Old Moor twitching Great White Egret

So it tends to happen that on productive revision days a rare bird turns up at one of my local sites, and so it was yesterday when a great white egret turned up at Old Moor. Once more, as I had done before I decided to speed off after lectures to try and track it down, only lectures finished later today that I would usually go birding after, so that left a very real possibility that the bird would go in the morning.

I tracked the incoming records all morning and at 12.00 when I was good to go the bird was still there. It took a while to finally arrive, I dropped in at half 2, but I arrived to the outstanding news that the bird was still there, only there were people who were seeing it, and others that were not. Apparently there was also a bittern showing well at the 'Bittern Hide', where I had not been before. 

My intention was to make this a short visit as revision called, so I went straight to the bittern hide. The bittern itself had gone and the egret was out of site, so I settled down to wait and see. While I waited there were great views of Common Tern and Great Crested Grebes, as well as hirundines and Swifts.

I had been looking in the wrong place but the I soon tracked down the egret when it re-appeared from behind the reeds. Initially you could only see its head as it was mobbed by gulls, but soon it came out in all its glory, showing off fishing, and when it was mobbed its aigrette tail feathers were blowing wonderfully in the wind.

It was sad that it was quite a way away so I could not get this detail on camera, but I managed some reasonable record shots all things considered. I watched the bird for over an hour before deciding that the degree was probably pretty important and needed seeing to. 

When I first saw the birds head I did wonder if everyone had got it wrong, a white heron head with a black beak did make me wonder if it was just a little egret. It was only when it stepped out from behind the reeds that I really got to appreciate the bird in all its glory as it waded up and down the bank. Its no wonder really that I took so many pictures...

-Great White Egret

Thats my tenth lifer and 151st species this year, an incredible year. The only other bird of note was a very brief view of the bittern as it moved through the reeds. A very fleeting glimpse not even worth really noting, until I got home and found these 2 photos among my collection. I chuckled to myself when I found these, clearly showing the bittern flying in the background behind the egret, a truly fantastic fluke shot.

-Bittern and Great White Egret

Another thing to note was the presence of a small cluster of Southern Marsh Orchids in front of the hide. Sadly I was obviously unable to get a really good view but I took a quick photo from the hide for record purposes.

-Southern Marsh Orchid

In review it was well worth taking the afternoon off revision to see this bird, so elegant, and put Monday well and truly behind me. I was glad to see that the bird really showed well, so that I got to see all aspects of it, truly stunning. In summary, here is the rather brief daylist:

Species List:

RSPB Old Moor: Pheasant, Magpie, Sparrowhawk, Blue Tit, Mute Swan, Black-Headed Gull, Common Tern, Tufted Duck, Mallard, Moorhen, Jackdaw, Coot, Great Crested Grebe, Little Grebe, Gadwall, Canada Goose, Swift, Swallow, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Sand Martin, Great White Egret, Bittern, Lapwing Cormorant, Woodpigeon

Potteric Carr twitching Spotted Sandpiper

Yesterday at approximately 9.45 in the morning an adult summer plumage Spotted Sandpiper was found at Potteric Carr. Pretty special to say the least, but due to it being a Sunday and revision I decided not to go for it there and then, but to go after my 9.00 lecture on Monday.
I arrived at around 11 to the heartbreaking news that the bird had not been seen that morning, and since the reserve had opened early specially it seemed that the bird had cleared off, just my luck. I made my way straight to the main marsh to see what was around, on the way I encountered Song Thrush, a cuckoo calling but not seen and a Brimstone Butterfly looking lovely in what was glorious sunshine.
I arrived first at the hide where the  BNG's had been last time, but there was very little around today, a Whitethroat singing very visibly was probably the highlight. I made my way round the hide, not encountering an excessive amount but still plenty of nice things.
All the way round I had been surrounded by Damselflies, of the Common Blue, Common Blue-Tailed and Large Red varieties. However, south of the viewing screen there was a ditch and it was here that I encountered my first Dragonflies of the year in the form of a pair of Four-Spot Chasers. I tried to grab some photos but was unsuccessful.
The first hide where there was much of note was 'Roger Mitchell Hide'. Right outside the hide there were 4 lapwings and a flock of starlings feeding, so I was able to grab some pretty decent photos for the day, in case I encountered naught else.

-Lapwing

But there was else, as I checked the island in the middle of the lake I observed a wader on the end that I was not confident was a redshank, at which it initially appeared. I grabbed some photos but the bird was too far off for a clear diagnosis, however my hunch told me that it was almost certainly a Greenshank. Sadly though the bird flew off while I was not looking, leaving me with a few photos on which to base my analysis. 

I need not have worried as in the next hide, 'West Scrape Hide' there were two stunning Greenshanks feeding right in front of the hide. Almost certainly the same one that I had seen on the other marsh. They were happy feeding, back on forth in front of the hide. I managed to pick up some great shots of this species which I am not overly familiar with. However, the true significance of this find is that it is my 150th species this year. So that made up for the lack of Spot Sand, the big 150...

-Greenshank

After a while the Greenshank took off and landed on the far side of the lake, where they were difficult to see. I began looking round for other birds and spotted 3 redshank, a pair of shellduck and no less than 8 Ringed Plovers, a pair of which were sat right in front of the hide. Where the other 6 birds thought it would be a good idea to join them on the near island I got to watch a very territorial display from the original birds which was very nice to see. 

-Ringed Plover

West Scrape was where the spot sand was meant to be incidentally, but it was distinctly lacking in such species. After a while I decided to move on, as work would be waiting for me when I returned. I called in at 'Piper Marsh Hide' where the kingfishers were meant to be last time. And this time they were there, or at least one was, but it was some way off. Through the bins I got pretty decent views but the bird was very mobile, flying into trees and reeds so it was not often that it showed well except when it was in flight.

-Kingfisher

On the way out from the hide I spotted a very large and subtly colourful caterpillar on the path. I have done some research and reckon this is a Drinker Moth Caterpillar but I stand to be corrected should I be incorrect.

-Drinker Moth Caterpillar

 On the way round the 'Black Carr Field' I found one of the nicest surprises of the day when I spotted my first Long-Tailed Tit fledglings, or certainly the first I can ever remember seeing. Sadly I had to look up to it, but I was able to watch it being fed by the adult, but I did still get a pretty decent view so that I could see the brown face mask.

-Long-Tailed Tit fledgling

I decided to take a longer way round back to the entrance in case I could find a cuckoo. I could not, but did find Grey Heron and a very large Dragonfly Exuvia, of what I can't begin to imagine as there was no dragonfly species that large that emerge this early in the year. I would assume it was probably an early emerging emperor.

And thats that then. No Spot Sand but I managed to find my 150th species so I'm pleased. And the weather was good, and I was bitten and stung and covered in cobwebs and just generally beaten by nature, and the train copped it on the way home, but that's pretty standard really.

--150 SPECIES--

Species List:

Potteric Carr: Jackdaw, Dunnock, Great Tit, Black-Headed Gull, Jay, Blackbird, Carrion Crow, Canada Goose, Moorhen, Wren, Shelduck, Song Thrush, Swift, Coot, Tufted Duck, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Whitethroat, Mallard, Pochard, Willow Warbler, Great-Crested Grebe, Woodpigeon, Lapwing, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Graylag Goose, Reed Bunting, Oystercatcher, Magpie, Starling, Lesser Black-Backed Gull, Cormorant, Greenshank, Shoveler, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Common Buzzard, Sand Martin, Chiff-Chaff, Kingfisher, Collard Dove, Long-Tailed Tit, Robin, Grey Heron, Blue Tit, Blackcap 

None Birds: Speckled Wood, Brimstone, Large White, Small White, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Orange Tip, Common Blue Tailed Damselfly, Common Blue Damselfly, Large Red Damselfly, Four-Spot Chaser

Uni Semester 2 Week 11

Wednesday
I woke up this morning to hear a chiff-chaff calling in the student village. I did not try to find the bird, but it has been calling all morning so is probably setting up a territory here. Its the first one I have heard calling in the student village.

Thursday
Walking back from dinner a flock of Long-Tailed Tits was flying across along the edge of the student village, hunting through the trees. It was good to catch up with this flock as I had been hearing them all day outside my window
  Speaking of birds and hearing, I can also hear a Blackcap calling from outside my window. I have not been to try and track it down as its in the large small wooded area opposite me that I can't get into but its another nice species to have heard from my halls window

Friday
While waiting outside Stevenson before lectures this morning I got to watch a Grey Squirrel scurry along the line of tree's that separate Crewe from Stevo. It was interesting that nobody else seemed to notice it, or were too preoccupied to care, but it got the day off to a good start.

Saturday
I had intended to spend this day revising productively, but since it was an incredibly nice day we ended up spending a couple of hours in the afternoon playing football in the park. Despite its business and obvious distractions there was a few things about, a grey wagtail flew over and there was a Brimstone Butterfly, as well as Orange Tip and Large White. So despite not going birdwatching I still managed a few bits and pieces.

Sunday
On the way up to church on this lovely may evening there was a large flock of around 30 Swifts flying around near church. They called initially but they stopped, it was the call that drew me to them as they were some way off. On the way out at 9.00 there were 3 birds still around and they were much lower.

Uni Semester 2 Week 10

Tuesday
While walking to lectures I heard my first swifts of the year and my first ever in Sheffield. I could not find the birds, nor could I really stop to look, but it can still go down on the record as my first 'screaming' of the year.

Thursday
Sat in my room I could hear the call of Long-Tailed Tits outside the window. I failed to track them down initially but later that afternoon I spotted one in the tree directly outside my window. Its another great bird to add to the list of birds seen outside my halls' window.

Peaks via Endcliffe Park

Things birdwise have been a little slow through May due to lectures and exams, but today I had the chance to get out and do a little birding with my friend Jess in the peaks near Endcliffe Park. The undoubted avian highlight was a stunning pair of male Mandarin ducks on the pond at Forge Dam. We were able to get amazing views as the birds were very bold, even taking bread with the mallards from the people feeding. I managed to grab a few photos, which are alright

-Drake Mandarin

We passed through a variety of habitats and so managed to get really good numbers of species. On the moors at the top we managed to get Lapwing, Curlew, Skylark, Mistle Thrush and a pair of Wheatear. We also passed Redmires Reservoir but the shoreline was pretty empty with the exception of a group of around 5 Canada Geese. In the surrounding fields there were decent numbers of Linnet and Pied Wagtails which we were able to get decent views of. We also had very good views of a Greater Spotted Woodpecker at the top of Forge Dam.

There was one grey area however. As we left the woods surrounding forge dam I spotted a bird in the tree that I could not recognize. It kept moving and did not sing, but it was the size of a blackcap, plain and had a fine beak. Given this description you would probably think garden warbler, and so did I, however the bird cleared off before I got a really good view of it. I can only conclude that it must have been a garden warbler, but since I am unable to confirm it, it will remain unticked for this year; the one that got away.

Species List:

Endcliffe Park/Peak District/Redmires Reservoir: Starling, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Blackbird, Blackcap, Great Tit, Robin, Mistle Thrush, Pheasant, Mallard, Grey Wagtail, Pied Wagtail, Woodpigeon, Feral Pigeon, Jackdaw, Rook, Goldfinch, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Moorhen, Meadow Pipit, Jay, Greenfinch, Curlew, Skylark, Linnet, Wheatear, Swallow, Canada Goose, Willow Warbler, Mandarin,

Wombwell Ings twitching Glossy Ibis

I really should start my revision, but the appearance of a Glossy Ibis moving around South Yorkshire over the weekend may have put an end to those plans. I spent Saturday resting, when the bird appeared and moved around most sites in the county.

It spent the evening at Wombwell Ings, a satellite site to Old Moor, and then decided to stay. On Sunday I stayed to watch FC Halifax Town loose their play-off semi final, but the bird stayed again, so I decided to go for it today. When the alarm went off this morning I silently regretted that decision, but I went for it anyway.

I arrived at Wombwell Ings at around 10.00, with the ibis still there but hiding in a ditch out of sight. The hide was packed but I was able to perch myself on the end of a bench to watch the described location of the bird.

While I waited I gathered information regarding other birds, the undoubted highlights being a stunning male Gargany right in front of the hide. Unfortunately it spent most of the time with its head underwater feeding so I was still unable to get a great shot, but its still an improvement. The bird was as striking as they come, and having never seen one close as this I was very pleased with the way things were developing.

-Drake Gargany

There were also Shellduck, a pair of herons and 4 Avocets on the lake, the avocets came to the near shore at one point, very close. I was then able to grab a few shots of these striking birds as close as they were.

-Avocet

It took all of 20 mins but the star of the show eventually showed its glossy face, quite far away but feeding along the shore. From there it flew into the field, fed, flew back onto the shoreline, fed, flew back into the field and then we lost it for about 10mins, and it was during this absent spell that I decided I should probably head back to do some work. This progression took up an hour, but the reports on birdguides say that the bird moved off at about 12.00 so I did right to leave when I did.

So the bird. Despite the distance I was still able to get a decent view, especially when it was on the shoreline. The best chance for photos was during its flight, but they were infrequent. It was great to see it in flight though, its wings and body shape so unusual among most British birds.

Its plumage was not extensively glossy, so it is probably a younger bird, and there were white streaks on its face that I could make out, also suggesting a younger bird.

Its only my 5th vagrant species, but one that I have really wanted to see for some time, they just have such a tropical feel about them, so to see one in Barnsley is a bit out of context. I managed some photos, below...

-Glossy Ibis

So I left at about 11.20 to make sure I was back in good time to do some work. Result: well pleased with seeing the bird, and in the nick of time too. That was my 149th species of the year, 9th Lifer of the year, 5th vagrant species and first Glossy Ibis, what a result. Now back to the degree...

Species List:

Wombwell Ings RSPB: Whitethroat, Shellduck, Gargany, Coot, Moorhen, Carrion Crow, Lapwing, Redshank, Jackdaw, Woodpigeon, Shoveler, Gadwall, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Graylag Goose, Black-Headed Gull, Common Teal, Starling, Canada Goose, Mallard, Magpie, Oystercatcher, Swift, Swallow, Reed Bunting, Avocet, Glossy Ibis, Tufted Duck, Linnet, Snipe, Goldfinch, Long-Tailed Tit, Yellowhammer, Robin, House Sparrow, Blue Tit, Bullfinch, House Martin, Feral Pigeon, Blackbird

Uni Semester 2 Week 9

Monday

While waiting for the bus to take us into the peaks I spotted a Long-Tailed tit in the tree above us. The view was fleeting unfortunately but I made the best of it, as it was a lovely bird.
Continuing on Monday, some of the flat and I went for a kick around in Endcliffe Park, and while we were there a Sparrowhawk drifted over, though only briefly. There was also a woodpecker (GS) calling from the wood but it did not fly out and I did not go in to look for it

Thursday
On the way back from my biology ball outside Stevenson at 4.00 in the morning I heard an owl calling very close to the road. I had a look up to see if I could see it, and its ghostly form flew out from the trees, down the road and over the wall. It was a better view than last time that's for sure, a real nice find.

Sunday
On the walk back from church I spotted a few bats flying around. I have no idea what kind they are but they are the first bats I have seen this year so that was a really nice sight. Really getting into the nocturnal wildlife this week.