Daily wildlife sightings at Potteric Carr nature reserve.
Please send your Potteric Carr wildlife sightings and photos to pottericsightings@gmail.com
Click HERE for the sightings page for 2021 and then save as a favourite
Sightings by month
December 2020
Sunset over Huxter Well Marsh © Lynda Christou 2020

Siskin © David Shaw 2020

Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020
Thursday 31st
- gulls - no gull roost tonight due to Huxter Well Marsh being frozen
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Treecreeper
- Starlings - all down by 16.28, some near the livestock shelter and others near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Siskin
Ringing: 12 Redwing, 1 Blackbird, 1 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Wren and a control Lesser Redpoll
Carol Hall, David Shaw, Lynda Christou, Rebekah Beaumont
Wednesday 30th
- 110 Pink-footed Geese - W at 14.35
- 8 Shelduck
- 5 Wigeon
- 1 Peregrine - over St. Caths/M18 14:20
- 2 Water Rail - cell 1b
- 400 Lapwing
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Coal Tit
- 4 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Fieldfare - W
- 30 Redwing
Richard Scott, Paul Paddock, Darren Wozencroft
Tuesday 29th
- 77 Pink-footed Geese - 70 W at 15.40 and 7 NE at 16.15
- 4 Shelduck
- 17 Wigeon
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 800 Herring Gull - roosted
- 150 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- Starlings - all down by 16.30
- 18 Fieldfare - W
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou
Monday 28th
- 1 Bittern - flew over Discovery Zone at 5pm
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- Starlings - put on the good display from 4pm and were all down by 4.25
- 30 Redwing - near the entrance
- 30-40 Lesser Redpoll - in trees near the edge of Black Carr Field (Butterfly Alley)
Ringing: 21 Redwing, 1 Robin, 5 Blue Tit and a 2018 retrap Song Thrush
Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Lynda Christou, Rebekah Beaumont, Rachel Huxham, Steve Cash
Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 27th
- 6 Shelduck
- 5 Wigeon
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail
- 9 Common Gull - roosted
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1000 Herring Gull - roosted
- 200 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Coal Tit
- 2 Willow Tit
- 30 Long-tailed Tit - Beeston Plantation
- 3 Treecreeper
Mark Roberts, Richard Scott
Saturday 26th
- 10 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 23 Pochard
- 29 Tufted Duck
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Treecreeper
- 3 Fieldfare - W
- 21 Redwing - S
Richard Scott

Robin © Derek Parker 2020
Wednesday 23rd
- 14 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 7 Wigeon
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 200 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 2 Common Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 3b adult
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Goldcrest
- 2 Willow Tit
- 3 Coal Tit
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Song Thrush
- 2 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b
- 50 Lesser Redpoll - Loversall Bank
Darren Wozencroft
Tuesday 22nd
- 9 Shelduck - 7 on cell 1b and 2 on cell 2a
- 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 Little Egret - flew on to Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- c250 Lapwing - on cell 1b, where the water level has gone up and the island is getting smaller
- 2 Dunlin - flew high from cell 1b
- 1 Snipe - Decoy Marsh
- 12+ Great Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
- 1 Jay - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Goldcrest - in a mixed tit flock near Old Eaa
- 75,000 Starling - put on an excellent show and were all in to roost by 4.17pm
Sue and Roger Bird
Sunday 20th
- c80 Pink-footed Geese - south
- 82 Shoveler - 70 on cell 1b and 12 on Decoy Marsh
- 7 Little Egret - over Decoy Marsh at dawn so possibly roosted at Low Ellers
- 1 Sparrowhawk - female landed on Piper Marsh for a drink
- 3 Fieldfare
- 20 Redwing
Allen Holmes
Friday 18th
- 8 Shelduck
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 3 Treecreeper
- 8 Redwing
- 2 Lesser Redpoll
Darren Wozencroft
Long-tailed Tit © Richard Scott 2020
Willow Tit © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 17th
- 8 Shelduck
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail
- 1 Tawny Owl - seen
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Willow/Marsh Tit - near the VC
- 30,000 Starling - started to gather at 3.50pm and went in to roost by 4.17pm taking 9 minutes to drop into the reedbed
- 25 Fieldfare - SW
- 50 Lesser Redpoll
- 30 Siskin
Richard Scott, Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird
Wednesday 16th
- 1 Willow Tit
- Starlings - down to roost at 16.14
- 100 Lesser Redpoll
Mark Roberts, Lynda Christou, Gary Johnston
Tuesday 15th
- 1 Bittern
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at 16.34
- 5 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
- Starlings - down to roost at 16.19
- 4 Bullfinch
- 30 Siskin
Lynda Christou, Phil Goacher
Monday 14th
- 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - seen briefly in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 8 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - over Piper Marsh
- c300 Lapwing - on Huxter Well Marsh, were very unsettled
- 1 Woodcock
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the Access Track
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 Treecreeper - in a mixed tit flock in St Caths copse
- Starlings - all down by 16.21
- 8 Redwing - along Cottage Drain
- Siskin and Redpoll - small number feeding in the treetops
Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll

Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Sunday 13th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
- 1 Water Rail
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the Access Track at 16.21
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- Starlings - went to roost early at 15.55 due to the rain
Adrian Andruchiw, Lynda Christou

Kingfisher © Rebekah Beaumont 2020
Saturday 12th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
- 1 Tawny Owl - seen and heard from a tree along the Access Track at 16.34
- Starlings - went to roost at 16.14
Ringing: 5 Redwing, 6 Blue Tit, 23 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Coal Tit, 2 Great Tit, 1 Kingfisher
Rebekah Beaumont, Lynda Christou, BirdGuides
The total of 166 species of birds have been seen in 2020, which matches the total for 2019. See the November Listing for details.
Friday 11th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 340 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe - cell 1b
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Bearded Tit - 2 males and 2 females in front of Mitchell Hide
- 5 Bullfinch - in trees next to Piper Marsh Hide
-
50 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank
-
5 Siskin
Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft

Great White Egret © Paul Paddock 2020
Thursday 10th
- 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - short flight over reeds between cells 3a and 3b
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on cell 1b, then flew to Piper Marsh
- 4 Grey Heron
- 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve
Paul Paddock
Wednesday 9th
- 9 Shelduck
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc briefly over Huxterwell 14:00
- 1 Buzzard - circling to south of M18
- 1 Sparrowhawk - male
- 4 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Avocet - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - SW across Huxterwell midday
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 16 Common Gull - roost
- 2 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 80 Carrion Crow - roost
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - male and female Mitchell Hide
- 8 Treecreeper
- Starlings - down to roost by 16.12
- 30 Blackbird
- 1 Song Thrush
- 8 Redwing
- 80 Lesser Redpoll
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 4 Reed Bunting
Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott, Lynda Christou
Monday 7th
- 7 Shelduck
- 2 Bittern - seen in flight
- 1 Little Egret - Mother drain
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 1 Avocet - West Scrape
- 230 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing in cell 4
- 1 Blackcap - male with tit flock St.Cath's
- 50,000 Starling - started to gather at 3.50pm and put on a good show. They gradually went in to roost by 4.18pm.
- 3 Redwing
- 11 Bullfinch
- 2 Greenfinch
- 60 Lesser Redpoll - around Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 2 Siskin
Ringing: 19 Lesser Redpoll, 1 Redwing, 2 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Coal Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 10 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Wren, 1 Song Thrush
Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Gary Dyson, Rebekah Beaumont, David Shaw

Square Pond in Loversall Field © Derek Parker 2020
Sunday 6th
- 640 Pink-footed Geese - 35 east 12.10, 65 north 12.15, 2 skeins of 100 each north 12.30, 200 west 12.40, 60 west 15.20, 80 circled low over Huxter Well Marsh 16.24
- 7 Shelduck
- 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Water Rail
- 1 Avocet
- 9 Golden Plover - circled cell 1b, 5 departed west and 4 landed briefly
- 1 Snipe
- 2 Woodcock
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 35 Herring Gull - roosted
- 55 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Balby Carr Copse (near Sedum House) at 16.35
- 6 Bearded Tit - 3 males and 3 females near Mitchell Hide
- Starlings - went to roost 16.16
- 1 Pied Wagtail - over
- 1 Greenfinch - over
Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft
Details of a Darvic-ringed Herring Gull
Jez Blackburn has sent us the history of 'Yellow 4G9B'.
- Ringed at Daneshill Landfill Site, Nottinghamshire on 27/02/12
- Seen at Potteric Carr on 28/11/17, 14/02/19, 02/03/19, 14/07/19
Egyptian Geese © Allen Holmes 2020
Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020
Saturday 5th
- 2 Egyptian Geese - over West Scrape
- 5 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - stood at the base of the reeds on cell 1b and later flew past Mitchell Hide to cell 3b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 1b
- 1 Avocet - cell 1b and West Scrape
- 15 Common Gull - in the roost
- 2 Tawny Owl - calling from the Access Track and Old Eaa/Childers Wood at 16.40
- 6 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- Starling - the murmuration went to roost at cell 4 at 16.23
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Lynda Christou, Allen Holmes
Friday 4th
- 7 Shelduck
- 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b in the morning
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel - attacking a Buzzard along M18
- 2 Water Rail
- 1 Avocet - a very unseasonal bird on cell 1b late afternoon
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- gull roost c.300 birds - no Iceland
- 2 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Goldcrest
- 4 Bearded Tit - low in the reed edge on cell 3b
- 2 Treecreeper
- Starling - the birds went to roost at 16.11
- 60 Lesser Redpoll - mobile Black Carr to Loversall Bank
Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou
Redwing © Richard Scott 2020

male Bearded Tit © Paul Paddock 2020
Wednesday 2nd
- 3 Whooper Swan - 2 adults and an immature departed cell 1b at 11.18 and flew west
- 112 Pink-footed Geese - westerly movement involving 14 at 10.40, 70 at 11.36, 28 at 13.39
- 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 110 Shoveler - cell 1b
- 7 Little Egret - at dusk on cell 1b
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - flew low over Piper Marsh and landed on Mother Drain bank but flew off east. At dusk, dropped onto West Scrape before flying to cell 1b only to be chased off by a Grey Heron.
- 5 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
- 250 Lapwing - cell 1b
- 1 Dunlin - with the Lapwing flock
- 1 Woodcock
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 1 ICELAND GULL - 1st-winter arrived at the roost on cell 1b at 15.55
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from a tree next to the Access Track at 16.40
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 4+ Bearded Tit - 2+ near Mitchell Hide, one seen from Hawthorn Bank Hide and one heard at East Scrape
- 8 Fieldfare - Loversall Triangle
- 70 Redwing - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Pied Wagtail - over
- 8 Bullfinch
- 100 Lesser Redpoll - Butterfly Alley
- 8 Siskin - Beeston Plantation
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Paul Paddock, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou, Joseph Angus
November 2020

male Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020

female Bearded Tit © Darren Ward 2020
Monday 30th
- 1 Pintail - male on cell 1b
- 1 Goosander - male 'appeared' on cell 1b 15:50 departed SE within a few mins
- 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 1b
- 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk - were waiting for the Starlings to go in to roost on cell 4, causing much panic and interesting displays
- 1 Water Rail - calling on Old Eaa
- 3 Dunlin - cell on 1b
- 4 Woodcock - seen in various locations
- 30 Great Black-backed Gull - on cell 1b late afternoon
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 2 Cetti's warbler - singing at Old Eaa and Decoy Marsh
- 10,000 Starling - went in to roost 16.11
- 1 Grey Wagtail - low south over Mitchell Hide 14:55
- 15 Lesser Redpoll - near Old Eaa Hide
- 60 Siskin - Access Track
Buffer Area
- a male Goosander flew south over Short Lane Fields and Low Ellers at 12.25
Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Helen Womack, Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Keith Follows, Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

Little Egret © Mark Dinnage 2020
Sunday 29th
- 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 1+ Pintail - male on cell 2a at lunchtime and the same or another male on the Lagoon mid afternoon
- 2 Goldeneye - male and female on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 3a
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Tawny Owl - heard calling at 16.32
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 6 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- Starling - all down by 16.19
- 100 Lesser Redpoll - Beeston Plantation
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Lynda Christou
Saturday 28th
- 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1st-winter in the roost at 15.20, was just discernible in the murk
Richard Scott

Mute Swan © Mark Dinnage 2020
Mandarins © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Friday 27th
- 7 Shelduck
- 2 Mandarin - male and female on Old Eaa. The only sighting this year.
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- c80 Shoveler - cell 1b
- 1 Goldeneye - female on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flying over cell 1b 15:30
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk - over cell 4
- 4 Water Rail
- 310 Lapwing
- 14 Common Gull
- 2 Green Woodpecker - Access Track entrance & St Caths Field
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 4+ Bearded Tit - good views from Mitchell Hide
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Blackcap - male along the Access Track
- 1 Treecreeper
- 50,000 Starling - went in to roost at 4.20pm. They started to gather at 3.50pm.
- 20 Redwing
- 20 Lesser Redpoll
Buffer Area
- 1 Little Egret in the drain on Short Lane
Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft

double-hoofed Hoof Fungus © Lesley Wilson 2020
Thursday 26th
- 7 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 4 Water Rail - calling at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Green Woodpecker - East Scrape
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Jay
- 9 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Skylark
- 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 23 Long-tailed Tit
- Starling - the birds went to roost at 16.22
- 30 Blackbird - between Piper Marsh Drain and East Scrape
- 12 Redwing
- 2 Stonechat - male and female on the reed tops and fence near East Scrape Screen
- 6 Bullfinch
Richard Scott, Martin Warne, Gary Dyson, Mick Bellas, Chris Johnson, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou
Wednesday 25th
- 5 Shelduck
- 29 Wigeon
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 2 Woodcock
- 7 Goldcrest
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF - in Big Hedge early afternoon. This is the 3rd record of this eastern subspecies.
- Bearded Tit - several calling from Mitchell Hide
- 2 Treecreeper
- 25 Redwing
- 30 Lesser Redpoll - Loversall Delph
Darren Wozencroft

white Greylag Goose © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

Redwing © Lesley Wilson 2020
Tuesday 24th
- 200+ Greylag geese - including the white bird
- 5 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
- 250+ Lapwing
- 4 Woodcock
- gull roost - decent numbers roosted but nothing of note
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the entrance at 16.46
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Green Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- Bearded Tit - heard from Mitchell Hide
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - heard
- 2 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
- 10,000 Starling - put on an impressive show as they tried avoid becoming supper for a Sparrowhawk, before going to roost at 16.13
- 30 Redwing - mainly along Piper Marsh Drain
- 1 Greenfinch - VC feeders
- 100+ Lesser Redpoll - in birch trees near Piper Marsh
Mick Bellas, Dave Carroll, Michael Bird, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Gary Dyson, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw

Highland on the marsh © Derek Parker 2020
Monday 23rd
- 225 Greylag Geese
- 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 26 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 104 Shoveler - on Huxter Well Marsh of which 80 were on cell 1b
- 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - south through Huxter Well Marsh at 12.15
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 270 Lapwing
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Common Gull - cell 1b
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - singles in Beeston Plantation and St Caths Copse
- 1 Raven - seen from the Iron Bridge flying east
- 7+ Bearded Tit - one in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide and at least 6 showing well in front of Mitchell Hide
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 6 Goldcrest
- 3 Coal Tit
- 5 Treecreeper
- Starlings - went to roost at 16.11, still at cell 4 but closer to the livestock shelter
- 30 Redwing - in hawthorns along Mother Drain
- 60 Lesser Redpoll - along the Access Track, also small numbers in Beeston Plantation
- Siskin - small numbers
Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft
Old Eaa © Lynda Christou 2020
Siskin © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 22nd
- 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 5 Pintail - 3 males and 2 females on cell 1b but all flew off at dusk.
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
- 330 Lapwing - cell 1b
- 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 15.30
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Willow Tit
- Bearded Tit - a few calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper
- 30 Redwing
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 15 Lesser Redpoll
- 30 Goldfinch
- 20 Siskin
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson
Saturday 21st
- 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 3b
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
- 8 Common Gull
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 450 Herring Gull
- 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 15.45
- 105 Great Black-backed Gull
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Coal Tit
- Bearded Tit - a few calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Chiffchaff - Hawthorn Field
- 1 Treecreeper
Richard Scott, Stuart Churchill, Antony Wilson

Autumn Light © Derek Parker 2020
Friday 20th
- 210 Greylag Geese
- 70 Pink-footed Geese - came into roost on Huxter Well Marsh at 16.35hrs. It is very unusual for large groups to alight on the reserve.
- 5 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail
- 3 Bittern - 2 flew to cell 1a late morning, another(?) near Mitchell Hide 16:00hrs
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc's
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - calling
- 215 Lapwing
- 7 Ruff - arrived on cell 1b 11.45hrs staying a few minutes, departing east
- 10 Common Gull - roost
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 85 Herring Gull - roosted
- 33 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 Chiffchaff - Ring Main
- 30 Blackbird
- 6 Fieldfare - SW
- 80 Redwing - mainly around Hawthorn Field
- 7 Bullfinch
- 30 Lesser Redpoll
- 15 Siskin
Darren Wozencroft, Keith Follows, Lynda Christou
Thursday 19th
- 40 Pink-footed Geese - flew roughly south over 4.20pm
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing from cell 4
- 10,000+ Starlings - to roost at cell 4 at 4.14pm
Lynda Christou, Sue and Roger Bird
White-fronted Goose © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Garganey © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Wednesday 18th
- 1 WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - adult of the race albifrons on cell 1b in the morning
- 100 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 2 Egyptian Geese
- 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - on the water's edge at cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh at 12.45
- 150 Lapwing
- 1 CASPIAN GULL - 1cy in to roost at 16.00
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit
- Bearded Tit - several calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper
- 40 Fieldfare - south
- 20 Redwing
- 5 Lesser Pedpoll
- 10 Siskin
Darren Wozencroft, Gary Dyson, Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Mark Roberts
Tuesday 17th
- 1 Kestrel - hunting near the VC
- 1 Tawny owl - calling 16.50
Lynda Christou
Monday 16th
- 4 Whooper Swan - flew through in the morning
- 132 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 3 Canada Geese - cell 1b
- 7 Shelduck - 4 cell 1b, 3 West Scrape
- 41 Mallard - an unusual number on Mother Drain
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a in the afternoon
- 3 Little Egret - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Central Grassland
- 2+ Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- c60 Lapwing - flew from Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Dunlin - flew from Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Goldcrest
- c3 Bearded Tit - heard in Huxter Well reedbeds while the grit trays were being filled
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - heard
- 2 Chiffchaff - Pumping Station and Hawthorn Field, but may have been the same bird
- 10,000 Starling - in to roost on cell 4 by 16.08
- 5 Fieldfare
- 70 Redwing
- 1 Mistle Thrush - over
- 2 Meadow Pipit
- c20 Goldfinch/Lesser Redpoll - in trees near the compound
Dave Carroll, Darren Wozencroft, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird
Sunday 15th
- 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 5 Pintail - 2 males and 3 females on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - landed in the reeds in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 9 Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc present all day at Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Kingfisher - Lagoon
- 2 Jay - St Caths Copse
- 2 Goldcrest - Loversal Triangle
- 1 Willow Tit
- Bearded Tit - some calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - near the under bridge
- Starlings - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.27
- 1 Song Thrush - having a bath in a puddle in the main carpark
- 6 Redwing - near the under bridge
- 6 Bullfinch
- Lesser Redpoll - small numbers calling over St Caths Copse
Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou

Beeston Plantation © Derek Parker 2020
Saturday 14th
- 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 9 Little Egret - Mother Drain
- 1 Sparrowhawk - to the starling murmuration
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Decoy Marsh after dark
- 1 Coal Tit - Access Track
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Field
- Starlings - went to roost at cell 4 by 16.05
- 10 Siskin - Access Track
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

Pintails © Richard Scott 2020

the usual view of the Garganey © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 12th
- 2 Shelduck
- 35 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b and later on cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - flew from water's edge of cell 1b near Mitchell Hide over to reedbed near West Scrape
- 4 Little Egret - on cell 1b
- 2 Marsh Harrier - both cc's over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 11 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 310 Herring Gull - roosted
- 10 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Decoy Marsh after dark
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 10,000+ Starling - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.30
Butterflies: 1 Peacock - Loversall Junction
Odonata: 2 Migrant Hawker - Willow Marsh (latest since 2010), 41+ Common Darter
Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou
Wednesday 11th
- 3 Shelduck
- 39 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Goosander - male on cell 1b departed south at 10:10hrs
- 1 Bittern - cell 1b 16:00hrs
- 4 Little Egret
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - calling
- 265 Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 1 Kingfisher
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - Mitchell Hide
- 2 Skylark - east
- 3 Pied Wagtail
- 171 Fieldfare - east in flocks 28, 44, 58, 33 and 8
- 40 Redwing
- 35 Lesser Redpoll
- 12 Siskin
Darren Wozencroft

Little Egret © Mick Woodward 2020
Tuesday 10th
- 100+ Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - perched in the reeds at the back of cell 1b then flew towards 2a/2b
- 3 Little Egret - Mother Drain and cell 1b
- 4 Little Grebe - cell 1b
- 1 Sparrowhawk - over Corbett Wood
- 100 Lapwing - cell 1b
- 3 Snipe - cell 1b
- 1 Woodcock - near Cottage Drain Hide
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near Willow Pool at 16.55
- 1 Skylark - over
- 5+ Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 10,000+ Starling - went to roost at cell 4 at 16.34
- 25 Redwing
- 1 Mistle Thrush - singing near VC
- 1 Meadow Pipit - over
- 1 Water/Rock Pipit - possible called as it flew from Decoy Lake towards Loversall Pool
- 4 Bullfinch - near Decoy Marsh
Odonata: 6 Common Darter near VC
Butterflies: 1 Peacock
Michael Bird, Richard Scott, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton, Mark Roberts
Candlesnuff fungus © Lynda Christou 2020

Stinkhorn fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2020
Monday 9th
- 4 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males still on cell 1b
- 5 Little Egret
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh at 15:10
- 4 Water Rail
- 150 Lapwing
- 1 Woodcock - flushed Loversall Bank/Willow Marsh
- 4 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit - in a large tit flock
- 1 Willow Tit
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 2 Treecreeper - in a tit flock near Old Eaa Hide
- 25 Redwing
- 3 Lesser Redpoll - over Willow Marsh
- 10 Siskin
Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Ian and Janet Heppenstall

Geastrum michelianum © Martin Warne 2020

Helvella crispa © Martin Warne 2020

Oak Bush Cricket © Janet Heppenstall 2020
Sunday 8th
- 250 Greylag Geese - West Scrape
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Little Egret - one feeding in Mother Drain and one over at dusk
- 4 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - SE over at Central Grassland at dusk
- 3 Sparrowhawk - East Scrape at dusk
- 2 Water Rail - cell 1b and Decoy Lake
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 2 Snipe - cell 1b and Decoy Lake
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Jay
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 10000 Starling - went to roost at cell 4
- 2 Fieldfare
- 21 Redwing
- 2 Bullfinch
- 80 Lesser Redpoll
- 7 Siskin
Fungi: 2 Helvella crispa, 3 Geastrum michelianum (triplex)
Other: Oak Bush Cricket in Beeston Plantation, which is scarce in Yorkshire.
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou, Andy Dalton, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Martin Warne
Saturday 7th
Foggy!
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Sparrowhawk - sat on East Scrape screen waiting for the starling roost
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over St Caths Field
Richard Scott
Friday 6th
- 4 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flew from cell 2a to 3a
- 5 Little Egret
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Sparrowhawk - 2 at the Starling roost
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 Redshank - on cell 1b late afternoon
- 1 Woodcock - near the Entrance at dusk
- 1 Kingfisher
- 4 Bearded Tit - showing well from Mitchell Hide
- 5000 Starling
- 12 Redwing
- 30 Lesser Redpoll
Mammals: Stoat on the path between St Caths field & M18
Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft

Slime Mould (Trichia persimilis?) © Martin Warne 2020
Thursday 5th
- 165 Greylag Geese
- 4 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b then cell 2a
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail
- 196 Lapwing
- 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 2 Redshank - West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Beeston Plantation and Black Carr Wood
- 3 Jay
- 2 Goldcrest - Beeston Plantation
- 1 Willow Tit
- 4 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell, Duchess and Hawthorn Bank hides
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 17 Long-tailed Tit
- 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
- c50 Fieldfare - west
- 50 Redwing - mainly on Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Grey Wagtail - Mother Drain/Overflow Car Park
- 3 Bullfinch
- 30 Lesser Redpoll
- 1 Reed Bunting - cell 3b
Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Martin Warne
Wednesday 4th
- 23 Pink-footed Geese - south
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Wigeon - West Scrape
- 2 Pintail- males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
- 2 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc's over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard
- 3 Water Rail - calling on Huxter Well Marsh and Decoy Marsh
- 1 Redshank - cell 1b
- 2 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve
Paul Paddock, Gary Dyson

Goldcrest © Carol Hall 2020
Migrant Hawker © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Wigeon © Allen Holmes 2020
Monday 2nd
- 157 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 4 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 5 Little Grebe - Lagoon
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Bittern - 3 sightings around Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - caught a Coot but dropped it
- 2+ Sparrowhawk - one to the Starling roost
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - through Huxter Well Marsh
- 180 Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin - on cell 1b until dusk
- 250 Wood Pigeon - coming into roost
- 7 Goldcrest
- 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 2 Chiffchaff - singing in Loversall Delph and in Tit flock on M18 embankment
- c10,000 Starling - went in to roost on cell 4 at 16.49
- c330 Fieldfare - mostly east
- 25 Redwing
- 1 Brambling - over Black Carr Field
Butterflies: 1 Speckled Wood - Wardens Car Park (also seen by visitors near Pumping Station, probably latest for reserve?), 1 Peacock - Flutterby Garden
Odonata: 1 Migrant Hawker, 45 Common Darter
Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, visitor reports
Common Darter (30th Oct) © David Shaw 2020
Sunday 1st
- 1 Pink-footed Goose - flew in from the east, circled Huxter Well Marsh and returned east at 14.30
- 5 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flew across cell 1b
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - flew over Huxter Well Marsh towards the iPort
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Dunlin - briefly on cell 1b in the afternoon
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Chiffchaff - singing at Loversall Delph
Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Ian Heppenstall, Gary Dyson, visitor reports
October 2020
Saturday 31st
- 1 Whooper Swan - cell 1b, departed at 13:30
- 1 TUNDRA BEAN GOOSE - cell 1b in the afternoon. The 4th record for the Reserve, the last was in 2012.
- 44 'Grey Geese' - W at 08:30
- 165 Greylag Geese
- 4 Shelduck
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 34 Wigeon
- 5 Goosander - low over Huxter Well Marsh flying towards iPort at 16.15
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 18 Cormorant
- 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. male
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy late afternoon on cell 1b
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling after dark
- 1 Raven - low over Huxterwell 13:15
- 5 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 1+ Bearded Tit - calling Mitchell Hide
- 5 Cetti's Warbler
- 2 Treecreeper
- 26 Fieldfare - 3 and 23 south
- 20 Redwing
- 1 Stonechat - male on Central Grassland
- 10 Siskin
Odonata : 1 Migrant Hawker
Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Lynda Christou
Friday 30th
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - cell 1b
- 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc with large yellow shoulders
- 1 Sparrowhawk - chased a Green Woodpecker
- 1 Water Rail - calling on 2a
- 3 Golden Plover - dropped onto cell 1b then flew off west
- 1 Green Woodpecker - near Mitchell Hide, was chased by a Sparrowhawk causing panic.
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Black Carr Wood and Young Eaa
- 2 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Field
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- Siskin and Redpoll - several calling
Sue and Roger Bird
Thursday 29th
- 105 Greylag Geese
- 4 Shelduck
- 34 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail - in front of Mitchell Hide
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 265 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 4 Common Gull - pre-roost
- 5 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 50 Long-tailed Tit - several flocks around the reserve
- 2 Chiffchaff - Wardens Car Park and Loversall Delph
- 1 Blackcap - male near Piper Marsh Drain
- 4 Treecreeper
- 30 Blackbird
- 72 Fieldfare - single flock SW
- 25 Redwing
- 60 Lesser Redpoll - Willow Bank
- 10 Siskin
Darren Wozencroft
Fly Agaric © David Shaw 2020
Wednesday 28th
- 5 Whooper Swan - SE low over the pumping station at 09.10
- 7 Shelduck - 2 on Old Eaa and 5 on cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - adult male over Old Eaa
- 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2b
- 1 Willow Tit
- 5 Skylark - over
- 100 Lesser Redpoll - flocks of 50 in the pumping station area and Piper Marsh Scrub/Seven Arches Carr
- 40 Goldfinch - pumping station area
- 30 Siskin - pumping station area
Buffer Area
- 50 Fieldfare in trees on Low Ellers Curve late afternoon
Richard Scott, Barry Wardley, Jim Horsfall
Magpie and Sheep © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Tuesday 27th
- 3 Shelduck
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2b
- 8 Little Egret - six on Mother Drain
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 100 Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 9 Snipe
- 6 Goldcrest
- 10 Redwing
- 1 Brambling - Piper Marsh track with mixed finch/tit flock
- 30 Redpoll
- 5 Siskin
Darren Wozencroft
Monday 26th
- 3 Whooper Swan - south at 11am
- 5 Shelduck - one on Old Eaa and 2 on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Pintail - males on 1b
- 1 Bittern
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2+ Sparrowhawk - including one to the Starling roost
- 2+ Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk in Young Eaa
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 6 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Treecreeper
- c10,000 Starling - started to gather at 16.25 and went in to roost at 16.54
- 20 Blackbird
- 30 Redwing
- 35 Lesser Redpoll
- 20 Siskin
Odonata: 4 Migrant Hawker, 30 Common Darter
Darren Wozencroft, Keith Follows, Lynda Christou, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird
Mute Swan © Allen Holmes 2020
drake Teal © Allen Holmes 2020
Sunday 25th
- 575 Pink-footed Geese - 75 flew east at 15.40 and 500 high east in 3 skeins at 16.30
- 3 Shelduck
- 65 Wigeon
- 180 Teal
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Goldeneye - Stilling Pond
- 6 Little Egret - Mother Drain
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 3+ Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail
- 850 Black-headed Gull
- 4 Common Gull
- 95 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 90 Herring Gull
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - adult in the roost
- 6 Great Black-backed Gull
- 2 Kingfisher - flying together along Mother Drain
- 4 Goldcrest
- 8 Skylark - south
- 4 Treecreeper
- 5000 Starling - murmuration with 2 Sparrowhawks in attendence. Roosted at cell 4 before 5pm.
- 1 Mistle Thrush - SW
- 2 Brambling - south
- 5 Bullfinch - Iron Bridge
- 40 Lesser Redpoll
- 40 Goldfinch
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, John Burdall, Lynda Christou
Saturday 24th
- 42 'Grey Geese' - presumed Pink-feet, flew east over the iPort
- 2 Pintail - males on cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - cell 1a
- 5 Little Egret - fishing in the Mother Drain with a Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Dunlin - briefly on cell 1b
- 7 Snipe - cell 1b
- 5000 Starling - murmuration over Central Grassland before going to roost at cell 4 at 17.50
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson
Friday 23rd
- 3 Shelduck
- 65 Wigeon
- 3 Pintail - Lagoon and cell 1b
- 1 Goosander - male seen departing Huxter Well Marsh at 1420hrs heading south
- 1 Bittern - flew from cell 1b to cell 3a
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Sparrowhawk - female
- 2 Kestrel
- 110 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Dunlin - over cell 1b, called, gained height and heading SW
- 2 Common Gull
- 1 Raven - perched near the pumping station and then flew noisily towards Low Ellers
- 8 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing, one showing well at Decoy Marsh
- 2 Chiffchaff - Access Track and St. Caths
- 2 Blackcap - female along Access Track and a male at Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 3 Treecreeper
- 30 Redwing
- 2 Lesser Redpoll
- 50 Siskin - Reedbed Filtration Ponds
Gary Dyson, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft
Thursday 22nd
- 1 Pintail - Lagoon
- 1 Bittern - flew across Huxter Well Marsh and landed in cell 1b
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Green Woodpecker - seen in flight from West Scrape Hide
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
- 12+ Siskin - pumping station trees
Butterflies: 1 Speckled Wood, 1 Brimstone
Sue Brook, Judith Craigmile, Sue Cullen
Wednesday 21st
- 47 Greylag Geese - West Scrape
- 400+ Teal - West Scrape
- 58 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 90 Gadwall - 60 on cell 1b and 30 plus the Brewer's Duck on Piper Marsh
- 2 Pintail - cell 1b
- 42 Shoveler - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - cell 1b
- 3 Water Rail - calling from Decoy Marsh Hide
- 1 Ruff - West Scrape
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - giving good views from Decoy Marsh Hide
- 21 Blackbird - south
- 20+ Redwing - south
Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton

Great White Egret © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

Brewer's Duck © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Tuesday 20th
- 1 'Brewer's Duck' - (Mallard x Gadwall) Piper Marsh
- Teal - female with nasal saddle (TQ+T blue) was seen from Mitchell Hide. This bird was also seen on 14th. This is from the project in Portugal. I'm awaiting the history of this bird.
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - from Piper Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 8 Redwing - near Piper Marsh
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
Adrian Andruchiw
Monday 19th
- 3 Shelduck
- 84 Wigeon
- 520 Teal
- 2 Pintail - cell 1b most of the day
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b late morning
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 150 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 1200 Black-headed Gull - roost
- 10 Goldcrest
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 3 Treecreeper
- 40 Redwing
- 2 Pied Wagtail
- 40 Redpoll
- 15 Siskin
Butterflies: 1 Small Copper, 1 Peacock
Odonata: 3 Migrant Hawker, 1 Common Darter
Darren Wozencroft

Witches Hat? © Derek Parker 2020

Green Woodpecker © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 18th
- 3 Shelduck
- 85 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail
- 2 GARGANEY
- 6 Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 6 Water Rail
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 8 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Willow Tit
- 4 Bearded Tit
- 2 Skylark
- 8 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Treecreeper
- 6 Fieldfare
- 48 Redwing
- 1 Brambling
- 20 Lesser Redpoll
- 40 Siskin
Fungi: Several Shaggy Ink Cap, White Saddle. Parasol, Fly Agaric and Chicken-of-the-wood, plus 1 of what is probably Witches Hat
Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue Bird, Derek Parker
Saturday 17th
- 330 Pink-footed Geese - flew east in 5 skeins between 16.55 and 17.10
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 2 Pintail - cell 1b and 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Water Rail - Decoy Marsh and cell 2a
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
- 1 Bearded Tit - male from Hawthorn Bank Hide
Richard Scott, John Burdall, Richard Collis, Lynda Christou
Friday 16th
- 250 Pink-footed Geese - flew east at about 3pm
- c100 Gadwall - on Piper Marsh, plus a Brewer's Duck (Mallard x Gadwall)
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Golden Plover - on cell 1b
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - off main access
- c30 Fieldfare
Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Brian Buckle per Michael Bird
Whooper Swans © Allen Holmes 2020
Thursday 15th
- 3 Whooper Swan - arrived on cell 1b early morning but not seen again
- 75 Pink-footed Geese - NE over the VC at 12.03
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 83 Wigeon
- 3 Pintail - 2 on cell 1b and one on cell 2a
- 3 Little Egret - over
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3+ Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 1b
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 8 Swallow - 5 south early morning and 3 east in the afternoon
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 2 Treecreeper
- 6 Fieldfare - west
- 60 Redwing - mainly west
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes

Cattle on West Scrape © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Wednesday 14th
- 2 Shelduck
- 60 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk - 5 sightings
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling
- 400 Lapwing
- 1 Golden Plover - cell 1b in the morning
- 2 Dunlin - one on cell 1b all day and one south at 1800hrs
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 7 Snipe
- 7 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 18 Bearded Tit - flock of 16 flew over cell 3b and 2 over 1b (5 more seen presumed same)
- 7 Skylark
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 Chiffchaff - Piper Track
- 3 Treecreeper
- 3000 Starling
- 10 Song Thrush
- 60 Redwing
- 1 Grey Wagtail - NE over Mitchell Hide
- 8 Bullfinch
- 45 Lesser Redpoll
- 12 Siskin
Butterflies : 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 4 Speckled Wood
Odonata : 8 Migrant Hawker, 70 Common Darter
Darren Wozencroft

Goat Moth larva © David Shaw 2020
Rare moth larva photographed again at Potteric Carr
It will be recalled that larvae of the rare and spectacular Goat Moth Cossus cossus were photographed crossing the Access Track on 2 different dates in August, 2019. This was a new reserve record of a nationally very scarce species.
I’m delighted to report that a third larva was spotted and photographed by David Shaw on 20 August, 2020 (see photograph). It, too, was found crossing the Access Track in a similar location to the 2019 records. All 3 larvae were full-grown and, undoubtedly, would have been seeking out a suitable pupation site.
Full grown larvae being found in the same location in consecutive years is evidence that we now have an established Goat Moth colony located in the vicinity of the Access Track. These colonies can be quite long lived, so there is every expectation that more larvae and, perhaps, adults will be discovered in future years.
Ian Heppenstall (Volunteer moth recorder)
Tuesday 13th
- 200 Greylag Geese - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Shelduck - cell 2a
- 1 Pintail - cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Raven - SW
- 5 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit - Big Hedge
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling
- 6 Skylark - NW
- 1 Sand Martin - a very late bird at Huxter Well Marsh
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 5 Chiffchaff
- 2 Treecreeper
- 10 Blackbird - Big Hedge/Iron Bridge
- 97 Fieldfare - 27 flew west after briefly landing in hawthorns and a flock of 70 landed in Big Hedge
- 2 Stonechat - Central Grassland
- 125 Redwing - mainly flying west but some landing in the hawthorns
- 1 Brambling - with Siskins and Redpolls on Hawthorn Bank
- 90 Lesser Redpoll - including a flock of 70 flying around
Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Mick Bellas
Monday 12th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh
per BirdGuides
Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 11th
- 1 Shelduck - cell 2a
- 64 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Curlew - over
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7 Goldcrest
- 9 Skylark - 5 NE and 4 SE
- 7 Chiffchaff
- 28 Fieldfare - west
- 1 Song Thrush - west
- 231 Redwing - west
- 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Brambling - flew over calling. The first record of the year.
- 5 Redpoll
- 10 Siskin
Richard Scott, Mark Roberts
Whooper Swan © Richard Scott 2020
Saturday 10th
- 1 Whooper Swan - arrived on cell 1b during heavy rain at 4.55pm and departed east 15mins later as soon as the rain cleared
- 1 Shelduck
- 52 Wigeon
- 500 Teal
- 1 Pintail - eclipse male on cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - came in high from the south and landed on cell 1a at 4.20pm
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail
- 1 Goldcrest
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 6 Chiffchaff - calling
- 10 Lesser Redpoll
- 2 Siskin
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner, Lynda Christou
Friday 9th
- 1 Shelduck
- 51 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - cell 2a
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Ruff - on cell 2a at 1pm
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 2 Goldcrest
- 4 Chiffchaff
- 6 Skylark - south
- 2 Swallow - low south over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 9 Redwing - 4 south and 5 present
- 25 Lesser Redpoll
- 53 Siskin - groups of 20 and 30 south and 3 present
- 5 Pied Wagtail
Butterflies: 1 Small Copper
Odonata: 5 Migrant Hawker, c25 Common Darter
Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Steve Cash
Thursday 8th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Ruff - cell 1b
- 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 Redshank - in flight from West Scrape towards cell 3b
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 6 Bearded Tit - 5 near Mitchell Hide and one calling near Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 30+ Redpoll, Siskin and Goldfinch - mixed flock feeding in trees on Willow Bank and Loversall Bank
Sue Brook & Judith Craigmile

Stonechat © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Wednesday 7th
- 1 Ruff - cell 1b
- 5 Dunlin - 4 on cell 1b and one on cell 3b
- 1 LITTLE STINT - still on cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide
Gary Dyson, Adrian Andruchiw
Tuesday 6th
- 700 Teal - of which 450 were on West Scrape
- 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female hunting on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - over Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
- 500 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Ruff - West Scrape
- 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 LITTLE STINT - cell 3b
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 3 Snipe - West Scrape
- 2 Common Gull - cell 1b
- 2 Goldcrest - along Piper Marsh Path
- 6 Chiffchaff
Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton
Monday 5th
- 28 Wigeon
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2b
- 1 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
- 8 Dunlin - on West Scrape at 18.00
- 1 LITTLE STINT - still present. Seen on cell 1b at 12.50
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 5 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - Piper Marsh
- 3 Chiffchaff - calling
- 10 Lesser Redpoll - Iron Bridge
- Siskin - several around the education centre
Odonata: 20+ Common Darter, 1 male Migrant Hawker
Butterflies: 1 Large White, 1 Speckled Wood
Fungi: 4 White Saddle - Helvella crispa, 1 Shaggy Inkcap - Coprinus comatus, 1 Chicken of the Wood - Laetiporus sulphureus, 1 False Coral Fungi - Tremellodendron schweinitzii
Gary Dyson, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Derek Parker
Shelduck © Richard Scott 2020
Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 4th
- 15 Whooper Swan - briefly on cell 1b around noon
- 1 Shelduck
- 100 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Red-crested Pochard - male on cell 1b
- 43 Pochard
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk - up together
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - calling
- 3 Dunlin - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 1 LITTLE STINT - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 2 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Woodcock - Willow Bank
- 3 Common Gull
- 2 Swift - two late birds flew south together
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit
- 2 Skylark - over
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 6 Chiffchaff
- 5 Blackbird - Big Hedge
- 3 Song Thrush - flew from Big Hedge
- 2 Redwing - over
- 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
- 1 Meadow Pipit - West Scrape
- 60 Redpoll - Iron Bridge area
Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields
- 1 Chiffchaff singing, 1 Grey Wagtail
Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Sue Cullen, Mark Roberts, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird
Saturday 3rd
- 83 Greylag Geese
- 1 Shelduck
- 76 Wigeon
- 300 Teal
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b and West Scrape
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Red-crested Pochard - male on cell 1b. The first of the year.
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 450 Lapwing
- 2 Golden Plover - West Scrape
- 13 Dunlin - West Scrape, cell 1b, cell 3b
- 1 LITTLE STINT - cell 1b and West Scrape
- 1 Redshank - cell 3b
- 8 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 Common Gull
- 2 Redwing - dropped in to Hawthorn Field late afternoon
Richard Scott
Friday 2nd
- 1 Shelduck - cell 2a
- 41 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
- 2 Sparrowhawk - hunting together over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel
- 500 Lapwing
- 1 KNOT - on West Scrape late afternoon. The only sighting this year.
- 8 Dunlin - numbers on West Scrape increased during the day from 4 up to 8 by late afternoon
- 1 LITTLE STINT - West Scrape
- 9 Snipe
- 2 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling cell 2b/3a
- 1 Swallow - north
- 5 Cetti's Warbler
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over
- 3 Pied Wagtail
- c30 Redpoll - Piper Marsh to Iron Bridge
- c20 Siskin
Butterflies: singles of Small and Green-veined White, Small Copper, Comma, Peacock and Speckled Wood
Odonata: 3 Migrant Hawker, c50 Common Darter, 1 Brown Hawker
Darren Wozencroft, Mick Bellas, Adrian Andruchiw
Bearded Tits © Allen Holmes 2020
male Bearded Tit © Allen Holmes 2020
Dunlin and Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020
Little Stint © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 1st
- 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 53 Wigeon - mainly on cell 2a
- 1 Pintail - female on cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - singles on cells 1b and 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Dunlin - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 1 LITTLE STINT - juv on West Scrape/cell 1b all day
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Greenshank - briefly on West Scrape in the morning
- 9 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 Common Gull
- 2 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit - VC
- 13+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide then moved to the ring main
- 1 Skylark - over
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 9 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 2 Treecreeper
- 2 Mistle Thrush - over
Allen Holmes, Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports
September 2020
Wednesday 30th
- 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebe
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 2 Swallow - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
Paul Paddock

Ypsolopha sequella © Derek Parker 2020

Amblyptilia acanthadactyla © Derek Parker 2020
Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 28th September
After the recent quite chilly nights, it was a surprise to get one that was quite mild for the time of year. As a consequence, we were able to record a total of 28 species of moths, slightly above average for the end of September.
No nationally or regionally rare or scarce moths were recorded, although a single Ypsolopha sylvella was good to see, as there are very few Potteric records of this species. A Small Blood-vein was a touch surprising, as its flight period is usually over before the end of September. Examples of Acleris laterana, Acleris emargana, Amblyptilia acanthadactyla, Common Marbled Carpet, Red-line Quaker and Straw Dot were amongst the species more typically associated with mid-Autumn.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall
Buzzard © Allen Holmes 2020
Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020
Tuesday 29th
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 9 Snipe - West Scrape
- 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- c200 Lesser Redpoll - arrived and splintered into several feeding flocks around Iron Bridge and Piper Marsh, feeding on Silver Birch. Possibly the highest count since 1976!
Allen Holmes

female Common Darter © Derek Parker 2020

Typhlocyba quercus © Derek Parker 2020

Sulphur Tufts © Lynda Christou 2020
Monday 28th
- 1 Whooper Swan - on West Scrape in the evening
- 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 30+ Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Pintail - female
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel - on the pylons by the M18
- 4+ Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail - calling on West Scrape
- 303 Lapwing - West Scrape
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 11 Snipe - on West Scrape in the evening
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 3 Great Spotted woodpecker
- 2 Jay - flew across Huxter Well Marsh
- 13 Bearded Tit - mixed adults and young in the West Scrape area
- 19 Swallow - south
- 6+ Cetti's Warbler
- 7 Chiffchaff - calling
- 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Field
- c60 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Song Thrush
- c16 Goldfinch - main gate
- 6 Redpoll
- Siskin - singles calling in several places
Ladybirds: 4 7-spot Ladybird, 3 Harlequin Ladybird
Butterflies: 4 Large White
Odonata: 7 Common Darter
Bugs: 1 Typhlocyba quercus (tiny 3.5mm long Leafhopper)
Fungi: 3 Shaggy Inkcap
Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Derek Parker
Sunday 27th
- 22 Pink-footed Geese - NE
- 1 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 31 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 12 Pintail - west
- 2 GARGANEY - singles on cells 2a (Hawthorn Bank Hide) and 3a (Tofield Hide) at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail
- 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 6 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 12 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson

Whooper Swans © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Saturday 26th
- 2 Whooper Swan
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Dunlin
Adrian Andruchiw

Water Shrew © Andrew Leggett 2020
Friday 25th
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 8 Little Egret
- 1 Grey Heron
- 5 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Snipe
- 3 Jay
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
Mammals: Water Shrew (on path near Decoy Marsh Hide) and Common Shrew - from corpses on the paths
Odonata: still plenty of Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters
Buffer Area - Carr Lodge
- 1 Hobby
Andrew Leggett, Ian Morris, David Shaw
Thursday 24th
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Hobby - mainly around the dead oak at Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Snipe - Decoy Lake
- 1 Kingfisher - Decoy Lake
- 1 Raven - tussling with 4 Buzzards as it flew north low over Huxter Well Marsh/Piper Marsh
- 2 Goldcrest
- 6+ Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
Andy Dalton, Gary Dyson

Golden Plover and Lapwing © Richard Scott 2020
Wednesday 23rd
- 1 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 31 Wigeon - mainly on cell 2a
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - singles on the Lagoon and cell 2a
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Hobby
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 3 Golden Plover - dropped into West Scrape during heavy rain in the afternoon
- 3 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 25 Snipe - West Scrape and cell 1b
- 1 Kingfisher - cell 1b
- 1 Raven - flew south high
- 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 13 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Treecreeper
- 2 Grey Wagtail - flew south together
- 9 Redpoll
Richard Scott, Mick Bellas, visitor reports

Rosy Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

Black Rustic © Derek Parker 2020

Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2020
Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 21st September
The night had been cooler than initially forecast and the catch was disappointing. The total of 18 species recorded is below average for this time of year and there was little of note to report apart from a single Phyllonorycter messaniella, the 5th reserve record of a species particularly associated with Holm Oak, which is not recorded on the reserve. It will, however, lay on other species of oak, such as Pedunculate Oak, which is a more likely pabulum at Potteric Carr.
Amongst the other moth species recorded were Lunar Underwing, Large Wainscot, Black Rustic, Brindled Green, Rosy Rustic and Pinion-streaked Snout.
Ian and Janet Heppenstall

Grass Snake © Lynda Christou 2020
Snipe © Allen Holmes 2020
Tuesday 22nd
- 22 Mute Swan - cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby – hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 9 Snipe – West Scrape
- 1 Barn Owl
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 13 Greenfinch – 10 in small flock SW, and 3 on the VC feeders
Other: 6 Common Darter, Grass Snake
Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton, Derek Parker, Lynda Christou
Jay carrying acorn © Allen Holmes 2020
Marsh Harrier © Allen Holmes 2020
Monday 21st
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 9 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine
- 3 Water Rail
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and cell 3b
- 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK - West Scrape and cell 1b
- 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
- 9 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit
- 10 Bearded Tit - 8 near Mitchell Hide and 2 at West Scrape
- 8 Swallow - flew south in a single flock
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 7 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
- Meadow Pipit - small numbers flying south in the morning
- 1 Linnet - over
- Redpoll - single figures
- Siskin - single figures
Other: Walnut Orb-weaver spider, Grass Snake
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, visitor reports
Sunday WeBS Count
Mute Swan 25, Greylag Goose 6, Canada Goose 3, Wigeon 18, Gadwall 86, Teal 309, Pintail 1, Mallard 48, Garganey 3, Shoveler 120, Pochard 50, Tufted Duck 15, Cormorant 14, Little Egret 6, Grey Heron 5, Little Grebe 24, Great Crested Grebe 2, Water Rail 1, Moorhen 2, Coot 245, Lapwing 475, Ringed Plover 2, Turnstone 1, Spotted Redshank 1, Snipe 7
Mark Roberts
Spotted Redshank © Richard Scott 2020
Stonechat © Richard Scott 2020
Reed Warbler © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 20th
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b
- 3 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Hobby
- 2 Ringed Plover - one briefly on cell 1b in the morning and one on West Scrape in the afternoon
- 1 TURNSTONE - departed West Scrape at 09.14
- 1 SPOTTED REDSHANK - juv on West Scrape in the afternoon. The first sighting of the year.
- 7 Snipe
- 1 Common Gull - juv on cell 1b
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - male and female near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 14 Chiffchaff
- 5 Blackcap
- 2 Reed Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
- 1 Stonechat - male perching in the reeds and willow saplings near Mitchell Hide. The first since March.
- 12 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland and Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Redpoll
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts
Ringing totals: 8 Blackcap, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Reed Warbler, 3 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Blue Tit, 1 Dunnock, 1 Wren
Rebekah Beaumont
record shot of Crane following Greylags © Allen Holmes 2020
Saturday 19th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 CRANE - flew east with 4 Greylags at 09.35
- 4 Snipe - West Scrape
- 3 Bearded Tit - in front of Tofield Hide
Allen Holmes
Common Inkcap © Lynda Christou 2020
Friday 18th
- 1 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 27 Wigeon
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 8 Little Egret - including the grey bird
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 OSPREY - flew SE over Huxter Well Marsh at 09.30
- 4 Jay
- 2 Goldcrest
- 1 Swallow
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 12 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- 1 Treecreeper
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over West Scrape
- 1 Grey Wagtail - Decoy Lake
Richard Scott, visitor reports

Garden Spider © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Thursday 17th
- 1 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 12 Wigeon
- 3 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 7 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and juv
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail
- 1 Dunlin - dropped into cell 1b at 11.20
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 4 Snipe
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the entrance at dusk
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Marsh/Willow Tit
- 1 Skylark - west
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 19 Chiffchaff
- 11 Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
- 4 Meadow Pipit - SE
- 2 Redpoll
- 10 Siskin
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

Pink-barred Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

Sallow © Janet Heppenstall 2020

Angle Shades © Janet Heppenstall 2020
Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night, 14th September
Having been unable to undertake any trapping during the Spring and Summer months, it was a real pleasure to do so on Monday night. Although we are now well into Autumn, there are still plenty of moths to be found and we recorded 33 species. Particularly pleasing is the fact that one of these, Caloptilia semifascia, is a new reserve record.
Caloptilia semifascia is a rare moth in Yorkshire, with only a handful of, mostly recent, scattered records. Its larvae feed on field maple, of which there is a good supply on the reserve, so there is every probability that it will become an established breeder in the near future.
There was also a good range of autumnal species recorded, including Acleris rhombana, Acleris laterana, Light Emerald, Dusky Thorn, Sallow, Pink-barred Sallow, Barred Sallow, Centre-barred Sallow, Large Wainscot, Frosted Orange, Black Rustic, Rosy Rustic and Svensson’s Copper Underwing.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

Mute Swan © Keith Horton 2020

Marsh Harrier © Keith Horton 2020
Tuesday 15th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - the first since 15th February
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Reed Warbler
Keith Horton

Robber Fly © Nidge Nilsen 2020

Common Darter © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Monday 14th
- Little Egret - the grey bird was seen
- 1 Willow Tit
- 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Nuthatch - Rossington Bank
- 6 Siskin
Mark Roberts, Mike Bellas
Grey Heron © Richard Scott 2020
2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 13th
- 11 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 146 Teal
- 2 GARGANEY - feeding on cell 1b early morning before moving to cell 2a for a sleep
- 5 Little Egret - including the grey bird
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 OSPREY - flew south at 12.15, circled once but continued straight through
- 3+ Hobby - seen over Piper Marsh, Huxter Well Marsh, Hawthorn Bank and towards the iPort. No more than 3 seen up together but possibly 5 birds involved.
- 3 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa and cell 2a (2)
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b and 2a
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Redshank - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - juv on cell 1b
- 1 Stock Dove - south
- 14 Swift - south
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Piper Marsh
- 1 Goldcrest
- 13 Swallow - south
- 34 House Martin - south
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 17 Chiffchaff
- 4 Blackcap
- 1 Grey Wagtail - south
- 6 Meadow Pipit - 3 on Central Grassland and 3 south
- 1 Chaffinch - south
- 14 Greenfinch - 2 around Seven Arches Carr/East Scrape and a flock of 12 flew east
- 30 Redpoll - flying around Piper Marsh/Rossington Bank
- 40 Siskin - odd ones around the reserve and a flock of 30 flew south
Other: Grass Snake swam across cell 1b pursued by several Coots
Richard Scott
Friday 11th
- 10 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 57 Teal - cell 2a
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - Old Eaa
-
1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
-
1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
-
72 Lesser Black-backed Gull - 56 West Scrape. 16 SW
-
1 Tawny Owl - Access Track at dusk
- 7 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher
-
2 Sand Martin
-
2 Blackcap
Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

Hobby © Mick Woodward 2020
Red Admiral © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 10th
- 16 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 2 Pintail - a moulting male and a female/imm on cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - Huxter Well Marsh
- 8 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk - in big oak on Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Buzzard
- 3 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh settling in the big oak and chasing dragonflies
- 5 Water Rail - calling on Old Eaa, Seven Arches Carr and 3 around Huxter Well Marsh
- c500 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 3 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 flew from Willow Marsh to Beeston Plantation and one calling in Triangle Plantation
- Jays - very vocal and collecting acorns around the reserve
- 1 Goldcrest
- 3 Willow Tit - singles around the reserve
- 3 Swallow - over the Visitor Centre
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing in Old Eaa, Seven Arches Carr and Huxter Well Marsh
- 50+ Chiffchaff
- 15 Blackcap
- 2 Grey Wagtail - south
- 7 Bullfinch
- 10+ Redpoll - Piper Marsh
- 30+ Siskin - around the reserve
Butterflies: Small Copper in Black Carr field and 2 Red Admirals on buddleias
Other: dead Water Shrew on Hawthorn bank
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Sue Cullen, Chris Johnson
Wednesday 9th
- 3 Little Egret - including ‘grey’ bird at Huxter Well Marsh
- Buzzard - over Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Hobby - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 3+ Swift - Huxter Well Marsh and Black Carr Field
Paul Paddock
Common Frog © Lynda Christou 2020

Bittern © Barry Wardley 2020
Tuesday 8th
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - flew over West Scrape towards Piper Marsh, where presumably the same bird was later seen
- 2 Little Egret - cell 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - perched on fence post in Loversall Carr Fields
- 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
- 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 2 Goldcrest- Willow Bank
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - West Scrape
- 2 Willow Warbler - Willow Bank
- 1 Treecreeper - Willow Bank
Other: 3 Common Frogs
Sue Brook, Judith Craigmile, Lynda Christou
Monday 7th (late afternoon/evening)
- 1 Sparrowhawk - chasing a Hobby
- 2 Hobby - hawking dragonflies over Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
- 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 20 Swift
- 1 Goldcrest
- 50 Siskin - Hawthorn Bank
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft
Sunday 6th
- 11 Wigeon
- 133 Teal - West Scrape
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 3 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Hobby - hunting dragonflies low over Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Water Rail
- 1 Common Sandpiper - back of cell 1b
- 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 1 Snipe
- 2 Swift
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Field
- 2 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 2+ Bearded Tit - calling from the reedbed nearest to Duchess Hide
- 2 Swallow - south
- 9 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 23 Chiffchaff
- 9 Blackcap
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 2 Whitethroat
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Field
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - west
- 1 Grey Wagtail - SW
- 2 Pied Wagtail - one on cell 3b and an alba flew over
- 4 Meadow Pipit - south
- 5 Bullfinch
- 8+ Redpoll sp - 6 at Old Eaa and 2+ near Mitchell Hide
- 40+ Siskin - several calling in Young Eaa, 18 south, 4 Seven Arches Carr
Richard Scott
Saturday 5th
- 16 Wigeon
- 131 Teal
- 2 GARGANEY - on cell 2a all day
- 52 Shoveler
- 1 Bittern - flew over cell 1a in the afternoon
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - adult in the dead Oak at Huxter Well Marsh 1000hrs
- 650 Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin - West Scrape in the afternoon
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull - singles and small groups moving west through the day
- 42 Swift - 17 west in the morning, 25 over Huxter Well Marsh 1700hrs
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Coal Tit
- 16 Sand Martin
- 6 Swallow - SW
- 31 House Martin
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 14 Chiffchaff
- 5 Blackcap
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Grey Wagtail - west over Mitchell 1030hrs and probably the same also west nr Tofield/cell 2b at 1050hrs
- 1 alba Wagtail - West Scrape 1630hrs
- 2 Lesser Redpoll - in the Alders on North end of Beeston flew to Willow Marsh
- 5 Siskin
Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, 8 Emerald Damselfly, 9 Common Bluet, 3 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 28 Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Black Darter - female Central Grassland, 2 Ruddy Darter, 135 Common Darter
Butterflies : 2 Large White, 8 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 6 white sp., 1 Common Blue, 3 Red Admiral, 1 Peacock, 4 Comma, 1 Meadow Brown, 5 Speckled Wood
Darren Wozencroft
Little Grebe © Richard Scott 2020
Friday 4th
- 13 Wigeon
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - Loversall Pool (seen from the viewing slots below the hide as the hide remains closed)
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male flew SE and cc at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel - M18
- 605 Lapwing
- 1 Common Sandpiper - at the back of cell 1b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - cell 3b
- 50 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Coal Tit
- 2 Sand Martin
- 14 House Martin
- 2 Swallow - south
- 50 Long-tailed Tit
- 17 Chiffchaff
- 2 Willow Warbler
- 7+ Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler - Ring Main
- 1 Nuthatch - near Hawthorn Field
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - Loversall Delph/dragonfly ponds
- 1 Wheatear - on the right hand island in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide. The first sighting on the reserve this year.
- 1 Redpoll sp - flew over Iron Bridge. The first since February.
- 30 Goldfinch - VC
- 30+ Siskin - 20 at the Pumping Station and others calling between Black Carr Wood and Seven Arches Carr
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

Curlew (from Tuesday) © Barry Wardley 2020
Thursday 3rd
- 1 Shelduck - over
- 7 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 3 Pintail - one on cell 1b and 2 on West Scrape
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 7 Cormorant – cell 2b
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa and cell 1b
- 3 Green Sandpiper – 2 West Scrape, 1 cell 1b
- 200+ Coot - of which 193 were on cell 1b
- 2 Kingfisher – Mother Drain and Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Reed Warbler - West Scrape
Richard Scott, Dave Carroll

Avocet © Barry Wardley 2020
Chiffchaff © Richard Scott 2020
Wednesday 2nd
- c30 Wigeon - cell 2a. A big increase in numbers today
- 1 Pintail - cell 1b. The first returning bird.
- 1 Bittern
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - hunting at Black Carr Field and Piper Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 2 Common Sandpiper
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 5 Snipe
- 12 Swift - south
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 5 Jay
- 21 Swallow - south
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- Siskin - several calling at Old Eaa and Seven Arches Carr
Richard Scott, Barry Wardley, Paul Paddock, Gary Dyson
Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020
Tuesday 1st
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 350 Lapwing
- 1 Curlew - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Greenshank - arrived on West Scrape at 18.55 and stayed for ten minutes
- 7 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap - m&f
- 2 Reed Warbler
Odonata: 3 Southern Hawker, 9 Migrant Hawker, 3 Brown Hawker
Darren Wozencroft, Barry Wardley
August 2020
Snipe © Richard Scott 2020
Monday 31st
- 10 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 1+ Bittern - one flew low across Central Grassland from cell 4 to cell 3b. Later one flew low over Central Grassland from West Scrape to cell 4.
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Hobby - landed in a tree in Black Carr Field early morning
- 8 Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
- 1 WHIMBREL - heard calling flying SW? over Huxter Well Marsh at 09.05
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
- 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 1 Snipe - cell 3b
- 3 Common Tern - flew over the Access Track
- 1 Kingfisher - East Scrape
- 1 Willow Tit
- 12 Swallow - south
- 1 Garden Warbler - Big Hedge
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 2 Whitethroat - singles in Big Hedge and near Iron Bridge
- 8 Reed Warbler - calling around Huxter Well Marsh and one seen in Big Hedge
- 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - one in Black Carr Field early morning and one near Iron Bridge
- 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - in Black Carr Field early morning
- 30+ Siskin - Sedum House to Young Eaa
Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird
Sunday 30th
- 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - adult circling over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - juv NE over West Scrape
- 1 Water Rail - calling from Loversall Pool
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Common Tern - juv on cell 1b
- 1 Whitethroat - calling near Iron Bridge
- 9 Siskin - Loversall Bank
Richard Scott
Saturday 29th
- 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 3b
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - the female moulting the tail feathers
- 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a
- 400 Lapwing
- 5 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - over Huxter Well Marsh
- wader sp - 3 small waders flew NW
- 1 Common Tern - adult at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull - juv on cell 1b
- Swift - small numbers going south
- 3 Yellow Wagtail - SW low over Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Siskin - Access Track
Richard Scott, Andy Dalton
Friday 28th
- 8 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 30 Sand Martin
- 5 Swallow
- 100 House Martin
- 4 Chiffchaff
- 30 Starling
Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott
Thursday 27th
- 3 Shelduck - NW
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - on the Lagoon then flew to cell 1a
- 13 Pochard - cell 2a
- Pheasant - with 3 small young in the butterfly garden
- 16 Cormorant - 2 on cell 1b and 14 on cell 2a
- 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Grey Heron - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - the moulting female on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a
- 530 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Green Sandpiper - 2 on East Scrape and singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
- 10 Swift - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Goldcrest - in a large mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
- 1 Coal Tit - in a large mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
- House and Sand Martin - good numbers feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
- 10 Chiffchaff - calling
- 6 Blackcap - calling and feeding on berries
- 1 Reed Warbler - West Scrape
- 2 Treecreeper - in mixed tit flock in Black Carr Field
- 30 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2+ Bullfinch - Hawthorn Bank
- Siskin - calling in Old Eaa
Sue and Roger Bird
Tuesday 25th
- 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female with the missing tail feathers
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Hobby - one flew high east in the morning and one was hunting low over Central Grassland in the afternoon
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on cell 1b/West Scrape
- 4 Curlew - SW at 13.50
- 3 TURNSTONE - on cell 1b for 5 mins until they flew west at 13.25
- 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
- 4 Common Tern - 2 adults and 2 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
- 50 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain by the Access Track
- 2 Willow/Marsh Tit - Loversall Triangle
- 90 Sand Martin
- 55 House Martin
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
- 3 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Darren Wozencroft
Green-veined Whites © Lynda Christou 2020
Monday 24th
- 5 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - over Piper Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk - up together over Seven Arches Carr
- 5 Buzzard - seen from Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh
- c450 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Kingfisher - on Mother Drain at the entrance
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron bridge
- 5 Jay
- hirundines - continual movement SW
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing on Huxter Well Marsh
- Chiffchaff - good numbers calling and singing
- 6 Blackcap - calling and feeding on Elderberries
- 1 Reed Warbler - along Loversall Bank
- 2 Siskin - calling on Loversall Bank
Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports
Sunday 23rd
- 5 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - one was seen on the Lagoon mid-afternoon and later 2 were briefly on West Scrape
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female with some missing tail feathers over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2+ Sparrowhawk
- 5+ Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
- 2 Water Rail - Lagoon
- 2 Ringed Plover - a juv was later joined by an adult on West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - adult on West Scrape
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - adult in winter plumage on West Scrape
- 3 Dunlin- one flew through calling and 2 dropped onto West Scrape during a thunderstorm
- 4 Green Sandpiper - East and West Scrape
- 3 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 18 Swift
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 in Young Eaa and one in Black Carr Wood
- 1 Coal Tit - pumping station
- 15+ Sand Martin
- 2 Swallow
- 40+ House Martin
- 1+ Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 5 Reed Warbler
- 1 Sedge Warbler - West Scrape
- 1 Nuthatch- calling in Corbett Wood
- 1 Mistle Thrush - over
- 1 Greenfinch - VC
- 4 Siskin - Young Eaa
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Ian and Janet Heppenstall
Ringing Totals
15 Blackcap, 6 Reed Warbler, 2 Whitethroat, Reed Bunting, 2 Willow Warbler, 4 Chiffchaff, Long-tailed Tit, 2 Blue Tit. Robin, Wren, 2 Goldfinch, Chaffinch.
Rebekah Beaumont
WeBS Highlights
- 559 Lapwing
- 9 Little Egret
- 24 Little Grebe
- 2 Water Rail
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit
- 5 Wigeon
- Duck numbers were underwhelming as you can imagine, with the species having by far the highest count being Gadwall at 251.
Mark Roberts
female Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Saturday 22nd
- 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 82 Teal
- 33 Shoveler
- 23 Cormorant - cell 2a
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 3 Sparrowhawk - pair over Black Carr/Piper and a female over Decoy Lake
- 410 Lapwing
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
- 4 Common Tern
- 12 Swift
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 11 Chiffchaff
- 4 Blackcap
- 1 Whitethroat
- 1 Reed Warbler - Access Track
- 2 Greenfinch - VC feeders
- 2 Siskin - Access Track
Odonata : 7 Banded Demoiselle, 10 Emerald Damselfly, c65 Common Bluet, 4 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c35 Small Redeye, 2 Southern Hawker, 21 Migrant Hawker, 4 hawker sp., 4 Emperor, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer. 1 Black Darter - male Decoy Lake, 9 Ruddy Dater, c140 Common Darter
Butterflies : 1 Brimstone, 4 Large White, 6 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 16 white sp., 4 Common Blue, 7 Red Admiral, 21 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Meadow Brown, 2 Gatekeeper, 19 Speckled Wood
Darren Wozencroft
Friday 21st
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 4 Common Tern
- 36 Swift - over Huxter Well/Piper Marsh
- c30 Sand Martin
- 3 Swallow
- c10 House Martin
- 6 Chiffchaff
- 1 Goldcrest - Loversall Delph
Other : 1 Common Frog, 1 Pipistrelle Bat
Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou
Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2020
record shot of the 2 Garganey © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 20th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - on the Lagoon but flew further into Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh/Piper Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk - up together over Black Carr field, one hunting over Huxter Well Marsh earlier
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- c400 Lapwing
- 3+ Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/Piper Marsh
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 6 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the underbridge
- 1 Swift
- 9 House Martin
- 8 Chiffchaff - calling
- 4 Blackcap - calling
- 1 Siskin - calling at the Pumping Station
Butterflies: 2 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Red Admiral, 12 Common Blue (ring main bank), Green-veined Whites
Odonata: Dozens of Migrant Hawkers hawking over St Catherine's. Huge increase would suggest a large hatch or possibly continental dragonflies boosting numbers.
Amongst these were a few Southern Hawkers. 2 Emperors at Decoy lake, 2 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on vegetation by the footpath outside Mitchell Hide, plus a dozen or so from dipping platform on Decoy Lake. 1 Ruddy Darter, Common Darter widespread, 2 Black Darter along ring main path
Other: Water Stick Insect from dipping platforms
Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Allen Holmes
Wednesday 19th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - on cell 3b in the evening
- 4 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 1 Sparrohawk
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 8+ Common Tern
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler - Big Hedge
Paul Paddock, Lynda Christou, Richard Scott
Tuesday 18th
- 1 Shelduck - juv on West Scrape
- 1 Wigeon
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 3a
- 8+ Little Egret - Willow Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - female sat on top of bird feeders by the VC
- 1 Dunlin - moulting adult on West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
- 5 Common Tern
- 2 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Odonata : 5 Migrant Hawker, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer
Mike Snook, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft

Painted Lady © Sue Bird 2020
Common Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020
Monday 17th
- 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 1b
- 9 Little Egret - including the grey bird
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 3 Water Rail - 2 showing on cell 3b and one calling from cell 2a
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Golden Plover - in the Lapwing flock on West Scrape. The first sighting of the year.
- 4 Ringed Plover - cell 1b/West Scrape, all adults
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b/West Scrape
- 3 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3
- 2 Snipe - West Scrape
- 7 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - chased by a Black-headed Gull over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 6 Reed Warbler
- 2 Greenfinch - over
- Siskin - several calling in Old Eaa
Butterflies: 1 Painted Lady in the car park, 4+ Purple Hairstreaks on Oak in Black Carr Field, 2 Common Blue on Central Grassland
Odonata: good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies in front of Piper Marsh Hide
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Lynda Christou
Sunday 16th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 24 Cormorant - roosted in the dead trees at Old Eaa
- 7 Little Egret - including the grey bird
- 2 Water Rail - cell 3b and West Scrape
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 3 Ruff - West Scrape
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 8 Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Redshank - West Scrape
- 10 Snipe - West Scrape
- 7 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Common Gull
- 7 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 Whitethroat
- 1 Sedge Warbler
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - south
- 3 Pied Wagtail
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird
2 Ruffs with Lapwings © Richard Scott 2020
Saturday 15th
- Little Egret - the grey bird was on cell 1b
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 3 Ruff - West Scrape. The first sightings of the year.
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
- 3 Snipe - West Scrape
- 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Common Gull - 2cy on cell 1b
- 10 Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Willow Tit
- 9 Siskin - Willow Marsh
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

Tench speared by a Heron © Nidge Nilsen 2020
History of sightings of a colour-ringed Black-tailed Godwit seen on 19th July
|
Small Redeye © Darren Wozencroft 2020

grey Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 13th
- 2 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 14 Little Egret - including the grey bird
- 10 Grey Heron
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 526 Lapwing
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 6 Green Sandpiper
- 2 Snipe - one over the Lagoon and one at Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 9 Common Tern
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Field and Corbett Wood
- 1 Willow Tit
- 5 Cetti's Warbler
- 39 Chiffchaff
- 8 Willow Warbler
- 18 Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Nuthatch - calling in Black Carr Wood
- 30 Siskin - Young Eaa
Richard Scott, Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson

Common Gull © Richard Scott 2020
Wednesday 12th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 83 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
- 13 Little Egret - including the one with grey on the wings
- 10 Grey Heron
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 2 Common Sandpiper - one calling over the Access Track and one on cell 3b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 4 Common Tern
- 1 Common Gull - adult on West Scrape
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 3 Siskin - Access Track
Odonata: c.170 Small Redeye - Decoy Lake, Willow and Piper Marsh and cell 3a and a female Black Darter on Willow Bank.
Other: 2 Grass Snakes at Loversall Delph and Willow Marsh
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft
Common Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2020

Black Darter © Darren Ward 2020
Tuesday 11th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - cell 2b
- 9 Little Egret - including one with grey on the wings
- 11 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on cell 1b/West Scrape
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 7+ Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 SANDWICH TERN - during a shower at 11am one flew around calling in front of Mitchell Hide and appeared to land on West Scrape. Unfortunately, it flew off just as we walked into West Scrape Hide.
- 9 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Nuthath - calling in Black Carr Wood
- 30+ Siskin - Young Eaa/Access Track
Odonata: 4 Migrant Hawker, 6 Southern Hawker, female Black Darter - Cottage Drain, c110 Small Redeye
Other: Stoat downclimbing a large oak in the car park a
Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Darren Wozencroft
Monday 10th
- 34 Teal - West Scrape
- 12 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 9 Little Egret - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk - hunting along the banks on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby - juvenile perched in the dead tree on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon
- c550 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 7 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 12 Common Tern
- 1 House Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 10 Chiffchaff - calling
- 3 Blackcap - calling
- 2 Reed Warbler - calling
- 1 Treecreeper - calling near Old Eaa
Butterflies: 6 Purple Hairstreak on the big oak in Black Carr field, 3 Common Blue along the ring main/bridle path, 1 Painted Lady
Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

Curlew © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 9th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 GARGANEY - on the island on cell 1b in the afternoon
- 14 Cormorant
- 2 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh and Seven Arches Carr
- 12 Little Egret
- 9 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 6 Ringed Plover - 4 on cell 1b briefly from 07.05 and 2 on cell 1b early afternoon
- 1 Curlew - on West Scrape from 09.43
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 2 TURNSTONE - juv on cell 1b from 11.30 was joined by an adult at 11.55. One seen flying SE with a Ringed Plover at 13.00
- 3 Dunlin - singles briefly on cell 1b and West Scrape
- 7 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 6 Redshank - on cell 1b all day
- 19 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 ARCTIC TERN - juv on cell 1b from 09.35
- 1 Common Gull - 2cy east
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Field
- 2+ Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling from St Caths Hide
- 23 Chiffchaff - calling
- 1 Nuthatch - calling in Black Carr Wood
- 2 Treecreeper
Richard Scott, Richard Collis, Rob Mellor
Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020
Common Darter © Allen Holmes 2020
Saturday 8th
- 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 14 Little Egret - including 12 together on Piper Marsh
- 3 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male over Willow Marsh and a juv over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 19 Common Tern - cell 1b
- 5 Swift
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
Odonata : 6 Banded Demoiselle, 16 Emerald Damselfly, 7 Azure Bluet, c100 Common Bluet, 9 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c100 Small Redeye - incl. 2 from Decoy Lake dipping platform. 5 Southern Hawker, 3 Migrant Hawker, 8 Brown Hawker, 11 Emperor, 1 Four-spot Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 1 Black Darter - Decoy Lake, 14 Ruddy Darter, 58 Common Darter, 30+ darter sp.
Butterflies : 1 skipper sp. 1 male Brimstone, 6 Large White, 10 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 11 white sp. 5 Purple Hairstreak, 10 Common Blue, 5 Red Admiral, 24 Peacock, 4 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 32 Meadow Brown, 13 Gatekeeper, 7 Speckled Wood.
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou
Brimstone © Allen Holmes 2020
Banded Demoiselle © Allen Holmes 2020
Friday 7th
- 5 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 3 Marsh Harrier - female and 2 juvs
- 3 Avocet
- 2+ Green Sandpiper
Butterflies: 5 Brimstone, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Red admiral
Odonata: 1 Banded Demoiselle
Allen Holmes, Adrian Andruchiw
Thursday 6th (evening)
- 2 Wigeon
- 11 Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail - calling from the Lagoon
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
- 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
- 37 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 200+ Swift - feeding beyond the M18
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou

Little Egret © Richard Scott 2020
Wednesday 5th (early morning)
- 2 Marsh Harrier - juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
- 25 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
Richard Scott
Tuesday 4th (evening)
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 2a
- 2 Marsh Harrier - juvs
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 22 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Siskin - over Young Eaa
Richard Scott

tagged Marsh Harrier © North West Norfolk Ringing Group 2020
Details of the wing-tagged Marsh Harrier
A wing-tagged juvenile Marsh Harrier was photographed at Potteric Carr on 31st July. Phil from the North West Norfolk Ringing Group has kindly sent us the history of the bird, as follows:
This bird is indeed one of this years, and in fact is the first to be reported away from it's natal area.
She was ringed and tagged on the Holkham Estate in North Norfolk and was one of three young in the nest, plus an infertile egg. Her two siblings were a male and female. I've attached a picture of her on the date of tagging which was 17.06.2020. For more information on the scheme take a look at our website at www.nwnrg.co.uk and follow the link to the Marsh Harrier project.
4 Marsh Harriers over Piper Marsh (taken on 1st August) © Eileen Gray 2020
Monday 3rd
- 2 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 74 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 4 Marsh Harrier - adult and 3 juvs
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 740 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
- 4 Black-tailed Godwit - on West Scrape in the evening
- 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 6 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
- 32 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Swift
- 1 Siskin - Old Eaa
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft
Garganey © Allen Holmes 2020
Green Sandpipers © Allen Holmes 2020
Saturday 1st
- 4 Grey Heron - including 2 juveniles on West Scrape
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on West Scrape
- 4 Marsh Harrier - juveniles over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 7 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling near the compound
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Cottage Drain
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling from Piper Marsh
Allen Holmes, Eileen Gray
July 2020
Brown Argus © Darren Wozencroft 2020

Reed Warbler © Nidge Nilsen 2020

wing-tagged Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Friday 31st
- 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 33 Teal
- 1 GARGANEY - West Scrape
- 35 Shoveler
- 1 Little Egret on cell 1b
- 11 Cormorant on cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - wing-tagged juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh. I've sent the details to the ringing scheme in Norfolk.
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
- 2 Avocet - cell 1b
- 646 Lapwing - 355 on West Scrape and 291 on cell 3b
- 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 29+ Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 645 Black-headed Gull - 352 on West Scrape and 293 on cell 1b
- 12+ Common Tern - some bringing fish for young on cell 1b
- 55 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
- 8 Sand Martin - feeding low over cell 1b
- 8 Chiffchaff - calling
- 7 Blackcap - calling
- 1 Greenfinch - singing in the main carpark
Butterflies: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary on the teasels at the link road end of Loversall Bank, 2 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 3 skipper sp., 2 Brimstone (m&f), 5 Large White, 7 Small White, 3 Green-veined White, 7 white sp., 2 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Small Copper, 2 Brown Argus, 6 Common Blue, 2 Red Admiral, 46 Peacock, 8 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 27 Meadow Brown, 36 Gatekeeper, 1 Ringlet, 5 Speckled Wood
Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 5 Emerald Damselfly, 3 Azure Bluet, c50 Common Bluet, 21 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c.120 Redeye sp. mainly Small - from Cottage Drain Hide and Beeston Hide. 1 Migrant Hawker in Black Carr Field, 2 Southern Hawker, 2 hawker sp., 8 Brown Hawker, 12 Emperor, 1 Four-spot Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 6 Ruddy Darter, 13 Common Darter
Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft
Wednesday 26th
- 3 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on cell 3b
Allen Holmes

Sunset over Carr Lodge © Lynda Christou 2020

Copper Underwing © Jim Horsfall 2020
Tuesday 28th
- 3 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 27 Teal
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon at 17.45
- 1 Little Egret - Piper Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juvenile over Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Avocet
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - juvs on West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 12 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- Swift - small numbers moving SW
- 1 Kestrel - seen from Visitor Centre
- 1 Hobby one over Piper Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - over M18 seen from Willow Bank
- 1 Song Thrush - on the path near Visitor Centre
Moth: Copper Underwing on a fence post at East Scrape
Roger and Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Sheila Bury, Mick Bellas, Jim Horsfall, Darren Wozencroft

Bittern © Freddie Oxley 2020

juvenile Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Sunday 26th
- 1 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern
- 3 Marsh Harrier - Piper Marsh
- 2 Avocet
- 3 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
Chris Elliott, Leah Mayo, Nidge Nilsen

Hobby © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Saturday 25th
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Hobby
- 3 Avocet
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 6 Black-tailed Godwit
- 3 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Stock Dove
Nidge Nilsen, John Burdall
Black-tailed Godwits © Allen Holmes 2020
Comma © Allen Holmes 2020
Grass Snake © Allen Holmes 2020
Friday 24th
- 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 6 Little Egret
- Great Crested Grebe - adult with a small juv on cell 1b (new brood)
- 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel - male
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
- 395 Lapwing
- 2 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 2 Snipe - cell 2a
- 27 Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
- 4 Pied Wagtail
- 2 Siskin - Access Track
Butterflies: 2 Comma, 2 Brimstone, 4 Silver-washed Fritillary, 7 White-letter Hairstreak, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral and c25 Peacock
Odonata: 4 Black-tailed Skimmer, Emperor Dragonfly
Other: 3 Grass Snake, Southern Hawker, 2 Comma x 2
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

Green Sandpiper © Richard Scott 2020
Thursday 23rd
- 4 Wigeon
- Great Crested Grebe - adult and small juv on cell 3a
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 320 Lapwing
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 26 Common Tern
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh and Iron Bridge
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Bullfinch - Access Track
- 1 Siskin - calling along the Access Track
Richard Scott, Roger and Sue Bird

Wasps nest © Lynda Christou 2020

Kingfisher © Malcolm Cook 2020

male Marsh Harrier © Malcolm Cook 2020
Wednesday 22nd
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs seen from Piper Marsh Hide
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 14 Black-tailed Godwit
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 5 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Kingfisher - Piper Marsh
Malcolm Cook, Adrian Andruchiw

juvenile Marsh Harrier © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Tuesday 21st
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Buzzard
- 5 Avocet - West Scrape
- 13 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
Butterflies: 1 Comma, 1 Peacock, 5 Gatekeeper
Sue Brook
Purple Hairstreak © Allen Holmes 2020
Monday 20th
- 3 Wigeon
- 5 Teal
- 3 Marsh Harrier - including the 2 juvs
- 4 Buzzard
- 8+ Avocet
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 1 Curlew - heard from Hawthorn Bank but couldn't be seen
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit
- 1 Common Sandpiper
- 6 Green Sandpiper
- 18 Common Tern
Butterflies: 2 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Essex Skipper, 1 Red Admiral, 10 Peacock, 6 Comma, 8 Gatekeeper
Odonata: 1 Emperor Dragonfly, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (female)
Other: 1 Grass Snake
Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft

Black-tailed Godwits © Richard Scott 2020
Sunday 19th
- 2 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 2+ Bittern - several sightings at Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juveniles
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Hobby - together over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - cell 3b and the Lagoon
- 13 Avocet - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 340 Lapwing
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit - on cell 3b early morning. One was colour-ringed.
- 6 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 16+ Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo - juv over the entrance
- 1+ Kingfisher - cell 1b, East Scrape and Mother Drain
- 4 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near VC
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - briefly on West Scrape
- 1+ Siskin - calling along the Access Track
Other: Grass Snake in the Mother Drain near the underbridge
Saturday 18th
- 5 Wigeon
- 1 GARGANEY - Lagoon
- Tufted Duck - female with 7 very small young on Stilling Pond (possibly those from cell 2a)
- 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juvenile
- 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
- 7 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 340 Lapwing
- 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 5+ Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 1 Greenshank - over
- 23 Common Tern - including 9 juvs
- 20 Swift
Friday 17th
- 3 Wigeon
- 11 Teal
- 1 GARGANEY
- 1 Bittern - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Marsh Harrier - sub-adult male
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 7 Avocet - 3a,4j on West Scrape
- 380 Lapwing
- 1 Ringed Plover - adult on 1b/3b
- 1 Common Sandpiper - on cell 1b
- 5 Green Sandpiper
- 18 Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher
- 20 Swift
- 1 CROSSBILL - south at 10am
Odonata : 1 Southern Hawker
Thursday 16th
- 1 GARGANEY - Lagoon
- 1 Bittern - stood in the reeds at the back of cell 1b
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Hobby - Decoy Lake
- 5 Avocet
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 10 Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Bearded Tit - juv near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Siskin - calling in Young Eaa
Tuesday 14th
- 2 Wigeon
- 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon and cell 3b
- Tufted Duck - female with 7 very small young on cell 2a
- 8 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - cell 2a
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 1 Buzzard
- 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs
- 280 Lapwing
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 3 Little Ringed Plover - adult and 2 juvs on West Scrape
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 6 Green Sandpiper
- 8 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 12 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Willow Tit
- Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Song Thrush - Piper Marsh Path
- 2+ Siskin - calling in Black Carr Wood and Young Eaa
Silver-washed Fritillary © Darren Wozencroft 2020
White-letter Hairstreak © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Sunday 12th
- 5 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1b
- 5 Little Egret
- Great Crested Grebe - independent juv on cell 3a
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Hobby
- 2 Peregrine - male and female together. Female carrying prey
- 1 Water Rail - calling from the Lagoon
- 8 Avocet
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit
- 290 Lapwing
- 3 Green Sandpiper
- 7 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Linnet - near Mitchell Hide
Butterflies : 1 Large Skipper, 7 White-letter Hairstreak, 2 Purple Hairstreak, 6 Red Admiral, 5 Comma, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Peacock, 3 Silver-washed Fritillary. plus usual common species
Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, c40 Small Redeye, 1+ Large Redeye, 3 Brown Hawker, 5 Emperor, 4 Four-spot Chaser, 8 Black-tailed Skimmer, c10 Common Darter
Large Skipper © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Saturday 11th
- 6 Wigeon
- 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
- 6 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Hobby
- 8 Avocet
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - juv on West Scrape
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 20 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Raven - tumbling as it flew SE at 1.15pm
- Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
Butterflies : 1 Large Skipper, 12 Small Skipper, 2 Essex Skipper, 16 skipper sp., 6 Large White, 15 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 15 white sp., 1f Brimstone, 1 Purple Hairstreak, 2 Small Copper, 1 Painted Lady, 12 Red Admiral, 9 Comma, 7 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Peacock, 1m Silver-washed Fritillary, 59 Ringlet, 48 Meadow Brown, 5 Gatekeeper, 2 Speckled Wood.
Odonata : 7 Emerald Damselfly, 2 Large Red Damselfly, c100 bluet sp. - at least 19 Azure and 21 Common, 16 Blue-tailed Damsel, 5 redeye sp., 3 Brown Hawker, 9 Emperor, 5 Four-spot Chaser, 1f Broad-bodied Chaser, 11 Black-tailed Skimmer, 3 Ruddy Darter, 12 Common Darter, 8 darter sp.
Friday 10th
- 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
- Little Grebe - pairs with 1 and 2 small young on the Lagoon
- Great Crested Grebe - juv on cell 2b
- 10 Avocet
- 1 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - flew SE from Huxter Well Marsh at 06.35
- 4 Redshank - arrived on West Scrape early morning but flew off
- 18 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Old Eaa/Young Eaa
- 1 Goldcrest - singing along the Access Track near Decoy Marsh
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Song Thrush - singing at Young Eaa and Hawthorn Field
Thursday 9th
- 3 Little Egret - Decoy Lake
- 1 Sparrowhawk - juv on the fence at Decoy Lake
- 10 Avocet - including 4 juvs
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 5 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh, West Scrape and 3 on cell 3b
- Common Tern - 2 juvs on the Lagoon being fed
- 1 Barn Owl - on the fence then around Decoy Lake
- Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
Wednesday 8th
- 1 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 29 Teal
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
- 4 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- Little Grebe - independent juv on cell 2a
- Great Crested Grebe - adult and juv on the Lagoon
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 10 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 3 Ringed Plover - West Scrape and cell 1b
- 7 Little Ringed Plover - 5 adults and 2 juvs on West Scrape
- 5 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape and cell 3b
- 12 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 12+ Swift - Huxter
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Willow Tit - singing
- 3 Bearded Tit - from Roger Mitchell hide
- 2 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
Tuesday 7th
- 1 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
- 10 Avocet
- 2 Ringed Plover - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 4 Little Ringed Plover - including a juv (from iPort?) on West Scrape
- 3 Green Sandpiper
- 9 Common Tern - including a juv (from iPort?)
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
- 5 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
- Siskin - several calling from Young Eaa and Black Carr Wood
Sunday 5th
- 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 2 GARGANEY - Lagoon
- 15 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 SPOONBILL - SE over A6182 into Potteric at 20.45
- Little Grebe - pair with 2 small young on the Lagoon
- Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 juvs and an orphaned juv on cell 1b
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2+ Hobby - 2 at Huxter Well Marsh and one over Loversall Carr Fields
- 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Barn Owl
- 30 Swift
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
- 20 Siskin - Access Track/pumping station
Saturday 4th
- 4 Shelduck
- 3 Wigeon
- 2 GARGANEY - eclipse male and female on the Lagoon
- Pochard - female with 3 small juvs on Stilling Pond
- 2 Little Egret
- Little Grebe - adult and juv on cell 1a. Independent juv on Stilling Pond
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Hobby
- 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs on West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b and West Scrape
- 15 Common Tern
- 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 6 Siskin - Pumping Station
Wednesday 1st
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
- Pochard - female with a single juv on cell 2a
- 7 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 1 Hobby
- 9 Avocet - including 4 juvs on West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 5 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 4 Green Sandpiper - cell 1b/West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher - Lagoon
- 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
June 2020

juvenile Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020

variant female Bearded Tit 8th July © Paul Paddock 2020
Tuesday 30th
- 8 Mute Swan - pair with 6 young Cell 2b
- 2 Shelduck
- 3 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 4 Great Crested Grebe, 2 adults and 2 small young on cell 1b and 1 adult and 1 young on cell 2a
- 2 Bittern - one flew over the Compound towards Willow Marsh. Possibly the same flew between Huxter Well Marsh and Willow Marsh. Another bird doing feeding flights.
- 4 Little Egret - 3 on cell 3b and 1 on Piper Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Food-pass noted.
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
- 9 Avocet - including 3 juvs at West Scrape
- 75 Lapwing
- 3 Ringed Plover - cell 2a/West Scrape
- 7 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/West Scrape
- 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull 2 adult and 2 young on Sedum House roof
- 13 Common Tern
- 1 Stock Dove - Black Carr Wood
- 30 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
- 1 Jay
- 1 Hobby - adult chasing dragonflies over the Lagoon
- 2 Jay - Access track
- 4 Bearded Tit - 3 near Mitchell Hide and one heard in front of Duchess hide
- 3 Cetti’s Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn bank
- 2 Greenfinch - singing near entrance gate and the pumping station
Other: Pyramidal Orchid flowering along pathside at Huxter Well Marsh
Monday 29th
- 1 Barn Owl - carrying prey from Carr Lodge towards Potteric
- 30 Siskin - Compound
Sunday 28th
- 2 Shelduck
- 3 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2b
- 1 Bittern - feeding flights
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Female took a juv black-headed gull
- 1+ Hobby
- 9 Avocet - 5 adults and 4 juvs
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Redshank
- 15 Common Tern
- 117+ Swift - 30 feeding over Huxter Well Marsh until is started raining. A steady southerly passage all morning was counted from 9-10am, totalling 87.
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Goldcrest - singing along the Access Track and near Cottage Drain Hide
- 1 Willow Tit - singing along the Access Track
- 4 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 30 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
- 1 CROSSBILL - west over the Access Track 06.35. The first since 2013.
- 3+ Siskin - Compound, Pumping Station and Black Carr Wood
Saturday 27th
- 3 Shelduck - 2 on West Scrape and one over
- 2 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 19 Teal - West Scrape
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - feeding flights
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 3 Hobby - up together over Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - calling at cell 1b
- 7 Avocet - 4 adults and 3 juvs
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Ringed Plover
- 1 Little Ringed Plover
- 6 Black-tailed Godwit - in breeding plumage on West Scrape
- 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank
- 15 Common Tern
- 2 Mediterranean Gull - adults visited the gull colony early afternoon
- 100+ Swift - many going south
- 2+ Kingfisher - 2 together along Mother Drain and one over West Scrape
- 4+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Skylark - iPort
- 4 Siskin - Young Eaa
Friday 26th
- 22 Teal
- Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 small juvs on cell 1b
- 1 Hobby
- 10 Avocet - including 3 full grown juvs
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 1 Little Ringed Plover
- 4 Black-tailed Godwit - in breeding plumage on cell 3b but flew off at 4.45pm. Seen earlier in the day at the iPort
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
Thursday 25th
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 19 Teal
- 1 Bittern
- 9 Little Egret
- 7 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Hobby
- 4 Avocet - including a full grown juv
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 220 Lapwing
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 6 Little Ringed Plover - 4 SE from West Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Redshank
- 9 Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher - East Scrape
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7+ Bearded Tit - at least 3 calling in the reeds in front of Mitchell Hide and 7 flew past West Scrape Hide
- 2 Swallow
- 3 Pied Wagtail
- 3 Siskin - Iron Bridge
Odonata: 10 Banded Demoiselle (5m,5f), 6 Large Red Damselfly, 5 Emerald Damselfly, c500 Common/Azure Bluet, 29 Blue-tailed Damselfly, c50 Redeye sp. - of which min. 2 Large and min. 10 Small, 3 Hairy Hawker, 1m Common Hawker - male in Black Carr Field, 1 Brown Hawker, 19 Emperor Dragonfly, 22 Four-spot Chaser, 1f Broad-bodied Chaser, 49 Black-tailed Skimmer, 3 Ruddy Darter, 2 Common Darter, 2 darter sp. 17sp.!!!
Butterflies: 19 Large Skipper, 3 Small Skipper, 1 Essex Skipper, 13 skipper sp., 5 Large White, 1 Small White, 1 Green-veined White, 8 white sp., 1 Purple Hairstreak, 1 blue sp., 6 Red Admiral, 8 Small Tortoiseshell, 13 Comma, 104 Meadow Brown, 38 Ringlet, 4 Speckled Wood.
Wednesday 24th
- 1 Bittern - flew across West Scrape towards cell 2b
- 4 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 3 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Ringed Plover
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 2 Redshank
- 12 Common Tern
- 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
Other: 1 Pike in Mother Drain, 1 Emperor Dragonfly
Tuesday 23rd
- 5 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
Monday 22nd
- 6 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Siskin - compound
Sunday 21st
- 2 Shelduck
- 6 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 330 Gadwall - Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
- 1 Bittern - feeding flights
- 5 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Hobby - over Piper Marsh
- 3 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher - over
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Stock Dove - singing near the viaduct
- 10 Common Tern
- 90 Swift
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
- 5+ Bearded Tit - 3 seen but several calling near Mitchell Hide
Friday 19th
- 2 Wigeon
- 10 Shoveler
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank - cell 3b
- 2 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 13 Common Tern
- 50 Swift
- 2 Bearded Tit
Saturday 13th
- 11 Canada Geese
- 5 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on cell 2a. Primaries and body moult almost complete.
- 2 Bittern - one calling as it flew around cell 1b followed around by a second bird
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby
- 1 Peregrine - adult flew low over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Water Rail - adult and juv on cell 3b and one calling from cell 1b
- 10 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 90 Lapwing - cell 3b
- 3 Little Ringed Plover
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
- 2 Redshank
- 8 Common Tern
- 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
Friday 12th
- 7 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 4 Teal - West Scrape
- 1 GARGANEY - partial eclipse male on cell 2a
- 11 Shoveler
- Pochard - female with 1 small juv on cell 2a
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 13 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 4 Little Ringed Plover
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - an early returning bird on West Scrape
- 3 Redshank
- 7 Common Tern
- 1 Bearded Tit - female near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Garden Warbler - Access Track
- 4 Pied Wagtail - 2 adults and 2 juvs
Thursday 11th
- 4 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 225+ Gadwall - 170 dropped into cell 1b, 50 Lagoon, 5 cell 3b, later 150 on Old Eaa may have been the birds from cell 1b
- 6 Teal - 5 m 1 f
- 11 Shoveler - 8 m and 3 f
- 5 Little Egret - Lagoon
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 16 Avocet
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 2 Redshank - cell 3b
- 3 Common Tern
Wednesday 10th
- 5 Shelduck
- 12 Shoveler
- 66 Pochard - plus 3 young on cell 3a
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flying across cell 1a
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female around Huxter Well Marsh
- 8 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 29 Lapwing
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Little Ringed Plover
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 3 Redshank
- 4 Common Tern
- 20 Swift
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
Tuesday 9th
- 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 1 GARGANEY - eclipse male on the Lagoon
- 90 Pochard - loafing on Lagoon islands
- 7 Little Egret - 1 Piper Marsh, 2 cell 3b, 3 cell 1b and 1 cell 2b
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 1 Water Rail - heard West Scrape
- Coot - with small young cell 1b
- 5 Avocet - West Scrape (iPort birds food provisioning)
- 54 Lapwing - 24 West Scape, 30 cell 3b and a chick on one of the Lagoon islands
- 1 Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
- 2 Redshank - copulating cell 3b
- 4 Common Tern
- c70 pairs Black-headed Gull - on islands at cell 2b, small young in double figures
- 60 Swift
- 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 5 Cetti’s Warbler - singing birds well apart
Sunday 7th
- Mute Swan - the pair at the Lagoon have abandoned the nest
- 4 Shelduck
- 4 Shoveler - 3 males and a female
- 1 Bittern
- 4+ Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 females
- 1 Hobby - caught a Swift low over the Lagoon
- 3 Water Rail - one on West Scrape. Adult and juv on cell 3b
- 9 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 6 Little Ringed Plover
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit
- 3 Redshank
- 4 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo
- 5+ Bearded Tit - several near Mitchell Hide and West Scrape
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- Reed Bunting - male feeding a juv near Mitchell Hide
Saturday 6th
- 2 Shelduck
- 77 Pochard
- 1 Bittern - feeding flights noted
- 6 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- Great Crested Grebe - pair with 2 small young on cell 2a
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male and female. Male chased off a second female.
- 8 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 3 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Redshank
- 2 Common Tern
- 1 Mediterranean Gull - 3cy+ north over Huxter Well Marsh. The first sighting of the year.
- 60 Swift
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 6 Greenfinch - 5 near the entrance and one singing near the pumping station
Friday 5th
- 3 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - feeding flights noted
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Water Rail - 2 calling near Mitchell Hide and one at West Scrape
- 6 Avocet
- 1 Ringed Plover
- 4 Little Ringed Plover
- 4 Black-tailed Godwit
- 5 Redshank
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - juv near Mitchell Hide
Wednesday 3rd
- 2 Shelduck
- 3 Teal - male and 2 females on cell 3b
- 1 GARGANEY - male on cell 2a and the Lagoon
- 1 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
- 11 Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc moulting primaries
- 1 Hobby - feeding low over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - circled high and drifted towards the iPort
- 2 Water Rail - calling from cell 4 and the Lagoon
- 12 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- Lapwing - 2 small juvs on the Lagoon and a pair copulating on West Scrape
- 5 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 5 Little Ringed Plover - 4 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b. A pair were both feigning injury when a magpie was close by.
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 4 Redshank - including a pair copulating on West Scrape
- 2 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo - singing at Hawthorn Bank and Piper Marsh
- 50 Swift
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Access Track
- 5+ Bearded Tit - including a variant female with a streaky lateral crown stripe
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 2 Pied Wagtail - male and juv on West Scrape
Tuesday 2nd
- 6 Shelduck
- 1 Teal
- 3 Shoveler
- 35 Pochard
- 8 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher
- c70 Lapwing
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit - Cell 1b
- 4 Redshank - 2 each on Cell 3b and West Scrape
- 3 Common Tern
Odonata : 9 Banded Demoiselle, 4 Large Red Damselfly, 00's Common & Azure Bluet, 29 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 5 Large Redeye - Cell 3a, 9 Hairy Hawker, 10 Emperor Dragonfly, 25 Four-spot Chaser, 2 Broad-bodied Chaser, 16 Black-tailed Skimmer, 9 Common Darter.
Butterflies : 3 Large Skipper, 3 Common Blue, 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Comma, 4 Meadow Brown, 2 Speckled Wood
May 2020
Cattle at Carr Lodge 10th May © Lynda Cristou 2020
Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Dingy Skipper 8th May © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Sunday 31st
- 4 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - in flight
- 3 Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 1 BLACK-NECKED GREBE - cell 1b
- 2 Marsh harrier - male and cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying
- 1 Hobby
- 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
- 7 Avocet - West Scrape
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 4 Little Ringed Plover - 2 pairs prospecting on West Scrape
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 4 Redshank - cell 3b
- Black-headed Gull - several chicks on cell 2a
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo - Loversall Pool
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 5 Bearded Tit - 3 males and 2 females together near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Seven Arches Carr
Saturday 30th
- 6 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - in flight
- Great Crested Grebe - with 2 small young at cell 2b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Hobby
- 3 Avocet - West Scrape
- 58 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Little Ringed Plover - 2 pairs prospecting on West Scrape
- 5 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape/cell 1b
- 2 Redshank - cell 3b
- 2 Common Tern
- 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Lesser Whitethroat - VC and Big Hedge
- 1 Song Thrush - VC
- 1 Mistle Thrush - Black Carr Field
Wednesday 27th
- 1 Cuckoo - Access Track
Monday 25th
- Mute Swan - pair with 7 cygnets on cell 1b
- 5 Shelduck
- 2 Shoveler
- 39 Pochard
- 1 Bittern
- 5 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Kestrel - flew SE over Huxter Well Marsh carrying prey
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo - singing long Loversall Bank
- 60 Swift
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - calling in Young Eaa and Black Carr Wood
- 1 Willow Tit - singing
- 1+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - singing along Hawthorn Bank
Odonata : 9 Banded Demoiselle, 41 Large Red Damselfly, 145 Common Bluet, 553 Azure Bluet, 32 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 2 Large Redeye, 12 Hairy Hawker, 37 Four-spot Chaser, 5 Broad-bodied Chaser, 7 Black-t Skimmer.
Butterflies : 3 Brimstone, 3 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Orange Tip, 3 white sp., 1 Small Copper, 6 Common Blue, 4 Peacock, 2 Comma.
Sunday 24th
- 4 Shelduck
- 1+ Bittern - seen twice in flight at Huxter Well Marsh and also at Piper Marsh
- 6 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 7 Avocet
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Cuckoo
- 100 Swift
- 1 LITTLE SWIFT - first seen low over West Scrape at 09.20, again at 09.34 and then over cell 1b at 10.08. This represents the first record for the Reserve and the second for the Doncaster district. Subject to acceptance by BBRC.
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 3 Bearded Tit - juvs together in front of Mitchell Hide
- 5 Sand Martin
- 10 Swallow
- 20 House Martin
Account of finding the Little Swift
On Sunday morning I had a bit of a lie in and was in no rush to go out birding. The skies were thick with cloud and it looked good for a decent wader to drop in. As I drove along White Rose Way, I was undecided about whether I should go to Potteric Carr or the iPort Lakes. As I approached the traffic lights near Potteric, I thought I would let the lights make the decision for me. If they were green I'd go straight on to the iPort or if they were red I'd do a left to Potteric. They were on red, decision made, I went to Potteric.
As I was getting my gear out of the car, Mark Roberts arrived. I asked Mark if he wanted to head to Huxter Well Marsh with me. Mark said he would have a walk around Beeston Plantation first. I arrived at Duchess Hide to be greeted by someone sleeping in the hide! I then headed over to West Scrape Hide to check for waders. I started scanning the muddy margins through my binoculars and straight away saw 3 Black-tailed Godwits. As I continued to scan for waders, I noticed a bird flying low over the water at really close range. It was blackish and had a white rump and I initially thought "House Martin", but it quickly dawned on me I was looking at a small swift with a white rump. Once I'd got over the initial shock, I knew it had to be a Little Swift, a species I've seen lots of before. To be sure, I carefully studied the tail shape and the extent of the white rump. Once I was 100% confident of the identification, I gave Mark a call. As I waited for Mark to arrive, I watched the Little Swift as it returned to fly around West Scrape. Mark eventually arrived, having speed-walked/jogged almost the full length of the reserve. After a few minutes of anxious searching, I picked up the bird over the adjacent cell 1b. As it flew back and forth amongst many swifts and hirundines, I got Mark onto it. It soon disappeared from view and was not seen again, despite searching for another 4 hours.
Unfortunately, as the reserve was closed due to the Covid-19 lockdown, I took the decision to delay releasing the news of the bird. I was thrilled to find such a rare bird, which occurs less than annually in the UK, but keeping the news to myself really took the gloss off the experience.
Richard Scott
Saturday 23rd
- 5 Shelduck
- 1 Teal - drake on the Lagoon
- 1 GARGANEY - drake on the Lagoon
- 42 Pochard
- 27 Tufted Duck
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Hobby
- 3 Avocet
- 1 Lapwing - on a nest at cell 2a
- 2 Oystercatcher - one still on the nest at cell 2a
- 1 SANDERLING - on cell 1b for just 10 mins during a brief shower from 15.05
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 2a
- 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
- 2 Common Tern
- 100 Swift
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
Friday 22nd
- 3 Shelduck
- 78 Gadwall - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Hobby
- 3 Avocet
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 1 Greenshank - West Scrape
- 2 Common Tern
- 210 Swift
- 1 Jay - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Pied Wagtail
Buffer Area (Short Lane) - leucistic Dunnock still present and a singing Lesser Whitethroat
Thursday 21st
- 2 Barnacle Geese (of unknown origin) - cell 1b
- 2 Bittern - in flight at Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 RED KITE - circled high over the reserve at 11.40
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby
- 5 Avocet
- 5 Oystercatcher - including the one sitting on cell 2a
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit
- 1 Dunlin
- 2 Common Tern
- 3 Stock Dove
- 2 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - juv Hawthorn Field
- 2 Pied Wagtail
Wednesday 20th
- 5 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - seen in flight over Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - females
- 2 Hobby
- 1 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher - one still sitting
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 1 TURNSTONE - cell 3b from mid morning into the afternoon
- 2 Redshank
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher - 3 sightings
- 1 Cuckoo - west end of reserve
- 2+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and East Scrape screen
- 3 Swallow
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - VC
- 1 Grasshopper Warbler - Central Grassland
- 2 Treecreeper - singing along the Access Track and Hawthorn Field
- 2 Mistle Thrush - Black Carr Field
Sunday 17th
- 8 Shelduck
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 OSPREY - over Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh at 08.20
- 3 Hobby
- 2 Water Rail
- 10 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2b
- 3 Ringed Plover
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 2 Redshank
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - sub adult
- 4 Common Tern
- 4 Stock Dove
- 2 Cuckoo - singing
- 60 Swift
- 1 Jay
- 1+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - singing at Cottage Drain
- 1 Mistle Thrush - Huxter Well Masrsh
- 1 White Wagtail
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Greenfinch - Big Hedge
- 2 Linnet - Central Grassland
Saturday 16th
- 6 Shelduck
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby
- 3 Water Rail - seen at West Scrape, calling at east Scrape and cell 1b
- 3 Avocet
- 1 Ringed Plover - Lagoon
- 2 Stock Dove
- 1 Cuckoo - Piper Marsh
- 70 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Jay
Friday 15th
- 1 Oystercatcher - sitting at cell 2b
- 10 Black-tailed Godwit - east at 06.50
- 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 20 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
- 300 Herring Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Great Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Cuckoo - one in flight at Piper Marsh and one singing along Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Treecreeper - singing along the Access Track
Wednesday 13th
- 2 Hobby
- 1/2 Cuckoo - one at Loversall Field and an hour later one at Piper Marsh Scrub
Sunday 10th
- 5 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 1 Bittern- sat in a bunch of reeds at the edge of West Scrape
- 3 Little Egret - West Scrape
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 8 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher - sitting on cell 2a
- 1 GREY PLOVER - West Scrape
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank
- 3 Common Tern
- 3 Stock Dove - Central Grassland
- 1 Cuckoo - singing from Piper Marsh
- 50 Swift
- 1 White Wagtail - cell 2a
- 1 Pied Wagtail
Saturday 9th
- 7 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - took off from lagoon
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Water Rail - West Scrape and Lagoon
- 7 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 1 Redshank
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 4 Common Tern
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 3cy
- 2 Bearded tit
Buffer Area (Short Lane Fields): Green Woodpecker 'yaffling'
Friday 8th
- Canada Goose - with 3 young Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 1 Bittern - flew across Huxter Well Marsh to the ring main
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 10 Avocet - West Scrape
- 3 Oystercatcher - one sitting on cell 2a and 2 on West Scrape
- 1 Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Little Ringed Plover - 2 on cell 3b and one on West Scrape
- 1 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Common Gull - both 2cy birds on cell 1b
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 4cy bird with a group of Lesser Black-backed, Great Black-backed and Herring Gulls on cell 1b
- 1 SANDWICH TERN - east at 12.35
- 4 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Bearded Tit - male and female
- 2 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge and VC
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - flew over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Pied Wagtail - West Scrape
- 1 White Wagtail - cell 3b
Butterflies : 4 Dingy Skipper - RBF Ponds
Thursday 7th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 2 Hobby - hunting insects over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 11 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 1 Bearded Tit - male near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing ring main bushes/M18
Butterflies : 1 Dingy Skipper - RBF Ponds, 5 Brimstone, 6 Large White, 5 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 11 white sp., 18 Orange Tip, 23 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 4 Speckled Wood
Odonata : 2 Banded Demoiselle, 67 Large Red Damselfly, 24 Common Blue, 111 Azure Blue, 15 Blue-tailed Damselfly, 7 Hairy Hawker, 5 Four-spot Chaser, 4 Broad-bodied Chaser
Wednesday 6th
- 3 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Common Tern
- 130 Black-headed Gull - in the colony on cell 2a
- 1 Cuckoo - hepatic morph female came in from the south west and perched briefly on the dead oak before flying to mother drain perching briefly again and carried on flying north east
- 3+ Bearded Tit - Huxter Well Marsh
- 13 Garden Warbler
Monday 4th
- 6 Shelduck
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 7 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2a
- 10 Dunlin - West Scrape, including 7 which arrived at 16.25
- 1 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank
- 2 Common Tern
- 2 Stock Dove
- 100 Swift
- 1 Bearded Tit
Sunday 3rd
- 7 Shelduck
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby
- 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
- Coot - with 3 and 2 young on the Lagoon
- 14 Avocet - West Scrape
- 7 Oystercatcher - 2 at cell 2a (1 sitting) and 5 on West Scrape
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Redshank
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 2 Common Tern
- 150 Swift
- 5 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 5 Garden Warbler
Saturday 2nd
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - over Huxter Well Marsh 11:15 hrs
- 8 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 70 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
Buffer Area: 3 Lesser Whitethroat - 1 at Short Lane Fields and 2 at Carr Lodge
Friday 1st
- 3 Common Tern
- 3 Rook
April 2020
Thursday 30th
Buffer Area ( Carr Lodge): 3 Lesser Whitethroat singing around the perimeter
Wednesday 29th
- 1 Wigeon - female on Old Eaa
- 2 Bittern - one in flight around cell 1a and one perched in the reeds at West Scrape
- 2 Marsh Harrier - m&f
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 CRANE - circled the reserve at 18.07 and departed west after 10 mins
- 9 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher - Lagoon
- 1 Little Ringed Plover
- 3 Redshank
- Black-headed Gull - about 35 pairs on cell 2a
- 50 Swift
- 2 Willow Tit
- 2 Bearded Tit - a pair flying above reeds around Mitchell Hide, male perched in reeds
- 15 Sand Martin
- 5 Swallow
- 5 House Martin
- 1 Garden Warbler - singing by the compound
- 3 Lesser Whitethroat - singing near V.C., Lov. Delph Copse, Ringmain bushes, prob. another Rossington Carr end
- 1 White Wagtail - Cell 3b islands 11: 30hrs, flew off east
- 1 Pied Wagtail - cell 3b
Monday 27th
- 17 Greylag Geese - adults on Rossington Carr Fields plus 14 Gosling's (2, 5, 7)
- 1 Little Egret - flew over M18
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Oystercatcher - Rossington Carr Fields
- 6 Lapwing - Rossington Carr Fields
- 2 Redshank - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Hobby - hawking over Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Jackdaw - feeding on Rossington Carr Fields
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 Chiffchaff - singing
- 1 Willow Warbler - singing
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing
- 1 Whitethroat - singing
- 6 Reed Warbler - singing
- 1 Mistle Thrush - Rossington Carr Fields
- 2 Reed Bunting
Odonata: 1 Four Spot Chaser
Sunday 26th
- 3 Shelduck
- 1 Bittern - booming from cell 1a
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 12 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Ringed Plover
- 2 Little Ringed Plover
- 2 Redshank - copulating on West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 2 Common Tern
- 1 Jay - Loversall Field
- 4+ Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 14 Cetti's Warbler
- 22 Chiffchaff
- 13 Willow Warbler
- 29 Blackcap
- 1 Garden Warbler - Piper Marsh Path
- 2 Lesser Whitethroat - VC and Big Hedge
- 8 Whitethroat
- 3 Sedge Warbler
- 28 Reed Warbler
- 2 Fieldfare - Hawthorn Field
Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 1 singing Goldcrest, 2 Willow Warbler, 2 Lesser Whitethroat
Saturday 25th
- 3 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - male on Huxter Well Marsh
- Mallard - with 8 small young on cell 2a
- Shoveler - pair copulating on cell 2a
- 2 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male at Huxter Well Marsh and a moulting female over Old Eaa
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - Decoy Lake, Lagoon, cell 4
- 10 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher - Huxter Well Marsh (no longer sitting)
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 2a/Lagoon
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - West Scrape
- 2 Redshank - cell 2a
- 2 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 Common Tern - on Huxter Well Marsh, probably from iPort
- 6 Swift
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Big Hedge
- 5 Bearded Tit - flew across Central Grassland and landed in the reeds near East Scrape screen
- 11 Swallow
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - singing at VC, Bridleway and Big Hedge
- 5 Whitethroat
- 1 Mistle Thrush - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Dunnock - leucistic bird on Short Lane
- 1 Meadow Pipit - Central Grassland
- 2 Linnet - Central Grassland
Wednesday 22nd
- 3 Wigeon
- 70 Teal
- 2/3 Bittern - in reeds 1b and flying across 1a/Lagoon, booming cell 4
- 7 Avocet
- 2 Redshank
- 6 Swift
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - near VC
- 1 WHINCHAT - Iron Bridge
Butterflies : 7 Brimstone, 23 Orange Tip, 2 Large White, 4 Small White, 8 Green-veined White, 20 Peacock, 2 Comma, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Speckled Wood
Odonata : 11 Large Red Damselfly, 1 Azure Damselfly, 1 Common Blue Damselfly (all 4 species recorded so far this year have been earliest reserve records.)
Tuesday 21st
Buffer Area (Gladstones Fields): BAR-TAILED GODWIT in breeding plumage flew east over at 07:25
Monday 20th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- Sunday 19th
- 2 Bittern - one flew across cell 3b and one booming from cell 1a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 3 Avocet
- 1 Oystercatcher - sitting
- 1 Redshank
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Willow Tit - calling
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling from cell 3b
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - north over Piper Marsh
Butterflies : 9 Brimstone, 42 Orange Tip, 2 Large White, 6 Small White, 12 Green-veined White, 12 white sp., 36 Peacock, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 11 Speckled Wood.
Odonata : 1 Hairy Hawker (earliest VC record by 10 days), 13 Large Red Damselfly
Saturday 18th
- 3 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - male at Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2 Water Rail - cell 2a and cell 4
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher - including one sitting on cell 2a
- 3 Ringed Plover - cell 2a including one nest-scraping
- 8 WHIMBREL - flew NE at 11.55 during a rain shower
- 2 Redshank - Central Grassland and later on the Lagoon
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Duchess Hide
- 60 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Willow Warbler
- 2 Sedge Warbler - Decoy Lake and cell 3b
- 4 Reed Warbler
- 2 Song Thrush - singing at Iron Bridge and cell 4 by the bridleway
- 2 Mistle Thrush - Loversall Carr Fields
- 1 Pied Wagtail - male on Central Grassland
Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 9 Teal, 2 prs Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, 2 Whitethroat, 1 Mistle Thrush
Friday 17th
- 6 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - male on West Scrape
- 62 Teal
- 23 Shoveler
- 1 Red-legged Partridge - at the western end of Access Track. Partridges are rare visitors to the reserve.
- 1 Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Avocet
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 8 Lapwing
- 1 Ringed Plover - cell 2a
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - mating on West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 60 Sand Martin
- 3 House Martin
- 3 Swallow
Thursday 16th
- 4 Bittern - booming at cell 1a and cell 4 also 2 flew up from Willow Marsh, flew around and dropped back in
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk - female displaying
- 2 Buzzard - displaying
- 8 Avocet - 4 pairs on West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - pair on West Scrape
- 4 Redshank - pair on West Scrape
- 1 Swallow - north
- 10 Cetti's Warbler
- 20 Chiffchaff
- 9 Willow Warbler
- 12 Blackcap
- 1 Sedge Warbler
- 5 Reed Warbler
Butterflies : 5 Brimstone, 41 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 4 Small White, 4 Green-veined White, 52 Peacock, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma
Odonata : 6 Large Red Damselfly
Monday 13th
- 2 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon - female on Old Eaa
- 80 Teal
- 2 Bittern - booming
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration Ponds and cell 3b
- 4 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher - sitting
- 2 Redshank - cell 3b
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Willow Tit - singing
- 3+ Bearded Tit - including 2 males near Mitchell Hide
- 20 Sand Martin
- 3 Swallow
- 3 House Martin
- 6 Willow Warbler
- 5 Reed Warbler
- 1 Sedge Warbler
Sunday 12th
- 3 Marsh Harrier - 2 males and a female up over the reserve
Saturday 11th
- 3 Marsh Harrier - 2 males and a female up over the reserve
Buffer Area: singing Treecreeper at Gladstone's Fields, Cetti's Warblers singing at Low Ellers Marsh, Low Ellers Curve and Short Lane Fields pond
Friday 10th
- 1 Bittern - booming Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Kestrel
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape 1700hrs
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 2 Little Ringed Plover - male and female on cell 3b all day
- 4 Redshank - West Scrape 1700hrs, when 2 departed
- 2 Kingfisher
- 3 Swallow
- 1 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - females from Mitchell and Hawthorn Bank hides
- 12 Willow Warbler
- 1 Sedge Warbler - subsong Reedbed Filtration Ponds
Reptiles/Amphibians : 2 Grass Snake - crossing Ringmain and Hawthorn Bank, single male Great Crested and Smooth Newts.
Odonata : a Large Red Damselfly in Hawthorn Field was the earliest reserve record by five days (previous earliest 15th April 2007)
Butterflies : 4 Brimstone, c20 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 3 Small White, 5 Green-veined White, c50 Peacock, 5 Small Tortoiseshell, 3 Comma, 1 Speckled Wood
Buffer Area (Short Lane): single Whitethroat and Swallow
(Carr Lodge): 4 Wigeon, 1 Little Egret, 1 Jay
Thursday 9th
- 4 Shelduck
- 47 Shoveler
- 2 Grey Partridge
- 1 Bittern - booming
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- [2 escaped Sacred Ibis - circling over Central Grassland 12.50hrs, drifted south then headed east]
- 10 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 10 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk - displaying over Hawthorn Bank/Huxter Well
- 2 Water Rail - calling at cell 4 and Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 6 Avocet - West Scrape
- 4 Oystercatcher - Lagoon
- 12 Lapwing
- 2 Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 6 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 2 Great Black-backed Gull
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Coal Tit
- 4 Sand Martin
- 1 Swallow
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 5 Willow Warbler
- 16 Blackcap
- 1 REDSTART - female in hedge alongside railway track near Old Eaa hide 14.50hrs
Butterflies : first Speckled Wood of the year.
Bumblebees : 3 Red-tailed, 3 Common Carder, 1 Tree, 1 Cuckoo sp. and c.25 White/Buff-tailed
Wednesday 8th
Buffer Area: male and female Marsh Harrier over Low Ellers, Cetti's Warbler at Short Lane Fields pond. In Stoven's Plantation: 1 Sparrowhawk, 2 Long-tailed Tit taking feathers into a nearly complete nest, 3 Chiffchaff, 3 Willow Warbler, 5 Blackcap , 2 Nuthatch
Tuesday 7th
- 8 Shelduck
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - m&f
- 2 Sparrowhawk - 4 sightings
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel - female VC
- 12 Lapwing
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 2 Redshank - West Scrape then 2b
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Bearded Tit - m&f at cell 3b
- 1 Sand Martin
- 4 Willow Warbler
- 12 Blackcap
Butterflies : 4 Brimstone, 16 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 2 Green-veined White, 62 Peacock, 10 Comma, 17 Small Tortoiseshell.
Monday 6th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 1 OSPREY - north low over the reserve at 5pm
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - West Scrape
- 1 Common Tern - east
- 200 Sand Martin
Sunday 5th
- 1 Bittern
- 4 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 2 BLACK-NECKED GREBE
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling Lagoon
- 4 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 10 Lapwing
- 6 SANDWICH TERN - east over Huxter Well Marsh at 13:40hrs. A record count.
- 6 Sand Martin
- 1 Swallow
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Treecreeper
- 2 Pied Wagtail
Butterflies : 7 Brimstone, 6 Orange Tip, 1 Large White, 1 Small White, 2 Green-veined White, 32 Peacock, 9 Comma, 9 Small Tortoiseshell.
Buffer Area (Carr Lodge): 25 Wigeon, 2 Grey Heron, 1 RED KITE flew east at 11.50, 2 Oystercatcher, 2 Redshank, 1 singing Skylark, 1 Willow Warbler, 18 Fieldfare, 16 Redwing, 2 Mistle Thrush, 2 Pied Wagtail, 1 Meadow Pipit, 2 Bullfinch
(Short Lane): 1 Willow Warbler
Saturday 4th
- 10+ Shelduck
- 15 Pochard - 10 males and 5 females
- 39 Tufted Duck
- 1+ Bittern - booming at Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 4 Great Crested Grebe - 2 on cell 1b and 2 on cell 3a
- 2 Marsh Harrier - pair
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 10 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - cell 1a and cell 4
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 2 Jay
- 1 Willow Tit
- 2 Bearded Tit - East Scrape
- 1 Skylark - over
- 6 Sand Martin
- 13 Cetti's Warbler
- 33 Chiffchaff
- 7 Blackcap
- 2 Treecreeper - singing in Black Carr Field and Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Song Thrush - singing in Black Carr Wood
- 1 Mistle Thrush - singing at Beeston Plantation
- 1 Meadow Pipit - over
- 5 Bullfinch - 3 Willow Bank and 2 at Rossington Bank
Friday 3rd
- 1 Goosander - female on the Lagoon
- 2 Bittern - booming on Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Redshank - West Scrape
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Willow Tit - singing
- 1 Sand Martin
- 16 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
- 3 Pied Wagtail
Wednesday 1st
- 2 Shelduck - Lagoon
- 4 Gadwall - 2 pairs on the Lagoon
- 50 Teal - 15 on Loversall Pool and 35 on the Lagoon
- 26 Shoveler - Lagoon
- 3 Goosander - over the VC towards Carr Lodge/iPort at 09.30am
- 2 Bittern - one booming on Huxter Well Marsh and one flew around Decoy Lake and landed in reeds
- 2 Great Crested Grebe - pair on the Lagoon
- 2 Snipe - Decoy lake
- 4 Stock Dove
March 2020
Monday 30th
- 1 Bittern - booming
- 1 Blackcap
- 1 Redwing
Saturday 28th
- 12 Shelduck
- 115 Teal
- 104 Shoveler
- 8 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - cell 4, Seven Arches Carr, Stilling Pond
- 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
- 2 Snipe - cell 4 and near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Common Gull - over
- 3 Stock Dove - singing at Hawthorn Field and 2 over
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Old Eaa
- 3 Jay - over St Caths Field
- 1 Willow Tit
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 7 Sand Martin
- 14 Cetti's Warbler
- 27 Chiffchaff
- 3 Blackcap
- 3 Treecreeper - 2 were singing
- 1 Song Thrush - Loversall Delph
Buffer Area (Short Lane Fields): 2 Chiffchaff, 7 Redwings
Friday 27th
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Avocet
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Snipe
- 55 Redwing - Loversall Junction
- 3 Blackcap
Butterflies : 19 Peacock, 8 Comma, 8 Small Tortoiseshell
Tuesday 24th
- 2 Bittern
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 9 Avocet
- 1 Redshank
- 5 Sand Martin
- 5 Redwing
Butterflies : 5 Brimstone, 14 Peacock, 3 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell
Buffer Area (Gladstones Fields): 3 Grey Heron, 1 Buzzard, 1 blackcap

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

Muntjac © Pam Grimstone 2020

Stonechat © Darren Ward 2020
Monday 23rd
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 8 Avocet
- 2 Redshank
Butterflies : 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Peacock
Mammals: Muntjac at Willow Pool
Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Pam Grimstone

Comma © Darren Ward 2020
Sunday 22nd
- 1 Marsh Harrier - over Willow Pool
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 7 Snipe
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Stonechat - female
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Marsh Tit - Dipping Pond
- 4 Bullfinch
- 2 Greenfinch
Darren Ward
Carr Lodge
- 1 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Grebe
- 2 Buzzard
- 2pr Lapwing
- Noctule Bat flying around at 12 noon!
Richard Scott

Pheasant © Zafar Ali 2020

Kestrel © Zafar Ali 2020
Saturday 21st
- 10 Shelduck
- 108 Teal
- 89 Shoveler
- 1 Bittern - flew across Huxterwell Cell 1b at 9:30hrs
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk - 2m 1 f
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 8 Avocet
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 5 Lapwing
- 5 Snipe - Decoy Lake
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 6 Sand Martin
- 8 Cetti's Warbler - singing around reserve
- 12 Chiffchaff - singing around reserve
- 3 Coal Tit
- 3 Treecreeper
- 40 Redwing
- 2 Mistle Thrush - over St Caths Field
- 3 Meadow Pipit
- 4 Greenfinch - 3 at the V.C. feeders and 1 St. Caths
Amphibians : 1 Smooth Newt
Mammals: 1 Roe Deer
Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott

Spring Day © Derek Parker 2020
Wild Daffodil © Allen Holmes 2020
Avocet © Allen Holmes 2020
Friday 20th
- 10 Shelduck
- 2 Bittern
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female
- 4 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 9 Avocet - West Scrape
- 4 Snipe
- 7 Sand Martin
- 3 Redwing
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Chiffchaff
Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 1 Bank Vole
Reptiles : 2 Grass Snake - Loversall Delph
Butterflies : 2 Comma, 1 Peacock
Bees : female Tawny Mining Bee, 2 Tree Bumblebee, several White/Buff-tailed Bumblebee
Flora : Wild Primrose, Cowslip, Ground Ivy, Lesser Celandine, Wild Daffodil, Colt's-foot.
Allen Holmes, Derek Parker, Zafar Ali, Lynda Christou and Darren Wozencroft

Early Thorn © Derek Parker 2020

Yellow Horned © Derek Parker 2020

The Engrailed © Derek Parker 2020
Moth Trapping Report for Tuesday Night, 17th March
Following a very mild but rather wet and very breezy night, we were pleased with the numbers of moths trapped, of 14 species, albeit mostly common ones. Caloptilia stigmatella, Diurnea fagella, Early Thorn and Yellow Horned were additions to the 2020 list. There were good numbers of some species, for example 18 Small Quaker, 13 Common Quaker, 6 Hebrew Character and 4 each of Twin-spot Quaker and Clouded Drab.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Thursday 19th
- Bittern - heard booming in the afternoon/evening
Short Lane Fields - 1 Chiffchaff - singing, 1 Buzzard
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou
Gadwall © Iain Macaulay 2020
Wednesday 18th
- 10 Shelduck - Cell 1B Huxterwell
- 1 Bittern - flying over Loversall Bank towards Willow Marsh
- 1 Grey Heron - flying over Central Grasslands
- 2 Little Egret - West Scrape and Cell 1B Huxter
- 7 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Redshank - Cell 1B
- 1 Barn Owl
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Cetti’s Warbler singing around the reserve
- 6 Chiffchaff - singing
- 1 Marsh Tit - Black Carr Field
Paul Paddock, Lynda Christou
Tuesday 17th
- 7 Shelduck – Huxter Well Marsh
- Mallard – predated egg
- 1 Bittern – Piper Marsh
- 3 Grey Heron – East Scrape
- 1 Little Egret – cell 1b
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Oystercatcher – Huxter Well Marsh
- 7 Avocet – West Scrape
- 2 Kingfisher – Mother Drain
- 2 Jackdaw on feeders
- 6 Cetti’s Warbler - singing
- 8 Chiffchaff – singing
Mammals : Weasel - seen twice
Dave Carroll, Phil Goacher, Dave Harding and Iain Macaulay
Monday 16th
- 14 Shelduck
- 60 Teal
- 19 Shoveler
- 4 Little Egret
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - from VC mid-afternoon
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 6 Avocet
- 1 Barn Owl
- 5 Sand Martin - briefly dropped into Decoy Lake around 1pm.
- 2 Goldcrest
Butterflies : Comma, Peacock, 3 Small Tortoiseshell and a Brimstone
Rob Leach, Andy Dalton and Lynda Christou
Sunday 15th
- 1 Barn Owl
- 4 Sand Martin - over Huxterwell in the evening
Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner and Lynda Christou
Stoven's Plantation
- 2 Kingfisher on the drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Jay
- 4 Blue Tit were 2 pair
- 2 Great Tit a pair
- 4 Long-tailed Tit were 2 pairs
- 2 Chiffchaff
- 1 Goldcrest
- 2 Nuthatch
- 3 Blackbird
- 20 Redwing on Gladstone Fields
- 1 Song Thrush
- 2 Mistle Thrush a pair
- 3 Robin
- 1 Chaffinch singing
- 2 Bullfinch a pair
Sue and Roger Bird
Saturday 14th
- 8 Whooper Swan - on cell 1 b
- 8 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 34 Teal - West Scrape
- 2 Bittern - booming 3 times around 14.45 Huxterwell and a female Piper Marsh 15:47 until at least 17:00
- 1 Kestrel
- 5 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Barn Owl
- 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Sand Martin - Piper Marsh
Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou and visitor reports
Friday 13th
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 5 Avocet - West Scrape
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Redwing
- 1 Stonechat - male, RBF Ponds
- 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 7 Chiffchaff
- 1 Goldcrest
Amphibians : 24 Common Frog - Piper Marsh
Visitor reports, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird
Thursday 12th
- 2 Bittern one on the Lagoon and one flew on to cell 4
- 2 Little Egret flew over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard over M18
- 1 Kestrel at the Visitor centre
- 2 Oystercatcher on 2a
- 2 Kingfisher
Sue and Roger Bird, Jim Horsfall, visitor reports.
Wednesday 11th
- 1 Peregrine - low over Huxterwell 16:55hrs
- 2 Avocet - on West Scrape in the evening
Mammals : Stoat - near the Visitor Centre
Signs of Spring : the first Grass Snake, Small Tortoiseshell (2), Peacock and Tree Bumblebee of the year.
Visitor reports, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft and Ian Heppenstall

Acleris Cristana © Derek Parker

Oak Beauty © Derek Parker 2020

Water Carpet © Derek Parker 2020
Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night, 7th March
Despite the far from ideal overnight weather (mild but wet and with a stiff breeze), we were very satisfied with the 13 species we recorded, a decent total for early March. The star find was a single Acleris cristana, the second Potteric Carr record and a Yorkshire rarity, with just a handful of county records. We also trapped its close relative, Acleris hastiana, a rather more common species.
The other moths trapped were all common and widespread late winter/early spring species, specifically: Agonopterix heracleana, March Moth, Engrailed, Water Carpet, Oak Beauty, Clouded Drab, Hebrew Character, Common Quaker, Twin-spot Quaker, Small Quaker and Chestnut.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

Buzzard © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Early Dog-violet © Keith Lynes 2020
Tuesday 10th
- 10 Shelduck on West Scrape
- 2 Wigeon on 2a
- 8 Cormorant on 2a
- 3 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine over the Visitor centre
- 2 Water Rail calling
- 3 Snipe on Decoy Lake
- 2 Redshank over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull adults on West Scrape
- 1 Stock Dove over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Kingfisher along Mother drain
- 2 Jay along the Access track
- 10 Magpie on Central Grassland
- 2 Coal Tit at the under bridge
- 4 Cetti's Warbler singing
- 3 Chiffchaff singles in Piper Marsh Scrub, Rossington Bank and the Access track
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Grey Wagtail on Mother drain at the entrance
- 6 Bullfinch were 3 pairs
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton and Lynda Christou
Monday 9th
- 10 Shelduck
- 43 Shoveler
- 92 Teal
- 16 Gadwall
- 34 Tufted Duck
- 6 Pochard
- 1 Bittern - Huxterwell
- 5 Little Egret
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Water Rail
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 9 Lapwing
- 4 Avocet - West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 3 Stock Dove
- 1 Barn Owl - Piper Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Redwing
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 3 Chiffchaff
Keith Lynes. Rob Leach, Adrian Andruchiw and Chris Bell
Sunday 8th
- 8 Shelduck
- 166 Teal
- 91 Shoveler
- 48 Tufted Duck
- 20 Pochard
- 16 Cormorant
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - calling
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 4 Avocet - 3 on West Scrape and one on 2a
- 6 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Song Thrush
- 10 Redwing
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Chiffchaff
- 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorne bank
- 3 Treecreeper
- 2 Song Thrush - feeding on the path in Main carpark
- 2 Greenfinch - on the feeders in the Butterfly garden
Adrian Andruchiw, Sue and Roger Bird, Paul Clover, Helen Womack and Mark Roberts
Saturday 7th
- 11 Whooper Swan - NW at 8:30hrs
- 22 Shelduck
- 3 Wigeon
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 18 Cormorant
- 1 Bittern - Lagoon late morning
- 5 Little Egret
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - calling
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Skylark - over
- 10 Pied Wagtail - over at dusk
- 5 Mistle Thrush
- 9 Song Thrush
- 3 Redwing
- 6 Cetti's Warbler - singing around the reserve
- 1 Chiffchaff - Loversall Bank
- 1 Goldcrest - singing Black Carr Wood
- 3 Coal Tit
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Greenfinch
Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer
Butterflies : a male Brimstone in Black Carr Field
Darren Wozencroft
Sunset over Huxterwell © Lynda Christou 2020

Reed Bunting © Pam Grimstone 2020
Friday 6th
- 16 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk - male
- 3 Water Rail - calling after dark
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 5 Curlew - west at 17:30hrs
- 1 Woodcock
- 1 Snipe
- 7 Redwing
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
Mammals : 1 Weasel - near the V.C/Car Park, 3 Roe Deer, 1 Muntjac
Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou and Matthew Christou

Dunnock © Adrian Andruchiw 2020

Kestrel © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Thursday 5th
- 15 Shelduck
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling at Piper Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Cetti’s Warbler
- 2 Treecreeper
Adrian Andruchiw
Tuesday 3rd
- 6 Shelduck 4 on West Scrape and 2 on Old Ea
- 1 Little Grebe from Willow Pool hide
- 2 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk over Old Ea
- 1 Marsh Harrier a male over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel from Visitor Centre
- 2 Water Rail calling on Willow Marsh and Old Ea
- 2 Avocet dropped on to West Scrape about 2pm
- 6 Snipe on Love Island from the Visitor Centre
- 1 Herring Gull was harassing the few Black-headed Gulls that are setting up territories on Decoy Marsh
- 4 Coal Tit 2 at Willow Pool feeders and 2 at the feeders in the Butterfly garden
- 1 Willow/Marsh Tit behind the hide at Willow Pool
- 1 Bearded Tit from St Caths hide
- 2 Cetti's Warbler singing one from the Visitor Centre and one in Seven Arches Carr
- Long-tailed Tit are very busy setting up their territories
- 1 Blackcap a male was seen near the viewing shelter at Decoy Lake
- 3 Treecreeper singles in Piper Marsh Scrub, behind the compound and Loversal Bank
- 3 Redwing near the Iron bridge
- 2 Song Thrush feeding along the paths
- 6 Bullfinch
- 2 Greenfinch a male and female to the feeders in the Butterfly Garden
- 4 Reed Bunting a pair visiting Willow Pool feeders and the Butterfly garden feeders, one was singing in the Reedbed Filtration ponds
Mammals : 2 Roe Deer along Loversall Bank
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Phil Goucher, Dave Harding, Helen Womack, Chris Bell, David Horncastle and visitor reports
Monday 2nd
- 18 Shelduck
- 100 Teal
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh, one was actively hunting over the marsh
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Avocet on West Scrape
- 1 Woodcock in Beeston Plantation
- 10 Snipe on the island in front of the Visitor centre
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Beeston Plantation a male
- 12 Jackdaw in the main carpark
- 2 Mistle Thrush
- 1 Willow Tit near Willow Pool late afternoon
- 2 Bullfinch near the Visitor centre
Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Rob Leach, Mark Roberts
Sunday 1st
- 16 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon on 2a
- 165 Teal on 2a
- 3 Great Crested Grebe on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Egret - Mother drain
- 13 Cormorant - Cell 2a
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 40 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh
- 130 Black-headed Gull on 1b early afternoon
- 2 Common Gull on 1b
- 1 Barn Owl
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker in Black Carr wood
- 2 Cetti's Warbler calling
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 3 Goldcrest 2 along Hawthorne bank and one along the M18/HW
- 4 Treecreeper
- 10 Redwing in St Caths copse
- 1 Song Thrush along Path near M18
- 5 Bullfinch
- 15 Goldfinch from St Caths hide
- 3 Reed Bunting to Willow Pool feeders
Buffer Area : Curlew south over Short Lane/Low Ellers 17.30
Low Ellers
- Mute Swan – 6 (a pair with 4 imms)
- Greylag Goose
- Shoveler 3 (2m, 1f)
- Pochard 10 (6m, 4f)
- Tufted Duck – 14
- Gadwall 3 (1m, 2f)
- Coot – 7
- Moorhen - 1 Childers Marsh
- Water Rail – 1 calling from Childers Marsh
- Buzzard 1
- Lesser Black-backed Gull – 2
- Black-headed Gull 2
Sue and Roger Bird, Sue Cullen, Lynda Christou, Dave Carroll and Richard Scott
February 2020
Saturday 29th
- 12 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - booming
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine
- 1 Water Rail
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 300 Herring Gull - roosted
- 15 Great Black-backed Gull- roosted
- 1 Stock Dove - over
- 1 Willow or Marsh Tit - near Willow Pool
- 3 Pied Wagtail - over
Richard Scott, Chris Bell
Wednesday 26th
- 6 Cormorant
- 1 Bittern - Huxterwell Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Barn Owl - near the V.C at dusk
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell Marsh
Mammals : 1 Muntjac, 3 Roe Deer, 1 Brown Rat
Lynda Christou, visitor reports
Tuesday 25th
- 4 Shelduck
- 5 Wigeon
- 70 Shoveler
- 80 Gadwall
- 38 Pochard
- 35 Tufted Duck
- 4 Little Grebe
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - c/c
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 17 Lapwings
- 2 Barn Owl
- 1 Song Thrush - at the back of Decoy Lake
- 5 Cettis Warbler - singing
- 2 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
- 2 Lesser Redpoll - Access Track
- 2 Siskin - including one singing, Piper Marsh
As part of the national Willow Tit survey in 2020 Potteric Carr returned no registrations today, but the survey continues through to mid-April. Reserve visitors are requested to report all sightings of Willow Tit in the sightings logbook which is located in the visitor centre.
Keith Lynes. Michael Bird, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Lynda Christou and visitor reports.
Monday 24th
- 2 Egyptian Geese
- 200 Teal
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Barn Owl
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
- 1 Siskin
Rob Leach, Lynda Christou and visitor reports

Shoveler © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Sunday 23rd
- 8 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Wigeon - Cell 2a
- 3 Little Grebe - Cell 2 on 2a and one on Lagoon
- 2 Great Crested Grebe - Cell 2a
- 2 Bittern - one on Lagoon and stood on the bank between 1b and 3b
- 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 12 Cormorant - Cell 2a
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Marsh Harrier cc
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 35 Lapwing
- 1 Woodcock
- 1 Barn Owl
- 1 Tawny Owl - near the Visitor Centre at dusk
- 15 Redwing - Big Hedge
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 12 Long-tailed Tit - in front of St Caths hide
- 2 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank and
- 2 Bullfinch
- 1 Siskin
- 4Reed Bunting - to the feeders
Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 50 Redwing
Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott and visitor reports

Iceland Gull © Richard Scott 2020
Roe Deer © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Saturday 22nd
- 2 Egyptian Geese - flew towards the I-Port
- 11 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Little Egret - NW late afternoon
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - high over the reserve 1225hrs
- 2 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - one at the Lagoon and 2 at Old Eaa
- 2 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
- 35 Lapwing
- 1 Woodcock
- 8 Common Gull - roosted
- 5 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 32 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 215 Herring Gull - roosted
- 1 ICELAND GULL - first-winter on cell 1b at dusk flew towards Lakeside after dark, where it had been seen in the morning (RJS, DW)
- 1 Barn Owl
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Grey Wagtail - west at 1245hrs
- 30 Redwing - St Caths Field
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 3 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Treecreeper - Access Track
- 2 Rook - west
- 1 Greenfinch - VC
- 6 Bullfinch
- 6 Reed Bunting
Mammals : 2 Wood Mouse, 3 Bank Vole, 5 Roe Deer
Michael Bird, Darren Wozencroft, Richard Scott and Lynda Christou
Wednesday 19th
- 10 Shelduck
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 10 Cormorant
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Peregrine - Huxterwell
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Cetti’s Warbler - singing around the reserve
- 1 Treecreeper
- 2 Song Thrush
Mammals : 5 Roe Deer
Paul Paddock
Tuesday 18th
- 10 Shelduck
- 5 Wigeon
- 126 Gadwall
- 75 Shoveler
- 150 Teal
- 31 Pochard
- 34 Tufted Duck
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 5 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Oystercatcher - Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 42 Lapwing
- 1 Woodcock
- 1 Barn Owl - near the VC
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 4 Song Thrush
- 1 Cettis Warbler from St Catherines Hide.
- 5 Bullfinch
Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Dave Carroll and Jim Horsfall
Storm Dennis flooding © Lynda Christou 2020
Sunday 16th
- 1 Pink-footed Goose - east
- 4 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 30 Pochard
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - Loversall Pool and the Lagoon
- 120 Lapwing - cell 2a
- 6 Snipe - high west
- 1 Willow Tit - singing
- 6 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Song Thrush - singing at the car park
Richard Scott
Saturday 15th
- 12 Shelduck
- 9 Wigeon
- 1 Great Egret - Mother Drain
- 2 Little Egret - over
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - hunting low over Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Common Gull - roosted
- 15 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 330 Herring Gull - roosted
- 38 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Collared Dove - over
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Treecreeper - Access Track
- 4 Pied Wagtail - SW at dusk
Richard Scott, Chris Bell
Grey Squirrel © Lynda Christou 2020
Friday 14th
- 16 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern
- 2 Marsh Harrier - both cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling Willow Marsh
- 195 Lapwing
- 7 Snipe
- 1 Barn Owl
- 3 Redwing
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou and Darren Wozencroft

Rainbow over Piper Marsh © Malcom Cook 2020
Thursday 13th

Gadwall © Rob Leach

Marsh Harrier © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Wednesday 12th
- 12 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - Huxterwell Marsh
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxterwell Marsh
- 1 Peregrine
- 2 Kestrel
- 4 Moorhen
- 1 Barn Owl - Loversall Bank/RBF Ponds
- 50 Redwing
- 1 Goldcrest
Mammals : 3 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer, 1 Muntjac
Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou and visitor reports
Wood Mouse © Lynda Christou 2020
Storm Ciara damage © Darren Wozencroft 2020
Sunday 9th
- 21 Mute Swan
- 87 Greylag Geese
- 2 Canada Geese
- 2 Egyptian Geese - flew over Huxterwell 15:40hrs
- 16 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 305 Gadwall
- 171 Teal
- 81 Mallard
- 110 Shoveler
- 55 Pochard
- 58 Tufted Duck
- 14 Cormorant
- 1 Bittern
- 8 Little Egret - including 6 NW at dusk
- 3 Grey Heron
- 7 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Moorhen
- 118 Coot
- 1 Oystercatcher - cell 2a
- 81 Lapwing - cell 2a
- 14 Common Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
- 90 Herring Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
- 8 Great Black-backed Gull - pre-roost at Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Stock Dove
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Meadow Pipit - over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 7 Redwing - St Caths
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Greenfinch - over
Richard Scott, Mark Roberts and Darren Wozencroft

Bank Vole © Ron Parke 2020
Saturday 8th
- 14 Shelduck - mainly West Scrape
- 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 1 Woodcock - Big Hedge at dusk
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Treecreeper
Mammals : 3 Bank Vole, 1 Roe Deer
Bumblebees : a Buff-tailed (queen) near the V.C
Darren Wozencroft and visitor reports

Mother Drain at dawn © Nidge Nilsen 2020
Friday 7th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. cream crown Huxterwell Marsh
- 1 Oystercatcher
- 2 Avocet - West Scrape mid morning
- 8 Snipe
Andy Dalton, visitor reports

Goldcrest © Rob Burns 2020
Thursday 6th
- 6 Shelduck
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - flying the length of Mother drain from Hawthorne bank
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Oystercatcher - Huxterwell cell 2a
- 3 Snipe
- 1 Barn owl
- 1 Chiffchaff - singing Piper Marsh Scrub
- 1 Goldcrest - on the path from the Railway Bridge to Black Carr field
Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, Roe Deer
Butterflies : 1 Peacock - near to the Visitor Centre
Rob Burns, Lynda Christou and Christopher Sigsworth
Wednesday 5th
- 1 Shelduck - Huxterwell cell 1b
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier (cream crowned) - Huxterwell Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - Huxterwell Marsh
- 2 Snipe
- 2 Song Thrush
- 4 Cetti's Warbler Singing
- 2 Bearded Tit -Piper Marsh
Mammals :1 Roe Deer, 1 Bank Vole
Paul Paddock
Tuesday 4th
- 10 Shelduck
- 16 Wigeon
- 32 Shoveler
- 75 Teal
- 54 Gadwall
- 38 Tufted Duck
- 37 Pochard
- 2 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Egret
- 3 Kestrel
- 41 Lapwing
- 1 Jay at Willow Pool feeders
Keith Lynes, Lynda Christou

The Chestnut © Derek Parker 2020

Pale Brindled Beauty © Derek Parker 2020
Monday 3rd
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Bearded Tit - Mitchell Hide
Rich Collis
Moth Trapping Report for Friday Night, 31st January
Although January and February are probably the quietest months of the year for moths, it can be worth having an occasional trapping session in order to record species which only fly at this time of year. You never get much and it was no surprise that we only trapped 5 common species, as follows:
Tortricodes alternella 1
Acleris ferrugana 1
Pale Brindled Beauty 1
Dotted Border 1
Chestnut 4
We also spotted a Mompha ssp. on the inside window of the Visitor Centre. It looked like, and proved to be, Mompha jurassicella.
Finally, a larval mine of Coptotriche marginea was noted on a bramble leaf near the Compound.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall

Great and Blue Tit © Darren Ward 2020
Saturday 1st (night)
Mammals : 1 Wood Mouse, 1 Bank Vole, 2 Roe Deer
Darren Wozencroft
January 2020
Wednesday 29th
- 1 Kestrel - near the VC
Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 1 Sparrowhawk to the Starling roost, 2 Goldcrest, 1 Cetti's Warbler singing in drain, 50,000 Starling started to arrive about 4.30pm and went in to roost at 5.05pm on Low Ellers Marsh.
Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou
Tuesday 28th
- 11 Shelduck
- 35 Teal
- 20 Wigeon
- 50 Shoveler
- 70 Gadwall
- 8 Pochard
- 14 Tufted Duck
- 1 Aythya hybrid duck – cell 2b
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Grey Heron
- 2 Little Egret
- 8 Cormorant – cell 2a
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male,cc and immature – Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel – over Decoy Lake
- 1 Water Rail – Loversall Pool
- 83 Lapwing
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker (m) – Willow Pool feeders
- 3 Song Thrush
- 30 Redwing
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Goldcrest – Loversall Triangle
- 15 Chaffinch – near old wardens car park
- 2 Reed Bunting – Willow Pool feeders
Mammals : 4 Roe Deer
Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Lynda Christou, Janet and Ian Heppenstall
Sunday 26th
- 36 Greylag Geese - on cell 1b at dusk
- 11 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 30 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Great Crested Grebe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Little Egret - including 3 NW at dusk
- 4 Grey Heron - cell 2a
- 1 RED KITE - seen from Piper Marsh (RM)
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 23 Common Gull - roosted
- 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 300 Herring Gull - roosted
- 1 CASPIAN GULL - 2cy (1st-winter) roosted (RJS)
- 120 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Young Eaa after dark
- 50,000 Starling - went to roost at 5pm
Richard Scott, Rob Mellor
Saturday 25th
- 6 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - in flight from Duchess Hide
- 3 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 7 Redwing
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - heard on main path near Piper Marsh
- 5 Goldcrest - 3 Access Track, 2 Hawthorn Field
- 2 Bearded Tit - East Scrape
- 4 Treecreeper
Mammals : 1 Roe Deer
Darren Wozencroft, Gracie Corner, Andy Dalton, John Purrington and visitor reports
Friday 24th
- 1 Bittern - Mitchell Hide
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxterwell Marsh
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine - at the Starling roost
- 1 Kingfisher
- 40,000 Starling - roosting birds
Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 6 Redwing, 60 Jackdaw, 20 Goldfinch, 12 House Sparrow
Tina Langford, Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird
Wood Jelly Ear © Lynda Christou 2020
Robin © Richard Scott 2020
Wednesday 22nd
- 1 Little Egret – Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier cc – Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard – Access Track tree
- 1 Water Rail – Willow Marsh
- 3+ Bearded Tit – heard and later seen near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Jay – Mother Drain embankment
- 1 Song Thrush – singing
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler – singing
Two new grit trays for Bearded Tits have been installed near Roger Mitchell Hide and Tofield Hide, adding to the ones located near Dutchess Hide and Beeston Hide.
Dave Carroll, visitor reports.
Tuesday 21st
- 11 Shelduck
- 80 Teal
- 8 Wigeon
- 150 Shoveler
- 27 Tufted Duck
- 2 Grey Heron
- 1 Little Egret
- 3 Marsh Harrier - cc Huxter Well Marsh, cc high east, male high south
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - Willow Marsh and Loversall Pool
- 1 Moorhen in Mother Drain at the pumping station
- 120 Lapwing
- 2 Snipe - cell 2a
- 28 Common Gull - roosted
- 21 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 800 Herring Gull - roosted
- 80 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at 5.15pm at Decoy Marsh near Sedum House
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 3+ Great Spotted Woodpecker - 2 in Black Carr Wood, Hawthorn Bank, Decoy Marsh
- 2 Redwing
- 5 Song Thrush one on Piper Marsh path was carrying a snail and 4 Beeston Plantation
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
- 7 Goldcrest - 4 Black Carr Wood, 2 Short Lane and Beeston
- 1 Coal Tit singing in Triangle Plantation
- 7 Bearded Tit - including 2 males near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Skylark - singing over Central Grassland
- 2 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood and Beeston
- 50,000 Starling
- 3 Reed Bunting from Totfield Hide
Mammals : 1 Stoat on the path near 2b, 5 Roe Deer
Butterflies : 1 Peacock
Richard Scott, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Chip Rhodes, Janet and Ian Heppenstall.
Bearded Tit © Richard Scott 2020
Monday 20th
- 9 Shelduck
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 3 Sparrowhawk - including a pair displaying
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
- 3 Stock Dove - over
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Big Hedge
- 4 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Treecreeper - 3 in Beeston Plantation and one in Black Carr Wood
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou and visitor reports
Sunday 19th
- 2 Egyptian Geese - over
- 9 Shelduck
- 10 Wigeon
- 4 Little Egret
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Water Rail - Loversall Pool
- 2 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 5 Stock Dove - over
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa and Beeston Plantation
- 30 Redwing
- 4 Mistle Thrush
- 2 Coal Tit - Hawthorn Bank
- 6+ Bearded Tit - Piper Marsh, also heard at East Scrape and Mitchell Hide
- 3 Treecreeper - Black Carr Field, Loversall Bank and Beeston Plantation
- 2 Raven - low over the reserve 11:45hrs and high west at 12:40hrs
- 2 Jay
- Siskin - heard around the Pumping Station
Mammals : 4 Roe Deer
Richard Scott, Keith Rich, Darren Wozencroft and visitor reports
Saturday 18th
- 10 Shelduck
- 30 Wigeon
- 100 Shoveler
- 40 Gadwall
- 2 Little Grebe
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Kestrel
- 4 Redwing
Mammals : 5 Roe Deer
Michael Bird
Thursday 16th
- 7 Shelduck on 2a
- 2 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 60 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier on continually hunting on Huxter Well
- 1 Kestrel hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Treecreeper together along Willow bank
- 3 Bearded Tit from Mitchell hide
Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports
Tuesday 14th
- 15 Whooper Swan - 10 adult and 5 juveniles, flew on to 1b at 10.55 and left towards the Iport at 12.05
- 5 Shelduck on 2a
- 1 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 7 Cormorant on 2a
- 1 Sparrowhawk to Willow Pool feeders
- 2 Marsh Harrier on Huxter Well Marsh. A female and juvenile male
- 1 Buzzard Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker 4 in Black Carr wood were chasing and displaying and one was on the feeders at Willow Pool
- 1 Willow Tit at Willow Pool
- 2 Cetti's Warbler singing
- 2 Goldcrest one in Black Carr Wood and one Hawthorn Field
- 3 Treecreeper 2 at Hawthorn field and one at the main gate
- 20 Redwing
- 1 Song Thrush at the Visitor centre
- 10 Bullfinch 4 at iron bridge and 6 near the visitor centre
- 6 Lesser Redpoll and 4 Siskin in a mixed flock with Goldfinches near the pumping station
Mammals : 3 Roe Deer
Sue Bird, Dougie Smith, Michael Bird, Phil Goucher, Nick Whitehouse, Carl Dutton, Sue Brookes and Lynda Christou

Bullfinch © Adrian Andruchiw 2020
Monday 13th
- 50 Pink-footed Geese - west at 11:20hrs
- 9 Shelduck
- 39 Wigeon
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female at the Starling roost around 16:00hrs and one seen over Huxterwell in the morning
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine - over the V.C midday and again at dusk
- 2 Kestrel - RBF ponds and Rossington Carr
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 9 Pied Wagtail - over V.C at dusk
- 15 Redwing
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
- 2 Goldcrest - Cottage Drain
- 1 Willow Tit
- 3 Coal Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 4 Treecreeper
- 50,000 Starling - started gathering early at 15:30hrs but took an hour to go down, probably due to the presence of Buzzard, Marsh Harriers, Sparrowhawk and Peregrine in the vicinity
- 4 Siskin
Mammals : 2 Bank Vole
Darren Wozencroft, Andy Dalton, Adrian Andruchiw, Lynda Christou and visitor reports
Scarlet Elfcup © Lynda Christou 2020
Sunday 12th
- 95 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 156 Gadwall
- 124 Mallard
- 112 Teal
- 149 Shoveler
- 61 Tufted Duck
- 42 Pochard
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel - VC
- 124 Coot
- 2 Snipe - cell 2a
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Marsh
- 2 Song Thrush - singing on Low Ellers Bank at dusk
- 3 Cetti's Warbler singing
- 3 Goldcrest - St Caths Copse, Cottage Drain and Black Carr Wood
- 3 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - Beeston Plantation
- 60,000 Starling - started to gather over Low Ellers Marsh and dropped in at 16.40
- 3 Jay
- 15 Siskin - Beeston Plantation
- 1+ Lesser Redpoll in a small flock of Goldfinch and Siskin
- 10 Bullfinch together along Piper Marsh path
Mammals : 1 Roe Deer in St Caths Copse
Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott, Mark Roberts
Saturday 11th
- 14 Mute Swan
- 4 Pink-footed Geese - over
- 10 Shelduck
- 32 Wigeon
- 75 Teal
- 47 Mallard
- 33 Shoveler
- 19 Pochard
- 21 Tufted Duck
- 4 Little Egret
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine - attacking the Starling roost at dusk over Low Ellers
- 2 Kestrel
- 65 Coot
- 110 Lapwing
- 19 Common Gull - roosted
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 270 Herring Gull
- 110 Great Black-backed Gull
- 900 Woodpigeon - seen distantly to the east of the reserve
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Green Woodpecker - calling near West Scrape
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker- Willow Feeders and Black Carr Wood
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - male
- 49 Redwing
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Goldcrest - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Willow Tit
- 1 Coal Tit
- 1 Bearded Tit
- 2 Treecreeper
- 240 Jackdaw - 140 distant to the east of the reserve 100 on the reserve at dusk
- 50,000 Starling - roosted at Low Ellers and put on a good show as they were attacked repeatedly by a peregrine at dusk
- 20 Goldfinch - near the Pumping Station
- 1 Siskin - with the Goldfinches
Mammals : 4 Roe Deer - Loversall Bank
Darren Wozencroft, Adrian Andruchiw, Richard Scott, Tom Hibbert, Chris Bell and visitor reports
Friday 10th
- 5 Shelduck on 2a
- 20 Wigeon on 2a
- 1 Bittern flew from the Lagoon to 1a
- 1 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier a female hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Willow Tit at the Education Centre
- 2 Treecreeper one at Balby Copse and one in St Caths copse
- 5 Bullfinch together in St Caths copse
- 2 Siskin near the pumping station
Mammals : Roe Deer from Hawthorn bank hide. Vole on the banking near Decoy Marsh Hide
Fungi : Elfcup in St Caths Copse near the notice board
Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Andy Dalton
Tuesday 7th
- 10 Shelduck
- 16 Wigeon
- 50Teal
- 80 Gadwall
- 200 Shoveler
- 38 Tufted Duck
- 35 Pochard
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
- 5 Buzzard
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel - in front of the VC
- 60 Lapwing
- 1 Woodcock - disturbed in Piper Marsh Scrub whilst checking Willow tit nest boxes
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 12 Redwing
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- 2 Coal Tit
- c40,000 Starling went in to roost on Low Ellers Marsh at 4pm, plenty of murmuration due to 2 Sparrowhawk attacking the flock.
- 6 Bullfinch
Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird and Helen Womack
Sunday 5th
- 6 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 13 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 70 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Hawthorn Field
Buffer Area : Short Lane Fields - 1 Buzzard, 1 Sparrowhawk, 100 Wood Pigeon, 60 Redwing, 2 Song Thrush, 1 Goldcrest, 60,000 Starling went in to roost on Low Ellers Marsh at 4.25pm. They started to arrive at 3.55pm and put on an excellent spectacle.
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird
Saturday 4th
- 59 Greylag on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Shelduck on1b and later 2 on 2a possibly the same birds
- 40 Wigeon on 2a
- 3 Little Grebe on Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk one on Piper Marsh and one from the Visitor centre
- 2 Marsh Harrier a male and a female over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh
- c200 Lapwing on Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Woodcock - 4 flushed around Loversall/Willow, one in Beeston Plantation and one at dusk from the Visitor centre
- 3 Snipe on 2a
- 2 Common Gull on 1b
- 1 Kingfisher on Mother drain
- c60,000 Starling were seen from the Visitor centre. The majority dropped in to Low Ellers Marsh and some went in to Decoy Marsh.
- 4 Redwing in Beeston Plantation
Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll and Michael Bird

Goldcrest © Darren Ward 2020
Wednesday 1st
- 10 Shelduck
- 14 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male and 2 cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail - calling along Mother Drain near the underbridge
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Tawny Owl perched in bushes along the path towards Decoy Marsh hide. Was mobbed by a tit flock, blackbirds and jays.
- 1 Kingfisher - from Underbridge
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit - Willow Marsh
- 1 Coal Tit - Willow Pool
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 3 Treecreeper
- 1 Nuthatch - Beeston
Richard Scott, Rich Collis, Sue Cullen, Sue and Roger Bird, Dave Carroll and Darren Wozencroft
December 2019

Marsh Harrier © Barry Wardley
Tuesday 31st
- 6 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 120 Teal
- 65 Shoveler
- 70 Gadwall
- 36 Pochard
- 24 Tufted Duck
- 2 Little Grebes
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- 3 Marsh Harrier one male and two juveniles
- 1 Buzzard
- 200 Lapwing
- 2 Redwing
- 2 Cettis Warblers
Mammals : 6 Roe Deer and 1 Stoat
Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack and Barry Wardley
Buffer Area : Carr Lodge - 1 Red-legged Partridge, 1 Kestrel, 8 Meadow Pipit, 170 Redwing
Starling murmuration © Allen Holmes 2019
Monday 30th
- 6 Shelduck
- 14 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide 09:25hrs
- 6 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc on Huxterwell Marsh
- 4 Buzzard
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Peregrine - one chased a Snipe near the Visitor Centre 3p.m. then headed west and another hunting the Starlings over Huxterwell 4p.m.
- 1 Kestrel
- 115 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe - chased by a Peregrine from Decoy Lake
- 2 Woodcock - flushed to Willow Marsh midday and another Big Hedge at dusk
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - briefly Hawthorn Bank 10:30hrs
- 50 Redwing - Beeston Plantation
- 4 Mistle Thrush - Loversall Carr Fields
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Goldcrest
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide 09:00hrs
- 3 Coal Tit
- 5 Treecreeper
- 50.000 Starling - many roosting on Decoy Marsh for the first time this winter
- 8 Bullfinch
Butterflies : a Small Tortoiseshell reported from the Warden's Car Park and a Peacock were both unseasonal but perhaps not too surprising considering the recent mild conditions.
Darren Wozencroft, Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton plus visitor reports.

Marsh Harriers © Roy Day 2019
Saturday 28th
- 5 Shelduck
- 14 Wigeon
- 2 Pintail - male and female on Huxterwell cell 1b
- 5 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and young male
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 200 Lapwing
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Coal Tit - Willow pool feeders
- 50,000 Starling
Buffer Area : 2 Little Egret 110 Redwing - Short Lane
Mammals : 6 Bank Vole and 1 Wood Mouse
Michael Bird, Darren Wozencroft and Richard Scott
Friday 27th
- 6 Shelduck
- 8 Wigeon on 2a
- 8 Little Egret on Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Grey Heron 5 on 2a and one on Decoy Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk - around the Starling murmuration at dusk
- 1 Kestrel over Decoy Lake later Willow Marsh and Huxterwell
- 200 Lapwing over Huxter Well Marsh were continually disturbed by the Marsh Harrier
- 3 Snipe - Decoy Lake
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker to the Willow Pool feeders
- 2 Goldcrest one along Hawthorne bank and at the Iron bridge
- 3 Cetti's Warbler calling
- 1 Willow Tit - outside Field Centre/Old Cafe
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Treecreeper along Decoy Marsh path
- 1 Song Thrush at the entrance
- 4 Bullfinch
Buffer Area : 120 Redwing on Short Lane fields
Mammals : 4 Roe Deer and a bat sp (probable Pipistrelle) at dusk.
Sue and Roger Bird, Darren Wozencroft
Tuesday 24th
- 6 Shelduck
- 13 Wigeon
- 4 Little Egret - St Caths Field
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Old Eaa/Childers Wood
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 5 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 200 Herring Gull - roosted
- 220 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 3+ Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 60,000 Starling - roosted around the Lagoon
Richard Scott
Monday 23rd
- 7 Shelduck
- 3 Wigeon
- 72 Shoveler
- 36 Pochard
- Aythya hybrid - male (pochard x tufted duck)
- 5 Little Egret - Mother Drain
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - sparring with Marsh Harrier 1530 hrs over Huxterwell
- 3 Stock Dove
- 1 Collared Dove - over
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 12 Redwing
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 1 Goldcrest
- 4+ Bearded Tit - included a male in front of Mitchell Hide
- 7 Siskin - Pumping Sation
Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 1 Roe Deer, 1 Rabbit, 1 Bank Vole
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Alfie Bloor and visitor reports
Sunday 22nd
- 50 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 3 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - flew by Mitchell Hide at 3.55pm and landed in reeds at cell 3b
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier a male and female
- 3 Sparrowhawk - chasing Starlings on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - in front of the Visitor centre
- 1 Water Rail - calling in front of Duchess hide
- 12 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 250 Herring Gull - roosted
- 160 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at Old Eaa at dusk
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 3 Jay - 2 in St Caths copse and one in Beeston Plantation
- 1 Goldcrest in St Caths copse
- 1 Cetti's Warbler singing in front of Duchess hide
- 15 Long-tailed Tit along Willow Bank
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 1 Treecreeper in Beeston Plantation
- 50-80,000 Starling went in to roost to the left of Duchess Hide. An excellent spectacle!
- 3 Song Thrush in Beeston Plantation
- 12 Redwing in Beeston Plantation
- 4 Bullfinch along Willow Bank
Mammals : 2 Roe Deer in Loversall Carr Fields
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird
Saturday 21st
- 2 Shelduck
- 18 Wigeon
- 10 Little Egret - mainly on St Caths Field
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 2 Sparrowhawk - attacking the starling murmuration
- 3 Water Rail - one in Willow Marsh and 2 at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1000 Black-headed Gull - roosted
- 11 Common Gull - roosted
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 270 Herring Gull - roosted
- 140 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
Mammals : 1 Stoat
Richard Scott and Allen Holmes

Water Rail © Michael Short 2019
Tuesday 17th
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 250+ Teal
- 7 Little Egret incl 6 in Mother Drain late afternoon
- 5 Grey Heron incl. 5 in Mother Drain late afternoon
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel along Willow bank
- 1 Water Rail calling on Huxter Well Marsh late afternoon
- 200+ Lapwing - over
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Kingfisher on Mother Drain
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 6 Redwing
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Goldcrest in Piper Marsh Scrub
- Bearded Tit - calling Huxterwell/Ringmain
- 1 Song Thrush at the pumping station
- 6 Bullfinch - 2 at Willow Bank, pumping station and Piper Marsh Scrub
- Several Siskin calling at Piper Marsh Scrub
Mammals : 6 Roe Deer
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird and Mark Roberts.
Sunday 15th
- c.490 Pink-footed Geese - 52 SW at 09.45hrs, 40 south at 15.00 and 400 flying around to the east of the reserve at 15.15. Many of these appeared to drop down onto Bessacarr Fields and of the remaining birds 150 flew west at 15.20
- 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 113 Shoveler
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male in the afternoon and cc over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 2 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail
- 10 Common Gull - roosted
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 350 Herring Gull - roosted
- 300 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 2 Kingfisher - Mother Drain from the underbridge and Piper Marsh
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Central Grassland
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Young Eaa
- 1 Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - near Ironbridge with a tit flock
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit - Seven Arches Carr
- 4 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide and Cell 4, 2 at Piper Marsh
- 80,000 Starling into roost between the Lagoon and 2a. Started to arrive about 15.20 and were all in by 16.10 with a leucistic bird in the roost.
- Siskin calling along Piper Marsh path and Cottage Drain
Mammals : 8 Roe Deer
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

Starlings © Ian Parnell
Saturday 14th
- 6 Shelduck
- 4 Wigeon
- 3 Goosander - 2 males and a female arrived on Huxterwell cell 1b at 1130hrs
- 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide at 1600hrs
- 7 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk - killed a Starling at the roost
- 2 Peregrine - at least one adult, both over Seven Arches Carr late morning
- 1 Kestrel - Willow Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - calling infront Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 7 Lapwing
- 2 Woodcock - St Cath's 1630hrs
- 164 Great Black-backed Gull - roosting on Huxterwell cell 1b
- 181 Herring Gull - roosting on Huxterwell cell 1b
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 8 Redwing
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Goldcrest
- 4 Treecreeper
- c50,000 Starling
Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 5 Roe Deer
Darren Wozencroft and Ian Parnell
Friday 13th
- 5 Shelduck on 2a
- 7 Wigeon on 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier a male hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard
- 2 Water Rail calling on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Woodcock - Beeston Plantation
- 60 Wood Pigeon went to roost on Piper Marsh
- 1 Grey Wagtail - Mother Drain
- 1 Goldcrest feeding silently in Bramble next to Hawthorn Bank hide
- 2 Cetti's Warbler singing
- 70,000 Starling went in to roost on 1a at 4pm. Duchess hide gave good views. 200 went in to roost in front of the visitor centre at 4.30pm
- Small numbers of Blackbird and Redwing feeding on the last berries
- 30 Siskin
Sue and Roger Bird, Jim Horsfall and visitor reports

December Moth © Derek Parker 2019

Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Friday Night, 6th December
It is usual to undertake a final moth trapping in early winter, so as to record some of the very few species that only fly at this time of year. Normally, the final trapping session takes place around the middle of November. Unfortunately, this year the weather in November was so poor, either extremely wet or very cold, that trapping was out of the question. Hence the very late date for this year’s final trapping. This was not without consequences. It was no great surprise that we only trapped 3 individual moths. Single December Moth and Mottled Umber were, however, additions to the 2019 list. A Red-green Carpet was the third species recorded.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall
Monday 9th
- 1 Red Kite - Junction 3 M18 11:30 a.m.
Chris Needham per Twitter

Sparrowhawk and Mallards © Darren Ward 2019

Goldcrest © Keith Horton 2019
Saturday 7th
- 2 Shelduck
- 29 Wigeon
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 90 Lapwing
- 11 Common Gull
- 16 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 400 Herring Gull
- 250 Great Black-backed Gull
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Bearded Tit - West Scrape
- 40 Redwing
- 5 Siskin
Richard Scott
Friday 6th
- 1 Barn Owl - Willow Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Willow Tit
Louise Hill, visitor reports
Tuesday 3rd
- 30 Greylag Goose
- 170 Teal
- 10 Wigeon
- 14 Shoveler
- 80 Gadwall
- 17 Pochard
- 29 Tufted Duck
- 3 Goldeneye - fem/imm
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Sparrowhawk - at starling roost
- 2 Marsh Harrier (cc and male) - male at starling roost
- 1 Buzzard - at starling roost
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail -calling
- 33 Lapwing
- 7 Snipe – 4 Decoy Lake island, 2 Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling at dusk
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 36 Redwing
- 1 Song Thrush
- 3 Cetti’s Warbler - heard
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 1 Goldcrest
- 6 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell
- 1 Treecreeper
- 100,000 Starling - murmuration peaked at 4pm
- 1 Siskin - over
Butterflies : male Brimstone along Access Track 12:20pm
Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Keith Lynes, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Andy Dalton and Mark Roberts

Treecreeper © Darren Ward 2019
Sunday 1st
- 3 Shelduck
- 15 Wigeon
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk - caught a starling in the murmuration
- 3 Buzzard
- 55 Golden Plover - very distant circling over iPort at dusk
- 1 Kingfisher
- 100,000 Starling
- 70 Redwing
- 1 Siskin
Richard Scott, Lynda Christou
November 2019
Saturday 30th
- 68 Pink-footed Geese - 15 SW at 10.15a.m, then at 2.55p.m 10 flew NW & 43 SW
- 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 13 Wigeon
- 7 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine
- 3 Water Rail
- 6 Snipe
- 720 Black-headed Gull - roosted
- 9 Common Gull - roosted
- 9 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 400 Herring Gull - roosted
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy roosted
- 112 Great Black-backed Gull - roosted
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 30 Redwing
- 4 Goldcrest
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - 4 calling and one singing
- 2 Treecreeper
- 1 Siskin
Mammals : 1 Red Fox, 3 Roe Deer, Harvest Mouse nests were found at two locations at the east end of the reserve.
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Louise Hill, Adrian Andruchiw
Friday 29th
- 5 Shelduck on West Scrape
- 1 Water Rail calling on East Scrape
- 1 Marsh Harrier over Piper Marsh and later at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard over Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 1 Sparrowhawk a male perched at the back of Piper Marsh chased Starlings at the roost
- 4 Skylark over Piper Marsh
- 4 Cetti's Warbler singing
- 100,000+ Starling were spectacular due to the Sparrowhawk causing mayhem
- 12 Redwing at the back of Piper Marsh
Sue and Roger Bird
Thursday 28th
- 1 Goosander - male, Huxterwell
- 3 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier
Sue Cullen
Tuesday 26th
- 250+ Greylag Geese
- 1 Shelduck
- 280+ Teal
- 90+ Gadwall
- 29 Wigeon
- 18 Shoveler
- 30 Tufted Duck
- 11 Pochard
- 2 Great Crested Grebes
- 8 Little Egret - flew across Huxterwell Marsh at dusk
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Snipe from Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 50 Redwing
- 70+ Goldfinch in Alders near the old wardens car park
- 100.000 Starling b/w/ 15:45 and 16:15 hrs
Mammals : 1 Roe Deer
Keith Lynes, Sue Bird, Dave Carrol, Ian and Janet Heppenstall and Lynda Christou
Sunday 24th
- 5 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 91 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 36 Pochard - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Goosander - female flew south from Huxterwell over Gt Yorkshire Way at dusk
- 7 Little Egret - St Caths Field
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine - over Huxterwell at 2p.m.
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Common Gull - roosting on cell 1b
- 6 Lesser Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
- 350 Herring Gull - roosting on cell 1b
- 60 Great Black-backed Gull - roosting on cell 1b
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling from Old Eaa at dusk
Richard Scott. Darren Wozencroft

Sparrowhawk © Rob Burns
Thursday 21st
- 11 Mute Swan
- 25 Wigeon
- 25 Shoveler
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 Marsh Harrier - adult and juvenile over Huxterwell
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 9 Snipe
- 30 Redwing - flock at Ironbridge
- 1 Goldcrest - Access Track
- 50+ mixed tit flock
- 5 Jay
- 3 Bullfinch
Mammals : 1 Roe Deer
Amphibians : 2 Common Frogs in Black Carr Field were unseasonal.
Rob Burns, Lynda Christou, Sue and Roger Bird

Mute Swan © Steve Ditch
Tuesday 19th
- 8 Wigeon
- 100 Teal
- 1 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Little Grebe
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juv around Huxterwell Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxterwell Marsh
- 50 Lapwing
- 8 Snipe - Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 20 Redwing
- 1 Goldcrest
- 6 Bearded Tit - Huxterwell/Ringmain
- 2 Willow Tit - Willow Bank
- 2 Treecreeper - at the end of Hawthorn Bank
- 4 Jay
- 10 Siskin
- 3 Lesser Redpoll
Mammals : 1 Bank Vole, 1 Roe Deer
Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Phil Goacher, David Harding, Lynda Christou, Adrian Andruchiw, Mark Roberts and Darren Wozencroft
Monday 18th
- 1 Chiffchaff - Piper Marsh
Dragonflies : 3 Common Darter
visitor reports
Sunday 17th
- c200 Pink-footed Goose went NW at 11.30, distant over the M18 bridge
- 4 Shelduck
- 15 Wigeon
- 202 Teal
- 1 Sparrowhawk to the Starling roost
- 1 Kestrel hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine chased Starlings going in to roost
- 2 Water Rail
- 2 Woodcock - St Cath's Copse
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker to Willow Pool feeders
- 3 Goldcrest along Cottage drain
- 100,000+ Starling went in to roost on Huxter Well Marsh with much murmuration due to the Peregrine. All were in by 15.55
- c60 Redwing along Cottage drain
- 30 Siskin were in treetops along Willow Bank and later Cottage Drain
Mammals : 3 Roe Deer, 2 near Decoy Marsh hide and one near Hawthorne field, a Weasel ran across the path near Decoy Marsh hide.
Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts
Saturday 16th
- 140 Pink-footed Geese - 90 ENE at 9.15am and 50 ENE at 3.10pm
- 65 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh, 40 arrived mid-afternoon
- 3 Little Egret - over at dusk
- 1 Bittern - from Duchess Hide
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 10 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 120 Woodpigeon - Piper Marsh/Black Carr Wood
- 1 Bearded Tit - heard from St Caths Hide
- 10s of 1000s Starling - seen from Hawthorn Bank from 3.55pm
- 30 Fieldfare - SW
Mammals : a Weasel and a large bat sp. presumed Noctule feeding over high HWM from 12.35 for at least 30 mins.
Richard Scott, visitor reports.
Friday 15th
- 4 Whooper Swan - dropped on to Cell 1b late afternoon then left NE 15 minutes later
- 6 Wigeon
- 3 Little Egret - flew along Mother Drain at dusk
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk - attacked starlings as they went in to roost
- 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Snipe - Huxterwell Cell 2a
- 6 Jay - were busy across the Reserve
- 3 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 100,000 Starling - went in to roost between 15.45 and 16.20
- 2 Redwing - Visitor Centre
Sue and Roger Bird
St. Catherine's Field © Richard Scott
Tuesday 12th
- 1 Pintail - male
- 4 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier cream crown hunting Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Buzzard – hunting Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel
- 12 Lapwing
- 1 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Cetti’s Warbler
- 5 Goldcrest
- 1 Treecreeper
- 1 Grey Wagtail
- 12 Goldfinch
Mammals : 1 Roe Deer
Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Dalton.
Monday 11th
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Willow Tit - Access Track, western end
Mark Roberts
Sunday 10th
- 2 Egyptian Geese - cell 3a
- 7 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 6 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 184 Teal - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Egret - over
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 10 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - from the VC
- 2 Water Rail
- 10 Snipe - cell 2a
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Mistle Thrush
- 2 Siskin
Invertebrates : 1 Peacock - Loversall Bank. 12 Common Darter
Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Darren Wozencroft

Red-crested Pochard © Richard Scott 2019
Friday 8th
- 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 172 Teal - cell 2a
- 1 Red-crested Pochard - drake on cell 2b
- 6 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Peregrine - at dusk chasing the Starlings
- 26 Lapwing
- 12 Snipe
- 1 Kingfisher - cell 2a
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 11 Fieldfare
- 38 Redwing
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 100,000 Starling - at dusk Cell 3a, East Scrape
- 5 Siskin - near the entrance
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

Great Spotted Woodpecker © Darren Ward 2019
Thursday 7th
- 1 Red-crested Pochard - cell 2b
- 6 Little Egret - St Cath's Field
- 2 Woodcock
Andy Dalton, David Beresford, Dave Carroll

Roe Deer © Steve Ditch 2019
Tuesday 5th
- 106 Greylag Gese - cell 1b
- 8 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 16 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 140 Teal - West Scrape
- 3 Goldeneye - female/imm. cell 1b
- 1 Goosander - male on cell 2a
- 11 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - Willow Pool
- 4 Common Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Barn Owl - from Duchess Hide
- 1 Kingfisher - Willow Pool
- 3 Jay - Willow Pool feeders
- 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
- 2 Coal Tit to Willow Pool feeders
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes
female Small White ¨© Darren Wozencroft 2019
Sunday 3rd
- 120 Pink-footed Geese - ENE at 08.50
- 6 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
- 3 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 1 Lesser Redpoll
Other: 5 Bank Vole, 1 Small White was an exceptionally late record
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft
Saturday 2nd
- 7 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
- 15 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 21 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Stonechat - near Mitchell Hide
Richard Scott
Friday 1st
- 6 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 10 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 2 Sparrowhawk - on cell 4 waiting for the Starlings to come in to roost
- 3 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - calling on East Scrape at dusk
- 40 Lapwing - cell 1b
- 6 Snipe - cell 2a
- 2 Common Gull - cell 1b at 15.30
- 22 Herring Gull - cell 1b at 15.30
- 3 Goldcrest
- 7 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 25,000 Starling - went to roost on cell 4 between 16.00 and 16.15
- 1 Siskin - over Willow Pool
Sue and Roger Bird
October 2019
Sunset © Lynda Christou 2019
Great White Egrets © Allen Holmes 2019
Sunday 27th
9 Whooper Swan - NE at 08.10
4 Shelduck - Huxter Well Marsh
3 GREAT WHITE EGRET - together on cell 3b very early morning but flew off
1 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
10 Buzzard
3 Kestrel
3 Sparrowhawk
1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain near the entrance
1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Piper Marsh
3 Goldcrest - along the Access Track near the entrance
1 Coal Tit - Loversall Field
4+ Bearded Tit - at least 2 at Piper Marsh flew to Huxter Well Marsh and at least 2 near Mitchell Hide
2 Chiffchaff - Cottage Drain and Big Hedge
1 Treecreeper - Cottage Drain
1000's Starling - left their roost at cell 4 at dawn
12 Redwing - west
1 Grey Wagtail - over West Scrape
10 Bullfinch - including 4 south
2 Siskin - over
Other: 3 Migrant Hawker, 1 Red Admiral, 2 Comma, 1 Muntjac along Piper Marsh path
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton
Saturday 26th
- 61 Greylag Geese - cell 1b
- 3 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 26 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 14 Snipe - from Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
- 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool feeders
- 10 Blackbird - Access Track/Decoy Marsh
- 2 Stonechat - on the left island from Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 1 Pied Wagtail - Huxter Well Marsh
Following the heavy rain, the paths around Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh have lots of puddles, so walking boots will be needed tomorrow. The path through Hawthorn Field is well flooded at both ends.
Richard Scott
Friday 25th
- 8 Whooper Swan - on cell 1b in the afternoon
Darren Wozencroft

Feathered Thorn © Derek Parker 2019

Frosted Orange © Derek Parker 2019

Large Wainscot © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night 23rd October
This turned out to be another, weather affected, and disappointing night’s moth trapping. We only logged 13 moths in total, involving 7 common autumn species, as listed below:
- Acleris emargana (1)
- November Moth (3)
- Feathered Thorn (1)
- Large wainscot (5)
- Pink-barred Sallow (1)
- Red-line Quaker (1)
- Frosted Orange (1)
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet heppenstall
Thursday 24th
- 22 Mute Swan
- 36 Greylag Geese
- 3 Shelduck
- 19 Wigeon
- 60+ Gadwall
- 78 Teal
- 53 Shoveler
- 35 Pochard
- 37 Tufted Duck
- 20 Cormorant
- 2 Little Egret
- 2 Grey Heron
- 6 Little Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 20 Snipe - from Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 50+ Lapwing
- 60+ Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 3 Herring gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 5 Jay
- 6 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 8 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Mistle Thrush - at the entrance
- 6 Bullfinch
Other: 5 Roe Deer including a family of 4 in Beeston Plantation
Buffer Area
- Little Egret, 2 Goldcrest and a Chiffchaff at Short Lane Fields, 3 Goldcrest along the edge of Gladstone's Fields by the Red Path
David Beresford, Sue and Roger Bird, Richard Scott
Red Admiral © Darren Wozencroft 2019
Common Blue Damselfly © Darren Wozencroft 2019
Wednesday 23th
- 3 Shelduck
- 19 Wigeon
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Buzzard
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Snipe
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Fieldfare - south
- 1 Bearded Tit
Butterflies : 1 Red Admiral, 1 Comma, 1 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 male Brimstone
Odonata : 1 Common Blue Damselfly, c50 Common Darter
Darren Wozencroft

Stigmella glutinosae © Derek Parker 2019
STIGMELLA GLUTINOSAE. A new moth record for Potteric Carr
Almost all of the tiniest moths we have in this country are, in the larval stage, leaf-miners. Many of them belong to the family Nepticulidae. Autumn is the peak time for finding Nepticulid (‘Nep.’) mines and they are found on most native deciduous trees and shrubs.
On 18 October, whilst searching for Nep. mines, I spotted an occupied mine on alder. Upon closer examination, it was clearly one or other of Stigmella glutinosae or Stigmella alnetella, neither of which had previously been recorded at Potteric Carr.
I needed a closer look at the larva inside the mine, so I asked Trust volunteer and keen photographer, Derek Parker, to take a close up photograph of the larva. Derek’s excellent photograph provided the evidence I needed. The larva was that of Stigmella glutinosae. I still needed to get it checked by County Moth Recorder, Charles Fletcher. Thankfully, he agreed with the identification.
Stigmella glutinosae is a scarce species in Yorkshire, recorded very thinly across the County, most frequently in VC63.
Ian Heppenstall

Roe Deer © Darren Ward 2019
Tuesday 22nd
- 2 Shelduck
- 35 Wigeon
- 60+ Gadwall
- 68 Teal
- 45+ Shoveler
- 45+ Pochard
- 24 Tufted Duck
- 1 Bittern
- 12 Cormorant
- 1 Little Egret
- 4 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2+ Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - from Tofield Hide
- 7 Lapwing
- 3 Snipe
- 2 Common Gull
- 2 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Herring Gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 2 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 8 Bearded Tit - over the Stilling Pond
- 2 Skylark - over
- 1 Swallow - south
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Chiffchaff - calling near Mitchell hide
- 3 Treecreeper - one along link road and 2 in St Caths Copse
- 3 Redwing - over Piper Marsh
- 2 Meadow Pipit - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Bullfinch - St Caths Copse
- 1+ Brambling - Willow Pool feeders and the compound
Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Phil Goucher, Dave Harding, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts, Dave Carroll, visitor report

Great Spotted Woodpecker © Lynda Christou 2019
Sunday 20th
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
Lynda Christou
Shaggy Parasol © Andrew Thomson 2019
Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019
Saturday 19th
- 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 34 Wigeon
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - NW over the VC
- 2 Water Rail - calling from cell 2a and Old Eaa
- 15 Snipe - cell 2a
- 2 Common Gull
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 10+ Jay
- 3 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool
- 2 Skylark - west
- 10 Cetti's Warbler
- 5 Chiffchaff
- 24 Redwing
- 4 Stonechat - Central Grassland
- 10 Bullfinch
- 1 Lesser Redpoll - Cottage Drain
- 5 Siskin - over
Other: 8 Roe Deer , 1 Red Admiral
Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Lynda Christou
Shoveler © Allen Holmes 2019
Friday 18th
- 1 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Kingfisher - Loversall Pool
- 1 Jay
- 1+ Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 2 Willow Tit
- 4 Skylark - over
- 7 Cetti's Warbler - including 3 calling at Loversall Pool
- 1 Chiffchaff - heard near Loversall Delph
- <10 Redwing - flew over in a flock
Butterflies: Painted Lady (fresh looking) near the Dip-In shelter by Decoy Lake
Richard Collis, Lynda Christou, Andy Dalton, Allen Holmes
Thursday 17th
- 21 Mute Swan
- 9 Greylag Geese
- 2 Shelduck
- 41 Wigeon
- 110+ Gadwall
- 56 Teal
- 45 Shoveler
- 34 Pochard
- 28 Tufted Duck
- 9 Cormorant
- 3 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET
- 4 Grey Heron
- 9 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 150 Lapwing
- 50+ Black-headed Gull
- 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 6 Jay
- 2 Coal Tit
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
Butterflies: male Brimstone, Small White, 2 Peacock and a Comma.
Damselflies: a single Common Blue on Square Pond is the latest reserve record by 10 days (previous latest 7th October 2006). This is the fifth species of Odonata this year to make its latest ever appearance on the reserve in this mild autumn.
David Beresford, Darren Wozencroft

Snail sp. © Roy Day 2019
Wednesday 16th
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - over VC towards Low Ellers
- 2 Goldcrest - Access Track to Hawthorn Bank hide
- 4 Chiffchaff - Access Track to Hawthorn Bank hide
Other: 4+ Migrant Hawker, 1 Common Darter, Comma in the flutterby garden
Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou

a recent photo of Great White Egret © Steve Ditch 2019
Grass Snake © Andrew Thompson 2019

Helvella crispa fungus © Janet Heppenstall 2019
Tuesday 15th
- 21 Mute Swan - including 7 young
- 24 Wigeon
- 180+ Gadwall
- 60+ Teal
- 70+ Shoveler
- 23 Pochard
- 32 Tufted Duck
- 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Egret
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - at Huxter Well Marsh in the afternoon
- 4 Little Grebe
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel - males over Decoy Lake had a territorial dispute
- 200+ Lapwing
- 7 Snipe
- 2 Kingfisher - one on Mother Drain and one on Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Black Carr Wood
- 2 Jay
- 1 Goldcrest
- (lots of) Bearded Tit - 8 males in front of Mitchel Hide, a group on East Scrape, birds calling near the VC
- 7+ Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 260 Redwing - mainly SW
- 1 Stonechat - male seen from Duchess Hide on the top of the reeds at the back of the Lagoon
- 15 Siskin
Other: Comma, 9 Migrant Hawker, Great Diving Beetle, Queen Hornet, 3 Roe Deer
Rob Burns, Darren Wozencroft, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Sue Bird, David Carroll, Helen Womack, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Andy Dalton, visitor reports
Collared Earthstar © Andrew Thomson 2019
Snipe © Allen Holmes 2019
Monday 14th
- 3 Wigeon - West Scrape
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and cc
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 8 Snipe - West scrape (6 were feeding on top of bank in front of hide)
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
Allen Holmes

Stoat © Darren Ward 2019

Great Diving Beetle © Darren Ward 2019
Sunday 13th (including WeBS count)
- 2 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 21 Wigeon
- 100 Gadwall
- 74 Teal
- 80 Mallard
- 85 Shoveler
- 58 Pochard
- 34 Tufted Duck
- 3 Little Egret
- 15 Little Grebe
- 4 Water Rail
- 139 Coot
- 210 Lapwing
- 20 Snipe
- 1 Marsh Harrier - perched in small oak on cell 1b
- 1 Buzzard - perched low in Hawthorns along Mother drain/cell 1b
- 1 Green Woodpecker - flew across Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
- 4+ Bearded Tit - at least 3 near Mitchell Hide (2 males) and one calling in front of Duchess Hide
- 36 Skylark - north
- 3 Swallow - NE
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 6 Chiffchaff
- 6 Blackbird - in a mixed group of thrushes on hawthorns along Mother Drain/Huxter Well
- 2 Song Thrush - in a mixed group of thrushes
- 5 Redwing - in a mixed group of thrushes
Other: 4 Roe Deer
Mark Roberts, Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton
Kingfisher © Richard Scott 2019
Saturday 12th
- 13 Wigeon
- 4 Sparrowhawk
- 8 Buzzard
- 1 Peregrine
- 3 Water Rail
- 2 Kingfisher
- 2 Goldcrest
- 7 Chiffchaff
- 15 Redwing
Odonata: hundreds of Common Darters, dozens of Migrant Hawkers
Other: Stoat, Great Diving Beetle, Grass Snake
Richard Scott, Sean Marsden, Darren Ward, Andrew Thompson
Friday 11th
- 1 Bittern - flew high from cell 1a to cell 4
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Marsh Harrier - female hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon
- 1 Kingfisher - in front of West Scrape hide
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
- 2 Jay - from Duchess hide
- 1 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Duchess Hide
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing in front of Duchess Hide and one on Decoy Marsh
- 1 Chiffchaff - with a large tit flock near the underbridge
- 1 Song Thrush - along the Access Track
Dragonflies: 2 Migrant Hawker
Sue and Roger Bird, visitor reports

Dock Bug © Martin Warne 2019

Spiked Shieldbug © Martin Warne 2019
Thursday 10th
- 2 Little Egret
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 3 Chiffchaff
Richard Collis
Wednesday 9th
Damselflies: a late Emerald at the square pond (the latest for the reserve after one on 7th October 2006)
Buffer Area - Carr Lodge
- 1 Coal Tit, 1 Chiffchaff, 3 Mistle Thrush, 1 Speckled Wood butterfly
Lynda Christou, Richard Scott

Red-green Carpet © Derek Parker 2019

Beaded Chestnut © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Monday Night 7th October
For various reasons, mostly weather related, no trapping had been undertaken since August. We were, therefore, keen to have a go on Monday night. The results, however, were disappointing. We might hope to see 20-25 species on a night’s trapping in early October, so the 8 species recorded was a really poor outcome.
As might be expected, the moths recorded were all, generally common, autumn flying species and they are listed below:
Red-green Carpet (2), Sallow (1), Lunar Underwing (1), Pink-barred Sallow (9), Large Wainscot (7), Red-line Quaker (3), Beaded Chestnut (3) and Black Rustic (1).
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

Fungi spp © Martin Warne 2019
Tuesday 8th
- 40+ Wigeon
- 100 Gadwall
- 55+ Teal
- 30+ Pochard
- 11 Tufted Duck
- 10 Shoveler
- 1+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Little Egret
- 1 Grey Heron
- 7 Little Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 8 Buzzard
- 2+ Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - reported by visitor perched in the dead oak (the hobby not the visitor!)
- 1 Peregrine - male flew low over Huxter Well Marsh hunting
- 250+ Lapwing
- 6 Snipe
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 5+ Jay
- 2 Coal Tit - Willow Pool feeders
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 40 Starling
- 4 Meadow Pipit - over Central Grassland
Butterflies: single Comma, Red Admiral and Peacock in the flutterby garden
Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, Lynda Christou, Sue Bird, Helen Womack, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

yesterday's Stonechat © Darren Ward 2019
Monday 7th
- 34 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 54 Gadwall - Old Eaa
- 1 Little Egret - West Scrape
- 1 Marsh Harrier - high over the Access Track
- 2 Sparrowhawk - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - a male causing mayhem on Huxter Well Marsh
- c200 Lapwing - on Huxter Well Marsh continually disturbed
- 10 Snipe -Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Jay
- 1 Goldcrest
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 2 Chiffchaff - calling
- 60 Goldfinch - in the trees between Childers Wood and Old Eaa
Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton

Rufous Milkcap © Derek Parker 2019

Fly Agaric © Derek Parker 2019
Sunday 6th
- 54 Wigeon
- 3 Little Egret
- 11 Snipe - including one SW
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 27 Swallow - south
- 5 House Martin - feeding high over Piper Marsh
- 6 Chiffchaff
- 94 Redwing - west and SW
- 1 Stonechat - male on the island at Decoy Lake in front of the VC
- 2 Siskin - Iron Bridge
Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson
Golden Plovers © Allen Holmes 2019

Cicadellidae spp © Martin Warne 2019
Saturday 5th
- 50 Pink-footed Geese - east at 10.30
- 29 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Bittern - seen from Hawthorn Bank hide
- 3 Little Egret
- 19 Buzzard - 13 up together in the Beeston area and 6 to the east of the reserve
- 4 Water Rail
- 22 Golden Plover - West Scrape
- 13 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Tawny Owl - Decoy Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Green Woodpecker
- 2+ Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Jay
- 4+ Goldcrest
- 3 Coal Tit
- 2+ Bearded Tit - 'pinging' at West Scrape
- 8 Skylark - 5 NE and 3 over
- 1 Swallow - south
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 12 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- 3 Treecreeper
- 3 Redwing - SW
- 3 Mistle Thrush - south
- 2 Grey Wagtail - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Bullfinch
- 2 Siskin - Access Track
Other: 10 Common Darter, 2 Migrant Hawker, 1 Speckled Wood, 2 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 1 Vapourer Moth 1 Loversall, 1 Silver Y Moth
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Michael Bird, Adrian Andruchiw, Martin Warne, Richard Pauline

baby Bank Voles © Sue Bird 2019
Friday 4th
- 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Warsh
- 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - over Young Eaa
- 2 Water Rail - calling on cell 2a and West Scrape
- 320 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 11 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - flew along Hawthorn Bank
- 2 Jay - collecting acorns
- Bearded Tit - heard from Mitchell Hide (visitor)
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 3 Chiffchaff - at the Iron Bridge, 2 were singing
- 2 Redwing - along the Access Track at 2.45pm
- 3 Bullfinch - along Piper Marsh path
- 3 Reed Bunting - dropped in to Huxter Well Marsh
Sue and Roger Bird
Whooper Swan © Allen Holmes 2019
Roe Deer fawn © Allen Holmes 2019
Thursday 3rd
- 1 WHOOPER SWAN - on cell 1b but left east at 8am (AH)
- 14 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 Bittern - from Mitchell Hide
- 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Buzzard - flew across Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - hunting over Central Grassland
- 1 Water Rail - calling on the Lagoon
- 1 Snipe - cell 2a
- 1 Tawny Owl - flew from the septic tank!
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
- 4 Jay
- 3 Goldcrest
- 1 Willow Tit - calling along Cottage drain
- 15+ Bearded Tit - at least 15 flew across cell 1a and dropped into cell 3a, later 11 were seen from Mitchell Hide and 4 were along the reed edge on the Lagoon
- 1 Skylark - over Loversall Carr Fields
- 3 Chiffchaff - calling
- 7 Redwing - south
Other: Roe Deer fawn still with spots
Buffer Area
- 6 Stock Dove went to roost at Low Ellers Curve, Chiffchiff calling at Short Lane
Sue and Roger Bird, Allen Holmes, Richard Scott, visitors
Buzzard © Richard Scott 2019
Wednesday 2nd
- 80 Pink-footed Geese - NE at 10.30
- 24 Wigeon
- 65 Shoveler - cell 1b
- 54 Pochard
- 67 Tufted Duck - 3 flocks arrived on Huxter Well Marsh. The largest count since January.
- 1 Bittern - in the reeds at the back of cell 1b
- 3+ Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on cell 3b during the morning but flew to Piper Marsh late afternoon
- 1 Marsh Harrier - near the VC
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 9 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - reported
- 2 Water Rail - calling from cells 2a and 3b
- 3 Common Gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 4 Stock Dove - over
- 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide
- 1 Green Woodpecker - in the dead oak from Duchess Hide
- 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling from Duchess Hide
- 9 Skylark - 4 north and 5 south
- 24 Swallow - south
- 3 House Martin - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 18 Chiffchaff
- 2 Blackcap
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 1 alba Wagtail - south
Richard Scott, Paul Paddock, Tina Langford, Adrian Andruchiw, Gary Dyson, visitor reports

Parasol Mushroom © Sue Bird 2019
Tuesday 1st
- 27 Wigeon - 11 flew onto cell 1b and later 16 were on cell 2a
- 66 Gadwall - Old Eaa
- 11 Cormorant - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Bittern - flew across cell 1b and later flew to cell 1a
- 6 Little Egret
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel - hunting over Central Grassland
- 3 Water Rail - juvenile on East Scrape and 2 calling on cell 3b
- 320 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 13 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - pumping station
- 5 Jay
- 4 Goldcrest
- 1 Bearded Tit - in front of Mitchell Hide
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 2 Chiffchaff - calling
- 1 Meadow Pipit - in front of Mitchell Hide
- 3 Bullfinch - along Piper Marsh path
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Andy Dalton
September 2019
Sunday 29th
- 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Bittern - flew to the Lagoon
- 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - cell 3b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - West Scrape and cell 3b
- 2 Golden Plover - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Redshank - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 14 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 5+ Bearded Tit - including 2 males seen from Mitchell Hide
- 10 Chiffchaff
- 7 Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler - near Mitchell Hide
Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Ian and Janet Heppenstall, visitor reports
Red Admiral © Lynda Christou 2019
Saturday 28th
- 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 8 Buzzard - including one south
- 2 Kestrel - one catching dragonflies almost hobby-like
- 1 Hobby - at times hanging in the wind almost kestrel-like
- 1 Water Rail - calling from Old Eaa
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 7 Snipe - including 2 south
- 1 Common Tern - an adult arrived during heavy rain late morning and remained on Huxter Well Marsh into the afternoon
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - 1cy on cell 1b
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool
- 3 Goldcrest - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Coal Tit - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Marsh Tit - called several times on Hawthorn Bank near Mother Drain
- 2 Skylark - south
- 30 Swallow - south
- 3 House Martin - south
- 12 Chiffchaff
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Song Thrush - south
- 1 Pied Wagtail
- 600 Meadow Pipit - south between 9am and 1pm. By far the largest count for the reserve.
Butterflies: 4 Red Admiral, 1 Comma
Richard Scott, Neil Sainthouse, Chris Bell, Lynda Christou
Friday 27th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - overhead
- 1 Coal Tit - between car park and Loversall Delph
- 3 Chiffchaff - between car park and Loversall Delph
- 5 Blackcap - between car park and Loversall Delph
- 1 Treecreeper - between car park and Loversall Delph
- 4 Meadow Pipit - overhead
- 1 Grey Wagtail - overhead
Andy Dalton

Rosy Bonnet © Derek Parker 2019

Orange Peel Fungus © Derek Parker 2019
Thursday 26th
- 20 Mute Swan
- 8 Wigeon
- 80+ Gadwall
- 160+ Teal
- 43 Shoveler
- 63 Pochard
- 11 Tufted Duck
- 10 Little Grebe
- 4 Great Crested Grebe
- 19 Cormorant
- 8 Little Egret
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
- 5 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - seen mobbing a buzzard
- 1 Peregrine - over Piper Marsh
- 610+ Lapwing
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 6 Snipe
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Pool feeders
- 4 Jay
- 1 Goldcrest
- 4 Bearded Tit - from Mitchell Hide
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Chiffchaff
- 5 Blackcap
- 1 Mistle Thrush
David Beresford, Dave Carroll, Gary Dyson
Chiffchaff © Allen Holmes 2019
Wednesday 25th
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - first seen on Piper Marsh but later flew off
- c10 Bearded Tit - in front of Tofield Hide
Gary Johnston

Great White Egret © Richard Scott 2019
Tuesday 24th
- 5 Little Egret
- 2 GREAT WHITE EGRET - one on cell 3b all day and one seen on cell 1b, West Scrape and Piper Marsh
- 26 Wigeon - on and over Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Water Rail - imm. at East Scrape, adult on West Scrape, adult and imm. on cell 3b
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Hobby - up together over Hawthorn Bank and Black Carr Field during a brief lull in the rain
- 2 Dunlin - one on cell 1b and one south
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 18 Snipe - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Bearded Tit - heard calling near Mitchell Hide
- 12 Chiffchaff
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Reed Warbler - East Scrape
- 1 Grey Wagtail - cell 3b
- 1 Pied Wagtail - cell 1b
- 3 Greenfinch - Big Hedge
Richard Scott, Richard Collis
Great Crested Newt © Lynda Christou
Monday 23rd
- 7 Little Egret - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - from Tofield Hide
- 5 Sparrowhawk - family party in dead oak tree chasing magpies and jays
- 4 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Hobby - Black Carr Field and Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Snipe
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 5 Bullfinch
Other: 1 Mole (deceased), 11 roe deer including 3 young, 1 Great Crested Newt
Derek and Anna Parker, Richard Patterson, Lynda Christou
Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019
Sunday 22nd
- 20 Pink-footed Geese - on cell 1b
- 18 Wigeon - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Bittern - flew to cell 1a
- 5 Little Egret
- (2+ Great White Egret - 2 flew from iPort towards Potteric and shortly after one flew over Lakeside towards Potteric)
- 11 Grey Heron
- 1 Hobby
- 1 Water Rail - imm. on cell 3b
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4+ Bearded Tit - in front of Mitchell Hide
Neil Sainthouse, Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Chris Robinson, Darren Wozencroft
Ringing totals for 21st - 9 Blackcap, 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Blackbird, 1 Chaffinch, 1 Wren, 2 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 1 Blue Tit
Rebekah Beaumont
Golden Plovers © Richard Scott 2019
Saturday 21st
- 19 Pink-footed Geese - cell 1b
- 8 Wigeon
- 1 Bittern - cell 1b
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Hobby - feeding over Hawthorn Bank and Willow Marsh, sometimes interacting with the kestrels
- 15 Golden Plover - West Scrape
- 3 Green Sandpiper
- 2 Kingfisher
- 12+ Ring-necked Parakeet - flew over Huxter Well Marsh during the afternoon. By far the largest number seen at Potteric. (NS)
- 11 Chiffchaff
- 2 Willow Warbler
- 2 Blackcap
Other: Stoat at Iron Bridge, 2 Painted Lady, 3 Comma
Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Lynda Christou, Neil Sainthouse, visitor reports
Barnacle Goose © Allen Holmes 2019
Friday 20th
- 19 Pink-footed Geese - departed cell 1b at 5.30pm
- 1 Barnacle Goose - on Loversall Pool with a small group of canada geese, but gone by 9.30am
- 2 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - eclipse male on cell 1b
- 5 Buzzard - up together east of Huxter Well Marsh
- 1+ Hobby - over Willow Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh at 4.30pm
- 3 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher - Loversall Pool
- 1 Bearded Tit - seen in flight in front of Duchess Hide
- 1 Chiffchaff - singing at Iron Bridge
- 2 Blackcap
Other: 7 Roe Deer (3 young), 1 Silver Y moth, Weasel on the Access Track, 1 Black Darter - male still at square pond, 3 Brown Hawker
Allen Holmes, Andy Dalton, Rob Mellor, Darren Wozencroft

Fox © Barry Wardley 2019
Thursday 19th
- 19 Pink-footed Geese - on West Scrape
- 2 Shelduck
- 8 Wigeon - West Scrape
- 4 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Water Rail - East Scrape and Piper Marsh
- 700+ Lapwing
- 1 Ringed plover - juv
- 1 Dunlin
- 1 Green Sandpiper - East scrape
- 4 Snipe - 2 on both cell 3b and West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher - cell 3b
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Goldcrest
- 2 Coal Tit
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 4 Chiffchaff
- 3 Blackcap
- 1 Garden Warbler - close to Michell Hide
- 2 Whitethroat
- 1 Sedge Warbler
- 1 Wheatear - East Scrape screen
- 1 Grey Wagtail
Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 8 Emerald Damselfly, 9 Common Blue Damselfly, 34 Migrant Hawker, 2 Brown Hawker, Southern Hawker, 2 Black Darter, 9 Ruddy Darter, 210 Common Darter, 1 Black-tailed Skimmer (latest ever record)
Butterflies: 3 Brimstone, 4 Large White, 6 Small White, 9 white sp., 8 Comma, 5 Peacock, 2 Red Admiral, 1 Painted Lady,
4 Speckled Wood
Other: 2 Grass Snake, 2 Roe Deer
David Beresford, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft
Muntjac © Amy Thompson 2019
Wednesday 18th
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - from Duchess Hide
- 1 Green Sandpiper - Piper Marsh
- 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide
Other: Muntjac near Piper Marsh
Amy Thompson
Pink-footed Geese © Richard Scott 2019
Tuesday 17th
- 26 Pink-footed Geese - 19 on cell 1b at 07.30, 6 west at 09.04, one on cell 1b with 29 greylags at 09.20. Nineteen is probably the highest number which have been grounded on the reserve.
- 2 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon
- 180+ Gadwall
- 68 Teal
- 80 Pochard
- 14 Tufted Duck
- 22 Cormorant
- 7 Little Egret
- 5 Grey Heron
- 4 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Hobby
- 2 Water Rail - Lagoon and West Scrape
- 870 Lapwing
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Jay - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Coal Tit
- 7 Cetti's Warbler
- 20 Chiffchaff
- 6 Blackcap
- 1 Whitethroat - Huxter Triangle (scrub to east of West Scrape)
- 1 Reed Warbler - Huxter Triangle
- 1 Treecreeper - Hawthorn Bank
- 2 Grey Wagtail - singles south and west over Huxter Well Marsh
- 20+ Goldfinch
Butterflies: 1 Comma, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 2 Red Admiral, 5 Small White
Other: Grass Snake in Hawthorn Field, 3 Roe Deer and 2 Rabbit
Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Barry Wardley, Dave Carroll
Ringing Totals for Saturday 14th
- 14 Blackcap, 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Goldfinch, 1 Wren, 1 Robin, 1 Dunnock, 2 Blue Tit. Retraps: 1 Blackcap, 1 Blue Tit. Control: 1 Blackcap.
- A Blackcap caught on 1st September was originally ringed by Doncaster Ringing Group on 21st July 2019 on Carr Lodge.
Rebekah Beaumont
Monday 16th
- 46 Pink-footed Geese - west at 7.40am. These were later seen heading west over Norwood, Sheffield at 8.05am (per Martin Wells).
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Water Rail - immature on cell 1b and one calling at cell 3b
- 1 Redshank - cell 3b
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 7 Snipe - 5 West Scrape, one cell 3b, one Decoy Lake
- 1000 Black-headed Gull - the roost was building up nicely until a marsh harrier flew over and all of the gulls flew off towards Lakeside
- 4 Common Gull
- 30 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Rook - west
- 2 Goldcrest
- 2 Willow Tit - Iron Bridge
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
- 1 Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
- 1 Sedge Warbler - Big Hedge
- 1 Treecreeper - Iron Bridge
- 1 Wheatear - on a fence post between West Scrape and Central Grassland
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over Reedbed Filtration Ponds
- 30 Goldfinch - VC/Access Track
Richard Scott

Great Tit © Darren Ward 2019
Sunday 15th (including WeBS count)
- 17 Pink-footed Geese - circled Huxter Well Marsh and flew east (11.25)
- 2 Shelduck
- 1 Wigeon
- 120 Gadwall
- 77 Teal
- 78 Mallard
- 90 Pochard
- 9 Little Egret
- 2 Water Rail - Reedbed Filtration Ponds and the Lagoon
- 162 Coot
- 572 Lapwing
- 1 Redshank - cell 3b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 5 Snipe - including one flying SW
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Raven - SW over Hawthorn Bank. Only the second sighting of the year.
- 3 Swallow - south
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 1 Nuthatch - Young Eaa
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over
- 1 Pied Wagtail - SW
- 1 Linnet - south
Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

Hornet © Darren Ward 2019
Saturday 14th (includes Vis Mig 08.30 - 10.40)
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 8 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 1 MERLIN - female south at 10.19. The first sighting of the year.
- 1+ Hobby - over Piper Marsh, Huxter Well Marsh and Old Eaa
- 1 Water Rail - cell 4
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 3 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape/cell 3b
- 1 Redshank - cell 3b
- 8 Snipe - 2 south-west and 6 on cell 3b
- 3 Stock Dove
- 6 Swift - south
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Jay
- 20 Sand Martin - south
- 63 Swallow - south
- 7 House Martin - south
- 1 Treecreeper - singing in Black Carr Wood
- 2 Tree Sparrow - flew south-west and landed in Big Hedge. The first sighting of the year.
- 1 Grey Wagtail - south-east
- 1 alba Wagtail sp. - south
- 99 Meadow Pipit - 8 on Central Grassland and 91 south
- 11 Greenfinch - 9 south and singles at Big Hedge and VC
- 5 Goldfinch - south
Butterflies: Small White, Speckled Wood, Red Admiral, Common Blue
Odonata: Black Darter (Square Pond), Common Darter, Ruddy Darter, Migrant Hawker, Southern Hawker, Emerald Damselfly
Other: Muntjac Deer on St. Catherine's Field path, 3 Roe Deer (female with 2 fawns) near dipping ponds
Richard Scott, Michael Bird, Andy Bell
Black Darter © Darren Wozencroft 2019
Friday 13th
- 2 Shelduck
- 2 Wigeon
- 27 Cormorant
- 2 Bittern
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail
- 1 Dunlin
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Common Gull - juv in the roost
- 1 Swift
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Sand Martin
- 18 Swallow
- 2 House Martin
- 1 Grey Wagtail - near the underbridge
- 8 Meadow Pipit - SW
Odonata: 5 Banded Demoiselle, 14 Emerald Damselfly, 13 Common Blue Damselfly, 29 Migrant Hawker, 2 Southern Hawker, 1 Brown Hawker, 3 Black Darter (visitor centre and square pond), 21 Ruddy Darter, 265 Common Darter.
Butterflies: 9 Red Admiral, 6 Comma, 2 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Large White, 17 Small/Green-veined Whites
Richard Scott, Richard Collis, Tina Langford, Darren Wozencroft, Lynda Christou
Thursday 12th
- 2 Shelduck
- 5 Wigeon
- 144 Teal
- 129 Mallard
- 1 GARGANEY - from Duchess Hide
- 52 Pochard
- 1 Water Rail - cell 3b
- 2 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1200 Black-headed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 2 Mediterranean Gull - juv/1st-winter and 2nd-winter on cell 1b at 7pm
- 200 Lesser Black-backed Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 10 Herring Gull - Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 2 Yellow-legged Gull - adult and near adult on Huxter Well Marsh at dusk
- 6 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 5 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 3 Rook - south
- 1 Goldcrest
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling in front of Duchess Hide
- 2 Sand Martin
- 2 Swallow
- 18 House Martin
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 22 Chiffchaff
- 7 Blackcap
- 1 Mistle Thrush - over
- 12 Meadow Pipit - south
Richard Scott
Wednesday 11th
- 2 Shelduck - Lagoon/West Scrape
- 4 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - Lagoon
- 1 Curlew - on West Scrape in the evening
- 3 Dunlin - 2 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
- 3 Swift - through
- 2 Kingfisher
- 1 Willow Tit - between Reedbed Filtration Ponds and Loversall Pool
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over
Buffer Area - Short Lane Fields
- female Marsh Harrier, Cetti's Warbler singing, 4 Chiffchaff calling
Paul Paddock, Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Sue and Roger Bird, Mark Roberts

family of Wood Mice in a peanut drum © Roger Bird 2019
Tuesday 10th
- 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 5 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 120+ Gadwall
- 40 Teal
- 49 Pochard
- 8 Tufted Duck
- 3 Bittern - one flew across cell 1b, one was at the back of Piper Marsh near the depth guage and one was at Loversall Pool
- 10 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 6 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier - immature male on Piper Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk -over Piper Marsh, 2 harassed the Marsh Harrier
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Hobby - watched from Mitchell Hide, gave excellent views from Duchess hide, present from mid morning
- 1 Water Rail - Piper Marsh
- 650+ Lapwing
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 5 Green Sandpiper - 2 on Piper Marsh and later on cell 3b and 3 on West Scrape
- 5 Snipe
- 4 Swift - south
- 3 Jay
- 3 Goldcrest - one along Piper Marsh path and 2 at the under bridge
- 1 Bearded Tit - juvenile at West Scrape
- 5 Swallow - south
- House Martin - small numbers continuously moving south
- 5 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 8 Chiffchaff - 7 calling and one singing
- 1 Willow Warbler - calling
- 3 Blackcap - calling
- 1 Reed Warbler - Loversall Pool
- 16 Goldfinch - near VC
Other: 1 Lizard (probably Common), 3 Rabbit, 1 Muntjac at Piper Marsh, 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Barry Wardley, Andy Dalton, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, David Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Lynda Christou
Monday 9th
- 2 Shelduck - West Scrape
- 4 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier - a juvenile disturbed everything on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - heard from Duchess Hide
- 450 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Curlew - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Black-tailed Godwit - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Dunlin - singles on West Scrape and cell 3b
- 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 7 Snipe - 6 on West Scrape and one on cell 3b
- 4 Swift - south
- 4 Jay - very vocal and collecting and acorns
- Sand Martin - a small number in with the House Martins
- 6+ Swallow - over Huxter Well Marsh
- c100 House Martin - feeding over Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 2 Chiffchaff - singing
- 2 Blackcap - calling
Other: Roe Deer on the path to East Scrape
Sue and Roger Bird, Rob Leach, Alan Jenness
Little Egret © Richard Scott 2019
Sunday 8th
- 2 Shelduck - cell 1b
- 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 2 Bittern - one gave prolonged views on cell 3b from Mitchell Hide and one flew across cell 1a seen from Duchess Hide
- 6 Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 10+ Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Black-tailed Godwit - juvs on cell 1b and West Scrape
- 2 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - over
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
- 2 Swift - through
- 1 Kingfisher - from Tofield Hide
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Seven Arches Carr
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Big Hedge
- 2 Sand Martin - through
- 14 Swallow - through
- 3 House Martin - through
- 1 Bearded Tit - heard from Duchess Hide
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 26 Chiffchaff
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 4 Blackcap
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 1 Whitethroat
- 5 Reed Warbler
- 2 Greenfinch - Huxter Well Marsh
- Other: Muntjac along Piper Marsh path
Butterflies/Moths: 1 Comma, 5 Large White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood, 1 Silver Y, 1 The Drinker (larvae)
Bugs: 1 Sloe Bug, 2 Green Shield Bug, 16 Dock Bug (11 which were late instar and 5 adult)
Other: Chub in Mother Drain and a jack Pike in Cottage Drain
Richard Scott, Sue Cullen, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Richardson, Darren Wozencroft, John Wozencroft, Roger and Sue Bird, Derek Parker, visitor reports

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

Reed Warbler showing fault bar in the wing © Rebekah Beaumont 2019
Saturday 7th
- 2 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 2 Hobby - hunting together over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - adult high over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Dunlin - West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 9 Snipe
- 2 Common Tern - juvs
- 1 Common Gull - cell 1b
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b
- 16 Herring Gull - cell 1b
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - near adult on cell 1b
- 1 Kingfisher
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Goldcrest
- 1 Bearded Tit - seen and heard from Mitchell Hide
- 6 Sand Martin
- 6 Swallow
- 23 House Martin
- 9 Cetti's Warbler
- 28 Chiffchaff
- 10 Blackcap
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 1 Whitethroat
- 1 Sedge Warbler
- 3 Reed Warbler
- 1 Grey Wagtail - over East Scrape
- 9 Meadow Pipit - 2 on Central Grassland and 7 over
Ringing totals: 7 Blackcap, 4 Robin, Dunnock, Whitethroat, Goldfinch, Reed Warbler, 3 Blue Tit. Retraps - 2 Blackcap, Great Tit
Other: Weasel on the path near Tofield Hide
Richard Scott, Rebekah Beaumont, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Darren Wozencroft, Adrian Andruchiw, visitor reports

Nuthatch © Darren Ward 2019

Great Spotted Woodpecker © Darren Ward 2019
Friday 6th
- 45 Canada Geese - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Wigeon - cell 2a
- 34 Teal - Piper Marsh
- 9 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - cell 1a
- 3 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier - cc and a male on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Kestrel - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Hobby - chasing dragonflies and hirundines over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Water Rail - one calling on cell 2a and a juvenile feeding along the reed edge on West Scrape
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 Snipe - West Scrape
- 3 Common Tern - juveniles on cell 2a
- 25+ Swift - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Kingfisher - one from Tofield Hide and later one on Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Jay - Piper Marsh path
- 2 Goldcrest
- 1 Marsh Tit - calling in a large mixed flock of warblers and tits between the VC and Loversall Pool
- 20+ Sand Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Swallow
- 50+ House Martin
- 1 Cetti’s Warbler - singing in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 9+ Chiffchaff
- 1 Willow Warbler
- 8 Blackcap
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat
- 1 Nuthatch - Black Carr Wood
- 1 Treecreeper
- 1 Meadow Pipit - over
- 1 Reed Bunting - on Central Grassland was disturbed by a fox
Other: Fox on Central Grassland, Stoat along the path near St Caths Field and one in Loversall Field, 2 Roe Deer
Sue and Roger Bird, Andy Dalton, Lynda Christou, Darren Ward, visitor reports

spider and prey © Ron Parke 2019
Thursday 5th
- 19 Mute Swan - inclusing 7 young
- 16 Greylag Geese
- 5 Canada Geese
- 180+ Gadwall
- 80 Teal
- 12 Shoveler
- 67 Pochard
- 8 Tufted Duck
- 17 Cormorant
- 2+ Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 9 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 700+ Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin
- 35 Black-headed Gull
- 5 Common Tern
- 5 Swift
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Coal Tit
- 1 Swallow
- 20 House Martin
- 2 Cetti's Warbler
- 8 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- 1 Nuthatch - by Willow Pool Hide
David Beresford, Andy Dalton, Mark Roberts
Wednesday 4th
- 1 Marsh Harrier - imm. male
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 5 Common Tern - 3 adults and 2 juvs
- 105 Black-headed Gull - cell 2a
- 10 Lesser Black-backed Gull
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull
- 1 Tawny Owl
- 20 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 30+ Sand Martin
- 30+ House Martin
Other: Bank Vole, Muntjac in Black Carr Field
Andy Dalton, Richard Scott, Darren Wozencroft

Comma © Darren Ward 2019

Comma © Darren Ward 2019
Tuesday 3rd
- 1 Wigeon
- 165+ Gadwall
- 60+ Teal
- 60+ Pochard
- 5 Tufted Duck
- 3 Bittern - West Scrape, cell 1b and cell 3a
- 4 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 3 Little Grebe
- 10 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 4 Buzzard
- 3 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - over the compound
- 780+ Lapwing
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 3 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b/East Scrape
- 6 Snipe - West Scrape
- 5 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 50 Swift - through
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - over Iron Bridge
- 12 Sand Martin - through
- 1 Swallow - through
- 30 House Martin
- 1 Wheatear - Central Grassland
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over Iron Bridge
- 2+ Grey Wagtail - 2 near the pumping station/underbridge and one over Iron Bridge
- 2 Meadow Pipit - south
Butterflies: 6 Speckled Wood, 5 Red Admiral, 1 Common Blue, 1 Small Tortoiseshell
Richard Scott, Sue and Roger Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird
Long-tailed Tit © Allen Holmes 2019
Sunday 1st
- 2 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - stood at the edge of the reeds at the back of cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk - sparring with 2 kestrels over West Scrape
- 2 OSPREY - following heavy rain showers, one seen at long range from Hawthorn Bank Hide flew south at 12.50 and a second bird flew south over the compound at 1.20pm (RJS)
- 3 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - from Duchess Hide
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 11 Snipe
- 7 Common Tern - 2 adults and 5 juvs
- 45 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - West Scrape
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 1 Sand Martin
- 1 Swallow
- 120 House Martin
- 10 Blackcap - Loversall Field
- 1 Garden Warbler - Loversall Field
- 2 Lesser Whitethroat - Loversall Field
- 1 Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 2 Sedge Warbler - West Scrape
- 1 Reed Warbler - cell 3b
- 1 Nuthatch - Loversall Delph
Other: 1 Grass Snake Basking along Big Hedge, a shrew feeding next to Piper Marsh path
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Sue Cullen, Jenny Kingsland, visitor reports
August 2019
Saturday 31st
- 4 Wigeon - cell 1b
- 57 Teal
- 95 Mallard
- 40 Shoveler
- 20 Cormorant - cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Water Rail - East Scrape and cell 2a
- 2 Greenshank - one SW at 06:30 and on cell 1b at 10.05
- 5 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape/cell 3b
- 5 Snipe
- 8 Common Tern - 2 adults and 6 juvs
- 80 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge
- 5 Sand Martin
- 2 Swallow
- 90 House Martin
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
- 2 Reed Warbler - Iron Bridge
- 8 Bullfinch - Iron Bridge
Richard Scott, Helen Womack
Cricket sp © Roy Day 2019
Friday 30th
- 1 Wigeon
- 1 Pintail - imm/female on cell 1b was only the second sighting of the year
- 1 Hobby - access track at 8.10pm
- 1 Peregrine
- 3 Green Sandpiper
- 3 Common Tern
- 1 Tawny Owl - calling
- 40 Swift
Odonata: 17 Migrant Hawker, 3 Southern Hawker, report just received of a male LESSER EMPEROR on 17th August (Sarah and David Orwin per Darren Wozencroft) is the second sighting for Potteric
Other: 1 Wood Mouse
Derek Gaffney, Richard Scott, Andy Dalton, Adrian Andruchhiw, Darren Wozencroft
Stoat © Allen Holmes 2019
Thursday 29th
- 300 Lapwing - West Scrape
- 1 Greenshank - on West Scrape late afternoon
- 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - in a tit flock along the access track near the pumping station
Mark Roberts
Common Darters © Iain Macaulay 2019
Common Spreadwing (Emerald Damselfly) © Iain Macaulay 2019
Wednesday 28th (evening following a rainy afternoon)
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 4 Snipe - 2 on West Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
- 8 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 12 Swift
There were very few birds on Huxter Well Marsh in the evening, e.g. only 2 Lapwings, wildfowl numbers much reduced and no roosting gulls.
Richard Scott

Celypha lacunana © Derek Parker 2019

Blood-vein © Derek Parker 2019

Bordered Beauty © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Saturday Night 24th August
When we examined the trap on Sunday morning, there were plenty of moths and a good variety (60 species) but, disappointingly, there was really very little to get excited about, no new records or scarce species to report.
The most notable record was a single Tawny Speckled Pug. Not a rare species but, even so, this was the first reserve record for 19 years. The reason for the absence of records in the meantime could be because the foodplants – yarrow and sneezewort – are not particularly common in the vicinity of the trap site, although yarrow certainly occurs nearby.
Also trapped were 2 Swammerdamia species, S.caesiella and S.pyrella. Again, not rare but not recorded every year.
A single Bordered Beauty was certainly the most attractive species trapped.
Late August is, typically, a time when a reduced range of species is counterbalanced by good numbers of individuals of many of the more common species. For example, we recorded 30 Large Yellow Underwing, 17 Setaceous Hebrew Character and 16 Square-spot Rustic.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall
Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019
Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019
Tuesday 27th
- 6 Wigeon - one on the Lagoon and 5 on cell 1b
- 146 Gadwall
- 32 Pochard
- 16 Tufted Duck
- 7 Pheasant - 2 family parties
- 4 Bittern
- 4 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 5 Little Grebe
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - over Old Eaa
- 7 Water Rail
- 675 Lapwing
- 4 Green Sandpiper
- 2 Snipe
- 5 Common Tern - adult and 4 juvs
- 8 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Green Woodpecker
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 4 Jay
- 1 Goldcrest - singing
- 2 Coal Tit
- 7 Blackcap
- 5 Garden Warbler
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat
- 2 Whitethroat
- 40 Starling
- 2 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - one between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide and one at Willow Pool
- 1 Wheatear - flew from the SE corner of Central Grassland
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
- 9 Goldfinch – family parties at the butterfly garden
Butterflies: 8 Speckled Wood, 25 Red Admiral, 7 Painted Lady, 1 Meadow Brown, 2 Small Tortoiseshell, 1 Common Blue, 1 Comma, 1 Small Copper
Other: Stoat on the path between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide, Grass Snake, 8 Roe Deer
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Helen Womack, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Sue and Roger Bird, Chris Bell, Lynda Christou
Goat Moth caterpillar © Norman Clarkson 2019
Second Goat Moth Caterpillar Found at Potteric Carr
As a postscript to the recent blog report detailing the discovery on 15 August of a caterpillar of the very rare Goat Moth, I can now report that a second caterpillar was photographed on 24 August by Norman Clarkson. Like the first caterpillar, this second one was also spotted along the access track. It seems that we have a small colony established in the vicinity of the access track, which is excellent news for the reserve.
With luck (admittedly, a lot of luck!), we might be able to attract an adult to the moth trap in June or July of next year!
Ian Heppenstall
Mint Leaf Beetle © Allen Holmes 2019
Monday 26th
- 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 1 GARGANEY - cell 3b
- 1 Bittern - stood at the reed edge at cell 1b
- 1 Water Rail - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 615 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Black-tailed Godwit - 5 adults on cell 3b for a few minutes from 9.30am and an adult on cell 3b from noon.
- 7 Green Sandpiper - 5 on East Scrape and 2 on cell 3b
- 10 Snipe
- 4 Common Tern - adult and 3 juvs
- 3 Stock Dove
- 3 Swift
- 1 Green Woodpecker - Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Coal Tit - Iron Bridge
- 2 Sedge Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
- 1 SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - Cottage Drain near to the underbridge (AB)
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
Butterflies: 60 Red Admiral and 15 Painted Lady south-west, 1 Comma
Buffer Area - Stoven's Plantation and hedgerows
- 1 Goldcrest, 1 Willow Warbler, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 1 Nuthatch, 2 Treecreeper In a large mixed tit flock
2 Song Thrush an adult and a juvenile along the path
Richard Scott, Adrian Andruchiw, Andy Bell, Simon Mitchell, Katie Smith, Sue and Roger Bird, Sharon Knott
Lesser Whitethroat © Allen Holmes 2019
Garden Warbler © Allen Holmes 2019
Sunday 25th
- 1 Wigeon - cell 1b/West Scrape
- 1 GARGANEY - on cell 3b from early morning and still present early afternoon.
- 1 Marsh Harrier - male
- 3 Sparrowhawk - female with 2 juvs over Black Carr Field
- 1 Water Rail - West Scrape
- 1+ Curlew - heard over Piper Marsh shortly after 2 were reported flying east at the iPort
- 4 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
- 7 Snipe - 4 on West Scrape/Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Common Tern - including 2 juvs
- 2 Kingfisher
- 3 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 5 Jay - Loversall Pool
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 3 Willow Warbler - Black Carr Field
- 4 Blackcap
- 1 Garden Warbler - Big Hedge
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Big Hedge
- 3 Whitethroat
- 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - in Black Carr Field at 8am (RJS). Presumably not the same bird as yesterday.
- Song Thrush - one in Black Carr Wood and an adult with 3 juvs neat the VC
- 100+ mixed warblers and tits worked their way along Big Hedge between West Scrape and Mitchell Hide before heading south through the willow scrub in Central Grassland
Butterflies: 30 Red Admiral, 5 Painted Lady, 12 Common Blue (1 taken by Black-tailed Skimmer), 3 Small Tortoiseshell, 6 Large white, 5 Speckled Wood, 2 Small White, 2 Peacock
Other: freshly dead Hedgehog in Black Carr Field, 1 Grass Snake, 6 Roe Deer, 2 Mint Leaf Beetle
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Dave Carroll, Sue and Roger Bird, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson

Great Crested Newt eating a dragonfly © Darren Ward 2019
Spotted Flycatcher © Richard Scott 2019
Saturday 24th
- 1 GARGANEY - on West Scrape early morning (RJS)
- 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1+ Marsh Harrier - juvs at Huxter Well Marsh and Loversall Carr Fields
- 1 Hobby - in the dead oak from Duchess Hide
- 1 Water Rail - juv on cell 3b
- 1 Ruff - flew over West Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and West Scrape
- 1 Snipe - cell 1b
- 6 Common Tern - including 4 juvs
- 2 Kingfisher
- 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker
- 2 Willow Tit - Loversall Delph
- 3 Willow Warbler - including one singing
- 1 Lesser Whitethroat - Iron Bridge
- 1 Nuthatch - Loversall Triangle
- 3 Treecreeper
- 4+ SPOTTED FLYCATCHER - at least 2 next to the compound early morning and 2 next to the Mother Drain at Iron Bridge in the afternoon (RJS)
- 1 PIED FLYCATCHER - seen briefly in the copse at the back of Decoy Lake near the screen (DW)
- 3 Greenfinch
Other: several Red Admirals, Painted Lady, 10 Small Red-eyed Damselflies on Loverall Pool, male Black Darter at the square pond in Loversall Field (DW), Goat Moth caterpillar photographed on the access track (NC)
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Darren Wozencroft, Norman Clarkson, visitor reports

Goat Moth caterpillar © India Ashfield 2019
Caterpillar of Rare Moth Found Recently at Potteric Carr
On 15 August, 3 TNLs (Tomorrow's Natural Leaders) – India Ashfield, Rebecca Eyre and Jessica McMaster – found and photographed a large caterpillar on the access track. They tentatively identified it as a larva of the Goat Moth Cossus Cossus, an identification I was happy to confirm (see photograph).
The Goat Moth (so called because the larva is supposed to smell of goat) is a scarce and declining species nationally, a Nationally Notable and BAP Priority Species. It is also extremely rare and local in Yorkshire. The only recent Yorkshire records prior to the Potteric record are all from the Doncaster area, specifically Rossington and, more recently, Austerfield. So this Potteric record is an important discovery. Potteric Carr is a typical location for the Goat Moth, which seems to prefer low-lying wetland areas, such as the Fens or, otherwise, ancient woodland locations, especially the New Forest.
Goat Moth caterpillars feed within the trunks of various, usually deciduous, trees, with a preference for old and/or damaged trunks. Feeding continues for 3-4 years after which the full-grown larva will leave the trunk in search of a suitable place to pupate. The Potteric caterpillar will have been full-grown and seeking out a pupation site when discovered on the access track.
The Goat Moth tends to create colonies in the same location year after year, so it is quite likely that other examples of the species will be found here in future years.
Goat Moth is the 10th new Potteric Carr moth record, so far, in 2019, and a particularly important one.
Ian Heppenstall
Thursday 22nd
- 19 Mute Swan - including 7 young
- 1 Wigeon
- 130+ Gadwall - including 4 young
- 37 Teal
- 17 Shoveler
- 37 Pochard
- 10 Tufted Duck
- 12 Cormorant
- 1 Bittern - from Cottage Drain hide
- 5 Little Egret
- 12 Little Grebe
- 3 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juvenile on Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard - from Hawthorn Bank hide
- 1 Kestrel - hunting over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Hobby - present all morning sat in the dead oak and chasing dragonflies
- 580+ Lapwing
- 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
- 3 Curlew - briefly on cell 1b in the evening
- 3 Green Sandpiper - one on East Scrape 2 flitting between West Scrape and cell 3b
- 1 Snipe
- 5 Common Tern
- 1 Mediterranean Gull - juv moulting into 1st-winter with a pre-roost gathering of black-headed gulls on cell 1b
- 18 Lesser Black-backed Gull - cell 1b in the evening
- 70+ Swift - continuous movement SW
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - female
- 2 Jay
- 1 Coal Tit
- 3 Cetti's Warbler
- 15 Chiffchaff - included one singing along along Cottage Drain and 3 in a flock of Long-tailed Tit
- Blackcap - family party in front of Duchess Hide
- 1 Treecreeper - Loversall Delph
Other: Pygmy Shrew, Stoat
Sue and Roger Bird, David Beresford, Richard Scott

Grass Snake © Darren Ward 2019
Wednesday 21st
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 4 Great Crested Grebe - 2 adults and 2 juveniles on cell 1b
- 1 Marsh Harrier - cc
- 4 Buzzard - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Peregrine - 2 over Carr Lodge and Huxter Well March
- 2 Hobby - over Seven Arches Carr
- 4 Common Tern
- 20+ Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - cell 1b
- 10+ Long-Tailed Tit - flock
- 6 Sand Martin
- 2 House Martin
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - Piper Marsh and Huxter Well Marsh
Mark Roberts, Paul Paddock
Meadow Grasshopper © Keith Lynes 2019
Tuesday 20th
- 80+ Gadwall
- 60 Pochard
- 19 Tufted Duck - including 2 young
- 3 Little Egret - 2 on Huxter Well and one on Piper Marsh
- 9 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe - including 3 young
- 1 Marsh Harrier - a new female over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Sparrowhawk
- 6 Buzzard - 3 from Mitchell Hide included one with a white rump and 3 together on Loversall Carr Field
- 1 Water Rail - dashing over the access track from Mother Drain towards Old Eaa
- 350 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 2 Redshank - juveniles on cell 1b
- 4 Common Tern
- 80+ Swift - constant movement SW
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Beeston Plantation
- 1 Jay - calling Loversall Bank
- 100+ Sand Martin - continuous movement SW
- 2 Swallow
- 9 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 6 Chiffchaff - calling
- 5 Blackcap - feeding on the brambles
- 1 Treecreeper - Black Carr Wood
Butterflies: 1 Brown Argus, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Gatekeeper, 2 Common Blue, 3 Speckled Wood, 1 Small Tortoiseshell
Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Mick Bellas, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Helen Womack, Dave Harding, Geoff Chatterton, Tuesday Volunteers
Roe Deer © Allen Holmes 2019
Green Sandpiper © Allen Holmes 2019
Sunday 18th
- 11 Cormorant
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and juv
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 5 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 300 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Green Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 30 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 40 Sand Martin
Other: Grass Snake at the dipping pond
Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Darren Ward
Sparrowhawk © Allen Holmes 2019
Peregrine © Allen Holmes 2019
Saturday 17th
- 2 Marsh Harrier - 2+ cc over Huxter Well, 2 in the air together and 1 sparring with the Peregrine
- 1 Sparrowhawk - from Mitchell Hide
- 2 Hobby - chasing swifts and hirundines over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Peregrine - youngster causing havoc on Huxter Well, with several failed attempts to take something.
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
Others: Roe deer - Mum and fawn Central Grassland, Birch Shieldbug Elasmostethus interstinctus, Bishop's mitre shieldbug Aelia acuminate, Common green shieldbug Palomena prasina final instar several seen
Chris Elliot, Allen Holmes
Friday 16th
- 1 Wigeon - cell 3b
- 4 Little Egret
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - East Scrape
- 1 Common Sandpiper - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Snipe - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Common Tern - including 2 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
- 90 Swift - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Kingfisher
- 100 Sand Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Swallow - Huxter Well Marsh
- 110 House Martin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Cetti's Warbler
- 2 Treecreeper - Access Track and Loversall Delph
- 1 Pied Wagtail - over
Richard Scott
Thursday 15th
- 11 Mute Swan - including 5 young
- 67 Gadwall
- 16 Teal
- 26 Shoveler
- 67 Pochard
- 17 Tufted Duck
- 6 Cormorant
- 6 Little Egret
- 4 Grey Heron
- 10 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe
- 3 Marsh Harrier
- 3 Oystercatcher
- 4 Common Tern
- 8 Swift
- 2 Kingfisher
- 60+ Sand Martin
- 3 House Martin
- 1 Cetti's Warbler
- 5 Chiffchaff
- 1 Blackcap
- 5 Whitethroat - including a family group of 4 near filtration ponds
- 1 Reed Warbler
- 1 Treecreeper
- 2 Bullfinch
- 20+ Goldfinch - flock near VC
David Beresford
Tuesday 13th
- 150+ Gadwall
- 22 Teal
- 41 Pochard
- 27 Tufted Duck
- 3 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 7 Little Grebe
- 5 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, female and 2 juvs
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 3 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - from Tofield Hide
- 200+ Lapwing
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East and West Scrape
- 12 Common Tern
- 25 Swift - through
- 2 Kingfisher
- 5 Jay
- 10+ Great Tit - Loversall Bank
- 1 Willow Tit - Access Track
- 2 Marsh Tit - Loversall Bank
- 100+ Sand Martin - through
- 1 Swallow
- 50+ House Martin
- 1 Cetti's Warbler - Decoy Marsh
- 30+ Long-tailed Tit - Loversall Bank
- 5 Blackcap
- 1 Garden Warbler
- 6+ Whitethroat - singles at the Iron bridge and Tofield hide and a family party at Mitchell Hide
- 2 Reed Warbler
- 6 Treecreeper - Loversall Bank
- 1 Song Thrush - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Bullfinch
- 19 Goldfinch
Butterflies: 6 Painted Lady, 5 Speckled Wood, 1 Comma, 2 Meadow Brown, 1 Gatekeeper
Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Sue Bird, David Carroll, Philip Goucher, Doug Smith, Geoff Chatterton, David Harding, Helen Womack, Rob Burns, Chris Bell
Monday 12th
- 2 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male and 3 juveniles seen from Mitchell Hide
- 1 Sparrowhawk - hunting continually on Huxter Well Marsh causing chaos
- 2 Buzzard - seen from Mitchell Hide
- 1 Hobby - chasing a Swift over Huxter Well Marsh that managed to evade capture
- 1 Water Rail - calling on cell 3b
- 3 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
- 175 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Common Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 12 Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 35+ Swift - trickled through south
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - pumping station
- 3 Bearded Tit - very active juveniles seen from Mitchell Hide
- 36 House Martin - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Cetti's Warbler - singing
- 7 Chiffchaff - calling
- 2 Blackcap - calling
- 4 Reed Warbler
- 4 Bullfinch - between VC and dragonfly ponds
Butterflies: 3 Comma, 5 Gatekeeper, 1 Green-veined White, 2 Large White, 1 Peacock, 1 Red Admiral, 4 Speckled Wood
Moths: 1 Large Yellow Underwing
Other: 2 Roe Deer, 1 Frog, 1 Green Shieldbug
Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou, Derek Parker

Emperor Dragonfly © Gary Binder 2019
Sunday 11th
- 1 Bittern - flew from the Stilling Pond to Piper Marsh
- 2 Marsh Harrier - female and juv
- 3 Sparrowhawk - including a juv calling in Corbett Wood
- 6 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Green Sandpiper
- 12 Common Tern
- 5 Stock Dove
- 30 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher - Mother Drain
- 3 Jay
- 20 Sand Martin
Other: a Stoat crossed the path between East and West Scrape
Richard Scott, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Stuart Churchill
© Lynda Christou 2019
Saturday 10th
- 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and juv
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - chasing Common Terns in front of Hawthorn Bank Hide
- 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
- 16+ Common Tern
- 1 Yellow-legged Gull - adult south
- 1 Great Black-backed Gull - south
- c200 Swift - through
Other: Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) - near the VC
Richard Scott, Allen Holmes, Lynda Christou

Small Phoenix © Derek Parker 2019

The Crescent © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night 7th August
The night had been cooler than anticipated and, as a consequence, moth numbers were well down on recent trappings. A total of 57 species were counted and, really, there was little to get excited about.
The only highlight was the third reserve record of the Tortricid, Hedya ochroleucana, the larvae of which feed upon rose; also apple.
Other less frequently recorded species trapped on the night included Monopis weaverella, Cnephasia genitalana, Blastobasis lacticolella, Six-striped Rustic, Least Yellow Underwing and Brown-veined Wainscot.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont, Janet Heppenstall

Roe Deer © Gary Binder 2019
Friday 9th
- 48 Teal
- 1 Marsh Harrier - juv
- 1 Kestrel
- 2 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 1 Snipe - cell 3b
- 1 Kingfisher - cell 3b
- 1 Bearded Tit - near Mitchell Hide
Richard Scott
Small Red-eyed Damselfly © Allen Holmes 2019
Leef-cutter Bee sp © Richard Scott 2019
Thursday 8th
- 21 Mute Swan - including 9 young (4 and 5)
- 2 Greylag Geese
- 2 Canada Geese
- 1 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 130+ Gadwall - including 4 young
- 18 Teal
- 8 Shoveler
- 61 Pochard
- 31 Tufted Duck - including 2 young
- 7 Little Egret
- 6 Grey Heron
- 7 Little Grebe
- 6 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Sparrowhawk - high over Black carr Wood and a juv calling in Corbett Wood
- 3 Buzzard - from Duchess Hide
- 1 Peregrine
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 1b
- 1 Dunlin
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 16+ Common Tern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 500+ Black-headed Gull - feeding high over reserve, after flying ants
- 2 Swift
- 2 Kingfisher - from Hawthorn Bank Hide and Decoy Lake
- 2 Jay
- 1 Goldcrest
- 7 Chiffchaff - calling
- 2 Blackcap - calling in front of Duchess Hide
- 5 Reed Warbler
- 12 Starling - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Bullfinch - by the dipping ponds
Butterflies: 1 Silver-washed Fritillary
Odonata: 1 Small Red-eyed Damselfly
Other: 3 Roe Deer
Sue and Roger Bird, Mick Bellas, Lynda Christou, David Beresford, Allen Holmes
Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019
Dark Green Fritillary © Keith Lynes 2019
Tuesday 6th
- 1 Mandarin Duck - female-type on cell 1b
- 1 Wigeon - male on cell 1b
- 180+ Gadwall
- 34 Teal – cell 1b
- 45+ Pochard
- 28 Tufted - including one with 2 young
- 1 Bittern
- 2 Little Egret
- 3 Grey Heron
- 6 Little Grebe - including 2 young
- 2 Great Crested Grebe
- 2 Marsh Harrier - male and female
- 3 Sparrowhawk
- 2 Buzzard
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Peregrine - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 85+ Lapwing
- 1 Little Ringed Plover - cell 3b
- 2 Greenshank - cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b
- 15+ Common Tern
- 42 Swift - SW through the day
- 2 Kingfisher
- 8 Swallows - low over Central grassland
- 1 House Martin
- 2 Pied Wagtail
- 1 Greenfinch - near the VC
Butterflies: 1 Dark Green Fritillary (third record for Potteric), 6 Speckled Wood, 7 Painted Lady, 5 Gatekeeper, 3 Meadow Brown, 1 Common Blue, 2 Brimstone - females
Keith Lynes, Dave Carroll, Sue Bird, Mick Bellas, Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton, Richard Scott, visitor reports

Cinnamon Bug © Derek Parker 2019
Monday 5th
Butterflies: 15 Gatekeeper, 4 Large White, 1 Peacock, 2 Speckled Wood, 3 Ringlet
Others: 1 Cinnamon Bug (second record for Potteric), 3 7-spot ladybird, 1 Twin Lobed Deerfly, 1 Green Shieldbug (4th Instar), 1 Wolf Spider with egg sac, 1 Roe Deer
Derek Parker
Common Blue © Lynda Christou 2019
Sunday 4th WeBS Count
- 85 Mallard
- 84 Gadwall
- 2 Wigeon
- 1 Goldeneye (female)
- 152 Coot
- 55 Pochard
- 31 Tufted Duck
- 9 Little Egret
- 8 Grey Heron
- 12 Cormorant
- 25 Common Tern
- 5 Water Rail
- 510 Lapwing
- 2 Green Sandpiper
- 1 Dunlin
- 1 Oystercatcher
Mark Roberts
Sunday 4th
- 3 Wigeon - 2 on the Lagoon and one on cell 2a
- 1 Goldeneye - female on cell 1b
- 39 Cormorant - a flock of 34 NW and 5 on Huxter Well Marsh
- 5 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 7 Grey Heron - Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Marsh Harrier - male, cc and 2 juveniles
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 3 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Oystercatcher - West Scrape
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- c25 Common Tern
- 60 Swift - through
- 1+ Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh and Piper Marsh
- 2 Bearded Tit - calling near East Scrape and Mitchell Hide
- 1 Yellow Wagtail - over
- 4 Pied Wagtail - over
- 2 Greenfinch - St Caths Field
Other: 2 young Stoats at Loversall Delph
Richard Scott, Mark Roberts, Sue and Roger Bird, Jenny Kingsland, Sue Cullen, Sue Richardson, Lynda Christou, Chris Cull
Saturday 3rd
- 2 GARGANEY - on the island at the back of cell 1b
- 1 Bittern - seen from Mitchell Hide
- 6 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen at Decoy Lake and Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and cc (juv not seen)
- 2 Hobby - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Water Rail - calling at East Scrape
- 2 Green Sandpiper - cell 3b and East Scrape
- 23+ Common Tern
- 2 Stock Dove - over
- 105 Swift - through
- 1 Kingfisher
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
Richard Scott, Helen Womack, Adrian Andruchiw, Tina Langford
male Banded Demoiselle © Iain Macaulay 2019
Friday 2nd
- 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen from Duchess Hide
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Kestrel
- 1 Water Rail - calling at East Scrape
- Moorhen - 6 small young on cell 2a
- 1 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 1 Green Sandpiper - West Scrape
- 20+ Common Tern
- 1 Kingfisher - Huxter Well Marsh
Richard Scott, Andy Dalton
Holly Blue © Lynda Christou 2019
Peacock © Lynda Christou 2019
Thursday 1st
- 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
- Tufted Duck - female and 3 small young on cell 1b
- 2 Bittern - sat on the reed edge on cell 1b and one flew to the reeds at Decoy Lake
- 6 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - Lagoon
- Little Grebe - adult with 2 small young from the Tofield Hide
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and a juvenile seen from Mitchell Hide
- 2 Buzzard
- Moorhen - pair with a small young on cell 2a
- 475 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape and cell 3b
- 21 Common Tern -including at least 9 juveniles on Huxter Well Marsh
- 2 Sand Martin - over East Scrape
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling at East Scrape
Butterflies: 17 Painted Lady, 11 Peacock, 1 Holly Blue
Sue and Roger Bird, Lynda Christou,Chris Bell
July 2019
Wednesday 31st
- 1 Bittern
- 6 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - seen briefly on cell 3a
- 6 Grey Heron
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 2 Sparrowhawk
- 1 Curlew - calling over the Education Centre at 9.50am
- 3 Dunlin - on cell 1b in the evening
- 2 Common Sandpiper - cell 1b
- 20+ Common Tern
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
- 2 Reed Warbler
Other: 2 Stoats on the path between West Scrape and Mitchell Hides
Paul Paddock, Mark Roberts, Richard Scott

Painted Lady © Adrian Andruchiw 2019
Tuesday 30th
- 2 Shelduck - juvs flew over the Lagoon
- 4 Wigeon - Lagoon/cell 1b
- 180+ Gadwall
- 2 GARGANEY - East Scrape
- 21 Tufted Duck - also a female with 4 small young on cell 1b. Reduced to 3 young when a passing Herring Gull dropped in for a snack.
- 2 Bittern - Huxter Well Marsh
- 9 Little Egret
- 1 GREAT WHITE EGRET - on Huxter Well Marsh favouring cell 3a
- 6 Grey Heron
- 4 Great Crested Grebe - including 2 young
- 3 Marsh Harrier - male, female and juvenile
- 2 Sparrowhawk - also young calling in Corbett Wood
- 3 Buzzard
- 2 Kestrel
- 1 Hobby - in the dead oak near Duchess Hide
- 1 Water Rail - cell 2a
- 2 Oystercatcher
- 283 Lapwing - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Ringed Plover - cell 1b
- 1 Dunlin - cell 1b
- 3 Common Sandpiper - West Scrape/cell 3b
- 6 Green Sandpiper - East Scrape
- 1 Greenshank - cell 1b/West Scrape
- 23 Common Tern - including 9 juvs
- 3 Stock Dove - over
- 30 Swift
- 1 Kingfisher
- 2 Green Woodpecker - Iron Bridge and Hawthorn Bank
- 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker - Willow Bank
- 1 Jay
- 6 Bearded Tit - one heard calling from East Scrape screen and 5 seen from Mitchell Hide
- 3 Blackcap - juvs
- 1 Song Thrush - singing
- 3 Linnet - flew from Big Hedge
Butterflies: count of 1 Holly Blue, 1 Common Blue, 20+ Peacock, 6 Meadow Brown, 14 Speckled Wood, 8 Painted Lady, 5 Gatekeeper. On the buddleia patch in the VC car park were 15 Peacock, 1 Painted Lady, 1 Comma and 2 Gatekeeper. There was a westerly movement of Peacocks.
Other: a Grass Snake swam across cell 1b
Richard Scott, Gary Dyson, Andy Dalton, Sue Bird, Dave Carroll, Keith Lynes, Michael Bird, Mick Bellas

Common Tern © Rob Burns 2019
Monday 29th
- 4 Gadwall - female and 3 small young
- 30+ Mallard - cell 3a
- 6 Little Egret
- Little Grebe - 2 adults with 3 young on cell 3a. Pair with 3 young on the Lagoon
- 50+ Lapwing
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
- 1 Dunlin - Huxter Well Marsh
- 3 Common Sandpiper - 2 on West Scrape and one on Old Eaa Marsh
- 15 Common Tern - including 3 juvs at Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Greenfinch - heard near main entrance gate
Butterflies: included 2 Red Admiral, Common Blue and 4 Painted Lady, 7 Peacock
Rob Burns, Mark Roberts, Adrian Adrian Andruchiw, Dave Carroll

Slender Brindle © Derek Parker 2019

Argyresthia goedartella © Derek Parker 2019

Blastobasis adustella © Derek Parker 2019
Moth Trapping Report for Wednesday Night, 24th July
The hot weather meant the trap was, once again, heaving with moths. There were almost too many, as it was impossible to record them without a good many escaping unidentified.
108 recorded species is the highest total so far this year, although well below the highest ever 142 species trapped on 23 July, 2016.
The most significant discovery this time was a single example of Psoricoptera gibbosella, an oak-feeding Gelechiid. Only the 5th Yorkshire and 2nd VC63 record, this is a notable find. Plus, it is, of course, an addition to the Potteric Carr moth fauna.
There was nothing else of this calibre trapped on Wednesday night but the big reed-feeding Pyralid, Schoenobius gigantella, a regionally very scarce and local species, was recorded once again. Other, less common, species included Recurvaria leucatella, Digitivalva pulicariae, Monopis weaverella, Slender Brindle, Double Lobed and Least Yellow Underwing.
Ian Heppenstall, Harry Beaumont and Janet Heppenstall
Roe Deer © Matthew Christou 2019
Sunday 28th
- 3 Wigeon - Lagoon
- 2 GARGANEY - Piper Marsh
- 1 Bittern - Piper Marsh
- 7 Little Egret - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Marsh Harrier
- 1 Peregrine - adult plucking a Black-headed Gull on the island on cell 1b
- 4 Water Rail - Huxter Well Marsh
- 1 Oystercatcher - cell 1b
- 3 Ringed Plover - one on cell 3b and 2 on cell 1b
- 3 Little Ringed Plover - 2 adults on cell 3b and a juv on cell 1b
- 1 Black-tailed Godwit - cell 3b
- 1 Dunlin - cell 3b
- 1 Common sandpiper - cell 3b
- 3 Green Sandpiper - one on cell 3b and 2 on East Scrape
- 1 Snipe - cell 3b
- 16 Common Tern - including 3 juvs on Huxter Well Marsh
- 4 Common Gull - through
- 2 Collared Dove - over Huxter Well Marsh
- 1+ Kingfisher
- 1 Bearded Tit - calling near Mitchell Hide
Richard Scott, Ian and Janet Heppenstall