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previous updates: 23/01/2022 - 17/01/2023

29th January Little Egret at Carlton Lake today (MSc).

28th January c100 Pink-footed Goose, high >NW over Throapham at c1230 (ADH). Several small skeins (12- 40 birds) of Greylag Goose flying into and around Langold Lake this morning (MSc). At Tommy Flockton’s Marsh today were c50 Wigeon, 10 Teal, Little Egret, Green Woodpecker and a Heron (BC).

27th January Several skeins of Pink-footed Goose; c100 and c.80 >W over Costhorpe and 13 Greylag Goose over Rotherham Baulk heading for Carlton Lake (MSc).

25th January 8 Whooper Swan >NW over North Anston (AM).

23rd January 20 Whooper Swan, low >NW over Throapham- possibly roosted in nearby fields (low flight) (ADH). A Barn Owl over Harry Croft's Quarry (MC).

22nd January At Axle Lane, m & juv. Stonechat plus 2 Golden Plover >S (MC).

21st January A f Stonechat at Kiveton Pit Top (Kiveton Community Woodland), plus Green Woodpecker and a skein of Pink-footed Goose over Tommy Flockton's Marsh (WB).

19th January A skein of Pink-footed Goose heard at 1919 >SE over Dinnington (ADH).

18th January A m & Juv. Stonechat at Axle Lane (MC).

17th January A juv. Stonechat near the hole in wall at Axle Lane. Also, 20+ Skylark, 15+ Meadow Pipit, a pair Reed Bunting and 3 Wren both at the Todwick end (BC).

15th January 7 Grey Partridge at Lodge Lane, Dinnington (JG).

14th January A f Blackcap in a Rackford Road garden for the last two days (FK).

13th January Waxwing still present early morning at Tommy Flockton's Marsh (BC). No sign of Waxwing mid-morning, but Raven over Tommy Flockton's Marsh (MNR).

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Brian Chambers

12th January A Waxwing in Hawthorns by the entrance to Tommy Flockton's Marsh (BC). 150 Pink-footed Goose >NW over Axle Lane (JHe).

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Brian Chambers

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Kev Colclough

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Kev Colclough

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Kev Colclough

Waxwing @ Tommy Flockton's Marsh © Kev Colclough

10th January 100 Pink-footed Goose >W over Axle Lane (MC).

9th January Eight SK58 members took part in the Monday walk at Langold Lake. Wildfowl counted included 2 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Mute Swan, 3 Greylag Goose, 120 Canada Goose, 28 Tufted Duck and 2 Common Gull. A couple of Buzzard were recorded close to the old colliery site and a Green Woodpecker called from the pit top area. A Kingfisher flew along the top lake. The woods produced 10 Long-tailed Tit, 2 Nuthatch and a Treecreeper, with a Song Thrush singing loudly from behind the refreshment kiosk refused to show itself (GF & LF).

8th January A Rose-ringed Parakeet in a garden at South Anston (DJ & JJ, GP).

5th January A Kingfisher recorded for the past 3 days at Langold Lake. On N side to the W of boathouse (MSc). Over Axle Lane were 100 Pink-footed Goose >W (MC).

3rd January A Yellow-legged Gull at Axle Lane with what looked like a small plastic bag attached to one leg, before >S (MC).

2nd January A Peregrine over Axle Lane (MC). 14 Siskin at Kiveton Pit Top (Kiveton Community Woodland) (WB). A Little Egret by the stream in Anston Stones Wood (MG).

1st January Early morning at Tommy Flockton's Marsh produced a Cormorant, 5 Canada Goose, Mallard, 14 Teal and 25 Wigeon. At NAPT were Stock Dove, Water Rail, 6 Mallard, Little Owl, 19 Snipe, Green Woodpecker, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker, 2 Jack Snipe, Kestrel, Moorhen and a Buzzard. Roche Abbey produced Nuthatch, 2 Marsh Tit, 12 Mallard, 3 Teal and a Grey Wagtail. Moving onto Langold Lake added 18 Coot, 28 Tufted Duck, 137 Black-headed Gull, 3 Great Crested Grebe, 8 Moorhen, 5 Mute Swan, 20 Mallard, 74 Canada Goose, 3 Greylag Goose, 2 Nuthatch and a Kestrel. Nearby Carlton Lake revealed a Little Grebe, 38 Greylag Goose, 61 Black-headed Gull, 2 Mute Swan, 2ad. & a 1st W Herring Gull, 2 pairs of Gadwall and 4 Coot (ADH & MC). At Harry Croft's Quarry were Little Owl, 12 Snipe & 2 Jack Snipe (JHe).

31st December Juv. Stonechat at Axle Lane. On the wall near South Anston (MC).

27th December Four gathered for the annual post Christmas walk. This year, to and from Leger Lakes via Roche Abbey was a gloomy, but dry, chilly day as the group set off. First bird of the day was Heron, taking off from the fishing ponds. Was generally quiet along Slade Hills, save for a Kestrel, a good passage of larger gulls, most notably c50 Herring Gull, plus c250 Chaffinch, in and out of the game cover, with just a single Brambling located by Kings Wood. Although 2 Marsh Tit were calling from Kings Wood, with 2 more Marsh Tit from the path to Roche Abbey. Along to Roche Abbey and 2 Buzzard counted, 2 Teal, 2 Mallard and a Sparrowhawk over. The short walk to Stone produced a flock of c70 Siskin and a couple of Lesser Redpoll. Walking around Stubbing Wood yielded 3 Peregrine, 2m & a f. Back towards Lingodell and the game cover there produced another large large flock of c200 finches, c150 Chaffinch and c50 Greenfinch. The rain began to fall as we were in sight of Leger Lakes, our vehicles, but not until most enjoyed an all-day breakfast and hot tea, which was most welcome (ADH).c80 Pink-footed Goose >W over Carlton in Lindrick (MSc).

21st December A Red Kite over Axle Lane, from observers lounge! (MC). A further Red Kite >W over Costhorpe at 0840 (MSc).

20th December At Tommy Flockton's Marsh were 38 Wigeon, 14 Mallard, 13 Teal, Heron, 20 Fieldfare and 8 Redwing. At Kiveton Pit Top (Kiveton Community Woodland), a Water Rail calling S of fishing ponds. 142 Fieldfare >S, 3 Mute Swan >E, 5 Cormorant >S and 16 Lapwing feeding in field S of pit top (MC). M Blackcap in a Woodsetts garden, feeding on apple slices (GP).

18th December A day in SK58 produced the following; at Dinnington Marsh were 6 Black-headed Gull, 4 Mallard, 7 Blackbird, 800+ Corvid, 17 Stock Dove, 4 Herring Gull >E, 35 Redwing, 2 Buzzard, imm. Sparrowhawk and 2 Jay. At Harry Croft's Quarry were 27 Redwing, pair of Kestrel, Green Woodpecker, Buzzard, 9 Snipe, 3 Skylark >S and Lapwing 5>W & 8>NE. Around Roche Abbey were Jay, 2 Buzzard, Moorhen, 25 Teal, 20 Mallard and a Marsh Tit. At a 99% frozen Langold Lake on an open patch of water were Jay, 177 Black-headed Gull, 7 Mute Swan, 46 Mallard, 3 Moorhen, 3 Common Gull, 11 Herring Gull, just 2 Greylag Goose, 22 Coot, 6 Tufted Duck, Great Crested Grebe, 40+ Chaffinch in the Woodlark field, plus Green Woodpecker. Final stop was Carlton Lake with just the top area ice free, concentrating many birds; 4 Lesser Black-backed Gull, 20 Herring Gull, 1500 Black-headed Gull, Little Egret, Woodcock, 3m & 1f Gadwall, 3m & 4f Shoveler, 6 Moorhen, 2 Cormorant, 3 Teal, 6 Common Gull, 8 Mallard and 2 Mute Swan (ADH).

Redwing @ Todwick © Ray Sykes

17th December A juv. Stonechat on the wall at Axle Lane (MC). 400+ Linnet by Dewidales Wood (BCa). 8 Jay in Anston Stones Wood (PT). c60 Fieldfare around Woodsetts school (BCa).

15th December A Little Egret at Langold Lake again today, plus 50/60 Lapwing >W (MSc).

14th December A Little Egret on the canal feeder just E of Turnerwood (NB), plus 2 more Little Egret at Langold Lake (MSc).

13th December A Little Egret at Langold Lake today (MSc). Tommy Flockton’s Marsh was mostly iced over but birds present included 33 Wigeon, 17 Mallard, c35 Redwing, 10 Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk (BC).

12th December A skein of Pink-footed Goose heard circling over Axle Lane in dense fog at 0240, before heading off >W (MC). Five SK58 Birders took part in the December visit to Langold Lake in freezing fog.
After a slow start, things improved with a flock of 50+ Lesser Redpoll feeding in Alders by the bowling green. The main lake had a small area of open water and waterfowl counted were 3 Great Crested Grebe, 7 Mute Swan, 5 Canada Goose, a pair of Gadwall, 40+ Mallard and a m Tufted Duck. A single Common Gull was among c85 Black-headed Gull. A small area of open water at the far end of the top lake produced Water Rail. Along the N shore of the lake a m Siskin was found in a flock of c15 Goldfinch. Returning to the cafe car park a Little Egret was found in the woodland (GF & LF).

9th December 2 Little Egret at Langold Lake today (MSc). 65 Pink-footed Goose >W over Kiveton Pit Top (Kiveton Community Woodland) at 1430 (WB).

8th December Little Egret in trees on the large island at Langold Lake today (MSc). At Axle Lane a m and 2 juv. Stonechat, 28 Cormorant and 37 Golden Plover (MC).

7th December A m Stonechat on the wall at Axle Lane (MC).

5th December Along First Lane were single Raven, m Kestrel, f Sparrowhawk, 12 Stock Dove, 24 Redwing >N, 60 Lesser Redpoll in a hedgerow and a m Green Woodpecker calling from Smarson Hills Wood (MC).

4th December 2 Little Egret in trees by Woodsetts Sewage Works (GP).

3rd December 44 Pink-footed Goose >E over Kiveton Pit Top (Kiveton Community Woodland (ABa).

1st December 400 strong finch flock, with at least 15 Brambling in fields by Stubbing Wood (JG).