Thursday 22 December
Treetown Wood
On investigating a lot of calling and some drumming from Great Spotted Woodpeckers I was surprised to see a female being aggressive to another female.
Wednesday 21 December
Catcliffe Flash
With the aid of a scope today a minimum of 138 Teal and 12 Shoveler.
Tuesday 20 December
Catcliffe Flash
A minimum of 112 Teal on the ice was the highest count for some years.
Wednesday 14 December
Tuesday 13 December
Monthly Wildfowl Counts Highlights
Orgreave Lakes and River Rother
Mute Swan 2, Mallard 51, Gadwall 10, Teal min 32 (Very mobile and difficult to count), Wigeon c60 (Very mobile and difficult to count), Pochard 151, Tufted Duck 58, Coot 108, Little Grebe 2, Black-headed Gull 281, Herring Gull 121.
Monday 12 December
Monthly Wildfowl Counts Highlights
Catcliffe Flash 95% frozen
Mute Swan 2, Mallard 6, Gadwall 6, Shoveler 4, Teal 30, Coot 75.
Treeton Dyke 80% frozen
Mute Swan 16, Mallard 31, Gadwall 31, Wigeon 1, Tufted Duck 18, goosandere 2, Moorhen 4, Coot 123, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 4, Black-headed Gull 301, Herring Gull 9 and for the first time in two years here a Common Gull.
Thursday 8 To Saturday 10 December
North Lincolnshire
Thursday A stop at Covenham Reservoir on the way out to spend two evenings in Cleethorpes produced a very confiding female/imm Velvet Scoter and a Barn Owl on rough grassland near the car park.
Friday at Donner Nook there seemed to be more Grey Seal pups than any of my previous visits. Birds were disappointing, just Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Redwings in any numbers.
Above Velvet Scoter & Barn Owl - Covenham Reservoir
Below Female Grey Seal and Pup -Donna Nock
Saturday 13 November
Monthly Wildlfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mute Swan 1, Mallard 47, Gadwall 2, Wigeon 4, Teal 10, Shoveler 1, Pochard 102, Tufted Duck 36, Coot 104, Little Grebe 8.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 37, Mallard 32, Gadwall 13, Wigeon 3, Tufted Duck 26, Coot 140, Little Grebe 5, Great Crested Grebe 6, Black-headed Gull 199.
Catcliffe Flash ( Water had risen over the last few days and most of the wildfowl had departed)
Mute Swan 3, Gadwall 16, Shoveler, 2, Wigeon 2, Tufted Duck 9, Coot 140, Black-headed Gull 173.
Thursday 13 October
Catcliffe Flash
A Great White Egret was preening at the southern end of the flash towards dusk.
Sunday 9 October
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mute Swan 20, Canada Goose 76, Mallard 70, Gadwall 13, Wigeon 4, Shoveler 1, Teal 4, Pochard 133, Tufted 83, Coot 102, Little Grebe 15, Great Crested Grebe 2, Cormorant 10, Lapwing 35, Kingfisher 2.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 24, Mallard 18, Gadwall 33, Wigeon 4, Tufted Duck 6, Coot 132, Moorhen 14, Little Grebe 6, Great Crested Grebe 5, Kingfisher 1.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Canada goose 15, Mallard 8, Gadwall 36, Shoveler 8, Wigeon 56, Teal 7, Tufted Duck 1, Coot 61, Moorhen 21, Little Grebe 7, Kingfisher 1.
Friday 16 September
Treeton Dyke prolonged views of a Kingfisher hovering quite high over the southern area of the Dyke. Have seen this occasionally before, but not so far out on open water or for so long. More typical of the American Belted Kingfisher and African Pied Kingfisher.
Thursday 15 September
Treeton Dyke Wildfowl Counts highlights
Mute Swan 17, Mallard 38, Gadwall 36, Wigeon 8, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 7, Coot 82, Moorhen 11, Little Grebe 6, Great Crested Grebe 6, Cormorant 3.
Wednesday 14 September
Orgreave Lakes Wildfowl Counts Highlights
Mute Swan 23, Greylag Goose 174, Mallard 32, Gadwall 17, Pochard 90, Tufted Duck 110, Coot 125, Little Grebe 12, Great Crested Grebe 18, Lapwing 22.
At 0915 hrs a single Great White Egret flew over south.
Tuesday 13 September
Catcliffe Flash Wildfowl Counts Highlights
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 12, Gadwall 34, Shoveler 7, Wigeon 9, Teal 6, Coot 37, Moorhen 23, Little Grebe 19, Black-headed Gull 209.
Monday 5 September
Treeton Dyke a minor fall of migrants, all in one willow on the tip side within a small tit flock, comprising a minimum of 4 Chiffchaffs, 2 Willow Warblers and a Spotted Flycatcher the later flying off into Hail Mary Hill Wood. Wigeon have increased to 5 birds and Kingfishers continue to be seen on most visits.
Friday 26 August
Treeton Dyke first returning Wigeon of the season. A pair of Great Crested Grebes Have made a nest on the floating Red Lillys in the SW corner, presumed second brood as one of the juveniles from the first clutch is beside the nest which contains at least two eggs. Unfortunately a week or so later this nest was abandoned possibly due to waves from water sking.
Saturday 13 August
Treeton Dyke Monthly Wildfowl Count
Several water ski boats parked overnight, have been active during the day and will have reduced the wildfowl, plus campers at the southern end made counting difficult. Mallard 42, Gadwall 8, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 48, Moorhen 6 including two broods of newly hatched young, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 8 including a pair with near fully grown young. Kingfisher 4 suggesting a good breeding season.
Tuesday 9 August
Catcliffe Flash first returning Shoveler of the year, 8 Grey Herons, pair of Little Grebes have a minimum of 2 newly hatched young.
Wednesday 3 August
Treeton Dyke up to 5 Common Terns, 3 left south and two left northwest toward Orgreave, at least 1 was a juvenile. Most dragonflies seem thin on the ground here this year. Just odd Emperor, Southern Hawker and Brown Hawker. Common Blue Damselflies common away from water and good numbers of Small Red-eyed Damselflies on the Railway Pond.
Monday 1 August
Treeton Dyke the good run of Common Tern records continues, with two adults feeding two juveniles, which were perched on the buoys.
Wednesday 27 July
Catcliffef Flash 2 Little Egrets. The breeding situation with little Grebes has been confusing this year with any number of floating nests which seem to have failed with no small young seen. Today an adult was present with two fully grown juveniles, which at times were flying across the water. There are other fully grown juveniles around, which may have arrived from elsewhere. There are currently at least 2 nests which are more firmly anchored to branches.
Sunday 24 July
Blue Man's Bower an incredible count of at least 17 Mistle Thrushes feeding on recently cut grassland. Has become an uncommon bird in recent years.
Thursday 21 July
Treeton Dyke a single common tern still present. Of interest, up to 4 have been present most days since late June, all have been adults, which may indicate a poor breeding season. Nine Pochard were unusual for the time of year.
Wednesday 20 July
Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mute Swans 43 + 4 juvs, Canada Goose 88, Mallard 46, Pochard 23, Tufted Duck 93, Coot 94, Great Crested Grebe 13, Lapwing 30, Common Sandpiper 1, Little Egret 1.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 4 + 4 juvs, Greylag Goose 2 + 5 juvs, Mallard 34, Gadwall 10, Tufted Duck7, Coot 21, Great Crested Grebe 5 + 2 juvs, Common Tern 1, Kingfisher 1.
Just a small part of the rubbish left behind from the previous (hot) day's bathers at Treeton Dyke. They say young people these days, care about the environment and the RSPB and wildlife celebrities encourage wild swimming, as it engages people with nature!!
Monday 18 July
Catcliffe Flash Mute Swan 2, Canada Goose 6, Mallard 25, Gadwall min 57, Pochard 2, Tufted Duck 1, Coot 25, Moorhen 6, Little Grebe at least 10 with 3 on nests found and a number of other nests seem to have failed, Cormorant 4, Grey Heron 7. The perching posts have been taken over by Black-headed Gulls at the moment contributing to an unusually high count of 130 for the time of year.
Friday 15 July
Roche Abbey my second walk of the summer around the Abbey, again found Spotted Flycatcher, one of the few sites left in Rotherham.
Thursday 14 July
Treeton Dyke 2 Common Terns still present.
River Rother Catcliffe Flash an American Mink was observed carrying a half grown Mallard duckling across the river and into cover.
Thursday 7 July
Treeton Dyke 2 Common Terns present. A pair of Great Crested Grebes have managed to hatch 2 young at the southern end.
Monday 4 July
Treeton Dyke 4 Common Terns present.
Saturday 2 July
Catcliffe Flash two Common Terns feeding and resting, then left south at 0900 hrs. The first I have had here, that have stayed a while for over ten years.
Thursday 30 June
Treeton Dyke two Common Terns fishing and resting on the buoys.
Tuesday 28 June
Catcliffe Flash first Little Egret of the year present.
Friday 24 June
Catcliffe Flash the great Crested Grebes have 4 young, regularly being fed small fish, plus another adult present.
Sunday 19 June
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Black-necked Grebe (adult 0615 hrs), Mute Swan 40 + 5 cygnets, Canada Goose 2018, Mallard 69, Gadwall 9, Pochard 26, Tufted Duck 21, Coot 108, Great Crested Grebe 23.
Treeton Dyke ( Much water skiing and wild swimming over the hot weekend, meaning much reduced wildfowl)
A second Pair of Mute Swans have managed to have 4 cygnets, the first pair having lost several while I was away in early May, Greylag Goose a pair have raised 5 goslings, Mallard 14, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 9, Great Crested Grebe 4 with no young yet. A single Grey Wagtail was an unusual visitor.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 2, Mallard 55, Gadwall 43, Pochard 3, Coot 20, Moorhen 1, Little Grebe 5, Great Crested Grebe pair with unknown number of young, Cormorant 6, Grey Heron 1, Black-headed Gull 1, Kingfisher 1.
Tuesday 31 May
Catcliffe Flash at least 3 broods of Mallard duckings this morning, one ducking was unfortunately foolish enough to swim under a perch with a Heron on it. The Heron quickly snatched the ducking and flew off with other ducks chasing, to consume it's mid-morning snack.
Monday 30 May
Bolehill Flash Sedge Warblers have a tendency of being rather elusive at this site in recent years, often only singing for a short time early in the season then being seen later in the summer. So it was a surprise today to hear two birds singing and even get a few sightings.
Sunday 29 May
Blue Man's Bower a dead Common Buzzard was found under a wooden electricity carrying pole. I took the bird to Steve Toher the taxidermist to examine, he could find no obvious injuries or evidence of poising/shooting. I have contacted the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme who are sending a pack so the Buzzard can be sent away for further investigation. Will update later.
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton while looking out of my bedroom window late afternoon, I noted a Hedgehog scurrying across my cul-de-sac. Being an unusual sight these days due to the proliferation of artificial grass/hard surfaced gardens, surrounded by concreted fence bases locally, I dashed out with a camera. I could not find the hedgehog at first, but then it came across my open plan front garden right in front of my bay window. Upon close approach it semi curled up. I dashed back in the house for some mealworms. Putting a big pile of mealworms in front of it eventually paid off when it uncurled and started to eat the mealworms. After putting a few more down the hedgehog became less wary of me and I managed some close photos before it ran off back from where it came.
Saturday 28 May
Treeton Dyke although I had a few Reed Warblers around the village in late April, it took until today to find one singing near the boat launch ramp at the Dyke. Still not heard any at the Canyon Pond and Bolehill Flash in May.
Catcliffe Flash two Kingfishers on the River.
Well Lane to Bolehill Flash footpath singing Lesser Whitethroat.
Wednesday 25 May
Catcliffe Flash
A visit at dusk found 20 to 30 Swifts feeding over the Flash and road compared to the hundreds that historically occurred. At least 40 Mallard mainly males perched on the wooden perches. Noctule and Common Pipistrelle Bats out.
Tuesday 24 May
Garden, Beaumont Park, Treeton
Another Holly Blue in my garden, this time unusually for this species resting on a hedgerow leaf. It seems to be a good year for this species in urban Treeton.
Sunday 24 April
Catcliffe Flash around 10 am a fight began between the resident male Mute Swan whose mate is on a nest in the NW corner and the male of a pair that had arrived. Usually the resident male has no problem driving any trespassing males away. He seemed unable to do this today and was tiring and backing off after a while. The trespassing male then attacked the resident male full on with him getting the better of the resident male. After a while the new male was dominating and top of the resident male, holding his neck under water. The resident male then tried to go into the reeds near the nest, but the new swan was on top of him, holding down his neck. After several minutes the new swan emerged from the reeds and went to his mate. There was no sign of the resident male in the 20 or so minutes I stayed!
Thursday 21 April
Just after 7:00 am this morning, I noted a strange duck at the southern end of Treeton Dyke. First thoughts were of some kind of hybrid Mallard, but the duck kept calling like a Wigeon. It associated with a pair Gadwall, showing great interest in the female. After checking the Collins bird ID app, I was still confused, the nearest I could guess was a sub-adult male American Wigeon, but I have seen these in the USA and had doubts. Upon returning home I checked in "Wildfowl' Madge and Burn, upon opening the page for American Wigeon, my eyes fell on Chiloe Wigeon on the same page. No doubt now, the white rump when in flight is a good identification feature to clinch ID. Not something you expect on Treeton Dyke, a species that breeds in southern South America, but as rarer escapee as they come! The sexes look the same in this species, but from behaviour it was almost certainly a male.
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton first retuning House Martins.
Sunday 17 April
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes Mallard 14, Gadwall 20, Tufted Duck 25, Pochard 1, Coot 36, Great Crested Grebe 17, Oystercatcher 2, Redshank 2.
Treeton Dyke Mallard 12, Coot 11, Great Crested Grebe 5. Note water skying had taken place on previous day hence no Gadwall and Tufted Duck, with numbers picking up in following days.
Catcliffe Flash
Mallard 7, Gadwall 4, Tufted Duck 12, Coot 7, Little Grebe 3, Great Crested Grebe 2 (One of which was on a nest). Cormorant 5, Grey Heron 2.
Thursday 14 April
Treeton Area
Reasonable numbers of butterflies on the wing from mid-morning Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Orange Tip, Speckled Wood, Holly Blue.
Monday 28 March
Treeton Dyke Shoveler 9, Teal 8, unusually high counts for these species here.
Friday 25 March
Undertook a 14 mile walk over 10 hours to count Mountain Hares and log birds etc on Bradfield and Howden Moors. In glorious weather the hares seemed to be keeping their heads down in the shade, often not revealing themselves until closely approached.
Totals
Mountain Hares 16, Common Lizard 6, Small Tortoiseshell & Peacock Butterflies.
Birds
Red Grouse 66, Greylag Goose 5, Canada Goose 2, Buzzard 2+, Mallard 2, Hen Harrier (ring-tailed) 1, Curlew 7, Golden Plover 4, Kestrel 1, Peregrine 2, Raven 1, Stonechat 1, Skylark 1, Meadow Pipit 48.
Monday 21 March
Treeton Dyke a pair of Garganey present at the southern end 0730 hrs, left north around 0745 hrs.
Sunday 20 March
wildfowl count highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Gadwall 12, Teal 10, Shoveler 2, Pochard 4, Tufted Duck 29, Goldeneye 5, Coot 27, Kingfisher, two Curlew south 0655 hrs.
Treeton Dyke Mallard 16, Gadwall 8, Teal 1, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 20, Coot 24, Moorhen 4.
Catcliffe Flash Mallard 4, Shoveler 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 16, Coot 10, Cormorant 4.
Saturday 19 March
Blue Man's Bower Whooper Swan flew very low over M1 heading north 0715 hrs.
Tuesday 15 March
Treeton Dyke first Chiffchaff of the year NE corner.
Sunday 27 February
Treeton Dyke two of six Moorhens at the southern end were having a full-on fight, but were interrupted on 3 occasions when Coot came along and got involved.
Beaumont Park, Treeton yet another Raven flew over north around 1015 hrs.
Wednesday 23 February
New Rother, Treeton at 0720 hrs an Otter was seen to slide off the Treeton side of the river and quickly disappear underwater and head off downstream, not to be seen again. Seen many over the years on the sea off Scottish Islands, but they seem even bigger, when seen on a relatively small river.
Orgeave Lakes wildfowl count highlights
Mallard 18, Teal 10, Gadwall 8, Pochard 56, Tufted Duck 18, Goldeneye 8, Goosander 3, Coot 37, Little Grebe 4, Oystercatcher 3.
Monday 21 February
Catcliffe Flash after a couple of wet days the Rother has burst it banks and water is almost level with the lay-by. This seems to happen most years and is bad news for much of the site's wildlife.
The monthly wildfowl count only produced Mallard 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 23, Coot 14, Grey Heron 1 and Black-headed Gull 14.
Treeton Dyke the water level has risen around 1 Metre making access around the Dyke awkward.
Mute Swan 4, Tufted Duck 31, Coot 66, Great Crested Grebe 6.
Saturday 12 February
River Rother next to M1 Teal 1 pair, Little Grebe, Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail.
Sunday 6 February
Treeton Garden around 1500 hrs I noted a bird land in my garden out of the corner of my eye. Jumping up from my computer, I found an immature Sparrowhawk had a medium sized bird pinned to the ground. The hawk then took over an hour to eat the bird, leaving me with the opportunity to take many photos.
Thursday 3 February
Treeton Dyke Teal 5, Goldeneye 4 (2 prs). Great Crested Grebe 5 two of which displaying, Kingfisher.
Friday 28 January
Hail Mary Hill Wood Redwing min 80.
Thursday 27 January
Treeton Dyke 15 Goosanders.
Wednesday 26 January
Oxbow, Treeton Meadows been quiet this winter due to nearby roadworks Wigeon min 50, Gadwall min 12.
Saturday 22 January
Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes 75% frozen, Mallard 95, Wigeon 56, Gadwall 50, Teal 4, Pochard 60, Tufted Duck 48, Goldeneye 1, Coot 74, Little Grebe 8.
Treeton Dyke 90% Frozen, Mallard 10, Gadwall 20, Coot 70.
Catcliffe Flash 90% frozen, Gadwall 2, Wigeon 1, Teal 28, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 34.
Friday 21 January
Forgemasters Tip Greenfinch 2.
Saturday 15 January
Treeton Dyke just a small patch of water unfrozen SE corner Great Crested Grebe 6. Goldeneye 1 male.
Hail Mary Hill Wood single Raven over.
Friday 14 January
Catcliffe Flash 90% frozen Teal 14, Shoveler 1 male.
Beaumont Park , Treeton a Raven flew over SE at 0955 hrs.
Tuesday 11 January
Treeton Dyke good numbers still of Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls early morning and a males Goldeneye regular most days.
Between the bridges, Washfield Lane around 20 Lesser Redials with at least 1 Siskin.
Sunday 9 January
Treeton Dyke large flock of over 100 finches made up of Siskin and Goldfinches. Feeding high in trees and very flighty.
Sunday 2 January
Still very qiet on the songbird front. Only bird seen today, new from yesterday in two plus hours was a Kingfisher at Treeton Dyke.
Saturday 1 January
Treeton Area - New Year's Day Bird Count
Urban Treeton
Blackbird, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Feral Pigeon, Collared Dove, Jackdaw, Garden House Sparrow, Starling.
Spa House Farm
Great Black-blacked Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Kestral, Buzzard, Robin, Wood Pigeon, Fieldfare.
Treeton Sewerage Works
Rook, Pied Wagtail, Blue Tit,
Ulley Brook Bog
Pheasant.
Blue Man's Bower
Chaffinch, Bullfinch, Dunnock, Goldfinch, c10 Greenfinch, Redwing.
River Rother M1 Area
Grey Heron, Stock Dove, Grey Wagtail, Mallard, Pink-footed Goose (Flew over NW in the distance), Canada Goose.
Oxbow, Treeton Meadows
Wigeon, Moorhen
Canyon Pond
Gadwall, Coot.
Between bridges, Washfield Lane
Great Tit.
Treeton Dyke
Tufted Duck, Goosander, Great Crested Grebe, Mute Swan, Cormorant, Goldeneye, Pochard.
Falconer Wood
Jay.
Treeton Wood
Great Spotted Woodpecker.
Catcliffe Flash
Teal.
Orgreave
Little Grebe, Lapwing, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Greylag Goose, Lesser Black-blacked Gull.
Despite the glorious weather just 53 species. Songbirds were in very short supply this year, the woods in particular were very quiet.
2021 - 52 species. 2020 - 58 species. 2019 - 48 species. Record 2009 - 66 species
Comments