A Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve and designated Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Sprotbrough flash is a rich haven for birds and wildlife with a diverse habitat comprising of open water, wetland, woodland and limestone grassland within the Don Gorge area of Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
A total of 190 individual species have been recorded on the flash and surrounding area between 1957- 2019.
A total of 111 individual species were recorded during 2020 from a recording area which includes the Flash, Pot Ridings Wood, Meadow, Plantation, Trans Pennine Trail (TPT) and River Don. Adjacent areas where birds are known to travel into or through the recording area have also been included.
Below: Catchment area, Right: Link to full species list 2020. SF bird list 2020.
The year started with a reported sighting of a female Merlin on the edge of Scabba wood on New years day.
A WeBS count conducted in Feb. recorded a total of 116 wetland birds from 11 individual species (see list).
On the 17th a Bittern showed well opposite the Kingfisher hide and a Cetti's warbler could be heard calling. A female Marsh harrier visited the flash on two consecutive days and was observed quartering over the reeds. 1 Raven was seen heading towards Pot Ridings wood and 3 Red-legged partridge were noted over the river. Kingfisher and Water rail were recorded on a number of occasions in February while towards the end of the month 20 Herring gull and 2 Greater black-backed gull were recorded along with 3 Lesser black-backed gull.
Above: Merlin, Below: Marsh harrier, Kingfisher and Bittern
February brought several sightings of Pink-footed geese with a total of 650 birds observed passing overhead while on the flash a WeBS count recorded a total of 109 wetland birds from 10 individual species (see list).
1 peregrine, 2 Redwing and 3 Ring-necked parakeet were recorded on the TPT, the Parakeet, later reported in a local garden. On the 14th a Bittern was observed in phragmites at the Kingfisher hide while the resident male Mute swan chased off his 5 Cygnets. 3 male and 2 female Pochard were spotted at the Kingfisher hide while in Pot Ridings Wood 3 Green woodpecker, 3 Nuthatch, 1 Tawny Owl and 2 Goldcrest were recorded along with a Mistle thrush, observed gathering nesting materials.
Above: Pink-footed geese, Below: Ring-necked parakeet © Jon Noble, Tawny owl © Paul Peters and Mute swans.
March started with a flock of 10 Redwing seen eating berries and a pair of Sparrowhawk observed displaying on the TPT while 6 Chiffchaff recorded early in the month was a good indicator that migration had begun.
A WeBS count conducted on the 8th recorded a total 104 wetland birds from 12 individual species (see list).
24 Greylag geese arrived joining 6 Canada geese with breeding in mind. A single Great crested grebe returned after an absence of 4 months. On the river a female Goosander was noted along with 2 passing Lapwing and an Oystercatcher. Over the river 2 Grey partridge and 2 Yellowhammer were reported while at Pot Ridings a pair of Woodcock were observed roding late in the afternoon followed by a second pair at Scabba wood.
Above: Sparrowhawk, Below: Grey partridge, Yellowhammer and Oystercatcher
Sand martin returned in numbers with 22 recorded in early April, along with 2 Swallow and 2 Swift a week or so later, a Snipe was also recorded as it headed down the flash, one of only a few sightings during the year.
A Tawny Owl, 4 Nuthatch and a (f) Great spotted woodpecker were noted in Pot Ridings wood while a Red kite was reported heading towards Sprotbrough and 8 Red-legged partridge were recorded near Levitt Hagg.
15 Chiifchaff, 9 Blackcap, 2 Willow warbler, 2 Common whitethroat, 1 Lesser Whitethroat, 2 Reed warbler and 1 Cetti's warbler were recorded along with a Goldcrest on the TPT and a Peregrine falcon over the river.
A Bittern was reported heading East NE and 2 Little ringed plover were recorded along with a passing Little Egret. On nearby fields 2 Lapwing holding territory were observed displaying along with Skylark.
Above: Barn swallow, Sand Martin. Swift, Lesser Whitethroat, Skylark and Common Whitethroat.
May saw the arrival of 10 Greylag goslings and 8 Canada goslings while the absence of the resident female Mute swan was a sure sign she was on eggs. The male Great crested grebe was joined by a female and after briefly displaying the pair began nest building, a Red kite was also reported as it passed over Sprotbrough.
8 Common whitethroat, 2 Lesser whitethroat, 4 Reed warbler and 2 Cetti's warbler were recorded along with a pair of Sedge warbler observed holding territory. Early on the 25th a Barn owl was spotted in a tree opposite the Kingfisher hide before it took off heading towards the Heron hide. A Common tern was noted on the rail, 2 Lapwing were observed on the spit and both Grey and Pied wagtail were noted carrying food. At the end of the month a female Marsh harrier landed in the reed bed for 30 minutes before taking off and heading down the flash, 2 House martin was recorded among a flock of Sand martin.
Red kite, Barn owl, Common tern © Paul Brown,and Sedge warbler.
The 2 Lapwing on the spit were joined by an Oystercatcher at the beginning of June and 2 Kingfishers could be frequently seen on the flash and river. The resident female Mute swan finally emerged with 4 Cygnets and a Little grebe pair was seen with 3 chicks. A Mandarin duck was noted at the Heron hide along with a single Common redshank and 3 Little egret, while on the river 2 Common sandpiper were recorded along with a Green sandpiper down at Sprotbrough falls. Elsewhere a Peregrine was forced to land by several belligerent Carrion crows and sadly the Great crested grebe nest was washed away in bad weather along with their eggs.
Above: Mute swans
In the late afternoon of the 4th of July a Roseate tern was spotted in a group of Common terns, this was the first recorded sighting of this species since 1983. The Tern was observed until the light faded and by morning the bird had moved on. Later that month an adult male Marsh harrier was first seen over Sprotbrough then recorded at the flash, the next day a female Marsh Harrier was spotted quartering over the reeds and managed to take a Coot chick. A few days later, one of the 4 Cygnets was found dead while Great crested grebe's were once again on eggs. Towards the end of July a Bittern was observed in the reedbed, the bird appeared to be a youngster and was not seen again. 4 Green woodpecker and a Great spotted woodpecker was also recorded during the month. Below: Bittern © Russ Bridges
On the 1st of August a Red kite was reported heading SW over Sprotbrough while a week later the pair of Great crested grebe were spotted with 4 chicks, the humbugs soon hitching a ride on their parents back. Close to the Kingfisher hide a Garden warbler was seen filling up on elderberries as it passed through while on the middle path close to the Das family bench, a female Common redstart was recorded. At the Heron hide a second pair of Little Grebe was noted with 2 young and a Water rail was spotted on the wader scrape. From the viewing screen a Hobby was recorded in a dead tree before being attacked by a Sparrowhawk and was later seen hunting along the reed bed. Below: Redstart, Spotted Fly, Hobby and Garden warbler.
During the month of September 3 Water rail were recorded and there was a noticeable increase in Kingfisher activity on the flash as young birds were finding their own territories inevitably resulting in one or two spats. A Great spotted woodpecker visited a tree next to the Kingfisher hide on several occasions while a Tawny owl and Green Woodpecker could be heard calling from across the river. 20 House martin were recorded over the plantation while Goldcrest and Nuthatch were noted on the TPT along with 3 Common Buzzard, 1 hobby, 2 Kestrel and a Sparrowhawk. 7 Skylark were spotted flying overhead along with 5 Meadow pipit and a flock of 30 Linnet while back on the flash 2 Cetti's warbler could be heard calling. Below: Kingfisher.
October brought more sightings of Pink-footed geese as 550 were recorded passing over along with a flock of 40 Canada geese. A count of wetland bird noted 21 Wigeon, 12 Shoveler, 70 Gadwall, 40 Mallard, 15 Teal, 28 Tufted duck, 11 Cormorant, 1 Little egret, 3 Grey heron, 3 Little grebe, 3 Great crested grebe (2 young and 1 adult) and a male Pochard. Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull and Common gull were seen passing through along with a Brambling spotted overhead. 3 Jay were busily collecting acorns on the path along the TPT as 2 Ravens called as they headed towards Pot Ridings, 5 Skylark were noted heading West and a Red kite was recorded over Sprotbrough, the fourth sighting of the year.
Gadwall, Teal, Little grebe, Shoveler, Tufted Duck and Great crested grebe.
On the 4th of November a Bittern was observed opposite the Kingfisher hide in the edge of the phragmites, later a Little egret dropped in joining the 15 Cormorants and 7 grey heron. 5 Pochard (4 male and 1 female) were recorded while down at the screen a single Shelduck was observed, on the 16th a male Goosander was spotted followed by a single female a few days later. A Barn owl was spotted in one of the boxes opposite the Kingfisher hide and a pair of Tawny owl called from over the river, sadly another was found dead on Cadeby Rd after being hit by a passing car. Ring-necked parakeet were frequently seen with 4 recorded over the river and a further 9 reported in the nearby area including strong evidence of breeding. 47 Fieldfare, 60 Redwing, 5 Song thrush and 9 Mistle thrush were also noted. Below: Shelduck and Goosander.
On the 1st of December a single male Siskin was observed in a flock of Goldfinch feeding on alder seed next to the Kingfisher hide, a Cetti's warbler at the hide was not one of the two bird ringed by Ken last year while a second called from the opposite side. 3 female Goosander was recorded taking off and flying down the flash with two subsequent sightings of single females on the river. On the 9th a Bittern was observed as it stood at the front of the reed bed, later it was spotted flying down the flash. 60 Lesser Redpoll were noted on the 18th close to Sprotbrough pond and 40 were seen the next day at old Sprotbrough quarry along with 2 Bullfinch.
A final Wetland bird count for the year recorded 120 Gadwall, 45 Mallard, 9 Teal, 6 Shoveler, 5 Tufted duck, 2 Little Grebe, 9 Cormorant, 46 Coot, 8 Moorhen and 2 Grey Heron. Below: Cetti's Warbler © Paul Peters.
Mammals recorded during 2020
Roe Deer, American mink, Grey Squirrel, Bank Vole, Fox, Weasel, Rabbit, Wood Mouse, Noctule bat and Pipistrelle bat.
Reptiles recorded during 2020
Terrapin and Grass snake.
Butterflies recorded during 2020
Brimstone, Small tortoise shell, Comma, Orange tip, Small white, Green veined white, Speckled wood, Gatekeeper, Large white, Red admiral,
Marbled white (© Paul Peters), Silver washed fritillary, Common blue, Large skipper, Small skipper, Meadow brown, Painted Lady Holly blue, and Peacock.
Dragonflies recorded during 2020
Banded demoiselle, Common blue, Broad-bodied chaser, Emerald damselfly, Red-eyed damselfly, Common darter, Migrant hawker and Brown hawker.
Orchids recorded during 2020
Early purple, Bee, Greater butterfly, Fragrant, Pyramidal, Common spotted, Twayblade, Birds nest, Southern marsh and Autumn gentian.
Fragrant orchid from the meadow 2020, previously recorded back in 1984
Many thanks to the Sprotbrough Flash Monitoring Group, Don Gorge Community Volunteer Group and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for all the great work done at the Flash and Don Gorge. Thanks to B&Q including Lee, Emma, Alex and the team for their generous donations of bird food, it's made a huge difference guys, thanks to Angie Knott for her kind donation of Sunflower hearts.
Next report end of Jan 2021.
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