Sprotbrough flash sightings

Sightings for April 2025.

April brought new life to the Flash, Lapwing were displaying and Great crested grebes began nesting and are currently on 4 eggs. At the screen a Coot had 5 chicks and a Mallard was noted on the spit with 4 ducklings. The absence of the resident female Swan indicated that she’s most likely on a nest while at the quarry a pair have 6 Cygnets. Sand martin numbers were c50 and sightings of House martin, Barn swallow and Common swift were all reported. On the 22nd 2 Common tern were recorded and have become frequent visitors with a male observed feeding a female on the 27th. Common tern’s © Angie Daisy Cheesmond.

Willow warbler joined singing Chiffchaff's and Blackcap's on the 6th and on the 14th a Garden warbler was recorded singing near to the screen with a second heard from the Heron hide. Cetti’s warbler’s continued to be spotted while on the 22nd Sedge and Reed warbler were seen opposite the Kingfisher hide. Garden birds were observed either carrying nesting material or food including Goldcrest, Blue tit, Great tit, Grey wagtail, Robin, Dunnock, Blackcap, Blackbird, Chaffinch and Long-tailed tit. Chiffchaff and Wren were displaying along with Northern lapwing noted mating. Common whitethroat was also reported nearby. Sedge warbler.

Kingfisher activity dropped off with the exception of both male and female observed on the 22nd perched on the reeds opposite the Kingfisher hide. Water rail was seldom recorded, just a single sighting on the 12th and Common snipe was recorded on the 8th at the Heron hide. Pheasant and Red-legged partridge was seen on the farmers field along with several Grey partridge reported on the field near Nightingale corner. Green woodpecker was recorded in the meadow and Great spotted woodpecker was noted on the TPT, Tawny owl was heard calling from Pot Ridings wood while on the 23rd a Hobby was reported.  Male Kingfisher.

A Wetland bird count during the month recorded 2 Mute swan, 48 Greylag geese, 16 Canada geese, 8 Teal, 14 Gadwall, 20 Mallard, 6 Pochard (5m+1f), 20 Tufted duck, 9 Cormorant, 4 Grey heron, 1 Little grebe, 2 Great crested grebe, 8 Moorhen, 22 Coot, 6 Lapwing, 16 Black-headed gull, 1 Herring gull and 2 Common tern. An Oystercatcher was recorded on the 3rd as it passed over and 2 Little ringed plover were reported at the quarry, on the 6th a little egret passed through. A sub-adult Mute swan was also regularly recorded at the Flash and on the river, Geese numbers began to decline as the month progressed. Great crested grebe.

Raven, Carrion crow, Jackdaw, Jay and Magpie was recorded in April along with a Rook noted on the 10th. Common buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel were regularly recorded but there were no further sightings of Peregrine falcon after the pair didn’t use their usual local nest site, Ring-necked parakeet wasn’t recorded in April either. Stock dove's continued visiting the Owl box opposite the Kingfisher hide while Wood pigeon, Feral pigeon and collared dove were all noted locally along with House sparrow and Starling. Sparrowhawk.

A total of 83 bird species were recorded during April with 106 species noted for the year to date including: Coal tit, Reed bunting, Pied wagtail, Skylark, Meadow pipit, Nuthatch, Treecreeper, Song thrush, Siskin, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Linnet, Yellow wagtail and Bullfinch. Other sightings included Orange tip, Small white, Large white, Green-veined white, Speckled wood and Holly blue butterflies, Early purple orchid, Yellow archangel, Bugle, Wood anemone, Wild strawberry, Red campion and Cowslip. Roe deer (stag) and American mink was also reported along with Common blue damselfly. Holly blue.

Next report May 2025.

Sightings list 2024