Potteric Carr wildlife sightings 2019/20

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 26th

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

Adrian Andruchiw

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

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

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 5^th 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesday 15th

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

Keith Horton

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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