Went over to Hatfield again yesterday for the Nightjars. First called at the Rivelin River/Valley area immediately west of Sheffield, then on to Blacktoft Sands, a bar snack and pint before arriving at Hatfield at 9.15 ish.
Rivelin :- Highlight being a good 5 Wood Warbler with great views. Also Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Goldcrest, Coal Tit, Treecreeper, Jay and other usual woodland birds. We were there mid day and it was a little on the quiet side, missing out on Tree Pipit, Redstart and Pied Flycatcher but an early morning walk (to avoid the dog walkers etc) in mid May would be superb.
Blacktoft :- Redshank (1), Green Sandpiper (1), Black tailed Godwit (36), Avocet (c.15), Little Grebe, GC Grebe, Shelduck, Gadwall, Teal, Tufted, Pochard, Lapwing (1), Barn Owl (1), Marsh Harrier (c.10), Tree Sparrow (c.6), Whitethroat, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Reed Bunting & Bearded Tit (1) amongst others.
Highlight of the day undoubtedly the Nightjar. Got to the exact spot at about 9.30. The churring started bang on 10.00 and at about 10.15 a female checked us out, flying right past us at a distance of about 20 ft. There was a lot of churring, some distant, one or two close in. At 10.20 we heard a call and wing clapping but couldn't see anything. More wing clapping only a few feet behind us in the woodland. Then, three birds together flew over and again checked us out. Amazingly, they all circled us, 15 ft away and I actually turned a full 360 degrees to watch them. Off they then went before dropping into the mirky darkness. Brilliant! Like last year, definitely three birds and with the amount of churring in different spots, probably up to six, possibly one or two more.
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Sunday 13th of June 2010 11:42:13 AM
-- Edited by Mark Jarrett on Sunday 13th of June 2010 04:45:43 PM
Not a birding trip but a social visit where I happened to take my bins.
Found a likely railway bridge which gave me an elevated viewpoint plus plenty of scrub on the embankments - found Linnet, Yellowhammer, Stock Dove, Corn Buntings (plenty) and Grey Partridge with Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow Wagtail on farmland close by.
Went o'er border yesterday primarily for an evening trip to Hatfield Moor for Nightjar. Spent a couple of hours each at Fairburn Ings and Blacktoft Sands en route.
Decent day without being spectacular. Warblers were the highlight at Fairburn with Reed, Sedge, Willow, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat. Up to a dozen Common Tern.
We missed Spoonbill, Ruff and Spotted Redshank at Blacktoft due to the high tide times but still managed a good six Marsh Harrier, plenty of Avocet, Gadwall, Little Grebe and a dozen or so Black tailed Godwit. Sedge Warbler were around in very good numbers, managed one Bearded Tit and half a dozen Tree Sparrow. Barn Owl were nesting in a purpose built nest box and a couple of youngsters could be seen inside. Cuckoo heard.
Decided against going to Thorne for Nightjar in favour of Hatfield which paid off. Arrived at 9pm to reccy the area and by chance we got it right. It is a huge area (Thorne is even bigger) but we walked through the woods to a cleared area of heath and pines which looked just right. Two local birders confirmed this and we waited. By 9.45 the churring started and it wasn't long before we had distant views followed by brilliant closer views . Three up at the same time at the same spot with others churring in different areas of the fairly compact heath. I reckon up to six birds.
Other birds here and there included Green Woodpecker, Stock Dove, Tawny Owl, Tree Pipit and Yellowhammer.
Racked up 70 species without really trying too hard and the Nightjar rounded off a good day out.
Sue F and I went today. Possible FIVE new UK ticks for us today: Whiskered Tern and Collared Partincole at Swillington; Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Red-footed Falcon at Hatfield Moor; Woodchat Shrike at Pugneys. (all reported yesterday). Would have been good to get 1 or 2 of these.
Arrived at Swillington and spent 20 minutes looking in the wrong place for the Pratincole. Someone told us where it was so we walked to the place and missed it by ten minutes. The Tern had been seen earlier but there was no sign of it while we were looking. Decided to move on to Hatfield Moor. What a difficult place. Parked up and walked the two miles to the area the Falcon had been seen. Missed it by half an hour or so. Lingered for a while but it didn't come back. No one had seen the Sandpiper around either, so we went back to Swillington. The Whaiskered Tern had been back, but had gone again! There had been no further sightings of the Pratincole either - and no reports of the Shrikes at Pugneys so we gave up and came home.
Nipped over t'Pennines yesterday, Swillington for Whiskered Tern (missed Collared Pratincole by 15 mins), then on to Kilnsea for a cracking singing Marsh Warbler then back to Swillington where the Pratincole finally re-appeared.
Two UK ticks in a day ( a rare experience these days) and a great supporting cast of Marsh Harier, Hobby, Buzzard (inc one possible Honey that was called as a Marsh Harrier ?), Avocet, Little Egret, Kingfisher, LRP etc.
Swillington and the surrounding area is a huge sprawling mass of lakes, ponds, marshland with only limited access but well worth a visit.
Within 30 mins of the Pratincole I chose to ignore Woodchat, Buff-breasted Sandpiper & Red-footed Falcon - quite some day for the Tykes!
