Occasional notes from my local walks around Treeton and elsewhere in the UK
Sunday 30 December
Treeton Dyke similar numbers of big gulls to 26th with the addition of an adult Yellow-legged Gull. Probably the same one as on the 10 Dec.
Wednesday 26 December
Treeton Dyke big early morning influx of gulls coming in to bathe, minimum counts Herring Gull 160, Great Black-backed Gull 12, Lesser Black-backed Gull 6 as well as hundreds of Black-headed Gulls.
Monday 24 December
Treeton Dyke 3 Goldeneye (2M, 1F), Common Gull.
Monday 17 December
Spring Wood, Aston while walking past this wood, late morning, a light aircraft flew low over the wood and put a huge flock of Woodpigeon into the air. From a photo, counting, using a click-counter and dotting the pigeons in a paint program, I arrived at a count of 2981 birds. Many more birds were out of the photo and some had settled back into the wood, making over 3,000 birds. What do they all feed on?
Sunday 16 December
Catcliffe Flash a rare moment when a Great Black-backed Gull landed for a while, plus 4 Herring Gulls. With the edges of the Flash frozen, this pushed out from cover, some of the more secretive species, minimum Teal 28, Shoveler 14. If birders/photographers stay in their cars, species such as Shoveler (Below) will swim past, right next to the lay-bye. Unfortunately most get out of their cars and scare everything off, as happened today with one guy.
Saturday 15 December
Between the bridges below Washfield Lane Green Woodpecker. Treeton Dyke 10 Pochard.
Friday 14 December
First really hard frost of the winter. Treeton Dyke 3 Red-crested Pochard (2M, 1F) vigorously feeding on pondweed.
Thursday 13 December
A rare excursion into the Peak District found Sherriff Wood near Grindleford seemingly full of Brambling and Redwing. Down in Upperdale by the River Wye, I stoped at the feeding station for nearly an hour. Lots of the common tits, no Marsh, also Redwings, Sparrowhawk and Dipper.
Tuesday 11 December
Treeton Dyke No Yellow-Legged today, but fiver other species of gull, Black-headed, Common, Herring, Lesser Black-backed and Greaters Black-backed.
Monday 10 December
Treeton Dyke over the years the Dyke is usually, species wise, poor for gulls except when partly frozen. Today I had 6 gull species. The usual good numbers of Black-headed Gulls, the resident Common Gull plus Herring and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Unusually 5 Great Black-backed Gulls had put in an apearance and a pale headed Yellow-legged Gull (Thanks to Andy Dieghton for confiming ID).
Yellow-legged Gull - Treeton Dyke (200 x digital zoom)
Sunday 9 December
Wildlife Count Sunday
Orgreave Lakes Numbers still down on previous years, highlights Whooper Swan 4, Pochard 94, Tufted Duck 49, Coot 88.
Treeton Dyke Gadwall 22, Tufted Duck 13, Coot 151 and for the first time in many years Whooper Swan 7 adults and 2 Immatures (First on a WeBS count since 1986).
Catcliffe Flash catastrophic decline over the last few days with no Wigeon, Gadwall 9, Shoveler 3, Tufted Duck 7, Coot 35.
Tuesday 4 December
Treeton Dyke 3 Kingfishers.
Friday 30 November
Lower Ulley Brook Water Rail.
Monday 26 November
Flatts Farm 4 Tree Sparrows. Treeton Dyke (AM) a minimum of 150 Coot. Treeton Dyke (Dusk) a Starling roost of over 400 birds.
Pre-roost Starlings - Treeton Dyke
Sunday 25 November
Treeton Sewerage Works a Chiffchaff with a tit flock. Ulley Brook at least 80 Redwings with a few Fieldfares. Treeton Dyke Goosander flock now increased to 25, Kingfisher. Forgemasters Tip a very mobile flock of at least 100 fiches mixed up with Redwings. Most Lesser Redpols, with some paler birds included, as well as Goldfinches and Bullfinches. At 1107 hrs a flock of c152 Pink-footed Geese flew NE over Treeton Dyke. A little later at 1149 hrs a flock of c149 flew SW over Treeton Tip and Orgreave. Counts are approximate and taken from photos. Could this be the same flock of geese, that earlier had been flying NE, reorientated their flight and flew back SW?
Saturday 24 November
Bolehill Flash 62 Pink-footed Geese unusually flying NE at 1033 hrs.
Pink-footed Geese - Bolehill Flash
Friday 23 November
Catcliffe Flash Superb wildfowl watching from the lay-bye at the moment. Teal 24, Shoveler 4, Wigeon min. 80, Gadwall min. 80.
Male Shoveler - Catcliffe Flash
Thursday 22 November
Treeton Dyke numbers of Goosander now risen to 19, Kingfisher. Notable increase in Bullfinches round the village.
Tuesday 20 November
Treeton Dyke first returning Goldeneyes of the winter 3 males 1 female, Goosander 15.
Sunday 18 November
River Rother near M1 Little Grebe. Bolehill Flash at least 60 Fieldfares and 40 Redwings. Treeton Dyke 9 Goosanders and 10 Teal.
Saturday 17 November
Treeton Dyke at least 89 Herring Gulls. Mill Lane Horse Field my first Green Woodpecker since April!
Monday 12 November
Catcliffe Flash a Water Rail was calling from the reedbed opposite the lay-bye and a Buzzard was hunting low along the floodbank, where there are a lot of Rabbits. At dusk over Bolehill Flash small parties of Rooks were passing over to the east, going to roost. As to the best of my knowledge there are no Rookeries on the east side of Sheffield, are these Rooks from the Porter Valley?
Sunday 11 November
Wildfowl Count Sunday. At Orgreave Lakes wildfowl numbers well down on previous years. Pochard 58, Tufted Duck 52, Coot 97 and my first Mandarin Duck on a count day here. Treeton Dyke Gadwall 35, Coot 134 and unusually high numbers of Herring Gull 24. Catcliffe Flash high numbers of Wigeon 91 and Gadwall 84, but most other species well down, such as Coot 49.
Saturday 10 November
For the first time in over 35 years birding in the Treeton area, I had a Barn Owl out in daylight. This individual flew from a gate into some hawthorns in Ulley Brook, the same area I have had a number of evening sightings over the years. Next to the Rother under the M1 a Kingfisher and Grey Wagtail. At Bolehill Flash 50+ Redwings with 20+ Fieldfares and c10 Reed Buntings. Two Kingfishers at Treeton Dyke.
Monday 22 October
At Flatts Farm at least 5 Tree sparrows. Treeton Dyke the 4 Mandarin Ducks were back roosting on a rock at the SW corner of the Dyke. Out in the warm sunshine late morning on the Beaumont Park Estate were Red Admiral and Peacock butterflies.
Monday 15 October
A break in the rain late morning meant I could do the monthly wildfowl counts. Orgreave Lakes were unremarkable for the time of year, highlights Pochard 59, Tufted Duck 63, Coot 89. Treeton Dyke Wigeon 5, Mallard 47, Gadwall 21, Tufted Duck 21. Catcliffe Flash A disoriented Swallow flew over north! Wigeon 31, Gadwall 35, Shoveler 3, Coot 51.
Friday 12 October
Catcliffe Flash At least 35 Wigeon.
Wigeon Catcliffe Flash feeding on American Pondweed
Wednesday 10 October
Bolehill Flash/Flatts Farm Several Redwings feeding in scrub next to river, 6 Reed Buntings and for the first time in a while, 3 Tree Sparrows on the farm roof.
Sunday 7 October
Good numbers of dabbling duck feeding at Catcliffe Flash on the alien pondweed. A min of 12 Shoveler amongst the Mallard, Wigeon, Gadwall and Teal. No diving Ducks!
Thursday 4 October
Hillyfields 6 Grey Partridges Treeton Dyke. 4 Mandarin Ducks.
Wednesday 3 October
Treeton Dyke Evening bat walk around the Dyke produced Common Pipistrelles only, well spread out around the Dyke.
Tuesday 2 October
Hillyfields, Treeton A Red Kite drifted north over the village at 0724 hrs. Flatts Farm Seemed to be an influx of Blackbirds, feeding on hawthorn berries. Blackcap moving south along hedge.
Red Kite - Hillyfields, Treeton
Monday 1 October
Treeton Dyke Unusually 21 Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Treeton Meadows Oxbow (Next to the Parkway) 45 Stock Doves on Parkway embankment and oxbow.
Thursday 27 September
Treeton Dyke Common Gull. Four Mandarin Ducks comprising of at least 1 male and two female/immatures, flew off SW.
Tuesday 11 September
Treeton Meadows Oxbow (Next to the Parkway) A buzzard put up c60 Stock Doves, from the dead alders and Parkway embankment, the most I have seen around Treeton for many years. The Buzzard then soared with 3 others over Bolehill Plantation. Later in the morning 3 were over Treeton Tip.
Monday 10 September
Hillyfield, Treeton Over 50 Lapwing flew over to their daytime roost, on the nature reserve island at Orgreave. Presumably having been feeding overnight in fields. Also about 30 Chaffinches and a Buzzard, that have been a bit thin on the ground of late.
Sunday 9 September
Wildfowl Count Sunday Highlights
Orgreave lakes Pochard 38, Tufted Duck 86, Coot 85, Lapwing c50.
Treeton Dyke Mallard 81, Gadwall 6, Tufted Duck 22, Coot 86.
Catcliffe Flash Gadwall 52, Shoveler 4, Teal 7, Coot 73. The pair of Great Crested Grebes still have 3 juveniles.
Tuesday 4 September
Treeton Dyke First returning Wigeon being 3 of. Kingfisher and 3 Little Grebes.
Saturday 1 September
Hillyfields Treeton Feeding on post harvesting seed were c60 Mallard and c50 Chaffinchs.
Friday 31 August
Treeton Dyke After an absence of a week or so the Common Gull returned having acquired winter plumage.
Saturday 25 August
Ulley Brook Bog A flock of around 200 Godfinches feeding in the sacrificial field margins. Catcliffe Flash Little Egret flew up from the river in the southwest corner, circled the reserve then left SW. While walking to the top of the boat club track at Treeton Grange, I heard what sounded like an unfamiliar raptor calling. Looking up at the pylon, drew a blank, then to my surprise, I saw a female Goshawk. Unfortunately it was perched on a guy's arm!
Tuesday 21 August
Catcliffe Flash a hint the seasons are about to change with the arrival of five Wigeons, also present 3 Teal and a single Shoveler.
Monday 20 August
Canyon Pond, Treeton The breeding season continues with a pair of Little Grebe with 3 newly hatched young.
Friday 17 August
Treeton Dyke Single Common Tern and Common Gull. Orgreave Lakes several Swifts. Catcliffe Flash now has a small margin of mud and attracted a Green Sandpiper today.
Thursday 9 August
Treeton Dyke For the third year running, what I presume to be the same Common Gull seems to have took up residence. A look back at records show that it arrived also on the 9 Aug 2016 and 31 Aug 2017 and hung around until early winter. Despite its name this is an uncommon summer visiter locally. Bolehill Flash Several Tree Sparrows including some juveniles. Catcliffe Flash While returning from a bat survey in Sheffield at 2315 hrs, I stopped here to check on the bats. Since I first acquired a bat detector in the mid 1980s the lay-by has always been a reliable site for bats, but this year they have been very scarce. Tonight was no different, with just the occasional passing pipistrelle. However as I had my night vision scope on me, a look into the dark side of the Flash around the bird perches, revealed high numbers of bats feeding over the water, and also many others elsewhere over the Flash.
Monday 6 August
Catcliffe Flash Little Egret on one of the bird perches at dusk. Unusually the male Mute Swan was happily on the water next to it, in the past the swans have chased off Little Egrets. At 2117 something spooked the Egret and two Grey Herons, which then flew off south.
Sunday 5 August
Catcliffe Flash The Great Crested Grebes have 3 young, Kingfisher.
Wednesday 1 August
Treeton Dyke/Forgemasters Tip area Today I led some of South Yorkshire's top botanists around Treeton. Find of the day was a plant called Yellow Bird's Nest Monotropa hypopitys (Not to be confused with Bird's Nest Orchid, a totally different plant). Some research back home, reveals that there have only been a couple of records in South Yorkshire, in the last 30 years. At least 20 flowers were present.
Monday 30 July
Treeton Dyke Two Common Terns (0630 hrs), with one flying round most of the time with a fish in it's beak calling! Kingfisher.
Saturday 28 July
Catcliffe Flash Little Egret, Teal. For the first time in many years, a pair of Great Crested Grebes have managed to hatch at least 2 young.
Monday 23 July
A Fox with a cub showed well at the southern end of Treeton Dyke . Bolehill Flash at least 5 Greenfinch.
Sunday 22 July
All of note today a Common Sandpiper at Treeton Dyke.
Saturday 21 July
Very very quiet bird wise today. This was made up for by a prolonged view of male and female Roe Deer. Although I have been seeing this species around Treeton for at least 20 years, today was unusual, in that the deer went about their business totally unconcerned about me taking photos.
Friday 20 July
Forgemasters Tip This site seemed alive with birds today, particular around the burnt area in the centre. There was family parties of Blue Tit, Whitethroat, and Reed Bunting and a fair few Blackbirds and Song Thrushes. A Chiffchaff was trying to tag along with the Blue Tits, but kept being chased off! Also Great Spotted Woodpecker again. In contrast to yesterday, Bolehill Flash was dead apart from a few utterings from the Reed Warblers.
Thursday 19 July
A Kingfisher now seems to have took up it's usual summer residence at Treeton Dyke.
Bolehill Flash/Flatts Farm Tree Sparrows present again. its great that this species seems to making a comeback. It was regular here in the 1980s then through the 90s & 00s it became very scarce. It has now gone from being recorded a few times a year to being present on most visits. Also about the 3 Greenfinches from yesterday and Juvenile Bulfinch, Chaffinch and Goldfinches. On one of the few remaining bits of grassland on Well Lane Lagoons, a Skylark, a rare visiter here these days.
Wednesday 18 July
All of note today was 3 Greenfinches at Bolehill Flash, another uncommon bird these days.
Tuesday 17 July
For the first time since the 1st June I found a Great Spotted Woodpecker in the Treeton area, a female on Forgemasters Tip.
Monday 16 July
Treeton Dyke One Common tern. The Great Crested Grebe nest on the Red Water Lilly mentioned below has gone! With deliberate vandalism or wash from the many speedboats over the weekend being possibilities. Thankfully a bird is sitting on another clump of Lilly nearby.
Sunday 15 July
Orgreave Lakes
Monthly wildfowl counts (WeBS)
Highlights - Mute Swan 44, Tufted Duck 81, Great Crested Grebe 18, Black-headed Gull 170, Mediterranean Gull 1 juv.
Treeton Dyke
Numbers down due to a lot of water skying over the weekend. Great Crested Grebe 6 + 3 juvs., Mallard 33, Moorhen 9, Coot 34.
Catcliffe Flash
Little Grebe 10 adults and imms. Gadwall min 32, Mallard min 101, Shoveler 1, Moorhen 8, Coot 43. Little Egret landed briefly at the northern end, but then flew off south.
Saturday 14 July
Bolehill Flash/Flatts Farm
Tree Sparrow min 4 adults.
Friday 13 July
Treeton Dyke
In recent years the south west corner of the Dyke has been invaded by a garden hybrid which goes by the English name of Red Lilly. The one advantage for wildlife is that Great Crested Grebe are attempting to nest on it this summer. Only one pair bred in the early part of the season in Common Reed and they still have the original three young. This pair are going for a second brood and are nest building on the Red Lily with their young in attendance. Another pair are nearby, also on Red Lilly. Two other pairs have attempted to build nests on the copious Nutall's/Canadian Pondweed at the southern end but it looks like the wash from the speed boats has destroyed their nests. I was sat quietly by the side of the dyke, camera on tripod, trying to photograph the grebes on the second brood, a Kingfisher and the Lesser Emperor Dragonfly that were about. A lady with a dog came up to me and asked "Would it disturb you if I threw a stick in the water for my dog!". At the same time the sun went in and a couple of speed boats were launched, so it was off back home! I wonder if she would have tried to throw a stick into the water next to an angler?
Wednesday 11 July
Catcliffe Flash
A pair of Shovelers present.
Tuesday 10 July
Treeton Dyke
Female Pochard still has one young. Hobby (1110 hrs), one bird at southern end of tip seen feeding on a dragonfly, then flew off north.
Hobby - Treeton Dyke
Making nest on Red Water Lilly. This pair already has three 3/4 grown young from a previous nest in Common Reed.
Wednesday 4 July 2018
Catcliffe Flash
Male Shoveler. Gadwall seem to be producing lots of young. Over a hundred Mallard.
Tuesday 3 July 2018
Treeton Dyke
The female Pochard still has one duckling. Two Common Terns.
Friday 22 June
Treeton Dyke
A female Pochard was found at the southern end of the Dyke with a single ducking.
Friday 1 June
After another fruitless walk around Treeton trying to find Great Spotted Woodpecker nests. With the once common Green Woodpecker seemingly vanished during the breeding season, it seems Great Spotted are following in their wake.
On a more cheerful note, at dusk I went out onto the moorland fringe above Bradfield in the NE Peak District in search of Nightjar. Just by driving round in the dark slowly, with the car windows open, I managed to find 3 sites with churring birds. It makes you wonder, if you were to set off on foot to more remote locations, just how many Nightjars are actually out there! Highlight of the evening was listening to a Nightjar on one side of the road, a Snipe drumming in the dark on the other, to be complimented by a Barn Owl flying over my car. When it went over the Snipe field, the Snipe stopped drumming and started chipping!
A disappointing end to the night was checking High and Low Bradfield for Liesler's Bats, that were once common thereabouts. Liesler's Bats were found by Sorby Bat Group to be in the Bradfield area in the mid 1980s, feeding around mercury vapour street lights. These have all been replaced in recent years by LED lights, which probably do not attract as many moths, although there was plenty of small insects flying around them. Disappointingly no Liesler's Bats were found, on what was a mild and calm evening.
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