Wombwell Garden 31st Oct

09.30 - 11.00 / Overcast, Blustery W
Lesser Black-backed Gull 4 W, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1
Red Admiral 1


Fungi sp

As you can see not a lot about, maybe the forecasted cold spell will bring the birds in :)

Two Gardens 30th Oct

WOMBWELL : 09.30 - 11.00 / Sunny, Light SW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Nuthatch 1
Common Darter 2
Comma 1, Red Admiral 1
Red-green Carpet 1, November Moth 1, Satellite 1, Blair`s Shoulder-knot 1

Common Darter


Comma




Satellite


Hoverfly & Michaelmas Daisy


NETHER HAUGH : 12.00 - 14.00 / Sunny, Blustery SW
Common Buzzard 1, Sparrowhawk 1, Long-tailed Tit 9+, Bullfinch 1 calling
Comma 1, Peacock 1, Red Admiral 2, Speckled Wood 2

Red Admiral


With cold Northerly winds forecast for the rest of this week, i can`t imagine many more insect days :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

My Garden 30th Oct

06.30 - 08.00 / Patchy Cloud, Light SW



Woodpigeon a flock of around 200 birds S at 07.30, Green Woodpecker* 1 low S at 06.55 was either my 3rd or 4th record of this species from the garden in nine & half years.
( Garden Bird Year List 68 )

And i`ll finish off with a digiscoped shot of tonights half`ish moon ;

Garden Wildlife 29th Oct

06.30 - 08.30 / Clear-Bright, Light NW
Black-headed Gull 100+ over, Woodpigeon circa 150 S, Redwing - just a few flying S, also my feeding station is starting to pull in something other than Collared Doves & Starlings, with 2 Dunnock, 1 Robin & 2 Greenfinch.

12.20 - 17.00 / Sunny, Light NW
Long-tailed Tit 10, Starling 50+ feeding on apples & pears
Small Tortoiseshell 1, Peacock 1



There`s been a lot of Fieldfares reported locally, but i`ve not managed to connect with a single one yet over my garden this year at all. Maybe this week :)

The Garden 28th Oct

07.30 - 09.30 / Patchy Low Cloud, Light SW
Sparrowhawk 1 female low SW, Redwing 33 over, 22 of which landed along the back hedge briefly before being flushed by a B****** moggy.
Nothing at all from 12.00 onwards apart from a miserable overcast sky.

It`s that time of year when the clocks go back 1 hour. I don`t know where they get it from that you get an extra hour in bed this morning ( Sunday ). I went to bed last night and this morning my body clock told me it was time to get up as usual, at 05.00 of all bloody hours. So whoever mentions that extra hour can damn well stick it where the sun does`nt shine.

Twitching

I went out twitching this morning, not for birds but for a particular fungi of all things. A good friend of mine, Mike Richardson & his wife were in a local woodland the other day, one they watch throughout the year.
I must apologise to Mike`s wife cos i can`t remember her name, anyway, she found a small group of Birds Nest Fungus. How on earth she spotted these is beyond me, as the size of them is absolutely remarkable in that they are only about 5mm across.
Mike picked me up this morning to take me to see & photograph them, which by their very small size is a feat in itself.
From these 2 record shots, you can see how it got it`s name, but personally i think they look like Yorkshire Puddings filled with New Potato`s ;





Just like to say thanks to Mike for going out of his way to show me these, plus once again Mother Nature never fails to impress me with her creations, no matter how small. Small being the operative word :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Friday 27th Oct

WOMBWELL : 09.00 - 10.00 / Patchy Cloud, Light SW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Redwing ( several small flocks over ), Jackdaw - a flock of 27 W
Blastobasis decolorella* 1, JUNIPER CARPET** 1, November Moth 1, Feathered Thorn 1


Blastobasis decolorella

The Juniper Carpet was my first ever, unfortunately it escaped while trying to pot it up, B******.
Amendment to moth lists - Moth Year list* 252 & Macro Life List** 299. The reason being, that i forgot to add Oak Eggar to both lists from earlier in the year ;


Oak Eggar

TRANS-PENNINE TRAIL : Hemingfield > Brampton Bierlow / 10.20 - 10.55, Overcast, Light SW
Redwing circa 70 S, Willow Tit 1, Redpoll 3 ( my first of the Autumn ), Bullfinch 2

Spent the afternoon at home, where the only thing of note was a flock of 23 Lapwing flying E.

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Thursday 26th Oct

Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Strong > Gusty W/SW
WOMBWELL : 08.00 - 09.30



Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Redwing circa 200 S
Fly Agaric - several



CORTONWOOD : 11.00 - 11.55
Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Tufted Duck 18, Grey Wagtail 1, Redwing 29 S, Willow Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 10+, Bullfinch 1 calling.

And nothing from my garden from 12.00 onwards apart from an handful of feeding Starlings ;

Tuesday 24th Oct

Sunny, Light W

WOMBWELL GARDEN : 09.30 - 10.30
Nuthatch 1
Red Admiral 8

CORTONWOOD : 11.00 - 12.40
Little Grebe 1, Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Teal 2, Tufted Duck 14, Kestrel 1, Skylark 1, Willow Tit 1
Common Hawker 1, Common Darter 8
Holly Blue 1, Speckled Wood 1


Mute Swans


Holly Blue - a very late & very fresh looking specimen


Speckled Wood

A return visit here between 17.00 - 18.00 produced a couple of other sightings ;
Sparrowhawk 2, Meadow Pipit 11, Pied Wagtail 30 +, Reed Bunting 1

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Two Gardens 23rd Oct

WOMBWELL : 10.00 - 11.00 / Patchy Cloud, Light S/SW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Skylark 1 S, Redwing 8
Red Admiral 3





November Moth 1, Red-green Carpet 1 ( below ) ;



NETHER HAUGH : 12.00 - 14.00 / Sunny becoming Overcast, Light S/SW
Pink-footed Goose 19 W at 13.30, Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 1, Little Owl 1 calling, Grey Wagtail 1, Goldcrest 1+, Long-tailed Tit circa 20, Willow Tit 1, Tree Sparrow 1
Red Admiral 1

Chanterelle type things




Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 22nd Oct

07.30 - 18.00 / Patchy Cloud, becoming Overcast with Heavy Rain, Blustery W/SW easing pm.



Sparrowhawk 1, Redwing 3 S, Starling circa 200





Red Admiral 1 ( feeding on banana )



Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 21st Oct

07.30 - 10.00 / Patchy Cloud, Light S/SW



Goosander 1 redhead E at 08.20, Sparrowhawk 1 W, Woodpigeon circa 90 S/SW, Redwing 12 S

11.20 - 18.00 / Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Light S/SW
Long-tailed Tit 2+
Red Admiral 2

Cortonwood 21st Oct

10.10 - 11.15 / Patchy Cloud, Light S/SW
Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 210, Teal 1 male, Tufted Duck 8, Kingfisher 1, Tree Sparrow 10+, Yellowhammer 5 W

I wish i`d taken my scope along, especially as the Kingfisher was seen at close range perched on a fence post by the waters edge ( just my luck ). In fact the only pic from this morning was of these Dogwood berries ;



Note to self, " must take scope with me on all future visits " :)

Wombwell Garden 20th Oct

09.30 - 11.00 / Sunny, Light S/SW
Treecreeper 1
Red Admiral 5
November Moth 1, Streak 1
+ a couple of Fungi pics ;


Wood Blewit ( what a cracking colour )


Coprinus sp

Seemed very strange that both Great Spotted Woodpecker & Nuthatch were not seen or heard this morning :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Links

Till i get the links bit of this blog sorted out ( for reasons unknown to me, it`s decided to drop to the bottom of the page ) here`s a couple of blogs that`s well worth a visit ;
www.greenwithens.blogspot.com
A diary of one lads wildlife/bird sightings from one of the most desolate habitats there is. A truly inspirational piece of work for all of us local patchers.

www.calderbirds.blogspot.com
An excellent blog from a group of birders from the west of gods own country.

www.newhythe.blogspot.com
Another great blog from yet another patcher who`s sightings are from the New Hythe area of Kent.

Go on, check em out.

Two Gardens 18th Oct

WOMBWELL : 09.30 - 11.30 / Sunny, Light S
Moth Trap first ;
Caloptilia betulicola* 1, November Moth 20, Feathered Thorn 3, Turnip Moth 1, Barred Sallow 1, Chestnut 2, Yellow-line Quaker 2


Caloptilia betulicola ( Moth Year List* 249 )

Other stuff seen ;
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Nuthatch 2
Common Darter 1
Peacock 1, Red Admiral 3
+ a couple of pics ;


Toadlet


Coprinus sp


Autumn Leaf

NETHER HAUGH : 12.30 - 14.30 / Hazy Sunshine, Light S
Golden Plover 1 E, Little Owl 1 calling, Skylark 20+ over, Grey Wagtail 1 W, Redwing 12 S, Goldcrest 2, Tree Sparrow 3
Common Darter 1
Comma 1, Red Admiral 1


Greenfinch ( my first digiscoped shot of this species )

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Brampton Bierlow 17th Oct

A day of thick fog ( in fact i don`t think it ever felt as though it got light ) did`nt provide many sightings of anything. The only significant records were, what sounded like a good number of House Sparrows chirruping away in the back hedge of my garden. The short walk to pick my eldest daughter up from school this afternoon produced a flock of at least 70 Goldfinch around Pontefract Road and a pre-roost gathering of around 300 Starlings over Brampton Road.
Hopefully the weather along with the birds picks up pretty soon, could`nt care less which way the wind blows from as long as it shifts this bloody fog.

Nearly 250

With overnight rain & thick fog, i was`nt expecting much in the moth trap at the Wombwell garden. How wrong i was, with quite a decent haul including 4 year ticks* - full catch ;

Red-green Carpet 2, Mottled Umber* 1, November Moth 16, Feathered Thorn 1, Streak* 1, Silver Y 1, Setaceous Hebrew Character 1, Blair`s Shoulder-knot 2, Chestnut 4, Angle Shades 2, Yellow-line Quaker 3, Red-line Quaker* 1, Green-brindled Crescent* 1

Mottled Umber


Streak ( not my best attempt at photography for some unknown reason )


Red-line Quaker


Green-brindled Crescent


( Moth Year List 248 ). The trap`s all ready for tonight :)

Wombwell Garden 16th Oct

Highlights ;
11.30 - 13.00 / Overcast, Light E
Redwing 9, Yellowhammer 1 S
Red Admiral 2
Red-green Carpet 2, Spruce Carpet 1, November Moth 4, Feathered Thorn 2

Feathered Thorn(s)




Running my 125w MV here for the next 3 nights in the hope of boosting my moth year list. Lets see, what possibilities are left, erm!! : Red-line Quaker, Mottled Umber, Streak, Red-sword Grass, Brick + the cream of the crop would be Merveille du Jour, as i`ve only ever recorded this stunning species once.

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 16th Oct

Once again very little from the garden, the one saving grace came this morning when several flocks of Wigeon ( totalling around 100 birds ) flew E between 07.50 > 07.54. The garden bird year list creeps up to 66.

Garden Wildlife 15th Oct

Highlights ;
07.00 - 08.30 / Overcast, Light E
Song Thrush 3 E at 08.30 were more than likely to have been migrant birds, Magpie 4 ;

1 for sorrow


2 for joy ( you know the rest )


Nothing at all from the 2nd half of the day, totally birdless :)

Cortonwood 15th Oct

08.40 - 09.50 / Overcast, Light E
Not as productive as the previous few visits, with very little of interest recorded ;
Cormorant 1 N, Mute Swan 2, Tufted Duck 14, Skylark 4, Tree Sparrow 10+, Reed Bunting 1






Pheasant ( tail feather )


Angle Shades


" dribbling " Common Ink Cap


No, not dog sick but the fungi Mucilago crustacea

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 14th Oct

Again, not many highlights but i did add another species to the garden bird year list* ( 65 ):
06.45 - 12.00 / Mist, Light SE
Redwing - several over ( identified by contact calls ), Reed Bunting* 1 E at 09.20

14.00 - 18.00 / Bright Spells, Light SE
Lesser Black-backed Gull 7 SW
Red Admiral 1

Garden Wildlife 13th Oct

Highlights ;
11.30 - 18.50 / Foggy, Sunny mid-afternoon, Light S/SE
Not a lot apart from a skein of Pink-footed Geese* ( heard ) over at 11.35 and a single Red Admiral during the afternoon.
*Garden Bird Year List 64.

Trans-Pennine Trail 13th Oct

10.45 - 11.25 / Foggy, Light S/SE
A short walk from Hemingfield to Brampton Bierlow did`nt produce any sightings till i reached Cortonwood, where the highlights were ;
Grey Wagtail 1, Jay 2
+ a couple of Fungi species

Common Ink Cap


Fly Agaric


Collared Earthstar




Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Wombwell Garden 13th Oct

Highlights ;
09.30 - 10.30 / Sunny, Light S/SE
Just leps from this hour - Red Admiral 8
Red-green Carpet 2, November Moth 3, Feathered Thorn* 1, Silver Y 1 ( Moth Year List* 244 )


Feathered Thorn

A couple of nights trapping with the 125w MV here next week will hopefully boost the year list :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Wombwell Garden 12th Oct

Highlights ;
10.00 - 11.00 / Sunny, Light SW
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Swallow 4 S, Skylark 1 SE, Grey Wagtail 1 E, Redwing 19 SW, Nuthatch 1, Jay 3
Holly Blue 1, Comma 1, Red Admiral 16, Painted Lady 1
Spruce Carpet 1, November Moth* 1 ( Moth Year List 243 )

Holly Blue




Comma


Red Admiral


November Moth




All in all, not bad for an hours visit :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 12th Oct

Looking East at 07.15


Highlights ;
06.50 - 08.30 / Clear, Light SW
Cormorant 1 S, Canada Goose circa 100 SW, Redwing 4 SW at 07.35 ( not only my first of the Autumn, but my first of 2006 after missing out earlier in the year. Garden Bird Year List 63 )

11.30 - 18.45 / Sunny, Light SW
Collared Dove 7, Pied Wagtail 10 W at dusk, Long-tailed Tit 9, Magpie 5
Common Darter 1
Red Admiral 3

Collared Doves ( digi-scoped )






No news on the American Golden Plover today at Old Moor RSPB :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Wombwell Garden 11th Oct

Highlights ;
09.30 - 11.00 / Overcast, Light SE
Nuthatch 1
Red Admiral 8 ( an excellent count considering the unfavourable weather conditions ), Speckled Wood 1 larva





*Stop Press* - An American Golden Plover as turned up at nearby Old Moor today. I`ve not been to see it yet, due to a combination of not feeling too well + we`ve had persistant rain here since mid-day. I`m not one for twitching, but if it`s on the doorstep ( well a 5 minute walk away is virtually on the doorstep ) i may drag myself down to see it, if it`s still around over the next few days. " note to self ", there`s no need to sound too enthusiastic.
Edit : I have seen 2 there before.

Two Gardens 10th Oct

WOMBWELL ;
09.30 - 11.00 / Overcast, Mist, Light SE
Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Nuthatch 1
Red Admiral 1


Sweet Chestnut


Fungi sp

NETHER HAUGH ;
12.30 - 14.30 / Mist-Fog, Light SE
Sparrowhawk 1, Kestrel 1, Little Owl 1 calling, Red-legged Partridge 3, Collared Dove 29, Goldcrest 2, Willow Tit 1, Long-tailed Tit 8, Tree Sparrow 3+
Red Admiral 1

Nice to see a comparison between a woodland garden ( Wombwell ) and one that is surrounded by farmland :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 9th Oct

Back to ( crappy ) normal - highlights ;
10.30 - 18.50 / Overcast, Rain, Sunny pm, Light SW
Sparrowhawk 2 together over to E, Collared Dove 6, Blackbird 9
Common Darter 1
Red Admiral 3

Garden Wildlife 8th Oct

Slightly better highlights than previous days :
06.50 - 08.55 / Cloudy, Light S
Cormorant 1 W, Sparrowhawk - a female soaring high overhead suddenly stooped and caught a passing Meadow Pipit, Skylark 6 S, Meadow Pipit 20+ S, Tree Sparrow* 1 W. ( *Garden Bird Year List 63 )

10.25 - 18.45 / Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Light S
Sparrowhawk - male made a failed attempt at a Collared Dove, Pied Wagtail flock of 18 birds W at Dusk, Goldfinch - a flock of 19 landed briefly before heading off N
Red Admiral 3 ( 1 tatty individual, below ) ;



Still no sound of any Redwings after dark, maybe tonight ( Monday ):

Cortonwood 8th Oct

09.05 - 10.20 / Cloudy, Light S
Just over an hour around my local patch was much more pleasurable than yesterdays hour spent at Old Moor. Although the birds species were`nt as good, personally you can`t beat finding your own birds away from the reserves, no matter how common. Highlights ;
Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Teal 1 female ( this 1 bird was worth a hundred on any reserve. If you get my meaning. ), Tufted Duck 23, Ruddy Duck 2, Grey Partridge 11, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 W, Skylark 1, Swallow 1 SW, Tree Sparrow 10+, Bullfinch 1 male.
Also a few fungi, but these 2 were the most photogenic ;

?


Shaggy Inkcaps




Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 7th Oct

The lull continues ;
06.45 - 09.50 / Clear, Sunny, Gusty W/NW
Collared Dove 6

11.15 - 19.00 / Sunny, Gusty W
Sparrowhawk 1 E, Collared Dove 10, Meadow Pipit 5 S
Red Admiral 1

SHINE ON, SHINE ON HARVEST MOON ;

Old Moor RSPB 7th Oct

09.55 - 11.10 / Sunny, Gusty W/NW
Spent just over an hour at the Dearne Valley Reserve, and believe me this was long enough. Don`t know what it is exactly but there`s something that does`nt seem to get me motivated with reserves like these. I`m not dissing the fine work of the RSPB but why do these sites always attract loads of people carrying/using the most expensive optics there is, only to view and discuss between each other the Mute Swans, Coots & Moorhens. Surely, with these fine optics you`d think they would put them to better use, or is birding becoming a fashion conscious pastime. Anyway, after i`ve just stirred up the pro-verbial hornets nest here`s the highlights ;

Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 1, Cormorant 19, Mute Swan 14, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Wigeon, Tufted Duck, Ruddy Duck ( no counts were made ), Golden Plover 1000+, Lapwing ( loads ), House Martin 4 SW, Tree Sparrow - more were heard than seen.

Garden Wildlife 6th Oct

Highlights ;
06.45 - 19.00 / Cloudy, Showers, Sunny Spells, Light SW
Another horrible day weatherwise, with all too frequent heavy showers during the morning. The sun finally broke through mid-afternoon before clouding over again by early evening. This bright spell provided the only sightings of note, with 11 Collared Doves in the garden & a single Red Admiral feeding on discarded apples.

Regards the weather, i saw the local ( Yorkshire ) long range forecast the other day, and according to the met office the 1st half of winter is going to be very mild but wet, in total contrast to the 2nd half where we will experience much colder conditions than we have become used to over recent years.

Garden Wildlife ( not ) 5th Oct

06.45 - 08.30 / Patchy Cloud, Light S
The most interesting thing noted from the garden during the morning period was the sunrise, it started off well ;



and just got better ;



10.00 - 17.00 / Overcast, Rain, Light S turning SW
A truly abysmal day with constant rain and as a result no birdlife was observed passing over and the only thing to visit the garden was a group of 6 Collared Doves.

Can it get any worse:)

Yellowhammer ( update )

The ringing details of the dead Yellowhammer that i found on the Dearne Valley Parkway, Hemingfield on 4th Aug 06 arrived today courtesy of the BTO ( British Trust for Ornithology ). It was rung nearby at Broomhill Flash ( a distance of 3km ) on 22nd Feb 03 as a 1+ year bird.
Not 100% sure, but this bird was obviously wintering in the Broomhill area ( for its first winter at least ) before moving the short distance of 3km for breeding.

Garden Wildlife 4th Oct

Highlights ;
06.45 - 08.30 / Clear, Sunny, Light W
Cormorant 1 SE


Carrion Crow at first light

12.00 - 18.00 / Sunny, Patchy Cloud, Light W
Red Admiral 3

I kept nipping out into the garden after dark to listen for Redwings passing over, none were heard, but they`ll be here any day soon :)

Cortonwood 4th Oct

Highlights ;
18.10 - 19.00 / Clear, Light W
Paid a late visit to this area in the hope of getting a decent sunset, should have known better as it was a bit too clear. Anyway, i checked the birdlife on & around the lake. Apart from the usual Mute Swan 2, Tufted Duck 7 & Ruddy Duck 3, there were around 250 Canada Geese, a female Teal was on the island & between 18.30 - 18.35 at least 60 Pied Wagtails flew into roost.


Teasels at dusk

Wombwell Garden 4th Oct

Highlights ;
08.00 - 11.15 / Sunny, Light W
Nuthatch 1, Jay 3
Red Admiral 12

As you can see not a lot about at the moment, but the aberrant Red Admiral was still present ;



Roll on the winter Thrush`s & fly-over ( wild ) Geese :)

Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z

Garden Wildlife 3rd Oct

Highlights ;
06.45 - 08.30 / Cloudy, Light to Blustery W/NW
Siskin 1 NE

11.30 - 19.00 / Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Showers, Light W/NW
Canada Goose circa 400 E at dusk ( they may have only been Canada`s but nevertheless it was an impressive sight to see them going over to roost ), Green Sandpiper 1 S at 12.55, Skylark 1 N
Common Darter 1
Red Admiral 2

Wombwell Garden 3rd Oct

Highlights ;
09.30 - 11.00 / Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Light W/NW
Canada Goose circa 200 E
Peacock 1, Red Admiral 14
Red-green Carpet 1, Pink-barred Sallow 1

Red Admirals




& another aberrant specimen ( that`s 2 in the space of a week, i wonder how many of these variants go un-noticed )


Copyright Dean Stables
Olympus C5000Z