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| Blackbird (J Wharton) |
Potteric Carr Nature Reserve
15th
April 2023
Weather: Mild, cloudy morning, fine afternoon
Members and friends: 31
Thirty-one members
set off from Stockport for the society’s April trip to Potteric Carr in Yorkshire.
On the coach journey over the M62 we picked up Kestrel and Peregrine. At the provisions
stop at Ferrybridge Services, whilst the rest of us queued at Greggs for bacon
barms, Vanessa wandered off and located Linnet, Stock Dove and Yellowhammer on
adjacent farmland.
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| Wren (J Wharton) |
As we alighted the
coach in the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust car-park we were greeting by twittering
Goldfinch and the wheezier call of Greenfinch. A Chaffinch was heard singing,
one of many heard through the day. We entered the reserve and viewed the lake
adjacent to the visitor centre. Mute Swan, Little Grebe, Coot and Moorhen were
quickly added to our list.
There are four or
five trails around the site but the area is mainly split by a railway line
through the centre of it. At the visitor centre end there are a number of small
pools, some enclosed reedbeds with damp willow and birch woodland. There is
also a mature birch plantation and a wet meadow area. In the larger area after
the railway line there are larger more open bodies of water, with large
reedbeds and scattered birch woodland. There are a good number of hides on the
site strategically placed overlooking waterbodies.
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| Greylag Goose (A Barrett) |
A wander around the visitor centre end of the reserve produced singing Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Willow Warbler. A singing Reed Warbler was heard from one reedbed and Cetti’s Warbler gave their distinctive call at regular intervals. A couple of our group heard singles of Goldcrest and Sedge Warbler. Overhead Buzzard and Sparrowhawk were seen, the only raptors of the day actually recorded on the reserve. The smaller pools held Mallard, small numbers of Tufted Duck and the occasional pair of Pochard.
Black-headed Gull (J Wharton)
In the wooded area’s
we quickly picked up Great, Blue and Long-tailed Tit as well as the other common
species such as Robin, Dunnock, Wren, Song Thrush and Blackbird. We recorded a
single Treecreeper, we heard both Green and Great Spotted Woodpecker and a few
of our party sighted Jay. The highlight at this end of the reserve (and
probably the day) was a fine male Redstart found by Joe from the Cottage Drain
hide. The bird gave brief views for a lucky half dozen members of the group.
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| Lapwing ( A Barrett) |
Walking on to the far
end of the reserve, over the railway line, the area opens up and larger bodies
of water held different birds. Greylag and Canada Geese were scattered over
this area. A pair of Shelduck were seen. There were small numbers of Gadwall, Teal,
Shoveler and a single pair of Wigeon were identified. Cormorant and
Great-crested Grebe were added to our list.
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| Coot (J Wharton) |
A few Lapwing and
half a dozen Snipe were found on the edges of Piper Marsh pool, but no
Kingfisher could be found at this previously reliable location. There were
small numbers of Black-headed Gull dotted around the reserve, with the
occasional Lesser Black-backed and Herring Gull. There was a lack of hirundines
with distant views of a handful of Swallow and Sand Martin our only encounter.
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| Pochard (A Barrett) |
The large reedbeds held the occasional singing Reed Warbler, a handful of Reed Bunting and a lucky few of the group got very brief views of Bearded Tit. This was probably the highlight for this end of the reserve. A part from a couple of the group getting fly over singles of Little Egret and Grey Heron, both species were conspicuous by their absence.
Tufted Duck (J Wharton)
Whilst it had been a pleasant enough day the wet weather in the preceding week had probably impacted on the number of migrants moving north and therefore there were not huge numbers of birds around. We left the reserve and returned home via the Woodhead road over the Pennines, picking up Red Grouse for our tick list.
Snipe (A Barrett)
Birds seen;
Great-crested Grebe (J Wharton)
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