper

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Sue Bird, David Carroll, Philip Goucher, Doug Smith, Geoff Chatterton, David Harding, Helen Womack, Rob Burns, Chris Bell

    Monday 12th

    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male and 3 juveniles seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - hunting continually on Huxter Well Marsh causing chaos
    • 2 Buzzard - seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Hobby - chasing a Swift over Huxter Well Marsh that managed to evade capture
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 3b
    • 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 175 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 12 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 35+ Swift - trickled through south
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - pumping station
    • 3 Bearded Tit - very active juveniles seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 36 House Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 7 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 2 Blackcap - calling
    • 4 Reed Warbler
    • 4 Bullfinch - between VC and dragonfly ponds

    Butterflies: 3 Comma, 5 Gatekeeper, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood

    Moths: 1 Large Yellow Underwing

    Other: 2 Roe Deer, 1 Frog, 1 Green Shieldbug

    Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Derek Parker

    Emperor Dragonfly © Gary Binder 2019

    Emperor Dragonfly © Gary Binder 2019

    Sunday 11th

    • 1 Bittern - flew from the Stilling Pond to Piper Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - including a juv calling in Corbett Wood
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Green Sandpiper
    • 12 Common Tern
    • 5 Stock Dove
    • 30 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 3 Jay
    • 20 Sand Martin

    Other: a Stoat crossed the path between East and West Scrape

    Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Stuart Churchill

    © Lynda Christou 2019

    © Lynda Christou 2019

    Saturday 10th

    • 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and juv
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - chasing Common Terns in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
    • 16+ Common Tern
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - adult south
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull - south
    • c200 Swift - through

    Other: Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) - near the VC

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Lynda Christou

    Small Phoenix © Derek Parker 2019

    Small Phoenix © Derek Parker 2019

    The Crescent © Derek Parker 2019

    The Crescent © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night 7th August

    The night had been cooler than anticipated and, as a consequence, moth numbers were well down on recent trappings. A total of 57 species were counted and, really, there was little to get excited about.

    The only highlight was the third reserve record of the Tortricid,  Hedya ochroleucana, the  larvae of which feed upon rose; also apple.

    Other less frequently recorded species trapped on the night included Monopis weaverella, Cnephasia genitalana, Blastobasis lacticolella, Six-striped Rustic, Least Yellow Underwing and Brown-veined Wainscot.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Roe Deer © Gary Binder 2019

    Roe Deer © Gary Binder 2019

    Friday 9th

    • 48 Teal
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 1 Snipe - cell 3b
    • 1 Kingfisher - cell 3b
    • 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott

    Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2019

    Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2019

    Leef-cutter Bee sp © Richard Scott 2019

    Leef-cutter Bee sp © Richard Scott 2019

    Thursday 8th

    • 21 Mute Swan - including 9 young (4 and 5)
    • 2 Greylag Geese
    • 2 Canada Geese 
    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 130+ Gadwall - including 4 young
    • 18 Teal
    • 8 Shoveler
    • 61 Pochard
    • 31 Tufted Duck - including 2 young
    • 7 Little Egret  
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - high over Black carr Wood and a juv calling in Corbett Wood
    • 3 Buzzard - from Duchess Hide
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 16+ Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 500+ Black-headed Gull - feeding high over reserve, after flying ants
    • 2 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher - from Hawthorn Bank Hide and Decoy Lake
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 7 Chiffchaff - calling
    • 2 Blackcap - calling in front of Duchess Hide
    • 5 Reed Warbler
    • 12 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Bullfinch - by the dipping ponds

    Butterflies: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary

    Odonata: 1 Small Red-eyed Damselfly

    Other: 3 Roe Deer

    Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Lynda Christou, David Beresford, Allen Holmes

    Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019

    Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019

    Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019

    Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019

    Tuesday 6th

    • 1 Mandarin Duck - female-type on cell 1b
    • 1 Wigeon - male on cell 1b
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 34 Teal –  cell 1b
    • 45+ Pochard
    • 28 Tufted - including one with 2 young
    • 1 Bittern
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 6 Little Grebe - including 2 young
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 85+ Lapwing
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 2 Greenshank - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 15+ Common Tern
    • 42 Swift - SW through the day
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 8 Swallows - low over Central grassland
    • 1 House Martin
    • 2 Pied Wagtail
    • 1 Greenfinch - near the VC

    Butterflies: 1 Dark Green Fritillary (third record for Potteric), 6 Speckled Wood, 7 Painted Lady, 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Common Blue, 2 Brimstone - females

    Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton, Richard Scott, visitor reports

    Cinnamon Bug © Derek Parker 2019

    Cinnamon Bug © Derek Parker 2019

    Monday 5th

    Butterflies: 15 Gatekeeper, 4 Large White, 1 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 3 Ringlet

    Others: 1 Cinnamon Bug (second record for Potteric), 3 7-spot ladybird, 1 Twin Lobed Deerfly, 1 Green Shieldbug (4th Instar), 1 Wolf Spider with egg sac, 1 Roe Deer

    Derek Parker

    Common Blue © Lynda Christou 2019

    Common Blue © Lynda Christou 2019

    Sunday 4th WeBS Count

    • 85 Mallard
    • 84 Gadwall
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 1 Goldeneye (female)
    • 152 Coot
    • 55 Pochard
    • 31 Tufted Duck
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 8 Grey Heron
    • 12 Cormorant
    • 25 Common Tern
    • 5 Water Rail
    • 510 Lapwing
    • 2 Green Sandpiper
    • 1 Dunlin
    • 1 Oystercatcher

    Mark Roberts

    Sunday 4th

    • 3 Wigeon - 2 on the Lagoon and one on cell 2a
    • 1 Goldeneye - female on cell 1b
    • 39 Cormorant - a flock of 34 NW and 5 on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Grey Heron - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - male, cc and 2 juveniles
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • c25 Common Tern
    • 60 Swift - through
    • 1+ Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 2 Bearded Tit - calling near East Scrape and Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
    • 4 Pied Wagtail - over
    • 2 Greenfinch - St Caths Field

    Other: 2 young Stoats at Loversall Delph

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Lynda Christou, Chris Cull

    Saturday 3rd

    • 2 GARGANEY - on the island at the back of cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen at Decoy Lake and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc (juv not seen)
    • 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - calling at East Scrape
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b and East Scrape
    • 23+ Common Tern
    • 2 Stock Dove - over
    • 105 Swift - through
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack, Adrian Andruchiw, Tina Langford

    male Banded Demoiselle © Iain Macaulay 2019

    male Banded Demoiselle © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Friday 2nd

    • 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen from Duchess Hide
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - calling at East Scrape
    • Moorhen - 6 small young on cell 2a
    • 1 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 20+ Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh

    Richard Scott, Andy Dalton

    Holly Blue © Lynda Christou 2019

    Holly Blue © Lynda Christou 2019

    Peacock © Lynda Christou 2019

    Peacock © Lynda Christou 2019

    Thursday 1st

    • 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
    • Tufted Duck - female and 3 small young on cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - sat on the reed edge on cell 1b and one flew to the reeds at Decoy Lake
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Lagoon
    • Little Grebe - adult with 2 small young from the Tofield Hide 
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and a juvenile seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Buzzard 
    • Moorhen - pair with a small young on cell 2a
    • 475 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and cell 3b
    • 21 Common Tern -including at least 9 juveniles on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Sand Martin - over East Scrape
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling at East Scrape

    Butterflies: 17 Painted Lady, 11 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue

    Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou,Chris Bell

    July 2019

    Wednesday 31st

    • 1 Bittern
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen briefly on cell 3a
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Curlew - calling over the Education Centre at 9.50am
    • 3 Dunlin - on cell 1b in the evening
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
    • 20+ Common Tern
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Reed Warbler

    Other: 2 Stoats on the path between West Scrape and Mitchell Hides

    Paul Paddock, Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

    Painted Lady © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Painted Lady © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Tuesday 30th

    • 2 Shelduck - juvs flew over the Lagoon
    • 4 Wigeon - Lagoon/cell 1b
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
    • 21 Tufted Duck - also a female with 4 small young on cell 1b. Reduced to 3 young when a passing Herring Gull dropped in for a snack.
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 9 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on Huxter Well Marsh favouring cell 3a
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and juvenile
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - also young calling in Corbett Wood
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby - in the dead oak near Duchess Hide
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 283 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 3 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 6 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 1 Greenshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 23 Common Tern - including 9 juvs
    • 3 Stock Dove - over
    • 30 Swift
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge and Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Bank
    • 1 Jay
    • 6 Bearded Tit - one heard calling from East Scrape screen and 5 seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Blackcap - juvs
    • 1 Song Thrush - singing
    • 3 Linnet - flew from Big Hedge

    Butterflies: count of 1 Holly Blue, 1 Common Blue, 20+ Peacock, 6 Meadow Brown, 14 Speckled Wood, 8 Painted Lady, 5 Gatekeeper. On the buddleia patch in the VC car park were 15 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Comma and 2 Gatekeeper. There was a westerly movement of Peacocks.

    Other: a Grass Snake swam across cell 1b

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Mick Bellas

    Common Tern © Rob Burns 2019

    Common Tern © Rob Burns 2019

    Monday 29th

    • 4 Gadwall - female and 3 small young
    • 30+ Mallard - cell 3a
    • 6 Little Egret
    • Little Grebe - 2 adults with 3 young on cell 3a. Pair with 3 young on the Lagoon
    • 50+ Lapwing
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
    • 1 Dunlin - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Common Sandpiper - 2 on West Scrape and one on Old Eaa Marsh
    • 15 Common Tern - including 3 juvs at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Greenfinch - heard near main entrance gate

    Butterflies: included 2 Red Admiral, Common Blue and 4 Painted Lady, 7 Peacock

    Rob Burns, Mark Roberts, Adrian Adrian Andruchiw, Dave Carroll

    Slender Brindle © Derek Parker 2019

    Slender Brindle © Derek Parker 2019

    Argyresthia goedartella © Derek Parker 2019

    Argyresthia goedartella © Derek Parker 2019

    Blastobasis adustella © Derek Parker 2019

    Blastobasis adustella © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night, 24th July

    The hot weather meant the trap was, once again, heaving with moths. There were almost too many, as it was impossible to record them without a good many escaping unidentified.

    108 recorded species is the highest total so far this year, although well below the highest ever 142 species trapped on 23 July, 2016.

    The most significant discovery this time was a single example of Psoricoptera gibbosella, an oak-feeding Gelechiid. Only the 5th Yorkshire and 2nd VC63 record, this is a notable find. Plus, it is, of course, an addition to the Potteric Carr moth fauna.

    There was nothing else of this calibre trapped on Wednesday night but the big reed-feeding Pyralid, Schoenobius gigantella, a regionally very scarce and local species, was recorded once again. Other, less common, species included Recurvaria leucatella, Digitivalva pulicariae, Monopis weaverella, Slender Brindle, Double Lobed and Least Yellow Underwing.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Roe Deer © Matthew Christou 2019

    Roe Deer © Matthew Christou 2019

    Sunday 28th

    • 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 2 GARGANEY - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - Piper Marsh
    • 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Peregrine - adult plucking a Black-headed Gull on the island on cell 1b
    • 4 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 3 Ringed Plover - one on cell 3b and 2 on cell 1b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - 2 adults on cell 3b and a juv on cell 1b
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Common sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - one on cell 3b and 2 on East Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - cell 3b
    • 16 Common Tern - including 3 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Common Gull - through
    • 2 Collared Dove - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1+ Kingfisher
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Mediterranean Gull © Richard Scott 2019

    Mediterranean Gull © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 27th

    • 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • Gadwall - female with 6 small young on West Scrape
    • 2 GARGANEY - together on Piper Marsh. In the afternoon one was on West Scrape and later on cell 1b
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine - a juvenile gave excellent views as in flew low over West Scrape and cell 1b pursued by about 10 Common Terns
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from cell 1b and West Scrape
    • 1 Ringed Plover - adult on cell 1b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - 2 adults on cell 3b and a juv on cell 1b
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b/West Scrape
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - cell 3b
    • 14 Common Tern - including 3 juvs
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult with Black-headed Gulls on West Scrape
    • 1 Common Gull - adult on cell 1b
    • 25 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh, Mother Drain, Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Old Eaa and Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Bearded Tit - heard calling from Duchess and Mitchell Hides
    • 30 Sand Martin
    • 20 Swallow
    • 10 House Martin

    Richard Scott, Chris Bell

    Friday 26th

    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Snipe - West Scrape (the first of the season)

    Lynda Christou

    Thursday 25th

    • 8 Mute Swan + 6 young
    • 1 Shelduck - juv on West Scrape
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 180+ Gadwall
    • 8 Teal
    • 1 GARGANEY - juvenile on Piper Marsh (SB, RB)
    • 3 Shoveler
    • 34 Pochard 
    • 22 Tufted Duck + 2 young
    • 7 Greylag Geese
    • 14 Canada Geese 
    • 19 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 8 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 7 Little Grebe 
    • 8+ Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Buzzard - over Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Kestrel - over Central Grassland
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 420 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 10 Common Tern - at least 2 were juveniles on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Stock Dove - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 600+ Black Headed Gull 
    • 3 Herring Gull
    • 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 5 Swift - over Piper Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - over the Lagoon
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - male and female in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling from Tofield Hide
    • 1 Swallow - over Piper Marsh
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 6  Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 6 Reed Warbler
    • 3 Treecreeper
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 2 Bullfinch
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing near the main gate

    Odonata: c140 Small Redeye, 12 Banded Demoiselle, 23 Emperor Dragonfly, 9 Brown Hawker, 3 Southern Hawker, 133(!) Black-tailed Skimmer, 6 Four-spot Chaser, 17 Ruddy 28+ Common Darter

    Other: 1 Brown Long-eared Bat roosting in the compound was identified by Helen Norford (YWT bat expert) after the moth trap session, 16 Smooth Newt - Loversall Delph

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Darren Wozencroft, David Beresford

    Ruddy Darters © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Ruddy Darters © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Wednesday 24th

    • 11 Cormorant
    • 10 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 6 Common Tern
    • 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh

    Paul Paddock

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Selfheal © Derek Parker 2019

    Selfheal © Derek Parker 2019

    Tuesday 23rd

    • c220 Gadwall
    • 31 Pochard
    • 17 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Bittern - cell 3a
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - next to a Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh (visitor report)
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Hobby
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 122 Lapwing
    • 1 Green Sandpiper  - cell 3b
    • 6 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling from Duchess Hide

    Butterflies: Silverwash Fritilary, White letter Hairstreak, Purple Hairstreak, Painted Lady, 20+ Gatekeepers 9 Speckled Wood, 25+ Ringlets, 3 Red Admiral, 6 Skipper species 15+ Meadow Browns 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 12 Small Whits, 5 Large Whits

    Odonata: c.200 Small Redeye (70+ Willow Marsh, 70+ H/well cell 3a, c.40 West Scrape, 10+ Piper Marsh), 2+ Large Redeye (Huxterwell cell 3a), c.80 Black-tailed Skimmer, Banded Demoiselle

    Other: 3 Cinnabar larva, 2 Common Soldier Beetle, 2 Twin-lobed Deerfly, 100's of one or more of the Grass Moth species

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Darren Wozencroft, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Vernon Barker, Derek Parker and the Tuesday volunteers, visitor reports

    Silver-washed Fritillary © Derek Parker 2019

    Silver-washed Fritillary © Derek Parker 2019

    Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing © Iain Macaulay 2019

    Emperor Dragonfly ovipositing © Iain Macaulay 2019

    female Brown Hawker © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Brown Hawker © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Monday 22nd

    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby
    • 9 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher

    Butterflies: 3 Essex Skipper, 3 Small Skipper, 1 Large Skipper, 15 skipper sp., 1 Brimstone - male, 2 Large White, 7 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 17 white sp., 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 12 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Holly Blue, 71 Meadow Brown, 40 Gatekeeper, 19 Ringlet, 8 Speckled Wood, 4 Peacock, 7 Red Admiral, 12 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Odonata: 2 Banded Demoiselle, 15 Emerald Damselfly, 4 Azure Damselfly, 89 Common Blue Damselfly, 14 Blue-tailed Damsel, 20+ SMALL REDEYE -  from Cottage Drain Hide. New for Potteric, 10 Redeye sp., 14 Emperor Dragonfly, 7 Brown Hawker, 4 Southern Hawker, 36 Black-tailed Skimmer, 5 Four-spot Chaser, 1 Broad-bodied Chaser  - female, 19 Ruddy Darter, 76 Common Darter

    Darren Wozencroft

    Butterflies: 1 of Silver-washed Fritillary, 18 Large White, 1 Green-veined White, 12 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, 2 Speckled Wood, 11 Ringlet, 5 Peacock, 1 Comma, 1 Brimstone

    Moths: 1 of 5-spot Burnet, 2 of Yellow Shell, 7 of Cinnabar Larva

    Other: 3 Roe Deer in Beeston Plantation, 12 Common Red Soldier Beetles, 2 7-Spot Ladybirds, 2 Twin-lobed Deerfly, 1 Common Froghopper, 1 Birch Shield Bug, 1 Common Shrew (deceased)

    Derek Parker

    Small Skipper © Allen Holmes 2019

    Small Skipper © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 21st

    • 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • Great Crested Grebe - adults with 2 small young and one small young on cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 3 Water Rail - calling at cells 1b and 4. Fully grown juv at cell 3b
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - 2 on East Scrape and one on West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - cell 1b
    • 11 Common Tern - including 3 juvs
    • 50 Swift
    • 1+ Kingfisher - several sightings at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling at East Scrape/cell 4
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over St Caths Field
    • 3 Bearded Tit - one near Mitchell Hide and 2 at the back of the Lagoon

    Other: 3 Field Voles

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Adrian Andruchiw, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson

    Black-tailed Godwits © Richard Scott 2019

    Black-tailed Godwits © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 20th

    • 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 26 Cormorant - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Grey Heron - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 1 Water Rail - calling from West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Black-tailed Godwit - on West Scrape from 12.00 to 12.20 when they departed east
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
    • 1 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 14 Common Tern - including 3 juvs
    • 3 Common Gull
    • 2 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh and Mother Drain

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

    Friday 19th

    • 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 1 Bittern - perched in the reeds at cell 1a
    • 1 Water Rail - juv cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 Swift
    • Cetti's Warbler - family party near Tofield Hide
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing at the entrance

    Richard Scott

    Grass Snake © Barry Wardley 2019

    Grass Snake © Barry Wardley 2019

    White-letter Hairstreak © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    White-letter Hairstreak © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Thursday 18th

    • 11  Mute Swan - plus 6 young
    • c250 Gadwall 
    • 3 Shoveler
    • 54 Pochard 
    • 14 Tufted Duck - plus 2 young
    • 9 Little Grebe - plus 2 young including one being piggy-backed
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 11 Greylag Geese
    • 12 Canada Geese 
    • 19 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Grey Heron
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe - 2 adults and 2 small young on cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Buzzard - from Tofield Hide
    • 1 Hobby - hunting from the dead oak in front of Duchess Hide
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 1b
    • 65 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Green Sandpiper - 2 on East Scrape and one on cell 3b
    • 8 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 29 Black-headed Gull 
    • 35+ Swift - continuous movement SW
    • 1 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh and Willow Marsh
    • 2 Willow Tit - main car park and Young Eaa
    • 2+ BEARDED TIT - heard and later seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 12 House Martin - over Old Eaa
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Blackcap
    • 1 Whitethroat
    • 8 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 1 Reed Bunting

    Other: 2 Roe Deer, 2 Red Admiral, 2 Gatekeeper, several Ringlet

    Sue and Roger Bird, David Beresford, Mark Roberts, Chris Bell, visitor reports

    Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica) © Allen Holmes 2019

    Labyrinth Spider (Agelena labyrinthica) © Allen Holmes 2019

    Tuesday 16th

    • c250 Gadwall
    • 30 Pochard
    • 24 Tufted Duck - including 4 young
    • 4 Pheasant - female and 3 young on Loversall Carr Fields
    • 3 Bittern - 2 at Huxter Well Marsh and one circled Decoy Lake and dropped into the Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - females
    • 1 Hobby - perched in the dead oak near Duchess Hide
    • 1 Peregrine - flew towards Huxter Well Marsh from the Visitor Centre
    • 138 Lapwing
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Common Tern
    • 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult and 2 young on Sedum House roof
    • 5 Herring Gull - 2 adults and 3 well grown young on Sedum House roof
    • 2 Stock Dove - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Kingfisher - perched at the Lagoon
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Jay - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Willow Tit - in a large mixed tit flock on the Access Track
    • 2 House Martin - from the Visitor Centre
    • 1 Reed Warbler - singing in the pond in Beeston Plantation
    • Wren - family party in Beeston Plantation

    Butterflies: 1 SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY in Beeston Plantation (different from Sunday's), 1 Purple Hairstreak from Duchess Hide also 3 others, 45+ Ringlet, 7 Meadow Brown, 1 Speckled Wood, 6 Gatekeeper, 1 Red Admiral, 1 White-letter Hairstreak, 4 Essex Skipper

    Other: 2 Hare in Loversall Carr Field, 2 Cinnabar Moth, 10+ Cinnabar Moth larvae

    Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, visitor reports, YWT staff, Derek Parker on behalf of the Tuesday Volunteers, Darren Wozencroft

    Silver-washed Fritillary aberration © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Silver-washed Fritillary aberration © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Essex Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Essex Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Lunar Hornet Moths © Pauline Greaves 2019

    Lunar Hornet Moths © Pauline Greaves 2019

    Sunday 14th

    • 13 Shelduck -  cell 1b
    • 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 71 Mallard
    • 14 Shoveler
    • 14 Tufted Duck - also 2 juvs on Piper Marsh and 3 juvs on the Lagoon
    • 2 Bittern - several sightings of birds in flight over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - including one carrying prey
    • 4 Kestrel - family party near the iPort
    • 1 Hobby - perched in the dead oak near Duchess Hide
    • 1 Peregrine - carrying prey over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Water Rail - calling from cells 1b, 3b and 4
    • 2 Oystercatcher - over
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 258 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - over
    • 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - over
    • 12 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Common Gull - adult and first-summer flew west
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - one calling near Iron Bridge and a juv on Hawthorn Bank
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - one on Hawthorn Bank and 2 at Seven Arches Carr
    • 2 Jay - Young Eaa
    • 3 BEARDED TIT - singles heard at East Scrape and West Scrape and seen near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Nuthatch - Young Eaa

    Butterflies: 1 SILVER-WASHED FRITILLARY aberration (2nd Reserve record), 2 White-letter Hairstreak in Beeston Plantation, 6 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Red Admiral, 10 Comma, 1 Essex Skipper near the VC, 5 Small Skipper, 7 skipper sp., 44 Ringlet, 5 Gatekeeper, 6 Meadow Brown, 4 Speckled Wood, 2 Green-veined White, 5 Small White

    Other: 2 Lunar Hornet Moth

    Richard Scott, Tony Elliott, Michael Bird, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Richardson, Allen Holmes, Pete Greaves, Darren Wozencroft, Mark Roberts, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Steve Elliott, The Army Ornithological Society, visitor reports

    Roe Deer © Roger Hancocks 2019

    Roe Deer © Roger Hancocks 2019

    Saturday 13th

    • 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
    • 200 Gadwall
    • 12 Teal
    • 70 Pochard
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Little Egret
    • Little Grebe - 4 juv Lagoon, independent juvs on West Scrape and cell 1a
    • Great Crested Grebe - 2 very small young on cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Kestrel
    • 1+ Hobby - one over Willow Marsh in the morning and one perched in the dead oak near Duchess Hide in the afternoon
    • 1 Peregrine - over M18 and perched on a pylon
    • 4 Water Rail - one cell 1b, juv and one calling at cell 3b, one West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 105 Lapwing
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 7 Black-tailed Godwit - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 1 Greenshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 6 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Stock Dove - singing near the viaduct
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling near Iron Bridge
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank and Seven Arches Carr
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • Whitethroat - family party in Big Hedge

    Butterflies: Red Admiral, 2 Essex Skipper

    Other: Broad-bodied Chaser. Lancaster bomber flew very low SW past Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Daren Wozencroft, visitor reports

    Friday 12th

    • 1+ Bittern - seen in flight and watched in the reeds for 15 mins
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Hobby - hawking insects over the north-west corner of Huxter Well Marsh during the afternoon
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b

    Chris Bell

    Thursday 11th

    • 20 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew across West Scrape towards Seven Arches Carr and possibly the same one flew back with a full crop on to cell 3a/3b
    • 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female hunting
    • 3 Buzzard - up together over Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Kestrel - over Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby - catching dragonflies over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • c100 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 8 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 20 Swift - west
    • 1 Kingfisher - hover-fishing on cell 3a
    • Willow Warbler - adults feeding newly fledged young on the Access Track
    • 1 Song Thrush - juvenile on Loversall Bank

    Butterflies: 1 Painted Lady and a Purple Hairstreak in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide

    Other: Roe Deer with a fawn in Black Carr Field

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Sunset © Matthew Christou 2019

    Sunset © Matthew Christou 2019

    Tuesday 9th

    • 200+ Gadwall
    • 3 Teal
    • 1 Shoveler
    • 34 Pochard
    • 28 Tufted Duck
    • 12 Cormorant
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 32 Lapwing
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - on West Scrape and later in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher - in front of Piper Marsh Hide
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Greenfinch - in front of Duchess Hide

    Butterflies: 60+ Ringlet, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma

    Other: Roe Deer with fawn in Black Carr field, 2 White Plume Moth

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Philip Goucher, Doug Smith, Geoff Chatterton, David Harding, Derek Parker, Tuesday volunteers

    Buff Arches © Derek Parker 2019

    Buff Arches © Derek Parker 2019

    Small Magpie © Derek Parker 2019

    Small Magpie © Derek Parker 2019

    Hedya ochroleucana © Derek Parker 2019

    Hedya ochroleucana © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Friday Night, 5th July

    Another mild night and another bumper haul of moths, although some marauding beast, probably of the Avian variety or, possibly, a Hornet, had very obviously entered the trap, judging by the number of loose moth wings scattered about, after the moth bodies had been removed and eaten.

    Nevertheless, we identified a total of 106 species, including another 2 first reserve records. Rhumatha senex (Round-winged Muslin) is a small Footman moth that is scarce and quite localised in VC63. Like other Footman species, its larva feeds upon lichens and mosses. Argyresthia glaucinella is a rarely encountered species, with very few Yorkshire records, mostly from other VC63 locations. The larva of this one feeds upon the bark of oak and horse chestnut trees.

    There were some other notable records, including second reserve records of 3 Tortricid species: Eana incanana, Hedya ochroleucana and Epagoge grotiana. The nationally rare Gelechiid, Gelechia muscosella was also recorded. It was first found at Potteric Carr in 2008 and odd ones have turned up occasionally since then.

    Other good records from this trapping included Coleophora trifolii (2), Schoenobius gigantella (2), Phycitodes binaevella, Dwarf Cream Wave, Blackneck (3), Buff Footman and Eyed Hawk-moth.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Sunday 7th WeBS Counts

    • Coot 206
    • Bittern 3
    • Grey Heron 6
    • Little Egret 6
    • Lapwing 48
    • Gadwall 120
    • Mallard 50
    • Pochard 66
    • Shoveler 8
    • Teal 6
    • Kingfisher
    • Green Sandpiper

    Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird

    Grass Snake © Barrie Shilton 2019

    Grass Snake © Barrie Shilton 2019

    Sunday 7th

    • Tufted Duck - with 7 new young on the Lagoon
    • 19 Cormorant - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2+ Bittern - several sightings of at least 2 birds at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • Little Grebe - juv on cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Peregrine - M18
    • 3 Water Rail - East Scrape, cell 1b, cell 4
    • 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
    • 100 Lapwing
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Stock Dove - Central Grassland
    • 1 Kingfisher - Loversall Delph and Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
    • Coal Tit - family party in Black Carr Field
    • 5 BEARDED TIT - 4 near Mitchell Hide and one flew by Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Nuthatch - Black Carr Field

    Butterflies: 1 Gatekeeper along the Access Track, 1 MARBLED WHITE on Loversall Bank near the Education Centre

    Other: Grass Snake near the VC

    Richard Scott, Rob Burns, Mark Roberts, Barrie Shilton, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes

    Common Tern © Vernon Barker 2019

    Common Tern © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 6th

    • 22 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 2+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret - 5 at Huxter Well Marsh and one at Willow Marsh
    • 1 SPOONBILL - adult on East Scrape departed SW at 11.55 (RJS and visitor report)
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 8 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel - M18 and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - M18
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 1b
    • 3 Avocet - adult and 2 fully grown young on cell 3b
    • 3 Oystercatcher - 2 over the VC and one on cell 1b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 11 Black-tailed Godwit - 9 circled Huxter Well Marsh at 9.05am and continued south. One on cell 1b in the morning was joined by another in the afternoon.
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 4 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Kingfisher - Loversall Delph and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
    • 2 Willow Tit - St Caths Copse
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Whitethroat singing in front of VC
    • 2 Treecreeper - one along Willow Bank and one in St Caths copse

    Butterflies: 6 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady, c100 Ringlet along Willow Bank, Cottage Drain and Loversall Bank

    Other: 2 Southern Hawker, one along Willow Bank and one along Loversall Bank, 1 Young Roe Deer along Willow Bank 

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports

    Kingfisher © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Kingfisher © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Friday 5th

    • 1 Hobby - high over Huxter Well Marsh from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Kingfisher - Loversall  Delph
    • 2 Goldcrest - Loversall Delph

    Andy Dalton

    Thursday 4th

    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 1 WOOD SANDPIPER - on West Scrape at 8pm but flew off high at 8.20
    • 2 Redshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 200 Starling - going to roost at cell 4

    Other: 2 Roe Deer fawns in the car park

    Richard Scott

    Roe Deer fawn © Matthew Christou 2019

    Roe Deer fawn © Matthew Christou 2019

    Wednesday 3rd

    • 8 Tufted Duck - female and 7 new young on Old Eaa 
    • 3 Pheasant - female and 2 young at the Visitor Centre 
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Buzzard - over Seven Arches Carr 
    • 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Oystercatcher - adult and young on cell 2a
    • 1 Avocet - Huxter Well Marsh
    • c50 Lapwing - flew onto cell 1b
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Common Tern - fishing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 4 Herring Gull - the 2 pairs that were nesting on the raft on cell 1a and on Decoy Lake have both failed
    • 1 Kingfisher - flew across cell 2a

    Butterflies: 1+ Essex Skipper, 5 Purple Hairstreak

    Odonata: 4 Red-veined Darter (1 at West Scrape, 3 at cell 3a), 1 Red-eyed Damselfly

    Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, visitor reports

    Elephant Hawk-moth © Sue Trout 2019

    Elephant Hawk-moth © Sue Trout 2019

    Green Silver-lines © Sue Trout 2019

    Green Silver-lines © Sue Trout 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 29th June

    Because Saturday night had been so mild, we had a huge catch of moths to sort out on Sunday morning. So far we have recorded 105 species, with, perhaps, another 3 moths remaining to be identified.

    Particularly pleasing was the identification of 3 new reserve records: Coleophora tamesis ; Eana incanana and Parapoynx stratiotata (Ringed China-mark). Coleophora tamesis is regionally scarce, whilst the other 2 are moderately common.

    The larvae of Coleophora tamesis feed in a mobile case on seedheads of Jointed Rush. Eana incanana is associated mainly with Bluebells, also Dog Daisy. The Ringed China-mark is an aquatic species whose larvae feed upon pondweeds and other aquatic plants.

    Other notable species we recorded included 1 Parachronistis albiceps ; 2 Cream-bordered Green Pea ; 2 Schoenobius gigantella ; 1 Blackneck ; 3 Beautiful Hook-tip ; and 2 Scarce Silver-lines. 

    Best of the rest were 6 Elephant Hawk-moths ; 3 Common Emerald ; 1 Peach Blossom ; 1 Small Yellow Wave ; and 2 Green Silver-lines.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    immature Hobby © Vernon Barker 2019

    immature Hobby © Vernon Barker 2019

    Tuesday 2nd

    • 4 Mute Swan - pair with 2 young on Low Ellers Marsh (seen from train)
    • 170 Gadwall
    • 65 Pochard
    • 18 Tufted Duck - plus new broods of 6 and 2 young
    • 14 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe - adult with well-grown young on cell 2b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2-3 Hobby - 2 on Willow Marsh and 1 hunting dragonflies on Huxter Well Marsh
    • Coot - a Carrion Crow pounced on a Coot nest and stole one of the eggs
    • 2 Oystercatcher - adult and juv
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 2a
    • 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
    • 2 SPOTTED REDSHANK - cell 2a (SB, DC)
    • 2 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 4 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Herring Gull - adult and 3 juvs on Sedum House roof
    • 1 Stock Dove
    • 30 Swift - SW
    • 2 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh, Huxter Well Marsh, Mother Drain
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Field
    • 3 Swallow
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 1 Blackbird - juv near St Catherine's Field

    Butterflies: 9 Meadow Brown, 40+ Ringlet, 2 Comma, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Speckled Wood, 5 Painted Lady

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Mick Bellas, Ian and Janet Hepenstall, Helen Womack, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Richard Scott, visitor reports

    female Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Banded Demoiselle © Richard Scott 2019

    female Banded Demoiselle © Richard Scott 2019

    Monday 1st

    • 2+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1+ Hobby - immature hunting over Huxter Well Marsh and perching in the dead oak. Also seen in pursuit of the Peregrine over Hawthorn Bank.
    • 1 Peregrine - carrying prey over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 BEARDED TIT - one calling and 2 juvs seen briefly in flight from Duchess Hide

    Sue Brook, Karl Dutton

    June 2019

    Buzzard © Richard Scott 2019

    Buzzard © Richard Scott 2019

    Sunday 30th

    • 28 Cormorant - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 60 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1+ BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Odonata: 

    • 2 Banded Demoiselle
    • 1 Emerald Damselfly
    • c25 Blue-tailed Damsel
    • c100 Azure/Common Blue Damsel
    • 2 Red-eyed Damselfly  -  on the surface algae, Cell 3a Huxter Well
    • 14 Emperor
    • 2 Southern Hawker
    • 1 Brown Hawker
    • 38 Black-tailed Skimmer
    • 12 Four-spot Chaser
    • 12 Common Darter
    • 3 Ruddy Darter
    • 1 Red-veined Darter  -  Cell 3a Huxterwell 1230hrs

    Butterflies:

    • 10 Large Skipper
    • 2 Small Skipper
    • 4 skipper sp.
    • 1 Brimstone
    • 1 Green-veined White
    • 1 Small White
    • 9 Painted Lady
    • 6 Red Admiral
    • 2 Small Tortoiseshell
    • 6 Comma
    • 1 Common Blue
    • 1 Speckled Wood
    • 23 Meadow Brown
    • 44 Ringlet

    Mammals: Field Vole on the Central Grassland path, Brown Hare in Beeston,  3 Roe Deer

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Kingfisher © Vernon Barker 2019

    Kingfisher © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 29th

    • 3+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4+ Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Water Rail - East Scrape and Cell 4
    • 1 Avocet - cell 1b
    • 4 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • Lesser Black-backed Gull - adult and 3 juvs on Sedum House roof
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr

    Odonata:

    • 5 Banded Demoiselle
    • 4 Emerald Damselfly
    • 4 Large Red Damselfly
    • 82 Azure Damselfly
    • 104 Common Blue Damselfly
    • 27 Blue-tailed Damselfly
    • 17 Emperor  -  a new site record - previously 12 on 4/7/2015
    • 1 Southern Hawker
    • 48 Four-spotted Chaser  -  a new site record - previously 46 on 31/5/1998
    • 26 Black-tailed Skimmer  -  best count since 2006
    • 12 Ruddy Darter
    • 61 Common Darter
    • 1 Red-veined Darter  -  male on West Scrape 1730hrs

    Butterflies:

    • 19 Large Skipper
    • 3+ Small Skipper
    • 12 skipper sp.
    • 2 Brimstone - both males
    • 1 Orange Tip - a late female on Loversall Bank
    • 3 Small White
    • 2 white sp.
    • 47 Painted Lady  -  probably a reserve record?
    • 8 Red Admiral
    • 1+ Peacock
    • 2 Small Tortoiseshell
    • 7 Comma
    • 4 Common Blue
    • 56 Meadow Brown
    • 46+ Ringlet
    • 3 Speckled Wood

    Richard Scott, Pete Greaves, Keith Lynes (butterflies), Darren Wozencroft (butterflies and odonata)

    Hobby © Matthew Christou 2019

    Hobby © Matthew Christou 2019

    Friday 28th

    • 2 Bittern - several sightings of birds in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel - M18
    • 3 Hobby - birds seen over Huxter Well Marsh all day. At one point 3 were in the air together.
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 4
    • 4 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 7 Common Tern - including a juv at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the entrance
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - near Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Swallow - over cell 4

    Butterflies: Painted Lady flew by East Scrape

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton, Vernon Barker, visitor reports

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Thursday 27th

    • 40+ Gadwall - West Scrape
    • Tufted Duck - female with 5 young on Piper Marsh
    • 1+ Bittern - in flight over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1+ Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Buzzard - over East Scrape
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - East Scrape and West Scrape
    • 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 4 Jay - 2 adults and 2 young near Royal Mail depot
    • 1 Coal Tit - juv
    • 1 Treecreeper - Black Carr Field area
    • 2 Bullfinch - pair in Black Carr Field

    Other: Bank Vole - Piper Marsh path, China Mark moths

    John Purrington, Andy Dalton, Gary Benn

    Black and yellow longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Black and yellow longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Wednesday 26th

    • 19 Teal - 14 males and 5 females
    • 1+ Bittern - in flight over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Ringed Plover - juv on cell 1b
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Curlew - landed on the island on cell 1b at 9pm
    • 2 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Tawny Owl - begging calls from juvs
    • 100 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh in the evening
    • 200 Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh in the evening
    • 1+ BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott

    Common Tern © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Common Tern © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Tuesday 25th

    • 8 Little Egret
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Common Sandpiper
    • 5 Redshank
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • 8 Chiffchaff
    • 7 Blackcap
    • 4 Whitethroat
    • 4 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Bullfinch

    Ryan McClarence

    Small Tortoiseshell © Matthew Christou 2019

    Small Tortoiseshell © Matthew Christou 2019

    Sunday 23rd

    • 24 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - flying together at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - adult over Decoy Lake and a first-summer at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 4
    • 5 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and juv on West Scrape and 2 adults on cell 2a
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 82 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - an early returning adult on cell 3b
    • 2 Redshank - cell 3b
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Tawny Owl - Willow Bank
    • 1 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh

    Other: 3 Roe Deer including Mum and Fawn on Central Grassland, 2 Emerald Damselflies - Dragonfly Ponds

    Richard Scott, Col Neale, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Gary Dyson, Allen Holmes

    Fox-and-Cubs (Pilosella aurantiaca) © Debbie Ross 2019

    Fox-and-Cubs (Pilosella aurantiaca) © Debbie Ross 2019

    Saturday 22nd

    • 3 Teal - 2 males and a female on cell 1b
    • Pochard - females with 2 young on cell 2a and 4 young on cell 2b
    • 16 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - seen in flight a few times over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 10+ Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 4
    • 3 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and a juv on cell 3b
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Common Tern - 2 at Huxter Well Marsh on 4 flew east
    • 1 Cuckoo - an adult flew over East Scrape to cell 4
    • 70 Swift - including a few flying south
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack, Michael Bird

    Friday 21st

    • 1 Hobby - still hunting insects at 10.10pm
    • 2 Collared Dove - in the VC car park
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • Tawny Owl - begging calls from young
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing near the VC

    Richard Scott, Dave Carroll

    male Four-spotted Chaser © Debbie Ross 2019

    male Four-spotted Chaser © Debbie Ross 2019

    Thursday 20th

    • 14 Mute Swan - plus young in broods of 5, 7 and 2
    • 31 Greylag Geese
    • 14 Canada Geese 
    • 170+ Gadwall
    • 1 Teal
    • 3 Shoveler
    • 45 Pochard - including 3 juvenile
    • 12 Tufted Duck
    • 10 Little Grebe - plus 2 young
    • 9 Great Crested Grebe
    • 4 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 8 Avocet
    • 15 Lapwing - including 1 chick
    • 1 Common Tern
    • 25 Black Headed Gull - plus 3 chicks on Old Eaa
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Jay
    • 30+ Swift
    • 30+ Sand Martin
    • 2 House Martin
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler
    • 8 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 5 Blackcap
    • 5 Whitethroat
    • 10 Reed Warbler
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 2 Greenfinch
    • 7 Reed Bunting

    Other: 2 Roe Deer

    David Beresford

    Wednesday 19th

    2 Willow Tit - Loversall Delph

    VC logbook

    Pellucid Fly © Debbie Ross 2019

    Pellucid Fly © Debbie Ross 2019

    Grey Heron © Matthew Christou 2019

    Grey Heron © Matthew Christou 2019

    Tuesday 18th

    • 16 Mute Swan - pairs with 5 and 7 young
    • 71 Gadwall
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 70 Pochard - including one with one young and one with three young
    • 9 Tufted Duck
    • Pheasant - 3 young
    • 1 Bittern - flew along the edge of cell 2a and dropped down near Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron - including one juvenile
    • 6 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - including  male
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 13 Avocet
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 27 Lapwing
    • 1 Common Tern
    • Black-headed Gull - adult with 3 young still on Old Eaa
    • 2 Herring Gull
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - from Mitchel Hide
    • c40 House Martin - over Decoy Lake
    • 14 Cetti's Warbler - including 3 which were caught and ringed near the VC
    • 4 Bullfinch

    Lepidoptera: 10 Painted Lady, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Common Blue, 1 Brimstone, 1 Speckled Wood, 4 Small tortoiseshell, 1 Six-spot Burnet, 1 Cinnabar

    Other: 5 Roe Deer including 3 fawns, 1 Bank Vole, 5 Harlequin Ladybirds, 2 22-spot Ladybirds, 1 Dock Bug, 1 Male four spotted chaser around dipping ponds near the VC, 2 Pellucid Fly, 3 Common Spotted Orchid

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, David Carroll, Barry Wardley, Derek Parker, Tuesday volunteers, Debbie Ross

    Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Black-spotted Longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Monday 17th

    • 4 Pochard - female with 3 small young on cell 2b
    • 1 Little Egret - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Oystercatcher - adult feeding young cell 3b
    • 11 Avocet - 3 adult and 3 juvs West Scrape, 2 adult and 3 juvs on cell 3b
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - singles on cells 1b and 3b
    • 1 Common Tern - fishing on cell 2b
    • 60 Swift - feeding low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Garden Warbler - singing along Hawthorn Bank

    Dave Carroll

    Painted Lady © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Painted Lady © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Broad-bodied Chaser © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Broad-bodied Chaser © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Sunday 16th including WeBS count

    • 175 Gadwall
    • 1 Teal - a male on cell 1b was the only one present on the reserve!
    • 78 Mallard
    • 69 Pochard - plus broods of 1 and 5 on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 22 Cormorant
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Hobby
    • 6 Avocet - including 3 juvs
    • 4 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 75 Swift
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - in front of Duchess Hide
    • 60 hirundines

    Odonada: 1 Banded Demoiselle, 1 Emerald Damselfly, 7 Large Red Damselfly, 216 Azure Damselfly, 62 Common Damselfly, 26 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Hairy Hawker - Loversall Delph, 3 Emperor, 1 Broad-bodied Chaser - male at Square Pond, 13 Four-spot Chaser

    Butterflies: 3 Large Skipper, 2 Brimstone, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Meadow Brown (also one last Monday), 7 Speckled Wood. A Painted Lady seen yesterday was part of a national influx.

    Mark Roberts, Darren Wozencroft

    Bee Orchids © James & Beryl Myers 2019

    Bee Orchids © James & Beryl Myers 2019

    Elephant Hawk-moth © James & Beryl Myers 2019

    Elephant Hawk-moth © James & Beryl Myers 2019

    Saturday 15th

    • 5 Bee Orchids and an Elephant Hawk-moth on Willow Bank
    • 1 Painted Lady in the flutterby garden

    James & Beryl Myers, Darren Wozencroft

    Rustic Sailor Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Rustic Sailor Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Thursday 13th

    • 7 Cettis Warbler
    • 8 Blackcap
    • 9  Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 7 Whitethroat
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 16 Reed Warbler
    • 9 Reed Bunting
    • 3 Song Thrush 
    • 30+ Swift
    • 3 House Martin
    • 30+ Sand Martin
    • 2 Cormorant
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Bittern
    • 2 Oystercatcher and 1 juvenile on West Scrape
    • 21 Avocet (a record count)
    • 18 Lapwing including 1 chick
    • 1 Marsh Harrier, male 
    • 180+ Gadwall including 8 ducklings
    • 19 Tufted Duck
    • 78 Pochard including 3 juvenile
    • 3 Teal
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 11  Mute Swan +5 young
    • 8 Little Grebe
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe
    • 17 Grey Lag Geese
    • 6 Canada Geese 
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 31 Black Headed Gull +3 chicks on old EAA
    • 3 Herring Gull
    • 4 Lesser Black Backed Gulls
    • 1 Kingfisher on square pond
    • 1 Collared Dove
    • 1 Water Rail on West Scrape
    • Other -  3 Roe Deer

    David Beresford

    Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Golden-bloomed Grey Longhorn Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Wednesday 12th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Buzzard - Black Carr Field
    • 9 Avocet - 3 adults and 2 juveniles on Huxter cell 3b,  and 2 adults and 2 juveniles on West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Ringed Plover
    • 2 Redshank
    • 100+ Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 20+ Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10+ House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Reed Bunting

    Other: 2 Roe Deer (female with fawn), 1 Bank Vole

    Paul Paddock

    Banded Demoiselle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Banded Demoiselle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Sunday 9th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • Pochard - female with 6 young on 2a
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 15 Buzzard
    • 2 Hobby - together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4+ Water Rail - 2 calling at West Scrape and at least 2 calling from cell 3b close to Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 5 Oystercatcher - 3 adults and 2 juvs
    • 1 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 70 Herring/Lesser Black-backed Gull - a group of mainly herrings flew south
    • 150 Swift
    • 2 Kingfisher - on the square pond, one was a juvenile, both were probably juvs
    • 4 Willow Tit - 2 adults and 2/3 in a large mixed tit flock along Loversall Bank
    • 5 BEARDED TIT - 2 male and 3 female/juv near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing next to West Scrape Hide

    Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Andy Bell, visitor reports

    Roe Deer © Matthew Christou 2019

    Roe Deer © Matthew Christou 2019

    Saturday 8th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 2 Hobby
    • 2 Water Rail - West Scrape and cell 4
    • 3 Avocet - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Oystercatcher - 2 adult and 2 young on West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank
    • 11 Common Tern - 2 on regular feeding flights from the iPort and 9 dropped in ahead of rain, landed on cell 1b before departing east at 9.15am
    • 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - sub-adult cell 1b
    • 4 Herring Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull - 2cy cell 1b
    • 90 Swift
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa/Childers Wood
    • 6 BEARDED TIT - 2 males, one female and 3 juvs seen from Mitchell Hide
    • Cetti's Warbler - family party near West Scrape Hide
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - adult and juv on West Scrape

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Gary Dyson, visitor reports

    Hobby © Vernon Barker 2019

    Hobby © Vernon Barker 2019

    Dingy Skipper © Matthew Christou 2019

    Dingy Skipper © Matthew Christou 2019

    Thursday 6th

    • 16 Mute Swan + 12 young
    • 11  Greylag Geese
    • 11 Canada Geese + 3 goslings
    • 120+ Gadwall
    • 26 Pochard
    • 14 Tufted Duck
    • 10 Little Grebe
    • 7 Great Crested Grebe
    • 6 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 3 Bittern - 2 on Piper Marsh and one at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Little Egret - including 6 on cell 3b
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
    • 3 Avocet - 2 on 3b and one on West Scrape
    • 4 Oystercatcher - on West Scrape 2 adult and 2 young
    • 30 Lapwing - 22 and one young on West Scrape, 4 on 2a and 3 on Loversall Pool
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
    • 2 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 21 Black Headed Gull + 3 chicks - Old Eaa
    • 4 Herring Gull
    • 100 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - flew over Loversall Bank
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - an adult feeding a fledged young in Black Carr Wood and one in Beeston Plantation
    • 3 BEARDED TIT - 2 juveniles from Mitchell Hide and one in front of Tofield Hide
    • 10+ House Martin
    • 4 Cettis Warbler
    • 9 Chiffchaff
    • 4 Willow Warbler
    • 14 Blackcap
    • 3 Whitethroat
    • 2 Garden Warbler - one near the under bridge and one at the end of Willow Marsh
    • 6 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 30 Starling - feeding on Huxter Well Marsh and flying back to Bessacarr to feed their young
    • 6 Song Thrush - including family of 5 in triangle by pumping station and Old Eaa path
    • 2 Bullfinch - near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 3 Reed Bunting

    Other: 3 Red Admiral, single Orange Tip, Peacock and Brimstone, Emperor Dragonfly in front of Piper Marsh hide, Common Spotted Orchids along Loversall Bank

    David Beresford, Sue and Roger Bird, Vernon Parker, Barry Wardley, visitor reports

    Large Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Large Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Black-tailed Skimmer © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Black-tailed Skimmer © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Wednesday 5th

    • 2 Bittern - different birds seen in flight at 11.20 & 11.40 at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby - in the dead tree on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - heard at Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Common Tern
    • 60 Swift
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - one on the Access Track and one calling on Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - heard from the Access Track

    Other: 1 Great Crested Newt, 1 Smooth Newt, 1 Bank Vole, 5 Roe Deer, 4 Large Skipper, 2 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Hairy Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer, 3 Four-spot Chaser

    Sue Brook, Darren Wozencroft

    Green Silver-lines © Derek Parker 2019

    Green Silver-lines © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 1st June

    The warm weather provided perfect conditions for moth trapping and, as a consequence, a very healthy total of 80 species were recorded, including one new reserve record and one or two other noteworthy species.

    The new reserve record was a single Epagoge grotiana, a rare and very local Yorkshire Tortricid moth, with just a handful of records concentrated in the south and east of VC63. The larvae feed on oak, hawthorn and bramble.

    Also recorded were a male and female of Schoenobius gigantella, a Pyralid moth and a reedbed specialist, first seen on the reserve in 2017, when it was only the second VC63 record, then again in 2018 and now in 2019. Once largely restricted to coastal reedbeds in southern England and East Anglia, this species has clearly become established at Potteric Carr.

    Two infrequently recorded species were trapped. Epinotia demarniana and Freyer’s Pug were both last observed in 2010.

    Best of the rest included Eyed Hawk-moth (1), Orange Footman (1), Alder Moth (3), Green Silver-lines and White-pinion Spotted.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    male Bearded Tit © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    male Bearded Tit © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Cantharis rustica © Matthew Christou 2019

    Cantharis rustica © Matthew Christou 2019

    Tuesday 4th

    • Mute Swan - 2 adults with 7 young from Duchess Hide, 2 adults with a small young on Piper Marsh
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 49 Gadwall - including a female with 4 young on Piper Marsh
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 30 Pochard
    • 20 Tufted Duck
    • 2+ Bittern - 6 sightings of 2 or more birds
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe - also a small young on cell 2b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Avocet - cell 3b
    • 4 Oystercatcher - 2 adults with 2 young on West Scrape
    • 12 Lapwing - also one juv on West Scrape 
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 4 Redshank 
    • 2 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-headed Gull - with 2 young on Old Eaa
    • 6 Herring Gull - 3 pairs on cell 1a, Decoy Lake and Sedum House roof
    • 20 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5+ Great Spotted Woodpecker - adults feeding fledged young in Beeston Plantation and one calling along Cottage drain 
    • 2 Jay - Beeston Plantation
    • 2+ Coal Tit young with a large tit flock
    • 6 BEARDED TIT - a single male was seen at the same time as another male in a family party of 5
    • 8 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation 
    • 2  Blackbird - one collecting food in Beeston Plantation and one on a nest in the compound 
    • 2 Song Thrush - collecting food in Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - collecting food along Loversal Bank near Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing in the old wardens carpark
    • 2 Bullfinch - a pair at the Iron Bridge

    Other: 3 Bee Orchid along Willow Bank

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll

    male Common Blue © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    male Common Blue © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Common Blue © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    female Common Blue © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Monday 3rd

    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby - seen from VC
    • 1 Avocet
    • 4 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and 2 juvs
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 170 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Willow Tit - juvs seen in copse near the screen at the Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 6 BEARDED TIT

    Butterflies: 1 Large Skipper, 1 Dingy Skipper (Reedbed Filtration Ponds), 4 Brimstone (2m 2f), 2 Orange Tip (1m 1f), 4 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 3 Peacock, 1 Brown Argus (Flutterby Garden), 9 Common Blue, 14 Speckled Wood

    Odonata: 10 Banded Demoiselle, 4 Large Red Damselfly, c300 Azure Damselfly, c200 Common Blue Damselfly, 45 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 
    6 Hairy Hawker, 1 Emperor (teneral), 3 Black-tailed Skimmer, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser (1m 1f), 27 Four-spot Chaser

    Other: 2 Great Crested Newt, 1 Common Frog, 1 Grass Snake, 1 Roe Deer

    Darren Wozencroft, Dave Carroll, visitor report per Dave Carroll, Mark Roberts

    male Bittern © Alan West 2019

    male Bittern © Alan West 2019

    Sunday 2nd

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern - one had a dangling leg
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 RED KITE - a tatty bird flew west over Seven Arches Carr at 10.15
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Avocet
    • 7 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and 2 young on West Scrape, 3 over
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 6 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - male and a female/juv near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Jenny Kingsland

    Wheatear © Richard Scott 2019

    Wheatear © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 1st

    • 4 Shelduck
    • Gadwall - female with 5 young on Piper Marsh
    • Pochard - female with 7 young on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern -  a few sightings at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel - M18
    • 3 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - cell 4
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape/cell 3b
    • 5 Oystercatcher - the 2 adults and 2 young have relocated to cell 3b. Another adult on cell 1b.
    • 2 Ringed Plover - on cell 1b early morning
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape/Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Redshank - West Scrape/Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Tern
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 3 BEARDED TIT - juvs near Mitchell Hide
    • 14 Cetti's Warbler - 13 singing and one calling
    • 1 Wheatear - on Central Grassland early morning
    • 3 Greenfinch

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird

    May 2019

    colour-ringed Avocet © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    colour-ringed Avocet © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Friday 31st

    • Bittern - 5 sightings on Huxter Well Marsh from 12.10 - 2.30pm. One was booming on Willow Marsh and then circled high and flew towards Huxter Well Marsh.
    • 3 Little Egret 
    • 2 Grey Heron - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 4 Buzzard - from Duchess hide 
    • 2 Hobby - perched in the dead oak tree and hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Avocet - flew to West Scrape from the iPort
    • 3 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and one young
    • Barn Owl - chicks were ringed at 2 nests, each containing 5 young
    • 200 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh 

    Sue and Roger Bird, Helen Womack, Jim Horsfall, visitor reports

    first-summer Hobby © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    first-summer Hobby © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Thursday 30th

    • Bittern - seen 5 times
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Hobby
    • 2 Avocet - from Mitchell Hide
    • 3 Lapwing chicks - 2 on West Scrape one on cell 3b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 22 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler

    Adrian Andruchiw

    Black-tailed Godwits © Paul Paddock 2019

    Black-tailed Godwits © Paul Paddock 2019

    Bittern © Paul Paddock 2019

    Bittern © Paul Paddock 2019

    Wednesday 29th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 3 Bittern - 2 females undertaking feeding flights and a third bird flew high towards Lincoln Carr. Also, one dead bird found.
    • 8 Little Egret - flying together over Huxter
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 4 Hobby - eating dragonflies on the wing
    • 2 Avocet
    • 4 Oystercatcher - 2 adults with 2 young on cell 2a
    • 4 young Lapwing - 3 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape and cell 3b
    • 23 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 4 Redshank
    • 2 Common Tern
    • Cetti's Warbler - several singing around the reserve
    • 100 Swift - feeding low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 3 BEARDED TIT
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - carrying food near Mitchell Hide

    Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird, Paul Paddock, Gary Dyson, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

    Sandy Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Sandy Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

    Pale Tussock © Derek Parker 2019

    Pale Tussock © Derek Parker 2019

    Pale Prominent © Derek Parker 2019

    Pale Prominent © Derek Parker 2019

    Peppered Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Peppered Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 25th May

    Following what had been a very mild night, we were pleased to see a big improvement in the number and variety of moths trapped. A total of 46 species were identified, with one more, a Gelechiid, awaiting determination. 

    Although none of the recorded moths were new or particularly rare, there were several less frequently recorded species, notably Sandy Carpet (last observed in 2011); Aphomia sociella or Bee Moth; Brown Rustic; and Oak Nycteolene.

    Poplar Hawk-moth (5), Pale Tussock (2), Alder Moth (4), White-pinion Spotted, Broken-barred Carpet, Monopis weaverella (2), Seraphim and Oak-tree Pug were best of the rest.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall 

    Lapwing © Matthew Christou 2019

    Lapwing © Matthew Christou 2019

    Tuesday 28th

    • 28 Pochard
    • 11 Tufted Duck
    • 9 Cettis warblers
    • 1 Greenfinch near Old Eaa
    • 61 Gadwal
    • 7 Shelduck
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 21 Cormorants
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 6 Little Egrets
    • 1 Garden Warbler
    • 50 plus Swifts
    • 1 House Martin
    • 1 Swallow
    • 12 Sand Martins
    • 1 LRP on West Scrape
    • 2 Lapwing and 1 young on West Scrape
    • 1 male Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Great Crested Grebes
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 2 Lapwing and 1 young on cell 3B
    • 1 Little Grebe
    • 2 Bittern 
    • 1 Hobby over Huxter Well
    • 1 Lapwing and 1 young on cell 2A
    • 2 Oystercatcher and 2 young on cell 2A
    • 1 Common Tern

    Other: 1 Roe Deer, 3 Rabbits, 5 Brimstones 1 orange tip 3 common blues 2 small white and 3 banded demoiselles, 1 Dingy Skipper, Small Copper, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser, 1 Hairy Dragonfly, 4 Four-spotted Chaser

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Phillip Goucher, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Red-headed Cardinal Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Red-headed Cardinal Beetle © Matthew Christou 2019

    Monday 27th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern - several sighting of birds in flight across Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby - one catching dragonflies in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide and one distantly chasing swifts
    • 5 Oystercatcher - pair with a single juv and 2 over
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide and Hawthorn Bank Hide

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Gary Dyson, Chris Bell

    Hairy Dragonfly © Allen Holmes 2019

    Hairy Dragonfly © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 26th

    • Mute Swan - pair with 7 young on the Lagoon
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe - seen from Mitchell Hide, including 2 pairs displaying
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher - flew towards the iPort
    • Lapwing - pair with 3 small young on West Scrape
    • 4 Redshank
    • 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull
    • 10 Herring Gull
    • 2 Great Black-backed Gull
    • 200 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Jay
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - male and one heard near Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott, Sue Richardson, Sue Cullen, Mark Roberts

    Four-spotted Chaser © Matthew Christou 2019

    Four-spotted Chaser © Matthew Christou 2019

    Saturday 25th

    • Mute Swan - 7 juvs on West Scrape, 5 juvs on cell 2a
    • 6 Shelduck
    • 3 Bittern - seen in flight several times at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Hobby
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 2 + 2 juv Oystercatcher
    • 15 Lapwing including 1 chick - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - from Hawthorn Bank Hide 
    • 6 Redshank
    • 3 Common Tern
    • 70 Swift
    • 4+ Chiffchaff
    • Blackcap - 1 male and 1 fledgling seen at Hawthorn bank hide and also another male and fledgling close to Piper Marsh
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near Tofield Hide
    • 3 Whitethroat
    • 3 Starling
    • 2 Linnet - Big Hedge
    • 4 Reed Bunting

    Other: 

    Other Wildlife - at the dragonfly pools were Hairy dragonfly, Grass Snakes and Pirate wolf spider, Hornet along Mother Drain, Banded Demoiselle

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Katie Smith

    Crane (record shot) © Michael Dyson 2019

    Crane (record shot) © Michael Dyson 2019

    Friday 24th

    • 1 Black Swan
    • 3 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 CRANE - on cell 1b, last seen at 11.30. As far as I know the first time one has been grounded.

    Michael Dyson, Andy Dalton

    Red-and-black Froghopper © Matthew Christou 2019

    Red-and-black Froghopper © Matthew Christou 2019

    Thursday 23rd

    • 6 Cettis Warbler
    • 1 Bullfinch
    • 19 Blackcap
    • 7  Chiffchaff
    • 4 Willow Warbler
    • 7 Whitethroat
    • 14 Reed Warbler
    • 6 Reed Bunting
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 1 Jay
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker – Beeston plantation
    • 10+ Swift
    • 2 House Martin
    • 4 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - West Scrape
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 4 Oystercatcher - 2 adults and 2 chicks on 2a
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 2 Redshank
    • 14 Lapwing including 2 chicks
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Hobby 
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 80 Gadwall
    • 1  Shoveler
    • 19 Tufted Duck
    • 16 Pochard
    • 14  Mute Swan +14 young
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 8  Grey Lag Geese
    • 14 Canada Geese +3 goslings
    • 2 Common Tern

    David Beresford, Mark Roberts

    Orange-tip on a fingertip © Matthew Christou 2019

    Orange-tip on a fingertip © Matthew Christou 2019

    Tuesday 21st

    • 1 Song Thrush near Loversal Delph ares
    • 1 Avocet on West Scrape
    • 5 Cettis
    • 4 Shoveler
    • 3 Bitterns two seen flying left to right at different times across the front of Mitchell Hide and one seen later flying across the front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Golden Plover on island in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 24 Pochard
    • 23 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Tree Creepers on Oak tree in Black Carr field
    • 1 Linnet near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Bullfinch near the old cafe
    • 4 Common Terns on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Lapwings
    • 2 Little Egrets
    • 6 Buzzards
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Little Grebes
    • 3 Great Crested Grebes
    • 5 Herring Gulls
    • 1 Redshank on West Scrape
    • 1 Hobby over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 1 Oystercatcher from Hawthorn Bank Hide

    Other: 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Peacock, 1 Brimstone, 1 Orange Tip and 1 Common Blue and 3 rabbits

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Phil Goucher, Dave Harding, Dougie Smith, Barry Wardley, visitor reports

    • 14 Mute Swan     2 pairs with 5 young each Huxter Well Marsh
    • 17 Pochard      males cell 1b
    • 3 Bittern     thought to be different birds
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Hobby
    • 1 Oystercatcher    cell 2a
    • 2 Avocet    1 West Scrape, 1 cell 1b
    • 1 Redshank   West Scrape
    • 4 Lapwing young from two broods   (3 and 1)
    • 1 Golden Plover    on cell 1b
    • 6 Ringed Plover    on cell 1b (arrived afternoon, MB)
    • 4 Common Tern   Huxter Well Marsh (2 headed for iPort)
    • 40 Swift    over Huxter Werll Marsh

    Other:  1 Small Tortoiseshell, 2 Brimstone, 2 Common Blue, 1 Dingy Skipper, 1 Green-veined White.

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Mick Bellas

    Ingrailed Clay © Derek Parker 2019

    Ingrailed Clay © Derek Parker 2019

    Lesser Swallow Prominent © Derek Parker 2019

    Lesser Swallow Prominent © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 18th May

    This proved to be a very disappointing moth trapping, with only 13 recorded species, all in low numbers. It had obviously been a cooler night than anticipated. The only highlights were a single Orange Footman and 2 Maiden’s Blush. Brown Silver-line is a common species associated with Bracken but the single individual recorded was the first on the reserve since 2002.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall
     

    Blue Tit removing a faecal sac © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Blue Tit removing a faecal sac © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Monday 20th

    • 1 Willow Tit - Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - a male and female/juv at Huxter Well Marsh

    Mark Roberts

    • Cetti`s Warbler x 5 around site
    • Common Tern x 2 Huxter Well
    • Lesser Whitethroat x 2 around site
    • Hobby x 1 hawking Huxter Well
    • Bullfinch 1 male

    Butterflies: Comma x 1, Orange Tip x 5 also ovum x 4 on Cuckoo Flower & Garlic Mustard, Peacock x 3, Speckled Wood x 3, Small Copper x 1 pond at Beeston Plantation, Dingy Skipper x 1 pond at Beeston Plantation

    Moths: Glyphipterix simpliciella x 12, Adela reaumurella x 1 female, Anthophila fabriciana x 3

    Martin Warne

    Dingy Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Dingy Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Sunday 19th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 3 Bittern - 2 booming and one seen in flight over West Scrape
    • 1+ Hobby - birds seen high over Hawthorn Bank in the morning and at Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 1 Water Rail - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • Lapwing - chicks seen at Decoy Lake (2), cell 2a and cell 3b
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Rook - over
    • 4 BEARDED TIT - 4 birds were seen together, of which 3 were seen well enough to confirm they were juveniles. The first confirmed breeding record for the reserve.
    • 1 Song Thrush - along the path near Decoy Marsh
    • 6 Bullfinch - pairs near Decoy Marsh and Old Eaa and singles at Iron Bridge and Hawthorn Bank

    Butterflies: 4 Dingy Skipper, 2 Brimstone, 1 Green-veined White, 4 Orange Tip, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Copper, 2 Peacock, 3 Speckled Wood

    Damselflies/Dragonflies: 1 Red-eyed Damselfly (teneral male), c.10 Large Red Damselfly, c.50 Azure Damselfly, c.50 Common Blue Damselfly, 4 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 1 Hairy Hawker, 1 Broad-bodied Chaser, 7 Four-spot Chaser

    Other: 2 Grass Snake, 1 Great Crested Newt, 5 Smooth Newt

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue Richardson, Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Four-spotted Chaser © Richard Scott 2019

    Four-spotted Chaser © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 18th

    • 6 Shelduck - 5 on Huxter Well Marsh and one on Old Eaa
    • 2 Bittern - one booming quietly and one in flight
    • 1 Avocet - Huxter Well Marsh/West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • Lapwing - small juv on cell 2a
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh/West Scrape
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 1b
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 2 Common Tern - fishing at Huxter Well Marsh and flying to the iPort Lakes
    • 1 Cuckoo - singing along Hawthorn Bank. The first of the year.
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing between VC and car park
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • Treecreeper - family party along Hawthorn Bank

    Other: Four-spotted Chaser on a window frame in Hawthorn Bank Hide and a Shrew was inside the hide

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird

    Osprey (record shot) © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Osprey (record shot) © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Thursday 16th

    • 5 Cettis Warbler
    • 19 Blackcap
    • 1 Garden Warbler
    • 9  Chiffchaff
    • 6 Willow Warbler
    • 9 Whitethroat
    • 8 Reed Warbler
    • 4 Reed Bunting
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 10+ Sand Martin
    • 60+ Swift
    • 2 Swallow
    • 10+ House Martin
    • 12 Cormorant
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Avocet
    • 14 Lapwing
    • 1 Marsh Harrier (M)
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Hobby in dead oak
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 48 Gadwall
    • 2 Teal
    • 1  Shoveler
    • 25 Tufted Duck
    • 27 Pochard
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 8  Grey Lag Geese
    • 11 Canada Geese + 6 goslings
    • 33 Black Headed Gulls
    • 5 Lesser Black Backed Gulls
    • 35 Herring Gulls
    • 2 Common Tern
    • 1 OSPREY
    • 3 L.R.Plover
    • 2 R.Plover
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Redshank

    David Beresford, Adrian Andruchiw

    Tuesday 14th

    • 7 Shelduck - some were displaying
    • 33 Gadwall
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 28 Pochard
    • 11 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Bittern - seen twice at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and two females 
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Hobby - feeding high over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 18 Lapwing - 9 pairs counted
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh/West Scrape
    • 4 Common Tern - some display and small fish gift on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 2 Stock Dove - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 14 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Jay - Huxter Well Marsh (feeding flights?)
    • 3 Rook - over the compound
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing in the old wardens carpark

    Butterflies: 9 Orange Tips 4 Small Whites 2 Speckled Wood 4 Brimstone and 2 Peacock

    Dragonflies/Damselflies: Hairy Dragonfly, 4 Spot Chaser, Broad Bodied Chaser and Common Blue, Blue Tailed and Red Damselfly

    Other: Grass Snake in Black Carr Wood

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Mick Bellas

    Sunday 12th

    • 1 Little Egret - from the Visitor centre this afternoon
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - a female carrying nesting material flew over Willow Marsh towards Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 4 Buzzard - watched from the Visitor centre in the afternoon 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling in the Reedbed filtration ponds
    • 1 Oystercatcher - chased a Marsh Harrier over the pumping station
    • 2 Lapwing - still sitting on Love Island
    • 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull - on Sedum House 
    • 3 Herring Gull - on the raft 2 adults and one 3rd call year
    • 15 Swift - over Willow Marsh 
    • Great Tit - young have fledged the first of the season
    • 2 Coal Tit - in Beeston Plantation
    • 4 Greenfinch - in the old Wardens Carpark
    • 2 Bullfinch - a pair behind the compound
    • 4 Reed Bunting - singing in Willow Marsh 

    Other: Hairy Dragonfly, 4 Large Red Damselfly and a Grass Snake swam across the channel from Beeston hide

    Sue and Roger Bird, Robin Mokryj, visitor reports

    Lapwing © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Lapwing © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Saturday 11th

    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • Mallard - with 3 small young on West Scrape
    • 1 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - up together over Hawthorn Bank
    • 3 Hobby - hawking insects over Huxter Well Marsh between 3.30 and 4pm
    • 2 Water Rail - calling at cell 2a and West Scrape
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape (copulating)
    • 4 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - cell 2a
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 1 WOOD SANDPIPER - over Huxter Well Marsh at 1.55pm
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 2 Coal Tit - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Nigel Walker

    Willow Warbler © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Willow Warbler © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Bird Ringing

    A male Lesser Whitethroat ringed at Potteric Carr on 12th May 2018 was re-trapped at Carr Lodge on 28th April 2019

    Doncaster Ringing Group

    Thursday 9th

    • 20  Mute Swan
    • 21  Grey Lag Geese
    • 21 Canada Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 71 Gadwall
    • 2 Teal
    • 4  Shoveler
    • 26+ Pochard
    • 33+ Tufted Duck
    • 4 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - chased around cell 1b by Black-headed Gulls
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 5 Avocet
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 3 Ringed Plover
    • 3 Dunlin
    • 2 Common Sandpiper
    • 2 Redshank
    • 40+ Swift
    • 70+ Sand Martin
    • 10+ Swallow
    • 40+ House Martin
    • 7 Cettis Warbler
    • 9  Chiffchaff
    • 6 Willow Warbler
    • 16 Blackcap
    • 8 Whitethroat
    • 12 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 12 Reed Bunting

    David Beresford, Dave Carroll, Mark Roberts

    Knot © Richard Scott 2019

    Knot © Richard Scott 2019

    Wednesday 8th

    • 2 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Wigeon - male and female on cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - seen in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 OSPREY - hovered over cell 1b before heading off north (11:30)
    • 5 Avocet - Huxter Well Marsh/West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 GREY PLOVER - one through high at 11:17 and the next came through low over cell 1b at 11:22. Both were heading north-east.
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 KNOT - 5 east (09:20) and one was on West Scrape all afternoon. A record count for the reserve. All previous sightings have been of singles.
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 33 Herring Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 4cy on cell 1b
    • 5 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 5 Stock Dove - over
    • 40 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - male seen and another heard 
    • 2 Skylark - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 70 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Swallow - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - singing at VC and West Scrape
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh

    Other: Fox at West Scrape

    Richard Scott

    Tuesday 7th

    • 10 Canada Goose - two broods of three new goslings each pair near visitor centre
    • 7 Shelduck
    • 28 Gadwall
    • 6 Teal
    • 15 Mallard - three females with new broods totalling 12 ducklings
    • 2 Shoveler
    • 17 Pochard
    • 16 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Goldeneye - female seen from from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Bittern  - showed at reedbed edge for 30 mins cell 1b
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Little Grebe
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 2 Water rail - calling
    • 6 Coot  - family of 5 new chicks
    • 1 Oystercatcher -  West Scrape
    • 6 Lapwing
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Dunlin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Black-headed Gull  2 pairs on Old Eaa
    • 100+ Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Jay - Seven Arches Carr
    • 20+ Long-tailed Tit - two family parties
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - male and female at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Lesser Whitethroat - singing males in different areas (VC, PM and Mitchell Hide)
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - Decoy Lake
    • 2 Reed Bunting

    Butterflies: 3 Orange Tip, 1 Small White

    Other: Rabbit, Bank Vole

    Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Mark Roberts

    Monday 6th

    2 Egyptian Geese
    1 Goldeneye - a late female on cell 2b
    1 Bittern - seen in flight from West Scrape Hide
    2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    2 Avocet - West Scrape
    2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    4 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    2 Redshank - cell 3b
    20 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
    1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - male was feeding on the ground in Beeston Plantation
    1 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    1 Skylark - Huxter Well Marsh
    170 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    12+ Long-tailed Tit - family party in St Caths Copse
    5 Garden Warbler
    2 Lesser Whitethroat - singing near the VC and West Scrape Hide
    2 Treecreeper - Cottage drain and Willow Bank
    2 Song Thrush - Beeston Plantation 
    1 Mistle Thrush - singing in Beeston Plantation 
    1 Greenfinch - male in St Caths Field
    3 Linnet - Central Grassland

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Ian Heppenstall, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird

    Little Egret © Allen Holmes 2019

    Little Egret © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 5th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - seen from VC
    • 4 Buzzard - together
    • 4 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Goldcrest - Black Carr Field
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Garden Warbler - singing along Mother Drain near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing along Mother Drain near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 1 Greenfinch - Loversall Triangle

    Sue Cullen, Mark Roberts, Andy Dalton

    Saturday 4th

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 Goosander - 1st-summer male on cell 1b, seen earlier flying over the iPort
    • 2 Bittern
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1+ Hobby - 3 sightings over Huxter Well Marsh/Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Oysteratcher - cell 2a
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 1 Common Tern - SW towards the iPort
    • 1 ARCTIC TERN - north through Huxter Well Marsh (12.47pm)
    • 30 Swift
    • 1 Rook - over
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 100 Sand Martin
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - singing along Mother Drain near Piper Marsh Hide and just south of Mitchell Hide

    Richard Scott

    Little Ringed Plovers © Allen Holmes 2019

    Little Ringed Plovers © Allen Holmes 2019

    Friday 3rd

    • 4 Canada Goose - pairs with 3 young on Decoy Lake and 3+ young on Willow Marsh 
    • 3 Shelduck - a pair on cell 1b and one on cell 3b
    • 22 Teal - 20 on West Scrape and 2 on cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - booming and one flew across cell 2a and one perched on cell 1b
    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male hunting on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Buzzard - watched from the Visitor centre 
    • 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh (visitor report)
    • 3 Avocet - West Scrape 
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
    • 3 Redshank - 2 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
    • 10 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Jay - Loversal Delph 
    • 150 hirundines - a mix of Swallow, Sand Martin and House Martin 
    • 3 Garden Warbler

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Common Frog © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Common Frog © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Thursday 2nd May

    • 17 Mute Swan
    • 30 Greylag Geese
    • 31 Canada Geese
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 93 Gadwall
    • 8 Teal
    • 5 Shoveler
    • 20+ Pochard
    • 30+ Tufted Duck
    • 4 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Redshank
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover
    • 1 Common Sandpiper
    • 5 Swift
    • 50+ Sand Martin
    • 4 Swallow
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 12 Chiffchaff
    • 6 Willow Warbler
    • 20 Blackcap
    • 2 Garden Warbler
    • 7 Whitethroat
    • 2 Sedge Warbler
    • 11 Reed Warbler
    • 4 Greenfinch
    • 8 Reed Bunting

    David Beresford

    Willow Warbler © Carol Hall 2019

    Willow Warbler © Carol Hall 2019

    Wednesday 1st

    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Hobby - hunting at Huxter Well Marsh and perched in the large dead oak
    • 5 Avocet - on West Scrape in the evening
    • 2 Lapwing - pair at Decoy Lake
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - including a pair copulating at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 3 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Stock Dove - Loversall Pool
    • 15+ Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 100+ Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh in the evening
    • 1 Swallow
    • 2 Garden Warbler
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat
    • 6+ Whitethroat
    • 2 Sedge Warbler
    • 2 Greenfinch - VC Feeders

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 2 Red-legged Partridge
    • 5 Blackcap - singing
    • 1 Garden warbler - singing
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - singing
    • 8 Whitethroat - singing

    Mick Bellas, Andy Dalton, Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Allen Holmes, visitor reports

    April 2019

    Tuesday 30th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 85 Gadwall
    • 25 Teal
    • 1 Shoveler
    • 18 Pochard
    • 22 Tufted Duck
    • 10 Little Egrets - including 7 together
    • 3 Little Grebe - 2 on Decoy Lake and 1 from Duchess Hide
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 5 Lapwing
    • 1 Redshank
    • 1 Herring Gull - Decoy Lake
    • 7 Swift - the group spent some time over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Jay - along the access track
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Garden Warbler - singing beside the Access Track
    • 1 Song Thrush - near St Caths Field

    Butterflies: 5 Brimstone, 11 Orange Tip, 2 Speckled Wood

    Keith Lynes, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird

    Little Ringed Plover © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Little Ringed Plover © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Monday 29th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Whitethroat - near West Scrape

    Adrian Andruchiw

    April Ringing Totals from Doncaster Ringing Group

    Totals for two visits to Carr Lodge YWT was 69 birds processed (from 6 nets on each visit, totalling c.100m) including:

    • 5 Chiffchaff (7 in March)
    • 14 Willow Warbler
    • 11 Blackcap (4 in March)
    • 6 Whitethroat
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat

    One of the Blackcaps and the Lesser Whitethroat were controls - possibly locals from Potteric Carr.

    Other notable birds included Reed Buntings, Redwings, a pair of Treecreepers and a Great Spotted Woodpecker but no Willow Tits despite luring. Buzzards and a Marsh Harrier overhead, Grey Partridge on the deck

    Saturday 27th

    • 4 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Wigeon - male on cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 1 Ringed Plover - over
    • 1 Curlew - SW
    • 1 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Common/Arctic Tern - west
    • 2 Common Gull - both 2cy on cell 1b
    • 5 Stock Dove - over
    • 2 Kingfisher - chasing each other along the bridleway
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 10 Swallow - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 100 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 20 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - along Mother Drain near Piper Marsh

    Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Bernard Featherstone

    Muslin Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Muslin Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Chocolate-tip © Derek Parker 2019

    Chocolate-tip © Derek Parker 2019

    MOTH TRAPPING REPORT FOR MONDAY NIGHT, 22 APRIL, 2019

    20 species were recorded, which is a healthy total for a trapping night in April. The highlight was the 2nd Potteric record of Chocolate-tip Clostera curtula. The first was in May, 2018. Chocolate-tip remains a very scarce moth in Yorkshire but is evidently increasing. Its larvae feed on various poplar and willow species.

    Other, previously recorded Potteric moths trapped for the first time this year included Dyseriocrania subpurpurella, Flame Carpet, Early Tooth-striped (2), Double-striped Pug, Lunar Marbled Brown (2), Lesser Swallow Prominent (3), Pebble Prominent, Muslin Moth (3) and Shuttle-shaped Dart (3).

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Wren © Allen Holmes 2019

    Wren © Allen Holmes 2019

    Friday 26th

    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 5 Buzzard - up together
    • 1 Peregrine - through Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
    • 1 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 FIRECREST - at the junction of Loversall Bank and Willow Bank (AD)
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 150+ Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Lesser Whitethroat - near Piper Marsh and Decoy Marsh

    Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird, Ian Heppenstall, Andy Dalton

    female Reed Bunting © Keith Horton 2019

    female Reed Bunting © Keith Horton 2019

    Thursday 25th

    • 2 Greylag Goose - with 4 new young on 3a
    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b 
    • 3 Wigeon - males on cell1b
    • 2 Mallard females with 5 new young 3b and 8 on 1b
    • 11 Cormorant - cell 1b 
    • 2 Bittern - booming on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 7 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - a pair were seen from Tofield hide
    • 2 Buzzard - over Black Carr Wood 
    • 1 Peregrine - in front of the Visitor Centre (from the log book)
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 2a
    • 5 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape 
    • 2 Snipe - cell 3a
    • 56 Herring Gull - dropped on to cell 1b in front of the rain
    • 1 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b 
    • 2 Kingfisher - at the under bridge were very vocal and copulating
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Huxter Well Marsh dropped on to the grassy knoll
    • c100 Sand Martin - were feeding low during a heavy shower
    • 2 Swallow - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 House Martin - were with the Sand Martins
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Mother Drain opposite Piper Marsh
    • 1 Whitethroat - singing next to the car park
    • 1 Bullfinch - a male was feeding on seeds on the path past Old Eaa

    Sue and Roger Bird, SC, Gary Dyson, Richard Scott

    female Blackcap © Steve Martin 2019

    female Blackcap © Steve Martin 2019

    Wednesday 24th

    • 6 Canada Geese - Piper Marsh
    • 17 Teal - West Scrape
    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 2 Linnet - a pair nest-building at Rossington Carr Fields

    Rob Burn, Mark Roberts

    Tuesday 23rd

    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover
    • 3 Redshank
    • 8 Common/Arctic Tern - a flock at Huxter Well Marsh included at least one Arctic
    • 4 BEARDED TIT - including 2 males at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Grasshopper Warbler - 'reeling' between Decoy Lake and Loversall Pool

    Steve Furber, Adrian Andruchiw

    Bank Vole © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Bank Vole © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Monday 22nd

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • Coot - 3 adults with 4 chicks on Piper Marsh
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 22 Lapwing - 4 Loversall Pool, 18 cell 1b
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 3 Redshank
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near Tofield Hide
    • 7 Whitethroat - mainly around the perimeter of Huxter Well Marsh and one in Willow Marsh next to Loversall Bank
    • 1 Grasshopper Warbler - 'reeling' in Willow Marsh (west end)
    • 2 Nuthatch - together in Black Carr Wood
    • 4 Song Thrush - pair in St Caths Copse, 1 Black Carr Field, 1 Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
    • 2 Greenfinch - both singing at St Cath Field

    Other: Pike - Mother Drain near the underbridge

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Andy Bell

    Golden-bloomed Grey longhorn © Derek Parker 2019

    Golden-bloomed Grey longhorn © Derek Parker 2019

    Sunday 21st including WeBS count

    • 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 70 Gadwall
    • 37 Teal
    • 23 Shoveler
    • 24 Pochard
    • 26 Tufted Duck
    • 3 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 1 Hobby - over Piper Marsh
    • 3 Avocet
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 19 Lapwing
    • 3 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Snipe - including 6 on Loversall Pool
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain behind Education Centre
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing along Cottage Drain
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - male on Reedbed Filtration Ponds flew over Loversal Pool
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing in St Caths Field

    Other: 5 Bank Voles,  2 Grass Snake,  5 Great Crested Newt,  3 Smooth Newt,  1 Common Frog

    Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields

    • Cetti's Warbler, Whitethroat, Lesser Whitethroat

    Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Allen Holmes, Richard Scott, visitor reports

    Lapwing © Richard Scott 2019

    Lapwing © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 20th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 3+ Bittern - at least 3 booming, one at Willow Marsh and at least 2 at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loversall Pool
    • 1 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 2a
    • 4 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 4 Snipe - Loversall Pool
    • 1 Stock Dove - singing in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - male and female near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Skylark - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Garden Warbler
    • 3 Mistle Thrush - singing at Beeston Plantation, Black Carr Wood and cell 4
    • 2 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh

    Buffer Area - Short Lane

    • Cetti's Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, Whitethroat

    Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Helen Womack, Pete Greaves, Sue Bird, Alan Hobson

    Snipe © Martin Roper 2019

    Snipe © Martin Roper 2019

    Friday 19th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 3 Wigeon
    • 4+ Bittern - booming from Willow Marsh and 3 locations around Huxter Well Marsh also a number of sightings.
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 Buzzard`
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 5 Water Rail - including 3 at Loversall Pool
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loversall Pool
    • 50 Coot
    • 1 Avocet - cell 1b
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 WHIMBREL - north
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Greenshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Stock Dove - 3 on Loversall Carr Fields and 2 over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Skylark - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 12+ Cetti's Warbler
    • 13 Willow Warbler
    • 2 Sedge Warbler
    • 10 Reed Warbler
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 1 White Wagtail

    Richard Scott, Robin Mokryj, Stuart Churchill, visitor reports

    Ring Ouzel © Richard Scott 2019

    Ring Ouzel © Richard Scott 2019

    Thursday 18th

    • 12 Mute Swan
    • 18  Greylag Geese
    • 12 Canada Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 9 Wigeon
    • 80 Gadwall
    • 70+ Teal
    • 12 Mallard - a female with brood of 11 chicks on Loversall Pool
    • 1 GARGANEY - drake on cell 1b and West Scrape
    • c100 Shoveler
    • 10 Pochard
    • 30+ Tufted Duck
    • [1 BUFFLEHEAD - a female on cell 2a seen from Hawthorn Bank Hide. This is the presumed escaped bird which has been seen at a number of sites in the East Midlands. The bird has a ring on its right leg.] Also reported on Tuesday afternoon (Peter Hendry)
    • 8 Cormorant
    • 3 Bittern - all booming
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 6 Little Grebe
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier 
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 6 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler
    • 11 Chiffchaff
    • 3 Willow Warbler
    • 14 Blackcap
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Song Thrush - singing Rossington Bank
    • 1 Yellow Wagtail - north
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 4 Linnet - over Tofield Hide
    • 6 Reed Bunting

    Butterflies: 20 Orange Tip, 8 Speckled Wood, 3 Peacock, 15 Brimstone 

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 1 Stock Dove, 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker a pair in courtship flight, 2 male RING OUZEL (AD et al), 2 Mistle Thrush on feeding flights, 1 Lesser Redpoll over

    Gary Johnston, Andy Dalton, David Beresford, Dave Carroll, Steve Furber, Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Ian and Janet Hepenstall, Pete Greaves

    Wednesday 17th

    • 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 17 Cormorant - departed NE in the evening
    • 3 Bittern - including 2 boomers
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male
    • 4 Water Rail - 2 at Loversall Pool and singles at Reedbed Filtration Ponds and cell 2a 
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Curlew - over West Scrape
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - Loversall Pool
    • 3 Redshank
    • 34 Snipe - 8 on cell Loversall Pool and 26 in 3 groups lifted off from Huxter Well Marsh in the evening, mainly heading SE
    • 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Sedum House roof
    • 2 Herring Gull - Decoy Lake
    • 100 Woodpigeon - St Caths Field
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh

    Other: Pike in Mother Drain, Pheasant predated an egg near cell 4, Grass Snake, Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Brimstone, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Orange Tip, Bank Vole

    Gary Dyson, Col Neale, Dave Carroll, Richard Scott

    Oystercatchers © Martin Roper 2019

    Oystercatchers © Martin Roper 2019

    Tuesday 16th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - cell 1b
    • 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 GARGANEY - male on cell 2a
    • 2 Bittern - booming on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Black Carr Wood 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Hawthorn Bank 
    • 3 Water Rail - Loversall Carr pool
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loversall Pool 
    • 18 Lapwing - 16 on cell 1b and 2 on Loversall pool 
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - flew from Decoy Lake to Loversall Pool
    • 2 Redshank - 2 on Loversall pool and later 2 on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 8 Snipe - 7 on Loversal Pool and one on Piper Marsh
    • 2 Swallow - north
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing and one showed well in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide 
    • 8 Willow Warbler - singing
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Seven Arches Carr 
    • 1 Nuthatch - calling along Hawthorn Bank and seen in Black Carr Wood 
    • c50 Redwing - in Beeston Plantation were very vocal
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - St Caths Field

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Phil Goucher, Mick Bellas, Dave Harding, Dougie Smith, Graham Sharply

    Song Thrush © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Song Thrush © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Monday 15th

    • SPOTTED CRAKE - still on Loversall Pool

    Gary Dyson

    Arctic Tern © Steve Furber 2019

    Arctic Tern © Steve Furber 2019

    Blackcap © Allen Holmes 2019

    Blackcap © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 14th

    • 11 Shelduck - 9 on cell 1b and 2 on Old Eaa
    • 11 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 94 Shoveler - cell 1b
    • 3 Bittern - including 2 boomers
    • 2 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel - at the VC 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on the Reedbed Filtration Ponds, Loversall Pool and Willow Marsh
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - Loverall Pool
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - flew from the direction of the iPort to cell 3b
    • 6 Snipe - one in front of Mitchell Hide, 2 at Piper Marsh, 3 at Loversall Pool
    • 1 ARCTIC TERN - flew low east over Huxter Well Marsh at 8.04am (SF, RJS)
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming in big trees in the dip on Hawthorn Bank North
    • 2 Goldcrest - a male singing and a female in St Caths copse
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 BEARDED TIT
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Willow Warbler - singing across the reserve
    • 2 Treecreeper - St Caths Copse and Hawthorn Field
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - over West Scrape 

    Other: 4 Hare on Loversall Carr Fields, Tawny Mining Bee

    Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, Steve Furber, Justin Parker, Stuart Churchill, Peter Williams

    Spotted Crake © Martin Roper 2019

    Spotted Crake © Martin Roper 2019

    Marsh harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Marsh harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 13th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 2 GARGANEY - a pair on West Scrape late afternoon flushed by a harrier and moved over to cell 1b (RJS)
    • 2 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc
    • 5 Water Rail - 2 calling at Loversall Pool, singles calling at cell 1b, West Scrape and Willow Marsh
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - on Loversall Pool all day but elusive at times
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 4 Redshank - 2 on Loversall Pool and 2 at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 25 Herring Gull - cell 1b
    • 20 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Rook - N
    • 30 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Reed Warbler

    Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields

    • Cetti's Warbler and Whitethroat

    Rob Burns, Richard Scott, Col Neale, Martin Roper, Dave Meikle, Sue and Roger Bird

    Kestrel © Allen Holmes 2019

    Kestrel © Allen Holmes 2019

    Friday 12th

    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 3 Bittern
    • 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair displaying 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 OSPREY - over Loversall Pool at 11.55 (TL)
    • 2 Water Rail - one calling on Loversall Pool and one singing in Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - on Loversall Pool all day
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 2 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 8 Snipe - 7 on Loversall pool and one on cell 2a
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - in Black Carr Wood and later on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • c30 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - male seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Willow Warbler - singing in Piper Marsh Scrub and in cell 4

    Buffer Area

    • Ring-necked Parakeet at Short Lane Farm in the morning, flew towards Bessacarr

    Sue and Roger Bird, Tina Langford, Pete Greaves, Richard Collis, John Burdall, visitor reports

    Spotted Crake © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Spotted Crake © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Black-tailed Godwit © Steve Furber 2019

    Black-tailed Godwit © Steve Furber 2019

    Thursday 11th

    • 22 Mute Swan
    • 11  Greylag Geese + 6 Goslings
    • 15 Canada Geese
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 18 Wigeon
    • 54 Gadwall
    • 80+ Teal
    • c150 Shoveler
    • 17 Pochard
    • 42 Tufted Duck
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 8 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - Loversall Pool
    • 1 SPOTTED CRAKE - found on Loversall Pool by visiting birders. The first since 1999.
    • 2 Oystercatcher - over
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
    • 4 Redshank - 2 at West Scrape and 2 at Loversall Pool
    • 7 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler
    • 19 Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 14 Blackcap
    • 1 Nuthatch - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 30+ Redwing - Beeston plantation
    • 4 Bullfinch

    Steve Furber, Adrian Andruchiw, Richard and Tricia Scott, David Beresford, visitor reports

    Tufted Duck © Vernon Barker 2019

    Tufted Duck © Vernon Barker 2019

    Wednesday 10th

    • 2 Wigeon - West Scrape
    • 2 Teal - Piper Marsh
    • 8 Pochard - Piper Marsh
    • 6 Tufted Duck - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 1 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Snipe - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Jay - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Swallow
    • 1 House Martin
    • 1 Reed Warbler - Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 REDSTART - male in bushes at the edge of Loversall Field next to Division Drain. Still present in the early evening. (GD et al)

    Other: 3 Peacock, 7 Orange Tip, 1 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer

    Gary Dyson, Gary Johnston, Vernon Barker, Derek and Anna Parker, Richard Collis, Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Mark Roberts

    Tuesday 9th

    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 7 Little Egret
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE

    Phil Goacher

    Indian Meal Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Indian Meal Moth © Derek Parker 2019

    Plodia interpunctella Indian Meal Moth – a new moth record for Potteric Carr N.R.

    In early April, I was presented with a moth for identification, one of 3 that had emerged from a package of wild bird food. The date was 2 April and staff member, Abi Gibbons had opened the package in the Visitor Centre stock room and managed to capture one of the moths. The moth was distinctively marked, with dark brown forewings marked with a broad pale yellow band near the base of the forewing. It was not a moth I recognised but Harry Beaumont quickly identified it as Plodia interpunctella Indian Meal Moth.

    Plodia interpunctella is a member of the Pyralidae and is a synanthropic species (associated with human activity). Its larvae feed upon a variety of stored grain, cereals, fruits, nuts, etc. It is particularly associated with wild bird food stored in warehouses, shops, etc and can be a minor pest species. The Potteric moths appear to have pupated within the box, which contained individually wrapped packets of suet pellets, which themselves were undamaged. So the larvae must have fed on material previously stored in the box.

    Yorkshire records of this species are very thinly distributed across the county, with only 4 records from VC63, the most recent one being in 2005. So this is an interesting, albeit slightly unusual new record and, as a minor pest species, perhaps a rather unwelcome one!

    Ian Heppenstall

    Grey Birch © Derek Parker 2019

    Grey Birch © Derek Parker 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 6th April

    A modest total of 10 species were trapped, of which 2 were additions to the 2019 list. Digitivalva pulicariae and Grey Birch are not uncommon species but, nevertheless, are not recorded every year. Digitivalva pulicariae is a micro-moth associated with fleabane and was last recorded in 2015. The Grey Birch, as a larva, feeds mainly on birch and this one was last seen in 2016.

    Diurnea fagella, Brindled Pug, Brindled Beauty, Yellow Horned, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Twin-spot Quaker and Clouded Drab were the other species trapped.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Monday 8th

    • 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 18 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 6 Cormorant - cell 1b 
    • 1 Bittern - booming on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - displaying over Seven Arches Carr then a female hunting over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - pair displaying over Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Buzzard - circling together over the compound 
    • 3 Water Rail - calling on cell 4, West Scrape and cell 2a
    • 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 8 Lapwing
    • 8 Snipe - 6 on Loversall pool and 2 on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bearded Tit - calling at cell 3b
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Mitchell Hide 
    • 12 Sand Martin
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 1 Willow Warbler - singing along the Access Track

    Butterflies: Brimstone, Peacock, 2 Orange Tip, Comma and Green-veined White

    Buffer Area

    • Ring-necked Parakeet over Short Lane Fields at dusk, Cetti's Warbler at Short Lane Fields pond

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

    Roe Deer © Keith Horton 2019

    Roe Deer © Keith Horton 2019

    Sunday 7th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Bittern - one seen flying near Mitchell hide and one booming
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 3 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 7+ Snipe - Loversall Pool
    • 7 Stock Dove - Loversall Carr Fields
    • 1 Tawny Owl
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 4 Willow Warbler - 3 along Cottage drain and one near the VC
    • 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Wheatear - female on Central Grassland seen from East Scrape screen
    • 2 Siskin - over Access Track

    Sue Cullen, Mark Roberts

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Little Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 6th

    • 3+ Bittern - including 2 booming
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 1 OSPREY - over Piper Marsh around 10.30 (HW)
    • 6 Water Rail - West Scrape, East Scrape, cell 1b, cell 4 and 2 at Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 2 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 3 Oystercatcher - over
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 32 Lapwing - 30 at Huxter Well Marsh and 2 at Loversall Pool
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing at Black Carr Wood/Black Carr Field. No sign of the firecrest today.
    • 3 Coal Tit - Black Carr Field
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 4 BEARDED TIT - 2 seen near Mitchell Hide, singles heard near East Scrape and Tofield Hide
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Treecreeper - singing along Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 REDSTART - in trees near pond on purple route in Discovery Zone (per BirdGuides)
    • 1 Grey Wagtail - over the Access Track to Decoy Marsh

    Other: 2 Foxes, 1 Weasel

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack, Gary Johnston, John Burdall, Keith Rich, Dave Carroll, visitor reports

    Peregrine © Vernon Barker 2019

    Peregrine © Vernon Barker 2019

    Firecrest © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Firecrest © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Friday 5th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • c20 Wigeon - over Huxter Well Marsh towards iPort
    • 2 Bittern
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh and Mother Drain near Iron Bridge
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 OSPREY - flew east over Loversall Carr Fields towards Huxter Well Marsh about 10.15 (SO, SB et al)
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 1 Water Rail - East Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 3 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Rook - south
    • 1 FIRECREST - singing in the pines at the edge of Black Carr Wood/Field (JW et al)
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling and seen briefly near Mitchell Hide
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Stonechat - male seen from Mitchell Hide

    Other: Water Vole

    Simon Oliver, Steve Bellamy, Richard Scott, Vernon Barker, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton, Nidge Nilsen, Jonathan Walker

    male and female Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    male and female Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    Thursday 4th

    • 100+ Shoveler - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Cormorant
    • 3 Bittern - booming at Decoy Marsh/Old Eaa Marsh and 2 booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh harrier - male and 2 females
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 7 Buzzard - mostly distant views
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Lapwing - pair at Loversall Pool
    • 6 Snipe - 1 Loversall Pool, 1 Decoy Marsh, 1 Piper Marsh, 3 Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Herring Gull - pairs at Decoy Lake and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Stock Dove - Decoy Lake
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 8 Jackdaw - foraging in cut grass next to Visitor Centre
    • 2 Coal Tit - singing
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 200+ Sand Martin - feeding over Huxter Well and groups purposefully west
    • 6 Swallow - through Huxter Well Marsh
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Willow Warbler
    • 14 Blackcap
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing in Hawthorn Field
    • 2 Brambling - Loversall Triangle near the viaduct
    • 4 Reed Bunting - singing

    Other: 3 Roe Deer at Huxter Well Marsh, Fox at Loversall Carr Fields

    Gary Johnston, Andy Dalton, Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird, Saxilby U3A birdwatchers

    Bittern © Paul Paddock 2019

    Bittern © Paul Paddock 2019

    Wednesday 3rd

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 15 Teal - Loversall Pool
    • 2 Bittern - booming
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - West Scrape
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE
    • 1 RED KITE - with distinctive feather loss on left wing
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair displaying
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 2 CRANE - thermalling high over Hawthorn Bank at 1pm heading north (IM, AL)
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Lapwing - pair at Loversall Pool
    • 1 JACK SNIPE - with 8 Snipe on Loversall Pool
    • 13 Snipe
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 50 Sand Martin - dropped into Huxter Well Marsh between showers
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - near Mitchell Hide
    • 2 House Sparrow - between Sedum House and the Royal Mail building. The first sighting on the reserve for a few years?

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • Green Woodpecker, Willow Warbler, 6 Blackcap

    Ian Morris, Andrew Leggett, Andy Dalton

    Ringing  Recoveries

    Cetti's Warbler ringed at Potteric Carr on 12th July 2018 was controlled at Leighton Moss, Lancashire on 28th March 2019. This is the first recovery of a Doncaster ringed Cetti's Warbler.

    Great Tit trapped Potteric Carr on 2 March 2019 had been ringed at Renishaw, Derbyshire on 25th November 2018.

    Bev Baxter and Bekah per Jim Horsfall

    Grass Snake © Matty 2019

    Grass Snake © Matty 2019

    Tuesday 2nd

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - flew from cell 1b to Piper Marsh
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 48 Gadwall
    • 48 Teal
    • 150+ Shoveler
    • 22 Pochard
    • 40 Tufted Duck
    • 7 Little Grebe
    • 11 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh. 3 males were identified.
    • 8 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair
    • 7 Buzzard
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 8 Lapwing
    • 9 Snipe
    • 1 Tawny Owl
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - calling on Huxter Well Marsh and in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Willow/Marsh Tit - Willow Pool feeders
    • c100 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Swallow
    • 5 Cettis Warbler
    • 20+ Chiffchaff
    • 1 Willow Willow - on the edge of Beeston Plantation
    • 20 Blackcap
    • 4 Treecreeper - 2 pairs in Beeston Plantation
    • c50 Redwing - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Mistle Thrush - Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Bullfinch
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation

    Other: 7 Roe Deer - 4 in Beeston Plantation and 3 on Loversall Carr Fields

    Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Mick Bellas, Dave Harding, Steve Furber, Keith Lynes, Phil Goucher, Dougie Smith, Geoff Chatterton, Paul Paddock, Chris Bell, S Brook, K Dutton, I Richardson

    Wheatear © Richard Scott 2019

    Wheatear © Richard Scott 2019

    Monday 1st

    • 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5? Bittern - 2 Bittern booming and 2 seen on Huxter Well Marsh and one on Piper Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe - 3 pairs displaying on Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - a pair displaying
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - 2 over Willow Bank and one over Old Eaa
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling in the Reedbed Filtration Ponds
    • 19 Lapwing - 17 on cell 1b and 2 on Decoy Lake island
    • 1 Common Sandpiper - flew across Piper Marsh
    • 1 Green Sandpiper - Loversall Pool
    • 3 Snipe - one on Piper Marsh and 2 on cell 3b
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Jay - Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Jackdaw - in the nest box next to Mother drain near Decoy Lake
    • 50+ Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Blackcap - singing

    Buffer Area

    • Curlew NW over Gladstones Fields at 6.45pm, Cetti's Warbler singing at the Short Lane pond, 2 Wheatear on Short Lane Fields and the rough field near the rail college, 2 Mistle Thrush at Short Lane Fields

    Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes, Rob Leach, Richard Scott

    March 2019

    The toilet near the education centre and compound has been temporarily closed due to continued vandalism and misuse

    Mark Roberts (Field Officer)

    Mute Swans © Keith Horton 2019

    Mute Swans © Keith Horton 2019

    Sunday 31st

    • 60 Whooper Swan - north at 9.40am
    • 21 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 2 Bittern - booming at Piper Marsh and cell 4
    • 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh but elusive
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair sky-dancing
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 Buzzard
    • 2 Peregrine - immature over the iPort and later an adult mobbing a buzzard near the iPort
    • 2 Water Rail - cell 1b and cell 4
    • 4 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 9 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling near Mitchell Hide
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 60 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - over
    • 1 Brambling - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Greenfinch - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Siskin - over

    Richard Scott, Sue Cullen

    Pochard © Vernon Barker 2019

    Pochard © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 30th

    • 9 Shelduck - 7 on Huxter Well Marsh and 2 on Old Eaa
    • 3 Bittern - one booming at Piper Marsh and 2 seen a number of times near Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on Huxter Well Marsh during the afternoon but elusive
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - pair and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 10 - Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - immature drifted east and was mobbed by a sparrowhawk
    • 4 Water Rail - 2 on Loversall Pool, Cell 4, Old Eaa
    • 2 Avocet - dropped into West Scrape mid afternoon
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
    • 1 Curlew - on cell 2a late afternoon but was flushed by a black-headed gull just before 5pm and flew off NW
    • 4 Snipe - 3 at Decoy Lake and one at Loversall Pool
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - ranging from Iron Bridge to Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 BEARDED TIT - calling in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 50 Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 1 Swallow - over Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 1 House Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland
    • 3 Siskin - over

    Buffer Area - Gladstones Fields

    • Tawny Owl calling overnight, Green Woodpecker

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack, Andy Dalton

    Little Grebe © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Grebe © Vernon Barker 2019

    Bittern © Vernon Barker 2019

    Bittern © Vernon Barker 2019

    Friday 29th

    • 2 Mute Swan - pair at Piper Marsh
    • 6 Gadwall - Piper Marsh
    • 4 Teal - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Pochard - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Bittern - Piper Marsh. One booming.
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female high over the centre of the reserve
    • 3 Little Grebe - Piper Marsh
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Snipe - Piper Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - 'yaffling' in Black Carr Wood
    • 9 Cetti's Warbler - singing. One giving good views along Willow Bank.
    • 15+ Chiffchaff - singing
    • 10 Blackcap - singing. A big arrival.
    • Bullfinch - 2 pairs Willow Bank/Cottage Drain area

    Butterflies: 4 Brimstone, 3 Peacock, singles of Orange Tip, Speckled Wood and Small Tortoiseshell 

    Vernon Barker, Pat and Janet Heath, Keith Horton

    Peacock © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Peacock © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Dark-edged Bee-Fly ©​​​​​​​ Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Dark-edged Bee-Fly © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Thursday 28th

    • 2 Bittern - one booming at Huxter Well Marsh and one seen at Loversall Pool
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 7 Avocet - West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 5 Ruff - cell 1b
    • 2 Snipe - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Coal Tit - singing Black Carr Field
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 8 Sand Martin
    • 3 Blackcap - 2 males and a female

    Butterflies: 6 Orange Tip, 8 Comma, 28 Peacock, 6 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Speckled Wood

    Other: 1 Fox, 3 Dark-edged Bee-Fly

    Dave Carroll, Helen Womack, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Paul Bowker

    Sparrowhawk © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Sparrowhawk © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Wednesday 27th

    • 4 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Marsh Tit - seen and heard in Big Hedge
    • 100+ Sand Martins - over Huxter Well Marsh at 1pm
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Blackcap - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood and Beeston Plantation

    Other: 4 Roe Deer

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 3 Redshank

    Ray Harrison, Paul Paddock, Andy Dalton, Mark Roberts, Mick Bellas

    Snipe © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Snipe © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Tuesday 26th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 38 Gadwall
    • 39 Teal
    • 122 Shoveler
    • 15 Pochard
    • 22 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Bittern - at 11am crossed the path between two reedbeds just to the left of Mitchell Hide
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET -  flew off East Scrape circled Huxter Well Marsh then flew off
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 15 Little Grebe
    • 7 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - female flew low over Huxter Well Marsh and over Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 1 Water Rail - Old Eaa
    • 6 Lapwing
    • 12 Snipe
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 12 Sand Martin - in small groups SW
    • 4 Coal Tit - all singing in separate territories.
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing St Caths Copse
    • 16 Chiffchaff
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Reed Bunting

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Phil Goucher, Dougie Smith, Dave Harding, Adrian Andruchiw

    Grass Snake © Gary Binder 2019

    Grass Snake © Gary Binder 2019

    Monday 25th

    • 5 Shelduck - 2 on Old Eaa and 3 on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1+ Bittern - 3 sightings at Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh  
    • 4 Marsh Harrier - a pair over Low Ellers and 2 cc over Piper Marsh/Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - over Black Carr Wood and at the visitor centre
    • 4 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
    • 4 Avocet - cell 1b
    • 4 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 8 Snipe - 5 on cell 2a and 3 on Piper Marsh 
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - calling along Hawthorn Bank 
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - heard between Mitchell Hide and Tofield Hide and one heard calling from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 100 Sand Martin - north in 3 groups of 10, 50, 40
    • 20+ Chiffchaff - singing
    • 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - male at Decoy Lake
    • 3 Greenfinch - St Caths fields
    • 1 Linnet - a male singing next to Tofield hide
    • 5 Lesser Redpoll

    Butterflies: 5 Peacock, 4 Comma, 1 Brimstone

    Keith Lynes, Richard Collis, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

    Sunday's sightings have been updated to include WeBS counts

    Black-necked Grebe © Richard Scott 2019

    Black-necked Grebe © Richard Scott 2019

    Sunday 24th

    • 46 Gadwall
    • 35 Wigeon - cell 1b
    • 59 Teal
    • 109 Shoveler
    • 64 Tufted Duck
    • 45 Pochard
    • 2+ Bittern - heard booming at 8am and singles seen near Mitchell Hide and Tofield Hide
    • 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 24 Little Grebe
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - over Piper Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - seen distantly from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 3 Water Rail - 2 calling from Old Eaa and one calling from cell 2a
    • 120 Coot
    • 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
    • 15 Snipe
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - near Iron Bridge
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - one calling near Mitchell Hide and a male seen in front of Tofield Hide
    • 2 Skylark - one singing over Huxter Well Marsh and one flew west
    • 40 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Meadow Pipit - W

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • Woodcock, singing Goldcrest

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue Cullen, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton, Derek and Anna Parker

    AGONOPTERIX PURPUREA, a micro-moth new to Potteric Carr

    On 19 February, a small micro-moth was spotted in one of the bird hides on Hawthorn Bank. This is not unusual at this time of year, when micro-moths of the Genus Mompha are regularly found in these hides. This, however, looked much more like an Agonopterix species, though not one that I recognised. The colour was unusual, a mixture of red-brown and black. The moth was collected and, subsequently, dissected. The genitalia appeared to be those of Agonopterix purpurea and the moth, itself, looked very like the illustrations of this species in the published literature and online.

    The Yorkshire Moths website showed no records of this species in the county, so the moth and genitalia slide were passed to Harry Beaumont, County Microlepidoptera Recorder for consideration. Harry was able to confirm the identification and added that there had, in fact, been a couple of recent Yorkshire records, in 2017 and 2018, both in South Yorkshire localities. The Potteric Carr Agonopterix purpurea represents, therefore, the 3rd Yorkshire record. Plus, of course, it is the first Potteric Carr record of this species.

    The larvae of Agonopterix purpurea feed on various Umbellifers and the moths hibernate as an adult, which is why the moth could be found in a bird hide in February.

    Ian Heppenstall

    Brindled Beauty © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Brindled Beauty © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Twin-spotted Quaker © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Twin-spotted Quaker © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Red Chestnut © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Red Chestnut © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Lead-coloured Drab © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Lead-coloured Drab © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Thursday Night 21st March

    It had been a very mild night and, as a consequence, we trapped an excellent total of 21 species of moths, with good numbers of some of the commonest ones. Eriocrania sangii, Diurnea fagella, Agonopterix ocellana, Acleris hastiana, Oak Beauty, Brindled Beauty, Brindled Pug, March Moth, Early Thorn, Lead-coloured Drab and Red Chestnut were all additions to the 2019 year list.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

    Redshank © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Redshank © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Great White Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Great White Egret © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 23rd

    • 9 Shelduck - 7 at Huxter Well Marsh and 2 at Old Eaa
    • 130 Shoveler - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - arrived from the east onto Huxter Well Marsh at 12.00
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair displaying
    • 3 Sparrowhawk
    • 15 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 2 Peregrine - mobbed a buzzard over the M18
    • 8 Water Rail - calling at Reedbed Filtration Ponds, Old Eaa, cell 1b, cell 4, East Scrape, Lagoon, Piper Marsh, West Scrape
    • 2 Oystercatcher - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Ringed Plover - flew over Huxter Well Marsh at 12.15
    • 1 Curlew - over Huxter Well Marsh at 6.50am
    • 1 Ruff - on the island at the back of cell 1b at 8am
    • 2 Redshank - West Scrape
    • 5 Snipe - 2 on cell 2a and 3 at West Scrape
    • 3 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr/Iron Bridge
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over Seven Arches Carr and Old Eaa
    • 3 Jay
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 3 Skylark - one singing at Huxter Well Marsh and 2 over
    • 40 Sand Martin - mainly west through Huxter Well Marsh
    • 14 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 21 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 1 Blackcap - male in Loversall Triangle
    • 1 Nuthatch - Black Carr Field
    • 2 Song Thrush - singing at Rossington Bank and Hawthorn Bank
    • 4 Mistle Thrush - 3 on Loversall Carr Fields and one singing in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland
    • 3 Greenfinch - one at St Caths Field and 2 in Big Hedge

    Butterflies: 5 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, John Burdall, Pete Greaves

    Scarlet Elf Cups © Gary Binder 2019

    Scarlet Elf Cups © Gary Binder 2019

    Thursday 21st

    • 70 Wigeon - 20 on cell 2a and c50 flew on to 2a at 12.45 from the iPort
    • 1 'Brewers' Duck - West Scrape 
    • 1 Bittern - Piper Marsh
    • 8 Little Egret - 7 on Huxter Well Marsh and one on Short Lane Fields 
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - cell 1b and later 2a
    • 1 Grey Heron - Willow Pool
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - including a pair displaying 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Water Rail - calling on West Scrape 
    • 10 Avocet - West Scrape 
    • 3 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Lapwing - displaying over Decoy Lake
    • 1 Curlew - flew over N calling
    • 3 Snipe - 1 on cell 2a and  2 on 3b
    • 2 Coal Tit - Access Track 
    • 1 Willow Tit
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 5 Chaffinch - Willow Pool
    • 2 Siskin - Access track 
    • 2 Reed Bunting - Willow Pool

    Rob Burns, Gary Dyson, Brenda Mccabe, Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Michael Bird, visitor reports

    male Teal © Ron Parke 2019

    male Teal © Ron Parke 2019

    Tuesday 19th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 78 Wigeon - dropped on to cell 2a at 2pm
    • 51 Gadwall
    • 35 Teal
    • 1 Pintail - male on West Scrape
    • 91 Shoveler
    • 30 Pochard
    • 33 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Bittern - cell 3b at 12.20pm
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 9 Little Grebe
    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - female and immature male
    • 1 Buzzard over Black Carr Wood above 11.45am
    • 4 Water Rail - calling in the Reedbed Filtration ponds, 2 females were singing
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 14 Lapwing
    • 2 Redshank - cell 1b
    • 4 Snipe
    • 2 Herring Gull - on the raft on Decoy Lake
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - one in Black Carr Wood and one in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 5 Coal Tit - 3/4 territories and some territorial dispute along Cottage Drain
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 1 Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 11 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • Long-tailed Tit - very busy nest bulding across the reserve
    • 11 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation and Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Song Thrush - near Sedum House
    • c120 Redwing - St Caths Field
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing in Beeston Plantation
    • 8 Bullfinch four pairs, 2 pairs in Seven Arches Carr, one pair in Piper Marsh scrub and a pair along Cottage drain
    • 2 Greenfinch - St Caths Field
    • 4 Lesser Redpoll - Piper Marsh Scrub
    • 15 Siskin

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, David Horncastle, Gary Dyson, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton

    Siskin © Martin Roper 2019

    Siskin © Martin Roper 2019

    Monday 18th

    • 5 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 6 Wigeon
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 2 Grey Heron
    • 2 Little Grebe - from Cottage Drain hide
    • 4 Oystercatcher
    • 3 Snipe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - St Caths Field
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - male drumming in Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Sand Martin
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 8 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 5 Redwing 
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 3 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank
    • 2 Siskin

    Other: 3 Great Crested Newt, 8 Smooth Newt, 1 Common Frog, 1 Brimstone, 3 Roe Deer

    Buffer Area

    • Marsh Harrier over Low Ellers, 2 Song Thrush singing along Short Lane

    Pat Heath, Derek and Anna Parker, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott

    Grey Heron © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Grey Heron © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Sunday 17th

    • 8 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
    • 22 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Snipe - 2 Decoy Marsh, 1 Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cream-crowns over Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - pair over Piper Marsh
    • 4 Buzzard - up together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Oystercatcher - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Redshank - cell 2a
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Sand Martin
    • 4 Cetti’s Warbler - singing
    • 4+ Chiffchaff - singing
    • 2 Greenfinch - singing male and a female in St Caths Field
    • 20 Siskin - Access Track

    Other - Grass Snake in Black Carr Field

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 79 Wigeon, 17 Gadwall, 24 Teal, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Redshank,  1 Jay

    Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Sue Cullen, Martin Roper, Chris Robinson, visitor reports
     

    Bumblebee © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Bumblebee © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Saturday 16th

    • 2 Egyptian Geese - circled Huxter Well Marsh before flying towards iPort Lakes
    • 7 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern - landed together in a reedbed at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Little Egret - St Caths Field
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - cream crowns at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2 Peregrine - a pair circling over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - Old Eaa
    • 3 Oystercatcher - up to 3 flying between iPort Lakes and the reserve
    • 1 Dunlin - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 27 Snipe - 2 on cell 2a and a flock of 25 put up by a harrier. The highest count of the year so far.
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Sand Martin - SW
    • 7 Chiffchaff - 5 singing and 2 calling
    • 2 BEARDED TIT - a male called and flew past Mitchell Hide while another was still calling in the reeds in front of the hide. A surprising find considering the challenging conditions.
    • 1 Skylark - singing at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1000+ Starling - small murmuration near the VC after 6pm
    • 5 Greenfinch - west at dusk

    Other: 4 Roe Deer

    Richard Scott

    Grass Snake © Ron Parke 2019

    Grass Snake © Ron Parke 2019

    Friday 15th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Buzzard - over Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Oystercatcher
    • 1 Redshank
    • 4 Snipe
    • 300 Black-headed Gull - on cell 1b during the morning
    • 150 Herring Gull - on cell 1b during the morning
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 1 Sand Martin - over Loversall Pool at 13:25 going SW
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 3 Chiffchaff
    • 12 Reed Bunting

    Other: 3 Roe Deer, 1 Grass Snake, 8 Frogs in Decoy Marsh, 1 Brimstone, 1 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell

    Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird

    Thursday 14th

    • 1 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - one seen eating a coot at Piper Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 2 Snipe - on the island on Piper Marsh 
    • 300+ Black-headed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 6 Common Gull - cell 1b
    • 20 Herring Gull - cell 1b
    • 1 Kingfisher - flew across Piper Marsh 
    • 2 Coal Tit - along Cottage Drain
    • 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing 
    • 1 Chiffchaff - singing along Hawthorn Bank 
    • 1 COMMON REDPOLL - with 2 Lesser Redpolls at Hawthorn Bank at 10.15am

    Other: 6 Roe Deer, Muntjac near Piper Marsh, Grass Snakes in Black Carr Field and Loversal Delph, 1 Tree Bumblebee, 4 Buff/White-tailed Bumblebee

    Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, visitor reports

    Tuesday 12th

    • 2 Little Egret - St Caths Field
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher - cell 2b
    • 10 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Herring Gull - on raft on cell 1a
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 11 Carrion Crow - in a tree Corbett Wood
    • 2 Coal Tit - pair in Black Carr Field
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing in separate areas
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 50 Redwing - St Caths Field

    Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Grey Shoulder-knot © Roger Bird 2019

    Grey Shoulder-knot © Roger Bird 2019

    Moth Record for Tuesday 5th March

    A Grey Shoulder-knot moth was found on the breeze blocks in the compound. This species isn't recorded every year, although we did have one last year. This is the first for 2019. They like to rest on greyish backgrounds that mirror their own colouring, which is why this one was resting on the breeze blocks.

    Roger Bird, Ian Heppenstall

    Gadwall pair © Vernon Barker 2019

    Gadwall pair © Vernon Barker 2019

    Monday 11th

    • 2 Shelduck -  West Scrape
    • 5 Little Egret - from Mitchell Hide
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - from Mitchell Hide
    • 10 Little Grebe - across reserve
    • 8 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - two Sightings
    • 2 Chiffchaff - Black Carr Wood and Hawthorn Bank

    Other: 2 Grass Snakes and 3 female Roe Deer

    Pat Heath

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Sunday 10th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Wigeon
    • 9 Little Grebe
    • 4 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - a bird in summer plumage seen from Mitchell Hide
    • 6 Little Egret   -  4 in St Caths and 2 on cell 1b
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - cream-crowns. One carrying a small prey item.
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 4 Peregrine - a record count. A pair seen late morning to the east of the reserve and in the early afternoon 4 were up together in the same area, one stooping on pigeons. Later one flew low over Huxter Well Marsh and straight over Hawthorn Bank Hide giving brilliant views. One later seen carrying a large prey item over Hawthorn Bank.
    • 1 Oystercatcher - over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Black-tailed Godwit - over cell 2b at 2.55pm, circled but left east
    • 7 Snipe  -  5 on cell 2a, singles on cell 1b and in front of the VC
    • 20 Common Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling from Hawthorn Bank and Corbett Wood
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Chiffchaff  -  Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 1 Mistle Thrush
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland
    • 1 Greenfinch - singing in St Caths Field
    • 40 Siskin - 20 at the car park and 20 at Piper Marsh

    Other: 3 Roe Deer, 1 Bank Vole along Hawthorn Bank

    Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott, visitor reports

    Saturday 9th

    • 30+ Pochard - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - flew (probably) from the rear of Piper Marsh to the middle of the Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 cream-crowns, with one seemingly driven off SW
    • Buzzard - several sightings
    • 2 Snipe - Decoy Marsh and cell 2a
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - calling at various locations
    • 3 Chiffchaff - 2 in the Hawthorn Bank area and one at Old Eaa
    • 9 Lesser Redpoll - 3 in a tree at Black Carr Field and 6 on Hawthorn Bank
    • 10+ Siskin - 4 feeding on path near Willow Pool Hide and at least 6 feeding near Piper Marsh

    Other: Roe Deer in St Catherines Field

    Chris Bell

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2019

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2019

    Friday 8th

    • 3 Shelduck - 2 on 1b and one on Old Ea
    • 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - female on Willow Marsh 
    • 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Curlew - flew from 1b at 12.40 and went west
    • 5 Snipe - cell 2a
    • 5 Common Gull - cell 1a
    • 1 Goldcrest - singing in St Caths Copse
    • 1 Willow Tit - heard in St Caths Copse 
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing in Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing along Hawthorn Bank and in Willow Marsh
    • 1 Siskin - male singing near the pumping station
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank 
    • 2 Bullfinch - pair in St Caths copse 

    Other: 3 Roe Deer on Huxter Well Marsh 

    Sue and Roger Bird

    Engrailed © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Engrailed © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Yellow Horned © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Yellow Horned © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Shoulder Stripe © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Shoulder Stripe © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Hebrew Character © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Hebrew Character © Sue and Brian Trout 2019

    Moth Trapping Report for Thursday Night, 28th February

    It hadn’t been an especially mild night but, nevertheless, there were plenty of moths around on Friday morning to keep the interest going. There was a total of 12 species trapped, none of them unexpected or uncommon, but it was the number of individuals that was impressive. Totals included 37 Common Quaker, 11 Small Quaker, 7 each of Clouded Drab and Chestnut, 4 Yellow Horned, 3 each of Twin-spot Quaker and Hebrew Character, plus singles of 5 other species.

    Yellow Horned, Shoulder Stripe, Small Quaker, Clouded Drab, Engrailed, Common Quaker, Twin-spot Quaker and Hebrew Character were all additions to the 2019 year list.

    Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Thursday 7th

    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair displaying high above the reserve this morning
    • 2 Snipe - flushed off the edge of Decoy Lake
    • 2 Kingfisher - along Mother Drain half way down the Access Track
    • 1 Sand Martin - over Piper Marsh
    • c30 Siskin - around the Pumping Station

    Andy Dalton, visitor report

    Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    Wednesday 6th

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh, seen from Duchess Hide and Tofield Hide
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - 3 at Huxter Well Marsh and one at Decoy Marsh

    Other: 2 Roe Deer

    Adrian Andruchiw, Paul Paddock

    Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    Shoveler © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Egrets © Steve Ditch 2019

    Tuesday 5th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 75 Gadwall
    • 18 Teal
    • 41 Shoveler
    • 1 Bittern - seen from Duchess Hide
    • 32 Pochard
    • 51 Tufted Duck
    • 5 Cormorant
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 3 Little Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh at 3pm
    • 1 Water Rail - in the Iron Bridge area
    • c35 Lapwing
    • 1 Curlew - cell 1b at 3pm
    • 1 Woodcock - Loversall Delph
    • 3 Snipe - from Hawthorn Bank Hide
    • 2 Herring Gull - on the raft on Decoy Lake were displaying
    • 2 Kingfisher - pair along Moth Drain
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh and Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming in Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood, Black Carr Field and St Caths Copse
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 5 Willow Tit - counted during a survey
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing
    • 1 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood
    • 1 Redwing - near Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 6 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Siskin - Rossington Bank

    Other: 5 Roe Deer, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Grass Snake in Black Carr Field, 1 Smooth Newt in Loversall Field pond

    Ray Harrison, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Darren Wozencroft, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, David Horncastle

    young Bank Vole © Allen Holmes 2019

    young Bank Vole © Allen Holmes 2019

    young Bank Vole © Allen Holmes 2019

    young Bank Vole © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 3rd

    • 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - briefly on cell 1b late morning
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - Old Eaa
    • 6 Buzzard - including one with a white upper-tail
    • 3 Water Rail - 2 calling at Huxter Well Marsh and one at Old Eaa
    • 3 Oystercatcher - commuting between Huxter Well Marsh and iPort Lakes
    • 2 Snipe - some aerial activity over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 4 Stock Dove - together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the entrance
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Sand Martin - through Huxter Well Marsh at 10.45. The earliest record by 4 days.
    • 1 Skylark - singing over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler
    • 6+ Redwing - feeding in St Caths Field
    • 3 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 30 Goldfinch - St Caths Field
    • 30 Lesser Redpoll - in birch trees on Hawthorn Bank near St Catherine's Hide
    • 1 COMMON REDPOLL - with the Lessers on Hawthorn Bank
    • 30 Siskin - in alders near the pumping station

    Other: young Bank Voles on Hawthorn Bank

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes

    Marsh Harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 2nd

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - SE following the Mother Drain
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 6+ Buzzard
    • 1 Peregrine - beyond the M18
    • 40 Lesser Black-backed Gull - increase in numbers in the roost
    • 360 Herring - roosting
    • 35 Great Black-backed Gull - a big drop in numbers
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - pair in Beeston Plantation and one drumming in Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Raven - seen between 12.40 and 2.30pm 'blogging' beyond the M18 to the east of the iPort
    • 1 Skylark - SW
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 1 Marsh Tit - Black Carr Wood
    • 3 Chiffchaff - 2 singing and one trapped and ringed
    • 5 Treecreeper - 4 in Beeston Plantation, 1 in St Caths Copse
    • 40 Lesser Redpoll - over Willow Marsh

    Richard Scott, Nigel Walker

    February 2019

    Little Grebe © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Grebe © Vernon Barker 2019

    Thursday 28th

    • 24 Mute Swan
    • 19 Greylag Geese
    • 14 Canada Geese
    • 7 Shelduck - West Scrape
    • 150+ Gadwall
    • 40+ Teal
    • 30+ Shoveler
    • 12 Pochard
    • 56 Tufted Duck
    • 13 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - dropped into reeds opposite Tofield Hide
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 2 Heron
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 6 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - in the dead oak at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Oystercatcher
    • 70+ Lapwing
    • 4 Snipe
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Willow Bank and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood
    • 4 Coal Tit
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler
    • 4 Song Thrush - singing
    • 10 Redwing
    • 7 Bullfinch
    • 20+ Lesser Redpoll
    • 4 Reed Bunting

    Other: 5 Roe Deer, 1 Fox, 1 Rabbit

    Michael Bird, David Beresford

    Cormorant © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Cormorant © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Wednesday 27th

    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 Green Woodpeclker - Black Carr Field
    • 2 (or 4) Great Spotted Woodpecker - pair in Black Carr Wood and a pair at Loversall Triangle
    • 2 Goldcrest - Black Carr Field
    • 1+ Coal Tit - Black Carr Field
    • 2 Chiffchaff - singing at Loversall Pool and Cottage Drain
    • 3+ Song Thrush - singing

    Other: several Brimstones and lots of reports of Grass Snakes 

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 7 Greylag Geese, 5 Mallard, 10 Teal, 3 Grey Heron, 5 Pheasant, singing Treecreeper

    Mark Roberts, Andy Dalton, Chris Robinson, Vernon Barker, visitor reports

    Great Crested Grebes © Barry Wardley 2019

    Great Crested Grebes © Barry Wardley 2019

    recent video of Jack Snipe © Steve Ditch 2019
    (best viewed full screen)

    Tuesday 26th

    • 1 Whooper Swan - cell 1b
    • 4 Shelduck
    • 160 Gadwall
    • 30 Teal
    • 60 Shoveler
    • 15 Pochard
    • 40 Tufted Duck
    • 4 Little Egret
    • 7 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 7 Buzzard - up together
    • 2 Water Rail - singing at Decoy Marsh and cell 1a
    • 3 Oystercatcher
    • 50 Lapwing
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation and drumming at Hawthorn Field
    • 4 Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood
    • 4 Coal Tit - singing in separate areas
    • 1 Skylark - Loversall Carr
    • 5 Chiffchaff - singing in separate areas
    • 5 Cettis Warbler - Decoy Lake, Old Eaa, Huxter Well Marsh, Seven Arches Carr
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 4 Song Thrush
    • 10 Lesser Redpoll - St Catherine's Copse
    • 5 Siskin - back of Decoy Lake

    Butterflies: 4 Brimstone, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral
    Other: 4 Roe Deer

    Buffer Area - Coronation Meadow

    • 1 Water Rail
    • 1 JACK SNIPE
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Phil Goucher, Dougie Smith, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Sheila Bury, Chris Bell, Andy Dalton, John Burdall, Mark Roberts, visitor reports

    Dunnock © Allen Holmes 2019

    Dunnock © Allen Holmes 2019

    Jackdaw © Allen Holmes 2019

    Jackdaw © Allen Holmes 2019

    Monday 25th

    • 3 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - on Decoy Marsh in breeding plumage
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Water Rail - from Mitchell Hide
    • 14 Snipe - ​4 in front of the VC,  6 West Scrape, 3 Decoy Marsh, 1 Loversall Pool
    • 20 Black-headed Gull - on Decoy Lake were showing interest in Love Island
    • 1 Kingfisher​ - Mother drain
    • 2 Green Woodpecker​ - Hawthorn bank
    • 1 Great Spotted​ - Black carr wood
    • 11 Jackdaw - at porta-cabins/reserve entrance
    • 3 Coal Tit - 2 along Loversall Bank/Willow Bank and one at Willow Pool feeders 
    • 5 Cetti's Warbler - Huxter Well Marsh, Willow Marsh and Old Eaa
    • 4 Treecreeper - 3 in Beeston Plantation and one on Loverall Bank
    • 1 Song Thrush - singing near reserve entrance/car park
    • Bullfinch​ - several pairs
    • 3 Lesser Redpoll
    • 20 Siskin ​- Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Reed Bunting - Willow Pool feeders

    Other: 2 Roe Deer​, 1 Fox

    Allen Holmes, Adrian Andruchiw, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll

    Sunday 24th

    • 5 Great Crested Grebe
    • 8 Little Grebe
    • 2 Shelduck
    • 2 Snipe
    • 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 7 Song Thrush

    Sue Cullen, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Buzzard and Crows © Vernon Barker 2019

    Buzzard and Crows © Vernon Barker 2019

    Saturday 23rd

    • 55 Wigeon - cell 2a
    • 1 Bittern - booming
    • 5 Little Egret
    • 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on cell 1b briefly in the afternoon
    • 3 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh and 2 cc high SW at dusk
    • 1 Water Rail - Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Oystercatcher - low over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 2cy arrived in the roost at 4.35pm. There was a dread (a wave of panic) at 5.45 pm and all of the gulls departed SW. 
    • 2 Kingfisher - together on the Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Willow Tit - Cottage Drain/Hawthorn Bank

    Richard Scott, Helen Womack, visitor reports

    Mallards © Vernon Barker 2019

    Mallards © Vernon Barker 2019

    Crow and Marsh Harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Crow and Marsh Harrier © Vernon Barker 2019

    Friday 22nd

    • 4 Shelduck
    • 130 Wigeon on 2a, flew in from the Iport in the afternoon 
    • 1 Bittern in flight on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 4 Little Egret 3 on 1b and one on 3b
    • 10 Great Crested Grebe on Huxter Well Marsh included 4 displaying pairs
    • 1 Marsh Harrier a female on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 1 Sparrowhawk over Black carr Wood 
    • 5+ Buzzard watched from Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 250 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2  Common Gull on 1b
    • 1 Kingfisher on 3a
    • 1 Green Woodpecker on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Black Carr Wood were very active
    • 1 Goldcrest in Black Carr Wood 
    • 1 Coal tit singing in Black Carr Field 
    • 7 Cetti's Warbler singing 
    • 1 Treecreeper in Black Carr Wood 
    • 2 Song Thrush singing 
    • 1 Mistle Thrush singing in Black Carr Wood 
    • 8 Bullfinch were 4 pairs

    1 Grass Snake

    SB  RB  DC and visitor records

    c50 Redwing on Short Lane Fields

    Bittern © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Bittern © Nidge Nilsen 2019

    Toad © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Toad © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Thursday 21st

    • 5 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - cell 3a
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 2 Water Rail - calling
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 6 Coal Tit
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 10 Redpoll
    • 1 Ring-necked Parakeet - Childer's Wood
    • 1 Common Toad - St Cath's

    Darren Wozencroft, Richard Jenkinson

    • Cetti warbler Decoy marsh
    • Jack snipe Old Eea
    • Pair GSW Black Carr wood
    • 4 little egrets HWM
    • 1 Great White Egret 1b
    • 4 Shell duck 1b
    • 20 Goldfinch St Caths field
    • 6 Brimstone Butterflies

    Michael Bird

    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Bullfinch
    • 1 tree Creeper
    • 3 Cettis Warbler
    • 3 Heron
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 1 Great White Egret
    • 18 Cormorant
    • 6 Snipe
    • 250+ Lapwing
    • 3/4 Great Spotted Woodpecker (female seen on Hawthorne Bank may have been same bird as seen under mother drain bridge)
    • 1 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Song Thrush
    • 2 Kingfisher
    • 3 Buzzards
    • 3 Shelduck
    • 230+ Gadwall
    • 50+Teal
    • 120,circa, Widgeon
    • 50+ Shoveler
    • 38 Tufted Duck
    • 19 Pochard
    • 26 Mute Swan
    • 6 Little Grebe
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe
    • 5 Grey Lag Geese
    • 5 Canada Geese
    • 9 Lesser Redpoll
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 3 Gt Black Backed Gulls
    • Other
    • 3 Roe Deer
    • 3 Brimstone

    David Beresford

    Dotted Border © Derek Parker 2019

    Dotted Border © Derek Parker 2019

    The Satellite © Derek Parker 2019

    The Satellite © Derek Parker 2019

    Oak Nycteoline © Derek Parker 2019

    Oak Nycteoline © Derek Parker 2019

    MOTH TRAPPING REPORT FOR SATURDAY NIGHT, 16 FEBRUARY, 2019

    A total of 6 species of moths were recorded. The only record of note was 2 examples of Nycteola revayana Oak Nycteolene. This is quite a small and very variable species, resembling a Tortricid in shape and demeanour, although quite unrelated to that family and, indeed, is classified as a macro-moth, whereas Tortricids are micro-moths.

    Oak Nycteolenes emerge in late autumn, overwinter, and re-appear in earliest spring. It is not a moth which is recorded annually at Potteric Carr, more like every 2-3 years, so is always good to see. It is, as its name implies, an oak-feeding species. The full-grown larva pupates in a boat-shaped cocoon under the surface of an oak leaf.

    Other species recorded, all of them common, were: Tortricodes alternella, Pale Brindled Beauty, Dotted Border, Chestnut and Satellite.

    Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

    Great Spotted Woodpeckers © Paul Paddock 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpeckers © Paul Paddock 2019

    Wednesday 20th

    • 3x Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 3x Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood
    • 7x Long Tailed Tit - Black Carr Wood
    • 1x Bittern - flying by Huxter Marsh Cell 1a near tree line
    • 1x Great Crested Grebe - Huxter Marsh Cell 1b
    • 3x Shelduck - 1x on Decoy Marsh and 2x on Huxter Marsh Cell 1b

    Paul Paddock

    Tuesday 19th

    • 2 Jack Snipe one on Decoy Marsh and one on Old Eaa
    • 3 Common Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher on Mother Drain
    • c 240 Gadwal
    • c 40 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Goldcrest in Black Carr Wood
    • c  70 Shoveler
    • 7 Great Crested Grebes
    • 2 Shelduck
    • c 170 Lapwings
    • 2 Common Gulls
    • c 40 Pochard
    • 15 Cormorant
    • 4 Grey Herons
    • 3 Little Egrets on Piper Marsh
    • c 30 Teal
    • 1 Nuthatch at end of Hawthorn Bank near Mother Drain
    • 10 Siskin near pumping station
    • Little Grebe 2 Willow Marsh
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 Coal Tit
    • 2 Willow Tit
    • 3 singing Cetti’s Warbler
    • 20 Long-tailed Tit counted
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 1 Song Thrush at snail anvil
    • 10 Bullfinch counted
    • 15 Lesser Redpoll
    • 3 singing Reed Bunting

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Philip Goucher, Dougie Smith, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Sheila Bury

    Gadwall © Vernon Barker 2019

    Gadwall © Vernon Barker 2019

    Monday 18th

    • 1 Shelduck a male on Old Eaa
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe cell 3a
    • 1 Bittern Huxter Well Marsh (Keith Fellows)
    • 1 Little Egret cell 3b
    • 11 Cormorant cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier a female and imm male on Huxter Well Marsh 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk 1over Beeston Plantation and one displaying over Black Carr Wood 
    • 3 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel over Piper Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine very actively hunting over Huxter Well Marsh this afternoon
    • 250 Lapwing Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail calling on Old Eaa
    • 150 Black-headed Gull cell 1b
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker calling in Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Green Woodpecker Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Cettis Warbler
    • 1 Goldcrest near Old Eaa hide
    • 2 Coal Tit in Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Skylark over Beeston plantation
    • 2 Treecreeper in Beeston Plantation 
    • 1 Song Thrush singing Old Eaa
    • Large flock of Siskin at the Pumping station
    • 16 Lesser Redpoll in Beeston Plantation in a flock of Goldfinches
    • 1 Reed Bunting at VC feeders

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Rich Collis

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2019

    Stonechat © Richard Scott 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Carol Hall 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Carol Hall 2019

    Sunday 17th

    Piper Marsh: Grey Partridge flew east

    Mark Roberts

    Black Carr Wood 2Great spotted woodpeckers chasing each other 

    piper marsh hide 10.48 bittern flew straight across the front of the hide great view for all present .

    Paul Naylor

    1 Willow Tit - Piper Marsh

    1 Stonechat - female near VC

    Richard Scott

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    2 Greylag, 20 Teal, 3 Grey Heron, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, 6 BH Gull SE, 1 Common Gull SE, 2 Herring Gull SE, 1 GBB Gull SE, 20+ Woodpigeon, 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Magpie, 6+ Blue Tit, 1s Great Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1s Treecreeper,  2 Mistle Thrush, 1s Chaffinch and 17 Goldfinch W.

    Chris Robinson

    Red Kite (record shot) © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Red Kite (record shot) © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Saturday 16th

    Willow Bank: 20+ Long Tailed tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits 4 Robins

    Willow Pool from cottage Drain Hide: 1 Heron 4 pairs of Mallards, 1 moor hen and 1 coot

    On the reed bed to the right of the old path around Piper pool (so
    left as you reach the iron Bridge)  One BEARDED TIT spooked

    Reed Bed by Old Eaa Pool at least 2 possibly 3 BEARDED TIT singing away.

    Piper hide pool amongst many mallards was a Heron and a mating pair of Mallards.

    Black Carr Wood: 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker, 10+ Gold Crests flock of Long Tailed tits
    Marsh Tit (three seen) one possible WIllow tit but picture not good enough for ID.

    Rob Burns

    • 1 Bittern
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET
    • c320 Pink-footed Geese - west
    • 1 RED KITE
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 2cy
    • 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 2cy
    • 1 Peacock Butterfly

    Pete Greaves, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw

    Brimstone © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Brimstone © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Mole © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Mole © Darren Wozencroft 2019

    Friday 15th

    1 Peacock butterfly behind Sedum house, 1 Male Siskin singing near Willow pool hide, 1 Wate Rail calling Old Eaa, 4 Redpoll Loversall bank

    Richard Collis

    2 male Brimstone - Loversall Triangle, 1 Mole - Access Track

    Darren Wozencroft

    1 GS Pecker in Black Carr Wood, 3 Cetti's Warblers, 310 Gadwall including 130 from Hawthorn Bank Hide, 115 from Duchess Hide and 56 on Piper Marsh. A JACK SNIPE got up from one of the islands from Hawthorn Bank Hide and flew to middle of Huxter Well Marsh, 17 Cormorants from Mitchell Hide and a Fox also in the middle of the marsh.

    Pete Greaves

    Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields

    c80 Redwing

    Richard Scott

    Thanks to Nidge Nilsen, Carol Hall and Vernon Barker for sending in photos. I'll post a selection over the next few days.

    Long-tailed Tit © Rob Burns 2019

    Long-tailed Tit © Rob Burns 2019

    Thursday 14th

    Willow bank Long tailed tits Blue Tits Great Tits Robin and a Brimstone Butterfly

    Over Huxter Well Marsh Harrier. Cell 2a  100+ Lapwings 40+ teal  20+ Gadwall 30+ Mallard  1 Snipe

    At Willow pool hide by the entrance door one marsh Tit and another
    heard on Hawthorne Bank

    Rob Burns

    3 of Great spotted woodpecker, in the wood near Blackcarr field i.e. the one you have to climb over the stile to enter

    I spent 40 mins watching 2, possibly a pair, chasing each other backwards and forwards from tree to tree and from branch to branch when a third arrived and started to chase the pair around.

    I also saw  7-spot ladybird and an early instar of what may be a shield bug of some sort, I need to research that one a bit more before I can confirm that ID.

    Derek Parker

    Bittern and Marsh Harrier

    Nidge Nilsen

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Paul Paddock 2019

    Great Spotted Woodpecker © Paul Paddock 2019

    Jack Snipe © Paul Paddock 2019

    Jack Snipe © Paul Paddock 2019

    Wednesday 13th

    • Flock of Siskins  30+ 
    • Great spotted Woodpecker
    • Tree creeper
    • 1x Jack Snipe - Decoy Marsah
    • 2x Greater Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
    • 10+ Bullfinch flock - near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 10+ Long-Tailed Tits - near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 1x Song Thrush - near pumping station
    • 2x Cetti’s Warbler singing
    • 4x Shelduck - cell 1B Huxter

    Ray Harrison, Paul Paddock

    Long-tailed Tit  © Carol Hall 2019

    Long-tailed Tit  © Carol Hall 2019

    Tuesday 12th

    • 1 Jack Snipe on Decoy Marsh
    • 2 Song Thrush one at top of access track and one near the pumping station
    • c 250 Gadwall
    • c 60 Shoveler
    • c 140 Teal
    • c 90 Pochard
    • c 50 Tufted Duck
    • c 200 Lapwings
    • 4 Common Gull
    • 11 Cormorants
    • 2 Little Grebes
    • 1 Sparrow hawk
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Water Rail on Willow Pool
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 Jays
    • 1 cc Marsh Harrier HWM
    • 1 Woodcock Rossington Bank
    • 2 Herring Gull Sedum House
    • 4 Stock Dove in tree at St Catherine’s Field
    • 1 Kingfisher flew up Mother Drain
    • 1 GSW Black Carr Wood
    • 20 Redwing St Catherine’s Field
    • 30,000 Starlings over Visitor Centre at 5.10pm
    • 7 Jackdaw Sedum House
    • 9 Bullfinch Rossington Bank
    • 1 Cetti’s Warbler singing
    • 1 Bittern reported

    1 Roe Deer Black Carr Wood

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Dave Carroll

    Green Woodpecker © Amy Thompson 2019

    Green Woodpecker © Amy Thompson 2019

    Monday 11th

    • Water rail and male and female Reed Buntings at Willow Hide
    • Jack Snipe - Decoy Marsh
    • Siskin - 3 in Warden’s car park
    • Water Rail - Willow Pool
    • Cetti’s Warbler - Hawthorn Bank & Willow Pool
    • Bullfinch - numerous locations
    • Song Thrush 
    • Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 along Hawthorn Bank
    • Oystercatcher
    • Sparrowhawk - 2
    • Tawny Owl - calling from Decoy Marsh area

    Brenda McCabe, John Burdall

    immature Mute Swan © Matty Laycock 2019

    immature Mute Swan © Matty Laycock 2019

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2019

    Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2019

    Sunday 10th

    • 1 Whooper Swan - West Scrape
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 2 Kestrel
    • 2+ Peregrine - one around 1pm circling over Black Carr Wood stooped on a flock of pigeons. At 1.55pm a pair circled high with 3 Buzzards
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult on cell 1b from 12.30 to 1.20pm
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 Coal Tit - including 2 singing along Loversall Bank
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing in Beeston Plantation

    Richard Scott, Carol Hall, visitor reports

    Saturday 9th

    • 1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Great Crested Grebe - cell 3a
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female cream-crowns at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - adult mobbing a Buzzard
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 100 Jackdaw - in the distance near Parrot's Corner
    • 13 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 500 Herring Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - adult roosting on cell 1b
    • 300 Great Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
    • 40 Siskin - Access Track

    Buffer Area

    • 2 Ring-necked parakeets arrived separately to roost in trees bordering Low Ellers
    • Starlings circa 30,000 seen briefly from SLFields

    Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, visitor reports

    Thursday 7th

    • 2 Reed Bunting
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 8 Bullfinch
    • 3 tree Creeper
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 1 Cettis
    • 2 Jay
    • 5 Heron
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 1 Jack Snipe
    • 1 Kingfisher
    • 170+ Lapwing
    • 24 Cormorant
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • Green Woodpecker
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 300+ Gadwall
    • 63 Pochard
    • 50+ Tufted Duck
    • 60+ Shoveler
    • 80+ Teal
    • 2 Little Grebe
    • 18 Grey Lag Geese
    • 5 Canada Geese
    • 23 Mute Swan
    • 1 Marsh Harrier (CC)
    • 1 Water Rail at Willow Pool feeders
    • 10 Siskin
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll in Goldfinch flock
    • 1 Great Black Backed Gull

    David Beresford

    Spring Usher © Derek Parker 2019

    Spring Usher © Derek Parker 2019

    MOTH TRAPPING REPORT FOR TUESDAY NIGHT, 5 FEBRUARY, 2019

    Advantage was taken of a rare mild night, free of strong winds, to begin the year’s moth trapping. In early February, the number of species flying is very limited and, hence, we had just 6, generally common, species to record, as follows:

    Tortricodes alternella (3)

    Acleris ferrugana (1, a male, confirmed by dissection)

    Pale Brindled Beauty (2)

    Spring Usher (1)

    Dotted Border (2)

    Chestnut (14)

    Ian and Janet Heppenstall   

    Darvic Ringed Great Black-backed Gull

    The following details have been returned about a bird found dead near to Mitchell Hide which was ringed last year as a chick in Denmark.

    Date Place km
    06/07/18 Møgholm, Hirsholmene, Frederikshavn, Nordjylland, Denmark  
    14/09/18 Strandby Havn, Frederikshavn, Nordjylland, Denmark 6
    08/01/19 Potteric Carr Nature Reserve, Doncaster 859
    Jay © Allen Holmes 2019

    Jay © Allen Holmes 2019

    Wednesday 6th

    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Water Rail - Willow Pool
    • 1 JACK SNIPE - Decoy Marsh
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood 
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Marsh Tit - Willow Bank
    • 1 Nuthatch - red route near Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Treecreeper
    • 5 Bullfinch
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll - near Education Centre
    • 8 Siskin 
    • 5 Reed Bunting

    David Beresford, Vernon Barker, Alan Stenton

    Darvic Ringed Herring Gull

    The following details have just been returned about a bird seen on Decoy Lake on 28th November 2017

    GR08114 7 27/02/2012 Daneshill Landfill Site: 53°22'N 1°0'W (SK6786) (Nottinghamshire)  
    4G9B VV 27/12/2012 Richmond Bank, River Mersey: 53°22'N 2°39'W (SJ5786) (Warrington) 109km W
    4G9B VV 28/11/2017 Potteric Carr Nature Reserve: 53°29'N 1°8'W (SE5800) (South Yorkshire) 16km NW
    Snowdrops © Keith Lynes 2019

    Snowdrops © Keith Lynes 2019

    Tuesday 5th

    • 5 Shelduck
    • c200 Gadwall
    • c360 Teal
    • c120 Shoveler
    • c20 Pochard
    • c25 Tufted Duck
    • 20 Cormorant
    • 1 Bittern - landed in front of Tofield Hide at 12.15pm
    • 2 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Water Rail - showing well in front of Willow Pool Hide
    • c150 Lapwing
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood and the Iron Bridge area
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - two in Black Carr Wood and one alongside Mother Drain
    • 4 Goldcrest - two in Beeston Plantation and two in Black Carr Field
    • 2 Cetti's Warbler
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Song Thrush
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Phil Goacher, Doug Smith, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Helen Womack, Dave Carroll

    Jack Snipe © Allen Holmes 2019

    Jack Snipe © Allen Holmes 2019

    Coot © Amy Thompson 2019

    Coot © Amy Thompson 2019

    Monday 4th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 50 Shoveler
    • 1 Water Rail - Willow Pool
    • 1 JACK SNIPE - Decoy Marsh
    • c40,000 Starling - visible from the VC

    Amy Thompson, Allen Holmes

    Redwing © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Redwing © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Sunday 3rd

    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Water Rail - Willow Pool
    • 1 JACK SNIPE - Decoy Marsh
    • 4 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 3 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER                                 
    • 2 Jay
    • 5 Coal Tit
    • 2 Marsh Tit - a very vocal pair in Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 2 Nuthatch – Beeston Wood and Black Carr Wood
    • 70 Redwing - 50 in Beeston Plantation and 20 near the Royal Mail building
    • 12 Bullfinch
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 9 Lesser Redpoll          

    Other: 5 Roe Deer

    Gary Johnston, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Nigel Walker, Sue Cullen, Chris Bell

    Water Rail © Allen Holmes 2019

    Water Rail © Allen Holmes 2019

    Linnet © Richard Scott 2019

    Linnet © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 2nd

    • c150 Pink-footed Geese - west at 1.15pm (distant over Bessacarr)
    • 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 22 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - walking on the ice at 1.30pm seen from Tofield Hide
    • 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying beyond M18
    • 6 Buzzard
    • 3 Kestrel
    • 2 Water Rail - one at Willow Pool and one on the frozen drain in front of Mitchell Hide
    • 2 Stock Dove - over
    • 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 3 in Black Carr Wood (inc. female drumming), singles at Beeston Plantation and Willow Marsh
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit - Willow Bank
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Song Thrush - Hawthorn Bank
    • c50 Redwing - St Caths Field
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - St Caths Field
    • 1 Meadow Pipit - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Linnet - overflow car park
    • c5 Lesser Redpoll - Black Carr Wood
    • 9 Siskin - Willow Pool area

    Other: 8 Roe Deer

    Gary Johnston, Richard Scott, Andy Bell, Michael Bird, Allen Holmes, Col Neale, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Katie Smith

    Marsh Harrier © Paul Paddock 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Paul Paddock 2019

    Friday 1st

    • 1 Bittern - seen twice over Huxter Well Marsh at 1pm and 1.30pm
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Peregrine - seen from Lakeside but came from Reserve, looked like juv female
    • 2 Water Rail
    • 3 Goldcrest
    • 4 Lesser Redpoll
    • 20 Siskin

    Darren Wozencroft

    January 2019

    Frost and fog © Richard Sykes 2019

    Frost and fog © Richard Sykes 2019

    Thursday 31st

    • 55 Greylag Geese
    • 2 Canada Geese
    • 5 Shelduck
    • 220+ Gadwall
    • 3 Little Grebe
    • 5/6 Little Egret - in Mother drain
    • 1 Grey Heron
    • 1 Water Rail - cottage drain
    • 3 Woodcock - one flushed from path side near West Scrape Hide and 2 in Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - near West Scrape Hide
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over Willow Pool
    • 2 Goldcrest - Access Track
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 1 Willow Tit - Access Track
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 1 Song Thrush - Car Park area
    • 5 Redwing
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 24 Bullfinch
    • 1 Greenfinch
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll - near Education Centre
    • c30 Siskin - Access Track
    • 2 Reed Bunting

    Other: 4 Roe Deer

    David Beresford, Michael Bird, Andy Dalton, visitor reports

    Red Arrows © Paul Paddock 2019

    Red Arrows © Paul Paddock 2019

    Jelly Ear Fungi © Debbie Ross 2019

    Jelly Ear Fungi © Debbie Ross 2019

    Wednesday 30th 

    • 6 Shelduck
    • 1 Marsh harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 3 Snipe
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female in Black Carr and one heard in Corbett Wood
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
    • 4 Jay
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 10's Blue Tit
    • 10's Great Tit
    • 4 Coal Tit
    • 10's Long-Tailed Tit
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston Plantation
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • 1 Redwing - near the pumping station
    • 8 Bullfinch
    • 6 Lesser Redpoll - near the pumping station
    • 2+ Siskin

    Other: 6 Roe Deer. Also the Red Arrows were spotted (see photo)

    Gary Johnston, Sue Brook, Richard Collis, Paul Paddock

    Canada Goose © Richard Scott 2019

    Canada Goose © Richard Scott 2019

    Tuesday 29th

    • 40 Pink-footed Geese - over
    • 6 Shelduck
    • 200+ Gadwall
    • 270+ Teal
    • c60 Shoveler
    • c75 Pochard
    • c55 Tufted Duck
    • 16 Cormorant
    • 2 Bittern - sightings from Tofield Hide and Beeston Hide
    • 1 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 6 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier
    • c140 Lapwing
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge/Huxter Well Marsh and Willow Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 1 Coal Tit - Willow Pool feeders
    • 2 Treecreeper - Loversall Bank
    • 1 Redwing
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 11 Bullfinch

    Other: 5 Roe Deer

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, David Carroll, Ray Harrison, Andy Dalton

    Robin © Richard Scott 2019

    Robin © Richard Scott 2019

    Monday 28th

    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
    • 7 Meadow Pipit - Loversall Carr Fields

    Tony and Celia Sawbridge, Mark Roberts

    Sunday 27th

    • 9 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 370 Teal - cell 1b
    • 91 Pochard
    • 45 Tufted Duck
    • 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 1 Bittern - flew in front of Tofield Hide
    • 1 Little Egret - cell 1b
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - flew across Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 2 COMMON REDPOLL - in birches between Piper Marsh and West Scrape hides (visitor report per Ashley Watson)
    • 13 Siskin

    Richard Scott, visitor reports

    Treecreeper © Richard Scott 2019

    Treecreeper © Richard Scott 2019

    Saturday 26th

    • c100 Pink-footed Geese - west at 12.15
    • 7 Shelduck - 6 on Huxter Well Marsh and one on Old Eaa
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Buzzard
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - over iPort
    • 1 Woodcock - low over Big Hedge/Central Grassland at 5.05pm
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 8 Lesser Black-backed Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 500 Herring Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 300 Great Black-backed Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over Willow Bank
    • c200 Jackdaw - Hawthorn Bank at dusk
    • 7 Goldcrest
    • 1 Treecreeper - Young Eaa
    • 80,000 Starling
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 20 Bullfinch
    • 20 Lesser Redpoll
    • 30 Goldfinch
    • 20 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Pete Greaves, Helen Womack, Michael Bird, Darren Wozencroft

    Friday 25th

    • 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Bank
    • 1 Willow Tit - seen and heard in a mixed tit flock on Willow Bank
    • 20 Bullfinch - around the reserve but mainly Willow Bank/Cottage Drain area
    • 15 Lesser Redpoll - feeding on birch catkins on Willow Bank
    • 2 COMMON REDPOLL - with the lesser redpolls on Willow Bank. The first sighting since 2011.
    • 20 Redwing - in trees at St Caths Field

    Pat and Janet Heath

    Thursday 24th

    • 2 BEARDED TIT - pair near the dead oak at Huxter Well Marsh at 1.25pm

    Buffer Area

    • 2 Little Egret - south over Short Lane Fields towards Potteric at dusk
    • 1 Kestrel - north over Short Lane Fields at dusk
    • 1 Peregrine - at the starling murmuration at 4.45pm
    • 2 Ring-necked Parakeet - flew in from the north-east at 4.30pm over Short Lane Fields
    • 50,000 Starling - gathered over the Lakeside flats at 4.40pm, where they were attacked by a Peregrine. They headed back to Low Ellers to roost at around 4.50.

    Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

    Wednesday 23rd

    • 9 Shelduck
    • 1 Bittern - flying over Huxter Well Marsh at 12.15pm. Surprisingly the first sighting of the year.
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female together over Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool

    Buffer Area

    • 1 Kestrel - north over Short Lane Fields at dusk
    • 1+ Peregrine - one took a starling and 10 minutes later the same or another was also at the starling murmuration
    • 3 Ring-necked Parakeet - flew in silently from the north-east at 4.30pm over Short Lane Fields
    • 50+ Magpie - roosting at Low Ellers Curve
    • 50,000 Starling - spectacular display from 4.30pm over Short Lane Fields, going to roost at Low Ellers at 4.47. The starlings were at a low level, close up and overhead at times - I've got the evidence on my hat and coat to prove it!
    • c60 Greenfinch - small flocks NW over Short Lane Fields at dusk

    Paul Paddock, Richard Scott

    Tuesday 22nd

    • 6 Shelduck
    • c160 Gadwall
    • c150 Teal
    • c40 Shoveler
    • c80 Pochard
    • c35 Tufted Duck
    • 2 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Sparrowhawk - Old Eaa
    • 1 Buzzard - near visitor centre
    • c220 Lapwing
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female in Black Carr Wood and one heard in Beeston Plantation
    • 2 Goldcrest
    • 2 Willow Tit - Beeston Plantation and Willow Pool feeders
    • 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Song Thrush - near VC
    • c100 Redwing - Beeston Plantation
    • 20+ Bullfinch
    • 9 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation
    • 10 Siskin - Loversall Bank

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Phil Goacher, Doug Smith, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Janet and Ian Heppenstall

    Whooper Swans © Richard Scott 2019

    Whooper Swans © Richard Scott 2019

    Sunday 20th

    • 34 Whooper Swan - 21 arrived from the south-west at 10.40am and landed on cell 1b, 16 departing NW at 12.40pm. A further 13 flew low NW at 4pm while people were waiting for the starling murmuration.
    • 20+ Pink-footed Geese - NW over Willow Marsh at 12.30pm
    • c150 Greylag Geese
    • 10 Shelduck
    • 49 Wigeon
    • 107 Pochard
    • 41 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Goldeneye - male on cell 1b
    • 1 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Peregrine - harrying the starlings, late afternoon
    • 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 9 Snipe - including 6 at Central Grassland
    • 2 Green Woodpecker - Willow Marsh and Black Carr Field
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Bank and Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Jay
    • 4 Goldcrest
    • 30 Long-tailed Tit - Balby Carr Copse
    • 2 Marsh Tit - Loversall Delph and Loversall Bank
    • 1 Chiffchaff - near Piper Marsh Hide
    • 2 Treecreeper
    • 50+ Redwing - St Caths Field
    • 25 Bullfinch - small groups across the reserve
    • 1 Lesser Redpoll - Access Track
    • 20 Goldfinch - Access Track
    • 15 Siskin - Loverall Bank

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts, Nigel Walker, Pete Freeman, Sue Brook, Indy Kiemel Greene

    Marsh Harrier © Mick Woodward 2019

    Marsh Harrier © Mick Woodward 2019

    Saturday 19th

    • 5 Pink-footed Geese - SE at 12.35
    • 9 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 6 Common Gull - cell 1b
    • 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
    • 450 Herring Gull - on cell 1b at dusk with many still arriving after dark
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 2cy on cell 1b from 3.40pm
    • 400 Great Black-backed - on cell 1b at dusk with many still arriving after dark
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
    • Starlings - large numbers roosted at Old Eaa
    • 1 Willow Tit - Cottage Drain

    Buffer Area - Short Lane

    • 1 Sparrowhawk - to the Starling roost
    • 2 Ring-necked Parakeet - in to roost on Low Ellers loop at 4pm
    • c50,000 Starling - in to roost on Low Ellers at 4.35pm

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird

    Gadwalls © Vernon Barker 2019

    Gadwalls © Vernon Barker 2019

    Friday 18th

    • c70 Pink-footed Geese - west at 10.30am. Also 100+ (9.55) and c70 (10.00) SW over Bessacarr would have passed over the reserve.
    • 10 Shelduck
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Peregrine
    • Starlings - watched from the VC, gathering just after 4pm and went to roost at Low Ellers just before 4.30pm. Sparrowhawk and Peregrine in attendance.
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 5 Snipe
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 140 Redwing - in Beeston Plantation, left south
    • 1 Willow Tit - pumping station
    • 4 Coal Tit
    • 16 Bullfinch
    • 30 Siskin

    Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

    Thursday 17th

    • 37 Mute Swan
    • 16 Greylag Geese
    • 22 Canada Geese
    • 9 Shelduck
    • 130+ Gadwall
    • 150+ Teal
    • 57 Shoveler
    • 90+ Pochard
    • 66 Tufted Duck
    • 21 Cormorant
    • 3 Grey Heron
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 5 Little Grebe
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 2 Marsh Harrier
    • 1 Peregrine
    • 280+ Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe
    • 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - in dead oak near Duchess Hide
    • 3 Coal Tit
    • 4 Treecreeper
    • Starlings - a photo of the murmuration was shown on BBC Look North this evening
    • 40+ Redwing
    • 10 Lesser Redpoll - 7 around the pumping station and 3 in Beeston Plantation
    • 12 Siskin - 10 around the pumping station and 2 in Beeston Plantation

    David Beresford

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Little Egret © Vernon Barker 2019

    Wednesday 16th

    • 1 Peregrine - at the Starling murmuration

    Stu Davenport

    Tuesday 15th

    • 2 Shelduck
    • c80 Gadwall
    • c300 Teal
    • c60 Shoveler
    • c105 Pochard
    • c75 Tufted Duck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • c 300 Lapwing
    • 1 Snipe - Old Eaa
    • 1 Common Gull
    • 1 Kingfisher on Mother Drain
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - male and female together in Beeston Plantation
    • 3 Jay
    • 2 Marsh/Willow Tit - Loversal Delph and Willow Pool (did not call and only seen briefly)
    • 1 Song Thrush - car park area
    • 4 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation
    • 26 Siskin - 20 in Beeston Plantation and 6 on the access track

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Dave Harding, Phil Goucher, Vernon Barker

    male Siskin © Allen Holmes 2019

    male Siskin © Allen Holmes 2019

    Monday 14th

    • 3 Little Egret - Mother Drain
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - immature male seen at Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Barn Owl
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Piper Marsh
    • 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 in Beeston Plantation and singles at Black Carr Wood
    •  and Piper Marsh
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 3 Treecreeper - 2 along Willow Bank and one in Beeston Plantation
    • 6 Bullfinch - Willow Bank
    • c25 Siskin - Piper Marsh and Loversall Triangle

    Allen Holmes, Richard Collis, Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner

    drake Mallard © Allen Holmes 2019

    drake Mallard © Allen Holmes 2019

    Sunday 13th

    • 4 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 250 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 12 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Little Egret - one on Huxter Well Marsh and 2 NW through Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 3 Little Grebe
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - adult on cell 1b from 4.25pm
    • 7 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 650 Herring Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1st-winter (2cy) on cell 1b from 3.15pm 
    • 570 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
    • 1 Goldrest - Black Carr Wood
    • 2 Reed Bunting - Willow Pool feeders

    Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, visitor reports

    Saturday 12th

    • 1 Little Egret - flew over Iron Bridge 
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - over Huxter Well Marsh been mobbed by crows 
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - flew in front of Duchess Hide 
    • 3 Jay - together at Willow Bank 

    Other: 4 Roe Deer (2 in Beeston Plantation and 2 along Mother Drain)

    Mark Revitt

    Goldfinch © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Goldfinch © Adrian Andruchiw 2019

    Friday 11th

    • 7 Shelduck
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Sparrowhawk - from Visitor Centre
    • 1 Water Rail - calling in Seven Arches Carr
    • 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood and Beeston Plantation (female)
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER
    • 3 Jay
    • 2 Willow Tit - Piper Marsh Scrub and one near VC
    • 1 Marsh Tit - near VC
    • c100,000 Starling - put on a good show from the VC and went in to roost on Decoy Marsh at 4.25pm
    • 10 Siskin - near the pumping station, plus some in Beeston Plantation
    • 20 Lesser Redpoll - near Loversall Triangle, plus some in Beeston Plantation
    • 37 Redwing - 12 in Beeston Plantation and 25 in St Caths Field
    • 6 Bullfinch - Willow Bank/Cottage Drain

    Sue Brook, Sue and Roger Bird, Michael Bird, Andy Dalton, Adrian Andruchiw, Darren Wozencroft

    Thursday 10th

    • 33 Mute Swan
    • 23 Greylag Geese
    • 23 Canada Geese
    • 8 Shelduck
    • 101 Gadwall
    • 7 Wigeon
    • 190+ Teal
    • 33 Shoveler
    • 87 Pochard
    • 67 Tufted Duck
    • 29 Cormorant
    • 3 Little Egret
    • 2 Little Grebe
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male 
    • 2 Sparrowhawk
    • 150+  Lapwing
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 2 Jay
    • 1 Goldcrest
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • 3 Cetti's Warbler
    • Starlings - Stunning Starling murmuration of 150K+ commencing about 3.50pm and most diving into Decoy Marsh to roost between 4.17pm and 4.27pm.  A visitor was heard to comment that it was better than Brighton!!
    • 2 Song Thrush - one near the VC at dusk and one near the viaduct
    • 11 Bullfinch
    • 7 Lesser Redpoll - pumping station
    • 8 Siskin - pumping station

    Other: 2 Muntjac Deer in Beeston Plantation

    David Beresford

    Marsh Harriers © Mick Woodward 2019

    Marsh Harriers © Mick Woodward 2019

    Wednesday 9th

    • 3 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - male over Loversall Pool and then Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Kestrel
    • 1 Peregrine - see below
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - male along Loversall Bank
    • 1 Willow Tit - Loversall Bank
    • 2 Treecreeper - Loversall Bank
    • Starlings - tonight's murmuration was smaller than of late but a Peregrine ensured that a good display was seen!
    • 2 Goldcrest - Loversall Bank
    • 10 Lesser Redpoll - showing well near the pumping station
    • 15+ Siskin - showing well near the pumping station

    Paul Paddock, Andy Dalton

    Marsh Harriers © Vernon Barker 2019

    Marsh Harriers © Vernon Barker 2019

    Tuesday 8th

    • 6 Shelduck
    • c80 Gadwall
    • c100 Teal
    • c20 Shoveler
    • c80 Pochard
    • c50 Tufted Duck
    • 4 Little Grebe
    • 1 Great Crested Grebe
    • 1 Little Egret
    • 5 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - pair seen together. One stood on the water's edge at Piper Marsh.
    • c170 Lapwing
    • 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
    • 1000+ Black-headed Gull - unusually circling the northern areas of the reserve at dusk. Probably when all gulls were flushed from Lakeside (per Ryan McClarence)
    • 4 Stock Dove - over
    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - drumming
    • 250+ corvids - Jackdaws and Carrion Crows over the northern areas of the reserve at dusk. They appeared agitated and didn't settle. 
    • 1 Marsh Tit - near Sedum House/Mother Drain
    • 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Treecreeper - near dragonfly ponds
    • 1 Song Thrush - in song at dusk
    • 18 Redwing
    • 6 Bullfinch
    • 2 Lesser Redpoll
    • 15 Siskin

    Buffer Area

    • Starlings - murmuration over Short Lane Fields and Low Ellers from 3.50 and went to roost at Low Ellers at 4.25pm

    Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Ray Harrison, Sophie Pinder, Adrian Andruchiw, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

    Wigeon © Richard Scott

    Wigeon © Richard Scott

    Sunday 6th

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 65 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Buzzard
    • 1 Willow Tit - Willow Marsh/Loversall Delph
    • 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Field
    • 1 Greenfinch - over the carpark
    • 4 Yellowhammer - north over the access track. An increasingly scarce visitor to the reserve.

    Buffer Area - Carr Lodge

    • 30 Fieldfare
    • 20 Redwing

    Richard Scott, Mark Roberts

    Mute Swan © Richard Scott 2019

    Mute Swan on square pond © Richard Scott 2019

    Magpies on Highland Cattle © Keith Horton 2019

    Magpies on Highland Cattle © Keith Horton 2019

    Saturday 5th

    • 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
    • 11 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 76 Pochard - Huxter Well Marsh, also a drake Pochard x Tufted Duck hybrid
    • 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
    • 2 Little Egret - flew from cell 4 towads the iPort
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
    • 3 Sparrowhawk - 2 attacking the Starling flock and one at Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
    • 2 Water Rail - calling from cells 1b and 2a
    • 236 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 550 Herring Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1st-winter on cell 1b from 3.30pm
    • 280 Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b at dusk
    • 2 Stock Dove - Piper Marsh
    • 2 Green Woodpecker
    • 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - in a tit flock between Willow Pool Hide and Cottage Drain
    • 200 Jackdaw - roosting in trees along Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Coal Tit - access track
    • 1 Marsh Tit - Willow Marsh
    • 1 Treecreeper - access track
    • c100,000 Starling - watched from the VC. They put on an excellent show from 3.50-4.20pm.
    • 30 Redwing
    • 1 Pied Wagtail - over
    • 6 Lesser Redpoll
    • 10 Siskin - Old Eaa

    Buffer Area

    • 1 Tawny Owl - male calling from Gladstone's Fields at 10.40pm

    Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Michael Bird

    Kingfisher © Keith Horton 2019

    Kingfisher © Keith Horton 2019

    Friday 4th

    • 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the VC
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - male 50m south from the VC
    • Starlings - put on a good show from the VC around 4pm and headed off towards Low Ellers to roost. A Sparrowhawk was seen to take one in flight.
    • 25 Siskin - near the pumping station
    • 4 Reed Bunting - VC feeders

    VC logbook, Andy Dalton

    Caspian Gull © Richard Scott 2019

    Caspian Gull © Richard Scott 2019

    Thursday 3rd

    • 8 Shelduck
    • 4 Grey Heron
    • 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
    • 1 Sparrowhawk
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - the adult arrived in the roost on cell 1b at 4.20pm. Interestingly it is choosing to roost with the big gulls at Potteric rather than with the 'black-heads' on Lakeside.
    • 160 Herring gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
    • 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1st-winter on cell 1b from 3.30pm
    • 255 Great Black-backed Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon 
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - over Central Grassland
    • 3 Jay
    • 2 Coal Tit
    • Starlings - gathered over Huxter Well Marsh before heading off towards Low Ellers, showing well from the Visitor Centre
    • 1 Pied Wagtail
    • 9 Bullfinch
    • 2 Reed Bunting

    Buffer Area

    • 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling from Gladstone's Fields

    David Beresford, Richard Scott, Andy Dalton

    male and female Teal © Vernon Barker 2019

    male and female Teal © Vernon Barker 2019

    Tuesday 1st

    • 3 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 3 Great Crested Grebe - Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
    • 1 Mediterranean Gull - an adult in the gull roost on cell 1b from 4.20pm. The first since June 2017.
    • 1 Green Woodpecker - 'yaffling' along Hawthorn Bank
    • 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Bank and Beeston Plantation
    • 1 LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER - male with a flock of Long-tailed Tits along Willow Bank
    • 5 Goldcrest
    • 4 Coal Tit
    • 1 Marsh Tit - calling loudly along Willow Bank
    • 1 Nuthatch - Beeston Plantation
    • Starlings - large numbers at dusk at Huxter Well Marsh, but not counted. Many birds still flying around after 4.30pm. Its advisable to use the overflow carpark if you intend to stay for the murmuration. There were 60-70 people observing this evening, mainly from Hawthorn Bank.
    • 11 Blackbird - on the edge of Beeston Plantation 
    • 80 Redwing - along the edge of Beeston Plantation
    • 1 Mistle Thrush - singing in Beeston Plantation
    • 15 Bullfinch
    • 20 Goldfinch - main carpark
    • 10 Siskin - near Decoy Marsh hide

    Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Richard and Tricia Scott

    Highlights

     

    Sightings from previous years: