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Birds and Habitats in the SBSG area.
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Localities and Habitats in the Sheffield Area - Catcliffe Flash

Catcliffe Flash [Local Nature Reserve] lies between the villages of Treeton and Catcliffe, just south of the M1 and SE of Sheffield City Airport. It is a shallow subsidence flash, no more than a metre or two in depth at most. The River Rother flows along the back [north] of the site and this occasionally floods - badly so in winter 2000-2001. Viewing is easy from the small flash-side car park, or it is possible to walk around the flash on public footpaths. Unfortunately the water is not shielded from a length of the footpath along the back of the flash and is thus exposed to people [and dogs] walking along that stretch.

A good cross-section of species can be seen here. Herons loaf regularly, sometime into double figures, and both Great Crested and Little Grebes breed. In recent years, one of two artificial rafts has provided a breeding platform for Common Terns which have been mostly successful. Mute Swans also breed annually, but have often suffered from human disturbance/predation. Shoveler, Pochard and Ruddy Duck have all bred occasionally. The surrounding willow scrub is good for Willow Warblers, Blackcap and Willow Tit, and this is one of the sites at which, in the past, Turtle Dove good be guaranteed. Sadly, no longer so. The hirundines are well represented from spring through summer and Kingfisher is regular [with patience]. In winter, most of the common ducks can be seen, even when the flash is virtually frozen over and in recent winters Goosanders regularly commute to and from Treeton Dyke and other waters along the Rother Valley, with numbers of this species often in the high twenties, occasionally higher. Catcliffe Flash also holds a regular autumn/winter Magpie roost, which has often been one of the largest in the area. Less common species recorded here have included Marsh Harrier and Osprey, with its' biggest claim to fame probably being a male Little Bittern on 24th [and probably 23rd] August 1967. This photograph was taken by Paul Leonard on behalf of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council.

Take at look at the weekly site data for this locality.

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