My Birding adventures
Over the years I have not visited Adwick Washlands very much. That's not because I don't like the place, it's because in the past there was always far too many dogs and a responsible dog walkers. Having visited today this has rekindled my relationship with this RSPB reserve. Even today we counted four people walking dogs without Leeds and probably without any kind of poo bag. One man explain to us that he was training, the very large working German Shepherd that was with him and that it I've just chased quite a few birds and he was unable to recall the dog. How Thick Can You Get.
The Birds of Adwick Washlands RSPB Reserve
By Steve Farley
Adwick Washlands is a fascinating wetland habitat in South Yorkshire, offering birdwatchers the opportunity to enjoy a variety of waterbirds, waders and species associated with open countryside. The reserve's mix of wetlands, pools and surrounding grassland provides valuable habitat for birds throughout the year, with different species appearing as the seasons change.
The reserve is particularly valuable for breeding waders, including Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Avocet and Ringed Plover. During the winter months, visitors may encounter Wigeon, Teal, Gadwall, Shoveler and Tufted Duck, while spring and autumn migration can bring additional waders, such as Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. The surrounding grasslands also support Skylarks, Reed Buntings and Grey Partridges.
For those hoping to find something more unusual, Adwick Washlands has recorded notable visitors including Garganey, Little Egret, Great White Egret and Spoonbill. The variety of habitats makes it a rewarding destination for birdwatchers, with the open landscape providing excellent opportunities to scan for birds in flight and feeding across the wetlands.
Location
Adwick Washlands is situated in the Dearne Valley, South Yorkshire, between Adwick-upon-Dearne, Harlington and Bolton upon Dearne, close to Mexborough. The reserve lies alongside the River Dearne and is approximately two miles east of RSPB Old Moor. Access is available from Furlong Road, with the postcode DN5 7FR for the RSPB car park.
It is a peaceful and worthwhile place to explore, particularly for anyone who enjoys wetland birds, open countryside and the changing wildlife of the Dearne Valley.
It’s a very cold Saturday morning and I’m having my first coffee of the day. I’m waiting for my birding partner Phil to make his way over from Ossett. We have been hearing of large numbers of birds in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire, including yellowhammers, and Siskin.
I really like Dalby Forest and it is part of the National forests run by Forestry England and paid for by our ultra high taxation system. However when you arrive, having paid once you get to pay nine pounds all over again for the privilege of using what you own and have already paid for. These large forests are also a business, selling and franchising the sale of wood, not bad, three bites of the cherry, not to mention all the cafés and other sales.
It had been snowing for a couple of days in the North of England but all the roads were perfectly passable. Just through the automated money taking machine lovingly called cherry one, there is a car park called Haygate and a really nice view over the valley. Through a large gate is a beautiful walk that goes all the way back to cherry one. We could hear and eventually see Nuthatch and many other common woodland birds. I set up the camera but within minutes I was in a wave of the now ubiquitous dog screamers. One dog screamers dog must have been in Norway he was screaming so loudly at his well behaved dog that pretended to just ignore him.
Phil had a good walk around the well signed footpath to cherry one and back to the Haygate car park where I was, being extra grumpy because I’d lost the rubber eyecup from my camera and the rubber eyecup from my binoculars…wonderful.
We got into the car and decided to drive to “Adderston” which is a part of this vast forest. Immediately upon parking the car we could hear and see Crossbills in the distant tree tops and this was one of our target species for the day. They were high, really high so no photos, but as we got closer we could hear loud bird chatter over even more dog screamers.
This large flock was mainly Coal Tit with some other mixed tits and a pair of bramblings. We could hear Nuthatch and Goldcrest above our heads and eventually the Nuthatch came down from the trees and showed well. We never really got a good view of the Goldcrest even though we could hear it all the time.
One of the highlights for me was hearing a Marsh Tit and we could see it traveling from a distant snow covered tree to the rear of another tree near to our position. Eventually our patience paid off and it came withing filming distance, a real treat.
And upon leaving the forest we found to our utter devastation that the pay barrier was not working and so the barrier was up to allow the tax burdened public to leave.
And on to Scarborough…
We had seen reports of great Northern Diver in the marina so we thought we would try. We parked the car and looked over the railings down into the marina and there it was, we had actually parked next to the bird. There was a very nice photographer who had been there for a couple of hours who explained that it keeps coming and going taking the underwater route they normally take. I’m really sorry if you are that photographer as I did not get your name or your Instagram name, please contact me if you read this, you did say you would!
As we were all photographing and filming a small group of inconsequential, misguided, delinquent, ugly, stupid and otherwise brainless youths came into the area for fishermen and let of some fireworks then ran away across the road giggling, Oh how we all laughed, I was beside myself.
None of this bothered the now “two Great Northern Divers” though and we got really great views of the birds for a good hour or so.
I hope you like the site and hope you found somthing of interest. This site represents birdwatching, its not a bird sanctuary or a recue centre.
Steve Farley, Use the Facebook page please.