Welcome
This website is a diary/log of the wildlife seen in and around our local patch at Rawmarsh near Rotherham, South Yorkshire. In particularly, our back garden which is used as a site for observing the daily visible migration/movement of bird's through the Rawmarsh area. We will also include sightings of our outings/trips further afield.
On this page, there is a 'Recent Sightings' section giving details of wildlife sightings for particular areas in and around Rawmarsh. There is also a 'Recent photos' section of interesting photographs taken by the author, and links to archived records and photos.
To enlarge an image - just click on it.
Any questions, comments, or ideas for improvement would be welcomed, as would interesting records or photographs from the area. Thanks!
Recent Sightings
Friday 27 January 2012
HAUGH ROAD, RAWMARSH
Single Lesser-blacked backed Gull and Common Gull were present on the playing field alongside around 35 Black-headed Gulls @ 13.10hrs.
A Kestrel was hovering over the top field @ 15.50hrs and a Heron flew SW 16.10hrs.
Wednesday 25 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG
A group of 5 Cormorants headed SW @ 07.50hrs.
Monday 23 January 2012
HAUGH ROAD CEMETERY, RAWMARSH
A Great spotted Woodpecker was seen in flight over the cemetery 08.15hrs.
Sunday 22 January 2012
STUBBIN OLD PIT SITE -(08.00-09.00hrs)
It turned out to be a bit of a 'walk on the wild side' with gale force winds pumelling the area and a distinct lack of activity.
However, a couple of species were added to the local year list with a smart GREEN WOODPECKER on the hill and a JAY was disturbed from the Chapel Walkarea.
Rawmarsh Area - 2012 - 66
OLD MOOR RSPB - (13.00-16.00hrs)
A productive visit!
Full List:-
Great Crested Grebe: 1
LITTLE EGRET: 1
Heron: 2
Cormorant: 20+
Mute Swan: 10+
PINTAIL: 1 male
Goldeneye: 2
Goosander: 20+
Buzzard: 1
Sparrowhawk: 1
Kestrel: 1
GREEN SANDPIPER: 1
Lapwing: 100+
Common Gull: 25 W
GBBGull: 4 W
LBBGull: 2 W
Grey Wagtail: 1
Bullfinch: 2
Reed Bunting: 2
Saturday 21 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG
A flock of c140 Golden Plovers circled high over the top field for around 5 minutes before heading off NW 09.10hrs.
CLEETHORPES
Our first visit of 2012 to the coast in search of a few year ticks and a change of scenery.
All the usual waders were seen on the shore and the highlight was some very good views of a mobile flock of Snow Buntings that have been present for a couple of weeks.
Little Egret: 3
Brent Goose: 1
Curlew: 50
Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Redshank, Turnstone, Knot
Sanderling: 10
Bar-tailed Godwit: 50+
Grey Plover: 30+
Snow Bunting: Around 80 seen on the saltmarsh
Reed Bunting: 5+
Linnet: 100+
Thursday 19 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG
A Cormorant headed SW 13.10hrs with a couple of Buzzards NW 13.15hrs
Wednesday 18 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.30hrs)
A couple of Mallard SW @ 15.40 was the only interesting sighting of the afternoon.
Tuesday 17 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.45hrs)
Today's sightings included:-
Goosander: 1 SW @ 15.50hrs
Common Gull: 2 ad's NW
Skylark: 38 over top field before dispersing towards Stubbin.
Pied Wagtail: 2 W
Fieldfare: 75 W
Redwing: 50 NW
Meadow Pipit: 3 NW
Sunday 15 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (08.00-09.45hrs)
After the excitement of Saturday's sky-watching stint it was a case of 'back down to earth' this morning with very little noted from the garden.
Full List:-
Cormorant: 2 SW @08.35hrs
Sparrowhawk: 1 over
Skylark: A group of 32 circled the top field before heading back to Stubbin.
Fieldfare: 5 NE
Redwing: 3 SW
Pied Wagtail: 1 W
Yellowhammer: A group of 16 circled the top field with Skylarks before heading back to Stubbin.
LAKESIDE, DONCASTER - (14.30-16.15hrs)
News that the female RING-NECKED DUCK (a lifer for Daniel) had re-located from Potteric Carr YWT Reserve to the easily accessible Lakeside area early afternoon saw us heading down the M18 pretty sharpish.
It didn't take us long to locate the rather non-descript, but rare American visitor amongst a small group of Tufties but the bird refused to co-operate, choosing to sleep for most of the time and so I only managed a couple of rather unsatisfactory record shots.
There were good numbers of wildfowl present and a decent gull roost was forming as we were leaving.
Highlights:-
Great Crested Grebe: 6+
Little Grebe: 4+
Cormorant: 20+
Mute Swan: 10+
Gadwall: 10+
Teal: 4
Shovelar: 10+
Pochard: 25+
Tufted Duck: 15+
RING-NECKED DUCK: 1 female
Goosander: 2 NW
Sparrowhawk: 1 over
BHGull: 2000+
Common Gull: 30+
LBBGull: 10
Herring Gull: 50+
GBBGull: 40+
A very good weekends birding both in the garden and around South Yorkshire and two American ducks in South Yorkshire must be a pretty rare event.
Saturday 14 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (07.45-09.30hrs)
A very cold start to the day with the thermometer in the garden still registering -3 degrees at 09.00hrs.
However, the onset of the cold spell did stir things up a bit with some notable fly-overs noted from the garden and the first hour was probably the best garden vis-mig for some time.
Full List:-
Cormorant: 13 SW @ 08.05hrs with 3 SW @ 08.37hrs.
MUTE SWAN: A group of 6 SE @ 08.20hrs
PEREGRINE: 1 male flew SW @ 08.31hrs.
Golden Plover: 25 circled over the house 08.55hrs
Lapwing: 30 NW @ 08.29hrs (See Image)
Common Gull: 1 ad SW
GBBGull: 2 SW
GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER: 1 seen in flight heading for Haugh Rd cemetery @ 08.05hrs
Fieldfare: 1 SW
Redwing: 16 SW
Meadow Pipit: 3 NW
Pied Wagtail: 1 NW
WREN: 1 bird around the feeders
Long-tailed Tit: 13 briefly
Garden Birds - January - 51
RIVER DON, EASTWOOD TO ALDWAKE - (10.00-11.30hrs)
As expected, there was a bit of an influx of wildfowl on the river this morning with decent numbers of wildfowl present.
Full List:-
Cormorant: 5 on pylons
Little Grebe: 1
Mute Swan: 2
Pink-footed Geese: A skein of 50 W @ 10.50hrs (See Image)
Gadwall: 11 (See Image)
Teal: 12
Mallard: 31
Tufted Duck: 13
Goosander: 9
Moorhen: 4
Coot: 3
Kingfisher: 1
Song Thrush: 2
Long-tailed Tit: 13
Bullfinch: 5 (See Image)
Rawmarsh/Aldwarke/Thrybergh Tip - 2012 - 64
ANGLERS CP, WEST YORKSHIRE - (14.00-16.00hrs)
Well worth a visit at the moment with the American Wigeon still showing well and some scarce winter geese were associating with their commoner cousins 'down on the deck' and a large skein of Pink-feet moved through.
Great Crested Grebe: 10+
Cormorant: 20+
Mute Swan: 10+
Pink-footed Geese: 2 with Greylags and a skein of c250 W
Greylag Geese: c80
GREENLAND WHITE- FRONTED GOOSE - 1 ad with Greylags (See Image)
AMERICAN WIGEON: 1 drake showing well
Pochard: c30
Goldeneye: 10+
Golden Plover: 30 over
Lapwing: c40 around
Snipe: 2
Friday 13 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.30hrs)
Today's sightings included:-
Cormorant: 1 NE @ 15.45hrs
Heron: 1 SW @ 15.30hrs
Golden Plover: 3 NW @ 15.55hrs
GBBGull: 2 N
Fieldfare: 40 W
Redwing: 19 SW
SISKIN: 1 calling bird flew NW @ 15.54hrs
Garden Birds - 2012 - 47
Wednesday 11 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG
A small skein of 9 calling PINK-FOOTED GEESE headed NW 13.15hrs.
Garden Birds - 2012 - 46
Tuesday 10 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.30hrs)
A flock of 54 Lapwing headed west @ 15.40hrs and a Sparrowhawk put in a rather late appearance @ 16.25hrs.
STUBBIN OLD PIT SITE - (19.00-20.00hrs)
Not too much to report but a calling pair of LITTLE OWLS around the Chapel Walk area were our first local record of the year.
Monday 9 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.30hrs)
Today's highlights have included:-
Mallard: 2 W
Sparrowhawk: 1
GBBGull: 2 N
Meadow Pipit: 2 W
Redwing: 25 E
Mistle Thrush: 2 over
STUBBIN OLD PIT SITE - (18.15-19.30hrs)
An after dark stroll around the area surprisingly produced some interesting 'sightings' with most of the birds obviously 'heard' rather than 'seen'.
The highlight was a calling REDSHANK, heading NW 18.30hrs and to continue the wader theme, a calling Golden Plover flew SW around the same time.
A TAWNY OWL hooted from the Chapel Walk area and a small covey of GREY PARTRIDGE were flushed from the set-aside field.
To round off a pretty good walk around 4 Pheasants were disturbed along with small numbers of fieldfares and Redwing.
Sunday 8 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (07.45-09.45 & 13.00-16.00hrs)
A good vis-migging sort of a day with very calm weather for most of the daylight hours which appears to have enticed some pleasant tunes out out of some of our regular garden birds with Great Tit, Coal Tit, Dunnock and Mistle Thrush all heard singing for the first time this year. Spring is not too far away.
A few 'bits and bobs' were noted moving over the garden too during the day and the garden feeders were pretty busy.
Full List:-
Cormorant: 1 SW @ 08.17hrs
Heron: 1 low to N @08.50hrs
Goosander: 4 SW @ 08.20hrs
Sparrowhawk: 1 pr displaying mid-afternoon
Kestrel: Usual bird hovering over top field (See Image)
PHEASANT: 2 males on top field (See Image)
Golden Plover: 11 N
Common Gull: Single adults SW @ 09.50 & N 15.30hrs
GBBGull: 2 N
Skylark: 1 SW
Meadow Pipit: 15 on top field 09.30hrs
Pied Wagtail: Flock of 22 NW 15.00hrs
Fieldfare: c180 SE @ 15.50hrs
Redwing: 7 SW
Mistle Thrush: Usual pair around
Starling: c90 on playing field
LONG-TAILED TIT: Around 15 moved along Haugh Road 14.30hrs
Coal Tit: 2 birds seen regular
Yellowhammer: 2 NW @ 09.35hrs
Garden Birds - 2012 - 45
Saturday 7 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (07.45-10.00hrs)
A bright and rather breezy start to the day but with clear skies and excellent visibility there were no complaints, for a change, about the weather and the birding was pretty good.
Full List:
Cormorant: 1 SW @ 08.15hrs, 2 N 08.28hrs & 3 NW 09.30hrs
GREYLAG GEESE: 7 NW @ 08.40hrs
MERLIN: 1 flew low NW over the playing field and top field @ 10.20hrs
Golden Plover: 7 NW @ 08.50hrs
Herring Gull: 4 N
LBBGull: 1 ad SW
Pied Wagtail: 1 W
Redwing: 3 SW
Goldfinch: 3 SW
Garden Birds - 2012 - 43
OLD MOOR RSPB - (14.00-16.00hrs)
Full List:-
Great Crested Grebe: 1
Cormorant: 22
Greylag Geese: 4
Canada Geese: 30+
Pink-footed Geese: 90+ feeding on grass at the back of the Mere (See Image)
Shelduck: 2
Wigeon: 300+
Gadwall: 50+
Teal: 80+
Shovelar: 6
Pochard: 5
Tufted Duck: 20+
Goldeneye: 2 fem/imms
Goosander: 4
R.... Duck: 1 pr
Sparrowhawk: 1
Lapwing: 400+ (See Image)
Reed Bunting: 6
Yellowhammer: 1
Friday 6 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (15.15-16.30hrs)
Full List:-
Cormorant: 1 N @ 15.45hrs
Buzzard: 4 circling over top field @ 15.20hrs
Kestrel: 1
LAPWING: A flock of 43 flew NW @ 15.50hrs
Mistle Thrush: 2 over
Yellowhammer: 1 calling bird SW
Garden Birds - 2012 - 40
Thursday 5 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG
A calling Linnet heading north was the only sighting of note.
Monday 2 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (08.00-09.45hrs)
Full List:-
Cormorant: 1 SW @ 08.10hrs
Kestrel: 1
Golden Plover: 60 E @ 08.32 & 55 NE 09.30hrs
Common Gull: Usual adult
GBBGull: 6 SE
Herring Gull: 5 SW
Woodpigeon: 155 SW
Fieldfare: 35 SW
Redwing: 4 SE
BLUE TIT: 2 around the feeders
GREAT TIT: 1 around the feeders
YELLOWHAMMER: 1 calling bird N @ 09.05hrs
Garden Year List - 38
Sunday 1 January 2012
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (07.45- 11.45hrs)
The first sunrise of 2012 was pretty good and we had some decent sky-watching weather for most of the morning.
Our primary aim of 2012 is to record every bird and any other wildlife that we see or hear in, or from, our garden and hopefully take a few decent images at the same time.
So our first stint of 2012 back garden vis-migging was pretty good with 35 species recorded by lunchtime. A good start to the year list!
Highlights:-
Cormorant: 2 N @ 08.25hrs
Goosander: 1 redhead SE @ 07.52hrs
Mallard: 2 SW
Sparrowhawk: 2
Buzzard: 1 W @ 09.30hrs & 4 circled high over the top field 11.00hrs
Kestrel: 1
Golden Plover: 53 E @ 10.10
Common Gull: Usual adult on playing field
GBBGull: 11 SW
LBBGull: 1 ad SW
Herring Gull: 8 S
Stock Dove: 1 E
Woodpigeon: c700 E @ 08.20hrs
Skylark: 10 SW
Meadow Pipit: 1 SW
Pied Wagtail: 1 W
Fieldfare: 17 Sw
Redwing: 5 SW
Mistle Thrush: 2 over
Jackdaw: 3 SW
Goldfinch: 3 Sw
Chaffinch: 2 SW
Garden Year List - 2012 - 35
ROTHER VALLEY COUNTRY PARK - (13.00-14.30hrs)
Sightings included:-
Great Crested Grebe: 17
Heron: 14
Cormorant: 15+
Mute Swan: 25+
Greylag Geese: 2
Canada Geese: 100+
Shelduck: 1 on main lake (See Image)
Wigeon: 75+
Teal: 55
Pochard: 40
Tufted Duck: 25+
Goldeneye: 8 around the park
SMEW: 1 fem/imm on nature reserve lake (See Image)
Goosander: 26
Lapwing: c150
LBBGUll: 1
Common Gull: 3
Kingfisher: 1 on R. Rother
Long-tailed Tit: 10
Jay: 1
Siskin: 12
Lesser Redpoll: 1 fly-over
ORGREAVE LAKES - (15.00-16.00hrs)
The gull roost was pretty quiet with only large numbers of Black-headed Gulls and a around 50 GBBGulls and Herring Gulls.
Good numbers of Pochard were on the lake along with a single Goldeneye and 3 Goosander flew off towards Treeton.
An overflying PEREGRINE was the highlight, picked up by Daniel as it headed over the river towards Treeton Dyke.
A small flock of Linnets were mobile and around 7 Bullfinch were seen in the trees near the bridge.
Saturday 31 December 2011
GARDEN VIS-MIG - (08.00-10.30 & 13.30-15.15hrs)
The weather for our last garden vis-mig of 2011 was ideal with a stiff breeze and plenty of blue sky and consequently some decent fly-overs were picked up during the day.
Full list:-
Cormorant: A party of 8 SW @ 08.20hrs
Sparrowhawk: 2 seen
Buzzard: 3 seen circling @ 13.40hrs
Kestrel: 1
Golden Plover: 13 cicled the playing field before heading off NW @ 11.10hrs
COMMON SNIPE: 1 E @ 15.05hrs
Common Gull: 1 ad with BHGulls on playing field
Herring Gull/GBBGull: A mixed flock flew SW (See Image)
Woodpigeon: c450 E @ 08.35hrs with c90 SW
Meadow Pipit: 3 SW with 15 on top field
Pied Wagtail: 1 W
Fieldfare: 75 SW
Redwing: 15 SW & 35 NW
Mistle Thrush: 2 over
Yellowhammer: 1 N @ 09.00hrs
Daniel was the victor in our 2011 year list competition with 197 species and Dad followed closely behind on 187. Well done Daniel and I'm sure you will hit the 200 mark in 2012.
We'll both be up bright and early in the garden tomorrow morning and hoping for some decent sky-watching weather and a good start to our garden list.
All that's left is to wish everyone a peaceful and bird-filled 2012. Happy New Year!
To see more records visit the Archived Records section.