Monthly Archives: April 2014

Today I decided on a tour of Old Moor and Wombwell Ings..Wombwell being next door to Old Moor I had decided stopping here first on the report of a few waders going thru. It was a cold start, wish had brought my gloves, Blackbird, Woodpigeon, Chiffchaff and Willow Warbler were the first birds to encounter as I parked the car up on the bridge across from the Old Moor tavern, walked across the playing field and on to the reserve. Canada, Greylag Geese, Lapwing were in the fields along with a singing Skylark, from the hide Shoveler, Gadwall, Mallard, Redshank, then a cb call of a Red Kite flying towards us had everyone escaping from the hide and looking upwards to find it flying gracefully and being mopped by crows. Back in the hide we mopped up on Little Ringed Plover (2) and Bar tailed Godwit which came down in front of the hide to give us good close views of these birds.

Wombwell List ;- LR Plover Bar tailed Godwit, Redshank, Lapwing, Skylark, Canada Goose, Greylag Goose, Shoveler, Gadwall, Red Kite, Black headed Gull, Goldfinch, Blackbird, Mallard, Blackcap, Woodpigeon, Sand martin, Swallow, House Martin

On then to Old Moor RSPB to see the Mediterranean Gulls, Bittern (booming every 10mins or so), Swallows and Sand Martins overhead, but it turned into an insect session at Old Moor with the countless Gorse Shield-bugs about, a couple of Sloe (Hairy) Shields thrown in, lots of Gorse Weevils, Common Carder Bees, along with Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange-tip, Large White and Brimstone Butterflies, but no Damselflies as yet even thou reported from other sites around Yorkshire

Gorse Shield Bug

Sloe Shield Bug

Gorse Weevil

Well today should have been a friend group outing to Leighton Moss RSPB but turned out to be an outing to Old Moor for us due to people dropping out of the trip. We were greeted by a few Chiffchaff calling away around the car park area along with a single Linnet, walking towards the visitor center a male Blackcap was seen along with 2 females in and out of the ivy. We made our way straight to the family hide hearing on our way a few Willow Warblers, settling in to the hide we were we soon on to the Mediterranean Gulls along with a single Redshank, Sand Martins, Black headed Gulls, Oystercatchers, Mallards, Gadwall, Coot and Moorhen.

On then to Wath Ings hide were we saw Little Grebe, Lapwing,  lots of Sand Martins and Swallows moving thru on the right side of the hide, Mute Swan, Tufted Ducks and a Common Buzzard

Back on then to the Wader Scrape hide were we picked up the Avocets along with Shovelers. Finally around the Garden feeder Hide we saw Dunnock, Yellowhammer, Bullfinch, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Greenfinch, Chaffinch

Day List

Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Swallow, Sand Martin, Avocet, Buzzard, Mediterranean Gull, Black headed Gull, Gadwall, Mallard, Shoveler, Woodpigeon, Starling, Dunnock, Robin, Blue Tit, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Coot, Moorhen, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Mute Swan, Tufted Duck, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Chaffinch, Great Tit, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Bullfinch, Greenfinch

Out on the local patch today down on Healy Mills nature reserve hopefully to catch a few arriving migrants, I wasn’t to be disappointed with Chiffchaffs calling and Sand Martins on the nearby river, Blackcap and Willow Warblers in the woods. On the river were Goosander ♀, Mallard and a Kingfisher. Grey Heron and Cormorant were seen further in as I made my thru the reserve towards the sewage farm, around the feeders Dunnock, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Reed Bunting, Stock Doves and Woodpigeons flying over, Robins, Goldfinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit and Chaffinch. Around the farm Pied Wagtails, Black headed Gulls, Canada Geese, Sand Martins, and on the filter beds Teal, Little Grebe, a couple of pair of Gadwall, Lapwing over Oystercatchers on the filter beds and plenty of Linnets

Plenty of Butterflies were on the wing today with double figure Peacocks, a handful of Small tortoiseshell and a couple of male Orange tips with a lone female.

First Swallow of the year was seen on route at the Coal Mining Museum

Cormorant