Treeton Nature Diary 2025
- Bob Croxton
- Jan 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 16
Monday 14 April Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Orgreave Lakes and River Rother
Mute Swan 2, Greylag Goose 8, Canada Goose 56, Mallard 31, Gadwall 7, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 42, Coot 27, Great Crested Grebe 19, Lapwing 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Oystercatcher 2, Little Egret 2, Cormorant 4.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 4, Greylag Goose 2, canada Goose 2, Mallard 8, Gadwall 5, Tufted Duck 2, Coot 9, Great Crested Grebe 5.
Ulley County Park
Mute Swan 7, Black Swan 1, Mallard 33, Gadwall 2, Coot 4, Moorhen 2, Great Crested Grebe 6, Cormorant 2.
Sunday 13 March Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 2, Mallard 6, Gadwall 9, Gargany 1, Pochard 2, Tufted Duck 25, Coot 5, Great Crested Grebe 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull 1.
Friday 21 March
Bolehill Wood/Spa ouse Farm
A flock of at least 80 Fieldfare left the wood, fed on farmland for a while then left east early morning.
Sunday 16 March Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Ulley County Park
Mute Swan 8, Black Swan 1, Canada goose 13, Greylag Goose 3, Mallard 25, Gadwall 5, Coot 3, Moorhen 5, Great Crested Grebe 8.
Treeeton Dyke
Mute Swan 8 including one now on a nest, Canada Goose 2, Greylag Goose 9, Mallard 16, Gadwall 5, Teal 1, Tufted Duck 25, Coot 33, Moorhen 3, Great Crested Grebe 8.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 9, Shoveler 4, Pochard 5, Tufted Duck 36, Coot 8, Cormorant 1.
Sunday 9 March
Bolehill Flash
Pink-footed Geese 113 Flew over NW 0826 hrs.
Thursday 6 March
A rare visit to the SE coast of Lincolnshire on a warm and sunny day.
Freiston Shore to Boston Point
Blackbird, Stonechat, Starling, Linnet, Yellowhammer, Wigeon, Mallard, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Curlew, Oystercatcher, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Woodpigeon, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Whooper Swan, Cormorant, Brent Goose, Herring Gull, Shelduck, Red-breasted Merganser, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Reed Bunting, Meadow Pipit, Pintail, Jackdaw, Green Woodpecker, House Sparrow, Teal, Turnstone, Avocet, Mute Swan, Robin, Shoveler, Black-headed Gull, Collared Dove, Little Grebe, Tufted Duck, Goldeneye, Dunlin, Chaffinch, Wren, Great Tit, Goldfinch.
Frampton Marsh
My first visit here, I was expecting something simular to Freiston Shore where I was one of the few birders present. At Frampton Marsh it was very busy when I arrived at 1130, with only a few places left in the car park, with a large new visitor centre. Most visiters had left by mid afternoon. Most of the birds present at Freiston also here, plus new birds below. All photo taken from the excellent low hide in the middle of the reserve.
Lapwing, Pochard, Gadwall, Ruff, Great Crested Grebe, Moorhen, Canada Geese, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover.
Tuesday 4 March
Catcliffe Flash
31 Tufted Duck was a high count for this species these days. Also 7 Pochard and 4 returning Shovelers.
Monday 3 March
Treeton Dyke Area
A very vocal Green Woodpecker at 3 different locations, is most likely to be the same individual trying to find a mate.
Sunday 2 March
Calling Green Woodpeckers today at the Canyon Pond and Forgemasters Tip was welcome, given the scarcity in recent years.
Friday 28 February
River Rother by Catcliffe Flash
Two pairs of Goosander on the river with the males showing some signs of teritoial behavior. Number have been down this winter at Treeton Dyke and I have had none at Catcliffe Flash. There are known to be good number roosting at night on Orgreave Lakes.
Tuesday 25 February
Treeton Upper Tip
One of the few pairs of Yellowhammer left in Treeton showed well today.
Tuesday 18 February
Old Flatts Farm, Treeton
Two Little Egrets in pasture.
Monday 17 February
Orgreave Lakes & River
Mute Swan 1, Mallard 49, Gadwall 10, Pochard 32, Tufted Duck 16, Goldeneye 2 Goosander 2, Coot 42, Little Grebe 5, Great Crested Grebe 1, Lapwing 13, Oystercatcher 3, Little Egret 1.
Sunday 16 February
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 12, Gadwall 5, Teal 6, Pochard 3, Tufted Duck 18, Coot 14, Cormorant 2, Great White Egret 1.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 4, Mallard 27, Gadwall 4, Teal 3, Tufted Duck 23, Goldeneye1, Coot 60, Moorhen 5, Great Crested Grebe 2, Little Egret 1.
It's mind boggling to think that in the not so distant past, I would find both Great White and Little Egrets on a February wildfowl count imposible.
Friday 14 February
Great White Egret in SE corner of Treeton Dyke left over Hail Mary Hill Wood where a Great Spotted Woodpecker was drumming. Several Redwing at Old Flatts Farm.
Thursday 6 February
Treeton Village
Pink-footed Geese 41 NW 0903 hrs 238 NW 0907 hrs.
Old Moor
A rare visit to Old Moor RSPB reserve found several Bearded Tits near the Reedbed Hide, which hung around for a prolonged time. After 42 years of photographing birds, this is the first time I have photographed this species in the UK , though many photographed in Hungary etc.
Wednesday 22 January
Treeton Dyke
A pair of Goldeneye.
Hail Mary Hill Wood
A Green Woodpecker calling.
Monday 20 January
Treeton Dyke
A pair of Mute Swans near the railway line were uprooting reedmace presumabbly in preperation for nest building. The male has a bloodied wound on its back, possibly a dog attack!
Old Flatts Farm
12 Redwings feeding around the Dexter cattle.
Saturday 18 January
River Rother Treeton Meadows
My first Kingfisher of the year flew along the river. Its good to see they have survived to high murky river waters and frozen water bodies of late.
Friday 17 January
Orgreave 5 Ravens flew over SW 0900 hrs, this seems to indigate some movement between upland and lowland birds.
Thursday 16 January
Catcliffe Flash
A lone Chiffchaff was around the lay-bye.
Treeton Dyke still 95% frozen
Three Wigeon were on the balancing pond between the Dyke and the raiway line which is unusual.
Saturday 11 January
Catcliffe Flash
Nearly completley frozen with just a few coots, Gadwall, Teal and Shoveler. An immature Common Gull was present for a while, not so common in recent years.
Friday 3 January
New Year Bird Count
Urban Treeton
Pied Wagtail, Carrion Crow, Robin, Blue Tit, Jackdaw, Buzzard, Goldfinch, Greenfinch, House Sparrow, Collared Dove, Woodpigeon.
Treeton Upper Tip
Magpie, Great Tit, Blackbird, Dunnock
Bolehill Flash.
Redwing, Chaffinch.
Spa House Farm
Starling, Fieldfare, Song Thrush, Lapwing, Kestrel, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Pheasant.
Oxbow, Treeton Meadows
Grey Heron 6, Moorhen 2.
Treeton Sewerage Works
Grey Wagtail.
Blue Mans Bower
Mistle Thrush
River Rother M1 area
Stock Dove, Canada Geese.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan, Mallard, Shoveler, Teal, Gadwall, Tufted Duck, Black-headed Gull, Coot, Herring Gull.
Treeton Dyke
Goosander, Cormorant, Bullfinch, Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, Great Black-backed Gull.
Hail Mary Hill Wood
Jay, Goldcrest.
Between bridges Washfield Lane
Redpol.
Orgreave Lakes
Stonechat, Little Grebe, Wigeon, Greylag Goose, Goldeneye, Lesser Black-backed Gull.
A grand total of 55 species.
2024 – 50 Species. 2023 – 57 species. 2022 - 53 Species. 2021 - 52 species. 2020 - 58 species. 2019 - 48 species. Record 2009 - 66 species
Thursday 2 January
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