December 2010 - Bittern at Potteric Carr YWT

Friday 10th: Wow! What a day! An early start at a snowy Potteric Carr. Snow that fell in the area over a week ago was still lying deeply over all the nature reserve. All the marshes and lakes were totally frozen with no waterfowl at all (Ducks, Geese etc) to be seen. I have never seen it like this before. Where are all the birds? Well the only birds to be seen were the usual garden & woodland variety in small numbers, namely; Bullfinches, Chaffinches, Siskins, Goldfiches, Reed Buntings, Blackbird, Mistle & Song Thrush, Redwings, Pheasants, a few Moorehens, two Water rails and one BITTERN. Yes, Bittern, these are very elusive waders, part of the Heron family, that spend most of their time skulking amongst the reedbeds. During the harsh weather, especially when the lakes are frozen, this is the best time to see Bitterns as they tend to come out into the open more.

Sandra and myself happened to go into Willow Pool hide, expecting to see the usual song birds gathered around the feeders. What greeted us when we opened the door to the hide were the hushed words, "Bittern!" A mass of birding-paparazzi and cameras with lenses as long as your arm! The target in question was not 500 metres away hidden in a mass of reeds, but 10 metres away amongst the frost ravaged undergrowth!

It was close but looking at it through a fellow birders' scope was just fantastic! This is not an every day occurrence, these are amongst the rarest native birds in the country. I've been lucky enough to have seen Bitterns before but always at a distance and heavily camouflaged amidst a mass of reeds! But it got better, the bird came out of the undergrowth and as it slowly walked through the snow, the birding-paparazzi let loose, the sound of cameras working furiously (mine included) to capture these treasured images. It stood there for a while, posing like a celebrity-starlet while the volley from the cameras continued. It then made ready, launched itself into the air and its huge wings took it leisurely gliding off to the far side of the frozen lake. Afterwards the birders started congratulating each other and checking photos, one even chirped, "Luck's in today, think I'll buy a Lottery ticket". A cuppa was needed now to relax, if nothing else showed today then seeing this was worth the free entry..... thanks Potteric Carr!

Well nothing much did happen for the rest of the day. Except that both I and Sandra yomped through the snow and around the rest of the NR, getting extremely wet boots and feet, only seeing the occasional bird. Tired after trekking through the snow, we departed just before the sun set.

June 2010 - Iberian Chiffchaff...at Potteric Carr YWT

Thursday 17th: In the birding fraternity, something that is termed "A MEGA" is considered an extremely rare visitor to the British Isles. Well on May 11th, an Iberian Chiffchaff took up residence at Potteric Carr YWT in Doncaster. This rather shabby-looking male has since staked out a territory and continually sings for a mate. Unfortunately, it is very unlikely that he will get one, though there is another Iberian Chiffchaff that has taken up residence, but that is in Gwent, South Wales!

There have been only about 25 recorded instances of this Warbler in this country and this is only the 2nd ever in South Yorkshire! Well, late Thursday afternoon I finally got the chance to see this bird. Finishing work at 4pm, I crossed the road to the nature reserve. At that time of day it is always quiet as the site closes it's doors at 5pm. A good 20 minute trek to St. Catherine's Field where the bird has it's territory on a warm and sunny day.

As I approached the area, the Iberian Chiffchaff was conspicuous by it's song. Straightaway I saw the bird high up, atop a small tree but not so high that it was indistinguishable. Glad I carted my scope and tripod with me so that I could get some good close views of this once-in-a-lifetime visitor! Though binoculars served just as well. I was the only person there and had the Chiffchaff all to myself! It soon became apparent that the bird had a routine that it followed and by this I could take photos and alternate to either visual with or without the scope/binoculars.

For an hour and a half, I spent time in the company of the Iberian Chiffchaff, taking photos and just watching as it continued to sing. I could even hear it sing from some trees on the other side of the field although it was lost to view during it's set routine. The constant rumble of Motorway traffic close by was not a worry to it at all.

But as I said before, the bird had a set routine and I knew that after 10 minutes at the far-end of the field, it would be back. and of course it was. The best views were while the bird was perched singing in the small Hawthorn tree just a few meters away. These photos are taken while he was in that tree.

The song is, as you would expect different to the Common Chiffchaff that are Summer visitors to the British Isles and sometimes resident. Below is a short video of the Iberian Chiffchaff in song.

April 2010 - Potteric Carr YWT

Saturday 10th: What a gorgeous sunny and warm day! Sandra, joined me for an afternoon of roaming our local Patch. And what should we encounter just five minutes after walking through the reception area....KINGFISHERS! Two to be exact. We were crossing the little footbridge over the stream (Mother Drain) that bisects the Reserve in half and I noticed a shimmering blue streak fly low level down the length of the stream and under the footbridge! Well, immediately we stopped and stood on the bridge for the next hour enjoying the views of one Kingfisher flying up and down the stream just inches from the surface, while presumably the other stayed with the nest. I set up the scope on the tripod and obtained some stunning views of both birds. It appeared that the male was catching fish and on one occasion as witnessed through the scope by Sandra, feeding the female. Well Sandra was delighted at this sight as she was saying beforehand that it would make the day if she saw a kingfisher. Well here's two! As we had the scope set up, we attracted a small gathering as people would stop and join us in watching these brilliant birds. One or two even had a look through the scope at the Kingfisher pair! Unfortunately I didn't get any decent images of this event other than the silhouette of a Kingfisher (below), as watching was a joy in itself! As Sandra said afterwards, "this was well worth the visit alone!"

Well, we proceeded with the walk around the Reserve for the next five hours! After the Kingfisher pair, there was nothing that could top that! We encountered a variety of Warblers on our amble, mostly spotted by Sandra! A Chiffchaff, Blackcap (though I can't remember whether it was male or female), a stunning view of a Wood Warbler and at least two Willow Warblers! Robins and Wrens were singing constantly along with the occasional Dunnock. Sandra had a running test of wits with two or three Peacock Butterflies, as she tried to photograph them! A fine view of a Grey Heron (top), at Loversall Hide with Teal, Gadwall and Mallards. At Willow Pool Hide we encountered some Chaffinches and Reed Buntings. A Grey Squirrel climbed one of the bird tables as shown below and proceeded to eat the Sunflower seed.

A pair of Canada Geese, one of which was ringed as can be seen by the photo, gave a show of grooming themselves at Willow Pool. Unfortunately the detail on the ring can't be seen which is a shame as it would be interesting to know where it was ringed. We continued the walk around to Huxter Well and Piper Marsh where we encountered quite a few Sand Martins - not House Martins as I originally said.

And finally as we were on the way out, at Old Eaa Marsh amongst all the BHG's was a lone Canada Goose sitting on a mountain of a nest as can be seen below! It was rapidly getting to Sunset and the mosquitoes were beginning to dine on us, time to leave.

September 2009 - Potteric Carr NR, in search of Kingfisher!

Monday 28th: A pleasant sunny day so after work I drove across the road to PCNR in search of Kingfisher. Now I only had 2 hours of sunlight left but the Kingfisher had made one particular Hide area his own territory so the chances of getting a positive sighting were high. I had decided that I would stay in the Hide for the duration. Loads of Canada Geese, a family of Moorhens, Mallards, Chaffinches, a Robin, Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Treecreeper (highlight of the visit), various members of the Tit family, 5 Magpies, 2 Dunnocks, 6 Pheasants, a probable Sparrowhawk flying overhead and 4 Grey Squirrels not to mention a Water Rat....but no Kingfisher! Though a fellow birder did tell me that there was an Osprey at Sprotbrough Flash and that it had been there a few days. I would have to arrange time off work to go and see this elusive raptor.

MAY 2009 - Potteric Carr NR....KINGFISHER!

I have now added the video camera footage of this intriging bird! Above are 4 stills taken from the video camera footage that I shot when the Kingfisher came back at 7:30pm to fish.

Saturday 30th, today was a warm and sunny day, time for a trip out to my local patch. As it was warm, I decided that to keep cool, I would wear a pair of shorts. Big mistake! Walking through woods dotted with small ponds inhabited by flying beasties called mosquitoes, I may as well have held a sign up proclaiming... "lunch is here!" Aside from that, it was an enjoyable afternoon walking in the Sun! The usual birds were seen...nothing out of the ordinary. In fact I thought that it was fairly quiet has birds go.

BUT, at teatime, (these things always happen at teatime) I decided to wander back to the car and called-in at Willow Pool Hide on the way. This hide is where you are more or less guaranteed to get good close-up views of birds as there are a couple of bird tables staked-out. I entered quietly as I always do and there were a couple already ensconced. The chap motioned to me "Kingfisher!" The bird was perched on a small sapling just 20 feet away....FANTASTIC! I snapped away! As I slowly got my video cam out, it flew off! But not to worry as it turned out. It was still in the area flying about and skimming the water. The couple left the hide and I decided that I was happy with what I had got and seen and would leave too. BUT, it then came back and perched on a sapling closer still,...just 10 feet away! My video camera was out and I grabbed good quality footage at close quarters!!!! WOW...AMAZING!!

May 2009 - Potteric Carr & Hatfield Moor

Sunday 3rd, I went over to Potteric Carr hoping to see a veritable smorgasboard of bird life! Though it was a rasonably sunny and warm day, ther was a very blustary wind. Well, for only the second time of visiting the nature reserve, There were very few birds! The usual Black-Headed Gulls were out colonising Huxter Well but there was a very distinct lack of waders on the Well. Ringed Plover, Avocets and Redshank with Sand Martins and Swifts were there and usual suspects...but all-in-all, not much. Speaking to another Birder there and he reckoned that the strong winds would be a factor. But I did get a good showing of a Kingfisher (2 minute video will follow) and a Jay. Other than that....nothing!

So I dashed over to Hatfiled Moors to take-in the last 3 hours. Not much there either as it was still quite breezy! Though ther were alot of Swallows and Sand Martins buzzing about! On the water there was virtually nothing except for a solitary Oystercatcher and lapwing along with half-a-dozen Coots!

APRIL 2009 - Blackbird & Sparrows in the House & visit to Potteric Carr

Sunday 26th, we have located the second nest of the female Blackbird from Family 'Set-B' and it is in our garden...maybe about ten inches from her first nest! Well, she's going to stay close to where the food supply is and we are it! The back door has to stay shut when not feeding the birds as we have found...to our cost that the Blackbirds (female and male) along with House Sparrows, are coming into the kitchen in search of mealworms! In one instance this afternoon at 5:45pm, the female Blackbird must have sneaked into the kitchen, found there was no mealworms available and flew upstairs where she left little packages in the study. All this while we had visitors too! Anyway Melanie managed to open the window and out she flew...sorry no pictures are available! Five minutes later, she was at the back door for feeding!

The House Sparrows are also being very bold. They have started to come into the kitchen if the door is left adjar. While at Potteric Carr this afternoon, I received a phone call and it was my wife telling me that 3 Sparrows and the Blackbird female were stood on the kitchen floor waiting to be fed.

APRIL 2009 - Potteric Carr NR

Sunday 19th, went over to PCNR for the last 4 hours of daylight. Not an awful lot that I saw except for some notables on Huxter Well; Avocets, Little Ringed Plover and a couple of Redshanks along with a single Oystercatcher. No sign of the Wheatear or the Black-necked Grebes that I was looking for. But a pleasant early evening! This image of the Oystercatcher was digiscoped using a hand-held compact to the eyepiece of my scope.

JANUARY 2009

A solitary visit by a Greenfinch to the seed feeders in the early part of the month was most unusual. The middle of the month saw the continued visits by a Wren. It seems to have taken up residence nearby and is often seen in the garden, rooting about in the leaf-foliage. We captured video footage of the Wren killing a Caterpillar and then devouring the large pupae.

The two male Blackbirds are still around and will perform a ritual scuffle at the back door for mealworms. The two females, tend to stay out of the way but grab a few mealworms when the males are preoccupied with each other!

The Robins are very regular visitors in the kitchen, flying in for a feast of mealworms. There are three of them, though we are unsure of what sex they are – two males, one female – two females, one male – three females or three males? How do you tell the difference? We have noticed that they have distinct shapes and indentations of their red breasts. Taking note of this we have found that one particular Robin will take four mealworms at one ‘sitting’ while another will take four. The third Robin tends to stay out of the kitchen and only eat seed, oats etc.

On the 29th, there was a surprise visit by a female Sparrowhawk to the garden. She landed on top of a garden arch and stayed for about 20 minutes. As you would expect, the resident bird population took to cover for the duration. She departed without catching anything – in fact she didn’t even try!

The Squirrels were always in the garden but the birds seem fairly used to them now. How this will affect egg-laying in the Spring – we shall see? My Wife did manage to tempt one of the Squirrels to the back door for some peanuts. We have remarkable video footage of this!

At Potteric Carr, several Pintails were seen on one of the marshes. This was a FIRST for me. Quite a neat duck! Three Bulfinches were also noted at the Nature Reserve.

DECEMBER 2008 - PNCR

Last visit to PCNR of the year. I was rewarded with my second-ever view of a Bittern! This time it was on the far side of the marsh, a considerable distance! But I managed to get 15 minutes of video. The image at left is a still from that video. The Bittern can just be seen in the centre of the picture amongst the reeds.

Good close views of a Water Rail at Willow Pool feeding station. These birds are very secretive but this one seems to ignore all the Twitchers and Photographers only a few feet away in the Hide!

Below, this Blue Tit was very obliging at the same feeding station.

Below left, again at the same place, two Reed Buntings, female & male were on the bird table.

The immature Pied Wagtail seen on a local Supermarket car park, was frequently seen throughout December - of course there's probably more than one immature Pied Wagtail around and it's unlikely that it is the same one as seen in July.

OCTOBER 2008 - First Goldfinch in the garden!

Another photo of the Squirrel. We suspect that it is the same individual that has visited before. Just shows what acrobats they truly are!

Snapped this Great Tit at PCNR. It was from the Willow Pool Hide where close-ups of a variety of birds can be seen.

At last! A Goldfinch has visited the garden! Only the one....but at least it's a start! Magnificent looking birds. We have a friend who lives about 200 yards away as the Goldfinch flies, who gets multiple Goldfinches in her garden most days! In fact we often see them flying over to her garden!!!! What is wrong with what we offer? Could it be that there are many more deciduous trees where she lives? Comments please.

March 2008

A couple more from PCNR in March 2008 - A male Great Spotted Woodpecker was not shy performing for the assembled mass in Willow Pool Hide. Nor were the Male Chaffinches and Reed Bunting! In fact there seemed to be quite a flock of Greenfinches grazing both male and female, on the ground.