Monday 31st March 2008

Frosty, Sunny, Light S/SE

Todays highlights ;
Wombwell Garden : 1 Tawny Owl ( calling ), 1 Treecreeper, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Brindled Pug ( moth number 12 for the year ), 1 Oak Beauty.

Cortonwood : 5 Chiffchaff, 2 Comma & 1 Peacock ;



Toad ( my first of the year )


Chickweed


My Garden : 1 Coal Tit, 2 Long-tailed Tit, 1 Comma & 1 Peacock ;





Excellent visibilty for skywatching, but there was absolutely nothing moving anywhere.

Sunday 30th March 2008

Sunny, Light W/SW

What a glorious day, no RAIN whatsoever.
It`s been a long one though, what with it being the first Pony Club of the year. Still managed a few sightings. The first of which, was my first garden Goldcrest of the year at 07.00. The only other notable from the garden first thing, was a single Stock Dove ( feeding ).

Then onto Rawmarsh, where the Stubbin area produced the following highlights : 1 Sand Martin N, 1 Green Woodpecker, 2 Chiffchaff, 20+ Skylarks & c30 Meadow Pipits.
The area around the Pony Club field produced 6 Chiffchaff, a single Common Buzzard & a pair of displaying Sparrowhawk.

It was Storm`s first outing with Jessie and despite all the nerves, she managed 3rd place in the 10 & unders jumping. What really surprised us all though, was that this was Rudi`s first 10 & unders competition, after moving up from the Lead Rein class. She only went and bagged 1st place after jumping a double-clear. I can see this being an interesting year :

Storm & Jessie


Rudi & Merrylegs






Back at home this evening, a single Sand Martin was feeding over the garden.

Garden year list - 55 ( Goldcrest )

Saturday 29th March 2008

Sunny, Clouding over, RAIN, Breezy SW

Increased a couple of my year lists today. The first of which was a singing Chiffchaff in the garden at 08.00. Then an hour later a lone Sand Martin shot through, heading towards Old Moor.

Greenfinch




Went to Cortonwood at about 10.00. Nothing much doing birdwise, with the best being 4 Chiffchaff.
I was thinking to myself that it was warm enough for a Butterfly, and low & behold, happened upon my first Comma of the year ;





Back at home, the Chiffchaff was again singing & a Starling was seen to flyover with a beak full of nesting material.
My first Peacock butterfly flew around the garden, but did`nt settle.


Wasp

Year Lists update ;
Garden - 54 ( Chiffchaff & Sand Martin )
Dearne Valley - 97 ( Sand Martin )
Butterflies - 3

Friday 28th March 2008

Rain clearing to Sunny Spells, Light>Breezy S/SW

Went to Cortonwood late morning, in the hope that the rain had dumped something decent there. No chance, not even a Chiffchaff today.
Spent the rest of the day at home, being bored.

House Sparrow




Woodpig


Think i`ll finish off todays post with another " Guess the Pic " ;



Answer on Monday evening.

Thursday 27th March 2008

Frosty, Sunny, ( showery ), Light SE
Highlights ;

Wombwell Garden : 1 Great Spotted Woodpecker ( drumming ), 1 Chiffchaff ( singing ), 4 Jay & 2 Engrailed ;

Jay ( photo tick )




Robin


Engrailed




Cortonwood : not much on the bird front, with 2 Chiffchaff being the most notable. Did manage my 11th moth of the year, with a Orange Underwing flying around the Birch`s on the southern side of the pit top/spoil heap.


Chiffchaff

Tuesday 25th March 2008

Sunny, turning Cloudy/Showery, Light>Breezy NW

Looked out of the kitchen window at 06.10 and was pleasantly surprised to see a pair of Stock Dove feeding in the garden. I usually get 1 or 2 flyover birds but to get a pair touching down was fantastic stuff.
Would this be the start of a good day ?. Yes it was. An hour later i got onto a calling Curlew coming through from the E and heading W, straight towards Cortonwood. This would be a new bird for Cortonwood and with the closest entrance to my patch only c150 metres away, i decided to leg it along the bottom road. I did`nt manage the 150 metres but i got far enough to see it actually flying over Cortonwood ( Patch Tick - 101 ).
The things we do for a patch lifer.

After a celebratory cuppa, i went to Cortonwood, but again there was nothing more interesting than Chiffchaff ( just a single bird ).

As usual, the rest of the day was spent at home. Not much doing, and i thought i would end up photographing Starlings ;



Then at 14.30, guess what ? the Stock Doves re-appeared. Did`nt want to spook them by going outside. So just for the record, i had to photograph them through the kitchen window ;





Finished the day off with a low Buzzard, heading N at 15.10 & 2 Yellowhammer, also heading N.

Year Lists ;
Garden - 52
Dearne Valley - 96
Cortonwood - 73

* Curlew - it`s not often you get a single bird onto 3 year lists.

Monday 24th March 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Light>Breezy N

Bored, Bored, Bored!!!!!

A couple of hours around Cortonwood this morning, did`nt produce anything better than 3 Chiffchaff.


Carrion Crow

Again, nothing decent from my garden.


Healthy Blackbird


Not so healthy Blackbird ( victim of a predator ? )

Still BORED!!!!

Sunday 23rd March 2008

Snow ( clearing ), Breezy N

Got out to Cortonwood as promised, but not a lot about. Although a flock of 41 flyover Golden Plover were a patch year tick ( 72 ). The only other notable bird species was a singing Chiffchaff, that sounded quite surreal in the snowy conditions.


another Greylag hybrid. The 4th this year.


Carrion Crow

I`ve never seen a Fox at Cortonwood, but they must be present, as i found a set of fresh prints this morning ;



Nothing to report from the garden at all today. Roll on Spring, again!!!

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Wintry Showers, Strong Gusty N/NE ( easing )

Had a walk down to Manvers this morning and just as i got to the lake, down came a blizzard. And what did i get apart from a soaking, just 9 Great Crested Grebe & 7 Gadwall.
Noticed that the Cowslips were just coming into flower, but i bet they`d wished they had`nt ;



I was planning to visit Cortonwood, but i neshed out and settled for the warmth & comfort of home. It was`nt a complete waste of time though, as i had 30 Whooper Swans over the garden at 09.15, which appeared to be dropping onto the Old Moor.
Nothing else to report, apart from a couple of pics ;

Starling


Greenfinch




Frog Spawn


Oh, while i remember. The moth ( Mompha ) that i posted on Thursday as been re-identified as a Phycitinae sp. So my moth year list drops down to 10.

Cortonwood beckons tomorrow, whatever the weather.

Friday 21st March 2008

Sunny ( showery pm ), gusty N

Blackbird ( Wombwell Garden )


Syrphus ribesii ( Wombwell Garden )




Canada Geese ( Cortonwood )


3 Chiffchaff ( again ), were the only noteworthy birds at Cortonwood.

Had a walk through the Wentworth Estate this afternoon, but that was very quiet too. With the best sightings being : 18 Great Crested Grebe, 2 drk Goosander & 2 Nuthatch.

I don`t expect much over the weekend, what with winter re-appearing.

Thursday 20th March 2008

Cloudy, Gusty W

My moth year list increased to 10 this morning. A White-shouldered House Moth was found on the bathroom window ;



Just 1 Chiffchaff was seen at Cortonwood today, but nothing else worth mentioning. Did`nt check on the LRP`s. Don`t want be causing them any disturbance, for obvious reasons.

Nothing of interest birdwise from my garden during the afternoon. Although i did add another species to the moth year list. This Mompha subbistrigella was found in the pantry ;




Moth number 11

Wednesday 19th March 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Light>Breezy N

Started the day off with 2 garden year ticks. A single Tree Sparrow ( albeit briefly ) & a pair of Bullfinch W.

Nothing to report from the Wombwell garden, other than the Hoverfly - Syrphus ribesii ;



Then a visit to Cortonwood produced my first Chiffchaffs ( 3 birds ) of the year. The only other notables from here, were : 2 Little Ringed Plover at the undisclosed area & a Weasel along the Trans-Pennine Trail.

Nothing from my garden during the afternoon, so i went to check our pony field for the Barn Owl. Once again, no show. The best from here, was a single Brown Hare.


not a Brown Hare

Year Lists ;
Garden - 51
Cortonwood - 71
Dearne Valley - 95

It`s not looking promising weatherwise, over the next few days. It will either slow things down ( again ) or dump some migrants upon us. Hopefully, it`s the latter.

Tuesday 18th March 2008

Cloudy, Light N


Starling


House Sparrow

Up until late afternoon, i`d not seen anything anywhere worth mentioning, and thought my decent run of year ticks had come to a stop.
Then at 15.00, i got onto a pair of Jackdaws mobbing a smallish raptor over the garden. The bird was distinctly smaller than the Jackdaws, and the typically compact shape ( like a mini Peregrine ), shortish angled wings, which were broad at the arm, confirmed it has my first Merlin of the year. I watched it for several seconds, before it evaded its attackers and it headed off S.
The benefits of living within the Dearne Valley strikes again :)

Should expect an Osprey ( or 2,depends how lucky i am ) putting in a overhead appearance next month. They are annual through the Dearne Valley. All depends if i`m in the right place at the right time.

Garden - 49
Dearne Valley - 94

Monday 17th March 2008

Cloudy, Bright Spells, Breezy N

Managed a couple more year ticks today. The first of which was a garden year tick with 7 Meadow Pipits over, heading N. The only other highlight from home, was of a single Goosander over, heading W.

Then at the Wombwell garden, i got very lucky with my first Lesser Spotted Woodpecker of the year. I first heard the bird calling from the top of a Beech tree, it then flew to the other end of the garden and was lost to view ( only my 2nd ever sighting from here ).


( Dwarf ) Comfrey sp

The last tick of the day came from Cortonwood, with a drake Ruddy Duck on the lake. The only other highlights from here were : 14 Meadow Pipit & a pair of Carrion Crow, nest building on the highest arm of one of the pylons.


female Mallard
A pale, well marked bird or possibly an hybrid, of what ?


Oregon Grape - well established in the wild

Storm`s had her new pony ( Jessie ) for 3 days now. So i thought i`d better go & have a look, considering it`s going to take a few of my Sundays up ( Pony Club ) ;







Year Lists ;
Garden - 48
Dearne Valley - 93
Cortonwood - 70

Sunday 16th March 2008

Light Rain ( easing ), Cloudy, Breezy N/NE

With the weather being like it was this morning, i thought i`d go and see if it had brought any Sand Martins down at Manvers Lake. No such luck!!, not much about here, with the best being : 9 Great Crested Grebe, 1 Snipe & 2 Grey Wagtail.


Cormorant

On the way home, i checked around the Knollbeck for any Butterbur. Quite a few above ground. They must have been spurred on by last weeks mild weather ;



Called home for a cuppa, then off to Cortonwood. I`d only just set foot on my patch, when Jakki phoned to say that there was about 30 Swans coming over the house and heading my way. Within seconds, i was witnessing my 100th bird species ever to be seen at Cortonwood.
34 Whooper Swans and what a welcome sight they were ; ( thanks to Jakki, these are also going on my garden year list ) ;





There was only 1 other highlight from here. My highest patch count of Common Buzzard, with 5 birds up together, before 2 drifted off N.


Goldfinch ( in not so good light )

Year Lists ;
Garden - 47
Cortonwood - 69
Dearne Valley - 92

Saturday 15th March 2008

Misty, Light SE

The only interesting news today, was from Cortonwood, where i had my first returning Little Ringed Plover of the year.
The bird was found at an undisclosed area, where for the past 2 years they have successfully bred.
I`ve informed the people that need to know, of the exact location. So, if they breed again, at least this area won`t be developed this summer.

Had a look around the exterior of the Matalan Store & found 1 March Moth, 2 Yellow Horned & an Oak Beauty. The latter being the only one reachable ;


( painted )

Year Lists ( latest ) ;
Cortonwood - 68
Dearne Valley - 91

Friday 14th March 2008

Hazy Sunshine, Light W

Todays Highlights ;
Wombwell Garden : Small Quaker ( my first of the year ) ;




Rosemary

My Garden : 2 Reed Bunting N ( garden year tick ), 2 Common Buzzard S at 13.20.


Starling

Wentworth Estate : 22 Great Crested Grebe, 3 Cormorant, Grey Heron - at least 7 birds back at nests, 3 Greylag Geese - inc 1 bird sporting an alloy ring, 2 Little Owl ( calling ), 1 Kingfisher, 2 Grey Wagtail ;


Cormorant


Wood Anenome

( relevant ) Year Lists update ;
Garden - 46
Moths - 9

Thursday 13th March 2008

Sunny, Clouding over, Blustery W/SW

Just one item of interest today. At last, my first butterfly of the year, but i did`nt expect it to be a Small White ( Wombwell garden ) ;






Blackbird ( my garden )

Wednesday 12th March 2008

Rain clearing, Sunny, Strong Gusty W ( easing )

Nothing of interest at all today. Checked on the Violet that i photographed at Cortonwood on Monday, and has the flower stem was leaf-less it can only be Sweet Violet.

Tried my luck with the Barn Owl that`s been hunting around our pony field. Guess what, no show, again :(
On a different subject. What is it about young children showing no fear ? My youngest, Rudi ( 8 years old ) put Merrylegs into top gear and thrashed it up & down the field. I had real trouble keeping up, with the camera ;

thoroughly enjoying herself

Coming Soon....

....to a cinema near you, from Friday 14th March.


( copyright - Steel Mill Pictures )

Some of you may recall that last year i was asked to help with a scene in the above film. My role was to provide a number of moths for a scene involving Reece Shearsmith. I even had the official name of Moth Wrangler on the call sheet.
Well, the moths did`nt perform as planned and in the end, the film company had to use CGI`s.
Even so, i still enjoyed the experience of being on a horror film set at night, amidst all the blood & guts and various prosthetic body parts.

The reviews for this film are quite positive. So, it should be well worth watching.

Monday 10th March 2008

( Generally ) Cloudy with Rain, Breezy S

Did`nt think i would have anything to blog about today, but the rain eased for a couple of hours late morning. So i was off out looking for some blog fodder.

Wombwell Garden : 1 Oak Beauty ( my 8th species of the year ) ;





Cortonwood : not a great deal of change from the previous few visits - a feeding party of 7 Bullfinch was my largest flock of the year. Pied Wagtails around the lake have increased to at least 20 birds. I will be scrutinizing these closely over the coming days, for any of their continental White relatives.


Reed Bunting


" FIIIIIGHT "


Violet ( my first of the year )

Sunday 9th March 2008

Sunny, Light W/SW

Went to the Manvers area this morning, in the hope of dropping on any early spring migrants ( Sand Martin, Wheatear or Chiffchaff ). Needless to say, i failed miserably. Some nice birds though : 8 Great Crested Grebe, 2 Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall, 2 Goosander, 1 Water Rail, 2 Grey Wagtail, 1 Kingfisher & at least 12 Reed Bunting ;


Great Crested Grebes


Black-headed Gull


House Sparrow

No migrants at Cortonwood either, with the only different species from yesterday, being : 1 Grey Wagtail, 3 Skylark, 4 Meadow Pipit & 2 Yellowhammer.

Up until getting back home, this was the first day since last Tuesday that i did`nt add anything to any of my year lists. That all changed at 12.30 when i had 2 Common Buzzards over the garden, heading S.


My camera`s eye view of a Frogs eye

GARDEN ( year list ) - 45

For those that have been following the exploits of my daughters & their ponies. Storm`s now outgrown Saffie. So they`ve been to look at another one today, which they`ve decided to have. Problem is, one minute Storm is over-joyed by the thought of her new pony arriving, the next she`s sobbing her heart out at the thought of having to get rid of Saffie ( she`s not going far though, a friend of ours is taking her on loan for the summer, with a view to buying ). I`m sure she`ll get over this once Jessie arrives.

Saturday 8th March 2008

Cloudy, Blustery SW

I was down at the Old Moor for 07.30, but with nothing to hold my interest, apart from 4 Oystercatcher, 1 Dunlin & a Brown Hare, i decided to go and look for the Firecrests along Warbler Way.
Did`nt take long to find them, but as always with this species, i was only rewarded with fleeting glimpses. Another Dearne Valley year tick.

Called back home for a quick cuppa, before heading off to Cortonwood. Nothing new in here : 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls S, 2 Reed Bunting, 16 Tufted Duck, 2 Mute Swan, 2 Skylark & a single Willow Tit.

Back at home, managed to get my first garden Coal Tit of the year.
Thought this was going to be another picture-less post, until this Grey Heron passed over this evening ;





Year Lists ;
DEARNE VALLEY - 90
GARDEN - 44

I`m not a big football fan, but well done Barnsley. After dumping Liverpool out of the last round of the FA Cup, they`ve gone and done it again. This time they had a well deserved quarter final win over Chelsea. Could the FA Cup be coming to South Yorkshire this year ?.

Thursday 7th March 2008

Sunny, Light>Breezy W

A glorious day weather wise, but not so good for sightings and even worse for photos, with none being taken.
A Grey Heron over the house this morning, was my first of the year from the garden.
Nothing at all of interest at Cortonwood. Suppose i`ve had my fair share this week.

Jakki`s seen the Barn Owl everyday this week at 4.30 pm. So earlier i got to the horse field in good time ( at 4.15 pm ) and stayed till 5.00 pm. Guess what, it did`nt show today. I did however get some consolation with my first Little Owl of the year. The bird was sat aloft a telegraph pole in the next field.

Year Lists ;
MY GARDEN - 43
DEARNE VALLEY - 89

Thursday 6th March 2008

Cloudy, Breezy W

With the wind being a bit gusty overnight, i was`nt expecting a great deal in my moth trap. In fact there was`nt a lot, but it did include 2 firsts of the year ;

Chestnut


Yellow Horned




The only other species were : singles of both March Moth & Dotted Border.

My good run of decent birds continued, albeit unbelievably & totally unexpected. Whilst at Cortonwood, i got onto a Rock Pipit feeding with a dozen or so Pied Wagtails, on the grassed area around the lake.
It showed really well and at close range ( but not close enough for the camera ), allowing me to clinch the characteristic features : overall dirty appearance ( unlike the " clean " plumage of Meadow Pipit ), greyish outer tail feathers, darkish legs & the upright stance.

Decided to go back after dinner, armed with my scope & other camera. The Wagtails were still present, but unfortunately the Pipit was`nt.
Not only was it a year tick, but also a new species for Cortonwood, taking my overall site list to 99.

Bring on the 100.
Will it be a Wheatear, Hobby, Peregrine, to name but a few, or will it be something unexpected. There`s only one way to find out, and that is to keep putting in the time & effort.

( relevant ) Year Lists ;
CORTONWOOD - 67
DEARNE VALLEY - 88
MOTHS - 7

Wednesday 5th March 2008

Frosty, Bright, Patchy Cloud, Light>Breezy W

Robin ( Wombwell Garden )




Cortonwood : 2 Buzzards over spoil heap, were my first of the year. Other than that, nothing different to yesterday, apart from the reappearance of the colour-ringed Mute Swan ( Red PBZ ).


Reed Bunting ( male )

Nothing from my garden during the afternoon, apart from a couple of flower pics ;


Flowering Currant


Crocus

( relevant ) Year Lists ;
CORTONWOOD - 66
DEARNE VALLEY - 87

Running my MV moth trap tonight, at the Wombwell garden. Hopefully add to the 5 species that i`ve seen so far this year.

Tuesday 4th March 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Light N

Just a couple of pics from the Wombwell garden this morning ;


Mistle Thrush


Chaffinch ( female )


7-spot Ladybirds

Cortonwood : 1 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Hybrids, 17 Tufted Duck, 4 Song Thrush, 2 Reed Bunting.

My garden produced the sighting of the day, when a Peregrine ( my first of the year ) was seen circling high at 12.37, before it drifted off towards the Broomhill Flash/Wombwell Ings area. Then at 12.48, what was presumably the same bird came back over and headed towards Cortonwood.
Only wish i was at Cortonwood at the time, as this would have been a new species for the site.


Not a Peregrine

And to cap it all off. Jakki text me at 16.30 to say that they ( her & the kids ) were watching a Barn Owl, hunting around their horse field.

( Relevant ) Year Lists update ;
MY GARDEN - 42
DEARNE VALLEY - 86

Monday 3rd March 2008

Sunshine & Snow Showers, Breezy W

Start with Cortonwood, even though it was`nt my first sightings of the day. That does`nt make sense does it. Never mind, not much at Cortonwood, with pretty much the same species as every other visit : 1 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Geese, 2 Canada x Greylag hybrids, 16 Tufted Duck, 1 Pochard, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Willow Tit & 1 Bullfinch.

My first notable sighting of the day was a Mute Swan, over the garden at 07.00. A garden year tick no less ( 41 ) ;



That was it really, but i could`nt resist a close up of the Forsythia ;



I was really looking forward to March, but as things stand, roll on April.
Mr Impatient, me.

Sunday 2nd March 2008

Sunshine & Patchy Cloud, Strong Gusty NW

Went ( more like blown ) down to the Manvers area this morning. The lake was more like the North Sea rather than an inland water source, and the only notables were : 9 Great Crested Grebe & 4 Cormorant.
Nice to see the Blackthorn flowering ;



By mid-morning the wind had eased, so i was off to Cortonwood. Still nothing new from here ( it`s only a matter of time now ).
Highlights : 2 Mute Swan ( Red PBZ still present ), 7 Canada Geese, 1 hybrid, 16 Tufted Duck + singles of Sparrowhawk, Grey Partridge & Skylark.


Canada & hybrid

Had a couple of hours in the garden pruning a few shrubs, but did`nt see anything better than 2 Yellowhammers over, heading N. Garden year tick number 40.

Saturday 1st March 2008

Sunshine & Showers, Strong Blustery W/NW

Finally got House Sparrow on the Cortonwood year list, with a few birds around the bungalows by Pit Lane.
Other highlights from here, were : 3 Mute Swan ( inc Red PBZ ), 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Pochard, 4 Goosander, 1 Grey Wagtail, 1 Reed Bunting.

Found another Lepidodendron fossil. These are also known as Scale Trees, due to the scars left by the leaf spurs. Interestingly, in days gone by, these were thought to be the remains of fossilized snakes.
They`re are from the Carboniferous period and the most common fossils to be found around old colliery sites. The plants grew to a height of about 30 metres and in stands of 1000 > 2000 per hectare ;