Sunday 28th November 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 2; Gadwall - 13; Teal - 15; Shoveler - 37; Pochard - 6; Tufted Duck - c.60; Bullfinch - 3.

Sunday 21st November 2004
All wildfowl except the Shoveler on river as flash c.80% frozen: Cormorant - 7 on river; Grey Heron - 3; Wigeon - 1; Gadwall - 15; Teal - 15; Shoveler - 49; Pochard - 2; Tufted Duck - 85; Goosander - 2 redheads on river + 5 (3m) NE; Water Rail - 1 calling; Redwing - 39; Bullfinch - 7.

Sunday 7th November 2004
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 5 on river; Grey Heron - 1; Gadwall - 2; Teal - 17; Shoveler - 7; Sparrowhawk - 1; Water Rail - 1 calling; Snipe - 1; Green Woodpecker - 1; Redwing - 53; Willow Tit - 1; Bullfinch - 10.

Sunday 31st October 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 2; Cormorant - 6; Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 1pr + 1 cygnet; Gadwall - 22; Teal - 34; Shoveler - 19 + 1 hybrid (x Bahama Pintail?) female; Tufted Duck - c.20; Water Rail - 1 calling; Snipe - 4; Willow Tit - 2; Bullfinch - 5.

Summary, 4th to 20th October 2004
Little Grebe - 1 on 10/10; Great Crested Grebe - 1-2 regularly; Cormorant - 10 on 10/10, 7 on 17/10; Grey Heron - 1-2 regularly; Mute Swan - 1pr + 1 cygnet; Gadwall - 18 on 10/10, 9 on 17/10; Teal - 30 on 10/10, 17 on 17/10; Shoveler - 3 + 1 hybrid 10/10, 7 on 17/10; Tufted Duck - 9 regularly; Sparrowhawk - 2 on 10/10; Water Rail - 1 calling on 17/10; Snipe - 2-3 regularly; Redwing - 84 on 10/10; Fieldfare - 10 on 10/10, c.50 N on 17/10; Chiffchaff - 1 on 17/10; Willow Tit - 1-2 regularly; Jay - 6 caching acorns on 17/10; Lesser Redpoll - singles on 10 & 17/10.

Sunday 3rd October 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 2; Cormorant - 15, inc 5 NE along river; Grey Heron - 2; Mute Swan - 1pr + 1 cygnet; Wigeon - 4m; Teal - 32; Gadwall - 23; Shoveler - 3m, 3f + 1 'hybrid' f; Tufted Duck - 7; Moorhen - 13; Water Rail - 1 calling; Snipe - 6; Swallow - 1 over Thrybergh; Redwing - 3 W; Mistle Thrush - 7; Goldcrest - 6; Willow Tit - 2.

Sunday 19th September 2004
Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 3; Mute Swan - 1pr + 2 imms; Gadwall - 2; Teal - 1; Moorhen - 17; Coot - 8; Snipe - 8; Grey Wagtail - 2; Mistle thrush - 7; Chiffchaff - 3, inc 1 singing; Willow Tit - 1; Bullfinch - 2.

Sunday 22nd August 2004
Little Grebe - 1ad, 1juv; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 1; Grey Heron - 7; Mute Swan - 1pr + 2 cygnets; Gadwall - 3; Teal - 7; Sparrowhawk - 1; Coot - 21; Moorhen - 5; Green Woodpecker - 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1; Willow Tit - 3. Also: Brown Hawker (2m); Migrant Hawker (1f ). Major excitement centred around the discovery of a very large, noisy and obvious hoverfly, feeding on Creeping Thistle, which turned out to be Volucella inanis [below] - a first for Rotherham.

Photograph Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 8th August 2004
Cormorant - 2 on river; Grey Heron - 10; Mute Swan - 1pr + 2 cygnets; Gadwall - 3; Coot - 18+, inc juvs; Moorhen - 9+, inc juvs; Lapwing - 179; Redshank - 1, presumed same as TCP; Black-headed Gull - 17; Common Tern - 1ad; Green Woodpecker - 1; Stock Dove - 6; Yellow Wagtail - 1 south; Willow Tit - 5. Also: Brown Hawker (2m); Brimstone (1m)

Sunday 1st August 2004
Little Grebe - 1ad + 3juvs; Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 2; Mute Swan - 1pr + 1 cygnet; Gadwall - 15, inc juvs; Ruddy Duck - 5m, 2f/juv; Coot - 18 inc juvs; Moorhen - 18 inc juvs; Common Tern - 2 ads; Green Woodpecker - 1 calling; Reed Warbler - 2 singing; Willow Tit - 5; Treecreeper - 1.

Sunday 11th July 2004
Little Grebe - min 3 ads + 2 juvs; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Cormorant - 4; Grey Heron - 9; Mute Swan - 1pr + 2 juvs; Gadwall - 5f + 16 juvs; Ruddy Duck - 2m, 3f; Coot - 11 + 2juvs; Moorhen - 8 + 1 juv; Common Tern - 2 ads + 1 juv; Kingfisher - 1; Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling [below]. Also: Ringlet (2); lots of Viper's Bugloss in flower [below].

Photographs Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 4th July 2004
Little Grebe - 3+; Cormorant - 4, Grey Heron - 6; Mute Swan - 1pr + 3 cygnets; Gadwall - 2ads + 2 juvs; Tufted Duck - 4m, 2f; Ruddy Duck - 3m, 3f; Lapwing - c.30; Grey wagtail - 1; Willow Tit - 5+, inc 1 singing. Also: Comma (1); Ringlet (2).

Sunday 27th June 2004
Little Grebe - 1 sitting on exposed nest; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - 1pr + 3 cygnets (down from 6); Gadwall - 6f + 3juvs; Lapwing - 31 (post-breeding flock); Turtle Dove - 1 NE; Willow Tit - 2+; Bullfinch - 1pr. Also: Comma (1); Ringlet (1); Red Admiral (1).

Sunday 20th June 2004
Little Grebe - 5ads + 2 juvs. One bird sitting on exposed nest; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr, probably with nest/young; Cormorant - 13; Grey Heron - 5, inc one very dark (contaminated?) bird, looking purplish-brown at distance [below]; Mute Swan - 1pr + 6 cygnets; Gadwall - 6f + 18 juvs in 5 broods; Ruddy Duck - 3m, 3f + 2 juvs; Coot - 18 ads + 3 juvs; Lapwing - post-breeding flock of 29; all warblers - actively feeding young and beginning to sing again; Willow Tit - 3, inc 1 singing.

Photograph Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 13th June 2004
Little Grebe - 4 ads, 1 juv + 1 active nest; Cormorant - 6; Grey Heron - 3; Mute Swan - breeding confirmed: 1pr + 6 cygnets; Gadwall - 12 ads + 12 juvs in 2 broods; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - 3m, 1f; Ruddy Duck - breeding confirmed: 2m, 2f + 2juvs; Lapwing - 3; Little Ringed Plover - 2; Black-headed Gull 14; Common Tern - 1; Willow Tit - 1 family party. Also: Speckled Wood (4+); Banded Demoiselle (1m); Emperor Dragonfly (1m).

Sunday 6th June 2004
Little Grebe - 4ads + 2 juvs; Great Crested Grebe - 1 visible; Cormorant - 33 sat on ground loafing/wing drying in sunshine; Grey Heron - 7; Mute Swan - 1 visible; Gadwall - 8m, 3f, breeding confirmed with broods of 6 & 7; Tufted Duck - 1pr; Ruddy Duck - 1m; Sparrowhawk - 1; Kestrel - 1pr; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Ringed Plover - 1; Grasshopper Warbler - 2 'reeling'; Garden Warbler - 3+ singing; Jackdaw - 2 scavenging by water's edge - unusual here. Also: Wasp Beetle (1); Blue-tailed Damselfly (2); Banded Demoiselle (a 'colony' of c.15m and less than 10f.

Monday 31st May 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 1pr + nest; Cormorant - 20; Grey Heron - 6; Mute Swan - 1 visible, other presumed still sitting; Gadwall - 4m, 2f;
Teal - 1pr; Shoveler - 1f; Pheasant - 2m, 2f - breeding confirmed; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Redshank - 1pr; Black-headed Gull - 12, inc pr displaying/collecting nest material; Turtle Dove - 1 singing from pylon - a great rarity these days [below]; Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling; Garden warbler - 3+ singing; Willow Tit - 2 singing. Also: Speckled Wood (4); Small Heath (1); Marsh Orchid (30-40 spikes) [below].

    
Photographs Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 23rd May 2004
Little Grebe - breeding confirmed: ad + 2juvs, Fatty Boyns Ponds, 2+ trilling; Great Crested Grebe - 2; Cormorant - 4; Grey Heron - 6; Canada Goose - 4; Gadwall - 11; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - 1pr; Ruddy Duck - 5m, 1f; Kestrel - 1m carrying prey; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Lapwing - 6 ads + 2 juvs; Black-headed Gull - 11; Reed Warbler - 5 singing; Garden Warbler - 1-2 singing; Chiffchaff - 5+ singing; Willow Tit - 1 singing.

Sunday 16th May 2004
Little Grebe - 2+; Great Crested Grebe - 3+; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - 1pr + nest; Shelduck - 1pr; Gadwall - 6m; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - 1pr; Ruddy Duck- 1f; Lapwing - 4 + 3 juvs; Lesser Whitethroat - 1 singing; Garden Warbler - 1 singing; Willow Tit - 1 singing.

Sunday 2nd May 2004
Little Grebe - 3+; Great Crested Grebe - probably 2prs; Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - 1pr + nest; Canada Goose - 5; Gadwall - 12; Teal - 2prs; Tufted Duck - 9; Ruddy Duck - 2m; Ringed Plover - 1; Lapwing - 2-3prs, one with brood of 3 chicks; Stock Dove - 3; Reed Warbler - 1 singing; Sedge warbler - 5 singing; Lesser Whitethroat - 1 singing; Whitethroat - 21+ singing; Blackcap - 8, inc 5 singing; Chiffchaff - 9+ singing; Willow Warbler - 15+ singing; Reed Bunting - 3 singing.

Sunday 25th April 2004
Little Grebe - 2+; Great Crested Grebe - probably 2prs/nests; Cormorant - 4; Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 1pr + nest; Canada Goose - 5 visible; Gadwall - 4prs + 4m; Teal - 1pr; Tufted Duck - 8; Lapwing - 2f, inc 1 still sitting; Common Tern - 2 (from Thrybergh CP?), displaying on ground [one bird ringed]; Black-headed Gull - 9; Stock Dove - 2, inc 1 singing; Swallow - 2; Grasshopper Warbler - 2 'reeling' within 30m; Sedge Warbler - 1 singing; Whitethroat - at least 10 singing; Blackcap - 3 singing; Chiffchaff - 7 singing; Willow Warbler - at least 16 singing; Goldcrest - 1 singing; Willow Tit - 2 inc 1 singing. Also: Speckled Wood (2); Brimstone (1); Orange Tip (2); Peacock (5) & Small Tortoiseshell (numerous).

Sunday 18th April 2004
Little Grebe - 2+; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr+; Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - 1pr + nest; Canada Goose - 8; Gadwall - 6m, 4f; Teal - 5; Shoveler - 1f; Tufted Duck - 22; Ruddy Duck - 4m, 2f; Oystercatcher - 1, left to W; Lapwing - 3f, inc 1 sitting; Ringed Plover - 2; Common Tern - 1, probably same as Thrybergh CP bird; House Martin - 1; Swallow - 1; Blackcap - 3 singing; Whitethroat - 1 singing; Chiffchaff - 10, inc 9 singing; Willow Warbler - 7 singing; Willow Tit - 1 singing; Bullfinch - 1pr. Also: Snakeshead Fritillary (2 flowering plants, one purple, one white - origins unknown, but worth seeing).

Sunday 11th April 2004
Little Grebe - 2 minimum; Great Crested Grebe - 1 visible - other sitting?; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - as above; Canada Goose - 9; Gadwall - 3prs + 2m; Teal - 5prs; Tufted Duck - 4; Lapwing - 1pr with nest, bird sitting; Blackcap - 5 singing; Chiffchaff - 11 singing; Willow Warbler - 2 singing; Willow Tit - 2 singing; Lesser Redpoll - flock of 23.

Sunday 4th April 2004
Little Grebe - 2; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 1pr; Canada Goose - 6; Teal - 12; Gadwall - 5m, 3f; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - 14; Ruddy Duck - 1m, 1f; Lapwing - 5; Ringed Plover - 1; Sand Martin - 5; Blackcap - 2 singing; Chiffchaff - 10 singing; Willow Warbler - 2 singing; Willow Tit - 2, inc 1 singing; Bullfinch - 2 prs.

Sunday 21st March 2004
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 3; Cormorant - 4; Mute Swan - 4 [2 'evicted' by resident pair left W]; Canada Goose - 5; Gadwall - 3; Teal - 11; Pochard - 3; Tufted Duck - 12; Ruddy Duck - 3 (2m); Coot - 6; Moorhen - 12; Lapwing - 2; Chiffchaff - 2 singing; Goldcrest - 1 singing; Coal Tit - 2, inc 1 singing.

Sunday 14th March 2004
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Grey Heron - 3; Mute Swan - 1pr; Gadwall - 12 (7m); Teal - 9; Shoveler - 1m; Pochard - 6; Tufted Duck - 14; Sparrowhawk - 2; Coot - 15; Moorhen - 17; Lapwing - 2 (display); Black-headed Gull - c.40; Goldcrest - 3, inc 1 singing; Coal Tit - 2, inc 1 singing; Willow Tit - 1.

Sunday 7th March 2004
Little Grebe - 1; Grey Heron - 7; Mute Swan - 2; Gadwall - 1pr; Teal - 22; Pochard - 1f; Tufted Duck - 1pr; Goosander - 1pr NE; Moorhen - 11; Stock Dove - 8; Bullfinch - 2pr.

Thursday 4th March 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Common Buzzard - 1 soaring over; Willow Tit - 3.

Sunday 29th February 2004
Little Grebe - 1 in breeding plumage on river; Cormorant - 5 on river; Grey Heron - 4; Mute Swan - 1pr; Gadwall - 11 + 1 hybrid drake; Teal - 47; Shoveler - 1pr; Goosander - 1m, 1 imm m on river; Sparrowhawk - 2, inc 1f soaring over calling; Woodcock - 1 flushed; Green Woodpecker - 1; Stock Dove - 9; Grey Wagtail - 1; Goldcrest - 1 singing; Willow Tit - 6, inc 1 singing; Treecreeper - 1 singing; Reed Bunting - 2 singing.

Sunday 22nd February 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 1 on river; Gadwall - 3m, 2f; Teal - 20; Goosander - 5 (2m) NE; 1m on river; Sparrowhawk - 1m, 1f displaying; Coot - 13; Moorhen - 17.

Sunday 8th February 2004
Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 2; Mute Swan - 2; Gadwall - 16 + 1 hybrid drake; Teal - 25; Shoveler - 1; Goldcrest - 3-4; Willow Tit - 1; Linnet - c.20; Bullfinch - 5.

Sunday 1st February 2004
Little Grebe - 1 river; Cormorant - 1; Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 2; Gadwall - 16 (7m); Teal - c20; Shoveler - 7 (3m); Black-headed Gull - c.150; Stock Dove - 3.

Sunday 18th January 2004
Grey Heron - 3; Gadwall - 14 on river; Teal - 27 on river; Shoveler - 4 on river; Goosander - 3m, 2f on river; Kingfisher - 1 river; Little Owl - 1 calling from adjacent Corus site; Willow Tit - 4.

Sunday 11th January 2004
Cormorant - 2; Gadwall - 9; Teal - 8; Shoveler - 5; Moorhen - 12; Goldcrest - 3; Bullfinch - 8.

Sunday 28th December 2003
Cormorant - 4, inc one in full breeding plumage; Grey Heron - 3; Pink-footed Goose - 160-170 SE at 1000hrs; Gadwall - 14; Teal - 15; Shoveler - 6.

Sunday 7th December 2003 - unless otherwise indicated.
Cormorant - 12, 09/12; Grey Heron - 4; Wigeon - 12 over & left towards TCP; Teal - 59, 09/12; Pintail - 2 (see also TCP); Shoveler - 17; Goldeneye - 1 superb m; Goosander - 2 on river + 6-8 flying up and down, 09/12; Black-headed Gull - 39; Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - 1f with Long-tailed Tit flock [A.Roadhouse]; Goldcrest - 7; Bullfinch - 10, 09/12.

Sunday 30th November 2003
Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 3; Wigeon - 1; Gadwall - 1; Teal - 4; Mallard - 11; Goosander - 1m, 2f/imm NE along river; Moorhen - 10; Lapwing - 71 W; Golden Plover - c.50 S; Herring Gull - 149 W; Stock Dove - 7; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1; Chiffchaff - 1; Goldfinch - 25 feeding on Alder cones.

Sunday 23rd November 2003
Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 3; Wigeon - 1; Gadwall - 1pr; Teal - 5; Kingfisher - 1; Green Woodpecker - 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1; Willow Tit - 2; Goldfinch - 20; Bullfinch - 9.

Sunday 16th November 2003
Cormorant - 2; Mute Swan - 3; Teal - 2; Sparrowhawk - 1; Long-eared Owl - 1 accidentally flushed, disappeared into dense scrub; Green Woodpecker - 1; Grey Wagtail - 1; Blackcap - 1f; Goldcrest - 6; Willow Tit - 3; Waxwing - 19 NW 1103h.

Sunday 9th November 2003
Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 5; Wigeon - 1m, 4f; Gadwall - 5; Teal - 5; Mallard - 19; Moorhen - 13; Lapwing - 36 west; Green Woodpecker - 1; Fieldfare/Redwing - mixed flock c.100 moved S; Goldcrest - 4; Reed Bunting - 3.

Sunday 2nd November 2003
Cormorant - 6; Teal - 7; Goldcrest - 4; Willow Tit - 4.

Sunday 26th October 2003
Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 1; Teal - 15; Sparrowhawk - 2f, 1m; Herring Gull - 12W, 1NE; Skylark - 20 on stubbles adjacent Fatty Boyns Ponds; Goldcrest - 7; Willow Tit - 4; Yellowhammer - 45 on stubbles adjacent Fatty Boyns Ponds.

Sunday 19th October 2003
Cormorant - 5; Grey Heron - 6; Teal - 10; Sparrowhawk - 2; Snipe - 3; Fieldfare - c.30; Redwing - 80-90; Willow Tit - 3.

Sunday 12th October 2003
Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 4; Wigeon - 3; Teal - 9; Snipe - 4.

Summary, 28th September to 5th October 2003
Little Grebe - 2 regularly; Cormorant - max 11, 05/10; Grey Heron - max 4, 05/10; Gadwall - 5, 28/09; Teal - max 12, 05/10; Lapwing - 16, 28/09; Snipe - max 9, 28/09; Grey Wagtail - 2, 30/09; Blackbird - marked influx, inc party of c.30, 28/09; Chiffchaff - 2-3 regularly; Goldcrest - marked influx - 8, 28/09; Willow Tit - 4, 28/09; Siskin - 4 W, 05/10; Lesser Redpoll - 9, 30/09. Also: Painted Lady (4), 30/09.

Sunday 21st September 2003
Little Grebe - 2; Cormorant - 2 on river; Heron - 4; Teal - 20; Moorhen - 19; Lapwing - c.40; Snipe - 1; Kingfisher - 1; House Martin - 25 S; Swallow - 4 S; Song Thrush - 9, inc 1-2 in high from E, calling, presumed migrants; Chiffchaff - 7, inc 4 singing; Blackcap - 5 males together in same bush; Goldcrest - 3. Also: Migrant Hawker - 3.

Monday 8th September 2003
Little Grebe - still 1 ad + 1juv; Cormorant - 14; Heron - 4; Teal - 15; Ruddy Duck - 1; Lapwing - 93; Snipe - 14; Green Sandpiper - 1; Stock Dove - 30; Chiffchaff - 6, inc 2 singing.

Sunday 31st August 2003
Cormorant - 11; Heron - 4; Gadwall - 3; Teal - 16; Sparrowhawk - 2 soaring together; Lapwing - 97; Green Sandpiper - 1; Black-headed Gull - 35; Swift - 7 high over; Chiffchaff - 7+, inc 2 singing; Willow Tit - 2. Also: Red Admiral (4); Comma (2); Small Heath (1); Speckled Wood (29+); Migrant Hawker (1)

Sunday 24th August 2003
Little Grebe - 1juv; Cormorant - 10; Heron - 4; Gadwall - 4; Teal - 6; Tufted Duck - 1; Moorhen - 28+, inc juvs; Lapwing - 62; Snipe - 3; Green Sandpiper - 1; Black-headed Gull - 32; Kingfisher - 1; Stock Dove - 3. Also: Brown Hawker (1); Migrant Hawker (1); Speckled Wood (11+).

Sunday 17th August 2003
Cormorant - 2; Heron - 8; Gadwall - 3; Teal - 7; Tufted Duck - 1; Lapwing - 37; Green Sandpiper - 1; Common Tern - 1 juv; Green Woodpecker - 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1. Also: Speckled Wood (c.20); Comma (2); Peacock (1).

Sunday 10th August 2003.
Little Grebe - 1ad + 1juv main marsh; 1pr + 2 recently hatched chick, Fatty Boyns Ponds; Great Crested Grebe - 1juv; Black Swan - 2 briefly; Black-headed Gull - 34; Common Tern - 3ads, 2 fledged juvs. Also: Brown Hawker (1); Migrant Hawker (2 males).

Photograph Copyright © Paul Leonard

Friday 8th August 2003
Cormorant - 5; Heron - 8; Gadwall - 6; Teal - 6; Stock Dove - 8.

Sunday 3rd August 2003
Little Grebe - 2ads, 1juv; Great Crested Grebe - 1ad, 1juv; Cormorant - 3; Heron - 6; Canada Goose - 1pr+4juvs; Gadwall - 15; Teal - 5; Sparrowhawk - 1 carrying prey; Lapwing - 56; Snipe - 2; Common Tern - 2ads, 2 fledged juvs (presumed one of Thrybergh broods); Green woodpecker - 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1; Stock Dove - 3 inc 1 singing; Willow Tit - 4.

Sunday 27th July 2003
Little Grebe - 2 ads, 1juv; Great Crested Grebe - 1 ad, 1 juv; Cormorant - 12; Heron - 5; Canada Goose - 2ads + 4 juvs; Black Swan - 2; Gadwall - 5f + 9 juvs; Teal - 3; Lapwing - 60-70; Ringed Plover - 2; Redshank - 1; Common Sandpiper - 1; Black-headed Gull - 14, inc 2 juvs; Reed Warbler - 2-3 singing again; Willow tit - 2+. Also, butterflies: Speckled Wood (7); Comma (2); Red Admiral (2); Gatekeeper (extremely common - too many to count!).

Sunday 20th July 2003
Little Grebe - 1ad + 2juvs; Grest Crested Grebe - 1ad + 1juv; Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 3; Gadwall - 8, inc juvs; Lapwing - c75; Ringed Plover - 2; Black-headed Gull - 39, inc 4 juvs; Common Tern - 1; Willow Tit - 3+. Also: Painted Lady (2); Speckled Wood (2).

Sunday 13th July 2003
Little Grebe - 1+; Great Crested Grebe - breeding finally confirmed - 1pr + 1 juv finally appearing; Cormorant - 10; Heron - 3; Canada Goose - 1pr + 4 juvs; Gadwall - 3ads + 7juvs; Ringed Plover - 5; Lapwing - c20; Black-headed Gull - 15 inc 3 juvs; Lesser Black-backed Gull - 41 west together; Kingfisher - 1; Willow Tit - 2+. Also: Emperor Dragonfly (1m) + Brown Hawker (2) on Fatty Boyns Ponds, Black-tailed Skimmer (1m) on main marsh. Stoat (1), Fox (1), Ringlet (1) and masses of Gatekeepers.

Sunday 6th July 2003
Little Grebe - 2ads + 1juv; Cormorant - 18; Grey Heron - 6; Canada Goose - 1pr + 4 juvs; Gadwall - 3 + 6juvs; Teal - 5; Shoveler - 2m + 1f; Tufted Duck - 1pr; Ruddy Duck - 3m + 1f; Kestrel - 3; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Ringed Plover - 7; Lapwing - 51; Green Sandpiper - 2; Lesser Black-backed Gull - 55W inc 43 together; Common Tern - 3.

Summary for 22nd to 29th June 2003
Little Grebe - 1pr + 1juv main marsh + juv Fatty Boyns Ponds, 25/06; Great Crested Grebe - 1ad 22/06. No signs of second ad + juv; Cormorant - 26 on 22/06; 29 on 25/06; Grey Heron - 8, 22/06; 6, 25/06; Canada Goose - 1pr + 4 well-grown young still present; Gadwall - ff + broods of 3, 4, 4 & 6 on main marsh; f + brood 6, Fatty Boyns Ponds, all on 22/06; Teal - 2m, 22/06; 6m, 1f, 25/06; Shoveler - 1f, 22/06; Tufted Duck - 7, 22/06; Ruddy Duck - max 4m, 1f, 22/06; 'Large wader' sp - 5 (probably Oystercatcher) NW on 22/06; Little Ringed Plover - 1 on 25/06; Ringed Plover - 6, inc 2 fledged juvs, 22/06; 3, 25/06; Lapwing - max 10, 25/06, no proof of breeding so far; Redshank - 1, 25/06; Common Tern - 2 present on 22/06, but nest gone completely, 1 on 25/06; Garden Warbler - 1 singing, 22/06. Also: Red Admiral on 22/06 & 25/06 (2).

Thursday 26th June 2003 [M.Langston]
This morning: 12 Heron, 28 Cormorants loafing on the mud, 3 Teal [2m1f], a fem Tufted Duck with 5 young, 4 Ruddy Duck [3m1f], one Redshank, 7 Ringed Plovers, 2 Little Ringed Plovers and 2 Common Terns, 2 singing Reed Warblers and c.70 Swifts; a Cuckoo flew over the main lake into marsh at 1030h, and 2 Turtle Dove SE at 1050h.

Sunday 22nd June 2003 [M.Langston]
This morning: a Green Sandpiper for 10 minutes between 0730 to 0740h, 5 Ringed Plover included a party of 4 NE at 0830h, 2 Little Ringed Plovers, a Common Tern, 19 Cormorant, 9 Tufted Duck, 3 Ruddy Duck, a Kingfisher and a single Red Admiral butterfly.

Sunday 15th June 2003
Great Crested Grebe - breeding confirmed: 1pr + 1 recently hatched juv; Cormorant - 20, loafing/drying-off on main marsh; Heron - 8; Canada Goose - false alarm, juvs not completely lost, 1pr + 4 juvs (down from 5); Gadwall - 6 + 7juvs; Teal - 1m; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - breeding confirmed: 3m, 2f + brood of 6; Ruddy Duck - 4m; Sparrowhawk - 1f; Kestrel - 1 carrying prey; Ringed Plover - 3 (territorial); Little Ringed Plover - 3 (territorial); Lapwing - 7 ads; Redshank - 1; Common Tern - 1pr + nest with bird sitting / nest a pad of dead vegetation on edge of large, muddy island [below left]. Also of interest: Painted Lady (2); Comma (1); Speckled Wood (3); Silver Y moth (1); lots of Marsh Orchids [below right].

   
Photographs Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 8th June 2003
Little Grebe - breeding confirmed - an adult with at least 1 juv, Fatty Boyns Ponds; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr again visible, but no evidence of breeding; Cormorant - 13, including 11 standing on island in main marsh drying off; Grey Heron - 2; Canada Goose - 2 ads, but no signs of juvs - presumed lost !!; Gadwall - 10, mostly moulting drakes, loafing around + 2 ducks with broods of 3 and 4; Tufted Duck - 5; Ruddy Duck - 3m; Sparrowhawk - 1 over; Kestrel - 1pr hunting; Lapwing - 5; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Black-headed Gull - 17 (territorial behaviour); Common Tern - max 4, inc 1pr displaying & apparently nest-building on island in main marsh; Sedge Warbler - 5 singing; Whitethroat - breeding confirmed; Blackcap - 2 singing; Garden warbler - 2 singing; Chiffchaff - 2 singing; Willow Tit - breeding confirmed.

Sunday 25th May 2003
Little Grebe - 1 visible; Great Crested Grebe - 1 ad on river; Cormorant - 2; Heron - 4; Canada Goose - 1pr + 5 juvs (1 presumed lost); Gadwall - 15; Shoveler - 1m; Ruddy Duck - 6m, 3f (below left); Kingfisher - 1 river; Grasshopper Warbler - 1 'reeling' (below right); Reed Warbler - 1 singing; Sedge Warbler - 7 singing; Garden warbler - 1 singing; Whitethroat - 12+ singing; Chiffchaff - 2 singing; Willow Tit - 1 singing.

   
Photographs Copyright © Paul Leonard

Sunday 18th May 2003
Little Grebe - 1 visible; Great Crested Grebe - 1 visible; Cormorant - 4 along river; Canada Goose - breeding confirmed: 1pr + 6 juvs; Greylag Goose - 2; Gadwall - 24, mostly drakes starting moult into eclipse; Shoveler - 3m; Tufted Duck - 3; Ruddy Duck - 2m, 1f; Sparrowhawk - 1; Common Tern - 1; Great Spotted Woodpecker - 1 carrying food; Reed Warbler - 2 singing, main flash; Sedge Warbler - 8 singing; Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling; Lesser Whitethroat - 1 singing; Whitethroat - 18+ singing;
Blackcap - 2 singing; Chiffchaff - 4 singing; Willow Tit - 2 inc 1 singing. Also - Fox (1)

Monday 5th May 2003
Cormorant - 1; Canada Goose - 1pr + nest; Gadwall - 24 + 1 hybrid drake; Teal - 3; Shoveler - 2prs; Tufted Duck - 13; Ruddy Duck - 6m, 3f; Redshank - 1; Common Tern - 3; Reed Warbler - 1 singing, main flash; Willow Tit - 2.

Sunday 27th April 2003
Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Cormorant - 4; Gadwall - 25 + 1 hybrid drake; Teal - 1pr; Shoveler - 1m; Tufted Duck - 13; Ruddy Duck - 3m, 3f; Redshank - 1; Common Sandpiper - 1; Common Tern - 3; Kingfisher - 1; Swift - 3; Grasshopper Warbler - 1 reeling; Sedge Warbler - 3 singing (1 ringed bird); Blackcap - 2 singing; Whitethroat - 10+ singing; Chiffchaff - 2 singing; Willow Warbler - 9+ singing.

Sunday 20th April 2003
Cormorant - 3; Gadwall - 12; Teal - 1pr; Shoveler - 2prs; Tufted Duck - 19; Ruddy Duck - 1m, 1f; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Redshank - 1pr; Common Tern - 1 on river; Sand Martin - 1; Swallow - 2; House Martin - 2; Whitethroat - 2 singing; Blackcap - 2 singing; Chiffchaff - 5+ singing; Willow Warbler - 8+ singing.

Sunday 13th April 2003
Little Grebe - 4+; Great Crested Grebe - 1pr; Cormorant - 1; Canada Goose - 1pr + nest; Gadwall - 9; Tufted Duck - 14 [copulation observed]; Little Ringed Plover - 3 over from W, calling/displaying; Lapwing - 1pr; Oystercatcher - 2, left N, 0939h; Redshank - 1; Blackcap - 1 singing; Chiffchaff - 1 singing; Willow warbler - 1 singing; Treecreeper - 1 singing.

Sunday 6th April 2003
Marsh Harrier - a male drifted over from W, circled, gaining height and left E/SE at 0953h. Alerted birders at Thrybergh CP who located the bird moving high to E a few minutes later, finally disappearing over Hooton Roberts. Also: Little Grebe - 4+; Great Crested Grebe - 4; Cormorant - 3; Grey Heron - 3; Gadwall - 3prs; Teal - 1; Tufted Duck - 5; Ruddy Duck - 3m; Blackcap - 1 singing; Chiffchaff - 8 singing; Willow Warbler - 1 singing; Willow Tit - 2.

Sunday 30th March 2003
Little Grebe - 3; Great Crested Grebe - 3; Cormorant - 4; Grey Heron - 3; Greylag Goose - 1; Gadwall - 12; Shoveler - 1 pr; Ruddy Duck - 4m, 1f; Kestrel - 3 fem in the air together, sparring/calling; Chiffchaff - 4 singing; Willow Tit - 3, incl 2 singing.

Sunday 23rd March 2003
Little Grebe - 4; Great Crested Grebe - 4; Cormorant - 4; Gadwall - 31; Teal - 11; Tufted Duck - 7; Goosander - 1f; Ruddy Duck - 1m; Coot - 25-30; Lapwing - 5; Ringed Plover - 1; Woodcock - 1 flushed; Chiffchaff - 4 singing; Willow Tit - 1 singing; Reed Bunting - 2-3 singing.

Sunday 16th March 2003
Little Grebe - 3; Great Crested Grebe - 5; Cormorant - 5 on river; Gadwall - 4pr + 2males; Teal - 12; Shoveler - 1pr; Tufted Duck - 8.

Sunday 23rd February 2003
Cormorant - 5 on river; Grey Heron - 3; Canada Goose - 14, inc 10 west (with presumably the same 10 at Aldwarke SF); Gadwall - 4; Teal - 24; Green Woodpecker - 1; Willow Tit - 3 inc 1 singing; Bullfinch - 2 or 3.

Sunday 2nd February 2003
Pochard - 40; Little Owl - 1 calling from adjacent Corus site;

Friday 31st January 2003
Teal - 43; Gadwall - 20; Treecreeper - 1 singing.

Sunday 26th January 2003
Pochard - 9; Woodcock - 1.

Sunday 12th January 2003 - [water 100% frozen]
Grey Heron - 1; Mute Swan - 3 on ice; Gadwall - 6 E; Teal - 4 E; Bullfinch - 8 or 9, inc a party of 7.

Friday 27th December 2002
Gadwall - 74.

Sunday 22nd December 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 2; Cormorant - 6; Gadwall - 77, inc 1 hybrid drake; Teal - c.30; Goosander - 1f, south; Snipe - 1; Kingfisher - 1; Fieldfare - c.50; Redwing - c.100; Bullfinch - 6.

Sunday 8th December 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 2 on river; Cormorant - 12; Mute Swan - max 9; Black Swan - 3; Wigeon - 2; Gadwall - 60-70, inc hybrid drake; Teal - 50-60; Shoveler - 4; Redwing - 40-50.

Sunday 1st December 2002
Mute Swan - 3 ads; Wigeon - 2; Gadwall - c.75; Teal - 50-60; Shoveler - 4; Pochard - 11; Tufted Duck - 1.

Sunday 24th November 2002
Little Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 3; Black Swan - 2; Canada Goose - 26; Wigeon - 2; Gadwall - 60+, inc 1-2 hybrid drakes; Teal - 50-60; Shoveler - 5; Woodcock - 1.

Monday 18th November 2002
Little Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 3; Black Swan - 2; Gadwall - 32; Teal - 8; Shoveler - 23; Water Rail - 1 calling; Redwing - 35.

Sunday 3rd November 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 1; Cormorant - 5; Mute Swan - 7; Black Swan - 2 (see above); Teal - 2; Shoveler - 3; Kingfisher - 1.

Sunday 27th October 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 1; Black Swan - 1; Gadwall - 6m, 6f + a hybrid male.

Sunday 20th October 2002
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Grey Heron - 2; Black Swan - 1; Gadwall - 1; Teal - 2; Lapwing - 6; Snipe - 2; Redwing - 31; Willow Tit - 5; Lesser Redpoll - 8.

Sunday 6th October 2002.
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Black Swan - 1 (different to TCP bird); Wigeon - 9 circled & left; Teal - 10 + 15 on river; Sparrowhawk - 2 'sparring' in air; Water Rail - 1-2 calling; Snipe - 7; Little Owl - 2 calling from adjacent Corus site; Redwing - 1 NW, calling; Chiffchaff - 2 singing.

Sunday 29th September 2002
Black Swan - 1 [from who knows where] ; Teal - 4; Green Sandpiper - 1; Song Thrush - 6+, a definite influx; Blackcap - 1; Chiffchaff - 2; Goldcrest - 3; Siskin - 2; Lesser Redpoll - 1.

Sunday 22nd September 2002
Teal - 7; Ruddy Duck - 1f/imm; Snipe - 2.

Sunday 1st September 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 2 ads; Grey Heron - 4; Teal - 10-15; Shoveler - 1; Lapwing - 57; Snipe - 5; Green Sandpiper - 1.

Summary 13th to 25th August 2002
Grey Heron - 10, 25/08; Teal - max 32, 25/08; Shoveler - 5, 18/08; 3, 20/08; Lapwing - c.50 regularly; Snipe - 2, 18 & 20/08; 1, 25/08; Green Sandpiper - 1, 20/08; Kingfisher - 2, 18/08; 1, 20/08.

Sunday 11th August 2002
Little Grebe - 3; Cormorant - 3; Teal - 4; Gadwall - 6+; Shoveler - 2; Lapwing - 30; Snipe - 1; Common Sandpiper - 1; Common Tern - 1+; Willow Tit - 4.

Summary for 1st to 7th August 2002.
Little Grebe - 4Ads + 2 juvs, 04/08; Cormorant - 3-4 on river; Gadwall - 12, 04/08; Teal - 9, 06/08; Shoveler - 1, 04/08; Lapwing - 33, 04/08; Snipe - 1, 04/08; Common Sandpiper - 1, 04 & 06/08; Green Sandpiper - 1, 06/08; Common Tern - 4 ads + 1 juv on river, 06/08; Turtle Dove - 1, 06/08; Wheatear - 1, 04/08; Lesser Whitethroat - 3, 04/08; Willow Tit - 4+ regularly. Also, 'lots' of wandering tit-flocks about, largely Long-tailed Tit, but including many Willow-Chiffs, Common and Lesser Whitethroats etc.

Sunday 28th July 2002
Little Grebe - 1 ad + 2juvs; Cormorant 3; Gadwall - 5; Ringed Plover - 1; Lapwing - 53; Common Tern - 4 ads, probably the TCP birds; Reed Warbler - still a couple singing; Bullfinch - breeding confirmed.

Sunday 21st July 2002
Little Grebe - 2prs, one with 2 juvs; Tufted Duck - breeding confirmed, fem + brood of 3; Lapwing - 50; Ringed Plover - 1; Redshank - 1pr + 1 fledged juv; Common Sandpiper - 1; Turtle Dove - 2 WSW.

Sunday 14th July 2002
A 1st-summer Mediterranean Gull left high to W/SW with Black-headed Gulls at 0938h.

Sunday 7th July 2002
Little Grebe - 3 ads + 1juv; Great Crested Grebe - none seen; Cormorant - 2; Gadwall - f + brood of 9; Teal - 2; Lapwing - post-breeding flock of 126; Little Ringed Plover - 1pr; Ringed Plover - 1; Redshank - 1pr + at least 1 well-grown juv; Common Tern - 1; Reed Warbler - still at least 2 singing.

Sunday 30th June 2002
Little Grebe - pair on Fatty Boyns Pond now only with one juv; Great Crested Grebe - no young seen to date; Gadwall - max 5 broods seen with max of 25 young, many juvs appear to have been lost; Shoveler - breeding confirmed - brood of 4; Lapwing - post-breeding flock of 33; Little Ringed Plover - a pair intermittently; Ringed Plover - no signs of juvs, presumed lost; Redshank - 1pr probably bred, adult bird(s) persistently mobbing Grey Herons and Kestrels; Common Sandpiper - 1. Butterflies: 2 Ringlets.

Sunday 23rd June 2002
Little Grebe - poor productivity, very few young, all of which appear to have been lost - a pair with 2 juvs Fatty Boyns Ponds; Teal - 6, no evidence of breeding; Ringed Plover - breeding confirmed - 1pr + 2 well-grown juvs.

Sunday 16th June 2002
A male Banded Demoiselle dragonfly

Summary 1st to 4th June 2002
Little Grebe - Confirmed breeding; Great Crested Grebe - at least 2prs, no signs of young as yet; Cormorant - 16 on 02/06; Teal - 1f on 02/06; Gadwall - 21, 02/06; Ringed Plover - 1pr regularly; Redshank - 1pr regularly; Black-headed Gull - 20 non-breeders, 02/06; Common Tern - 1-2prs regularly, one prospecting & displaying.

Sunday 19th May 2002
Little Grebe - breeding confirmed: 2prs each with 1 juv, at least 1-2 more pairs present; Great Crested Grebe - 4 loafing about, no sign of any juvs so far; Gadwall - 11m, 2f; Ringed Plover - 3 [1pr + one still apparently in winter plumage]; Little Ringed Plover - 1; Lapwing - 3-4prs active; Redshank - 2; Reed Warbler - 1 singing; Sedge Warbler - 2 singing; Whitethroat - 14 singing; Blackcap - 3 singing; Chiffchaff - 4 singing; Willow Warbler - 3 singing [N.B. all warbler numbers minima - only half of site covered]; Willow Tit - probably bred - seen carrying food.

Sunday 28th April 2002 [PL]
Little Grebe - very secretive, 'several' pairs; Great Crested Grebe - 7 visible; Cormorant - 1imm; Canada Goose - 2prs [one bird shot on nest last week]; Gadwall - 33; Teal - 2m; Tufted Duck - 2prs; Ruddy Duck - 3m, 4f; Little Ringed Plover - 2; Redshank - 4; Common Sandpiper - 1; Swift - 5; Sedge Warbler - 2 singing; Lesser Whitethroat - 1 singing; Common Whitethroat - 9 singing; Blackcap - 3 singing; Chiffchaff - 2 singing; Willow Warbler - 12 singing.

Sunday 21st April 2002
Teal - 4m 2f; Gadwall - 22 + 1 hybrid male; Tufted Duck - 19; Ruddy Duck - 6m 4f; Lapwing - 3-4prs; Little Ringed Plover - 2m 1f; Ringed Plover - 1pr; Dunlin - 1; Redshank - 2prs; Swallow - 7; Blackcap - 5 singing; Chiffchaff - 3 singing; Willow Warbler - 6 singing; Willow Tit - 2 singing.

Summary for late March to mid-April 2002
Little Grebe - 7+, inc 2 building, 14/4; Great Crested Grebe - 11, 14/4; Canada Goose - 2prs looking broody, 14/4; Gadwall - max 28 on 07/04; Teal - still 15 on 07/04, down to 3 on 14/04; Shoveler - 1 pair regular; Tufted Duck - 19, 14/4; Ruddy Duck - 12 (7m), 07/04; Little Ringed Plover - 2 on 07/04, 3 on 14/04; Lapwing - 2-3prs, 14/4; Snipe - 2, 07/04; Redshank - 1 pair regularly, 3 birds on 14/04.

Sunday 17th March 2002
Great Crested Grebe - 3; Mute Swan - 8; Teal - 15-20; Shoveler - 1pr; Tufted Duck - 46; Ruddy Duck - 5m, 3f; Chiffchaff - 1 singing; Willow Tit - 2 singing.

Sunday 13th March 2002
Little Grebe - max 11, inc 9 together; Gadwall - 30 + 1 hybrid drake;

Sunday 3rd March 2002
Little Grebe - 2 'trilling'; Great Crested Grebe - 3; Teal - 1; Pochard - 2; Tufted Duck - 42; Coot - 20-25.

Sunday 17th February 2002
Little Grebe - 1; Great Crested Grebe - 1; Gadwall - 7 prs; Teal - 20-30; Shoveler - 1; Tufted Duck - 8; Snipe - 2.

Sunday 20th January 2002
Gadwall - 13; Teal - c.20; Pochard 7; Goldeneye - 1; Goosander - 1; Ruddy Duck - 1.

13th January 2002 (now largely ice-free)
Teal - c.25. Shooters active on site!

[Top]

Data by Site | Recent News | Photographs and Info index page | SBSG Home |