Linacre and Barbrook Reservoir - 21st March 2026

 This morning, I was out with 3 other members of Sorby Breck Ringing Group for a session at Linacre. I'd heard Chiffchaffs singing for a couple of weeks, so was very keen to see if we could catch the first birds of the new season.

After 3 and half hours we had caught 13 birds (new/retrap): Chiffchaff 2/0, Coal Tit 0/2, Great Tit 0/1, Blue Tit 1/1, Dunnock 1/1, Robin 2/0, Blackbird 0/1 and Goldcrest 1/0. Whilst there, we also had 10 Greylag Geese fly over (highest ever count?), a flock of c15 Fieldfare over, a single Sparrowhawk, drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Treecreeper, 2 Stock Doves (singing) and  2 Nuthatches.

Afterwards, Jayne and I went for a walk up on Barbrook Reservoir. The hoped-for Wheatear didn't put in an appearance, but, in the 12 degrees warmth and sunshine, we did record: Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Kestrel, Raven, Lapwing ( 2 birds), Mallard, Tufted Duck (pair), Canada Geese (2) and a Year Tick, Reed Bunting (117).

Reed Bunting

In addition, we also saw a small group of 6 Red Deer and at least 6 pairs of Common Toads breeding in the pools.

Red Deer

Common Toad

Rufford - End of the Season

 Last weekend (14th) I had my last trip of the winter to Rufford. Unfortunately, there were only 2 Black-headed Gulls present (both 1st winter birds, born last year), and no ringed birds.

On a brighter side, however, I did add a new species to the park list, when a Red Kite flew low over the lake!

Other species seen were: 1 Herring Gull, 8 Mute Swans (Broken Beak and family, plus 3 other, unringed adults), 2 Goosander (1m and 1fm), Stock Dove singing, 7 Canada Geese and 10 Greylag Geese.

Greylag Goose

Year List Update - 15th March 2026

This week, I've managed to add a few new species to this year's "Year List", bringing the total so far to 116 birds.

The first new bird was added on Tuesday, when I had a quick post-work drive across to Catcliffe Flash, in Sheffield for a 1st winter Scaup (115). The bird was easily found (despite looking into the sun!) and I managed some good 'scope views and a  few, distant, heavily-cropped photos.

Scaup (and Tufted Duck)

Spot the Scaup!

The next species was Lesser Redpoll (116), that I saw in the garden. Numbers increased over the week, so that today, 15th, there were 10 birds, on and around, the feeders.

After yesterday's visit to Linacre, Jayne and I went for a walk around Chatsworth Park. We didn't add anything new to the Year List, but we did see our first Derbyshire Oystercatcher of the year, down on the river.

Oystercatcher

Linacre Update - 15th March 2026

The weather yesterday was lovely, with bright, sunny skies and little wind, so I went down to Linacre for a couple of hours, walking around the reservoirs. Highlights were seven "year ticks" for the site, and lots of breeding activity.

Waterbirds seen were: Mandarin (26), Mallard (30), Tufted Duck (55), Canada Goose (2), Greylag Goose (1 - the first year tick), Lesser Black-backed Gulls (3 adults - the second year tick), Little Grebe (1 breeding plumaged bird on the bottom reservoir), Great-crested Grebe (4 birds, a pair on the bottom reservoir and a pair on the middle reservoir, displaying to each other), Coot (8 birds, including a pair fighting), Moorhen (4) and Grey Wagtail (3 birds, including a singing bird, and a pair).

Whilst walking around, I tried very hard to locate a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( no luck!), but I did hear at least 3 drumming Great Spotted Woodpecker, 3 singing Chiffchaffs, Stock Dove (heard singing - third year tick), Mistle Thrush (1 singing bird - fourth year tick), Treecreeper (1- fifth year tick), Sparrowhawk (1 male bird). On the drive out, I stopped at the "muck heap" by the main entrance and saw 2 Pied Wagtails (sixth year tick), and 3 Meadow Pipits (seventh year tick).

Woodlark

Jayne and I had a walk around Sherwood Forest and Budby South Common at the weekend. Although the weather wasn't great (grey and overcast), we did manage to see and hear a few birds, including two new species for the Year List: Green Woodpecker (113) and Woodlark (114).

We first walked through Sherwood Forest, spotting Blue and Great Tits, Woodpigeons, Great Spotted Woodpecker (drumming), Green Woodpecker, Treecreeper and Chaffinch.

Once out on Budby South Forest/Common, we saw Buzzards, Jay, Woodpigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Yellowhammer, Linnet and Stonechat.

Stonechat (pair)

We'd all but given up on finding the Woodlark, and were setting off back to the Visitors' Centre, when suddenly one bird flew over and landed on the Common, about 20m away! Looking at it, we noticed there was another bird, feeding, giving us a total of 2! I managed a few distant shots. Here are a couple of heavily cropped photos.

Woodark

Two Gulls!

 Over the last couple of weekends I've managed to see a few more of our ringed Black-headed Gulls, at Rufford, and at King's Mill Reservoir.

Last weekend (1st), I had a visit to King's Mill Reservoir, in search of a Scaup (no luck!). Whilst there, I did, however, see Black-headed Gull 234H, a new one for me! It had been ringed, at Center Parcs, as a 3 (born in 2025), in December 2025. This was the first record since ringing.

234H (age 5, born in 2025)

Afterwards, I drove across to Rufford, and spotted 298C, 209H and 225H.

209H

 

Yesterday, I was back at King's Mill Reservoir (still no Scaup!!). This time, I spotted 270C. This was my 7th sighting this winter, but my first away from Rufford. Here's a photo showing a new full, brown hood.

270C

Common Scoter!

 I've only managed 3 visits to Linacre this year (!), so I was very keen to get down this morning. Honestly, I was hoping for some Whooper Swans, as March is usually the best month to get them here, as they drop in, on their journey back north. I didn't get them, but, I did get my first Chiffchaffs, 2 singing and at least 1 seen in the willows by the top reservoir, (111) of the year, and a drake Common Scoter (112) on the top reservoir, my first sighting here since 2017!

Common Scoter

The Scoter was obviously the highlight of today's visit, but I did also have a lot of singing species, and other early signs of breeding from the resident birds. Singing birds were: Song Thrush (3), Blackbird, Dunnock, Wren, Robin, Goldcrest, Chaffinch, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Great Tit, Great-spotted Woodpecker (3 drumming), Skylark (1st of the year) and Nuthatch. Other birds seen were: Blue, Coal and Long-tailed Tit, Siskin, Pheasant, Carrion Crow, Raven (1 heard) and Jackdaw. 

Waterbirds seen were: Mallard (55), Tufted Duck (55), Coot (5), Moorhen (7), Grey Wagtail (1 heard), Canada Goose (2), Great-crested Grebe (5 birds: a pair each on the top and middle reservoirs, a and a single bird on the bottom reservoir, Little Grebe (1 on the bottom reservoir), Cormorant (2) and Mandarin Duck (52, the highest count for quite some time, including many birds paired up, flying around the woods and courting the females!.

Mandarin pair

Mandarin Duck

Other birds added to the Year List are: Woodcock (109) - 1 flew over our heads whilst ringing at Linacre on 1st March (!) and Yellowhammer (110) - a single male seen in Apperknowle on 3rd March.

Year List Update

 In the last two weeks, I've added a couple of new species to this year's Year List.

The first new species, Stock Dove (108) was added last week at The Avenue Washlands. The next species, Alexandrine Parakeet, was seen today in Graves Park, Sheffield. Obviously, this species is still not on the British List, so it won't count towards this year's total, but it's still nice to see!

Alexandrine Parakeet

Also seen here were: Mistle Thrush, Great-spotted Woodpecker , Woodpigeon, Stock Dove and, of course, the Ring-necked Parakeets.

Ring-necked Parakeet

Wild Goose Chase!

 Jayne and I drove across to RSPB Frampton Marsh on the search for a few year ticks. As the title of this post implies, it didn't quite go to plan!

We arrived at Frampton hoping to see both Russian/European White-fronted Geese (Anser albifrons albifrons) and Tundra Bean Goose. We got lucky with the White-fronted Geese (104), but, despite 3 attempts throughout the day, we couldn't find the (3 or 4) Bean Geese in amongst the 200+ Pink-footed Geese.

Russian White-fronted Geese (pink beak)

Pink-footed Geese

Other birds seen were: Mute Swan, Canada and Greylag Geese, Black-headed Gull, Mallard, Wigeon, Teal, Pintail (105), Goldeneye (106), Lapwing, Golden Plover, Redshank, Black-tailed Godwit (107), Sparrowhawk and Peregrine Falcon.

Earlier in the week (18th), I also added Whooper Swan (103), to the Year List, when 4 flew over our house, an amazing "garden tick" as well!!! The following day (19th), we also added Red Kite to the garden list!!

Rufford Gulls - Two Visits

 So far this month, I've had a couple of visits to Rufford, to look at the gulls (1st and 17th).

My visit on the 1st was quite quiet, with c.70 Black-headed Gulls present. Ringed birds were: 280B, 202C, 270C, 298C, 208H and 225H. 13 Goosanders (10 males and 3 females), 1 Grey Wagtail and 1 male Pochard were also seen.

280B

Yesterday's visit was also quite quiet, with c.50 Black-headed Gulls, 1 Herring Gull and 1 Common Gull seen. Ringed birds were: 295A, 280B, 207C, 255C, 258C, 273C, 298C, 200H, 208H, a new bird 224H and 225H.

224H

As you can see, this photo of 224H is quite different from my "normal" ones. It was a rushed shot, that I got just before the bird flew off, but I've kept it, as it looks quite atmospheric! 224H is obviously a 1st winter/2nd calendar year bird (born in 2025), and this is my first sighting since it was ringed at the end of last year. Here's a more "traditional" shot of the same bird.

224H again

Rufford - Site Tick!

Yesterday (17th), I went across to Rufford for an early start. I arrived at 8am (not that early!) and spent some time at the Abbey end of the park, before heading over to the mill for a look at the gulls.

I was there early on to look for Hawfinch. Whilst waiting, I picked up two "year ticks", Great-spotted Woodpecker (99) and Treecreeper (100).  Shortly after, one Hawfinch (101) flew in and posed beautifully, against the beautiful blue sky, for a minute or two.

Hawfinch (female?)

After enjoying the Hawfinch, I headed across the park to the Mill end to look at the gulls. I'll blog about that later. As it was still quite early, there weren't many people about, so I managed to see a species that I've never seen there before, a Great White Egret (102)! The bird flew the length of the lake, before landing and fishing just by the path. I walked across, and managed to get this back-lit image. A lovely addition to the site's birds.

Great White Egret

Iceland Gull

 Hot on the heels of yesterday's trip to Scarborough, Jayne and I were out again today, adding another 3 species to the Year List.

The first species was Grey Partridge (96), with a small covey of 5 seen in fields by Apperknowle. After this we headed up to Roundhay Park, Leeds to see if we could catch up with a juvenile Iceland Gull (97), that had been present for a week or two. The bird was found quite easily, perched up by the café (!), and allowed some great views.

Iceland Gull (with rower!)

Iceland Gull (showing white primaries)

Whilst there, we also added Ring-necked Parakeet (98), with two seen. I also spotted some ringed Black-headed Gulls. Not ones ringed by us, but birds that had all been ringed there, on 23rd January 2022, as adults, by the Waterbird Colour Marking Group. The birds seen were: 2E85 (25th sighting here), 2E88 (7th sighting here) and 2E93 (17th sighting here). None of the birds had been reported away from Roundhay Park...yet!

2E85

2E88

2E93

Scarborough - 14th February 2026

 Yesterday, Jayne and I had a sunny day in Scarborough and RSPB Bempton Cliffs, adding 7 new birds to this year's Year List.

We started off in Scarborough, where we saw a juvenile Great Northern Diver (89), in the harbour. Apart from that, it was very quiet, with no waders seen! 

Great Northern Diver

After a spot of lunch (it was Valentine's Day after all!), we headed up to Holbeck Car Park, for Mediterranean Gull (90). Three individuals were seen, including 1 adult and 2 2nd winter birds.

Mediterranean Gull

Our final stop of the day was RSPB Bempton Cliffs, where we had amazing views of hunting Barn Owl (3, maybe 4 birds seen), and also added Gannet (91), Fulmar (92), Linnet (93), Meadow Pipit (94), and Short-eared Owl (95), to the Year List.

Linacre - 8th February 2026

 Last weekend (8th), I went down to Linacre and walked around all three reservoirs. All was as normal, but I did manage to get my highest count of Mandarin Duck for some time, and added Kingfisher (88th bird of the year) to the Year List, when 1 was seen flying along the middle reservoir.

Birds seen/heard were: Mallard (49), Tufted Duck (69), Mandarin Duck (68), Coot (5), Moorhen (6), Great-crested Grebe (3; 1 winter plumaged and 2 breeding plumaged birds on the middle reservoir), Little Grebe (1 breeding plumaged bird on the bottom reservoir), Cormorant (1 on top reservoir), Goosander (1 female), Grey Heron (1 flying over) and Grey Wagtail (1). 

Year List Update

 As January comes to an end, I felt it was time to update the Year List. There have been 5 new species since my last post.

The first addition was Brambling (83), that Jayne and I saw last weekend, at the National Trust Longshaw Estate. In total, there were 200+ birds in a mixed finch flock, including Brambling, Goldfinch and Chaffinch.

Brambling

The next 3 species were all seen this morning, during a ringing session in Shirebrook, Sheffield. Birds seen were: Goldcrest (84), Skylark (85 - flying over) and Bullfinch (86 - 1 male heard and seen).

The final bird was Red-crested Pochard (87). I saw this bird this afternoon, on Wingerworth Lido, Chesterfield, and it was most likely the same bird I had on a nearby pond last year. It was hanging around with the Mallards, and appeared to be interested in one of the female birds. Other species seen here were: Tufted Duck, Goosander (4; 2 males and 2 females), Mute Swan ( 2 birds), Moorhen, Coot and Black-headed Gulls (c.30).

Red-crested Pochard

Linacre WeBS - 24th January 2026

 I hadn't been able to get down to Linacre until today (!), so this month's WeBS count took place today. The highlight was, undoubtable, the 12 Goosanders (6 male and 6 female) that were on the middle reservoir. Other good sightings included, 2 Little Grebes ( on the bottom reservoir), an adult Herring Gull, (first January record, I think), 1 Great-crested Grebe and 5 Cormorants.

Cormorant

The other main species were: Mallard (56), Tufted Duck (58), Mandarin Duck (29), Coot (5), Moorhen (4) and Grey Wagtail (1). 1 Raven flying over was also good to see.

Two new species were added to this year's Year List: Crossbill (81) and Jay (82).

Rufford-17th January 2026

Last weekend, I had a couple of hours at Rufford. The ice had all gone, and there were fewer Black-headed Gulls (c.150),  but I still managed to see 14 ringed birds, including the Lithuanian- ringed P519 (now back for at least its 8th winter (first record was in January 2018), and first ringed, as an adult, in April 2010, so born, at the latest in 2008).

P519

Other birds seen were: 258A, 280B, 202C, 207C, 209C, 215C, 258C, 270C, 298C, 200H, 208H, 225H and 2V16.

3 new  birds were added to the Year List too: Red-legged Partridge (78), Song Thrush (79) and Marsh Tit (80).

Rufford - 3rd January 2026

Back at the start of the year, when we'd had a couple of days of very cold weather, I went across to Rufford, for my first visit of the year. I love going when there is a lot of ice (c.80%), as this means many of the ringed gulls are sat on the ice, and therefore, their rings can be more easily read. as a result, on my first visit of the year, I saw 28 ringed birds!

The birds seen were: 206A (3rd sighting this winter), 258A (7th sighting this winter) , 273A (4th sighting this winter), 284A (2nd sighting this winter ), 208B (3rd sighting this winter), 272B (3rd sighting this winter), 274B (my 1st sighting since ringing in November 2022), 280B (3rd sighting this winter ), 293B (1st sighting since November 2024), 202C (5th sighting this winter), 207C (12th sighting this winter), 209C (1st sighting since March 2023), 215C (2nd sighting this winter), 258C (9th sighting this winter ), 273C (4th sighting this winter), 298C (5th sighting this winter), 207F (1st sighting this winter), 221F (7th sighting this winter), 222F (1st sighting since ringing on 2nd November 2024), 230F (1st sighting since March 2025), 2V05 (2nd sighting this winter), 2V16 (5th sighting this winter), 200H (3rd sighting this winter), 208H (2nd sighting this winter ), 209H (1st sighting this winter), 225H (3rd sighting this winter), 230H (1st sighting since ringing in Dec 2025) and 233H (1st sighting since ringing in Dec 2025).

274B

293B

209C

In addition to these birds, I also spotted a Swedish metal-ringed bird. Annoyingly, I only managed to see six of the seven numbers (_449368!!!)

Ring-necked Duck!

 In my last post, I mentioned a male Ring-necked Duck (77), I went to see last weekend. Unfortunately, the bird had left Shipley before I could get, but, luckily, it was re found a few miles away at another site, Straw's Bridge LNR. I popped down yesterday, and managed to get some nice photos, as it fed about 4m away!!

As you can see, it's a male, and other people's photos show a few brown feathers still, so it's been aged as a 1st winter (2nd second year) bird. It would be nice to think that it was the same birds seen in July last year, as Ogston Reservoir (see here).

Comparison shot, with a male Tufted Duck.

Most of the main lake was covered with ice (85%), and it was minus 1 when I arrived, so all the other birds (Mute Swan, Canada and Greylag Geese, Mallards, Shovelers, Pochard, Moorhen, Coots, Black-headed, Herring and Common Gulls) were also feeding close in.

Straw's Bridge

Year List Continues

 Travelling back from Northumberland on Friday, an then having the weekend, Jayne and I managed to add a few more species to the "Year List".

The first new additions, both seen on the journey home, were: Sparrowhawk (51) and Red Kite (52). Blue Tit (53) was added in the garden.

On the Saturday, I drove down to Shipley CP, near Ilkeston, in search of a male Ring-necked Duck (no luck), but I did see: Gadwall (54), Raven (55), Lesser Black-backed Gull (56), Little Grebe (57), Goosander (58), Long-tailed Tit (59), Chaffinch (60), Snipe (61), Mandarin Duck (62), Pochard (63) and Tufted Duck (64).

After Shipley, I drove across to Rufford and added: Great Tit (65), Coal Tit (66), Nuthatch (67) and Siskin (68).

The final call of the weekend was RSPB Old Moor were we saw: Mistle Thrush (69), Greylag Goose (70), Peregrine Falcon (71), Marsh Harrier (72) and Shelduck (73). We also saw 2 ringed Mute Swans and a very confiding male Stonechat.

Y774 and Y173

Stonechat

The last 3 species were Tawny Owl (74 - heard from our bedroom), Greenfinch (75 - in the garden) and Collared Dove (76 - in Dronfield).