Wednesday 31st Jan 2007

Overcast, Blustery W
Not done a great deal today, however i did add 2 species to a couple of my year lists. Firstly, i added Lapwing to the Cortonwood year list, with a flock of circa 40 flying E over the Retail Park this morning.
I had an hour at the Nether Haugh garden this afternoon, where the only highlight was 3 Common Buzzards together overhead.

Collared Dove


And last but not least was my first butterfly of the year. This Small Tortoiseshell was found by my other half at her place of work. She thought it would be better off over-wintering in our garden shed rather than being left in a classroom full of teenagers. Of course i had to take the obligatory pics ( paintings ) before it was put in a safe place ;





Year Lists update ;
Cortonwood - 47
Butterflies - 1

Copyright Dean Stables

Tuesday 30th Jan 2007

Sunny, Light W
2 year ticks from the Wombwell garden this morning, with 4 Skylark heading NW and a single Pale Brindled Beauty ( moth ). Other highlights ;
Woodpigeon circa 600 NW, Great Spotted Woodpecker 4, Song Thrush 1, Stock Dove 2, Jay 1, Fieldfare 14, Nuthatch 1.
Episyrphus balteatus - several ;


Pale Brindled Beauty


Episyrphus balteatus

Decided against Cortonwood on the way home and chose to walk along the canal instead. No year ticks from here but i did have a pair of Goosander ( my first ever on this stretch of water ) and a pair of Mute Swans have turned up in the area of previous nest sites. Other highlights were - Redwing circa 50 & a singing skylark.

Year Lists updates ;
Wombwell Garden - 33
Moths - 3

Copyright Dean Stables

Monday 29th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Light NW
It was good to get out today after spending all of yesterday at home. My first port of call was to the Wombwell garden where the highlights were ;
Woodpigeon circa 500 NW, Great Spotted Woodpecker 3 ( 2 drumming ), Song Thrush 1, Redwing 50 NW, Jay 2, Goldfinch 24.
No wildlife pics from here but here`s a few miscellaneous ones ;


Sunrise


Christmas Rose


Rhododendren


Larch cones


Woodpigeon ( tail feather )

Then it was off to Cortonwood where i added Kingfisher to the site year list. Other highlights ;
Song Thrush 1, Yellowhammer 2, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 2, Tufted Duck 14, Pochard 6 ( 4 drakes ), Reed Bunting 1, Common Gull 3, Black-headed Gull 74, Grey Heron 1, Tree Sparrow several.
Nothing at all from my garden with just the usual culprits.


Collared Dove


Blackbird

Cortonwood Year List - 46

Copyright Dean Stables

Sunday 28th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Blustery W
I`ve not been anywhere today, had a few jobs to do around the house. So as a result nothing much to report, with 5 Goosander W & a Sparrowhawk E being the best birds from my garden.


Jackdaw - 1 of 2 that have been hanging around recently.


Clematis cirrhosa " Freckles " - nothing unusual, as it
flowers from December - February.

Copyright Dean Stables

Saturday 27th Jan 2007

Sunny am, Patchy Cloud pm, Light NW
Went to the Wentworth Estate this morning where i saw my first Green Woodpeckers ( 2 ) of the year. Other highlights from here were ;
Grey Heron 23 ( 10 birds in Heronry ), Fieldfare 10, Great Crested Grebe 3, Tufted Duck 4, Red-legged Partridge 3, Nuthatch 1, Cormorant 1, Kestrel 1, Brown Hare 1 ;

Grey Heron - at nest site


The rest of the day was spent at home where the only highlights were ;
Cormorant 1 E, Robin 2, Sparrowhawk 1 W, Kestrel 1 over to E.

Afternoon Moon


Local Area Bird Year List 77

Friday 26th Jan 2007

Bright turning Cloudy, Light NW
Added Fieldfare ( 11 birds ) to the Wombwell garden year list this morning. The 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers were again noisily chasing each other around. Other highlights from here were ;
Woodpigeon circa 700 NW, Golden Plover 23 W, Redwing circa 30, Jay 2, Nuthatch 1.
No bird pics from here but i did take a few random ones ;

Crocus


Snowdrop




Fire




Not a lot from my own garden with a single Cormorant & 2 Goosander both heading W being the best sightings. Plenty of the usual garden birds around though ;

Starling


Collared Dove




Wombwell Garden Bird Year List - 32

Copyright Dean Stables

Quantity not Quality

The only place i`ve seen anything of interest today was at the Wombwell garden, where i had not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 Great Spotted Woodpeckers. It was a fantastic sight to see them chasing each other from tree to tree.
I know we`re in the midst of Winter but judging by this behaviour and yesterday`s drumming bird, i can only assume that the preparations for the breeding season is under way.

Wednesday 24th Jan 2007

Icy, Cloudy, Wintery Showers, Light N
An hour at the Wombwell garden this morning did`nt produce anything better than - Goosander 1 drake W, Treecreeper 1, Nuthatch 1, Jay 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 drumming.
Then a visit to Cortonwood produced my first Lesser Redpoll of the year. A single Goldcrest was also added to the site year list. Other highlights were ;
Song Thrush 1, Mute Swan 2, Pochard 5 ( 3 drakes ), Tufted Duck 7, Grey Heron 1.
Highlights from my garden during the afternoon were ;
Sparrowhawk 2 over to N, Mistle Thrush 2 ;

Magpie


Collared Doves


Bird Year List updates ;
Local area - 76
Cortonwood - 45

Tuesday 23rd Jan 2007

Sunny, Cold, Light N/NW

Seen ( virtually ) nowt and photographed nowt!!
Highlights ;
Wombwell Garden - Woodpigeon circa 200 NW, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Nuthatch 1, Redwing circa 20, Lapwing 8 W
Nether Haugh - Sparrowhawk 1 female
My Garden - Sparrowhawk 1 female W

TOLD YOU!!!

Monday 22nd Jan 2007

Sunny, Light N
An hour at the Wombwell garden this morning produced my first Treecreeper of the year. Other highlights from here were ;
Woodpigeon circa 1300 W, Great Spotted Woodpecker 3, Nuthatch 1, Redwing 18.

Snowdrops


Then a visit to Cortonwood, where there was nothing different, highlights ;
Song Thrush 3, Meadow Pipit 2, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 7, Canada x Greylag 2, Pochard 8 ( 5 drakes ), Goosander 4 ( 1 drake ), Tufted Duck 8, Yellowhammer 1, Willow Tit 1.

Pochard





Then back at home for the afternoon, where the highlights were ;
Cormorant 1 W, Robin 2, Blackbird 7+

Starling


Angle Shades ( larva ) - found on Stinking Hellebore


Bird Year Lists ( update )
Local Area - 75
Wombwell Garden - 31
Copyright Dean Stables

Sunday 21st Jan 2007

Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Showers, Light > Moderate W
Thought i`d try another local site this morning, so i had an hour at nearby Broomhill Flash. Nothing here to get the pulse racing, with very few highlights ;
Great Crested Grebe 1, Ruddy Duck 2, Goldeneye 2 ( 1 1st winter drake ), Fieldfare circa 70.
Everything was quite a distance away apart from this Lapwing ;



The rest of the day was spent at home where i added a single male chaffinch to my garden year list, which now stands at 33. Other highlights were ;
Redwing 9 S, Cormorant 1 W, Long-tailed Tit 3, Song Thrush 1 singing.

Woodpigeon




Blackbird




Supposed to be feeling more like winter from tomorrow, so i`m hoping for a few more Finch vistors.

Copyright Dean Stables

Saturday 20th Jan 2007

Sunshine & Showers, Blustery W
Had a couple of hours down at the Old Moor RSPB reserve this morning. Not a great deal about, with no birds being added to my local area year list. All the usual ducks were seen, eg - Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, Pochard, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye. Apart from Lapwing & Golden Plover, the only other wader was a single Oystercatcher.
Managed to get a couple of pics ;

View from the Wader Scrape hide


Shoveler " bottom`s up "


( painted )


" at last, got it horizontal "


Gadwall


Black-headed Gull


As usual the afternoon was spent at home, where i added Common Gull to the garden year list. Nothing else, with just the usual commonal garden stuff about ;

Collared Dove




Garden ( bird ) Year List - 32

Copyright Dean Stables

Friday 19th Jan 2007

Sunny, Blustery W
Went to the Wombwell garden this morning, where there was nothing of interest at all birdwise. Very surprised that the gale force winds of yesterday did`nt cause too much damage here, although there was about 20 metres of fence down and my favourite ornamental tree ( Blue Spruce ) had also toppled ( thank heavens it was`nt one of the 100+ foot Beech`s ) ;





Then it was off to Cortonwood, where there was`nt anything new being seen. Highlights ;
Mute Swan 2, Goosander 4 ( 2 drakes ), Pochard 7 ( 4 drakes ), Tufted Duck 18, Canada Goose 7, Canada x Greylag hybrid 2, Grey Heron 1, Redwing 7.
Back at home, where the bird highlights were ;
Song Thrush 1 singing, Mistle Thrush 2 ( 1 singing ), Kestrel 1 male over, Fieldfare 17 N, Goldfinch 11, Golden Plover circa 100 W. + a few pics ;

Starling


Blackbird






Dusky Cranesbill ( it may be a cultivar, but it should`nt be flowering till May )


Copyright Dean Stables

Wednesday 17th Jan 2007

Sunny, Blustery SW
A visit to the Wombwell garden this morning produced the following highlights ;
Song Thrush 1, Woodpigeon circa 600 NW, Nuthatch 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Goldfinch 15, Redwing circa 30 E.

Song Thrush




Woodpigeon


Blue Tit




Robin




Then an hour at the Nether Haugh garden produced my first Red-legged Partridge of the year. The only other notable sighting from here was of a Common Buzzard overhead.

Thanks to Russ ( Thornton moth man ) for identifying yesterdays moth as Acleris literana.

Local Area ( bird ) Year List - 74
Moth Year List - 2

Copyright Dean Stables

Tuesday 16th Jan 2007

Overcast, Light Rain, Light E
I was`nt going to go to the Wombwell garden this morning, but i`m glad i did, because i found my 2nd moth species of the year. Not actually identified it yet, but i suspect it to be an Acleris species ;


Not a lot birdwise here. Apart from the usual suspects, there was a Jay & several Blackbirds making one hell of a racket around one of the conifers. From experience, i knew that there must have been a Tawny Owl roosting in it, but it would`nt give itself up for the year list.
From here, i walked home along the canal From Hemingfield to Brampton Bierlow, where the highlights were ;
Redwing 100+, Willow Tit 1, Kingfisher 1, Bullfinch 1.
The Kingfisher was showing really well and was within digiscoping range, but unfortunately a combination of the rain, poor light and my scope steaming up made getting a shot impossible. How frustrating is that :(
Back at home for the afternoon, where the highlights were ;
Dunnock 2, Collared Dove 3, Blackbird 7+, Song Thrush 1 singing.


Collared Dove

Monday 15th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Light SW
Spent an hour at the Wombwell garden this morning, where i added a single Collared Dove to this site list. The best of the other sightings were ;
Song Thrush 1 singing, Nuthatch 1 singing, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Redwing 9, Sparrowhawk 1 female, Goldfinch 16.
No bird pics from here but i did photograph my first Daffodils of the year ;



Then a visit to Cortonwood produced another couple of site & local area year ticks with : 2 Yellowhammer, a pair of Teal & circa 20 Tree Sparrow. Other highlights were ;
Song Thrush 2, Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 17, Tufted Duck 11, Pochard 7 ( 4 drakes ), Goosander 6 ( 2 drakes ).
The highlights from my garden during the afternoon were ;
Fieldfare 16 S, Robin 2, Goosander 4 ( 1 drake ) SW, Starling circa 100 ( with several attaining the yellow bill colour of summer ) ;





Year Lists update;
Local Area - 73
Wombwell Garden - 30
Cortonwood - 43

Copyright Dean Stables

Sunday 14th Jan 2007

Sunny, Light SW
After a couple of days of blanking on bird year ticks, it was good to add a few to several of my lists today. First of which were from the Manvers area : Skylark 4 singing, Grey Heron 1, Song Thrush 1 singing, Blue Tit.
Other highlights from here were ;
Great Crested Grebe 5, Tufted Duck 17, Canada Goose 25, Cormorant 6, Pochard 11 ( 7 drakes ), Mute Swan 4, Goldeneye 1 female.

Tufted Duck - drake ( digiscoped & painted )






No birds of interest on my way home, but i did find a couple of Cramp Balls on a tree stump on Pontefract Road ;



Finally got Fieldfare onto my garden year list when circa 60 flew over heading SW. The only other highlight was of 10 Greenfinch along the back hedge.

Bird Year Lists update ;
Local Area - 72
Manvers - 32
My Garden - 31

Copyright Dean Stables

Saturday 13th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Drizzly Showers, Light SW
Highlights from my garden this morning ;
Song Thrush 1 singing, Cormorant 2 W & 3 E, Blackbird 4+, Collared Dove 4 including a pair in copulation, Robin 2, Woodpigeon 2


Woodpigeon

I then had a walk around the Wentworth Estate in the hope of putting a few birds on the local year list. Failed miserably, so here`s the highlights ;
Nuthatch 4, Jackdaw circa 200, Sparrowhawk 1 female, Tufted Duck 6, Grey Heron 29*, Great Crested Grebe 3, Mute Swan 2, Fieldfare/Redwing - a mixed flock of at least 200 birds ;


Grey Heron
29* My 2nd highest ever count of this species at this site, which included 20 birds in the tree tops of the Heronry. My highest is of 33 birds on 19th Feb 2000.

The final notable species seen today was a feeding flock of 18 Meadow Pipits at nearby Stubbin ( Rawmarsh ).

Friday 12th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Sunny Spells pm, Light > Moderate SW
A couple of hours at Cortonwood this morning produced a site year tick in the form of a single Reed Bunting. Other highlights as usual were ;
Canada Goose 25, Mute Swan 2, Grey Heron 1, Black-headed Gull 56, Tufted Duck 10, Pochard 7 ( 4 drakes ), Goosander 2 ( 1 drake ), Greylag Goose 1, Canada x Greylag hybrid 1, Bullfinch pair.
Not a lot from my garden either, with the highlights being : Sparrowhawk 1 female ( over ), Goosander 4 E, Blackbird 8 flew into roost.
Just the one pic ( painting ) from today, of a 7-spot Ladybird from my garden ;



Cortonwood ( bird ) Year List - 41

Wednesday 10th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Light > Moderate W
Added another species to the Wombwell Garden year list with a single Pied Wagtail this morning. Other highlights were : Jay 1, Nuthatch 1, Redwing circa 60 over, Sparrowhawk 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1.
Also got my moth year list started ( finally ), with a single Tortricodes alternella found next to the security lights :
A few pics from here ;

Magpie


Woodpigeon




Tortricodes alternella


Fungi sp on Beech


I then went to the garden at Nether Haugh where i added Common Buzzard to the local area year list with a single bird being seen.
Other highlights were : Sparrowhawk 1 female, Willow Tit 1, Fieldfare 6, Redwing 5, Long-tailed Tit 11, Lapwing 11 N, Goldfinch 28

Blackbird - female




Year Lists update ;
Local area ( birds ) 71
Wombwell Garden ( birds ) 29
Moths 1

Copyright Dean Stables

Tuesday 9th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Rain, Very Strong Gusty W/SW ( easing pm )


As seen on TV

The above pic was one of 3 that was shown on my local weather forecast this evening, to illustrate the unseasonally mild conditions that we are experiencing at the moment. I took the pic at the Wombwell Garden this morning, where there was`nt a lot of bird activity. The only highlights were : a dozen or so Redwing, a couple of Goldcrest and a calling Nuthatch.
The Lesser Celandine`s continue to keep producing flowers, another indication of the mild temps ;



Not much either, from my garden, with a single Cormorant over ( heading W ) being the best of the bird sightings.
With it being so mild & especially wet, i`ve just been out to see if there was any early returning Frogs around. None as yet, but what was surprising is that there is still quite a few Tadpoles in my pond. Surely, these won`t survive when & if the " real " winter weather arrives.

Monday 8th Jan 2007

Clear becoming overcast, Rain pm, Light S


Digiscoped at 07.40

Another day of adding birds to my various year lists. First off to the Wombwell garden where i added the following to this site ;
Lapwing - circa 50 E
Bullfinch - 1 male
Goosander - 2 S
The best of the rest were : Song Thrush 1, Nuthatch 2, Great Spotted Woodpecker 1, Jay 1+, Redwing - circa 30, Goldfinch 11


Sunrise


Blackbird


Robin


Robin


Coprinus sp


Bubbles - in a bucket ( don`t ask me why : )

From here i went along the Dearne Valley Parkway to see the 5 Whooper Swans that have been feeding in fields between Darfield & Old Moor RSPB. Saw them alright but they were just too far away to get any pics.
Back at home, i added a flyover Cormorant to my garden year list. The only other species of note from here this afternoon were : Kestrel 1 E & Lapwing 21 S.

Revelant year lists after today ;
Local Area 70
Wombwell Garden 28
My Garden 30

Copyright Dean Stables

Sunday 7th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Sunny Spells, Rain pm, Light W/SW
Added a few more bird species to the various year lists today. First off was at Cortonwood, with the following added to this site for the year ;
Dunnock
Pheasant - 1 male
Canada Goose - 26
Greylag Goose - 1
Bullfinch - 1 male
Stock Dove - 1
Greenfinch
Chaffinch
Great Tit
Redwing - 2
Other highlights were : Sparrowhawk 1, Song Thrush 2, Mute Swan 2, Goosander 4 ( 3 drakes ), Grey Heron 1, Pochard 7 ( 4 drakes ), Tufted Duck 12, Canada x Greylag ( hybrid ) 3, Common Gull 1, Black-headed Gull 34, Blackbird 30+.
Had to get a few bits from the Retail Park, so i did`nt take the scope along, but i still managed a couple of pics ;


Greylag Goose ( painted )


Burnet Moth sp - cocoon


Daisy

Also added a couple of species to the garden list during the afternoon ;
Song Thrush - 1 singing
Kestrel - 1 male
Rook - 21 W
Not much else here apart from, Wren 1, Robin 1, Dunnock 2, Blackbird 5+, Herring Gull 7 W.

The relevant year lists from today are now ;
Local Area 69
Cortonwood 40
My Garden 29

Copyright Dean Stables

Saturday 6th Jan 2007

Overcast, Light W/SW
Spent this morning at the Old Moor RSPB reserve where i added another 6 species to the local area year list ;
Tree Sparrow - many
Gadwall
Teal
Oystercatcher - 1
Redshank
Dunlin - 7
Although the light was`nt that good, i still managed to get a few digiscoped shots ;

Wigeon - drake


Teal - drakes




( painted )


Gadwall - female ( painted )


Redshank




Back at home for the afternoon, where i added another species to the year lists when 5 Great Black-backed Gulls flew W over the garden with a couple of Herring Gulls. The only other highlight was of a flock of around 4000 Golden Plover that circled, after obviously being flushed from the Old Moor.

Year Lists upate ;
Local Area - 66
My Garden - 26

Copyright Dean Stables

Friday 5th Jan 2007

Cloudy, Light W/SW
Added a few more species to the year lists here & there during today. First of which were from the Wombwell Garden, with Jay & Goldcrest. The only other highlights from here were Song Thrush 1 & Nuthatch 2.
Again the Robins perched long enough, enabling me to get a couple of digiscoped shots ;







Like the other day, i made my way home along the canal, where i added Kingfisher to the year list. The only other birds of note along here were Grey Wagtail 2, Willow Tit 1 & several Goldfinch.


Brampton Canal - taken at around mid-day. You would`nt think it, judging by how dark it was.


Goldfinch

During the afternoon i added 2 more species to my garden year list with a single Sparrowhawk & 6+ Long-tailed Tit.
Other species in the garden were ;
Starling - circa 70
Collared Dove - 4
Robin - 1
Dunnock - 2

Starlings


Collared Dove(s)


( painted )


Year Lists update ;
Local Area - 59
Wombwell Garden - 25
My Garden - 25

Thursday 4th Jan 2007

Sunshine & Showers, Strong Blustery W
God, what a day. The wind almost blew me off my feet on more than one occasion. That`s probably why there was a lack of bird activity today. Anyway, i added a few more species to the year lists. First birds added were from the Wombwell Garden ;
Song Thrush 1
Stock Dove 2 ( these were also an addition to my local area list )
Greenfinch
Rook
Jackdaw
Just the one pic from here this morning, a Robin in one of the more sheltered parts of the garden ;



Then on to check the area of the canal at Hemingfield where i saw the Water Rail yesterday. No sign today, but a single Little Grebe made it on to my local area list.
Next stop Cortonwood, where the only addition to the site year list was Goldfinch. No change regards the other species, with everything pretty much the same as my last visit - highlights ;
Grey Heron 1, Mute Swan 2, Tufted Duck 16, Pochard 7 ( 4 males ), Goosander 7 ( 4 males ) .



Finally, nothing at all to report from my garden. Damn wind :)
Year Lists update ;
Local Area - 56
Cortonwood - 30
Wombwell Garden - 23
The other 2 sites ( Manvers & My Garden ) remain the same.

Copyright Dean Stables

Clearing Skies

The cloudy conditions of yesterday finally cleared during the evening to reveal a glorious full moon ;

Wednesday 3rd Jan 2007

Cloudy, Blustery S/SW
On my way to the Wombwell garden this morning i added Song Thrush ( 3 singing birds ) to both the Cortonwood & Local Area year lists. ( Totals for each area can be seen at the bottom of this update ).
Finally got the Wombwell Garden year list started, with the following recorded ;
Blackbird
Robin
Woodpigeon
Blue Tit
Mistle Thrush
Wren
Chaffinch
Black-headed Gull
Coal Tit *
Long-tailed Tit
Nuthatch * - 2
Great Tit
Carrion Crow
Goldfinch
Redwing - 3
Golden Plover - 34 W
Great Spotted Woodpecker * - 1
Magpie
( the ones marked with an asterix were also added to my local area list )

A selection of pics from here this morning ;

Woodpigeon


Fungi sp






Greater Periwinkle ( my first " wild " flowering plant of 2007 )


Then i thought i`d walk home along the canal ( from Hemingfield to Brampton Bierlow ) in the hope of seeing the Little Grebe that was frequenting the stretch of water next to the Elephant & Castle ( Pub ). No sign of it today, but i was more than compensated with the sight of a Water Rail preening on the far bank. Unfortunately it was under dense vegetation and as you can see from this super duper digiscoped shot the light was definately not on my side ;



Back at home for the afternoon, where nothing at all of interest was seen. I did however manage to grab a digiscoped shot of a female Blackbird.



Bird Year List - totals after 3 days ;
Local Area - 54
Cortonwood - 29
Manvers - 28
My Garden - 23
Wombwell Garden - 18

Copyright Dean Stables

Tuesday 2nd Jan 2007

Patchy Cloud, Strong Gusty NW
Not a lot from my garden during the first couple of hours but i did add another species to the garden year list ;
20 Blue Tit - 2
Greenfinch - 4

Nothing else of note, so it was off to the Manvers area for me. Another site that i`m keeping a year list for, full species count ;
1 Goldfinch
2 Fieldfare - 6
3 Chaffinch
4 Mistle Thrush
5 Herring Gull
6 Wren
7 Black-headed Gull
8 Great Crested Grebe - 4 including a pair displaying
9 Cormorant - 4
10 Carrion Crow
11 Mallard
12 Meadow Pipit - 2
13 Coot
14 Pochard - 23 ( 9 males )
15 Tufted Duck - 24
16 Ruddy Duck - 3 females
17 Magpie
18 Canada Goose - 29
19 Blackbird
20 Common Gull - 3
21 Mute Swan - 5
22 Robin
23 Lapwing - 19
24