Treeton Nature Diary 2024
- Bob Croxton
- Sep 24, 2024
- 13 min read
Updated: Jan 3
Tuesday 24 December
Forgemasters Tip
A female Green Woodpecker allowed a fairly close approach.
Monday 16 December
Ulley Country Park
Whooper Swan 1 adult (My first here since 10 Dec 1987), Mallard 86, Tufted Duck 6 Coot 15, Moorhen 5, Little Grebe 1, Great Crested Grebe 4.
Sunday 15 December
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mallard 36, Teal 2, Pochard 81, Tufted Duck 34, Goldeneye 2, , Coot 53, Little Grebe 9, Herring Gull 275, Great Black-backed Gull 16.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 17, Mallard 27, Gadwall 22, Shoveler 5, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 17, Goosander 1, Coot 128, Great Crested Grebe 4, Herring Gull 99.
Catcliffe Flash
Mallard 12, Teal 18, Gadwall 20, Pochard 11, Tufted Duck 11, Coot 3.
Sunday 25 November
Catcliffe Flash
A rise in temprature and heavy rain has removed all the ice of recent days. The strange sight of an Immature Australian Black Swan. Two different Black Swans a different immature to the one at Catcliffe Flash and an adult oin the main lake at Orgreave the following day.
Thursday 21 November
Catcliffe Flash
For the first time this winter the Flash was flozen. On arival there was a male Pintail on the edge of the ice, but as I set my camera up and turned back aroud it had gone! When froze it gives a rare chance to do an accurate count; Shoveler 15, Teal 37, Gadwall 69, Coot 82, Wigeon 7, Mallard 5.
Monday 18 November
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton
The unusual sight this morning of 11 male Blackbirds in my front garden and on the road turning leafs over. Most years at this time of year they become scarce locally.
Sunday 17 November
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Greylag Goose 82, Wigeon 2, Gadwall 5, Mallard 25, Pochard 72, Tufted Duck 16, Coot 50.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 12, Mallard 24, Gadwall 32, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 15, Coot 89, Moorhen 4, Little Grebe 1, Great Crested Grebe 3.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Gadwall 74, Wigeon 15, Mallard 4, Shoveler 9, Tufted Duck 6, Coot 57, Little Grebe 2.
Friday 15 November
Waverley Building Site
Good to see 3 Grey Partridges on part of the few underdeloped patches of land left. My first anywhere this year.
Bolehill Flash
Had my Merlin app on this morning and it pinged Hawfinch. There was a brief view of a large flock of small finches that counld not be identifies as they went past quick, at the same time.
Thursday 14 November
Orgreave Lakes
Saturday 9 November
Old Flatts Farm Fields
It's been good to see a flock of around 10 Meadow Pipits in the area in recent weeks, they have been thin on the ground in recent years around Treeton.
Bolehill Flash
A fantastic variety of birds this morning compared to the usual little or nothing. Water Rail calling, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Song Thrush, Blackbird, Redwing, Cetti's Warbler, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Starling, Greenfinch, Chaffinch, Bulfinch, Redpol, Yellowhammer.
Friday 8 November
Treeton Dyke
Female Common Scoter still present.
Tuesday 5 November
Saturday 2 November
Bolehill, Treeton
Ten Whooper Swans flew low over houses at 0915 hrs. From a photo 5 adults, 4 Immatures and 1 unidentified.
Friday 1 November
Bolehill Flash
Cetti's Warber singing, Water Rail calling and 55 Pink-footed Geese east at 1019 hrs.
Thursday 31 October
Forgemasters Tip
Green Woodpecker.
Catcliffe Flash
Little Egret
Wednesday 30 October
Bolehill/Spa Farm Hill Top
0745to 0900 Vis miging. Gave it a go at one of the best vantage points in Treeton.
a hundred plus Woodpigeon SW in on flock. Flock of 20 then 100+ Fieldfares were all of note. 30 Pied Wagtails feeding on the arable fields.
Bolehill Flash
The Cetti's Warbler was reguarly bursting into song and even showed on a few occasions.
Monday 28 October
Bolehill Flash
A Cetti's Warbler bust into song, c50 Redwing flew over SW and at least 4 Yellowhammers.
Treeton Dyke
A Cetti's Warbler calling by the marsh next to the concrete bridge.
Saturday 26 October
Catcliffe Flash
Still impressive numbers of Gadwall and Wigeon.
Tuesday 22 October Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mallard 22, Shoveler 1, Pochard 100, Tufted Duck 31, Coot 40, Little Grebe 12, Great Crested Grebe 3, Lapwing 28.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 12, Mallard 30, Gadwall 6, Tufted Duck 5, Coot 59, Great Crested Grebe 3, Kingfisher 2.
Sunday 20 October
Catcliffe Flash Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Mallard 2, Gadwall 87, Shoveler 9, Wigeon 117, Teal 4, Pochard 3, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 75, Little Grebe 3, Cormorant 3, Black-headed Gull 79.
Friday 11 October
Forgemasters Tip
My first local Green Woodpecker for two and a half years, heard and seen briefly.
Thursday 10 October
Treeton Dyke
A juvenile Swallow.
Tuesday 8 October
Top of landfill, Orgreave
Good to find a first winter Wheatear in October.
Friday 4 October
Catclife Flash
An afternoon walk along the floodbank in warm sunshine. A single Speckled Wood and a few Large White Butterflies. Migrant Hawkers were about, but surprisingly no Common Darters. A very approachable Grey Heron was on the floodbank, probably on the lookout for any small mammals, which would have been plentiful with the rising water early in the week.
Tuesday 1 October
Catcliffe Flash
The Flash continues to hold high numbers of wildfowl compared to recent years. Unfortunately at 4:30 pm this afternoon, after a couple of days of rain, it looks like the Rother is overflowing into the Flash. This usually has the effect of clearing out most of the wildfowl.
Gadwall 86, Wigeon 70, Shoveler 20, these are minimum counts. Also around at least 6 House Martins.
Tuesday 24 September Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Ulley Country Park
Mute Swan 2 Adults, 7 juvs, Mallard 118, Coot 7, Moorhen 8, Great Crested Grebe 5.
Orgreave Lakes
(Number of ducks and Coot continue to decline here, probably due to ever increasing disturbance.)
Mute Swan 3, Canada Goose 74, Greylag Goose 5, Mallard 26, Gadwall 12, Teal 2, Pochard 10, Tufted Duck 40, Coot 65, Great Crested Grebe 6, Little Grebe 14.
Treeton Dyke
(Another disappointing count in historical terms, wild swimmers and water dye?)
Mute Swan 11, Mallard 22, Gadwall, Tufted Duck 20, Coot 79, Moorhen 3, great Crested Grebe 4.
Monday 23 September
Catcliffe Flash
A Great White Egret was observed actively fishing for around 45 minutes, when it only caught one fish.
Sunday 22 September
Catcliffe Flash Monthly wildfowl count highlights
The Flash at its best
Mute Swn 3, Greylag Goose 12, Mallard 25, Gadwall 71, Shoveler 18, Wigeon 53, Teal 20, Pochard 2, Tufted Duck 1, Coot 43, Moorhen 23, Little Grebe 1
Thursday 22 August
Orgreave Lakes and River Rother Bat walk
Several hundred Black-headed Gulls still present at 2130.
Common Pipistrelle abundant everwhere. Smaller numbers of Soprano Pipistrelle. Noculues common. Leisler's Bats particularly active between the river and lakes. A few Daubenton's Bats were recorded.
Monday 19 August
Treeton Dyke Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Number well down, particuarly Tufted Duck and no Gawall!
Mute Swan 8, Mallard 45, Shoveler 1, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 5, Coot 47, Moorhen 3, Great Crested Grebe 4.
Sunday 18 August
Catcliffe Flash Monthly wildfowl count highlights
Mute Swane 3, Mallard 26, Gadwall 63, Gargany 1, Shoveler 2, Pochard 4, Red-crested Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 9, Coot 19, Moorhen 8, Little Grebe 5, Cormorant 8, Grey Heron 2, Black-headed Gull 51.
Tuesday 13 August
Catcliffe Flash
A bit of a duck feast in recent days with Mallard, Gadwall, Shoveler, Teal, Gargany, Pochard, Red-crested Pochard and Tufted Duck present.
Friday 10 August
Thursday 8 August
Thursday 1 August
Wednesday 31 July
Sunday 28 July
Buterflies continue to be in short supply on Well Lane lagoons this afternoon just Essex Skipper, Small Skipper, Peacock, Meadow Brown and Gatekeeper in low numbers.
The two photos below taken with my new Canon R7 camera
Sunday 21 July
Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Canada Geese c179, Mallard 77, Pochard 38, Tufted Duck 63, Coot 95, Great Crested Grebe 41, Little Egret 2, Common Tern.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 3 + 3 cygnets, Mallard 34, Pochard 2, Coot 29, Great Crested Grebe 3 + 1 juv.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 1 pr + 1 juv, Mallard 58, Gadwall 78, Pochard 2, Red Crested Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 1 + female with 4 ducklings.
Saturday 13 July
Catcliffe Flash
For the first time in many years here, I noted a female Tufted Duck here today with 5 newly hatched ducklings.
Wednesday 10 July
Treeton Dyke
My first Common Tern of the year here.
Box Tree Moth Cydalima perspectalis
I found this moth today after placing some trimming off my Hazel tree into my brown bin. It eventually flew off high into my Hazel tree. New moth to me and after a Google lens search arrived at this species. It was not in any of my moth books. Apparently first recorded in the UK, Kent 2007. Its caterpillars can cause extensive damage to Box tree hedges. According to Butterfly Conservation it is in adult form from late July, mainly a southern species but has been recorded as far north as Fife.
Sunday 6 June
Treeton
Interesting watching a Brown Hare working it's way through a wheat field at close quarters at a good hotspot for this species in Treeton. It was feeding on small clumps of grass between the wheat.
Friday 5 June
Treeton Dyke
Dropped on a Cetti's Warbler at the southern end working its way through the dence Blackthorn, probably a juvenile.
Sunday 30 June
Catcliffe Flash
Around 50 Sand/House Martins feeding over the flash. I can be pretty sure they are not local breeders, Return passage already? Female Gadwall with 5 ducklings.
Friday 28 June
Catcliffe Flash
A minimum of Mallard 68, Gadwall 48. Kingfisher.
Tuesday 25 June
Catcliffe Flash
A male Shoveler entering eclipe plumage was unusual for the time of year. A lot of Gadwall seem to have arived in recent days, but no sign of any ducklings so far.
Monday 24 June
Treeton Dyke
A pair of Great Crested Grebe have one young and a Kingfisher.
Wednesday 5 June
Spring Update
Although I have been away a fair bit, I have still been out and about around Treeton for most of Spring. In the main it's been quite a depressing time bird wise. The dye in Treeton Dyke may have had an effect on breeding wildfowl there, with little other than Mute Swan and Greylang Geese hatching young. At Catcliffe Flash, I have only noted one cluctch of young Mallard, with no young swans yet. Bolehill Flash has occasional Reed Buntings and Reed Warblers, but its quite the norm most days for only some of the most common songbirds to be heard singing. The woods remain quiet with only a fraction of the birds present compared to the distant past.
In my garden last years flock of 30/40 House Sparrows have decined to only a handfull. There does not seem to anywhere near the numbers of Starlings this year. I have seen no House Martins on my estate yet and very few Swifts flying over the village. All these decines at a time of many arable fields around the village are now left to go wild, very little grass cutting apart from Catcliffe Flash. Huge sums of money wasted on the so called restoration of the River Rother.
Monday 8 April (Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights)
Orgreave Lakes
Mute Swan 6, Canada Goose 70, Greylag Goose 2, Mallard 19, Teal 2, Shoveler 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 25, Goldeneye 5, Coot 24, Great Crested Grebe 17, Little Egret 3.
Treeton Dyke
Mjte Swan 4, Mallard 10, Tufted Duck 18, Coot 17, Moorhen 2, Great Crested Grebe 3.
Ulley Country Park
Mute Swan 1, Greylaga Goode 11, Mallard 29, Tufted Duck 6, Coot 7, Moorhen 3, Great Crested Grebe 9.
Sunday 7 April
Catcliffe Flash (Monthly Wildfowl Count Highlights)
Mute Swan 2, Mallard 10, Gadwall 6, Shoveler 4, Teal 2, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 17, Coot 6, Moorhen 3, Great Crested Grebe 2. Swallow 2.
Saturday 6 April
A break in the rain brought a few butterflies out, including an uncommon visiter to my garden a Speckled Wood.
Thursday 28 March
Catcliffe Flash
Of the 7 Shoveler present 5M 2F, one female was constantly persuing a paricualer male, often doing the typical head bobbing display of many duck species. This male did not seem in the bit intrested. Other males kept approaching this female, but she only had eyes for the one male.
Tuesday 12 March
Orgreave
Several Waxwings present in the afternoon trying to feed on the few remaining berries. They did not persist on the Dog Rose berries, just half heartedly picking at bits and not attempting to swallow whole. They quickly finished off any Gelder Rose berries. The photo below shows one of the Waxwings on a Hawthorn with its berries still intact. There are a few of these young Hawthorns about. which the winter thrushes do not seem to touch for some reason and these waxwings seemed to be doing eating as a last resort. Nine present the following day.
Monday 11 March Count Highlights
Orgreave Lakes & River
Whooper Swan 11, Canada Goose 98, Mallard 33, Gadwall 8, Shoveler 2, Pochard 13, Tufted Duck 18, Goldeneye 3, Coot 39, Great Crested Grebe 12, Oystercatcher 2.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 7, Mallard 15, Gadwall 2, Teal 1, Tufted Duck 29, Goosander 1, Coot 31, Great Crested Grebe 4.
Ulley Country Park
Mute Swan 4, Mallard 55, Coot 4, Moorhen 2, great Crested Grebe 5.
Sunday 10 March
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 7, Gadwall 5, Shoveler 9, Teal 2 Pochard 6, Tufted Duck 10, Coot 17.
Thursday 5 March
A visit to Marshside Southport found nothing unexpected, just thousands of Pink-footed Geese feeding on the salt marshes.
Sunday 25 February
Catcliffe Flash
Shoveler 9 (5 males 4 females). Pochard 10.
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton
A large skien of Pink-footed Geese flew over at 1028 hrs, on their way back to Iceland. 233 counted on the photo.
Thursday 15 February
Bridge over Rother by Washfield Lane Treeton
Wither the temperature rising to at 1800 hrs 15c, I did a sortie round a few sites to see if any bats were out. Just one Common Pipistrelle found by the bridge over the Rother, Washfield Lane.
Monday 12 February
Monthly wildfowl Counts Highlights
Orgeave Lakes & R. Rother
Mallard 26, Gadwall 13,
Wigeon 6, Teal 4, Pochard 32, Tufted Duck 29, Goldeneye 4, Goosander 2, Coot 45, Cormorant 4, Oystercatcher 2.
Treeton Dyke
Mute Swan 7, Mallard 6, Gadwall 2, Shoveler 2, Pochard 2, Shoveler 2, Goosander 2, Goldeneye 1, Great Crested Grebe 5, Coot 40, Moorhen 10. A flock of at least 70 Pink-footed Geese flew over east at 0940 hrs.
Ulley Country Park
Mute Swan 4, Greylag Goose 13, Mallard 70, Coot 11, Moorhen 2, Great Crested Grebe 4, Black-headed Gull 217.
Sunday 11 February
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 7, Gadwall 7, Shoveler 7, Pochard 5, Tufted Duck 14, Coot 16, Moorhen 2.
Friday 19 January
Due to the weather and other commitments a belated NewYear Bird count. Still very cold with all water bodies mostly frozen.
Urban Treeton
Blackbird, Collared Dove, House Sparrow, Woodpigeon, Cormorant, Wren, Carrion Crow, Magpie, Chaffinch, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Jackdaw, Buzzard.
Well Lane Lagoons
Redwing, Kestrel.
Old Flatts Farm
Canada Goose, Pheasant, Greenfinch 6.
Treeton Meadows
Lapwing, Black-headed Gull, Greylag Goose.
Spa House Farm
Mistle Thrush, Pied Wagtail, Rook, Linnet c300, Yellowhammer, Starling, Fieldfare.
Ulley Brook Bog
Moorhen.
River Rother M1 to Catcliffe
Stock Dove, Mallard, Teal, Grey Heron, Little Grebe.
Catcliffe Flash
Herring Gull, Coot, Gadwall, Mute Swan.
Between the bridges Washfield Lane
Song Thrush.
Treeton Dyke
Tufted Duck.
Orgreave
Pochard, Goosander, Wigeon, Greater Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Goldeneye, Great Crested Grebe, Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl.
A total of 50 species. Big dips of the day Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Jay, Skylark and Meadow Pipit.
2023 – 57 species. 2022 - 53 Species. 2021 - 52 species. 2020 - 58 species. 2019 - 48 species. Record 2009 - 66 species
Monday 15 January
Monthly Wildfowl Counts Highlights
Orgreave Lakes
Mallard 43, Teal 12, Wigeon 55, Pochard 65, Tufted Duck 42, Goldeneye 1, Coot 63, Little Grebe 4, Cormorant 12.
Treeton Dyke
Mallard 11, Gadwall 2, Tufted Duck 24. Goldeneye 1, Goosander 2, Coot 77, Moorhen 6, Great Crested Grebe 4.
Catcliffe Flash
Mute Swan 3, Mallard 2, Gadwall 8, Shoveler 2, Teal 26, Pochard 1, Tufted Duck 4, Coot 18, Common Gull 1.
Ulley Country Park
Mute Swan 4, Greylag Goose 75, Mallard 94, Tufted Duck 27, Coot 14, Great Crested Grebe, Black-headed Gull 195, Herring Gull 69.
Saturday 13 January
Friday 12 January
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton
Just two Waxwings present this morning, approachable on foot, but flew off, when a noisy car passed.
Thursday 11 January
Beaumont Park Estate, Treeton
As a none twitcher/lister, I had not ventured out to Crosspool or Hassop to see the Waxwings. I looked up the past dates of the times I hade seen them on my local patch 11 January 2004 and the 16 January 2011. So, I was on alert and had a pair of binoculars by my bedroom window.. While getting changed to go to the dentist this morning at 0945, I noted from my bedroom window some strange looking Starlings, which of course turned out to be a flock of at least 14 Waxwing. I took some distant photos from my bedroom window and then dashed out to get closer in the car. I managed to get fairly close, but due to the overcast conditions with rain, it was a difficult task to get a decent photo. The birds had their back to me most of the time. They soon flew off. Hopefully they will be around Treeton for a few days. They are creatures of habit and amazingly they keep turning up at the same locations around the same dates.
Wednesday 10 January
Catcliffe Flash
A rare visit these days of four Goosander (3M, 1F) to the Flash at 0800 hrs. I recorded none here in 2023, in the distant past up to 40 were regular.
Monday 8 January
River Rother by Catcliffe Flash
The river is still very murky from all the recent floods, it amazes me that Goosanders, Little Grebes and Cormorants all seem to be catching fish in such conditions.
Sunday 7 January
River Rother by M1
Stock Dove 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Kingfisher 1.
Tuesday 2 January
Treeton Dyke
Male Goldeneye, a small party of 8 Siskin feeding on Alders at the northern end.
Monday 1 January
Had hoped to do my New Years Bird Count, but rain first thing and the River Rother was out of its lower bank stopping me accessing some areas, so will do another day. Undertook a two hour walk around the north of the village.
Treeton Sewerage Works
Pied Wagtail c40 flew off towards Spa House Farm, a minimum of 92 Carrion Crows, 5 Rooks.
Ulley Brook Bog
A minimum of 100 Greylag Geese.
Treetown Wood
A large flock of over 100 Pink-footed Geese flew over NW at 1040 hours.
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