Dearne Valley

 RSPB York Local Group field trip to RSPB Old Moor that Masha was leading. I decided to go early and try to see some wood sandpipers, which had been reported at Edderthorpe Flash. This picture was taken from the old railway line and is about as close as you can get to the area. Another grey day with spots of rain.

Soon after i arrived, 3 other birders joined me and before long we had seen 2 wood sandpipers, dunlin, ruff, common sandpipers and several ringed plovers. I decided to go to Broomhill Flash before meeting the rest of the group at Old Moor. I soon had a list of 24 birds seen during the 20 minutes I was there.

I met Masha and 9 other group members in the car park. Masha said that we would go to Wath Ings first then the Reedbed hide after lunch.

Lots of changes since my last visit in February 2024. From the Family  hide we were able to enjoy seeing, swifts, sand martins, swallows and house martins along with several spoonbills.

Not the best day for photography. Mash saw a pair of peregrines on the other side of the lagoon, near the waters edge. From Wath Ings hide we saw 3 great white egrets and several grey herons.

we counted at least 6 greenshanks

8 ruff, 6 black-tailed godwits and a common sandpiper. A single curlew was looking for food, i have no idea what it caught!

After lunch we walked down to the Reedbed hide

several little egrets

a young great crested grebe

and several bearded tits. we decided to end our trip by calling in at Broomhill Flash on our way home.

Here Masha found a couple of mandarin ducks and Lynn found 2 yellow wagtails. A pleasant day with good company. %% birds on my day list including year tick 174.