After a couple of days on patch (and a dash down this am too!) I decided a day out was in order before the weekend. So seeing as High Bradfield was only 58mls away I decided that this would be my venue (ta Andy for putting the idea in my head - and I did check the weather!!).
I started off on Onesmoor Road as most sightings have been there plus another birder was already present. He had only been on site 5mins so we started our search together. I soon picked up the Skylark flock but half of them were over behind a raised area of the field. I scoped the ones in view but just c.25Skylarks. Tim and I walked down to try to see the rest of the flock but a Kestrel, that had been around but away from the field, swooped in and spooked the whole flock. It seemed to come down behind the hump and so we moved round the field to search, but not a dicky-bird, as they say! In the next field bird activity was much better so we moved down there to view off Bolsterstone Road. A cracking flock of 160 Golden Plovers fed in the field, some getting summer plumage, spectacular. As we watched more were coming in calling, a sound I love as it is so haunting, even without my quarry my day was turning out great. About 30 Lapwings were also in the field and mobile flocks of up to 130 Starlings wheeled around, but no larks. I painstakingly scoped the field and found Meadow Pipit and Pied Wagtail, and even 5 scattered Skylarks, but not the star bird.
Then in the distance a raptor was spotted, head on at first it powered its way towards us and turned to reveal itself as a superb male Peregrine, which was instantly mobbed by a flurry of Lapwings and eventually it headed off. Knowing that spooked lark species often hunker down and freeze this wasn't very encouraging. Time to eat lunch and warm up, this was a freezing cold place with a biting wind and I needed the cars heat to thaw out! As I was eating I added Curlew to the day-list and then when I resumed watching I found 3(2m) Yellowhammers in the field off Onesmoor Road. A Buzzard also sailed overhead but still no larks.
The other 2 birders present then had to leave so I decided to be proactive and start to search more widely. Rather than walk the roads as Andy had done I decided on a drive round and stops to check every field. There were convenient spots for most fields and on one such stop at the top of Peat Pits Lane near the Onesacre Road junction I found the main Skylark flock. I managed to scope it even though it was mobile and skittish and as I panned there was the Shorelark, looking superb with that striking yellow and black head pattern. This is a species that I used to yeartick every year but since the advent of COVID I haven't seen one, so it was nice to catch up with one again. I was just setting up to phonescope the bird when the flock took flight again and flew off several fields away. I decided at this point that I had had a great day and mission accomplished so I would head home. In the immediate area I added Stonechat and Mistle Thrush from the car, all in South Yorkshire, my home county
Chatting to the other 2 birders who are locals the Shorelark favours the main Skylark flock, so find that and chances are increased. This flock though is very flighty and can be in any of the fields inside the 'square' of roads. An added complication soon is that the Skylark flock will break up as they pair up and establish breeding territories and at that point the Shorelark will probably depart. So if you want to see this bird get across as soon as possible. Wear very warm clothes and take a scope!
-- Edited by Doc Brewster on Friday 8th of March 2024 04:52:59 PM
Cursing not having checked the weather before I set off I arrived in thick mist above High Bradfield. I walk around the four lanes forming a square around the fields the Shorelark had recently been seen in. Curlew, Lapwings, Skylark, Redwing, Starling, Meadow Pipit were all seen in the gloomy murk of the fields as I completed one, then two loops of the lanes (~1.5 miles loop). The mist had been as thick as reducing visibility to around 20 yards into the fields at times, whereas to view to the middle would need 330yrds visibility from either side.
I decided a final loop for luck and when on Onesmoor Road a third time, right next to the field wall almost were a Skylark and the Shorelark . My 300th lifer since re-starting a list in 2020! I'd hoped for a special bird for 300 and this one is little beauty.
Bonus year tick of Red Grouse on Woodhead Pass.
-- Edited by Andy Slee on Thursday 7th of March 2024 08:07:02 PM
Shore Lark showed distantly at about 11:30 this morning at High Bradfield in South Yorkshire. Associating with Skylarks near Peat Pits Lane. Took a good hour plus to locate, and remained distant. Telescope essential.
Also 60+ Golden Plover, many Lapwing, 2 Stock Dove, Mistle Thrush.
Over the Woodhead pass on the way were 2 Red Grouse and a Peregrine Falcon.
Decamped to Adwick Washlands RSPB yesterday morning after the news that the Lesser White Fronted Goose had moved to there from Old Moor.
It eventually showed well after moving closer in the central viewing area. For an hour it was very distant, and difficult to see, associating with 100's of Greylag Geese. Very smart bird, whatever it's origins.
First Winter Rough-legged Buzzard (juvenile plumaged) still present, just east of Stainforth and giving great scope views. Flying around, hovering, being mobbed and perching briefly.
If approaching from the east, from Thorne, along Kirton Lane, just as the houses at Stainforth start, there is a marked bridleway running south off Kirton Lane. Take the bridleway and ascend the grassed over slag heap to the top and then view the area to the north of Kirton Lane. The RLB was around 300-500 yards away. It would have been possible to see the bird from Kirton Lane but there is nowhere safe to stop and park and, with height as your advantage, this spot is pretty good.
A magnificent bird, perfectly plumaged in terms of features for a juvenile, some stunning flight views as it hunted and prolonged views of it perched in an oak tree, preening and staring at me murderously every now and then!
Also some Lapwing, a couple of Kestrels, small flock of Stock Dove, a Common Gull with Black-headeds, 2 small skeins of Pink-footed Goose and a Skylark over
Lots of Redwings at Hatfield and Stainforth station
Stopped off at Carlton Industrial Estate in Barnsley, more specifically at Carlton Glass Recycling.
The Baltic Gull candidate and Caspian Gull had moved on but I did manage to locate a very dark mantled, German ringed Lesser Black-backed, ring no.H9P5 Ive emailed Sönke Martins and part of his reply along with the life history is below.
A special bird, ringed at mixed colony as Larus argentatus but it seems to be a normal Larus fuscus intermedius, thus I changed species. Best Wishes Sönke Martens
Heringsmöwe Larus fuscus 0 Ring-Nr. : Helgoland N031393 Farbring: H9P5 o Beringungsdaten: 02.07.2011 Amrum / Odde 54 42 ' N 8 o 21 ' E nicht flügge Gruppengröße : bisherige Wiederfunde Datum Beobachtungsort Koordinaten (in Grad u. Min.) Finder 10.03.2012 ESP - Madrid, Colmenar Viejo 40 39 N -3 43 E Farbring abgelesen Ruiz, J. 11.03.2012 ESP - Madrid, Colmenar Viejo 40 39 N -3 43 E Farbring abgelesen Gonzalez, D. 05.07.2012 FRANKREICH - Nord, Blaringhem 50 41 N 2 24 E Farbring abgelesen Vercruijsse, H. 10.11.2012 ESP - Malaga Fishing Port 36 42 N -4 25 E Farbring abgelesen Lopez, R. P. 03.10.2013 FRANKREICH - Vendée, Marai 46 33 N -1 47 E Farbring abgelesen Fouquet, M. 05.01.2014 ESP - Malaga Fishing Port 36 42 N -4 25 E Farbring abgelesen Garcia, S. 19.02.2015 ESP - Malaga Fishing Port 36 42 N -4 25 E Farbring abgelesen Lopez, R. P. 28.02.2015 ESP - Madrid, Colmenar Viejo 40 39 N -3 43 E Farbring abgelesen Ruiz, J. 17.12.2016 ESP - Madrid, Colmenar Viejo 40 39 N -3 43 E Farbring abgelesen Ruiz, J. 11.02.2018 ESP - Malaga Fishing Port 36 42 N -4 25 E Farbring abgelesen Garcia, S. 11.08.2019 GB - South-Yorkshire, Barnsley 53 33 N -1 29 E Farbring abgelesen Creek, R.
With regards to the Gull I saw below in Sheffield with the almost black mantle, I had a reply yesterday from Morten Helberg of Lista Ringing Group based at Stavanger Museum in Norway.
Ring Number : JJ9V Species : Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus intermedius)
13.07.12 -Ringed at Langedalsfjellet, Haganes, Fjell, Hordaland, Norway 06.08.15 -Albion Landfill Site, Albert Village, Leicester & Rutland, England 25.07.18 -Attercliffe, Sheffield, South Yorks, England
It was then seen on 27th and 28th (my sighting) in roughly the same area of Sheffield.
-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 19th of August 2018 06:24:22 PM
I managed a rare Saturday off work and planned to go to Scaling Dam in Cleveland to try for the Franklin's Gull but I'd literally been on the M60 for 2 minutes when 2 notifications came through. No sign of the Franklin's Gull early morning (typical!) but the 1st summer Baltic Gull was back in Sheffield so I changed my mind and made my way to Effingham Street. There was nobody else at the site, a group of c25 large Gulls around but no sign of the target so presumably it had flown and its finder departed. Birders started turning up but most of the Gulls had gone, but I later refound them on a factory roof near Lookers Ford a few minutes away. Still no sign of the Baltic Gull.
Of note amongst the usual Gulls... - 2 Mediterranean Gulls over, calling - 1 leucistic Black-headed Gull, something stuck in its mouth - 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull with blackish mantle, bearing a black possibly Norwegian ring. - 1 Kingfisher - 8+ Sand Martin - 1 Red Kite over Midhopestones
I will update with any replies I get regarding the ringing history.
Having a good reason to be over in South Yorkshire - a trip to Bramall Lane to see Sheffield United lift the Div 1 Champions trophy and rack up 100 points! - Carys always comes too and pops up to Old Moor RSPB. As she picked me up she asked if I fancied a small detour on the way home to go back to Broomhill Flash so I said yes. It's many years since I've been and the improvement is massive, a lovely 2 tier hide and small carpark, great. Once there we saw the birds that she had taken me back to see, 6 gorgeous summer plumaged Black Terns. The birds paraded up and down the flash in front of the hide, almost showing off, and why shouldn't they? They are gorgeous at this time of year. Too soon we had to leave, grabbed some Yorkshire fish n chips and headed home, a great day for many reasons
The possibility of going out birding this Sunday looked very slim with rain forecast for most of the day and with illness etc, we decided to give it a miss. Whilst I sat in my night attire, watching it rain and contemplating having to watch the millionaires of Manchester & Liverpool ballet teams trying to cheat the good referees of premier, foreign football, the phone rang. It was Bob K asking if I would like to go for the Black throated Thrush at Adwick upon Dearn, Yorkshire. Certainly I would, we met at 11-45am and Chris B joined us. We followed Bob`s trusty sat nav and arrived around 1pm, nobody told us of the long muddy walk to the area the bird was frequenting. We found around 20 birders but, you guessed it no bird. It had been chased off by the local Sparrowhawk about 10 minutes prior to our arrival. Nige S from York had arrived and he told us that Adam Hutt had found the thrush (famous for finding the Rock Thrush at Spurn / Kilnsea a few years ago) this morning. After about an hour of searching and wandering around the birders all moved with a purpose, the bird had been found in a field near the village.
The same muddy trail back to the car park was followed, then lots more mud to splash through. After the 20 minute hike to the village a crowd of birders seemed to be looking at something, scopes all pointed down into a field with a green crop in it, was the thrush there? Yes it was, if a little distant, a few borrowed scope views of the bird soon confirmed the identification. After 10 minutes the flock of thrushes flew up into the tallest tree and began to preen, again distant scope views were made, time to move on we thought. Bob K had a bright idea to follow another very muddy trail to get to where the thrush had been sat, okay we did follow him and saw a couple of Siskin for our troubles, but alas no thrush. We all arrived back at Bob`s car looking like we had been playing football, steaming & muddy. The Black throated Thrush had been a new bird for Chris B, so the effort we made was well worth it. We arrived back in Rochdale by 6pm.
Lunchtime visit today. Bolton upon Dearne / Adwick Washlands.
1 Black-throated Thrush (Lifer) A beautiful 1st winter female that I saw virtually on arrival, not even half a mile from the car. She was very active and disappeared for a few minutes before reappearing in the next boggy field. She showed well before flying into the hedgerow trees then flew off distantly away from us and she was lost to view, much to the frustration of the arriving birders but I could only think how lucky I was and how valuable Ian's text service was today!
Other birds of note... 1 Song Thrush 1 Redwing 2 Blackbird (all with the Thrush) 2 Little Egret Plus all the usual winter Wildfowl
Any help with the sex of the Dotterel would be much appreciated. The other bird was a lot paler than the photo. Some suggesting a juvenile, but unfortunately I couldn't get a picture.
Finally broke my Dotterel duck today with a trip over to Edge Mount in South Yorkshire this afternoon. At least 2 were showing well from the pea field off Bolsterstone Road where it is opposite Peat Pits Lane.
Also present were 10+ Golden Plover, 2 Dunlin, 20 Lapwing and House Martin. Both Short and Long Eared Owls reported too.
Belated report from some survey work I was completing in Barnby Dun last Thursday 18th Aug. All surveys completed between 8am and 3pm. A definite change of scene from last month, with many of the summer migrants now bigger in numbers from the youngsters knocking about, or absent altogether, with passage very much underway along the River Don and Dun Navigation. But many of the summer visitors such as Oystercatcher and Shelduck have now completely left, but have been replaced by Green Sandpipers and Goosander.
Little Grebe 3 Mute Swan 6 Gadwall 2 Tufted Duck 8 Goosander 2 Sparrowhawk 1 Kestrel 3 Green Sandpiper 4 Common Sandpiper 2 Kingfisher 2 Green Woodpecker 4 Great Spotted Woodpecker 6 Stock Dove 12 Meadow Pipit 4 Yellow Wagtail 12 House Martin 60+ Swallow 30+ Swift 15+ Whitethroat 20+ Willow Warbler 10+ Chiffchaff 4 Blackcap 2 Reed Bunting 3
One more trip to this site then its my 12 months up, so will be a shame to be leaving this site after becoming so familiar with its avifauna. So far a I've seen a total of 101 species, but who knows I might just get an extra one today!!
In Sheffield Town centre early this afternoon on a non-birding visit and I was walking down towards the lower end of The Moor when all the Feral Pigeons and Starlings suddenly went frantically up in the air before a Peregrine Falcon came in fast and came down to low level as it hunted. A great but brief spectacle....provided you are not a Starling or a Feral Pigeon of course!
Just completed several surveys at Barnby Dun, South Yorks yesterday afternoon and today. Lots of activity this week, especially this morning just after sunrise for a common bird census. As well as seeing lots of birds I also came across a few eggs today, unfortunetely on the paths and under bushes that had been predated by fox? Crows?, not sure! I found a smashed up Oystercatcher egg first, then later found a blackbird egg with yolk still running out so must have been very freshly stolen from a nest, shame . On the plus side lots of other bird have successfully bred, with young Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen across the site .
Mute Swan 12 Gadwall 9 Tufted Duck 6 Shelduck 7 Oystercatcher 4 Lapwing 3 Sparrowhawk 2 Kestrel 4 Peregrine 3 (two diving around together, with a third in view at same time a distance away also sky diving!?) Barn Owl 1 Kingfisher 1 Green Woodpecker 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker 1 Cuckoo (heard and seen a few times) Stock Dove 6 Sand Martin 3 House Martin 10+ Swallow 20+ Swift 20+ Skylark 2 Lesser Whitethroat 1 Whitethroat 20+ Willow Warbler 15+ Chiffchaff 15+ Blackcap 20+ Sedge Warbler 10 Reed Bunting 8 Yellowhammer 5
Owston Hall Hotel (26th/27th) Little Owl 1 Tawny Owl 2 Chiffchaff 2 Willow Warbler 3 Blackcap 2
Hatfield Moore (27th) Truely wonderful area. I visited it between a few surveys for a couple of hours spreading myself between a walk round a body of water near the main reserve car park, followed by a visit to another smaller lake nearby and then to Ten Acres Lake. I won't bore you with all the birds I saw, but highlights below from each site:
Main Reserve Common Sandpiper Oystercatcher 8 Yellow Wags 5 Wheatear 6 Whitethroat 3
Small Water body nearby Little Grebe 4 Great Crested Grebe 12 Black-necked Grebe 3 Tufted Duck 14 Yellow Wagtail 12 Lots of Warblers
Ten Acres Lake A really brilliant little spot, with a wide range of warblers singing all over, but the main bird for me was a Red-necked Grebe in full summer plumage Apparently it has been coming to the lake for the last 4-5 summers and tries to pair up with the local Great Cresteds, poor thing. It was diving lots, but did swim about with nest material from time to time, well you can't knock it for trying heh!? Seeing them in summer plumage is a real delight and if you have not seen one then why not treat yourself to a visit some time. I can now fully understand how it gets its scientific name of podiceps grisegena, which translates as grey (grise) cheeked (gena) podiceps (grebe), as although the red neck is lovely and stands out it is the light grey cheek that makes it stand out so much.
A lovely couple of days, although up very early and tired now!? Off to Heysham tomorrow though, so no rest for the wicked!?
-- Edited by Sean Sweeney on Tuesday 27th of April 2010 08:24:08 PM
any one going to poteric. assuming you're on your way over from here and going by the woodhead.
once you reach meadowhell keep your eye out for grey heron flying over the motorway as it seems to spend much of it's life flying backwards and forwards over here to start your day off.
then as you get between junctions 1 and 2 sky watching to the left may well get you a couple of buzzard ticks, occasionally you will mis them though as they sit on the fence and watch the cars go by. giving a brief yet very close up view.
No at all Mike but it seems the Manchester Birding website is often overlooked as the resource it truely is and as it takes up so much of my time...
Advertising what already exisits of the website just means that less folk look there in the first place and encourages others to post similar news. With the turnover of threads on this forum due to the large amounts of posts each day, any information on here is quickly lost. Hence it's rightful place on the website
Mike, if people were that interested they'd already know that the full Stockport Birdwatching Society's indoor and outdoor programme is and always has been, available on the Manchester Birding website
If any of you are free, interested and in the area on Wednesday (the 31st March).....
Stockport Birdwatching Society (SBS) have a talk on "A Year at Potteric Carr" by Alan Parker. Alan 'does' Potteric at least once a week. He has time for this as his "job" is to give evening talks. His slides are very good and he speaks knowledgeably and passionately about his subject.
All SBS Indoor Meetings are held at Tiviot Dale Methodist Church, Tiviot Dale, Stockport SK1 1TA - £2 for non-members
I would have explored the area more Andy, had it not been smookin down ........I bought the `Old Moor Wetlands Area Bird Report 2007` from the shop, and after having a brief sken through it the whole area appears to be very interesting.
If you are at Old Moor, a trip 2 minutes the other side of roundabout at Wombwell Ings is a must!
If anything this has been more productive than Old Moor itself this year. Also Bolton Ings (which you can walk to from Wombwell Ings) has had Red Crested Pochard last few days.
And so it came to pass that Ellie-birder pulled "WTWBI Yorkshire" off the shelf last night, and fate dealt me a cruel blow........"Lets go there," she said, "We`ve never been before." "The weather is going to be sh*&e," I said. "It`s got a cafe and hides," she said.....
Brambling (m) at the feeders was probably the bird of the day,
4+ Ringed Plover 1 Shelduck 6+ Redshank 5+ Oystercatcher 6 Snipe Tree Sparrows 2 Linnet many Wigeon 2 Willow Tit 1 Stock Dove
Weather was atrocious. Might go back one day........
Having spent the winter completing surveys around Barnby Dun I am now able to get to others sites with the light being longer, so hope to post more sightings from my visits from now on, from South Yorkshire in general. It is interesting to see some of the wintering birds reducing in numbers, but some like Woodcock and Green Sandpiper are still knocking about. With other birds like LT Tits, Bullfinches and Yellowhammers it is nice to see them now paired up along hedgerows and bushes preparing for the breeding season ahead. Tuesday 23rd (am) - Barnby Dun Little Grebe 2 Shelduck 2 Wigeon 2 Tufted Duck 15 Gadwall 30+ Teal 20+ Goosander 4 Buzzard 2 Kestrel 2 Sparrowhawk 2 Peregrine 2 Oystercatcher 2 Woodcock 2 Green Sandpiper 1 Swallow (1 north at 07:10hrs, possibly my earliest record ever) Chiffchaff 8 Meaow Pipit 20+ (mostly flying north overhead) Bulfinch 4 Willow Tit 2 Yellowhammer 4 Tuesday 23rd (pm) - Potteric Carr After survey work I popped in to Potteric Carr, just south of Doncaster, cracking place which I hope to visit again. Although not a great deal about yesterday, it was lovely to catch up with Sand Martins again, plus a few other birds of interest: Shoveller 6 Tufted Duck 30+ Gadwall 20+ Teal 200+ Wigeon 4 Buzzard 2 Redshank 2 Oystercatcher 2 Kingfisher 1 Sand Martin 19 Chiffchaff 4
. My 300th lifer since re-starting a list in 2020! I'd hoped for a special bird for 300 and this one is little beauty.
. On the plus side lots of other bird have successfully bred, with young Blackbirds, Mistle Thrushes, Mallard, Coot and Moorhen across the site 
Off to Heysham tomorrow though, so no rest for the wicked!? 
