SBSG - Ross's Gull in Yorkshire, 2002

Treeton Dyke and its' Environ [including Treeton Tip, Hail Mary, The New Rother].
Bob Croxton. Photographs Copyright © Bob Croxton [unless otherwise indicated]

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The New Rother - A New Site for the SBSG Area
[Original article published in "SBSG Bulletin - No.159, September 2001"]

For the last few years I have been watching a new stretch of the River Rother at Treeton. This new stretch of river is a diversion constructed by RJB/UK Coal as part of the restoration of the Orgreave opencast site. The old Orgreave Colliery and coking/chemical works had a number of features that supported interesting wildlife. These included the old lagoons which were visited by roosting gulls and waders, woodland with Green Woodpecker and a pond that back in the 1980’s was probably the best site for dragonflies in Rotherham. Part of the last pond still remains because of the presence of Water Voles, but the other sites are long gone. Despite many attempts by myself, no consultation has been made with regard to ongoing work and restoration on the site for the benefit of wildlife with local groups and birders/naturalists. Hopefully this situation may change in the future.

The new stretch of the Rother is around 700 metres long and is lined with an artificial membrane. There are two large areas of mud and a number of smaller stretches. The river’s main feature is a rock flume to enable fish to travel up a large weir constructed from boulders. The site is currently closed to the public, footpaths pass close to the river and mud, so in the long term the birds using the river will be limited. The river is best viewed from the railway bridge at the end of Washfield Lane Treeton (OS grid ref. SK430878). Other parts of the river can be viewed by walking down the paths to Treeton Dyke or Catcliffe Flash (Jay’s Scrap Yard).

The New Rother at Treeton showing the Rock Flume and Scrape - Bob Croxton
The New Rother showing the Scrape in the foreground with the Rock Flume behind.

So far I have recorded over 30 bird species associated with water on the river and mud. Fish eating species such as Little Grebe, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Goosander and Kingfisher are all regularly recorded. Mute Swan, Greylag and Canada Goose occur in good numbers. Of the ducks Mallard, Gadwall, Pochard and Tufted Duck are common. Up to 73 Teal have been counted, 4 Shelduck were present for a while in April 2001. If undisturbed, passage waders commonly occurring on the mud include Common/Green Sandpipers, Greenshank and Redshank. Lapwing roosts of up to 140+ have been observed. Little-ringed Plover often visit the river through the breeding season from the opencast site. One of the most unexpected species was a Little Stint on the 13 May 2001. Black-headed Gulls and Common Terns have been ever-present through the last two breeding seasons. A small colony of Sand Martins have successfully reared many young during the last two summers. Good numbers of passage Grey and Pied Wagtails can be observed feeding on the rock flume.

The site has the potential to attract any number of rarities if it was watched more often. In coming years this sites attraction to birds will diminish as the mud vegetates over and it is opened up to the public and fishermen. There is a small chance that some alternative bird habitat could be constructed elsewhere on the opencast site, but from past experience don’t hold your breath !

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